1
資治通鑑第240卷
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 240.
2
【唐紀五十六】起強圉作噩，盡屠維大淵獻正月，凡二年有奇。
[Tang Records 56] From Qiangyu Zuo'e through the first month of Tuwei Dayuanxian—a span of slightly more than two years.
3
憲宗昭文章武大聖至神孝皇帝中之下元和十二年（ 丁酉，公元八一七年）
Middle section, lower part, of the reign of Emperor Xianzong—the Illustrious, Cultured, Martial, Great, Sagely, and Divine Filial Emperor—Yuanhe year 12 ( dingyou, corresponding to the year 817 CE).
4
春，正月，甲申，貶袁滋為撫州刺史。
In spring, the first month, on the day jiashen, Yuan Zi was demoted to prefect of Fuzhou.
5
李愬至唐州，軍中承喪敗之餘，士卒皆憚戰，愬知之。 有出迓者，愬謂之曰：「天子知愬柔懦，能忍恥，故使來拊循爾曹。 至於戰攻進取，非吾事也。」 眾信而安之。 愬親行視，士卒傷病者存恤之，不事威嚴。 或以軍政不肅為言，愬曰：「吾非不知也。 袁尚書專以恩惠懷賊，賊易之，聞吾至，必增備，故吾示之以不肅。 彼必以吾為懦而懈惰，然後可圖也。」 淮西人自以嘗敗高、袁二帥，輕愬名位素微，遂不為備。
When Li Su reached Tang Prefecture, the army was still reeling from defeat, and every soldier dreaded fighting—Su understood this well. When men came out to greet him, Su told them, "The Son of Heaven knows I am mild and timid, able to bear humiliation—that is why he sent me to comfort and reassure you. As for fighting, storming positions, and driving forward—that is not my business." The men believed him and settled down. Su went among the ranks himself, tending the wounded and sick, and made no display of harsh discipline. When some complained that military discipline was slack, Su said, "I am not unaware of that. Minister Yuan tried to win the rebels over with kindness alone, and they took him lightly. When they hear I have arrived, they will certainly brace themselves—so I let them see slack discipline. They are sure to think me timid and let their guard down—only then can we strike." The Huaixi rebels, having already routed commanders Gao and Yuan, despised Su for his modest rank and reputation—and so they took no precautions.
6
遣鹽鐵轉運副使程異督財賦於江、淮。
Cheng Yi, vice commissioner for salt and iron transport, was dispatched to supervise revenues along the Yangtze and Huai.
7
回鶻屢請尚公主，有司計其費近五百萬緡，時中原方用兵，故上未之許。 二月，辛卯朔，遣回鶻摩尼僧等歸國，命宗正少卿李誠使回鶻諭意，以緩其期。
The Uyghurs had repeatedly asked for an imperial princess; the ministries estimated the cost at nearly five million strings of cash. With the heartland still at war, the emperor held off granting the request. In the second month, on the first day xinmao, Uyghur Manichaean monks and others were sent home, and Li Cheng of the Imperial Clan Office was dispatched to the Uyghurs to explain the court's position and stall for time.
8
李愬謀襲蔡州，表請益兵，詔以昭義、河中、鄜坊步騎二千給之。 丁酉，愬遣十將馬少良將十餘騎巡邏，遇吳元濟捉生虞候丁士良，與戰，擒之。 士良，元濟驍將，常為東邊患，眾請刳其心，愬許之。 既而召詰之，士良無懼色。 愬曰：「真丈夫也！」 命釋其縛。 士良乃自言：「本非淮西士，貞元中隸安州，與吳氏戰，為其所擒，自分死矣。 吳氏釋我而用之，我因吳氏而再生，故為吳氏父子竭力。 昨日力屈，復為公所擒，亦分死矣。 今公又生之，請盡死以報德！」 愬乃給其衣服器械，署為捉生將。
Li Su planned a surprise strike on Caizhou and memorialized for more troops; the court ordered two thousand foot and horse from Zhaoyi, Hezhong, and Zhengfang sent to him. On dingyou, Su sent Ten General Ma Shaoliang with a little more than ten horsemen on patrol; they met Wu Yuanji's captive-taking inspector Ding Shiliang, fought him, and took him prisoner. Shiliang was one of Yuanji's fiercest generals and had long terrorized the eastern front; the men demanded his heart cut out, and Su consented. Su then summoned and questioned him; Shiliang showed not a trace of fear. Su said, "You are a true man! He ordered his bonds cut. Shiliang then spoke freely: "I was never a native of Huaixi. In the Zhenyuan era I served An Prefecture, fought the Wu clan, was captured, and expected to die. The Wu clan spared me and took me into their service; they gave me a second life, and so I gave father and son Wu my utmost. Yesterday my strength gave out and you captured me again—I am ready to die once more. Now you spare me again—let me devote my life to repaying your grace!" Su then gave him clothing and arms and appointed him commander of captive-taking.
9
己亥，淮西行營奏克蔡州古葛伯城。
On jihai, the Huaixi campaign headquarters reported the capture of Gugebo City in Caizhou.
10
丁士良言於李愬曰：「吳秀琳擁三千之眾，據文城柵，為賊左臂，官軍不敢近者，有陳光洽為之謀主也。 光洽勇而輕，好自出戰，請為公先擒光洽，則秀琳自降矣。」 戊申，士良擒光洽以歸。
Ding Shiliang told Li Su, "Wu Xiulin holds three thousand men at Wencheng palisade—the rebels' left arm. Government troops dare not come near because Chen Guangqia is his strategist. Guangqia is brave but reckless and likes to fight in person himself. Let me take Guangqia first, and Xiulin will surrender on his own." On wushen, Shiliang captured Guangqia and brought him back.
11
鄂岳觀察使李道古引兵出穆陵關。 甲寅，攻申州，克其外郭，進攻子城。 城中守將夜出兵擊之，道古之眾驚亂，死者甚眾。 道古，皋之子也。
Li Daogu, observation commissioner of E and Yue, led troops out through Muling Pass. On jiayin he attacked Shen Prefecture, took the outer wall, and pressed on against the inner citadel. The garrison commander sallied by night; Daogu's troops panicked and broke, and a great many were killed. Daogu was the son of Li Gao.
12
淮西被兵數年，竭倉廩以奉戰士，民多無食，採菱芡魚鱉鳥獸食之，亦盡，相帥歸官軍者前後五千餘戶。 賊亦患其耗糧食，不復禁。 庚申，敕置行縣以處之，為擇縣令，使之撫養，並置兵以衛之。
Huaixi had been at war for years, draining its granaries to feed its soldiers. Many civilians went hungry, living on water chestnuts, gorgon nuts, fish, turtles, birds, and game until even those were exhausted. In waves, more than five thousand households made their way back to the imperial army. The rebels, worried about the drain on their food supply, stopped trying to prevent it. On gengshen an edict established field counties to receive them, appointed magistrates to care for them, and stationed troops for their protection.
13
三月，乙丑，李愬自唐州徙屯宜陽柵。
In the third month, on yichou, Li Su shifted his camp from Tang Prefecture to Yiyang palisade.
14
郗士美敗於柏鄉，拔營而歸，士卒死者千餘人。
Xi Shimei was defeated at Baixiang, broke camp and retreated, and lost more than a thousand soldiers.
15
戊辰，賜程執恭名權。
On wuchen, Cheng Zhigong was granted the personal name Quan.
16
戊寅，王承宗遣兵二萬入東光，斷白橋路。 程權不能御，以眾歸滄州。
On wuyin, Wang Chengzong sent twenty thousand troops into Dongguang and severed the Baiqiao road. Cheng Quan could not hold them off and withdrew with his troops to Cangzhou.
17
吳秀琳以文城柵降於李愬。 戊子，愬引兵至文城西五里，遣唐州刺史李進誠將甲士八千至城下，召秀琳，城中矢石如雨，眾不得前。 進誠還報：「賊偽降，未可信也。」 愬曰：「此待我至耳。」 即前至城下，秀琳束兵投身馬足下，愬撫其背慰勞之，降其眾三千人。 秀琳將李憲有材勇，愬更其名曰忠義而用之，悉遷婦女於唐州，入據其城。 於是唐、鄧軍氣復振，人有欲戰之志。 賊中降者相繼於道，隨其所便而置之。 聞有父母者，給粟帛遣之，曰：「汝曹皆王人，勿棄親戚。」 眾皆感泣。
Wu Xiulin surrendered Wencheng palisade to Li Su. On wuzi, Su marched to a point five li west of Wencheng and sent Tang Prefecture prefect Li Jincheng with eight thousand armored men to the walls to summon Xiulin. Arrows and stones poured from the city like rain, and the troops could not advance. Jincheng returned and reported, "The rebels are feigning surrender—it cannot be trusted." Su said, "They are only waiting for me to arrive." He rode straight to the walls. Xiulin bound up his weapons and threw himself at the foot of Su's horse. Su patted his back and comforted him, and accepted the surrender of three thousand men. Xiulin's general Li Xian was talented and brave; Su renamed him Zhongyi and put him to use, moved all the women to Tang Prefecture, and occupied the city. The Tang and Deng armies' morale revived, and the men were eager to fight again. Rebel deserters came in one after another along the roads, and Su stationed them wherever it suited. When he learned any had parents living, he gave them grain and cloth and sent them home, saying, "You are all the emperor's people—do not abandon your families." All were moved to tears.
18
官軍與淮西兵夾殷水而軍，諸軍相顧望，無敢渡殷水者。 陳許兵馬使王沛先引兵五千渡涼水，據要地為城，於是河陽、宣武、河東、魏博等軍相繼皆度，進逼郾城。 丁亥，李光顏敗淮西兵三萬於郾城，走其將張伯良，殺士卒什二三。
Imperial and Huaixi forces faced each other across the Yin River; the various armies hung back, and none dared cross. Wang Pei, horse commissioner of Chen and Xu, first led five thousand men across the Liangshui and fortified a key position. Then the armies of Heyang, Xuanwu, Hedong, Weibo, and others crossed in turn and advanced on Yancheng. On dinghai, Li Guangyan routed thirty thousand Huaixi troops at Yancheng, drove off their general Zhang Boliang, and killed perhaps a tenth or two of their men.
19
己丑，李愬遣山河十將董少玢等分兵攻諸柵。 其日，少玢下馬鞍山，拔路口柵。 夏，四月，辛卯，山河十將馬少良下碴岈山，擒淮西將柳子野。
On jichou, Li Su sent the Ten Generals, including Dong Shaobin, to divide their forces and attack the various palisades. That same day Shaobin took Ma'anshan and seized Lukou palisade. In summer, the fourth month, on xinmao, Ten General Ma Shaoliang took Chayashan and captured the Huaixi general Liu Ziye.
