1
資治通-{鑑}-第237巻
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 237.
2
【唐紀五十三】起柔兆閹茂，盡屠維赤奮若六月，凡三年有奇。
Tang Records 53, from the yiyou year (805) through the sixth month of the wuzi year (808)—a span of a little more than three years.
3
春，正月，丙寅朔，上帥群臣詣興慶宮上上皇尊號。
In spring, on the first day of the first month, the Emperor led his officials to Xingqing Palace to bestow an honorific title upon the Retired Emperor.
4
丁卯，赦天下，改元。
The next day he declared a general amnesty and inaugurated a new reign era.
5
辛未，以鄂-{岳}-觀察使韓皋爲奉義節度使。 癸酉，以奉義留-{後}-伊宥爲安州刺史兼安州留-{後}-。 宥，愼之子也。 壬午，加成德節度使王士眞同平章事。
On the xinwei day, Han Gao was transferred from E-Yue observation commissioner to military governor of Fengyi. On the guiyou day, Yi You, who had been acting commander at Fengyi, was appointed prefect of Anzhou and left in charge there as acting commander. Yi You was a son of Yi Shen. On the renwu day, Wang Shizhen of Chengde was given the additional title of Grand Councilor.
6
甲申，上皇崩-{於}-興慶宮。
On the jiashen day, the Retired Emperor died at Xingqing Palace.
7
劉-{闢}-既得旌節，-{志}-益驕，求兼領三川，上不許。 -{闢}-遂-{發}-兵圍東川節度使李康-{於}-梓州，欲以同幕盧文若爲東川節度使。 推官莆田林蘊力諫-{闢}-舉兵，-{辟}-怒，械-{繫}--{於}-獄，引出，將斬之，陰戒行刑者使不殺，但數礪刃-{於}-其頸，欲使屈服而赦之。 蘊叱之曰：「豎子，當斬即斬，我頸豈汝砥石邪！」 -{闢}-顧左右曰：「眞忠烈之士也！」 乃黜爲唐昌尉。 上欲討-{闢}-而重-{於}-用兵，公卿議者亦以爲蜀險固難取，杜黃裳獨曰：「-{闢}-狂戇書生，取之如拾芥耳！ 臣知神策軍使髙崇文勇略可用，-{願}-陛下專以軍事委之，勿置監軍，-{辟}-必可擒。」 上從之。 翰林學士李吉甫亦勸上討蜀，上由是器之。 戊子，命左神策行營節度使髙崇文將歩騎五千爲前軍，神策京西行營兵馬使李元奕將歩騎二千爲次軍，與山南西道節度使嚴礪同討-{辟}-。 時宿將名位素重者甚衆，皆自謂當-{征}-蜀之選，及詔用崇文，皆大驚。
After Liu Pi received his commission as military governor, he grew increasingly arrogant and asked to govern all three Shu circuits at once. The Emperor refused. Pi then mobilized his army and besieged Li Kang, the Dongchuan governor, at Zizhou, planning to install his former staff colleague Lu Wenruo as the new Dongchuan governor. Lin Yun, a judicial aide from Putian, strongly urged Pi not to take up arms. Enraged, Pi had him shackled and thrown in prison, then led him out for execution. Secretly he told the executioners not to kill him but only to grind their blades against his neck again and again, hoping to break his will and then spare him. Yun shouted at him, "You cur—if you mean to kill me, then kill me! Is my neck your whetstone?" Pi turned to his attendants and said, "A man of true loyalty and valor!" He then demoted Lin Yun to assistant magistrate of Tangchang. The Emperor wanted to suppress Pi but hesitated to commit forces. Most ministers argued that Shu was rugged, well fortified, and hard to conquer. Du Huangshang alone said, "Pi is nothing but a reckless scholar—capturing him will be as easy as picking up a mustard seed! I know that Gao Chongwen of the Shence Army has both courage and strategy. Entrust the campaign entirely to him, Your Majesty, and do not appoint eunuch army supervisors—then Pi will surely be taken." The Emperor accepted his counsel. Hanlin academician Li Jifu likewise urged an expedition against Shu, and the Emperor thereafter held him in high regard. On the wuzi day he ordered Gao Chongwen of the Left Shence campaign force to lead five thousand foot and horse as the vanguard, Li Yuanyi of the Shence Western Capital detachment to lead two thousand as the second wave, and Yan Li of Shannan West to join them in suppressing Liu Pi. Many senior generals of high standing had assumed they would be chosen to lead the Shu campaign. When the edict named Gao Chongwen instead, they were all astonished.
8
上與杜黃裳論及籓鎭，黃裳曰：「德宗自經憂患，務爲姑息，不生除節帥。 有物故者，先遣中使察軍情所與則授之。 中使或私受大將賂，歸而譽之，即降旄鉞，未嘗有出朝廷之意者。 陛下必欲振舉綱紀，宜稍以法度裁-{製}-蕃鎭，則天下可得而理也。」 上深以爲然，-{於}-是始用兵討蜀，以至威行兩河，皆黃裳啓之也。
When the Emperor discussed the frontier commands with Du Huangshang, Huangshang said, "After his own trials, Emperor Dezong pursued a policy of appeasement and never removed a living military governor. When one died, he first sent a palace envoy to see whom the troops favored, then appointed that man. Sometimes an envoy would take bribes from a senior officer, return to court praising him, and the commission would be granted—never once reflecting the court's own choice. If Your Majesty truly wishes to restore discipline, you should gradually bring the frontier commands under the law—and then the realm can be governed." The Emperor strongly agreed. From this came the campaign against Shu and, eventually, imperial authority restored in the two He regions—all of it set in motion by Huangshang.
9
髙崇文屯長武城，練卒五千，常如寇至，卯時受詔，辰時即行，器械糗糧，一無所闕。 甲午，崇文出斜-{谷}-，李元奕出駱-{谷}-，同趣梓州。 崇文軍至興元，軍士有食-{於}-逆旅，折人匕箸者，崇文斬之以徇。
Gao Chongwen camped at Changwu and drilled five thousand men as though the enemy were always near. He would receive orders at dawn and march by mid-morning, with weapons, equipment, and provisions always complete. On the jiawu day, Chongwen advanced through Xiegu Pass and Li Yuanyi through Luogu Pass, both converging on Zizhou. When Chongwen's army reached Xingyuan, he executed a soldier who had broken another traveler's utensils at an inn, making an example of him.
10
劉-{闢}-陷梓州，執李康。 二月，嚴礪拔劍州，斬其刺史文德昭。
Liu Pi took Zizhou and captured Li Kang. In the second month, Yan Li took Jianzhou and executed its prefect, Wen Dezhao.
11
奚王誨落可入朝。 丁酉，以誨落可爲饒樂郡王，遣歸。
The Xi chieftain Huiluoke came to pay court. On the dingyou day, Huiluoke was created Prince of Raole and sent back to his people.
12
癸-{丑}-，加魏博節度使田季安同平章事。
On the guichou day, Tian Ji'an of Weibo was given the additional title of Grand Councilor.
13
戊午，上與宰相論：「自古帝王，或勤勞庶政，或端拱無爲，互有得失，何爲而可？」 杜黃裳對曰：「王者上承天地宗廟，下撫百姓四夷，夙夜憂勤，固不可自暇自逸。 然上下有分，紀綱有敘，苟愼選天下賢-{才}-而委任之，有功則賞，有罪則刑，選用以公，賞刑以信，則誰不盡力，何求不獲哉！ 明主勞-{於}-求人，而逸-{於}-任人，此虞舜所以能無爲而治者也。 至-{於}-簿書獄市煩細之事，各有司存，非人主所宜親也。 昔秦始皇以衡石程書，魏明帝自按行尚書事，隋文帝衞士傳餐，皆無補-{於}-當時，取譏-{於}--{後}-來，其耳目形神非不勤且勞也，所務非其道也。 夫人主患不推誠，人臣患不竭忠。 苟上疑其下，下欺其上，將以求理，不亦難乎！」 上深然其言。
On the wuwu day the Emperor asked his chief ministers, "Since antiquity, some rulers have thrown themselves into governing every detail, while others have sat in dignified ease and practiced nonaction. Each approach has had its strengths and flaws. Which is the better way?" Du Huangshang replied, "A ruler stands between Heaven and Earth and the ancestral shrines above, and the people and the four quarters below. He must labor day and night with care; he cannot afford idleness or self-indulgence. Yet ruler and subject each have their proper place, and law and order have their sequence. If you carefully choose the ablest men in the realm and entrust them with office, rewarding merit and punishing fault with fairness and consistency, who would not give his all? What goal could fail to be reached? A wise ruler labors to find the right men, then rests easy in trusting them to their tasks—that is how Yu Shun governed through nonaction. As for the tedious details of accounts, courts, and markets, each has its proper office—the ruler should not handle them himself. The First Emperor of Qin weighed documents by the stone, Emperor Ming of Wei personally reviewed the Masters of Writing, and Emperor Wen of Sui had guards pass his meals to him—all useless in their day and mocked by posterity. They were not lacking in diligence, but they applied themselves to the wrong tasks. The ruler's failing is unwillingness to trust fully; the minister's failing is unwillingness to serve loyally. If the ruler distrusts his officials and officials deceive their ruler, how can good order be achieved?" The Emperor strongly agreed.
14
三月，丙寅，以神策京西行營節度使-{范}-希朝爲右金吾大將軍。
In the third month, on the bingyin day, Fan Xichao of the Shence Western Capital campaign was appointed Grand General of the Right Golden Guards.
15
髙崇文引兵自閬州趣梓州，劉-{闢}-將邢泚引兵遁去，崇文入屯梓州。 -{闢}-歸李康-{於}-崇文以求自雪，崇文以康敗軍失守，斬之。 丙子，嚴礪奏克梓州。 丁-{丑}-，-{制}-削奪劉-{闢}-官爵。
Gao Chongwen marched from Langzhou toward Zizhou. Liu Pi's general Xing Ci withdrew, and Chongwen occupied Zizhou. Pi sent Li Kang back to Chongwen hoping to clear his own name. Chongwen executed Kang for having lost his army and his post. On the bingzi day, Yan Li reported the capture of Zizhou. On the dingchou day, an edict stripped Liu Pi of rank and title.
16
初，韓全義入朝，以其甥楊惠琳知夏綏留-{後}-。 杜黃裳以全義出-{征}-無功，驕蹇不遜，直令致仕，以右驍衞將軍李演爲夏綏節度使。 惠琳勒兵拒之，表稱「將士逼臣爲節度使」。 河東節度使嚴綬表請討之。 詔河東、天德軍合撃惠琳，綬遣牙將阿跌光進及弟光顏將兵赴之，光進本出河-{曲}-歩落稽，兄弟在河東軍皆以勇敢聞。 辛巳，夏州兵馬使張承金斬惠琳，傳首京師。 東川節度使韋丹至漢中，表言「髙崇文客軍遠-{鬥}-，無所資。 若與梓州，綴其士心，必能有功。」 夏，四月，丁酉，以崇文爲東川節度副使、知節度事。
Earlier, when Han Quanyi came to court, he left his nephew Yang Huilin as acting commander at Xia-Sui. Du Huangshang, citing Quanyi's failed campaigns and arrogant defiance, had him retire at once and appointed Li Yan of the Right Valiant Guards as military governor of Xia-Sui. Huilin mobilized his troops to resist and memorialized that "the officers and men have forced me to become military governor." Yan Shou of Hedong memorialized asking permission to suppress him. The court ordered Hedong and the Tiande Army to attack Huilin together. Shou sent his adjutant Adie Guangjin and his brother Guangyan with troops. Guangjin was from the Buluoji people of the Yellow River bend; both brothers were renowned in Hedong for bravery. On the xinsi day, Zhang Chengjin of Xiazhou killed Huilin and sent his head to the capital. Wei Dan of Dongchuan reached Hanzhong and wrote, "Gao Chongwen's expeditionary force is fighting far from home without local support. If he is given Zizhou, it will steady his men's morale and he will surely succeed." In summer, on the dingyou day of the fourth month, Chongwen was made vice governor of Dongchuan with acting authority over the circuit.
17
潘孟陽所至，專事-{游}-宴，從-{僕}-三百人，多納賄賂。 上聞之，甲辰，以孟陽爲大理卿，罷其度支、鹽鐵轉運副使。
Wherever Pan Mengyang served, he devoted himself to pleasure and feasting, kept three hundred attendants, and accepted many bribes. When the Emperor learned of this, on the jiachen day he transferred Mengyang to the Ministry of Justice and removed him from his finance and transport posts.
