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郭崇韜
Guo Chongtao
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郭崇韜，代州雁門人也，為河東教練使。 為人明敏，能應對，以材幹見稱。 莊宗為晉王，孟知祥為中門使，崇韜為副使。 中門之職，參管機要，先時，吳珙、張虔厚等皆以中門使相繼獲罪。 知祥懼，求外任，莊宗曰：「公欲避事，當舉可代公者。」 知祥乃薦崇韜為中門使，甚見親信。
Guo Chongtao came from Yanmen in Dai prefecture and held the post of Hedong drill commissioner. Bright, quick on his feet, and celebrated for his ability, he was a man who could hold his own in any room. While Zhuangzong still ruled as Prince of Jin, Meng Zhixiang served as Middle Gate envoy with Chongtao as his deputy. Middle Gate envoys touched the realm’s deepest secrets—and Wu Gong, Zhang Qianhou, and others who had held the post before them had fallen to crime, one after another. Zhixiang grew fearful and asked for a post outside the capital. Zhuangzong told him: “If you mean to step aside, name someone who can replace you.” Zhixiang then put forward Chongtao for Middle Gate envoy, and Chongtao soon became one of the prince’s most trusted men.
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梁王彥章擊破德勝，唐軍東保楊劉，彥章圍之。 莊宗登壘，望見彥章為重塹以絕唐軍，意輕之，笑曰：「我知其心矣，其欲持久以弊我也。」 即引短兵出戰，為彥章伏兵所射，大敗而歸。 莊宗問崇韜：「計安出？」 是時，唐已得鄆州矣，崇韜因曰：「彥章圍我於此，其志在取鄆州也。 臣願得兵數千，據河下流，築壘於必爭之地，以應鄆州為名，彥章必來爭，既分其兵，可以圖也。 然板築之功難卒就，陛下日以精兵挑戰，使彥章兵不得東，十日壘成矣。」 莊宗以為然，乃遣崇韜與毛璋將數千人夜行，所過驅掠居人，毀屋伐木，渡河築壘於博州東，晝夜督役，六日壘成。 彥章果引兵急攻之，時方大暑，彥章兵熱死，及攻壘不克，所失太半，還趨楊劉，莊宗迎擊，遂敗之。
Wang Yanzhang of Liang broke Desheng; the Tang army fell back east to Yangliu, and Yanzhang laid siege. From the ramparts Zhuangzong watched Yanzhang raise deep trenches to isolate the Tang host and laughed him off: “I see what he wants—a long siege to grind us down.” He took a light force out to fight, walked into Yanzhang’s ambush, and came back in ruin. Zhuangzong turned to Chongtao: “What is our move?” Tang already held Yan prefecture by then. Chongtao said: “Yanzhang has pinned us here because his real aim is Yan prefecture. Give me a few thousand men to seize the lower river, throw up a fort on ground he cannot ignore, and call it support for Yan. He will have to split his army to answer—and then we can strike. Earthworks cannot rise overnight. Send your best troops out each day to keep him fighting here, so his army cannot turn east. In ten days the fort will be done.” Zhuangzong agreed. He sent Chongtao and Mao Zhang with several thousand men on a night march. Everywhere they went they drove off the people, stripped houses for timber, crossed the river, and raised a fort east of Bo prefecture, driving the work without rest—six days, and the walls stood. Yanzhang rushed to attack, as Chongtao had foreseen. In the midsummer heat his men dropped dead; they failed to take the fort and lost more than half their strength. As they hurried back toward Yangliu, Zhuangzong met them and broke them.
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康延孝自梁奔唐，先見崇韜，崇韜延之臥內，盡得梁虛實。 是時，莊宗軍朝城，段凝軍臨河。 唐自失德勝，梁兵日掠澶、相，取黎陽、衛州，而李繼韜以澤潞叛入於梁，契丹數犯幽、涿，又聞延孝言梁方召諸鎮兵欲大舉，唐諸將皆憂惑，以謂成敗未可知。 莊宗患之，以問諸將，諸將皆曰：「唐得鄆州，隔河難守，不若棄鄆與梁，而西取衛州、黎陽，以河為界，與梁約罷兵，毋相攻，庶幾以為後圖。」 莊宗不悅，退臥帳中，召崇韜問計，崇韜曰：「陛下興兵仗義，將士疲戰爭、生民苦轉餉者，十餘年矣。 況今大號已建，自河以北，人皆引首以望成功而思休息。 今得一鄆州，不能守而棄之，雖欲指河為界，誰為陛下守之？ 且唐未失德勝時，四方商賈，征輸必集，薪芻糧餉，其積如山。 自失南城，保楊劉，道路轉徙，耗亡太半。 而魏、博五州，秋稼不稔，竭民而斂，不支數月，此豈按兵持久之時乎？ 臣自康延孝來，盡得梁之虛實，此真天亡之時也。 願陛下分兵守魏，固楊劉，而自鄆長驅搗其巢穴，不出半月，天下定矣！」 莊宗大喜曰：「此大丈夫之事也！」 因問司天，司天言：「歲不利用兵。」 崇韜曰：「古者命將，鑿兇門而出。 況成算已決，區區常談，豈足信也！」 莊宗即日下令軍中，歸其家屬於魏，夜渡楊劉，從鄆州入襲汴，八日而滅梁。 莊宗推功，賜崇韜鐵券，拜侍中、成德軍節度使，依前樞密使。 莊宗與諸將以兵取天下，而崇韜未嘗居戰陣，徒以謀議居佐命第一之功，位兼將相，遂以天下為己任，遇事無所回避。 而宦官、伶人用事，特不便也。
When Kang Yanxiao defected from Liang to Tang, his first stop was Chongtao’s quarters. There, in private, he laid bare everything Liang had and lacked. Zhuangzong’s army held Chaocheng while Duan Ning’s Liang force sat on the far bank. After Desheng fell, Liang raided Chan and Xiang day after day, seized Liyang and Weizhou, and won Li Jitao’s defection with Ze and Lu. Khitan bands kept striking You and Zhuo. Yanxiao brought word that Liang was calling up every circuit for a major push. Tang’s commanders grew fearful and uncertain, muttering that the outcome was anyone’s guess. Distressed, Zhuangzong polled his generals. All of them said: “Yan prefecture sits on the wrong side of the river—we cannot hold it. Give Yan back to Liang, take Weizhou and Liyang to the west, and treat the river as the border. Call a truce and buy time for a later move.” Zhuangzong would not hear it. He withdrew to his tent and sent for Chongtao. Chongtao said: “Your Majesty took up arms in a just cause. For more than ten years your soldiers have known nothing but battle, and the people have groaned under supply levies. You have already claimed the imperial title. North of the river, every man looks up waiting for victory—and for peace. We have just taken Yan prefecture. If we cannot keep it and throw it away, who will hold the river line for you? Before Desheng fell, merchants and convoys poured in from every direction—firewood, fodder, grain, and pay stacked like hills. Since we lost the southern city and fell back to Yangliu, everything we move along the roads loses more than half on the way. In Wei and Bo’s five prefectures the autumn harvest failed. We are squeezing the people dry and cannot feed the army for another few