1
資治通鑑第186卷卷第一百八十六
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 186
2
【唐紀二】起著雍攝提格八月，盡十二月，不滿一年。
[Tang Records, Part 2] — from the eighth month of the year Wuyin (618 CE) through the twelfth month, less than a full year.
3
八月，薛舉遣其子仁果進圍寧州，刺史胡演擊卻之。 郝瑗言於舉曰：「今唐兵新破，關中騷動，宜乘勝直取長安。」 舉然之，會有疾而止。 辛巳，舉卒。 太子仁果立，居於折址城，謚舉曰武帝。
In the eighth month, Xue Ju sent his son Renguo to press the siege of Ning Prefecture, but Prefect Hu Yan drove him back. Hao Yuan urged Ju, "The Tang army has just been beaten and Guanzhong is in uproar — we should ride this victory straight to Chang'an." Ju agreed, but fell ill before he could act. On the day xinsi, Xue Ju died. The crown prince Renguo succeeded him and made his seat at Zhezhi City; Ju was posthumously titled Emperor Wu.
4
上欲與李軌共圖秦、隴，遣使潛詣涼州，招撫之，與之書，謂之從弟。 軌大喜，遣其弟懋入貢。 上以懋為大將軍，命鴻臚少卿張俟德冊拜軌為涼州總管，封涼王。
The Emperor hoped to ally with Li Gui against Qin and Long, and sent secret envoys to Liang Prefecture to win him over, addressing him in a letter as his younger cousin. Li Gui was delighted and sent his brother Mao to court with tribute. The Emperor made Mao a grand general and charged Vice Director Zhang Houde of the Court of Imperial Entertainments to invest Li Gui as overall commander of Liang Prefecture and enfeoff him as Prince of Liang.
5
初，朝廷以安陽令呂鈱為相州刺史，更以相州刺史王德仁為巖州刺史。 德仁由是怨憤，甲申，誘山東大使宇文明達入林慮山而殺之，叛歸王世充。
Earlier the court had named Lü Yin, magistrate of Anyang, prefect of Xiang, and moved the sitting prefect Wang Deren to Yan Prefecture. Deren nursed a grudge over this; on the day jiashen he lured the Shandong envoy Yu Wenhua Mingda into the Linlu Mountains and killed him, then went over to Wang Shichong.
6
已丑，以秦王世民為元帥，擊薛仁果。
On the day jichou, Prince of Qin Li Shimin was made supreme commander to strike Xue Renguo.
7
丁酉，臨洮等四郡來降。
On the day dingyou, four prefectures including Lintao came over.
8
隋江都太守陳稜求得煬帝之柩，取宇文化及所留輦輅鼓吹，粗備天子儀衛，改葬於江都宮西吳公台下，其王公以下，皆列瘞於帝塋之側。 宇文化及之發江都也，以杜伏威為歷陽太守； 伏威不受，仍上表於隋，皇泰主拜伏威為東道大總管，封楚王。 沈法興亦上表於皇泰主。 自稱大司馬、錄尚書事、天門公，承製置百官，以陳杲仁為司徒，孫士漢為司空，蔣元超為左僕射，殷芊為左丞，徐令言為右丞，劉子翼為選部侍郎，李百藥為府椽。 百藥，德林之子也。
Chen Leng, Sui's grand governor of Jiangdu, recovered Emperor Yang's coffin, took the carriages, regalia, and musicians Yu Wenhuaji had abandoned, and mustered a rough version of the imperial funeral train; he reinterred the emperor west of the Jiangdu palace, below the Wu Duke's Terrace, with princes and officials buried in rows beside the mound. When Yu Wenhuaji marched out of Jiangdu, he had named Du Fuwei governor of Liyang; Fuwei refused the post and instead memorialized the Sui court; Emperor Huangtai made him grand commander of the eastern circuit and enfeoffed him as Prince of Chu. Shen Faxing likewise sent a memorial to Emperor Huangtai. He took the titles Grand Marshal, Recorder of the Masters of Writing, and Duke of Heavenly Gate, and by imperial commission set up a full bureaucracy: Chen Gaoren as Minister over the Masses, Sun Shihan as Minister of Works, Jiang Yuanchao as left vice director, Yin Qian as left assistant, Xu Lingyan as right assistant, Liu Ziyi as vice director of the selection bureau, and Li Baiyao as a headquarters clerk. Baiyao was the son of Li Delin.
9
九月，隋襄國通守陳君賓來降，拜邢州刺史。 君賓，伯山之子也。
In the ninth month, Chen Junbin, Sui's commissioner at Xiangguo, defected and was made prefect of Xing. Junbin was the son of Chen Boshan.
10
虞州刺史韋義節攻隋河東通守堯君素，久不下，軍數不利； 壬子，以工部尚書獨孤懷恩代之。
Wei Yijie, prefect of Yu, besieged Yao Junsu, Sui's commissioner in Hedong, but failed to reduce the city after a long campaign and lost battle after battle; on the day renzi, Dugu Huai'en, Minister of Public Works, was sent to replace him.
11
初，李密既殺翟讓，頗自驕矜，不恤士眾； 倉粟雖多，無府庫錢帛，戰士有功，無以為賞； 又厚撫初附之人，眾心頗怨。 徐世勣嘗因宴會刺譏其短； 密不懌，使世勣出鎮黎陽，雖名委任，實亦疏之。
After Li Mi killed Zhai Rang, he grew arrogant and stopped looking after his men; the granaries were full but the treasury held no cash or silk, so there was nothing with which to reward men who fought well; meanwhile he showered favors on new recruits, and morale in the ranks turned sour. At a banquet Xu Shiji once needled him about these failings; Mi took offense and posted Shiji to garrison Liyang — a grand title in name, but in truth a way to keep him at arm's length.
12
密開洛口倉散米，無防守典當者，又無文券，取之者隨意多少； 或離倉之後，力不能致，委棄衢路，自倉城至郭門，米厚數寸，為車馬所躪踐； 群盜來就食者並家屬近百萬口，無甕盎，織荊筐淘米，洛水兩岸十里之間，望之皆如白沙。 密喜，謂賈閏甫曰：「此可謂足食矣！」 閏甫對曰：「國以民為本，民以食為天。 今民所以襁負如流而至者，以所天在此故也。 而有司曾無愛吝，屑越如此！ 竊恐一旦米盡民散，明公孰與成大業哉！」 密謝之，即以閏甫判司倉參軍事。
Mi opened the Luokou granary and handed out grain with no guards, no clerks, and no ration slips — people took whatever they pleased; many could not carry what they had taken and dumped it in the roads; from the granary to the city gate grain lay inches deep, ground under wheels and hooves; nearly a million mouths — bandits and families alike — came to eat; without pots or bowls they wove thorn baskets to wash grain, and for ten li along both banks of the Luo the scene looked like a beach of white sand. Mi was delighted and told Jia Runfu, "Surely we have food enough now!" Runfu answered, "A state rests on its people, and the people rest on their food. They flock here carrying their children because their heaven — their food — is here. Yet your officials show no care at all and squander it like refuse! I fear that when the grain runs out the people will scatter — and then with whom will you build your great enterprise?" Mi thanked him and immediately made Runfu acting staff officer of the granary bureau.
13
密以東都兵數敗微弱，而將相自相屠滅，謂朝夕可平。 王世充既專大權，厚賞將士，繕治器械，亦陰圖取密。 時隋軍乏食，而密軍少衣，世充請交易，密難之； 長史邴元真等各求私利，勸密許之。 先是，東都人歸密者，日以百數； 既得食，降者益少，密悔而止。
Mi thought the Eastern Capital army had been beaten down to weakness and that its commanders were killing one another — he expected to take the city within days. Wang Shichong, now holding sole power, lavished rewards on his troops and refurbished arms and gear while secretly plotting to destroy Li Mi. The Sui side was short of food and Mi's army short of clothing; Shichong proposed a swap, which Mi was reluctant to grant; but Chief Administrator Bing Yuanzhen and others, each chasing private profit, urged Mi to agree. Until then hundreds from the Eastern Capital had been defecting to Mi every day; once they had been fed, fewer came over each day, and Mi regretted the trade and called it off.
14
密破宇文化及還，其勁卒良馬多死，士卒疲病。 世充欲乘其弊擊之，恐人心不壹，乃詐稱左軍衛士張永通三夢周公，令宣意於世充，當勒兵相助擊賊。 乃為周公立廟，每出兵，輒先祈禱。 世充令巫宣言周公欲令僕射急討李密，當有大功，不即兵皆疫死。 世充兵多楚人，信妖言，皆請戰。 世充簡練精銳得二萬餘人，馬二千餘匹，壬子，出師擊密，旗幡之上皆書永通字，軍容甚盛。 癸丑，至偃師，營於通濟渠南，作三橋於渠上。 密留王伯當守金墉，自引精兵出偃師北，阻邙山以待之。
When Mi returned from defeating Yu Wenhuaji, his best troops and horses were largely dead and his men were exhausted and sick. Shichong wanted to strike while Mi was weak but feared his men were not of one mind; he therefore fabricated a story that Zhang Yongtong, a guardsman of the Left Army, had thrice dreamed that the Duke of Zhou told him Shichong must raise troops to help crush the rebel. He built a temple to the Duke of Zhou and prayed there before every campaign. His shamans proclaimed that the Duke of Zhou wanted the Director to attack Li Mi at once for great merit — otherwise every soldier would die of plague. Many of Shichong's men were Chu natives who believed such omens, and all clamored to fight. Shichong mustered more than twenty thousand picked troops and over two thousand horses; on the day renzi he marched against Mi with Yongtong's name on every banner — a formidable host. On the day guichou he reached Yanshi, camped south of the Tongji Canal, and threw three bridges across it. Mi left Wang Bodang to hold Jinyong and led his elite north of Yanshi, blocking Mount Mang to await him.
