1
資治通鑑第195卷卷第一百九十五
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 195
2
【唐紀十一】起強圉作噩五月，盡上章困敦，凡三年有奇。
[Tang Records 11] From the fifth month of 639 through 642—a span of a little more than three years.
3
五月，壬申，魏徵上疏，以為：「陛下欲善之志不及於昔時，聞過必改少虧於曩日，譴罰積多，威怒微厲。 乃知貴不期驕，富不期侈，非虛言也。 且以隋之府庫、倉廩、戶口、甲兵之盛，考之今日，安得擬倫！ 然隋以富強動之而危，我以寡弱靜之而安； 安危之理，皎然在目。 昔隋之未亂也，自謂必無亂； 其未亡也，自謂必無亡。 故賦役無窮，征伐不息，以至禍將及身而尚未之寤也。 夫鑒形莫如止水，鑒敗莫如亡國。 伏願取鑒於隋，去奢從約，親忠遠佞，以當今之無事，行疇昔之恭儉，則盡善盡美，固無得而稱焉。 夫取之實難，守之甚易，陛下能得其所難，豈不能保其所易乎！」
In the fifth month, on the day ren-shen, Wei Zheng presented a memorial in which he wrote: "Your Majesty's zeal to do good no longer measures up to what it once was; your willingness to correct yourself when faults are reported has fallen somewhat short of earlier days; censures and punishments have piled up, and your tone of imperial sternness and wrath has grown sharper. This shows that high rank does not wait to breed arrogance and riches do not wait to breed extravagance—the saying is no idle phrase. When you compare the Sui dynasty's overflowing treasuries, granaries, population, and armaments with our realm today, how can the two even be mentioned in the same breath! Yet the Sui, for all its wealth and power, stirred itself into peril, while we, though comparatively few and weak, have kept still and remained secure; the lesson of safety and ruin lies plain before our eyes. Before the Sui fell into chaos, it was convinced that chaos could never come; before it perished, it was equally convinced that it could never perish. Hence endless levies and corvée, campaigns without cease—until disaster was upon them and they still had not woken to it. Still water is the best mirror for one's face; a fallen kingdom is the best mirror for one's rule. I humbly beg Your Majesty to take the Sui as your warning, renounce luxury for simplicity, keep the loyal close and the flatterers far away, and in these peaceful times practice the reverence and frugality of your early reign—then your virtue would be complete beyond any praise one could offer. Winning the realm was hard; keeping it is easy. Your Majesty mastered what was hard—surely you can guard what is easy!"
4
六月，右僕射虞恭公溫彥博薨。 彥博久掌機務，知無不為。 上謂侍臣曰：「彥博以憂國之故，精神耗竭，我見其不逮，已二年矣，恨不縱其安逸，竟夭天年！」
In the sixth month, Wen Yanbo, Duke of Reverence and Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, died. Yanbo had long handled the machinery of government and left nothing undone that he knew ought to be done. The emperor told his attendants: "Yanbo wore himself out worrying over the state. I saw him failing—for two years now. I regret that I did not let him rest; in the end he died before his time!"
5
丁巳，上幸明德宮。
On the day ding-si, the emperor went to Mingde Palace.
6
己未，詔荊州都督荊王元景等二十一王所任刺史，咸令子孫世襲。 戊辰，又以功臣長孫無忌等十四人為刺史，亦令世襲，非有大故，無得黜免。 己巳，徙許王元祥為江王。
On the day ji-wei, an edict ordered that the prefects appointed by the twenty-one princes, including Prince Jing Yuanjing as regional commander of Jingzhou, should pass their posts to their descendants in perpetuity. On the day wu-chen, fourteen meritorious ministers including Zhangsun Wuji were likewise appointed prefects with hereditary tenure, not to be removed except for grave cause. On the day ji-si, Prince Xu Yuanxiang was redesignated Prince Jiang.
7
秋，七月，癸未，大雨，穀、洛溢入洛陽宮，壞官寺、民居，溺死者六千餘人。
In autumn, the seventh month, on the day gui-wei, torrential rains caused the Gu and Luo rivers to flood into Luoyang Palace, destroying government buildings and private homes; more than six thousand people drowned.
8
魏徵上疏，以為：「《文子》曰：『同言而信，信在言前； 同令而行，誠在令外。』 自王道休明，十有餘年，然而德化未洽者，由待下之情未盡誠信故也。 今立政致治，必委之君子； 事有得失，或訪之小人。 其待君子也敬而疏，遇小人也輕而狎； 狎則言無不盡，疏則情不上通。 夫中智之人，豈無小慧！ 然才非經國，慮不及遠，雖竭力盡誠，猶未免有敗； 況內懷奸宄，其禍豈不深乎！ 夫雖君子不能無小過，苟不害於正道，斯可略矣。 既謂之君子而復疑其不信，何異立直木而疑其影之曲乎！ 陛下誠能慎選君子，以禮信用之，何憂不治！ 不然，危亡之期，未可保也。」 上賜手詔褒美曰：「昔晉武帝平吳之後，志意驕怠，何曾位極台司，不能直諫，乃私語子孫，自矜明智，此不忠之大者也。 得公之諫，朕知過矣。 當置之幾案以比弦、韋。」
Wei Zheng presented a memorial in which he wrote: "The Wenzi says: 'When the words are the same, people believe them—but belief rests on what came before the words; when the orders are the same, people obey them—but sincerity rests on what lies outside the orders.' For more than ten years the royal way has been bright, yet moral transformation has not fully taken hold—because the sincerity with which Your Majesty treats those below has not been complete. To establish policy and govern well, you must entrust affairs to gentlemen; yet when something goes right or wrong, you sometimes consult petty men instead. You treat gentlemen with respect yet keep them at arm's length; you meet petty men casually yet intimately; intimacy means they tell you everything; distance means their true counsel never reaches you. Men of ordinary talent—do they lack petty cleverness! Yet their talent is not equal to governing the realm, their vision does not reach far ahead; though they strain every nerve in loyalty, they still cannot avoid disaster; how much more when they harbor treachery within—can the harm they do be anything but deep! Even gentlemen have small faults; if they do not injure the right path, they may be overlooked. To call a man a gentleman and then doubt his loyalty—is that not like planting a straight post and suspecting its shadow of bending! If Your Majesty will choose gentlemen carefully and employ them with courtesy and trust, what need is there to fear that the realm will not be well governed! Otherwise, the day of peril and ruin cannot be far off." The emperor replied with a personal edict of praise: "After Emperor Wu of Jin pacified Wu, his spirit turned proud and slack. He Zeng stood at the head of the bureaucracy yet could not speak plainly to the throne; he only whispered to his descendants and prided himself on his shrewdness—that was disloyalty of the worst kind. Thanks to your remonstrance, I know my fault. I shall keep it on my desk as a constant reminder, like the bowstring and the whetstone."
9
乙未，車駕還洛陽，詔：「洛陽宮為水所毀者，少加修繕，才令可居。 自外眾材，給城中壞廬舍者。 令百官各上封事，極言朕過。」 壬寅，廢明德宮及飛山之玄圃院，給遭水者。
On the day yi-wei, the emperor returned to Luoyang and issued an edict: "Where Luoyang Palace was damaged by the flood, make only such repairs as are needed for habitation. All other building materials shall go to those whose homes in the city were destroyed. Let every official submit a sealed memorial speaking freely of my faults." On the day ren-yin, Mingde Palace and the Mystic Garden estate on Mount Fei were dismantled and their materials given to flood victims.
10
八月，甲子，上謂侍臣曰：「上封事者皆言朕遊獵太頻； 今天下無事，武備不可忘，朕時與左右獵於後苑，無一事煩民，夫亦何傷！」 魏徵曰：「先王惟恐不聞其過。 陛下既使之上封事，止得恣其陳述。 苟其言可取，固有益於國； 若其無取，亦無所損。」 上曰：「公言是也。」 皆勞而遣之。
In the eighth month, on the day jia-zi, the emperor told his attendants: "Everyone who submitted sealed memorials said I hunt too often; yet the realm is at peace and military readiness must not be forgotten. I sometimes hunt in the rear park with my attendants without troubling the people in the least—what harm is there in that!" Wei Zheng replied: "The sage kings of old feared only that they would not hear of their faults. Your Majesty invited sealed memorials; you must let men speak their minds freely. If what they say is sound, it will surely benefit the state; if it is not, there is no harm done either." The emperor said: "You are right." He rewarded them all and sent them away.
11
侍御史馬周上疏，以為：「三代及漢，歷年多者八百，少者不減四百，良以恩結人心，人不能忘故也。 自是以降，多者六十年，少者才二十餘年，皆無恩於人，本根不固故也。 陛下當隆禹、湯、文、武之業，為子孫立萬代之基，豈得但持當年而已！ 今之戶口不及隋之什一，而給役者兄去弟還，道路相繼。 陛下雖加恩詔，使之裁損，然營繕不休，民安得息！ 故有司徒行文書，曾無事實。 昔漢之文、景，恭儉養民，武帝承其豐富之資，故能窮奢極欲而不至於亂。 向使高祖之後即傳武帝，漢室安得久存乎！ 又，京師及四方所造乘輿器用及諸王、妃、主服飾，議者皆不以為儉。 夫昧爽丕顯，後世猶怠，陛下少居民間，知民疾苦，尚復如此，況皇太子生長深宮，不更外事，萬歲之後，固聖慮所當憂也。 臣觀自古以來，百姓愁怨，聚為盜賊，其國未有不亡者，人主雖欲追改，不能復全。 故當修於可修之時，不可悔之於既失之後也。 蓋幽、厲嘗笑桀、紂矣，煬帝亦笑周、齊矣，不可使後之笑今如今之笑煬帝也！ 貞觀之初，天下饑歉，斗米直匹絹，而百姓不怨者，知陛下憂念不忘故也。 今比年豐穰，匹絹得粟十餘斛，而百姓怨咨者，知陛下不復念之，多營不急之務故也。 自古以來，國之興亡，不以畜積多少，在於百姓苦樂。 且以近事驗之，隋貯洛口倉而李密因之，東都積布帛而世充資之，西京府庫亦為國家之用，至今未盡。 夫畜積固不可無，要當人有餘力，然後收之，不可強斂以資寇敵也。 夫儉以息人，陛下已於貞觀之初親所履行，在於今日為之，固不難也。 陛下必欲為久長之謀，不必遠求上古，但如貞觀之初，則天下幸甚。 陛下寵遇諸王，頗有過厚者，萬代之後，不可不深思也。 且魏武帝愛陳思王，及文帝即位，囚禁諸王，但無縲紲耳。 然則武帝愛之，適所以苦之也。 又，百姓所以治安，唯在刺史、縣令，苟選用得人，則陛下可以端拱無為。 今朝廷唯重內官而輕州縣之選，刺史多用武人，或京官不稱職始補外任，邊遠之處，用人更輕。 所以百姓未安，殆由於此。」 疏奏，上稱善久之。 謂侍臣曰：「刺史，朕當自選； 縣令，宜詔京官五品已上各舉一人。」
Attendant Censor Ma Zhou presented a memorial in which he wrote: "The Three Dynasties and the Han lasted as long as eight hundred years and no less than four hundred, because kindness bound the people's hearts and they could not forget. Since then the longest reign has been sixty years and the shortest barely twenty—all because they showed no kindness to the people and their foundations were not firm. Your Majesty should raise high the achievements of Yu, Tang, King Wen, and King Wu and lay a foundation for ten thousand generations—how can you be content merely to hold power for a single reign! Today's population is less than a tenth of the Sui's, yet men on corvée duty leave as elder brothers and return as younger ones, filing endlessly along the roads. Your Majesty has issued gracious edicts ordering cutbacks, yet construction and repair never cease—how can the people find rest! Hence memorials from the Minister of Works that bear no relation to what is actually done. Emperors Wen and Jing of Han were reverent and frugal and nurtured the people; Emperor Wu inherited their accumulated wealth and could indulge every luxury without bringing the realm to ruin. Had the throne passed directly from Gaozu to Emperor Wu, how long could the house of Han have survived! Moreover, the imperial equipage, furnishings, and the dress of princes, consorts, and princesses made in the capital and the provinces are widely judged not to be frugal. Even when a ruler rises early and shines brightly, later ages grow slack. Your Majesty knew the people's hardships in youth—yet things are already thus; when the crown prince, raised deep in the palace and knowing nothing of the world outside, succeeds you, that is what Your Majesty's far-sighted concern should address. Throughout history, when the people groan in resentment and gather as bandits, their states have never failed to fall; though a ruler may wish to mend matters afterward, he cannot make the realm whole again. Reform must come while reform is still possible—not repentance only after all is already lost. King You and King Li once mocked Jie and Zhou; Emperor Yang mocked the Zhou and Qi dynasties in turn—do not let posterity mock our age as we mock Emperor Yang! At the start of the Zhenguan era the realm was famine-stricken—a dou of grain cost a bolt of silk—yet the people did not complain because they knew Your Majesty had not forgotten their plight. Now harvests have been abundant for years—a bolt of silk buys more than ten hu of grain—yet the people grumble because they know Your Majesty no longer cares for them and pursues many undertakings that are not urgent. From antiquity onward, whether a state rose or fell has never depended on how much it hoarded, but on whether the people suffered or prospered. Recent events prove it: the Sui filled the Luokou granary and Li Mi drew on it; the Eastern Capital hoarded cloth and silk and Wang Shichong armed himself from it; the Western Capital treasuries likewise supplied our state and are not yet exhausted. Hoarding is necessary, but only when the people have surplus strength to give; forced levies only stock the arsenals of rebels. Frugality to give the people rest—Your Majesty practiced this yourself at the start of Zhenguan; to do so again today would not be hard. If Your Majesty truly wishes to plan for the long term, you need not look to remote antiquity—only return to the ways of early Zhenguan, and the realm would be blessed indeed. Your Majesty has favored some of the princes excessively; for generations to come, this demands deep thought. Emperor Wu of Wei loved Prince Si of Chen; when Emperor Wen took the throne, he imprisoned the princes—only without putting them in bonds. Thus the father's love was precisely what brought the son to grief. Moreover, the people's peace depends solely on prefects and magistrates; choose the right men and Your Majesty may rule with folded hands and do nothing. Today the court values inner officials and treats provincial appointments lightly; most prefects are military men, or capital officials who failed at their posts are sent out to the provinces; in remote districts the appointments are even more careless. That the people are not at peace is probably due to this." When the memorial was presented, the emperor praised it at length. He told his attendants: "I shall choose the prefects myself; for magistrates, let every capital official of the fifth rank and above recommend one candidate."
