Tang Annals 21
Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government, Volume 205
Volume 205 [Tang Records 21] From the year Xuanwu Zhixu (renchen year) to the year Rouzhao Tuntan (bingshen year), a total of five years.
Empress Zetian Shunsheng, the Middle Part, Above, Changshou First Year (renchen, 692 AD)
First month, wuchen day, new moon, the Grand Dowager performed sacrifices in the Hall of Ten Thousand Spirits.
Twelfth month, established the son of the late Yutian king Yuchi Fuhuoxiong, Yuchi Xia, as the king of Yutian.
Spring, first month, dingmao day, the Grand Dowager received the talents recommended by the Cunshen Envoys; whether worthy or not, she promoted and appointed them all. Those of high ability were given trial posts as Fengge Shilang or Jishizhong; those of secondary ability were given trial posts as Yuanwailang, Shiyushi, Buque, Shiyi, or Jiaoshulang. The system of trial officials began from this. At the time, people made a saying: "Buque are carried by the cartload, Shiyi are measured by the peck; Shiyushi are pushed with a rake, Jiaoshulang are turned out from a bowl." A candidate, Shen Quanjiao, added a line: "Those who harbor the Cunshen Envoy, blind the Sagely Emperor." He was seized by Yushi Ji Xianzhi, who impeached him for slandering the court and requested that he be beaten in the court hall and then handed over to the authorities. The Grand Dowager laughed and said: "As long as you people do not abuse your power, why worry about others speaking? His crime should be pardoned." Ji Xianzhi was deeply ashamed. Although the Grand Dowager freely bestowed offices and emoluments to buy the hearts of the people, those who were incompetent were soon dismissed, and some were even punished or executed. She wielded the power of punishment and reward to control the realm; all decrees were decided by herself. She was perceptive and decisive, so the talents of the time vied to serve her.
The deputy magistrate of Ningling County, a native of Lujiang named Guo Ba, sought an audience with the Grand Dowager through flattery and sycophancy and was appointed as a Surveillance Censor. When the Zhongcheng, Wei Yuanzhong, fell ill, Guo Ba went to inquire after him and even tasted his excrement, saying happily: "If the Excellency's excrement is sweet, it is cause for concern; now it is bitter, so there is no serious problem." Wei Yuanzhong detested him greatly and told everyone about it. On wuchen day, appointed the Minister of War, Yang Zhirou, as Tong Pingzhangshi. Yang Zhirou was the grandson of Yang Gongren's younger brother; the Grand Dowager employed him because he was a relative by marriage.
Originally, when Emperor Yang of Sui built the eastern capital Luoyang, there was no outer city, only low walls. By this time, the Fengge Shilang Li Zhaode began to construct it.
The Left Zhongtai Cheng, Lai Junchen, fabricated charges and accused the Tong Pingzhangshi Ren Zhigu, Di Renjie, Pei Xingben, the Minister of Agriculture Pei Xuanli, the former Left Wenchang Cheng Lu Xian, the Yushi Zhongcheng Wei Yuanzhong, and the Prefect of Lu Prefecture Li Sizhen of plotting rebellion. Before this, Lai Junchen submitted a memorial requesting a decree that those who confessed to rebellion upon first interrogation could be spared the death penalty. When Ren Zhigu and the others were imprisoned, Lai Junchen used this condition to entice them. Di Renjie replied: "The Great Zhou has changed the dynasty, and all things are renewed. I, as a former subject of the Tang, am willing to be executed. The charge of rebellion is true!" Lai Junchen then treated him somewhat leniently. The judge Wang Deshou said to Di Renjie: "Your Excellency the Minister will surely be spared the death penalty. I have already received orders to handle matters and wish to seek a promotion. May I trouble you to implicate Yang Zhirou?" Di Renjie said: "Heaven and Earth above, would they allow me, Di Renjie, to do such a thing?" He struck his head against a pillar, his face streaming with blood; Wang Deshou, frightened, apologized.
Hou Sizhi interrogated Wei Yuanzhong, but Wei Yuanzhong's words and demeanor would not yield. Hou Sizhi, enraged, ordered him to be dragged upside down. Wei Yuanzhong said: "My fate is unlucky, like falling from a donkey's back, with my foot caught in the stirrup, being dragged along." Hou Sizhi grew even angrier and dragged him again. Wei Yuanzhong said: "Hou Sizhi, if you need my head, Wei Yuanzhong's, cut it off and take it; why force me to confess to rebellion?"
Di Renjie had already confessed to rebellion, and the relevant authorities were awaiting the approval of the death sentence, so they no longer kept strict guard. Di Renjie tore open the lining of his quilt, wrote a petition for redress on it, and placed it in his padded coat, saying to Wang Deshou: "The weather is hot; please give this to my family to remove the padding." Wang Deshou agreed. Di Renjie's son, Di Guangyuan, obtained the petition, held it, and claimed there was an urgent matter, thus gaining an audience. Empress Zetian read the petition and questioned Lai Junchen about it. Lai Junchen replied: "When Di Renjie and the others were imprisoned, I never removed their belts or robes; their quarters were also secure. If there were no facts, how could they have confessed to rebellion?" The Empress sent the Tongshi Sheren Zhou Ju to inspect. Lai Junchen temporarily lent Di Renjie and the others caps, robes, and belts, had them lined up to the west, and let Zhou Ju inspect them. Zhou Ju did not dare to look but merely faced east and murmured in assent. Lai Junchen also forged a memorial of thanks for the death sentence from Di Renjie and the others and had Zhou Ju present it.
The son of Yue Sixian, less than ten years old, had been confiscated as a slave into the Sinong Temple. He reported a disturbance and gained an audience. The Empress asked him about the situation, and he replied: "My father is dead, and my family is ruined. I only regret that Your Majesty's laws are being manipulated by men like Lai Junchen. If Your Majesty does not believe my words, please select from among the court officials those who are loyal and incorruptible and whom Your Majesty has always trusted, fabricate charges of rebellion against them, and hand them over to Lai Junchen; none will fail to confess." The Empress was somewhat awakened and summoned Di Renjie and the others, asking: "Why did you confess to rebellion?" Di Renjie replied: "If I had not confessed, I would have died under torture." The Empress said: "Why did you write a memorial of thanks for the death sentence?" Di Renjie replied: "There was no such thing." The Empress showed them the memorial, and they realized it was forged. She then released these seven families. On gengwu day, demoted Ren Zhigu to be the magistrate of Jiangxia County, Di Renjie to be the magistrate of Pengze County, Pei Xuanli to be the magistrate of Yiling County, Wei Yuanzhong to be the magistrate of Fuling County, and Lu Xian to be the magistrate of Xixiang County; Pei Xingben and Li Sizhen were exiled to Lingnan.
Lai Junchen and Wu Chengsi and others earnestly requested their execution, but the Empress would not consent. Lai Junchen then claimed alone that Pei Xingben's crimes were especially severe and requested his execution. The Qiuguan Langzhong Xu Yougong rebutted him, stating: "An enlightened ruler has the virtue of giving life to men. Lai Junchen cannot comply and damages virtue and trust." The Dianzhong Shiyushi, a native of Guixiang named Huo Xianke, was Pei Xuanli's nephew. He said to the Empress: "If Your Majesty does not kill Pei Xuanli, I request to die before Your Majesty." He struck his head against the steps of the hall, his blood staining the ground, to show that as a subject he did not favor his own relatives. The Empress did not heed any of them. Huo Xianke often bandaged his wound with green silk, slightly exposing it beneath his head covering, hoping the Empress would see it and consider him loyal.
On jiaxu day, the Buque Xue Qianguang submitted a memorial, stating: "The regulations for selecting talents should obtain true men of ability. The choice between acceptance and rejection concerns customs and moral instruction. The current candidates all claim to be seeking office; they rush about and compete, flattering each other, clamoring and arguing without shame. As for those with literary talent capable of governing the state, they are only tested on policy essays; as for those with martial talent capable of defeating the enemy, they are only tested on drawing bows and shooting arrows. In the past, Emperor Wu of Han saw Sima Xiangru's rhapsodies and regretted not being born in the same era; but when he placed him at court, he ended up only as the Director of the Wen Park, because he knew he was not fit for the office of a high minister. When Wu Qi was about to go into battle, his attendants offered him a sword. Wu Qi said: 'A general is one who beats the drum and wields the mallet, facing the enemy and deciding on critical matters. The business of a single sword is not the general's duty.' If this is so, then empty rhetoric is hardly sufficient to assist in governance, and skill in archery is hardly sufficient to defeat the enemy! The key lies in examining the conduct and ability of civil officials, observing the bravery and strategy of military officials, assessing the quality of their service, and applying rewards and punishments to those who recommended them."
