Tang Records 30

[Tang Record 30] From the year beginning with the cyclical characters é féng yān mào to the year ending with zhòng guāng dà huāng luò, a total of eight years.

Emperor Xuanzong, the Ultimate Way, Great Sage, Great Brilliant Filial Sovereign, Middle Period, Middle Segment, Kaiyuan 22nd Year (Jiaxu, 734 CE)

Spring, first month, Jisi day: The emperor departed from the Western Capital; Jichou day: He arrived at the Eastern Capital. Zhang Jiuling came from Shaozhou to have an audience, requesting to complete the full three-year mourning period; the emperor did not permit it.

Second month, Renyin day: Qinzhou experienced continuous earthquakes, with government offices and private dwellings almost entirely destroyed; over four thousand officials and commoners were crushed to death. The emperor ordered the Left Chancellor Xiao Song to provide relief and consolation.

The alchemist Zhang Guo claimed to possess divine arts, deceitfully stating that during the time of Emperor Yao he served as a Palace Attendant and that several thousand years had now passed. He frequently traveled within Mount Heng; from the time of Empress Wu Zetian onward, he had been repeatedly summoned but never came. The Governor of Hengzhou, Wei Ji, recommended him. The emperor sent the Secretariat Drafter Xu Jiao with an imperial edict to welcome him. Gengyin day: Zhang Guo arrived at the Eastern Capital, entering the palace in a sedan chair, receiving extremely generous favor and courteous treatment.

Zhang Jiuling requested that private coinage not be prohibited. Third month, Gengchen day: The emperor ordered the hundred officials to discuss this matter. Pei Yaoqing and others all said: “Once this opening is granted, I fear petty men will abandon farming to pursue the profit of coinage, and the debasement and inferiority of currency will become even more severe.” The Palace Secretary Cui Mian said: “If copper materials are levied in lieu of labor, then official smelting can be accomplished; if labor costs are calculated and expenses weighed, then private coinage will yield no profit. This method is simple and easy to implement and can be sustained, concise and clear yet difficult to deceive. Moreover, currency is valued for circulating goods; its benefit does not lie in large quantities. Why wait for private coinage before there is enough?” The Right Gate Guard Records Officer Liu Zhi said: “If a man is wealthy, he cannot be spurred by rewards; if he is poor, he cannot be restrained by authority. If private coinage is permitted, the poor will certainly be unable to do it. I fear the poor will become even poorer and be controlled by the rich, while the rich will become richer and indulge their desires. During the time of Emperor Wen of Han, the wealth of Liu Bi, Prince of Wu, rivaled that of the Son of Heaven—this was all due to coinage.” The emperor then abandoned the matter. Liu Zhi was the son of Liu Zixuan.

Summer, fourth month, Renchen day: The Shuofang Military Commissioner, Prince Xin’an Li Yi, was concurrently appointed as the Guannei Circuit Inspection and Disposal Commissioner, with jurisdiction increased to include Jing, Yuan, and twelve other prefectures.

The Vice Minister of Personnel, Li Linfu, was gentle and fawning in character, possessing much cunning and deceit. He deeply cultivated connections with eunuchs and the families of imperial consorts, spying on and probing the emperor’s movements, leaving nothing unknown. Thus, each time he presented memorials or replied at court, he often matched the emperor’s intent, and the emperor was very fond of him. At that time, Consort Wu Hui was the most favored in the rear palace; she had given birth to Prince Shou Li Qing, and no other prince could compare. The Crown Prince was gradually being estranged and neglected. Li Linfu therefore used eunuchs to convey words to Consort Wu Hui, expressing willingness to devote all his efforts to protecting Prince Shou. Consort Wu Hui was grateful to him and secretly assisted him within the palace, so he was promoted to Yellow Gate Attendant. Fifth month, Wuzi day: Pei Yaoqing was appointed Palace Attendant, Zhang Jiuling as Secretariat Director, and Li Linfu as Minister of Rites and Grand Councilor of the Same Third Rank.

The emperor planted wheat in the imperial gardens, leading the Crown Prince and those below to personally weed it, saying to them: “This is used as an offering to the ancestral temple, therefore I dare not do it without personally taking part, and I also wish to make you know the hardships of farming.” He then widely bestowed it upon his attendant ministers, saying: “Recently, I sent people to inspect the crops in the fields, but most could not obtain the true situation, so I personally plant it to observe it.”

Sixth month, Renchen day: The Youzhou Military Commissioner, Zhang Shougui, greatly defeated the Khitan and sent an envoy to present a report of victory.

Prince Xue Li Ye fell ill. The emperor was anxious for him, to the point that his complexion and hair changed. Seventh month, Jisi day: Li Ye passed away; he was posthumously granted the posthumous title of Crown Prince Huixuan.

The emperor appointed Pei Yaoqing as the Jianghuai and Henan Transport Commissioner, establishing a transport station at the mouth of the Yellow River. Eighth month, Renyin day: East of the transport station, Heyang Granary was built; west of it, Baiya Granary; east of the Sanmen Gorge, Jijin Granary; west of it, Yan Granary. A canal of eighteen li was excavated to bypass the dangers of the Sanmen Gorge.

Before this, boats transported rice from the Jiang and Huai regions to the Eastern Capital’s Hanjia Granary, then hired carts for land transport, covering three hundred li to reach Shanzhou, roughly costing ten cash for every two hu of rice. Pei Yaoqing ordered that all Jiang and Huai boats deliver their rice to Heyang Granary, then use Yellow River boats to transport it to Hanjia Granary and Taiyuan Granary, and from Taiyuan Granary enter the Wei River to move it to Guanzhong. Over three years total, seven million hu of rice were transported, saving thirty thousand strings of cart-hire cash. Someone urged Pei Yaoqing to present the saved funds as tribute. Pei Yaoqing said: “This is merely public surplus and deficient profits; how can it be used to seek favor?” He therefore reported it all as funds for purchasing grain.

Zhang Guo firmly requested to return to Mount Heng. The emperor issued an edict appointing him Yin Qing Guang Lu Daifu, granting him the title Tongxuan Xiansheng, and after generous rewards sent him back. Later, he died. People fond of the strange reported that he had shed his mortal form and become an immortal; the emperor therefore came to deeply believe in gods and immortals.

Winter, twelfth month, Wuzi day of the first day of the month: A solar eclipse occurred.

Yisi day: The Youzhou Military Commissioner, Zhang Shougui, beheaded the Khitan king Qulie and Ketugan, sending their heads to the capital. At that time, Ketugan had been a perennial border threat; Zhao Hanzhang and Xue Chuyu had both failed to subdue him. After Zhang Shougui arrived, he repeatedly defeated him. Ketugan, at the end of his resources, sent an envoy to feign surrender. Zhang Shougui sent his Administrative Secretary Wang Hui to pacify him. Wang Hui reached his camp and observed that the Khitan, high and low, initially had no intention of surrendering; they were merely gradually moving their camp northwestward, secretly sending people to ally with the Turks, planning to kill Wang Hui and then rebel. Wang Hui learned of this. The camp official Li Guozhe and Ketugan each commanded troops, and due to a power struggle, they were at odds. Wang Hui urged Li Guozhe to plot against Ketugan. Li Guozhe, by night, led soldiers and beheaded Qulie and Ketugan, killing all their partisans, and led the remaining followers to surrender. Zhang Shougui marched out to Zimengzhou, conducted a grand military review to pacify them, and hung the heads of Qulie and Ketugan on the south side of Tianjin Bridge.

The Turkic Bilgä Qaghan was poisoned by his minister, Möllücü, but did not die. He punished and executed Möllücü and his clan and followers. Bilgä Qaghan died, and his son, Yiran Qaghan, succeeded. Soon, Yiran Qaghan also died, and his younger brother, Dengli Qaghan, succeeded. Gengxu day: They came to court to report the mourning. Beggars were prohibited within the capital, and sick shelters were established to provide them with grain.

Emperor Xuanzong, the Ultimate Way, Great Sage, Great Brilliant Filial Sovereign, Middle Period, Middle Segment, Kaiyuan 23rd Year (Yihai, 735 CE)

Spring, first month: The Khitan Commander of the Inner Guard, Li Guozhe, came to present a report of victory. The emperor issued an edict appointing Li Guozhe as Prince of Beiping and Acting Governor of Songmo Prefecture.

Yihai day: The emperor performed the plowing ceremony, stopping after pushing nine times. The dukes and ministers and those below all completed plowing the entire field. A general amnesty was declared, and feasting in the capital lasted for three days.

