1
資治通鑑第205卷
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 205
2
卷第二百五
Volume 205
3
【唐紀二十一】起玄黓執徐，盡柔兆涒灘，凡五年。
[Tang Records 21] From Xuanyi Zhixu through Rouzhao Tuantan—five years in all.
4
正月，戊辰朔，太后享萬象神宮。
In the first month, on the wuchen new moon, Empress Dowager Wu offered sacrifice at the Temple of Myriad Images.
5
臘月，立故于闐王尉遲伏闍雄之子瑕為于闐王。
In the twelfth month, Xia, son of the former King of Khotan Yuchi Fuzhixiong, was installed as King of Khotan.
6
春，一月，丁卯，太后引見存撫使所舉人，無問賢愚，悉加擢用，高者試鳳閣舍人、給事中，次試員外郎、侍御史、補闕、拾遺、校書郎。 試官自此始。 時人為之語曰：「補闕連車載，拾遺平斗量； 欋推侍御史，碗脫校書郎。」 有舉人沈全交續之曰：「心存撫使，瞇目聖神皇。」 為御史紀先知所擒，劾其誹謗朝政，請杖之朝堂，然後付法，太后笑曰：「但使卿輩不濫，何恤人言！ 宜釋其罪。」 先知大慚。 太后雖濫以祿位收天下人心，然不稱職者，尋亦黜之，或加刑誅。 挾刑賞之柄以駕御天下，政由己出，明察善斷，故當時英賢亦競為之用。
In spring, the first month, on dingmao, Empress Dowager Wu received everyone recommended by the relief commissioners. Without distinguishing talent from mediocrity, she promoted them all—the best as probationary Fengge Attendants-in-Ordinary and Supervising Secretaries, the rest as probationary Outside Section Members, Attendant Censors, Remonstrance Officials, Petitioners, and Proofreaders. Probationary appointments began at this time. People of the time had a saying: "Remonstrance Officials fill cart after cart; Petitioners are measured out by the bushel; winch out Attendant Censors, ladle off Proofreaders." One candidate, Shen Quanjiao, added: "The relief commissioner squints at the Holy and Divine Emperor." Attendant Censor Ji Xianzhi seized him, impeached him for slandering government policy, and asked that he be flogged in the court hall before being handed to the law. The Empress Dowager laughed and said, "So long as you gentlemen do not abuse your offices, why worry what people say! Release him from punishment." Xianzhi was deeply ashamed. Though she lavished offices and salaries to win hearts across the realm, those unfit for their posts were soon removed—and some were punished or executed. Holding the levers of punishment and reward to govern the realm, with policy flowing from her alone, she was perceptive and decisive—so the able and eminent of the day also strove to serve her.
7
寧陵丞廬江郭霸以謅諛干太后，拜監察御史。 中丞魏元忠病，霸往問之，因嘗其糞，喜曰：「大夫糞甘則可憂； 今苦，無傷也。」 元忠大惡之，遇人輒告之。 戊辰，以夏官尚書楊執柔同平章事。 執柔，恭仁弟之孫也，太后以外族用之。
Guo Ba, magistrate of Ningling in Lujiang, won favor with the Empress Dowager through flattery and was appointed Attending Censor. When Vice Censor-in-Chief Wei Yuanzhong fell ill, Ba visited him, tasted his stool, and said with delight, "When a great man's stool is sweet, that is worrisome; now that it is bitter, there is no harm." Yuanzhong loathed him and told everyone he met what had happened. On wuchen, Yang Zhirou, Minister of the Summer Office, was made Associate Director of the Chancellery. Zhirou was a grandson of Yang Gongren's younger brother; the Empress Dowager appointed him because of his maternal kinship.
8
初，隋煬帝作東都，無外城，僅有短垣而已，至是，鳳閣侍郎李昭德始築之。
When Emperor Yang of Sui built the Eastern Capital, there had been no outer city—only a low wall. Now Fengge Vice Minister Li Zhaode began constructing the outer walls.
9
左台中丞來俊臣羅告同平章事任知古、狄仁傑、裴行本、司農卿裴宣禮、前文昌左丞盧獻、御史中丞魏元忠、潞州刺史李嗣真謀反。 先是，來俊臣奏請降敕，一問即承反者得減死。 及知古等下獄，俊臣以此誘之，仁傑對曰：「大周革命，萬物惟新，唐室舊臣，甘從誅戮。 反是實！」 俊臣乃少寬之。 判官王德壽謂仁傑曰：「尚書定減死矣。 德壽業受驅策，欲求少階級，煩尚書引楊執柔，可乎？」 仁傑曰：「皇天后土遣狄仁傑為如此事！」 以頭觸柱，血流被面； 德壽懼而謝之。
Left Platform Vice Censor-in-Chief Lai Junchen fabricated charges of treason against Associate Directors Ren Zhigu, Di Renjie, and Pei Xingben, Minister of Agriculture Pei Xuanli, former Left Assistant Director of the Palace Library Lu Xian, Vice Censor-in-Chief Wei Yuanzhong, and Prefect of Lu Prefecture Li Sizhen. Earlier, Lai Junchen had asked for an edict granting commutation of the death penalty to anyone who confessed to treason at the first questioning. When Zhigu and the others were imprisoned, Junchen used this to entice them. Renjie replied, "The Great Zhou has transformed the realm; all things are made new. As an old servant of the Tang house, I am willing to accept execution. Treason is the truth!" Junchen then eased the pressure somewhat. Examining judge Wang Deshou said to Renjie, "Minister, your death sentence is certainly commuted. I have long been driven about and wish to advance a step in rank. Would the Minister please implicate Yang Zhirou?" Renjie said, "Heaven and Earth sent Di Renjie to do such a thing!" He struck his head against a pillar until blood covered his face; Desou was frightened and apologized.
10
侯思止鞫魏元忠，元忠辭氣不屈； 思止怒，命倒曳之。 元忠曰：「我薄命，譬如墜驢，足絓於鐙，為所曳耳。 思止愈怒，更曳之，元忠曰：「侯思止，汝若須魏元忠頭則截取，何必使承反也！」
Hou Sizhi interrogated Wei Yuanzhong, whose words and bearing did not yield; Sizhi grew angry and ordered him dragged head downward. Yuanzhong said, "I am ill-fated—like a donkey that has fallen with its foot caught in the stirrup and is being dragged along. Sizhi grew still angrier and dragged him further. Yuanzhong said, "Hou Sizhi, if you want Wei Yuanzhong's head, cut it off—why must you make me confess treason!"
11
狄仁傑既承反，有司待報行刑，不復嚴備。 仁傑裂衾帛書冤狀，置綿衣中，謂王德壽曰：「天時方熱，請授家人去其綿。」 德壽許之。 仁傑子光遠得書，持之稱變，得召見。 則天覽之，以問俊臣，對曰：「仁傑等下獄，臣未嘗褫其巾帶，寢處甚安，苟無事實，安肯承反！」 太后使通事舍人周絲林往視之，俊臣暫假仁傑等巾帶，羅立於西，使絲林視之； 絲林不敢視，唯東顧唯諾而已。 俊臣又詐為仁傑等謝死表，使絲林奏之。
Once Di Renjie had confessed to treason, the authorities awaited orders to execute him and no longer kept strict guard. Renjie tore cloth from his quilt and wrote a petition of injustice, hid it in his padded garment, and said to Wang Deshou, "The weather is hot—please let my family remove the padding." Desou agreed. Renjie's son Guangyuan obtained the letter, presented it as an urgent petition, and was granted an audience. Wu Zetian read it and questioned Junchen. He replied, "When Renjie and the others were imprisoned, I never removed their caps and belts; they slept comfortably. If there were no truth to the charges, why would they confess treason!" The Empress Dowager sent Palace Service Gentleman Zhou Silin to inspect them. Junchen temporarily restored their caps and belts and had them stand in a row to the west for Silin to see; Silin dared not look; he only turned east and murmured assent. Junchen also forged petitions thanking for death on behalf of Renjie and the others and had Silin present them.
12
樂思晦男未十歲，沒入司農，上變，得召見。 太后問狀，對曰：「臣父已死，臣家已破，但惜陛下法為俊臣等所弄。 陛下不信臣言，乞擇朝臣之忠清、陛下素所信任者，為反狀以付俊臣，無不承反矣。」 太后意稍寤，召見仁傑等，問曰：「卿承反何也？ 對曰：「不承，則已死於拷掠矣。」 太后曰：「何為作謝死表？」 對曰：「無之。」 出表示之，乃知其詐，於是出此七族。 庚午，貶知古江夏令，仁傑彭澤令，宣禮夷陵令，元忠涪陵令，獻西鄉令； 流行本、嗣真於嶺南。
The son of Yue Sihui, not yet ten years old, had been confiscated as a bondsman of the Ministry of Agriculture. He submitted an urgent report and was granted an audience. The Empress Dowager asked what had happened. He replied, "My father is dead and my family ruined, but I grieve that Your Majesty's law is being manipulated by Junchen and his ilk. If Your Majesty does not believe me, choose any loyal and upright courtier whom you have always trusted, draw up a charge of treason and hand it to Junchen—none will fail to confess." The Empress Dowager's mind was somewhat awakened. She summoned Renjie and the others and asked, "Why did you confess treason? They replied, "Had we not confessed, we would already have died under torture." The Empress Dowager said, "Why did you write petitions thanking for death?" They replied, "We did not." The petitions were produced and shown to them; then she knew of the fraud, and released these seven men and their families. On gengwu, Zhigu was demoted to Magistrate of Jiangxia, Renjie to Magistrate of Pengze, Xuanli to Magistrate of Yiling, Yuanzhong to Magistrate of Fuling, and Xian to Magistrate of Xixiang; Xingben and Sizhen were exiled to Lingnan.
13
俊臣與武承嗣等固請誅之，太后不許。 俊臣乃獨稱行本罪尤重，請誅之； 秋官郎中徐有功駁之，以為：「明主有更生之恩，俊臣不能將順，虧損恩信。」 殿中侍御史貴鄉霍獻可，宣禮之甥也，言於太后曰：「陛下不殺裴宣禮，臣請隕命於前。」 以頭觸殿階，血流沾地，以示為人臣不私其親。 太后皆不聽。 獻可常以綠帛裹其傷，微露之於帕頭下，冀太后見之以為忠。
Junchen, Wu Chengsi, and others pressed for their execution, but the Empress Dowager refused. Junchen then alone declared that Xingben's offense was especially grave and requested his execution; Autumn Office Director Xu Yougong objected, saying, "An enlightened ruler has the grace to grant new life. Junchen cannot follow her will in this, damaging her grace and credibility." Palace Attendant Censor Huo Xianke of Guixiang, Xuanli's nephew, said to the Empress Dowager, "If Your Majesty does not execute Pei Xuanli, I beg to lay down my life before you." He struck his head against the palace steps until blood stained the ground, to show that as a minister he did not favor his kin. The Empress Dowager would not heed any of them. Xianke often wrapped his wound in green silk and slightly exposed it beneath his headcloth, hoping the Empress Dowager would see it and regard him as loyal.
