Volume 206 Biographies 131: Families of Imperial Consorts

凡外戚成敗，視主德何如。主賢則共其榮，主否則先受其禍。故太宗檢貴幸，裁賞賜，貞觀時，內裏無敗家。高、中二宗，柄移艷私，產亂朝廷，武、韋諸族，耄嬰頸血，一日同汙鐵刃。玄宗初年，法行近親，裏表修敕。天寶奪明，委政妃宗，階召反虜，遂喪天下。楊氏之誅，噍類不遺，蓋數十年之寵，不賞一日之慘，甲第厚貲，無救同坎之悲，寧不哀哉！代、德而降，閹尹參嬖，後宮雖多，無赫赫顯門，亦無刀鋸大戮。故用福甚者得禍酷，取名少者蒙責輕，理所固然。若乃長孫無忌之功，武平一之識，吳漵之忠，弗緣內寵者，自見別傳。

Whether imperial in-laws rise or fall has always depended on the moral caliber of the ruler. Under a capable sovereign they share in his glory; under a bad one they are the first to suffer ruin. Taizong therefore kept favored kin in check and limited their largesse, so that throughout the Zhenguan reign no consort clan brought the house down. Under Gaozong and Zhongzong, power passed to illicit favorites of the inner quarters and threw the court into turmoil; the Wu and Wei kin, from elders to infants, had their throats cut and on a single day shared the same bloody steel. Early in Xuanzong's reign the law was enforced even upon close relatives, and consort kin were kept in proper order. When Tianbao dimmed the emperor's clarity, power was handed to the consort clan, traitors were called in stage by stage, and the empire was lost. When the Yang clan were put to the sword, none were spared; decades of imperial favor bought them not a day's leniency, and though they had lived in great estates heaped with treasure, nothing could keep them from a common grave—how lamentable! From Daizong and Dezong onward, eunuchs and palace stewards shared imperial favor; though the inner quarters had many consorts, there were no towering consort houses—and no wholesale slaughter by the executioners either. Those who grasped the greatest favor suffered the fiercest ruin; those who claimed little glory escaped with lighter blame—as reason demands. Men such as Zhangsun Wuji for achievement, Wu Pingyi for judgment, and Wu Qian for loyalty, who rose without inner-palace patronage, are treated in other biographies.

獨孤懷恩

Dugu Huai'en

獨孤懷恩，元貞皇后弟之子也。父整，仕隋為涿郡太守。懷恩之幼，隋文帝獻皇后以侄養宮中。逮長，稍學記書，而居財不訾，喜交豪猾博徒。為鄠令，以疾免。

Dugu Huai'en was the son of Empress Yuanzhen's younger brother. His father Zheng had served the Sui as prefect of Zhuo. In his childhood Empress Xian of Emperor Wen of Sui took him into the palace and raised him as her nephew. As he grew he picked up some clerical learning, yet he kept no proper accounts of his wealth and consorted with swaggering gamblers. He became magistrate of Hu but was removed because of illness.

高祖平京師，拜長安令，頗嚴明，如職而辨。帝受禪，擢工部尚書。初，虞州刺史韋義節擊堯君素於蒲州，不克，帝遣懷恩代將。性貪，寡算略，數戰無功，士喪沮，詔書切責，而懷恩稍怨望。帝嘗與戲曰：「弟姑子悉有天下，次當爾邪？」懷恩內喜，以為天命。既而居忽忽，咤曰：「我家渠獨女子富貴也？」因謀亂。是時，虞鄉南山多宿盜，而劉武周使宋金剛略澮州，帝發關中軍屬秦王，屯柏壁。由是懷恩與麾下元君寶、解令榮靜謀引王行本軍與武周連和，割河東以啖之，引群賊取永豐倉，絕秦王餉道，長驅三輔。會君素死，而行本得其兵，部畫已定，而夏人呂崇茂殺縣令應武周。帝敕懷恩與永安王孝基、陜州總管於筠、內史侍郎唐儉擊夏，為金剛所掩，諸將皆沒於賊。君寶與開府劉讓私侮懷恩曰：「不早舉大事，以及斯辱也。」故謀浸露。

After Gaozu took the capital he made him magistrate of Chang'an, where he governed with notable strictness and sound judgment. When the emperor took the throne he was raised to Minister of Works. Earlier, Yu prefect Wei Yijie had attacked Yao Junsu at Pu without success, and the emperor sent Huai'en to take command in his place. Greedy and short on strategy, he fought repeatedly without success until his troops lost heart; the emperor's stern rebuke left him increasingly bitter. The emperor once teased him, saying, "Your cousins on your aunt's side have all held the realm—is it your turn next? Huai'en was secretly delighted and took this as a sign of destiny. Soon he grew restless and cried out, "Must our clan alone win wealth and rank through its women? And so he plotted rebellion. At that time the southern hills of Yuxiang were thick with veteran bandits, while Liu Wuzhou sent Song Jingang to overrun Fen; the emperor sent Guanzhong forces under the Prince of Qin to encamp at Baiyu. Huai'en then conspired quietly with his officers Yuan Junbao and Xie Lingrong to join Wang Xingben's forces to Liu Wuzhou, yield Hedong as bait, rally the bandits to seize Yongfeng Granary, sever the Prince of Qin's supply line, and march straight on the capital region. Junsu died just then and Xingben took over his army; the plan was already laid when Lü Chongmao of Xia killed his magistrate and went over to Liu Wuzhou. The emperor ordered Huai'en, Prince of Yong'an Xiaoji, Shaan commander Yu Yun, and Vice Director Tang Jian against Xia, but Jingang ambushed them and every commander fell into rebel hands. Junbao and Defender Liu Rang privately taunted Huai'en: "Had you moved earlier on the great design, we would not have suffered this humiliation. And so the conspiracy slowly came to light.

及秦王敗武周於美良川，懷恩逃歸，帝命率師攻蒲州。君寶聞曰：「王者不死，果其然！」唐儉知狀。會武周還劉讓求罷兵，因白髮懷恩等奸。於時行本舉蒲州降，懷恩勒兵入城，帝方濟河而讓至，具得反狀。帝召之，懷恩不知也，單舟以來，即縛之，窮索黨與，縊死於獄，以首徇華陰市，籍入其家。

After the Prince of Qin routed Liu Wuzhou at Meiliang River, Huai'en escaped home and was ordered to lead an assault on Pu. Junbao heard this and said, "A true king cannot be killed—so it proves! Tang Jian learned what was afoot. When Liu Wuzhou withdrew, Liu Rang sued for peace and disclosed Huai'en's treason. Xingben had just surrendered Pu when Huai'en marched in; the emperor was crossing the river as Rang arrived with full proof of the plot. The emperor summoned him; unaware, Huai'en came alone in a small boat and was seized at once; his accomplices were hunted down, he was strangled in prison, his head was exposed in Huayin market, and his property was confiscated.

武士彟

Wu Shiyao

武士彟字信，世殖貲，喜交結。高祖嘗領屯汾、晉，休其家，因被顧接。後留守太原，引為行軍司鎧參軍。募兵既集，以劉弘基、長孫順德統之。王威、高君雅私謂士訄曰：「弘基等皆背征三衛，罪當死，奈何授之兵？吾且劾系之。」士卬皞曰：「此皆唐公客，若爾，必大有嫌。」故威等疑不發。會司兵參軍田德平欲勸威劾募人狀，士訄脅謂曰：「討捕兵悉隸唐公，威、君雅無與，徒寄坐耳，何能為？」德平亦止。兵起，士卬皞不與謀也。以大將軍府鎧曹參軍從平京師，為光祿大夫、義原郡公。自言嘗夢帝騎而上天，帝笑曰：「爾故王威黨也，以能罷系劉弘基等，其意可錄，且嘗禮我，故酬汝以官。今胡迂妄媚我邪？」累遷工部尚書，進封應國公，歷利、荊二州都督。卒，贈禮部尚書，謚曰定。高宗永徽中，以士↓仲女為皇后，故崇贈并州都督、司徒、周國公。咸亨中，加贈太尉兼太子太師、太原郡王，配享高祖廟廷，列功臣上。后監朝，尊為忠孝太皇，建崇先府，置官屬，追王五世。后革命，更於東都立武氏七廟，追冊為帝，諸妣皆隨帝號曰皇后。先天中，有詔削士卬皞偽號，仍為太原王，廟遂廢。

Wu Shiyao, styled Xin, came from a family that had long grown rich by trade and was fond of cultivating ties. When Gaozu once commanded troops in Fen and Jin he stayed at Wu's home and came to know him well. Later, as regent at Taiyuan, he took him on as an aide in the armor bureau of the campaign staff. Once the levies were gathered, Liu Hongji and Zhangsun Shunde were placed over them. Wang Wei and Gao Junya privately told Wu Shiyao, "Hongji and the others deserted the Three Guards levy, a capital offense—why give them command of troops? We mean to impeach and arrest them. Wu Shiyao replied, "They are all the Duke of Tang's men; act thus and you will surely earn his deep mistrust." Wei and his party therefore hesitated and did not move. When Staff Officer Tian Deping tried to urge Wei to impeach the recruits, Wu Shiyao intimidated him, saying, "Every soldier raised for the campaign answers to the Duke of Tang; Wei and Junya have no real authority—they only hold their posts in name—what can they do? Deping too held back. When arms were raised, Wu Shiyao had not joined the conspiracy. He followed the campaign to pacify the capital as an aide in the Grand General's armor bureau and was made Grand Master for Splendid Happiness and Duke of Yiyuan. He claimed he had dreamed the emperor riding up to Heaven; the emperor laughed and said, "You were once Wang Wei's man; because you kept Liu Hongji and the others from being arrested your intent is worth noting, and because you once treated me with respect I repay you with rank. Why do you now fawn on me with such absurd tales? He rose through repeated promotions to Minister of Works, was advanced to Duke of Ying, and served as military governor of Li and Jing. He died and was posthumously made Minister of Rites with the posthumous name Ding. In Gaozong's Yonghui reign, when Wu Shiyao's daughter became empress, he was posthumously raised to overall commander of Bing, Minister of Education, and Duke of Zhou. In the Xianheng era he was further made Grand Commandant and Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent, Prince of Taiyuan, granted sacrifice in Gaozu's temple, and ranked above the merit subjects. When the empress held court she honored him as Loyal and Filial Grand Emperor, founded the Chongxian Office with its own staff, and ennobled five generations of ancestors. When she changed the dynasty she built seven Wu ancestral temples in the eastern capital, posthumously enthroned him as emperor, and gave all his wives the title of empress to match. In the Xiantian era an edict stripped Wu Shiyao's usurped titles, restored him only as Prince of Taiyuan, and the temple was abandoned.