The emperor ascended the Five Phoenix Tower for a feast. The onlookers were noisy and crowded, so music could not be played. The Golden Guard’s clubs fell like rain, but they could not stop it. The emperor was worried about this. Gao Lishi reported that the Deputy Magistrate of Henan, Yan Anzhi, enforced strict discipline and was feared by the people, requesting that he be sent to stop it. The emperor agreed. When Yan Anzhi arrived, he used his official tablet to draw a line around the area and said: “Whoever crosses this line shall be executed!” Then, for three whole days, people pointed at his drawn line and warned each other, and no one dared to violate it. At that time, the order was given that prefects and county magistrates within three hundred li should each lead their local musical troupes to gather below the tower, each competing for victory or defeat. The Prefect of Huaizhou carried several hundred musicians in carts, all wearing richly embroidered clothes; the oxen pulling the carts were decorated in the shapes of tigers, leopards, rhinoceroses, and elephants. The Magistrate of Lushan County, Yuan Dexiu, sent only a few musicians, who held hands and sang the song “Yu Hu Yu”. The emperor said: “The people of Huaizhou are probably suffering hardships!” He immediately demoted the Prefect of Huaizhou to a sinecure post. Yuan Dexiu was upright, pure, and simple in nature, and the scholar-officials all admired his high character.

The Emperor praised Zhang Shougui's achievements and wished to appoint him as Chancellor. Zhang Jiuling admonished, saying: "The position of Chancellor is meant to assist the Son of Heaven in governing all things; it is not an office used to reward merit." The Emperor said: "What if I grant him the title of Chancellor without giving him actual duties—would that be acceptable?" Zhang Jiuling replied: "No. Only titles and instruments cannot be lent to others—this is what the sovereign governs. Moreover, Zhang Shougui has merely defeated the Khitan, and Your Majesty appoints him Chancellor; if he completely destroys the Xi and the Turks, what office will be used to reward him then?" The Emperor then desisted from this matter. In the second month, Zhang Shougui went to the Eastern Capital to present his victory report. He was appointed General of the Right Brave Guard, concurrently Censor-in-Chief, and two of his sons were granted official posts, with rewards exceedingly generous.

Previously, when the Palace Censor Yang Wang killed Zhang Susu, he changed his name to Wanqing. Zhang Susu's two sons, Zhang He and Zhang Xiu, were still young and, as a result of their father's crime, were exiled to Lingnan. Soon afterward, they escaped and plotted to seize an opportunity for revenge. In the third month, on the day Dingmao, they killed Yang Wanqing with their own hands in the capital. They attached a memorial to an axe, stating the injustice suffered by their father, intending to go south of the Yangtze to kill those who had conspired with Yang Wanqing to frame their father. When they reached Sishui, they were captured by officials. Most of those who discussed the matter said that the two sons' father had died unjustly, and that they, being young yet filial and resolute, had avenged their father, and ought to be shown leniency and mercy. Zhang Jiuling also wanted to spare their lives. Pei Yaoqing and Li Linfu believed that doing so would undermine the state's laws. The Emperor also thought their view correct and said to Zhang Jiuling: "A filial son's heart acts for righteousness without regard for death; but if one who kills is pardoned, this precedent cannot be established." He then issued an edict saying: "The state establishes laws to prohibit killing. If each person could fulfill a son's will, who would not be a filial son? Thus, vengeance would lead to mutual slaughter endlessly! When Gao Yao served as the minister of justice, the law demanded enforcement. Even if Zengzi had killed someone, he could not be pardoned. They should be handed over to Henan Prefecture to be beaten to death with rods." The literati and commoners all pitied them and wrote elegies for them, which were posted along the main roads. The townspeople raised funds to bury them at Mount Mang. Fearing that Yang Wanqing's family would dig up the grave, they also built several false tombs.

In the early Tang, the actual taxable households of princesses were only three hundred. During Zhongzong's reign, Princess Taiping reached five thousand households, generally limited to seven adult males each. Since the Kaiyuan era, imperial younger sisters had only one thousand households, and imperial daughters had half of that, each limited to three adult males. Commandery princes were all granted third-rank supernumerary officials but held no actual duties. The income from the princesses' fiefs was so meager that they could not even afford carriages and robes. Some of those around them said this was too meager, and the Emperor said: "The people's taxes and corvée labor are not my private possessions. Soldiers risk their lives in battle, and their rewards are no more than a bundle of silk. What merit do women have that they should enjoy so many taxable households? Moreover, I wish to make them know frugality." In autumn, the seventh month, Princess Xianyi was about to be married. For the first time, her actual taxable households were increased to one thousand. Princess Xianyi was the daughter of Consort Wu. Consequently, all princesses were increased to one thousand households.

In winter, the tenth month, on the day Wushen, the Turgesh invaded Beiting and the city of Bohuan in Anxi.

In the intercalary month, on the day Renshuo (the first day of the month), a solar eclipse occurred.

On the twelfth month, day Yihai, Yang Xuanjiao's daughter, the deceased Registrar of Shuzhou, was enfeoffed as Princess Shou. Yang Xuanjiao was the great-grandson of Yang Wang. In the same year, the Khitan king Guozhe was killed by his subject Nieli. Among his sons, one named Cigan fled to Andong and survived. Nieli memorialized that Guozhe had been cruel and tyrannical in his punishments, causing unrest among the people, so he had killed him. The Emperor pardoned Nieli's crime and then appointed Nieli as the Military Governor of Songmo, and sent a letter rebuking him, saying: "The laws of your barbarian lands have long lacked loyalty and righteousness toward rulers; this has been so since ancient times, and I know it. But Guozhe was your sovereign. When he had evil deeds, you killed him. To be such a sovereign—is it not too difficult! I fear that now that you have become king, later people will do the same to you. If you constantly cannot protect yourself, who would be willing to be king! You too should consider future matters; how can you only seek immediate satisfaction!" The Turks soon led their army eastward to attack the Xi and the Khitan. Nieli and the Xi king Li Guiguo jointly defeated them.

Emperor Xuanzong, the Great Sage, the Great Way, the Great Manifest, and the Great Filial Emperor, the Middle Period, the Middle Part, the Twenty-fourth Year of the Kaiyuan Era (Bingzi, 736 AD).

In spring, the first month, on the day Gengyin, an edict said: "All fleeing households in the empire are permitted to report themselves within this year. Those with original property may return to their original place of registration; those without shall await separate disposition. Those who fail to report themselves after the deadline shall have special envoys sent to search and arrest them, and they shall be distributed and assigned to various armies."

The Protector General of Beiting, Gai Jiayun, attacked the Turgesh and decisively defeated them.

In the second month, on the day Jiayin, a banquet was held in the court hall for newly appointed county magistrates. The Emperor composed a piece titled "The New Admonitions for Magistrates" and bestowed it upon all county magistrates in the empire.

On the day Gengwu, the names of the imperial princes were changed: Li Hong changed to Li Ying, Li Tan changed to Li Cong, Li Jun changed to Li Yu, Li Qia changed to Li Yan, Li Juan changed to Li Yao, Li Huang changed to Li Wan, Li Shuiju changed to Li Ju, Li Wei changed to Li Sui, Li Yun changed to Li ?, Li Ze changed to Li Lin, Li Qing changed to Li Mao, Li Hui changed to Li Bin, Li Mu changed to Li Qi, Li Yi changed to Li Huan, Li Mian changed to Li Li, Li Ci changed to Li Zi, Li Cui changed to Li Gui, Li Cheng changed to Li Gong, Li Hui changed to Li Tian, Li Cong changed to Li Xuan, Li Tao changed to Li Ji.

According to the old system, the Director of the Bureau of Merit Evaluation was in charge of examining the tribute candidates for the civil service examinations. There was a presented scholar named Li Quan who insulted the Director Li Ang. Those who discussed the matter thought that the Director was of low rank and could not command respect. In the third month, on the day Renchen, an edict ordered that henceforth the matter be entrusted to the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites to examine the tribute candidates.

Zhang Shougui sent the Pacification and Attack Commissioner of Pinglu, General of the Left Valiant Guard An Lushan, to attack the rebellious Xi and Khitan. An Lushan, relying on his bravery, advanced rashly and was defeated by the enemy. In summer, the fourth month, on the day Xinhai, Zhang Shougui memorialized requesting his execution. When An Lushan was about to be executed, he shouted: "Doesn't the Grand Master wish to destroy the Xi and the Khitan? Why kill Lushan!" Zhang Shougui also valued his bravery and wished to spare him, so he instead sent him bound to the capital. Zhang Jiuling criticized, saying: "In ancient times, Rang Ju executed Zhuang Jia, and Sun Wu beheaded the palace beauties. If Zhang Shougui's military orders could be carried out, An Lushan should not be spared." The Emperor cherished his talent and ordered that he be stripped of his office and serve as a general in civilian status. Zhang Jiuling persistently argued, saying: "An Lushan violated military discipline and lost his army; according to the law, he cannot be spared. Moreover, I see from his appearance that he has a rebellious look; if he is not killed, he will surely become a future disaster." The Emperor said: "Do not be like Wang Yifu identifying Shi Le and wrongfully killing a loyal and good man." In the end, he pardoned him.

An Lushan was originally a miscellaneous barbarian from Yingzhou, and his original name was Aluoshan. His mother was a shamaness. After his father died, his mother remarried a Turk named An Yansheng. It happened that his tribe was scattered, and he fled together with An Yansheng's brother's son An Sishun, so he assumed the surname An and took the name Lushan. There was also Shi Suogan, who lived in the same neighborhood as An Lushan; the two were born one day apart. When they grew up, they became close friends and both served as brokers in the border markets, renowned for their bravery. Zhang Shougui appointed An Lushan as a Capture General. Whenever An Lushan went out with a few cavalrymen, he would capture several dozen Khitan and return. He was cunning and clever, good at assessing human feelings. Zhang Shougui favored him and adopted him as his son.

