1
房琯房琯，字次律，河南河南人。 父融，武后時，以正諫大夫同鳳閣鸞臺平章事； 神龍元年，貶死高州。 琯少好學，風度沈整，以廕補弘文生。 與呂向偕隱陸渾山，十年不諧際人事。 開元中，作《封禪書》，說宰相張說，說奇之，奏為校書郎。 舉任縣令科，授盧氏令。 拜監察御史，坐訊獄非是，貶睦州司戶參軍。 復為縣，所至上德化，興長利，以治最顯。
Fang Guan, whose courtesy name was Cilü, came from Henan in Henan commandery. His father Rong had served under Empress Wu as Remonstrating Grand Master and associate director of the Phoenix Pavilion and Phoenix Terrace chancellery; In 705 he was banished and died in exile at Gaozhou. Guan had loved scholarship from boyhood, carried himself with grave composure, and entered the Hongwen Academy by hereditary privilege. He and Lü Xiang withdrew together to Mount Lu Hun and for ten years kept out of public life entirely. During the Kaiyuan era he wrote a treatise on the Feng and Shan sacrifices and showed it to Chancellor Zhang Yue, who was so impressed that he had Guan appointed collating editor. He passed the special examination for county magistrates and was made magistrate of Lushi. Appointed investigating censor, he was later demoted to revenue registrar of Muzhou for irregularities in a trial he conducted. Restored to county office, he governed wherever he was posted with moral suasion, fostered lasting public benefit, and won renown for outstanding administration.
2
天寶五載，試給事中，封漳南縣男。 時玄宗有逸志，數巡幸，廣溫泉為華清宮，環宮所置百司區署。 以琯資機算，詔總經度驪山，疏岩剔藪，為天子游觀。 未畢，坐善李適之、韋堅，斥為宜春太守。 曆琅邪、鄴、扶風三郡，頻遷憲部侍郎。 十五載，帝狩蜀，琯馳至普安上謁，帝喜甚，即拜文部尚書、同中書門下平章事，從至成都，賜一子官。
In 746 he was tried out as imperial attendant and enfeoffed as Baron of Zhangnan. The emperor then indulged a taste for pleasure, traveled often, expanded the hot springs into Huaqing Palace, and grouped government offices around it. Deeming Guan clever and practical, the court put him in charge of developing Mount Li—clearing cliffs and thinning forests for the emperor's excursions. Before the project was done, his association with Li Shizhi and Wei Jian cost him the post; he was sent out as prefect of Yichun. He served in turn as prefect of Langye, Ye, and Fufeng, and rose repeatedly until he became vice minister of justice. In 756, when the emperor fled into Shu, Guan rushed to Pu'an to pay homage. Delighted, the emperor at once made him Minister of Rites and co-chancellor, took him on to Chengdu, and granted an office to one of his sons.
3
俄與韋見素、崔渙奉冊靈武，見肅宗，具言上皇所以傳付意，因道當時利病，箝索虜情，辭吐華暢，帝為改容。 琯既有重名。 帝傾意待之，機務一二與琯參決，諸將相莫敢望。 於是，第五琦言財利幸，為江淮租庸使。 琯諫曰：「往楊國忠聚斂，產怨天下。 陛下即位，人未見德，今又寵琦，是一國忠死，一國忠生，無以示遠方。」 帝曰：「六軍之命方急，無財則散。 卿惡琦可也，何所取財？」 琯不得對。 北海太守賀蘭進明自河南至，詔攝御史大夫、嶺南節度使，入謝，帝曰：「朕語琯除正大夫，何為攝邪？」 進明銜之，因曰：「陛下知晉亂乎？ 惟以尚虛名，任王衍為宰相，基祖浮華，不事天下事，故至於敗。 方唐中興，當用實才，而琯性疏闊，大言無當，非宰相器。 陛下待之厚，然孰肯為陛下用乎？」 帝曰：「何哉？」 對曰：「陛下頃為皇太子，太子出曰撫軍，入曰監國，而琯為聖皇建遣諸王為都統節度，乃謂陛下為元子而付以朔方、河東、河北空虛之地，永王、豐王乃統四節度。 此於聖皇似忠，于陛下非忠也。 琯意諸子一得天下，身不失恩，又多樹私黨，以副戎權，推此而言，豈肯盡誠于陛下乎？」 帝入其語，始惡琯。 以進明為御史大夫、河南節度使。
Shortly afterward he went with Wei Jiansu and Cui Huan to Lingwu to present the imperial register to Suzong, explained Xuanzong's purpose in abdicating, analyzed current strengths and weaknesses, and laid out the rebels' position in flowing, eloquent speech that made the emperor sit up. Guan already enjoyed great fame. The emperor leaned on him wholeheartedly, consulted him on crucial affairs, and none of the other generals or ministers could rival his standing. At this point Diwu Qi, who traded on expertise in finance, won favor and was made commissioner for Jiang-Huai tax and corvée. Guan remonstrated: "Under Yang Guozhong the court squeezed revenue until the empire seethed with resentment. You have just taken the throne and the people have yet to see benevolent rule; if you favor Qi now, it will look as though one Guozhong has died only for another to rise—how can that reassure the provinces? The emperor replied: "The armies' survival hangs in the balance; without money they will scatter. You may dislike Qi as you please, but where else will the funds come from? Guan had no answer. Helan Jinming, prefect of Beihai, arrived from Henan and was ordered to serve as acting censor-in-chief and military commissioner of Lingnan. When he came to give thanks, the emperor said, "I told Guan to appoint you full censor-in-chief—why 'acting'? Jinming took offense and said, "Does Your Majesty know how the Jin dynasty was ruined? They prized empty reputation, put Wang Yan in the chancellery, and built policy on showy refinement while neglecting the realm—until the state collapsed. Tang is trying to revive itself and needs practical men, but Guan is scatterbrained, full of empty talk, and unfit for the chancellery. You treat him generously, but who under him would truly serve you?" The emperor asked, "How so?" He replied: "When you were crown prince, a prince leaving court was styled 'military overseer' and returning 'regent of the realm.' Yet Guan, acting for the retired emperor, had the princes made overall commanders and military commissioners: he treated you as eldest son but gave you the depleted territories of Shuofang, Hedong, and Hebei, while Princes Yong and Feng held four military commissions between them. That looked loyal to the retired emperor but was not loyal to you. Guan meant that whichever prince won the throne, he would keep his own favor; he also built private factions to back military power. On that logic, would he ever serve you with whole-hearted loyalty?" The emperor accepted this account and began to turn against Guan. Jinming was made censor-in-chief and military commissioner of Henan.
4
會琯請自將平賊，帝猶倚以成功，乃詔琯持節招討西京、防禦蒲潼兩關兵馬節度等使，得自擇參佐。 乃以兵部尚書王思禮、御史中丞鄧景山為副，戶部侍郎李揖為行軍司馬，中丞宋若思、起居郎知制誥賈至、右司郎中魏少游為判官，給事中劉秩為參謀。 琯分三軍趨京師：楊希文將南軍，自宜壽入； 劉悊將中軍，自武功入； 李光進將北軍，自奉天入。 琯身中軍先鋒。 十月庚子，次便橋。 辛丑，中軍、北軍遇賊陳濤斜，戰不利。 琯欲持重有所伺，中人邢延恩促戰，故敗，士死麻葦。 癸卯，率南軍復戰，遂大敗，希文、悊皆降賊。 初，琯用春秋時戰法，以車二千乘繚營，騎步夾之。 既戰，賊乘風噪，牛悉髀栗，賊投芻而火之，人畜焚燒，殺卒四萬，血丹野，殘眾才數千，不能軍。 琯還走行在，見帝，肉袒請罪，帝宥之，使裒夷散，復圖進取。 琯雅自負，以天下為己任，然用兵本非所長。 其佐李揖、劉秩等皆儒生，未嘗更軍旅，琯每詫曰：「彼曳落河雖多，能當我劉秩乎？」 帝雖恨琯喪師，而眷任未衰。
When Guan asked to command the campaign himself, the emperor still hoped he would succeed and appointed him commissioner to recover the Western Capital, defend the Pu and Tong passes, and take overall command of the armies, with freedom to choose his own staff. Wang Silu, Minister of War, and Deng Jingshan, chief censor, became his deputies; Li Yi, vice minister of revenue, was made campaign marshal; Song Ruosi, Jia Zhi, and Wei Shaoyou served as administrators; and Liu Zhi, imperial attendant, was made staff planner. Guan divided his force into three columns marching on the capital: Yang Xiwen led the southern army in from Yishou; Liu Ti led the central army in from Wugong; Li Guangjin led the northern army in from Fengtian. Guan himself rode at the head of the central column. On the gengzi day of the tenth month he encamped at Bian Bridge. The next day the central and northern columns met the rebels at Chen-Tao Slope and were beaten. Guan had wanted to move cautiously and watch for an opening, but the eunuch Xing Yan'en pressed for battle, and the defeat left the dead piled like hemp stalks in a field. Two days later he led the southern army into battle again and was routed; Xiwen and Ti both went over to the rebels. At the outset Guan had deployed Spring and Autumn–style tactics: two thousand war chariots ringed the camp with cavalry and infantry on either flank. When battle was joined the rebels raised a wind of noise; the oxen shook in terror; the rebels threw fodder and torched it; men and beasts burned; forty thousand soldiers died and the plain ran red; only a few thousand survivors remained, unable to regroup as an army. Guan fled back to the imperial camp, bared his torso to beg forgiveness, and was pardoned; the emperor had him gather and bury the dead and plan another advance. Guan was naturally self-assured and took the fate of the realm as his personal charge, but command of armies was never his gift. His aides Li Yi, Liu Zhi, and the rest were scholars who had never seen war; Guan would boast, "However many Tiele warriors they field, can they stand against my Liu Zhi? Though the emperor resented the loss of the army, his regard for Guan did not yet fade.
