1
李嗣業李嗣業，字嗣業，京兆高陵人。 長七尺，膂力絕眾。 開元中，從安西都護來曜討十姓蘇祿，先登捕虜，累功署昭武校尉。 後應募安西，軍中初用陌刀，而嗣業尤善，每戰必為先鋒，所向摧北。 馬靈察為節度，出戰必與俱。 高仙芝討勃律，署嗣業及中郎將田珍為左右陌刀將。 時吐蕃兵十萬屯娑勒城，據山瀕水，聯木作郛，以扼王師。 仙芝潛軍夜濟信圖河，令曰：「及午破賊，不者皆死。」 嗣業提步士升山，頹石四面以擊賊，又樹大旗先走險，諸將從之。 虜不虞軍至，因大潰，投崖谷死者十八。 鼓而驅至勃律，禽其主，平之。 授右威衛將軍。 從平石國及突騎施，以跳蕩先鋒加特進。 虜號為「神通大將」。
Li Siye, whose courtesy name was also Siye, came from Gaoling in Jingzhao. He stood seven feet tall, with strength of arm unmatched among his peers. During the Kaiyuan period he served under Anxi Protector-General Lai Yao against Suluk of the Ten Surnames, scaling the heights first and taking captives; for repeated merit he was made a Defender of Zhaowu. He later enlisted in the Anxi forces when the mo dao was first introduced to the troops; Siye excelled with it above all, invariably leading the van in battle and breaking the enemy wherever he charged. Under Military Commissioner Ma Lingcha, he always accompanied him on campaign. During Gao Xianzhi's expedition against Balur, Siye and Central Regiment Director Tian Zhen were appointed commanders of the left and right mo-blade units. A Tibetan force of one hundred thousand held Suole Fort on the heights above the water, their linked timber walls blocking the imperial advance. Xianzhi stole across the Xintu River at night with his army, declaring: "Break the enemy by noon, or every man dies. Siye led infantry up the slope, hurling stones down on the enemy from all sides; planting his standard first over the difficult ground, the other commanders followed. The barbarians, caught unawares, broke and fled; as much as eight in ten of those who tumbled into gullies and ravines perished. They beat the drums and pressed on to Balur, seized its ruler, and brought the region under control. He was made a general of the Right Majestic Guard. Serving in the subjugation of the Stone Kingdom and the Turgesh, he earned especial advancement as spearhead of the shock troops. The enemy styled him the "Great General of Supernatural Might."
2
初，仙芝特以計襲取石，其子出奔，因構諸胡共怨之，以告大食，連兵攻四鎮。 仙芝率兵二萬深入，為大食所敗，殘卒數千。 事急，嗣業謀曰：「將軍深履賊境，後援既絕，而大食乘勝，諸胡銳於鬥，我與將軍俱前死，尚誰報朝廷者？ 不如守白石嶺以為後計。」 仙芝曰：「吾方收合餘盡，明日復戰。」 嗣業曰：「事去矣，不可坐須菹醢。」 即馳守白石，路既隘，步騎魚貫而前。 會拔汗那還兵，輜餉塞道不可騁，嗣業懼追及，手梃鏖擊，人馬斃僕者數十百，虜駭走，仙芝乃得還。 表嗣業功，進右金吾大將軍，留為疏勒鎮使。 城一隅阤，屢築輒壞，嗣業祝之，有白龍見，因其處蕝祠以祭，城遂不壞，漢耿恭故井久涸，禱已，泉復出。 初討勃律也，通道蔥領，有大石塞隘，以足蹶之，抵穹壑，識者以為至誠所感雲。
Xianzhi had earlier taken the Stone Kingdom by surprise; the ruler's son fled abroad and stirred the western peoples to common grievance, appealing to the Arabs to join forces against the Four Garrisons. Xianzhi marched twenty thousand men deep into enemy country and was beaten by the Arab army, escaping with only a few thousand survivors. With the crisis upon them, Siye urged: "General, you are deep in enemy land with no relief behind you, while the Arabs press their advantage and the western peoples are eager for battle. If we both die in the front ranks, who will carry word back to the court? Better to hold Baishi Ridge and plan from there. Xianzhi replied: "I am still rallying what is left of the army—we will fight again tomorrow." Siye said: "The day is lost—we cannot sit here waiting to be butchered." He rode at once to hold Baishi Pass; the road was so narrow that infantry and cavalry advanced in single file. Ferghana troops were returning on the same road, their wagons choking the pass so that no one could ride freely. Fearing pursuit, Siye fought hand to hand with a club, killing scores of men and horses until the enemy fled in terror and Xianzhi could at last escape. A memorial commended Siye's service; he was promoted to Grand General of the Right Golden Guard and left as commissioner of Shule Garrison. One corner of the city wall kept collapsing whenever it was rebuilt. Siye prayed, a white dragon appeared, and he built a thatched shrine on the spot to offer sacrifice—the wall held thereafter. The ancient well of Geng Gong of Han had long run dry; after his prayers the spring flowed again. On the earlier campaign against Balur, while opening the route through the Pamir passes, he kicked aside a boulder blocking the defile and sent it tumbling into the gorge—observers took this as heaven's answer to his utmost sincerity.
3
天寶十二載，加驃騎大將軍。 入朝，賜酒玄宗前，醉起舞，帝寵之，賜彩百、金皿五十物、錢十萬，曰：「為解酲具。」
In the twelfth year of Tianbao he was promoted to Grand General of Agile Cavalry. On a visit to court he was given wine before the emperor; drunk, he rose to dance. Xuanzong delighted in him and granted a hundred lengths of silk, fifty gold vessels, and a hundred thousand cash, saying, "These are to help you sober up."