months. This is no moment to sit and wait. Since Yanxiao arrived I have learned Liang inside out. Heaven itself is handing us their ruin. Leave a force to hold Wei, lock down Yangliu, and from Yan ride straight into their heartland. In less than half a month the realm will be yours!” Zhuangzong brightened: “Now that is a man’s counsel!” He consulted the Director of Astronomy, who answered: “The stars say this is no year for war.” Chongtao said: “Ancient emperors broke through the Gate of Ill Omen when they sent generals to war. The winning plan is already in hand—why trust idle chatter from the calendar!” That same day Zhuangzong sent the army’s families back to Wei, crossed Yangliu by night, swept in from Yan toward Bian—and in eight days Liang was gone. Zhuangzong rewarded him with an iron certificate of mercy, made him Palace Secretary and military governor of Chengde Circuit, and kept him on as Privy Commissioner. Zhuangzong and his generals had won the realm with swords, but Chongtao had never once stood in the battle line. By counsel alone he ranked first among the founders. General and minister in one man, he took the empire as his own burden and never shrank from a hard decision. Eunuchs and actors held the levers of power—and that sat ill with him.
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初，崇韜與宦者馬紹宏俱為中門使，而紹宏位在上。 及莊宗即位，二人當為樞密使，而崇韜不欲紹宏在己上，乃以張居翰為樞密使，紹宏為宣徽使。 紹宏失職怨望，崇韜因置內勾使，以紹宏領之。 凡天下錢谷出入於租庸者，皆經內勾。 既而文簿繁多，州縣為弊，遽罷其事，而紹宏尤側目。 崇韜頗懼，語其故人子弟曰：「吾佐天子取天下，今大功已就，而群小交興，吾欲避之，歸守鎮陽，庶幾免禍，可乎？」 故人子弟對曰：「俚語曰：『騎虎者，勢不得下。』 今公權位已隆，而下多怨嫉，一失其勢，能自安乎？」 崇韜曰：「奈何？」 對曰：「今中宮未立，而劉氏有寵，宜請立劉氏為皇后，而多建天下利害以便民者，然後退而乞身。 天子以公有大功而無過，必不聽公去。 是外有避權之名，而內有中宮之助，又為天下所悅，雖有讒間，其可動乎？」 崇韜以為然，乃上書請立劉氏為皇后。
Early on Chongtao and the eunuch Ma Shaohong had both served as Middle Gate envoys, with Shaohong senior to him. When Zhuangzong took the throne both men were due for Privy Commissioner. Chongtao refused to serve beneath Shaohong, so Zhang Juchang became Privy Commissioner while Shaohong was made Commissioner of the Court of Palace Attendants. Stripped of real power, Shaohong seethed. Chongtao answered by inventing the post of Internal Audit Commissioner and handing it to him. Every coin of tax and labor revenue that moved through the empire now passed through Internal Audit. Paperwork soon buried the prefectures and counties. The office was killed off almost as quickly as it was born—and Shaohong’s hatred only deepened. Chongtao grew afraid and confided in the sons of old friends: “I helped the emperor win the realm. The great work is done, and petty men are closing in. I want to withdraw to Zhenyuan and try to dodge ruin—is that wise?” They answered: “There is a saying: ‘Once you ride the tiger, you cannot climb down.’ ’ Your rank is already towering and envy runs deep below. Lose your grip on power, and who will keep you safe?” Chongtao asked: “Then what should I do?” They said: “The empress has not been enthroned, yet Lady Liu already holds the emperor’s heart. Ask that she be made empress. Push reforms that help the people. Then ask to retire. The emperor will see your great service and refuse to let you leave. Outwardly you will look modest; inwardly the empress will stand with you; the people will be on your side. Even if slander comes, who will be able to touch you?” Chongtao took the advice and memorialized to make Lady Liu empress.
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崇韜素廉，自從入洛，始受四方賂遺，故人子弟或以為言，崇韜曰：「吾位兼將相，祿賜巨萬，豈少此邪？ 今藩鎮諸侯，多梁舊將，皆主上斬袪射鉤之人也。 今一切拒之，豈無反側？ 且藏於私家，何異公帑？」 明年，天子有事南郊，乃悉獻其所藏，以佐賞給。
Chongtao had always lived cleanly. Only after entering Luoyang did he begin taking gifts from every quarter. When old friends’ sons questioned it, he said: “I hold general and minister in one body and draw pay in the tens of thousands—do I need this? Most of the frontier lords are Liang’s old commanders—men Your Majesty once spared though they had worn the enemy’s colors. Turn every gift away cold, and how long before they turn on us? Besides, what I hold in my house is no different from what sits in the treasury.” The next year, when the emperor sacrificed at the southern suburb, Chongtao turned over everything he had kept to help pay the court’s rewards.
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莊宗已郊，遂立劉氏為皇后。 崇韜累表自陳，請依唐舊制，還樞密使於內臣，而並辭鎮陽，優詔不允。 崇韜又曰：「臣從陛下軍朝城，定計破梁，陛下撫臣背而約曰：『事了，與卿一鎮。』 今天下一家，俊賢並進，臣憊矣，願乞身如約。」 莊宗召崇韜謂曰：「朝城之約，許卿一鎮，不許卿去。 欲舍朕，安之乎？」 崇韜因建天下利害二十五事，施行之。
After the suburban rites Zhuangzong enthroned Lady Liu as empress. Chongtao memorialized again and again, asking to restore the old Tang practice of putting eunuchs back in the Privy Commission and to be released from Zhenyuan. The court answered with a gracious refusal. Chongtao pressed on: “At Chaocheng, when we fixed the plan to destroy Liang, Your Majesty clapped my back and promised: ‘When this is over, you get a circuit.’ ’ The realm is united now and talent fills the court. I am spent, and I ask to retire as you promised.” Zhuangzong called Chongtao in and said: “At Chaocheng I promised you a circuit—not your freedom. You would leave me—where else would you go?” Chongtao answered by drafting twenty-five reforms for the public good, and Zhuangzong put them into effect.
