1
資治通鑑第203卷
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 203
2
卷第二百三
Volume 203
3
【唐紀十九】起玄黓敦牂，盡柔兆閹茂，凡五年。
[Tang Records 19] From the cyclical year Xuanqu Dunzang through Rouzhao Yanmao—a span of five years.
4
春，二月，作萬泉宮於藍田。
That spring, in the second month, construction of the Wanquan Palace began at Lantian.
5
癸未，改元，赦天下。
On guiwei day, the reign era was changed and a general amnesty was proclaimed empire-wide.
6
戊午，立皇孫重照為皇太孫。 上欲令開府置僚屬，問吏部郎中王方慶，對曰：「晉及齊皆嘗立太孫，其太子官屬即為太孫官屬，未聞太子在東宮而更立太孫者也。」 上曰：「自我作古，可乎？」 對曰：「三王不相襲禮，何為不可！」 乃奏置師傅等官。 既而上疑其非法，竟不補授。 方慶，裒之曾孫也，名綝，以字行。
On wuwu day, the emperor's grandson Chongzhao was named imperial grand-son. The emperor wanted to open a household office and appoint staff for him. He consulted Wang Fangqing, a director in the Ministry of Personnel, who answered: "Jin and Qi had both installed an imperial grand-son, using the crown prince's staff as his staff. I know of no precedent for naming a grand-son while the crown prince still held court in the Eastern Palace." The emperor asked, "If I establish the precedent myself, would that be permissible?" Fangqing replied, "The three sage kings did not simply inherit one another's ritual codes—why should this be impossible?" He then submitted a memorial proposing tutors and other offices. The emperor later doubted the arrangement's legality and ultimately never filled the posts. Fangqing was a great-grandson of Wang Bao; his given name was Shen, but he went by his style name.
7
西突厥阿史那車簿帥十姓反。
Ashina Chebo of the Western Turks rallied the Ten Surnames in revolt.
8
夏，四月，甲子朔，日有食之。
In summer, on the first day of the fourth month (jiazi), a solar eclipse occurred.
9
上以關中饑饉，米斗三百，將幸東都； 丙寅，發京師，留太子監國，使劉仁軌、裴炎、薛元超輔之。 時出幸倉猝，扈從之士有餓死於中道者。 上慮道路多草竊，使監察御史魏元忠檢校車駕前後。 元忠受詔，即閱視赤縣獄，得盜一人，神采語言異於眾，命釋桎梏，襲冠帶，乘驛以從，與之共食宿，托以詰盜，其人笑許諾。 比及東都，士馬萬數，不亡一錢。
Famine gripped Guanzhong, and rice reached three hundred cash per dou, so the emperor prepared to travel to the Eastern Capital. On bingyin day he left the capital, leaving the crown prince as regent with Liu Ren'gui, Pei Yan, and Xue Yuanchao to advise him. The departure had been so sudden that some in the imperial escort starved to death along the way. Fearing bandits along the route, the emperor charged investigating censor Wei Yuanzhong with securing the procession. Yuanzhong took the order, inspected the capital county jails at once, and singled out one prisoner whose manner and speech set him apart. He had the man unshackled, dressed in cap and sash, and brought along on post horses; they ate and slept together while Yuanzhong enlisted him to hunt down robbers. The man laughed and accepted. By the time they reached the Eastern Capital, not one coin was lost among the tens of thousands of men and horses.
10
辛未，以禮部尚書聞喜憲公裴行儉為金牙道行軍大總管，帥右金吾將軍閻懷旦等三總管分道討西突厥。 師未行，行儉薨。
On xinwei day, Pei Xingjian, Duke Xian of Wenxi and Minister of Rites, was appointed grand commander of the Jinya Route army, with Right Golden Guard General Yan Huaidan and two other commanders to strike the Western Turks by separate routes. Before the troops could march, Xingjian died.
11
行儉有知人之鑒，初為吏部侍郎，前進士王劇、咸陽尉欒城蘇味道皆未知名。 行儉一見，謂之曰：「二君後當相次常銓衡，僕有弱息，願以為托。」 是時劇弟勃與華陰楊炯、范陽盧照鄰、義烏駱賓王皆以文章有盛名，司列少常伯李敬玄尤重之，以為必顯達。 行儉曰：「士之致遠者，當先器識而後才藝。 勃等雖有文華，而浮躁淺露，豈享爵祿之器邪！ 楊子稍沈靜，應至令長； 餘得令終幸矣。」 既而勃渡海墮水，炯終於盈川令，照鄰惡疾不愈，赴水死，賓王反誅，劇、味道皆典選，如行儉言。 行儉為將帥，所引偏裨如程務挺、張虔勖、王方翼、劉敬同、李多祚、黑齒常之，後多為名將。
Xingjian was celebrated for judging character. Early in his tenure as vice minister of personnel, the former jinshi Wang Ju and Su Weidao of Luancheng, magistrate of Xianyang, were still obscure. At their first meeting he told them, "You will each in turn oversee the regular personnel selection. I have a young daughter and would like to entrust her to you." At the time, Ju's younger brother Bo, together with Yang Jiong of Huayin, Lu Zhaolin of Fanyang, and Luo Binwang of Yiwu, were famed for their writing. Li Jingxuan, vice director of the Secretariat, prized them highly and was certain they would rise. Xingjian said, "Men who go far put character and judgment ahead of literary talent. Bo and his circle may be brilliant writers, but they are flighty and shallow. Are they fit to hold high office and emoluments? Young Yang is somewhat steadier and may reach a magistracy. The rest would be lucky to die in bed." Events bore him out: Bo drowned at sea; Jiong died as magistrate of Yingchuan; Zhaolin's lingering illness drove him to drown himself; Binwang was executed for rebellion; Ju and Weidao each headed personnel selection, exactly as Xingjian had foretold. As a general he promoted subordinates such as Cheng Wuting, Zhang Qianxu, Wang Fangyi, Liu Jingtong, Li Duozuo, and Heichi Changzhi, most of whom later became celebrated commanders.
12
行儉嘗命左右取犀角、麝香而失之。 又敕賜馬及鞍，令史輒馳驟，馬倒，鞍破。 二人皆逃去，行儉使人召還，謂曰：「爾曹皆誤耳，何相輕之甚邪！」 待之如故。 破阿史那都支，得馬腦盤，廣二尺餘，以示將士，軍吏王休烈捧盤升階，跌而碎之，惶恐，叩頭流血。 行儉笑曰：「爾非故為，何至於是！」 不復有追惜之色。 詔賜都支等資產金器三千餘物，雜畜稱是，並分給親故及偏裨，數日而盡。
Once Xingjian sent attendants for rhinoceros horn and musk, and the items went missing. On another occasion an edict granted him a horse and saddle; the clerk galloped away at once, the horse fell, and the saddle was ruined. Both men fled, but Xingjian had them brought back and said, "These were only mistakes—why punish yourselves so harshly?" He treated them as before. After defeating Ashina Duzhi he seized an agate tray over two feet across and displayed it to the troops. Army clerk Wang Xiulie carried it up the steps, tripped, and smashed it; terrified, he kowtowed until he bled. Xingjian laughed and said, "You did not do it on purpose—why take it so hard?" He showed no further regret. An edict awarded him more than three thousand pieces of booty and gold vessels from Duzhi's estate, along with a comparable herd of livestock, all of which he distributed to kin, friends, and subordinates within days.
13
阿史那車薄圍弓月城，安西都護王方翼引軍救之，破虜眾於伊麗水，斬首千餘級。 俄而三姓咽面與車薄合兵拒方翼，方翼與戰於熱海，流矢貫方翼臂，方翼以佩刀截之，左右不知。 所將胡兵謀執方翼以應車薄，方翼知之，悉召會議，陽出軍資賜之，以次引出斬之，會大風，方翼振金鼓以亂其聲，誅七十餘人，其徒莫之覺。 既而分遣裨將襲車薄、咽面，大破之，擒其酋長三百人，西突厥遂平。 閻懷旦等竟不行。 方翼尋遷夏州都督，征入，議邊事。 上見方翼衣有血漬，問之，方翼具對熱海苦戰之狀，上視瘡歎息； 竟以廢後近屬，不得用而歸。
Ashina Chebo besieged Gongyue City. Wang Fangyi, protector-general of Anxi, marched to its relief, routed the enemy on the Yili River, and took more than a thousand heads. Soon the Three Surnames Yanmian allied with Chebo against Fangyi. At Hot Sea a stray arrow pierced his arm; he severed the shaft with his dagger, and those around him never knew. Some of his Hu troops plotted to seize him for Chebo. Fangyi learned of it, called a full council, pretended to distribute supplies as rewards, and had the conspirators led out one by one and beheaded. When a gale rose he beat drums and gongs to mask the noise; more than seventy were killed without the rest realizing. He then sent subordinates against Chebo and Yanmian, crushing them and capturing three hundred chieftains, and the Western Turks were pacified. Yan Huaidan and the others never marched at all. Fangyi was soon made military commissioner of Xia Prefecture, recalled to court, and consulted on frontier policy. The emperor noticed blood on Fangyi's clothes and asked why. Fangyi described the fierce fighting at Hot Sea in detail; the emperor examined the wound and sighed. In the end, because he was kin to the deposed empress, he was passed over for appointment and sent home.
14
乙酉，車駕至東都。
On yiyou day the emperor reached the Eastern Capital.
15
丁亥，以黃門侍郎穎川郭待舉、兵部侍郎岑長倩、秘書員外少監、檢校中書侍郎鼓城郭正一、吏部侍郎鼓城魏玄同並與中書門下同承受進止平章事。 上欲用待舉等，謂崔知溫曰：「待舉等資任尚淺，且令預聞政事，未可與卿等同名。」 自是外司四品已下知政事者，始以平章事為名。 長倩，文本之兄子也。
On dinghai day, Guo Daiju of Yingchuan (vice minister of the yellow gate), Cen Changqian (vice minister of war), Guo Zhengyi of Gucheng (acting vice director of the secretariat), and Wei Xuantong of Gucheng (vice minister of personnel) were all made associates of the Secretariat and Chancellery with the title Coordinator of Affairs. The emperor wanted to use Daiju and his colleagues and told Cui Zhiwen, "Their seniority is still modest; let them sit in on state affairs for now, but they may not yet share your formal title." From then on, officials outside the inner secretariat of fourth rank or below who shared in governance were first called Coordinators of Affairs. Changqian was a nephew of Cen Text.
16
先是，玄同為吏部侍郎，上言銓選之弊，以為：「人君之體，當委任而責成功，所委者當，則所用者自精矣。 故周穆王命伯冏為太僕正，曰：『慎簡乃僚。』 是使群司各自求其小者，而天子命其大者也。 乃至漢氏，得人皆自州縣補署，五府辟召，然後升於天朝，自魏、晉以來，始專委選部。 夫以天下之大，士人之眾，而委之數人之手，用刀筆以量才，按簿書而察行，借使平如權衡，明如水鏡，猶力有所極，照有所窮，況所委非人而有愚闇阿私之弊乎！ 願略依周、漢之規以救魏、晉之失。」 疏奏，不納。
Earlier, as vice minister of personnel, Xuantong had memorialized on abuses in appointment, arguing that a ruler should delegate authority and hold men accountable for results; if the delegates were sound, the appointees would be sound as well. King Mu of Zhou appointed Bo Jiong grand master of servants with the charge, "Choose your subordinates with care." Each ministry was to find its own junior staff while the Son of Heaven named the senior ones. Under the Han, men rose from county and prefectural posts, were recruited by the five offices, and only then advanced to court. From Wei and Jin onward, selection was concentrated in the personnel bureau alone. To leave the vast empire and its legions of scholars to a handful of clerks, gauging talent with paperwork and character from registers—even the fairest scales and clearest mirror have limits. How much worse when the delegates are unfit, breeding stupidity, favoritism, and corruption! I urge that we restore in outline the Zhou and Han systems to correct the Wei and Jin mistake. "The memorial was submitted but not adopted.
17
五月，丙午，東都霖雨。 乙卯，洛水溢，溺民居千餘家。 關中先水後旱、蝗，繼以疾疫，米斗四百，兩京間死者相枕於路，人相食。
In the fifth month, on bingwu day, the Eastern Capital was lashed by unending rain. On yimao day the Luo River burst its banks and drowned more than a thousand households. Guanzhong suffered flood, then drought and locusts, then plague; rice reached four hundred cash per dou. Between the two capitals corpses lined the roads, and people resorted to cannibalism.
