Volume 209 Biographies 134: Cruel Officials

25%

A spurious progress marker in some editions; the passage carries no substantive original wording.

◎酷吏

Cruel Officials.

太宗定天下，留心聽斷，著令：州縣論死三覆奏，京師五覆奏。獄已決，尚芋然為徹膳止樂。至晚節，天下刑幾措。是時州縣有良吏，無酷吏。

After Emperor Taizong brought the realm under control, he took care to hear and decide cases himself, and issued regulations requiring three rounds of review before any death sentence in the prefectures and counties, and five in the capital. Even after a case was concluded, he still felt uneasy and would suspend his meal and halt music. In his later years, capital punishment had all but ceased across the empire. In those days the local offices had capable administrators and no cruel magistrates.

武后乘高、中懦庸，盜攘天權，畏下異已，欲脅制群臣，椔翦宗支，故縱使上飛變，構大獄。時四方上變事者，皆給公乘，所在護送，至京師，稟於客館，高者蒙封爵，下者被賚賜，以勸天下。於是索元禮、來俊臣之徒，揣后密旨，紛紛並興，澤吻磨牙，噬紳纓若狗豚然，至叛臠臭達道路，冤血流離刀鋸，忠鯁貴強之臣，朝不保昏。而后因以自肆，不出幃闥，而天命已遷，猶慮臣下弗懲，而六道使始出矣。

Empress Wu exploited the weakness of the High and Middle Emperors to seize imperial power. Fearing dissent below and seeking to intimidate the court, she cut down branches of the imperial family, and so encouraged secret denunciations and engineered sweeping prosecutions. Those who reported alleged treason from every quarter were given official transport, escorted to the capital, and quartered in guest houses. The most successful won titles and ranks; others received gifts and rewards — all to encourage informers throughout the empire. Then Suo Yuanli, Lai Junchen, and their kind, sensing the Empress's secret wishes, sprang up everywhere, hungry as wolves, tearing through the official ranks like dogs at swine — until the stench of butchered flesh filled the roads, innocent blood ran under blade and saw, and even the most loyal and powerful ministers could not be sure of surviving from dawn to dusk. She then gave herself free rein. Without leaving the inner palace, she had already taken the throne, yet still feared the court had not been sufficiently terrorized — and so she first dispatched commissioners through the six circuits.

至載初，右臺御史周矩諫后曰：「兇人告訐，遂以為常，推劾之吏，以崄責痛詆為功，鑿空投隙，相矜以殘，泥耳籠首，枷楔兼暴，拉脅簽爪，縣發熏目，號曰『獄持』。晝禁食，夜禁寐，敲撲撼搖，使不得瞑，號曰『宿囚』。人茍賒死，何求不得？陛下不諒，試取告牒判無驗者，使推其情，有司必上下其手，希合盛旨。今舉朝脅息，謂陛下朝與為密，夕與為讎，一罹攝逮，便與妻子決。且周用仁昌，秦用刑亡。惟陛下察之。」后寤，獄乃稍息，而酷吏浸浸以罪去。

In the Zaichu era, Right Censor Zhou Ju admonished the Empress: "Malicious accusers have made denunciation commonplace. Investigating officers treat harsh coercion and venomous slander as achievement — inventing crimes from nothing, vying in cruelty, sealing ears in mud, caging heads, combining cangues and wedges with brutality, pulling ribs and tearing nails, suspending hair and smoking eyes — all under the name 'Prison Restraint. Prisoners were starved by day and denied sleep by night, beaten and shaken until they could not rest — this was called 'Overnight Detention.' Give a man a reprieve from death, and he will confess to anything. Your Majesty does not see that if you take an accusation already judged groundless and have it investigated anyway, the officials will surely manipulate the case to match what they think you want. The whole court now holds its breath in terror, believing you are their ally at dawn and their foe by dusk — and that once one is seized, it is a final parting from wife and children. Zhou prospered through benevolence; Qin destroyed itself through harsh law. I beg Your Majesty to consider this." The Empress took heed. The great prosecutions eased somewhat, and the cruel officials were gradually removed through criminal charges.

天寶後至肅、代間，政事叢，奸臣作威，渠憸宿狡，頗用慘刻奮，然不得如武后時敢搏擊殺戮矣。

From the Tianbao period through the reigns of Suzong and Daizong, government grew chaotic, wicked ministers threw their weight about, and old hands of cruelty returned — yet even they did not dare kill as freely as in Empress Wu's day.

嗚呼！非吏敢酷，時誘之為酷。觀俊臣輩怵利放命，內懷滔天，又張湯、郅都之土苴云。索元禮索元禮，胡人也，天性殘忍。初，徐敬業兵興，武后患之，見大臣常切齒，欲因大獄去異己者。元禮揣旨，即上書言急變，召對，擢遊擊將軍，為推使。即洛州牧院為制獄，作鐵籠囚首，加以楔，至腦裂死。又橫木關手足轉之，號「曬翅」。或紡囚梁上，縋石於頭。訊一囚，窮根柢，相牽聯至數百未能訖，衣冠氣褫。后數引見賞賜，以張其威，故論殺最多。是時來俊臣、周興踵而奮，天下謂之「來索」。薛懷義始貴，而元禮養為假子，故為后所信。後以苛猛，復受賕，后厭眾望，收下吏，不服，吏曰：「取公鐵籠來！」元禮服罪，死獄中。來俊臣來俊臣，京兆萬年人。父操，博徒也，與里人蔡本善。本負博數十萬不能償，操因納其妻，先已娠而生俊臣，冒其姓。天資殘忍，喜反覆，不事產。客和州為奸盜，捕送獄，獄中上變，刺史東平王續按訊無狀，杖之百。天授中，續以罪誅，俊臣上書得召見，自陳前上瑯邪王沖反狀，為續所抑。武后以為諒，擢累侍御史，按詔獄，數稱旨。后陰縱其慘，脅制群臣，前後夷千餘族。生平有纖介，皆入於死。拜左臺御史中丞，中外累息，至以目語。

Alas! The officials did not dare cruelty on their own — the age invited it. Consider men like Lai Junchen — driven by gain, reckless with lives, guilty beyond measure — yet they are only the refuse of Zhang Tang and Zhi Du. Suo Yuanli — a man of non-Han origin, cruel by nature. When Xu Jingye first rebelled, Empress Wu was deeply alarmed. She would grind her teeth at sight of senior ministers and sought to purge dissent through sweeping prosecutions. Yuanli sensed her wishes, immediately memorialized reporting urgent treason, was summoned for audience, promoted to General of Irregular Command, and appointed investigating commissioner. He turned the Luoyang prefectural prison into a special interrogation house, fitted an iron cage over the head, and drove in wedges until the skull split and the prisoner died. He also pinned hands and feet with crossbeams and twisted the body — a torture called "Spreading Wings." Or he hung a prisoner from a beam and lowered a stone onto the head. From a single prisoner he traced every connection until hundreds were implicated and the case still could not be closed; the gentry were utterly broken. The Empress repeatedly received him in audience and rewarded him to magnify his terror, and so he sentenced more people to death than any other. Then Lai Junchen and Zhou Xing rose in his wake, and the realm called them "Lai-Suo." When Xue Huaiyi first rose to favor, Yuanli took him as an adopted son, and so won the Empress's trust. Later, for his harshness and for taking bribes again, the Empress — disgusted with public outrage — had him arrested. He refused to confess. An officer said, "Bring his iron cage! Yuanli confessed and died in prison. Lai Junchen — a native of Wannian in Jingzhao. His father Cao was a gambler and friendly with a neighbor named Cai Ben. Ben owed gambling debts of several hundred thousand cash and could not repay them; Cao took his wife — she was already pregnant and bore Junchen, who was passed off under Ben's surname. He was cruel by nature, fickle, and indifferent to making a living. While traveling in Hezhou he turned to robbery, was captured and jailed, and filed a secret accusation from prison. Prefect Dongping Wang Xu investigated, found no basis for it, and had him flogged a hundred strokes. In the Tianshou era Xu was executed for crime. Junchen memorialized and gained audience, claiming he had earlier reported Langye Wang Chong's rebellion but had been suppressed by Xu. Empress Wu found him credible, promoted him step by step to Attendant Censor, and put him in charge of imperially mandated cases — work that often pleased her. The Empress secretly indulged his cruelty to intimidate the court, and more than a thousand clans were exterminated before and after. The smallest fault in a man's life was enough to send him to his death. He was appointed Left Censor Director; inside and outside the court everyone held his breath, communicating only by glances.