始，士訄娶相裏氏，生子元慶、元爽。又娶楊氏，生三女。元女妻賀蘭氏，早寡。季女妻郭氏，不顯。士卬皞卒後，諸子事楊不盡禮，銜之。后立，封楊代國夫人，進為榮國，后姊韓國夫人。於時元慶已官宗正少卿，元爽少府少監，兄子惟良衛尉少卿。楊諷后上疏出元慶等於外，以示退讓。由是元慶斥龍州，元爽濠州，惟良始州。元慶死，元爽流振州。乾封時，惟良及弟淄州刺史懷運與嶽牧集泰山下，於是韓國有女在宮中，帝尤愛幸。后欲並殺之，即導帝幸其母所，惟良等上食，后寘堇焉，賀蘭食之，暴死。后歸罪惟良等，誅之，諷有司改姓「蝮氏」，絕屬籍。元爽緣坐死，家屬投嶺外。

Wu Shiyao had first married a woman of the Xiangli clan and had sons Yuangqing and Yuanshuang. He then married Lady Yang, who bore three daughters. The eldest daughter married into the Helan clan and was widowed young. The youngest daughter married into the Guo clan and left no mark on history. After Wu Shiyao's death his sons failed to show Lady Yang full respect, and she bore a grudge. Once the empress was enthroned, Lady Yang was made Lady of Dai and then of Rong, and the empress's elder sister was made Lady of Han. By then Yuangqing was Vice Director of the Imperial Clan Court, Yuanshuang Vice Director of the Palace Storehouses, and their cousin Weiliang Vice Director of the Guards. Yang urged the empress to petition that Yuangqing and the others be sent away from court as a show of modest restraint. Yuangqing was sent to Long, Yuanshuang to Hao, and Weiliang to Shi. Yuangqing died, and Yuanshuang was banished to Zhen. During Qianfeng, Weiliang and his brother Huaiyun, prefect of Zi, joined the frontier lords at Mount Tai; the Lady of Han then had a daughter in the palace whom the emperor especially favored. The empress meant to destroy them all at once; she led the emperor to their mother's home, and when Weiliang and the others served the meal she poisoned it with aconite; the Helan woman ate and died on the spot. She blamed Weiliang and his kin, had them executed, and prompted the authorities to change their surname to "Viper" and strike them from the registers. Yuanshuang was executed by association, and his family was sent beyond the southern ranges.

后取賀蘭敏之為士訄後，賜氏武，襲封，擢累左侍極、蘭臺太史令，與名儒李嗣真等參與刊撰。敏之韶秀自喜，烝於榮國，挾所愛，佻橫多過失；榮國卒，后出珍幣建佛廬僥福，敏之乾匿自用；司衛少卿楊思儉女選為太子妃，告婚期矣，敏之聞其美，強私焉；楊喪未畢，褫衰粗，奏音樂；太平公主往來外家，宮人從者，敏之悉逼亂之。后叠數怒，至此暴其惡，流雷州，表復故姓，道中自經死。乃還元爽之子承嗣奉士皞後，宗屬悉原。

The empress adopted Helan Minzhi as Wu Shiyao's heir, gave him the surname Wu and the family title, and raised him through Left Attendant-in-Ordinary and Director of the Astrological Bureau, where he worked with scholars such as Li Sizhen on editorial projects. Minzhi was young, handsome, and vain; he had an affair with Lady Rong, abused his favorites, and with frivolous arrogance committed one offense after another; when Lady Rong died the empress sent precious funds to build a Buddhist hall for merit, and Minzhi diverted them to himself; the daughter of Vice Director Yang Sijian had been chosen as crown princess and the wedding day set, but Minzhi, hearing of her beauty, forced himself upon her; before Lady Yang's mourning was over he cast off his mourning garb and had music played; when Princess Taiping visited her mother's kin, he violated every palace woman in her train. The empress had long been furious; now she exposed his crimes, exiled him to Lei, petitioned to restore his original surname, and on the way he hanged himself. Yuanshuang's son Chengsi was then brought back as Wu Shiyao's heir, and the whole clan was restored.

士訄兄士梭、士逸。

Wu Shiyao's elder brothers Shileng and Shiyi.

士棱，字彥威，少柔願，力於田。官司農少卿，宣城縣公，常主苑囿農稼事。卒，贈潭州都督，陪葬獻陵。

Shileng, styled Yanwei, was gentle and dutiful in youth and devoted himself to the fields. He served as Vice Director of Agriculture, Duke of Xuancheng, and routinely managed the palace farms and parklands. He died and was posthumously made overall commander of Tan, with burial at Xian's mausoleum.

士逸，字逖，有戰功，為齊王府戶曹參軍，六安縣公。從王守太原，為劉武周所執，嘗遣間人陳破賊計。賊平，擢授益州行臺左丞，數言當世得失，高祖嘉納之。終韶州刺史。

Shiyi, styled Ti, won distinction in battle, served as household aide in the Prince of Qi's establishment, and was Duke of Lu'an. He followed the prince in holding Taiyuan, was captured by Liu Wuzhou, and once sent a secret messenger with a plan to break the rebels. After the rebels were crushed he was made Left Assistant on the Yizhou field staff, spoke often on the affairs of the day, and Gaozu welcomed his counsel. He ended his career as prefect of Shao.

承嗣既還，擢尚輦奉禦，襲周國公，遷秘書監、禮部尚書。俄以太常卿同中書門下三品，未幾辭位。垂拱初，以春官尚書同鳳閣鸞臺平章事，改納言，代蘇良嗣為文昌左相。性暴輕忍禍，聞左司郎中喬知之婢窈娘美，且善歌，奪取之，知之作《綠珠篇》以諷，婢得詩恨死。承嗣怒，告酷吏殺之，殘其家。

After Chengsi was restored he became Imperial Carriage Attendant, inherited the dukedom of Zhou, and rose to Director of the Secretariat and Minister of Rites. Soon he was made Minister of Ceremonies with concurrent chancellor rank, but resigned before long. Early in Chuigong he was Minister of Personnel with concurrent chancellor status at the Phoenix offices, then made Supplicator and Left Chancellor of Wenchang in Su Liangsi's place. Violent by nature and heedless of the harm he did, he heard that Qiao Zhi's maid Yaoniang was beautiful and sang well, and took her by force; Zhi wrote the "Green Pearl" poem in rebuke, and the maid, on reading it, died of shame and grief. Chengsi in rage denounced him to the harsh officials, had him killed, and destroyed his family.

初，后擅政，中宗幽逐，承嗣自謂傳國及己，武氏當有天下，即諷后革命，去唐家子孫，誅大臣不附者，倡議追王先世，立宗廟。又王元慶曰梁王，謚憲；元爽魏王，謚德；后從父士讓楚王，謚僖；士逸蜀王，謚節。又贈兄子承業陳王。而承嗣為魏王，元慶子三思為梁王，士讓之孫攸寧為建昌王、攸歸九江王、攸望會稽王，士逸孫懿宗河內王、嗣宗臨川王、仁範河間王，仁範子載德潁川王，士棱孫攸暨千乘王，惟良子攸宜建安王、攸緒安平王、從子攸止恒安王、重規高平王，承嗣子延基南陽王、延秀淮陽王，三思子崇訓高陽王、崇烈新安王，承業子延暉嗣陳王、延祚鹹安王。承嗣實封千戶，監脩國史。密諭后黨鳳閣舍人張嘉福，使洛州人上書請立己為皇太子，以觀后意。后問岑長倩、格輔元，皆執不宜。承嗣不得已，奏請責諭嘉福等，不罪也。怨長倩等，皆以罪誅。以特進罷。未幾，復同鳳閣鸞臺三品。承嗣為左相，而攸寧為納言，故皆罷。又與三思同三品，不及月俱免，復拜特進。后決意還太子矣。久之，遷太子太保，不得誌，鞅鞅憤死，贈太尉、并州牧，謚曰宣。

When the empress first seized power and Zhongzong was deposed, Chengsi believed the throne would pass to him and that the Wu should rule the realm; he urged her to change the dynasty, purge the Tang line, kill uncooperative ministers, and ennoble the Wu ancestors and build their temples. He made Yuangqing Prince of Liang, posthumous name Xian; Yuanshuang Prince of Wei, posthumous name De; the empress's cousin Shirang Prince of Chu, posthumous name Xi; Shiyi Prince of Shu, posthumous name Jie. He also made his brother's son Chengye Prince of Chen. Chengsi was made Prince of Wei; Yuangqing's son Sansi Prince of Liang; Shirang's grandsons Youning of Jianchang, Yougui of Jiujiang, and Youwang of Kuaiji; Shiyi's grandsons Yizong of Henei, Sizong of Linchuan, and Renfan of Hejian; Renfan's son Zaide of Yingchuan; Shileng's grandson Youji of Qiansheng; Weiliang's sons Youyi of Jian'an and Youxu of Anping, his cousin's son Youzhi of Heng'an, and Chonggui of Gaoping; Chengsi's sons Yanji of Nanyang and Yanxiu of Huaiyang; Sansi's sons Chongxun of Gaoyang and Chonglie of Xin'an; and Chengye's sons Yanhui as heir of Chen and Yanzuo of Xian'an. Wu Chengsi held a substantive fief of one thousand households and oversaw the compilation of the national history. He secretly directed Zhang Jiafu, a Fengge attendant and ally of Empress Wu, to have Luozhou natives petition that he be made crown prince so as to test the empress's mind. The empress consulted Cen Changqian and Ge Fuyuan; both insisted it would be improper. Chengsi was forced to petition that Jiafu and the others be rebuked and warned, but not punished. Bearing a grudge against Changqian and his colleagues, he had them all put to death on trumped-up charges. He was removed from office while retaining the honorary rank of Special Advancement. Before long he was again made a third-rank minister of the combined secretariat and chancellery. Since Chengsi served as Left Chancellor while Wu Youning held the post of Chief Minister, both were removed. He and Wu Sansi again shared third rank, but within less than a month both were removed, and Chengsi was reappointed Special Advancement. Empress Wu had firmly resolved to restore the heir apparent. After a long interval he was made Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent; frustrated in his ambitions, he died embittered; he was posthumously made Grand Commandant and military governor of Bing, with the posthumous name Xuan.

延基襲爵，后嫌斥其名，更曰繼魏王。長安初，與妻永泰郡主及邵王私語張易之兄弟事，后忿爭，語聞，后怒，令自殺，以延義代王。

Yanji succeeded to the title, but the empress disliked his name and changed it to "Successor to the Prince of Wei." In early Chang'an he privately spoke with his wife, the Princess of Yongtai, and Prince Shao about the Zhang Yizhi brothers; the empress flew into a rage when she heard of it, ordered him to take his own life, and had Yanyi succeed as prince.