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李嗣源為成德軍節度使，徙崇韜忠武。 崇韜因自陳權位已極，言甚懇至。 莊宗曰：「豈可朕居天下之尊，使卿無尺寸之地？」 崇韜辭不已，遂罷其命，仍為侍中、樞密使。
Li Siyuan took Chengde Circuit; Chongtao was transferred to Zhongwu. Chongtao pleaded again that he had risen as high as any man should—his words were almost a confession. Zhuangzong said: “How can I sit as emperor and leave you without even a corner of earth to call your own?” Chongtao would not stop refusing, so Zhuangzong canceled the transfer and kept him as Palace Secretary and Privy Commissioner.
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同光三年夏，霖雨不止，大水害民田，民多流死。 莊宗患宮中暑濕不可居，思得高樓避暑。 宦官進曰：「臣見長安全盛時，大明、興慶宮樓閣百數。 今大內不及故時卿相家。」 莊宗曰：「吾富有天下，豈不能作一樓？」 乃遣宮苑使王允平營之。 宦官曰：「郭崇韜眉頭不伸，常為租庸惜財用，陛下雖欲有作，其可得乎？」 莊宗乃使人問崇韜曰：「昔吾與梁對壘於河上，雖祁寒盛暑，被甲跨馬，不以為勞。 今居深宮，蔭廣廈，不勝其熱，何也？」 崇韜對曰：「陛下昔以天下為心，今以一身為意，艱難逸豫，為慮不同，其勢自然也。 願陛下無忘創業之難，常如河上，則可使繁暑坐變清涼。」 莊宗默然。 終遣允平起樓，崇韜果切諫。 宦官曰：「崇韜之第，無異皇居，安知陛下之熱！」 由是讒間愈入。
In the summer of Tongguang year three the rains would not stop. Floods swallowed the fields and refugees drowned by the thousands. The palace grew muggy and unbearable, and Zhuangzong began to dream of a tall tower where he could breathe. The eunuchs whispered: “We remember Chang’an in its glory—Daming and Xingqing alone held towers and halls by the hundred. Today the inner palace is poorer than a great minister’s house in Tang times.” Zhuangzong said: “I own the wealth of the empire—surely I can raise one tower.” He sent Wang Yunping, commissioner of the Palace Parks, to build it. The eunuchs added: “Guo Chongtao’s brow is always furrowed. He hoards every coin of tax revenue. Even if Your Majesty wants a tower, will Chongtao allow it?” Zhuangzong sent a messenger to Chongtao: “On the river line against Liang I wore armor in freezing cold and brutal heat and never complained. Now I live deep in the palace under wide roofs and cannot stand the heat—why?” Chongtao answered: “Then Your Majesty’s heart held the whole realm; now it holds only yourself. Hardship and comfort ask different things of a man—that is only natural. Do not forget the struggle of founding the dynasty. Keep the spirit you had on the river, and even this fierce summer will feel cool where you sit.” Zhuangzong said nothing. In the end Zhuangzong still ordered Yunping to build—and Chongtao remonstrated as fiercely as he had warned. The eunuchs hissed: “Chongtao’s own house is fit for an emperor—what does he know of Your Majesty’s suffering in the heat!” From that day the whispers against him only grew louder.
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河南縣令羅貫，為人強直，頗為崇韜所知。 貫正身奉法，不受權豪請托，宦官、伶人有所求請，書積几案，一不以報，皆以示崇韜。 崇韜數以為言，宦官、伶人由此切齒。 河南自故唐時張全義為尹，縣令多出其門，全義廝養畜之。 及貫為之，奉全義不屈，縣民恃全義為不法者，皆按誅之。 全義大怒，嘗使人告劉皇后，從容為白貫事，而左右日夜共攻其短。 莊宗未有以發。 皇太后崩，葬坤陵，陵在壽安，莊宗幸陵作所，而道路泥塗，橋壞。 莊宗止輿問：「誰主者？」 宦官曰：「屬河南。」 因亟召貫，貫至，對曰：「臣初不奉詔，請詰主者。」 莊宗曰：「爾之所部，復問何人！」 即下貫獄，獄吏榜掠，體無完膚。 明日，傳詔殺之。 崇韜諫曰：「貫罪無佗，橋道不修，法不當死。」 莊宗怒曰：「太后靈駕將發，天子車輿往來，橋道不修，卿言無罪，是朋黨也！」 崇韜曰：「貫雖有罪，當具獄行法於有司。 陛下以萬乘之尊，怒一縣令，使天下之人，言陛下用法不公，臣等之過也。」 莊宗曰：「貫，公所愛，任公裁決！」 因起入宮，崇韜隨之，論不已。 莊宗自闔殿門，崇韜不得入。 貫卒見殺。
Luo Guan, magistrate of Henan county, was hard and straight by nature, and Chongtao thought highly of him. Guan lived by the law and took no favors from the powerful. When eunuchs and actors wrote asking for special treatment, their letters stacked on his desk unanswered—and he showed every one to Chongtao. Chongtao kept raising the matter at court. The eunuchs and actors hated him for it. In the old Tang days Zhang Quanyi had governed Henan, and most county magistrates had come from his household—men he had raised like private retainers. Guan would not defer to Quanyi. County people who had counted on Quanyi’s protection to break the law—Guan investigated them and had them put to death. Quanyi was furious and sent men to Empress Liu to plead Guan’s case in soft words. Meanwhile the emperor’s attendants spent day and night picking at Guan’s every flaw. Zhuangzong still lacked a pretext to move against him. When the empress dowager died she was buried at Kun tomb in Shou’an. Zhuangzong went to oversee the work, but the roads had turned to mud and the bridges had collapsed. Zhuangzong stopped his carriage and demanded: “Who is responsible for this?” The eunuchs said: “That is Henan’s jurisdiction.” Guan was summoned at once. When he came he answered: “I never received the edict for this work—Your Majesty should ask whoever was put in charge.” Zhuangzong snapped: “It is your county—whom else should I ask!” Guan was thrown into jail. The jailers beat him until not an inch of skin was left whole. The next day an edict went out ordering his death. Chongtao remonstrated: “Guan’s only fault is failing to repair the roads and bridges. By law that is not a capital crime.” Zhuangzong raged: “The empress dowager’s coffin is about to leave! The emperor’s carriage must pass here again and again—and you say an unrepaired road is no crime? You are shielding him!” Chongtao said: “Even if Guan is guilty, there should be a proper trial and sentence through the legal offices. For the Son of Heaven to vent his wrath on one county magistrate and let the realm say justice is uneven—that is our failure as your ministers.” Zhuangzong said: “Guan is your man—then you judge him!” He stood and went inside. Chongtao followed him, pleading without stop. Zhuangzong shut the palace gate himself; Chongtao could not follow him in. Guan was killed in the end.