15
密召諸將會議，裴仁基曰：「世充悉眾而至，洛下必虛，可分兵守其要路，令不得東，簡精兵三萬，傍河西出以逼東都。 世充還，我且按甲； 世充再出，我又逼之。 如此，則我有餘力，彼勞奔命，破之必矣。」 密曰：「公言大善。 今東都兵有三不可當：兵仗精銳，一也； 決計深入，二也； 食盡求戰，三也。 我但乘城固守，蓄力以待之； 彼欲斗不得，求走無路，不過十日，世充之頭可致麾下。」 陳智略、樊文超、單雄信皆曰：「計世充戰卒甚少，屢經摧破，悉已喪膽。 《兵法》曰『倍則戰』，況不啻倍哉！ 且江、淮新附之士，望因此機展其勳效； 及其鋒而用之，可以得志。」 於是諸將喧然，欲戰者什七八，密惑於眾議而從之。 仁基苦爭不得，擊地歎曰：「公後必悔之！」 魏徵言於長史鄭頲曰：「魏公雖驟勝，而驍將銳卒多死，戰士心怠，此二者難以應敵。 且世充乏食，志在死戰，難與爭鋒，未若深溝高壘以拒之，不過旬月，世充糧盡，必自退，追而擊之，蔑不勝矣。」 頲曰：「此老生之常談耳。」 征曰：「此乃奇策，何謂常談！」 拂衣而起。
Mi called his generals to council. Pei Renji said, "Shichong has marched out with everything he has — Luoyang must be hollow. Detach men to hold the key roads so he cannot return east, pick thirty thousand elite troops, and march west along the river to threaten the Eastern Capital. When he turns back, we hold our ground; when he marches out again, we threaten him again. That way we fight fresh while he exhausts himself — and he is sure to fall." Mi said, "Excellent advice. Yet the Eastern Capital army has three reasons we should not meet them head-on: their weapons are sharp — first; they are committed to a deep strike — second; their food is gone and they are desperate to fight — third. We need only hold our walls, husband our strength, and wait; they will want battle and find none; they will want escape and find no road — within ten days Shichong's head will be at your feet." Chen Zhilue, Fan Wenchao, and Shan Xiongxin all said, "Shichong's fighting men are few and have been beaten again and again — they are terrified. The Art of War says that when you outnumber the enemy two to one, you fight — and we are far more than double! Besides, the men newly come from the Jiang and Huai hope to win glory in this fight; strike while their spirit is high and we will prevail." The generals clamored; seven or eight in ten wanted to fight, and Mi, swayed by the crowd, agreed. Renji argued in vain, struck the ground, and cried, "You will regret this!" Wei Zheng told Chief Administrator Zheng Ting, "The Duke of Wei has won quick victories, but his best generals and troops are dead and his men are weary — with those two handicaps he cannot face the enemy. Shichong is out of food and desperate — you cannot match his fury. Dig deep trenches and raise high walls instead; within a month his grain will run out and he will retreat; then pursue and you cannot fail." Ting said, "That is the old pedant's stock advice." Wei Zheng said, "This is a brilliant plan — how is that usual talk!" He brushed off his robe and left.
16
程知節將內馬軍與密同營在北邙山上，單雄信將外馬軍營於偃師城北。 世充遣數百騎渡通濟渠攻雄信營，密遣裴行儼與知節助之。 行儼先馳赴敵，中流矢，附於地； 知節救之，殺數人，世充軍披靡，乃抱行儼重騎而還； 為世充騎所逐，刺槊洞過，知節回身捩折其槊，兼斬追者，與行儼俱免。 會日暮，各斂兵還營。 密驍將孫長樂等十餘人皆被重創。
Cheng Zhijie led the inner cavalry and camped with Mi on Mount Mang; Shan Xiongxin led the outer cavalry and camped north of Yanshi. Shichong sent several hundred horsemen across the Tongji Canal against Xiongxin's camp; Mi sent Pei Xingyan and Cheng Zhijie to help. Xingyan charged ahead and took an arrow; he slumped to the ground; Zhijie fought his way to him, killed several men, and routed Shichong's line; he hoisted Xingyan onto his horse and rode back; Shichong's riders pursued and drove a lance through him; Zhijie wheeled, snapped the lance, cut down his pursuers, and both men escaped. At dusk both sides withdrew to camp. More than ten of Mi's best generals, including Sun Changle, were gravely wounded.
17
密新破宇文化及，有輕世充之心，不設壁壘。 世充夜遣二百餘騎潛入北山，伏溪谷中，命軍士皆秣馬蓐食。 甲寅旦，將戰，世充誓眾曰：「今日之戰，非直爭勝負； 死生之分，在此一舉。 若其捷也，富貴固所不論； 若其不捷，必無一人獲免。 所爭者死，非獨為國，各宜勉之！」 遲明，引兵薄密。 密出兵應之，未及成列，世充縱兵擊之。 世充士卒皆江、淮剽勇，出入如飛。 世充先索得一人貌類密者，縛而匿之。 戰方酣，使牽以過陳前，噪曰：「已獲李密矣！」 士卒皆呼萬歲。 其伏兵發，乘高而下，馳壓密營，縱火焚其廬舍。 密眾大潰，其將張童仁、陳智略皆降，密與萬餘人馳向洛口。
Fresh from defeating Yu Wenhuaji, Mi underestimated Shichong and built no fortifications. By night Shichong sent more than two hundred horsemen to hide in the northern hills and ravines, ordering every man to feed his horse and eat in the saddle. At dawn on the day jiayin, before battle, Shichong addressed his men: "Today's fight is not merely about winning or losing; life and death hang on this one stroke. If we win, wealth and rank go without saying; if we lose, not one of us will be spared. We fight for our lives — not for the state alone. Every man must give his all!" At first light he advanced on Mi. Mi marched out to meet him, but before his men could form ranks Shichong charged. Shichong's men were Jiang and Huai veterans who struck like lightning. Shichong had already found a man who looked like Li Mi, bound him, and kept him hidden. At the height of battle he had the man dragged before the lines and cried, "Li Mi is taken!" His men roared in triumph. His ambush burst from the heights, overran Mi's camp, and set the shelters ablaze. Mi's army collapsed; generals Zhang Tongren and Chen Zhilue surrendered, and Mi fled toward Luokou with more than ten thousand men.
18
世充夜圍偃師； 鄭頲守偃師，其部下翻城納世充。 初，世充家屬在江都，隨宇文化及至滑台，又隨王軌入李密，密留於偃師，欲以招世充。 及偃師破，世充得其兄世偉、子玄應、虔恕、瓊等，又獲密將佐裴仁基、鄭頲、祖君彥等數十人。 世充於是整兵向洛口，得邴元真妻子、鄭虔象母及密諸將子弟，皆撫慰之，令潛呼其父兄。
That night Shichong besieged Yanshi; Zheng Ting held the city, but his own men opened the gates to Shichong. Earlier Shichong's family had been at Jiangdu, followed Yu Wenhuaji to Huatai, then Wang Gui into Li Mi's camp; Mi had kept them at Yanshi as hostages to win Shichong over. When Yanshi fell, Shichong recovered his brother Shiwei, his sons Xuanying, Qianshu, and Qiong, and captured dozens of Mi's officers including Pei Renji, Zheng Ting, and Zu Junyan. Shichong then marched on Luokou; he took the families of Bing Yuanzhen, Zheng Qianxiang's mother, and the sons and brothers of Mi's generals, treated them kindly, and had them call out to their kin in secret.
19
初，邴元真為縣吏，坐贓亡命，從翟讓於瓦岡； 讓以其嘗為吏，使掌書記。 及密開幕府，妙選時英，讓薦元真為長史； 密不得已用之，行軍謀畫，未嘗參預。 密西拒世充，留元真守洛口倉。 元真性貪鄙，宇文溫謂密曰：「不殺元真，必為公患。」 密不應。 元真知之，陰謀叛密； 楊慶聞之，以告密，密固疑焉。 至是，密將入洛口城，元真已遣人潛引世充矣。 密知而不發，因與眾謀，待世充兵半濟洛水，然後擊之。 世充軍至，密候騎不時覺，比將出戰，世充軍悉已濟矣。 單雄信等又勒兵自據； 密自度不能支，帥麾下輕騎奔虎牢，元真遂以城降。
Bing Yuanzhen had once been a county clerk; convicted of graft he fled and joined Zhai Rang at Wagang; Rang, knowing he had clerical experience, made him keep the records. When Mi opened his headquarters and picked the best talent of the day, Rang recommended Yuanzhen as chief administrator; Mi used him only because he had to; Yuanzhen never had a hand in military planning. Mi marched west against Shichong and left Yuanzhen to guard the Luokou granary. Yuanzhen was greedy and corrupt; Yu Wenwen told Mi, "If you do not kill Yuanzhen, he will ruin you." Mi ignored him. Yuanzhen learned of this and secretly plotted to defect; Yang Qing heard and told Mi, who already suspected him. Now, as Mi was about to enter Luokou, Yuanzhen had already sent men to let Shichong in. Mi knew but said nothing; he planned with his officers to strike when half of Shichong's army was mid-crossing on the Luo. When Shichong arrived, Mi's scouts failed to warn him in time; by the time Mi moved to fight, every man had crossed. Shan Xiongxin and others also held their troops apart; Mi saw he could not hold, fled with his light cavalry to Hulao, and Yuanzhen surrendered the city.
20
初，雄信驍捷，善用馬槊，名冠諸軍，軍中號曰「飛將」。 彥藻以雄信輕於去就，勸密除之； 密愛其才，不忍也。 及密失利，雄信遂以所部降世充。
Xiongxin was fierce and swift with the cavalry lance, the finest fighter in the army; his men called him the Flying General. Yanzao, seeing how lightly Xiongxin shifted allegiance, urged Mi to kill him; Mi prized his talent and would not. "When Mi fell, Xiongxin took his troops over to Shichong."
21
密將如黎陽，或曰：「殺翟讓之際，徐世勣幾死，今失利而就之，安可保乎！」 時王伯當棄金墉保河陽，密自虎牢歸之，引諸將共議。 密欲南阻河，北守太行，東連黎陽，以圖進取。 諸將皆曰：「今兵新失利，眾心危懼，若更停留，恐叛亡不日而盡。 又人情不願，難以成功。」 密曰：「孤所恃者眾也，眾既不願，孤道窮矣。」 欲自刎以謝眾。 伯當抱密號絕，眾皆悲泣，密復曰：「諸君幸不相棄，當共歸關中； 密身雖無功，諸君必保富貴。」 府掾柳燮曰：「明公與唐公同族，兼有疇昔之好； 雖不陪起兵，然阻東都，斷隋歸路，使唐公不戰而據長安，此亦公之功也。」 眾鹹曰：「然。」 密又謂王伯當曰：「將軍室家重大，豈復與孤俱行哉！」 伯當曰：「昔蕭何盡帥子弟以從漢王，伯當恨不兄弟俱從，豈以公今日失利遂輕去就乎！ 縱身份原野，亦所甘心！」 左右莫不感激，從密入關者凡二萬人。 於是密之將帥、州縣多降於隋。 朱粲亦遣使降隋，皇泰主以粲為楚王。
Mi was heading for Liyang when someone warned, "When you killed Zhai Rang, Xu Shiji nearly died with him — now that you are beaten, how can you trust him?" Wang Bodang had abandoned Jinyong and held Heyang; Mi joined him from Hulao and called his generals to council. Mi wanted to hold the Yellow River in the south, the Taihang Mountains in the north, and link with Liyang in the east for a new offensive. The generals said, "We have just been beaten and the men are terrified — linger here and they will desert within days. Besides, the men do not want this plan — it cannot succeed." Mi said, "My strength is you — if you will not follow, I am finished." He drew his sword to kill himself. Bodang seized him and wept; all wept with them. Mi said, "If you will not leave me, let us go to Guanzhong together; though I have no merit left, you will still win wealth and rank." Staff officer Liu Xie said, "You are kin to the Duke of Tang and old friends besides; you did not march with him, but you pinned the Eastern Capital and cut Sui's retreat, letting the Duke of Tang take Chang'an without a battle — that is your merit too." All agreed." Mi told Wang Bodang, "General, you have a great household — you need not come with me!" Bodang said, "Xiao He once led all his kin to follow the King of Han — I regret my brothers are not all here; how could I abandon you because you have lost a battle! Even if I die on the open field, I am content!" All were moved; twenty thousand men followed Mi into Guanzhong. Many of Mi's generals and local officials then went over to Sui. Zhu Can also sent envoys to submit; Emperor Huangtai made him Prince of Chu.