20
吳元濟以蔡人董昌齡為郾城令，質其母楊氏。 楊氏謂昌齡曰：「順死賢於逆生，汝去逆而吾死，乃孝子也； 從逆而吾生，是戮吾也。」 會官軍圍青陵，絕郾城歸路，郾城守將鄧懷金謀於昌齡，昌齡勸之歸國，懷金乃請降於李光顏曰：「城人之父母妻子皆在蔡州，請公來攻城，吾舉烽求救，救兵至，公逆擊之，蔡兵必敗，然後吾降，則父母妻子庶免矣。」 光顏從之。 乙未，昌齡、懷金舉城降，光顏引兵入據之。 吳元濟聞郾城不守，甚懼。 時董重質將騾軍守洄曲，元濟悉發親近及守城卒詣重質以拒之。
Wu Yuanji appointed Dong Changling of Cai as magistrate of Yancheng and held his mother, Lady Yang, as hostage. Lady Yang told Changling, "To die loyal is better than to live in rebellion. If you leave the rebels and I die, you will have acted as a filial son; if you follow the rebels and I live, you will have killed me." When the imperial army besieged Qingling and cut off Yancheng's line of retreat, garrison commander Deng Huaijin consulted Changling, who urged him to rejoin the empire. Huaijin then offered to surrender to Li Guangyan, saying, "The townspeople's parents, wives, and children are all in Caizhou. Please attack the city, and I will raise beacon fires for help. When relief arrives, strike them from behind—the Cai troops will surely break—and then I will surrender, so our families may be spared." Guangyan agreed. On yiwei, Changling and Huaijin surrendered the entire city, and Guangyan marched in to occupy it. When Wu Yuanji learned Yancheng had fallen, he was deeply alarmed. Dong Chongzhi then held Huaiqu with the mule army; Yuanji sent out all his intimates and city garrison troops to Chongzhi to meet the threat.
21
李殷山河十將媯雅、田智榮下冶爐城。 丙申，十將閻士榮下白狗、汶港二柵。 癸卯，媯雅、田智榮破西平。 丙午，游弈兵馬使王義破楚城。 五月，辛酉，李愬遣柳子野、李忠義襲郎山，擒其守將梁希果。
Li Su ordered Ten Generals Gui Ya and Tian Zhirong to take Yelü Fort. On bingshen, Ten General Yan Shirong took the Baigou and Wengang palisades. On guimao, Gui Ya and Tian Zhirong stormed Xiping. On bingwu, roaming patrol horse commissioner Wang Yi took Chucheng. In the fifth month, on xinyou, Li Su sent Liu Ziye and Li Zhongyi to raid Langshan and captured garrison commander Liang Xiguo.
22
六鎮討王承宗者兵十餘萬，迴環數千里，既無統帥，又相去運，期約難壹，由是歷二年無功，千里饋運，牛驢死者什四五。 劉總既得武強，引兵出境才五里，留屯不進，月給度支錢十五萬緡。 李逢吉及朝士多言「宜並力先取淮西。 俟淮西平，乘其勝勢，回取恆冀，如拾芥耳！」 上猶豫，久乃從之。 丙子，罷河北行營，各使還鎮。
The six circuits campaigning against Wang Chengzong fielded more than a hundred thousand men spread across thousands of li. With no supreme commander and their camps far apart, they could not keep a single timetable—and so two years passed without success. On supply lines stretching a thousand li, perhaps forty or fifty percent of the draft animals died. After Liu Zong took Wuqiang, he marched only five li beyond the border, then halted and went no farther—while drawing one hundred fifty thousand strings of cash a month from the treasury. Li Fengji and many at court kept saying, "We ought to concentrate our forces and take Huaixi first. Once Huaixi is pacified, we can ride that victory to sweep up Heng and Ji—it will be as easy as picking up a mustard seed!" The emperor hesitated, but in time he agreed. On bingzi the Hebei campaign headquarters was dissolved and each force sent back to its home circuit.
23
丁丑，李愬遣方城鎮遏使李榮宗擊青喜城，拔之。 愬每得降卒，必親引問委曲，由是賊中險易遠近虛實盡知之。 愬厚待吳秀琳，與之謀取蔡。 秀琳曰：「公欲取蔡，非得李祐不可，秀琳無能為也。」 祐者，淮西騎將，有勇略，守興橋柵，常陵暴官軍。 庚辰，祐帥士卒刈麥於張柴村，愬召廂虞候史用誠，戒之曰：「爾以三百騎伏彼林中，又使人搖幟於前，若將焚其麥積者。 祐素易官軍，必輕騎來逐之，爾乃發騎掩之，必擒之。」 用誠如言而往，生擒祐以歸。 將士以祐向日多殺官軍，爭請殺之。 愬不許，釋縛，待以客禮。 時愬欲襲蔡，而更密其謀，獨召祐及李忠義屏人語，或至夜分，他人莫得預聞。 諸將恐祐為變，多諫愬。 愬待祐益厚。 士卒亦不悅，諸軍日有牒稱祐為賊內應，且言得賊謀者具言其事。 愬恐謗先達於上，己不及救，乃持祐泣曰：「豈天不欲平此賊邪！ 何吾二人相知之深而不能勝眾口也。」 因謂眾曰：「諸君既以祐為疑，請令歸死於天子。」 乃械祐送京師，先密表其狀，且曰：「若殺祐，則無以成功。」 詔釋之，以還愬。 愬見之喜，執其手曰：「爾之得全，社稷之靈也！」 乃署散兵馬使，令佩刀巡警，出入帳中。 或與之同宿，密語不寐達曙，有竊聽於帳外者，但聞祐感泣聲。 時唐、隨牙隊三千人，號六院兵馬，皆山南東道之精銳也。 愬又以祐為六院兵馬使。 舊軍令，捨賊諜者屠其家。 愬除其令，使厚待之。 諜反以情告愬，愬益知賊中虛實。 乙酉，愬遣兵攻朗山，淮西兵救之，官軍不利。 眾皆悵恨，愬獨歡然曰：「此吾計也！」 乃募敢死士三千人，號曰突將，朝夕自教習之，使常為行備，欲以襲蔡。 會久雨，所在積水，未果。
On dingchou, Li Su sent Fangcheng suppression commissioner Li Rongzong against Qingxi Fort and took it. Whenever Su took prisoners, he questioned them himself in detail—until he knew every strong point, weak point, distance, and ruse in the rebel camp. Su treated Wu Xiulin generously and plotted with him how to take Cai. Xiulin said, "If you mean to take Cai, you cannot do it without Li You—I can do nothing for you there." You was a Huaixi cavalry commander—brave and shrewd—who held Xingqiao palisade and often ravaged the imperial forces. On gengchen, You led his men to harvest wheat at Zhangchai Village. Su summoned adjutant Shi Yongcheng and instructed him, "Take three hundred horsemen and lie in the woods yonder. Send men to wave banners in front as if you mean to burn their wheat stacks. You has always despised the imperial army and will surely ride out lightly in pursuit. Then strike with your cavalry from cover—you are sure to take him." Yongcheng did as he was told and brought You back alive. The officers and men, remembering how many imperial soldiers You had killed, clamored to put him to death. Su refused, cut his bonds, and received him with the courtesy due a guest. Su was planning a surprise on Cai and kept his design still more secret. He spoke with only You and Li Zhongyi behind closed doors, sometimes until midnight, and no one else was allowed to know. The generals feared You might turn on them and many urged Su against trusting him. Su treated You all the more generously. The rank and file were unhappy too; day after day the armies sent petitions calling You a rebel spy inside the camp, and men who claimed to have seized rebel plans laid out the case in detail. Su feared the slander would reach the throne before he could act; he took You's hand and wept, saying, "Does Heaven not wish these rebels destroyed! Why, when you and I understand each other so well, can we not prevail against the crowd!" He then told the men, "Since you all suspect You, let him go back to answer for his life before the Son of Heaven." He had You shackled and sent to the capital, having first memorialized the emperor in secret, saying, "If You is killed, the campaign cannot succeed." An edict ordered him released and sent back to Su. When Su saw him he rejoiced, took his hand, and said, "That you were spared is the blessing of the realm!" He appointed him irregular horse commissioner, armed him with a sword for patrol duty, and let him come and go in the command tent. Some shared his tent; he spoke with You in secret through the night until dawn. Men who listened outside heard only You weeping. The Tang and Sui tooth corps of three thousand men—the Six Courtyard horse and foot—were the elite of Shannan East Circuit. Su also appointed You commissioner of the Six Courtyard horse and foot. Under the old army law, anyone who sheltered rebel spies had his entire household executed. Su abolished that rule and ordered them treated generously instead. The spies in turn brought Su intelligence, and he learned ever more of what was real and what was sham in the rebel camp. On yiyou, Su sent troops against Langshan; Huaixi forces relieved it, and the imperial army was beaten back. The men were bitterly disappointed, but Su alone said cheerfully, "This is exactly what I intended! He then recruited three thousand dare-to-die warriors, called them Shock Generals, and drilled them morning and evening himself, keeping them ready to march—he meant to strike Cai. But prolonged rains left standing water everywhere, and the plan had to wait.
24
閏月，己亥，程異還自江、淮，得供軍錢百八十五萬緡。
In the intercalary month, on jihai, Cheng Yi returned from the Yangtze and Huai with one million eight hundred fifty thousand strings of cash for the army.
25
諫議大夫韋綬兼太子侍讀，每以珍膳餉太子，又悅太子以諧謔。 上聞之，丁未，罷綬侍讀，尋出為虔州刺史。 綬，京兆人也。
Wei Shou, remonstrance and counsel grandee and reader to the crown prince, often sent the prince rare delicacies and amused him with wit and banter. When the emperor heard of it, on dingwei he removed Shou as reader and soon sent him out as prefect of Qianzhou. Shou was a native of Jingzhao.
26
吳元濟見其下數叛，兵勢日蹙，六月，壬戌，上表謝罪，願束身自歸。 上遣中使賜詔，許以不死，而為左右及大將董重質所制，不得出。
Seeing his men defect one after another and his position tighten daily, Wu Yuanji memorialized in the sixth month on renxu begging pardon and offering to surrender himself. The emperor sent a palace envoy with an edict promising his life, but his intimates and the great general Dong Chongzhi held him in check and he could not leave.
27
秋，七月，大水，或平地二丈。
In autumn, the seventh month, catastrophic floods—in places the water stood two zhang deep on level ground.
28
初，國子祭酒孔戣為華州刺史，明州歲貢蚶、蛤、淡菜，水陸遞夫勞費，戣奏疏罷之。 甲辰，嶺南節度使崔詠薨，宰相奏擬代詠者數人，上皆不用，曰：「頃有諫進蚶、蛤、淡菜者為誰，可求其人與之。」 庚戌，以戣為嶺南節度使。
Earlier, Kong Kan of the Imperial Academy, while serving as prefect of Hua, had memorialized to end Ming Prefecture's annual tribute of oysters, clams, and mussels—the relay costs by land and water were ruinous. On jiachen, Lingnan military governor Cui Yong died. The chief ministers proposed several successors, but the emperor rejected them all, saying, "Who was it that remonstrated against the oyster, clam, and mussel tribute? Find him and give him the post." On gengxu, Kan was appointed military governor of Lingnan.
