1
資治通鑑第211卷
Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 211
2
卷第二百一十一
Volume Two Hundred Eleven
3
【唐紀二十七】起閼逢攝提格，盡強圉大荒落，凡四年。
[Tang Records 27] Spanning the four years from 713 to 716 CE.
4
春，正月，壬申，制：「選京官有才識者除都督、刺史，都督、刺史有政跡者除京官，使出入常均，永爲恆式。」
In spring, on the first month’s renshen day, an edict declared: "Capital officials of proven ability shall be posted as regional governors and prefects, and governors and prefects with distinguished records shall be recalled to the capital, so that circulation between court and provinces remains even—a rule to hold in perpetuity."
5
己卯，以盧懷慎檢校黃門監。
On the jimao day, Lu Huaiqian was appointed acting Supervisor of the Yellow Gate.
6
舊制，雅俗之樂，皆隸太常。 上精曉音律，以太常禮樂之司，不應典倡優雜伎； 乃更置左右教坊以教俗樂，命右驍衞將軍范及爲之使。 又選樂工數百人，自教法曲於梨園，謂之「皇帝梨園弟子」。 又教宮女使習之。 又選伎女，置宜春院，給賜其家。 禮部侍郎張廷珪、酸棗尉袁楚客皆上疏，以爲：「上春秋鼎盛，宜崇經術，邇端士，尚樸素，深以悅鄭聲、好遊獵爲戒。」 上雖不能用，欲開言路，鹹嘉賞之。
Under the old system, both court and popular music fell under the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. The emperor was himself skilled in music and felt that the ritual-music bureau should not also manage entertainers and variety acts; so he created separate Left and Right Instruction Bureaus for popular music and named Fan Ji of the Right Brave Guard as their superintendent. He further chose several hundred musicians and personally taught them new pieces in the Pear Garden, styling them "the emperor’s Pear Garden disciples." Palace women were trained in the same repertoire. He selected female performers for the Yichun Courtyard and provided stipends for their households. Zhang Tinggui, Vice Minister of Rites, and Yuan Chuke, commandant of Suanzao, both memorialized the throne: "Your Majesty stands at the height of his powers; he should honor the classics, keep company with upright men, value plain living, and heed the ancient warning against decadent music and excessive hunting." Although the emperor did not follow their counsel, wishing to encourage frank speech he praised and rewarded them both.
7
中宗以來，貴戚爭營佛寺，奏度人爲僧，兼以偽妄； 富戸強丁多削髮以避徭役，所在充滿。 姚崇上言：「佛圖澄不能存趙，鳩摩羅什不能存秦，齊襄、梁武，未免禍殃。 但使蒼生安樂，即是佛身； 何用妄度奸人，使壞正法！」 上從之。 丙寅，命有司沙汰天下僧尼，以偽妄還俗者萬二千餘人。
Since Emperor Zhongzong’s reign, the imperial clan had competed to build Buddhist temples, petitioning to ordain followers—often by fraudulent means; and wealthy families and strong young men took tonsure to escape corvée, until monks crowded every district. Yao Chong argued: "Fotudeng could not save Later Zhao, Kumarajiva could not save Former Qin, and rulers such as Duke Xiang of Qi and Emperor Wu of Liang still met disaster. If the people live in peace and contentment, that is the Buddha’s true body; why ordain frauds and criminals and thereby corrupt the true teaching!" The emperor agreed. On the bingyin day, officials were ordered to review all monks and nuns empire-wide; more than twelve thousand found to have been ordained fraudulently were laicized.
8
初，營州都督治柳城以鎭撫奚、契丹，則天之世，都督趙文翽失政，奚、契丹攻陷之，是後寄治於幽州東漁陽城。 或言：「靺鞨、奚、□大欲降唐，正以唐不建營州，無所依投，爲默啜所侵擾，故且附之； 若唐復建營州，則相帥歸化矣。」 并州長史、和戎大武等軍州節度大使薛訥信之，奏請擊契丹，復置營州； 上亦以冷陘之役，欲討契丹。 群臣姚崇等多諫。 甲申，以訥同紫微黃門三品，將兵擊契丹，群臣乃不敢言。
Ying Prefecture had once been administered from Liucheng to keep the Xi and Khitan in check, but under Empress Wu its governor Zhao Wengui misruled and the tribes captured the seat; thereafter the protectorate was maintained in exile at Yuyang, east of Youzhou. Some argued: "The Mohe, Xi, and Khitan would gladly submit to Tang, but with Ying Prefecture unrebuilt they have no refuge and suffer raids from Mojilian, so they cling to him for now; if Tang restores Ying Prefecture, they will come over in succession." Xue Ne, chief secretary of Bingzhou and commissioner over the Hezhong-Dawu circuit, believed this and petitioned to attack the Khitan and re-establish Ying Prefecture; the emperor too, still smarting from the defeat at Lengjing, wished to punish the Khitan. Yao Chong and other ministers repeatedly dissuaded him. On the jiashen day, Xue Ne was elevated to third rank in the Purple Tenuity and Yellow Gate and sent to campaign against the Khitan; the court thereafter held its peace.
9
薛王業之舅王仙童，侵暴百姓，御史彈奏； 業爲之請，敕紫微、黃門覆按。 姚崇、盧懷慎等奏：「仙童罪狀明白，御史所言無所枉，不可縱捨。」 上從之。 由是貴戚束手。
Wang Xiantong, uncle of Prince Ye of Xue, had bullied the populace; the censorate brought charges; and Prince Ye interceded, prompting an edict for the Purple Tenuity and Yellow Gate to review the case. Yao Chong and Lu Huaiqian replied: "Xiantong’s guilt is manifest; the censors are not wrong, and he must not go unpunished." The emperor concurred. After that, the imperial kin kept their hands tied.
10
二月，庚寅朔，太史奏太陽應虧不虧。 姚崇表賀，請書之史冊； 從之。
In the second month, on the gengyin new moon, the court astronomer reported that a solar eclipse had been expected but did not occur. Yao Chong offered congratulations and asked that the event be recorded in the annals; and the emperor agreed.
11
乙末，突厥可汗默啜遣其子同俄特勒及妹夫火拔頡利發、石阿失畢將兵圍北庭都護府，都護郭虔瓘擊敗之。 同俄單騎逼城下，虔瓘伏壯士於道側，突起斬之。 突厥請悉軍中資糧以贖同俄，聞其已死，慟哭而去。
On the yiwei day, the Türk qaghan Mojilian sent his son Tong’e, his brothers-in-law Huoba and Shi Ashibi, and an army to besiege Beiting; Protector-General Guo Qianzhen routed them. Tong’e rode alone to the walls; Qianzhen had braves lie in ambush along the road and cut him down. The Türks offered all their army’s stores to ransom Tong’e; learning he was dead, they wept and withdrew.
12
丁未，敕：「自今所在毋得創建佛寺； 舊寺頹壞應葺者，詣有司陳牒檢視，然後聽之。」
On the dingwei day, an edict declared: "Henceforth no new Buddhist temples may be built anywhere; repairs to existing temples must be reported to the authorities for inspection before work may proceed."
13
閏月，以鴻臚少卿、朔方軍副大總管王晙兼安北大都護、朔方道行軍大總管，令豐安、定遠、三受降城及旁側諸軍皆受晙節度。 徙大都護府於中受降城，置兵屯田。
In the intercalary month, Wang Jun, vice minister of the Court for Dependencies and deputy commander of Shuofang, was also named Protector-General of Anding North and grand campaign commander on the Shuofang circuit, with Feng’an, Dingyuan, the three surrender cities, and adjacent garrisons all placed under his command. The protectorate seat was moved to the central surrender city and troops were settled on frontier farms.
14
丁卯，復置十道按察使，以益州長史陸象先等爲之。
On the dingmao day, the ten regional inspection commissioners were reinstated, with Lu Xiangxian of Yizhou among them.
15
上思徐有功用法平直，乙亥，以其子大理司直惀爲恭陵令。 竇孝諶之子光祿卿豳公希瑊等，請以己官爵讓惀以報其德，由是惀累遷申王府司馬。
Remembering Xu Yougong’s impartial administration of justice, on the yihai day the emperor appointed his son Xu Lun, a judicial reviewer, magistrate of Gongling. Xi Chen, Director of the Imperial Household and son of Dou Xiaochen, and others offered their own ranks to Xu Lun in gratitude; Lun was thereafter promoted to secretary of the Prince of Shen’s household.
16
丙子，申王成義請以其府錄事閻楚珪爲其府參軍，上許之。 姚崇、盧懷慎上言：「先嘗得旨，雲王公、駙馬有所奏請，非墨敕皆勿行。 臣竊以量材授官，當歸有司； 若緣親故之恩，得以官爵爲惠，踵習近事，實紊紀綱。」 事遂寢。 由是請謁不行。
On the bingzi day, Prince Cheng Yi of Shen asked to appoint his recorder Yan Chugui as a staff adjutant, and the emperor assented. Yao Chong and Lu Huaiqian objected: "Your Majesty once ruled that princes and imperial sons-in-law might petition only by personal edict—otherwise requests were not to be honored. Appointments should be made by the proper agencies according to merit; to grant offices as favors through kinship, as has lately been done, would only disorder the bureaucracy." The appointment was dropped. Patronage petitions thereafter failed.
17
突厥石阿失畢既失同俄，不敢歸，癸未，與其妻來奔； 以爲右衞大將軍，封燕北郡王，命其妻曰金山公主。
Shi Ashibi of the Türks, unable to return after Tong’e’s death, defected with his wife on the guimao day; he was made a general of the Right Guard, enfeoffed as Prince of Yanbei, and his wife was named Princess Jinshan.
18
或告太子少保劉幽求、太子詹事鐘紹京有怨望語，下紫微省按問，幽求等不服。 姚崇、盧懷慎、薛訥言於上曰：「幽求等皆功臣，乍就閒職，微有沮喪，人情或然。 功業既大，榮寵亦深，一朝下獄，慮驚遠聽。」 戊子，貶幽求爲睦州刺史，紹京爲果州刺史，紫微侍郎王琚行邊軍未還，亦坐幽求黨貶澤州刺史。
Liu Youqiu, junior tutor to the crown prince, and Zhong Shaojing, household administrator to the heir, were accused of disloyal remarks; the Purple Tenuity office investigated, and they denied the charges. Yao Chong, Lu Huaiqian, and Xue Ne urged: "Youqiu and the rest are founding ministers recently given idle posts; a trace of disappointment would be only human. Their services are great and their honors many; to imprison them overnight would alarm the empire." On the wuzi day, Youqiu was demoted to prefect of Mu and Shaojing to prefect of Guo; Wang Ju of the Purple Tenuity, away on frontier duty, was implicated as an associate and demoted to prefect of Ze.
19
敕：「涪州刺史周利貞等十三人，皆天後時酷吏，比周興等情狀差輕，宜放歸草澤，終身勿齒。」 西突厥十姓酋長都擔叛。 三月，己亥，磧西節度使阿史那獻克碎葉等鎭，擒斬都擔，降其部落二萬餘帳。
An edict ordered: "Zhou Lizhen of Fu Prefecture and twelve others, cruel officials from Empress Wu’s reign, though less guilty than men like Zhou Xing, are to be released to private life and barred from office forever." Dudan, chief of the Western Türk ten tribes, rebelled. In the third month, on the jihai day, Ashina Xian, commissioner of the Western Regions, took Suyab and neighboring posts, killed Dudan, and accepted the submission of more than twenty thousand tents.
20
御史中丞姜晦以宗楚客等改中宗遺詔，青州刺史韋安石、太子賓客韋嗣立、刑部尚書趙彥昭、特進致仕李嶠，於時同爲宰相，不能匡正，令監察御史郭震彈之； 且言彥昭拜巫趙氏爲姑，蒙婦人服，與妻乘車詣其家。 甲辰，貶安石爲沔州別駕，嗣立爲岳州別駕，彥昭爲袁州別駕，嶠爲滁州別駕。 安石至沔州，晦又奏安石嘗檢校定陵，盜隱官物，下州征贓。 安石歎曰：「此只應須我死耳。」 憤恚而卒。 晦，皎之弟也。
Censor-in-chief Jiang Hui, citing Zong Chuke’s alteration of Emperor Zhongzong’s will, had investigating censor Guo Zhen impeach Wei Anshi, former chancellor and now prefect of Qingzhou, Wei Silizhi, Zhao Yanzhao, and the retired Li Qiao for failing to stop it; and further accused Zhao Yanzhao of honoring a shamaness as his aunt, wearing women’s dress, and visiting her home with his wife in a carriage. On the jiachen day, Anshi was demoted to vice-prefect of Mian, Silizhi of Yue, Yanzhao of Yuan, and Qiao of Chu. After Anshi reached Mian, Hui charged that he had embezzled goods while supervising Emperor Zhongzong’s tomb and ordered the prefecture to recover them. Anshi sighed: "They will not be satisfied until I am dead." He died of outrage and grief. Hui was the younger brother of Jiang Jiao.