Shì Sūgàn had once fled into the territory of the Xi because he owed debts to the government. He was captured by Xi patrols, who wanted to kill him. Shì Sūgàn deceived them, saying, "I am an envoy of the Tang dynasty for peace through marriage. If you kill me, disaster will descend upon your state." The patrols believed him and sent him to the tribal headquarters. When Shì Sūgàn saw the Xi king, he only made a deep bow without kneeling to pay homage. Although the Xi king was angry, he feared the Tang and dared not kill him. He treated him with the courtesy due a guest and sent a hundred men to accompany Shì Sūgàn to the court. Shì Sūgàn said to the Xi king, "Though the men Your Majesty has dispatched are numerous, their abilities are insufficient to merit an audience with the Son of Heaven. I have heard that Your Majesty has a fine general named Suǒgāo; why not send him to court?" The Xi king then ordered Suǒgāo and three hundred men from his retinue to accompany Shì Sūgàn to court. When Shì Sūgàn was near Pinglu, he first sent a man to inform the military commissioner Péi Xiūzǐ, saying, "The Xi envoy Suǒgāo has come with elite troops, claiming they are going to court, but in truth they intend to attack the military city. You should be cautious and prepare, striking first to gain the upper hand." Péi Xiūzǐ then prepared his military forces to welcome them. After they arrived at the guesthouse, he buried alive all their accompanying soldiers, captured Suǒgāo, and sent him to Youzhou. Zhāng Shǒuguī considered Shì Sūgàn meritorious and memorialized the throne, appointing him as Guǒyì. He was repeatedly promoted until he reached the rank of General. Later, when he went to court to report on affairs, the Emperor spoke with him, took a liking to him, and bestowed on him the name Sīmíng.

Wēnshèn, the son of the former Lianzhou Sima Wǔ Yōuwàng, was found guilty of associating with powerful figures and was beaten to death. On the Yichou day, the Shuofang and Hedong military commissioner, the Prince of Xin'an, Lǐ Yī, was demoted to be the Prefect of Quzhou; the Guangwu King Lǐ Chénghóng was demoted to be the Assistant Magistrate of Fangzhou; and the Jingzhou Prefect Xuē Zìquàn was demoted to be the Assistant Magistrate of Lizhou. All this was because of their association with Wǔ Wēnshèn. Lǐ Chénghóng was the son of Lǐ Shǒulǐ. On the Xinwei day, the Puzhou Prefect Wáng Jǔ was demoted to be the Prefect of Tongzhou, because of his correspondence with Lǐ Yī.

In the fifth month, an from Liquan named Liú Zhìchéng raised a rebellion. He drove and plundered passersby, intending to go to Xianyang. Villagers ran to report to the county officials, burned bridges, and blocked the roads to resist them. His followers then dispersed. After a few days, they were all captured and executed.

In the sixth month, monthly salaries began to be distributed to all officials.

Initially, the Emperor, taking advantage of the ceremonial plowing of the sacred field to issue a general amnesty, ordered the relevant departments to discuss increasing the number of biandou vessels used in ancestral temple sacrifices and to resolve inconsistencies in the mourning system. The Grand Master of Ceremonies, Wéi Tāo, memorialized, requesting that each spirit seat in the ancestral temple be furnished with twelve biandou.

The Vice Minister of War, Zhāng Jūn, and the Director of the Bureau of Ranks, Wéi Shù, discussed the matter, saying: "The sages knew that the filial piety of sons is profound and the variety of offerings is limitless, so they imposed restraints. Human tastes are originally without fixed standards; the food and drink of private feasts change with the times, so the sages made everything return to antiquity. Qū Dào was fond of water chestnuts, but Qū Jiàn did not offer them, considering it improper to interfere with state regulations for personal desires. Now, if we wish to take sweet and fatty things and use them all in sacrifices, and if we exceed the old regulations, what limits will there be? The Book of Documents says: 'Millet and millet are not fragrant; bright virtue is fragrant.' If we use today's precious foods, accustomed to in daily life, there is no fixed way to seek the spirits. Why must we be bound to antiquity? Then the fǔ and guǐ vessels could be discarded, and plates, bowls, cups, and tables should be used; the Sháo and Huò music could be stopped, and the konghou, zheng, and di should be played. Since these are not the proper items, what will later generations look upon? The spirits face people with purity and do not seek abundance. If one errs in ritual, what use is abundance? How can one discard the ritual classics and follow vulgar customs? Moreover, the gentleman loves others through ritual and does not seek to curry favor. How much more so in the ancestral temple—dare one forget the old statutes?"

The Chief Adviser to the Heir Apparent, Cuī Hù, discussed, saying: "The rise of sacrifices began in high antiquity. When people ate hair and drank blood, there were offerings of hair and blood. When there were no wine starters, there were libations of clear water. When it came to later kings, the ritual items gradually became complete. Yet, in revering the spirits, they dared not abandon these. The things placed in the biandou, fǔ, guǐ, zun, and lei were all foods of the Zhou period. Their use was common in feasting guests, and when the Duke of Zhou established the rituals, he offered them to the ghosts and spirits together with the hair, blood, and clear water. The state established teachings according to ritual and set standards according to the times. In the clear temples, the four seasonal sacrifices must arrange the ritual foods, following the Zhou system. In the garden tombs, the seasonal delicacies are fully prepared, following the Han law. Tributes come for sacrifice, bringing offerings from distant lands. When new things arrive, they must be offered, following the season. Within the parks and enclosures, what is personally grown, and in hunting, what is personally shot, all are offered before being eaten, exhausting sincerity and respect. If this is already the utmost, what more can be added? It is only necessary to instruct the relevant departments not to be negligent or lax, then the fresh and rich things will all be here; there is no need to increase the number of biandou."

The Emperor himself wished to consider increasing the variety. Wéi Tāo again memorialized, requesting to add six biandou and six dou to each chamber, and to fill them each season with new fruits and delicacies. The Emperor followed his advice.

Wéi Tāo also memorialized: "The Sangfu (Mourning Garments) says: 'For an uncle, the sima mourning of three months; for a maternal aunt and for maternal grandparents, the xiaogong mourning of five months.' Maternal grandparents are the most honorable, yet their mourning is the same as that for a maternal aunt. Aunts and uncles are of the same generation, yet the mourning grades differ in weight. The relatives of grand-aunts and grand-uncles are not distant, yet their kindness is cut off, and no mourning is worn for them. A maternal uncle's wife comes from the outer clan, yet she is not treated with the same courtesy as those who share the same stove. I privately think that the ancient meaning is not fully expressed. I request to increase the mourning for maternal grandparents to the dagong of nine months, for aunts and uncles to the xiaogong of five months, and for grand-uncles, grand-aunts, and maternal uncle's wives to be raised to the tantan mourning."

Cuī Hù discussed, saying: "In managing the family, there cannot be two minds. When summarizing the constant principles, order should return to the main lineage. Therefore, within the family, one wears cuicui or zancui; outside, all wear sima. The honored name is not added beyond one grade. This is the unalterable way of the former kings. I hope to follow the clear decree of the eighth year of Kaiyuan, completely adhering to ancient ritual, to serve as the eternal law for ten thousand generations."

Wéi Shù discussed, saying: "The Sangfu Zhuan says: 'Birds and beasts know their mothers but not their fathers. The rustic says, what are parents? The gentleman of the towns knows to respect his father; the great officer and scholar know to respect his ancestors.' The sages probed the Heavenly Way and treated ancestors and fathers generously. They maintained clan lineage and loved their descendants. The maternal side compared to the paternal side cannot be treated equally—this is clear. Now, if the mourning for maternal grandparents and uncles is increased by one grade, and grand-uncles, grand-aunts, and maternal uncle's wives are included in the mourning system, then what difference will there be between the inner and outer systems? Abandoning ritual to follow private feelings is pursuing the trivial. The ancients who made ritual knew that human emotions are easily swayed and feared that the loss of ritual would gradually occur. Therefore, they distinguished similarities and differences, making the light and heavy vastly different, wanting later people never to mix them. The subtle intention lies in this. How could it be in vain? If it can be increased, then it can also be decreased. Past sages can be criticized, then the Li Jing (Classic of Rites) can also be destroyed. The system of the former kings is called the constant principle. To follow and observe it, one still fears it may fall. Once its order is disrupted, how can it be stopped? I request to follow the mourning system of the Yili (Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial) as the standard."