18
上既封泰山，欲遍封五嶽，秋，七月，作奉天宮於嵩山南。 監察御史裡行李善感諫曰：「陛下封泰山，告太平，致群瑞，與三皇、五帝比隆矣。 數年已來，菽粟不稔，餓殍相望，四夷交侵，兵車歲駕； 陛下宜恭默思道以禳災譴，乃更廣營宮室，勞役不休，天下莫不失望。 臣忝備國家耳目，竊以此為憂！」 上雖不納，亦優容之。 自褚遂良、韓瑗之死，中外以言為諱，無敢逆意直諫，幾二十年； 及善感始諫，天下皆喜，謂之「鳳鳴朝陽」。
After his Feng sacrifice on Mount Tai, the emperor planned to enfeoff all five sacred peaks. That autumn, in the seventh month, work began on the Fengtian Palace south of Mount Song. Investigating censor Li Shangan remonstrated: "Your Majesty has offered the Feng on Mount Tai, proclaimed great peace, gathered auspicious omens, and may stand beside the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors in glory. For years the harvests have failed; the starving lie within sight of one another; barbarians raid from every quarter and the war chariots roll out each year. Your Majesty should ponder the Way in reverent silence to avert Heaven's wrath, yet you expand palaces and press labor without rest. The empire is everywhere disheartened. I am unworthy to serve as the state's eyes and ears, yet I cannot keep this grief to myself!" The emperor did not accept the advice but received it graciously. Since the deaths of Chu Suiliang and Han Yuan, frank speech had been taboo at court and beyond for nearly twenty years. When Shangan spoke out, the realm rejoiced and called it "the phoenix crying at dawn."
19
上遣宦者緣江徙異竹，欲植苑中。 宦者科舟載竹，所在縱暴； 過荊州，荊州長史蘇良嗣囚之，上疏切諫，以為：「致遠方異物，煩擾道路，恐非聖人愛人之意。 又，小人竊弄威福，虧損皇明。」 上謂天後曰：「吾約束不嚴，果為良嗣所怪。」 手詔慰諭良嗣，令棄竹江中。 良嗣，世長之子也。
The emperor sent eunuchs up the Yangtze to transplant exotic bamboo for the imperial gardens. They commandeered boats to haul the bamboo and abused the populace wherever they passed. At Jing Prefecture the secretary Su Liangsi imprisoned them and submitted a sharp memorial: "Hauling exotic plants from afar and harassing the highways hardly accords with a sage ruler's care for his people. Moreover, petty men have usurped power and profit, tarnishing Your Majesty's glory." The emperor told the empress, "I was not strict enough, and Liangsi has rightly called me to account." He issued a personal edict praising Liangsi and ordered the bamboo dumped into the river. Liangsi was a son of Su Shichang.
20
黔州都督謝祐希天後意，逼零陵王明令自殺，上深惜之，黔府官屬皆坐免官。 祐後寢於平閣，與婢妾十餘人共處，夜，失其首。 垂拱中，明子零陵王俊、黎國公傑為天後所殺，有司籍其家，得祐首，漆為穢器，題雲謝祐，乃知明子使刺客取之也。
Xie You, military commissioner of Qian Prefecture, currying favor with the empress, forced Prince Ming of Lingling to commit suicide. The emperor deeply mourned him, and every Qian official was dismissed. Later You slept in a pavilion with a dozen maids and concubines; in the night his head vanished. In the Chuigong era the empress executed Ming's sons Jun of Lingling and Jie of Li. When their estates were inventoried, You's head turned up lacquered as a latrine bucket labeled "Xie You"—proof that Ming's sons had sent assassins for it.
21
太子留守京師，頗事游畋，薛元超上疏規諫； 上聞之，遣使者慰勞元超，仍召赴東都。
While the crown prince remained at the capital he devoted himself to hunting. Xue Yuanchao submitted a memorial of admonition. On hearing of it the emperor sent an envoy to commend Yuanchao and summoned him to the Eastern Capital.
22
吐蕃將論欽陵寇柘、松、翼等州。 詔左驍衛郎將李孝逸、右衛郎將衛蒲山發秦、渭等州兵分道御之。
The Tibetan general Lun Qinling raided Zhe, Song, Yi, and neighboring prefectures. Li Xiaoyi of the Left Valiant Cavalry and Wei Pushan of the Right Guard were ordered to raise troops from Qin, Wei, and other prefectures and meet the invasion on separate routes.
23
冬，十月，丙寅，黃門侍郎劉景先同中書門下平章事。
In winter, in the tenth month, on bingyin day, Liu Jingxian, vice minister of the yellow gate, was made coordinator of affairs at the Secretariat and Chancellery.
24
是歲，突厥餘黨阿史那骨篤祿、阿史德元珍等招集亡散，據黑沙城反，入寇并州及單于府之北境，殺嵐州刺史王德茂。 右領軍衛將軍、檢校代州都督薛仁貴將兵擊元珍於雲州，虜問唐大將為誰，應之曰：「薛仁貴！」 虜曰：「吾聞仁貴流象州，死久矣，何以紿我！。 仁貴免冑示之面，虜相顧失色，下馬列拜，稍稍引去。 仁貴因奮擊，大破之，斬首萬餘級，捕虜二萬餘人。
That year the Turk remnant leaders Ashina Gudulu and Ashide Yuanzhen rallied scattered followers, seized Heisha City, raided Bing Prefecture and the northern Chanyu Protectorate, and killed Wang Demao, prefect of Lan. Xue Rengui, general of the Right Army Guard and acting commissioner of Dai Prefecture, attacked Yuanzhen at Yun Prefecture. The enemy asked who commanded the Tang army and were told, "Xue Rengui!" They replied, "We heard Rengui was exiled to Xiang Prefecture and died long ago. Why try to fool us? Rengui removed his helmet and showed his face. The enemy stared, turned pale, dismounted in ranks to bow, and slowly withdrew. Rengui pressed the attack, routing them with more than ten thousand heads taken and twenty thousand prisoners captured.
25
吐蕃入寇河源軍，軍使婁師德將兵擊之於白水澗，八戰八捷。 上以師德為比部員外郎、左驍衛郎將、河源軍經略副使，曰：「卿有文武材，勿辭也！」
Tibetans raided Heyuan Army. Commissioner Lou Shide met them at Baishui Ravine and won eight battles in eight engagements. The emperor appointed Shide outer-office director in the Ministry of Justice, commandant of the Left Valiant Cavalry, and deputy commissioner of Heyuan Army, saying, "You have both civil and military talent—do not refuse!"
26
春，正月，甲午朔，上行幸奉天宮。
That spring, on the first day of the first month (jiawu), the emperor traveled to the Fengtian Palace.
27
二月，庚午，突厥寇定州，刺史霍王元軌擊卻之。 乙亥，復寇媯州。 三月，庚寅，阿史那骨篤祿、阿史德元珍圍單于都護府，執司馬張行師，殺之。 遣勝州都督王本立、夏州都督李崇義將兵分道救之。
In the second month, on gengwu day, Turks raided Ding Prefecture; Prince Yuangui of Huo, the prefect, drove them off. On yihai day they raided Ji Prefecture again. In the third month, on gengyin day, Gudulu and Yuanzhen besieged the Chanyu Protectorate, seized aide Zhang Xingshi, and killed him. Wang Benli of Sheng Prefecture and Li Chongyi of Xia Prefecture were dispatched with troops on separate routes to relieve the siege.
28
太子右庶子、同中書門下三品李義琰改葬父母，使其舅氏遷舊墓； 上聞之，怒曰：「義琰倚勢，乃陵其舅家，不可復知政事！」 義琰聞之，不自安，以足疾乞骸骨。 庚子，以義琰為銀青光祿大夫，致仕。
Li Yiyan, right vice director of the crown prince's household and third-rank associate of the Secretariat and Chancellery, reburied his parents and had his maternal uncle relocate the old graves. When the emperor heard of it he flew into a rage: "Yiyan is abusing his position to bully his uncle's household. He must never again take part in government!" Yiyan, uneasy at the reprimand, pleaded foot ailment and asked to retire. On gengzi day Yiyan was made Silver Radiance Grandee of Splendid Happiness and permitted to retire.
29
癸丑，守中書令崔知溫薨。
On guichou day Cui Zhiwen, acting director of the Secretariat, died.
30
夏，四月，己未，車駕還東都。
That summer, in the fourth month, on jiwei day, the emperor returned to the Eastern Capital.
31
綏州步落稽白鐵余，埋銅佛於地中，久之，草生其上，紿其鄉人曰：「吾於此數見佛光。」 擇日集眾掘地，果得之，因曰：「得見聖佛者，百疾皆愈。」 遠近赴之。 鐵余以雜色囊盛之數十重，得厚施，乃去一囊。 數年間，歸信者眾，遂謀作亂。 據城平縣，自稱光明聖皇帝，置百官，進攻綏德、大斌二縣，殺官吏，焚民居。 遣右武衛將軍程務挺與夏州都督王方翼討之，甲申，攻拔其城，擒鐵余，餘黨悉平。
Bai Tiesu, a Buluoji tribesman of Sui Prefecture, buried a bronze Buddha in the earth. Grass eventually grew over the spot, and he told his neighbors, "I have often seen a Buddha-light here." On a chosen day he gathered a crowd to dig, and the image was found. He declared, "Whoever sees this holy Buddha will be cured of every illness." People flocked from far and near. Tiesu wrapped the statue in dozens of colored sacks, collected lavish offerings, then removed one layer of wrapping. Within a few years his following swelled, and he plotted rebellion. He seized Ping County, proclaimed himself Bright Sacred Emperor, appointed officials, and attacked Suide and Dabin, killing magistrates and burning homes. Cheng Wuting of the Right Martial Guard and Wang Fangyi, commissioner of Xia Prefecture, were dispatched against him. On jiashen day they stormed the city, captured Tiesu, and pacified the remnant rebels.
32
五月，庚寅，上幸芳桂宮，至合璧宮，遇大雨而還。
In the fifth month, on gengyin day, the emperor visited Fragrant Cassia Palace and reached United Jade Palace, but heavy rain forced him back.
33
乙巳，突厥阿史那骨篤祿等寇蔚州，殺刺史李思儉，豐州都督崔智辯將兵邀之於朝那山北，兵敗，為虜所擒。 朝議欲廢豐州，遷其百姓於靈、夏。 豐州司馬唐休璟上言，以為：「豐州阻河為固，居賊衝要，自秦、漢已來，列為郡縣，土宜耕牧。 隋季喪亂，遷百姓於寧、慶二州，致胡虜深侵，以靈、夏為邊境。 貞觀之末，募人實之，西北始安。 今廢之則河濱之地復為賊有，靈、夏等州人不安業，非國家之利也！」 乃止。
On yisi day Gudulu and other Turks raided Wei Prefecture and killed Prefect Li Sijian. Cui Zhibian of Feng Prefecture intercepted them north of Chaona Mountain, was defeated, and taken prisoner. The court debated abolishing Feng Prefecture and resettling its people in Ling and Xia. Tang Xiujing, aide of Feng Prefecture, argued that Feng was fortified by the Yellow River, lay on a critical frontier route, and had been a regular prefecture since Qin and Han—its land was ideal for farming and grazing. During the Sui collapse its people were moved to Ning and Qing, inviting deeper barbarian raids and pushing the border back to Ling and Xia. Late in the Zhenguan era colonists were recruited to repopulate it, and the northwest was finally secured. To abandon it now would hand the riverlands back to the enemy and unsettle Ling, Xia, and neighboring prefectures. That would not serve the state! The plan was dropped.
34
六月，突厥別部寇掠嵐州，偏將楊玄基擊走之。
In the sixth month a Turk splinter force raided Lan Prefecture; subordinate general Yang Xuanji drove them off.
35
秋，七月，己丑，立皇孫重福為唐昌王。
That autumn, in the seventh month, on jichou day, the imperial grandson Chongfu was created Prince of Tangchang.
36
庚辰，詔以今年十月有事於嵩山； 尋以上不豫，改用來年正月。
On gengchen day an edict scheduled the Mount Song rites for the tenth month. The emperor's illness soon forced a postponement to the first month of the following year.
37
甲辰，徙相王輪為豫王，更名旦。
On jiachen day Prince Lun of Xiang was made Prince of Yu and renamed Dan.
38
中書令兼太子左庶子薛元超病喑，乞骸骨； 許之。
Xue Yuanchao, director of the Secretariat and left vice director of the crown prince's household, lost his voice to illness and asked to retire. His request was granted.
39
八月，己丑，以將封嵩山，召太子赴東都； 留唐昌王重福守京師，以劉仁軌為之副。 冬，十月，己卯，太子至東都。
In the eighth month, on jichou day, with the Mount Song rites approaching, the crown prince was summoned to the Eastern Capital. Prince Chongfu of Tangchang was left to guard the capital, with Liu Ren'gui as his deputy. In winter, in the tenth month, on jimao day, the crown prince arrived at the Eastern Capital.
