1
資治通鑑第192卷卷第一百九十二
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 192
2
【唐紀八】起柔兆閹茂九月，盡著雍困敦七月，凡二年。
[Tang Records 8] From the ninth month of Rouzhao Xianmao through the seventh month of Zhuoyong Kundun—two years in all.
3
九月，突厥頡利獻馬三千匹，羊萬口； 上不受，但詔歸所掠中國戶口，征溫彥博還朝。
In the ninth month, the Türk qaghan Jieli presented three thousand horses and ten thousand sheep; the emperor declined the gifts and instead ordered the return of Chinese subjects taken in raids and summoned Wen Yanbo back to court.
4
丁未，上引諸衛將卒習射於顯德殿庭，諭之曰：「戎狄侵盜，自古有之，患在邊境少安，則人主逸游忘戰，是以寇來莫之能御。 今朕不使汝曹穿池築苑，專習弓矢，居閒無事，則為汝師，突厥入寇，則為汝將，庶幾中國之民可以少安乎！」 於是日引數百人教射於殿庭，上親臨試，中多者賞以弓、刀、帛，其將帥亦加上考。 群臣多諫曰：「於律，以兵刃至御在所者絞。 今使卑碎之人張弓挾矢於軒陛之側，陛下親在其間，萬一有狂夫竊發，出於不意，非所以重社稷也。」 韓州刺史封同人詐乘驛馬入朝切諫。 上皆不聽，曰：「王者視四海如一家，封域之內，皆朕赤子，朕一一推心置其腹中，奈何宿衛之士亦加猜忌乎！」 由是人思自勵，數年之間，悉為精銳。
On dingwei, the emperor led guard officers and troops to practice archery in the courtyard of Xiande Hall and addressed them: "Barbarian raids are as old as history itself; the danger is that when the border is briefly quiet, rulers grow idle and forget war, and then no one can hold the line when enemies strike. I will not have you dig ponds and build pleasure grounds; you are to train only with bow and arrow. In peacetime I will be your instructor; when the Türks invade, I will be your commander—so that the people of China may know a little peace!" Thereafter he brought several hundred men to the hall each day for archery drill. The emperor personally supervised the trials; those who scored the most hits received bows, blades, and silk, and their commanders earned top merit ratings as well. Many ministers remonstrated: "By law, anyone who brings weapons into the imperial presence is liable to execution by strangulation. Yet you now have common soldiers with bows drawn beside the imperial steps, and Your Majesty stands among them. Should some madman strike without warning, that is no way to safeguard the realm." Feng Tongren, prefect of Hanzhou, abused the post-horse relay to rush to court and plead urgently against the practice. The emperor would not listen. He said: "A true king treats the four seas as one household; everyone within his realm is his child. I trust each of them with my whole heart—why should I suspect the very men who guard my sleep?" Inspired by this, the men drove themselves to excel, and within a few years they had all become crack troops.
5
上嘗言：「吾自少經略四方，頗知用兵之要，每觀敵陳，則知其強弱，常以吾弱當其強，強當其弱。 彼乘吾弱，逐奔不過數十百步，吾乘其弱，必出其陳後反擊之，無不潰敗，所以取勝，多在此也。」
The emperor once remarked: "Since youth I have campaigned across the realm and know the essentials of war. Whenever I study the enemy's line, I see where it is strong and where it is weak; I always pit our weakness against their strength and our strength against their weakness. When they press our weak flank, their pursuit rarely carries more than a few dozen or hundred paces; when we press their weak flank, we always wheel behind their line and counterattack, and they invariably break. Most of my victories have come from this."
6
己酉，上面定勳臣長孫無忌等爵邑，命陳叔達於殿下唱名示之，且曰：「朕敘卿等勳賞或未當，宜各自言。」 於是諸將爭功，紛紜不已。 淮安王神通曰：「臣舉兵關西，首應義旗，今房玄齡，杜如晦等專弄刀筆，功居臣上，臣竊不服。」 上曰：「義旗初起，叔父雖首唱舉兵，蓋亦自營脫禍。 及竇建德吞噬山東，叔父全軍覆沒； 劉黑闥再合餘燼，叔父望風奔北。 玄齡等運籌帷幄，坐安社稷，論功行賞，固宜居叔父之先。 叔父，國之至親，朕誠無所愛，但不可以私恩濫與勳臣同賞耳！」 諸將乃相謂曰：「陛下至公，雖淮安王尚無所私，吾儕何敢不安其分。」 遂皆悅服。 房玄齡嘗言：「秦府舊人未遷官者，皆嗟怨曰：『吾屬奉事左右，幾何年矣！ 今除官，返出前宮、齊府人之後。』」 上曰：「王者至公無私，故能服天下之心。 朕與卿輩日所衣食，皆取諸民者也。 故設官分職，以為民也，當擇賢才而用之，豈以新舊為先後哉！ 必也新而賢，舊而不肖，安可捨新而取舊乎！ 今不論其賢不肖而直言嗟怨，豈為政之體乎！」
On jiyou, the emperor finalized ranks and fiefs for meritorious ministers including Zhangsun Wuji, had Chen Shuda read out their names in the hall below, and said: "I may not have ranked your merits correctly—speak up if you think otherwise." The generals at once began wrangling over who deserved more credit. Prince Huai'an Li Shentong said: "I raised troops in Guanxi and was first to answer the righteous banner, yet Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, who wield only the brush, rank above me—I cannot accept that." The emperor replied: "When the righteous cause first arose, Uncle, you were indeed first to raise troops—but chiefly to save yourself. When Dou Jiande overran Shandong, your entire army was wiped out; when Liu Heita rallied the remnants, you fled north at the first sign of trouble. Xuanling and his colleagues plotted strategy from headquarters and secured the realm without leaving their seats; in merit and reward they rightly come before you. You are the state's closest kinsman, and I withhold no private affection—but private favor must not let you share equal reward with those who earned it on merit!" The generals then said among themselves: "His Majesty is utterly fair—even Prince Huai'an won no favoritism. How can we fail to accept our due?" They all submitted gladly. Fang Xuanling once reported: "Former staff of the Prince of Qin's household who have not yet been promoted complain: 'We have served at Your Majesty's side for years! Yet when appointments are made, we are ranked below men from the former Eastern Palace and the Prince of Qi's household.'" The emperor said: "A true king is utterly impartial, and thereby wins the hearts of the realm. What you and I eat and wear each day comes from the people. Offices exist for the people's sake; appoint the able, regardless of how long they have served you—how can old ties set the order! If newcomers are able and veterans unfit, how can I favor the old over the new! To complain without regard to merit—is that how a ruler should govern!"
7
詔：「民間不得妄立妖祠。 自非卜筮正術，其餘雜占，悉從禁絕。」
An edict declared: "Private heterodox shrines are forbidden among the people. Apart from orthodox milfoil and tortoise divination, all other forms of fortune-telling are banned."
8
上於弘文殿聚四部書二十餘萬卷，置弘文館於殿側，精選天下文學之士虞世南、褚亮、姚思廉、歐陽詢、蔡允恭、蕭德言等，以本官兼學士，令更日宿直，聽朝之隙，引入內殿，講論前言往行，商榷政事，或至夜分乃罷。 又取三品已上子孫充弘文館學生。
At Hongwen Hall the emperor assembled more than two hundred thousand volumes from the four bibliographic categories and established the Hongwen Institute beside it. He selected leading scholars of the realm—Yu Shinan, Chu Liang, Yao Silian, Ouyang Xun, Cai Yungong, Xiao Deyan, and others—as concurrent academicians on rotating night duty. Between audiences he summoned them to the inner hall to discuss the words and deeds of antiquity and debate current policy, sometimes keeping them until deep into the night. He also enrolled sons and grandsons of officials of the third rank and above as students at the institute.
9
冬，十月，丙辰朔，日有食之。
In winter, the tenth month, on the new moon of bingchen, there was a solar eclipse.
10
詔追封故太子建成為息王，謚曰隱； 齊王元吉為剌王，以禮改葬。 葬日，上哭之於宜秋門，甚哀。 魏徵、王珪表請陪送至墓所，上許之，命宮府舊僚皆送葬。
An edict posthumously enfeoffed the former crown prince Li Jiancheng as Prince Xi, posthumous title Yin; and the Prince of Qi Li Yuanji as Prince La, and had them reburied with full rites. On the burial day the emperor wept for them at Yiqiu Gate with deep grief. Wei Zheng and Wang Gui asked to accompany the coffins to the graves; the emperor agreed and ordered all former palace staff to attend.
11
癸亥，立皇子中山王承乾為太子，生八年矣。
On guihai, the emperor installed his son, Prince of Zhongshan Li Chengqian, as crown prince; the boy was eight years old.
12
庚辰，初定功臣實封有差。
On gengchen, actual fief incomes for meritorious ministers were first graded by rank.
13
初，蕭瑀薦封德彝於上皇，上皇以為中書令。 及上即位，蕭瑀為左僕射，德彝為右僕射。 議事已定，德彝數反之於上前，由是有隙。 時房玄齡、杜如晦新用事，皆疏瑀而親德彝，蕭瑀不能平，遂上封事論之，辭指寥落，由是忤旨。 蕭瑀與陳叔達忿爭於上前，庚辰，瑀、叔達皆坐不敬，免官。
Earlier, Xiao Yu had recommended Feng Deyi to the retired emperor, who made him Director of the Secretariat. When the emperor acceded, Xiao Yu became Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Deyi Right Vice Director. After decisions were made, Deyi often reversed himself before the emperor, and a rift grew between them. Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui had lately risen to power; both kept Xiao Yu at arm's length while cultivating Deyi. Xiao Yu could not stomach this and submitted a sealed memorial; its arguments were thin, and he offended the throne. Xiao Yu and Chen Shuda quarreled angrily before the emperor; on gengchen both were convicted of disrespect and dismissed.
14
甲申，民部尚書裴矩奏「民遭突厥暴踐者，請戶給絹一匹。」 上曰：「朕以誠信御下，不欲虛有存恤之名而無其實，戶有大小，豈得雷同給賜乎！」 於是計口為率。
On jiashen, Minister of Revenue Pei Ju proposed: "For households ravaged by Türk raids, grant one bolt of silk per household." The emperor said: "I rule by sincerity and trust; I will not offer relief in name only. Households differ in size—how can one grant fit all alike!" Relief was therefore calculated per capita.
15
初，上皇欲強宗室以鎮天下，故皇再從、三從弟及兄弟之下，雖童孺皆為王，王者數十人。 上從容問群臣：「遍封宗子，於天下利乎？」 封德彝對曰：「前世唯皇子及兄弟乃為王，自餘非有大功，無為王者。 上皇敦睦九族，大封宗室，自兩漢以來未有如今之多者。 爵命既崇，多給力役，恐非示天下以至公也。」 上曰：「然。 朕為天子，所以養百姓也，豈可勞百姓以養己之宗族乎！」 十一月，庚寅，降宗室郡王皆為縣公，惟有功者數人不降。
Earlier, the retired emperor had sought to strengthen the imperial clan to secure the realm; cousins and brothers' descendants, even infants, were made princes—several dozen in all. The emperor casually asked his ministers: "Does enfeoffing clansmen across the board benefit the realm?" Feng Deyi replied: "In former ages only imperial sons and brothers became kings; others received that rank only for great merit. The retired emperor cultivated the nine agnatic groups and enfeoffed the clan on a grand scale—since the Han there have been none so numerous. Ranks are already lofty and corvée burdens heavy—I fear that is not how to show the realm true fairness." The emperor said: "You are right. I am Son of Heaven to nourish the people—how can I burden the people to feed my own clan!" In the eleventh month, on gengyin, clansmen who had held princely commandery titles were reduced to county marquises; only a few with outstanding merit kept their ranks.