俊臣乃引侯思止、王弘義、郭弘霸、李仁敬、康韋、衛遂忠等，陰嘯不逞百輩，使飛語誣蔑公卿，上急變。每擿一事，千里同時輒發，契驗不差，時號為「羅織」，牒左署曰：「請付來俊臣或侯思止推實必得。」后信之，詔於麗景門別置獄，敕俊臣等顓按事，百不一貸。弘義戲謂麗景門為「例竟」，謂入者例皆盡也。俊臣與其屬朱南山、萬國俊作《羅織經》一篇，具為支脈綱由，咸有首末，按以從事。

Junchen then recruited Hou Sizhi, Wang Hongyi, Guo Hongba, Li Renjing, Kang Wei, Wei Suizhong, and a hundred other restless men to spread slanderous rumors against the high officials and lodge urgent accusations of treason. Each time a case was opened, identical accusations were dispatched a thousand li at once, with evidence that matched perfectly — a method called "entangling fabrication." Documents were marked on the left: "Refer to Lai Junchen or Hou Sizhi for investigation — the truth will certainly be obtained." The Empress believed them. She decreed a separate prison at Lijing Gate and ordered Junchen and his men to handle cases exclusively — not one prisoner in a hundred was spared. Hongyi joked by calling Lijing Gate "Cases Concluded" — meaning that whoever entered was invariably done for. Junchen and his aides Zhu Nanshan and Wan Guojun wrote a treatise called the "Classic of Fabricating Charges," laying out in full detail the branches and main lines of every fabricated case from start to finish, and used it as their manual in prosecution.

俊臣鞫囚，不問輕重皆註醯於鼻，掘地為牢，或寢以匽溺，或絕其糧，囚至嚙衣絮以食，大抵非死終不得出。每赦令下，必先殺重囚乃宣詔。又作大枷，各為號：一、定百脈，二、喘不得，三、突地吼，四、著即臣，五、失魂膽，六、實同反，七、反是實，八、死豬愁，九、求即死，十、求破家。后以鐵為冒頭，被枷者宛轉地上，少遷而絕。凡囚至，先布械於前示囚，莫不震懼，皆自誣服。

When Junchen interrogated prisoners, he poured vinegar into every nose regardless of the charge, dug pits for cells, made men sleep in filth, or cut off their food until they gnawed padding from their clothes to eat — in general, none left alive. Whenever an amnesty was issued, he killed the gravest prisoners first and only then proclaimed the edict. He also devised great cangues, each with a name: "Stilling the Hundred Vessels," "Cannot Breathe," "Earth-Shaking Roar," "Submit at Once," "Loss of Soul and Gall," "The Fact Is the Same as Rebellion," "Rebellion Is the Fact," "Dead Pig's Grief," "Seek and Immediately Die," and "Seek and Ruin the Family." Later he added iron caps for the head; prisoners writhed on the ground and were dead in moments. Whenever a prisoner arrived, the instruments of torture were laid out before him first; none failed to quake in terror, and all confessed falsely.

如意初，誣告大臣狄仁傑、任令暉、李遊道、袁智弘、崔神基、盧獻等下獄。俊臣顓以夷誅大臣為功，乃奏囚降制，一問而服者同首，法得減死。仁傑等已論死，待日而決，稍挺之，仁傑乃遣子持帛書稱枉。后見愕然，責謂俊臣，對曰：「是囚不褫巾服，何肯服罪？」后遣通事舍人周綝往視，遽假仁傑襆帶立西廂，綝懼俊臣，東視唯唯去，莫敢聞。先是，宰相樂思晦為俊臣夷其家，有子九歲隸司農，上變，得召見，言：「俊臣兇慘，罔上不道，若陛下假條反狀付之，無大小皆如詔。臣父死族夷，不求生，但惜陛下法為俊臣所弄耳！」后意寤，由是仁傑六族皆免。又按大將軍張虔勖、內侍范雲仙，虔勖不堪枉，訟於大理徐有功，俊臣使衛士亂斫之，雲仙自陳事先帝，命截其舌，皆即死，人人脅息。

In the first year of Ruyi he falsely accused the great ministers Di Renjie, Ren Linghui, Li Youdao, Yuan Zhihong, Cui Shenji, and Lu Xian and had them imprisoned. Junchen made the extermination of great ministers his special claim to merit. He memorialized that under the reduced-regulation procedure, prisoners who confessed at the first questioning as if to a ringleader could by law have their death sentence reduced. Renjie and the others had already been sentenced to death and awaited execution. Holding himself a little straighter, Renjie sent his son with a silk letter proclaiming his innocence. The Empress read it, startled, and rebuked Junchen. He replied, "These prisoners have not removed cap and sash — how would they confess guilt? The Empress sent Attendant Palace Gentleman Zhou Chen to inspect. He hastily lent Renjie sash and belt and had him stand in the west wing. Chen feared Junchen, looked eastward, murmured assent, and left — no one dared question further. Earlier, Chancellor Le Sihui had been destroyed by Junchen, who wiped out his clan. A nine-year-old son, enrolled in the Directorate of Agriculture, submitted a secret report and gained audience, saying, "Junchen is savage and cruel, deceiving the throne and violating the Way. If Your Majesty would lend him fabricated charges of rebellion, he would make cases of every size fit the edict. My father is dead and my clan exterminated — I do not ask to live, but only grieve that Your Majesty's law is being twisted by Junchen! The Empress came to her senses, and Renjie's six clans were all spared. He also prosecuted Grand General Zhang Qianxu and Inner Attendant Fan Yunxian. Unable to endure false accusation, Qianxu appealed to Xu Yougong at the Court of Judicial Review. Junchen sent guards to hack them to pieces. Yunxian declared that he had served the late emperor — they cut out his tongue — and both died on the spot. Everyone held his breath in terror.

久之，俊臣納賈人金，為御史紀履忠所劾，下獄當死。后忠其上變，得不誅，免為民。長壽中，還授殿中丞，坐贓貶同州參軍事，暴縱自如，奪同僚妻，又辱其母。俄召為合宮尉，擢洛陽令，進司僕少卿，賜司農奴婢十人。以官戶無面首，聞吐蕃酋阿史那斛瑟羅有婢善歌舞，令其黨告以謀反，而求其婢，諸蕃長數十人，割耳剺面訟冤，僅得解。綦連耀等有異謀，吉頊以白俊臣，殺數十族。既欲擅發奸功，即中頊以法，頊大懼，求見后自直，乃免。俊臣誣司刑史樊戩，以謀反誅，其子訴闕下，有司無敢治，因自刳腹。秋官侍郎劉如璿為流涕，俊臣奏與同惡，如璿自訴年老而涕，吏論以絞，后為宥死，流漢州。

In time Junchen took bribes from a merchant, was impeached by Censor Ji Lvzhong, imprisoned, and sentenced to death. The Empress trusted his secret report, spared him execution, and demoted him to commoner status. In the Changshou era he was again appointed Palace Court Director, then demoted to Tongzhou military adjutant for corruption. Violent and unrestrained as ever, he seized a colleague's wife and humiliated her mother as well. He was soon recalled as Captain of He Gong, promoted to Luoyang Magistrate, advanced to Vice Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud, and granted ten slaves from the Directorate of Agriculture. Because his household lacked a male attendant, hearing that the Tibetan chieftain Ashina Huseluo had a maid skilled in song and dance, he had his faction accuse her of plotting rebellion so he could seize the maid. Several dozen tribal chieftains cut their ears and scarred their faces to plead innocence — and only barely obtained her release. Qi Lianyao and others had a separate conspiracy; Ji Xu reported it to Junchen, who exterminated several dozen clans. Wishing to keep the credit for exposing treachery to himself, he immediately moved against Ji Xu under the law. Xu was terrified, sought audience with the Empress to clear himself, and was spared. Junchen falsely accused Judicial Clerk Fan Zhan of rebellion and had him executed. Fan's son appealed at the palace gates, but no official dared take the case — so he disemboweled himself. Vice Minister of the Autumn Office Liu Ruxuan wept for Fan. Junchen memorialized that Ruxuan shared the same guilt. Ruxuan pleaded that he wept because he was old. The officers sentenced him to strangulation, but the Empress pardoned him to exile in Hanzhou.

