Volume 201 Biographies 126: Literature and Arts 1 - Yuan Lang, He Deren, Cai Yungong, Xie Yan, Cui Xinming, Liu Yanyou, Zhang Changling, Cui Xinggong, Du Shenyan and grandson: Du Fu, Wang Bo and relative: Yang Jiong, Lu Zhaolin, Luo Binwang, Yuan Wanqing

唐有天下三百年，文章無慮三變。高祖、太宗，大難始夷，沿江左餘風，絺句繪章，揣合低卬，故王、楊為之伯。玄宗好經術，群臣稍厭雕瑑，索理致，崇雅黜浮，氣益雄渾，則燕、許擅其宗。是時，唐興已百年，諸儒爭自名家。大曆、正元間，美才輩出，擩嚌道真，涵泳聖涯，於是韓愈倡之，柳宗元、李翱、皇甫湜等和之，排逐百家，法度森嚴，抵轢晉、魏，上軋漢、周，唐之文完然為一王法，此其極也。若侍從酬奉則李嶠、宋之問、沈佺期、王維，制冊則常袞、楊炎、陸贄、權德輿、王仲舒、李德裕，言詩則杜甫、李白、元稹、白居易、劉禹錫，譎怪則李賀、杜牧、李商隱，皆卓然以所長為一世冠，其可尚已。

Over the three centuries that the Tang held the empire, literary style underwent no fewer than three major shifts. Under Gaozu and Taizong, as the founding trials were only just settling, writers still followed the lingering southern style—embroidering lines and adorning passages to suit each occasion—so Wang Bo and Yang Su became the masters of the age. When Xuanzong turned to classical studies, his courtiers grew weary of overwrought ornament; they sought meaning and substance, exalted refined dignity over shallow display, and the literary tone grew bolder and more majestic—until Zhang Yue and Xu Jingzong came to dominate the tradition. By then the dynasty had stood for a century, and scholars everywhere were striving to found schools in their own names. In the Dali and Zhenyuan eras, brilliant writers appeared one after another, savoring the truth of the Way and steeping themselves in the sage's teaching. Han Yu took the lead, and Liu Zongyuan, Li Ao, Huangfu Shi, and others followed: they swept aside rival schools, enforced a rigorous style, rejected the manner of Jin and Wei, and reached back past them to Han and Zhou—until Tang prose stood complete as the dynasty's single authoritative standard. That was its zenith. For court verse and occasional pieces there were Li Jiao, Song Zhiwen, Shen Quanqi, and Wang Wei; for state documents, Chang Gun, Yang Yan, Lu Zhi, Quan Deyu, Wang Zhongshu, and Li Deyu; for poetry, Du Fu, Li Bai, Yuan Zhen, Bai Juyi, and Liu Yuxi; for the fantastic and grotesque, Li He, Du Mu, and Li Shangyin—each stood supreme in his own art for a generation. What more could one ask?

然嘗言之，夫子之門以文學為下科，何哉？蓋天之付與，于君子小人無常分，惟能者得之，故號一藝。自中智以還，恃以取敗者有之，朋奸飾偽者有之，怨望訕國者有之。若君子則不然，自能以功業行實光明于時，亦不一于立言而垂不腐，有如不得試，固且闡繹優遊，異不及排，怨不及誹，而不忘納君於善，故可貴也。今但取以文自名者為《文藝篇》，若韋應物、沈亞之、閻防、祖詠、薛能、鄭穀等，其類尚多，皆班班有文在人間，史家逸其行事，故弗得而述云。袁朗袁朗，其先雍州長安人。父樞，仕陳為尚書左僕射。朗在陳為秘書郎，江總尤器之。後主聞其才，詔為《月賦》一篇，灑然無留思，後主曰：「謝莊不得獨美於前矣。」復詔為《芝草》、《嘉蓮》二頌，歎賞尤厚。累遷太子洗馬、德教殿學士。陳亡入隋，歷尚書儀曹郎。

Yet it has often been asked: why did Confucius rank literary accomplishment among the lesser pursuits in his school? Heaven's gift bears no fixed label for noble or base; whoever has the talent may claim it, and so it is called a single art. Among men of merely average mind and below, some have leaned on it to bring ruin on themselves; some have joined with villains to dress up deceit; some have nursed grievance and mocked the realm. The true gentleman is otherwise: he lets deeds and conduct shine in his own time and does not depend on words alone to win immortality. Even when denied office, he still teaches at ease—never so eccentric as to invite rejection, never so bitter as to slander—and he never forgets to guide his ruler toward what is right. That is why such a man is worthy of honor. Here we include only those who won renown chiefly through letters in these 'Literature and Arts' chapters. Wei Yingwu, Shen Yazhi, Yan Fang, Zu Yong, Xue Neng, Zheng Gu, and many others like them all left distinguished writings in the world, but historians passed over their lives, and so we cannot recount them here. Yuan Lang was descended from a family of Chang'an in Yong Province. His father Shu served the Chen as Left Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat. Under Chen, Lang served as a secretary, and Jiang Zong held him in special esteem. When the Chen emperor heard of his gift, he ordered a rhapsody on the moon. Lang wrote it at a stroke, without hesitation. The emperor said, "Xie Zhuang will no longer have the field to himself. He was then commissioned to write two hymns, on the auspicious fungus and the fine lotus, and the emperor's praise was lavish. He rose in turn to Crown Prince's Attendant and academician of the Hall of Virtuous Teaching. After Chen fell, he entered Sui service and held a post in the Ceremonial Section of the Imperial Secretariat.

武德初，隱太子與秦王、齊王相傾，爭致名臣以自助。太子有詹事李綱、竇軌、庶子裴矩、鄭善果、友賀德仁、洗馬魏征、中舍人王珪、舍人徐師謨、率更令歐陽詢、典膳監任璨、直典書坊唐臨、隴西公府祭酒韋挺、記室參軍事庾抱、左領大都督府長史唐憲；秦王有友于志甯、記室參軍事房玄齡、虞世南、顏思魯、諮議參軍事竇綸、蕭景、兵曹杜如晦、鎧曹褚遂良、士曹戴胄、閻立德、參軍事薛元敬、蔡允恭、主簿薛收、李道玄、典簽蘇幹、文學姚思廉、褚亮、敦煌公府文學顏師古、右元帥府司馬蕭瑀、行軍元帥府長史屈突通、司馬竇誕、天策府長史唐儉、司馬封倫、軍諮祭酒蘇世長、兵曹參軍事杜淹、倉曹李守素、參軍事顏相時；齊王有記室參軍事榮九思、戶曹武士逸、典簽裴宣儼，朗為文學。從父弟承序亦有名，王召為文學館學士。朗累封汝南縣男，再轉給事中。卒，太宗為廢朝一日，謂高士廉曰：「朗任淺而性謹厚，使人悼惜。」詔給喪費，存問其家。

Early in the Wude reign, the Hidden Crown Prince, the Prince of Qin, and the Prince of Qi were locked in rivalry, each struggling to draw famous ministers to his side. The Crown Prince's circle included Chief Steward Li Gang, Dou Gui, Senior Tutor Pei Ju, Zheng Shanguo, Friend He Deren, Attendant Wei Zheng, Palace Attendant Wang Gui, Attendant Xu Shimou, Director of the Bureau of Astronomy Ouyang Xun, Director of Palace Provisions Ren Can, Directing Clerk of the Palace Library Tang Lin, Libationer of the Duke of Longxi's household Wei Ting, Recorder's Aide Yu Bao, and Chief Administrator of the Left Grand General's headquarters Tang Xian; The Prince of Qin had Friend Yu Zhining, Recorder's Aides Fang Xuanling, Yu Shinan, and Yan Silu, Advisory Aides Dou Lun and Xiao Jing, Military Registrar Du Ruhui, Armor Registrar Chu Suiliang, Personnel Registrar Dai Zhou, Yan Lide, Military Aides Xue Yuanjing, Cai Yungong, Chief Clerk Xue Shou, Li Daoxuan, Directing Clerk Su Gan, Literary Scholars Yao Silian and Chu Liang, Literary Scholar of the Duke of Dunhuang's household Yan Shigu, Right Marshal's Deputy Xiao Yu, Field Marshal's Chief Administrator Qu Tu Tong, Deputy Dou Yan, Heavenly Stratagem Chief Administrator Tang Jian, Deputy Feng Lun, Military Adviser Su Shichang, Military Aide Du Yan, Granary Registrar Li Shousu, and Military Aide Yan Xiangshi; The Prince of Qi had Recorder's Aide Rong Jiusi, Household Registrar Wu Shiyi, Directing Clerk Pei Xuanyi, and Lang as literary scholar. His cousin Chengxu was also well known, and the prince summoned him as an academician of the Literature Institute. Lang was enfeoffed as Baron of Runan County and later promoted to Palace Attendant. When he died, Taizong suspended court for a day and told Gao Shilian, "Lang held only modest rank, yet his character was careful and sincere—a loss one cannot help mourning. An edict granted funeral expenses and sent condolences to his family.