12
冬，十月，癸丑，詔勳戚亡者皆陪葬山陵。
In winter, the tenth month, on the day gui-chou, an edict ordered that deceased meritorious kin and affines be buried in the imperial tombs on the mountain.
13
上獵於洛陽苑，有群豕突出林中，上引弓四發，殪四豕。 有豕突前，及馬鐙； 民部尚書唐儉投馬搏之，上拔劍斬豕，顧笑曰：「天策長史不見上將擊賊邪，何懼之甚！」 對曰：「漢高祖以馬上得之，不以馬上治之； 陛下以神武定四方，豈復逞雄心於一獸！」 上悅，為之罷獵，尋加光祿大夫。
The emperor was hunting in the Luoyang park when a herd of boars burst from the woods. He loosed four arrows and killed four of them. One boar charged forward and reached the stirrup of his horse; Minister of the Ministry for the People Tang Jian leaped from his horse to grapple the beast. The emperor drew his sword and cut the boar down, then turned with a laugh and said: "Does the Chief Secretary of the Heavenly Stratagem Army not see a supreme commander striking down the enemy—why so much fear!" He replied: "Emperor Gaozu of Han won the realm on horseback but did not govern it on horseback; Your Majesty, with divine martial prowess, settled the four quarters—why would you still vent your battle fury on a single beast!" The emperor was pleased, ended the hunt on his account, and soon promoted him to Grandee of Splendid Happiness.
14
安州都督吳王恪數出畋獵，頗損居人； 侍御史柳范奏彈之。 丁丑，恪坐免官，削戶三百。 上曰：「長史權萬紀事吾兒，不能匡正，罪當死。」 柳范曰：「房玄齡事陛下，猶不能止畋獵，豈得獨罪萬紀！」 上大怒，拂衣而入。 久之，獨引范謂曰：「何面折我？」 對曰：「陛下仁明，臣不敢不盡愚直。」 上悅。
Anzhou regional commander Prince Wu Li Ke went hunting repeatedly and caused considerable harm to local residents; Attendant Censor Liu Fan memorialized to impeach him. On the day ding-chou, Li Ke was removed from office and stripped of three hundred households from his fief. The emperor said: "Chief Administrator Quan Wanji served my son yet failed to correct him—his crime deserves death." Liu Fan said: "Fang Xuanling served Your Majesty yet could not stop your hunting—how can Wanji alone be blamed!" The emperor flew into a rage, brushed his robes aside, and stalked off. After a long while he summoned Liu Fan alone and said: "Why did you contradict me to my face?" He replied: "Your Majesty is benevolent and clear-sighted; I dared not withhold plain, loyal speech." The emperor was pleased.
15
十一月，辛卯，上幸懷州； 丙午，還洛陽宮。
In the eleventh month, on the day xin-mao, the emperor went to Huaizhou; On the day bing-wu, he returned to Luoyang Palace.
16
故荊州都督武士擭女，年十四，上聞其美，召入後宮，為才人。
The daughter of the former Jingzhou regional commander Wu Shihuo was fourteen years old. When the emperor heard of her beauty, he summoned her to the inner palace and made her a cairen.
17
春，正月，乙未，禮部尚書王珪奏：「三品已上遇親王於路皆降乘，非禮。」 上曰：「卿輩苟自崇貴，輕我諸子。」 特進魏徵曰：「諸王位次三公，今三品皆九卿、八座，為王降乘，誠非所宜當。」 上曰：「人生壽夭難期，萬一太子不幸，安知諸王他日不為公輩之主！ 何得輕之！」 對曰：「自周以來，皆子孫相繼，不立兄弟，所以絕庶孽之窺窬，塞禍亂之源本，此為國者所深戒也。」 上乃從珪奏。
In spring, the first month, on the day yi-wei, Minister of Rites Wang Gui memorialized: "When officials of the third rank and above meet imperial princes on the road, they all dismount from their carriages—this is not proper ritual." The emperor said: "You presumptuously esteem yourselves and slight my sons." Special Advancement Holder Wei Zheng said: "Imperial princes rank below the Three Dukes, while third-rank officials are the nine ministers and eight seats—for them to dismount for princes is truly inappropriate." The emperor said: "Life and death are hard to foresee. If the crown prince should meet misfortune, who knows whether the princes may not one day become your masters! How can you slight them!" He replied: "Since the Zhou, succession has always passed from father to son, never to a brother—thereby cutting off the ambitions of collateral lines and blocking the sources of rebellion. This is what every ruler must guard against most deeply." The emperor then accepted Wang Gui's memorial.
18
吏部尚書高士廉、黃門侍郎韋挺、禮部侍郎令狐德葇、中書侍郎岑文本撰《氏族志》成，上之。 先是，山東人士崔、盧、李、鄭諸族，好自矜地望，雖累葉陵夷，苟他族欲與為昏姻，必多責財幣，或捨其鄉里而妄稱名族，或兄弟齊列而更以妻族相陵。 上惡之，命士廉等遍責天下譜諜，質諸史籍，考其真偽，辨其昭穆，第其甲乙，褒進忠賢，貶退奸逆，分為九等。 士廉等以黃門侍郎崔民幹為第一。 上曰：「漢高祖與蕭、曹、樊、灌皆起閭閻布衣，卿輩至今推仰，以為英賢，豈在世祿乎！ 高氏偏據山東，梁、陳僻在江南，雖有人物，蓋何足言？ 況其子孫才行衰薄，官爵陵替，而猶卬然以門地自負，販鬻松檟，依托富貴，棄廉忘恥，不知世人何為貴之！ 今三品以上，或以德行，或以勳勞，或以文學，致位貴顯。 彼衰世舊門，誠何足慕！ 而求與為昏，雖多輸金帛，猶為彼所偃蹇，我不知其解何也！ 今欲釐正訛謬，捨名取實，而卿曹猶以崔民幹為第一，是輕我官爵而徇流俗之情也。」 乃更命刊定，專以今朝品秩為高下。 於是以皇族為首，外戚次之。 降崔民幹為第三。 凡二百九十三姓，千六百五十一家，頒於天下。
Minister of Personnel Gao Shilian, Gentleman Attendant at the Yellow Gate Wei Ting, Vice Minister of Rites Linghu Defen, and Vice Director of the Secretariat Cen Wenben completed the Record of Clans and presented it to the throne. Earlier, among the eastern gentry, the Cui, Lu, Li, and Zheng clans prided themselves on their pedigree. Though their lines had declined for generations, any clan that sought marriage with them had to pay heavily; some abandoned their home districts to claim famous lineage falsely, and brothers of equal rank used their wives' clans to lord it over one another. The emperor detested this and ordered Shilian and the others to gather genealogies from across the realm, verify them against historical records, distinguish true from false and senior from junior lines, rank them in grades, promote the loyal and worthy and demote the treacherous and rebellious, and divide them into nine ranks. Shilian and the others ranked Gentleman Attendant at the Yellow Gate Cui Min'gan first. The emperor said: "Emperor Gaozu of Han, along with Xiao He, Cao Shen, Fan Kuai, and Guan Ying, all rose from common village stock—yet you still revere them as heroic worthies. Was it because of hereditary office! The Gao clan held only part of Shandong; Liang and Chen were confined to the south of the Yangtze—what were their men of talent worth mentioning! Their descendants' talent and conduct have withered, their offices and ranks have fallen into decay—yet they still hold their heads high, proud of their pedigree, selling their ancestral graves, clinging to the rich and powerful, casting off integrity and shame. Why does the world still esteem them! Today those of the third rank and above have risen to eminence through virtue, merit, or literary accomplishment. Those decayed houses of a fallen age—what are they worth admiring! Yet men seek marriage with them and pay heavily in gold and silk, only to be looked down upon—I cannot understand why! I wish to correct these errors, discard empty names for real merit—yet you still rank Cui Min'gan first. That is to slight my offices and cater to vulgar fashion." He then ordered a new revision, ranking clans solely by present court rank. The imperial clan was placed first, maternal kin second. Cui Min'gan was lowered to third rank. In all, two hundred ninety-three surnames in one thousand six hundred fifty-one households were promulgated throughout the realm.
19
二月，乙卯，車駕西還； 癸亥，幸河北，觀砥柱。
In the second month, on the day yi-mao, the emperor returned west; on the day gui-hai, he went to Hebei to view the pillar rocks in the river.
20
甲子，巫州獠反，夔州都督齊善行敗之，俘男女三千餘口。
On the day jia-zi, the Liao of Wuzhou rebelled. Qizhou regional commander Qi Shanshang defeated them and took more than three thousand captives, men and women.
21
乙丑，上祀禹廟。 丁卯，至柳谷，觀鹽池。 庚午，至蒲州，刺史趙元楷課父老服黃紗單衣迎車駕，盛飾廨捨樓觀，又飼羊百餘口、魚數百頭以饋貴戚。 上數之曰：「朕巡省河、洛，凡有所須，皆資庫物。 卿所為乃亡隋之弊俗也。」 甲戌，幸長春宮。
On the day yi-chou, the emperor sacrificed at the temple of Yu the Great. On the day ding-mao, he reached Willow Valley and inspected the salt ponds. On the day geng-wu, he reached Puzhou. Prefect Zhao Yuankai forced the local elders to wear yellow gauze single garments to welcome the imperial procession, lavishly decorated the government offices and towers, and raised more than a hundred sheep and several hundred fish to present to the emperor's kin. The emperor rebuked him: "When I tour the Yellow and Luo region, whatever I need comes from the treasury. What you have done is the corrupt custom of the fallen Sui." On the day jia-xu, he went to Everlasting Spring Palace.