40
癸亥，車駕幸奉天宮。 十一月，丙戌，詔罷來年封嵩山，上疾甚故也。 上苦頭重，不能視，召侍醫秦鳴鶴診之，鳴鶴請刺頭出血，可愈。 天後在簾中，不欲上疾愈，怒曰：「此可斬也，乃欲於天子頭刺血！」 鳴鶴叩頭請命。 上曰：「但刺之，未必不佳。」 乃刺百會、腦戶二穴。 上曰：「吾目似明矣。」 後舉手加額曰：「天賜也！」 自負彩百匹以賜鳴鶴。
On guihai day the emperor traveled to the Fengtian Palace. In the eleventh month, on bingxu day, an edict canceled next year's Mount Song rites because the emperor was gravely ill. The emperor's head felt leaden and he could not see. He summoned the court physician Qin Minghe, who proposed bleeding the scalp and promised a cure. Behind the curtain the empress, who did not want him to recover, raged: "This man deserves death—he would draw blood from the Son of Heaven's head!" Minghe kowtowed and begged for his life. The emperor said, "Go ahead and prick—it may do no harm." He then bled the Baihui and Naohu points. The emperor said, "My eyes seem clear now." Later he pressed his hand to his brow and cried, "A gift from Heaven!" He personally presented a hundred bolts of colored silk to reward Minghe.
41
戊戌，以右武衛將軍程務挺為單于道安撫大使，招討阿史那骨篤祿等。
On wuxu day Cheng Wuting of the Right Martial Guard was made pacification commissioner of the Chanyu Route to subdue Gudulu and his followers.
42
詔太子監國，以裴炎、劉景先、郭正一兼東宮平章事。
The crown prince was ordered to act as regent, with Pei Yan, Liu Jingxian, and Guo Zhengyi as his coordinating ministers.
43
上自奉天宮疾甚，宰相皆不得見。 丁未，還東都，百官見於天津橋南。
Since leaving the Fengtian Palace the emperor had been gravely ill, and the chief ministers could not gain audience. On dingwei day he returned to the Eastern Capital; officials were received south of Tianjin Bridge.
44
十二月，丁巳，改元，赦天下。 上欲御則天門樓宣赦，氣逆不能乘馬，乃召百姓入殿前宣之。 是夜，召裴炎入，受遺詔輔政，上崩於貞觀殿。 遺詔太子柩前即位，軍國大事有不決者，兼取天后進止。 廢萬泉、芳桂、奉天等宮。 庚申，裴炎奏太子未即位，未應宣敕，有要速處分，望宣天後令於中書、門下施行。 甲子，中宗即位，尊天后為皇太后，政事鹹取決焉。 太后以澤州刺史韓王元嘉等，地尊望重，恐其為變，並加三公等官以慰其心。
In the twelfth month, on dingsi day, the reign era was changed and a general amnesty proclaimed. He wished to proclaim the amnesty from Zetian Gate tower but was too short of breath to ride; the proclamation was read instead before the palace hall to the assembled populace. That night Pei Yan was summoned to receive the deathbed edict appointing him regent. The emperor died in the Zhenguan Hall. The testament directed the crown prince to ascend the throne before the bier. On military and civil matters that could not be resolved, the empress dowager's word was also to be sought. The Wanquan, Fragrant Cassia, Fengtian, and other pleasure palaces were abolished. On gengshen day Pei Yan argued that with the crown prince not yet enthroned, no imperial edicts should issue; urgent business should be handled by edicts in the empress dowager's name through the Secretariat and Chancellery. On jiazi day Zhongzong ascended the throne and honored the late emperor's consort as empress dowager. All government decisions rested with her. Fearing that Prince Yuangui of Han and other senior princes of high prestige might plot trouble, the empress dowager showered them with honorary ranks such as the Three Excellencies to win their loyalty.
45
甲戌，以劉仁軌為左僕射，裴炎為中書令； 戊寅，以劉景先為侍中。
On jiaxu day Liu Ren'gui was made left vice director of the Department of State Affairs and Pei Yan director of the Secretariat. On wuyin day Liu Jingxian was made attendant-in-ordinary.
46
故事，宰相於門下省議事，謂之政事堂，故長孫無忌為司空，房玄齡為僕射，魏徵為太子太師，皆知門下省事。 及裴炎遷中書令，始遷政事堂於中書省。
By precedent the chief ministers met in the Chancellery at the Hall of Administration. When Zhangsun Wuji was minister of works, Fang Xuanling vice director, and Wei Zheng grand tutor of the heir, all handled Chancellery business. When Pei Yan became director of the Secretariat, the Hall of Administration was moved to the Secretariat for the first time.
47
壬午，遣左威衛將軍王果、左監門將軍令狐智通、右金吾將軍楊玄儉、右千牛將軍郭齊宗分往並、益、荊、揚四大都督府，與府司相知鎮守。
On renwu day Wang Guo of the Left Majestic Guard, Linghu Zhitong of the Left Palace Gate, Yang Xuanjian of the Right Golden Guard, and Guo Qizong of the Right Millennial Ox were dispatched to the Bing, Yi, Jing, and Yang area commands to coordinate defense with local staffs.
48
中書侍郎同平章事郭正一為國子祭酒，罷政事。
Guo Zhengyi, vice minister of the Secretariat and coordinator of affairs, was made rector of the National University and dismissed from the council.
49
則天順聖皇后上之上
Empress Wu Zetian, Shunsheng — Part One
50
春，正月，甲申朔，改元嗣聖，赦天下。
That spring, on the first day of the first month (jiashen), the era was renamed Sisheng and a general amnesty was proclaimed.
51
立太子妃韋氏為皇后； 擢後父玄貞自普州參軍為豫州刺史。
The crown prince's consort, Lady Wei, was made empress. Her father Wei Xuanzhen was promoted from a military aide post in Pu Prefecture to prefect of Yu.
52
癸巳，以左散騎常侍杜陵韋弘敏為太府卿、同中書門下三品。
On guisi day Wei Hongmin of Duling, left regular attendant of the palace horse, was made director of the Court of the Imperial Treasury and third-rank associate of the Secretariat and Chancellery.
53
中宗欲以韋玄貞為侍中，又欲授乳母之子五品官； 裴炎固爭，中宗怒曰：「我以天下與韋玄貞，何不可！ 而惜侍中邪！」 炎懼，白太后，密謀廢立。 二月，戊午，太后集百官於乾元殿，裴炎與中書侍郎劉禕之、羽林將軍程務挺、張虔勖勒兵入宮，宣太后令，廢中宗為廬陵王，扶下殿。 中宗曰：「我何罪？」 太后曰：「汝欲以天下與韋玄貞，何得無罪！ 乃幽於別所。 己未，立雍州牧豫王旦為皇帝。 政事決於太后，居睿宗於別殿，不得有所預。 立豫王妃劉氏為皇后。 後，德威之孫也。 有飛騎十餘人飲於坊曲，一人言：「向知別無勳賞，不若奉廬陵。」 一人起，出詣北門告之。 座未散，皆捕得，系羽林獄，言者斬，餘以知反不告皆絞，告者除五品官。 告密之端自此興矣。
Zhongzong wanted to make Wei Xuanzhen attendant-in-ordinary and to grant a fifth-rank office to his wet nurse's son. Pei Yan objected firmly. Zhongzong raged, "I would give the empire to Wei Xuanzhen—why not? Yet you begrudge him the post of attendant-in-ordinary!" Pei Yan, alarmed, informed the empress dowager and secretly plotted to depose him. In the second month, on wuwu day, the empress dowager assembled officials in the Qianyuan Hall. Pei Yan, Liu Yizhi, and Feathered Forest generals Cheng Wuting and Zhang Qianxu led troops inside, proclaimed her order, deposed Zhongzong as Prince of Luling, and escorted him from the hall. Zhongzong asked, "What crime have I committed?" The empress dowager replied, "You meant to give the empire to Wei Xuanzhen—how are you not guilty? He was confined in seclusion. On jiwei day Prince Dan of Yu, commissioner of Yong Prefecture, was enthroned as emperor. The empress dowager held all power; Ruizong was lodged apart and allowed no part in rule. Lady Liu, consort of the Prince of Yu, was made empress. The empress was a granddaughter of Liu Dewei. A dozen courier riders were drinking in a lane when one said, "We know there'll be no rewards from this lot—better to back Luling." One man rose and went to report it at the north gate. Before the party broke up all were seized and jailed in the Feathered Forest prison. The speaker was beheaded; the rest, for knowing of treason and not reporting it, were strangled; the informer was given a fifth-rank post. Thus began the era of informers.
54
壬子，以永平郡王成器為皇太子，睿宗之長子。 赦天下，改元文明。
On renzi day Chengqian, Prince of Yongping and Ruizong's eldest son, was named crown prince. A general amnesty was proclaimed and the era renamed Wenming.
55
庚申，廢皇太孫重照為庶人，命劉仁軌專知西京留守事。 流韋玄貞於欽州。
On gengshen day the imperial grand-son Chongzhao was reduced to commoner status, and Liu Ren'gui was put in sole charge of the western capital garrison. Wei Xuanzhen was exiled to Qin Prefecture.
56
太后與劉仁軌書曰：「昔漢以關中之事委蕭何，今托公亦猶是矣。」 仁軌上疏，辭以衰老不堪居守，因陳呂後禍敗之事以申規戒。 太后使秘書監武承嗣繼璽書慰諭之曰：「今以皇帝諒闇不言，眇身且代親政； 遠勞勸戒，復辭衰疾。 又云『呂氏見嗤於後代，祿、產貽禍於漢朝』，引喻良深，愧慰交集。 公忠貞之操，終始不渝，勁直之風，古今罕比。 初聞此語，能不惘然； 靜而思之，是為龜鏡。 況公先朝舊德，遐邇具瞻，願以匡救為懷，無以暮年致請。」
The empress dowager wrote to Liu Ren'gui: "Han once entrusted Guanzhong to Xiao He; I now entrust it to you in the same spirit." Ren'gui memorialized that he was too old and frail for the post, and cited the ruin of Empress Lü as a warning. The empress dowager had Secretariat Director Wu Chengsi reply with an imperial letter: "The emperor is in mourning and does not speak; I govern in his place for now. You have gone to great pains to admonish me, yet again plead age and illness. You also wrote that 'the Lü clan was mocked by posterity and Lu and Chan brought disaster on the Han'—a profound analogy that leaves me both shamed and comforted. Your loyalty has never wavered, and your blunt integrity is rarely matched in any age. At first your words unsettled me. On quiet reflection they are a mirror for the ages. You are a pillar of the former court, admired throughout the realm. Keep the state's welfare at heart and do not plead old age to withdraw."
57
辛酉，太后命左金吾將軍丘神勣詣巴州，檢校故太子賢宅，以備外虞，其實風使殺之。 神勣，行恭之子也。
On xinyou day the empress dowager sent Qiu Shenji of the Left Golden Guard to Ba Prefecture to inspect the former crown prince Xian's residence, ostensibly for security but in fact to have him murdered. Shenji was a son of Xinggong.
58
甲子，太后御武成殿，皇帝帥王公以下上尊號。 丁卯，太后臨軒，遣禮部尚書武承嗣冊嗣皇帝。 自是太后常御紫宸殿，施慘紫帳以視朝。
On jiazi day the empress dowager presided in the Wucheng Hall while the emperor led the princes and officials in presenting her an honorific title. On dingmao day she faced the throne hall and sent Minister of Rites Wu Chengsi to invest the heir emperor. Thereafter she regularly held court in the Zichen Hall behind a dark purple curtain.
59
丁丑，以太常卿、檢校豫王府長史王德真為侍中； 中書侍郎、檢校豫王府司馬劉禕之同中書門下三品。
On dingchou day Wang Dezhen, director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and acting chief administrator of the Prince of Yu's household, was made attendant-in-ordinary. Liu Yizhi, vice minister of the Secretariat and acting military aide of the Prince of Yu's household, was made third-rank associate of the Secretariat and Chancellery.
60
三月，丁亥，徙杞王上金為畢王，鄱陽王素節為葛王。
In the third month, on dinghai day, Prince of Qi Shangjin was reassigned as Prince of Bi, and Prince of Poyang Sujie as Prince of Ge.
61
丘神勣至巴州，幽故太子賢於別室，逼令自殺。 太后乃歸罪於神勣，戊戌，舉哀於顯福門，貶神勣為疊州刺史。 己亥，追封賢為雍王。 神勣尋復入為左金吾將軍。
When Qiu Shenji reached Ba Prefecture, he shut the former crown prince Xian in a side room and drove him to take his own life. The empress dowager then blamed Shenji. On wuxu day she staged mourning at the Xianfu Gate and demoted him to prefect of Die Prefecture. On jihai day, Xian was posthumously created Prince of Yong. Before long Shenji was recalled to the capital as general of the Left Golden Guard.
62
夏，四月，開府儀同三司、梁州都督滕王元嬰薨。
That summer, in the fourth month, Yuan Ying, Prince of Teng—grand preceptor with the honorary rank of Kaifu Yitong Sanqi and military governor of Liang Prefecture—died.
63
辛酉，徙畢王上金為澤王，拜蘇州刺史； 葛王素節為許王，拜絳州刺史。
On xinyou day, Prince of Bi Shangjin was reassigned as Prince of Ze and appointed prefect of Su Prefecture. Prince of Ge Sujie was made Prince of Xu and appointed prefect of Jiang Prefecture.
64
癸酉，遷廬陵王於房州； 丁丑，又遷於均州故濮王宅。
On guiyou day, the Prince of Luling was transferred to Fang Prefecture. On dingchou day he was moved again, to the former residence of the Prince of Pu at Jun Prefecture.
65
五月，丙申，高宗靈駕西還。
In the fifth month, on bingshen day, Emperor Gaozong's funeral cortege returned westward.
66
閏月，以禮部尚書武承嗣為太常卿、同中書門下三品。
In the intercalary month, Minister of Rites Wu Chengsi was appointed director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and third-rank associate of the Secretariat and Chancellery.
67
秋，七月，戊午，廣州都督路元睿為崑崙所殺。 元睿暗懦，僚屬恣橫，有商舶至，僚屬侵漁不已。 商胡訴於元睿，元睿索枷，欲系治之。 群胡怒，有崑崙袖劍直登聽事，殺元睿及左右十餘人而去，無敢近者，登舟入海，追之不及。
That autumn, in the seventh month, on wuwu day, Lu Yuanrui, military governor of Guangzhou, was killed by Kunlun men. Yuanrui was weak and indecisive, and his staff ran wild. Whenever merchant vessels put in, they preyed on them without end. The merchant-traders appealed to Yuanrui, who ordered cangues brought so he could bind and punish them. The traders flew into a rage. One Kunlun man, sword concealed in his sleeve, marched straight into the office hall, killed Yuanrui and more than ten of his attendants, and left—no one dared go near him. He boarded a ship and put out to sea, and pursuers could not catch him.
68
溫州大水，流四千餘家。
Severe flooding at Wen Prefecture carried off more than four thousand households.
69
突厥阿史那骨篤祿等寇朔州。 八月，庚寅，葬天皇大帝於乾隆，廟號高宗。
The Turks Ashina Gutulu and others attacked Shuo Prefecture. In the eighth month, on gengyin day, the Celestial August Emperor was buried at Qianling, with the temple title Gaozong.
70
初，尚書左丞馮元常為高宗所委，高宗晚年多疾，百司奏事，每曰：「朕體中不佳，可與元常平章以聞。」 元常嘗密言：「中宮威權太重，宜稍抑損。」 高宗雖不能用，深以其言為然。 及太后稱制，四方爭言符瑞； 嵩陽令樊文獻瑞石，太后命於朝堂示百官，元常奏：「狀涉諂詐，不可誣罔天下。」 太后不悅，出為隴州刺史。 元常，子琮之曾孫也。
Earlier, Feng Yuanchang, left assistant director in the Secretariat, had been a man Emperor Gaozong relied on. In his later years Gaozong was often ill; when the ministries reported business, he would say, "I am not well; discuss matters with Yuanchang and report back to me." Yuanchang once said in private, "The empress's power is too great; it should be trimmed back somewhat." Gaozong could not follow his advice, but he deeply agreed with it. Once the empress dowager assumed the regency, people everywhere competed to report auspicious omens. Fan Wen, magistrate of Songyang, presented an auspicious stone. The empress dowager ordered it shown in the court hall to the officials. Yuanchang memorialized, "The inscription reeks of flattery and deceit; the realm must not be misled." The empress dowager was displeased and sent him out to serve as prefect of Long Prefecture. Yuanchang was a great-grandson of Feng Zicong.
71
丙午，太常卿、同中書門下三品武承嗣罷為禮部尚書。
On bingwu day, Wu Chengsi was removed as director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and third-rank associate of the Secretariat and Chancellery and made minister of rites.
72
括州大水，流二千餘家。
Severe flooding at Kuo Prefecture carried off more than two thousand households.
73
九月，甲寅，赦天下，改元。 旗幟皆從金色。 八品以下，舊服青者更服碧。 改東都為神都，宮名太初。 又改尚書省為文昌台，左、右僕射為左、右相，六曹為天、地、四時六官； 門下省為鸞台，中書省為鳳閣，侍中為納言，中書令為內史； 御史台為左肅政台，增置右肅政台； 其餘省、寺、監、率之名，悉以義類改之。
In the ninth month, on jiayin day, a general amnesty was proclaimed and the reign era was changed. Banners and flags were all changed to gold. Officials of the eighth rank and below who had worn blue were now to wear green. The Eastern Capital was renamed the Divine Capital, and the palace was called Taichu. The Secretariat was renamed the Wenchang Bureau; the left and right vice directors became the left and right chancellors; and the six bureaus became the six officials of Heaven, Earth, and the Four Seasons. The Chancellery became the Luantai, the Secretariat the Fengge, attendant-in-ordinary became nayan, and the Secretariat director became neishi. The Censorate became the Left Zhengyi Bureau, and a Right Zhengyi Bureau was added. The names of all other ministries, courts, directorates, and palace offices were likewise changed according to their symbolic meaning.
74
以左武衛大將軍程務挺為單于道安撫大使，以備突厥。
Cheng Wuting, grand general of the Left Martial Guard, was appointed pacification commissioner of the Chanyu Circuit to guard against the Turks.
75
武承嗣請太后追王其祖，立武氏七廟，太后從之。 裴炎諫曰：「太后母臨天下，當示至公，不可私於所親。 獨不見呂氏之敗乎！」 太后曰：「呂後以權委生者，故及於敗。 今吾追尊亡者，何傷乎！」 對曰：「事當防微杜漸，不可長耳。」 太后不從。 己巳，追尊太后五代祖克己為魯靖公，妣為夫人； 高祖居常為太尉、北平恭肅王，曾祖儉為太尉、金城義康王，祖華為太尉、太原安成王，考士擭為太師、魏定王； 祖妣皆為妃。 裴炎由是得罪。 又作五代祠堂於文水。
Wu Chengsi asked the empress dowager to posthumously create her ancestors as kings and establish a seven-temple shrine for the Wu clan, and she agreed. Pei Yan remonstrated, "As mother of the realm, Your Majesty should show the utmost impartiality and must not show partiality to your own kin. Have you not seen how the Lü clan met its ruin!" The empress dowager said, "Empress Lü entrusted power to the living—that is why she fell. Now I am honoring the dead—what harm can that do!" He replied, "Evils should be stopped at the first sign; they must not be allowed to grow." The empress dowager would not listen. On jisi day, the empress dowager's fifth-generation ancestor Keji was posthumously created Lord Jing of Lu, and his wife Lady. Her great-great-grandfather Juchang was made grand commandant and Prince Gongsu of Beiping; her great-grandfather Jian, grand commandant and Prince Yikang of Jincheng; her grandfather Hua, grand commandant and Prince Ancheng of Taiyuan; and her father Shiyi, grand preceptor and Prince Ding of Wei. All the ancestral wives were created consorts. Pei Yan thereby fell from favor. A shrine to five generations was also built at Wenshui.
76
時諸武用事，唐宗室人人自危，眾心憤惋。 會眉州刺史英公李敬業及弟盩厔令敬猷、給事中唐之奇、長安主簿駱賓王、詹事司直杜求仁皆坐事，敬業貶柳州司馬，敬猷免官，之奇貶括蒼令，賓王貶臨海丞，求仁貶黟令。 求仁，正倫之侄也。 盩厔尉魏思溫嘗為御史，復被黜。 皆會於揚州，各自以失職怨望，乃謀作亂，以匡復廬陵王為辭。
At this time the Wu clan held power; every member of the Tang imperial house lived in fear, and public anger ran high. As it happened, Li Jingye, Duke of Ying and prefect of Mei Prefecture, his brother Jingyou, magistrate of Zhouzhi County, Tang Zhiqi, a drafting attendant, Luo Binwang, chief clerk of Chang'an, and Du Qiuren, a judicial officer in the crown prince's household, had all been punished for various offenses: Jingye was demoted to military aide at Liuzhou, Jingyou dismissed, Zhiqi sent to Kuocang as magistrate, Binwang to Linhai as assistant magistrate, and Qiuren to Yi as magistrate. Qiuren was a nephew of Du Zhenglun. Wei Siwen, magistrate of Zhouzhi County, had once served as a censor and had again been dismissed. They all met at Yang Prefecture, each bitter over loss of office, and plotted rebellion under the banner of restoring the Prince of Luling.
77
思溫為之謀主，使其黨監察御史薛仲璋求奉使江都，令雍州人韋超詣仲璋告變，云「揚州長史陳敬之謀反」。 仲璋收敬之繫獄。 居數日，敬業乘傳而至，矯稱揚州司馬來之官，云「奉密旨，以高州酋長馮子猷謀反，發兵討之。」 於是開府庫，令士曹參軍李宗臣就錢坊，驅囚徒、工匠數百，授以甲。 斬敬之於系所； 錄事參軍孫處行拒之，亦斬以徇，僚吏無敢動者。 遂起一州之兵，復稱嗣聖元年。 開三府，一曰匡復府，二曰英公府，三曰揚州大都督府。 敬業自稱匡復府上將，領揚州大都督。 以之奇、求仁為左、右長史，宗臣、仲璋為左、右司馬，思溫為軍師，賓王為記室，旬日間得勝兵十餘萬。 移檄州縣，略曰：「偽臨朝武氏者，人非溫順，地實寒微。 昔充太宗下陳，嘗以更衣入侍，洎乎晚節，穢亂春宮。 密隱先帝之私，陰圖後庭之嬖，踐元後於翬翟，陷吾君於聚麀。」 又曰：「殺姊屠兄，弒君鴆母，人神之所同嫉，天地之所不容。」 又曰：「包藏禍心，竊窺神器。 君之愛子，幽之於別宮； 賊之宗盟，委之以重任。」 又曰：「一抔之土未干，六尺之孤安在！」 又曰：「試觀今日之域中，竟是誰家之天下！」 太后見檄，問曰：「誰所為？」 或對曰：「駱賓王。」 太后曰：「宰相之過也。 人有如此才，而使之流落不偶乎！」
Siwen was their chief strategist. He had his follower, investigating censor Xue Zhongzhang, obtain an imperial mission to Jiangdu, and sent Wei Chao of Yong Prefecture to Zhongzhang to report a conspiracy, claiming that "Yang Prefecture chief administrator Chen Jingzhi is plotting rebellion." Zhongzhang arrested Jingzhi and threw him in prison. A few days later Jingye arrived by post relay, falsely claiming to be the Yang Prefecture military aide reporting for duty, and announcing, "By secret edict, because Feng Ziyou, chieftain of Gaozhou, is plotting rebellion, I am to raise troops to suppress him." He then opened the prefectural storehouses and ordered staff officer Li Zongchen to the mint, where he rounded up several hundred convicts and artisans and issued them armor. Jingzhi was beheaded in prison. Recording officer Sun Xuchu tried to resist and was beheaded as an example; none of the staff dared stir. He then raised the entire prefecture's forces and proclaimed the first year of the Sishèng era. He opened three headquarters: the Restoration Office, the Duke of Ying Office, and the Yangzhou Grand Military Governor's Office. Jingye styled himself supreme general of the Restoration Office and assumed the post of grand military governor of Yangzhou. Zhiqi and Qiuren became left and right chief administrators; Zongchen and Zhongzhang, left and right military aides; Siwen, strategist; and Binwang, secretary. Within ten days he had assembled more than one hundred thousand fighting men. He sent a proclamation to the prefectures and counties, which read in part: "The usurper holding court, the Wu woman, is neither gentle by nature nor noble by birth. Once she served among Emperor Taizong's attendants and entered his chambers to change his garments; in her later years she brought corruption into the Eastern Palace. She hid the late emperor's secrets, plotted for power in the inner quarters, trampled the empress in her phoenix robes, and trapped our sovereign in incestuous shame." It continued: "She killed her elder sister, butchered her elder brothers, murdered her sovereign and poisoned her mother—an outrage hated by gods and men alike, intolerable to heaven and earth." It also said: "She harbors treacherous intent and secretly covets the throne. The sovereign's beloved son she keeps confined in a separate palace. While the traitor's own kin she loads with heavy office." It also cried: "The grave mound is not yet dry—where is the orphaned heir!" It also demanded: "Look upon the realm today—whose empire is it, in the end!" When the empress dowager saw the proclamation, she asked, "Who wrote this?" Someone answered, "Luo Binwang." The empress dowager said, "This is the fault of the chief ministers. A man of such talent, and yet he was left to wander without proper appointment!"
78
敬業求得人貌類故太子賢者，紿眾云：「賢不死，亡在此城中，令吾屬舉兵。」 因奉以號令。
Jingye found a man who looked like the former crown prince Xian and deceived the crowd, claiming, "Xian is not dead—he has fled here and ordered us to take up arms." They then installed him to issue commands.
79
楚州司馬李崇福帥所部三縣應敬業。 盱眙人劉行舉獨據縣不從，敬業遣其將尉遲昭攻盱眙，行舉拒卻之。 詔以行舉為游擊將軍，以其弟行實為楚州刺史。
Li Chongfu, military aide of Chuzhou, led the three counties under his command to answer Jingye's call. Liu Xingju of Xuyi alone held his county and refused to join; Jingye sent his general Yuchi Zhao against Xuyi, but Xingju drove him off. An edict made Xingju mobile corps general and appointed his younger brother Xingshi prefect of Chuzhou.
80
甲申，以左玉鈐衛大將軍李孝逸為揚州道大總管，將兵三十萬，以將軍李知士、馬敬臣為之副，以討李敬業。
On jiashen day, Li Xiaoyi, grand general of the Left Jade Talisman Guard, was appointed grand commander of the Yangzhou Circuit at the head of three hundred thousand troops, with Generals Li Zhishi and Ma Jingchen as his deputies, to suppress Li Jingye.
81
武承嗣與從父弟右衛將軍三思以韓王元嘉、魯王靈夔屬尊位重，屢勸太后因事誅之。 太后謀於執政，劉禕之、韋思謙皆無言； 內史裴炎獨固爭，太后愈不悅。 三思，元慶之子也。
Wu Chengsi and his cousin, Right Guard General Sansi, repeatedly urged the empress dowager to find occasion to execute Princes of Han Yuangjia and Lu Lingqi, whose rank and standing were exalted. The empress dowager consulted the chief ministers; Liu Yizhi and Wei Siqian both kept silent. Neishi Pei Yan alone argued firmly against it, and the empress dowager grew still more displeased. Sansi was a son of Yuanqing.
82
及李敬業舉兵，薛仲璋，炎之甥也，炎欲示閒暇，不汲汲議誅討。 太后問計於炎，對曰：「皇帝年長，不親政事，故豎子得以為辭。 若太后返政，則不討自平矣。」 監察御史藍田崔察聞之，上言：「炎受顧托，大權在己，若無異圖，何故請太后歸政？」 太后命左肅政大夫金城騫味道、侍御史櫟陽魚承曄鞫之，收炎下獄。 炎被收，辭氣不屈。 或勸炎遜辭以免，炎曰：「宰相下獄，安有全理！」
When Li Jingye rose in arms, Xue Zhongzhang—Pei Yan's nephew—was among the rebels; Yan wished to appear unhurried and did not press for immediate discussion of suppression. The empress dowager asked Yan for counsel. He replied, "The emperor is already grown and does not personally govern; that is why this upstart has found a pretext. If Your Majesty returns power, the rebellion will collapse without need of suppression." Investigating censor Cui Cha of Lantian, hearing this, memorialized, "Yan received the late emperor's dying charge and holds great power in his own hands. If he harbors no ulterior design, why does he ask the empress dowager to return power?" The empress dowager ordered Left Zhengyi Grand Counselor Qian Weidao of Jincheng and attendant censor Yu Chengye of Liyang to investigate, and Yan was arrested and thrown into prison. When Yan was arrested, he did not yield in word or bearing. Someone urged Yan to humble himself to save his life. Yan said, "When a chief minister is thrown into prison, how can he expect to survive intact!"
83
鳳閣舍人李景諶證炎必反。 劉景先及鳳閣侍郎義陽胡元范皆曰：「炎，社稷元臣，有功於國，悉心奉上，天下所知，臣敢明其不反。」 太后曰：「炎反有端，顧卿不知耳。」 對曰：「若裴炎為反，則臣等亦反也。」 太后曰：「朕知裴炎反，知卿等不反。」 文武間證炎不反者甚眾，太后皆不聽。 俄並景先、元范下獄。 丁亥，以騫味道檢校內史同鳳閣鸞台三品，李景諶同鳳閣鸞台平章事。
Fengge secretariat officer Li Jingchen testified that Yan was certainly plotting rebellion. Liu Jingxian and Fengge vice minister Hu Yuanfan of Yiyang both said, "Yan is a pillar minister of the state who has served the realm with distinction and devoted himself to the throne—this is known to all. I dare affirm that he is not rebelling." The empress dowager said, "Yan's rebellion has its grounds—you simply do not know them." They replied, "If Pei Yan is a rebel, then so are we." The Empress Dowager said, "I know Pei Yan is plotting rebellion—I know you are not." Many civil and military officials came forward to attest that Yan was no rebel, but the Empress Dowager would hear none of it. Before long both Liu Jingxian and Hu Yuanfan were thrown into prison as well. On dinghai day, Qian Weidao was appointed acting Interior Secretary at third rank of the Phoenix Pavilion and Crane Tower, and Li Jingchen was made Associate Director of the same offices.
84
魏思溫說李敬業曰：「明公以匡復為辭，宜帥大眾鼓行而進，直指洛陽，則天下知公志在勤王，四面響應矣。」 薛仲璋曰：「金陵有王氣，且大江天險，足以為固，不如先取常、潤，為定霸之基，然後北向以圖中原，進無不利，退有所歸，此良策也！」 思溫曰：「山東豪傑以武氏專制，憤惋不平，聞公舉事，皆自蒸麥飯為糧，伸鋤為兵，以俟南軍之至。 不乘此勢以立大功，乃更蓄縮，欲自謀巢穴，遠近聞之，其誰不解體！」 敬業不從，使唐之奇守江都，將兵渡江攻潤州。 思溫謂杜求仁曰：「兵勢合則強，分則弱，敬業不並力渡淮，收山東之眾以取洛陽，敗在眼中矣！」
Wei Siwen urged Li Jingye: "Your lordship marches under the banner of restoration. Lead your main force forward with drums beating, straight for Luoyang—the realm will see that your heart is with the throne, and support will rise on every side." Xue Zhongzhang said, "Jinling has the aura of empire, and the Yangtze is a heaven-sent rampart strong enough to hold. Seize Changzhou and Runzhou first and lay the foundations of rule; then turn north toward the heartland. Advance, and nothing will stand in your way; retreat, and you will still have a refuge. That is the wise course!" Siwen replied, "The champions of Shandong seethe under the Wu clan's grip. When they hear that you have risen, they steam their own wheat for rations and turn hoes into spears, waiting only for your army to cross the Huai. If you fail to seize this tide and win a great victory, but hang back instead to dig yourselves a private nest, who near or far will not lose heart when they hear of it?" Jingye would not listen. He left Tang Zhiqi to hold Jiangdu and led his army across the river to attack Runzhou. Siwen told Du Qiuren, "United, an army is strong; divided, it is weak. Jingye will not mass his strength to cross the Huai, rally Shandong, and take Luoyang—defeat is already in sight!"
85
壬辰，敬業陷潤州，執刺史李思文，以李宗臣代之。 思文，敬業之叔父也，知敬業之謀，先遣使間道上變，為敬業所攻，拒守久之，力屈而陷。 思溫請斬以徇，敬業不許，謂思文曰：「叔黨於武氏，宜改姓武。」 潤州司馬劉延嗣不降，敬業將斬之，思溫救之，得免，與思文皆囚於獄中。 劉延嗣，審禮從父弟也。 曲阿令河間尹元貞引兵救潤州，戰敗，為敬業所擒，臨以白刃，不屈而死。
On renchen day, Jingye took Runzhou, seized its prefect Li Siwen, and installed Li Zongchen in his place. Siwen was Jingye's uncle. Forewarned of the plot, he had already sent a messenger by a hidden route to report the uprising. Jingye besieged him; he held out for a long time, but at last his strength gave out and the city fell. Wei Siwen urged that he be executed to set an example, but Jingye refused and told Siwen, "Uncle, you sided with the Wu clan—you ought to take the surname Wu." Liu Yansi, Runzhou's military aide, refused to surrender. Jingye was about to execute him, but Wei Siwen intervened and he was spared. Both men were thrown into prison. Liu Yansi was a paternal cousin of Liu Shenli. Yin Yuanzhen of Hejian, magistrate of Qu'e, marched to relieve Runzhou but was defeated and captured by Jingye. With blades at his throat he would not bow—and died where he stood.
86
丙申，斬裴炎於都亭。 炎將死，顧兄弟曰：「兄弟官皆自致，炎無分毫之力，今坐炎流竄，不亦悲乎！」 籍沒其家，無甔石之儲。 劉景先貶普州刺史，又貶辰州刺史，胡元范流瓊州而死。 裴炎弟子太僕寺丞胄先，年十七，上封事請見言事。 太后召見，詰之曰：「汝伯父謀反，尚何言？」 胄先曰：「臣為陛下畫計耳，安敢訴冤！ 陛下為李氏婦，先帝棄天下，遽攬朝政，變易嗣子，疏斥李氏，封崇諸武。 臣伯父忠於社稷，反誣以罪，戮及子孫。 陛下所為如是，臣實惜之！ 陛下早宜復子明辟，高枕深居，則宗族可全； 不然，天下一變，不可復救矣！」 太后怒曰：「胡白，小子敢發此言！」 命引出。 胄先反顧曰：「今用臣言，猶未晚！」 如是者三。 太后命於朝堂杖之一百，長流瀼州。 炎之下獄也，郎將姜嗣宗使至長安，劉仁軌問以東都事，嗣宗曰：「嗣宗覺裴炎有異於常久矣。」 仁軌曰：「使人覺之邪？」 嗣宗曰：「然。」 仁軌曰：「仁軌有奏事，願附使人以聞。」 嗣宗曰：「諾。」 明日，受仁軌表而還，表言：「嗣宗知裴炎反不言。」 太后覽之，命拉嗣宗於殿庭，絞於都亭。
On bingshen day, Pei Yan was beheaded at Duting. Facing death, Yan turned to his brothers and said, "You earned your offices by your own merit—I had no hand in it. Yet now you are to be banished on my account. Is that not a bitter thing?" His property was confiscated, yet his house held scarcely a jar of grain. Liu Jingxian was demoted to prefect of Puzhou, then demoted again to prefect of Chenzhou. Hu Yuanfan was exiled to Qiongzhou, where he died. Pei Zhouxian, Yan's seventeen-year-old nephew and a deputy in the Grand Stable Office, submitted a sealed memorial asking for an audience to address affairs of state. The Empress Dowager summoned him and demanded, "Your uncle plotted rebellion—what more do you have to say?" Zhouxian answered, "I come only to offer counsel to Your Majesty—how would I dare plead my family's case! Your Majesty is a daughter-in-law of the Li house. When the late emperor died, you seized the reins of government, changed the heir, cast aside the Li clan, and raised up the Wu. My uncle served the realm in good faith, yet he was condemned on false charges, and punishment reached even his descendants. What Your Majesty has done fills me with sorrow! Your Majesty should restore the son and return power to him, then rest secure in seclusion—the clan may yet be preserved whole. Otherwise, when the realm turns against you, nothing will save it!" The Empress Dowager flared with anger. "Nonsense! How dare a stripling speak such words!" She ordered him taken out. Zhouxian looked back and cried, "If you heed my counsel now, it is still not too late!" He said this three times over. The Empress Dowager ordered him flogged one hundred strokes in the audience hall and exiled to distant Rangzhou. When Yan was imprisoned, commandant Jiang Zizong arrived in Chang'an on embassy. Liu Ren'gui questioned him about affairs in the Eastern Capital. Zizong said, "I had long noticed that Pei Yan was not himself." Ren'gui asked, "Was it your mission that made you notice?" Zizong said, "Yes." Ren'gui said, "I have a memorial to submit. May I send it back with your embassy?" Zizong agreed. The next day he took Ren'gui's memorial and departed. The memorial read: "Zizong knew Pei Yan was plotting rebellion and said nothing." The Empress Dowager read it and ordered Zizong dragged into the palace courtyard and strangled at Duting.
87
丁酉，追削李敬業祖考官爵，發塚斫棺，複姓徐氏。
On dingyou day, the court posthumously stripped Li Jingye's grandfather and father of their titles, opened their graves and smashed their coffins, and restored the family surname to Xu.
88
李景諶罷為司賓少卿，以右史武康沈君諒、著作郎崔察為正諫大夫、同平章事。
Li Jingchen was removed and made Vice Director of the Office of Foreign Ceremonials. Right historian Shen Junliang of Wukang and compiler Cui Cha were appointed Grand Remonstrance Grandees and Associate Directors of the Secretariat.
89
徐敬業聞李孝逸將至，自潤州回軍拒之，屯高郵之下阿溪； 使徐敬猷逼淮陰，別將韋超、尉遲昭屯都梁山。
Hearing that Li Xiaoyi was approaching, Xu Jingye withdrew from Runzhou to meet him and encamped at Xia'a Brook below Gaoyou. He sent Xu Jingyou to threaten Huaiyin, while his lieutenants Wei Chao and Yuchi Zhao held Duliang Mountain.
90
李孝逸軍至臨淮，偏將雷仁智與敬業戰，不利，孝逸懼，按兵不進。 監軍殿中侍御史魏元忠謂孝逸曰：「天下安危，在茲一舉。 四方承平日久，忽聞狂狡，注心傾耳以俟其誅。 今大軍久留不進，遠近失望，萬一朝廷更命它將以代將軍，將軍何辭以逃逗撓之罪乎！」 孝逸乃引軍而前。 壬寅，馬敬臣擊斬尉遲昭於都梁山。
When Li Xiaoyi's army reached Linhuai, his lieutenant Lei Renzhi fought Jingye and was beaten back. Xiaoyi lost nerve and halted his advance. Supervising commissioner Wei Yuanzhong, a palace aide censor, told Xiaoyi, "The fate of the realm hangs on this one stroke. The empire has known peace for years; at the first word of this mad rebel, every quarter has turned its full attention toward his destruction. If this great army stalls here, hope will fade near and far. Should the court replace you with another commander, what defense will you offer against the charge of delay and timidity?" At that Xiaoyi led his army forward. On renyin day, Ma Jingchen attacked and killed Yuchi Zhao on Duliang Mountain.
91
十一月，辛亥，以左鷹揚大將軍黑齒常之為江南道大總管，討敬業。
In the eleventh month, on xinhai day, Left Golden Eagle Commander Heichi Changzhi was appointed Grand General of the Jiangnan Circuit to suppress Jingye.
92
韋超擁眾據都梁山，諸將皆曰：「超憑險自固，士無所施其勇，騎無所展其足； 且窮寇死戰，攻之多殺士卒，不如分兵守之，大軍直趣江都，覆其巢穴。」 支度使薛克構曰：「超雖據險，其眾非多。 今多留兵則前軍勢分，少留兵則終為後患，不如先擊之，其勢必舉，舉都梁，則淮陰、高郵望風瓦解矣。」 魏元忠請先擊徐敬猷，諸將曰：「不如先攻敬業，敬業敗，則敬猷不戰自擒矣。 若擊敬猷，則敬業引兵救之，是腹背受敵也。」 元忠曰：「不然。 賊之精兵，盡在下阿，烏合而來，利在一決，萬一失利，大事去矣！ 敬猷出於博徒，不習軍事，其眾單弱，人情易搖，大軍臨之，駐馬可克。 敬業雖欲救之，計程必不能及。 我克敬猷，乘勝而進，雖有韓、白不能當其鋒矣。 今不先取弱者而遽攻其強，非計也。」 孝逸從之，引兵擊超，超夜遁； 進擊敬猷，敬猷脫身走。
Wei Chao held Duliang Mountain with a large force. The generals all said, "Chao has locked himself into rugged ground—foot soldiers cannot use their strength, horsemen cannot run free. Cornered rebels will fight to the death; storming the position will cost many lives. Better to leave a detachment to contain him while the main army strikes straight for Jiangdu and destroys their base." Logistics commissioner Xue Kegou said, "Chao may hold the heights, but his force is not large. Leave too many men here and the vanguard loses strength; leave too few and he becomes a lasting threat. Strike him first—Duliang will fall, and Huaiyin and Gaoyou will crumble at the news." Wei Yuanzhong urged attacking Xu Jingyou first. The other generals said, "Better to strike Jingye himself—once Jingye falls, Jingyou will surrender without a fight. If we attack Jingyou, Jingye will march to his aid and we will be caught between two armies." Yuanzhong said, "Not so. The rebels' best troops are massed at Xia'a—a rabble gathered for one decisive blow. One defeat there and the whole campaign is lost! Jingyou is a gambler by trade and knows nothing of war. His force is small and brittle; one push from our main army and he will break. Even if Jingye tries to rescue him, he cannot arrive in time. Defeat Jingyou, press the advantage, and not even Han Xin or Bai Qi could stand in our path. To pass over the weak and rush at the strong is no strategy at all." Xiaoyi agreed. He attacked Chao, who fled under cover of night. He pressed on against Jingyou, who broke free and fled.
93
庚申，敬業勒兵阻溪拒守，後軍總管蘇孝祥夜將五千人，以小舟渡溪先擊之，兵敗，孝祥死，士卒赴溪溺死者過半。 左豹韜衛果毅漁陽成三朗為敬業所擒。 唐之奇紿其眾曰：「此李孝逸也！」 將斬之，三朗大呼曰：「我果毅成三朗，非李將軍也。 官軍今大至矣，爾曹破在朝夕。 我死，妻子受榮，爾死，妻子籍沒，爾終不及我！」 遂斬之。
On gengshen day, Jingye drew up his army behind a stream to block the advance. Rear army commander Su Xiaoxiang took five thousand men across the water by night in small boats to attack first. His force was broken; Xiaoxiang was killed, and more than half his men drowned in the stream. Chengsan Lang of Fuyang, an officer of the Left Leopard Bow Guard, was captured by Jingye. Tang Zhiqi deceived the rebel ranks, crying, "This is Li Xiaoyi!" They were about to cut off his head when Chengsan Lang shouted, "I am guard officer Chengsan Lang—not General Li! The imperial army is upon you in full strength—your defeat is only days away! If I die, my wife and children will be honored. If you die, your families will be stripped of everything—you will never match me!" Then they executed him.
94
孝逸等諸軍繼至，戰數不利。 孝逸懼，欲引退，魏元忠與行軍管記劉知柔言於孝逸曰：「風順荻干，此火攻之利。」 固請決戰。 敬業置陣既久，士卒多疲倦顧望，陣不能整； 孝逸進擊之，因風縱火，敬業大敗，斬首七千級，溺死者不可勝紀。 敬業等輕騎走入江都，挈妻子奔潤州，將入海奔高麗； 孝逸進屯江都，分遣諸將追之。 乙丑，敬業至海陵界，阻風，其將王那相斬敬業、敬猷及駱賓王首來降。 餘黨唐之奇、魏思溫皆捕得，傳首神都，揚、潤、楚三州平。
Xiaoyi's armies arrived in succession, but battle after battle went against them. Xiaoyi lost heart and wanted to pull back. Wei Yuanzhong and campaign staff recorder Liu Zhirou urged him, "The wind is with us and the reeds are dry—the moment favors fire." They pressed hard for a decisive battle. Jingye's men had stood in formation for hours; many were exhausted and restless, and the line would not hold. Xiaoyi pressed the attack and sent fire downwind. Jingye's army collapsed; seven thousand heads were taken, and the drowned were beyond counting. Jingye and his companions fled on light horses to Jiangdu, gathered their families, and raced back to Runzhou, intending to put to sea and escape to Goguryeo. Xiaoyi advanced to Jiangdu and sent his generals in pursuit. On yichou day, Jingye reached the border of Hailing but was stopped by contrary winds. His general Wang Nazxiang cut off the heads of Jingye, Jingyou, and Luo Binwang and came over to the imperial side. The remaining ringleaders Tang Zhiqi and Wei Siwen were both captured. Their heads were sent to the Divine Capital, and Yang, Run, and Chu prefectures were pacified.
95
陳岳論曰：敬業苟能用魏思溫之策，直指河、洛，專以匡復為事，縱軍敗身戮，亦忠義在焉。 而妄希金陵王氣，是真為叛逆，不敗何待！
Chen Yue commented: Had Jingye taken Wei Siwen's counsel—marched straight for the Yellow and Luo, and kept restoration as his sole aim—even defeat and death would have left loyalty and righteousness on his side. But to chase the royal aura of Jinling was true rebellion—how could he not be destroyed?
96
敬業之起也，名敬猷將兵五千，循江西上，略地和州。 前弘文館直學士歷陽高子貢帥鄉里數百人拒之，敬猷不能西。 以功拜朝散大夫、成均助教。
When Jingye first rose, he sent Jingyou with five thousand men up the west bank of the river to seize territory in Hezhou. Gao Zigong of Liyang, a former direct scholar of the Hongwen Academy, rallied several hundred local men to resist him, and Jingyou could not push west. For this service he was appointed Grand Master of Palace Leisure and assistant instructor at the Imperial Academy.
97
丁卯，郭待舉罷為左庶子； 以鸞台侍郎韋方質為鳳閣侍郎、同平章事。 方質，雲起之孫也。
On dingmao day, Guo Daiju was removed from office and made Left Subordinate of the Heir Apparent. Wei Fangzhi, Vice Minister of the Crane Tower, was made Vice Minister of the Phoenix Pavilion and Associate Director of the Secretariat. Fangzhi was the grandson of Wei Yunqi.
98
十二月，劉景先又貶吉州員外長史，郭待舉貶岳州刺史。
In the twelfth month, Liu Jingxian was demoted again to assistant chief secretary of Jizhou, and Guo Daiju was demoted to prefect of Yuezhou.
99
初，裴炎下獄，單于道安撫大使、左武衛大將軍程務挺密表申理，由是忤旨。 務挺素以唐之奇、杜求仁善，或譖之曰：「務挺與裴炎、徐敬業通謀。」 癸卯，遣左鷹揚將軍裴紹業即軍中斬之，籍沒其家。 突厥聞務挺死，所在宴飲相慶； 又為務挺立祠，每出師，必禱之。
Earlier, when Pei Yan was imprisoned, Cheng Wuting—Commissioner of Pacification for the Chanyu Road and Left Martial Guard Grand General—had secretly memorialized in his defense, thereby offending the throne. Wuting had long been friendly with Tang Zhiqi and Du Qiuren. Someone slandered him, saying, "Wuting was in secret league with Pei Yan and Xu Jingye." On guimao day, Left Golden Eagle General Pei Shaoye was sent to the camp to execute him on the spot, and his property was confiscated. When the Turks heard that Wuting was dead, they feasted and drank in celebration wherever they were. They also built shrines to Wuting and prayed to him whenever they took the field.
100
太后以夏州都督王方翼與務挺連職，素相親善，且廢後近屬，征下獄，流崖州而死。
The Empress Dowager, noting that Xiazhou military governor Wang Fangyi had served alongside Wuting and had long been close to him—and also that he was a near kinsman of the deposed empress—summoned him, imprisoned him, exiled him to Yazhou, where he died.
101
春，正月，丁未朔，赦天下，改元。
In spring, on the first day of the first month—dingwei—a general amnesty was proclaimed and the reign era was changed.
102
太后以徐思文為忠，特免緣坐，拜司僕少卿。 謂曰：「敬業改卿姓武，朕今不復奪也。」
The Empress Dowager, judging Xu Siwen loyal, specially exempted him from guilt by association and appointed him Vice Director of the Court of the Imperial Stud. She told him, "Jingye changed your surname to Wu—I shall not take it from you now."
103
庚戌，以騫味道守內史。
On gengxu day, Qian Weiwei was appointed to serve as Neishi.
104
戊辰，文昌左相、同鳳閣鸞台三品樂城文獻公劉仁軌薨。
On wuchen day, Liu Ren'gui, Duke of Lecheng, posthumously styled Wenxian, Left Chancellor of the Department of Literary Works and Third-Rank Associate of the Phoenix Pavilion and Crane Terrace, died.
105
二月，癸未，制：「朝堂所置登聞鼓及肺石，不須防守，有撾鼓立石者，令御史受狀以聞。」
In the second month, on guiwei day, an edict declared: "The appeal drum and grievance stone in the court hall need no guard. Anyone who strikes the drum or stands by the stone shall have a censor take the petition and report it upward."
106
乙巳，以春官尚書武承嗣、秋官尚書裴居道、右肅政大夫韋思謙並同鳳閣鸞台三品。
On yisi day, Wu Chengsi, Minister of the Department of Spring Affairs; Pei Judao, Minister of the Department of Autumn Affairs; and Wei Siqian, Right Grand Master of Rectification, were all appointed Third-Rank Associates of the Phoenix Pavilion and Crane Terrace.
107
突厥阿史那骨篤祿等數寇邊； 以左玉鈐衛中郎將淳於處平為陽曲道行軍總管，擊之。
The Turks, led by Ashina Gudulu, repeatedly raided the frontier. Chunyu Chuping, middle general of the Left Jade Talisman Guard, was appointed campaign commander of the Yangqu Circuit and sent to attack them.
108
正諫大夫、同平章事沈君諒罷。
Shen Junliang, Grand Master of Direct Remonstrance and Associate Director of the Chancellery, was removed from office.
109
三月，正諫大夫、同平章事崔察罷。
In the third month, Cui Cha, Grand Master of Direct Remonstrance and Associate Director of the Chancellery, was removed from office.
110
丙辰，遷廬陵王於房州。
On bingchen day, the Prince of Luling was relocated to Fang Prefecture.
111
辛酉，武承嗣罷。
On xinyou day, Wu Chengsi was removed from office.
112
辛未，頒《垂拱格》。
On xinwei day, the Regulations of the Chuígǒng Era were issued throughout the realm.
113
朝士有左遷詣宰相自訴者，內史騫味道曰：「此太后處分。」 同中書門下三品劉禕之曰：「緣坐改官，由臣下奏請。」 太后聞之，夏，四月，丙子，貶味道為青州刺史，加禕之太中大夫。 謂侍臣曰：「君臣同體，豈得歸惡於君，引善自取乎！」
When a demoted court official came to the chief minister to plead his case, Neishi Qian Weiwei said, "This was the empress dowager's decision." Associate Director of the Chancellery Liu Yizhi replied, "Demotion by guilt of association comes only on memorial from subordinates." When the empress dowager heard of this, in summer, in the fourth month, on bingzi day, she demoted Weiwei to prefect of Qingzhou and promoted Yizhi to Grand Master of Palace Provision. She told the attending ministers, "Ruler and minister share one body—how dare you shift blame onto your sovereign and keep the credit for yourselves!"
114
癸未，突厥寇代州； 淳於處平引兵救之，至忻州，為突厥所敗，死者五千餘人。
On guiwei day, the Turks attacked Dai Prefecture. Chunyu Chuping marched to relieve the prefecture, but at Xin Prefecture the Turks broke his army; more than five thousand men were killed.
115
五月，丙午，以裴居道為內史。 納言王德真流象州。
In the fifth month, on bingwu day, Pei Judao was appointed Neishi. Edict Officer Wang Dezhen was banished to Xiang Prefecture.
116
己酉，以冬官尚書蘇良嗣為納言。
On jiyou day, Su Liangsi, Minister of the Department of Winter Affairs, was appointed Edict Officer.
117
壬戌，制內外九品以上及百姓，咸令自舉。
On renxu day, an edict commanded that officials of the ninth rank and above throughout the realm, and common people as well, be allowed to recommend themselves for office.
118
壬申，韋方質同鳳閣鸞台三品。
On renshen day, Wei Fangzhi was appointed Third-Rank Associate of the Phoenix Pavilion and Crane Terrace.
119
六月，天官尚書韋待價同鳳閣鸞台三品。 待價，萬石之兄也。
In the sixth month, Wei Daibiao, Minister of the Department of Celestial Affairs, was appointed Third-Rank Associate of the Phoenix Pavilion and Crane Terrace. Daibiao was the elder brother of Wanshi.
120
同羅、僕固等諸部叛； 遣左豹韜衛將軍劉敬同發河西騎士出居延海以討之，同羅、僕固等皆敗散。 敕僑置安北都護府於同城以納降者。
The Tongluo, Pugu, and other tribes rose in revolt. Left Leopard Bow Guard General Liu Jingtong was dispatched to raise Hexi cavalry and march beyond Juyan Lake to suppress them; the Tongluo, Pugu, and the rest were broken and scattered. An edict provisionally established the Protectorate General to Pacify the North at Tongcheng to receive the surrendering tribes.
121
秋，七月，己酉，以文昌左丞魏玄同為鸞台侍郎、同鳳閣鸞台三品。 詔自今祀天地，高祖、太宗、高宗皆配坐； 用鳳閣舍人元萬頃等之議也。
That autumn, in the seventh month, on jiyou day, Wei Xuantong, Left Assistant Director of the Department of Literary Works, was appointed Vice Director of the Crane Terrace and Third-Rank Associate of the Phoenix Pavilion and Crane Terrace. An edict declared that henceforth, in sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, Gaozu, Taizong, and Gaozong would all share seats as associated spirits. This followed a proposal from Yuan Wanqing and others of the Phoenix Pavilion secretariat.
122
九月，丁卯，廣州都督王果討反獠，平之。
In the ninth month, on dingmao day, Wang Guo, military governor of Guangzhou, crushed rebellious Liao tribes and restored order.
123
冬，十一月，癸卯，命天官尚書韋待價為燕然道行軍大總管，以討突厥。 初，西突厥興昔亡、繼往絕可汗既死，十姓無主，部落多散亡，太后乃擢興昔亡之子左豹韜衛翊府中郎將元慶為左玉鈐衛將軍，兼崑陵都護，襲興昔亡可汗押出咄陸部落。
That winter, in the eleventh month, on guimao day, Wei Daibiao, Minister of the Department of Celestial Affairs, was appointed grand campaign commander of the Yanran Circuit to campaign against the Turks. Earlier, after the Western Turk khans Xingxiwang and Jiwangjue had died, the Ten Surnames were left without a leader and many tribes broke apart. The empress dowager then promoted Yuanqing, son of Xingxiwang and a middle general of the Left Leopard Bow Guard Auxiliary Office, to general of the Left Jade Talisman Guard and concurrent protector-general of Kunling, charging him to succeed Xingxiwang as khan over the Yachu Duolu tribes.
124
麟台正字射洪陳子昂上疏，以為：「朝廷遣使巡察四方，不可任非其人，及刺史、縣令，不可不擇。 比年百姓疲於軍旅，不可不安。」 其略曰：「夫使不擇人，則黜陡不明，刑罰不中，朋黨者進，貞直者退； 徒使百姓修飾道路，送往迎來，無所益也。 諺曰：『欲知其人，觀其所使。』 不可不慎也。」 又曰：「宰相，陛下之腹心； 刺史、縣令，陛下之手足； 未有無腹心手足而能獨理者也。」 又曰：「天下有危機，禍福因之而生，機靜則有福，機動則有祝，百姓是也。 百姓安則樂其生，不安則輕其死，輕其死則無所不至，祆逆乘釁，天下亂矣！」 又曰：「隋煬帝不知天下有危機，而信貪佞之臣，冀收夷狄之利，卒以滅亡，其為殷鑒，豈不大哉！」
Chen Zi'ang of Shehong, proofreader of the Imperial Archives, submitted a memorial arguing that when the court dispatched envoys to inspect the realm, unsuitable men must not be entrusted with the task, and that prefects and magistrates could not be chosen carelessly. In recent years the people had been exhausted by war; they could not be left without relief. Its gist ran thus: "If envoys are not chosen with care, promotion and demotion grow arbitrary, punishments miss their mark, faction-men advance, and the upright withdraw. The people are put only to repairing roads and greeting envoys coming and going, with no benefit at all. As the proverb says, 'To know a man, look at whom he sends.' This cannot be treated lightly." It continued: "The chief ministers are Your Majesty's heart and mind. Prefects and magistrates are Your Majesty's hands and feet. No ruler has ever governed alone without heart, mind, hands, and feet to serve him." It also said: "The realm rests on a point of crisis from which fortune and calamity spring; when that point is still, fortune follows; when it stirs, disaster follows—and the people are that crisis. When the people are secure they delight in life; when they are not, they hold life cheap; when life is held cheap there is nothing they will not attempt; rebels seize the opening, and the realm falls into chaos!" It also warned: "Emperor Yang of Sui did not see the crisis beneath his realm; he trusted greedy flatterers and hoped to profit from the barbarians—yet in the end he was destroyed. Is that not a warning vast enough!"
125
太后修故白馬寺，以僧懷義為寺主。 懷義，鄠人，本姓馮，名小寶，賣藥洛陽市，因千金公主以進，得幸於太后； 太后欲令出入禁中，乃度為僧，名懷義。 又以其家寒微，令與駙馬都尉薛紹合族，命紹以季父事之。 出入乘御馬，宦者十餘人侍從，士民遇之者皆奔避，有近之者，輒撾其首流血，委之而去，任其生死。 見道士則極意毆之，仍髡其發而去。 朝貴皆匍匐禮謁，武承嗣、武三思皆執僮僕之禮以事之，為之執轡，懷義視之若無人。 多聚無賴少年，度為僧，縱橫犯法，人莫敢言。 右台御史馮思勖屢以法繩之，懷義遇思勖於途，令從者毆之，幾死。
The empress dowager restored the old White Horse Temple and installed the monk Huaiyi as its abbot. Huaiyi was a native of Hu County, born Feng Xiaobao; he sold medicines in the Luoyang markets and, through the Princess of Qianjin, gained access to court and won the empress dowager's favor. Wishing him to come and go within the inner palace, the empress dowager had him tonsured as a monk and given the religious name Huaiyi. Because his family was humble, she had him joined to the clan of Xue Shao, Commandant of the Empress's Consorts, and ordered Shao to treat him as a paternal uncle by marriage. He rode imperial horses in and out of the palace, attended by more than ten eunuchs. Officials and commoners who met him on the road fled; anyone who came too close he would beat until the head ran blood, then abandon where they lay and walk on, indifferent to whether they lived or died. Whenever he saw a Daoist priest he beat him savagely, shaved his head, and sent him on his way. Court nobles prostrated themselves before him. Wu Chengsi and Wu Sansi both waited on him like household servants, even holding his reins; Huaiyi looked through them as though they were not there. He gathered gangs of idle young men, had them tonsured as monks, and let them break the law at will; no one dared complain. Right Censorate Investigating Censor Feng Sixu repeatedly tried to hold him to the law. Huaiyi met Sixu on the road and ordered his attendants to beat him nearly to death.
126
春，正月，太后下詔復政於皇帝。 睿宗知太后非誠心，奉表固讓； 太后復臨朝稱制。 辛酉，赦天下。
That spring, in the first month, the empress dowager issued an edict restoring rule to the emperor. Ruizong knew the empress dowager's offer was not sincere and submitted a memorial firmly declining the throne. The empress dowager again held court and resumed regency. On xinyou day, a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the realm.
127
二月，辛未朔，日有食之。
In the second month, on the first day (xinwei), a solar eclipse occurred.
128
右衛大將軍李孝逸既克徐敬業，聲望甚重； 武承嗣等惡之，數譖於太后，左遷施州刺史。
Li Xiaoyi, grand general of the Right Guard, had crushed Xu Jingye and now stood very high in public esteem. Wu Chengsi and his faction resented him and repeatedly slandered him to the empress dowager until he was demoted to prefect of Shi Prefecture.
129
三月，戊申，太后命鑄銅為匭，置之朝堂，以受天下表疏銘。 其東曰「延恩」，獻賦頌、求仕進者投之； 南曰：「招諫」，言朝政得失者投之； 西曰：「伸冤」，有冤抑者投之； 北曰：「通玄」，言天象災變及軍機秘計者投之。 命正諫、補闕、拾遺一人掌之，先責識官，乃聽投表疏。
In the third month, on wushen day, the empress dowager ordered bronze complaint boxes cast and placed in the court hall to receive petitions from throughout the realm. The eastern box was called "Extended Grace"; those offering rhapsodies and encomia or seeking office were to drop their submissions there. The southern box was called "Summoning Remonstrance"; those commenting on the rights and wrongs of court policy were to submit there. The western box was called "Redress of Wrongs"; those suffering wrongful oppression were to submit there. The northern box was called "Communication with the Mysterious"; those reporting celestial omens, disasters, and secret military intelligence were to submit there. A remonstrance official, supplementer, and admonisher were each assigned to oversee one box; the responsible official had to be identified before any submission could be accepted.
130
徐敬業之反也，侍御史魚承曄之子保家教敬業作刀車及弩，敬業敗，僅得免。 太后欲周知人間事，保家上書，請鑄銅為匭以受天下密奏。 其器共為一室，中有四隔，上各有竅，以受表疏。 可入不可出。 太后善之。 未幾，其怨家投匭告保家為敬業作兵器，殺傷官軍甚眾，遂伏誅。
When Xu Jingye rebelled, Baojia, son of Palace Censor Yu Chengye, had taught Jingye to build blade-chariots and crossbows. When Jingye fell, Baojia barely escaped punishment. The empress dowager wished to know everything happening in the realm. Baojia submitted a memorial proposing bronze boxes to receive secret reports from throughout the empire. The device was a single chamber divided into four compartments, each with an opening above to receive submissions. Submissions could go in but not come back out. The empress dowager approved the plan. Before long, an enemy of his dropped a complaint into the box accusing Baojia of making weapons for Jingye and killing many government troops; Baojia was executed.
131
太后自徐敬業之反，疑天下人多圖己，又自以久專國事，且內行不正，知宗室大臣怨望，心不服，欲大誅殺以威之。 乃盛開告密之門，有告密者，臣下不得問，皆給驛馬，供五品食，使詣行在。 雖農夫樵人，皆得召見，廩於客館，所言或稱旨，則不次除官，無實者不問。 於是四方告密者蜂起，人皆重足屏息。
Since Xu Jingye's rebellion, the empress dowager had suspected that much of the realm plotted against her. She knew she had held power too long, that her private conduct was not upright, and that imperial clansmen and great ministers resented her in their hearts; she meant to kill on a vast scale and terrify them into submission. She therefore threw wide the gate of secret denunciation. Informers could not be questioned by officials; each was given relay horses, fed at fifth-rank table, and sent straight to the empress dowager's presence. Even farmers and woodcutters could be summoned for audience, lodged in guesthouses, and if their words pleased her, promoted out of turn; if their accusations proved empty, no one asked. Informers swarmed from every quarter, and people walked as on hot coals, barely daring to breathe.
132
有胡人索元禮，知太后意，因告密召見，擢為游擊將軍，令案制獄。 元禮性殘忍，推一人必令引數十百人，太后數召見賞賜以張其權。 於是尚書都事長安周興、萬年人來俊臣之徒效之，紛紛繼起。 興累遷至秋官侍郎，俊臣累遷至御史中丞，相與私畜無賴數百人，專以告密為事； 欲陷一人，輒令數處俱告，事狀如一。 俊臣與司刑評事洛陽萬國俊共撰《羅織經》數千言，教其徒網羅無辜，織成反狀，構造佈置，皆有支節。 太后得告密者，輒令元禮等推之，競為訊囚酷法，作大枷，有「定百脈」、「突地吼」、「死豬愁」、「求破家」、「反是實」等名號，或以椽關手足而轉之，謂之「鳳皇曬翅」； 或以物絆其腰，引枷向前，謂之「驢駒拔撅」； 或使跪捧枷，累甓其上，謂之「仙人獻果」； 或使立高木之上，引枷尾向後，謂之「玉女登梯」； 或倒懸石縋其首，或以醋灌鼻，或以鐵圈轂其首而加楔，至有腦裂髓出者。 每得囚，輒先陳其械具以示之，皆戰慄流汗，望風自誣。 每有赦令，俊臣輒令獄卒先殺重囚，然後宣示。 太后以為忠，益寵任之。 中外畏此數人，甚於虎狼。
A foreigner named Suo Yuanli, reading the empress dowager's intent, denounced others in secret, gained audience, was promoted to mobile corps general, and was put in charge of specially instituted prisons. Yuanli was cruel by nature; interrogating one prisoner, he always forced him to implicate dozens or hundreds more. The empress dowager repeatedly summoned and rewarded him to magnify his power. Then Zhou Xing of Chang'an, chief clerk of the Ministry of State Affairs, Lai Junchen of Wannian, and others copied his methods and rose one after another. Xing rose in succession to Vice Minister of the Department of Autumn Affairs; Junchen rose to Censor-in-Chief. Together they kept private gangs of several hundred idle men and made secret denunciation their trade. When they wished to destroy a man, they would have informers in several places accuse him at once, each report matching the others exactly. Junchen and Wan Guojun of Luoyang, judicial reviewer of the Ministry of Justice, jointly composed the Classic of Framing in several thousand words, teaching their followers to net the innocent, weave charges of treason, and construct cases with every branch and detail in place. Whenever the empress dowager received an informer, she had Yuanli and the others interrogate the accused, each competing in cruelty. They built great cangues bearing names such as "Fixed Hundred Meridians," "Earth-Surging Roar," "Dead Pig's Grief," "Seeking a Ruined House," and "Rebellion Is True"; or they bound hands and feet with rafters and spun the body, calling it "Phoenix Spreading Wings." Or they tripped the waist with a block and hauled the cangue forward, calling it "Donkey Foal Uprooted." Or they made a man kneel holding the cangue while bricks were stacked on top, calling it "Immortal Presenting Fruit." Or they made a man stand on a high beam and pulled the cangue backward by its tail, calling it "Jade Maiden Climbing the Ladder." Or they hung a man head-down with a stone weight on his head, poured vinegar into his nose, or clamped an iron ring around his skull and drove in wedges until brains split and marrow ran out. Whenever they took a prisoner, they first displayed the instruments of torture; men trembled and sweated and, at the mere sight, confessed to whatever was demanded. Whenever an amnesty was issued, Junchen would have his jailers kill the gravest prisoners first and only then proclaim the edict. The empress dowager took this for loyalty and favored and entrusted him all the more. Inside and outside the court, people feared these men more than tigers and wolves.
133
麟台正字陳子昂上疏，以為：「執事者疾徐敬業首亂唱禍，將息奸源，究其黨與，遂使陛下大開詔獄，重設嚴刑，有跡涉嫌疑，辭相逮引，莫不窮捕考按。 至有奸人熒惑，乘險相誣，糾告疑似，冀圖爵賞，恐非伐罪吊人之意也。 臣竊觀當今天下，百姓思安久矣，故揚州構逆，殆有五旬，而海內晏然，纖塵不動，陛下不務玄默以救疲人，而反任威刑以失其望，臣愚闇昧，竊有大惑。 伏見諸方告密，囚累百千輩，乃其究竟，百無一實。 陛下仁恕，又屈法容之，遂使奸惡之黨快意相仇，睚眥之嫌即稱有密，一人被訟，百人滿獄，使者推捕，冠蓋如市。 或謂陛下愛一人而害百人，天下喁喁，莫知寧所。 臣聞隋之末代，天下猶平，楊玄感作亂，不逾月而敗。 天下之弊，未至土崩，蒸人之心，猶望樂業。 煬帝不悟，遂使兵部尚書樊子蓋專行屠戮，大窮黨與，海內豪士，無不罹殃； 遂至殺人如麻，流血成澤，天下靡然，始思為亂，於是雄傑並起而隋族亡矣。 夫大獄一起，不能無濫，冤人吁嗟，感傷和氣，群生癘疫，水旱隨之。 人既失業，則禍亂之心怵然而生矣。 古者明王重慎刑法，蓋懼此也。 昔漢武帝時巫蠱獄起，使太子奔走，兵交宮闕，無辜被害者以千萬數，宗廟幾覆，賴武帝得壺關三老書，廓然感悟，夷江充三族，餘獄不論，天下以安爾。 古人云：『前事之不忘，後事之師。』 伏願陛下念之！」 太后不聽。
Chen Zi'ang, proofreader of the Imperial Archives, submitted a memorial arguing that those in charge, furious that Xu Jingye had been first to rebel and raise calamity and eager to still the source of treachery and pursue his partisans, had caused the throne to open edict prisons on a vast scale and restore harsh punishments, so that anyone remotely suspected, or implicated by another's words under torture, was hunted down and exhaustively examined. Wicked men now delude and deceive, seize the moment to accuse one another, and lodge denunciations on mere suspicion, hoping for rank and reward—this, I fear, is not what it means to punish crime and comfort the people. I have watched the realm and seen that the people have long yearned for peace. When Yangzhou rebelled, the revolt lasted nearly fifty days, yet the empire remained tranquil—not a ripple stirred. Your Majesty does not pursue quiet governance to rescue a weary people, but instead relies on harsh punishment and forfeits their hope. I am dull and unworthy, yet I am deeply perplexed. I have seen secret denunciations pour in from every quarter; prisoners accumulate by the hundreds and thousands, yet in the end scarcely one case in a hundred proves true. Your Majesty is merciful, yet you bend the law to indulge informers. Wicked men now settle scores with relish; the smallest slight is reported as treason. One accusation fills the prisons with a hundred victims; arresting envoys choke the roads like a marketplace. People say you spare one informer and ruin a hundred innocents. The realm murmurs; no one knows peace. At the end of Sui the realm was still at peace. Yang Xuangan's rebellion collapsed within a month. The empire had not yet fallen apart; ordinary people still hoped to live in peace. Emperor Yang failed to see it. He put Fan Zigai, minister of war, in charge of a slaughter that hunted down every associate. Not one eminent man in the realm escaped. Men were killed like hemp stalks; blood pooled into marshes. The whole realm turned restless, men turned to rebellion, heroes rose on every side, and the Sui house was destroyed. Great purges cannot avoid abuse. The wronged groan and disturb heaven's harmony; plagues follow, then flood and drought. When people lose their livelihoods, the will to rebel awakens at once. Ancient sage kings treated punishments with the utmost caution—because they feared exactly this. Under Emperor Wu of Han the witchcraft terror drove the crown prince to flight and brought arms to the palace gates. Tens of thousands of innocents died; the dynasty nearly fell. Only when Wu read the old man of Huguan's letter did he wake, wipe out Jiang Chong's entire clan, and drop the remaining cases—then the realm was saved. The ancients said, "Do not forget the past—it is the teacher of the future." I beg Your Majesty to remember this! The empress dowager would not hear it.
134
夏，四月，太后鑄大儀，置北闕。
That summer, in the fourth month, the empress dowager cast the Great Ceremonial Tripod and erected it at the northern gate.
135
以岑長倩為內史。 六月，辛未，以蘇良嗣為左相，同鳳閣鸞台三品韋待價為右相。 己卯，以韋思謙為納言。
Cen Changqian was made director of the Palace Secretariat. In the sixth month, on xinwei day, Su Liangsi was made left chancellor and third-rank associate Wei Daizhi was made right chancellor. On jimao day Wei Siqian was made director of the Chancellery.
136
蘇良嗣遇僧懷義於朝堂，懷義偃蹇不為禮； 良嗣大怒，命左右捽曳，批其頰數十。 懷義訴於太后，太后曰：「阿師當於北門出入，南牙宰相所往來，勿犯也。」
Su Liangsi met the monk Huaiyi in the court hall. Huaiyi was insolent and refused to bow. Liangsi flew into a rage, had his men seize Huaiyi, and slapped his face dozens of times. Huaiyi complained to the empress dowager. She told him, "Use the northern gate, Master. The southern offices are for chancellors—stay away."
137
太后託言懷義有巧思，故使入禁營造。 補闕長社王求禮上表，以為：「太宗時，有羅黑黑善彈琵琶，太宗閹為給使，使教宮人。 陛下若以懷義有巧性，欲宮中驅使者，臣請閹之，庶不亂宮闈。」 表寢不出。
The empress dowager claimed Huaiyi had a clever mind and let him into the inner palace to supervise construction. Wang Qiuli of Changshe, a remonstrance official, memorialized: "In Taizong's day Luo Heihei was famed for the pipa. Taizong had him castrated as a palace attendant to teach the women. If Your Majesty values Huaiyi's skill and wants him to serve inside the palace, I beg that you castrate him—so the inner quarters are not thrown into disorder." The memorial was shelved and never issued.
138
秋，九月，丁未，以西突闕繼往絕可汗之子斛瑟羅為右玉鈐衛將軍，襲繼往絕可汗押五弩失畢部落。
That autumn, in the ninth month, on dingwei day, Huseluo, son of Western Turk qaghan Jiwangye, was made general of the Right Jade Talisman Guard and given the Five Nushibi tribes of Jiwangye's line.
139
己巳，雍州言新豐縣東南有山踴出，改新豐為慶山縣。 四方畢賀。 江陵人俞文俊上書：「天氣不和而寒暑並，人氣不和而疣贅生，地氣不和而堆阜出。 今陛下以女主處陽位，反易剛柔，故地氣塞隔而山變為災。 陛下謂之『慶山」，臣以為非慶也。 臣愚以為宜側身修德以答天譴； 不然，殃禍至矣！」 太后怒，流於嶺外，後為六道使所殺。
On jisi day Yong Prefecture reported that a mountain had thrust up southeast of Xinfeng County. Xinfeng was renamed Qingshan County. Congratulations poured in from every quarter. Yu Wenjun of Jiangling wrote: "When heaven is out of harmony, cold and heat strike together. When humanity is out of harmony, growths and tumors appear. When earth is out of harmony, mounds thrust up from the ground. Your Majesty, a woman, holds the yang position and reverses firm and yielding. Earth's qi is blocked, and mountains become omens of disaster. Your Majesty calls it 'Auspicious Mountain.' I say it is no auspice." I believe Your Majesty should humble yourself and cultivate virtue to answer heaven's warning. Otherwise disaster will surely come! The empress dowager was furious and exiled him beyond the mountains. Later an envoy of the six circuits had him killed.
140
突厥入寇，左鷹揚衛大將軍黑齒常之拒之； 至兩井，遇突厥三千餘人，見唐兵，皆下馬擐甲，常之以二百餘騎沖之，皆棄甲走。 日暮，突厥大至，常之令營中燃火，東南又有火起，虜疑有兵相應，遂夜遁。
Turks raided the border. Heichi Changzhi, grand general of the Left Hawkish Yang Guard, met them. At Liangjing he met more than three thousand Turks. They dismounted and armored at sight of Tang troops. Changzhi charged with just over two hundred horsemen; they threw down their armor and fled. At dusk the main Turk force arrived. Changzhi had fires lit in camp, and more fires appeared to the southeast. The enemy suspected reinforcements and withdrew by night.
141
狄仁傑為寧州刺史。 右台監察御史晉陵郭翰巡察隴右，所至多所按劾，入寧州境，耆老歌刺史德美者盈路； 翰薦之於朝，征為冬官侍郎。」
Di Renjie served as prefect of Ning Prefecture. Guo Han of Jinling, investigating censor of the Right Terrace, toured Longyou and impeached officials wherever he went. Entering Ning Prefecture he found elders lining the roads singing the prefect's praises. Han recommended him to court, and he was summoned as vice minister of the Winter Office.”