中宗復位，侍中敬暉等言諸武不當王，與君臣白奏：「事不兩大，武家諸王宜皆免。」帝柔昏不斷，又素畏太后，且欲悅安之，更言攸暨、三思皆與去二張功，以折暉等，才降封一級：三思王德靜郡，攸暨壽春，懿宗為耿國公，攸寧江國，攸望葉國，嗣宗管國，攸宜息國，重規鄶國，延義魏國，攸緒巢國，崇訓酆國，延祿為鹹安郡公。直臣宋務光、蘇安恒上書言：「武諸王饗封，不厭人心。」帝不悟。

When Zhongzong was restored to the throne, the Attendant-in-Chief Jing Hui and others argued that the Wu princes should not hold royal titles; they joined the ministers in an open memorial: "Two supreme powers cannot coexist—all Wu princes should be stripped of their ranks. Zhongzong was weak, irresolute, and had long feared the dowager; wishing also to please Empress Wei, he replied that Wu Youji and Wu Sansi had shared in the merit of removing the two Zhangs, thereby deflecting Hui and his allies, and reduced their titles by only one rank: Sansi became Prince of Dejing, Youji of Shouchun, Yizong Duke of Geng, Youning of Jiang, Youwang of Ye, Sizong of Guan, Youyi of Xi, Chonggui of Zheng, Yanyi of Wei, Youxu of Chao, Chongxun of Feng, and Yanlu was made Duke of Xian'an. The upright ministers Song Wuguang and Su Anheng memorialized: "The Wu princes still enjoy royal fiefs, and the people remain unsatisfied. The emperor took no heed.

載德終湖州刺史，謚武烈。攸歸歷司屬少卿，至齊州刺史，事母孝，姊亡期，不嘗五辛，語輒流涕。攸止絳州刺史。三人死太后時，不及削封。

Zaide died as prefect of Huzhou, with the posthumous name Wulie. Yougui rose from Vice Director of the Bureau of Dependencies to prefect of Qi; he was devoted to his mother, and while still in mourning for his sister he abstained from the five pungent foods and wept whenever he spoke of her. Youzhi served as prefect of Jiang. All three died during the dowager's lifetime and escaped reduction of their titles.

攸宜歷同州刺史，萬歲通天初，為清邊道行軍大總管。討契丹，后親餞白馬寺，師無功還，拜左羽林大將軍。景龍時，遷右羽林，卒。總禁兵前後十年。嗣宗終司衛卿。

Youyi served as prefect of Tong, and in the first year of Wansui Tongtian was made grand commander of the Qingbian campaign circuit. On a campaign against the Khitans Empress Wu saw him off at Baima Temple; when the army returned without success he was made General-in-Chief of the Left Palace Guard. In the Jinglong era he was transferred to the Right Palace Guard, then died. He commanded the palace guards for ten years in all. Sizong ended his career as Director of the Palace Guard.

重規為汴、鄭二州刺史，未至，役人營繕，后怒，貶廬州刺史。自是著令：諸王為州，不得擅營治。突厥之叛，以重規為天兵中道大總管，與沙咤忠義、張仁亶引眾三十萬討之。左羽林大將軍閻敬容為西道後軍，兵十五萬後援。還為左金吾衛大將軍，終衛尉卿。

Chonggui was appointed prefect of Bian and Zheng but, before taking up office, had laborers put to work on his quarters; the empress was enraged and demoted him to prefect of Lu. From this a regulation was issued: princes assigned to prefectures might not undertake private construction on their own authority. When the Turks rebelled, Chonggui was appointed grand commander of the central Tianbing circuit and, with Shatuo Zhongyi and Zhang Renbian, led three hundred thousand men against them. General Yan Rongrong of the Left Palace Guard commanded the western rear corps with one hundred fifty thousand men in support. On his return he became General-in-Chief of the Left Golden Crow Guard and ended as Director of the Guards.

延秀母本帶方人，坐其家沒入奚官，以姝惠，賜承嗣，生延秀。突厥默啜薦女和親，后令延秀納之，詔右豹韜大將軍閻知微、右武衛郎將楊鸞莊賫金幣送至突厥所。知微等潛約默啜執延秀進寇媯、檀，故延秀不得歸。神龍初，默啜請和，因延秀送款，還，封柏國公，左衛中郎將。宗兄崇訓尚安樂公主，數與宴昵，頗通突厥語。仿虜謳舞，姿度閑冶，主愛悅。會崇訓死，遂私侍主，后因尚焉。以太常卿兼右衛將軍，封恒國公。三思死，韋后復私延秀，故延秀益自肆。主府倉曹參軍何鳳說曰：「今天下系心武家，庶幾再興。且讖曰『黑衣神孫被天裳』，神孫非公尚誰哉？」因勸服阜衣惑眾。韋后敗，尚與主居禁中，同斬肅章門。攸望以太府卿貶死春州。諸武屬坐延秀誅徙者略盡，獨載德子平一以文章顯，與攸緒常避盛滿，故免，自有傳。

Yanxiu's mother was a native of Daifang; her family was confiscated and she was enrolled in the palace service for foreign women; for her beauty she was given to Chengsi, who fathered Yanxiu. The Türk khan Mochuo offered his daughter for alliance marriage; the empress ordered Yanxiu to marry her and sent Right General Yan Zhiwei and Commander Yang Luanzhuang with gold and silks to the Türk court. Zhiwei and his party secretly agreed with Mochuo to detain Yanxiu and invade Guizhou and Tanzhou, and Yanxiu was unable to return. In early Shenlong, Mochuo sought peace and, through Yanxiu, sent terms of submission; Yanxiu returned, was made Duke of Bo, and appointed Central Commander of the Left Guard. His kinsman Chongxun had married Princess Anle; he often feasted with her in intimacy and knew considerable Türkish. He mimicked barbarian songs and dances with an easy, alluring manner, and the princess was captivated. When Chongxun died he secretly served the princess as her lover; later the empress formally approved their marriage. He was appointed Director of Ceremonies with concurrent command of the Right Guard and enfeoffed as Duke of Heng. After Sansi's death Empress Wei again took Yanxiu as her lover, and he grew ever more brazen. He Feng, a warehouse clerk on the princess's staff, told him: "All hearts in the empire still cling to the Wu house; they may yet rise again. Moreover a prophecy runs, "The divine grandson in black robes receives Heaven's garment"—if the divine grandson is not you, who can it be?" He therefore urged him to wear dark clothing and delude the crowd. When Empress Wei fell, he was still living with the princess inside the palace; both were executed together at Su Zhang Gate. Youwang, serving as Director of the Palace Storehouses, was demoted and died in Chun. Nearly all Wu dependents implicated through Yanxiu were executed or banished; only Zaide's son Pingyi won renown for his writing, and with Youxu he habitually shunned the peak of power and so was spared—each has a separate biography.

攸寧，天授中擢累納言。逾年，以左羽林衛大將軍罷，俄還納言。久乃罷為冬官尚書。聖歷初，同鳳閣鸞臺平章事。自承嗣、三思罷政事，間一年，攸寧、三思復當國，置句使，苛取民貲產，毀族者凡十七八，呼天自冤。築大庫百餘舍聚所得財，一昔火，不遺一錢。以冬官尚書罷。神龍初，終岐州刺史，贈尚書右僕射。

Wu Youning—in the Tianshou era he rose through repeated promotions to Chief Minister. After more than a year he was removed as General-in-Chief of the Left Palace Guard; soon he returned as Chief Minister. After a long interval he was dismissed and made Minister of Public Works. In the first year of Shenli he became associate director of the combined secretariat and chancellery. A year after Chengsi and Sansi left office, Youning and Sansi again dominated government, appointed extraction agents, and ruthlessly seized people's property; seventeen or eighteen clans were ruined, crying to Heaven of their injustice. They built more than a hundred storehouse chambers for their takings; one night it all burned, not a coin left. He was removed as Minister of Public Works. In early Shenlong he died as prefect of Qi and was posthumously made Right Vice Director of the Secretariat.

三思當太后時，累進夏官、春官尚書，監脩國史，爵為王。契丹陷營州，以榆關道安撫大使屯邊。還，同鳳閣鸞臺三品，逾月去位。又檢校內史，罷為太子少保，遷賓客，仍監國史。

While Wu Sansi held power under the dowager he rose repeatedly to Minister of War and Minister of Rites, supervised the national history, and held princely rank. When the Khitans captured Yingzhou he was made pacification commissioner of the Yuguan circuit and stationed on the frontier. On his return he became a third-rank minister of the secretariat and chancellery; after more than a month he left office. He again served as acting director of the Palace Secretariat; removed as Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, transferred as guest of the heir apparent, and still supervised the national history.

三思性傾諛，善迎諧主意，鉤探隱微，故后頗信任，數幸其第，賞予尤渥。薛、二張方烝蠱，三思痛屈節，為懷義禦馬，倡言昌宗為王子晉後身，引公卿歌詠淫汙，然媚人而不恥也。后春秋高，厭居宮中，三思欲因此市權，誘脅群不肖，即建營三陽宮於嵩山、興泰宮於萬壽山，請太后歲臨幸，己與二張扈侍馳騁，竊威福自私雲。工役鉅萬萬，百姓愁嘆。

Sansi was by nature a flatterer; skilled at reading and matching the sovereign's wishes and at probing hidden matters, he won the empress's deep trust, was often received at his residence, and received especially lavish rewards. While Xue Huaiyi and the two Zhangs held sway with their debauchery, Sansi humiliated himself without limit—he held Huaiyi's horse, declared Changzong the reincarnation of Prince Zixu, and led the high ministers in singing licentious verses—yet he fawned without shame. As the empress grew old she tired of life within the palace; Sansi sought to turn this to power, lured and coerced the worthless, built the Three Yang Palace on Mount Song and the Xingtai Palace on Mount Wanshou, urged the dowager to visit each year, and with the two Zhangs attended her in reckless outings, stealing authority and favor for himself. Corvée labor ran into the tens of millions; the people groaned in misery.

崇訓之尚主也，三思方輔政，中宗居東宮，欲寵耀其下，乃令具親迎禮。宰相李嶠、蘇味道等及沈佺期、宋之問諸有名士，造作文辭，慢泄相矜，無復禮法。中宗復位，擢崇訓駙馬都尉、太常卿，兼左衛將軍。三思進位司空、同中書門下三品，加實戶五百。固辭，進開府儀同三司。會降封，裁減實戶。俄以太后遺詔還所減，而封崇訓鎬國公。

When Chongxun married the princess, Sansi was just in power and Zhongzong still lived in the Eastern Palace; wishing to show favor to his followers, he ordered the full ceremony for receiving the bride. Chancellors Li Jiao and Su Weidao and famous writers such as Shen Quanqi and Song Zhiwen composed literary pieces; they leaked drafts and boasted to one another, with no regard for propriety. When Zhongzong was restored he promoted Chongxun to Commandant-Equerry and Director of Ceremonies with concurrent command of the Left Guard. Sansi was advanced to Minister of Works and third-rank chancellor, with an added substantive fief of five hundred households. He firmly declined; he was advanced to Acting-Esteemed Equal to the Three Dukes. When titles were reduced he only trimmed the substantive households. Soon, by the dowager's testamentary edict, what had been reduced was restored, and Chongxun was enfeoffed Duke of Hao.

