1
資治通鑑第201卷卷第二百一
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 201.
2
【唐紀十七】起玄勣閹茂八月，盡上章困敦，凡八年有奇。
[Tang Records 17] The span runs from the eighth month of the Xuanji cycle year through the Kun Dun month of the Shangzhang cycle year—eight years and a fraction in all.
3
八月，壬寅，以許敬宗為太子少師、同東西台三品、知西台事。
In the eighth month, on renyin, Xu Jingzong was made Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent, Third Rank Associate of Both Eastern and Western Offices, with charge of Western Office business.
4
九月，戊寅，初令八品、九品衣碧。
In the ninth month, on wuyin, officials of the eighth and ninth ranks were for the first time required to wear green robes.
5
冬，十月，丁酉，上幸驪山溫湯，太子監國； 丁未，還宮。
In winter, the tenth month, on dingyou, the emperor went to the hot springs at Mount Li while the crown prince oversaw the government; on dingwei he returned to the palace.
6
庚戌，西台侍郎陝人上官儀同東西台三品。
On gengxu, Shangguan Yi of Shaan, Vice Director of the Western Office, was appointed Third Rank Associate of Both Eastern and Western Offices.
7
癸丑，詔以四年正月有事於泰山，仍以來年二月幸東都。
On guichou, an edict set rites at Mount Tai for the first month of the fourth year and a visit to the Eastern Capital for the second month of the following year.
8
左相許圉師之子奉輦直長自然，遊獵犯人田，田主怒，自然以鳴鏑射之。 圉師杖自然一百而不以聞。 田主詣司憲訟之，司憲大夫楊德裔不為治。 西台舍人袁公瑜遣人易姓名上封事告之，上曰：「圉師為宰相，侵陵百姓，匿而不言，豈非作威作福！」 圉師謝曰：「臣備位樞軸，以直道事陛下，不能悉允眾心，故為人所攻訐。 至於作威福者，或手握強兵，或身居重鎮； 臣以文吏，奉事聖明，惟知閉門自守，何敢作威福！」 上怒曰：「汝恨無兵邪！」 許敬宗曰：「人臣如此，罪不容誅。」 遽令引出。 詔特免官。 癸酉，立皇子旭輪為殷王。
Ziran, son of Left Chancellor Xu Yushi and a Bearer of the Imperial Carriage, trespassed on a farmer's land while hunting; when the farmer protested, Ziran shot at him with a whistling arrow. Yushi had Ziran flogged a hundred strokes but never reported the incident to the throne. The farmer brought suit before the Office of the Censor, but Censor-in-Chief Yang Deyi refused to take up the case. Yuan Gongyu, an attendant of the Western Office, had someone submit a sealed memorial under a false name; the emperor said, "As chancellor, Yushi bullies the people and hides the affair without reporting it—is that not the arrogance of one who makes his own might and fortune?" Yushi apologized: "I hold office at the heart of government and serve Your Majesty with integrity; I cannot please everyone, and so I am slandered. Those who truly lord it over others either command great armies or hold key frontier posts; I am only a civil clerk serving a sage sovereign; I know nothing but to keep my door shut and mind my own affairs—how could I play the tyrant!" The emperor flared up: "So you regret that you have no army!" Xu Jingzong said, "A minister who speaks like this deserves death beyond measure." He was immediately ordered out of court. An edict specially removed him from office. On guiyou, the emperor's son Xulun was created Prince of Yin.
9
十二月，戊申，詔以方討高麗、百濟，河北之民，勞於征役，其封泰山、幸東都並停。
In the twelfth month, on wushen, an edict noted that with campaigns against Goguryeo and Baekje still in progress and the people of Hebei exhausted by levies; both the Mount Tai feng rites and the visit to the Eastern Capital were suspended.
10
風海道總管蘇海政受詔討龜茲，敕興昔亡、繼往絕二可汗發兵與之俱。 至興昔亡之境，繼往絕素與興昔亡有怨，密謂海政曰：「彌射謀反，請誅之。」 時海政兵才數千，集軍吏謀曰：「彌射若反，我輩無□類，不如先事誅之。」 乃矯稱敕，令大總管繼帛數萬段賜可汗及諸酋長，興昔亡帥其徒受賜，海政悉收斬之。 其鼠尼施、拔塞干兩部亡走，海政與繼往絕追討，平之。 軍還，至疏勒南，弓月部復引吐蕃之眾來，欲與唐兵戰； 海政以師老不敢戰，以軍資賂吐蕃，約和而還。 由是諸部落皆以興昔亡為冤，各有離心。 繼往絕尋卒，十姓無主，有阿史那都支及李遮匐收其餘眾附於吐蕃。
Su Haizheng, commander of the Fenghai route, was ordered to campaign against Kucha; the khans Xingxiwang and Jiwangjue were commanded to mobilize and join him. On reaching Xingxiwang's territory, Jiwangjue—who had long been at odds with him—privately told Haizheng, "Mishe is plotting revolt; put him to death." Haizheng had only a few thousand men; he called his officers together and said, "If Mishe turns on us, none of us will live—we should kill him first." He forged an imperial order in the Grand Commander's name, offering tens of thousands of bolts of silk to the khan and the chiefs; when Xingxiwang brought his men forward to receive them, Haizheng seized and executed them all. The Shunishi and Basagan tribes fled; Haizheng and Jiwangjue pursued them and brought them to heel. On the march home, south of Shule, the Gongyue tribe again led Tibetan troops against the Tang forces; Haizheng's troops were exhausted and he dared not fight; he bought off the Tibetans with army supplies, made peace, and withdrew. After this the tribes all felt Xingxiwang had been wronged, and their loyalty began to fray. Jiwangjue soon died; with no leader over the Ten Surnames, Ashina Duzhi and Li Zhefu rallied the survivors and submitted to Tibet.
11
是歲，西突厥寇庭州，刺史來濟將兵拒之，謂其眾曰：「吾久當死，幸蒙存全以至今日，當以身報國！」 遂不釋甲冑，赴敵而死。
That year the Western Turks attacked Ting Prefecture; Prefect Lai Ji led the defense and told his men, "I should have died long ago; only grace spared me until now—I will repay the realm with my life!" Without doffing his armor, he charged the enemy and was killed.
12
春，正月，左武衛將軍鄭仁泰討鐵勒叛者餘種，悉平之。
In spring, the first month, General Zheng Rentai of the Left Wuwei Guard campaigned against the remaining Tiele rebels and subdued them all.
13
乙酉，以李義府為右相，仍知選事。
On yiyou, Li Yifu was made Right Chancellor and kept charge of official appointments.
14
二月，徙燕然都護府於回紇，更名瀚海都護； 徙故瀚海都護於雲中古城，更名雲中都護。 以磧為境，磧北州府皆隸瀚海，磧南隸雲中。
In the second month, the Yanran Protectorate was moved to Uyghur territory and renamed the Hanhai Protectorate; the former Hanhai Protectorate was relocated to the old city of Yunzhong and renamed the Yunzhong Protectorate. The desert marked the boundary: all prefectures north of it fell under Hanhai, those south under Yunzhong.
15
三月，許圉師再貶虔州刺史，楊德裔以阿黨流庭州，圉師子文思、自然並免官。
In the third month, Xu Yushi was demoted again to prefect of Qian; Yang Deyi was exiled to Ting for factional conduct; Yushi's sons Wensi and Ziran were both dismissed.
16
右相河間郡公李義府典選，恃中宮之勢，專以賣官為事，銓綜無次，怨讟盈路，上頗聞之，從容謂義府曰：「卿子及婿頗不謹，多為非法。 我尚為卿掩覆，卿宜戒之！」 義府勃然變色，頸、頰俱張，曰：「誰告陛下？」 上曰：「但我言如是，何必就我索其所從得邪！」 義府殊不引咎，緩步而去。 上由是不悅。
Li Yifu, Duke of Hejian and Right Chancellor, ran the civil service roster; leaning on the empress's influence, he sold offices wholesale, appointments were chaotic, and outrage filled the streets. The emperor had heard of it and said gently, "Your sons and sons-in-law are rather reckless and break the law often. I am still covering for you—you should rein them in!" Yifu flushed dark red, his neck and cheeks swelling, and demanded, "Who told Your Majesty?" The emperor said, "I speak as I choose—why must you demand my sources!" Yifu offered no apology and strolled away. The emperor's displeasure only grew.
17
望氣者杜元紀謂義府所居第有獄氣，宜積錢二十萬緡以厭之，義府信之，聚斂尤急。 義府居母喪，朔望給哭假，輒微服與元紀出城東，登古塚，候望氣色，或告義府窺覘災眚，陰有異圖。 又遣其子右司議郎津召長孫無忌之孫延，受其錢七百緡，除延司津監，右金吾倉曹參軍楊行穎告之。 夏，四月，乙丑，下義府獄，遣司刑太常伯劉祥道與御史、詳刑共鞫之，仍命司空李勣監焉。 事皆有實。 戊子，詔義府除名，流巂州； 津除名，流振州； 諸子及婿並除名，流庭州。 朝野莫不稱慶。
The geomancer Du Yuanji told Yifu his mansion bore the aura of imprisonment and that he should hoard two hundred thousand strings of cash to dispel it; Yifu believed him and extorted money more ruthlessly than ever. During mourning for his mother, on the days when leave for weeping was granted, Yifu would dress in plain clothes and go east of the city with Yuanji to climb an old tomb and read the heavens; someone accused him of watching for portents of calamity and plotting treason in secret. He also had his son Jin, a Right Secretariat discussant, summon Yan, grandson of Zhangsun Wuji, take seven hundred strings of cash from him, and appoint him River Pass superintendent; Yang Xingying, an officer of the Right Jinwu Guard, reported it. In summer, the fourth month, on yichou, Yifu was imprisoned; Liu Xiangdao of the Ministry of Punishments was sent with censors and judicial reviewers to try the case, with Minister of Works Li Ji ordered to oversee. Every charge proved true. On wuzi, an edict struck Yifu from the registers and banished him to Xizhou; Jin was struck from the rolls and sent to Zhen Prefecture; all his sons and sons-in-law were struck from the rolls and exiled to Ting Prefecture. Court and country alike rejoiced.
18
或作河間道行軍元帥劉祥道破銅山大賊李義府露布，膀之通衢。 義府多取人奴婢，及敗，各散歸其家，故其露布云：「混奴婢而亂放，各識家而競入。」 乙未，置雞林大都督府於新羅國，以金法敏為之。
Someone wrote a mock victory bulletin—"Campaign Marshal Liu Xiangdao of the Hejian route crushes the great bandit Li Yifu of Copper Mountain"—and posted it in the streets. Yifu had seized many people's slaves; when he fell they scattered home, so the bulletin joked, "Slaves and maids released in a confused herd—each knew its master's door and rushed inside." On yiwei, the Jilin Grand Protectorate was set up in Silla, with Kim Beopmin appointed to head it.
19
丙午，蓬萊宮含元殿成，上始移仗居之，更命故宮曰西內。 戊申，始御紫宸殿聽政。
On bingwu, the Hanyuan Hall of Penglai Palace was finished; the emperor moved the court there and renamed the old palace the Western Inner Palace. On wushen, he held his first audience in the Zichen Hall.
20
五月，壬午，柳州蠻酋吳君解反； 遣冀州長史劉伯英、右武衛將軍馮士翽發嶺南兵討之。
In the fifth month, on renwu, Wu Junjie, a tribal chief in Liuzhou, rose in revolt; Liu Boying, chief administrator of Ji Prefecture, and General Feng Shixie of the Right Wuwei Guard were dispatched to raise Lingnan troops against him.
21
吐蕃與吐谷渾互相攻，各遣使上表論曲直，更來求援； 上皆不許。
Tibet and Tuyuhun fought each other; each sent envoys with memorials pleading its case and again asked for Tang support; the emperor refused both sides.
22
吐谷渾之臣素和貴有罪，逃奔吐蕃，具言吐谷渾虛實，吐蕃發兵擊吐谷渾，大破之，吐谷渾可汗曷缽與弘化公主帥數千帳棄國走依涼州，請徙居內地。 上以涼州都督鄭仁泰為青海道行軍大總管，帥右武衛將軍獨狐卿雲、辛文陵等分屯涼、鄯二州，以備吐蕃。 六月，戊申，又以左武衛大將軍蘇定方為安集大使，節度諸軍，為吐谷渾之援。
Suhegui, a Tuyuhun minister who had committed a crime, fled to Tibet and revealed Tuyuhun's full situation; Tibet marched against Tuyuhun and crushed them. Khan Hubo and Princess Honghua abandoned their realm with several thousand tents, fled to Liang Prefecture, and asked to be resettled within Tang territory. The emperor made Zheng Rentai, commander of Liang Prefecture, Grand Commander of the Qinghai route, with Generals Dugu Qingyun and Xin Wenling of the Right Wuwei Guard to hold Liang and Shan in readiness against Tibet. In the sixth month, on wushen, Su Dingfang, grand general of the Left Wuwei Guard, was also appointed Pacification Commissioner to command all forces in support of Tuyuhun.
