1
資治通鑑第245卷
Volume 245 of the Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance.
2
【唐紀六十一】起閼逢攝提格，盡強圉大荒落，凡四年。
[Tang Records 61] From Efeng Shetige through Qiangyu Dahuangluo—four years in all.
3
文宗元聖昭獻孝皇帝中太和八年（ 甲寅，公元八三四年）
The eighth year of Taihe in the middle reign of Emperor Wenzong, the Yuan Sheng Zhao Xian Filial Emperor ( jiayin, corresponding to 834 CE)
4
春，正月，上疾小瘳。 丁巳，御太和殿見近臣，然神識耗減，不能復故。
In spring, the first month, the emperor's illness eased somewhat. On dingsi he went to the Taihe Hall to receive his close ministers, but his mind had grown feeble and could not recover its former sharpness.
5
二月，壬午朔，日有食之。
In the second month, on the renwu new moon, the sun was eclipsed.
6
夏，六月，丙戌，莒王紓薨。
In summer, the sixth month, on bingxu, Prince Ju of Shu passed away.
7
上以久旱，詔求致雨之方。 司門員外郎李中敏上表，以為：「仍歲大旱，非聖德不至，直以宋申錫之冤濫，鄭注之奸邪。 今致雨之方，莫若斬注而雪申錫。」 表留中。 中敏謝病歸東都。
With the drought dragging on, the emperor issued an edict seeking ways to bring rain. “Li Zhongmin, an assistant director in the Ministry of Justice, submitted a memorial arguing that the years of drought were not due to any lack of sagely virtue on the throne, but to the injustice done to Song Shenxi and the wickedness of Zheng Zhu. The surest way to bring rain now would be to execute Zhu and vindicate Shenxi." The memorial was held at court without action. Zhongmin pleaded illness and retired to the eastern capital.
8
郯王經薨。
Prince Tan Jing passed away.
9
初，李仲言流象州，遇赦，還東都。 會留守李逢吉思復入相，仲言自言與鄭注善，逢吉使仲言厚賂之。 注引仲言見王守澄，守澄薦於上，雲仲言善《易》，上召見之。 時仲言有母服，難入禁中，乃使衣民服，號王山人。 仲言儀狀秀偉，倜儻尚氣，頗工文辭，有口辯，多權數。 上見之，大悅，以為奇士，待遇日隆。 仲言既除服，秋，八月，辛卯，上欲以仲言為諫言，置之翰林。 李德裕曰：「仲言向所為，計陛下必盡知之，豈宜置之近侍？」 上曰：「然豈不容其改過？」 對曰：「臣聞惟顏回能不貳過。 彼聖賢之過，但思慮不至，或失中道耳。 至於仲言之惡，著於心本，安能悛改邪！」 上曰：「李逢吉薦之，朕不欲食言。」 對曰：「逢吉身為宰相，乃薦奸邪以誤國，亦罪人也。」 上曰：「然則別除一官。」 對曰：「亦不可。」 上顧王涯，涯對曰：「可。」 德裕揮手止之，上回顧適見，色殊不懌而罷。 始，涯聞上欲用仲言，草諫疏極憤激； 既而見上意堅，且畏其黨盛，遂中變。 尋以仲言為四門助教，給事中鄭肅、韓佽封還敕書。 德裕將出中書，謂涯曰：「且喜給事中封敕！」 涯即召肅、佽謂曰：「李公適留語，令二閣老不用封敕。」 二人即行下，明日，以白德裕，德裕驚曰：「德裕不欲封還，當面聞，何必使人傳言！ 且有司封駁，豈復稟宰相意邪！」 二人悵恨而去。
Earlier, Li Zhongyan had been exiled to Xiang Prefecture; when an amnesty was declared, he returned to the eastern capital. At that time the eastern capital intendant Li Fengji was scheming to return to the chief ministership; Zhongyan claimed a close friendship with Zheng Zhu, and Fengji had him shower Zhu with lavish gifts. Zhu introduced Zhongyan to Wang Shoucheng, who recommended him to the emperor as a master of the Book of Changes; the emperor summoned him for an audience. Zhongyan was then in mourning for his mother and could not readily enter the palace, so he wore civilian dress and went by the name Master Wang the Recluse. Zhongyan was tall and striking in appearance, bold and high-spirited, accomplished in letters, quick of tongue, and fertile in intrigue. The emperor took an immediate liking to him, judged him a man of rare talent, and lavished ever greater favor upon him. After Zhongyan's mourning period ended, in autumn, the eighth month, on xinmao, the emperor wished to appoint him a remonstrance officer and place him in the Hanlin Academy. Li Deyu said, "Your Majesty must know full well what Zhongyan has done in the past—how can he be placed among your close attendants?" The emperor said, "Surely we can allow him to reform?" Deyu replied, "I have heard that only Yan Hui never repeated a fault. When sages err, it is only because their deliberation fell short or they strayed from the middle way. Zhongyan's wickedness is rooted in his very nature—how could he truly reform?" The emperor said, "Li Fengji recommended him, and I do not wish to go back on my word." Deyu replied, "Fengji is chief minister, yet he recommended a villain to mislead the state—that too is a crime." The emperor said, "Then give him some other appointment." Deyu replied, "That too is out of the question." The emperor turned to Wang Ya, who said, "That would be acceptable." Deyu gestured for him to stop; the emperor glanced back just then, his face dark with displeasure, and the audience broke up. At first, when Ya heard the emperor meant to employ Zhongyan, he drafted a remonstrance burning with indignation; but when he saw the emperor's resolve was firm and feared the power of Zhongyan's faction, he reversed himself midway. Soon afterward Zhongyan was appointed assistant instructor at the Four Gates College; the supervising secretaries Zheng Su and Han Si returned the edict unapproved. As Deyu was leaving the Secretariat, he told Ya, "Rejoice—the supervising secretaries have blocked the edict!" Ya immediately summoned Su and Si and said, "Lord Li just detained me with word that you two gentlemen should not block the edict." The two at once let the edict pass; the next day they told Deyu, who exclaimed in alarm, "I never wanted the edict blocked—if you disagreed, tell me to my face! Why send someone with a false message? Besides, when the censorate blocks an edict, should it still defer to the chief minister's wishes?" The two left bitter and ashamed.
10
九月，辛亥，征昭義節度副使鄭注至京師。 王守澄、李仲言、鄭注皆惡李德裕，以山南西道節度使李宗閔與德裕不相悅，引宗閔以敵之。 壬戌，詔征宗閔於興元。
In the ninth month, on xinhai, Zheng Zhu, deputy commissioner of Zhaoyi Circuit, was summoned to the capital. Wang Shoucheng, Li Zhongyan, and Zheng Zhu all hated Li Deyu; knowing that Li Zongmin, commissioner of Shannan West Circuit, was Deyu's rival, they brought Zongmin in to counter him. On renxu an edict recalled Zongmin from Xingyuan.
11
冬，十月，辛巳，幽州軍亂，逐節度使楊志誠及監軍李懷仵，推兵馬使史元忠主留務。
In winter, the tenth month, on xinsi, the Youzhou garrison mutinied, expelled Commissioner Yang Zhicheng and army supervisor Li Huaiwu, and installed the army inspector Shi Yuanzhong as acting commissioner.
12
庚寅，以李宗閔為中書侍郎、同平章事。 甲午，以中書侍郎、同平章事李德裕同平章事，充山南西道節度使。 是日，以李仲言為翰林侍講學士。 給事中高銖、鄭肅、韓佽、諫議大夫郭承嘏、中書舍人權璩等爭之，不能得。 承嘏，晞之孫； 璩，德輿之子也。
On gengyin Li Zongmin was appointed vice director of the Secretariat and concurrent chief minister. On jiawu Li Deyu, vice director and concurrent chief minister, was sent out as military commissioner of Shannan West Circuit while retaining the chief ministership in title. That same day Li Zhongyan was appointed Hanlin lecturer-in-attendance. The supervising secretaries Gao Zhu, Zheng Su, and Han Si, remonstrance officer Guo Chenggu, and drafter Quan Ju protested in vain. Chenggu was a grandson of Guo Xi; Ju was a son of Quan Deyu.
13
乙巳，貢院奏進士複試詩賦，從之。
On yisi the examination bureau memorialized that jinshi candidates be re-tested in poetry and rhapsody; the court approved.
14
李德裕見上自陳，請留京師。 丙午，以德裕為兵部尚書。
Li Deyu had an audience and pleaded to remain in the capital. On bingwu Deyu was appointed minister of war.
15
楊志誠過太原，李載義自毆擊，欲殺之，幕僚諫救得免，殺其妻子及從行將卒。 朝廷以載義有功，不問。 載義母兄葬幽州，志誠發取其財。 載義奏乞取志誠心以祭母，不許。
When Yang Zhicheng passed through Taiyuan, Li Zaiyi attacked him personally and tried to kill him; staff officers intervened and saved Zhicheng, but his wife, children, and escort were slaughtered. The court took no action, since Zaiyi had rendered distinguished service. Zaiyi's maternal uncle had been buried in Youzhou; Zhicheng had opened the tomb and seized the burial goods. Zaiyi memorialized asking to take Zhicheng's heart as an offering for his mother; the court refused.
16
十一月，成德節度使王庭湊薨，軍中奉其子都知兵馬使元逵知留後。 元逵改父所為，事朝廷禮甚謹。
In the eleventh month Wang Tingcou, commissioner of Chengde, died; the army installed his son Yuan Kui, chief army inspector, as acting commissioner. Yuan Kui reversed his father's policies and treated the court with scrupulous deference.
17
史元忠獻楊志誠所造袞衣及諸僭物。 丁卯，流志誠於嶺南，道殺之。
Shi Yuanzhong presented the imperial robes and other regalia of usurpation that Yang Zhicheng had had made. On dingmao Zhicheng was banished to Lingnan and killed en route.
18
李宗閔言李德裕制命已行，不宜自便。 乙亥，復以德裕為鎮海節度使，不復兼平章事。 時德裕、宗閔各有朋黨，互相擠援。 上患之，每歎曰：「去河北賊易，去朝中朋黨難！」
Li Zongmin argued that Deyu's commission had already been issued and he should not be allowed to choose his own posting. On yihai Deyu was again sent out as commissioner of Zhenhai Circuit, stripped of the chief ministership. Deyu and Zongmin each commanded a faction and worked ceaselessly to undermine the other. The emperor was troubled and often sighed, "It is easy to drive out the rebels of Hebei, but hard to drive out the factions at court!"
19
臣光曰：「夫君子小人之不相容，猶水炭之不可同器而處也。 故君子得位則斥小人，小人得勢則排君子，此自然之理也。 然君子進賢退不肖，其處心也公，其指事也實； 小人譽其所好，毀其所惡，其處心也私，其指事也誣。 公且實者謂之正直，私且誣者謂之朋黨，在人主所以辨之耳。 是以明主在上，度德而敘位，量能而授官； 有功者賞，有罪者刑； 奸不能惑，佞不能移。 夫如是，則朋黨何自而生哉！ 彼昏主則不然，明不能燭，強不能斷； 邪正並進，毀譽交至； 取捨不在於己，威福潛移於人。 於是讒慝得志，而朋黨之議興矣。
Sima Guang remarks: "Gentlemen and petty men cannot coexist, any more than water and fire can share one vessel. When gentlemen rise to office they drive out petty men; when petty men gain power they drive out gentlemen—that is the natural order of things. Yet gentlemen promote the worthy and dismiss the unworthy; their hearts are impartial and their aims grounded in fact; petty men praise those they favor and slander those they hate; their hearts are selfish and their aims deceitful. What is impartial and true is called uprightness; what is selfish and false is called faction—it is for the ruler to tell them apart. An enlightened ruler measures men's virtue to rank them and gauges their ability to grant office; the meritorious are rewarded and the guilty punished; the treacherous cannot beguile him and the sycophantic cannot sway him. When that is so, how could factions arise at all! A benighted ruler is otherwise: his clarity cannot penetrate and his resolve cannot cut through; the crooked and the straight advance together, slander and praise arrive in turn; choice and rejection are no longer his own; power and favor quietly pass into others' hands. Then slanderers triumph and the talk of factions begins.
