1
資治通鑑第202卷
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 202
2
卷第二百二
Volume Two Hundred Two
3
【唐紀十八】起重光協洽，盡重光大荒落，凡十一年。
[Tang Records 18] From Chongguang Xieqia through Chongguang Dahuangluo—eleven years in all.
4
春，正月，甲子，上幸東都。
In spring, on the first day of the first month, the emperor traveled to the Eastern Capital.
5
夏，四月，甲申，以西突厥阿史那都支為左驍衛大將軍兼匐延都督，以安集五咄陸之眾。
In summer, on the twenty-first day of the fourth month, Ashina Duzhi of the Western Turks was appointed General-in-Chief of the Left Valiant Cavalry Guard and concurrently Governor of Fuyan, charged with pacifying and resettling the five Dulu tribes.
6
初，武元慶等既死，皇后奏以其姊子賀蘭敏之為士擭之嗣，襲爵周公，改姓武氏，累遷弘文館學士、左散騎常侍。 魏國夫人之死也，上見敏之，悲泣曰：「向吾出視朝猶無恙，退朝已不救，何倉卒如此！」 敏之號哭不對。 -{后}-聞之，曰：「此兒疑我！」 由是惡之。 敏之貌美，蒸於太原王妃； 及居妃喪，釋衰絰，奏妓。 司衛少卿楊思儉女，有殊色，上及-{后}-自選以為太子妃，昏有日矣，敏之逼而淫之。 -{后}-於是表言敏之前後罪惡，請加竄逐。 六月，丙子，敕流雷州，復其本姓。 至韶州，以馬韁絞死。 朝士坐與敏之交遊，流嶺南者甚眾。
Earlier, after Wu Yuanqing and his kin had been put to death, the empress petitioned to have her sister's son Helan Minzhi succeed Shi Yun as heir, inherit the dukedom of Zhou, adopt the surname Wu, and rise through the ranks to Academician of the Hongwen Institute and Left Regular Attendant of the Cavalry. After the Lady of Wei died, the emperor met Minzhi and wept, saying, "When I left court this morning she was still well; by the time I returned she could not be saved—how could it have happened so suddenly!" Minzhi wailed but made no answer. When the empress heard of this, she said, "This boy suspects me!" From that time she hated him. Minzhi was strikingly handsome and carried on an illicit affair with the Princess of Taiyuan; while in mourning for her, he cast off his mourning garments and had entertainers perform. The daughter of Vice Minister of the Palace Guards Yang Sijian was exceptionally beautiful; the emperor and empress had personally selected her as the crown prince's consort, and the wedding was imminent, when Minzhi forced himself upon her. The empress then submitted a memorial detailing Minzhi's crimes and requesting that he be exiled. In the sixth month, on the twenty-sixth day, an edict exiled him to Leizhou and restored his original surname. At Shaozhou he was strangled with a horse rein. Many court officials who had associated with Minzhi were implicated and exiled to Lingnan.
7
秋，七月，乙未朔，高侃破高麗餘眾於安市城。 九月，丙申，潞州刺史徐王元禮薨。
In autumn, on the first day of the seventh month, Gao Kan defeated the remaining Goguryeo troops at Anshi City. In the ninth month, on the fifteenth day, Prince Xu Yuanli, governor of Luzhou, died.
8
冬，十一月，甲午朔，日有食之。
In winter, on the first day of the eleventh month, a solar eclipse occurred.
9
車駕自東都幸許、汝； 十二月，癸酉，校獵於葉縣； 丙戌，還東都。
The emperor traveled from the Eastern Capital to Xu and Ru; in the twelfth month, on the tenth day, conducted a hunting expedition at Ye County; on the twenty-third day he returned to the Eastern Capital.
10
春，正月，辛丑，以太子右衛副率梁積壽為姚州道行軍總管，將兵討叛蠻。
In spring, on the eighteenth day of the first month, Liang Jishou, Deputy Commander of the Crown Prince's Right Guard, was appointed campaign commander for the Yaozhou circuit and led troops against rebellious tribes.
11
庚戌，昆明蠻十四姓二萬三千戶內附，置殷、敦、總三州。
On the twenty-seventh day, twenty-three thousand households of fourteen Kunming clans submitted, and the prefectures of Yin, Dun, and Zong were established.
12
二月，庚午，徙吐谷渾於鄯州浩亹水南。 吐谷渾畏吐蕃之強，不安其居，又鄯州地狹，尋徙靈州，以其部落置安樂州，以可汗諾曷缽為刺史。 吐谷渾故地皆入於吐蕃。
In the second month, on the seventh day, the Tuyuhun were relocated to the south bank of the Hao River in Shan Prefecture. The Tuyuhun feared Tibetan power and could not settle peacefully; Shan Prefecture's land was also too cramped, so they were soon moved to Lingzhou, their tribes organized as Anle Prefecture, with Qaghan Nuohebo appointed prefect. All the former Tuyuhun territories passed into Tibetan hands.
13
己卯，侍中永安郡公-{姜}-恪薨。
On the twenty-second day, Jiang Ke, Duke of Yong'an and Palace Attendant, died.
14
夏，四月，庚午，上幸合璧宮。
In summer, on the seventh day of the fourth month, the emperor visited Hebi Palace.
15
吐蕃遣其大臣仲琮入貢，上問以吐蕃風俗，對曰：「吐蕃地薄氣寒，風俗樸魯； 然法令嚴整，上下一心，議事常自下而起，因人所利而行之，斯所以能持久也。」 上詰以吞滅吐谷渾、敗薛仁貴、寇逼涼州事，對曰：「臣受命貢獻而已，軍旅之事，非所聞也。」 上厚賜而遣之。 癸未，遣都水使者黃仁素使於吐蕃。
Tibet sent its minister Zhongqiong with tribute; when the emperor asked about Tibetan customs, he replied, "Tibet's soil is thin and its climate cold; its people are plain and unrefined; yet its laws are strict and its people united; deliberations usually rise from the ranks and follow what benefits the people—that is how it endures." The emperor pressed him about the conquest of the Tuyuhun, the defeat of Xue Rengui, and raids toward Liangzhou; he replied, "I was charged only to present tribute; I have heard nothing of military affairs." The emperor gave him generous gifts and dismissed him. On the twenty-first day, Huang Rensu, Commissioner of the Directorate of Waterways, was dispatched as envoy to Tibet.
16
秋，八月，壬午，特進高陽郡公許敬宗卒。 太常博士袁思古議：「敬宗棄長子於荒徼，嫁少女於夷貊。 按《謚法》，『名與實爽曰繆，』請謚為繆。」 敬宗孫太子舍人彥伯訟思古與許氏有怨，請改謚。 太常博士王福畤議，以為：「謚者得失一朝，榮辱千載。 若嫌隙有實，當據法推繩； 如其不然，義不可奪。」 戶部尚書戴至德謂福畤曰：「高陽公任遇如是，保以謚之為繆？」 對曰：「昔晉司空何曾既忠且孝，徒以日食萬錢，秦秀謚之曰『繆』。 許敬宗忠孝不逮於曾，而飲食男女之累過之，謚之曰『繆』，無負許氏矣。」 詔集五品已上更議，禮部尚書陽思敬議：「按《謚法》，既過能改曰恭。 請謚曰恭。」 詔從之。 敬宗嘗奏流其子昂於嶺南，又以女嫁蠻酋馮盎之子，多納其貨，故思古議及之。 福畤，勃之父也。
In autumn, on the fourth day of the eighth month, Xu Jingzong, Duke of Gaoyang and Special Advancement, died. Yuan Sigu, erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, proposed: "Jingzong abandoned his eldest son to the frontier wastes and married his young daughter to barbarians. According to the Posthumous Title Canon, 'when name and reality diverge, the title is Miu (False).' I request the posthumous title Miu." Jingzong's grandson Yanbo, Attendant of the Crown Prince's Household, protested that Sigu bore a grudge against the Xu family and asked that the title be changed. Wang Fuchou, another erudite of the court, argued: "A posthumous title fixes a man's worth in a moment and his reputation for a thousand years. If the grievance is genuine, let the law be applied; if not, the title must stand on principle." Minister of Revenue Dai Zhide said to Fuchou, "The Duke of Gaoyang enjoyed such favor at court—how can you justify giving him the title Miu?" He replied, "In Jin times He Zeng, Minister of Works, was loyal and filial, yet Qin Xiu gave him the title Miu solely because he spent ten thousand cash a day on food. Xu Jingzong fell short of Zeng in loyalty and filial piety, yet exceeded him in indulgence in food, drink, and women—to title him Miu does the Xu family no wrong." An edict called officials of the fifth rank and above to deliberate again; Minister of Rites Yang Sijing proposed: "According to the canon, 'having faults yet able to reform' yields the title Gong (Respectful). I request the title Gong." The edict approved it. Jingzong had once had his son Ang exiled to Lingnan and had married a daughter to the son of the barbarian chieftain Feng Ang, accepting large bride-price payments—hence Sigu's proposal. Fuchou was the father of Wang Bo.
17
九月，癸卯，徙沛王賢為雍王。
In the ninth month, on the fourth day, Prince Pei Xian was redesignated Prince Yong.
18
冬，十月，己未，詔太子監國。
In winter, on the twenty-second day of the tenth month, an edict ordered the crown prince to govern in the emperor's absence.
19
壬戌，車駕發東都。
On the twenty-fifth day the emperor departed the Eastern Capital.
20
十一月，戊子朔，日有食之。
On the first day of the eleventh month there was a solar eclipse.
21
甲辰，車駕至京師。
On the seventeenth day the emperor reached the capital.
22
十二月，高侃與高麗餘眾戰於白水山，破之。 新羅遣兵救高麗，侃擊破之。
In the twelfth month, Gao Kan fought the remaining Goguryeo forces at Baishui Mountain and routed them. Silla sent troops to aid Goguryeo; Kan defeated them as well.
23
癸卯，以左庶子劉仁軌同中書門下三品。 太子罕接宮臣，典膳丞全椒邢文偉輒減所供膳，並上書諫太子。 太子復書，謝以多疾及入侍少暇，嘉納其意。 頃之，右史缺，上曰：「邢文偉事吾子，能撤膳進諫，此直士也。」 擢為右史。 太子因宴集，命宮臣擲倒，次至左奉裕率王及善，及善曰：「擲倒自有伶官，臣若奉令，恐非所以羽翼殿下也。」 太子謝之。 上聞之，賜及善縑百匹，尋遷左千牛衛將軍。
On the fourth day, Liu Ren'gui, Left Junior Mentor, was appointed Grand Counselor of the Secretariat and Chancellery. The crown prince rarely met with his palace staff; Xing Wenwei of Quanjiao, Director of Palace Provisions, repeatedly cut back his meals and submitted a memorial admonishing him. The crown prince wrote back, citing frequent illness and little leisure from attending the emperor, and thanked him for the advice. Soon afterward the post of Right Historian fell vacant; the emperor said, "Xing Wenwei serves my son, yet dared to cut his provisions and remonstrate—he is an upright man." He was promoted to Right Historian. At a banquet the crown prince ordered his attendants to perform acrobatic tumbling; when it came to Wang Jishan, Director of the Left Palace Attendants, he said, "Acrobats have their own performers; if I obeyed, I fear I would not be supporting Your Highness as I should." The crown prince apologized. When the emperor heard of this, he rewarded Jishan with one hundred bolts of silk and soon promoted him to General of the Left Palace Interior Service.
24
春，正月，丙辰，絳州刺史鄭惠王元懿薨。
In spring, on the twenty-sixth day of the first month, Prince Zheng Hui Yuanyi, governor of Jiang Prefecture, died.
25
三月，丙申，詔劉仁軌等改修國史，以許敬宗等所記多不實故也。
In the third month, on the sixteenth day, an edict ordered Liu Ren'gui and others to revise the national history, because Xu Jingzong's records were largely unreliable.
26
夏，四月，丙子，車駕幸九成宮。
In summer, on the twenty-sixth day of the fourth month, the emperor visited Jiucheng Palace.