朗遠祖滂，為漢司徒。自滂至朗凡十二世，其間位司徒、司空者四世，淑、顗、察皆死宋難，昂著節齊、梁。時朗自以中外人物為海內冠，雖琅邪王氏踵為公卿，特以累朝佐命有功，鄙不為伍。孫誼朗孫誼，神功中為蘇州刺史。司馬張沛者，侍中文瓘子，嘗白誼曰：「州得一長史，隴西李亶，天下甲門也。」誼曰：「夫門戶者，曆世名節為天下所高，老夫是也。山東人尚婚媾，求祿利耳，至見危受命，則無人焉，何足尚邪？」沛大慚。從父弟承序承序為齊王元吉府學士，府廢，補建昌令。治尚慈簡，吏民懷德。高宗之為晉王也，太宗崇選僚屬，問梁、陳名臣子弟誰可者。岑文本曰：「昔陳亡，百司奔散，有袁憲者，朝服立後主傍，白刃不避也。王世充篡隋，群臣表勸進，而憲子給事中承家稱疾不肯署。今其少子承序，風操清亮，無愧先烈。」帝乃召拜晉王友、兼侍讀，加弘文館學士，卒。從祖弟利貞朗從祖弟利貞，陳中書令敬孫，高宗時為太常博士、周王侍讀。及王立為太子，百官上禮，帝欲大會群臣、命婦合宴宣政殿，設九部伎、散樂。利貞上疏諫，以為：「前殿路門，非命婦宴會、倡優進御之所，請徙命婦別殿，九部伎從左右門入，罷散樂不進。」帝納之。既會，帝傳詔利貞曰：「卿奕葉忠鯁，能抗疏規朕之失，不厚賜無以勸能者。」乃賜物百段。擢祠部員外郎，卒。中宗立，以舊恩追贈秘書少監。賀德仁賀德仁，越州山陰人。父朗，終陳散騎常侍。德仁與從兄德基師事周弘正，以文辭稱，人為語曰：「學行可師賀德基，文質彬彬賀德仁。」兄弟八人，時比漢荀氏，太守鄱陽王伯山改所居甘滂里為高陽云。

Lang's distant ancestor Pang had served the Han as Minister over the Masses. From Pang to Lang stretched twelve generations; four of them had held the rank of Minister over the Masses or Minister of Works. Shu, Yan, and Cha all perished in the troubles of Song; Ang won renown for constancy under Qi and Liang. Lang regarded his own clan, inside and outside office, as the foremost in the land. Though the Wangs of Langye had filled one high post after another, he disdained their company, saying they owed their standing only to helping successive dynasties seize power. His grandson Yi served as prefect of Suzhou during the Shenggong reign. His assistant administrator Zhang Pei, son of the attendant Zhang Jin, once told Yi, "We have a new chief administrator—Li Dan of Longxi, from one of the empire's greatest houses. Yi replied, "A great house is one whose fame and integrity have been honored for generations—that is what my family is. Men east of the mountains care for marriage ties and profit; when danger comes and duty calls, not one of them steps forward. What is there to admire?" Pei was deeply ashamed. His cousin Chengxu had been an academician in Prince Yuanji of Qi's household. When that household was abolished, he was appointed magistrate of Jianchang. He governed with kindness and simplicity, and officials and common people alike cherished him. When Gaozong was still Prince of Jin, Taizong took great care in choosing his staff and asked which sons of famous Liang and Chen ministers would be suitable. Cen Textian said, "When Chen fell, the bureaucracy fled in panic, yet Yuan Xian stood in court dress beside the last emperor and did not flinch from drawn swords. When Wang Shichong seized Sui, the ministers urged him to take the throne, but Xian's son Chengjia, a palace attendant, pleaded illness and refused to sign. His youngest son Chengxu now bears himself with the same clear integrity and is worthy of his ancestors. The emperor then appointed him friend to the Prince of Jin and concurrent reader, and made him an academician of the Hongwen Institute. He later died in office. His cousin Lizhen, grandson of the Chen director Jing, served under Gaozong as an erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and reader to the Prince of Zhou. When the prince was made heir, the officials offered congratulations, and the emperor planned a grand banquet in the Hall of Proclaiming Government for ministers and titled ladies together, with the nine orchestras and popular entertainments. Lizhen remonstrated in a memorial: "The front hall and its main gate are not fit for banquets of titled ladies or for actors and singers before the throne. I ask that the ladies feast in another hall, that the nine orchestras enter by the side gates, and that popular entertainments be omitted entirely. The emperor accepted his advice. After the feast, the emperor sent word to Lizhen: "Your family has been loyal for generations, and you dared remonstrate with me. Without a generous reward I could not encourage such men. He then granted him a hundred rolls of silk. He was promoted to vice director in the Ministry of Rites and later died. When Zhongzong came to the throne, he was posthumously made vice director of the Imperial Library in recognition of past service. He Deren was a native of Shanyin in Yue Prefecture. His father Lang had ended his career as a regular attendant under Chen. Deren and his cousin Deji studied under Zhou Hongzheng and won fame for their writing. People said, "Take He Deji as your model in learning and conduct; in literary grace and substance, none surpasses He Deren. The eight brothers were compared in their day to the Xuns of Han, and the prefect, Prince Boshan of Poyang, renamed their lane from Ganpang to Gaoyang in their honor.

始，德仁在陳，為吳興王友。入隋，楊素薦其材，授豫章王記室，王遇之厚；徙封齊，復為府屬。王廢，官吏抵罪，而德仁以忠謹獲貰，補河東司法參軍。素與隱太子善，高祖起兵，太子封隴西公，以德仁為友，庾抱為記室。俄並遷中舍人。以年耆不更吏職，徙洗馬，與蕭德言、陳子良皆為東宮學士。貞觀初，遷趙王友，卒。

Under Chen, Deren first served as friend to the Prince of Wuxing. After Sui was founded, Yang Su recommended him, and he was made recorder to the Prince of Yuzhang, who treated him with great favor; when the prince was transferred and enfeoffed as Prince of Qi, he again became a member of his household staff. When the prince was deposed, his staff were punished, but Deren was pardoned for loyalty and care and was appointed military assistant in Hedong. Su was close to the Hidden Crown Prince. When Gaozu raised his army, the prince was made Duke of Longxi, with Deren as friend and Yu Bao as recorder. Soon both were promoted to palace attendant. Because of his age he left regular office and became crown prince's attendant; he, Xiao Deyan, and Chen Ziliang all served as Eastern Palace academicians. Early in Zhenguan he was made friend to the Prince of Zhao and died in office.

從子紀、敱亦博學。高宗時，紀為太子洗馬，豫修五禮，敱率更令、兼太子侍讀，皆為崇賢館學士。附庾抱抱者，陳御史中丞眾孫。開皇中，為延州參軍。入調吏部，尚書牛弘給筆劄，令自序，援筆而成。為元德太子學士，會嫡皇孫生，大宴，坐中獻頌，太子嗟賞。及在隴西府，文檄皆出其手。蔡允恭蔡允恭，荊州江陵人，後樑左民尚書大業子。美姿容，工為詩。仕隋，曆起居舍人。煬帝有所賦，必令諷誦。遣教宮人，允恭恥之，數稱疾。授內史舍人，俾入宮，因辭，繇是疏斥。帝遇弑，經事宇文化及、竇建德，歸國為秦王府參軍、文學館學士。貞觀初，除太子洗馬，卒，著《後樑春秋》。謝偃謝偃，衛州衛人，本姓直勒氏，祖孝政，仕北齊為散騎常侍，改姓謝。偃在隋為散從正員郎。貞觀初，應詔對策高第，曆高陵主簿。太宗幸東都，方穀、洛壞洛陽宮，詔求直言，偃上書陳得失，帝稱善，引為弘文館直學士，遷魏王府功曹。嘗為《塵》、《影賦》二篇，帝美其文，召見，欲偃作賦。先為序一篇，頗言天下乂安、功德茂盛意，授偃使賦。偃緣帝指，名篇曰《述聖》，帝悅，賜帛數十。

His nephews Ji and Ai were also widely learned. Under Gaozong, Ji served as crown prince's attendant and helped compile the Five Rites; Ai was director of the Bureau of Astronomy and concurrent reader to the crown prince. Both were academicians of the Hall of Esteeming Worthies. Appended biography: Yu Bao was grandson of the Chen censor-in-chief Zhong. During Kaihuang he served as military assistant in Yan Prefecture. When he reported to the Ministry of Personnel, Director Niu Hong gave him brush and paper and asked for a self-account; he wrote it at a stroke. He became academician to Crown Prince Yuande. When the legitimate imperial grandson was born, a great banquet was held; Bao presented a hymn from his seat, and the crown prince praised it warmly. In the Duke of Longxi's household, all documents and proclamations came from his hand. Cai Yungong was a native of Jiangling in Jing Prefecture and son of Daye, minister of the left household under Later Liang. He was handsome and skilled in poetry. He served Sui and rose to attendant of the diary of activity and repose. Whenever Emperor Yang wrote a new poem, he had Yungong recite it aloud. When he was ordered to teach palace women, Yungong was ashamed and repeatedly pleaded illness. He was made attendant of the Palace Secretariat and ordered into the palace; he refused, and from then on fell from favor. After the emperor was killed, he served Yuwen Huaji and Dou Jiande in turn; when he returned to Tang he became military aide in the Prince of Qin's household and academician of the Literature Institute. Early in Zhenguan he was made crown prince's attendant and died; he wrote the Spring and Autumn of Later Liang. Xie Yan was a native of Wei in Wei Prefecture. His family had borne the surname Zhile; his grandfather Xiaozheng served Northern Qi as regular attendant and took the surname Xie. Under Sui, Yan held the rank of regular gentleman of the scattered retinue. Early in Zhenguan he passed the imperial examination with high honors and served as chief clerk of Gaoling. When Taizong visited the eastern capital, the Gu and Luo rivers were damaging Luoyang Palace, and he called for frank counsel. Yan submitted a memorial on the empire's strengths and faults; the emperor praised it, made him a direct academician of the Hongwen Institute, and later transferred him to merit officer in the Prince of Wei's household. He once wrote two rhapsodies, Dust and Shadow. The emperor admired them, summoned him, and asked for another. The emperor first wrote a preface celebrating the realm's peace and abundant merit, then commissioned Yan to write the rhapsody. Yan followed the emperor's theme and titled the piece Narrating the Sage. The emperor was pleased and granted him several dozen bolts of silk.