14
甲戌，補闕薛謙光上疏，以為：「選舉之法，宜得實才，取捨之間，風化所繫。 今之選人，咸稱覓舉，奔競相尚，喧訴無慚。 至於才應經邦，惟令試策； 武能制敵，止驗彎弧。 昔漢武帝見司馬相如賦，恨不同時，及置之朝廷，終文園令，知其不堪公卿之任故也。 吳起將戰，左右進劍，起曰：『將者提鼓揮桴，臨敵決疑，一劍之任，非將事也。』 然則虛文豈足以佐時，善射豈足以克敵！ 要在文吏察其行能，武吏觀其勇略，考居官之臧否，行舉者賞罰而已。」
On jiaxu, Remonstrance Official Xue Qianguang submitted a memorial stating, "The selection system should secure genuine talent; what is chosen and what is rejected shapes the moral tone of the age. Today's candidates all boast of seeking recommendation; scrambling and competition are honored, and shameless clamoring for favor is the norm. As for talent fit to govern the state, they are tested only by policy essays; military ability to overcome the enemy is judged only by archery. Emperor Wu of Han once read Sima Xiangru's fu and regretted not living in the same age; yet when he placed him at court, Xiangru ended as Chief of Wenyuan—knowing he was unfit for high ministerial office. When Wu Qi was about to give battle, attendants presented swords. He said, "A general raises the drum and wields the baton, faces the enemy and resolves doubts—a sword's task is not a general's business." How then can empty literary display aid the age, or skill at archery overcome the enemy! What matters is that civil officials examine conduct and ability, military officials observe courage and strategy, assess performance in office, and reward and punish those who recommend—that is all."
15
來俊臣求金於左衛大將軍泉獻誠，不得，誣以謀反，下獄。 乙亥，縊殺之。
Lai Junchen demanded gold from Left Guard General Quan Xiancheng; when refused, he falsely charged him with treason and imprisoned him. On yihai, he was strangled to death.
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庚辰，司刑卿、檢校陝州刺史李游道為冬官尚書、同平章事。
On gengchen, Director of the Office of Punishments and Acting Prefect of Shan Prefecture Li Youdao was made Minister of the Winter Office and Associate Director of the Chancellery.
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二月，己亥，吐蕃党項部落萬餘人內附，分置十州。
In the second month, on jihai, more than ten thousand people of Tibetan and Tangut tribes submitted and were settled across ten prefectures.
18
戊午，以秋官尚書袁智弘同平章事。
On wuwu, Autumn Office Minister Yuan Zhihong was made Associate Director of the Chancellery.
19
夏，四月，丙申，赦天下，改元如意。
In summer, the fourth month, on bingshen, a general amnesty was proclaimed and the era name was changed to Ruyi.
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五月，丙寅，禁天下屠殺及捕魚蝦。 江淮旱，饑，民不得采魚蝦，餓死者甚眾。 右拾遺張德，生男三日，私殺羊會同僚，補闕杜肅懷一餤，上表告之。 明日，太后對仗，謂德曰：「聞卿生男，甚喜。」 德拜謝。 太后曰：「何從得肉？」 德叩頭服罪。 太后曰：「朕禁屠宰，吉凶不預。 然卿自今召客，亦須擇人。」 出肅表示之。 肅大慚，舉朝欲唾其面。
In the fifth month, on bingyin, slaughter throughout the realm and the catching of fish and shrimp were forbidden. The Yangzi and Huai regions suffered drought and famine; barred from gathering fish and shrimp, vast numbers starved. Right Petitioner Zhang De, three days after his son was born, privately slaughtered a sheep to feast his colleagues. Remonstrance Official Du Su pocketed a piece of meat and submitted a memorial reporting him. The next day, at court audience, the Empress Dowager said to De, "I hear you had a son—I am very pleased." De bowed in thanks. The Empress Dowager said, "Where did you get meat?" De kowtowed and confessed. The Empress Dowager said, "I forbid slaughter, but I do not interfere with occasions of joy or mourning. Yet from now on when you invite guests, you must also choose your company carefully." She produced Su's memorial and showed it to him. Su was deeply ashamed; the whole court wished to spit in his face.
21
吐蕃酋長曷蘇帥部落請內附，以右玉鈐衛將軍張玄遇為安撫使，將精卒二萬迎之。 六月，軍至大渡水西，曷蘇事洩，為國人所擒。 別部酋長昝捶帥羌蠻八千餘人內附，玄遇以其部落置萊川州而還。
Tibetan chieftain He Su led his tribe in requesting submission. Right Jade Bell Guard General Zhang Xuanyu was appointed Pacification Commissioner and led twenty thousand picked troops to welcome them. In the sixth month, the army reached the west bank of the Dadu River. He's Su's plan was exposed and he was seized by his own people. Another chieftain, Zanchui, led more than eight thousand Qiang and tribal peoples in submission. Xuanyu settled them as Laichuan Prefecture and returned.
22
辛亥，萬年主簿徐堅上疏，以為：「書有五聽之道，令著三覆之奏。 竊見比有敕推按反者，令使者得實，即行斬決。 人命至重，死不再生，萬一懷枉，吞聲赤族，豈不痛哉！ 此不足肅奸逆而明典刑，適所以長威福而生疑懼。 臣望絕此處分，依法覆奏。 又，法官之任，宜加簡擇，有用法寬平，為百姓所稱者，願親而任之； 有處事深酷，不允人望者，願疏而退之。」 堅，齊聃之子也。
On xinhai, Chief Clerk of Wannian Xu Jian submitted a memorial stating, "The classics set forth the Way of the Five Hearings; statutes prescribe threefold review of capital cases. I observe that recent edicts on investigating rebels order immediate execution once envoys obtain confessions. Human life is supremely precious; death cannot be undone. If even one innocent man is silenced and his whole clan destroyed—how is that not anguish! This does not awe traitors or clarify the law; it only extends arbitrary power and breeds suspicion and fear. I beg that this practice be ended and that cases be reviewed and memorialized according to law. Moreover, judicial officers should be carefully chosen: those who apply the law with breadth and fairness and are praised by the people should be favored and employed; those who handle affairs with deep harshness and fail to win public trust should be kept at a distance and removed. Jian was a son of Qi Dan.
23
夏官侍郎李昭德密言於太后曰：「魏王承嗣權太重。」 太后曰：「吾侄也，故委以腹心。」 昭德曰：「侄之於姑，其親何如子之於父？ 子猶有篡弒其父者，況侄乎！ 今承嗣既陛下之侄，為親王，又為宰相，權侔人主，臣恐陛下不得久安天位也！」 太后矍然曰：「朕未之思。」 秋，七月，戊寅，以文昌左相、同鳳閣鸞台三品武承嗣為特進，納言武攸寧為冬官尚書，夏官尚書、同平章事楊執柔為地官尚書，並罷政事； 以秋官侍郎新鄭崔元綜為鸞台侍郎，夏官侍郎李昭德為鳳閣侍郎，檢校天官侍郎姚璹為文昌左丞，檢校地官侍郎李元素為文昌右丞，與司賓卿崔神基並同平章事。 □，思廉之孫； 元素，敬玄之弟也。 辛巳，以營繕大匠王璿為夏官尚書、同平章事。 承嗣亦毀昭德於太后，太后曰：「吾任昭德，始得安眠，此代吾勞，汝勿言也。」 是時，酷吏恣橫，百官畏之側足，昭德獨廷奏其奸。 太后好祥瑞，有獻白石赤文者，執政詰其異，對曰：「以其赤心。」 昭德怒曰：「此石赤心，他石盡反邪？」 左右皆笑。 襄州人胡慶以丹漆書龜腹曰：「天子萬萬年。」 諧闕獻之。 昭德以刀刮盡，奏請付法。 太后曰：「此心亦無惡。」 命釋之。
Summer Office Vice Minister Li Zhaode spoke privately to the Empress Dowager, saying, "Prince of Wei Chengsi's power is too great." The Empress Dowager said, "He is my nephew, so I have entrusted him with my innermost confidence." Zhaode said, "How can the bond between nephew and paternal aunt compare with that between son and father? Even sons have usurped and murdered their fathers—how much more so nephews! Now Chengsi is Your Majesty's nephew, a prince, and a chancellor—his power rivals the sovereign's. I fear Your Majesty may not long keep the throne in peace!" The Empress Dowager started and said, "I had not considered that." In autumn, the seventh month, on wuyin, Wu Chengsi was made Special Advancement and removed from the chancellery; Wu Youning was made Minister of the Winter Office; Yang Zhirou was made Minister of the Earth Office—all were stripped of policy-making power; Cui Yuanzong of Xinzheng was made Luantai Vice Minister; Li Zhaode was made Fengge Vice Minister; Yao Shuo was made Left Assistant Director of the Palace Library; Li Yuansu was made Right Assistant Director; and Cui Shenji—all were made Associate Directors of the Chancellery. Yao Shuo was a grandson of Yao Silian; Yuansu was a younger brother of Li Jingxuan. On xinsi, Master Builder Wang Xuan was made Minister of the Summer Office and Associate Director of the Chancellery. Chengsi also slandered Zhaode to the Empress Dowager. She said, "I rely on Zhaode and can sleep in peace; he bears my burdens for me—say no more." At this time the harsh officials ran rampant; officials feared them and walked on tiptoe, but Zhaode alone exposed their crimes at court. The Empress Dowager loved auspicious omens. Someone presented white stone with red markings. The chief ministers questioned its strangeness; he replied, "Because of its red heart." Zhaode said angrily, "This stone has a red heart—are all other stones traitors?" Those at her side all laughed. Hu Qing of Xiang Prefecture wrote on a turtle's belly in cinnabar lacquer: "May the Son of Heaven live ten thousand ten thousand years." He went to the palace gate in jest and presented it. Zhaode scraped it all off with a knife and asked that he be handed to the law. The Empress Dowager said, "This heart also harbors no malice." She ordered his release.
24
太后習貓，使與鸚鵡共處，出示百官。 傳觀未遍，貓饑，搏鸚鵡食之，太后甚慚。
The Empress Dowager had trained a cat and placed it with a parrot to show the officials. Before everyone had seen it, the hungry cat seized the parrot and ate it. The Empress Dowager was deeply ashamed.
25
太后自垂拱以來，任用酷吏，先誅唐宗室貴戚數百人，次及大臣數百家，其刺史、郎將以下，不可勝數。 每除一官，戶婢竊相謂曰：「鬼樸又來矣。」 不旬月，輒遭掩捕、族誅。 監察御史朝邑嚴善思，公直敢言。 時告密者不可勝數，太后亦厭其煩，命善思按問，引虛伏罪者八百五十餘人。 羅織之黨為之不振，乃相與共構陷善思，坐流歡州。 太后知其枉，尋復召為渾儀監丞。 善思名譔，以字行。
Since the Chuigong era she had employed harsh officials, first executing hundreds of Tang imperial clansmen and nobles, then hundreds of great ministers; prefects, commanders, and those below—beyond counting. Whenever an official was appointed, household servants would whisper, "The ghost club has come again." Within less than ten days he would suffer secret arrest and clan execution. Attending Censor Yan Shansi of Chaoyi was upright and bold in speech. Informers were beyond counting; the Empress Dowager grew weary and ordered Shansi to investigate. He exposed more than eight hundred fifty false confessions. The faction that fabricated charges was checked; they then framed Shansi, who was exiled to Huan Prefecture. Knowing he had been wronged, she soon recalled him as Director of the Armillary Sphere. Shansi's given name was Zun; he was known by his style name.