4
安祿山反，肅宗追之，詔至，即引道，與諸將割臂盟曰：「所過郡縣，秋毫不可犯。」 至鳳翔，上謁，帝喜曰：「今日卿至，賢於數萬眾。 事之濟否，固在卿輩。」 乃詔與郭子儀、僕固懷恩掎角。 常為先鋒，以巨棓笞鬥，賊值，類崩潰。 進四鎮、伊西、北庭行軍兵馬使。 廣平王收長安，嗣業統前軍，陣於香積祠北。 賊酋李歸仁擁精騎薄戰，王師注矢逐之，走未及營，賊大出，掩追騎，還蹂王師，於是亂不能陣。 嗣業謂子儀曰：「今日不蹈萬死取一生，則軍無類矣。」 即袒持長刀，大呼出陣前，殺數十人，陣復整。 步卒二千以陌刀、長柯斧堵進，所向無前。 歸仁匿兵營左，覘軍勢，王分回紇銳兵擊其伏，嗣業出賊背合攻之，自日中至昃，斬首六萬級，填澗壑死幾半，賊東走，遂平長安。 進收東都，嗣業戰多。 乃與張鎬、魯炅、來瑱、嗣吳王祗、李奐略定諸州。 兼衛尉卿，封虢國公，實封戶二百。 兼懷州刺史、北庭行營節度使。
When An Lushan rebelled, Suzong called him east; the moment the edict arrived he set out at the head of the column. He and the other generals cut their arms and swore: "In every district we pass, not the slightest harm may be done. At Fengxiang he was received in audience. The emperor said with joy, "Your arrival today is worth more to me than an army of tens of thousands. Whether this enterprise succeeds rests with men like you." He was ordered to coordinate with Guo Ziyi and Pugu Huai'en in mutual support. He invariably led the van, wielding a great club in close combat; rebels who met him usually broke and fled. He was promoted to commander of the campaigning forces of the Four Garrisons, Yixi, and Beiting. When the Prince of Guangping retook Chang'an, Siye led the vanguard and drew up north of the Xiangji Shrine. The rebel commander Li Guiren led elite cavalry to press the attack. Imperial archers loosed a storm of arrows in pursuit, but before the pursuers reached the enemy camp the rebels poured out, enveloped them, and wheeled back to crush the imperial line—the army broke ranks and could not reform. Siye told Guo Ziyi, "Unless we risk everything today to win our one chance of survival, this army is finished. He stripped to the waist, seized a long saber, and with a great shout charged to the front, killing dozens of men until the line steadied again. Two thousand foot soldiers advanced with mo dao and long-shafted axes in a solid wall, irresistible wherever they struck. Guiren had hidden troops to the left of his camp to watch the imperial line. The prince sent Uyghur elite cavalry against the ambush while Siye struck from the rear. From noon until dusk they took sixty thousand heads; nearly half the enemy died filling the ravines. The rebels fled east, and Chang'an was recovered. In the advance to retake Luoyang, Siye fought in many battles. He then joined Zhang Hao, Lu Jiong, Lai Tian, Prince Zhi of Wu, and Li Huan in bringing the surrounding prefectures under control. He was made concurrent Minister of the Guard, enfeoffed as Duke of Guo with a fief of two hundred households. He was also made Prefect of Huaizhou and Military Commissioner of the Beiting campaigning army.
5
與子儀等圍相州，師耄，諸將無功，獨嗣業被堅數奮，為諸軍冠。 中流矢，臥帳中，方愈，忽聞金鼓聲，知與賊戰，大呼，創潰，血流數升卒。 諡曰忠勇，贈武威郡王，給靈輿護還在所。 葬日，使中人臨吊，中朝臣祖泣，塋給掃除十戶。 嗣業忠毅憂國，不計居產，有宛馬十疋，前後賞賜，皆上於官以助軍雲。
Besieging Xiangzhou with Guo Ziyi and the others, the army was exhausted and the generals accomplished little; Siye alone, in full armor, charged again and again and stood first among all the forces. Struck by a stray arrow, he lay in his tent convalescing when he suddenly heard gongs and drums and knew the army was in battle. He cried out; his wound reopened, blood poured forth in great streams, and he died. He was given the posthumous name Loyal and Valiant and posthumously made Prince of Wuwei; an imperial catafalque escorted his remains home. On the day of his burial palace envoys attended to mourn; court ministers wept as they saw him off; ten households were assigned to maintain his tomb. Siye was loyal, resolute, and devoted to the state, caring nothing for his private wealth. He owned ten Ferghana horses and turned over every gift and reward to the government to support the army.
6
子佐國，襲爵，曆丹王府長史。 卒，推嗣業功，贈宋州刺史。 馬璘馬璘，岐州扶風人。 少孤，流蕩無業所。 年二十，讀漢馬援傳，至「丈夫當死邊野，以馬革裹屍而歸」，慨然曰：「使吾祖勳業墜於地乎？」 開元末，挾策從安西節度府，以奇勞，累遷金吾衛將軍。
His son Zuoguo inherited the title and served as chief clerk in the household of the Prince of Dan. When he died, in recognition of his father's service he was posthumously made Prefect of Songzhou. Ma Lin came from Fufeng in Qizhou. Orphaned in youth, he wandered without a settled livelihood. At twenty he read the Han biography of Ma Yuan and came to the line, "A true man ought to die on the frontier wilds, his corpse wrapped in horsehide for the journey home." He exclaimed, "Shall my ancestor's achievements come to nothing?" At the end of the Kaiyuan era he went west to serve the Anxi military commission; for distinguished service he rose to general of the Golden Guard.