初，帝即位，直中書省張蘊古上《大寶箴》，諷帝以民畏而未懷，其辭挺切，擢大理丞。偃又獻《惟皇誠德賦》，其序大略言：「治忘亂，安忘危，逸忘勞，得忘失，四者人主莫不然。桀以瑤台為麗，而不悟南巢之禍；殷辛以象箸為華，而不知牧野之敗。是以聖人處宮室則思前王所以亡，朝萬國則思己所以尊，巡府庫則思今所以得，視功臣則思其輔佐之始，見名將則思用力之初，如此則人無易心，天下何患乎不化哉？旦行之堯、舜，暮失之桀、紂，豈異人哉？」其賦蓋規帝成功而自處至難云。又撰《玉諜真紀》以勸封禪。時李百藥工詩，而偃善賦，時人稱「李詩謝賦」。府廢，終湘潭令。

When the emperor first took the throne, Zhang Yungu of the Palace Secretariat submitted the Great Treasure Admonition, warning that the people feared him but did not love him. Its language was sharp, and he was promoted to vice director of the Court of Judicial Review. Yan also presented the Rhapsody on the Emperor's Sincere Virtue. Its preface said in essence: "In peace rulers forget chaos; in safety they forget danger; in ease they forget labor; in possession they forget loss—no sovereign escapes these four. Jie took pride in his Jade Terrace and did not foresee the disaster at Nanchao; Zhou took ivory chopsticks for glory and did not foresee defeat at Muye. Therefore the sage, in his palace, recalls how earlier kings fell; in audience with the realm, recalls how he won honor; in the treasury, recalls how he came by his wealth; before his ministers, recalls how they first served him; before his generals, recalls how they first fought for him. Then the people's hearts will not waver—what fear is there that the realm will not be transformed? The same man may act as Yao and Shun in the morning and fall like Jie and Zhou by evening—are they different people? The rhapsody itself warned the emperor that after success, holding one's position is hardest of all. He also wrote the True Record of the Jade Chart to urge the emperor to perform the Feng and Shan sacrifices. Li Baiyao excelled in poetry and Yan in rhapsody, and people spoke of "Li's poems and Xie's rhapsodies." When the prince's household was abolished, he ended his career as magistrate of Xiangtan.

蘊古，洹水人。敏書傳，曉世務，文擅當時。後坐事誅。崔信明崔信明，青州益都人。高祖光伯，仕後魏為七兵尚書。信明之生，五月五日日方中，有異雀鳴集庭樹，太史令史良為占曰：「五月為火，火主《離》，《離》為文，日中，文之盛也，雀五色而鳴，此兒將以文顯。然雀類微，位殆不高邪。」及長，強記，美文章。鄉人高孝基嘗語人曰：「崔生才富，為一時冠，但恨位不到耳。」隋大業中，為堯城令。竇建德僭號，而信明族弟敬素者，為賊鴻臚卿，自謂得意，語信明曰：「夏王英武，有舉天下心，士女繈負而至不可數。兄不以此時立功立事，豈所謂見幾不俟終日乎？」答曰：「昔申胥海隅釣師，能固其節。爾欲吾屈身賊中求斗筲邪？」遂逾城去，隱太行山。貞觀六年，有詔即家拜興勢丞。遷秦川令，卒。

Yungu was a native of Huanshui. He was quick in the classics, versed in affairs of state, and his writing stood foremost in his day. He was later executed for an offense. Cui Xinming was a native of Yidu in Qing Province. His ancestor Guangbo had served Later Wei as Minister of the Seven Armies. Xinming was born at noon on the fifth day of the fifth month. A strange bird cried in the courtyard tree. The grand astrologer's clerk Shi Liang divined: "The fifth month belongs to fire; fire governs the hexagram Li, which stands for writing; noon is writing at its height; a five-colored bird cries—this child will win fame through letters. Yet the bird is a humble creature—his office may not rise very high. When he grew up, he had a prodigious memory and wrote fine prose and verse. A fellow townsman, Gao Xiaoji, once said, "Young Cui's talent is abundant—he stands foremost in his generation—but it is a pity his rank does not match. During Sui's Daye reign he served as magistrate of Yaocheng. When Dou Jiande seized power, Xinming's kinsman Jingsu became the rebel director of ceremonies and, flushed with success, told Xinming, "The King of Xia is heroic and aims to take the realm. Men and women are flocking to him with children on their backs beyond count. Brother, if you do not seize this moment to win merit, what becomes of the saying that one who sees the turn of fortune does not wait even a day? He replied, "Long ago Shen Xu was only a fisherman by the sea, yet he held fast to his integrity. Do you want me to bow to rebels for a petty post?" He then fled over the city wall and hid on Mount Taihang. In the sixth year of Zhenguan an edict appointed him assistant magistrate of Xingshi without requiring him to leave home. He was later made magistrate of Qinchuan and died in office.

信明蹇亢，以門望自負，嘗矜其文，謂過李百藥，議者不許。揚州錄事參軍鄭世翼者，亦驁倨，數恌輕忤物，遇信明江中，謂曰：「聞公有'楓落吳江冷'，願見其餘。」信明欣然多出眾篇，世翼覽未終，曰：「所見不逮所聞！」投諸水，引舟去。附鄭世翼世翼，鄭州滎陽人，周儀同大將軍敬德孫。貞觀時，坐怨謗流死巂州。撰《交遊傳》，行於世。

Xinming was proud and difficult, swaggering on his family's standing. He once boasted that his writing surpassed Li Baiyao's, but critics would not allow it. Zheng Shiyi, recorder of Yang Prefecture, was equally arrogant and often gave offense. Meeting Xinming on the river, he said, "I have heard your line about maples falling and the Wu River cold—I should like to see the rest. Xinming gladly brought out many of his best pieces. Before Shiyi had finished reading, he said, "What I see does not match what I have heard!" He threw the poems into the water and poled his boat away. Appended biography: Zheng Shiyi was a native of Xingyang in Zheng Prefecture and grandson of the Zhou general Jingde. Under Zhenguan he was exiled for slander and died in Xizhou. He wrote Biographies of Friends, which circulated widely.

信明子冬日，武后時位黃門侍郎，為酷吏誣死。劉延祐劉延祐，徐州彭城人。伯父胤之，少志學，與孫萬壽、李百藥相友善。武德中，杜淹薦為信都令，有惠政。永徽初，以著作郎、弘文館學士與令狐德棻、陽仁卿等撰次國史並實錄，以勞封陽城縣男。終楚州刺史。

Xinming's son Dongri served under Empress Wu as vice director of the Yellow Gate and was framed and killed by a cruel official. Liu Yanyou was a native of Pengcheng in Xu Prefecture. His uncle Yinzi had studied earnestly from youth and was close friends with Sun Wanshou and Li Baiyao. During Wude, Du Yan recommended him as magistrate of Xindu, where his rule was benevolent. Early in Yonghui he served as author and Hongwen academician, and with Linghu Defen, Yang Renqing, and others compiled the national history and veritable records. For this service he was enfeoffed as Baron of Yangcheng County. He ended his career as prefect of Chuzhou.

延祐擢進士，補渭南尉，有吏能，治第一。李勣戒之曰：「子春秋少而有美名，宜稍自抑，無為出人上。」延祐欽納。後檢校司賓少卿，封薛縣男。

Yanyou passed the jinshi examination and was appointed assistant magistrate of Weinan. He proved an able administrator, and his district ranked first. Li Jiji warned him, "You are still young and already famous. You should hold yourself back a little and not rise above others. Yanyou took the advice to heart. He was later made acting vice director of the Court for Dependencies and enfeoffed as Baron of Xue County.

徐敬業敗，詔延祐持節到軍。時吏議敬業所署五品官殊死，六品流，延祐謂誣脅可察以情，乃論授五品官當流，六品以下除名，全宥甚眾。拜箕州刺史，轉安南都護。舊俚戶歲半租，延祐責全入，眾始怨，謀亂。延祐誅其渠李嗣仙，而餘黨丁建等遂叛，合眾圍安南府。城中兵少不支，嬰壘待援。廣州大族馮子猷幸立功，按兵不出，延祐遇害。桂州司馬曹玄靜進兵討建，斬之。從弟藏器延祐從弟藏器，高宗時為侍御史。衛尉卿尉遲寶琳脅人為妾，藏器劾還之，寶琳私請帝止其還，凡再劾再止。藏器曰：「法為天下縣衡，萬民所共，陛下用舍繇情，法何所施？今寶琳私請，陛下從之；臣公劾，陛下亦從之。今日從，明日改，下何所遵？彼匹夫匹婦猶憚失信，況天子乎！」帝乃詔可，然內銜之，不悅也。稍遷比部員外郎。監察御史魏元忠稱其賢，帝欲擢任為吏部侍郎，魏玄同沮曰：「彼守道不篤者，安用之？」遂出為宋州司馬，卒。子知柔子知柔，性簡靜，美風儀。居親喪，廬墓側，詔築闕表之。曆國子司業，累遷工部尚書。開元六年，河南大水，詔知柔馳驛察民疾苦及吏善惡，所表陳州刺史韋嗣立、汝州刺史崔日用、兗州刺史韋元珪、符離令綦毋頊等，止二十七人有治狀。久之，遷太子賓客，封彭城縣侯。致仕，給全祿終身。遺令薄葬，祖載服用皆自處其費。贈太子少保，諡曰文。弟知幾，別有傳。張昌齡張昌齡，冀州南宮人。與兄昌宗皆以文自名，州欲舉秀才，昌齡以科廢久，固讓。更舉進士，與王公治齊名，皆為考功員外郎王師旦所絀。太宗問其故，答曰：「昌齡等華而少實，其文浮靡，非令器也。取之則後生勸慕，亂陛下風雅。」帝然之。

