Volume 158 Biographies 83: Wei, Zhang, Yan, Han

韋張嚴韓

Wei, Zhang, Yan, and Han

韋臯，字城武，京兆萬年人。六代祖範，有勛力周、隋間。臯始仕為建陵挽郎，諸帥府更辟，擢監察御史。張鎰節度鳳翔，署營田判官。以殿中侍御史知隴州行營留事。

Wei Gao, whose style name was Chengwu, came from Wannian in Jingzhao. Six generations back, his ancestor Fan had won distinction in the service of Zhou and Sui. Gao began his career as a mourning attendant at Jianling. After successive appointments in several commanders' staffs, he was promoted to investigating censor. When Zhang Yin served as military governor of Fengxiang, he appointed Gao camp-field commissioner. As palace attendant censor, he was left in charge of affairs at the Longzhou field headquarters.

德宗狩奉天，李楚琳殺鎰，劫眾叛歸朱泚，隴州刺史郝通奔降楚琳。始，泚以范陽軍鎮鳳翔，既歸節，而留兵五百戍隴上，以部將牛雲光督之。至是，雲光謀請臯為帥，將劫以臣泚。別將翟曄伺知以白臯。雲光懼不克，率眾出奔，至汧陽，遇泚奴使臯所，謂雲光曰：「太尉已為天子，使我以御史中丞授臯。若聽，固吾人也，不受，可遂誅之。請以兵俱。」許之。臯迎勞，先納奴，偽受泚詔。即讓雲光曰：「既去而復，何也？」對曰：「向未知公之命，故去；今還，願與公同生死。」臯曰：「大使固善，茍無它圖，請釋甲以安眾，而後可入也。」雲光以臯諸生，亡能為，乃命士委仗鎧，臯受而內其卒。明日，置酒大會，奴、雲光與其下至，臯伏甲左右廡，酒行，盡殺之，以其首徇。泚復使它奴拜臯鳳翔節度使，臯亦斬之及從騎三人，縱一人使報泚。帝聞，乃授臯隴州刺史，置奉義軍，拜節度使，寵其功。臯遣兄平及弇繼至奉天，士氣益壯，乃築壇血牲與士盟曰：「協力一心，以誅元惡，有渝此盟，神其殛之。」又馳使吐蕃與連和，隴坻遂安。帝自梁、洋還，召為左金吾衛將軍，遷大將軍。

When Emperor Dezong was campaigning at Fengtian, Li Chulin murdered Zhang Yin, seized the army, and defected to Zhu Ci. Longzhou prefect Hao Tong fled and surrendered to Chulin. Earlier, when Zhu Ci had stationed the Fanyang army at Fengxiang, he had kept five hundred troops on garrison duty in Long after returning to his command, placing them under his subordinate Niu Yunguang. At this juncture Yunguang plotted to install Gao as commander and intended to force him to submit to Zhu Ci. Deputy commander Zhai Ye discovered the plot and reported it to Gao. Fearing he would fail, Yunguang led his troops out in flight. At Qianyang he met one of Zhu Ci's envoys bound for Gao, who told him, "The Grand Preceptor has already declared himself emperor and has sent me to appoint Gao vice censor-in-chief. If he accepts, he is one of us; if not, you may put him to death at once. Bring your troops with you." Yunguang agreed. Gao went out to welcome them courteously, first admitting the envoy and pretending to accept Zhu Ci's edict. He then reproached Yunguang: "You left and have come back—why?" He replied, "Before I did not know your wishes, so I left. Now I have returned and wish to live and die with you." Gao said, "The envoy is well disposed toward us. If you have no other design, lay down your armor to reassure the troops, and only then may you enter." Yunguang, judging Gao a mere scholar incapable of decisive action, ordered his men to surrender their weapons and armor. Gao took them in and admitted the troops within the walls. The next day he held a great banquet. The envoy, Yunguang, and their subordinates all attended. Gao had armed men hidden in the side halls; when the wine was served he had them all killed and displayed their heads as a warning. Zhu Ci sent another envoy to invest Gao as military governor of Fengxiang. Gao beheaded him as well, along with three mounted attendants, and let one man go to report back to Ci. When the emperor heard of this, he appointed Gao prefect of Longzhou, established the Fengyi Army, and made him its military governor, richly rewarding his achievement. Gao sent his elder brother Ping and Yan in succession to Fengtian, and morale grew stronger. He built an altar, sacrificed a victim, and swore an oath with the troops: "Let us unite as one to execute the arch-villain. Whoever violates this oath, may the spirits strike him down." He also sent swift envoys to ally with Tibet, and the Long frontier was secured. When the emperor returned from Liang and Yang, Gao was summoned to serve as general of the Left Golden Crow Guard and was promoted to great general.

貞元初，代張延賞為劍南西川節度使。初，雲南蠻羈附吐蕃，其盜塞必以蠻為鄉道。臯計得雲南則斬虜右支，乃間使招徠之，稍稍通西南夷。明年，蠻大首領苴那時以王爵讓其兄子烏星。始，烏星幼，那時攝領其部，故請歸爵。臯上言：「禮讓行於殊俗，則怫戾者化，願皆封以示褒進。」詔可。又明年，雲南款邊求內屬，約東蠻鬼主驃傍、苴夢沖等絕吐蕃盟。五年，東蠻斷瀘水橋攻吐蕃，請臯濟師。臯遣精卒二千，與蠻共破吐蕃於臺登，殺青海大酋乞臧遮遮、臘城酋悉多楊朱及論東柴等，虜墜死崖谷不可計，多獲牛馬鎧裝。遮遮，尚結贊之子，虜貴將悍雄者也；既敗，酋長百餘行哭隨之。悍將已亡，則屯柵以次降定。進檢校吏部尚書。

Early in the Zhenyuan era he replaced Zhang Yanshang as military governor of Jiannan West Circuit. Previously the Yunnan tribes had been tied to Tibet, and whenever they raided the frontier they always relied on tribal guides. Gao reckoned that winning Yunnan would sever the enemy's right flank, so he sent secret envoys to win the tribes over and gradually opened contact with the southwestern peoples. The following year the great tribal leader Ju Nashi yielded his royal title to his elder brother's son Wuxing. Wuxing had been young, and Nashi had governed the tribe in his stead, so he now asked to return the title. Gao memorialized the throne: "When courtesy and yielding are practiced even among foreign peoples, the recalcitrant are transformed. I ask that both men be enfeoffed to show commendation and advancement." The edict approved his request. The year after that Yunnan came to the frontier in friendship seeking to submit, and agreed with the eastern tribal spirit-lords Piao Pang, Ju Mengchong, and others to break their alliance with Tibet. In the fifth year the eastern tribes destroyed the Ludu Bridge and attacked Tibet, asking Gao to send reinforcements. Gao sent two thousand picked troops, and together with the tribes they defeated the Tibetans at Taideng, killing the great Qinghai chieftain Qizang Zhezhe, the Lacheng chieftain Siduo Yangzhu, Lun Dongchai, and others. Countless enemy soldiers fell to their deaths in cliffs and ravines, and the victors captured large numbers of cattle, horses, and armor. Zhezhe was the son of Shang Jiezan, a noble Tibetan general renowned for his ferocity; after his defeat more than a hundred chieftains followed in procession, weeping. Once the fierce generals were gone, the stockaded posts submitted in succession and were pacified. He was promoted to acting minister of civil offices.

初，東蠻地二千里，勝兵常數萬，南倚閣羅鳳，西結吐蕃，狙勢強弱為患，臯能綏服之，故戰有功。詔以那時為順政王、夢沖懷化王、驃傍和義王，刻「兩林」、「勿鄧」等印以賜之。而夢沖復與吐蕃盟，臯遣別將蘇峞召之，詰其叛，斬於琵琶川，立次鬼主樣棄等，蠻部震服。乃建安夷軍於資州，維制諸蠻；城龍溪於西山，保納降羌。

The eastern tribal lands had stretched two thousand li, with tens of thousands of fighting men. To the south they relied on Geluofeng, to the west they allied with Tibet, and they watched the balance of power to make trouble. Gao was able to pacify them, and therefore his campaigns succeeded. An edict enfeoffed Nashi as Prince of Shunzheng, Mengchong as Prince of Huaihua, and Piao Pang as Prince of Heyi, and had seals reading "Lianglin" and "Wudeng" carved and bestowed on them. But Mengchong allied with Tibet again. Gao sent deputy commander Su Wei to summon him, questioned his rebellion, and executed him at Pipaqian. He installed the next spirit-lord Yangqi and others, and the tribal divisions were awed into submission. He then established the Anyi Army at Zizhou to restrain the various tribes; and fortified Longxi in the western mountains to shelter surrendering Qiang.

九年，天子城鹽州，策虜且來橈襲，詔臯出師牽維之。乃命大將董勔、張芬分出西山、靈關，破峨和、通鶴、定廉城，逾的博嶺，遂圍維州，搏棲雞，攻下羊溪等三城，取劍山屯焚之。南道元帥論莽熱來援，與戰，破其軍，進收白岸，乃城鹽州。詔臯休士。以功為檢校尚書右仆射、扶風縣伯。

In the ninth year the emperor fortified Yazhou, anticipating that the enemy would come to harass the frontier, and ordered Gao to take the field to tie them down. He ordered great generals Dong Kan and Zhang Fen to advance separately from Xishan and Lingguan, capturing Ehe, Tonghe, and Dingliancheng, crossing Dibo Ridge, then investing Weizhou, striking Qiji, taking three cities including Yangxi, and seizing and burning the Jianshan garrison. The southern-route commander Lun Mangre came to the rescue. Gao's forces fought and routed his army, advanced to recover Baian, and then fortified Yazhou. An edict ordered Gao to stand his troops down. For his merit he was made acting right vice director of the Department of State Affairs and Baron of Fufeng County.

於是西山羌女、訶陵、南水、白狗、逋租、弱水、清遠、咄霸八國酋長，皆因臯請入朝。乃遣幕府崔佐時由石門趣雲南，而南詔復通。石門者，隋史萬歲南征道也，天寶中，鮮于仲通下兵南溪，道遂閉。至是蠻徑北谷，近吐蕃，故臯治復之。繇黎州出邛部，直雲南，置青溪關，號曰「南道」。乃詔臯統押近界諸蠻、西山八國、雲南安撫使。俄進同中書門下平章事。

Thereupon the chieftains of the eight western mountain states—Qiangnu, Heling, Nanshui, Baigou, Bozu, Ruoshui, Qingyuan, and Duoba—all requested audience at court through Gao. He then sent his staff member Cui Zuoshi by way of Shimen toward Yunnan, and communication with Nanzhao was restored. Shimen was the route of Shi Wansui's southern campaign in Sui. In the Tianbao era Xianyu Zhongtong led troops to Nanxi, and the road was thereafter closed. At this time the tribal route passed through the northern valley close to Tibet, so Gao restored it. From Lizhou it ran out through Qiongbu straight to Yunnan. He established Qingxi Pass and called it the "Southern Route." An edict then placed Gao in overall charge of the nearby tribes, the eight western mountain states, and the Yunnan pacification commissioner. Shortly thereafter he was advanced to honorary co-director of the Secretariat-Chancellery.

十三年，復巂州。吐蕃怨，完壘造舟謀擾邊，臯輒破卻之。自是曩貢、臘城等九節度嬰嬰、籠官馬定德與大將舉落皆降，昆明管些蠻又內附。贊普怒，遂北掠靈、朔，破麟州以取償焉。帝詔臯深入以橈虜。臯遣大將陳泊等出三奇，崔堯臣趨石門無衣山，仇冕、董振走維州，邢玼出黃崖略棲雞、老翁城，高倜、王英俊繇峨和、清溪道薄故松州，元膺出濕山、成溪，臧守至道黎、巂，韋良金趨平夷，路惟明自靈關、夏陽攻逋租、偏松城，王有道涉大度河，陳孝陽率蠻苴那時等道西瀘攻昆明、諾濟，師無慮五萬，以八月悉出塞。十月，大破吐蕃，拔其保鎮捕候，追奔轉戰千里，遂圍維州。吐蕃釋靈、朔兵，使論莽熱以內大相兼東境五節度大使，率雜虜十萬來救。師伏以待，虜乘勝深入，師噪而奮，虜大潰，生禽莽熱獻諸朝。帝悅，進檢校司徒兼中書令、南康郡王，帝制紀功碑褒賜之。

In the thirteenth year he recovered Xizhou. Tibet resented this, repaired fortifications and built boats planning to harass the frontier, but Gao repeatedly defeated and repelled them. From this time the nine military commissioners of Nangong, Lacheng, and the like—Yingying, the cage-official Ma Dingde, and the great general Juluo—all submitted, and the Guanxi tribes of Kunming also came within. The Tibetan emperor was enraged and raided north into Ling and Shuo, capturing Linzhou to exact compensation. The emperor ordered Gao to penetrate deeply and harass the enemy. Gao sent great general Chen Bo and others out through Sanqi, Cui Yaochan toward Shimen and Wuyishan, Qiu Mian and Dong Zhen toward Weizhou, Xing Qi from Huangya to strike Qiji and Laowengcheng, Gao Tong and Wang Yingjun by the Ehe and Qingxi routes to press old Songzhou, Yuan Ying through Shishan and Chengxi, Zang Shouzhi by way of Li and Xi, Wei Liangjin toward Pingyi, Lu Weiming from Lingguan and Xiayang to attack Bozu and Piansongcheng, Wang Youdao crossing the Dadu River, and Chen Xiaoyang leading the tribes under Ju Nashi by the western Lu route to attack Kunming and Nuoji. The army numbered no less than fifty thousand men, and in the eighth month they all marched out beyond the passes. In the tenth month they inflicted a great defeat on the Tibetans, capturing their fortified posts and outposts, pursuing the fleeing enemy in battle for a thousand li, and then investing Weizhou. Tibet released its troops from Ling and Shuo and sent Lun Mangre, serving as inner chief minister and concurrently as eastern frontier commissioner over five circuits, leading a hundred thousand mixed barbarian troops to the rescue. The army lay in ambush. The enemy, emboldened by their earlier success, pressed deep in, whereupon Gao's troops shouted and charged. The enemy collapsed in great disorder, and Mangre was captured alive and presented to the court. The emperor was pleased and advanced him to acting grand mentor concurrently director of the Secretariat and Prince of Nankang Commandery. The emperor himself composed a merit stele to praise and reward him.

順宗立，詔檢校太尉。會王叔文等幹政，臯遣劉辟來京師謁叔文曰：「公使私於君，請盡領劍南，則惟君之報。不然，惟君之怨。」叔文怒，欲斬辟，辟遁去。臯知叔文多釁，又自以大臣可與國大議，即上表請皇太子監國，又上箋太子，暴叔文、伾之奸，且勸進。會大臣繼請，太子遂受禪，因投殛奸黨。是歲，臯暴卒，年六十一，贈太師，謚曰忠武。

When Emperor Shunzong acceded, an edict appointed him acting grand preceptor. When Wang Shuwen and others seized power, Gao sent Liu Pi to the capital to visit Shuwen, saying, "I have sent my envoy to you in private: if you grant me full command of Jiannan, you shall have only my gratitude in return. Otherwise, you shall have only my resentment." Shuwen was enraged and wished to execute Pi, but Pi fled. Gao knew that Shuwen had many enemies, and considered himself a senior minister fit to deliberate on great affairs of state. He submitted a memorial asking that the crown prince supervise the state, and also sent a letter to the crown prince exposing the treachery of Shuwen and Yi and urging him to advance. As senior ministers followed with repeated requests, the crown prince received the abdication and had the treacherous faction executed. That year Gao died suddenly at the age of sixty-one. He was posthumously made grand preceptor and given the posthumous title Zhongwu, "Loyal and Martial."

臯治蜀二十一年，數出師，凡破吐蕃四十八萬，禽殺節度、都督、城主、籠官千五百，斬首五萬餘級，獲牛羊二十五萬，收器械六百三十萬，其功烈為西南劇。善拊士，至雖昏嫁皆厚資之，婿給錦衣，女給銀塗衣，賜各萬錢，死喪者稱是。其僚掾官雖顯，不使還朝，即署屬州刺史，自以侈橫，務蓋藏之。故劉辟階其厲，卒以叛。朝廷欲追繩其咎，而不與臯者詆所進兵皆鏤「定秦」字，有陸暢者上言：「臣向在蜀，知『定秦』者，匠名也。」繇是議息。暢，字達夫，臯雅所厚禮。始，天寶時，李白為《蜀道難》篇以斥嚴武，暢更為《蜀道易》以美臯焉。

Gao governed Shu for twenty-one years and took the field many times. In all he defeated four hundred eighty thousand Tibetans, captured or killed fifteen hundred military commissioners, protectors, city lords, and cage-officials, took more than fifty thousand heads, seized two hundred fifty thousand cattle and sheep, and recovered six million three hundred thousand pieces of equipment. His achievements were the greatest in the southwest. He was skilled at winning over his troops. Even weddings and funerals were richly subsidized: sons-in-law received brocade robes, daughters silvered garments, each family received ten thousand cash in gifts, and the dead were treated with equal generosity. Even when his staff officials grew prominent he would not let them return to court, but immediately appointed them prefects of subordinate prefectures. He was extravagant and overbearing himself and strove to conceal his wealth. Liu Pi followed his example and in the end rebelled. The court wished to hold him accountable, but his enemies slandered him, saying the weapons he had presented were all engraved with the characters "Ding Qin." Lu Chang memorialized: "When I was in Shu I knew that 'Ding Qin' was a craftsman's name." Thereby the inquiry ceased. Chang, whose style name was Dafu, was one whom Gao had always treated with generous courtesy. Earlier, in the Tianbao era Li Bai had written "The Road to Shu Is Hard" to criticize Yan Wu. Chang rewrote it as "The Road to Shu Is Easy" to praise Gao.

始，臯務私其民，列州互除租，凡三歲一復。臯沒，蜀人德之，見其遺象必拜。凡刻石著臯名者，皆镵其文尊諱之。

From the beginning Gao sought to favor his people. The prefectures in turn remitted taxes, with a general remission every three years. After Gao's death the people of Shu honored him. Whenever they saw his portrait they bowed. Wherever stone was carved bearing Gao's name, the text was chiseled away in observance of naming taboo.

兄聿，弟平。聿以蔭調南陵尉，遷秘書郎，以父嫌名換太子司議郎，辟淮南杜佑府。元和初，為國子司業。劉辟與盧文若反，臯子行式娶文若女弟，聿不以聞。辟平，行式妻當沒掖庭，有司並按聿，或以道遠不應坐，乃皆赦之。終太子右庶子。平與臯斬朱泚使者，間走奉天上功，擢萬年尉。

His elder brother was Yu; his younger brother was Ping. Yu entered office by yin privilege as aide of Nanling, was transferred to secretary, and because of his father's taboo name was reassigned as crown prince secretary for memorials. He was recruited into Du You's Huainan staff. Early in the Yuanhe era he became vice director of the Directorate of Education. When Liu Pi and Lu Wenruo rebelled, Gao's son Xingshi had married Wenruo's younger sister, but Yu did not report it. When the rebellion was pacified, Xingshi's wife was to be sent to the palace women. The authorities prosecuted Yu as well, but some held that because of the distance he should not be punished, and all were pardoned. He ended his career as right vice guardian of the crown prince. Ping, together with Gao, beheaded Zhu Ci's envoys and made his way secretly to Fengtian to report his merit. He was promoted to aide of Wannian.

平子正貫，字公理，少孤，臯謂能大其門，名曰臧孫。推蔭為單父尉，不得意，棄官去，改今名。舉賢良方正異等，除太子校書郎，調華原尉。後又中詳閑吏治科，遷萬年主簿，擢累司農卿。坐尚食乏供，貶均州刺史。久之，進壽州團練使。宣宗立，以治當最，拜京兆尹、同州刺史。俄擢嶺南節度使。南海舶賈始至，大帥必取象犀明珠，上珍而售以下直。正貫既至，無所取，吏咨其清。南方風俗右鬼，正貫毀淫祠，教民毋妄祈。會海水溢，人爭咎撤祠事，以為神不厭，正貫登城沃酒以誓曰：「不當神意，長人任其咎，無逮下民。」俄而水去，民乃信之。居鎮三歲，既病，遺令無厚葬，無用鼓吹，無請謚。卒，年六十八，贈工部尚書。

Ping's son Zhengguan, whose style name was Gongli, was orphaned young. Gao said he could enlarge the clan and called him Zangsun. He entered office by yin privilege as aide of Shanfu, was dissatisfied, abandoned his post, and changed to his present name. He was recommended as outstanding in the erudite and upright category, appointed crown prince collator, and transferred to aide of Huayuan. Later he also passed the examination in detailed knowledge of governance, was transferred to registrar of Wannian, and was promoted in succession to minister of agriculture. He was demoted to prefect of Junzhou for a failure in the palace commissary's provisions. After a long interval he was advanced to training commissioner of Shouzhou. When Emperor Xuanzong acceded, because his governance ranked highest he was appointed metropolitan governor of Jingzhao and prefect of Tongzhou. Shortly thereafter he was advanced to military governor of Lingnan. Whenever merchant ships first arrived from the Southern Seas, the regional commander always seized ivory, rhinoceros horn, and luminous pearls—keeping the finest goods for himself and selling the rest at cut-rate prices. When Zhengguan arrived, he took nothing from them, and his staff praised his integrity. The people of the south set great store by spirits; Zhengguan demolished illicit shrines and taught the people not to pray recklessly. Then the sea overflowed. People blamed the destruction of the shrines, saying the spirits were displeased. Zhengguan climbed the city wall, poured a libation of wine, and swore: "If this does not accord with the spirits' will, let the chief bear the blame—not the common people." Before long the waters receded, and the people believed him. After three years in the command he fell ill and left instructions for no lavish burial, no funeral procession with drums and pipes, and no petition for a posthumous title. He died at the age of sixty-eight and was posthumously appointed minister of works.

劉辟者，字太初，擢進士宏詞科，佐韋臯府，遷累御史中丞、支度副使。臯卒，辟主後務，諷諸將僥旄節，憲宗以給事中召之，不奉詔。時帝新即位，欲靜鎮四方，即拜檢校工部尚書、劍南西川節度使。辟意帝可動，益驁蹇，吐不臣語，求統三川，欲以所善盧文若節度東川，即以兵取梓州。且以術家言五福、太一舍於蜀，乃造大樓以祈祥。帝始重征討，而宰相杜黃裳勸帝，且言：「辟，妄書生耳，可鼓而俘也。」薦高崇文、李元弈等將神策行營兵皆西，使嚴礪、李康掎角之。

Liu Pi, whose style name was Taichu, passed the jinshi and Hongci examinations, served on Wei Gao's staff, and rose in succession to vice censor-in-chief and deputy fiscal commissioner. When Gao died, Pi took charge of affairs, covertly urging the generals to seek the banner and staff of command. Emperor Xianzong summoned him as a palace adviser, but he refused to obey. The emperor had only recently acceded and wished to pacify the realm. He promptly appointed Pi acting minister of works and military governor of Jiannan West Circuit. Pi thought the emperor could be moved and grew ever more arrogant. He spoke treasonously, sought to rule all three river valleys, and planned to install his favorite Lu Wenruo as military governor of East River Circuit, then use troops to seize Zizhou. Moreover, on the advice of diviners that the Five Fortunes and Grand Unity would lodge in Shu, he built a great tower to pray for auspicious signs. The emperor began to treat the campaign in earnest. Chief Minister Du Huangshang urged him on and said, "Pi is nothing but a foolish scholar. A drumbeat is all it would take to capture him. He recommended Gao Chongwen, Li Yuanyi, and others to lead the Shence field-army troops west, with Yan Li and Li Kang coordinating a pincer movement.