29
諸軍討淮西，四年不克，饋運疲弊，民至有以驢耕者。 上亦病之，以問宰相。 李逢吉等競言師老財竭，意欲罷兵。 裴度獨無言，上問之，對曰：「臣請自往督戰。」 乙卯，上復謂度曰：「卿真能為朕行乎？」 對曰：「臣誓不與此賊俱生！ 臣比觀吳元濟表，勢實窘蹙，但諸將心不壹，不並力迫之，故未降耳。 若臣自詣行營，諸將恐臣奪其功，必爭進破賊矣。」 上悅，丙戌，以度為門下侍郎、同平章事、兼彰義節度使，仍充淮西宣慰招討處置使。 又以戶部侍郎崔群為中書侍朗、同平章事。 制下，度以韓弘已為都統，不欲更為招討，請但稱宣慰處置使，仍奏刑部侍郎馬總為宣慰副使，右庶子韓愈為彰義行軍司馬，判官、書記皆朝廷之選，上皆從之。 度將行，言於上曰：「臣若賊滅，則朝天有期； 賊在，則歸闕無日。」 上為之流涕。 八月，庚申，度赴淮西，上御通化門送之。 右神武將軍張茂和，茂昭弟也，嘗以膽略自衒於度。 度表為都押牙，茂和辭以疾，度奏請斬之。 上曰：「此忠順之門，為卿遠貶。」 辛酉，貶茂和永州司馬。 以嘉王傅高承簡為都押牙。 承簡，崇文之子也。
For four years the armies against Huaixi had failed to win; supply lines were exhausted, and peasants were reduced to plowing with donkeys. The emperor was troubled too and asked his chief ministers. Li Fengji and others argued that the army was exhausted and the treasury drained, and pressed to end the war. Pei Du alone said nothing. When the emperor asked him, he replied, "I ask to go in person to oversee the fighting." On yimao, the emperor asked Du again, "Can you truly go for me?" He answered, "I swear I shall not live while these rebels live! I have lately read Wu Yuanji's memorials—he is truly cornered. Only the generals are not of one mind and do not press him together, and that is why he has not surrendered. If I go to the front myself, the generals will fear I mean to steal their glory and will vie to smash the rebels." The emperor was pleased. On bingxu he made Du vice director of the Secretariat, chief minister, and concurrent Zhangyi military governor, and appointed him Huaixi pacification, campaign, and disposition commissioner. Households vice minister Cui Qun was also made Secretariat attendant and fellow chief minister. When the edict was issued, Du noted that Han Hong was already supreme commander and asked to be styled only pacification and disposition commissioner. He memorialized Punishments vice minister Ma Zong as his deputy, right censor's son Han Yu as Zhangyi campaign marshal, and named court men as aides and secretaries—the emperor approved all. As Du prepared to leave, he told the emperor, "If I destroy the rebels, I shall have a day to face you again; while they remain, I shall never return to court." The emperor wept. In the eighth month, on gengshen, Du set out for Huaixi; the emperor saw him off at Tonghua Gate. Right Divine Martial general Zhang Maohe, younger brother of Maozhao, had once boasted to Du of his courage and skill. Du memorialized to make him chief military aide; Maohe pleaded illness, and Du memorialized asking that he be executed. The emperor said, "This is a loyal house—for your sake I will banish him far instead." On xinyou, Maohe was demoted to assistant magistrate of Yongzhou. Prince of Jia tutor Gao Chengjian was made chief military aide. Chengjian was the son of Gao Chongwen.
30
李逢吉不欲討蔡，翰林學士令狐楚與逢吉善，度恐其合中外之勢以沮軍事，乃請改制書數字，且言其草制失辭。 壬戌，罷楚為中書舍人。
Li Fengji opposed the campaign against Cai; Hanlin academician Linghu Chu was his ally. Du feared they would combine court and field influence to obstruct the war and asked to alter several characters in the edict, charging that Chu's draft was faulty. On renxu, Chu was demoted to Secretariat drafter.
31
李光顏、烏重胤與淮西戰，癸亥，敗於賈店。
Li Guangyan and Wu Chongyin fought the Huaixi army and on guihai were defeated at Jiadian.
32
裴度過襄城南白草原，淮西人以驍騎七百邀之。 鎮將楚丘曹華知而為備，擊卻之。 度雖辭招討名，實行無帥事，以郾城為治所。 甲申，至郾城。 先是，諸道皆有中使監陳，進退不由主將，勝則先使獻捷，不利則陵挫百端。 度悉奏去之，諸將始得專軍事，戰多有功。
As Pei Du crossed the White Grass Plain south of Xiangcheng, seven hundred Huaixi horsemen ambushed him. Garrison commander Cao Hua of Chuqiu learned of it, made ready, struck them, and drove them off. Though Du had declined the title of campaign commander, in practice he commanded as supreme general and made Yancheng his headquarters. On jiashen he reached Yancheng. Before this, every circuit had palace eunuchs supervising the camps; generals could not command advance or retreat. If victorious, the eunuchs reported the triumph first; if not, they heaped abuse on every side. Du memorialized to remove them all; only then could the generals command their own troops, and battles began to go well.
33
九月，庚子，淮西兵寇殷水鎮，殺三將，焚芻蒿而去。
In the ninth month, on gengzi, Huaixi troops raided Yinshui post, killed three generals, burned fodder and thatch, and withdrew.
34
初，上為廣陵王，布衣張宿以辯口得幸。 及即位，累官至比部員外郎。 宿招權受賂於外，門下侍郎、同平章事李逢吉惡之。 上欲以宿為諫議大夫，逢吉曰：「諫議重任，必能可否朝政，始宜為之。 宿小人，豈得竊賢者之位！ 必欲用宿，請先去臣乃可。」 上由是不悅。 逢吉又與裴度異議，上方倚度以平蔡。 丁未，罷逢吉為東川節度使。
When the emperor was still Prince of Guangling, a commoner named Zhang Su won favor through his eloquence. After his accession, Su rose to outer court director of the Justice Ministry. Su traded on his influence and took bribes; vice director Li Fengji hated him. The emperor wished to make Su remonstrance and counsel grandee. Fengji said, "That office is a weighty charge—one must be able to approve or reject court policy. Only then is he fit. Su is a petty man—how can he steal the place of the worthy! If you must use Su, remove me first—only then will it do." The emperor was displeased. Fengji also clashed with Pei Du, while the emperor was relying on Du to pacify Cai. On dingwei, Fengji was sent out as military governor of Dongchuan.
35
甲寅，李愬將攻吳房，諸將曰：「今日往亡。」 愬曰：「吾兵少，不足戰，宜出其不意。 彼以往亡不吾虞，正可擊也。」 遂往，克其外城，斬首千餘級。 餘眾保子城，不敢出。 愬引兵還以誘之，淮西將孫獻忠果以驍騎五百追擊其背。 眾驚，將走，愬下馬據胡床，令曰：「敢退者斬！」 返旆力戰，獻忠死，淮西兵乃退。 或勸愬乘勝攻其子城，可拔也。 愬曰：「非吾計也。」 引兵還營。
On jiayin, Li Su prepared to attack Wufang; the generals said, "Today is an ill-omened day for marching." Su said, "Our force is too small to fight a straight battle—we must take them by surprise. They will think us deterred by the ill omen and let our guard down—that is when we strike." He marched, took the outer wall, and cut off more than a thousand heads. The survivors held the inner citadel and dared not come out. Su withdrew to lure them out; Huaixi general Sun Xianzhong indeed came with five hundred horsemen to strike their rear. The men panicked and started to flee; Su dismounted, sat on a camp chair, and ordered, "Anyone who retreats—beheaded!" They wheeled about and fought with all their strength; Xianzhong was killed, and the Huaixi force withdrew. Some urged Su to press on and take the inner citadel while he could. Su said, "That is not my plan." He led the troops back to camp.
36
李祐言於李愬曰：「蔡之精兵皆在洄曲，及四境拒守，守州城者皆羸老之卒，可以乘虛直抵其城。 比賊將聞之，元濟已成擒矣。」 愬然之。 冬十月，甲子，遣掌書記鄭澥至郾城，密白裴度。 度曰：「兵非出奇不勝，常侍良圖也。」
Li You told Li Su, "Cai's best troops are all at Huaiqu and on the borders; only weak and old men hold the city. You can strike through the gap straight at Caizhou. By the time their generals hear of it, Yuanji will already be your prisoner." Su agreed. In winter, the tenth month, on jiazi, he sent chief secretary Zheng Xie to Yancheng to brief Pei Du in secret. Du said, "In war, only the unexpected wins—this is an excellent plan, Vice Censor."1
37
上竟用張宿為諫議大夫，崔群、王涯固諫，不聽； 乃請以為權知諫議大夫，許之。 宿由是怨執政及當時端方之士，與皇甫鎛相表裡，譖去之。
The emperor went ahead and made Zhang Su remonstrance and counsel grandee; Cui Qun and Wang Ya remonstrated firmly, but he would not listen; they then asked that he be made acting remonstrance and counsel grandee, and the emperor agreed. Su therefore resented the chief ministers and the upright men of the day; he worked hand in glove with Huangfu Bo to slander them out of office.
38
裴度帥僚佐觀築城於沱口，董重質帥騎出五溝，邀之，大呼而進，注弩挺刃，勢將及度。 李光顏與田布力戰，拒之，度僅得入城。 賊退，布扼其溝中歸路。 賊下馬逾溝，墜壓死者千餘人。
Pei Du led his staff to inspect fortifications at Tuokou; Dong Chongzhi led cavalry out from Wugou to ambush them, shouting as they charged with crossbows drawn and blades ready, nearly upon Du. Li Guangyan and Tian Bu fought them off with all their strength; Du barely made it inside the wall. As the rebels withdrew, Bu blocked their escape route through the ditch. The rebels dismounted to cross the ditch; more than a thousand were killed in the crush.