萬歲通天中，上巳，與其黨集龍門，題搢紳名於石，抵而仆者先告，抵李昭德不能中。或以告昭德，昭德謀繩其惡，未發。衛遂忠雖無行，頗有辭辯，素與俊臣善。始王慶詵女適段簡而美，俊臣矯詔強娶之。它日，會妻族，酒酣，遂忠詣之，閽者不肯通，遂忠直入謾罵，俊臣恥妻見辱，已命驅而縛於廷，既乃釋之，自此有隙，妻亦慚，自殺。簡有妾美，俊臣遣人示風旨，簡懼，以妾歸之。俊臣知群臣不敢斥己，乃有異圖，常自比石勒，欲告皇嗣及廬陵王與南北衙謀反，因得騁志。遂忠發其謀。初，俊臣屢掎摭諸武、太平公主、張昌宗等過咎，后不發。至是諸武怨，共證其罪。有詔斬於西市，年四十七，人皆相慶，曰：「今得背著床瞑矣！」爭抉目、擿肝、醢其肉，須臾盡，以馬踐其骨，無孑餘，家屬籍沒。

In the Wansui Tongtian era, on the shangsi festival, he gathered his faction at Longmen and carved officials' names on stone. Whoever knocked a name down first was to accuse that man first. They could not hit Li Zhaode's name. Someone reported this to Zhaode. Zhaode plotted to restrain his wickedness, but had not yet acted. Wei Suizhong, though a man of poor character, was a skilled speaker and had long been friendly with Junchen. Wang Qingzhou's daughter had married Duan Jian and was beautiful; Junchen forged an edict and forcibly took her as his wife. One day, while entertaining his wife's kin, Suizhong came to visit. The gatekeepers refused him entry; Suizhong burst in cursing. Junchen, ashamed that his wife had been insulted, had Suizhong driven out and bound in the courtyard, then released him. From that there was a breach — and the wife, shamed, killed herself. Duan Jian had a beautiful concubine. Junchen sent men with a veiled command; Jian, afraid, gave the concubine to him. Knowing that the officials dared not denounce him, Junchen then harbored other designs. He often compared himself to Shi Le and planned to accuse the Crown Prince and Prince of Luling of conspiring with the southern and northern yamen — thereby winning free rein for himself. Suizhong exposed his plot. Earlier Junchen had repeatedly seized on faults of the Wu clan, Princess Taiping, Zhang Changzong, and others, but the Empress had not acted. Now the Wu clan, resentful, jointly testified to his crimes. An edict ordered his execution at West Market. He was forty-seven. People congratulated one another, saying, "Now we can sleep with our backs to the bed! They competed to gouge out his eyes, pluck out his liver, and mince his flesh — in an instant it was gone. Horses trampled his bones until nothing remained. His household was registered and confiscated.

方俊臣用事，托天官得選者二百餘員，及敗，有司自首，后責之，對曰：「臣亂陛下法，身受戮；忤俊臣，覆臣家。」后赦其罪。

While Junchen held power, more than two hundred men obtained office through the Bureau of Personnel by his patronage. When he fell, officials came forward to confess. The Empress rebuked them. They replied, "I violated Your Majesty's law — let my body be punished; Offend Junchen — and my house is destroyed. The Empress pardoned their offenses.

時有來子珣、周興者，皆萬年人。永昌初，子珣上書，擢左臺監察御史，無學術，語言蚩惡，后倚以按獄，多徇后旨，故賜姓武，字家臣。既誣雅州刺史劉行實弟兄謀反，已誅，掘夷先墓，得遷遊擊將軍。常衣錦半臂自異，俄流死愛州。

At that time there were Lai Zixun and Zhou Xing — both natives of Wannian. In the first year of Yongchang, Zixun memorialized and was promoted to Left Censor Investigating Censor. Without learning and coarse in speech, he was relied on by the Empress to handle cases, mostly following her wishes; hence she granted him the surname Wu and the style Jiachén. After falsely accusing Ya Prefecture Governor Liu Xingshi and his brothers of rebellion and having them executed, he dug up and destroyed their ancestral tombs and was promoted to General of Irregular Command. He often wore brocade half-sleeves to set himself apart; soon he was exiled and died in Aizhou.

興，少習法律，自尚書史積遷秋官侍郎，屢決制獄，文深峭，妄殺數千人。武后奪政，拜尚書左丞，上疏請去唐宗正屬籍。是時左史江融有美名，興指融與徐敬業同謀，斬於市。臨刑，請得召見，興不許，融叱曰：「吾死無狀，不赦汝。」遂斬之，屍奮而行，刑者蹴之，三仆三作。天授中，人告子珣、興與丘神勣謀反，詔來俊臣鞫狀。初，興未知被告，方對俊臣食，俊臣曰：「囚多不服，奈何？」興曰：「易耳，內之大甕，熾炭周之，何事不承。」俊臣曰：「善。」命取甕且熾火，徐謂興曰：「有詔按君，請嘗之。」興駭汗，叩頭服罪。詔誅神勣而宥興嶺表，在道為讎人所殺。

Zhou Xing had studied law from youth, rose from Clerk of the Masters of Writing to Vice Minister of the Autumn Office, repeatedly decided specially designated cases in language harsh and severe, and wantonly killed several thousand men. When Empress Wu seized power, she appointed him Left Vice Minister of the Masters of Writing; he memorialized requesting removal from the Tang imperial clan register. At that time Left Historiographer Jiang Rong enjoyed a fine reputation. Xing accused Rong of conspiring with Xu Jingye, and he was beheaded in the market. As execution approached, Rong asked to see the Empress. Xing refused. Rong shouted, "I die innocent — I will not pardon you! He was then beheaded. The corpse struggled and walked; the executioner kicked it down — three times it fell and three times it rose. In the Tianshou era someone reported that Zixun, Xing, and Qiu Shenji were plotting rebellion; an edict ordered Lai Junchen to investigate. At first Xing did not know he had been accused. He was just dining with Junchen when Junchen said, "Prisoners mostly will not confess — what is to be done? Xing said, "Easy. Put him in a great vat with blazing coals all around — what would he not confess?" Junchen said, "Good." He ordered a vat brought and the fire stoked, then said slowly to Xing, "There is an imperial order to investigate you — please taste it yourself." Xing broke out in a cold sweat and kowtowed in confession. An edict ordered Shenji executed and Xing exiled beyond the mountains, but on the way Xing was killed by a personal enemy.

神勣者，行恭子，為左金吾衛將軍。高宗崩，后使害章懷太子於巴州，歸罪神勣，下遷疊州刺史，俄復故官，佐俊臣等為慘獄，遂見倚愛。博州刺史瑯邪王沖起兵，拜神勣清平道大總管討之。州人殺王，素服出迎，神勣盡殺之，凡千餘族，即拜大將軍。侯思止侯思止，雍州醴泉人。貧，懶不治業，為渤海高元禮奴，詭很無良。恒州刺史裴貞笞吏，吏積怨，教思止告舒王元名與貞謀反，付周興鞫訊，皆夷宗，拜思止遊擊將軍。元禮懼，引與同坐，密教曰：「上不次用人，如問君不識字，宜對『獬豸不學而能觸邪，陛下用人安事識字？』」無何，后果問，思止以對，后大悅。天授中，遷左臺侍御史，元禮又教：「上以君無宅，必賜所沒逆人第，宜辭曰：『臣疾逆臣，不願居其地。』」既而果假之，以其教對，后益喜，恩賞良渥。

Shenji was the son of Qiu Xinggong and held the post of General of the Left Golden Guard. When Emperor Gaozong died, the Empress had Crown Prince Zhanghuai killed in Bazhou and pinned the blame on Shenji, who was demoted to prefect of Die Prefecture but soon restored. He aided Lai Junchen and others in brutal prosecutions and thus won the Empress's favor. When Prince Chong of Langye, governor of Bo Prefecture, rose in revolt, Shenji was appointed Grand Commander of the Qingping Circuit to put him down. The people of the prefecture had killed the prince; when they came out in mourning dress to welcome Shenji, he slaughtered them all — more than a thousand clans — and was immediately made Grand General. Hou Sizhi was a native of Liquan in Yong Prefecture. Poor and idle, he became a slave to Gao Yuanli of Bohai — cunning, perverse, and worthless. When Heng Prefecture Governor Pei Zhen whipped his clerks, they nursed a grudge and taught Sizhi to accuse Prince Shu Yuanming of plotting rebellion with Zhen. The case was handed to Zhou Xing for interrogation; entire clans were wiped out, and Sizhi was made General of Irregular Command. Yuanli was afraid and drew him aside to a shared seat, whispering, "The Empress appoints people for unusual reasons. If she asks why you cannot read, say: 'The xiezhi needs no schooling to gore the wicked — why should Your Majesty's appointees need to read? Before long the Empress did ask; Sizhi answered as coached, and she was delighted.' During Tianshou he was promoted to Left Censor. Yuanli coached him again: "The Empress will see you have no house and will surely grant you a mansion seized from some rebel. Decline: 'I detest traitors and do not wish to live where they lived. When she did offer him such a house, he answered as Yuanli had taught; the Empress was all the more pleased and showered him with favors.'