22
甲寅，秦州總管竇軌擊薛仁果，不利； 驃騎將軍劉感鎮涇州，仁果圍之。 城中糧盡，感殺所乘馬以分將士，感一無所啖，唯煮馬骨取汁和木屑食之。 城垂陷者數矣，會長平王叔良將士至涇州，仁果乃揚言食盡，引兵南去； 乙卯，又遣高址人偽以城降。 叔良遣感帥眾赴之，己未，至城下，扣城中人曰：「賊已去，可逾城入。」 感命燒其門，城上下水灌之。 感知其詐，遣步兵先還，自帥精兵為殿。 俄而城上舉三烽，仁果兵自南原大下，戰於百里細川，唐軍大敗，感為仁果所擒。 仁果復圍涇州，令感語城中云：「援軍已敗，不如早降。」 感許之，至城下，大呼曰：「逆賊饑餒，亡在朝夕，秦王帥數十萬眾，四面俱集，城中勿優，勉之！」 仁果怒，執感，於城旁埋之至膝，馳騎射之； 至死，聲色逾厲。 叔良嬰城固守，僅能自全。 感，豐生之孫也。
On the day jiayin, Dou Gui, commander of Qin Prefecture, attacked Xue Renguo and was beaten; Cavalry General Liu Gan held Jing Prefecture, and Renguo besieged the city. When food ran out, Gan killed his own horse to feed his men; he ate nothing himself but boiled the bones for broth mixed with sawdust. The city nearly fell several times; then Prince Shuliang of Changping reached Jing with reinforcements, and Renguo claimed his food was gone and marched south; on the day yimao he sent men from Gaozhi to fake a surrender. Shuliang sent Gan with troops; on the day jiwei they reached the wall and called, "The rebels are gone — come over the wall." Gan ordered the gate burned; defenders poured water from above. Gan saw the trap, sent the infantry back first, and led the elite as rearguard himself. Soon three signal fires rose; Renguo's men poured from the southern heights; at Baili Xichuan the Tang army was crushed and Gan was taken. Renguo besieged Jing again and ordered Gan to tell the city, "Your relief is destroyed — surrender now." Gan agreed; at the wall he shouted, "The rebels are starving — they will die within days! Prince of Qin is coming with hundreds of thousands from every side — hold fast, take heart!" Renguo in fury seized him, buried him to the knees by the wall, and had riders shoot him as they galloped past; until he died his voice never weakened. Shuliang held the walls and barely survived. Gan was the grandson of Liu Fengsheng.
23
庚申，隴州刺史陝人常達擊薛仁果於宜祿川，斬首千餘級。
On the day gengshen, Chang Da of Shaan, prefect of Long, attacked Xue Renguo at Yilu River and took more than a thousand heads.
24
上遣從子襄武公琛、太常卿鄭元□以女妓遺始畢可汗。 壬戌，始畢復遣骨咄祿特勒來。
The Emperor sent his nephew Duke of Xiangwu Li Chen and Director Zheng Yuanshu with female entertainers as gifts to the Shibi Qaghan. On the day renxu, Shibi sent the Tegin Kutlug again.
25
癸亥，白馬道士傅仁均造《戊寅歷》成，奏上，行之。
On the day guihai, the Daoist Fu Renjun of White Horse completed the Wuyin Calendar; it was submitted and adopted.
26
薛仁果屢攻常達，不能克，乃遣其將仵士政以數百人詐降，達厚撫之。 乙丑，士政伺隙以其徒劫達，擁城中二千人降於仁果。 達見仁果，詞色不屈，仁果壯而釋之。 奴賊帥張貴謂達曰：「汝識我乎？」 達曰：「汝逃死奴賊耳！」 貴怒，欲殺之，人救之，獲免。
Xue Renguo attacked Chang Da again and again without success; he sent General Wu Shizheng with several hundred men to fake a surrender, and Da welcomed them warmly. On the day yichou, Shizheng seized his chance, overpowered Da, and led two thousand men in the city over to Renguo. Brought before Renguo, Da would not bend; Renguo admired his spirit and let him go. Zhang Gui, a rebel chieftain, asked Da, "Do you know me?" Da said, "You are a runaway slave rebel, nothing more!" Gui in rage tried to kill him; others intervened and Da was spared.
27
辛未，追謚隋太上皇為煬帝。
On the day xinwei, the retired Sui sovereign was posthumously titled Emperor Yang.
28
宇文化及至魏縣，張愷等謀去之； 事覺，化及殺之。 腹心稍盡，兵勢日蹙，兄弟更無他計，但相聚酣宴，奏女樂。 化及醉，尤智及曰：「我初不知，由汝為計，強來立我。 今所向無成，士馬日散，負弒君之名，天下所不容。 今者滅族，豈不由汝乎！」 持其兩子而泣。 智及怒曰：「事捷之日，初不賜尤，及其將敗，乃欲歸罪，何不殺我以降竇建德！」 數相鬥鬩，言無長幼； 醒而復飲，以此為恆。 其眾多亡，化及自知必敗，歎曰：「人生固當死，豈不一日為帝乎！」 於是鴆殺秦王浩，即皇帝位於魏縣，國號許，改元天壽，署置百官。
When Yu Wenhuaji reached Wei County, Zhang Kai and others plotted to abandon him; the plot was discovered and Huaji had them killed. His inner circle dwindled and his army shrank daily; the brothers had no plan left but to drink together and listen to women's music. Drunk, Huaji blamed Zhiji: "I never wanted this — you forced the throne on me. Now we achieve nothing, our men scatter daily, and I bear the name of regicide — the world will not have me. Our whole clan will be destroyed — and it is your fault!" He hugged his two sons and wept. Zhiji snapped, "When we were winning you never blamed me — now that we are losing you blame me? Kill me and surrender to Dou Jiande!" They quarreled constantly with no respect for rank; sobering up they drank again — that was their routine. Their men deserted in droves; Huaji knew he was finished and sighed, "A man must die — was one day as emperor not worth it!" He poisoned Prince of Qin Yang Hao, declared himself emperor at Wei County, named his state Xu, adopted the era Tianshou, and set up a full court.
29
冬，十月，壬申朔，日有食之。
In winter, the tenth month, on the first day renshen, there was a solar eclipse.
30
戊寅，宴突厥骨咄祿，引骨咄祿升御坐以寵之。
On the day wuyin the Emperor feasted the Turk Kutlug and seated him on the imperial dais as a mark of favor.
31
李密將至，上遣使迎勞，相望於道。 密大喜，謂其徒曰：「我擁眾百萬，一朝解甲歸唐，山東連城數百，知我在此，遣使招之，亦當盡至； 比於竇融，功亦不細，豈不以一台司見處乎！」 己卯，至長安，有司供待稍薄，所部兵累日不得食，眾心頗怨。 既而以密為光祿卿、上柱國，賜爵邢國公。 密既不滿望，朝臣又多輕之，執政者或來求賄，意甚不平； 獨上親禮之，常呼為弟，以舅子獨孤氏妻之。
As Li Mi approached, the Emperor sent envoys to welcome him; their parties met all along the road. Mi was delighted and told his men, "I once led a million men; now I lay down my arms for Tang in a day. Hundreds of cities in Shandong will send for their lords once they know I am here — they will all come; my merit is no less than Dou Rong's — surely they will give me a seat among the Three Excellencies!" On the day jimao he reached Chang'an; the court's hospitality was thin, and his men went hungry for days — morale soured. Mi was then made Director of the Imperial Household, Pillar of the State, and Duke of Xing. Mi was disappointed; courtiers looked down on him and officials came seeking bribes — he grew bitter; only the Emperor honored him personally, called him younger brother, and gave him a wife from the Dugu clan, kin of the Empress.
32
庚辰，詔右翊衛大將軍淮安王神通為山東道安扶大使，山東諸軍並受節度； 以黃門侍郎崔民幹為副。
On the day gengchen the court named Prince Huai'an Li Shentong, Grand General of the Right Yuyi Guard, Pacification Commissioner for Shandong, with command over all armies there; Cui Mingan, Vice Director of the Yellow Gate, was his deputy.
33
鄧州刺史呂子臧與撫慰使馬元規擊朱粲，破之。 子臧言於元規曰：「粲新敗，上下危懼，請並力擊之，一舉可滅。 若復遷延，其徒稍集，力強食盡，致死於我，為患方深。」 元規不從。 子臧請獨以所部兵擊之，元規不許。 既而粲收集餘眾，兵復大振，自稱楚帝於冠軍，改元昌達，進攻鄧州。 子臧撫膺謂元規曰：「老夫今坐公死矣！」 粲圍南陽，會霖雨城壞，所親勸子臧降。 子臧曰：「安有天子方伯降賊者乎！」 帥麾下赴敵而死。 俄而城陷，元規亦死。
Lü Zizang, prefect of Deng, and Comfort Commissioner Ma Yuangui attacked Zhu Can and beat him. Zizang urged Yuangui, "Can is freshly beaten and his men are terrified — strike together and we can finish him in one blow. Delay, and his men will regroup; when they are strong and starving they will fight us to the death — the danger will be far worse." Yuangui refused. Zizang asked to attack with his own troops; Yuangui forbade it. Can soon rallied his remnants, revived his army, declared himself Emperor of Chu at Guanjun, adopted the era Changda, and marched on Deng. Zizang clutched his chest and told Yuangui, "I will die because of you!" Can besieged Nanyang; rains collapsed the walls, and his intimates urged Zizang to surrender. Zizang said, "How could an imperial commissioner surrender to rebels!" He led his men out to fight and was killed. Soon the city fell and Yuangui died as well.