39
辛未，李愬命馬步都虞候、隨州刺史史旻等留鎮文城，命李祐、李忠義帥突將三千為前驅，自與監軍將三千人為中軍，命李進誠將三千人殿其後。 軍出，不知所之。 愬曰：「但東行。」 行六十里，夜，至張柴村，盡殺其戍卒及烽子。 據其柵，命士卒少休，食干□，整羈靮，留義成軍五百人鎮之，以斷朗山救兵。 命丁士良將五百人斷洄曲及諸道橋樑，復夜引兵出門。 諸將請所之，愬曰：「入蔡州取吳元濟！」 諸將皆失色。 監軍哭曰：「果落李祐奸計！」 時大風雪，旌旗裂，人馬凍死者相望。 天陰黑，自張柴村以東道路，皆官軍所未嘗行，人人自以為必死，然畏愬，莫敢違。 夜半，雪愈甚，行七十里，至州城。 近城有鵝鴨池，愬令驚之以混軍聲。 自吳少誠拒命，官軍不至蔡州城下三十餘年，故蔡人不為備。 壬申，四鼓，愬至城下，無一人知者。 李愬、李忠義钁其城為坎以先登，壯士從之。 守門卒方熟寐，盡殺之，而留擊柝者，使擊柝如故，遂開門納眾。 及裡城，亦然，城中皆不之覺。 雞鳴，雪止，愬入居元濟外宅。 或告元濟曰：「官軍至矣！」 元濟尚寢，笑曰：「俘囚為盜耳！ 曉當盡戮之。」 又有告者曰：「城陷矣！」 元濟曰：「此必洄曲子弟就吾求寒衣也。」 起，聽於廷，聞愬軍號令曰：「常侍傳語！」 應者近萬人。 元濟始懼，曰：「何等常侍，能至於此！」 乃帥左右登牙城拒戰。
On xinwei, Li Su left horse and foot chief adjutant Shi Min, prefect of Sui, and others to garrison Wencheng; ordered Li You and Li Zhongyi to lead three thousand Shock Generals as vanguard; himself with the army supervisor led three thousand as the center; and ordered Li Jincheng with three thousand to bring up the rear. When the army marched out, no one knew where it was bound. Su said, "Simply march east." They marched sixty li and by night reached Zhangchai Village, where they killed every garrison soldier and beacon guard. They seized the palisade, let the men rest briefly, ate dry rations, tightened saddles and bridles, left five hundred Yicheng troops to hold it and block relief from Langshan. He ordered Ding Shiliang with five hundred men to cut Huaiqu and the bridges on every road, then led his army out through the gate again by night. The generals asked where they were going. Su said, "Into Caizhou to take Wu Yuanji!" Every general turned pale. The army supervisor wept, "We have truly fallen into Li You's treacherous plot!" A blizzard raged; banners tore in the wind; frozen men and horses lined the road. The sky was black; east of Zhangchai every road was one the imperial army had never taken. Every man thought he was marching to his death, yet they feared Su and none dared disobey. At midnight the snow grew heavier; they marched seventy li and reached the prefectural city. Near the walls was a goose and duck pond; Su had them startled so their clamor would cover the army's noise. Since Wu Shaocheng's rebellion, imperial troops had not come beneath Caizhou's walls in more than thirty years, and the people of Cai were unprepared. On renshen, at the fourth watch, Su reached the foot of the wall—and not a soul knew. Li Su and Li Zhongyi dug footholds in the wall with picks and went up first; the bravest men followed. The gate guards were fast asleep. Su's men killed them all but spared the watchman who beat the night clapper, making him continue as before, then opened the gate and let the army in. At the inner wall they did the same; no one in the city noticed. At cockcrow the snow stopped. Su entered and occupied Wu Yuanji's outer residence. Someone told Wu Yuanji, "The imperial army is here! Wu Yuanji was still in bed and laughed, "Just some prisoners turned raiders! At dawn we'll slaughter them all." Another messenger cried, "The city has fallen! Wu Yuanji said, "It must be men from Huaiqu coming to ask for winter clothes. He got up and listened in the courtyard, hearing Su's troops shout, "The Imperial Commissioner sends word! Nearly ten thousand voices answered. Wu Yuanji finally panicked. "What kind of commissioner reaches this far! He led his personal guard up to the citadel to fight.
40
時董重質擁精兵萬餘人據洄曲。 愬曰：「元濟所望者，重質之救耳。」 乃訪重質家，厚撫之，遣其子傳道持書諭重質。 重質遂單騎詣愬降。
Dong Chongzhi held Huaiqu with more than ten thousand crack troops. Su said, "All Wu Yuanji is waiting for is a rescue from Dong Chongzhi. Su found Chongzhi's family, treated them kindly, and sent Chongzhi's son Chuandao with a letter to win him over. Dong Chongzhi rode to Su alone and surrendered.
41
愬遣李進誠攻牙城，毀其外門，得甲庫，取其器械。 癸酉，復攻之，燒其南門，民爭負薪芻助之，城上矢如□胃毛。 晡時，門壞，元濟於城上請罪，進誠梯而下之。 甲戌，愬以檻車送元濟詣京師，且告於裴度。 是日，申、光二州及諸鎮兵二萬餘人相繼來降。 自元濟就擒，愬不戮一人，凡元濟官吏、帳下、廚廄之卒，皆復其職，使之不疑，然後屯於鞠場以待裴度。
Su sent Li Jincheng to assault the citadel, smashed its outer gate, captured the armory, and seized its weapons. On guiyou they attacked again and burned the south gate. Civilians rushed to bring firewood and fodder to help. On the walls arrows stood thick as hedgehog quills. By late afternoon the gate gave way. Wu Yuanji surrendered from the wall, and Li Jincheng brought him down on a ladder. On jiaxu Su sent Wu Yuanji to the capital in a prison cart and notified Pei Du. That same day more than twenty thousand soldiers from Shen and Guang and the allied garrisons surrendered one after another. After Wu Yuanji was taken, Su executed no one. He restored all of Yuanji's officials, staff, and stable and kitchen guards to their posts to keep them at ease, then camped at the drill field to await Pei Du.
42
以淮南節度使李鄘為門下侍郎、同平章事。
Li Yong, governor of Huainan, was appointed Vice Director of the Chancellery and Associate Chief Councilor.
43
己卯，淮西行營奏獲吳元濟，光祿少卿楊元卿言於上曰：「淮西大有珍寶，臣能知之，往取必得。」 上曰：「朕討淮西，為人除害，珍寶非所求也。
On jimao the Huaixi headquarters reported Wu Yuanji's capture. Palace Officer Yang Yuanqing told the emperor, "Huaixi holds great treasures. I know where they are and can fetch them for you. The emperor said, "I sent this campaign against Huaixi to rid the realm of a scourge. I did not come for treasure.
44
董重質之去洄曲軍也，李光顏馳入其壁，悉降其眾。 庚辰，裴度遣馬總先入蔡州慰撫。 辛巳，度建彰義軍節，將降卒萬餘人入城，李愬具橐鞬出迎，拜於路左。 度將避之，愬曰：「蔡人頑悖，不識上下之分，數十年矣。 願公因而示之，使知朝廷之尊。」 度乃受之。 李愬還軍文城，諸將請曰：「始公敗於郎山而不憂，勝於吳房而不取，冒大風甚雪而不止，孤軍深入而不懼，然卒以成功，皆眾人所不諭也，敢問其故？」 愬曰：「朗山不利，則賊輕我而不為備矣。 取吳房，則其眾奔蔡，並力固守，故存之以分其兵。 風雪陰晦，則烽火不接，不知吾至。 孤軍深入，則入皆致死，戰自倍矣。 夫視元者不顧近，慮大者不計細，若矜小勝，恤小敗，先自撓矣，何暇立功乎！」 眾皆服。 愬儉於奉己而豐於待士，知賢不疑，見可能斷，此其所以成功也。
When Dong Chongzhi left Huaiqu, Li Guangyan rode into the camp and accepted the surrender of his entire force. On gengchen Pei Du sent Ma Zong ahead into Caizhou to pacify the city. On xinsi Pei Du entered as Military Commissioner of Zhangyi with more than ten thousand surrendered troops. Li Su came out in full armor to meet him and bowed by the roadside. Pei Du tried to decline. Su said, "The people of Cai have been stubborn and defiant for decades. They no longer know their place. Please accept this so they may see the dignity of the throne. Pei Du then accepted the salute. Back at Wencheng the generals asked Li Su, "You were routed at Langshan yet showed no concern; you beat the enemy at Wufang yet did not take the town; you marched through blizzard and gale without halting; you led a lone army deep into enemy country without fear—and still you won. None of us understood. What was your reasoning? Su said, "Defeat at Langshan made the rebels despise us and let their guard down. If we had taken Wufang, its garrison would have fled to Caizhou and united for a stronger defense. I held Wufang to split their strength. The blizzard and darkness broke the beacon chain, so they never knew we were coming. A lone army far from home fights as if there is no retreat—every man's strength doubles. Who aims at the distant goal ignores the near setback; who thinks in grand terms does not count petty losses. Fuss over small wins and small defeats and you defeat yourself—what time is left to win the war! The generals were convinced. Su lived sparingly but treated his officers generously. He recognized talent and trusted it without hesitation; when he saw an opening he acted. That is why he won.
45
裴度以蔡卒為牙兵，或諫曰：「蔡人反仄者尚多，不可不備。」 度笑曰：「吾為彰義節度使，元惡既擒，蔡人則吾人也，又何疑焉！」 蔡人聞之感泣。 先是吳氏父子阻兵，禁人偶語於塗，夜不然燭，有以酒食相過從者罪死。 度既視事，下令惟禁盜賊鬥殺，餘皆不問，往來者不限晝夜，蔡人始知有生民之樂。
Pei Du made surrendered Caizhou troops his personal guard. Someone warned him, "Many in Cai remain unreconciled. You must stay on guard. Pei Du laughed. "I am governor of Zhangyi now. With the ringleader captured, the people of Cai are my people. Why should I doubt them? When the people of Cai heard this, many wept. Under the Wu father and son, soldiers blocked the roads. Speaking in pairs on the street was forbidden. Candles at night were banned. Anyone who shared food or drink with a neighbor faced death. Once Pei Du took office he outlawed only theft, brawling, and murder. Everything else was permitted. People could come and go at any hour. For the first time the people of Cai knew what it meant to live as free subjects.
46
甲申，詔韓弘、裴度條列平蔡將士功狀及蔡之將士降者，皆差第以聞。 淮西州縣百姓，給復二年； 近賊四州，免來年夏稅。 官軍戰亡者，皆為收葬，給其家衣糧五年； 其因戰傷殘廢者，勿停衣糧。
On jiashen the throne ordered Han Hong and Pei Du to rank the achievements of all who had helped pacify Cai and all who had surrendered from Cai, and report the list. The people of Huaixi prefectures and counties were granted two years of tax exemption; the four frontier prefectures nearest the rebels were exempted from the next summer's tax levy. Every soldier who fell in battle was buried at public expense; families received rations and clothing for five years; those permanently disabled by wounds continued to receive their rations without interruption.
47
十一月，丙戌朔，上御興安門受俘，遂以吳元濟獻廟社，斬於獨柳之下。
On the first day of the eleventh month, bingxu, the emperor received prisoners at Xing'an Gate, offered Wu Yuanji to the ancestral temples, and executed him beneath the Lone Willow.