18
丙午，策試-{制}-舉之士，-{於}-是校書郎元稹、監察-{御}-史獨孤郁、校書郎下邽白居易、前進士蕭俛、沈傳師出焉。 郁，及之子； 俛，華之孫； 傳師，既濟之子也。
On the bingwu day the palace examination was held for decree examination candidates. Those who passed included Yuan Zhen, Dugu Yu, Bai Juyi of Xia Gui, Xiao Mian, and Shen Chuanshi. Dugu Yu was a son of Dugu Ji. Xiao Mian was a grandson of Xiao Hua. Shen Chuanshi was a son of Shen Jiji.
19
杜佑請解財賦之職，仍舉兵部侍郎、度支使、鹽鐵轉運副使李巽自代。 丁未，加佑司徒，罷其鹽鐵轉運使，以巽爲度支、鹽鐵轉運使。 自劉晏之-{後}-，居財賦之職者，莫能繼之。 巽掌使一年，-{征}-課所入，類晏之多，明年過之，又一年加一百八十萬緡。
Du You asked to step down from fiscal affairs and recommended Li Xun, who held the war ministry and finance posts, as his successor. On the dingwei day, Du You was made Minister of Education and relieved of the transport commission; Li Xun was appointed revenue and salt-iron commissioner. Since Liu Yan's day, no one in charge of state finances had equaled him. In Xun's first year, tax receipts nearly matched Yan's best year; the next year they exceeded it, and the year after that rose by another 1.8 million strings of cash.
20
戊申，加隴右經略使、秦州刺史劉澭保義軍節度使。
On the wushen day, Liu Huan of Longyou and Qinzhou was also appointed military governor of the Baoyi Army.
21
辛酉，以元稹爲右拾遺，獨孤郁爲左拾遺，白居易爲盩厔尉、集賢校理，蕭俛爲右拾遺，沈傳師爲校書郎。
On the xinyou day, Yuan Zhen was appointed Remonstrator of the Right, Dugu Yu Remonstrator of the Left, Bai Juyi magistrate of Zhouzhi and collator in the Hall of Assembled Worthies, Xiao Mian Remonstrator of the Right, and Shen Chuanshi proofreader.
22
稹上疎論諫職，以爲：「昔太宗以王珪、魏-{徴}-爲諫官，宴-{游}-寢食未嘗不在左右，又命三品以上入議大政，必遣諫官一人隨之，以參得失，故天下大理。 今之諫官，大不得豫召見，次不得參時政，排行就列，朝謁而已。 近年以來，正牙不奏事，庶官罷巡對，諫官能舉職者，獨誥命有不便則上封事耳。 君臣之際，諷諭-{於}-未形，籌畫-{於}-至密，尚不能回至尊之盛意，況-{於}-既行之誥令，已命之除授，而欲以咫尺之書收絲綸之詔，誠亦難矣。 -{願}-陛下時-{於}-延英召對，使盡所懷，豈可置-{於}-其位而屛棄疎賤之哉！」 頃之，-{復}-上疎，以爲：「理亂之始，必有萌象。 開直言，廣視-{聽}-，理之萌也； 甘諂諛，蔽近習，亂之象也。 自古人主即位之初，必有敢言之士，人主苟受而賞之，則君子樂行其道，競爲忠讜； 小人亦貪其利，不爲回邪矣。 如是，則上下之-{志}-通，幽遠之情達，欲無理得乎！ 苟拒而罪之，則君子巻懷括囊以保其身，小人阿意迎合以竊其位矣。 如是，則十歩之事，皆可欺也，欲無亂得乎！ 昔太宗初即政，孫伏伽以小事諫，太宗喜，厚賞之。 故當是時，言事者惟患不深切，未嘗以觸忌諱爲憂也。 太宗豈好逆意而惡從欲哉？ 誠以順-{適}-之快小，而危亡之禍大故也。 陛下踐祚，今已週歳，夫聞有受伏伽之賞者。 臣等備位諫列，曠日彌年，不得召見，毎就列位，屛氣鞠躬，不敢仰視，又安暇議得失，獻可否哉！ 供奉官尚爾，況疎遠之臣乎！ 此蓋群下因循之罪也。」 因條奏請次對百官、-{復}-正牙奏事、禁非時貢獻等十事。
Zhen submitted a memorial on the remonstrance office. He wrote, "Emperor Taizong once appointed Wang Gui and Wei Zheng as remonstrators; they were at his side at meals, on excursions, even at rest. When officials of the third rank or higher came to discuss major policy, a remonstrator always accompanied them to weigh right and wrong. That is why the realm was well governed. Today's remonstrators are rarely summoned to audience and never take part in current policy. They simply line up for court and perform obeisance—that is all. In recent years the regular court no longer hears business, and junior officials no longer have rotating audiences. Remonstrators who still perform their duty can do so only by submitting sealed memorials when an edict appointment seems wrong. Between ruler and minister, even admonition at the earliest stage and counsel in the closest confidence often cannot change the sovereign's mind. How much harder when an edict has already gone forth and an appointment already made—to recall it with a short memorial is nearly impossible. I beg Your Majesty to summon us regularly to audience in the Yanying Hall and let us speak our minds fully. How can you give us office only to ignore and marginalize us?" Shortly afterward he submitted another memorial: "At the outset of order or chaos there are always early signs. Encouraging frank speech and broadening what the ruler sees and hears—these are signs of order; indulging flattery and shutting out honest counsel—these are signs of disorder. From antiquity, new rulers have always attracted men willing to speak boldly. If the ruler welcomes and rewards them, gentlemen gladly serve with integrity and compete in honest counsel; and even petty men, seeing the reward, cease their crooked ways. Then the ruler and his officials understand one another, and even distant grievances are heard—how could order fail to follow! If the ruler rejects and punishes them, gentlemen withdraw and hold their tongues to save themselves, while petty men flatter their way into office. Then even matters ten paces away can be concealed from the throne—how could chaos fail to follow! When Taizong first took the throne, Sun Fugai remonstrated over a minor matter. Taizong was pleased and rewarded him generously. At that time memorialists worried only that they had not spoken forcefully enough; they never feared giving offense. Did Taizong prefer opposition to agreement? No—because the pleasure of having one's way is small, while the disaster of ruin is great. Your Majesty has reigned for a full year now, yet who has heard of anyone rewarded as Sun Fugai was? We remonstrators have held our posts for years without a single audience. At court we hold our breath, bow, and dare not look up—how can we discuss policy or offer counsel? If even palace attendants fare so poorly, what of officials far from the throne! This is the fault of your officials' inertia." He then listed ten recommendations, including rotating audiences for officials, restoring regular court memorials, and banning untimely tribute.
23
稹又以貞元中王伾、王叔文伎-{術}-得幸東宮，永貞之際-{幾}-亂天下，上書勸上早擇修正之士使輔導諸子，以爲：「太宗自爲蕃王，與文學淸修之士十八人居。 -{後}-代太子、諸王，雖有僚屬，日益疎賤，至-{於}-師傅之官，非眊聵廢疾不任事者，則休戎罷帥不知書者爲之。 其友諭贊議之徒，尤爲冗散之甚，搢紳皆恥由之。 就使時得僻老儒生，越月逾時，僅獲一見，又何暇傅之德義，納之法度哉！ 夫以匹士愛其子，猶知求明哲之師而教之，況萬乘之嗣，-{系}-四海之命乎！」 上頗嘉納其言，時召見之。
Zhen also cited Wang Pi and Wang Shuwen, who during the Zhenyuan era won favor in the Eastern Palace through their skills and nearly threw the realm into chaos at the Yongzhen transition. He urged the Emperor to choose upright scholars early to guide the princes, writing, "When Taizong was a frontier prince, he lived with eighteen men of learning and moral cultivation. Later princes and heirs had staffs in name, but these posts grew ever more contemptible. Tutors were either the infirm and unfit for office, or retired soldiers and dismissed generals who could not read. The companions and advisers were even more useless and contemptible; gentlemen of standing were ashamed to hold such posts. Even when some obscure old scholar was found, months might pass before he saw the prince once—how could he teach virtue or instill discipline? If a common man who loves his son seeks a wise teacher for him, how much more should the heir to the throne, on whom the fate of the realm depends!" The Emperor greatly approved his counsel and began to summon him to audience from time to time.
24
壬戌，邵王約薨。
On the renxu day, Prince Shao Yue died.
25
五月，丙子，以橫海留-{後}-程執恭爲節度使。
In the fifth month, on the bingzi day, Cheng Zhigong, acting commander of Henghai, was appointed military governor.
26
庚辰，尚書左丞、同平章事鄭-{餘}-慶罷爲太子賓客。
On the gengchen day, Grand Councilor Zheng Yuqing was removed from office and made Mentor of the Heir Apparent.
27
辛卯，尊太上皇-{后}-爲皇太-{后}-。
On the xinmao day, the Retired Empress was elevated to Empress Dowager.
28
劉-{闢}-城鹿頭關，連八柵，屯兵萬-{餘}-人以拒髙崇文。 六月，丁酉，崇文撃敗之。 -{闢}-置柵-{於}-關東萬勝堆。 戊戌，崇文遣驍將-{范}-陽髙霞寓攻奪之，下瞰關城，凡八戰皆捷。
Liu Pi fortified Lutou Pass, linked eight stockades in a chain, and garrisoned more than ten thousand men to hold Gao Chongwen at bay. In the sixth month, on the dingyou day, Gao Chongwen routed the rebel force. Liu Pi then threw up new stockades at Wansheng Mound, east of the pass. On the wuxu day, Chongwen sent his crack general Gao Xiayu of Fanyang to storm the position; from the heights above they looked down on the pass fortress, and in eight engagements won every fight.
29
加盧龍節度使劉濟兼侍中。 己亥，加平盧節度使李師古兼侍中。
Liu Ji, military governor of Lulong, was also appointed Censor-in-Chief. On the jihai day, Li Shigu of Pinglu was also made Censor-in-Chief.
30
庚子，髙崇文破劉-{闢}--{於}-德陽。 癸卯，又破之-{於}-漢州。 嚴礪遣其將嚴秦破-{闢}-衆萬-{餘}-人-{於}-綿州石碑-{谷}-。
On the gengzi day, Gao Chongwen broke Liu Pi's army at Deyang. On the guimao day, he defeated them again at Hanzhou. Yan Li dispatched his general Yan Qin, who routed more than ten thousand of Liu Pi's men at Shibei Valley in Mianzhou.
31
初，李師古有異母弟曰師道，常疎斥在外，不免貧窶。 師古私謂所親曰：「吾非不友-{於}-師道也，吾年十五擁節旄，自恨不知稼穡之艱難。 況師道-{復}-減吾數歳，吾欲使之知衣食之所自來，且以州縣之務付之，計諸公必不察也。」 及師古疾篤，師道時知密州事，好畫及觱篥。 師古謂判官髙沐、李公度曰：「迨吾之未亂也，欲有問-{於}-子。 我死，子欲奉誰爲帥乎！」 二人相顧未對。 師古曰：「豈非師道乎？ 人情誰肯薄骨肉而厚他人，顧置帥不善，則非徒敗軍政也，且覆吾族。 師道爲公侯子孫，不務訓兵理人，專習小人賤事以爲己能，果堪爲帥乎？ 幸諸公審圖之！」 閏月，壬戌朔，師古薨。 沐、公度秘不-{發}-喪，潛逆師道-{於}-密州，奉以爲節度副使。
Li Shigu had a younger half-brother named Shidao whom he habitually kept at arm's length in the provinces, leaving him in no small poverty. Shigu confided to those close to him: "It is not that I bear ill will toward Shidao. I took up the command banner at fifteen and regret that I never learned how hard it is to earn one's bread from the soil. Shidao is several years my junior besides. I mean to teach him where food and clothing come from and put the routine business of prefectures and counties in his hands—you gentlemen, I expect, will not see through the design." When Shigu's illness turned grave, Shidao was serving as administrator of Mizhou and occupied himself with painting and the bili pipe. Shigu said to his aides Gao Mu and Li Gongdu: "While my mind is still clear, I want to put a question to you. When I am gone, whom will you install as commander?" The two exchanged glances and said nothing. Shigu said, "Surely you mean Shidao? Who, after all, would slight his own kin to favor an outsider? Yet if the wrong man is made commander, he will ruin not only the army and the administration but bring our whole house to ruin. Shidao is the scion of a ducal house, yet he trains neither troops nor men and fancies himself skilled only in trifling, vulgar pastimes—is he really fit to command? I beg you to weigh this carefully!" In the intercalary month, on the first day of renxu, Li Shigu died. Gao Mu and Li Gongdu concealed the death, sent secretly for Shidao at Mizhou, and installed him as vice military governor.