5
崔圓自蜀來，最後見帝，琯謂帝不見省，易之。 圓以金畀李輔國，不淹日被寵，遂怨琯。 琯數稱疾不入。 會御史大夫顏真卿劾奏諫議大夫李何忌不孝，琯素善何忌，不欲以惡名錮之，托被酒入朝，貶西平郡司馬。 琴工董廷蘭出入琯所，琯昵之。 廷蘭藉琯勢，數招賕謝，為有司劾治，琯訴於帝，帝因震怒，叱遣之，琯惶恐就第。 罷為太子少師。 從帝還都，封清河郡公。 琯之廢，朝臣多言琯謀包文武，可復用，雖琯亦自謂當柄任，為天子立功。 善琯者暴其言於朝。 琯方日引劉秩、嚴武與宴語，移病自如。 帝以琯虛言浮誕，內鞅鞅，挾黨背公，非大臣體。 乾元元年，出琯為邠州刺史，逐秩、武等，因下詔陳其比周狀，喻敕中外。 始，邠以武將領刺史，故綱目廢弛，即治府為營，吏攘民居相淆歡。 琯至，一切革之，人以便安，政聲流聞。 召拜太子賓客，遷禮部尚書，為晉、漢二州刺史。 寶應二年，召拜刑部尚書，道病卒，贈太尉。
Cui Yuan came up from Shu and was the last of the ministers to be received by the emperor; Guan said the emperor had overlooked him and had him replaced. Yuan paid Li Fuguo a bribe and within days won the emperor's favor, then turned against Guan. Guan repeatedly pleaded illness and stayed away from court. When Yan Zhenqing, censor-in-chief, impeached remonstrating grand master Li Heji for unfilial conduct, Guan, who had long favored Heji and did not want him ruined by the charge, entered court pretending to be drunk and was demoted to military adjutant of Xiping. The lutenist Dong Yanlan frequented Guan's house, and Guan favored him. Yanlan used Guan's influence to solicit bribes repeatedly until the authorities impeached him; Guan appealed to the emperor, who flew into a rage, shouted him down, and sent him away; Guan withdrew to his mansion in fear. He was dismissed to the post of Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent. When the emperor returned to the capital, he was enfeoffed as Duke of Qinghe. After Guan's fall many officials said his plans combined civil and military talent and that he could serve again; Guan himself believed he should hold power once more and win merit for the throne. His supporters repeated these boasts at court. Guan spent his days feasting and talking with Liu Zhi and Yan Wu while continuing to plead illness as an excuse. The emperor judged Guan's talk empty and reckless, resented his inner discontent, and saw faction-mongering against the public good—conduct unworthy of a chief minister. In 758 Guan was sent out as prefect of Bin; Liu Zhi, Yan Wu, and the rest were driven off, and an edict detailed his cliquish conduct for the whole court and empire. Bin had long been run by generals serving as prefect, so government had collapsed: the prefectural compound was a barracks, and officials had seized civilian homes at will. When Guan arrived he reformed everything; the people found life easier, and word of his good government spread. He was recalled as Guest of the Heir Apparent, promoted to Minister of Rites, and later served as prefect of Jin and Han. In 763 he was recalled as Minister of Justice but fell ill on the journey and died; he was posthumously made Grand Commandant.
6
琯有遠器，好談老子、浮屠法，喜賓客，高談有餘，而不切事。 時天下多故，急於謀略攻取，帝以吏事繩下，而琯為相，遽欲從容鎮靜以輔治之，又知人不明，以取敗撓，故功名隳損云。
Guan had breadth of vision, loved discourse on Laozi and Buddhism, delighted in entertaining guests, and talked brilliantly—but without practical grip on affairs. The realm was in turmoil and demanded strategy and conquest; the emperor ruled through strict administration, yet Guan as chancellor wanted at once to steady the state through unhurried calm. He also misjudged men and brought defeat on himself—so his fame and achievement collapsed.
7
贊曰：唐名儒多言琯德器，有王佐材，而史載行事，亦少貶矣。 一舉喪師，訖不復振。 原琯以忠誼自奮，片言悟主而取宰相，必有以過人者，用違所長，遂無成功。 然盛名之下，為難居矣。 夫名盛則責望備，實不副則訾咎深。 使琯遭時承平，從容帷幄，不失為名宰。 而倉卒濟難，事敗隙生，陷於浮虛比周之罪，名之為累也，戒哉！ 子孺復子孺復，幼頗能屬文，然狂縱不法。 淮南節度使陳少游奏置幕府。 多招術家言己三十當得宰相，以熏權近，希進取。 後辟浙西韓滉府。 兄宗偃喪自嶺外還，孺復不出臨吊。 與妻鄭不相中，慈姆為言，乃具棺召家人生斂之； 鄭方乳，促上道，鄭死於行。 又娶崔昭女，崔悍媢，殺二侍兒，私瘞之。 觀察使以聞，貶連州司馬，聽崔去。 既又與崔通，請復合，詔許。 未幾復離。 終容州刺史。 孫啟琯孫啟，以廕補鳳翔參軍事，累調萬年令，素贅附王叔文。 貞元末，叔文用事，除容管經略使，陰許以荊南帥節。 啟至荊湖，宿留不肯進，會叔文與韋執誼內忿爭，不果拜。 俄而皇太子監國，啟惶駭就鎮。 凡九年，改桂管觀察使。 州邸以賂請有司飛驛送詔，既而憲宗自遣宦人持詔賜啟，啟畏使者邀重餉，即曰：「先五日已得詔。」 使者紿請視，因馳歸以聞，貶太僕少卿。 啟自陳獻使者南口十五，帝怒，殺宦人，貶啟虔州長史，死。 始詔五管、福建、黔中道不得以口饋遺、博易，罷臘口等使。 族孫式琯族孫式，擢進士第，累遷忠州刺史。 韋皋表為雲南安撫副使、蜀州刺史。 皋卒，劉辟反，式留不得行。 賊平，高崇文保貸之，言諸朝，除吏部郎中。 時河朔諸將劉濟、張茂昭等更相劾奏，帝欲和之，拜式給事中，使河北，還奏如旨。 遷陝虢觀察使，改河南尹。 會討王承宗鎮州，索餉車四千乘，民不能具。 式建言：「歲凶人勞，不任調發。」 又御史元稹亦言：「賊未禽，而河南民先困。」 詔可，都鄙安之。 改宣歙觀察使。 卒，贈左散騎常侍，諡曰傾。 吏部郎中韋乾度曰：「始式刺蜀州，劉辟構難，即謂辟曰：『向夢公為上相，儀衛甚盛，幸無相忘。』 辟喜，以為祥。 後辟發兵署牒，首曰辟，副曰式，參謀曰符載。 大節已虧，不宜得諡。」 博士李虞仲曰：「始辟反，為其用者皆救死其頸，可盡被惡名乎？ 如式，不能去，又不能死，可謂求生害仁者也。 辟走西山，召所疑畏者盡殺之，式在其間，會救得免。 而曰大節已虧，近於溢言。」 諡乃定。 張鎬張鎬，字從周，博州人。 儀狀瑰偉，有大志，視經史猶漁獵，然好王霸大略。 少事吳兢，兢器之。 游京師，未知名，率嗜酒鼓琴自娛。 人或邀之，杖策往，醉即返，不及世務。
The encomium says: Tang's leading scholars often praised Guan's character and talent and called him fit to assist a king, yet the historical record of his deeds offers its own reproach. One defeat cost him the army, and he never recovered. Consider Guan: he drove himself by loyalty and duty, won the chancellery with a few words that moved his sovereign, and plainly had gifts above the common run—yet he was used against his strengths and achieved nothing. Yet it is hard to live up to a great name. Great fame raises complete expectations; when reality falls short, blame runs deep. Had Guan lived in a peaceful age and steered policy calmly from the council chamber, he might still have been remembered as a fine minister. But pressed to save the dynasty in crisis, he failed, cracks opened, and he fell under charges of empty talk and cliquishness—reputation became his burden. Let that be a warning! Son: Ru Fu. Ru Fu could write passably well from youth, but was wild, unrestrained, and lawless. Huainan military commissioner Chen Shaoyou had him appointed to his staff. He gathered diviners who told him he would reach the chancellery at thirty, curried favor with those near power, and schemed for promotion. Later he entered the staff of Han Huang in Zhexi. When his elder brother Zongyan's coffin returned from the south, Ru Fu did not come out to mourn. He and his wife Zheng were at odds; when the nurse pleaded for her, he had a coffin prepared and called the household to perform the encoffining rite while she was still alive; Zheng was still nursing an infant; he hurried her onto the road, and she died on the way. He then married a daughter of Cui Zhao; she was fierce and jealous, killed two maidservants, and buried them in secret. The observation commissioner reported the matter; Ru Fu was demoted to military adjutant of Lianzhou and Cui was permitted to leave him. He later resumed relations with Cui and asked to take her back; the court allowed it. Before long they parted again. He ended his career as prefect of Rongzhou. Grandson: Qi. Guan's grandson Qi entered service at Fengxiang by hereditary privilege, rose to magistrate of Wannian, and had long clung to Wang Shuwen's faction. At the end of the Zhenyuan era, when Shuwen held power, Qi was made frontier commissioner of Rongguan with a secret promise of the Jingnan command. Qi reached the Jing-Hu region and lingered without advancing; when Shuwen and Wei Zhiyi fell out among themselves, the promised appointment never materialized. Soon afterward the crown prince assumed regency; Qi, terrified, hurried to his post. After nine years he was transferred to observation commissioner of Guiguan. The prefectural residence bribed officials to have