7
至德初，王室多難，統精甲三千，自二庭赴鳳翔。 肅宗奇之，委以東討。 初戰衛南，以百騎破賊五千眾。 從李光弼攻洛陽，史朝義眾十萬陣北邙山，旗鎧照日，諸疑，未敢擊。 璘率部士五百，薄賊屯，出入三反，眾披靡，乘之，賊遂潰。 光弼曰：「吾用兵三十年，未見以少擊眾，雄捷如馬將軍者！」 遷試太常卿。
Early in the Zhide era, when the dynasty was in crisis, he led three thousand elite armored troops from the Two Courts to Fengxiang. Suzong was impressed and entrusted him with the eastern campaign. In his first battle at Weinan he routed five thousand rebels with a hundred horsemen. Serving under Li Guangbi at Luoyang, he faced Shi Chaoyi's army of one hundred thousand drawn up on Mount Beimang, their banners and armor blazing in the sun. The commanders hesitated and dared not attack. Lin led five hundred of his men in a close assault on the rebel camp, charging in and out three times until the enemy line broke; pressing the advantage, he put the rebels to rout. Guangbi said, "In thirty years of command I have never seen anyone strike so boldly and swiftly against such odds as General Ma! He was promoted to Acting Grand Master of Ceremonies.
8
明年，吐蕃寇邊，詔璘移軍援河西。 懷恩之叛，璘引還，間關轉鬥至鳳翔，虜圍已合，節度使孫志直嬰城守。 璘令士持滿外向，突入縣門，不解甲出戰，背城陣。 虜潰，率輕騎追之，斬數千級，漂血丹渠。 帝引見尉勞，擢兼御史大夫。
The following year, when Tibetans raided the frontier, Lin was ordered to shift his army to aid Hexi. When Pugu Huai'en rebelled, Lin turned back and fought his way through to Fengxiang, where the Tibetans had already closed the siege and Military Commissioner Sun Zhizhi was holding the city. Lin ordered his men to advance with bows fully drawn, burst through the county gate, and sally out without removing their armor, forming ranks with the city wall at their backs. The Tibetans broke; he led light cavalry in pursuit, taking several thousand heads until the Dan Canal ran red with blood. The emperor received him, commended his service, and promoted him to concurrent Censor-in-Chief.
9
永泰初，拜四鎮行營節度、南道和蕃使。 俄檢校工部尚書，北庭行營、邠甯節度使。 元日，有卒犯盜，或曰宜赦，璘曰：「赦之，則人將伺其日為盜。」 遂戮之。 天大旱，裏巷為土龍聚巫以禱，璘曰：「旱由政不修。」 即命撤之。 明日雨，是歲大穰。 未幾，徙涇原，權知鳳翔、隴右節度副使，四鎮、北庭如舊，復以鄭、潁二州隸之。
Early in the Yongtai era he was made Military Commissioner of the Four Garrisons campaigning army and envoy for Tibetan relations on the Southern Circuit. Soon after he was made Acting Minister of Works and Military Commissioner of the Beiting campaigning army and Binning circuit. On New Year's Day a soldier was caught stealing. Some urged a pardon, but Lin said, "If we pardon him today, men will mark the calendar for their thefts. He had the man executed. During a severe drought the townspeople erected earth dragons and gathered shamans to pray for rain. Lin said, "Drought comes from failure to govern well. He ordered them taken down at once. Rain fell the next day, and that year brought a great harvest. Before long he was transferred to Jingyuan as acting deputy military commissioner of Fengxiang and Longyou, retaining the Four Garrisons and Beiting as before, with Zheng and Ying prefectures added to his command.
10
大曆八年，吐蕃內寇，渾瑊戰宜祿，不利。 璘設伏潘原，與瑊合擊破之，俘級數萬。 進檢校尚書右僕射。 明年，入朝，求宰相，以檢校左僕射知省事，進撫風郡王。 十一年，卒於軍，年五十六。 贈司徒，諡曰武。
In the eighth year of Dali the Tibetans raided inland; Hun Jian fought them at Yilu and was defeated. Lin laid an ambush at Panyuan and, joining Hun Jian, routed the Tibetans, taking tens of thousands of captives and heads. He was promoted to Acting Right Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat. The following year he came to court seeking the chancellorship and was made Acting Left Vice Director managing court affairs, advanced to Prince of Fufeng. In the eleventh year he died in camp at the age of fifty-six. He was posthumously made Grand Tutor with the posthumous name Martial.