Lai Junchen demanded property from the Left Guard Great General Quan Xiancheng but did not succeed, so he falsely accused him of rebellion and had him imprisoned. On yihai day, he was strangled.
On gengchen day, appointed the Si Xing Qing and acting Prefect of Shan Prefecture, Li Youdao, as the Minister of Winter Works and Tong Pingzhangshi.
Second month, jihai day, more than ten thousand people from the Tufan Dangxiang tribes submitted to the court and were distributed among ten prefectures.
On wuwu day, appointed the Qiuguan Shangshu Yuan Zhihong as Tong Pingzhangshi.
Summer, fourth month, bingshen day, granted a general amnesty and changed the era name to Ruyi.
In the fifth month, on the _bingyin_ day, a prohibition was imposed throughout the empire against slaughtering livestock and against fishing or trapping fish and shrimp. In the Jianghuai region there was a drought, and a famine occurred; the people could not catch fish or shrimp, and many died of starvation. The Right Rectifier of Omissions, Zhang De, whose son had been born three days earlier, privately killed a sheep and feasted his colleagues. The Corrector of Omissions, Du Su, wrapped up a piece of meat cake and submitted a memorial accusing him. The next day, the Empress Dowager, at the court assembly, said to Zhang De: "I hear you have had a son; I am very pleased." Zhang De kowtowed and thanked her. The Empress Dowager said: "Where did the meat come from?" Zhang De knocked his head and admitted his guilt. The Empress Dowager said: "I have forbidden slaughter, but matters of good or ill fortune are not included in this restriction. However, from now on when you invite guests, you should also choose suitable people." She produced Du Su's memorial and showed it to him. Du Su was deeply ashamed; all the court officials wished to spit in his face.
The chieftain of the Tubo, Hesu, led his tribe and requested to submit. The court appointed the General of the Right Yuling Guard, Zhang Xuanyu, as Pacification Commissioner, leading twenty thousand picked troops to welcome them. In the sixth month, when the army reached the western bank of the Dadu River, Hesu's plan leaked out, and he was seized by his own people. Another tribal chieftain, Zanchui, led more than eight thousand Qiang and Man people to submit. Zhang Xuanyu settled their tribe in Laichuan Prefecture and then returned.
On the _xinhai_ day, the Chief Clerk of Wannian County, Xu Jian, submitted a memorial, arguing: "The _Book of Documents_ contains the method of the five hearings; the laws and statutes have the regulation of the threefold re-memorial. I have privately observed that recently there have been imperial edicts to investigate and interrogate those plotting rebellion, ordering that if the envoy's investigation confirms the facts, the culprit be immediately executed. Human life is of the utmost importance; once dead, one cannot be reborn. If by chance there is injustice, and the person silently endures it while his entire clan is executed—is this not heartbreaking! This is insufficient to purge the treacherous and evil or to make clear the canonical punishments; it is precisely enough to encourage the exercise of power and favor, and to give rise to suspicion and fear. I hope this practice be stopped, and that the law be followed with repeated memorials. Furthermore, the appointment of judicial officials should be carefully selected. Those who enforce the law generously and fairly and are praised by the people, I hope Your Majesty will draw near and employ them; those who handle matters harshly and cruelly and do not meet the people's expectations, I hope Your Majesty will keep distant and dismiss them." Xu Jian was the son of Xu Qidan.
The Vice Director of the Ministry of War, Li Zhaode, secretly said to the Empress Dowager: "The Prince of Wei, Wu Chengsi, has too much power." The Empress Dowager said: "He is my nephew, and so I have entrusted him as a confidant." Li Zhaode said: "How can the closeness between a nephew and his aunt compare to that between a son and his father? There have even been cases of sons usurping and killing their fathers—how much more so for a nephew! Now Wu Chengsi is both Your Majesty's nephew and a prince, and he also holds the office of Grand Councilor. His power equals that of the sovereign. I fear that Your Majesty cannot long sit securely on the Son of Heaven's throne!" The Empress Dowager was startled and said: "I had not thought of this." In autumn, the seventh month, on the _wuyin_ day, the Left Chancellor of the Administration and Tong Fengge Luantai Sanpin, Wu Chengsi, was appointed Tejin; the Receiver of the Court, Wu Youning, was made Minister of the Winter Offices; the Minister of Summer Offices and Tong Pingzhangshi, Yang Zhirou, was made Minister of the Earth Offices; all were removed from their Grand Councilor posts. The Vice Minister of Autumn Offices, Cui Yuanzong of Xinzheng, was made Vice Director of the Phoenix Chancellery; the Vice Minister of Summer Offices, Li Zhaode, was made Vice Director of the Phoenix Secretariat; the Acting Vice Minister of Heaven Offices, Yao Shu, was made Left Chancellor of the Administration; the Acting Vice Minister of Earth Offices, Li Yuansu, was made Right Chancellor of the Administration; these, together with the Director of the Guest Receptions Bureau, Cui Shenji, were all made Tong Pingzhangshi. Yao Shu was the grandson of Yao Silian; Li Yuansu was the younger brother of Li Jingxuan. On the _xinsi_ day, the Grand Artificer of Construction, Wang Xuan, was made Minister of Summer Offices and Tong Pingzhangshi. Wu Chengsi also slandered Li Zhaode before the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager said: "It is because I employ Li Zhaode that I can sleep soundly. He toils in my stead. Do not speak of it." At that time, the harsh officials ran rampant; the hundred officials feared them and dared not stand upright. Only Li Zhaode, at court, directly memorialized, exposing their wickedness. The Empress Dowager delighted in auspicious omens. Someone presented a white stone with red veins. The presiding officials asked what was remarkable about it. The man replied: "Because it has a red heart." Li Zhaode said angrily: "This stone has a red heart; do all other stones rebel?" Those around all laughed. A man from Xiangzhou, Hu Qing, wrote on the belly of a turtle with red lacquer the words: "The Son of Heaven—ten thousand years, ten thousand years." He came to the palace gate to present it. Li Zhaode scraped off the writing with a knife and memorialized that the man be handed over for punishment. The Empress Dowager said: "This intention also has no malice." She ordered him released.
The Empress Dowager trained a cat to live together with a parrot and brought them out to show the hundred officials. Before the display was finished, the cat, being hungry, pounced on the parrot and ate it. The Empress Dowager was deeply ashamed.
From the Chuigong era onward, the Empress Dowager employed harsh officials. First, she executed several hundred members of the Tang imperial clan and noble families; then she killed several hundred families of high officials. As for Prefects, Commandants of the Imperial Guard, and those below, the number was incalculable. Whenever a new official was appointed, the palace servants would secretly say to one another: "The ghost's material has come again." Within ten days or half a month, they would be suddenly arrested and their entire clans exterminated. The Investigating Censor, Yan Shansi of Chaoyi, was upright and outspoken, daring to speak bluntly. At that time, the number of informers was beyond counting; the Empress Dowager was also weary of it. She ordered Yan Shansi to investigate and interrogate them. Those found guilty of false accusations numbered eight hundred fifty people. The clique that wove fabrications thereby had its spirit dampened. Consequently, they conspired to frame Yan Shansi, and he was exiled to Huanzhou. The Empress Dowager knew he was wronged, and before long she recalled him and appointed him Director of the Armillary Observatory. Yan Shansi's given name was Zhuan, but he was known by his courtesy name.