34
癸未，王世充收李密美人珍寶及將卒十餘萬人還東都，陳於闕下。 乙酉，皇泰主大赦。 丙戌，以世充為太尉、尚書令，內外諸軍事，仍使之開太尉府，備置官屬，妙選人物。 世充以裴仁基父子驍勇，深禮之。 徐文遠復入東都，見世充，必先拜。 或問曰：「君倨見李密而敬王公，何也？」 文遠曰：「魏公，君子也，能容賢士； 王公，小人也，能殺故人，吾何敢不拜！」
On the day guiwei, Wang Shichong brought Li Mi's concubines, treasure, and more than a hundred thousand troops back to the Eastern Capital and paraded them below the palace gates. On the day yiyou, Emperor Huangtai proclaimed a general amnesty. On the day bingxu, Shichong was made Grand Commandant and Director of the Masters of Writing with full military authority, allowed to open a commandant's office, staff it fully, and pick the best talent. Shichong honored Pei Renji and his sons for their fighting prowess. When Xu Wenyuan returned to the Eastern Capital, he always bowed first upon meeting Wang Shichong. Someone asked him, "Why did you treat Li Mi with arrogance but show respect to the Prince of Zheng?" Wenyuan replied, "The Duke of Wei is a gentleman who welcomes men of talent; the Prince of Zheng is a small man who will kill old friends. How could I dare not bow to him!"1
35
李密總管李育德以武陟來降，拜陟州刺史。 育德，諤之孫也。 其餘將佐劉德威、賈閏甫、高季輔等，或以城邑，或帥眾，相繼來降。
Li Yude, a general under Li Mi, surrendered with Wuzhi and was appointed prefect of Buzhou. Yude was a grandson of Nie. His other officers and aides—Liu Dewei, Jia Runpu, Gao Jifu, and others—surrendered in succession, some bringing cities and others leading their troops.
36
初，北海賊帥綦公順帥其徒三萬攻郡城，已克其外郭，進攻子城； 城中食盡，公順自謂克在旦夕，不為備。 明經劉蘭成糾合城中驍健百餘人襲擊之，城中見兵繼之，公順大敗，棄營走，郡城獲全。 於是郡官及望族分城中民為六軍，各將之，蘭成亦將一軍。 有宋書佐者，離間諸軍曰：「蘭成得眾心，必為諸人不利，不如殺之。」 眾不忍殺，但奪其兵以授宋書佐。 蘭成恐終及禍，亡奔公順。 公順軍中喜噪，欲奉以為主，固辭，乃以為長史，軍事鹹聽焉。 居五十餘日，蘭成簡軍中驍健者百五十人，往抄北海。 距城四十里，留十人，使多芟草，分為百餘積； 二十里，又留二十人，各執大旗； 五六里，又留三十人，伏險要； 蘭成自將十人，夜，距城一里許潛伏； 余八十人分置便處，約聞鼓聲即抄取人畜亟去，仍一時焚積草。 明晨，城中遠望無煙塵，皆出樵牧。 日向中，蘭成以十人直抵城門，城上鉦鼓亂髮； 伏兵四出，抄掠雜畜千餘頭及樵牧者而去。 蘭成度抄者已遠，徐步而還。 城中雖出兵，恐有伏兵，不敢急追； 又見前有旌旗、煙火，遂不敢進而還。 既而城中知蘭成前者眾少，悔不窮追。 居月餘，蘭成謀取郡城，更以二十人直抵城門。 城中人競出逐之，行未十里，公順將大軍總至。 郡兵奔馳還城，公順進兵圍之，蘭成一言招諭，城中人爭出降。 蘭成撫存老幼，禮遇郡官，見宋書佐，亦禮之如舊，仍資送出境，內外安堵。
Earlier, the Beihai bandit leader Qi Gongshun had led thirty thousand men to attack the commandery seat. Having already seized the outer city, he was pressing the attack on the inner citadel. With food inside the city exhausted, Gongshun assumed victory was only days away and took no precautions. Liu Lancheng, a classics-degree holder, gathered more than a hundred of the city's bravest men and launched a surprise attack. Seeing this, the garrison sallied in support. Gongshun was routed, abandoned his camp, and fled, and the commandery seat was saved. The commandery officials and prominent families then divided the city's population into six armies, each under its own commander. Lancheng was given command of one army as well. A secretarial assistant named Song stirred division among the armies, saying, "Lancheng has won the soldiers' loyalty. He will surely work against us all. We had better kill him." The men could not bring themselves to kill him, but they stripped him of his troops and handed command to Assistant Song. Fearing that disaster would catch up with him in the end, Lancheng fled and joined Gongshun. Gongshun's army erupted in joy and clamor, wanting to make Lancheng their leader. He firmly refused, and was instead appointed chief clerk, with all military affairs left to his judgment. After fifty-odd days, Lancheng picked a hundred and fifty of the army's toughest fighters and set out to raid Beihai. Forty li from the city he posted ten men and had them cut large amounts of grass and stack it in more than a hundred piles. At twenty li he posted another twenty men, each carrying a large banner. Five or six li out he posted thirty more men in ambush at a defensible spot. Lancheng himself led ten men and, under cover of night, lay in wait about one li from the city. The remaining eighty he distributed at advantageous points, with orders that at the sound of the drum they were to seize people and livestock and withdraw immediately, while at the same time setting the grass piles afire. The next morning, seeing no dust or smoke in the distance, the people of the city all went out to cut wood and tend their herds. Near midday, Lancheng led ten men straight to the city gate, and gongs and drums on the walls sounded in wild alarm. Ambush parties sprang out on every side, drove off more than a thousand head of mixed livestock along with woodcutters and herdsmen, and withdrew. Judging that the raiders were already well away, Lancheng walked back at a leisurely pace. Although the city sent troops out, they feared further ambushes and did not dare pursue aggressively. When they also saw banners and signal fires ahead, they dared not press forward and turned back. Before long the city learned that Lancheng's advance force had been small in number, and they regretted not having pursued to the finish. After another month or so, Lancheng planned to seize the commandery seat and once more sent twenty men straight to the city gate. The townspeople rushed out to pursue them, but before they had gone ten li, Gongshun arrived at the head of the main army. The commandery soldiers raced back into the city. Gongshun advanced and laid siege, and with a single summons Lancheng persuaded the people to submit; they competed to come out and surrender. Lancheng cared for the old and young, treated the commandery officials with courtesy, and when he met Assistant Song received him with the same respect as before, then supplied him and escorted him beyond the border. Within and without, all was calm and secure.
37
時海陵賊帥臧君相聞公順據北海，帥其眾五萬來爭之； 公順眾少，聞之大懼。 蘭成為公順畫策曰：「君相今去此尚遠，必不為備，請將軍倍道襲擊其營。」 公順從之，自將驍勇五千人，繼熟食，倍道襲之。 將至，蘭成與敢死士二十人前行，距君相營五十里，見其抄者負擔向營，蘭成亦與其徒負擔蔬米、燒器，詐為抄者，擇空而行聽察，得其號及主將姓名； 至暮，與賊比肩而入，負擔巡營，知其虛實，得其更號。 乃於空地燃火營食，至三鼓，忽於主將幕前交刀亂下，殺百餘人，賊眾驚擾； 公順兵亦至，急攻之，君相僅以身免，俘斬數千，收其資糧甲仗以還。 由是公順黨眾大盛。 及李密據洛口，公順以眾附之，密敗，亦來降。
At that time Zang Junxiang, the bandit leader of Hailing, heard that Gongshun held Beihai and led fifty thousand men to contest the region. Gongshun's forces were few, and when he heard this he was deeply alarmed. Lancheng devised a plan for Gongshun, saying, "Junxiang is still far from here and surely will not be on guard. General, please take a forced march and strike his camp." Gongshun agreed. He personally led five thousand elite troops, ate cooked rations on the march, and made a forced march to raid the enemy. As they drew near, Lancheng went ahead with twenty volunteers willing to die. Fifty li from Junxiang's camp they saw enemy foragers carrying loads back toward camp. Lancheng and his men shouldered vegetables, grain, and cooking gear, disguised themselves as foragers, chose empty paths while listening and observing, and learned the watchwords and the commander's name. At dusk they entered the camp shoulder to shoulder with the enemy, carrying loads and walking through the lines until they knew the camp's strengths and weaknesses and had learned the watchword. They then lit fires in an open space and cooked their meal. At the third watch they suddenly crossed blades in front of the commander's tent and cut down more than a hundred men, throwing the enemy camp into panic and confusion. Gongshun's troops also arrived and pressed the attack. Junxiang barely escaped with his life. They captured and killed several thousand men, seized their supplies, grain, and armor, and returned. From this Gongshun's following grew greatly in strength. When Li Mi held Luokou, Gongshun joined him with his troops. After Li Mi's defeat, he too came over in surrender.
38
隋末群盜起，冠軍司兵李襲譽說西京留守陰世師遣兵據永豐倉，發粟以賑窮乏，出庫物賞戰士，移檄郡縣，同心討賊； 世師不能用。 乃求募兵山南，世師許之。 上克長安，自漢中召還，為太府少卿； 乙未，附襲譽籍於宗正。 襲譽，襲志之弟也。
At the end of the Sui, when bandits rose on every side, Li Xiyu, a clerk in the Champion Office, urged Yin Shishi, defender of the Western Capital, to send troops to seize the Yongfeng granary, release grain to relieve the poor, distribute stores to reward fighting men, and issue proclamations to the commanderies and counties calling on them to unite against the rebels. Shishi would not accept the proposal. He then asked permission to raise troops south of the mountains, and Shishi granted it. After Emperor Gaozu captured Chang'an, Xiyu was recalled from Hanzhong and appointed Vice Director of the Grand Treasury. On the day yimi, Xiyu's name was entered in the registers of the Director of the Imperial Clan. Xiyu was the younger brother of Xizhi.
39
丙申，朱粲寇淅州，遣太常卿鄭元□帥步騎一萬擊之。
On the day bingshen, Zhu Can raided Xizhou. The court dispatched Grand Master of Ceremonies Zheng Yuanshu at the head of ten thousand infantry and cavalry to attack him.
40
是月，納言竇抗罷為左武候大將軍。
That month Grand Counselor Dou Kang was removed from office and appointed Grand General of the Left Martial Guard.
41
十一月，乙巳，涼王李軌即皇帝位，改元安樂。 戊申，王軌以滑州來降。
In the eleventh month, on the day yisi, Li Gui, King of Liang, declared himself emperor and adopted the era name Anle. On the day wushen, Wang Gui came over in surrender with Huazhou.
