1
資治通鑑第226卷卷第二百二十六
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 226.
2
【唐紀四十二】起屠維協洽八月，盡重光作噩五月，凡一年有奇。
[Tang Annals 42] From the eighth month of the year jǐwèi (779) through the fifth month of the year gēngshēn (780)—a little more than one year in all.
3
代宗睿文孝武皇帝下大歷十四年（ 己未，公元七七九年）
Under Emperor Daizong, the Sagaciously Cultured, Filial, and Martial—the fourteenth year of the Dali era ( jǐwèi, corresponding to 779 CE).
4
八月，甲辰，以道州司馬楊炎為門下侍郎，懷州刺史喬琳為御史大夫，並同平章事。 上方勵精求治，不次用人，卜相於崔祐甫，祐甫薦炎器業，上亦素聞其名，故自遷謫中用之。 琳，太原人，性粗率，喜詼諧，無他長，與張涉善，涉稱其才可大用，上信涉言而用之； 聞者無不駭愕。
In the eighth month, on the day jiachen, Yang Yan, adjutant of Daozhou, was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat, and Qiao Lin, prefect of Huaizhou, was made Censor-in-Chief; both received the title of Junior Chancellor. The emperor was vigorously striving for good government and promoting men out of turn. When he consulted Cui Youfu about whom to appoint chancellor, Youfu recommended Yang Yan for his talent and ability; the emperor had long heard his name as well, and therefore recalled him from exile and put him in office. Lin was a native of Taiyuan, coarse and blunt by nature, fond of wit and banter, with no other special merit. He was friendly with Zhang She, who praised his talent as fit for high office, and the emperor trusted She’s recommendation and appointed him. Everyone who heard of it was astonished.
5
代宗之世，吐蕃數遣使求和，而寇盜不息，代宗悉留其使者，前後八輩，有至老死不得歸者； 俘獲其人，皆配江、嶺。 上欲以德懷之，乙巳，以隨州司馬韋倫為太常少卿，使於吐蕃，悉集其俘五百人，各賜襲衣而遣之。
During Emperor Daizong’s reign, Tibet sent envoys repeatedly to sue for peace, yet raids never ceased. Daizong detained every envoy—eight missions in all—and some grew old and died without ever returning home. Prisoners taken from Tibet were all exiled to the Yangtze and Lingnan regions. The new emperor wished to win them over with kindness. On the day yisi, Wei Lun, adjutant of Suizhou, was appointed Vice Minister of Imperial Ceremonies and sent to Tibet; all five hundred captives were gathered, each given a suit of clothing, and released to return home.
6
協律郎沈既濟上選舉議，以為：「選用之法，三科而已：曰德也、才也、勞也。 今選曹皆不及焉； 考校之法，皆在書判、簿歷、言詞、俯仰而已。 夫安行徐言，非德也； 麗藻芳翰，非才也； 累資積考，非勞也。 執此以求天下之士，固未盡矣。 今人未土著，不可本於鄉閭； 鑒不獨明，不可專於吏部。 臣謹詳酌古今，謂五品以上及群司長官，宜令宰臣進敘，吏部、兵部得參議焉。 其六品以下或僚佐之屬，許州、府辟用，其牧守、將帥或選用非公，則吏部、兵部得察而舉之，罪其私冒。 不慎舉者，小加譴黜，大正刑典。 責成授任，誰敢不勉！ 夫如是，則賢者不獎而自進，不肖者不抑而自退，眾才咸得而官無不治矣。 今選法皆擇才於吏部，試職於州郡。 若才職不稱，紊亂無任，責於刺史，則曰命官出於吏曹，不敢廢也； 責於侍郎，則曰量書判、資考而授之，不保其往也； 責於令史，則曰按由歷、出入而行之，不知其他也。 黎庶徒弊，誰任其咎！ 若牧守自用，則罪將焉逃！ 必州郡之濫，獨換一刺史則革矣。 如吏部之濫，雖更其侍郎無益也。 蓋人物浩浩，不可得而知，法使之然，非主司之過。 今諸道節度、都團練、觀察、租庸等使，自判官、副將以下，皆使自擇，縱其間或有情故，大舉其例，十猶七全。 則辟吏之法，已試於今，但未及於州縣耳。 利害之理，較然可觀。 曏令諸使僚佐盡受於選曹，則安能鎮方隅之重，理財賦之殷乎！」 既濟，吳人也。
Harmony-Regulating Gentleman Shen Jiji submitted a memorial on the civil-service selection system, arguing: “The proper criteria for appointment are only three: virtue, talent, and meritorious service. Today the Selection Bureau pays attention to none of them. The methods of examination rest solely on written judgments, service records, manner of speech, and deportment. Slow gait and measured speech are not virtue. Ornate phrasing and elegant prose are not talent. Accumulated seniority and piled-up examination scores are not meritorious service. To rely on these criteria in seeking talent for the empire is plainly inadequate. People today are no longer rooted in their native places; one cannot rely on local reputation alone. No single office has a monopoly on clear judgment; one cannot leave everything to the Ministry of Personnel. I have carefully weighed past and present practice and submit that for officials of the fifth rank and above and for heads of major offices, the chancellors should advance nominations, with the Ministries of Personnel and War allowed to participate in deliberation. For officials of the sixth rank and below, or for aides and staff, let prefectures and districts be permitted to appoint them directly. If a governor, prefect, or military commander makes an improper appointment, the Ministries of Personnel and War should investigate and impeach him, punishing private favoritism. Those careless in their recommendations should face minor censure and demotion; in serious cases, punishment under the penal code. When responsibility is fixed and office conferred, who would dare not do his utmost! If this were done, the worthy would advance without needing encouragement, the unworthy would withdraw without needing suppression, all talent would be put to use, and every office would be well governed. Under the present system, talent is selected at the Ministry of Personnel and tested in office at the prefectural level. If talent and office do not match and disorder results, and one holds the prefect accountable, he says the appointee came from the Ministry of Personnel and he dares not dismiss him. If one holds the vice minister accountable, he says he measured written judgments and examination records when making the appointment and cannot be held responsible for what happens afterward. If one holds the clerk accountable, he says he acted according to the files and service records and knows nothing beyond that. The common people suffer for nothing—who bears the blame! If governors and prefects appoint their own men, guilt cannot be shifted elsewhere! If there is abuse at the prefectural level, replacing a single prefect will cure it. If there is abuse in the Ministry of Personnel, even replacing its vice minister will do no good. Talent is vast and cannot be fully known in advance; the system makes this inevitable—it is not the fault of the chief official. Today the military governors, training commissioners, observation commissioners, and tax commissioners of the various circuits all choose their own subordinates from adjutants and deputy generals downward; even allowing for occasional favoritism, on the whole seven out of ten appointments prove sound. The method of local appointment has already been tested in practice today—it has simply not yet been extended to the prefectural and county level. The balance of advantage and disadvantage is clear enough to see by comparison. If all these commissioners’ subordinates had to be appointed by the Selection Bureau, how could they have held the weight of a frontier command or administered abundant tax revenues!” Jiji was a native of Wu.
7
初，衡州刺史曹王皋有治行，湖南觀察使辛京杲疾之，陷以法，貶潮州刺史。 時楊炎在道州，知其直，及入相，復擢為衡州刺史。 始，皋之遭誣在治，念太妃老，將驚而戚，出則囚服就辨，入則擁笏垂魚，即貶於潮，以遷入賀； 及是，然後跪謝告實。 皋，明之玄孫也。
Earlier, Prince Cao Gao, prefect of Hengzhou, had a reputation for good governance. Xin Jinggao, observation commissioner of Hunan, resented him, trapped him on a legal pretext, and demoted him to prefect of Chaozhou. Yang Yan was then serving in Daozhou and knew him to be upright; when Yan became chancellor, he had Gao restored as prefect of Hengzhou. When Gao first faced false accusation in office, he thought of the Dowager Consort’s advanced age and feared to alarm or grieve her. When he went out he wore prisoner’s garb to answer the charge; when he came in he held his official tablet and wore his court insignia. Even after his demotion to Chaozhou he presented it to her as a transfer and came in to offer congratulations. Only now did he kneel, apologize, and tell her what had really happened. Gao was a great-great-grandson of Emperor Xuanzong.
8
朔方、邠寧節度使李懷光既代郭子儀，邠府宿將史抗、溫儒雅、龐仙鶴、張獻明、李光逸功名素出懷光右，皆怏怏不服。 懷光發兵防秋，屯長武城，軍期進退，不時應令。 監軍翟文秀勸懷光奏令宿衛，懷光遣之，既離營，使人追捕，誣以它罪，且曰：「黃萯之敗，職爾之由！」 盡殺之。
After Li Huai’guang succeeded Guo Ziyi as military governor of Shuofang and Binning, the veteran generals of Bin prefecture—Shi Kang, Wen Ruya, Pang Xianhe, Zhang Xianming, and Li Guangyi—whose fame and achievements had always surpassed Huai’guang’s, were all resentful and refused to submit. Huai’guang mobilized troops for the autumn defense and encamped at Changwu Fort, but failed to advance or withdraw on schedule as ordered. Army supervisor Zhai Wenxiu urged Huai’guang to request that they be kept on palace guard duty. Huai’guang sent them off, but once they had left camp he had them pursued and seized on other trumped-up charges, saying: “The defeat at Huangfu was your fault!” and had them all put to death.
9
九月，甲戌，改淮西為淮寧。
In the ninth month, on the day jiaxu, the Huaixi circuit was renamed Huaining.
10
西川節度使、同平章事崔寧，在蜀十餘年，恃地險兵強，恣為淫侈，朝廷患之而不能易。 至是，入朝，加司空，兼山陵使。
Cui Ning, military governor of Xichuan and Junior Chancellor, had ruled Shu for more than ten years. Relying on the region’s rugged terrain and strong army, he indulged in extravagance at will. The court was troubled by him but could not replace him. At this time he came to court and was promoted to Minister of Works, with the additional duty of commissioner for the imperial tomb.