11
璘少學術，而武幹絕倫。 遭時屯棘，以忠力奮。 在涇八年，繕屯壁，為戰守具，令肅不殘，人樂為用，虜不敢犯，為中興銳將。 初，涇軍乏財，帝諷李抱玉讓鄭、潁，璘因得裒積，且前後賜賚無算，家富不貲。 治第京師，侈甚，其寢堂無慮費錢二十萬緡。 方璘在軍，守者覆以油幔。 及喪歸，都人爭入觀，假稱故吏入赴吊者日數百。 德宗在東宮聞之，不喜。 及即位，乃禁第捨不得逾制，詔毀璘中寢及宦人劉忠翼第。 璘家懼，悉籍亭館入之官。 其後賜群臣宴，多在璘山池。 而子弟無行，財亦尋盡。 李抱玉李抱玉，本安興貴曾孫，世居河西，善養馬。 始名重璋，閑騎射，少從軍。 其為人沈毅有謀，尤忠謹，李光弼引為裨校。 天寶末，玄宗以其戰河西有功，為改今名。 祿山亂，守南陽，斬賊使。 至德二載，上言：「世占涼州，恥與逆臣共宗。」 有詔賜之姓，因徙籍京兆，舉族以李為氏。 進至右羽林大將軍，知軍事，擢陳鄭潁亳節度使。 史思明已破東都，兇焰勃然，鼓而行，自謂無前。 光弼壁河陽拒之，使抱玉守南城。 賊急攻，抱玉縱奇兵出，表裏俘殺甚眾。 賊乃舍去，從光弼戰，大敗，因不能西。 差功第一，封欒城縣公。 代宗立，兼澤潞節度使，統相、衛、儀、邢十一州兵。 以功授司空，兼兵部尚書，武威郡王。 懇辭王爵，徙涼國公，進司徒。
Lin had studied the classics in youth, yet his martial gifts were without peer. In a time of crisis he rose through loyalty and martial prowess. For eight years at Jingyuan he repaired walls and stockades, equipped his forces for attack and defense, kept discipline without cruelty, and won willing service from his men—the barbarians dared not intrude. He was among the finest generals of the restoration. The Jing army had once been short of funds; the emperor had hinted that Li Baoyu yield Zheng and Ying, and Lin thereby amassed stores. Countless gifts followed, until his household wealth was beyond reckoning. He built a mansion in the capital of staggering extravagance; the sleeping hall alone cost no less than two hundred thousand strings of cash. While Lin remained in the field, his stewards kept it covered with oiled awnings. When his body was brought home, the people of the capital crowded in to see it; hundreds each day posed as former subordinates come to mourn. The crown prince, later Dezong, heard of this and took offense. On his accession he forbade mansions that exceeded regulations and ordered Lin's central hall and the estate of the eunuch Liu Zhongyi torn down. Lin's family, in fear, registered all their pavilions and lodges with the government. Thereafter imperial banquets for the ministers were often held at Lin's hill and ponds. But his sons and younger brothers were dissolute, and the fortune was soon spent. Li Baoyu was a great-grandson of An Xinggui; his clan had long lived in Hexi and was skilled at raising horses. Born Chongzhang, he was skilled in mounted archery and entered the army in youth. Deep, resolute, and shrewd, he was above all loyal and careful; Li Guangbi took him on as a staff officer. Late in the Tianbao era the emperor renamed him for his merit fighting in Hexi. When the rebellion broke out he held Nanyang and beheaded the rebel envoy. In the second year of Zhide he petitioned: "Our clan has long held Liangzhou; we are shamed to share a surname with the traitor. An edict granted him the imperial surname Li; his household register was moved to Jingzhao, and the whole clan took Li as their name. He rose to Grand General of the Right Feathered Forest with charge of military affairs and was made Military Commissioner of Chen, Zheng, Ying, and Bo. Shi Siming had already seized Luoyang; his power blazed, and drumming his advance he deemed himself invincible. Guangbi entrenched at Heyang to block him and left Baoyu to hold the southern city. When the rebels pressed the attack, Baoyu sent surprise forces out from within and without, capturing and killing a great many. The rebels then withdrew; following Guangbi into battle they were routed and could advance no farther west. His merit was ranked first, and he was enfeoffed as Duke of Luancheng County. When Daizong succeeded, Baoyu was also made Military Commissioner of Ze and Lu, commanding troops from eleven prefectures including Xiang, Wei, Yi, and Xing. For his service he was made Minister of Works and concurrent Minister of War, with the title Prince of Wuwei. He earnestly declined the princely title and was made Duke of Liang, then promoted to Grand Tutor.
12
廣德中，吐蕃入寇，帝次陝，群盜遍南山五穀間，東距虢，西抵岐，椎剽不勝計。 詔太子賓客薛景仙為南山五溪穀防禦使，引兵招捕，久不克。 更詔抱玉討賊。 抱玉盡得賊株柢蹊隧，分兵守諸穀，使牙將李崇客精騎四百，自桃林、虢川襲之。 賊帥高玉脫身走城固，山南西道張獻誠禽以獻，悉索支黨斬之。 不閱旬，五穀平。 即詔抱玉權鳳翔、隴右節度，抱玉懇讓司徒，故以尚書左僕射同中書門下平章事，河西、隴右副元帥。 又讓僕射，故還為兵部尚書。
During the Guangde era the Tibetans raided inland while the emperor halted at Shan. Bandits spread through the five valleys of the Southern Mountains from Guo in the east to Qi in the west, plundering beyond reckoning. The Prince's Guest Xue Jingxian was made Defender of the Five Streams and Valleys of the Southern Mountains and led troops to hunt the bandits down, but for a long time could not subdue them. The court then ordered Baoyu to suppress the bandits. Baoyu traced the bandits' lairs and routes to the last, garrisoned the valleys, and sent his adjutant Li Chongke with four hundred elite horsemen to strike from Taolin and Guochuan. The bandit leader Gao Yu fled to Chenggu; Zhang Xianzheng of the Southwestern Circuit of Shannan captured him and sent him in; all his followers were hunted down and executed. Within ten days the five valleys were pacified. Baoyu was then given acting command of Fengxiang and Longyou. He declined the Grand Tutorship and was made Left Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat, Concurrent Grand Councilor, and Deputy Commander of Hexi and Longyou. He declined the vice directorship as well and was returned to his post as Minister of War.