The Right Corrector of Omissions, Zhu Jingze of Xinzheng, considered that at first the Empress Dowager had relied exclusively on severe punishments to suppress dissent, but now the dynasty had changed, and people's hearts had settled. It was fitting to reduce punishments and advocate leniency. He therefore submitted a memorial, arguing: "Li Si assisted the Qin dynasty, employing harsh and deceitful methods to slaughter the feudal lords. He did not know to change to leniency and harmony, and in the end it led to a collapse like earth crumbling—this was the harm of not knowing how to adapt. When Han Gaozu pacified the empire, Lu Jia and Shusun Tong used ritual and righteousness to persuade him. The Han dynasty was transmitted through twelve generations—this was the benefit of knowing how to adapt. Since the early days of the Wenming era, when heaven and earth were in chaos, the three uncles spread rumors, and the four villains rose in rebellion, if the methods of the 'hook and trap' had not been set up, there would have been no way to comply with Heaven's mandate and human hearts; if the study of forms and names had not been strictly applied, there would have been no way to destroy the treacherous and quell violence. Therefore, torture instruments were set up, the gate of informants was opened; the shadows of right and wrong inevitably appeared, and hidden intentions were fully exposed. The way of the spirits assisted the upright, and the guilty were all eliminated. The people were at peace, and the court changed its master. Yet a swift run leaves no good footprints; a taut string lacks harmonious sound. The excellent strategies of the past are the already-used objects of the present. I humbly beg Your Majesty to take as a mirror the gains and losses of Qin and Han, to examine what is suitable for current affairs, to look at the dregs that can be discarded, to perceive that the inn must be torn down, to remove the fangs and horns of slander, to blunt the edge of treachery, to block the roots of fabrications, to sweep away the traces of factions, so that the hearts of the empire's people may be greatly delighted—would this not be joyful!" The Empress Dowager thought his words excellent and bestowed upon him three hundred bolts of silk.
The Attendant Censor, Zhou Ju, submitted a memorial, saying: "The officials in charge of interrogation and prosecution all compete with each other in cruelty. They stop up ears, put on head cages, grind with cangues, wedge fingers with wedges, break breastbones, pierce fingernails with needles, hang by the hair, and smoke and burn the ears—this is called 'prison maintenance.' Or they reduce food for several days in a row, interrogate slowly through the whole night, shake day and night, and prevent sleep—this is called 'overnight imprisonment.' These people are neither wood nor stone; to save themselves from the immediate crisis, they seek only temporary escape from death. I have privately heard public opinion, and all say: 'The empire is at peace; why would one bother to plot rebellion!' How could it be that those who are denounced are all heroes, wishing to become emperors and kings? It is merely that they cannot bear the torture and so falsely accuse themselves. I hope Your Majesty will examine this clearly. At present, the whole court holds its breath in anxiety, all believing that Your Majesty is close to them in the morning and considers them enemies by evening, and that they cannot protect themselves. The Zhou dynasty prospered through benevolent governance; the Qin dynasty perished through harsh punishments. I hope that Your Majesty will relax punishments and implement benevolent governance. The empire will be most fortunate!" The Empress Dowager adopted many of his suggestions, and the imperial prison cases gradually diminished.
Although the Empress Dowager was advanced in years, she was skilled at applying makeup, so that even those around her did not perceive her aging. On the _bingxu_ day, an imperial edict said that because her teeth had fallen out and new ones had grown in, on the _gengzi_ day of the ninth month, the Empress Dowager ascended the Zetian Gate, proclaimed a general amnesty throughout the empire, and changed the reign title. She also fixed the ninth month as the day for the Earth God sacrifice. An order was given to establish the Northern Capital in Bingzhou.
On the _guichou_ day, the Tong Pingzhangshi Li Youdao, Wang Xuan, Yuan Zhihong, Cui Shenji, Li Yuansu, the Vice Minister of Spring Offices, Kong Siyuan, and the Chief Administrator of Yizhou, Ren Linghui, were all framed by Wang Hongyi and exiled to Lingnan.
The Left Guard of the Feathered Forest in the Palace, Middle General Lai Zixun, was implicated in an incident and exiled to Aizhou, where he died shortly thereafter. Initially, Wang Xiaojie of Xinfeng County followed Liu Shenli in attacking Tubo, serving as Deputy General Commander, and was captured together with Liu Shenli by the Tubo. When the Tubo Tsenpo saw Wang Xiaojie, he wept and said, "Your appearance resembles my father." He treated him with great courtesy, and eventually Wang was able to return. He was repeatedly promoted until he became General of the Right Brave Guard. Wang Xiaojie had long been in Tubo and understood the true state of affairs there. At the time, the Governor of Xizhou, Tang Xiujing, requested the recapture of the Four Garrisons of Kucha, Khotan, Kashgar, and Suyab. An imperial decree appointed Wang Xiaojie as Commander of the Military Army of Wuwei, joining the Left Grand General of the Martial Guard, Ashina Zhongjie, in leading troops to attack Tubo. In winter, the tenth month, on the bingxu day, they inflicted a great defeat on Tubo, recaptured the Four Garrisons, established the Protectorate General to Pacify the West in Kucha, and stationed troops for defense.
Empress Zetian Shunsheng, the Middle Supreme, the Second Year of Changshou (Gui Si, 693 AD)
In the first month, on the day of renchen (the first day of the month), the Empress Dowager performed a sacrifice in the Hall of Ten Thousand Spirits, appointing Wei King Wu Chengsi as the second offerer and Liang King Wu Sansi as the final offerer. The Empress Dowager personally composed the music for the Hall of Spirits, employing nine hundred dancers.
The palace maid Tuanyuan, favored by the Empress Dowager, harbored resentment against the Heir Apparent. She falsely accused the Heir Apparent's consort, Lady Liu, and Virtuous Consort Dou of practicing sorcery. On the day of guisi, the consort and Virtuous Consort Dou paid a court visit to the Empress Dowager at the Jiayu Hall. After they withdrew, they were killed simultaneously. Their bodies were buried within the palace, and no one knew the burial site. Virtuous Consort Dou was the great-granddaughter of Dou Kang. The Heir Apparent, fearing to defy the Empress Dowager's will, dared not speak and maintained his usual demeanor before her. Tuanyuan then sought to frame the Heir Apparent, but someone informed the Empress Dowager of her scheme, and the Empress Dowager subsequently had Tuanyuan killed.
At that time, informants would entice others' servants to accuse their masters, seeking merit and rewards. Dou Xiaochan, the father of Virtuous Consort Dou, served as the governor of Runzhou. A household slave fabricated a tale of portents to frighten Dou Xiaochan's wife, Lady Pang. Frightened, Lady Pang was advised by the slave to perform nocturnal prayers and sacrifices to avert disaster. The slave then exposed this matter. The case was referred to the Censorate's inspector Xue Jichang of Longmen for trial. Xue Jichang falsely submitted a report, claiming that Lady Pang had engaged in prayers and curses alongside Virtuous Consort Dou. He first wept uncontrollably, then said, "What Lady Pang has done is something a subject cannot bear to speak of." The Empress Dowager promoted Xue Jichang to the post of Jishizhong. Lady Pang was sentenced to decapitation. Her son Dou Xicheng appealed her case to the Attendant Censor Xu Yougong, who issued an order to the relevant authorities to halt the execution and submitted a memorial arguing that Lady Pang was innocent. Xue Jichang then accused Xu Yougong of shielding evil and rebellious individuals, requesting that he be handed over for punishment. The judicial authorities sentenced Xu Yougong to death by strangulation. When the clerk informed Xu Yougong of this, he sighed and said, "Is it only I who will die, while others will never die?" After finishing his meal, he closed his door and lay down to sleep. Others thought Xu Yougong was putting on a brave front and must be inwardly anxious and fearful. They secretly observed him, but he was sound asleep. The Empress Dowager summoned Xu Yougong and said to him directly, "In your recent trials, why have you acquitted so many people?" Xu Yougong replied, "Acquitting the innocent is a minor fault of a subject; cherishing life is the great virtue of a sage." The Empress Dowager remained silent. As a result, Lady Pang was spared execution and, along with her three sons, was exiled to Lingnan. Dou Xiaochan was demoted to be the Sima of Luozhou, and Xu Yougong was also stripped of his official rank.
On the day of wushen, Yao Shu submitted a memorial requesting that the Grand Councilors compile a Record of Current Government, to be sent to the Historiography Office each month. The Empress Dowager followed his advice. The Record of Current Government began from this time.
In the twelfth month, on the day of dingmao, the imperial grandson Li Chengqi was demoted and enfeoffed as Prince of Shouchun, Heng King Li Chengyi was demoted and enfeoffed as Prince of Hengyang, Chu King Li Longji was demoted and enfeoffed as Prince of Linzi, Wei King Li Longfan was demoted and enfeoffed as Prince of Baling, and Zhao King Li Longye was demoted and enfeoffed as Prince of Pengcheng. These were all sons of Ruizong.