26
右補闕新鄭朱敬則以太后本任威刑以禁異議，今既革命，眾心已定，宜省刑尚寬，乃上疏，以為：「李斯相秦，用刻薄變詐以屠諸侯，不知易之以寬和，卒至土崩，此不知變之禍也。 漢高祖定天下，陸賈、叔孫通說之以禮義，傳世十二，此知變之善也。 自文明草昧，天地屯蒙，三叔流言，四凶構難，不設鉤距，無以應天順人，不切刑名，不可摧奸息暴。 故置神器，開告端，曲直之影必呈，包藏之心盡露，神道助直，無罪不除，蒼生晏然，紫宸易主。 然而急趨無善跡，促柱少和聲，向時之妙策，乃當今之芻狗也。 伏願覽秦、漢之得失，考時事之合宜，審糟粕之可遺，覺蘧廬之須毀，去萋菲之牙角，頓奸險之鋒芒，窒羅織之源，掃朋黨之跡，使天下蒼生坦然大悅，豈不樂哉！」 太后善之，賜帛三百段。
Right Remonstrance Official Zhu Jingze of Xinzheng argued that since the Empress Dowager had originally relied on harsh punishment to suppress dissent and the revolution was now accomplished and hearts were settled, punishments should be reduced and leniency honored. He submitted a memorial: "When Li Si served Qin, he used harshness and deceit to destroy the feudal lords, not knowing to replace these with breadth and harmony, until the state collapsed—this is the disaster of failing to change. When Emperor Gaozu of Han settled the realm, Lu Jia and Shusun Tong persuaded him with ritual and righteousness, and the line endured twelve generations—this is the benefit of knowing how to change. From the Weming era, when heaven and earth were in turmoil and the three uncles spread slander while the four villains plotted trouble—without traps and probes one could not respond to Heaven and accord with the people; without penal law one could not crush treachery and quell violence. Therefore the throne was secured, informers were encouraged, right and wrong were exposed, hidden hearts were laid bare, the divine way aided the upright, the guilty were eliminated, the people were at peace, and the throne changed hands. Yet hurried steps leave no good tracks, and tightened pegs yield little harmonious sound; the clever policies of that time are but straw dogs for today. I humbly hope Your Majesty will survey the gains and losses of Qin and Han, examine what suits present affairs, discard what is dross, tear down what is temporary, remove the thorns of slander, blunt the edges of treachery, stop the springs of fabricated charges, sweep away faction, and let all under Heaven be openly and greatly pleased—would that not be joy!" The Empress Dowager approved and bestowed three hundred bolts of silk.
27
侍御史周矩上疏曰：「推劾之吏皆相矜以虐，泥耳籠頭，枷研楔轂，摺膺籤爪，懸發薰耳，號曰『獄持』。 或累日節食，連宵緩問，晝夜搖撼，使不得眠，號曰『宿囚』。 此等既非木石，且救目前，苟求賒死。 臣竊聽輿議，皆稱天下太平，何苦須反！ 豈被告者儘是英雄，欲求帝王邪？ 但不勝楚毒自誣耳。 願陛下察之。 今滿朝側息不安，皆以為陛下朝與之密，夕與之仇，不可保也。 周用仁而昌，秦用刑而亡。 願陛下緩刑用仁，天下幸甚！」 太后頗采其言，制獄稍衰。
Attendant Censor Zhou Ju submitted a memorial: "Examining officers pride themselves on cruelty—mudding the ears, caging the head, cangue and wedge and pestle, folding the breast and pinning the nails, hanging by the hair and smoking the ears—called 'prison holding. Some are starved for days, questioned slowly night after night, shaken day and night so they cannot sleep—called 'overnight prisoners.'" These men are not wood or stone; facing present peril, they seek only to postpone death. I have listened to public talk: all say the realm is at peace—why must one rebel! Are all the accused heroes seeking to become emperors? They simply cannot bear the torture and falsely incriminate themselves. I beg Your Majesty to examine this. Now the whole court holds its breath, thinking that those intimate with Your Majesty in the morning are enemies by evening—no one is secure. Zhou employed benevolence and flourished; Qin employed punishment and perished. I beg Your Majesty to ease punishments and employ benevolence—the realm would be greatly blessed!" The Empress Dowager largely adopted his words, and harsh prison practices gradually declined.
28
太后春秋雖高，善自塗澤，雖左右不覺其衰。 丙戌，敕以齒落更生，九月，庚子，御則天門，赦天下，改元。 更以九月為社。 制於并州置北都。
Although advanced in years, she was skilled at applying cosmetics; even those at her side did not notice her decline. On bingxu an edict was issued that her teeth had fallen out and grown anew. In the ninth month, on gengzi, she proceeded to the Zetian Gate, proclaimed amnesty, and changed the era name. The communal sacrifice was moved to the ninth month. It was decreed that the Northern Capital be established at Bing Prefecture.
29
癸丑，同平章事李游道、王璿、袁智弘、崔神基、李元素、春官侍郎孔思元、益州長史任令輝，皆為王弘義所陷，流嶺南。
On guichou, Associate Directors Li Youdao, Wang Xuan, Yuan Zhihong, Cui Shenji, and Li Yuansu, Spring Office Vice Minister Kong Siyuan, and Senior Administrator of Yi Prefecture Ren Linghui—all were framed by Wang Hongyi and exiled to Lingnan.
30
左羽林中郎將來子珣坐事流愛州，尋卒。 初，新豐王孝傑從劉審禮擊吐蕃，為副總管，與審禮皆沒於吐蕃。 贊普見孝傑泣曰：「貌類吾父。」 厚禮之，後竟得歸，累遷右鷹揚衛將軍。 孝傑久在吐蕃，知其虛實。 會西州都督唐休璟請復取龜茲、于闐、疏勒、碎葉四鎮，敕以孝傑為武威軍總管，與左武衛大將軍阿史那忠節將兵擊吐蕃。 冬，十月，丙戌，大破吐蕃，復取四鎮，置安西都護府於龜茲，發兵戍之。
Central Army Lieutenant General Lai Zixun was exiled to Ai Prefecture for an offense and soon died. Earlier, Prince of Xinfeng Wang Xiaojie served under Liu Shenli in the attack on the Tibetans as deputy commander; both were captured. The Tibetan ruler saw Xiaojie and wept, saying, "You look like my father." He treated him generously; later Xiaojie returned and rose to General of the Right Yingyang Guard. Xiaojie had long been among the Tibetans and knew their strengths and weaknesses. When Protector-General of Xi Prefecture Tang Xiujing requested recovery of the four garrisons of Kucha, Khotan, Kashgar, and Suyab, Xiaojie was appointed Commander of the Wuwei Army and, with Left Martial Guard General Ashina Zhongjie, led troops against the Tibetans. In winter, the tenth month, on bingxu, they routed the Tibetans, recovered the four garrisons, established the Protectorate-General of Anxi at Kucha, and garrisoned it.
31
正月，壬辰朔，太后享萬象神宮，以魏王承嗣為亞獻，梁王三思為終獻。 太后自製神宮樂，用舞者九百人。
In the first month, on the renchen new moon, the Empress Dowager offered sacrifice at the Temple of Myriad Images, with Prince of Wei Chengsi as secondary offerer and Prince of Liang Sansi as final offerer. The Empress Dowager herself composed the temple music, employing nine hundred dancers.
32
戶婢團兒為太后所寵信，有憾於皇嗣，乃譖皇嗣妃劉氏、德妃竇氏為厭咒。 癸巳，妃與德妃朝太后於嘉豫殿，既退，同時殺之，瘞於宮中，莫知所在。 德妃，抗之曾孫也。 皇嗣畏忤旨，不敢言，居太后前，容止自如。 團兒復欲害皇嗣，有言其情於太后者，太后乃殺團兒。
The household maid Tuan'er was favored by the Empress Dowager. Bearing a grudge against the Heir Apparent, she slandered his consort Lady Liu and Virtuous Consort Lady Dou as practicing curse magic. On siji, the consort and Virtuous Consort attended the Empress Dowager at Jiayu Hall; after they withdrew, both were killed and buried within the palace—no one knew where. Virtuous Consort was a great-granddaughter of Dou Kang. The Heir Apparent feared to offend her and dared not speak; in her presence his bearing was as usual. Tuan'er again wished to harm the Heir Apparent; when someone reported her intentions, the Empress Dowager had her killed.
33
是時，告密者皆誘人奴婢告其主，以求功賞。 德妃父孝諶為潤州刺史，有奴妄為妖異以恐德妃母龐氏，龐氏懼，奴請夜祠禱解，因發其事。 下監察御史龍門薛季昶按之，季昶誣奏，以為與德妃同祝詛，先涕泣不自勝，乃言曰：「龐氏所為，臣子所不忍道。」 太后擢季昶為給事中。 龐氏當斬，其子希瑊詣侍御史徐有功訟冤，有功牒所司停刑，上奏論之，以為無罪； 季昶奏有功阿黨惡逆，請付法，法司處有功罪當絞。 令史以白有功，有功歎曰：「豈我獨死，諸人永不死邪！」 既食，掩扇而寢。 人以為有功苟自強，必內憂懼，密伺之，方熟寢。 太后召有功，迎謂曰：「卿比按獄，失出何多？」 對曰：「失出，人臣之小過； 好生，聖人之大德。」 太后默然。 由是龐氏得減死，與其三子皆流嶺南，孝諶貶羅州司馬，有功亦除名。
At this time informers induced slaves and servants to accuse their masters, seeking rewards. Virtuous Consort's father Xiaoqin was Prefect of Run Prefecture. A slave staged uncanny acts to frighten her mother Lady Pang. Lady Pang was afraid; the slave asked to perform night sacrifices to pray for release and thereby exposed the affair. Attending Censor Xue Jichang of Longmen investigated. He submitted a false memorial claiming she had joined Virtuous Consort in curses. First he wept uncontrollably, then said, "What Lady Pang has done—a subject cannot bear to speak of it." The Empress Dowager promoted Jichang to Supervising Secretary. Lady Pang was to be beheaded. Her son Xizhen went to Attendant Censor Xu Yougong to plead injustice. Yougong ordered execution halted and memorialized that she was guiltless; Jichang memorialized that Yougong had shielded traitors and asked that he be handed to the law; the legal office ruled his offense warranted strangulation. A clerk reported this to Yougong. Yougong sighed and said, "Am I alone to die while others never die!" After eating, he drew the screen and slept. People thought Yougong was forcing himself to appear strong and must be inwardly fearful; they secretly watched him and found him sound asleep. The Empress Dowager summoned Yougong and asked, "In your recent examination of cases, how many wrongful releases have there been?" He replied, "Wrongful release is a minister's small fault; cherishing life is a sage's great virtue." The Empress Dowager was silent. Thereby Lady Pang's death sentence was commuted; she and her three sons were exiled to Lingnan. Xiaoqin was demoted to Military Assistant of Luo Prefecture, and Yougong was removed from office.
34
戊申，姚璹奏請令宰相撰《時政記》，月送史館； 從之。 《時政記》自此始。
On wushen, Yao Shuo memorialized requesting that chancellors compile Records of Current Administration and send them monthly to the Historiography Office; this was approved. Records of Current Administration began at this time.
35
臘月，丁卯，降皇孫成器為壽春王，恆王成義為衡陽王，楚王隆基為臨淄王，衛王隆范為巴陵王，趙王隆業為彭城王，皆睿宗之子也。
In the twelfth month, on dingmao, Imperial Grandson Chengq was demoted to Prince of Shouchun, Prince of Heng Chengyi to Prince of Hengyang, Prince of Chu Longji to Prince of Linzi, Prince of Wei Longfan to Prince of Baling, and Prince of Zhao Longye to Prince of Pengcheng—all sons of Ruizong.