22
戊寅，詔曰：「隋故鷹擊郎將堯君素，雖桀犬吠堯，有乖倒戈之志，而疾風勁草，實表歲寒之心； 可贈蒲州刺史，仍訪其子孫以聞。」
On the day wu-yin, an edict stated: "The former Sui Eagle-Strike Commandant Yao Junsu, though he stood against the tide like Jie's dog barking at Yao and refused to turn his spear, showed the steadfast heart of the grass that bends only in the fiercest wind; let him be posthumously appointed Prefect of Puzhou, and let his descendants be sought out and reported."
23
閏月，庚辰朔，日有食之。
In the intercalary month, on the first day geng-chen, there was a solar eclipse.
24
丁未，車駕至京師。
On the day ding-wei, the emperor reached the capital.
25
三月，辛亥，著作佐郎鄧世隆表請集上文章。 上曰：「朕之辭令，有益於民者，史皆書之，足為不朽。 若其無益，集之何用！ 梁武帝父子、陳後主、隋煬帝皆有文集行於世，何救於亡！ 為人主患無德政，文章何為！」 遂不許。
In the third month, on the day xin-hai, Assistant Editorial Director Deng Shilong memorialized asking that the emperor's writings be collected. The emperor said: "My edicts that benefit the people are all recorded by the historians—that is immortality enough. If they are not beneficial, what use is collecting them! Emperor Wu of Liang and his son, Emperor Houzhu of Chen, and Emperor Yang of Sui all had literary collections in circulation—what did that avail against their ruin! What a ruler should fear is lack of virtuous government—what are literary compositions for!" He refused the request.
26
丙子，以皇孫生，宴五品以上於東宮。 上曰：「貞觀之前，從朕經營天下，玄齡之功也。 貞觀以來，繩愆糾繆，魏徵之功也。」 皆賜之佩刀。 上謂征曰：「朕政事何如往年？」 對曰：「威德所加，比貞觀之初則遠矣； 人悅服則不逮也。」 上曰：「遠方畏威慕德，故來服； 若其不逮，何以致之？」 對曰：「陛下往以未治為憂，故德義日新； 今以既治為安，故不逮。」 上曰：「今所為，猶往年也，何以異？」 對曰：「陛下貞觀之初，恐人不諫，常導之使言，中間悅而從之。 今則不然，雖勉從之，猶有難色。 所以異也。」 上曰：「其事可聞歟？」 對曰：「陛下昔欲殺元律師，孫伏伽以為法不當死，陛下賜以蘭陵公主園，直百萬。 或云：『賞太厚。』 陛下云：『朕即位以來，未有諫者，故賞之。』 此導之使言也。 司戶柳雄妄訴隋資，陛下欲誅之，納戴冑之諫而止。 是悅而從之也。 近皇甫德參上書諫修洛陽宮，陛下恚之，雖以臣言而罷，勉從之也。」 上曰：「非公不能及此。 人苦不自知耳！」
On the day bing-zi, because an imperial grandson had been born, the emperor feasted officials of the fifth rank and above at the Eastern Palace. The emperor said: "Before the Zhenguan era, in building the realm with me, the credit belongs to Xuanling. Since Zhenguan, in binding faults and correcting errors, the credit belongs to Wei Zheng." He granted belt swords to both. The emperor asked Zheng: "How does my governance compare with former years?" He replied: "The majesty and virtue you extend are far greater than at the beginning of Zhenguan; but in winning the people's willing hearts, you do not measure up." The emperor said: "Distant lands fear our majesty and admire our virtue, and therefore submit; if I do not measure up in their hearts, how did that come about?" He replied: "Your Majesty formerly worried that the realm was not well governed, and therefore your virtue renewed itself day by day; now you take the realm as already well governed and rest secure, and therefore you do not measure up." The emperor said: "What I do now is the same as in former years—how is it different?" He replied: "At the beginning of Zhenguan, Your Majesty feared that no one would speak up and constantly encouraged remonstrance; in the middle period you were pleased and followed good counsel. Now it is not so—even when you force yourself to comply, your face still shows reluctance. That is the difference." The emperor said: "Can you give an example?" He replied: "Your Majesty once wished to execute Yuan Lüshi. Sun Fuga argued that the law did not require death, and Your Majesty bestowed on him the park of Princess Lanling, worth a million cash. Some said: 'The reward is too generous.' Your Majesty said: 'Since I took the throne, there has been no one who remonstrated—therefore I reward him.' That was encouraging remonstrance. Director of Households Liu Xiong falsely claimed Sui-era credentials. Your Majesty wished to execute him but accepted Dai Zhou's remonstrance and stopped. That was being pleased and following good counsel. Recently Huangfu Decan memorialized against repairing Luoyang Palace. Your Majesty was angry. Though you stopped on my advice, you complied only with reluctance." The emperor said: "Without you, I could not have seen this so clearly. How hard it is for a man to know himself!"
27
夏，五月，壬申，弘文館學士永興文懿公虞世南卒，上哭之慟。 世南外和柔而內忠直，上嘗稱世南有五絕：一德行，二忠直，三博學，四文辭，五書翰。
In summer, the fifth month, on the day ren-shen, Hongwen Hall academician Yu Shinan, Duke of Literary Excellence of Yongxing, died. The emperor wept bitterly for him. Shinan was outwardly gentle but inwardly loyal and upright. The emperor once said Shinan had five supreme gifts: virtue, loyalty, broad learning, literary skill, and calligraphy.
28
秋，七月，癸酉，以吏部尚書高士廉為右僕射。
In autumn, the seventh month, on the day gui-you, Minister of Personnel Gao Shilian was appointed Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs.
29
乙亥，吐蕃寇弘州。
On the day yi-hai, the Tibetans raided Hongzhou.
30
八月，霸州山獠反，燒殺刺史向邵陵及吏民百餘家。
In the eighth month, the mountain Liao of Bazhou rebelled, burning and killing Prefect Xiang Shaoling and more than a hundred households of officials and commoners.
31
初，上遣使者馮德遐撫慰吐蕃，吐蕃聞突厥、吐谷渾皆尚公主，遣使隨德遐入朝，多繼金寶，奉表求婚； 上未之許。 使者還，言於贊普棄宗弄贊曰：「臣初至唐，唐待我甚厚，許尚公主。 會吐谷渾王入朝，相離間，唐禮遂衰，亦不許婚。」 弄贊遂發兵擊吐谷渾。 吐谷渾不能支，遁於青海之北，民畜多為吐蕃所掠。
Earlier, the emperor had sent the envoy Feng Dexia to console the Tibetans. Hearing that both the Turks and the Tuyuhun had received imperial princesses in marriage, the Tibetans sent envoys to follow Dexia to court laden with gold and treasure and presented a memorial requesting a princess; the emperor did not grant the request. When the envoys returned, they told the tsenpo Songtsen Gampo: "When I first reached Tang, they treated us very generously and promised a princess. Then the king of the Tuyuhun came to court and sowed discord between us. Tang courtesy then declined, and they refused the marriage as well." Gampo thereupon sent troops to attack the Tuyuhun. The Tuyuhun could not withstand them and fled north of Qinghai Lake; much of their population and livestock was plundered by the Tibetans.
32
吐蕃進破党項、白蘭諸羌，帥眾二十餘萬屯松州西境，遣使貢金帛，雲來迎公主。 尋進攻松州，敗都督韓威； 羌酋閻州刺史別叢臥施、諾州刺史把利步利並以州叛歸之。 連兵不息，其大臣諫不聽而自縊者凡八輩。 壬寅，以吏部尚書侯君集為當彌道行軍大總管，甲辰，以右領軍大將軍執失思力為白蘭道、左武衛將軍牛進達為闊水道、左領軍將軍劉簡為洮河道行軍總管，督步騎五萬擊之。
The Tibetans advanced, defeated the Tangut, Bailan, and other Qiang tribes, and camped on Songzhou's western border with more than two hundred thousand men. They sent envoys bearing gold and silk, saying they had come to welcome the princess. Soon they attacked Songzhou and defeated regional commander Han Wei; the Qiang chieftains Yanzhou Prefect Bie Congwoshi and Nuozhou Prefect Bali Buli both rebelled with their prefectures and submitted to the Tibetans. Fighting continued without cease; eight of their ministers who remonstrated in vain hanged themselves. On the day ren-yin, Minister of Personnel Hou Junji was appointed Grand Marshal of the Dangmi campaign route. On the day jia-chen, Right General of the Rear Guard Zhishi Sili was made commander of the Bailan route, Left General of the Martial Guard Niu Jinda commander of the Kuoshui route, and Left General of the Front Guard Liu Jian commander of the Taohe route, with fifty thousand infantry and cavalry to strike the Tibetans.
33
吐蕃攻城十餘日，進達為先鋒，九月，辛亥，掩其不備，敗吐蕃於松州城下，斬首千餘級。 弄贊懼，引兵退，遣使謝罪，因復請婚； 上許之。
The Tibetans besieged Songzhou for more than ten days. Jinda served as vanguard; in the ninth month, on the day xin-hai, he caught them unprepared and defeated the Tibetans below the walls of Songzhou, beheading more than a thousand. Gampo was afraid, withdrew his troops, sent envoys to apologize, and again requested a princess; the emperor granted the request.
34
甲寅，上問侍臣：「帝王創業與守成孰難？」 房玄齡曰：「草昧之初，與群雄並起角力而後臣之，創業難矣。」 魏徵曰：「自古帝王，莫不得之於艱難，失之於安逸，守成難矣。」 上曰：「玄齡與吾共取天下，出百死，得一生，故知創業之難。 征與吾共安天下，常恐驕奢生於富貴，禍亂生於所忽，故知守成之難。 然創業之難，既已往矣，守成之難，方當與諸公慎之。」 玄齡等拜曰：「陛下及此言，四海之福也。」
On the day jia-yin, the emperor asked his attendants: "For an emperor, which is harder—founding the realm or preserving what has been achieved?" Fang Xuanling said: "In the beginning, when the realm was still unsettled, one contended with rival heroes and only afterward made them subjects—founding is the harder task." Wei Zheng said: "Throughout history, emperors have won their realms through hardship and lost them through ease—preserving what has been achieved is the harder task." The emperor said: "Xuanling and I together won the realm—out of a hundred deaths, one life—so he knows how hard founding was. Zheng and I together have settled the realm. I constantly fear that arrogance and extravagance arise from wealth and honor, and that calamity arises from what is neglected—so he knows how hard preserving is. The hardship of founding is already past; the hardship of preserving is what we must now guard against together." Xuanling and the others bowed and said: "Your Majesty has spoken these words—the blessing of the four seas."
35
初，突厥頡利既亡，北方空虛，薛延陀真珠可汗帥其部落建庭於都尉犍山北、獨邏水南，勝兵二十萬，立其二子拔酌、頡利苾主南、北部。 上以其強盛，恐後難制，癸亥，拜其二子皆為小可汗，各賜鼓纛，外示優崇，實分其勢。
Earlier, after the Turkic Jiali Khan fell, the north lay empty. The Xueyantuo Khan Zhenzhu led his tribes to establish a court north of Commander's Qilian Mountain and south of the Toluo River with two hundred thousand fighting men, and installed his sons Bazhuo and Jielibi to govern the southern and northern wings. Fearing their strength would later prove hard to control, on the day gui-hai the emperor invested both sons as lesser khans, each bestowing drums and banners—outwardly showing honor, but in reality dividing their power.
36
冬，十月，乙亥，巴州獠反。
In winter, the tenth month, on the day yi-hai, the Liao of Bazhou rebelled.
37
己卯，畋於始平； 乙未，還京師。
On the day ji-mao, the emperor went hunting at Shiping; On the day yi-wei, he returned to the capital.
38
鈞州獠反； 遣桂州都督張寶德討平之。 十一月，丁未，初置左、右屯營飛騎於玄武門，以諸將軍領之。 又簡飛騎才力驍健、善騎射者，號百騎，衣五色袍，乘駿馬，以虎皮為韉，凡游幸則從焉。
The Liao tribes of Junzhou rebelled; The emperor dispatched Zhang Baode, regional inspector of Guizhou, to suppress and pacify them. In the eleventh month, on the day ding-wei, the Left and Right Garrison Flying Cavalry were first established at the Xuanwu Gate, with various generals placed in command. Elite flying cavalry noted for strength, valor, and skill in riding and shooting were also chosen and called the Hundred Riders. They wore robes of five colors, rode fine horses, and used tiger skins for saddles, accompanying the emperor on all excursions.