16
丙午，上與群臣論止盜。 或請重法以禁之，上哂之曰：「民之所以為盜者，由賦繁役重，官吏貪求，饑寒切身，故不暇顧廉恥耳。 朕當去奢省費，輕徭薄賦，選用廉吏，使民主食有餘，則自不為盜，安用重法邪！」 自是數年之後，海內昇平，路不拾遺，外戶不閉，商旅野宿焉。 上又嘗謂侍臣曰：「君依於國，國依於民。 刻民以奉君，猶割肉以充腹，腹飽而身斃，君富而國亡。 故人君之患，不自外來，常由身出。 夫欲盛則費廣，費廣則賦重，賦重則民愁，民愁則國危，國危則君喪矣。 朕常以此思之，故不敢縱欲也。」
On bingwu, the emperor discussed how to stop theft with his ministers. Some urged harsher laws; the emperor smiled and said: "People steal because taxes are heavy, corvée is crushing, officials extort them, and hunger and cold leave no room for shame. I will cut extravagance, lighten burdens, appoint honest officials, and see that people have food to spare—then they will not steal. What need is there for harsh laws!" Within a few years the realm was at peace: lost goods lay untouched on the roads, outer gates stood unbarred, and travelers slept in the open without fear. The emperor also told his attendants: "The ruler depends on the state, and the state depends on the people. Exploiting the people to enrich the ruler is like cutting flesh to fill one's belly—the belly grows full while the body dies; the ruler grows rich while the realm perishes. A ruler's ruin does not come from without; it arises from within. Extravagant desire breeds heavy spending; heavy spending breeds heavy taxes; heavy taxes breed a desperate people; a desperate people breed a doomed state; and a doomed state breeds a dead ruler. I reflect on this constantly, and therefore dare not indulge my desires."
17
十二月，己巳，益州大都督竇軌奏稱獠反，請發兵討之。 上曰：「獠依阻山林，時出鼠竊，乃其常俗； 牧守苟能撫以恩信，自然帥服，安可輕動干戈，漁獵其民，比之禽獸，豈為民父母之意邪！」 竟不許。
In the twelfth month, on jisi, Grand Protector of Yizhou Dou Gui reported that the Liao had rebelled and asked to send troops against them. The emperor said: "The Liao live in mountain fastnesses and raid like rats from time to time—that is their custom; if local officials treat them with kindness and trust, they will submit of their own accord. How can we lightly send armies to prey on them like game—is that how a parent treats the people!" He refused permission.
18
上謂裴寂曰：「比多上書言事者，朕皆粘之屋壁，得出入省覽，每思治道，或深夜方寢。 公輩亦當恪勤職業，副朕此意。」
The emperor told Pei Ji: "Lately many memorials have arrived; I paste them on the walls of my chamber so I can review them coming and going. When I ponder how to govern, I sometimes sleep only deep into the night. You too must attend diligently to your duties and match my intent."
19
上厲精求治，數引魏徵入臥內，訪以得失； 征知無不言，上皆欣然嘉納。 上遣使點兵，封德彝奏：「中男雖未十八，其軀幹壯大者，亦可並點。」 上從之。 敕出，魏徵固執以為不可，不肯署敕，至於數四。 上怒，召而讓之曰：「中男壯大者，乃奸民詐妄以避征役，取之何害，而卿固執至此！」 對曰：「夫兵在御之得其道，不在眾多。 陛下取其壯健，以道御之，足以無敵於天下，何必多取細弱以增虛數乎！ 且陛下每云：『吾以誠信御天下，欲使臣民皆無欺詐。』 今即位未幾，失信者數矣！」 上愕然曰：「朕何為失信？」 對曰：「陛下初即位，下詔云：『逋負官物，悉令蠲免。』 有司以為負秦府國司者，非官物，征督如故。 陛下以秦王升為天子，國司之物，非官物而何！ 又曰：『關中免二年租調，關外給復一年。』 既而繼有敕云：『已役已輸者，以來年為始。』 散還之後，方復更征，百姓固已不能無怪。 今既徵得物，復點為兵，何謂來年為始乎！ 又，陛下所與共治天下者在於守宰，居常簡閱，鹹以委之； 至於點兵，獨疑其詐，豈所謂以誠信為治乎！」 上悅曰：「向者朕以卿固執，疑卿不達政事，今卿論國家大體，誠盡其精要。 夫號令不信，則民不知所從，天下何由而治乎？ 朕過深矣！」 乃不點中男，賜征金甕一。 上聞景州錄事參軍張玄素名，召見，問以政道，對曰：「隋主好自專庶務，不任群臣； 群臣恐懼，唯知稟受奉行而已，莫之敢違。 以一人之智決天下之務，借使得失相半，乖謬已多，下諛上蔽，不亡何待！ 陛下誠能謹擇群臣而分任以事，高拱穆清而考其成敗以施刑賞，何憂不治！ 又，臣觀隋末亂離，其欲爭天下者不過十餘人而已，其餘皆保鄉黨、全妻子，以待有道而歸之耳。 乃知百姓好亂者亦鮮，但人主不能安之耳。」 上善其言，擢為侍御史。
The emperor devoted himself zealously to good governance and repeatedly summoned Wei Zheng to his private quarters to ask what was going right and wrong; Zheng held nothing back, and the emperor gladly accepted every word. The emperor sent envoys to muster troops; Feng Deyi proposed: "Although 'middle youths' are under eighteen, those who are physically robust should be included in the levy." The emperor agreed. When the edict was drafted, Wei Zheng firmly objected and refused to countersign it, repeating his refusal four times. The emperor grew angry, summoned him, and reproached him: "Robust middle youths are often frauds evading levy—what harm in drafting them, that you should be so stubborn!" Wei Zheng replied: "Armies win by being led rightly, not by sheer numbers. If Your Majesty takes the fit and leads them well, you need no rival under Heaven—why swell the rolls with the weak and unfit! Moreover, Your Majesty often says: 'I rule by sincerity and trust and wish all subjects to be free of deceit.' Yet since your accession you have already broken faith several times!" The emperor started and said: "How have I broken faith?" Wei Zheng replied: "When Your Majesty first acceded, you decreed: 'All arrears owed to government storehouses are remitted. The offices held that debts to the Prince of Qin's household treasury were not government goods and collected them as before. Your Majesty rose from Prince of Qin to Son of Heaven—are household treasury goods anything but government goods! You also said: 'Within the passes, two years' rent and corvée are remitted; outside, one year of relief.' Soon after, another edict said: 'For those already levied or paid, relief begins next year.' After the proclamation went out, collection resumed—the people naturally grumbled. Now that payment has been taken, you draft them as soldiers—what does 'beginning next year' mean! Again, those who govern the realm with you are the prefects and magistrates; you review them carefully and entrust all to them; yet in mustering troops you alone suspect fraud—is that governing by sincerity and trust!" The emperor said with pleasure: "I took your stubbornness to mean you did not understand statecraft; now your discussion of the great principles of governance truly hits the mark. When commands are not trusted, the people do not know what to follow—how can the realm be governed! I have gone too far!" Thereupon he dropped the conscription of middle-aged youths and rewarded Wei Zheng with a golden jar. When the emperor heard of Zhang Xuansu, recording secretary of Jing Prefecture, he summoned him and asked about the principles of governance. Zhang replied: "The Sui emperor liked to handle every detail of government himself and would not rely on his ministers; the ministers lived in fear, knowing only how to receive orders and obey them, and none dared to defy him. When one man's judgment decides the affairs of the entire realm, even if half his decisions were right, the mistakes would still be numerous; flattery below and blindness above—how could such a state avoid ruin! If Your Majesty would carefully choose your ministers, delegate affairs to them, sit in dignified repose, and judge their success or failure when assigning rewards and punishments, why should you worry that the realm will not be well governed! Moreover, I have observed that in the chaos at the end of the Sui, no more than a dozen men truly sought to seize the realm; the rest simply protected their communities, kept their families safe, and waited for a righteous ruler to whom they could submit. This shows that few common people actually desire chaos; the problem is simply that rulers fail to give them peace." The emperor approved his advice and promoted him to attendant censor.
20
前幽州記室直中書省張蘊古上《大寶箴》，其略曰：「聖人受命，拯溺亨屯，故以一人治天下，不以天下奉一人。」 又曰：「壯九重於內，所居不過容膝； 彼昏不知，瑤其台而瓊其室。 羅八珍於前，所食不過適口； 惟狂罔念，丘其糟而池其酒。」 又曰：「勿沒沒而暗，勿察察而明，雖冕旒蔽目而視於未形，雖黈纊塞耳而聽於無聲。」 上嘉之，賜以束帛，除大理丞。
Zhang Yungu, former secretary of You Prefecture and now a direct appointee in the Secretariat, submitted the "Great Treasure Admonition." In summary it said: "The sage receives Heaven's mandate, rescues the drowning and relieves hardship; therefore one man governs the realm, rather than the realm being made to serve one man." It also said: "The sage strengthens the inner palace, yet his dwelling need be no larger than a space to kneel in; the benighted ruler knows nothing of this and decks his terraces in jade and his chambers in fine gems. He spreads the eight delicacies before him, yet eats only enough to satisfy his appetite; only the reckless and heedless ruler piles dregs into hills and turns wine into pools." It also said: "Do not sink into obscurity, yet do not become finicky and overbearing. Though the crown's tassels veil the eyes, see what has not yet taken shape; though the cap's earplugs block the ears, listen to what makes no sound." The emperor praised the memorial, rewarded him with silk, and appointed him assistant director of the Court of Judicial Review.
21
上召傅奕，賜之食，謂曰：「汝前所奏，幾為吾禍。 然凡有天變，卿宜盡言皆如此，勿以前事為懲也。」 上嘗謂奕曰：「佛之為教，玄妙可師，卿何獨不悟其理？」 對曰：「佛乃胡中桀黠，誑耀彼土。 中國邪僻之人，取莊、老玄談，飾以妖幻之語，用欺愚俗。 無益於民，有害於國，臣非不悟，鄙不學也。」 上頗然之。
The emperor summoned Fu Yi, gave him a meal, and said: "Your earlier memorial nearly brought disaster upon me. Yet whenever there are celestial portents, you should speak as frankly as you did then, and do not let what happened before deter you." The emperor once said to Fu Yi: "Buddhism is a profound teaching worthy of respect—why alone do you fail to see its truth?" He replied: "The Buddha was a cunning charlatan among the barbarians, deceiving and dazzling that foreign land. Perverse men in China took the abstruse doctrines of Zhuangzi and Laozi, dressed them in sorcerous language, and used them to deceive the common people. It does the people no good and harms the state. It is not that I fail to understand it—I despise it and refuse to study it." The emperor largely agreed with him.
22
上患吏多受賕，密使左右試賂之。 有司門令史受絹一匹，上欲殺之，民部尚書裴矩諫曰：「為吏受賂，罪誠當死； 但陛下使人遺之而受，乃陷人於法也，恐非所謂『道之以德，齊之以禮。』」 上悅，召文武五品已上告之曰：「裴矩能當官力爭，不為面從，倘每事皆然，何憂不治！」
The emperor was troubled by widespread official corruption and secretly sent his attendants to test officials with bribes. A clerk in the Department of Reception accepted one bolt of silk. The emperor wanted to execute him, but Pei Ju, minister of the Ministry of Revenue, remonstrated: "An official who accepts a bribe surely deserves death; but when Your Majesty sends someone to offer a bribe and the man accepts it, you are entrapping him in the law. I fear this is not what is meant by 'guide them with virtue and harmonize them with ritual.' The emperor was pleased. He summoned civil and military officials of the fifth rank and above and said: "Pei Ju can stand his ground in office and argue forcefully instead of simply agreeing to one's face. If every matter were handled this way, why should we worry that the realm will not be well governed!"
23
臣光曰：古人有言：君明臣直。 裴矩佞於隋而忠於唐，非其性之有變也； 君惡聞其過，則忠化為佞，君樂聞直言，則佞化為忠。 是知君者表也，臣者景也，表動則景隨矣。
Sima Guang comments: The ancients said, "When the ruler is enlightened, the minister is upright." Pei Ju was sycophantic under the Sui yet loyal under the Tang—not because his nature had changed, but because when a ruler hates to hear of his faults, loyalty turns into sycophancy, and when a ruler welcomes blunt speech, sycophancy turns into loyalty. This shows that the ruler is the gnomon and the minister is the shadow: when the gnomon moves, the shadow follows.
24
是歲，進皇子長沙郡王恪為漢王，宜陽郡王祐為楚王。
That year, the emperor advanced his sons in rank: Li Ke, Prince of Changsha Commandery, was made Prince of Han, and Li You, Prince of Yiyang Commandery, was made Prince of Chu.
25
新羅、百濟、高麗三國有宿仇，迭相攻擊； 上遣國子助教朱子奢往諭指，三國皆上表謝罪。
Silla, Baekje, and Goguryeo had long-standing enmities and attacked one another in turn; the emperor sent Zhu Zishe, assistant instructor of the Directorate of Education, to convey his instructions, and all three states submitted memorials of apology.
26
太宗文武大聖大廣孝皇帝上之上
Emperor Taizong of Tang, the Cultured and Martial, Great Sage, Great Expansive Filial Emperor — Part One
27
春，正月，乙酉，改元。
In spring, on yiyou, the first day of the first month, the era name was changed.
28
丁亥，上宴群臣，奏《秦王破陳樂》。 上曰：「朕昔受委專征，民間遂有此曲，雖非文德之雍容，然功業由茲而成，不敢忘本。」 封德彝曰：「陛下以神武平海內，豈文德之足比！」 上曰：「戡亂以武，守成以文，文武之用，各隨其時。 卿謂文不及武，斯言過矣。」 德彝頓首謝。
On dinghai, the emperor feasted his ministers and had the music "Prince of Qin Breaks Chen" performed. The emperor said: "When I was entrusted with independent command in the field, this tune arose among the people. It is not the easy grace of civil virtue, yet my achievements were won through such deeds, and I dare not forget my roots. Feng Deyi said: "Your Majesty pacified the realm through divine martial prowess—how can civil virtue alone compare!" The emperor said: "Disorder is quelled by force, achievement is preserved by civil virtue. Civil and martial power each has its proper season. To say that civil virtue falls short of martial force—that goes too far." Feng Deyi kowtowed in apology.
29
己亥，制：「自今中書、門下及三品以上入閣議事，皆命諫官隨之，有失輒諫。」
On jihai, an edict was issued: "From now on, whenever officials of the Secretariat, Chancellery, and third rank and above enter the Inner Hall to deliberate on affairs, remonstrating officials shall accompany them and speak up immediately whenever they find fault."
30
上命吏部尚書長孫無忌等與學士、法官更議定律令，寬絞刑五十條為斷右趾，上猶嫌其慘，曰：「肉刑廢已久，宜有以易之。」 蜀王法曹參軍裴弘獻請改為加役流，流三千里，居作三年； 詔從之。
The emperor ordered Zhangsun Wuji, minister of the Ministry of Personnel, together with academicians and judicial officials, to revise the laws and ordinances. Fifty capital offenses that had carried strangulation were commuted to amputation of the right foot, but the emperor still found the punishment too harsh and said: "Corporal punishments were abolished long ago; we should find something to replace them. Pei Hongxian, legal bureau aide of the Prince of Shu, proposed replacing it with penal servitude added to exile: exile three thousand li, with three years of compulsory labor; the emperor approved the proposal by edict.
31
上以兵部郎中戴冑忠清公直，擢為大理少卿。 上以選人多詐冒資廕，敕令自首，不首者死。 未幾，有詐冒事覺者，上欲殺之。 冑奏：「據法應流。」 上怒曰：「卿欲守法而使朕失信乎？」 對曰：「敕者出於一時之喜怒，法者國家所以布大信於天下也。 陛下忿選人之多詐，故欲殺之，而既知其不可，復斷之以法，此乃忍小忿而存大信也。」 上曰：「卿能執法，朕復何憂！」 冑前後犯顏執法，言如湧泉，上皆從之，天下無冤獄。
Because Dai Zhou, bureau director of the Ministry of War, was loyal, upright, and fair, the emperor promoted him to vice director of the Court of Judicial Review. Because many examination candidates had falsely claimed hereditary privilege, the emperor ordered them to confess; those who did not would be executed. Before long, cases of fraud were discovered, and the emperor wanted to execute the offenders. Dai Zhou memorialized: "Under the law, they should be sentenced to exile." The emperor angrily said: "Do you wish to uphold the law and make me break my word?" He replied: "Edicts arise from momentary anger or pleasure, but the law is how the state establishes lasting trust throughout the realm. Your Majesty, angered by the many frauds among candidates, wished to execute them; but now that you see this cannot stand and decide the matter according to law instead, you are restraining a small anger in order to preserve great public trust. The emperor said: "If you can uphold the law, what have I to worry about!" Dai Zhou repeatedly braved the emperor's displeasure to uphold the law, speaking with unstoppable force, and the emperor accepted his judgments in every case; throughout the realm there were no wrongful convictions."
32
上令封德彝舉賢，久無所舉。 上詰之，對曰：「非不盡心，但於今未有奇才耳。」 上曰：「君子用人如器，各取所長，古之致治者，豈借才於異代乎？ 正患己不能知，安可誣一世之人！」 德彝慚而退。 御史大夫杜淹奏「諸司文案恐有稽失，請令御史就司檢校。」 上以問封德彝，對曰：「設官分職，各有所司。 果有愆違，御史自應糾舉； 若遍歷諸司，搜括疵纇，太為煩碎。」 淹默然。 上問淹：「何故不復論執？」 對曰：「天下之務，當盡至公，善則從之。 德彝所言，真得大體，臣誠心服，不敢遂非。」 上悅曰：「公等各能如是，朕復何憂！」
The emperor ordered Feng Deyi to recommend worthy men, but for a long time Feng recommended no one. The emperor questioned him. Feng replied: "It is not that I have failed to do my utmost, but at present there simply are no extraordinary talents." The emperor said: "A wise ruler uses men as tools, taking each for what he does best. Did the great rulers of antiquity borrow talent from another age? The trouble is only that we fail to recognize talent—how can we dismiss an entire generation of men!" Feng Deyi withdrew in shame. Du Yan, censor-in-chief, memorialized: "The paperwork of the various offices may contain delays and errors. I request that censors be sent to each office to inspect and verify it. The emperor asked Feng Deyi about the proposal. Feng replied: "Offices are established and duties divided, each with its own responsibility. If there are truly faults, the censors themselves should impeach the offenders; to go through every office in turn, searching out flaws and defects, would be excessively burdensome and petty." Du Yan fell silent. The emperor asked Du Yan: "Why do you no longer press your argument?" He replied: "Affairs of state should be handled with complete impartiality; when a proposal is sound, one should accept it. What Feng Deyi said truly grasps the larger principle. I am sincerely convinced and dare not persist in my error." The emperor said with pleasure: "If you gentlemen can all act this way, what have I to worry about!"
33
右驍衛大將軍長孫順德受人饋絹，事覺，上曰：「順德果能有益國家，朕與之共有府庫耳，何至貪冒如是乎！」 猶惜其有功，不之罪，但於殿庭賜絹數十匹。 大理少卿胡演曰：「順德枉法受財，罪不可赦，奈何復賜之絹？」 上曰：「彼有人性，得絹之辱，甚於受刑； 如不知愧，一禽獸耳，殺之何益！」
Zhangsun Shunde, great general of the Right Courageous Cavalry Guard, accepted a gift of silk. When the matter came to light, the emperor said: "If Shunde can truly serve the state well, I would share the treasury with him—how could he be so greedy! Still valuing his past service, the emperor did not punish him but instead gave him several dozen bolts of silk in the palace courtyard. Hu Yan, vice director of the Court of Judicial Review, said: "Shunde perverted the law and accepted a bribe; his crime cannot be pardoned—why reward him with more silk?" The emperor said: "He has human feelings; the humiliation of receiving silk as a reward is worse than formal punishment; if he feels no shame, he is no better than a beast, and killing him would serve no purpose!"
34
辛丑，天節將軍燕郡王李藝據涇州反。
On xinchou, Li Yi, general of Heavenly Integrity and Prince of Yan Commandery, seized Jing Prefecture and rebelled.
35
藝之初入朝也，恃功驕倨，秦王左右至其營，藝無故毆之。 上皇怒，收藝繫獄，既而釋之。 上即位，藝內不自安。 曹州妖巫李五戒謂藝曰：「王貴色已發！」 勸之反。 藝乃詐稱奉密敕，勒兵入朝。 遂引兵至幽州，幽州治中趙慈皓馳出謁之，藝入據幽州。 詔吏部尚書長孫無忌等為行軍總管以討之。 趙慈皓聞官軍將至，密與統軍楊岌圖之，事洩，藝囚慈皓。 岌在城外覺變，勒兵攻之，藝眾潰，棄妻子，將奔突厥。 至烏氏，左右斬之，傳首長安。 弟壽，為利州都督，亦坐誅。 初，隋末喪亂，豪傑並起，擁眾據地，自相雄長； 唐興，相帥來歸，上皇為之割置州縣以寵祿之，由是州縣之數，倍於開皇、大業之間。 上以民少吏多，思革其弊； 二月，命大加並省，因山川形便，分為十道：一曰關內，二曰河南，三曰河東，四曰河北，五曰山南，六曰隴右，七曰淮南，八曰江南，九曰劍南，十曰嶺南。
When Li Yi first came to court, he was arrogant and overbearing on account of his merit; when attendants of the Prince of Qin came to his camp, he beat them without cause. The Retired Emperor was enraged, had Yi arrested and imprisoned, but later released him. When Emperor Taizong took the throne, Li Yi grew uneasy within. Li Wujie, a sorcerer of Caozhou, told Li Yi: "Your noble aura has already appeared!" He urged Li Yi to rebel. Li Yi then falsely claimed to be acting on a secret edict and mustered his troops to march on the capital. He then marched on You Prefecture. Zhao Cihao, acting prefect of You Prefecture, rode out to meet him, and Li Yi entered and seized the prefecture. An edict appointed Zhangsun Wuji, minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and others as campaign commanders to suppress the rebellion. When Zhao Cihao heard that the imperial army was approaching, he secretly plotted with Yang Ji, commander of the garrison, but the plot was discovered and Li Yi imprisoned Zhao. Yang Ji, outside the city, realized what had happened, mustered troops, and attacked. Li Yi's forces collapsed; he abandoned his wife and children and fled toward the Türks. At Wushi, his attendants beheaded him and sent his head to Chang'an. His younger brother Shou, military governor of Lizhou, was also executed in connection with the rebellion. Earlier, amid the chaos at the end of the Sui, local strongmen rose everywhere, gathering followers, seizing territory, and ruling as rival chieftains; when the Tang rose, they submitted in succession, and the Retired Emperor carved out new prefectures and counties to honor and reward them. As a result, the number of prefectures and counties doubled what it had been under the Kaihuang and Daye reigns. Because the people were too few and officials too many, the emperor sought to reform the abuse; in the second month he ordered a major consolidation of administrative units. Following natural geography, the realm was divided into ten circuits: Guannei, Henan, Hedong, Hebei, Shannan, Longyou, Huainan, Jiangnan, Jiannan, and Lingnan.
36
三月，癸巳，皇后帥內外命婦親蠶。
In the third month, on guisi, the empress led the palace ladies and other titled women in the ceremonial tending of silkworms.
37
閏月，癸丑朔，日有食之。
In the intercalary month, on guichou, the first day of the month, there was a solar eclipse.
38
壬申，上謂太子少師蕭瑀曰：「朕少好弓矢，得良弓十數，自謂無以加，近以示弓工，乃曰『皆非良材』。 朕問其故，工曰：『木心不直，則脈理皆邪，弓雖勁而發矢不直。』 朕始寤向者辨之未精也。 朕以弓矢定四方，識之猶未能盡，況天下之務，其能遍知乎！」 乃命京官五品以上更宿中書內省，數延見，問以民間疾苦，政事得失。
On renshen, the emperor said to Xiao Yu, junior preceptor to the crown prince: "In my youth I loved bows and arrows and acquired more than ten fine bows; I thought nothing could surpass them. Recently I showed them to a bow-maker, who said, 'None of these are made of good wood. I asked why, and the craftsman said: 'If the heart of the wood is not straight, the grain runs awry; though the bow may be strong, the arrow it shoots will not fly true.' Only then did I realize that my earlier judgment had not been precise. I conquered the realm with bow and arrow, yet I still do not fully understand even that—how then can I hope to know everything about governing the empire!" He then ordered capital officials of the fifth rank and above to take turns lodging at the Secretariat and Inner Chancery, summoning them repeatedly to inquire about popular hardship and the successes and failures of government policy.
39
涼州都督長樂王幼良，性粗暴，左右百餘人，皆無賴子弟，侵暴百姓； 又與羌、胡互市。 或告幼良有異志，上遣中書令宇文士及馳驛代之，並按其事。 左右懼，謀劫幼良入北虜，又欲殺士及據有河西。 復有告其謀者，夏，四月，癸巳，賜幼良死。
Youliang, Prince of Changle and military governor of Liang Prefecture, was violent by nature; his more than one hundred attendants were all worthless young toughs who abused the populace; He also engaged in border trade with the Qiang and other non-Han peoples. When someone reported that Youliang harbored treasonous ambitions, Emperor Taizong sent Chief Director of the Secretariat Yuwen Shiji by fast courier to replace him and investigate the charges. His attendants grew fearful and plotted to seize Youliang and flee to the northern barbarians, while also planning to kill Shiji and take control of Hexi. When someone again reported the plot, in summer, the fourth month, on guisi, the emperor ordered Youliang to take his own life.
40
五月，苑君璋帥眾來降。 初，君璋引突厥陷馬邑，殺高滿政，退保恆安。 其眾皆中國人，多棄君璋來降。 君璋懼，亦降，請捍北邊以贖罪，上皇許之。 君璋請約契，上皇雁門人元普賜之金券。 頡利可汗復遣人招之，君璋猶豫未決，恆安人郭子威說君璋以「恆安地險城堅，突厥方強，且當倚之以觀變，未可束手於人。」 君璋乃執元普送突厥，復與之合，數與突厥入寇。 至是，見頡利政亂，知其不足恃，遂帥眾來降。 上以君璋為隰州都督、芮國公。
In the fifth month, Yuan Junzhang arrived with his followers to surrender. Earlier, Yuan Junzhang had led the Türks in the capture of Mayi, killed Gao Manzheng, and then withdrew to defend Heng'an. His followers were all Chinese, and many deserted him to surrender to the Tang. Fearing for his safety, Yuan Junzhang also surrendered and asked to guard the northern frontier in atonement for his crimes; the Retired Emperor granted his request. Yuan Junzhang asked for a formal covenant, and the Retired Emperor had Yuan Pu of Yanmen bestow on him a written pledge backed by gold. When Qaghan Jieli again sent emissaries to win him back, Yuan Junzhang hesitated. Guo Ziwei of Heng'an urged him: "Heng'an lies in rugged terrain behind strong walls, and the Türks are still powerful—you should hold the place and watch how matters turn before yielding yourself into someone else's hands." Yuan Junzhang then seized Yuan Pu and handed him over to the Türks, resumed his alliance with them, and repeatedly joined them in raids across the border. Now, seeing that Jieli's rule had fallen into chaos and that he could no longer be counted on, Yuan Junzhang came to surrender with his followers. Emperor Taizong appointed him military governor of Xi Prefecture and enfeoffed him as Duke of Rui.
41
有上書請去佞臣者，上問：「佞臣為誰？」 對曰：「臣居草澤，不能的知其人，願陛下與群臣言，或陽怒以試之，彼執理不屈者，直臣也，畏威順旨者，佞臣也。」 上曰：「君，源也； 臣，流也； 濁其源而求其流之清，不可得矣。 君自為詐，何以責臣下之直乎！ 朕方以至誠治天下，見前世帝王好以權譎小數接其臣下者，常竊恥之。 卿策雖善，朕不取也。」
When someone submitted a memorial asking that sycophants be removed from court, Emperor Taizong asked: "Who are the sycophants?" He answered: "I am a private subject and cannot name them with certainty. Your Majesty might speak with your ministers and perhaps feign anger to test them: those who stand firm on principle are upright officials; those who fear your wrath and simply agree are flatterers." Emperor Taizong said: "The ruler is the source; the ministers are the stream; If you muddy the source and then expect the stream to run clear, you will never succeed. If the sovereign himself resorts to deception, how can he demand honesty from those beneath him! I mean to govern the empire with complete sincerity. I have always felt ashamed when I see how past emperors tested their ministers with trickery and petty stratagems. Your plan may be clever, but I will not adopt it."
42
六月，辛巳，右僕射密明公封德彝薨。
In the sixth month, on xinsi, Feng Deyi, Right Director of the Department of State Affairs and Duke of Mimeng, died.
43
壬辰，復以太子少師蕭瑀為左僕射。
On renchen, Xiao Yu, junior preceptor to the crown prince, was again appointed Left Director of the Department of State Affairs.
44
戊申，上與侍臣論周、秦修短，蕭瑀對曰：「紂為不道，武王征之。 周及六國無罪，始皇滅之。 得天下雖同，人心則異。」 上曰：「公知其一，未知其二。 周得天下，增修仁義； 秦得天下，益尚詐力； 此修短之所以殊也。 蓋取之或可以逆得，守之不可以不順故也。」 瑀謝不及。 山東大旱，詔所在賑恤，無出今年租賦。
On wushen, Emperor Taizong discussed with his attending ministers why the Zhou and Qin dynasties endured or perished so differently. Xiao Yu replied: "King Zhou of Shang was tyrannical, and King Wu of Zhou campaigned against him. The states of Zhou and the six kingdoms were guiltless, yet the First Emperor destroyed them. Both conquered the realm, yet the people's hearts were not the same." Emperor Taizong said: "You understand one part of this, but not the whole of it. After the Zhou gained the realm, they cultivated benevolence and righteousness all the more; after Qin gained the realm, it relied ever more on deceit and brute force; that is why one endured and the other perished so quickly. A throne may sometimes be won by irregular means, but it cannot be held except by governing in accord with the Way." Xiao Yu apologized for his inadequacy. A severe drought struck the eastern provinces. An edict ordered local officials to provide famine relief and waived this year's taxes and levies.
45
秋，七月，壬子，以吏部尚書長孫無忌為右僕射。 無忌與上為布衣交，加以外戚，有佐命功，上委以腹心，其禮遇群臣莫及，欲用為宰相者數矣。 文德皇后固請曰：「妾備位椒房，家之貴寵極矣，誠不願兄弟復執國政。 呂、霍、上官，可為切骨之戒，幸陛下矜察！」 上不聽，卒用之。
In autumn, the seventh month, on renzi, Zhangsun Wuji, Minister of Personnel, was appointed Right Director of the Department of State Affairs. Zhangsun Wuji had been Emperor Taizong's friend since their days as private citizens; as the emperor's maternal relative, he had also earned merit in establishing the dynasty. The emperor trusted him as a close confidant and treated no other minister with such favor, and had wanted several times to appoint him chief minister. Empress Wende strongly urged him: "I already occupy the empress's place, and my family's honor and favor have reached their limit. I truly do not wish my brothers to hold state power again. The examples of the Lü, Huo, and Shangguan clans should be a warning carved into the bone. I beg Your Majesty to consider this carefully!" Emperor Taizong would not heed her and ultimately appointed him.
46
初，突厥性淳厚，政令質略。 頡利可汗得華人趙德言，委用之。 德言專其威福，多變更舊俗，政令煩苛，國人始不悅。 頡利又好信任諸胡而疏突厥，胡人貪冒，多反覆，兵革歲動； 會大雪，深數尺，雜畜多死，連年饑饉，民皆凍餒。 頡利用度不給，重斂諸部，由是內外離怨，諸部多叛，兵浸弱。 言事者多請擊之，上以問蕭瑀、長孫無忌曰：「頡利君臣昏虐，危亡可必。 今擊之，則新與之盟； 不擊，恐失機會； 如何而可？」 瑀請擊之。 無忌對曰：「虜不犯塞而棄信勞民，非王者之師也。」 上乃止。
Originally the Türks were a plain and honest people, and their government was simple and unadorned. After Qaghan Jieli gained the services of the Chinese advisor Zhao Deyan, he put him in charge of affairs. Zhao Deyan monopolized power and privilege, changed many old Türk customs, and imposed burdensome regulations, and the Türk people soon grew dissatisfied. Jieli also preferred to trust the various Hu peoples while distancing himself from the Türks; the Hu were greedy and unreliable, frequently switching sides, and war continued year after year; Then heavy snow fell several feet deep, many livestock perished, famine continued for years, and the people suffered from cold and hunger. Jieli's resources ran short, and he imposed heavy taxes on the tribes. Internal and external resentment followed, many tribes rebelled, and his military strength gradually waned. Many officials urged an attack on the Türks. Emperor Taizong asked Xiao Yu and Zhangsun Wuji: "Jieli and his ministers are corrupt and cruel; their collapse is certain. If we attack now, we break the alliance we have only just concluded with them; if we do not attack, I fear we may miss our opportunity; What should we do?" Xiao Yu urged an attack. Zhangsun Wuji replied: "If they have not violated the frontier yet we break faith and exhaust our people on campaign, that is not the conduct of a true sovereign's army." The emperor dropped the plan.
47
上問公卿以享國久長之策，蕭瑀言：「三代封建而久長，秦孤立而速亡。」 上以為然，於是始有封建之議。
Emperor Taizong asked his ministers how to secure the long endurance of the dynasty. Xiao Yu said: "The Three Dynasties enfeoffed feudal lords and endured for ages; Qin ruled alone and fell quickly." Emperor Taizong agreed, and from that point the court began debating enfeoffment.
48
黃門侍郎王珪有密奏，附侍中高士廉，寢而不言。 上聞之，八月，戊戌，出士廉為安州大都督。
Wang Gui, vice director of the Yellow Gate, submitted a confidential memorial, but handed it to Attendant Grandee Gao Shilian, who shelved it and said nothing. When Emperor Taizong learned of this, in the eighth month, on wuxu, he transferred Gao Shilian to serve as grand commander of An Prefecture.
49
九月，庚戌朔，日有食之。
In the ninth month, on gengxu, the first day of the month, there was a solar eclipse.
50
辛酉，中書令宇文士及罷為殿中監，御史大夫杜淹參豫朝政。 他官參豫政事自此始。
On xinyou, Yuwen Shiji was dismissed as Chief Director of the Secretariat and appointed director of the Palace Domestic Service, while Du Yan, chief imperial censor, was brought in to participate in deliberations on state affairs. This marked the beginning of officials outside the inner secretariat participating in state deliberations.
51
淹薦刑部員外郎邸懷道，上問其行能，對曰：「煬帝將幸江都，召百官問行留之計，懷道為吏部主事，獨言不可。 臣親見之。」 上曰：「卿稱懷道為是，何為自不正諫？」 對曰：「臣爾日不居重任，又知諫不從，徒死無益。」 上曰：「卿知煬帝不可諫，何為立其朝？ 既立其朝，何得不諫？ 卿仕隋，容可雲位卑； 後仕王世充，尊顯矣，何得亦不諫？」 對曰：「臣於世充非不諫，但不從耳。」 上曰：「世充若賢而納諫，不應亡國； 若暴而拒諫，卿何得免禍？」 淹不能對。 上曰：「今日可謂尊任矣，可以諫未？」 對曰：「願盡死。」 上笑。
Du Yan recommended Di Huaidao, an assistant director in the Ministry of Justice. When Emperor Taizong asked about his character and ability, Du Yan replied: "When Emperor Yang was about to travel south to Jiangdu, he summoned the officials to ask whether he should go or stay. Huaidao was then a clerk in the Ministry of Personnel, and he alone said the journey should not be made. I saw this with my own eyes." Emperor Taizong said: "You say Huaidao was right—then why did you not remonstrate yourself?" He answered: "At the time I did not hold an important post, and I knew remonstrance would not be heeded—dying for nothing would have served no purpose." Emperor Taizong said: "If you knew Emperor Yang would not listen, why did you serve in his court at all? Once you accepted office in his court, how could you not remonstrate? In the Sui court one might say your rank was too low; but later you served Wang Shichong in a prominent position—why did you still not remonstrate then?" He answered: "With Wang Shichong I did remonstrate; he simply would not listen." Emperor Taizong said: "If Wang Shichong had been virtuous and heeded remonstrance, his state would not have fallen; if he was tyrannical and refused advice, how did you escape punishment?" Du Yan had no answer. Emperor Taizong said: "Today you hold high trust—will you remonstrate now?" He answered: "I will give my life if need be." The emperor laughed.
52
辛未，幽州都督王君廓謀叛，道死。
On xinwei, Wang Jun'guo, military governor of You Prefecture, plotted rebellion but died on the road before carrying it out.
53
君廓在州，驕縱多不法，征入朝。 長史李玄道，房玄齡從甥也，憑君廓附書，君廓私發之，不識草書，疑其告己罪，行至渭南，殺驛吏而逃； 將奔突厥，為野人所殺。
While serving in You Prefecture, Wang Jun'guo had grown arrogant and lawless, and was summoned to the capital. Chief secretary Li Xuandao, a nephew of Fang Xuanling on his mother's side, asked Wang Jun'guo to deliver a letter for him. Jun'guo opened it secretly, could not read cursive script, suspected it denounced his crimes, and when he reached Weinan he killed a post-station clerk and fled; He was fleeing toward the Türks when he was killed by local hunters.
54
嶺南酋長馮盎、談殿等迭相攻擊，久未入朝，諸州奏稱盎反，前後以十數； 上命將軍藺謨等發江、嶺數十州兵討之。 魏徵諫曰：「中國初定，嶺南瘴癘險遠，不可以宿大兵。 且盎反狀未成，未宜動眾。」 上曰：「告者道路不絕，何雲反狀未成？」 對曰：「盎若反，必分兵據險，攻掠州縣。 今告者已數年，而兵不出境，此不反明矣。 諸州既疑其反，陛下又不遣使鎮撫，彼畏死，故不敢入朝。 若遣信臣示以至誠，彼喜於免禍，可不煩兵而服。」 上乃罷兵。 冬，十月，乙酉，遣員外散騎侍郎李公掩持節慰諭之，盎遣其子智戴隨使者入朝。 上曰：「魏徵令我發一介之使，而嶺表遂安，勝十萬之師，不可不賞。」 賜征絹五百匹。
In Lingnan, chieftains such as Feng Ang and Tan Dian attacked one another in turn and had long failed to come to court. Prefectures submitted report after report—more than ten in all—that Feng Ang had rebelled; Emperor Taizong ordered General Lan Mo and others to mobilize troops from dozens of prefectures along the Yangzi and in Lingnan to suppress them. Wei Zheng remonstrated: "The empire has only just been pacified. Lingnan is distant, malarial, and treacherous; it is no place for a large army. Besides, Feng Ang's rebellion has not yet been clearly established. It is too soon to mobilize on such a scale." Emperor Taizong said: "Reports keep arriving without pause—how can you say the rebellion is not yet established?" Wei Zheng answered: "If Feng Ang had truly rebelled, he would have divided his forces to hold the mountain passes and raided the prefectures and counties. Reports have been coming for years, yet his forces have never crossed the border. That is clear proof he has not rebelled. The prefectures already suspect him of rebellion, and Your Majesty has sent no envoy to reassure him. Fearing for their lives, they dare not come to court. If you send a trusted envoy in good faith, they will rejoice at escaping disaster, and you can win their submission without sending troops." The emperor canceled the campaign. In winter, the tenth month, on yiyou, he dispatched Li Gongyan, vice director of the Scattered Cavalry, with imperial credentials to offer reassurance. Feng Ang sent his son Zhizai to accompany the envoy to court. Emperor Taizong said: "Wei Zheng persuaded me to send a single envoy, and the Lingnan region was pacified at once—that outdid an army of a hundred thousand men. Such service must be rewarded." He rewarded Wei Zheng with five hundred bolts of silk.
55
十二月，壬午，左僕射蕭瑀坐事免。
In the twelfth month, on renwu, Xiao Yu, Left Director of the Department of State Affairs, was dismissed for an offense.
56
戊申，利州都督義安王李孝常等謀反，伏誅。 孝常因入朝，留京師，與右武衛將軍劉德裕及其甥統軍元弘善、監門將軍長孫安業互說符命，謀以宿衛兵作亂。 安業，皇后之異母兄也，嗜酒無賴； 父晟卒，弟無忌及後並幼，安業斥還舅氏。 及上即位，後不以舊怨為意，恩禮甚厚。 及反事覺，後涕泣為之固請曰：「安業罪誠當萬死。 然不慈於妾，天下知之； 今置以極刑，人必謂妾所為，恐亦為聖朝之累。」 由是得減死，流巂州。
On wushen, Li Xiaochang, Prince of Yi'an and military governor of Li Prefecture, and his co-conspirators plotted rebellion and were executed. Li Xiaochang had come to court and remained in the capital. Together with Liu Deyu, general of the Right Martial Guard, his nephew Yuan Hongshan, a troop commander, and Zhangsun Anye, general of the Gate Guard, he traded talk of portents and destiny, plotting to raise a rebellion with the palace guard. Zhangsun Anye was the empress's elder half-brother by a different mother; he was a drunkard and a ne'er-do-well; After their father Zhangsun Sheng died, Wuji and the empress were both still young, and Anye was sent back to live with his mother's clan. When Emperor Taizong took the throne, the empress set aside old grievances and treated him with great generosity and honor. When the plot was uncovered, the empress wept and pleaded earnestly for him: "An Ye's crime truly merits death. Yet his unkindness toward me is known throughout the realm; If he is now executed, people will surely believe I engineered it, and I fear it would bring shame upon the dynasty as well." On this account his sentence was reduced from death, and he was exiled to Xun Prefecture.
57
或告右丞魏徵私其親戚，上使御史大夫溫彥博按之，無狀。 彥博言於上曰：「征不存形跡，遠避嫌疑，心雖無私，亦有可責。」 上令彥博讓征，且曰：「自今宜存形跡。」 它日，征入見，言於上曰：「臣聞君臣同體，宜相與盡誠； 若上下但存形跡，則國之興喪尚未可知，臣不敢奉詔。」 上瞿然曰：「吾已悔之。」 征再拜曰：「臣幸得奉事陛下，願使臣為良臣，勿為忠臣。」 上曰：「忠、良有以異乎？」 對曰：「稷、契、皋陶，君臣協心，俱享尊榮，所謂良臣。 龍逄、比干，面折廷爭，身誅國亡，所謂忠臣。」 上悅，賜絹五百匹。
Someone accused Vice Director Wei Zheng of showing private favor to his kinsmen. Emperor Taizong sent Censor-in-Chief Wen Yanbo to investigate, but no wrongdoing was found. Yanbo told Emperor Taizong: "Zheng does not watch his conduct or keep clear of suspicion; though his intentions are honest, he is still blameworthy." Emperor Taizong had Yanbo rebuke Zheng, adding: "From now on you should mind your conduct." On another occasion Zheng came before the emperor and said: "I have heard that sovereign and minister share one body and should treat each other with complete sincerity; If ruler and minister care only for appearances, then whether the realm will prosper or perish cannot be foretold—I dare not accept such an order." Emperor Taizong started and said: "I already regret saying that." Zheng bowed again and said: "I am fortunate to serve Your Majesty; I pray you will make me a good minister rather than a loyal one." Emperor Taizong asked: "Is there any difference between 'loyal' and 'good'?" He answered: "Hou Ji, Qi, and Gao Yao—sovereign and ministers worked in harmony and all shared honor and glory; these are what we call good ministers. Long Feng and Bi Gan confronted their rulers face to face and fought them in open court; they were put to death and their states were destroyed—these are what we call loyal ministers." Emperor Taizong was delighted and awarded him five hundred bolts of silk.
58
上神采英毅，群臣進見者，皆失舉措； 上知之，每見人奏事，必假以辭色，冀聞規諫。 嘗謂公卿曰：「人欲自見其形，必資明鏡； 君欲自知其過，必待忠臣。 苟其君愎諫自賢，其臣阿諛順旨，君既失國，臣豈能獨全！ 如虞世基等諂事煬帝以保富貴，煬帝既弒，世基等亦誅。 公輩宜用此為戒，事有得失，無毋盡言！」
Emperor Taizong's presence was sharp and commanding; ministers who came to audience often lost their composure; Aware of this, whenever someone came to report business, he would deliberately soften his manner, hoping to draw out frank counsel. He once told the chief ministers: "If a man wishes to see his own face, he needs a bright mirror; If a ruler wishes to know his own faults, he must rely on loyal ministers. If a ruler rejects counsel and considers himself wise, while his ministers fawn and follow his every wish, once the ruler loses the realm, how can his ministers alone escape ruin! Consider Yu Shiji and his like, who flattered Emperor Yang to preserve their wealth and rank—when Yang was killed, Shiji and the others were executed as well. You gentlemen should heed this warning: when affairs go right or wrong, do not hold back—speak your minds fully!"
59
或上言秦府舊兵，宜盡除武職，追入宿衛。 上謂之曰：「朕以天下為家，惟賢是與，豈舊兵之外皆無可信者乎！ 汝之此意，非所以廣朕德於天下也。」
Someone suggested that all former soldiers of the Prince of Qin's household should be removed from military posts and recalled to palace guard duty. Emperor Taizong replied: "I take the realm as my household and appoint only the worthy—do you mean there is no one trustworthy outside the old guard! Such thinking is not how to extend my virtue across the realm."
60
上謂公卿曰：「昔禹鑿山治水而民無謗讟者，與人同利故也。 秦始皇營宮室而民怨叛者，病人以利己故也。 夫靡麗珍奇，固人之所欲，若縱之不已，則危亡立至。 朕欲營一殿，材用已具，鑒秦而止。 王公已下，宜體朕此意。」 由是二十年間，風俗素樸，衣無錦繡，公私富給。
Emperor Taizong told the chief ministers: "In antiquity Yu cut through mountains to tame the floods, and the people did not murmur against him—because he shared their interests. When the First Emperor of Qin built palaces, the people turned resentful and rebelled—because he harmed others to enrich himself. Splendor and rare treasures are what people naturally desire—but if indulged without limit, disaster follows swiftly. I had intended to build a hall and the materials were already assembled, but taking Qin's example as a warning, I halted. From princes and dukes downward, you should share this resolve of mine." Thereafter, for twenty years customs stayed plain; clothing bore no brocade or embroidery, and both public and private coffers prospered.
61
上謂黃門侍郎王珪曰：「國家本置中書、門下以相檢察，中書詔敕或有差失，則門下當行駁正。 人心所見，互有不同，苟論難往來，務求至當，捨己從人，亦復何傷！ 比來或護己之短，遂成怨隙，或苟避私怨，知非不正，順一人顏情，為兆民之深患，此乃亡國之政也。 煬帝之世，內外庶官，務相順從，當是之時，皆自謂有智，禍不及身。 及天下大亂，家國兩亡，雖其間萬一有得免者，亦為時論所貶，終古不磨。 卿曹各當徇公忘私，勿雷同也！」
Emperor Taizong told Yellow Gate Attendant Wang Gui: "The state established the Secretariat and the Chancellery to check each other; when a Secretariat edict contains an error, the Chancellery should reject and correct it. Men see things differently; if debate goes back and forth in pursuit of what is right, yielding one's own view to another's—what injury is there in that! Lately some have guarded their own flaws and bred resentment, or shunned private grudges and, knowing what is wrong, failed to set it right—indulging one man's feelings at the cost of the people. That is the kind of government that destroys a state. In Emperor Yang's reign, officials inside and outside court all strove to defer to one another; each thought himself clever and that calamity would never touch him. When the realm collapsed and families and states perished together, even the rare man who escaped was condemned by his contemporaries—a stain that endures forever. Each of you should serve the public interest and set private concerns aside—do not simply echo one another!"
62
上謂侍臣曰：「吾聞西域賈胡得美珠，剖身以藏之，有諸？」 侍臣曰：「有之。」 上曰：「人皆知彼之愛珠而不愛其身也； 吏受賕抵法，與帝王徇奢欲而亡國者，何以異於彼胡之可笑邪！」 魏徵曰：「昔魯哀公謂孔子曰：『人有好忘者，徙宅而忘其妻。』 孔子曰：『又有甚者，桀、紂乃忘其身。』 亦猶是也。」 上曰：「然。 朕與公輩宜戮力相輔，庶免為人所笑也！」
Emperor Taizong asked his attendants: "I have heard that a merchant from the Western Regions obtained a fine pearl and slit open his body to conceal it—is that true?" The attendants answered: "It is so." Emperor Taizong said: "Everyone knows he loved the pearl more than his own life; Yet how is an official who takes bribes and breaks the law, or an emperor who indulges luxury and loses his realm, any different from that ridiculous foreigner!" Wei Zheng said: "Long ago Duke Ai of Lu told Confucius: 'Some men are so forgetful they move house and forget their wives. Confucius replied: 'There are worse cases—Jie and Zhou forgot themselves entirely.' The same applies here." Emperor Taizong said: "True. You and I should join our strength in mutual support, so that we may avoid becoming objects of ridicule!"
63
青州有謀反者，州縣逮捕支黨，收系滿獄，詔殿中侍御史安喜崔仁師覆按之。 仁師至，悉脫去杻械，與飲食湯沐，寬慰之，止坐其魁首十餘人，餘皆釋之。 還報，敕使將往決之。 大理少卿孫伏伽謂仁師曰：「足下平反者多，人情誰不貪生，恐見徒侶得免，未肯甘心，深為足下憂之。」 仁師曰：「凡治獄當以平恕為本，豈可自規免罪，知其冤而不為伸邪！ 萬一暗短，誤有所縱，以一身易十囚之死，亦所願也。」 伏伽慚而退。 及敕使至，更訊諸囚，皆曰：「崔公平恕，事無枉濫，請速就死。」 無一人異辭者。
When rebels were discovered in Qing Prefecture, local officials arrested their associates until the jails were overflowing. The emperor ordered Palace Attendant Censor Cui Renshi of Anxi to review the case. When Renshi arrived, he had all shackles removed, provided food, drink, and bathing, and reassured the prisoners; he punished only the dozen-odd ringleaders and released the rest. He reported back, and an imperial commissioner was dispatched to execute the sentences. Vice Minister of Justice Sun Fuga warned Renshi: "You have cleared many prisoners; who among men does not cling to life? I fear that when they see their fellows go free, they will refuse to accept guilt—I worry deeply for you." Renshi replied: "In judging cases one must take fairness and mercy as the foundation—how can I scheme to save my own skin and, knowing men are wronged, fail to vindicate them! If through some blind error I release the wrong man, I would gladly trade my own life for the deaths of ten prisoners." Fuga withdrew, ashamed. When the imperial commissioner arrived and questioned the prisoners again, all said: "Cui was fair and merciful; no innocent man was punished—we ask only to die at once." Not one prisoner gave a different account.
64
上好騎射，孫伏伽諫，以為：「天子居則九門，行則警蹕，非欲苟自尊嚴，乃為社稷生民之計也。 陛下好自走馬射的以娛悅近臣，此乃少年為諸王時所為，非今日天子事業也。 既非所以安養聖躬，又非所以儀刑後世，臣竊為陛下不取。」 上悅。 未幾，以伏伽為諫議大夫。
Emperor Taizong loved riding and archery. Sun Fuga remonstrated: "When the Son of Heaven dwells within the nine gates and travels with imperial escort, it is not mere vanity—it is for the sake of the realm and the people. Your Majesty delights in galloping and shooting at targets to amuse your close attendants—this is what you did as a young prince, not what the emperor of today should be about. It is neither the way to preserve Your Majesty's health nor the way to set an example for posterity—I cannot approve of it." Emperor Taizong was pleased. Before long, Fuga was appointed Remonstrance Counselor.
65
隋世選人，十一月集，至春而罷，人患其期促。 至是，吏部侍郎觀城劉林甫奏四時聽選，隨闕注擬，人以為便。
Under the Sui, examination candidates assembled in the eleventh month and were dismissed in spring; people complained the season was too brief. At this time, Vice Minister of Personnel Liu Linpu of Guancheng proposed holding selections in all four seasons and filling vacancies as they arose; people welcomed the change.
66
唐初，士大夫以亂離之後，不樂仕進，官員不充。 省符下諸州差人赴選，州府及詔使多以赤牒補官。 至是盡省之，勒赴省選，集者七千餘人，林甫隨才銓敘，各得其所，時人稱之。 詔以關中米貴，始分人於洛州選。
In early Tang, after years of chaos and displacement, scholars were reluctant to enter government service, and offices went unfilled. Central orders went out to the prefectures to send candidates for selection, but prefectural officials and imperial commissioners often filled posts with provisional red writ appointments. Now all such appointments were abolished and men were required to come to the capital for selection; more than seven thousand assembled. Linpu evaluated them by merit and placed each in his proper post; contemporaries praised him. Because grain was expensive in Guanzhong, an edict ordered candidates to be selected in part at Luoyang for the first time.
67
上謂房玄齡曰：「官在得人，不在員多。」 命玄齡並省，留文武總六百四十三員。
Emperor Taizong told Fang Xuanling: "Government depends on finding the right men, not on filling many posts." He ordered Xuanling to consolidate offices, leaving six hundred forty-three civil and military posts in all.
68
隋秘書監晉陵劉子翼，有學行，性剛直，朋友有過，常面責之。 李百藥常稱：「劉四雖復罵人，人終不恨。」 是歲，有詔征之，辭以母老，不至。
Liu Ziyi of Jinling, former Sui Director of the Secretariat, was a learned and upright man of stern character; when friends erred, he often rebuked them to their faces. Li Baiyao often said: "Though Liu the Fourth scolds people, they never resent him in the end." That year he was summoned by imperial edict, but declined on account of his aged mother and did not come.
69
鄃令裴仁軌私役門夫，上怒，欲斬之。 殿中侍御史長安李乾祐諫曰：「法者，陛下所與天下共也，非陛下所獨有也。 今仁軌坐輕罪而抵極刑，臣恐人無所措手足。」 上悅，免仁軌死，以乾祐為侍御史。
Pei Rengui, magistrate of Yu County, had illegally conscripted gate guards for private labor. Emperor Taizong was furious and wanted him executed. Palace Attendant Censor Li Qianyou of Chang'an remonstrated: "The law is what Your Majesty shares with the realm—it is not Your Majesty's alone. Rengui is guilty of a minor offense yet faces death—I fear people will not know where to stand." Emperor Taizong was pleased, spared Rengui from death, and appointed Qianyou Attending Censor.
70
上嘗語及關中、山東人，意有同異。 殿中侍御史義豐張行成跪奏曰：「天子以四海為家，不當有東西之異； 恐示人以隘。」 上善其言，厚賜之。 自是每有大政，常使預議。
Emperor Taizong once spoke of men from Guanzhong and Shandong in terms that suggested a distinction between them. Palace Attendant Censor Zhang Xingcheng of Yifeng knelt and submitted: "The Son of Heaven takes the four seas as his household—there should be no east-west distinction; I fear it shows the world a narrow mind." Emperor Taizong approved and rewarded him generously. Thereafter, whenever major policy was debated, Zhang was regularly invited to participate.
71
初，突厥既強，敕勒諸部分散，有薛延陀、回紇、都播、骨利干、多濫葛、同羅、僕固、拔野古、思結、渾、斛薛、結、阿跌、契苾、白□等十五部，皆居磧北，風俗大抵與突厥同； 薛延陀於諸部為最強。
Earlier, after the Turks had grown powerful, the Tiele tribes were scattered among fifteen groups—the Xueyantuo, Huihe, Dubo, Guligan, Duolan Ge, Tongluo, Pugu, Bayegu, Sijie, Hun, Huxue, Xi Jie, Adie, Qibi, Bai Xi, and others—all living north of the desert, their customs largely matching those of the Turks; Among all the tribes, the Xueyantuo were the strongest.
72
西突厥曷薩那可汗方強，敕勒諸部皆臣之。 曷薩那徵稅無度，諸部皆怨。 曷薩那誅其渠帥百餘人，敕勒相帥叛之，共推契苾哥楞為易勿真莫賀可汗，居貪於山北。 又以薛延陀乙失缽為也咥小可汗，居燕末山北。 及射匱可汗兵復振，薛延陀、契苾二部並去可汗之號以臣之。
The Western Turk qaghan Yeshana was then at the height of his power, and all the Tiele tribes submitted to him. Yeshana levied taxes without limit, and every tribe resented him. Yeshana executed more than a hundred of their chieftains. The Tiele rose in rebellion under their leaders and jointly enthroned Qibi Geleng as Yiwuzhen Mohe Qaghan, with his seat north of Mount Tanju. They also made Yishibo of the Xueyantuo the Yedie Lesser Qaghan, with his seat north of Mount Yanmo. When Qaghan Shegui's armies regained their strength, the Xueyantuo and Qibi both renounced their qaghan titles and submitted to him.
73
回紇等六部在郁督軍山者，東屬始畢可汗。 統葉護可汗勢衰，乙失缽之孫夷男帥其部落七萬餘家，附於頡利可汗。 頡利政亂，薛延陀與回紇、拔野古等相帥叛之。 頡利遣其兄子欲谷設將十萬騎討之，回紇酋長菩薩將五千騎，與戰於馬鬣山，大破之。 欲谷設走，菩薩追至天山，部眾多為所虜，回紇由是大振。 薛延陀又破其四設，頡利不能制。
The six tribes including the Huihe, who lived at Mount Yudujun, submitted to Qaghan Shibi in the east. When Qaghan Tongyehu's power waned, Yishibo's grandson Yinan led his tribe of more than seventy thousand households and submitted to Qaghan Jiali. Jiali's rule fell into disorder, and the Xueyantuo, Huihe, Bayegu, and others rose in rebellion under their leaders. Jiali sent his nephew Yugu She with one hundred thousand horsemen to suppress them. The Huihe chieftain Pusa led five thousand riders and routed them at Mount Majie. Yugu She fled; Pusa pursued him to the Tianshan range, capturing many of his followers. The Huihe thereby rose to great prominence. The Xueyantuo also defeated his four military governors, and Jiali could no longer control them.
74
頡利益衰，國人離散。 會大雪，平地數尺，羊馬多死，民大饑，頡利恐唐乘其弊，引兵入朔州境上，揚言會獵，實設備焉。 鴻臚卿鄭元□使突厥還。 言於上曰：「戎狄興衰，專以羊馬為侯。 今突厥民饑畜瘦，此將亡之兆也，不過三年。」 上然之。 群臣多勸上乘間擊突厥，上曰：「新與人盟而背之，不信； 利人之災，不仁； 乘人之危以取勝，不武。 縱使其種落盡叛，六畜無餘，朕終不擊，必待有罪，然後討之。」
Jiali's power waned further, and his people scattered. Heavy snow fell, burying the plains several chi deep; countless sheep and horses perished, and famine spread among the people. Fearing that Tang would exploit his weakness, Jiali led troops to the border of Shuozhou, proclaiming a hunting expedition while in fact preparing for defense. Zheng Yuansui, Director of the Court of Diplomatic Reception, returned from his mission to the Turks. He told the emperor: "For the barbarians of the north, prosperity and decline are read entirely in the condition of their sheep and horses. Now the Turks are starving and their herds are wasted thin. This is a sign they are nearing collapse—within three years at most." The emperor agreed. Many ministers urged the emperor to strike the Turks while they were weak. The emperor said: "To make a fresh alliance and then betray it would be faithless; to profit from another's disaster would be unkind; to seize victory by exploiting another's distress would be unworthy. Even if every tribe deserted them and not a head of livestock remained, I still would not attack. I will wait until they give cause for offense, and only then move against them."
75
西突厥統葉護可汗遣真珠統俟斤與高平王道立來，獻萬釘寶鈿金帶，馬五千匹，以迎公主。 頡利不欲中國與之和親，數遣兵入寇，又遣人謂統葉護曰：「汝迎唐公主，要須經我國中過。」 統葉護患之，未成昏。
The Western Turk qaghan Tong Yehu sent the tonghou commander Zhenzhu and Prince of Gaoping Dao Li with a gold belt set with ten thousand jeweled studs and five thousand horses to escort the princess. Jiali did not want China to ally with Tong Yehu by marriage. He repeatedly sent raiders across the border and also sent word to Tong Yehu: "If you are to escort the Tang princess, you must pass through my lands." Tong Yehu was alarmed, and the marriage never took place.
76
春，正月，辛亥，右僕射長孫無忌罷。 時有密表稱無忌權寵過盛者，上以表示之，曰：「朕於卿洞然無疑，若各懷所聞而不言，則君臣之意有不通。」 又召百官謂之曰：「朕諸子皆幼，視無忌如子，非他人所能間也。」 無忌自懼滿盈，固求遜位，皇后又力為之請，上乃許之，以為開府儀同三司。
In spring, on the first day xinhai of the first month, Right Vice Director Zhangsun Wuji was removed from office. Secret memorials had accused Wuji of holding excessive power and favor. The emperor showed him the reports and said: "I harbor no doubt about you whatsoever. If each of us keeps what he hears to himself and says nothing, ruler and minister will fail to understand one another." He then summoned the entire court and said: "My sons are still young. I regard Wuji as one of my own children, and no outsider can drive us apart." Wuji, fearing he had risen too high, repeatedly asked to step down. The empress pressed the request as well, and the emperor finally agreed, appointing him Kaifu Yitong Sansi.
77
置六司侍郎，副六尚書； 並置左右司郎中各一人。
Six bureau vice directors were created to assist the six ministers; and one director each was appointed to the Left and Right Bureaus.
78
癸丑，吐谷渾寇岷州，都督李道彥擊走之。
On guichou, Tuyuhun raided Min Prefecture. Protector-general Li Daoyan repulsed them.
79
丁巳，徙漢王恪為蜀王，衛王泰為越王，楚王祐為燕王。 上問魏徵曰：「人主何為而明，何為而暗？」 對曰：「兼聽則明，偏信則暗。 昔堯清問下民，故有苗之惡得以上聞； 舜明四目，達四聰，故共、鯀、歡兜不能蔽也。 秦二世偏信趙高，以成望夷之禍； 梁武帝偏信朱異，以取台城之辱； 隋煬帝偏信虞世基，以致彭城閣之變。 是故人君兼聽廣納，則貴臣不得擁蔽，而下情得以上通也。」 上曰：「善！」
On dingsi, Prince Ke of Han was made Prince of Shu, Prince Tai of Wei was made Prince of Yue, and Prince You of Chu was made Prince of Yan. The emperor asked Wei Zheng: "What makes a ruler clear-sighted, and what makes him blind?" He answered: "Listen to many voices and you will see clearly; trust only one side and you will be blind. Long ago Yao sought honest reports from the people below, and so the crimes of the Miao reached his ears; Shun kept his four eyes clear and his four ears open, and so Gong, Gun, and Huan Dou could not hide the truth from him. Qin Er Shi trusted Zhao Gao alone and brought on the disaster at Wangyi; Emperor Wu of Liang trusted Zhu Yi alone and suffered the humiliation at Taicheng; Emperor Yang of Sui trusted Yu Shiji alone and met the mutiny at the Pengcheng Pavilion. Therefore when a ruler listens widely and accepts counsel from many quarters, powerful ministers cannot conceal the truth, and the voices of the people can reach the throne." The emperor said: "Excellent!"
80
上謂黃門侍郎王珪曰：「開皇十四年大旱，隋文帝不許賑給，而令百姓就食山東，比至末年，天下儲積可供五十年。 煬帝恃其富饒，侈心無厭，卒亡天下。 但使倉廩之積足以備凶年，其餘何用哉！」
The emperor told Yellow Gate Vice Director Wang Gui: "In Kaihuang 14 there was a severe drought. Emperor Wen of Sui refused direct relief and instead told the people to go find food in Shandong. By the end of his reign the empire's granaries held enough for fifty years. Emperor Yang counted on that abundance, indulged his appetite for luxury without end, and in the end lost the empire. If the granaries hold enough to see us through famine years, what need is there for more!"
81
二月，上謂侍臣曰：「人言天子至尊，無所畏憚。 朕則不然，上畏皇天之監臨，下憚群臣之瞻仰，兢兢業業，猶恐不合天意，未副人望。」 魏徵曰：「此誠致治之要，願陛下慎終如始，則善矣。」
In the second month the emperor told his ministers: "People say the Son of Heaven stands above all and has nothing to fear. I am not like that. Above, I fear Heaven's watchful eye; below, I dread the scrutiny of my ministers. I remain cautious and uneasy, still afraid that I fall short of Heaven's will and the people's hopes." Wei Zheng said: "That is indeed the heart of good governance. If Your Majesty remains as careful at the end as at the beginning, nothing more need be asked."
82
上謂房玄齡等曰：「為政莫若至公。 昔諸葛亮竄廖立、李嚴於南夷，亮卒而立、嚴皆悲泣，有死者，非至公能如是乎！ 又高熲為隋相，公平識治體，隋之興亡，系熲之存沒。 朕既慕前世之明君，卿等不可不法前世之賢相也。」
The emperor told Fang Xuanling and the others: "In governing, nothing surpasses complete impartiality. Long ago Zhuge Liang exiled Liao Li and Li Yan to the far south. When he died, both men wept in grief—some even died of grief. Only a man of absolute fairness could inspire that! Gao Jiong too served as chancellor of Sui. Fair-minded and deeply versed in statecraft, the dynasty's rise and fall turned on whether he lived or died. Since I admire the enlightened rulers of old, you must take the great chancellors of old as your model."
83
三月，戊寅朔，日有食之。
In the third month, on the new moon of wuyin, there was a solar eclipse.
84
壬子，大理少卿胡演進每月囚帳； 上命自今大辟皆令中書、門下四品已上及尚書議之，庶無冤濫。 既而引囚，至岐州刺史鄭善果，上謂胡演曰：「善果雖復有罪，官品不卑，豈可使與諸囚為伍。 自今三品以上犯罪，不須引過，聽於朝堂俟進止。」
On renzi, Assistant Director of the Court of Judicial Review Hu Yan presented the monthly prisoner register; the emperor ordered that from then on every capital case be reviewed by fourth-rank officials and above in the Secretariat and Chancellery together with the ministers, so that injustice might be avoided. When the prisoners were led forward and Zheng Shanguo, prefect of Qi, appeared among them, the emperor told Hu Yan: "Shanguo may be guilty, but his rank is not low. How can he be paraded with common criminals? From now on, officials of third rank and above who commit crimes need not be paraded through the streets; they may wait in the court hall for the emperor's decision."
85
關內旱饑，民多賣子以接衣食； 己巳，詔出御府金帛為贖之，歸其父母。 庚午，詔以去歲霖雨，今茲旱、蝗，赦天下。 詔書略曰：「若使年谷豐稔，天下又安，移災朕身，以存萬國，是所願也，甘心無吝。」 會所在有雨，民大悅。
Drought and famine struck Guannei, and many people sold their children to buy food and clothing; on jisi an edict ordered gold and silk from the imperial treasury used to redeem the children and return them to their parents. On gengwu an edict declared a general amnesty, citing last year's floods and this year's drought and locust plague. The edict read in part: "If only the harvest were rich and the realm at peace, I would gladly take these disasters upon myself to preserve the empire—that is my wish, without hesitation." Rain fell across the region, and the people rejoiced.
86
夏，四月，己卯，詔以「隋末亂離，因之饑饉，暴骸滿野，傷人心目，宜令所在官司收瘞。」
In summer, on jimao of the fourth month, an edict declared: "At the end of Sui, war and famine left exposed corpses strewn across the fields, a sight that wounds the heart. Local authorities everywhere are ordered to collect and bury the dead."
87
初，突厥突利可汗建牙直幽州之北，主東偏，奚、□等數十部多叛突厥來降，頡利可汗以其失眾責之。 及薛延陀、回紇等敗欲谷設，頡利遣突利討之，突利兵又敗，輕騎奔還。 頡利怒，拘之十餘日而撻之，突利由是怨，陰欲叛頡利。 頡利數徵兵於突利，突利不與，表請入朝。 上謂侍臣曰：「向者突厥之強，控弦百萬，憑陵中夏，用是驕恣，以失其民。 今自請入朝，非困窮，肯如是乎！ 朕聞之，且喜且懼。 何則？ 突厥衰則邊境安矣，故喜。 然朕或失道，它日亦將如突厥，能無懼乎！ 卿曹宜不惜苦諫，以輔朕之不逮也。」 頡利發兵攻突利，丁亥，突利遣使來求救。 上謀於大臣曰：「朕與突利為兄弟，有急不可不救。 然頡利亦與之有盟，奈何？」 兵部尚書杜如晦曰：「戎狄無信，終當負約，今不因其亂而取之，後悔無及。 夫取亂侮亡，古之道也。」
Earlier, the Turk qaghan Tuli had set up his headquarters just north of You Prefecture, governing the eastern territories. Dozens of tribes, including the Xi and their allies, largely broke from the Turks and submitted to Tang. Jiali blamed Tuli for losing his followers. When the Xueyantuo, Huihe, and others defeated Yugu She, Jiali sent Tuli to punish them. Tuli's army was beaten again, and he fled back with a small escort. Jiali flew into a rage, held him for more than ten days, and had him whipped. Tuli nursed a grievance and secretly planned to break with Jiali. Jiali repeatedly demanded troops from Tuli, but Tuli refused and petitioned to come to court in person. The emperor told his ministers: "Once the Turks were strong— a million bowmen strong—and they lorded it over China. Pride led them to lose the loyalty of their people. Now he asks to come to court of his own accord. Would he do that if he were not desperate! When I hear this, I am both glad and afraid. Why? If the Turks weaken, the borders will be secure—that is why I am glad. Yet if I lose my way, one day I too may end up like the Turks—how could I not be afraid! You must not spare me hard counsel, to help me where I fall short." Jiali sent troops against Tuli. On dinghai, Tuli sent an envoy begging for help. The emperor consulted his senior ministers and said: "Tuli and I are sworn brothers. I cannot leave him in distress. Yet Jiali too is bound to him by alliance. What then?" Minister of War Du Ruhui said: "The barbarians are faithless and will break their pledges in the end. If we do not seize this disorder now, we will regret it too late. To strike a state in chaos and exploit its decline—that is the ancient way."
88
丙申，契丹酋長帥其部落來降。 頡利遣使請以梁師都易契丹，上謂使者曰：「契丹與突厥異類，今來歸附，何故索之！ 師都中國之人，盜我土地，暴我百姓，突厥受而庇之，我興兵致討，輒來救之，彼如魚游釜中，何患不為我有！ 借使不得，亦終不以降附之民易之也。」
On bingshen a Khitan chieftain led his tribe in submission. Jiali sent an envoy offering to exchange Liang Shidu for the Khitan. The emperor told the envoy: "The Khitan and the Turks are not the same people. They have just submitted to us—why should I hand them over! Shidu is one of our own people who seized our territory and preyed on our people, yet the Turks took him in. When I sent troops to punish him, they rushed to his rescue. He is like a fish in a boiling pot—why should I worry that he will not soon be mine! Even if I fail to take him, I will never trade away people who have submitted for him."
89
先是，上知突厥政亂，不能庇梁師都，以書諭之，師都不從。 上遣夏州都督長史劉旻、司馬劉蘭成圖之，旻等數遣輕騎踐其禾稼，多縱反間，離其君臣，其國漸虛，降者相屬。 其名將李正寶等謀執師都，事洩，來奔，由是上下益相疑。 旻等知可取，上表請兵。 上遣右衛大將軍柴紹、殿中少監薛萬均擊之，又遣旻等據朔方東城以逼之。 師都引突厥兵至城下，劉蘭成偃旗臥鼓不出。 師都宵遁，蘭成追擊，破之。 突厥大發兵救師都，柴紹等未至朔方數十里，與突厥遇，奮擊，大破之，遂圍朔方。 突厥不敢救，城中食盡。 壬寅，師都從父弟洛仁殺師都，以城降，以其地為夏州。
Earlier, knowing that Turk rule was in disarray and that they could no longer protect Liang Shidu, the emperor sent Shidu a letter urging surrender, but Shidu refused. The emperor sent Chief Administrator Liu Min and Vice Administrator Liu Lancheng of Xia Prefecture to undermine him. They repeatedly sent light cavalry to trample his crops, spread disinformation, and drive a wedge between Shidu and his followers. His state steadily weakened, and defectors came in one after another. His leading general Li Zhengbao and others plotted to seize Shidu, but the plot leaked and they fled to Tang. From then on, mutual suspicion deepened throughout Shidu's camp. Min and his colleagues judged that Shidu could be taken and petitioned for troops. The emperor sent Right Guard General Chai Shao and Palace Supervisor Xue Wanjun to attack him, and ordered Min and the others to hold the eastern city of Shuofang and tighten the pressure. Shidu brought Turk troops to the walls of the eastern city. Liu Lancheng lowered his banners, silenced his drums, and lay low. Shidu fled by night. Lancheng pursued and routed him. The Turks sent a large relief force for Shidu. Still several tens of li from Shuofang, Chai Shao and his men met the Turks, fought fiercely, and routed them, then laid siege to Shuofang. The Turks dared not attempt another rescue, and food in the city ran out. On renyin, Shidu's cousin Luoren killed him and surrendered the city. The territory was reorganized as Xia Prefecture.
90
太常少卿祖孝孫以為梁、陳之音多吳、楚，周、齊之音多胡、夷，於是斟酌南北，考以古聲，作《唐雅樂》，凡八十四調、三十一曲、十二和。 詔協律郎張文收與孝孫同修定。 六月，乙酉，孝孫等奏新樂。 上曰：「禮樂者，蓋聖人緣情以設教耳，治之隆替，豈由於此？」 御史大夫杜淹曰：「齊之將亡，作《伴侶曲》，陳之將亡，作《玉樹後庭花》，其聲哀思，行路聞之皆悲泣，何得言治之隆替不在樂也！」 上曰：「不然。 夫樂能感人，故樂者聞之則喜，憂者聞之則悲，悲喜在人心，非由樂也。 將亡之政，民必愁苦，故聞樂而悲耳。 今二曲具存，朕為公奏之，公豈悲乎？」 右丞魏徵曰：「古人稱『禮雲禮雲，玉帛雲乎哉！ 樂雲樂雲，鐘鼓雲乎哉！』 樂誠在人和，不在聲音也。」
Assistant Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Zu Xiaosun argued that Liang and Chen music drew heavily on Wu and Chu styles, while Zhou and Qi music drew heavily on northern and foreign styles. He therefore blended northern and southern traditions, tested them against ancient pitch standards, and composed the Tang Elegant Music—eighty-four modes, thirty-one pieces, and twelve he in all. An edict ordered Pitch Regulation Director Zhang Wenshou to join Xiaosun in completing the revision. In the sixth month, on yiyou, Xiaosun and his colleagues presented the new music. The emperor said: "Rites and music are merely what the sages devised to teach through human feeling—can the rise and fall of a dynasty really turn on that?" Censor-in-Chief Du Yan said: "When Qi was near collapse it produced the Banlu Qu; when Chen was near collapse it produced the Yushu Houting Hua. Both were mournful—travelers who heard them wept in the streets. How can you say music has nothing to do with a dynasty's rise and fall!" The emperor said: "That is not so. Music moves people, it is true—the joyful hear it and rejoice, the sorrowful hear it and grieve. But joy and grief lie in the heart, not in the music itself. When a regime is failing, the people are already full of grief—that is why they weep when they hear such music. Both pieces still exist. If I were to play them for you now, would you weep?" Right Vice Director Wei Zheng said: "The ancients said: 'Rites, rites—is it merely jade and silk? Music, music—is it merely bells and drums?'" Music truly lies in harmony among people, not in the sounds themselves."
91
臣光曰：「臣聞垂能目制方圓，心度曲直，然不能以教人，其所以教人者，必規矩而已矣。 聖人不勉而中，不思而得，然不能以授人，其所以授人者，必禮樂而已矣。 禮者，聖人之所履也； 樂者，聖人之所樂也。 聖人履中正而樂和平，又思與四海共之，百世傳之，於是乎作禮樂焉。 故工人執垂之規矩而施之器，是亦垂之功已； 王者執五帝、三王之禮樂而施之世，是亦五帝、三王之治已。 五帝、三王，其違世已久，後之人見其禮知其所履，聞其樂知其所樂，炳然若猶存於世焉。 此非禮樂之功邪？ 夫禮樂有本、有文：中和者，本也； 容聲者，末也； 二者不可偏廢。 先王守禮樂之本，未嘗須臾去於心，行禮樂之文，未嘗須臾遠於身。 興於閨門，著於朝廷，被於鄉遂比鄰，達於諸侯，流於四海，自祭祀軍旅至於飲食起居，未嘗不在禮樂之中； 如此數十百年，然後治化周浹，鳳凰來儀也。 苟無其本而徒有其末，一日行之而百日捨之，求以移風易俗，誠亦難矣。 是以漢武帝置協律，歌天瑞，非不美也，不能免哀痛之詔。 王莽建羲和，考律呂，非不精也，不能救漸台之禍。 晉武制笛尺，調金石，非不詳也，不能弭平陽之災。 梁武帝立四器、調八音，非不察也，不能免台城之辱。 然則韶、夏、濩、武之音，具存於世，苟其餘不足以稱之，曾不能化一夫，況四海乎！ 是猶執垂之規矩而無工與材，坐而待器之成，終不可得也。 況齊、陳淫昏之主，亡國之音，暫奏於庭，烏能變一世之哀樂乎！ 而太宗遽雲治之隆替不由於樂，何發言之易而果於非聖人也如此？
Sima Guang comments: "I have heard that Chui could judge square and round by eye and measure straight and crooked in his mind, yet he could not impart that skill directly to others; what he taught with was nothing but compass and square. The sage achieves the right without effort and attains understanding without deliberation, yet cannot pass that inner attainment directly to others; what he teaches with is rites and music alone. Rites are what the sage walks in; music is what the sage delights in. The sage walks in centrality and rectitude and delights in peace and harmony, and wished to share this with all within the four seas and pass it down for a hundred generations—thereupon he created rites and music. Thus when a craftsman takes Chui's compass and square and applies them to his work, that too is Chui's achievement; when a king takes up the rites and music of the Five Emperors and Three Kings and applies them to the realm, that too is the governance of the Five Emperors and Three Kings. The Five Emperors and Three Kings have long since departed this world, yet later generations who see their rites know how they lived, and who hear their music know what they delighted in—it shines forth as if they were still among us. Is this not the power of rites and music? Rites and music have root and form: centrality and harmony are the root; bearing and sound are the branches; Neither may be neglected in favor of the other. The former kings held fast to the root of rites and music and never for a moment let it leave their hearts; they practiced the forms of rites and music and never for a moment kept them far from their persons. It began in the inner quarters, took shape at court, spread through districts and neighboring communities, reached the feudal lords, and flowed to the four seas—from sacrifice and war down to eating, drinking, and daily life, nothing lay outside rites and music; Only after tens and hundreds of years of this did governance and transformation thoroughly permeate the realm, and the phoenix come as an omen of virtue. If one lacks the root and keeps only the outward forms, practicing them one day and abandoning them for a hundred, it is truly hard to expect customs to change. Thus Emperor Wu of Han established the Office of Harmonizing Pitch and composed songs celebrating heaven's auspicious signs—not that these were not fine, yet he could not escape his Edict of Lamentation. Wang Mang established the Xihe office and tested the pitch pipes—not that this was not meticulous, yet he could not avert the disaster at Jiantai. Emperor Wu of Jin fashioned the flute measure and tuned bells and stones—not that this was not exhaustive, yet he could not quell the calamity at Pingyang. Emperor Wu of Liang established the four pitch standards and tuned the eight tones—not that this was not discerning, yet he could not escape the humiliation at Tai Cheng. If so, the music of Shao, Xia, Hu, and Wu all still exist in the world—yet if one's own conduct does not measure up to them, one cannot transform even a single man, let alone the four seas! This is like holding Chui's compass and square without craftsmen or timber, sitting and waiting for finished vessels—it can never be done. How much less when debauched and benighted rulers of Qi and Chen had the music of a dying state played briefly at court—how could that change an age's grief and joy! Yet Taizong hastily declared that the rise and fall of governance has nothing to do with music—how can one speak so lightly and conclude so quickly that the sages were wrong?
92
夫禮非威儀之謂也，然無威儀則禮不可得而行矣。 樂非聲音之謂也，然無聲音則樂不可得而見矣。 譬諸山，取其一土一石而謂之山則不可，然土石皆去，山於何在哉！ 故曰：「無本不立，無文不行。」 奈何以齊、陳之音不驗於今世，而謂樂無益於治亂，何異睹拳石而輕泰山乎！ 必若所言，則是五帝、三五之作樂皆妄也。」 君子於其所不知，蓋闕如也。」 惜哉！
Rites are not merely a matter of dignified ceremony, yet without ceremony rites cannot be put into practice. Music is not merely a matter of sound, yet without sound music cannot be made manifest. It is like a mountain: one cannot take a single clod or stone and call it a mountain, yet if all earth and stone are removed, where is the mountain! Therefore it is said: "Without root there is no standing; without form there is no going forward." How then, because the music of Qi and Chen did not prove itself in our own day, can one say music is of no use to order and disorder? What difference is there between seeing a fist-sized stone and belittling Mount Tai! If what you say must hold, then the music composed by the Five Emperors and the Three Dynasties was all in vain." The gentleman, where he does not know, generally keeps silent." Alas!
93
戊子，上謂侍臣曰：「朕觀《隋煬帝集》，文辭奧博，亦知是堯、舜而非桀、紂，然行事何其反也！」 魏徵對曰：「人君雖聖哲，猶當虛己以受人，故智者獻其謀，勇者竭其力。 煬帝恃其俊才，驕矜自用，故口誦堯、舜之言而身為桀、紂之行，曾不自知，以至覆亡也。」 上曰：「前事不遠，吾屬之師也！」
On wuzi, the emperor said to his attendant ministers: "I have read the Collected Works of Emperor Yang of Sui. The language is profound and learned, and he too knew to praise Yao and Shun and condemn Jie and Zhou—yet how utterly contrary his conduct was!" Wei Zheng replied: "Even a sage ruler should empty himself to receive others, so that the wise may offer their counsel and the brave exert their strength. Emperor Yang relied on his outstanding talent and was proud and self-willed, so he recited the words of Yao and Shun while acting like Jie and Zhou, never knowing it himself, until the dynasty was overthrown." The emperor said: "Recent events are not far off—they are a teacher for us!"
94
畿內有蝗。 辛卯，上入苑中，見蝗，掇數枚，祝之曰：「民以谷為命，而汝食之，寧食吾之肺腸。」 舉手欲吞之，左右諫曰：「惡物或成疾。」 上曰：「朕為民受災，何疾之避！」 遂吞之。 是歲，蝗不為災。
Locusts appeared within the capital region. On xinmao, the emperor entered the imperial park, saw locusts, picked up several, and prayed to them: "The people live by grain, yet you devour it—better devour my lungs and intestines instead." He raised his hand to swallow them. Those at his side remonstrated: "Unclean things may cause illness." The emperor said: "I bear this disaster for the people—why should I fear illness!" Thereupon he swallowed them. That year, the locusts did not become a calamity.
95
上曰：「朕每臨朝，欲發一言，未嘗不三思。 恐為民害，是以不多言。」 給事中知起居事杜正倫曰：「臣職在記言，陛下之言失，臣必書之，豈徒有害於今，亦恐貽譏於後。」 上悅，賜帛二百段。
The emperor said: "Whenever I attend court and wish to speak, I never fail to think thrice before I do. I fear harming the people, and that is why I do not speak much." Supervising Censor in charge of recording conduct Du Zhenglun said: "My duty is to record speech. If Your Majesty's words go astray, I must write them down—not only might they harm the present, but they may also invite ridicule from posterity." The emperor was pleased and bestowed two hundred bolts of silk.
96
上曰：「梁武帝君臣惟談苦空，侯景之亂，百官不能乘馬。 元帝為周師所圍，猶講《老子》，百官戎服以聽。 此深足為戒。 朕所好者，唯堯、舜、周、孔之道，以為如鳥有翼，如魚有水，失之則死，不可暫無耳。」
The emperor said: "Emperor Wu of Liang and his ministers talked only of the bitter emptiness of Buddhist doctrine. When Hou Jing's rebellion broke out, not one of the hundred officials could ride a horse. When Emperor Yuan was besieged by Zhou troops, he still lectured on the Laozi, and the hundred officials listened in military dress. This is a warning well worth heeding. What I hold to is only the Way of Yao, Shun, the Zhou, and Confucius. I regard it as birds having wings and fish having water: lose it and one dies—it cannot be briefly done without."
97
以辰州刺史裴虔通，隋煬帝故人，特蒙寵任，而身為弒逆，雖時移事變，屢更赦令，倖免族夷，不可猶使牧民，乃下詔除名，流歡州。 虔通常言「身除隋室以啟大唐」，自以為功，頗有觖望之色。 及得罪，怨憤而死。
Because Pei Qiantong, prefect of Chen Prefecture, was an old acquaintance of Emperor Yang of Sui and had been specially favored and entrusted, yet had himself committed regicide—even though times had changed and repeated amnesties had spared him from execution of his clan—he still could not be allowed to govern the people. An edict was issued striking his name from the rolls and exiling him to Huan Prefecture. Qiantong often said, "I personally removed the Sui house to open the Great Tang," and considered it his achievement, showing a clear air of resentment at unfulfilled expectations. When he was punished, he died of resentment and indignation.
98
秋，七月，詔宇文化及之黨萊州刺史牛方裕、絳州刺史薛世良、廣州都督長史唐奉義、隋武牙郎將元禮並除名徙邊。
In the seventh month of autumn, an edict ordered that Yuwen Huaji's partisans—Niu Fangyu, prefect of Lai Prefecture; Xue Shiliang, prefect of Jiang Prefecture; Tang Fengyi, chief secretary of the Guangzhou military governor; and Yuan Li, Sui Wuya Langjiang—all struck from the rolls and exiled to the frontier.
99
上謂侍臣曰：「古語有之：『赦者小人之幸，君子之不幸。』 『一歲再赦，善人暗啞。』 夫養稂莠者害嘉谷，赦有罪者賊良民，故朕即位以來，不欲數赦，恐小人恃之輕犯憲章故也！」
The emperor said to his attendant ministers: "An ancient saying has it: 'Amnesty is the petty man's good fortune and the gentleman's misfortune. Twice amnesty in one year, and good people fall silent.' To nurture darnel harms fine grain; to pardon the guilty harms good people. Therefore, since my accession I have not wished to grant amnesties frequently, fearing that petty men would rely on them and lightly violate the laws!"