42
薛仁果之為太子也，與諸將多有隙； 及即位，眾心猜懼。 郝瑗哭舉得疾，遂不起，由是國勢浸弱。 秦王世民至高址，仁果使宗羅□將兵拒之； 羅□侯數挑戰，世民堅壁不出。 諸將鹹請戰，世民曰：「我軍新敗，士氣沮喪，賊恃勝而驕，有輕我心，宜閉壘以待之。 彼驕我奮，可一戰而克也。」 乃令軍中曰：「敢言戰者斬！」 相持六十餘日，仁果糧盡，其將梁胡郎等帥所部來降。 世民知仁果將士離心，命行軍總管梁實營於淺水原以誘之。 羅□侯大喜，盡銳攻之，梁實守險不出； 營中無水，人馬不飲者數日。 羅□侯攻之甚急； 世民度賊已疲，謂諸將曰：「可以戰矣！」 遲明，使右武候大將軍寵玉陳於淺水原。 羅□侯並兵擊之，玉戰，幾不能支，世民引大軍自原北出其不意，羅□侯引兵還戰。 世民帥驍騎數十先陷陳，唐兵表裡奮擊，呼聲動地。 羅□侯士卒大潰，斬首數千級。 世民帥二千餘騎追之，竇軌叩馬苦諫曰：「仁果猶據堅城，雖破羅□侯，未可輕進，請且按兵以觀之。」 世民曰「吾慮之久矣，破竹之勢，不可失也，舅勿復言！」 遂進。 仁果陳於城下，世民據涇水臨之，仁果驍將渾幹等數人臨陳來降。 仁果懼，引兵入城拒守。 日向暮，大軍繼至，遂圍之。 夜半，守城者爭自投下。 仁果計窮，己酉，出降； 得其精兵萬餘人，男女五萬口。
While Xue Renguo was still crown prince, he had many quarrels with his generals. When he took the throne, the army's hearts were filled with suspicion and fear. Hao Yuan fell ill from grief at the enthronement and never recovered, and from that point the state's strength steadily declined. Prince of Qin Li Shimin advanced to Gaozhi. Renguo sent Zong Luohou to command troops against him. Luohou repeatedly offered battle, but Shimin held his fortifications and refused to come out. All the generals begged to fight. Shimin said, "Our army has just suffered defeat and morale is low. The enemy, emboldened by victory, is arrogant and underestimates us. We should hold our defenses and wait. When they are arrogant and we are roused, we can defeat them in one battle." He then issued an order throughout the army: "Whoever speaks of giving battle shall be executed!" They faced each other for more than sixty days. Renguo's grain ran out, and his generals Liang Hulu and others led their units over in surrender. Knowing that Renguo's officers and men were losing heart, Shimin ordered Acting Grand Marshal Liang Shi to encamp on the Qianshui Plain as bait. Luohou was overjoyed and attacked with his full elite strength, but Liang Shi held the defensible ground and would not come out. There was no water in the camp, and men and horses went without drink for days. Luohou pressed the attack with great urgency. Shimin judged that the enemy were exhausted and told his generals, "We can fight now!" At dawn he had Grand General of the Right Martial Guard Pang Yu draw up his line on the Qianshui Plain. Luohou combined his forces and attacked. Yu fought hard and nearly could not hold the line. Shimin then led the main army from the north of the plain to take the enemy by surprise, and Luohou wheeled his troops around to meet him. Shimin himself led several dozen elite horsemen to break the enemy line first. Tang troops struck from front and rear with all their strength, and their battle cries shook the ground. Luohou's soldiers broke in complete rout, and several thousand heads were taken. Shimin led more than two thousand cavalry in pursuit. Dou Gui seized his horse's bridle and pleaded urgently, "Renguo still holds a strong city. Though we have defeated Luohou, we must not advance rashly. Please hold the army back and wait to see what happens." Shimin said, "I have thought about this for a long time. The momentum of splitting bamboo cannot be lost. Uncle, say no more!" He pressed forward. Renguo drew up his battle line below the city. Shimin took position along the Jing River and faced him. Several of Renguo's fierce generals, including Hun Gan, came before the lines to surrender. Renguo was frightened and withdrew his troops into the city to hold out. As the sun was setting, the main army arrived and laid siege to the city. At midnight the defenders competed to throw themselves down from the walls in surrender. With no options left, Renguo came out and surrendered on the day jiyou. They took more than ten thousand elite soldiers and fifty thousand men and women.
43
諸將皆賀，因問曰：「大王一戰而勝，遽捨步兵，又無攻具，輕騎直造城下，眾皆以為不克，而卒取之，何也？」 世民曰：「羅□侯所將皆隴外之人，將驍卒悍； 吾特出其不意而破之，斬獲不多。 若緩之，則皆入城，仁果撫而用之，未易克也； 急之，則散歸隴外。 折址虛弱，仁果破膽，不暇為謀，此吾所以克也。」 眾皆悅服。 世民所得降卒，悉使仁果兄弟及宗羅□侯、翟長孫等將之，與之射獵，無所疑間。 賊畏威銜恩，皆願效死。 世民聞褚亮名，求訪，獲之，禮遇甚厚，引為王府文學。
All the generals offered congratulations and then asked, "Your Highness, after winning one battle you abruptly abandoned the infantry, had no siege equipment, and with light cavalry rode straight to the city walls. Everyone thought you could not take it, yet in the end you did. Why?" Shimin said, "The men Luohou commanded were all people from beyond Long—bold commanders and fierce soldiers; we broke them by surprise, but the kills and captures were not many. If we had delayed, they would all have entered the city. Renguo would have reassured and employed them, and the city would not have been easy to take; if we pressed hard, they would scatter back beyond Long. Zhezhi was hollow and weak, Renguo's courage was broken, and he had no time to devise a plan. That is why we were able to take it." All were pleased and convinced. Shimin put all the surrendered soldiers under the command of Renguo's brothers, Zong Luohou, Zhai Changsun, and the like, and went hunting with them without the slightest suspicion. Awed by his authority and grateful for his kindness, the former enemy soldiers all wished to die in his service. Shimin had heard of Chu Liang's reputation, sought him out, and found him. He treated him with great honor and appointed him literary aide to the princely household.
44
上遣使謂世民曰：「薛舉父子多殺我士卒，必盡誅其黨以謝冤魂。」 李密諫曰：「薛舉虐殺不辜，此其所以亡也，陛下何怨焉？ 懷服之民，不可不撫。」 乃命戮其謀首，余皆赦之。
Emperor Gaozu sent a messenger to tell Shimin, "The Xue father and son killed many of our soldiers. You must execute their entire faction to appease the wronged dead." Li Mi remonstrated, "Xue Ju's slaughter of the innocent is precisely why he perished. Why should Your Majesty bear a grudge? The people who submit in their hearts must be reassured." Thereupon he ordered the chief plotters executed and pardoned the rest.
45
上使李密迎秦王世民於豳州，密自恃智略功名，見上猶有傲色； 及見世民，不覺驚服，私謂殷開山曰：「真英主也！ 不如是，何以定禍亂乎！」
Emperor Gaozu sent Li Mi to welcome Prince of Qin Li Shimin at Binzhou. Confident in his wit, strategy, and past achievements, Mi still showed an air of pride when he met the Emperor. When he saw Shimin, he was involuntarily awed and subdued. Privately he told Yin Kaishan, "A true hero-emperor! If not such a man, how could the chaos and disorder ever be settled!"2
46
詔以員外散騎常侍姜謨為秦州刺史，謨撫以恩信，盜賊悉歸首，士民安之。
An edict appointed Jiang Mo, Acting Palace Attendant and Cavalier Attendant, as prefect of Qinzhou. Mo governed with kindness and trust; bandits all surrendered themselves, and officials and commoners lived in peace.
47
徐世勣據李密舊境，未有所屬。 魏徵隨密至長安，乃自請安集山東，上以為秘書丞，乘傳至黎陽，遺徐世勣書，勸之早降。 世勣遂決計西向，謂長史陽翟郭孝恪曰：「此眾土地，皆魏公有也； 吾若上表獻之，是利主之敗，自為功以邀富貴也，吾實恥之。 今宜籍郡縣戶口士馬之數以啟魏公，使自獻之。」 乃遣孝恪詣長安，又運糧以餉淮安王神通。 上聞世勣使者至，無表，止有啟與密，甚怪之。 孝恪具言世勣意，上乃歎曰：「徐世勣不背德，不邀功，真純臣也！」 賜姓李。 以孝恪為宋州刺史，使與世勣經營虎牢以東，所得州縣，委之選補。
Xu Shiji held Li Mi's former territory and had not yet pledged allegiance to anyone. Wei Zheng had followed Li Mi to Chang'an; he now volunteered to pacify Shandong. Emperor Gaozu made him secretary of the palace library and sent him by relay post to Liyang with a letter urging Xu Shiji to surrender at once. Shiji then decided to turn west. He told his chief administrator, Guo Xiaoke of Yangdi, "These forces and these lands all belong to the Duke of Wei; If I sent a memorial offering them up myself, I would be profiting from my lord's defeat and claiming the credit for wealth and rank. I am ashamed of that. The right course is to tally the households, population, troops, and horses of every commandery and county and report them to the Duke of Wei, so that he himself may make the submission." He sent Xiaoke to Chang'an and shipped grain to supply Prince of Huai'an Li Shentong. When Emperor Gaozu learned that Shiji's envoy had come with no formal memorial—only a private report to Li Mi—he was much puzzled. Xiaoke explained Shiji's intent in full. Emperor Gaozu sighed and said, "Xu Shiji neither betrays his obligations nor grabs credit for himself—a loyal minister in the truest sense!" He granted him the imperial surname Li. He made Xiaoke prefect of Song Prefecture and had him work with Shiji to administer everything east of Hulao; whatever commanderies and counties they took, the two men were empowered to appoint officials and fill posts.
48
癸丑，獨孤懷恩攻堯君素於蒲板。 行軍總管趙慈景尚帝女桂陽公主，為君素所擒，梟首城外，以示無降意。
On guichou, Dugu Huai'en attacked Yao Junsu at Puban. The marching-general Zhao Cijing had married the Emperor's daughter, Princess Guiyang. Yao Junsu captured him and had his head displayed outside the walls to show that he would not surrender.
49
癸亥，秦王世民至長安，斬薛仁果於市，上賜常達帛三百段。 贈劉感平原郡公，謚忠壯。 撲殺仵士政於殿庭。 以張貴尤淫暴，腰斬之。 上享勞將士，因謂群臣曰：「諸公共相翊戴以成帝業，若天下承平，可共保富貴。 使王世充得志，公等豈有種乎！ 如薛仁果君臣，豈可不以為前鑒也！」 己巳，以劉文靜為戶部尚書，領陝東道行台左僕射，復殷開山爵位。
On guihai, Prince of Qin Li Shimin returned to Chang'an and had Xue Renguo executed in the marketplace. Emperor Gaozu rewarded Chang Da with three hundred bolts of silk. Liu Gan was posthumously made Duke of Pingyuan, with the posthumous name Loyal and Bold. Wu Shizheng was beaten to death in the palace courtyard. Zhang Gui, notorious for lewdness and brutality, was cut in two at the waist. Emperor Gaozu feasted his officers and soldiers and then told his ministers, "You have all supported me and helped build this throne. When the realm is at peace, we may share its rewards. If Wang Shichong had his way, would any of you survive to leave heirs! Look at Xue Renguo and his followers — will you not take them as a warning!" On jisi, Liu Wenjing was made Minister of Revenue and left vice director of the Eastern-Shaanxi Circuit headquarters, and Yin Kaishan's noble rank was restored.
