Volume 207 Biographies 132: Imperial Officials 1

宦者上

Eunuchs, Part One

唐制：內侍省官有內侍四，內常侍六，內謁者監、內給事各十，謁者十二，典引十八，寺伯、寺人各六。又有五局：一曰掖廷，主宮嬪簿最；二曰宮闈，扈門闌；三曰奚官，治宮中疾病死喪；四曰內仆，主供帳燈燭；五曰內府，主中藏給納。局有令，有丞，皆宦者為之。

Under Tang law, the Palace Attendants Office comprised four inner attendants, six inner vice attendants, ten inner usher supervisors and ten inner provisioners, twelve ushers, eighteen protocol guides, and six temple stewards and six temple servants apiece. There were also five bureaus: the first, Yeting, kept the registers of palace women; the second, Gongwei, guarded gates and thresholds; the third, Xiguan, handled sickness, death, and mourning in the palace; the fourth, Neipu, supplied curtains, lamps, and candles; the fifth, Neifu, managed receipts and disbursements from the inner treasury. Each bureau had a director and a deputy, and eunuchs filled every such post.

太宗詔內侍省不立三品官，以內侍為之長，階第四，不任以事，惟門閣守禦、廷內掃除、稟食而已。武後時，稍增其人。至中宗，黃衣乃二千員，七品以上員外置千員，然衣朱紫者尚少。玄宗承平，財用富足，誌大事奢，不愛惜賞賜爵位。開元、天寶中，宮嬪大率至四萬，宦官黃衣以上三千員，衣朱紫千餘人。其稱旨者輒拜三品將軍，列戟於門。其在殿頭供奉，委任華重，持節傳命，光焰殷殷動四方。所至郡縣奔走，獻遺至萬計。修功德，市禽鳥，一為之使，猶且數千緡。監軍持權，節度返出其下。於是甲舍、名園、上腴之田為中人所名者半京畿矣。肅、代庸弱，倚為扞衛，故輔國以尚父顯，元振以援立奮，朝恩以軍容重，然猶未得常主兵也。德宗懲艾泚賊，故以左右神策、天威等軍委宦者主之，置護軍中尉、中護軍，分提禁兵，是以威柄下遷，政在宦人，舉手伸縮，便有輕重。至慓士奇材，則養以為子；巨鎮強藩，則爭出我門。

Emperor Taizong ordered that the Palace Attendants Office appoint no third-rank officers. The inner attendant ranked fourth and held no public duties beyond guarding gates, sweeping the inner court, and issuing rations. Under Empress Wu their numbers were gradually increased. By Emperor Zhongzong's reign, eunuchs in yellow robes numbered two thousand, with another thousand seventh-rank and above beyond the quota, though those in scarlet and purple remained few. In Xuanzong's long peace the treasury swelled; his ambitions ran grand and his tastes lavish, and he lavished rewards, gifts, and titles without restraint. During Kaiyuan and Tianbao, palace women numbered roughly forty thousand; eunuchs from yellow-robed rank upward reached three thousand, and more than a thousand wore scarlet or purple. Those who won his favor were promptly made third-rank generals, with halberds displayed at their gates. Those who served at the front of the hall carried heavy responsibility; bearing imperial credentials they relayed orders, and their splendor and power shook the realm. Wherever they traveled, prefectures and counties scrambled to serve them, and tribute offered ran into the tens of thousands. A single errand to fund merit works or buy birds and beasts still cost thousands of strings of cash. Army supervisors wielded real power, and even military commissioners ranked below them. Mansions, celebrated gardens, and the finest farmland claimed by eunuchs came to fill half the capital region. Suzong and Daizong were weak sovereigns who leaned on eunuchs as protectors. Fuguo rose as Sire Father, Yuanzhen through aiding the succession, Chaoen through army supervision—yet eunuchs still did not routinely command armies. Chastened by Zhu Ci's rebellion, Dezong placed the Left and Right Divine Strategy Armies, the Heavenly Might Army, and others under eunuch command, appointing Protector Army Central Commanders and Central Army Protectors to divide the palace guards. Power sank to the eunuchs; a lifted hand or a glance could decide fortunes. When they encountered fierce, exceptional men, they adopted them as sons; great garrisons and powerful provinces competed to trace their rise through eunuch patronage.

小人之情，猥險無顧藉，又日夕侍天子，狎則無威，習則不疑，故昏君蔽於所昵，英主禍生所忽。玄宗以遷崩，憲、敬以弒殞，文以憂僨，至昭而天下亡矣。禍始開元，極於天祐，兇愎參會，黨類殲滅，王室從而潰喪，譬猶灼火攻蠹，蠹盡木焚，詎不哀哉！跡其殘氣不剛，柔情易遷，褻則無上，怖則生怨，借之權則專，為禍則迫而近，緩相攻，急相一，此小人常勢也。噫！梟狐不神，天與之昏，末如亂何。故取中葉以來宦人之大者稡之篇。

Petty men are base, treacherous, and without scruple. Attending the emperor day and night, they wear away awe through familiarity and breed unquestioning trust through habit. Dull rulers are blinded by favorites; even capable rulers are undone by what they overlook. Xuanzong died in exile; Xianzong and Jingzong were assassinated; Wenzong died of grief and rage; by Zhaozong the empire was gone. Disaster began in Kaiyuan and peaked in Tianyou. Cruelty and obstinacy converged, factions were wiped out, and the royal house collapsed—like burning worms out of wood: when the worms die, the timber is ash. How pitiful! Their pattern runs thus: vital force weak and unsteady, affections quick to shift; treated familiarly they lose all deference, frightened they nurse resentment; given power they monopolize it; when they harm, harm is close at hand; in slack times they turn on one another, in crisis they unite—such is the constant way of petty men. Alas! Owls and foxes hold no numinous power—Heaven has granted them a benighted age. In the end, what remedy is there for chaos? Accordingly, this chapter gathers the leading eunuchs from the mid-dynasty onward.

楊思勖，羅州石城人，本蘇氏，冒所養姓。少給事內侍省，從玄宗討內難，擢左監門衛將軍，帝倚為爪牙。開元初，安南蠻渠梅叔鸞叛，號黑帝，舉三十二州之眾，外結林邑、真臘、金鄰等國，據海南，眾號四十萬。思勖請行，詔募首領子弟十萬，與安南大都護光楚客繇馬援故道出不意，賊驢眙不暇謀，遂大敗，封屍為京觀而還。十二年，五溪首領覃行章亂，詔思勖為黔中招討使，率兵六萬往，執行章，斬首三萬級，以功進輔國大將軍，給祿俸、防閣。從封泰山，進驃騎大將軍，封虢國公。邕州封陵獠梁大海反，破賓、橫等州，思勖又平之，禽大海等三千人，討斬支黨皆盡。瀧州蠻陳行範自稱天子，其下何遊魯號定國大將軍，馮璘南越王，破州縣四十。詔思勖發永、道、連三州兵，淮南弩士十萬，襲斬遊魯、璘於陣。行範走盤遼諸洞，思勖悉眾窮追，生縛之，坑其黨六萬，獲馬金銀鉅萬計。卒，年八十餘。

Yang Sixu came from Shicheng in Luozhou. His birth surname was Su; he took the surname of the family that raised him. As a youth he served in the Palace Attendants Office. He followed Xuanzong through the inner turmoil and was raised to Left Gate Guard general. The emperor relied on him as a trusted enforcer. Early in Kaiyuan the Annan chieftain Mei Shuluan rebelled, calling himself the Black Emperor. He rallied thirty-two prefectures, allied with Linyi, Zhenla, Jinlin, and others abroad, seized Hainan, and claimed four hundred thousand followers. Sixu volunteered. The court raised one hundred thousand sons of tribal leaders and, with An-nan Grand Protector Guang Chuke, marched by Ma Yuan's old route to strike by surprise. The rebels stood stunned with no time to plan, suffered a crushing defeat, and he returned after piling the dead into a victory mound. In the twelfth year the Wuxi chieftain Qin Xingzhang rebelled. Sixu was made Qianzhong pacification commissioner, led sixty thousand men, seized Xingzhang, and took thirty thousand heads. For this he was promoted to Defender-in-Chief of the State with salary and household guards. He joined the Fengshan rites at Mount Tai, rose to Cavalry-in-Chief General, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Guo. At Yongzhou the Fengling Liao chieftain Liang Dahai rebelled and ravaged Bin, Heng, and other prefectures. Sixu put the rising down again, seized Dahai and three thousand followers, and exterminated every partisan. The Longzhou tribesman Chen Xingfan declared himself emperor. His lieutenants He Youlu styled himself Pacification-of-the-State Grand General and Feng Lin King of Nanyue, and together they ravaged forty prefectures and counties. Sixu was ordered to raise troops from Yong, Dao, and Lian and one hundred thousand Huainan crossbowmen, and in battle he killed Youlu and Lin. Xingfan fled into the Panliao caves. Sixu pursued with his full force, took him alive, buried sixty thousand of his followers alive, and seized horses, gold, and silver beyond reckoning. He died at over eighty.

思勖鷙忍，敢殺戮，所得俘，必剝面、腦、褫發皮以示人，將士憚服，莫敢視，以是能立功。內給事牛仙童納張守珪賂，詔付思勖殺之。思勖縛於格，箠慘不可勝，乃探心，截手足，剔肉以食，肉盡乃得死。

Sixu was savage and cruel, relentless in killing. Captives were flayed of face, brain, and scalp for display. His troops feared him and dared not even look—by such means he won his victories. Inner provisioner Niu Xiantong took a bribe from Zhang Shougui; the court ordered Sixu to execute him. Sixu bound him to a rack and beat him past endurance, then tore out his heart, severed his limbs, and carved away the flesh to feed him piece by piece. Only when the flesh was gone did he die.

楚客者，樂安人，後歷桂州都督致仕，封松滋縣侯。

Chuke came from Le'an. He later served as Guilin regional commander, retired, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Songzi.

高力士，馮盎曾孫也。聖歷初，嶺南討擊使李千里上二閹兒，曰金剛，曰力士，武後以其強悟，敕給事左右。坐累逐出之，中人高延福養為子，故冒其姓。善武三思，歲餘，復得入禁中，稟食司宮臺。既壯，長六尺五寸，謹密，善傳詔令，為宮闈丞。

Gao Lishi was a great-grandson of Feng Ang. Early in Shengli the Lingnan punitive commissioner Li Qianli presented two castrated youths, Jingang and Lishi. Empress Wu, impressed by their strength and quick wit, ordered them to attend her. Implicated in a case, he was expelled. The eunuch Gao Yanfu adopted him as a son, and he took the Gao surname. He won Wu Sansi's favor. After a year he returned to the inner palace and served in the Palace Provisions Office. Grown to manhood he stood six feet five, careful and discreet, skilled at relaying edicts, and was made deputy director of the inner gates.