21
毀天樞，發匠熔其銅鐵，歷月不盡。 先是，韋後亦於天街作石台，高數丈，以頌功德，至是並毀之。
The Heavenly Pivot monument was torn down; smiths melted its bronze and iron for months without finishing. Empress Wei had earlier built a stone platform several zhang high on the Imperial Avenue to glorify her reign; it too was demolished.
22
夏，四月，辛巳，突厥可汗默啜復遣使求昏，自稱「乾和永清太駙馬、天上得果報天男、突厥聖天骨咄祿可汗」。
In summer, on the fourth month’s xinsi day, Mojilian again sought a marriage alliance, styling himself "Great Son-in-Law of Qianhe and Yongqing, Heaven’s Blessed Son of Heaven, Sacred Türk Qaghan of the Ashina."
23
五月，己丑，以歲饑，悉罷員外、試、檢校官，自今非戰功及別敕，毋得注擬。
In the fifth month, on the jichou day, famine prompted the abolition of all supernumerary, probationary, and acting appointments; hereafter only men with battlefield merit or special edicts might receive office.
24
己酉，吐蕃相坌達延遺宰相書，請先遣解琬至河源正二國封疆，然後結盟。 琬嘗爲朔方大總管，故吐蕃請之。 前此琬以金紫光祿大夫致仕，復召拜左散騎常侍而遣之。 又命宰相復坌達延書，招懷之。 琬上言：「吐蕃必陰懷叛計，請預屯兵十萬於秦、渭等州以備之。」
On the jiyou day, the Tibetan minister Ben Dazhi wrote the Tang chancellor asking that Jie Wan be sent first to Heyuan to fix the border before any alliance was concluded. The Tibetans had asked for Wan because he had once commanded Shuofang. Wan had retired as a grand master of the court; he was now recalled as Left Regular Attendant and dispatched. The chancellor was also instructed to answer Ben Dazhi’s letter in a conciliatory tone. Wan warned: "Tibet surely plots treachery; I ask that a hundred thousand men be stationed in advance at Qin, Wei, and neighboring prefectures."
25
黃門監魏知古，本起小吏，因姚崇引薦，以至同爲相。 崇意輕之，請知古攝吏部尚書、知東都選事，遣吏部尚書宋璟於門下過官； 知古銜之。 崇二子分司東都，恃其父有德於知古，頗招權請托； 知古歸，悉以聞。 他日，上從容問崇：「卿子才性何如？ 今何官也？」 崇揣知上意，對曰：「臣有三子，兩在東都，爲人多欲而不謹，是必以事幹魏知古，臣未及問之耳。」 上始以崇必爲其子隱，及聞崇奏，喜問：「卿安從知之？」 對曰：「知古微時，臣卵而翼之。 臣子愚，以爲知古必德臣，容其爲非，故敢干之耳。」 上於是以崇爲無私，而薄知古負崇，欲斥之。 崇固請曰：「臣子無狀，撓陛下法，陛下赦其罪，已幸矣； 苟因臣逐知古，天下必以陛下爲私於臣，累聖政矣。」 上久乃許之。 辛亥，知古罷爲工部尚書。
Wei Zhigu, Supervisor of the Yellow Gate, had begun as a petty clerk and reached the chancellorship through Yao Chong’s patronage. Chong slighted him, had him made acting Minister of Personnel in charge of Luoyang appointments, and sent Song Jing to approve nominations at court; Zhigu resented the humiliation. Chong’s two sons held posts in Luoyang and, believing Zhigu owed their father a debt, traded on his influence; on returning to the capital, Zhigu reported everything to the throne. One day the emperor casually asked Chong: "What are your sons like? What posts do they hold?" Chong guessed the emperor’s purpose and answered: "I have three sons; two are in Luoyang. They are greedy and careless and must have importuned Wei Zhigu—I have not yet questioned them." The emperor had expected Chong to shield his sons; delighted, he asked: "How did you know?" Chong replied: "When Zhigu was obscure, I sheltered him as a chick under my wing. My foolish sons assumed he would indulge them out of gratitude, and so they dared to approach him." The emperor then judged Chong impartial but blamed Zhigu for ingratitude and wished to remove him. Chong protested: "My sons have shamed me and violated your law; your pardon was mercy enough; if you dismiss Zhigu on my account, the realm will think you favor me over justice and your rule will suffer." After long hesitation the emperor relented. On the xinhai day, Zhigu was demoted to Minister of Works.
26
宋王成器，申王成義，上之兄也； 岐王范，薛王業，上之弟也； 豳王守禮，上之從兄也。 上素友愛，近世帝王莫能及。 初即位，爲長枕大被，與兄弟同寢。 諸王每旦朝於側門，退則相從宴飲、鬥雞、擊球，或獵於近郊，游賞別墅，中使存問相望於道。 上聽朝罷，多從諸王游，在禁中，拜跪如家人禮，飲食起居，相與同之。 於殿中設五幄，與諸王更處其中，謂之五王帳。 或講論賦詩，間以飲酒、博弈、遊獵，或自執絲竹； 成器善笛，范善琵琶，與上共奏之。 諸王或有疾，上爲之終日不食，終夜不寢。 業嘗疾，上方臨朝，須臾之間，使者十返。 上親爲業煮藥，回飆吹火，誤爇上須，左右驚救之。 上曰：「但使王飲此藥而愈，須何足惜！」 成器尤恭慎，未嘗議及時政，與人交結； 上愈信重之，故讒間之言無自而入。 然專以衣食聲色畜養娛樂之，不任以職事。 群臣以成器等地逼，請循故事出刺外州。 六月，丁巳，以宋王成器兼岐州刺史，申王成義兼幽州刺史，幽王守禮兼虢州刺史，令到官但領大綱，自餘州務，皆委上佐主之。 是後諸王爲都護、都督、刺史者並准此。
Prince Chengqi of Song and Prince Chengyi of Shen were the emperor’s elder brothers; Prince Fan of Qi and Prince Ye of Xue were his younger brothers; Prince Shouli of Bin was his cousin. The emperor’s affection for them exceeded that of any recent sovereign. At the start of his reign he had a long pillow and wide quilt made so that he might sleep in the same bed with his brothers. Each morning the princes attended court at the side gate; after dismissing they kept company in feasting, cockfighting, and polo, or hunted in the nearby countryside and visited country villas, while palace envoys bearing inquiries lined the roads in an unbroken stream. When court adjourned, the emperor often kept the princes' company; within the palace they bowed and knelt as family members might, sharing meals, quarters, and daily routines. Five canopied alcoves were erected in the hall where the emperor and princes took turns lodging—this they called the Pavilion of the Five Princes. They might discuss poetry and compose verses, interluding with wine, games of chance, and hunts—or the emperor himself would take up the lute and flute; Chengqi excelled at the flute and Fan at the pipa; together they played with the emperor. If any prince fell ill, the emperor would neither eat all day nor sleep all night for worry. When Ye once fell ill, the emperor was holding court; within minutes messengers had shuttled back and forth ten times. The emperor personally brewed medicine for Ye; a gust of wind fanned the flame and scorched his beard, and attendants cried out and rushed to his aid. The emperor said: "If only the prince drinks this and recovers—what is a beard worth sparing!" Chengqi was especially deferential and circumspect; he never discussed state affairs or cultivated political alliances; The emperor trusted him all the more, and slander had no opening to reach him. Yet he kept them only in fine food, dress, music, and pleasure—entertainment without office or responsibility. The ministers, alarmed that Chengqi and the others' estates pressed too close to the capital, asked that by precedent they be posted to govern distant prefectures. In the sixth month, on the disi day, Prince of Song Chengqi was made concurrent Prefect of Qi, Prince of Shen Chengyi of You, and Prince of You Shouli of Guo; they were told to grasp only the broad outlines once in office, leaving all other prefectural business to their chief deputies. Thereafter all princes appointed protectorate commanders, area commanders, or prefects followed the same rule.
27
丙寅，吐蕃使其宰相尚欽藏來獻盟書。
On the bingyin day, Tibet dispatched its chancellor Shang Qinzang to present the treaty document.
28
上以風俗奢靡，秋，七月，乙未，制：「乘輿服御、金銀器玩，宜令有司銷毀，以供軍國之用； 其珠玉、錦繡，焚於殿前； 后妃以下，皆毋得服珠玉錦繡。」 戊戌，敕：「百官所服帶及酒器、馬銜、鐙，三品以上，聽飾以玉，四品以金，五品以銀，自餘皆禁之； 婦人服飾從其夫、子。 其舊成錦繡，聽染爲皁。 自今天下更毋得採珠玉，織錦繡等物，違者杖一百，工人減一等。」 罷兩京織錦坊。
Finding the customs extravagantly wasteful, in the seventh month of autumn, on the yiwei day, an edict declared: "Imperial carriages, vestments, and gold and silver vessels and ornaments shall be melted down by the authorities for military and state use; pearls, jade, and brocades shall be burned before the palace hall; from empresses and consorts downward, none may wear pearls, jade, or brocade." On the wuxu day, an edict ordered: "Officials' belts, wine vessels, horse bits, and stirrups—third rank and above may ornament with jade, fourth with gold, fifth with silver; all others are forbidden; women's dress and ornaments shall follow their husbands' and sons' ranks. Existing brocades may be dyed black. Henceforth no one in the realm may gather pearls and jade or weave brocades; violators receive one hundred strokes, artisans one degree less." The brocade workshops of the two capitals were abolished.
29
臣光曰：明皇之始欲爲治，能自刻厲節儉如此，晩節猶以奢敗。 甚哉奢靡之易以溺人也！ 《詩》云：「靡不有初，鮮克有終。」 可不慎哉！
Sima Guang remarks: At the outset Emperor Ming meant to govern well and could restrain himself to such frugality—yet even so his later years were undone by extravagance. How easily does extravagance drown a man! The Odes says: "All things have a beginning, but few see an end." Can one not take heed!
30
薛訥與左臨門衞將軍杜賓客、定州刺史崔宣道等將兵六萬出檀州擊契丹。 賓客以爲「士卒盛夏負戈甲，繼資糧，深入寇境，難以成功。」 訥曰：「盛夏草肥，羔犢孳息，因糧於敵，正得天時，一舉滅虜，不可失也。」 行至灤水山峽中，契丹伏兵遮其前後，從山上擊之。 唐兵大敗，死者什八九。 訥與數十騎突圍得免，虜中嗤之，謂之「薛婆。」 崔宣道將後軍，聞訥敗，亦走。 訥歸罪於宣道及胡將李思敬等八人，制悉斬之於幽州。 庚子，敕免訥死，削除其官爵； 獨赦杜賓客之罪。
Xue Ne, with Left Gate Guard General Du Binke, Prefect of Dingzhou Cui Xuandao, and others, led sixty thousand men from Tanzhou against the Khitan. Binke argued that "in midsummer, troops burdened with armor and supplies, pushing deep into enemy country, can scarcely succeed." Ne replied: "In midsummer the grass is rich and flocks breed; we can live off the enemy's stores—heaven favors us. To crush the foe in one blow—we must not let this pass." When they entered the mountain passes of the Luan River, Khitan ambushers blocked them fore and aft and struck from the heights. Tang forces were routed; eight or nine in ten perished. Ne broke through with a few dozen horsemen and escaped; the enemy mocked him as "Old Woman Xue." Cui Xuandao, commanding the rear guard, fled too on hearing of Ne's defeat. Ne blamed Xuandao and the foreign general Li Sijing and seven others; by edict all eight were executed at Youzhou. On the gengzi day, an edict spared Ne's life but stripped his rank and titles; Du Binke alone was pardoned.
31
壬寅，以北庭都護郭虔瓘爲涼州刺史、河西諸軍州節度使。
On the renyin day, Beiting Protector-General Guo Qianzhen was appointed Prefect of Liangzhou and military commissioner of the Hexi army prefectures.
32
果州刺史鐘紹京心怨望，數上疏妄陳休咎； 乙巳，貶溱州刺史。
Zhong Shaojing, Prefect of Guo, nursed grievances and repeatedly memorialized with reckless talk of omens and portents; On the yisi day he was demoted to Prefect of Qin.
33
丁未，房州刺史襄王重茂薨。 輟朝三日，追謚曰殤皇帝。
On the dingwei day, Prince of Xiang Chongmao, Prefect of Fang, died. Court was suspended for three days; he was posthumously titled Emperor Shang.
34
戊申，禁百官家毋得與僧、尼、道士往還。 壬子，禁人間鑄佛、寫經。
On the wushen day, officials' households were forbidden to associate with monks, nuns, or Daoist priests. On the renzi day, the casting of Buddha images and copying of sutras among the people was forbidden.