23
吐蕃祿東贊屯青海，遣使者論仲琮入見，表陳吐谷渾之罪，且請和親。 上不許，遣左衛郎將劉文祥使於吐蕃，降璽書責讓之。
Gar Tongtsen of Tibet encamped at Qinghai and sent Lun Zhongcong to court with a memorial denouncing Tuyuhun and asking for a marriage alliance. The emperor refused and sent Commandant Liu Wenxiang of the Left Guard to Tibet with an imperial letter of rebuke.
24
秋，八月，戊申，上以海東累歲用兵，百姓困於徵調，士卒戰溺死者甚眾，詔罷三十六州所造船，遣司元太常伯竇德玄等分詣十道，問人疾苦，黜陟官吏。 德玄，毅之曾孫也。
In autumn, the eighth month, on wushen, with years of war in the eastern sea region, the people worn down by levies, and vast numbers of soldiers lost in battle and at sea, an edict halted shipbuilding in thirty-six prefectures and sent Dou Dexuan and others to the ten circuits to hear grievances and judge officials. Dexuan was a great-grandson of Dou Yi.
25
九月，戊午，熊津道行軍總管、右威衛將軍孫仁師等破百濟餘眾及倭兵於白江，拔其周留城。
In the ninth month, on wuwu, Sun Renshi, campaign commander of the Xiongjin route and general of the Right Weiwei Guard, defeated Baekje remnants and Japanese forces at the Baek River and captured Zhouliu.
26
初，劉仁願、劉仁軌既克真峴城，詔孫仁師將兵浮海助之。 百濟王豐南引倭人以拒唐兵。 仁師與仁願、仁軌合兵，勢大振。 諸將以加林城水陸之沖，欲先攻之，仁軌曰：「加林險固，急攻則傷士卒，緩之則曠日持久。 周留城，虜之巢穴，群凶所聚，除惡務本，宜先攻之，若克周留，諸城自下。」 於是仁師、仁願與新羅王法敏將陸軍以進，仁軌與別將杜爽、撫餘隆將水軍及糧船自熊津入白江，以會陸軍，同趣周留城。 遇倭兵於白江口，四戰皆捷，焚其舟四百艘，煙炎灼天，海水皆赤。 百濟王豐脫身奔高麗，王子忠勝、忠志等帥眾降，百濟盡平，唯別帥遲受信據任存城，不下。
Earlier, after Liu Renyuan and Liu Rengui captured Zhenxian, Sun Renshi was ordered to bring troops by sea to their aid. King Buyeo Pung of Baekje brought in Japanese troops to resist the Tang. Renshi joined Renyuan and Rengui, and their combined strength surged. The generals wanted to strike Jialin first, a hub of land and sea routes; Rengui said, "Jialin is strong—pressing the attack will cost men, while a slow siege will drag on forever. Zhouliu is the enemy's nest where the ringleaders gather; to root out evil you must strike the core. Take Zhouliu first, and the rest will fall of their own accord." Renshi and Renyuan advanced overland with Silla's King Beopmin; Rengui, with Du Shuang and Buyu Yong, led the fleet and supply ships from Xiongjin into the Baek River to join the land force, and all converged on Zhouliu. At the mouth of the Baek River they met the Japanese fleet; four battles brought four victories, four hundred ships were burned, smoke blotted out the sky, and the sea ran red. King Pung fled alone to Goguryeo; princes Chungsung, Chungji, and others surrendered with their followers; Baekje was fully pacified—only the detached commander Chi Suksin still held Rencun and refused to yield.
27
初，百濟西部人黑齒常之，長七尺餘，驍勇有謀略，仕百濟為達率兼郡將，猶中國刺史也。 蘇定方克百濟，常之帥所部隨眾降。 定方縶其王及太子，縱兵劫掠，壯者多死。 常之懼，與左右十餘人遁歸本部，收集亡散，保任存山，結柵以自固，旬月間歸附者三萬餘人。 定方遣兵攻之，常之拒戰，唐兵不利； 常之復取二百餘城，定方不能克而還。 常之與別部將沙吒相如各據險以應福信，百濟既敗，皆帥其眾降。 劉仁軌使常之、相如自將其眾，取任存城，仍以糧仗助之。 孫仁帥曰：「此屬獸心，何可信也！」 仁軌曰：「吾觀二人皆忠勇有謀，敦信重義； 但向者所托，未得其人，今正是其感激立效之時，不用疑也。」 遂給其糧仗，分兵隨之，攻拔任存城，遲受信棄妻子，奔高麗。
Earlier there was Heukchi Sangji of western Baekje, over seven chi tall, fierce and shrewd, who had served Baekje as a dalsol and commandery general—the rough equivalent of a Tang prefect. When Su Dingfang conquered Baekje, Sangji surrendered with his men along with the rest. Dingfang bound the king and crown prince and let his troops loot freely; many able-bodied men died. Sangji fled in fear with a dozen companions to his home region, rallied the scattered, fortified Mount Rencun with palisades, and within a month had gathered more than thirty thousand followers. Dingfang sent troops against him; Sangji fought back and the Tang forces came off badly; Sangji recovered more than two hundred towns; Dingfang could not break him and withdrew. Sangji and the detached commander Shazha Xiangru had each held strong positions in support of Fukushin; after Baekje's fall, both surrendered with their men. Liu Rengui sent Sangji and Xiangru to lead their own men against Rencun and supplied them with grain and weapons. Sun Renshi said, "These men have the hearts of beasts—how can we trust them!" Rengui replied, "I see in both men loyalty, courage, and shrewdness, with a deep sense of honor; only before they were given to the wrong commanders. Now is the moment for them to prove themselves in gratitude—there is no reason to doubt them." He supplied them with grain and arms, detached troops to accompany them, and they stormed Rencun; Chi Suksin abandoned his family and fled to Goguryeo.
28
詔劉仁軌將兵鎮百濟，召孫仁帥、劉仁願還。 百濟兵火之餘，比屋凋殘，殭屍滿野。 仁軌始命瘞骸骨，籍戶口，理村聚，署官長，通道塗，立橋樑，補堤堰，復陂塘，課耕桑，賑貧乏，養孤老，立唐社稷，頒正朔及廟諱； 百濟大悅，闔境各安其業。 然後修屯田，儲糗糧，訓士卒，以圖高麗。
An edict put Liu Rengui in command of the Baekje garrison and recalled Sun Renshi and Liu Renyuan. After the fires of war, house after house lay in ruins and unburied dead filled the fields. Rengui ordered the dead buried, households registered, villages reorganized, local officials appointed, roads cleared, bridges built, dikes and ponds restored, farming encouraged, the poor relieved, orphans and the aged cared for, Tang altars established, and the imperial calendar and taboo names proclaimed; Baekje rejoiced, and throughout the land people returned to their livelihoods. Then he opened military colonies, stockpiled grain, trained troops, and turned his sights on Goguryeo.
29
劉仁願至京帥，上問之曰：「卿在海東，前後奏事，皆合機宜，復有文理。 卿本武人，何能如是？」 仁願曰：「此皆劉仁軌所為，非臣所及也。」 上悅，加仁軌六階，正除帶方州刺史，為築第長安，厚賜其妻子，遣使繼璽書勞勉之。 上官儀曰：「仁軌遭黜削而能盡忠，仁願秉節制而能推賢，皆可謂君子矣。」
When Liu Renyuan reached the capital, the emperor asked him, "In the eastern campaigns your memorials were always timely and well written. You are a soldier by trade—how did you manage that?" Renyuan said, "That was all Liu Rengui's work—not mine." The emperor was delighted, promoted Rengui six ranks, formally appointed him prefect of Daifang, built him a mansion in Chang'an, richly rewarded his family, and sent envoys with repeated letters of commendation. Shangguan Yi said, "Rengui remained loyal after demotion; Renyuan, holding command, praised his better—both are true gentlemen."
30
冬，十月，辛巳朔，詔太子每五日於光順門內視諸司奏事，其事之小者，皆委太子決之。
In winter, the tenth month, on the new moon of xinsi, an edict required the crown prince every five days to review ministry memorials within the Guangshun Gate; minor matters were left entirely to his decision.
31
十二月，庚子，詔改來年元。
In the twelfth month, on gengzi, an edict proclaimed a new reign title for the following year.
32
壬寅，以安西都護高賢為行軍總管，將兵擊弓月以救于闐。
On renyin, Gao Xian, protector of Anxi, was appointed campaign commander to strike the Gongyue and relieve Khotan.
33
是歲，大食擊波斯、拂菻，破之； 南侵婆羅門，吞滅諸胡，勝兵四十餘萬。
That year the Arabs attacked Persia and Byzantium and overran them; marched south into India, swallowed the western realms, and fielded more than four hundred thousand battle-ready troops.
34
春，正月，甲子，改雲中都護府為單于大都護府，以殷王旭輪為單于大都護。
In spring, the first month, on jiazi, the Yunzhong Protectorate became the Chanyu Grand Protectorate, with Prince Yin Xulun named Grand Protector of the Chanyu.
35
初，李靖破突厥，遷三百帳於雲中城，阿史德氏為其長。 至是，部落漸眾，阿史德氏詣闕，請如胡法立親王為可汗以統之。 上召見，謂曰：「今之可汗，古之單于也。」 故更為單于都護府，而使殷王遙領之。
Earlier, after Li Jing's defeat of the Turks, three hundred tents were resettled at Yunzhong, headed by the Ashide clan. By then the tribe had grown large; the Ashide came to court and asked that an imperial prince be made khan in the barbarian fashion to rule them. The emperor received them and said, "The khan of today is the chanyu of antiquity." Hence the office was renamed the Chanyu Protectorate, with the Prince of Yin holding the title in absentia.
36
二月，戊子，上行幸萬年宮。
In the second month, on wuzi, the emperor visited the Wannian Palace.
37
夏，四月，壬子，衛州刺史道孝王元慶薨。
In summer, the fourth month, on renzi, Prince Dao Xiao Yuanqing, prefect of Wei, died.
38
丙午，魏州刺史郇公孝協坐贓，賜死。 司宗卿隴西王傅義等奏孝協父叔良死王事，孝協無兄弟，恐絕嗣。 上曰：「畫一之法，不以親疏異制，苟害百姓，雖皇太子亦所不赦。 孝協有一子，何憂乏祀乎！」 孝協竟自盡於第。
On bingwu, Duke of Xun Xiaoxie, prefect of Wei, was convicted of graft and ordered to take his own life. Fu Yi, Prince of Longxi and director of the imperial clan, and others argued that Xiaoxie's father Shuliang had died in imperial service, that Xiaoxie had no brothers, and that the line might die out. The emperor said, "The law is one for all, kinship notwithstanding; whoever harms the people—even the crown prince—will not be spared. Xiaoxie has a son—why fear the ancestral rites will lapse!" Xiaoxie ultimately took his own life at home.
39
五月，戊申朔，遂州刺史許悼王孝薨。
In the fifth month, on the new moon of wushen, Prince Xu Dao Xiao, prefect of Suizhou, died.
40
乙卯，於昆明之弄棟川置姚州都督府。
On yimao, the Yao Prefecture commandery was established on the Nongdong River in Kunming.
41
秋，七月，丁未朔，詔以三年正月有事於岱宗。
In autumn, the seventh month, on the new moon of dingwei, an edict set rites at Mount Tai for the first month of the third year.
42
八月，丙子，車駕還京師，幸舊宅，留七月； 壬午，還蓬萊宮。
In the eighth month, on bingzi, the emperor returned to the capital, visited his old home, and stayed seven months; on renwu he returned to Penglai Palace.