13
大曆二年，來朝。 久之，加山南西道副元帥兼節度使，屯鷫厔。 抱玉兼三節度、三副元帥，位望隆赫。 乃上言：「隴坻達扶、文，綿地二千里，虜孔道不一，梁、岷重則關輔輕。 願擇能臣，帥西道當一面，臣得專事關、隴。」 帝多其讓，許之。 抱玉在鎮十餘年，雖無破虜功，而禁暴安人，為將臣之良。 卒，年七十四，贈太保，諡曰昭武。 從父弟抱真從父弟抱真。 抱真字太玄，沈慮而斷。 抱玉屬以軍事，授汾州別駕。 僕固懷恩反，陷焉，挺身歸京師。 代宗以懷恩倚回紇，所將朔方兵精，憂之，召抱真問狀，答曰：「郭子儀嘗領朔方軍，人多德之。 懷恩欺其下曰，'子儀為朝恩所殺。 '今起而用，是伐其謀，兵可不戰解也。」 既而懷恩敗，如抱真策。 遷殿中少監、陳鄭澤潞節度留後。 既謝，因言：「百姓勞逸在牧守，願得一州以自試。」 更授澤州刺史，兼澤潞節度副使。 徙懷州，仍為懷澤潞觀察留後，凡八年。
In the second year of Dali he came to court. Before long he was also made Deputy Commander and Military Commissioner of the Southwestern Circuit of Shannan, with headquarters at Ziwu. Baoyu held three military commissions and three deputy commands; his rank and prestige were immense. He memorialized: "From Longqi to Fu and Wen the territory spans two thousand li, with many barbarian passes. If Liang and Min are overburdened, Guan and Fu are left exposed. Let a capable minister hold the western front alone, that I may devote myself wholly to Guan and Long. The emperor approved his modesty and granted the request. Baoyu held his command for more than ten years. Though he won no great victories over foreign foes, he suppressed violence and kept the people at peace—a model among commanders. He died at seventy-four, posthumously made Grand Guardian with the posthumous name Illustrious Martial. Younger cousin: Baozhen. Baozhen, courtesy name Taixuan, was deep-thinking and decisive. Baoyu entrusted him with military affairs and made him Vice-Prefect of Fenzhou. When Pugu Huai'en rebelled, Baozhen was caught in the revolt but made his way back to the capital. Daizong, worried that Huai'en relied on the Uyghurs and commanded elite Shuofang troops, summoned Baozhen for counsel. He replied, "Guo Ziyi once led the Shuofang army, and the men still honor him. Huai'en has deceived his men, telling them that Ziyi was killed by court intrigue. If we restore him to command, Huai'en's scheme collapses and the army will disperse without a fight. Huai'en was soon defeated, just as Baozhen had predicted. He was made Vice-Director of the Palace Domestic Service and acting military commissioner of Chen, Zheng, Ze, and Lu. On taking leave he said, "The people's welfare depends on their local governors. Grant me one prefecture to prove myself. He was made Prefect of Zezhou and deputy military commissioner of Ze and Lu. He was transferred to Huaizhou, remaining acting observation commissioner of Huai, Ze, and Lu for eight years in all.
14
抱真策山東有變，澤、潞兵所走集，乘戰伐後，賦重人困，軍伍雕刓，乃籍戶三丁擇一，蠲其徭租，給弓矢，令閑月得曹偶習射，歲終大校，親按籍第能否賞責。 比三年，皆為精兵，舉所部得成卒二萬，既不稟於官，而府庫實。 乃曰：「軍可用矣。」 繕甲淬兵，遂雄山東，天下稱昭義步兵為諸軍冠。 久之，為澤潞節度行軍司馬。 會昭義節度李承昭病，詔抱真權磁邢兵馬留後。 德宗嗣位，檢校工部尚書，領昭義節度使。
Baozhen foresaw unrest in the east. Ze and Lu were where armies gathered, and repeated campaigns had left taxes crushing and the ranks depleted. He registered households and drafted one man in three, exempting them from corvée and rent, arming them with bows and organizing off-season archery practice. Each year he personally inspected them and rewarded or punished according to merit. Within three years he had forged an elite force of twenty thousand trained men, supplied from his own treasury rather than the state coffers. He declared, "The army is ready. He repaired armor and honed weapons until his domain dominated the east, and the Zhaoyi infantry were hailed as the finest in the empire. Before long he was made campaigning marshal of the Ze and Lu commission. When Zhaoyi Military Commissioner Li Chengzhao fell ill, Baozhen was ordered to act as commander of the Ci and Xing forces. When Dezong succeeded, Baozhen was made Acting Minister of Works and full Zhaoyi Military Commissioner.