When Xu Jingye was defeated, an edict sent Yanyou to the army with imperial credentials. Officials then proposed death for fifth-rank appointees of Jingye's and exile for sixth-rank men. Yanyou argued that many had been coerced and should be judged by circumstance: fifth-rank men should be exiled, sixth-rank and below dismissed, and a great many were wholly spared. He was appointed prefect of Jizhou and later transferred to protector-general of Annan. The indigenous households had long paid only half the annual rent, but Yanyou demanded full payment. Resentment spread and rebellion was plotted. Yanyou executed their leader Li Sixian, but the rest, led by Ding Jian, rose in revolt and besieged the Annan headquarters. The garrison was too small to hold the city; they closed the walls and waited for relief. Feng Ziyou, a great Guangzhou magnate hoping to win merit for himself, held back his troops and did not advance. Yanyou was killed. Cao Xuanjing, military assistant of Gui Prefecture, marched against Jian and beheaded him. Yanyou's cousin Zangqi served under Gaozong as attending censor. Commandant of the Guards Yuchi Baolin had forced a woman to become his concubine. Zangqi impeached him and ordered her returned. Baolin privately asked the emperor to block the order, and twice the emperor halted Zangqi's ruling. Zangqi said, "Law is the scale of the realm, shared by all the people. If Your Majesty grants or withholds according to personal feeling, how can law be applied? Now Baolin makes a private request and Your Majesty grants it; when your servant impeaches in public, Your Majesty also grants it. Today you grant, tomorrow you revoke—what are those below to follow? Even common men and women fear to break faith—how much more the Son of Heaven! The emperor then approved by edict, but inwardly resented him and was displeased. He was later promoted to vice director in the Ministry of Revenue. Investigating censor Wei Yuanzhong praised his worth, and the emperor wished to make him vice director of the Ministry of Personnel. Wei Xuantong dissuaded him, saying, "He does not hold firmly to the Way—of what use is he? He was sent out as military assistant of Song Prefecture and died there. His son Zhirou was by nature quiet and restrained, with a fine bearing. During mourning for his father he built a hut beside the tomb, and an edict ordered a memorial gate erected in his honor. He served as vice director of the Directorate of Education and rose to minister of works. In the sixth year of Kaiyuan, Henan suffered a great flood, and Zhirou was ordered to travel post-haste and inspect the people's suffering and officials' conduct. Of those he reported—including the prefects Wei Sili, Cui Riyong, and Wei Yuangui and the magistrate Qimu Xu—only twenty-seven had records of good governance. After some time he was made mentor to the heir apparent and enfeoffed as Marquis of Pengcheng County. He retired and was granted his full salary for life. He left instructions for a simple burial and paid all funeral expenses himself. He was posthumously made junior mentor to the heir apparent, with the posthumous name Wen. His younger brother Zhiji has a separate biography. Zhang Changling was a native of Nangong in Ji Prefecture. He and his elder brother Changzong both won renown through letters. When the prefecture wished to recommend him as xiucai, Changling firmly declined, noting that the category had long been abolished. He was instead entered for the jinshi examination. He and Wang Gongzhi were equally famous, and both were failed by Wang Shidan of the Ministry of Personnel. Taizong asked why. He replied, "Changling and the others are showy and shallow; their writing is frivolous and ornate—not fit material. If they pass, younger men will imitate them and corrupt Your Majesty's literary standards. The emperor agreed.

貞觀末，翠微宮成，獻頌闕下，召見，試《息兵詔》，少選成文。帝大悅，戒之曰：「昔禰衡、潘嶽矜己慠物，不得死。卿才不減二人，宜鑒於前，副朕所求。」乃敕於通事舍人裏供奉。俄為昆山道記室，《平龜茲露布》為士所稱。賀蘭敏之奏豫北門修撰，卒。

Late in Zhenguan, when the Cuiwei Palace was completed, he presented a hymn at court, was summoned, and asked to draft an Edict on Ceasing Arms, which he finished in a short while. The emperor was greatly pleased and warned him, "Long ago Mi Heng and Pan Yue prided themselves on talent and looked down on others—they did not die natural deaths. Your talent is no less than theirs. Take warning from the past and live up to what I expect of you. He was then ordered to serve in attendance among the masters of communications. Soon he served as recorder on the Kunshan campaign, and his Victory Bulletin on Pacifying Kucha won praise from the officers. He Lulan Minzhi memorialized to have him made compiler at the North Gate of Yuzhou, and he died in office.

昌宗官至太子舍人、修文館學士。撰《古文紀年新傳》數十篇。崔行功崔行功，恒州井陘人。祖謙之，仕北齊，終钜鹿太守，徙占鹿泉。少好學，唐儉愛其才，妻以女，因倩作文奏。高宗時，累轉吏部郎中，以善占奏，常兼通事舍人內供奉。坐事貶游安令，又召為司文郎中，與蘭台侍郎李懷儼並主朝廷大典冊。

Changzong rose to attendant to the crown prince and academician of the Hall of Cultivating Literature. He wrote several dozen chapters of the New Chronicle of Ancient Texts by Year. Cui Xinggong was a native of Jingxing in Heng Prefecture. His grandfather Qianzhi served Northern Qi and ended as prefect of Julu, then moved his household to Luquan. From youth he loved learning. Tang Jian admired his talent, gave him his daughter in marriage, and had him draft memorials. Under Gaozong he rose to director in the Ministry of Personnel. Skilled at drafting memorials, he often served concurrently as master of communications in inner attendance. For an offense he was demoted to magistrate of You'an, then recalled as director of the Bureau of Documents. With Lantai vice director Li Huaiyan he oversaw the court's great ordinances and registers.

初，太宗命秘書監魏征寫四部群書，將藏內府，置讎正三十員、書工百員。征徙職，又詔虞世南、顏師古踵領，功不就。顯慶中，罷讎正員，聽書工寫於家，送官取直，使散官隨番刊正。至是詔東台侍郎趙仁本、舍人張文瓘及行功、懷儼相次充使檢校，置詳正學士代散官。以勞遷蘭台侍郎，卒。孫銑孫銑，尚定安公主，為太府卿。初，主降王同皎，後降銑，主卒，皎子繇請與父合葬。給事中夏侯銛駁奏「主與王氏絕，喪當還崔」，詔可。銛猶出為瀘州都督。

Early on Taizong ordered Wei Zheng, director of the Imperial Library, to copy the books of the four categories for the inner palace, with thirty collators and a hundred copyists. When Wei was transferred, Yu Shinan and Yan Shigu were ordered to continue the work, but it remained unfinished. In Xianqing the collator posts were abolished; copyists were allowed to work at home and deliver copies to the office for payment, while unsalaried officials took turns collating. An edict then named Zhao Renben, Zhang Wenjin, Xinggong, and Huaiyan in succession as commissioners to supervise the project and established detailed collator academicians to replace the unsalaried officials. For this service he was made Lantai vice director and died in office. His grandson Xian married Princess Ding'an and served as minister of the imperial storehouse. The princess had first married Wang Tongjiao and later married Xian. When she died, Jiao's son You asked that she be buried with his father. Palace attendant Xiahou Qian objected that the princess had severed ties with the Wang clan and that the funeral should return to the Cui family. An edict approved. Xian was nevertheless sent out as military commissioner of Luzhou.

行功兄子玄、暐別有傳。杜審言杜審言，字必簡，襄州襄陽人，晉征南將軍預遠裔。擢進士，為隰城尉。恃才高，以傲世見疾。蘇味道為天官侍郎，審言集判，出謂人曰：「味道必死。」人驚問故，答曰：「彼見吾判，且羞死。」又嘗語人曰：「吾文章當得屈、宋作衙官，吾筆當得王羲之北面。」其矜誕類此。

Xinggong's nephews Xuan and Wei have separate biographies. Du Shenyan, style Bojian, was a native of Xiangyang in Xiang Prefecture and a distant descendant of the Jin general Du Yu. He passed the jinshi examination and was appointed assistant magistrate of Xicheng. Proud of his talent, he was resented for his arrogance. When Su Weidao was vice director of the Bureau of Appointments, Shenyan attended a session of judgments and, on leaving, said, "Weidao will surely die. When people asked why, he said, "When he sees my judgments, he will die of shame." He also once said, "My writing ought to have Qu Yuan and Song Yu as my assistants; my brush ought to have Wang Xizhi bowing north before me." His boastfulness was of this sort.

累遷洛陽丞，坐事貶吉州司戶參軍。司馬周季重、司戶郭若訥構其罪，繫獄，將殺之。季重等酒酣，審言子並年十三，袖刃刺季重於坐，左右殺並。季重將死，曰：「審言有孝子，吾不知，若訥故誤我。」審言免官，還東都。蘇頲傷並孝烈，志其墓，劉允濟祭以文。

He rose to assistant magistrate of Luoyang, then was demoted for an offense to revenue assistant of Jizhou. Military assistant Zhou Jizhong and revenue officer Guo Ruone framed him, had him imprisoned, and were about to execute him. While Jizhong and the others were deep in wine, Shenyan's thirteen-year-old son Bing drew a blade and stabbed Jizhong where he sat. Attendants killed Bing on the spot. As Jizhong lay dying he said, "Shenyan has a filial son—I did not know. Ruone deliberately misled me. Shenyan was dismissed from office and returned to the eastern capital. Su Ting mourned Bing's filial courage, wrote an inscription for his tomb, and Liu Yunji offered a funeral text.

後武后召審言，將用之，問曰：「卿喜否？」審言蹈舞謝，後令賦《歡喜詩》，歎重其文，授著作佐郎，遷膳部員外郎。神龍初，坐交通張易之，流峰州。入為國子監主簿、修文館直學士，卒。大學士李嶠等奏請加贈，詔贈著作郎。

Later Empress Wu summoned Shenyan to employ him and asked, "Are you pleased? Shenyan danced in thanks. She then ordered a poem of joy, admired his writing, appointed him assistant author, and later made him vice director in the Ministry of Provisions. Early in Shenlong he was exiled to Feng Prefecture for associating with Zhang Yizhi. He was recalled as chief clerk of the Directorate of Education and direct academician of the Hall of Cultivating Literature, and died in office. Grand Academician Li Jiao and others asked that he be honored further posthumously, and an edict made him author.