48
初，淮西之人劫於李希烈、吳少誠之威虐，不能自拔，久而老者衰，幼者壯，安於悖逆，不復知有朝廷矣。 自少誠以來，遣諸將出兵，皆不束以法制，聽各以便宜自戰，故人人得盡其才。 韓全義之敗於殷水也，於其帳中得朝貴所與問訊書，少誠束而示眾曰：「此皆公卿屬全義書，雲破蔡州日，乞一將士妻女為婢妾。」 由是眾皆憤怒，以死為賊用。 雖居中士，其風俗獷戾，過於夷貊。 故以三州之眾，舉天下之兵環而攻之，四年然後克之。 官軍之攻元濟也，李師道募人通使於蔡，察其形勢，牙前虞候劉晏平應募，出汴、宋間，潛行至蔡。 元濟大喜，厚禮而遣之。 晏平還至鄆，師道屏人而問之，晏平曰：「元濟暴兵數萬於外，阽危如此，而日與僕妾遊戲博奕於內，晏然曾無憂色。 以愚觀之，殆必亡，不久矣！」 師道素倚淮西為援，聞之驚怒，尋誣以他過，杖殺之。
At first the people of Huaixi were trapped under the tyranny of Li Xilie and Wu Shaocheng. Generations passed: the old died, the young grew up knowing only rebellion, with no memory of the imperial court. Since Wu Shaocheng's day, generals sent into the field were not bound by rigid rules. Each was left to fight as he saw fit, and so every commander could use his talents fully. After Han Quanyi's defeat at Yinshui, letters from court officials were found in his tent. Wu Shaocheng had them bound up and read aloud: "These ministers wrote to Quanyi promising that when Caizhou fell, each wanted a soldier's wife or daughter for his concubine. The troops were furious and fought for the rebels as if their lives depended on it. Though they lived in the heart of China, their ways were more brutal than those of the frontier tribes. With only three prefectures' worth of men they held off the armies of the entire empire for four years before they fell. While the imperial army besieged Wu Yuanji, Li Shidao hired scouts to report on conditions in Caizhou. Forward Guard Officer Liu Yanping volunteered, crossed through Bian and Song, and slipped into the city. Wu Yuanji was delighted, treated him lavishly, and sent him back. When Liu Yanping returned to Yunzhou, Li Shidao questioned him in private. Yanping said, "Wu Yuanji has tens of thousands of men in the field and the situation is desperate, yet he spends his days gambling with servants and concubines. He shows no worry at all. In my view he is doomed, and soon! Li Shidao had counted on Huaixi as his ally. Shocked and furious at the report, he soon found a pretext and had Liu Yanping beaten to death.
49
戊子，以李愬為山南東道節度使，賜爵涼國公； 加韓弘兼侍中； 李光顏、烏重胤等各遷官有差。
On wuzi Li Su was appointed Military Governor of Shannan East Circuit and created Duke of Liang; Han Hong was promoted to Palace Attendant; Li Guangyan, Wu Chongyin, and others received various promotions.
50
舊制，御史二人知驛。 壬辰，詔以宦者為館驛使。 左補闕裴潾諫曰：「內臣外事，職分各殊，切在塞侵官之源，絕出位之漸。 事有不便，必戒於初； 令或有妨，不必在大。」 上不聽。
By custom two censors oversaw the post stations. On renchen the throne ordered eunuchs appointed as postal commissioners. Left Remonstrance Official Pei Lin warned, "Palace eunuchs and state business belong to separate spheres. We must stop the first step toward encroachment on civil authority. When a policy is wrong, catch it at the start; Even a small abuse can lead to grave harm. The emperor refused to listen.
51
甲午，恩王連薨。
On jiawu Prince En, Lian, died.
52
辛丑，以唐、隨兵馬使李祐為神武將軍，知軍事。
On xinchou Li You, army horse commissioner for Tang and Sui, was appointed General of Divine Martiality and put in command.
53
裴度以馬總為彰義留兵。 癸丑，發蔡州。 上封二劍以授梁守謙，使誅吳元濟舊將。 度至郾城，遇之，復與俱入蔡州，量罪施刑，不盡如詔旨，仍上疏言之。
Pei Du left Ma Zong as acting commander of the Zhangyi garrison. On guichou Pei Du departed from Caizhou. The emperor sealed two swords and gave them to Liang Shouqian with orders to execute Wu Yuanji's former generals. At Yancheng Pei Du met Liang Shouqian and returned with him to Caizhou. He meted out punishments by degree of guilt and did not carry out the full slaughter the edict demanded, then memorialized the emperor to explain.
54
十二月，壬戌，賜裴度爵晉國公，復入知政事。 以馬總為淮西節度使。
In the twelfth month, on renxu, Pei Du was created Duke of Jin and returned to the chief councilorship. Ma Zong was appointed Military Governor of Huai West.
55
初，吐突承璀方貴寵用事，為淮南監軍。 李鄘為節度使，性剛嚴，與承璀互相敬憚，故未嘗相失。 承璀歸，引鄘為相。 鄘恥由宦官進，及將佐出祖，樂作，鄘泣下曰：「吾老安外鎮，宰相非吾任也！」 戊寅，鄘至京師，辭疾，不入見，不視事，百官到門，皆辭不見。
At this time the eunuch Tu Gu Chenghuan was in favor and wielded power as army supervisor in Huainan. Military Governor Li Yong was stern by nature. He and Chenghuan respected and feared each other in equal measure, and so never clashed. When Chenghuan returned to court he recommended Li Yong for chancellor. Li Yong was ashamed to owe his promotion to a eunuch. When his staff came to see him off with music, he wept and said, "I am an old man fit to die in a border post. The chancellorship is not my place! On wuyin Li Yong reached the capital, pleaded illness, refused audience, and declined to take office. Officials who came to his gate were all turned away.
56
庚辰，貶淮西降將董重質為春州司戶。 重質為吳元濟謀主，屢破官軍。 上欲殺之，李愬奏先許重質以不死。
On gengchen the former Huai Xi general Dong Chongzhi was demoted to registrar of Chun Prefecture. Dong Chongzhi had been Wu Yuanji's chief strategist and had beaten the imperial army many times. The emperor wanted him executed, but Li Su reminded him that he had promised Dong Chongzhi his life.
57
憲宗昭文章武大聖至神孝皇帝中之下元和十三年（ 戊戌，公元八一八年）
Mid-lower segment of the reign of Emperor Xianzong, Yuanyuan year 13 ( wuxu, CE 818)
58
春，正月，乙酉朔，赦天下。
In spring, on the first day of the first month, yiyou, a general amnesty was proclaimed.
59
初，李師道謀逆命，判官高沐與同僚郭日戶、李公度屢諫之。 判官李文會、孔目官林英素為師道所親信，涕泣言於師道曰：「文會等盡誠為尚書憂家事，反為高沐等所疾，尚書奈何不憂十二州之土地，以成沐等之功名乎！」 師道由是疏沐等，出沐知萊州。 會林英入奏事，令進奏吏密申師道云：「沐潛輸款於朝廷。」 文會從而構之，師道殺沐，並囚郭日戶，凡軍中勸師道效順者，文會皆指為高沐之黨而囚之。 及淮西平，師道憂懼，不知所為。 李公度及牙將李英曇因其懼而說之，使納質獻地以自贖。 師道從之，遣使奉表，請使長子入侍，並獻沂、密、海三州。 上許之。 乙巳，遣左常侍李遜詣鄆州宣慰。
When Li Shidao began plotting rebellion, his secretary Gao Mu, along with colleagues Guo Rihu and Li Gongdu, repeatedly warned him against it. Secretary Li Wenhuì and chief clerk Lin Ying, favorites of Li Shidao, wept before him and said, "We serve you faithfully, yet Gao Mu and his friends hate us. Will you sacrifice the twelve prefectures just to make them famous? Li Shidao then distanced himself from Gao Mu and sent him out as prefect of Lai. When Lin Ying went to court he had the memorial courier secretly tell Li Shidao, "Gao Mu is secretly negotiating with the throne. Li Wenhuì built on the accusation. Li Shidao executed Gao Mu and imprisoned Guo Rihu. Everyone in the army who urged submission was denounced as Gao Mu's ally and thrown in prison. When Huai Xi fell, Li Shidao was terrified and did not know what to do. Li Gongdu and guard general Li Yingtan seized on his fear and persuaded him to send a hostage, surrender territory, and buy his way back into favor. Li Shidao agreed, sent envoys with a petition offering his eldest son as hostage at court and ceding Yi, Mi, and Hai prefectures. The emperor accepted. On yisi Left Regular Attendant Li Xun was sent to Yunzhou with words of reassurance.
60
上命六軍修麟德殿。 右龍武統軍張奉國、大將軍李文悅以外寇初平，營繕太多，白宰相，冀有論諫。 裴度因奏事言之。 上怒，二月，丁卯，以奉國為鴻臚卿，壬申，以文悅為右武衛大將軍，充威遠營使。 於是浚龍首池，起承暉殿，土木浸興矣。
The emperor ordered the Six Armies to renovate Linde Hall. Zhang Fengguo, commander of the Right Dragon Martial Army, and Grand General Li Wenyue, noting that the frontier had only just been quieted while military camps were being overhauled at great expense, informed the chancellor in the hope that someone at court would speak up. Pei Du raised the matter when he came before the emperor on other business. The emperor was furious. In the second month, on dingmao he demoted Zhang Fengguo to director of the Court of Banquets; on renshen he made Li Wenyue general of the Right Martial Guard and commissioner of the Weiyuan camp. Construction then surged: Longshou Pool was dredged, Chenghui Hall was raised, and palace building projects multiplied.
61
李愬奏請判官、大將以下官凡百五十員，上不悅，謂裴度曰：「李愬誠有奇功，然奏請過多。 使如李晟、渾瑊，又何如哉！」 遂留中不下。
Li Su petitioned for one hundred fifty appointments, from adjutants down through chief generals. The emperor was displeased and told Pei Du, "Li Su has indeed done extraordinary service, but this request goes too far. Would men like Li Sheng or Hun Jian ever ask for so much? The petition was shelved and never approved.
62
李鄘固辭相位，戊戌，以鄘為戶部尚書。 以御史大夫李夷簡為門下侍郎、同平章事。
Li Yong steadfastly refused the chancellorship. On wuxu he was appointed minister of revenue instead. Censor-in-chief Li Yijian was made vice director of the Secretariat and associate chancellor.
63
初，渤海僖王言義卒，弟簡王明忠立，改元太始； 一歲卒，從父仁秀立，改元建興。 乙巳，遣使來告喪。
Earlier, Prince Xiyi Yanyi of Parhae had died. His younger brother Jian Wang Mingzhong succeeded him and proclaimed the era Taishi. A year later Mingzhong died in turn, and his uncle Renxiu took the throne, changing the era name to Jianxing. On yisi Parhae sent envoys to announce the new death.
64
橫海節度使程權自以世襲滄景，與河朔三鎮無殊，內不自安。 己酉，遣使上表，請舉族入朝，許之。 橫海將士樂自擅，不聽權去，掌書記林蘊諭以禍福，權乃得出。 詔以蘊為禮部員外郎。
Cheng Quan, military governor of Heng Hai, knew that his family's hereditary hold on Cangzhou and Jingzhou made him no different from the three Hebei warlords, and he could not rest easy. On jiyou he sent a memorial asking to bring his whole clan to court, and the request was granted. The Heng Hai troops enjoyed their autonomy and refused to let Cheng Quan go. Chief secretary Lin Yun reasoned with them about the consequences, and only then was Quan able to leave. An edict made Lin Yun vice director in the Ministry of Rites.