the edict sent by urgent relay; then Xianzong himself sent a eunuch with the appointment. Qi, fearing the envoy would demand a heavy gift, said at once, "I received the edict five days ago. The envoy tricked him into asking to see it, then galloped back to report the lie; Qi was demoted to vice minister of the stud. Qi admitted he had given the envoy fifteen [units] from Nankou; the emperor was furious, executed the eunuch, demoted Qi to chief administrator of Ganzhou, and Qi died. Thereupon an edict forbade the Five Circuits, Fujian, and Qianzhong from trading in human tribute and abolished the Lakou commissioners and the like. Clansman descendant: Shi. Guan's kinsman Shi passed the jinshi examination and rose to prefect of Zhong. Wei Gao recommended him as vice commissioner for Yunnan pacification and prefect of Shu. When Gao died, Liu Pi rebelled, and Shi was trapped and unable to leave. After the rebellion was crushed, Gao Chongwen stood surety for him and spoke on his behalf at court; he was appointed director in the Ministry of Personnel. The Hebei generals Liu Ji, Zhang Maozhao, and others were impeaching one another; the emperor wanted reconciliation, made Shi imperial attendant, sent him to Hebei, and his report on return matched the emperor's intent. He was made observation commissioner of Shan-Guo, then Intendant of Henan. During the campaign against Wang Chengzong at Zhenzhou, the court demanded four thousand supply carts, which the people could not provide. Shi memorialized: "The harvest has failed and the people are exhausted; they cannot bear another levy. Censor Yuan Zhen also said, "The rebels are not yet taken, yet the people of Henan are already in distress." The edict approved the relief, and the capital and countryside were reassured. He was transferred to observation commissioner of Xuan-She. He died and was posthumously made Left Regular Attendant with the posthumous name Qing. Wei Qiandu, director in the Ministry of Personnel, said: "When Shi first governed Shu, Liu Pi rebelled; Shi at once told Pi, 'I dreamed you became chief minister with a grand guard of honor—do not forget me when you rise. Pi was delighted and took it as a good omen. When Pi later mobilized troops, his orders listed Pi first, Shi second, and Fu Zai as staff planner. His great integrity was already compromised; he should not receive a posthumous name.' Erudite Li Yuzhong said, "When Pi first rebelled, everyone in his service scrambled to save his own neck—must they all bear a villain's name? As for Shi, he could neither leave nor die—he harmed benevolence to save his own life. Pi fled to Western Mountain and summoned those he feared to kill them all; Shi was among them but was rescued in time. Yet to say his great integrity was lost comes close to exaggeration." The posthumous name was then confirmed. Zhang Gao, whose courtesy name was Congzhou, came from Bozhou. He was imposing in bearing and ambitious; he treated the classics like sport, yet loved grand strategy fit for emperors and hegemons. In youth he served Wu Jing, who prized his ability. In the capital, still unknown, he mostly amused himself with wine and the zither. When invited he would go leaning on his staff, return when drunk, and pay no heed to worldly affairs.
8
天寶末，楊國忠執政，求天下士為己重，聞鎬才，薦之。 釋褐衣，拜左拾遺，歷侍御史。 玄宗西狩，鎬徒步扈從。 俄遣詣肅宗所。 數論事，擢諫議大夫，尋拜中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事。 時引內浮屠數百居禁中，號「內道場」，諷唄外聞，鎬諫曰：「天子之福，要在養人，以一函宇，美風化，未聞區區佛法而致太平。 願陛下以無為為心，不以小乘撓聖慮。」 帝然之。 尋詔兼河南節度使，都統淮南諸軍事。 賊圍宋州，張巡告急，鎬倍道進，檄濠州刺史閭丘曉趣救。 曉愎撓，逗留不肯進，比鎬至淮口，而巡已陷。 鎬怒，杖殺曉。 帝還京師，封南陽郡公，詔以本軍鎮汴州，捕平殘寇。 史思明提范陽獻順款，鎬揣其偽，密奏曰：「思明勢窮而服，包藏不測，可以計取，難以義招，不宜以威權假之。」 又言：「滑州防禦使許叔冀狡獪，臨難必變，宜追還宿衛。」 書入不省。 時宦官絡繹出鎬境，未嘗降情結納。 自范陽、滑州使還者，皆盛言思明、叔冀忠，而毀鎬無經略才。 帝以鎬不切事機，遂罷宰相，授荊州大都督府長史。 思明、叔冀後果叛，如鎬言。 召拜太子賓客、左散騎常侍。 坐市嗣岐王珍第，貶辰州司戶參軍。 代宗初，起為撫州刺史，遷洪州觀察使，更封平原郡公。 袁晁寇東境，江介震騷，鎬遣兵屯上饒，斬首二千級。 又襲舒城賊楊昭，梟之。 沉千載者，新安大豪，連結椎剽，州縣不能禽，鎬遣別將盡殄其眾。 改江南西道觀察使，卒。
At the end of the Tianbao era Yang Guozhong held power and sought talented men to bolster his faction; hearing of Gao's ability, he recommended him. He left commoner's dress behind, was appointed Left Remonstrator, and later served as attendant censor. When Xuanzong fled west, Gao followed on foot in attendance. He was soon sent to Suzong's camp. He spoke repeatedly on policy, was promoted to remonstrating grand master, and soon made Vice Director of the Secretariat and co-chancellor. Hundreds of Buddhist monks had been brought into the palace in what was called the Inner Way-place, and their chanting could be heard outside. Gao remonstrated: "A Son of Heaven's blessing lies in nourishing his people and civilizing the realm—not in petty Buddhist rites bringing peace. May Your Majesty keep non-action at heart and not let lesser Buddhist teaching disturb your sacred deliberations." The emperor agreed. He was soon ordered to serve additionally as military commissioner of Henan and overall commander of Huainan forces. Rebels besieged Songzhou; Zhang Xun sent urgent appeals; Gao marched at forced pace and ordered Hao prefect Lüqiu Xiao to hurry to the rescue. Xiao was obstinate, lingered, and refused to advance; by the time Gao reached the Huai mouth, Xun had already fallen. Gao in fury had Xiao beaten to death. When the emperor returned to the capital, Gao was enfeoffed Duke of Nanyang and ordered to station his army at Bianzhou to hunt down remnant rebels. Shi Siming from Fanyang offered submission; Gao judged it deceitful and secretly memorialized: "Siming submits only because he is cornered; he harbors unknown designs; he can be taken by stratagem, not won by righteousness—do not lend him authority. He also said, "Huazhou defense commissioner Xu Shuji is crafty and will turn in a crisis—recall him to palace guard duty." The memorial was ignored. Eunuchs constantly passed through his territory, yet he never stooped to court them. Envoys returning from Fanyang and Huazhou all praised Siming and Shuji as loyal while denigrating Gao as lacking strategic talent. The emperor judged Gao out of touch with the moment, dismissed him from the chancellery, and made him chief administrator of Jingzhou. Siming and Shuji later rebelled, just as Gao had predicted. He was recalled as Guest of the Heir Apparent and Left Regular Attendant. For trafficking in property from Prince of Qi's heir Zhen's mansion, he was demoted to revenue registrar of Chenzhou. Early in Daizong's reign he was restored as prefect of Fu, then made observation commissioner of Hong, and re-enfeoffed Duke of Pingyuan. Yuan Chao raided the eastern border and shook the Yangzi region; Gao sent troops to Shangrao and took two thousand heads. He also attacked the Shucheng bandit Yang Zhao and displayed his head. Shen Qianzai, a great magnate of Xin'an, had linked up with bandits whom the local authorities could not capture; Gao sent a deputy who exterminated his entire band. He was made observation commissioner of Jiangnan West Circuit and died in office.