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明年征蜀，議擇大將。 時明宗為總管，當行。 而崇韜以讒見危，思立大功為自安之計，乃曰：「契丹為患北邊，非總管不可禦。 魏王繼岌，國之儲副，而大功未立，且親王為元帥，唐故事也。」 莊宗曰：「繼岌，小子，豈任大事？ 必為我擇其副。」 崇韜未及言，莊宗曰：「吾得之矣，無以易卿也。」 乃以繼岌為西南面行營都統，崇韜為招討使，軍政皆決崇韜。
The next year they marched against Shu and debated who should lead. Mingzong was then overall commander and was the man who ought to go. Chongtao, endangered by slander, sought a great victory to save himself and said: “The Khitan threaten the north—only the overall commander can hold them. Prince Jiji is the heir, yet he has won no great deed; and an imperial prince as field marshal is Tang custom.” Zhuangzong said: “Jiji is a boy—can he bear so great a burden? Choose his deputy for me. Before Chongtao could answer, Zhuangzong said: “I have my man—none can replace you.” He made Jiji overall commander for the southwest campaign and Chongtao pacification commissioner; military and civil affairs alike rested with Chongtao.
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唐軍入蜀，所過迎降。 王衍弟宗弼，陰送款於崇韜，求為西川兵馬留後，崇韜以節度使許之。 軍至成都，宗弼遷衍於西宮，悉取衍嬪妓、珍寶奉崇韜及其子廷誨。 又與蜀人列狀見魏王，請崇韜留鎮蜀。 繼岌頗疑崇韜，崇韜無以自明，因以事斬宗弼及其弟宗渥、宗勛，沒其家財。 蜀人大恐。
Tang troops entered Shu; wherever they marched, cities came out to surrender. Wang Yan’s brother Zongbi secretly sent terms to Chongtao, asking to be kept on as Xichuan military commissioner; Chongtao promised him the circuit. When the army reached Chengdu, Zongbi moved Yan to the western palace and sent Yan’s concubines, entertainers, and treasures to Chongtao and his son Yanhui. Shu men also petitioned the Prince of Wei to keep Chongtao in command of Shu. Jiji grew deeply suspicious of Chongtao. Unable to clear himself, Chongtao seized on a pretext to execute Zongbi and his brothers Zongwo and Zongxun and confiscate their property. The people of Shu were terrified.
13
崇韜素嫉宦官，嘗謂繼岌曰：「王有破蜀功，師旋，必為太子，俟主上千秋萬歲後，當盡去宦官，至於扇馬，亦不可騎。」 繼岌監軍李從襲等見崇韜專任軍事，心已不平，及聞此言，遂皆切齒，思有以圖之。 莊宗聞破蜀，遣宦官向延嗣勞軍，崇韜不郊迎，延嗣大怒，因與從襲等共構之。 延嗣還，上蜀簿，得兵三十萬，馬九千五百匹，兵器七百萬，糧二百五十三萬石，錢一百九十二萬緡，金銀二十二萬兩，珠玉犀象二萬，文錦綾羅五十萬匹。 莊宗曰：「人言蜀天下之富國也，所得止於此邪？」 延嗣因言蜀之寶貨皆入崇韜，且誣其有異志，將危魏王。 莊宗怒，遣宦官馬彥珪至蜀，視崇韜去就。 彥珪以告劉皇后，劉皇后教彥珪矯詔魏王殺之。
Chongtao had always despised the eunuchs. He once told Jiji: “You broke Shu. When the army returns you will surely be made crown prince; after our lord’s death you should drive out every eunuch—even the grooms who fan the horses should not ride. Jiji’s army supervisors Li Congxi and the others, already angry that Chongtao monopolized military affairs, heard this and gnashed their teeth, plotting to destroy him. When Zhuangzong heard Shu had fallen, he sent the eunuch Xiang Yansi to reward the army. Chongtao did not go out to greet him at the suburbs. Yansi raged and joined Congxi and the others in plotting against him. Yansi returned and submitted the Shu inventory: three hundred thousand troops, nine thousand five hundred horses, seven million weapons, two million five hundred thirty thousand shi of grain, one million nine hundred twenty thousand strings of cash, two hundred twenty thousand liang of gold and silver, twenty thousand pearls, jade, rhinoceros horn, and ivory, and five hundred thousand bolts of patterned silk and damask. Zhuangzong said: “Men call Shu the richest kingdom under heaven—is this all there is? Yansi then said all Shu’s treasure had gone to Chongtao and accused him of disloyalty, plotting to endanger the Prince of Wei. Zhuangzong raged and sent the eunuch Ma Yan’gui to Shu to see what Chongtao meant to do. Yan’gui told Empress Liu, and she told him to forge an edict ordering the Prince of Wei to kill Chongtao.
14
崇韜有子五人，其二從死於蜀，餘皆見殺。 其破蜀所得，皆籍沒。 明宗即位，詔許歸葬，以其太原故宅賜其二孫。
Chongtao had five sons; two died with him in Shu, and the rest were killed. All he had taken in the conquest of Shu was confiscated. When Mingzong took the throne he allowed Chongtao burial and granted his two grandsons his old Taiyuan residence.