初，桓彥範等已誅二張，薛季昶、劉幽求勸並誅三思等，不從。翌日，三思因韋后潛入宮中，反易國政，數日而彥範等皆失柄，所斥去者悉還。詔群臣復循太后法。三思建言：「大帝封泰山，則天皇后建明堂，封嵩山，二聖之美不可廢。」帝韙其言，遂更名五縣曰乾封、合宮、永昌、登封、告成雲。明年春，大旱，帝遣三思、攸暨禱乾陵而雨，帝悅。三思因主請復崇恩廟，昊、順二陵，皆置令丞。其黨鄭愔上《聖感頌》，帝為刻石。補闕張景源建言：「母子承業，不可言中興，所下制書皆除之。」於是天下名祠改唐興、龍興雲。補闕權若訥又言：「制詔如貞觀故事。且太后遺訓，母儀也；太宗舊章，祖德也。沿襲當自近者始。」帝褒答。是時，起球場苑中，詔文武三品分朋為都，帝與皇后臨觀。崇訓與駙馬都尉楊慎交註膏築場，以利其澤，用功不訾，人苦之。

Huan Yanfan and his allies had already executed the two Zhangs; Xue Jichang and Liu Youqiu urged that Sansi and his party be killed as well, but were not heeded. The next day Sansi entered the palace secretly through Empress Wei and reversed state policy; within days Yanfan and his allies lost their power, and those who had been dismissed all returned. An edict ordered the court to follow the dowager's laws again. Sansi submitted advice: "The Great Emperor performed the feng on Mount Tai; Empress Zetian built the Bright Hall and performed the feng on Mount Song—the glory of the two sages must not be abandoned. The emperor approved his words and renamed five counties Qianfeng, Hegong, Yongchang, Dengfeng, and Gaocheng. The next spring a great drought struck; the emperor sent Sansi and Youji to pray at Qianling, rain followed, and the emperor was pleased. Through the princess, Sansi requested restoration of the Chong'en Temple and the Wu and Shun mausoleums, each with appointed directors and assistants. His partisan Zheng Yin submitted the "Ode on Sagely Responsiveness," and the emperor had it carved in stone. Remonstrance Official Zhang Jingyuan submitted advice: "Mother and son together inherit the enterprise—this cannot be called restoration; all edicts using that term should be struck out. Thereupon famous temples throughout the realm were renamed Tangxing and Longxing. Remonstrance Official Quan Ruone again said: "Edicts and regulations should follow the Zhenguan precedent. Moreover the dowager's testamentary instructions are the model of motherhood; Taizong's old statutes are the virtue of the ancestors. In following precedent one should begin with what is nearest. The emperor praised him and replied. At this time a ball ground was built within the park; an edict ordered civil and military officials of third rank to divide into teams; the emperor and empress watched in person. Chongxun and Commandant-Equerry Yang Shenjiao smeared the ground with grease to enrich themselves; the labor was beyond reckoning, and the people suffered bitterly.

三思既私韋后，又與上官昭容亂，內忌節湣太子，即與主謀廢之。太子懼，故發羽林兵圍三思第，並崇訓斬之，殺其黨十餘人。

Sansi, who had taken Empress Wei as his lover, also had an affair with Shangguan Zhaorong; inwardly he resented the Reverent and Mournful Crown Prince and joined the princess in plotting to depose him. The crown prince, in fear, sent palace guard troops to besiege Sansi's residence; both Sansi and Chongxun were beheaded, and more than ten of their partisans were killed.

時疾三思奸亂竊國，比司馬懿。其忌阻正人特甚，嘗曰：「我不知何等名善人，唯與我者殆是哉。」與宗楚客兄弟、紀處訥、崔湜、甘元柬相驅煽，王同皎、周憬、張仲之等不勝憤，謀殺之，為冉祖雍、宋之愻、李悛所白，皆坐死。因逮染五王，而崔湜遣周利貞就殺之，故祖雍與御史姚紹之等五人，號「三思五狗」。司農少卿趙履溫、中書舍人鄭愔、長安令馬構、司勛郎中崔日用、監察御史李𢘽托其權，熏炙內外，其尤幹政事者，天下語曰：「崔、冉、鄭，亂時政。」以爵賞自相崇樹，凡構大獄，汙點善良，破壞其宗，天下為蕩然。始韋月將、高軫上疏，極言三思過惡，有司殺月將，逐軫惡地。黃門侍郎宋璟執奏，俄見斥。其權大抵如此。

At the time people detested Sansi's treacherous seizure of power and compared him to Sima Yi. He especially feared and obstructed upright men; he once said, "I do not know what sort of men are called good—only those on my side are perhaps good. He drove affairs together with the Zong Chuke brothers, Ji Chuna, Cui Shi, and Gan Yuanjian; Wang Tongjiao, Zhou Jing, Zhang Zhongzhi, and others, unable to contain their rage, plotted to kill him; they were denounced by Ran Zuyong, Song Zhixun, and Li Jun—all were put to death. They were implicated in dragging down the five princes, and Cui Shi sent Zhou Lizhen to kill them; therefore Zuyong, Censor Yao Shaozhi, and three others were called "Sansi's Five Dogs." Vice Director of the Chamberlain of Agriculture Zhao Luwen, Secretariat Draftsman Zheng Yin, Prefect of Chang'an Ma Gou, Bureau of Merit Director Cui Riyong, and Investigating Censor Li Jun relied on his power and scorched court and country; among those most active in government affairs people said, "Cui, Ran, and Zheng disorder the times. They honored one another with titles and rewards; whenever they engineered great cases they stained the good and destroyed whole clans, until the realm was in turmoil. At first Wei Yuejiang and Gao Zhen memorialized at length on Sansi's crimes; the authorities killed Yuejiang and exiled Zhen to a remote, harsh region. Yellow Gate Vice Director Song Jing submitted a forceful memorial; soon he was dismissed. His power was broadly of this sort.

既死，帝為舉哀，廢朝五日，贈太尉，復封梁王，謚曰宣。追封崇訓魯王，謚曰忠。主以太子首祭三思柩。睿宗立，以父子皆逆節，斫棺暴屍，夷其墓。

After his death the emperor mourned him, suspended court for five days, posthumously made him Grand Commandant, restored his enfeoffment as Prince of Liang, and gave him the posthumous name Xuan. Chongxun was posthumously enfeoffed Prince of Lu with the posthumous name Zhong. The princess had the crown prince make the first offering at Sansi's bier. When Emperor Ruizong took the throne, because Wu Sansi and his son had both committed treason, their coffins were opened, their corpses exposed, and their tombs razed.

懿宗以司農卿爵為郡王，歷懷、洛二州刺史。神功元年，孫萬榮敗王孝傑兵，詔懿宗為神兵道大總管討之，而婁師德、沙咤忠義並為總管，兵凡二十萬，次趙州。懿宗聞賊且至，懼不知所出，欲棄軍走，或勸曰：「賊雖眾，無輜載，以鈔剽為命，若按兵老之，擊其歸，可成大功。」懿宗不暇計，退保相州，賊遂進屠趙州。後萬榮死，懿宗復與婁師德撫循河北，人有自賊中歸者，一切抵死，先剔取膽，乃殺之，血沫前，而舉動自如。始萬榮入寇也，別帥何阿小陷冀州，殺人無餘種，以懿宗暴忍似之，故號稱「兩何」，相語曰：「唯此兩何，殺人最多。」

Wu Yizong was enfeoffed a princely commandery on the strength of his post as Director of the Chamberlain of Agriculture and served as prefect of Huai and Luo. In 697 Sun Wanrong routed Wang Xiaojie's army; Yizong was appointed Grand Commander of the Divine Troops Route to suppress him, with Lou Shide and Shatuo Zhongyi as co-commanders. Two hundred thousand troops encamped at Zhao Prefecture. Hearing the rebels were near, Yizong panicked and thought of abandoning the army and fleeing. An adviser said, "Though numerous, they have no supply train and live by raiding. Hold your ground and wear them down, then strike them on the retreat—you can win a great victory. Yizong had no time for such counsel. He withdrew to Xiang Prefecture, and the rebels advanced and massacred Zhao Prefecture. After Wanrong's death Yizong again joined Lou Shide in pacifying Hebei. Anyone who returned from rebel territory was put to death without exception—first his gall was cut out, then he was killed. Blood foamed before Yizong's face, yet he moved as calmly as ever. When Wanrong first invaded, his lieutenant He A'xiao seized Jizhou and slaughtered the population to the last. Yizong's savagery matched his, so the two were called the "Two Hes." People said, "Of all killers, only these two Hes are worst."

初，懿宗天授間受詔訊大獄，誅大臣王公，皆深排巧引，內刑塹中，無有脫者。其險酷雖周、來等不能繼也。神龍初，遷太子詹事，終懷州刺史。

Earlier, in the Tianshou era Yizong had been ordered to interrogate major political cases. He executed ministers and princes through elaborate framing and entrapment; none sent into the execution pit escaped. His treachery and cruelty even Zhou Xingqian and Lai Junchen could not equal. At the beginning of the Shenlong era he was made Supervisor of the Crown Prince's Household and ended his career as prefect of Huai.

攸暨自右衛中郎將尚太平公主，拜駙馬都尉，累遷右衛大將軍。天授中，自千乘郡王進封定王，實封戶六百。遷麟臺監司祀卿。長安中，降王壽春，加特進。中宗時，拜司徒，復王定，加戶千，固辭，進開府儀同三司。延秀之誅，降楚國公。攸暨沈謹和厚，於時無忤，專自奉養而已。景龍中卒，贈太尉、并州大都督，還定王，謚曰忠簡。坐公主大逆，夷其墓。

Wu Youji, a Central Guard captain, married Princess Taiping, was made Commandant of Cavalry, and rose to Grand General of the Right Guard. During Tianshou he advanced from Prince of Qiansheng to Prince of Ding, with six hundred households as his actual fief. He was appointed Director of the Lin Terrace and Minister of Sacrifices. During the Chang'an era he was demoted to Prince of Shouchun and granted Special Advancement. Under Emperor Zhongzong he was made Minister of Works and restored as Prince of Ding with a thousand additional fief households; he declined firmly and was advanced to Pillar of State with credentials equal to the Three Excellencies. When Wu Yanxiu was executed, Youji was demoted to Duke of Chu. Youji was grave, cautious, and mild. He gave no offense at court and devoted himself only to his own comfort. He died during the Jinglong era and was posthumously made Grand Commandant and Great Governor of Bing, restored as Prince of Ding with the posthumous name Zhongjian. When the princess was condemned for great treason, his tomb was razed.