In spring, the first month, on the day of gengzi, the Vice Minister of War, Lou Shide, was appointed Tong Pingzhangshi. Lou Shide was generous, honest, and cautious. When others offended him, he did not take it to heart. Once, he and Li Zhaode were entering the court together. Lou Shide was obese and walked slowly. Li Zhaode waited for him several times but failed, and angrily cursed, "You country bumpkin!" Lou Shide slowly smiled and said, "If I, Lou Shide, am not a country bumpkin, who should be?" His younger brother was appointed governor of Daizhou. Just before departing, Lou Shide said to him, "I am ashamed to hold the position of Grand Councilor, and you are also appointed as a regional governor. Such excessive favor and honor are what others envy. How will you avoid disaster?" His brother knelt and said, "From now on, even if someone spits in my face, I will merely wipe it off. I hope this will not cause you worry." Lou Shide said with a troubled expression, "This is precisely what worries me! If someone spits in your face, they are angry with you. Wiping it off goes against their intent, thus aggravating their anger. Spittle will dry on its own without wiping. You should accept it with a smile."
On the day of jiayin, the former Director of the Imperial Manufactories, Pei Feigong, and the Inner Palace Attendant Fan Yunxian were found guilty of privately visiting the Heir Apparent and were executed by waist-cutting in the marketplace. From then on, officials from the highest to the lowest were forbidden to see the Heir Apparent. Someone else reported that the Heir Apparent was secretly plotting rebellion. The Empress Dowager ordered Lai Junchen to interrogate those close to the Heir Apparent. Unable to bear the torture, they all wanted to falsely confess. An imperial musician of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, An Jincang of Jingzhao, shouted loudly to Lai Junchen, "Since you do not believe my words, let me cut open my heart to prove that the Heir Apparent is not plotting rebellion." He immediately drew his sword, cut open his chest, and his entrails spilled out, covering the ground in blood. When the Empress Dowager heard of this, she ordered him to be carried into the palace in a sedan chair. She had the doctors replace his entrails, sew up the wound with mulberry bark thread, and apply medicine. He regained consciousness after a night. The Empress Dowager personally visited him and said with a sigh, "I have a son who could not clear himself, causing you to come to this." She then ordered Lai Junchen to cease the interrogation. Ruizong thus escaped disaster.
The examination requirement for candidates to study the Laozi was stopped, and they were instead required to study the Ministerial Instructions written by the Empress Dowager.
In the second month, on the day of bingzi, King Jin Zhengming of Silla died. Envoys were sent to establish his son, Jin Lihong, as king.
On the day of yihai, private weaving of brocade was prohibited. The Attending Censor Hou Sizhi privately hoarded brocade. Li Zhaode tried the case and had him beaten to death in the court hall.
Someone reported that exiled prisoners in Lingnan were plotting rebellion. The Empress Dowager sent the Judicial Evaluator of the Ministry of Justice, Wan Guojun, as acting Censorate Inspector to investigate. Upon arriving in Guangzhou, Wan Guojun summoned all the exiled prisoners and, under false pretenses of an imperial decree, ordered them to commit suicide. The prisoners cried out and refused to comply. Wan Guojun drove them to a river bend and had them all killed, executing over three hundred people in one morning. He then fabricated evidence of rebellion and returned to court to report, taking the opportunity to claim that exiled prisoners in other circuits must also harbor discontent and plot rebellion, and should not be left alive. The Empress Dowager was pleased and promoted Wan Guojun to Chaosan Dafu and acting Attending Censor. She then sent the Military Secretary of the Right Yiwei Guard, Liu Guangye; the Judicial Evaluator of the Ministry of Justice, Wang Deshou; the Vice Director of the Southern Park Section, Bao Sigong; the Direct Attendant of the Imperial Carriage Office, Wang Dazhen; and the Military Secretary of the Right Wuwei Guard, Qu Zhenyun, all as acting Censorate Inspectors, to investigate exiled prisoners in their respective circuits. Because Wan Guojun had killed many and received rewards, Liu Guangye and the others vied to emulate him. Liu Guangye killed seven hundred people, Wang Deshou killed five hundred, and even those who killed fewer did not go below a hundred. Those exiled earlier for other crimes were also executed together. When the Empress Dowager became somewhat aware of the indiscriminate killings, she issued an edict: "Those exiled prisoners in the six circuits who have not yet died, along with their families, are permitted to return to their hometowns." Wan Guojun and the others also died one after another, or were convicted and exiled.
Lai Junchen falsely accused the Minister of Winter Offices, Su Gan, of secretly colluding with Langye King Li Chong in Weizhou. In summer, the fourth month, on the day of yiwei, Su Gan was executed.
In the fifth month, on the day of guichou, the Di River flooded, inundating over two thousand households.
In autumn, the ninth month, on the day of dinghai (the first day of the month), a solar eclipse occurred.
Wei King Wu Chengsi and over five thousand others submitted a memorial requesting that the Empress Dowager be honored with the title of Golden Wheel Sacred and Divine Emperor.
On the day of yiwei, the Empress Dowager went to the Wei Xiang Spirit Hall, accepted the honorific title, and granted a general amnesty. Seven precious objects, including the Golden Wheel, were made. Whenever court was held, they were displayed in the hall.
On the day of gengzi, the posthumous title of Zhaoan Emperor was elevated to Hunyuan Zhaoan Emperor, Wenmu Emperor to Liji Wenmu Emperor, and Xiaoming Gao Emperor to Wushang Xiaoming Gao Emperor. The honorific titles of the empresses were fixed accordingly.
On the day of xinchou, the Left Director of the Department of State Affairs and Tong Pingzhangshi, Yao Shu, was appointed Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial and relieved of his Grand Councilor duties. The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, Dou Lu Qinwang of Wannian, was appointed Neishi; the Left Director of the Department of State Affairs, Wei Juyuan, was appointed Tong Pingzhangshi; and the Vice Minister of Autumn Offices, Lu Yuanfang of Wu, was appointed Vice Director of the Phoenix Secretariat and Tong Pingzhangshi. Wei Juyuan was the great-great-grandson of Wei Xiaokuan.
Empress Zetian Shunsheng, Middle Part, Yanzai Year (Jiawu, 694 CE)
In the first month, on the day of bingxu, the Empress Dowager performed a sacrifice in the Hall of Ten Thousand Spirits. The Turkic Qaghan Gudulu died. His son was young, and his younger brother, Mo Chuo, established himself as Qaghan. In the twelfth month, on the day of jiaxu, Mo Chuo invaded Lingzhou. The Shiwei rebelled. The court sent the Great General of the Right Yiwei Guard, Li Duozuo, to defeat them.
In the first month of spring, Lou Shide was appointed as the Commissioner for Agricultural Colonies of the Heyuan and other armies.
In the second month, Wang Xiaojie, the General-in-Chief of the Wuwei Circuit, defeated the forces of the’s Bolewen Zanren and the Turkic Khagan Tuizi and others, each numbering over thirty thousand, at Lingquan and Daling. Han Sizhong, the Defender of the Suiye Garrison, defeated the Nishijin and others, numbering over ten thousand.
On the Gengwu day, the monk Huaiyi was appointed as the Grand General-in-Chief of the Daibei Circuit March to campaign against Močuo.
In the third month, on the Jia Shen day, Su Weidao, the Secretary of the Phoenix Pavilion, was appointed as Vice Director of the Phoenix Pavilion and co-chief minister. Li Zhaode was appointed as acting Inner Secretary. The monk Huaiyi was reassigned as the Grand General-in-Chief of the Shuofang Circuit March, with Li Zhaode as Senior Administrator and Su Weidao as Adjutant, leading eighteen generals including Qibi Ming, Cao Renshi, and Shazha Zhongyi to campaign against Močuo. Before the army set out, the enemy withdrew, so the campaign was halted. Li Zhaode had once discussed affairs with Huaiyi, which displeased Huaiyi, who then flogged him; Li Zhaode, terrified, begged for forgiveness.
In the fourth month of summer, on the Renxu day, Wang Xiaojie, the Minister of War and Grand General-in-Chief of the Wuwei Circuit, was appointed as a co-chief minister of the Phoenix and Censorate.
In the fifth month, Wei Chengsi, the Prince of Wei, and over twenty-six thousand others presented the honorific title “Yuegu Jinlun Sheng Shen Huangdi” (Surpassing Antiquity, Golden Wheel, Holy, Divine Emperor). On the Jiawu day, the Empress Dowager personally ascended the Tianmen Tower to accept the honorific title, granted a general amnesty, and changed the reign name.