15
建中中，田悅反，圍邢及臨洺，詔抱真與河東馬燧合神策兵救之，敗悅於雙岡，斬其將楊朝光，又破之臨洺，遂解臨洺、邢之圍。 以功檢校兵部尚書。 復與悅戰洹水，走之。 進圍魏，悅戰城下，大敗。 進檢校尚書右僕射。 會硃滔、王武俊反，救悅，抱真退保魏。 帝蒼卒狩奉天，聞問，諸將皆哭，各引麾下還屯。 于時，李希烈陷汴，李納反鄆，李懷光相次反河中，抱真獨以數州截然橫絕潰叛中，離沮其奸，為群盜所憚。
During the Jianzhong era Tian Yue rebelled and besieged Xing and Linming. Baozhen joined Ma Sui of Hedong and the Shence army in relief, defeated Yue at Shuanggang, beheaded his general Yang Chaoguang, routed him again at Linming, and lifted both sieges. For this service he was made Acting Minister of War. He fought Yue again on the Huan River and drove him off. Pressing the siege of Wei, he defeated Yue in battle below the walls. He was promoted to Acting Right Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat. When Zhu Tao and Wang Wujun rebelled to rescue Yue, Baozhen fell back to defend Wei. When the emperor fled in haste to Fengtian, the generals wept at the news and each led his troops back to camp. Li Xilie had seized Bian, Li Na rebelled at Yan, and Li Huai'guang rose in Hezhong in turn. Baozhen alone held several prefectures as a bulwark amid the collapse, thwarting rebel designs and inspiring fear among the rebel hosts.
16
興元初，檢校左僕射、同中書門下平章事，繇倪國公進義陽郡王。 硃滔悉幽薊兵與回紇圍貝州，以應硃泚。 而希烈既竊名號，則欲臣制諸叛，眾稍離。 天子下罪己詔，並赦群盜。 抱真乃遣客賈林以大義說武俊，使合從擊滔，武俊許諾，而內猶豫。 抱真將自造其壁，諉軍事于司馬盧玄卿曰：「吾此行，系時安危，使遂不還，部勒以聽天子命，惟子； 勵兵東向，雪吾之恥，亦唯子。」 即以數騎馳入見武俊，曰：「泚、希烈爭竊帝號，滔攻貝州，此其志皆欲自肆於天下。 足下既不能與競長雄，舍九葉天子而臣反虜乎？ 且詔書罪己，禹、湯之心也。 方上暴露播越，公能自安乎？」 因持武俊，涕下交頤，武俊亦感泣，左右皆泣。 退臥帳中，甘寢久之。 武俊感其不疑，乃益恭，指心誓天曰：「此身已許公死矣！」 食訖，約為昆弟而別。 旦日合戰，大破滔經城。 進檢校司空，實封六百戶。 貞元初，朝京師，詔還所鎮。
Early in the Xingyuan era he was made Acting Left Vice Director and Concurrent Grand Councilor, advanced from Duke of Niguo to Prince of Yiyang. Zhu Tao mustered the armies of You and Ji with Uyghur allies to besiege Beizhou in support of Zhu Ci. Once Xilie had claimed the throne himself, he sought to dominate the other rebels, and their alliance began to fray. The emperor issued an edict of self-reproach and granted a general amnesty to the rebels. Baozhen sent his retainer Jia Lin to persuade Wang Wujun on grounds of loyalty to join against Zhu Tao. Wujun agreed outwardly but remained undecided within. Baozhen resolved to visit Wujun in person. He entrusted military affairs to his marshal Lu Xuanqing, saying, "This journey bears on the fate of the realm. If I do not return, hold the army to the emperor's command—that is yours alone; to lead the army east and avenge my disgrace—that too is yours alone. He rode in with only a few horsemen to see Wujun. "Ci and Xilie vie for the throne, and Tao attacks Beizhou—they all mean to rule the empire for themselves. If you cannot match them, will you abandon the Son of Heaven of nine generations to serve rebels? The emperor's edict of self-reproach is the spirit of Yu and Tang. The sovereign wanders in hardship and exile—can you rest at ease? He seized Wang Wujun's hands, tears streaming down his face. Wujun wept as well, and all present wept with them. Wujun withdrew to his tent and slept soundly for a long while. Moved by Baozhen's trust, Wujun grew all the more respectful. Pointing to his heart he swore to heaven, "This life is yours to the death! After the meal they pledged brotherhood and parted. The next day they joined battle and routed Zhu Tao at Jingcheng. He was promoted to Acting Minister of Works with a fief of six hundred households. Early in the Zhenyuan era he came to court and was ordered back to his command.