32
秋，七月，癸-{丑}-，髙崇文破劉-{闢}-之衆萬人-{於}-玄武。 甲午，詔：「凡西川繼援之兵，悉取崇文處分。」
In the seventh month of autumn, on the guichou day, Gao Chongwen routed ten thousand of Liu Pi's troops at Xuanwu. On the jiawu day an edict declared: "All troops sent as reinforcements to Western Shu shall be placed entirely under Gao Chongwen's command."
33
壬寅，葬至德大聖大安孝皇帝-{於}--{豐}-陵，廟號順宗。
On the renyin day, Emperor Shunzong—posthumously titled Zhide Dasheng Da'an Xiaohuangdi—was buried at Fengling.
34
八月，壬戌，以妃郭氏爲貴妃。
In the eighth month, on the renxu day, Lady Guo was elevated to Honored Consort.
35
丁卯，立皇子-{寧}-爲鄧王，寬爲澧王，宥爲遂王，察爲深王，寰爲洋王，寮爲絳王，審爲建王。
On the dingmao day the Emperor enfeoffed his sons: Ning as Prince of Deng, Kuan as Prince of Li, You as Prince of Sui, Cha as Prince of Shen, Huan as Prince of Yang, Liao as Prince of Jiang, and Shen as Prince of Jian.
36
李師道總軍務，久之，朝命未至。 師道謀-{於}-將佐，或請出兵掠四境。 髙沐固止之，請輸兩稅，申官吏，行鹽法，遣使相繼奉表詣京師。 杜黃裳請乘其未定而分之。 上以劉-{闢}-未平，己巳，以師道爲平盧留-{後}-、知鄆州事。 堂-{後}-主書滑渙久在中書，與知樞密劉光琦相結，宰相議事有與光琦異者，令渙達意，常得所欲，杜佑、鄭絪等皆低意善視之。 鄭-{餘}-慶與諸相議事，渙從旁指陳是非，-{餘}-慶怒叱之。 未-{幾}-，罷相。 四方賂遺無虚日，中書-{舍}-人李吉甫言其專恣，請去之。 上命宰相闔中書四門搜掩，盡得其-{奸}-狀，九月。 辛-{丑}-，貶渙雷州司戸，尋賜死。 籍沒，家財凡數千萬。
Li Shidao assumed control of military affairs, but for a long while no appointment arrived from court. Shidao consulted his officers and staff; some urged raiding the neighboring territories with troops. Gao Mu firmly dissuaded him, urging instead that he remit the land and labor taxes, confirm official appointments, enforce the salt monopoly, and send a stream of envoys with memorials to the capital. Du Huangshang urged the court to move while Shidao was still unsettled and partition the command. With Liu Pi still undefeated, the Emperor on the jisi day appointed Shidao acting military governor of Pinglu and administrator of Yan Prefecture. Hua Huan, a chief clerk of the Secretariat, had long served there and was allied with Liu Guangqi of the Bureau of Military Affairs. When the chief ministers deliberated against Guangqi's wishes, Huan would carry their views to him, and they usually got their way. Du You, Zheng Yin, and others all deferred to him graciously. When Zheng Yuqing and the other chief ministers were deliberating, Huan interjected from the side to judge right and wrong; Yuqing angrily rebuked him. Before long, Zheng Yuqing was dismissed from the chancellorship. Bribes from every quarter arrived daily without fail. Li Jifu, a Secretariat drafter, denounced Huan's arbitrary conduct and asked that he be removed. The Emperor ordered the chief ministers to seal the four gates of the Secretariat and search it, uncovering the full extent of his corruption—in the ninth month. On the xinchou day, Hua Huan was demoted to registrar of Leizhou and soon afterward was ordered to take his own life. His property was confiscated; his household goods were worth tens of millions.
37
壬寅，髙崇文又敗劉-{闢}-之衆-{於}-鹿頭關，嚴秦敗劉-{闢}-之衆-{於}-神泉。 河東將阿跌光顏將兵會髙崇文-{於}-行營，愆期一日，懼誅，欲深入自贖，軍-{於}-鹿頭之西，斷其糧道，城中憂懼。 -{於}-是-{闢}-、綿江柵將李文悅、鹿頭守將仇良輔皆以城降-{於}-崇文。 獲-{闢}-婿蘇強，士卒降者萬計。 崇文遂長驅直指成都，所向崩潰，軍不留行。 辛亥，克成都。 劉-{闢}-、盧文若帥數十騎西奔吐蕃，崇文使髙霞寓等追之，及-{於}-羊灌田。 -{闢}-赴江不死，擒之。 文若先殺妻子，乃-{系}-石自沉。 崇文入成都，屯-{於}-通衢，休息士卒，市肆不驚，珍寶山積，秋毫不犯，檻劉-{闢}-送京師。 斬-{闢}-大將邢泚、館驛巡官沈衍，-{餘}-無所問。 軍府事無鉅細，命一遵韋南康故事，從容指手爲，一境皆平。
On the renyin day, Gao Chongwen again routed Liu Pi's army at Lutou Pass, while Yan Qin defeated another body of Pi's troops at Shenquan. Adie Guangyan, a Hedong general, brought his troops to Gao Chongwen's field headquarters. Having arrived one day late, he feared punishment and sought to redeem himself with a bold stroke: he camped west of Lutou and severed the rebels' supply lines, throwing the garrison into alarm. Thereupon Li Wenyu, commander of Pi's stockade at Mianjiang, and Qiu Liangfu, defender of Lutou, both surrendered their posts to Gao Chongwen. Pi's son-in-law Su Qiang was taken prisoner, and rebel soldiers surrendered by the tens of thousands. Gao Chongwen then pressed straight toward Chengdu; wherever he turned, the enemy crumbled, and his army did not slacken its march. On the xinhai day, Chengdu fell. Liu Pi and Lu Wenruo fled west toward Tibet with several dozen horsemen; Chongwen sent Gao Xiayu and others in pursuit and overtook them at Yangguantian. Liu Pi threw himself into the river but failed to drown and was taken alive. Wenruo first killed his wife and children, then weighted himself with stones and drowned. Gao Chongwen entered Chengdu and encamped in the main thoroughfare to rest his troops; the markets were undisturbed, treasures lay heaped like hills, yet not a thing was plundered. Liu Pi was placed in a cage and sent to the capital. He executed Liu Pi's senior general Xing Ci and the post-station inspector Shen Yan; beyond that, no one else was prosecuted. Great and small matters of the military government alike were ordered according to the precedent set by Wei Gao of Nankang; with unruffled ease he directed affairs at a gesture, and the whole circuit was settled.
38
初，韋皋以西山運糧使崔從知邛州事，劉-{闢}-反，從以書諫-{闢}-； -{闢}--{發}-兵攻之，從嬰城固守； -{闢}-敗，乃得免。 從，融之曾孫也。
Earlier, Wei Gao had put Cui Cong, commissioner for grain transport in the Western Mountains, in charge of Qiong Prefecture. When Liu Pi rebelled, Cong wrote to remonstrate with him; Pi sent troops against him; Cong shut the city gates and held out; when Pi was defeated, Cong was spared. Cui Cong was the great-grandson of Cui Rong.
39
韋皋參佐房式、韋-{乾}-度、獨孤密、符載、郗士美、段文昌等素服麻屨，銜土請罪。 崇文皆釋而禮之，草表-{薦}-式等，厚贐而遣之。 目段文昌曰：「君必爲將相，未敢奉-{薦}-。」 載，廬山人； 式，琯之從子； 文昌，-{志}-玄之玄孫也。
Wei Gao's staff—Fang Shi, Wei Qiandu, Dugu Mi, Fu Zai, Xi Shimei, Duan Wenchang, and others—came in white hemp and straw sandals with earth in their mouths to submit themselves for punishment. Gao Chongwen released them all and received them with courtesy, drafted a memorial recommending Fang Shi and the rest, gave them rich parting gifts, and sent them on their way. He looked at Duan Wenchang and said, "You are destined for high office as general or chief minister—I dare not presume to recommend you. Fu Zai was a native of Lushan; Fang Shi was a nephew of Fang Guan; Duan Wenchang was the great-great-grandson of Duan Zhixuan.
40
-{闢}-有二妾，皆殊色，監軍請獻之，崇曰：「天子命我討平凶豎，當以撫百姓爲先，遽獻婦人以求媚，豈天子之意邪！ 崇文義不爲此。」 乃以配將吏之無妻者。
Liu Pi had two concubines of striking beauty, and the army supervisor asked that they be sent up as tribute. Gao Chongwen said, "The Son of Heaven sent me to crush a wicked rebel; my first duty is to reassure the people. To hurry women forward as a gift of flattery—would that be the Son of Heaven's intent? On principle, Gao Chongwen would not do it." Instead he gave them in marriage to officers and clerks who had no wives.
41
杜黃裳建議-{征}-蜀及指受髙崇文方略，皆懸合事宜。 崇文素憚劉澭，黃裳使謂之曰：「若無功，當以劉澭相代。」 故能得其死力。 及蜀平，宰相入賀，上目黃裳曰：「卿之功也！」
Du Huangshang's counsel to campaign against Shu and his instructions to Gao Chongwen on strategy all proved perfectly suited to the situation. Gao Chongwen had long stood in awe of Liu Yong; Huangshang sent word to him: "If you fail to win distinction, Liu Yong will take your place. That was how he secured Gao Chongwen's utmost effort. When Shu was pacified, the chief ministers came to offer congratulations; the Emperor turned to Du Huangshang and said, "This victory is yours!"
42
辛巳，詔-{征}-少室山人李渤爲左拾遺。 渤辭疾不至，然朝政有得失，渤輒附奏陳論。
On the xinsi day an edict summoned Li Bo, the recluse of Shaoshi Mountain, to serve as Left Reminder. Li Bo pleaded illness and did not come to court, yet whenever he saw merit or fault in the administration he would submit memorials setting out his views.
43
冬，十月，甲子，易定節度使張茂昭入朝。
In the tenth month of winter, on the jiazi day, Zhang Maozhao, military governor of Yiding, arrived at court.
44
-{制}-割資、簡、陵、榮、昌、瀘六州隸東川。 房式等未至京師，皆除省寺官。 丙寅，以髙崇文爲西川節度使。 戊辰，以嚴礪爲東川節度使。 庚午，以將作監柳晟爲山南西道節度使。 晟至漢中，府兵討劉-{闢}-還，未至城，詔-{復}-遣戍梓州，軍士怨怒，，脅監軍，謀作亂。 晟聞之，疾驅入城，慰勞之，既而問曰：「汝曹何以得成功？」 對曰：「誅反者劉-{闢}-耳。」 晟曰：「-{辟}-以不受詔命，故汝曹得以立功，豈可-{復}-使它人誅汝以爲功邪？」 衆皆拜謝，請詣戍所如詔書。 軍府由是獲安。 壬午，以平盧留-{後}-李師道爲節度使。
An edict detached the six prefectures of Zi, Jian, Ling, Rong, Chang, and Lu and placed them under Dongchuan. Before Fang Shi and the others even reached the capital, they were all given posts in the central ministries and directorates. On the bingyin day, Gao Chongwen was appointed military governor of Western Shu. On the wuchen day, Yan Li was made military governor of Dongchuan. On the gengwu day, Liu Sheng, Director of Imperial Construction, was appointed military governor of Shannan West Circuit. When Liu Sheng reached Hanzhong, the prefectural troops returning from the campaign against Liu Pi had not yet entered the city when an edict arrived ordering them back to garrison Zizhou. The men grew resentful, intimidated the army supervisor, and plotted mutiny. When Liu Sheng heard of it, he galloped into the city and went among the men to comfort them; then he asked, "How was it that you won your victory?" They replied, "By putting down the rebel Liu Pi—that is all." Liu Sheng said, "Liu Pi refused the imperial command, and that is why you were able to win merit. Would you now let someone else kill you to win merit of his own?" The men all bowed in acknowledgment and asked to proceed to their garrison as the edict directed. The headquarters was thereby restored to order. On the renwu day, Li Shidao, acting military governor of Pinglu, was confirmed as military governor.
45
戊子，劉-{闢}-至長安，-{並}-族黨誅之。
On the wuzi day, Liu Pi arrived at Chang'an and was executed together with his kinsmen and followers.
46
武-{寧}-節度使張愔有疾，上表請代。 十一月，戊申，-{征}-愔爲工部尚書，以東都留守王紹代之，-{復}-以濠、泗二州隸武-{寧}-軍。 徐人喜得二州，故不爲亂。
Zhang Yin, military governor of Wuning, fell ill and memorialized the throne asking to be relieved. In the eleventh month, on the wushen day, Zhang Yin was recalled as Minister of Works and replaced by Wang Shao, garrison commander of the Eastern Capital; the prefectures of Hao and Si were again placed under the Wuning command. The people of Xu were glad to recover the two prefectures, and so no unrest broke out.