韋溫者，中宗廢后庶人從父兄也。后父玄貞，歷普州參軍事，以女為皇太子妃，故擢累豫州刺史。帝幽廬陵，玄貞流死欽州，妻崔為蠻首寧承所殺，四子洵、浩、洞、泚同死容州，后二女弟逃還京師。帝復政，是日詔贈玄貞上洛郡王、太師、雍州牧、益州大都督，溫父玄儼魯國公、特進、并州大都督。遣使者迎玄貞喪，詔廣州都督周仁軌討寧承，斬其首祭崔柩，官仁軌左羽林大將軍，汝南郡公。柩至，帝與后登長樂宮望而哭，贈酆王，謚「文獻」，號廟曰「褒德」，陵曰「榮先」，置令丞，給百戶掃除。贈洵吏部尚書、汝南郡王，浩太常卿、武陵郡，洞衛尉卿、淮陽郡，泚太仆卿、上蔡郡，並葬京師。

Wei Wen was a cousin on the father's side of Empress Wei, whom Emperor Zhongzong had deposed. The empress's father Wei Xuanzhen had served as a clerk in Pu Prefecture. When his daughter became crown prince's consort he was repeatedly promoted, eventually to prefect of Yu. When the emperor was confined at Luling, Xuanzhen died in exile at Qin. His wife Lady Cui was killed by the tribal chieftain Ning Cheng. Their four sons Xun, Hao, Dong, and Zhi likewise perished at Rong. The empress's two younger sisters fled back to the capital. When the emperor resumed power, that same day an edict posthumously enfeoffed Xuanzhen Prince of Shangluo, made him Grand Preceptor, Governor of Yong, and Great Governor of Yi; Wen's father Xuanyan was made Duke of Lu with Special Advancement and Great Governor of Bing. Envoys were sent to bring back Xuanzhen's remains. The emperor ordered Guangzhou Governor Zhou Rengui to campaign against Ning Cheng, behead him, and offer his head before Lady Cui's coffin. Rengui was made Grand General of the Left Feathered Forest and Duke of Runan. When the coffin arrived the emperor and empress climbed Changle Palace to gaze upon it and weep. Xuanzhen was posthumously made Prince of Feng with the posthumous name Wenxian; his temple was called Baode and his tomb Rongxian. Stewards were appointed and a hundred households assigned to maintain the graves. Xun was posthumously made Minister of Personnel and Prince of Runan; Hao Grand Minister of Ceremonies and Prince of Wuling; Dong Commandant of the Court for the Imperial Clan and Prince of Huaiyang; Zhi Grand Master of the Imperial Stud and Prince of Shangcai—all were buried in the capital.

溫初試吏，坐贓斥。神龍初，擢宗正卿，遷禮部尚書，封魯國公。弟湑，自洛州戶曹參軍事連拜左羽林大將軍，曹國公。后大妹嫁陸頌，進國子祭酒。仲妹嫁嗣虢王邕。湑子捷尚成安公主，溫從弟濯尚定安公主，並拜駙馬都尉，捷為右羽林將軍。景龍三年，溫以太子少保同中書門下三品，遙領揚州大都督。溫既見天下事在手，欲自殖以牢其權，引用友黨不相一，公卿雖畏伏，然溫無能，不如諸武兇而熾也。

Wen first entered official service but was dismissed for corruption. At the beginning of Shenlong he was promoted Director of the Imperial Clan, then Minister of Rites, and enfeoffed Duke of Lu. His younger brother Ji rose from a clerk in the Luo Prefecture revenue office to Grand General of the Left Feathered Forest and Duke of Cao. The empress's elder sister married Lu Song, who rose to Chancellor of the Directorate of Education. The second sister married Yong, heir to the second-rank Prince of Guo. Ji's son Jie married Princess Cheng'an; Wen's cousin Zhuan married Princess Ding'an. Both were made Commandants of Cavalry, and Jie became a general of the Right Feathered Forest. In the third year of Jinglong, Wen was made Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince with concurrent status as Secretariat-Chancellery commissioner and titular Great Governor of Yang. Seeing the realm's affairs in his grasp, Wen wished to enrich himself to secure his power. He drew in friends and partisans who did not agree among themselves. Though the great ministers feared and submitted, Wen lacked ability and was not so fierce and overbearing as the Wu clan had been.

湑初兼脩文館大學士，時熒惑久留羽林，后惡之，方湑從至溫泉，后毒殺之以塞變，厚贈司徒、并州大都督。湑兄弟頗以文詞進，帝方盛選文章侍從，與賦詩相娛樂，湑雖為學士，常在北軍，無所造作。

Ji had also served as an Academician of the Xiuxian Hall. Mars had long lingered in the Feathered Forest constellation, which the empress took as an ill omen. When Ji accompanied her to the hot springs she poisoned him to avert the sign and lavishly posthumously made him Minister of Works and Great Governor of Bing. The Ji brothers had risen partly on literary talent. The emperor was then lavishly selecting literary attendants for poetry and amusement. Though Ji was an academician he remained with the northern armies and wrote nothing of note.

有富商抵罪，萬年令李令質按之。濯馳救，令質不從，毀於帝。帝召令質至，左右為恐，令質從容曰：「濯於賊非親，但以貨為請，濯雖勢重，不如守陛下法，死無恨。」帝釋不責。

A wealthy merchant was charged with a crime, and the magistrate of Wannian, Li Lingzhi, investigated the case. Zhuan rushed to intervene, but Lingzhi refused and reported him to the emperor. The emperor summoned Lingzhi. His attendants feared for him, but Lingzhi said calmly, "Zhuan is no kin to the accused—he pleaded only for a bribe. Though Zhuan's power is great, upholding Your Majesty's law is better. I die without regret. The emperor released him without punishment.

帝崩，后專政，畏有變，敕溫盡總內外兵，守省中；又以從子播、捷從弟璿、高嵩分領左右羽林軍。溫與宗楚客、武延秀等說后托圖讖，韋氏當受命，謀殺少帝，內憚相王、太平公主屬尊，欲先除之，然後發其謀。而玄宗兵夜起，將軍葛福順攻玄武門，入羽林，斬播、璿、高、嵩，梟首以徇，軍中相率而應，無敢後。后死，遲旦斬溫，分捕諸韋子弟，無少長皆斬。

When the emperor died the empress seized power, fearing a coup. She ordered Wen to command all inner and outer troops and guard the palace offices. She also placed his nephews Bo and Jie and his cousins Xuan and Gao Song in command of the left and right Feathered Forest armies. Wen joined Zong Chuke, Wu Yanxiu, and others in persuading the empress that portents showed the Wei clan was destined to rule. They plotted to kill the young emperor but feared the Prince of Xiang and Princess Taiping, who stood too high in honor, and wished to remove them first before carrying out the coup. But Xuanzong's troops rose by night. General Ge Fushun attacked the Xuanwu Gate, entered the Feathered Forest, and beheaded Bo, Xuan, Gao, and Song. Their heads were displayed as a warning, and the army followed one after another without hesitation. The empress was killed. At dawn Wen was beheaded. Wei sons and nephews were hunted down and executed without regard to age.

周仁軌

Zhou Rengui

周仁軌者，京兆萬年人，后母族也。方為并州長史，殘酷嗜殺戮。異日，見堂下有斷臂，惡之，送於野，數昔往視，故在。是月，韋后敗，使者誅仁軌，刑人舉刀，仁軌承以臂，墯地乃悟。

Zhou Rengui was a native of Wannian in Jingzhao and belonged to the empress's mother's clan. While serving as military governor of Bing he was cruel and addicted to slaughter. One day he saw a severed arm below the hall, was revolted, and had it cast into the wild. For several nights he went to look, and it was still there. That month, when Empress Wei fell, an envoy came to execute Rengui. As the headsman raised his blade Rengui held out his arm, fell to the ground, and only then understood the omen.

睿宗夷玄貞、洵墳墓，民盜取寶玉略盡。天寶九載，復詔發掘，長安尉薛榮先往視，冢銘載葬日月，與發冢日月正同，而陵與尉名合雲。

Emperor Ruizong razed the tombs of Xuanzhen and Xun, and the people looted the jewels almost to the last piece. In 750 an edict again ordered the tombs opened. Chang'an magistrate Xue Rongxian went to inspect them first. The tomb inscription recorded the burial date—the same day as the exhumation—and the tomb name and the magistrate's given name were taken as an omen.

王仁皎

Wang Renjiao

子守一，與后孿生，帝微時與雅舊，後詔尚清陽公主。從討太平主有功，由尚乘奉御遷殿中少監、晉國公，累進太子少保，襲父爵，被遇良渥。后廢，貶柳州別駕，至藍田，賜死。守一沓墨無顧藉，財蓄巨萬，皆籍入於官。

His son Shouyi was the empress's twin. They had been friends when the emperor was still a private gentleman, and later an edict had Shouyi marry Princess Qingyang. He took part in the campaign against Princess Taiping and was rewarded. From groom of the imperial stables he rose to Vice Director of the Palace Service and Duke of Jin, then to Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince. He inherited his father's title and enjoyed exceptional favor. When the empress was deposed he was demoted to vice prefect of Liuzhou. At Lantian he was granted death. Shouyi was corrupt and unrestrained. His wealth ran to millions, and all of it was confiscated for the state.

楊國忠

Yang Guozhong

楊國忠，太真妃之從祖兄，張易之之出也。嗜飲博，數丐貸於人，無行檢，不為姻族齒。年三十從蜀軍，以屯優當遷，節度使張宥惡其人，笞屈之，然卒以優為新都尉。罷去，益困，蜀大豪鮮于仲通頗資給之。從父玄琰死蜀州，國忠護視其家，因與妹通，所謂虢國夫人者。裒其貲，至成都摴蒲，一日費輒盡，乃亡去。久之，調扶風尉，不得誌。復入蜀，劍南節度使章仇兼瓊與宰相李林甫不平，聞楊氏新有寵，思有以結納之為奧助，使仲通之長安，仲通辭，以國忠見，幹貌頎峻，口辯給，兼瓊喜，表為推官，使部春貢長安。將行，告曰：「郫有一日糧，君至，可取之也。」國忠至，乃得蜀貨百萬，即大喜。至京師，見群女弟，致贈遺。於時虢國新寡，國忠多分賂，宣淫不止。諸楊日為兼瓊譽，而言國忠善摴蒲，玄宗引見，擢金吾兵曹參軍、閑廄判官。兼瓊入為戶部尚書兼御史大夫，用其力也。國忠稍入供奉，常後出，專主薄簿，計算鉤畫，分銖不誤，帝悅曰：「度支郎才也。」累遷監察御史。

Yang Guozhong was a senior cousin of Consort Taizhen and a son of Zhang Yizhi's house. He was addicted to drink and gambling, constantly borrowing from others, without propriety. His kin by marriage would not acknowledge him. At thirty he joined the Shu army. His skill as a camp entertainer was grounds for promotion, but Military Commissioner Zhang You detested him, flogged and humiliated him, yet in the end made him magistrate of Xindu for his performances. When he left office he grew still poorer. The great Shu magnate Xianyu Zhongtong often supported him. When his uncle Xuanyan died in Shu, Guozhong looked after the household and took his sister as a lover—the woman later known as the Lady of Guo. He gathered her property, went to Chengdu to gamble, spent it all in a single day, and fled. After a long interval he was transferred to magistrate of Fufeng but could not fulfill his ambitions. He returned to Shu. Jiannan Military Commissioner Zhang Qiu Jianqiong was at odds with Chancellor Li Linpu. Hearing that the Yang clan had newly risen in favor, he sought a connection as an inside ally. He sent Zhongtong to Chang'an; Zhongtong declined but presented Guozhong—lean, tall, and quick of tongue. Jianqiong was pleased, recommended him as a staff officer, and sent him to lead the spring tribute mission to the capital. As he was about to leave, Jianqiong told him, "At Pi you will find a day's provisions—take them when you arrive. Guozhong arrived and found Shu goods worth a million. He was overjoyed. In the capital he visited his younger sisters and sent them gifts. The Lady of Guo was then newly widowed. Guozhong gave her a large share of the gifts and carried on an open affair with her without cease. The Yangs daily praised Jianqiong and said Guozhong was skilled at dice. Xuanzong summoned him, made him a cavalry officer in the Golden Guard, and appointed him adjutant of the imperial stables. Jianqiong entered court as Minister of Revenue and concurrent Censor-in-Chief through Guozhong's influence. Guozhong gradually joined the emperor's attendance staff, often staying late to manage the ledgers himself. His calculations were exact to the last cash. The emperor was pleased and said, "Here is a revenue officer's talent. He was repeatedly promoted to Investigating Censor.