35
宋王成器等請獻興慶坊宅爲離宮； 甲寅，制許之，始作興慶宮，仍各賜成器等宅，環於宮側。 又於宮西南置樓，題其西曰「花萼相輝之樓」，南曰「勤政務本之樓」。 上或登樓，聞王奏樂，則召升樓同宴，或幸其所居盡歡，賞賚優渥。
Prince of Song Chengqi and the others offered their Xingqing Ward mansions as detached palaces; On the jiayin day the request was granted; Xingqing Palace was begun, and new residences for Chengqi and the others were granted ringing the palace grounds. Southwest of the palace towers were built; the western tower was named "Tower of Mutual Splendor among Flower and Calyx," the southern "Tower of Diligent Governance and Rooted in Fundamentals." When the emperor climbed a tower and heard a prince playing music, he would summon him to feast together; sometimes he visited their homes and revelled to the full, lavishing rich gifts.
36
乙卯，以岐王范兼絳州刺史，薛王業兼同州刺史。 仍敕宋王以下每季二人入朝，週而復始。 民間訛言上采擇女子以充掖庭。 上聞之，八月，乙丑，令有司具車牛於崇明門，自選後宮無用者載還其家； 敕曰：「燕寢之內，尚令罷遣； 閭閻之間，足可知悉。」
On the yimao day, Prince of Qi Fan was made concurrent Prefect of Jiang, and Prince of Xue Ye of Tong. It was further decreed that from the Prince of Song downward, two princes each season would attend court, rotating in turn. A rumor spread among the people that the emperor was selecting girls for the inner palace. When the emperor heard of it, in the eighth month on the yichou day he had carts and oxen readied at Chongming Gate and personally chose superfluous women from the inner palace to be sent home; an edict read: "Even within the inner chambers I have ordered dismissals; among the lanes and wards, let this be fully understood."
37
乙亥，吐蕃將坌達延、乞力徐帥眾十萬寇臨洮，軍蘭州，至於渭源，掠取牧馬。 命薛訥白衣攝左羽林將軍，爲隴右防禦使。 以右驍衞將軍常樂郭知運爲副使，與太僕少卿王晙帥兵擊之。 辛巳，大募勇士，詣河、隴就訥教習。
On the yihai day, Tibetan generals Bendayan and Qili Xu led one hundred thousand men to raid Lintao, camp at Lanzhou, reach Weiyuan, and seize pasture horses. Xue Ne, though in plain dress, was ordered to act as General of the Left Feathered Forest and Defense Commissioner of Longyou. Right Swift Guard General Guo Ziyun of Changyue was made vice commissioner; with Vice Minister of the Imperial Stud Wang Jun he led troops against them. On the xinsi day brave men were recruited in large numbers and sent to He and Long to train under Ne.
38
初，鄯州都督楊矩以九曲之地與吐蕃，其地肥饒。 吐蕃就之畜牧，因以入寇，矩悔懼自殺。
Earlier, Zheng Prefecture Protector Yang Ju had ceded the Nine Bends to Tibet—land rich and fertile. Tibet pastured there and used the ground to raid; Yang Ju, stricken with remorse and fear, took his own life.
39
乙酉，太子賓客薛謙光獻武後所制《豫州鼎銘》，其末云：「上玄降鑒，方建隆基。」 以爲上受命之符。 姚崇表賀，且請宣示史官，頒告中外。
On the yiyou day, Heir Apparent Mentor Xue Qianguang presented Empress Wu's "Inscription on the Yuzhou Cauldron," whose closing line reads: "Heaven sends down its sign—Longji shall be established." This was taken as proof of the emperor's Mandate of Heaven. Yao Chong offered congratulations and asked that it be proclaimed to the historiographers and announced throughout the realm.
40
臣光曰：日食不驗，太史之過也； 而君臣相賀，是誣天也。 采偶然之文以爲符命，小臣之諂也； 而宰相因而實之，是侮其君也。 上誣於天，下侮其君，以明皇之明，姚崇之賢，猶不免於是，豈不惜哉！
Sima Guang remarks: When a predicted eclipse failed to occur, that was the court astronomer's fault; yet ruler and ministers congratulated one another—that was deceiving Heaven. Seizing on chance words as proof of destiny is a petty official's flattery; yet the chief minister affirmed it—that was insulting one's sovereign. Deceiving Heaven above and insulting the sovereign below—and with Emperor Ming's brilliance and Yao Chong's virtue they still fell to this. How lamentable!
41
九月，戊申，上幸驪山溫湯。
In the ninth month, on the wushen day, the emperor visited the hot springs at Mount Li.
42
敕以歲稔傷農，令諸州修常平倉法； 江、嶺、淮、浙、劍南地下濕，不堪貯積，不在此例。
An edict, noting that bumper harvests hurt farmers, ordered all prefectures to restore the ever-normal granary system; the Jiang, Ling, Huai, Zhe, and Jiannan regions, whose damp soil could not sustain storage, were exempt.
43
突厥可汗默啜衰老，昏虐愈甚； 壬子，葛邏祿等部落詣涼州降。
The Türk qaghan Mojilian had grown old and feeble, and his tyranny ever more benighted; On the renzi day the Karluk and other tribes came to Liangzhou to surrender.
44
冬，十月，吐蕃復寇渭源。 丙辰，上下詔欲親征，發兵十餘萬人，馬四萬匹。
In the tenth month of winter, Tibet again raided Weiyuan. On the bingchen day the emperor issued an edict declaring his intent to campaign in person, mobilizing over one hundred thousand troops and forty thousand horses.
45
戊午，上還宮。
On the wuwu day the emperor returned to the palace.
46
甲子，薛訥與吐蕃戰於武街，大破之。 時太僕少卿隴右群牧使王晙帥所部二千人與訥會擊吐蕃。 坌達延將吐蕃十萬屯大來谷，選勇士七百，衣胡服，夜襲之，多置鼓角於其後五里，前軍遇敵大呼，後人鳴鼓角以應之。 虜以爲大軍至，驚懼，自相殺傷，死者萬計。 訥時在武街，去大來谷二十里，虜軍塞其中間； 晙復夜出兵襲之，虜大潰，始得與訥軍合。 同追奔至洮水，復戰於長城堡，又敗之，前後殺獲數萬人。 豐安軍使王海賓戰死。 乙丑，敕罷親征。
On the jiazi day Xue Ne fought Tibet at Wujie and won a great victory. At the time Vice Minister of the Imperial Stud and Longyou Pasturage Commissioner Wang Jun led two thousand of his men to join Ne against Tibet. Bendayan held one hundred thousand Tibetans at Dalai Valley; Wang Jun chose seven hundred brave men, dressed them in foreign garb, and struck by night—drums and horns were posted five li to the rear; the vanguard shouted on contact, and men behind answered with drums and horns. The enemy thought a great army had arrived; in panic they turned on one another, and tens of thousands died. Ne was at Wujie, twenty li from Dalai Valley, with the enemy force blocking the gap between them; Jun struck again by night; the enemy broke completely, and only then could he join Ne's force. Together they pursued the fugitives to the Tao River, fought again at Changcheng Fort and routed them once more—in all, tens of thousands were killed or captured. Feng'an Army Commissioner Wang Haibin fell in battle. On the yichou day an edict canceled the planned personal campaign.
47
戊辰，姚崇、盧懷慎等奏：「頃者吐蕃以河爲境，神龍中尚公主，遂逾河築城，置獨山、九曲兩軍，去積石三百里，又於河上造橋。 今吐蕃既叛，宜毀橋拔城。」 從之。
On the wuchen day Yao Chong, Lu Huaiqian, and others memorialized: "Recently Tibet has taken the river as its border; in the Shenlong era a princess was married to them, and they crossed the river to build forts, establishing the Dushan and Nine Bends garrisons three hundred li from Jishi, and also built a bridge across the river. Now that Tibet has rebelled, the bridge should be destroyed and the forts abandoned." The emperor agreed.
48
以王海賓之子忠嗣爲朝散大夫、尚輦奉御，養之宮中。
Wang Haibin's son Zhongsi was made Grand Master of Palace Leisure and Palace Equipage Attendant and raised in the palace.
49
己巳，突厥可汗默啜又遣使求昏，上許以來歲迎公主。
On the jisi day the Türk qaghan Mojilian again sent envoys seeking a marriage alliance; the emperor agreed to welcome a princess the following year.
50
突厥十姓胡祿屋等諸部詣北庭請降，命都護郭虔瓘撫存之。
The Ten Surname Türk tribes led by Hulüwu came to Beiting to surrender; Protector Guo Qianzhen was ordered to receive and settle them.
51
乙酉，命左驍衞郎將尉遲瑰使於吐蕃，宣慰金城公主。 吐蕃遣其大臣宗俄因矛至洮水請和，用敵國禮； 上不許。 自是連歲犯邊。
On the yiyou day Left Swift Guard Commandant Yuchi Gui was sent as envoy to Tibet to console Princess Jincheng. Tibet sent its minister Zong'eyinmao to the Tao River to sue for peace, using the protocol reserved for equal states; the emperor refused. Thereafter they raided the frontier year after year.
52
十一月，辛卯，葬殤皇帝。
In the eleventh month, on the xinmao day, Emperor Shang was buried.
53
丙申，遣左散騎常侍解琬詣北庭宣慰突厥降者，隨便宜區處。
On the bingchen day Left Attendant-in-Ordinary Xie Wan was sent to Beiting to console the surrendering Türks and handle matters as local conditions required.
54
十二月，壬戌，沙陀金山入朝。
In the twelfth month, on the renxu day, Shatuo Jinshan came to court.
55
甲子，置隴右節度大使，領鄯、奉、河、渭、蘭、臨、武、洮、岷、郭、疊、宕十二州，以隴右防禦副使郭知運爲之。
On the jiazi day a Longyou circuit grand commissioner was created, with jurisdiction over twelve prefectures—Shan, Feng, He, Wei, Lan, Lin, Wu, Tao, Min, Guo, Die, and Dang—and Longyou Defense Vice Commissioner Guo Zhiyun was named to the office.
56
乙丑，立皇子嗣真爲鄫王，嗣初爲鄂王，嗣玄爲鄄王。 辛巳，立郢王嗣謙爲皇太子。 嗣真，上之長子，母曰劉華妃。 嗣謙，次子也，母曰趙麗妃； 麗妃以倡進，有寵於上，故立之。
On the yichou day the emperor invested his sons Sizhen as Prince of Zeng, Sichu as Prince of E, and Sixuan as Prince of Juancheng. On the xinsi day Prince of Ying Siqian was named crown prince. Sizhen was the emperor's eldest son, born to Consort Liu Hua. Siqian was the second son, born to Consort Zhao Li; Consort Li had been brought into the palace from the ranks of performers and held the emperor's favor, which was why her son was made heir.
57
是歲，置幽州節度、經略、鎭守大使，領幽、易、平、檀、媯、燕六州。
That year a Youzhou circuit commissioner with authority over frontier strategy and garrison defense was created, with jurisdiction over You, Yi, Ping, Tan, Gui, and Yan.
58
突騎施可汗守忠之弟遮弩恨所分部落少於其兄，遂叛入突厥，請爲鄕導，以伐守忠。 默啜遣兵二萬擊守忠，虜之而還。 謂遮弩曰：「汝叛其兄，何有於我！」 遂並殺之。
Zhenu, younger brother of the Turgish qaghan Shouzhong, resented the smaller share of tribes allotted to him and defected to the Türks, offering to guide them against his brother. Mojilian sent twenty thousand men against Shouzhong, took him captive, and withdrew. He said to Zhenu, "You betrayed your own brother—why should I trust you! Thereupon he had them both put to death.
59
春，正月，癸卯，以盧懷慎檢校吏部尚書兼黃門監。 懷慎清謹儉素，不營資產，雖貴爲卿相，所得俸賜，隨散親舊。 妻子不免饑寒，所居不蔽風雨。
In spring, on the first month's guimao day, Lu Huaiqian was appointed acting Minister of Personnel and concurrently Supervisor of the Yellow Gate. Huaiqian was upright, cautious, and austere, never building up private wealth. Even after rising to the highest offices, he gave away his salary and gifts as soon as they arrived, sharing them with relatives and old acquaintances. His wife and children still knew hunger and cold, and his house could barely keep out wind and rain.