50
李密驕貴日久，又自負歸國之功，朝廷待之不副本望，鬱鬱不樂。 嘗遇大朝會，密為光祿卿，當進食，深以為恥； 退，以告左武衛大將軍王伯當。 伯當心亦怏怏，因謂密曰：「天下事在公度內耳。 今東海公在黎陽，襄陽公在羅口，河南兵馬，屈指可計，豈得久如此也！」 密大喜，乃獻策於上曰：「臣虛蒙榮寵，安坐京師，曾無報效； 山東之眾皆臣故時麾下，請往收而撫之。 憑藉國威，取王世充如拾地芥耳！」 上聞密故將士多不附世充，亦欲遣密往收之。 群臣多諫曰：「李密狡猾好反，今遣之，如投魚於泉，放虎於山，必不返矣！」 上曰：「帝王自有天命，非小子所能取。 借使叛去，如以蒿箭射蒿中耳！ 今使二賊交鬥，吾可以坐收其弊。」 辛未，遣密詣山東，收其餘眾之未下者。 密請與賈閏甫偕行，上許之，命密及閏甫同升御榻，賜食，傳飲卮酒曰：「吾三人同飲是酒，以明同心； 善建功名，以副朕意。 丈夫一言許人，千金不易。 有人確執不欲弟行，朕推赤心於弟，非他人所能間也。」 密、閏甫再拜受命。 上又以王伯當為密副而遣之。
Li Mi had grown arrogant in his high station. He also took pride in having brought his forces back to the dynasty, yet the court treated him below what he expected, and he brooded in discontent. At a grand court assembly, Mi, now Director of the Imperial Household, was assigned to serve food—a duty he found deeply humiliating; Afterward he told Wang Bodang, commander of the Left Martial Guards. Bodang was equally discontent. He told Mi, "The fate of the realm is entirely in your hands. The Duke of Donghai is at Liyang and the Duke of Xiangyang at Luokou. Henan's armies are still at your command. How long can you endure this humiliation!" Delighted, Mi submitted a plan to Emperor Gaozu: "I have received honors I have not earned and sit idle in the capital without repaying them; The armies of Shandong are still my old followers. Let me go gather and pacify them. With the throne's authority behind me, taking Wang Shichong would be as easy as picking a seed off the ground!" Emperor Gaozu knew that many of Mi's former followers still refused Wang Shichung and wanted to send Mi to win them back. Many ministers warned, "Li Mi is cunning and rebellion runs in his bones. Send him away now and it will be like throwing a fish back into the stream or a tiger back onto the mountain—he will never return!" Emperor Gaozu answered, "An emperor's mandate comes from Heaven—not something a lesser man can seize. Even if he did rebel and flee, it would be like shooting an arrow made of wormwood into a wormwood target! Let the two rebels tear at each other, and I can reap the profit without stirring." On xinwei he dispatched Li Mi to Shandong to gather the followers who had not yet submitted. Mi asked to take Jia Runfu with him. Emperor Gaozu agreed, had both men sit with him on the imperial couch, fed them, and passed them a cup of wine. "Let the three of us drink this together," he said, "as proof of shared purpose; Go and win glory worthy of my trust. A man's word, once given, is worth more than gold. Some urged strongly against letting you go. I give you my open heart, and no one can come between us." Mi and Runfu bowed twice and accepted the commission. Emperor Gaozu also appointed Wang Bodang as Mi's deputy and sent them off together.
51
有大鳥五集於樂壽，群鳥數萬從之，經日乃去。 竇建德以為己瑞，改元五鳳。 宗城人有得玄圭獻於建德者，宋正本及景城丞會稽孔德紹皆曰：「此天所以賜大禹也，請改國號曰夏。」 建德從之，以正本為納言，德紹為內史侍郎。
Five great birds settled at Le Shou, followed by tens of thousands of smaller birds; after a full day they flew away. Dou Jiande took this as an omen in his favor and changed the era name to Five Phoenixes. A man of Zongcheng found a black jade scepter and presented it to Jiande. Song Zhenben and Assistant Magistrate Kong Deshao of Jing Prefecture in Kuaiji both said, "Heaven gave this to Great Yu. Change the state name to Xia." Jiande agreed. He made Zhenben director of the secretariat and Deshao vice director of the inner secretariat.
52
初，王須拔掠幽州，中流矢死，其將魏刀兒代領其眾，據深澤，掠冀、定之間，眾至十萬，自稱魏帝。 建德偽與連和，刀兒弛備，建德襲擊破之，遂圍深澤； 其徒執刀兒降，建德斬之，盡並其眾。
Wang Xuba had been raiding You Prefecture when he was killed by a stray arrow. His general Wei Dao'er took over the band, seized Shenze, and plundered between Ji and Ding until his force reached a hundred thousand. He styled himself Emperor of Wei. Jiande pretended to ally with him. Dao'er let down his guard; Jiande struck by surprise, broke his force, and besieged Shenze; His men delivered Dao'er to Jiande in surrender. Jiande beheaded him and absorbed his entire following.
53
易、定等州皆降，唯冀州刺史麴稜不下，稜婿崔履行，暹之孫也，自言有奇術，可使攻者自敗，稜信之。 履行命守城者皆坐，毋得妄鬥，曰：「賊雖登城，汝曹勿怖，吾將使賊自縛。」 於是為壇，夜，設章醮，然後自衣衰絰，杖竹登北樓慟哭； 又令婦女升屋四向振裙。 建德攻之急，稜將戰，履行固止之。 俄而城陷，履行哭猶未已。 建德見稜，曰：「卿忠臣也！」 厚禮之，以為內史令。
Yi, Ding, and the other prefectures submitted. Only Ji Prefecture's governor Qu Ling held out. Ling's son-in-law Cui Lüxing, grandson of Xianzhi, claimed occult arts that would make attackers destroy themselves, and Qu Ling believed him. Lüxing ordered the defenders to sit still and not fight. "Even if the rebels reach the wall," he said, "do not be afraid. I will make them bind themselves." He built an altar and performed Taoist rites by night. Then he dressed in mourning, took up a bamboo staff, climbed the north tower, and wailed; He also had women climb onto rooftops on all four sides and flutter their skirts. Jiande pressed the assault. Qu Ling wanted to fight, but Lüxing firmly forbade it. Soon the city fell—while Lüxing was still weeping. When Jiande met Qu Ling, he said, "You are a loyal minister!" Jiande honored him and made him director of the secretariat.
54
十二月，壬申，詔以秦王世民為太尉、使持節、陝東道大行台，其蒲州、河北諸府兵馬並受節度。
In the twelfth month, on renshen, an edict made Prince of Qin Li Shimin Grand Commander, Credential Bearer, and head of the Eastern-Shaanxi Circuit headquarters; all forces of Pu Prefecture, Hebei, and other circuits were placed under his command.
55
癸酉，西突厥曷娑那可汗自宇文化及所來降。
On guiyou, the Western Turk qaghan Ashina Duojian came from Yu Wenhuaji's camp to submit.
56
隋將堯君素守河東，上遣呂紹宗、韋義節、獨孤懷恩相繼攻之，俱不下。 時外圍嚴急，君素為木鵝，置表於頸，具論事勢，浮之於河； 河陽守者得之，達於東都。 皇泰主見而歎息，拜君素金紫光祿大夫。 寵玉、皇甫無逸自東都來降，上悉遣詣城下，為陳利害，君素不從。 又賜金券，許以不死。 其妻又至城下，謂之曰：「隋室已亡，君何自苦！」 君素曰：「天下名義，非婦人所知！」 引弓射之，應弦而倒。 君素亦自知不濟，然志在守死，每言及國家，未嘗不歔欷。 謂將士曰：「吾昔事主上於籓邸，大義不得不死。 必若隋祚永終，天命有屬，自當斷頭以付諸君，聽君等持取富貴。 今城池甚固，倉儲豐備，大事猶未可知，不可橫生心也！」 君素性嚴明，善御眾，下莫敢叛。 久之，倉粟盡，人相食； 又獲外人，微知江都傾覆。 丙子，君素左右薛宗、李楚客殺君素以降，傳首長安。 君素遣朝散大夫解人王行本將精兵七百在它所，聞之，赴救，不及，因捕殺君素者黨與數百人，悉誅之，復乘城拒守。 獨孤懷恩引兵圍之。
The Sui general Yao Junsu held Hedong. Emperor Gaozu sent Lü Shaozong, Wei Yijie, and Dugu Huai'en in succession to attack him, but none could take the city. The siege tightened. Junsu fashioned wooden geese, tied dispatches around their necks describing the situation, and floated them down the river; Defenders at Heyang retrieved them and sent them to the Eastern Capital. Emperor Huangtai read them, sighed, and enfeoffed Junsu as Golden Beryl Grand Master for Splendid Happiness. Chong Yu and Huangfu Wuyi had surrendered from the Eastern Capital. Emperor Gaozu sent them to the walls to explain the stakes, but Junsu refused to listen. He also granted a gilt warrant promising that Junsu would not be executed. His wife came to the foot of the wall and called up, "The house of Sui is gone. Why torment yourself!" Junsu answered, "The great principles of loyalty are not for women to judge!" He drew his bow and shot her down on the spot. Junsu knew he could not hold out forever, yet he meant to die defending the city. Whenever he spoke of the realm he wept. He told his men, "I once served our late emperor at his princely residence. Honor demands that I die here. If Sui's mandate truly endures and Heaven has already chosen another, I will cut off my own head and let you take it to whoever holds the mandate and seek your reward. Our walls are strong and our stores full. The outcome is still uncertain. Do not turn traitor in haste!" Junsu was stern and disciplined, and ruled his men well. None dared rebel against him. In time the granaries emptied and people ate one another; They also captured an outsider and learned faint news of the disaster at Jiangdu. On bingzi, Junsu's attendants Xue Zong and Li Chuke killed him and surrendered. His head was sent to Chang'an. Junsu had posted Palace Attendant Wang Xingben of Jie with seven hundred elite troops elsewhere. Xingben rushed back but arrived too late. He seized several hundred accomplices in the murder, executed them all, and again mounted the walls to resist. Dugu Huai'en brought troops to besiege him.
57
丁酉，隋襄平太守鄧暠以柳城、北平二郡來降； 以暠為營州總管。
On dingyou, Sui's Xiangping prefect Deng Hao surrendered with the two commanderies of Liucheng and Beiping; Deng Hao was made area commander of Ying Prefecture.