20
夫木腐而蠹生，醯酸而蚋集，故朝廷有朋黨，則人主當自咎，而不當以咎群臣也。 文宗苟患群臣之朋黨，何不察其所毀譽者為實，為誣； 所進退者為賢，為不肖； 其心為公，為私； 其人為君子，為小人！ 苟實也，賢也，公也，君子也，匪徒用其言，又當進之； 誣也，不肖也，私也，小人也，匪徒棄其言，又當刑之。 如是，雖使之為朋黨，孰敢哉！ 釋是不為，乃怨群臣之難治，是猶不種不芸而怨田之蕪也。 朝中之黨且不能去，況河北賊乎！
Rotten wood breeds worms; sour vinegar draws gnats—when factions arise at court, the ruler should blame himself, not his ministers. If Wenzong truly grieved over factionalism, why did he not examine whether their praise and blame were true or false, whether those they advanced or dismissed were worthy or unworthy, whether their hearts were public or private, whether the men themselves were gentlemen or petty men! If their words were true, their men worthy, their hearts public, and they themselves gentlemen, he should not only heed them but promote them; if false, unworthy, private, and petty, he should not only reject their words but punish them. Had he done so, who would have dared form factions even if invited! He neglected this and then complained that his ministers were hard to govern—as if one neither sowed nor weeded yet blamed the field for going wild. He could not even purge the factions at court—how could he hope to drive out the rebels of Hebei!
21
丙子，李仲言請改名訓。
On bingzi Li Zhongyan petitioned to change his name to Xun.
22
幽州奏莫州軍亂，刺史張元泛不知所在。
Youzhou reported a mutiny in Mo Prefecture; Prefect Zhang Yuanfan's whereabouts were unknown.
23
十二月，乙卯，以昭義節度副使鄭注為太僕卿。 郭承嘏累上疏言其不可，上不聽。 於是注詐上表固辭，上遣中使再以告身賜之，不受。
In the twelfth month, on yimao, Zheng Zhu, deputy commissioner of Zhaoyi, was appointed grand master of studs. Guo Chenggu repeatedly memorialized against the appointment; the emperor would not listen. Zhu then feigned a memorial firmly declining; the emperor sent a palace envoy to present the commission again, but Zhu refused it.
24
癸未，以史元忠為盧龍留後。
On guiwei Shi Yuanzhong was confirmed as acting commissioner of Lulong.
25
初，宋申錫與御史中丞宇文鼎受密詔誅鄭注，使京兆尹王璠掩捕之。 璠密以堂帖示王守澄，注由是得免，深德璠。 璠又與李訓善，於是訓、注共薦之，自浙西觀察使征為尚書左丞。
Earlier, Song Shenxi and censor-in-chief Yuwen Ding had received a secret edict to kill Zheng Zhu and ordered the metropolitan magistrate Wang Fan to seize him by surprise. Fan secretly showed the arrest order to Wang Shoucheng; Zhu thus escaped and was deeply indebted to Fan. Fan was also close to Li Xun; Xun and Zhu jointly recommended him, and he was recalled from Zhexi to vice director of the left department of state affairs.
26
文宗元聖昭獻孝皇帝中太和九年（ 乙卯，公元八三五年）
The ninth year of Taihe in the middle reign of Emperor Wenzong, the Yuan Sheng Zhao Xian Filial Emperor ( yimao, corresponding to 835 CE)
27
春，正月，乙卯，以王元逵為成德節度使。
In spring, the first month, on yimao, Wang Yuankui was made military commissioner of Chengde.
28
巢公湊薨，追贈齊王。
Duke of Chao Gong Cou passed away and was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Qi.
29
鄭注上言秦地有災，宜興役以禳之。 辛卯，發左、右神策千五百人浚曲江及昆明池。
Zheng Zhu submitted a memorial saying that calamity had struck the Qin region and that public works should be launched to ward it off. On xinmao, fifteen hundred troops from the Left and Right Shence Armies were sent to dredge the Qujiang and the Kunming Pool.
30
三月，冀王絿薨。
In the third month, Prince of Ji Kui passed away.
31
丙辰，以史元忠為盧龍節度使。
On bingchen, Shi Yuanzhong was made military commissioner of Lulong.
32
初，李德裕為浙西觀察使，漳王傅母杜仲陽坐宋申錫事放歸金陵，詔德裕存處之。 會德裕已離浙西，牒留後李蟾使如詔旨。 至是，左承王璠、戶部侍郎李漢奏德裕厚賂仲陽，陰結漳王，圖為不軌。 上怒甚，召宰相及璠、漢、鄭注等面質之。 璠、漢等極口誣之，路隋曰：「德裕不至有此。 果如所言，臣亦應得罪！」 言者稍息。 夏，四月，以德裕為賓客分司。
Earlier, while Li Deyu was observation commissioner of Zhexi, the Prince of Zhang's wet nurse Du Zhongyang had been sent home to Jinling for her involvement in the Song Shenxi case, and the court ordered Deyu to see to her upkeep. By then Deyu had already left Zhexi, so he sent instructions to the acting commissioner Li Chan to carry out the edict. At this juncture, Vice Director Wang Fan and Vice Minister of Revenue Li Han accused Deyu of bribing Zhongyang heavily, secretly cultivating ties with the Prince of Zhang, and plotting treason. The emperor was furious and summoned the chancellors along with Fan, Han, Zheng Zhu, and the others to confront them in person. Fan, Han, and the others heaped slander upon him, but Lu Sui said, "Deyu would never do such a thing. If what you say is true, then I too ought to be punished!" The accusers gradually fell silent. In summer, the fourth month, Deyu was demoted to honorary guest of the crown prince with a separate office.
33
癸巳，以鄭注守太僕卿，兼御史大夫，注始受之，仍舉倉部員外郎李款自代曰：「加臣之罪，雖於理而無辜； 在款之誠，乃事君而盡節。」 時人皆哂之。
On guisi, Zheng Zhu was appointed acting Grand Master of Splendid Horses and concurrent Censor-in-Chief; Zhu accepted at last and still nominated Li Kuan of the Bureau of Granaries to succeed him, saying, "If you heap guilt upon me, though I am innocent by rights, in Kuan's loyalty lies service to the throne with utmost devotion." Contemporaries all laughed at him.
34
丙申，以門下侍郎、同平章事路隋同平章事，充鎮海節度使，趣之赴鎮，不得面辭。 坐救李德裕故也。
On bingshen, Lu Sui, vice director of the Secretariat and associate grand councillor, was sent out as military commissioner of Zhenhai and ordered to take up his post at once without a parting audience with the emperor. This was punishment for having spoken up for Li Deyu.
35
初，京兆尹河南賈餗，性褊躁輕率，與李德裕有隙，而善於李宗閔、鄭注。 上巳，賜百官宴於曲江，故事，尹於外門下馬，揖御史。 餗恃其貴勢，乘馬直入，殿中侍御史楊儉、蘇特與之爭，餗罵曰：「黃面兒敢爾！」 坐罰俸。 餗恥之，求出，詔以為浙西觀察使。 尚未行，戊戌，以餗為中書侍郎、同平章事。
Jia Su of Henan, the metropolitan magistrate of Jingzhao, was narrow-minded, impetuous, and rash; he was at odds with Li Deyu but close to Li Zongmin and Zheng Zhu. On the Shangsi festival the court gave the officials a banquet at the Qujiang; by custom the metropolitan magistrate was to dismount at the outer gate and bow to the censors. Relying on his lofty status, Su rode straight through; palace censors Yang Jian and Su Te challenged him, and Su shouted, "You yellow-faced pups dare behave like this!" He was fined a portion of his salary. Humiliated, Su asked to leave the capital and was appointed observation commissioner of Zhexi. Before he could leave, on wuxu he was made vice director of the Secretariat and associate grand councillor.
36
庚子，制以曏日上初得疾，王涯呼李德裕奔問起居，德裕竟不至。 又在西蜀征逋懸錢三十萬緡，百姓愁困。 貶德裕袁州長史。
On gengzi an edict declared that when the emperor had first fallen ill some days before, Wang Ya had called on Li Deyu to hurry and inquire after him, but Deyu had never come. He had also levied three hundred thousand strings in back taxes in western Shu, leaving the people in misery. Deyu was demoted to administrator of Yuanzhou.
37
初，宋申錫獲罪，宦官益橫。 上外雖包容，內不能堪。 李訓、鄭注既得幸，揣知上意，訓因進講，數以微言動上。 上見其才辯，意訓可與謀大事，且以訓、注皆因王守澄以進，冀宦官不之疑，遂密以誠告之。 訓、注遂以誅宦官為己任，二人相挾，朝夕計議，所言於上無不從，聲勢炟赫。 注多在禁中，或時休沐，賓客填門，賂遺山積。 外人但知訓、注倚宦官擅作威福，不知其與上有密謀也。 上之立也，右領軍將軍興寧仇士良有功。 王守澄抑之，由是有隙。 訓、注為上謀，進擢士良以分守澄之權。 五月，乙丑，以士良為左神策中尉，守澄不悅。
After Song Shenxi's downfall, the eunuchs had grown ever more domineering. Outwardly the emperor seemed to tolerate them, but inwardly he could endure it no longer. Once Li Xun and Zheng Zhu had won the emperor's favor, they sensed his true mind; Xun, in his lectures, repeatedly nudged him with veiled hints. Impressed by his eloquence, the emperor decided Xun could help him with a great design; since both Xun and Zhu had risen through Wang Shoucheng, he hoped the eunuchs would not suspect them, and confided his true purpose to them in secret. Xun and Zhu then made the destruction of the eunuchs their mission; backing each other, they plotted day and night, and nothing they proposed was refused; their power and fame blazed. Zhu spent much of his time in the inner palace; on his rare days off, visitors packed his gate and gifts piled up like hills. The world only saw Xun and Zhu leaning on the eunuchs to lord it over others; no one knew they were in secret league with the emperor. When the emperor took the throne, the Right Army General Qiu Shiliang of Xingning had done him a great service. Wang Shoucheng had held him down, and bad blood grew between them. Xun and Zhu advised the emperor to promote Shiliang in order to split Shoucheng's authority. In the fifth month, on yichou, Shiliang was appointed Left Shence Commandant, to Shoucheng's displeasure.
38
戊辰，以左丞王璠為戶部尚書、判度支。
On wuchen, Vice Director Wang Fan was appointed minister of revenue and put in charge of fiscal affairs.
39
京城訛言鄭注為上合金丹，須小兒心肝，民間驚懼，上聞而惡之。 鄭注素惡京兆尹楊虞卿，與李訓共構之，雲此語出於虞卿家人。 上怒，六月，下虞卿御史獄。 注求為兩省官，中書侍郎、同平章事李宗閔不許，注毀之於上。 會宗閔救楊虞卿，上怒，叱出之。 壬寅，貶明州刺史。
Rumors swept the capital that Zheng Zhu was refining an elixir of immortality for the emperor and required children's hearts and livers; the people were terrified, and the emperor was revolted when he heard of it. Zheng Zhu had long hated the metropolitan magistrate Yang Yuqing; he and Li Xun framed him together, claiming the rumor had originated in Yuqing's household. The emperor flew into a rage, and in the sixth month Yuqing was thrown into the censorate prison. Zhu sought a post in the Secretariat or Chancellery, but Vice Director Li Zongmin, associate grand councillor, refused; Zhu then maligned him to the emperor. When Zongmin tried to save Yang Yuqing, the emperor erupted and drove him from the hall. On renyin he was demoted to prefect of Mingzhou.