47
丙辰，以内常侍吐突承璀爲左神策中尉。 承璀事上-{於}-東宮，以-{干}-敏得幸。
On the bingchen day, the inner attendant Tuhu Chenghui was appointed Central Commander of the Left Shence Army. Chenghui had served the Emperor when he was heir in the Eastern Palace and won favor through his quick wit.
48
是歳，回鶻入貢，始以摩尼偕來，-{於}-中國置寺處之。 其法日晏乃食，食葷而不食湩酪。 回鶻信奉之，可汗或與議國事。
That year the Uyghurs sent tribute, and for the first time Manichaean priests came with them; temples were established in China to receive them. Their practice was to eat only after sunset; they ate meat but abstained from milk and curds. The Uyghurs embraced the faith, and the kaghan sometimes consulted Manichaean priests on affairs of state.
49
春，正月，辛卯，上祀圓丘，赦天下。
In the first month of spring, on the xinmao day, the Emperor sacrificed at the Circular Mound and proclaimed a general amnesty.
50
上以杜佑髙年重德，禮重之，常呼司徒而不名。 佑以老疾，請致仕。 詔令佑毎月入朝不過再三，因至中書議大政。 它日-{聽}-歸樊川。
Because Du You was advanced in years and held in high esteem, the Emperor treated him with exceptional respect, often addressing him as Minister of Works rather than by name. Du You, citing age and illness, asked to retire from office. An edict allowed Du You to attend court no more than two or three times a month, and on those occasions to come to the Secretariat to discuss major affairs of state. On other days he was free to return to his estate at Fanchuan.
51
門下侍郎、同平章事杜黃裳，有經濟大略而不修小節，故不得久在相位。 乙巳以黃裳同平章事，充河中、晉、絳、慈、隰節度使。 己酉，以戸部侍郎武元衡爲門下侍郎，翰林學士李吉甫爲中書侍郎，-{並}-同平章事。 吉甫聞之感泣，謂中書-{舍}-人裴垍曰：「吉甫流落江、淮，逾十五年，一旦蒙恩至此。 思所以報德，惟在進賢，而朝廷-{後}-進，罕所接識，君有精-{鑒}-，-{願}-悉爲我言之。」 垍取筆疎三十-{餘}-人，數月之間，選用略盡。 當時翕然稱吉甫爲得人。
Du Huangchang, Vice Minister of the Chancellery and Co-Chancellor, had a grand grasp of statecraft but little patience for small decorum, and so could not keep his seat at the helm for long. On yisi day Du Huangchang was named Co-Chancellor and sent out as military governor of Hezhong, Jin, Jiang, Ci, and Xi. On jiyou day Wu Yuanheng, Minister of Revenue, became Vice Minister of the Chancellery, and Li Jifu, Hanlin Academician, became Vice Minister of the Secretariat; both were named Co-Chancellors. When Li Jifu heard the news he wept with gratitude and said to Pei Ji, drafter of the Secretariat: "I wandered in exile along the Yangzi and Huai for more than fifteen years, and now, in a single stroke of grace, I have risen to this. The only way I can repay this debt is to advance worthy men. But among the rising officials at court I know almost no one. You have a sharp eye for talent; please tell me of everyone you would recommend." Pei Ji took up his brush and wrote out more than thirty names, and within a few months Li Jifu had appointed nearly all of them. At the time everyone agreed that Li Jifu had a gift for finding the right men.
52
二月，癸酉，邕州奏破黃賊，獲其酋長黃承慶。
In the second month, on guiyou day, Yong Prefecture reported that it had broken the Yellow Bandits and captured their chieftain Huang Chengqing.
53
夏，四月，甲子，以右金吾大將軍-{范}-希朝爲朔方、靈、鹽節度使，以右神策、鹽州、定遠兵隸焉，以革舊弊，任邊將也。
In summer, the fourth month, on jiazi day, Fan Xichao, Right Commander of the Golden Grips, was made military governor of Shuofang, Ling, and Yan, with the Right Shence Army and the Yanzhou and Dingyuan garrisons placed under him—a move meant to cure old abuses by putting the frontier in the hands of a border general.
54
秋、八月，劉濟、王士眞、張茂昭爭私隙，迭相表請加罪。 戊寅，以給事中房式爲幽州、成德、義武宣慰使，和解之。
In autumn, the eighth month, Liu Ji, Wang Shizhen, and Zhang Maozhao were at odds over private slights and kept sending memorials asking the throne to punish one another. On wuyin day Fang Shi, Supervising Secretary, was sent as pacification commissioner to Youzhou, Chengde, and Yiwu to settle their dispute.
55
九月，乙酉，密王綢薨。
In the ninth month, on yiyou day, Prince Mi, Wang Chou, died.
56
夏、蜀既平，籓鎭惕息，多求入朝。 鎭海節度使李錡亦不自安，求入朝，上許之。 遣中使至京口慰撫，且勞其將士。 錡雖署判官王澹爲留-{後}-，實無行意，屢遷行期，澹與敕使數勸諭之。 錡不悅，上表稱疾，請至歳暮入朝。 上以問宰相，武元衡曰：「陛下初即政，錡求朝得朝，求止得止，可否在錡，將何以令四海！」 上以爲然，下詔-{征}-之。 錡詐窮，遂謀反。 王澹既掌留務，-{於}-軍府頗有-{制}-置，錡益不平，密諭親兵使殺之。 會頒冬服，錡嚴兵坐幄中，澹與敕使入謁，有軍士數百噪-{於}-庭曰：「王澹何人，擅主軍務！」 曳下，臠食之； 大將趙琦出慰止，又臠食之； 注刃-{於}-敕使之頸，詬詈，將殺之。 錡陽驚，起救之。
Once the Summer Rebellion and Shu had been pacified, the regional garrisons grew cautious and quiet, and many asked to come to court. Li Qi, military governor of Zhenhai, was likewise uneasy and asked to come to court; the emperor agreed. The throne sent an imperial envoy to Jingkou to reassure him and to reward his officers and troops. Qi did appoint his aide Wang Dan acting governor, but he had no real intention of leaving and kept putting off his departure. Wang Dan and the imperial envoy repeatedly urged him to go. Displeased, Qi submitted a memorial claiming illness and asking to delay his arrival until the year's end. The emperor consulted the chancellors. Wu Yuanheng said: "Your Majesty has only just taken the throne. If Li Qi asks to come to court and may come, and asks to stay and may stay—if yes or no rests with Li Qi, how will you command the realm! The emperor agreed and issued an edict summoning him to court. With his deceptions exhausted, Li Qi then plotted rebellion. Once Wang Dan was running affairs as acting governor, he began making his own arrangements in headquarters. Li Qi grew still angrier and secretly told his personal guard to kill him. Winter uniforms were being issued. Li Qi sat in his pavilion surrounded by armed men while Wang Dan and the imperial envoy came to pay their respects. Several hundred soldiers shouted in the courtyard: "Who is Wang Dan to take command of military affairs on his own! They dragged him down, hacked his flesh to pieces, and ate it; General Zhao Qi came out to calm them, and they hacked him to pieces and ate him too; They pressed blades to the imperial envoy's neck, cursed him, and were about to kill him. Li Qi pretended to be shocked and rose to save him.
57
冬，十月，己未，詔-{征}-錡爲左-{僕}-射，以-{御}-史大夫李元素爲鎭海節度使。 庚申，錡表言軍變，殺留-{後}-、大將。 先是，錡選腹心五人爲所部五州鎭將，姚-{志}-安處蘇州，李深處常州，趙惟忠處湖州，丘自昌處杭州，髙肅處睦州，各有兵數千，伺察刺史動靜。 至是，錡各使殺其刺史，遣牙將庚伯良將兵三千治石頭城。 常州刺史顏防用客李-{雲}-計，矯-{制}-稱招討副使，斬李深，傳檄蘇、杭、湖、睦。 請同進討。 湖州刺史辛秘潛募鄕閭子弟數百，夜襲趙惟忠營，斬之。 蘇州刺史李素爲姚-{志}-安所敗，生致-{於}-錡，具桎梏釘-{於}-船舷，未及京口，會錡敗，得免。 乙-{丑}-，-{制}-削李錡官爵及屬籍。 以淮南節度使王鍔統諸道兵爲招討處置使，-{征}-宣武、義-{寧}-、武昌兵-{並}-淮南、宣歙兵倶出宣州，江西兵出信州，浙東兵出杭州，以討之。
In winter, the tenth month, on jiwei day, an edict summoned Li Qi to the capital as Left Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat and appointed Li Yuansu, Supervising Censor, military governor of Zhenhai. On gengshen day Li Qi submitted a memorial claiming a mutiny had killed the acting governor and a general. Earlier Li Qi had placed five trusted men as garrison commanders over his five prefectures: Yao Zhi'an at Suzhou, Li Shen at Changzhou, Zhao Weizhong at Huzhou, Qiu Zichang at Hangzhou, and Gao Su at Muzhou. Each commanded several thousand men and watched the prefects' every move. At this point Li Qi had each of them kill his prefect and sent staff officer Geng Boliang with three thousand troops to fortify Shitou Fortress. Yan Fang, prefect of Changzhou, took a plan from his retainer Li Yun, forged an order naming himself deputy campaign commander, executed Li Shen, and sent proclamations to Suzhou, Hangzhou, Huzhou, and Muzhou. He called on them to advance together against the rebel. Xin Mi, prefect of Huzhou, secretly raised several hundred local youths, raided Zhao Weizhong's camp by night, and beheaded him. Li Su, prefect of Suzhou, was defeated by Yao Zhi'an, taken alive to Li Qi, shackled and nailed to a boat's side. Before they reached Jingkou, Li Qi fell, and Li Su was spared. On yichou day an edict stripped Li Qi of his offices, titles, and place in the imperial clan register. Wang E, military governor of Huainan, was made overall campaign commander. Troops from Xuanwu, Yining, and Wuchang, together with forces from Huainan and Xuanshe, were to move out from Xuanzhou; Jiangxi troops from Xinzhou; Zhedong troops from Hangzhou—all to suppress him.
58
髙崇文在蜀期年，一旦謂監軍曰：「崇文，河朔一卒，幸有功。 致位至此。 西川乃宰相迴翔之地，崇文叨居日久，豈敢自安！」 屢上表稱「蜀中安逸，無所陳力，-{願}-效死邊陲。」 上擇可以代崇文者而難其人。 丁卯，以門下侍郎、同平章事武元衡同平章事，充西川節度使。
After a year in Shu, Gao Chongwen one day told the army supervisor: "I am only a soldier from Hebei who, by luck, won some merit. I have risen to this rank. The Western Circuit is where chancellors come and go; I have presumptuously held this post too long—how could I feel at ease!" He repeatedly memorialized the throne: "Shu is peaceful; I have no work worthy of me here. I wish to serve unto death on the frontier." The emperor looked for someone to replace Chongwen but found no obvious choice. On dingmao day Wu Yuanheng, Vice Minister of the Chancellery and Co-Chancellor, kept his chancellorship and was appointed military governor of the Western Circuit.
59
李錡以宣州富饒，欲先取之，遣兵馬使張子良、李奉仙、田少卿將兵三千襲之。 三人知錡必敗，與牙將裴行立同謀討之。 行立，錡之甥也，故悉知錡之密謀。 三將營-{於}-城外，將-{發}-，召士卒諭之曰：「-{僕}-射反逆，官軍四集，常、湖二將繼死，其勢已蹙。 今乃欲使吾輩遠取宣城，吾輩何爲隨之族滅！ 豈若去逆效順，轉禍爲福乎！」 衆悅，許諾，即夜，還趨城。 行立舉火鼓噪，應之-{於}-内，引兵趨牙門。 錡聞子良等舉兵，怒，聞行立應之，撫膺曰：「吾何望矣！」 跣走，匿樓下。 親將李鈞引挽強三百趨山亭，欲戰，行立伏兵邀斬之。 錡舉家皆哭，左右執錡，裹之以幕，縋-{於}-城下，械送京師。 挽強、蕃落爭自殺，屍相枕藉。 癸酉，本軍以聞。 乙亥，群臣賀-{於}-紫宸殿。 上愀然曰：「朕之不德，致宇内數有-{干}-紀者，朕之愧也，何賀之爲！」
Li Qi, seeing Xuanzhou as rich territory, wanted to take it first and sent Military Commissioners Zhang Ziliang, Li Fengxian, and Tian Shaoqing with three thousand men to strike it. The three men knew Li Qi was doomed. With staff officer Pei Xingli they plotted to turn on him and bring him down. Pei Xingli was Li Qi's nephew and therefore knew all his secret plans. The three generals camped outside the city. As they were about to march, they gathered the troops and said: "The Vice Director has rebelled. Imperial armies are closing in from every side. The commanders at Chang and Hu are already dead. His cause is already desperate. And now he wants us to march far off to take Xuancheng—why should we follow him to the destruction of our families! Would it not be better to cast off the rebel, show loyalty, and turn disaster into blessing!" The men were won over and pledged themselves. That same night they turned back and rushed the city. Pei Xingli lit signal fires and raised a clamor. Men inside answered, and he led troops toward headquarters. When Li Qi heard that Ziliang and the others had risen in arms he was furious. When he heard Pei Xingli answering from within, he beat his breast and cried: "What hope is left to me! Barefoot, he fled and hid under a stairway. His personal general Li Jun led three hundred crossbowmen to a hill pavilion to fight, but Pei Xingli's ambush cut him down. Li Qi's whole household wept. His attendants seized him, wrapped him in a curtain, lowered him from the wall by rope, and sent him to the capital in chains. Crossbowmen and tribal auxiliaries competed to kill themselves; corpses lay piled one on another. On guiyou day the local army reported the matter to the throne. On yihai day the ministers offered congratulations in the Zichen Hall. The emperor said grimly: "My virtue is wanting, and rebellion keeps breaking out across the realm. I am ashamed—what is there to congratulate?"