During the Tian Shou era, the court sent Pei Huaihu, the Censor of Surveillance from Shouchun, to pacify the southwestern barbarians. In the sixth month, on the Guichou day, the Yongchang barbarian chieftain Xunqi led two hundred thousand households of his tribe to submit to the court.
In Henan, an old nun lived at the Qilin Temple in the Divine Capital. Together with Wei Shifang, a man from Songshan, and others, she deluded people with absurd and deceptive words. The old nun claimed to be the “Pure Light Tathāgata” and said she could predict the future. Wei Shifang claimed to have been born in the first year of the Chiwu era of Wu. There was also an old barbarian who claimed to be five hundred years old, saying he had seen Master Xue (Huaiyi) for two hundred years, yet his appearance was even younger. The Empress Dowager deeply trusted and valued them, granting Wei Shifang the surname Wu. In the autumn, seventh month, on the Guiwei day, Wei Shifang was appointed as Grand Admonisher and co-chief minister. The edict stated: “He surpasses Guangchengzi of the Xuanyuan era and excels over the Old Man of the River from the Han dynasty.” In the eighth month, Wei Shifang requested to return to the mountains, and the Empress Dowager issued an edict relieving him of his post and sending him back.
On the Wuchen day, Wang Xiaojie was appointed as the Grand General-in-Chief of the Hanhai Circuit March, still under the command of Xue Huaiyi, the Grand General-in-Chief of the Shuofang Circuit March.
On the Jisi day, Yao Shu, the Junior Minister of Protocol, was appointed as Grand Master of Remonstrance; Yang Zaisi of Yuanyuan, the Left Censor-in-Chief, was appointed as Vice Director of the Censorate; and Du Jingjian, the Adjutant of Luozhou, was appointed as Vice Director of the Phoenix Pavilion, all as co-chief ministers.
Dou Lu Qinwang requested that officials of the ninth rank and above in the capital contribute two months’ salary to supply military needs and circulated a notice to all officials to submit a memorial of agreement. The officials merely went to submit the memorial, unaware of the matter. Wang Qiuli, a Reminder, said to Dou Lu Qinwang: “Your Excellency has abundant emoluments; losing a portion is no harm. But minor officials are poor and distressed—why not let them know the reason instead of deceiving and extorting them?” Dou Lu Qinwang scowled and rejected him. After the memorial was submitted, Wang Qiuli addressed the Empress Dowager: “Your Majesty possesses all within the four seas, and the military and state have ample reserves. Why must you borrow from the poor salaries of ninth-rank officials through deception and extortion?” Yao Shu said, “Wang Qiuli does not understand the greater principles.” Wang Qiuli replied, “Does someone like Yao Shu count as understanding the greater principles?” The matter was then dropped.
On the Wuyin day, Cui Yuanzong, the Vice Director of the Censorate and co-chief minister, was found guilty of some offense and exiled to Zhenzhou.
Wu Sansi led the chieftains of the four barbarians in requesting the casting of a copper-iron celestial pillar to be erected outside the Duan Gate, engraved with inscriptions to record merits, denigrating the Tang and glorifying the Zhou. Yao Shu was appointed as the supervisor of the work. The various barbarians collected billions of cash, but even after purchasing copper and iron, it was still insufficient, so they levied farm tools from the people to make up the shortfall.
In the ninth month, on the Renwu day, which was the first day of the month, a solar eclipse occurred. Lai Junchen, the Director of the Palace Secretariat, was demoted to Administrative Assistant of Tongzhou for corruption. Wang Hongyi was exiled to Qiongzhou. He falsely claimed to have been recalled by an imperial edict. When he reached the north of the Han River, the Censor Hu Yuanli encountered him, investigated, and uncovered his fraud, then executed him by caning.
Li Zhaode, the Inner Secretary, relied on the Empress Dowager’s trust and favor, acting with considerable arrogance and willfulness, which made him hated by many. Qiu Yin, a former Administrator of the Lu Prince’s Palace, submitted a memorial impeaching him, stating in part: “Before the Tian Shou era, Your Majesty made all decisions alone. Since the Chang Shou era, you have entrusted Li Zhaode with participating in confidential matters, offering advice on what to adopt and what to reject. When matters are convenient, he does not pre-consult or plan, but waits until the day of decision to raise objections. He flaunts his authority and arbitrary decisions, showing off to others, taking credit for good outcomes and blaming others for faults—this is not proper in principle.” It also said: “I observe that his audacity is greater than his body, and the breath from his nose reaches the clouds above.” It further said: “An ant’s nest can breach a dike, a needle’s point can release vital energy; once power is lost, it is extremely difficult to reclaim.” Deng Zhu, a Commander of the Guard, also wrote a “Treatise on Stones” of several thousand words, describing Li Zhaode’s abuse of power. Feng Hongmin, the Secretary of the Phoenix Pavilion, took it and presented it to the Empress Dowager, who consequently became disgusted with Li Zhaode. On the Renyin day, Li Zhaode was demoted to Commandant of Nanbin, and soon after, he was reprieved from death and exiled.
The Empress Dowager showed a pear blossom to the chief ministers, all of whom considered it an auspicious omen. Only Du Jingjian said: “Now the grasses and trees are withered and falling, yet this flower has bloomed again. This reversal of yin and yang is untimely, and the fault lies with us ministers.” He then bowed and apologized. The Empress Dowager said, “You are truly a true prime minister!”
In the winter, tenth month, on the Renshen day, Li Yuansu, the Right Director of the Chancellery, was appointed as Vice Director of the Phoenix Pavilion, and Zhou Yunyuan of Yuzhou, the Right Censor-in-Chief, was appointed as acting Vice Director of the Phoenix Pavilion, both as co-chief ministers.
The Liao barbarians in Lingnan rebelled. Zhang Xuan’yu, the Governor of Rongzhou, was appointed as the Commissioner for Pacification of the Gui and Yong Circuits to campaign against them.
Tian Ce Wan Sui first year of the Holy Empress Zetian Shunsheng (Yiwei, 695 AD)
In the first month, on the Xinsi day, which was the first day of the month, the Empress Dowager added the honorific title “Cishi Yuegu Jinlun Sheng Shen Huangdi” (Compassionate, Surpassing Antiquity, Golden Wheel, Holy, Divine Emperor), granted a general amnesty, and changed the reign name to Zhengsheng. Zhou Yunyuan and Huangfu Wenbei, the Junior Minister of Punishments, jointly submitted a memorial stating that Dou Lu Qinwang, the Inner Secretary; Wei Juyuan, Du Jingjian, Su Weidao, and Lu Yuanfang, all co-chief ministers, had catered to Li Zhaode and failed to correct the administration. Qinwang was demoted to Governor of Zhaozhou, Juyuan to Governor of Linzhou, Jingjian to Governor of Zhenzhou, Weidao to Governor of Jizhou, and Yuanfang to Governor of Suizhou. Initially, after the Bright Hall was completed, the Empress Dowager ordered the monk Huaiyi to create a large Buddha statue of ramie and lacquer. The little finger of the statue could hold several dozen people. A Heavenly Hall was built north of the Bright Hall to house the statue. When the Heavenly Hall was first constructed, it was blown down by the wind. It was rebuilt, employing tens of thousands of laborers daily, gathering timber from the Jiang and Ling regions. Over several years, the expenditure amounted to trillions of cash, emptying the state treasury. Huaiyi squandered money like dirt, and the Empress Dowager completely indulged him, not interfering. Each time a grand almsgiving ceremony was held, it cost tens of thousands of strings of cash. Men and women gathered in crowds, and ten carts of cash were scattered for people to scramble for, with some being trampled to death. Public and private lands and houses across the country were mostly occupied by monks. Huaiyi greatly disliked entering the palace, often staying at White Horse Monastery, where he tonsured over a thousand strong men as monks. The Censor Zhou Ju suspected him of plotting treachery and firmly requested an investigation. The Empress Dowager said: “You may withdraw for now; I will immediately order him to go.”
When Zhou Ju returned to the Censorate, Huaiyi also arrived, riding his horse up the steps, dismounting, and lying down bare-chested. Zhou Ju summoned officials to prepare to investigate him, but he immediately leaped onto his horse and left. Zhou Ju reported the situation in detail to the Empress Dowager, who said: “This Daoist is afflicted with madness; it is not worth pursuing. As for the monks he tonsured, you may handle them.” They were all exiled to remote border prefectures. Zhou Ju was promoted to Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel.