思止本人奴，言語俚下，嘗按魏元忠，讓曰：「亟承白司馬，不爾受孟青。」洛陽有白司馬阪，將軍有孟青棒，即殺瑯邪王沖者。元忠不承，思止曳之。元忠徐起曰：「我如乘驢而墜，足絓鐙，為所曳者。」思止怒，復曳之曰：「拒制使邪？」欲抵殊死。元忠罵曰：「侯思止，欲得我頭，當鋸截之，無抑我承反。汝位御史，當曉禮義，而曰『白司馬』、『孟青』，是何物語？非我，孰教爾邪？」思止驚汗，起謝曰：「幸蒙公教。」乃引登床。元忠徐就坐，色不變，獄稍挺。思止音吐鄙而訛，人效以為笑，侍御史霍獻可數嘲靳之，思止怒以聞，后責獻可：「我已用之，何所誚？」獻可具奏鄙語，后亦大笑。

Sizhi had been a slave himself, and his speech was vulgar. Once while investigating Wei Yuanzhong he threatened: "Confess at once, White Horse Commander — or take Meng Qing's club. Luoyang had a White Horse Commander Slope, and a general named Meng Qing carried the club that had killed Prince Chong of Langye. Yuanzhong refused to confess, and Sizhi dragged him along. Yuanzhong rose calmly and said, "I am like a man who fell from a donkey with his foot caught in the stirrup — dragged along against his will. Sizhi flew into a rage and dragged him again. "You resist an imperial investigator?" He meant to have him sentenced to death. Yuanzhong cursed him: "Hou Sizhi, if you want my head, saw it off cleanly — don't force a false confession of treason out of me. You are a censor and ought to know propriety — yet you bark about 'White Horse Commander' and 'Meng Qing.' What kind of talk is that?" If not I, then who taught you that? Sizhi broke into a sweat, rose, and apologized: "I am fortunate to have received your instruction." He then escorted Yuanzhong up onto the dais. Yuanzhong seated himself calmly, his expression unchanged, and the prosecution gradually lost momentum. Sizhi spoke with a vulgar accent that people parodied for laughs. Censor Huo Xiankai repeatedly ridiculed him; Sizhi complained to the Empress, who scolded Xiankai: "I have appointed him — what is there to mock? Xiankai repeated Sizhi's crude phrases in full to the Empress, who laughed heartily.

來俊臣棄故妻，逼娶太原王慶詵女，思止亦請娶趙郡李自挹女，事下宰相，李昭德執不可，曰：「俊臣往劫慶詵女，已辱國，此奴復爾邪？」搒殺之。王弘義王弘義，冀州衡水人，以飛變擢遊擊將軍，再遷左臺侍御史，與來俊臣競慘刻。暑月系囚，別為狹室，積蒿施氈罽其上，俄而死；已自誣，乃舍佗獄。每移檄州縣，所至震懾。弘義輒詫曰：「我文檄如狼毒、野葛矣！」始賤時，求傍舍瓜不與，乃騰文言園有白兔，縣為集眾捕逐，畦蓏無遺。內史李昭德曰：「昔聞蒼鷹獄吏，今見白兔御史。」

Lai Junchen cast off his wife and forcibly married the daughter of Wang Qingshou of Taiyuan. Sizhi likewise sought to marry the daughter of Li Ziyi of Zhao Commandery. When the matter reached the chancellor Li Zhaode, he objected: "Junchen already shamed the realm by seizing Qingshou's daughter — must this slave do the same? Sizhi was beaten to death. Wang Hongyi was a native of Hengshui in Ji Prefecture. Through secret denunciations he rose to General of Irregular Command and then to Left Censor, vying with Lai Junchen in brutality. In summer he locked prisoners in a narrow cell, piled brushwood over them, and covered it with felt — they were dead within moments; once they had been forced to confess, he transferred them to other jails. Wherever his writs reached the prefectures and counties, terror followed. Hongyi would boast, "My proclamations are poison — wolf-bane and wild kudzu! When he was still obscure, a neighbor refused him melons from the garden. He filed a report claiming a white rabbit was in the plot; the county sent a crowd to hunt it and trampled every row of vegetables flat. Inner Secretary Li Zhaode remarked, "We once heard of the 'azure hawk' jailer — now we see the 'white rabbit' censor. (End of Li Zhaode's remark.)

延載初，俊臣貶，弘義亦流瓊州。自矯詔追還，事覺，會侍御史胡元禮使嶺南，次襄州，按之，弘義歸窮曰：「與公氣類，持我何急？」元禮怒曰：「吾尉洛陽，而子御史；我今御史，子乃囚。何氣類為？」杖殺之。郭弘霸郭弘霸，舒州同安人，仕為寧陵丞，天授中，由革命舉，得召見，自陳：「往討徐敬業，臣誓抽其筋，食其肉，飲其血，絕其髓。」武后大悅，授左臺監察御史，時號「四其御史」。再遷右臺侍御史，大夫魏元忠病，僚屬省候，弘霸獨後入，憂見顏間，請視便液，即染指嘗，驗疾輕重，賀曰：「甘者病不瘳，今味苦，當愈。」喜甚。元忠惡其媚，暴語於朝。

At the start of the Yanzai era Lai Junchen was demoted, and Hongyi was exiled to Qiongzhou as well. He forged an edict summoning himself back, but the fraud was discovered. Censor Hu Yuanli happened to be traveling to Lingnan and stopped at Xiang Prefecture to investigate. Cornered, Hongyi said, "We're birds of a feather — why hound me so? Yuanli snapped, "When I was warden in Luoyang, you were a censor; now I am the censor and you are the prisoner. What 'same kind' are we?" He had him beaten to death. Guo Hongba was a native of Tong'an in Shu Prefecture and served as assistant magistrate of Ningling. During Tianshou he was nominated through the Gerevolution channel and gained an audience, declaring: "When we marched against Xu Jingye, I vowed to flay his sinews, eat his flesh, drink his blood, and suck out his marrow. The Empress was delighted and made him Left Investigating Censor — nicknamed the 'Four-His Censor' for his four vows of sinew, flesh, blood, and marrow. Promoted again to Right Censor. When Chief Minister Wei Yuanzhong fell ill, his staff came to call; Hongba arrived last, feigning deep concern. He asked to examine Yuanzhong's urine and stool, dipped his finger and tasted it, and declared with satisfaction, "Sweet means no recovery — this is bitter, so he will get well. He was overjoyed. Yuanzhong despised the groveling and denounced him openly at court.

嘗按芳州刺史李思征，不勝楚毒死。后屢見思征為厲，命家人禳解。俄見思征從數十騎至曰：「汝枉陷我，今取汝！」弘霸懼，援刀自刳腹死，頃而蛆腐。是時大旱，弘霸死而雨。又洛陽橋久壞，至是成。都人喜。后問群臣：「外有佳事邪？」司勛郎中張元一曰：「比有三慶：旱而雨，洛橋成，弘霸死。」姚紹之姚紹之，湖州武康人。初以鸞臺典儀累遷監察御史。中宗時，武三思烝僭不軌，王同皎、張仲之、祖延慶等謀殺之，事覺，捕送新開獄，詔紹之與左臺大夫李承嘉按治。初欲原盡其情，會敕宰相李嶠等同訊，執政畏禍，粗滅無所問。囚呼曰：「宰相有附三思者。」嶠等數附承嘉耳呫嚅，紹之翻然不復顧，即引力士十餘曳囚至，築其口，反接送獄中。謂仲之曰：「事不諧矣！」仲之固言三思反狀，紹之怒，擊折其臂，囚呼天曰：「吾雖死，當訴爾於天！」因裂衫束之，卒誣以謀反，皆論族。

Once while investigating Fang Prefecture Governor Li Sizheng, he tortured the man to death. The Empress repeatedly saw Sizheng's ghost and ordered her household to perform rites of expiation. Soon she saw Sizheng ride up at the head of dozens of horsemen crying, "You framed me unjustly — now I come for you! Terrified, Hongba grabbed a knife and gutted himself. Within moments his corpse was writhing with maggots. There was a severe drought at the time; rain fell when Hongba died. The Luoyang Bridge, long in disrepair, was finished at the same time. The people of the capital rejoiced. The Empress asked the court, "Has anything good happened outside? Director Zhang Yuanyi of the Merit Evaluation Bureau replied, "Three blessings lately: rain after drought, the Luoyang Bridge completed, and Hongba dead." Yao Shaozhi was a native of Wukang in Hu Prefecture. He rose from ceremonial officer of the Phoenix Platform to Investigating Censor. Under Emperor Zhongzong, Wu Sansi was licentious and overreaching. Wang Tongjiao, Zhang Zhongzhi, Zu Yanqing, and others plotted to kill him; the plot was exposed and they were sent to Xinkai Prison. An edict ordered Shaozhi and Left Censor-in-Chief Li Chengjia to investigate. At first Shaozhi meant to get the full story, but an edict brought Chancellor Li Jiao and others into the inquiry. The ministers, fearing reprisals, glossed over the matter and asked nothing further. A prisoner shouted, "Some of the chancellors are in Sansi's pocket! Jiao and the others kept whispering in Chengjia's ear. Shaozhi turned on his heel, had a dozen brutes drag the prisoner out, gagged him, and sent him back to his cell. He told Zhongzhi, "It's over! Zhongzhi continued to describe Sansi's treasonous conduct. Shaozhi flew into a rage, struck him, and broke his arm. The prisoner cried to Heaven, "Even in death I will accuse you before Heaven!" He tore his own robe to bind the broken arm, then framed them all for treason — every clan was sentenced to extinction.