43
丁亥，以司列太常伯劉祥道兼右相，大司憲竇德玄為司元太常伯、檢校左相。 冬，十月，庚辰，檢校熊津都督劉仁軌上言：「臣伏睹所存戍兵，疲羸者多，勇健者少，衣服貧敝，唯思西歸，無心展效。 臣問以『往在海西，見百姓人人應募，爭欲從軍，或請自辦衣糧，謂之「義征」，何為今日士卒如此？』 鹹言：『今日官府與曩時不同，人心亦殊。 曩時東西征役，身沒王事，並蒙敕使弔祭，追贈官爵，或以死者官爵回授之弟，凡渡遼海者，皆賜勳一轉。 自顯慶五年以來，徵人屢經渡海，官不記錄，其死者亦無人誰何。 州縣每發百姓為兵，其壯而富者，行錢參逐，皆亡匿得免； 貧者身雖老弱，被發即行。 頃者破百濟及平壤苦戰，當是時，將帥號令，許以勳賞，無所不至； 及達西岸，惟聞枷鎖推禁，奪賜破勳，州縣追呼，無以自存，公私因弊，不可悉言。 以是昨發海西之日，已有逃亡自殘者，非獨至海外而然也。 又，本因征役勳級以為榮寵； 而比年出征，皆使勳官挽引，勞苦與白丁無殊，百姓不願從軍，率皆由此。』 臣又問：『曩日士卒留鎮五年，尚得支濟，今爾等始經一年，何為如此單露？』 鹹言：『初發家日，惟令備一年資裝； 今已二年，未有還期。』 臣檢校軍士所留衣，今冬僅可充事，來秋以往，全無準擬。 陛下留兵海外，欲殄滅高麗。 百濟、高麗，舊相黨援，倭人雖遠，亦共為影響，若無鎮兵，還成一國。 今既資戍守，又置屯田，所借士卒同心同德，而眾有此議，何望成功！ 自非有所更張，厚加慰勞，明賞重罰以起士心，若止如今日已前處置，恐師眾疲老，立效無日。 逆耳之事，或無人為陛下盡言，故臣披露肝膽，昧死奏陳。」
On dinghai, Liu Xiangdao, minister of rites for the array, was also appointed Right Chancellor; Grand Censor Dou Dexuan became Minister of Revenue and acting Left Chancellor. In winter, the tenth month, on gengchen, Acting Commander Liu Rengui of Xiongjin reported: "I find many of the garrison troops worn and weak, few fit for battle; their clothes are ragged; they think only of going home and have no will to fight. I asked, 'In the past on the western coast everyone rushed to enlist, some even offering to supply their own gear—volunteer campaigns—why are today's soldiers so unlike that?' They all said, 'The government today is not what it was, and men's hearts have changed.' In the old days, men who died on campaign received imperial mourners, posthumous honors, or their rank passed to a brother; everyone who crossed the Liao Sea earned a merit step. Since the fifth year of Xianqing, conscripts have crossed the sea again and again without official record, and no one answers for the dead. When counties draft soldiers, the strong and wealthy bribe the levy officers and hide to escape; the poor, however old or frail, are marched off the moment the summons comes. In the recent hard fighting against Baekje and Pyongyang, commanders promised every sort of merit reward; but once they reached the western shore they met only shackles, stripped rewards, voided merit rolls, and county collectors hounding them—public and private ruin beyond words. So even when they left the western coast, men were already fleeing or maiming themselves—not only overseas. Moreover, campaign merit was once a mark of honor; but lately even men of merit are made to haul supply carts like common conscripts—that is chiefly why the people refuse to serve.' I also asked, 'Soldiers used to garrison five years and still manage; you have been here only one year—why are you so destitute?' They said, 'When we left home we were told to bring only one year's supplies; it has been two years with no word of return.' I have inspected the soldiers' remaining clothing: it will barely last this winter; after next autumn there is nothing. Your Majesty keeps troops overseas to destroy Goguryeo. Baekje and Goguryeo have long been allies; though Japan is distant, it acts with them—without a garrison they would reunite as one power. You rely on garrisons and military colonies and need soldiers of one mind—yet they speak like this; how can you hope to succeed! Unless you reform policy, comfort the troops generously, and enforce clear rewards and stern punishments, the army will grow old and useless before it ever wins anything. Harsh truths may go unspoken at court; therefore I lay bare my heart and risk my life to report them."
44
上深納其言，遣右威衛將軍劉仁願將兵渡海以代舊鎮之兵，仍敕仁軌俱還。 仁軌謂仁願曰：「國家懸軍海外，欲以經略高麗，其事非易。 今收穫未畢，而軍吏與士卒一時代去，軍將又歸； 夷人新服，眾心未安，必將生變。 不如且留舊兵，漸令收穫，辦具資糧，節級遣還； 軍將且留鎮撫，未可還也。」 仁願曰：「吾前還海西，大遭讒謗，雲吾多留兵眾，謀據海東，幾不免禍。 今日唯知准敕，豈敢擅有所為！」 仁軌曰：「人臣苟利於國，知無不為，豈恤其私！」 乃上表陳便宜，自請留鎮海東。 上從之。 仍以扶餘隆為熊津都尉，使招輯其餘眾。
The emperor took his advice to heart, sent Liu Renyuan of the Right Weiwei Guard across the sea to relieve the old garrison, and ordered Rengui home as well. Rengui told Renyuan, "The state has hung its army overseas to master Goguryeo—that is no easy task. The harvest is not in, yet officers and men are to be replaced all at once and the commander recalled; the barbarians have only just submitted and are not yet settled—trouble is sure to follow. Better to keep the old troops, finish the harvest, gather supplies, and rotate men home in stages; the commander should stay to keep order—you must not leave yet." Renyuan said, "When I last came back from the west coast I was slandered for keeping too many troops and plotting to seize the eastern sea—I nearly came to ruin. Today I follow the edict alone—how dare I act on my own!" Rengui said, "A minister who serves the state does what must be done without thought for himself!" He then memorialized on what was expedient and asked to remain in command of the eastern sea. The emperor agreed. Buyu Yong was also made commandant of Xiongjin to rally the remaining people.
45
初，武-{后}-能屈身忍辱，奉順上意，故上排群議而立之； 及得志，專作威福，上欲有所為，動為-{后}-所制，上不勝其忿。 有道士郭行真，出入禁中，嘗為厭勝之術，宦者王伏勝發之。 上大怒，密召西召侍郎、同東西台三品上官儀議之。 儀因言：「皇后專恣，海內所不與，請廢之。」 上意亦以為然，即命儀草詔。
Earlier, Empress Wu had humbled herself and endured slights, deferring to the emperor's wishes, and so he overrode opposition to make her empress; once secure she ruled arbitrarily; whatever the emperor wished to do the empress blocked, until his anger could no longer be contained. A Daoist named Guo Xingzhen had been entering the inner palace and practicing sorcery; the eunuch Wang Fusheng exposed him. The emperor was furious and secretly summoned Shangguan Yi, Vice Director of the Western Office and Third Rank Associate, to discuss the matter. Yi said, "The empress is tyrannical—the realm will not bear her; depose her." The emperor agreed and ordered Yi to draft the deposition edict.
46
左右奔告於-{后}-，-{后}-遽詣上自訴。 詔草猶在上所，上羞縮不忍，復待之如初； 猶恐-{后}-怨怒，因紿之曰：「我初無此心，皆上官儀教我。」 儀先為陳王咨議，與王伏勝俱事故太子忠，-{后}-於是使許敬宗誣奏儀、伏勝與忠謀大逆。 十二月，丙戌，儀下獄，與其子庭芝、王伏勝皆死，籍沒其家。 戊子，賜忠死於流所。 右相劉祥道坐與儀善，罷政事，為司禮太常伯，左肅機鄭欽泰等朝士流貶者甚眾，皆坐與儀交通故也。
Attendants ran to warn the empress; she rushed to the emperor to plead her case. The draft was still in his hands; ashamed and unable to go through with it, he treated her as before; still fearing her wrath, he lied: "I never meant it—Shangguan Yi put me up to it." Yi had been adviser to the Prince of Chen; he and Wang Fusheng had both served the former crown prince Zhong; the empress had Xu Jingzong accuse them of plotting treason with Zhong. In the twelfth month, on bingxu, Yi was imprisoned; he, his son Tingzhi, and Wang Fusheng were all executed and their property confiscated. On wuzi, Zhong was ordered to take his own life in exile. Right Chancellor Liu Xiangdao, punished for friendship with Yi, left the government and became Minister of Rites; Zheng Qintai and many courtiers were exiled—all for ties to Yi.
47
自是上每視事，則-{后}-垂簾於後，政無大小皆與聞之。 天下大權，悉歸中宮，黜陟、生殺，決於其口，天子拱手而已，中外謂之二聖。
From then on, whenever the emperor held court the empress sat behind a curtain and heard every matter, large or small. All power passed to the inner palace; promotion, demotion, life, and death were hers to decree while the emperor stood idle; court and country spoke of the Two Sages.
48
太子右中護、檢校西台侍郎樂彥瑋、西台侍郎孫處約並同東西台三品。
Yue Yanwei, crown prince's right central guard and acting vice director of the Western Office, and Sun Chuyue, vice director of the Western Office, were all appointed Third Rank Associates of Both Eastern and Western Offices.
49
春，正月，丁卯，吐蕃遣使入見，請復與吐谷渾和親，仍求赤水地畜牧，上不許。
In spring, the first month, on dingmao, Tibet sent envoys asking to renew ties with Tuyuhun and for pasture at Chishui; the emperor refused.
50
二月，壬午，車駕發京師，丁酉，至合璧宮。
In the second month, on renwu, the emperor left the capital; on dingyou he reached Hebi Palace.
51
上語及隋煬帝，謂侍臣曰：「煬帝拒諫而亡，朕常以為戒，虛心求諫； 而竟無諫者，何也？」 李勣對曰：「陛下所為盡善，群臣無得而諫。」
Speaking of Emperor Yang of Sui, the emperor told his ministers, "Yang perished because he rejected counsel; I take that as my warning and welcome frank advice; yet no one remonstrates—why?" Li Ji replied, "Your Majesty does nothing that admits of criticism—the ministers have nothing to remonstrate about."
52
三月，甲寅，以兼司戎太常伯-{姜}-恪同東西台三品。 恪，寶誼之子也。
In the third month, on jiayin, Jiang Ke, acting minister of war, was appointed Third Rank Associate of Both Eastern and Western Offices. Ke was a son of Jiang Baoyi.
53
辛未，東都乾元殿成。 閏月，壬申朔，車駕至東都。
On xinwei, the Qianyuan Hall in the Eastern Capital was completed. In the intercalary month, on the new moon of renshen, the emperor reached the Eastern Capital.
54
疏勒弓月引吐蕃侵于闐。 敕西州都督崔知辯、左武衛將軍曹繼叔將兵救之。
The Gongyue of Shule led Tibet in an attack on Khotan. Cui Zhibian, commander of Xizhou, and Cao Jishu, general of the Left Wuwei Guard, were ordered to relieve Khotan.
55
夏，四月，戊辰，左侍極陸敦信檢校右相； 西台侍郎孫處約、太子右中護、檢校西台侍郎樂彥瑋並罷政事。
In summer, the fourth month, on wuchen, Lu Dunxin of the Left Shiji was made acting Right Chancellor; Sun Chuyue, vice director of the Western Office, and Yue Yanwei, crown prince's right central guard and acting vice director of the Western Office, were all dismissed from government.
56
秘閣郎中李淳風以傅仁均《戊寅歷》推步浸疏，乃增損劉焯《皇極歷》，更撰《麟德歷》； 五月，辛卯，行之。
Li Chunfeng of the Secretariat, finding Fu Renjun's Wuyin Calendar increasingly inaccurate, revised Liu Zhuo's Huangji Calendar and composed the new Qinde Calendar; In the fifth month, on xinmao, it was adopted.
57
秋，七月，己丑，兗州都督鄧康王元裕薨。
In autumn, the seventh month, on jichou, Prince Deng Kang Yuan Yu, commander of Yan Prefecture, died.
58
上命熊津都尉扶餘隆與新羅王法敏釋去舊怨； 八月，壬子，同盟於熊津城。 劉仁軌以新羅、百濟、耽羅、倭國使者浮海西還，會祠泰山，高麗亦遣太子福男來侍祠。
The emperor ordered Buyu Yong of Xiongjin and King Beopmin of Silla to bury old grievances; in the eighth month, on renzi, they swore alliance at Xiongjin. Liu Rengui brought envoys from Silla, Baekje, Tamna, and Japan home by sea for the Mount Tai rites; Goguryeo also sent Crown Prince Funan to attend.