The Secretary of the Ministry of Rites, Yáng Zhōngchāng, discussed, saying: "The Duke Wen Zhen of Zheng, Wèi Zhēng, first increased the mourning for uncles to the xiaogong of five months. Although Duke Wenzhen was a worthy man, the Duke of Zhou and Confucius were sages. To use a worthy man to change the system of a sage—which shall later scholars follow? I privately fear that this will confuse the order of inner and outer, invert the closeness and distance, and wherever emotion leads, what will not be done? In the past, Zǐlù mourned for his elder sister but did not remove the mourning garments. Confucius said: 'The former kings established ritual; those who practice benevolence cannot bear to do so.' Zǐlù then removed the garments. This is a clear example of the sage suppressing emotion according to principle. The Liji (Book of Rites) says: 'Do not lightly discuss ritual.' This shows that ritual is as vast as Heaven and Earth and coexists with the sun and moon. The worthy follow it; how dare they arbitrarily add or subtract?"

The Emperor issued an edict: "Since aunts and uncles already wear xiaogong, the mourning for a maternal uncle's wife cannot be completely reduced. They should wear sima. Grand-aunts and grand-uncles should wear tantan."

Lǐ Jūn was the son of Lǐ Shuō.

In autumn, the eighth month, on the Renzi day, it was the Qiuqiu Festival. All the courtiers presented precious mirrors. Zhāng Jiǔlíng believed that using a mirror to reflect oneself only sees the physical form and appearance, while using others to reflect oneself can see good and bad fortune. Therefore, he recorded the origins of the rise and fall of previous dynasties, compiled them into a five-volume book called Qiuqiu Jinjing Lu (Record of the Golden Mirror of a Thousand Autumns), and presented it to the Emperor. The Emperor issued a decree praising and commending it.

On the Jiayin day, the Tūqíshī sent their minister Húlù Dágàn to request submission. The Emperor granted it.

The Censor-in-Chief, Lǐ Shìzhī, was the grandson of Lǐ Chénggān. He gained the Emperor's favor through his talent and repeatedly interceded on behalf of Lǐ Chénggān. On the Jiaxu day, Lǐ Chénggān was posthumously honored as the Prince Min of Hengshan.

On the Yihai day, the Prince Ai of Bian, Lǐ Jìng, died.

In winter, the tenth month, on the wuxu day, the emperor's carriage set out from the Eastern Capital. Previously, the emperor had issued an edict stating that on the second day of the second month of the following year, he would proceed to the Western Capital. It happened that strange phenomena appeared in the palace. The next day, the emperor summoned the grand councilors and immediately discussed returning to the Western Capital. Pei Yaoqing and Zhang Jiuling said, "Now the autumn harvest is not yet finished. Please wait until midwinter." Li Linfu secretly knew the emperor's intent. After the two councilors withdrew, Li Linfu alone remained and said to the emperor, "Chang'an and Luoyang are merely Your Majesty's Eastern Palace and Western Palace. Traveling between them—why must you choose a time! Even if it hinders the autumn harvest, it is only necessary to exempt the taxes of the places along the route. I beg to instruct the various departments to proceed westward immediately." The emperor was pleased and followed his advice. When passing through Shanzhou, because the prefect Lu Huan had excellent governance, the emperor wrote a eulogy on the hall's wall and then departed. Lu Huan was the son of Lu Huaishen. On the dingmao day, they arrived at the Western Capital. The Shuofang military commissioner Niu Xianke, when previously in Hexi, had been able to economize expenditures, diligently attend to his duties, fill the granaries, and keep weapons finely crafted and sharp. When the emperor heard of this, he praised him and wanted to appoint him as Minister of the Department of State Affairs. Zhang Jiuling said, "This cannot be done. The Minister of the Department of State Affairs is the ancient office of the 'Nayan' (one who transmits words). Since the founding of the Tang, only former grand councilors, or those who have experience in both central and local posts and possess virtuous reputation, can hold it. Niu Xianke was originally a clerical official in the Hehuang region. If he now suddenly occupies a pure and exalted position, I fear it will bring shame to the court." The emperor said, "Then can we simply grant him actual fiefs?" Zhang replied, "No. Fiefs are used to encourage those with merit. A border general filling granaries and repairing weapons is merely routine duty and does not count as merit. If Your Majesty rewards his diligence, bestowing gold and silk upon him is sufficient. Granting him land would probably be inappropriate." The emperor remained silent. Li Linfu said to the emperor, "Niu Xianke is prime-ministerial material—let alone a mere minister! Zhang Jiuling is a pedantic scholar, unacquainted with the grand scheme." The emperor was pleased. The next day, he again raised the matter of granting Niu Xianke actual fiefs. Zhang Jiuling persisted in his original opinion. The emperor grew angry, his expression changing, and said, "Is everything to be decided solely by you?" Zhang Jiuling knocked his head in apology and said, "Your Majesty does not understand your servant's dullness and has entrusted me with the post of grand councilor. When matters are inappropriate, I dare not fail to speak fully." The emperor said, "You disdain Niu Xianke's humble origins. As for you, what lineage or merit do you have!" Zhang Jiuling said, "Your servant is a lonely and lowly person from beyond the seas of Lingnan, not equal to Niu Xianke, who was born in the Central Plains. Yet your servant has been in and out of the pivotal organs of the court, managing the drafting of edicts for many years. Niu Xianke was a minor clerk on the frontier, illiterate. If he is entrusted with great responsibility, I fear it will not satisfy the expectations of the multitude." After Li Linfu withdrew from court, he said, "If one has talent and insight, why must he be concerned with literary learning! When the Son of Heaven employs a man, what is not permissible!" In the eleventh month, on the wuxu day, Niu Xianke was granted the title Duke of Longxi County, with an actual fief of three hundred households.

Previously, the emperor wanted to appoint Li Linfu as grand councilor and consulted the Secretariat Director Zhang Jiuling. Zhang Jiuling replied, "The grand councilor's position concerns the safety of the state. If Your Majesty appoints Li Linfu, I fear he will become a future disaster for the ancestral temple and altars." The emperor did not listen. At that time, Zhang Jiuling was highly esteemed by the emperor for his literary talent. Although Li Linfu resented him, he still humbled himself to serve him. The Palace Attendant Pei Yaoqing was on good terms with Zhang Jiuling, and Li Linfu hated them both equally. By this time, the emperor had been on the throne for a long time, gradually indulging in luxurious pleasures and becoming negligent in state affairs. Zhang Jiuling, regardless of the matter's importance, argued vehemently. Li Linfu skillfully probed the emperor's intentions, daily plotting how to harm him.

When the emperor was Prince of Linzi, Consort Zhao Li, Consort Huangfu Deyi, and Talented Lady Liu were all favored. Consort Li gave birth to Crown Prince Li Ying, Consort Deyi gave birth to Prince Li Yao of E, and Talented Lady Liu gave birth to Prince Li Ju of Guang. After he ascended the throne, he favored Consort Wu Huifei, and the favor for Consort Li and the others all declined. Consort Huifei gave birth to Prince Li Mao of Shou, and her favor surpassed that of all other princes. The crown prince, together with Li Yao and Li Ju, gathered in the inner residence, each expressing resentful words because their mothers had lost favor. The Commandant-Escort Yang Si married Princess Xianyi and often spied on the faults of the three princes, reporting them to Consort Huifei. Consort Huifei wept and said to the emperor, "The crown prince has secretly formed a faction and is about to harm us mother and son, and he also slanders Your Majesty." The emperor was greatly angered, told the grand councilors about it, and wanted to depose all of them. Zhang Jiuling said, "Your Majesty has been on the throne for nearly thirty years. The crown prince and the princes have never left the deep palace and receive Your Majesty's instruction daily. All under heaven rejoice that Your Majesty has reigned long and your descendants flourish. Now the three princes have all grown up, and no great faults have been heard of. Why would Your Majesty, on the basis of unfounded words and in a fit of anger, suddenly depose them all? Moreover, the crown prince is the foundation of the realm and must not be lightly moved. In ancient times, Duke Xian of Jin heeded the slander of Li Ji and killed Shen Sheng, leading to three generations of chaos. Emperor Wu of Han believed the false accusations of Jiang Chong against Crown Prince Li, causing bloodshed in the capital. Emperor Hui of Jin followed the slander of Empress Jia and deposed Crown Prince Minhuai, leading to the devastation of the Central Plains. Emperor Wen of Sui heeded the words of Empress Dugu and deposed Crown Prince Yang Yong, establishing Emperor Yang of Sui, and thus lost the realm. From this we see that one cannot but be cautious. If Your Majesty insists on doing this, I dare not comply with the edict." The emperor was displeased. Li Linfu initially said nothing, but after withdrawing from court, he privately said to the favored eunuchs, "This is the sovereign's family affair—why must outsiders be consulted!" The emperor hesitated. Consort Huifei secretly sent the palace servant Niu Gui'er to say to Zhang Jiuling, "If there is a deposition, there must be an establishment. If you assist her, you can remain grand councilor for a long time." Zhang Jiuling rebuked him and reported these words to the emperor. The emperor, for this reason, changed his expression. Thus, until Zhang Jiuling was dismissed as grand councilor, the crown prince was not moved. Li Linfu, day and night, spoke ill of Zhang Jiuling before the emperor, and the emperor gradually distanced himself from him.

Li Linfu recommended Xiao Huang to be Vice Director of the Department of Revenue. Xiao Huang had always been unlearned. Once, he said to the Secretariat Vice Director Yan Tingzhi, mistakenly reading "fù là" (summer and winter sacrifices) as "fú liè". Yan Tingzhi said to Zhang Jiuling, "Can the Department of State Affairs tolerate a 'Vice Director of Fú Liè'?" Therefore, Xiao Huang was sent out as Prefect of Qizhou, and for this reason Li Linfu resented Yan Tingzhi. Zhang Jiuling was on good terms with Yan Tingzhi and wanted to recommend him as grand councilor. He once said to him, "Minister Li is currently enjoying favor. You should visit him and cultivate friendly relations." Yan Tingzhi had always been proud of his integrity and looked down on Li Linfu's character, so he ultimately did not visit him. Li Linfu hated him even more deeply. Yan Tingzhi had previously married a wife, then divorced her. She remarried Wang Yuanyan, the Prefect of Weizhou. Wang Yuanyan was implicated in a bribery case and handed over to the Three Judicial Offices for interrogation. Yan Tingzhi interceded on his behalf. Li Linfu took the opportunity to have someone in the palace inform the emperor. The emperor said to the grand councilors, "Yan Tingzhi pleaded with the relevant authorities on behalf of a criminal." Zhang Jiuling said, "This is Yan Tingzhi's divorced wife; there should be no personal connection." The emperor said, "Although divorced, there is still a personal relationship."

Thus, the emperor, accumulating previous matters, considered Pei Yaoqing and Zhang Jiuling to be forming a faction for personal gain. On the renyin day, he appointed Pei Yaoqing as Left Chancellor and Zhang Jiuling as Right Chancellor, dismissing both from their grand councilor posts. He appointed Li Linfu concurrently as Secretariat Director, and Niu Xianke as Minister of Works and Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin, still concurrently serving as Shuofang military commissioner. Yan Tingzhi was demoted to Prefect of Mingzhou, and Wang Yuanyan was exiled to Lingnan.

Since the emperor ascended the throne, among the grand councilors he employed, Yao Chong valued comprehensiveness, Song Jing valued adherence to law, Zhang Jiazhen valued administrative competence, Zhang Yue valued literary talent, Li Yuanhong and Du Xian valued frugality, and Han Xiu and Zhang Jiuling valued uprightness—each had his strengths. After Zhang Jiuling was disgraced, from then on, officials in the court only sought to preserve their positions and keep themselves safe; there were no longer any who offered direct remonstrance.

Li Linfu wanted to block and blind the emperor's sight and hearing, monopolizing power. He openly summoned the various remonstrance officials and said, "Now there is a sage sovereign above, and the ministers obey him fast enough—what need is there for much talk! Have you gentlemen not seen the horses in the honor guard? They are fed with fodder of the third rank, but if they make a single sound, they are dismissed and driven away. When that time comes, what regret can be of any use!"

Supplemental Official Du Jin once submitted a memorial discussing government affairs. The next day, he was demoted to the magistrate of Xiagui County. From then on, the road to remonstrance was cut off.

Niu Xianke, after being recommended by Li Linfu, merely devoted himself to echoing and agreeing. However, both men cautiously adhered to regulations and systems. The promotions and transfers of various officials each had regular standards; even those with extraordinary talent or conduct could not avoid ending their careers in routine appointments. Meanwhile, those who used flattery, cunning, and wicked schemes to advance themselves could receive extraordinary promotions through other channels. Li Linfu’s inner thoughts were deep and impenetrable; no one could fathom the depths of his heart. He delighted in luring people with sweet words, then secretly harmed them without showing any sign. Whenever someone was favored by the emperor, he would initially draw close and befriend them, but when their status and power gradually approached his own, he would use schemes to eliminate them. Even veteran and crafty individuals could not escape his methods.

Emperor Xuanzong, the Supreme Dao, Great Sage, Great Filial, and Bright August One, Middle Period, Middle Part, Twenty-Fifth Year of the Kaiyuan Era (Dingchou, 737 CE)

Spring, first month: The position of Erudite of the Dark Learning was first established, and each year candidates were selected according to the method of the Mingjing (Classics) examination.

Second month: An imperial edict stated: "Jinshi (Presented Scholars) make their learning in tones and rhymes, but mostly lack understanding of ancient and modern affairs; Mingjing take memorization and pasting of classics as their effort, but rarely delve into the principles and meanings. From now on, the Mingjing examination will ask ten major points of meaning and three policy questions on current affairs; the Jinshi examination will test ten pastings of the major classics."

On the day Wuchen, the King of Silla, Kim Heung-gwang, died. His son, Kim Seung-gyeong, succeeded to the throne.

On the day Yiyou, the Youzhou Military Governor Zhang Shougui defeated the Khitan at Nalu Mountain.

On the day Jihai, the Hexi Military Governor Cui Xiyi attacked the (Tubo/Tibetans) and defeated them west of Qinghai.

Initially, Cui Xiyi sent an envoy to the Tibetan frontier general Qilixu, saying: "Our two countries are on friendly terms; now we are one family. Why must we still set up troops for defense, obstructing the people from farming and herding? Please remove them all." Qilixu replied: "Changshi (Cui Xiyi) is loyal and honest; his words surely will not deceive. But the court may not fully entrust frontier affairs to you. If a treacherous person stirs up discord and attacks us when we are unprepared, how can regret catch up?" Cui Xiyi insisted on his request, so they killed a white dog to seal the alliance and each withdrew their defenses. From then on, Tibetan livestock roamed freely across the fields. At that time, the Tibetans attacked Bolor in the west. Bolor came to report the emergency. The emperor ordered the Tibetans to withdraw, but they did not obey the decree and instead broke Bolor. The emperor was greatly angered. Just then, Cui Xiyi’s attendant Sun Hui entered the court to report on affairs. Wanting to claim merit for himself, he memorialized that the Tibetans were unprepared and requested an attack, saying it would surely achieve a great victory. The emperor ordered the Inner Palace Attendant Zhao Huicong to go with Sun Hui to investigate the situation. When Zhao Huicong and the others arrived, they issued a false imperial decree ordering Cui Xiyi to attack the Tibetans. Cui Xiyi had no choice but to dispatch troops from Liangzhou, advancing south into Tibetan territory for more than two thousand li, reaching west of Qinghai. They engaged the Tibetans in battle, inflicted a great defeat, beheaded more than two thousand men, and Qilixu escaped alone. Zhao Huicong and Sun Hui both received rich rewards. From then on, the Tibetans again cut off tributary missions.

Summer, fourth month, on the day Xinyou, Investigating Censor Zhou Ziliang impeached Niu Xianke for incompetence, citing prophetic texts as evidence. The emperor grew angry and ordered his attendants to beat him severely in the palace courtyard. He fell unconscious, then revived. He was then caned in the court hall and exiled to Rangzhou. When he reached Lantian, he died. Li Linfu said: "Zhou Ziliang was recommended by Zhang Jiuling." On the day Jiazi, Zhang Jiuling was demoted to the Chief Administrator of Jingzhou.

Yang Hui again slandered Crown Prince Li Ying, Prince of E Li Yao, and Prince of Guang Li Ju, saying they were plotting rebellion with the crown prince’s elder brother-in-law, Imperial Son-in-Law Xue Xiu. The emperor summoned the chief ministers to discuss. Li Linfu replied: "This is Your Majesty’s family matter; it is not something that subjects should participate in." The emperor’s decision was thus made. On the day Yichou, he sent eunuchs to announce an imperial decree in the palace, deposing Li Ying, Li Yao, and Li Ju as commoners, and exiling Xue Xiu to Rangzhou. Soon after, Li Ying, Li Yao, and Li Ju were ordered to commit suicide at the eastern post station of the city, and Xue Xiu was ordered to commit suicide at Lantian. Li Yao and Li Ju both loved learning and had talent and insight. They died without guilt, and people all mourned them. On the day Bingyin, the Zhao family of Li Ying’s maternal relatives, the Xue family of his consort’s family, and the Huangfu family of Li Yao’s maternal relatives were implicated. More than ten people were exiled or demoted; only the Wei family of Li Yao’s consort, because the consort was virtuous, was spared punishment.

Fifth month: Yizhou Prefect Yang Jun was sentenced to death for corruption. The emperor ordered him caned sixty times and exiled to Guzhou. Left Chancellor Pei Yaoqing submitted a memorial, arguing: "Using caning to redeem a death sentence is already generous grace; but stripping for a flogging is a matter of great disgrace. This should only be applied to slaves, not to scholar-officials." The emperor followed his advice.

On the day Guiwei, an imperial edict stated that because the four quarters were pacified, it ordered the Zhongshu Menxia (Central Secretariat and Chancellery) together with the various circuit military governors to calculate the military garrison quotas based on the busyness or leisure and the advantages or disadvantages of each garrison. They were to recruit able-bodied men from among various conscripted personnel and resident households to serve permanently as frontier troops, increase grants of fields and houses, and ensure generous treatment.

On the day Xinchou, the emperor ordered the relevant departments to select talented members of the imperial clan and appoint them as officials in the central ministries, the judiciary, and the capital counties. An edict stated: "Those who violate righteousness and despise the law cannot be shown favoritism in public justice; those who cultivate themselves and are loyal and faithful—how can grace be less for them! I hope they will set an example and inspire our customs."

Autumn, seventh month, on the day Jimao, Vice Minister of the Grand Court Si Xu Qiao memorialized: "This year, only fifty-eight people nationwide were sentenced to death. The Grand Court prison courtyard has always been said to be so filled with killing energy that birds do not perch there; now magpies have built nests in the trees within the courtyard." Thereupon, the hundred officials thought that the age was nearly one where punishment could be set aside and presented a table of congratulations. The emperor attributed the merit to his chief ministers. On the day Gengchen, he granted Li Linfu the title Duke of Jin, and Niu Xianke the title Duke of Bin.

The emperor ordered Li Linfu, Niu Xianke, and the judicial officials to revise and finalize the Statutes, Ordinances, Regulations, and Rules. This was completed, and on the day Renshen of the ninth month, it was promulgated and put into effect.

Before this, several dozen prefectures on the northwestern frontier had stationed heavy troops. The income from land taxes and military colony fields was insufficient to support them, so the method of harmonious grain purchase (he di) began to be used. A man named Peng Guo, through Niu Xianke, presented a plan requesting the implementation of the harmonious grain purchase method in the Guanzhong region. On the day Wuzi, an edict stated that because the harvest was abundant and grain prices were low, harming the farmers, it ordered an increase of twenty to thirty percent over the current market price to purchase several million hu of millet each from the eastern and western capital districts, and to suspend this year’s transport of rent grain from the Jiang and Huai regions. From then on, the Guanzhong granaries were amply supplied, and the emperor no longer made tours to the eastern capital. On the day Guisi, an edict ordered that the rent grain from Henan and Hebei that was supposed to be delivered to the Hanjia Granary and the Taiyuan Granary should instead be retained and paid in the respective prefectures.

Grand Court Erudite Wang Yu submitted a memorial requesting the establishment of an altar to the Green Emperor to welcome spring. The emperor followed his advice. Winter, tenth month, on the day Xinchou, an edict was issued that from then on, at the beginning of spring, the emperor would personally welcome spring at the eastern suburbs.

At that time, the emperor was quite fond of performing sacrifices to ghosts and spirits. Therefore, Wang Yu specialized in studying ritual forms to cater to the trend. The emperor liked him and appointed him as Attending Censor, concurrently in charge of the Office of Sacrificial Offerings. When Wang Yu prayed, he sometimes burned paper money, similar to shamans. Those versed in ritual considered this shameful. On the day Renshen, the emperor went to the hot springs at Mount Li. On the day Yiyou, he returned to the palace.

On the day Jichou, Song Jing, the Duke of Guangping with the posthumous title Wenzhen and holder of the title Kaifu Yitong Sansi, died.

Twelfth month, on the day Bingwu, Consort Wu, Lady of Huifei, died. She was posthumously granted the title and posthumous name Zhenshun Empress.

This year, the emperor ordered the Chief of the Palace Building Office, Kang Qian, to dismantle the Bright Hall (Mingtang) in the eastern capital. Kang Qian memorialized: "Dismantling it would waste labor and resources. I request to remove the upper level, lowering it by ninety-five chi from the old system, and to use it again as the Qianyuan Hall." The emperor followed his advice.

An edict was issued ordering that the labor service tax (yong), household tax (diao), land tax (zu), and miscellaneous levies (zi ke) should all be delivered to the capital using local products.

Emperor Xuanzong, the Supreme Dao, Great Sage, Great Filial, and Bright August One, Middle Period, Middle Part, Twenty-Sixth Year of the Kaiyuan Era (Wuyin, 738 CE)

Spring, first month, on the day Yihai, Niu Xianke was appointed as Attendant-in-Chief (Shizhong).

On the day Dingchou, the emperor welcomed the seasonal ether at the east of the Chan River.

An edict ordered that the long-term conscripted soldiers on the frontier, such that recruitment was already sufficient, from now on, garrison troops should no longer be dispatched, and those already there should be released to return home.

It was ordered that each prefecture, county, and ward throughout the empire should establish schools.

On the day Renchen, Li Linfu was appointed concurrently as Deputy Commissioner of the Longyou Circuit, with the Prefect of Shanzhou, Du Xiwang, acting as Commissioner in his absence.

Second month, on the day Yimao, Niu Xianke was appointed concurrently as Deputy Commissioner of the Hedong Circuit.

On the day Jiwei, Consort Zhenshun was buried at Jingling.

On the Renxu day, an imperial edict was issued allowing the Hu people who had been scattered among various prefectures in the six prefectures of the Hequ region due to the Kangdai Bin incident to return to their homeland. The prefecture of You was established between Xiazhou and Yanzhou to settle them.

In the third month, the Tubo invaded Hexi. The military governor, Cui Xiyi, defeated them. Du Xiwang, the prefect of Shanzhou and acting administrator of the Longyou rear area, attacked the Tubo's new city and captured it, establishing it as the Weirong Army, stationing a thousand soldiers there to guard it.

In summer, in the fifth month, on the Yiyou day, Li Linfu concurrently served as the military governor of Hexi.

On the Bingshen day, Cui Xiyi was appointed as the Henan Yin. Cui Xiyi, believing he had broken faith with the Tubo, felt ashamed and regretful, and soon died.

After Crown Prince Li Ying died, Li Linfu repeatedly urged the emperor to establish Prince Shou, Li Mao, as the crown prince. The emperor believed that Prince Zhong, Li Yu, was older, benevolent, filial, respectful, and diligent, and fond of learning, so he wished to establish him. He hesitated for over a year without making a decision. Thinking that he was growing older, and his three sons had been killed on the same day, with the heir still undetermined, he was often unhappy, and his eating and sleeping diminished as a result. Gao Lishi took the opportunity to ask the reason. The emperor said, "You are an old servant of my household; can you not guess my intentions?" Gao Lishi said, "Could it be that the heir has not been determined?" The emperor said, "Yes." Gao Lishi replied, "Why must Your Majesty labor in vain like this? Just establish the eldest; who dares to contend further!" The emperor said, "You are right! You are right!" Thus, the decision was made. In the sixth month, on the Gengzi day, Li Yu was established as the crown prince.

On the Xinchou day, Xiao Jiong, the prefect of Qizhou, was appointed as the Hexi military governor in charge of rear area affairs; Du Xiwang, the prefect of Shanzhou, was appointed as the Longyou military governor; Wang Yu, the Grand Servant of the Imperial Stud, was appointed as the Jiannan military governor. They were to manage and plan operations against the Tubo from different routes and destroy the erected Chiling Stele.

Sulu, the Khagan of the Turgesh, had always been frugal and incorruptible. Whenever he gained spoils from battles, he always shared them with the various tribes, keeping no private savings. Therefore, the people were happy to serve him. He had married a Tang princess but also secretly maintained relations with the Turks and the Tubo, who each married a daughter to him. Sulu made the daughters of these three states his khatuns and also established several of his sons as yabghus. His expenditures gradually increased, and from then on, he no longer shared the spoils of battle. In his later years, he suffered from a wind ailment, one hand became contracted, and the tribes became estranged. The two strongest chieftains, Mohe Dagan and Dumo Du, divided their tribes into the Yellow and Black clans, which became suspicious and hostile toward each other. Mohe Dagan then led his troops to attack Sulu at night and killed him. Dumo Du, who had initially conspired with Mohe Dagan, soon fell out with him. He established Sulu's son, Guchuo, as the Tuohuoxian Khagan to gather the remaining followers and fought against Mohe Dagan. Mohe Dagan sent an envoy to report to Gai Jiayun, the military governor of the Qixi region. The emperor ordered Gai Jiayun to summon the states west of the Turgesh and the Ferghana. Tuohuoxian and Dumo Du occupied the city of Suyab, while the Black clan Khagan, Erwei Tele, occupied the city of Talas, and they united their forces to resist the Tang.

The crown prince was about to receive his investiture. The ceremonial notes included regulations for "central solemnity," "external preparations," and the wearing of dark red silk robes. The crown prince found these too similar to the emperor's rituals and submitted a memorial requesting changes. The Left Chancellor, Pei Yaoqing, submitted a memorial to abolish the "central solemnity," change "external preparations" to "external readiness," and change the dark red silk robes to vermilion bright garments. In autumn, in the seventh month, on the Jisi day, the emperor went to the Xuanzheng Hall to invest the crown prince. According to precedent, the crown prince would ride a ceremonial chariot to the hall gate. On this occasion, the crown prince did not ride the chariot but entered on foot from his own palace. On this day, a general amnesty was declared. On the Jimao day, Princess Wei, the wife of Prince Zhong, was invested as the crown princess.

Du Xiwang led the troops of Shanzhou to seize the Tubo river bridge and built Yancheng Fort on the left bank of the Yellow River. The Tubo dispatched thirty thousand troops to meet them. Du Xiwang's forces were few and could not withstand them; all the officers and soldiers were terrified. The Left Weiwei General, Wang Zhongsi, led his troops to charge the enemy formation first, sweeping away all opposition, killing several hundred men, and throwing the enemy formation into chaos. Du Xiwang then unleashed his troops to attack, and the enemy was utterly defeated. The Zhenxi Army was established at Yancheng. Wang Zhongsi was promoted to Left Jinwu General due to his merit.

In the eighth month, on the Xinsi day, the King of Bohai, Da Wuyi, died, and his son, Da Qinmao, succeeded him.

In the ninth month, on the first day of the month (Bingshen), a solar eclipse occurred.

In the past, during the Yifeng era, the Tubo had captured and occupied the city of Anrong. The terrain there was strategically dangerous, and the Tang had attacked it many times without success. The Jiannan military governor, Wang Yu, built two forts next to Anrong City, stationed troops below Mount Pupo, and transported supplies to pressure the Tubo. The Tubo dispatched a large force to relieve Anrong City. Wang Yu's army was severely defeated, with several thousand dead. Wang Yu escaped alone, and all military supplies, including grain and weapons, were abandoned. Wang Yu was demoted to the post of prefect of Guazhou, then further demoted to the post of magistrate of Gaoyao, where he later died.

On the Wuwu day, Meng Guiyi of Nanzhao was enfeoffed as the King of Yunnan.

Guiyi's ancestors were originally the Ailao barbarians, dwelling west of Yaozhou, bordering Jiaozhi to the southeast and the Tubo to the northwest. In the barbarian language, the term for king was "zhao." Previously, there were six zhaos: the Mengshe Zhao, Mengyue Zhao, Yuexi Zhao, Langqiong Zhao, Yangbei Zhao, and Yuedan Zhao. Their military strength was roughly equal, and they could not unify. Successive dynasties followed this arrangement to divide their power. The Mengshe Zhao was the southernmost, so it was called Nanzhao. During the reign of Gaozong, Xinnuluo of the Mengshe Zhao first entered the court. Xinnuluo fathered Luosheng, Luosheng fathered Shengluopi, and Shengluopi fathered Piluoge. Piluoge gradually grew strong, while the other five zhaos weakened. It happened that he rendered merit by defeating the Mianhe barbarians. He then bribed Wang Yu to request that the six zhaos be united into one. Wang Yu memorialized the court on his behalf, and the court granted this, bestowing upon him the name Guiyi. Piluoge then used military force to intimidate and subdue the various barbarian tribes; those who did not submit were annihilated. Subsequently, he defeated the Tubo, moved his capital to Dahe City, and eventually became a border threat to the Tang.

In winter, in the tenth month, on the Wuyin day, Emperor Xuanzong went to the hot springs at Mount Li. On the Renchen day, the emperor returned to the palace.

In this year, over a thousand temporary palaces were built along the roads between the Western Capital and the Eastern Capital.

The Left and Right Yulin Armies were divided to establish the Longwu Army, and the Ten Thousand Cavalry Camp was placed under its command. Qi Huan, the prefect of Runzhou, submitted a memorial, saying: "Previously, crossing the Yangtze River from Guabu required a detour of sixty li. I request that we cross directly from the Jingkou Dyke, cutting a new canal of twenty-five li through the Yilou River to reach Yangzi County, and establish the Yilou Dyke." The court followed his advice.

The Zhongzhi period of Emperor Xuanzong, the twenty-seventh year of the Kaiyuan era (Jiyou year, 739 AD).

In spring, in the first month, on the Renyin day, an order was issued for Li Wan, the Prince of Rong and the Grand Commissioner of the Longyou Circuit, to personally inspect and manage the various armies in his circuit, selecting and recruiting thirty to fifty thousand able-bodied men from Guannei and Hedong to go to Longyou for defense. If there were no enemy incursions by the end of autumn, they would be allowed to return.

The court officials requested that the emperor be given the honorific title "Shengwen." In the second month, on the Jisi day, the emperor granted this and then declared a general amnesty, remitting the land taxes for the common people for this year.

In summer, in the fourth month, on the Guiyou day, an edict was issued: "All forms of yin-yang divination and magical arts, except those used for marriage, funeral, and divination for auspicious days, are prohibited."

On the Jichou day, Niu Xianke was appointed as Minister of War and concurrently as Shizhong, and Li Linfu as Minister of Personnel and concurrently as Zhongshu Ling, overseeing the selection of civil and military officials.

In the sixth month, on the Guiyou day, Li Shizhi, the Imperial Censor-in-Chief, was concurrently appointed as the military governor of Youzhou.

The Youzhou generals, Zhao Kan and Bai Zhen Tuoluo, falsely issued orders in the name of the military governor Zhang Shougui, commanding the Pinglu Army commissioner, Wu Zhiyi, to intercept and attack the remnants of the rebellious Xi tribe north of Hengshui. Wu Zhiyi did not comply, but Bai Zhen Tuoluo falsely claimed he had an imperial decree to compel him. Wu Zhiyi had no choice but to dispatch troops. They encountered the enemy, initially winning but then suffering defeat. Zhang Shougui concealed the defeat and reported that they had captured and killed the enemy. The matter gradually leaked out. Emperor Xuanzong ordered the Inner Steward Supervisor, Niu Xiantong, to investigate. Zhang Shougui heavily bribed Niu Xiantong, shifting the blame onto Bai Zhen Tuoluo and forcing him to hang himself. Niu Xiantong gained the emperor's favor, and the other eunuchs were jealous of him. Together, they exposed the matter. The emperor was furious. On the Jiaxu day, he ordered Yang Sixu to beat Niu Xiantong to death with a club. Yang Sixu tied him to a wooden rack, beat him several hundred times, gouged out his heart, and ate his flesh. Zhang Shougui was demoted to the post of prefect of Guazhou. The Grand Preceptor of the Crown Prince, Xiao Song, had once bribed Niu Xiantong with several qing of prime land south of the city. Li Linfu exposed this matter, and Xiao Song was demoted to the post of prefect of Qingzhou.

In autumn, the eighth month, on the yihai day, the Qixi Military Commissioner Gai Jiayun captured the Turgesh Qaghan Tuohuo Xian. Gai Jiayun attacked the city of Suiye; Tuohuo Xian came out to fight, was defeated, fled, and was captured at Heluo Ridge. Gai Jiayun separately dispatched the Shule Garrison Commander Fu Meng Lingcha and the King of Ferghana, Asilan Dagan, to secretly lead troops to raid Talas City, where they captured the Black Tribe Qaghan Erwei, then entered Yijian City, recovered Princess Jiaohe, and gathered up tens of thousands of the unkempt-haired people, handing them over to the King of Ferghana. His might shook the western frontier.

On the renwu day, the Tibetans invaded the Baicao and Anren Armies, but the Longyou Military Commissioner Xiao Jiong defeated them.

On the jiashen day, Confucius was posthumously honored as King Wenxuan. Previously, when sacrificing to the former sage and former teachers, the Duke of Zhou faced south, while Confucius faced east and sat. An imperial edict stipulated: "From now on, Confucius shall face south and sit, wear the regalia of a king, and the shidian ritual shall use the gongxuan music." Confucius’s disciples were all posthumously enfeoffed as dukes, marquises, and earls.

In the ninth month, on the wuwu day, the Chumukun, Nishini, and Gongyue tribes, which had formerly been subordinate to the Turgesh, all led their people to submit to the Tang and requested to be relocated within the jurisdiction of the Anxi Protectorate.

The crown prince changed his name to Li Shao.

In winter, the tenth month, on the xinsi day, the Bright Hall in the Eastern Capital was rebuilt.

On the bingxu day, the Emperor went to the Lishan Hot Springs; in the eleventh month, on the xinchou day, he returned to the palace.

On the jiashen day, the Bright Hall was completed.

The Jiannan Military Commissioner Zhang You, a civil official unfamiliar with military affairs, entrusted all military matters to the Deputy Military Training Commissioner Zhangqiu Jianqiong. Zhangqiu Jianqiong entered the court to report on affairs and strongly argued that Anrong City could be captured. The Emperor was pleased. On the dingsi day, Zhang You was appointed as Guanglu Qing. In the twelfth month, Zhangqiu Jianqiong was appointed as the Jiannan Military Commissioner.

Initially, after the mourning period for Emperor Ruizong ended, the xia sacrifice was performed in the Imperial Ancestral Temple; thereafter, the xia sacrifice was held every three years and the di sacrifice every five years. This year, the di sacrifice had already been performed in summer, and the xia sacrifice was due again in winter. The officials of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices considered that too frequent sacrifices would be irreverent and requested that the xia sacrifice for this year be cancelled. From then on, they calculated that a xia sacrifice and a di sacrifice should each be performed once every five years; the court accepted this proposal.

(Emperor Xuanzong, the Perfect Way, Great Sage, Great Filial, August Emperor, Middle Period, Second Part, Kaiyuan 28th Year (Gengyin, 740 AD))

In spring, the first month, on the guisi day, the Emperor went to the Lishan Hot Springs; on the gengzi day, he returned to the palace. In the second month, the Chief Administrator of Jingzhou, Zhang Jiuling, died. Although the Emperor had exiled Zhang Jiuling for disobeying his wishes, he ultimately cherished the man. Whenever the recommended a candidate, he always asked: “Can his demeanor compare to Zhang Jiuling’s?”