36
春，一月，庚子，以夏官侍郎婁師德同平章事。 師德寬厚清慎，犯而不校。 與李昭德俱入朝，師德體肥行緩，昭德屢待之不至，怒罵曰：「田舍夫！」 師德徐笑曰：「師德不為田舍夫，誰當為之！」 其弟除代州刺史，將行，師德謂曰：「吾備位宰相，汝復為州牧，榮寵過盛，人所疾也，將何以自免？」 弟長跪曰：「自今雖有人唾某面，某拭之而已，庶不為兄憂。」 師德愀然曰：「此所以為吾憂也！ 人唾汝面，怒汝也； 汝拭之，乃逆其意，所以重其怒。 夫唾，不拭自干，當笑而受之。」 甲寅，前尚方監裴匪躬、內常侍范雲仙坐私謁皇嗣，腰斬於市。 自是公卿以下皆不得見。 又有告皇嗣潛有異謀者，太后命來俊臣鞫其左右，左右不勝楚毒，皆欲自誣。 太常工人京兆安金藏大呼謂俊臣曰：「公既不信金藏之言，請剖心以明皇嗣不反。」 即引佩刀自剖其胸，五藏皆出，流血被地。 太后聞之，令轝入宮中，使醫內五藏，以桑皮線縫之，傅以藥，經宿始蘇。 太后親臨視之，歎曰：「吾有子不能自明，使汝至此。」 既命俊臣停推。 睿宗由是得免。
In spring, the first month, on gengzi, Summer Office Vice Minister Lou Shide was made Associate Director of the Chancellery. Shide was broad-minded, pure, and cautious; when offended he did not contend. Entering court with Li Zhaode, Shide was stout and walked slowly. Zhaode repeatedly waited for him in vain and angrily cursed, "Country bumpkin!" Shide smiled and said, "If I am not the country bumpkin, who should be!" His younger brother was appointed Prefect of Dai Prefecture and was about to depart. Shide said, "I hold a chancellor's post in name only, and you become a prefect—our honors are excessive and people resent it. How will you protect yourself?" His brother knelt and said, "From now on, even if someone spits in my face, I shall merely wipe it—perhaps you need not worry." Shide said gravely, "This is exactly what worries me! When a man spits in your face, he is angry with you; if you wipe it, you go against his intent and deepen his anger. Spittle, left unwiped, dries of itself—you should smile and accept it." On jiayin, former Director of the Palace Workshops Pei Feigong and Inner Regular Attendant Fan Yunxian were cut in two at the waist in the market for privately visiting the Heir Apparent. From this time none from the dukes and ministers downward were permitted to see him. Someone again reported that the Heir Apparent secretly harbored treacherous designs. The Empress Dowager ordered Lai Junchen to interrogate his attendants; unable to bear torture, they all wished to falsely incriminate themselves. An Jinzang, a worker of the Imperial Ancestral Temple from Jingzhao, shouted to Junchen, "Since you do not believe me, I beg to cut open my heart to show the Heir Apparent has not rebelled." He immediately drew his belt knife and cut open his breast; all five viscera came out and blood covered the ground. When the Empress Dowager heard of it, she ordered him carried into the palace, had physicians replace his five viscera, sew him with mulberry-bark thread, apply medicine, and only after one night did he revive. The Empress Dowager came in person to see him and sighed, "I have a son who could not clear himself and brought you to this." She then ordered Junchen to halt the investigation. Ruizong was thereby spared.
37
罷舉人習《老子》，更習太后所造《臣軌》。
Study of the 《Laozi》 for examination candidates was abolished, and they were made to study instead the Empress Dowager's 《Tracks of the Ministers》.
38
二月，丙子，新羅王政明卒，遣使立其子理洪為王。
In the second month, on bingzi, King Jeongmyeong of Silla died; envoys were sent to install his son Richung as king.
39
乙亥，禁人間錦。 侍御史侯思止私畜錦，李照德按之，杖殺於朝堂。
On yihai, brocade among the populace was forbidden. Investigating Censor Hou Sizhi privately hoarded brocade; Li Zhaode investigated him and had him beaten to death in the court hall.
40
或告嶺南流人謀反，太后遣司刑評事萬國俊攝監察御史就按之。 國俊至廣州，悉召流入，矯制賜自盡。 流人號呼不服，國俊驅就水曲，盡斬之，一朝殺三百餘人。 然後詐為反狀，還奏，因言諸道流人，亦必有怨望謀反者，不可不早誅。 太后喜，擢國俊為朝散大夫、行侍御史。 更遣右翊衛兵曹參軍劉光業、司刑評事王德壽、苑南面監丞鮑思恭、尚輦直長王大貞、右武威衛兵曹參軍屈貞筠皆攝監察御史，詣諸道按流人。 光業等以國俊多殺蒙賞，爭效之，光業殺七百人，德壽殺五百人，自餘少者不減百人，其遠年雜犯流人亦與之俱斃。 太后頗知其濫，制：「六道流人未死者並家屬皆聽還鄉里。」 國俊等亦相繼死，或得罪流竄。
Someone reported that exiles in Lingnan were plotting rebellion; the Empress Dowager sent Legal Officer Wan Guojun as acting investigating censor to investigate on site. Guojun reached Guangzhou, summoned all exiles, and by forged edict ordered them to take their own lives. The exiles cried out in protest; Guojun drove them to the river bend and beheaded them all—in one morning more than three hundred were killed. He then forged evidence of rebellion and returned to memorialize, saying that exiles in every circuit surely also harbored resentment and treasonous designs and must be executed without delay. The Empress Dowager was pleased and promoted Guojun to Gentleman for Dispersing the Court and acting investigating censor. She further sent Liu Guangye, Wang Deshou, Bao Sigong, Wang Dazhen, and Qu Zhenyun, all as acting investigating censors, to investigate exiles in the various circuits. Guangye and the others, seeing that Guojun had been rewarded for mass killing, vied to imitate him—Guangye killed seven hundred, Deshou five hundred, and the rest no fewer than a hundred each; even exiles sent long before for miscellaneous offenses were killed along with them. The Empress Dowager learned of the excess and decreed: "Exiles in the six circuits who have not yet died, together with their families, are all permitted to return home." Guojun and the others also died one after another, or were found guilty and exiled.
41
來俊臣誣冬官尚書蘇干，雲在魏州與琅邪王沖通謀，夏，四月，乙未，殺之。
Lai Junchen falsely charged Minister of the Winter Office Su Gan with conspiring with Prince Langye Chong at Weizhou; in summer, the fourth month, on yiwei, he was executed.
42
五月，癸丑，棣州河溢，流二千餘家。
In the fifth month, on guichou, the river at Dizhou overflowed and swept away more than two thousand households.
43
秋，九月，丁亥朔，日有食之。
In autumn, the ninth month, on the dinghai new moon, there was a solar eclipse.
44
魏王承嗣等五千人表請加尊號曰金輪聖神皇帝。
Prince of Wei Chengsi and others, five thousand in all, memorialized requesting the honorific title Golden Wheel Sage Spirit Emperor.
45
乙未，太后御衛象神宮，受尊號，赦天下。 作金輪等七寶，每朝會，陳之殿庭。
On yiwei, the Empress Dowager proceeded to the Weixiang Spirit Palace, received the honorific, and proclaimed an amnesty throughout the realm. She had the seven treasures including the Golden Wheel made, and at every court assembly they were displayed in the palace courtyard.
46
庚子，追尊昭安皇帝曰渾元昭安皇帝，文穆皇帝曰立極文穆皇帝，孝明高皇帝曰無上孝明高皇帝，皇后從帝號。
On gengzi, posthumous honors were raised: Emperor Zhao'an was titled Hunyuan Zhao'an Emperor, Emperor Wenmu was titled Liji Wenmu Emperor, Emperor Xiaoming Gao was titled Supreme Xiaoming Gao Emperor, and the empresses took titles matching their emperors.
47
辛丑，以文昌左丞、同平章事姚璹為司賓卿，罷政事； 以司賓卿萬年豆盧欽望為內史，文昌左丞韋巨源同平章事，秋官侍郎吳人陸元方為鸞台侍郎、同平章事。 巨源，孝寬之玄孫也。
On xinchou, Yao Shuo, Associate Director of the Chancellery and Minister of the Left at Wenchang, was made Minister of Guests and removed from the chancellery; Doulu Qinwang of Wannian, formerly Minister of Guests, was made Chief Secretary; Wei Juyuan, Minister of the Left at Wenchang, was made Associate Director of the Chancellery; Lu Yuanfang of Wu, Vice Minister of the Autumn Office, was made Vice Minister at Fengge and Associate Director of the Chancellery. Juyuan was the great-great-grandson of Wei Xiaokuan.
48
正月，丙戌，太后享萬象神宮。
In the first month, on bingxu, the Empress Dowager sacrificed at the Spirit Palace of Myriad Images.
49
突厥可汗骨篤祿卒，其子幼，弟默啜自立為可汗。 臘月，甲戌，默啜寇靈州。 室韋反，遣右鷹揚衛大將軍李多祚擊破之。
Gudulu, qaghan of the Turks, died; his son was young, and his younger brother Mochuo installed himself as qaghan. In the twelfth month, on jiaxu, Mochuo raided Lingzhou. The Shiwei rebelled; Right General of the Hawk-raising Guard Li Duozuo was sent and defeated them.
50
春，一月，以婁師德為河源等軍檢校營田大使。
In spring, the first month, Lou Shide was made Commissioner for Inspecting Army Farms of the Heyuan and other armies.
51
二月，武威道總管王孝傑破吐蕃孛文論贊刃、突厥可汗俀子等於泠泉及大嶺，各三萬餘人，碎葉鎮守使韓思忠破泥熟俟斤等萬餘人。
In the second month, Wang Xiaojie, regional commander of the Wuwei Circuit, defeated the Tibetans Lun Wenlun Zanren and the Turkish qaghan's son Erzi and others at Lengquan and Dalin, more than thirty thousand each; Han Sizhong, defender of Suyab, defeated the Nishuobi qaghan and others, more than ten thousand.
52
庚午，以僧懷義為代北道行軍大總管，以討默啜。
On gengwu, the monk Huaiyi was made Grand Commander of the Daibei Circuit Field Army to attack Mochuo.
53
三月，甲申，以鳳閣舍人蘇味道為鳳閣侍郎、同平章事，李昭德檢校內史，更以僧懷義為朔方道行軍大總管，以李昭德為長史，蘇味道為司馬，帥契苾明、曹仁師、沙吒忠義等十八將軍以討默啜，未行，虜退而止。 昭德嘗與懷義議事，失其旨，懷義撻之，昭德惶懼請罪。
In the third month, on jiashen, Su Weidao was made Vice Minister at Fengge and Associate Director of the Chancellery; Li Zhaode was made acting Chief Secretary; Huaiyi was again made Grand Commander of the Shuofang Circuit Field Army, with Li Zhaode as chief administrator and Su Weidao as vice administrator, leading Qibi Ming, Cao Renshi, Shazha Zhongyi, and eighteen other generals against Mochuo—but before they marched, the barbarians withdrew and the campaign was called off. Zhaode once discussed affairs with Huaiyi, missed his intent, and Huaiyi flogged him; Zhaode fearfully begged forgiveness.
54
夏，四月，壬戌，以夏官尚書、武威道大總管王孝傑同鳳閣鸞台三品。
In summer, the fourth month, on renxu, Summer Office Minister and Grand Commander of the Wuwei Circuit Wang Xiaojie was made a third-rank official of Fengge and Luantai.
55
五月，魏王承嗣等二萬六千餘人上尊號曰越古金輪聖神皇帝。 甲午，御則天門樓受尊號，赦天下，改元。
In the fifth month, Prince of Wei Chengsi and more than twenty-six thousand others offered the honorific title Transcending Antiquity Golden Wheel Sage Spirit Emperor. On jiawu, she proceeded to the Zetian Gate tower to receive the honorific, proclaimed an amnesty, and changed the era name.
56
天授中，遣監察御史壽春裴懷古安集西南蠻。 六月，癸丑，永昌蠻酋薰期帥部落二十餘萬戶內附。
During the Tianshou era, Investigating Censor Pei Huaigu of Shouchun was sent to pacify the southwestern barbarians. In the sixth month, on guichou, Xunqi, chieftain of the Yongchang barbarians, led more than two hundred thousand households of his tribes to submit.
57
河內有老尼居神都麟趾寺，與嵩山人韋什方等以妖妄惑眾。 尼自號淨光如來，雲能知未然； 什方自雲吳赤烏元年生。 又有老胡亦自言五百歲，雲見薛師已二百年矣，容貌愈少。 太后甚信重之，賜什方姓武氏。 秋，七月，癸未，以什方為正諫大夫、同平章事，制云：「邁軒代之廣成，逾漢朝之河上。」 八月，什方乞還山，制罷遣之。
In Henei, an old nun at Linzhi Temple in Shendu, together with Wei Shifang of Mount Song and others, deluded the masses with sorcery and falsehood. The nun styled herself the Tathāgata of Pure Light and claimed she could know the future; Shifang claimed he was born in the first year of Chiwu under Wu. There was also an old barbarian who claimed to be five hundred years old and said he had seen Xue Huaiyi two hundred years before, yet looked ever younger. The Empress Dowager greatly trusted and favored them and granted Shifang the surname Wu. In autumn, the seventh month, on guiwei, Shifang was made Rectifier Remonstrant and Associate Director of the Chancellery; the edict said, "Surpassing Guangcheng of the Xuanyuan age, exceeding the Riverbank Master of the Han dynasty." In the eighth month Shifang begged to return to the mountains, and by edict he was dismissed and sent away.
58
戊辰，以王孝傑為瀚海道行軍總管，仍受朔方道行軍大總管薛懷義節度。
On wuchen, Wang Xiaojie was made Commander of the Hanhai Circuit Field Army and still placed under the command of Grand Commander Xue Huaiyi of the Shuofang Circuit.
59
己巳，以司賓少卿姚璹為納言； 左肅政中丞原武楊再思為鸞台侍郎，洛州司馬杜景儉為鳳閣侍郎，並同平章事。
On jisi, Vice Minister of Guests Yao Shuo was made Chief Remonstrator; Yang Zaisi of Yuanwu, Left Censor-in-Chief, was made Luantai Vice Minister; Du Jingjian of Luozhou, Vice Military Commissioner, was made Fengge Vice Minister—all were made Associate Directors of the Chancellery.
60
豆盧欽望請京官九品已上輸兩月俸以贍軍，轉帖百官，令拜表。 百官但赴拜，不知何事。 拾遺王求禮謂欽望曰：「明公祿厚，輸之無傷； 卑官貧迫，奈何不使其知而欺奪之乎？」 欽望正色拒之。 既上表，求禮進言曰：「陛下富有四海，軍國有儲，何藉貧官九品之俸而欺奪之！」 姚璹曰：「求禮不識大體。」 求禮曰：「如姚璹，為識大體者邪？」 事遂寢。
Doulu Qinwang requested that capital officials of the ninth rank and above contribute two months' salary to support the army, circulated a notice among all officials, and ordered them to submit memorials. The officials all came to pay respects but did not know what it was for. Remonstrator Wang Qiuli said to Qinwang, "Your Grace's salary is ample—contributing would do no harm; low officials are poor and pressed—how can you not let them know and seize from them by deception?" Qinwang sternly refused him. After the memorial was submitted, Qiuli advanced and said, "Your Majesty possesses all within the four seas; the state and army have stores—why rely on seizing the salaries of poor ninth-rank officials by deception!" Yao Shuo said, "Qiuli does not understand the larger interest." Qiuli said, "As for Yao Shuo—is he one who understands the larger interest?" The matter was thereupon dropped.
61
戊寅，鸞台侍郎、同平章事崔元綜坐事流振州。
On wuyin, Luantai Vice Minister and Associate Director Cui Yuanzong was banished to Zhenzhou on account of an offense.
62
武三思帥四夷酋長請鑄銅鐵為天樞，立於端門之外，銘紀功德，黜唐頌周； 以姚璹為督作使。 諸胡聚錢百萬億，買銅鐵不能足，賦民間農器以足之。
Wu Sansi led chieftains of the four barbarians to request casting bronze and iron into a Sky Pillar, erecting it outside the Duan Gate, inscribing meritorious deeds, denouncing Tang and praising Zhou; Yao Shuo was made superintendent of construction. The various barbarians collected money by the hundred million, yet could not buy enough bronze and iron; farm tools among the populace were levied to make up the shortfall.
63
九月，壬午朔，日有食之。 殿中丞來俊臣坐贓貶同州參軍。 王弘義流瓊州，詐稱敕追還，至漢北，侍御史胡元禮遇之，按驗，得其奸狀，杖殺之。
In the ninth month, on the renwu new moon, there was a solar eclipse. Palace Aide Lai Junchen was demoted to Army Registrar of Tongzhou on a charge of corruption. Wang Hongyi was exiled to Qiongzhou, falsely claimed an edict summoning him back, and when he reached north of the Han River, Investigating Censor Hu Yuanli encountered him, investigated, obtained proof of his fraud, and had him beaten to death.
64
內史李昭德恃太后委遇，頗專權使氣，人多疾之。 前魯王府功曹參軍丘愔上疏攻之，其略曰：「陛下天授以前，萬機獨斷。 自長壽以來，委任昭德，參奉機密，獻可替否； 事有便利，不預咨謀，要待畫日將行，方乃別生駁異。 揚露專擅，顯示於人，歸美引愆，義不如此。」 又曰：「臣觀其膽，乃大於身，鼻息所沖，上拂雲漢。」 又曰：「蟻穴壞堤，針芒寫氣，權重一去，收之極難。」 長上果毅鄧注，又著《石論》數千言，述昭德專權之狀。 鳳閣舍人逄弘敏取奏之，太后由是惡昭德。 壬寅，貶昭德為南賓尉，尋又免死流竄。
Chief Secretary Li Zhaode, relying on the Empress Dowager's trust, was domineering and overbearing; many resented him. Former Army Adjutant of the Prince of Lu's household Qiu Yin submitted a memorial attacking him; the gist said, "Before the Tianshou era, Your Majesty alone decided all affairs of state. Since the Changshou era, you have entrusted Zhaode, who participates in confidential matters and offers approval or rejection; when a matter is advantageous, he does not consult beforehand; he waits until the day is marked for execution, then raises separate objections. He displays his monopoly of power before others; to attribute merit and shift blame in this way is not proper." He also said, "I observe that his gall is larger than his body; the breath from his nostrils strikes upward to the clouds." He also said, "An ant hole ruins a dike; a needle tip vents vital energy—once heavy authority is lost, recovering it is extremely difficult." Deng Zhu, a senior guardsman of the Long Service, also wrote the 《Treatise on Stone》, several thousand words in length, describing Zhaode's monopoly of power. Fengge Attendant Pang Hongmin took it and submitted it; the Empress Dowager thereby came to dislike Zhaode. On renyin, Zhaode was demoted to Military Assistant of Nanbin; soon afterward he was spared death but exiled.
65
太后出梨花一枝以示宰相，宰相皆以為瑞。 杜景儉獨曰：「今草木黃落，而此更發榮，陰陽不時，咎在臣等。」 因拜謝。 太后曰：「卿真宰相也！」
The Empress Dowager brought out a spray of pear blossom to show the chancellors; the chancellors all regarded it as an auspicious sign. Du Jingjian alone said, "Now the grasses and trees are yellowing and falling, yet this flourishes anew—the yin and yang are untimely; the fault lies with us ministers." He thereupon bowed in apology. The Empress Dowager said, "You are a true chancellor!"
66
冬，十月，壬申，以文昌右丞李元素為鳳閣侍郎，右肅政中丞周允元檢校鳳閣侍郎，並同平章事。 允元，豫州人也。
In winter, the tenth month, on renshen, Li Yuansu, Minister of the Right at Wenchang, was made Fengge Vice Minister, and Zhou Yun'yuan, Right Censor-in-Chief, was made acting Fengge Vice Minister—both Associate Directors of the Chancellery. Yun'yuan was a native of Yuzhou.
67
嶺南獠反，以容州都督張玄遇為桂、永等州經略大使以討之。
The Liao barbarians of Lingnan rebelled; Zhang Xuanyu, military governor of Rongzhou, was made Grand Coordinator for Gui, Yong, and other prefectures to suppress them.
68
正月，辛巳朔，太后加號慈氏越古金輪聖神皇帝，赦天下，改元證聖。
In the first month, on the xinsi new moon, the Empress Dowager added the title Cishi Transcending Antiquity Golden Wheel Sage Spirit Emperor, proclaimed an amnesty, and changed the era name to Zhengsheng.
69
周允元與司刑少卿皇甫文備奏內史豆盧欽望、同平章事韋巨源、杜景儉、蘇味道、陸元方附會李昭德，不能匡正，欽望貶趙州，巨源貶麟州，景儉貶溱州，味道貶集州，元方貶綏州刺史。
Zhou Yun'yuan and Vice Minister of Justice Huangfu Wenbei memorialized that Doulu Qinwang, Wei Juyuan, Du Jingjian, Su Weidao, and Lu Yuanfang had sided with Li Zhaode and failed to correct him—Qinwang was demoted to Zhaozhou, Juyuan to Linzhou, Jingjian to Qinzhou, Weidao to Jizhou, and Yuanfang to military governor of Suizhou.
70
初，明堂既成，太后命僧懷義作夾紵大像，其小指中猶容數十人，於明堂北構天堂以貯之。 堂始構，為風所摧，更構之，日役萬人，采木江嶺，數年之間，所費以萬億計，府藏為之耗竭。 懷義用財如糞土，太后一聽之，無所問。 每作無遮會，用錢萬緡； 士女雲集，又散錢十車，使之爭拾，相蹈踐有死者。 所在公私田宅，多為僧有。 懷義頗厭入宮，多居白馬寺，所度力士為僧者滿千人。 侍御史周矩疑有奸謀，固請按之。 太后曰：「卿姑退，朕即令往。」 矩至台，懷義亦至，乘馬就階而下，坦腹於床。 矩召吏將按之，遽躍馬而去。 矩具奏其狀，太后曰：「此道人病風，不足詰，所度僧，惟卿所處。」 悉流遠州。 遷矩天官員外郎。
Earlier, when the Bright Hall was completed, the Empress Dowager ordered the monk Huaiyi to make a kapok-stuffed colossal image; its little finger could still hold several dozen people, and north of the Bright Hall she built the Hall of Heaven to store it. When construction first began, the hall was destroyed by wind; it was built again, with ten thousand men laboring daily; timber was gathered from the Yangzi valleys and mountain ranges—for several years the cost ran to hundreds of millions, and the treasury was drained. Huaiyi spent wealth like dung; the Empress Dowager let him do as he pleased and asked nothing. Whenever he held an unhindered almsgiving assembly, he spent ten thousand strings of cash; men and women gathered in crowds, and he also scattered ten cartloads of cash for them to scramble for; some were trampled to death. Public and private houses and fields everywhere came largely into the monks' possession. Huaiyi grew weary of entering the palace and mostly stayed at White Horse Temple; the strongmen he ordained as monks numbered a full thousand. Investigating Censor Zhou Ju suspected a treacherous plot and firmly requested an investigation. The Empress Dowager said, "Withdraw for now—I shall send you shortly." When Ju reached the censorate, Huaiyi also arrived, rode his horse down the steps, and lay bare-bellied on the couch. Ju summoned clerks to investigate him, but Huaiyi suddenly leaped on his horse and fled. Ju fully memorialized the circumstances; the Empress Dowager said, "This monk has wind sickness—nothing to question; as for the monks he ordained, deal with them as you see fit." All were exiled to distant prefectures. Ju was promoted to Outside Section Member at the Office of Personnel.
71
乙未，作無遮會於朝堂，鑿地為坑，深五丈，結綵為宮殿，佛像皆於坑中引出之，雲自地湧出。 又殺牛取血，畫大像，首高二百尺，雲懷義刺膝血為之。 丙申，張像於天津橋南，設齋。 時御醫沈南□翏亦得幸於太后，懷義心慍，是夕，密燒天堂，延及明堂。 火照城中如晝，比明皆盡，暴風裂血像為數百段。 太后恥而諱之，但雲內作工徒誤燒麻主，遂涉明堂。 時方酺宴，左拾遺劉承慶請輟朝停酺以答天譴，太后將從之。 姚璹曰：「昔成周宣榭，卜代愈隆； 漢武建章，盛德彌永。 今明堂布政之所，非宗廟也，不應自貶損。」 太后乃御端門，觀酺如平日。 命更造明堂、天堂，仍以懷義充使。 又鑄銅為九州鼎及十二神，皆高一丈，各置其方。
On yiwei, Huaiyi held an unhindered almsgiving assembly in the court hall. Workers dug a pit five zhang deep, draped silk to form palaces, and hauled Buddha images up from the pit while claiming they were surging from the ground. They slaughtered cattle for blood and painted a colossal image two hundred chi high at the head, claiming Huaiyi had drawn the blood from his own knee to make it. On bingshen, the image was erected south of the Tianjin Bridge and a ritual feast was held. The imperial physician Shen Nanqiu had also won the Empress Dowager's favor, and Huaiyi burned with jealousy. That night he secretly torched the Hall of Heaven, and the flames spread to the Bright Hall. The blaze lit the capital bright as noon. By dawn both halls were ashes, and a sudden gale shredded the blood-painted image into hundreds of fragments. Ashamed, the Empress Dowager hushed the truth and announced only that construction workers had accidentally burned the Mazhu shrine, after which the fire reached the Bright Hall. A grand feast was underway when Left Reminder Liu Chengqing urged the court to suspend audiences and cancel the revels as a response to Heaven's warning. The Empress Dowager was inclined to agree. Yao Shuang said, "When the Xuanye terrace of the Zhou burned, divination foretold a succession more glorious still; when Emperor Wu's Jianzhang Palace burned, his sagely virtue endured all the longer. The Bright Hall is where you govern, not where you worship your ancestors. You should not diminish yourself." The Empress Dowager took her seat at the Vermilion Gate and watched the feast as though nothing had happened. She ordered the Bright Hall and Hall of Heaven rebuilt and again put Huaiyi in charge of the work. She also had bronze cast into the Nine Provinces cauldrons and the Twelve Spirit statues, each one zhang tall, and placed each in its proper quarter.
72
先是，河內老尼晝食一麻一米，夜則烹宰宴樂，畜弟子百餘人，淫穢靡所不為。 武什方自言能合長年藥，太后遣乘驛於嶺南採藥。 及明堂火，尼入唁太后，太后怒叱之，曰：「汝常言能前知，何以不言明堂火？」 因斥還河內，弟子及老胡等皆逃散。 又有發其奸者，太后乃復召尼還麟趾寺，弟子畢集，敕給使掩捕，盡獲之，皆沒為官婢。 什方還，至偃師，聞事露，自絞死。
Earlier there had been an old nun in Henei who ate a handful of hemp and a cup of rice by day, then by night feasted on slaughtered meat and wine. She kept more than a hundred disciples and indulged in every sort of debauchery. Wu Shifang claimed he could brew an elixir of longevity, and the Empress Dowager sent him south by imperial courier to gather herbs in Lingnan. When the Bright Hall burned, the nun came to offer condolences. The Empress Dowager furiously rebuked her: "You always claim you can see the future—why did you not warn me of this fire?" She was expelled back to Henei, and her disciples and the foreign charlatans who followed her all fled. When her crimes were exposed, the Empress Dowager recalled the nun to Qilin Hoof Temple. Once all her disciples had gathered, she ordered attendants to seize them in a surprise raid. Every one was captured and made a government bondwoman. Shifang was on his way back when he reached Yanshi, learned the plot had been exposed, and hanged himself.
73
庚子，以明堂火告廟，下制求直言。 劉承慶上疏，以為：「火發既從麻主，後及總章，所營佛捨，恐勞無益，請罷之。 又，明堂所以統和天人，一旦焚毀，臣下何心猶為酺宴！ 憂喜相爭，傷於情性。 又，陛下垂制博訪，許陳至理，而左史張鼎以為今既火流王屋，彌顯大周之祥，通事舍人逄敏奏稱，彌勒成道時有天魔燒宮，七寶台須臾散壞，斯實諂妄之邪言，非君臣之正論。 伏願陛下乾乾翼翼，無戾天人之心而興不急之役，則兆人蒙賴，福祿無窮。」
On gengzi, the court reported the Bright Hall fire to the ancestral temple and issued an edict inviting frank criticism. Liu Chengqing submitted a memorial arguing that since the fire had begun at the Mazhu shrine and spread to Zongzhang, the Buddhist halls under construction would only exhaust the people to no purpose, and he asked that they be abandoned. Moreover, the Bright Hall is where Heaven and humanity are brought into harmony. Now that it lies in ashes, how can your officials still feast in good conscience? To wrestle grief and celebration within the same breast wounds the heart. Your Majesty invited honest counsel, yet Left Historian Zhang Ding claimed the blaze at the Royal Chamber only proved the Great Zhou's fortune. General Affairs Attendant Pang Min argued that when Maitreya attained enlightenment, demons burned his palace and his jeweled terrace crumbled in moments. These are sycophants' lies, not the honest counsel a ruler should hear. I beg Your Majesty to govern with vigilance and restraint, not to defy Heaven and the people's hearts by launching needless projects. Then the myriad people will prosper and your blessings will know no end."
74
獲嘉主簿彭城劉知幾表陳四事。 其一以為：「皇業權輿，天地開闢，嗣君即位，黎元更始，則時藉非常之慶，以申再造之恩。 今六合清晏而赦令不息，近則一年再降，遠則每歲無遺，至於違法悖禮之徒，無賴不仁之輩，編戶則寇攘為業，當官則贓賄是求。 而元日之朝，指期天澤，重陽之節，佇降皇恩，如其忖度，鹹果釋免。 或有名垂結正，罪將斷決，竊行貨賄，方便規求，故致稽延，畢沾寬宥。 用使俗多頑悖，時罕廉隅，為善者不預恩光，作惡者獨承徼幸。 古語曰：『小人之幸，君子之不幸。」 斯之謂也。 望陛下而今而後，頗節於赦，使黎氓知禁，奸宄肅清。」 其二以為：「海內具僚九品以上，每歲逢赦，必賜階勳，至於朝野宴集，公私聚會，緋服眾於青衣，像板多於木笏； 皆榮非德舉，位罕才升，不知何者為妍蚩，何者為美惡。 臣望自今以後，稍息私恩，使有善者逾效忠勤，無才者咸知勉勵。」 其三以為：「陛下臨朝踐極，取士太廣，六品以下職事清官，遂乃方之土芥，比之沙礫，若遂不加沙汰，臣恐有穢皇風。」 其四以為：「今之牧伯遷代太速，倏來忽往，蓬轉萍流，既懷苟縣之謀，何暇循良之政！ 望自今刺史非三歲以上不可遷官，仍明察功過，尤甄賞罰。」 疏奏，太后頗嘉之。 是時官爵易得而法網嚴峻，故人競為趨進而多陷刑戮，知幾乃著《思慎賦》以刺時見志焉。 丙午，以王孝傑為朔方道行軍總管，擊突厥。
Liu Zhiji of Pengcheng, chief clerk of Huojia County, submitted a memorial outlining four reforms. First, he argued that when a dynasty is founded, Heaven and Earth are remade, and a new ruler ascends so the people begin anew, only then does the occasion warrant an extraordinary amnesty to celebrate renewal. Yet now the realm is at peace while amnesties never cease—twice in a single year of late, and scarcely a year without one. Lawbreakers and the shameless take comfort: commoners turn to banditry, and officials to bribery. They count on New Year's Day for Heaven's mercy, on the Double Ninth for imperial favor—and as they expect, every crime is forgiven. Some whose cases are ready for execution bribe their way to delay after delay until the next amnesty washes them clean. The result is a stubborn, corrupt age: the virtuous gain nothing, while criminals alone reap unearned mercy. As the ancients said, "When villains prosper, the upright suffer." This is precisely such a case. I beg Your Majesty henceforth to grant amnesties more sparingly, so the people learn restraint and crime is suppressed. Second, he argued that officials of the ninth rank and above receive promotions and honors at every annual amnesty. At court and in the provinces alike, scarlet robes outnumber blue, and ivory name-plates outnumber plain wooden ones. Honor no longer follows merit, and office no longer follows talent. No one can tell the worthy from the worthless. I ask that Your Majesty hereafter restrain such favoritism, so the capable are spurred to greater loyalty and the incompetent know they must earn their place. Third, he warned that since Your Majesty took the throne you have appointed officials too freely. Clerks of the sixth rank and below are treated like dirt. Without further winnowing, I fear the court's dignity will be soiled. Fourth, he observed that prefects are rotated too quickly—here today, gone tomorrow, drifting like weeds on the water. Intent only on their next posting, how can they govern well? I ask that prefects serve at least three years before transfer, and that their performance be rigorously judged, with clear rewards and punishments." The Empress Dowager was much pleased with the memorial. Offices were easy to win but the law was merciless, and men scrambled for promotion only to fall to the executioner. Zhiji wrote 《Reflection on Caution》 to satirize the times and declare his principles. On bingwu, Wang Xiaojie was appointed Commander of the Shuofang Circuit Field Army to campaign against the Turks.
75
春，二月，己酉朔，日有食之。
In spring, the second month, on the jiyou new moon, a solar eclipse occurred.
76
僧懷義益驕恣，太后惡之。 既焚明堂，心不自安，言多不順； 太后密選宮人有力者百餘人以防之。 壬子，執之於瑤光殿前樹下，使建昌王武攸寧師壯士毆殺之，送屍白馬寺，焚之以造塔。
The monk Huaiyi grew ever more arrogant, and the Empress Dowager grew to hate him. Having burned the Bright Hall, he was ill at ease and his speech turned defiant; the Empress Dowager secretly chose more than a hundred strong palace women to keep watch on him. On renzi, he was seized beneath the trees before Yaoguang Hall. Prince of Jianchang Wu Youning led strongmen who beat him to death. His body was taken to White Horse Temple and burned to supply material for a pagoda.
77
甲子，太后去「慈氏越古」之號。
On jiazi, the Empress Dowager relinquished the title "Kind Clan Surpassing Antiquity."
78
三月，丙辰，鳳閣侍郎、同平章事周允元薨。
In the third month, on bingchen, Fengge Vice Minister and Chancellor Zhou Yun'yuan died.
79
夏，四月，天樞成，高一百五尺，逕十二尺，八面，各徑五尺。 下為鐵山，周百七十尺，以銅為蟠龍麒麟縈繞之； 上為騰雲承露盤，逕三丈，四龍人立捧火珠，高一丈。 工人毛婆羅造模，武三思為文，刻百官及四夷酋長名，太后自書其榜曰「大周萬國頌德天樞」。
In summer, the fourth month, the Celestial Axis pillar was completed—one hundred fifty chi tall, twelve chi in girth, with eight faces five chi wide each. Its base was an iron mountain one hundred seventy chi around, encircled by bronze coiled dragons and qilin; above it rose a cloud-borne dew basin three zhang wide, borne by four dragon figures standing upright and holding a fire pearl one zhang tall. The craftsman Mao Boluo cast the mold, Wu Sansi wrote the inscription, and the names of all officials and foreign chieftains were carved upon it. The Empress Dowager personally inscribed the plaque: "Celestial Axis Commemorating the Virtue of the Great Zhou's Myriad States."
80
秋，七月，辛酉，吐蕃寇臨洮，以王孝傑為肅邊道行軍大總管以討之。
In autumn, the seventh month, on xinyou, Tibet raided Lintao. Wang Xiaojie was appointed Grand Commander of the Subian Circuit Field Army to repel them.
81
九月，甲寅，太后合祭天地於南郊，加號天冊金輪大聖皇帝，赦天下，改元。
In the ninth month, on jiayin, the Empress Dowager offered joint sacrifice to Heaven and Earth at the southern suburb, took the title Sage Emperor of the Heavenly Registers and Golden Wheel, proclaimed a general amnesty, and changed the era name.
82
冬，十月，突厥默啜遣使請降，太后喜，冊授左衛大將軍、歸國公。
In winter, the tenth month, the Turk khan Mochuo sent envoys to submit. The Empress Dowager was delighted and enfeoffed him as General-in-Chief of the Left Guard and Duke Who Returned to the State.
83
臘月，甲戌，太后發神都； 甲申，封神岳； 赦天下，改元萬歲登封，天下百姓無出今年租稅； 大酺九日。 丁亥，禪於少室； 己丑，御朝覲壇受賀； 癸巳，還宮； 甲午，謁太廟。
In the twelfth month, on jiaxu, the Empress Dowager departed the Divine Metropolis; on jiashen, she performed the feng sacrifice on Mount Song; proclaimed a general amnesty, changed the era name to Long Live the Ascension, and exempted the common people from this year's rent and tax; and held a grand feast for nine days. On dinghai, she performed the shan rite on Lesser Chamber Peak; on jichou, she took the Court Audience Altar to receive congratulations; on guisi, she returned to the palace; on jiawu, she visited the ancestral temple.
84
右千牛衛將軍安平王武攸緒，少有志行，恬澹寡慾，扈從封中岳還，即求棄官，隱於嵩山之陽。 太后疑其詐，許之，以觀其所為。 攸緒遂優遊巖壑，冬居茅椒，夏居石室，一如山林之士。 太后所賜及王公所遺野服器玩，攸緒一皆置之不用，塵埃凝積。 買田使奴耕種，與民無異。
Prince of Ping'an Wu Youxu, General of the Right Thousand-Ox Guard, had been principled and restrained from youth. When he returned from escorting the Empress Dowager's feng rite on Mount Song, he immediately asked to resign and live in seclusion on the mountain's southern slope. The Empress Dowager suspected a ruse but granted his request, intending to see what he would do. Youxu lived at ease among the peaks, in thatched huts in winter and stone chambers in summer, indistinguishable from a true hermit. The rustic clothes and curios the Empress Dowager and the princes sent him he left untouched until dust lay thick upon them. He bought farmland and had servants work it like any common farmer.
85
春，一月，甲寅，以婁師德為肅邊道行軍副總管，擊吐蕃。 己巳，以師德為左肅政大夫，知政事如故。
In spring, the first month, on jiayin, Lou Shide was appointed Deputy Grand Commander of the Subian Circuit Field Army to campaign against Tibet. On jisi, Shide was made Left Censor-in-Chief while retaining his role in government.
86
改長安崇尊廟為太廟。
The Chongzun Temple in Chang'an was redesignated the Grand Ancestral Temple.
87
二月，辛巳，尊神岳天中王為神岳天中黃帝，靈妃為天中黃後； 啟為齊聖皇帝； 封啟母神為玉京太后。
In the second month, on xinsi, the Spirit Peak's King of the Heaven Within was elevated to Yellow Emperor of the Spirit Peak Heaven Within, and his consort to Yellow Empress of the Heaven Within; Yu Qi was posthumously titled Sagely Emperor; and Qi's mother was enfeoffed as Jade Capital Empress Dowager.
88
三月，壬寅，王孝傑、婁師德與吐蕃將論欽陵贊婆戰於素羅汗山，唐兵大敗； 孝傑坐免為庶人，師德貶原州員外司馬。 師德因署移牒，驚曰：「官爵盡無邪？」 既而曰：「亦善，亦善！」 不復介意。 丁巳，新明堂成，高二百九十四尺，方三百尺，規模率小於舊。 上施金塗鐵鳳，高二丈，後為大風所損； 更為銅火珠，群龍捧之，號曰通天宮。 赦天下，改元萬歲通天。
In the third month, on renyin, Wang Xiaojie and Lou Shide fought the Tibetan generals Lun Qinling and Zanpo at Mount Suluohan. The Tang army was routed; Xiaojie was stripped of rank and made a commoner; Shide was demoted to acting administrator in Yuanzhou. When Shide received his demotion notice, he exclaimed in surprise, "Gone—all my offices and honors?" Then he said, "Well enough, well enough!" And thought no more of it. On dingsi, the new Bright Hall was completed—two hundred ninety-four chi tall and three hundred chi square, somewhat smaller than before. At its summit stood a gilded iron phoenix two zhang tall, later broken by a great gale; it was replaced with a bronze fire pearl held aloft by dragons, and the hall was renamed Palace Reaching Heaven. A general amnesty was proclaimed and the era name changed to Long Live and Penetrate Heaven.
89
大食請獻師子。 姚璹上疏，以為：「師子專食肉，遠道傳致，肉既難得，極為勞費。 陛下鷹犬不蓄，漁獵悉停，豈容菲薄於身而厚給於獸！」 乃卻之。
The Arabs requested to present a lion. Yao Shuang objected in a memorial: "Lions eat only meat. To bring one from so far away, meat will be scarce and the cost enormous. Your Majesty keeps no hawks or hounds and has banned hunting—how can you deny yourself and lavish such care on a beast!" The gift was declined.
90
以檢校夏官侍郎孫元亨同平章事。
Acting Vice Minister of Summer Offices Sun Yuanheng was appointed Associate Director of the Chancellery.
91
夏，五月，壬子，營州契丹松漠都督李盡忠、歸誠州刺史孫萬榮舉兵反，攻陷營州，殺都督趙文翽。 盡忠，萬榮之妹夫也，皆居於營州城側。 文翽剛愎，契丹饑不加賑給，視酋長如奴僕，故二人怨而反。 乙丑，遣左鷹揚衛將軍曹仁師、右金吾衛大將軍張玄遇、左威衛大將軍李多祚、司農少卿麻仁節等二十八將討之。 秋，七月，辛亥，以春官尚書梁王武三思為榆關道安撫大使，姚璹副之，以備契丹。 改李盡忠為李盡滅，孫萬榮為孫萬斬。
In summer, the fifth month, on renzi, the Khitan leaders Li Jinzhong, Songmo Grand Protector, and Sun Wanrong, Prefect of Guicheng, rebelled, captured Yingzhou, and killed Protector Zhao Wenyu. Jinzhong was Wanrong's brother-in-law, and both lived beside the walls of Yingzhou. Wenyu was arrogant and stubborn. When famine struck the Khitan he refused relief and treated their chiefs like servants. The two men rebelled in resentment. On yichou, twenty-eight generals including Cao Renshi of the Left Upright Hawk Guard, Zhang Xuan'yu of the Right Golden Crow Guard, Li Duozuo of the Left Awesome Guard, and Ma Renjie, Junior Mentor of the Ministry of Agriculture, were dispatched to suppress them. In autumn, the seventh month, on xinhai, Prince of Liang Wu Sansi, Minister of Spring Offices, was made Pacification Commissioner of the Yuguan Circuit with Yao Shuang as his deputy, to guard against the Khitan. Li Jinzhong was officially renamed Li Jinmie, 'Exterminate to the End,' and Sun Wanrong was renamed Sun Wanzhan, 'Ten Thousand Slain.'
92
盡忠錄自稱無上可汗，據營州，以萬榮為前鋒，略地，所向皆下，旬日，兵至數萬，進圍檀州，清邊前軍副總管張九節擊卻之。
Jinzhong declared himself Supreme Qaghan, held Yingzhou, and sent Wanrong as vanguard. His armies swept all before them; within ten days he had tens of thousands of men. He advanced to besiege Tanzhou, but Deputy Forward Commander Zhang Jiujie drove him back.
93
八月，丁酉，曹仁師、張玄遇、麻仁節與契丹戰於硤石谷，唐兵大敗。 先是，契丹破營州，獲唐俘數百，囚之地牢，聞唐兵將至，使守牢□紿之曰：「吾輩家屬，饑寒不能自存，唯俟官軍至即降耳。」 既而契丹引出其俘，飼以糠粥，慰勞之曰：「吾養汝則無食，殺汝又不忍，今縱汝去。」 遂釋之。 俘至幽州，具言其狀，諸軍聞之，爭欲先入。 至黃獐谷，虜又遣老弱迎降，故遺老牛瘦馬於道側。 仁師等三軍棄步卒，將騎兵輕進。 契丹設伏橫擊之，飛索以絲□玄遇、仁節，生獲之，將卒死者填山谷，鮮有脫者。 契丹得軍印，詐為牒，令玄遇等署之，牒總管燕匪石、宗懷昌等云：「官軍已破賊，若至營州，軍將皆斬，兵不敘勳。」 匪石等得牒，晝夜兼行，不遑寢食以赴之，士馬疲弊； 契丹伏兵於中道邀之，全軍皆沒。
In the eighth month, on dingyou, Cao Renshi, Zhang Xuan'yu, and Ma Renjie met the Khitan at Xiashi Valley. The Tang army was routed. Earlier, after the Khitan seized Ying Prefecture they took several hundred Tang captives and locked them in a dungeon. Hearing that Tang forces were on the way, they had the jailers deceive the prisoners: "Our kin are starving in the cold and cannot survive on their own—we are only waiting for the government troops to come so we can surrender at once." Then the Khitan brought the captives out, fed them millet gruel, and consoled them: "Keeping you alive leaves us nothing to eat; killing you we cannot bear—go, we release you now." And so they let them go. The freed men reached You Prefecture and told the whole story. Every unit, hearing it, raced to be first into battle. At Huangzhang Valley the enemy again sent elders and weaklings out to feign surrender, and purposely abandoned old oxen and scrawny horses along the road. Renshi and the other three commands left their infantry behind and pushed ahead with cavalry alone. The Khitan sprang an ambush and cut them off from the flank. Silk snares flew up and bound Zhang Xuan'yu and Ma Renjie alive; dead officers and men choked the valleys, and almost none got away. The Khitan seized the army seals, forged orders, and forced Xuan'yu and the rest to sign them. The forged messages to the commanders Yan Feishi and Zong Huaichang declared: "The government forces have already routed the rebels. If you reach Ying Prefecture, every officer will be executed and the soldiers will receive no rewards." Feishi and his colleagues took the orders at face value and marched day and night without rest or proper meals; men and horses were spent. Khitan troops waiting along the road fell on them; the entire force was wiped out.
94
九月，制：「天下系囚及士庶家奴驍勇者，官償其直，發以擊契丹。」 初令山東近邊諸州置武騎團兵，以同州刺史建安王武攸宜為右武威衛大將軍，充清邊道行軍大總管，以討契丹。
In the ninth month an edict declared: "All convicts in custody and any sturdy household slaves among the people shall be purchased at state expense and dispatched against the Khitan." The edict also ordered frontier prefectures east of the mountains to raise mounted regiments known as Military Cavalry. Wu Youyi, Prince of Jian'an and prefect of Tong, became Grand General of the Right Majestic Martial Guard and Commander-in-Chief on the Qingbian campaign against the Khitan.
95
右拾遺陳子昂為攸宜府參謀，上疏曰：「恩制免天下罪人及募諸色奴充兵討擊契丹，此乃捷急之計，非天子之兵。 且比來刑獄久清，罪人全少，奴多怯弱，不慣征行，縱其募集，未足可用。 況當今天下忠臣勇士，萬分未用其一，契丹小孽，假命待誅，何勞免罪贖奴，損國大體！ 臣恐此策不可威示天下。」
Chen Zi'ang, Right Remonstrance Official and adviser on Youyi's staff, memorialized: "Pardoning every criminal in the empire and pressing slaves of every description into service against the Khitan is an emergency trick, not the sovereign's own army. Moreover, the courts have been quiet for years—real convicts are scarce—and most slaves are timid, unused to war. Even if you conscript them, they will not be enough. Meanwhile loyal soldiers and able men stand unused by the tens of thousands, while this petty Khitan scourge merely awaits the axe. Why demean the state by freeing criminals and buying slaves? I fear such a policy will not awe the empire."
96
丁巳，突厥寇涼州，執都督許欽明。 欽明，紹之曾孫也； 時出按部，突厥數萬奄至城下，欽明拒戰，為所虜。
On dingsi the Turks struck Liang Prefecture and captured Area Commander Xu Qinming. Qinming was a great-grandson of Xu Shao. He was away on circuit inspection when tens of thousands of Turks appeared before the walls. Qinming fought back but was taken.
97
欽明兄欽寂，時為龍山軍討擊副使，與契丹戰於崇州，軍敗，被擒。 虎將圍安東，令欽寂說其屬城未下者。 安東都護裴玄珪在城中，欽寂謂曰：「狂賊天殃，滅在朝夕，公但勵兵謹守以全忠節。」 虜殺之。
His elder brother Qinji, then deputy commander of the Longshan punitive army, met the Khitan at Chong Prefecture, lost, and was captured. The Khitan general Hu besieged Andong and ordered Qinji to talk the remaining cities into surrender. Protector-General Pei Xuangui held the city. Qinji told him: "These mad rebels carry heaven's curse—their end is near. Stir your men, defend steadfastly, and keep your honor intact." The enemy then executed him.
98
吐蕃復遣使請和親，太后遣右武衛冑曹參軍貴鄉郭元振往察其宜。 吐蕃將論欽陵請罷安西四鎮戍兵，並求分十姓突厥之地。 元振曰：「四鎮、十姓與吐蕃種類本殊，今請罷唐兵，豈非有兼併之志乎？」 欽陵曰：「吐蕃苟貪土地，欲為邊患，則東侵甘、涼，豈肯規利於萬里之外邪！」 乃遣使者隨元振入請之。
Tibet again asked for a marriage alliance. Empress Dowager Wu sent Guo Yuanzhen of Guixiang, a staff officer of the Right Martial Guard, to weigh the proposal. The Tibetan commander Lun Qinling demanded withdrawal of Tang garrisons in the Four Protectorates of Anxi and a share of the Ten Surnames Turkic lands. Yuanzhen replied: "The Four Garrisons and the Ten Surnames are not your people at all. If you want Tang soldiers gone, is that not a plan to swallow them?" Qinling answered: "If we craved land and meant to raid the frontier, we would strike Gan and Liang to the east—why chase gain ten thousand li off?" He then sent envoys back with Yuanzhen to press the petition at court.
99
朝廷疑未決，元振上疏，以為：「欽陵求罷兵割地，此乃利害之機，誠不可輕舉措也。 今若直拒其善意，則為邊患必深。 四鎮之利遠，甘、涼之害近，不可不深圖也。 宜以計緩之，使其和望未絕則善矣。 彼四鎮、十姓，吐蕃之所甚欲也，而青海、吐谷渾，亦國家之要地也，今報之宜曰：『四鎮、十姓之地，本無用於中國，所以遣兵戍之，欲以鎮撫西域，分吐蕃之勢，使不得並力東侵也。 今若果無東侵之志，當歸我吐谷渾諸部及青海故地，則五俟斤部亦當以歸吐蕃。』 如此則足以塞欽陵之口，而亦未與之絕也。 若欽陵小有乖違，則曲在彼矣。 且四鎮、十姓款附歲久，今未察其情之向背，事之利害，遙割而棄之，恐傷諸國之心，非所以御四夷也。」 太后從之。
The court hesitated. Yuanzhen wrote: "Qinling's demand to pull troops and carve up territory is a hinge of profit and loss—it must not be decided rashly. Reject his offer outright and the border trouble will surely worsen. Gain in the Four Garrisons lies far away; injury to Gan and Liang is close at hand—this demands deep calculation. Better to stall him by craft and keep his hope of peace alive. The Four Garrisons and Ten Surnames are what Tibet wants most; Qinghai and the Tuyuhun are vital to us. Answer thus: 'Those western posts are useless to China in themselves—we garrison them only to steady the Western Regions, split Tibetan power, and stop you from concentrating for an eastern attack. If you truly mean no eastern aggression, restore our Tuyuhun tribes and the old Qinghai lands—then the Five Irkin divisions may go to Tibet." That would shut Qinling up yet keep the door open. If Qinling balks even slightly, the blame is his. Besides, those regions have been loyal for years. To lop them off without knowing where loyalties lie would break the faith of many states—that is no way to rule the frontier peoples." Empress Dowager Wu agreed.
100
元振又上言：「吐蕃百姓疲於徭戍，早願和親； 欽陵利於統兵專制，獨不欲歸款。 若國家歲發和親使，而欽陵常不從命，則彼國之人怨欽陵日深。 望國恩日甚，設欲大舉其徒，固亦難矣。 斯亦離間之漸，可使其上下猜阻，禍亂內興矣。」 太后深然之。 元振名震，以字行。
Yuanzhen added: "Tibetan commoners are worn out by labor and garrison duty and have long wanted peace through marriage; Qinling thrives on holding armies and ruling alone—he alone refuses reconciliation. If the court sends betrothal missions every year and Qinling keeps refusing, his own people will hate him more each day, while their longing for Tang favor grows. Even if he tried to rally the masses for war, it would be hard. That is a slow form of division—let suspicion grow between ruler and ruled until turmoil rises within." Empress Dowager Wu strongly approved. His given name was Zhen; he went by his style name Yuanzhen.
101
庚申，以并州長史王方慶為鸞台侍郎，與殿中監萬年李道廣並同平章事。
On gengshen Wang Fangqing, Bingzhou prefect, became Vice Minister of the Luan Terrace, and Li Daoguang of Wannian, a palace supervisor, joined him as co–Grand Councilor.
102
突厥默啜請為太后子，並為其女求昏，悉歸河西降戶，帥其部眾為國討契丹。 太后遣豹韜衛大將軍閻知微、左衛郎將攝司賓卿田歸道冊授默啜左衛大將軍、遷善可汗。 知微，立德之孫； 歸道，仁會之子也。
The Turk khaghan Mojie asked to be adopted as Empress Dowager Wu's son, sought a bride for his daughter, demanded return of all surrendered households west of the Yellow River, and offered to lead his tribes against the Khitan for the dynasty. She sent Grand General Yan Zhiwei of the Leopard-Tiger Guard and Tian Guidao, Left Guard officer acting as Minister of Guests, to invest Mojie as Grand General of the Left Guard and Khaghan Qianshan. Zhiwei was a grandson of Yan Lide. Guidao was a son of Tian Renhui.
103
冬，十月，辛卯，契丹李盡忠卒，孫萬榮代領其眾。 突厥默啜乘間襲松漠，虜盡忠、萬榮妻子而去。 太后進拜默啜為頡跌利施大單于、立功報國可汗。
In winter, the tenth month, on xinmao, the Khitan leader Li Jinzhong died; Sun Wanrong took command of his forces. Mojie seized the moment to strike Songmo and carried off the wives and children of Jinzhong and Wanrong. Empress Dowager Wu promoted him to Great Khaghan Tuildishi, Khaghan Who Serves the State with Merit.
104
孫萬榮收合餘眾，軍勢復振，遣別帥駱務整、何阿小為前鋒，攻陷冀州，殺刺史陸寶積，屠吏居數千人； 又攻瀛州，河北震動。 制起彭澤令狄仁傑為魏州刺史。 前刺史獨孤思莊畏契丹猝至，悉驅百姓入城，繕修守備。 仁傑至，悉遣還農，曰：「賊猶在遠，何煩如是！ 萬一賊來，吾自當之。」 百姓大悅。 時契丹入寇，軍書填委，夏官郎中硤石姚元崇剖析如流，皆有條理，太后奇之，擢為夏官侍郎。
Sun Wanrong rallied the survivors and his army surged again. He sent the lieutenants Luo Wuzheng and He Axiao ahead; they seized Ji Prefecture, killed Prefect Lu Baoji, and massacred thousands of officials and townspeople. They pressed on toward Ying Prefecture, and all Hebei trembled. An edict recalled Di Renjie, magistrate of Pengze, to serve as prefect of Wei. The outgoing prefect Dugu Sizhuang, dreading a sudden Khitan strike, had driven every farmer behind the walls and feverishly strengthened defenses. Renjie, on arriving, sent them all back to their fields, saying: "The rebels are still far away—why all this panic? If they do come, I will face them myself." The people were overjoyed. With Khitan raids flooding the offices with reports, Yao Yuanchong of Xiashi, a director in the Ministry of War, sorted each dispatch with fluent clarity. Empress Dowager Wu was impressed and made him vice minister of war.
105
太后思徐有功用法平，擢拜左台殿中侍御史，遠近聞者無不相賀。 鹿城主簿宗城潘好禮著論，稱有功蹈道依仁，固守誠節，不以貴賤死生易其操履。 設客問曰：「徐公於今誰與為比？」 主人曰：「四海至廣，人物至多，或匿跡韜光，僕不敢誣，若所聞見，則一人而已，當於古人中求之。」 客曰：「何如張釋之？」 主人曰：「釋之所行者甚易，徐公所行者甚難。 難易之間，優劣見矣。 張公逢漢文之時，天下無事，至如盜高廟玉環及渭橋驚馬，守法而已，豈不易哉！ 徐公逢革命之秋，屬惟新之運，唐朝遺老，或包藏禍心，使人主有疑。 如周興、來俊臣，乃堯年之四凶也，崇飾惡言以誣盛德； 而徐公守死善道，深相明白，幾陷囹圄，數掛網羅，此吾子所聞，豈不難哉！」 客曰：「使為司刑卿，乃得展其才矣。」 主人曰：「吾子徒見徐公用法平允，謂可置司刑； 僕睹其人，方寸之地，何所不容，若其用之，何事不可，豈直司刑而已哉！」」
Remembering Xu Yougong's fair administration of justice, Empress Dowager Wu appointed him Attending Censor of the Left Terrace; celebrants stretched from the capital to the provinces. Pan Haoli, chief clerk of Lucheng in Zongcheng, published an essay praising Yougong for walking the Way, resting on humaneness, and holding his integrity whether honored or disgraced, alive or dead. In it a guest asks: "To whom may Lord Xu be compared in our age?" The host answers: "The world is wide and full of hidden talent—I will not invent names. Of men I have truly known, there is only one, and he belongs among the ancients." The guest says: "What of Zhang Shizhi?" The host replies: "Zhang Shizhi's path was easy; Lord Xu's was hard. Between easy and hard, merit shows. Between the two, high and low stand clear. Zhang Shizhi served Emperor Wen when the empire was at peace; cases like theft of the High Temple's jade ring or a stampede at Wei Bridge needed only the letter of the law—was that not easy? Lord Xu lived in a time of upheaval and new mandates; Tang loyalists still nursed treason, and the throne itself was wary. Men like Zhou Xing and Lai Junchen were the Four Evils of legend, piling slander on the righteous; yet Lord Xu clung to justice unto death, spoke truth at peril, nearly died in prison, and was snared again and again—as you have heard, was that not hard?" The guest says: "Make him Minister of Punishments and his talent would finally show." The host answers: "You see only his fair judgments and think him fit for the Ministry of Punishments; I see a heart that holds all within a thumb's breadth—given office, there is nothing he could not do. Why limit him to punishments alone?””