初，審言病甚，宋之問、武平一等省候何如，答曰「甚為造化小兒相苦，尚何言？然吾在，久壓公等，今且死，固大慰，但恨不見替人」云。少與李嶠、崔融、蘇味道為文章四友，世號「崔、李、蘇、杜」。融之亡，審言為服緦云。從祖兄易簡從祖兄易簡，九歲能屬文，長博學，為岑文本所器。擢進士，補渭南尉。咸亨初，曆殿中侍御史。嘗道遇吏部尚書李敬玄，不避，敬玄恨，召為考功員外郎屈之。而侍郎裴行儉與敬玄不平，故易簡上書言敬玄罪，敬玄曰：「襄陽兒輕薄乃爾。」因奏易簡險躁，高宗怒，貶開州司馬。孫甫審言生子閑，閑生甫。甫，字子美，少貧不自振，客吳越、齊趙間。李邕奇其材，先往見之。舉進士不中第，困長安。

When Shenyan lay gravely ill, Song Zhiwen, Wu Pingyi, and others came to inquire after him. He said, "Creation's little imps torment me sorely—what more is there to say? Yet while I lived I long kept you down. Now that I am dying, that is consolation enough—only I regret that I shall not see who takes my place." In youth he and Li Jiao, Cui Rong, and Su Weidao were known as the Four Friends of Literature, called in their day "Cui, Li, Su, and Du." When Rong died, Shenyan wore mourning for him as for a close friend. His cousin Yijian could compose at nine, grew broadly learned, and was valued by Cen Textian. He passed the jinshi examination and was appointed assistant magistrate of Weinan. Early in Xianheng he served as attending censor in the palace. Once on the road he met Minister of Personnel Li Jingxuan and did not step aside. Jingxuan resented this and summoned him to the Examination Section to humble him. Vice Director Pei Xingjian was on bad terms with Jingxuan, so Yijian memorialized against him. Jingxuan said, "This boy from Xiangyang is insufferably frivolous. He then accused Yijian of being dangerous and rash. Gaozong was angry and demoted him to military assistant of Kai Prefecture. His grandson Fu was born to Shenyan's son Xian. Fu, style Zimei, was poor in youth and could not establish himself. He wandered as a guest through Wu-Yue and Qi-Zhao. Li Yong admired his talent and went to visit him first. He failed the jinshi examination and remained stranded in Chang'an.

天寶十三載，玄宗朝獻太清宮，饗廟及郊，甫奏賦三篇。帝奇之，使待制集賢院，命宰相試文章，擢河西尉，不拜，改右衛率府胄曹參軍。數上賦頌，因高自稱道，且言：「先臣恕、預以來，承儒守官十一世，迨審言，以文章顯中宗時。臣賴緒業，自七歲屬辭，且四十年，然衣不蓋體，常寄食於人，竊恐轉死溝壑，伏惟天子哀憐之。若令執先臣故事，拔泥塗之久辱，則臣之述作雖不足鼓吹《六經》，至沈郁頓挫，隨時敏給，揚雄、枚皋可企及也。有臣如此，陛下其忍棄之？」

In the thirteenth year of Tianbao, when Xuanzong sacrificed at the Grand Pure Palace, the ancestral temple, and the suburban altar, Fu presented three rhapsodies. The emperor admired them, had him await appointment at the Academy of Scholarly Worthies, and ordered the chief ministers to test his writing. He was promoted to assistant magistrate of Hexi but declined, and was made military staff officer in the Right Guard. He repeatedly submitted rhapsodies and hymns and spoke highly of himself, saying, "From my ancestors Shu and Yu, for eleven generations our house has inherited learning and held office. Down to Shenyan, we won fame through writing under Zhongzong. I rely on this inheritance. I have written since I was seven, and it has been forty years, yet my clothes barely cover me and I often depend on others for food. I fear I may die in a ditch—may Your Majesty pity me. If you raise me from long disgrace in the mire as you did my forebears, my writing may not exalt the Six Classics, yet in depth, restraint, and timely power I may approach Yang Xiong and Mei Gao. With a minister such as I, can Your Majesty bear to abandon me?"

會祿山亂，天子入蜀，甫避走三川。肅宗立，自鄜州羸服欲奔行在，為賊所得。至德二年，亡走鳳翔上謁，拜右拾遺。與房琯為布衣交，琯時敗陳濤斜，又以客董廷蘭，罷宰相。甫上疏言：「罪細，不宜免大臣。」帝怒，詔三司親問。宰相張鎬曰：「甫若抵罪，絕言者路。」帝乃解。甫謝，且稱：「琯宰相子，少自樹立為醇儒，有大臣體，時論許琯才堪公輔，陛下果委而相之。觀其深念主憂，義形於色，然性失于簡。酷嗜鼓琴，廷蘭托琯門下，貧疾昏老，依倚為非，琯愛惜人情，一至玷污。臣歎其功名未就，志氣挫衄，覬陛下棄細錄大，所以冒死稱述，涉近訐激，違忤聖心。陛下赦臣百死，再賜骸骨，天下之幸，非臣獨蒙。」然帝自是不甚省錄。

When Lushan rebelled, the emperor fled to Shu, and Fu escaped to the Three Rivers region. When Suzong was enthroned, Fu set out from Fuzhou in travel-worn clothes to reach the imperial camp and was captured by rebels. In the second year of Zhide he escaped to Fengxiang and was appointed right reminder. He and Fang Guan had been friends in common life. Guan was then defeated at Chen-Taoxie and, because of his guest Dong Tinglan, was dismissed from the chancellorship. Fu memorialized, "The offense is slight. It is not fitting to dismiss a great minister. The emperor was angry and ordered the Three Offices to question him in person. Chief Minister Zhang Gao said, "If Fu is punished, the path of frank counsel will be cut off. The emperor then released him. Fu thanked him and said, "Guan is a chancellor's son who from youth made himself a pure scholar with the bearing of a great minister. Public opinion held him fit for high office, and Your Majesty indeed made him chancellor. He deeply shared the ruler's cares and showed it in his face, yet his nature lacked restraint. He loved the zither passionately. Tinglan relied on Guan's patronage—poor, ill, and old—and used it for wrong ends. Guan cherished personal ties to the point of being stained. I grieved that his merit was unfinished and his spirit broken, and hoped Your Majesty would overlook small faults and value great service. Therefore I risked death to speak, though it bordered on offense and went against Your Majesty's will. Your Majesty pardoned me when I deserved death a hundred times and granted me life again. That is the realm's fortune, not mine alone. Yet from then on the emperor paid him little attention.

時所在寇奪，甫家寓鄜，彌年艱窶，孺弱至餓死，因許甫自往省視。從還京師，出為華州司功參軍。關輔饑，輒棄官去，客秦州，負薪采橡栗自給。流落劍南，結廬成都西郭。召補京兆功曹參軍，不至。會嚴武節度劍南東、西川，往依焉。武再帥劍南，表為參謀，檢校工部員外郎。武以世舊，待甫甚善，親至其家。甫見之，或時不巾，而性褊躁傲誕，嘗醉登武床，瞪視曰：「嚴挺之乃有此兒！」武亦暴猛，外若不為忤，中銜之。一日欲殺甫及梓州刺史章彝，集吏於門。武將出，冠鉤於簾三，左右白其母，奔救得止，獨殺彝。武卒，崔旰等亂，甫往來梓、夔間。

Bandits ravaged the land. Fu's family lodged in Fu Prefecture, year after year in want, until the young starved to death. He was permitted to go visit them himself. On his return to the capital he was sent out as revenue assistant of Hua Prefecture. When Guanzhong suffered famine, he abandoned office and lodged in Qin Prefecture, gathering firewood and acorns to live. He drifted to Jiannan and built a hut west of Chengdu. He was summoned as merit officer of the capital district but did not go. When Yan Wu became military commissioner of eastern and western Jiannan, Fu went to rely on him. When Wu again commanded Jiannan, he memorialized Fu as staff officer and acting vice director in the Ministry of Works. Wu, because of old family ties, treated Fu very well and visited his home in person. When Fu received him he sometimes wore no cap. Proud, irritable, and unrestrained, he once climbed drunk onto Wu's couch, stared at him, and said, "So Yan Tingzhi had a son like this! Wu too was fierce. Outwardly he showed no offense, but inwardly he resented it. One day he meant to kill Fu and Zhang Yi, prefect of Zizhou, and gathered his officers at the gate. As Wu was about to go out, his cap caught on the curtain three times. Attendants told his mother, who ran to stop him. Only Zhang Yi was killed. When Wu died, Cui Gan and others rebelled, and Fu traveled between Zi and Kui.

大曆中，出瞿唐，下江陵，溯沅、湘以登衡山，因客耒陽。游岳祠，大水遽至，涉旬不得食，縣令具舟迎之，乃得還。令嘗饋牛炙白酒，大醉，一昔卒，年五十九。

In the Dali era he left Qutang, went down to Jiangling, ascended the Yuan and Xiang to Mount Heng, and lodged in Leiyang. While visiting the mountain shrine, a sudden flood came. For more than ten days he had no food until the magistrate sent a boat for him. The magistrate once gave him roast beef and white wine. He drank deeply and died that night, aged fifty-nine.