17
抱真喜士，聞世賢者，必欲與之遊，雖小善，皆卑禮厚幣數千里邀致之，至無可錄，徐徐以禮謝。 會天下稍無事，乃飾台沼以自娛。 好方士，謂不死可致。 有孫季長者為治丹，且曰：「服此當仙去。」 抱真表署幕府。 嘗語左右曰：「秦、漢君不偶此，我乃得之，後升天，不復見公等矣。」 夜夢駕鶴，寤而刻寓鶴，衣羽服，習乘之。 後益惑厭勝，因疾，請降官，七讓司空，還為左僕射。 餌丹二萬丸，不能食，且死，醫以彘肪穀漆下之。 疾少間，季長曰：「危得仙，何自棄也？」 益服三千丸，卒，年六十二。 抱真子緘其子殿中侍御史緘匿喪，與其屬盧會昌元仲經謀，會諸將，仲經詭抱真令曰：「吾疾不任事，令緘典軍，勉佐之。」 副使李說及諸校俯首，皆嘸曰； 「諾。」 緘盛服出，眾拜之，悉發府庫勞軍。 會昌即為抱真表，翌日，令諸將署章，請以節付緘。 天子已聞抱真喪，遣使者馳入軍，詔以事屬大將王延貴。 緘謾若抱真疾，請詰朝見，凡三日，緘乃出見使者，陳兵甚嚴。 使者曰：「朝廷已知公薨，詔以兵屬延貴，君速歸發喪。」 緘愕然，謂諸將曰：「詔不許，若何？」 眾不對。 乃遽以印鑰上監軍，始發喪。 使者趣延貴視事，護緘赴東都，仲經逃諸外，捕殺之，會昌得不坐。 始，緘遣將陳榮以書抵武俊，假其財。 武俊怒曰； 「吾與乃公善者，恭王命，非同惡也。 今聞已亡，誰詐其子使不俟朝制邪？」 囚榮而讓緘焉。 詔贈抱真太保。 路嗣恭路嗣恭，字懿範，京兆三原人，始名劍客，以世廕為鄴尉。 席豫黜陟河朔，表為蕭關令，連徙神烏、姑臧二縣，考績為天下最。 玄宗以為可嗣漢魯恭，因賜名。 轉渭南令，主杜化、東陽二驛。 時關畿用兵，使人系道，嗣恭儲具有素，而民不擾。 後為郭子儀朔方節度留後，大將孫守亮擁重兵，驕蹇不受制，嗣恭因稱疾，守亮至，即殺之，一軍皆震。 永泰三年，檢校刑部尚書，知省事。 出為江西觀察使，以善治財賦稱。 有賈明觀者，素事魚朝恩，朝恩誅，當坐死，宰相元載納其賂，遣效力江西，將行，居民數萬懷瓦石候擊，載諭市吏禁止，乃得去。 魏少游畏載，常回容之，及嗣恭代少遊，即日杖死。
Baozhen delighted in scholars and sought out the worthy wherever he heard of them, sending humble invitations and rich gifts across thousands of li even for modest talents. When a guest proved unworthy, he dismissed him with courtesy. As the realm grew quieter, he adorned terraces and ponds for his own pleasure. He favored Daoist adepts and believed immortality could be attained. A man named Sun Jichang prepared elixirs for him, saying, "Take this and you will ascend as an immortal. Baozhen had him appointed to his staff. He told his attendants, "The emperors of Qin and Han never had this opportunity—I have found it. When I ascend to heaven I shall not see you again. He dreamed one night of riding a crane; on waking he had a crane carved in relief, donned feather robes, and practiced mounting it. He grew ever more absorbed in sorcery and talismans. When illness struck he asked to be reduced in rank, declining the Ministry of Works seven times until he was left as Left Vice Director. He swallowed twenty thousand elixir pills, could no longer eat, and was near death. Physicians purged him with pig fat and lacquer. When he briefly improved, Jichang said, "You were on the verge of immortality—why throw that away? He took three thousand more pills and died at sixty-two. Baozhen's son Jian, a palace attendant, concealed his father's death. With his subordinates Lu Huichang and Yuan Zhongjing he assembled the generals; Zhongjing forged an order in Baozhen's name: "My illness prevents me from governing. Jian shall command the army—assist him faithfully. Deputy Commissioner Li Shuo and the commanders bowed their heads and murmured assent; "Agreed. Jian appeared in full regalia; the officers bowed to him and the treasury was opened to reward the troops. Huichang immediately sent a memorial in Baozhen's name; the next day he had the generals sign a petition asking that command be given to Jian. The emperor had already learned of Baozhen's death and sent an envoy racing to the army, ordering that command pass to the senior general Wang Yangui. Jian pretended Baozhen was merely ill and asked to receive the envoy the next morning. For three days he delayed; when he finally appeared before the envoy, his troops were drawn up in strict array. The envoy said, "The court already knows your father is dead. Command passes to Yangui by edict. Return at once and begin the mourning. Jian was stunned. He asked the generals, "The edict forbids it—what now?" No one answered. He hastily surrendered the seal and keys to the army supervisor and only then began the mourning rites. The envoy pressed Yangui to take command and escorted Jian to the Eastern Capital. Zhongjing fled and was hunted down and killed; Huichang escaped punishment. Earlier Jian had sent the general Chen Rong to Wang Wujun with a letter asking to borrow funds. Wujun said in anger, "I was your father's friend out of loyalty to the throne, not as a fellow rebel. Now I hear he is dead—who has deceived his son into defying the court's orders? He imprisoned Chen Rong and rebuked Jian. An edict posthumously made Baozhen Grand Guardian. Lu Sigong, courtesy name Yifan, came from Sanyuan in Jingzhao. Born Jiank, he entered office through hereditary privilege as adjutant of Ye. When Xi Yu reformed official appointments in Hebei, Sigong was recommended as magistrate of Xiaoguan, then served in succession at Shenwu and Guzang; his performance reviews ranked first in the empire. Xuanzong judged him a worthy successor to the virtuous Han magistrate Lu Gong and granted him the name Sigong. He was transferred to magistrate of Weinan, overseeing the Duhua and Dongyang post stations. With war raging in the capital region and couriers choking the roads, Sigong had long laid up supplies, and the people were not disturbed. Later, as acting commissioner under Guo Ziyi's Shuofang command, he faced the arrogant general Sun Shouliang, who held a large force and refused obedience. Sigong feigned illness; when Shouliang came to call, he had him killed at once, and the whole army was shaken. In the third year of Yongtai he was made Acting Minister of Justice with charge of court affairs. He was sent out as observation commissioner of Jiangxi and won renown for skill in managing revenue. Jia Mingguan had long served the eunuch Yu Chaoen. When Chaoen was executed Jia deserved death, but Chancellor Yuan Zai took his bribe and sent him to serve in Jiangxi. As he was about to leave, tens of thousands of townspeople gathered with stones to kill him; only when Zai ordered the market officers to restrain them could he depart. Wei Shaoyou, fearing Zai, had long indulged Jia. When Sigong replaced him, he had Jia beaten to death that same day.