65
裴度之在淮西也，布衣柏耆以策干韓愈曰：「吳元濟既就擒，王承宗破膽矣，願得奉丞相書往說之，可不煩兵而服。」 愈白度，為書遣之。 承宗懼，求哀於田弘正，請以二子為質，及獻德、棣二州，輸租稅，請官史。 弘正為之奏請，上初不許； 弘正上表相繼，上重違弘正意，乃許之。 夏，四月，甲寅朔，魏博遣使送承宗子知感、知信及德、棣二州圖印至京師。 幽州大將譚忠說劉總曰：「自元和以來，劉辟、李錡、田季安、盧從史、吳元濟，阻兵憑險，自以為深根固蒂，天下莫能危也。 然顧盼之間，身死家覆，皆不自知，此非人力所能及，殆天誅也。 況今天子神聖威武，苦身焦思，縮衣節食，以養戰士，此志豈須臾忘天下哉！ 今國兵駸駸北來，趙人已獻城十二，忠深為公憂之。」 總泣且拜曰：「聞先生言，吾心定矣。」 遂專意歸朝廷。
While Pei Du was in Huai Xi, a commoner named Bai Qi sought out Han Yu with a proposal: "Wu Yuanji is already taken, and Wang Chengzong's nerve is broken. Give me the chancellor's letter to carry to him, and he may submit without another campaign. Han Yu told Pei Du, who wrote the letter and sent Bai Qi on his way. Terrified, Wang Chengzong appealed to Tian Hongzheng, offering his two sons as hostages, surrendering De and Di prefectures, paying taxes, and accepting imperial officials. Tian Hongzheng memorialized on his behalf, but at first the emperor refused. Tian Hongzheng sent one memorial after another, and the emperor, unwilling to reject him outright, finally agreed. In summer, on the first day of the fourth month, jiayin, Weibo sent envoys to the capital with Chengzong's sons Zhigan and Zhixin and the maps and seals of De and Di prefectures. Tan Zhong, a senior general in Youzhou, urged Liu Zong: "Since the Yuanhe reign, Liu Pi, Li Qi, Tian Ji'an, Lu Congshi, and Wu Yuanji all held armies behind strong defenses and believed their power was too deep-rooted for anyone to touch. Yet in a blink they were dead and their houses ruined, never seeing it coming. That was beyond human contrivance—it was heaven's judgment. And today's emperor is resolute and formidable: he wears himself down, eats sparingly, and feeds his soldiers for war. Do you think he will forget the realm for an instant? The imperial armies are already pressing north, and twelve Zhao cities have surrendered. I am deeply worried for you, my lord. Liu Zong wept and bowed. "Hearing you, sir, my mind is made up. From then on he set his whole purpose on returning to imperial allegiance.
66
戊辰，內出廢印二紐，賜左、右三軍辟仗使。 舊制，以宦官為六軍辟仗使，如方鎮之監軍，無印。 及張奉國等得罪，至是始賜印，得糾繩軍政，事任專達矣。
On wuchen the palace issued two retired official seals and granted them to the left and right Three Armies ritual guard commissioners. By old custom eunuchs held the Six Armies ritual guard posts, much like circuit army supervisors, but without official seals. After Zhang Fengguo and the others fell from favor, seals were granted for the first time, giving these eunuchs authority to discipline army affairs and report directly to the throne.
67
庚辰，詔洗雪王承宗及成德將士，復其官爵。
On gengchen an edict cleared Wang Chengzong and the Chengde garrison of blame and restored their ranks and titles.
68
李師道闇弱，軍府大事，獨與妻魏氏、奴胡惟堪、楊自溫、婢蒲氏、袁氏及孔目官王再升謀之，大將及幕僚莫得預焉。 魏氏不欲其子入質，與蒲氏、袁氏言於師道曰：「自先司徒以來，有此十二州，奈何無故割而獻之！ 今計境內之兵不下數十萬，不獻三州，不過以兵相加。 若力戰不勝，獻之未晚。」 師道乃大悔，欲殺李公度，幕僚賈直言謂其用事奴曰：「今大禍將至，豈非高沐冤氣所為！ 若又殺公度，軍府其危哉！」 乃囚之。 遷李英曇於萊州，未至，縊殺之。 李遜至鄆州，師逆大陣兵迎之，遜盛氣正色，為陳禍福，責其決語，欲白天子。 師道退，與其黨謀之，皆曰：「弟許之，他日正煩一表解紛耳。」 師道乃謝曰：「向以父子之私，且迫於將士之情，故遷延未遣。 今重煩朝使，豈敢復有二三！」 遜察師道非實誠，歸，言於上曰：「師道頑愚反覆，恐必須用兵。」 既而師道表言軍情，不聽納質割地，上怒，決意討之。 賈直言冒刃諫師道者二：輿櫬諫者一，又畫縛載檻車妻子係累者以獻。 師道怒，囚之。
Li Shidao was dull and indecisive. Great affairs of the command were decided only with his wife Lady Wei, the slaves Hu Weikan and Yang Ziwen, the maidservants Pu and Yuan, and the clerk Wang Zaishang; his generals and staff were shut out. Lady Wei did not want her son sent as a hostage. With Pu and Yuan she told Shidao, "Since your father's day we have held these twelve prefectures—why surrender them for nothing? We still have several hundred thousand troops in the circuit. If we refuse to give up three prefectures, at worst we fight. If we fight with everything we have and still lose, it will not be too late to surrender then. Shidao deeply regretted his earlier concessions and wanted Li Gongdu killed. Staff officer Jia Zhiyan told the slaves who ran the command, "Disaster is coming—is this not the vengeful spirit of Gao Mu? If you kill Gongdu too, the whole command will be finished! Li Gongdu was imprisoned instead. Li Yingtan was reassigned to Laizhou, but before he arrived he was strangled. When Li Xun reached Yanzhou, Shidao met him with a massive display of force. Xun held his ground, laid out the stakes, demanded a clear answer, and threatened to report everything to the emperor. Shidao withdrew to consult his followers, who said, "Agree for now, my lord—later a single memorial will settle the matter. Shidao then apologized: "I delayed because of family feeling and pressure from the troops. Now that the court has sent you again, how could I hesitate any longer? Li Xun saw that Shidao was insincere. Back at court he told the emperor, "Shidao is obstinate, foolish, and unreliable. I fear force will be necessary. Soon after, Shidao memorialized that his army would not accept hostages or territorial concessions. The emperor was enraged and resolved on campaign. Jia Zhiyan twice remonstrated at sword's point; one adviser came with a coffin on his back; Jia also presented a painting of a bound family loaded into a prison cart. Shidao had him imprisoned.
69
五月，丙申，以忠武節度使李光顏為義成節度使，謀討師道也。 以淮西節度使馬總為忠武節度使，陳、許、殷、蔡州觀察使。 以申州隸鄂岳，光州隸淮南。
In the fifth month, on bingchen, Li Guangyan was moved from Zhongwu to Yicheng in preparation for the campaign against Shidao. Ma Zong, military governor of Huai Xi, was made military governor of Zhongwu and commissioner over Chen, Xu, Yin, and Cai. Shenzhou was placed under E-Yue, and Guangzhou under Huainan.
70
辛丑，以知勃海國務大仁秀為勃海王。
On xinchou Renxiu, who had been managing Parhae affairs, was enthroned as king of Parhae.
71
以河陽都知兵馬使曹華為棣州刺史，詔以河陽兵二千送至商河。 會縣為平盧兵所陷，華擊卻之，殺二千餘人，復其縣以聞。 詔加橫海節度副使。
Cao Hua, He-Yang commander of troops and cavalry, was appointed prefect of Di Prefecture, with two thousand He-Yang soldiers ordered to escort him to Shanghe. When the county fell to Pinglu troops, Hua counterattacked, killed more than two thousand of the enemy, recovered the county, and reported his success. An edict promoted him to vice military governor of Heng Hai.
72
六月，癸丑朔，日有食之。
On the first day of the sixth month, guichou, there was a solar eclipse.
73
丁丑，復以烏重胤領懷州刺史，鎮河陽。
On dingchou Wu Chongyin was again made prefect of Huai Prefecture and posted at He-Yang.
74
秋，七月，癸未朔，徙李愬為武寧節度使。 乙酉，下制罪狀李師道，令宣武、魏博、義成、武寧、橫海兵共討之，以宣歙觀察使王遂為供軍使。 遂，方慶之孫也。
In autumn, on the first day of the seventh month, guimwei, Li Su was transferred to military governor of Wu-Ning. On yiyou an imperial decree condemned Li Shidao and ordered the armies of Xuan-Wu, Weibo, Yicheng, Wu-Ning, and Heng Hai to attack him jointly, with Wang Sui, commissioner of Xuan-She, appointed army supply commissioner. Wang Sui was a grandson of Fang Qing.
75
上方委裴度以用兵，門下侍郎、同平章事李夷簡自謂才不及度，求出鎮。 辛丑，以夷簡同平章事，充淮南節度使。
The emperor was entrusting the war to Pei Du. Li Yijian, vice director and associate chancellor, felt himself outmatched and asked for a provincial command. On xinchou Li Yijian was kept as associate chancellor and sent out as military governor of Huainan.
76
八月，壬子朔，中書侍郎、同平章事王涯罷為兵部侍郎。
On the first day of the eighth month, renzi, Wang Ya was removed from the chancellorship and made vice minister of war.
77
吳元濟既平，韓弘懼； 九月，自將兵擊李師道，圍曹州。
Once Wu Yuanji was crushed, Han Hong grew fearful. In the ninth month he personally led troops against Li Shidao and besieged Caozhou.