9
鎬起布衣，二期至宰相。 居身廉，不殖貲產。 善待士，性簡重，論議有體。 在位雖淺，而天下之人推為舊德云。 李泌李泌，字長源，魏八柱國弼六世孫，徙居京兆。 七歲知為文。 玄宗開元十六年，悉召能言佛、道、孔子者，相答難禁中。 有員俶者，九歲升坐，詞辯注射，坐人皆屈。 帝異之，曰：「半千孫，固當然。」 因問：「童子豈有類若者？」 俶跪奏：「臣舅子李泌。」 帝即馳召之。 泌既至，帝方與燕國公張說觀弈，因使說試其能。 說請賦「方圓動靜」，泌逡巡曰：「願聞其略。」 說因曰：「方若棋局，圓若棋子，動若棋生，靜若棋死。」 泌即答曰：「方若行義，圓若用智，動若騁材，靜若得意。」 說因賀帝得奇童。 帝大悅曰：「是子精神，要大於身。」 賜束帛，敕其家曰：「善視養之。」 張九齡尤所獎愛，常引至臥內。 九齡與嚴挺之、蕭誠善，挺之惡誠佞，勸九齡謝絕之。 九齡忽獨念曰：「嚴太苦勁，然蕭軟美可喜。」 方命左右召蕭，泌在旁，帥爾曰：「公起布衣，以直道至宰相，而喜軟美者乎？」 九齡驚，改容謝之，因呼「小友」。 及長，博學，善治《易》，常游嵩、華、終南間，慕神仙不死術。 天寶中，詣闕獻《復明堂九鼎議》，帝憶其早惠，召講《老子》，有法，得待詔翰林，仍供奉東宮，皇太子遇之厚。 嘗賦詩譏誚楊國忠、安祿山等，國忠疾之，詔斥置蘄春郡。
Gao rose from commoner's dress to the chancellery in two years. He lived incorruptibly and amassed no wealth. He treated scholars generously, was reserved by nature, and spoke with proper form. Though his tenure was brief, people throughout the realm hailed him as an elder statesman of virtue. Li Bi, whose courtesy name was Changyuan, was a sixth-generation descendant of the Wei pillar Bi and had moved his family to Jingzhao. At seven he could already write. In 728 Xuanzong summoned everyone who could discourse on Buddhism, the Way, and Confucius to debate one another in the palace. A boy named Yuan Chu, nine years old, took the seat and argued with such force that everyone present was defeated. The emperor marveled and said, "A grandson of Banqian—of course he would be so. He then asked, "Are there other boys like him?" Chu knelt and said, "My cousin Li Bi." The emperor at once sent for him. When Bi arrived, the emperor was watching a game of go with Zhang Yue, Duke of Yan, and had Yue test the boy's ability. Yue asked him to compose on square, round, movement, and stillness; Bi hesitated and said, "Please tell me the theme in brief." Yue said, "Square like the board, round like the stones, movement like stones coming alive, stillness like stones dying." Bi answered at once, "Square like practicing righteousness, round like employing wisdom, movement like displaying talent, stillness like resting in satisfaction." Yue congratulated the emperor on gaining a prodigy. The emperor was delighted and said, "This child's spirit will outgrow his body. He was given silk and his family was told, "Care for him well." Zhang Jiuling especially favored him and often brought him into his private quarters. Jiuling was friendly with Yan Tingzhi and Xiao Cheng; Tingzhi detested Cheng's flattery and urged Jiuling to break with him. Jiuling suddenly mused aloud, "Yan is too harsh, yet Xiao is soft and pleasing—quite delightful. As he ordered attendants to summon Xiao, Bi at his side said sharply, "You rose from commoner's dress to the chancellery by the straight Way—yet you delight in the soft and pleasing?" Jiuling started, changed his manner and apologized, and called him "little friend." When grown he was broadly learned, skilled in the Book of Changes, often traveled among Mount Song, Mount Hua, and Zhongnan, and sought immortal arts. During Tianbao he came to court with a memorial on restoring the Bright Hall and Nine Cauldrons; the emperor recalled his childhood brilliance, summoned him to lecture on the Laozi with real mastery, made him Hanlin attendant, and kept him at the Eastern Palace, where the crown prince treated him generously. He once wrote poetry mocking Yang Guozhong, An Lushan, and others; Guozhong resented it and he was banished to Qichun.
10
肅宗即位靈武，物色求訪，會泌亦自至。 已謁見，陳天下所以成敗事，帝悅，欲授以官，固辭，願以客從。 入議國事，出陪輿輦，眾指曰：「著黃者聖人，著白者山人。」 帝聞，因賜金紫，拜元帥廣平王行軍司馬。 帝嘗曰「卿侍上皇，中為朕師，今下判廣平行軍，朕父子資卿道義」云。 始，軍中謀帥，皆屬建甯王，泌密白帝曰：「建甯王誠賢，然廣平塚嗣，有君人量，豈使為吳太伯乎？」 帝曰：「廣平為太子，何假元帥？」 泌曰：「使元帥有功，陛下不以為儲副，得耶？ 太子從曰撫軍，守曰監國，今元帥乃撫軍也。」 帝從之。
When Suzong took the throne at Lingwu he sought him out, and Bi arrived on his own. After audience he explained why the realm had succeeded or failed; the emperor was pleased and wished to give him office, but he firmly declined and asked to follow as a private guest. He entered to discuss state affairs and went out beside the imperial carriage; people pointed and said, "The one in yellow is the sage; the one in white is the mountain man. The emperor heard and granted him gold and purple robes, appointing him campaign marshal to Marshal Prince of Guangping. The emperor once said, "You served the retired emperor, were my teacher in between, and now serve under Guangping's command—my father and I rely on your moral guidance." At first the army favored Prince of Jianning as commander; Bi secretly told the emperor, "Jianning is worthy, but Guangping is the legitimate heir and has the measure of a ruler—would you make him another Taibo of Wu? The emperor said, "Guangping is already crown prince—why does he need the marshal's title?" Bi said, "If the marshal wins merit, could you refuse to make him heir? A crown prince leaving court is styled 'military overseer,' staying in is 'regent of the realm'—the marshal's post is the overseer's role." The emperor accepted this.
11
初，帝在東宮，李林甫數構譖，勢危甚，及即位，怨之，欲掘塚焚骨。 泌以天子而念宿嫌，示天下不廣，使脅從之徒得釋言於賊。 帝不悅，曰：「往事卿忘之乎？」 對曰：「臣念不在此。 上皇有天下五十年，一旦失意，南方氣候惡，且春秋高，聞陛下錄故怨，將內慚不懌，萬有一感疾，是陛下以天下之廣不能安親也。」 帝感悟，抱泌頸以泣曰：「朕不及此。」 因從容問破賊期，對曰； 「賊掠金帛子女，悉送范陽，有苟得心，渠能定中國邪？ 華人為之用者，獨周摯、高尚等數人，餘皆脅制偷合，至天下大計，非所知也。 不出二年，無寇矣，陛下無欲速。 夫王者之師，當務萬全，圖久安，使無後害。 今詔李光弼守太原，出井陘，郭子儀取馮翊，入河東，則史思明、張忠志不敢離范陽、常山，安守忠、田乾真不敢離長安，是以三地禁其四將也。 隨祿山者，獨阿史那承慶耳。 使子儀毋取華，令賊得通關中，則北守范陽，西救長安，奔命數千里，其精卒勁騎，不逾年而弊。 我常以逸待勞，來避其鋒，去翦其疲，以所征之兵會撫風，與太原、朔方軍互擊之。 徐命建甯王為范陽節度大使，北並塞與光弼相掎角，以取范陽。 賊失巢窟，當死河南諸將手。」 帝然之。 會西方兵大集，帝欲速得長安，曰：「今戰必勝，攻必取，何暇千里先事范陽乎？」 泌曰：「必得兩京，則賊再強，我再困。 且我所恃者，磧西突騎、西北諸戎耳。 若先取京師，期必在春，關東早熱，馬且病，士皆思歸，不可以戰。 賊得休士養徒，必復來南。 此危道也。」 帝不聽。
When the emperor had been crown prince, Li Linfu had repeatedly slandered him and put him in grave danger; on taking the throne he bore a grudge and wished to dig up Linfu's grave and burn his bones. Bi argued that for a Son of Heaven to nurse old grudges showed the realm was not magnanimous and would let those coerced into rebellion speak for the enemy. The emperor was displeased and said, "Have you forgotten what he did? He replied, "My concern lies elsewhere. The retired emperor held the realm for fifty years, then lost everything; the southern climate is harsh and he is old; if he hears you pursuing old grudges he will be ashamed and distressed; should he fall ill, you would have the whole realm yet fail to comfort your own father." The emperor was moved, embraced Bi's neck, and wept, "I had not thought of that." He then casually asked when the rebels would be defeated; Bi replied: "The rebels plunder gold, silk, and captives and send everything to Fanyang; once they have their fill, how can they hold the Central Plain? Only a few Chinese such as Zhou Zhi and Gao Shang truly serve them; the rest are coerced opportunists who know nothing of governing the realm. Within two years the rebels will be gone; Your Majesty must not hurry. A true king's army must seek complete security, plan for lasting peace, and leave no later trouble. Order Li Guangbi to hold Taiyuan and advance through Jingxing Pass, Guo Ziyi to take Fengyi and enter Hedong—then Shi Siming and Zhang Zhongzhi will not dare leave Fanyang and Changshan, An Shouzhong and Tian Qianzhen will not dare leave Chang'an; three positions will pin down their four generals. Of those who truly followed Lushan of their own will, only Ashina Chengqing. Have Guo Ziyi hold back from taking Huazhou and let the rebels break through into Guanzhong—they will then hold Fanyang in the north while rushing west to save Chang'an, racing thousands of li on desperate orders until their best troops and horses are spent within a year. We should always fight rested against their weariness—evade their thrust when they advance, strike their exhausted ranks when they withdraw, and with our mobilized forces join at Fufeng to hit them in rotation with the Taiyuan and Shuofang armies. Then gradually appoint the Prince of Jianning as military commissioner of Fanyang, advance north along the frontier in a pincer with Li Guangbi, and seize Fanyang. Once the rebels lose their base, the generals south of the Yellow River will finish them off. The Emperor agreed. Just then troops from the west massed in great numbers, and the Emperor, eager to retake Chang'an quickly, said, "We are sure to win every battle and take every city we assault—why waste time on Fanyang a thousand li away? Bi said, "If we insist on recovering both capitals first, the rebels will regroup and grow strong again while we exhaust ourselves once more. Besides, what we depend on are the Turkic horsemen west of the deserts and the various tribal allies of the northwest. If we strike for the capital first, we must finish by spring—but the lands east of the pass turn hot early, the horses will fall ill, and the men will all long for home; they will not be fit to fight. The rebels will rest and rebuild their forces, then march south again. That is a dangerous path." The Emperor refused to heed him.
12
二京平，帝奉迎上皇，自請歸東宮以遂子道。 泌曰：「上皇不來矣。 人臣尚七十而傳，況欲勞上皇以天下事乎。」 帝曰：「奈何？」 泌乃為群臣通奏，具言天子思戀晨昏，請促還以就孝養。 上皇得初奏，答曰：「當與我劍南一道自奉，不復東矣。」 帝甚憂。 及再奏至，喜曰：「吾方得為天子父！」 遂下誥戒行。
After both capitals were recovered, the Emperor went to welcome the Retired Emperor and asked to move back to the Eastern Palace so he could properly fulfill his duties as a son. Bi said, "The Retired Emperor will not come. Even ordinary officials retire at seventy—how can we expect the Retired Emperor to bear the burden of governing the realm? The Emperor said, "What can be done?" Bi then drafted a memorial on behalf of the court officials, describing at length the Son of Heaven's longing for his father day and night and asking that the Retired Emperor be urged to return so his son could care for him in filial devotion. When the Retired Emperor received the first memorial, he replied, "Grant me Jiannan circuit to support myself in retirement—I will not come east again. The Emperor was deeply troubled. When the second memorial arrived, he said with delight, "At last I can be the father of the Son of Heaven! He then issued an edict ordering his return.
13
崔圓、李輔國以泌親信，疾之。 泌畏禍，願隱衡山。 有詔給三品祿，賜隱士服，為治室廬。 泌嘗取松樛枝以隱背，名曰「養和」，後得如龍形者，因以獻帝，四方爭效之。 代宗立，召至，舍蓬萊殿書閣。 初，泌無妻，不食肉，帝乃賜光福裏第，強詔食肉，為娶朔方故留後李暐甥，昏日，敕北軍供帳。 元載惡不附己，因江西觀察使魏少遊請僚佐，載稱泌才，以試秘書少監充判官。 載誅，帝召還。 復為常袞所忌，出為楚州刺史，辭不行，帝亦留之。 會澧州缺，袞盛言南方凋瘵，請輟泌治之，乃授澧、朗、峽團練使，徙杭州刺史，皆有風績。
Cui Yuan and Li Fuguo resented Bi because he enjoyed the Emperor's close trust. Fearing reprisals, Bi asked to withdraw and live in seclusion on Mount Heng. An edict granted him third-rank stipend, gave him the garb of a recluse, and had a residence built for him. Bi once used a bent pine branch to support his back and called it "Nourishing Harmony." When he later found one shaped like a dragon and presented it to the Emperor, people everywhere rushed to copy the fashion. When Emperor Daizong took the throne, he summoned Bi and housed him in the library pavilion of Penglai Hall. At first Bi had no wife and abstained from meat, so the Emperor granted him a mansion in Guangfu Lane, ordered him by edict to eat meat, and arranged his marriage to a niece of Li Wei, the former deputy military governor of Shuofang; on the wedding day he commanded the northern army to supply the ceremonial furnishings. Yuan Zai disliked anyone who would not align with him. When the Jiangxi observation commissioner Wei Shaoyou asked for staff, Zai praised Bi's ability and had him appointed provisional secretary director to serve as Wei's administrative aide. After Zai was executed, the Emperor recalled Bi to court. Chang Gun envied him again and had him appointed prefect of Chuzhou, but Bi declined the post and refused to leave; the Emperor kept him at court as well. When Lizhou fell vacant, Gun spoke at length of the south's ruin and asked that Bi be sent to govern it; Bi was made regimental commissioner of Li, Lang, and Xia, then transferred to prefect of Hangzhou, and in every post he left a record of fine governance.
14
德宗在奉天，召赴行在，授左散騎常侍。 時李懷光叛，歲又蝗旱，議者欲赦懷光。 帝博問群臣，泌破一桐葉附使以進，曰：「陛下與懷光，君臣之分不可復合，如此葉矣。」 由是不赦。 始，朱泚亂，帝約吐蕃赴援，賂以安西、北庭。 既而渾瑊與賊戰咸陽，泚大敗，吐蕃以師追北不甚力，因大掠武功而歸。 京師平，來請如約。 帝業許，欲遂與之。 泌曰：「安西、北庭，控制西域五十七國及十姓突厥，皆悍兵處，以分吐蕃勢，使不得並兵東侵。 今與其地，則關中危矣。 且吐蕃向持兩端不戰，又掠我武功，乃賊也，奈何與之？」 遂止。
When Emperor Dezong was at Fengtian, he summoned Bi to the mobile court and appointed him Left Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary. At the time Li Huai'guang had rebelled, and the year also brought locusts and drought; some at court argued that he should be pardoned. The Emperor asked the officials broadly for their views; Bi tore a paulownia leaf in two and sent it in with the messenger, saying, "Your Majesty and Huai'guang—the bond between sovereign and subject cannot be mended, just like this leaf. Because of this, Huai'guang was not pardoned. Earlier, when Zhu Ci rebelled, the Emperor had promised Tibetan aid and offered Anxi and Beiting as reward. Soon afterward Hun Jian fought the rebels at Xianyang and Zhu Ci was routed; the Tibetans pursued northward halfheartedly and instead looted Wugong on a grand scale before withdrawing. After the capital was recovered, the Tibetans came to demand the territories promised them. The Emperor had already agreed and intended to hand the territories over. Bi said, "Anxi and Beiting hold sway over the fifty-seven states of the Western Regions and the Ten Surname Turks—lands of fierce warriors that split Tibetan strength and keep them from massing their armies for an eastern invasion. If we surrender those territories now, Guanzhong will be in grave danger. Besides, the Tibetans sat on the fence and refused to fight, then plundered our Wugong—they acted as bandits; how can we reward them with territory? The Emperor thereupon abandoned the plan.
15
貞元元年，拜陝虢觀察使。 泌始鑿山開車道至三門，以便饟漕。 以勞，進檢校禮部尚書。 淮西兵防秋屯鄜州，已而四千人亡歸，或曰吳少誠密招之。 既入境，泌邀險悉擊殺之。 三年，拜中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事，累封鄴縣侯。 初，張延賞減天下吏員，人情愁怨，至流離死道路者。 泌請復之，帝未從，因問：「今戶口減承平時幾何？」 曰：「三之二。」 帝曰：「人既雕耗，員何可復？」 泌曰：「不然。 戶口雖耗，而事多承平十倍。 陛下欲省州縣則可，而吏員不可減。 今州或參軍署券，縣佐史判案。 所謂省官者，去其冗員，非常員也。」 帝曰：「若何為冗員？」 對曰：「州參軍無職事及兼、試額內官者。 兼、試，自至德以來有之，比正員三之一，可悉罷。」 帝乃許復吏員，而罷冗官。 泌又條奏：「中朝官常侍、賓客十員，其六員可罷； 左右贊善三十員，其二十員可罷。 如舊制，諸王未出閤，官屬皆不除。 而所收科奉，乃多於減員矣。」 帝悅。 是時，州刺史月奉至千緡，方鎮所取無藝，而京官祿寡薄，自方鎮入八座，至謂罷權。 薛邕由左丞貶歙州刺史，家人恨降之晚。 崔祐甫任吏部員外，求為洪州別駕。 使府賓佐有所忤者，薦為郎官。 其當遷台閣者，皆以不赴取罪去。 泌以為外太重，內太輕，乃請隨官閑劇，普增其奉，時以為宜。 而竇參多沮亂其事，不能悉如所請。 泌又白罷拾遺、補闕，帝雖不從，然因是不除諫官，唯用韓皋、歸登。 泌因收其公廨錢，令二人寓食中書舍人署。 凡三年，始以韋綬、梁肅為左右補闕。
In the first year of the Zhenyuan era, he was appointed observation commissioner of Shan and Guo. Bi was the first to cut through the mountains and open a cart road to Sanmen to ease the transport of grain supplies. In recognition of this labor, he was promoted to Acting Minister of Rites. Huainan-west troops stationed at Binzhou for autumn defense soon saw four thousand men desert and flee homeward; some said Wu Shaocheng had secretly recruited them. Once they entered his jurisdiction, Bi ambushed them at narrow passes and killed them to the last man. In the third year he was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat and Grand Councilor, and was cumulatively enfeoffed as Marquis of Ye County. Earlier Zhang Yanshang had cut official posts across the empire; public resentment ran so deep that people were driven from their homes and died along the roads. Bi asked that the quotas be restored, but the Emperor refused and asked, "By how much has the population fallen since peacetime? Bi replied, "By two-thirds." The Emperor said, "If the population has already been so depleted, how can we restore the quotas?" Bi said, "That is not so. Though the population has shrunk, the volume of business is ten times what it was in peacetime. Your Majesty may consolidate prefectures and counties if you wish, but the number of officials cannot be reduced. Today at some prefectures military aides sign official documents, and at some counties clerical assistants decide cases. What people call cutting officials should mean removing redundant posts, not eliminating regular ones." The Emperor asked, "What counts as a redundant post?" He replied, "Prefectural military aides with no real duties, and concurrent or provisional posts counted within the regular quota. Concurrent and provisional appointments have existed since the Zhide era and now make up about one-third of regular posts; all of them can be abolished." The Emperor then agreed to restore official quotas while abolishing redundant posts. Bi also submitted a detailed memorial: "Of the ten attendant and guest posts at the central court, six can be abolished; Of the thirty Left and Right Supporters of Goodness, twenty can be abolished. Under the old system, when princes had not yet left the inner quarters, none of their staff posts were filled. Yet the savings in stipends would still exceed the posts eliminated. The Emperor was pleased. At the time a prefect's monthly salary could reach a thousand strings, military governors extracted revenue without restraint, and capital officials were paid poorly; men who moved from a governorship into the Eight Chief Offices even spoke of it as surrendering real power. Xue Yong was demoted from Left Vice Director to prefect of Shezhou, and his family complained that the appointment had come too late. Cui Youfu, while serving as Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel, asked to be appointed vice-prefect of Hongzhou. Staff members who had offended their governor were recommended for posts in the capital ministries. Those who ought to have been promoted to the central ministries were punished and dismissed for refusing to leave their provincial posts. Bi believed that provincial posts were overpaid and capital posts underpaid, and asked that salaries be raised broadly according to each office's workload; people at the time thought this reasonable. But Dou Can obstructed the plan in many ways, so not all of Bi's requests could be carried out. Bi also urged abolishing the remonstrance and rectification posts; though the Emperor did not agree, from then on he stopped appointing remonstrance officials and employed only Han Gao and Gui Deng. Bi then took their office funds and had the two men lodge and take meals at the Secretariat drafters' office. Only after three years were Wei Shou and Liang Su finally appointed Left and Right Rectification Censors.
16
太子妃蕭母，郜國公主也，坐蠱媚，幽禁中，帝怒，責太子，太子不知所對。 泌入，帝數稱舒王賢，泌揣帝有廢立意，因曰：「陛下有一子而疑之，乃欲立弟之子，臣不敢以古事爭。 且十宅諸叔，陛下奉之若何？」 帝赫然曰：「卿何知舒王非朕子？」 對曰：「陛下昔為臣言之。 陛下有嫡子以為疑，弟之子敢自信于陛下乎？」 帝曰：「卿違朕意，不顧家族邪？」 對曰：「臣衰老，位宰相，以諫而誅，分也。 使太子廢，它日陛下悔曰『我惟一子殺之，泌不吾諫，吾亦殺爾子』，則臣絕祀矣。 雖有兄弟子，非所歆也。」 即噫嗚流涕。 因稱：「昔太宗詔：『太子不道，籓王窺伺者，兩廢之。』 陛下疑東宮而稱舒王賢，得無窺伺乎？ 若太子得罪，請亦廢之而立皇孫，千秋萬歲後，天下猶陛下子孫有也。 且郜國為其女妒忌，而蠱惑東宮，豈可以妻母累太子乎？」 執爭數十，意益堅，帝寤，太子乃得安。
The Crown Prince's consort was surnamed Xiao; her mother was the Princess of Guo, who was convicted of witchcraft and seduction and imprisoned within the palace. The Emperor was furious and rebuked the Crown Prince, who did not know how to answer. When Bi entered, the Emperor repeatedly praised Prince Shu as worthy. Sensing that the Emperor meant to depose the heir, Bi said, "Your Majesty has one son yet doubt him, and would instead install your younger brother's son—I dare not argue from ancient examples. And the many uncles of the Ten Mansions—how would Your Majesty treat them all? The Emperor said sharply, "How do you know Prince Shu is not my son?" Bi replied, "Your Majesty once told me so yourself. If Your Majesty doubts your own eldest son, would a nephew dare trust that he enjoys your full confidence?" The Emperor said, "You defy my wishes—do you not care what becomes of your family?" Bi replied, "I am old and frail, and I hold the post of chancellor; if I am executed for remonstrance, that is my proper lot. If the Crown Prince is deposed, someday Your Majesty may regret and say, 'I killed my only son, and Bi never remonstrated with me—I will kill your son too'—and then my line will end. Even if you have a brother's son, that is not the heir one would truly cherish." He immediately broke into sobs and wept. He then cited Emperor Taizong's decree: "If the Crown Prince is unprincipled and a feudal prince watches and waits, both are to be deposed. Your Majesty doubt the Eastern Palace yet praise Prince Shu as worthy—is that not the behavior of one watching and waiting? If the Crown Prince is guilty, depose him and install the imperial grandson instead—ten thousand years from now the realm will still belong to Your Majesty's line. Besides, the Princess of Guo acted out of jealousy for her daughter and used witchcraft to influence the Eastern Palace—how can the Crown Prince be punished for his consort's mother? He argued passionately for a long time, his resolve growing firmer; the Emperor came to his senses, and the Crown Prince was spared.
17
初，興元後國用大屈，封物皆三損二。 舊制，堂封歲三千六百縑，後才千二百。 至是，帝使還舊封。 於是李晟、馬燧、渾瑊各食實封，悉讓送泌，泌不納。 時方鎮私獻於帝，歲凡五十萬緡，其後稍損至三十萬，帝以用度乏問泌，泌請：「天下供錢歲百萬給宮中，勸不受私獻。 凡詔旨須索，即代兩稅，則方鎮可以行法，天下紓矣。」
Earlier, after the court's withdrawal to Xingyuan, state finances were severely strained and all enfeoffment allotments were cut by two-thirds. Under the old system, hall enfeoffment came to thirty-six hundred bolts of silk each year; afterward it was reduced to only twelve hundred. At this point the Emperor ordered the old enfeoffment allotments restored. Thereupon Li Sheng, Ma Sui, and Hun Jian, each drawing income from real enfeoffments, sent their shares to Bi, but Bi refused to accept them. At the time military governors privately presented the Emperor with about five hundred thousand strings each year; later this gradually fell to three hundred thousand. Because expenses were insufficient, the Emperor asked Bi, who proposed: "Let the empire's tribute revenue of one million strings each year supply the palace, and I urge that private gifts no longer be accepted. Whenever the court needs supplies by edict, pay for them through the two-tax system instead; then military governors can enforce the law properly and the burden on the realm will be eased."
18
帝嘗從容言：「盧杞清介敢言，然少學，不能廣朕以古道，人皆指其奸而朕不覺也。」 對曰：「陛下能覺杞之惡，安致建中禍邪？ 李揆和蕃，顏真卿使希烈，其害舊德多矣。 又楊炎罪不至死，杞擠陷之而相關播。 懷光立功，逼使其叛。 此欺天也。」 帝曰：「卿言誠有之。 然楊炎視朕如三尺童子，有所論奏，可則退，不許則辭官，非特杞惡之也。 且建中亂，卿亦知桑道茂語乎？ 乃命當然。」 對曰：「夫命者，已然之言。 主相造命，不當言命。 言命，則不復賞善罰惡矣。 桀曰：『我生不有命自天。』 武王數紂曰：『謂己有天命。』 君而言命，則桀、紂矣。」 帝曰：「朕請不復言命。」 俄加集賢殿、崇文館大學士，修國史。 泌建言：學士加大，始中宗時，及張說為之，固辭，乃以學士知院事。 至崔圓復為大學士，亦引泌為讓而止。
The Emperor once remarked in an unhurried tone: "Lu Qi is incorruptible and bold in speech, yet he is poorly educated and cannot broaden my understanding with the ways of antiquity. Everyone calls him treacherous, but I do not see it. Bi replied: "If Your Majesty had been able to see Qi's wickedness, how could the catastrophes of the Jianzhong era have occurred? Li Kui made peace with the Tibetans, and Yan Zhenqing was dispatched to Li Xilie; the injury inflicted on esteemed old ministers was immense. Moreover, Yang Yan's crimes did not merit death, yet Qi forced him out and framed him, and afterward installed Guan Bo as chancellor. Zhu Huai'guang had won great merit, yet Qi hounded him until he turned rebel. This was nothing less than deceiving Heaven itself." The Emperor said: "What you say is indeed true. Yet Yang Yan treated me like a small child: when he submitted a proposal, he withdrew if I approved it and resigned if I did not. It was not only Qi who despised him. And as for the chaos of the Jianzhong era—do you also know what Sang Daomao said? It was simply destiny unfolding as it must." Bi replied: "Fate is simply language applied to what has already happened. The sovereign and his ministers shape destiny themselves; they should not speak of fate. Once one invokes fate, one no longer rewards virtue and punishes wickedness. Jie said, 'From birth I have possessed a mandate from Heaven.' King Wu rebuked Zhou, saying, 'He claims Heaven's mandate for himself.' When a ruler talks of fate, he becomes another Jie or Zhou." The Emperor said, "I shall speak of fate no more." Soon afterward he was appointed Grand Academician of the Jixian Hall and Chongwen Library, with responsibility for compiling the national history. Bi submitted a memorial noting that the title of Grand Academician dated from Emperor Zhongzong's reign; when Zhang Yue received it he firmly declined and served only as academician in charge of the institute. When Cui Yuan was again made Grand Academician, he cited Bi's example and likewise declined the grand title.
19
帝以「前世上巳、九日，皆大宴集，而寒食多與上巳同時，欲以三月名節，自我為古，若何而可？」 泌請：「廢正月晦，以二月朔為中和節，因賜大臣戚裏尺，謂之裁度。 民間以青囊盛百穀瓜果種相問遺，號為獻生子。 里閭釀宜春酒，以祭勾芒神，祈豐年。 百官進農書，以示務本。」 帝悅，乃著令，與上巳、九日為三令節，中外皆賜緡錢燕會。
The Emperor said: "In earlier times the Shangsi and Double-Ninth festivals were both celebrated with great banquets, yet Cold Food often fell at the same time as Shangsi. I wish to establish a named festival in the third month, creating a new custom in the spirit of antiquity—how might this be accomplished? Bi proposed: "Abolish the last day of the first month and make the first day of the second month the Festival of Central Harmony. Give ministers and imperial relatives a one-foot ruler as a gift, called a caidu, or measurement. Among the people, green pouches filled with seeds of every grain, fruit, and melon would be exchanged as gifts, an observance known as 'offering the birth of life.' In every neighborhood they would brew Yichun wine to sacrifice to the god Gou Mang and pray for an abundant harvest. All officials would submit treatises on agriculture to demonstrate their commitment to fundamental pursuits." The Emperor was pleased and issued an edict establishing it, together with Shangsi and the Double-Ninth, as one of three statutory festivals; inside and outside the court all received strings of cash for banquets.
20
四年八月，月蝕東壁，泌曰：「東壁，圖書府，大臣當有憂者。 吾以宰相兼學士，當之矣。 昔燕國公張說由是以亡，又可免乎？」 明年果卒，年六十八，贈太子太傅。
In the eighth month of the fourth year, the moon eclipsed Dongbi. Bi said: "Dongbi is the asterism of the library—a great minister should suffer misfortune. As chancellor who also holds the academician post, I should be the one to bear it. Formerly the Duke of Yan, Zhang Yue, died on account of this very omen—can one escape it? The next year he did indeed die, at the age of sixty-eight, and was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Tutor to the Heir Apparent.
21
泌出入中禁，事四君，數為權幸所疾，常以智免。 好縱橫大言，時時讜議，能寤移人主。 然常持黃老鬼神說，故為人所譏切。 初，肅宗重陰陽巫祝，擢王璵執政，大抵興造工役，輒牽禁忌俗說。 而黎幹以左道位京兆尹，嘗使禁工駢珠刺繡為乘輿服，舉焚之以為禳禬。 德宗素不為然，及嗣位，罷內道場，除巫祝。 代宗將葬，帝號送承天門，而轀車行不中道，問其故，有司曰：「陛下本命在午，故避之。」 帝泣曰：「安有枉靈駕以謀身利？」 命直午而行。 又宣政廊壞，太卜言：「孟冬魁岡，不可營繕。」 帝曰：「《春秋》『啟塞從時』，何魁岡為？」 亟詔葺之。 及桑道茂城奉天事驗，始尚時日拘忌，因進用泌，泌亦自有所建明。 獨柳玭稱，兩京復，泌謀居多，其功乃大於魯連、范蠡云。 子繁子繁。 繁少才警，無行。 泌始起陽城官諸朝，故城重德泌而親厚於繁。 及疏裴延齡，既具槁，以繁可信，夜使繁書。 已封，盡能誦憶，乃錄以示延齡。 明日，延齡白帝曰：「城以疏示於朝。」 即擿其條以自訴解。 城奏入，帝怒，遂不省。 泌與梁肅善，故繁師事肅。 及卒，烝其室，士議喧醜，由是擯棄積年。 後為太常博士，權德輿為卿，奏斥之，改河南府士曹參軍。 累遷隋州刺史，罷歸，不得調。 敬宗誕日，詔與兵部侍郎丁公著、太常少卿陸亙入殿中，抗老、佛誦論。 改大理少卿、弘文館學士。 諫官御史交章彈治，乃出為亳州刺史。 州有劇賊，剽室廬、略財貲為患，它刺史不能禽，繁有機略，悉知賊巢藪所在，一旦出兵捕斬之。 議者責繁不先啟觀察府，為擅興。 詔御史舒元輿按之，元輿與繁素隙，盡翻其獄，以為濫殺不辜，有詔賜死，京兆人皆冤之。 繁下獄，知且死，恐先人功業泯滅，從吏求廢紙，筆握著家傳十篇，傳於世。
Bi moved in and out of the inner palace, serving four sovereigns; he was repeatedly envied and hated by the powerful and favored, yet usually preserved himself through wit. He loved bold, sweeping rhetoric and from time to time offered candid remonstrance, capable of awakening and changing his sovereign's mind. Yet he constantly invoked the teachings of the Yellow Emperor, Laozi, and the realm of spirits, and so drew sharp criticism. At first Emperor Suzong valued yin-yang diviners and shamans and promoted Wang Yu to power; whenever construction or public works were undertaken, taboos and popular superstitions were invoked. Li Gan, through heterodox arts, held the post of Governor of Jingzhao; he once had palace artisans embroider pearl-studded imperial garments and burned them all as exorcistic offerings. Emperor Dezong had never approved of such things; once he succeeded to the throne he abolished the inner ordination halls and dismissed the shamans. When Emperor Daizong was about to be buried, the Emperor wailed in escort at Chengtian Gate, yet the funeral carriage did not travel the middle of the road. Asked why, the responsible officials said: "Your Majesty's natal sign falls in the Wu hour, so the route was avoided. The Emperor wept and said: "How could one bend the imperial hearse to seek personal advantage?" He ordered the procession to proceed straight through the Wu hour's position. Also, the Xuanzheng corridor collapsed; the grand diviner said: "In early winter, under the Kui Gang taboo, repairs are forbidden. The Emperor said: "The Spring and Autumn Annals says, 'Open and close according to the season'—what has Kui Gang to do with it?" He immediately ordered it repaired. When Sang Daomao's prophecy about fortifying Fengtian was fulfilled, the Emperor began to observe calendar and day taboos and accordingly promoted Bi; Bi also had proposals of his own to advance. Only Liu Bin praised him, saying that when the two capitals were recovered Bi's stratagems had predominated and his achievement surpassed even those of Lu Zhonglian and Fan Li. His son was Fan. Fan was clever from boyhood but utterly without moral restraint. When Bi first raised Yang Cheng to office at court, Cheng revered Bi's virtue and grew intimate with Fan. When Cheng drafted his memorial denouncing Pei Yanling, once the draft was complete he considered Fan trustworthy and had him copy it by night. After it was sealed, Fan memorized the entire text and wrote it down to show Yanling. The next day Yanling reported to the Emperor: "Cheng has already shown his memorial to the court. He immediately took up each charge in turn to plead his own defense. When Cheng's memorial was submitted, the Emperor grew angry and refused even to read it. Bi was on good terms with Liang Su, so Fan took Su as his master. When Su died, Fan took his widow; scholarly opinion erupted in outrage, and for this he was cast aside for many years. Later he served as Academician Explanator of the Grand Temple; when Quan Deyu became Minister of Rites, he memorialized to have Fan dismissed, and Fan was reassigned as Army Staff Officer of Henan Prefecture. After successive promotions he became Prefect of Suizhou; dismissed and sent home, he could obtain no further appointment. On Emperor Jingzong's birthday, an edict summoned him together with Vice Minister of War Ding Gongzhu and Vice Minister of the Grand Temple Lu Gen into the hall to debate alternately on Daoism and Buddhism. He was appointed Vice Minister of Justice and Academic of the Hongwen Institute. Remonstrating officials and censors submitted memorial after memorial calling for his punishment, and he was dispatched as Prefect of Bozhou. The prefecture had fierce bandits who raided homes and looted goods; other prefects could not capture them. Fan was resourceful and knew every bandit lair; one day he led troops out and captured and executed them. Critics blamed Fan for not first informing the observation commissioner, charging him with unauthorized mobilization. An edict ordered Censor Shu Yuanyu to investigate; Yuanyu and Fan had long been at odds, and he overturned the entire case, deeming it indiscriminate slaughter of the innocent. An edict ordered Fan's death by imperial grace, and the people of the capital all considered it a wrongful verdict. Imprisoned and knowing he would soon die, Fan feared his forebear's achievements would be lost; he begged scrap paper from the jailers and, brush in hand, wrote ten chapters of a family biography that were handed down to posterity.
22
贊曰：泌之為人也，異哉！ 其謀事近忠，其輕去近高，其自全近智，卒而建上宰，近立功立名者。 觀肅宗披榛莽，立朝廷，單言暫謀有所寤合，皆付以政。 當此時，泌於獻納為不少，又佐代宗收兩京，獨不見錄，寧二主不以宰相器之邪？ 德宗晚好鬼神事，乃獲用，蓋以怪自置而為之助也。 繁為家傳，言泌本居鬼谷，而史臣謬言好鬼道，以自解釋。 既又著泌數與靈仙接，言舉不經，則知當時議者切而不與，有為而然。 繁言多浮侈，不可信，掇其近實者著於傳。 至勸帝先事范陽，明太子無罪，亦不可誣也。
The encomium says: Bi was an extraordinary man indeed! In stratagem he approached loyalty; in readily leaving office he approached high-mindedness; in preserving himself he approached wisdom—and in the end he rose to Grand Chancellor, approaching the ranks of those who establish merit and make a name. Consider how Emperor Suzong cut through thorns and brambles to establish the court: whenever a single remark or brief stratagem struck home, he entrusted Bi with governance. At that time Bi's remonstrance and memorials were no small contribution, and he also aided Daizong in recovering the two capitals—yet he alone received no formal recognition. Surely both emperors did not regard him as chancellor material? Emperor Dezong in his later years favored affairs of spirits and omens, and only then was Bi employed—likely because he had placed himself in that uncanny realm and thereby served as an instrument of it. In his family biography Fan wrote that Bi originally dwelt at Ghost Valley, while the historians wrongly say he favored the Way of ghosts—an explanation offered on his own behalf. He also recorded that Bi frequently consorted with immortals—language altogether unorthodox—showing that contemporary critics were sharp in their judgment and did not agree; they had grounds for their objections. Fan's words are mostly extravagant and not to be trusted; only what approaches truth has been selected for this biography. As for his counsel that the emperor strike Fan Yang first and his demonstration that the Heir Apparent was innocent—these cannot be falsified either.