18
大曆八年，嶺南將哥舒晃殺節度使呂崇賁，五嶺大擾。 詔嗣恭兼嶺南節度使，封冀國公。 嗣恭募勇敢士八千人，以流人孟瑤、敬冕為才，擢任之。 使瑤督大軍當其沖，冕率輕兵由間道出不意，遂斬晃及支党萬餘，築屍為京觀。 俚洞魁宿為惡者，皆族夷之。 還為檢校兵部尚書，復知省事。 嗣恭起州縣吏，以課治進至顯官，及晃事株戮舶商，沒其財數百萬私有之，代宗惡焉，故賞不酬功。 德宗立，陰賕宰相楊炎，炎錄前效，更拜兵部尚書、東都留守。 俄加懷鄭汝陝河陽三城節度、東都畿觀察使。 卒，年七十一，贈左僕射。 子應、恕。 子應應，字從眾，以廕為著作郎。 貞元初，出為虔州刺史，詔嗣父封。 鑿贛石梗嶮以通舟道。 德宗時，李泌為相，號得君。 帝嘗曰：「誰於卿有恩者，朕能報之。」 泌乃言：「「曩為元載所疾，謫江西，路嗣恭與載厚，臣嘗畏之。 會與其子應並驅，馬齧其脛，臣惶恐不自安，應閟不言，勉起見父。 臣常愧其長者，思有以報。」 帝曰：「善。」 即日加應檢校屯田郎中，服金紫。 累遷宣歙池觀察使，封襄陽郡王。 李錡反，應發鄉兵救湖、常二州，以故錡不能拔。 元和六年，以疾授左散騎常侍，卒，諡曰靖。 子恕恕，字體仁。 從嗣恭討哥舒晃，授檢校工部員外郎，得從便宜，擢降將伊慎用之。 賊平，恕功多。 嗣恭節度河陽也，恕為懷州刺史，年才三十，楊炎用捍魏博，為時嗤詆。 累遷鄜坊、宣歙觀察使。 坐事貶吉州刺史。 以右散騎常侍致仕，卒，贈洪州都督。
In the eighth year of Dali the Lingnan general Geshu Huang killed Military Commissioner Lü Chongbin, throwing the Five Ridges into turmoil. Sigong was ordered to take concurrent command of Lingnan and was enfeoffed as Duke of Ji. Sigong recruited eight thousand brave men and, recognizing talent in the exiles Meng Yao and Jing Mian, promoted them to command. Yao led the main force against the enemy front while Mian took light troops by a hidden route to strike from behind. They beheaded Huang and more than ten thousand of his followers and built a mound of their corpses. The Li cave chiefs and elders who had done evil were exterminated to the last of their clans. He returned as Acting Minister of War and again managed court affairs. Sigong had risen from a county clerk through merit in governance to high office. In the Huang affair he executed merchant sailors wholesale and seized millions in private wealth. Daizong despised this, and Sigong's rewards never matched his achievements. When Dezong succeeded, Sigong secretly bribed Chancellor Yang Yan, who cited his past service and reappointed him Minister of War and resident of the Eastern Capital. Soon after he was also made military commissioner of the Three Cities circuit and observation commissioner of the Eastern Capital metropolitan region. He died at seventy-one and was posthumously made Left Vice Director. His sons were Ying and Shu. His son Ying, courtesy name Congzhong, entered office by privilege as a drafting secretary. Early in the Zhenyuan era he was made prefect of Qianzhou and ordered to inherit his father's title. He cut through the obstructing crags at Gan Rock to open the river route to navigation. Under Dezong, Li Bi served as chancellor and was known as a favorite of the emperor. The emperor once said, "Tell me who has been kind to you, and I will repay them. Bi replied, "Long ago Yuan Zai hated me and had me demoted to Jiangxi. Lu Sigong was close to Zai, and I feared him. Once I rode alongside his son Ying when a horse bit my shin. I was terrified, but Ying said nothing and went calmly to see his father. I have long felt ashamed before his forbearance and wished to repay it." The emperor said, "Good." That same day Ying was made Acting Director of the Bureau of State Farms and granted the gold-and-purple insignia of rank. He rose to observation commissioner of Xuan, She, and Chi and was enfeoffed as Prince of Xiangyang. When Li Qi rebelled, Ying sent local militia to relieve Hu and Chang prefectures, preventing Qi from capturing them. In the sixth year of Yuanhe, ill health led to his appointment as Left Regular Cavalier; he died and was given the posthumous name Tranquil. His son Shu, courtesy name Tiren. Serving under Sigong against Geshu Huang, he was made Acting Vice Minister of Works with discretionary authority and promoted the surrendered general Yi Shen to command. When the rebellion was suppressed, Shu had earned great merit. When Sigong held Heyang, Shu was made prefect of Huaizhou at only thirty. Yang Yan used him to block Weibo—a appointment widely mocked. He later served as observation commissioner of Bin-Fang and of Xuan-She. For an offense he was demoted to prefect of Jizhou. He retired as Right Regular Cavalier, died, and was posthumously made governor of Hongzhou.