囚等已誅，紹之意岸軒傲，朝野註目，擢左臺侍御史。奉使江左，過汴州，廷辱錄事參軍魏傳弓。久之，傳弓為監察御史，而紹之坐贓，詔傳弓即按。紹之謂揚州長史盧萬石曰：「我頃辱傳弓，今來按，我死矣。」獄具，得贓五百萬，法當死，韋后女弟救請，故減死，貶瓊山尉。俄逃還京，萬年尉捕擊，折其足。更授南陵令，員外置。開元中，為括州長史同正，不得與州事，死。周利貞周利貞者，亡其系。武后時調錢塘尉，時禁捕魚，州刺史飯蔬。利貞忽饋佳魚，刺史不受，利貞曰：「此闌魚，公何疑？」問其故，答曰：「適見漁者，禽不獲，而有魚焉，闌得之。」刺史大笑。

After the executions Shaozhi swaggered with arrogant satisfaction, drawing everyone's gaze; he was promoted to Left Censor. On a mission south of the Yangtze he passed through Bian Prefecture and publicly humiliated Army Records Officer Wei Chuanggong in open court. Years later Chuanggong became Investigating Censor just as Shaozhi was implicated in bribery; an edict ordered Chuanggong to investigate him on the spot. Shaozhi told Yangzhou Chief Administrator Lu Wanshi, "I humiliated Chuanggong not long ago — now he's come to investigate me. I'm a dead man. The case was proved — five million in bribes; by law he should die. Empress Wei's younger sister interceded, so the sentence was reduced to exile as assistant magistrate of Qiongshan. He soon fled back to the capital; the Wannian magistrate's deputy caught him and broke his leg. He was given the post of magistrate of Nanling as a supernumerary appointment. Under Kaiyuan he was made co-administrator of Kuozhou but barred from governing; there he died. Zhou Lizhen — his lineage is unknown. Under Empress Wu he was transferred to be assistant magistrate of Qiantang. Fishing was banned at the time, and the prefect ate only vegetables. Lizhen suddenly sent fine fish. The prefect refused them. Lizhen said, "These were caught at the weir — why be suspicious, sir? Asked how, he replied, "I saw a fisherman whose nets caught nothing — yet there were fish in the weir." The prefect roared with laughter.

神龍初，擢累侍御史，諧附權強，五王等疾之，出為嘉州司馬。武三思亂禁中，五王謀誅之，私語崔湜，湜反以其計告三思。五王貶，湜勸速殺之以絕人望，問誰可使，以利貞對。利貞，湜內足也。表攝右臺侍御史馳嶺外，矯殺敬暉、桓彥範、袁恕己，還，拜左臺御史中丞。數為仇人狙報，幾不免。

At the start of Shenlong he rose to censor, currying favor with the powerful. The Five Princes despised him and had him posted out as military administrator of Jia Prefecture. Wu Sansi debauched the inner palace. The Five Princes plotted to kill him and confided in Cui Shi, who betrayed the plan to Sansi. When the Five Princes were demoted, Shi urged killing them quickly to crush any lingering hopes. Asked who should do it, he named Lizhen. Lizhen was Shi's inside man. Acting as Right Censor, he raced beyond the mountains and forged orders to kill Jing Hui, Huan Yanfan, and Yuan Shuji. On his return he was made Left Vice Censor-in-Chief. Enemies repeatedly plotted against him; he barely escaped each time.

先天初，為廣州都督。湜陷劉幽求謫嶺表，諷利貞殺之。賴桂州都督王晙護而免。利貞顓事剝割，夷獠苦其殘虐，皆起為寇，詔監察御史李全交按問，得贓狀，貶涪州刺史。

At the start of Xiantian he became regional inspector of Guang Prefecture. Shi had Liu Youqiu banished beyond the mountains and hinted that Lizhen should finish him off. Liu was saved only because Gui Prefecture inspector Wang Jun protected him. Lizhen devoted himself to extortion. The indigenous peoples suffered his brutality and rose in rebellion. Investigating Censor Li Quanjiao was sent to investigate, proved his graft, and had him demoted to prefect of Fu Prefecture.

開元初，詔：「利貞及滑州刺史裴談、饒州刺史裴棲貞、大理評事張思敬王承本、華原令康韋、侍御史封詢行、判官張勝之劉暉楊允衛遂忠公孫琰、廉州司馬鍾思廉皆酷吏，宜終身忽齒。」尋復授珍州司馬。明年，授夷州刺史，黃門侍郎張廷珪執奏曰：「陛下英斷聖明，四海心服。所謂英斷，殄兇逆、正朝廷是也；所謂聖明，辨忠邪、信賞罰是也。利貞，宗、武舊黨，鉏僇桓、敬，自陛下登宸極，布新政，奪其班級，遷之遐荒，以允天下之望，義士猶以罰輕為望。今錫以朱紱，委以藩維，是絀奸不必行也。」疏入，遂寢。未幾，復授黔州都督，加朝散大夫。廷珪又表還制書曰：「利貞險薄小人，附會三思，傾危朝廷，殺害功臣，人神憤惋，痛毒至今。東都搜掩其家，得金銀錦繡，冒違制令，當加重貶。且久據朝廷，捷給便佞，見忠於君者，猶仇讎然。使之入朝則亂國，撫俗則傷人。今擢典要藩，繇六品遷三品，何往日罰之，而今日賞之？」玄宗乃止。

In early Kaiyuan an edict declared: "Lizhen, Fu Prefecture Governor Pei Tan, Rao Prefecture Governor Pei Qizhen, Court of Review Assessor Zhang Sijing, Wang Chengben, Huayuan Magistrate Kang Wei, Censor Feng Xunxing, and the judicial officers Zhang Shengzhi, Liu Hui, Yang Yun, Wei Sui, Zhong Zhongshi, Gongsun Yan, and Lian Prefecture Military Administrator Zhong Silian are all cruel officials and shall never again be employed. Soon he was again appointed military administrator of Zhen Prefecture. The next year Lizhen was appointed prefect of Yi Prefecture. Vice Director Zhang Tinggui of the Yellow Gate memorialized: "Your Majesty is resolute and sagacious; the realm submits to you in heart. Resolute judgment means exterminating the violent and rebellious and setting the court right; sagacious rule means distinguishing loyal from wicked and keeping faith in reward and punishment. Lizhen was an old partisan of Empress Wu's faction who cut down Huan and Jing. Since Your Majesty took the throne, reformed government, stripped such men of rank, and banished them to the wilderness — fulfilling the realm's hopes — men of principle still thought the penalties too light. Now to grant him vermilion ribbons and entrust him with a frontier command is to say that punishing the wicked need not be carried out at all. The memorial was submitted and the appointment was shelved. Before long Lizhen was again made regional inspector of Qian Prefecture and given the rank of Grand Master of Palace Leisure. Tinggui memorialized again, returning the appointment document: "Lizhen is a treacherous, contemptible petty man who attached himself to Sansi, endangered the court, and killed meritorious ministers — men and spirits alike rage at him, and the wound is fresh to this day. A search of his home in the Eastern Capital turned up gold, silver, and brocade in violation of imperial regulations — grounds for a heavier demotion. Moreover he had long held sway at court — quick-tongued and sycophantic — and treated those loyal to the throne like personal enemies. Bring him to court and he will disorder the state; send him to govern the people and he will harm them. Now you would promote him to govern an important frontier command, raising him from sixth to third rank — why punish him yesterday and reward him today? Emperor Xuanzong then dropped the appointment.

會廷珪罷，起為辰州長史，朝集京師，與魏州長史敬讓皆奏事。讓，暉之子也，以父冤越次而奏曰：「周利貞希奸臣意，枉殺先臣暉，惟陛下正罰以謝天下。」左臺侍御史翟璋劾讓不待監引，請行法。玄宗曰：「訴父之枉，不可不矜也；朝廷之儀，不可不肅也。」奪讓俸三月，復貶利貞邕州長史。未幾，賜死梧州。

When Tinggui was dismissed, Lizhen was appointed chief administrator of Chen Prefecture. At the capital assembly he and Jing Rang, chief administrator of Wei Prefecture, both presented petitions. Rang was the son of Jing Hui. Breaking protocol to plead his father's case, he said, "Zhou Lizhen, doing the bidding of wicked ministers, wrongly killed my father. I beg Your Majesty to impose just punishment and answer the realm. Left Censor Zhai Zhang impeached Rang for speaking out of turn without waiting for the proper escort and asked that the law be applied. Emperor Xuanzong said, "A plea for a father's injustice cannot but move one to pity; but court ritual must also be kept solemn. He stripped Rang of three months' salary and again demoted Lizhen to chief administrator of Yong Prefecture. Before long Lizhen was ordered to take his own life at Wuzhou.