40
左神策中尉韋元素、樞密使楊承和、王踐言久居中用事，與王守澄爭權不葉，李訓、鄭注因之出承和於西川，元素於淮南，踐言於河東，皆為監軍。 秋，七月，甲辰朔，貶楊虞卿虔州司馬。
The Left Shence Commandant Wei Yuansu and the military affairs commissioners Yang Chenghe and Wang Jianyan had long wielded power at court and clashed with Wang Shoucheng; Li Xun and Zheng Zhu used this to send Chenghe to western Shu, Yuansu to Huainan, and Jianyan to Hedong, each as army supervisor. In autumn, the seventh month, on the jiachen new moon, Yang Yuqing was demoted to aide of Qianzhou.
41
庚戌，作紫雲樓於曲江。
On gengxu the Ziyun Tower was erected at the Qujiang.
42
辛亥，以御史大夫李固言為門下侍郎、同平章事。 李訓、鄭注為上畫太平之策，以為當先除宦官，次復河、湟，次清河北，開陳方略，如指諸掌。 上以為信然，寵任日隆。 初，李宗閔為吏部侍郎，因附馬都尉沈結女學士宋若憲、知樞密楊承和得為相。 及貶明州，鄭注發其事，壬子，再貶處州長史。 著作郎、分司舒元輿與李訓善，訓用事，召為右司郎中，兼侍御史知雜，鞫楊虞卿獄。 癸丑，擢為御史中丞。 元輿，元褒之兄也。 貶吏部侍郎李漢為汾州刺史，刑部侍郎蕭浣為遂州刺史，皆坐李宗閔之黨。 是時李訓、鄭注連逐三相，威震天下，於是平生絲恩發怨無不報者。
On xinhai, Censor-in-Chief Li Guyin was appointed vice director of the Secretariat and associate grand councillor. Li Xun and Zheng Zhu outlined for the emperor a plan for an age of peace: first destroy the eunuchs, then recover the He and Huang frontier, then pacify Hebei north of the Yellow River; they unfolded their strategy as clearly as if it lay in the palm of the hand. The emperor took them at their word, and their favor and authority rose day by day. Earlier, when Li Zongmin was vice minister of personnel, he had become chancellor through the Princess Consort of Shen's ties to the female academician Song Ruoxian and the military affairs commissioner Yang Chenghe. After his demotion to Mingzhou, Zheng Zhu exposed the affair; on renzi he was demoted again to administrator of Chuzhou. Shu Yuanyu, a drafting officer on detached duty, was close to Li Xun; once Xun was in power he summoned him as director in the Right Directorate and concurrent attendant censor in charge of miscellaneous cases to prosecute Yang Yuqing. On guichou he was promoted to vice censor-in-chief. Yuanyu was the elder brother of Yuan Bao. Vice Minister of Personnel Li Han was demoted to prefect of Fenzhou and Vice Minister of Punishments Xiao Huan to prefect of Suizhou, both as partisans of Li Zongmin. By then Li Xun and Zheng Zhu had driven out three chancellors in a row, and their power awed the empire; every old kindness and slight was now settled.
43
李訓奏僧尼猥多，耗蠹公私。 丁巳，詔所在試僧尼誦經不中格者，皆勒歸俗。 禁置寺及私度人。
Li Xun reported that monks and nuns had grown too numerous and were draining the public and private purse. On dingsi an edict ordered that monks and nuns who failed sutra examinations were to be forced back into lay life. The building of new temples and private ordinations were banned.
44
時人皆言鄭注朝夕且為相，侍御史李甘揚言於朝曰：「白麻出，我必壞之於庭！」 癸亥，貶甘封州司馬。 然李訓亦忌注，不欲使為相，事竟寢。
Everyone said Zheng Zhu would be made chancellor any day now; Attendant Censor Li Gan declared at court, "The moment the white hemp appointment appears, I will tear it to pieces in the courtyard!" On guihai Li Gan was demoted to aide of Fengzhou. But Li Xun too resented Zhu and did not want him made chancellor, and in the end the appointment was dropped.
45
甲子，以國子博士李訓為兵部郎中、知制誥，依前侍講學士。
On jiazi, National University lecturer Li Xun was appointed director in the Bureau of Military Affairs and drafter of edicts, while retaining his post as attendant lecture academician.
46
貶左金吾大將軍沈為邵州刺史。 八月，丙子，又貶李宗閔潮州司戶，賜宋若憲死。
Left Golden Crow General Shen was demoted to prefect of Shaozhou. In the eighth month, on bingzi, Li Zongmin was demoted again to registrar of Chaozhou, and Song Ruoxian was ordered to take her own life.
47
丁丑，以太僕卿鄭注為工部尚書，充翰林侍講學士。 注好服鹿裘，以隱淪自處，上以師友待之。 注之初得幸，上嘗問翰林學士、戶部侍郎李玨曰：「卿有鄭注乎？ 亦嘗與之言乎？」 對曰：「臣豈特知其姓名，兼深知其為人。 其人奸邪，陛下寵之，恐無益聖德。 臣忝在近密，安敢與此人交通！」 戊寅，貶玨江州刺史。 再貶沈柳州司戶。
On dingchou, Grand Master of Splendid Horses Zheng Zhu was appointed minister of works and Hanlin attendant lecture academician. Zhu favored deerskin robes and styled himself a recluse; the emperor treated him as teacher and friend. When Zhu first won favor, the emperor once asked Hanlin academician and Vice Minister of Revenue Li Jue, "Do you know Zheng Zhu? Have you ever spoken with him?" He answered, "Your Majesty, I do not merely know his name—I know the man himself very well. He is treacherous and wicked; if Your Majesty favors him, I fear it will do your sacred virtue no good. I stand close to Your Majesty in confidence—how would I dare keep company with such a man!" On wuyin, Jue was demoted to prefect of Jiangzhou. Shen was demoted again to registrar of Liuzhou.
48
丙申，詔以楊承和庇護宋申易，韋元素、王踐言與李宗閔、李德裕中外連結，受其賂遺。 承和可驩州安置，元素可像州安置，踐言可恩州安置，令所在錮送。 楊虞卿、李漢、蕭浣為朋黨之首，貶虞卿虔州司戶，漢汾州司馬，浣遂州司馬。 尋遣使追賜承和、元素、踐言死。 時崔潭峻已卒，亦剖棺鞭屍。 己亥，以前廬州刺史羅立言為司農少卿。 立言贓吏，以賂結鄭注而得之。 鄭注之入翰林也，中書舍人高元裕草制，言以醫藥奉君親，注銜之。 奏元裕嘗出郊送李宗閔，壬寅，貶元裕閬州刺史。 元裕，士廉之六世孫也。 時注與李訓所惡朝士，皆指目為二李之黨，貶逐無虛日，班列殆空，廷中恟恟，上亦知之。 訓、注恐為人所搖，九月，癸卯朔，勸上下詔：「應與德裕、宗閔親舊及門生故吏，今日以前貶黜之外，餘皆不問。」 人情稍安。
On bingshen an edict declared that Yang Chenghe had shielded Song Shenxi, and that Wei Yuansu and Wang Jianyan, together with Li Zongmin and Li Deyu, had formed factions inside and outside the palace and taken their bribes. Chenghe was to be settled at Huanzhou, Yuansu at Xiangzhou, and Jianyan at Enzhou, with orders to escort them under guard wherever found. Yang Yuqing, Li Han, and Xiao Huan were named ringleaders of the faction; Yuqing was demoted to registrar of Qianzhou, Han to aide of Fenzhou, and Huan to aide of Suizhou. Soon afterward envoys were sent after them to order their deaths. Cui Tanjun had already died by then, but his coffin was opened and his corpse flogged as well. On jihai, former Luzhou prefect Luo Liyan was appointed vice minister of agriculture. Liyan was a corrupt official who had bought the post through bribes to Zheng Zhu. When Zheng Zhu entered the Hanlin Academy, drafting gentleman Gao Yuanyu wrote the appointment edict in terms of serving the throne and one's parents through medicine; Zhu never forgave him. He accused Yuanyu of having once gone into the suburbs to see Li Zongmin off; on renyin Yuanyu was demoted to prefect of Langzhou. Yuanyu was a sixth-generation descendant of Shi Lian. By then every courtier Zhu and Li Xun hated was branded a partisan of the Two Lis; banishments followed one after another until the ranks were nearly bare, the court in an uproar—and the emperor knew it. Fearing a backlash, Xun and Zhu persuaded the emperor to issue an edict on the guimao new moon of the ninth month: "All who are kin, old friends, students, or former subordinates of Deyu and Zongmin—except those already punished before today—shall be left unmolested." Public anxiety eased somewhat.
49
鹽鐵使王涯奏改江淮、嶺南茶法，增其稅。
Salt and Iron Commissioner Wang Ya proposed reforming the tea laws of the Jiang-Huai and Lingnan circuits and raising the tax.
50
庚申，以鳳翔節度使李聽為忠武節度使，代杜悰。
On gengshen, Fengxiang military commissioner Li Ting was appointed military commissioner of Zhongwu in place of Du Cong.
51
憲宗之崩也，人皆言宦官陳弘志所為。 時弘志為山南東道監軍，李訓為上謀召之，至青泥驛，癸亥，封杖殺之。
When Emperor Xianzong died, everyone said the eunuch Chen Hongzhi had done it. Hongzhi was then army supervisor on the Shannan East circuit; Li Xun arranged for the emperor to summon him, and when he reached Qingni Post, on guihai he was beaten to death under sealed orders.
52
鄭注求為鳳翔節度使，門下侍郎、同平章事李固言不可。 丁卯，以固言為山南西道節度使、注為鳳翔節度使。 李訓雖因注得進，及勢位俱盛，心頗忌注。 謀欲中外協勢以誅宦官，故出注於鳳翔。 其實俟既誅宦官，併圖注也。 注欲取名家才望之士為參佐，請禮部員外郎韋溫為副使，溫不可。 或曰：「拒之必為患。」 溫曰：「擇禍莫若輕。 拒之止於遠貶，從之有不測之禍。」 卒辭之。
Zheng Zhu sought the Fengxiang military commission, but Vice Director Li Guyin, associate grand councillor, opposed it. On dingmao, Guyin was sent out as military commissioner of the Shannan West circuit and Zhu as military commissioner of Fengxiang. Though Li Xun had risen through Zhu's patronage, once both were at the height of power he grew jealous of him. He planned to combine court and provincial force to destroy the eunuchs, and so posted Zhu to Fengxiang. In truth he meant to deal with Zhu once the eunuchs were gone. Zhu wanted men of distinguished family and reputation as staff; he asked Vice Director of Rites Wei Wen to serve as his deputy, but Wen declined. Some said, "Refuse him and you are asking for trouble." Wen replied, "Of two evils, choose the lesser. Refusal at most means exile far away; compliance brings disaster you cannot foresee." He declined in the end.
53
戊辰，以右神策中尉、行右衛上將軍、知內侍省事王守澄為左、右神策觀軍容使，兼十二衛統軍。 李訓、鄭注為上謀，以虛名尊守澄，實奪之權也。
On wuchen, Wang Shoucheng—right eunuch commissioner of the Divine Strategy army, acting general of the right guards, and head of palace affairs—was named overseer of both Divine Strategy armies and commander-in-chief of the twelve guards. Li Xun and Zheng Zhu persuaded the emperor to promote Shoucheng in name while actually robbing him of power.