李林甫興韋堅等獄，欲危太子，獄事畏卻，以國忠怙寵，搏鷙可用，倚之使按劾。國忠乃慘文峭詆，逮系連年，誣蔑被誅者百餘族，度可以危太子者，先林甫意陷之，皆中所欲。林甫方深阻固位，陰為指向，故國忠乘以為奸，肆意無所憚。虢國居中用事，帝所好惡，國忠必探知其微，帝以為能，擢兼度支員外郎。遷不淹年，領十五餘使，林甫始惡之。

Li Linpu engineered the cases of Wei Jian and others to endanger the crown prince. When the prosecutions stalled, he turned to Guozhong, who enjoyed imperial favor and was fierce and pliable, and relied on him to conduct the investigations. Guozhong drafted cruel, twisting indictments. Year after year arrests multiplied, and slander sent more than a hundred clans to execution. Whoever might threaten the crown prince he entrapped ahead of Linpu's intent—all to Linpu's satisfaction. Linpu was then deeply entrenched and secretly steered the prosecutions, so Guozhong used the opening to do evil and acted without fear. The Lady of Guo held sway at court. Whatever the emperor favored or disliked, Guozhong probed the subtle signs. The emperor thought him capable and made him concurrent Vice Director of Revenue. Within less than a year he held more than fifteen commissions, and Linpu began to hate him.

天寶七載，擢給事中、兼御史中丞，專判度支。會三妹封國夫人，兄铦擢鴻臚卿，與國忠皆列棨戟，而第舍華僭，彌跨都邑。時海內豐熾，州縣粟帛舉巨萬，國忠因言：古者二十七年耕，餘九年食，今天置太平，請在所出滯積，變輕賫，內富京師。又悉天下義倉及丁租、地課易布帛，以充天子禁藏。明年，帝詔百官觀庫物，積如丘山，賜群臣各有差，錫國忠紫衣、金魚，知太府卿事。

In 748 he was promoted to Draftsman and concurrent Vice Censor-in-Chief, with exclusive charge of revenue affairs. When his three younger sisters were enfeoffed as ladies of state, his elder brother Xian was made Chamberlain for Ceremonials. He and Guozhong both bore ceremonial lances, and their mansions grew so lavish they dominated the capital. The realm was then abundantly prosperous; counties and prefectures reported grain and silk in the tens of millions. Guozhong argued that in antiquity twenty-seven years of farming supplied nine years of eating, whereas now peace reigned. He asked that local surpluses be converted to portable goods to enrich the capital. He also converted the empire's charity granaries and corvée and land taxes into cloth and silk to fill the emperor's private treasuries. The next year the emperor had the officials view the treasury stores, heaped like hills. He bestowed gifts on the ministers by rank, granted Guozhong purple robes and the golden fish insignia, and put him in charge of the Grand Storehouse.

初，楊慎矜引王鉷為御史中丞，已而有隙。鉷挾國忠共劾慎矜，抵不道，誅。由是權傾中外。吉溫為國忠謀奪林甫政，國忠即誣奏京兆尹蕭炅、御史中丞宋渾，逐之，皆林甫所厚善，林甫不能救，遂結怨。鉷寵方渥，位勢在國忠右，國忠忌之，因邢縡事，構鉷誅死，己代為京兆尹，悉領其使。即窮劾支黨，引林甫交私狀，牽連左逮，數以聞，帝始厭林甫，疏薄之。

Earlier Yang Shenjin had recommended Wang Qiu as Vice Censor-in-Chief, but they later fell out. Qiu joined Guozhong in impeaching Shenjin. He was charged with impiety and executed. From then on his power dominated court and realm. Ji Wen plotted with Guozhong to seize power from Linpu. Guozhong at once fabricated charges against Yongzhou Magistrate Xiao Jiong and Vice Censor-in-Chief Song Hun and had them driven out. Both were Linpu's favorites, and Linpu could not save them. A grudge was born. Qiu's favor was then at its height and his rank above Guozhong's. Guozhong envied him and, through the Xing Zan affair, framed him to execution. Guozhong replaced him as Yongzhou magistrate and took over all his commissions. He then pursued the affiliated parties to the end, exposing Linpu's private dealings and implicating his associates in arrests. Report after report reached the emperor, who began to weary of Linpu and grew distant from him.

先此，南詔質子閤羅鳳亡去，帝欲討之，國忠薦鮮于仲通為蜀郡長史，率兵六萬討之。戰瀘川，舉軍沒，獨仲通挺身免。時國忠兼兵部侍郎，素德仲通，為匿其敗，更敘戰功，使白衣領職。因自請兼領劍南，詔拜劍南節度、支度、營田副大使，知節度事。俄加本道兼山南西道采訪處置使，開幕府，引竇華、張漸、宋昱、鄭昂、魏仲犀等自佐，而留京師。帝再幸左藏庫，班賫百官。出納判官魏仲犀言：「鳳集通訓門。」門直庫西，有詔改為鳳皇門，進仲犀殿中侍御史，屬吏率以「鳳凰優」得調。俄拜國忠御史大夫，因引仲通為京兆尹，己兼領吏部。

Earlier the Nanzhao hostage Piluoge had fled. The emperor wished to punish Nanzhao, and Guozhong recommended Xianyu Zhongtong as Shu commandery governor to lead sixty thousand men against them. They fought at Luzhou. The entire army was destroyed; only Zhongtong escaped alive. Guozhong was then also Vice Minister of War and owed Zhongtong a debt of gratitude. He concealed the defeat, fabricated a record of merit, and let Zhongtong hold office while still in plain clothes. He then asked to take concurrent command of Jiannan and was appointed deputy military commissioner of Jiannan for expenditure, farming, and headquarters, with full authority over the circuit. Soon he was also made commissary for Jiannan and concurrently for Shannan West. He opened a staff office and recruited Dou Hua, Zhang Jian, Song Yu, Zheng Ang, Wei Zhongxi, and others as aides, while he himself remained in the capital. The emperor again visited the Left Treasury and distributed gifts among the officials. Disbursement officer Wei Zhongxi reported, "A phoenix has gathered at the Tongxun Gate. The gate faced the treasury's west side. An edict renamed it Phoenix Gate. Zhongxi was promoted to Palace Attendant Censor, and subordinates mostly won transfers by invoking the "phoenix omen." Soon Guozhong was made Censor-in-Chief. He installed Zhongtong as Yongzhou magistrate while he himself also held the Ministry of Personnel.

國忠恥雲南無功，知為林甫掎摭，欲自解於帝，乃使麾下請己到屯，外示憂邊，以合上旨，實杜禁言路，林甫果奏遣之。及辭，泣訴為林甫中傷者，妃又為言，故帝益親之，豫計召日。然國忠就道，惴惴不自安。帝在華清宮，驛追國忠還。林甫病已困，入見床下，林甫曰：「死矣，公且入相，以後事屬公！」國忠懼其詐，不敢當，流汗被顏。林甫果死，遂拜右相，兼文部尚書、集賢院大學士、監脩國史、崇賢館大學士、太清太微宮使，而節度、采訪等使、判度支，不解也。國忠已得柄，則窮擿林甫奸事，碎其家。帝以為功，封魏國公，固讓魏，徙封衛。

Guozhong was ashamed of the failed Yunnan campaign and knew Linpu had seized on the matter to attack him. Wishing to clear himself with the emperor, he had his followers petition that he be sent to the frontier garrison, outwardly showing concern for the border to match the emperor's wishes while in fact silencing criticism. Linpu duly memorialized to send him. At his farewell he wept and pleaded that Li Linpu had slandered him; Yang Guifei spoke for him again, and the emperor grew still fonder of him, counting the days until he could summon him back. Yet as Yang Guozhong set out on the road, dread gnawed at him and he could find no peace. The emperor was at Huaqing Palace and sent couriers by post to bring Guozhong back. Li Linpu was already gravely ill. Guozhong went in and found him by the bedside. Linpu said, "I am dying. You will soon be chancellor—entrust what comes after to you!" Guozhong feared a trap and dared not accept; sweat streamed down his face. Li Linpu did die. Guozhong was then made Right Chancellor, with concurrent posts as Minister of Rites, Jixian Academician, Supervisor of the National History, Chongxian Academician, and Commissioner of the Taqing and Taiwei Palaces—while he kept his military commissions, recruitment duties, and control of the Board of Revenue. Once he held real power, Guozhong dug up every charge against Li Linpu and ruined his house. The emperor took this for merit and enfeoffed him Duke of Wei; he firmly declined the character Wei and was made Duke of Guard instead.