59
冬，十月，癸丑，皇后表稱「封禪舊儀，祭皇地示氏，太后昭配，而令公卿行事，禮有未發，至日，妾請帥內外命婦奠獻。」 詔：「禪社首以皇后為亞獻，越國太妃燕氏為終獻。」 壬戌，詔：「封禪壇所設上帝、后土位，先用蒿秸、陶匏等，並宜改用茵褥、罍爵，其諸郊祀亦宜准此。」 又詔：「自今郊廟享宴，文舞用《功成慶善之樂》，武舞用《神功破陳之樂》。」
In winter, the tenth month, on guichou, the empress memorialized: "In the old feng and shan rites the sacrifice to Earth paired the Grand Empress Dowager, yet ministers performed the rite—the ceremony was incomplete; on the day, I ask to lead the court ladies in the offerings." An edict named the empress secondary offerer at the shan on Mount Sheshou and Grand Princess Yan of Yue final offerer." On renxu, an edict ordered that at the feng and shan altars the places for Heaven and Earth, formerly furnished with wormwood and pottery, should use mats and bronze vessels instead, and other suburban rites should follow suit." Another edict decreed that at suburban and temple banquets the civil dance should use Achievement Complete, Goodness Celebrated and the military dance Divine Merit, Chen Broken."
60
丙寅，上發東都，從駕文武儀仗，數百里不絕。 列營置幕，彌亙原野。 東自高麗，西至波斯、烏長諸國朝會者，各帥其屬扈從，穹廬毳幕，牛羊駝馬，填咽道路。 時比歲豐稔，米斗至五錢，麥、豆不列於市。
On bingyin, the emperor left the Eastern Capital; the civil and military procession with ceremonial guards stretched for hundreds of li without end. Camps and tents were set up, stretching across the open countryside. Envoys from as far east as Goguryeo and as far west as Persia and Wuchang, each with retinues in attendance; yurts and felt tents, cattle, sheep, camels, and horses choked the roads. Harvests had been abundant for years; a dou of rice sold for as little as five cash, and wheat and beans scarcely appeared in the markets.
61
十一月，戊子，上至濮陽，竇德玄騎從。 上問：「濮陽謂之帝丘，何也？」 德玄不能對。 許敬宗自後躍馬而前曰：「昔顓頊居此，故謂之帝丘。」 上稱善。 敬宗退，謂人曰：「大臣不可以無學； 吾見德玄不能對，心實羞之。」 德玄聞之，曰：「人各有能有不能，吾不強對以所不知，此吾所能也。」 李勣曰：「敬宗多聞，信美矣； 德玄之言亦善也。」
In the eleventh month, on wuzi, the emperor reached Puyang, with Dou Dexuan riding in attendance. The emperor asked, "Puyang is called Diqiu, the Mound of the Emperor—why is that?" Dou Dexuan could not answer. Xu Jingzong spurred his horse forward from the rear and said, "Zhuanxu once dwelt here, and so it is called Diqiu, the Mound of the Emperor." The emperor approved. When Jingzong withdrew, he told others, "A great minister cannot be without learning; when I saw Dexuan unable to answer, I was truly ashamed." When Dexuan heard this, he said, "Each man has his strengths and his limits; I do not pretend to know what I do not know—that is my virtue." Li Ji said, "Jingzong is widely learned—that is admirable indeed; Dexuan's reply is also sound."
62
壽張人張公藝九世同居，齊、隋、唐皆旌表其門。 上過壽張，幸其宅，問所以能共居之故，公藝書「忍」字百餘以進。 上善之，賜以縑帛。
Zhang Gongyi of Shouzhang had nine generations living under one roof; the Qi, Sui, and Tang dynasties all honored his household with commemorative plaques. “When the emperor passed through Shouzhang, he visited Gongyi's home and asked how so many generations could live together; Gongyi wrote the character for forbearance more than a hundred times and presented them.” The emperor was pleased and bestowed silk upon him.
63
十二月，丙午，車駕至齊州，留十日。 丙辰，發靈巖頓，至泰山下，有司於山南為圓壇，山上為登封壇，社首山上為降禪方壇。
In the twelfth month, on bingwu, the emperor reached Qizhou and remained ten days. On bingchen, the emperor left Lingyan station and reached the foot of Mount Tai; officials erected a round altar south of the mountain, a sealing altar on the summit, and a square altar for the descent rite on Mount Sheshou.
64
春，正月，戊辰朔，上祀昊天上帝於泰山南。 己巳，登泰山，封玉牒，上帝冊藏以玉匱，配帝冊藏以金匱，皆纏以金繩，封以金泥，印以玉璽，藏以石□感。 庚午，降禪於社首，祭皇地祇。 上初獻畢，執事者皆趨下。 宦者執帷，皇后升壇亞獻，帷帟皆以錦繡為之； 酌酒，實俎豆，登歌，皆用宮人。 壬申，上御朝覲壇，受朝賀； 赦天下，改元。 文武官三品已上賜爵一等，四品已下加一階。 先是階無泛加，皆以勞考敘進，至五品三品，仍奏取進止，至是始有泛階，比及末年，服緋者滿朝矣。
In spring, the first month, on the new moon of wuchen, the emperor sacrificed to August Heaven south of Mount Tai. On jisi, he ascended Mount Tai and sealed the jade memorial; the text to August Heaven was placed in a jade casket and the text to the associated deity in a gold casket; all were bound with gold cord, sealed with gold paste, stamped with a jade seal, and deposited in a stone chamber/casket (lacuna). On gengwu, he performed the descent rite at Mount Sheshou and sacrificed to August Earth. Once the emperor had completed the first offering, all officiants hurried down from the altar. Eunuchs held the curtains as the empress ascended the altar for the secondary offering; all curtains and canopies were of brocade and embroidery; Pouring wine, filling the ritual vessels, and singing the ascent hymn were all performed by palace women. On renshen, the emperor took his seat on the audience altar and received the court's congratulations; He proclaimed a general amnesty and changed the era name. Civil and military officials of third rank and above were granted one grade of nobility; those of fourth rank and below received one step in rank. Previously ranks were never raised across the board—all advancement went by merit review, and even for fifth through third rank a memorial still required imperial approval. From this time blanket promotions began, and by the end of the reign the court was full of officials in scarlet.
65
時大赦，惟長流人不聽還，李義府憂憤發病卒。 自義府流竄，朝士日憂其復入，及聞其卒，眾心乃安。
During the general amnesty, only those sentenced to distant exile were barred from return; Li Yifu, aggrieved and enraged, fell ill and died. Ever since Yifu was exiled, court officials had daily feared his return; when they heard he was dead, the court was finally at ease.
66
丙戌，車駕發泰山； 辛卯，至曲阜，贈孔子太師，以少牢致祭。 癸未，至亳州，謁老君廟，上尊號曰太上玄元皇帝。 丁丑，至東都，留六日； 甲申，幸合璧宮； 夏，四月，甲辰，至京師，謁太廟。
On bingxu, the emperor departed Mount Tai; On xinmao, he reached Qufu, posthumously enfeoffed Confucius as Grand Preceptor, and offered the lesser sacrificial feast. On guiwei, he reached Bozhou, visited the temple of Lord Lao, and bestowed the honorific title August Emperor of the Mysterious Primordial. On dingchou, he reached the Eastern Capital and remained six days; On jiashen, he visited the Hebi Palace; In summer, the fourth month, on jiachen, he reached the capital and paid homage at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
67
庚戌，左侍極兼檢校右相陸敦信以老疾辭職，拜大司成，兼左侍極，罷政事。
On gengxu, Lu Dunxin, Left Attendant-in-Chief and Acting Right Chancellor, resigned citing age and illness; he was appointed Grand Master of Education while retaining Left Attendant-in-Chief, and was removed from active government.
68
五月，庚寅，鑄乾封泉寶錢，一當十，俟期年盡廢舊錢。
In the fifth month, on gengyin, Qianfeng treasure coins were cast, each worth ten old coins, with a plan to retire the old currency entirely after one year.
69
高麗泉蓋蘇文卒，長子男生代為莫離支，初知國政，出巡諸城，使其弟男建、男產知留後事。 或謂二弟曰：「男生惡二弟之逼，意欲除之，不如先為計。」 二弟初未之信。 又有告男生者曰：「二弟恐兄還奪其權，欲拒兄不納。」 男生潛遣所親往平壤伺之，二弟收掩，得之，乃以王命召男生。 男生懼，不敢歸； 男建自為莫離支，發兵討之。 男生走保別城，使其子獻誠詣闕求救。 六月，壬寅，以右驍衛大將軍契苾何力為遼東道安撫大使，將兵救之； 以獻誠為右武衛將軍，使為鄉導。 又以右金吾衛將軍龐同善、營州都督高侃為行軍總管，同討高麗。
In Goguryeo, Yeon Gaesomun died; his eldest son Nam became moura and first assumed control of state affairs; touring the cities, he left his brothers Namgeon and Namsan to manage affairs in his absence. Someone told the two brothers, "Nam resents your rivalry and means to destroy you—you had better act first." At first the two brothers did not believe it. Someone else told Nam, "Your two brothers fear that on your return you will seize their power; they plan to shut you out." Nam secretly sent a confidant to Pyongyang to spy on them; the two brothers arrested the man, then summoned Nam by royal order. Nam was afraid and dared not return; Namgeon declared himself moura and sent troops to attack him. Nam fled to a fortified city and sent his son Heonseong to the capital to beg for rescue. In the sixth month, on renyin, Qibi Heli, Grand General of the Right Xiaowei Guard, was appointed Pacification Commissioner of the Liaodong Circuit and sent with troops to rescue him; Heonseong was appointed General of the Right Wuwei Guard and assigned as guide. Pang Tongshan, General of the Right Jinwu Guard, and Gao Kan, Governor of Yingzhou, were also appointed campaign generals to join the attack on Goguryeo.
70
秋，七月，乙丑朔，徙殷王旭輪為豫王。 以大司憲兼檢校太子左中護劉仁軌為右相。
In autumn, the seventh month, on the new moon of yichou, Prince Yin Xulun was redesignated Prince of Yu. Liu Rengui, Grand Censor and Acting Left Central Guard of the Heir Apparent, was appointed Right Chancellor.
71
初，仁軌為給事中，按畢正義事，李義府怨之，出為青州刺史。 會討百濟，仁軌當浮海運糧，時未可行，義府督之，遭風失船，丁夫溺死甚眾，命監察御史袁異式往鞫之。 義府謂異式曰：「君能辦事，勿憂無官。」 異式至，謂仁軌曰：「君與朝廷何人為仇，宜早自為計。」 仁軌曰：「仁軌當官不職，國有常刑，公以法斃之，無所逃命。 若使遽自引決以快仇人，竊所未甘！」 乃具獄以聞。 異式將行，仍自掣其鎖。 獄上，義府言於上曰：「不斬仁軌，無以謝百姓。」 舍人源直心曰：「海風暴起，非人力所及。」 上乃命除名，以白衣從軍自效。 義府又諷劉仁願使害之，仁願不忍殺。 及為大司憲，異式懼，不自安，仁軌瀝觴告之曰：「仁軌若念疇昔之事，有如此觴！」 仁軌既知政事，異式尋遷詹事丞； 時論紛然，仁軌聞之，遽薦為司元大夫。 監察御史杜易簡謂人曰：「斯所謂矯枉過正矣！」
Earlier, when Rengui was a palace secretary investigating Bi Zhengyi's case, Li Yifu resented him and had him posted as Governor of Qingzhou. During the campaign against Baekje, Rengui was assigned to transport grain by sea; though the season was unsuitable, Yifu pressed him on; storms wrecked the ships and many laborers drowned; the emperor ordered Supervising Censor Yuan Yishi to investigate. Yifu told Yishi, "Handle this well and you need not worry about office." When Yishi arrived, he told Rengui, "Who in court is your enemy? You had better look to yourself." Rengui said, "I failed in office; the state has fixed punishments—execute me by law and I shall not flee. But to kill myself simply to please an enemy—that I am not willing!" He then prepared the full report and submitted it to the throne. As Yishi was about to depart, he personally removed Rengui's shackles. When the case reached the throne, Yifu told the emperor, "Unless Rengui is beheaded, there is no way to answer the people." Attendant Yuan Zhixin said, "Sea storms arise—no human power can control them." The emperor then struck Rengui's name from the registers and ordered him to serve in the army as a commoner to redeem himself. Yifu also hinted to Liu Rengyuan that he should have Rengui killed; Rengyuan could not bring himself to do it. When Rengui became Grand Censor, Yishi was afraid and ill at ease; Rengui drained a cup and said, "If I still bore a grudge over the past, let it be like this cup!" Once Rengui took charge of government, Yishi was soon promoted to Assistant to the Supervisor of the Heir Apparent; Public opinion was divided; when Rengui heard of it, he quickly recommended Yishi for Chief Director of the Ministry of Civil Service. Supervising Censor Du Yijian said to others, "This is what they call overcorrecting!"