54
己巳，以御史中丞兼刑部侍郎舒元輿為刑部侍郎，兵部郎中知制誥、充翰林侍講學士李訓為禮部侍郎，並同平章事。 仍命訓三二日一入翰林講《易》。 元輿為中丞，凡訓、注所惡者，則為之彈擊，由是得為相。 又上懲李宗閔、李德裕多朋黨，以賈餗及元輿皆孤寒新進，故擢為相，庶其無黨耳。 訓起流人，期年致位宰相，天子傾意任之。 訓或在中書，或在翰林，天下事皆決於訓。 而涯輩承順其風旨，惟恐不逮。 自中尉、樞密、禁衛諸將，見訓皆震慴，迎拜叩首。 壬申，以刑部郎中兼御史知雜李孝本權知御史中丞。 孝本，宗室之子，依訓、注得進。
On jisi, Censor-in-Chief and Vice Minister of Justice Shu Yuanyu became Minister of Justice; Li Xun, Bureau Director in War who held drafting duties and lectured in Hanlin, became Minister of Rites; both joined the grand council. Xun was also told to lecture on the Changes in Hanlin every few days. As censor-in-chief, Yuanyu impeached anyone Xun or Zhu disliked and so won a seat as grand councillor. He likewise penalized Li Zongmin and Li Deyu for cliques, and raised Jia Su and Yuanyu—both outsiders without patronage—in hopes they would govern without factions. Xun had been an exile; within a year he was grand councillor, and the emperor gave him his full trust. Whether at the Secretariat or in Hanlin, Xun decided every matter of state. Wang Ya and his fellows rushed to follow his lead, afraid of falling behind. From eunuch commissioners and secretariat directors to palace guard generals, all trembled before Xun and kowtowed on meeting him. On renshen, Li Xiaoben, a bureau director in Justice serving as acting censor, was named acting censor-in-chief. Xiaoben, a clansman, had risen through Xun's and Zhu's favor.
55
李聽自恃勳舊，不禮於鄭注。 注代聽鎮鳳翔，先遣牙將丹駿至軍中慰勞，誣奏聽在鎮貪虐。 冬，十月，乙亥，以聽為太子太保、分司，復以杜悰為忠武節度使。 鄭注每自負經濟之略，上問以富人之術，注無以對，乃請榷茶。 於是以王涯兼榷茶使，涯知不可而不敢違，人甚苦之。
Li Ting, proud of his long service, would not defer to Zheng Zhu. Zhu took Fengxiang from Ting and sent adjutant Dan Jun ahead to comfort the troops while accusing Ting of greed and cruelty on station. Winter, tenth month, yihai: Ting was named grand mentor of the heir and sent into retirement at court; Du Cong returned as Zhongwu military commissioner. Zhu trumpeted his economic genius, but when the emperor asked how to enrich the state he had no reply and proposed a tea monopoly instead. Wang Ya was then put in charge of the tea monopoly; he knew the scheme was ruinous but dared not refuse, and the people bore the cost.
56
鄭注欲收僧尼之譽，固請罷沙汰，從之。
Zhu sought favor among Buddhist clergy and pressed to halt the purge of monks and nuns; the emperor agreed.
57
李訓、鄭注密言於上，請除王守澄。 辛巳，遣中使李好古就第賜鴆，殺之，贈揚州大都督。 訓、注本因守澄進，卒謀而殺之，人皆快守澄之受佞而疾訓、注之陰狡，於是元和之逆黨略盡矣。 乙酉，鄭注赴鎮。
Li Xun and Zheng Zhu privately urged the emperor to eliminate Wang Shoucheng. On xinsi a court messenger brought poisoned wine to Shoucheng's home; he died and was posthumously made grand protector of Yangzhou. Xun and Zhu had risen through Shoucheng yet ended by killing him; people rejoiced at Shoucheng's fall to flatterers and loathed Xun and Zhu's deceit—so the Yuanhe faction was nearly wiped out. On yiyou Zheng Zhu left for Fengxiang.
58
庚子，以東都留守、司徒兼侍中裴度兼中書令，餘如故。 李訓所獎拔，率皆狂險之士，然亦時取天下重望認順人心，如裴度、令狐楚、鄭覃皆累朝耆俊，久為當路所軋，置之散地，訓皆引居崇秩。 由是士大夫亦有望其真能致太平者，不惟天子惑之也。 然識者見其橫甚，知將敗矣。
On gengzi Pei Du, eastern capital intendant and grand preceptor with palace attendant rank, was also named director of the Secretariat; his other titles stood. Xun's appointees were usually brash adventurers, but he also placed men of wide esteem—Pei Du, Linghu Chu, Zheng Tan—veterans sidelined for years, to reassure the court. Scholars therefore hoped he might restore peace, not the emperor alone. Observers, noting his arrogance, foresaw his fall.
59
十一月，丙午，以大理卿郭行餘為邠寧節度使。 癸丑，以河東節度使、同平章事李載義兼侍中。 丁巳，以戶部尚書、判度支王璠為河東節度使。 戊午，以京兆尹李石為戶部侍郎、判度支； 以京兆少尹羅立言權知府事。 石，神符之五世孫也。 己未，以太府卿韓約為左金吾衛大將軍。
Eleventh month, bingwu: Review Court director Guo Xingyu became Binning military commissioner. On guichou Hedong military commissioner and associate grand councillor Li Zaiyi was also named palace attendant. On dingsi revenue minister and budget chief Wang Fan became Hedong military commissioner. On wuwu Jingzhao governor Li Shi became vice minister of revenue in charge of the budget; Assistant governor Luo Liyan was left to run the capital prefecture. Li Shi was a fifth-generation descendant of Li Shenfu. On jiwei grand storehouse director Han Yue became general of the left Golden Crow guard.
60
始，鄭注與李訓謀，至鎮，選壯士數百，皆持白棓，懷其斧，以為親兵。 是月，戊辰，王守澄葬於滻水，注奏請入護葬事，因以親兵自隨。 仍奏令內臣中尉以下盡集滻水送葬，注因闔門，令親兵斧之，使無遺類。 約既定，訓與其黨謀：「如此事成，則注專有其功，不若使行餘、璠以赴鎮為名，多募壯士為部曲，並用金吾、台府吏卒，先期誅宦者，已而並注去之。」 行餘、璠、立言、約及中丞李孝本，皆訓素所厚也，故列置要地，獨與是數人及舒元輿謀之，它人皆莫之知也。
Zhu and Xun had planned that on reaching Fengxiang Zhu would recruit hundreds of strong men with white staffs and hidden axes as a private guard. That month, wuchen, at Shoucheng's burial on the Chan, Zhu asked leave to attend the funeral with his armed followers. He proposed luring every eunuch down to the funeral, then sealing the gates and slaughtering them with his guard. Xun's circle argued that Zhu would claim all credit; they would instead arm Xingyu, Fan, and others en route to their commissions, strike the eunuchs first with capital troops, then remove Zhu. Xingyu, Fan, Liyan, Yue, and Li Xiaoben—Xun's trusted men—were stationed strategically; only they and Shu Yuanyu knew the plot.
61
壬戌，上御紫宸殿。 百官班定，韓約不報平安，奏稱：「左金吾聽事後石榴夜有甘露，臣遞門奏訖。」 因蹈舞再拜，宰相亦帥百官稱賀。 訓、元輿勸上親往觀之，以承天貺，上許之。 百官退，班於含元殿。 日加辰，上乘軟輿出紫宸門，升含元殿。 先命宰相及兩省官詣左仗視之，良久而還。 訓奏：「臣與眾人驗之，殆非真甘露，未可遽宣佈，恐天下稱賀。」 上曰：「豈有是邪！」 顧左、右中尉仇士良、魚志弘帥諸宦者往視之。 宦者既去，訓遽召郭行餘、王璠曰：「來受敕旨！」 璠股慄不敢前，獨行餘拜殿下。 時二人部曲數百，皆執兵立丹鳳門外，訓已先使人召之，令人受敕。 獨東兵入，邠寧兵竟不至。
On renxu the emperor convened court in Purple Dawn Hall. When the officials were in rank, Han Yue skipped the usual security report and said sweet dew had formed overnight on a pomegranate behind the Left Golden Crow hall, and that he had already reported through the gates. He kowtowed twice in ritual joy; the chief ministers led the court in congratulations. Xun and Yuanyu persuaded him to see it himself as heaven's blessing; he agreed. The officials withdrew to form ranks at Manifest Origin Hall. Mid-morning, the emperor was carried out through Purple Dawn Gate to Manifest Origin Hall. He sent chief ministers and secretariat officials to inspect the left review stand; they were gone a long time. Xun reported that the "dew" looked false and warned against premature celebration. The emperor exclaimed, "Surely not!" He sent eunuch commissioners Chou Shiliang and Yu Zhihong with the palace staff to verify it. As the eunuchs left, Xun called Xingyu and Fan: "Come for your orders!" Fan shook and hung back; only Xingyu bowed on the steps. Hundreds in their retinues waited armed outside Vermilion Phoenix Gate; Xun had sent orders for them to enter on command. Only Hedong troops came in; the Binning force never showed.
