1
資治通鑑第208卷
Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 208.
2
卷第二百八
Volume 208.
3
【唐紀二十四】起旃蒙大荒落二月，盡強圉協洽，凡二年有奇。
[Tang Annals 24] From Zhanmeng Dahuangluo, second month, through Qiangyu Xiehe—a little more than two years in all.
4
二月，辛亥，帝帥百官詣上陽宮問太后起居； 自是每十日一往。
In the second month, on xinhai, the emperor led the entire court to the Shangyang Palace to inquire after the Empress Dowager's health; thereafter he went once every ten days.
5
甲寅，復國號曰唐。 郊廟、社稷、陵寢、百官、旗幟、服色、文字皆如永淳以前故事。 復以神都為東都，北都為-{并}-州，老君為玄元皇帝。
On jiayin, the dynasty's name was restored to Tang. Suburban and temple rites, the altars of soil and grain, imperial tombs, official ranks, banners, dress codes, and script all reverted to the pre-Yongchun conventions. Divine Capital was again designated the Eastern Capital, the Northern Capital again governed as Bingzhou, and Lord Lao was again honored as Emperor Xuanyuan.
6
乙卯，鳳閣侍郎、同平章事韋承慶貶高要尉； 正諫大夫、同平章事房融除名，流高州； 司禮卿崔神慶流欽州。 楊再思為戶部尚書、同中書門下三品、西京留守。
On yimao, Fengge Vice Minister and Associate Director of the Chancellery Wei Chengqing was demoted to commandant of Gaoyao; Corrective Reminder Grandee and Associate Director of the Chancellery Fang Rong was struck from the rolls and exiled to Gaozhou; Director of Court Ceremonies Cui Shenqing was exiled to Qinzhou. Yang Zaisi was appointed Minister of Revenue, Grand Councilor of the Second Rank, and defender of the Western Capital.
7
太后之遷上陽宮也，太僕卿、同中書門下三品姚元之獨嗚咽流涕。 桓彥范、張柬之謂曰：「今日豈公涕泣時邪！ 恐公禍由此始。」 元之曰：「元之事則天皇帝久，乍此辭違，悲不能忍。 且元之前日從公誅奸逆，人臣之義也； 今日別舊君，亦人臣之義也，雖獲罪，實所甘心。」 是日，出為亳州刺史。
When the Empress Dowager was moved to the Shangyang Palace, Grand Master of the Stud and Grand Councilor Yao Yuanzhi alone sobbed aloud. Huan Yuanfan and Zhang Jianzhi said to him, "Is this the day for you to weep? I fear your ruin will begin here." Yuanzhi said, "I served the Zetian Emperor for many years; to part from her so abruptly, I cannot bear the grief. And when I followed you the other day in executing traitors, that was a minister's duty; today to bid farewell to my former sovereign is also a minister's duty; though I be punished for it, I accept that willingly." That same day he was posted out as prefect of Bozhou.
8
甲子，立妃韋氏為皇后，赦天下。 追贈後父玄貞為上洛王、母崔氏為妃。 左拾遺賈虛己上疏，以為：「異姓不王，古今通制。 今中興之始，萬姓喁喁以觀陛下之政； 而先王后族，非所以廣德美於天下也。 且先朝贈后父太原王，殷鑒不遠，須防其漸。 若以恩制已行，宜令皇后固讓，則益增謙沖之德矣。」 不聽。
On jiazi, Consort Wei was made empress and the empire was granted a general amnesty. The empress's late father Xuanzhen was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Shangluo and her mother, Lady Cui, as a consort. Left Reminder Jia Xuji submitted a memorial arguing that "enfeoffing men of other surnames as kings has never been permitted in any age. At the dawn of restoration, the people are watching Your Majesty's every act; yet to ennoble the empress's kin first is no way to spread virtue throughout the realm. The previous court enfeoffed an empress's father as Prince of Taiyuan—that lesson is recent; we must guard against the first step on a dangerous path. If the decree has already gone forth, let the empress firmly decline the honor—that would only enhance her reputation for humility." The emperor would not hear of it.
9
初，韋后生邵王重潤、長寧、安樂二公主，上之遷房陵也，安樂公主生於道中，上特愛之。 上在房陵與後同幽閉，備嘗艱危，情愛甚篤。 上每聞敕使至，輒惶恐欲自殺，后止之曰：「禍福無常，寧失一死，何遽如是！」 上嘗與后私誓曰：「異時幸復見天日，當惟卿所欲，不相禁御。」 及再為皇后，遂干預朝政，如武後在高宗之世。 桓彥范上表，以為：「《易》稱『無攸遂，在中饋，貞吉』，《書》稱『牝雞之辰，惟家之索』，伏見陛下每臨朝，皇后必施帷幔坐殿上，預聞政事。 臣竊觀自古帝王，未有與婦人共政而不破國亡身者也。 且以陰乘陽，違天也； 以婦陵夫，違人也。 伏願陛下覽古今之戒，以社稷蒼生為念，令皇后專居中宮，治陰教，勿出外朝干國政。」
Earlier, Lady Wei had borne Prince Shao Chongrun and the princesses of Changning and Anle. When the emperor was sent to Fangling, Princess Anle was born on the journey, and he cherished her above all. At Fangling the emperor and his consort were confined together, sharing every hardship; their bond ran very deep. Whenever word came that an imperial messenger was approaching, the emperor would panic and try to take his own life. The consort would stop him, saying, "Fortune and misfortune are unpredictable—would you throw away your one life so rashly?" Once he swore to her in private, "If we ever see the light of day again, you may have whatever you wish—I shall not hold you back." When she again became empress, she intervened in state affairs just as Empress Wu had under Emperor Gaozong. Huan Yuanfan submitted a memorial arguing that "the Book of Changes says a woman should not pursue public affairs but keep to the inner household, and the Book of Documents warns that when the hen crows at dawn, the family is ruined. I observe that whenever Your Majesty holds court, the empress sits behind a curtain on the dais and hears state business in advance. In all history, no ruler who shared power with a woman has escaped ruin of state and person alike. For yin to dominate yang is to defy Heaven; for a wife to tower over her husband is to defy human order. I beg Your Majesty to heed the lessons of history, keep the realm and its people in mind, and confine the empress to the inner palace to govern women's affairs, not to the outer court and the business of state."
10
先是，胡僧慧范以妖妄游權貴之門，與張易之兄弟善，韋後亦重之。 及易之誅，復稱慧范預其謀，以功加銀青光祿大夫，賜爵上庸縣公，出入宮掖，上數微行幸其捨。 彥范復表言慧范執左道以亂政，請誅之。 上皆不聽。
Earlier, the foreign monk Huifan had traded on sorcery and delusion to move among the powerful; he was close to Zhang Yizhi and his brothers, and Empress Wei also favored him. After Yizhi's execution, Huifan was said to have shared in the plot against him; rewarded with the rank of Silver-Gleaming Grandee of Splendid Happiness and the title Duke of Shangyong, he came and went within the palace precincts, and the emperor often slipped out in disguise to visit his quarters. Yuanfan memorialized again that Huifan practiced heterodox arts to corrupt government and begged that he be put to death. The emperor would not hear of it.
11
初，武後誅唐宗室，有才德者先死，惟吳王恪之子鬱林侯千里褊躁無才，又數獻符瑞，故獨得免。 上即位，立為成王，拜左金吾大將軍。 武後所誅唐諸王、妃、主、駙馬等，皆無人葬埋，子孫或流竄嶺表，或拘囚歷年，或逃匿民間，為人傭保。 至是，制州縣求訪其柩，以禮改葬，追復官爵，召其子孫，使之承襲，無子孫者為擇後置之。 既而宗室子孫相繼而至，皆召見，涕泣舞蹈，各以親疏襲爵拜官有差。
When Empress Wu purged the Tang imperial house, the talented and virtuous were killed first. Only Qianli, son of Prince Wu of Wu and Marquis of Yulin, survived—he was narrow-minded, impetuous, and talentless, and kept presenting bogus portents. When the emperor took the throne, he was made Prince of Cheng and appointed Left Commander-in-Chief of the Golden Guards. The Tang princes, consorts, princesses, and imperial sons-in-law whom Empress Wu had killed lay unburied; their descendants were exiled beyond the mountains, imprisoned for years, or hidden among common folk as hired hands. Now an edict ordered the provinces to find their remains, reinter them with proper rites, restore their offices and titles, summon their descendants to inherit, and where none survived, appoint successors. Soon imperial descendants arrived in succession; all were received in audience, weeping and performing the ritual dance; each was given rank and office according to the closeness of his kinship.
12
二張之誅也，洛州長史薛季昶謂張柬之、敬暉曰：「二凶雖除，產、祿猶在，去草不去根，終當復生。」 二人曰：「大事已定，彼猶機上肉耳，夫何能為！ 所誅已多，不可復益也。」 季昶歎曰：「吾不知死所矣！」 朝邑尉武強劉幽求亦謂桓彥范、敬暉曰：「武三思尚存，公輩終無葬地； 若不早圖，噬臍無及。」 不從。
When the two Zhangs were executed, Luozhou Chief Administrator Xue Jichang told Zhang Jianzhi and Jing Hui, "The two villains are gone, but Chan and Lu still live. Pull grass without taking the root and it will grow back." They replied, "The great matter is settled; they are meat on the block—what can they do? Enough blood has been shed; we cannot add to it." Jichang sighed, "I no longer know where I shall meet my end!" Chaoyi Commandant Liu Youqiu of Wuqiang also told Huan Yuanfan and Jing Hui, "While Wu Sansi lives, you will never have a grave to lie in; if you do not act soon, you will bite your navel in vain." They would not listen.
13
上女安樂公主適三思子崇訓。 上官婉兒者，儀之女孫也，儀死，沒入掖庭，辯慧善屬文，明習吏事。 則天愛之，自聖歷以後，百司表奏多令參決； 及上即位，又使專掌制命，益委任之，拜為婕妤，用事於中。 三思通焉，故黨於武氏，又薦三思於韋後，引入禁中，上遂與三思圖議政事，張柬之等皆受制於三思矣。 上使韋後與三思雙陸，而自居旁為之點籌； 三思遂與後通，由是武氏之勢復振。
The emperor's daughter, Princess Anle, was married to Sansi's son Chongxun. Shangguan Wan'er was the granddaughter of Shangguan Yi. After Yi's death she was sent to the palace women's quarters; she was eloquent, clever with words, and thoroughly versed in administrative affairs. Empress Zetian favored her; from the Shengli era onward, many official memorials were referred to her for decision; when the emperor took the throne, he put her in charge of edicts, trusted her still more, made her a Lady of Handsome Fairness, and she wielded power within the palace. She had an affair with Sansi, sided with the Wu clan, and recommended Sansi to Empress Wei, bringing him into the inner palace. The emperor then discussed state affairs with Sansi, and Zhang Jianzhi and his fellows all fell under Sansi's sway. The emperor had Empress Wei and Sansi play backgammon while he sat beside them and kept score; Sansi then took the empress as his lover, and the Wu clan's power revived.
14
張柬之等數勸上誅諸武，上不聽。 柬之等曰：「革命之際，宗室諸李，誅夷略盡； 今賴天地之靈，陛下返正，而武氏濫官僭爵，按堵如故，豈遠近所望邪！ 願頗抑損其祿位以慰天下！」 又不聽。 柬之等或撫床歎憤，或彈指出血，曰：「主上昔為英王，時稱勇烈，吾所以不誅諸武者，欲使上自誅之，以張天子之威耳。 今反如此，事勢已去，知復奈何！」
Zhang Jianzhi and his allies repeatedly urged the emperor to execute the Wu clan; he would not listen. They said, "During the revolution the Li imperial clan was all but wiped out; now, by Heaven's grace, Your Majesty has restored the true line, yet the Wu still hold inflated offices and titles and live as before—is this what the realm hoped for? We beg you to cut back their salaries and ranks to comfort the empire!" Again he would not listen. They would beat the bed in fury or flick their fingers until the blood came, saying, "Our lord was once Prince of Ying, famed for courage; we spared the Wu clan so that you might kill them yourself and show the Son of Heaven's authority. Now look at him—the moment is lost. What can we do?"
15
上數微服幸武三思第，監察微史清河崔皎密疏諫曰：「國命初復，則天皇帝在西宮，人心猶有附會； 周之舊臣，列居朝廷，陛下奈何輕有外游，不察豫且之禍！」 上洩之，三思之黨切齒。
The emperor often slipped out in disguise to visit Wu Sansi's house. Supervising Censor Cui Jiao of Qinghe submitted a secret memorial: "The dynasty has only just been restored; the Zetian Emperor still sits in the western palace, and many hearts still look to her; Zhou's old ministers still fill the court—how can Your Majesty roam abroad so lightly and not see the trap that caught Yuxu?" The emperor leaked the memorial; Sansi's faction gnashed their teeth at Jiao.
16
丙寅，以太子賓客武三思為司空、同中書門下三品。
On bingyin, Heir Apparent's Guest Wu Sansi was appointed Minister of Works and Grand Councilor of the Second Rank.
17
左散騎常侍譙王重福，上之庶子也； 其妃，張易之之甥。 韋後惡之，譖於上曰：「重潤之死，重福為之也。」 由是貶濮州員外刺史，又改均州刺史，常令州司防守之。
Left Regular Attendant Prince of Qiao Chongfu was a son of the emperor by a concubine; his consort was Zhang Yizhi's niece. Empress Wei hated him and told the emperor, "Chongfu was behind Chongrun's death." He was demoted to supernumerary prefect of Puzhou, then transferred to prefect of Junzhou, with orders that the prefectural staff keep him under guard.
18
丁卯，以右散騎常侍安定王武攸暨為司徒、定王。
On dingmao, Right Regular Attendant Prince of Anding Wu Youji was made Minister of Education and Prince of Ding.
19
辛未，相王固讓太尉及知政事，許之； 又立為皇太弟，相王固辭而止。
On xinwei, the Prince of Xiang firmly declined the post of Grand Preceptor and a role in government; the emperor agreed; he was then named Imperial Younger Brother Heir, but the Prince of Xiang declined again and the appointment was dropped.
20
甲戌，以國子祭酒始平祝欽明同中書門下三品，黃門侍郎、知侍中事韋安石為刑部尚書，罷知政事。
On jiaxu, National University Chancellor Zhu Qinming of Shiping was made Grand Councilor; Yellow Gate Vice Minister and Acting Palace Attendant Wei Anshi was made Minister of Justice and removed from the council.
21
丁丑，武三思、武攸暨固辭新官爵及政事，許之，並加開府儀同三司。
On dingchou, Wu Sansi and Wu Youji declined their new offices and council seats; the emperor agreed and instead gave both the honorific rank of Kaifu Yitong San Si.
22
立皇子義興王重俊為衛王，北海王重茂為溫王，仍以重俊為洛州牧。
Prince of Yixing Chongjun was made Prince of Wei, Prince of Beihai Chongmao was made Prince of Wen, and Chongjun was also appointed prefect of Luozhou.
23
三月，甲申，制：「文明已來破家子孫皆復舊資廕，唯徐敬業、裴炎不在免限。」
In the third month, on jiashen, an edict declared: "From the Wenming era onward, descendants of ruined families shall have their hereditary privileges restored, except for the lines of Xu Jingye and Pei Yan."
24
丁亥，制：「酷吏周興、來俊臣等，已死者追奪官爵，存者皆流嶺南惡地。」
On dinghai, an edict declared: "The cruel officials Zhou Xing, Lai Junchen, and their like—those dead are posthumously stripped of rank; those living are exiled to the foul lands south of the mountains."
25
己丑，以袁恕己為中書令。
On jichou, Yuan Shuji was appointed Palace Attendant.
26
以安車征安平王武攸緒於嵩山，既至，除太子賓客； 固請還山，許之。
Prince of Anping Wu Youxu was summoned from Mount Song in a comfort carriage; on arrival he was made Heir Apparent's Guest; he asked firmly to return to the mountain, and the emperor agreed.
27
制：「梟氏、蟒氏皆復舊姓。」
An edict declared: "The Xiao and Mang clans are restored to their former surnames."
28
術士鄭普思、尚衣奉御葉靜能皆以妖妄為上所信重，夏，四月，墨敕以普思為秘書監，靜能為國子祭酒。 桓彥范、崔玄□固執不可，上曰：「已用之，無容遽改。」 彥范曰：「陛下初即位，下制云：『政令皆依貞觀故事。』 貞觀中，魏徵、虞世南、顏師古為秘書監，孔穎達為國子祭酒，豈普思、靜能之比乎！」 庚戌，左拾遺李邕上疏，以為：「《詩》三百，一言以蔽之，曰『思無邪』。 若有神仙能令人不死，則秦始皇、漢武帝得之矣； 佛能為人福利，則梁武帝得之矣。 堯、舜所以為帝王首者，亦修人事而已。 尊寵此屬，何補於國！」 上皆不聽。
The sorcerers Zheng Pusi and Director of Palace Attire Ye Jingneng won the emperor's trust through occult arts. In summer, the fourth month, by vermilion rescript Pusi was made Director of the Secretariat and Jingneng National University Chancellor. Huan Yuanfan and Cui Xuanwei objected firmly, but the emperor said, "The appointments are already made; they cannot be reversed so quickly. Yuanfan said, "When Your Majesty first took the throne, you decreed that all government should follow Zhenguan precedent. Under Zhenguan, Wei Zheng, Yu Shinan, and Yan Shigu were Directors of the Secretariat, and Kong Yingda was National University Chancellor—are Pusi and Jingneng fit to stand beside them? On gengxu, Left Reminder Li Yong submitted a memorial arguing that "the three hundred Odes may be summed in one phrase: Think without depravity. If immortals could grant eternal life, Qin Shihuang and Emperor Wu of Han would have found them; if the Buddha could bestow blessing on men, Emperor Wu of Liang would have possessed it. Yao and Shun stand first among rulers because they cultivated human affairs and nothing more. To honor men of this sort does nothing for the state! The emperor would not hear of it."
29
上即位之日，驛召魏元忠於高要； 丁卯，至都，拜衛尉卿、同平章事。
On the day he took the throne, the emperor summoned Wei Yuanzhong from Gaoyao by express post; On dingmao he reached the capital and was appointed Commandant of the Guard and Associate Director of the Chancellery.
30
甲戌，以魏元忠為兵部尚書，韋安石為吏部尚書，李懷遠為右散騎常侍，唐休璟為輔國大將軍，崔玄□檢校益府長史，楊再思檢校楊府長史，祝欽明為刑部尚書，並同中書門下三品。 元忠等皆以東宮舊僚褒之也。 乙亥，以張柬之為中書令。
On jiaxu, Wei Yuanzhong was appointed Minister of War, Wei Anshi Minister of Personnel, Li Huaiyuan Right Regular Attendant, Tang Xiujing Grand General Who Supports the State, Cui Xuanwei Acting Chief Administrator of Yizhou, Yang Zaisi Acting Chief Administrator of Yangzhou, and Zhu Qinming Minister of Justice—all as Grand Councilors of the Second Rank. Yuanzhong and the others were all rewarded as former retainers of the Eastern Palace. On yihai, Zhang Jianzhi was appointed Palace Attendant.
31
戊寅，追贈故邵王重潤為懿德太子。
On wuyin, the late Prince Shao Chongrun was posthumously honored as Crown Prince Yide.
32
五月，壬午，遷周廟七主於西京崇尊廟。 制：「武氏三代諱，奏事者皆不得犯。」
In the fifth month, on renwu, the seven Zhou temple sovereigns were moved to the Chongzun Temple in the Western Capital. An edict declared: "The taboo names of the Wu clan for three generations may not be violated by anyone submitting memorials.1
33
乙酉，立太廟、社稷於東都。
On yiyou, the imperial ancestral temple and the altars of soil and grain were established in the Eastern Capital.
34
以張柬之等及武攸暨、武三思、鄭普思等十六人皆為立功之人，賜以鐵券，自非反逆，各恕十死。
Zhang Jianzhi and others, together with Wu Youji, Wu Sansi, Zheng Pusi, and sixteen men in all, were counted as meritorious servants; they were granted iron certificates, and unless guilty of treason, each was pardoned ten capital offenses.
35
癸巳，敬暉等帥百官上表，以為：「五運迭興，事不兩大。 天授革命之際，宗室誅竄殆盡，豈得與諸武並封！ 今天命惟新，而諸武封建如舊，並居京師，開闢以來未有斯理。 願陛下為社稷計，順遐邇心，降其王爵，以安內外。」 上不許。
On guisi, Jing Hui and others led the officials in a memorial arguing: "The Five Phases rise in turn; two supreme powers cannot coexist. At the Tianshou revolution, the imperial clan was slaughtered and driven out almost to extinction—how can they be enfeoffed on equal terms with the Wu princes! Now Heaven's mandate is renewed, yet the Wu princes remain enfeoffed as before, all dwelling in the capital—since the realm was founded there has never been such a thing. We beg Your Majesty, for the sake of the altars of state, to heed the hearts of men near and far, reduce their princely ranks, and bring peace within and without. The emperor refused."
36
敬暉等畏武三思之讒，以考功員外郎崔湜為耳目，伺其動靜。 湜見上親三思而忌暉等，乃悉以暉等謀告三思，反為三思用； 三思引為中書舍人。 湜，仁師之孫也。
Jing Hui and others feared slander from Wu Sansi and used Evaluation-of-Merit Vice Director Cui Shi as their spy to watch his movements. Shi saw that the emperor favored Sansi and distrusted Jing Hui and the others; he then told Sansi everything Jing Hui and the others were planning and was turned to Sansi's use; Sansi appointed him Secretariat Drafting Officer. Shi was the grandson of Cui Renshi.
37
先是，殿中侍御史南皮鄭愔諂事二張，二張敗，貶宣州司士參軍，坐贓，亡入東都，私謁武三思。 初見三思，哭甚哀，既而大笑。 三思素貴重，甚怪之，愔曰：「始見大王而哭，哀大王將戮死而滅族也。 後乃大笑，喜大王之得愔也。 大王雖得天子之意，彼五人皆據將相之權，膽略過人，廢太后如反掌。 大王自視勢位與太后孰重？ 彼五人日夜切齒，欲噬大王之肉，非盡大王之族不足以快其志。 大王不去此五人，危如朝露，而晏然尚自以為泰山之安，此愔所以為大王寒心。」 三思大悅，與之登樓，問自安之策，引為中書舍人，與崔湜皆為三思謀主。
Earlier, Palace Disciplinarian Zheng Yin of Nanpi had flattered the Two Zhangs; when they fell, he was demoted to Military Administrator of Xuanzhou; convicted of embezzlement, he fled to the Eastern Capital and privately visited Wu Sansi. When he first met Sansi, he wept bitterly; then he burst into loud laughter. Sansi, who had always been honored and powerful, was greatly puzzled; Yin said, "When I first saw Your Highness I wept, grieving that you would be executed and your clan wiped out. Then I laughed, rejoicing that Your Highness had gained me. Though Your Highness has the emperor's favor, those five men hold the power of generals and ministers, their courage and stratagem surpass other men's, and they deposed the Empress Dowager as easily as turning the hand over. Does Your Highness consider your power and position the heavier, or the Empress Dowager's? Those five men grind their teeth day and night, longing to devour your flesh; only wiping out your entire clan would satisfy them. If Your Highness does not remove these five men, your peril is like morning dew, yet you remain at ease and still think yourself secure as Mount Tai—this is why I tremble for you. Sansi was greatly pleased; he went up a tower with him to ask how he might secure himself, appointed him Secretariat Drafting Officer, and both he and Cui Shi became Sansi's chief strategists."
38
三思與韋後日夜譖暉等，云「恃功專權，將不利於社稷。」 上信之。 三思等因為上畫策：「不若封暉等為王，罷其政事，外不失尊寵功臣，內實奪之權。」 上以為然。 甲午，以侍中齊公敬暉為平陽王，譙公桓彥范為扶陽王，中書令漢陽公張柬之為漢陽王，南陽公袁恕己為南陽王，特進、同中書門下三品博陵公崔玄□為博陵王，罷知政事，賜金帛鞍馬，令朝朔望； 仍賜彥范姓韋氏，與皇后同籍。 尋又以玄□檢校益州長史、知都督事，又改梁州刺史。 三思令百官復修則天之政，不附武氏者斥之。 為五王所逐者復之，大權盡歸三思矣。
Sansi and Empress Wei slandered Jing Hui and the others day and night, saying, "They rely on their merit, monopolize power, and will harm the altars of state. The emperor believed them. Sansi and the others then advised the emperor: "Better to enfeoff Jing Hui and the others as kings and remove them from government—outwardly still honoring meritorious servants, inwardly actually stripping them of power. The emperor agreed. On jiawu, Duke of Qi and Director of the Secretariat Jing Hui was made Prince of Pingyang, Duke of Qiao Huan Yuanfan Prince of Fuyang, Duke of Hanyang and Palace Attendant Zhang Jianzhi Prince of Hanyang, Duke of Nanyang Yuan Shuji Prince of Nanyang, and Special Advance Grandee and Grand Councilor Duke of Boling Cui Xuanwei Prince of Boling; they were removed from government, granted gold, silk, saddles, and horses, and ordered to attend court on the first and fifteenth of each month; Yuanfan was further granted the surname Wei and entered the same household register as the empress. Soon afterward Xuanwei was made Acting Chief Administrator of Yizhou and put in charge of the area command, then transferred to Prefect of Liangzhou. Sansi ordered the officials to restore Empress Wu's policies; those who did not side with the Wu clan were dismissed. Those the Five Kings had driven out were restored, and supreme power passed entirely to Sansi.