詔許自新，辟不聽。崇文取東川，帝乃下詔奪其官，進破鹿頭關，遂下成都。辟從數十騎走，至羊灌田，自投水，不能死，騎將酈定進禽之。文若先殺其族，縋石自沈於江，失其屍。檻車送辟京師，尚冀不死，食飲於道晏然。將至都，神策以兵迎之，系其首，曳而入，驚曰：「何至是邪？」帝禦興安樓受俘，詔詰反狀，辟曰：「臣不敢反，五院子弟為惡，不能制。」詔問：「遣使賜節何不受？」乃伏罪。獻廟社，徇於市，斬於城西南獨柳下。子超郎等九人，與部將崔綱以次誅。

An edict offered him a chance to submit; Pi refused to listen. Chongwen seized East River Circuit. The emperor then issued an edict stripping Pi of his offices. Chongwen advanced, broke through Lutou Pass, and took Chengdu. Pi fled with several dozen horsemen. At Yangguan Field he threw himself into the water but failed to drown; cavalry officer Li Ding seized him. Wenruo first executed his own clan, then lowered a stone and sank himself in the river; his body was never recovered. Pi was sent to the capital in a caged cart. He still hoped to live and ate and drank along the road with perfect composure. As they neared the capital, Shence troops came to meet them. They bound his head and dragged him in. Startled, he cried, "How did it come to this?" The emperor ascended Xing'an Tower to receive the captive and ordered an inquiry into the rebellion. Pi said, "Your subject did not dare rebel—the men of the Five Yard did evil, and I could not control them." The edict asked, "When we sent an envoy bearing the banner and staff, why did you not accept?" Thereupon he confessed his guilt. He was offered to the altars of soil and grain, paraded through the market, and beheaded beneath the Lone Willow southwest of the city. His sons Chao and Lang and seven others, together with staff general Cui Gang, were executed one after another.

始，辟嘗病，見問疾者必以手行入其口，辟即裂食之。唯盧文若至，如平常，故益與之厚，而皆夷族。

It was said that when Pi was ill, any visitor who came to inquire after his health would find Pi reach into his mouth with his own hand—and then tear off the flesh and eat it. Only when Lu Wenruo visited did he behave as usual; Pi therefore grew all the closer to him—yet in the end they were all exterminated to the last clan member.

張建封，字本立，鄧州南陽人，客隱兗州。父玠，少任俠。安祿山反，使李廷偉脅徇山東，魯郡太守韓擇木迎館之。玠率豪桀段絳等集兵，將斬以徇，擇木不許，唯司兵參軍張孚助其謀，乃殺廷偉並其黨以聞。擇木、孚皆受賞，而玠去之江南，不自言功。

Zhang Jianfeng, whose style name was Benli, came from Nanyang in Dengzhou but lived as a guest-recluse in Yanzhou. His father Jie had been chivalrous and bold in his youth. When An Lushan rebelled, he sent Li Tingwei to coerce the east of the mountains into submission. Han Zhemu, prefect of Lu Prefecture, received Tingwei and lodged him. Jie led stalwarts such as Duan Jiang to gather troops and intended to behead Tingwei and display him as a warning. Zhemu refused, but military aide Zhang Fu backed the plan. They then killed Tingwei and his followers and reported what they had done. Zhemu and Fu both received rewards, but Jie went south to the Yangzi region and never spoke of his own merit.

建封少喜文章，能辯論，慷慨尚氣，自許以功名顯。李光弼鎮河南，盜起蘇、常間，殘掠鄉縣。代宗詔中人馬日新與光弼麾下皆討。建封見中人，請前喻賊，可不須戰。因到賊屯開譬禍福，一日降數千人，縱還田裏，由是知名。湖南觀察使韋之晉辟署參謀，授左清道兵曹參軍，不樂職，輒去。令狐彰節度滑亳，奏置幕府，彰不朝覲，建封非之。往見轉運使劉晏，晏奏試大理評事，使筦漕務，歲餘罷。時馬燧為三城鎮遏使，雅知之，表為判官，擢監察御史。燧伐李靈耀，軍中事多所諏訪，從鎮河東，授侍御史，即表其能於朝。楊炎將任以要職，盧杞不喜，出為岳州刺史。

In youth Jianfeng loved literature and excelled in debate. He was generous and spirited, and promised himself renown through meritorious achievement. Li Guangbi governed Henan. Bandits rose between Suzhou and Changzhou and ravaged the districts and villages. Emperor Daizong ordered the eunuch Ma Rixin and all of Guangbi's subordinates to suppress them. Jianfeng met the eunuch and asked to go ahead and persuade the bandits, saying bloodshed might be avoided. He went to the bandit encampment and spoke to them of fortune and ruin. In one day several thousand surrendered; he released them to return to their fields, and thereby made his name. Hunan observation commissioner Wei Zhijin recruited him as strategist and appointed him left aide of the Pure Way corps, but he did not enjoy the post and left at once. Linghu Zhang governed Hua and Bo and memorialized to establish a staff office, but Zhang did not come to court. Jianfeng disapproved. He went to see transport commissioner Liu Yan, who memorialized to appoint him on probation as recorder of the Court of Judicial Review and had him manage transport affairs. After more than a year he was dismissed. At that time Ma Sui was suppressing commissioner of the Three Forts and held him in high regard. Sui memorialized to appoint him as staff judge and promoted him to investigating censor. When Sui campaigned against Li Lingyao, he consulted Jianfeng on many military matters. Following Sui to govern Hedong, Jianfeng was appointed attendant censor, and Sui at once memorialized on his abilities to the court. Yang Yan was about to appoint him to an important post, but Lu Qi disliked him and had him transferred out as prefect of Yuezhou.

李希烈既破梁崇義，跋扈不臣，壽州刺史崔昭與相聞，德宗召宰相選代昭者，杞倉卒不暇取它吏，即白用建封。希烈數敗王師，張甚，遂僭即天子位，淮南節度使陳少遊陰附之。希烈遣將楊豐賫偽赦二，畀建封、少遊。豐至，建封縛致軍中，會中人來，對之斬其首，因送偽書於行在。少遊聞之，恚汗不自處，建封乃劾其附賊狀，帝方蒙難，不暇治也。希烈又署杜少誠為淮南節度使，約破壽州，以趣江都。建封壁霍丘秋柵拒之，賊不能東。遷團練使。帝還自梁，少遊卒憂死。進兼御史大夫、濠壽廬觀察使。是時，四方尚多故，乃繕陴隍，益治兵，四鄙附悅。希烈使票帥悍卒來戰，建封皆沮衄之。賊平，進封階，又任一子正員官。

After Li Xilie defeated Liang Chongyi, he grew arrogant and disloyal. Cui Zhao, prefect of Shouzhou, was in communication with him. Emperor Dezong summoned the chief ministers to choose Zhao's replacement. Qi, in haste, had no time to select another official and immediately recommended Jianfeng. Xilie repeatedly defeated the imperial armies and grew ever bolder. He then presumptuously declared himself emperor. Chen Shaoyou, military governor of Huainan, secretly sided with him. Xilie sent the general Yang Feng bearing two forged amnesties to present to Jianfeng and Shaoyou. When Feng arrived, Jianfeng bound him and brought him into camp. When an eunuch envoy came, Jianfeng beheaded Feng before him and sent the forged documents to the emperor's temporary residence. When Shaoyou heard of this, he was enraged and broke into a sweat, unable to compose himself. Jianfeng then impeached him for siding with the rebel, but the emperor was then in distress and had no leisure to pursue it. Xilie also appointed Du Shaoqing military governor of Huainan, planning to seize Shouzhou and push on toward Jiangdu. Jianfeng fortified himself at the Qiuchai barrier in Huoqiu to resist them, and the rebels could not advance eastward. He was promoted to training commissioner. When the emperor returned from Liang, Shaoyou died of grief and anxiety. He was advanced to concurrent chief censor and observation commissioner of Hao, Shou, and Lu. At that time disturbances still abounded on all sides. He repaired walls and moats, further trained his troops, and the people on all four borders were pleased and loyal. Xilie sent swift-riding shock troops to fight him; Jianfeng repulsed them every time. When the rebels were pacified, he was advanced in noble rank and one of his sons was appointed to a regular office.