In the third month, on the dinghai day, the first day of the month, a solar eclipse occurred.

Zhangqiu Jianqiong secretly conspired with the Tibetan Zhai Duju inside Anrong City and the Deputy Governor of Weizhou, Dong Chengyan, having Zhai Duju open the city gates to lead the Tang army in. They killed all the Tibetan generals and soldiers and sent the Investigating Censor Xu Yuan to lead troops to garrison the city. Xu Yuan was a great-grandson of Xu Jingzong.

On the jiayin day, Gai Jiayun entered court to present his war trophies. The Emperor pardoned Tuohuo Xian’s crimes and appointed him as General of the Left Golden Wu Guard. Gai Jiayun requested that Ashi Na Huaidao’s son, Ashi Na Xin, be established as the Ten-Tribe Qaghan; the court agreed. In summer, the fourth month, on the xinwei day, Ashi Na Xin’s wife, Lady Li, was enfeoffed as Princess Jiaohe.

In the sixth month, the Tibetans besieged Anrong City.

The Emperor commended Gai Jiayun’s merits and appointed him as the Hexi and Longyou Military Commissioner, charging him with planning against the Tibetans. Gai Jiayun relied on imperial favor and indulged in pleasure, delaying his departure. The Left Chancellor Pei Yaoqing submitted a memorial, stating: “I have recently served alongside Gai Jiayun in court and observed his conduct. He is indeed fierce and bold in excess, but his speech and manner are arrogant and boastful, and I fear it will be difficult for him to accomplish anything. In the past, Mo’ao became proud after a small victory at the Pusao campaign, ultimately causing the Chu army’s defeat. Now Gai Jiayun shows a contemptuous attitude toward the enemy, and I privately worry about this. Moreover, the time to guard against autumn invasions is not far off, and he has not yet stated his date of departure. If he only moves when the event occurs, then the officers and soldiers will not yet know each other—how can he resist the enemy! Furthermore, when a general receives his orders, he should break through the Gate of Misfortune and march out. Now he spends his days feasting and enjoying himself; this is hardly the heart of one concerned for the state. If he cannot be replaced, he should be hurriedly sent on his way. I also beg Your Majesty’s sacred grace to sternly admonish and encourage him.” The Emperor then urged Gai Jiayun to depart. Later, Gai Jiayun ultimately achieved no meritorious results.

In autumn, the eighth month, on the jiaxu day, Youzhou reported defeating the Xi and Khitan.

In winter, the tenth month, on the jiazi day, the Emperor went to the Lishan Hot Springs; on the xinsi day, he returned to the palace.

The Tibetans invaded Anrong City and Weizhou; the court dispatched elite cavalry from within the passes to rescue them, and the Tibetans withdrew. The name of Anrong City was changed to Pingrong.

In the eleventh month, Niu Xianke was relieved of his posts as Shuofang and Hedong Military Commissioner.

The Turgesh Mohe Dagan, upon hearing that Ashi Na Xin had been established as Qaghan, angrily said: “It was my plan to first kill Sulu. Now that Ashi Na Xin is established as Qaghan, what will be used to reward me?” He then led the various tribes in rebellion. The Emperor therefore established Mohe Dagan as Qaghan, ordering him to lead the Turgesh people, and commanded Gai Jiayun to pacify and instruct him. In the twelfth month, on the yimao day, Mohe Dagan surrendered.

Princess Jincheng died; the Tibetans came to report the mourning and requested peace, but the Emperor did not agree.

This year, the empire had 1,573 counties, 8,412,871 households, and 48,143,609 people. In the Western Capital and Eastern Capital, the price of one hu of rice was less than 200 cash, and the price of one bolt of silk was the same. Within the seas, there was abundance and peace; travelers could journey ten thousand li without carrying any weapons.

(Emperor Xuanzong, the Perfect Way, Great Sage, Great Filial, August Emperor, Middle Period, Second Part, Kaiyuan 29th Year (Xinsi, 741 AD))

In spring, the first month, on the guisi day, the Emperor went to the Lishan Hot Springs.

On the dingyou day, an edict was issued: “Previously, when famine occurred in the various prefectures, they had to await a memorial and its approval before opening the granaries for relief. The roads are distant—how can this relieve the crisis! From now on, entrust the prefectural and county magistrates, together with the Imperial Investigators, to distribute the grain first and then report to the court.”

On the gengzi day, the Emperor returned to the palace. The Emperor dreamed that the Emperor of Mysterious Prime told him: “I have an image more than one hundred li southwest of the capital. Send someone to find it, and I shall meet you in the Xingqing Palace.” The Emperor sent people to search among the buildings and mountains of Zhouzhi County and found the image. In summer, the intercalary fourth month, it was welcomed and installed in the Xingqing Palace. In the fifth month, it was ordered that portraits of the Emperor of Mysterious Prime be painted and placed in the Kaiyuan Monasteries of each prefecture.

In the sixth month, a Tibetan army of 400,000 invaded and reached the Anren Army. The cavalry commander of Hunya Peak, Zang Xiyi, led 5,000 men and defeated them.

In autumn, the seventh month, on the bingyin day (the 6th), the Turks sent an envoy to report the death of the Qaghan Dengli. Initially, Dengli Qaghan’s two paternal uncles each controlled the troops, titled Left Shad and Right Shad. Dengli Qaghan, worried about the two Shads’ monopoly of power, conspired with his mother, lured the Right Shad to him and killed him, personally leading his troops. The Left Shad and the Panjue Tegin led troops to attack Dengli, killed him, and established the son of Bilge Qaghan as Qaghan. Soon after, the new Qaghan was killed by Gudu Yabghu, who then established his younger brother; subsequently, the younger brother was also killed, and Gudu Yabghu established himself as Qaghan. The Emperor, because of the internal turmoil among the Turks, on the guiyou day (the 11th), ordered the Left Feather Forest General Sun Laonu to pacify and instruct the Uyghurs, Karluks, and Basmyl tribes.

On the yihai day (the 13th), the Luo River in the Eastern Capital flooded, drowning over 1,000 people.

The Pinglu Military Commissioner An Lushan was clever and flattering by nature, skilled in serving others, and thus many praised him. When imperial attendants came to Pinglu, An Lushan heavily bribed them all, and from then on the Emperor considered him even more worthy. The Censor-in-Chief Zhang Lizhen, serving as the Hebei Imperial Investigator, came to Pinglu. An Lushan curried favor with Zhang Lizhen, bribing even his attendants. Upon returning to court, Zhang Lizhen reported and strongly praised An Lushan. In the eighth month, on the yiwei day (date uncertain), the court appointed An Lushan as the Commander of Yingzhou, acting as the Pinglu Army Commissioner, concurrently serving as the Jinglue Commissioner for the Two Barbarians, Bohai, and Heishui Four Prefectures.

In winter, the tenth month, on the bingshen day (the 7th), the Emperor went to the Lishan Hot Springs.

On the renyin day (the 13th), the Beiting and Anxi circuits were split into two separate Military Commissioners.

In the eleventh month, on the gengxu day (the twenty-first), the Minister of Works, Prince of Bin Li Shouli, died. Li Shouli was mediocre and vulgar, lacking talent and insight. Whenever it was about to rain or clear up, he would invariably predict it first, and afterward it would come true exactly as he said. The princes, such as the Prince of Qi and the Prince of Xue, said to the Emperor: "Our elder brother of Bin possesses magical arts." The Emperor asked the reason, and Li Shouli replied: "Your subject has no magical arts. During the time of Empress Wu, because of the Crown Prince Zhanghuai, your subject was imprisoned in the palace for over ten years, receiving several beatings with the staff each year. The scars on my back are very thick; when it is about to rain, I feel a dull oppression, and when it is about to clear, I feel light and refreshed. Your subject knows in this way alone." As he spoke, tears streamed down, wetting his lapel; the Emperor also felt sorrowful.

On the xinyou day (the date is doubtful), the Emperor returned to the palace.

On the xinwei day (the date is doubtful), the Grand Commandant, Prince of Ning Li Xian, died. The Emperor’s grief and regret were especially profound, and he said: "The empire was originally my elder brother’s empire; my elder brother firmly yielded it to me. He is the Taibo of the Tang Dynasty, and ordinary titles are insufficient to match him." He therefore granted the posthumous title of Emperor Rang (the Yielding Emperor). His son, the Prince of Ruyang Li Jin, submitted a memorial recounting his late father’s will to yield, not daring to accept the imperial title; the Emperor did not permit it. On the day of encoffining, the court brought out mourning garments, and the Emperor personally wrote a letter placed on the spirit seat, in which it said: "Longji declares." He also named his tomb Huiling (Grave of Yielding), and posthumously granted his consort, Lady Yuan, the title of Empress Gong, to be buried together in Huiling.

In the twelfth month, on the yisi day (the date is doubtful), the Tibetans captured Daxian County, massacred its population, and also captured Shibao Fortress. Gai Jiayun was unable to defend against them.