1
三王魯辛馮三李曲二盧
Three Wangs, Lu, Xin, Feng, three Li, Qu, and two Lu's.
2
王思禮，高麗人，入居營州。 父為朔方軍將。 思禮習戰鬥，從王忠嗣至河西，與哥舒翰同籍麾下。 翰為隴右節度使，思禮與中郎將周佖事翰，以功授右衛將軍、關西兵馬使。 從討九曲，後期當斬，臨刑，翰釋之，思禮徐曰：「死固分也，何復貸為？」 諸將壯之。 天寶十三載，吐谷渾蘇毗王款附，詔翰至磨環川應接，思禮墜馬，蹇甚。 翰謂監軍李文宜曰：「思禮跛足，尚欲何之？」 俄加金城郡太守。
Wang Sili was a native of Goguryeo who had come to live in Yingzhou. His father served as a general in the Shuofang Army. Trained in warfare, Sili followed Wang Zhongsi to Hexi and served in the same command as Geshu Han. When Han became commissioner of Longyou, Sili and Central Gentleman-General Zhou Ji served under him; for his achievements he was made General of the Right Guard and military commissioner of Guanxi. On the campaign against Jiuqu he arrived late and was sentenced to death; as the execution was about to proceed, Han spared him. Sili said calmly, "Death is what I deserve—why spare me?" The other generals were deeply impressed. In Tianbao year 13, when the Tuyuhun Supi king came to submit, the court ordered Han to Mo Huan Chuan to receive him. Sili fell from his horse and was badly crippled. Han told army supervisor Li Wenyi, "Sili is lame—where does he think he is going?" Soon afterward he was also made prefect of Jincheng.
3
安祿山反，翰為元帥，奏思禮赴軍，玄宗曰：「河、隴精銳，悉在潼關，吐蕃有釁，唯倚思禮耳。」 翰固請，乃兼太常卿，充元帥府馬軍都將，翰委以軍事。 密勸翰表誅楊國忠，翰不應； 復請以三十騎劫至潼關殺之，翰曰：「此乃吾反，何與祿山事？」
When An Lushan rebelled, Han was appointed supreme commander and asked that Sili join the campaign. Emperor Xuanzong said, "The crack troops of He and Long are all at Tong Pass; if Tibet stirs trouble, we depend on Sili alone." Han pressed hard, and Sili was then also made Minister of Ceremonies and cavalry commander on the commander's staff; Han entrusted him with military affairs. He secretly urged Han to petition for Yang Guozhong's execution; Han refused; he then proposed taking thirty horsemen to seize Yang and kill him at Tong Pass. Han said, "That would be my rebellion—what does it have to do with Lushan?"
4
潼關失守，思禮與呂崇賁、李承光同走行在，肅宗責不堅守，引至纛下將斬之。 宰相房琯諫，以為可收後效，遂獨斬承光，赦思禮等。 尋副房琯戰便橋，不利，更為關內行營節度、河西隴右伊西行營兵馬使，守武功。 賊安守忠來戰，思禮退保扶風。 賊分兵略大和關，去鳳翔五十里，李光進戰未利，行在戒嚴，從官潛出其孥，帝使左右巡御史虞候識其姓名，眾稍稍止。 命郭子儀以朔方兵擊之。 會崔光遠行軍司馬王伯倫、判官李椿以兵二千屯扶風。 聞賊已西，欲乘虛襲京師，徑至高陵。 賊引軍還擊椿等，椿已至中渭橋，殺守者千人，進攻苑門。 伯倫戰死，椿被執。 先是，賊餘眾留武功，既傳官軍入京師，乃燒營遁，自是賊不敢西。
When Tong Pass fell, Sili fled with Lü Chongbin and Li Chengguang to the emperor's camp. Suzong blamed them for failing to hold the pass and had them brought before the command banner for execution. Chief minister Fang Guan argued that they could still prove useful later; Chengguang alone was executed, and Sili and the others were spared. He soon fought under Fang Guan at Bian Bridge, where the army was defeated; he was then made commissioner of the Guannei field army and military commander of the Hexi, Longyou, and Yixi forces, with orders to hold Wugong. When the rebel An Shouzhong attacked, Sili fell back to defend Fufeng. Rebel detachments seized Dahe Pass, fifty li from Fengxiang. Li Guangjin's attack failed. The imperial camp was placed under martial law as courtiers secretly evacuated their families. The emperor had patrol censors record their names, and the panic slowly subsided. He ordered Guo Ziyi to attack with the Shuofang troops. Meanwhile Cui Guangyuan's field marshal Wang Bolun and aide Li Chun had two thousand men at Fufeng. Hearing the rebels had moved west, they planned to strike the capital while it was exposed and marched straight for Gaoling. The rebels turned back to attack Chun's force. Chun had reached the Middle Wei Bridge, killed a thousand defenders, and pressed on toward the imperial park gate. Bolun was killed in battle and Chun was taken prisoner. Earlier rebel remnants had held Wugong; when word spread that imperial troops had entered the capital, they burned their camp and fled. After that the rebels no longer dared move west.
5
長安平，思禮先入清宮； 收東京，戰數有功。 遷兵部尚書，封霍國公，食實戶五百。 尋兼潞、沁等州節度。 乾元元年，總關中、潞州行營兵三萬、騎八千，與子儀圍賊相州，軍潰，惟李光弼、思禮完軍還。 尋破史思明別將萬餘眾於直千嶺。 光弼徙河陽，代為河東節度副大使。 上元元年，加司空。 自武德以來，三公不居宰輔，唯思禮而已。 二年，薨，贈太尉，謚曰武烈。
When Chang'an was recovered, Sili was first to enter and secure the palace; and in retaking the Eastern Capital he won repeated victories. He was promoted to Minister of War, enfeoffed as Duke of Huo, with an income of five hundred households. He was soon also made military commissioner of Lu, Qin, and neighboring prefectures. In Qianyuan year 1 he commanded thirty thousand foot soldiers and eight thousand horsemen from the Guannei and Lu field armies and joined Guo Ziyi in besieging the rebels at Xiangzhou. The army was routed, but only Li Guangbi and Sili brought their forces back intact. He soon routed more than ten thousand of Shi Siming's detached troops at Zhigan Ridge. When Guangbi was transferred to Heyang, Sili replaced him as deputy commissioner of Hedong. In Shangyuan year 1 he was made Minister of Works. Since the Wude era no one holding one of the Three Excellencies had also served as chief minister—only Sili. He died in year 2 and was posthumously made Grand Preceptor, with the posthumous title Martial and Fierce.
6
思禮善守計，短攻戰。 然持法嚴整，士不敢犯。 在太原，器甲完精，儲粟至百萬斛雲。
Sili excelled at defensive strategy but was less adept at offensive fighting. Yet he enforced discipline so strictly that his men did not dare transgress. At Taiyuan his arms and armor were kept in perfect order, and grain stores reportedly reached a million hu.