78
淮西既平，上浸驕侈。 戶部侍郎判度支皇甫鎛、衛尉卿、鹽鐵轉運使程異曉其意，數進羨餘以供其費，由是有寵。 鎛又厚賂結吐突承璀。 甲辰，鎛以本官、異以工部侍郎並同平章事，判使如故。 制下，朝野駭愕，至於市井負販者亦嗤之。 裴度、崔群極陳其不可，上不聽。 度恥與小人同列，表求自退。 不許。 度復上疏，以為：「鎛、異皆錢穀吏，佞巧小人，陛下一旦置之相位，中外無不駭笑。 況鎛在度支，專以豐取刻與為務，凡中外仰給度支之人無不思食其肉。 比者裁損淮西糧料，軍士怨怒。 會臣至行營曉諭慰勉，僅無潰亂。 今舊將舊兵悉向淄青，聞鎛入相，必盡驚憂，知無可訴之地矣。 程異雖人品庸下，然心事和平，可處煩劇，不宜為相。 至如鎛，資性狡詐，天下共知，唯能上惑聖聰，足見奸邪之極。 臣若不退，天下謂臣不知廉恥； 臣若不言，天下謂臣有負恩寵。 今退既不許，言又不聽，臣如烈火燒心，眾鏑叢體。 所可惜者，淮西蕩定，河北底寧，承宗斂手削地，韓弘輿疾討賊，豈朝廷之力能制其命哉？ 直以處置得宜，能服其心耳。 陛下建昇平之業，十已八九，何忍還自墮壞，使四方解體乎？」 上以度為朋黨，不之省。
With Huai Xi pacified, the emperor grew increasingly proud and extravagant. Huangfu Bo, vice minister of revenue in charge of the treasury, and Cheng Yi, director of the Court of Imperial Regalia and salt and iron transport commissioner, read the emperor's mood and repeatedly offered surplus revenue for his pleasures, and so won favor. Huangfu Bo also lavished bribes on the eunuch Tu Gu Chenghuan. On jiachen Huangfu Bo kept his existing offices and Cheng Yi was made vice minister of works; both were appointed associate chancellors while retaining their fiscal posts. When the appointment was announced, court and country were appalled—even street peddlers laughed. Pei Du and Cui Qun protested vigorously, but the emperor would not hear them. Ashamed to serve alongside such men, Pei Du asked to resign. The request was refused. Pei Du submitted another memorial: "Huangfu Bo and Cheng Yi are mere finance clerks—sycophantic men of low character. To elevate them to the chancellorship at once has shocked and amused everyone inside and outside the court. Worse, as head of the treasury Huangfu Bo made squeezing and scraping his whole business; everyone who depended on treasury funds would gladly see him dead. He has lately cut Huai Xi rations, and the soldiers are furious. Only when I went to the camps myself to explain and reassure them was a mutiny barely averted. Now the veteran generals and troops are marching on Ziqing. When they hear that Huangfu Bo has become chancellor, they will be terrified, knowing they have nowhere left to plead their case. Cheng Yi is a lesser man, but steady in temperament and capable with heavy administrative work—still, he should not be chancellor. Huangfu Bo, by contrast, is cunning and deceitful—everyone knows it. That he can delude Your Majesty alone shows how utterly corrupt he is. If I do not resign, the world will say I have no sense of shame; if I do not speak out, the world will say I have betrayed your favor. Now I am forbidden to resign and ignored when I speak. My heart burns like fire; it is as though a thousand arrows pierce my flesh. What grieves me is this: Huai Xi is pacified, Hebei is quieting down, Wang Chengzong has surrendered territory, and Han Hong has taken the field against the rebels while ill. Was it raw imperial force that bent them? No—it was because the court handled them wisely and won their hearts. Your Majesty's work of restoring peace is eight or nine tenths complete. How can you bear to wreck it now and let the realm come apart? The emperor dismissed Pei Du as partisan and paid no heed.
79
鎛自知不為眾所與，益為巧諂以自固，奏減內外官俸以助國用。 給事中崔植封還敕書，極論之，乃止。 植，祐甫之弟子也。
Knowing he lacked public support, Huangfu Bo flattered all the more cleverly to secure his position and proposed cutting the salaries of all officials to help state finances. Supervising secretary Cui Zhi returned the edict unopened with a forceful protest, and the proposal was dropped. Cui Zhi was a nephew of the former chancellor Cui Youfu.
80
時內出積年繒帛付度支令賣，鎛悉以高價買之，以給邊軍。 其繒帛朽敗，隨手破裂，邊軍聚而焚之。 度因奏事言之，鎛於上前引其足曰：「此靴亦內庫所出，臣以錢二千買之，堅完可久服。 度言不可信。」 上以為然。 由是鎛益無所憚。 程異亦自知不合眾心，能廉謹謙遜，為相月餘，不敢知印秉筆，故終免於禍。
At the time the palace released years of stored silk for the treasury to sell. Huangfu Bo bought it all at inflated prices and issued it to the frontier armies. The cloth was rotten and fell apart in their hands. The frontier troops piled it up and burned it. Pei Du raised the matter at audience. Before the emperor Huangfu Bo lifted his foot and said, "These boots also came from the palace stores. I bought them for two thousand cash, and they are sturdy enough to wear for years. Pei Du's account cannot be trusted. The emperor agreed with him. From then on Huangfu Bo grew bolder still. Cheng Yi knew he lacked public support and kept a low profile—incorrupt, careful, and humble. For more than a month as chancellor he never handled the seal or drafted edicts, and so escaped ruin in the end.
81
五坊使楊朝汶妄捕系人，迫以考捶，責其息錢，遂轉相誣引，所繫近千人。 中丞蕭俛劾奏其狀，裴度、崔群亦以為言。 上曰：「姑與卿論用兵事，此小事朕自處之。」 度曰：「用兵事小，所憂不過山東耳。 五坊使暴橫，恐亂輦轂。」 上不悅，退，召朝汶責之曰：「以汝故，令吾羞見宰相！」 冬，十月，賜朝汶死，盡釋系者。
Yang Chaowen, commissioner of the Five Wards, arbitrarily arrested people, tortured them to extract interest payments, and through successive forced confessions implicated nearly a thousand. Censor-in-chief Xiao Mian impeached him; Pei Du and Cui Qun raised the case as well. The emperor said, "Let us talk of the campaign for now. This petty affair I will settle myself. Pei Du said, "The campaign itself is a minor concern; our real worry is only the situation east of the mountains. The Five Wards commissioners are brutal and lawless; I fear they will bring disorder to the capital." The emperor took offense. After the audience he summoned Yang Chaowen and upbraided him: "Because of you, I am ashamed to face my chancellor!" In winter, in the tenth month, Yang Chaowen was ordered to take his own life, and all the detainees were freed.
82
上晚節好神仙，詔天下求方士。 宗正卿李道古先為鄂岳觀察使，以貪暴聞，恐終獲罪，思所以自媚於上，乃因皇甫鎛薦山人柳泌，雲能合長生藥。 甲戌，詔泌居興唐觀煉藥。
In his later years the emperor grew fond of immortality cults and ordered alchemists sought throughout the empire. Li Daogu, director of the imperial clan, had previously been military governor of E-Yue and was known for greed and brutality. Fearing eventual punishment, he looked for a way to win the emperor's favor and, through Huangfu Bo, recommended the mountaint recluse Liu Bi, claiming he could brew an elixir of immortality. On jiaxu, the emperor ordered Liu Bi to take up residence at Xingtang Abbey to refine the elixir.
83
十一月，辛巳朔，鹽州奏吐蕃寇河曲、夏州。 靈武奏破吐蕃長樂州，克其外城。
In the eleventh month, on the first day of the month (xinsi), Yanzhou reported Tibetan raids on Hequ and Xia Prefecture. Lingwu reported a victory over Tibet at Changle Prefecture and the capture of its outer city.
84
柳泌言於上曰：「天台山神仙所聚，多靈草，臣雖知之，力不能致，誠得為彼長吏，庶幾可求。」 上信之。 丁亥，以泌權知台州刺史，仍賜服金紫。 諫官爭論奏，以為：「人主喜方士，未有使之臨民賦政者。」 上曰：「煩一州之力而能為人主致長生，臣子亦何愛焉！」 由是群臣莫敢言。
Liu Bi told the emperor, "Tiantai Mountain is where immortals assemble, and spirit herbs abound. I know where they grow, but I lack the means to gather them. If I could serve as prefect there, I might yet obtain them." The emperor believed him. On dinghai, Liu Bi was made acting prefect of Taizhou and granted the golden-purple insignia of rank. Censorial officials protested in memorials, arguing, "When sovereigns indulge alchemists, none has ever been set to govern the people and levy taxes." The emperor replied, "If the labor of one prefecture can win immortality for your ruler, what sacrifice would his servants refuse!" After that no minister dared object.
85
甲午，鹽州奏吐蕃引去。
On jiawu, Yanzhou reported that the Tibetans had withdrawn.
86
壬寅，以河陽節度使烏重胤為橫海節度使。 丁未，以華州刺史令狐楚為河陽節度使。 重胤以河陽精兵三千赴鎮，河陽兵不樂去鄉里，中道潰歸，又不敢入城，屯於城北，將大掠。 令狐楚適至，單騎出，慰撫之，與俱歸。
On renyin, Wu Chongyin, military governor of Heyang, was appointed military governor of Henghai. On dingwei, Linghu Chu, governor of Hua Prefecture, was appointed military governor of Heyang. Wu Chongyin set out for his new post with three thousand elite Heyang troops. The soldiers did not want to leave home; they mutinied on the road and straggled back. Too afraid to enter the city, they camped north of the walls and were on the verge of widespread looting. Linghu Chu had just arrived. He rode out alone, calmed the men, and led them back into the city.
87
先是，田弘正請自黎陽渡河，會義成節度使李光顏討李師道，裴度曰：「魏博軍既渡河，不可復退，立須進擊，方有成功。 既至滑州，即仰給度支，徒有供餉之勞，更生觀望之勢。 又或與李光顏互相疑阻，益致遷延。 與其渡河而不進，不若養威於河北。 宜且使之秣馬厲兵，俟霜降水落，自楊劉渡河，直指鄆州，得至陽谷置營，則兵勢自盛，賊眾搖心矣。」 上從之。 是月，弘正將魏博全師自楊劉渡河，距鄆州四十里築壘。 賊中大震。
Earlier Tian Hongzheng had proposed crossing the Yellow River at Liyang to join Yicheng governor Li Guangyan against Li Shidao. Pei Du argued, "Once the Weibo army crosses the river it cannot turn back; it must press the attack at once or the campaign will fail. At Huazhou they would depend on the treasury for rations, gaining nothing but the burden of supply while inviting hesitation and delay. They might also grow suspicious of Li Guangyan and block one another, prolonging the stalemate still further. Better to build strength north of the river than to cross and then stall. He should feed his horses, drill his troops, and wait until frost and falling water levels allow a crossing at Yangliu straight toward Yan Prefecture. If he can encamp at Yanggu, our armies will gain momentum and the rebels' morale will crack." The emperor accepted the plan. That month Tian Hongzheng led the full Weibo army across at Yangliu and built a fortified camp forty li from Yan Prefecture. Panic spread through the rebel ranks.
88
功德使上言：「鳳翔法門寺塔有佛指骨，相傳三十年一開，開則歲豐人安。 來年應開，請迎之。」 十二月，庚戌朔，上遣中使帥僧眾迎之。
The commissioner of Buddhist merit reported, "Famen Temple's pagoda at Fengxiang holds a Buddha finger-bone relic said to be displayed once every thirty years; when it is opened, harvests are rich and the realm is at peace. It should be opened next year; we ask that it be brought to court." In the twelfth month, on the first day of the month (gengxu), the emperor dispatched a palace envoy with a monastic escort to fetch the relic.