60
姚崇嘗有子喪，謁告十餘日，政事委積。 懷慎不能決，惶恐入謝於上。 上曰：「朕以天下事委姚崇，以卿坐鎭雅俗耳。」 崇既出，須臾，裁決俱盡，頗有得色，顧謂紫微舍人齊澣曰：「余爲相，可比何人？」 澣未對，崇曰：「何如管、晏？」 澣曰：「管、晏之法雖不能施於後，猶能沒身。 公所爲法，隨復更之，似不及也。」 崇曰：「然則竟如何？」 澣曰：「公可謂救時之相耳。」 崇喜，投筆曰：「救時之相，豈易得乎！」
When Yao Chong once took more than ten days' leave to mourn a son, government business piled up unhandled. Huaiqian could not resolve the backlog and, deeply troubled, went before the emperor to apologize. The emperor said, "I have entrusted the affairs of the realm to Yao Chong; your role is simply to preside over court decorum and public manners." When Chong returned, he cleared the entire backlog within moments, looking quite pleased with himself. He turned to Palace Secretariat drafter Qi Huan and asked, "As chief minister, whom would you compare me to?" Before Huan could answer, Chong said, "How do I compare with Guan Zhong and Yan Ying?" Huan replied, "Guan and Yan's policies, though they could not outlast them, at least held steady through their lifetimes. Your policies are revised almost as soon as you enact them—you fall somewhat short of them, I think." Chong asked, "Then how would you rank me?" Huan said, "You might be called a chief minister who rescues his own times." Chong was delighted. He tossed down his brush and exclaimed, "A chief minister who rescues his times—is that so easily found!"
61
懷慎與崇同爲相，自以才不及崇，每事推之，時人謂之「伴食宰相。」
Huaiqian served alongside Chong as chief minister. Judging himself less capable, he deferred to Chong on every matter, and contemporaries dubbed him "the dinner-table chief minister."
62
臣光曰：昔鮑叔之於管仲，子皮之於子產，皆位居其上，能知其賢而下之，授以國政； 孔子美之。 曹參自謂不及蕭何，一遵其法，無所變更； 漢業以成。 夫不肖用事，爲其僚者，愛身保祿而從之，不顧國家之安危，是誠罪人也。 賢智用事，爲其僚者，愚惑以亂其治，專固以分其權，媢嫉以毀其功，愎戾以竊其名，是亦罪人也。 崇，唐之賢相，懷慎與之同心戮力，以濟明皇太平之政，夫何罪哉！ 《秦誓》曰：「如有一介臣，斷斷猗，無它技； 其心休休焉，其如有容； 人之有技，若己有之，人之彥聖，其心好之，不啻如自其口出，是能容之，以保我子孫黎民，亦職有利哉。」 懷慎之謂矣。 御史大夫宋璟坐監朝堂杖人杖輕，貶睦州刺史。
Sima Guang remarks: Long ago Bao Shuya with Guan Zhong, and Zipi with Zichan—though each stood above the other in rank, recognized his worth, yielded place to him, and entrusted him with the government; Confucius praised such men. Cao Shen held himself inferior to Xiao He, adhered wholly to his policies, and changed nothing; and the Han dynasty prospered as a result. When an unworthy man holds power, colleagues who cling to office and salary, follow him blindly, and ignore the nation's welfare are truly guilty men. When a worthy man holds power, colleagues who muddle his governance with foolish interference, carve up his authority, envy and undermine his achievements, or arrogantly steal his credit are criminals as well. Chong was a worthy chief minister of Tang, and Huaiqian worked with him wholeheartedly to bring about Emperor Ming's age of peace—where was the fault in that! The "Oath of Qin" says, "If there is one loyal minister, steadfast and upright, possessing no other talent; his heart is generous and broad, as though he has room to spare; when others possess skill he rejoices as if it were his own; when others are wise and good his heart delights in them as though he himself had spoken the praise—such a man can be tolerant, and by tolerance preserve our descendants and the people: this too is a worthy calling." That describes Huaiqian. Censor-in-Chief Song Jing was demoted to prefect of Mu Prefecture for supervising court floggings with strokes deemed too light.
63
突厥十勝降者前後萬餘帳。 高麗莫離支文簡，十姓之婿也，二月，與□夾跌都督思泰等亦自突厥帥眾來降； 制皆以河南地處之。
More than ten thousand Türk households of the Ten Surnames surrendered in succession. Wenjian, a Goguryeo molichie and son-in-law of the Ten Surnames, came in the second month with Adie Tribal Commissioner Sitai and others, leading their followers from the Türks to surrender; An edict ordered that all be settled south of the Yellow River.
64
三月，胡祿屋酋長支匐忌等入朝。 上以十姓降者浸多，夏，四月，庚申，以右羽林大將軍薛訥爲涼州鎭大總管，赤水等軍並受節度，居涼州； 左衞大將軍郭虔瓘爲朔州鎭大總管，和戎等軍並受節度，居并州，勒兵以備默啜。
In the third month Hulüwu chieftain Zhipuji and others came to court. As surrenders from the Ten Surnames mounted, in summer, on the fourth month's gengshen day, Right Forest Guard General Xue Ne was made grand commander of the Liangzhou garrison, with the Chishui and other armies under his command, stationed at Liangzhou; Left Guard General Guo Qianzhen was made grand commander of the Shuozhou garrison, with the Herong and other armies under his command, stationed at Bingzhou to muster forces against Mojilian.
65
默啜發兵擊葛邏祿、胡祿屋、鼠尼施等，屢破之； 敕北庭都護湯嘉惠、左散騎常侍解琬等發兵救之。 五月，壬辰，敕嘉惠等與葛邏祿、胡祿屋、鼠尼施及定邊道十總管阿史那獻互相應援。
Mojilian sent troops against the Qarluk, Hulüwu, Shunishi, and others, defeating them repeatedly; An edict ordered Beiting Protector Tang Jiahui, Left Attendant-in-Ordinary Xie Wan, and others to send relief forces. In the fifth month, on the renchen day, an edict directed Jiahui and the others to coordinate with the Qarluk, Hulüwu, Shunishi, and Dingbian Circuit Grand General Ashina Xian in mutual support.
66
山東大蝗，民或於田旁焚香膜拜設祭而不敢殺，姚崇奏遣御史督州縣捕而瘞之。 議者以爲蝗眾多，除不可盡； 上亦疑之。 崇曰：「今蝗滿山東，河南、北之人，流亡殆盡，豈可坐視食苗，曾不救乎！ 借使除之不盡，猶勝養以成災。」 以乃從之。 盧懷慎以爲殺蝗太多，恐傷和氣。 崇曰：「昔楚莊吞蛭而愈疾，孫叔殺蛇而致福，奈何不忍於蝗，而忍人之饑死乎？ 若使殺蝗有禍，崇請當之！」
Locusts ravaged the eastern provinces; peasants sometimes burned incense, bowed, and made offerings beside the fields but dared not kill the insects. Yao Chong memorialized sending censors to supervise local officials in capturing and burying the swarms. Critics argued that the locusts were too numerous to exterminate entirely; the emperor himself was skeptical. Chong said, "Locusts now cover the eastern provinces; the people of Henan and the lands north of the river have fled until almost none remain—how can we sit idle while they devour the crops! Even if we cannot destroy them all, that is still better than letting them breed a full catastrophe." The emperor thereupon agreed. Lu Huaiqian feared that killing so many locusts might disturb cosmic harmony. Chong replied, "King Zhuang of Chu once swallowed a leech and was cured; Sunshu Ao killed a snake and brought blessing—how can we shrink from killing locusts yet accept human starvation? If killing locusts brings retribution, let the blame fall on me!"
67
秋，七月，庚辰朔，日有食之。
In autumn, on the first day of the seventh month, a solar eclipse occurred.
68
上謂宰相曰：「朕每讀書有所疑滯，無從質問； 可選儒學之士，日使入內侍讀。」 盧懷慎薦太常卿馬懷素。 九月，戊寅，以懷素爲左散騎常侍，使與右散騎常侍褚無量更日侍讀。 每至閣門，令乘肩輿以進； 或在別館道遠，聽於宮中乘馬。 親送迎之，待以師傅之禮。 以無量羸老，特爲之造腰輿，在內殿令內侍舁之。
The emperor told his chief ministers, "When I read and encounter passages I cannot resolve, I have no one to question; select learned Confucian scholars and have them attend me daily for reading and discussion." Lu Huaiqian recommended Court of Imperial Sacrifices Minister Ma Huaisu. In the ninth month, on the wuyin day, Huaisu was appointed Left Attendant-in-Ordinary and assigned to attend the emperor on alternate days with Right Attendant-in-Ordinary Chu Wuliang. When they reached the inner gate they were carried in by sedan chair; if lodged far away they were even permitted to ride horses within the palace grounds. The emperor personally escorted them in and out, treating them with the respect owed a tutor. Because Wuliang was frail with age, a special carrying-chair was built for him, and inside the inner hall palace attendants were assigned to bear him in it.
69
九姓思結都督磨散等來降； 己未，悉除官遣還。
Nine-Surname Sijie Tribal Commissioner Mosan and others surrendered; On the jiwei day all were given offices and sent home.
70
西南蠻寇邊，遣右驍衞將軍李玄道發戎、瀘、夔、巴、梁、鳳等州兵三萬人並舊屯兵討之。
Southwestern tribes raided the frontier; Right Swift Guard General Li Xuandao was sent to raise thirty thousand men from Rong, Lu, Kui, Ba, Liang, and Feng, together with existing garrison troops, to suppress them.
71
壬戌，以涼州大總管薛訥爲朔方道行軍大總管，太僕卿呂延祚、靈州刺史杜賓客副之，以討突厥。
On the renxu day Liangzhou Grand Commander Xue Ne was made campaign commander of the Shuofang Circuit, with Minister of the Imperial Stud Lü Yanzuo and Ling Prefecture Prefect Du Binkè as his deputies, to campaign against the Türks.
72
甲子，上幸鳳泉湯； 十一月，己卯，還京師。
On the jiazi day the emperor visited the Fengquan Hot Springs; In the eleventh month, on the jimao day, he returned to the capital.
73
劉幽求自杭州剌史徙郴州剌史，憤恚，甲申，卒於道。
Liu Youqiu was transferred from Hang Prefecture to Chen Prefecture; consumed by anger and resentment, he died on the road on the jiashen day.
74
丁酉，以左羽林大將軍郭虔瓘兼安西大都護、四鎭經略大使。 虔瓘請募關中兵萬人詣安西討擊，皆給遞馱及熟食； 敕許之。 將作大匠韋湊上疏，以爲：「今西域服從，雖或時有小盜竊，舊鎭兵足以制之。 關中常宜充實，以強幹弱枝。 自頃西北二虜寇邊，凡在丁壯，征行略盡，豈宜更募驍勇，遠資荒服！ 又，一萬徵人行六千餘里，鹹給遞馱熟食，道次州縣，將何以供！ 秦、隴之西，戸口漸少，涼州已往，沙磧悠然，遣彼居人，如何取濟？ 縱令必克，其獲幾何？ 儻稽天誅，無乃甚損！ 請計所用、所得，校其多少，則知利害。 昔唐堯之代，兼愛夷、夏，中外乂安； 漢武窮兵遠征，雖多克獲，而中國疲耗。 今論帝王之盛德者，皆歸唐堯，不歸漢武； 況邀功不成者，復何足比議乎！」 時姚崇亦以虔瓘之策爲不然。 既而虔瓘卒無功。
On the dingyou day Left Forest Guard General Guo Qianzhen was appointed concurrently Protector-General of Anxi and frontier strategy commissioner over the Four Garrisons. Qianzhen requested recruiting ten thousand Guanzhong troops for a punitive expedition to Anxi, with relay mounts and prepared rations supplied to all; an edict approved the request. Master of Works Wei Cou submitted a memorial arguing, "The Western Regions now submit to us; occasional petty raids can be handled by the existing garrison forces. Guanzhong should always be kept strong—the trunk fortified, the branches kept lean. Northwestern raids have already drained the region of able-bodied men—why recruit more warriors to feed distant frontier outposts! Moreover, ten thousand men marching more than six thousand li, each supplied with relay mounts and rations—what will the counties along the route have left to give! West of Qin and Long the population is dwindling; beyond Liangzhou lies nothing but desert—how are the people there to sustain such a host? Even assuming certain victory, what would we gain? If the campaign failed, would not the damage be enormous! Calculate the cost against the gain, and the wisdom of the plan will be plain. In the age of Emperor Yao, barbarian and Chinese alike were embraced, and the realm within and without was at peace; Emperor Wu of Han exhausted the realm in distant campaigns; though he won many victories, the heartland was drained. Today when men praise imperial greatness they honor Emperor Yao, not Emperor Wu; how much less should we compare a campaign that seeks glory yet achieves nothing!" Yao Chong likewise opposed Qianzhen's plan. In the end Qianzhen's expedition came to nothing.
75
初，監察御史張孝嵩奉使廓州還，陳磧西利害，請往察其形勢； 上許之，聽以便宜從事。
Earlier, Supervising Censor Zhang Xiaosong, returning from a mission to Kuo Prefecture, outlined the strategic situation west of the desert and asked to reconnoiter the region; the emperor agreed and authorized him to act at his discretion.