開元中，又有洛陽尉王鈞、河南丞嚴安之，捶人畏不死，視腫潰，復笞之，至血流乃喜。王旭王旭者，貞觀時侍中珪孫也。神龍初，為兗州兵曹參軍。時張易之誅，而兄昌儀先貶乾封尉，旭輒斬其首送東都，遷并州錄事參軍。長史周仁軌者，韋后黨也，玄宗平內難，有詔誅之，旭不待覆，斬首賫還京師，遷累左臺侍御史。

Under Kaiyuan there were also Luoyang Assistant Magistrate Wang Jun and Henan Assistant Director Yan Anzhi, who beat prisoners for fear they might not die. When a swelling burst they beat them again until blood ran — and only then were they satisfied. Wang Xu was the grandson of Chief Minister Wang Gui of the Zhenguan era. At the start of Shenlong he served as army records officer of Yan Prefecture. When Zhang Yizhi was executed, his elder brother Changyi had already been demoted to assistant magistrate of Qianfeng. Xu promptly beheaded him and sent the head to the Eastern Capital, and was transferred to army records officer of Bing Prefecture. Chief Administrator Zhou Rengui was a partisan of Empress Wei. When Emperor Xuanzong quelled the palace crisis an edict ordered Zhou's execution; Xu did not wait for confirmation, beheaded him, and brought the head to the capital. He rose through repeated promotions to Left Censor.

崔湜敗，其婦翁盧崇道自嶺外逃歸東都，為讎家上變，詔旭訊覆。旭廣捕親黨，窮極慘楚，當以重辟，崇道及三子皆死，門生故人，並海內名士，皆絓染流徙，天下咨其冤。旭與大夫李傑不平，更相罄訐，傑坐斥衢州刺史，故旭益橫，殘毒以逞。官數遷，常兼御史。其為人苛急，少縱貸，人莫敢與忤。每治獄，囚皆逆服。制獄械，率有名，曰「驢駒拔橛」、「犢子縣」等，以怖下，又縋發以石，脅臣之。時監察御史李嵩、李全交皆嚴酷，取名與旭埒，京師號「三豹」，嵩為赤，全交為白，旭為黑。里閭至相詛曰：「若違教，值三豹。」

When Cui Shi fell, his father-in-law Lu Chongdao fled back to the Eastern Capital from exile beyond the mountains. An enemy family reported him, and an edict ordered Xu to investigate. Xu swept up relatives and associates and tortured them to the limit. Chongdao and his three sons were all executed, and students, old friends, and celebrated men throughout the realm were implicated and exiled. The whole country lamented the injustice. Xu feuded with Chief Minister Li Jie, and they denounced each other relentlessly until Jie was dismissed as prefect of Qu Prefecture. Xu then grew even more overbearing and indulged his cruelty. He was repeatedly promoted and usually held concurrent censorial posts. He was harsh and unforgiving, and no one dared cross him. In every case he handled, prisoners confessed under duress. He devised torture devices, each with a name — such as 'Donkey Foal Pulls the Stake' and 'Calf County' — to terrify prisoners, and would suspend them by the hair with stones to force confessions. Investigating Censors Li Song and Li Quanjiao were equally brutal, and the capital called them together with Xu the 'Three Leopards' — Song the Red, Quanjiao the White, and Xu the Black. In the neighborhoods people even cursed one another, saying, "Break the law and you'll meet the Three Leopards. (End of the popular saying.)

宋王憲官屬紀希虬兄為劍南令，坐贓，旭奉使臨訊，見其妻美，逼亂之，因殺其夫，而納贓數百萬。希虬使奴為臺傭事旭，旭不知，頗愛任之，奴盡疏旭請求，積數千以示希虬，希虬泣訴於王，王為上聞，詔劾治，獲奸贓不貲，貶龍川尉，恚而死。吉溫吉溫，故宰相頊從子也。性陰詭，果於事。諂附貴宦，若子姓奉父兄。天寶初，為新豐丞。時太子文學薛嶷得幸，引溫入見，玄宗目之曰：「是一不良，我不用。」罷之。

Ji Xiqiao's elder brother, an official of Prince Xian of Song and magistrate of Jiannan, was implicated in bribery. Xu was sent to investigate, saw that the man's wife was beautiful, raped her, killed the husband, and accepted bribes of several million. Xiqiao sent a slave to work as a censorate hireling for Xu, who unknowingly favored him. The slave recorded thousands of Xu's corrupt dealings and showed them to Xiqiao. Xiqiao wept and appealed to the prince, who reported it to the throne. An investigation found untold illicit gains; Xu was demoted to assistant magistrate of Longchuan and died of rage. Ji Wen was the nephew of the former chancellor Ji Xu. Secretive and crafty by nature, he was ruthless in pursuit of his aims. He fawned on powerful eunuchs as dutifully as a son serves his father. At the start of Tianbao he served as assistant magistrate of Xinfeng. Crown Prince Literary Scholar Xue Yi, then in favor, introduced Wen to the emperor. Xuanzong looked him over and said, "This is a bad character — I won't use him. Wen was dismissed.

蕭炅為河南尹，御史遣溫到府有所訊詰，乃並治炅，不為末摋，右相李林甫善炅，故得免。炅入守京兆尹，而溫方調萬年尉，不辭，人為寒恐。於是高力士間出就第，炅多私謁，溫乃先往，與力士語，執手歡甚，將出，炅通謁，溫陽惶恐趨避，力士止之，語炅曰：「吾故人也。」炅揖乃去。它日，到炅府，辭曰：「國家法不敢隳，今而後洗心事公，云何？」炅待盡歡。

When Xiao Jiong was Henan Intendant, the censorate sent Wen to his office on an inquiry. Wen prosecuted Jiong as well, without softening his tone toward a superior. Right Chancellor Li Linfu favored Jiong, so Wen escaped punishment. When Jiong became Jingzhao Intendant, Wen was being transferred to assistant magistrate of Wannian under his jurisdiction. Wen did not decline the post, and people were appalled. Gao Lishi happened to visit Wen's house privately. Jiong often paid secret calls, but Wen arrived first and chatted warmly with Lishi, clasping his hand. As Wen was leaving, Jiong came to call. Wen pretended alarm and scurried aside, but Lishi stopped him and told Jiong, "He is an old friend of mine. Jiong bowed and withdrew. On another day Wen came to Jiong's office and said, "I dare not violate the law of the state. From now on I will serve you with a clean heart — will that suffice? Jiong received him with every courtesy.

林甫與李適之、張垍有隙。適之領兵部，而垍兄均為侍郎，林甫密遣吏擿其銓史偽選六十餘人，帝命京兆與御史雜治，累日情不得。炅使溫佐訊，溫分囚廷左右，中取二重囚訊後舍，楚械搒掠，皆呻呼不勝，曰：「公幸留死，請如牒。」乃挺出。諸史迎懾其酷，及引前，不訊皆服。日中獄具，林甫以為能。溫嘗曰：「若遇知己，南山白額虎不足縛。」

Linfu was at odds with Li Shizhi and Zhang Ji. Shizhi headed the Ministry of War while Zhang Ji's elder brother Jun was vice minister. Linfu secretly had clerks expose more than sixty falsely appointed candidates. The emperor ordered Jingzhao and the censorate to investigate jointly, but for days they could get nowhere. Jiong had Wen assist in the inquiry. Wen lined prisoners up in the hall, took two serious offenders to a back room, and tortured them with cruel devices until they groaned in agony and cried, "Spare my life, my lord — I'll confess as the indictment says. He then marched them out. The clerks, terrified by the spectacle, confessed without even being questioned when brought forward. By midday the case was closed, and Linfu judged him capable. Wen once said, "Give me a patron who knows my worth, and not even the white-browed tiger of the southern mountains would be beyond my grasp. (End of Wen's remark.)

林甫久當國，權焄天下，陰構大獄，除不附己者。先引溫居門下，與錢塘羅希奭為奔走，椎鍛詔獄。希奭文深虐，其舅鴻臚少卿張博濟，林甫婿也，以姻家故，自御史臺主簿再遷殿中侍御史。初，溫因中官納其出武敬一女為盛王妃，擢京兆士曹參軍。

Linfu had long held power, blazing with authority over the realm. He secretly engineered sweeping prosecutions to remove anyone not loyal to him. He first took Wen under his wing, with Luo Xiyi of Qiantang as his runner, fabricating cases in the edict-designated prisons. Xiyi wrote indictments of deep cruelty. His uncle Zhang Boji, Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and Linfu's son-in-law, rose from chief clerk of the censorate to Palace Censor through the marriage tie. At first Wen, through a eunuch, presented a daughter he had by Wu Jing as consort to Prince Sheng and was promoted to capital corps officer of Jingzhao.

林甫欲搖東宮，左驍衛參軍柳勣影會發杜良娣家陰事。溫按狀，勣以誣誅，因引勣所善王曾、王脩己、盧寧、徐征，悉逮縛論死，屍積大理垣下，家屬離竄。初，中書舍人梁涉道遇溫，低帽障面。溫怒，乃諷勣引涉及嗣虢王巨，皆斥逐。

Linfu sought to undermine the crown prince. Left Martial Guard Officer Liu Ji opportunistically exposed secret affairs of Consort Du Liangdi's household. Wen investigated the case. Ji was executed on false charges, and Wen implicated his associates Wang Zeng, Wang Xiuji, Lu Ning, and Xu Zheng — all seized and sentenced to death. Corpses piled beneath the walls of the Court of Judicial Review and their families fled in terror. Once Secretariat Drafter Liang She met Wen on the road and lowered his hat to hide his face. Wen was furious and prompted Ji to implicate She and Heir Apparent Prince Ju of Guo — all were driven out and banished.