89
戊辰，以春州司戶董重質為試太子詹事，委武寧軍驅使，李愬請之也。 戊寅，魏博、義成軍送所獲李師道都知兵馬使夏侯澄等四十七人，上皆釋弗誅，各付所獲行營驅使，曰：「若有父母欲歸者，優給遣之。 朕所誅者，師道而已。」 於是賊中聞之，降者相繼。 初，李文會與兄元規皆在李師古幕下。 師古薨，師道立，元規辭去，文會屬師道親黨請留。 元規將行，謂文會曰：「我去，身退而安全； 汝留，必驟貴而受禍。」 及官軍四臨，平盧兵勢日蹙，將士喧然，皆曰：「高沐、郭日戶、李存為司空忠謀，李文會奸佞，殺沐，囚日戶、存，以致此禍。」 師道不得已，出文會攝登州刺史，召日戶、存還幕府。
On wuchen, Dong Chongzhi, registrar of Chun Prefecture, was made provisional grand mentor of the heir apparent and assigned to the Wujing army for labor duty at Li Su's request. On wuyin, Weibo and Yicheng delivered forty-seven captives, including Li Shidao's director of military affairs Xiahou Cheng. The emperor spared them all and assigned each to the camp that had taken him, saying, "If any have parents they wish to rejoin, give them generous travel provisions and send them home. The only man I mean to punish is Shidao himself." When word of this reached the rebels, men surrendered in steady succession. Earlier Li Wenhui and his elder brother Yuangui had both served on Li Shigu's staff. After Shigu's death, when Shidao took power, Yuangui left service; Wenhui, through Shidao's inner circle, asked to stay on. As Yuangui prepared to leave he told Wenhui, "If I go, I step back and keep myself safe; if you stay, you will soar to power—and then come to ruin." As imperial armies closed in from every side and Pinglu's position grew desperate, the troops erupted in uproar: "Gao Mu, Guo Rihu, and Li Cun gave loyal counsel to the grand minister; Li Wenhui is a scheming flatterer. He killed Mu and imprisoned Rihu and Cun—and brought this disaster upon us." Shidao had no choice but to transfer Wenhui to acting governor of Deng Prefecture and recall Rihu and Cun to headquarters.
90
上常語宰相：「人臣當力為善，何乃好立朋黨！ 朕甚惡之。」 裴度對曰：「方以類聚，物以群分。 君子、小人志趣同者，勢必相合。 君子為徒，謂之同德； 小人為徒，謂之朋黨； 外雖相似，內實懸殊，在聖主辯其所為邪正耳。」
The emperor often told his chancellor, "A minister should devote himself to doing good—so why are men so eager to form factions! I loathe the practice." Pei Du answered, "Like natures gather; like kinds flock together. When gentlemen and petty men share the same inclinations, they inevitably band together. When the upright associate, we call it sharing virtue; when the base associate, we call it forming a faction; outwardly alike, inwardly worlds apart. A sage ruler need only judge whether their deeds are righteous or corrupt.2
91
武寧節度使李愬與平盧兵十一戰，皆捷。 己卯晦，進攻金鄉，克之。 李師道性懦怯，自官軍致討，聞小敗及失城邑，輒憂悸成疾，由是左右皆蔽匿，不以實告。 金鄉，兗州之要地，既失之，其刺史遣驛騎告急，左右不為通，師道至死竟不知也。
Li Su, military governor of Wujing, fought eleven engagements against Pinglu forces and won every one. On the last day of the month (jimao), he assaulted and took Jinxiang. Li Shidao was timid by nature. After the imperial campaign began, every minor defeat or lost town sent him into panic and illness. His attendants therefore hid the truth and never reported events honestly. Jinxiang was a key strongpoint in Yan Prefecture. When it fell, the prefect sent a courier with an urgent report, but Shidao's attendants blocked it; he died without ever learning of the loss.
92
憲宗昭文章武大聖至神孝皇帝中之下元和十四年（ 己亥，公元八一九年）
Middle section, lower part, of the reign of Emperor Xianzong—the Illustrious, Cultured, Martial, Great, Sagely, and Divine Filial Emperor—Yuanhe year 14 ( jihai, CE 819).
93
春，正月，辛已，韓弘拔考城，殺二千餘人。
In spring, the first month, on xinyi, Han Hong took Kaocheng and killed more than two thousand men.
94
丙戌，師道所署沐陽令梁洞以縣降於楚州刺史李聽。
On bingxu, Liang Dong, whom Shidao had installed as magistrate of Muyang, surrendered the county to Li Ting, governor of Chu Prefecture.
95
吐蕃遣使者論短立藏等來修好，未返，入寇河曲。 上曰：「其國失信，其使何罪！」 庚寅，遣歸國。
Tibet sent envoys led by Lun Duanlizang to reopen relations; before they returned home, Tibetan forces raided Hequ. The emperor said, "Their kingdom broke faith—what fault lies with the envoys!" On gengyin, the envoys were sent home unharmed.
96
壬辰，武寧節度使李愬拔魚台。
On renchen, Li Su, military governor of Wujing, captured Yutai.
97
中使迎佛骨至京師，上留禁中三日，乃歷送諸寺，王公士民瞻奉捨施，惟恐弗及，有竭產充施者，有然香臂頂供養者。 刑部侍郎韓愈上表切諫，以為：「佛者，夷狄之一法耳。 自黃帝以至禹，湯、文、武，皆享壽考，百姓安樂，當是時，未有佛也。 明帝時，始有佛法。 其後亂亡相繼，運祚不長。 宋、齊、梁、陳、元魏已下，事佛漸謹，年代尤促。 惟梁武帝在位四十八年，前後三捨身為寺家奴，竟為侯景所逼，餓死台城，國亦尋滅。 事佛求福，乃更得禍。 由此觀之，佛不足信亦可知矣！ 百姓愚冥，易惑難曉，苟見陛下如此，皆云『天子大聖，猶一心敬信； 百姓微賤，於佛豈可更惜身命。』 佛本夷狄之人，口不言先王之法言，身不服先王之法服，不知君臣之義、父子之恩。 假如其身尚在，奉國命來朝京師，陛下容而接之，不過宣政一見，禮賓一設，賜衣一襲，衛而出之於境，不令惑眾也。 況其身死已久，枯朽之骨，豈宜以入宮禁！ 古之諸侯得吊於國，尚令巫祝先以桃茢祓除不祥。 今無故取朽穢之物親視之，巫祝不先，桃茢不用，群臣不言其非，御史不舉其罪，臣實恥之！ 乞以此骨會有司，投諸水火，永絕要本，斷天下之疑，絕後代之惑，使天下之人知大聖人之所作為，出於尋常萬萬也，豈不盛哉！ 佛如有靈，能作禍福，凡有殃咎，宜加臣身。」
When the relic procession reached Chang'an, the emperor kept the bone in the palace for three days, then sent it from temple to temple. Nobles and commoners thronged to worship and give alms, some bankrupting themselves, others burning incense on their arms and heads in devotion. Han Yu, vice minister of justice, submitted a fierce memorial arguing, "Buddhism is merely a barbarian teaching. From the Yellow Emperor through Yu, Tang, and the kings Wen and Wu, rulers lived long and the people prospered—before Buddhism ever existed. Buddhism first entered China under Emperor Ming of Han. After that, dynasties fell in quick succession and none lasted long. From the Liu Song through Qi, Liang, Chen, and Northern Wei, emperors grew more pious toward Buddhism—and their reigns grew shorter. Only Liang Wudi reigned forty-eight years, thrice selling himself into temple slavery—yet Hou Jing drove him to starve at Taicheng, and his dynasty soon perished. To serve Buddha seeking blessing is to invite disaster. From this it is plain that Buddhism deserves no trust! The common people are ignorant and easily misled. If they see Your Majesty doing this, they will say, "The Son of Heaven is supremely wise, yet still burns with devotion; how can we humble folk cling to our petty lives when the Buddha asks for them?" Buddha was a barbarian. He did not speak the sages' words or wear the sages' robes; he knew nothing of the duty between ruler and minister or the love between father and son. If he were alive today and came to Chang'an on embassy, Your Majesty might receive him once in Xuanzheng Hall, entertain him once in the Ministry of Rites, grant him a robe, and escort him back across the border—never letting him beguile the people. How much less should his dead and rotting bones enter the forbidden palace! When ancient lords received condolences within their domains, they still had shamans purify the way with peach wands and reed brushes. Now you handle this filthy relic with your own hands—no purification, no protest from ministers, no impeachment from censors. I am ashamed! I beg that this bone be given to the proper offices and destroyed by fire and water, uprooting the evil forever, clearing the realm's doubts, and showing that a true sage's conduct rises immeasurably above the common run. Would that not be magnificent! If Buddha has power to bless or curse, let every curse fall on me alone.3
98
上得表，大怒，出示宰相，將加愈極刑。 裴度、崔群為言：「愈雖狂，發於忠懇，宜寬容以開言路。」 癸巳，貶愈為潮州刺史。
The emperor read the memorial and flew into a rage. He showed it to his chancellor and was ready to execute Han Yu. Pei Du and Cui Qun pleaded for him: "Han Yu may be reckless, but he spoke from loyal conviction. Forbearance will keep the road of honest counsel open." On guisi, Han Yu was demoted to governor of Chaozhou.
99
自戰國之世，老、莊與儒者爭衡，更相是非。 至漢末，益之以佛，然好者尚寡。 晉、宋以來，日益繁熾，自帝王至於士民，莫不尊信。 下者畏慕罪福，高者論難空有。 獨愈惡其蠹財惑眾，力排之，其言多矯激太過。 惟《送文暢師序》最得其要，曰：「夫鳥俯而啄，仰而四顧，獸深居而簡出，懼物之為己害也，猶且不免焉。 弱之肉，強之食。 今吾與文暢安居而暇食，優遊以生死，與禽獸異者，寧可不知其所自邪！」
Since the Warring States period, Daoists and Confucians have quarreled, each denouncing the other. By the end of Han, Buddhism had joined the dispute, but its followers were still few. From the Jin and Song dynasties onward it spread until emperors and commoners alike revered it. The humble feared karma; the learned debated emptiness and being. Han Yu alone hated Buddhism for wasting wealth and beguiling the people, and fought it with fierce rhetoric that often overshot the mark. Only his Preface on Sending Off the Monk Wenchang strikes the true note: "Birds peck with heads bowed, then look about; beasts hide deep and venture out warily, fearing harm—yet even they cannot always escape. The weak are meat for the strong. You and I, Wenchang, live at ease and eat at leisure, drifting through life and death unlike the beasts—can we not ask where our comfort comes from?"4
100
丙申，田弘正奏敗淄青兵於東阿，殺萬餘人。
On bingshen, Tian Hongzheng reported defeating Ziqing forces at Dong'e with more than ten thousand killed.
101
滄州刺史李宗奭與橫海節度使鄭權不葉，不受其節制，權奏之。 上遣中使追之，宗奭使其軍中留己，表稱懼亂未敢離州。 詔以烏重胤代權，將吏懼，逐宗奭。 宗奭奔京師，辛丑，斬於獨柳之下。
Li Zongshi, governor of Cang Prefecture, clashed with Henghai governor Zheng Quan and refused his orders; Quan reported him to court. The court sent a palace envoy to fetch him. Zongshi had his troops hold the envoy and memorialized that unrest made it unsafe to leave his post. An edict replaced Quan with Wu Chongyin; Zongshi's subordinates, alarmed, expelled him. Li Zongshi fled to Chang'an and on xinchou was beheaded at Lone Willow Tree.
102
丙午，田弘正奏敗平盧兵於陽谷。
On bingwu, Tian Hongzheng reported a victory over Pinglu forces at Yanggu.
103
CATEGORY:資治通鑑」
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance”
Footnotes
- (End of Pei Du's reply.)
- (End of Pei Du's reply.)
- (End of Han Yu's memorial.)
- (End of Han Yu's quotation.)