國忠既以宰相領選，始建罷長名，於銓日即定留放。故事，歲揭版南院為選式，選者自通，一辭不如式，輒不得調，故有十年不官者。國忠創押例，無賢不肖，用選深者先補官，牒文謬缺得再通，眾議翕然美之。先天以前，諸司官知政事者，午漏盡，還本司視事，兵、吏部尚書、侍郎分案註擬。開元末，宰相員少，任益尊，不復視本司事。吏部銓，故常三註三唱，自春止夏乃訖。而國忠陰使吏到第，預定其員，集百官尚書省註唱，一日畢，以誇神明，駭天下耳目者。自是資格紛謬，無復綱序。虢國居宣陽坊左，國忠在其南，自臺禁還，趣虢國第，郎官、御史白事者皆隨以至。居同第，出駢騎，相調笑，施施若禽獸然，不以為羞，道路為恥駭。明年大選，因就第唱補，帷女兄弟觀之，士之鬼野蹇傴者，呼其名，輒笑於堂，聲徹諸外，士大夫詬恥之。先是，有司已定註，則過門下，侍中、給事中按閱，有不可，黜之。國忠則召左相陳希烈隅坐，給事中在旁，既對註，曰：「已過門下矣。」希烈不敢異。侍郎韋見素、張倚與本曹郎趨走堂下，抱案牒，國忠顧女弟曰：「紫袍二主事何如？」皆大噱。鮮于仲通等諷選者鄭怤願立碑省戶下以頌德，詔仲通為頌，帝為易數字，因以黃金識其處。

Now that he was chancellor and oversaw appointments, Guozhong first abolished the long waiting list and fixed who would stay or go on the very day of evaluation. By custom, each year the selection rules were posted in the southern courtyard; candidates presented themselves, and if a single submission failed the format they could not be assigned—some men went ten years without an office. Guozhong introduced an expedited rule: worthy or not, those with the longest waiting time were appointed first; flawed documents could be resubmitted—and opinion united in praise. Before the Xiantian era, officials who handled state affairs in the various ministries, once the midday water-clock ran out, returned to their own offices to conduct business; the Ministers and Vice Ministers of War and Personnel divided the cases and drafted nominations. By the end of Kaiyuan there were few chancellors, their standing had grown more exalted, and they no longer handled their home ministries' affairs. The Ministry of Personnel's evaluation, by custom, ran three rounds of nomination and three announcements, from spring through summer before it ended. Guozhong, however, secretly had clerks come to his house to fix the quotas in advance, then gathered the officials at the Ministry for nomination and announcement in a single day—to boast supernatural speed and startle the empire. From then on qualifications were a tangle of errors, and orderly precedence was gone. Guoguo lived on the left side of Xuanyang Ward; Guozhong's house lay to her south. Returning from the Censorate and the palace gates he would hurry to Guoguo's mansion, and examining censors and attendants with business all trailed after him. They shared one compound, rode out in matched teams of horses, bantering and laughing as they strolled along like birds and beasts, unashamed—while passersby were appalled. The next year, at the great selection, he held the appointment ceremony at his own house while his sisters watched from behind a curtain. When emaciated, bent country candidates were called by name, the women burst out laughing in the hall until the sound carried outside—scholar-officials were disgusted and ashamed. Previously, once nominations were set, they went through the Gate Department, where the attendant grandee and the reviewing drafter examined them and struck down what was unfit. Guozhong instead called Left Chancellor Chen Xilie to sit in a corner with the reviewing drafter beside him; when nominations were read out he would say, "Already passed the Gate Department. Xilie dared not object. Vice Ministers Wei Jiansu and Zhang Yi hurried below the hall with their clerks clutching the registers; Guozhong glanced at his sister and said, "What do you think of two purple-robed bureau directors? Everyone roared with laughter. Xianyu Zhongtong and others prompted the candidate Zheng Wu to propose erecting a stele under the ministry gate to praise Guozhong's virtue. The emperor had Zhongtong write the inscription, changed several characters himself, and marked those spots in gold.

帝常歲十月幸華清宮，春乃還，而諸楊湯沐館在宮東垣，連蔓相照，帝臨幸，必遍五家，賞賫不訾計，出有賜，曰「餞路」，返有勞，曰「軟腳」。遠近饋遺閹稚、歌兒、狗馬、金貝，踵疊其門。

Each year in the tenth month the emperor would visit Huaqing Palace and return in spring. The Yang clan's bathhouses lined the eastern wall of the palace, their vines interlaced in light. Whenever the emperor came he visited all five households in turn, lavishing gifts beyond counting. Departing, he gave "road-fare" rewards; on return, "soft-foot" thanks. From near and far came gifts—eunuch boys, singing girls, dogs, horses, gold and treasure—heaped layer upon layer at their gates.

國忠由御史至宰相，凡領四十餘使，而度支、吏部事自叢夥，第署一字不能盡，故吏得輕重，顯賕公謁無所忌。國忠性疏侻捷給，硁硁處決樞務，自任不疑，盛氣驕愎，百僚莫敢相可否，官屬悉苛督句剝相槊。又便佞，專徇帝嗜欲，不顧天下成敗。帝雅意事邊，故身調兵食，取習文簿惡吏任之，軍凡須索，快成其手，又不能省視也。始，李林甫紿帝天下無事，請巳漏出休，許之。文書填湊，坐家裁決。既成，敕吏持案詣左相陳希烈聯署，左相不敢詰，署惟謹。至國忠時，韋見素代希烈，循以為常。它年，大雨敗稼，帝憂之，國忠擇善禾以進，曰：「雨不為災。」扶風太守房琯上郡災，國忠怒，遣御史按之。後乃無敢以水旱聞，皆前伺國忠意乃敢啟。子暄舉明經，不中，禮部侍郎達奚珣遣子撫往見國忠，國忠方朝，見撫喜。已而聞暄當黜，詬曰：「生子不富貴耶？豈以一名為鼠輩所賣！」珣大驚，即致暄高第。俄與珣同列，猶咤官不進。

From censor to chancellor Guozhong held more than forty commissions in all. Revenue and personnel matters alone were so vast that he could not finish signing a single character at home, so clerks could tip the scales—and open bribery at his door knew no restraint. Guozhong was careless yet glib, quick to decide affairs at the pivot of power, trusting himself utterly, overbearing and proud—no official dared contradict him, and his staff drove collection and squeezing to extremes. He was sycophantic as well, indulging the emperor's every whim without regard for whether the realm prospered or fell. The emperor by nature cared for frontier affairs, so Guozhong personally handled troops and supplies, appointing clerks who were skilled with documents but corrupt; whatever the armies needed he produced at once, yet he never audited the cost. At first Li Linpu had deceived the emperor into believing the realm was at peace and asked leave to rest after the ninth hour of the day; permission was granted. Documents piled up, and he decided them seated at home. When done, he had clerks carry the drafts to Left Chancellor Chen Xilie for joint signature; the left chancellor dared not question anything and signed with meticulous care. In Guozhong's day Wei Jiansu replaced Xilie and the practice continued unchanged. Another year heavy rains ruined the harvest and the emperor was troubled. Guozhong picked healthy stalks to present and said, "The rain has done no harm. Fufeng prefect Fang Guan reported the disaster in his commandery; Guozhong was furious and sent a censor to investigate him. After that no one dared report flood or drought until they had first gauged Guozhong's mood. His son Xuan took the Mingjing examination and failed. Vice Minister of Rites Daxi Xun sent his son Fu to call on Guozhong, who was at court and delighted to see him. Soon he learned Xuan was to be failed and cursed, "You have a son and he is not rich and noble? Would you let some rat sell you a single rank! Xun was terrified and at once placed Xuan at the top of the list. Before long he stood at the same rank as Xun, yet still complained that his office had not risen higher.

國忠雖當國，常領劍南召募使，遣戍瀘南，餉路險乏，舉無還者。舊，勛戶免行，所以寵戰功。國忠令當行者先取勛家，故士無鬥誌。凡募法，願奮者則籍之。國忠歲遣宋昱、鄭昂、韋儇以御史迫促，郡縣吏窮無以應，乃詭設餉召貧弱者，密縛置室中，衣絮衣，械而送屯，亡者以送吏代之，人人思亂。尋遣劍南留後李宓率兵十餘萬擊閤羅鳳，敗死西洱河，國忠矯為捷書上聞。自再興師，傾中國驍卒二十萬，踦屨無遺，天下冤之。

Though Guozhong ruled the state he still kept the Jiannan recruitment commission, sending men to garrison southern Lu; the supply route was deadly and bare—not one came back. By custom households with battle honors were exempt from the draft, a reward for military merit. Guozhong ordered that draftees be taken first from merit households, so soldiers lost all will to fight. Under the recruitment law, men who volunteered were supposed to be registered. Each year Guozhong sent Song Yu, Zheng Ang, and Wei Yan as censors to drive the quotas. County clerks, desperate to meet the numbers, staged sham enlistments, seized the poor and weak, locked them in rooms, dressed them in quilted coats, shackled them, and marched them to the garrisons; when men died the escorts took their place—and everyone seethed with revolt. Soon he sent Jiannan deputy Li Mi with more than a hundred thousand men against Geluofeng; Mi was defeated and killed at the western Er River, and Guozhong forged a victory report to the throne. After the campaigns were renewed, two hundred thousand of the empire's best troops were poured out and not a sandal came back—the realm groaned under the injustice.

安祿山方有寵，總重兵於邊，偃蹇不奉法，帝護之，下莫敢言。國忠知終不出己下，又恃內援，獨暴發反狀，帝疑以位相冒，不之信。祿山雖逆久，以帝遇之厚，故隱忍，伺帝一日晏駕則稱兵。及見帝嬖國忠，甚畏不利己，故謀日急。俄而祿山授尚書右僕射，帝恐國忠不悅，故冊拜司空。祿山還幽州，覺國忠圖己，反謀遂決。國忠令客何盈、蹇昂刺求反狀，諷京兆尹李峴圍其第，捕祿山所善李超、安岱、李方來、王岷殺之，貶其黨吉溫於合浦。祿山上書自陳，而條上國忠大罪二十，帝歸過於峴，貶零陵太守，以尉祿山意。國忠寡謀矜躁，謂祿山跋扈不足圖，故激怒之使必反，以取信於帝，帝卒不悟。乃建言：「請以祿山為平章事，追入輔政，以賈循為使，節度范陽，呂知誨節度平盧，楊光翙節度河東。」已草詔，帝使謁者輔璆琳覘祿山，未還，帝致詔坐側。而璆琳納金，固言不反。帝謂國忠曰：「祿山無二心，前詔焚之矣。」祿山反，以誅國忠為名，帝欲自將而東，使皇太子監國，謂左右曰：「我欲行一事。」國忠揣帝且禪太子，歸謂女弟等曰：「太子監國，吾屬誅矣。」因聚泣，入訴於貴妃，妃以死邀帝，遂寢。祿山既發范陽，嘆咤曰：「國忠頭來何遲？」

An Lushan was then in favor, commanding vast armies on the frontier, arrogant and heedless of law. The emperor shielded him, and below the throne no one dared speak. Guozhong knew Lushan would never rank beneath him and, relying on his ties within the palace, alone trumpeted evidence of rebellion. The emperor suspected rivalry for position and would not believe him. Though Lushan had long harbored rebellion, the emperor's lavish favor kept him patient; he waited for the emperor to die, then would raise arms. When he saw the emperor dote on Guozhong he feared for his own safety, and his plot grew more urgent by the day. Soon Lushan was made Right Vice Director of the Secretariat; lest Guozhong take offense, the emperor also enfeoffed him Grand Preceptor. Lushan returned to Youzhou, saw that Guozhong was scheming against him, and fixed his mind on rebellion. Guozhong set his agents He Ying and Qian Ang to hunt for proof of treason and urged Yongzhou magistrate Li Xian to surround Lushan's residence, seize and kill his favorites Li Chao, An Dai, Li Fanglai, and Wang Min, and banish his ally Ji Wen to Hepu. Lushan memorialized in his own defense but listed twenty capital crimes of Guozhong. The emperor blamed Li Xian instead, demoted him to prefect of Lingling, and tried to soothe Lushan. Guozhong was shallow in counsel and rash with pride, declaring Lushan too arrogant to be worth plotting against; he goaded him into open rebellion to win the emperor's trust—and the emperor never woke to it. He then proposed: "Appoint Lushan Co-ordinator of State Affairs and summon him to court; send Jia Xun as envoy to take over Fanyang, Lu Zhiyue Pinglu, and Yang Guanghui Hedong. The edict was already drafted. The emperor sent envoy Fu Yulin to observe Lushan; before he returned the draft lay at the emperor's side. Yulin took a bribe and swore there would be no rebellion. The emperor told Guozhong, "Lushan is loyal. I have burned the earlier edict. Lushan rebelled, naming the execution of Guozhong as his cause. The emperor wished to lead the eastern campaign himself and make the crown prince regent. He told his attendants, "I mean to do one thing." Guozhong guessed the emperor meant to abdicate to the crown prince. He went home and told his sisters, "If the crown prince becomes regent, we are dead." They gathered and wept, then went to Yang Guifei and pleaded with her. She threatened her own life before the emperor, and the plan was abandoned. Once Lushan marched from Fanyang he sighed, "Why is Guozhong's head so slow to arrive?"