On the yìwèi day, a non-obstruction Dharma assembly was held in the court. A pit was dug in the ground, five zhang deep, and palaces were constructed with colored silk. Buddha images were all brought out from the pit, claiming they emerged from the earth. Then oxen were killed for blood to paint a large Buddha image, with the head two hundred chi high, said to have been painted using blood from Huaiyi’s knees. On the bǐngshēn day, the Buddha images were displayed south of Tianjin Bridge, and a vegetarian feast was provided. At that time, the imperial physician Shen Nanqiu also gained the Empress Dowager’s favor. Huaiyi harbored resentment. That night, he secretly set fire to the Hall of Heaven, and the flames spread to the Hall of Light. The firelight made the city as bright as day, and by dawn it was all burned down. A violent wind tore the blood image into hundreds of pieces. The Empress Dowager, feeling ashamed, concealed the matter, merely saying that workmen inside the palace had accidentally burned the hemp-cloth Buddha image, thereby affecting the Hall of Light. At the time, a banquet was being held. The Left Remembrancer Liu Chengqing requested that court sessions and banquets be stopped to respond to Heaven’s reprimand. The Empress Dowager was about to follow this advice. Yao Shu said, “In ancient times, when the Xuan Xie of Cheng Zhou caught fire, divination held that the dynasty’s fortune would be even more prosperous. When the Jianzhang Palace of Emperor Wu of Han burned, his abundant virtue became even more enduring. Now the Hall of Light is a place for issuing government decrees, not an ancestral temple. There is no need to demean ourselves.” The Empress Dowager then personally went to the Duan Gate and watched the banquet as usual. She ordered the rebuilding of the Hall of Light and the Hall of Heaven, still appointing Huaiyi as the commissioner. She also cast bronze Nine Tripods of the Nine Provinces and the Twelve Spirits, each one zhang tall, and placed them in their corresponding directions.
Previously, an old nun in Henei ate only one hemp seed and one grain of millet during the day, but at night she feasted and reveled. She took in over a hundred disciples, and engaged in every kind of lewd and depraved act. Wu Shifang claimed he could concoct an elixir of immortality, and the Empress Dowager sent him by courier to Lingnan to gather herbs. When the Hall of Light caught fire, the nun entered the palace to offer condolences. The Empress Dowager angrily rebuked her, saying, “You always said you could foretell the future. Why did you not say the Hall of Light would catch fire?” She then expelled her back to Henei, and the disciples and Hu monks all scattered. Someone further exposed their depravity, so the Empress Dowager again summoned the nun back to the Linzhi Temple. When all the disciples gathered, the Empress Dowager ordered the palace attendants to make a sudden arrest, capturing them all and enslaving them as government bondwomen. Wu Shifang returned and, upon reaching Yanshi, heard that the matter had been exposed and hanged himself.
On the gēngzǐ day, the burning of the Hall of Light was reported to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and an edict was issued seeking frank advice. Liu Chengqing submitted a memorial, saying: “Since the fire started from the hemp-cloth Buddha image and then spread to the Zongzhang Hall, the Buddhist temples being built are likely to waste labor and money without benefit. I request they be halted. Moreover, the Hall of Light is used to harmonize Heaven and man. Once it is destroyed, how can your subjects have the heart to continue holding banquets? Mixing joy and sorrow harms one’s nature. Further, Your Majesty has issued an edict to broadly seek opinions, allowing the presentation of truth, but the Left Scribe Zhang Ding now claims that since the fire flowed over the King’s chamber, it further manifests the auspiciousness of the Great Zhou. The Communication Attendant Feng Min memorializes that when Maitreya attained Buddhahood, the demon king burned his palace, and the seven-jeweled terrace instantly scattered. These are truly sycophantic and false heretical words, not the proper discourse of a sovereign and minister. I earnestly beg Your Majesty to be diligent and vigilant, and not to violate the hearts of Heaven and man by undertaking urgent projects. Then the myriad people will receive grace, and blessings and emoluments will be boundless.”
The Registrar of Huojia, Pengcheng native Liu Zhiji, submitted a memorial presenting four matters. The first said: “At the beginning of the imperial enterprise, when Heaven and Earth were opened, and when a successor ascended the throne and the people were renewed, it was necessary at that time to rely on extraordinary celebrations to proclaim the grace of re-creation. Now the realm is peaceful, but amnesties are unceasing. In recent times, there are two a year; in earlier times, every year. As for those who violate the law and defy propriety, the rogues and the unscrupulous, among the people those who live by robbery and theft, and among officials those who seek bribes and embezzlement—on New Year’s morning, they await Heaven’s favor; on the Double Ninth Festival, they look for the imperial grace to descend. According to their calculations, they are all indeed released and pardoned. Some cases have already been concluded and the crimes are about to be sentenced, but they secretly bribe and scheme, deliberately delaying, and in the end they all obtain clemency. This causes customs to be mostly perverse and rebellious, the times to have few honest and upright men. Those who do good receive no favor, while those who do evil alone enjoy good fortune. An ancient saying goes: ‘The good fortune of the petty man is the misfortune of the gentleman.’ This is what is meant. I hope that from now on, Your Majesty will slightly restrain amnesties, so that the people know the prohibitions and the wicked are purified.” The second said: “Within the seas, all officials of the ninth rank and above, whenever they encounter an amnesty, are invariably granted ranks and decorations. As for court and field gatherings, public and private feasts, those wearing crimson robes outnumber those wearing blue, and ivory tablets outnumber wooden tablets. All this glory is not obtained through virtue, and official positions are rarely filled due to talent. No one knows what is beautiful or ugly, what is good or evil. I hope that from now on, private favors will be slightly restrained, so that those with good deeds become more loyal and diligent, and the talentless all know to strive.” The third said: “Since Your Majesty ascended the throne and assumed rule, the selection of scholars has been too broad. The pure offices of the sixth rank and below are regarded as dirt and weeds, compared to sand and gravel. If we do not further eliminate the unworthy, I fear it will sully the imperial influence.” The fourth said: “Now the local governors are transferred too quickly, coming and going like drifting tumbleweed and floating duckweed. Since they harbor a perfunctory mindset, what time do they have to implement good governance? I hope that from now on, prefectural governors not be transferred until they have served three years, and that their merits and faults be clearly examined, with special attention to rewards and punishments.” The memorial was presented, and the Empress Dowager greatly appreciated it. At the time, official ranks and titles were easily obtained, but the legal network was strict, so people competed to curry favor and often fell into punishment and execution. Liu Zhiji then wrote “The Essay on Prudent Reflection” to satirize current affairs and express his intentions.
On the bǐngwǔ day, Wang Xiaojie was appointed as the Marching General of Shuofang Circuit to attack the Turks.
Spring, second month, on the jǐyǒu day, the first day of the month, a solar eclipse occurred.
The monk Huaiyi became even more arrogant and wanton, and the Empress Dowager detested him. After burning the Hall of Light, he felt uneasy and his words often showed insubordination. The Empress Dowager secretly selected over a hundred strong and vigorous palace women to guard against him. On the rénzǐ day, he was arrested under a tree in front of the Yaoguang Hall. She sent the Prince of Jianchang, Wu Youning, leading strong men to beat him to death. His corpse was sent to the Baima Temple, burned, and a stupa was built.
On the jiǎzǐ day, the Empress Dowager removed the honorific title “Cishi Yuegu.”
Third month, on the bǐngchén day, Fengge Shilang and Tongping Zhangshi Zhou Yunyuan died.
Summer, fourth month, the Heavenly Pivot was completed. It was one hundred and five chi tall, twelve chi in diameter, with eight sides, each side five chi wide. The base was an iron mountain, one hundred and seventy chi in circumference, cast with bronze coiling dragons and unicorns surrounding it. On top was a cloud-riding dew-catching plate, three zhang in diameter, with four dragons standing like men holding a fiery pearl, one zhang tall. The artisan Mao Poluo made the model. Wu Sansi composed the inscription, and the names of the hundred officials and the chieftains of the four barbarian tribes were engraved. The Empress Dowager personally wrote the plaque: “Great Zhou Myriad Nations Praise Virtue Heavenly Pivot.”
Autumn, seventh month, on the xīnyǒu day, Tubo invaded Linzhao. Wang Xiaojie was appointed as the Grand Marching General of Subian Circuit to punish Tubo.