58
辛巳，太常卿鄭元□擊朱粲於商州，破之。
On xinsi, Grand Master of Ceremonies Zheng Yuanshu attacked Zhu Can at Shang Prefecture and routed him.
59
初，宇文化及遣使招羅藝，藝曰：「我，隋臣也！」 斬其使者，為煬帝發喪，臨三日。 竇建德、高開道各遣使招之，藝曰：「建德、開道，皆劇賊耳。 吾聞唐公已定關中，人望歸之。 此真吾主也，吾將從之，敢沮議者，斬！」 會張道源慰撫山東，藝遂奉表，與漁陽、上谷等諸郡皆來降。 癸未，詔以藝為幽州總管。 薛萬均，世雄之子也，與弟萬徹俱以勇略為藝所親待，詔以萬均為上柱國、永安郡公，萬徹為車騎將軍、武安縣公。
When Yu Wenhuaji sent envoys to win over Luo Yi, Yi replied, "I am a minister of Sui!" He beheaded the envoys, held mourning rites for Emperor Yang, and wept for three days. Dou Jiande and Gao Kaidao each sent envoys. Yi said, "Jiande and Kaidao are nothing but ferocious bandits. I hear the Duke of Tang has secured Guanzhong and that men's hopes turn to him. He is my true sovereign, and I mean to follow him. Whoever dissents—beheaded!" Zhang Daoyuan was then pacifying Shandong. Yi submitted his allegiance, and Yuyang, Shanggu, and the other commanderies followed. On guimou, an edict made Yi area commander of You Prefecture. Xue Wanjun, son of Shixiong, and his brother Wanche were both valued by Yi for courage and skill. Wanjun was made Grand Preceptor and Duke of Yong'an; Wanche was made Cavalry General and Duke of Wu'an.
60
竇建德既克冀州，兵威益盛，帥眾十萬寇幽州。 藝將逆戰，萬均曰：「彼眾我寡，出戰必敗。 不若使羸兵背城阻水為陳，彼必渡水擊我。 萬均請以精騎百人伏於城旁，俟其半渡擊之，蔑不勝矣。」 藝從之。 建德果引兵渡水，萬均邀擊，大破之。 建德竟不能至其城下，乃分兵掠霍堡及雍奴等縣； 藝復邀擊，敗之。 凡相拒百餘日，建德不能克，乃還樂壽。
After Jiande took Ji Prefecture his prestige and strength grew. He led a hundred thousand men against You Prefecture. Yi prepared to meet him in battle. Wanjun said, "They outnumber us. We will lose if we go out to fight. Better to array our weaker troops with their backs to the city across the water. They will surely ford the river to attack. Let me take a hundred picked horsemen and lie in wait beside the city. Strike them halfway across and we cannot fail." Yi agreed. Jiande forded the river as expected. Wanjun ambushed him and routed his army. Jiande never reached the city. He split his force to plunder Huobao, Yongnu, and other counties; Yi ambushed him again and won. After more than a hundred days Jiande still could not take Youzhou and withdrew to Le Shou.
61
藝得隋通直謁者溫彥博，以為司馬。 藝以幽州歸國，彥博贊成之； 詔以彥博為幽州總管府長史，未幾，征為中書侍郎。 兄大雅，時為黃門侍郎，與彥博對居近密，時人榮之。
Yi took the Sui direct-attendant Wen Yanbo and made him his military adviser. When Yi brought You Prefecture into the Tang fold, Yanbo urged and helped bring it about; Yanbo was made chief administrator of the You Prefecture headquarters and soon afterward was recalled as vice director of the secretariat. His elder brother Daya was then vice director of the Yellow Gate; the two brothers lived opposite each other near the inner palace—a distinction men envied.
62
以西突厥曷娑那可汗為歸義王。 曷娑那獻大珠，上曰：「珠誠至寶； 然朕寶王赤心，珠無所用。」 竟還之。
The Western Turk qaghan Ashina Duojian was enfeoffed as Prince of Righteous Submission. Ashina Duojian offered a great pearl. Emperor Gaozu said, "The pearl is truly a treasure beyond price; but I value your loyal heart, and the pearl is of no use to me." In the end he sent it back.
63
乙酉，車駕幸周氏陂，過故墅。
On yiyou, the Emperor traveled to the Zhou family embankment and passed his former estate.
64
初，羌豪旁企地以所部附薛舉，及薛仁果敗，企地來降，留長安，企地不樂，帥其眾數千叛，入南山，出漢川，所過殺掠。 武候大將軍寵玉擊之，為企地所敗。 行至始州，掠女子王氏，與俱醉臥野外； 王氏拔其佩刀，斬首送梁州，其眾遂潰。 詔賜王氏號崇義夫人。
Earlier the Qiang chieftain Pang Qidi had joined Xue Ju with his followers. After Xue Renguo's defeat Qidi surrendered and was kept at Chang'an, but he was discontent; he led several thousand men in rebellion, entered the Southern Mountains, broke out into Hanzhong, and killed and looted all along his route. Grand General of the Right Martial Guard Pang Yu attacked him and was beaten by Qidi. At Shi Prefecture he seized a woman surnamed Wang; they drank together and slept drunk in the open fields. Wang pulled his dagger, cut off his head, and sent it to Liang Prefecture; his band then broke apart. An edict bestowed on Wang the title Lady of Exalted Righteousness.
65
壬辰，王世充帥眾三萬圍谷州，刺史任瑰拒卻之。
On renchen, Wang Shichong led thirty thousand troops to besiege Gu Prefecture, but Prefect Ren Gui drove him back.
66
上使李密分其麾下之半留華州，將其半出關。 長史張寶德預在行中，恐密亡去，罪相及； 上封事，言其必叛。 上意乃中變，又恐密驚駭，乃降敕書勞來，令密留所部徐行，單騎入朝，更受節度。
Emperor Gaozu had Li Mi leave half his troops at Hua Prefecture and march the other half out through the pass. Chief Clerk Zhang Baode was traveling with the column and feared that if Mi absconded, he would be punished too. He sent the Emperor a sealed memorial warning that Mi would surely rebel. Emperor Gaozu changed his mind midway but feared alarming Mi, so he issued a comforting edict ordering Mi to leave his troops to march slowly while he rode alone to court for reassignment.
67
密至稠桑，得敕，謂賈閏甫曰：「敕遣我去，無故復召我還，天子向雲，『有人確執不許』，此譖行矣。 吾今若還，無復生理，不若破桃林縣，收其兵糧，北走渡河。 比信達熊州，吾已遠矣。 苟得至黎陽，大事必成。 公意如何？」 閏甫曰：「主上待明公甚厚； 況國家姓名，著在圖讖，天下終當一統。 明公既已委質，復生異圖，任瑰、史萬寶據熊、穀二州，此事朝舉，彼兵夕至，雖克桃林，兵豈暇集，一稱叛逆，誰復容人！ 為明公計，不若且應朝命，以明元無異心，自然浸潤不行； 更欲出就山東，徐思其便可也。」 密怒曰：「唐使吾與絳、灌同列，何以堪之！ 且讖文之應，彼我所共。 今不殺我，聽使東行，足明王者不死； 縱使唐遂定關中，山東終為我有。 天與不取，乃欲束手投人！ 公，吾之心腹，何意如是！ 若不同心，當斬而後行！」 閏甫泣曰：「明公雖雲應讖，近察天人，稍已相違。 今海內分崩，人思自擅，強者為雄； 明公奔亡甫爾，誰相聽受！ 且自翟讓受戮之後，人皆謂明公棄恩忘本，今日誰肯復以所有之兵束手委公乎！ 彼必慮公見奪，逆相拒抗，一朝失勢，豈有容足之地哉！ 自非荷恩殊厚者，詎能深言不諱乎！ 願明公熟思之，但恐大福不再。 苟明公有所措身，閏甫亦何辭就戮！」 密大怒，揮刃欲擊之； 王伯當等固請，乃釋之。 閏甫奔熊州。 伯當亦止密，以為未可，密不從。 伯當乃曰：「義士之志，不以存亡易心。 公必不聽，伯當與公同死耳，然終恐無益也。」
When Mi reached Chousang and read the edict, he told Jia Runfu, "The edict sent me away, then for no reason calls me back. When the Son of Heaven was wavering, 'someone firmly insisted it must not be allowed'—slander has worked. If I go back now I am as good as dead. Better to seize Taolin County, take its arms and grain, flee north, and cross the river. By the time the report reaches Xiong Prefecture I will already be gone. If I can reach Liyang, the great cause will surely succeed. What do you say?" Runfu said, "Our lord has treated you with great kindness; Moreover the dynasty's name is written in the prophecies—the realm will be united in the end. You have already pledged yourself to Tang; if you turn to another plan, Ren Gui and Shi Wanbao hold Xiong and Gu—raise this at court and their troops arrive by nightfall. Even if you take Taolin, where will you gather an army in time? Once you are called a rebel, who will take you in! For your own sake, better obey the court for now and show you mean no treachery—then the slander will die away. If you still want to go east to Shandong, you can think again when the time is right." Mi flared up. "Tang ranks me with Zhou Bo and Guan Ying—how can I endure that! And the prophecy applies to both of us alike. That they do not kill me but let me go east proves the man destined to rule does not die. Even if Tang secures Guanzhong, Shandong will still be mine in the end. Heaven offers and I refuse—only to bind my hands and surrender! You are my closest confidant—how can you speak like this! If we are not of one mind, I will cut you down before I move!" Runfu wept. "Though you speak of fulfilling the prophecy, look closely at heaven and men—they have already parted ways. The realm is breaking apart; every man wants to rule himself, and the strong make themselves lords. You have only just become a fugitive—who will listen to you! Since Zhai Rang was killed, everyone says you cast aside gratitude and forgot where you came from—who today would willingly hand over his troops to you! They will fear you mean to seize their armies and resist you—lose your footing once and where will you have room to stand! Unless a man owed you deep gratitude, who would speak so frankly! I beg you think this through—I fear great fortune will not come twice. If you find a place to stand, Runfu will have no complaint about dying!" Mi flew into a rage and raised his blade to strike him. Wang Bodang and the others pleaded hard, and he let him go. Runfu fled to Xiong Prefecture. Bodang also tried to stop Mi, saying the time was not right, but Mi would not listen. Bodang then said, "A loyal man's resolve does not change with life or death. If you will not listen, Bodang will die with you—but I fear in the end it will do no good."3
68
密因執使者，斬之。 庚子旦，密紿桃林縣官曰：「奉詔暫還京師，家人請寄縣捨。」 乃簡驍勇數十人，著婦人衣，戴羃□，藏刀裙下，詐為妻妾，自帥之入縣捨。 須臾，變服突出，因據縣城。 驅掠徒眾，直趣南山，乘險而東，遣人馳告故將伊州刺史襄城張善相，令以兵應接。
Mi then seized the envoy and cut off his head. At dawn on gengzi Mi deceived the officials of Taolin County, saying, "By imperial order I am returning briefly to the capital; my family asks to lodge at the county quarters." He then picked several dozen fierce fighters, dressed them in women's clothes with veiled hoods, hid swords beneath their skirts, and passed them off as wives and concubines; he led them personally into the county quarters. In moments they changed clothes, burst out, and seized the county seat. Driving conscripts before him and plundering as he went, he headed straight for the Southern Mountains, used the rugged terrain to turn east, and sent a fast rider to his former general Zhang Shanxiang, governor of Yizhou in Xiangcheng, to bring troops and meet him.