72
八月，辛丑，司元太常伯兼檢校左相竇德玄薨。
In the eighth month, on xinchou, Dou Dexuan, Minister of Rites and Acting Left Chancellor, died.
73
初，武士擭娶相里氏，生男元慶、元爽； 又娶楊氏，生三女，長適越王府法曹賀蘭越石，次皇后，次適郭孝慎。 士擭卒，元慶、元爽及士擭兄子惟良、懷運皆不禮於楊氏，楊氏深銜之。 越石、孝慎及孝慎妻並早卒，越石妻生敏之及一女而寡。 -{后}-既立，楊氏號榮國夫人，越石妻號韓國夫人，惟良自始州長史超遷司衛少卿，懷運自瀛州長史遷淄州刺史，元慶自右衛郎將為宗正少卿，元爽自安州戶曹累遷少府少監。 榮國夫人嘗置酒，謂惟良等曰：「頗憶疇昔之事乎？ 今日之榮貴復何如？」 對曰：「惟良等幸以功臣子弟，早登宦籍，揣份量才，不求貴達，豈意以皇后之故，曲荷朝恩，夙夜憂懼，不為榮也。」 榮國不悅。 皇后乃上疏，請出惟良等為遠州刺史，外示廉抑，實惡之也。 於是以惟良檢校始州刺史，元慶為龍州刺史，元爽為濠州刺史。 元慶至州，以憂卒。 元爽坐事流振州而死。
Earlier, Wu Shihuo married a woman of the Xiangli clan and had sons Yuansing and Yuanshuang; He also married a woman of the Yang clan and had three daughters; the eldest married Helan Yueshi, legal officer in the household of the Prince of Yue; the second became empress; the third married Guo Xiaoshen. When Shihuo died, Yuansing, Yuanshuang, and Shihuo's nephews Weiliang and Huaiyun all treated Lady Yang with disrespect; Lady Yang deeply resented it. Yueshi, Xiaoshen, and Xiaoshen's wife all died young; Yueshi's wife bore Minzhi and a daughter and was left a widow. Once Empress Wu was established, Lady Yang was titled Lady of Rong; Yueshi's wife was titled Lady of Han; Weiliang was promoted from prefect of Shizhou to Vice Minister of Palace Guards; Huaiyun from prefect of Yingzhou to prefect of Zibo; Yuansing from captain of the Right Guard to Vice Director of the Imperial Clan; and Yuanshuang rose from registrar of Anzhou to Vice Director of Palace Treasuries. Lady of Rong once set out wine and said to Weiliang and the others, "Do you remember how things used to be? How does today's glory and rank compare?" They replied, "We were fortunate as sons of meritorious ministers to enter office early; knowing our measure and talent, we sought no high advancement—who would have thought that for the empress's sake we would receive such undeserved favor from the court? We worry day and night; it is no honor to us." Lady of Rong was displeased. The empress submitted a memorial asking that Weiliang and the others be posted as prefects of distant prefectures—outwardly showing restraint, but in truth because she hated them. Thereupon Weiliang was appointed acting prefect of Shizhou, Yuansing prefect of Longzhou, and Yuanshuang prefect of Haozhou. Yuansing reached his prefecture and died of grief. Yuanshuang was banished to Zhenzhou for an offense and died in exile.
74
韓國夫人及其女以-{后}-故出入禁中，皆得幸於上。 韓國尋卒，其女賜號魏國夫人。 上欲以魏國為內職，心難-{后}-，未決，-{后}-惡之。 會惟良、懷運與諸州刺史詣泰山朝覲，從至京師，惟良等獻食。 -{后}-密置毒醢中，使魏國食之，暴卒，因歸罪於惟良、懷運，丁未，誅之，改其姓為蝮式。 懷運兄懷亮早卒，其妻善氏尤不禮於榮國，坐惟良等沒入掖庭，榮國令後以他事束棘鞭之，肉盡見骨而死。
The Lady of Han and her daughter, because of Empress Wu, came and went within the inner palace and both found favor with the emperor. The Lady of Han soon died; her daughter was granted the title Lady of Wei. The emperor wished to make the Lady of Wei an inner consort; he hesitated out of regard for Empress Wu and could not decide; Empress Wu hated her. It happened that Weiliang, Huaiyun, and various prefects came to Mount Tai for the imperial audience, followed the emperor to the capital, and Weiliang and the others presented food offerings. Empress Wu secretly placed poison in the meat paste and had the Lady of Wei eat it; she died suddenly. Empress Wu then blamed Weiliang and Huaiyun; on dingwei they were executed and their surname was changed to Fu, "viper." Huaiyun's elder brother Huailiang had died early; his wife Lady Shan had especially disrespected Lady of Rong; implicated in Weiliang's case she was seized into the palace women quarters; Lady of Rong had Empress Wu whip her with thorn-bound rods on another pretext until flesh was stripped to the bone, and she died.
75
九月，龐同善大破高麗兵，泉男生帥眾與同善合。 詔以男生為特進、遼東大都督，兼平壤道安撫大使，封玄菟郡公。
In the ninth month, Pang Tongshan routed the Goguryeo army; Yeon Nam led his forces to join him. An edict appointed Nam Special Emissary and Grand Governor of Liaodong, concurrently Pacification Commissioner of the Pyongyang Circuit, and enfeoffed him as Duke of Xuantu Commandery.
76
戊子，金紫光祿大夫致仕廣平宣公劉祥道薨，子齊賢嗣，齊賢為人方正，上甚重之，為晉州司馬。 將軍史興宗嘗從上獵苑中，因言晉州產佳鷂，劉齊賢今為司馬，請使捕之。 上曰：「劉齊賢豈捕鷂者邪！ 卿何以此待之！」
On wuzi, Liu Xiangdao, retired Grand Master of Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon and Duke Xuan of Guangping, died; his son Qixian succeeded him; Qixian was upright in character and greatly valued by the emperor; he served as Military Assistant of Jinzhou. General Shi Xingzong once accompanied the emperor hunting in the park and remarked that Jinzhou produced fine hawks; Liu Qixian was now military assistant there, and he asked that Qixian be sent to catch them. The emperor said, "Is Liu Qixian a hawk-catcher? Why do you treat him this way!"
77
冬，十二月，己酉，以李勣為遼東道行軍大總管兼安撫大使，以司列少常伯安陸郝處俊副之，以擊高麗。 龐同善、契苾何力並為遼東道行軍副大總管兼安撫大使如故； 其水陸諸軍總管並運糧使竇義積、獨孤卿雲、郭待封等，並受勣處分。 河北諸州租賦悉詣遼東給軍用。 待封，孝恪之子也。
In winter, the twelfth month, on jiyou, Li Ji was appointed Grand Campaign General and Pacification Commissioner of the Liaodong Circuit; Hao Chujun of Anlu, Junior Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was appointed his deputy to attack Goguryeo. Pang Tongshan and Qibi Heli remained Deputy Grand Campaign Generals and Pacification Commissioners of the Liaodong Circuit as before; All land and sea army generals and grain transport commissioners, including Dou Yiji, Dugu Qingyun, and Guo Daifeng, were placed under Li Ji's and Hao Chujun's command. Taxes and levies from all Hebei prefectures were directed to Liaodong to supply the army. Daifeng was Xiaoke's son.
78
勣欲與其婿京兆杜懷恭偕行，以求勳效。 懷恭辭以貧，勣贍之； 復辭以無奴馬，又贍之。 懷恭辭窮，乃亡匿岐陽山中，謂人曰：「公欲以我立法耳。」 勣聞之，流涕曰：「杜郎疏放，此或有之。」 乃止。
Li Ji wanted his son-in-law Du Huaigong of Jingzhao to accompany him on campaign, hoping thereby to win distinction. Huaigong pleaded poverty, and Li Ji provided for him; He declined again, saying he had no servants or horses, and Li Ji supplied him once more. With his excuses exhausted, Huaigong fled and hid in the Qiyang mountains, telling people, "The Duke wants to use me to set an example under the law." Hearing this, Li Ji wept and said, "Young Du is careless and free-spirited—that much may be true." He then let the matter drop.
79
春，正月，上耕籍田，有司進耒耜，加以雕飾。 上曰：「耒耜農夫所執，豈宜如此之麗！」 命易之。 既而耕之，九推乃止。
In spring, the first month, the emperor performed the ceremonial plowing of the sacred field; the officials presented plow and rake lavishly decorated. The emperor said, "These are the tools farmers use—how can they be made so ornate!" He ordered them exchanged for plain ones. He then plowed until he had made nine furrows and stopped.
80
自行乾封泉寶錢，穀帛踴貴，商賈不行，癸未，詔罷之。
After the Qianfeng Quanbao coin was introduced, grain and cloth prices soared and commerce stalled; on guimwei, an edict abolished the currency.
81
二月，丁酉，涪陵悼王愔薨。
In the second month, on dingyou, Prince Dao of Fuling, Yin, died.
82
辛丑，復以萬年宮為九成宮。 生羌十二州為吐蕃所破，三月，戊寅，悉廢之。
On xinchou, Wannian Palace was restored to the name Jiucheng Palace. Twelve Shengqiang prefectures had been overrun by Tibet; in the third month, on wuyin, they were all abolished.
83
上屢責侍臣不進賢，眾莫敢對。 司列少常伯李安期對曰：「天下未嘗無賢，亦非群臣敢蔽賢也。 比來公卿有所薦引，為讒者已指為朋黨，滯淹者未獲伸，而在位者先獲罪矣，是以各各杜口耳。 陛下果推至誠以待之，其誰不願舉所知！ 此在陛下，非在群臣也。」 上深以為然。 安期，百藥之子也。
The emperor repeatedly rebuked his courtiers for failing to recommend able men, and no one dared answer. Li Anqi, Vice Director of Rankings and Second Grand Master of the Presiding Office, replied, "The realm has never lacked worthy men, and it is not that ministers dare conceal talent. Recently, whenever high officials have recommended someone, calumniators have at once cried "faction"; men long passed over never get their chance, while those already in office are punished first—so everyone keeps silent. If Your Majesty truly treats us with complete sincerity, who would not gladly recommend those he knows! The remedy lies with Your Majesty, not with the ministers." The emperor was deeply persuaded. Anqi was Baiyao's son.
84
夏，四月，乙卯，西台侍郎楊弘武、戴至德、正諫大夫兼東台侍郎李安期、東台舍人昌樂張文瓘、司列少常伯兼正諫大夫河北趙仁本並同東西台三品。 弘武，素之弟子； 至德，冑之兄子也。 時造蓬萊、上陽、合璧等宮，頻征伐四夷，廄馬萬匹，倉庫漸虛，張文瓘諫曰：「隋鑒不遠，願勿使百姓生怨。」 上納其言，減廄馬數千匹。
In summer, the fourth month, on yimao, Yang Hongwu, Vice Director of the Western Office; Dai Zhide; Li Anqi, Remonstrating Grandee and Vice Director of the Eastern Office; Zhang Wenjun of Changle, Aide of the Eastern Office; and Zhao Renben of Hebei, Vice Director of Rankings and Remonstrating Grandee, were all appointed Third Rank Associates of Both Eastern and Western Offices. Hongwu was a disciple of Su. Zhide was Zhou's nephew. Palaces such as Penglai, Shangyang, and Hebi were under construction, campaigns against the frontier peoples were constant, the stables held ten thousand horses, and the treasury ran low; Zhang Wenjun remonstrated, "The Sui collapse is a recent lesson—do not give the people cause for resentment." The emperor took his advice and cut several thousand horses from the imperial stables.
85
秋，八月，己丑朔，日有食之。
In autumn, the eighth month, on the new moon of jichou, the sun was eclipsed.
86
辛亥，東台侍郎同東西台三品李安期出為荊州長史。
On xinhai, Li Anqi, Vice Director of the Eastern Office and Third Rank Associate of Both Offices, was assigned as chief administrator of Jingzhou.
87
九月，庚申，上以久疾，命太子弘監國。
In the ninth month, on gengshen, the emperor, long ill, ordered Crown Prince Hong to oversee the government.