甫曠放不自檢，好論天下大事，高而不切。少與李白齊名，時號「李杜」。嘗從白及高適過汴州，酒酣登吹台，慷慨懷古，人莫測也。數嘗寇亂，挺節無所汙，為歌詩，傷時橈弱，情不忘君，人憐其忠云。杜甫贊贊曰：唐興，詩人承陳、隋風流，浮靡相矜。至宋之問、沈佺期等，研揣聲音，浮切不差，而號「律詩」，競相襲沿。逮開元間，稍裁以雅正，然恃華者質反，好麗者壯違，人得一概，皆自名所長。至甫，渾涵汪茫，千匯萬狀，兼古今而有之，它人不足，甫乃厭餘，殘膏賸馥，沾丐後人多矣。故元稹謂：「詩人以來，未有如子美者。」甫又善陳時事，律切精深，至千言不少衰，世號「詩史」。昌黎韓愈于文章慎許可，至歌詩，獨推曰：「李、杜文章在，光焰萬丈長。」誠可信云。王勃王勃，字子安，絳州龍門人。六歲善文辭，九歲得顏師古注《漢書》讀之，作《指瑕》以擿其失。麟德初，劉祥道巡行關內，勃上書自陳，祥道表於朝，對策高第。年未及冠，授朝散郎，數獻頌闕下。沛王聞其名，召署府修撰，論次《平臺秘略》。書成，王愛重之。是時，諸王鬥雞，勃戲為文檄英王雞，高宗怒曰：「是且交構。」斥出府。

Fu was unrestrained and undisciplined, fond of discussing great affairs of state—lofty but impractical. In youth he was as famous as Li Bai, and the age spoke of "Li and Du." He once traveled with Li Bai and Gao Shi through Bian Prefecture. Deep in wine, they climbed the Terrace of the Wind and spoke passionately of antiquity in ways no one could fathom. He lived through repeated rebellions, upheld his integrity unstained, and wrote poems lamenting the age's weakness while never forgetting his loyalty to the throne. People pitied his devotion. Eulogy on Du Fu: When Tang rose, poets inherited the lingering Chen and Sui manner—frivolous and ornate, each priding himself on display. By Song Zhiwen, Shen Quanqi, and others, poets refined sound and tone into regulated verse, which all competed to imitate. By Kaiyuan they were somewhat trimmed toward elegance, yet those who prized ornament lost substance and those who loved beauty lost force. Each seized one aspect and called it his own. With Fu, poetry became vast and boundless, embracing every form ancient and modern. Others fell short while he had more than enough; the fragrance left in his wake has enriched countless later poets. Yuan Zhen said, "Since poets began, there has been none like Zimei. Fu also excelled at recording the affairs of his time in verse of incisive depth, sustaining power even in poems of a thousand lines. The age called him Poetic History. Han Yu of Changli was sparing in praise of prose, but of poetry he said alone, "While Li and Du remain, their radiance stretches ten thousand feet. That judgment is truly credible. Wang Bo, style Zi'an, was a native of Longmen in Jiang Prefecture. At six he was skilled in writing. At nine he read Yan Shigu's commentary on the Book of Han and wrote Pointing Out Flaws to expose its errors. Early in Linde, Liu Xiangdao toured Guanzhong. Bo submitted a self-recommendation, and Liu memorialized him to court. He passed the examination with high honors. Before he came of age he was made gentleman for dispersed service and repeatedly presented hymns at court. The Prince of Pei heard of him and summoned him as household compiler to compile the Secret Essentials of the Terrace of Peace. When the book was finished, the prince valued it highly. At that time the princes were cockfighting. Bo jestingly wrote a proclamation for the Prince of Ying's cock. Gaozong was angry and said, "This will sow discord among them. He was expelled from the prince's household.

勃既廢，客劍南。嘗登葛憒山曠望，慨然思諸葛亮之功，賦詩見情。聞虢州多藥草，求補參軍。倚才陵藉，為僚吏共嫉。官奴曹達抵罪，匿勃所，懼事泄，輒殺之。事覺當誅，會赦除名。父福畤，繇雍州司功參軍坐勃故左遷交址令。勃往省，度海溺水，痵而卒，年二十九。

After his dismissal he traveled as a guest in Jiannan. He once climbed Mount Gefen and gazed into the distance, moved by Zhuge Liang's achievements, and wrote a poem to express his feeling. Hearing that Guo Prefecture had many medicinal herbs, he sought appointment as military assistant. Relying on his talent he bullied others, and his colleagues resented him. The official slave Cao Da, guilty of an offense, hid at Bo's place. Fearing exposure, Bo killed him. When the matter was discovered he deserved execution, but an amnesty spared him and struck his name from the rolls. His father Fuzhi, revenue assistant of Yong Prefecture, was demoted to magistrate of Jiaozhi because of Bo's offense. Bo went to visit him, drowned crossing the sea, fell ill, and died, aged twenty-nine.

初，道出鐘陵，九月九日都督大宴滕王閣，宿命其婿作序以誇客，因出紙筆遍請客，莫敢當，至勃，沆然不辭。都督怒，起更衣，遣吏伺其文輒報。一再報，語益奇，乃矍然曰：「天才也！」請遂成文，極歡罷。勃屬文，初不精思，先磨墨數升，則酣飲，引被覆面臥，及寤，援筆成篇，不易一字，時人謂勃為「腹稿」。尤喜著書。

Once, passing through Zhongling on the Double Ninth, the prefect held a great banquet at the Pavilion of Prince Teng. He had already arranged for his son-in-law to write the preface to impress the guests, then offered brush and paper to each guest in turn. None dared accept until Bo, who accepted without hesitation. The prefect was angry, rose to change clothes, and sent an official to report each passage as Bo wrote. Report after report came, each more marvelous than the last. The prefect started up and cried, "A heavenly talent! He asked Bo to finish the piece, and the feast ended in great delight. When Bo wrote, he did not ponder at first. He ground several pints of ink, drank deeply, covered his face with a quilt, and slept. When he awoke, he took up the brush and finished the piece without changing a word. People called his method "belly drafts." He especially loved writing books.

初，祖通，隋末居白牛溪教授，門人甚眾。嘗起漢、魏盡晉作書百二十篇，以續古《尚書》，後亡其序，有錄無書者十篇，勃補完缺逸，定著二十五篇。嘗謂人子不可不知醫，時長安曹元有秘術，勃從之遊，盡得其要。嘗讀《易》，夜夢若有告者曰：「《易》有太極，子勉思之。」寤而作《易發揮》數篇，至《晉卦》，會病止。又謂：「王者乘土王，世五十，數盡千年；乘金王，世四十九，數九百年；乘水王，世二十，數六百年；乘木王，世三十，數八百年；乘火王，世二十，數七百年。天地之常也。自黃帝至漢，五運適周，土復歸唐，唐應繼周、漢，不可承周、隋短祚。」乃斥魏、晉以降非真主正統，皆五行沴氣。遂作《唐家千歲曆》。

His grandfather Tong taught at White Ox Creek at the end of Sui and had many disciples. He had begun a hundred twenty chapters continuing the ancient Documents from Han through Jin, but the preface was later lost and ten chapters survived only in title. Bo restored the missing parts and fixed twenty-five chapters in final form. He said a son ought to know medicine. He studied with Cao Yuan of Chang'an, who had secret medical arts, and mastered the essentials. Once while reading the Changes, he dreamed that someone told him, "The Changes has the Supreme Pole—ponder it well. On waking he wrote several chapters of Elaborating the Changes, reaching the Jin hexagram, when illness stopped him. He also held that when kings ride the sovereignty of Earth, their reigns last fifty generations and a thousand years; riding Metal, forty-nine generations and nine hundred years; riding Water, twenty generations and six hundred years; riding Wood, thirty generations and eight hundred years; riding Fire, twenty generations and seven hundred years. Such is the constant pattern of Heaven and Earth. From the Yellow Emperor to Han, the Five Phases completed their cycle at Zhou. Earth returned to Tang, which ought to succeed Zhou and Han and could not inherit the brief reigns of Northern Zhou and Sui. He therefore rejected Wei, Jin, and all later dynasties as illegitimate—mere perverse emanations of the Five Phases." He then wrote The Tang House Thousand-Year Calendar.

武后時，李嗣真請以周、漢為二王后，而廢周、隋，中宗復用周、隋。天寶中，太平久，上言者多以詭異進，有崔昌者采勃舊說，上《五行應運曆》，請承周、漢，廢周、隋為閏，右相李林甫亦贊佑之。集公卿議可否，集賢學士衛包、起居舍人閻伯璵上表曰：「都堂集議之夕，四星聚于尾，天意昭然矣。」於是玄宗下詔以唐承漢，黜隋以前帝王，廢介、酅公，尊周、漢為二王后，以商為三恪，京城起周武王、漢高祖廟。授崔昌太子贊善大夫，衛包司虞員外郎。楊國忠為右相，自稱隋宗，建議復用魏為三恪，周、隋為二王后，酅、介二公復舊封，貶崔昌烏雷尉，衛包夜郎尉，閻伯璵涪川尉。

Under Empress Wu, Li Sizhen asked that Zhou and Han be honored as the two kingly houses and Northern Zhou and Sui set aside; Zhongzong later restored Northern Zhou and Sui. In the Tianbao era, after long peace, memorialists often won favor with occult theories. Cui Chang took up Bo's old doctrine and submitted A Calendar of the Five Phases and Responsive Fortune, urging that Tang succeed Zhou and Han and relegate Northern Zhou and Sui to intercalary status. Right Chancellor Li Linfu backed him as well. The emperor convened the chief ministers to debate the proposal. Hanlin scholar Wei Bao and diary attendant Yan Bowei memorialized: "On the night of the assembly at the chief hall, four stars gathered in the Tail constellation—Heaven's intent could not be clearer." Xuanzong then decreed that Tang succeeded Han, demoted rulers before Sui, abolished the fiefs of the Dukes of Jie and Xi, honored Zhou and Han as the two kingly houses, ranked Shang among the three honored lineages, and erected temples to King Wu of Zhou and Emperor Gaozu of Han in the capital. Cui Chang was made Mentor to the Heir Apparent, and Wei Bao Vice Director in the Directorate of Parks. When Yang Guozhong became Right Chancellor, claiming descent from the Sui house, he urged that Wei be restored among the three honored lineages and Northern Zhou and Sui as the two kingly houses, that the Dukes of Xi and Jie recover their old fiefs, and that Cui Chang be demoted to warden of Wulei, Wei Bao to warden of Yelang, and Yan Bowei to warden of Fuchuan.