7
魯炅，幽州薊人。 長七尺餘，略通書史。 以蔭補左羽林長上。 隴右節度使哥舒翰引為別奏。 顏真卿嘗使隴右，謂翰曰：「君興郎將，總節制，亦嘗得人乎？」 炅時立階下，翰指曰：「是當為節度使。」 從破石堡城，收河曲，遷左武衛將軍。 後復以破吐蕃跳蕩功，除右領軍大將軍。
Lu Jiong was from Ji in Youzhou. He stood over seven chi tall and had a modest education in letters and history. Through hereditary privilege he entered service as a senior attendant of the Left Forest Guard. Longyou commissioner Geshu Han took him on as a special aide. Yan Zhenqing once visited Longyou on official business and asked Han, "You rose from a captain to full command—have you found capable men under you?" Jiong was standing below the steps. Han pointed and said, "That man is destined to be a commissioner." He fought in the capture of Stone Fortress City and the recovery of Hequ, and was promoted to General of the Left Martial Guard. Later, for defeating Tibetan raiders, he was made Grand General of the Right Forward Army.
8
安祿山反，拜上洛太守，將行，於帝前畫攻守勢，遷南陽太守，兼守捉防禦使，封金鄉公。 尋為山南節度使，以嶺南、黔中、山南東道子弟五萬屯滍水南。 賊將武令珣、畢思琛等擊之，眾欲戰，炅不可。 賊右趨，乘風縱火，郁氣奔營，士不可止，負扉走，賊矢如雨，炅與中人薛道挺身走，舉眾沒賊。 時嶺南節度使何履光、黔中節度使趙國珍、襄陽節度使徐浩未至，其子弟半在軍，挾金為資糧，至是與械偕棄與山等，賊資以富。
When An Lushan rebelled, he was made prefect of Shangluo; before leaving he outlined attack and defense plans before the emperor. He was then transferred to Nanyang as prefect and defense commissioner and enfeoffed as Duke of Jinxiang. He was soon made commissioner of Shannan and stationed fifty thousand recruits from Lingnan, Qianzhong, and eastern Shannan south of the Zhi River. Rebel generals Wu Lingxun and Bi Sichen attacked; the men wanted to fight, but Jiong refused. The rebels swung right, set fires on the wind, and smoke rolled into the camp. The men could not be held; they shouldered the barricade gates and fled as rebel arrows fell like rain. Jiong and palace attendant Xue Dao fled headlong, and the entire force was overrun. Commissioners He Lüguang of Lingnan, Zhao Guozhen of Qianzhong, and Xu Hao of Xiangyang had not yet arrived; half their recruits were in the army carrying gold as supplies. Now gold and weapons were abandoned on the hills, enriching the rebels.
9
炅揪散兵保南陽。 潼關失守，賊使哥舒翰招下，不從，使武令珣攻之。 令珣死，田承嗣繼往。 潁川來瑱、襄陽魏仲犀合兵援炅。 仲犀弟孟馴兵至明府橋，望賊走。 炅城中食盡，米鬥五十千，一鼠四百，餓者相枕藉。 朝廷遣使者曹日昇宣慰，加炅特進、太仆卿，不得入。 日昇請單騎致命，仲犀不可。 會顏真卿自河北至，謂曰：「使者不顧死，致天子命，設為賊獲，是亡一使者； 脫能入城，則萬心固矣。」 中官馮廷瑰亦曰：「將軍必入，我請以兩騎助。」 仲犀益騎凡十輩。 賊望見，知皆銳兵，不敢擊，遂入致命，人心益固。 日昇復以騎趨襄陽，領兵千，由音聲道運糧餉炅，故炅得與賊相持逾三月。 炅被圍凡一年，晝夜戰，人至相食，卒無救。
Jiong rallied scattered troops to defend Nanyang. After Tong Pass fell, the rebels used Geshu Han to summon his surrender; he refused, and Wu Lingxun was sent to attack. Lingxun died, and Tian Chengsi took over the assault. Lai Tian of Yingchuan and Wei Zhongxi of Xiangyang joined forces to relieve Jiong. Zhongxi's brother Mengxun reached Mingfu Bridge, sighted the rebels, and fled. Food in the city ran out; rice sold for fifty thousand cash per dou and a rat for four hundred; the starving lay piled upon one another. The court sent envoy Cao Risheng with condolences and promoted Jiong to Specially Advanced and Minister of the Stud, but he could not enter the city. Risheng asked to ride in alone to deliver the imperial message; Zhongxi refused. When Yan Zhenqing arrived from Hebei, he said, "The envoy is willing to risk death to deliver the emperor's orders. If the rebels capture him, we lose one envoy; but if he reaches the city, every heart there will be steadied." Eunuch Feng Tinggui added, "You must go in, General—I will send two horsemen to escort you." Zhongxi added escorts until there were ten horsemen in all. The rebels saw them from afar, recognized elite troops, and did not dare attack. Risheng entered and delivered the message, and morale in the city strengthened. Risheng rode to Xiangyang, raised a thousand men, and brought grain to Jiong along the Yinsheng route, enabling him to hold against the rebels for more than three months. Jiong was besieged for a full year, fighting day and night until people ate one another; in the end no relief came.
10
至德二載五月，乃率眾突圍走襄陽。 承嗣尾擊，炅殊死戰二日，斬獲甚眾，賊引去。 俄拜御史大夫、襄鄧十州節度使。 亦會二京平，賊走河北。 時襄、漢數百里，鄉聚蕩然，舉無樵煙。 初，賊欲剽亂江湖，賴炅適扼其沖，故南夏以完。 策勛封岐國公，實封二百戶。
In the fifth month of Zhide year 2 he led a breakout toward Xiangyang. Chengsi pursued from behind; Jiong fought desperately for two days, killing and capturing many before the rebels withdrew. He was soon made Censor-in-Chief and commissioner of the ten Xiang and Deng prefectures. By then both capitals had been recovered and the rebels had fled to Hebei. For hundreds of li around Xiang and Han, villages lay in ruins and not a wisp of hearth smoke could be seen. The rebels had planned to ravage the Yangzi region; Jiong happened to block their path, and so the south was spared. For his service he was enfeoffed as Duke of Qi with an income of two hundred households.
11
王難得，沂州臨沂人。 父思敬，少隸軍，試太子賓客。 難得健於武，工騎射。 天寶初，為河源軍使。 吐蕃贊普子郎支都者，恃趫敏，乘名馬，寶鈿鞍，略陣挑戰，甚閑暇，無敢校者。 難得怒，挾矛駷馬馳，支都不暇鬥，直斬其首。 玄宗壯其果，召見，令殿前乘馬挾矛作刺賊狀，大悅，賜錦袍、金帶。 累授金吾將軍。 從哥舒翰擊吐蕃，至積石，虜吐谷渾王子悉弄參及悉頰藏而還。 復收五橋，拔樹惇城，進白水軍使。 收九曲，加特進。
Wang Nande was from Linyi in Yizhou. His father Sijing entered the army young and rose to acting Guest of the Heir Apparent. Nande was powerfully built and expert in mounted archery. In the early Tianbao period he became commander of the Heyuan Army. The Tibetan prince Langzhidu, relying on his speed and agility, rode a famous horse with a jeweled saddle and challenged the lines at leisure; no one dared face him. Nande flew into a rage, seized his spear, and charged; Langzhidu had no time to fight back and was beheaded on the spot. Emperor Xuanzong admired his daring, summoned him, and had him demonstrate spear thrusts against imaginary rebels from horseback before the hall. Delighted, the emperor gave him a brocade robe and gold belt. He rose through repeated appointments to General of the Gold Guard. He followed Geshu Han against Tibet to Jishi, captured the Tuyuhun princes Sinongcan and Siniangzang, and returned. He recovered the Five Bridges, took Shudun City, and was promoted to commander of the Baishui Army. For recovering Jiuqu he was made Specially Advanced.
12
肅宗在靈武，軍賞乏，難得上家貲助軍，試衛尉卿。 俄領興平軍及鳳翔兵馬使，收京師。 方戰，麾下士失馬，難得馳救，矢著眉，披膚鄣目，乃拔箭斷膚，殊死前鬥，血蔑面不已，帝嘉之。 從郭子儀攻相州。 累封瑯邪郡公，為英武軍使。 寶應二年，卒，贈潞州大都督。
When Suzong was at Lingwu and military funds ran short, Nande contributed his family wealth to the army and was made acting Minister of the Guard. He soon commanded the Xingping Army and Fengxiang forces in the recovery of the capital. In battle a subordinate lost his horse; Nande charged to save him. An arrow struck his brow; he tore skin to shield his eyes, pulled out the arrow and cut away the flesh, and fought on desperately, his face streaming with blood. The emperor praised his valor. He followed Guo Ziyi in the attack on Xiangzhou. He was enfeoffed as Duke of Langye and made commander of the Yingwu Army. He died in Baoying year 2 and was posthumously made Grand Protector of Luzhou.
13
用字師柔。 拜太子詹事，才三月，封太原郡公，掌廄苑。 累遷檢校左散騎常侍，兼右金吾大將軍。 謙畏無過。 卒，贈工部尚書。
His son Yong was styled Shirou. He was made Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent; after only three months he was enfeoffed as Duke of Taiyuan and put in charge of the imperial stables and parks. He rose to Acting Left Regular Attendant and concurrently Grand General of the Right Gold Guard. Modest and cautious, he committed no fault. He died and was posthumously made Minister of Works.
14
辛雲京，蘭州金城人，客籍京兆，世為將家。 雲京有膽決，以禽生斬馘常冠軍，積功遷特進、太常卿。 史思明屯相州，雲京以銳兵四千襲滏陽，追破其眾，至浪井。 錄多，授開府儀同三司，加代州都督、鎮北兵馬使。
Xin Yunjing was from Jincheng in Lanzhou but registered in Jingzhao; his family had been soldiers for generations. Yunjing was bold and decisive; his captures, beheadings, and trophies often led the army, and for accumulated merit he rose to Specially Advanced and Minister of Ceremonies. When Shi Siming held Xiangzhou, Yunjing struck Fuyang with four thousand elite troops, routed his force in pursuit, and reached Langjing. For his many recorded victories he was made Grand Master with privileges equal to the Three Excellencies and also Protector-General of Daizhou and northern frontier military commissioner.
15
太原軍亂，帝惡鄧景山繩下無漸，以雲京性沈毅，故授太原尹，進封金城郡王。 雲京治謹於法，下有犯，雖絲毫比不肯貸，及賞功亦如之，故軍中畏而信。 回紇恃舊勛，每入朝，所在暴鈔，至太原，雲京以戎狄待之，虜畏不敢惕息。 數年，太原大治。 加檢校尚書右仆射、同中書門下平章事。
When the Taiyuan army mutinied, the emperor blamed Deng Jingshan for ruling too harshly without gradual discipline and, trusting Yunjing's steady resolve, made him mayor of Taiyuan and Prince of Jincheng. Yunjing ruled with strict discipline; the smallest offense went unpunished, and rewards were meted out with equal exactness, so his troops both feared and trusted him. The Uyghurs, relying on past service, plundered wherever they went on court visits. At Taiyuan Yunjing treated them as barbarians, and they were too afraid even to breathe freely. Within a few years Taiyuan was thoroughly pacified and prospered. He was made Acting Right Vice Director of State Affairs and Associate Grand Councilor.
16
大歷三年，檢校左仆射。 卒，年五十五，代宗為發哀流涕，贈太尉，謚曰忠獻。 它日，郭子儀、元載見上，語及雲京，帝必泫然。 及葬，命中使吊祠，時將相祭者至七十餘幄，喪車移晷乃得去。 德宗時，第至德以來將相，雲京為次。
In Dali year 3 he became Acting Left Vice Director. He died at fifty-five. Daizong wept at his passing and posthumously made him Grand Preceptor with the title Loyal and Offering. Whenever Guo Ziyi or Yuan Zai mentioned Yunjing to the emperor, he would tear up. At his burial the emperor sent palace envoys to offer sacrifices; more than seventy generals and ministers attended, and the funeral procession took a full day to pass. Under Dezong, among generals and ministers since the Zhide era, Yunjing ranked second.
17
從弟京杲，字京杲。 信安王祎節度朔方，京杲與弟旻以策幹說，祎評咨加異。 後從李光弼出井陘，督趫蕩先驅，戰嘉山尤力，肅宗異之，召見曰：「黥、彭、關、張之流乎！」 累遷鴻臚卿，召為英武軍使。 代宗立，封肅國公，遷左金吾衛大將軍，進晉昌郡王，歷湖南觀察使，後為工部尚書致仕。 朱泚盜京師，以老病不能從，西向慟而卒，贈太子少保。
His cousin Jinggao was also styled Jinggao. When Prince Xin'an Li Yi commanded Shuofang, Jinggao and his brother Min presented plans that Yi received with special favor. Later he followed Li Guangbi through Jingxing Pass, led swift raiders as vanguard, and fought fiercely at Jia Mountain. Suzong was impressed, summoned him, and exclaimed, "A man in the mold of Qing Bu, Peng Yue, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei! He rose to Minister of the Court for Dependencies and was summoned as commander of the Yingwu Army. When Daizong ascended, he was enfeoffed Duke of Suguo, made Grand General of the Left Gold Guard, advanced to Prince of Jinchang, served as Hunan observation commissioner, and later retired as Minister of Works. When Zhu Ci seized the capital, age and illness kept him from following; he faced west, wailed, and died, and was posthumously made Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent.
18
旻亦從光弼定恒、趙，後署太原三城使。 史思明屯相，軍及滏陽，旻逆擊走之。 東都陷，退守河陽，卒於屯。 雲京曾孫讜，別傳。
Min also followed Guangbi in pacifying Heng and Zhao and was later made commissioner of Taiyuan's three cities. When Shi Siming held Xiang and his army reached Fuyang, Min met them and drove them off. When the Eastern Capital fell, he withdrew to Heyang and died in camp. Yunjing's great-grandson Dan is treated in a separate biography.
19
馮河清，京兆人。 始隸郭子儀軍，以戰多拜左衛大將軍。 後從涇原節度使馬璘，充兵馬使，數以偏師與吐蕃遇，多效級，名聞軍中。
Feng Heqing was from Jingzhao. He first served under Guo Ziyi and, for many battles, was made Grand General of the Left Guard. He later served Jingyuan commissioner Ma Lin as military commander, often met Tibetans with detached forces, frequently presented trophies, and became famous in the army.
20
建中時，節度使姚令言率兵討關東，以河清知留後，幕府殿中侍御史姚況領州； 而行師過闕，有急變，德宗走奉天。 河清、況聞問，召諸將計事，東向哭，相勵以忠，意象軒毅，眾義其為，無敢異言，即發儲鎧完仗百餘乘獻行在。 初，帝之出，六軍倉卒無良兵，士氣沮。 及河清輸械至，被堅勒兵，軍聲大振。 即拜河清涇原節度使、安定郡王，況行軍司馬。 朱泚數遣諜人訹之，河清輒斬以徇。
During Jianzhong, commissioner Yao Lingyan led troops to pacify the east, leaving Heqing as acting commissioner while staff member Yao Kuang, a Palace Attendant, held the prefecture; but as the army marched past the capital a sudden crisis erupted and Emperor Dezong fled to Fengtian. Heqing and Kuang heard the news, summoned the generals to plan, wept facing east, and urged one another to loyalty; their bearing was lofty and resolute; the men approved their conduct and none dared dissent; they immediately dispatched more than a hundred cartloads of stored armor and complete weapons to the imperial camp. When the emperor first fled, the Six Armies in their haste had no reliable troops and morale collapsed. When Heqing's weapons arrived, the troops donned armor and tightened ranks, and the army's spirit surged. Heqing was immediately appointed Jingyuan commissioner and Prince of Anding; Kuang was made field army marshal. Zhu Ci repeatedly sent spies to win him over; Heqing would execute them and display the bodies.
21
興元元年，渾瑊以吐蕃兵敗賊韓旻等，涇人妄傳吐蕃有功，將以叛卒孥與貲歸之，眾大恐，且言：「不殺馮公，吾等無類矣。」 田希鑒遂害河清，況挺身還鄉里。
In Xingyuan year 1, Hun Jian defeated rebel Han Min with Tibetan troops. The people of Jing falsely claimed Tibet deserved credit and would take rebel families and goods; panic spread, and they said, "Unless we kill Lord Feng, none of us will survive. Tian Xijian then murdered Heqing; Kuang escaped alone to his home district.
22
京師平，贈河清尚書左仆射，拜況太子中舍人。 況性簡退，未嘗言功，屬歲兇，奉稍不自給，以饑死。 河清再贈太子少傅。
When the capital was recovered, Heqing was posthumously made Left Vice Director and Kuang was appointed Attendant of the Heir Apparent. Kuang was modest and retiring and never spoke of his deeds; in famine years his salary could not sustain him, and he starved to death. Heqing received a second posthumous promotion to Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent.
23
李芃，字茂初，趙州人。 解褐上邽主簿。 嚴武為京兆尹，薦補長安尉。 李勉觀察江西，表署判官。
Li Peng, styled Maochu, was a native of Zhao prefecture. Upon entering official service he was appointed chief clerk of Shanggui. When Yan Wu was mayor of Jingzhao, he recommended Peng to fill the post of bailiff of Chang'an. When Li Mian was observation commissioner of Jiangxi, he memorialized appointing Peng as aide.
24
永泰初，宣饒劇賊方清、陳莊西絕江，劫商旅為亂，支黨槃結。 芃請以秋浦置州，扼衿要，使不得合從。 勉是其計，奏以宣之秋浦青陽、饒之至德置池州。 即詔芃行州事。 後魏少遊代勉，表署都團練副使，攝江州刺史。 以母喪解。 勉之節度永平，復辟幕府。 會李靈耀反，署芃兼亳州防禦使，護陳、潁饟道，便軍興。
At the beginning of Yongtai, the fierce bandits Fang Qing and Chen Zhuang of Xuan and Rao cut off the west bank of the river, plundered merchants and travelers, and their network was tightly knit. Peng proposed establishing a prefecture at Qiupu to hold the strategic chokepoint and prevent them from joining forces. Mian approved the plan and memorialized to establish Chizhou from Qiupu and Qingyang of Xuan and Zhide of Rao. Peng was immediately ordered to administer the prefecture's affairs. Later Wei Shaoyou replaced Mian and memorialized appointing Peng deputy regimental training commissioner and acting prefect of Jiang. He resigned to observe mourning for his mother. When Mian held Yongping, he again recruited Peng to his staff. When Li Lingyao rebelled, Mian appointed Peng concurrently defense commissioner of Bozhou, protecting the grain routes of Chen and Ying to facilitate military mobilization.
25
德宗立，授河陽三城鎮遏使。 糧貲善者，必先以給士，士悅之。 達練事宜，嚴備常若有敵。 未幾，拜節度使，以東畿汜水等五縣隸屬。 與馬燧等破田悅洹水上，以功檢校兵部尚書，實封百戶。 進圍悅，悅將符璘以騎五百降，芃大開壁門納之。
When Emperor Dezong ascended, Peng was made suppressor of the three cities of Heyang. Whenever supplies were plentiful, he always distributed them to the soldiers first; the troops were pleased. Thoroughly versed in military affairs, he maintained strict readiness as though enemies were always at hand. Before long he was appointed military commissioner, with five counties including Si River of the eastern capital placed under his jurisdiction. With Ma Sui and others he defeated Tian Yue on the Huan River and was made Acting Minister of War with an income of one hundred households. Pressing the siege, Yue's general Fu Lin surrendered with five hundred cavalry; Peng threw open the gate to welcome them.
26
興元初，檢校尚書右仆射。 以疾將請老，謂所親曰：「歲方旱蝗，上厭征伐，天下城壘堅，戈鋋利，然務以力勝，其可盡乎？ 救敝者莫若德，方鎮之臣宜先退讓，死權錮祿，吾敢哉！ 言而不踐，非吾誌也。」 固求罷，歸東都。 卒，年六十四，贈太子太保。
Early in the Xingyuan era he became Acting Right Vice Director. As illness drove him to seek retirement, he told his intimates, "Drought and locusts afflict the land, the emperor is weary of war, and though every fortress is strong and every blade sharp, they still insist on winning by force alone. Can that go on forever? Virtue, not force, is how to heal exhaustion; frontier lords should yield first. To die clutching office and salary—would I dare do that? Words without deeds are not my way." He pressed hard for release and retired to Luoyang. He died at sixty-four and was posthumously honored as Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent.
27
李叔明，字晉，閬州新政人。 本鮮于氏，世為右族。 兄仲通，字向，天寶末為京兆尹、劍南節度使。 兄弟皆涉學，輕財務施。 叔明擢明經，為楊國忠劍南判官。 乾元中，除司勛員外郎，副漢中王瑀使回紇，回紇遇瑀慢，叔明讓曰：「大國通好，使賢王持節。 可汗，唐之婿，恃功而倨，可乎？」 可汗為加禮。 復命，遷司門郎中。
Li Shuming, styled Jin, was from Xinzheng in Langzhou. His family was originally the Xianyu clan, a great house for generations. His elder brother Zhongtong, styled Xiang, was mayor of Jingzhao and Jiannan commissioner at the end of Tianbao. The brothers were educated, generous with wealth, and devoted to charity. Shuming passed the Mingjing examination and served as Yang Guozhong's Jiannan aide. In Qianyuan he was Vice Director of Merits and accompanied Prince of Hanzhong Li Yu to the Uyghurs; when they treated Yu disrespectfully, Shuming rebuked them: "Great states are allies; an illustrious prince bears the imperial credentials. Khan, you are the Tang emperor's son-in-law—will you rely on past merit and act arrogantly? The khan then treated them with added ceremony. On his return he was made Director of the Gate Office.
28
東都平，拜洛陽令，招徠遺民，號能吏。 擢商州刺史、上津轉運使。 遷京兆尹，長安歌曰：「前尹赫赫，具瞻允若； 後尹熙熙，具瞻允斯。」 久之，以疾辭，除太子右庶子。 崔旰擾成都，出為卬州刺史。 旰入朝，即拜東川節度使、遂州刺史，徙治梓州。
When the Eastern Capital was recovered he was made magistrate of Luoyang, recruited the scattered populace, and was hailed as a capable official. He was promoted to prefect of Shang and made transport commissioner of Shangjin. Made mayor of Jingzhao, Chang'an sang, "The former mayor was illustrious, and all looked up in approval; the later mayor is gracious, and all look up in the same way. After long service he resigned on grounds of illness and was made Right Companion of the Heir Apparent. When Cui Gan troubled Chengdu, he was sent out as prefect of Qiong. When Gan came to court, Shuming was immediately made eastern Chuan commissioner and prefect of Suizhou, with his seat at Zizhou.
29
大歷末，或言叔明本嚴氏，少孤，養外家，冒鮮于姓，請還宗。 詔可。 叔明初不知，意鬼之，表乞宗姓，列屬籍，代宗從之。
Near the end of Dali someone said Shuming was originally of the Yan clan, orphaned young and raised by his mother's family, and had wrongly borne the Xianyu surname; he petitioned to restore his clan. The edict approved it. Shuming had not known this at first and thought it supernatural; he memorialized to recover his clan name and be entered in the registers, and Daizong agreed.
30
建中初，吐蕃襲火井，掠龍州，陷扶、文、遠三州。 叔明分五將邀擊，走之，以功加檢校戶部尚書。 梁崇義阻命，詔引兵下峽，戰荊門，敗其眾，襄州平，遷檢校尚書左仆射。 德宗幸興元，出家貲助軍，悉衣幣獻宮掖，加太子太傅，封薊國公。 初，東川承兵盜，鄉邑雕破，叔明治之二十年，撫接有方，華裔遂安。 後朝京師，以病足，賜錦輦，令宦士肩舁以見，拜尚書右仆射。 乞骸骨，改太子太傅致仕。 貞元三年，卒，謚曰襄。 始，叔明與仲通俱尹京兆，及兼秩御史中丞，並節制劍南，又與子昇俱兼大夫，蜀人推為盛門。
Early in Jianzhong Tibet raided Huojing, plundered Longzhou, and captured Fu, Wen, and Yuan prefectures. Shuming sent five generals to intercept and drive them off and was made Acting Minister of Revenue for his merit. When Liang Chongyi defied orders, Shuming was ordered down the gorges, defeated him at Jingmen, pacified Xiangzhou, and was made Acting Left Vice Director. When Dezong went to Xingyuan, Shuming contributed family wealth to the army, presented all robes and goods to the palace, was made Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent, and enfeoffed Duke of Ji. Eastern Chuan had suffered war and banditry and its towns were ruined; Shuming governed twenty years with skillful care until Chinese and tribal peoples were secure. Later he came to the capital; because his feet were afflicted he was given a brocade palanquin and carried in by eunuchs for audience, and was made Right Vice Director. He petitioned to retire and was made Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent in retirement. He died in Zhenyuan year 3; his posthumous title was Xiang. Shuming and Zhongtong had both been mayors of Jingzhao; when they concurrently held the rank of Censor-in-Chief and both controlled Jiannan, and when Shuming and his son Sheng both held Grand Master rank, the people of Shu esteemed them as a great house.
31
叔明素惡道、佛之弊，上言曰：「佛，空寂無為者也； 道，清虛寡欲者也。 今迷其內而飾其外，使農夫工女墮業以避役，故農桑不勸，兵賦日屈，國用軍儲為斁耗。 臣請本道定寺為三等，觀為二等，上寺留僧二十一，上觀道士十四，每等降殺以七，皆擇有行者，餘還為民。」 德宗善之，以為不止本道，可為天下法，乃下尚書省雜議。 於是都官員外郎彭偃曰：「王者之政，變人心為上，因人心次之，不變不因為下。 今道士有名亡實，欲鮮歸重，於亂政輕； 僧尼帑穢，皆天下不逞，茍避征役，於亂人甚。 今叔明之請雖善，然未能變人心，亦非因人心者。 夫天生蒸人，必將有職； 遊閑浮食，王制所禁。 故賢者受爵祿，不肖者出租稅，古常道也。 今僧、道士不耕而食，不織而衣，一僧衣食，歲無慮三萬，五夫所不能致。 舉一僧以計天下，其費不貲。 臣謂僧、道士年未滿五十，可令歲輸絹四，尼及女官輸絹二，雜役與民同之； 過五十者免。 凡人年五十，嗜欲已衰，況有戒法以檢其性情哉！」 刑部員外郎裴伯言曰：「衣者，蠶桑也； 食者，耕農也； 男女者，繼祖之重也。 而二教悉禁，國家著令，又從而助之，是以夷狄不經法反制中夏禮義之俗也。 傳曰：『女子十四有為人母之道，四十九絕生育之理； 男子十六有為人父之道，六十四絕陽化之理。』 臣請僧、道士一切限年六十四以上，尼、女官四十九以上，許終身在道，餘悉還為編人，官為計口授地，收廢寺觀以為廬舍。」 議雖上，罷之。
Shuming had long hated the abuses of Buddhism and Daoism and memorialized: "Buddhism teaches empty stillness and non-action; Daoism teaches purity, emptiness, and few desires. Yet people are lost within and ornate without, so farmers and craftswomen abandon their trades to avoid corvée; agriculture falters, levies shrink, and state and army stores are drained. Your servant asks to grade monasteries in three ranks and abbeys in two: upper monasteries keep twenty-one monks, upper abbeys fourteen priests, each lower rank reduced by seven; select only the devout and return the rest to common life. Dezong approved it, holding that the plan could serve as a model for the whole realm, and referred it to the Department of State Affairs for discussion. The Capital Bureau vice director Peng Yan said: "In royal government, transforming hearts is best, following hearts second, and neither is worst. Daoist priests today have names but no substance, seeking a return to purity yet slighting troubled government; Buddhist monks and nuns are a drain on the treasury; they are the unruly of the realm who shirk conscription—among the most disorderly of men. Shuming's proposal is sound, yet it neither transforms hearts nor follows them. Heaven gave birth to the multitude; each must have a calling; idleness and unearned consumption are forbidden by royal law. The worthy receive rank and salary, the unworthy pay taxes—this is the ancient constant. Monks and priests neither plow nor weave, yet eat and clothe themselves; one monk's yearly upkeep is no less than thirty thousand—more than five households can provide. Extrapolate from one monk to the realm, and the cost is beyond reckoning. I propose that monks and priests under fifty pay four bolts of silk yearly, nuns and female officials two, and perform the same miscellaneous labor as ordinary subjects; those over fifty should be exempt. At fifty human desires already fade—how much more when religious discipline restrains the temperament! Vice Director of Punishments Pei Boyan said, "Clothing comes from sericulture; food comes from farming; men and women carry the weight of continuing the ancestral line. Yet both faiths forbid them, and the state issues orders that further aid them—so foreign teachings that ignore law end up governing the ritual customs of the Central Plains. Tradition says, 'At fourteen a woman is fit to become a mother; at forty-nine the principle of childbearing ends;' at sixteen a man is fit to become a father; at sixty-four the principle of yang transformation ends. I ask that monks and priests be limited to those sixty-four and older, nuns and female officials forty-nine and older, allowed to remain in orders for life; all others returned to the registers, land allotted by household, and abandoned temples converted to lodging." The proposal was submitted but shelved.
32
子昇，以少卿從德宗梁州。 叔明嚴敕以死報，故昇有功，擢禁軍將軍。 貞元初，遷太子詹事。 坐郜國公主，貶羅州別駕。
His son Sheng, as Junior Mentor, accompanied Dezong to Liangzhou. Shuming sternly ordered him to repay with his life; Sheng distinguished himself and was promoted to a Palace Guard general. Early in Zhenyuan he became Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent. For ties to Princess Guo, he was demoted to vice prefect of Luo.
33
叔明素豪侈，在蜀殖財，廣第舍田產。 歿數年，子孫驕縱，貲產皆盡。 世言多藏者以叔明為鑒雲。
Shuming had always lived lavishly; in Shu he amassed wealth, with grand estates and broad holdings. Within years of his death his descendants grew arrogant and dissolute, and the family fortune was spent. People say those who hoard great wealth should take Shuming as a warning.
34
曲環，陜州安邑人，客隴右。 少喜兵法，資勇敢，善騎射。 天寶中，從哥舒翰討吐蕃，拔石堡，取黃河九曲洪濟等城，授果毅別將。 安祿山反，從魯炅守鄧州，與賊武令珣戰尤力，加左清道率。 從李抱玉屯河陽。 又自將兵守澤州，破賊銳將安曉，拜羽林將軍。 與諸將討史朝義，平河北，累轉金吾大將軍。
Qu Huan was from Anyi in Shaanzhou and had registered in Longyou. As a youth he loved military arts, was naturally brave, and skilled in mounted archery. During Tianbao he followed Geshu Han against Tibet, captured Stone Fortress, took the nine bends of the Yellow River and cities including Hongji, and was made resolute separate commander. When An Lushan rebelled, he followed Lu Jiong in defending Dengzhou, fought Wu Lingxun fiercely, and was made Left Purification Commander. He garrisoned Heyang under Li Baoyu. He also commanded troops at Zezhou, defeated the rebel elite An Xiao, and was made General of the Forest Guard. He joined the generals against Shi Chaoyi, pacified Hebei, and rose to Grand General of the Gold Guard.
35
大歷中，戍隴州，數破吐蕃，以功兼太常卿。 德宗初，虜寇劍南，詔環以邠、隴兵五千馳救，收七盤城、威武軍、維茂等州，虜破走，威名大振，加太子賓客，賜名馬。 豫討涇州劉文喜，遷開府儀同三司，封晉昌郡王，邠隴兵馬使。 時李納逼徐州，環與劉玄佐救之，敗其眾，功最。 建中三年，擢邠隴行營節度使。
In the Dali era he garrisoned Longzhou, repeatedly defeated Tibet, and was made Minister of Ceremonies for his merit. Early in Dezong's reign, when invaders raided Jiannan, Huan was sent with five thousand Bing and Long troops, recovered Qipan City, Weiwu Army, Weimao, and other prefectures, routed the enemy, and won great fame; he was made Guest of the Heir Apparent and given a famous horse. In the campaign against Liu Wenxi of Jingzhou he was made Grand Master equal to the Three Excellencies, enfeoffed Prince of Jinchang, and made Bing-Long military commissioner. When Li Na pressed Xuzhou, Huan and Liu Xuanzuo relieved the city, defeated his army, and won the greatest credit. In Jianzhong year 3 he was made commissioner of the Bing-Long field army.
36
李希烈陷汴州，環守寧陵，戰陳州，斬賊三萬五千級，禽其將翟崇暉，進檢校工部尚書，兼陳州刺史。 希烈平，改陳許節度，賜封三百戶。 二州比為寇沖，民苦剽鹵，客他縣。 環勤身節用，寬賦斂，簡條教，不三歲，歸者繦系。 訓農治兵，谷食豐衍。 轉檢校尚書左仆射。 貞元十五年，卒，年七十四，贈司空。
When Li Xilie took Bianzhou, Huan defended Ningling, fought at Chenzhou, killed thirty-five thousand rebels, captured Zhai Chonghui, and was made Acting Minister of Works and prefect of Chen. After Xilie was pacified, he was made commissioner of Chen and Xu with an income of three hundred households. The two prefectures had long been on the frontier of raids; people suffered plunder and fled elsewhere. Huan worked tirelessly, lived frugally, eased taxes, simplified regulations, and within three years refugees returned in droves. He trained farmers and soldiers until grain stores overflowed. He was made Acting Left Vice Director. In Zhenyuan year 15 he died at seventy-four and was posthumously made Minister of Works.
37
王虔休，字君佐，汝州梁人。 少涉學，有材武，以信義為鄉黨畏慕。 大歷中，刺史李深署為裨將。 澤潞李抱真聞其名，厚以幣招之，授兵馬使。 抱真討河北，戰雙罔、臨洺，虔休以多擢步軍都虞候，封同昌郡王，實封五十戶。 抱真卒，元仲經等謀樹其子緘，一軍思亂，虔休正色語眾曰：「軍，王軍； 州，王土也。 帥亡當稟天子，何云云有妄謀？」 眾服其言，得不亂。 德宗嘉之，以邕王為昭義節度大使，擢虔休潞州左司馬，領留後。 本名延貴，至是賜名。 號令撫循，軍中大治。
Wang Qianxiu, styled Junzuo, was from Liang in Ruzhou. He studied in youth, had martial talent, and was respected locally for faith and righteousness. In the Dali era Prefect Li Shen made him adjutant. Li Baozhen of Zelu heard of him, recruited him generously, and made him military commissioner. In Baozhen's Hebei campaigns at Shuangwang and Linming, Qianxiu rose to Chief of Infantry and was enfeoffed Duke of Tongchang with fifty households. After Baozhen died, Yuan Zhongjing and others plotted to install his son Jian and the army nearly mutinied. Qianxiu said sternly, "This army belongs to the throne; this land belongs to the throne. When the commander dies we report to the emperor—why talk of reckless schemes? The men accepted his words and disorder was averted. Dezong praised him, made the Prince of Yong supreme commissioner of Zhaoyi, and promoted Qianxiu to Left Marshal of Luzhou as acting commissioner. His original name was Yanging; he was then granted his new name. His orders reassured the men and the army was brought to excellent order.
38
初，抱真之喪，軍司馬元誼據洺州叛，虔休遣將李廷芝討之，戰長橋，斬級數百； 次雞澤，又破之。 守戍皆奔魏博，即決水灌城，將壞，遣掌書記盧頊入見誼，陳利害。 誼請朝，即以頊為洺州別駕，使守洺。 誼出，亦奔魏。
After Baozhen's death, army marshal Yuan Yi rebelled at Luozhou; Qianxiu sent Li Tingzhi against him and at Chang Bridge beheaded hundreds; then defeated him again at Jize. The garrison fled to Weibo; he breached the dyke to flood the city, which was near collapse, and sent recorder Lu Qi to explain the stakes to Yi. Yi asked to submit to court; Qi was made vice prefect of Luo to hold the city. When Yi emerged, he too fled to Wei.
39
治潞二歲，遷昭義節度使，檢校工部尚書。 始，屬城州縣守宰多署它職，不親政，故治茍簡。 虔休悉增俸稟，遣就部，人以妥安。 卒，年六十三，贈尚書左仆射，謚曰敬。
After two years governing Lu he was made Zhaoyi commissioner and Acting Minister of Works. Previously many county magistrates held other posts and neglected government, so administration was lax. Qianxiu raised salaries and sent officials to their posts; the people felt secure. He died at sixty-three and was posthumously made Left Vice Director with the title Reverent.
40
虔休性恪敏，節用度，既沒，所部帑廩皆可支數歲。 嘗得太常樂家劉玠撰《繼天誕聖樂》，因帝誕日以獻。 其樂，以宮為均，示五聲有君也； 以土為德，本五運在中也； 奏二十五疊，取二十四氣而成一歲； 奏十六節，象元、凱登庸於朝雲。 後《中和樂》本於此。
Diligent and frugal by nature, after his death his command's treasury could support the region for years. He obtained court musician Liu Jie's "Music Continuing Heaven and Celebrating Sagely Birth" and presented it on the emperor's birthday. The music used the gong mode as standard, showing the five tones have a sovereign; used earth as virtue, rooted in the five phases at the center; performed twenty-five repetitions for the twenty-four seasonal nodes of a year; performed sixteen sections symbolizing primal virtue and triumphant accession. Later the "Music of Central Harmony" derived from it.
41
子麗成等十人，並補太學生。
His sons Lincheng and nine others were all appointed Imperial Academy students.
42
盧群，字載初，系出范陽。 少學於垂山，淮南陳少遊聞其名，奏署幕府，已而薦諸朝。 李希烈反，以監察御史為江西行營糧料使。 嗣曹王臯節度江西，奏為判官。 臯徙荊襄，皆從其府，以勁正聞。 入為侍御史。 郭子儀家與嬖人張昆弟訟財不平，又言嬖人宅匿珍寶。 德宗促按之。 群奏言：「子儀有大勛德，今所訟皆其家事，且嬖人宅，子儀昔畀之，非子弟所宜言，請赦勿問。」 從之。 人謂群識大體。
Lu Qun, styled Zaichu, traced his line to Fanyang. He studied at Chuishan in youth; Chen Shaoyou of Huainan recruited him to his staff and later recommended him at court. When Li Xilie rebelled he was made Palace Attendant and grain commissioner of the Jiangxi field army. Prince of Succession Cao Wang Gao, as Jiangxi commissioner, made him aide. When Gao moved to Jing and Xiang, Qun followed him and was known for firm integrity. He entered the capital as Attending Censor. In Guo Ziyi's household, Ziyi and his favorite Zhang Kun sued over property, and it was said the favorite's house concealed treasure. Dezong ordered a swift investigation. Qun memorialized, "Ziyi has immense merit; this dispute is a family matter, and the favorite's house was once given him by Ziyi—not something sons and nephews should raise. I ask that the case be dropped. The emperor agreed. People praised Qun for grasping the larger interest.
43
累遷兵部郎中。 淮西吳少誠擅決司洧水溉田，使者止之，不奉詔。 命群臨詰，少誠曰：「是於人有利。」 群曰：「臣道貴順，恭恪所以為順也。 專命廢順，雖利何有？ 且怠於事上者，固不能責其下矣。」 少誠聽命。 群又為陳古今成敗事，逆順禍福皆有效，所以感動之，少誠竦然。 既置酒，與賦詩，又歌以慰之。 少誠感悅，不敢桀。 以奉使稱旨，遷檢校秘書監、鄭滑節度行軍司馬。 姚南仲入朝，即以群代節度。 群嘗客於鄭，質良田以耕。 至是則出券貸直，以田歸其人。 卒，年五十九，贈工部尚書。
He rose to Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. In Huaixi, Wu Shaoqing on his own authority diverted the Si and Wei rivers to irrigate fields; envoys stopped him but he refused the edict. Qun was sent to question him; Shaoqing said, "This benefits the people. Qun said, "A minister's way values compliance; respect and reverence are compliance. Private orders abandon compliance—what good is benefit? Moreover, one slack toward superiors cannot demand obedience below." Shaoqing obeyed. Qun also recounted ancient and modern successes and failures, showing how loyalty and defiance brought fortune or ruin, and moved him deeply; Shaoqing was startled. Over wine they composed poems, and Qun sang to comfort him. Moved and pleased, Shaoqing no longer acted arrogantly. For fulfilling his mission he was made Acting Director of the Palace Library and field marshal of Zheng and Hua. When Yao Nanzhong came to court, Qun replaced him as commissioner. He had once been a guest in Zheng and pledged good fields to farm. Now he produced the pledge, repaid its value, and returned the land to the owner. He died at fifty-nine and was posthumously honored as Minister of Works.
44
李元素，字大樸，邢國公密裔孫，仕為御史。 東都留守杜亞惡大將令狐運，會盜劫輸絹於洛北，運適與其下畋近郊，亞疑而訊之。 幕府穆員、張弘靖按鞫無狀，亞怒，更以愛將武金掠服之，死者甚眾。 亞請斥運醜土，詔監察御史楊寧覆驗，事皆不讎。 亞怒，劾寧罔上，寧抵罪。 又自以不失盜為功，因必其怒，傅致而周內之，若不可翻者。 德宗信不疑，宰相難之。 詔元素與刑部員外郎崔從質、大理司直盧士瞻馳按，亞迎，以獄告。 元素徐察其冤，悉縱所囚以還。 亞大驚，復劾元素失有罪。 比元素還，帝已怒，奏獄未畢，帝曰：「出。」 元素曰：「臣言有所未盡。」 帝曰：「第去。」 元素曰：「臣以御史按獄，知冤不得盡辭，是無容復見陛下。」 帝意解，即道運冤狀。 帝感寤曰：「非卿，孰能辨之？」 然運猶以擅捕人得罪，流歸州，死於貶。 武金流建州。 後歲餘，齊抗得真盜，繇是天下重之。
Li Yuansu, styled Dapu, was a descendant of Duke Mi of Xing and served as censor. Eastern Capital defender Du Ya hated great general Linghu Yun; when bandits robbed silk north of Luo, Yun happened to be hunting nearby, and Ya suspected and interrogated him. Staff members Mu Yuan and Zhang Hongjing found no evidence; Ya grew angry and had favorite general Wu Jin torture confessions until many died. Ya asked to exile Yun; censor Yang Ning was ordered to reverify and found no match. Ya impeached Ning for deceiving the throne, and Ning was punished. He also treated recovering none of the goods as success, clung to his rage, fabricated charges, and boxed Yun in as if the case could not be overturned. Dezong believed him without question; the chief ministers objected. Yuansu was ordered with Cui Congzhi of Punishments and Lu Shizhan of Judicial Review to investigate; Ya met them and presented the case. Yuansu slowly uncovered the injustice and released all the prisoners. Ya was alarmed and again impeached Yuansu for freeing the guilty. Before Yuansu returned, the emperor was already angry; the report was unfinished when the emperor said, "Withdraw. Yuansu said, "I have not finished speaking." The emperor said, "Go." Yuansu said, "As censor I found injustice that could not be fully stated—I have no face to see Your Majesty again." The emperor relented, and Yuansu laid out Yun's grievance. Moved, the emperor said, "Without you, who could have seen this? Yet Yun was still punished for unauthorized arrests, exiled to Guizhou, and died in banishment. Jin was exiled to Jianzhou. More than a year later Qi Kang caught the real bandits, and the realm esteemed Yuansu.
45
遷給事中。 後美官缺，鹹冀元素得其處。 會鄭滑節度使盧群卒，拜元素檢校工部尚書節度其軍，治有異績。 元和初，召為御史大夫。 大夫，自貞元後難其人不補，而元素以夙望召拜，中外企聽風采。 既而一不建為，容容持祿，內望作宰相。 久之不見用，則謝賓客曰：「無以官散外我。」 見屬吏輒先拜，人人失望。 李锜反，拜浙西節度使。 數月還，為國子祭酒，進戶部尚書、判度支。
He was made Attendant of the Secretariat. When fine offices opened, all hoped Yuansu would fill them. When Lu Qun died as Zheng and Hua commissioner, Yuansu was made Acting Minister of Works and commissioner, with notable achievements. At the start of Yuanhe he was summoned as Censor-in-Chief. Since Zhenyuan the post of Censor-in-Chief had gone unfilled for lack of suitable men; Yuansu was summoned for his reputation, and court and country awaited his bearing. Yet he accomplished nothing, coasted on his salary, and inwardly hoped to become chief minister. After long disuse he told guests, "Do not park me in an honorary provincial post. He bowed first to subordinate officials, to everyone's disappointment. When Li Qi rebelled, he was made Zhexi commissioner. He returned after months as Chancellor of the National University, then Minister of Revenue and fiscal director.
46
元素少孤，奉長姊謹悌，及沒，悲鯁成疾，因辭職屏居。 其妻，石泉公王方慶之孫。 前妻子皆不肖，而元素溺姬侍，王不見答。 元素久疾，益昏惑，遂出之。 王訴諸朝，詔免元素官，且令畀王貲五百萬。 卒，贈陜州大都督。
Orphaned young, he served his elder sister devotedly; her death brought grief that became illness, and he resigned to live in seclusion. His wife was a granddaughter of Duke of Shiquan Wang Fangqing. His sons by a former wife were worthless, yet he doted on concubines and ignored his Wang wife. Long ill, he grew confused and finally divorced her. Wang appealed; an edict stripped Yuansu of office and ordered five million in assets paid her. He died and was posthumously honored as Grand Protector of Shaanzhou.
47
盧士玫者，山東人。 以文儒進，端厚無競。 為吏部員外郎，善於職。 再遷知京兆尹。 劉總入朝，與士玫故內姻，乃請析瀛、鄚兩州，用士玫為觀察使。 詔可。 俄而幽州亂，朱克融襲之，朝廷欲重其任，就加節度使。 士玫空家貲助軍，然部卒多家幽州，陰導克融入，故士玫闔府皆見囚幽州。 天子赦克融，得還。 以太子賓客分司東都，徐虢州刺史，復為賓客。 卒，贈工部尚書。
Lu Shimei was from Shandong. He rose through letters, was upright, steady, and uncontentious. As Vice Director of Personnel he excelled at his duties. He was again made acting mayor of Jingzhao. When Liu Zong came to court, an old family connection, he asked to split Ying and Mo and make Shimei observation commissioner. The edict approved the request. Soon Youzhou rebelled and Zhu Keyong attacked; the court added the military commission on the spot to weight his authority. Shimei spent his family wealth on the army, but many troops were Youzhou men who guided Keyong in, and Shimei's whole staff were seized in Youzhou. The emperor pardoned Keyong and they returned. He was Guest of the Heir Apparent at Luoyang, then prefect of Xu and Guo, then Guest again. He died and was posthumously honored as Minister of Works.