哥舒翰守潼關，按兵守險，國忠聞欲反己，疑之，乃從中督戰，翰不得已出關，遂大敗，降賊。書聞，是日帝自南內移仗未央宮。國忠見百官，鯁咽不自勝。監察御史高適請率百官子弟及募豪桀十萬拒守，眾以為不可。初，國忠聞難作，自以身帥劍南，豫置腹心梁、益間，為自完計。至是，帝召宰相計事，國忠曰：「幸蜀便。」帝然之。明日遲昕，帝出延秋門，群臣不知，猶上朝，唯三衛廣騎立仗，尚聞刻漏聲。國忠與韋見素、高力士及皇太子諸王數百人護帝。右龍武大將軍陳玄禮謀殺國忠，不克。進次馬嵬，將士疲，乏食，玄禮懼亂，召諸將曰：「今天子震蕩，社稷不守，使生人肝腦塗地，豈非國忠所致！欲誅之以謝天下，雲何？」眾曰：「念之久矣，事行身死，固所願。」會吐蕃使有請於國忠，眾大呼曰：「國忠與吐蕃謀反！」衛騎合，國忠突出，或射中其頞，殺之，爭啖其肉且盡，梟首以徇。帝驚曰：「國忠遂反耶？」時吐蕃使亦殲矣。御史大夫魏方進責眾曰：「何故殺宰相？」眾怒，又殺之。

Geshu Han held Tong Pass, keeping his army on the defensible ground. Guozhong heard he meant to turn against him and grew suspicious, then pressed the battle from court. Han had no choice but to leave the pass, was routed, and surrendered to the rebels. When word came, that same day the emperor moved from the southern inner palace to Weiyang Palace. Guozhong faced the officials, sobbing he could scarcely hold himself together. Supervising censor Gao Shi asked to lead the sons of officials and ten thousand recruited braves to hold the capital; the crowd judged it impossible. When trouble first broke out Guozhong had planned to lead troops to Jiannan himself, planting trusted men between Liang and Yi as a refuge. Now the emperor summoned the chancellors to deliberate; Guozhong said, "Flight to Shu would be best. The emperor agreed. The next morning dawn came late. The emperor went out Yongqiu Gate; the officials knew nothing and still attended court—only the three guards and the broad cavalry stood watch, and the water-clock still dripped. Guozhong went with Wei Jiansu, Gao Lishi, the crown prince, the princes, and several hundred others to guard the emperor. Right Dragon Martial Grand General Chen Xuanli plotted to kill Guozhong but failed. At Mawei the troops were exhausted and starving. Xuanli feared mutiny and called the generals: "The Son of Heaven is shaken, the altars in peril, and men's lives are ground into the dust—is this not Guozhong's doing? I would kill him to answer to the realm. What say you? They cried, "We have wanted this for ages; even if we die in the act, we are content." Just then a Tibetan envoy came to see Guozhong. The crowd roared, "Guozhong is plotting with the Tibetans!" The guards closed in. Guozhong bolted out; someone shot him in the brow and they killed him, tearing at his flesh until little remained, then paraded his head. The emperor cried in shock, "So Guozhong has rebelled? The Tibetan envoy was killed as well. Censor-in-Chief Wei Fangjin rebuked the mob: "Why kill the chancellor? Enraged, they killed him too.

四子：暄、出、曉、晞。暄位太常卿、戶部侍郎，聞亂，下馬蹶，弩眾射之，身貫百矢，乃踣。出尚萬春公主，位鴻臚卿，陷賊見殺。曉奔漢中，為漢中王瑀搒死。晞及國忠妻裴柔同奔陳倉，為追兵所斬。柔，故蜀倡也，並坎而瘞。

He had four sons: Xuan, Chu, Xiao, and Xi. Xuan was Grand Master of Splendor and Vice Minister of Revenue. When he heard of the upheaval he fell from his horse; rebel archers shot him until a hundred arrows had pierced him and he collapsed. Chu had married the Princess of Wanchun and was Director of the Court for Diplomatic Relations; he was caught in the rebellion and killed. Xiao fled to Hanzhong and was beaten to death by the Prince of Hanzhong, Wang Yu. Xi and Guozhong's wife Pei Rou fled together to Chencang and were beheaded by pursuers. Rou had once been a singing girl in Shu; they were buried together in one pit.

其黨翰林學士張漸、竇華，中書舍人宋昱，吏部郎中鄭昂，俱走山谷，民爭其貲，富埒國忠。昱戀貲產，竊入都，為亂兵所殺；餘坐誅。

His followers—Hanlin academician Zhang Jian, Dou Hua, Secretariat drafter Song Yu, Ministry director Zheng Ang—all fled into the hills. The people looted their goods, fortunes rivaling Guozhong's own. Song Yu, unable to abandon his wealth, stole back into the capital and was killed by rebel soldiers; the rest were tried and executed.

國忠本名釗，以圖讖有「卯金刀」，當位御史中丞時，帝為改今名。

Guozhong's birth name was Zhao; because prophecy spoke of "mao-metal-knife," when he became Censor-in-Chief the emperor gave him his present name.

李翛，字翛，起寒賤，由莊憲太后婭婿得進，歷坊、絳二州刺史。無它才，為政粗辦。性纖巧，飾廚傳，結納閹寺，求善譽。憲宗以為才，拜伺農卿，進京兆尹，專聚斂以固恩寵，數譖毀近臣，一時側目。太后崩，詔翛為橋道置頓使，嗇官費，物物裁損為可喜者。梓宮至灞橋，從官多不得食。始議更造渭城門，計錢三萬，翛以為勞，不聽，使鑿軌道深之，柱危不支，方過喪而門壞，辒京僅免，徹門乃得行。翛妄奏車軸折，山陵使李逢吉劾罔上，請免官。方帝用兵而翛屢有所獻，得不坐，才詔奪稟，逢吉持之，乃削銀青一階。翌日，加賜黃金。帝以浙西富饒，欲掊捃遺利，以翛為觀察使。被疾還京師。元和十四年卒，士有相賀者。

Li Xiao, whose style was also Xiao, rose from humble poverty. As son-in-law to a niece of Empress Zhuangxian he advanced, and served as prefect of Fang and Jiang. He had no other gift; in office he managed affairs in a rough but passable way. Delicate and clever by nature, he stocked fine kitchens and curried favor with palace eunuchs to win a good name. Xianzong judged him capable, made him Director of Agriculture, then Yongzhou magistrate. He piled up levies to secure imperial favor and slandered courtiers at will—until everyone watched him with narrowed eyes. After the empress dowager's death Li Xiao was made commissioner for funeral halts along the bridge route; he skimped on official funds and pared every expense down to what might look impressive. When the coffin reached Ba Bridge, many in the funeral train went without food. They first planned to rebuild the Weicheng gate at a cost of thirty thousand cash; Xiao called it too much work and refused, ordering the cart track cut deeper instead; the gateposts gave way; as the funeral train passed the gate collapsed and the imperial hearse barely escaped—only after tearing the gate down could the procession move on. Xiao falsely reported a broken axle; Li Fengji, commissioner for the imperial tomb, impeached him for deceiving the throne and asked that he be removed. The emperor was at war and Xiao had made repeated gifts, so he escaped dismissal; an edict merely cut his stipend, but Fengji pressed on and one grade of his silver-cyan rank was taken. The next day the emperor added a gift of gold. Because Zhexi was wealthy the emperor wanted to squeeze out every surplus profit and made Xiao its observation commissioner. He fell ill and returned to the capital. He died in 819, and some scholars openly rejoiced.

鄭光，孝明皇太后弟也。會昌末，夢禦大車載日月行中衢，光輝洪洞照六合，寤而占之，工曰：「君且暴貴。」不闋月，宣宗即位，光興民伍，拜諸衛將軍，遷累平盧軍節度使，徙河中、鳳翔，又賜鄠、雲陽二縣良田。大中四年，詔除其租賦，宰相言：「國常賦，窶人下戶不免，柰何以外戚廢法？」帝悟，追格前詔。俄封其妾為夫人，光曉帝意，還詔不敢拜，帝嘉之。七年，來朝，對延英，占奏俚近，帝失所望，不悅，留為右羽林統軍兼太子太保。太后言其家空短，帝厚賜金繒，終不復委方鎮。卒，贈司徒，詔罷三日朝，群臣奉慰。御史大夫李景讓曰：「禮，外祖父母、舅服小功五月，伯叔父若兄弟齊缞期，所以疏外密內也。王者不可使外戚強。按王、公主喪不過三日，光宜少降。」詔罷二日。

Zheng Guang was the younger brother of Empress Dowager Xiaoming. Near the end of Huichang he dreamed he drove a great cart bearing the sun and moon through the city's central crossing, their light flooding the world; when he woke and had it interpreted, the diviner said, "You are about to rise suddenly to great honor. Within a month Xuanzong had taken the throne; Guang rose from common life, became a guards general, served as military governor of Pinglu, then Hezhong and Fengxiang, and was granted rich lands in Hu and Yunyang. In 850 an edict exempted his rents and taxes; the chancellor objected: "The state's regular taxes are not waived even for the poorest households—how can we suspend the law for an imperial in-law? The emperor took the point and withdrew the earlier edict. Soon his concubine was made a lady; Guang sensed the emperor's intent, returned the patent and declined the title, and the emperor commended him. In the seventh year he came to court and spoke at Yanying Hall in crude, shallow terms; the emperor was disappointed and displeased and kept him in the capital as commander of the Right Forest Guard and Grand Protector of the Heir Apparent. The empress dowager said his family was poor; the emperor gave him lavish gifts of gold and silk but never again sent him to a regional command. He died and was posthumously made Minister of Education; court was suspended for three days while the ministers offered condolences. Censor-in-Chief Li Jingrang said, "By ritual, maternal grandparents and uncles receive five months of lesser mourning, while paternal uncles and brothers receive the full mourning period—keeping the outer circle distant and the inner circle close. A sovereign must not let his in-laws grow powerful. By precedent princes and princesses receive no more than three days of mourning; Guang's observance should be reduced accordingly. An edict cut the suspension to two days.

子漢卿，終義昌軍節度使。

His son Hanqing ended his career as military governor of Yichang.

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