玄宗在藩，力士傾心附結，已平韋氏，乃啟屬內坊，擢內給事。先天中，以誅蕭、岑等功為右監門衛將軍，知內侍省事。於是四方奏請皆先省後進，小事即專決，雖洗沐未嘗出，眠息殿帷中，僥幸者願一見如天人然。帝曰：「力士當上，我寢乃安。」當是時，宇文融、李林甫、蓋嘉運、韋堅、楊慎矜、王鉷、楊國忠、安祿山、安思順、高仙芝等雖以才寵進，然皆厚結力士，故能踵至將相，自餘承風附會不可計，皆得所欲。中人若黎敬仁、林昭隱、尹鳳翔、韓莊、牛仙童、劉奉廷、王承恩、張道斌、李大宜、朱光輝、郭全、邊令誠等，並內供奉，或外監節度軍，脩功德，市鳥獸，皆為之使。使還，所裒獲，動巨萬計，京師甲第池園、良田美產，占者什六，寵與力士略等，然悉藉力士左右輕重乃能然。肅宗在東宮，兄事力士，它王、公主呼為翁，戚裏諸家尊曰爹，帝或不名而呼將軍。

While Xuanzong was still heir, Lishi gave him his full loyalty. After the Wei clan was overthrown he had him assigned to the inner workshops and promoted him to inner provisioner. In Xiantian, for helping execute Xiao and Cen and their faction, he was made Right Gate Guard general and put in charge of the Palace Attendants Office. Memorials from every quarter passed through him before reaching the throne; minor matters he decided alone. He never left the palace even to bathe and slept within the hall curtains. Favor-seekers yearned for a single glimpse as for a celestial being. The emperor said, "With Lishi on watch above, I can sleep in peace. Yuwen Rong, Li Linfu, Gai Jiayun, Wei Jian, Yang Shenjin, Wang Hong, Yang Guozhong, An Lushan, An Sishun, Gao Xianzhi, and others rose on talent and favor, yet all courted Lishi closely and in turn reached the highest offices. Countless imitators who followed their lead likewise got what they wanted. Eunuchs such as Li Jingren, Lin Zhaoyin, Yin Fengxiang, Han Zhuang, Niu Xiantong, Liu Fengting, Wang Chengen, Zhang Daobin, Li Dayi, Zhu Guanghui, Guo Quan, and Bian Lingcheng served in the inner palace, supervised armies abroad, funded merit works, or bought birds and beasts—all as his agents. On their return, their hauls commonly ran to vast sums. They held six-tenths of the capital's finest mansions, gardens, fields, and estates. Their favor nearly equaled Lishi's, yet all depended on his leverage to make it so. As crown prince, Suzong treated Lishi as an elder brother. Other princes and princesses called him Sir, affinal kin called him Father, and the emperor sometimes addressed him simply as General.

力士幼與母麥相失，後嶺南節度使得之瀧州，迎還，不復記識，母曰：「胸有七黑子在否？」力士袒示之，如言。母出金環，曰「兒所服者」，乃相持號慟。帝為封越國夫人，而追贈其父廣州大都督。延福與妻，及力士貴時故在，侍養與麥均。金吾大將軍程伯獻約力士為兄弟，後麥亡，伯獻缞绖受吊。河間男子呂玄晤吏京師，女國姝，力士娶之，玄晤擢刀筆史至少卿，子弟仕皆王傅。玄晤妻死，中外贈賻送葬，自第至墓，車徒背相望不絕。

As a child Lishi was separated from his mother Mai. Later the Lingnan military commissioner found her in Longzhou and brought her back, but he no longer recognized her. His mother asked, "Are the seven black moles still on your chest? Lishi bared his chest and showed them, exactly as she said. His mother produced a gold ring and said, "This is what my son wore," and they clung to each other, wailing. The emperor enfeoffed her as Lady of Yue and posthumously honored her father as Grand Protector of Guangzhou. Yanfu and his wife, who had raised Lishi before his rise, were still alive and received the same care as Mai. Golden Guard general Cheng Boxian swore brotherhood with Lishi. When Mai died, Boxian wore mourning and received condolences on Lishi's behalf. Lü Xuanwu of Hejian served as a clerk in the capital. His daughter was renowned for her beauty, and Lishi married her. Xuanwu rose from clerk to vice minister, and his sons in office all became tutors to princes. When Xuanwu's wife died, court and commoners sent funeral gifts. From mansion to tomb, carriages and followers stretched unbroken.

始，李林甫、牛仙客知帝憚幸東都，而京師漕不給，乃以賦粟助漕，及用和糴法，數年，國用稍充。帝齋大同殿，力士侍，帝曰：「我不出長安且十年，海內無事，朕將吐納導引，以天下事付林甫，若何？」力士對曰：「天子順動，古制也。稅入有常，則人不告勞。今賦粟充漕，臣恐國無旬月蓄；和糴不止，則私藏竭，逐末者眾。又天下柄不可假人，威權既振，孰敢議者！」帝不悅，力士頓首自陳「心狂易，語謬當死」。帝為置酒，左右呼萬歲。由是還內宅，不復事。加累驃騎大將軍，封渤海郡公。於來廷坊建佛祠，興寧坊立道士祠，珍樓寶屋，國貲所不逮。鍾成，力士宴公卿，一扣鍾，納禮錢十萬，有佞悅者至二十扣，其少亦不減十。都北堰澧列五硙，日僦三百斛直。

Li Linfu and Niu Xianke knew the emperor feared traveling east while Chang'an's grain supply lagged. They used tax grain to aid transport and adopted harmonized purchase. After several years the treasury was somewhat replenished. The emperor was fasting in the Datong Hall with Lishi attending and said, "I have scarcely left Chang'an in ten years and the realm is at peace. I mean to devote myself to breath work and guided exercise and leave the empire to Linfu. What do you think? Lishi replied, "The Son of Heaven moves with the seasons—that is ancient law. When tax receipts are fixed, the people do not cry out under the burden. Now tax grain fills transport quotas—I fear the state will have no reserve for even a month; if harmonized purchase does not cease, private stores will be drained and profiteers will multiply. Moreover the reins of empire must not be lent away. Once authority is aroused, who will dare object!" The emperor was displeased. Lishi kowtowed and said, "My mind is rash; my words were wrong and I deserve death." The emperor had wine brought, and attendants cried "Long live the emperor!" From then on he withdrew to his private residence and no longer handled affairs. He was further promoted to Cavalry-in-Chief General and enfeoffed as Duke of Bohai. In Laiting Ward he built a Buddhist shrine; in Xingning Ward a Daoist temple—treasured towers and jeweled halls the state treasury could not rival. When the bell was finished, Lishi feasted the chief ministers. One strike cost one hundred thousand cash in gifts. Flatterers struck it twenty times; even the stingiest gave ten. North of the capital he dammed the Li and set up five millstones, renting them daily for three hundred bushels' worth.

初，太子瑛廢，武惠妃方嬖，李林甫等皆屬壽王，帝以肅宗長，意未決，居忽忽不食。力士曰：「大家不食，亦膳羞不具耶？」帝曰：「爾，我家老，揣我何為而然？」力士曰：「嗣君未定耶？推長而立，孰敢爭？」帝曰：「爾言是也。」儲位遂定。天寶中，邊將爭立功，帝嘗曰：「朕春秋高，朝廷細務付宰相，蕃夷不龔付諸將，寧不暇耶？」對曰：「臣間至閣門，見奏事者言雲南數喪師，又北兵悍且強，陛下何以制之？臣恐禍成不可禁。」其指蓋謂祿山。帝曰：「卿勿言，朕將圖之。」十三年秋，大雨，帝顧左右無人，即曰：「天方災，卿宜言之。」力士曰：「自陛下以權假宰相，法令不行，陰陽失度，天下事庸可復安？臣之鉗口，其時也。」帝不答。明年祿山反。力士善揣時事勢候相上下，雖親昵，至當覆敗，不肯為救力，故生平無顯顯大過。議者頗恨宇文融以來權利相賊，階天下之禍，雖有補益，弗相除雲。

When Crown Prince Ying was deposed, Consort Wu Hui was in favor and Li Linfu backed Prince Shou. The emperor, noting that Suzong was eldest, had not decided and sat listless, refusing food. Lishi said, "Your Majesty will not eat—is the fare not prepared? The emperor said, "You are an elder of our house—cannot you guess why I am like this?" Lishi said, "Has the heir not been settled? Install the eldest son—who would dare contest it?" The emperor said, "You are right." Thus the succession was settled. In Tianbao frontier generals vied for glory. The emperor once said, "I am old; court details go to the chief minister and the frontier to the generals—should I not have leisure? He replied, "Passing the Secretariat gate I hear memorialists say Yunnan has lost armies again and again, and the northern troops are fierce and strong—how will Your Majesty control them? I fear disaster will take shape beyond restraint." He meant Lushan. The emperor said, "Say no more. I shall deal with it. In the autumn of the thirteenth year, during heavy rains, the emperor glanced about, saw no one else near, and said, "Heaven is sending disaster—you should speak." Lishi said, "Since Your Majesty lent power to the chief minister, laws go unenforced and yin and yang are out of balance—how can the realm ever be at peace again? That I held my tongue—its time had come." The emperor did not reply. The next year Lushan rebelled. Lishi was skilled at reading the times and fortunes of men. Even with intimates, when ruin was due he would not lift a hand to save them. Thus he committed no glaring great fault in his life. Critics resented that from Yuwen Rong onward men devoured one another for power and profit, escalating the empire's ruin. Any good they did did not cancel the harm.

程元振，京兆三原人。少以宦人直內侍省，遷內射生使、飛龍廄副使。張皇后謀立越王，元振見太子，發其奸，與李輔國助討難，立太子，是為代宗。拜右監門衛將軍，知內侍省事。帝以藥子昂判元帥行軍司馬，固辭，乃以命元振，封保定縣侯。再遷驃騎大將軍、邠國公，盡總禁兵。不逾歲，權震天下，在輔國右，兇決又過之，軍中呼十郎。

Cheng Yuanzhen came from Sanyuan in Jingzhao. As a young man he served as a eunuch in the Directorate of Palace Attendants, then rose to commander of the Internal Archery Corps and deputy commissioner of the Flying Dragon Stable. When Empress Zhang plotted to put the Prince of Yue on the throne, Yuanzhen went to the Crown Prince, exposed the conspiracy, and together with Li Fuguo helped put down the crisis and elevate the Crown Prince, who became Emperor Daizong. He was appointed General of the Right Gates Guards and placed in charge of the Palace Attendants Directorate. The emperor wanted to appoint Yao Zi'ang chief administrator of the marshal's campaign staff, but Yao firmly declined; the post was then given to Yuanzhen, who was enfeoffed as Marquis of Baoding County. He was further promoted to General-in-Chief of Agile Cavalry and Duke of Bin, assuming full command of the palace armies. Within a year his authority overshadowed the empire. He outranked Fuguo and was even more ruthless; the troops called him "Young Master Ten."

王仲升者，初為淮西節度使，與襄州張維瑾部將戰申州，被執。賊平，元振薦為右羽林大將軍兼御史大夫。將軍兼大夫由仲升始。裴冕與元振忤，乃掎韓穎等罪貶施州。來瑱守襄、漢有功，元振嘗諉屬，不應，因仲升共誣殺瑱。同華節度使李懷讓被構，憂甚自殺。素惡李光弼，數媒蠍以疑之。瑱等上將，冕、光弼元勛，既誅斥，或不自省，方帥繇是攜解。

Wang Zhongsheng had first served as military governor of Huai West. In battle at Shen Province against a subordinate general of Zhang Weijin of Xiangzhou, he was taken prisoner. After the rebellion was put down, Yuanzhen recommended him for the posts of General-in-Chief of the Right Forest Guards and Censor-in-Chief. The combination of general and censor-in-chief began with Zhongsheng. When Pei Mian fell out with Yuanzhen, Yuanzhen seized on charges against Han Ying and others and had them banished to Shi Prefecture. Lai Tian had distinguished himself defending Xiang and Han. Yuanzhen had tried to recruit him without success; he then joined with Zhongsheng to frame and execute Tian. Li Huairang, military governor of Tonghua, was framed and, in anguish, took his own life. He had long hated Li Guangbi and repeatedly planted poisonous rumors to turn the court against him. After top generals like Tian were killed and founding heroes like Pei Mian and Li Guangbi driven out, Yuanzhen showed no self-reflection, and regional commanders drifted apart in mutual distrust.

廣德初，吐蕃、党項內侵，詔集天下兵，無一士奔命者。虜扣便橋，帝倉黃出居陜，京師陷，賊剽府庫，焚閭弄，蕭然為空。於是太常博士、翰林待詔柳伉上疏曰：「犬戎以數萬眾犯關度隴，歷秦、渭，掠邠、涇，不血刃而入京師，謀臣不奮一言，武士不力一戰，提卒叫呼，劫宮闈，焚陵寢，此將帥叛陛下也；自朝義之滅，陛下以為智力所能，故疏元功，委近習，日引月長以成大禍，群臣在廷無一犯顏回慮者，此公卿叛陛下也；陛下始出都，百姓填然奪府庫，相殺戮，此三輔叛陛下也；自十月朔召諸道兵，盡四十日，無只輪入關者，此四方叛陛下也。內外離叛，雖一魚朝恩以陜郡戮力，陛下獨能以此守社稷乎？陛下以今日勢為安耶？危耶？若以為危，豈得高枕不為天下計？臣聞良醫療疾，當病飲藥，藥不當疾，猶無益也。陛下視今日病何繇至此乎？天下之心，乃恨陛下遠賢良，任宦豎，離間將相而幾於亡。必欲存宗廟社稷，獨斬元振首，馳告天下，悉出內使隸諸州，獨留朝恩備左右，陛下持神策兵付大臣，然後削尊號，下詔引咎，率德勵行，屏嬪妃，任將相。若曰『天下其許朕自新改過乎，宜即募士西與朝廷會；若以朕惡未悛耶，則帝王大器，敢妨聖賢，其聽天下所往。』如此而兵不至，人不感，天下不服，請赤臣族以謝。」疏聞，帝顧公議不與，乃下詔盡削元振官爵，放歸田裏。帝還，元振自三原衣婦衣私入京師，舍司農卿陳景詮家，圖不軌。御史劾按，長流溱州，景詮貶新興尉。元振行至江陵死。

Early in the Guangde reign the Tibetans and Tanguts invaded. An imperial summons went out for troops from across the empire, but not a single man answered the call. The enemy reached Bian Bridge. The emperor fled in panic to Shanzhou; Chang'an fell. Raiders emptied the treasuries and burned streets and lanes until the city lay desolate. Then Liu Kuang, Erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and Hanlin draft edict writer, submitted a memorial: "Tens of thousands of barbarians crossed the passes and the Long Mountains, swept through Qin and Wei, ravaged Bin and Jing, and took Chang'an without a fight. No strategist spoke up; no warrior fought. Led troops raised a clamor, seized the palace, and burned the imperial tombs—your generals have betrayed you; Since Chaoyi's defeat you have believed your own wit and power sufficient, distanced founding heroes, and entrusted affairs to close attendants until disaster grew day by day. Not one minister in court dared speak plainly—your high officials have betrayed you; When you first fled the capital, the people surged to loot the treasuries and kill one another—the capital region has betrayed you; Since the first of the tenth month you have summoned troops from every circuit; for forty days not a single wheel has crossed the passes—the whole empire has betrayed you. Inside and out the realm has turned against you. Though Yu Chao'en alone holds Shan Prefecture with all his strength, can you alone preserve the dynasty on that? Do you consider the present situation secure? Or perilous? If you see peril, how can you rest easy and make no plans for the realm? I have heard that a good physician treats disease by prescribing medicine suited to the illness; the wrong medicine does no good at all. Your Majesty, how did the disease reach this point? The people blame you for keeping the worthy at arm's length, trusting eunuch attendants, and driving generals and chancellors apart until the dynasty nearly fell. If you truly wish to save the dynasty, execute Yuanzhen alone and proclaim it to the realm. Send all inner attendants out to the prefectures, keep only Chao'en at your side, and place the Divine Strategy Army in the hands of your ministers. Then reduce your honorific titles, issue an edict accepting blame, lead by virtue, dismiss your consorts, and trust generals and chancellors. Say: 'Will the realm allow me to reform? Then let men be recruited at once to march west and join the court; Say: 'If my faults are beyond reform, then the throne must not stand in the way of worthier men—let the realm choose its own course.' If after that troops still do not come, the people are unmoved, and the realm will not submit, I ask that my entire clan be executed in atonement. When the memorial reached him, the emperor looked to public opinion and did not agree; he issued an edict stripping Yuanzhen of all offices and titles and sending him back to his estate. When the emperor returned, Yuanzhen left Sanyuan disguised in women's clothing, slipped into the capital, and lodged with Minister of Revenue Chen Jingquan to plot rebellion. Censors investigated the case. Yuanzhen was exiled to Qin Prefecture, and Jingquan was demoted to assistant magistrate of Xinxing. Yuanzhen died en route at Jiangling.

時又有駱奉先者，亦三原人，歷右驍衛大將軍，數從帝討伐，尤見幸，廣德初，監仆固懷恩軍者。奉先恃恩貪甚，懷恩不平，既而懼其譖，遂叛。事平，擢奉先軍容使，掌畿內兵，權焰熾然。永泰初，以吐蕃數驚京師，始城鄠，以奉先為使，悉毀縣外廬舍，無尺椽。累封江國公，監鳳翔軍，大歷末卒。

There was also Luo Fengxian of Sanyuan, who had risen to General-in-Chief of the Right Valiant Cavalry. He campaigned repeatedly with the emperor and enjoyed special favor. In early Guangde he was assigned to supervise Pugu Huai'en's army. Fengxian abused imperial favor and grew rapacious. Huai'en resented him, then fearing slander, rebelled. After the rebellion was put down, Fengxian was promoted to Army Inspector and given command of the capital armies; his power burned bright. In early Yongtai, with Tibetans repeatedly threatening the capital, the court fortified E and appointed Fengxian commissioner. Every dwelling outside the county was torn down until not a beam remained. He was eventually enfeoffed as Duke of Jiang, supervised the Fengxiang army, and died near the end of the Dali reign.

魚朝恩，瀘州瀘川人。天寶末，以品官給事黃門，內陰黠，善宣納詔令。至德初，監李光進軍。京師平，為三宮檢責使，以左監門衛將軍知內侍省事。九節度圍賊相州，以朝恩為觀軍容、宣慰、處置使。觀軍容使自朝恩始。史思明攻洛陽，朝恩以神策兵屯陜。洛陽陷，思明長驅至硤石，使子朝義為遊軍。肅宗詔銳兵十萬循渭而東以濟師。朝恩按兵陜東，使神策將衛伯玉與賊將康文景等戰，敗之。洛陽平，徙屯汴州，加開府儀同三司，封馮翊郡公。寶應中，還屯陜。代宗避吐蕃東幸，衛兵離散，朝恩悉軍奉迎華陰，乘輿六師乃振，帝德之，更號天下觀軍容、宣慰、處置使，專領神策軍，賞賜不涯。

Yu Chao'en came from Luchuan in Luzhou. At the end of the Tianbao era he served in the Yellow Gate as a ranked official. Secretive and cunning by nature, he was skilled at proclaiming imperial edicts. In early Zhide he was assigned to supervise Li Guangjin's army. After Chang'an was recovered, he became inspector of the Three Palaces and, as General of the Left Gates Guards, took charge of the Palace Attendants Directorate. When nine military governors besieged the rebels at Xiangzhou, Chao'en was appointed Army Inspector, Pacification Commissioner, and Disposition Commissioner. The post of Army Inspector began with Chao'en. When Shi Siming attacked Luoyang, Chao'en encamped the Divine Strategy Army at Shanzhou. When Luoyang fell, Siming drove straight to Xiashi and sent his son Chaoyi ahead as vanguard. Emperor Suzong ordered a hundred thousand elite troops to march east along the Wei to reinforce the army. Chao'en held his army east of Shan and sent Divine Strategy general Wei Boyu against the rebel generals Kang Wenjing and others, defeating them. After Luoyang was recovered, he moved his camp to Bianzhou, was granted the honorary title of Grand Master with Golden Seal and Purple Purse, and enfeoffed as Duke of Fengyi. During the Baoying reign he returned to encamp at Shanzhou. When Emperor Daizong fled east before the Tibetans, the imperial guard scattered. Chao'en brought his entire army to welcome him at Huayin, restoring order to the imperial procession and the Six Armies. Grateful, the emperor renamed him Army Inspector, Pacification Commissioner, and Disposition Commissioner for All Under Heaven, gave him sole command of the Divine Strategy Army, and showered him with rewards.

朝恩資小人，恃功岸忽無所憚。仆固玚攻絳州，使姚良據溫，誘回紇陷河陽。朝恩遣李忠誠討玚，以霍文場監之；王景岑討良，王希遷監之。敗玚於萬泉，生擒良。高暉等引吐蕃入寇，遣劉德信討斬之。故朝恩因麾下數克獲，竊以自高。是時郭子儀有定天下功，居人臣第一，心冒之，乘相州敗，鬼為詆譖，肅宗不內其語，然猶罷子信兵，留京師。代宗立，與程元振一口加毀，帝未及寤，子儀憂甚。俄而吐蕃陷京師，卒用其力，王室再安。故朝恩內慚，乃勸帝徙洛陽，欲遠戎狄。百僚在廷，朝恩從十餘人持兵出，曰：「虜數犯都甸，欲幸洛，雲何？」宰相未對，有近臣折曰：「敕使反耶？今屯兵足以捍寇，何遽脅天子棄宗廟為？」朝恩色沮，而子儀亦謂不可，乃止。

Chao'en was a petty man by nature. Flush with merit, he grew haughty and insolent, fearing nothing. Pugu Yang attacked Jiangzhou, had Yao Liang hold Wen, and induced the Uyghurs to seize Heyang. Chao'en sent Li Zhongcheng to suppress Yang, with Huo Wenchang supervising; Wang Jingcen was sent to suppress Liang, with Wang Xiqian supervising. Yang was defeated at Wanquan, and Liang was taken alive. When Gao Hui and others led Tibetans in an invasion, he dispatched Liu Dexin to suppress and execute them. Because his subordinates repeatedly won victories, Chao'en secretly grew arrogant. Guo Ziyi had by then pacified the realm and stood first among the emperor's subjects. Chao'en envied him and, exploiting the defeat at Xiangzhou, secretly slandered him. Emperor Suzong did not believe the charges, but still stripped Ziyi of his command and kept him in the capital. When Emperor Daizong ascended, Chao'en and Cheng Yuanzhen joined in slandering Ziyi. The emperor had not yet seen through them, and Ziyi was deeply troubled. Soon the Tibetans seized Chang'an, and in the end the court had to rely on his strength to restore the dynasty. Ashamed at this, Chao'en urged the emperor to move the capital to Luoyang to put distance between the court and the barbarians. With the full court assembled, Chao'en emerged with more than ten armed followers and said, "The barbarians repeatedly threaten the capital. I wish to move the court to Luoyang—what say you? The chief ministers did not answer. A close attendant sharply replied, "Has the imperial envoy rebelled? The troops now encamped are enough to repel the enemy—why suddenly coerce the emperor to abandon the ancestral temples? Chao'en's face fell. Ziyi also said it could not be done, and the plan was dropped.

朝恩好引輕浮後生處門下，講《五經》大義，作文章，謂才兼文武，僥伺誤寵。

Chao'en liked to gather frivolous young men under his patronage, lecture on the Five Classics, compose essays, and claim to combine civil and military talent, hoping by chance to win misplaced favor.

永泰中，詔判國子監，兼鴻臚、禮賓、內飛龍、閑廄使，封鄭國公。始詣學，詔宰相、常參官、六軍將軍悉集，京兆設食，內教坊出音樂俳倡侑宴，大臣子弟二百人，朱紫雜然為附學生，列廡次。又賜錢千萬，取子錢供秩飯。每視學，從神策兵數百，京兆尹黎幹率錢勞從者，一費數十萬，而朝恩色常不足。

During Yongtai he was ordered to administer the Directorate of Education while concurrently serving as commissioner of the Court of Diplomatic Reception, Protocol Reception, Internal Flying Dragon Stable, and Imperial Stud, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Zheng. On his first visit to the academy, an edict summoned chief ministers, regular court officials, and generals of the Six Armies. The capital prefecture provided a feast; the Inner Music Office sent musicians and performers. Two hundred sons of great ministers, dressed in red and purple, served as attached students and lined the corridors. He was also granted ten million in cash, the interest from which supplied stipends and meals. Each time he inspected the academy, several hundred Divine Strategy troops accompanied him. Capital Prefect Li Gan led contributions of cash to reward the retinue—one visit cost several hundred thousand—yet Chao'en's expression was often dissatisfied.

凡詔會群臣計事，朝恩怙貴，誕辭折愧坐人出其上，雖元載辯強亦拱默，唯禮部郎中相裏造、殿中侍御史李衎酬詰往返，未始降屈，朝恩不懌，黜衎以動造。又謀將易執政以震朝廷，乃會百官都堂，且言：「宰相者，和元氣，輯群生。今水旱不時，屯軍數十萬，饋運困竭，天子臥不安席，宰相何以輔之？不退避賢路，默默尚何賴乎？」宰相俯首，坐皆失色。造徙坐從之，因曰：「陰陽不和，五谷踴貴，皆軍容事，宰相何與哉？且軍挐不散，故天降之沴。今京師無事，六軍可相維鎮，又屯十萬，饋糧所以不足，百司無稍食，軍容為之，宰相行文書而已，何所歸罪？」朝恩拂衣去，曰：「南衙朋黨，且害我。」會釋菜，執《易》升坐，百官鹹在，言《鼎》有覆餗象，以侵宰相。王縉怒，元載怡然。朝恩曰：「怒者常情，笑者不可測也。」載銜之未發。

Whenever the court assembled ministers to deliberate, Chao'en relied on his rank and with grandiose speech humiliated those present, putting himself above them. Even Yuan Zai, a formidable debater, bowed in silence. Only Bureau Director of Rites Xiangli Zao and Palace Censor Li Kan answered him back without yielding. Chao'en was displeased and demoted Kan to pressure Zao. He also plotted to replace the chief ministers and shake the court. He assembled all officials in the chief hall and said, "The chief minister harmonizes the primordial qi and gathers the multitude of living beings. Now floods and droughts come untimely, hundreds of thousands of troops are encamped, supply lines are exhausted, and the emperor cannot rest at ease—how are the chief ministers assisting him? If they will not step aside for the worthy, what use is their silent presence? The chief ministers bowed their heads; everyone present turned pale. Zao shifted his seat closer and said, "Yin and yang are out of balance and grain prices have soared—all matters of the Army Inspector. What have the chief ministers to do with it? And because the armies are not dispersed, Heaven sends down calamity. The capital is at peace; the Six Armies can garrison it together—yet another hundred thousand troops are encamped, grain supplies run short, and the hundred offices go without stipends. That is the Army Inspector's doing. The chief ministers merely transmit documents—why blame them? Chao'en brushed off his robes and left, saying, "The southern yamen forms factions—they will yet destroy me." At the vegetable-offering ceremony he took up the Book of Changes and ascended to the seat. With all officials present, he spoke of the Ding hexagram's image of overturned stew to attack the chief ministers. Wang Jin was furious; Yuan Zai remained calm. Chao'en said, "Anger is common enough; the man who smiles is the one you cannot read. Zai nursed a grudge but did not yet act.

朝恩有賜墅，觀沼勝爽，表為佛祠，為章敬太后薦福，即後謚以名祠，許之。於是用度侈浩，公壞曲江諸館、華清宮樓榭、百司行署、將相故第，收其材佐興作，費無慮萬億。既數毀郭子儀，不見聽，乃遣盜發其先冢，子儀詭辭自解，以安眾疑。久之，讓判國子監、鴻臚禮賓等使，加內侍監，徙封韓，增實封百戶。俄兼檢校國子監。

Chao'en held an imperial grant of a villa with fine ponds and views. He memorialized to convert it into a Buddhist shrine to seek blessings for Empress Dowager Zhangjing. The shrine was later named for her posthumous title, and permission was granted. Expenditures grew extravagant. Publicly they tore down the lodges at Qujiang, the towers of Huaqing Palace, government offices, and the former mansions of generals and chancellors, reusing the materials for construction. Costs ran into the trillions. After repeated slanders against Guo Ziyi went unheeded, he sent thieves to rob Ziyi's ancestral tomb. Ziyi answered with evasive words to calm public suspicion. After some time he relinquished administration of the Directorate of Education and the courts of diplomatic and protocol reception, was promoted to Director of Palace Attendants, transferred his enfeoffment to Han, and received an increase of a hundred households to his substantive fief. Soon he also served concurrently as acting administrator of the Directorate of Education.

初，神策都虞候劉希暹魁健能騎射，最為朝恩昵信，以太仆卿封交河郡王。兵馬使王駕鶴獨謹厚，亦封徐國公。希暹諷朝恩置獄北軍，陰縱惡少年橫捕富人付吏考訊，因中以法，錄貲產入之軍，皆誣服冤死，故市人號「入地牢」。又萬年吏賈明觀倚朝恩捕搏恣行，積財鉅萬，人無敢發其奸。朝廷裁決，朝恩或不預者，輒怒曰：「天下事有不由我乎！」帝聞，不喜。養息令徽者，尚幼，為內給使，服綠，與同列爭忿，歸白朝恩。明日見帝曰：「臣之子位下，願得金紫，在班列上。」帝未答，有司已奉紫服於前，令徽稱謝。帝笑曰：「小兒章服，大稱。」滋不悅。

At first Liu Xixuan, chief adjutant of the Divine Strategy Army, was powerfully built and skilled in mounted archery. He was Chao'en's closest confidant and, as Minister of the Stud, was enfeoffed as Prince of Jiaohe. The army horse commissioner Wang Jiahe alone was careful and generous, and was also enfeoffed as Duke of Xu. Xixuan urged Chao'en to establish a prison in the Northern Army. Secretly he let ruffians seize wealthy men and hand them to officials for interrogation, then convict them by law, seize their property for the army, and send them to their deaths on false confessions. Townspeople called it "entering the underground dungeon." The Wanian clerk Jia Mingguan also relied on Chao'en to arrest and plunder at will, amassing vast wealth, and no one dared expose his crimes. When the court rendered judgments without consulting him, he would angrily say, "Is there anything under Heaven that does not go through me! When the emperor heard this, he was displeased. Magistrate of Yangxi Ling Hui was still young and served as an inner attendant in green robes. After quarreling with his peers, he went to Chao'en to complain. The next day he told the emperor, "My son holds too low a rank. I wish him to receive gold and purple and stand in the court ranks. Before the emperor could answer, the relevant offices had already presented purple robes and had Hui offer thanks. The emperor laughed and said, "Robes and insignia for a child—they fit him perfectly. Chao'en was all the more displeased.

元載乃用左散騎常侍崔昭尹京兆，厚以財結其黨皇甫溫、周皓。溫方屯陜，而皓射生將。自是朝恩隱謀奧語，悉為帝知。希暹覺帝指，密白朝恩，朝恩稍懼，然見帝接遇未衰，故自安而潛計不軌。帝遂倚載決除之，懼不克，載曰：「陛下第專屬臣，必濟。」朝恩入殿，嘗從武士百人自衛，皓統之，而溫握兵在外。載乃徙鳳翔尹李抱玉節度山南西道，以溫代節度鳳翔，陽重其權，寔內溫以自助。載又議析鳳翔之郿與京兆，以鄠、盩厔及鳳翔之虢、寶雞與抱玉，而以興平、武功、鳳翔之扶風天興與神策軍，朝恩利其土地，自封殖，不知為虞也。郭子儀密白：「朝恩嘗結周智光為外應，久領內兵，不早圖，變且大。」載留溫京師，未即遣，約與皓共誅朝恩。謀定，以聞，帝曰：「善圖之，勿反受禍！」方寒食，宴禁中，既罷，將還營，有詔留議事。朝恩素肥，每乘小車入宮省。帝聞車聲，危坐，載守中書省。朝恩至，帝責其異圖，朝恩自辯悖傲，皓與左右禽縊之，死年四十九，外無知者。帝隱之，下詔罷觀軍容等使，增實封戶六百，內侍監如故。外鹹言「既奉詔，乃投縊」雲。還屍於家，賜錢六百萬以葬。

Yuan Zai then appointed Left Palace Attendant Cui Zhao to govern Jingzhao and used great wealth to win over his allies Huangfu Wen and Zhou Hao. Wen was then garrisoned at Shanzhou, while Hao commanded the hunting guard. From then on the emperor learned of all Chao'en's hidden plots and secret counsels at court. Xixuan sensed the emperor's intent and secretly warned Chao'en. Chao'en grew somewhat afraid, but seeing that the emperor still treated him as before, he reassured himself and secretly plotted rebellion. The emperor then relied on Zai to decide how to remove him, fearing the attempt might fail. Zai said, "Your Majesty need only leave the matter entirely to me—it will succeed. When Chao'en entered the palace, he habitually came escorted by a hundred warriors under Hao's command, while Wen held troops outside. Zai transferred Fengxiang prefect Li Baoyu to command Shannan West Circuit and had Wen replace him at Fengxiang, outwardly to enhance Wen's power but in fact to bring Wen in as his ally. Zai also proposed splitting Mei and Jingzhao from Fengxiang, assigning Hu, Zhouzhi, and the Guo and Baoji districts of Fengxiang to Baoyu, while giving Xingping, Wugong, and Fufeng and Tianxing of Fengxiang to the Shence Army. Chao'en coveted the land for his own gain and did not realize he was walking into a trap. Guo Ziyi secretly warned the emperor, "Chao'en once allied with Zhou Zhiguang as an outside supporter. He has long commanded the inner army—if you do not move against him soon, the upheaval will be severe. Zai kept Wen in the capital and did not send him out at once, arranging with Hao to kill Chao'en together. When the plan was set and reported, the emperor said, "Plan it carefully—do not bring disaster upon yourselves! It was Cold Food Festival. After a feast in the palace, as Chao'en was about to return to camp, an edict ordered him to stay for deliberation. Chao'en had always been corpulent and entered the palace precincts each time in a small carriage. Hearing the carriage approach, the emperor sat bolt upright while Zai kept watch in the Secretariat. When Chao'en arrived, the emperor rebuked him for treasonous designs. Chao'en answered with defiant arrogance. Hao and the attendants seized and strangled him. He was forty-nine; no one outside knew what had happened. The emperor kept the matter secret and issued an edict abolishing the army-observing commissionership, adding six hundred fief households, while leaving the office of Director of Palace Affairs unchanged. Outside the palace, people said he had received the edict and then hanged himself. His body was returned to his family, and six million cash was granted for the funeral.

帝懼軍亂，進劉希暹、王駕鶴並兼御史中丞。又下詔尉曉將士，獨希暹自知同惡，言不遜，駕鶴白髮之，遂賜死。而賈明觀兼得幸於載，故載奏隸江西，使立功自贖，路嗣恭搒殺之。所厚禮部尚書、禮儀使裴土淹、戶部侍郎判度支第五琦皆坐貶。

Fearing mutiny in the army, the emperor promoted Liu Xixuan and Wang Jihe, each concurrently to Vice Censor-in-Chief. He also issued an edict to reassure the troops. Xixuan alone knew he shared in the guilt and spoke insolently. Jihe reported his white hair as proof of age, and he was ordered to die. Jia Mingguan had also won Zai's favor, so Zai memorialized to assign him to Jiangxi to earn merit and redeem himself; Lu Sizong had him beaten to death. Pei Shiyan, Minister of Rites and Commissioner of Ceremonies, and Diwu Qi, Vice Minister of Revenue in charge of fiscal affairs—both men Chao'en had favored—were demoted on account of the affair.

竇文場、霍仙鳴者，始並隸東宮，事德宗，未有名。自魚朝恩死，宦人不復典兵，帝以禁衛盡委白誌貞，誌貞多納富人金補軍，止收其庸而身不在軍。及涇師亂，帝召近衛，無一人至者，惟文場等率宦官及親王左右從。至奉天，帝逐誌貞，並左右軍付文場主之。興元初，詔監神策左廂兵馬，以王希遷監右，而馬有麟為左神策軍大將軍，軍額由此始。

Dou Wenchang and Huo Xianming had both originally served in the Eastern Palace under Dezong and were not yet well known. After Yu Chao'en died, eunuchs no longer commanded troops. The emperor entrusted the entire palace guard to Bai Zhizhen, who took bribes from wealthy men to fill out the rolls, collecting only their service dues while they themselves never served. When the Jingzhou mutiny broke out, the emperor summoned the nearby guards, but not one came—only Wenchang and the others led eunuchs and princes' attendants to follow him. At Fengtian the emperor expelled Zhizhen and put both the Left and Right Armies under Wenchang's command. In the first year of Xingyuan, an edict appointed him to oversee the left wing of the Shence Army, with Wang Xiqian overseeing the right; Ma Youlin became Grand General of the Left Shence Army—the army designation dates from this.

帝自山南還，兩軍復完，而帝忌宿將難制，故詔文場、仙鳴分總之，廢天威軍入左右神策。是時，竇、霍權振朝廷，諸方節度大將多出其軍，臺省要官走門下，丐援影者足相躡。衛士朱華以按摩得幸文場，參慮補置，索賕數萬緡，而藩鎮贈遺累百鉅萬，略士妻女無所憚，詔殺之於軍。其隆赫如此。

When the emperor returned from the south, both armies were restored to full strength. Fearing that veteran generals would be hard to control, he had Wenchang and Xianming command them jointly and absorbed the Tianwei Army into the Left and Right Shence. At this time Dou and Huo's power shook the court. Many frontier commanders and great generals came from their armies. High officials of the central ministries crowded their gates seeking patronage, their footsteps treading on one another. Guard Zhu Hua won Wenchang's favor through massage and took part in deciding appointments, demanding bribes of tens of thousands of strings of cash. Military governors sent him gifts totaling millions, and he seized commoners' wives and daughters without fear. An edict ordered him executed in the army. Such was the height of their power and splendor.

久之，置護軍中尉、中護軍各二員，詔文場為左神策護軍中尉，仙鳴為右，焦希望為左神策中護軍，張尚進為右。中尉、護軍自文場等始。後仙鳴移病，帝賜十馬，令諸祠祈解。後稍愈，已而暴死，帝疑左右進毒，捕詰小使問狀，誅數十人，贈開府儀同三司，以內常侍第五守亮代之。文場擢累驃騎大將軍。時監察御史崔行囚於軍，吏為具酒食，欲悅媚之，故不拒。文場劾奏，詔流遠方。文場年老致仕卒。

After some time, two Protectors of the Army and two Army Vice-Protectors were established. Wenchang was appointed Left Shence Protector of the Army, Xianming Right, Jiao Xiwang Left Shence Army Vice-Protector, and Zhang Shangjin Right. The posts of Protector and Vice-Protector began with Wenchang and his colleagues. Later Xianming fell ill. The emperor granted ten horses and ordered prayers at shrines for his recovery. He recovered somewhat, then suddenly died. The emperor suspected attendants had poisoned him, arrested and interrogated junior servants, and executed several dozen. Xianming was posthumously granted Grand Master for Splendid Happiness with ceremonial equal to the Three Dukes. Inner Palace Attendant Diwu Shouliang replaced him. Wenchang was promoted repeatedly until he reached General of Agile Cavalry. At the time Investigating Censor Cui Xing was imprisoned in the army. An officer prepared wine and food to please him, and he did not refuse. Wenchang impeached him, and an edict banished him to a distant post. Wenchang retired in old age and later died.

其後楊誌廉、孫榮義為左右中尉，招權驕肆，與竇、霍略等。帝晚節聞民間訛語禁中事，而北軍捕太學生何竦、曹壽系訊，人情大懼，司業武少儀上書「有如罪不測，願明示四方」。俄得釋。是時宦官復盛矣。

Thereafter Yang Zhilian and Sun Rongyi served as Left and Right Protectors, monopolizing power with arrogant license much like Dou and Huo. In his later years the emperor heard popular rumors about palace affairs. The Northern Army arrested Imperial College students He Song and Cao Shou for interrogation, and public fear ran high. Vice Director Wu Shaoyi memorialized, "If the offense is unclear, I pray you make the truth known to all the realm." Soon they were released. At this time eunuch power was on the rise once again.

希望者，涇陽人，歷明威將軍，贈洪州都督。尚進，河東人，歷忠武將軍，贈開府儀同三司。誌廉，弘農人，歷左監門衛大將軍；榮義，涇陽人，歷右武衛大將軍。並贈揚州大都督。

Xiwang was a native of Jingyang. He rose to General of Illustrious Martiality and was posthumously granted Governor of Hong Prefecture. Shangjin was a native of Hedong. He rose to General of Loyal Martiality and was posthumously granted Grand Master for Splendid Happiness with ceremonial equal to the Three Dukes. Zhiliang was a native of Hongnong and rose to Grand General of the Left Gate Guard; Rongyi was a native of Jingyang and rose to Grand General of the Right Martial Guard. All were posthumously granted Governor-General of Yang Prefecture.

劉貞亮，本俱氏，名文珍，冒所養宦父，故改焉。性忠強，識義理。平涼之盟，在渾瑊軍中，會虜變，被執且西，俄而得歸。出監宣武軍，自置親兵千人。貞元末，宦人領兵附順者益眾。

Liu Zhenliang was originally of the Ju clan and named Wenzhen; he took the surname of the eunuch who had raised him and therefore changed his name. By nature he was loyal and resolute and understood right from wrong. At the Pingliang alliance he was in Hun Zai's army. When the barbarians mutinied he was captured and taken west, but soon returned. Sent out as army monitor of Xuanwu, he personally raised a personal guard of a thousand men. By the end of the Zhenyuan era, eunuchs commanding troops in compliant posts had grown ever more numerous.

會順宗立，淹痼弗能朝，惟李忠言、牛美人侍。美人以帝旨付忠言，忠言授之王叔文，叔文與柳宗元等裁定，然後下中書。然未得縱欲，遂奪神策兵以自強，即用範希朝為京西北禁軍都將，收宦者權。而忠言素懦謹，每見叔文與論事，無敢異同，唯貞亮乃與之爭。又惡朋黨熾結，因與中人劉光琦、薛文珍、尚衍、解玉、呂如全等同勸帝立廣陵王為太子監國，帝納其奏，貞亮召學士衛次公、鄭絪、李程、王涯至金鑾殿草定制詔。太子已立，盡逐叔文黨，委政大臣，議者美其忠。

When Shunzong ascended the throne, he was long bedridden and unable to hold court; only Li Zhongyan and Niu Meiren attended him. Meiren passed the emperor's directives to Zhongyan, who handed them to Wang Shuwen; Shuwen together with Liu Zongyuan and others settled the matters before sending them to the Secretariat. Yet they could not indulge their desires as they wished, so they seized the Shence troops to strengthen themselves, immediately appointing Fan Xichao commander-in-chief of the capital northwest guard army and reclaiming power from the eunuchs. But Zhongyan had always been timid and cautious. Whenever he met with Shuwen to discuss affairs he dared not disagree; only Zhenliang would argue with him. He also hated the thickening of factional bonds and, together with fellow eunuchs Liu Guangqi, Xue Wenzhen, Shang Yan, Xie Yu, and Lü Ruquan, persuaded the emperor to install the Prince of Guangling as heir apparent to oversee the realm. The emperor accepted their memorial. Zhenliang summoned Academicians Wei Cigong, Zheng Yu, Li Cheng, and Wang Ya to the Golden Lock Hall to draft the installing edict. Once the heir apparent was installed, they drove out the entire Shuwen faction and entrusted governance to the chief ministers. Commentators praised Zhenliang's loyalty.

高崇文討劉辟，復為監軍。初，東川節度使李康為辟所破，囚之。崇文至，辟歸康求雪，貞亮劾以不拒賊，斬之，故以專悍見訾。遷累右衛大將軍，知內侍省事。元和八年卒，贈開府儀同三司。

When Gao Chongwen campaigned against Liu Pi, Zhenliang again served as army monitor. Initially, Dongchuan military commissioner Li Kang had been defeated by Pi and taken prisoner. When Chongwen arrived, Pi returned Kang and sought absolution. Zhenliang impeached Kang for failing to resist the rebel and had him executed—hence he was criticized as arbitrary and harsh. He was promoted repeatedly to Grand General of the Right Guard and put in charge of the Directorate of Palace Affairs. He died in the eighth year of Yuanhe and was posthumously granted Grand Master for Splendid Happiness with ceremonial equal to the Three Dukes.

憲宗之立，貞亮為有功，然終身無所寵假。呂如全歷內侍省內常侍、翰林使，坐擅取樟材治第，送東都獄，至閿鄉自殺。又郭旻醉觸夜禁，杖殺之。五坊朱超晏、王誌忠縱鷹人入民家，搒二百，奪職，由是莫不懾畏。

Zhenliang had merit in Xianzong's accession, yet throughout his life he received no special favor or indulgence. Lü Ruquan rose through Inner Palace Attendant and Hanlin Emissary. He was punished for seizing camphor timber to build a mansion and was sent to prison in the eastern capital; at Wenxiang he killed himself. Guo Min, drunk, violated the nighttime curfew and was beaten to death. The falconers Zhu Chaoyan and Wang Zhizhong of the Five Wards let their hawk handlers enter commoners' homes; they were beaten two hundred strokes and stripped of office—whereupon none failed to tremble in fear.

吐突承璀，字仁貞，閩人也。以黃門直東宮，為掖廷局博士，察察有才。憲宗立，擢累左監門將軍、左神策護軍中尉、左街功德使，封薊國公。

Tu Tu Chenghui, courtesy name Renzhen, was a native of Min. As a Yellow Gate attendant in the Eastern Palace he served as Erudit of the Inner Palace Department; he was sharp-eyed and talented. When Xianzong ascended the throne he was promoted repeatedly to General of the Left Gate Guard, Left Shence Protector of the Army, and Commissioner of the Left Street Merit Hall, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Ji.