11
南詔王閣羅鳳卒，子鳳迦異前死，孫異牟尋立。 冬，十月，丁酉朔，吐蕃與南詔合兵十萬，三道入寇，一出茂州，一出扶、文，一出黎、雅，曰：「吾欲取蜀以為東府。」 崔寧在京師，所留諸將不能御，虜連陷州、縣，刺史棄城走，士民竄匿山谷。 上憂之，趣寧歸鎮。 寧已辭，楊炎言於上曰：「蜀地富饒，寧據有之，朝廷失其外府，十四年矣。 寧雖入朝，全師尚守其後，貢賦不入，與無蜀同。 且寧本與諸將等夷，因亂得位，威令不行。 今雖遣之，必恐無功； 若其有功，則義不可奪。 是蜀地敗固失之，勝亦不得也。 願陛下熟察。」 上曰：「然則奈何？」 對曰：「請留寧，發朱泚所領范陽戍兵數千人，雜禁兵往擊之，何憂不克！ 因而得內親兵於其腹中，蜀將必不敢動，然後更授他帥，使千里沃壤復為國有，是因小害而收大利也。」 上曰：「善。」 遂留寧。 初，馬璘忌涇原都知兵馬使李晟功名，遣入宿衛，為右神策都將。 上發禁兵四千人，使晟將之，發邠、隴、范陽兵五千，使金吾大將軍安邑曲環將之，以救蜀。 東川出軍，自江油趣白壩，與山南兵合擊吐蕃、南詔，破之。 范陽兵追及於七盤，又破之，遂克維、茂二州。 李晟追擊於大度河外，又破之。 吐蕃、南詔饑寒隕於崖谷死者八九萬人。 吐蕃悔怒，殺誘導使之來者。 異牟尋懼，築苴咩城，延袤十五里，徙居之。 吐蕃封之為日東王。
Geluo Feng, king of Nanzhao, died. His son Fengjiayi had died earlier, and his grandson Yimouxun succeeded to the throne. In winter, the tenth month, on the new moon of the day dingyou, Tibet and Nanzhao united a force of one hundred thousand men and invaded by three routes—one through Maozhou, one through Fu and Wen, and one through Li and Ya—declaring: “We intend to take Shu and make it our eastern capital.” Cui Ning was in the capital, and the generals he had left behind could not hold them off. The invaders captured prefecture after prefecture; prefects abandoned their cities and fled; soldiers and civilians hid in the mountain valleys. The emperor was alarmed and urged Ning to return to his post. Ning had already taken his leave when Yang Yan said to the emperor: “Shu is a rich region, and Ning has held it while the court has lost its outer capital for fourteen years. Although Ning has come to court, his entire army still guards Shu behind him; tribute and taxes do not reach the capital—it is as if we had no Shu at all. Moreover, Ning was originally no better than the other generals and gained his position only through the disorders of the times; his authority does not truly command obedience. Even if we send him back now, I fear he will accomplish nothing. If he should succeed, we could not remove him by right. In defeat we lose Shu in any case; in victory we still cannot regain control of it. I urge Your Majesty to consider this carefully. The emperor said, “Then what should we do?” Yan replied, “Keep Ning here and send several thousand Fanyang garrison troops under Zhu Ci’s command, mixed with palace guards, to strike the invaders—why should we fear they cannot be defeated! We can thereby station imperial troops inside Shu itself; the Shu generals will not dare move against us. Then we can appoint another commander and restore a thousand li of fertile land to the state—accepting a small cost for a great gain.” The emperor said, “Good.” Ning was therefore kept at court. Earlier, Ma Lin had resented Li Sheng, chief commander of Jingyuan, for his fame and achievements, and had him transferred to palace guard duty as a general of the Right Divine Strategy Army. The emperor dispatched four thousand palace guards under Li Sheng’s command, and five thousand troops from Bin, Long, and Fanyang under Qu Huan of Anyi, Grand General of the Golden Crow Guard, to relieve Shu. Dongchuan sent troops from Jiangyou toward Baiba and, joining forces with the Shannan army, attacked Tibet and Nanzhao and defeated them. Fanyang troops overtook them at Qipan and defeated them again, then recaptured the prefectures of Wei and Mao. Li Sheng pursued them beyond the Dadu River and defeated them again. Eighty or ninety thousand Tibetans and Nanzhao soldiers died of hunger and cold in the mountain ravines. Tibet, furious and regretful, executed those who had urged them to invade. Yimouxun was frightened, built Jumie City fifteen li in extent, and moved his capital there. Tibet enfeoffed him as King of the Eastern Sun."
12
上用法嚴，百官震悚。 以山陵近，禁人屠宰； 郭子儀之隸人潛殺羊，載以入城，右金吾將軍裴諝奏之。 或謂諝曰：「郭公有社稷大功，君獨不為之地乎？」 諝曰：「此乃吾所以為之地也。 郭公勳高望重，上新即位，以為群臣附之者眾，吾故發其小過，以明郭公威權不足畏也。 如此，上尊天子，下安大臣，不亦可乎！」
The emperor enforced the law strictly, and the officials were all shaken with fear. Because the imperial tomb work was approaching, the slaughter of livestock was forbidden. A servant of Guo Ziyi secretly slaughtered a sheep and brought it into the city; Pei Xu, general of the Right Golden Crow Guard, reported it to the throne. Someone said to Xu, “Duke Guo has rendered great service to the state—will you not make allowance for him?” Xu replied, “This is precisely how I am making allowance for him. Duke Guo’s merit is great and his prestige weighty; the new emperor fears that many ministers are attached to him. I therefore expose this small fault to show that Duke Guo’s power is not to be feared. In this way the emperor’s authority is upheld above and the great ministers are reassured below—is that not the right course!”
13
己酉，葬睿文孝武皇帝於元陵； 廟號代宗。 將發引，上送之，見轀輬車不當馳道，稍指丁未之間，問其故，有司對曰：「陛下本命在午，不敢沖也。」 上哭曰：「安有枉靈駕而謀身利乎！」 命改轅直午而行。 肅宗、代宗皆喜陰陽鬼神，事無大小，必謀之卜祝，故王嶼、黎幹以左道得進。 上雅不之信，山陵但取七月之期，事集而發，不復擇日。
On the day jiyou, the Sagaciously Cultured, Filial, and Martial Emperor was buried at Yuan Tomb; his temple name was Daizong. When the funeral procession was about to depart, the emperor escorted it and noticed that the imperial hearse was not on the imperial roadway but angled slightly toward the dingwei direction. He asked why, and the officials in charge replied, “Your Majesty’s natal destiny lies in the wu hour; we dared not let the procession clash with it.” The emperor wept and said, “How can we bend the imperial procession to seek personal advantage!” He ordered the shafts turned so the procession would go straight through the wu direction. Emperors Suzong and Daizong had both been devoted to yin-yang lore and spirits; on matters large and small they invariably consulted diviners and prayer masters, which was how Wang Yu and Li Gan rose by heterodox means. The new emperor did not believe in such things. For the tomb he took only the seventh-month deadline, setting out when preparations were complete, and did not again choose an auspicious day.
14
十一月，丁丑，以晉州刺史韓滉為蘇州刺史、浙江東、西觀察使。
In the eleventh month, on the day dingchou, Han Huang, prefect of Jinzhou, was appointed prefect of Suzhou and observation commissioner of eastern and western Zhejiang.
15
喬琳衰老耳聵，上或時訪問，應對失次，所謀議復疏闊。 壬午，以琳為工部尚書，罷政事。 上由是疏張涉。
Qiao Lin was aged and hard of hearing. When the emperor occasionally consulted him, his replies were confused and his counsel vague and impractical. On the day renwu, Lin was appointed Minister of Works and dismissed from the chancellorship. The emperor thereby grew cool toward Zhang She.
16
楊炎既留崔寧，二人由是交惡。 炎托以北邊須大臣鎮撫，癸巳，以京畿觀察使崔寧為單于、鎮北大都護、朔方節度使，鎮坊州。 以荊南節度使張延賞為西川節度使。 又以靈鹽節度都虞侯醴泉杜希全知靈、鹽州留後； 代州刺史張光晟知單于、振武等城、綏、銀、麟、勝州留後； 延州刺史李建徽知鄜、坊、丹州留後。 時寧既出鎮，不當更置留後，炎欲奪寧權，且窺其所為，令三人皆得自奏事，仍諷之使伺寧過失。
Because Yang Yan had kept Cui Ning at court, the two men became bitter enemies. Yan argued that the northern frontier required a senior minister to pacify it. On the day guisi, Cui Ning, observation commissioner of the capital region, was appointed Protector General of Chanyu, Grand Protector of the North, and military governor of Shuofang, with his headquarters at Fangzhou. Zhang Yanshang, military governor of Jingnan, was appointed military governor of Xichuan. Du Xiquan of Liquan, chief adjutant of the Ling-Salt command, was also made acting prefect of Ling and Yan prefectures; Zhang Guangsheng, prefect of Daizhou, was made acting prefect of the Chanyu and Zhenwu garrisons and of Sui, Yin, Lin, and Sheng prefectures. Li Jianhui, prefect of Yanzhou, was made acting prefect of Fu, Fang, and Dan prefectures. Ning had already taken up his command and should no longer have had acting prefects appointed over him. Yang Yan wished to strip Ning of power and spy on his conduct, so he allowed all three men to memorialize the throne directly and hinted that they should watch for Ning's faults.
17
十二月，乙卯，立宣王誦為皇太子。
In the twelfth month, on the day yimao, Prince Xuan Song was named crown prince.
18
舊制，天下金帛皆貯於左藏，太府四時上其數，比部覆其出入。 及第五琦為度支、鹽鐵使，時京師多豪將，求取無節，琦不能制，乃奏盡貯於大盈內庫，使宦官掌之，天子亦以取給為便，故久不出。 由是以天下公賦為人君私藏，有司不復得窺其多少，校其贏縮，殆二十年。 宦官領其事者三百餘員，皆蠶食其中，蟠結根據，牢不可動。 楊炎頓首於上前曰：「財賦者，國之大本，生民之命，重輕安危，靡不由之，是以前世皆使重臣掌其事，猶或耗亂不集。 今獨使中人出入盈虛，大臣皆不得知，政之蠹敝，莫甚於此。 請出之以歸有司。 度宮中歲用幾何，量數奉入，不敢有乏。 如此，然後可以為政。」 上即日下詔：「凡財賦皆歸左藏，一用舊式，歲於數中擇精好者三、五千匹，進入大盈。」 炎以片言移人主意，議者稱之。
Under the old system, the empire's gold and silk were stored in the Left Treasury; the Court of the Imperial Treasury reported the figures each season, and the Ministry of Revenue audited receipts and disbursements. When Diwu Qi became commissioner of revenue and of salt and iron, many powerful generals in the capital demanded funds without restraint, and Qi could not control them. He therefore proposed storing all revenues in the Great Abundance inner treasury under eunuch management. The emperor also found it convenient for his personal expenses, and the funds were long kept from the regular administration. Thus the public revenues of the realm became the emperor's private hoard. Responsible officials could no longer see how much was held or check surplus and deficit—for nearly twenty years. More than three hundred eunuchs managed these funds, all feeding on them from within and entrenching themselves so firmly that they could not be dislodged. Yang Yan kowtowed before the emperor and said, "Revenue and taxation are the great foundation of the state and the livelihood of the people. The state's strength and security all depend on them. Past ages therefore entrusted weighty ministers with this duty, yet waste and disorder still occurred. Today only eunuchs control the surplus and deficit, and great ministers are kept in ignorance. No corruption in government exceeds this. I ask that these funds be returned to the responsible offices. Estimate the palace's annual needs, deliver that amount, and there will be no shortage. Only then can government be properly conducted. That same day the emperor issued an edict: "All revenues shall return to the Left Treasury under the old system. Each year three to five thousand bolts of the finest quality shall be presented to the Great Abundance treasury." Yang Yan had shifted the emperor's mind with a few words, and commentators praised him."
19
丙寅晦，日有食之。
On the last day of the month bingyin, there was a solar eclipse.
20
湖南賊帥王國良阻山為盜，上遣都官員外郎關播招撫之。 辭行，上問以為政之要，對曰：「為政之本，必求有道賢人與之為理。」 上曰：「朕比以下詔求賢，又遣使臣廣加搜訪，庶幾可以為理乎！」 對曰：「下詔所求及使者所薦，惟得文詞干進之士耳，安有有道賢人肯隨牒舉選乎！」 上悅。
Wang Guoliang, a bandit leader in Hunan, held the mountains and plundered the countryside. The emperor sent Guan Bo, vice director of the Court of Judicial Review, to win him over by negotiation. As he took his leave, the emperor asked him about the essentials of good government. He replied, "The foundation of government is to find worthy men of principle and govern with them." The emperor said, "I have lately issued edicts seeking the worthy and sent envoys to search broadly—might that not suffice for good government!" He replied, "Those sought by edict and recommended by envoys are only men who advance through literary polish. How could worthy men of principle be willing to enter the examination system!" The emperor was pleased.
21
崔祐甫有疾，上令肩輿入中書，或休假在第，大事令中使咨決。
Cui Youfu was ill. The emperor had him carried by sedan chair to the Secretariat, or allowed him to rest at home on leave; on important matters palace envoys were sent to consult him.
22
德宗神武孝文皇帝一（ 庚申，公元七八零年）
Emperor Dezong, the Divinely Martial and Filially Cultured—Part One ( gēngshēn, corresponding to 780 CE).