76
枝汗那者，古烏孫也，內附歲久。 吐蕃與大食共立阿了達爲王，發兵攻之，枝汗那王兵敗，奔安西求救。 孝嵩謂都護呂休璟曰：「不救則無以號令西域。」 遂帥旁側戎落兵萬餘人，出龜茲西數千里，下數百城，長驅而進。 是月，攻阿了達於連城。 孝嵩自擐甲督士卒急攻，自巳至酉，屠其三城，俘斬千餘級，阿了達與數騎逃入山谷。 孝嵩傳檄諸國，威振西域，大食、康居、大宛、罽賓等八國皆遣使請降。 勒石紀功而還。 會有言其贓污者，坐系涼州獄，貶靈州兵曹參軍。
Warishana was the ancient Wusun kingdom, long a Tang dependency. Tibet and the Arabs jointly installed Alida as king and attacked Warishana; its king was defeated and fled to Anxi for help. Xiaosong told Protector Lü Xiujing, "If we fail to rescue them, we cannot command the Western Regions." He then led more than ten thousand allied tribal troops west of Kucha for several thousand li, reducing hundreds of towns as he drove forward. That month he attacked Alida at Liancheng. Xiaosong donned armor and personally directed a furious assault; from mid-morning to evening he stormed three cities, killing or capturing more than a thousand; Alida escaped into the hills with a handful of riders. Xiaosong issued proclamations to the region; his prestige shook the Western Regions, and eight states—including the Arabs, Kangju, Dayuan, and Jibin—all sent envoys offering submission. He erected a stone monument to record his achievements and returned. Soon afterward someone accused him of corruption; he was imprisoned in Liangzhou and demoted to military staff officer at Lingzhou.
77
京兆尹崔日知貪暴不法，御史大夫李傑將糾之，日知反構傑罪。 十二月，侍御史楊瑒廷奏曰：「若糾彈之司，使奸人得而恐愒，則御史台可廢矣。」 上遽命傑視事如故，貶日知爲歙縣丞。
Cui Rizhi, governor of Jingzhao, was greedy, violent, and lawless. When Censor-in-Chief Li Jie moved to impeach him, Rizhi turned the tables and fabricated charges against Jie. In the twelfth month, Attending Censor Yang Chang memorialized at court: "If the offices charged with impeachment can be intimidated by wicked men, the Censorate might as well be abolished." The emperor immediately restored Jie to his post and demoted Rizhi to assistant magistrate of She County.
78
或上言：「按察使徒煩擾公私，請精簡刺史、縣令，停按察使。」 上命召尚書省官議之。 姚崇以爲：「今止擇十使，猶患未盡得人，況天下三百餘州，縣多數倍，安得刺史、縣令皆稱其職乎！」 乃止。
Someone submitted to the emperor: "The surveillance commissioners only harass public and private interests to no purpose. Please carefully select prefects and county magistrates and abolish the surveillance commissioners." The emperor ordered officials of the Department of State Affairs summoned to discuss the proposal. Yao Chong argued: "Even when we choose only ten commissioners, we still fear we have not found enough capable men — and there are more than three hundred prefectures under Heaven, with counties many times that number. How can every prefect and county magistrate be equal to his office?" The proposal was dropped.
79
尚書左丞韋玢奏：「郎官多不舉職，請沙汰，改授他官。」 玢尋出爲刺史，宰相奏擬冀州，敕改小州。 姚崇奏言：「台郎寬怠及不稱職，玢請沙汰，乃是奉公。 台郎甫爾改官，玢即貶黜於外，議者皆謂郎官謗傷。 臣恐後來左右丞指以爲戒，則省事何從而舉矣！ 伏望聖慈祥察，使當官者無所疑懼。」 乃除冀州刺史。
Wei Bin, left vice director of the Department of State Affairs, memorialized: "Many department clerks neglect their duties. Please cull them and reassign them to other posts." Soon afterward Bin was sent out as a prefect. The chief ministers proposed Jizhou, but an edict reassigned him to a smaller prefecture. Yao Chong memorialized: "The department clerks are lax and unfit for office, and Bin's request to cull them was a matter of public duty. The clerks had barely been reassigned when Bin was immediately demoted and sent out. Commentators all said the clerks had slandered him. I fear that future left and right vice directors will take this as a warning, and then how will the department dare to act! I humbly hope Your Majesty will graciously consider this, so that officials in office will have no doubts or fear." Bin was then appointed prefect of Jizhou.
80
突騎施守忠既死，默啜兵還，守忠部將蘇祿鳩集餘眾，爲之酋長。 蘇祿頗善綏撫，十姓部落稍稍歸之，有眾二十萬，遂據有西方，尋遣使入見。 是歲，以蘇祿爲左羽林大將軍、金方道經略大使。
After the Turgesh khan Shouzhong died and Mouyuchuo's army withdrew, Shouzhong's lieutenant Suluo gathered the survivors and made himself their chieftain. Suluo proved adept at winning people over; the Ten Surnames tribes gradually returned to him until he commanded two hundred thousand men, held the western regions, and soon sent envoys to court. That year Suluo was appointed general of the Left Army of Brilliant Forest and grand commissioner for the Jinfang Circuit.
81
皇后妹夫尚衣奉御長孫昕以細故與御史大夫李傑不協。
Zhangsun Xin, the empress's brother-in-law and director of palace attire, fell out with Censor-in-Chief Li Jie over a trifle.
82
春，正月，昕與其妹夫楊仙玉於里巷伺傑而毆之。 傑上表自訴曰：「髮膚見毀，雖則育心，冠冕被陵，誠爲辱國。」 上大怒，命於朝堂杖殺，以謝百僚，仍以敕書慰傑曰：「昕等朕之密戚，不能訓導，使陵犯衣冠，雖置以極刑，未足謝罪。 卿宜以剛腸疾惡，勿以凶人介意。」
In spring, the first month, Xin and his brother-in-law Yang Xianyu lay in wait for Jie in a back lane and beat him. Jie submitted a memorial of protest: "Though injury to body and skin may be borne in private, an assault on cap and regalia is truly a disgrace to the state." The emperor was furious and ordered them beaten to death in the court hall as an apology to the officials. He also sent an edict comforting Jie: "Xin and the others are my close kin. I failed to instruct them, allowing them to violate the dignity of office — even the death penalty is insufficient to atone. Keep a firm will and hate evil; do not let these wicked men trouble you."
83
丁亥，宋王成器更名憲，申王成義更爲名摠。
On dinghai, Prince of Song Chengqì was renamed Xian, and Prince of Shen Chengyì was renamed Zong.
84
乙酉，隴右節度使郭虔瓘奏，奴石良才等八人皆有戰功，請除游擊將軍。 敕下，盧懷慎等奏曰：「郭虔瓘恃其微效，輒侮彝章，爲奴請五品，實亂綱紀，不可許。」 上從之。
On yiyou, Guo Qianjin, military governor of Longyou, memorialized that eight men, including the slave Shi Liangcai, had all rendered military merit and requested they be appointed generals of guerrilla warfare. When the edict was issued, Lu Huaishen and others memorialized: "Guo Qianjin, relying on slight merit, lightly disregards the regulations; requesting fifth-rank posts for slaves would truly disrupt discipline and must not be permitted." The emperor agreed.
85
丙午，以鄫王嗣真爲安北大都護、安撫河東、關內、隴右諸蕃大使，以安北大都護張知運爲之副。 陝王嗣升爲安西大都護、安撫河西四鎭諸蕃大使，以安西都護郭虔瓘爲之副。 二王皆不出閣。 諸王遙領節度自此始。
On bingwu, Prince of Zeng Sizhen was made grand protector general of the North and grand ambassador for pacifying the various tribes of Hedong, Guannei, and Longyou, with Zhang Zhiyun, grand protector general of the North, as his deputy. Prince of Shan Sisheng was made grand protector general of Anxi and grand ambassador for pacifying the various tribes of the four Hexi garrisons, with Guo Qianjin, protector general of Anxi, as his deputy. Neither prince left the palace precinct. From this time the practice began of princes holding military commands at a distance in name only.
86
二月，丙辰，上幸驪山溫湯。
In the second month, on bingchen, the emperor visited the hot springs at Mount Li.
87
吐蕃圍松州。
Tibet besieged Songzhou.
88
丁卯，上還宮。
On dingmao, the emperor returned to the palace.
89
辛未，以尚書右丞倪若水爲汴州刺史兼河南採訪使。
On xinwei, Ni Ruoshui, right vice director of the Department of State Affairs, was appointed prefect of Bianzhou and concurrently surveillance commissioner of Henan.
90
上雖欲重都督、刺史，選京官才望者爲之，然當時士大夫猶輕外任。 揚州採訪使班景倩入爲大理少卿，過大梁，若水餞之行，立望其行塵，久之乃返，謂官屬曰：「班生此行，何異登仙！」
Although the emperor wished to enhance the status of area commanders and prefects by appointing talented and reputable capital officials, the literati of the day still looked down on service outside the capital. Ban Jingqian, surveillance commissioner of Yangzhou, entered the capital as vice director of the Court of Judicial Review. Passing through Daliang, Ruoshui saw him off and stood gazing at the dust of his departing carriage; only after a long while did he return and tell his staff: "Master Ban's journey this time — how is it different from ascending to immortality!"
91
癸酉，松州都督孫仁獻襲擊吐蕃於城下，大破之。
On guiyou, Sun Renshi, area commander of Songzhou, launched a surprise attack on the Tibetans below the walls and routed them decisively.
92
上嘗遣宦官詣江南取□鶄、鸂鶒等，欲置苑中，使者所至煩擾。 道過汴州，倪若水上言：「今農桑方急，而羅捕禽鳥以供園池之玩，遠自江、嶺，水陸傳送，食爲粱肉。 道路觀者，豈不以陛下爲賤人而貴鳥乎？ 陛下方當以鳳凰爲凡鳥，麒麟爲凡獸，況□鶄、鸂鶒，曷足貴也！」 上手敕謝若水，賜帛四十段，縱散其鳥。
The emperor once sent eunuchs to the south of the Yangtze to collect red-billed teal, mandarin ducks, and the like for the imperial park; wherever the envoys went they caused trouble. Passing through Bianzhou, Ni Ruoshui submitted: "Agriculture and sericulture are urgently needed now, yet birds are being netted for garden and pond amusements, transported from the Yangtze and Lingnan regions by water and land, fed on fine grain and meat. Would those who watch along the roads not think Your Majesty values birds above men? Your Majesty ought to regard the phoenix as an ordinary bird and the qilin as an ordinary beast — how much less are red-billed teal and mandarin ducks worth esteeming!" The emperor personally wrote an edict apologizing to Ruoshui, bestowed forty bolts of silk, and released the birds.
93
山東蝗復大起，姚崇又命捕之。 倪若水謂：「蝗乃天災，非人力所及，宜修德以禳之。 劉聰時，常捕埋之，爲害益甚。」 拒御史，不從其命。 崇牒若水曰：「劉聰偽主，德不勝妖； 今日聖朝，妖不勝德。 古之良守，蝗不入境。 若其修德可免，彼豈無德致然？」 若水乃不敢違。 夏，五月，甲辰，敕委使者詳察州縣捕蝗勤惰者，各以名聞。 由是連歲蝗災，不至大饑。
Locusts swarmed again in the east, and Yao Chong again ordered them captured. Ni Ruoshui argued: "Locusts are a heaven-sent disaster, beyond human power; one should cultivate virtue to avert them. In the time of Liu Cong they were often captured and buried, and the harm only grew worse." He blocked the censor and refused to obey the order. Chong sent Ruoshui a dispatch: "Liu Cong was a usurper; his virtue could not overcome the calamity; in today's sage dynasty, the calamity cannot overcome virtue. Ancient worthy magistrates saw locusts not enter their borders. If cultivating virtue could avert them, did those lands have no virtue that things turned out thus?" Thereupon Ruoshui dared not defy. In summer, the fifth month, on jiachen, an edict delegated envoys to examine closely how diligently or slackly prefectures and counties captured locusts and report each by name. Hence, though locust disasters continued year after year, there was no great famine.
94
或言於上曰：「今歲選敘大濫，縣令非才。」 及入謝，上悉召縣令於宣政殿庭，試以理人策。 惟鄄城令韋濟詞理第一，擢爲醴泉令。 餘二百餘人不入第，且令之官； 四十五人放歸學問。 吏部侍郎盧從願左遷豫州剌史，李朝隱左遷滑州刺史。 從願典選六年，與朝隱皆名稱職。 初，高宗之世，馬載、裴行檢在吏部，最有名，時人稱吏部前有馬、裴，後有盧、李。 濟，嗣立之子也。
Someone said to the emperor: "This year's selections and promotions are excessively lax — the county magistrates lack talent." When they entered to give thanks, the emperor summoned all county magistrates to the court of the Xuanzheng Hall and tested them with essays on governing people. Only Wei Ji, magistrate of Juancheng, ranked first in argument and diction; he was promoted to magistrate of Liquan. The remaining two hundred-plus who did not pass were nevertheless ordered to take up their posts; forty-five were sent back to pursue their studies. Lu Congyuan, vice director of the Ministry of Personnel, was demoted to prefect of Yuzhou; Li Chaoyin was demoted to prefect of Huazhou. Congyuan had managed selections for six years; he and Chaoyin were both famed for performing their duties well. Earlier, in the era of Emperor Gaozong, Ma Zai and Pei Xingjian at the Ministry of Personnel were most renowned; people of the time said that before Ma and Pei at the Ministry, there were Lu and Li after. Ji was the son of Wei Sili.