王承宗叛，承璀揣帝銳征討，因請行。帝見其果敢，自喜，謂可任，即詔承璀為行營招討處置使，以左右神策及河中、河南、浙西、宣歙兵從之。內寺伯宋惟澄、曹進玉為館驛使：自河南、陜、河陽，惟澄主之；京、華、河中至太原，進玉主之。又詔內常侍劉國珍、馬朝江分領易、定、幽、滄等州糧料使。於是諫官李庸阝、許孟容、李元素、李夷簡、呂元膺、穆質、孟簡、獨孤郁、段平仲、白居易等眾對延英，謂古無中人位大帥，恐為四方笑。帝乃更為招討宣慰使，為禦通化門慰其行。承璀禦眾無它遠略，為盧從史侮狎，逾年無功，賴中詔擿使執從史，而間遣人說承宗上書待罪，乃詔班師，還為中尉。平仲劾承璀輕謀弊賦，損國威，不斬首無以謝天下。帝不獲已，罷為軍器莊宅使。尋拜左衛上將軍，知內侍省。

When Wang Chengzong rebelled, Chenghui guessed that the emperor was eager to campaign and therefore volunteered to go. The emperor saw his boldness and was pleased, thinking him fit for the task. He immediately appointed Chenghui Campaigning Commander and Disposal Commissioner, with the Left and Right Shence armies and troops from Hedong, Henan, Zhexii, and Xuanshe to follow him. Inner Palace Herald Song Weicheng and Cao Jinyu served as courier commissioners: from Henan, Shan, and Heyang, Weicheng was in charge; from the capital, Hua, and Hedong to Taiyuan, Jinyu was in charge. An edict also appointed Inner Palace Attendants Liu Guozhen and Ma Chaojiang to divide command of the grain commissioners for Yi, Ding, You, Cang, and other prefectures. Thereupon remonstrating officials Li Jiang, Xu Mengrong, Li Yuansu, Li Yijian, Lü Yuanying, Mu Zhi, Meng Jian, Dugu Yu, Duan Pingzhong, Bai Juyi, and others together faced the emperor in the Yanying Hall and said that in antiquity no eunuch had held the rank of a great commander, fearing the realm would laugh. The emperor then changed the title to Campaigning Commissioner and Pacification Commissioner and went to the Tonghua Gate to see him off. Chenghui commanded the army without any far-reaching strategy. Lu Congshi treated him with contempt. More than a year passed without success. They relied on a secret imperial rescript to summon and seize Congshi, while intermittently sending men to persuade Chengzong to submit a memorial admitting guilt. Then an edict ordered withdrawal. Chenghui returned as Protector of the Army. Pingzhong impeached Chenghui for rash planning that wasted the treasury and damaged national prestige, saying that unless he were executed there would be no way to answer the realm. Unable to refuse, the emperor demoted him to Commissioner of the Arsenal and Manorial Estates. Soon he was appointed Left Guard Senior General and put in charge of the Directorate of Palace Affairs.

會劉希光納羽林大將軍孫璹錢二十萬緡求方鎮，有詔賜死，跡絓承璀，故令出監淮南軍。纖人太子通事舍人李涉投匭言承璀等冤狀，於是孔戣知匭事，閱其副，不受，即表其奸，逐為峽州司倉參軍。然帝於承璀殊厚，會李絳在翰林，苦論其過，故決遣之。帝後欲還承璀，為罷絳宰相，召為內弓箭庫使，復左神策中尉。惠昭太子薨，承璀請立澧王，不從。常飾一室藏所賜詔敕，地生毛二尺，惡之，躬糞除瘞之。逾年帝崩，穆宗銜前議，殺之禁中。敬宗時，左神策中尉馬存亮論其冤，詔許子士曄收葬。宣宗時，擢士曄右神策中尉。

When Liu Xiguang accepted two hundred thousand strings of cash from Feathered Forest Grand General Sun Zuan in exchange for a frontier command, an edict ordered Xiguang to die. Traces implicated Chenghui, so Chenghui was sent out to monitor the Huainan army. Li She, Attendant Master of Ceremonies to the Heir Apparent, submitted a petition-box memorial on Chenghui's and others' grievances. Kong Kai, in charge of the petition box, read the duplicate, refused to accept it, immediately memorialized exposing his treachery, and had him banished to be Storage Officer of Xia Prefecture. Yet the emperor was exceptionally fond of Chenghui. When Li Jiang was in the Hanlin Academy and spoke bitterly of his faults, the emperor therefore decided to send him away. Later the emperor wished to recall Chenghui, dismissed Jiang from the chancellorship, recalled Chenghui as Inner Bow-and-Arrow Store Commissioner, and restored him as Left Shence Protector of the Army. When Crown Prince Huizhao died, Chenghui requested that the Prince of Li be installed as heir; the emperor did not agree. He kept a room adorned to store the edicts and orders he had received. The ground sprouted hair two feet long. He regarded it as an ill omen, personally cleared away the filth and buried it. More than a year later the emperor died. Muzong harbored resentment over the earlier dispute and had him killed in the palace. During Jingzong's reign, Left Shence Protector Ma Cunliang argued his innocence. An edict permitted his son Shi Ye to recover the body for burial. During Xuanzong's reign, Shi Ye was promoted to Right Shence Protector.

是時，諸道歲進閹兒，號「私白」，閩、嶺最多，後皆任事，當時謂閩為中官區藪。咸通中，杜宣猷為觀察使，每歲時遣吏致祭其先，時號「敕使墓戶」。宣猷卒用群宦力徙宣歙觀察使。

At this time each circuit annually presented castrated boys, called "private whites." Min and the Ling region sent the most. Later all held office. People at the time called Min a breeding ground for palace eunuchs. During the Xiantong era, Du Xuanyou served as observer. Each year at the proper seasons he sent officials to offer sacrifices at his ancestors' tombs. At the time he was called "the edict-commissioner's grave patron." Before his death Xuanyou used the collective power of the eunuchs to have himself transferred to observer of Xuanshe.

馬存亮，字季明，河中人。元和時，累擢左神策軍副使、左監門衛將軍，知內侍省事，進左神策中尉。軍所籍凡十餘萬，存亮料柬尤精，伍無罷士，部無冗員。

Ma Cunliang, courtesy name Jiming, was a native of Hedong. In the Yuanhe era he was promoted repeatedly to Deputy Commander of the Left Shence Army, General of the Left Gate Guard, and Administrator of the Directorate of Palace Affairs, and advanced to Left Shence Protector. The army rolls totaled more than a hundred thousand men. Cunliang's selection and organization were exceptionally meticulous: no squad had idle soldiers, no department had superfluous posts.

敬宗初，染署工張韶與卜者蘇玄明善，玄明曰：「我嘗為子卜，子當禦殿食，我與焉。吾聞上晝夜獵，出入無度，可圖也。」韶每輸染材入宮，衛士不呵也。乃陰結諸工百餘人，匿兵車中若輸材者，入右銀臺門，約昏夜為變。有詰其載者，韶謂謀覺，殺其人，出兵大呼成列，浴堂門閉。時帝擊球清思殿，驚，將幸右神策。或曰：「賊入宮，不知眾寡，道遠可虞，不如入左軍，近且速。」從之。初，帝常寵右軍中尉梁守謙，每遊幸；兩軍角戲，帝多欲右勝，而左軍以為望。至是，存亮出迎，捧帝足泣，負而入。以五百騎往迎二太后，比至，而賊已斬關入清思殿，升禦坐，盜乘輿餘膳，揖玄明偶食，且曰「如占」。玄明驚曰：「止此乎！」韶惡之，悉以寶器賜其徒，攻弓箭庫，仗士拒之，不勝。存亮遣左神策大將軍康藝全、將軍何文哲宋叔夜孟文亮，右神策大將軍康誌睦、將軍李泳尚國忠，率騎兵討賊，日暮，射韶及玄明皆死。始賊入，中人倉卒繇望仙門出奔，內外不知行在。遲明，盡捕亂黨，左右軍清宮，車駕還。群臣詣延英門見天子，然至者不十一二，坐賊所入闌不禁者數十人，杖而不誅，賜存亮實封戶二百，梁守謙進開府儀同三司，它論功賞有差。存亮於一時功最高，乃推委權勢，求監淮南軍。代還，為內飛龍使。大和中，以右領軍衛上將軍致仕，封岐國公，卒贈揚州大都督。

Early in Jingzong's reign, Dye Office craftsman Zhang Shao was on good terms with diviner Su Xuanming. Xuanming said, "I once divined for you—you will dine in the imperial hall, and I will be there with you. I hear the Emperor hunts day and night, coming and going without restraint. He can be taken. Shao regularly brought dye materials into the palace, and the guards never challenged him. He then secretly gathered more than a hundred craftsmen, concealed weapons in carts disguised as material deliveries, entered through the Right Yintai Gate, and set the uprising for dusk. When someone questioned his cargo, Shao thought the plot had been discovered, killed the man, deployed his armed men shouting as they formed ranks, and the Bath Hall gate was shut. The Emperor was playing cuju in Qingsi Hall at the time. Alarmed, he prepared to flee to the Right Shence Army. Someone said, "The rebels have entered the palace and we do not know how many they are. The route to the Right Army is long and risky—it would be better to go to the Left Army, which is close and quick. They followed this counsel. Previously the Emperor had favored Right Army Protector Liang Shouqian, taking him along on every outing; When the two armies staged mock battles, the Emperor often wanted the Right to win, leaving the Left Army disappointed. At this point Cunliang came out to meet him, clasped the Emperor's feet and wept, and carried him inside on his back. Five hundred horsemen were dispatched to escort the two empress dowagers; but by the time they arrived, the rebels had already broken through the gates into Qingsi Hall, ascended the imperial throne, stolen the Emperor's leftover meal, bowed to Xuanming to dine with him, and said, "Just as the divination foretold." Xuanming cried out in alarm, "Is this all? Shao resented this, gave all the precious vessels to his followers, and attacked the bow-and-arrow storehouse; armed guards resisted and they could not overcome them. Cunliang dispatched Left Shence Grand General Kang Yiquan and Generals He Wenzhe, Song Shuye, and Meng Wenliang, along with Right Shence Grand General Kang Zhimu and Generals Li Yong and Shang Guozhong, leading cavalry to suppress the rebels. At dusk they shot down Shao and Xuanming, killing them both. When the rebels first entered, palace eunuchs fled in haste through Wangxian Gate; inside and outside the palace, no one knew the Emperor's whereabouts. At daybreak all the rebels were captured; the Left and Right armies cleared the palace, and the Emperor returned. Ministers went to Yan'ying Gate to see the Emperor, yet fewer than one or two in ten arrived. Several dozen men who had failed to bar the gate the rebels entered were caned but not executed. Cunliang was granted two hundred households of perpetual revenue; Liang Shouqian was promoted to Senior Grand Master of Splendid State with the ceremonial rank of the Three Excellencies; others were rewarded according to their merits. Though Cunliang had earned the highest distinction in the crisis, he set aside authority and power and requested to supervise the Huainan army. After his successor returned, he was appointed Inner Flying Dragon Commissioner. In the Dahe era he retired as Senior General of the Right Imperial Guard, was enfeoffed as Duke of Qi, and upon death was posthumously given the title Grand Governor of Yangzhou.

存亮逮事德宗，更六朝，資端畏，善訓士，始去禁衛，眾皆泣。唐世中人以忠謹稱者，唯存亮、西門季玄、嚴遵美三人而已。

Cunliang had served since Dezong's reign, passing through six reigns. Upright and cautious by nature, he excelled at training soldiers. When he first departed the palace guard, all his men wept. Among Tang-era eunuchs praised for loyalty and prudence, only Cunliang, Ximen Jixuan, and Yan Zunmei counted.

遵美父季寔，為掖廷局博士。大中時，有宮人謀弒宣宗。是夜，季寔直鹹寧門下，聞變，入射殺之。明日，帝勞曰：「非爾，吾危不免。」擢北院副使，終內樞密使。

Zunmei's father, Ji Shi, served as a doctor of the Yeting Bureau. During the Dazhong era, a palace woman plotted to assassinate Emperor Xuanzong. That night Ji Shi was on duty at Xianning Gate; hearing of the disturbance, he entered and shot her dead. The next day the Emperor thanked him, saying, "Had it not been for you, I could not have escaped with my life. He was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of the Northern Court and ultimately rose to Director of the Inner Privy Council.

遵美歷左軍容使，嘗嘆曰：「北司供奉官以胯衫給事，今執笏，過矣。樞密使無聽事，唯三楹舍藏書而已，今堂狀帖黃決事，此楊復恭奪宰相權之失也。」蓋疾時中官肆橫雲。後從昭宗遷鳳翔，求致仕，隱青城山，年八十餘卒。

Zunmei served as Left Army Aide Commissioner. He once sighed and said, "Attendants of the Northern Bureau once served in split-skirt robes; now they hold court tablets—that has gone too far. The Privy Council Commissioner had no audience hall—only a three-bay lodge for storing books. Now they decide affairs through hall summaries and yellow slips pasted on memorials. This was the error Yang Fugong made when he usurped the chancellor's authority. Such was his lament at the rampant excess of eunuchs in his time. Later he followed Emperor Zhaozong to Fengxiang, requested retirement, and withdrew to seclusion on Mount Qingcheng, where he died in his eighties.