62
仇士良等至左仗視甘露，韓約變色流汗。 士良怪之曰：「將軍何為如是？」 俄風吹幕起，見執兵者甚眾，又聞兵仗聲，士良等驚駭走出。 門者欲閉之，士良叱之，關不得上。 士良等奔詣上告變。 訓見之，遽呼金吾衛士曰：「來上殿衛乘輿者，人賞錢百緡！」 宦官曰：「事急矣，請陛下還宮！」 即舉軟輿，迎上扶升輿，決殿後罘罳，疾趨北出。 訓攀輿呼曰：「臣奏事未竟，陛下不可入宮！」 金吾兵已登殿。 羅立言帥京兆邏卒三百餘自東來，李孝本帥御史台從人二百餘自西來，皆登殿縱擊，宦官流血呼冤，死傷者十餘人，乘輿迤邐入宣政門，訓攀輿呼益急，上叱之，宦者郗志榮奮拳毆其胸，偃於地。 乘輿即入，門隨闔，宦者皆呼萬歲，百官駭散出。 訓知事不濟，脫從吏綠衫衣之，走馬而出，揚言於道曰：「我何罪而竄謫！」 人不之疑。 王涯、賈餗、舒元輿還中書，相謂曰：「上且開延英，召吾屬議之。」 兩省官詣宰相請其故，皆曰：「不知何事，諸公各自便！」 士良等知上豫其謀，怨憤，出不遜語，上慚懼不復言。 士良等命左、右神策副使劉泰倫、魏仲卿等各帥禁兵五百人，露刃出閣門討賊。 王涯等將會食，吏白：「有兵自內出，逢人輒殺！」 涯等狼狽步走，兩省及金吾吏卒千餘人填門爭出。 門尋闔，其不得出者六百餘人皆死。 士良等分兵閉宮門，索諸司，討賊黨。 諸司吏卒及民酤販在中者皆死，死者又千餘人，橫屍流血，狼籍塗地，諸司印及圖籍、帷幕、器皿俱盡。 又遣騎各千餘出城追亡者，又遣兵大索城中。 舒元輿易服單騎出安化門，禁兵追擒之。 王涯徒步至永昌裡茶肆，禁兵擒入左軍。 涯時年七十餘，被以桎梏，掠治不勝苦，自誣服，稱與李訓謀行大逆，尊立鄭注。 王璠歸長興坊私第，閉門，以其兵自防。 神策將至門，呼曰：「王涯等謀反，欲起尚書為相，魚護軍令致意！」 璠喜，出見之。 將趨賀再三，璠知見紿，涕泣而行，至左軍，見王涯曰：「二十兄自反，胡為見引？」 涯曰：「五弟昔為京兆尹，不漏言於王守澄，豈有今日邪！」 璠俯首不言。 又收羅立言於太平裡，及涯等親屬奴婢，皆入兩軍系之。 戶部員外郎李元皋，訓之再從弟也，訓實與之無恩，亦執而殺之。 故嶺南節度使胡證，家巨富，禁兵利其財，托以搜賈餗入其家，執其子殷，殺之。 又入左常侍羅讓、詹事渾金歲、翰林學士黎埴等家，掠其貲財，掃地無遺。 金歲，瑊之子也，坊市惡少年因之報私仇，殺人，剽掠百貨。 互相攻劫，塵埃蔽天。
At the left review stand, Han Yue went pale and sweaty as Chou Shiliang approached the "dew." Shiliang asked, "Why do you look so frightened, General?" Wind lifted the curtain; armed men packed the hall; at the clash of weapons Shiliang and his party bolted. Gatekeepers tried to shut them; Shiliang's shout kept the doors from closing. They raced to warn the emperor of treason. Seeing them flee, Xun offered a hundred strings to any Golden Crow guard who would hold the hall. A eunuch cried, "Danger! Majesty, back to the palace!" They lifted the palanquin, broke through the rear screens, and rushed north. Xun grabbed the carriage, shouting that his report was unfinished and the emperor must not leave. Golden Crow troops were already on the hall steps. Luo Liyan's three hundred capital patrolmen and Li Xiaoben's two hundred clerks stormed the hall from east and west; eunuchs fell screaming; over ten died; the emperor's carriage inched through Xuanzheng Gate while Xun clung on until Xi Zhirong knocked him down with a blow to the chest. The gates slammed shut behind the emperor as eunuchs shouted long life; officials scattered in panic. Realizing defeat, Xun swapped clothes with a clerk, rode off, and pretended he was merely being banished. No one stopped him. Wang Ya, Jia Su, and Shu Yuanyu went back to the Secretariat assuming the emperor would soon call them to Extended Grace for counsel. Secretariat officials asked what had happened; the chief ministers said they knew nothing and told everyone to go. Shiliang knew the emperor had colluded with the plotters; enraged, he insulted him until the emperor shrank into silence. Shiliang sent deputy commanders Liu Tailun and Wei Zhongqing, each with five hundred guards and drawn swords, out Ge Gate to hunt the rebels. As Wang Ya sat down to eat, clerks warned that palace troops were killing everyone they met. They ran; a thousand secretariat and Golden Crow staff jammed the exit. The gate closed; six hundred trapped inside died. Shiliang sealed the palace gates and scoured ministries for conspirators. Clerks, runners, and shopkeepers caught inside were slaughtered—another thousand dead; blood soaked the floors; office seals, archives, hangings, and furnishings were ruined. Cavalry thousands strong rode out to chase fugitives while troops combed the capital. Yuanyu swapped clothes and fled alone through Anhua Gate; guards caught him. Wang Ya walked to a teahouse in Yongchang Lane; guards dragged him to the Left Army prison. Over seventy, he was shackled and tortured until he confessed to plotting with Li Xun to make Zhu emperor. Wang Fan barricaded his home in Changxing Ward with his own troops. At his gate the guard shouted that Wang Ya's rebels wanted Fan as chief minister and that Protector Yu sent greetings. Delighted, Fan came out to meet them. Urged to congratulate the new order, Fan realized the trick, wept all the way to the Left Army, and asked Wang Ya, "Brother Twenty rebelled alone—why implicate me?" Ya replied, "When you were capital governor you never tipped Shoucheng—so we are here." Fan only hung his head in silence. Luo Liyan was taken in Taiping Lane; kinsmen and servants of the chief plotters were jailed in both army compounds. Li Yuangao, a revenue aide and Xun's distant cousin, was killed though Xun had never favored him. Guards looted the vast estate of former Lingnan commissioner Hu Zheng, using a search for Jia Su as cover, and murdered his son Yin. They raided the homes of Luo Rang, Hun Jinnsui, and Li Zhi and stripped them bare. Jinnsui was Hun Zhen's son; street toughs joined in to settle grudges and plunder shops. Mobs robbed one another until dust blotted out the sky.
63
癸亥，百官入朝，日出，始開建福門，惟聽以從者一人自隨，禁兵露刃夾道。 至宣政門，尚未開。 時無宰相御史知班，百官無復班列。 上御紫宸殿，問：「宰相何為不來？」 仇士良曰：「王涯等謀反繫獄。」 因以涯手狀呈上，召左僕射令狐楚、右僕射鄭覃等升殿示之。 上悲憤不自勝，謂楚等曰：「是涯手書乎？」 對曰：「是也！」 「誠如此，罪不容誅！」 因命楚、覃留宿中書，參決機務。 使楚草制宣告中外。 楚敘王涯、賈餗反事浮泛，仇士良等不悅，由是不得為相。 時坊市剽掠者猶未止，命左、右神策將楊鎮、靳遂良等各將五百人分屯通衢，擊鼓以警之，斬十餘人，然後定。 賈餗變服潛民間經宿，自知無所逃，素服乘驢詣興安門，自言：「我宰相賈餗也，為奸人所污，可送我詣兩軍！」 門者執送西軍。 李孝本改衣綠，猶服金帶，以帽鄣面，單騎奔鳳翔，至咸陽西，追擒之。
Guihai: officials came to court; Jianfu Gate opened only after sunrise; each was allowed one follower; armed guards lined the route. At Xuanzheng Gate they waited in vain for entry. With no grand councillor or duty censor to form ranks, the procession collapsed. In Purple Dawn Hall the emperor asked why no chief ministers had appeared. Chou Shiliang answered, "Wang Ya and his fellows are jailed for treason." He then showed the emperor Wang Ya's own handwriting, and summoned Linghu Chu, Zheng Tan, and others to the hall to view it. Overcome with grief and rage, the emperor asked Chu and the rest, "Is this Wang Ya's own writing?" They answered, "It is." If that is so, he deserves death beyond measure!" He then ordered Chu and Tan to stay overnight at the Secretariat to handle state business. Chu was told to draft a proclamation for court and country. Chu's draft treated the Wang Ya–Jia Su plot too lightly; Chou Shiliang and his party were displeased, and Chu was never made chief minister. Looting in the markets continued; Yang Zhen and Jin Suiliang were sent with five hundred guards each to hold the main roads, drum warnings, and execute a dozen ringleaders before order returned. Jia Su disguised himself and hid overnight; seeing no escape, he came to Xing'an Gate in plain clothes on a donkey, saying, "I am Chief Minister Jia Su, slandered by villains—deliver me to the two armies!" Gate guards seized him and handed him to the Western Army. Li Xiaoben swapped to green robes but kept his gold belt, masked his face with his hat, and fled alone toward Fengxiang; he was caught west of Xianyang.
64
甲子，以右僕射鄭覃同平章事。
Jiazi: Zheng Tan, Right Vice Director, was made Associate Chief Minister.
65
李訓素與終南僧宗密善，往投之。 宗密欲剃其發而匿之，其徒不可。 訓出山，將奔鳳翔，為盩厔鎮遏使宋楚所擒，械送京師。 至昆明池，訓恐至軍中更受酷辱，謂送者曰：「得我者則富貴矣！ 聞禁兵所在搜捕，汝必為所奪，不若取我首送之！」 送者從之，斬其首以來。
Li Xun, who had long been close to the Zhongnan monk Zongmi, fled to him. Zongmi wanted to tonsure him and hide him, but his disciples refused. Xun left the hills for Fengxiang, was captured by Zhouzhi commissioner Song Chu, and sent to the capital in chains. At Kunming Pool, fearing worse torture in camp, Xun told his escorts, "Whoever takes me will grow rich! Palace troops are hunting everywhere—you will lose me to them. Better cut off my head and bring that!" They agreed, beheaded him, and carried the head in.
66
乙丑，以戶部侍郎、判度支李石同平章事，仍判度支。 前河東節度使李載義復舊任。 左神策出兵三百人，以李訓首引王涯、王璠、羅立言、郭行餘； 右神策出兵三百人，擁賈餗、舒元輿、李孝本獻於廟社，徇於兩市。 命百官臨視，腰斬於獨柳之下，梟其首於興安門外。 親屬無問親疏皆死，孩稚無遺，妻女不死者沒為官婢。 百姓觀者怨王涯榷茶，或詬詈，或投礫擊之。
Yichou: Li Shi, Revenue Vice Minister and acting fiscal chief, was made Associate Chief Minister and kept fiscal duty. Former Hedong commissioner Li Zaiyi was reappointed. Three hundred Left Shence troops paraded Li Xun's head before Wang Ya, Wang Fan, Luo Liyan, and Guo Xingyu; three hundred Right Shence troops escorted Jia Su, Shu Yuanyu, and Li Xiaoben to the temple altars and through both markets. Officials were ordered to watch as they were cut in two at Solitary Willow and their heads hung outside Xing'an Gate. Kin of every degree were executed, infants included; surviving wives and daughters were taken as government bondwomen. Spectators, bitter over Wang Ya's tea monopoly, cursed them or pelted them with stones.
67
臣光曰：「論者皆謂涯、餗有文學名聲，初不知訓、注之謀，橫罹覆族之禍，憤歎其冤。 臣獨以為不然。 夫顛危不扶，焉用彼相！ 涯、餗安高位，飽重祿； 訓、注小人，窮奸究險，力取將相。 涯、餗與之比肩，不以為恥； 國家危殆，不以為憂。 偷合苟容，日復一日，自謂得保身之良策，莫我如也。 若使人人如此而無禍，則奸臣孰不願之哉！ 一旦禍生不虞，足折刑剭，蓋天誅之也，士良安能族之哉！
Sima Guang comments: "Some say Wang Ya and Jia Su were men of letters who never knew Li Xun and Zheng Zhu's plot and were unjustly wiped out—pity moves them. I do not agree. If you will not steady a tottering state, what good is that minister? Ya and Su held the highest offices and drew heavy salaries; Xun and Zhu were base schemers who stopped at nothing to seize power; Ya and Su stood with them without shame; they watched the realm in peril without concern. Day after day they clung to office, calling cowardice the sure way to save their skins. If every schemer could do the same without ruin, who would not? When disaster struck, their broken bodies and harsh punishments were Heaven's judgment—Chou Shiliang did not invent their fate.
68
王涯有再從弟沐，家於江南，老且貧。 聞涯為相，跨驢詣之，欲求一簿、尉。 留長安二歲餘，始得一見，涯待之殊落莫。 久之，沐因嬖奴以道所欲，涯許以微官，自是旦夕造涯之門以俟命； 及涯家被收，沐適在其第，與涯俱腰斬。 舒元輿有族子守謙，願而敏，元輿愛之，從元輿者十年，一旦忽以非罪怒之，日加譴責，奴婢亦薄之。 守謙不自安，求歸江南，元輿亦不留，守謙悲歎而去。 夕，至昭應，聞元輿收族，守謙獨免。
Wang Ya's second cousin once removed, Mu, lived in the south, old and poor. When Ya became chief minister, Mu rode a donkey to Chang'an seeking a minor clerkship. He waited over two years for one audience; Ya treated him coldly. Eventually Mu asked a favorite slave to plead; Ya promised a petty post, and Mu haunted his gate morning and night; when Ya's house was raided, Mu was inside and was cut in two with him. Shu Yuanyu's clansman Shouqian, clever and favored for ten years, was suddenly and groundlessly berated daily; even servants slighted him. Uneasy, Shouqian asked to return south; Yuanyu let him go, and he left in sorrow. That night at Zhaoying he learned Yuanyu's clan was destroyed; Shouqian alone was spared.
69
是日，以令狐楚為鹽鐵轉運使，左散騎常侍張仲方權知京兆尹。 時數日之間，殺生除拜，皆決於兩中尉，上不豫知。
That day Linghu Chu became salt-and-iron transport commissioner; Zhang Zhongfang, Left Regular Attendant, acted as Jingzhao magistrate. Within days, executions, pardons, and appointments were settled by the two chief eunuchs without the emperor's foreknowledge.