39
五王之請削武氏諸王也，求人為表，眾莫肯為。 中書舍人岑羲為之，語甚激切； 中書舍人偃師畢構次當讀表，辭色明厲。 三思既得志，羲改秘書少監，出構為潤州刺史。
When the Five Kings asked that the Wu princes be reduced in rank, they sought someone to draft the memorial, and no one would do it. Secretariat Drafting Officer Cen Xi drafted it for them, and the language was very forceful; Secretariat Drafting Officer Bi Gou of Yanshi, whose turn it was to read the memorial, did so with bright and stern expression. Once Sansi had gotten his way, Xi was transferred to Deputy Director of the Secretariat, and Gou was sent out as Prefect of Runzhou.
40
易州刺史趙履溫，桓彥范之妻兄也。 彥范之誅二張，稱履溫預其謀，召為司農少卿，履溫以二婢遺彥范； 及彥范罷政事，履溫復奪其婢。
Zhao Lüwen, Prefect of Yizhou, was the elder brother of Huan Yuanfan's wife. When Yuanfan executed the Two Zhangs, he claimed Lüwen had shared in the plot and summoned him as Deputy Minister of Public Works; Lüwen gave Yuanfan two maidservants; When Yuanfan was removed from government, Lüwen took the maidservants back.
41
上嘉宋璟忠直，屢遷黃門侍郎。 武三思嘗為事屬璟，璟正色拒之曰：「今太后既復子明辟，王當以侯就第，何得尚干朝政！ 獨不見產、祿之事乎？」
The emperor praised Song Jing's loyalty and uprightness and repeatedly promoted him to Yellow Gate Vice Minister. Wu Sansi once wanted Song Jing to handle a matter for him; Jing sternly refused and said, "Now that the Empress Dowager has restored the son to the throne, Your Highness ought to take your marquisate and retire to your estate—how can you still meddle in court affairs! Have you not seen what became of Chan and Lu?"2
42
以韋安石兼檢校中書令，魏元忠兼檢校侍中，又以李湛為右散騎常侍，趙承恩為光祿卿，楊元琰為衛尉卿。
Wei Anshi was additionally made Acting Palace Attendant, Wei Yuanzhong Acting Director of the Secretariat; Li Zhan was made Right Regular Attendant, Zhao Chengen Director of the Imperial Household, and Yang Yuanyan Commandant of the Guard.
43
先是，元琰知三思浸用事，請棄官為僧，上不許。 敬暉聞之，笑曰：「使我早知，勸上許之，髡去胡頭，豈不妙哉！」 元琰多須，類胡，故暉戲之。 元琰曰：「功成名遂，不退將危。 此乃由衷之請，非徒然也。」 暉知其意，瞿然不悅。 及暉等得罪，元琰獨免。
Earlier, Yuanyan saw that Sansi was gradually gaining power and asked to resign and become a monk; the emperor refused. When Jing Hui heard of it, he laughed and said, "Had I known sooner, I would have urged the emperor to grant it—shave off that Hu head, would that not have been splendid! Yuanyan had heavy facial hair and looked like a Hu, so Jing Hui was teasing him. Yuanyan said, "When merit is achieved and fame fulfilled, not retiring brings peril. This is a sincere request from the heart, not an empty gesture. Jing Hui understood what he meant and was suddenly displeased. When Jing Hui and the others were punished, Yuanyan alone escaped harm."
44
上官婕妤勸韋後襲則天故事，上表請天下士庶為出母服喪三年，又請百姓年二十三為丁，五十九免役，改易制度以收時望。 制皆許之。
Consort Shangguan urged Empress Wei to follow Empress Wu's example: she memorialized asking that scholars and commoners throughout the realm observe three years of mourning for birth mothers, and also asked that commoners be registered for corvée at twenty-three and exempted at fifty-nine, changing institutions to win popular esteem. Edicts granted all of it.
45
癸卯，制：降諸武，梁王三思為德靜王，定王攸暨為樂壽王，河內王懿宗等十二人皆降為公，以厭人心。
On guimao, an edict reduced the Wu princes: Prince of Liang Wu Sansi was made Prince of Dejing, Prince of Ding Wu Youji Prince of Leshou, and Prince of Henei Wu Yizong and twelve others were all reduced to dukes, to satisfy popular sentiment.
46
甲辰，以唐休璟為左僕射，同中書門下三品如故，豆盧欽望為右僕射。
On jiachen, Tang Xiujing was made Left Vice Director, remaining Grand Councilor as before, and Dou Luqinwang was made Right Vice Director.
47
六月，壬子，以左驍衛大將軍裴思說充靈武軍大總管，以備突厥。
In the sixth month, on renzi, Left General of the Valiant Cavalry Pei Sishuo was appointed Grand Commander of the Lingwu Army to guard against the Turks.
48
癸亥，命右僕射豆盧欽望，有軍國重事，中書門下可共平章。
On guihai, Right Vice Director Dou Luqinwang was ordered that on weighty military and state affairs, the Secretariat and Chancellery might jointly deliberate with him.
49
先是，僕射為正宰相，其後多兼中書門下之職，午前決朝政，午後決省事。 至是，欽望專為僕射，不敢預政事，故有是命。 是後專拜僕射者，不復為宰相矣。
Formerly the Vice Director had been the chief chancellor; later most also held Secretariat and Chancellery posts—before noon they decided court affairs, after noon ministry affairs. Now Qinwang held the Vice Directorship alone and dared not participate in government, hence this order. After this, those appointed Vice Director alone were no longer counted as chancellors.
50
又以韋安石為中書令，魏元忠為侍中，楊再思檢校為中書令。
Wei Anshi was again made Palace Attendant, Wei Yuanzhong Director of the Secretariat, and Yang Zaisi Acting Palace Attendant.
51
丁卯，祔孝敬皇帝於太廟，號義宗。
On dingmao, Emperor Xiaojing was enshrined in the imperial ancestral temple under the temple name Yizong.
52
戊辰，洛水溢，流二千餘家。
On wuchen, the Luo River overflowed and swept away more than two thousand households.
53
秋，七月，辛巳，以太子賓客韋巨源同中書門下三品，西京留守如故。
In autumn, the seventh month, on xinsi, Heir Apparent's Guest Wei Juyuan was made Grand Councilor, remaining defender of the Western Capital.
54
特進漢陽王張柬之表請歸襄州養疾； 乙未，以柬之為襄州刺史，不知州事，給全俸。
Special Advance Grandee and Prince of Hanyang Zhang Jianzhi memorialized asking to return to Xiangzhou to nurse his illness; On yiwei, Jianzhi was made Prefect of Xiangzhou without managing prefectural affairs, with full salary granted.
55
河南、北十七州大水。 八月，戊申，以水災求直言。 右衛騎曹參軍西河宋務光上疏，以為：「水陰類，臣妾之象，恐後庭有干外朝之政者，宜杜絕其萌。 今霖雨不止，乃閉坊門以禳之，至使里巷謂坊門為宰相，言朝廷使之燮理陰陽也。 又，太子國本，宜早擇賢能而立之。 又，外戚太盛，如武三思等，宜解其機要，厚以祿賜。 又，鄭普思、葉靜能以小技竊大位，亦朝政之蠹也。」 疏奏，不省。
Seventeen prefectures north and south of the Yellow River suffered severe flooding. In the eighth month, on wushen, because of the floods the emperor sought candid memorials. Right Guard Cavalry Adjutant Song Wuguang of Xihe submitted a memorial arguing: "Water belongs to the yin category and symbolizes consorts and concubines; I fear women of the rear palace are meddling in outer-court government—their influence should be cut off at the root. Now the rains will not stop, yet ward gates are closed to exorcise the disaster, until people in the lanes call the ward gates the chancellors, saying the court makes them regulate yin and yang. Further, the crown prince is the root of the state; a worthy and capable heir should be chosen and established early. Further, the empress's kin are too powerful; men such as Wu Sansi should be removed from key posts and richly rewarded with stipends and gifts. Further, Zheng Pusi and Ye Jingneng stole high office through petty arts—they too are pests of court government. The memorial was submitted and ignored."
56
壬戌，追立妃趙氏為恭皇后，孝敬皇帝妃裴氏為哀皇后。
On renxu, Consort Zhao was posthumously honored as Empress Gong, and Consort Pei, consort of Emperor Xiaojing, as Empress Ai.
57
九月，壬午，上祀昊天上帝、皇地示氏於明堂，以高宗配。
In the ninth month, on renwu, the emperor sacrificed to August Heaven and the Earth Spirit at the Bright Hall, with Emperor Gaozong as secondary offering.
58
初，上在房陵，州司制約甚急； 刺史河東張知謇、靈昌崔敬嗣獨待遇以禮，供給豐贍，上德之，擢知謇自貝州刺史為左衛將軍，賜爵范陽公。 敬嗣已卒，求得其子汪，嗜酒，不堪厘職，除五品散官。
Earlier, when the emperor was at Fangling, the district offices' restrictions were very severe; Prefect Zhang Zhiqie of Hedong and Cui Jingsi of Lingchang alone treated him with courtesy and supplied him generously; the emperor was grateful and promoted Zhiqie from Prefect of Beizhou to Left Guard General, granting him the title Duke of Fanyang. Jingsi had already died; his son Wang was found, but he was a drunkard and unfit for office, so he was given a fifth-rank sinecure.
59
改葬上洛王韋玄貞，其儀皆如太原王故事。
Prince Shangluo Wei Xuanzhen was reinterred with rites following the precedent of the Prince of Taiyuan.
60
癸巳，太子賓客、同中書門下三品韋巨源罷為禮部尚書，以其從父安石為中書令故也。
On guisi, Heir Apparent's Guest and Grand Councilor Wei Juyuan was removed and made Minister of Rites, because his father's younger brother Anshi was Palace Attendant.
61
以左衛將軍上邽紀處訥兼檢校太府卿，處訥娶武三思之妻姊故也。
Left Guard General Ji Chunna of Shanggui was additionally made Acting Director of the Grand Treasury, because he had married Wu Sansi's wife's elder sister.
62
冬，十月，命唐休璟留守京師。
In winter, the tenth month, Tang Xiujing was ordered to remain and guard the capital.
63
癸亥，上幸龍門； 乙丑，獵於新安而還。
On guihai, the emperor visited Longmen; On yichou, he hunted at Xin'an and returned.
64
辛未，以魏元忠為中書令，楊再思為侍中。
On xinwei, Wei Yuanzhong was made Palace Attendant and Yang Zaisi Director of the Secretariat.
65
十一月，戊寅，群臣上皇帝尊號曰應天皇帝，皇后曰順天皇后。 壬午，上與後謁謝太廟，赦天下； 相王、太平公主加實封，皆滿萬戶。
In the eleventh month, on wuyin, the officials submitted honorific titles to the emperor as Emperor Yingtian and to the empress as Empress Shuntian. On renwu, the emperor and empress visited the imperial ancestral temple to give thanks; an amnesty was proclaimed throughout the realm; The Prince of Xiang and Princess Taiping received added fiefs, each reaching ten thousand households.
66
己丑，上御洛城南樓，觀潑寒胡戲。 清源尉呂元泰上疏，以為「謀時寒若，何必裸身揮水，鼓舞衢路以索之！」 疏奏，不納。
On jichou, the emperor mounted the south tower of Luoyang to watch the Cold-Dispelling Hu performance. Assistant Magistrate Lu Yuantai of Qingyuan submitted a memorial arguing that "to care for the season's cold is enough—why bare the body and splash water, drumming and dancing in the public roads to seek relief! The memorial was submitted and rejected.