Ninth month, on the jiǎyín day, the Empress Dowager performed the joint sacrifice to Heaven and Earth at the Southern Suburb. She added the honorific title Tiance Jinlun Dasheng Emperor, granted a general amnesty, and changed the reign name.
Winter, tenth month, the Turkic leader Močuo sent an envoy to request surrender. The Empress Dowager was delighted and enfeoffed him as General of the Left Guard of Honor and Duke of Guiguo.
Zetian Shunsheng Huanghou Zhongzhi Shang, Wansui Tongtian First Year (Bing Shen, corresponding to 696 CE)
Twelfth month, on the jiǎxū day, the Empress Dowager departed from the Divine Capital. On the jiǎshēn day, she performed the Feng Shan sacrifice at the Sacred Mountain. She granted a general amnesty, changed the reign name to Wansui Dengfeng, and exempted the realm’s people from paying this year’s land tax. A grand nine-day feast was held. On the dīnghài day, the Shan sacrifice was performed at Mount Shaoshi. On the jǐchǒu day, the Empress Dowager arrived at the Court Audience Altar to receive congratulations. On the guǐsì day, she returned to the palace. On the jiǎwǔ day, she visited the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
The Right Qianniuwei General, Prince of Anping, Wu Youxu, had ambition and conduct from a young age, was of placid disposition, and had few desires. After escorting and following the Feng Shan sacrifice at the Central Mountain, he immediately requested to resign his office and retire to the southern side of Mount Song. The Empress Dowager suspected he was feigning and agreed, in order to observe his behavior. Wu Youxu then roamed leisurely among the forests and ravines. In winter he lived in a hut of thatch and pepper wood, in summer in a stone cave, completely like a mountain recluse. The clothes, utensils, and playthings bestowed by the Empress Dowager and given by the princes and dukes were all set aside unused, covered in dust. He bought land and had his servants farm it, showing no difference from ordinary people.
Spring, first month, on the jiǎyín day, Lou Shide was appointed as the Vice Marching General of Subian Circuit to attack Tubo. On the jǐsì day, Lou Shide was appointed as the Left Su Zheng Daifu, still managing state affairs.
The Chongzun Temple in Chang’an was renamed the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
In the second month, on the xinsi day, the God of the Central Peak of the Sacred Marchmount was honored as the Yellow Emperor of the Central Peak of the Sacred Marchmount, and the Numinous Consort as the Yellow Empress of the Central Heaven; Qi (Xia Qi) was made the Sage Emperor of Qi; and Qi’s mother, the goddess, was enfeoffed as the Grand Dowager of the Jade Capital.
In the third month, on the renyin day, Wang Xiaojie and Lou Shide engaged the Tibetan general Lun Qinling Zanpo in battle at Suoluohan Mountain; the Tang army suffered a major defeat. Wang Xiaojie was therefore convicted and dismissed from office, reduced to commoner status, while Lou Shide was demoted to be an extra aide in Yuan Prefecture. When Lou Shide signed the transfer document, he exclaimed in surprise, "Are all my offices and ranks gone?" After a moment, he added, "Well, well!" and gave the matter no further thought. On the dingsi day, the new Bright Hall was completed, measuring two hundred and ninety-four chi in height and three hundred chi in width, its scale generally smaller than the old Bright Hall. An iron phoenix plated with gold was placed on top, two zhang high, which was later damaged by a strong wind; it was then replaced with a bronze fire pearl, supported by a group of dragons, and the structure was called the Palace of Penetrating Heaven. A general amnesty was proclaimed, and the reign title was changed to Wansui Tongtian.
The state of Dashi requested to present a lion. Yao Shu submitted a memorial, arguing: "The lion feeds exclusively on meat; transporting it over a long distance, the meat is both hard to come by and causes extreme hardship and expense to the people. Your Majesty does not even keep hawks or hounds, and has ceased fishing and hunting—how can you allow frugality for yourself yet lavish provisions on a wild beast?" The request was therefore declined.
Sun Yuanheng, Acting Vice Minister of the Ministry of War in the Secretariat, was appointed Tongping Zhangshi.
In the summer, in the fifth month, on the renzi day, Li Jinzhong, the Qidan Songmo Dudu of Ying Prefecture, and Sun Wanrong, the Prefect of Guicheng Prefecture, raised troops in rebellion, captured Ying Prefecture, and killed the Dudu, Zhao Wenhui. Li Jinzhong was Sun Wanrong's brother-in-law, and both lived near Ying Prefecture city. Zhao Wenhui was stubborn and self-willed; when the Qidan suffered a famine, he provided no relief, treating their chieftains like slaves. For these reasons, the two men harbored resentment and rebelled. On the yichou day, the court dispatched twenty-eight generals, including Cao Renshi of the Left Eagle Yang Guard, Zhang Xuanyu of the Right Golden Wu Guard, Li Duozuo of the Left Majestic Guard, and Ma Renjie of the Vice Minister of Agriculture, to campaign against them. In the autumn, in the seventh month, on the xinhai day, Liang Wang Wu Sansi, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was appointed Grand Peace Envoy of the Yulü Pass Circuit, with Yao Shu as his deputy, to guard against the Qidan. Li Jinzhong's name was changed to Li Jinmie, and Sun Wanrong's name to Sun Wanzhan.
Li Jinzhong soon proclaimed himself the Invincible Khagan, occupied Ying Prefecture, and made Sun Wanrong his vanguard, seizing territory; wherever they went, they conquered. Within ten days, their forces reached several tens of thousands of men. They advanced and besieged Tan Prefecture, but Zhang Jiujie, the Deputy General of the Qingbian Front Army, repelled them.
In the eighth month, on the dingyou day, Cao Renshi, Zhang Xuanyu, and Ma Renjie engaged the Qidan in battle at the Xiashi Valley; the Tang army suffered a major defeat. Before this, when the Qidan broke through Ying Prefecture, they captured several hundred Tang prisoners and confined them in underground cells. Hearing that the Tang army was approaching, they had the Qidan guards deceive them, saying: "Our families are suffering from hunger and cold and cannot survive; we are only waiting for the imperial troops to arrive to surrender." Soon, the Qidan brought out the prisoners, fed them gruel made of husks, and comforted them, saying: "We keep you but have no food; killing you we cannot bear. Now we release you." So they let them go. When the prisoners reached You Prefecture, they reported these circumstances in detail. When the various armies heard of it, they vied to advance first. Upon reaching the Yellow Zhang Valley, the enemy again sent old and weak soldiers to welcome them and surrender, deliberately leaving old oxen and lean horses by the roadside. Cao Renshi and the other generals of the three armies abandoned their infantry, took their cavalry, and advanced lightly equipped. The Qidan laid an ambush and struck from the flank, lassoing Zhang Xuanyu and Ma Renjie, capturing them alive. The dead among the generals and soldiers filled the valley, and few escaped. The Qidan obtained the army seal, forged documents, and had Zhang Xuanyu and others sign them. The documents notified the General-in-Chief Yan Feishi and Zong Huaichang, saying: "The imperial army has already defeated the bandits. If you reach Ying Prefecture, all army commanders will be beheaded, and soldiers will not be recorded for merit." When Yan Feishi and the others received the documents, they marched day and night, hurrying without time for sleep or food; men and horses were utterly exhausted. The Qidan ambushed them along the way and annihilated the entire force.
In the ninth month, an edict was issued: "All prisoners under detention in the empire, as well as the brave household slaves among the gentry and commoners, shall be compensated by the government at their value and conscripted to attack the Qidan." For the first time, an order was given to establish Militia Cavalry Corps in the various prefectures of Shandong near the frontier. Prince of Jian'an, Wu Youyi, the Prefect of Tong Prefecture, was appointed General of the Right Majestic Guard and Grand General-in-Chief of the Qingbian Circuit, to campaign against the Qidan.
The Right Reminder Chen Zi'ang served as a staff officer in Wu Youyi's headquarters. He submitted a memorial, saying: "Your Majesty's gracious edict pardoning the empire's criminals and recruiting various types of slaves to serve as soldiers to attack the Qidan is an expedient measure in an emergency, not the regular army of the Son of Heaven. Moreover, recently the judicial system has long been clear and peaceful, so criminals are few; slaves are mostly cowardly and weak, unaccustomed to campaigning and marching. Even if recruited, they are not sufficient for use. Moreover, among the loyal ministers and brave warriors of the empire today, Your Majesty has not yet employed even one ten-thousandth of them. The Qidan are a minor scourge, only temporarily alive awaiting execution. Why trouble yourself to pardon criminals and redeem slaves, damaging the dignity of the state? I fear this plan is insufficient to display the court's majesty before all under heaven."