仇士良，字匡美，循州興寧人。順宗時得侍東宮。憲宗嗣位，再遷內給事，出監平盧、鳳翔等軍。嘗次敷水驛，與御史元稹爭舍上廳，擊傷稹。中丞王播奏御史、中使以先後至得正寢，請如舊章。帝不直稹，斥其官。元和、大和間，數任內外五坊使，秋按鷹內畿，所至邀吏供餉，暴甚寇盜。

Qiu Shiliang, courtesy name Kuangmei, was a native of Xingning in Xun Prefecture. During Shunzong's reign he entered service in the Eastern Palace. When Xianzong succeeded to the throne, he was promoted twice to Inner Provisioner and sent out to supervise the Pinglu, Fengxiang, and other armies. Once, while stopping at Fushui Post Station, he contended with Censor Yuan Zhen for the main hall and struck him, injuring him. Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang Bo memorialized that censors and imperial commissioners should take the main lodging according to who arrived first, and asked that the old regulation be restored. The Emperor did not support Zhen and stripped him of his post. Between the Yuanhe and Dahe eras he repeatedly served as commissioner of the Five Camps, inspecting hawks within the capital region each autumn. Wherever he went he demanded supplies from officials, and his depredations surpassed those of bandits.

文宗與李訓欲殺王守澄，以士良素與守澄隙，故擢左神策軍中尉兼左街功德使，使相糜肉。已而訓謀悉逐中官，士良悟其謀，與右神策軍中尉魚弘誌、大盈庫使宋守義挾帝還宮。王涯、舒元輿已就縛，士良肆脅辱，令自承反，示牒於朝。於時莫能辨其情，皆謂誠反，士良因縱兵捕，無輕重悉斃兩軍，公卿半空。事平，加特進、右驍衛大將軍，弘誌右衛上將軍兼中尉，守義右領軍衛上將軍。

Emperor Wenzong and Li Xun plotted to kill Wang Shoucheng. Because Shiliang had long been at odds with Shoucheng, they promoted Shiliang to Left Shence Army Protector and concurrent Left Street Merit Commissioner, setting the two against each other like wolves tearing each other's flesh. Before long Xun plotted to expel all eunuch officials. Shiliang saw through the scheme and, with Right Shence Army Protector Yu Hongzhi and Commissioner of the Great Abundance Storehouse Song Shouyi, seized the Emperor and carried him back to the palace. Wang Ya and Shu Yuanyu were already bound. Shiliang wantonly threatened and humiliated them into confessing treason themselves, then displayed the confessions at court. At the time no one could discern the truth—all believed they had truly rebelled. Shiliang therefore unleashed his troops to seize whomever they could; without regard to guilt or innocence, countless people were killed between the two armies, and the ranks of ministers and nobles were decimated. After the crisis was settled, Shiliang was given the special advancement and made Grand General of the Right Martial Cavaliery; Hongzhi became Senior General of the Right Guard and concurrent Protector; Shouyi became Senior General of the Right Imperial Guard.

李石輔政，棱棱有風岸，士良與論議數屈，深忌之，使賊刺石於親仁裏，馬逸而免。石懼，辭位，士良益無憚。

When Li Shi served as chief minister, he was stern and upright. Shiliang was repeatedly bested in debate and deeply resented him; he sent assassins to ambush Shi in Qinren Lane, but Shi's horse bolted and he escaped. Fearing for his life, Shi resigned; Shiliang grew ever more unrestrained.

澤潞劉從諫本與訓約誅鄭註。及訓死，憤士良得誌，乃上書言：「王涯等八人皆宿儒大臣，願保富貴，何苦而反。今大戮所加已不可追，而名之逆賊，含憤九泉。不然，天下義夫節士，畏禍伏身，誰肯與陛下共治耶？」即以訓所移書遣部將陳季卿以聞。季卿至，會石遇盜，京師擾，疑不敢進。從諫大怒，殺季卿，騰書於朝。又言：「臣與訓誅註，以註本宦豎所提挈，不使聞知。今四方共傳宰相欲除內官，而兩軍中尉聞，自救死，妄相殺戮，謂為反逆。有如大臣挾無將之謀，自宜執付有司，安有縱俘劫、橫屍闕下哉？陛下視不及，聽未聞也。且宦人根黨蔓延在內，臣欲面陳，恐橫遭戮害，謹修封疆，繕甲兵，為陛下腹心。如奸臣難制，誓以死清君側。」書聞，人人傳觀。士良沮恐，即進從諫檢校司徒，欲弭其言。從諫知可動，復言：「臣所陳系國大體，可聽，則宜洗宥涯等罪；不可聽，則賞不宜妄出。安有死冤不申，而生者荷祿？」固辭。累上書，暴指士良等罪。帝雖不能去，然倚其言差自強。自是郁郁不樂，兩軍球獵宴會絕矣。

Liu Congjian of Zelu had originally joined Xun in a pact to execute Zheng Zhu. When Xun died, enraged that Shiliang had gotten his way, Congjian submitted a memorial: "Wang Ya and the other eight were all long-serving Confucian ministers who wished only to preserve their wealth and status—why would they rebel at such cost? The mass execution can no longer be undone, yet they are branded traitorous rebels—they lie beneath the earth nursing their grievance. If not, righteous men and men of integrity throughout the realm will fear disaster and hide themselves—who then will be willing to govern with Your Majesty? He then dispatched his subordinate general Chen Jiqing to deliver the letter Xun had forwarded and report to the court. When Jiqing arrived, Li Shi had just survived an assassination attempt and the capital was in turmoil; suspicious and afraid, he did not dare present the memorial. Congjian was furious, had Jiqing executed, and had the letter circulated openly at court. He added, "Your subject joined with Xun in executing Zhu because Zhu had been promoted by eunuchs—we kept them from knowing of it. Now rumor spreads everywhere that the chancellor sought to remove eunuch officials; the two army Protectors heard of it, fought to save themselves, indiscriminately slaughtered people, and called it treason. Had great ministers truly harbored treasonous designs, they should properly have been handed over to the judicial authorities—how could troops have been let loose to pillage and leave corpses strewn before the palace gates? Your Majesty neither saw nor heard. Moreover eunuch factions spread their roots deep within the palace. Your subject wishes to speak to Your Majesty in person but fears being killed on the spot. I therefore secure my borders, repair armor and weapons, and stand as Your Majesty's loyal bulwark. If treacherous ministers cannot be controlled, I swear to purge them from Your Majesty's side even at the cost of my life. When the letter reached the court, everyone circulated it to read. Shiliang was shaken with fear and immediately had Congjian appointed Acting Minister of Education, hoping to silence him. Knowing they were wavering, Congjian wrote again: "What I have stated concerns the fundamental interests of the state. If Your Majesty will hear me, Wang Ya and the others' crimes should be cleared and pardoned; if not, rewards should not be dispensed heedlessly. How can the dead lie with unredressed grievances while the living draw their salaries? He steadfastly declined the appointment. He submitted memorial after memorial, openly indicting the crimes of Shiliang and his allies. Though the Emperor could not remove Shiliang, he drew some strength from Congjian's words and grew somewhat firmer in resolve. From then on the Emperor grew melancholy and joyless, and the two armies' cuju, hunts, and banquets ceased entirely.

開成四年，苦風痹，少間，召宰相見延英，退坐思政殿，顧左右曰：「所直學士謂誰？」曰：「周墀也。」召至，帝曰：「自爾所況，朕何如主？」墀再拜曰：「臣不足以知，然天下言陛下堯、舜主也。」帝曰：「所以問，謂與周赧、漢獻孰愈？」墀惶駭曰：「陛下之德，成、康、文、景未足比，何自方二主哉？」帝曰：「赧、獻受制強臣，今朕受制家奴，自以不及遠矣！」因泣下，墀伏地流涕。後不復朝，至大漸雲。

In the fourth year of Kaicheng he was racked by rheumatism. After a brief respite he summoned the chancellor to Yan'ying Hall, then withdrew to Sizheng Hall and asked those beside him, "Who is the academician on duty today? They answered, "Zhou Chi." Chi was summoned. The Emperor said, "From what you have observed, what sort of ruler am I?" Chi bowed twice and said, "I am not qualified to judge, yet the realm calls Your Majesty a ruler in the mold of Yao and Shun." The Emperor said, "I ask because I wish to know—am I better or worse than King Nan of Zhou and Emperor Xian of Han?" Chi replied in alarm, "Your Majesty's virtue surpasses even the kings Cheng, Kang, Wen, and Jing—how could you compare yourself to those two?" The Emperor said, "Nan and Xian were controlled by powerful ministers, but I am controlled by household slaves—I consider myself far beneath them!" He wept as he spoke, and Chi prostrated himself, weeping. Afterward he held court no more, until his final illness.

帝明斷，雖士良有援立功，內實嫌之，陽示尊寵。李德裕得君，士良愈恐。會昌二年，上尊號，士良宣言「宰相作赦書，減禁軍縑糧芻菽」以搖怨，語兩軍曰：「審有是，樓前可爭。」德裕以白帝，命使者諭神策軍曰：「赦令自朕意，宰相何豫？爾渠敢是？」士乃怗然。士良惶惑不自安。明年，進觀軍容使，兼統左右軍，以疾辭，罷為內侍監，知省事。固請老，詔可。尋卒，贈揚州大都督。

The Emperor was clear-minded and decisive. Though Shiliang had saved him and earned merit, he secretly resented him while outwardly showering him with honor. When Li Deyu gained the Emperor's confidence, Shiliang grew more afraid. In the second year of Huichang, during the conferral of the honorific title, Shiliang spread word that "the chancellor wrote the amnesty edict cutting the forbidden army's silk rations and fodder" to stir up resentment, telling the two armies, "If this is true, you may protest before the palace tower." Deyu reported this to the Emperor, who sent an envoy to instruct the Shence Army, "The amnesty came from my own intent—what business is it of the chancellor's? How dare you lot do such a thing?" The soldiers then quieted down. Shiliang was shaken and ill at ease. The following year he was promoted to Military Observation Commissioner with concurrent command of both armies; citing illness he resigned and was reduced to Palace Attendant Supervisor, administering routine affairs. He firmly requested retirement on account of age; the Emperor granted it. He died soon after and was posthumously given the title Grand Governor of Yangzhou.

士良之老，中人舉送還第，謝曰：「諸君善事天子，能聽老夫語乎？」眾唯唯。士良曰：「天子不可令閑暇，暇必觀書，見儒臣，則又納諫，智深慮遠，減玩好，省遊幸，吾屬恩且薄而權輕矣。為諸君計，莫若殖財貨，盛鷹馬，日以球獵聲色蠱其心，極侈靡，使悅不知息，則必斥經術，阇外事，萬機在我，恩澤權力欲焉往哉？」眾再拜。士良殺二王、一妃、四宰相，貪酷二十餘年，亦有術自將，恩禮不衰雲。死之明年，有發其家藏兵數千物，詔削官爵，籍其家。

When Shiliang retired, fellow eunuchs escorted him home in procession. He addressed them: "Serve the Son of Heaven well—will you heed an old man's counsel? The crowd murmured assent. Shiliang said, "The Son of Heaven must never be allowed idle hours. In idleness he will read books, receive Confucian ministers, and accept remonstrance—growing wise and far-sighted, cutting back diversions and curtailing excursions—and then our favor will wane and our power shrink. For your own sakes, nothing surpasses amassing wealth, keeping fine hawks and horses, and daily filling the Emperor's heart with cuju, hunts, music, and women—extravagance without limit, pleasure without cease—until he dismisses the classics, shuts out affairs of state, and the myriad responsibilities fall into our hands. Then where will favor, grace, and power go but to us? The crowd bowed twice in assent. Shiliang killed two princes, one consort, and four chancellors. Greedy and ruthless for more than twenty years, he nevertheless knew how to manage himself—so the text says his favor and standing never waned. The year after his death, thousands of weapons were discovered hidden in his home; an edict stripped his titles and confiscated his estate.

始，士良、弘誌憤文宗與李訓謀，屢欲廢帝。崔慎由為翰林學士，直夜未半，有中使召入，至秘殿，見士良等坐堂上，帷帳周密，謂慎由曰：「上不豫已久，自即位，政令多荒闕，皇太后有制更立嗣君，學士當作詔。」慎由驚曰：「上高明之德在天下，安可輕議？慎由親族中表千人，兄弟群從且三百，何可與覆族事？雖死不承命。」士良等默然，久乃啟後戶，引至小殿，帝在焉。士良等歷階數帝過失，帝俯首。既而士良指帝曰：「不為學士，不得更坐此。」乃送慎由出，戒曰：「毋泄，禍及爾宗。」慎由記其事，藏箱枕間，時人莫知。將沒，以授其子胤，故胤惡中官，終討除之，蓋禍原於士良、弘誌雲。

Initially Shiliang and Hongzhi, furious that Wenzong had conspired with Li Xun, repeatedly sought to depose the Emperor. Hanlin academician Cui Shenyou was on night duty past midnight when an inner commissioner summoned him to a secret hall, where Shiliang and others sat with curtains drawn tight. They told Shenyou, "The Emperor has long been unwell; since his accession government has been largely neglected. The empress dowager has issued orders to install a new heir—you must draft the edict. Shenyou exclaimed in alarm, "The Emperor's enlightened virtue is known throughout the realm—how can such a thing be lightly discussed? My clansmen and cousins number a thousand; my brothers and extended kin nearly three hundred—how can I join in an enterprise that would exterminate my entire clan? I would rather die than accept such a command." Shiliang and the others fell silent. After a long while they opened a rear door and led him to a small hall—the Emperor was there. Shiliang and his allies climbed the steps one by one, reciting the Emperor's failings; the Emperor bowed his head in silence. Then Shiliang pointed at the emperor and said, "Had you not been a scholar, you would never sit here again. He then sent Shenyou out with a warning: "Tell no one, or your whole clan will suffer." Shenyou wrote down what had happened and hid the account in a chest by his pillow. No one knew at the time. Near death he gave it to his son Yin. Yin came to hate palace eunuchs and in the end destroyed them—the roots of that disaster lay with Shiliang and Hongzhi.

楊復光，閩人也，本喬氏。有武力，少養於內常侍楊玄價家，頗以節誼自奮，玄價奇之。宣宗時，玄價監鹽州軍，誣殺刺史劉臯。臯有威名者，世訟其冤。稍遷左神策軍中尉，譖去宰相楊收，權寵震時。

Yang Fuguang came from Min. His birth surname was Qiao. He was strong in arms and was raised in the household of inner vice attendant Yang Xuanjia. He prided himself on integrity and loyalty, and Xuanjia thought him remarkable. Under Emperor Xuanzong, Xuanjia supervised the Yanzhou army and on false charges executed Prefect Liu Gao. Gao had enjoyed a formidable reputation, and for generations men disputed his wrongful death. He rose to Left Shence Army Central Commander, slandered Chief Minister Yang Shou from office, and his power and favor dominated the age.

復光有謀略，累監諸鎮軍。乾符初，佐平盧節度使曾元裕擊賊王仙芝，敗之。招討使宋威擊仙芝於江西，復光在軍，請判官吳彥宏約賊降，仙芝遣將尚君長自縛如約。威疾其功，密請僖宗誅之，故仙芝怨，復引兵叛。後天子寤威階禍，罷之，以兵與復光，乃進禽徐唐莒。王鐸為招討，復光仍監軍。鐸之棄荊南也，山南東道節度使劉巨容定其地，以忠武別將宋浩領荊南，泰寧將段彥謨佐之。復光父嘗監忠武軍，而浩已為大將，見復光，少之，不為禮，彥謨亦恥居浩下，遂有隙。復光曰：「胡不殺之？」彥謨引慓士擊殺浩，復光以客常滋假留後，而奏浩罪，薦彥謨為朗州刺史。詔鄭紹業為荊南節度使，以復光監忠武軍，屯鄧州，遏賊右沖。帝西幸，召紹業見行在，復光更引彥謨為荊南節度使。彥謨紿行邊，詣復光，以黃金數百兩為謝。其後忠武周岌受賊命，嘗夜宴，召復光，左右曰：「彼既附賊，必不利公，不如毋行。」復光固往，酒所語時事，復光泣曰：「丈夫所感，獨恩與義耳，彼不顧恩義，規利害，何丈夫哉！公奮匹夫封侯，乃捐十八葉天子，北面臣賊，何恩義利害昧昧耶？」岌流涕曰：「吾力不足，陽合而陰離之，故召公計。」因持杯盟曰：「有如酒！」即遣子守亮斬賊使於傳舍。秦宗權據蔡州叛，岌、復光以忠武兵三千入見之。宗權即遣部將王淑持兵萬人從。復光定荊、襄，師次鄧，淑逗遛，復光斬之，並其軍為八，以鹿宴弘、晉暉、張造、李師泰、王建、韓建等為之將，進攻南陽。賊將朱溫、何勤逆戰，大敗，遂收鄧州，追北藍橋。會母喪，班師。俄起為天下兵馬都監，總諸軍，與東面招討使王重榮並力定關中。朱溫守同州，復光遣使鐫諭，溫以所部降。方賊之強，重榮憂不知所出，謂復光曰：「臣賊邪，且負國；拒戰邪，則兵寡，柰何？」復光曰：「李克用與我世共患難，其為人，奮不顧身，比數召未即至者，由太原道不通耳，非忍禍者。若諭上意，彼宜必來。」重榮曰：「善。」白王鐸以詔使至太原，克用兵乃出。京師平，以功加開府儀同三司、同華制置使，封弘農郡公，賜號「資忠輝武匡國平難功臣」。卒河中，贈觀軍容使，謚曰忠肅。

Fuguang was strategically gifted and repeatedly supervised armies across the circuits. Early in Qianfu he assisted Pinglu military commissioner Zeng Yuanyu against the rebel Wang Xianzhi and defeated him. Pacification commissioner Song Wei attacked Xianzhi in Jiangxi. Fuguang was with the army and had aide Wu Yanhong negotiate surrender. Xianzhi sent his general Shang Junchang bound, as agreed. Wei resented his success and secretly asked Emperor Xizong to execute the surrender party. Xianzhi nursed a grudge and rebelled again. The emperor later saw that Wei had worsened the disaster, removed him, and gave the troops to Fuguang, who then captured Xu, Tang, and Ju. Wang Duo became pacification commissioner; Fuguang continued as army supervisor. When Duo abandoned Jingnan, Shannan East military commissioner Liu Jurong secured the region, putting Zhongwu deputy general Song Hao in charge of Jingnan with Taining general Duan Yanmo to assist him. Fuguang's father had once supervised the Zhongwu army, but Hao was already a senior general. He looked down on Fuguang and showed no courtesy. Yanmo was ashamed to rank below Hao, and bad blood grew between them. Fuguang said, "Why not kill him? Yanmo led fierce soldiers to kill Hao. Fuguang had his client Chang Zi serve as acting regent, memorialized Hao's crimes, and recommended Yanmo as prefect of Langzhou. Zheng Shaoye was appointed Jingnan military commissioner. Fuguang supervised the Zhongwu army, encamped at Dengzhou to block the rebels' right flank. The emperor fled west and summoned Shaoye to the traveling court. Fuguang again installed Yanmo as Jingnan military commissioner. Yanmo pretended to tour the frontier, visited Fuguang, and gave him several hundred taels of gold in thanks. Later Zhou Ji of Zhongwu accepted the rebels' commission. At a night banquet he summoned Fuguang. Attendants said, "He has joined the rebels and will surely harm you—you had better not go. Fuguang went anyway. Over wine they discussed affairs of state. Fuguang wept and said, "A man is moved only by grace and righteousness. To disregard both and scheme for profit—what kind of man is that! You rose from commoner to enfeoffed lord, yet cast aside an emperor of eighteen generations to bow north and serve rebels—how blind you are to grace, righteousness, profit, and harm!" Ji wept and said, "My strength is insufficient. I joined them in appearance while breaking away in secret—that is why I summoned you to plan." He raised his cup in oath: "As this wine is witness!" He immediately sent his son Shouliang to behead the rebel envoy at the relay station. Qin Zongquan seized Caizhou and rebelled. Ji and Fuguang went to see him with three thousand Zhongwu troops. Zongquan then sent his general Wang Shu with ten thousand men to follow them. Fuguang secured Jing and Xiang and halted at Deng. Shu dawdled; Fuguang executed him, reorganized his troops into eight divisions under Lu Yanhong, Jin Hui, Zhang Zao, Li Shitai, Wang Jian, Han Jian, and others, and advanced on Nanyang. Rebel generals Zhu Wen and He Qin met them in battle and were crushed. He recovered Dengzhou and pursued north to Lanqiao. When his mother died he withdrew the army. Soon he was recalled as Overseer of All Armies and Horses, commanding the forces with Eastern Pacification Commissioner Wang Chongrong to pacify Guanzhong. Zhu Wen held Tongzhou. Fuguang sent envoys to win him over, and Wen surrendered with his troops. While the rebels were strong, Chongrong was at a loss and said to Fuguang, "Am I a rebel? Have I betrayed the state? If I fight, my troops are too few—what can I do? Fuguang said, "Li Keyong and I have shared hardship for generations. He is a man who throws himself forward without regard for his life. He has not come at once only because the road from Taiyuan is blocked—not because he would stand by while disaster spreads. If we convey the emperor's intent, he is sure to come." Chongrong said, "Good." He informed Wang Duo, an imperial envoy was sent to Taiyuan, and Keyong led his army out. When the capital was pacified, for his merit he was made Grand Preceptor with ceremonial privileges equal to the Three Excellencies, Tonghua Disposal Commissioner, and Duke of Hongnong, with the title "Meritorious Minister Who Supports Loyalty, Shines in Arms, Stabilizes the State, and Pacifies Disaster." He died at Hezhong and was posthumously made Army-Supervising Commissioner, with the posthumous title Loyal and Solemn.

復光禦下有恩，軍中聞其死，皆慟哭，而麾下多立功者。諸子為將帥數十人，守宗亦為忠武節度使。

Fuguang treated his men with kindness. When the army heard of his death, all wept, and many of his followers went on to win distinction. Dozens of his sons became generals and commanders; Shouzong also served as Zhongwu military commissioner.

贊曰：楚鄖公辛不敢讎君而忘父冤，昭湣之世，兩軍寵遇有厚薄，而卒用存亮夷難，功莫及者。自古忠臣出於疏斥不用蓋多矣，存亮豈通記書道理之人邪，何其識君臣大誼明甚？不屍大勞，畏權處外，又愈賢矣。與夫書「龍蛇」之詩者，何其小哉！

The commentator says: Duke Xin of Yun in Chu would not avenge his lord while forgetting his father's wrong. In the Zhao and Min reigns the two armies were favored unequally, yet in the end Cunliang was used to quell disaster, and none matched his achievement. Loyal ministers have often risen from those estranged and unused. Was Cunliang a man steeped in the classics? Yet how clearly he grasped the great bond between ruler and minister! He did not cling to great merit and, fearing power, kept to the outer court—making him all the more worthy. Beside those who wrote the poem of "dragons and serpents," how petty they seem!

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