67
壬寅，則天崩於上陽宮，年八十二。 遺制：「去帝號，稱則天大聖皇后。 王、蕭二族及褚遂良、韓瑗、柳奭親屬皆赦之。」
On the renyin day, Zetian died at Shangyang Palace at the age of eighty-two. In her final edict she directed: "Let the imperial title be removed; let her be called Empress Zetian the Great Sage. The Wang and Xiao clans, together with the kinsmen of Chu Suiliang, Han Yuan, and Liu Shi, were all granted amnesty."3
68
上居諒陰，以魏元忠攝塚宰三日。 元忠素負忠直之望，中外賴之； 武三思憚之，矯太后遺制，慰諭元忠，賜實封百戶。 元忠捧制，感咽涕泗，見者曰：「事去矣！」
While Zhongzong kept to his mourning seclusion, Wei Yuanzhong was appointed to act as Grand Minister for three days. Yuanzhong had long enjoyed a reputation for loyalty and forthrightness, and court and country alike looked to him; Wu Sansi, fearing him, forged Zetian's final edict to console Yuanzhong and bestow upon him a permanent fief of one hundred households. Yuanzhong took the edict in his hands and, choking back sobs, wept openly; witnesses said: "All is lost!4
69
十二月，丁卯，上始御同明殿見群臣。
In the twelfth month, on the dingmao day, Zhongzong for the first time held audience with his ministers in Tongming Hall.
70
太后將合葬乾陵，給事中嚴善思上疏，以為：「乾陵玄宮以石為門，鐵錮其縫，今啟其門，必須鐫鑿。 神明之道，體尚幽玄，動眾加功，恐多驚黷。 況合葬非古，漢時諸陵，皇后多不合陵，魏、晉已降，始有合者。 望於乾陵之傍更擇吉地為陵，若神道有知，幽塗自當通會； 若其無知，合之何益！」 不從。
As plans were made to bury Zetian together with Gaozong at Qianling, Supervising Secretary Yan Shansi submitted a memorial arguing: "The inner chamber of Qianling is sealed with stone doors bound in iron; opening them now would require forceful carving and chiseling. The realm of the spirits cherishes stillness and mystery; to muster a crowd and set them to work would, I fear, profane what should remain undisturbed. Moreover, joint burial is not the ancient way: under the Han, empresses were usually buried apart from their emperors; only from Wei and Jin onward did the practice of shared tombs arise. I ask that an auspicious site be chosen near Qianling for a separate tomb; if the spirits are aware, their paths in the underworld will surely meet; and if they are not aware, what good would joint burial do? End of memorial." The request was rejected.
71
是歲，戶部奏天下戶六百一十五萬，口三千七百一十四萬有畸。
That year the Ministry of Revenue reported sixty-one million five hundred thousand households and thirty-seven million one hundred forty-odd persons throughout the realm.
72
春，正月，戊戌，以吏部尚書李嶠同中書門下三品，中書侍郎-{于}-惟謙同平章事。
In spring, on the wuxu day of the first month, Li Qiao, Minister of Civil Appointments, was appointed Associate Grand Counselor of the Third Rank, and Yu Weiqian, Vice Director of the Secretariat, was made Associate Director of the Chancellery.
73
閏月，丙午，制：「太平、長安、安樂、宜城、新都、定安、金城公主並開府，置官屬。」
In the intercalary month, on the bingwu day, an edict declared: "The Princesses Taiping, Chang'an, Anle, Yicheng, Xindu, Ding'an, and Jincheng shall each establish a household office and appoint a full staff.5
74
武三思以敬暉、桓彥范、袁恕己尚在京師，忌之，乙卯，出為滑、洺、豫三州刺史。
Wu Sansi, resenting that Jing Hui, Huan Yanfan, and Yuan Shuji still remained in the capital, had them transferred on the yimao day to serve as prefects of Hua, Ming, and Yu.
75
賜閺鄉僧萬回號法雲公。 甲戌，以突騎施酋長烏質勒為懷德郡王。
The monk Wan Hui of Min Township was given the title Duke of Fayun. On the jiaxu day, Wuzhile, chieftain of the Turgesh, was enfeoffed as Prince of Huaidé Commandery.
76
二月，乙未，以刑部尚書韋巨源同中書門下三品，仍與皇后敘宗族。
In the second month, on the ywei day, Wei Juyuan, Minister of Justice, was appointed Associate Grand Counselor of the Third Rank and formally acknowledged as a kinsman of the Empress.
77
丙申，僧慧范等九人並加五品階，賜爵郡、縣公； 道士史崇恩等三人加五品階，除國子祭酒，同正； 葉靜能加金紫光祿大夫。
On the bingshen day, the nine monks including Huifan were each raised five ranks and ennobled as commandery or county dukes; the three Daoist masters including Shi Chong'en were raised five ranks and appointed Rectors of the Directorate of Education with full standing; Ye Jingneng was promoted to Grandee of Splendid Happiness with the Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon.
78
選左、右台及內外五品以上官二十人為十道巡察使，委之察吏撫人，薦賢直獄，二年一代，考其功罪而進退之。 易州刺史魏人姜師度、禮部員外郎馬懷素、殿中侍御史臨漳源乾曜、監察御史靈昌盧懷慎、衛尉少卿滏陽李傑皆預焉。
Twenty officials of the fifth rank and above from the Left and Right Censorates and from court and provinces were chosen as ten-circuit inspection commissioners, charged with scrutinizing officials, comforting the people, recommending talent, and correcting judicial abuses; each would serve a two-year term, after which promotion or dismissal would follow their record of achievement and failure. Those appointed included Jiang Shidu of Wei, prefect of Yizhou; Ma Huaisu, Vice Minister of Rites; Yuan Gan'yao of Linzhang, Palace Attendant Censor; Lu Huaizhen of Lingchang, Investigating Censor; and Li Jie of Fuyang, Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Regalia.
79
三月，甲辰，中書令韋安石罷為戶部尚書； 戶部尚書蘇瑰為侍中、西京留守。 瑰，頲之父也。 唐休璟致仕。
In the third month, on the jiachen day, Wei Anshi was dismissed as Chief Minister of the Secretariat and appointed Minister of Revenue; Su Gui, Minister of Revenue, was appointed Palace Attendant and Protector-General of the Western Capital. Su Gui was the father of Su Ting. Tang Xiujing retired from office.
80
初，少府監丞弘農宋之問及弟兗州司倉之遜皆坐附會張易之貶嶺南，逃歸東都，匿於友人光祿卿、駙馬都尉王同皎家。 同皎疾武三思及韋後所為，每與所親言之，輒切齒。 之遜於簾下聞之，密遣其子曇及甥校書郎李悛告三思，欲以自贖。 三思使曇、悛及撫州司倉冉祖雍上書告同皎與洛陽人張仲之、祖延慶、武當丞壽春周憬等潛結壯士，謀殺三思，因勒兵詣闕，廢皇后。 上命御史大夫李承嘉、監察御史姚紹之按其事，又命楊再思、李嶠、韋巨源參驗。 仲之言三思罪狀，事連宮壺。 再思、巨源陽寐不聽； 嶠與紹之命反接送獄。 仲之還顧，言不已。 紹之命撾之，折其臂。 仲之大呼曰：「吾已負汝，死當訟汝於天！」 庚戌，同皎等皆坐斬，籍沒其家。 周憬亡入比干廟中，大言曰：「比干古之忠臣，知吾此心！ 三思與皇后淫亂，傾危國家，行當梟首都市，恨不及見耳！」 遂自剄。 之問、之遜、曇、悛、祖雍並除京官，加朝散大夫。
Earlier, Song Zhiwen of Hongnong, Assistant Director of the Palace Storehouses, and his younger brother Zhixun, warehouse clerk of Yanzhou, had both been banished to Lingnan for their association with Zhang Yizhi; they escaped back to the Eastern Capital and took refuge with their friend Wang Tongjiao, Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments and Commandant of the Imperial Son-in-Law's Guard. Tongjiao loathed the conduct of Wu Sansi and Empress Wei, and whenever he spoke of it among his intimates he would grind his teeth in rage. Zhixun overheard this from behind a curtain and secretly sent his son Tan and his nephew Li Quan, a collator, to inform Wu Sansi, hoping to win pardon for himself. Wu Sansi had Tan, Quan, and Ran Zuyong, warehouse clerk of Fuzhou, submit a memorial accusing Tongjiao, together with Zhang Zhongzhi of Luoyang, Zu Yanqing, and Zhou Jing of Shouchun, assistant magistrate of Wudang, of secretly recruiting strong men to kill Sansi, then marching on the palace to depose the Empress. Zhongzong ordered Censor-in-Chief Li Chengjia and Investigating Censor Yao Shaozhi to investigate the case, with Yang Zaisi, Li Qiao, and Wei Juyuan appointed to assist in the review. Zhongzhi denounced Wu Sansi's crimes, implicating the inner palace in the affair. Zaisi and Juyuan pretended to doze and refused to listen; Li Qiao and Yao Shaozhi ordered him seized and returned to prison. Zhongzhi looked back over his shoulder and continued shouting without pause. Yao Shaozhi ordered him beaten with clubs until his arm was broken. Zhongzhi cried out: "You have already wronged me; when I die I shall accuse you before Heaven! End of speech." On the gengxu day, Tongjiao and his associates were all beheaded, and their property was confiscated. Zhou Jing fled into the Temple of Bi Gan and cried aloud: "Bi Gan was a loyal minister of antiquity—know what is in my heart! Wu Sansi and the Empress have debauched the court and brought the realm to ruin; soon their heads will hang in the capital marketplace—I regret only that I shall not live to see it! End of speech." Then he cut his own throat. Zhiwen, Zhixun, Tan, Quan, and Zuyong were all appointed to offices in the capital and promoted to Grand Master of Palace Leisure."
81
武三思與韋後日夜譖敬暉等不已，復左遷暉為朗州刺史，崔玄暐為均州刺史，桓彥范為亳州刺史，袁恕己為郢州刺史； 與暉等同立功者謝思行等皆以為黨與，坐貶。
Wu Sansi and Empress Wei ceaselessly slandered Jing Hui and his allies, and had them demoted once more: Hui to prefect of Langzhou, Cui Xuanwei to prefect of Junzhou, Huan Yanfan to prefect of Bozhou, and Yuan Shuji to prefect of Yingzhou; Xie Sixing and others who had shared in Hui's coup were all treated as accomplices and demoted in turn.
82
大置員外官，自京司及諸州凡二千餘人，宦官超遷七品以上員外官者又將千人。
Extra officials were created in great numbers: more than two thousand in the capital and the provinces combined, with nearly a thousand eunuchs alone advanced by irregular promotion to extra posts of the seventh rank and above.
83
魏元忠自端州還，為相，不復強諫，惟與時俯仰，中外失望。 酸棗尉袁楚客致書元忠，以為：「主上新服厥命，惟新厥德，當進君子，退小人，以興大化，豈可安其榮寵，循默而已！ 今不早建太子，擇師傅而輔之，一失也。 公主開府置僚屬，二失也。 崇長緇衣，使遊走權門，借勢納賂，三失也。 俳優小人，盜竊品秩，四失也。 有司選進賢才，皆以貨取勢求，五失也。 寵進宦者，殆滿千人，為長亂之階，六失也。 王公貴戚，賞賜無度，競為侈靡，七失也。 廣置員外官，傷財害民，八失也。 先朝宮女，得自便居外，出入無禁，交通請謁，九失也。 左道之人，熒惑主聽，盜竊祿位，十失也。 凡此十失，君侯不正，誰正之哉！」 元忠得書，愧謝而已。 夏，四月，改贈後父韋玄貞為酆王，後四弟皆贈郡王。
Wei Yuanzhong returned from exile in Duanzhou and again became Chancellor, but he no longer remonstrated boldly; he merely bent with the times, and court and country alike were disheartened. Yuan Chuke, magistrate of Suanzao, wrote to Yuanzhong arguing: "The Emperor has newly assumed the throne and should renew his virtue; he ought to elevate the worthy and remove the base to bring about great reform—how can you rest content in honor and silence! First failure: the Crown Prince has not yet been established early, with tutors chosen to guide him. Second failure: princesses have been allowed to establish household offices and appoint their own staffs. Third failure: Buddhist monks are honored and allowed to haunt the doors of the powerful, trading on influence to accept bribes. Fourth failure: actors and other base men have stolen official rank. Fifth failure: when offices select talent, they do so by bribery and by trading on influence. Sixth failure: favored eunuchs now number nearly a thousand, laying the groundwork for lasting turmoil. Seventh failure: princes and noble kin receive boundless rewards and compete in extravagance. Eighth failure: the proliferation of extra officials drains the treasury and harms the people. Ninth failure: palace women of the previous reign live freely outside the palace, coming and going without restraint and trading in petitions and favors. Tenth failure: heterodox adepts beguile the Emperor's ear and steal rank and salary. Of these ten failures, if you will not set them right, who will? End of letter." Yuanzhong received the letter and could only reply with shamefaced thanks. In summer, in the fourth month, the Empress's late father Wei Xuanzhen was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Feng, and her four younger brothers were all posthumously made commandery princes."