23
春，正月，丁卯朔，改元。 群臣上尊號曰聖神文武皇帝； 赦天下。 始用楊炎議，命黜陟使與觀察使、刺史「約百姓丁產，定等級，作兩稅法。 比來新舊征科色目，一切罷之； 二稅外輒率一錢者，以枉法論。」 唐初，賦斂之法曰租、庸、調，有田則有租，有身則有庸，有戶則有調。 玄宗之末，版籍浸壞，多非其實。 及至德兵起，所在賦斂，迫趣取辦，無復常准。 賦斂之司增數而莫相統攝，各隨意增科，自立色目，新故相仍，不知紀極。 民富者丁多，率為官、為僧以免課役，而貧者丁多，無所伏匿，故上戶優而下戶勞。 吏因緣蠶食，民旬輸月送，不勝困弊，率皆逃徙為浮戶，其土著百無四五。 至是，炎建議作兩稅法，先計州縣每歲所應費用及上供之數而賦於人，量出以制入。 戶無主、客，以見居為簿； 人無丁、中，以貧富為差； 為行商者，在所州縣稅三十之一，使與居者均，無僥利。 居人之稅，秋、夏兩征之。 其租、庸、調雜徭悉省，皆總統於度支。 上用其言，因赦令行之。
In spring, the first month, on the new moon of the day dingmao, the reign era was changed. The ministers advanced the honorific title Sagely, Divine, Civil, and Martial Emperor; and an amnesty was proclaimed for the realm. Following Yang Yan's proposal for the first time, promotion-and-demotion commissioners, observation commissioners, and prefects were ordered to "assess the households and property of the people, fix tax grades, and institute the two-tax law. All old and new categories of levies hitherto imposed are entirely abolished; whoever beyond the two taxes collects even one cash shall be punished for perverting the law." At the beginning of the Tang dynasty, the tax system consisted of rent, corvée, and allocation: landholders paid rent, adult males paid corvée labor, and households paid the allocation tax. By the end of Emperor Xuanzong's reign, household registers had fallen into disrepair and no longer reflected reality. When the rebellion of the Zhide era broke out, levies were urgently pressed everywhere without fixed standards. Tax offices multiplied without central oversight; each added levies at will, invented new categories, and old and new taxes piled on without end. Wealthy families with many adult males mostly became officials or monks to escape taxation, while poor families with many adult males had nowhere to hide. Upper households were favored and lower households bore the burden. Officials exploited every opportunity to extort them. The people paid taxes every ten days and every month until they could bear no more; most fled and became unregistered "floating" households. Of those who remained rooted in place, scarcely four or five in a hundred remained. At this point Yan proposed the two-tax law: first calculate each prefecture and county's annual expenses and tribute to the center, then levy taxes on the people—fixing revenue according to expenditure. Households were no longer classified as native or sojourner; registration was based on present residence. Persons were no longer classified by adult male or youth; tax grades were based on wealth. Traveling merchants were taxed one-thirtieth in whatever prefecture or county they were in, equalizing their burden with residents and closing loopholes. Taxes on residents were collected twice a year, in summer and autumn. Rent, corvée, allocation, and miscellaneous labor levies were all abolished and unified under the Department of Revenue. The emperor accepted his proposal and implemented it through the amnesty edict.
24
初，左僕射劉晏為吏部尚書，楊炎為侍郎，不相悅。 元載之死，晏有力焉。 及上即位，晏久典利權，眾頗疾之，多上言轉運使可罷； 又有風言晏嘗密表勸代宗立獨孤妃為皇后者。 楊炎為宰相，欲為元載報仇，因為上流涕言：「晏與黎幹、劉忠翼同謀，臣為宰相不能討，罪當萬死！」 崔祐甫言：「茲事暖昧，陛下已曠然大赦，不當復究尋虛語。」 炎乃建言：「尚書省，國政之本，比置諸使，分奪其權，今宜復舊。」 上從之。 甲子，詔天下錢穀皆歸金部、倉部，罷晏轉運、租庸、青苗、鹽鐵等使。
Earlier, Liu Yan, Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, had served as Minister of Personnel with Yang Yan as his vice minister; the two disliked each other. Liu Yan had played a major role in bringing about Yuan Zai's downfall. When the new emperor ascended the throne, Yan had long controlled financial power. Many resented him, and memorials frequently urged abolishing the transport commissioner post. There was also rumor that Yan had once secretly urged Emperor Daizong to make Consort Dugu empress. As chancellor, Yang Yan wished to avenge Yuan Zai. He said to the emperor with streaming tears, "Yan plotted with Li Gan and Liu Zhongyi. As chancellor I could not punish them—my crime deserves death ten thousand times over!" Cui Youfu said, "This matter is obscure. Your Majesty has already proclaimed a broad amnesty and should not pursue empty rumors." Yan then proposed, "The Secretariat is the foundation of state affairs. Lately various commissioners have been established that divided its authority. The old system should be restored." The emperor agreed. On the day jiazi, an edict ordered that revenues throughout the realm return to the Gold and Granary bureaus and abolished Yan's posts as transport, rent-and-corvée, green-sprout, salt-and-iron, and other commissioners.
25
二月，丙申朔，命黜陟使十一人分巡天下。 先是，魏博節度使田悅事朝廷猶恭順，河北黜陟使洪經綸，不曉時務，聞悅軍七萬人，符下，罷其四萬，令還農。 悅陽順命，如符罷之。 既而集應罷者，激怒之曰：「汝曹久在軍中，有父母妻子，今一旦為黜陟使所罷，將何資以自衣食乎！」 眾大哭。 悅乃出家財以賜之，使各還部伍。 於是軍士皆德悅而怨朝廷。
In the second month, on the new moon of the day bingshen, eleven promotion-and-demotion commissioners were dispatched to tour the realm. Earlier, Tian Yue, military governor of Weibo, had still served the court respectfully. Hong Jinglun, the Hebei promotion-and-demotion commissioner, did not understand the times. Learning that Yue's army numbered seventy thousand men, he issued an order dismissing forty thousand and sending them back to farming. Yue outwardly obeyed and dismissed them as ordered. Then he assembled the men who were to be dismissed and incited them, saying, "You have long served in the army with parents, wives, and children. Now in a single day you are dismissed by the promotion-and-demotion commissioner—how will you feed and clothe yourselves!" The men wept aloud. Yue then distributed his family wealth among them as gifts and had each man return to his unit. Thereupon the soldiers were grateful to Yue and resentful of the court.
26
崔祐甫以疾，多不視事。 楊炎獨任大政，專以復恩仇為事，奏用元載遺策城原州，又欲發兩京、關內丁夫浚豐州陵陽渠，以興屯田。 上遣中使詣涇原節度使段秀實，訪以利害，秀實以為：「今邊備尚虛，未宜興事以召寇。」 炎怒，以為沮已，征秀實為司農卿。 丁未，邠寧節度使李懷光兼四鎮、北庭行營、涇原節度使，使移軍原州，以四鎮、北庭留後劉文喜為別駕。 京兆尹嚴郢奏：「案朔方五城，舊屯沃饒之地，自喪亂以來，人功不及，因致荒廢，十不耕一。 若力可墾辟，不俟浚渠。 今發兩京、關輔人於豐州浚渠營田，計所得不補所費，而關輔之人不免流散，是虛畿甸而無益軍儲也。」 疏奏，不報。 既而陵陽渠竟不成，棄之。
Because of illness, Cui Youfu often did not attend to affairs of state. Yang Yan alone bore the great administration, devoting himself chiefly to settling scores. He memorialized to carry out Yuan Zai's leftover plan to fortify Yuanzhou and also proposed mobilizing corvée laborers from the two capitals and Guannei to dredge the Lingyang Canal at Fengzhou to establish military colonies. The emperor sent a palace envoy to Duan Xiushi, military governor of Jingyuan, to inquire about the plan's merits. Xiushi replied, "Frontier defenses are still weak. It is not fitting to undertake projects that will provoke invasion." Yan was furious, believing Xiushi was obstructing him, and recalled him to court as Minister of Agriculture. On the day dingwei, Li Huai'guang, military governor of Binning, was additionally appointed military governor of the Four Garrisons and Northern Court expedition and of Jingyuan, and ordered to move his army to Yuanzhou. Liu Wenxi, acting prefect of the Four Garrisons and Northern Court, was made vice prefect. Yan Yi, metropolitan prefect of Jingzhao, memorialized, "The five cities of Shuofang were formerly garrisoned on fertile land. Since the disorders, labor has not reached them and they have fallen into ruin—not one in ten fields is cultivated. If labor is available, the land can be reclaimed without dredging canals. To mobilize people from the two capitals and Guanfu to Fengzhou to dredge canals and establish colonies—the yield will not repay the cost, and the people of Guanfu will be driven to flee. This would empty the capital region without benefiting military stores." The memorial was submitted but received no reply. In the end the Lingyang Canal project was abandoned unfinished.
27
上用楊炎之言，托以奏事不實，己酉，貶劉晏為忠州刺史。
Following Yang Yan's advice, on the pretext that Yan's memorials were untruthful, the emperor on the day jiyou demoted Liu Yan to prefect of Zhongzhou.
28
癸丑，以澤潞留後李抱真為節度使。
On the day guichou, Li Baozhen, acting prefect of Zelu, was appointed military governor.
29
楊炎欲城原州以復秦、原，命李懷光居前督作，朱泚、崔寧各將萬人翼其後。 詔下涇州為城具，涇之將士怒曰：「吾屬為國家西門之屏，十餘年矣。 始居邠州，甫營耕桑，有地著之安。 徙屯涇州，披荊榛，立軍府； 坐席未暖，又投之塞外。 吾屬何罪而至此乎！」 李懷光始為邠寧帥，即誅溫儒雅等，軍令嚴峻。 及兼涇原，諸將皆懼，曰：「彼五將何罪而為戮？ 今又來此，吾屬能無憂乎！」 劉文喜因眾心不安，據涇州，不受詔，上疏復求段秀實為帥，不則朱泚。 癸亥，以朱泚兼四鎮、北庭行軍、涇原節度使，代懷光。
Yang Yan wished to fortify Yuanzhou to recover Qin and Yuan prefectures. He ordered Li Huai'guang to go forward and supervise construction, with Zhu Ci and Cui Ning each commanding ten thousand men to support him from the rear. When the edict reached Jingzhou ordering preparations for fortification, the soldiers of Jing were furious. They said, "We have been the shield of the empire's western gate for more than ten years. At first we were stationed at Binzhou and had just begun farming, with the security of settled homes. We were moved to Jingzhou, cleared the wilderness, and built our headquarters. Our seats were not yet warm before we are cast out beyond the frontier again. What crime have we committed to deserve this!" Li Huai'guang, when he first became commander of Binning, had immediately executed Wen Ruya and the others. His military discipline was severe. When he additionally took command of Jingyuan, the generals were all afraid. They said, "What crime did those five generals commit to be slaughtered? Now he comes here again—how can we not worry!" Liu Wenxi, taking advantage of the troops' unrest, seized Jingzhou and refused to accept the edict. He memorialized asking for Duan Xiushi as commander, or else Zhu Ci. On the day guihai, Zhu Ci was appointed military governor of the Four Garrisons and Northern Court expedition and of Jingyuan, replacing Huai'guang.
30
三月，翰林學士、左散騎常侍張涉受前湖南觀察使辛京杲金，事覺； 上怒，欲置於法。 時李忠臣以檢校司空、同平章事、奉朝請，言於上曰：「陛下貴為天子，而先生以乏財犯法，以臣愚觀之，非先生之過也。」 上意解，辛未，放涉歸田裡。 辛京杲以私忿杖殺部曲，有司奏京杲罪當死，上將從之。 李忠臣曰：「京杲當死久矣！」 上問其故。 忠臣曰：「京杲諸父兄弟皆戰死，獨京杲至今尚存，臣故以為當死久矣。」 上憫然，左遷京杲諸王傅。 忠臣乘機救人，多此類。
In the third month, Zhang She, Hanlin academician and Left Regular Attendant of the Cavalry, was found to have accepted gold from Xin Jinggao, former observation commissioner of Hunan. The emperor was furious and wished to punish him by law. At the time Li Zhongchen, acting Minister of Works and Junior Chancellor, said to the emperor, "Your Majesty is exalted as Son of Heaven, yet the gentleman broke the law from poverty. In my foolish view, it is not his fault." The emperor's anger eased. On the day xinwei, She was released to return home. Xin Jinggao had beaten and killed a subordinate officer out of private resentment. The responsible offices memorialized that his crime deserved death, and the emperor was about to agree. Li Zhongchen said, "Jinggao ought to have died long ago!" The emperor asked why. Zhongchen said, "Jinggao's uncles and brothers all died in battle. Only Jinggao survives to this day. I therefore hold that he ought to have died long ago." The emperor was moved to pity and demoted Jinggao to tutor of the imperial princes. Zhongchen often seized such opportunities to save people—many cases were like this.