39
己巳，明州獠反； 遣交州都督李道彥討平之。
On the day ji-si, the Liao tribes of Mingzhou rebelled; The emperor dispatched Li Daoyan, regional inspector of Jiaozhou, to suppress and pacify them.
40
十二月，辛巳，左武候將軍上官懷仁擊反獠於壁州，大破之，虜男女萬餘口。
In the twelfth month, on the day xin-si, Left Martial Guard General Shangguan Huairen attacked the rebel Liao at Bizhou, routing them and capturing more than ten thousand men and women.
41
是歲，以給事中馬周為中書舍人。 周有機辯，中書侍郎嶺岑文本常稱：「馬君論事，援引事類，揚榷古今，舉要刪煩，會文切理，一字不可增，亦不可減，聽之靡靡，令人忘倦。」
That year, Ma Zhou, a supervisory secretary in the Secretariat, was appointed drafting secretary of the Secretariat. Zhou was quick-witted and eloquent. Vice Director of the Secretariat Cen Wenben often said: "When Master Ma discusses affairs, he cites parallels from past and present, sifting antiquity and the present, selecting essentials and cutting redundancy, joining words to precise reason—not a character could be added or removed. Listening to him is utterly entrancing; one forgets weariness."
42
霍王元軌好讀書，恭謹自守，舉措不妄。 為徐州刺史，與處士劉玄平為布衣交。 人問玄平王所長，玄平曰：「無長。」 問者怪之。 玄平曰：「夫人有所短乃見所長，至於霍王，無所短，吾何以稱其長哉！」
Prince Huo Yuan Gui loved reading, was respectful and cautious in self-restraint, and never acted rashly. As regional inspector of Xuzhou, he formed a friendship as equals with the reclusive scholar Liu Xuanping. Someone asked Xuanping what the prince's strengths were. Xuanping said: "None." The questioner found this strange. Xuanping said: "When a man has shortcomings, his strengths become visible. As for Prince Huo, he has no shortcomings—how am I to name his strengths!"
43
初，西突厥咥利失可汗分其國為十部，每部有酋長一人，仍各賜一箭，謂之十箭。 又分左、右廂，左廂號五咄陸，置五大啜，居碎葉以東； 右廂號五弩失畢，置五大俟斤，居碎葉以西； 通謂之十姓。 咥利失失眾心，為其臣統吐屯所襲。 咥利失兵敗，與其弟步利設走保焉耆。 統吐屯等將立欲谷設為大可汁，會統吐屯為人所殺，欲谷設兵亦敗，咥利失復得故地。 至是，西部竟立欲谷設為乙毘咄陸可汗。 乙毘咄陸既立，與咥利失大戰，殺傷甚眾。 因中分其地，自伊列水以西屬乙咄陸，以東屬咥利失。
Previously, the Western Turkic khagan Dilishi divided his realm into ten divisions. Each had one chieftain, and each was given one arrow—they were called the Ten Arrows. They were further divided into left and right wings. The left wing was called the Five Tulu, with five great jurors established east of Suyab; the right wing was called the Five Nushibi, with five great irkins established west of Suyab; They were collectively called the Ten Clans. Dilishi lost the hearts of the people and was attacked by his minister Tong Tutun. Dilishi's army was defeated; he and his younger brother Bulishi fled to take refuge in Yanqi. Tong Tutun and others were about to install Yugu She as great khan; but Tong Tutun was killed, Yugu She's army was also defeated, and Dilishi recovered his former territory. By this time, the western tribes finally installed Yugu She as Khagan Yipiduolu. Once Yipiduolu was established, he fought a great battle with Dilishi, with heavy casualties on both sides. Thereupon they divided the land between them: west of the Ili River belonged to Yipiduolu, and east of it to Dilishi.
44
處月、處密與高昌共攻拔焉耆五城，掠男女一千五百人，焚其廬舍而去。
The Chuyue, Chumi, and Gaochang jointly attacked and captured five cities of Yanqi, seizing fifteen hundred men and women, burning their dwellings, and withdrawing.
45
春，正月，乙巳，車駕謁獻陵； 丁未，還宮。
In spring, the first month, on the day yi-si, the imperial carriage visited Xianling; On the day ding-wei, he returned to the palace.
46
戊午，加左僕射房玄齡太子少師。 玄齡自以居端揆十五年，男遺愛尚上女高陽公主，女為韓王妃，深畏滿盈，上表請解機務； 上不許。 玄齡固請不已，詔斷表，乃就職。 太子欲拜玄齡，設儀衛待之，玄齡不敢謁見而歸，時人美其有讓。 玄齡以度支系天下利害，嘗有闕，求其人未得，乃自領之。
On the day wu-wu, Left Vice Grand Director Fang Xuanling was additionally appointed Junior Preceptor to the Crown Prince. Xuanling considered that he had held the highest office for fifteen years, that his son Yi'ai had married the emperor's daughter Princess Gaoyang, and that his daughter was consort to the Prince of Han. Deeply fearing that fullness would bring overflow, he submitted a memorial requesting release from state affairs; The emperor did not grant the request. Xuanling pressed his request repeatedly; an edict rejected his memorial, and he then took up his duties. The crown prince wished to pay obeisance to Xuanling and set out ceremonial guards to receive him. Xuanling did not dare to attend an audience and returned home; contemporaries praised his humility. Xuanling considered that the Directorate of Revenue bore on the welfare of the realm. When a vacancy arose and no suitable person could be found, he took charge of it himself.
47
禮部尚書永寧懿公王珪薨。 珪性寬裕，自奉養甚薄。 於今，三品已上皆立家廟，珪通貴已久，獨祭於寢。 為法司所劾，上不問，命有司為之立廟以愧之。
Wang Gui, Minister of Rites and Duke Yi of Yongning, died. Gui was generous by nature and lived very modestly. By now all officials of third rank and above had established ancestral temples. Gui had been prominent for a long time yet worshipped alone in his bedchamber. He was impeached by the legal authorities. The emperor did not pursue the matter but ordered the relevant offices to build a temple for him as a rebuke.
48
二月，庚辰，以光祿大夫尉遲敬德為鄜州都督。
In the second month, on the day geng-chen, Grandee of Splendid Happiness Yuchi Jingde was appointed regional inspector of Fuzhou.
49
上嘗謂敬德曰：「人或言卿反，何也？」 對曰：「臣反是實！ 臣從陛下征伐四方，身經百戰，今之存者，皆鋒鏑之餘也。 天下已定，乃更疑臣反乎！」 因解衣投地，出其瘢痍。 上為之流涕，曰：「卿復服，朕不疑卿，故語卿，何更恨邪！」
The emperor once said to Jingde: "Some say you have rebelled—why?" He replied: "Your subject's rebellion is indeed true! Your subject followed Your Majesty in campaigns across the four directions and personally endured a hundred battles. Those who survive today are what remains after blades and arrows. The realm is already settled—yet you still suspect your subject of rebellion!" Thereupon he stripped off his clothes and cast them to the ground, exposing his scars. The emperor wept for him and said: "Put your clothes back on. I do not doubt you—that is why I spoke to you. Why harbor resentment!"
50
上又嘗謂敬德曰：「朕欲以女妻卿，何如？」 敬德叩頭謝曰：「臣妻雖鄙陋，相與共貧賤久矣。 臣雖不學，聞古人富不易妻，此非臣所願也。」 上乃止。
The emperor also once said to Jingde: "I wish to give you my daughter in marriage—what do you think?" Jingde kowtowed and declined: "Though my wife is plain, we have shared poverty together for a long time. Though your subject is unlearned, I have heard that the ancients did not abandon their wives when they grew rich—this is not what your subject wishes." The emperor then desisted.
51
戊戌，尚書奏：「近世掖庭之選，或微賤之族，禮訓蔑聞； 或刑戮之家，憂怨所積。 請自今後宮及東宮內職有闕，皆選良家有才行者充，以禮聘納； 其沒官口及素微賤之人，皆不得補用。」 上從之。
On the day wu-xu, the Ministry submitted: "In recent times in selecting women for the inner quarters, some come from humble families with no training in ritual or instruction; some come from families punished by law, with accumulated grief and resentment. We request that henceforth whenever there are vacancies in the rear palace or inner offices of the Eastern Palace, only women of good families with virtue and ability be chosen and brought in through proper betrothal and reception; those of confiscated households and those of long-standing humble status may none of them be appointed." The emperor assented.
52
上既詔宗室群臣襲封刺史，左庶子於志寧以為古今事殊，恐非久安之道，上疏爭之。 侍御史馬周亦上疏，以為：「堯、舜之父，猶有朱、均之子。 倘有孩童嗣職，萬一驕愚，兆庶被其殃而國家受其敗。 正欲絕之也，則子文之治猶在； 正欲留之也，而欒黶之惡已彰。 與其毒害於見存之百姓，則寧使割恩於已亡之一臣，明矣。 然則向所謂愛之者，乃適所以傷之也。 臣謂宜賦以茅土，疇其戶邑，必有材行，隨器授官，使其人得奉大恩而子孫終其福祿。」
After the emperor had issued an edict that imperial clansmen and ministers should inherit appointments as regional inspectors, Left Pillar of the Crown Prince Yu Zhining held that past and present differed in circumstance and feared this was not a path to lasting peace; he submitted a memorial disputing it. Censor Ma Zhou also submitted a memorial, holding: "Even the fathers of Yao and Shun had sons like Danzhu and Shangjun. If a child succeeds to office and by any chance proves arrogant and foolish, the myriad people would suffer calamity and the state would suffer ruin. If one wished to cut off inheritance, Ziwen's good governance would still remain; if one wished to preserve it, Luan Yan's wickedness was already manifest. Rather than poison the living common people, it is better to sever favor toward one minister already dead—the point is clear. Thus what was called loving them is precisely what harms them. Your subject holds that they should be granted fief lands and allotted households; only when there is talent and conduct should office be conferred according to capacity, so that the man may receive great favor and his descendants may enjoy their blessings and emoluments to the end."
53
會司空、趙州刺史長孫無忌等皆不願之國，上表固讓，稱：「承恩以來，形影相吊，若履春冰； 宗戚憂虞，如置湯火。 緬惟三代封建，蓋由力不能制，因而利之，禮樂節文，多非己出。 兩漢罷侯置守，蠲除曩弊，深協事宜，今因臣等，復有變更，恐紊聖朝綱紀； 且後世愚幼不肖之嗣，或抵冒邦憲，自取誅夷，更因延世之賞，致成剿絕之禍，良可哀愍。 願停渙汗之旨，賜其性命之恩。」 無忌又因子婦長樂公主固請於上，且言：「臣披荊棘事陛下，今海內寧一，奈何棄之外州，與遷徙何異！」 上曰：「割地以封功臣，古今通義，意欲公之後嗣，輔朕子孫，共傳永久； 而公等乃復發言怨望，朕豈強公等以茅土邪！」 庚子，詔停世封刺史。
Meanwhile, Minister of Works and regional inspector of Zhaozhou Zhangsun Wuji and others all wished not to go to their assigned prefectures. They submitted memorials firmly declining, stating: "Since receiving this grace, we have been like shadow mourning form, as if treading spring ice; Our kinsmen and relatives are filled with worry and dread, as if placed in boiling water or fire. Reflecting on the feudal enfeoffment of the Three Dynasties, it was largely because the central power could not control the regions and so turned the situation to advantage. Ritual, music, and ceremonial forms were mostly not of their own making. The two Han dynasties abolished feudal lords and installed regional inspectors, removing old abuses—this accorded deeply with the needs of the times. Now on account of us ministers there is again to be change, and we fear disorder in the sacred court's order; Moreover, foolish, young, or unworthy successors in later generations may violate the laws of the state and bring execution upon themselves. To extend hereditary rewards would only bring about the calamity of extermination—this is truly pitiable. We beg that the edict of sweeping grace be halted and the favor of sparing our lives be granted." Wuji also, through his daughter-in-law Princess Changle, pressed a firm plea to the emperor, saying further: "Your subject cleared thorns to serve Your Majesty; now the realm within the seas is at peace—why cast us off to outer prefectures, no different from exile!" The emperor said: "Granting land to enfeoff meritorious ministers is the common principle of past and present. My intent is that your descendants may assist my children and grandchildren and jointly preserve the realm for ages; yet you again speak words of resentment and discontent—do I force you to accept fief lands!" On the day geng-zi, an edict halted hereditary appointment as regional inspectors.