84
己丑，左散騎常侍、同中書門下三品李懷遠致仕。
On the jichou day, Li Huaiyuan, Left Regular Attendant and Associate Grand Counselor of the Third Rank, retired from office.
85
處士京兆韋月將上書告武三思潛通宮掖，必為逆亂； 上大怒，命斬之。 黃門侍郎宋璟奏請推按，上益怒，不及整巾，屣履出側門，謂璟曰：「朕謂已斬，乃猶未邪！」 命趨斬之。 璟曰：「人言中宮私於三思，陛下不問而誅之，臣恐天下必有竊議。」 固請按之，上不許。 璟曰：「必欲斬月將，請先斬臣！ 不然，臣終不敢奉詔！」 上怒少解。 左御史大夫蘇珦、給事中徐堅、大理卿長安尹思貞皆以為方夏行戮，有違時令。 上乃命與杖，流嶺南。 過秋分一日，平曉，廣州都督周仁軌斬之。
The recluse Wei Yuejiang of Jingzhao submitted a memorial accusing Wu Sansi of secret dealings with the inner palace and warning that rebellion would surely follow; Zhongzong was furious and ordered his immediate execution. Vice Director of the Chancellery Song Jing petitioned for a formal investigation; Zhongzong grew still angrier, and without straightening his headcloth rushed out the side gate in his slippers, crying to Song Jing: "I thought he was already dead—is he still alive! End of speech." He ordered the execution carried out at once. Song Jing said: "People say the Empress has improper relations with Wu Sansi; if Your Majesty executes the accuser without investigation, I fear the realm will murmur against it. End of speech." He pressed for an investigation, but Zhongzong refused. Song Jing said: "If Yuejiang must die, execute me first! Otherwise I cannot obey Your Majesty's command! End of speech." Zhongzong's rage subsided somewhat. Left Censor-in-Chief Su Xian, Supervising Secretary Xu Jian, and Chief Judge Yin Sizhen of Chang'an all argued that execution in midsummer would violate seasonal propriety. Zhongzong then ordered him beaten with the staff and exiled to Lingnan. One day after the autumn equinox, at daybreak, Zhou Ren'gui, Protector-General of Guangzhou, beheaded him."
86
御史大夫李承嘉附武三思，詆尹思貞於朝，思貞曰：「公附會奸臣，將圖不軌，先除忠臣邪！」 承嘉怒，劾奏思貞，出為青州刺史。 或謂思貞曰：「公平日訥於言，及廷折承嘉，何其敏邪？」 思貞曰：「物不能鳴者，激之則鳴。 承嘉恃威權相陵，僕義不受屈，亦不知言之從何而至也。」
Censor-in-Chief Li Chengjia, allied with Wu Sansi, slandered Yin Sizhen at court; Yin Sizhen replied: "You attach yourself to treacherous ministers and plot rebellion—is your first move to remove loyal men! End of speech." Chengjia, enraged, impeached Yin Sizhen and had him transferred to serve as prefect of Qingzhou. Someone asked Yin Sizhen: "You are usually slow of speech—how did you rebut Chengjia in court with such swiftness? End of speech." Yin Sizhen replied: "Things that cannot sound will sound when struck. Chengjia bullied me with his power; by principle I would not yield—and I cannot say where the words came from."6
87
武三思惡宋璟，出之檢校貝州刺史。
Wu Sansi, resenting Song Jing, had him transferred to serve as acting prefect of Beizhou.
88
五月，庚申，葬則天大聖皇后於乾陵。
In the fifth month, on the gengshen day, Empress Zetian the Great Sage was interred at Qianling.
89
武三思使鄭愔告朗州刺史敬暉、亳州刺史韋彥范、襄州刺史張柬之、郢州刺史袁恕己、均州刺史崔玄暐與王同皎通謀。 六月，戊寅，貶暉崖州司馬，彥范瀧州司馬，柬之新州司馬，恕己竇州司馬，玄暐白州司馬，並員外置，仍長任，削其勳封； 復彥范姓桓氏。
Wu Sansi had Zheng Yin accuse Jing Hui, prefect of Langzhou; Wei Yanfan, prefect of Bozhou; Zhang Jianzhi, prefect of Xiangzhou; Yuan Shuji, prefect of Yingzhou; and Cui Xuanwei, prefect of Junzhou, of conspiracy with Wang Tongjiao. In the sixth month, on the wuyin day, Hui was demoted to vice prefect of Yazhou, Yanfan to vice prefect of Longzhou, Jianzhi to vice prefect of Xizhou, Shuji to vice prefect of Douzhou, and Cui Xuanwei to vice prefect of Baizhou; all were appointed as supernumerary officials with indefinite tenure, and their honors and fiefs were revoked; Yanfan's original surname, Huan, was restored.
90
初，韋玄貞流欽州而卒，蠻酋寧承基兄弟逼取其女，妻崔氏不與，承基等殺之，及其四男洵、浩、洞、泚，上命廣州都督周仁軌使將兵二萬討之。 承基等亡入海，仁軌追斬之，以其首祭崔氏墓，殺掠其部眾殆盡。 上喜，加仁軌鎮國大將軍，充五府大使，賜爵汝南郡公。 韋後隔簾拜仁軌，以父事之。 及韋後敗，仁軌以黨與誅。
Earlier, Wei Xuanzhen had died in exile at Qinzhou; the barbarian chieftain Ning Chengji and his brothers tried to seize his daughter by force; his wife, Lady Cui, refused, and they killed her along with her four sons Xun, Hao, Dong, and Ci; Zhongzong ordered Zhou Ren'gui, Protector-General of Guangzhou, to lead twenty thousand troops against them. Chengji and his followers fled to sea; Ren'gui pursued them, cut them down, and offered their heads at Lady Cui's tomb, slaughtering and plundering their followers nearly to the last. Zhongzong was delighted, promoted Ren'gui to Defender-in-Chief of the State, appointed him Commissioner of the Five Prefectures, and enfeoffed him as Duke of Runan Commandery. Empress Wei received Ren'gui from behind a screen and honored him as a father. When Empress Wei later fell, Ren'gui was executed as her accomplice.
91
秋，七月，戊申，立衛王重俊為皇太子。 太子性明果，而官屬率貴遊子弟，所為多不法； 左庶子姚珽屢諫，不聽，珽，璹之弟也。
In autumn, on the wushen day of the seventh month, Prince Chongjun of Wei was installed as Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was bright and resolute by nature, but his staff were mostly the sons of idle nobles, and their conduct was often lawless; Left Mentor Yao Ting remonstrated repeatedly, but was ignored; Yao Ting was the younger brother of Yao Shu.
92
丙寅，以李嶠為中書令。
On the bingyin day, Li Qiao was appointed Chief Minister of the Secretariat.
93
上將還西京，辛未，左散騎常侍李懷遠同中書門下三品，充東都留守。
As the Emperor prepared to return to Chang'an, on the day xinwei he appointed Li Huaiyuan—Left Assistant Censor-in-Chief and a third-rank minister of the Secretariat-Chancellery—to remain behind as Defender of Luoyang.
94
武三思陰令人疏皇后穢行，榜於天津橋，請加廢黜。 上大怒，命御史大夫李承嘉窮核其事。 承嘉奏言：「敬暉、桓彥范、張柬之、袁恕己、崔玄暐使人為之，雖雲廢後，實謀大逆，請族誅之。」 三思又使安樂公主譖之於內，侍御史鄭愔言之於外，上命法司結竟。 大理丞三原李朝隱奏稱：「暉等未經推鞫，不可遽就誅夷。」 大理丞裴談奏稱：「暉等宜據制書處斬籍沒，不應更加推鞫。」 上以暉等嘗賜鐵券，許以不死，乃長流暉於瓊州，彥范於瀼州，柬之於瀧州，恕己於環州，玄暐於古州，子弟年十六以上，皆流嶺外。 擢承嘉為金紫光祿大夫，進爵襄武郡公，談為刑部尚書； 出李朝隱為聞喜令。
Wu Sansi secretly arranged for a denunciation of Empress Wei's scandalous conduct to be posted at Tianjin Bridge, calling for her deposition. Zhongzong flew into a rage and ordered Censor-in-Chief Li Chengjia to pursue the affair to the bottom. Chengjia reported: "Hui, Yuanfan, Jianzhi, Shuji, and Xuanwei had agents carry this out; though they claimed only to depose the empress, they in fact plotted rebellion. I beg that their entire clans be executed." End of speech. Wu Sansi meanwhile had Princess Anle whisper accusations against them inside the palace, while Attending Censor Zheng Yin aired the charges in public. Zhongzong ordered the courts to bring the case to a final judgment. Li Chaoyin, an assistant in the Grand Court of Judicature from Sanyuan, argued: "Hui and his fellows have not even been interrogated—they must not be hurried to execution." End of speech. Pei Tan, another court assistant, countered: "The imperial decree already calls for their execution and the seizure of their estates. There is no need for further inquiry." End of speech. Mindful that the five men had once received iron certificates guaranteeing their lives, Zhongzong spared them death but banished Hui to Qiongzhou, Yanfan to Rangzhou, Jianzhi to Longzhou, Shuji to Huanzhou, and Xuanwei to Guzhou. Every son and younger brother over sixteen was sent into exile beyond the southern mountains. Chengjia was raised to Grand Master of the Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon and created Duke of Xiangwu; Pei Tan was appointed Minister of Justice; Li Chaoyin was demoted and sent out to serve as magistrate of Wenxi.
95
三思又諷太子上表，請夷暉等三族，上不許。
Wu Sansi also induced the Crown Prince to memorial the throne, asking that Hui and his allies be wiped out to the third generation. Zhongzong refused.
96
中書舍人崔湜說三思曰：「暉等異日北歸，終為後患，不如遣使矯制殺之。」 三思問誰可使者，湜薦大理正周利用。 利用先為五王所惡，貶嘉州司馬，乃以利用攝右台侍御史，奉使嶺外。 比至，柬之、玄暐已死，遇彥范於貴州，令左右縛之，曳於竹槎之上，肉盡至骨，然後杖殺。 得暉，咼而殺之。 恕己素服黃金，利用逼之使飲野葛汁，盡數升不死，不勝毒憤，掊地，爪甲殆盡，仍捶殺之。 利用還，擢拜御史中丞。 薛季昶累貶儋州司馬。 飲藥死。
Secretariat Drafting Officer Cui Shi urged Wu Sansi: "If those men ever make their way back north, they will haunt us forever. Better to send an agent bearing a forged imperial order and finish them off." End of speech. Wu Sansi asked whom he could send. Cui Shi recommended Zhou Liyong, a director in the Grand Court of Judicature. Liyong had long been hated by the Five Princes and had been banished to a post as military assistant in Jia Prefecture. Wu Sansi now gave him an acting appointment as Attending Censor of the Right Censorate and dispatched him beyond the southern frontier. By the time he arrived, Jianzhi and Xuanwei were already dead. In Guizhou he caught Yanfan, had his men bind him and haul him over a bamboo sledge until the flesh was torn from his bones, then beat him to death. When he seized Hui, he sliced open his mouth and killed him. Shuji was known to wear gold on his person. Liyong forced him to drink kudzu poison by the sheng. When he still would not die, the poison's fury drove him to rake the earth until his nails were nearly torn away—whereupon Liyong beat him to death anyway. When Liyong returned, he was promoted to Assistant Censor-in-Chief. Xue Jichang was demoted again and again, until at last he was sent to Dan Prefecture as military assistant. There he drank poison and died.
97
三思既殺五王，權傾人主，常言：「我不知代間何者謂之善人，何者謂之惡人； 但於我善者則為善人，於我惡者則為惡人耳。」
Once Wu Sansi had destroyed the Five Princes, his power eclipsed even the throne. He liked to say: "I no longer know who in this world counts as good and who as evil; whoever is good to me is good, and whoever is bad to me is evil—that is all there is to it."7
98
時兵部尚書宗禁客、將作大匠宗晉卿、太府卿紀處訥、鴻臚卿甘元柬皆為三思羽翼。 御史中丞周利用、侍御史冉祖雍、太僕丞李俊、光祿丞宋之遜、監察御史姚紹之皆為三思耳目，時人謂之五狗。
At that time Minister of War Zong Chuke, Director of Palace Construction Zong Jinqing, Minister of the Grand Treasury Ji Chun'e, and Minister of Ceremonies Gan Yuanjian all served as Wu Sansi's chief supporters. Assistant Censor-in-Chief Zhou Liyong, Attending Censor Ran Zuyong, Assistant Director of the Imperial Stud Li Jun, Assistant Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Song Zhixun, and Investigating Censor Yao Shaozhi served as his eyes and ears in the bureaucracy. People of the day called them the Five Dogs.
99
九月，戊午，左散騎常侍、同中書門下三品李懷遠薨。
In the ninth month, on the day wuwu, Li Huaiyuan—Left Assistant Censor-in-Chief and a third-rank minister of the Secretariat-Chancellery—died.
100
初，李嶠為吏部侍郎，欲樹私恩，再求入相，奏大置員外官，廣引貴勢親識。 既而為相，銓衡失序，府庫減耗，乃更表言濫官之弊，且請遜位； 上慰諭不許。
Earlier, while serving as Vice Minister of Personnel, Li Qiao had sought to curry private favor and win his way back into the Chancellery. He memorialized for a vast expansion of supernumerary posts and filled them with powerful patrons and personal connections. Once he had become Chancellor, the evaluation of officials collapsed into chaos and the treasury drained away. He then submitted another memorial lamenting the plague of excessive appointments and asked to step down; Zhongzong comforted him and refused to accept his resignation.
101
冬，十月，己卯，車駕發東都，以前檢校并州長史張仁願檢校左屯衛大將軍兼洛州長史。 戊戌，車駕至西京。 十一月，乙巳，赦天下。
In the tenth month of winter, on the day jimao, the imperial procession left Luoyang. Zhang Renyuan, formerly acting governor of Bingzhou, was appointed acting General-in-Chief of the Left Garrison Guard and concurrently prefect of Luozhou. On the day wuxu the imperial procession reached Chang'an. In the eleventh month, on the day yisi, a general amnesty was declared throughout the empire.
102
丙辰，以蒲州刺史竇從一為雍州刺史。 從一，德玄之子也，初名懷貞，避皇后父諱，更名從一，多諂附權貴。 太平公主與僧寺爭碾磑，雍州司戶李元紘判歸僧寺。 從一大懼，亟命元紘改判。 元紘大署判後曰：「南山可移，此判無動！」 從一不能奪。 元紘，道廣之子也。
On the day bingchen, Dou Congyi, governor of Pu Prefecture, was appointed governor of Yong Prefecture. Congyi was the son of De Xuan. He had originally been named Huaizhen, but changed his name to avoid the taboo on the Empress's father's name. He was notorious for fawning on the powerful. Princess Taiping quarreled with a Buddhist monastery over a water-powered mill. Li Yuanhong, registrar of Yong Prefecture, ruled in the monastery's favor. Congyi was terrified and immediately ordered Yuanhong to reverse the ruling. Yuanhong wrote in bold characters at the foot of the judgment: "The South Mountain itself may be moved, but this ruling shall not!" End of speech. Congyi could not budge him. Yuanhong was the son of Dao Guang.
103
初，秘書監鄭普思納其女於後宮，監察御史靈昌崔日用劾奏之，上不聽。 普思聚黨於雍、岐二州，謀作亂。 事覺，西京留守蘇瑰收系，窮治之。 普思妻第五氏以鬼道得幸於皇后，上敕瑰勿治。 及車駕還西京，瑰廷爭之，上抑瑰而佑普思； 侍御史范獻忠進曰：「請斬蘇瑰！」 上曰：「何故？」 對曰：「瑰為留守大臣，不能先斬普思，然後奏聞，使之熒惑聖聽，其罪大矣。 且普思反狀明白，而陛下曲為申理。 臣聞王者不死，殆謂是乎！ 臣願先賜死，不能北面事普思。」 魏元忠曰：「蘇瑰長者，用刑不枉。 普思法當死。」 上不得已，戊午，流普思於儋州，餘黨皆伏誅。
Earlier, Zheng Pusi, Director of the Secretariat Directorate, had offered his daughter to the inner palace. Investigating Censor Cui Riyong of Lingchang impeached him, but Zhongzong would not listen. Pusi gathered followers in Yong and Qi prefectures and plotted rebellion. When the plot came to light, Su Gui, Defender of Chang'an, arrested him and pursued the case to the end. Pusi's wife, Lady Fifth, had won Empress Wei's favor through dark arts. Zhongzong ordered Su Gui to drop the case. When the Emperor returned to Chang'an, Su Gui argued the matter fiercely at court. Zhongzong silenced Su Gui and shielded Pusi; Attending Censor Fan Xianzhong stepped forward and said: "I ask that Su Gui be executed!" End of speech. Zhongzong asked: "On what grounds?" End of speech. Fan replied: "As Defender—a chief minister of the capital—Su Gui should have executed Pusi first and reported afterward. Instead he let a traitor cloud the Emperor's ears. That is a grave crime. Pusi's rebellion is plain for all to see, yet Your Majesty twists the law to absolve him. I have heard it said that kings cannot be killed—perhaps this is what that means! Grant me death first—I cannot bow north and serve Pusi." End of speech. Wei Yuanzhong said: "Su Gui is an upright man. He does not punish the innocent. By law, Pusi deserves death." End of speech. Cornered, Zhongzong on the day wuwu exiled Pusi to Dan Prefecture. The rest of the conspirators were put to death.
104
十二月，己卯，突厥默啜寇鳴沙，靈武軍大總管沙吒忠義與戰，軍敗，死者六千餘人。 丁巳，突厥進寇原、會等州，掠隴右牧馬萬餘匹而去。 免忠義官。
In the twelfth month, on the day jimao, the Türk khan Mo-ch'o attacked Mingsha. Sha Tuo Zhongyi, Grand General of the Lingwu Army, met him in battle and was routed. More than six thousand men were killed. On the day dingsi the Türks pushed deeper, raiding Yuan, Hui, and neighboring prefectures. They drove off more than ten thousand horses from the Longyou pastures and withdrew. Zhongyi was dismissed from office.
105
安西大都護郭元振詣突騎施烏質勒牙帳議軍事，天大風雪，元振立於帳前，與烏質勒語。 久之，雪深，元振不移足； 烏質勒老，不勝寒，會罷而卒。 其子娑葛勒兵將攻元振，副使御之中丞解琬知之，勸元振夜逃去。 元振曰：「吾以誠心待人，何所疑懼！ 且深在寇庭，逃將安適！」 安臥不動。 明旦，入哭，甚哀。 娑葛感其義，待元振如初。 戊戌，以娑葛襲嗢鹿州都督、懷德王。
Guo Yuanzhen, Protector-General of Anxi, went to the yurt of the Turgesh chieftain Wuzhile to discuss military affairs. A fierce blizzard blew up, yet Yuanzhen stood before the tent and spoke with him face to face. A long while passed and the snow piled deep, but Yuanzhen never moved his feet; Wuzhile was old and could not withstand the cold. When the meeting ended, he died. His son Suoge mustered troops to attack Yuanzhen. Xie Wan, the vice-commissioner and Imperial Censor-in-Chief, learned of it and urged Yuanzhen to flee under cover of night. Yuanzhen said: "I have dealt with others in good faith—what is there to fear! And deep in the enemy camp, where would flight even take me?" End of speech. He lay down calmly and did not move. At dawn the next day he went in to mourn, weeping with deep sorrow. Suoge was moved by his integrity and treated Yuanzhen exactly as before. On the day wuxu, Suoge succeeded to the posts of Protector of Wulu Prefecture and Prince of Huaide.
106
安樂公主恃寵驕恣，賣官鬻獄，勢傾朝野。 或自為制敕，掩其文，令上署之； 上笑而從之，竟不視也。 自請為皇太女，上雖不從，亦不譴責。
Princess Anle, drunk on imperial favor, grew arrogant and unchecked. She sold offices and bought verdicts until her power dwarfed everyone at court and beyond. Sometimes she drafted edicts herself, hid the text, and had Zhongzong sign them; He would smile and oblige, never once bothering to read what he had signed. She even asked to be made Imperial Crown Princess. Zhongzong refused, but did not rebuke her.
107
春，正月，庚戌，制以突厥默啜寇邊，命內外官各進平突厥之策。 右補闕盧輔上疏，以為：「郤谷悅禮樂，敦詩書，為晉元帥； 杜預射不穿禮，建平吳之勳。 是知中權制謀，不取一夫之勇。 如沙吒忠義，驍將之材，本不足以當大任。 又，鳴沙之役，主將先逃，宜正邦憲； 賞罰既明，敵無不服。 又，邊州刺史，宜精擇其人，使之蒐卒乘，積資糧，來則御史，去則備之。 去歲四方旱災，未易興師。 當理內以及外，綏近以來遠，俟倉廩實，士卒練，然後大舉以討之。」 上善之。
In the first month of spring, on the day gengxu, an edict was issued: because the Türk khan Mo-ch'o was raiding the frontier, every official inside and outside the court was to submit a plan for pacifying the Türks. Right Remonstrance Officer Lu Fu submitted a memorial arguing: "Xi Gu loved ritual and music and steeped himself in the Odes and Documents, yet he commanded Jin's armies; Du Yu was no archer, yet he won the merit of pacifying Wu. This shows that strategy belongs to those who hold central authority—not to the lone warrior's courage. A man like Sha Tuo Zhongyi may have the makings of a fierce general, but he is not fit for supreme command. Moreover, at Mingsha the commander fled before his men. He should be punished under the laws of the realm; when reward and punishment are clear, no enemy will refuse to submit. Frontier prefects, too, must be chosen with care, so they can muster troops, stockpile grain, strike when the enemy comes, and fortify when they leave. Last year drought ravaged the empire. This is no time to raise a great army. Put the interior in order before looking outward; win those nearby before drawing in those far away. Wait until the granaries are full and the soldiers trained—only then launch the great campaign to crush them." End of speech. Zhongzong approved his proposal.
108
二月，丙戌，上遣武攸暨、武三思詣乾陵祈雨。 既而雨降，上喜，制復武氏崇恩廟及昊陵、順陵，因名酆王廟曰褒德，陵曰榮先； 又制崇恩廟齋郎取五品子充。 太常博士楊孚曰：「太廟皆取七品已下子為齋郎，今崇恩廟取五品子，未知太廟當如何？」 上命太廟亦准崇恩廟。 孚曰：「以臣准君，猶為僭逆，況以君准臣乎！」 上乃止。
In the second month, on the day bingxu, Zhongzong sent Wu Youji and Wu Sansi to Qianling to pray for rain. Rain soon fell. Delighted, Zhongzong issued an edict restoring the Wu clan's Chong'en Temple along with Haoling and Shunling. He renamed the Prince of Feng's temple Baode and his tomb Rongxian; another edict stipulated that Chong'en Temple's ritual attendants were to be drawn from sons of fifth-rank officials. Yang Fu, a doctor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, objected: "The Imperial Ancestral Temple has always drawn its ritual attendants from sons of seventh rank and below. If Chong'en Temple now takes sons of fifth rank, what becomes of the Imperial Ancestral Temple?" End of speech. Zhongzong ordered the Imperial Ancestral Temple to follow Chong'en Temple's standard. Yang Fu said: "To measure a lord by a subject is already usurpation—how much worse to measure a lord's temple by a subject's!" End of speech. Zhongzong relented.
109
庚寅，敕改諸州中興寺、觀為龍興，自今奏事不得言中興。 右補闕權若訥上疏，以為：「天、地、日、月等字皆則天能事，賊臣敬暉等輕紊前規； 今削之無益於淳化，存之有光於孝理。 又，神龍元年制書，一事以上，並依貞觀故事，豈可近捨母儀，遠尊祖德！」 疏奏，手制褒美。
On the day gengyin, an edict renamed every Zhongxing temple and monastery in the realm to Longxing. Henceforth memorials were forbidden to use the word "Restoration." Right Remonstrance Officer Quan Ruonuo submitted a memorial arguing: "The characters for Heaven, Earth, Sun, and Moon were all innovations of Empress Zetian. Traitors like Jing Hui rashly overturned those precedents; to erase them now would not purify the age, but to preserve them would honor filial duty. Moreover, the Shenlong edict of the first year declared that all affairs should follow Zhenguan precedent. How can we abandon our mother's example while claiming to honor our ancestors from afar!" End of speech. When the memorial arrived, Zhongzong personally drafted an edict commending it.
110
三月，庚子，吐蕃遣其大臣悉薰熱入貢。
In the third month, on the day gengzi, Tibet sent its minister Xixinre to present tribute.
111
夏，四月，辛巳，以上所養雍王守禮女金城公主妻吐蕃贊普。
In the fourth month of summer, on the day xinsi, Zhongzong gave Princess Jincheng—daughter of Yong Wang Shouli, whom he had raised as his own—in marriage to the Tibetan tsenpo.
112
五月，戊戌，以右屯衛大將軍張仁願為朔方道大總管，以備突厥。
In the fifth month, on the day wuxu, Zhang Renyuan, General-in-Chief of the Right Garrison Guard, was appointed Grand General of the Shuofang Circuit to guard against the Türks.
113
上以歲旱谷貴，召太府卿紀處訥謀之。 明日，武三思使知太史事迦葉志忠奏：「是夜，攝提入太微宮，至帝座，主大臣宴見納忠於天子。」 上以為然，敕稱處訥忠誠，徹於玄象，賜衣一襲，帛六十段。
With drought driving up grain prices, Zhongzong summoned Ji Chun'e, Minister of the Grand Treasury, to discuss what could be done. The next day Wu Sansi had Yeji Zhizhong, overseer of the Directorate of Astronomy, report: "That very night Zhijie entered the Taiwei Palace and reached the Emperor's throne—a sign that a great minister would be received in audience and loyalty welcomed at court." Zhongzong agreed and issued an edict praising Chunna's loyalty as written in the heavens, granting him one suit of robes and sixty bolts of silk.
114
六月，丁卯朔，日有食之。
In the sixth month, on the first day dingmao, there was a solar eclipse.
115
姚巂道討擊使、監察御史晉昌唐九征擊姚州叛蠻，破之，斬獲三千餘人。
Tang Jiuzheng, punitive commissioner on the Yao–Xi route and censor from Jinchang, struck the rebellious tribes of Yao Prefecture, routed them, and killed or captured over three thousand.
116
皇后以太子重俊非其所生，惡之； 特進德靜王武三思尤忌太子。 上官婕妤以三思故，每下制敕，推尊武氏。 安樂公主與駙馬左衛將軍武崇訓常陵侮太子，或呼為奴。 崇訓又教公主言於上，請廢太子，立己為皇太女。 太子積不能平。
The empress loathed Crown Prince Chongjun, for he was not her own son; Wu Sansi, Prince Dejing and holder of special advancement, above all feared and envied the crown prince. Because of her tie to Sansi, Consort Shangguan used every edict she drafted to elevate the Wu family. Princess Anle and her husband Wu Chongxun, Left Guard General, routinely belittled the crown prince—at times they even called him a bondservant. Chongxun further coached the princess to petition Zhongzong to remove the crown prince and name her heir to the throne—the unprecedented rank of crown princess. Grievance piled upon grievance until the crown prince could bear it no longer.
117
秋，七月，辛丑，太子與左羽林大將軍李多祚、將軍李思沖、李承況、獨孤禕之、沙吒忠義等，矯制發羽林千騎兵三百餘人，殺三思、崇訓於其第，並親黨十餘人。 又使左金吾大將軍成王千里及其子天水王禧分兵守宮城諸門，太子與多祚引兵自肅章門斬關而入，叩閣索上官婕妤。 婕妤大言曰：「觀其意欲先索婉兒，次索皇后，次及大家。」 上乃與韋後、安樂公主、上官婕妤登玄武門樓以避兵鋒，使左羽林大將軍劉景仁帥飛騎百餘人屯於樓下以自衛。 楊再思、蘇瑰、李嶠與兵部尚書宗楚客、左衛將軍紀處訥擁兵二千餘人屯太極殿前，閉門自守。 多祚先至玄武樓下，欲升樓，宿衛拒之。 多祚與太子狐疑，按兵不戰，冀上問之。 宮闈令石城楊思勖在上側，請擊之。 多祚婿羽林中郎將野呼利為前鋒總管，思勖挺刃斬之，多祚軍奪氣。 上據檻俯謂多祚所將千騎曰：「汝輩皆朕宿衛之士，何為從多祚反？ 苟能斬反者，勿患不富貴。」 於是千騎斬多祚、承況、禕之、忠義，餘眾皆潰。 成王千里、天水王禧攻右延明門，將殺宗楚客、紀處訥，不克而死。 太子以百騎走終南山，至鄠西，能屬者才數人，憩於林下，為左右所殺。 上以其首獻太廟及祭三思、崇訓之柩，然後梟之朝堂。 更成王千里姓曰蝮氏，同黨皆伏誅。
In the seventh month of autumn, on xinchou day, Crown Prince Chongjun, Li Duozuo the Left Forest General, and the generals Li Sichong, Li Chengkang, Dugu Yizhi, and Shazha Zhongyi forged an imperial order and led three hundred-odd Left Forest cavalry to storm the mansions of Sansi and Chongxun, killing them and more than ten of their intimates. He dispatched Prince Cheng of Qianli, Left Golden Guard General, and his son Prince Tian of Xi to seize the palace gates, while he and Duozuo broke through Suzhang Gate and battered at the inner doors, demanding Consort Shangguan be handed over. Consort Shangguan shouted for all to hear: "Mark their aim—they mean first to take me, Wan'er; next the empress; and after that, the Emperor himself." End of speech. Zhongzong then climbed the Xuanyuan Gate tower with Empress Wei, Princess Anle, and Consort Shangguan to escape the fighting, while Liu Jingren, Left Forest General, posted a hundred flying cavalry below to guard them. Yang Zaisi, Su Gui, and Li Jiao joined Minister of War Zong Chuke and Left Guard General Ji Chune in rallying over two thousand men before the Hall of Supreme Ultimate, barricading the doors. Duozuo reached the foot of the Xuanyuan tower first and tried to climb up, but the palace guards turned him back. Duozuo and the crown prince wavered, holding their men idle in the hope that Zhongzong would call them to audience. Yang Sinu, palace aide of Shicheng, standing at Zhongzong's side, begged leave to strike. Yehuli, Duozuo's son-in-law and vanguard commander of the Forest Guard, fell when Sinu stepped forward and cut off his head; Duozuo's force lost heart at once. Zhongzong leaned over the balustrade and called down to Duozuo's thousand riders: "Every one of you is sworn to guard my person—why do you follow Duozuo in treason? Slay the rebels, and wealth and rank will be yours—have no fear of that." End of speech. At once the thousand riders cut down Duozuo, Chengkang, Yizhi, and Zhongyi; the rest broke and fled. Prince Cheng of Qianli and Prince Tian of Xi assaulted the Right Gate of Extended Brightness to kill Zong Chuke and Ji Chune; failing, they were slain in turn. The crown prince galloped toward Mount Zhongnan with a hundred horsemen, but by the time he reached western E only a handful remained. He paused under the trees—and his own followers killed him. Zhongzong first presented the head at the ancestral temple and before the biers of Sansi and Chongxun; only then was it hung in the court hall for all to see. Prince Cheng of Qianli's clan name was changed to Viper; every accomplice was put to death.
118
東宮僚屬無敢近太子屍者，唯永和縣丞寧嘉勖解衣裹太子首號哭，貶興平丞。
Not one official of the Eastern Palace would go near the prince's body. Only Ning Jiaxu, assistant magistrate of Yonghe, stripped off his own robe to wrap the severed head and wept openly—for which he was banished to a post in Xingping.
119
太子兵所經諸門守者皆坐流； 韋氏之黨奏請悉誅之，上更命法司推斷。 大理卿宋城鄭惟忠曰：「大獄始決，人心未安，若復有改推，則反仄者眾矣。」 上乃止。
Every gatekeeper along the crown prince's route was sentenced to exile; the Wei faction petitioned that they all be executed, but Zhongzong sent the case back for judicial review. Zheng Weizhong, chief justice of the Court of Judicial Review, argued: "The verdict in this grave matter is fresh, and the realm is still unsettled. Reopen the inquiry, and unrest will spread far and wide." End of speech. Zhongzong relented.
120
以楊思勖為銀青光祿大夫，行內常侍。 癸卯，赦天下。
Yang Sinu was made Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Palace Attendance and acting Inner Regular Attendant. On guimao day, Zhongzong proclaimed a general amnesty.
121
贈武三思太尉、梁宣王，武崇訓開府儀同三司、魯忠王。 安樂公主請用永泰公主故事，以崇訓墓為陵。 給事中盧粲駁之，以為：「永泰事出特恩，今魯王主婿，不可為比。」 上手敕曰：「安樂與永泰無異，同穴之義，今古不殊。」 粲又奏，以為：「陛下以膝下之愛施及其夫，豈可使上下無辨，君臣一貫哉！」 上乃從之。 公主怒，出粲為陳州刺史。
Posthumous honors fell upon Wu Sansi as Grand Commander and Prince Xuan of Liang, and upon Wu Chongxun as a palace-grade minister of the first rank and Prince Zhong of Lu. Princess Anle asked that Chongxun's grave be elevated to a mausoleum, as had been done for Princess Yongtai. Attendant Lu Can objected: "Princess Yongtai's case was a singular act of imperial favor. The Prince of Lu is the emperor's son-in-law—the two cannot be equated." End of edict. Zhongzong wrote back in his own hand: "Anle and Yongtai are alike in this—husband and wife buried together is a bond honored in every age." End of edict. Lu Can pressed on: "Your Majesty pours a father's tenderness upon their husbands as well—will you blur the line between sovereign and subject, prince and minister, until none can tell them apart?" End of speech. At last Zhongzong conceded. The princess, furious, had Lu Can packed off to serve as prefect of Chen.
122
襄邑尉襄陽席豫聞安樂公主求為太女，歎曰：「梅福譏切王氏，獨何人哉！」 乃上書請立太子，言甚深切。 太平公主欲表為諫官。 豫恥之，逃去。
When Xi Yu of Xiangyang, magistrate of Xiangyi, learned that Princess Anle was pressing to be named crown princess, he sighed: "Mei Fu once scourged the Wang usurpation with his pen—what am I, that I should stay silent?" End of speech. He memorialized the throne, pleading that the legitimate heir be upheld; his words cut to the bone. Princess Taiping meant to nominate him for a remonstrance post. Mortified, Xi Yu slipped away and vanished.
123
八月，戊寅，皇后及王公已下表上尊號曰應天神龍皇帝，改玄武門為神武門，樓為制勝樓。 宗楚客又帥百官表請加皇后尊號曰順天翊聖皇后。 上並許之。
In the eighth month, on wuyin day, Empress Wei and the princes and nobles below petitioned that Zhongzong take the title Responding Heaven, Divine Dragon Emperor; Xuanyuan Gate became Divine Martial Gate, its tower the Tower of Decisive Victory. Zong Chuke rallied the bureaucracy to ask that the empress receive the added title Compliant Heaven, Assisting Sage Empress. Zhongzong approved both petitions.
124
初，右台大夫蘇珦治太子重俊之黨，囚有引相王者，珦密為之申理，上乃不問。 自是安樂公主及兵部尚書宗楚客日夜謀譖相王，使侍御史冉祖雍等誣奏相王及太平公主，云「與重俊通謀，請收付制獄。」 上召吏部侍郎兼御史中丞蕭至忠，使鞫之。 至忠泣曰：「陛下富有四海，不能容一弟一妹，而使人羅織害之乎！ 相王昔為皇嗣，固請於則天，以天下讓陛下，累日不食，此海內所知。 奈何以祖雍一言而疑之！」 上素友愛，遂寢其事。
When Right Censor-in-Chief Su Xian first investigated Crown Prince Chongjun's accomplices, some prisoners named the Prince of Xiang. Su quietly cleared him, and Zhongzong let the accusation drop. Thereafter Princess Anle and Minister of War Zong Chuke worked day and night to destroy the Prince of Xiang, dispatching Remonstrating Censor Ran Zuyong to accuse him and Princess Taiping of plotting with Chongjun and demanding they be clapped in the deepest dungeon. End of speech. Zhongzong called in Xiao Zhizhong, vice minister of personnel and censor-in-chief, to conduct the inquiry. Zhizhong wept aloud: "Your Majesty holds the four seas in your hand—can you not find room for one brother and one sister, while others spin webs of false charge to destroy them? The Prince of Xiang was once crown prince himself. He begged Empress Wu to pass the throne to you and went days without food—the whole empire remembers. How can one word from Ran Zuyong overturn a lifetime of loyalty!" "End of speech. Zhongzong, who had ever cherished his kin, let the matter die."
125
右補闕浚儀吳兢聞祖雍之謀，上疏，以為：『自文明以來，國之祚胤，不絕如線，陛下龍興，恩及九族，求之瘴海，升之闕庭。 況相王同氣至親，六合無貳，而賊臣日夜連謀，乃欲陷之極法； 禍亂之根，將由此始。 夫任以權則雖疏必重，奪其勢則雖親必輕。 自古委信異姓，猜忌骨肉，以覆國亡家者，幾何人矣！ 況國家枝葉無幾，陛下登極未久，而一子以弄兵受誅，一子以愆違遠竄，惟餘一弟朝夕左右，尺布斗粟之譏，不可不慎，《青蠅》之詩，良可畏也！』
Wu Jing of Junyi, Right Supplementation Remonstrator, learning of Ran Zuyong's scheme, submitted a memorial: "Since the Civilizing era the imperial bloodline has hung by a thread. When Your Majesty ascended, you showered grace on every branch of the clan—men sought in fever swamps and brought to stand before the throne." "The Prince of Xiang is bone of Your Majesty's bone—there is no divided allegiance under Heaven. Yet scheming ministers conspire night and day to bring him to the executioner's block;" "from such a beginning comes the root of every calamity yet to come." "Grant a man power and even a stranger grows heavy in the scales; strip a kinsman of standing and even blood weighs light." "Since antiquity, how many thrones have fallen because rulers trusted outsiders and doubted their own flesh!" "The dynasty's branches are already thin. Your Majesty has reigned but a short while: one son dead for raising arms, another banished for fault, and only one brother left at your side day and night. Beware the old reproach of brothers who grudged cloth and grain; dread the poem that warns of flies buzzing slander into the king's ear!"8
126
相王寬厚恭謹，安恬好讓，故經武、韋之世，竟免於難。
The Prince of Xiang was mild, courteous, and self-effacing—traits that saw him safely through the reigns of the Wu and Wei factions when so many others perished.
127
初，右僕射、中書令魏元忠以武三思擅權，意常憤郁。 及太子重俊起兵，遇元忠子太僕少卿升於永安門，脅以自隨，太子死，升為亂兵所殺。 元忠揚言曰：「元惡已死，雖鼎鑊何傷！ 但惜太子隕沒耳！」 上以其有功，且為高宗、武後所重，故釋不問。 兵部尚書宗楚客、太府卿紀處訥等共證元忠，云「與太子通謀，請夷其三族。」 制不許。 元忠懼，表請解官爵，以散秩還第。 丙戌，上手敕聽解僕射，以特進、齊公致仕，仍朝朔望。
Wei Yuanzhong, Right Vice Director and head of the Palace Secretariat, had long brooded over Wu Sansi's monopoly on power. When Crown Prince Chongjun rose in arms, he seized Yuanzhong's son Sheng, vice minister of the Imperial Stud, at Yong'an Gate and forced him along. After the prince's death, the mutineers killed Sheng. Yuanzhong proclaimed openly: "The arch-villain is dead—let them boil me in a cauldron if they will! My only sorrow is that the crown prince is gone." End of speech. Zhongzong, weighing his past service and the esteem in which Gaozong and Empress Wu had held him, let the matter pass. Minister of War Zong Chuke, Minister of the Imperial Storehouse Ji Chune, and others testified that Yuanzhong had plotted with the crown prince and demanded his clan be wiped out to the third degree. End of edict. Zhongzong refused. Fearing worse, Yuanzhong petitioned to surrender his offices and retire on a nominal rank. "On bingxu day Zhongzong accepted his resignation as vice director, granting him special advancement and the title Duke of Qi in retirement, with permission to attend court on the first and fifteenth of each month."
128
九月，丁卯，以吏部侍郎蕭至忠為黃門侍郎，兵部尚書宗楚客為左衛將軍，兼太府卿紀處訥為太府卿，並同中書門下三品； 中書侍郎、同中書門下三品-{于}-惟謙罷為國子祭酒。
In the ninth month, on dingmao day, Xiao Zhizhong moved from vice minister of personnel to vice director of the Palace Gate; Zong Chuke from minister of war to Left Guard General; Ji Chune was confirmed as minister of the Imperial Storehouse—all three raised to associate rank in the Three Departments; Yu Weiqian, vice director of the Palace Secretariat and associate of the Three Departments, was removed and made chancellor of the Directorate of Education.
129
庚子，赦天下，改元。
On gengzi day Zhongzong proclaimed a general amnesty and changed the reign era.
130
宗楚客等引右衛郎將姚廷筠為御史中丞，使劾奏魏元忠，以為：「侯君集社稷元勳，及其謀反，太宗就群臣乞其命而不得，竟流涕斬之。 其後房遺愛、薛萬徹、齊王祐等為逆，雖復懿親，皆從國法。 元忠功不逮君集，身又非國戚，與李多祚等謀反，男入逆徒，是宜赤族污宮。 但有朋黨飾辭營救，以惑聖聽，陛下仁恩，欲掩其過。 臣所以犯龍鱗、忤聖意者，正以事關宗社耳。」 上頗然之。 元忠坐系大理，貶渠州司馬。
Zong Chuke and his allies installed Yao Tingyun of the Right Guard as censor-in-chief and set him to impeach Wei Yuanzhong: "Hou Junji was a pillar of the founding order. When he rebelled, even Taizong pleaded before the court for his life—and failed, and wept as the sword fell. After them came Fang Yi'ai, Xue Wanche, Prince You of Qi—royal blood every one, yet the law took them all the same. Yuanzhong's service falls short of Junji's, and he is no imperial relative. He conspired with Li Duozuo; his son marched with the rebels. By every precedent his clan should be extinguished and his household women enslaved. Yet his faction dresses up excuses to cloud Your Majesty's judgment, and Your benevolence inclines toward mercy. I risk Your wrath and speak against Your inclination only because the fate of the dynasty hangs on this." End of speech. Zhongzong was largely convinced. Yuanzhong was jailed in the Court of Judicial Review and demoted to military adjutant in Qu Prefecture.
131
宗楚客令給事中冉祖雍奏言：「元忠既犯大逆，不應出佐渠州。」 楊再思、李嶠亦贊之。 上謂再思等曰：「元忠驅使日久，朕特矜容，制命已行，豈宜數改！ 輕重之權，應自朕出。 卿等頻奏，殊非朕意！」 再思等惶懼拜謝。
Zong Chuke had Attendant Ran Zuyong argue: "Yuanzhong committed treason—he must not be sent to serve even as adjutant in Qu Prefecture." End of speech. Yang Zaisi and Li Jiao seconded the motion. Zhongzong told Zaisi and the rest: "Yuanzhong served me long and faithfully. I showed him mercy; the decree is already promulgated. It cannot be rewritten again and again! The power to weigh punishment and pardon belongs to me alone. Your repeated petitions run against my will!" End of speech. Zaisi and the others fell to their knees in terror and begged forgiveness.
132
監察御史袁守一復表彈元忠曰：「重俊乃陛下之子，猶如昭憲； 元忠非勳非戚，焉得獨漏嚴刑！」 甲辰，又貶元忠務川尉。
Censor Yuan Shouyi impeached Yuanzhong again: "Chongjun was Your Majesty's son, and the law was enforced without mercy; Yuanzhong is no founding hero, no royal kin—why should he alone escape the harshest penalty!" End of speech. On jiachen day Yuanzhong was demoted again—to magistrate of Wuchuan.
133
頃之，楚客又令袁守一奏言：「則天昔在三陽宮不豫，狄仁傑奏請陛下監國，元忠密奏以為不可，此則元忠懷逆日久，請加嚴誅！」 上謂楊再思等曰：「以朕思之，人臣事主，必在一心； 豈有主上小疾，遽請太子知事！ 此乃仁傑欲樹私恩，未見元忠有失。 守一欲借前事以陷元忠，其可乎！」 楚客乃止。
Soon Chuke had Yuan Shouyi raise a new charge: "When Empress Wu fell ill at Sanyang Palace, Di Renjie urged Your Majesty to assume regency. Yuanzhong secretly argued against it—proof that his disloyalty is of long standing. Execute him without delay!" End of speech. Zhongzong told Yang Zaisi and the others: "As I see it, a loyal minister serves his lord with a single heart; would he at the first hint of illness demand that the crown prince take the reins? That was Di Renjie currying private favor. I see no fault in Yuanzhong. Shouyi means to dredge up old history to destroy Yuanzhong—is that acceptable?" End of speech. Chuke backed off.
134
元忠行至涪陵而卒。
Yuanzhong died on the road at Fuling.
135
銀青光祿大夫、上庸公、聖善、中天、西明三寺主慧范於東都作聖善寺，長樂坡作大像，府庫為之虛耗。 上及韋後皆重之，勢傾內外，無敢指目者。 戊申，侍御史魏傳弓發其奸贓四十餘萬，請置極法。 上欲宥之，傳弓曰：「刑賞國之大事，陛下賞已妄加，豈宜刑所不及！」 上乃削黜慧范，放於家。
Huifan, Silver-Gleaming Grand Master, Duke of Shangyong, and abbot of Shengshan, Zhongtian, and Ximing monasteries, raised Shengshan Temple in the eastern capital and a colossal statue at Changle Slope—the imperial coffers were drained dry. Zhongzong and Empress Wei both favored him; his influence eclipsed court and capital alike, and no one dared even look his way. On wushen day Remonstrating Censor Wei Chuanggong uncovered more than four hundred thousand in embezzled funds and demanded the death penalty. Zhongzong meant to spare him. Chuanggong replied: "Reward and punishment are the pillars of state. Your Majesty has already lavished favor without cause—will you now withhold justice?" End of speech. Zhongzong stripped Huifan of rank and sent him home.
136
宦官左監門大將軍薛思簡等有龐於安樂公主，縱暴不法，傳弓奏請誅之，御史大夫竇從一懼，固止之。 時宦官用事，從一為雍州刺史及御史大夫，誤見訟者無須，必曲加承接。
The eunuch Xue Sijian, Left Gate General, and others basked in Princess Anle's patronage and ran riot beyond the law. Wei Chuanggong petitioned for their execution, but Censor-in-Chief Dou Congyi, terrified, blocked the move. Eunuchs now held sway at court. Cong Yi was prefect of Yongzhou and Censor-in-Chief; whenever he happened to see a beardless litigant, he would invariably bend the rules to favor him.
137
以楊再思為中書令，韋巨源、紀處訥並為侍中。
Yang Zaisi was appointed Palace Attendant, and Wei Juyuan and Ji Chunna were both made Directors of the Secretariat.
138
壬戌，改左、右羽林千騎為萬騎。
On renxu, the Left and Right Forest of Plumes regiments were expanded from Thousand Riders to Ten Thousand Riders.
139
冬，十月，丁丑，命左屯衛將軍張仁願充朔方道大總管，以擊突厥。 比至，虜已退，追擊，大破之。
In winter, the tenth month, on dingchou, Left Defender General Zhang Renyuan was appointed Grand Commander of the Shuofang Circuit to strike the Turks. By the time he arrived the enemy had already withdrawn; he pursued them and won a crushing victory.
140
習藝館內教蘇安恆，矜高好奇，太子重俊之誅武三思也，安恆自言「此我之謀」。 太子敗，或告之； 戊寅，伏誅。
Su Anheng, an inner instructor at the Hall for Practicing the Arts, was proud and eccentric. When Crown Prince Chongjun killed Wu Sansi, Anheng boasted, "That was my scheme." When the crown prince's coup failed, someone informed on him; on wuyin he was executed.
141
十二月，乙丑朔，日有食之。
In the twelfth month, on the new moon of yichou, there was a solar eclipse.
142
是歲，上遣使者分道詣江、淮贖生。 中書舍人房子李又上疏諫曰：「江南鄉人采捕為業，魚鱉之利，黎元所資。 雖雲雨之私有沾於末類； 而生成之惠未洽於平人。 何則？ 江湖之饒，生育無限，府庫之用，支供易殫。 費之若少，則所濟何成！ 用之倘多，則常支有闕。 在於拯物，豈若憂人！ ，且鬻生之徒，唯利斯視，錢刀日至，網罟年滋，施之一朝，營之百倍。 未若回救贖之錢物，減貧無之徭賦，活國愛人，其福勝彼。」
That year the emperor sent envoys by separate routes to the Yangtze and Huai regions to buy back living creatures destined for slaughter. Secretariat Drafting Officer Li You of Fangzi submitted a memorial arguing, "In the lands south of the Yangtze, villagers live by fishing and gathering; fish and turtles are the common people's livelihood. Heaven's mercy may extend even to the smallest creatures; yet the blessing of nurturing life has not reached ordinary folk. Why? Rivers and lakes teem without limit, but the treasury's resources are easily exhausted. Spend too little and the relief accomplishes nothing! Spend too much and routine expenditures will fall short. To rescue creatures—is that wiser than caring for people! Moreover, those who trade in living creatures care only for profit. Money flows in daily; nets and traps multiply yearly. One day's bounty from the court becomes a hundredfold business for them. Better to redirect the ransom funds, lighten corvée and taxes on the destitute, and revive the state by cherishing the people—that would bring a greater blessing."9
Footnotes
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