70
初，王守澄惡官者田全操、劉行深、周元稹、薛士幹、似先義逸、劉英□等，李訓、鄭注因之遣分詣鹽州、靈武、涇原、夏州、振武、鳳翔巡邊，命翰林學士顧師邕為詔書賜六道，使殺之。 會訓敗，六道得詔，皆廢不行。 丙寅，以師邕為矯詔，下御史獄。
Earlier Wang Shoucheng had hated eunuchs including Tian Quancao, Liu Xingshen, Zhou Yuanzhen, Xue Shigan, Sixian Yiyi, and Liu Yingyi; Xun and Zhu sent them on border tours to six posts with edicts from Gu Shiyong ordering their deaths. When Xun fell, all six circuits received the orders but set them aside. Bingyin: Gu Shiyong was jailed for forging edicts.
71
先是，鄭注將親兵五百，已發鳳翔，至扶風。 扶風令韓遼知其謀，不供具，攜印及吏卒奔武功。 注知訓已敗，復還鳳翔。 仇士良等使人繼密敕授鳳翔監軍張仲清令取注，仲清惶惑，不知所為。 押牙李叔說仲清曰：「叔和為公以好召注，屏其從兵，於坐取之，事立定矣！」 仲清從之，伏甲以待注。 注恃其兵衛，遂詣仲清。 叔和稍引其從兵，享之於外，注獨與數人入。 既啜茶，叔和抽刀斬注，因閉外門，悉誅其親兵。 乃出密赦，宣示將士，遂滅注家，並殺副使錢可復、節度判官盧簡能、觀察判官蕭傑、掌書記盧弘茂等及其枝黨，死者千餘人。 可復，徽之子； 簡能，綸之子； 人桀，俛之弟也。 朝廷未知注死，丁卯，詔削奪注官爵，令鄰道案兵觀變。 以左神策大將軍陳君弈為鳳翔節度使。 戊辰夜，張仲清遣李叔和等以注首入獻，梟於興安門，人情稍安，京師諸軍始各還營。
Zheng Zhu had already marched five hundred personal troops from Fengxiang as far as Fufeng. Fufeng magistrate Han Liao, knowing the plot, refused supplies and fled to Wugong with his seal and staff. Learning Xun had failed, Zhu turned back to Fengxiang. Chou Shiliang sent secret orders to Fengxiang supervisor Zhang Zhongqing to seize Zhu; Zhongqing was paralyzed. Yayasi Li Shuhuo told Zhongqing, "I will lure Zhu in, separate his guards, and seize him at table—the thing is done in a stroke!" Zhongqing agreed and set an ambush. Trusting his escort, Zhu came to Zhongqing. Shuhuo drew the guards off to an outer feast; Zhu entered with only a few men. After tea, Shuhuo struck off Zhu's head, shut the gate, and slaughtered his troops. He read the secret edict to the troops, destroyed Zhu's house, and killed deputy Qian Kefu, judge Lu Jianneng, surveillance judge Xiao Jie, recorder Lu Hongmao, and over a thousand associates. Kefu was Qian Hui's son; Jianneng was Lu Lun's son; Xiao Jie was Yuan Fu's younger brother. The court still did not know Zhu was dead; dingmao: he was stripped of rank and neighboring circuits told to hold troops ready. Chen Junyi, Left Shence Grand General, was made Fengxiang commissioner. Wuchen night: Zhu's head reached the capital and was hung at Xing'an Gate; troops returned to camp and the city calmed.
72
詔將士討賊有功及娖隊者，官爵賜賚各有差。 右神策軍獲韓約於崇義坊，己巳，斬之。 仇士良等各進階遷官有差。 自是天下事皆決於北司，宰相行文書而已。 宦官氣益盛，迫脅天子，下視宰相，陵暴朝士如草芥。 每延英議事，士良等動引訓、注折宰相。 鄭覃、李石曰：「訓、注誠為亂首，但不知訓、注始因何人得進？」 宦者稍屈，縉紳賴之。 時中書惟有空垣破屋，百物皆闕。 江西、湖南獻衣糧百二十分，充宰相召募從人。 辛未，李石上言：「宰相若忠正無邪，神靈所祐，縱遇盜賊，亦不能傷。 若內懷奸罔，雖兵衛甚設，鬼得而誅之。 臣願竭赤心以報國，止循故事，以金吾卒導從足矣。 其兩道所獻衣糧，並乞停寢。」 從之。
Merit in suppressing the rebels was rewarded with graded ranks, titles, and gifts. The Right Shence took Han Yue in Chongyi Lane; jisi: he was beheaded. Chou Shiliang and his party were promoted in turn. Henceforth the Northern Office ruled the empire; chief ministers only issued paperwork. Eunuchs grew bolder, coerced the emperor, looked down on ministers, and trampled officials like weeds. At Yanying sessions they constantly invoked Xun and Zhu to humble the chief ministers. Zheng Tan and Li Shi said, "Xun and Zhu were rebels—but who first advanced them?" The eunuchs flinched; the court gentry took heart. The Secretariat held only broken walls; it lacked everything. Jiangxi and Hunan sent one hundred and twenty sets of clothing and grain to fund ministers' retainers. Xinwei: Li Shi said, "An upright minister is guarded by spirits; bandits cannot harm him. But a treacherous heart cannot be saved by guards—Heaven itself will strike him down. I will serve with a loyal heart and ask only the usual Golden Guard escort. Please halt the gifts from both circuits." The emperor agreed.
73
十二月，壬申朔，顧師邕流儋州，至商山，賜死。
Twelfth month, ren-shen new moon: Gu Shiyong was exiled to Danzhou and ordered to die at Shangshan.
74
榷茶使令狐楚奏罷榷茶，從之。
Tea monopoly commissioner Linghu Chu petitioned to end the monopoly; the emperor agreed.
75
度支奏籍鄭注家貲，得絹百餘萬匹，他物稱是。
The fiscal office inventoried Zhu's estate at over a million bolts of silk and comparable goods.
76
庚辰，上問宰相：「坊市安未？」 李石對曰：「漸安。 然比日寒冽特甚，蓋刑殺太過所致。」 鄭覃曰：「罪人周親前已皆死，其餘殆不足問。」 時宦官深怨李訓等，凡與之有瓜葛親，或暫蒙獎引者，誅貶不已，故二相言之。
Gengchen: the emperor asked whether the markets were calm. Li Shi said they were slowly calming. But the cold had been fierce, he said, likely from too much killing. Zheng Tan said close kin were already dead and the rest hardly mattered. Eunuchs still hunted anyone tied to Xun; the two ministers spoke to curb the slaughter.
77
李訓、鄭注既誅，召六道巡邊使。 田全操追忿訓、注之謀，在道楊言：「我入城，凡儒服者，無貴賤當盡殺之！」 癸未，全操等乘驛疾驅入金光門，京城訛言有寇至，士民驚噪縱橫走，塵埃四起。 兩省諸司官聞之，皆奔散，有不及束帶襪而乘馬者。 鄭覃、李石在中書，顧吏卒稍稍逃去。 覃謂石曰：「耳目頗異，宜且出避之！」 石曰：「宰相位尊望重，人心所屬，不可輕也！ 今事虛實未可知，堅坐鎮之，庶幾可定。 若宰相亦走，則中外亂矣。 且果有禍亂，避亦不免！」 覃然之。 石坐視文案，沛然自若。 敕使相繼傳呼：「閉皇城諸司門！」 左金吾大將軍陳君賞帥其眾立望仙門下，謂敕使曰：「賊至，閉門未晚，請徐觀其變，不宜示弱！」 至晡後乃定。 是日，坊市惡少年皆衣緋皁，持弓刀北望，見皇城門閉，即欲剽掠，非石與君賞鎮之，京城幾再亂矣。 時兩省官應入直者，皆與其家人辭訣。
After Xun and Zhu died, the six border envoys were recalled. Tian Quancao, furious on the road, vowed, "When I reach the city I will kill every man in scholar's robes, high or low!" Guiwei: Tian Quancao galloped through Jinguang Gate; rumor of attack sent the city fleeing in dust. Two-department officials fled; some rode off without belt or socks. In the Secretariat, Zheng Tan and Li Shi watched clerks slip away. Tan told Shi, "Something is wrong—we should leave!" Shi replied, "A chief minister is the people's anchor; he cannot run. Truth and rumor are unclear; sitting firm may steady the court. If ministers flee too, inside and outside will collapse. And if real chaos comes, flight will not save us." Tan agreed. Shi sat reviewing papers, outwardly calm. Messengers shouted in succession, "Close every gate of the Imperial City!" Left Gold Crow general Chen Junshang massed his men at Wangxian Gate and told the messenger, "If rebels come, we can still shut the gate—watch how things unfold; do not show fear!" Calm did not return until late afternoon. That day ward toughs in scarlet and black, armed with bow and blade, looked north; when the Imperial City gates closed they were ready to loot. Only Li Shi and Chen Junshang held the line—the capital nearly erupted again. Officials of both departments due for palace duty bade their families farewell.
78
甲申，敕罷修曲江亭館。
Jiashen: an edict stopped work on Qujiang pavilions and lodges.
79
丁亥，詔：「逆人親黨，自非前已就戮及指名收捕者，餘一切不問。 諸司官吏雖為所脅從，涉於詿誤，皆赦之。 他人毋得妄相告言及相恐惕。 見亡匿者，勿復追捕，三日內各聽自歸本司。」 時禁軍暴橫，京兆尹張仲方不敢詰，宰相以其不勝任，出為華州刺史，以司農卿薛元賞代之。 元賞常詣李石第，聞石方坐聽事與一人爭辯甚喧，元賞使覘之，雲有神策軍將訴事。 元賞趨入，責石曰：「相公輔佐天子，紀綱四海。 今近不能制一軍將，使無禮如此，何以鎮服四夷！」 即趨出上馬，命左右擒軍將，俟於下馬橋，元賞至，則已解衣跽之矣。 其黨訴於仇士良，士良遣宦者召之曰：「中尉屈大尹。」 元賞曰：「屬有公事，行當繼至。」 遂杖殺之。 乃白服見士良，士良曰：「癡書生何敢杖殺禁軍大將！」 元賞曰：「中尉大臣也，宰相亦大臣也，宰相之人若無禮於中尉，如之何？ 中尉之人無禮於宰相，庸可恕乎！ 中尉與國同體，當為國惜法，元賞已囚服而來，惟中尉死生之！」 士良知軍將已死，無可如何，乃呼酒與元賞歡飲而罷。 初，武元衡之死，詔出內庫弓矢、陌刀給金吾仗，使衛從宰相，至建福門而退。 至是，悉罷之。
Dinghai: an edict declared that rebel kin and allies, except those already executed or named for arrest, would not be pursued. Bureau officials coerced into complicity or caught in error were all pardoned. Others were forbidden to inform on or terrorize one another. Fugitives were not to be hunted; within three days each might return to his post. The Palace Armies ran riot; Jingzhao governor Zhang Zhongfang dared not press them. The ministers removed him to Huazhou and installed granaries director Xue Yuanshang as metropolitan governor. Yuanshang often called on Li Shi and heard loud quarreling in the hall; inquiry showed a Shence general pressing a grievance. Yuanshang rushed in and rebuked Shi: "You assist the Son of Heaven and govern the realm. You cannot restrain one general under your nose—how will you awe the four quarters?" He mounted at once, ordered the general seized at Xiamaqiao, and found him stripped and kneeling when he arrived. His men appealed to Qiu Shiliang, who sent a eunuch: "The Defender yields to the metropolitan governor." Yuanshang replied, "Official business—I'll come directly." Then he had him beaten to death. He went to Shiliang in plain dress. Shiliang said, "Foolish scholar—how dare you beat a Palace Army general to death!" Yuanshang said, "The Defender is a great minister; so is the chief minister. If the minister's man insults the Defender, what then? If the Defender's man insults the minister, can that be forgiven? The Defender is one with the state and should uphold its law. I come as a prisoner—do with me as you will!" Shiliang knew the general was dead and could do nothing; he called for wine and drank with Yuanshang, then let the matter drop. After Wu Yuanheng's murder, the court had issued inner-store bows, arrows, and mo blades to Gold Crow guards to escort chief ministers as far as Jianfu Gate. Now that escort was abolished entirely.