54
高昌王麴文泰多遏絕西域朝貢，伊吾先臣西突厥，既而內屬，文泰與西突厥共擊之。 上下書切責，征其大臣阿史那矩，欲與議事，文泰不遣，遣其長史麴雍來謝罪。 頡利之亡也，中國人在突厥者或奔高昌，詔文泰歸之，文泰蔽匿不遣。 又與西突厥共擊破焉耆，焉耆訴之。 上遣虞部郎中李道裕往問狀，且謂其使者曰：「高昌數年以來，朝貢脫略，無籓臣禮，所置官號，皆准天朝，築城掘溝，預備攻討。 我使者至彼，文泰語之云：『鷹飛於天，雉伏於蒿，貓游於堂，鼠□於穴，各得其所，豈不能自生邪！』 又遣使謂薛延陀云：『既為可汗，則與天子匹敵，何為拜其使者！』 事人無禮，又間鄰國，為惡不誅，善何以勸！ 明年當發兵擊汝。」 三月，薛延陀可汗遣使上言：「奴受恩思報，請發所部為軍導以擊高昌。」 上遣民部尚書唐儉、右領軍大將軍執失思力繼繒帛賜薛延陀，與謀進取。
King Qu Wentai of Gaochang frequently blocked and cut off tribute missions from the Western Regions. Yiwu had first submitted to the Western Turks, then turned inward to our allegiance; Wentai joined with the Western Turks to attack it. The emperor sent letters of stern reproof, summoning his minister Ashina Ju to discuss affairs. Wentai did not send him but dispatched his chief administrator Qu Yong to apologize. When Jiali perished, some Chinese subjects who had been among the Turks fled to Gaochang. An edict ordered Wentai to return them, but Wentai concealed them and did not send them back. He again joined the Western Turks in attacking and defeating Yanqi; Yanqi lodged a complaint. The emperor dispatched Li Daoyu of the Ministry of Works to investigate, and also said to Gaochang's envoy: "In recent years Gaochang has neglected tribute and owed the courtesies due a vassal. The official titles it has established all mirror the heavenly court. It has built walls and dug moats in preparation for attack. When our envoy arrived there, Wentai told him: 'The hawk flies in the sky, the pheasant crouches in the grass, the cat roams the hall, mice hide in their holes—each finds its place; cannot we likewise live in peace?' He also sent an envoy to tell the Xueyantuo: 'Since you are khan, you are the emperor's equal—why bow to his envoy!' To treat others without courtesy, and moreover to sow discord among neighboring states—if wickedness goes unpunished, how can goodness be encouraged! Next year troops will be sent to attack you." In the third month, the Xueyantuo khan sent envoys to submit: "Your servant, having received grace, seeks to repay it. I request to mobilize my tribes as military guides to attack Gaochang." The emperor dispatched Minister of the Household Tang Jian and Right General of the Rear Guard Zhishi Sili with silks and cloth to bestow on the Xueyantuo, and consulted on the plan of attack.
55
夏，四月，戊寅，上幸九成宮。
In summer, the fourth month, on the day wu-yin, the emperor visited Jiucheng Palace.
56
初，突厥突利可汗之弟結社率從突利入朝，歷位中郎將。 居家無賴，怨突利斥之，乃誣告其謀反，上由是薄之，久不進秩。 結社率陰結故部落，得四十餘人，謀因晉王治四鼓出宮，開門辟仗，馳入宮門，直指御帳，可有大功。 甲申，擁突利之子賀邏鶻夜伏於宮外，會大風，晉王未出，結社率恐曉，遂犯行宮，逾四重幕，弓矢亂髮，衛士死者數十人。 折衝孫武開等帥眾奮擊，久之，乃退，馳入御廄，盜馬二十餘匹，北走，度渭，欲奔其部落，追獲，斬之，原賀邏鶻投於嶺表。
Previously, Jieshelü, younger brother of the Turkic khagan Tuli, had followed Tuli in coming to court and had risen to the rank of palace guard captain. At home he was dissolute. Resenting Tuli for dismissing him, he falsely accused him of plotting rebellion. The emperor therefore thought little of him and for a long time did not advance his rank. Jieshelü secretly rallied his former tribesmen, gathering more than forty men, and plotted that when Prince Jin Zhi left the palace at the fourth watch they would open the gate, distribute weapons, gallop through the palace gate, and charge straight at the imperial tent—there great merit could be won. On the day jia-shen, he took Tuli's son Heluoge and lay in ambush outside the palace by night. A great wind arose, Prince Jin did not emerge, and fearing dawn Jieshelü attacked the temporary palace. He passed through four layers of screens with arrows flying in disorder; several dozen guards were killed. Palace Guard Commander Sun Wukai and others led troops in fierce counterattack. After a long time the assailants withdrew, galloped into the imperial stables, stole more than twenty horses, fled north, crossed the Wei River, and sought to reach their tribesmen. They were pursued and captured; Jieshelü was beheaded, and Heluoge was pardoned and sent beyond the mountain passes.
57
庚寅，遣武候將軍上官懷仁擊巴、壁、洋、集四州反獠，平之，虜男女六千餘口。
On the day geng-yin, Martial Guard General Shangguan Huairen was dispatched to attack the rebel Liao of the four prefectures Ba, Bi, Yang, and Ji. He pacified them and captured more than six thousand men and women.
58
五月，旱。 甲寅，詔五品以上上封事。 魏徵上疏，以為：「陛下志業，比貞觀之初，漸不克終者凡十條。」 其間一條以為：「頃年以來，輕用民力。 乃云：『百姓無事則驕逸，勞役則易使。』 自古未有因百姓逸而敗、勞而安者也。 此恐非興邦之至言。」 上深加獎歎，云：「已列諸屏障，朝夕瞻仰，並錄付史官。」 仍賜征黃金十斤。 廄馬二匹。
In the fifth month, there was drought. On the day jia-yin, an edict ordered officials of fifth rank and above to submit sealed memorials. Wei Zheng submitted a memorial, holding: "Your Majesty's resolve and enterprise, compared with the beginning of the Zhenguan era, has gradually failed to reach completion in ten respects." Among them one item held: "In recent years the people's labor has been lightly expended. It is even said: 'When the common people have nothing to do they grow arrogant and slack; when put to labor they are easy to command.' There has never been a dynasty that fell because its people had too much leisure, or found stability because they were kept overworked. I suspect this is hardly the surest counsel for building a flourishing realm." The emperor praised him warmly and exclaimed: "I have hung it among my screens to read morning and evening, and I shall also have it copied for the court historians." He also awarded Wei Zheng ten jin of gold. He also gave him two horses from the imperial stables.
59
六月，渝州人侯弘仁自牂柯開道，經西趙，出邕州，以通交、桂，蠻、俚降者二萬八千餘戶。
In the sixth month, Hou Hongren of Yuzhou opened a route from Zangke through Xizhao to Yongzhou, linking Jiaozhi and Guizhou. More than twenty-eight thousand Man and Li households submitted.
60
丙申，立皇弟元嬰為滕王。
On the day bing-shen, the emperor's younger brother Li Yuanying was created Prince of Teng.
61
自結社率之反，言事者多雲突厥留河南不便，秋，七月，庚戌，詔右武候大將軍、化州都督、懷化郡王李思摩為乙彌泥孰俟利苾可汗，賜之鼓纛； 突厥及胡在諸州安置者，並令渡河，還其舊部，俾世作籓屏，長保邊塞。 突厥鹹憚薛延陀，不肯出塞。 上遣司農卿郭嗣本賜薛延陀璽書，言「頡利既敗，其部落鹹來歸化，我略其舊過，嘉其後善，待其達官皆如吾百寮、部落皆如吾百姓。 中國貴尚禮義，不滅人國，前破突厥，止為頡利一人為百姓害，實不貪其土地，利其人畜，恆欲更立可汗，故置所降部落於河南，任其畜牧。 今戶口蕃滋，吾心甚喜。 既許立之，不可失信。 秋中將遣突厥渡河，復其故國。 爾薛延陀受冊在前，突厥受冊在後，後者為小，前者為大。 爾在磧北，突厥在磧南，各守土疆，鎮撫部落。 其逾分故相抄掠，我則發兵，各問其罪。」 薛延陀奉詔。 於是遣思摩帥所部建牙於河北，上御齊政殿餞之，思摩涕泣，奉觴上壽曰：「奴等破亡之餘，分為灰壤，陛下存其骸骨，復立為可汗，願萬世子孫恆事陛下。」 又遣禮部尚書趙郡王孝恭等繼冊書，就其種落，築壇於河上而立之。 上謂侍臣曰：「中國，根幹也； 四夷，枝葉也； 割根幹以奉枝葉，木安得滋榮！ 朕不用魏徵言，幾致狼狽。」 又以左屯衛將軍阿史那忠為左賢王，左武衛將軍阿史那泥熟為右賢王。 忠，蘇尼失之子也，上遇之甚厚，妻以宗女； 及出塞，懷慕中國，見使者必泣涕請入侍； 詔許之。
Ever since Jiesheshuai's revolt, memorialists had repeatedly argued that keeping Turks south of the Yellow River was unwise. In autumn, the seventh month, on the day geng-xu, an edict named Right Martial Guard General Li Simo, Protector-General of Huazhou and Prince of Huaihua Commandery, as Qaghan Yiminishijilibi, and granted him drums and standards of command; All Turks and other nomadic peoples settled in the prefectures were ordered to cross the river, return to their former lands, and serve for generations as a bulwark of the frontier. The Turks feared Xueyantuo and refused to leave the frontier zone. The emperor sent Minister of Revenue Guo Siben to deliver an imperial letter to Xueyantuo stating: "After Jieli's defeat, his people have all submitted. I forgive their past wrongs and honor their present reform. I treat their chiefs as I do my own court officials, and their tribes as my own subjects. The Middle Kingdom values ritual and righteousness and does not annihilate other peoples. Our earlier defeat of the Turks was aimed only at Jieli, who had harmed the people — not at seizing their lands or livestock. We always intended to establish a new qaghan, which is why we settled the surrendered tribes south of the river and let them pasture their herds. Now that their numbers have multiplied, I am greatly pleased. Since I have promised to install him, I cannot go back on my word. In mid-autumn I shall send the Turks back across the river to restore their homeland. You Xueyantuo were invested first and the Turks second. The one invested later ranks below; the one invested earlier ranks above. You shall remain north of the desert and the Turks south of it, each holding your own territory and keeping your tribes in order. If either side oversteps its bounds and raids the other, I shall send troops and punish whichever side is at fault." Xueyantuo accepted the edict. Simo was then sent to lead his people and establish his court north of the river. The emperor went to Qizheng Hall to bid him farewell. Simo wept, raised his cup in toast, and said: "We are the shattered remnants of a broken people, scattered to dust. Your Majesty has spared our bones and restored us as qaghan. May our descendants serve you for ten thousand generations." The emperor also dispatched Minister of Rites Li Xiaogong, Prince of Zhao Commandery, and others with investiture documents to raise an altar on the riverbank and formally install him among his people. The emperor told his attendants: "The Middle Kingdom is the root and trunk; the four quarters of the frontier are the branches and leaves; If you cut away the root to nourish the branches, how can the tree ever thrive? Had I not heeded Wei Zheng, I would nearly have brought disaster upon myself." He also appointed Left Garrison Guard General Ashina Zhong Left Wise Prince and Left Martial Guard General Ashina Nishu Right Wise Prince. Zhong was the son of Sunishi. The emperor favored him greatly and gave him an imperial princess in marriage; Once he crossed the frontier, he longed for the capital; whenever he met imperial envoys he wept and pleaded to be allowed to serve at court; The emperor granted his request.
62
八月，辛未朔，日有食之。
In the eighth month, on the first day xin-wei, there was a solar eclipse.