88
辛未，李勣拔高麗之新城，使契苾何力守之。 勣初度遼，謂諸將曰：「新城，高麗西邊要害，不先得之，餘城未易取也。」 遂攻之，城人師夫仇等縛城主開門降。 勣引兵進擊，一十六城皆下之。 龐同善、高侃尚在新城，泉男建遣兵襲其營，左武衛將軍薛仁貴擊破之。 侃進至金山，與高麗戰，不利，高麗乘勝逐北，仁貴引兵橫擊之，大破高麗，斬首五萬餘級，拔南蘇、木底、蒼巖三城，與泉男生軍合。
On xinwei, Li Ji took Goguryeo's Xincheng and left Qibi Heli to hold it. When Li Ji first crossed the Liao River, he told his generals, "Xincheng is the vital stronghold on Goguryeo's western frontier; unless we seize it first, the other cities will be hard to take." He then attacked it; Shifuchou and others in the city bound the garrison commander and opened the gates in surrender. Li Ji pressed the attack and captured sixteen cities. Pang Tongshan and Gao Kan were still at Xincheng when Yeon Gaemun sent troops to strike their camp; Xue Rengui, General of the Left Martial Guard, defeated them. Gao Kan advanced to Jinshan and fought Goguryeo without success; as the enemy pressed their advantage in pursuit, Rengui struck them from the flank, crushing the Goguryeo force, taking more than fifty thousand heads, capturing Nansu, Mudi, and Cangyan, and linking up with Yeon Namsa's army.
89
郭待封以水軍自別道趣平壤，勣遣別將馮師本載糧仗以資之。 師本船破，失期，待封軍中饑窘，欲作書與勣，恐為虜所得，知其虛實，乃作離合詩以與勣。 勣怒曰：「軍事方急，何以詩為？ 必斬之！」 行軍管記通事舍人河南元萬頃為釋其義，勣乃更遣糧仗赴之。 萬頃作《檄高麗文》，曰「不知守鴨綠之險。」 泉男建報曰：「謹聞命矣！」 即移兵據鴨綠津，唐兵不得渡。 上聞之，流萬頃於嶺南。
Guo Daifeng led the naval force by a separate route toward Pyongyang; Li Ji sent the subordinate commander Feng Shiben with grain and arms to resupply him. Shiben's ships were wrecked and he failed to arrive on time; Daifeng's troops were starving; wanting to write Li Ji but fearing capture by the enemy would reveal his weakness, he sent a cryptogram poem instead. Li Ji fumed, "The crisis is acute—what is the use of poetry? He must be executed!" Yuan Wanqing of Henan, campaign secretary and Interpreter-in-Attendance, decoded the message, and Li Ji then dispatched fresh supplies. Wanqing drafted a proclamation against Goguryeo declaring, "The enemy does not know enough to defend the Yalu crossing." Yeon Gaemun answered, "Your instruction is respectfully noted!" He at once moved his troops to occupy the Yalu crossing, and the Tang army could not ford the river. Learning of this, the emperor exiled Wanqing to Lingnan.
90
郝處俊在高麗城下，未及成列，高麗奄至，軍中大駭。 處俊據胡床，方食干□，潛簡精銳，擊敗之，將士服其膽略。
Below a Goguryeo city, Hao Chujun had not yet formed his battle line when the enemy suddenly appeared, throwing the army into panic. Chujun remained seated on his camp stool, still eating dried rations, quietly selected crack troops, and routed the enemy; the men marveled at his courage and composure.
91
冬，十二月，甲午，詔：「自今祀昊天上帝、五帝、皇地示氏、神州地示氏，並以高祖、太宗配，仍合祀昊天上帝、五帝於明堂。」
In winter, the twelfth month, on jiawu, an edict declared, "Henceforth in rites to Heaven, the Five Emperors, the supreme Earth deity, and the regional Earth deities of the central realm, Gaozu and Taizong shall serve as associates; Heaven and the Five Emperors shall still be worshipped together in the Bright Hall."
92
是歲，海南獠陷瓊州。
That year, the Liao tribes of Hainan overran Qiongzhou.
93
春，正月，壬下，以右相劉仁軌為遼東道副大總管。
In spring, the first month, on renzi, Right Chancellor Liu Ren'gui was appointed deputy grand commander of the Liaodong campaign.
94
二月，壬午，李勣等拔高麗扶餘城。 薛仁貴既破高麗於金山，乘勝將三千人將攻扶餘城，諸將以其兵少，止之。 仁貴曰：「兵不必多，顧用之何如耳。」 遂為前鋒以進，與高麗戰，大破之，殺獲萬餘人，遂拔扶餘城。 扶餘川中四十餘城皆望風請服。
In the second month, on renwu, Li Ji and his forces took Goguryeo's Fuyu. After Xue Rengui's victory over Goguryeo at Jinshan, he pressed on with three thousand men to attack Fuyu; the other generals, thinking his force too small, tried to hold him back. Rengui said, "Numbers are not what matter—it is how the troops are used." He then led the vanguard forward, crushed the Goguryeo force, killing and capturing more than ten thousand, and took Fuyu. More than forty cities along the Fuyu River submitted at the first news of his advance.
95
侍御史洛陽賈言忠奉使自遼東還，上問以軍事，言忠對曰：「高麗必平。」 上曰：「卿何以知之？」 對曰：「隋煬帝東征而不克者，人心離怨故也； 先帝東征而不克者，高麗未有釁也。 今高藏微弱，權臣擅命，蓋蘇文死，男建兄弟內相攻奪，男生傾心內附，為我鄉導，彼之情偽，靡不知之。 以陛下明聖，國家富強，將士盡力，以乘高麗之亂，其勢必克，不俟再舉矣。 且高麗連年饑饉，妖異屢降，人心危駭，其亡可翹足待也。」 上又問：「遼東諸將孰賢？」 對曰：「薛仁貴勇冠三軍； 龐同善雖不善鬥，而持軍嚴整； 高侃勤儉自處，忠果有謀； 契苾何力沉毅能斷，雖頗忌前，而有統御之才； 然夙夜小心，忘身憂國，皆莫及李勣也。」 上深然其言。
Jia Yanzhong of Luoyang, a supervising censor returning from a mission in Liaodong, was asked about the campaign; he replied, "Goguryeo is sure to fall." The emperor asked, "How can you be so sure?" He answered, "Emperor Yang of Sui failed in the east because the people had turned against him; the former emperor's eastern campaigns failed because Goguryeo had not yet been torn by internal strife. Now Gao Zang is weak, power rests with usurping ministers, Gaisuwen is dead, Gaemun and his brothers are fighting among themselves, and Namsa has come over to our side as a guide—we know their situation inside and out. With Your Majesty's wisdom, the realm's strength, and the army fighting at full pitch, victory over Goguryeo in its present turmoil is certain—there will be no need for a second campaign. Moreover, Goguryeo has endured famine year after year, omens have multiplied, and the people live in dread—its collapse can be awaited with folded arms." The emperor asked again, "Which of the generals in Liaodong is the best?" He answered, "Xue Rengui's courage is unmatched in the army; Pang Tongshan is not the boldest fighter, but he keeps his troops in tight order; Gao Kan lives frugally, and is loyal, resolute, and shrewd; Qibi Heli is steady and decisive; though he still bears old grudges, he has real command ability; but in tireless care for the state and readiness to risk himself, none can equal Li Ji." The emperor was deeply impressed.
96
泉男建復遣兵五萬人救扶餘城，與李勣等遇於薛賀水，合戰，大破之，斬獲三萬餘人，進攻大行城，拔之。
Yeon Gaemun sent another fifty thousand men to relieve Fuyu; they met Li Ji's force at the Xuehe River and were crushed, with more than thirty thousand killed or captured; the Tang army then advanced on Daxing and took it.
97
朝廷議明堂制度略定，三月，庚寅，赦天下，改元。
Once court debate over Bright Hall ritual had largely been settled, in the third month, on gengyin, a general amnesty was proclaimed and the era name was changed.
98
戊寅，上幸九成宮。 夏，四月，丙辰，彗星見於五車。 上避正殿，減常膳，撤樂。 許敬宗等奏請復常，曰：「彗見東北，高麗將滅之兆也。」 上曰：「朕之不德，謫見於天，豈可歸咎小夷！ 且高麗百姓，亦朕之百姓也。」 不許。 戊辰，彗星見。
On wuyin, the emperor went to Jiucheng Palace. In summer, the fourth month, on bingchen, a comet appeared in the Five Chariots constellation. The emperor left the main hall, cut back his meals, and suspended music. Xu Jingzong and others memorialized asking to resume normal court practice, saying, "The comet in the northeast foretells Goguryeo's fall." The emperor said, "Heaven rebukes me for my failings—how can I shift the blame onto a petty frontier state! Besides, the people of Goguryeo are my people too." He refused. On wuchen, the comet appeared again.
99
辛巳，西台侍郎、同東西台三品楊弘武薨。
On xinsi, Yang Hongwu, Vice Director of the Western Office and Third Rank Associate of Both Offices, died.
100
八月，辛酉，卑列道行軍總管、右威衛將軍劉仁願坐征高麗逗留，流姚州。
In the eighth month, on xinyou, Liu Renyuan, campaign commander of the Beilie Route and General of the Right Martial Guard, was punished for stalling during the Goguryeo campaign and exiled to Yaozhou.
101
癸酉，車駕還京師。
On guiyou, the emperor returned to the capital.
102
九月，癸巳，李勣拔平壤。 勣既克大行城，諸軍出他道者皆與勣會，進至鴨綠柵，高麗發兵拒戰，勣等奮擊，大破之，追奔二百餘里，拔辰夷城，諸城遁逃及降者相繼。 契苾何力先引兵至平壤城下，勣軍繼之，圍平壤月餘，高麗王藏遣泉男產帥首領九十八人，持白幡詣勣降，勣以禮接之。 泉男建猶閉門拒守，頻遣兵出戰，皆敗。 男建以軍事委僧信誠，信誠密遣人詣勣，請為內應。 後五日，信誠開門，勣縱兵登城鼓噪，焚城四周，男建自刺，不死，遂擒之。 高麗悉平。
In the ninth month, on guisi, Li Ji took Pyongyang. After Li Ji had taken Daxing, the other columns joined him and they advanced to the Yalu stockade; when Goguryeo troops came out to fight, Li Ji drove them back in a crushing victory, pursuing them more than two hundred li, taking Chenyi, and watching city after city flee or surrender. Qibi Heli reached Pyongyang first, Li Ji's army followed, and the siege lasted more than a month; King Zang of Goguryeo sent Yeon Namchan with ninety-eight chieftains bearing white banners to surrender to Li Ji, who received them with full ceremony. Yeon Gaemun still held the gates shut and sent troops out again and again, but each sortie was beaten back. Gaemun entrusted military affairs to the monk Sinseong, who secretly sent a messenger to Li Ji offering to act as an inside agent. Five days later Sinseong opened the gates; Li Ji's men stormed the walls with a great clamor and set fires around the city; Gaemun tried to kill himself but failed, and was taken alive. Goguryeo was completely subdued.
103
冬，十月，戊午，以烏茶國婆羅門盧迦逸多為懷化大將軍。 逸多自言能合不死藥，上將餌之。 東台侍郎郝處俊諫曰：「修短有命，非藥可延。 貞觀之末，先帝服那羅邇娑婆寐藥，竟無效； 大漸之際，名醫不知所為，議者歸罪娑婆寐，將加顯戮，恐取笑戎狄而止。 前鑒不遠，願陛下深察。」 上乃止。
In winter, the tenth month, on wuwu, Luqayaduo, a Brahmin from Udyana, was made General of Cherishing Transformation. Yiduo claimed he could prepare an elixir of immortality, and the emperor was about to ingest it. Hao Chujun, Vice Director of the Eastern Office, remonstrated, "Life and death are ordained—no drug can prolong them. At the end of the Zhenguan era the late emperor took the medicine of Narayana Svami, and it did no good; when he was dying the best physicians were helpless; critics blamed Svami and nearly had him executed, but held back for fear of making the court a laughingstock among the barbarians. That recent lesson is still before us—I urge Your Majesty to weigh it carefully." The emperor then dropped the matter.