林甫惡楊慎矜，王鉷飛書言圖讖事，委溫以獄。初，慎矜客史敬忠與溫父善，見溫繦葆時。溫馳至東都，捕逮楊氏親屬賓客，取敬忠於汝州，鐵鎖頸，布蒙面，未嘗正視，陰遺吏脅曰：「慎矜獄具，須君一辨，君即服，罪可貸，即不服，死不解。」敬忠即索筆自款，溫陽不見，再三請，乃與之，對如溫所敕。溫謝曰：「丈人毋懼！」乃下拜。慎矜以左證具，欲自誣，而讖不得。御史盧鉉索其家，挾讖以入，於是慎矜兄弟皆賜死，株連數十族。

Linfu hated Yang Shenjin. Wang Hong filed a secret report about prognostic texts, and the case was entrusted to Wen. Shenjin's retainer Shi Jingzhong had been friends with Wen's father and had known Wen since infancy. Wen raced to the Eastern Capital, arrested Yang clansmen, relatives, and guests, and fetched Jingzhong from Ru Prefecture — iron chains on his neck, face covered with cloth, never meeting his eyes. Secretly he had an officer threaten, "Shenjin's case is closed. We need one word from you. Confess and your guilt may be pardoned; refuse and you die without reprieve. Jingzhong immediately asked for a brush and wrote his confession. Wen pretended not to notice until Jingzhong begged repeatedly, then gave him the brush. The confession matched exactly what Wen had dictated. Wen apologized, "Elder sir, have no fear! Then he bowed low. With the supporting evidence in place Shenjin was ready to incriminate himself, but the prognostic text could not be found. Censor Lu Xuan searched his house and planted the prognostic text. Shenjin and his brothers were all ordered to die, and dozens of clans were implicated.

是時，溫與希奭相勖以虐，號「羅鉗吉網」。公卿見者，莫敢耦語。溫推事未窮，而先計贓成奏，乃引囚問，震以烈威，隨問輒承，無敢迕，鞭楚未收於壁，而獄具矣。林甫才其為，擢戶部郎中兼侍御史。

At that time Wen and Xiyi spurred each other on in cruelty and were nicknamed 'Luo's Pincers and Ji's Net.' Ministers who saw them dared not speak to one another. Before an investigation was even finished Wen would calculate the bribes and draft the memorial, then summon prisoners and cow them with fierce authority until they confessed to every question. Whips had not yet been hung on the wall and the case was already closed. Linfu admired his talent and promoted him to director of the Ministry of Revenue with concurrent service as censor.

楊國忠、安祿山方尊寵，高力士居中用事，溫皆媚附之。兄事祿山，嘗密諗曰：「李右相雖厚待公，然不肯引共政；我見遇久，亦不顯以官。公若薦我為宰相，我處公要任，則右相可擠矣。」祿山大悅，亟稱溫才，天子亦忘前語。於是祿山領河東節度，表溫自副，並知節度營田、管內采訪，總留事，拜雁門太守，知安邊鑄錢事。以母喪解，祿山表為魏郡太守。楊國忠當國，引拜御史中丞，兼京畿關內采訪處置使。祿山敕吏設白紬帳於傳以候命，慶緒親御而餞之，溫銜其德，故朝廷動靜輒報，不淹宿而知。天寶十三載，祿山入朝，領閑廄使，薦溫武部侍郎以為副。

Yang Guozhong and An Lushan were then at the height of favor, and Gao Lishi held power at court — Wen fawned on them all. He treated Lushan as an elder brother and once confided, "Right Chancellor Li treats you well but won't share power with you; he's kept me around for years without giving me real rank. Recommend me as chancellor and I'll put you in the key posts — then we can squeeze Li out. Lushan was delighted and quickly praised Wen's talent; the emperor forgot his earlier judgment as well. Lushan then held the Hedong command and recommended Wen as his deputy, with charge of garrison farms and internal investigation, overseeing affairs in his absence. Wen was made prefect of Yanmen and put in charge of frontier coinage. When his mother died he resigned mourning, and Lushan recommended him as prefect of Wei Commandery. When Yang Guozhong held power he brought Wen in as Vice Censor-in-Chief and commissioner for investigation and disposition of the capital region and Guannei. Lushan had clerks set up a white silk tent at the relay station to await his orders. Qingxu personally came to see him off. Grateful, Wen reported every movement at court — Lushan knew within a day. In Tianbao 13 Lushan came to court as Director of the Imperial Stud and recommended Wen as Vice Minister of War to serve under him.

國忠與祿山爭寵，而溫昵祿山甚，國忠不善也。會河東太守韋陟怨失職，因溫以交祿山，遍饋權近，國忠遣人發其狀，斥溫澧陽長史，其屬員錫及陟皆坐貶。明年，溫仍坐受賕、奪民馬，貶端溪尉。

Guozhong and Lushan were rivals for favor, and Wen was very close to Lushan — which Guozhong resented. When Hedong Prefect Wei Zhi resented his loss of office, he used Wen to cultivate Lushan and showered gifts on the powerful. Guozhong exposed the affair; Wen was demoted to chief administrator of Liyang, and his subordinate Yuan Xi and Zhi were demoted as well. The next year Wen was again convicted of taking bribes and seizing commoners' horses and was demoted to assistant magistrate of Duanxi.

始，林甫死，希奭出為始安太守，張博濟、韋陟、韋誡奢、李從一、員錫皆逗留始安，溫既謫，又依希奭以居。國忠奏遣蔣沇臨按，希奭擅稽罪人，貶海康員外尉，俄遣使者殺溫等五人。溫之斥，帝在華清宮，詔從臣曰：「溫本酷吏子，朕過用之，故屢構大獄，專威福。今既斥，公屬安矣。」

When Linfu died, Xiyi was posted out as prefect of Shi'an. Zhang Boji, Wei Zhi, Wei Jieshe, Li Congyi, and Yuan Xi all lingered there, and after his demotion Wen joined Xiyi. Guozhong sent Jiang Yan to investigate. Xiyi was demoted to supernumerary assistant magistrate of Haikang for illegally detaining prisoners. Soon envoys were dispatched to kill Wen and four others. When Wen was dismissed the emperor was at Huaqing Palace and told his court, "Wen was the son of a cruel official, and I wrongly employed him. He repeatedly engineered sweeping prosecutions and monopolized power. Now that he is gone, you gentlemen may rest easy. (End of the emperor's remark.)

溫死五月而祿山反，即偽位，求溫子，方十歲，授河南參軍以報之。崔器崔器，深州安平人。曾祖恭禮，尚真定公主，為駙馬都尉，貌豐偉，飲酒至斗不亂。器有吏幹，然性陷刻樂禍。天寶中，舉明經，為萬年尉。逾月，擢監察御史，中丞宋渾為東畿采訪使，引為判官。渾坐贓敗，器亦廢，後為奉先令。

Five months after Wen's death Lushan rebelled. When he declared himself emperor he sought out Wen's ten-year-old son and made him army officer of Henan in repayment. Cui Qi was a native of Anping in Shen Prefecture. His great-grandfather Gongli married Princess Zhending and served as Commandant of the Feathered Forest — a man of imposing build who could drink a peck of wine without losing his composure. Qi had administrative talent, but his nature was harsh and scheming, and he delighted in others' misfortune. During Tianbao he passed the Mingjing examination and served as assistant magistrate of Wannian. Within a month he was promoted to Investigating Censor. Vice Censor Song Hun, commissioner for the Eastern Capital region, took him on as judicial officer. When Hun fell in a bribery scandal Qi was dismissed as well; he later served as magistrate of Fengxian.

安祿山陷京師，器受賊署，守奉先。頃之，同羅背賊，賊將安守忠、張通儒亡去，渭上義兵且數萬，器大懼，悉毀賊所署符敕，募眾以應之。渭上軍敗，遂走靈武。素善呂諲，得為御史中丞、戶部侍郎。肅宗至鳳翔，兼禮儀使。二京平，為三司使。器草定儀典，令王官陷賊者，悉入含元廷中，露首跣足，撫膺頓首請罪，令刀仗環之，以示扈從群臣。器既殘忍希帝旨，欲深文繩下，乃建議陳希烈、達奚珣等數百人皆抵死。李峴執奏，乃以六等定罪，多所厚貣。後蕭華自賊中來，因言：「王官重為安慶緒驅脅，至相州，聞廣平王宣詔釋希烈等，皆相顧愧悔。及聞崔器議刑，眾心復搖。」帝曰：「朕幾為器所誤。」後為吏部侍郎、御史大夫。上元元年病亟，叩頭若謝罪狀，家人問之，曰：「達奚尹訴於我。」三日卒。毛若虛毛若虛，絳州太平人。眉長覆目，性殘鷙。天寶末為武功丞，年六十餘。肅宗還京師，擢監察御史，以國用大竭，數請掊天下財，巧傅於法，日月有獻，漸見識用。大抵核囚，先收家貲以定贓，有不滿意，攤索保伍姻近，人懼其威，無敢不如約。

When An Lushan captured the capital Qi accepted a rebel appointment and held Fengxian. Soon the Tongluo turned against the rebels and rebel generals An Shouzhong and Zhang Tongru fled. Loyalist forces on the Wei River numbered nearly ten thousand. Terrified, Qi destroyed all rebel commissions and raised troops to join them. When the Wei forces were defeated he fled to Lingwu. He had long been friendly with Lu Jin and through him became Vice Censor-in-Chief and Vice Minister of Revenue. When Emperor Suzong reached Fengxiang, Qi also served as Commissioner of Ritual. When the two capitals were recovered he became Commissioner of the Three Offices. Qi drafted the ritual protocol: all court officials who had surrendered to the rebels were to enter the Hanyuan Hall court bareheaded and barefoot, beating their breasts and kowtowing for pardon, ringed by armed guards — a spectacle for the attending ministers. Cruel and eager to match the emperor's wishes, Qi sought to bind everyone with harsh law and recommended that Chen Xilie, Daxi Xun, and several hundred others all be put to death. Li Xian intervened with a memorial, and the court instead sentenced by six grades of guilt, with heavy fines for many. Later Xiao Hua arrived from rebel-held territory and reported: "The court officials had been driven hard by An Qingxu. When they reached Xiang Prefecture and heard Prince of Guangping proclaim an edict releasing Xilie and the others, they looked at one another in shame and regret. When they heard Cui Qi's proposed sentences, morale wavered again. The emperor said, "I was nearly misled by Qi." He later served as Vice Minister of Personnel and Censor-in-Chief. In Shangyuan 1, gravely ill, he kowtowed as if confessing guilt. When his family asked, he said, "Daxi Yin is accusing me. He died three days later. Mao Ruoxu was a native of Taiping in Jiang Prefecture. His eyebrows were so long they covered his eyes, and his nature was cruel and fierce. At the end of Tianbao he served as assistant magistrate of Wugong, aged over sixty. When Emperor Suzong returned to the capital he was promoted to Investigating Censor. With state finances exhausted, he repeatedly proposed schemes to squeeze wealth from the realm, cleverly cloaking them in law, and brought monthly tributes — gradually winning recognition and appointment. In investigating prisoners he first seized family assets to fix the amount of bribes; if unsatisfied he extended the search to guarantors, neighbors, and relatives. People feared his power and none dared refuse.

乾元中，鳳翔七坊士數剽州縣間殺人，尉謝夷甫不勝怒，搒殺之。士妻訴李輔國，輔國請御史孫鎣窮治，獄久不具，詔中丞崔伯陽與三司參訊，未決。乃使若虛按之，即歸罪夷甫。伯陽爭甚力，若虛慢拒，伯陽怒，若虛即馳入白於帝。詔姑出，若虛泥訴曰：「臣出即死。」因蔽若虛殿中，而召伯陽。伯陽至，具劾若虛罔上，帝主先語，叱伯陽出，並官屬悉貶嶺外。李峴頗左右鎣等，罷宰相。於是若虛權焰震朝廷，群臣不舒息。尋擢御史中丞。上元元年，以罪貶賓化尉，死。敬羽敬羽，河中寶鼎人。貌寢甚，性便辟，善候人意。補匡城尉，朔方安思順表為節度府屬。肅宗初，擢監察御史，以言利幸。京師平，任遇浸顯，兇態不能忍，乃作巨枷，號「尾榆」，囚人多死。又仆囚於地，以門牡轢腹；掘地實棘，席蒙上，瀕坎鞫囚，不服則擠之坎，人多濫死。遷累御史中丞、宗正卿。

During Qianyuan, soldiers of the Fengxiang Seven Enclosures repeatedly raided the counties and killed people. Assistant Magistrate Xie Yifu, enraged beyond endurance, beat one of them to death. The soldier's wife appealed to Li Fuguo, who had Censor Sun Jin investigate thoroughly. The case dragged on unresolved until an edict ordered Vice Censor Cui Boyang and the Three Offices to join the inquiry — still without a decision. Ruoxu was then sent to investigate and immediately pinned the blame on Yifu. Boyang argued fiercely; Ruoxu contemptuously refused. Boyang flew into a rage, and Ruoxu immediately raced to the palace to report to the emperor. The emperor ordered him to leave for the moment, but Ruoxu clung and pleaded, "If I leave the palace, I am a dead man. Ruoxu was hidden in the hall while Boyang was summoned. When Boyang arrived he fully impeached Ruoxu for deceiving the throne. The emperor sided with Ruoxu, berated Boyang out of court, and demoted all his staff beyond the mountains. Li Xian, who had somewhat sided with Jin and the others, was dismissed as chancellor. Ruoxu's power then blazed over the court, and the ministers could not breathe easy. He was soon promoted to Vice Censor-in-Chief. In Shangyuan 1 he was demoted for crimes to assistant magistrate of Binhua, where he died. Jing Yu was a native of Baoding in Hezhong. He was very ugly in appearance, obsequious by nature, and skilled at reading what people wanted. He was appointed assistant magistrate of Kuangcheng, and An Sishun of Shuofang recommended him as staff on the circuit headquarters. At the start of Suzong's reign he was promoted to Investigating Censor through proposals for profit that won favor. When the capital was recovered his appointments grew ever more prominent, and his violent temperament knew no restraint. He made a giant cangue called 'Tail Elm,' and many prisoners died in it. He also prostrated prisoners on the ground and crushed their bellies with a door bar; dug pits filled with thorns and covered them with mats, interrogating prisoners at the edge — if they would not confess he pushed them in, and many drowned or died unjustly. He rose through repeated promotions to Vice Censor-in-Chief and Director of the Imperial Clan Court.

鄭國公李遵坐賄下詔獄，羽參按，遵肥而羽瘠，則引遵危坐小床，痹且仆，遵欲申足，羽曰：「公乃囚，我延公坐，何可慢？」遵仆三四，徐受所言，得贓至數百萬。嗣岐王珍謀反，詔羽窮劾，乃悉召支黨，環以搒具，囚惶怖，一昔獄成，珍賜死，左衛將軍竇如玢等九人皆斬，太子洗馬趙非熊等六七人斃杖下，聞者毛豎。

Duke of Zheng Li Zun, implicated in bribery, was sent to the edict-designated prison. Yu assisted in the investigation. Zun was stout and Yu was gaunt, so Yu made Zun sit precariously on a small bed until he grew numb and nearly collapsed. When Zun tried to stretch his legs, Yu said, "You are a prisoner — I offered you a seat. How dare you be so careless? Zun collapsed three or four times before slowly accepting what was demanded. Bribes totaling several million were extracted. When Heir Prince of Qi Wang Zhen plotted rebellion, an edict ordered Yu to investigate thoroughly. He summoned all accomplices and surrounded them with beating implements until the prisoners were terrified. In a single night the case was closed. Zhen was ordered to die; Left Guard General Dou Rubin and eight others were beheaded; Crown Prince Study Attendant Zhao Feixiong and six or seven others were beaten to death. Those who heard of it felt their hair stand on end.

先是，胡人康謙以賈富，楊國忠輔政，納其金，授安南都護，領山南東路驛事，吏疾之，誣其通史朝義。羽鞫之，謙鬚長三尺，明日脫盡，膝腂皆碎，人視之以為鬼，乃殺之。

Earlier the merchant Kang Qian, a foreigner, had grown rich through trade. When Yang Guozhong held power he accepted Kang's gold and appointed him Protector General of Annan with charge of the Shannan East Route relay system. The clerks hated him and falsely accused him of communicating with Shi Chaoyi. Yu interrogated him. Qian's beard was three feet long; by the next day it had all been pulled out and his knees and shins were crushed to pulp. Onlookers thought they were seeing a ghost. Then he was killed.

羽與毛若虛、裴升、畢曜同時為御史，皆暴忍，時稱「毛敬裴畢」。未幾，升、曜流黔中。寶應初，羽斥道州刺史，詔殺之。羽聞使者至，缞服而逃，吏械之。臨死，袖中出牒數番，乃吏相告訐，咤曰：「不及推，死矣，治州者無宜寢。」

Yu served as censor at the same time as Mao Ruoxu, Pei Sheng, and Bi Yao — all brutal men nicknamed together as 'Mao-Jing-Pei-Bi.' Before long Sheng and Yao were exiled to Qianzhong. At the start of Baoying Yu was dismissed as prefect of Dao Prefecture and an edict ordered his execution. When Yu heard the envoy had arrived he fled in mourning dress, but officers shackled him. As he faced death he pulled several denunciations from his sleeve — clerks informing on one another — and cried, "No time to pursue them now — I die, but those who govern prefectures ought not sleep easy. (End of Yu's final words.)

Cite this Chapter