60
宰相議誅錡大功以上親，兵部郎中蔣乂曰：錡大功親，皆淮安靖王之-{後}-也。 淮安有佐命之功，陪陵、享廟，豈可以末孫爲惡而累之乎！ 又欲誅其兄弟，乂曰：「錡兄弟，故都統國貞之子也，國貞死王事，豈可使之不祀乎！」 宰相以爲然。 辛巳，錡從父弟宋州刺史銛等皆貶官流放。
The chancellors debated executing Li Qi's relatives within the great-grandfather mourning degree. Jiang Yi, a director in the Ministry of War, said: "Li Qi's relatives of that degree are all descendants of Prince Huai of Huai'an. Huai'an helped found the dynasty, shares the imperial tombs, and receives temple sacrifice—how can a distant descendant's crime be allowed to stain him! They also wanted to execute his brothers. Jiang Yi said: "Li Qi's brothers are sons of the late commander-in-chief Li Guozhen. Guozhen died in imperial service—how can we cut off his sacrifices! The chancellors agreed. On xinsi day Li Qian, Li Qi's paternal cousin and prefect of Songzhou, and others were demoted and exiled.
61
十一月，甲申朔，錡至長安，上-{御}-興安門，-{面}-詰之。 對曰：「臣初不反，張子良等教臣耳。」 上曰：「卿爲元帥，子良等謀反，何不斬之，然-{後}-入朝！」 錡無以對。 乃-{並}-其子師回腰斬之。
In the eleventh month, on the first day jiashen, Li Qi reached Chang'an. The emperor went to Xing'an Gate and questioned him in person. He answered: "I did not rebel at first. Zhang Ziliang and the others put me up to it." The emperor said: "You were the commander. When Ziliang and the others plotted rebellion, why did you not behead them and then come to court! Li Qi had nothing to say. Then he and his son Li Shihui were both executed by waist-slicing.
62
有司請毀錡祖考塚廟，中丞盧坦上言：「李錡父子受誅，罪已塞矣。 昔漢誅霍禹，不罪霍光； 先朝誅房遺愛不及房玄齡。 《康誥》曰：『父子兄弟，罪不相及。』 以錡爲不善而罪及五代祖乎？」 乃不毀。
The relevant offices asked to destroy Li Qi's ancestral tombs and shrines. Censor Lu Tan submitted a memorial: "Li Qi and his son have already been executed; justice has been done. In Han times Huo Yu was executed, but Huo Guang was not punished; in our own dynasty Fang Yiai was executed, but Fang Xuanling was left untouched. The Announcement to Kang says: 'Crimes do not extend from father to son or from elder brother to younger.' Are we to punish five generations of ancestors because Li Qi behaved wickedly?" The tombs and shrines were therefore spared.
63
有司籍錡家財輸京師。 翰林學士裴垍、李絳上言，以爲：「李錡僭侈，割剝六州之人以富其家，或枉殺其身而取其財。 陛下閔百姓無告，故討而誅之，今輦金帛以輸上京，恐遠近失望。 -{願}-以逆人資財賜浙西百姓，代今年租賦。」 上嘉歎久之，即從其言。
The relevant offices inventoried Li Qi's family wealth for shipment to the capital. Hanlin Academicians Pei Ji and Li Jiang submitted a memorial arguing: "Li Qi lived beyond his station and in extravagance, stripping the people of six prefectures to enrich his house, sometimes killing the innocent to seize their wealth. Your Majesty took pity on people with no recourse and therefore campaigned against him and executed him. Now to cart gold and silk to the capital would, I fear, disappoint people near and far. I beg that the rebel's assets be given to the people of western Zhejiang in place of this year's taxes and levies." The emperor praised this at length and at once accepted the proposal.
64
昭義節度使盧從史，内與王士眞、劉濟潛通，而外獻策請圖山東，擅引兵東出。 上召令還上黨，從史-{託}-言就食邢、洺，不時奉詔。 久之，乃還。
Lu Congshi, military governor of Zhaoyi, was in secret contact with Wang Shizhen and Liu Ji while outwardly urging a campaign against Shandong, and on his own authority led troops east. The emperor summoned him back to Shangdang, but Congshi claimed he was going to Xing and Ming for provisions and did not obey promptly. Only after a long delay did he return.
65
他日，上召李絳對-{於}-浴堂，語之曰：「事有極異者，朕比不欲言之。 朕與鄭絪議敕從史歸上黨，續-{征}-入朝。 絪乃洩之-{於}-從史，使稱上黨乏糧，就食山東。 爲人臣負朕乃爾，將何以處之？」 對曰：「審如此，滅族有-{餘}-矣！ 然絪、從史必不自言，陛下誰從得之？」 上曰：「吉甫密奏。」 絳曰：「臣竊聞搢紳之論，稱絪爲佳士，恐必不然。 或者同列欲專朝政，疾寵忌前，-{願}-陛下更熟察之，勿使人謂陛下信讒也！」 上良久曰：「誠然，絪必不至此。 非卿言，朕-{幾}-誤處分。」 上又嘗從容問絳曰：「諫官多謗訕朝政，皆無事實，朕欲謫其尤者一二人以儆其-{餘}-，何如？」 對曰：「此殆非陛下之意，必有邪臣欲壅蔽陛下之聰明者。 人臣死生，-{系}-人主喜怒，敢-{發}-口諫者有-{幾}-！ 就有諫者皆晝度夜思，朝刪暮減，比得上達，什無二三。 故人主孜孜求諫，猶懼不至，況罪之乎！ 如此，杜天下之口，非社稷之福也。」 上善其言而止。
Another day the emperor summoned Li Jiang to the Bath Hall and said: "There is something very strange. Lately I have not wanted to speak of it. I discussed with Zheng Yin ordering Congshi back to Shangdang and then summoning him to court. Yin then leaked this to Congshi, enabling him to claim that Shangdang lacked grain and that he was going east for provisions. For a minister to betray me like this—what am I to do with him?" Li Jiang replied: "If that is truly so, even exterminating his clan would not be too much! Yet Yin and Congshi would never confess it themselves—whom did Your Majesty hear this from?" The emperor said: "Jifu submitted a secret memorial." Li Jiang said: "I have privately heard officials praise Yin as an excellent man. I fear that cannot be so. Perhaps a colleague wishes to monopolize court affairs, envying his rival's favor. I beg Your Majesty to look into this more carefully and not let people say you trust slander!" After a long pause the emperor said: "That is true. Yin would surely not go so far. Had it not been for your words, I would almost have punished him wrongly." The emperor also once casually asked Li Jiang: "Remonstrating officials often mock court policy without factual basis. I wish to demote one or two of the worst as a warning to the rest—what do you think? He replied: "This is probably not truly Your Majesty's intent. Some evil minister must wish to block and blind your intelligence. A subject's life and death hang on the sovereign's pleasure or anger—how many would dare speak out in remonstrance! Even when remonstrances are offered, each is weighed by day and brooded over by night, trimmed in the morning and cut back in the evening. By the time they reach Your Majesty, not two or three in ten remain. A ruler who diligently seeks remonstrance still fears it will not come—how much more if he punishes it! To do this is to stop up the mouths of the realm—not a blessing for the state." The Emperor approved of his advice and desisted.
66
群臣請上尊號曰睿聖文武皇帝，丙申，許之。
The court officials asked the Emperor to adopt the honorific title Sagacious and Sage, Martial and Cultured Emperor; on the bingchen day he agreed.
67
盩厔尉、集賢校理白居易作樂府及詩百-{餘}-篇，規諷時事，流聞禁中。 上風而悅之，召入翰林爲學士。
Bai Juyi, assistant magistrate of Zhouzhi and collator at the Hall of Assembled Worthies, wrote more than a hundred yuefu poems and verses criticizing current affairs; news of them reached the Inner Palace. The Emperor heard of them and was delighted; he summoned Bai into the Hanlin Academy as an academician.
68
十二月，丙辰，上謂宰相曰：「太宗以神聖之資，群臣進諫者猶往-{複}-數四，況朕寡昧，自今事有違，卿當十論，無但一二而已。
In the twelfth month, on the bingchen day, the Emperor told the Grand Councilors: "Emperor Taizong, endowed with divine wisdom, still heard remonstrance from his ministers again and again—how much more should you speak plainly to me, who am far less capable. From now on, whenever something is wrong, remonstrate fully; do not stop at one or two objections.
69
丙寅，以髙崇文同平章事，充邠-{寧}-節度、京西諸軍都統。
On the bingyin day, Gao Chongwen was made Grand Councilor and assigned as military governor of Binning and overall commander of the Jingxi armies.
70
山南東道節度使-{于}-頔憚上英威，爲子季友求尚主。 上以皇女普-{寧}-公主妻之。 翰林學士李絳曰：「頔，虜族，季友，庶孽，不足以辱帝女，宜更擇髙門美-{才}-。」 上曰：「此非卿所知。」 己卯，公主-{適}-季友，恩禮甚盛。 頔出望外，大喜。 頃之，上使人諷之入朝謝恩，頔遂奉詔。
Yu Di, military governor of Shannan East Circuit, awed by the Emperor's authority, sought an imperial marriage for his son Jiyou. The Emperor gave his daughter, Princess Puning, to Jiyou in marriage. Hanlin academician Li Jiang said: "Di is of barbarian origin, and Jiyou is a bastard son—they are not fit to marry an imperial daughter. Your Majesty should choose a match from a distinguished house and a man of real talent." The Emperor said: "That is not for you to judge." On the jimao day the Princess was married to Jiyou, with extraordinary honors and ceremony. Di, utterly beyond his hopes, was overjoyed. Before long the Emperor sent a hint that Di should come to court to give thanks; Di then obeyed the summons.
71
是歳，李吉甫撰《元和國計簿》上之，總計天下方鎭四十八，州府二百九十五，縣千四百五十三。 其鳳翔、鄜坊、邠-{寧}-、振武、涇原、銀夏、靈鹽、河東、易定、魏博、鎭冀、-{范}-陽、滄景、淮西、淄靑等十五道七十一州不申戸口外，毎歳賦稅倚辦止-{於}-浙江東、西、宣歙、淮南、江西、鄂-{岳}-、福建、湖南八道四十九州，一百四十四萬戸，比天寶稅戸四分減三。 天下兵仰給縣官者八十三萬-{餘}-人，比天寶三分增一，大率二戸資一兵。 其水旱所傷，非時調-{發}-，不在此數。
That year Li Jifu compiled the Yuanhe Register of State Revenue and submitted it. All told, the realm had forty-eight frontier commands, two hundred ninety-five prefectures, and one thousand four hundred fifty-three counties. Setting aside the fifteen circuits and seventy-one prefectures—including Fengxiang, Zheyuan, Binning, Zhenwu, Jingyuan, Yin-Xia, Lingyan, Hedong, Yiding, Weibo, Zhenji, Fanyang, Cangjing, Huaixi, and Ziqing—that did not report household registers, the empire's annual tax revenue had to be raised from only eight circuits and forty-nine prefectures: Zhejiang East and West, Xuan-She, Huainan, Jiangxi, E-Yue, Fujian, and Hunan. That came to 1,440,000 households—three-quarters fewer than under the Tianbao tax rolls. More than 830,000 soldiers across the empire depended on the state for their upkeep—one-third more than in the Tianbao era. On average, two households had to support one soldier. Damage from flood and drought, and extraordinary levies and deployments, are not counted in these totals.