勃兄勮，弟助，皆第進士。兄勮勮，長壽中為鳳閣舍人，壽春等五王出閣，有司具儀，忘載冊文，群臣已在，乃寤其闕，宰相失色。勮召五吏執筆，分占其辭，粲然皆畢，人人嗟服。尋加弘文館學士，兼知天官侍郎。始，裴行儉典選，見勮與蘇味道，曰：「二子者，皆銓衡才。」至是語驗。勮素善劉思禮，用為箕州刺史，與綦連耀謀反，勮與兄涇州刺史勔及助皆坐誅。神龍初，詔復官。弟助助，字子功，七歲喪母哀號，鄰里為泣。居父憂，毀骨立。服除，為監察御史裏行。

Bo's elder brother Jiong and younger brother Zhu both passed the jinshi examination. His elder brother Jiong served as Fengge Attendant during the Changshou era. When the five princes, including Shouchun, left the palace establishment, the ritual offices prepared everything but forgot the investiture text. The ministers were already in place before anyone noticed the lapse, and the chancellor went pale. Jiong summoned five clerks with brushes, divided the text among them, and finished the whole document on the spot to universal admiration. He was soon made a Hanlin Academy scholar and concurrently Acting Vice Minister of Personnel. Earlier, when Pei Xingjian oversaw appointments, he saw Jiong and Su Weidao and said, "Both of these men have the talent to weigh offices." By then his words had come true. Jiong had long favored Liu Silu and made him governor of Ji. Liu joined Qi Lianyao in a plot to rebel, and Jiong, his brother Bin—governor of Jing—and Zhu were all put to death. At the start of the Shenlong era, an edict restored their offices. His younger brother Zhu, styled Zigong, lost his mother at seven and wailed so bitterly that the neighbors wept with him. While mourning his father he wasted away to skin and bone. When mourning ended he served as acting Investigative Censor.

初，勔、勮、勃皆著才名，故杜易簡稱「三珠樹」，其後助、劼又以文顯。劼早卒。福畤少子勸亦有文。福畤嘗詫韓思彥，思彥戲曰：「武子有馬癖，君有譽兒癖，王家癖何多耶？」使助出其文，思彥曰：「生子若是，可誇也。」

At first Bin, Jiong, and Bo were all famed for talent, and Du Yijian called them "the three pearl trees." Later Zhu and Jie also won renown through literature. Jie died young. Fuchuo's youngest son Quan was also gifted in letters. Fuchuo once boasted to Han Siyan, who jested, "Wuzi had his obsession with horses, and you have your obsession with praising sons. How many obsessions does the Wang house have?" He had Zhu bring out his writings. Siyan said, "A son like this is worth boasting of."

勃與楊炯、盧照鄰、駱賓王皆以文章齊名，天下稱「王、楊、盧、駱」四傑。炯嘗曰：「吾愧在盧前，恥居王後。」議者謂然。附楊炯炯，華陰人。舉神童，授校書郎。永隆二年，皇太子已釋奠，表豪俊充崇文館學士，中書侍郎薛元超薦炯及鄭祖玄、鄧玄挺、崔融等，詔可。遷詹事司直。俄坐從父弟神讓與徐敬業亂，出為梓州司法參軍。遷盈川令，張說以箴贈行，戒其苛。至官，果以嚴酷稱，吏稍忤意，搒殺之，不為人所多。卒官下，中宗時贈著作郎。附盧照鄰照鄰，字昇之，范陽人。十歲從曹憲、王義方授《蒼》、《雅》。調鄧王府典簽，王愛重，謂人曰：「此吾之相如。」調新都尉，病去官，居太白山，得方士玄明膏餌之，會父喪，號嘔，丹輒出，由是疾益甚。客東龍門山，布衣藜羹，裴瑾之、韋方質、範履冰等時時供衣藥。疾甚，足攣，一手又廢，乃去具茨山下，買園數十畝，疏潁水周舍，復豫為墓，偃臥其中。照鄰自以當高宗時尚吏，己獨儒；武后尚法，己獨黃老；後封嵩山，屢聘賢士，己已廢。著《五悲文》以自明。病既久，與親屬訣，自沈潁水。附駱賓王賓王，義烏人。七歲能賦詩。初為道王府屬，嘗使自言所能，賓王不答。曆武功主簿。裴行儉為洮州總管，表掌書奏，不應，調長安主簿。武后時，數上疏言事。下除臨海丞，鞅鞅不得志，棄官去。徐敬業亂，署賓王為府屬，為敬業傳檄天下，斥武后罪。后讀，但嘻笑，至「一抔之土未乾，六尺之孤安在」，矍然曰：「誰為之？」或以賓王對，后曰：「宰相安得失此人！」敬業敗，賓王亡命，不知所之。中宗昌，詔求其文，得數百篇。

Bo, Yang Jiong, Lu Zhaolin, and Luo Binwang were equally famed for their writing, and the world called them the Four Talents: Wang, Yang, Lu, and Luo. Jiong once said, "I am ashamed to stand before Lu, and it shames me to stand after Wang." Critics agreed with him. Appended biography: Yang Jiong, a native of Huayin. Chosen as a child prodigy, he was appointed collation officer. In the second year of Yonglong, after the crown prince's capping sacrifice, he memorialized that outstanding men be appointed Chongwen Hall scholars. Vice Director of the Secretariat Xue Yuanchao recommended Jiong along with Zheng Zuxuan, Deng Xuanbing, Cui Rong, and others, and the edict approved. He was promoted to Direct Clerk in the Heir Apparent's household. Soon he was implicated when his cousin Shen Rang joined Xu Jingye's rebellion and was sent out as judicial aide in Zizhou. He was promoted to magistrate of Yingchuan. Zhang Yue sent him off with a written admonition warning him against harsh rule. In office he lived up to his reputation for severity: when a clerk slightly displeased him, he had him beaten to death, and he won little esteem. He died in office and was posthumously made Compiler under Zhongzong. Appended biography: Lu Zhaolin, styled Shengzhi, a native of Fanyang. At ten he studied the Cangjie and Erya lexicons under Cao Xian and Wang Yifang. He was appointed record-keeper to the Prince of Deng, who cherished him and told others, "He is my Sima Xiangru." He was transferred to assistant magistrate of Xindu, but illness forced him to leave office. He lived on Mount Taibai, obtained the Daoist elixir Xuaming from a master, and took it. When his father died he wailed and vomited until the pills came out, and his illness grew worse. He stayed east of Longmen Mountain in hemp robes on coarse food, while Pei Jinzhi, Wei Fangzhi, Fan Lubing, and others from time to time supplied him with clothes and medicine. As his illness worsened his feet cramped and one hand was crippled. He moved below Mount Juci, bought several dozen mu of land, channeled the Ying around his lodge, prepared his tomb in advance, and lay within it. Zhaolin felt that in Gaozong's time the court favored administrators while he alone upheld Confucian learning; under Empress Wu it favored law while he alone upheld Huang-Lao doctrine; later, when the Feng and Shan rites were performed and worthies were repeatedly summoned, he was already crippled. He wrote Five Laments to explain his plight. After long illness he bade his kin farewell and drowned himself in the Ying River. Appended biography: Luo Binwang, a native of Yiwu. At seven he could compose fu poetry. He first served as retainer to the Prince of Dao. When asked to state his abilities, Binwang did not answer. He served as recorder in Gong prefecture. When Pei Xingjian was commandant of Tao prefecture he asked that Binwang handle his documents, but Binwang declined and was transferred to recorder in Chang'an. Under Empress Wu he often submitted memorials on affairs of state. He was demoted to assistant magistrate of Linhai. Discontented and thwarted, he abandoned his post and left. During Xu Jingye's rebellion Binwang was made a staff member of his headquarters and drafted the manifesto sent throughout the realm condemning Empress Wu's crimes. The Empress read it and only chuckled until she came to the line, "The mound of earth is not yet dry—where is the six-foot orphan?" Then she started and said, "Who wrote this?" Someone named Binwang. The Empress said, "How could the chancellor let us lose such a man!" Jingye was defeated. Binwang fled for his life, and no one knew where he went. When Zhongzong restored the throne, an edict sought out his writings, and several hundred pieces were recovered.

它日，崔融與張說評勃等曰：「勃文章宏放，非常人所及，炯、照鄰可以企之。」說曰：「不然。盈川文如縣河，酌之不竭，優於盧而不減王。恥居後，信然；愧在前，謙也。」

On another day Cui Rong and Zhang Yue assessed Bo and the others. Cui Rong said, "Bo's writing is grand and far beyond ordinary men; Jiong and Zhaolin can approach him." Yue said, "Not so. Yingchuan's writing is like a river hung in the sky: draw from it and it never runs dry. He surpasses Lu and is no less than Wang. His shame at ranking last was sincere; his shame at ranking first was modesty."

開元中，說與徐堅論近世文章，說曰：「李嶠、崔融、薛稷、宋之問之文如良金美玉，無施不可。富嘉謨如孤峰絕岸，壁立萬仞，濃雲鬱興，震雷俱發，誠可畏也；若施於廊廟，駭矣。閻朝隱如麗服靚妝，燕歌趙舞，觀者忘疲，若類之《風》、《雅》，則罪人矣。」堅問：「今世奈何？」說曰：「韓休之文如大羹玄酒，有典則，薄滋味。許景先如豐肌膩理，雖穠華可愛，而乏風骨。張九齡如輕縑素練，實濟時用，而窘邊幅。王翰如瓊杯玉斝，雖爛然可珍，而多玷缺。」堅謂篤論云。元萬頃元萬頃，後魏京兆王子推裔。祖白澤，武德中，仕至梁、利十一州都督，封新安公。萬頃起家為通事舍人。

In the Kaiyuan era Zhang Yue discussed recent writing with Xu Jian and said, "The prose of Li Jiao, Cui Rong, Xue Ji, and Song Zhiwen is like fine gold and polished jade—fit for any use. Fu Jiamo's is like a lone peak and sheer cliff ten thousand ren high, thick clouds gathering and thunder breaking all at once—truly awe-inspiring; but used in the court hall, it would be alarming. Yan Chaoyin's is like splendid dress and fine makeup, Yan songs and Zhao dances that leave viewers forgetting fatigue; class him with the Airs and Odes and he would be guilty of presumption." Xu Jian asked, "What of writers today?" Yue said, "Han Xiu's writing is like the great broth and dark wine: it has canonical form but little savor. Xu Jingxian's is like full flesh and fine grain: lush and lovely, but lacking bone and sinew. Zhang Jiuling's is like light silk on plain weave: truly useful for the times, but narrow in scope. Wang Han's is like jade cups: though brilliantly precious, full of flaws." Xu Jian called this penetrating judgment. Yuan Wandian was a descendant of Prince Tui of Northern Wei of Jingzhao. His grandfather Bai Ze, in the Wude era, rose to governor of eleven prefectures in Liang and Li and was enfeoffed Duke of Xin'an. Wandian began his career as Drafting Attendant.

從李勣征高麗，管書記。勣命別將郭待封以舟師赴平壤，馮師本載糧繼之，不及期。欲報勣，而恐為諜所得，萬頃為作離合詩遺勣。勣怒曰：「軍機切遽，何用詩為？」欲斬待封，萬頃言狀，乃免。又使萬頃草檄讓高麗，而譏其不知守鴨淥之險，莫離支報曰：「謹聞命。」徙兵固守，軍不得入。高宗聞之，投萬頃嶺外。

He accompanied Li Ji on the campaign against Goguryeo as secretary. Ji ordered the separate commander Guo Daifeng to take the fleet to Pyongyang, while Feng Shiben was to carry grain in support, but he failed to arrive on schedule. Wanting to report to Ji but fearing enemy spies, Wandian wrote him a cipher poem. Ji angrily said, "Military affairs are urgent—what use are poems?" He was about to execute Daifeng, but Wandian explained what had happened and Daifeng was spared. Ji also had Wandian draft a proclamation rebuking Goguryeo and mocking them for failing to hold the Yalu crossing. Molizhi replied, "Your command is respectfully heard." They shifted troops to stubborn defense, and the Tang army could not advance. When Gaozong heard of it, he banished Wandian beyond the ranges.

會赦還，為著作郎。武后諷帝召諸儒論撰禁中，萬頃與周王府戶曹參軍範履冰、苗神客、太子舍人周思茂、右史胡楚賓與選，凡撰《列女傳》、《臣軌》、《百僚新戒》、《樂書》等九千餘篇。至朝廷疑議表疏皆密使參處，以分宰相權，故時謂「北門學士」。思茂、履冰、神客供奉左右，或二十餘年。

He returned on a general amnesty and was made Compiler. Empress Wu urged the emperor to summon scholars to compose within the palace. Wandian was chosen together with Fan Lubing, Registrar of the Prince of Zhou's household, Miao Shenke, Crown Prince's Attendant Zhou Simao, and Right Historian Hu Chubin. Together they compiled more than nine thousand chapters, including Biographies of Exemplary Women, Mirror of Ministers, New Admonitions for the Hundred Officials, and Book of Music. Whenever the court faced doubtful memorials or documents, they were secretly sent to these men for deliberation, dividing the chancellors' power. Hence they were called the Northern Gate scholars. Simao, Lubing, and Shenke attended at the ruler's side, some for more than twenty years.

萬頃敏文辭，然放達不治細檢，無儒者風。武后時，累遷鳳閣侍郎，坐誅。附范履冰履冰者，河內人。垂拱中，曆鸞台天官二侍郎、春官尚書、同鳳閣鸞台平章事，兼修國史。載初初，坐舉逆人被殺。

Wandian was quick with words, but careless and unrestrained in small matters and lacked a scholar's bearing. Under Empress Wu he rose to Vice Minister of Luantai and was executed for his crimes. Appended biography: Fan Lubing, a native of Henei. During the Chuigong era he served successively as both Vice Ministers of Luantai and Tian'guan, Minister of the Spring Office, and Grand Councilor of the Tongfengge Luantai Secretariat, while also editing the state history. At the beginning of the Zai Chu era he was executed for recommending rebels.

神客，東光人，終著作郎。附周思茂思茂，漳南人，與弟思鈞早知名。累遷麟台少監、崇文館學士。垂拱中，下獄死。附胡楚賓楚賓，秋浦人。屬文敏甚，必酒中，然後下筆。高宗命作文，常以金銀盃畾酒飲之，文成輒賜焉。家居率沈飲，無留賄，費盡復入，得賜而出，類為常。性重慎，未嘗語禁中事，人及其醉問之，亦熟視不答。尋兼崇賢直學士，卒。萬頃孫正萬頃孫正，修名節，擢明經高第，授監門衛兵曹參軍。舅孫逖與譚物理，歎己不逮。肅宗初，吏部尚書崔寓典選，正以書判第一召詣京師，以父詢倩老，辭疾免。河南節度使崔光遠表置其府。史思明陷河、洛，輦父匿山中，賊以名購，正度事急，謂弟曰：「賊祿不可養親，彼利吾名，難免矣，然不汙身而死，吾猶生也。」賊既得，誘以高位，瞋目固拒，兄弟皆遇害，父聞，仰藥死，路人為哭。事平，詔錄伏節十一姓，而正為冠。贈秘書少監，以其子義方為華州參軍。曾孫義方義方，曆京兆府司錄，韋夏卿、李實繼為尹，事必咨之。曆虢商二州刺史、福建觀察使。中官吐突承璀，閩人也，義方用其親屬為右職。李吉甫再當國，陰欲承璀奧助，即召義方為京兆尹。李絳惡其黨，出為鄜坊觀察使，一切辨治，然苛刻，人多怨之。卒，贈左散騎常侍。曾孫季方弟季方，舉明經，調楚丘尉，曆殿中侍御史。兵部尚書王紹表為度支員外郎，遷金、膳二部郎中，號能職。王叔文用事，憚季方不為用，以兵部郎中使新羅。新羅聞中國喪，不時遣，供饋乏，季方正色責之，閉戶絕食待死，夷人悔謝，結歡乃還。卒，年五十一，贈同州刺史。

Shenke, a native of Dongguang, ended his career as Compiler. Appended biography: Zhou Simao of Zhangnan was early famed together with his younger brother Sijun. He rose to Vice Director of the Lin Platform and Chongwen Hall scholar. During the Chuigong era he was imprisoned and died. Appended biography: Hu Chubin, a native of Qiupu. He was extremely quick at composition, but would set brush to paper only when drunk. Gaozong ordered him to write and often fed him wine from stacked gold and silver cups; when a piece was finished, the cups were his to keep. At home he drank heavily, kept no bribes, spent everything and returned for more, and left again with new gifts—a constant round. He was grave and cautious by nature and never spoke of palace affairs. Even when drunk and questioned, he would stare fixedly and say nothing. He was soon made direct academician of the Hall of Esteeming Worthies and died in office. Wandian's grandson Zheng cultivated integrity, passed the mingjing examination with high honors, and was appointed military assistant in the Gate Guards. His cousin Sun Ti and Tan Wuli sighed that they could not match him. Early in Suzong's reign, Minister of Personnel Cui Yu presided over selection. Zheng ranked first in document judgment and was summoned to the capital, but he pleaded illness to stay with his aging father Xun. Military Commissioner of Henan Cui Guangyuan memorialized to place him on his staff. When Shi Siming seized He and Luo, he hid his father in the mountains. The rebels offered a price for his name. Seeing no escape, he told his brother, "Rebel pay cannot support our father. They want my name, and I cannot flee—but to die unstained is still to live. When the rebels seized him, they tempted him with high office, but he glared and refused. Both brothers were killed. When their father heard, he took poison and died, and passersby wept. When order was restored, an edict recorded eleven families who upheld integrity, with Zheng's foremost. He was posthumously made vice director of the Imperial Library, and his son Yifang was made military aide of Hua Prefecture. His great-grandson Yifang served as recorder of the capital district. When Wei Xiaqing and Li Shi became prefect in turn, each consulted him on every matter. He served as prefect of Guo and Shang and as military commissioner of Fujian. The palace eunuch Tutu Chenghui was a native of Min, and Yifang employed his relatives in high posts. When Li Jifu again held power, he secretly sought Chenghui's support and summoned Yifang as prefect of the capital. Li Jiang hated his faction and sent him out as military commissioner of Bian and Fang. He governed decisively but harshly, and many resented him. He died and was posthumously made regular attendant of the left. Yifang's younger brother Jifang passed the mingjing examination, served as assistant magistrate of Chuqiu, and rose to attending censor in the palace. Minister of War Wang Shao memorialized him as vice director in the Bureau of Revenue. He rose to director in the Bureaus of Revenue and Provisions and was known as capable in office. When Wang Shuwen held power, he feared Jifang would not serve him and sent him as director in the Ministry of War on a mission to Silla. Silla, hearing of mourning in China, failed to send envoys on time and neglected his supplies. Jifang sternly reproved them, shut his door, and refused food until he should die. The Sillans repented, made peace, and he returned. He died at fifty-one and was posthumously made prefect of Tong Prefecture.

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