15
當崇韜用事，自宰相豆盧革、韋悅等皆傾附之，崇韜父諱弘，革等即因佗事，奏改弘文館為崇文館。 以其姓郭，因以為子儀之後，崇韜遂以為然。 其伐蜀也，過子儀墓，下馬號慟而去，聞者頗以為笑。 然崇韜盡忠國家，有大略。 其已破蜀，因遣使者以唐威德風諭南詔諸蠻，欲因以綏來之，可謂有誌矣！
While Chongtao held power, even grand councilors Doulu Ge and Wei Yue fawned on him. Chongtao’s father’s taboo name was Hong; Ge and the others seized on some other matter and memorialized to rename Hongwen Hall as Chongwen Hall. Because his surname was Guo they claimed him as Guo Ziyi’s descendant; Chongtao came to believe it. On the Shu campaign he passed Ziyi’s tomb, dismounted, wailed bitterly, and went on; those who heard of it mostly laughed. Yet Chongtao gave his full loyalty to the state and had great strategic vision. After he broke Shu he sent envoys to proclaim Tang’s majesty and virtue to the Nan Zhao tribes, hoping to win them over by gentle persuasion—one may say he had ambition!
16
安重誨
An Chonghui
17
重誨自為中門使，已見親信，而以佐命功臣，處機密之任，事無大小，皆以參決，其勢傾動天下。 雖其盡忠勞心，時有補益，而恃功矜寵，威福自出，旁無賢人君子之助，其獨見之慮，禍釁所生，至於臣主俱傷，幾滅其族，斯其可哀者也。
From the time Chonghui became director of the Inner Gate he enjoyed the emperor’s trust. As a founding merit minister in confidential posts, he weighed every matter great and small, and his power shook the empire. Though he labored loyally and sometimes did good, he leaned on merit and favored status, wielded reward and punishment as he pleased, had no wise men at his side, and from his solitary counsel sprang disaster—ruler and minister both suffered and his clan nearly perished. That is the pity of it.
18
重誨嘗出，過御史臺門，殿直馬延誤沖其前導，重誨怒，即臺門斬延而後奏。 是時，隨駕廳子軍士桑弘遷，毆傷相州錄事參軍； 親從兵馬使安虔，走馬沖宰相前導。 弘遷罪死，虔決杖而已。 重誨以斬延，乃請降敕處分，明宗不得已從之，由是御史、諫官無敢言者。
Once when Chonghui went out he passed the Censorate gate. The palace attendant Ma Yan accidentally blocked his escort; Chonghui in rage cut Yan down at the gate and only afterward reported it. At that time the bodyguard officer Sang Hongqian beat the magistrate of Xiangzhou; the personal attendant An Qian rode at full gallop through the grand councilor’s escort. Hongqian was sentenced to death; Qian received flogging only. Because Chonghui had beheaded Yan he asked for an edict to settle the matter; Mingzong unwillingly consented, and from then on censors and remonstrating officials dared not speak.
19
宰相任圜判三司，以其職事與重誨爭，不能得，圜怒，辭疾，退居於磁州。 朱守殷以汴州反，重誨遣人矯詔馳至其家，殺圜而後白，誣圜與守殷通謀，明宗皆不能詰也。 而重誨恐天下議己因取三司積欠二百餘萬，請放之，冀以悅人而塞責，明宗不得已，為下詔蠲除之。 其威福自出，多此類也。
Grand Councilor Ren Huan ran the Three Departments and quarreled with Chonghui over their duties without prevailing. Huan in anger pleaded illness and retired to Cizhou. When Zhu Shouyin rebelled at Bianzhou, Chonghui sent men with a forged edict racing to Huan’s home, killed him, and only then reported it—falsely charging Huan with plotting with Shouyin. Mingzong could not investigate. Yet Chonghui feared public criticism and took more than two million in Three Department arrears and asked that they be forgiven, hoping to buy favor and stifle censure. Mingzong unwillingly issued an edict remitting them. His wielding of reward and punishment as he pleased was largely of this sort.
20
是時，四方奏事，皆先白重誨然後聞。 河南縣獻嘉禾，一莖五穗，重誨視之曰：「偽也。」 笞其人而遣之。 夏州李仁福進白鷹，重誨卻之，明日，白曰：「陛下詔天下毋得獻鷹鷂，而仁福違詔獻鷹，臣已卻之矣。」 重誨出，明宗陰遣人取之以入。 佗日，按鷹於西郊，戒左右：「無使重誨知也！」 宿州進白兔，重誨曰：「兔陰且狡，雖白何為！」 遂卻而不白。
At that time memorials from the four quarters all went first to Chonghui before reaching the throne. Henan county presented an auspicious grain stalk with five ears on one stem. Chonghui looked at it and said: “A forgery.” He flogged the man and sent him away. Li Renfu of Xias prefecture presented a white hawk; Chonghui refused it. The next day he reported: “Your Majesty has decreed that none under heaven may present hawks and falcons, yet Renfu defied the decree and presented a hawk; your servant has already refused it. After Chonghui left, Mingzong secretly sent men to fetch it in. Another day he flew the hawk in the western suburbs and warned those around him: “Do not let Chonghui know! Suzhou presented a white rabbit. Chonghui said: “Rabbits are yin creatures and cunning—what good is a white one!” He refused it and did not report it to the throne.
21
明宗為人雖寬厚，然其性夷狄，果於殺人。 馬牧軍使田令方所牧馬，瘠而多斃，坐劾當死，重誨諫曰：「使天下聞以馬故，殺一軍使，是謂貴畜而賤人。」 令方因得減死。 明宗遣回鶻侯三馳傳至其國。 侯三至醴泉縣，縣素僻，無驛馬，其令劉知章出獵，不時給馬，侯三遽以聞。 明宗大怒，械知章至京師，將殺之，重誨從容為言，知章乃得不死。 其盡忠補益，亦此類也。
Mingzong was broad and generous by nature, yet he was a barbarian tribesman at heart and quick to kill. Tian Lingfang, horse-pasture commissioner, tended horses that were gaunt and many died. Impeached, he merited death. Chonghui remonstrated: “If all under heaven hear that for a horse’s sake a commissioner was killed, they will say we value beasts and cheapen men.” Lingfang therefore had his sentence reduced from death. Mingzong sent the Uighur envoy Hou San post-haste to his country. When Hou San reached Liquan county—a place always remote with no relay horses—the magistrate Liu Zhizhang had gone hunting and did not supply horses in time. Hou San immediately reported it. Mingzong in great rage had Zhizhang shackled and brought to the capital to be killed. Chonghui spoke calmly on his behalf and Zhizhang was spared. His loyal service doing good was also largely of this sort.