72
春，正月，癸巳，群臣上尊號曰睿聖文武皇帝； 赦天下。 「自今長吏詣闕，無得進奉。」 知樞密劉光琦奏分遣中使繼赦詣諸道，意欲分其饋遺，翰林學士裴垍、李絳奏「敕使所至煩擾，不若但附急遞。」 上從之。 光琦稱舊例，上曰：「例是則從之，苟爲非是，奈何不改！」
In spring, on the first day of the first month, the guisi day, the court offered the honorific title Sagacious and Sage, Martial and Cultured Emperor; He proclaimed a general amnesty throughout the realm. "From now on, when senior officials come to court, they must not present tribute offerings." Director of Palace Affairs Liu Guangqi proposed dispatching eunuchs in succession to carry the amnesty to the various circuits, intending to share in the gifts they would receive. Hanlin academicians Pei Ji and Li Jiang memorialized: "Wherever imperial envoys go they cause trouble—it would be better simply to send the edict by urgent relay." The Emperor agreed. Guangqi cited precedent, but the Emperor said: "If precedent is right, follow it; if it is wrong, why not change it?"
73
臨涇鎭將郝泚以臨涇地險要，水草美，吐蕃將入寇，必屯其地，言-{於}-涇原節度使段祐，奏而城之，自是涇原獲安。
Hao Zhi, commander of the Linjing garrison, argued that Linjing was strategically vital, with fine pastures and water, and that the Tibetans always encamped there before invading. He persuaded Duan You, military governor of Jingyuan, to memorialize and build a fort there; from then on Jingyuan was secure.
74
二月，戊寅，-{咸}-安大長公主薨-{於}-回鶻。 三月，回鶻騰裡可汗卒。
In the second month, on the wuyin day, the Princess Xian'an the Great Long Married died among the Uyghurs. In the third month the Uyghur Tengli Khan died.
75
癸巳，郇王總薨。
On the guisi day Prince Xun of Yun died.
76
辛亥，-{御}-史中丞盧坦奏彈前山南西道節度使柳晟，前浙東觀察使閻濟美違赦進奉。 上召坦褒慰之，曰：「朕已釋其罪，不可失信。」 坦曰：「赦令宣佈海内，陛下之大信也。 晟等不畏陛下法，奈何存小信棄大信乎！」 上乃命歸所進-{於}-有司。
On the xinhai day Chief Censor Lu Tan impeached Liu Sheng, former military governor of Shannan West Circuit, and Yan Jimei, former observation commissioner of Zhedong, for making tribute offerings in violation of the amnesty. The Emperor summoned Tan, praised and comforted him, and said: "I have already pardoned them; I cannot go back on my word." Tan said: "The amnesty has been proclaimed throughout the realm—that is Your Majesty's great pledge of faith. Sheng and the others showed no fear of Your Majesty's law—why keep a small promise and break a great one!" The Emperor then ordered their offerings returned to the appropriate offices.
77
夏，四月，上策試賢良方正直言極諫舉人，伊闕尉牛僧孺、陸渾尉皇甫湜、前進士李宗閔皆指陳時政之失，無所避； 戸部侍郎楊-{於}-陵、吏部員外郎韋貫之爲考策官，貫之署爲上第。 上亦嘉之。 乙-{丑}-，詔中書優與處分。 李吉甫惡其言直，泣訴-{於}-上，且言「翰林學士裴垍、王涯覆策。 湜，涯之甥也，涯不先言； 垍無所異同。」 上不得已，罷垍、涯學士，垍爲戸部侍郎，涯爲都官員外郎，貫之爲果州刺史。 -{後}-數日，費之再貶巴州刺史，涯貶虢州司馬。 乙亥，以楊-{於}-陵爲嶺南節度使，亦坐考策無異同也。 僧孺等久之不調，各從-{辟}--{於}-籓府。 僧孺，弘之七世孫； 宗閔，元懿之玄孫； 貫之，福嗣之六世孫； 湜，睦州新安人也。
In summer, in the fourth month, the Emperor examined candidates for Worthy, Upright, and Outspoken Extreme Remonstrance. Niu Sengru, magistrate of Yique; Huangfu Shi, magistrate of Luhun; and the former jinshi Li Zongmin all criticized current policy frankly, without holding back; Yang Yuling, vice minister of revenue, and Wei Guanzhi, vice director in the Ministry of Personnel, served as examiners; Guanzhi placed them in the top grade. The Emperor also praised them. On the yichou day an edict directed the Secretariat to grant them favorable appointments. Li Jifu resented their blunt criticism, wept and complained to the Emperor, and also said: "Hanlin academicians Pei Ji and Wang Ya reviewed the examination papers. Shi was Wang Ya's nephew, yet Ya had not disclosed this beforehand; Pei Ji raised no objection. The Emperor, having no choice, removed Pei Ji and Ya from the Hanlin Academy. Pei Ji was made vice minister of revenue, Ya vice director in the Ministry of Justice, and Guanzhi prefect of Guozhou. Several days later Guanzhi was demoted again to prefect of Bazhou, and Ya was demoted to secretary of Guozhou. On the yihai day Yang Yuling was made military governor of Lingnan—also punished for grading the examination without dissent. Sengru and the others went long without court appointments and each entered service in a frontier command. Sengru was a seventh-generation descendant of Niu Hong; Zongmin was a great-great-grandson of Li Yuanyi; Guanzhi was a sixth-generation descendant of Wei Fusi; Shi was a native of Xin'an in Muzhou.
78
丁-{丑}-，罷五月朔宣政殿朝賀。
On the dingchou day the first-day court audience and congratulations at Xuanzheng Hall in the fifth month were canceled.
79
以荊南節度使裴均爲右-{僕}-射。 均素附宦官得貴顯，爲-{僕}-射，自矜大。 嘗入朝，逾位而立； 中丞盧坦揖而退之，均不從。 坦曰：「昔姚南仲爲-{僕}-射，位在此。」 均曰：「南仲何人？」 坦曰：「是守正不交權幸者。」 坦尋改右庶子。
Pei Jun, military governor of Jingnan, was appointed Right Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat. Jun had long curried favor with eunuchs to rise in wealth and rank; as Vice Director he became insufferably proud. Once when he attended court he stood out of his proper place in the ranks; Chief Censor Lu Tan bowed and tried to move him back, but Jun refused. Tan said: "In former times, when Yao Nanyong was Vice Director, he stood here." Jun said: "Who was Nanyong?" Tan said: "A man who kept his integrity and would not consort with the powerful and favored." Before long Tan was transferred to Right Subordinate of the Heir Apparent.
80
五月，翰林學士、左拾遺白居易上疎，以爲：「牛僧孺等直言時事，恩獎登科，而更遭斥逐，-{並}-出爲關外官。 楊-{於}-陵等以考策敢收直言，裴□等以覆策不退直言，皆坐譴謫。 盧坦以數舉職事黜庶子。 此數人皆今之人望，天下視其進退以-{卜}-時之否藏者也。 一旦無罪悉疎棄之，上下杜口，衆心洶湧，陛下亦知之乎？ 且陛下既下詔-{征}-之直言，索之極諫，僧孺等所對如此，縱未能推而行之，又何忍罪而斥之乎！ 昔德宗初即位，亦-{征}-直言極諫之士，策問天旱，穆質對-{云}-：『兩漢故事，三公當免，-{卜}-式著議，弘羊可烹。』 德宗深嘉之，自畿尉擢爲左補闕。 今僧孺等所言未過-{於}-穆質，而遽斥之，臣恐非嗣祖宗之道也！」 質，-{寧}-之子也。
In the fifth month Hanlin academician and Left Remonstrance Censor Bai Juyi submitted a memorial arguing: "Niu Sengru and the others spoke frankly on current affairs, were rewarded with passing the examination, and were then driven out—all sent to posts beyond the passes. Yang Yuling and the others were punished for daring to accept frank answers in the examination; Pei Ji and the others were punished for not suppressing frank speech when reviewing the papers—all were demoted and banished. Lu Tan was demoted to Subordinate of the Heir Apparent for repeatedly doing his duty. These men are the hope of the age; the realm watches their rise and fall to read whether the times are good or ill. Yet in one stroke they were all cast aside though guiltless; above and below people fell silent, popular sentiment surged—does Your Majesty know this? Moreover, Your Majesty issued an edict calling for frank speech and extreme remonstrance; Sengru and the others answered as they did—even if you could not act on their words, how can you bear to punish and banish them! In former times, when Emperor Dezong first took the throne, he too summoned men of frank and extreme remonstrance. On an examination question about drought, Mu Zhi answered: 'In the stories of the Two Han dynasties, the Three Dukes ought to be dismissed; Bu Shi set forth his opinion, and Sang Hongyang deserved to be boiled alive. Dezong deeply praised him and promoted him from a county aide to Left Supplementation Censor. What Sengru and the others said did not go beyond Mu Zhi—yet they were suddenly banished. I fear this is not the way to follow the path of the ancestors!" Mu Zhi was a son of Mu Ning.
81
丙午，冊回鶻新可汗爲愛登裡囉汨密施合毘伽保義可汗。
On the bingwu day the new Uyghur khan was invested as Khan Aidengli Luomimisihebiqiapoai.
82
西原蠻酋長黃少卿請降。 六月，癸亥，以爲歸順州刺史。
Huang Shaoqing, chieftain of the Xiyuan tribes, offered to surrender. In the sixth month, on the guihai day, he was appointed prefect of Guishun.
83
沙陀勁勇冠諸胡，吐蕃置之甘州，毎戰，以爲前鋒。 回鶻攻吐蕃，取涼州。 吐蕃疑沙陀貳-{於}-回鶻，欲遷之河外。 沙陀懼，酋長朱邪盡忠與其子執宜謀-{復}-自歸-{於}-唐，遂帥部落三萬，循烏德犍山而東。 行三日，吐蕃追兵大至，自洮水轉戰至石門，凡數百合。 盡忠死，士衆死者大半。 執宜帥其-{餘}-衆猶近萬人，騎三千，詣靈州降。 靈鹽節度使-{范}-希朝聞之，自帥衆迎-{於}-塞上，置之鹽州，爲市牛羊，廣其畜牧，善撫之。 詔置陰山府，以執宜爲兵馬使。 未-{幾}-，盡忠弟葛勒阿波又帥衆七百詣希朝降，詔以爲陰山府都督。 自是，靈鹽毎有-{征}-討，用之所向皆捷，靈鹽軍益強。
The Shatuo were the fiercest and bravest of the northern peoples; the Tibetans stationed them at Ganzhou and used them as vanguard in every battle. The Uyghurs attacked the Tibetans and captured Liangzhou. The Tibetans suspected the Shatuo of colluding with the Uyghurs and planned to relocate them beyond the Yellow River. The Shatuo were afraid. Their chieftain Zhuye Jinzhong and his son Zhuoci plotted to return to Tang allegiance and led their tribe of thirty thousand east along Wudejian Mountain. After three days' march Tibetan pursuers caught up in force. They fought from the Tao River all the way to Shimen—several score battles in all. Jinzhong was killed, and more than half the warriors and people died. Zhuoci led the survivors—still nearly ten thousand people and three thousand horses—to Lingzhou to surrender. Fan Xichao, military governor of Lingyan, heard of it and personally led troops to meet them at the frontier. He settled them at Yanzhou, bought cattle and sheep for them, expanded their herds, and treated them kindly. An edict established Yinshan Prefecture and made Zhuoci its military commissioner. Before long Jinzhong's younger brother Gele'abo also led seven hundred men to surrender to Xichao; an edict made him governor of Yinshan Prefecture. From then on, whenever Lingyan went on campaign and employed them, they were victorious wherever they went, and Lingyan's army grew stronger.
84
秋，七月，辛已朔，日有食之。
In autumn, on the first day of the seventh month, the xinsi day, there was a solar eclipse.
85
以右庶子盧坦爲宣歙觀察使。 蘇強之誅也，兄弘在晉州幕府，自免歸，人莫敢-{辟}-。 坦奏：「弘有-{才}-行，不可以其弟故廢之，請-{闢}-爲判官。」 上曰：「向使蘇強不死，果有-{才}-行，猶可用也，況其兄乎！」 坦到官，値旱饑，-{谷}--{價}-日增，或請抑其-{價}-。 坦曰：「宣、歙土狹-{谷}-少，所仰四方之來者。 若-{價}-賤，則商船不-{復}-來，益困矣。」 既而米-{斗}-二百，商旅輻湊，民賴以生。
Lu Tan, Right Subordinate of the Heir Apparent, was made observation commissioner of Xuan-She. When Su Qiang was executed, his elder brother Su Hong was serving on the staff at Jinzhou. He resigned and returned home, and no one dared to hire him. Tan memorialized: "Hong has talent and character; he should not be discarded because of his brother's crime. I ask that he be recruited as my administrative aide." The Emperor said: "If Su Qiang had not been executed, and he truly had talent and character, he could still have been used—how much more so his elder brother!" When Tan took up his post there was drought and famine; grain prices rose daily, and some suggested forcing prices down. Tan said: "Xuan and She have little land and little grain; they depend on supplies brought in from elsewhere. If prices are kept low, merchant ships will not come, and the hardship will only grow worse." Before long rice reached two hundred cash per dou; merchants and travelers converged, and the people survived on the trade.