31
楊炎罷度支、轉運使，命金部、倉部代之。 既而省職久廢，耳目不相接，莫能振舉，天下錢穀無所總領。 癸巳，復以諫議大夫韓洄為戶部侍郎、判度支，以金部郎中萬年杜佑權江、淮水陸轉運使，皆如舊制。 劉文喜又不受詔，欲自邀旌節； 夏，四月，乙未朔，據涇州叛，遣其子質於吐蕃以求援。 上命朱泚、李懷光討之，又命神策軍使張巨濟將禁兵二千助之。
Yang Yan abolished the commissioners of revenue and transport and ordered the Gold and Granary bureaus to take their place. Soon it became clear that these bureaus had long been neglected, their functions disconnected, and unable to manage affairs. Revenues throughout the realm had no central oversight. On the day guisi, Han Hui, Grand Master of Remonstrance, was again appointed Vice Minister of Revenue and acting commissioner of revenue; Du You of Wannian, director of the Gold Bureau, was made acting commissioner of Yangtze and Huai water and land transport—all as under the old system. Liu Wenxi again refused to accept the edict and sought to obtain a military commission for himself. In summer, the fourth month, on the new moon of the day yiwei, he rebelled and held Jingzhou, sending his son Zhi to Tibet to seek aid. The emperor ordered Zhu Ci and Li Huai'guang to attack him and also ordered Zhang Juji, commander of the Divine Strategy Army, to lead two thousand palace guards to assist.
32
吐蕃始聞韋倫歸其俘，不之信，及俘入境，各還部落，稱：「新天子出宮人，放禽獸，英威聖德，洽於中國。」 吐蕃大悅，除道迎倫。 贊普即發使隨倫入貢，且致賻贈。 癸卯，至京師，上禮接之。 既而蜀將上言：「吐蕃豺狼，所獲俘不可歸。」 上曰：「戎狄犯塞則擊之，服則歸之。 擊以示威，歸以示信。 威信不立，何以懷遠！」 悉命歸之。
Tibet at first did not believe that Wei Lun was returning their captives. When the captives crossed the border and each returned to his tribe, they reported, "The new Son of Heaven has released palace women and freed captive birds and beasts. His heroic majesty and sagely virtue pervade China." Tibet was greatly pleased and cleared the road to welcome Lun. The Tibetan ruler immediately sent envoys to accompany Lun in presenting tribute and also sent funeral gifts. On guimao, he reached the capital, and the emperor welcomed him with full ceremonial courtesy. Soon afterward a Shu general memorialized the throne: 'The Tibetans are wolves and jackals—the captives we have taken must not be sent back.' The emperor replied: 'When the barbarians raid the border, we strike them; when they submit, we restore their people. To strike is to display might; to return captives is to display trustworthiness. Without majesty and good faith, how can we bring distant peoples to the throne?' He ordered every captive returned.
33
代宗之世，每元日、冬至、端午、生日，州府於常賦之外競為貢獻，貢獻多者則悅之。 武將、奸吏，緣此侵漁下民。 癸丑，上生日，四方貢獻皆不受。 李正己、田悅各獻縑三萬匹，上悉歸之度支以代租賦。
During Emperor Daizong's reign, on New Year's Day, the winter solstice, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the emperor's birthday, prefectures and circuits vied to send tribute beyond the regular levies—and the throne favored those who gave the most. Military men and corrupt officials used the practice as cover to extort the common people. On guichou, the emperor's birthday, he refused every tribute gift sent from the four directions. Li Zhengji and Tian Yue each sent thirty thousand bolts of silk; the emperor turned all of it over to the Finance Commission to offset rent and tax obligations.
34
五月，戊辰，以韋倫為太常卿。 乙酉，復遣倫使吐蕃。 倫請上自為載書，與吐蕃盟。 楊炎以為非敵，請與郭子儀輩為載書以聞，令上畫可而已，從之。
In the fifth month, on wuchen, Wei Lun was appointed Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. On yiyou, Lun was again sent as envoy to Tibet. Lun asked the emperor to write the alliance covenant himself for a treaty with Tibet. Yang Yan judged that inappropriate and asked that he, Guo Ziyi, and others draft the covenant text for the emperor's review, with the emperor need only mark his approval—which the throne accepted.
35
朱泚等圍劉文喜於涇州，杜其出入，而閉壁不與戰，久之不拔。 天方旱，征發饋運，內外騷然，朝臣上書請赦文喜以蘇疲人者，不可勝紀。 上皆不聽，曰：「微孽不除，何以令天下！」 文喜使其將劉海賓入奏，海賓言於上曰：「臣乃陛下籓邸部曲，豈肯附叛人，必為陛下梟其首以獻。 但文喜今所求者節而已，願陛下姑與之，文喜必怠，則臣計得施矣。 上曰：「名器不可假人，爾能立效固善，我節不可得也。」 使海賓歸以告文喜，而攻之如初。 減御膳以給軍士，城中將士當受春服者，賜予如故。 於是眾知上意不可移。 時吐蕃方睦於唐，不為發兵，城中勢窮。 庚寅，海賓與諸將共殺文喜，傳首，而原州竟不果城。 自上即位，李正己內不自安，遣參佐入奏事； 會涇州捷奏至，上使觀文喜之首而歸。 正己益懼。
Zhu Ci and others besieged Liu Wenxi at Jing Prefecture, blockading all entry and exit while holding the walls and refusing battle; months passed without success. A drought gripped the land; conscription and supply transport threw court and countryside into turmoil, and memorials asking the emperor to pardon Wenxi and spare the exhausted populace became too numerous to count. The emperor refused them all, saying, 'If this petty rebel is not eliminated, how can I command the realm!' Wenxi sent his general Liu Haibin to report to court. Haibin told the emperor, 'I was one of Your Majesty's household troops when you were still in your princely residence—I would never side with a rebel. I will surely cut off his head and bring it to you. But all Wenxi wants now is a military commission. If Your Majesty would temporarily grant it, he will surely grow careless—and then my plan can succeed. The emperor said, 'Rank and insignia are not to be lent out. If you can deliver results, so much the better—but my commission is not for the taking.' He sent Haibin back to inform Wenxi, and the siege continued as vigorously as before. He cut the imperial table to feed the soldiers, and spring clothing due to troops in the besieged city was issued as usual. From this everyone understood that the emperor's resolve would not budge. Tibet was then on good terms with Tang and sent no troops; inside the city, Wenxi's forces were at the end of their rope. On gengyin, Haibin and the other generals killed Wenxi and sent his head—but the planned fortification of Yuan Prefecture was never completed after all. From the emperor's accession, Li Zhengji had been inwardly anxious and sent aides to report at court; When news of victory at Jing Prefecture arrived, the emperor had the envoy view Wenxi's severed head before sending him home. Zhengji grew still more afraid.
36
六月，甲午朔，門下侍郎、同平章事崔祐甫薨。
In the sixth month, on the jiawu new moon, Cui Youfu, Vice Director of the Chancellery and Junior Chancellor, died.
37
術士桑道茂上言：「陛下不出數年，暫有離宮之厄。 臣望奉天有天子氣，宜高大其城以備非常。」 辛丑，命京兆發丁夫數千，雜六軍之士，築奉天城。
The adept Sang Daomao memorialized the throne: 'Within a few years Your Majesty will briefly face calamity at a detached palace. I observe an imperial aura over Fengtian; its walls should be raised high against the unexpected.' On xinchou, several thousand corvee laborers from the capital region were mobilized, along with troops of the Six Armies, to build the walls of Fengtian.
38
初，回紇風俗樸厚，君臣之等不甚異，故眾志專一，勁健無敵。 及有功於唐，唐賜遺甚厚，登裡可汗始自尊大，築宮殿以居，婦人有粉黛文繡之飾。 中國為之虛耗，而虜俗亦壞。 及代宗崩，上遣中使梁文秀往告哀，登裡驕不為禮。 九姓胡附回紇者，說登裡以中國富饒，今乘喪伐之，可有大利。 登裡從之，欲舉國入寇。 其相頓莫賀達干，登裡之從父兄也，諫曰：「唐，大國也，無負於我，吾前年侵太原，獲羊馬數萬，可謂大捷，而道遠糧乏，比歸，士卒多徒行者。 今舉國深入，萬一不捷，將安歸乎！」 登裡不聽。 頓莫賀乘人心之不欲南寇也，舉兵擊殺之，並九姓胡二千人，自立為合骨咄祿毘伽可汗，遣其臣聿達干與梁文秀俱入見，願為籓臣，垂發不翦，以待冊命。 乙卯，命京兆少尹臨漳源休冊頓莫賀為武義成功可汗。
Originally the Uyghurs lived by plain, sturdy customs; the gap between ruler and subject was not great, so their will was united and their fighters unmatched. After they rendered service to Tang, the court's gifts grew lavish. Khan Dengli began to hold himself above others, built palaces to live in, and his women took up powder, rouge, embroidery, and brocade. China was drained in the process, and Uyghur ways were corrupted as well. When Emperor Daizong died, the emperor sent the palace envoy Liang Wenxiu to announce the mourning. Dengli received him arrogantly and without proper ceremony. Sogdians of the Nine Surnames attached to the Uyghurs urged Dengli that China was rich and that an invasion during its mourning period could yield great profit. Dengli took their advice and planned to lead the entire nation in an invasion. His chancellor Dunmohe Daghan, Dengli's paternal cousin, remonstrated: 'Tang is a great power that has done us no wrong. Two years ago we raided Taiyuan and seized tens of thousands of sheep and horses—a splendid victory—but the roads were long and supplies short; on the march home many soldiers were afoot. If we now plunge the whole nation deep into their country and fortune turns against us, where will we go home to?' Dengli would not heed him. Dunmohe, seizing on widespread reluctance to raid south, raised troops and killed him along with two thousand Sogdians of the Nine Surnames. He proclaimed himself Qaghan Qutluq Bilge, sent his minister Yudagan to audience together with Liang Wenxiu, declared himself willing to become a tributary subject, left his hair uncut in submission, and awaited formal investiture. On yimao, Yuan Xiu of Linzhang, Vice Prefect of the Capital, was ordered to invest Dunmohe as Qaghan Wuyi Chenggong.
39
秋，七月，丙寅，邵州賊帥王國良降。 國良本湖南牙將，觀察使辛京杲使戍武岡，以扞西原蠻。 京杲貪暴，國良家富，京杲以死罪加之。 國良懼，據縣叛，與西原蠻合，聚眾千人，侵掠州縣，瀕湖千里，咸被其害。 詔荊、黔、洪、桂諸道合兵討之，連年不能克。 及曹王皋為湖南觀察使，曰：「驅疲□，誅反仄，非策之得者也。」 乃遺國良書，言：「將軍非敢為逆，欲救死耳。 我與將軍俱為辛京杲所構，我已蒙聖朝湔洗，何心復加兵刃於將軍乎！ 將軍遇我，不速降，後悔無及！」 國良且喜且懼，遣使乞降，猶疑未決。 皋乃假為使者，從一騎，越五百里，抵國良壁，鞭其門，大呼曰：「我曹王也，來受降！」 舉軍大驚。 國良趨出，迎拜請罪。 皋執其手，約為兄弟，盡焚攻守之具，散其眾，使還農。 詔赦國良罪，賜名惟新。
In autumn, the seventh month, on bingyin, Wang Guoliang, bandit leader in Shao Prefecture, surrendered. Guoliang had been a guard officer in Hunan; surveillance commissioner Xin Jinggao posted him at Wugang to hold back the Xiyuan tribes. Jinggao was greedy and brutal. Guoliang's family was wealthy, and Jinggao charged him with a capital offense. Fearing execution, Guoliang seized the county and rebelled, joined the Xiyuan tribes, gathered a thousand followers, and raided prefectures and counties—a thousand li of lakeshore suffered their depredations. An edict ordered the Jing, Qian, Hong, and Gui circuits to combine forces against him; year after year they failed to defeat him. When Prince of Cao Gao became Hunan surveillance commissioner, he said, 'Driving exhausted troops to crush rebels is not a winning strategy.' He sent Guoliang a letter: 'General, you did not set out to rebel—you only wanted to save your life. Both of us were framed by Xin Jinggao. The court has already cleared my name—why would I turn weapons on you again! If you meet me and do not surrender at once, you will regret it too late!' Guoliang was both heartened and afraid; he sent envoys to offer surrender but still could not bring himself to decide. Gao then posed as an envoy, rode with a single companion five hundred li to Guoliang's camp, whipped the gate, and shouted, 'I am Prince of Cao—I have come to accept your surrender!' The entire force was stunned. Guoliang rushed out, bowed in welcome, and pleaded for pardon. Gao took his hand, pledged brotherhood, burned all weapons of siege and defense, dispersed the rebels, and sent them back to the fields. An edict pardoned Guoliang and bestowed the name Weixin.