22
重誨既以天下為己任，遂欲內為社稷之計，而外制諸侯之強。 然其輕信韓玫之譖，而絕錢镠之臣； 徒陷彥溫於死，而不能去潞王之患； 李嚴一出而知祥貳，仁矩未至而董璋叛； 四方騷動，師旅並興，如投膏止火，適足速之。 此所謂獨見之慮，禍釁所生也。
Once Chonghui took all under heaven as his charge, he wished within to plan for the state’s welfare and without to check powerful feudatories. Yet he lightly believed Han Mei’s slanders and cut off Qian Liu’s submission; he only trapped Yanwen in death and could not remove the trouble of the Prince of Lu; Li Yan went out once and Zhixiang turned disloyal; Renju had not arrived and Dong Zhang rebelled; the four quarters rose in alarm and armies marched everywhere—as if tossing grease on fire, only hastening the blaze. This is what is meant by “from solitary counsel sprang disaster.”
23
錢镠據有兩浙，號兼吳越而王，自梁及莊宗，常異其禮，以羈縻臣屬之而已。 明宗即位，镠遣使朝京師，寓書重誨，其禮慢。 重誨怒，未有以發，乃遣其嬖吏韓玫、副供奉官烏昭遇復使於镠。 而玫恃重誨勢，數淩辱昭遇，因醉使酒，以馬箠擊之。 镠欲奏其事，昭遇以為辱國，固止之。 及玫還，返譖於重誨曰：「昭遇見镠，舞蹈稱臣，而以朝廷事私告镠。」 昭遇坐死御史獄，乃下制削奪镠官爵，以太師致仕，於是錢氏遂絕於唐矣。
Qian Liu held the two Zhe provinces and styled himself king of Wu and Yue combined. From Liang through Zhuangzong the court had always treated his rites differently, restraining him as a subject only. When Mingzong took the throne Liu sent envoys to court and wrote to Chonghui in disrespectful terms. Chonghui raged but had no opening. He sent his favorite clerk Han Mei and deputy palace attendant Wu Zhaoyu again as envoys to Liu. Mei relied on Chonghui’s power, repeatedly insulted Zhaoyu, and when drunk ordered wine and struck him with a riding crop. Liu wished to memorialize the affair; Zhaoyu thought it would shame the state and firmly stopped him. When Mei returned he slandered Zhaoyu to Chonghui: “Zhaoyu saw Liu, bowed in dance and called himself subject, and privately told Liu court affairs.” Zhaoyu died in the censorate prison. An edict then stripped Liu of rank and title and retired him as Grand Preceptor—thus the Qian house was severed from Tang.
24
潞王從珂為河中節度使，重誨以謂從珂非李氏子，後必為國家患，乃欲陰圖之。 從珂閱馬黃龍莊，其牙內指揮使楊彥溫閉城以叛。 從珂遣人謂彥溫曰：「我遇汝厚，何苦而反邪？」 報曰：「彥溫非叛也，得樞密院宣，請公趨歸朝廷耳！」 從珂走虞鄉，馳騎上變。 明宗疑其事不明，欲究其所以，乃遣殿直都知範氳以金帶襲衣、金鞍勒馬賜彥溫，拜彥溫絳州刺史，以誘致之。 重誨固請用兵，明宗不得已，乃遣侍衛指揮使藥彥稠、西京留守索自通率兵討之，而誡曰：「為我生致彥溫，吾將自訊其事。」 彥稠等攻破河中，希重誨旨，斬彥溫以滅口。 重誨率群臣稱賀，明宗大怒曰：「朕家事不了，卿等不合致賀！」 從珂罷鎮，居清化裏第。 重誨數諷宰相，言從珂失守，宜得罪，馮道因白請行法。 明宗怒曰：「吾兒為奸人所中，事未辨明，公等出此言，是不欲容吾兒人間邪？」 趙鳳因言：「《春秋》責帥之義，所以勵為臣者。」 明宗曰：「皆非公等意也！」 道等惶恐而退。 居數日，道等又以為請，明宗顧左右而言他。 明日，重誨乃自論列，明宗曰：「公欲如何處置，我即從公！」 重誨曰：「此父子之際，非臣所宜言，惟陛下裁之。」 明宗曰：「吾為小校時，衣食不能自足，此兒為我擔石灰，拾馬糞，以相養活，今貴為天子，獨不能庇之邪！ 使其杜門私第，亦何與公事！」 重誨由是不復敢言。
Prince of Lu Congke was military governor of Hezhong. Chonghui judged that Congke was not a Li clansman and would surely endanger the state, and wished secretly to plot against him. Congke was reviewing horses at Huanglong Manor when his garrison commander Yang Yanwen shut the city and rebelled. Congke sent word to Yanwen: “I treated you generously—why rebel? The reply: “Yanwen is no rebel. I received an edict from the Bureau of Military Affairs ordering you to hurry back to court!” Congke fled to Yu village and sent riders to report the crisis. Mingzong doubted the affair was unclear and wished to get to the bottom of it. He sent the palace attendant Fan Hun with a gold belt, surcoat, gold saddle, and bridle as gifts to Yanwen and made Yanwen prefect of Jiangzhou to lure him in. Chonghui firmly pressed for military action. Mingzong unwillingly sent Palace Guard commander Yao Yanzhou and western capital intendant Suo Zitong with troops to punish him, charging them: “Bring Yanwen to me alive—I will question him myself.” Yanzhou and the others broke Hezhong, hoping to please Chonghui, and beheaded Yanwen to silence him. Chonghui led the ministers in congratulation. Mingzong raged: “I cannot even settle my own household affairs—you must not congratulate!” Congke was removed from his post and lived at his Qinghua Lane mansion. Chonghui repeatedly hinted to the grand councilors that Congke had failed in his defense and deserved punishment. Feng Dao reported asking that the law be applied. Mingzong raged: “My son was struck by villains and the matter is not yet clear—will you speak this way? Do you not wish my son to live among men? Zhao Feng then said: “The Spring and Autumn Annals holds the commander accountable—this is to encourage subjects. Mingzong said: “None of this is your own thought!” Dao and the others withdrew in fear. After several days Dao and the others asked again. Mingzong looked to those around him and changed the subject. The next day Chonghui argued the matter himself. Mingzong said: “However you wish to dispose of it, I will follow you! Chonghui said: “This is a matter between father and son—not something your servant should discuss. Let Your Majesty decide. Mingzong said: “When I was a petty officer I could not feed myself. This boy carried lime and gathered horse dung to keep me alive—now he is exalted as Son of Heaven, and I cannot shelter him? Let him keep his doors shut in private quarters—what has that to do with state business!” From then Chonghui no longer dared speak of it.