86
九月，庚寅，以-{於}--{于}-頔爲司空，同平章事如故； 加右-{僕}-射裴均同平章事，爲山南東道節度使。 淮南節度使王鍔入朝。 鍔家巨富，厚進奉及賂宦官，求平章事。 翰林學士白居易上言以爲：「宰相人臣極位，非淸望大功不應授。 昨除裴均，外議已紛然，今又除鍔，則如鍔之輩皆生冀望。 若盡與之，則典章大懷，又不感恩； 不與，則厚薄有殊，或生怨望。 幸門一啓，無可如何。 且鍔在鎭五年，百計誅求，貨財既足，自入進奉。 若除宰相，四方籓鎭皆謂鍔以進奉得之，競爲割剝，則百姓何以堪之！」 事遂寢。
In the ninth month, on the gengyin day, Yu Di was made Minister of Works while remaining Grand Councilor as before; Pei Jun, Right Vice Director, was made Grand Councilor and military governor of Shannan East Circuit. Wang E, military governor of Huainan, came to court. Wang E's family was immensely wealthy; he made lavish tribute offerings and bribed eunuchs, seeking the post of Grand Councilor. Hanlin academician Bai Juyi submitted a memorial arguing: "Grand Councilor is the highest office a minister can hold; it should be granted only to men of pure reputation and great achievement. When Pei Jun was appointed yesterday, criticism outside court was already loud; if Wang E is appointed now, then men like him will all be filled with hope. If all such men are granted the post, the standards of office will be greatly violated, and they will not feel grateful; If they are not granted it, favor will seem uneven, and resentment may arise. Once that gate of favor is opened, there will be no remedy. Moreover, Wang E has been in his command for five years, devising every scheme to extort wealth; once his coffers were full, he came to court in person to make tribute offerings. If Wang E is made Grand Councilor, every buffer region will conclude that he won the post through tribute offerings and will compete in plunder and exploitation. How could the common people endure it!" The matter was then dropped.
87
壬辰，加宣武節度使韓弘同平章事。
On the renchen day, Han Hong, military governor of Xuanwu, was additionally made Grand Councilor.
88
丙申，以戸部侍郎裴垍爲中書侍郎、同平章事。 上雖以李吉甫故罷垍學士，然寵信彌厚，故未-{幾}--{復}-擢爲相。 初，德宗不任宰相，天下細務皆自決之，由是裴延齡輩得用事。 上在籓邸，心固非之，及即位，選擢宰相，推心委之，嘗謂□等曰：「以太宗、玄宗之明，猶藉輔佐以成其理，況如朕不及先聖萬倍者乎！」 垍亦竭誠輔佐。 上嘗問□：「爲理之要何先？」 對曰：「先正其心。」 舊-{制}-，民輸稅有三：一曰上供，二曰送使，三曰留州。 建中初定兩稅，貨重錢輕。 是-{後}-貨輕錢重，民所出已倍其初。 其留州、送使者，所在又降省估，就實估以重斂-{於}-民。 及垍爲相，奏：「天下留州、送使物，請一切用省估。 其觀察使，先稅所理之州以自給，不足，然-{後}-許稅-{於}-所屬之州。」 由是江、淮之民稍蘇息。 先是，執政多惡諫官言時政得失，□獨賞之。 □器局峻整，人不敢-{干}-以私。 嘗有故人自遠詣之，□資給優厚，從容款狎。 其人乘間求京兆判司，垍曰：「公-{才}-不稱此官，不敢以故人之私傷朝廷至公。 它日有盲宰相憐公者，不妨得之，垍則必不可。」
On the bingshen day, Pei Ji, Vice Minister of Revenue, was made Vice Director of the Secretariat and Grand Councilor. Although the Emperor had removed Pei Ji from the Hanlin Academy because of Li Jifu, his favor and trust only deepened, and before long Pei Ji was again promoted to chancellor. Earlier, Emperor Dezong did not rely on his chancellors and decided every minor affair throughout the realm himself, which allowed men like Pei Yanling to wield power. When the Emperor was still in his princely residence, he had inwardly disapproved of this. Once he took the throne, he selected and promoted chancellors and entrusted them with his whole heart. He once told his chancellors: "Even with the brilliance of Taizong and Xuanzong, they still relied on assistants to bring their rule to completion—how much more so for one like me, who falls short of the former sages by ten thousandfold!" Pei Ji also devoted himself wholeheartedly to assisting him. The Emperor once asked Pei Ji: "In governing, what should come first?" He replied: "First rectify the heart." Under the old system, the people's tax payments fell into three categories: tribute to the capital, goods sent to imperial commissioners, and goods retained by the prefecture. When the two-tax system was established at the beginning of the Jianzhong era, goods were valued highly and cash was cheap. Afterward goods became cheap and cash dear, and what the people paid out had already doubled the original amount. As for goods retained by prefectures and those sent to commissioners, officials everywhere further lowered the official valuation and, using actual market prices, heavily levied on the people. When Pei Ji became chancellor, he submitted a memorial: "For goods retained by prefectures and sent to commissioners throughout the realm, please apply the official valuation in all cases. Observation commissioners were to tax first the prefectures they directly administered to supply themselves; only if that proved insufficient were they permitted to tax the prefectures under their jurisdiction." Because of this, the people of the Jiang and Huai regions gradually recovered. Earlier, those in power mostly disliked remonstrating officials who spoke of current policy's strengths and failings, but Pei Ji alone valued them. Pei Ji's bearing was stern and dignified; no one dared to importune him with private requests. Once an old friend came to visit him from afar; Pei Ji provided generous support and received him with easy warmth and familiarity. The man seized an opportunity to request a post as assistant magistrate of the capital district. Pei Ji said: "Your talent does not fit this office; I dare not let private friendship with an old acquaintance injure the court's supreme impartiality. If someday there is an incompetent chancellor who takes pity on you, you may still obtain it—but not from Pei Ji."
89
戊戌，以中書侍郎、同平章事李吉甫同平章事，充淮南節度使。
On the wuxu day, Li Jifu, Vice Director of the Secretariat and Grand Councilor, was confirmed as Grand Councilor and assigned military governor of Huainan.
90
河中、晉絳節度使邠宣公社黃裳薨。
Du Huangshang, Duke of Bin and military governor of Hezhong and Jin-jiang Circuits, died.
91
冬，十二月，庚戌，置行原州-{於}-臨涇，以鎭將郝下泚爲刺史。
In winter, the twelfth month, on the gengxu day, a provisional Yuan Prefecture was established at Linjing, and the garrison commander Hao Ci was made its prefect.
92
南詔王異牟尋卒，子尋閣勸立。
Yimouxun, king of Nanzhao, died, and his son Xungequan succeeded him.
93
憲宗昭文章武大聖至神孝皇帝上之上元和四年{{*|己-{丑}-，西元八〇九年}}
Emperor Xianzong — the Illustrious, Literary, Martial, Great, Sage, Supreme, Divine, and Filial — Part One Above, Year Four of Yuanhe (809 CE)
94
春，正月，戊子，簡王遘薨。
In spring, the first month, on the wuzi day, Prince Jian, You, died.
95
渤海康王-{嵩}-璘卒，子元瑜立，改元永德。
Song Lin, King Kang of Bohai, died; his son Yuanyu succeeded him and changed the era name to Yongde.
96
南方旱饑。 庚寅，命左司郎中鄭敬等爲江、淮、二浙、荊、湖、襄、鄂等道宣慰使，賑恤之，將行，上戒之曰：「朕宮中用帛一匹，皆籍其數，惟貝周救百姓，則不計費，卿輩宜識此意，勿效潘孟陽飲酒-{遊}-山而已。」
The south suffered drought and famine. On the gengyin day, Zheng Jing, Left Director of the Department of State Affairs, and others were appointed pacification commissioners for the Jiang-Huai, Two Zhe, Jing, Hu, Xiang, and E circuits to relieve the people. As they were about to depart, the Emperor admonished them: "In my palace, every bolt of silk is recorded by number; only when relieving and saving the common people do I disregard expense. You should understand this intent and not imitate Pan Mengyang, who merely drank wine and toured the mountains."
97
給事中李籓在門下，-{制}-敕有不可者，即-{於}-黃紙-{後}-批之。 吏請更連素紙，籓曰：「如此，乃狀也，何名批敕！」 裴垍-{薦}-籓有宰相器。 上以門下侍郎、同平章事鄭絪循默取容，二月，丁卯，罷絪爲太子賓客，擢籓爲門下侍郎、同平章事。 籓知無不言，上甚重之。
Li Fan, Supervising Secretary in the Chancellery, would immediately annotate any unacceptable edict on the yellow paper behind it. The clerks asked to attach fresh white paper, but Fan said: "If it were done that way, it would be a formal memorial—what would be the point of annotating an edict!" Pei Ji recommended Fan as having the makings of a chancellor. The Emperor considered Zheng Yin, Vice Director of the Chancellery and Grand Councilor, overly compliant and silent in currying favor. In the second month, on the dingmao day, Yin was removed and made Advisor to the Heir Apparent, and Fan was promoted to Vice Director of the Chancellery and Grand Councilor. Fan spoke out on everything he knew, and the Emperor greatly valued him.
98
河東節度使嚴綬，在鎭九年，軍政補署一出監軍李輔光，綬拱手而已。 裴垍具奏其狀，請以李鄘代之。 三月，乙酉，以綬爲左-{僕}-射，以鳳翔節度使李鄘爲河東節度使。
Yan Shou, military governor of Hedong, had been in his command for nine years; all military and administrative appointments came solely from the army supervisor Li Fuguang, while Shou merely folded his hands. Pei Ji fully memorialized the situation and requested that Li Yun replace him. In the third month, on the yiyou day, Shou was made Left Vice Director, and Li Yun, military governor of Fengxiang, was made military governor of Hedong.
99
成德節度使王士眞薨，其子副大使承宗自爲留-{後}-。 河北三鎭，相承各置副大使，以嫡長爲之，父沒則代領軍務。
Wang Shizhen, military governor of Chengde, died, and his son Chengzong, the vice commissioner, made himself acting military governor. The three Hebei buffer regions each established vice commissioners, appointing the eldest legitimate son; when the father died, the son would succeed to command of military affairs.
100
上以久旱，欲降德音。 翰林學士李絳、白居易上言，以爲「欲令實惠及人，無如減其租稅。」 又言「宮人驅使之-{餘}-，其數猶廣，事宜省費，物貴徇情。」 又請「禁諸道橫斂，以充進奉。」 又言「嶺南、黔中、福建風俗，多掠良人賣爲奴婢，乞嚴禁止。」 閏月，己酉，-{制}-降天下-{系}-囚，蠲租稅，出宮人，絶進奉，禁掠賣，皆如二臣之請。 己未，雨。 絳表賀曰：「乃知憂先-{於}-事，故能無憂； 事至而憂，無救-{於}-事。」
Because of the long drought, the Emperor wished to issue a benevolent edict. Hanlin academicians Li Jiang and Bai Juyi submitted memorials arguing: "If one wishes to bring real benefit to the people, nothing is better than reducing their rent and taxes." They also said: "Even after counting the palace women needed for service, their number is still large; affairs should be conducted with reduced expense, and goods should be valued according to genuine need." They also requested: "Prohibit the buffer regions from levying arbitrary exactions to supply tribute offerings." They also said: "In Lingnan, Qianzhong, and Fujian, by custom many free persons are seized and sold as slaves and bondmaids; we beg that this be strictly forbidden." In the intercalary month, on the jiyou day, an edict was issued pardoning prisoners throughout the realm, remitting rent and taxes, releasing palace women, ending tribute offerings, and forbidding abduction and sale—all as the two ministers had requested. On the jiwei day, it rained. Li Jiang submitted a congratulatory memorial, saying: "Thus one knows that if worry comes before events, one can then be without worry; if one worries only after events arrive, there is no remedy for affairs."
101
初，王叔文之黨既貶，有詔，雖遇赦無得量移。 吏部尚書、鹽鐵轉運使李巽奏：「郴州司馬程異，吏-{才}-明辨，請以爲楊子留-{後}-。」 上許之。 巽精-{於}-督察，吏人居千-{里}-之外，戰慄如在巽前。 異句檢簿籍，又精-{於}-巽，卒獲其用。
Earlier, after the faction of Wang Shuwen had been demoted and banished, an edict declared that even if an amnesty were granted, they were not to be transferred closer to the capital. Li Xun, Minister of the Civil Service and Salt and Iron Transport Commissioner, submitted a memorial: "Cheng Yi, prefectural aide of Chenzhou, is clear and discerning in administrative talent; please appoint him acting commissioner of Yangzi." The Emperor approved it. Xun was skilled at supervision and inspection; officials living a thousand li away trembled as if they stood before Xun himself. Yi examined and checked the ledgers line by line and was even more skilled than Xun; in the end he proved indispensable.