95
有胡人上言海南多珠翠奇寶，可往營致，因言市舶之利； 又欲往師子國求靈藥及善醫之嫗，置之宮掖。 上命監察御史楊范臣與胡人偕往求之，范臣從容奏曰：「陛下前年焚珠玉、錦繡，示不復用。 今所求者何以異於所焚者乎！ 彼市舶與商賈爭利，殆非王者之體。 胡藥之性，中國多不能知； 況於胡嫗，豈宜置之宮掖！ 夫御史，天子耳目之官，必有軍國大事，臣雖觸冒炎瘴，死不敢辭。 此特胡人眩惑求媚，無益聖德，竊恐非陛下之意，願熟思之。」 上遽自引咎，慰諭而罷之。
A foreigner submitted that south of the sea there were many pearls, jade, and rare treasures that could be sought and obtained, and spoke moreover of the profits of maritime trade; he also wished to go to Lion Country to seek elixir drugs and a woman skilled in medicine to place in the inner palace. The emperor ordered Supervising Censor Yang Fanchen to go with the foreigner to seek these things. Fanchen calmly memorialized: "Your Majesty, the year before last you burned pearls, jade, and brocades, showing you would not use them again. How does what is now sought differ from what was burned! Maritime trade competing for profit with merchants scarcely befits the bearing of a sovereign. The properties of foreign drugs are mostly unknown in China; as for a foreign woman, how can she be placed in the inner palace! A censor is an officer of the Son of Heaven's eyes and ears; if there were a matter of army and state, your subject, though touching miasma and fever, would not refuse even unto death. This is merely a foreigner dazzling and currying favor — it benefits not the sage virtue. I privately fear it is not Your Majesty's intent and hope you will consider it deeply." The emperor immediately took blame upon himself, comforted and instructed him, and dropped the matter.
96
六月，癸亥，上皇崩於百福殿。 己巳，以上女萬安公主爲女官，欲以追福。
In the sixth month, on guihai, the Retired Emperor died in Baifu Hall. On jisi, the emperor's daughter Princess Wan'an was made a female official, wishing thereby to gain merit for the departed.
97
癸酉，拔曳固斬突厥可汗默啜首來獻。 時默啜北擊拔曳固，大破之於獨樂水，恃勝輕歸，不復設備，遇拔曳固迸卒頡質略，自柳林突出，斬之。 時大武軍子將郝靈荃奉使在突厥，頡質略以其首歸之，與偕詣闕，懸其首於廣街。 拔曳固、回紇、同羅、□、僕固五部皆來降，置於大武軍北。
On guiyou, the Bayegu presented the severed head of the Turkic qaghan Mouyuchuo. At the time Mouyuchuo had marched north against the Bayegu and routed them at Dule River. Relying on victory, he returned lightly without setting up defenses. He encountered the Bayegu soldier Jiezhilüe, who burst forth from Willow Grove and beheaded him. At the time Sub-lieutenant Hao Lingquan of the Dafu Army was on embassy among the Turks. Jiezhilüe brought the head to him, and together they went to court; the head was hung on the broad street. The five tribes — Bayegu, Uighur, Tongluo, Hun, and Pugu — all came to surrender and were settled north of the Dafu Army.
98
默啜之子小可汗立，骨咄祿之子闕特勒擊殺之，及默啜諸子、親信略盡； 立其兄左賢王默棘連，是爲毘伽可汗，國人謂之「小殺」。 毘伽以國固讓闕特勒，闕特勒不受； 乃以爲左賢王，專典兵馬。
Mouyuchuo's son the Lesser Qaghan took the throne; Kul Tigin, son of Kutlug, struck and killed him, and Mouyuchuo's sons and trusted followers were nearly all destroyed; they installed his elder brother, the Left Wise Prince Mojilian, who became the Bilge Qaghan; the people called him "Little Kill." Bilge firmly offered the state to Kul Tigin, but Kul Tigin would not accept; he was therefore made Left Wise Prince, with exclusive charge of troops and horses.
99
秋，七月，壬辰，太常博士陳貞節、蘇獻以太廟七室已滿，請遷中宗神主於別廟，奉睿宗神主祔太廟； 從之。 又奏遷昭成皇后祔睿宗室，肅明皇后留祀於儀坤廟。 八月，乙巳，立中宗廟於太廟之西。
In autumn, the seventh month, on renchen, court academicians Chen Zhenjie and Su Xian, because the seven chambers of the Imperial Ancestral Temple were full, requested that Emperor Zhongzong's spirit tablet be moved to a separate temple and Emperor Ruizong's spirit tablet be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple; This was approved. They further memorialized moving Empress Zhaocheng to be enshrined with Ruizong, while Empress Zuming was left for sacrifice at Yikun Temple. In the eighth month, on yisi, a temple to Zhongzong was established west of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
100
辛未，契丹李失活、奚李大酺帥所部來降。 制以失活爲松漠郡王、行左金吾大將軍兼松漠都督，因其八部落酋長，拜爲刺史； 又以將軍薛泰督軍鎭撫之。 大酺爲饒樂郡王、行右金吾大將軍兼饒樂都督。 失活，盡忠之從父弟也。
On xinwei, Li Shihuo of the Khitan and Li Datuo of the Xi led their tribes to surrender. An edict made Shihuo prince of Songmo, acting general of the Left Army of Golden Guards and concurrently area commander of Songmo; the eight tribal chieftains were appointed prefects; General Xue Tai was further sent to oversee troops and pacify them. Datuo was made prince of Raole, acting general of the Right Army of Golden Guards and concurrently area commander of Raole. Shihuo was the younger cousin of Li Jinzhong on the father's side.
101
吐蕃復請和，上許之。
Tibet again requested peace; the emperor granted it.
102
突厥默啜既死，奚、契丹、拔曳固等諸部皆內附，突騎施蘇祿復自立爲可汗。 突厥部落多離散，毘伽可汗患之，乃召默啜時牙官暾欲谷，以爲謀主。 暾欲谷年七十餘，多智略，國人信服之，突厥降戸處河曲者，聞毘伽立，多復叛歸之。
After the Turkic qaghan Mouyuchuo died, the Xi, Khitan, Bayegu, and other tribes all submitted inward, and Suluo of the Turgesh again set himself up as qaghan. Many Turkic tribes were scattered and dispersed; Bilge Qaghan was troubled by this and summoned Tun Yugu, a yabghu from Mouyuchuo's time, to serve as his chief strategist. Tun Yugu was over seventy and rich in stratagems; the people trusted him. Among Turkic surrender households settled along the river bend, many, hearing Bilge had been enthroned, again rebelled and returned to him.
103
并州長史王晙上言：「此屬徒以其國喪亂，故相帥來降； 若彼安寧，必復叛去。 今置之河曲，此屬桀黠，實難制御，往往不受軍州約束，興兵剽掠； 聞其逃者已多與虜聲問往來，通傳委曲。 乃是畜養此屬使爲間諜，日月滋久，奸詐愈深，窺伺邊隙，將成大患。 虜騎南牧，必爲內應，來逼軍州，表裡受敵，雖有韓、彭，不能取勝矣。 願以秋、冬之交，大集兵眾，諭以利害，給其資糧，徙之內地。 二十年外，漸變舊俗，皆成勁兵； 雖一時暫勞，然永久安靖。 比者守邊將吏及出境使人，多爲諛辭，皆非事實，或雲北虜破滅，或雲降戸妥貼，皆欲自衒其功，非能盡忠徇國。 願察斯利口，忽忘遠慮。 議者必曰：『國家向時已嘗置降戸於河曲，皆獲安寧，今何所疑！』 此則事同時異，不可不察。 向者頡利既亡，降者無復異心，故得久安無變。 今北虜尚存，此屬或畏其威，或懷其惠，或其親屬，豈樂南來！ 較之彼時，固不侔矣。 以臣愚慮，徙之內地，上也； 多屯士馬，大爲之備，華、夷相參，人勞費廣，次也； 正如今日，下也。 願審茲三策，擇利而行，縱使因徙逃亡，得者皆爲唐有； 若留至河冰，恐必有變。」
Wang Jun, senior administrator of Bingzhou, submitted: "These people submit only because their state is in turmoil and they lead one another here to surrender; If conditions over there become stable, they will surely rebel and leave again. If we leave them along the river bend, these people are fierce and cunning and truly hard to control; they often ignore military and prefectural authority, take up arms, and raid; I hear that many of their fugitives are already in contact with the barbarians, passing messages back and forth and relaying every detail. We are in effect keeping these people here to serve as spies; as time goes on their deceit grows deeper, they watch for openings on the frontier, and a great disaster will result. When barbarian horsemen drive south, they will surely serve as collaborators within our lines, press in on our garrisons and prefectures, and leave us attacked from within and without; even generals like Han Xin and Peng Yue could not win. I ask that at the turn of autumn and winter we assemble a large force, explain the advantages and dangers to them, supply them with provisions, and relocate them into the interior. After more than twenty years, as their old ways gradually change, they will all become crack troops; Although this will cause temporary hardship, it will bring lasting peace and security. Recently border commanders and envoys sent abroad have mostly spoken flatteringly; none of it is true. Some claim the northern barbarians are destroyed, others that the surrender households are docile—all merely seeking to boast of their achievements rather than serving the state with full loyalty. I ask that Your Majesty scrutinize these smooth talkers and not forget long-range considerations. Critics will surely say: "The state has already settled surrender households along the river bend before, and all was peaceful—what is there to doubt now!" But the circumstances are the same while the times are different; this cannot go unexamined. Previously, after Jieli was dead, the surrendering tribes had no further disloyal intent, and so they remained peaceful and unchanged for a long time. Now the northern barbarians still exist; these people may fear their power, may remember their favors, or may have kin among them—why would they be happy to remain in the south! Compared with that earlier situation, the cases are plainly not the same. In my humble view, relocating them to the interior is the best policy; Massing troops and horses for heavy defenses, with Chinese and barbarians intermixed, causing great labor and expense—this is the second-best option; Maintaining the present arrangement is the worst option. I ask that Your Majesty weigh these three policies and choose the advantageous course; even if some flee during relocation, any who are captured will still belong to Tang; If they are left in place until the river freezes, I fear trouble will surely arise."
104
疏奏，未報； 降戸□夾跌思泰、阿悉爛等果叛。 冬，十月，甲辰，命朔方大總管薛訥發兵追討之。 王晙引并州兵西濟河，晝夜兼行，追擊叛者，破之，斬獲三千級。
The memorial was submitted, but no reply came; Among the surrender households, Adie Sitai, Asilan, and others did indeed rebel. In winter, in the tenth month, on the jiachen day, the emperor ordered Xue Ne, grand commander of Shuofang, to dispatch troops in pursuit. Wang Jun led Bingzhou troops west across the river, marching day and night, pursued the rebels, defeated them, and killed or captured three thousand men.
105
先是，單于副都護張知運悉收降戸兵仗，令渡河而南，降戸怨怒。 御史中丞姜晦爲巡邊使，降戸訴無弓矢，不得射獵，晦悉還之； 降戸得之，遂叛。 張知運不設備，與之戰於青剛嶺，爲虜所擒，欲送突厥； 至綏州境，將軍郭知運以朔方兵邀擊之，大破其眾於黑山呼延谷，虜釋張知運而去。 上以張知運喪師，斬之以徇。 毘伽可汗既得思泰等，欲南入爲寇。 暾欲谷曰：「唐主英武，民和年豐，未有間隙，不可動也。 我眾新集，力尚疲羸，且當息養數年，始可觀變而舉。」 毘伽又欲築城，並立寺觀，暾欲谷曰：「不可。 突厥人徒稀少，不及唐家百分之一，所以能與爲敵者，正以逐水草，居處無常，射獵爲業，人皆習武，強則進兵抄掠，弱則竄伏山林。 唐兵雖多，無所施用。 若築城而居，變更舊俗，一朝失利，必爲所滅。 釋、老之法，教人仁弱，非用武爭勝之術，不可崇也。」 毘伽乃止。
Earlier, Zhang Zhiyun, vice protector-general of the Chanyu headquarters, had confiscated all the surrender households' weapons and ordered them to cross the river to the south; the surrender households were furious. Jiang Hui, censor-in-chief, served as border inspection envoy; the surrender households complained that without bows and arrows they could not hunt, and Hui returned them all; Once the surrender households recovered their weapons, they rebelled. Zhang Zhiyun was unprepared; he fought them at Qinggang Ridge, was captured by the rebels, and they intended to hand him over to the Turks; When they reached the border of Suizhou, General Guo Zhiyun intercepted them with Shuofang troops and routed them at Huyan Valley on Black Mountain; the rebels released Zhang Zhiyun and fled. The emperor had Zhang Zhiyun beheaded as a public example for having lost his command. Once Bilge Qaghan had Sitai and the others in his camp, he wanted to raid south into Tang territory. Tun Yugu said: "The Tang emperor is heroic and capable, the people are at peace and the harvests are good; there is no opening to exploit—we must not move. Our forces are newly assembled and still weak; we should rest and recover for several years before watching for changes and striking." Bilge also wanted to build walled cities and erect temples and monasteries; Tun Yugu said: "That must not be done. The Turks are few in number, less than one percent of Tang's population; the reason we can stand as their enemy is precisely that we follow pasture and water, live without fixed settlements, and hunt for a living. All our men are trained in arms—when strong we advance to raid, when weak we hide in the mountains and forests. However many Tang troops they send, there is no way to use them effectively against us. If we settle in walled cities and abandon our old ways, the moment we suffer a setback we will surely be destroyed. Buddhist and Daoist teachings cultivate gentleness and weakness; they are not methods for winning by force of arms and must not be promoted." Bilge then abandoned the idea.