104
李勣將至，上命先以高藏等獻於昭陵，具軍容，奏凱歌，入京師，獻於太廟。 十二月，丁巳，上受俘於含元殿。 以高藏政非己出，赦以為司平太常伯、員外同正。 以泉男產為司宰少卿，僧信誠為銀青光祿大夫，泉男生為右衛大將軍。 李勣以下，封賞有差。 泉男建流黔州，扶餘豐流嶺南，分高麗五部、百七十六城、六十九萬餘戶，為九都督府、四十二州、百縣，置安東都護府於平壤以統之。 擢其酋帥有功者為都督、刺史、縣令，與華人參理。 以右威衛大將軍薛仁貴檢校安東都護，總兵二萬人以鎮撫之。
Before Li Ji reached the capital, the emperor ordered Gao Zang and the other captives presented first at Taizong's tomb with full military ceremony and songs of victory, then brought into the capital and offered at the Grand Ancestral Temple. In the twelfth month, on dingsi, the emperor received the captives in audience at Hanyuan Hall. Because Gao Zang had never truly ruled in his own right, he was pardoned and appointed Minister of Balance and Grand Master of the Grand Ancestral Temple, with supplementary full concurrent rank. Yeon Namchan was appointed Vice Director of the Chief Steward's Office, Seng Xincheng was made Grand Master for Splendid Happiness Bearing the Golden Grand Seal, and Yeon Nam was appointed Grand General of the Right Guard. Li Ji and those below him received rewards and enfeoffments in varying measure. Yeon Gaemun was banished to Qianzhou and Buyeo Pung to Lingnan; Goguryeo's five departments, 176 cities, and more than 690,000 households were carved into nine area commands, forty-two prefectures, and a hundred counties, with the Protectorate-General of the Pacified East set up at Pyongyang to rule them. Meritorious tribal chiefs were promoted to area commissioners, prefects, and county magistrates and governed alongside Han officials. Xue Rengui, Grand General of the Right Mighty Guard, was made acting Protector-General of the Pacified East with twenty thousand troops to pacify and reassure the region.
105
丁卯，上祀南郊，告平高麗，以李勣為亞獻。 己巳，謁太廟。
On dingmao, the emperor sacrificed at the Southern Altar to announce Goguryeo's pacification, with Li Ji as secondary presenter. On jisi, he visited the Grand Ancestral Temple.
106
渭南尉劉延祐，弱冠登進士第，政事為畿縣最。 李勣謂之曰：「足下春秋甫爾，遽擅大名，宜稍自貶抑，無為獨出人右也。」
Liu Yanyou, magistrate of Weinan, had passed the jinshi examination before he was twenty, and his administration ranked first among the capital districts. Li Ji told him, "You are still young, yet you have already won great renown; you should hold yourself back a little and not stand conspicuously above others."
107
時有敕，征遼軍士逃亡，限內不首及首而更逃者，身斬，妻子籍沒。 太子上表，以為：「如此之比，其數至多。 或遇病不及隊伍，怖懼而逃； 或因樵采為賊所掠； 或渡海漂沒； 或深入賊庭，為所傷殺。 軍法嚴重，同隊恐並獲罪，即舉以為逃，軍旅之中，不暇勘當，直據隊司通狀關移所屬，妻子沒官，情實可哀。 《書》曰：『與其殺不辜，寧失不經。』 伏願逃亡之家，免其配沒。」 從之。 甲戌，司戎太常伯-{姜}-恪兼檢校左相，司平太常伯閻立本守右相。
At that time an edict decreed that soldiers of the Liaodong campaign who deserted and, within the allotted time, failed to surrender—or surrendered and fled again—would be beheaded and their wives and children registered and confiscated. The crown prince submitted a memorial arguing that "cases such as these are extremely numerous. Some fell ill and could not keep up with their units and fled in terror; some were seized by bandits while gathering firewood; some were lost at sea crossing the ocean; some went deep into enemy territory and were wounded or killed. Military law was harsh; comrades in the same unit, fearing shared punishment, at once reported them as deserters. In camp there was no time to investigate, and on the unit clerk's tally alone the case was forwarded—the men's wives and children were seized by the state, which was truly pitiable. The Documents says, 'Better to err through leniency than to execute the innocent.' I humbly ask that the families of deserters be spared registration and confiscation." The emperor approved it. On jiaxu, Jiang Ke, minister of the army and grand master of the grand ancestral temple, was additionally made acting Left Chancellor; Yan Liben, minister of balance and grand master of the grand ancestral temple, was put in charge as Right Chancellor.
108
是歲，京師及山東、江、淮旱、饑。
That year the capital, Shandong, and the Yangzi and Huai regions suffered drought and famine.
109
春，二月，辛酉，以張文瓘為東台侍郎，以右肅機、檢校太子中護譙人李敬玄為西台侍郎，並同東西台三品。 先是同三品不入銜，至是始入銜。
In spring, the second month, on xinyou, Zhang Wen'guan was appointed Vice Director of the Eastern Office, and Li Jingxuan of Qiao, right secretariat attendant and acting supervisor of the heir apparent's household, was appointed Vice Director of the Western Office; both were made Third Rank Associates of Both Eastern and Western Offices. Previously, Third Rank Associates had not been listed in official titles; from this time they were.
110
癸亥，以雍州長史盧承慶為司刑太常伯。 承慶嘗考內外官，有一官督運，遭風失米，承慶考之曰：「監運損糧，考中下。」 其人容色自若，無言而退。 承慶重期雅量，改注曰：「非力所及，考中中。」 既無喜容，亦無愧詞。 又改曰：「寵辱不驚，考中上。」
On guihai, Lu Chengqing, chief administrator of Yongzhou, was appointed Minister of Punishments and Grand Master of the Grand Ancestral Temple. Chengqing once assessed inner and outer officials; one official supervising transport lost grain in a storm, and Chengqing assessed him, saying, "Supervising transport with grain lost—assessment: middle lower." The man kept his composure and withdrew without a word. Chengqing, deeply impressed by his composure, changed the note to, "Beyond one's power to prevent—assessment: middle grade." He showed neither pleasure nor shame. He changed it again: "Unmoved by favor or disgrace—assessment: middle upper."
111
三月，丙戌，東台侍郎郝處俊同東、西台三品。
In the third month, on bingxu, Hao Chujun, vice director of the Eastern Office, was made Third Rank Associate of Both Eastern and Western Offices.
112
丁亥，詔定明堂制度：其基八觚，其宇上圓，覆以清陽玉葉，其門牆階級，窗欞楣柱，柳楶枅栱，皆法天地陰陽律歷之數。 詔下之後，眾議猶未決，又會饑饉，竟不果立。
On dinghai, an edict fixed the design of the Hall of Brightness: an octagonal foundation, a domed roof covered with green tiles, and gates, walls, steps, windows, lintels, columns, and bracket sets all proportioned to the numbers of Heaven and Earth, yin and yang, pitch pipes, and the calendar. After the edict was issued, debate still had not settled the matter; famine struck as well, and in the end the hall was never built.
113
夏，四月，己酉朔，上幸九成宮。
In summer, the fourth month, on the first day, jiyou, the emperor visited Jiucheng Palace.
114
高麗之民多離叛者，敕徙高麗戶三萬八千二百於江、淮之南，及山南、京西諸州空曠之地，留其貧弱者，使守安東。
Many Goguryeo people had rebelled and fled; an edict ordered 38,200 Goguryeo households moved south of the Yangzi and Huai and to vacant lands in the mountain-south and capital-west prefectures, while the poor and weak were left behind to hold the Pacified East.
115
六月，戊申朔，日有食之。
In the sixth month, on the first day, wushen, there was a solar eclipse.
116
秋，八月，丁未朔，詔以十月幸涼州。 時隴右虛耗，議者多以為未宜游幸。 上聞之，辛亥，御延福殿，召五品已上謂曰：「自古帝王，莫不巡守，故朕欲巡視遠俗。 若果為不可，何不面陳，而退有後言，何也？」 自宰相以下莫敢對。 詳刑大夫來公敏獨進曰：「巡守雖帝王常事，然高麗新平，餘寇尚多，西邊經略，亦未息兵。 隴右戶口凋弊，鑾輿所至，供億百端，誠為未易。 外間實有竊議，但明制已行，故群臣不敢陳論耳。」 上善其言，為之罷西巡。 未幾，擢公敏為黃門侍郎。
In autumn, the eighth month, on the first day, dingwei, an edict announced that in the tenth month the emperor would visit Liangzhou. Longyou was then exhausted, and most who debated the matter thought a tour ill-advised. When the emperor heard of this, on xinhai he held court at Yanfu Hall, summoned officials of fifth rank and above, and said, "From antiquity emperors have all made inspection tours; therefore I wish to tour distant regions and observe their customs. If it is truly impossible, why not speak to my face? Yet you withdraw and speak behind my back—why?" From the chancellors downward, none dared reply. Minister of Detailed Punishments Lai Gongmin alone stepped forward and said, "An inspection tour is an ordinary duty of emperors, yet Goguryeo has only just been pacified and remnant rebels remain numerous; campaigns on the western frontier have not yet ended. Longyou's population is exhausted; wherever the imperial carriage goes, provisions must be supplied in countless ways—it truly would not be easy. Outside there is indeed private talk, but since the edict has already been issued, the officials dare not speak openly." The emperor approved his words and canceled the western tour on his account. Before long, Gongmin was promoted to Vice Director of the Yellow Gate.
117
甲戌，改瀚海都護府為安北都護府。
On jiaxu, the Protectorate-General of the Vast Sea was renamed Protectorate-General of the Pacified North.
118
九月，丁丑朔，詔徙吐谷渾部落就涼州南山。 議者恐吐蕃侵暴，使不能自存，欲先發兵擊吐蕃。 右相閻立本以為去歲饑歉，未可興師。 議久不決，竟不果徙。
In the ninth month, on the first day, dingchou, an edict ordered the Tuyuhun tribes moved to the southern mountains of Liangzhou. Those debating feared Tibetan raids would leave the tribes unable to survive and wished to strike Tibet first. Right Chancellor Yan Liben argued that last year's famine made raising an army impossible. Debate dragged on without resolution, and in the end the move was never carried out.
119
庚寅，大風，海溢，漂永嘉、安固六千餘家。
On gengyin, great winds blew and the sea overflowed, sweeping away more than six thousand households in Yongjia and Angu.
120
冬，十月，丁巳，車駕還京師。
In winter, the tenth month, on dingsi, the imperial carriage returned to the capital.
121
十一月，丁亥，徙豫王旭輪為冀王，更名輪。
In the eleventh month, on dinghai, Prince of Yu Xu Lun was reassigned as Prince of Ji and renamed Lun.
122
司空、太子太師、英貞武公李勣寢疾，上悉召其子弟在外者，使歸侍疾。 上及太子所賜藥，勣則餌之； 子弟為之迎醫，皆不聽進，曰：「吾本山東田夫，遭值聖明，致位三公，年將八十，豈非命邪！ 修短有期，豈能復就醫工求活！」 一旦，忽謂其弟司衛少卿弼曰：「吾今日小愈，可共置酒為樂。」 於是子孫悉集，酒闌，謂弼曰：「吾自度必不起，故欲與汝曹為別耳。 汝曹勿悲泣，聽我約束。 我見房、杜平生勤苦，僅能立門戶，遭不肖子，蕩覆無餘。 吾有此子孫，今悉付汝。 葬畢，汝即遷入我堂，撫養孤幼，謹察視之。 其有志氣不倫，交遊非類者，皆先撾殺，然後以聞。」 自是不復更言。 十二月，戊申，薨。 上聞之悲泣，葬日，幸未央宮，登樓望輀車慟哭。 起塚象陰山、鐵山、烏德鞬山，以旌其破突厥、薛延陀之功。
Li Ji, Minister of Works, Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent, and Duke Yingzhen the Martial, lay ill; the emperor summoned all his sons and nephews who were away to return and attend him. Medicine sent by the emperor and crown prince, Li Ji would take; but when his sons and nephews brought physicians, he would not admit them, saying, "I was originally a farmer of Shandong; meeting a sage and enlightened ruler, I rose to the rank of Three Dukes; I am nearing eighty—is this not fate! Life and death have their allotted span—how could I again go to physicians to beg for life!" One day he suddenly said to his younger brother Bi, vice director of the court guard, "I am somewhat better today; let us set out wine and make merry together." Thereupon his descendants all gathered; when the wine was done, he said to Bi, "I know I shall not rise again, and so wished to take leave of you all. Do not weep; hear my instructions. I have seen how Fang and Du toiled all their lives and barely established their houses, yet unworthy sons brought ruin without a remnant. I now entrust all these descendants of mine to you. When the burial is complete, move at once into my hall, nurture the orphans and young, and watch over them carefully. Any whose ambition is unsound or who consort with unsuitable company—beat them to death first, then report it." From then on he spoke no more. In the twelfth month, on wushen, he died. When the emperor heard, he wept in grief; on the day of burial he visited Weiyang Palace, ascended a tower, looked upon the funeral carriage, and wailed. His tomb was built in the likeness of Yinshan, Tieshan, and Wudejianshan to honor his victories over the Turks and Xueyantuo.