63
詔以「身體髮膚，不敢毀傷。 比來訴訟者或自毀耳目，自今有犯，先笞四十，然後依法。」
An edict declared: "The body, hair, and skin received from one's parents must not be deliberately harmed. Lately some plaintiffs have mutilated their own ears or eyes to bolster their cases. Henceforth offenders shall first receive forty strokes of the rod and then be judged under the usual statutes."
64
冬，十月，甲申，車駕還京師。
In winter, the tenth month, on the day jia-shen, the emperor returned to the capital.
65
十一月，辛亥，以侍中楊師道為中書令。
In the eleventh month, on the day xin-hai, Attendant-in-Ordinary Yang Shidao was appointed Chief of the Secretariat.
66
戊辰，尚書左丞劉洎為黃門侍郎、參知政事。
On the day wu-chen, Left Assistant Director Liu Ji was made Vice Director of the Yellow Gate and given a role in deliberating on state affairs.
67
上猶冀高昌王文泰悔過，復下璽書，示以禍福，征之入朝； 文泰竟稱疾不至。 十二月，壬申，遣交河行軍大總管、吏部尚書侯君集，副總管兼左屯衛大將軍薛萬均等將兵擊之。
The emperor still hoped King Wenkai of Gaochang would repent. He sent another imperial letter, setting out the rewards of submission and the costs of defiance, and summoned him to court; Wenkai claimed illness and refused to come. In the twelfth month, on the day ren-shen, he dispatched Hou Junji, Minister of Personnel and overall commander of the Jiaohe campaign, and his deputy Xue Wanjun, Left Garrison Guard General, with an army to attack Gaochang.
68
乙亥，立皇子福為趙王。
On the day yi-hai, the emperor's son Li Fu was created Prince of Zhao.
69
己丑，吐谷渾王諾曷缽來朝，以宗女為弘化公主，妻之。
On the day ji-chou, King Nuohebo of Tuyuhun came to court. An imperial clanswoman was created Princess Honghua and given to him in marriage.
70
壬辰，上畋於咸陽，癸巳，還宮。
On the day ren-chen the emperor hunted at Xianyang; on the day gui-si he returned to the palace.
71
太子承乾頗以游畋廢學，右庶子張玄素諫，不聽。
Crown Prince Chengqian neglected his studies in favor of hunting and outings. Right Companion Zhang Xuansu remonstrated with him, but the prince paid no heed.
72
是歲，天下州府凡三百五十八，縣一千五百一十一。
That year the empire comprised three hundred fifty-eight prefectures and one thousand five hundred eleven counties.
73
太史令傅奕精究術數之書，而終不之信，遇病，不呼醫餌藥。 有僧自西域來，善咒術，能令人立死，復咒之使蘇。 上擇飛騎中壯者試之，皆如其言； 以告奕，奕曰：「此邪術也。 臣聞邪不干正，請使咒臣，必不能行。」 上命僧咒奕，奕初無所覺，須臾，僧忽僵仆，若為物所擊，遂不復甦。 又有婆羅門僧，言得佛齒，所擊前無堅物。 長安士女輻湊如市。 奕時臥疾，謂其子曰：「吾聞有金剛石者，性至堅，物莫能傷，唯羚羊角能破之，汝往試焉。」 其子往見佛齒，出角叩之，應手而碎，觀者乃止。 奕臨終，戒其子無得學佛書，時年八十五。 又集魏、晉以來駁佛教者為《高識傳》十卷，行於世。
Grand Astrologer Fu Yi had mastered the texts of numerology and divination, yet refused to believe in them. When he fell ill he would neither call a physician nor take medicine. A monk from the Western Regions arrived, skilled in spell-craft: he could kill a man instantly, then bring him back to life with another spell. The emperor chose sturdy men from the Flying Cavalry to test the claim, and each trial unfolded exactly as the monk had promised; When this was reported to Fu Yi, he said: "This is black magic. I have heard that evil cannot prevail over righteousness. Have him try his spell on me — it will fail." The emperor ordered the monk to curse Fu Yi. At first Yi felt nothing; then the monk suddenly collapsed as if struck down and never rose again. Another Brahman monk claimed to possess a Buddha's tooth that, when struck against any hard object, would shatter what lay before it. The people of Chang'an thronged to see it as densely as a marketplace. Fu Yi lay ill at the time. He told his son: "I have heard that diamond is the hardest of substances and cannot be scratched by anything — except antelope horn. Go and test the tooth with horn." His son went to the display, struck the tooth with antelope horn, and it shattered instantly. The crowd dispersed. On his deathbed Fu Yi forbade his son to study Buddhist scriptures. He was eighty-five. He had also compiled ten scrolls of anti-Buddhist writings from Wei and Jin times onward, titled Accounts of Higher Understanding, which circulated widely.
74
西突厥咥利失可汗之臣俟利發與乙毘咄陸可汗通謀作亂，咥利失窮蹙，逃奔鏺汗而死。 弩失畢部落迎其弟子薄布特勒立之，是為乙毘沙缽羅葉護可汗。 沙缽羅葉護既立，建庭於雖合水北，謂之南庭，自龜茲、鄯善、且末、吐火羅、焉耆、石、史、何、穆、康等國皆附之。 咄陸建牙於鏃曷山西，謂之北庭，自厥越失、拔悉彌、駁馬、結骨、火燖、觸水昆等國皆附之，以伊列水為境。
Yiliba, a minister of the Western Türk qaghan Dilishi, conspired with Qaghan Yipiduolu to revolt. Dilishi, driven to desperation, fled to Bohan and died there. The Nushibi tribes installed his nephew Bo Botele as qaghan — Qaghan Yipishaboheluoyehu. Once installed, Shaboheluoyehu established his court north of the Suihe River — the Southern Court. Kucha, Shanshan, Qiemo, Tuhuoluo, Yanqi, and the kingdoms of Shi, Shiji, He, Mu, Kang, and others all submitted to him. Duolu established his court west of Zuogeshan — the Northern Court. Jueyueshi, Basmil, Boma, Jiegu, Huoxun, Chushuikun, and other peoples submitted to him, with the Yilie River as the boundary between them.
75
春，正月，甲寅，上幸魏王泰第，赦雍州長安系囚大辟以下，免延康裡今年租賦，賜泰府僚屬及同裡老人有差。
In spring, the first month, on the day jia-yin, the emperor visited Prince of Wei Li Tai's residence. He pardoned Chang'an prisoners sentenced below capital crimes, remitted this year's taxes for Yan'kang Ward, and gave presents in varying amounts to Tai's household staff and elderly neighbors.
76
二月，丁丑，上幸國子監，觀釋奠，命祭酒孔穎達講《孝經》，賜祭酒以下至諸生高第帛有差。 是時上大征天下名儒為學官，數幸國子監，使之講論，學生能明一大經已上皆得補官。 增築學舍千二百間，增學生滿三千二百六十員，自屯營飛騎，亦給博士，使授以經，有能通經者，聽得貢舉。 於是四方學者雲集京師，乃至高麗、百濟、新羅、高昌、吐蕃諸酋長亦遣子弟請入國學，升講筵者至八千餘人。 上以師說多門，章句繁雜，命孔穎達與諸儒撰定《五經》疏，謂之《正義》，令學者習之。
In the second month, on the day ding-chou, the emperor visited the Imperial Academy for the Confucian sacrifice. He had Libationer Kong Yingda expound the Classic of Filial Piety and awarded silk in graded amounts to Kong and the highest-ranked students. The emperor had summoned renowned scholars from across the empire to serve as academy instructors. He visited the Imperial Academy repeatedly to hear them lecture and debate, and any student who mastered at least one of the major classics was eligible for office. Twelve hundred new rooms were added and enrollment raised to 3,260. Even garrison troops and Flying Cavalry were assigned instructors in the classics, and any who mastered a text were allowed to sit for the examinations. Scholars from every quarter flocked to the capital. Even chieftains of Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla, Gaochang, and Tibet sent sons and younger kinsmen to enroll in the National Academy. More than eight thousand students attended the lectures. Because competing schools had proliferated and commentaries had grown tangled, the emperor commissioned Kong Yingda and other scholars to compile authoritative commentaries on the Five Classics — the Correct Meanings — and ordered students to study them.
77
壬午，上幸驪山溫湯； 辛卯，還宮。
On the day ren-wu the emperor visited the hot springs at Mount Li; On the day xin-mao he returned to the palace.
78
乙未，詔求近世名儒梁皇甫侃、褚仲都，周熊安生、沈重，陳沈文阿、周弘正、張譏，隋何妥、劉炫等子孫以聞，當加引擢。
On the day yi-wei an edict called for descendants of eminent scholars of recent dynasties — including Huangfu Kan and Chu Zhongdu of Liang, Xiong Ansheng and Shen Chong of Zhou, Shen Wena, Zhou Hongzheng, and Zhang Ji of Chen, and He Tuo and Liu Xuan of Sui — to be identified and given preferment.
79
三月，竇州道行軍總管黨仁弘擊羅竇反獠，破之，俘七千餘口。
In the third month, Campaign Commander Dang Renhong of the Daozhou Circuit attacked the rebel Liao tribes of Luozhou, routed them, and took more than seven thousand captives.
80
辛丑，流鬼國遣使入貢。 去京師萬五千里，濱於北海，南鄰靺鞨，未嘗通中國，重三譯而來。 上以其使者佘志為騎都尉。
On the day xin-chou envoys from Liugui arrived to pay tribute. Liugui lay fifteen thousand li from the capital, on the shores of the Northern Sea and bordering Mohe to the south. It had never before been in contact with the empire; the envoys required three successive interpreters. The emperor appointed its envoy She Zhi Cavalry Commandant.
81
丙辰，置寧朔大使以護突厥。
On the day bing-chen the post of Pacification Commissioner of the North was created to oversee the Turks.
82
夏，五月，壬寅，徙燕王靈夔為魯王。
In summer, the fifth month, on the day ren-yin, Prince of Yan Li Lingkai was reassigned as Prince of Lu.
83
上將幸洛陽，命將作大匠閻立德行清暑之地。 秋，八月，庚午，作襄城宮於汝州西山。 立德，立本之兄也。
The emperor planned a visit to Luoyang and ordered Master of Works Yan Lide to locate a site for a summer retreat. In autumn, the eighth month, on the day geng-wu, construction began on Xiangcheng Palace in the western hills of Ruzhou. Lide was the elder brother of the painter Yan Liben.
84
高昌王文泰聞唐兵起，謂其國人曰：「唐去我七千里，沙磧居其二千里，地無水草，寒風如刀，熱風如燒，安能致大軍乎！ 往吾入朝，見秦、隴之北，城邑蕭條，非復有隋之比。 今來伐我，發兵多則糧運不給； 三萬已下，吾力能制之。 當以逸待勞，坐收其弊。 若頓兵城下，不過二十日，食盡必走，然後從而虜之。 何足憂也！」 及聞唐兵臨磧口，憂懼不知所為，發疾卒，子智盛立。
When King Wenkai of Gaochang learned that Tang forces were marching, he told his people: "Tang is seven thousand li away, and two thousand of those are desert without water or grass. Cold winds cut like knives; hot winds scorch like fire. How could they possibly move a large army against us? When I last visited the court, the towns north of Qin and Long were hollow and desolate — nothing like they had been under the Sui. If they send a large force, they cannot supply it; anything under thirty thousand men, we can handle. We need only wait at ease while they exhaust themselves. If they camp beneath our walls, within twenty days their supplies will run out and they will retreat — then we can follow and seize them. What is there to fear?" But when he learned that Tang troops had reached the desert pass, fear overwhelmed him. He fell ill and died, and his son Qu Zhicheng succeeded him.
85
軍至柳谷，詗者言文泰刻日將葬，國人咸集於彼，諸將請襲之，侯君集曰：「不可，天子以高昌無禮，故使吾討之，今襲人於墟墓之間，非問罪之師也。」 於是鼓行而進，至田城，諭之，不下，詰朝攻之，及午而克，虜男女七千餘口。 以中郎將辛獠兒為前鋒，夜，趨其都城，高昌逆戰而敗，大軍繼至，抵其城下。
When the army reached Willow Valley, scouts reported that Wenkai's funeral was set for a fixed day and the whole kingdom would gather there. The generals urged a surprise attack. Hou Junji refused: "The Son of Heaven sent us because Gaochang showed contempt for the court. Striking mourners among the tombs is not how a punitive expedition conducts itself." The army marched forward to Tiancheng and called for surrender. The city refused. At dawn the next day they attacked; by noon it had fallen, and more than seven thousand people were taken. Middle General Xin Laor led the vanguard. By night they pressed on to the capital. Gaochang met them in battle and was routed. The main force arrived and encamped beneath the walls.