25
孟知祥鎮西川，董璋鎮東川，二人皆有異志，重誨每事裁抑，務欲制其奸心，凡兩川守將更代，多用己所親信，必以精兵從之，漸令分戍諸州，以虞緩急。 二人覺之，以為圖己，益不自安。 既而遣李嚴為西川監軍，知祥大怒，斬嚴； 又分閬州為保寧軍，以李仁矩為節度使以制璋，且削其地，璋以兵攻殺仁矩。 二人遂皆反。 唐兵戍蜀者，積三萬人，其後知祥殺璋，兼據兩川，而唐之精兵皆陷蜀。
Meng Zhixiang governed Xichuan and Dong Zhang governed Dongchuan; both harbored disloyal intentions. Chonghui checked and suppressed them at every turn, striving to control their treacherous hearts. Whenever commanders in the two circuits were replaced he mostly used men of his own trust and always sent crack troops with them, gradually posting them to garrison various prefectures against emergencies. The two men noticed and thought they were being targeted; they grew still less secure. Later Li Yan was sent as army supervisor of Xichuan; Zhixiang in fury beheaded Yan. Langzhou was split off as the Baoning army with Li Renju as military governor to check Zhang—and Zhang’s territory was reduced. Zhang attacked with troops and killed Renju. Both men then rebelled. Tang troops garrisoned in Shu totaled thirty thousand men. Later Zhixiang killed Zhang and held both circuits together, and Tang’s finest troops were all trapped in Shu.
26
初，明宗幸汴州，重誨建議，欲因以伐吳，而明宗難之。 其後戶部尚書李鏻得吳諜者言：「徐知誥欲舉吳國以稱藩，願得安公一言以為信。」 鏻即引諜者見重誨，重誨大喜以為然，乃以玉帶與諜者，使遺知誥為信，其直千緡。 初不以其事聞，其後逾年，知誥之問不至，始奏貶鏻行軍司馬。 已而捧聖都軍使李行德、十將張儉告變，言：「樞密承旨李虔徽語其客邊彥溫云：『重誨私募士卒，繕治甲器，欲自伐吳。 又與諜者交私。』」 明宗以問重誨，重誨惶恐，請究其事。 明宗初頗疑之，大臣左右皆為之辨，既而少解，始告重誨以彥溫之言，因廷詰彥溫，具伏其詐，於是君臣相顧泣下。 彥溫、行德、儉皆坐族誅。 重誨因求解職，明宗慰之曰：「事已辨，慎無措之胸中。」 重誨論請不已，明宗怒曰：「放卿去，朕不患無人！」 顧武德使孟漢瓊至中書，趣馮道等議代重誨者。 馮道曰：「諸公茍惜安公，使得罷去，是紓其禍也。」 趙鳳以為大臣不可輕動。 遂以範延光為樞密使，而重誨居職如故。
Earlier when Mingzong visited Bianzhou, Chonghui proposed using the occasion to attack Wu, but Mingzong hesitated. Later Li Lin, Minister of Revenue, took a Wu spy who said Xu Zhigao meant to bring Wu under the throne as a vassal state—if only Lord An would give his word as pledge. Li Lin brought the man straight to Chonghui. Chonghui was delighted and took it for truth; he gave the spy a jade belt to carry to Zhigao as token—worth a thousand strings of cash. He never reported it at first. More than a year passed with no word from Zhigao; only then did he memorialize to demote Li Lin to marching army adjutant. Soon Li Xingde, commander of the Baosheng Capital Garrison, and tenth-rank officer Zhang Jian reported treason: Privy Council chief clerk Li Qianhui had told his guest Bian Yanzheng that Chonghui was secretly raising troops and forging arms to march on Wu by himself. He was also in private league with spies.’ Mingzong questioned Chonghui. Chonghui was terrified and begged for a full inquiry. At first Mingzong was deeply suspicious; ministers and attendants all spoke for Chonghui. After a time he softened, told Chonghui what Bian had said, and questioned Bian in open court. Bian confessed the whole fraud. Ruler and minister looked at each other and wept. Bian Yanzheng, Li Xingde, and Zhang Jian were all executed, their clans with them. Chonghui asked to resign. Mingzong comforted him: “It is settled—do not carry it in your heart.” Chonghui would not stop pleading. Mingzong snapped: “Go then—I am not short of men!” He turned to Wude commissioner Meng Hanqiong and sent him to the Secretariat to hurry Feng Dao and the rest into choosing a successor. Feng Dao said: “If you truly mean to save Lord An, let him go—that is how you spare him worse harm.” Zhao Feng argued that a chief minister must not be lightly displaced. Fan Yanguang was made privy commissioner, but Chonghui kept his post as before.