On the dingsi day, the Tujue invaded Liang Prefecture and captured the Dudu, Xu Qinming. Xu Qinming was the great-grandson of Xu Shao. At the time, he was on an inspection tour of his subordinates when several tens of thousands of Tujue suddenly arrived beneath the city walls. Xu Qinming resisted in battle and was captured.
Xu Qinming's elder brother, Xu Qinji, was serving as Deputy Commander of the Longshan Army and fought the Qidan at Chong Prefecture. His army was defeated, and he was captured. The enemy was about to besiege Andong and ordered Xu Qinji to persuade the subordinate cities that had not yet fallen. Pei Xuan'gui, the Dudu of Andong, was inside the city. Xu Qinji said to him: "These mad bandits are suffering Heaven's punishment; their destruction is imminent. You need only encourage the soldiers and strengthen the defenses to preserve your loyal integrity." The enemy killed him.
The Tibetans again sent an envoy to request a marriage alliance. The Empress Dowager dispatched Guo Yuanzhen, a native of Guixiang and a Secretary of the Right Martial Guard, to inspect the situation and assess its appropriateness. The Tibetan general Lun Qinling requested the withdrawal of the Tang garrisons from the Four Garrisons of Anxi and demanded the division of the land of the Ten Surnames of the Western Turks. Guo Yuanzhen said: "The Four Garrisons and the Ten Surnames are of a different race from the Tibetans. Now you request the withdrawal of the Tang forces—does this not imply an intention to annex them?" Lun Qinling replied: "If the Tibetans coveted land and wished to become a border menace, they would merely invade eastward into Gan and Liang Prefectures—why would they seek benefits at a distance of ten thousand li?" Thereupon, he sent an envoy to accompany Guo Yuanzhen to court to make the request.
The court was undecided. Guo Yuanzhen submitted a memorial, arguing: "Lun Qinling's request to withdraw troops and cede territory is a critical moment concerning advantages and disadvantages; indeed, it cannot be acted upon lightly. If now we directly reject his goodwill, then the border troubles that ensue will certainly be severe. The benefits of the Four Garrisons lie far away; the troubles of Gan and Liang Prefectures lie close at hand. This cannot be planned without deep thought. We should use stratagems to moderate this matter so that his hopes for peace are not entirely cut off—that would be best. The Four Garrisons and the Ten Surnames are what the Tibetans greatly desire, while Qinghai and Tuyuhun are also important regions for our dynasty. Now the reply to him should say: 'The lands of the Four Garrisons and the Ten Surnames are originally of no use to the Central Plains. The reason we stationed troops to guard them was to pacify and protect the Western Regions and to divide the Tibetan forces so that they could not concentrate their strength to invade eastward. If now you truly have no intention of invading eastward, you should return to us the various tribes of Tuyuhun and the old lands of Qinghai; then the Five Sijin tribes will also be returned to the Tibetans.' This will suffice to block Lun Qinling's mouth and will not sever relations with him. If Lun Qinling shows the slightest sign of disobedience, then the fault lies with him. Moreover, the Four Garrisons and the Ten Surnames have been attached to us for many years; now, without yet examining the inclinations of their hearts or the advantages and disadvantages of the matter, to cede and abandon them at a distance would likely harm the hearts of all states—this is not the way to control the Four Barbarians." The Empress Dowager followed his advice.
Guo Yuanzhen also submitted a memorial saying: "The people of Tubo are exhausted by corvée labor and garrison duties, and have long wished for a marriage alliance. Lun Qinling is greedy for military power and acts arbitrarily and despotically; he alone does not wish to submit. If the court sends envoys for a marriage alliance every year, yet Lun Qinling often refuses to obey the orders, then the resentment of their people toward Lun Qinling will deepen day by day. Their hopes for the imperial favor will grow stronger day by day. If he should attempt to mobilize his troops on a large scale, it would naturally be difficult. This is also a method of gradually alienating them, causing mutual suspicion and estrangement between superior and subordinate, and disaster arising from within." The Empress Dowager deemed his words very correct. Guo Yuanzhen's given name was Zhen; he was known by his courtesy name.
On the Gengshen day, Wang Fangqing, the chief historian of Bingzhou, was appointed as Vice Director of the Chancellery, and together with Li Daochang of Wannian, the Director of the Palace Domestic Service, they were made Tong Pingzhang Shi.
Mochuo of the Turks requested to become a son of the Empress Dowager and sought a marriage for his daughter, returning all the surrendered households from Hexi, and leading his troops to attack the Khitans on behalf of the state. The Empress Dowager sent Yan Zhiwei, the General-in-Chief of the Leopard Tusk Guard, and Tian Guidao, the Acting Director of the Court of State Ceremonial and Left Commandant of the Imperial Guard, to confer upon Mochuo the titles of General-in-Chief of the Left Guard and Qianshan Khagan. Yan Zhiwei was the grandson of Yan Lide; Tian Guidao was the son of Tian Renhui.
Winter, tenth month, on the Xinmao day, Li Jinzhong of the Khitans died, and Sun Wanrong took his place leading the tribes. Mochuo of the Turks took advantage of this to raid Songmo, capturing Li Jinzhong and Sun Wanrong's wives and children before withdrawing. The Empress Dowager promoted Mochuo to the titles of Jiedie Lishi Great Shanyu and Ligong Baoguo Khagan.
Sun Wanrong gathered his remaining troops, and the army's momentum was revived. He sent the separate commanders Luo Wuzheng and He Axiao as the vanguard; they captured Jizhou, killed the prefect Lu Baoji, and massacred several thousand officials and residents. They then attacked Yingzhou, and the region north of the Yellow River was shaken. The Empress Dowager issued an edict, appointing Di Renjie, the magistrate of Pengze County, as the governor of Weizhou. The previous governor, Dugu Sizhuang, fearing a sudden attack by the Khitans, had driven all the people into the city and repaired the defensive fortifications. When Di Renjie arrived, he sent them all back to their farms and said: "The rebels are still far away; why trouble the people like this! If the rebels come, I will handle them myself." The people were very pleased. At that time, the Khitans were raiding, and military documents piled up like a mountain. Yao Yuanchong, the Vice Director of the Ministry of War from Xiashi, analyzed and processed them like flowing water, and everything was handled in an orderly manner. The Empress Dowager was amazed and promoted him to Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.
The Empress Dowager remembered that Xu Yougong was fair in enforcing the law, and promoted him to Censor of the Left Terrace. Those who heard of it, near and far, congratulated one another. Pan Haoli of Zongcheng, the registrar of Lucheng, wrote a discourse praising Xu Yougong for following the Way, adhering to benevolence and righteousness, and steadfastly upholding his integrity, not changing his conduct because of changes in status, life or death. In the text, he posited a guest asking: "To whom can Lord Xu be compared in the present day?" The host said: "The world is extremely vast, and people are extremely numerous; there may be those who hide their traces and conceal their brilliance. I dare not speak nonsense. Based on what I have seen and heard, he is the only one. He should be sought among the ancients." The guest said: "How does he compare to Zhang Shizhi?" The host said: "What Zhang Shizhi did was easy; what Lord Xu did was very difficult. From the difference in difficulty, one can see their merits. Lord Zhang encountered the era of Emperor Wen of Han, when the world was peaceful and without incident. As for cases like the theft of the jade ring from the Gaomiao Temple or the frightening of the imperial carriage on the Wei Bridge, he merely applied the law as it was—how could it not be easy! Lord Xu encountered a period of dynastic change, at a time of abolishing the old and establishing the new. The remaining elders of the Tang dynasty, some with malicious intent, caused the sovereign to become suspicious. Men like Zhou Xing and Lai Junchen were like the Four Fierce Ones of Yao's era; they used vicious words to frame men of high virtue. Yet Lord Xu swore to uphold the right path, deeply discerning right from wrong, nearly being thrown into prison many times, and repeatedly violating the law—this is what you have heard—how could it not be difficult!" The guest said: "If he were made the Minister of Justice, he could display his talent." The host said: "You only see that Lord Xu is fair and impartial in enforcing the law, and thus think he can be placed in the post of Minister of Justice; as I see this man, his mind is broad and he can accommodate everything. If he is employed, what task could he not handle? How is the post of Minister of Justice alone sufficient for him!"