27
閏五月，燕山道總管、右領軍大將軍李謹行大破高麗叛者於瓠蘆河之西，俘獲數千人，餘眾皆奔新羅。 時謹行妻劉氏留伐奴城，高麗引靺鞨攻之，劉氏擐甲帥眾守城，久之，虜退。 上嘉其功，封燕國夫人。 謹行，靺鞨人突地稽之子也，武力絕人，為眾夷所憚。
In the intercalary fifth month, Li Jinxing, commander of the Yanshan circuit and General-in-Chief of the Right Palace Guards, routed Goguryeo rebels west of the Hulu River, taking several thousand prisoners; the rest fled to Silla. Jinxing's wife Lady Liu had remained at Fanu City when Goguryeo led Mohe forces against it; she donned armor, led the defense, and after a long siege the enemy withdrew. The emperor praised her achievement and enfeoffed her as Lady of Yan. Jinxing was the son of the Mohe leader Tudiji, possessed of extraordinary strength, and feared among all the frontier peoples.
28
秋，七月，辛巳，婺州大水，溺死者五千人。
In autumn, on the third day of the seventh month, Wu Prefecture suffered catastrophic flooding; five thousand people drowned.
29
八月，辛丑，上以瘧疾，令太子於延福殿受諸司啟事。
In the eighth month, on the twenty-third day, the emperor, suffering from malaria, ordered the crown prince to receive memorials from all offices at Yanfu Hall.
30
冬，十月，壬午，中書令閻立本薨。
In winter, on the fourth day of the tenth month, Yan Liben, Grand Secretary of the Secretariat, died.
31
乙巳，車駕還京師。
On the twenty-seventh day the emperor returned to the capital.
32
十二月，丙午，弓月、疏勒二王來降。 西突厥興昔亡可汗之世，諸部離散，弓月及阿悉吉皆叛。 蘇定方之西討也，擒阿悉吉以歸。 弓月南結吐蕃，北招咽面，共攻疏勒，降之。 上遣鴻臚卿蕭嗣業發兵討之。 嗣業兵未至，弓月懼，與疏勒皆入朝； 上赦其罪，遣歸國。
In the twelfth month, on the twenty-eighth day, the kings of Gongyue and Shule came to submit. During the reign of the Western Turk qaghan Xingxianwang, the tribes had scattered; Gongyue and Ashixi both rebelled. On Su Dingfang's western campaign he captured Ashixi and brought him back. Gongyue allied with Tibet to the south and recruited Yanmian to the north, jointly attacking and subduing Shule. The emperor sent Xiao Siye, Minister of Ceremonial, to raise troops against them. Before Siye's army arrived, Gongyue grew afraid; he and the king of Shule both came to court; the emperor pardoned them and sent them home.
33
春，正月，壬午，以左庶子、同中書門下三品劉仁軌為雞林道大總管，衛尉卿李弼、右領軍大將軍李謹行副之，發兵討新羅。 時新羅王法敏既納高麗叛眾，又據百濟故地，使人守之。 上大怒，詔削法敏官爵； 其弟右驍衛員外大將軍、臨海郡公仁問在京師，立以為新羅王，使歸國。
In spring, on the fourth day of the first month, Liu Ren'gui, Left Junior Mentor and Grand Counselor, was appointed supreme commander of the Jilin circuit, with Li Bi, Minister of the Court of Imperial Regalia, and Li Jinxing, General-in-Chief of the Right Palace Guards, as his deputies, to lead an expedition against Silla. The Silla king Fammin had sheltered Goguryeo rebels and occupied former Baekje territory, posting garrisons to hold it. The emperor was furious and stripped Fammin of his rank and titles; his younger brother Renwen, Acting General-in-Chief of the Right Valiant Cavalry Guard and Duke of Linhai, who was in the capital, was installed as king of Silla and sent home.
34
三月，辛亥朔，日有食之。
On the first day of the third month there was a solar eclipse.
35
賀蘭敏之既得罪，皇后奏召武元爽之子承嗣於嶺南，襲爵周公，拜尚衣奉御； 夏，四月，辛卯，遷宗正卿。
After Helan Minzhi's downfall, the empress petitioned to recall Wu Yuanshuang's son Chengsi from Lingnan, have him inherit the dukedom of Zhou, and appoint him Attendant of the Imperial Wardrobe; In summer, on the twelfth day of the fourth month, he was promoted to Minister of the Imperial Clan.
36
秋，八月，壬辰，追尊宣簡公為宣皇帝，妣張氏為宣莊皇后； 懿王為光皇帝，妣賈氏為光懿皇后； 太武皇帝為神堯皇帝，太穆皇后為太穆神皇后； 文皇帝為太宗文武聖皇帝，文德皇后為文德聖皇后。 皇帝稱天皇，皇后稱天-{后}-，以避先帝、先-{后}-之稱。 改元，赦天下。
In autumn, on the third day of the eighth month, Duke Xuanjian was posthumously honored as Emperor Xuan and his mother Lady Zhang as Empress Xuanzhuang; Prince Yi as Emperor Guang and his mother Lady Jia as Empress Guangyi; Emperor Gaozu as Emperor Shenyao and Empress Taimu as Divine Empress Taimu; Emperor Taizong as Emperor Taizong the Civil and Martial Sage, and Empress Wende as Sage Empress Wende. The reigning emperor took the title Heavenly Emperor and the empress the title Heavenly Empress, so as not to share titles with the deceased emperor and empress. The era name was changed and a general amnesty was proclaimed.
37
戊戌，敕：「文武官三品以上服紫，金玉帶； 四品服深緋，金帶； 五品服淺緋，金帶； 六品服深綠，七品服淺綠，並銀帶； 八品服深青，九品服淺青，並金俞石帶； 庶人服黃，銅鐵帶。 自非庶人，不聽服黃。」
On the ninth day an edict declared: "Civil and military officials of the third rank and above shall wear purple robes with gold and jade belts; fourth rank deep scarlet with gold belts; fifth rank light scarlet with gold belts; sixth rank deep green and seventh rank light green, all with silver belts; eighth rank deep blue-green and ninth rank light blue-green, all with ornamented metal and stone belts; commoners were to wear yellow with copper or iron belts. No one but commoners was permitted to wear yellow."
38
九月，癸丑，詔追復長孫晟、長孫無忌官爵，以無忌曾孫翼襲爵趙公，聽無忌喪歸，陪葬昭陵。
In the ninth month, on the twenty-third day, an edict restored the offices and titles of Zhangsun Sheng and Zhangsun Wuji, had Wuji's great-grandson Yi inherit the dukedom of Zhao, permitted Wuji's remains to be returned for burial, and allowed interment beside Zhaoling.
39
甲寅，上御翔鸞閣，觀大□甫。 分音樂為東西朋，使雍王賢主東朋，周王顯主西朋，角勝為樂。 郝處俊諫曰：「二王春秋尚少，志趣未定，當推梨讓棗，相親如一。 今分二朋，遞相誇競，俳優小人，言辭無度，恐其交爭勝負，譏誚失禮，非所以崇禮義，勸敦睦也。」 上瞿然曰：「卿遠識，非眾人所及也。」 遽止之。 是日，衛尉卿李弼暴卒於宴所，為之廢□甫一日。
On the twenty-fourth day the emperor went to Xiangluan Pavilion to watch the grand public feast. The musicians were divided into eastern and western sides; Prince Yong Xian led the east and Prince Zhou Xian the west, competing for victory as sport. Hao Chujun remonstrated: "The two princes are still young and their characters not yet fixed; they ought to yield to one another like the boys of Liang and live in mutual affection. To divide them into rival camps and set them boasting against each other, with actors and low fellows speaking without restraint, risks quarrels over winning and losing, mockery, and breaches of decorum—it is no way to uphold ritual or foster brotherly harmony." The emperor started and said, "Your foresight is beyond what most men can match." He stopped the contest at once. That same day Li Bi, Minister of the Court of Imperial Regalia, died suddenly at the banquet; the grand feast was canceled for a day in mourning.
40
冬，十一月，丙午朔，車駕發京師； 己酉，校獵華山之曲武原； 戊辰，至東都。
In winter, on the first day of the eleventh month, the emperor left the capital; on the fourth day he hunted at Quwuyuan on Mount Hua; on the twenty-third day he reached the Eastern Capital.
41
箕州錄事參軍張君澈等誣告刺史蔣王惲及其子汝南郡王煒謀反，敕通事舍人薛思貞馳傳往按之。 十二月，癸未，惲惶懼，自縊死。 上知其非罪，深痛惜之，斬君澈等四人。
Zhang Junche, records officer of Ji Prefecture, and others falsely accused Prince Jiang Yun, governor of Ji, and his son Wei, Duke of Runan, of treason; the emperor ordered Xue Sizhen, Attendant of Imperial Transmission, to investigate by urgent dispatch. In the twelfth month, on the tenth day, Yun, in terror, hanged himself. Knowing Yun innocent, the emperor grieved deeply and executed Junche and three accomplices.
42
戊子，于闐王伏闍雄來朝。
On the fifteenth day the king of Khotan, Fuzhanxiong, came to court.
43
辛卯，波斯王卑路斯來朝。
On the eighteenth day the king of Persia, Pilusi, came to court.
44
壬寅，天-{后}-上表，以為：「國家聖緒，出自玄元皇帝，請令王公以下皆習《老子》，每歲明經，准《孝經》、《論語》策試。」 又請「自今父在，為母服齊衰三年。 又，京官八品以上，宜量加俸祿。」 及其餘便宜，合十二條。 詔書褒美，皆行之。
On the twenty-ninth day the Heavenly Empress submitted a memorial arguing that the dynasty's sacred lineage descended from the Mysterious Primeval Emperor; she asked that nobles and officials study the Laozi and that the Mingjing examination each year include it alongside the Classic of Filial Piety and the Analects." “She also requested that henceforth, while the father lived, sons wear three years of unhemmed mourning for their mothers. Capital officials of the eighth rank and above should receive appropriate salary increases." With other practical proposals, there were twelve articles in all. Imperial edicts praised the proposals and all were put into effect.
45
是歲，有劉曉者，上疏論選，以為：「今選曹以檢勘為公道，書判為得人，殊不知考其德行才能。 況書判借人者眾矣。 又，禮部取士，專用文章為甲乙，故天下之士，皆捨德行而趨文藝，有朝登甲科而夕陷刑辟者，雖日誦萬言，何關理體！ 文成七步，未足化人。 況盡心卉木之間，極筆煙霞之際，以斯成俗，豈非大謬！ 夫人之慕名，如水趨下，上有所好，下必甚焉。 陛下若取士以德行為先，文藝為末，則多士雷奔，四方風動矣！」
That year a man named Liu Xiao submitted a memorial on official selection, arguing: "The Selection Office today treats document checks as fairness and written judgments as proof of talent, without truly examining virtue, conduct, or ability. Moreover, many candidates borrow others' written judgments. The Ministry of Rites ranks candidates solely by literary composition, so scholars everywhere abandon moral cultivation for belles-lettres; some who pass the highest examinations in the morning face criminal punishment by evening—of what use are ten thousand words a day to the substance of governance! Even Cao Zhi's seven-pace poem was not enough to transform the world. How much less can a society flourish when scholars devote themselves to plants and landscapes and exhaust their pens on mist and clouds—to make this the norm is a grave mistake! People pursue fame as water flows downhill; when the ruler favors something, his subjects inevitably carry it to excess. If Your Majesty selects officials with virtue and conduct first and literary skill last, worthy men will flock to court from every direction!"
46
春，正月，丙寅，以于闐國為毘沙都督府，分其境內為十州，以于闐王尉遲伏闍雄為毘沙都督。
In spring, on the sixteenth day of the first month, Khotan was organized as the Bisha Protectorate, its territory divided into ten prefectures, with King Yuchi Fuzhanxiong of Khotan appointed protector.
47
辛末，吐蕃遣其大臣論吐渾彌來請和，且請與吐谷渾復修鄰好； 上不許。
On the twenty-first day Tibet sent its minister Lun Tuhunmi to sue for peace and to restore friendly relations with the Tuyuhun; the emperor refused.
48
二月，劉仁軌大破新羅之眾於七重城，又使靺鞨浮海略新羅之南境，斬獲甚眾。 仁軌引兵還。 詔以李謹行為安東鎮撫大使，屯新羅之買肖城以經略之，三戰皆捷，新羅乃遣使入貢，且謝罪； 上赦之，復新羅王法敏官爵。 金仁問中道而還，改封臨海郡公。
In the second month Liu Ren'gui routed the Silla army at Chilseong Fortress and sent Mohe forces by sea to raid Silla's southern coast, inflicting heavy casualties. Ren'gui then withdrew his army. Li Jinxing was appointed Pacification Commissioner of the East and encamped at Silla's Maixiao City; after three victories Silla sent envoys with tribute to apologize; the emperor pardoned Silla and restored King Fammin's rank and titles. Kim Inmun turned back en route and was re-enfeoffed as Duke of Linhai.
49
三月，丁巳，天-{后}-祀先蠶於邙山之陽，百官及朝集使皆陪位。
In the third month, on the sixth day, the Heavenly Empress performed the silkworm rites on the south slope of Mount Mang, with all officials and tribute envoys in attendance.
50
上苦風眩甚，議使天-{后}-攝知國政。 中書侍郎同三品郝處俊曰：「天子理外，-{后}-理內，天之道也。 昔魏文帝著令，雖有幼主，不許皇后臨朝，所以杜禍亂之萌也。 陛下奈何以高祖、太宗之天下，不傳之子孫而委之天-{后}-乎！」 中書侍郎昌樂李義琰曰：「處俊之言至忠，陛下宜聽之。」 上乃止。
The emperor suffered severe dizzy spells, and courtiers proposed that the Heavenly Empress govern in his stead. Hao Chujun, Vice Director of the Secretariat and Grand Counselor, said, "The Son of Heaven governs outward affairs and the empress inward affairs—that is Heaven's way. Emperor Wen of Wei once decreed that even with a child emperor the empress must not preside at court, precisely to forestall disorder. How can Your Majesty entrust the realm won by Gaozu and Taizong not to your sons and grandsons but to the Heavenly Empress!" Li Yiyan of Changle, Vice Director of the Secretariat, said, "Chujun speaks with utmost loyalty; Your Majesty should heed him." The emperor abandoned the plan.
51
天-{后}-多引文學之士著作郎元萬頃、左史劉禕之等，使之撰《列女傳》、《臣軌》、《百僚新戒》、《樂書》，幾千餘卷。 朝廷奏議及百司表疏，時密令參決，以分宰相之權，時人謂之北門學士。 禕之，子翼之子也。
The Heavenly Empress recruited literary scholars such as Yuan Wanqing, Editing Clerk, and Liu Yizhi, Left Historian, commissioning them to compile the Biographies of Exemplary Women, Tracks of Ministers, New Admonitions for Officials, and Books of Music—several thousand scrolls in all. She secretly had them participate in decisions on court memorials and departmental reports, dividing the chancellors' authority; contemporaries called them the North Gate Academicians. Yizhi was the son of Liu Ziyi.
52
夏，四月，庚辰，以司農少卿韋弘機為司農卿。 弘機兼知東都營田，受詔完葺宮苑。 有宦者於苑中犯法，弘機杖之，然後奏聞。 上以為能，賜絹數十匹，曰：「更有犯者，卿即杖之，不必奏也。」
In summer, on the second day of the fourth month, Wei Hongji, Vice Minister of the Court of the National Granaries, was promoted to minister. Hongji also oversaw garrison agriculture in the Eastern Capital and was ordered to repair the palace parks. When a eunuch broke the law in the park, Hongji had him beaten with the staff before reporting to the throne. The emperor praised his firmness, rewarded him with several dozen bolts of silk, and said, "If others offend, beat them at once—no need to report first."
53
初，左千牛將軍長安趙瑰尚高祖女常樂公主，生女為周王顯妃。 公主頗為上所厚，天-{后}-惡之。 辛巳，妃坐廢，幽閉於內侍省，食料給生者，防人候其突煙，已而數日煙不出，開視，死腐矣。 瑰自定州刺史貶括州刺史，令公主隨之官，仍絕其朝謁。
Earlier, Zhao Gui of Chang'an, General of the Left Palace Interior Service, had married Princess Changle, daughter of Emperor Gaozu; their daughter became consort to Prince Zhou Xian. The princess enjoyed the emperor's favor, which the Heavenly Empress resented. On the third day the consort was deposed and confined in the Palace Domestic Service; guards watched her cooking fire for signs of life, but after several days no smoke rose; when they entered, they found her dead and decomposing. Gui was demoted from governor of Ding Prefecture to Kuo Prefecture; the princess was sent with him and forbidden further court audiences.
54
太子弘仁孝謙謹，上甚愛之； 禮接士大夫，中外屬心。 天-{后}-方逞其志，太子奏請，數迕旨，由是失愛於天-{后}-。 義陽、宣城二公主，蕭淑妃之女也，坐母得罪，幽於掖庭，年逾三十不嫁。 太子見之驚惻，遽奏請出降，上許之。 天-{后}-怒，即日以公主配當上翊衛權毅、王遂古。 己亥，太子薨於合璧宮，時人以為天-{后}-鴆之也。
Crown Prince Hong was benevolent, filial, modest, and dutiful, and the emperor loved him dearly; he treated scholar-officials with courtesy, and men throughout the court looked to him with hope. The Heavenly Empress was then pursuing her own designs; the crown prince's petitions repeatedly crossed her will, and he fell from her favor. Princesses Yiyang and Xuancheng, daughters of Consort Xiao Shufei, had been confined in the rear palace after their mother's disgrace and remained unmarried past thirty. The crown prince saw them and was moved to pity; he immediately petitioned that they be released to marry, and the emperor agreed. The Heavenly Empress was furious and that same day married them to the lowly guardsmen Quan Yi and Wang Suigu. On the twenty-first day the crown prince died at Hebi Palace; contemporaries believed the Heavenly Empress had poisoned him.
55
壬寅，車駕還洛陽宮。 五月，戊申，下詔：「朕方欲禪位皇太子，而疾遽不起，宜申往命，加以尊名，可謚為孝敬皇帝。」
On the twenty-fourth day the emperor returned to Luoyang Palace. In the fifth month, on the ninth day, an edict declared: "We were on the point of abdicating to the crown prince when illness suddenly carried him off; let his former designation be proclaimed and an honored title added—he shall be posthumously titled Emperor Xiaojing."
56
六月，戊寅，立雍王賢為皇太子，赦天下。
In the sixth month, on the ninth day, Prince Yong Xian was made crown prince and a general amnesty was proclaimed.
57
天-{后}-惡慈州刺史杞王上金，有司希旨奏其罪； 秋，七月，上金坐解官，澧州安置。
The Heavenly Empress hated Prince Qi Shangjin, governor of Ci Prefecture; the authorities, reading her wishes, reported his crimes; in autumn, in the seventh month, he was stripped of office and exiled to Li Prefecture.
58
八月，庚寅，葬孝敬皇帝於恭陵。
In the eighth month, on the first day, Emperor Xiaojing was buried at Gongling.
59
戊戌，以戴至德為右僕射，庚子，以劉仁軌為左僕射，並同中書門下三品如故。 張文瓘為侍中，郝處俊為中書令，李敬玄為吏部尚書兼左庶子，同中書門下三品如故。 劉仁軌、戴志德更日受牒訴，仁軌常以美言許之，至德必據理難詰，未嘗與奪，實有冤結者，密為奏辨。 由是時譽皆歸仁軌。 或問其故，至德曰：「威福者人主之柄，人臣安得盜取之！」 上聞，深重之。 有老嫗欲詣仁軌陳牒，誤詣至德，至德覽之未終，嫗曰：「本謂是解事僕射，乃不解事僕射邪！ 歸我牒！」 至德笑而授之。 時人稱其長者。 文瓘時兼大理卿，囚聞改官，皆慟哭。 文瓘性嚴正，諸司奏議，多所糾駁，上甚委之。
On the ninth day Dai Zhide was appointed Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs; on the eleventh day Liu Ren'gui was appointed Left Vice Director; both remained Grand Counselors as before. Zhang Wenbi was made Palace Attendant, Hao Chujun Secretariat Director, and Li Jingxuan Minister of Personnel and Left Junior Mentor, all remaining Grand Counselors as before. Liu Ren'gui and Dai Zhide heard petitions on alternate days; Ren'gui often promised relief in kind words, while Zhide rigorously questioned each case and never decided on the spot, secretly memorializing the throne when he found genuine injustice. Public praise therefore fell to Ren'gui. When asked why, Zhide said, "Authority and favor belong to the sovereign—how can a subject seize them!" The emperor heard this and esteemed him all the more. An old woman seeking Ren'gui mistakenly brought her petition to Zhide; before he finished reading, she said, "I thought you were the vice director who gets things done—so you're the one who doesn't! Give back my petition!" Zhide smiled and returned it. Contemporaries praised his magnanimity. Wenbi was also Director of the Court of Judicial Review; when prisoners heard of his transfer, they wept. Wenbi was stern and upright, frequently correcting and rejecting departmental memorials, and the emperor relied on him heavily.
60
春，正月，壬戌，徙冀王輪為相王。
In spring, on the twenty-second day of the first month, Prince Ji Lun was redesignated Prince Xiang.
61
納州獠反，敕黔州都督發兵討之。
The Liao tribes of Na Prefecture rebelled; the Protector of Qian Prefecture was ordered to suppress them.
62
二月，甲戌，徙安東都護府於遼東故城； 先是有華人任安東官者，悉罷之。 徙熊津都督府於建安故城； 其百濟戶口先徙於徐、兗等州者，皆置於建安。
In the second month, on the fourteenth day, the Andong Protectorate was moved to the old city of Liaodong; all Chinese who had held office under Andong were dismissed. The Xiongjin Protectorate was moved to the old city of Jian'an; Baekje populations previously relocated to Xu, Yan, and other prefectures were all resettled at Jian'an.
63
天-{后}-勸上封中岳； 癸未，詔以今冬有事於嵩山。
The Heavenly Empress urged the emperor to perform the Feng and Shan rites at Mount Song; on the twenty-first day an edict announced rites at Mount Song that winter.
64
丁亥，上幸汝州之溫湯。
On the third day the emperor visited the hot springs of Ru Prefecture.
65
三月，癸卯，黃門侍郎來恆、中書侍郎薛元超並同中書門下三品。 恆，濟之兄； 元超，收之子也。
In the third month, on the nineteenth day, Lai Heng, Vice Director of the Chancellery, and Xue Yuanchao, Vice Director of the Secretariat, were both appointed Grand Counselors. Heng was the elder brother of Lai Jizhi; Yuanchao was the son of Xue Shou.
66
甲辰，上還東都。
On the twentieth day the emperor returned to the Eastern Capital.
67
閏月，吐蕃寇鄯、廓、河、芳等州，敕左監門衛中郎將令狐智通發興、鳳等州兵以御之。
In the intercalary month Tibet raided Shan, Kuo, He, Fang, and other prefectures; Linghu Zhitong, Central Commander of the Left Gate Guards, was ordered to raise troops from Xing, Feng, and other prefectures to repel them.
68
己卯，詔以吐蕃犯塞，停封中岳。 乙酉，以洛州牧周王顯為洮州道行軍元帥，將工部尚書劉審禮等十二總管，并州大都督相王輪為涼州道行軍元帥，將左衛大將軍契苾何力等，以討吐蕃。 二王皆不行。
On the sixteenth day an edict announced that the Feng rite at the Central Peak would be suspended because Tibet had raided the frontier. On the twenty-second day Prince Zhou Xian of Luo was appointed field marshal of the Taozhou route with twelve overall commanders under him, including Minister of Works Liu Shenli; Prince Xiang Lun, governor-general of Bing, was made field marshal of the Liangzhou route with Left Guard General Qibi Heli and others, to chastise Tibet. Neither prince would take the field.
69
庚寅，車駕西還。
On the twenty-seventh day the emperor's procession turned westward.
70
甲寅，中書侍郎李義琰同中書門下三品。
On the fifty-first day Li Yiyan, Vice Director of the Secretariat, was appointed Grand Counselor.
71
戊午，車駕至九成宮。
On the fifty-fifth day the emperor reached Jiucheng Palace.
72
六月，癸亥，黃門侍郎晉陵高智周同中書門下三品。
In the sixth month, on the sixtieth day, Gao Zhizhou of Jinling, Vice Director of the Chancellery, was appointed Grand Counselor.
73
秋，八月，乙未，吐蕃寇疊州。
In autumn, on the twenty-second day of the eighth month, Tibet attacked Die Prefecture.
74
壬寅，敕：「桂、廣、交、黔等都督府，比來注擬土人，簡擇未精，自今每四年遣五品已上清正官充使，仍令御史同往注擬。」 時人謂之南選。
On the thirty-ninth day an edict declared: "At the Protectorates-General of Gui, Guang, Jiao, Qian, and the like, local candidates have lately been proposed without careful vetting; henceforth every four years upright officials of fifth rank or higher shall serve as commissioners, with censors sent along to supervise nominations." Contemporaries called it the Southern Selection.
75
九月，壬申，大理奏左威衛大將軍權善才、右監門中郎將范懷義誤斫昭陵柏，罪當除名； 上特命殺之。 大理丞太原狄仁傑奏：「二人罪不當死。」 上曰：「善才等斫陵柏，我不殺則為不孝。」 仁傑固執不已，上作色，令出，仁傑曰：「犯顏直諫，自古以為難。 臣以為遇桀、紂則難，遇堯、舜則易。 今法不至死而陛下特殺之，是法不信於人也，人何所措其手足！ 且張釋之有言：『設有盜長陵一抔土，陛下何以處之？』 今以一株柏殺二將軍，後代謂陛下為何如矣？ 臣不敢奉詔者，恐陷陛下於不道，且羞見釋之於地下故也。」 上怒稍解，二人除名，流嶺南。 後數日，擢仁傑為侍御史。
In the ninth month, on the ninth day, the Court of Judicial Review reported that Quan Shancai, General-in-Chief of the Left Weirui Guard, and Fan Huaiyi, Right Gate Commandant, had accidentally felled cypresses at Zhaoling—a offense meriting removal from office; the emperor personally ordered their execution. Di Renjie of Taiyuan, Vice Director of the Court of Judicial Review, memorialized: "These two men do not deserve death." The emperor replied, "Shancai and his fellows chopped down tomb cypresses—if I spare them I am unfilial." Renjie would not yield; the emperor flushed with anger and ordered him dismissed. Renjie said, "To speak blunt truth to one's ruler has always been hard. I hold that it is hard before a Jie or Zhou, but easy before a Yao or Shun. The law stops short of death, yet Your Majesty would kill them anyway—the law will no longer bind anyone; what will people do with their hands and feet! Zhang Shizhi once asked: 'Suppose a man stole one scoop of soil from Changling—what would Your Majesty do?' Yet now two generals die for one cypress—what will posterity think of Your Majesty? I cannot obey because I fear dragging Your Majesty into injustice, and because I would be ashamed to meet Shizhi beneath the earth." The emperor's wrath softened; the two were stripped of rank and exiled to Lingnan. A few days later Renjie was raised to Attending Censor.
76
初，仁傑為并州法曹，同僚鄭崇質當使絕域。 崇質母老且病，仁傑曰：「彼母如此，豈可使之有萬里之憂！」 詣長史藺仁基，請代之行。 仁基素與司馬李孝廉不葉，因相謂曰：「吾輩豈可不自愧乎！」 遂相與輯睦。
Earlier, while Renjie served as Legal Administrator of Bing Prefecture, his colleague Zheng Chongzhi was assigned a mission to a far frontier. Chongzhi's mother was aged and sick; Renjie said, "His mother is in such straits—how can we send him ten thousand li away in anxiety!" He went to Chief Administrator Lin Renji and volunteered to go in Chongzhi's place. Renji had long been estranged from Military Administrator Li Xiaolian; they said to one another, "Are we not ashamed of ourselves!" From that day they made peace.
77
冬，十月，車駕還京師。
In the tenth month of winter the emperor returned to the capital.
78
丁酉，祫享太廟，用太學博士史璨議，禘後三年而祫，祫後二年而禘。
On the thirty-fourth day a xia offering was held at the Imperial Ancestral Temple; adopting the proposal of Imperial Academy Erudite Shi Can, a xia rite would follow a di rite after three years, and a di rite after a xia rite after two.
79
郇王素節，蕭淑妃之子也，警敏好學。 天-{后}-惡之，自岐州刺史左遷申州刺史。 乾封初，敕曰：「素節既有舊疾，不須入朝。」 而素節實無疾，自以久不得入覲，乃著《忠孝論》。 王府倉曹參軍張柬之因使潛封其論以進。 後見之，誣以贓賄，丙午，降封翻陽王，袁州安置。
Prince Su of Xun, born of Consort Xiao, was quick-witted and eager to learn. The Heavenly Empress disliked him and transferred him from prefect of Qi to prefect of Shen. Early in the Qianfeng era an edict read, "Su-jie suffers a longstanding illness and need not attend court." In truth he was not ill; barred from audience for so long, he composed a Discourse on Loyalty and Filial Piety. Zhang Jianzhi, a warehouse adjutant in the prince's household, on an official journey secretly forwarded the treatise sealed. When the empress read it she framed him for bribery; on the forty-third day he was reduced to Prince of Fanyang and confined at Yuan Prefecture.
80
十一月，壬申，改元，赦天下。
In the eleventh month, on the ninth day, the reign title was changed and the realm was pardoned.
81
庚寅，以李敬玄為中書令。
On the twenty-seventh day Li Jingxuan was appointed Director of the Secretariat.
82
十二月，戊午，以來恆為河南道大使，薛元超為河北道大使，尚書左丞鄢陵崔知悌、國子司業鄭祖玄為江南道大使，分道巡撫。
In the twelfth month, on the fifty-fifth day, Lai Heng was named Henan circuit commissioner, Xue Yuanchao Hebei commissioner, Cui Zhiti of Yanling and Zheng Zuxuan, Vice Director of the Directorate of Education, Jiangnan commissioners—they fanned out to tour and inspect.
83
春，正月，乙亥，上耕籍田。
In spring, on the twelfth day of the first month, the emperor performed the plowing rite in the sacred field.
84
初，劉仁軌引兵自熊津還，扶餘隆畏新羅之逼，不敢留，尋亦還朝。 二月，丁巳，以工部尚書高藏為遼東州都督，封朝鮮王，遣歸遼東，安輯高麗餘眾； 高麗先在諸州者，皆遣與藏俱歸。 又以司農卿扶餘隆為熊津都督，封帶方王，亦遣歸安輯百濟餘眾，仍移安東都護府於新城以統之。 時百濟荒殘，命隆寓居高麗之境。 藏至遼東，謀叛，潛與靺鞨通； 召還，徙邛州而死，散徙其人於河南、隴右諸州，貧者留安東城傍。 高麗舊城沒於新羅，餘眾散入靺鞨及突厥，隆亦竟不敢還故地，高氏、扶餘氏遂亡。
Earlier Liu Ren'gui had led his army back from Xiongjin; Buyeo Rong, fearing Silla's pressure, dared not stay and soon returned to court as well. In the second month, on the fifty-fourth day, Minister of Works Gao Zang was made governor of Liaodong, enfeoffed King of Goryeo, and sent back to Liaodong to settle the Goryeo remnant; Goryeo folk already scattered among the prefectures were all ordered home with Zang. Buyeo Rong, Minister of Revenue, was made Protector of Xiongjin and enfeoffed King of Daifang, likewise sent to pacify Baekje's remnant; the Andong Protectorate was shifted to Xincheng to command them. Baekje lay in ruins, so Rong was lodged within Goryeo's borders. Once in Liaodong, Zang plotted revolt and secretly treated with the Mohe; recalled, exiled to Qiong, and died there; his followers were dispersed to Henan, Longyou, and other prefectures, the poor left by Andong's walls. Goryeo's old seats were swallowed by Silla; survivors drifted into Mohe and Turk lands; Rong never dared return—the Gao and Buyeo houses were extinguished.
85
三月，癸亥朔，以郝處俊、高智周並為左庶子，李義琰為右庶子。
On the first day of the third month Hao Chujun and Gao Zhizhou were both appointed Left Subscribers and Li Yiyan Right Subscriber.
86
夏，四月，左庶子張大安同中書門下三品。 大安，公謹之子也。
In the fourth month of summer Left Subscriber Zhang Da'an was made Grand Counselor. Da'an was the son of Zhang Gongjin.
87
詔以河南、北旱，遣御史中丞崔謐等分道存問賑給。 侍御史寧陵劉思立上疏，以為：「今麥秀蠶老，農事方殷，敕使撫巡，人皆竦手卞，忘其家業，冀此天恩，聚集參迎，妨廢不少。 既緣賑給，須立簿書，本欲安存，更成煩擾。 望且委州縣賑給，待秋深務閒，出使褒貶。」 疏奏，謐等遂不行。
An edict, citing drought in Henan and Hebei, dispatched Censor-in-Chief Cui Mi and others by separate routes to inquire after the people and distribute relief. Attending Censor Liu Sili of Ningling submitted that "wheat now stands in ear and silkworms are aging—the height of farm season; when imperial envoys come to comfort the people, folk stand rigid with folded hands, abandon their households, and throng to greet them hoping for grace—much work is lost. Relief demands registers and paperwork; what should save lives only adds trouble. Let prefectures and counties handle relief for now; send envoys to reward and punish only after autumn's labors ease." The memorial was accepted and Mi's mission was canceled.
88
五月，吐蕃寇扶州之臨河鎮，擒鎮將杜孝升，令繼書說松州都督武居寂使降，考升固執不從。 吐蕃軍還，捨孝升而去，孝升復帥餘眾拒守。 詔以孝升為游擊將軍。
In the fifth month Tibet struck Linhe Fort in Fu Prefecture, seized its commander Du Xiaosheng, and made him write urging Song Protector Wu Juji to surrender; Xiaosheng held firm and would not obey. When the Tibetans withdrew they let Xiaosheng go; he rallied the remnant and held on. An edict promoted Xiaosheng to Mobile Corps General.
89
秋，八月，徙周王顯為英王，更名哲。
In the eighth month of autumn Prince Zhou Xian became Prince Ying and took the name Zhe.
90
命劉仁軌鎮洮河軍。 冬，十二月，乙卯，詔大發兵討吐蕃。
Liu Ren'gui was ordered to hold the Taohe Army. In winter, on the yimao day of the twelfth month, an edict ordered a massive mobilization against Tibet.
91
詔以顯慶新禮，多不師古，其五禮並依《周禮》行事。 自是禮官益無憑守，每有大禮，臨時撰定。
An edict declared that the Xianqing ritual code often ignored antiquity; henceforth all five rites would follow the Rites of Zhou. Ritual officers thereafter lacked fixed standards; every great ceremony was improvised on the day.
92
春，正月，辛酉，百官及蠻夷酋長朝天-{后}-於光順門。
In spring, on the fifty-eighth day of the first month, officials and barbarian chiefs attended the Heavenly Empress at Guangshun Gate.
93
劉仁軌鎮洮河，每有奏請，多為李敬玄所抑，由是怨之。 仁軌知敬玄非將帥才，欲中傷之，奏言：「西邊鎮守，非敬玄莫可。」 敬玄固辭，上曰：「仁軌須朕，朕亦自往，卿安得辭！」 丙子，以敬玄代仁軌為洮河道大總管兼安撫大使，仍檢校鄯州都督。 又命益州大都督府長史李孝逸等發劍南、山南兵以赴之。 孝逸，神通之子也。
At Taohe, Liu Ren'gui found his petitions repeatedly stifled by Li Jingxuan—and came to hate him for it. Ren'gui knew Jingxuan was no soldier and sought to ruin him; he memorialized, "The western frontier cannot be held without Jingxuan." Jingxuan refused; the emperor said, "If Ren'gui needed me I would go myself—how dare you refuse!" On the thirteenth day Jingxuan replaced Ren'gui as grand commander of the Taozhou route and Pacification Commissioner, and was made acting Protector of Shazhou. Li Xiaoyi, chief administrator of the Yi Protectorate-General, and others were ordered to levy Jiannan and Shannan troops to reinforce them. Xiaoyi was the son of Li Shentong.
94
癸未，遣左金吾將軍曹懷舜等分往河南、北募猛士，不問布衣及仕宦。
On the twentieth day Left Golden Guards General Cao Huaishun and others were dispatched to Henan and Hebei to recruit bold fighters, commoner or official alike.
95
夏，四月，戊申，赦天下，改來年元為通乾。
In the fourth month of summer, on the forty-fifth day, the realm was pardoned and the coming year was named Tongqian.
96
五月，壬戌，上幸九成宮。 丙寅，山中雨，大寒，從兵有凍死者。
On the fifty-ninth day of the fifth month the emperor went to Jiucheng Palace. On the third day rain swept the mountains in bitter cold, and some of the escort froze to death.
97
秋，七月，李敬玄奏破吐蕃於龍支。
In the seventh month of autumn Li Jingxuan reported a victory over Tibet at Longzhi.
98
上初即位，不忍觀《破陣樂》，命撤之。 辛酉，太常少卿韋萬石奏：「久寢不作，懼成廢缺。 請自今大宴會復奏之。」 上從之。
At the start of his reign the emperor could not bear to watch Breaking the Battle Array and had it withdrawn. On the fifty-eighth day Wei Wanshi, Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, memorialized, "It has long lain silent; I fear it will be lost. Let it be played again at great banquets from this day forward." The emperor agreed.
99
九月，辛酉，車駕還京師。
In the ninth month, on the fifty-eighth day, the emperor returned to the capital.
100
上將發兵討新羅，侍中張文瓘臥疾在家，自輿入見，諫曰：「今吐蕃為寇，方發兵西討； 新羅雖云不順，未嘗犯邊，若又東征，臣恐公私不堪其弊。」 上乃止。 癸亥，文瓘薨。
The emperor was preparing to march against Silla when Zhang Wenguan, Palace Attendant, ill at home, had himself borne in a litter to remonstrate: "Tibet is raiding and we are already sending armies west; Silla may be unruly, yet it has not crossed our borders; a second war to the east will break public and private strength alike." The emperor desisted. On the sixtieth day Wenguan died.
101
丙寅，李敬玄將兵十八萬與吐蕃將論欽陵戰於青海之上，兵敗，工部尚書、左衛大將軍彭城僖公劉審禮為吐蕃所虜。 時審禮將前軍深入，頓於濠所，為虜所攻，敬玄懦怯，按兵不救。 聞審禮戰沒，狼狽還走，頓於承風嶺，阻泥溝以自固，虜屯兵高岡以壓之。 左領軍員外將軍黑齒常之，夜帥敢死之士五百人襲擊虜營，虜眾潰亂，其將跋地設引兵遁去，敬玄乃收餘眾還鄯州。
On the third day Li Jingxuan led one hundred eighty thousand men against the Tibetan general Lun Qinling beside Qinghai; the army was routed, and Liu Shenli, Minister of Works, General-in-Chief of the Left Guard, Duke Xi of Pengcheng, was taken prisoner. Shenli had led the vanguard deep in and camped behind ditches; when the enemy struck, Jingxuan, timorous, held his men and would not aid him. Learning Shenli was lost, he fled in disorder to Chengfeng Ridge, damming muddy ravines for defense while the enemy massed on the heights above him. Heichi Changzhi, supernumerary general of the Left Army, led five hundred dare-to-die men in a night raid on the enemy camp; the host broke, their general Badeshi fled, and Jingxuan gathered the remnant back to Shazhou.
102
審禮諸子自縛詣闕，請入吐蕃贖其父； 敕聽次子易從詣吐蕃省之。 比至，審禮已病卒，易從晝夜號哭不絕聲； 吐蕃哀之，還其屍，易從徒跣負之以歸。 上嘉黑齒常之之功，擢拜左武衛將軍，充河源軍副使。
Shenli's sons bound themselves and came to court, begging leave to enter Tibet and ransom their father; the emperor allowed the second son, Yicong, to go to Tibet to see him. When Yicong arrived, Shenli had already died of illness; he wailed day and night without cease; the Tibetans were moved, returned the body, and Yicong walked barefoot carrying his father home. The emperor commended Heichi Changzhi, promoting him to General of the Left Martial Guard and deputy commander of the Heyuan Army.
103
李敬玄之西征也，監察御史原武婁師德應猛士詔從軍，及敗，敕師德收集散亡，軍乃復振。 因命使於吐蕃，吐蕃將論贊婆迎之赤嶺。 師德宣導上意，諭以禍福，贊婆甚悅，為之數年不犯邊。 師德遷殿中侍御史，充河源軍司馬，兼知營田事。
When Jingxuan marched west, Supervising Censor Lou Shide of Yuanwu answered the call for fierce warriors; after the rout an edict set him to gathering the scattered, and the army rallied. He was then sent as envoy to Tibet, where the general Lun Zanpo met him at Chiling. Shide laid out the emperor's mind and the balance of fortune and ruin; Zanpo was well pleased and for years kept the peace on his account. Shide was moved to Palace Attending Censor, made army administrator of Heyuan, and put in charge of military colonies.
104
上以吐蕃為憂，悉召侍臣謀之，或欲和親以息民； 或欲嚴設守備，俟公私富實而討之； 或欲亟發兵擊之。 議竟不決，賜食而遣之。
Troubled by Tibet, the emperor convened his ministers; some favored marriage alliance to let the people breathe; others urged strong defenses until treasury and household alike were full, then strike; still others wanted immediate war. No decision was reached; the man was fed and dismissed.
105
太學生宋城魏元忠上封事，言御吐蕃之策，以為：「理國之要，在文與武。 今言文者則以辭華為首而不及經綸，言武者則以騎射為先而不知方略，是皆何益於理亂哉！ 故陸機著《辨亡》之論，無救河橋之敗，養由基射穿七札，不濟鄢陵之師，此已然之明效也。 古語有之：『人無常俗，政有理亂； 兵無強弱，將有巧拙。』 故選將當以智略為本，勇力為末。 今朝廷用人，類取將門子弟及死事之家，彼皆庸人，豈足當閫外之任！ 李左車、陳湯、呂蒙、孟觀，皆出貧賤而立殊功，未聞其家代為將也。
“Wei Yuanzhong of Songcheng, a student at the Imperial Academy, submitted a sealed memorial on how to meet the Tibetan threat, arguing that governing a state depends on both civil and military strength. Today civil men prize ornament over governance, and soldiers prize riding and shooting over strategy—what use are such men in deciding whether the realm stands or falls? Lu Ji's essay On Perishing did not avert disaster at Heqiao; Yang Youji's arrow pierced seven layers of hide, yet the army still failed at Yanling—history has already shown where fine words and fine shooting lead. As the ancients said: "Men are not bound to one way of life; governments rise and fall; armies are not strong or weak by nature; generals are skilled or clumsy." So in choosing commanders, wit and strategy must come first, courage and brute force last. The court now fills its ranks with sons of generals and kin of the war dead—mediocrities all—and expects them to hold command beyond the capital. Li Zuoche, Chen Tang, Lü Meng, and Meng Guan came up from nothing and won great fame; none of their houses had bred generals for generations.
106
「夫賞罰者，軍國之切務，苟有功不賞，有罪不誅，雖堯、舜不能以致理。 議者皆云：『近日征伐，虛有賞格而無事實。』 蓋由小才之吏不知大體，徒惜勳庸，恐虛倉庫。 不知士不用命，所損幾何！ 黔首雖微，不可欺罔。 豈得懸不信之令，設虛賞之科，而望其立功乎！ 自蘇定方征遼東，李勣破平壤，賞絕不行，勳仍淹滯，不聞斬一台郎，戮一令史，以謝勳人。 大非川之敗，薛仁貴、郭待封等不即重誅，向使早誅仁貴等，則自餘諸將豈敢失利於後哉！ 臣恐葉蕃之平，非旦夕可冀也。
"Rewards and punishments are the lifeblood of army and state. If merit goes unrewarded and guilt unpunished, not even Yao and Shun could govern well. Every voice at court says the same: recent campaigns promised rewards on paper that were never paid." Petty clerks, blind to the larger stakes, hoard credit for the dead and fear to open the treasury. They never reckon what it costs when soldiers refuse to fight. The common people may be lowly, but they are not fools. How can the throne post hollow promises and empty bounties and still expect men to die for it? Since Su Dingfang marched on Liaodong and Li Ji took Pyongyang, promised rewards have gone unpaid and honors have stalled—yet not one petty clerk was punished to appease the men who bled. After Dafeichuan, Xue Rengui and Guo Daifeng were not punished at once; had they been, which general afterward would have dared to lose? I fear pacifying Tibet is not a victory that will come soon.
107
「又，出師之要，全資馬力。 臣請開畜馬之禁，使百姓皆得畜馬； 若官軍大舉，委州縣長吏以官錢增價市之，則皆為官有。 彼胡虜恃馬力以為強，若聽人間市而畜之，乃是損彼之強為中國之利也。」 先是禁百姓畜馬，故元忠言之。 上善其言，召見，令直中書省，仗內供奉。
"Again, campaigns depend entirely on horses. I ask that the ban on private horsekeeping be lifted so the people may raise horses; when the army must march in force, let local officials buy them up at premium prices with state funds, and the horses become the state's. The barbarians draw their strength from horses; let our people buy and keep them, and their power becomes ours. Because commoners had been forbidden to keep horses, Yuanzhong raised the point. The emperor approved, summoned him, made him a direct appointee of the Secretariat, and gave him a post in the imperial guard.
108
冬，十月，丙午，徐州刺史密貞王元曉薨。
In winter, on the bingwu day of the tenth month, Prince Mizhen Wang Yuanxiao, governor of Xu Prefecture, died.
109
十一月，壬子，黃門侍郎、同中書門下三品來恆薨。
In the eleventh month, on the renzi day, Lai Heng, Yellow Gate Attendant-in-ordinary and chancellor of the third rank, died.
110
十二月，詔停來年通乾之號，以反語不善故也。
In the twelfth month an edict canceled the Tongqian era name for the next year, because read backward its syllables carried ill omen.
111
春，正月，己酉，上幸東都。
In spring, on the jiyou day of the first month, the emperor traveled to the Eastern Capital.
112
司農卿韋弘機作宿羽、高山、上陽等宮，制度壯麗。 上陽宮臨洛水，為長廊亙一里。 宮成，上移御之。 侍御史狄仁傑劾奏弘機導上為奢泰，弘機坐免官。 左司郎中王本立恃恩用事，朝廷畏之。 仁傑奏其奸，請付法回，上特原之，仁傑曰：「國家雖乏英才，豈少本立輩！ 陛下何惜罪人，以虧王法。 必欲曲赦本立，請棄臣於無人之境，為忠貞將來之誡！」 本立竟得罪，由是朝廷肅然。
Wei Hongji, Minister of Revenue, built the Suchu, Gaoshan, Shangyang, and other palaces on a magnificent scale. Shangyang Palace stood on the Luo River, with a gallery a full li in length. When the palace was finished, the emperor took up residence there. Attending Censor Di Renjie impeached Hongji for leading the emperor into extravagance, and Hongji was dismissed. Wang Benli of the Left Department traded on imperial favor; the court feared him. Renjie exposed his crimes and asked that he be handed over for trial; the emperor pardoned him anyway. Renjie said, "The realm may lack great men, but it hardly lacks men like Benli! Why spare a guilty man and wound the law itself? If you must pardon Benli, cast me into the wilderness as a warning to every honest man who comes after! Benli was punished in the end, and the court grew sober overnight.
113
庚戌，右僕射、太子賓客道恭公戴至德薨。
On the gengxu day, Dai Zhide, Right Vice Director, Crown Prince Guest, and Duke Daogong, died.
114
二月，壬戌，吐蕃贊普卒，子器弩悉弄立，生八年矣。 時器弩悉弄與其舅麴薩若詣羊同發兵，有弟生六年，在論欽陵軍中。 國人畏欽陵之強，欲立之，欽陵不可，與薩若共立器弩悉弄。
In the second month, on the renxu day, the Tibetan tsenpo died and his eight-year-old son Qinuixnong succeeded him. Qinuixnong was then in Yangtong with his uncle Qu Saga raising troops; a younger brother, six years old, remained with Lun Qinling's army. The Tibetans, fearing Qinling's power, wanted to make him king; he refused, and he and Saga together enthroned Qinuixnong.
115
上聞贊普卒，嗣主未定，命裴行儉乘間圖之。 行儉曰：「欽陵為政，大臣輯睦，未可圖也。」 乃止。
Learning that the tsenpo was dead and the succession unsettled, the emperor ordered Pei Xingjian to exploit the moment. Xingjian replied, "Qinling governs and the great ministers stand together—there is nothing to exploit. The plan was dropped.
116
夏，四月，辛酉，郝處俊為侍中。
In summer, on the xinyou day of the fourth month, Hao Chujun was made Palace Attendant.
117
偃師人明崇儼，以符咒幻術為上及天-{后}-重，官至正諫大夫。 五月，壬午，崇儼為盜所殺，求賊，竟不得。 贈崇儼侍中。
Ming Chongyan of Yanshi won favor with the emperor and the Heavenly Empress through charms and conjuring, rising to Regular Adviser. In the fifth month, on the renwu day, robbers killed Chongyan; the killers were never found. Chongyan was posthumously made Palace Attendant.
118
丙戌，命太子監國。 太子處事明審，時人稱之。
On the bingxu day the crown prince was put in charge of the realm. The crown prince governed with clear judgment, and contemporaries praised him.
119
戊戌，作紫桂宮於澠池之西。
On the wuxu day work began on the Purple Cassia Palace west of Mianchi.
120
六月，辛亥，赦天下，改元。
In the sixth month, on the xinhai day, a general amnesty was proclaimed and the reign era changed.
121
初，西突厥十姓可汗阿史那都支及其別帥李遮匐與吐蕃連和，侵逼安西，朝議欲發兵討之。 吏部侍郎裴行儉曰：「吐蕃為寇，審禮覆沒，干戈未息，豈可復出師西方！ 今波斯王卒，其子泥洹師為質在京師，宜遣使者送歸國，道過二虜，以便宜取之，可不血刃而擒也。」 上從之，命行儉冊立波斯王，仍為安撫大食使。 行儉奏肅州刺史王方翼以為己副，仍令檢校安西都護。
Earlier Ashina Duzhi, qaghan of the Western Turks' ten tribes, and his lieutenant Li Zhefu had joined Tibet in threatening Anxi, and court opinion favored war. Vice Minister Pei Xingjian objected: "Tibet is already at war, Shenli's army was wiped out, and the swords are not yet sheathed—how can we march west again? The Persian king is dead and his son Nihuanshi is a hostage at court. Send him home with an escort, pass through the enemy camps, and seize them at the first opening—without drawing a sword. The emperor agreed, charged Xingjian with investing the Persian king, and made him commissioner to the Arabs. Xingjian asked that Wang Fangyi, governor of Su Prefecture, accompany him as deputy and act as Protector-General of Anxi.
122
秋，七月，己卯朔，詔以今年冬至有事於嵩山。
In autumn, on the first day of the seventh month, an edict announced a feng sacrifice at Mount Song on the winter solstice.
123
初，裴行儉嘗為西州長史，及奉使過西州，吏人郊迎，行儉悉召其豪傑子弟千餘人自隨，且揚言天時方熱，未可涉遠，須稍涼乃西上。 阿史那都支覘知之，遂不設備。 行儉徐召四鎮諸胡酋長謂曰：「昔在西州，縱獵甚樂，今欲尋舊賞，誰能從吾獵者？」 諸鬍子弟爭請從行，近得萬人。 行儉陽為畋獵，校勒部伍，數日，遂倍道西進。 去都支部落十餘里，先遣都支所親問其安否，外示閒暇，似非討襲，續使人促召相見。 都支先與李遮匐約，秋中拒漢使，猝聞軍至，計無所出，帥其子弟迎謁，遂擒之。 因傳其契箭，悉召諸部酋長，執送碎葉城。 簡其精騎，輕繼，晝夜進掩遮匐，途中，獲都支還使與遮匐使者同來； 行儉釋遮匐使者，使先往諭遮匐以都支已就擒，遮匐亦降。 於是囚都支、遮匐以歸，遣波斯王自還其國，留王方翼於安西，使築碎葉城。
Pei Xingjian had once governed Xizhou; returning on mission, he was met outside the city and took more than a thousand sons of local notables with him, announcing that the heat made a long march impossible and that he would wait for cooler weather before heading west. Ashina Duzhi heard of it and let his guard down. Xingjian then summoned the chieftains of the four garrisons and said, "I remember fine hunts at Xizhou—who will ride with me again? Hu youths clamored to join him, and he soon had nearly ten thousand men. He hunted in name only, drilled his men for days, then raced west at forced march. Ten li from Duzhi's camp he sent a man Duzhi trusted to inquire after his health, playing at ease as though no attack were planned, then sent again to summon him. Duzhi had planned with Li Zhefu to block the Chinese envoy that autumn; caught off guard by the army's arrival, he came out with his kin to greet Xingjian and was seized. Using Duzhi's tally arrows, he summoned every tribal chief, seized them, and sent them to Suyab. He picked elite horsemen, traveled light, and raced day and night on Zhefu; on the road he captured Duzhi's returning envoy traveling with Zhefu's messenger; Xingjian freed Zhefu's messenger and sent him ahead with news that Duzhi was taken; Zhefu surrendered. He brought Duzhi and Zhefu back as prisoners, sent the Persian king home, left Wang Fangyi in Anxi, and set him to building Suyab.
124
冬，十月，單于大都護府突厥阿史德溫傅、奉職二部俱反，立阿史那泥熟匐為可汗，二十四州酋長皆叛應之，眾數十萬。 遣鴻臚卿單于大都護府長史蕭嗣業、右領軍衛將軍花大智、右千牛衛將軍李景嘉等將兵討之。 嗣業等先戰屢捷，因不設備； 會大雪，突厥夜襲其營，嗣業狼狽拔營走，眾遂大亂，為虜所敗，死者不可勝數。 大智、景嘉引步兵且行且戰，得入單于都護府。 嗣業減死，流桂州，大智、景嘉並免官。
In winter, in the tenth month, the Turkic tribes Ashide Wenfu and Fengzhi rebelled at the Pacifying North Protectorate, made Ashina Nishufu qaghan, and chieftains of twenty-four prefectures rose with them—several hundred thousand strong. Xiao Siye, chief administrator of the Pacifying North Protectorate, with Generals Hua Dazhi and Li Jingjia were sent against them. After early victories Siye and his officers grew careless; A blizzard gave cover for a night attack; Siye broke camp in panic, the army collapsed, and the dead were beyond count. Dazhi and Jingjia fought their infantry step by step back into the protectorate headquarters. Siye's death sentence was commuted to exile in Guizhou; Dazhi and Jingjia were dismissed.
125
突厥寇定州，刺史霍王元軌命開門偃旗，虜疑有伏，懼而宵遁。 州人李嘉運與虜通謀，事洩，上令元軌窮其黨與，元軌曰：「強寇在境，人心不安。 若多所逮系，是驅之使叛也。」 乃獨殺嘉運，餘無所問，因自劾違制。 上覽表大喜，謂使者曰：「朕亦悔之，向無王，失定州矣。」 自是朝廷有大事，上多密敕問之。
When Turks raided Ding Prefecture, Prince Huo Yuangui opened the gates and lowered the banners; the enemy suspected a trap and withdrew by night. Li Jiayun of the prefecture had plotted with the enemy; when the plot leaked, the emperor ordered Yuangui to root out every accomplice. Yuangui replied, "With a strong enemy at the border, hearts are already unsteady. Arrest too many and you drive men into rebellion. He executed Jiayun alone, questioned no one else, and memorialized himself for disobeying orders. The emperor read the memorial with delight and told the messenger, "I too had second thoughts—without the prince, Ding Prefecture would be gone. After that, on weighty matters the emperor often sought his counsel by secret edict.
126
壬子，遣左金吾衛將軍曹懷舜屯井陘。 右武衛將軍崔獻屯龍門，以備突厥。 突厥扇誘奚、契丹侵掠營州，都督周道務遣戶曹始平唐休璟將兵擊破之。
On the renzi day General Cao Huaishun of the Left Golden Guard was posted at Jingxing. General Cui Xian of the Right Martial Guard was posted at Longmen against the Turks. The Turks stirred the Xi and Khitan to raid Ying Prefecture; Protector Zhou Daowu sent Tang Xiujing of Shiping against them and broke the attack.
127
庚申，詔以突厥背誕，罷封嵩山。
On the gengshen day an edict canceled the Mount Song rites, citing Turkish treachery.
128
癸亥，吐蕃文成公主遣其大臣論塞調傍來告喪，並請和親，上遣郎將宋令文詣吐蕃會贊普之葬。
On the guihai day Princess Wencheng's minister Lun Saitiaobang came to announce the tsenpo's death and ask for a marriage alliance; the emperor sent Commandant Song Lingwen to Tibet for the funeral.
129
十一月，戊寅朔，以太子左庶子、同中書門下三品高智周為御史大夫，罷知政事。
In the eleventh month, on the first day, Gao Zhizhou, Left Crown Prince Aide and chancellor, was made Censor-in-Chief and removed from the council.
130
癸未，上宴裴行儉，謂之曰：「卿有文武兼資，今授卿二職。」 乃除禮部尚書兼檢校右衛大將軍。 甲辰，以行儉為定襄道行軍大總管，將兵十八萬，並西軍檢校豐州都督程務挺、東軍幽州都督李文暕總三十餘萬以討突厥，並受行檢節度。 務挺，名振之子也。
On the guiwei day the emperor entertained Pei Xingjian and said, "You are equal to both civil and military service—I give you two posts. He was made Minister of Rites and Acting Great General of the Right Guard. On the jiachen day Xingjian was made grand commander on the Dingxiang circuit with one hundred eighty thousand men; Cheng Wuting on the west and Li Wenyan on the east brought the total above three hundred thousand—all under Xingjian's command. Wuting was the son of the general Mingzhen.
131
春，二月，癸丑，上幸汝州之溫湯； 戊午，幸嵩山處士三原田游巖所居； 己未，幸道士宗城潘師正所居，上及天-{后}-、太子皆拜之。 乙丑，還東都。
In spring, on the guichou day of the second month, the emperor visited the hot springs of Ru Prefecture; on the wuwu day he visited the recluse Tian Youyan of Sanyuan on Mount Song; on the jiwei day he visited the Daoist Pan Shizheng of Zongcheng, and the emperor, the Heavenly Empress, and the crown prince all bowed to him. On the yichou day he returned to the Eastern Capital.
132
三月，裴行儉大破突厥於黑山，擒其酋長奉職，可汗泥熟匐為其下所殺，以其首來降。
In the third month Pei Xingjian routed the Turks at Heishan, captured Fengzhi, and received the head of Nishufu, whom his own men had killed.
133
初，行儉行至朔川，謂其下曰：用兵之道，撫士貴誠，制敵尚詐。 前日蕭嗣業糧運為突厥所掠，士卒凍餒，故敗。 今突厥必復為此謀，宜有以詐之。」 乃詐為糧車三百乘，每車伏壯士五人，各持陌刀、勁弩，以羸兵數百為之援，且伏精兵於險要以待之； 虜果至，羸兵棄車散走。 虜驅車就水草，解鞍牧馬，欲取糧，壯士自車中躍出，擊之，虜驚走，復為伏兵所邀，殺獲殆盡，自是糧草運行者，虜莫敢近。
When Xingjian reached Shuochuan he told his officers, "War demands sincerity toward one's own men and deception toward the enemy. Xiao Siye lost because the Turks seized his grain train and his men froze and starved. They will try the same trick again—we must answer with trickery of our own. He staged three hundred grain carts, each hiding five strong men with long blades and crossbows, escorted by a few hundred weak-looking troops, with elite soldiers waiting in ambush along the route; The raiders came as expected; the decoy troops abandoned the carts and fled in every direction. The Turks drove the carts to grass and water, unsaddled to graze their horses, and moved to seize the grain—then the hidden men leapt out and attacked. They fled in panic, ran into the ambush, and were nearly wiped out. After that, raiders never dared come near a supply train.
134
軍至單于府北，抵暮，下營，掘塹已周，行儉遽命移就高岡； 諸將皆言士卒已安堵，不可復動，行儉不從，趣使移。 是夜，風雨暴至，前所營地，水深丈餘。 諸將驚服，問其故，行儉笑曰：「自今但從我命，不必問其所由知也。」
When the army reached a point north of the Chanyu Court and made camp at dusk, trenches already dug, Xingjian suddenly ordered a move to higher ground. The generals protested that the men were already settled and should not be moved again, but Xingjian refused to listen and ordered the march at once. That night a violent storm broke; the campsite they had abandoned stood more than ten feet under water. The generals were astonished and asked how he had known. Xingjian smiled and said, "From now on follow my orders and do not ask how I foresaw this."
135
奉職既就擒，餘黨走保狼山。 詔戶部尚書崔知悌馳傳詣定襄宣慰將士，且區處餘寇，行儉引軍還。
Once Fengzhi was taken, the remnant rebels fled to Mount Lang. The emperor ordered Minister of Revenue Cui Zhiti to ride post-haste to Dingxiang to comfort the troops and deal with the remnant rebels, while Xingjian marched home.
136
夏，四月，乙丑，上幸紫桂宮。
In summer, on the yichou day of the fourth month, the emperor visited Zigu Palace.
137
戊辰，黃門侍郎聞喜、裴炎、崔知溫、中書侍郎京兆王德真並同中書門下三品。 知溫，知悌之弟也。
On the wuchen day Pei Yan of Wenxi, Cui Zhiwen, and Wang Dezheng of Jingzhao were all made chief ministers of the third rank. Zhiwen was Zhiti's younger brother.
138
秋，七月，吐蕃寇河源，左武衛將軍黑齒常之擊卻之。 擢常之為河源軍經略大使。 常之以河源衝要，欲加兵戍之，而轉輸險遠，乃廣置烽戍七十餘所，開屯田五千餘頃，歲收五百餘萬石，由是戰守有備焉。
In the seventh month of autumn Tibet raided Heyuan; Left Martial Guard General Heichi Changzhi drove them back. Changzhi was made commissioner-in-chief of the Heyuan Army. Heyuan was strategically vital, but supply lines were long and dangerous; Changzhi built more than seventy beacon stations, opened five thousand qing of military colonies, and harvested five million shi of grain a year—so the frontier could both fight and hold.
139
先是，劍南募兵於茂州西南築安戎城，以斷吐蕃通蠻之路。 吐蕃以生羌為鄉導，攻陷其城，以兵據之，由是西洱諸蠻皆降於吐蕃。 吐蕃盡據羊同、党項及諸羌之地，東接涼、松、茂、巂等州； 南鄰天竺，西陷龜茲、疏勒等四鎮，北抵突厥，地方萬餘里，諸胡之盛，莫與為比。
Earlier troops from Jiannan had built Fort Anyong southwest of Mao Prefecture to block Tibet's route to the southern tribes. Tibet used Raw Qiang guides to take the fort and hold it, and afterward the tribes west of Erhai all submitted to Tibet. Tibet now held Yangtong, Tangut, and Qiang lands, reaching east to Liang, Song, Mao, Xi, and neighboring prefectures; south to India, west through the four garrisons of Kucha and Kashgar, north to the Turks—a realm of more than ten thousand li, unrivaled among the frontier peoples.
140
丙申，鄭州刺史江王元祥薨。
On the bingshen day Prince Jiang Yuanxiang, governor of Zheng Prefecture, died.
141
突厥餘眾圍雲州，代州都督竇懷悊、右領軍中郎將程務挺將兵擊破之。
Remnant Turks besieged Yun Prefecture; Dou Huaishi, governor of Dai, and Cheng Wuting, a colonel of the Right Palace Guard, broke the siege.
142
八月，丁未，上還東都。
In the eighth month, on the dingwei day, the emperor returned to the Eastern Capital.
143
中書令、檢校鄯州都督李敬玄，軍既敗，屢稱疾請還； 上許之。 既至，無疾，詣中書視事； 上怒，丁巳，貶衡州刺史。
Chief Secretary Li Jingxuan, also acting governor of Shan Prefecture, had lost his army and repeatedly pleaded illness to come home; The emperor agreed. When he arrived he showed no sign of illness and went straight to the Secretariat to work; The emperor was furious; on the dingsi day he was demoted to governor of Heng Prefecture.
144
太子賢聞宮中竊議，以賢為天-{后}-姊韓國夫人所生，內自疑懼。 明崇儼以厭勝之術為天-{后}-所信，嘗密稱「太子不堪承繼，英王貌類太宗」。 又言「相王相最貴」。 天-{后}-嘗命北門學士撰《少陽正范》及《孝子傳》以賜太子，又數作書誚讓之，太子愈不自安。
Crown Prince Xian heard palace whispers that he was the son of the Heavenly Empress's elder sister, the Lady of Han, and grew inwardly afraid. Ming Chongyan, whom the Heavenly Empress trusted for his occult arts, once told her in secret, "The crown prince is unfit to succeed; the Prince of Ying looks like Taizong." He also said, "The Prince of Xiang has the noblest fate of all." The Heavenly Empress had Northern Gate academicians write Correct Standards for the Young Yang and Biographies of Filial Sons for the crown prince, and sent letter after letter rebuking him; the prince grew ever more uneasy.
145
及崇儼死，賊不得，天-{后}-疑太子所為。 太子頗好聲色，與戶奴趙道生等狎暱，多賜之金帛。 司議郎韋承慶上書諫，不聽。 天-{后}-使人告其事。 詔薛元超、裴炎與御史大夫高智周等雜鞫之，於東宮馬坊搜得皁甲數百領，以為反具； 道生又款稱太子使道生殺崇儼。 上素愛太子，遲回欲宥之，天-{后}-曰：「為人子懷逆謀，天地所不容； 大義滅親，何可赦也！」 甲子，廢太子賢為庶人，遣右監門中郎將令狐智通等送賢詣京師，幽於別所，黨與皆伏誅，乃焚其甲於天津橋南以示士民。 承慶，思謙之子也。
When Chongyan was murdered and no culprit was found, the Heavenly Empress suspected the crown prince. The crown prince indulged in music and concubines and kept intimate company with the household slave Zhao Daosheng and others, lavishing gold and silk on them. Director of the Secretariat Wei Chengqing remonstrated in writing; the prince paid no heed. The Heavenly Empress had the affair reported. Xue Yuanchao, Pei Yan, and Censor-in-Chief Gao Zhizhou were ordered to investigate; in the Eastern Palace stables they found several hundred suits of black armor as evidence of rebellion; Daosheng also confessed that the crown prince had ordered him to kill Chongyan. The emperor had always loved the prince and hesitated to punish him, but the Heavenly Empress said, "A son who plots treason is an offense heaven and earth cannot abide; Righteousness demands that kin be cast aside—how can he be forgiven? On the jiazi day Prince Xian was deposed to commoner rank; Colonel Linghu Zhitong and others escorted him to the capital and held him in seclusion; his associates were executed; and the armor was burned south of Tianjin Bridge for all to see. Chengqing was the son of Wei Siqian.
146
乙丑，立左衛大將軍、雍州牧英王哲為皇太子，改元，赦天下。
On the yichou day Prince of Ying Zhe, Left Guard Grand General and governor of Yong, was made crown prince; the era name was changed and a general amnesty declared.
147
太子洗馬劉訥言嘗撰《俳諧集》以獻賢，賢敗，搜得之，上怒曰：「以《六經》教人，猶恐不化，乃進俳諧鄙說，豈輔導之義邪！」 流訥言於振州。 左衛將軍高真行之子政為太子典膳丞，事與賢連，上以付其父，使自訓責。 政入門，真行以佩刀刺其喉，真行兄戶部侍郎審行又刺其腹，真行兄子璿斷其首，棄之道中。 上聞之，不悅，貶真行為睦州刺史，審行為渝州刺史。 真行，士廉之子也。
Mentor Liu Neyan had once written A Collection of Banter for Prince Xian; when Xian fell it was discovered in the search, and the emperor thundered, "The Six Classics barely suffice to teach a man—and you feed him coarse jests? Is that how a tutor serves? He banished Neyan to Zhen Prefecture. Zheng, son of Left Guard General Gao Zhenxing and director of the crown prince's provisions, was implicated with Xian; the emperor turned him over to his father for punishment. When Zheng came in, Zhenxing stabbed him in the throat with his belt sword; his brother Shenxing, vice minister of revenue, stabbed him in the belly; his nephew Xuan cut off his head and threw it into the street. The emperor was displeased and demoted Zhenxing to governor of Mu Prefecture and Shenxing to governor of Yu Prefecture. Zhenxing was the son of Gao Shiliang.
148
左庶子、同中書門下三品張大安坐阿附太子，左遷普州刺史，其餘宮僚，上皆釋其罪，使復位，左庶子薛元超等皆舞蹈拜恩； 右庶子李義琰獨引咎涕泣，時論美之。
Left Companion Zhang Da'an, charged with favoring the deposed prince, was sent to govern Pu Prefecture; the other palace officers were pardoned and restored; Left Companion Xue Yuanchao and the rest danced and bowed in gratitude; Right Companion Li Yiyan alone wept and blamed himself; public opinion praised him.
149
九月，甲申，以中書侍郎、同中書門下三品王德真為相王府長史，罷政事。
In the ninth month, on the jiashen day, Wang Dezheng was made chief administrator of the Prince of Xiang's household and removed from the council.
150
冬，十月，壬寅，蘇州刺史曹王明、沂州刺史嗣蔣王煒，皆坐故太子賢之黨，明降封零陵郡王，黔州安置； 煒除名，道州安置。
In the tenth month of winter, on the renyin day, Cao Wang Ming, governor of Su, and Li Wei, Prince of Jiang and governor of Yi, were punished as associates of the deposed prince; Ming was reduced to Prince of Lingling and sent to Qian Prefecture; Wei was stripped of his rank and sent to Dao Prefecture.
151
丙午，文成公主薨於吐蕃。
On the bingwu day Princess Wencheng died in Tibet.
152
己酉，車駕西還。
On the jiyou day the emperor turned westward for the capital.
153
十一月，壬申朔，日有食之。
On the first day of the eleventh month, renshen, there was a solar eclipse.
154
春，正月，突厥寇原、慶等州。 乙亥，遣右衛將軍李知十等將兵屯涇、慶二州以備突厥。
In spring, in the first month, the Turks raided Yuan, Qing, and neighboring prefectures. On the yihai day Li Zhishi and other generals of the Right Guard were sent to garrison Jing and Qing against the Turks.
155
庚辰，以初立太子，敕宴百官及命婦於宣政殿，引九部伎及散樂自宣政門入。 太常博士袁利貞上疏，以為：「正寢非命婦宴會之地，路門非倡優進御之所，請命婦會於別殿，九部伎自東西門入，其散樂伏望停省。」 上乃更命置宴於麟德殿； 宴日，賜利貞帛百段。 利貞，昂之曾孫也。
On the gengchen day, to celebrate the new crown prince, the court banqueted officials and titled ladies in the Hall of Propagating Government and brought the nine-section orchestra and miscellaneous performers in through the Xuanzheng Gate. Court doctor Yuan Lizhen memorialized that the main chamber was no place for titled ladies to feast, nor the Gate of the Road for entertainers to enter; he asked that the ladies meet elsewhere, the orchestra enter by the side gates, and the miscellaneous players be left out. The emperor then moved the banquet to the Hall of Linde; On the day of the feast he rewarded Lizhen with one hundred bolts of silk. Lizhen was the great-grandson of Yuan Angzhi.
156
利貞族孫誼為蘇州刺史，自以其先自宋太尉淑以來，盡忠帝室，謂琅邪王氏雖奕世台鼎，而為歷代佐命，恥與為比，嘗曰：「所貴於名家者，為其世篤忠貞，才行相繼故也。 彼鬻婚姻求祿利者，又烏足貴乎！」 時人是其言。
Lizhen's clansman Yi, governor of Su, held that since the Song Grand Commandant Shu his family had served the throne with unbroken loyalty; though the Langye Wangs had held highest office for generations, they had been assistants to every new dynasty—he scorned the comparison and said, "A great house is honored because loyalty and talent pass from father to son. Families that sell their daughters for office and profit—what is there to honor in that? Public opinion sided with him.
157
裴行儉軍既還，突厥阿史那伏念復自立為可汗，與阿史德溫傅連兵為寇。 癸巳，以行儉為定襄道大總管，以右武衛將軍曹懷舜、幽州都督李文暕為副，將兵討之。
After Xingjian marched home, the Turk Ashina Funian proclaimed himself qaghan again and joined Ashide Wenfu in raiding. On the guisi day Xingjian was made grand commander on the Dingxiang circuit, with Cao Huaishun and Governor Li Wenyan as deputies, to march against them.
158
二月，天-{后}-表請赦杞王上金、鄱陽王素節之罪； 以上金為沔州刺史，素節為岳州刺史，仍不聽朝集。
In the second month the Heavenly Empress asked that Prince of Qi Shangjin and Prince of Poyang Sunjie be pardoned; Shangjin was made governor of Mian and Sunjie governor of Yue, but neither was allowed to attend court assemblies.
159
三月，辛卯，以劉仁軌兼太子少傅，餘如故。 以侍中郝處俊為太子少保，罷政事。
In the third month, on the xinmao day, Liu Ren'gui was additionally made junior tutor to the crown prince; his other offices remained unchanged. Chief Secretary Hao Chujun was made junior mentor to the crown prince and left the council.
160
少府監裴匪舒，善營利，奏賣苑中馬糞，歲得錢二十萬緡。 上以問劉仁軌，對曰：「利則厚矣，恐後代稱唐家賣馬糞，非嘉名也。」 乃止。 匪舒又為上造鏡殿，成，上與仁軌觀之，仁軌驚趨下殿。 上問其故，對曰：「天無二日，土無二王，適視四壁有數天子，不祥孰甚焉！」 上遽令剔去。 曹懷舜與裨將竇義昭將前軍擊突厥。 或告「阿史那伏念與阿史德溫傅在黑沙北，左右才二十騎以下，可徑往取也。」 懷舜等信之，留老弱於瓠蘆泊，帥輕銳倍道進，至黑沙，無所見，人馬疲頓，乃引兵還。
Palace Workshop Director Pei Feishu, a man skilled at turning profit, proposed selling horse dung from the imperial park for two hundred thousand strings of cash a year. The emperor asked Liu Ren'gui, who answered, "The profit is handsome, but posterity may remember the Tang as a dynasty that sold horse dung—and that is no honorable name. The plan was dropped. Feishu also built a Hall of Mirrors for the emperor; when it was finished Ren'gui started back and fled down the steps. The emperor asked why; Ren'gui said, "Heaven has but one sun, earth but one king—and I saw several emperors in those mirrored walls. What omen could be worse? The emperor ordered the mirrors removed at once. Cao Huaishun and Lieutenant General Dou Yizhao led the vanguard against the Turks. Someone reported that Funian and Wenfu were north of Heisha with barely twenty horsemen—a direct strike could take them. Huaishun believed it, left the weak at Hulu Lake, and marched light troops at forced pace to Heisha; finding nothing, they turned back exhausted.
161
會薛延陀部落欲西詣伏念，遇懷舜軍，因請降。 懷舜等引兵徐還，至長城北，遇溫傅，小戰，各引去。 至橫水，遇伏念，懷舜、義昭與李文暕及裨將劉敬同四軍合為方陳，且戰且行； 經一日，伏念乘便風擊之，軍中擾亂，懷舜等棄軍走，軍遂大敗，死者不可勝數。 懷舜等收散卒，斂金帛以賂伏念，與之約和，殺牛為盟。 伏念北去，懷舜等乃得還。 夏。 五月，丙戌，懷舜免死，流嶺南。
A Xueyantuo band marching west to join Funian met Huaishun's army and surrendered. On the slow march home they met Wenfu north of the Great Wall, fought briefly, and withdrew. At Hengshui they met Funian; Huaishun, Yizhao, Li Wenyan, and Liu Jingtong combined four armies in a square and fought as they marched; After a day Funian attacked on a favorable wind; the army broke; Huaishun and the others fled; the defeat was catastrophic. Huaishun gathered the survivors, paid Funian with gold and silk, made peace, and sealed it with the slaughter of an ox. Funian withdrew north and Huaishun's men at last got home. Summer. In the fifth month, on the bingxu day, Huaishun was spared death and banished to Lingnan.
162
己丑，河源道經略大使黑齒常之將兵擊吐蕃論贊婆於良非川，破之，收其糧畜而還。 常之在軍七年，吐蕃深畏之，不敢犯邊。
On the jichou day Changzhi defeated the Tibetan Lun Zhanpo at Liangfei River and returned with captured grain and livestock. For seven years on the frontier Changzhi kept Tibet in awe, and they dared not raid the border.
163
初，太原王妃之薨也，天-{后}-請以太平公主為女官以追福。 及吐蕃求和親，請尚太平公主，上乃為之立太平觀，以公主為觀主以拒之。 至是，始選光祿卿汾陰薛曜之子紹尚焉。 紹母，太宗女城陽公主也。
When the Princess of Taiyuan died, the Heavenly Empress asked that Princess Taiping take the veil to pray for her soul. When Tibet asked for a marriage alliance and sought Princess Taiping, the emperor built the Taiping Abbey and made her its abbess to refuse them. Now at last Xue Shao, son of Director of Imperial Entertainments Xue Yao of Fenyin, was chosen to marry her. Shao's mother was Princess Chengyang, Taizong's daughter.
164
秋，七月，公主適薛氏，自興安門南至宣陽坊西。 燎炬相屬，夾路槐木多死。 紹史顗以公主寵盛，深憂之，以問族祖戶部郎中克構，克構曰：「帝甥尚主，國家故事，苟以恭慎行之，亦何傷！ 然諺曰：『娶婦得公主，無事取官府。』 不得不為之懼也。
In the seventh month of autumn the princess married into the Xue family; the procession ran from Xing'an Gate south to west of Xuanyang Ward. Torches lined the route end to end, and many locust trees along the road were scorched to death. Xue Yan, Shao's uncle, feared the princess's power and asked his kinsman Ke Gou of the Ministry of Revenue; Ke Gou said, "Marrying an imperial princess is an old court custom—conduct yourself with reverence and no harm need come of it. But as the proverb runs, "Marry a princess and you invite the magistrate for no reason." You cannot help but fear that.
165
天-{后}-以顗妻蕭氏及顗弟緒妻成氏非貴族，欲出之，曰：「我女豈可使與田舍女為妯娌邪！ 或曰：「蕭氏，瑀之侄孫，國家舊姻。」 乃止。
The Heavenly Empress, because Yan's wife was a Xiao and his brother Xu's wife a Cheng—clans she deemed common—wanted them divorced, saying, "Shall my daughter call some farmer's daughter sister-in-law? Someone objected, "Lady Xiao is a grand-niece of Xiao Yu—the court's old marriage kin." The empress relented.
166
夏州群牧使安元壽奏：「自調露元年九月以來，喪馬一十八萬餘匹，監牧吏卒為虜所殺掠者八百餘人。」
An Yuanshou, commissioner of the Xiazhou pasturelands, reported that since the ninth month of the first year of Tiaolu more than 180,000 horses had been lost and more than 800 pasture officials and soldiers killed or captured by raiders."
167
薛延陀達渾等五州四萬餘帳來降。
More than forty thousand households from five Xueyantuo and related prefectures submitted.
168
甲午，左僕射兼太子少傅、同中書門下三品劉仁軌固請解僕射； 許之。
On the thirty-first day Liu Ren'gui, Left Vice Director, Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince, and Grand Counselor, firmly asked to resign the vice directorship; the request was granted.
169
閏七月，丁未，裴炎為侍中，崔知溫、薛元超並守中書令。
In the intercalary seventh month, on the twenty-fourth day, Pei Yan was appointed Palace Attendant, and Cui Zhiwen and Xue Yuanchao acting Secretariat Directors.
170
上征田游巖為太子洗馬，在東宮無所規益。 右衛副率蔣儼以書責之曰：「足下負巢、由之俊節，傲唐、虞之聖主，聲出區宇，名流海內。 主上屈萬乘之重，申三顧之榮，遇子以商山之客，待子以不臣之禮，將以輔導儲貳，漸染芝蘭耳。 皇太子春秋鼎盛，聖道未周，僕以不才，猶參庭諍，足下受調護之寄，是可言之秋，唯唯而無一談，悠悠以卒年歲。 向使不餐周粟，僕何敢言！ 祿及親矣，以何酬塞？ 想為不達，謹書起予。」 游巖竟不能答。
The emperor summoned Tian Youyan to serve as the crown prince's Stud, but he offered the heir no counsel or guidance. Jiang Yan, Deputy Commander of the Right Guard, wrote to rebuke him: "You claim the lofty integrity of Chaofu and Xu You, yet disdain emperors worthy of Tang and Yu; your fame fills the realm and your name is known throughout the seas. The sovereign humbled himself and honored you with three visits, treating you as a guest of Mount Shang and receiving you with rites reserved for equals, all so you might guide the heir and steep him in virtue. The crown prince is young and his education incomplete; I, though unworthy, still remonstrate at court—yet you, charged with nurturing him, when speech is most needed offer only empty assent and drift idly toward old age. Had you refused Zhou's grain like Boyi and Shuqi, I would not dare reprove you! You now enjoy salary that reaches your kin—how will you repay the court? Thinking you had not understood, I write respectfully to stir you to action." Youyan could make no answer.
171
庚申，上以服餌，令太子監國。 裴行儉軍於代州之陘口，多縱反間，由是阿史那伏念與阿史德溫傅浸相猜貳。 伏念留妻子輜重於金牙山，以輕騎襲曹懷舜。 行儉遣裨將何迦密自通漠道，程務挺自石地道掩取之。 伏念與曹懷舜等約和而還，比至金牙山，失其妻子輜重，士卒多疾疫，乃引兵北走保細沙，行儉又使副總管劉敬同、程務挺等將單于府兵追躡之。 伏念請執溫傅以自效，然尚猶豫，又自恃道遠，唐兵必不能至，不復設備。 敬同等軍到，伏念狼狽，不能整其眾，遂執溫傅，從間道詣行儉降。 候騎告以塵埃漲天而至，將士皆震恐。 行儉曰：「此乃伏念執溫傅來降，非他盜也。 然受降如受敵，不可無備。」 乃命嚴備，遣單使迎前勞之。 少選，伏念果帥酋長縛溫傅詣軍門請罪。 行儉盡平突厥餘黨，以伏念、溫傅歸京師。
On the seventh day, while taking elixirs, the emperor ordered the crown prince to govern in his stead. Pei Xingjian encamped at Yamenkou in Dai Prefecture and spread disinformation until Ashina Fukian and Ashide Wenfu grew mutually suspicious. Fukian left his family and baggage at Golden Tooth Mountain and struck Cao Huaishun with light cavalry. Xingjian sent He Jiami along the Tongmo route and Cheng Wuting along the Shidi route to seize them by surprise. Fukian made peace with Cao Huaishun and withdrew; at Golden Tooth Mountain he found his family and baggage gone and many men stricken with plague; he fled north to Fine Sand, while Xingjian sent Liu Jingtong, Cheng Wuting, and others with Chanyu Protectorate troops in pursuit. Fukian offered to hand over Wenfu to prove his loyalty but still hesitated, trusting that the Tang army could not reach him so far north and relaxing his guard. When Jingtong's force arrived, Fukian was in disarray, seized Wenfu, and came to Xingjian by a hidden path to surrender. Scouts reported a vast dust cloud approaching; officers and men were terrified. Xingjian said, "That is Fukian bringing Wenfu in surrender—not enemy raiders. Yet receiving surrender is like facing an enemy—we must stay prepared." He ordered full precautions and sent an envoy forward to welcome them. Soon Fukian arrived with chieftains binding Wenfu before the camp gate to submit. Xingjian pacified the remaining Turks and brought Fukian and Wenfu to the capital.
172
冬，十月，丙寅朔，日有食之。
In winter, on the first day of the tenth month, a solar eclipse occurred.
173
壬戌，裴行儉等獻定襄之俘。 乙丑，改元。 丙寅，斬阿史那伏念、阿史德溫傅等五十四人於都市。
On the twenty-eighth day Pei Xingjian presented the captives from Dingxiang. On the second day the era name was changed. On the third day Ashina Fukian, Ashide Wenfu, and fifty-four others were executed in the capital marketplace.
174
初，行儉許伏念以不死，故降。 裴炎疾行儉之功，奏言：「伏念為副將張虔勖、程務挺所逼，又回紇等自磧北南向逼之，窮窘而降耳。」 遂誅之。 行儉歎曰：「渾、浚爭功，古今所恥。 但恐殺降，無復來者。」 因稱疾不出。
Xingjian had promised Fukian his life, which was why he surrendered. Pei Yan, jealous of Xingjian's success, memorialized that Fukian had surrendered only because Zhang Qianxu and Cheng Wuting pressed him and the Uyghurs drove him from the north—he yielded only in desperation." They were executed. Xingjian sighed, "Hun and Jun wrangling over credit has been despised in every age. I fear only that executing men who surrendered will keep others from coming in." He thereupon pleaded illness and withdrew from court.
175
丁亥，新羅王法敏卒，遣使立其子政明。
On the twenty-fourth day King Fammin of Silla died; envoys were sent to install his son Jeongmyeong.
176
十一月，癸卯，徙故太子賢於巴州。」」」
In the eleventh month, on the fourth day, the former crown prince Xian was exiled to Ba Prefecture.”””