27
董璋等反，遣石敬瑭討之，而川路險阻，糧運甚艱，每費一石，而致一斗。 自關以西，民苦輸送，往往亡聚山林為盜賊。 明宗謂重誨曰：「事勢如此，吾當自行。」 重誨曰：「此臣之責也。」 乃請行。 關西之人聞重誨來，皆已恐動，而重誨日馳數百里，遠近驚駭。 督趣糧運，日夜不絕，斃踣道路者，不可勝數。 重誨過鳳翔，節度使朱弘昭延之寢室，使其妻子奉事左右甚謹。 重誨酒酣，為弘昭言：「昨被讒構，幾不自全，賴人主明聖，得保家族。」 因感嘆泣下。 重誨去，弘昭馳騎上言：「重誨怨望，不可令至行營，恐其生事。」 而宣徽使孟漢瓊自行營使還，亦言西人震駭之狀，因述重誨過惡。 重誨行至三泉，被召還。 過鳳翔，弘昭拒而不納，重誨懼，馳趨京師。 未至，拜河中節度使。
When Dong Zhang and others rebelled, Shi Jingtang was sent to suppress them. The Sichuan roads were steep and perilous; grain transport was agony—each shi spent bought barely a dou delivered. West of the Pass the people were broken by transport labor; many fled into the hills and turned bandit. Mingzong told Chonghui: “Things have come to this—I should go myself.” Chonghui said: “That is my duty.” And he asked to go. West of the Pass, word that Chonghui was coming already had people trembling. He drove several hundred li a day; far and near the land shook with fear. He drove grain convoys day and night without pause; the dead littered the roads beyond count. At Fengxiang, military governor Zhu Hongzhao brought him into his private chamber and had wife and children attend him with scrupulous care. Well drunk, Chonghui told Hongzhao: “I was slandered yesterday and nearly lost everything. Only the sovereign’s wisdom saved my house.” He sighed and wept. After Chonghui left, Hongzhao galloped ahead with a memorial: “Chonghui is full of grievance. Do not let him reach the field camp—he may make trouble. Privy Treasury commissioner Meng Hanqiong had just returned from the field camp and told of the terror in the west—and listed Chonghui’s crimes. Chonghui reached Sanquan and was recalled. Passing Fengxiang again, Hongzhao shut his gates. Chonghui was terrified and raced for the capital. Before he arrived he was named military governor of Hezhong.
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重誨已罷，希旨者爭求其過。 宦者安希倫，坐與重誨交私，常與重誨陰伺宮中動息，事發棄市。 重誨益懼，因上章告老。 以太子太師致仕； 而以李從璋為河中節度使，遣藥彥稠率兵如河中虞變。 重誨子崇緒、崇贊，宿衛京師，聞制下，即日奔其父。 重誨見之，驚曰：「渠安得來！」 已而曰：「此非渠意，為人所使耳。 吾以一死報國，余復何言！」 乃械送二子於京師，行至陜州，下獄。 明宗又遣翟光業至河中，視重誨去就，戒曰：「有異志，則與從璋圖之。」 又遣宦者使於重誨。 使者見重誨，號泣不已，重誨問其故，使者曰：「人言公有異志，朝廷遣藥彥稠率師至矣！」 重誨曰：「吾死未塞責，遽勞朝廷興師，以重明主之憂。」 光業至，從璋率兵圍重誨第，入拜於庭。 重誨降而答拜，從璋以楇擊其首，重誨妻走抱之而呼曰：「令公死未晚，何遽如此！」 又擊其首，夫妻皆死，流血盈庭。 從璋檢責其家貲，不及數千緡而已。 明宗下詔，以其絕錢镠，致孟知祥、董璋反，及議伐吳，以為罪。 並殺其二子，其餘子孫皆免。
Once Chonghui fell, men eager to please hunted his faults. The eunuch An Xilun, who had kept private dealings with Chonghui and often watched palace movements with him in secret, was executed in the marketplace when the affair broke. Chonghui grew only more afraid and memorialized to retire. He was retired as Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent; Li Congzhang was made military governor of Hezhong, and Yao Yanchou was sent with troops to watch for trouble. Chonghui’s sons Chongxu and Chongzan, on palace guard in the capital, heard the edict and fled to their father that same day. Chonghui saw them and cried: “How did they get here!” Then he said: “This was not their doing—they were sent by others. I owe the state one death—what more is there to say!” He shackled both sons and sent them to the capital. At Shan prefecture they were thrown in prison. Mingzong also sent Zhai Guangye to Hezhong to watch Chonghui’s intent, telling him: “If he shows disloyalty, work with Congzhang to dispose of him.” He also sent a eunuch envoy to Chonghui. The envoy saw Chonghui and wept without stopping. Chonghui asked why. The envoy said: “Men say you mean rebellion—the court has sent Yao Yanchou with an army!” Chonghui said: “I have not yet paid my debt with death—and already the court must raise troops and burden our lord with fresh grief.” When Guangye arrived, Congzhang led troops to surround Chonghui’s mansion and entered to bow in the courtyard. Chonghui came down to return the bow. Congzhang struck his head with a club. Chonghui’s wife ran to embrace him and cried: “My lord need not die yet—why so hurried!” He struck again. Husband and wife both died; blood filled the courtyard. Congzhang searched his household goods—they came to less than a few thousand strings of cash. Mingzong issued an edict naming his crimes: severing ties with Qian Liu, provoking Meng Zhixiang and Dong Zhang to rebel, and urging war on Wu. Both sons were killed as well; the rest of his line were spared.
29
重誨得罪，知其必死，嘆曰：「我固當死，但恨不與國家除去潞王！」 此其恨也。
When Chonghui knew he must die, he sighed: “I deserve death—but I regret not clearing the Prince of Lu away for the realm! That was his grievance.
30
嗚呼，官失其職久矣！ 予讀梁宣底，見敬翔、李振為崇政院使，凡承上之旨，宣之宰相而奉行之。 宰相有非其見時而事當上決者，與其被旨而有所復請者，則具記事而入，因崇政使聞，得旨則復宣而出之。 梁之崇政使，乃唐樞密之職，蓋出納之任也，唐常以宦者為之，至梁戒其禍，始更用士人，其備顧問、參謀議於中則有之，未始專行事於外也。 至崇韜、重誨為之，始復唐樞密之名，然權侔於宰相矣。 從世因之，遂分為二，文事任宰相，武事任樞密。 樞密之任既重，而宰相自此失其職也。
Alas—the offices have long lost their proper duties! Reading the Liang State Foundation Records, I find Jing Xiang and Li Zhen as Chongzheng Court commissioners: whatever the sovereign commanded, they announced to the chancellors, and the chancellors executed it. If a chancellor had business needing the sovereign’s judgment that had not yet been laid before him, or if, having received an order, he wished to ask again, he wrote the matter out in full and entered; the Chongzheng commissioner carried it in; once the sovereign answered, the answer was announced and issued. The Liang Chongzheng commissioner held what had been Tang’s Privy Council post—essentially the channel in and out. Tang usually put eunuchs in it; Liang, warned by the ruin that brought, at last used literati. They might advise and debate within the palace—but never conduct affairs on their own outside it. When Chongtao and Chonghui took the post they restored Tang’s Privy Council name—yet their power matched the chancellors’. Congke’s generation kept the practice; affairs split in two—civil work to the chancellors, military work to the Privy Council. Once the Privy Council grew heavy, the chancellors from that day lost their proper place.