123
勣為將，有謀善斷； 與人議事，從善如流。 戰勝則歸功於下，所得金帛，悉散之將士，故人思致死，所向克捷。 臨事選將，必訾相其狀貌豐厚者遣之。 或問其故，勣曰：「薄命之人，不足與成功名。」 閨門雍睦而嚴。 其姊嘗病，勣已為僕射，親為之煮粥。 風回，爇其鬚鬢。 姊曰：「僕妾幸多，何自苦如是！」 勣曰：「非為無人使令也，顧姊老，勣亦老，雖欲久為姊煮粥，其可得乎！」 勣常謂人：「我年十二三時為亡賴賊，逢人則殺。 十四五為難當賊，有所不愜則殺人。 十七八為佳賊，臨陳乃殺之。 二十為大將，用兵以救人死。」 勣長子震早卒，震子敬業襲爵。
As a general, Li Ji was resourceful and decisive; when discussing affairs with others, he followed good counsel as readily as a flowing stream. When victorious he ascribed credit to his subordinates; gold and silk obtained he distributed entirely among his officers and soldiers, so men wished to die for him and wherever he went he prevailed. When choosing generals for action, he always appraised their appearance and sent those who looked full and substantial. When someone asked the reason, Li Ji said, "Men of thin fortune are not fit to share in success and fame." Within his household relations were harmonious yet strict. When his elder sister was ill, though Li Ji was already a Grand Secretariat Director, he personally cooked porridge for her. A gust of wind blew back and singed his beard and sideburns. His sister said, "You have plenty of servants—why torment yourself like this!" Li Ji said, "It is not that I have no one to order about; but my sister is old, and I too am old—though I wish I could cook porridge for you for a long time, how can that be!" Li Ji often told people, "When I was twelve or thirteen I was a good-for-nothing bandit and killed anyone I met. At fourteen or fifteen I was a hard-to-beat bandit—when something displeased me I killed people. At seventeen or eighteen I was a fine bandit and killed only in battle. At twenty I became a great general and used arms to save men from death." Li Ji's eldest son Zhen died early; Zhen's son Jingye inherited the title.
124
時承平既久，選人益多，是歲，司列少常伯裴行儉始與員外郎張仁示韋，設長名姓歷榜，引銓注之法。 又定州縣升降、官資高下。 其後遂為永制，無能革之者。
Long peace had lasted, and candidates for office grew ever more numerous; that year Pei Xingjian, vice minister of the directorate of personnel, together with Zhang Renyi, outer section vice director, first established the long-name register and brought in the selection-and-assignment method. He also fixed the grades for promoting and demoting prefectures and counties and the ranks of official qualifications. Thereafter it became a permanent system that none could reform.
125
大略唐之選法，取人以身、言、書、判，計資量勞而擬官。 始集而試，觀其書、判； 已試而銓，察其身、言； 已銓而注，詢其便利； 已注而唱，集眾告之。 然後類以為甲，先簡僕射，乃上門下，給事中讀，侍郎省，侍中審之，不當者駁下。 既審，然後上聞，主者受旨奉行，各給以符，謂之告身。 兵部武選亦然。 課試之法，以騎射及翹關、負米。 人有格限未至，而能試文三篇，謂之宏詞，試判三條，謂之拔萃，入等者得不限而授。 其黔中、嶺南、閩中州縣官，不由吏部，委都督選擇士人補授。 凡居官以年為考，六品以下，四考為滿。
In broad outline, Tang's selection method judged men by physique, speech, calligraphy, and case judgment, tallying seniority and merit to propose appointments. First they were gathered and tested, examining calligraphy and case judgment; after testing came selection, inspecting physique and speech; after selection came assignment, inquiring as to convenience; after assignment came announcement, assembling the crowd to proclaim it. Then they were classified and ranked; first screened by the Grand Secretariat Director, then submitted to the Ministry of State Affairs; the drafting attendant read them, the vice minister examined them, the chief minister reviewed—and what was improper was sent back. Once reviewed, it was reported upward; the responsible official received the command and carried it out, issuing each man a tally called a commission of appointment. Military selection by the Ministry of War followed the same procedure. The examination method used mounted archery, lifting the gate-bar, and carrying rice. If a man's qualification grade had not yet been reached yet he could pass three literary essays—called hongci—or three case judgments—called baeji—those who entered the grade could be appointed without regard to limit. Prefectural and county officials in Qianzhong, Lingnan, and Minzhong were not handled by the Ministry of Personnel; area commissioners were entrusted to select local men of quality to fill the posts. In general, holding office was assessed by year; for sixth rank and below, four assessments constituted a full term.
126
春，正月，丁丑，右相劉仁軌請致仕； 許之。
In spring, the first month, on dingchou, Right Chancellor Liu Rengui asked to retire; The request was granted.
127
三月，甲戌朔，以旱，赦天下，改元。
In the third month, on the new moon of jiaxu, owing to drought, a general amnesty was proclaimed and the era name was changed.
128
丁丑，改蓬萊宮為含元宮。
On dingchou, Penglai Palace was renamed Hanyuan Palace.
129
壬辰，太子少師許敬宗請致仕； 許之。
On renchen, Xu Jingzong, junior preceptor to the Crown Prince, asked to retire; The request was granted.
130
敕突厥酋長子弟事東宮。 西台舍人徐齊聃上疏，以為：「皇太子當引文學端良之士置左右，豈可使戎狄丑類入侍軒闥！」 又奏：「齊獻公即陛下外祖，雖子孫有犯，豈應上延祖檷！ 今周忠孝公廟甚修，而齊獻公廟毀廢，不審陛下何以垂示海內，彰孝理之風！」 上皆從之。 齊聃，充容之弟也。
An edict commanded sons of Turkic chieftains to attend upon the Eastern Palace. Xu Qidan, writer of the Western Chancellery, submitted a memorial arguing: "The Crown Prince should bring literary, upright men to his side—how can vile barbarians be allowed to wait upon him in the palace chambers!" He also wrote: "Duke Gong of Qi is Your Majesty's maternal grandfather. Though his descendants have committed offenses, how can punishment reach upward to his ancestral shrine! The temple of Duke Zhongxiao of Zhou is splendidly kept up, yet the temple of Duke Gong of Qi stands ruined and abandoned. I cannot see how Your Majesty means to set an example for the realm and proclaim the spirit of filial rule!" The emperor approved all his proposals. Qidan was the younger brother of Chongrong.
131
夏，四月，吐蕃陷西域十八州，又與于闐襲龜茲撥換城，陷之。 罷龜茲、于闐、焉耆、疏勒四鎮。 辛亥，以右衛大將軍薛仁貴為邏娑道行軍大總管，左衛員外大將軍阿史那道真、左衛將軍郭待封副之，以討吐蕃，且援送吐谷渾還故地。
In summer, the fourth month, Tubo overran eighteen prefectures in the Western Regions and, together with Khotan, assaulted Bochuang in Kucha and took it. The four garrisons of Kucha, Khotan, Karasahr, and Kashgar were withdrawn. On xinhai, Xue Rengui, grand general of the Right Guard, was appointed grand campaign commander on the Luosuo Route, with Ashina Daozhen, outer-rank grand general of the Left Guard, and Guo Daifeng, general of the Left Guard, as his deputies, to strike Tubo and escort the Tuyuhun back to their homeland.
132
庚午，上幸九成宮。
On gengwu, the emperor went to Jiucheng Palace.
133
高麗酋長劍牟岑反，立高藏外孫安舜為主。 以左監門大將軍高侃為東州道行軍總管，發兵討之，安舜殺劍牟岑，奔新羅。
The Goguryeo chieftain Jian Mucen rose in revolt and set up An Shun, a grandson of Gao Zang, as their leader. Gao Kan, grand general of the Left Gate Inspectorate, was made campaign commander on the Eastern Route and sent troops against them. An Shun killed Jian Mucen and fled to Silla.
134
六月，壬寅朔，日有食之。
In the sixth month, on the new moon of renyin, the sun was eclipsed.
135
秋，八月，丁巳，車駕還京師。
In autumn, the eighth month, on dingsi, the emperor returned to the capital.
136
郭待封先與薛仁貴並列，及征吐蕃，恥居其下，仁貴所言，待封多違之。 軍至大非川，將趣烏海，仁貴曰：「烏海險遠，軍行甚難，輜重自隨，難以趨利； 宜留二萬人，為兩柵於大非嶺上，輜重悉置柵內，吾屬帥輕銳，倍道兼行，掩其未備，破之必矣。」 仁貴帥所部前行，擊吐蕃於河口，大破之，斬獲甚眾，進屯烏海以俟待封。 待封不用仁貴策，將輜重徐進，未至烏海，遇吐蕃二十餘萬，待封軍大敗，還走，悉棄輜重。 仁貴退屯大非川，吐蕃相論欽陵將兵四十餘萬就擊之，唐兵大敗，死傷略盡。 仁貴、待封與阿史那道真並脫身免，與欽陵約和而還。 敕大司憲樂彥瑋即軍中按其敗狀，械送京師，三人皆免死除名。
Guo Daifeng had once been Xue Rengui's equal in rank; on the campaign against Tubo he resented serving under him and often defied Rengui's decisions. When the army reached Dafeichuan and was about to advance on Wuhai, Rengui said: "Wuhai lies far across dangerous country, and the march will be arduous. Lugging baggage trains along, we cannot hope to strike swiftly; Leave twenty thousand men and build two stockades on Dafei Ridge; put all supplies inside. We should lead the light, picked troops by forced marches to catch them off guard—we are sure to break them." Rengui led his own force ahead, attacked Tubo at Hekou, and won a great victory, killing and capturing many; he then advanced and encamped at Wuhai to wait for Daifeng. Daifeng ignored Rengui's plan and advanced the baggage train at a crawl. Before he reached Wuhai he ran into more than two hundred thousand Tubo troops; his army was routed and fled, abandoning all supplies. Rengui fell back to Dafeichuan. Lun Qinling, Tubo's chief minister, brought more than four hundred thousand men against him; the Tang army was shattered and almost wiped out. Rengui, Daifeng, and Ashina Daozhen all escaped alive, negotiated peace with Qinling, and withdrew. The emperor ordered Grand Censor Yue Yanwei to investigate the defeat in camp and send the three men to the capital in chains. All were spared execution but stripped of rank and removed from office.
137
欽陵，祿東贊之子也，與弟贊婆、悉多於、勃論皆有才略。 祿東贊卒，欽陵代之秉政，三弟將兵居外，鄰國畏之。
Qinling was the son of Gar Tongtsen. He and his younger brothers Zanpo, Xiduoyu, and Blon were all men of talent and military skill. After Gar Tongtsen died, Qinling took control of the government while his three brothers commanded armies on the frontiers, and neighboring states feared them.
138
關中旱，饑。 九月，丁丑，詔以明年正月幸東都。
Guanzhong suffered drought and famine. In the ninth month, on dingchou, an edict announced an imperial visit to the Eastern Capital in the first month of the following year.
139
甲申，皇后母魯國忠烈夫人楊氏卒，敕文武九品以上及外命婦並詣宅吊哭。
On jiashen, Lady Yang, the empress's mother, Duchess of Lu and Lady of Loyal Valor, died. An edict commanded civil and military officials of the ninth rank and above, together with externally ennobled ladies, to come to the house and offer condolences.
140
閨月，癸卯，皇后以久旱，請避位； 不許。
In the intercalary month, on guimao, owing to the prolonged drought the empress asked to abdicate; The request was refused.
141
壬子，加贈司徒周忠孝公武士擭為太尉、太原王，夫人為王妃。
On renzi, additional posthumous honors were granted: Wu Shihuo, Duke Zhongxiao of Zhou, already made grand preceptor, was further ennobled as grand marshal and King of Taiyuan, and his wife was made a royal consort.
142
甲寅，以左相-{姜}-恪為涼州道行軍大總管，以御吐蕃。
On jiayin, Jiang Ke, Left Chancellor, was appointed grand campaign commander on the Liangzhou Route to defend against Tubo.
143
冬，十月，乙未，太子右中護、同東西台三品趙仁本為左肅機，罷政事。
In winter, the tenth month, on yiwei, Zhao Renben, crown prince's right central guard and Third Rank Associate of Both Eastern and Western Offices, was made Left Suoji and removed from the government.
144
庚寅，詔官名皆復舊。
On gengyin, an edict commanded that all official titles be restored to their former names.