106
庚午，葬大聖皇帝於橋陵，廟號睿宗。 御史大夫李傑護橋陵作，判官王旭犯贓，傑按之，反爲所構，左遷衢州刺史。
On the gengwu day, the Great Sage Emperor was buried at Qiao Mausoleum and given the temple name Ruizong. Li Jie, censor-in-chief, oversaw construction at Qiao Mausoleum; his judicial officer Wang Xu took bribes, and when Jie investigated him, Wang framed him in return; Jie was demoted to prefect of Quzhou.
107
十一月，己卯，黃門監盧懷慎疾亟，上表薦宋璟、李傑、李朝隱、盧從願並明時重器，所坐者小，所棄者大，望垂矜錄； 上深納之。 乙未，薨。 家無餘蓄，惟一老蒼頭，請自鬻以辦喪事。
In the eleventh month, on the jimao day, Lu Huaiqian, supervisor of the Yellow Gate, was gravely ill; he submitted a memorial recommending Song Jing, Li Jie, Li Chaoyin, and Lu Congyuan as men of great talent for the age, arguing that the faults for which they had been punished were minor while what the court had lost was great, and asking that they be shown mercy and restored; The emperor fully accepted his recommendation. On the yimao day, he died. His household had no savings; he left only one elderly manservant, who offered to sell himself to pay for the funeral.
108
丙申，以尚書左丞源乾曜爲黃門侍郎、同平章事。
On the bingshen day, Yuan Qianyao, left assistant director of the Department of State Affairs, was appointed vice director of the Yellow Gate and associate director of the chancellery.
109
姚崇無居第，寓居罔極寺，以病痁謁告。 上遣使問飲食起居狀，日數十輩。 源乾曜奏事或稱旨，上輒曰：「此必姚宗之謀也。」 或不稱旨，輒曰：「何不與姚崇議之！」 乾曜常謝實然。 每有大事，上常令乾曜就寺問崇。 癸卯，乾曜請遷崇於四方館，仍聽家人入侍疾； 上許之。 崇以四方館有簿書，非病者所宜外，固辭。 上曰：「設四方館，爲官吏也； 使卿居之，爲社稷也。 恨不可使卿居禁中耳，此何足辭！」 崇子光祿少卿彝、宗正少卿異，廣通賓客，頗受饋遺，爲時所譏。 主書趙誨爲崇所親信，受胡人賂，事覺，上親鞫問，下獄當死。 崇復營救，上由是不悅。 會曲赦京城，敕特標誨名，杖之一百，流嶺南。 崇由是憂懼，數請避相位，薦廣州都督宋璟自代。
Yao Chong had no house of his own and was staying at Wuji Temple, where he requested sick leave for malaria. The emperor sent envoys to inquire after his diet and daily condition, dozens each day. When Yuan Qianyao reported on affairs and the emperor was pleased, he would say: "This must be Yao Yuanzhi's counsel." When he was displeased, he would say: "Why did you not consult Yao Chong!" Qianyao would often apologize in embarrassment. Whenever a major matter arose, the emperor would send Qianyao to the temple to consult Chong. On the guimao day, Qianyao asked that Chong be moved to the Foreign Guests Pavilion and that his family be allowed to attend him there; The emperor agreed. Chong firmly declined, saying the Foreign Guests Pavilion held official records and was no place for a sick man. The emperor said: "The Foreign Guests Pavilion was built for officials; having you stay there is for the sake of the state. I only regret that I cannot have you stay inside the palace itself—why refuse this!" Yao Chong's sons, Yi, vice director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, and Yi, vice director of the Court of the Imperial Clan, entertained many guests and accepted numerous gifts, drawing public criticism. Zhao Hui, a chief clerk whom Chong trusted, took bribes from barbarians; when the affair came to light, the emperor personally interrogated him, and he was imprisoned and sentenced to death. Chong again intervened on his behalf, and the emperor was displeased. When a partial amnesty was issued for the capital, the edict specifically named Hui, sentenced him to one hundred strokes of the staff, and exiled him to Lingnan. Chong grew anxious and repeatedly asked to resign the chancellorship, recommending Song Jing, regional commander of Guangzhou, as his successor.
110
十二月，上將幸東都，以璟爲刑部尚書、西京留守，令馳驛詣闕，遣內侍、將軍楊思勖迎之。 璟風度凝遠，人莫測其際，在塗竟不與思勖交言。 思勖素貴幸，歸，訴於上，上嗟歎良久，益重璟。
In the twelfth month, as the emperor prepared to visit the Eastern Capital, he appointed Song Jing minister of justice and regent of the Western Capital, ordered him to come to court by relay post, and sent the inner attendant and general Yang Sixun to meet him. Song Jing's manner was reserved and distant, and no one could read him; on the journey he never exchanged a word with Sixun. Sixun, who was accustomed to high favor, complained to the emperor on his return; the emperor sighed at length and respected Song Jing all the more.
111
丙辰，上幸驪山溫湯； 乙丑，還宮。
On the bingchen day, the emperor visited the hot springs at Mount Li; On the yichou day, he returned to the palace.
112
閏月，己亥，姚崇罷爲開府儀同三司，源乾曜罷爲京兆尹、西京留守，以刑部尚書宋璟守吏部尚書兼黃門監，紫微侍郎蘇頲同平章事。
In the intercalary month, on the jihai day, Yao Chong was removed as chief minister and made grand master of splendid happiness with ceremonial rank equal to the three excellencies; Yuan Qianyao was removed and made metropolitan governor of Jingzhao and regent of the Western Capital; Song Jing, minister of justice, was appointed acting minister of personnel and supervisor of the Yellow Gate; and Su Ting, vice director of the Palace Secretariat, was made associate director of the chancellery.
113
璟爲相，務在擇人，隨材授任，使百官各稱其積； 刑賞無私，敢犯顏正諫。 上甚敬憚之，雖不合意，亦曲從之。
As chief minister, Song Jing focused on selecting the right men, assigning posts according to talent, and ensuring that every official was suited to his duties; Rewards and punishments were impartial, and he dared to remonstrate frankly even when the emperor's face darkened. The emperor held him in deep respect and awe; even when he disagreed, he would yield to Song Jing.
114
突厥默啜自則天世爲中國患，朝廷旰食，傾天下之力不能克； 郝靈荃得其首，自謂不世之功。 璟以天子好武功，恐好事者競生心徼倖，痛抑其賞，逾年始授郎將； 靈荃慟哭而死。
The Turk Mo-ch'o had been a scourge to China since Empress Wu's reign; the court worked late into the evening and mobilized the empire's full strength without defeating him; When Hao Lingquan took his head, he regarded it as a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. Song Jing, fearing that the emperor's love of martial glory would encourage others to seek similar windfalls, deliberately withheld Hao's reward; only after more than a year was he appointed a commandant; Hao Lingquan died of grief.
115
璟與蘇頲相得甚厚，頲遇事多讓於璟，頲每論事則頲爲之助。 璟嘗謂人曰：「吾與蘇氏父子皆同居相府，僕射寬厚，誠爲國器，然獻可替否，吏事精敏，則黃門過其父矣。」
Song Jing and Su Ting were on very close terms; Su Ting often deferred to Song Jing in handling affairs, and whenever Song Jing took up a matter, Su Ting would support him. Song Jing once said to others: "Su Ting and I have both served in the chancellery together with his father; the vice director is generous and truly a pillar of state, but in weighing what to approve and what to reject, and in the precision of administrative work, the Yellow Gate director surpasses his father."
116
姚、宋相繼爲相，崇善應變成務，璟善守法持正； 二人志操不同，然協心輔佐，使賦役寬平，刑罰清省，百姓富遮。 唐世賢相，前稱房、杜，後稱姚、宋，他人莫得比焉。 二人每進見，上輒爲之起，去則臨軒送之。 及李林甫爲相，雖寵任過於姚、宋，然禮遇殊卑薄矣。 紫微舍人高仲舒博通典籍，齊澣練習時務，姚、宋每坐二人以質所疑，既而歎曰：「欲知古，問高群，欲知今，問齊君，可以無缺政矣。」
Yao and Song served as chief ministers in succession; Yao Chong excelled at adapting to circumstances and getting things done, while Song Jing excelled at upholding the law and maintaining integrity; Their temperaments differed, yet they worked in concert as ministers, keeping taxes and corvée moderate, punishments fair and sparing, and the people prosperous. Among Tang's great ministers, the early age was praised for Fang and Du, the later age for Yao and Song; no others could compare. Whenever the two came to audience, the emperor would rise for them, and when they left he would see them off from the front of the hall. When Li Linfu became chief minister, although his favor exceeded what Yao and Song had enjoyed, the courtesy shown him was far less. Gao Zhongshu, an attendant of the Palace Secretariat, was deeply learned in the classics, and Qi Huan was well versed in current affairs; Yao and Song often seated the two men to consult them on doubtful points, and then sighed: "To understand antiquity, ask Gao; to understand the present, ask Qi—with them, governance need lack nothing."
117
辛丑，罷十道按察使。
On the xinchou day, the ten-circuit inspection commissioners were abolished.
118
舊制，六品以下官皆委尚書省奏擬。 是歲，始制員外郎、御史、起居、遺、補不擬。
Under the old system, all officials of the sixth rank and below were nominated by the Department of State Affairs. That year, a rule was first established that externals, censors, diarists, remonstrators, and supplements would no longer be subject to ministerial nomination.
119
春，正月，癸卯，太廟四室壞，上素服避正殿。 時上將幸東都，以問宋璟、蘇頲，對曰：「陛下三年之制未終，遽爾行幸，恐未契天心，災異爲戒； 願且停車駕。」 又問姚崇，對曰：「太廟屋材，皆苻堅時物，歲久朽腐而壞，適與行期相會，何足異也！ 且王者以四海爲家，陛下以關中不稔幸東都，百司供擬已備，不可失信； 但應遷神主於太極殿，更修太廟，如期自行耳。」 上大喜，從之，賜崇絹二百匹。 己酉，上行享禮於太極殿，命姚崇五日一朝，仍入閣供奉，恩禮更厚，有大政輒訪焉。 右散騎常侍褚無量上言：「隋文帝富有天下，遷都之日，豈取苻氏舊材以立太廟乎？ 此特諛臣之言耳。 願陛下克謹天戒，訥忠諫，遠諂諛。」 上弗聽。
In spring, in the first month, on the guimao day, four chambers of the Imperial Ancestral Temple collapsed; the emperor wore mourning dress and avoided the main hall. The emperor was about to visit the Eastern Capital and consulted Song Jing and Su Ting; they replied: "Your Majesty's three-year mourning period is not yet complete; to travel so soon may fail to accord with Heaven's will, and this disaster is a warning; we ask that Your Majesty postpone the journey." He then asked Yao Chong, who replied: "The timber in the Imperial Ancestral Temple dates from Fu Jian's time; after long years it rotted and gave way—this simply coincided with your travel plans; there is nothing remarkable in that! Moreover, a ruler takes all under Heaven as his home; Your Majesty is visiting the Eastern Capital because the Guanzhong harvest was poor, and the various offices have already made preparations—it would be wrong to break faith; You need only move the spirit tablets to the Hall of Supreme Ultimate, rebuild the temple, and depart on schedule." The emperor was delighted, followed his advice, and rewarded Chong with two hundred bolts of silk. On the jiyou day, the emperor performed the offering rite at the Hall of Supreme Ultimate, ordered Yao Chong to attend court every five days, and continued to receive him in the inner pavilion; his honors grew even greater, and the emperor consulted him on every major policy matter. Chu Wuliang, right regular attendant of the Palace Horse, submitted: "When Emperor Wen of Sui ruled the empire, on the day he moved the capital, would he have used old Fu-clan timber to build the Imperial Ancestral Temple? That is merely the talk of a flatterer. May Your Majesty earnestly heed Heaven's warnings, accept loyal counsel, and keep sycophants at arm's length." The emperor did not listen.