80
文宗元聖昭獻孝皇帝中開成元年（ 丙辰，公元八三六年）
The first year of Kaicheng in the middle reign of Emperor Wenzong, the Yuan Sheng Zhao Xian Filial Emperor ( bingchen, 836 CE)
81
春，正月，辛丑朔，上御宣政殿，赦天下，改元。 仇士良請以神策仗衛殿門，諫議大夫馮定言其不可，乃止。 定，宿之弟也。
Spring, first month, xinchou new moon: the emperor took Xuanzheng Hall, amnestied the realm, and changed the reign title. Qiu Shiliang sought Shence guards for the hall gates; remonstrance official Feng Ding objected, and the plan was dropped. Ding was Feng Su's younger brother.
82
二月，癸未，上與宰相語，患四方表奏華而不典，李石對曰：「古人因事為文，今人以文害事。」
Second month, guiwei: the emperor told ministers he was troubled by florid, uncanonical memorials from the provinces. Li Shi said, "Antiquity wrote from events; today writing harms affairs."
83
昭義節度使劉從諫上表請王涯等罪名，且言：「涯等儒生，荷國榮龐，鹹欲保身全族，安肯構逆！ 訓等實欲討除內臣，兩中尉自為救死之謀，遂致相殺，誣以反逆，誠恐非辜。 設右宰相實有異圖，當委之有司，正其刑典，豈有內臣擅領甲兵，恣行剽劫，延及士庶，橫被殺傷！ 流血千門，殭屍萬計，搜羅枝蔓，中外恫疑。 臣欲身詣闕庭，面陳臧否，恐並陷孥戮，事亦無成。 謹當修飾封疆，訓練士卒，內為陛下心腹，外為陛下籓垣。 如奸臣難制，誓以死清君側！」 丙申，加從諫檢校司徒。
Zhaoyi commissioner Liu Congjian memorialized on Wang Ya's crimes, saying, "Ya and his fellows were scholars honored by the state; they sought only to save themselves and their kin—why rebel? Xun truly aimed at the eunuchs; the two defenders fought for their lives, then slaughtered each other and branded them rebels—I fear they were innocent. If the chief ministers truly plotted treason, the law should judge them—how could eunuchs lead troops, loot at will, and slaughter officials and commoners! Blood ran at a thousand gates; corpses piled by the ten thousand; networks were hunted; court and country trembled. I would go to court in person to speak truth to power, but fear my family would perish with me and nothing would be gained. I shall ready my borders and train my troops—to be Your Majesty's heart within and bulwark without. If wicked ministers cannot be checked, I swear to die purging the ruler's side!" Bingshen: Congjian was made acting Minister of Education.
84
天德軍奏吐谷渾三千帳詣豐州降。
Tiande Army reported three thousand Tuyuhun households surrendering at Fengzhou.
85
三月，壬寅，以袁州長史李德裕為水除州刺史。 左僕射令狐楚從容奏：「王涯等既伏辜，其家夷滅，遺骸棄捐。 請官為收瘞，以順陽和之氣。」 上慘然久之，命京兆收葬涯等十一人於城西，各賜衣一襲。 仇士良潛使人發之，棄骨於渭水。 丁未，皇城留守郭皎奏：「諸司儀仗有鋒刃者，請皆輸軍器使，遇立仗別給儀刀！」 從之。 劉從諫復遣牙將焦楚長上表讓官，稱：臣之所陳，系國大體。 可聽則涯等宜蒙湔洗，不可聽則賞典不宜妄加！ 安有死冤不申而生者荷祿！」 因暴揚仇士良等罪惡。 辛酉，上召見楚長，慰諭遣之。 時士良等恣橫，朝臣日憂破家。 及從諫表至，士良等憚之。 由是鄭覃、李石粗能秉政，天子倚之亦差以自強。
Third month, renyin: Yuanzhou senior administrator Li Deyu was appointed prefect of Huazhou. Left vice director Linghu Chu gently urged, "Wang Ya and the others have paid with their lives; their families are gone and their bones lie abandoned. Let the state gather and bury them, in keeping with spring's gentle qi." The emperor grieved long, then ordered Jingzhao to bury Ya and eleven others west of the city, each granted a suit of mourning clothes. Qiu Shiliang secretly had the graves opened and the bones thrown into the Wei River. Dingwei: Imperial City commander Guo Jiao asked that edged ceremonial arms of all offices be turned in to the armory and replaced with blunt guard blades when on duty. The court agreed. Congjian again sent adjutant Jiao Chuchang to decline his promotion, saying his plea concerned the fate of the realm. If you heed me, clear Wang Ya's name; if not, do not lavish rewards on me! How can the dead lie wronged while the living draw salary! He openly denounced the crimes of Qiu Shiliang and his faction. Xinyou: the emperor received Chuchang, comforted him, and sent him home. Shiliang and his men ran rampant; officials daily feared their families would be destroyed. When Congjian's memorial arrived, Shiliang and his faction were afraid. Thereafter Zheng Tan and Li Shi could roughly govern; the emperor leaned on them and regained some strength.
86
夏，四月，己卯，以潮州司戶李宗閔為衡州司馬。 凡李訓所指為李德裕、宗閔黨者，稍收復之。
Summer, fourth month, jimao: Chaozhou registrar Li Zongmin was made Hengzhou militia adjutant. Those Li Xun had branded as Li Deyu or Zongmin partisans were gradually restored to office.
87
淄王協薨。
Prince Xie of Zi died.
88
甲午，以山南西道節度使李固言為門下侍郎、同平章事，以左僕射令狐楚代之。
Jiawu: Shannan West commissioner Li Guyan became vice director of the Chancellery and associate chief minister; Linghu Chu replaced him as left vice director.
89
戊戌，上與宰相從容論詩之工拙，鄭覃曰：「詩之工者，無若三百篇，皆國人作之以刺美時政，王者采之以觀風俗耳，不聞王者為詩也。 後代辭人之詩，華而不實，無補於事。 陳後主、隋煬帝皆工於詩，不免亡國，陛下何取焉！」 覃篤於經術，上甚重之。
Wuxu: the emperor chatted with ministers about poetry. Zheng Tan said, "Nothing matches the Odes—commoners wrote them to praise or satirize government; kings collected them to read the mood of the realm. Kings do not write poetry. Later poets' verse is florid and empty—it does not help govern. Chen Houzhu and Sui Yangdi were fine poets—and lost their realms. What is there to emulate?" Tan was steeped in the classics; the emperor valued him highly.
90
己酉，上御紫宸殿，宰相因奏事拜謝，外間因訛言：「天子欲令宰相掌禁兵，已拜恩矣。」 由是中外復有猜阻，人情恟恟，士民不敢解衣寢者數日。 乙丑，李石奏請召仇士良等面釋其疑。 上為召士良等出，上及石等共諭釋之，使毋疑懼，然後事解。
Jiyou: at Zichen Hall the ministers bowed after audience. Rumor spread that the emperor had put them in charge of the Palace Armies and they had already accepted the commission. Suspicion spread through court and city; panic reigned; for days people slept in their clothes. Yichou: Li Shi asked that Qiu Shiliang and the others be summoned to clear the misunderstanding face to face. The emperor summoned Shiliang and his men; he and Li Shi reassured them until fear subsided and calm returned.
91
閏月，乙酉，以太子太保、分司李聽為河中節度使。 上常歎曰：「付之兵不疑，置之散地不怨，惟聽為可以然。」
Intercalary month, yiyou: retired grand mentor Li Ting was made Hezhong military commissioner. The emperor often said, "Give him an army and he is loyal; set him aside and he does not complain—only Li Ting can do that."
92
乙未，李固言薦崔球為起居舍人，鄭覃再三以為不可，上曰：「公事勿相違！」 覃曰：「若宰相盡同，則事必有欺陛下者矣！」
Yiwei: Li Guyan recommended Cui Qiu as palace attendant; Zheng Tan objected repeatedly. The emperor said, "On state business, do not simply oppose each other!" Tan said, "If ministers always agree, someone is surely deceiving Your Majesty!"
93
李孝本二女配沒右軍，上取之入宮。 秋，七月，右拾遺魏謨上疏，以為：「陛下不邇聲色，屢出宮女以配鰥夫。 竊聞數月以來，教坊選試以百數，莊宅收市猶未已； 又召李孝本女入宮，不避宗姓，大興物論，臣竊惜之。 昔漢光武一顧列女屏風，宋弘猶正色抗言，光武即撤之。 陛下豈可不思宋弘之言，欲居光武之下乎！」 上即出孝本女。 擢謨為補闕，曰：「朕選市女子，以賜諸王耳。 憐孝本女宗枝髫齔孤露，故收養宮中。 謨於疑似之間皆能盡言，可謂愛我，不忝厥祖矣！」 命中書優為制辭以賞之。 謨，征之五世孫也。
Two daughters of Li Xiaoben, confiscated to the Right Army, were taken into the palace by the emperor. Autumn, seventh month: Right Reminder Wei Mo memorialized, "Your Majesty keeps away from pleasure and has repeatedly released palace women to marry widowers. Yet for months the Music Office has auditioned hundreds, and the Crown Estate still buys in the markets; you also took Li Xiaoben's daughter into the palace without regard for her imperial surname—scandal spreads. I grieve to see it. When Han Guangwu once glanced at a screen of exemplary women, Song Hong rebuked him to his face—and Guangwu had it removed at once. Will Your Majesty not heed Song Hong—and rank below Guangwu?" The emperor at once sent Xiaoben's daughter out of the palace. He promoted Mo to Reminder and said, "I was only choosing market women to give to the princes. I pitied Xiaoben's daughter—a young orphan of the imperial clan—and took her into the palace to raise her. Mo speaks plainly even on delicate matters—he truly loves me and honors his ancestors!" He ordered the Secretariat to draft a generous commendation. Mo was a fifth-generation descendant of Wei Zheng.
94
鄜坊節度使蕭洪詐稱太后弟，事覺。 八月，甲辰，流驩州，於道賜死。 趙縝、呂璋等皆流嶺南。 初，李訓知洪之詐，洪懼，辟訓兄仲京置幕府。 先是，自神策軍出為節度使者，軍中皆資其行裝，至鎮，三倍償之。 有自左軍出鎮鄜坊未償而死者，軍中征之於洪，洪恃訓之勢，不與。 又征於死者之子，洪教其子遮宰相自言，訓判絕之。 仇士良由是恨洪。 太后有異母弟在閩中，孱弱不能自達。 有閩人蕭本從之得其內外族諱，因士良進達於上，且發洪之詐，洪由是得罪。 上以本為真太后弟，戊申，擢為右贊善大夫。
Binfang commissioner Xiao Hong falsely claimed to be the empress dowager's brother; the fraud was exposed. Eighth month, jiachen: he was exiled to Huanzhou and ordered to die on the road. Zhao Zhen, Lü Zhang, and others were all exiled to the far south. Li Xun knew Hong was a fraud; Hong, afraid, hired Xun's brother Zhongjing for his staff. Formerly, Shence officers posted as commissioners were advanced travel funds by the army and repaid triple on reaching their posts. A Left Army man posted to Binfang died before repaying his debt; the army demanded payment from Hong, who refused, counting on Li Xun's backing. They then pressed the dead man's son; Hong had the son waylay the chief minister to plead; Xun ruled against him. Qiu Shiliang therefore hated Hong. The empress dowager had a weak half-brother in Fujian who could not reach court on his own. A Fujianese named Xiao Ben learned the clan taboo names, reached the emperor through Shiliang, and exposed Hong's fraud—Hong fell. The emperor accepted Ben as the empress dowager's true brother; wushen: he was made right mentor of the heir's household.