86
智盛致書於君集曰：「得罪於天子者，先王也，天罰所加，身已物故。 智盛襲位未幾，惟尚書憐察。」 君集報曰：「苟能悔過，當束手軍門。」 智盛猶不出。 君集命填塹攻之，飛石雨下，城中人皆室處。 又為巢車，高十丈，俯瞰城中。 有行人及飛石所中，皆唱言之。 先是，文泰與西突厥可汗相結，約有急相助； 可汗遣其葉護屯可汗浮圖城，為文泰聲援。 及君集至，可汗懼而西走千餘里，葉護以城降。 智盛窮蹙，癸酉，開門出降。 君集分兵略地，下其二十二城，戶八千四十六，口一萬七千七百，地東西八百里，南北五百里。
Zhicheng wrote to Hou Junji: "It was my father who offended the Son of Heaven. Heaven's judgment has fallen — he is already dead. I have only just succeeded him. I beg your mercy." Hou Junji replied: "If you truly repent, come out and surrender at the gate." Zhicheng still refused to surrender. Hou Junji ordered the moats filled and the assault begun. Stones rained from catapults; the townspeople hid indoors. Siege towers ten zhang high were built to overlook the city. Whenever anyone in the streets was struck by a falling stone, the attackers shouted the news from the towers. Wenkai had earlier allied with the Western Türk qaghan, pledging mutual aid in time of need; The qaghan had sent his yabgu to hold Qaghan Fotucheng in support of Gaochang. When Hou Junji arrived, the qaghan fled westward more than a thousand li in fear, and the yabgu surrendered the fortress. Driven to desperation, on the day gui-you Zhicheng opened the gates and surrendered. Hou Junji sent detachments to overrun the countryside, capturing twenty-two cities—eight thousand forty-six households and seventeen thousand seven hundred people—over a stretch eight hundred li from east to west and five hundred li from north to south.
87
上欲以高昌為州縣，魏徵諫曰：「陛下初即位，文泰夫婦首來朝，其後稍驕倨，故王誅加之。 罪止文泰可矣，宜撫其百姓，存其社稷，復立其子，則威德被於遐荒，四夷皆悅服矣。 今若利其土地以為州縣，則常須千餘人鎮守，數年一易，往來死者什有三四，供辦衣資，違離親戚，十年之後，隴右虛耗矣。 陛下終不得高昌撮粟尺帛以佐中國，所謂散有用以事無用。 臣未見其可。」 上不從，九月，以其地為西州，以可汗浮圖城為庭州，各置屬縣，乙卯，置安西都護府於交河城，留兵鎮之。
The emperor planned to annex Gaochang as prefectures and counties. Wei Zheng objected: "When Your Majesty first took the throne, Qu Wentai and his wife were the first to pay homage at court. Later they grew arrogant, and so royal punishment fell upon them. Wentai alone deserved punishment. Your Majesty should reassure the people, preserve their state, and restore his son to the throne. Then your majesty and mercy would reach the remotest lands, and all the frontier peoples would gladly submit. If you seize their land and turn it into prefectures and counties, you will need more than a thousand men to garrison it at all times, rotated every few years. Three or four in ten of those sent back and forth will die on the road. They must be clothed and supplied, torn from their families—and within ten years Longyou will be exhausted. Your Majesty would never see so much as a pinch of grain or a foot of cloth from Gaochang to aid the heartland. You would be scattering what is useful to sustain what is useless. I see no merit in it." The emperor would not be persuaded. In the ninth month he made the territory Xizhou Prefecture and Keshan Fotucheng Tingzhou Prefecture, each with its own subordinate counties. On the day yimao he established the Protectorate General of Anxi at Jiaohe and left troops to hold it.
88
君集虜高昌王智盛及其群臣豪傑而還。 於是唐地東極於海，西至焉耆，南盡林邑，北抵大漠，皆為州縣，凡東西九千五百一十里，南北一萬九百一十八里。
Hou Junji marched home with Gaochang's king Zhisheng and his ministers and notables as captives. Tang territory now ran east to the sea, west to Yanqi, south to Linyi, and north to the great desert—all organized as prefectures and counties. From east to west it measured nine thousand five hundred ten li; from north to south, ten thousand ninety-eight li.
89
侯君集之討高昌也，遣使約焉耆與之合勢，焉耆喜，聽命。 及高昌破，焉耆王詣軍門謁見君集，且言焉耆三城先為高昌所奪，君集奏並高昌所掠焉耆民悉歸之。
When Hou Junji marched against Gaochang, he sent envoys to Yanqi proposing a joint attack. Yanqi gladly agreed. After Gaochang fell, the king of Yanqi came to the camp to pay his respects to Hou Junji and reported that Gaochang had seized three Yanqi cities. Junji memorialized that all Yanqi people carried off by Gaochang should be restored.
90
冬，十月，甲戌，荊王元景等復表請封禪，上不許。
In winter, the tenth month, on the day jiaxu, Prince Jing of Jing, Yuan Jing, and others again petitioned for the feng and shan rites at Mount Tai. The emperor refused.
91
初，陳倉折衝都尉魯寧坐事繫獄，自恃高班，慢罵陳倉尉尉氏劉仁軌，仁軌杖殺之。 州司以聞。 上怒，命斬之，怒猶不解，曰：「何物縣尉，敢殺吾折衝！」 命追至長安面詰之。 仁軌曰：「魯寧對臣百姓辱臣如此，臣實忿而殺之。」 辭色自若。 魏徵侍側，曰：「陛下知隋之所以亡乎？」 上曰：「何也？」 征曰：「隋末，百姓強而陵官吏，如魯寧之比是也。」 上悅，擢仁軌為櫟陽丞。
Earlier, Lu Ning, Colonel of the Resolute Assault at Chencang, had been jailed for an offense. Counting on his high rank, he insulted Liu Renji, assistant magistrate of Chencang County in Weishi. Renji beat him to death with a staff. The prefectural authorities reported the matter. The emperor was furious and ordered Renji executed. Still not satisfied, he said: "What kind of county assistant dares kill my Colonel of the Resolute Assault!" He ordered Renji brought to Chang'an to answer for himself in person. Renji said: "Lu Ning humiliated me like this before the people. I was so enraged that I killed him." He spoke without the least sign of fear. Wei Zheng, standing at the emperor's side, said: "Does Your Majesty know why the Sui fell?" The emperor asked: "Why?" Wei Zheng said: "At the end of the Sui, commoners were strong enough to bully officials—men like Lu Ning were the reason." The emperor was pleased and promoted Renji to assistant magistrate of Liyang.
92
上將幸同州校獵，仁軌上言：「今秋大稔，民收穫者才一二，使之供承獵事，治道葺橋，動費一二萬功，實妨農事。 願少停鑾輿旬日，俟其畢務，則公私俱濟。」 上賜璽書嘉納之，尋遷新安令。 閏月，乙未，行幸同州； 庚戌，還宮。
The emperor was about to go to Tongzhou for a hunting expedition. Renji memorialized: "This autumn's harvest is abundant, yet the people have gathered only a tenth or two of the crop. If they must serve the hunt and repair roads and bridges, the work will cost ten or twenty thousand man-days and seriously interfere with farming. I beg Your Majesty to delay the journey ten days or so, until the harvest is in. Then both state and people will be served." The emperor sent an edict praising and accepting his advice, and soon appointed him magistrate of Xin'an. In the intercalary month, on the day yimao, the emperor traveled to Tongzhou. On the day gengxu he returned to the palace.
93
丙辰，吐蕃贊普遣其相祿東贊獻金五千兩及珍玩數百，以請婚。 上許以文成公主妻之。
On the day bingchen, the Tibetan ruler sent his minister Gar Tongtsen with five thousand taels of gold and several hundred precious objects to request a marriage alliance. The emperor agreed to give Princess Wencheng to him in marriage.
94
十一月，甲子朔，冬至，上祀南郊。 時《戊寅歷》以癸亥為朔，宣義郎李淳風表稱：「古歷分日起於子半，今歲甲子朔冬至，而故太史令傅仁均減餘稍多，子初為朔，遂差三刻，用乖天正，請更加考定。」 眾議以仁均定朔微差，淳風推校精密，請如淳風議，從之。
In the eleventh month, on the first day jiazi—the winter solstice—the emperor sacrificed at the Southern Altar. The Wuyin Calendar then placed the new moon on guihai. Gentleman for Promoting Righteousness Li Chunfeng memorialized: "Ancient calendars reckoned the day from the middle of the zi hour. This year the jiazi new moon fell on the winter solstice, but the late Director of the Astronomy Bureau Fu Renjun had trimmed the remainder too far, making the new moon fall at the start of the zi hour—a discrepancy of three quarters of an hour from the true celestial reckoning. I ask that this be examined and corrected." The assembled officials judged Renjun's new-moon calculation slightly off and Chunfeng's recalculation precise. They asked that Chunfeng's proposal be adopted, and the emperor agreed.
95
丁卯，禮官奏請加高祖父母服齊衰五月，嫡子婦服期，嫂、叔、弟妻、夫兄、舅皆服小功； 從之。
On the day dingmao, the ritual officials memorialized that mourning for the emperor's paternal grandparents be set at qi mourning for five months; that a principal son's wife wear one-year mourning; and that elder brother's wife, younger brother's wife, husband's elder brother, and maternal uncle all wear xiao gong mourning. The emperor approved.
96
丙子，百官復表請封禪，詔許之。 更命諸儒詳定儀注； 以太常卿韋挺等為封禪使。
On the day bingzi, the officials again petitioned for the feng and shan rites. An edict granted their request. He further ordered the scholars to work out the ritual regulations in detail. He appointed Minister of Rites Wei Ting and others commissioners for the feng and shan rites.
97
司門員外郎韋元方給給使過所稽緩，給使奏之； 上怒，出元方為華陰令。 魏徵諫曰：「帝王震怒，不可妄發。 前為給使，遂夜出敕書，事如軍機，誰不驚駭！ 況宦者之徒，古來難養，輕為言語，易生患害，獨行遠使，深非事宜，漸不可長，所宜深慎。」 上納其言。
Wei Yuanfang, Vice Director in the Department of the Gate, was slow in issuing travel permits to imperial messengers, and they reported him. The emperor was angry and demoted Yuanfang to magistrate of Huayin. Wei Zheng objected: "An emperor's anger must not be vented lightly. For a messenger's complaint, an edict went out in the middle of the night as if it were urgent military business. Who would not be terrified! Eunuchs have always been hard to control. They speak lightly and easily stir up trouble. Sending them alone on distant missions is deeply unwise. The practice must not be allowed to grow. Your Majesty should be very careful." The emperor took his advice.
98
尚書左丞韋悰句司農木橦價貴於民間，奏其隱沒。 上召大理卿孫伏伽書司農罪。 伏伽曰：「司農無罪。」 上怪，問其故，對曰：「只為官橦貴，所以私橦賤。 向使官橦賤，私橦無由賤矣。 但見司農識大體，不知其過也。」 上悟，屢稱其善； 顧謂韋悰曰：「卿識用不逮伏伽遠矣。」
Wei Cong, Left Assistant Director in the Department of State Affairs, investigated the Ministry of Revenue's cotton price and found it higher than the market rate. He memorialized that the ministry was concealing wrongdoing. The emperor summoned Chief Judge of the Court of Judicial Review Sun Fuga to draft charges against the Ministry of Revenue. Sun Fuga said: "The Ministry of Revenue is not guilty." The emperor was astonished and asked why. He replied: "Official cotton is priced high, so private cotton is cheap. If official cotton were priced low, private cotton could not be sold cheaply. The ministry understood the larger principle. That is no fault." The emperor saw the point and praised him repeatedly. Turning to Wei Cong, he said: "Your judgment is far inferior to Sun Fuga's."
99
十二月，丁酉，侯君集獻俘於觀德殿。 行飲至禮，大酺三日。 尋以智盛為左武衛將軍、金城郡公。 上得高昌樂工，以付太常，增九部樂為十部。
In the twelfth month, on the day dingyou, Hou Junji presented his captives at the Hall for Observing Virtue. The ceremony of drinking on arrival was performed, and the court feasted for three days. Soon afterward Zhisheng was made General of the Left Martial Guard and Duke of Jincheng. The emperor took Gaochang's musicians into the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and expanded the Nine Departments of Music to ten.
100
君集之破高昌也，私取其珍寶； 將士知之，競為盜竊，君集不能禁，為有司所劾，詔下君集等獄。 中書侍郎岑文本上疏，以為：「高昌昏迷，陛下命君集等討而克之，不逾旬日，並付大理。 雖君集等自掛網羅，恐海內之人疑陛下唯錄其過，而遺其功也。 臣聞命將出師，主於克敵，苟能克敵，雖貪可賞； 若其敗績，雖廉可誅。 是以漢之李廣利、陳湯，晉之王浚，隋之韓擒虎，皆負罪譴，人主以其有功，鹹受封賞。 由是觀之，將帥之臣，廉慎者寡，貪求者眾。 是以黃石公《軍勢》曰：『使智，使勇，使貪，使愚，故智者樂立其功，勇者好行其志，貪者急趨其利，愚者不計其死。』 伏願錄其微勞，忘其大過，使君集重升朝列，復備驅馳，雖非清貞之臣，猶得貪愚之將，斯則陛下雖屈法而德彌顯，君集等雖蒙宥而過更彰矣。」 上乃釋之。
When Hou Junji conquered Gaochang, he privately seized its treasures. The troops knew of it and plundered freely. Junji could not stop them. The responsible officials impeached him, and an edict sent Junji and his men to prison. Cen Wenben, Vice Director of the Secretariat, memorialized: "Gaochang was benighted. Your Majesty sent Hou Junji and his men to conquer it in less than ten days. Yet now they have all been handed over to the Court of Judicial Review. Though Junji and the others brought this on themselves, I fear people throughout the realm will suspect that Your Majesty records only their faults and forgets their achievements. I have heard that when generals are sent to war, the point is to defeat the enemy. If they defeat the enemy, even the greedy may be rewarded. If they are defeated, even the incorrupt may be punished. That is why in Han, Li Guangli and Chen Tang; in Jin, Wang Jun; in Sui, Han Qihu—all were guilty and censured, yet their rulers rewarded them for their achievements. Seen in this light, among commanders the incorrupt and cautious are few, the greedy and grasping many. Master Yellow Rock's Military Dispositions says: 'Employ the wise, the brave, the greedy, and the foolish. The wise delight in winning glory; the brave love to follow their will; the greedy hurry after profit; the foolish do not count the cost of death.' I beg Your Majesty to record their slight merit and overlook their great fault, restore Junji to court rank, and employ him again on campaign. Though not a pure and upright minister, he may still serve as a greedy and foolish general. Then Your Majesty, though bending the law, would show virtue all the more clearly, and Junji and the others, though pardoned, would have their faults made all the plainer." The emperor then released them.
101
又有告薛萬均私通高昌婦女者，萬均不服，內出高昌婦女付大理，與萬均對辯，魏徵諫曰：「臣聞『君使臣以禮，臣事君以忠。』 今遣大將軍與亡國婦女對辯帷箔之私，實則所得者輕，虛則所失者重。 昔秦穆飲盜馬之士，楚莊赦絕纓之罪，況陛下道高堯、舜，而曾二君之不逮乎！」 上遽釋之。
Someone also reported that Xue Wanjun had had an affair with a Gaochang woman. Wanjun denied it. The palace sent the woman to the Court of Judicial Review to confront him. Wei Zheng objected: "I have heard that 'the ruler employs his ministers with propriety; ministers serve their ruler with loyalty. To send a great general to argue with a woman of a conquered state over private matters behind the curtain—even if something real is gained, it is slight; the intangible loss is grave. Duke Mu of Qin once rewarded the man who stole his horse; King Zhuang of Chu pardoned the man who snapped his tassel. Your Majesty's virtue surpasses Yao and Shun—surely you need not fall short of those two rulers!" The emperor immediately released him.
102
侯君集馬病□顙，行軍總管趙元楷親以指沾其膿而嗅之，御史劾奏其諂，左遷括州刺史。
Hou Junji's horse had a maggot-infested sore on its forehead. Zhao Yuankai, Commander of the Campaign, dipped his finger in the pus and smelled it. The censor impeached him for fawning and demoted him to prefect of Kuozhou.
103
高昌之平也，諸將皆即受賞，行軍總管阿史那社爾以無敕旨，獨不受，及別敕既下，乃受之，所取唯老弱故弊而已。 上嘉其廉慎，以高昌所得寶刀及雜彩千段賜之。
When Gaochang was pacified, the generals all accepted rewards at once. Ashina She'er, Commander of the Campaign, refused because no imperial edict had yet been issued. Only after a separate edict arrived did he accept—and then took only what was old, weak, and worn out. The emperor praised his integrity and gave him a precious sword taken from Gaochang and a thousand bolts of assorted silks.
104
癸卯，上獵於樊川； 乙巳，還宮。
On the day guimao the emperor hunted at Fanchuan. On the day yisi he returned to the palace.
105
魏徵上疏，以為：「在朝群臣，當樞機之寄者，任之雖重，信之未篤，是以人或自疑，心懷苟且。 陛下寬於大事，急於小罪，臨時責怒，未免愛憎。 夫委大臣以大體，責小臣以小事，為治之道也。 今委之以職，則重大臣而輕小臣； 至於有事，則信小臣而疑大臣。 信其所輕，疑其所重，將求致治，其可得乎！ 若任以大官，求其細過，刀筆之吏，順旨承風，舞文弄法，曲成其罪。 自陳也，則以為心不伏辜； 不言也，則以為所犯皆實； 進退惟谷，莫能自明，則苟求免禍，矯偽成俗矣。」 上納之。
Wei Zheng memorialized: "Among the ministers who bear the weight of state affairs, responsibilities are heavy but trust is not yet deep. Some doubt themselves and keep their hearts in compromise. Your Majesty is lenient over great matters and harsh over small offenses, rebuking officials on the spot without escaping favor and dislike. Entrust great ministers with the larger principles and charge lesser officials with small matters—that is the way to govern. In appointing them to office, you honor great ministers and slight lesser ones. But when trouble arises, you trust lesser officials and doubt great ministers. Trusting those you slight and doubting those you honor—how can good order come of that! If you give them high office and then hunt for minute faults, the clerks will follow your mood, twist the law, and contrive their guilt. If they confess, it is taken as unwillingness to accept guilt. If they stay silent, it is taken that every charge is true. Whether they advance or retreat, they are trapped and cannot clear themselves. Then they seek only to escape harm, and pretense becomes the custom." The emperor accepted his advice.
106
上謂侍臣曰：「朕雖平定天下，其守之甚難。」 魏徵對曰：「臣聞戰勝易，守勝難，陛下之及此言，宗廟社稷之福也！」
The emperor told his attendants: "Although I have pacified the realm, keeping it is very hard." Wei Zheng replied: "I have heard that winning in battle is easy but winning in peace is hard. That Your Majesty can say this is a blessing for the ancestral temple and the state!"
107
上聞右庶子張玄素在東宮數諫爭，擢為銀青光祿大夫，行左庶子。 太子嘗於宮中擊鼓，玄素叩閣切諫； 太子出其鼓，對玄素毀之。 太子久不出見官屬，玄素諫曰：「朝廷選俊賢以輔至德，今動經時月，不見宮臣，將何以裨益萬一！ 且宮中唯有婦人，不知有能如樊姬者乎？」 太子不聽。
Hearing that Zhang Xuansu, Right Guardian of the Heir Apparent, had repeatedly remonstrated in the Eastern Palace, the emperor promoted him to Grand Master for Splendid Happiness with the Silver Seal and made him Acting Left Guardian of the Heir Apparent. The crown prince once beat drums in the palace. Xuansu came to the gate and remonstrated sharply. The crown prince brought out his drums and smashed them in front of Xuansu. The crown prince had long refused to see his palace officials. Xuansu remonstrated: "The court chose outstanding men to assist your supreme virtue. Months pass without your seeing your palace ministers. How can they help you in the least! And in the palace there are only women. Is there no one with the ability of Lady Fan Ji?" The crown prince would not listen.
108
玄素少為刑部令史，上嘗對朝臣問之曰：「卿在隋何官？」 對曰：「縣尉。」 又問：「未為尉時何官？」 對曰：「流外。」 又問：「何曹？」 玄素恥之，出閣殆不能步，色如死灰。 諫議大夫褚遂良上疏，以為：「君能禮其臣，乃能盡其力。 玄素雖出寒微，陛下重其才，擢至三品，翼贊皇儲，豈可復對群臣窮其門戶！ 棄宿昔之恩，成一朝之恥，使之鬱結於懷，何以責其伏節死義乎！」 上曰：「朕亦悔此問，卿疏深會我心。」 遂良，亮之子也。 孫伏伽與玄素在隋皆為令史，伏伽或於廣坐自陳往事，一無所隱。
Xuansu had begun as a clerk in the Ministry of Justice. The emperor once asked him before the court: "What office did you hold under the Sui?" He replied: "County assistant magistrate." The emperor asked again: "Before that, what office did you hold?" He replied: "Outside the regular ranks." He asked again: "Which bureau was that?" Xuan Su was mortified; leaving the hall he could barely walk, his face ashen. Remonstrance and Counsel Grandee Chu Suiliang memorialized: "When a ruler treats his ministers with courtesy, only then can he draw out their full loyalty. Though Xuan Su came from humble origins, Your Majesty valued his talent, raised him to the third rank, and set him to assist the crown prince—how can you again before the whole court probe the lowliness of his origins! You cast aside long-standing favor and inflicted the shame of a single morning—when he broods in his heart, how can you demand that he die for you in loyal sacrifice!" The emperor said: "I too regret this question; your memorial speaks exactly to my heart." Suiliang was the son of Chu Liang. Sun Fuga and Xuan Su had both been clerks under the Sui. Fuga would sometimes recount his past openly in a great assembly, concealing nothing.
109
戴州刺史賈崇以所部有犯十惡者，御史劾之。 上曰：「昔唐、虞大聖，貴為天子，不能化其子； 況崇為刺史，獨能使其民比屋為善乎！ 若坐是貶黜，則州縣互相掩蔽，縱捨罪人。 自今諸州有犯十惡者，勿劾刺史，但令明加糾察，如法施罪，庶以肅清奸惡耳。」
Daizhou Prefect Jia Chong was impeached by the censor because someone in his jurisdiction had committed one of the ten abominations. The emperor said: "The great sages Yao and Shun, though exalted as Sons of Heaven, could not reform their own sons; how can Chong, as a mere prefect, make every household under him virtuous! If he is punished for this, prefectures and counties will cover up for one another and let the guilty go free. From now on, when any prefecture has a case of the ten abominations, do not impeach the prefect; only require him to investigate clearly and punish according to law, so that wickedness may be purged."
110
上自臨治兵，以部陳不整，命大將軍張士貴杖中郎將等； 怒其杖輕，下士貴吏。 魏徵諫曰：「將軍之職，為國爪牙； 使之執杖，已非後法，況以杖輕下吏乎！」 上亟釋之。
The emperor personally oversaw a military drill. Because the ranks were disorderly, he ordered Great General Zhang Shigui to beat the palace guardsmen with the staff; angry that the beating was too light, he had Shigui handed over to the officials for punishment. Wei Zheng remonstrated: "A general is the fangs and claws of the state; to make him wield the staff is already improper—how much more to punish him because the beating was too light!" The emperor quickly released him.
111
言事者多請上親覽表奏，以防壅蔽。 上以問魏徵，對曰：「斯人不知大體，必使陛下一一親之，豈惟朝堂，州縣之事亦當親之矣。」
Many memorialists asked the emperor to read memorials personally, lest officials block and conceal them. The emperor asked Wei Zheng. He replied: "These men do not grasp the larger principle. If Your Majesty must read each memorial yourself, you will not stop at the court—affairs of every prefecture and county would have to be read personally as well."