40
辛巳，遙尊上母沈氏為皇太后。
On xinsi, the emperor's mother, Lady Shen, was honored at a distance as Empress Dowager.
41
荊南節度使庾准希楊炎指，奏忠州刺史劉晏與朱泚書求營救，辭多怨望，又奏召補州兵，欲拒朝命，炎證成之。 上密遣中使就忠州縊殺之，己丑，乃下詔賜死。 天下冤之。
Jingnan military commissioner Yu Zhun, seeking to curry favor with Yang Yan, memorialized that Liu Yan, prefect of Zhong Prefecture, had written Zhu Ci begging rescue in resentful terms, and further that Yan had raised local troops to resist imperial orders; Yang Yan backed the accusation. The emperor secretly sent a palace envoy to Zhong Prefecture to strangle him; on jichou an edict formally ordered his death. The empire regarded it as a grievous injustice.
42
初，安、史之亂，數年間，天下戶口什亡八九，州縣多為籓鎮所據，貢賦不入，朝廷府庫耗竭，中國多故，戎狄每歲犯邊，所在宿重兵，仰給縣官，所費不貲，皆倚辦於晏。 晏初為轉運使，獨領陝東諸道，陝西皆度支領之，末年兼領，未幾而罷。 晏有精力，多機智，變通有無，曲盡其妙。 常以厚直募善走者，置遞相望，覘報四方物價，雖遠方，不數日皆達使司，食貨輕重之權，悉制在掌握，國家獲利，而天下無甚貴甚賤之憂。 常以為：「辦集眾務，在於得人，故必擇通敏、精悍、廉勤之士而用之； 至於句檢簿書、出納錢穀，事雖至細，必委之士類； 吏惟書符牒，不得輕出一言。」 常言：「士陷贓賄，則淪棄於時，名重於利，故士多清修； 吏雖潔廉，終無顯榮，利重於名，故吏多貪污。」 然惟晏能行之，它人效者終莫能逮。 其屬官雖居數千里外，奉教令如在目前，起居語言，無敢欺紿。 當時權貴，或以親故屬之者，晏亦應之，使俸給多少，遷次緩速，皆如其志，然無得親職事。 其場院要劇之官，必盡一時之選。 故晏沒之後，掌財賦有聲者，多晏之故吏也。 晏又以為戶口滋多，則賦稅自廣，故其理財常以養民為先。 諸道各置知院官，每旬月，具州縣雨雪豐歉之狀白使司，豐則貴糴，歉則賤糶，或以谷易雜貨供官用，及於豐處賣之。 知院官始見不稔之端，先申，至某月須如干蠲免，某月須如干救助，及期，晏不俟州縣申請，即奏行之，應民之急，未嘗失時，不待其困弊、流亡、餓殍，然後賑之也。 由是民得安其居業，戶口蕃息。 晏始為轉運使，時天下見戶不過二百萬，其季年乃三百餘萬； 在晏所統則增，非晏所統則不增也。 其初財賦歲入不過四百萬緡，季年乃千餘萬緡。 晏專用榷鹽法充軍國之用。 時自許、汝、鄭、鄧之西，皆食河東池鹽，度支主之； 汴、滑、唐、蔡之東，皆食海鹽，晏主之。 晏以為官多則民擾，故但於出鹽之鄉置鹽官，收鹽戶所煮之鹽轉鬻於商人，任其所之，自餘州縣不復置官。 其江嶺間去鹽鄉遠者，轉官鹽於彼貯之。 或商絕鹽貴，則減價鬻之，謂之常平鹽，官獲其利而民不乏鹽。 其始江、淮鹽利不過四十萬緡，季年乃六百餘萬緡，由是國用充足而民不困弊。 其河東鹽利，不過八十萬緡，而價復貴於海鹽。 先是，運關東谷入長安者，以河流湍悍，率一斛得八斗至者，則為成勞，受優賞。 晏以為江、汴、河、渭，水力不同，各隨便宜，造運船，教漕卒，江船達揚州，汴船達河陰，河船達渭口，渭船達太倉，其間緣水置倉，轉相受給。 自是每歲運谷或至百餘萬斛，無斗升沉覆者。 船十艘為一綱，使軍將領之，十運無失，授優勞，官其人。 數運之後，無不斑白者。 晏於揚子置十場造船，每艘給錢千緡。 或言「所用實不及半，虛費太多。」 晏曰：「不然，論大計者固不可惜小費，凡事必為永久之慮。 今始置船場，執事者至多，當先使之私用無窘，則官物堅牢矣。 若遽與之屑屑校計錙銖，安能久行乎！ 異日必有患吾所給多而減之者； 減半以下猶可也，過此則不能運矣。」 其後五十年，有司果減其半。 及咸通中，有司計費而給之，無復羨餘，船益脆薄易壞，漕運遂廢矣。 晏為人勤力，事無閒劇，必於一日中決之，不使留宿，後來言財利者皆莫能及之。
In the An Lushan and Shi Siming rebellion, within a few years eight or nine households in ten vanished from the registers; prefectures and counties fell to military governors, tribute ceased to reach the court, and the imperial treasury ran dry. China was beset by troubles, and barbarians raided the frontier every year. Heavy garrisons everywhere depended on the state for supplies at ruinous cost—and all of it had to be managed through Yan. When Yan first became transport commissioner, he alone oversaw the circuits east of Shan; the Finance Commission handled the west. In his final years he held both portfolios, but was dismissed not long afterward. Yan was tireless and ingenious, adapting supply to demand with masterly finesse. He regularly hired fast runners at generous wages and set relay posts within sight of one another to report prices across the empire. Even distant markets reached his office within days, and the leverage over commodity prices rested entirely in his hands—the state profited, and the realm was spared wild swings in price. He always maintained that managing many affairs depended on finding the right people, and so he chose men who were sharp, capable, honest, and diligent; even the minute work of auditing ledgers and handling cash and grain he entrusted to educated officials; clerks merely copied documents and were not allowed to speak out of turn. He often said, 'When gentlemen take bribes, they are ruined for life—reputation matters more than profit, so gentlemen tend toward integrity; clerks may stay clean, but they win no real glory—profit matters more than reputation, so clerks tend toward corruption.' Only Yan could make this system work; others who tried to copy him never matched him. Subordinates thousands of li away carried out his orders as if he stood before them; in daily conduct and speech none dared deceive him. Powerful nobles sometimes recommended relatives and friends; Yan accepted them and adjusted salary, rank, and promotion to their wishes—but never gave them substantive responsibility. For the demanding posts at his transport depots he always chose the best men available. After Yan's death, most officials who won renown in finance had served under him. Yan also held that as households multiplied, tax revenue would naturally expand; in managing finances he always put the welfare of the people first. Each circuit appointed intake officers who, every ten days, reported rainfall, snow, harvests, and shortages to his office. In good years he bought grain at fair prices; in bad years he sold it cheaply, exchanged grain for other goods to meet official needs, or sold reserves where harvests were plentiful. When intake officers first detected poor harvests, they reported in advance how much tax relief would be needed in a given month and how much aid in another. When the time came, Yan did not wait for local applications—he memorialized and acted at once, meeting the people's needs without delay, rather than waiting until they were ruined, displaced, or starving. The people were able to keep their livelihoods, and registered households grew. When Yan first became transport commissioner, registered households nationwide numbered no more than two million; by his final years they exceeded three million; where he had authority, numbers rose; where he did not, they did not. At first annual fiscal revenue did not exceed four million strings of cash; by his final years it exceeded ten million. Yan relied chiefly on the salt monopoly to meet military and state needs. At that time from Xu, Ru, Zheng, and Deng westward all consumed Hedong pond salt under the Finance Commission; east of Bian, Hua, Tang, and Cai all consumed sea salt under Yan. Yan held that too many officials would harass the people; he therefore placed salt officials only in producing districts, bought salt from salt households, and resold it to merchants who could carry it wherever they chose—other prefectures and counties had no salt offices. In the Jiang and Ling regions far from salt districts, he shipped and stored official salt locally. When merchants withheld supply and salt grew dear, he cut prices and sold reserves—the so-called Ever-Normal salt—so the state profited and the people were not left without salt. At first profit from Jiang and Huai salt did not exceed four hundred thousand strings; by his final years it exceeded six million—enough to meet state needs without burdening the people. Hedong salt yielded no more than eight hundred thousand strings, yet its price remained higher than sea salt. Previously, grain shipped from Guandong to Chang'an faced fierce river currents; if eight tenths of a load arrived intact, the haul counted as full service and earned premium pay. Yan recognized that the Yangzi, Bian Canal, Yellow, and Wei rivers differed in force; he built ships suited to each, trained transport crews, and linked the routes—Yangzi ships to Yangzhou, Bian ships to Heyin, Yellow River ships to the Wei mouth, Wei ships to the Great Granary—with granaries along the waterways to transfer cargo in stages. Thereafter annual grain shipments sometimes exceeded a million hu without losing a single measure to spill or capsizing. Ten ships formed one convoy under a military commander; after ten successful runs without loss, he received special reward and an official appointment. After several runs, none of the transport workers were without gray in their hair. Yan established ten shipyards on the Yangzi and paid a thousand strings of cash for each vessel built. Some complained, 'The actual cost was less than half that—far too much was wasted.' Yan replied, 'Not so. Those who think in grand terms must not stint on small costs; every undertaking must be built to last. Now that shipyards are being set up, there are many overseers; if they are first allowed enough for their private needs, the state's vessels will be solid and durable. If we start haggling over every penny with them from the outset, how can the system endure? Sooner or later someone will complain that we give too much and cut the allowance; Cutting it by half or less might still work; beyond that, transport would collapse.' " Fifty years later, the officials did in fact cut the payment in half. By the Xiantong period, officials paid only calculated costs with no surplus; ships grew ever thinner and more fragile, and the canal transport system was abandoned. Yan was tireless: whether a matter was trivial or urgent, he settled it within the day and never let business overnight. Later experts in finance could not match him.
43
八月，甲午，振武留後張光晟殺回紇使者突董等九百餘人。 突董者，武義可汗之叔父也。 代宗之世，九姓胡常冒回紇之名，雜居京師，殖貨縱暴，與回紇共為公私之患。 上即位，命突董盡帥其徒歸國，輜重甚盛。 至振武，留數月，厚求資給，日食肉千斤，他物稱是，縱樵牧者暴踐果稼，振武人苦之。 光晟欲殺回紇，取其輜重，而畏其眾強，未敢發。 九姓胡聞其種族為新可汗所誅，多道亡，突董防之甚急。 九姓胡不得亡，又不敢歸，乃密獻策於光晟，請殺回紇。 光晟喜其黨類自離，許之。 上以陝州之辱，心恨回紇。 光晟知上旨，乃奏稱：「回紇本種非多，所輔以強者，群胡耳。 今聞其自相魚肉，頓莫賀新立，移地健有孽子，及國相、梅金錄各擁兵數千人相攻，國未定。 彼無財則不能使其眾，陛下不乘此際除之，乃歸其人，與之財，正所謂借寇兵繼盜糧者也。 請殺之。」 三奏，上不許。 光晟乃使副將過其館門，故不為禮； 突董怒，執而鞭之數十。 光晟勒兵掩擊，並群胡盡殺之，聚為京觀。 獨留二胡，使歸國為證，曰：「回紇鞭辱大將，且謀襲據振武，故先事誅之。」 上征光晟為右金吾將軍，遣中使王嘉祥征致信幣。 回紇請得專殺者以復仇，上為之貶光晟為睦王傅以慰其意。
In the eighth month, on jiawu, Zhang Guangsheng, acting prefect of Zhenwu, slaughtered the Uyghur envoy Tu Chong and more than nine hundred of his party. Tu Chong was the uncle of the Martial Righteousness Qaghan. During Daizong's reign, Sogdians of the Nine Surnames often passed themselves off as Uyghurs, lived in the capital, amassed wealth, and committed violence. Together with the Uyghurs they were a plague on public and private life alike. When the emperor acceded, he ordered Tu Chong to lead all his followers home. Their train of baggage was immense. At Zhenwu they lingered for months, demanding lavish provisions--a thousand jin of meat daily, with other supplies to match--and let woodcutters and herders ravage orchards and crops. The people of Zhenwu were driven to misery. Guangsheng wanted to kill the Uyghurs and seize their baggage, but feared their numbers and held back. Learning that the new qaghan had executed many of their kin, the Nine-Name Sogdians fled in numbers; Tu Chong guarded them closely. Trapped--unable to flee yet afraid to return--the Nine-Name Sogdians secretly urged Guangsheng to slaughter the Uyghurs. Guangsheng was pleased to see their faction split from within and agreed. The emperor still resented the Uyghurs for the humiliation at Shaanzhou. Knowing the emperor's mind, Guangsheng memorialized: 'The Uyghurs themselves are not numerous; their strength comes only from the surrounding Sogdian tribes. I hear they are now tearing one another apart: Tun Mohe has just ascended; Yidijian has a bastard son; and Chief Minister Mei Jinlu each leads thousands of troops against the others--the realm is still unsettled. Without money they cannot control their followers. If Your Majesty does not destroy them now but sends their men home with funds, you will be arming bandits and feeding thieves--as the proverb says. I ask that they be killed.' " Three times he memorialized; three times the emperor refused. Guangsheng then sent a deputy past their lodge and deliberately omitted the proper courtesy; Tu Chong flew into a rage, seized the man, and flogged him dozens of times. Guangsheng launched a surprise attack, slaughtered the Uyghurs and all the allied Sogdians, and piled the corpses into a victory mound. He spared two Sogdians to bear witness home, saying: 'The Uyghurs flogged and humiliated my deputy and plotted to seize Zhenwu, so I acted first.' " The emperor summoned Guangsheng to serve as General of the Right Golden Guard and sent the palace envoy Wang Jiaxiang with letters and gifts. The Uyghurs demanded the right to execute the killer in revenge; to appease them the emperor demoted Guangsheng to Tutor of the Prince of Mu.
44
丁未，加盧龍、隴右、涇原節度使朱泚兼中書令，盧龍、隴右節度如故。 以舒王謨為四鎮、北庭行軍、涇原節度大使，以涇州牙前兵馬使河中姚令言為留後。 謨，邈之子也，早孤，上子之。
On dingwei, Zhu Ci, military governor of Lulong, Longyou, and Jingyuan, was also made Grand Counselor; he retained his Lulong and Longyou commands. The Prince of Shu, Mo, was appointed Grand Commissioner for the Four Garrisons, Beiting Field Army, and Jingyuan Circuit; Yao Lingyan of Hezhong, chief of the Jingzhou advanced troops, was made acting prefect. Mo was Yao's son; orphaned young, the emperor had raised him as his own.
45
癸丑，詔贈太后父、祖、兄、弟官，及自餘宗族男女拜官封邑者告第告身，凡百二十有七通； 中使以馬負而賜之。
On guichou, an edict posthumously ennobled the Empress Dowager's father, grandfather, brothers, and kin, and issued one hundred twenty-seven certificates of residence and appointment for other relatives ennobled or granted fiefs; Palace envoys delivered them by horseback.
46
九月，壬午，將作奏宣政殿廊壞，十月魁岡，未可修。 上曰：「但不妨公害人，則吉矣。 安問時日！」 即命修之。
In the ninth month, on renwu, the Directorate of Works reported that the Xuanzheng Hall corridor had collapsed; with the Kui Ridge ascendant in the tenth month, repairs were inauspicious. The emperor said, 'So long as it does not harm people or obstruct public business, that is auspicious enough. Why quibble over the calendar!' " He ordered repairs at once.
47
大歷以前，賦斂出納俸給皆無法，長吏得專之； 重以元、王秉政，貨賂公行，天下不按贓吏者殆二十年。 惟江西觀察使路嗣恭案虔州刺史源敷翰，流之。 上以宣歙觀察使薛邕，文雅舊臣，徵為左丞。 邕去宣州，盜隱官物以巨萬計，殿中侍御史員□發之。
Before Dali, taxation, collection, and salary payment followed no fixed rules; local chiefs did as they pleased; With Yuan and Wang in power, bribery flourished openly, and for nearly twenty years corrupt officials across the empire went unpunished. Only Lu Sigong, observation commissioner of Jiangxi, investigated Qianzhou Prefect Yuan Fuhan and banished him. The emperor summoned Xue Yong, observation commissioner of Xuan and She and a cultivated elder statesman, to serve as Left Vice Director. When Yong left Xuanzhou, he had embezzled official goods worth tens of thousands; Palace Attendant Censor Yuan □ exposed the crime.
48
冬，十月，己亥，貶連山尉。 於是州縣始畏朝典，不敢放縱。
In the tenth month, on jihai, he was demoted to captain of Lianshan. After that, prefectures and counties began to fear the court's authority and dared not abuse their power.
49
上初即位，疏斥宦官，親任朝士，而張涉以儒學入侍，薛邕以文雅登朝，繼以贓敗。 宦官武將得以借口，曰：「南牙文臣贓動至巨萬，而謂我曹濁亂天下，豈非期罔邪！」 於是上心始疑，不知所倚杖矣。
Early in his reign the emperor distanced eunuchs and trusted court scholars; Zhang She rose through Confucian learning and Xue Yong through cultivated elegance--yet both were soon disgraced by corruption. Eunuchs and generals seized their excuse: 'Southern Bureau civilians steal fortunes in the tens of thousands, yet claim we have ruined the realm--is that not a lie!' " From then on the emperor began to doubt, no longer sure whom he could trust.
50
中書舍人高參請分遣諸沈訪求太后，庚寅，以睦王述為奉迎使，工部尚書喬琳副之，又命諸沈四人為判官，與中使分行諸道求之。
Gao Can, a drafting officer, proposed sending members of the Shen clan to search for the Empress Dowager. On gengyin the Prince of Mu, Shu, was named welcoming commissioner with Minister of Works Qiao Lin as deputy; four Shen clansmen were appointed as adjudicators and sent with palace envoys to search the circuits.
51
十一月，初令待制官外，更引朝集使二人，訪以時政得失，遠人疾苦。
In the eleventh month, in addition to attendance officers, two assembly envoys were summoned and questioned about policy and the hardships of distant peoples.
52
先是，公主下嫁者，舅姑拜之，婦不答。 上命禮官定公主拜見舅、姑及婿之諸父、兄、姊之儀，舅、姑坐受於中堂，諸父、兄、姊立受於東序，如家人禮。 有縣主將嫁，擇用丁丑。 是日，上之從父妹卒，命罷之。 有司奏：「供張已備，且殤服不足廢事。」 上曰：「爾愛其費，我愛其禮。」 卒罷之。 至德以來，國家多事，公主、郡、縣主多不以時嫁。 有華發者，雖居禁中，或十年不見天子。 上始引見諸宗女，尊者致敬，卑者存慰，悉命嫁之。 所繼小大之物，必經心目。 己卯、庚辰二日，嫁岳陽等凡十一縣主。
Previously, when a princess married below her rank, her parents-in-law bowed to her while she made no return bow. The emperor ordered ritual officers to prescribe how princesses should bow to parents-in-law and to the husband's senior relatives: parents-in-law seated in the central hall, uncles and elder siblings standing in the eastern wing--as in an ordinary household. A county princess was about to marry on dingchou. That day the emperor's paternal cousin died, and he ordered the wedding canceled. Officials reported: 'The preparations are complete, and mourning for a young cousin need not cancel the event.' " The emperor said, 'You care about the cost; I care about the ritual.' " He canceled it anyway. Since the Zhide era the realm had been in turmoil, and imperial princesses often married late. Some had gone gray in the palace without seeing the emperor for ten years. The emperor summoned all the imperial clanswomen: he paid respect to the elders, comforted the younger ones, and ordered every one of them married. Every dowry, great or small, passed before his eyes. On jimao and gengchen eleven county princesses, including Yueyang, were married off.
53
吐蕃見韋倫再至，益喜。 十二月，辛卯朔，倫還，吐蕃遣其相論飲明思等入貢。
Tibet was pleased to see Wei Lun return once more. On the first day of the twelfth month, xinmao, Lun returned; Tibet sent Chancellor Lun Yimingsi and others with tribute.
54
是歲，冊太子母王氏為淑妃。
That year the crown prince's mother, Lady Wang, was created Virtuous Consort.
55
天下稅戶三百八萬五千七十六，籍後七十六萬八千餘人，稅錢一千八十九萬八千餘緡，谷二百一十五萬七千餘斛。
Registered tax households nationwide numbered 3,085,076; post-census additions exceeded 768,000 persons; tax revenue exceeded 10.898 million strings of cash; grain exceeded 2.157 million hu.
56
代宗睿文孝武皇帝下建中二年（ 辛酉，公元七八一年）
Under Emperor Daizong, the Sagaciously Cultured, Filial, and Martial--the second year of Jianzhong ( xinyou, corresponding to 781 CE).
57
春，正月，戊辰，成德節度使李寶臣薨。 寶臣欲以軍府傳其子行軍司馬惟岳，以其年少闇弱，豫誅諸將之難制者深州刺史張獻誠等，至有十餘人同日死者。 寶臣召易州刺史張孝忠，孝忠不往，使其弟孝節召之。 孝忠使孝節謂寶臣曰：「諸將何罪，連頸受戮！ 孝忠懼死，不敢往，亦不敢叛，正如公不入朝之意耳。」 孝節泣曰：「如此，孝節必死。」 孝忠曰：「往則並命，我在此，必不敢殺汝。」 遂歸，寶臣亦不之罪也。 兵馬使王武俊，位卑而有勇，故寶臣特親愛之，以女妻其子士真，士真復厚結其左右。 故孝忠、武俊獨得全。 及薨，孔目官胡震，家僮王它奴勸惟岳匿喪二十餘日，詐為寶臣表，求令惟岳繼襲，上不許。 遣給事中汲人班宏往問寶臣疾，且諭之。 惟岳厚賂宏，宏不受，還報。 惟岳乃發喪，自為留後，使將佐共奏求旌節，上又不許。 初，寶臣與李正己、田承嗣、梁崇義相結，期以土地傳之子孫。 故承嗣之死，寶臣力為之請於朝，使以節授田悅； 代宗從之。 悅初襲位，事朝廷禮甚恭，河東節度使馬燧表其必反，請先為備。 至是悅屢為惟岳請繼襲，上欲革前弊，不許。 或諫曰：「惟岳己據父業，不因而命之，必為亂。」 上曰：「賊本無資以為亂，皆藉我土地，假我位號，以聚其眾耳。 曏日因其所欲而命之多矣，而亂益滋。 是爵命不足以已亂而適足以長亂也。 然則惟岳必為亂，命與不命等耳。」 竟不許。 悅乃與李正己各遣使詣惟岳，潛謀勒兵拒命。
In the first month of spring, on wuchen, Li Baochen, military governor of Chengde, died. Baochen meant to pass command to his son Wei Yue, chief of staff. Fearing the young man's weakness, he preemptively executed hard-to-control generals including Shenzhou Prefect Zhang Xiancheng--more than ten died on the same day. Baochen summoned Yizhou Prefect Zhang Xiaozhong, who refused to come and sent his brother Xiaojie instead. Xiaozhong sent Xiaojie to tell Baochen, 'What had those generals done to be slaughtered one after another! Xiaozhong fears death and will not come, yet he will not rebel either--it is the same as Your Lordship's wish not to enter court.' " Xiaojie wept: 'Then I am as good as dead.' " Xiaozhong said, 'If you go we both die--but while I am here he will not dare kill you.' " Xiaojie returned, and Baochen did not punish him. Wang Wujun, though low in rank, was bold in battle, so Baochen favored him--giving his daughter to Wujun's son Shizhen and letting Shizhen lavish gifts on Baochen's inner circle. Only Xiaozhong and Wujun were spared. After Baochen's death, Clerk Hu Zhen and house slave Wang Tanu urged Wei Yue to conceal the death for more than twenty days, forge a memorial in Baochen's name asking that Wei Yue succeed--and the emperor refused. The court sent Supervising Censor Ban Hong of Jiren to inquire after Baochen's illness and deliver its instructions. Wei Yue tried to bribe Hong lavishly; Hong refused and returned to report. Wei Yue then announced the death, declared himself acting prefect, and had his officers jointly request formal appointment--the emperor again refused. Baochen had allied with Li Zhengji, Tian Chengsi, and Liang Chongyi, pledging to pass their domains to their heirs. When Chengsi died, Baochen had pressed the court to grant the command to Tian Yue; Daizong had agreed. When Yue first succeeded he was outwardly deferential; Hedong Governor Ma Sui warned that he would rebel and asked for preparations. Now Yue repeatedly petitioned for Wei Yue's succession, but the emperor sought to end the old abuse and refused. An adviser warned: 'Wei Yue already controls his father's domain; if you do not appoint him, he will rebel.' " The emperor said, 'Rebels have no strength of their own--they borrow our land and titles to gather followers. We have indulged their wishes again and again, and rebellion has only worsened. Appointments cannot stop rebellion--they only feed it. Wei Yue will rebel either way--appointment or no appointment.' " He still refused. Yue and Li Zhengji each sent envoys to Wei Yue to plot armed defiance.
58
魏博節度副使田庭玠謂悅曰：「爾藉伯父遺業，但謹事朝廷，坐享富貴，不亦善乎！ 奈何無故與恆、鄆共為叛臣！ 爾觀兵興以來，逆亂者誰能保其家乎？ 必欲行爾之志，可先殺我，無使我見田氏之族滅也。」 因稱病臥家。 悅自往謝之，庭玠閉門不內，竟以憂卒。
Tian Tingzhi, deputy governor of Weibo, told Yue, 'You inherited your uncle's domain--why not serve the court faithfully and enjoy your wealth in peace! Why join the rebels of Heng and Yun for no reason! Since the wars began, which rebel has kept his house safe? If you must go your own way, kill me first--do not make me watch the Tian clan destroyed.' " He then feigned illness and stayed home. Yue came in person to apologize; Tingzhi shut him out and eventually died of grief.
59
成德判官邵真聞李惟岳之謀，泣諫曰：「先相公受國厚恩，大夫衰絰之中，遽欲負國，此甚不可。」 勸惟岳執李正己使者送京師，且請討之，曰：「如此，朝廷嘉大夫之忠，則旄節庶幾可得。」 惟岳然之，使真草奏。 長史畢華曰：「先公與二道結好二十餘年，奈何一旦棄之！ 且雖執其使，朝廷未必見信。 正己忽來襲我，孤軍無援，何以待之！」 惟岳又從之。
Shao Zhen, adjutant of Chengde, learned of Wei Yue's plot and pleaded through tears: 'Your father received the state's great favor; you are still in mourning--how can you turn against the throne?' " He urged Wei Yue to arrest Li Zhengji's envoy, send him to the capital, and ask to campaign against him: 'If you do, the court will reward your loyalty and you may yet win the command.' Wei Yue agreed and had Zhen draft the memorial. Chief Secretary Bi Hua said: 'Your late father kept faith with the two circuits for over twenty years--how can you abandon that alliance overnight! Even if you arrest their envoy, the court may not trust you. If Zhengji strikes without warning, we will stand alone with no aid--how could we survive!' Wei Yue again took his advice.
60
前定州刺史谷從政，惟岳之舅也，有膽略，頗讀書，王武俊等皆敬憚之，為寶臣所忌，從政乃稱病杜門。 憔岳亦忌之，不與圖事，日夜獨與胡震、王他奴等計議，多散金帛以悅將士。 從政往見憔岳曰：「今海內無事，自上國來者，皆言天子聰明英武，志欲致太平，深不欲諸侯子孫專地。 爾今首違詔命，天子必遣諸道致討。 將士受賞之際，皆言為大夫盡死。 苟一戰不勝，各惜其生，誰不離心！ 大將有權者，乘危伺便，咸思取爾以自為功矣。 且先相公所殺高班大將，殆以百數，撓敗之際，其子弟欲復仇者，庸可數乎！ 又，相公與幽州有隙，朱滔兄弟常切齒於我，今天子必以為將。 滔與吾擊析相聞，計其聞命疾驅，若虎狼之得獸也，何以當之！ 昔田承嗣從安、史父子同反，身經百戰，凶悍聞於天下，違詔舉兵，自謂無敵。 及盧子期就擒，吳希光歸國，承嗣指天垂泣，身無所措。 賴先相公按兵不進，且為之祈請，先帝寬仁，赦而不誅，不然，田氏豈有種乎！ 況爾生長富貴，齒發尚少，不更艱危，乃信左右之言，欲效承嗣所為乎！ 為爾之計，不若辭謝將佐，使惟誠攝領軍府，身自入朝，乞留宿衛，因言惟誠且令攝事。 恩命決於聖志，上必悅爾忠義，縱無大位，不失榮祿，永無憂矣。 不然，大禍將至，悔之何及。 吾亦知爾素疏忌我，顧以舅甥之情，事急，不得不言耳！」 惟岳及左右見其言切，益惡之。 從政乃復歸，杜門稱病。 惟誠者，惟岳之庶兄也，謙厚好書，得眾心，其母妹為李正己子婦。 是日，惟岳送惟誠於正己，正己使復姓張，遂仕淄青。 惟岳遣王它奴詣從政家，察其起居，從政飲藥而卒； 且死，曰：「吾不憚死，哀張氏今族滅矣！」
Gu Congzheng, former prefect of Dingzhou and Wei Yue's uncle, was bold and well read; Wang Wujun and others respected and feared him. Resented by Baochen, he claimed illness and withdrew from public life. Wei Yue resented him too, kept him out of counsel, and spent his days and nights plotting only with Hu Zhen, Wang Tanu, and the rest, scattering gold and silk to buy the troops' loyalty. Congzheng went to Wei Yue and said: 'The empire is quiet. Every envoy from the capital reports that the emperor is wise and resolute, bent on restoring peace, and determined not to let the heirs of regional lords keep their domains to themselves. You are the first to defy the throne. The emperor will surely send every circuit against you. While the rewards are fresh, every soldier swears he will die for you. Lose one battle and each man will cling to his life--who will not desert you! Every powerful commander will wait for your weakness and strike, eager to deliver you up and claim the credit. Your father executed nearly a hundred senior generals. When you falter, how many of their sons and brothers will come seeking blood! And your father feuded with Youzhou. Zhu Tao and his brothers have long hungered to destroy us. The emperor is certain to appoint Zhu Tao commander. Zhu Tao is close enough to hear our night watches. Once he receives his orders he will come at a gallop like a wolf on prey. How could we stand against him! Tian Chengsi once rebelled with An Lushan and Shi Siming, fought a hundred battles, and was feared across the empire. When he defied the throne he thought himself invincible. When Lu Ziqi was taken and Wu Xiguang surrendered, Chengsi wept to heaven, utterly at a loss. Only because your father held his troops back and pleaded for mercy did the late emperor spare Chengsi. Otherwise the Tian clan would have been wiped out. You were bred in luxury, still young and untested. Will you heed flatterers and copy Chengsi's folly! My counsel: step aside before your staff, let Wei Cheng govern the headquarters in your stead, go to court yourself, ask to serve in the palace guard, and say Wei Cheng will manage affairs meanwhile. The throne decides your fate. The emperor will honor your loyalty. You may not keep the highest rank, but you will keep your honors and live without fear. Otherwise disaster is coming, and regret will come too late. I know you have always distrusted me. But we are kin, and the crisis leaves me no choice but to speak plainly!' Wei Yue and his confidants, stung by his blunt counsel, hated him all the more. Congzheng went home again, shut his doors, and pleaded illness. Wei Cheng, Wei Yue's elder half-brother, was modest, bookish, and beloved by the troops. His younger sister by the same mother had married Li Zhengji's son. That same day Wei Yue sent Wei Cheng to Zhengji, who restored his original surname Zhang and put him in service at Ziqing. Wei Yue sent Wang Tanu to watch Congzheng at home. Congzheng took poison and died; Dying, he said: 'I do not fear death. I mourn that the Zhang clan is about to be destroyed!'1
61
劉文喜之死也，李正己、田悅等皆不自安； 劉晏死，正己等益懼，相謂曰：「我輩罪惡，豈得與劉晏比乎！」 會汴州城隘，廣之，東方人訛言：「上欲東封，故城汴州。」 正己懼，發兵萬人屯曹州。 田悅亦完聚為備，與梁崇義、李惟岳遙相應助，河南士民騷然驚駭。
When Liu Wenxi was executed, Li Zhengji, Tian Yue, and the others were shaken; When Liu Yan was killed, Zhengji and the rest grew still more afraid. They said to one another: 'Our crimes are far worse than Liu Yan's--how can we expect mercy!' " About then Bianzhou's walls were being enlarged because they had grown too cramped. In the east a rumor spread: 'The emperor means to perform the eastern feng and shan rites, and is fortifying Bianzhou for that purpose.' Alarmed, Zhengji mobilized ten thousand men and encamped at Caozhou. Tian Yue also gathered stores and made ready for war. He, Liang Chongyi, and Li Wei Yue coordinated from afar, and the people of Henan were thrown into panic.
62
永平軍舊領汴、宋、滑、亳、陳、穎、泗七州，丙子，分宋、亳、穎別為節度使，以宋州刺史劉洽為之； 以泗州隸淮南； 又以東都留守路嗣恭為懷、鄭、汝、陝四州、河陽三城節度使。 旬日，又以永平節度使李勉都統洽、嗣恭二道，仍割鄭州隸之，選嘗為將者為諸州刺史，以備正己等。
The Yongping Army had once governed Bian, Song, Hua, Bo, Chen, Ying, and Si--seven prefectures. On the day bingzi, Song, Bo, and Ying were split off into a separate command, with Liu Qia, prefect of Song, as its governor; Si Prefecture was transferred to Huainan; Lu Sigong, garrison commander of the Eastern Capital, was made military governor of Huai, Zheng, Ru, and Shan and of the Three Cities of Heyang. Ten days later Li Mian, governor of Yongping, was placed in overall command of Qia's and Sigong's circuits. Zheng Prefecture was detached and assigned to him, and veteran generals were appointed prefects throughout the region to guard against Zhengji and his allies.
63
初，高力士有養女嫠居東京，頗能言宮中事，女官李真一意其為沈太后，詣使者具言其狀。 上聞之，驚喜。 時沈氏故老已盡，無識太后者，上遣宦官、宮人征驗視之，年狀頗同，宦官、宮人不審識太后，皆言是。 高氏辭稱實非太后，驗視者益疑之，強迎入居上陽宮。 上發宮女百餘人，繼乘輿御物就上陽宮供奉。 左右誘諭百方，高氏心動，乃自言是。 驗視者走馬入奏，上大喜。 二月，辛卯，上以偶日御殿，群臣皆入賀。 詔有司草儀奉迎。 高氏弟承悅在長安，恐不言，久獲罪，遽自言本末。 上命力士養孫樊景超往覆視，景超見高氏居內殿，以太后自處，左右侍衛甚嚴。 景超謂高氏曰：「姑何自置身於俎上！」 左右叱景超使下，景超抗聲曰：「有詔，太后詐偽，左右可下。」 左右皆下殿。 高氏乃曰：「吾為人所強，非己出也。」 以牛車載還其家。 上恐後人不復敢言太后，皆不之罪，曰：「吾寧受百欺，庶幾得之。」 自是四方稱得太后者數四，皆非是，而真太后竟不知所之。
Earlier, Gao Lishi had an adopted daughter, a widow in the Eastern Capital, who knew much of palace life. The palace woman Li Zhenyi took her for Empress Dowager Shen and reported the matter in full to the imperial envoy. The emperor heard the report and was overjoyed. By then every elder who had known the Shen clan was dead. With no one left who could recognize the empress dowager, the emperor sent eunuchs and palace women to examine her. Her age and appearance were close enough, and since none of them had ever known the real dowager, all declared that she was. Lady Gao insisted she was not the empress dowager, but the investigators only grew more suspicious and forcibly installed her at Shangyang Palace. The emperor sent more than a hundred palace women, then imperial carriage goods, to Shangyang Palace to attend her. Her attendants coaxed her from every angle until she wavered and at last confessed that she was the empress dowager. The investigators galloped back to report, and the emperor was elated. In the second month, on the day xinmao, the emperor held court on an auspicious day and the whole ministry came to offer congratulations. He ordered the proper offices to draft the rites for her formal welcome. Lady Gao's brother Chengyue was in Chang'an. Afraid that silence would eventually ruin him, he suddenly told the whole truth. The emperor sent Lishi's adopted grandson Fan Jingchao to investigate again. Jingchao found Lady Gao in the inner hall, playing the empress dowager, surrounded by a strict guard. Jingchao said to Lady Gao: 'Aunt, why do you put your neck on the block!' " Her attendants ordered Jingchao down. He shouted: 'By imperial edict: the empress dowager is an impostor. Attendants, withdraw.' They all left the hall. Lady Gao then said: 'Others forced me into this. It was never my own wish.' She was sent home in an ox cart. Fearing that no one would ever dare report the empress dowager again, the emperor punished no one and said: 'I would rather be fooled a hundred times if it might bring me to her at last.' " After that, four more claimants from across the empire were hailed as the empress dowager, and all proved false. The real empress dowager was never found.
64
御史中丞盧杞，弈之子也，貌醜，色如藍，有口辯。 上悅之，丁未，擢為大夫，領京畿觀察使。 郭子儀每見賓客，姬妾不離側。 杞嘗往問疾，子儀悉屏侍妾，獨隱-{几}-待之。 或問其故，子儀曰：「杞貌陋而心險，婦人輩見之必笑，他日杞得志，吾族無類矣！」
Lu Qi, vice censor-in-chief and son of Lu Yi, was ugly, with a bluish cast to his face, but he was a fluent speaker. The emperor took to him. On the day dingwei he was promoted to censor-in-chief and made metropolitan observation commissioner. Whenever Guo Ziyi received guests, his concubines never left his side. When Qi once came to inquire after his health, Ziyi dismissed every concubine and received him alone, seated at his armrest. Asked why, Ziyi said: 'Qi is ugly and treacherous. The women would laugh at him, and when Qi rises to power my whole clan will be destroyed!'2
65
楊炎既殺劉晏，朝野側目，李正己累表請晏罪，譏斥朝廷。 炎懼，遣腹心分詣諸道，以宣慰為名，實使之密諭節度使云：「晏昔附奸邪，請立獨孤后，上自惡而殺之。」 上聞而惡之，由是有誅炎之志，隱而未發。 乙巳，遷炎中書侍郎，擢盧杞為門下侍郎，並同平章事，不專任炎矣。 杞蕞陋，無文學，炎輕之，多托疾不與會食； 杞亦恨之。 杞陰狡，欲起勢立威，小不附者必欲置之死地，引太常博士裴延齡為集賢殿直學士，親任之。
After Yang Yan had Liu Yan executed, court and country watched him with fear. Li Zhengji repeatedly memorialized demanding Yan's punishment and mocked the throne. Alarmed, Yan sent trusted agents to every circuit under the guise of consolation. Secretly he had them tell each governor: 'Liu Yan once joined wicked factions and sought to make Empress Dugu regent. The emperor himself loathed him and ordered his death.' When the emperor learned of this he was disgusted, and from then on resolved to destroy Yan, though he kept the intent hidden. On the day yisi, Yan was transferred to vice director of the Secretariat and Lu Qi was promoted to vice director of the chancellery. Both became junior chancellors, and Yan was no longer left in sole charge. Qi was short, homely, and unlearned. Yan looked down on him and often feigned illness to avoid dining with him; Qi hated him in return. Qi was secretly ruthless and sought power through fear. Anyone who slighted him he tried to destroy. He brought in Pei Yanling, doctor of the Grand Shrine, as a direct academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies and relied on him closely.
66
丙午，更汴宋軍名曰宣武。
On the day bingwu the Bian-Song army was renamed the Xuanwu Army.
67
振武節度使彭令芳苛虐，監軍劉惠光貪婪。 乙卯，軍士共殺之。
Peng Lingfang, military governor of Zhenwu, was brutal; Liu Huiguang, the army supervisor, was corrupt. On the day yimao the soldiers killed them both.
68
發京西防秋兵萬二千人戍關東。 上御望春樓宴勞將士，神策將士獨不飲，上使詰之，其將楊惠元對曰：「臣等發奉天，軍帥張巨濟戒之曰：『此行大建功名，凱旋之日，相與為歡。 苟未捷，勿飲酒。』 故不敢奉詔。」 及行，有司緣道設酒食，獨惠元所部瓶罌不發。 上深歎美，賜書勞之。 惠元，平州人也。
Twelve thousand autumn-defense troops from the capital region were sent to garrison Guandong. The emperor feasted the troops at Wangchun Tower. Only the Shence soldiers refused wine. When questioned, their commander Yang Huiyuan answered: 'We marched from Fengtian. Our commander Zhang Juji warned us: "This campaign is for glory. When we return in triumph we shall feast together. Until victory is won, do not drink."' So we dare not accept your invitation to drink.' On the march, officials offered wine along the road, but only Huiyuan's unit kept their jars sealed. The emperor sighed in admiration and sent a letter of commendation. Huiyuan was from Pingzhou.
69
三月，置殷州於郾城。
In the third month Yin Prefecture was established at Yancheng.
70
辛巳，以汾州刺史王翃為振武軍使、鎮北、綏、銀等州留後。
On the day xinsi, Wang Hong, prefect of Fen, was made commissioner of the Zhenwu Army and acting governor of Zhenbei, Sui, Yin, and the other northern prefectures.
71
遣殿中少監崔漢衡使於吐蕃。
Palace aide Cui Hanheng was dispatched as envoy to Tibet.
72
梁崇義雖與李正己等連結，兵勢寡弱，禮數最恭。 或勸其入朝，崇義曰：「來公有大功於國，上元中為閹宦所讒，遷延稽命，及代宗嗣位，不俟駕入朝，猶不免族誅。 吾歲久釁積，何可往也！」 淮寧節度使李希烈屢請討之，崇義懼，益修武備。 流人郭昔告崇義為變，崇義聞之，請罪，上為之杖昔，遠流之； 使金部員外郎李舟詣襄州諭旨以安之。 舟嘗奉使詣劉文喜，為陳禍福，文喜囚之，會帳下殺文喜以降，諸道跋扈者聞之，謂舟能覆城殺將。 至襄州，崇義惡之。 舟又勸崇義入朝，言頗切直，崇義益不悅。 及遣使宣慰諸道，舟復指襄州，崇義拒境不內，上言「軍中疑懼，請易以它使。」 時兩河諸鎮方猜阻，上欲示恩信以安之，夏，四月，庚寅，加崇義同平章事，妻子悉加封賞，賜以鐵券； 遣御史張著繼手詔征之，仍以其裨將藺杲為鄧州刺史。
Liang Chongyi was allied with Li Zhengji and the others, but his forces were weak and he was the most deferential of them all. When some urged him to go to court, Chongyi said: 'Lord Lai served the state with great merit. In the Shangyuan era eunuchs slandered him and he delayed answering the summons. Even after Emperor Daizong succeeded, though Lai entered court without waiting for the imperial progress, his whole clan was still executed. I have old grievances of my own. How could I dare go!' Huaining governor Li Xilie repeatedly asked to campaign against him. Chongyi was afraid and redoubled his defenses. An exile named Guo Xi accused Chongyi of plotting rebellion. Chongyi submitted a plea of guilt, and the emperor had Guo beaten and banished far away; He sent Li Zhou of the Ministry of Revenue to Xiangzhou to reassure him with the imperial message. Zhou had once been sent to Liu Wenxi to warn him of the consequences of rebellion. Wenxi imprisoned him, but his own men killed Wenxi and surrendered. Overbearing governors everywhere decided that Zhou could topple a fortress and kill its commander. When Zhou reached Xiangzhou, Chongyi loathed him. Zhou again urged Chongyi to go to court, this time in blunt terms, and Chongyi liked him even less. When consolation envoys were sent to the circuits, Zhou was again directed toward Xiangzhou. Chongyi closed the border and refused him entry, memorializing: 'The army is uneasy. Send another envoy.' " The governors of the two He regions were then mutually suspicious. To reassure them the emperor, in summer, the fourth month, on the day gengyin, made Chongyi a junior chancellor, ennobled his wife and children, and granted him an iron certificate; He sent Censor Zhang Zhu with a handwritten edict summoning Chongyi to court, while appointing his subordinate Lin Gao prefect of Deng.
73
五月，丙寅，以軍興，增商稅為什一。
In the fifth month, on the day bingyin, because of the war mobilization the merchant tax was raised to ten percent.
74
田悅卒與李正己、李惟岳定計，連兵拒命，遣兵馬使孟祐將步騎五千北助惟岳。 薛嵩之死也，田承嗣盜據洺、相二州，朝廷獨得邢、磁二州及臨洺縣。 悅欲阻山為境，曰：「邢、磁如兩眼，在吾腹中，不可不取。」 乃遣兵馬使康愔將八千人圍邢州，別將楊朝光將五千人柵於邯鄲西北，以斷昭義救兵，悅自將兵數萬圍臨洺。 邢州刺史李共、臨洺將張伾堅壁拒守。 貝州刺史邢曹俊，田承嗣舊將也，老而有謀，悅寵信牙官扈崿而疏之。 及攻臨洺，召曹俊問計。 曹俊曰：「兵法十圍五攻； 尚書以逆犯順，勢更不侔。 今頓兵堅城之下，糧竭卒盡，自亡之道也。 不若置萬兵於崞口以遏西師，則河北二十四州皆為尚書有矣。」 諸將惡其異己，共毀之，悅不用其策。」
Tian Yue at last joined Li Zhengji and Li Wei Yue in a firm plan to resist the throne. They combined forces and sent troop commissioner Meng You north with five thousand infantry and cavalry to aid Wei Yue. When Xue Song died, Tian Chengsi seized Ming and Xiang by force, leaving the court with only Xing, Ci, and Linming County. Yue wanted the mountains as his frontier and said: 'Xing and Ci are like two eyes in my belly. I must take them.' " He sent troop commissioner Kang Yin with eight thousand men to besiege Xing, stationed Yang Chaoguang with five thousand northwest of Handan to block Zhaoyi's relief, and personally led tens of thousands to besiege Linming. Li Gong, prefect of Xingzhou, and Zhang Pi, commander of Linming, held their walls and resisted stubbornly. Xing Caojun, prefect of Beizhou, was a veteran officer of Tian Chengsi. Though aged, he was shrewd, but Yue favored his personal guard officer Hu E and kept Caojun at a distance. When he attacked Linming, he summoned Caojun to ask his counsel. Caojun said, 'In the art of war, tenfold strength besieges and fivefold strength attacks; you, Minister, are rebelling against the throne—your power is even less than that. Now you halt your army beneath a strong city. When grain runs out and your soldiers are spent, that is the path to your own destruction. Better to post ten thousand troops at Guokou to block the western army—then all twenty-four prefectures of Hebei will be yours.' The generals resented his dissent and together slandered him; Yue did not adopt his plan.”
Footnotes
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