69
右翊衛將軍史萬寶鎮熊州，謂行軍總管盛彥師曰：「李密，驍賊也，又輔以王伯當，今決策而叛，殆不可當也。」 彥師笑曰：「請以數千之眾邀之，必梟其首。」 萬寶曰：「公以何策能爾？」 彥師曰：「兵法尚詐，不可為公言之。」 即帥眾逾熊耳山南，據要道，令弓弩夾路乘高，刀楯伏於溪谷，令之曰：「俟賊半渡，一時俱發。」 或問曰：「聞李密欲向洛州，而公入山，何也？」 彥師曰：「密聲言向洛，實欲出人不意，走襄城，就張善相耳。 若賊入谷口，我自後追之，山路險隘，無所施力，一夫殿後，必不能制。 今吾先得入谷，擒之必矣。」
Right Upright Guard General Shi Wanbao was stationed at Xiong Prefecture. He told campaign commander Sheng Yanshi, "Li Mi is a fierce rebel, and with Wang Bodang at his side he has now chosen open revolt—he will be hard to stop." Yanshi laughed. "Give me a few thousand men to intercept him and I will take his head for certain." Wanbao asked, "What plan could make that possible?" Yanshi said, "The art of war favors deception—I cannot tell you." He immediately led his troops over the southern slope of Mount Xiong'er, seized the vital road, posted crossbowmen on the heights along both sides of the path, and hid sword-and-shield men in the ravines, ordering them, "Wait until the rebels are half across, then strike all at once." Someone asked, "We hear Li Mi means to march on Luo Prefecture—why are you going into the mountains?" Yanshi said, "Mi says he is heading for Luo, but he truly means to catch us off guard, flee to Xiangcheng, and join Zhang Shanxiang. If the rebels entered the valley and I pursued from behind, the road is narrow and steep and there is no room to deploy force—one man holding the rear could hold us off. Now that I enter the valley first, capture is certain."4
70
李密既渡陝，以為餘不足慮，遂擁眾徐行，果逾山南出。 彥師擊之，密眾首尾斷絕，不得相救。 遂斬密及伯當，俱傳首長安。 彥師以功賜爵葛國公，仍領熊州。
After Li Mi had crossed into Shan Prefecture he thought he had little left to fear, so he led his men at an easy pace and indeed crossed south of the mountains to emerge. Yanshi attacked him; Mi's force was cut in two and could not rescue itself. He then beheaded Mi and Bodang and sent both heads to Chang'an. For his merit Yanshi was enfeoffed as Duke of Ge and continued to command Xiong Prefecture.
71
李世勣在黎陽，上遣使以密首示之，告以反狀。 世勣北面拜伏號慟，表請收葬； 詔歸其屍。 世勣為之行服，備君臣之禮。 大具儀衛，舉軍縞素，葬密於黎陽山南。 密素得士心，哭者多歐血。
Li Shiji was at Liyang. Emperor Gaozu sent an envoy to show him Li Mi's head and report how he had rebelled. Shiji turned north, bowed to the ground, and wailed aloud; he submitted a memorial asking to bury the body. An edict ordered the body returned. Shiji wore mourning for him and performed the full rites due between lord and minister. With full ceremonial escort and the whole army in white mourning, he buried Li Mi south of the mountains at Liyang. Li Mi had always won men's hearts; many mourners wept until they spat blood.
72
隋右武衛大將軍李景守北平，高開道圍之，歲余不能克。 遼西太守鄧暠將兵救之，景帥其眾遷於柳城； 後將還幽州，於道為盜所殺。 開道遂取北平，進陷漁陽郡，有馬數千匹，眾且萬，自稱燕王，改元始興，都漁陽。
Sui Right Martial Guard General Li Jing held Beiping; Gao Kaidao besieged him for more than a year without success. Liaoxi Administrator Deng Hao led troops to relieve him; Jing moved his followers to Liucheng. Later, as he was returning to You Prefecture, bandits killed him on the road. Kaidao then took Beiping, advanced to seize Yuyang Commandery, gathered several thousand horses and nearly ten thousand followers, styled himself King of Yan, adopted the era Shixing, and made Yuyang his capital.
73
懷戎沙門高曇晟因縣令設齋，士民大集，曇晟與僧五千人擁齋眾而反，殺縣令及鎮將，自稱大乘皇帝，立尼靜宣為邪輸皇后，改元法輪。 遣使招開道，立為齊王。 開道帥眾五千人歸之，居數月，襲殺曇晟，悉並其眾。
At Huairong the monk Gao Tansheng, when the magistrate held a vegetarian feast and a great crowd of officials and commoners gathered, rebelled with five thousand monks, seized the assembly, killed the magistrate and garrison commander, styled himself Emperor of the Great Vehicle, installed the nun Jing Xuan as Empress of Evil Wheel, and adopted the era Falun. He sent envoys to summon Gao Kaidao and enfeoffed him as King of Qi. Kaidao led five thousand men to join him; after several months he attacked and killed Tansheng and absorbed all his followers.
74
有犯法不至死者，上特命殺之。 監察御史李素立諫曰：「三尺法，王者所與天下共也； 法一動搖，人無所措手足。 陛下甫創鴻業，奈何棄法！ 臣忝法司，不敢奉詔。」 上從之。 自是特承恩遇，命所司授以七品清要官； 所司擬雍州司戶，上曰：「此官要而不清。」 又擬秘書郎。 上曰：「此官清而不要。」 遂擢授侍御史。 素立，義深之曾孫也。
Someone had broken the law but did not deserve death; Emperor Gaozu specially ordered him put to death. Censor Li Suli remonstrated, saying, "The law measured by the three-foot rod is what a ruler shares with all under Heaven; Once the law wavers, people do not know where to put hand or foot. Your Majesty has just begun the great enterprise—how can you cast the law aside! I hold office in the law and dare not obey such an edict." Emperor Gaozu accepted his advice. From then on Suli received special favor; the Emperor ordered the relevant offices to grant him a seventh-rank post both important and pure. The offices proposed him as registrar of Yong Prefecture; Emperor Gaozu said, "That post is important but not pure." They then proposed secretary of the secretariat. Emperor Gaozu said, "That post is pure but not important." He was therefore promoted and appointed attending censor. Suli was the great-grandson of Li Yishen.
75
上以舞胡安叱奴為散騎侍郎。 禮部尚書李綱諫曰：「古者樂工不與士齒，雖賢如子野、師襄，皆終身繼世不易其業。 唯齊末封曹妙達為王，安馬駒為開府，有國家者以為殷鑒。 今天下新定，建義功臣，行賞未遍，高才碩學，猶滯草萊； 而先擢舞胡為五品，使鳴玉曳組，趨翔廊廟，非所以規模後世也。」 上不從，曰：「吾業已授之，不可追也。」
Emperor Gaozu appointed the Hu dancer An Chinu as attendant cavalier. Minister of Rites Li Gang remonstrated, saying, "In antiquity musicians did not rank with scholars; though as gifted as Zhi Ye and Shi Xiang, they spent their lives in hereditary craft and never changed their trade. Only at the end of Qi were Cao Miaoda made a king and An Maju made an honorary commander—rulers took that as a warning. The realm is newly settled—founding merit has not all been rewarded, and men of great talent and learning still languish in obscurity. Yet you promote a Hu dancer to fifth rank, let him jangle jade pendants and stride through the halls of state—this is no model for posterity." Emperor Gaozu would not listen and said, "I have already granted it—it cannot be taken back.5
76
陳岳論曰：受命之主，發號施令，為子孫法； 一不中理，則為厲階。 今高祖曰：「業已授之，不可追」，苟授之而是，則已； 授之而非，胡不可追歟！ 君人之道，不得不以「業已授之」為誡哉！
Chen Yue remarked: A ruler who receives the Mandate issues orders and commands that become law for posterity. One misstep becomes a path to disaster. Now Emperor Gaozu said, "Already granted—it cannot be taken back"; if the grant were right, that would be one thing. If the appointment was a mistake, why not take it back! Surely a ruler must not treat "already granted" as an excuse never to correct a mistake!
77
李軌吏部尚書梁碩，有智略，軌常倚之以為謀主。 碩見諸胡浸盛，陰勸軌宜加防察，由是與戶部尚書安修仁有隙。 軌子仲琰嘗詣碩，碩不為禮，乃與修仁共譖碩於軌，誣以謀反，軌鴆碩，殺之。 有胡巫謂軌曰：「上帝當遣玉女自天而降。」 軌信之，發民築台以候玉女，勞費甚廣。 河右饑，人相食，軌傾家財以賑之； 不足，欲發倉粟，召群臣議之。 曹珍等皆曰：「國以民為本，豈可愛倉粟而坐視其死乎！」 謝統師等皆故隋官，心終不服，密與群胡為黨，排軌故人，乃詬珍曰：「百姓餓者自是羸弱，勇壯之士終不至此。 國家倉粟以備不虞，豈可散之以飼羸弱！ 僕射苟悅人情，不為國計，非忠臣也。」 軌以為然，由是士民離怨。
Liang Shuo, Li Gui's Minister of Personnel, was clever and far-sighted; Gui relied on him as his chief strategist. Shuo saw the Hu growing stronger and quietly urged Gui to guard against them; he thus quarreled with Minister of Revenue An Xiuren. Gui's son Zhongyan once called on Shuo, who slighted him; Zhongyan and Xiuren then slandered Shuo to Gui as a traitor; Gui poisoned him and had him killed. A Hu shaman told Gui, "Heaven will send a jade maiden down from the sky." Gui believed him, conscripted labor to build a terrace for the maiden, and wasted enormous resources. West of the Yellow River famine drove men to cannibalism; Gui spent his family fortune on relief; when that was not enough he wanted to open the state granaries and called his ministers to debate it. Cao Zhen and others said, "A state rests on its people — how can we hoard grain and watch them starve!" Xie Tongshi and other former Sui officials, never loyal at heart, secretly sided with the Hu, sidelined Gui's old followers, and attacked Zhen: "Only the weak starve; strong men never sink so low. State grain is for emergencies — we cannot scatter it on the weak! The Vice Director panders to the mob instead of serving the state — he is no loyal minister." Gui agreed, and gentry and people alike turned against him in anger.
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