95
九月，丁丑，李石為上言宋申錫忠直，為讒人所誣，竄死遐荒，未蒙昭雪。 上俯首久之，既而流涕泫然曰：「茲事朕久知其誤，奸人逼我，以社稷大計，兄弟幾不能保，況申錫，僅全腰領耳。 非獨內臣，外廷亦有助之者。 皆由朕之不明，向使遇漢昭帝，必無此冤矣！」 鄭覃、李固言亦共言其冤，上深痛恨，有慚色。 庚辰，詔悉復申錫官爵，以其子慎微為成固尉。
Ninth month, dingchou: Li Shi told the emperor that Song Shenxi had been loyal and upright, slandered into exile and death in the wilderness, and never vindicated. The emperor bowed his head long, then wept: "I have long known this was wrong. Villains forced me—for the realm's sake my own brothers barely survived; Shenxi was lucky to keep his head. Eunuchs were not alone—men of the outer court helped them. It was all my blindness—had I been like Han Zhaodi, this injustice would never have happened!" Zheng Tan and Li Guyan also pleaded his injustice; the emperor was filled with bitter remorse and showed shame. On gengchen an edict fully restored Shenxi's rank and titles and appointed his son Shenwei assistant magistrate of Chenggu.
96
李石用金部員外郎韓益判度支，案益坐贓三千餘緡，繫獄。 石曰：「臣始以益頗曉錢穀，故用之，不知其貪乃如是！」 上曰：「宰相但知人則用，有過則懲，如此則人易得。 卿所用人不掩其惡，可謂至公。 從前宰相用人好曲蔽其過，不欲人彈劾，此大病也。」 冬，十一月，丁巳，貶益梧州司戶。
Li Shi put Jin Bu vice director Han Yi in charge of fiscal affairs; an investigation found Yi guilty of embezzling more than three thousand strings of cash, and he was jailed. Shi said, "I first thought Yi knew revenue well and put him to work—I never dreamed he was this corrupt!" The emperor said, "A chancellor need only employ those he knows and punish their faults—that is how good men are found. You do not cover your appointees' wrongdoing—that is true impartiality. Past chancellors bent the rules to hide their men's faults and blocked impeachment—that was a grave evil." Winter, eleventh month, dingsi: Yi was demoted to assistant prefectural secretary of Wuzhou.
97
上自甘露之變，意忽忽不樂，兩軍球鞠之會什減六七，雖宴享音伎雜遝盈庭，未嘗解顏。 閒居或徘徊眺望，或獨語歎息。 壬午，上於延英謂宰相曰：「朕每與卿等論天下事，則不免愁。」 對曰：「為理者不可以速成。」 上曰：「聯每讀書，恥為凡主。」 李石曰：「方今內外之臣，其間小人尚多疑阻，願陛下更以寬御之，彼有公清奉法如劉弘逸、薛季稜者，陛下亦宜褒賞以勸為善。」 甲申，上復謂宰相曰：「我與卿等論天下事，有勢未得行者，退但飲醇酒求醉耳！」 對曰：「此皆臣等之罪也。」
Since the Sweet Dew coup the emperor had been restless and downcast; cuju matches of the two armies fell by six or seven tenths, and though feasts and musicians crowded the hall, he never once smiled. In private he would pace and stare into the distance, or murmur and sigh alone. On renwu at Yingying the emperor told the chancellors, "Whenever I discuss the realm with you, sorrow follows." They replied, "Good government cannot be rushed." The emperor said, "Whenever I read, I am ashamed to be an ordinary sovereign." Li Shi said, "Petty men inside and outside court still sow suspicion and obstruction; I beg Your Majesty to govern with greater leniency. Men as upright and law-abiding as Liu Hongyi and Xue Jiling should also be praised and rewarded to encourage others." On jiashen the emperor again told the chancellors, "When we discuss the realm, some plans circumstances will not let me execute—on leaving I can only drink myself drunk!" They replied, "That is our fault alone."
98
有司以左藏積弊日久，請行檢勘，且言官典罪在赦前者，請宥之，上許之。 既而果得繒帛妄稱漬污者，敕赦之。 給事中狄兼謨封還敕書曰：「官典犯贓，理不可赦！」 上諭之曰：「有司請檢之初，聯既許之矣。 與其失信，寧失罪人。 卿能奉職，朕甚嘉之！」
The relevant offices, citing long-standing abuses in the Left Treasury, requested an audit and asked that officials guilty before an amnesty be pardoned; the emperor agreed. The audit soon turned up silk falsely claimed as water-stained; an edict pardoned the guilty. Supervising secretary Di Jianmo returned the edict unopened, saying, "Corrupt officials must not be pardoned!" The emperor told him, "When the offices first asked for the audit, I had already promised amnesty. I would rather let the guilty go free than break the promise I already made. You have done your duty—I commend you warmly!"
99
十二月，庚戌，以華州刺史盧鈞為嶺南節度使。 李石言於上曰：「盧鈞除嶺南，朝士皆相賀。 以為嶺南富饒之地，近歲皆厚賂北司而得之； 今北司不撓朝權，陛下宜有以褒之。 庶幾內外奉法，此致理之本也。」 上從之。 鈞至鎮，以清惠著名。
Twelfth month, gengxu: Huazhou governor Lu Jun was made military governor of Lingnan. Li Shi told the emperor, "When Lu Jun was posted to Lingnan, the court congratulated him. They took Lingnan for a rich post that in recent years men had bought with heavy bribes to the Northern Office; now that the Northern Office no longer meddles in court affairs, Your Majesty should reward him. Then perhaps inner and outer court will keep the law—that is the foundation of good government." The emperor agreed. When Jun reached his post he won fame for integrity and kindness.
100
己未，淑王縱薨。
Jiwei: Prince Shu Zong died.
101
文宗元聖昭獻孝皇帝中開成二年（ 丁巳，公元八三七年）
The second year of Kaicheng in the middle reign of Emperor Wenzong, the Yuan Sheng Zhao Xian Filial Emperor ( dingsi, corresponding to 837 CE)
102
春，二月，己未，上謂宰相：「薦人勿問親疏，聯聞竇易直為相，未嘗用親故。 若親故果才，避嫌而棄之，是亦不為至公也。」
Spring, second month, jiwei: the emperor told the chancellors, "Recommend men without regard to kinship—I hear Dou Yizhi as chancellor never favored relatives. If a relative is truly able, to pass him over from squeamishness is not true fairness either."
103
均王緯薨。
Prince Jun Wei died.
104
三月，有慧星出於張，長八丈餘。 壬申，詔撤樂減膳，以一日之分充十日。
Third month: a comet appeared in the Zhang asterism, more than eight zhang in length. Renshen: an edict halted music and cut meals, spreading one day's ration over ten.
105
夏，四月，甲辰，上對中書舍人、翰林學士兼侍書柳公權等於便殿，上舉衫袖示之曰：「此衣已三浣矣！」 眾皆美上之儉德，公權獨無言。 上問其故，對曰：「陛下貴為天子，富有四海，當進賢退不肖，納諫諍，明賞罰，乃可以致雍熙。 服浣濯之農，乃末節耳。」 上曰：「聯知舍人不應復為諫議，以卿有諍臣風采，須屈卿為之。」 乙巳，以公權為諫議大夫，餘如故。
Summer, fourth month, jiachen: in the side hall the emperor received drafter and Hanlin academician Liu Gongquan and others, held up his sleeve, and said, "This robe has been washed three times!" All praised the emperor's thrift; Gongquan alone kept silent. Asked why, he replied, "Your Majesty is Son of Heaven and owns the realm—you should promote the worthy, dismiss the unfit, heed remonstrance, and make rewards and punishments clear; that is how peace is won. Wearing washed clothes is a trifle." The emperor said, "I know a drafter should not double as remonstrator—but you have a censor's bearing, so I must bend you to the role." Yisi: Gongquan was made remonstrance grand master; his other posts were unchanged.
106
戊戌，以翰林學士、工部侍郎陳夷行同平章事。
Wuxu: Hanlin academician and Works vice minister Chen Yixing was made associate chief minister.
107
六月，河陽軍亂，節度使李泳奔懷州。 軍士焚腐署，殺泳二子，大掠數日方止。 泳，長安市人，寓籍禁軍，以賂得方鎮。 所至恃所交結，貪殘不法，其不下堪命，故作亂。 丁未，貶泳澧州長史。 戊申，以左金吾將軍李執方為河陽節度使。
Sixth month: the Heyang garrison mutinied and military governor Li Yong fled to Huaizhou. The troops burned the granaries, killed Yong's two sons, and looted for days before order returned. Yong was a Chang'an man on the palace-army rolls who had bought a frontier command with bribes. Everywhere he went he leaned on his connections, plundered lawlessly, and drove his men past endurance—hence the revolt. Dingwei: Yong was demoted to chief secretary of Lizhou. Wushen: Left Golden Crow guard general Li Zhifang was made military governor of Heyang.
108
秋，七月，癸亥，振武奏党項三百餘帳剽掠逃去。
Autumn, seventh month, guihai: Zhenwu reported that more than three hundred Tangut tents had raided and fled.
109
給事中韋溫為太子侍讀，晨詣東宮，日中乃得見。 溫諫曰：「太子當雞鳴而起，問安視膳，不宜專事宴安！」 太子不能用其言，溫乃辭侍讀。 辛未，罷守本官。
Supervising secretary Wei Wen was reader to the crown prince; he called at the Eastern Palace at dawn but was not received until noon. Wen remonstrated, "The crown prince should rise at cockcrow, inquire after the emperor's health, and attend his meals—not live for pleasure alone!" The prince would not heed him, and Wen resigned as reader. Xinwei: he was relieved of the readership and kept his original post.
110
振武突厥百五十帳叛，剽掠營田。 戊寅，節度使劉沔擊破之。 八月，庚戌，以昭儀王氏為德妃，昭容楊氏為賢妃。 立敬宗之子休復為梁王，執中為襄王，言楊為杞王，成美為成王。 癸丑，立皇子宗儉為蔣王。
At Zhenwu one hundred fifty Turkish tents rebelled and raided garrison farms. Wuyin: military governor Liu Mian defeated them. Eighth month, gengxu: brilliant consort Lady Wang was made virtuous consort and accomplished consort Lady Yang was made worthy consort. Emperor Jingzong's sons Xiufu, Zhizhong, Yanyang, and Chengmei were made princes of Liang, Xiang, Qi, and Cheng. Guichou: the prince Zongjian was made Prince of Jiang.
111
河陽軍士既逐李泳，日相扇，欲為亂。 九月，李執方索得首亂者七十餘人，悉斬之，餘黨分隸外鎮，然後定。
After expelling Li Yong, the Heyang troops incited one another daily and plotted further trouble. Ninth month: Li Zhifang seized more than seventy ringleaders and executed them; the rest were scattered to other commands, and order was restored.
112
冬，十月，國子監《石經》成。
Winter, tenth month: the Directorate of Education's Stone Classics were completed.
113
福建奏晉江百姓蕭弘稱太后族人，詔御史台案之。
Fujian reported that a Jinjiang commoner named Xiao Hong claimed kinship with the empress dowager; the Censorate was ordered to investigate.
114
戊申，以門下侍郎、同平章事李固言同平章事，充西川節度使。
Wushen: vice director of the Chancellery and associate chief minister Li Guyan was kept as associate chief minister and sent out as military governor of Xichuan.
115
甲寅，御史台奏蕭弘詐妄。 詔遞歸鄉里，不之罪，冀得其真。」
Jiayin: the Censorate reported that Xiao Hong's claim was fraudulent. An edict sent him home unpunished, in hope that the truth might yet emerge.”