120
辛亥，行幸東都。 達崤谷，道隘不治； 上欲免河南尹及知頓使官，宋璟諫曰：「陛下方事巡幸，今以此罪二臣，臣恐將來民受其弊。」 上遽命釋之。 璟曰：「陛下罪之，以臣言而免之，是臣代陛下受德也； 請令待罪朝堂而後赦之。」 上從之。
On the xinhai day, the emperor set out for the Eastern Capital. At Xiaogu Pass the road was narrow and unmaintained; the emperor wished to dismiss the governor of Henan and the staging commissioners. Song Jing remonstrated: "Your Majesty is on tour; to punish these two officials for this now, I fear the people will suffer in future." The emperor at once ordered their release. Song Jing said: "Your Majesty condemned them, then pardoned them at my word—that means I have taken the credit that should be Yours; let them stand awaiting judgment in the hall of audience, and pardon them only afterward." The emperor agreed.
121
二月，甲戌，至東都，赦天下。
In the second month, on the jiaxu day, he reached the Eastern Capital and issued a general amnesty.
122
奚、契丹既內附，貝州刺史宋慶禮建議，請復營州。 三月，庚戌，制復置營州都督於柳城，兼平盧軍使，管內州縣鎭戍皆如其舊； 以太子詹事姜師度爲營田、支度使，與慶禮等築之，三旬而畢。 慶禮清勤嚴肅，開屯田八十餘所，招安流散，數年之間，倉廩充實，市邑浸繁。
Now that the Xi and Khitan had submitted, Song Qingli, governor of Pei Prefecture, proposed restoring Yingzhou. In the third month, on the gengxu day, an edict reestablished the Yingzhou Protectorate at Liucheng, with the concurrent post of Pinglu Army commissioner; all counties, garrisons, and posts within its jurisdiction were restored as before; Jiang Shidu, chamberlain of the heir apparent, was appointed commissioner of military colonies and logistics; he and Qingli and the others completed construction in thirty days. Qingli was upright, diligent, and disciplined; he established more than eighty military colonies, resettled refugees, and within a few years the granaries were filled and the towns grew steadily.
123
夏，四月，甲戌，賜奚王李大酺妃辛氏號固安公主。
In summer, the fourth month, on the jiaxu day, Lady Xin, consort of Li Dapo, king of the Xi, was given the title Princess Guo'an.
124
己丑，皇子嗣一卒，追立爲夏王，謚曰悼。 嗣一母武惠妃，攸止之女也。
On the jichou day, Prince Siyi died and was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Xia, posthumous name Dao. His mother was Consort Wu Hui, daughter of Wu Youzhi.
125
突騎施酋長左羽林大將軍蘇祿部眾浸強，雖職貢不乏，陰有窺邊之志。 五月，十姓可汗阿史那獻欲發葛邏祿兵擊之，上不許。
Su Lu, chieftain of the Turgesh and Left Guard General of the Feathered Forest, was growing stronger; though tribute continued unbroken, he secretly harbored ambitions against the frontier. In the fifth month, Ashina Xian, khan of the Ten Surnames, asked to mobilize Karluk troops against him; the emperor refused.
126
初，上微時，與太常卿姜皎親善。 及誅竇懷貞等，皎預有功。 由是寵遇群臣莫及，常出入臥內，與后妃連榻宴飲，賞賜不可勝紀。 弟晦，亦以皎故累遷吏部侍郎。 宋璟言皎兄弟權寵太盛，非所以安之，上亦以爲然。 秋，七月，庚子，以晦爲宗正卿，因下制曰：「西漢諸將，以權貴不全； 南陽故人，以優閒自保。 皎宜放歸田園，散官、勳、封皆如故。」
Early on, while the emperor was still a private gentleman, he was close to Jiang Jiao, director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. When Dou Huaiyue and his associates were eliminated, Jiao had played a part in the achievement. From then on no courtier enjoyed greater favor; he came and went freely in the inner chambers, feasted and drank with the imperial consorts on shared couches, and received rewards too many to count. His brother Hui, likewise through Jiao's influence, rose to vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Song Jing warned that the Jiao brothers had grown too powerful—a danger to their own safety—and the emperor agreed. In autumn, the seventh month, on the gengzi day, Hui was appointed director of the Imperial Clan Court, and an edict declared: "The generals of Western Han, once elevated to power and rank, rarely died in peace; the old companions at Nanyang kept themselves safe through a life of ease. Jiao should be sent back to his country estate; his honorary titles, orders of merit, and fief shall remain unchanged."
127
壬寅，隴右節度使郭知運大破吐蕃於九曲。
On the renyin day, Guo Zhiyun, military commissioner of Longyou, won a great victory over the Tibetans at Nine Bends.
128
安西副大都護湯嘉惠奏突騎施引大食、吐蕃，謀取四鎭，圍缽換及大石城，已發三姓葛邏祿兵與阿史那獻擊之。
Tang Jiahui, acting protector-general of Anxi, reported that the Turgesh had allied with the Arabs and Tibetans, planned to seize the Four Garrisons, and were besieging Ferghana and Tashkent; he had already mobilized Karluk forces from the Three Surnames together with Ashina Xian to counter them.
129
并州長史張嘉貞上言：「突厥九姓新降者，散居太原以北，請宿重兵以鎭之。」 辛酉，置天兵軍於并州，集兵八萬，以嘉貞爲天兵軍大使。
Zhang Jiazhen, chief administrator of Bingzhou, submitted: "The newly surrendered Nine Surnames of the Turks are scattered north of Taiyuan; I ask that a strong garrison be posted to keep them in check." On the xinyou day, the Heavenly Army was established at Bingzhou with a force of eighty thousand, and Jiazhen was appointed its commissioner.
130
太常少卿王仁惠等奏則天立明堂不合古制； 又，明堂尚質，而窮極奢侈，密邇宮掖，人神雜擾。 甲子，制復以明堂爲乾元殿，冬至、元日受朝賀，季秋大享，復就圜丘。
Wang Renhui, vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and others memorialized that the Bright Hall built under Empress Wu violated ancient precedent; moreover, the Bright Hall ought to embody plainness, yet Wu's hall was extravagantly built hard by the palace, mingling human and sacred rites in disorder. On the jiazi day, an edict restored the Bright Hall as the Qianyuan Hall: the winter-solstice and New Year audiences would be held there, while the great autumn offering would again be performed at the Round Mound Altar.
131
九月，中書、門下省及侍中皆復舊名。 貞觀之制，中書、門下及三品官入奏事，必使諫官、史官隨之，有失則匡正，美惡必記之； 諸司皆於正牙奏事，御史彈百官，服豸冠，對仗讀彈文； 故大臣不得專君而小臣不得爲讒慝。 及許敬宗、李義府用事，政多私僻，奏事官多俟仗下，於御坐前屏左右密奏，監奏御史及待制官遠立以俟其退； 諫官、史官皆隨仗出，仗下後事，不復預聞。 武後以法制群下，諫官、御史得以風聞言事，自御史大夫至監察得互相彈奏，率以險詖相傾覆。 及宋璟爲相，欲復貞觀之政，戊申，制：「自今事非的須秘密者，皆令對仗奏聞，史官自依故事。」
In the ninth month, the Secretariat, the Chancellery, and the post of Palace Attendant all reverted to their former titles. Under the Zhenguan system, when ministers of the Secretariat and Chancellery and officials of the third rank came to report business, remonstrating officers and historiographers had to accompany them; errors were corrected on the spot, and deeds good or ill were duly recorded; all departments reported at the main audience hall; censors impeaching officials wore the xie crown and read their impeachments before the imperial guard ranks; thus senior ministers could not monopolize access to the throne, and junior officials could not traffic in slander. Once Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu dominated affairs, government grew secretive; officials reporting business often waited until the guard ranks were dismissed, then petitioned privately before the throne with attendants excluded, while supervising censors and awaiting-appointment officers stood far off until they withdrew; remonstrating officers and historiographers left with the guard formation; affairs conducted after dismissal of the ranks they no longer heard of. Empress Wu governed her officials through intimidation; censors and remonstrators could denounce others on mere rumor, and censors of every rank impeached one another, usually seeking to destroy rivals with vicious charges. When Song Jing became chancellor and sought to restore Zhenguan practice, an edict on the wushen day declared: "Hereafter, except where secrecy is truly required, all business shall be reported before the guard ranks; historiographers shall follow established custom."
132
冬，十月，癸酉，伊闕人孫平子上言：「《春秋》譏魯躋僖公； 今遷中宗於別廟而祀睿宗，正與魯同。 兄臣於弟，猶不可躋，況弟臣于兄，可躋之于兄上乎！ 若以兄弟同昭，則不應出兄置於別廟。 願下群臣博議，遷中宗入廟。」 事下禮官，太常博士陳貞節、馮宗、蘇獻議，以爲：「七代之廟，不數兄弟。 殷代或兄弟四人相繼爲君，若數以爲代，則無祖檷之祭矣。 今睿宗之室當亞高宗，故爲中宗特立別廟。 中宗既升新廟，睿宗乃祔高宗，何嘗躋居中宗之上？ 而平子引躋僖公爲證，誣罔聖朝，漸不可長。」 時論多是平子，上亦以爲然，故議久不決。 蘇獻，頲之從祖兄也，故頲右之。 卒從禮官議。 平子論之不巳，謫爲康州都城尉。
In winter, the tenth month, on the guiyou day, Sun Pingzi of Yique submitted: "The Spring and Autumn Annals rebukes Lu for elevating Duke Xi above his place; moving Emperor Zhongzong to a separate shrine while honoring Emperor Ruizong in the main temple repeats Lu's error. When an elder brother served a younger, elevation was still forbidden; how much worse when a younger brother served an elder—can the younger be placed above the elder! If brothers share the same zhao tab, the elder ought not be excluded to a separate shrine. I ask Your Majesty to refer this to the officials for full debate and return Emperor Zhongzong to the main temple." The matter went to the ritual officers; Chen Zhenjie, Feng Zong, and Su Xian of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices argued: "In the seven-generation temple, reigns of brothers are not counted separately. In the Yin, four brothers sometimes reigned in succession; if each were counted as a generation, sacrifice to the distant ancestor would be lost. Emperor Ruizong's place properly follows Emperor Gaozong's; that is why a separate shrine was set up for Emperor Zhongzong. With Emperor Zhongzong installed in the new shrine and Emperor Ruizong enshrined beside Emperor Gaozong, how could Ruizong be said to rank above Zhongzong? Yet Pingzi invokes Duke Xi's elevation as precedent—a slander on the sacred court that must not be indulged." Most public opinion favored Pingzi, and the emperor agreed; the debate therefore remained unresolved for a long time. Su Xian was Su Ting's elder cousin, which is why Su Ting sided with him. In the end the court followed the ritual officers' view. Because Pingzi would not cease arguing, he was exiled to serve as warden of Kangzhou's capital district.
133
新廟成。 戊寅，神主祔廟。
The new shrine was completed. On the wuyin day, the spirit tablets were enshrined.
134
上命宋璟、蘇頲爲諸皇子制名及國邑之號，又令別制一佳名及佳號進之。 璟等上言：「七子均養，著於《國風》。 今臣等所制名號各三十餘，輒混同以進，以彰陛下覆燾無偏之德。」 上甚善之。
The emperor charged Song Jing and Su Ting with naming the princes and designating their fiefs, and also asked them to submit a separate list of especially fine names and titles. Song Jing and his colleagues submitted: "The Book of Songs' Guofeng praises a mother who nurtures seven sons alike. We have drawn up more than thirty names and titles each, and submit them as a single combined list to reflect Your Majesty's impartial, sheltering virtue." The emperor was much pleased.
135
十一月，丙申，契丹王李失活入朝。 十二月，壬午，以東平王外孫楊氏爲永樂公主，妻之。
In the eleventh month, on the bingshen day, Li Shihuo, king of the Khitan, came to court. In the twelfth month, on the renwu day, Lady Yang, granddaughter of the Prince of Dongping, was ennobled as Princess Yongle and given to him in marriage.
136
秘書監馬懷素奏：「省中書散亂訛缺，請選學術之士二十人整經校補。」 從之。 於是搜訪逸書，選吏繕寫，命國子博士尹知章、桑泉尉韋述等二十人同刊正，以左散騎常侍褚無量爲之使，於乾元殿前編校群書。
Ma Huaisu, director of the Imperial Library, memorialized: "The palace library's texts are disordered and defective; please select twenty scholars to collate and restore the classics." His request was granted. Lost texts were then sought out, clerks were assigned to copy them, and twenty scholars—including National University erudite Yin Zhizhang and Sangquan district warden Wei Shu—were put to collating them under Chu Wuliang, left regular attendant of the Palace Horse, who supervised the work before the Qianyuan Hall.