貞元四年，拜御史大夫、徐泗濠節度使。始，李洧以徐降，洧卒，高承宗、獨孤華代之，地迫於寇，常困不支。於是李泌建言：「東南漕自淮達諸汴，徐之埇橋為江、淮計口，今徐州刺史高明應甚少，脫為李納所並，以梗餉路，是失江、淮也。請以建封代之，益與濠、泗二州。夫徐地重而兵勁，若帥又賢，即淄青震矣。」帝曰：「善。」繇是徐復為雄鎮。久之，檢校尚書右仆射。十三年，來朝，帝不待日召見延英殿，詔會朝赴大夫班，以示殊寵，建封賦《朝天行》以獻。帝眷遇異等，賜名馬珍具。

In the fourth year of Zhenyuan he was appointed chief censor and military governor of Xu, Si, and Hao. At first Li Wei had surrendered Xuzhou. When Wei died, Gao Chengzong and Dugu Hua succeeded him, but the territory, pressed by rebels, was often strained beyond endurance. Thereupon Li Bi offered counsel: "Southeast grain transport from the Huai reaches the Bian region. Yongqiao in Xu is the chokepoint of the Jiang-Huai route. The Xu prefect Gao Mingying has few troops; if he should be swallowed by Li Na and the supply route blocked, we would lose the Jiang-Huai region. I ask that Jianfeng replace him and be given the two prefectures of Hao and Si as well. Xu is a vital territory with strong troops. If its commander is also worthy, Zi-Qing would be shaken." The emperor said, "Good." From this Xu again became a formidable command. After a long interval he was made acting right vice director of the Secretariat. In the thirteenth year he came to court. The emperor, not waiting for the appointed day, summoned him to audience in Yanying Hall, ordered him to attend court assembly in the chief-minister rank to show special favor, and Jianfeng composed "Song of Attending Court" and presented it. The emperor favored him with exceptional regard and bestowed famed horses and rare treasures.

是時，宦者主宮市，置數十百人閱物廛左，謂之「白望」。無詔文驗核，但稱宮市，則莫敢誰何，大率與直十不償一。又邀閽闥所奉及腳傭，至有重荷趨肆而徒返者。有農賣一驢薪，宦人以數尺帛易之，又取它費，且驅驢入宮，而農納薪辭帛，欲亟去，不許，恚曰：「惟有死耳！」遂擊宦者。有司執之以聞，帝黜宦人，賜農帛十匹，然宮市不廢也。諫臣交章列上，皆不納，故建封請間為帝言之，帝頗順聽。會詔書蠲民逋賦，帝問何如，答曰：「殘逋積負，決無可斂，雖蠲除之，百姓尚無所益。」又陳：「河東節度使李說、華州刺史盧征皆病不能事，左右得以為奸。右金吾大將軍李翰好刺細事規寵，人疾惡之。」帝悉嘉可。未幾，制詔：「官師過從，人情之常，自今金吾勿以聞。」

At that time eunuchs controlled the palace market. They posted dozens or even hundreds of men to inspect goods by the shopfronts, calling them "white watchers." Without edict documents for verification, if they merely invoked the palace market no one dared resist. As a rule they paid scarcely one-tenth of fair value. They also intercepted what was carried in tribute at the palace gate and porters' fees. Some who bore heavy loads hurried to the market only to return empty-handed. A farmer sold a load of firewood carried by a donkey. A eunuch exchanged a few feet of cloth for it, took other fees besides, and drove the donkey into the palace. The farmer handed over the firewood and refused the cloth, wishing to leave at once. When they would not let him go, he cried in rage, "I might as well die! Then he struck the eunuch. The authorities seized him and reported the matter. The emperor dismissed the eunuch and bestowed ten bolts of cloth on the farmer, yet the palace market was not abolished. Remonstrating officials submitted memorial after memorial, but none was accepted. Jianfeng therefore requested a private audience to speak to the emperor, and the emperor listened with some accord. It happened that an edict remitted the people's tax arrears. The emperor asked what Jianfeng thought. He answered, "Arrears accumulated over years can in no case be collected. Even if remitted, the common people would still gain little. He also stated, "Li Shuo, military governor of Hedong, and Lu Zheng, prefect of Hua, are both ill and unable to conduct affairs. Those around them are free to do wrong. Li Han, right general of the Golden Crow Guard, likes to pry into petty matters to seek favor, and people detest him. The emperor approved all of this. Before long an imperial decree stated, "Social visiting among officials and teachers is human custom. From now on the Golden Crow Guard is not to report it."

元巳，賜宴曲江，特詔與宰相同榻食。其還鎮，帝賦詩以餞，於時雖馬燧、渾瑊、劉玄佐、李抱真等勛寵卓越，未有以詩餞者。帝又使左右以所持鞭賜之，曰：「卿節誼歲寒弗渝，故用此為況。」建封又賦詩以自警勵。十六年，以病求代，詔韋夏卿代之，未至而建封卒。年六十六，冊贈司徒。

On the Yuanxi festival, a banquet was granted at Qujiang. A special edict had him dine at the same couch as the chief ministers. When he returned to his command, the emperor composed a poem to see him off. Although at that time Ma Sui, Hun Zai, Liu Xuanzuo, Li Baozhen, and others had won outstanding merit and favor, none had ever been sent off with a poem. The emperor also had attendants bestow the whip he held, saying, "Your constancy and integrity do not change in the cold season. I give you this as a symbol of that. Jianfeng also composed a poem to admonish and encourage himself. In the sixteenth year he fell ill and requested a replacement. An edict appointed Wei Xiaqing to replace him, but before Xiaqing arrived, Jianfeng died. He was sixty-six. He was canonically posthumously appointed grand marshal.

治徐凡十年，躬於所事，一軍大治。善容人過，至健黠亦未嘗曲法假之。其言忠義感激，故下皆畏悅。性樂士，賢不肖遊其門者禮必均，故其往如歸。許孟容、韓愈皆奏署幕府，有文章傳於時。

He governed Xu for ten years in all, personally attending to his duties, and the whole army was brought to excellent order. He was good at tolerating others' faults, yet even the bold and cunning he never bent the law to indulge. His words of loyalty and righteousness were stirring, and his subordinates both feared and delighted in him. By nature he delighted in scholars. Whether worthy or unworthy, those who came to his gate received equal courtesy, and they came as if returning home. Xu Mengrong and Han Yu were both recruited to his staff. Their writings circulated widely at the time.

子愔，始以蔭補虢州參軍事。建封卒，府佐鄭通誠者攝留事，畏其軍亂，因浙西戍兵過徐，謀引以為援。舉軍怒，斧庫取兵，環府大噪，殺通誠及大將數人，乃表於朝，請愔為留後，假旄節。帝不許，披濠、泗隸淮南，詔杜佑討徐亂。泗州刺史張伾以兵攻埇橋，與徐軍遇，伾大敗。帝未有以制，乃授愔右驍衛將軍、徐州刺史，知留後。以伾為泗州留後，杜兼為濠州留後。俄進愔武寧軍節度使。

His son Yin at first entered office by yin privilege as aide in Guo Prefecture. When Jianfeng died, staff assistant Zheng Tongcheng acted as acting commander. Fearing the army would riot, and noting that Zhexi garrison troops were passing through Xu, he plotted to bring them in as support. The whole army was enraged. They broke into the armory with axes and seized weapons, surrounded headquarters with a great clamor, killed Tongcheng and several senior generals, and then memorialized the court requesting Yin as acting commander with temporary banner and staff. The emperor refused. He stripped Hao and Si from Xu and attached them to Huainan, and ordered Du You to suppress the unrest in Xu. Zhang Pei, prefect of Sizhou, attacked Yongqiao with troops. He met the Xu army and was utterly defeated. The emperor had no means to control them. He therefore appointed Yin right general of the Valiant Cavalry Guard and prefect of Xu, acting commander. Pei was made acting commander of Sizhou, and Du Jian was made acting commander of Hao Prefecture. Shortly thereafter Yin was advanced to military governor of the Wuning Army.

元和初，以疾求代，召為工部尚書，以王紹節度武寧，還濠、泗隸徐。徐人喜，遂不敢亂，而愔得行。未逾境，卒。愔治徐七年，其政稱治。贈尚書右仆射。

At the start of the Yuanhe era he fell ill and requested a replacement. He was summoned as minister of works. Wang Shao was made military governor of Wuning, and Hao and Si were restored to Xu's jurisdiction. The people of Xu rejoiced and did not dare riot again. Yin was able to depart. Before he had crossed the border he died. Zhang Yin governed Xuzhou for seven years, and his rule was widely regarded as a model of good governance. He was posthumously appointed Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs.

嚴震，字遐聞，梓州鹽亭人。本農家子，以財役裏閭。至德、乾元中，數出資助邊，得為州長史。西川節度使嚴武知其才，署押衙，遷恒王府司馬，委以軍府眾務。武卒，罷歸。會東川節度使李叔明表為渝州刺史，震以叔明姻家，移疾去。山南西道節度府又表為鳳州刺史。母喪解。起為興、鳳兩州團練使，好興利除害。建中中，劍南黜陟使韋楨狀震治行為山南第一，乃賜上下考，封鄖國公。治鳳十四年，號稱清嚴，遠邇咨美。遷山南西道節度使。

Yan Zhen, styled Xianwen, came from Yanting in Zizhou. Born to a farming family, he used his wealth to dominate local affairs in his district. In the Zhide and Qianyuan reigns he made repeated donations to support border defense, earning appointment as a prefectural long-term secretary. Yan Wu, military governor of Xichuan, recognized his ability and made him yamen adjutant, then promoted him to secretary of the Prince of Heng's household, putting him in charge of the command's daily business. After Yan Wu's death, he left office and went home. When Li Shuming, military governor of Dongchuan, recommended him for the prefecture of Yuzhou, Zhen declined on grounds of illness because Li was a relation by marriage. The Shannan West headquarters then recommended him to govern Fengzhou. He left office to observe mourning for his mother. Recalled to serve as Rectification and Training Commissioner for Xing and Feng, he devoted himself to public benefit and the removal of abuses. During Jianzhong, Wei Zhen, the Jiannan inspection commissioner, ranked Zhen's governance first in all Shannan; the court awarded him the highest merit ratings and enfeoffed him as Duke of Yun. Over fourteen years at Fengzhou his rule was known for its austerity and integrity, winning praise throughout the region. He was promoted to military governor of Shannan West Circuit.

朱泚反，遣腹心穆廷光等遺帛書誘之，震即斬以聞。是時，李懷光與賊連和，奉天危蹙，帝欲徙蹕山南，震聞，馳表奉迎，遣大將張用誠以兵五千扞衛。用誠至盩厔有反計，帝憂之，會震牙將馬勛嗣至，帝告以故，勛曰：「臣請歸取節度符召之，即不受，斬其首以復命。」帝悅，使計日往。勛還得符，請壯士五人與偕，出駱谷，用誠以為未知其謀，以數百騎迓勛館之，左右嚴侍。勛未發，陰令焚草館外，士寒爭附火，勛從容引符示之，曰：「大夫召君。」用誠懼，將走，壯士自後禽之。用誠子斫勛傷首，左右扞刀得免，遂仆用誠，而格殺其子。勛即軍中，士皆擐甲矣。勛昌言曰：「若父母妻子在梁州，今棄之而反，何所利邪？大夫取用誠爾，若等無與！」眾乃服，不敢動。即縛用誠送於震，杖殺之，而拔其副以統師。始，勛赴行在，逾半日期，帝頗憂。比至，大喜。翌日，發奉天。既入駱谷，懷光以騎追襲，賴山南兵以免。尋加檢校戶部尚書、馮翊郡王，實封二百戶。

When Zhu Ci rose in rebellion, he sent trusted agents including Mu Tingguang with a silk letter to win Zhen over; Zhen had them executed at once and reported the matter to the throne. Li Huaiguang had joined the rebels, Fengtian was in grave danger, and the emperor planned to move the court into Shannan. Zhen immediately memorialized offering a loyal welcome and dispatched his senior general Zhang Yongcheng with five thousand men to guard the route. Zhang Yongcheng reached Zhouzhi with treason in mind, and the emperor grew anxious. Ma Xun, a staff general under Zhen, happened to arrive at court; when the emperor explained the situation, Xun said, "Let me return for the governor's tally and summon him. If he refuses, I will bring back his head. The emperor was delighted and ordered him to depart within the agreed number of days. Ma Xun returned with the tally, took five strong men with him, and went out through Luogu Pass. Zhang Yongcheng, unaware of the plot, greeted him with several hundred horsemen, put him up at an inn, and posted guards on every side. Before leaving, Xun secretly ordered a fire lit outside the lodge. The cold soldiers crowded around the flames, and Xun calmly produced the governor's tally and said, "The governor summons you. Zhang Yongcheng panicked and tried to run, but the strongmen grabbed him from behind. Yongcheng's son struck at Xun and cut his head, but Xun's attendants blocked the blow. Xun then threw Yongcheng to the ground and killed the son in the scuffle. Ma Xun went straight into the camp and found the men already armored. Ma Xun spoke plainly to the troops: "Your parents, wives, and children are in Liangzhou. What good will it do you to abandon them and rebel? The governor seeks only Yongcheng—this has nothing to do with the rest of you! The men submitted and did not dare move. He bound Zhang Yongcheng and sent him to Yan Zhen, who had him beaten to death, then promoted the deputy to take command of the force. When Ma Xun first set out for the temporary court, the deadline passed by half a day and the emperor grew anxious. When he finally arrived, the emperor was overjoyed. The following day the court left Fengtian. Once they entered Luogu Pass, Li Huaiguang pursued with cavalry, but the Shannan troops fought them off and the emperor escaped harm. He was soon made acting Minister of Revenue and Prince of Fengyi, with a substantive fief of two hundred households.

天子至梁州，宰相以為地貧無所仰給，請進幸成都。震曰：「山南密邇畿輔，李晟銳於收復，方藉六師為聲援，今引而西，則諸將顧望，責功無期。」帝未決，會晟表至，亦請駐蹕梁、洋，議遂定。然梁、漢間刀耕火耨，民采穭為食，雖領十五郡，而賦入才比東方數大縣。自安、史後，山賊剽掠，戶口流散，震隨宜勸課，鳩斂有法，民不煩擾，而行在供億具焉。車駕將還，加檢校尚書左仆射。詔改梁州為興元府，即用震為尹，加實封二百戶。久之，進同中書門下平章事。貞元十五年卒，年七十六，贈太保，謚曰忠穆。

When the emperor reached Liangzhou, the chief ministers argued that the region was too poor to sustain the court and urged him to move on to Chengdu. Zhen replied, "Shannan lies close to the capital. Li Sheng is pressing hard to recover the realm and needs the imperial army as his rear support. If the court withdraws farther west, the generals will lose heart and victory will never come. Before the emperor could decide, Li Sheng's memorial arrived urging him to remain at Liang and Yang, and the matter was settled. Yet between Liangzhou and Hanzhong the people still practiced slash-and-burn farming and lived on wild grain. Though Zhen governed fifteen prefectures, his tax revenue matched only a few large counties in the east. Since the An Lushan rebellion, bandits had ravaged the hills and the population had fled. Zhen adapted his policies to local conditions, levied taxes in an orderly way without harassing the people, and fully supplied the traveling court. As the emperor prepared to return to the capital, Zhen was made acting Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. An edict renamed Liangzhou as Xingyuan Prefecture and appointed Zhen its governor, adding two hundred households to his substantive fief. In time he was promoted to co-director of the Secretariat-Chancellery. He died in the fifteenth year of Zhenyuan at the age of seventy-six. The court posthumously appointed him Grand Mentor and gave him the posthumous name Loyal and Solemn.

從孫譔，與宰相楊收善。咸通中，繇桂管觀察使擢為江西節度使，改號鎮南軍。時南蠻內寇，詔譔募士三萬備之。或言譔廣補卒，擅納縑廩。及收得罪，韋保衡以譔素善收，賕賄狼藉，遣使按覆，詔賜死。

His grand-nephew Yan Tan was a close associate of Chief Minister Yang Shou. During Xiantong he rose from Guangxi Observing Commissioner to military governor of Jiangxi, and the circuit was renamed the Zhennan Army. When southern tribes raided the interior, the court ordered Tan to raise thirty thousand men for defense. Reports circulated that Tan had over-recruited soldiers and illegally collected silk and grain rations. After Yang Shou fell from power, Wei Baoheng cited Tan's long friendship with Shou and his rampant corruption, sent investigators, and secured an edict ordering Tan to take his own life.

韓弘，滑州匡城人。少孤，依其舅劉玄佐。舉明經不中，從外家學騎射。由諸曹試大理評事，為宋州南城將。事劉全諒，署都知兵馬使。貞元十五年，全諒死，軍中思玄佐，以弘才武，共立為留後，請監軍表諸朝。詔檢校工部尚書，充宣武節度副大使，知節度事。

Han Hong came from Kuangcheng in Huazhou. He lost his father early and was raised under his maternal uncle Liu Xuanzuo. After failing the Mingjing civil examination, he trained in horsemanship and archery in his uncle's household. He entered service through routine office trials, became an assistant director in the Court of Judicial Review, and was posted as garrison commander at Nancheng in Songzhou. Under Liu Quanliang he was appointed director of all military affairs. In the fifteenth year of Zhenyuan, after Quanliang died, the troops longed for Liu Xuanzuo's leadership. Impressed by Hong's ability and martial prowess, they installed him as acting governor and had the army supervisor report the appointment to court. The court appointed him acting Minister of Works and vice military governor of Xuanwu, with full charge of the circuit.

先是，曲環死，吳少誠與全諒謀襲陳許，使數輩仍在館。弘始得帥，欲以忠自表於眾，即驅出少誠使斬之，選卒三千，會諸軍擊少誠，敗之。汴自劉士寧以來，軍益驕，及殺陸長源，主帥勢輕，不可制。弘察軍中素恣橫者劉鍔等三百人，一日，數其罪斬之牙門，流血丹道，弘言笑自如。自是訖弘去，無一敢肆者。李師古屯曹州，以謀鄭、滑，或告：「師古治道矣，兵且至，請備之。」弘曰：「師來不除道也。」師古情得，乃引去。累授檢校司空、同中書門下平章事。弘以官與太原王鍔等，詒書宰相，恥為鍔下。憲宗方用兵淮西，藉其重，更授檢校司徒，班鍔上。

Earlier, after Qu Huan's death, Wu Shaoqian and Quanliang plotted a strike against Chen and Xu and kept several envoys lodged at the post station. As soon as Hong took command he sought to prove his loyalty: he expelled Wu Shaoqian's envoys and had them executed, then picked three thousand men, joined the allied armies, and routed Shaoqian. Since Liu Shining's day the Bianzhou army had grown ever more insubordinate, and after the murder of Lu Changyuan its commanders wielded too little authority to restrain the troops. Hong singled out three hundred habitual ruffians in the ranks, including Liu E. One day he read out their crimes and executed them at headquarters; blood ran deep across the courtyard, yet Hong spoke and laughed as calmly as ever. From that day until Hong left office, not a single soldier dared to run wild. Li Shigu was encamped at Caozhou with designs on Zheng and Hua, when someone warned, "Shigu is repairing the roads—his army will arrive soon. We must prepare. Hong replied, "Armies on the march do not repair roads beforehand." Realizing his plan was exposed, Shigu withdrew. He was successively made acting Minister of Works and co-director of the Secretariat-Chancellery. Hong held the same rank as Wang E of Taiyuan and others, and wrote the chief ministers that he was ashamed to stand below E in precedence. Emperor Xianzong was campaigning in Huai West and needed Hong's prestige; he was therefore made acting Grand Mentor and given precedence over Wang E.

嚴綬以王師敗，乃拜弘淮西諸軍行營都統，使扞兩河，而令李光顏、烏重胤擊賊。弘不親屯，遣子公武領兵三千屬光顏，然陰為逗橈計，以危國邀功者，每諸將告捷，輒累日不怡。元濟平，以功加兼侍中，封許國公。李師道誅，弘大懼，因請入朝，冊拜司徒、中書令，以足疾，命中人掖拜，固願留京師。帝崩，攝冢宰。俄出為河中節度使。以病請還，復拜司徒、中書令。卒，年五十八，贈太尉，謚曰隱。

After Yan Shou's imperial force was defeated, Hong was made overall commander of the Huai West campaign, charged with holding the two He circuits while Li Guangyan and Wu Chongyin struck at the rebels. Hong did not take the field himself, sending his son Gongwu with three thousand men to serve under Li Guangyan. Secretly he played for delay, as one who would risk the realm to claim credit, and whenever the generals reported victory he would brood for days. After Wu Yuanji was suppressed, Hong was made Palace Attendant as well and enfeoffed as Duke of Xu. When Li Shidao was executed, Hong was terrified and petitioned to come to court. He was ceremonially appointed Grand Mentor and Grand Chancellor; because of a foot ailment eunuchs had to support him as he bowed, and he begged to remain in the capital. When the emperor died, he served as acting chief mourner for the funeral rites. Before long he was posted as military governor of Hezhong. He asked to return on grounds of illness and was again made Grand Mentor and Grand Chancellor. He died at fifty-eight. The court posthumously appointed him Grand Marshal and gave him the posthumous name Reticent.

始，弘自汴來朝，獻馬三千、絹五十萬、它錦彩三萬，而汴之庫廄錢尚百萬緡，絹亦百餘萬，馬七千，糧三百萬斛，兵械不可數。弘為人莊重寡言，罪殺人，問法何如，不自為輕重，沈謀勇斷，故少誠、師道等皆憚之。詔使至，或驁侮不為禮。齊、蔡平，勢屈而後請覲，然天子尊寵異等，能以名位始終，亦其天幸。

When Hong first came to court from Bianzhou he presented three thousand horses, five hundred thousand bolts of silk, and thirty thousand pieces of brocade—yet Bian's stores still held a million strings of cash, more than a million bolts of silk, seven thousand horses, three million hu of grain, and arms beyond count. Hong was grave and sparing of speech. When ordering an execution he asked what the law required and never judged severity on his own. Deep in counsel and resolute in action, he was feared by men such as Shaoqian and Shidao. When imperial envoys arrived, he sometimes treated them with open contempt. Only after Qi and Cai were pacified and his power broken did he seek an audience at court, yet the emperor honored him with extraordinary favor, and that he kept rank and title to the end was also a stroke of fortune.

子公武，字從偃。起家衛尉主簿，為宣武行營兵馬使，以討蔡功檢校左散騎常侍、鄜坊等州節度使。弘入朝，為右金吾將軍。弘出河中，弘弟充徙宣武，乃曰：「二父居重鎮，我以孺子又當執金吾職乎？」因固辭，改右驍衛大將軍。性恭遜，不以富貴自處。卒，贈戶部尚書，謚曰恭。

His son Han Gongwu, styled Congyan. He began as registrar in the Court of Imperial Regalia, served as Xuanwu campaign military commissioner, and for his service against Cai was made acting Left Regular Palace Attendant and military governor of Fufang and neighboring prefectures. When Han Hong came to court, Gongwu was appointed Right General of the Golden Quills. When Han Hong went to Hezhong and his younger brother Chong took over Xuanwu, Gongwu said, "With my father and uncle both holding great commands, should I, still a young man, also hold a Golden Quills post? He firmly declined and was reassigned as Grand General of the Right Majestic Guard. Modest by nature, he never acted the grandee despite his family's wealth and rank. He died and was posthumously appointed Minister of Revenue with the posthumous name Respectful.

充，本名璀，少亦依舅家。李元為河陽節度使，署牙將。元改昭義，又從之。元嘗謂賓佐曰：「充後當貴，諸君必善事之。」未幾，弘領宣武，召主親兵，元曰：「我知君舊矣，吾兒不才，無足累君者，二女方幼，以為托。」遂辭去。累授御史大夫。

Chong, whose original name was Cui, likewise grew up in his uncle's household. When Li Yuan governed Heyang, he made Chong a garrison officer. When Li Yuan was transferred to Zhaoyi, Chong followed him there as well. Li Yuan once told his staff, "Chong will rise high one day. You must treat him well. Before long Han Hong took Xuanwu and summoned Chong to lead his personal guard. Li Yuan said, "I have known you for years. My son has no talent and would not burden you; my two daughters are still young—I leave them in your care." With that he resigned and departed. He rose through successive appointments to Censor-in-Chief.

弘峻法，人人不自保。充謙慎無少懈，念弘在鎮久，不入見天子，身又得士，不自安，因請入宿衛，弘許之，不即遣。後因獵，單騎走洛陽，朝廷亮其節，擢右金吾衛將軍，轉大將軍，斥軍士虛名不如令者七百人。歷少府監、鄜坊等州節度使。

Han Hong ruled with harsh law, and no one under him felt safe. Chong remained humble and vigilant. Knowing that Hong had long held his post without appearing at court, and that he himself had won the loyalty of the troops, he grew uneasy and asked to serve in the capital guard. Hong agreed but did not send him at once. Later, during a hunt, he rode alone to Luoyang. The court respected his integrity, promoted him to General of the Right Golden Quills Guard and then Grand General, and dismissed seven hundred soldiers whose ranks did not match their actual duties. He later served as Director of the Palace Offices and military governor of Fufang and neighboring prefectures.

穆宗立，幽、鎮、魏復亂，王承元以冀兵二千屯滑州，朝廷恐冀兵相訹為叛，徙承元鄜坊，而授充檢校尚書左仆射，為義成軍節度使。會汴軍逐李願，以李主留事。帝謂充素為汴士悅向，詔節度宣武，兼統義成兵討。戰郭橋，破之。會李質斬，遂入汴。初，陳許李光顏亦奉詔討，屯尉氏，意先得汴，欲俘掠以餌軍，而汴監軍姚文壽亦欲內光顏。充聞其謀，馳至城下，汴人望見充，歡躍無復貳者。

When Emperor Muzong took the throne, You, Zhen, and Wei rose in rebellion again. Wang Chengyuan posted two thousand Ji troops at Huazhou; fearing they might stir one another to revolt, the court moved Chengyuan to Fufang and appointed Chong acting Left Vice Director and military governor of the Yicheng Army. At the same time the Bianzhou army drove out Li Yuan and installed Li Zhu as acting governor. The emperor judged that Chong had long enjoyed the loyalty of Bianzhou troops and ordered him to take command of Xuanwu while also leading Yicheng forces to suppress the mutiny. At Guoqiao they fought and routed the rebels. When Li Zhi was executed, Chong's forces entered Bianzhou. Li Guangyan of Chen and Xu had also been ordered to join the campaign and was encamped at Weishi. He hoped to reach Bianzhou first and planned to loot the city to supply his troops, while the Bianzhou army supervisor Yao Wenshou likewise wanted to bring Guangyan's force inside the city. Chong learned of the plot and galloped to the city walls. When the people of Bianzhou saw him they leaped for joy, and none wavered in their loyalty again.

始，帝遣人問破賊期，充對：「汴，天下咽喉，臣頗習其人，然王師臨之，一月可破。」方二旬即克。帝喜曰：「充料敵若神。」加檢校司空。籍所脅為兵者三萬，悉縱之。又責首亂者千餘，斥出境，令曰：「敢後者斬！」由是內外按堵，汴人愛賴之。卒，年五十五，贈司徒，謚曰肅。

Earlier the emperor had sent someone to ask when the rebels would be defeated. Chong replied, "Bianzhou is the throat of the empire. I know its people fairly well, yet when the imperial army comes upon it, the city can be taken in a month." In barely twenty days it fell. The emperor said with pleasure, "Chong gauges the enemy like a god." He was advanced to acting Minister of Works. Of the thirty thousand men who had been conscripted by force, he released them all. He also held accountable more than a thousand ringleaders of the mutiny, expelled them beyond the borders, and proclaimed, "Whoever dares linger shall be beheaded!" Thereafter the city was settled within and without, and the people of Bianzhou came to love and rely on him. He died at the age of fifty-five. He was posthumously made Grand Mentor and given the posthumous title Su, "Solemn."

充雖將家，性儉節，歷三鎮，居處服玩如儒先生，乘機決策無余悔，世推善將。李元沒，充為嫁二女，周其家。自弘去汴，監軍選軍中敢士二千直閣下，日秩酒肴，物力幾屈，然不敢廢。充未入時，李質總軍事，乃曰：「韓公至而頓去二千人食，豈不失人心乎？不去，且無以繼，可以弊事遺吾帥乎！」因悉罷之而後迎充。

Although Chong came from a general's family, he was by nature frugal and restrained. Through three commands his dwelling, dress, and furnishings were those of a Confucian scholar. He seized opportunity in decision and left no regrets, and his age acclaimed him a fine commander. When Li Yuan died, Chong married off his two daughters and supported his household. Since Han Hong had left Bianzhou, the army supervisor selected two thousand bold soldiers from the army to stand guard below the pavilion. Daily rations of wine and food were issued, and material resources were nearly exhausted, yet no one dared abolish the practice. Before Chong had entered the city, Li Zhi was in overall charge of military affairs. He said, "When Lord Han arrives and suddenly cuts off food for two thousand men, will that not lose the hearts of the troops? If they are not removed, there will be no means to sustain it. Can we leave a ruinous burden for our commander to inherit!" He therefore abolished the practice entirely and only then welcomed Chong.

李質者，節士也。始為牙將，及為留後，邀帥節，勸之不從。疽發於首，委質以兵，遂禽。終金吾將軍。

Li Zhi was a man of integrity. He had begun as a guard officer. When he became acting commander he invited the commander's banner and staff, but when he urged acceptance Li Zhi would not listen. When a carbuncle broke out on his head he entrusted his person and troops to Li Zhi, who thereupon captured him. He ended his career as general of the Golden Crow Guard.

贊曰：臯、建封、弘本諸生，震興田畝間，未有以異人，及投隙龍驤，皆為國梁楹，光奮一時。使不遭遇，與庸夫汩汩並胔而腐可也。臯、弘雖陰慝，卒能以誠言自解，長沒天年，宜哉！

The commentator says: Gao, Jianfeng, and Hong were originally scholars; Zhen rose from the fields. None was marked out in advance as extraordinary, yet when they seized their openings and soared like dragons they all became pillars of the state, shining brilliantly for a time. Had they not met with opportunity, they might have rotted away with common men in the common stream, corpses piled together. Gao and Hong, though secretly malicious, were still able in the end to clear themselves with sincere words and live out their natural span. Fitting indeed!

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