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魏-{徴}-玄孫稠貧甚，以故第質錢-{於}-人，平盧節度使李師道請以私財贖出之。 上命白居易草詔，居易奏言：「事關激勸，宜出朝廷。 師道何人，敢掠斯美！ 望敕有司以官錢贖還-{後}-嗣。」 上從之，出内庫錢二千緡贖賜魏稠，仍禁質賣。
Chou, a great-great-grandson of Wei Zheng, was extremely poor and had pawned the family's old residence. Li Shidao, military governor of Pinglu, requested to redeem it with his private wealth. The Emperor ordered Bai Juyi to draft an edict. Juyi submitted a memorial stating: "This affair concerns encouragement and reward; it should come from the court. Who is Li Shidao, that he dares seize this honor for himself! I hope Your Majesty will order the responsible offices to redeem it with official funds and restore it to his descendants." The Emperor followed his advice, disbursing two thousand strings of cash from the inner treasury to redeem and bestow the property on Wei Chou, and also forbade pawning or selling it.
103
王承宗叔父士則以承宗擅自立，恐禍及宗，與幕客劉棲楚倶自歸京師。 詔以士則爲神策大將軍。
Wang Chengzong's uncle Shize, fearing that Chengzong's unauthorized self-enthronement would bring disaster on the clan, returned to the capital together with his staff member Liu Qichu. An edict appointed Shize General of the Shence Army.
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□翰林學士李絳等奏曰：「陛下嗣膺大寶，四年-{於}-茲，而儲闈未立，典冊不行，是開窺覦之端，乖重愼之義，非所以承宗廟、重社稷也。 伏望抑手爲謙之小節，行至公之大典。」 丁卯，-{制}-立長子鄧王-{寧}-爲皇太子。 -{寧}-，紀美人之子也。
Hanlin academicians Li Jiang and others submitted a memorial, saying: "Your Majesty has succeeded to the Great Mandate, and four years have now passed, yet the heir apparent has not been established and the investiture rites have not been performed. This opens the way to covetous ambition and violates the principle of utmost caution. It is not the way to uphold the ancestral temple and honor the altars of soil and grain. We humbly hope Your Majesty will set aside the small propriety of modest refusal and carry out the great rite of impartial public duty." On the dingmao day, an edict was issued establishing the eldest son, Prince of Deng, Ning, as Crown Prince. Ning was the son of the Lady Ji.
105
辛未，靈鹽節度使-{范}-希朝奏以太原防秋兵六百人衣糧給沙陀，許之。
On the xinwei day, Fan Xichao, military governor of Ling and Salt, memorialized that six hundred autumn-defense troops from Taiyuan should be supplied with clothing and provisions for the Shatuo; this was approved.
106
夏，四月，山南東道節度使裴均恃有中人之助，-{於}-德音-{後}-首進銀器千五百-{餘}-兩。 翰林學士李絳、白居易等上言：「均欲以此嘗陛下，-{願}-卻之。」 上遽命出銀器付度支。 既而有旨諭進奏院：「自今諸道進奉，無得申-{御}-史-{台}-； 有訪問者，輒以名聞。」 白居易-{復}-以爲言，上不-{聽}-。
In summer, the fourth month, Pei Jun, military governor of Shannan East Circuit, relying on eunuch support, was the first after the benevolent edict to present more than fifteen hundred taels of silver vessels. Hanlin academicians Li Jiang, Bai Juyi, and others submitted memorials: "Jun wishes to use this to test Your Majesty; we hope it will be refused." The Emperor immediately ordered the silver vessels taken out and delivered to the Department of Revenue. Soon afterward there was an order instructing the Memorial Submission Office: "From now on, when buffer regions make tribute offerings, they must not report them to the Censorate; if anyone inquires, immediately report his name." Bai Juyi again spoke on the matter, but the Emperor did not listen.
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上欲革河北諸鎭世襲之弊，乘王士眞死，欲自朝廷除人，不從則興師討之。 裴垍曰：「李納跋扈不恭，王武俊有功-{於}-國，陛下前許師道，今奪承宗，沮勸違理，彼必不服。」 由是議久不決。 上以問諸學士，李絳等對曰：「河北不遵聲教，誰不憤歎，然今日取之，或恐未能。 成德軍自武俊以來，父子相承四十-{餘}-年，人情貫習，不以爲非。 況承宗已總軍務，一旦易之，恐未即奉詔。 又-{范}-陽、魏博、易定、淄靑以地相傳，與成德同體，彼聞成德除人，必内不自安，陰相黨助，雖茂昭有請，亦恐非誠。 所以然者，今國家除人代承宗，彼鄰道勸成，進退有利。 若所除之人得入，彼則自以爲功； 若詔令有所不行，彼因潛相交結，在-{於}-國體，豈可遽休！ 須興師四-{面}-攻討，彼將帥則加官爵，士卒則給衣糧，按兵玩寇，坐觀勝負，而勞費之病盡歸國家矣。 今江、淮水，公私困竭，軍旅之事，殆未可輕議也。」 左軍中尉吐突承璀欲希上意，奪裴垍權，自請將兵討之。 上疑未決，宗正少卿李拭奏稱：「承宗不可不討。 承璀親近信臣，宜委以禁兵，使統諸軍，誰敢不服！」 上以拭狀示諸學士曰：「此-{奸}-臣也，知騰欲將承璀，故上此奏。 卿曹記之，自今勿令得進用。」 昭義節度使盧從史遭父喪，朝廷久未起-{復}-，從史懼，因承璀説上，請-{發}-本軍討承宗。 壬辰，起-{復}-從史左金吾大將軍，-{餘}-如故。
The Emperor wished to reform the evil of hereditary succession in the Hebei buffer regions. Taking advantage of Wang Shizhen's death, he planned to appoint someone from court; if they did not obey, he would raise an army to punish them. Pei Ji said: "Li Na is arrogant and disrespectful, while Wang Wujun rendered service to the state. Your Majesty previously granted Li Shidao's request; now to deprive Chengzong of succession discourages merit and violates reason—they will surely not submit." Because of this, deliberation long remained unresolved. The Emperor asked the academicians about it. Li Jiang and others replied: "Hebei does not obey the imperial teaching—who is not indignant? Yet to take it today, I fear, may not yet be possible. The Chengde army has passed from father to son for more than forty years since Wang Wujun's time; custom has long acculturated the people, and they do not regard it as wrong. Moreover, Chengzong already commands military affairs; to replace him at once, I fear, he will not immediately obey the edict. Furthermore, Fanyang, Weibo, Yiding, and Ziqing pass their territories from hand to hand and share the same body with Chengde. When they hear that Chengde is to receive an appointee from court, they will surely be inwardly unsettled and secretly aid one another as a faction. Even if Maozhao has made a request, I fear it may not be sincere. The reason is this: if the state now appoints someone to replace Chengzong, the neighboring circuits can encourage success or failure and profit either way. If the appointee can enter, they will claim the credit for themselves; if the edict is not obeyed, they will then secretly join together—in matters concerning the body of the state, how can this be quickly ended! It would require raising armies on all four sides to attack and punish them. Their commanders would be given ranks and titles, their soldiers supplied with clothing and provisions; they would hold their troops and toy with the enemy, sitting by to watch the outcome—and the burden of toil and expense would all fall on the state. Now the Jiang and Huai regions have suffered floods, and public and private resources are exhausted; military affairs, I fear, should not be lightly discussed." Tuote Chengcui, Left Army Commandant, wished to win the Emperor's favor, seize Pei Ji's authority, and volunteered to lead troops to punish Chengzong. The Emperor was doubtful and had not decided. Li Shi, Vice Director of the Imperial Clan Court, submitted a memorial stating: "Chengzong must be punished. Chengcui is a close and trusted minister; he should be entrusted with the palace guard and made to command all the armies—who would dare not submit!" The Emperor showed Shi's memorial to the academicians and said: "This is a villainous minister. Knowing that I wish to put Chengcui in command, he submitted this memorial. You gentlemen take note of this—from now on, do not let him be promoted and employed." Lu Congshi, military governor of Zhaoyi, had suffered his father's death, and the court had long failed to grant him leave from mourning. Congshi was afraid and, through Chengcui, persuaded the Emperor to request that his own army be sent to punish Chengzong. On the renchen day, Congshi was granted leave from mourning and made General of the Left Golden Guard; the rest of his duties remained as before.
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初，平涼之盟，副無帥判官路泌、會盟判官鄭叔矩皆沒-{於}-吐蕃。 其-{後}-吐蕃請和，泌子隨三詣闕號泣上表，乞從其請。 德宗以吐蕃多詐，不許。 至是，吐蕃-{復}-請和，隨又五上表，詣執政泣請，裴垍、李籓亦言-{於}-上，請許其和。 上從之。 五月，命祠部郎中徐-{復}-使吐蕃。
Earlier, at the Pingliang alliance, Lu Bi, vice-commissioner and judge in the absence of the commander, and Zheng Shuju, alliance judge, were both captured by the Tibetans. Afterward the Tibetans requested peace. Bi's son Sui three times came to the palace gate, weeping and submitting memorials, begging that their request be granted. Emperor Dezong, considering the Tibetans deceitful, did not grant it. At this time the Tibetans again requested peace. Sui submitted five more memorials and went to the chief ministers weeping and pleading; Pei Ji and Li Fan also spoke to the Emperor, requesting that peace be granted. The Emperor followed their advice. In the fifth month, Xu Fu of the Ministry of Rites was sent as envoy to Tibet.
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六月，以靈鹽節度使-{范}-希朝爲河東節度使。 朝議以沙陀在靈武，迫近吐蕃，慮其反覆，又部落衆多，恐長-{谷}--{價}-，乃命悉從希朝詣河東。 希朝選其驍騎千二百，號沙陀軍，置使以領之，而處其-{餘}-衆-{於}-定襄川。 -{於}-是朱邪執宜始保神武川之黃花堆。
In the sixth month, Fan Xichao was transferred from Ling-Salt to military governor of Hedong. The court held that with the Shatuo at Lingwu, near Tibet, they might prove unreliable; their tribes were also numerous, and officials feared they would only grow stronger and costlier—so the whole group was ordered to move east with Xichao to Hedong. Xichao chose twelve hundred of their best horsemen as the Shatuo Army under a dedicated commander, and resettled the rest of the tribe along the Dingsiang River. From this time Zhuye Zhigong made his base at Huanghua Mound on the Shenwu River.
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左軍中尉吐突承璀領功德使，盛修安國寺，奏立聖德碑，髙大一准《華-{岳}-碑》，先構碑樓，請敕學士撰文，且言「臣已具錢萬緡，欲酬之。」 上命李絳爲之，絳上言：「堯、舜、禹、湯，未嘗立碑自言聖德，惟秦始皇-{於}-巡-{遊}-所過，刻石髙自稱述，未審陛下欲何所法！ 且敘修寺之美，不過壯麗觀-{游}-，豈所以光益聖德！」 上覽奏，承璀-{適}-在旁，上命曳倒碑樓。 承璀言：「碑樓甚大，不可曳，請徐毀撤。」 冀得延引，乘間再論。 上厲聲曰：「多用牛曳之！」 承璀乃不敢言。 凡用百牛曳之，乃倒。
Left Army Commandant Tuhu Chenghui, as merit commissioner, lavishly rebuilt Anguo Temple and asked to erect a "stele of sagely virtue" as tall as the Hua Yue stele. He built the pavilion first and requested an imperial order for a scholar to write the inscription, adding that he had prepared ten thousand strings of cash as payment. The Emperor ordered Li Jiang to compose the text. Jiang objected: "Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang never set up steles boasting of their own virtue. Only the First Emperor of Qin carved self-praise on stone wherever he traveled—which precedent does Your Majesty mean to follow? And praising the splendor of a temple restoration is merely glorifying a sightseeing attraction—how does that enhance your sacred virtue?" When the Emperor read the memorial, Chenghui happened to be present. The Emperor ordered the stele pavilion torn down at once. Chenghui said, "The pavilion is too large to pull down. Please let it be dismantled slowly." He hoped to delay matters and find another chance to press his case. The Emperor snapped, "Use as many oxen as it takes—pull it down!" Chenghui dared say no more. A hundred oxen were hitched to it before the pavilion finally came down.
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CATEGORY:資治通鑑
CATEGORY: Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance