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資治通鑑第233卷
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 233
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【唐紀四十九】起強圉閼八月,盡重光協洽,凡四年有奇。
[Tang Records 49] From the eighth month of Qiangwu E through Chongguang Xiejia—four years and change in all.
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德宗神武聖文皇帝八貞元三年( 丁卯,公元七八七年)
Emperor Dezong, the Divine Martial and Sage Literary Emperor—Zhenyuan year 3 ( dingmao, AD 787)
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八月,辛巳朔,日有食之。
In the eighth month, on the xinsi new moon, a solar eclipse occurred.
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吐蕃尚結贊遣五騎送崔漢衡歸,且上表求和。 至潘原,李觀語之以「有詔不納吐蕃使者」,受其表而卻其人。
Tibet's Shang Jiezan dispatched five riders to return Cui Hanheng and submitted a memorial requesting peace. “At Panyuan, Li Guan told them that an edict forbade receiving Tibetan envoys; he took their memorial but turned the envoys away.”
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初,兵部侍郎、同平章事柳渾與張延賞俱為相,渾議事數異同,延賞使所親謂曰:「相公舊德,但節言於廟堂,則重位可久。」 渾曰:「為吾謝張公,柳渾頭可斷,舌不可禁!」 由是交惡。 上好文雅縕藉,而渾質直輕侻,無威儀,於上前時發俚語。 上不悅,欲黜為王府長史,李泌言:「渾褊直無他。 故事,罷相無為長史者。」 又欲以為王傅,泌請以為常侍,上曰:「苟得罷之,無不可者。」 己丑,渾罷為左散騎常侍。
Earlier, when Liu Hun and Zhang Yanshang both served as chancellors, Hun often disagreed with Zhang in deliberations. Zhang sent a confidant to say, "Your Excellency's established merit would keep you in high office longer if you spoke more sparingly in court." Liu Hun replied, "Tell Lord Zhang for me: Liu Hun's head may be severed, but his tongue will not be stilled!" From that point they became bitter enemies. The emperor prized refined, restrained speech, but Hun was blunt and casual, lacking courtly dignity, and sometimes used colloquial language in his presence. Displeased, the emperor wanted to demote Hun to chief administrator of a princely household. Li Bi said, "Hun is merely narrow and blunt—there is nothing else against him. By precedent, no dismissed chancellor had ever been assigned as a princely chief administrator." The emperor then proposed making him a prince's tutor; Bi asked instead for attendant cavalier. The emperor said, "If I can remove him from office, anything will do." On jichou, Hun was removed from the chancellorship and appointed Left Attendant Cavalier at Large.
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初,郜國大長公主適駙馬都尉蕭升。 升,復之從兄弟也。 公主不謹,詹事李升、蜀州別駕蕭鼎、彭州司馬李萬、豐陽令韋恪,皆出入主第。 主女為太子妃,始者上恩禮甚厚,主常直乘肩輿抵東宮。 宗戚皆疾之。 或告主淫亂,且為厭禱。 上大怒,幽主於禁中,切責太子。 太子不知所對,請與蕭妃離婚。 上召李泌告之,且曰:「舒王近已長立,孝友溫仁。」 泌曰:「何至於是! 陛下惟有一子,奈何一旦疑之,欲廢之而立侄,得無失計乎!」 上勃然怒曰:「卿何得間人父子! 誰語卿舒王為侄者?」 對曰:「陛下自言之。 大歷初,陛下語臣,『今日得數子』。 臣請其故,陛下言『昭靖諸子,主上令吾子之。』 今陛下所生之子猶疑之,何有於侄! 舒王雖孝,自今陛下宜努力,勿復望其孝矣!」 上曰:「卿不愛家族乎?」 對曰:「臣惟愛家族,故不敢不盡言。 若畏陛下盛怒而為曲從,陛下明日悔之,必尤臣云:『吾獨任汝為相,不力諫,使至此,必復殺而子。』 臣老矣,餘年不足惜,若冤殺臣子,使臣以侄為嗣,臣未知得歆其祀乎!」 因嗚咽流涕。 上亦泣曰:「事已如此,使朕如何而可?」 對曰:「此大事,願陛下審圖之。 臣始謂陛下聖德,當使海外蠻夷皆戴之如父母,豈謂自有子而疑之至此乎! 臣今盡言,不敢避忌諱。 自古父子相疑,未有不亡國覆家者。 陛下記昔在彭原,建寧何故而誅?」 上曰:「建寧叔實冤,肅宗性急,譖之者深耳!」 泌曰:「臣昔以建寧之故,固辭官爵,誓不近天子左右。 不幸今日復為陛下相,又睹茲事。 臣在彭原,承恩無比,竟不敢言建寧之冤,及臨辭乃言之,肅宗亦悔而泣。 先帝自建寧之死,常懷危懼,臣亦為先帝誦《黃台瓜辭》以防讒構之端。」 上曰:「朕固知之。」 意色稍解,乃曰:「貞觀、開元皆易太子,何故不亡?」 對曰:「臣方欲言之。 昔承乾屢嘗監國,托附者眾,東宮甲士甚多,與宰相侯君集謀反,事覺,太宗使其舅長孫無忌與朝臣數十人鞫之,事狀顯白,然後集百官而議之。 當時言者猶云:『願陛下不失為慈父,使太子得終天年。』 太宗從之,並廢魏王泰。 陛下既知肅宗性急,以建寧為冤,臣不勝慶幸。 願陛下戒覆車之失,從容三日,究其端緒而思之,陛下必釋然知太子之無它矣。 若果有其跡,當召大臣知義理者二十人與臣鞫其左右,必有實狀,願陛下如貞觀之法行之,並廢舒王而立皇孫,則百代之後,有天下者猶陛下子孫也。 至於開元之時,武惠妃譖太子瑛兄弟殺之,海內冤憤,此乃百代所當戒,又可法乎! 且陛下昔嘗令太子見臣於蓬萊池,觀其容表,非有蜂目豺聲商臣之相也,正恐失於柔仁耳。 又,太子自貞元以來常居少陽院,在寢殿之側,未嘗接外人,預外事,安有異謀乎! 彼譖人者巧詐百端,雖有手書如晉愍懷,衷甲如太子瑛,猶未可信,況但以妻母有罪為累乎! 幸陛下語臣,臣敢以家族保太子必不知謀。 曏使楊素、許敬宗、李林甫之徒承此旨,已就舒王圖定策之功矣!」 上曰:「朕父子賴卿得全,方屬子孫,使卿代代富貴以報德,何為出此言乎!」 甲午,詔李萬不知避宗,宜杖死,李升等及公主五子,皆流嶺南及遠州。
Earlier, the Princess of Guo State, a grand imperial aunt, had married Commandant of Cavalry Xiao Sheng. Sheng was a cousin of Emperor Dezong on the maternal line. The princess conducted herself loosely; Chamberlain Li Sheng, Acting Governor of Shu Xiao Ding, Secretary of Peng Li Wan, and Magistrate of Fengyang Wei Ke all frequented her mansion. Her daughter was crown princess; at first the emperor showed her great favor, and she often took a palanquin directly to the Eastern Palace. The imperial kin all resented her. Someone accused the princess of sexual misconduct and of practicing malign sorcery against the court. The emperor flew into a rage, confined the princess within the palace, and sharply rebuked the crown prince. The crown prince did not know how to answer and asked to divorce Consort Xiao. The emperor summoned Li Bi and told him, adding, "Prince Shu has lately come of age—filial, friendly, gentle, and benevolent." Bi said, "How can matters have come to this! Your Majesty has only one son. How can you suddenly doubt him, depose him, and set up a nephew? Would that not be a grave mistake?" The emperor flared up in anger. "How dare you drive a wedge between father and son! Who told you Prince Shu was a nephew?" He replied, "Your Majesty said so yourself. In the early Dali reign you told me, 'Today I have gained several sons.'" When I asked why, you said, 'The sons of Prince Zhaojing—the late emperor ordered me to treat them as my own sons.'" If you doubt even your own son, how much less should you trust a nephew! Prince Shu may be filial now, but from this day forward Your Majesty should not count on his filial devotion!" The emperor said, "Do you not care for your own family?" He replied, "It is precisely because I love my family that I dare not hold back. If I feared your wrath and flattered you, when you repented tomorrow you would blame me: 'I alone made you chancellor; you did not remonstrate forcefully and let matters come to this—you will kill your sons again.'" I am old; my remaining years are not worth sparing. But if my sons were killed unjustly and I had to adopt a nephew as heir, I do not know whether my sacrifices would be honored!" With that he sobbed and wept. The emperor wept as well. "Matters have already come to this—what can I do?" He replied, "This is a grave matter. I beg Your Majesty to weigh it carefully. I had thought your sage virtue would make even distant barbarians revere you as parents—who would have thought you would doubt your own son to this degree! I speak fully now and dare not avoid forbidden topics. From antiquity, whenever father and son doubted each other, state and family alike were destroyed. Does Your Majesty remember Pengyuan—why was Prince Jianning executed?" The emperor said, "Uncle Jianning was truly wronged. Suzong was hasty by nature, and the slander ran very deep!" Bi said, "Because of Jianning I once firmly declined office and swore never again to approach the throne. Alas, today I am again your chancellor and witness this affair once more. At Pengyuan I received favor beyond compare, yet I still did not dare speak of Jianning's injustice; only when taking leave did I speak of it, and Suzong too repented and wept. After Jianning's death the late emperor lived in constant dread; I also recited for him the 'Melon of Huangtai' poem to guard against the beginnings of slander." The emperor said, "I have always known that." His expression eased somewhat. "In Zhenguan and Kaiyuan they both replaced crown princes—why did the dynasty not perish?" He replied, "I was just about to speak of that. In the past Chengqian had repeatedly acted as regent; many attached themselves to him, and the Eastern Palace had a large force of armored soldiers. He plotted rebellion with Chancellor Hou Junji; when the affair was exposed, Taizong had his maternal uncle Zhangsun Wuji and dozens of court officials interrogate him until the facts were fully clear, and only then convened all officials to deliberate. Even then speakers still said, 'We hope Your Majesty will not cease to be a loving father and will let the crown prince live out his natural span.'" Taizong followed this counsel and also deposed Prince Wei Tai. Since Your Majesty already knows Suzong was hasty by nature and that Jianning was wronged, I cannot contain my rejoicing. I beg Your Majesty to learn from overturned carts, take three days at ease, trace the matter to its roots and reflect on it—Your Majesty will surely be relieved to know the crown prince has no other intent. If there truly are traces of guilt, summon twenty great ministers who understand principle and right conduct, together with me, to interrogate those around him—there will surely be solid facts. I beg Your Majesty to act as in the Zhenguan precedent, also deposing Prince Shu and establishing the imperial grandson; then a hundred generations hence whoever holds the realm will still be Your Majesty's descendants. As for Kaiyuan, Consort Wu Huifei slandered Crown Prince Ying and his brothers until they were killed; throughout the realm there was wrongful indignation—this is what a hundred generations ought to take warning from. How can it be taken as a model! Moreover, Your Majesty once had the crown prince meet me at Penglai Pool so I might observe his bearing—he does not have the look of wasp eyes and jackal voice like the minister Shang. I only fear he errs on the side of excessive gentleness and benevolence. Again, since Zhenyuan the crown prince has constantly resided in the Shaoyang Courtyard beside the sleeping hall; he has never received outsiders or taken part in external affairs—how could there be a divergent plot! Slanderers are crafty in a hundred ways; even a handwritten letter like Jin's Prince Minhuai's, or hidden armor like Crown Prince Ying's, would still not be credible—how much less when the charge is merely that his wife's mother is guilty! Fortunately Your Majesty spoke to me; I dare pledge my clan that the crown prince surely knows nothing of plotting. Had men like Yang Su, Xu Jingzong, or Li Linfu received such an intent, they would already have fixed the succession for Prince Shu!" The emperor said, "My son and I owe our preservation to you. I entrust my descendants to you and will make your line wealthy generation after generation to repay your virtue—why speak such words!" On jiawu an edict declared Li Wan, for not knowing how to avoid the imperial clan, should be beaten to death; Li Sheng and the others, and the princess's five sons, were all exiled to Lingnan and distant prefectures.
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戊申,吐蕃帥羌、渾之眾寇隴州,連營數十里,京城震恐。 九月,丁卯,遣神策將石季章戍武功,決勝軍使唐良臣戍百里城。 丁巳,吐蕃大掠汧陽、吳山、華亭,老弱者殺之,或斷手鑿目,棄之而去,驅丁壯萬餘悉送安化峽西,將分隸羌、渾,乃告之曰:「聽爾東向哭辭鄉國。」 眾大哭,赴崖谷死傷者千餘人。 未幾,吐蕃之眾復至,圍隴州,刺史韓清沔與神策副將蘇太平夜出兵擊卻之。 上謂李泌曰:「每歲諸道貢獻,共直錢五十萬緡,今歲僅得三十萬緡。 言此誠知失體,然宮中用度殊不足。」 泌曰:「古者天子不私求財,今請歲供宮中錢百萬緡,願陛下不受諸道貢獻及罷宣索。 必有所須,請降敕折稅,不使奸吏因緣誅剝。」 上從之。
On wushen Tibet led Qiang and Hun forces against Long Prefecture, pitching camps in a chain several tens of li long; the capital was shaken with fear. In the ninth month, on dingmao, Shence general Shi Jizhang was sent to garrison Wugong, and Victorious Army commissioner Tang Liangchen to garrison Baili City. On dingsi Tibet raided Qianyang, Wushan, and Huating on a great scale; the old and weak they killed, some with hands cut off and eyes gouged out before being abandoned. They drove more than ten thousand able-bodied men west of Anhua Gorge to be apportioned among the Qiang and Hun, then told them, "You may face east and weep farewell to your native land." The multitude wept loudly; more than a thousand threw themselves into cliffs and ravines, dead or injured. Before long Tibet returned, besieging Long Prefecture; Prefect Han Qingmian and Shence deputy general Su Taiping led troops out by night and drove them off. The emperor said to Li Bi, "Each year circuit tributes together are worth five hundred thousand strings of cash; this year we have obtained only three hundred thousand. To speak of this—I know it is beneath imperial dignity, yet palace expenditures are quite insufficient." Bi said, "In antiquity the Son of Heaven did not seek wealth for himself. I now ask that one million strings be supplied to the palace each year, and I beg Your Majesty not to accept circuit tributes and to abolish requisition orders. If something is needed, issue an edict to levy tax by assessment, and do not let corrupt officials use the occasion to extort and strip the people." The emperor followed this counsel.
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回紇合骨咄祿可汗屢求和親,且請婚。 上未之許。 會邊將告乏馬,無以給之,李泌言於上曰:「陛下誠用臣策,數年之後,馬賤於今十倍矣。」 上曰:「何故?」 對曰:「願陛下推至公之心,屈己徇人,為社稷大計,臣乃敢言。」 上曰:「卿何自疑若是!」 對曰:「臣願陛下北和回紇,南通雲南,西結大食、天竺,如此,則吐蕃自困,馬亦易致矣!」 上曰:「三國當如卿言,至於回紇則不可。」 泌曰:「臣固知陛下如此,所以不敢早言。 為今之計,當以回紇為先,三國差緩耳。」 上曰:「唯回紇卿勿言。」 泌曰:「臣備位宰相,事有可否在陛下,何至不許臣言!」 上曰:「朕於卿言皆聽之矣,至於和回紇,宜待子孫; 於朕之時,則固不可!」 泌曰:「豈非以陝州之恥邪!」 上曰:「然。 韋少華等以朕之故受辱而死,朕豈能忘之! 屬國家多難,未暇報之,和則決不可。 卿勿更言!」 泌曰:「害少華者乃牟羽可汗,陛下即位,舉兵入寇,未出其境,今合骨咄祿可汗殺之。 然則今可汗乃有功於陛下,宜受封賞,又何怨邪! 其後張光晟殺突董等九百餘人,合骨咄祿竟不敢殺朝廷使者,然則合骨咄祿固無罪矣。」 上曰:「卿以和回紇為是,則朕固非邪?」 對曰:「臣為社稷而言,若苛合取容,何以見肅宗、代宗於天上!」 上曰:「容朕徐思之。」 自是泌凡十五餘對,未嘗不論回紇事,上終不許。 泌曰:「陛下既不許回紇和親,願賜臣骸骨。」 上曰:「朕非拒諫,但欲與卿較理耳,何至遽欲去朕邪!」 對曰:「陛下許臣言理,此固天下之福也。」 上曰:「朕不惜屈己與之和,但不能負少華輩。」 對曰:「以臣觀之,少華輩負陛下,非陛下負之也。」 上曰:「何故?」 對曰:「昔回紇葉護將兵助討安慶緒,肅宗但令臣宴勞之於元帥府,先帝未嘗見也。 葉護固邀臣至其營,肅宗猶不許。 及大軍將發,先帝始與相見。 所以然者,彼戒狄豺狼也,舉兵入中國之腹,不得不過為之防也。 陛下在陝,富於春秋,少華輩不能深慮,以萬乘元子徑造其營,又不先與之議相見之儀,使彼得肆其桀驁,豈非少華輩負陛下邪? 死不足償責矣。 且香積之捷,葉護欲引兵入長安,先帝親拜之於馬前以止之,葉護遂不敢入城。 當時觀者十萬餘人,皆歎息曰:『廣平王真華、夷主也!』 然則先帝所屈者少,所伸者多矣。 葉護乃牟羽之叔父也。 牟羽身為可汗,舉全國之兵赴中原之難,故其志氣驕矜,敢責禮於陛下。 陛下天資神武,不為之屈。 當是之時,臣不敢言其它,若可汗留陛下於營中,歡飲十日,天下豈得不寒心哉! 而天威所臨,豺狼馴擾,可汗母捧陛下於貂裘,叱退左右,親送陛下乘馬而歸。 陛下以香積之事觀之,則屈己為是乎? 不屈為是乎? 陛下屈於牟羽乎? 牟羽屈於陛下乎?」 上謂李晟、馬燧曰:「故舊不宜相逢。 朕素怨回紇,今聞泌言香積之事,朕自覺少理。 卿二人以為何如?」 對曰:「果如泌所言,則回紇似可恕。」 上曰:「卿二人復不與朕,朕當奈何!」 泌曰:「臣以為回紇不足怨,曏來宰相乃可怨耳。 今回紇可汗殺牟羽,其國人有再復京城之勳,夫何罪乎! 吐蕃幸國之災,陷河、隴數千里之地又引兵入京城,使先帝蒙塵於陝,此乃百代必報之仇,況其贊普至今尚存,宰相不為陛下別白言此,乃欲和吐蕃以攻回紇,此為可怨耳。」 上曰:「朕與之為怨已久,又聞吐蕃劫盟,今往與之和,得無復拒我,為夷狄之笑乎?」 對曰:「不然。 臣曩在彭原,今可汗為胡祿都督,與今國相白婆帝皆從聽護而來,臣待之頗親厚,故聞臣為相求和,安有復相拒乎! 臣今請以書與之約:稱臣,為陛下子,每使來不過二百人,印馬不過千匹,無得攜中國人及商胡出塞。 五者皆能如約,則主上必許和親。 如此,威加北荒,旁讋吐蕃,足以快陛下平昔之心矣」上曰:「自至德以來,與為兄弟之國,今一旦欲臣之,彼安肯和乎?」 對曰:「彼思與中國和親久矣,其可汗、國相素信臣言,若其未諧,但應再發一書耳。」 上從之。
The Uighur Qaghan Heluogu repeatedly sought peace through marriage and also requested a marriage alliance. The emperor had not granted it. Frontier generals reported a shortage of horses and there were none to supply them. Li Bi said to the emperor, "If Your Majesty truly employs my plan, within several years horses will be a tenth of today's price." The emperor said, "For what reason?" He replied, "I beg Your Majesty to extend the utmost impartial heart, humble yourself and yield to others for the great plan of the altars of soil and grain—then I dare speak." The emperor said, "Why do you doubt yourself so!" He replied, "I wish Your Majesty to ally with the Uighurs in the north, connect with Yunnan in the south, and join with Dashi and Tianzhu in the west—thus Tibet will constrain itself, and horses will also be easy to obtain!" The emperor said, "The three states should be as you say; as for the Uighurs, it cannot be done." Bi said, "I knew all along Your Majesty would be thus, which is why I did not dare speak earlier. For the present plan, the Uighurs should come first; the three states can wait a little." The emperor said, "Only on the Uighurs—do not speak of it." Bi said, "I occupy the post of chancellor in name; whether affairs may proceed rests with Your Majesty—how can you not allow me to speak!" The emperor said, "In all your other words I heed you; as for making peace with the Uighurs, let that await my descendants; in my own lifetime it absolutely cannot be done!" Bi said, "Is it not because of the shame at Shazhou!" The emperor said, "It is so. Wei Shaohua and others suffered insult and died on my account—how could I forget! The realm has been beset with many hardships and I have had no leisure to repay it; peace is absolutely impossible. Do not speak of it again!" Bi said, "The one who harmed Shaohua was Qaghan Mouyu. When Your Majesty took the throne he raised troops and invaded; before he had left his own territory the present Qaghan Heluogu killed him. Thus the present qaghan has rendered merit to Your Majesty and ought to receive enfeoffment and reward—what grievance remains! Afterward Zhang Guangcheng killed Tudong and more than nine hundred others; Heluogu in the end did not dare kill the court's envoys—thus Heluogu was in fact without guilt." The emperor said, "If you hold peace with the Uighurs to be right, then am I in the wrong?" He replied, "I speak for the altars of soil and grain; if I bent to please and sought only to be accommodated, how could I face Suzong and Daizong in Heaven!" The emperor said, "Give me time to consider this." From then on, over more than fifteen further audiences, Li Bi never failed to raise the Uighurs—and the emperor still refused in the end. Li Bi said, "If Your Majesty will not permit alliance with the Uighurs through marriage, I ask leave to resign my post." The emperor said, "I am not refusing your counsel—I only wanted to argue the matter through with you. Why would you so quickly want to abandon me!" He replied, "If Your Majesty will hear me out on the merits of the case, that in itself is a blessing for the realm." The emperor said, "I would not hesitate to humble myself to make peace with them—but I cannot betray men like Shaohua." He replied, "As I see it, Shaohua and his associates failed you—it was not you who failed them." The emperor said, "How so?" He replied, "When the Uighur Ye Hu once led troops to help suppress An Qingxu, Suzong only had me feast and reward him at the marshal's headquarters—the Former Emperor never received him at all. Ye Hu repeatedly pressed me to come to his camp, but Suzong still refused to allow it. Only when the main army was about to set out did the Former Emperor meet him for the first time. The reason was that they are barbarian wolves who had marched deep into the heart of China—one had no choice but to guard against them to the utmost. When you were at Shazhou, still young, Shaohua and his associates failed to think it through: they sent the heir apparent of an empire straight into the Uighur camp without first settling the protocol for the meeting, letting the Uighurs indulge their arrogance—is that not Shaohua and his associates failing you? Death would not be enough to atone for it. Moreover, after the victory at Xiangji, Ye Hu wanted to march his troops into Chang'an; the Former Emperor bowed to him from before his horse to stop him, and Ye Hu then did not dare enter the city. More than a hundred thousand onlookers sighed and said, "The Prince of Guangping is truly a ruler for both Chinese and barbarians alike!" Thus what the Former Emperor yielded was little, and what he gained was much. Ye Hu was Mouyu's uncle. Mouyu held the title of qaghan himself and brought the entire nation's army to relieve the Central Plains in its crisis—so his spirit was proud and overbearing, and he dared demand proper ceremony from Your Majesty. Your Majesty, endowed by nature with divine martial prowess, did not yield to him. At that time I dare not speak of anything else—but if the qaghan had kept Your Majesty in camp, feasting for ten days, would the realm not have been chilled with dread! Yet where imperial majesty reached, even wolves were tamed: the qaghan's mother wrapped Your Majesty in sable furs, shouted down the attendants, and personally saw you mount your horse and ride home. Judging by the affair at Xiangji—is humbling oneself the right course? Or is refusing to humble oneself the right course? Did Your Majesty yield to Mouyu? Or did Mouyu yield to Your Majesty?" The emperor said to Li Sheng and Ma Sui, "They say old friends ought not meet again. I have long resented the Uighurs, but hearing Li Bi speak of Xiangji, I feel I was partly in the wrong. What do you two think?" They replied, "If it is truly as Li Bi says, then the Uighurs seem forgivable." The emperor said, "You two again will not side with me—what am I to do!" Li Bi said, "I believe the Uighurs are not worth resenting—it is the chancellors of recent times who deserve resentment. The present Uighur qaghan killed Mouyu, and his people have the merit of twice recovering the capital—what crime have they committed! Tibet rejoiced in our nation's disaster, seized thousands of li of territory in He and Long, and again marched on the capital, forcing the Former Emperor into exile at Shazhou—this is a feud that must be avenged for generations; moreover the Tibetan tsenpo still lives. The chancellors fail to make this distinction clear for Your Majesty, yet wish to ally with Tibet against the Uighurs—that is what deserves resentment." The emperor said, "I have been their enemy for years, and I have heard that Tibet broke the alliance by force. If I now seek peace with them, will they not reject me again and make us a laughingstock among the barbarians?" He replied, "Not at all. When I was at Pengyuan, the present qaghan was Hulun regional commander, and the present prime minister Baipodi both came in Ye Hu's train; I treated them with great personal warmth. When they hear that I have become chancellor and seek peace, how could they refuse again! I propose to write them a letter setting five terms: they shall call themselves subjects and Your Majesty's son; each embassy shall bring no more than two hundred men; branded tribute horses shall not exceed one thousand; and they may not take Chinese subjects or foreign merchants beyond the frontier. If they can keep all five terms, Your Majesty will surely grant the marriage alliance. "Thus your authority would reach the northern wilds and Tibet would be cowed on the flank—enough to satisfy what Your Majesty has long desired." The emperor said, "Since the Zhide era we have been brother-states; now suddenly to demand that they become subjects—will they agree to peace?" He replied, "They have long wanted alliance with China through marriage; their qaghan and prime minister have always trusted my word. If agreement is not reached at once, we need only send another letter." The emperor agreed.
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既而回紇可汗遣使上表稱兒及臣,凡泌所與約五事,一皆聽命。 上大喜,謂泌曰:「回紇何畏服卿如此!」 對曰:「此乃陛下威靈,臣何力焉!」 上曰:「回紇則既和矣,所以招雲南、大食、天竺奈何!」 對曰:「回紇和,則吐蕃已不敢輕犯塞矣。 次招雲南,則是斷吐蕃之右臂也。 雲南自漢以臣屬中國,楊國忠無故擾之使叛,臣於吐蕃,苦於吐蕃賦役重,未嘗一日不思復為唐臣也。 大食在西域為最強,自蔥嶺盡西海,地幾半天下,與天竺皆慕中國,代與吐蕃為仇,臣故知其可招也。」 癸亥,遣回紇使者合闕將軍歸,許以咸安公主妻可汗,歸其馬價絹五萬匹。 吐蕃寇華亭及連雲堡,皆陷之。 甲戌,吐蕃驅二城之民數千人及邠、涇人畜萬計而去,置之彈箏峽西。 涇州恃連雲為斥候,連雲既陷,西門不開,門外皆為虜境,樵采路絕。 每收穫,必陳兵以扞之,多失時,得空穗而已。 由是涇州常苦乏食。 冬,十月,甲申,吐蕃寇豐義城,前鋒至大回原,邠寧節度使韓游瑰擊卻之。 乙酉,復寇長武城,又城故原州而屯之。 妖僧李軟奴自言:「本皇族,見岳、瀆神命己為天子。」 結殿前射生將韓欽緒等謀作亂。 丙戌,其黨告之,上命捕送內侍省推之。 李晟聞之,遽僕於地曰:「晟族滅矣!」 李泌問其故,晟曰:「晟新罹謗毀,中外有家人千餘,若有一人在其黨中,則兄亦不能救矣。」 泌乃奏:「大獄一起,所連引必多,外間人情心兇懼,請出付台推。」 上從之。 欽緒,游瑰之子也,亡抵邠州。 游瑰出屯長武城,留後械送京師。 壬辰,腰斬欽奴等八人,北軍之士坐死者八百餘人,而朝廷之臣無連及者。 韓游瑰委軍詣闕謝,上遣使止之,委任如初。 游瑰又械送欽緒二子,上亦宥之。 吐蕃以苦寒不入寇,而糧運不繼。 十一月,詔渾瑊歸河中,李元諒歸華州,劉昌分其眾五千歸汴州,自餘防秋兵退屯鳳翔、京兆諸縣以就食。 十二月,韓游瑰入朝。
Before long the Uighur qaghan sent envoys with a memorial calling himself son and subject; on all five points Li Bi had stipulated, he obeyed without exception. The emperor was greatly pleased and said to Li Bi, "How is it that the Uighurs fear and obey you so completely!" He replied, "This is Your Majesty's awesome authority—what power had I in the matter!" The emperor said, "The Uighurs are reconciled—but how are we to win over Nanzhao, the Arabs, and India?" He replied, "With the Uighurs at peace, Tibet will no longer dare raid the frontier lightly. Next win over Nanzhao—that will cut off Tibet's right arm. Nanzhao has been China's subject since Han times; Yang Guozhong harassed them without cause until they rebelled. Under Tibet they suffer heavy levies and corvée, and not a day passes without their wishing to return as subjects of Tang. The Arabs are the strongest power in the Western Regions; from the Pamirs to the western sea their lands cover nearly half the world. Both they and India admire China and have been enemies of Tibet for generations—I therefore know they can be won over." On the guihai day, the court sent the Uighur envoy General Heque home, promising Princess Xian'an in marriage to the qaghan and returning fifty thousand bolts of silk as payment for horses. Tibet attacked Huating and Lianyun Fortress; both were taken. On the jiaxu day, Tibet drove off several thousand civilians from the two cities and tens of thousands of people and livestock from Bin and Jing, resettling them west of Danzheng Gorge. Jing Prefecture had relied on Lianyun as its forward outpost; once Lianyun fell, the west gate stayed shut and everything beyond it was enemy territory—the routes for firewood and foraging were cut off. Each harvest had to be protected by deployed troops; much time was lost, and they harvested only empty husks. Hence Jing Prefecture was chronically short of food. In winter, the tenth month, on the jiashen day, Tibet attacked Fengyi City; the vanguard reached Dayuan Plain, and Bining military commissioner Han Yougui drove them back. On the yiyou day, they attacked Changwu City again, and also rebuilt and garrisoned old Yuan Prefecture. The sorcerer-monk Li Ruanu declared, "I am of the imperial clan by birth; the gods of the mountains and rivers have commanded me to be Son of Heaven." He joined Palace Corps bowman-captain Han Qinxu and others in plotting rebellion. On the bingxu day, members of the plot informed on them; the emperor ordered them arrested and sent to the Inner Palace Service for interrogation. When Li Sheng heard of it, he suddenly threw himself to the ground and cried, "My clan is ruined!" Li Bi asked why; Li Sheng said, "I have just been slandered; I have more than a thousand kinsmen inside and outside the court—if even one of them is in their faction, not even my elder brother can save me." Li Bi then memorialized: "When a major case is opened, those implicated are always many; outside the court people are gripped with fear. I ask that the case be transferred to the Censorate for investigation." The emperor agreed. Qinxu was Han Yougui's son; he fled and reached Bin Prefecture. Yougui, who had gone out to encamp at Changwu City, had the acting prefect send him to the capital in chains. On the renchen day, Qinnu and eight others were cut in two at the waist; more than eight hundred northern army soldiers were executed for complicity, but no court ministers were implicated. Han Yougui relinquished his command and came to court to apologize; the emperor sent messengers to stop him, and his trust and appointment remained unchanged. Yougui also sent Qinxu's two sons to the capital in chains; the emperor pardoned them as well. Tibet did not raid because of the bitter cold, but grain supplies could not keep up. In the eleventh month, an edict ordered Hun Jian back to Hezhong, Li Yuanliang back to Hua Prefecture, and Liu Chang to take five thousand troops back to Bian Prefecture; the remaining autumn-defense troops withdrew to Fengxiang, Jingzhao, and other counties to live off local supplies. In the twelfth month, Han Yougui came to court for audience.
11
自興元以來,至是歲最為豐稔,米斗直錢百五十、粟八十,詔所在和糴。 庚辰,上畋於新店,入民趙光奇家,問:「百姓樂乎?」 對曰:「不樂。」 上曰:「今歲頗稔,何為不樂?」 對曰:「詔令不信。 前雲兩稅之外悉無它徭,今非稅而誅求者殆過於稅。 後又云和糴,而實強取之,曾不識一錢。 始雲所糴粟麥納於道次,今則遣致京西行營,動數百里,車摧牛斃,破產不能支。 愁苦如此,何樂之有! 每有詔書優恤,徒空文耳! 恐聖主深居九重,皆未知之也!」 上命復其家。 臣光曰:甚矣唐德宗之難寤也! 自古所患者,人君之澤壅而不下達,小民之情郁而不上通; 故君勤恤於上而民不懷,民愁怨於下而君不知,以至於離叛危亡,凡以此也。 德宗幸以游獵得至民家,值光奇敢言而知民疾苦,此乃千載之遇也。 固當按有司之廢格詔書,殘虐下民,橫增賦斂,盜匿公財,及左右諂諛日稱民間豐樂者而誅之。 然後洗心易慮,一新其政,屏浮飾,廢虛文,謹號令,敦誠信,察真偽,辨忠邪,矜困窮,伸冤滯,則太平之業可致矣。 釋此不為,乃復光奇之家。 夫以四海之廣,兆民之眾,又安得人人自言於天子而戶戶復其徭賦乎! 李泌以李軟奴之黨猶有在北軍未發者,請大郝以安之。
From Xingyuan until this year, the harvest was the most abundant yet; rice sold for a hundred fifty cash per dou and millet for eighty; an edict ordered government grain purchases throughout the realm. On the gengchen day, the emperor hunted at Xindian, entered the home of a commoner named Zhao Guangqi, and asked, "Are the people happy?" He replied, "No, they are not." The emperor said, "This year the harvest has been quite good—why are they not happy?" He replied, "Imperial edicts are not trusted. It was declared before that apart from the two taxes there would be no other levies—yet extractions that are not taxes now almost exceed the taxes themselves. Later it was called government purchase of grain, but in fact grain was seized by force—not a single coin was ever paid. At first it was said purchased grain would be delivered at roadside stations; now it must be sent to the western expeditionary camp near the capital, often hundreds of li away—carts break down, oxen die, and families are ruined trying to comply. With misery like this, what happiness could there be! Whenever edicts come down promising relief, they are nothing but empty words! I fear the sage sovereign, deep within the palace, knows nothing of this!" The emperor ordered Zhao Guangqi's household tax obligations restored. Master Guang commented: How deeply Tang Dezong fails to awaken! From antiquity the great fear has been that the sovereign's grace is blocked and never reaches the people below, while the common people's grievances are pent up and never reach the ruler above; thus though the ruler is diligent in care above, the people below do not respond in kind; though the people groan in resentment below, the ruler above does not know—leading to separation, rebellion, and ruin. All of this stems from that blockage. Dezong happened through a hunting excursion to reach a commoner's home and met Guangqi, who dared speak frankly and reveal the people's hardships—this was a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity. He should have at once investigated officials who shelved edicts, cruelly abused the common people, wantonly increased levies, and embezzled public funds, along with courtiers who fawned on him and daily proclaimed the people's prosperity—and put them to death. Only then should he have purged his heart of old habits, renewed his policies entirely, set aside superficial display, abolish empty formalities, enforce commands strictly, cultivate good faith, distinguish truth from falsehood, loyal from treacherous, show compassion for the poor and distressed, and redress long-standing wrongs—then the enterprise of great peace could have been achieved. Instead of doing any of this, he merely restored Guangqi's household tax obligations. For a realm as vast as the four seas and a populace numbering in the millions—how could every person speak directly to the Son of Heaven, and every household have its levies restored! Li Bi, knowing that some of Li Ruanu's accomplices in the northern army had not yet acted, requested a general amnesty to reassure them.
12
德宗神武聖文皇帝八貞元四年( 戊辰,公元七八八年)
Emperor Dezong, the Divine Martial and Sage Literary Emperor—Zhenyuan year 4 ( wuchen, AD 788)
13
春,正月,庚戌朔,赦天下,詔兩稅等第,自今三年一定。
In spring, the first month, on the gengxu new moon, a general amnesty was proclaimed; an edict fixed tax brackets for the two-tax system, to be reassessed every three years from this point forward.
14
李泌奏京官俸太薄,請自三師以下悉倍其俸。 從之。
Li Bi memorialized that the salaries of capital officials were too low and requested that salaries be doubled for all ranks from the Three Preceptors downward. The emperor approved.
15
壬申,以宣武行營節度使劉昌為涇原節度使。 甲戌,以鎮國節度使李元諒為隴右節度使。 昌、元諒,皆帥卒力田,數年,軍食充羨,涇、隴稍安。 韓游瑰之入朝也,軍中以為必不返,餞送甚薄。 游環見上,盛陳築豐義城可以制吐蕃; 上悅,遣還鎮。 軍中憂懼者眾,游環忌都虞候虞鄉范希朝有功名,得眾心,求其罪,將殺之。 希朝奔鳳翔,上召之,置於左神策軍。 游環帥眾築豐義城,二版而潰。 二月,元友直運淮南錢帛二十萬至長安,李泌悉輸之大盈庫。 然上猶數有宣索,乃敕諸道勿令宰相知。 泌聞之,惆悵而不敢言。 臣光曰:王者以天下為家,天下之財皆其有也。 阜天下之財以養天下之民,己必豫焉。 或乃更為私藏,此匹夫之鄙志也。 古人有言曰:貧不學儉。 夫多財者,奢欲之所自來也。 李泌欲弭德宗之欲而豐其私財,財豐則欲滋矣。 財不稱欲,能無求乎! 是猶啟其門而禁其出也! 雖德宗之多僻,亦泌所以相之者非其道故也。 咸陽人或上言:「臣見白起,令臣奏云:『請為國家幹御西陲。 正月,吐蕃必大下,當為朝廷破之以取信。』」 既而吐蕃入寇,邊將敗之,不能深入。 上以為信然,欲於京城立廟,贈司徒,李泌曰:「臣聞『國將興,聽於人。』 今將帥立功而陛下褒賞白起,臣恐邊臣解體矣! 若立廟京城,盛為祈禱,流聞四方,將長巫風。 今杜郵有舊祠,請敕府縣葺之,則不至驚人耳目矣。 且白起列國之將,贈三公太重,請贈兵部尚書可矣。」 上笑曰:「卿於白起亦惜官乎!」 對曰:「人神一也。 陛下倘不之惜,則神亦不以為榮矣。」 上從之。 泌自陳衰老,獨任宰相,精力耗竭,既未聽其去,乞更除一相。 上曰:「朕深知卿勞苦,但未得其人耳。」 上從容與泌論即位以來宰相,曰:「盧杞忠清強介,人言杞奸邪,朕殊不覺其然。」 泌曰:「人言杞奸邪而陛下獨不覺其奸邪,此乃杞之所以為奸邪也。 倘陛下覺之,豈有建中之亂乎! 杞以私隙殺楊炎,擠顏真卿於死地,激李懷光使叛,賴陛下聖明竄逐之,人心頓喜,天亦悔禍。 不然,亂何由弭!」 上曰:「楊炎以童子視朕,每論事,朕可其奏則悅,與之往復問難,即怒而辭位,觀其意以朕為不足與言故也。 以是交不可忍,非由杞也。 建中之亂,術士豫請城奉天,此蓋天命,非杞所能致也!」 泌曰:「天命,他人皆可以言之,惟君相不可言。 蓋君相所以造命也。 若言命,則禮樂刑政皆無所用矣。 紂曰:『我生不有命在天!』 此商之所以亡也!」 上曰:「朕好與人較量理體:崔祐甫性褊躁,朕難之,則應對失次,朕常知其短而護之。 楊炎論事亦有可采,而氣色粗傲,難之輒勃然怒,無復君臣之禮,所以每見令人忿發。 餘人則不敢復言。 盧杞小心,朕所言無不從。 又無學,不能與朕往復,故朕所懷常不盡也。」 對曰:「杞言無不從,豈忠臣乎! 夫『言而莫予違』,此孔子所謂『一言喪邦』者也!」 上曰:「惟卿則異彼三人者。 朕言當,卿有喜色; 不當,常有憂色。 雖時有逆耳之言,如曏來紂及喪邦之類。 朕細思之,皆卿先事而言,如此則理安,如彼則危亂,言雖深切而氣色和順,無楊炎之陵傲。 朕問難往復,卿辭理不屈,又無好勝之志,直使朕中懷已盡屈服而不能不從,此朕新以私喜於得卿也。」 泌曰:「陛下能用相尚多,今皆不論,何也?」 上曰:「彼皆非所謂相也。 凡相者,必委以政事,如玄宗時牛仙客、陳希烈,可以謂之相乎! 如肅宗、代宗之任卿,雖不受其名,乃真相耳。 必以官至平章事為相,則王武俊之徒皆相也。」 劉昌復築連雲堡。
On the renshen day, Liu Chang, expeditionary military commissioner of Xuanwu, was appointed military commissioner of Jingyuan. On the jiaxu day, Li Yuanliang, military commissioner of Zhenguo, was appointed military commissioner of Longyou. Liu Chang and Li Yuanliang both had their soldiers farm the land; within a few years army rations were plentiful, and the Jing and Long regions grew somewhat stable. When Han Yougui went to the capital, the troops assumed he would never come back, and they gave him a very stingy farewell. When Yougui met the emperor, he spoke at length about how building Fengyi Fort could check the Tibetans. The emperor was pleased and sent him back to his post. Many in the army were anxious and afraid. Yougui resented chief adjutant Fan Xichao of Yuxiang, who had distinguished himself, won the soldiers' loyalty, and enjoyed a strong reputation; he hunted for a pretext to kill him. Xichao fled to Fengxiang. The emperor summoned him and assigned him to the Left Shence Army. Yougui led his troops to build Fengyi Fort, but after two sections of wall were raised it collapsed. In the second month, Yuan Youzhi brought two hundred thousand in cash and silk from Huainan to Chang'an, and Li Bi had all of it deposited in the Daying Treasury. Yet the emperor still made repeated requisitions, and ordered the various circuits not to inform the chief ministers. When Bi heard of this, he was deeply troubled but did not dare say anything. Master Guang commented: A true king treats the realm as his household, and all its wealth belongs to him. He gathers the realm's wealth to sustain its people—and he himself must surely share in that abundance. To hoard it instead as private treasure is the petty impulse of an ordinary man. The ancients said, "The poor need not be taught thrift." Great wealth is the very source from which extravagant desires spring. Li Bi sought to restrain Dezong's appetites while swelling his private coffers—but the richer the treasury, the stronger the desires become. When wealth cannot satisfy desire, how can demands fail to follow! That is like opening a door and then forbidding anyone to pass through! Though Dezong had many eccentric ways, Bi also failed as his minister because he pursued the wrong course. A man from Xianyang submitted a memorial: "I saw Bai Qi, and he told me to report: 'I wish to defend the western frontier for the state. In the first month the Tibetans will surely invade in force; I shall defeat them for the court and thereby win your trust.'" Soon afterward the Tibetans did invade, but border generals defeated them and kept them from penetrating deep into Tang territory. The emperor took this as proof and wanted to build a temple in the capital and posthumously grant Bai Qi the rank of Situ. Li Bi said, "I have heard that 'when a state is about to flourish, it listens to men. Yet now living generals have won victories while Your Majesty would honor Bai Qi instead—I fear the border commanders will lose heart! If a temple is built in the capital and grand prayers are offered there, word will spread everywhere and encourage shamanistic practices. There is already an old shrine at Duyou; please order the local officials to repair it. That would not draw undue attention. Besides, Bai Qi was merely a general of the Warring States period; granting him one of the Three Excellencies would be excessive. Minister of War would be enough.' The emperor laughed and said, "So even you begrudge Bai Qi an honorary title!" Bi replied, "Men and spirits are alike in this. If Your Majesty does not value the title, then the spirit will not regard it as an honor either." The emperor accepted his advice. Bi said he was growing old; serving as the sole chief minister had exhausted him, and since the emperor would not let him retire, he asked that another chief minister be appointed. The emperor said, "I know full well how hard you have worked, but I have not yet found the right person." The emperor then spoke at ease with Bi about the chief ministers since his accession. He said, "Lu Qi is loyal, upright, firm, and principled. People call him treacherous and wicked, but I do not see it that way at all." Bi said, "People say Lu Qi is treacherous and wicked, yet Your Majesty alone fails to see his treachery—that is precisely what makes him treacherous and wicked. If Your Majesty had seen it, would there ever have been the Jianzhong rebellion! Lu Qi killed Yang Yan over a private grudge, hounded Yan Zhenqing to his death, and provoked Li Huaiguang into rebellion. Thanks to Your Majesty's wisdom in banishing him, the people rejoiced at once and Heaven itself seemed to repent the disaster. Otherwise, how could the rebellion ever have been ended!" The emperor said, "Yang Yan treated me like a child. Whenever we discussed policy, he was pleased if I approved his memorial, but if I pressed him with questions he grew angry and threatened to resign. From his manner, he clearly thought me unworthy of real conversation. That is why I could not tolerate working with him—it had nothing to do with Lu Qi. As for the Jianzhong rebellion, a diviner had beforehand urged fortifying Fengtian—that was Heaven's decree, not something Lu Qi could have caused!" Bi said, "Others may speak of Heaven's decree, but the ruler and his minister must not. It is the ruler and his minister who shape destiny. If one appeals to fate, then rites, music, law, and government all become useless. King Zhou of Shang said, 'My life is ordained by Heaven!' That is why the Shang dynasty fell!" The emperor said, "I like to debate principles with my ministers. Cui Youfu was narrow-minded and impetuous; when I pressed him hard, he lost his composure. I often knew his weaknesses yet shielded him. Yang Yan's policy arguments often had merit, but his manner was coarse and arrogant. When challenged he would flare up in anger and forget the rites between ruler and minister. Every audience with him left me furious. After that, the others did not dare speak up again. Lu Qi was deferential; he never failed to do whatever I said. But he had no learning and could not debate with me, so I could never fully express what was on my mind." Bi replied, "Lu Qi never contradicted you—is that what a loyal minister does! For 'words to which no one may object'—that is what Confucius meant by 'one word can destroy a state'!" The emperor said, "Only you are different from those three. When I spoke rightly, you looked pleased; when I was wrong, you often looked troubled. Even when you spoke harsh truths, as you just did about King Zhou and the fall of a state, on reflection I see that you always speak before events unfold: follow your counsel and order prevails; ignore it and disaster follows. Your words may cut deep, yet your manner stays calm—nothing like Yang Yan's overbearing arrogance. When I pressed you in debate, your reasoning never broke, yet you had no desire to win. You simply drew out everything in my heart until I had no choice but to agree. That is why I am privately overjoyed to have you." Bi said, "Your Majesty has appointed many chief ministers—why discuss none of the others?" The emperor said, "None of them were true chief ministers, in my view. A true chief minister must be entrusted with governing the state. Take Niu Xianke and Chen Xilie under Xuanzong—can they be called chief ministers! When Suzong and Daizong employed you, you did not hold the title, yet you were a true chief minister. If holding the title of Grand Councilor alone makes one a chief minister, then Wang Wujun and men like him would all count as chief ministers." Liu Chang rebuilt Lianyun Fort.
16
夏,四月,乙未,更命殿前左、右射生曰神威軍,與左、右羽林、龍武、神武、神策號曰十軍。 神策尤盛,多戍京西,散屯畿甸。
In summer, in the fourth month, on the yimwei day, the Left and Right She-sheng units of the Palace Guard were renamed the Shenwei Army. Together with the Left and Right Yulin, Longwu, Shenwu, and Shence armies, they were called the Ten Armies. The Shence Army was especially powerful, with many troops garrisoned west of the capital and detachments scattered across the capital region.
17
福建觀察使吳詵,輕其軍士脆弱,苦役之。 軍士作亂,殺詵腹心十餘人,逼詵牒大將郝誡溢掌留務。 誡溢上表請罪,上遣中使就赦以安之。
Wu Shen, observation commissioner of Fujian, looked down on his troops as weak and drove them with harsh labor. The soldiers mutinied, killed more than ten of Shen's closest associates, and forced Shen to issue an order putting senior general Hao Jie in temporary command of the circuit. Hao Jie submitted a memorial asking to be punished. The emperor sent a palace envoy to grant a pardon and restore order.
18
乙未,隴右節度使李元諒築良原故城而鎮之。
On the yimwei day, Li Yuanliang, military commissioner of Longyou, rebuilt the old city of Liangyuan and established his headquarters there.
19
雲南王異牟尋欲內附,未敢自遣使,先遣其東蠻鬼主驃旁、苴夢沖、苴烏星入見。 五月,乙卯,宴之於麟德殿,賜賚甚厚,封王給印而遣之。 辛未,以太子賓客吳湊為福建觀察使,貶吳詵為涪州刺史。
Yi Muxun, king of Nanzhao, wished to submit to Tang rule but did not dare send his own envoy. He first sent three Eastern Man chieftains—Piao Pang, Ju Mengchong, and Ju Wuxing—to audience at court. In the fifth month, on the yimao day, the emperor feasted them in Linde Hall, gave them lavish gifts, conferred royal seals, and sent them home. On the xinwei day, Wu Cou, guest of the crown prince, was appointed observation commissioner of Fujian, and Wu Shen was demoted to prefect of Fuzhou.
20
吐蕃三萬餘騎寇涇、邠、寧、慶、鄜等州。 先是,吐蕃常以秋冬入寇,及春多病疫退。 至是,得唐人,質其妻子,遣其將將之,盛夏入寇。 諸州皆城守,無敢與戰者,吐蕃俘掠人畜萬計而去。
More than thirty thousand Tibetan cavalry raided the prefectures of Jing, Bin, Ning, Qing, and Fu. Previously the Tibetans had usually invaded in autumn and winter and withdrew in spring, when plague often broke out. This time they captured Tang subjects, held their families hostage, and used them to guide their generals in a midsummer invasion. Every prefecture held behind its walls; none dared give battle. The Tibetans seized people and livestock by the tens of thousands and withdrew.
21
夏縣人陽城以學行著聞,隱居柳谷之北,李泌薦之。 六月徵拜諫議大夫。
Yang Cheng of Xia County was renowned for learning and integrity and lived in seclusion north of Liugu Valley. Li Bi recommended him. In the sixth month he was summoned to court and appointed remonstrance and policy advisor.
22
韓游瑰以吐蕃犯塞,自戍寧州。 病,求代歸。 秋,七月,庚戌,加渾瑊邠寧副元帥,以左金吾將軍張獻甫為邠寧節度使,陳許兵馬使韓全義為長武城行營節度使。 獻甫未至,壬子夜,游瑰不告於眾,輕騎歸朝。 戍卒裴滿等憚獻甫之嚴,乘無帥之際,癸丑,帥其徒作亂,曰:「張公不出本軍,我必拒之。」 因剽掠城市,圍監軍楊明義所居,使奏請范希朝為節度使。 都虞侯楊朝晟避亂出城,聞之,復入,曰:「所請甚契我心,我來賀也!」 亂卒稍安。 朝晟潛與諸將謀,晨勒兵,如亂卒謂曰:「所請不行,張公已至邠州,汝曹作亂當死,不可盡殺,宜自推列唱帥者。」 遂斬二百餘人,帥眾迎獻甫。 上聞軍眾欲得范希朝,將授之。 希朝辭曰:「臣畏游瑰之禍而來,今往代之,非所以防窺覦,安反仄也。」 上嘉之,擢為寧州刺史,以副獻甫。 游瑰至京師,除右龍武統軍。 振武節度使唐朝臣不嚴斥候,己未,奚、室韋寇振武,執宣慰中使二人,大掠人畜而去。 時回紇之眾逆公主者在振武,朝臣遣七百騎與回紇數百騎追之,回紇使者為奚、室韋所殺。 九月,庚申,吐蕃尚志董星寇寧州,張獻甫擊卻之。 吐蕃轉掠鄜、坊而去。
Because the Tibetans were raiding the frontier, Han Yougui personally garrisoned Ning Prefecture. He fell ill and asked to be relieved and allowed to return to court. In autumn, in the seventh month, on the gengxu day, Hun Jian was promoted to deputy commander of Binning. Left Golden Guard general Zhang Xianfu was appointed military commissioner of Binning, and Han Quanyi, army commissioner of Chenxu, was appointed expeditionary military commissioner of Changwu Fort. Before Zhang Xianfu arrived, on the night of the renzi day, Yougui left without telling his troops and rode swiftly back to the capital. Garrison soldiers led by Pei Man feared Zhang Xianfu's strictness. Seizing the moment when the circuit had no commander, on the guichou day they mutinied and declared, "If General Zhang is not chosen from our own army, we will refuse him. They then looted the city, surrounded army supervisor Yang Mingyi's residence, and forced him to memorialize requesting Fan Xichao as military commissioner. Chief adjutant Yang Zhaosheng had fled the city during the chaos. When he heard what was happening, he went back in and said, "Your request matches my own wishes exactly—I have come to congratulate you!" The mutineers gradually calmed down. Zhaosheng secretly plotted with the other generals. At dawn he assembled his troops, went to the mutineers, and said, "Your request has been denied. General Zhang has already reached Bin Prefecture. Mutiny is punishable by death, but we cannot kill you all—you should identify the ringleaders yourselves." He then executed more than two hundred men and led the troops out to welcome Zhang Xianfu. When the emperor heard that the troops wanted Fan Xichao, he was about to appoint him. Xichao declined, saying, "I came to court because I feared Yougui's persecution. If I go now to replace him, that will not deter ambition or settle restless troops." The emperor praised him and promoted him to prefect of Ning Prefecture to serve under Zhang Xianfu. When Yougui reached the capital, he was appointed commander of the Right Longwu Army. Tang Zhaochen, military commissioner of Zhenwu, failed to maintain proper scouting. On the jiwei day, the Xi and Shiwei raided Zhenwu, captured two palace envoys on a pacification mission, and carried off people and livestock in great numbers. Uyghur troops escorting the princess back were then stationed at Zhenwu. Zhaochen sent seven hundred horsemen together with several hundred Uyghur cavalry in pursuit, but Uyghur envoys were killed by the Xi and Shiwei. In the ninth month, on the gengshen day, the Tibetan general Shangzhi Dongxing raided Ning Prefecture. Zhang Xianfu attacked and drove him off. The Tibetans then raided Fu and Fang prefectures before withdrawing.
23
元友直句檢諸道稅外物,悉輸戶部,遂為定制,歲於稅外輸百餘萬緡、斛,民不堪命。 諸道多自訴於上,上意寤,詔:「今年已入在官者輸京師,未入者悉以與民; 明年以後,悉免之。」 於是東南之民復安其業。
Yuan Youzhi audited extra-tax goods from all circuits and had them all remitted to the Ministry of Revenue. This became a permanent system, yielding more than a million strings of cash and hu of grain each year beyond regular taxes—a burden the people could not endure. “Officials from many circuits petitioned the emperor on their own account. When he grasped the situation, he issued an edict: whatever extra-tax goods had already been entered into government stores this year were to be sent to the capital; whatever had not yet been entered was to be returned entirely to the people. From the following year onward, the levy would be abolished altogether." With that, the people of the southeast were able to resume their livelihoods in peace.
24
回紇合骨咄祿可汗得唐許婚,甚喜,遣其妹骨咄祿毘伽公主及大臣妻並國相、趺跌都督以下千餘人來迎可敦,辭禮甚恭,曰:「昔為兄弟,今為子婿,半子也。 若吐蕃為患,子當為父除之!」 因詈辱吐蕃使者以絕之。 冬,十月,戊子,回紇至長安,可汗仍表請改回紇為回鶻,許之。 吐蕃發兵十萬將寇西川,亦發雲南兵。 雲南內雖附唐,外未敢叛吐蕃,亦發兵數萬屯於瀘北。 韋皋知雲南計方猶豫,乃為書遺雲南王,敘其叛吐蕃歸化之誠,貯以銀函,使東蠻轉致吐蕃。 吐蕃始疑雲南,遣兵二萬屯會川,以塞雲南趣蜀之路。 雲南怒,引兵歸國。 由是雲南與吐蕃相猜阻,歸唐之志益堅。 吐蕃失雲南之助,兵勢始弱矣。 然吐蕃業已入寇,遂分兵四萬攻兩林驃旁,三萬攻東蠻,七千寇清溪關,五千寇銅山。 皋遣黎州刺史韋晉等與東蠻連兵御之,破吐蕃於清溪關外。 庚子,冊命咸安公主,加回鶻可汗號長壽天親可汗。 十一月,以刑部尚書關播為送咸安公主兼冊回鶻可汗使。 吐蕃恥前日之敗,復以眾二萬寇清溪關,一萬攻東蠻。 韋皋命韋晉鎮要沖城,督諸軍以御之。 巂州經略使劉朝彩等出關連戰,自乙卯至癸亥,大破之。 李泌言於上曰:「江、淮漕運,自淮入汴,以甬橋為咽喉,地屬徐州,鄰於李納,刺史高明應年少不習事,若李納一旦復有異圖,竊據徐州,是失江、淮也,國用何從而致! 請徙壽、廬、濠都團練使張建封鎮徐州,割濠、泗以隸之。 復以廬、壽歸淮南,則淄青惕息而運路常通,江、淮安矣。 及今明應幼騃可代,宜徵為金吾將軍。 萬一使它人得之,則不可復製矣。」 上從之。 以建封為徐、泗、濠節度使。 建封為政寬厚而有綱紀,不貸人以法,故其下無不畏而悅之。 橫海節度使程日華薨,子懷直自知留後。
The Uyghur khagan Qapaghan, delighted that Tang had granted the marriage alliance, sent his younger sister Princess Qutluq Bilge, the wives of his ministers, the kingdom's chancellor, the Diexie governors, and more than a thousand persons of rank to welcome the imperial bride. Their language and ceremony were most respectful: 'Once we stood as brothers; now we are son-in-law and father-in-law — in effect, half a son. If the Tibetans bring trouble, the son shall remove the threat for his father-in-law!" They then reviled and humiliated the Tibetan envoys, severing relations with Tibet. In winter, in the tenth month, on the day wuzi, the Uyghurs arrived at Chang'an. The khagan again petitioned to change the name from Huihe to Huihu, and the request was granted. Tibet mobilized a hundred thousand men for a planned invasion of western Sichuan and also called up Yunnan forces. Yunnan was inwardly aligned with Tang but still dared not openly break with Tibet; it likewise raised tens of thousands of troops and encamped north of the Lu River. Knowing that Yunnan was still hesitating, Wei Gao wrote to its king affirming his sincerity in abandoning Tibet and returning to Tang, sealed the letter in a silver box, and had the Eastern Barbarians deliver it to the Tibetans. Tibet now grew suspicious of Yunnan and sent twenty thousand men to garrison Huichuan, blocking the road by which Yunnan could advance toward Shu. Enraged, Yunnan withdrew its army and returned home. Mutual suspicion and obstruction now arose between Yunnan and Tibet, and Yunnan's determination to rejoin Tang only hardened. Deprived of Yunnan's support, Tibet's military position began to weaken. Tibet had already launched its invasion, however, and now split its army: forty thousand to strike the Lianglin and Piao peoples, thirty thousand against the Eastern Barbarians, seven thousand against Qingxi Pass, and five thousand against Tongshan. Wei Gao sent Li Prefecture governor Wei Jin and others to combine with the Eastern Barbarians in defense and routed the Tibetans outside Qingxi Pass. On the day gengzi, Princess Xian'an received her investiture, and the Uyghur khagan was granted the title Longevity and Heavenly Kin Khagan. In the eleventh month, Guan Bo, Minister of Justice, was appointed envoy to escort Princess Xian'an and invest the Uyghur khagan. Stung by its recent defeat, Tibet again sent twenty thousand men against Qingxi Pass and ten thousand against the Eastern Barbarians. Wei Gao ordered Wei Jin to hold Yaichong Fort and supervise the various armies in repelling the attack. Xi's defense commissioner Liu Chaocai and others marched out of the pass and fought continuously from the day yimao through the day guihai, winning a crushing victory. Li Mi said to the emperor: 'Grain transport on the Jiang and Huai routes enters the Bian Canal from the Huai; Yongqiao is the vital choke point. That ground belongs to Xuzhou and lies next to Li Na's territory. Prefect Gao Mingying is young and inexperienced. If Li Na should ever again turn disloyal and seize Xuzhou, we would lose the Jiang and Huai — and with them the state's revenue. I ask that Zhang Jianfeng, regimental training commissioner of Shou, Lu, and Hao, be posted to Xuzhou, with Hao and Si detached and placed under his authority. Restore Lu and Shou to Huainan, and Ziqing will be kept in check while the transport lines stay open — the Jiang and Huai will be secure. Mingying is still young and untested and can be replaced now; summon him and appoint him a general of the Jinwu Guard. If someone else were to seize it, recovery would be impossible." The emperor accepted the proposal. Zhang Jianfeng was appointed military governor of Xu, Si, and Hao. Jianfeng governed with generosity and firm discipline alike; he showed no favoritism before the law. His men feared him and yet admired him. Cheng Rihua, military governor of Henghai, died; his son Huai zhi installed himself as acting governor.
25
吐蕃屢遣人誘脅雲南。
Tibet repeatedly sent agents to entice and intimidate Yunnan.
26
德宗神武聖文皇帝八貞元五年( 己巳,公元七八九年)
The eighth year of Emperor Dezong's Zhenyuan reign ( jisi, 789 CE)
27
春,二月,丁亥,韋皋遺異牟尋書,稱:「回鶻屢請佐天子共滅吐蕃,王不早定計,一旦為回鶻所先,則王累代功名虛棄矣。 且雲南久為吐蕃屈辱,今不乘此時依大國之勢以復怨雪恥,後悔無及矣。」 戊戌,以橫海留後程懷直為滄州觀察使。 懷直請分景城、弓高為景州,仍請朝廷除刺史。 上喜曰:「三十年無此事矣!」 乃以員外郎徐伸為景州刺史。 中書侍郎、同平章事李泌屢乞更命相。 上欲用戶部侍郎班宏,泌言宏雖清強而性多凝滯,乃薦竇參通敏,可兼度支鹽鐵; 董晉方正,可處門下。 上皆以為不可。 參,誕之玄孫也,時為御史中丞兼戶部侍郎; 晉為太常卿。 至是泌疾甚,復薦二人。 庚子,以董晉為門下侍郎,竇參為中書侍郎兼度支轉運使,並同平章事。 以班宏為尚書,依前度支轉運副使。 參為人剛果峭刻,無學術,多權數,每奏事,諸相出,參獨居後,以奏度支事為辭,實專大政,多引親黨置要地,使為耳目。 董晉充位而已。 然晉為人重慎,所言於上前者未嘗洩於人,子弟或問之,晉曰:「欲知宰相能否,視天下安危。 所謀議於上前者,不足道也。」 三月,甲辰,李泌薨。 泌有謀略而好談神仙詭誕,故為世所輕。
In spring, the second month, on the day dinghai, Wei Gao wrote to Nanzhao's Yi Muxun: 'The Uyghurs have repeatedly offered to join the Son of Heaven in destroying Tibet. If you do not decide quickly and the Uyghurs move first, the glory your house has won through generations will come to nothing. Yunnan has endured Tibet's humiliations for years. Fail to use the great power of the empire now to settle old scores and restore your honor, and you will regret it when it is too late." On the day wuxu, Cheng Huai zhi, acting governor of Henghai, was appointed observation commissioner of Cangzhou. Huai zhi asked that Jingcheng and Gonggao be carved out as Jing Prefecture and requested that the court appoint a prefect. The emperor said delightedly: 'Nothing like this has happened in thirty years! He then appointed outer-office official Xu Shen prefect of Jing. Li Mi, Vice Director of the Secretariat and Grand Councilor, repeatedly asked to be relieved of his post as chief minister. The emperor wanted to appoint Ban Hong, Vice Minister of Revenue. Mi said that while Hong was upright and capable, he was overly cautious and slow; he therefore recommended Dou Can as quick-witted and fit to oversee fiscal transport and the salt and iron monopolies concurrently. Dong Jin was upright and suited to the Secretariat. The emperor rejected both recommendations. Can was the great-grandson of Dou Yan and then served as Censor-in-Chief and concurrent Vice Minister of Revenue. Jin was Minister of Ceremonies. By then Mi was gravely ill and once more recommended the two men. On the day gengzi, Dong Jin was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat, and Dou Can Vice Director of the Secretariat and Commissioner of Fiscal Transport; both were made Grand Councilors. Ban Hong was promoted to Minister and retained his post as Deputy Commissioner of Fiscal Transport. Can was hard, decisive, and cutting; he lacked scholarly training and trafficked in schemes. After each audience, when the other councilors withdrew, Can alone lingered behind on the pretext of fiscal business and in practice seized control of major policy. He placed relatives and allies in key posts to serve as his eyes and ears. Dong Jin held the title and nothing more. Jin, however, was grave and cautious by nature and never disclosed to others what he had said before the throne. When his sons and brothers asked him, he replied: 'Judge a chief minister by whether the realm is safe or in peril. The words exchanged before the emperor are not the measure of the man." In the third month, on the day jiachen, Li Mi died. Mi was a man of strategy, yet he loved to talk of immortals and marvels, and for that the world undervalued him.
28
初,上思李懷光之功,欲宥其一子,而子孫皆已伏誅。 戊辰,詔以懷光外孫燕八八為懷光後,賜姓名李承緒,除左衛率冑曹參軍,賜錢千緡,使養懷光妻王氏及守其基祀。 冬,十月,韋皋遣其將王有道將兵與東蠻、兩林蠻及吐蕃青海、臘城二節度戰於巂州台登谷,大破之,斬首二千級,投崖及溺死者不可勝數,殺其大兵馬使乞藏遮遮。 乞藏遮遮,虜之驍將也,既死,皋所攻城柵無不下。 數年,盡復巂州之境。 易定節度使張孝忠興兵襲蔚州,驅掠人畜。 詔書責之,逾旬還鎮。
Earlier the emperor, mindful of Li Huaiguang's past service, had wished to spare one of his sons, but all his sons and grandsons had already been put to death. On the day wuchen, an edict adopted Huaiguang's daughter's son Yan Baba as his heir, bestowed on him the name Li Chengxu, appointed him Army Adjutant of the Left Guard, granted a thousand strings of cash, and charged him with supporting Huaiguang's widow Lady Wang and maintaining the family sacrifices. In winter, the tenth month, Wei Gao sent his general Wang Youdao with troops to fight at Taideng Valley in Xi Prefecture alongside the Eastern Barbarians, the Lianglin tribes, and the Tibetan Qinghai and Lacheng circuit forces. He won a great victory, taking two thousand heads; countless men were hurled from cliffs or drowned; and the enemy's great cavalry commander Qizang Zhezhe was killed. Qizang Zhezhe had been the enemy's boldest commander; after his death, every fortress and stockade Wei Gao attacked fell. Within a few years he had fully recovered the territory of Xi Prefecture. Zhang Xiaozhong, military governor of Yiding, mobilized troops, raided Yu Prefecture, and drove off people and livestock. An imperial rebuke was sent; after ten days he returned to his post.
29
瓊州自乾封中為山賊所陷,至是,嶺南節度使李復遣判官姜孟京與崖州刺史張少遷攻拔之。
Qiong Prefecture had fallen to mountain bandits since the Qianfeng period; now Lingnan military governor Li Fu sent judge Jiang Mengjing and Ya Prefecture governor Zhang Shaoqian to attack and retake it.
30
十二月,庚午,聞回鶻天親可汗薨,戊寅,遣鴻臚卿郭鋒冊命其子為登裡羅沒密施俱祿忠貞毘伽可汗。 先是,安西、北庭皆假道於回鶻以奏事,故與之連和。 北庭去回鶻猶近,回鶻誅求無厭,又有沙陀六千餘帳與北庭相依。 及三葛祿、白服突厥皆附於回鶻,回鶻數侵掠之。 吐蕃因葛祿、白服之眾以攻北庭,回鶻大相頡干迦斯將兵救之。 雲南雖貳於吐蕃,亦未敢顯與之絕。 壬辰,韋皋復以書招諭之。
In the twelfth month, on the day gengwu, news arrived that the Uyghur Longevity and Heavenly Kin Khagan had died. On the day wuyin, Guo Feng, Minister of Hospitality, was dispatched to invest the son as Dengli Luomei Mishijulu Zhongzhen Bilge Khagan. Previously, both Anxi and Beiting had depended on the Uyghurs for passage when reporting to court, and so remained allied with them. Beiting lay close to Uyghur territory; the Uyghurs' demands were never-ending, and more than six thousand Shatuo households were bound to Beiting. Once the Three Karluk tribes and the White-clad Turks had submitted to the Uyghurs, the Uyghurs repeatedly preyed on them. Tibet drew on the Karluk and White-clad peoples to attack Beiting, and the Uyghur great chancellor Bogu Qarakhuz marched to its relief. Yunnan had already wavered in its loyalty to Tibet, yet still dared not break openly with it. On the day renchen, Wei Gao again wrote to summon and persuade them.
31
德宗神武聖文皇帝八貞元六年( 庚午,公元七九零年)
The ninth year of Emperor Dezong's Zhenyuan reign ( gengwu, 790 CE)
32
春,詔出岐山無憂王寺佛指骨迎置禁中,又送諸寺以示眾,傾都瞻禮,施財巨萬; 二月,乙亥,遣中使復葬故處。 初,朱滔敗於貝州,其棣州刺史趙鎬以州降於王武俊,既而得罪於武俊,召之不至。 田緒殘忍,其兄朝,仕李納為齊州刺史。 或言納欲納朝於魏,緒懼; 判官孫光佐等為緒謀,厚賂納,且說納招趙鎬取棣州以悅之,因請送朝於京師。 納從之。 丁酉,鎬以棣州降於納。 三月,武俊使其子士真擊之,不克。 回鶻忠貞可汗之弟弒忠貞而自立,其大相頡干迦斯西擊吐蕃未還,夏,四月,次相帥國人殺篡者而立忠貞之子阿啜為可汗,年十五。 五月,王武俊屯冀州,將擊趙鎬,鎬帥其屬奔鄆州。 李納分兵據之。 田緒使孫光佐如鄆州,矯詔以棣州隸納。 武俊怒,遣其子士清伐貝州,取經城等四縣。 回鶻頡干迦斯與吐蕃戰不利,吐蕃急攻北庭。 北庭人苦於回鶻誅求,與沙陀酋長朱邪盡忠皆降於吐蕃。 節度使楊襲古帥麾下二千人奔西州。 六月,頡干迦斯引兵還國,次相恐其有廢立,與可汗皆出郊迎,俯伏自陳擅立之狀,曰:「今日惟大相死生之。」 盛陳郭鋒所□國信,悉以遺之。 可汗拜且泣曰:「兒愚幼,若幸而得立,惟仰食於阿多,國政不敢豫也。」 虜謂父為阿多,頡干迦斯感其卑屈,持之而哭,遂執臣禮,悉以所遺頒從行者,己無所受。 國中由是稍安。 秋,頡干迦斯悉舉國兵數萬,召楊襲古,將復北庭,又為吐蕃所敗,死者大半。 襲古收餘眾數百,將還西州,頡干迦斯紿之曰:「且與我同至牙帳,當送君還朝。」 既而留不遣,竟殺之。 安西由是遂絕,莫知存亡,而西州猶為唐固守。 葛祿乘勝取回鶻之浮圖川,回鶻震恐,悉遷西北部落於牙帳之南以避之。 遣達北特勒梅錄隨郭鋒偕來,告忠貞可汗之喪,且求冊命。 先是,回鶻使者入中國,禮容驕慢,刺史皆與之鈞禮。 梅錄至豐州,刺史李景略欲以氣加之,謂梅錄曰:「聞可汗新沒,欲申吊禮。」 景略先據高壟而坐,梅錄俯僂前哭。 景略撫之曰:「可汗棄代,助爾哀慕。」 梅錄驕容猛氣索然俱盡。 自是回鶻使至,皆拜景略於庭,威名聞塞外。 冬,十月,辛亥,郭鋒始自回鶻還。 十一月,庚午,上祀圓丘。
In spring, an edict brought the Buddha's finger bone out from Wuyouwang Temple on Mount Qi into the palace, then sent it to temples throughout the capital for public veneration. The city poured forth to worship, and offerings amounted to vast sums. In the second month, on the day yihai, palace envoys were sent to return the relic to its original resting place. Earlier, after Zhu Tao's defeat at Bei Prefecture, his Di Prefecture governor Zhao Gao had surrendered the prefecture to Wang Wujun; later he fell out with Wujun, and when summoned he refused to come. Tian Xu was ruthless; his elder brother Chao served Li Na as prefect of Qi. Word spread that Li Na meant to bring Chao into Wei; Xu grew alarmed. Judge Sun Guangzuo and others devised a plan for Xu: they lavished bribes on Li Na and urged him to win Zhao Gao over and seize Di Prefecture as a gift, while also requesting that Chao be sent to the capital. Li Na agreed. On the day dingyou, Zhao Gao surrendered Di Prefecture to Li Na. In the third month, Wang Wujun sent his son Shizhen to attack but failed to retake the prefecture. The Uyghur Loyal and Chaste Khagan's younger brother murdered him and seized the throne. The great chancellor Bogu Qarakhuz was campaigning against Tibet in the west and had not returned. In summer, the fourth month, the secondary chancellor led the nation to kill the usurper and set the Loyal and Chaste Khagan's son Achuo on the throne; he was fifteen. In the fifth month, Wang Wujun encamped at Ji Prefecture intending to strike Zhao Gao; Gao fled with his followers to Yan Prefecture. Li Na sent troops to occupy it. Tian Xu sent Sun Guangzuo to Yan Prefecture with a forged edict placing Di Prefecture under Li Na. Enraged, Wang Wujun sent his son Shiqing against Bei Prefecture and seized Jingcheng and three other counties. Bogu Qarakhuz's battle with Tibet went badly, and Tibet pressed hard against Beiting. Beiting's people, exhausted by Uyghur exactions, joined Shatuo chieftain Zhuye Jinzhong in surrendering to Tibet. Military governor Yang Xigu fled to Xi Prefecture with two thousand men. In the sixth month, Bogu Qarakhuz returned home with his army. Fearing he might overturn the succession, the secondary chancellor and the khagan went out to meet him in the suburbs, prostrated themselves, and confessed that they had enthroned the boy without authority: 'Today our lives are entirely in the great chancellor's hands. They then displayed in full the imperial credentials and gifts Guo Feng had brought and presented them all to him. The khagan bowed and wept: 'I am young and foolish; if I am fortunate enough to reign, I shall depend on Father Aduo for my very livelihood and will not presume to meddle in affairs of state. Among the Uyghurs, 'aduo' means father. Moved by such abasement, Bogu Qarakhuz held him and wept, then took the posture of a subject; he distributed all the gifts among his followers and kept nothing for himself. The realm gradually regained its calm. That autumn Bogu Qarakhuz raised the whole nation's army, tens of thousands strong, called on Yang Xigu, and marched to retake Beiting; Tibet defeated him again, and more than half his force perished. Xigu gathered the few hundred survivors and prepared to return to Xi Prefecture. Bogu Qarakhuz deceived him: 'Come first to my camp; I will then send you back to court. Once there, he held him and refused to let him go; in the end he had him killed. Anxi was thus severed from the empire, and no one knew whether it still stood; Xi Prefecture alone remained loyally held for Tang. The Karluks, pressing their advantage, seized the Uyghurs' Futuchuan. Terrified, the Uyghurs shifted all their northwestern tribes south of the royal camp to escape them. They dispatched Tabo Tegin Meilu to accompany Guo Feng, announcing the Loyal and Chaste Khagan's death and seeking a new investiture from Tang. Previously, when Uyghur envoys arrived in China, they carried themselves with arrogant insolence, and prefects treated them as equals in ceremony. When Meilu reached Feng Prefecture, Prefect Li Jinglve resolved to break his arrogance with sheer force of bearing. He told Meilu, 'I hear your khagan has just died; I wish to offer my condolences. Jinglve seated himself first on a raised platform. Meilu bowed low and stepped forward to weep. Jinglve patted him and said, 'Your khagan has departed this life; let me mourn with you. Meilu's haughty bearing and fierce temper drained away entirely. After that, every Uyghur envoy who arrived bowed to Jinglve in the courtyard. His name for stern authority spread far beyond the passes. In the tenth month of winter, on the day xinhai, Guo Feng at last returned from the Uyghur court. In the eleventh month, on the day gengwu, the Emperor performed the sacrifice at the Round Mound.
33
上屢詔李納以棣州歸王武俊,納百方遷延,請以海州易之於朝廷。 上不許。 乃請詔武俊先歸田緒四縣,上從之。 十二月,納始以棣州歸武俊。 德宗神武聖文皇帝八貞元七年( 辛未,公元七九一年)
The Emperor repeatedly ordered Li Na to return Di Prefecture to Wang Wujun, but Na evaded the command by every possible excuse and asked the court to swap it for Hai Prefecture instead. The Emperor refused. Na then asked that Wang Wujun first return four counties to Tian Xu; the Emperor agreed. In the twelfth month, Na at last surrendered Di Prefecture to Wujun. Eighth year of Zhenyuan, reign of Emperor Dezong, the Divine Martial Sagely Cultured Sovereign ( xinwei, AD 791)
34
春,正月,己巳,襄王黃薨。
In the first month of spring, on the day jisi, the Prince of Xiang, Huang, died.
35
二月,癸卯,遣鴻臚少卿庾鋌冊回鶻奉誠可汗。
In the second month, on the day guimao, the court sent Assistant Director of the Court of Diplomatic Reception Yu Ting to invest the Uyghur Fengcheng Khagan.
36
戊戌,詔涇原節度使劉昌築平涼故城,以扼彈箏峽口。 浹辰而畢,分兵戍之。 昌又築朝谷堡。 甲子,詔名其堡曰彰信,涇原稍安。 初,上還長安,以神策等軍有衛從之勞,皆賜名興元元從奉天定難功臣,以官領之,撫恤優厚。 禁軍恃恩驕橫,侵暴百姓,陵忽府縣,至詬辱官吏,毀裂案牘。 府縣官有不勝忿而刑之者,朝笞一人,夕貶萬里,由是府縣雖有公嚴之官,莫得舉其職。 市井富民,往往行賂寄名軍籍,則府縣不能制。 辛巳,詔:神威、六軍吏士與百姓訟者,委之府縣,小事牒本軍,大事奏聞。 若軍士陵忽府縣,禁身以聞,委御史臺推覆。 縣吏輒敢笞辱,必從貶謫。 癸未,易定節度使張孝忠薨。
On the day wuxu, an edict ordered Jingyuan Military Governor Liu Chang to rebuild the old city of Pingliang and seal the mouth of Danzheng Gorge. The work was finished in twelve days, and garrisons were posted throughout. Chang also built Chaogu Fort. On the day jiazi, an edict named the fort Zhangxin, and Jingyuan gradually grew secure. When the Emperor first returned to Chang'an, he rewarded the Shence and other armies for their service in guarding and escorting him by granting them all the title of Meritorious Ministers Who Accompanied Him at Xingyuan and Quelled the Crisis at Fengtian. Officials were appointed to lead them, and they received lavish care and favor. The imperial guard, emboldened by imperial favor, grew arrogant and violent. They preyed on common people, trampled prefectural and county offices, reviled officials, and even tore up official documents. If a prefectural or county official, unable to contain his rage, punished a guardsman, that official would be flogged by morning and exiled ten thousand li by evening. Though upright and stern men still held office in the prefectures and counties, none could do his job. Wealthy merchants often bribed their way onto military rolls, and once enrolled they were beyond the reach of prefectural and county authority. On the day xinsi, an edict declared that lawsuits between officers and men of the Shenwei and Six Armies and common people were to be handled by prefectures and counties; minor cases were to be reported to the soldier's own army, major ones to the throne. If soldiers bullied prefectural or county offices, they were to be detained pending report, and the Censorate was to investigate. Any county clerk who dared beat or humiliate a soldier was to be demoted and exiled without exception. On the day guimao, Yiding Military Governor Zhang Xiaozhong died.
37
安南都護高正平重賦斂,夏,四月,群蠻酋長杜英翰等起兵圍都護府,正平以憂死。 群蠻聞之皆降。 五月,辛巳,置柔遠軍於安南。 端王遇薨。
Protector-General of Annan Gao Zhengping imposed crushing taxes and levies. In the fourth month of summer, tribal chiefs led by Du Yinghan rose in arms and besieged the Protector-General's headquarters. Zhengping died of grief. When the tribes heard of his death, they all submitted. In the fifth month, on the day xinsi, the Rouyuan Army was established in Annan. The Prince of Duan, Yu, died.
38
韋皋比年致書招雲南王異牟尋,終未獲報。 然吐蕃每發雲南兵,雲南與之益少。 皋知異牟尋心附於唐,討擊副使段忠義,本閣羅鳳使者也。 六月,丙申,皋遣忠義還雲南,並致書敦諭之。 秋,七月,戊寅,以定州刺史張升雲為義武留後。
For years Wei Gao had sent letters seeking to win over the King of Nanzhao, Yimouxun, yet never received an answer. Yet whenever Tibet called on Nanzhao for troops, Nanzhao sent fewer and fewer men. Gao knew Yimouxun's heart leaned toward Tang. Suppression and Attack Deputy Commissioner Duan Zhongyi had once served as an envoy of Geluofeng. In the sixth month, on the day bingshen, Gao sent Zhongyi back to Nanzhao with a letter urging and instructing Yimouxun. In the seventh month of autumn, on the day wuyin, Zhang Shengyun, Prefect of Ding Prefecture, was appointed acting military governor of Yiwu.
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庚辰,以虔州刺史趙昌為安南都護,群蠻遂安。
On the day gengchen, Zhao Chang, Prefect of Qian Prefecture, was appointed Protector-General of Annan, and the tribes were pacified.
40
八月,丙午,以翰林學士陸贄為兵部侍郎,餘職皆解。 竇參惡之也。
In the eighth month, on the day bingwu, Hanlin Academician Lu Zhi was appointed Vice Minister of War, and all his other offices were stripped away. Dou Can had engineered this out of hatred for him.
41
吐蕃攻靈州,為回鶻所敗,夜遁。 九月,回鶻遣使來獻俘。 冬,十二月,甲午,又遣使獻所獲吐蕃酋長尚結心。 福建觀察使吳湊,為治有聲,竇參以私憾毀之,且言其病風。 上召至京師,使之步以察之,知參之誣,由是始惡參。 丁酉,以湊為陝虢觀察使以代參黨李翼。 睦王述薨。
Tibet attacked Ling Prefecture, was defeated by the Uyghurs, and fled under cover of night. In the ninth month, the Uyghurs sent envoys to present captives to the court. In the twelfth month of winter, on the day jiawu, they again sent envoys to present the captured Tibetan chieftain Shang Jiexin. Fujian Observation Commissioner Wu Cou was widely praised for his governance, but Dou Can slandered him out of private spite and claimed he suffered from paralysis. The Emperor summoned Cou to the capital and had him walk so he could see for himself. Realizing Dou Can had lied, the Emperor began to turn against Can. On the day dingyou, Cou was appointed Shaan-Guo Observation Commissioner, replacing Li Yi, a member of Dou Can's faction. The Prince of Mu, Shu, died.
42
吐蕃知韋皋使者在雲南,遣使讓之。 雲南王異牟尋紿之曰:「唐使,本蠻也,皋聽其歸耳,無它謀也。」 因執以送吐蕃。 吐蕃多取其大臣之子為質,雲南愈怨。 勿鄧酋長苴夢沖,潛通吐蕃,扇誘群蠻,隔絕雲南使者。 韋皋遣三部落總管蘇峞將兵至琵琶川。
When Tibet learned that Wei Gao's envoy was in Nanzhao, it sent an envoy to rebuke the Nanzhao court. King Yimouxun of Nanzhao deceived them, saying, 'The Tang envoy is one of our own people. Gao simply let him come home. There is no other scheme. Then he seized the envoy and handed him over to Tibet. Tibet repeatedly took the sons of Nanzhao ministers as hostages, and Nanzhao's resentment deepened. Wudeng chieftain Jumengchong secretly colluded with Tibet, stirred up the tribal peoples, and blocked Nanzhao's envoys. Wei Gao dispatched Three-Tribes Commander Su Wei to lead troops to Pipa River.
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CATEGORY:資治通鑑
CATEGORY: Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance