Tang Records 40
In the intercalary tenth month, on the yisi day, Guo Ziyi entered the court for an audience. Guo Ziyi, believing that Lingwu had only recently been recovered, the people were destitute, and the various tribes were not yet pacified, requested that the Director of the Shuofang Army Grain, Lu Sigong, a native of Sanyuan, be appointed to guard that place. He also noted that the Hexi Military Governor Yang Zhilie had already died, and requested that an envoy be sent to inspect and pacify Hexi, and to establish the posts of Chief Administrator for the prefectures of Liang, Gan, Su, Gua, and Sha. The emperor accepted all his suggestions.
On the dingwei day, the hundred officials requested that the revenue from their official salary lands be turned over for military grain; the emperor granted this.
On the wushen day, the Vice Minister of Revenue, Lu Sigong, was appointed Military Governor of Shuofang. Lu Sigong cut through brambles and thorns, established the military headquarters, and his stern commands were implemented with great force.
On the jiyou day, Guo Ziyi returned to Hezhong.
Earlier, the Military Governor of Jiannan, Yan Wu, had submitted a memorial requesting the appointment of General Cui Gan as Prefect of Lizhou. At that time, Shu had just experienced unrest, and mountain bandits blocked the roads, but Cui Gan pacified them by force. When Yan Wu was again stationed in Jiannan, he bribed the Military Governor of Shannan West, Zhang Xiancheng, to obtain Cui Gan. Zhang Xiancheng had Cui Gan claim illness and resign his post, then go to pay respects to Yan Wu. Yan Wu appointed him Prefect of Hanzhou and sent him to lead troops to attack Tubo in the Western Mountains. He captured several cities in succession, expanding the territory by several hundred li. Yan Wu had a carriage decorated with seven treasures made to welcome Cui Gan into Chengdu and show him favor.
After Yan Wu died, the Acting Military Governor Du Ji managed the affairs of the military headquarters. The Commander-in-Chief of All Armies, Guo Yinggan, who was the younger brother of Guo Yingyi, together with the Commander of the Capital Guards, Guo Jialin, jointly requested that Guo Yingyi be appointed Military Governor. Cui Gan, who was then the Commander-in-Chief of All Armies in the Western Mountains, together with his subordinates, jointly requested that the senior general Wang Chongjun be appointed Military Governor. It happened that the court had already appointed Guo Yingyi, who therefore harbored resentment. A few days after arriving in Chengdu, he falsely accused Wang Chongjun of a crime and killed him. He summoned Cui Gan back to Chengdu, but Cui Gan refused, using the defense against Tubo as an excuse, saying he could not return. Guo Yingyi became even angrier and cut off his grain supplies to starve him out. Cui Gan moved his troops deep into the mountains. Guo Yingyi personally led an army to attack him, claiming it was to help Cui Gan with defense. It happened to snow heavily, with snow accumulating several feet deep in the valleys. Many soldiers and horses died from cold and injury. Cui Gan sent out troops to attack them, and Guo Yingyi suffered a great defeat. He gathered his remaining soldiers, only about a thousand men, and returned.
In governing, Guo Yingyi was harsh, cruel, arrogant, and extravagant. He did not care for the soldiers, and the people were disaffected and resentful. When Emperor Xuanzong left Shu, he converted the palace where he had lived into a Taoist temple and had a golden statue cast in his likeness. Guo Yingyi, liking the lush and beautiful bamboo and trees there, requested that it be converted into a military camp. He then moved the golden statue and took up residence there himself. Cui Gan declared that Guo Yingyi was plotting rebellion, saying, "If not, why would he move the emperor's golden statue and occupy that place himself?" He then led five thousand of his men to attack Chengdu. On the xinhai day, they fought west of the city, and Guo Yingyi was utterly defeated. Cui Gan then entered Chengdu and executed Guo Yingyi's entire family. Guo Yingyi fled alone on horseback to Jianzhou. The Prefect of Jianzhou, Han Cheng, killed Guo Yingyi and sent his head to Cui Gan. The Adjutant of Qiongzhou, Bai Maolin, the Adjutant of Luzhou, Yang Zilin, and the Adjutant of Jianzhou, Li Changkui, each raised troops to attack Cui Gan, and Shu was thrown into great chaos. Cui Gan was a native of Weizhou.
The Magistrate of Huayuan County, Gu Yao, submitted a memorial stating that Yuan Zai's son, Yuan Bohe, and others were monopolizing power and accepting bribes. In the twelfth month, on the wuxu day, Gu Yao was found guilty and exiled to Jinzhou.
Since the rebellions of An Lushan and Shi Siming, the halls and rooms of the Imperial Academy had fallen into disrepair, and soldiers were mostly quartered there. The Rector of the Imperial Academy, Xiao Xin, submitted a memorial stating: "The schools cannot be abandoned like this."
In the spring, on the yiyou day of the first month, the emperor issued an edict to restore and increase the number of students in the Imperial Academy. On the bingxu day, the Minister of Revenue, Liu Yan, was appointed Commissioner for Transport, Ever-normal Granaries, Coinage, and Salt and Iron for the Capital Region, Henan, Huainan, Jiangnan, Hunan, Jingnan, and Shandong East Circuit. The Vice Minister, Diwu Qi, was appointed Commissioner for Transport for the Capital District, Guannei, Hedong, Jiannan, and Shannan West Circuit, each managing the empire's financial taxes. After Zhou Zhiguang arrived at Huazhou, he became even more arrogant. The emperor summoned him, but he refused to come. The emperor ordered Du Mian to follow Zhang Xiancheng to Shannan West Circuit to avoid him. Zhou Zhiguang sent troops to intercept them at Shangshan, but failed. Zhou Zhiguang, knowing his crimes were serious, gathered together fugitives and wastrels, numbering tens of thousands, and indulged them in robbery and plunder to win their favor. He arbitrarily detained 20,000 hu of grain transported by canal from the passes, and often killed the envoys of various circuits carrying tribute and seized their goods.
On the dinghai day of the second month (the first day of the month), a ceremony was held in the Imperial Academy. The Chancellor was ordered to lead the regular attending officials, and Yu Chao'en was ordered to lead the generals of the Six Armies to attend the lectures. Their sons and younger brothers all wore crimson and purple official robes and acted as students. After Yu Chao'en became eminent, he studied the classics and composition, but could barely hold a brush and distinguish between paragraphs. Yet he considered himself accomplished in both civil and military arts, and no one dared to contend with him. On the xinmao day, the relevant department was ordered to repair the Imperial Academy.
Yuan Zai monopolized power and was afraid that those who submitted memorials would attack and expose his secrets. He therefore requested: "All officials who discuss government affairs must first report to their superiors. The superiors will report to the Chancellor, who will then memorialize the emperor." He also used the emperor's own intent to inform the hundred officials, saying: "Recently, the memorials from various departments have been numerous, and most of what they say is slander and defamation. Therefore, the superiors and the Chancellor are entrusted to first decide on their acceptability."
The Minister of Justice, Yan Zhenqing, submitted a memorial, arguing: "The Directors and Censors are the emperor's ears and eyes. Now, to make those who discuss government affairs first report to the Chancellor is to cover one's own ears and eyes. If Your Majesty fears slander from the officials, why not investigate whether their words are false or true! If their words are indeed false, they should be executed. If they are indeed true, they should be rewarded. Instead of doing this, you cause the people of the empire to say that Your Majesty is weary of the trouble of listening and reading, and use this as a pretext to block the path of remonstrance. I privately feel deep regret for Your Majesty. Emperor Taizong wrote in the Regulations of the Palace Gate Office: 'For those who have no gate pass, if they have urgent matters to memorialize, order the Gate Office and the Palace Attendants to guide them in to present their memorials, and do not obstruct them.' This was to prevent obstruction and concealment. After the Tianbao era, Li Linfu was Chancellor. He deeply hated those who submitted remonstrances, and people on the road could only exchange glances. The emperor's will could not be communicated downward, and the situation below could not be reported upward. This concealment and silence ultimately led to the disaster of the emperor fleeing to Shu. The decline continues to this day, and this situation has developed gradually. When a ruler widely opens the path for frank speech, his officials still dare not speak their minds fully. How much more so if he allows the Chancellor and high ministers to judge and suppress them! Then what Your Majesty can see and hear will be limited to only a few people. The scholars of the empire will from then on shut their mouths and seal their lips. Your Majesty, seeing that no one speaks anymore, will think there is nothing in the empire to discuss. This is Li Linfu revived today! In the past, Li Linfu monopolized power, but if among the officials there were those who memorialized without first reporting to the Chancellor, he would use other matters to secretly harm them. Yet he did not dare to openly order that all departments must first report to the Chancellor before memorializing. If Your Majesty does not awaken early, you will gradually become isolated. Later, even if you regret it, it will be too late!" When Yuan Zai heard this, he harbored a grudge. He memorialized that Yan Zhenqing was slandering him. On the yiwei day, Yan Zhenqing was demoted to be the Prefectural Governor of Xiazhou.
On the jihai day, the Vice Minister of the Grand Court, Yang Ji, was ordered to make peace with Tubo.
On the renzi day, Du Hongjian was appointed Vice Marshal of Shannan West and Jiannan East and West Circuits, and Military Governor of Jiannan West Circuit, to pacify the rebellion in Shu.
Ma Lin was appointed as the military governor of the Four Garrisons and the Beiting Field Camp, concurrently serving as the military governor of Bin Ning. Ma Lin appointed Duan Xiushi as the chief military inspector for the three commands. There was a soldier who could draw a two-hundred-forty-catty bow but committed theft and was sentenced to death. Ma Lin wanted to spare his life, but Duan Xiushi said, "If a general applies the law inconsistently based on personal favor or anger, even Han Xin or Peng Yue could not govern an army well." Ma Lin considered his words correct and ultimately executed the soldier. When Ma Lin handled matters unreasonably at times, Duan Xiushi would argue on the basis of principle. Sometimes Ma Lin became extremely angry, and his attendants trembled in fear. Duan Xiushi said, "If Duan Xiushi has committed a crime deserving death, why be angry? If he is killed without guilt, it would not be in accordance with reason." Ma Lin shook his sleeves and rose, and Duan Xiushi slowly withdrew. After a long while, Ma Lin set out wine and summoned Duan Xiushi to apologize to him. From then on, all military and prefectural affairs were first consulted with Duan Xiushi before being implemented. Because of this, Ma Lin gained a fine reputation in Bin Ning.
On the Guichou day, Zhang Xiancheng, the military governor of Shannan West Circuit, was concurrently appointed as the military governor of Jiannan East Sichuan Circuit; Bo Maolin, the prefect of Qiong Prefecture, was made the defense commissioner of Qiong South; and Cui Gan was appointed as the prefect of Mao Prefecture, serving as the defense commissioner of West Mountain. On the Guiwei day of the third month, Zhang Xiancheng fought with Cui Gan at Zi Prefecture. Zhang Xiancheng's army was defeated, and he barely escaped with his life; his banners and credentials were all taken by Cui Gan.
In the summer of the fifth month, Yang Xiuming, the military governor of Hexi, moved his headquarters to Sha Prefecture.
In the autumn of the eighth month, the Directorate of Education was completed. On the Dinghai day, the offering ceremony was held. Yu Chao'en took the Book of Changes and ascended the high seat, explaining the passage about "the cauldron overturning the food" to satirize the chancellors. Wang Jin was angry, but Yuan Zai's expression remained calm. Yu Chao'en said to others, "Anger is human nature, but the one who smiles is unfathomable."
Du Hongjian reached the border of Shu and, upon hearing of Zhang Xiancheng's defeat, became frightened. He sent someone ahead to express sincerity to Cui Gan, promising him a plan for complete safety. Cui Gan received him with humble words and generous gifts, and Du Hongjian was pleased. After entering Chengdu, when he saw Cui Gan, he treated him only with warmth and respect, without a single word of reprimand for violating the law. Every day he held grand banquets with his generals and staff, and all prefectural and military affairs were entrusted to Cui Gan. He also repeatedly recommended Cui Gan to the court and requested to cede the military governorship to Cui Gan, allowing Bo Maolin, Yang Zilin, and Li Changkui to each serve as prefects of their respective prefectures. The emperor had no choice but to agree. On the Renyin day, Cui Gan was appointed as the intendant of Chengdu and the acting military commissioner of West Sichuan Circuit.
On the Jiachen day, Yu Chao'en was made acting director of the Palace Domestic Service and acting director of the Directorate of Education. Chang Gun, a secretariat drafter from Jingzhao, submitted a memorial saying: "The duties of the Directorate of Education should be entrusted to renowned Confucian officials, not to eunuchs." On the Dingwei day, an order was given for officials from the chancellor level down to escort Yu Chao'en to his post. Li Gan, the intendant of Jingzhao, diverted water from a mountain stream south of the Zhongnan Mountains to cut a canal into Chang'an, but the project ultimately failed.
In the winter of the tenth month, on the Yiwei day, the emperor's birthday arrived. The various circuit military governors presented gold, silk, vessels, clothing, precious curios, and fine horses as birthday gifts, totaling two hundred forty thousand strings of cash. Chang Gun submitted a memorial, arguing: "The military governors do not plow or weave; these things must be extracted from the people. Accumulating resentment to seek favor should not be encouraged. I request that these gifts be returned." The emperor did not listen.
The Jingzhao intendant Diwu Qi implemented a ten-percent tax law, and the people suffered from the heavy tax burden, with many fleeing. On the Jiazi day of the eleventh month, the winter solstice, a general amnesty was declared, the reign name was changed, and the ten-percent tax law was completely abolished.
On the Guimao day of the twelfth month, Zhou Zhiguang killed Zhang Zhibin, the eunuch army supervisor of Shan Prefecture. Zhou Zhiguang had long been at odds with Huangfu Wen, the prefect of Shan Prefecture. When Zhang Zhibin entered the court to report on affairs, Zhou Zhiguang entertained him. Zhang Zhibin criticized his subordinates for being undisciplined, and Zhou Zhiguang angrily said, "Pugu Huai'en did not rebel; it was you people who provoked him into it. I also do not want to rebel, but today I will do it for your sake!" He ordered Zhang Zhibin to be dragged away and beheaded, then cut into pieces and eaten. Court scholars attending the selection for office, fearing Zhou Zhiguang's brutality, mostly secretly passed through Tong Prefecture. Zhou Zhiguang sent generals with troops to intercept them on the road, and many died. On the Wushen day, an edict was issued adding Zhou Zhiguang as acting Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, and the eunuch envoy Yu Yuanxian was sent with the appointment document to confer it. Zhou Zhiguang arrogantly cursed, "I, Zhou Zhiguang, have rendered great merit to the empire. Not giving me the post of Vice Director of the Secretariat but only Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs! Moreover, Tong Prefecture and Hua Prefecture are too small to fully display my talents. If I were given the five prefectures of Shan, Guo, Shang, Fu, and Fang, that might be enough." He then enumerated the faults of the high ministers one by one and said, "This place is one hundred eighty li from Chang'an. When I sleep at night, I dare not stretch my legs, for fear of kicking down Chang'an city wall. As for holding the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords, only I, Zhou Zhiguang, can do that." Yu Yuanxian trembled with fear. Guo Ziyi repeatedly requested to punish Zhou Zhiguang, but the emperor did not permit it.
Because the army in Hezhong often lacked food, Guo Ziyi personally cultivated one hundred mu of land, and the officers followed suit in descending order. As a result, the soldiers, without being urged, all took up farming. That year, there was no uncultivated land in Hezhong fields, and the army had surplus grain.
Chen Shaoyou, the acting military commissioner of Longyou, was appointed as the surveyor of Guiguan Circuit. Chen Shaoyou was from Bo Prefecture. He was competent and quick as an official but fond of bribery and skilled at currying favor with the powerful, thus he gained promotion. After receiving Gui Prefecture, he disliked its remoteness and miasmas. The eunuch Dong Xiu controlled the Bureau of Military Secrets, and Chen Shaoyou requested to present fifty thousand strings of cash annually, also bribing Yuan Zai's son, Yuan Zhongwu. With recommendations from both inside and outside the court, within a few days, he was reassigned as the surveyor of Xuan She Circuit.
In the spring, on the first month, the Dingsi day, Emperor Daizong secretly issued an edict ordering Guo Ziyi to punish Zhou Zhiguang. Guo Ziyi ordered the great generals Hun Jian and Li Huaiguang to station their troops along the Wei River. When Zhou Zhiguang's subordinates heard this, they all became disaffected. On the Jiwei day, Zhou Zhiguang's general Li Hanhui led his troops from Tong Prefecture and surrendered to Guo Ziyi. On the Renxu day, Emperor Daizong demoted Zhou Zhiguang to be the prefect of Li Prefecture. On the Jiazi day, Yao Huai and Li Yanjun, officers of the Hua Prefecture garrison, killed Zhou Zhiguang and presented his head to the court. Li Zhongchen, the military governor of Huaixi Circuit, entered the court. On the pretext of recovering Hua Prefecture, he led his troops on a rampage of plunder. For two hundred li from Tong Pass to Chishui, goods and livestock were nearly all taken. Some officials wore paper clothing or went several days without food. On the Jisi day, a garrison of two thousand soldiers was established at Tong Pass.
On the Renshen day, the Jiannan Circuit was divided to establish the East Sichuan Surveyor Circuit, with its headquarters at Sui Prefecture.
On the second month, the Bingxu day, Guo Ziyi entered the court. Emperor Daizong ordered Yuan Zai, Wang Jin, Yu Chao'en, and others to take turns hosting banquets at Guo Ziyi's residence, with each banquet costing up to one hundred thousand strings of cash. The emperor treated Guo Ziyi with great courtesy and respect, often addressing him as "Great Minister" without using his personal name.
Guo Ai once quarreled with Princess Shengping. Guo Ai said, "Do you rely on your father being the Son of Heaven? My father disdains to be the Son of Heaven!" The princess was furious and rode in her carriage to the palace to report to Emperor Daizong. The emperor said, "This is something you cannot understand. It is indeed so. If he wanted to be the Son of Heaven, would the empire still belong to your family?" After comforting and advising her, he sent the princess back. When Guo Ziyi heard of this, he imprisoned Guo Ai and went to the palace to await punishment. Emperor Daizong said, "As the proverb goes, 'If you are not deaf and not dim-witted, you cannot be the head of a household.' Words spoken in the inner chambers of children, how can they be worth listening to?" After Guo Ziyi returned home, he beat Guo Ai several dozen strokes with a heavy stick.
In the summer, on the fourth month, the Gengzi day, Emperor Daizong ordered the chancellors and Yu Chao'en to meet with the Tibetans at Xingtang Temple to form an alliance.
Du Hongjian requested to enter the court to report on affairs, and asked that Cui Gan act as the acting military governor of West Sichuan. On the sixth month, the Jiaxu day, Du Hongjian returned from Chengdu, presented many tribute items, and strongly argued the situation, recommending that Cui Gan's abilities were sufficient to handle important responsibilities. The emperor, also intent on appeasement, kept Du Hongjian and had him resume his duties in the administration. In the autumn, on the seventh month, the Bingyin day, Cui Gan was appointed as the military governor of West Sichuan, and Du Ji as the military governor of East Sichuan. Cui Gan again extorted the people to bribe the powerful. Yuan Zai promoted Cui Gan's younger brother Cui Kuan to the post of vice censor-in-chief, and Cui Gan's elder brother Cui Shen to the post of supervising secretary.
On the Dingmao day, Yu Chao'en submitted a memorial requesting that a garden previously bestowed upon him be converted into the Zhangjing Temple, to pray for blessings for Empress Dowager Zhangjing in the afterlife. Consequently, the temple was built with extreme splendor and magnificence, exhausting the timber of the entire capital and still finding it insufficient; he further memorialized to demolish the pavilions of Qujiang Pond and Huaqing Palace to provide materials, costing over ten trillion coins. Gao Ying, a candidate from Weizhou Prefecture, submitted a memorial, generally stating: "The late empress dowager's holy virtue does not need a temple to add luster; the long-term plan for the state should fundamentally take the people as its root. To abandon the people and build a temple—what blessing can be sought!" He also said: "It is acceptable to have no temple, but is it acceptable to have no people!" He further said: "Your Majesty should emulate Yu the Great, making palaces and chambers simple; yet now you revere Buddhist pagodas and temples—are you imitating the practices of Emperor Wu of Liang?" He submitted another memorial, roughly stating: "In ancient times, wise and enlightened kings accumulated good deeds to seek blessings, not wasting wealth to seek them; they cultivated virtue to avert calamities, not conscripting the people to ward them off. Now the construction projects are urgent, continuing day and night without rest; those whose strength fails are immediately flogged, and the sounds of sorrow and pain fill the roads. Seeking blessings in this way, I fear it will not be as desired." He also said: "Your Majesty's heart has deviated from the right path, yet you seek trivial assistance from external things, yielding to the mistaken plans of those close to you, damaging the grand enterprise of an emperor; I privately feel regret for Your Majesty!" These memorials were all shelved without reply.
Initially, Emperor Daizong favored sacrifices and did not place great importance on Buddhism. When Yuan Zai, Wang Jin, and Du Hongjian served as chancellors, all three were fond of Buddhism; Wang Jin was especially severe, abstaining from meat and blood, and together with Du Hongjian, built countless temples. Emperor Daizong once asked them: "The cause and effect spoken of in Buddhism—does it exist or not?" Yuan Zai and others memorialized, saying: "The state's fortune is long-lasting; if it were not for blessings sown in a previous life, how could it have reached this point! Since the blessings are already ordained, even if there are temporary minor calamities, they ultimately cannot cause harm. Thus, when An Lushan and Shi Siming's rebellious vigor was at its peak, they each encountered their sons' rebellions; when Pugu Huaien raised troops to invade internally, he died of illness as soon as he left his gate; when the Huihu and Tubo made a deep incursion, they withdrew without a battle. None of these were achieved by human effort—how can it be said there is no retribution!" From then on, Emperor Daizong deeply believed in Buddhism, often keeping over a hundred monks in the palace; when enemies invaded, he would order monks to chant the Benevolent King Sutra to avert calamities, and when the enemies withdrew, he would reward them generously. The foreign monk Bukong reached the rank of minister and supervisor, was enfeoffed as a duke of the state, entered and left the palace, and his authority surpassed that of powerful nobles. The fine fields and beautiful properties around the capital mostly belonged to the monk temples. Emperor Daizong issued an edict that throughout the empire, monks and nuns must not be beaten. The Golden Pavilion Temple was built on Mount Wutai, using copper tiles coated with gold, costing over a trillion coins. Wang Jin issued documents from the Secretariat, sending dozens of monks from Mount Wutai to all directions to seek profits for construction. Yuan Zai and others, whenever they accompanied Emperor Daizong during his leisure, mostly discussed Buddhist affairs. Consequently, officials and commoners inside and outside the court followed the trend, influencing each other, all abandoning human affairs to believe in Buddhism, and governance and punishments became increasingly disordered.
On the Gengchen day of the eighth month, Li Baoyu, the military commissioner of Fengxiang and other circuits, Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, and Vice Director of the Secretariat, entered the court and firmly resigned from the post of Left Vice Director, with sincere words; Emperor Daizong agreed. On the Guichou day, he further resigned from the post of Fengxiang military commissioner; Emperor Daizong did not agree.
On the Dingyou day, Du Hongjian sponsored a thousand monks because of his safe return from an embassy to Shu.
In the ninth month, several tens of thousands of Tubo troops besieged Lingzhou, and their roving cavalry reached Panyuan and Yilu; Guo Ziyi led thirty thousand armored troops from Hezhong to guard Jingyang, and the capital was placed under martial law. On the Jiazi day, Guo Ziyi moved his troops to guard Fengtian.
The mountain Liao captured Guizhou and expelled the prefect Li Liang. In winter, on the Wuyin day of the tenth month, Lu Sigong, the military commissioner of Shuofang, defeated the Tubo at the city wall of Lingzhou, beheading over two thousand; the Tubo retreated.
On the Gengchen day of the twelfth month, thieves opened the grave of Guo Ziyi's father. The authorities searched for the thieves but did not capture them. People believed that Yu Chao'en had always hated Guo Ziyi and suspected he had instigated it. Guo Ziyi entered the court from Fengtian; the court feared he might start a rebellion. Guo Ziyi had an audience with Emperor Daizong; the emperor mentioned the matter. Guo Ziyi wept and said: "I have commanded troops for a long time and could not prohibit violent acts; soldiers often dug up others' graves. Today this has befallen me—it is Heaven's punishment, not human action." The court thus calmed down.
In this year, the Zhenxi Army was again renamed the Anxi Army.
The King of Silla, Kim Heon-yeong, died, and his son Kim Geon-un succeeded him.
In spring, on the Yichou day (the second day) of the first month, the emperor visited the Zhangjing Temple and tonsured a thousand monks and nuns. The Prince of Jianning, Li Tan, was posthumously granted the title of Prince of Qi.
On the Guisi day (the first day) of the second month, Liu Qia, the military commissioner of Shangzhou, killed Yin Zhongqing, the defense commissioner; shortly after, the court punished and pacified this matter. On the Jiawu day (the second day), Guo Ziyi forbade galloping horses within the army without reason. The son of the wet nurse of the Lady of Nanyang violated the prohibition, and the Metropolitan Commandant beat him to death. Several of Guo Ziyi's sons wept and complained to him, saying that the Metropolitan Commandant was tyrannical and overbearing. Guo Ziyi scolded and drove them away. The next day, Guo Ziyi told his subordinates about this, sighing: "My sons are all of servant talent. They do not appreciate their father's Metropolitan Commandant but pity their mother's wet nurse's son—if they are not of servant talent, what else are they!"
On the Gengzi day (the eighth day), the palace lady Dugu was enfeoffed as Noble Consort.
On the Yisi day (the first day) of the third month, a solar eclipse occurred.
In summer, on the Wuyin day (the fourth day) of the fourth month, Zhang Xiancheng, the military commissioner of Shannan West Circuit, due to illness, recommended his cousin Zhang Xiangong, the General of the Right Feathered Forest Army, to replace himself; the emperor agreed.
On the Renyin day (the twenty-eighth day), Cui Gan, the military commissioner of Xichuan Circuit, entered the court.
Initially, the emperor sent a palace messenger to Mount Heng to summon Li Mi. After Li Mi arrived in the capital, he was bestowed with a gold fish pouch and purple robes, and a study hall was built for him beside the Penglai Hall. The emperor often visited him wearing a sweat-shirt and slippers. Matters from the appointment of officials above the rank of Supervising Secretary and Secretariat Drafter, as well as the appointment of regional military commissioners and state affairs, were all discussed with him. He also had Yu Chao'en build an outer residence for Li Mi at Baihua Tun, allowing him to meet with relatives and friends.
The emperor wanted to appoint Li Mi as Vice Director of the Chancellery and Vice Director of the Secretariat, but Li Mi firmly declined. The emperor said: "Government affairs are busy, and I cannot meet you morning and evening; indeed, it is better to have you live in close and confidential quarters—why must you sign edicts before being considered a chancellor!" Later, on the occasion of the Dragon Boat Festival, princes, dukes, consorts, and princesses each presented clothing and trinkets. The emperor said to Li Mi: "Why does the Master alone not present anything?" Li Mi replied: "Your servant resides in the palace; from headcloth to shoes, all are bestowed by Your Majesty. The only thing left is this body—what is there to present?" The emperor said: "What I seek is precisely this." Li Mi said: "If your servant's body does not belong to Your Majesty, then who can possess it?" The emperor said: "The late emperor once wanted to use the position of chancellor to inconvenience you but could not achieve it. From now on, since you have presented your body, you should let me arrange it; it no longer belongs to yourself." Li Mi said: "What does Your Majesty want your servant to do?" The emperor said: "I want you to eat meat and drink wine, have a family, accept salary and official rank, and become a worldly man." Li Mi wept and said: "Your servant has abstained from eating and drinking for over twenty years; why does Your Majesty want your servant to destroy his own aspirations!" The emperor said: "What use is weeping! You are in the deep palace; where do you intend to go?" He then ordered the palace messenger to bury Li Mi's parents and also married the daughter of the Lu family to Li Mi, with all expenses paid by the government. He bestowed a mansion in Guangfu Fang, allowing Li Mi to live a few days in the mansion and a few days in the Penglai Study Hall.
The emperor spoke with Li Mi about the Prince of Qi, Li Tan, wanting to honor him with generous posthumous awards. Li Mi requested that, following the precedents of the Prince of Qi and the Prince of Xue, he be posthumously made heir apparent. The emperor wept and said: "My younger brother first proposed the strategy at Lingwu, achieving the great enterprise of restoration—did the Prince of Qi and the Prince of Xue have such merit! He exhausted his loyalty and filial piety but was framed by slanderous villains. If he were still alive, I would certainly establish him as the Imperial Younger Brother and Heir Apparent. Now I should honor him with an imperial title to fulfill my long-cherished wish." On the Yimao day (the eleventh day), an edict was issued, posthumously conferring on Li Tan the title of Emperor Cheng Tian; on the Gengshen day (the sixteenth day), he was buried at Shunling.
When Cui Gan entered the court, he left his younger brother Cui Kuan as acting commander. The governor of Luzhou, Yang Zilin, led several thousand elite cavalry to take advantage of the situation and launch a surprise attack on Chengdu. Upon hearing this, the court granted Cui Gan the additional title of Minister of Works of the Imperial Chancellery, gave him the new name Ning, and ordered him to return to his post.
On the renchen day (20th) of the sixth month, Zhu Xicai, the military commissioner of Youzhou; Zhu Ci, the deputy military commissioner from Changping; and Zhu Ci’s younger brother Zhu Tao jointly killed the military governor Li Huaixian. Zhu Xicai declared himself acting commander. In the intercalary month, Li Baochen, the military governor of Chengde Commandery, sent generals with troops to attack Zhu Xicai but was defeated. The court had no choice but to pardon him. On the gengshen day (18th), Wang Jin was appointed to concurrently serve as military governor of Lulong. On the dingmao day (25th), Zhu Xicai was placed in charge of the Youzhou acting command.
Cui Kuan fought against Yang Zilin and suffered repeated defeats. In autumn, the seventh month, Cui Ning’s concubine, Lady Ren, donated hundreds of thousands from her personal wealth to recruit several thousand soldiers. She led them in an attack on Yang Zilin and defeated him; Yang Zilin fled.
On the yihai day (4th), Wang Jin went to Youzhou. Zhu Xicai deployed heavy troops in strict readiness to receive him. Wang Jin acted calmly and unhurriedly, and Zhu Xicai greeted him with great respect. Wang Jin judged that he could ultimately not control him, so after comforting the troops, he returned over ten days later.
The khatun of the Uyghurs died. On the gengchen day (9th), the right Executive Assistant of the Chancellery, Xiao Xin, was appointed as envoy for mourning and sacrifice. The Uyghur court questioned Xiao Xin, saying: “We have rendered great service to the Tang. Why has the Tang broken faith, buying our horses but not returning the price on time?” Xiao Xin replied: “The service of the Uyghurs has already been repaid by the Tang. When Pugu Huai’en rebelled, the Uyghurs aided him, joining with the Tibetans to invade and approaching our capital outskirts. After Pugu Huai’en died and the Tibetans fled, the Uyghurs then feared and sought peace. Our Tang, not forgetting past merits, showed favor and let you return. Otherwise, not even a single horse would have gone back. It was the Uyghurs who violated the alliance—how can the Tang be said to have broken faith?” The Uyghurs felt ashamed and sent Xiao Xin back with generous gifts.
On the bingxu day (15th), the palace issued an Ullambana basin to be bestowed upon the Zhangjing Temple. Seven ancestral shrines were set up, and the honorary titles were written on banners. The hundred officials welcomed and paid homage at the Guangshun Gate. From then on, this became an annual precedent.
On the renxu day (21st) of the eighth month, one hundred thousand Tibetans invaded Lingwu. On the dingmao day (26th), the Tibetan Shang Zanmo invaded Binzhou with twenty thousand men, and the capital was placed under martial law. Ma Lin, the military governor of Binning, defeated them.
On the gengwu day (29th), Xin Yunjing, the military governor of Hedong and Grand Councilor with the same rank, died. Wang Jin was appointed to concurrently serve as military governor of Hedong, with his other posts unchanged.
On the renshen day (1st) of the ninth month, Guo Ziyi was ordered to lead fifty thousand troops to station at Fengtian to guard against the Tibetans.
On the dingchou day (6th), Prince Ji, Li Huan, died.
On the renwu day (11th), Bai Yuanguang, a cavalry general of Shuofang, attacked the Tibetans and defeated them. On the renchen day (21st), Bai Yuanguang again defeated twenty thousand Tibetans at Lingwu. Li Baoyu, the military governor of Fengxiang, sent Li Sheng, the commander of the Right Army and a native of Lintao, with five thousand troops to attack the Tibetans. Li Sheng said: “In terms of force, five thousand men are insufficient; in terms of strategy, five thousand are too many.” So he led a thousand men on a forced march out through the Dasanguan Pass. Reaching Lintao, they broke through the Tibetan Dingqin Fort, burned its stores, captured the fort commander Murong Guzhong, and returned. When the Tibetans heard this, they lifted the siege of Lingzhou and withdrew. On the wuxu day (27th), the capital was released from martial law.
Li Hu, the governor of Yingzhou, offended Linghu Zhang, the military governor of Huabo, over some matter. Linghu Zhang sent Yao Shi, the administrative judge of the circuit, to inspect Yingzhou, taking the opportunity to replace Li Hu in governing the prefecture, and said: “If Li Hu does not accept the replacement, kill him.” When Li Hu learned of this, he incited the troops, making them kill Yao Shi. More than a hundred people died along with Yao Shi. Li Hu fled to Bianzhou and sought refuge with Tian Shengong, the military governor of Henan Circuit. In winter, on the yisi day (5th) of the tenth month, Linghu Zhang submitted a memorial reporting this, and Li Hu also submitted a memorial defending himself. The emperor ordered He Ruoza, a Supervising Secretary of the Chancellery, to investigate.
On the dingmao day (27th), Guo Ziyi returned to court from Fengtian.
On the dinghai day (17th) of the eleventh month, Zhu Xicai, the acting commander of Youzhou, was appointed military governor.
Guo Ziyi returned to Hezhong. Because the Tibetans had invaded for years in succession, and Ma Lin, leading troops of the Four Garrisons, was stationed at Binning with insufficient strength to resist, while Guo Ziyi commanded the main Shuofang forces stationed in Hezhong—deep in the hinterland with no urgent duties—Yuan Zai consulted with Guo Ziyi and the various generals. He proposed transferring Ma Lin to garrison Jingzhou and having Guo Ziyi lead the Shuofang troops to garrison Binzhou, saying: “If the border lands are desolate and military supplies are insufficient, we can provide support from internal taxes and transport gold and silk.” The generals all considered this correct. On the jiyou day (9th) of the twelfth month, Ma Lin was transferred to be the military governor of Jingyuan, and the three prefectures of Bin, Ning, and Qing were placed under Shuofang. Ma Lin first went to Jingzhou to build the city, appointing Duan Xiushi, the commander of the Capital Garrison, to handle the affairs of the acting command at Binzhou.
Initially, the troops of the Four Garrisons and Beiting traveled a long way to aid the Central Plains in times of crisis. They were long lodged in foreign lands and moved repeatedly. The Four Garrisons troops passed through Bian, Guo, and Fengxiang; the Beiting troops passed through Huai, Jiang, and Fu before reaching Binzhou, accumulating much hardship and exhaustion. When they were ordered to move to Jingzhou, everyone resented and complained. Wang Tongzhi, the commander of the executioners, plotted rebellion, agreeing to rise on the xinyou day at the sound of the dawn alarm drum. The night before, someone informed on him. Duan Xiushi pretended to summon the keeper of the clepsydra, reprimanded him for inaccurate timekeeping, and ordered him to report each watch, always delaying by several marks. Thus, by the fourth watch, dawn had already broken, and Wang Tongzhi could not act. Duan Xiushi wanted to punish him, but since the signs of rebellion were not yet evident, he feared the troops might suspect injustice. The informant also said, “Tonight he plans to set fire to the horse stables and take the opportunity to start a riot while fighting the fire.” At midnight, a fire indeed broke out. Duan Xiushi ordered everyone in the camp to stop walking, those seated not to rise, and each unit to maintain formation and guard key points. Wang Tongzhi requested to fight the fire, but Duan Xiushi refused. When dawn came, he arrested Wang Tongzhi and eight of his accomplices and executed them all. He issued an order: “Anyone who dares to delay the move in the future will have his clan exterminated; anyone spreading rumors will be executed.” Thus the entire army moved to Jingzhou.
On the guihai day (23rd), Western Sichuan defeated over ten thousand Tibetans.
Xu Gao, the adjutant of Pinglu, led three thousand troops stationed at Haozhou and refused to leave, with intentions to spy on Huainan. Cui Yuan, the military governor of Huainan, ordered Zhang Wanfu, the deputy commissioner from Yuancheng, to act as governor of Haozhou. When Xu Gao heard this, he immediately moved his troops and stayed at Dangtu. That year, the emperor summoned Zhang Wanfu and appointed him governor of Hezhou and defense commissioner of the march, to attack Xu Gao. When Zhang Wanfu arrived at the prefecture, Xu Gao, in fear, moved his troops to Shangyuan, then north to Chuzhou, where he plundered extensively. Wei Yuanfu, the military governor of Huainan, ordered Zhang Wanfu to pursue and attack him. Before reaching Huaiyin, Xu Gao was driven out by his own general, Kang Ziquan. Kang Ziquan continued to plunder with his troops, heading east along the Huai River. Zhang Wanfu pursued day and night, killed him, and only two or three out of ten escaped. Wei Yuanfu prepared to generously reward the officers and troops, but Zhang Wanfu said: “The regular soldiers usually waste their clothing and food idly, doing nothing. Now they have just accomplished a minor feat; it does not warrant excessive rewards. Please give only one-third.”
In spring, in the first month, on the bingzi day, Guo Ziyi entered the court. Yu Chao'en invited him to tour the Zhangjing Temple. Yuan Zai, worried that they might collude, secretly sent Guo Ziyi's military clerk to tell Guo Ziyi: "Yu Chao'en intends to harm you." Guo Ziyi did not listen. The clerk then told the various generals, and three hundred officers and soldiers requested to wear armor and follow him inside. Guo Ziyi said: "I am a great minister of the state. Without the Son of Heaven's command, how dare he harm me! If he has come bearing an imperial decree, what do you intend to do!" He then went with only a few household servants. Yu Chao'en welcomed him and was surprised at the small number of his attendants. Guo Ziyi told him what he had heard and said: "I was only afraid of troubling you to make arrangements." Yu Chao'en beat his chest, clasped his hands, and wept, saying: "If it were not for a man of your integrity, how could one avoid suspicion!" On the renwu day, Li Hu was exiled to Yizhou. On the yiyou day, Guo Ziyi returned to Hezhong. On the xinmao day, Li Hu was ordered to commit suicide.
In the second month, on the renyin day, the jurisdictions of Haozhi in Jingzhao, and Linyou and Pujun in Fengxiang were transferred to the Shence Army, following Yu Chao'en's request. After Yang Zilin was defeated, he returned to Luzhou, gathered fugitives, obtaining several thousand men, and sailed east along the Yangzi River, claiming he was going to court. The Fuzhou Garrison Commander Wang Shouxian ambushed him at Huangca Gorge, but Yang Zilin captured them all, attacked Wang Shouxian at Zhongzhou, and Wang Shouxian barely escaped with his life. Yang Zilin then killed the Biejia of Kuizhou, Zhang Zhong, and occupied Kuizhou city. The Jingnan Jiedushi Wei Boyu wanted to make Yang Zilin an ally, promised him Kuizhou, and petitioned the court on his behalf. Liu Changyi, a native of Yangqu, persuaded Yang Zilin to send an envoy to the court to confess his crimes, and Yang Zilin complied. On the yisi day, Yang Zilin was appointed as the Tuanlianshi of Xiazhou.
At first, when Pugu Huaien died, the emperor, pitying his merits, took his daughter into the palace and raised her as his own daughter. The Uighurs requested that she be made their Kedun (queen). In summer, in the fifth month, on the xinmao day, she was enfeoffed as Princess Chonghui and married to the Uighur Khagan. On the renchen day, the Minister of War Li Han was sent to escort her in marriage. Li Han requested the appointment of Dong Jin, a Langzhong of the Ministry of Rites and a native of Yuxiang, as his panguan. On the dingyou day in the sixth month, the princess took her leave and arrived at the Uighur court. The Uighurs said: "The Tang court agreed to trade with us. Our horses have already been sent, but the goods you gave us are insufficient. We will take compensation from the envoy." Li Han was afraid and did not dare to reply. He looked at Dong Jin, who said: "It is not that we lack horses and need to trade with you. Is the reward we give you not generous! Your horses come every year, and we pay you according to the number of horse hides. The border officials wanted to investigate this matter, but the Son of Heaven, mindful of your merits, issued an edict prohibiting such inquiries. All the tribes fear our great state's alliance with you, and none dares to argue with you. If it were not for us, who could have ensured the peace for you and your sons, and the flourishing of your livestock!" At this, all the Uighurs surrounded Dong Jin and bowed. Then they all turned south and bowed in succession, raising their hands and saying: "We dare not have any designs against the great state."
On the wushen day, Wang Jin submitted a memorial requesting to resign from his posts as Vice Marshal, Commander-in-Chief, and Marching Army Commissioner. The emperor agreed. On the xinyou day, Guo Ziyi moved from Hezhong to Binzhou. His elite troops all accompanied him; the remaining troops were led by deputy generals and stationed separately in Hezhong and Lingzhou. The soldiers had long settled their families in Hezhong and were unwilling to move; many fled back from Binzhou. The Marching Army Manager Yan Ya, who concurrently served as the Retained Prefect, captured all the deserters, executed their leaders, and only then did the army's morale stabilize.
In autumn, in the ninth month, the Tibetans invaded Lingzhou. On the dingchou day, the Shuofang Liuhou Chang Qianguang defeated them. The Hedong Army Commander of Cavalry and Infantry, Wang Wuzong and Zhang Fengzhang, relying on their merits, became arrogant and contemptuous. Because Wang Jin was a scholar, they slighted him and repeatedly disobeyed orders. Wang Jin received an imperial edict to dispatch troops to Yanzhou for defense against the Tibetan autumn invasion. He ordered Wang Wuzong and Zhang Fengzhang to lead three thousand infantry and cavalry. Zhang Fengzhang lingered and did not advance; Wang Wuzong, under a pretext, entered Taiyuan city without authorization. Wang Jin arrested them both and executed them, along with seven of their associates. Almost all the fierce and unruly generals among the officers were killed, and only then did the military government settle down.
In winter, in the tenth month, Chang Qianguang reported that the Tibetans were invading Mingsha with a military column stretching forty li from front to back. Guo Ziyi sent the Marshal of Cavalry Hun Jian to lead five thousand elite troops to relieve Lingzhou. Guo Ziyi personally led the army forward to Qingzhou. When he heard that the Tibetans had withdrawn, he turned back.
The Huangmen Shilang and Tong Pingzhangshi Du Hongjian resigned due to illness. On the renshen day, the emperor agreed. On the yihai day, Du Hongjian died. When Du Hongjian was critically ill, he had monks shave his head and left a will to build a pagoda for his burial. On the bingzi day, the Left Puye Pei Mian was appointed as Tong Pingzhangshi. At first, when Yuan Zai served as the wei of Xinping, Pei Mian had recommended him. Therefore, Yuan Zai promoted him to be Chancellor, also coveting his old age and illness which made him easy to control. When Pei Mian accepted the appointment, he danced the ceremonial greeting and fell to the ground. Yuan Zai hurried forward to support him and delivered the thanks on his behalf. On the wuxu day in the twelfth month, Pei Mian died.
In spring, in the first month, on the jisi day (date uncertain), the Qiang chieftain Bai Dui Peng and others each led their tribes to submit to the court.
The Guanjun Rongxuan Xuanwei Chuzhishi, the General-in-Chief of the Left Jianmenwei, concurrently the Shence Army Commissioner, and the Neishijian Yu Chao'en, who was solely in charge of the imperial guard, enjoyed unmatched favor and trust. The emperor frequently consulted him on military and state affairs, and his power overshadowed both court and countryside. Yu Chao'en liked to freely discuss current politics in public, bullying the Chancellors. Although Yuan Zai was eloquent, he could only fold his hands and remain silent, not daring to respond.
The Shence Army Commandant of the Capital, Liu Xihui, and the Commander of the Capital's Cavalry and Infantry, Wang Jiahe, were both trusted by Yu Chao'en. Liu Xihui persuaded Yu Chao'en to establish a prison in the Northern Army, where street thugs were employed to fabricate accusations against wealthy families. They falsely accused them of crimes, arrested them, threw them into underground dungeons, tortured them to extract confessions, confiscated their property for the army, and distributed rewards to the accusers and arresters. The prison was located in a secret place within the palace, and no one dared to speak of it. Whenever Yu Chao'en presented matters to the throne, he expected the emperor to approve them without fail. If any government affairs were not pre-arranged with him, he would become angry and say: "Can there be any matter in the empire that does not go through me!" When the emperor heard of this, he became displeased.
Yu Chao'en's adopted son, Yu Linghui, was still young and served as an neigei shi, wearing a green official robe. He quarreled angrily with a colleague and returned to tell Yu Chao'en. The next day, Yu Chao'en met the emperor and said: "My son's rank is too low; he is bullied by his peers. I beg that he be granted a purple robe." Before the emperor could reply, the relevant officials were already standing before them with a purple robe. Yu Linghui put it on and bowed to thank the emperor. The emperor forced a smile and said: "The robe fits your son very well," but he was even more inwardly disgruntled.
Yuan Zai, sensing the emperor's intent, took the opportunity to memorialize that Yu Chao'en was acting arbitrarily and arrogantly, plotting treason, and requested that he be eliminated. The emperor knew that the whole empire was filled with resentment and anger, so he ordered Yuan Zai to devise a plan. Whenever Yu Chao'en entered the palace, he always had the Archer General Zhou Hao lead a hundred men to guard him, and also had his partisan, the Shanzhou Jiedushi Huangfu Wen, hold military power outside as support. Yuan Zai bribed them both heavily, so that all of Yu Chao'en's plots and secret conversations were known to the emperor, while Yu Chao'en remained unaware.
On the xinmao day (date uncertain), Yuan Zai planned for the emperor, transferring Li Baoyu to be the Shannan West Circuit Jiedushi, and appointing Huangfu Wen as the Fengxiang Jiedushi, ostensibly to increase their power, but in reality to have Huangfu Wen assist him within the court. Yuan Zai also requested that the counties of Mei, Guo, Baoji, Hu, and Zhouzhi be placed under Li Baoyu's jurisdiction, and the counties of Xingping, Wugong, Tianxing, and Fufeng be placed under the Shence Army's jurisdiction. Yu Chao'en was pleased to gain territory and completely disregarded Yuan Zai, continuing in his arrogance and tyranny as before.
On the renchen day (date uncertain), the Henan Yin Zhang Yanshang was additionally appointed as the Dongliu Liushou. The post of Vice Marshal of the Henan and other circuits was abolished, and their troops were placed under the authority of the Liushou. Zhang Yanshang was the son of Zhang Jiazhen.
In the second month, on the wuxu day (the fifth day), Li Baoyu moved his headquarters to Zhouzhi. The soldiers were enraged and engaged in widespread looting in the Fengxiang market, which was not pacified until several days later.
Liu Xiyi gradually noticed a change in the emperor’s intent and reported this to Yu Chao’en, who began to feel suspicious and fearful. Yet whenever the emperor saw him, his favor and ceremonial treatment became even more lavish, which reassured Yu Chao’en. When Huangfu Wen arrived at the capital, Yuan Zai kept him from returning, and together with Huangfu Wen and Zhou Hao, secretly planned to kill Yu Chao’en. After the plan was set, Yuan Zai informed the emperor. The emperor said: “Plan this carefully, and do not bring disaster upon yourselves instead!”
On the day Guiyou (the tenth day) of the third month, the Cold Food Festival, the emperor held a banquet in the palace for honored and close associates, while Yuan Zai remained at the Zhongshu Province to stand guard. When the banquet ended, Yu Chao’en was about to return to his camp, but the emperor kept him behind to discuss matters, then accused him of harboring treacherous intentions. Yu Chao’en defended himself, his words rather arrogant and rude, and Zhou Hao along with the attendants seized him and strangled him, with no one outside aware of it. The emperor issued an edict dismissing Yu Chao’en from his posts as Guanjun Rongshi and others, while retaining his office as Neishijian as before. He falsely claimed that “Yu Chao’en hanged himself after receiving the imperial edict,” returned his body to his family, and granted six million cash for his burial.
On Dingchou (the fourteenth day), Liu Xiyi and Wang Jiahe were promoted to Censor-in-Chief of the Imperial Censorate to pacify the hearts of the Northern Army officers and soldiers. On Bingxu (the twenty-third day), a general amnesty was granted for prisoners in the capital region, and orders were given to release all of Yu Chao’en’s partisans, stating: “The officers and soldiers of the Northern Army are all my trusted intimates, and everything should remain as before. I now personally command the Imperial Guard, so do not be anxious or afraid.”
On Jichou (the twenty-sixth day), the posts of Commissioner for State Revenue and the Commissioners for Transport, Ever-Normal, and Salt and Iron within the Guannei Circuit and others were abolished, and the management of state revenue was entrusted to the Chancellor. Huangfu Wen was ordered to return to his garrison in Shanzhou.
After Yuan Zai killed Yu Chao’en, the emperor’s favor and trust in him deepened even more. Yuan Zai then became complacent, arrogant, and self-important. He often boasted in public, claiming that he possessed both civil and military talents and strategies that no one in ancient or modern times could match. He manipulated power, played petty tricks, handled government affairs through bribery, and indulged in excessive luxury. The Vice Minister of Personnel, Yang Wan, who oversaw official selections with fairness and integrity, was upright in character and refused to attach himself to Yuan Zai. The Lingnan Circuit Military Governor, Xu Hao, was greedy and sycophantic, plundering precious goods from the south to bribe Yuan Zai. On Xinmao (the twenty-eighth day), Yuan Zai had Yang Wan appointed as Libationer of the National Academy and recommended Xu Hao to replace him. Xu Hao was from Yuezhou.
Yuan Zai had a father-in-law who came from Xuanzhou seeking an official post. Yuan Zai judged that this man was unfit for any office and only gave him a letter addressed to Hebei before sending him away. The father-in-law was displeased; when he reached Youzhou, he secretly opened the letter and found it contained not a single word, only a signature. Enraged, he reluctantly tried to visit the provincial officials. The Administrative Clerk, upon hearing that there was a letter from Yuan Zai, was greatly startled and immediately reported it to the Military Governor, who sent a senior officer with a box to receive the letter, arranged for him to stay in the finest guesthouse, and feasted him for several days. When he took his leave, he was presented with a thousand bolts of silk. Such was the overwhelming power and influence of Yuan Zai.
In the summer, on the day Gengzi (the ninth day) of the fourth month, the Military Commissioner of Hunan, Zang Jie, killed the Surveillance Commissioner, Cui Guan. The Prefect of Lizhou, Yang Zilin, raised troops to attack him but accepted bribes and withdrew.
The Jingyuan Military Governor, Ma Lin, repeatedly complained that his command was desolate and broken and unable to support the army. The emperor hinted to Li Baoyu that he should cede the two prefectures of Zhengzhou and Yingzhou to Ma Lin. On Yisi (the fourteenth day), Ma Lin was made concurrently Military Governor of Zhengzhou and Yingzhou.
On Gengshen (the twenty-ninth day), Wang Jin entered the capital from Taiyuan.
On Guiwei (date uncertain), Zuo Yi Da Jiangjun Xin Jinggao was appointed Surveillance Commissioner of Hunan.
The Jingnan Military Governor, Wei Boyu, encountered his mother’s death. In the sixth month, on Wuxu (date uncertain), the Dianzhong Jian Wang Ang was appointed to replace him. Wei Boyu hinted to the senior officer Yang Yang and others to refuse Wang Ang and retain him. On Jiayin (date uncertain), an edict ordered Wei Boyu to resume his post before the mourning period ended and to continue governing Jingnan as before.
In autumn, in the seventh month, there was a famine in the capital region, with one dou of grain costing a thousand cash.
Liu Xiyi, always suspicious in his heart, uttered disrespectful words, and Wang Jiahe reported this to the emperor. On Xinwei (the twelfth day) of the ninth month, Liu Xiyi was ordered to die.
The Tibetans invaded Yongshou.
In winter, in the eleventh month, Guo Ziyi entered the capital.
The emperor was fully aware of Yuan Zai’s deeds. Because Yuan Zai had been in office for a long time, the emperor wished to preserve him in good standing to the end. He therefore summoned him alone and earnestly admonished him. Yuan Zai still did not reform, and the emperor gradually came to detest him.
Because Li Bi was favored by the emperor, Yuan Zai resented him and said: “Li Bi often feasts with relatives and old friends in the Northern Army and has been intimate and friendly with Yu Chao’en. He should know about Yu Chao’en’s conspiracy.” The emperor said: “The Northern Army was Li Bi’s former command, so I let him meet with relatives and old friends. As for killing Yu Chao’en, Li Bi also participated in the planning. Do not suspect him.” Yuan Zai and his partisans ceaselessly attacked Li Bi. Just then, the Jiangxi Surveillance Commissioner, Wei Shaoyou, requested the appointment of a staff officer. The emperor said to Li Bi: “Yuan Zai cannot tolerate you. I am now hiding you with Wei Shaoyou. When I am determined to remove Yuan Zai, I will send you a letter, and you may pack your bags and come.” Thereupon, Li Bi was appointed as Jiangxi Administrative Clerk, and the emperor instructed Wei Shaoyou to treat him well.
In the spring, the second month, on the renyin day, Li Baoyu, Vice Marshal of Hexi, Longyou, and Shannan West Circuit, as well as the military governor of Zelu and Shannan West Circuit, submitted a memorial saying: "All the troops under my command should be trained by me personally. At present, from Hexi and Longyou all the way to Fuzhou and Wenzhou, stretching over two thousand li, it is extremely difficult to maintain control and pacify the region. If the Tibetans invade simultaneously from two routes, and I hold firm at Binzhou and Longzhou, I will be unable to rescue Liangzhou and Minzhou; if I advance toward Fuzhou and Wenzhou, the enemy will threaten the Guanzhong region and the imperial domain. Thus, I cannot attend to both ends, and advance or retreat are both impossible. I beg that another capable official be selected and entrusted with the affairs of Shannan, so that I may concentrate entirely on defending Longdi." The emperor granted his request. Guo Ziyi returned to Binzhou. The Lingnan barbarian chieftain Liang Chongqian styled himself the Great Commander-in-Chief of the Ten Circuits of Pingnan, occupied Rongzhou, and joined forces with the Xiyuan barbarians Zhang Hou and Xia Yong to capture cities. Former Rongguan jinglue shi Yuan Jie and others had set up their administrations in Tengzhou and Wuzhou. The jinglue shi Wang Hong arrived in Tengzhou, used his personal wealth to recruit soldiers, and within a few months killed the rebel chieftain Ouyang Gui. He then hurried to Guangzhou to meet with the military governor Li Mian and requested troops to recover Rongzhou. Li Mian considered it difficult. Wang Hong said: "If you, Grand Master, have no time to dispatch troops, I only ask that you issue a document to the various prefectures, proclaiming that you will send a thousand soldiers as reinforcements. By relying on this show of force, I can still succeed." Li Mian followed his advice. Wang Hong then formed an alliance with the prefect of Yizhou, Chen Renchui, and the prefect of Tengzhou, Li Xiaoting, to attack the rebels. Wang Hong recruited over three thousand men and defeated several tens of thousands of rebels. He attacked Rongzhou, captured it, and took Liang Chongqian alive. After more than a hundred large and small battles, he recovered all the former territory of Rongzhou. He then separately ordered his generals to attack the Xiyuan barbarians, recovering Yulin and other prefectures. Previously, the Panyu rebel chieftain Feng Chongdao and the Guizhou rebel general Zhu Jishi had both occupied strategic points and caused disturbances, capturing over ten prefectures. Government troops had campaigned against them for years without success. Li Mian dispatched his general Li Guan to join forces with Wang Hong in attacking and suppressing them, and they were all executed. In the third month, the Five Ranges region was completely pacified. There was a drought in the Hebei region, and one dou of rice cost a thousand cash. In the summer, the fourth month, on the jiwei day, the prefect of Lizhou, Yang Zilin, came to court. The emperor treated him generously and bestowed on him the name Yang You. On the gengshen day, Dian Nei Dong Xiu was appointed as Nei Chang Shi. The Tibetans requested peace. On the gengchen day, the concurrent Censor-in-Chief Wu Sun was sent as an envoy to Tibet. The Chengdu sili Li Shaoliang submitted a memorial exposing the secret corruption and bribery of Yuan Zai. The emperor placed Li Shaoliang in the Kesheng. Li Shaoliang told his friend Wei Song about the emperor's words. The Attending Censor of the Palace Secretariat Lu Ting reported this to Yuan Zai, who then reported it to the emperor. The emperor was enraged and handed Li Shaoliang, Wei Song, and Lu Ting over to the Censorate for interrogation. The Censorate reported that Li Shaoliang, Wei Song, and Lu Ting were treacherous, evil, and formed cliques to sow discord between ruler and minister. In the fifth month, on the wushen day, the emperor ordered them handed over to the Jingzhao Prefecture, where they were all beaten to death. In the autumn, the seventh month, on the bingwu day, Yuan Zai submitted a memorial requesting that for all civil and military officials of the sixth rank and below appointed by special imperial decree, the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War be ordered not to conduct verification or inspection. The emperor followed his advice. At that time, many of the officials Yuan Zai recommended and proposed did not conform to the laws and regulations, and he feared being challenged by the relevant departments. In the eighth month, on the dingmao day, the military governor of Huaixi Circuit, Li Zhongchen, led two thousand troops to garrison at Fengtian to defend against the Tibetan autumn invasion. The emperor increasingly detested Yuan Zai's actions and wanted to find scholar-officials who did not flatter or attach themselves to him to serve as his confidants, gradually reclaiming Yuan Zai's power. On the bingzi day, a decree was issued directly from the palace appointing the observer of Yixi Circuit, Li Jiyun, as Censor-in-Chief. The chief ministers were unaware of this matter, and Yuan Zai from this point began to be gradually sidelined. In the ninth month, the Tibetans captured Qingshi Ridge and stationed troops at Nacheng. Guo Ziyi sent someone to admonish them, and the next day the Tibetans withdrew. This year, the Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, Han Huang, was appointed as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and Pan Duzhi. Since the outbreak of war, taxes and levies in various regions had no limits, the inflow and outflow of the treasuries had no regulations, and state expenditures were depleted and wasted. Han Huang was honest and diligent, skilled in accounting, and established regulations for tax collection and disbursement. He managed his subordinates strictly and impatiently, so officials dared not deceive him. Moreover, it happened to be a period of consecutive good harvests and no border incursions, and from then on, the treasury reserves began to be sufficient. Han Huang was the son of Han Xiu.
In the spring, the first month, on the jiachen day, envoys of the Uyghurs forcibly left the Court of State Ceremonial, seized the children of commoners. When the responsible officials tried to stop them, they beat those officials and led three hundred cavalry to invade the Jinguang Gate and the Zhuque Gate. That morning, all the palace gates were closed. The emperor dispatched the eunuch Liu Qingtan to admonish them, and only then did they stop. In the third month, Guo Ziyi came to court. On the bingwu day, he returned to Binzhou. In the summer, the fourth month, five thousand Tibetan cavalry reached Lingzhou and soon withdrew. In the fifth month, on the yiwei day, a general amnesty was proclaimed. In the autumn, the seventh month, on the guisi day, the Uyghurs again forcibly left the Court of State Ceremonial, pursued the Chang'an County Magistrate Shao Shuo as far as the Hanguangmen Street, and seized his horse. Shao Shuo left on another horse, not daring to argue. The military governor of Lulong Circuit, Zhu Xicai, having obtained his position, was arrogant and disrespectful toward the court and cruelly treated his officers and men. The clerk Li Huaiyuan, taking advantage of the general anger, seized the opportunity to kill him. The were at a loss as to whom to follow. The jinglüe vice commissioner Zhu Ci was encamped north of the city. His younger brother Zhu Tao commanded the Ya Nei troops and secretly sent over a hundred men to shout among the crowd: "The military governor must be none other than Vice Commissioner Zhu!" The all followed them. Zhu Ci then temporarily acted as acting liuhou and sent an envoy to report the situation. In the winter, the tenth month, on the xinwei day, Zhu Ci was appointed as Jian Jiao Zuo Chang Shi and military governor of Youzhou and Lulong Circuit. In the twelfth month, on the xinwei day, the Yongping Army was established in Huazhou.
In the spring, the first month, the military governor of Zhaoyi Circuit and prefect of Xiangzhou, Xue Song, died. His son Xue Ping was only twelve years old. The officers and men forced him to become the commander-in-chief. Xue Ping pretended to agree, but then yielded the position to his uncle Xue E and, escorting his father's coffin by night, fled back to his hometown. On the renwu day, the emperor issued a decree appointing Xue E as liuhou.
In the second month, on the renshen day, the military governor of Yongping Circuit, Linghu Zhang, died. After the turmoil in Huazhou and Bozhou, Linghu Zhang managed the army and encouraged farming, filling the granaries. At that time, most of the were arrogant and overbearing, but Linghu Zhang alone never defaulted on his tribute levies. Every year he sent three thousand soldiers to defend the western capital against the autumn invasion, providing their own provisions, refusing all supplies along the way, and committing no depredations wherever they passed. When he became critically ill, he summoned the secretary Gao Yang native Qi Ying and discussed with him the arrangements for his death. Qi Ying urged Linghu Zhang to request that the court appoint a successor and to send his sons back to their private residences. Linghu Zhang followed his advice. In his posthumous memorial, he said: "Formerly, when Yu Chao'en defeated Shi Chaoyi, he wanted to plunder Huazhou, but I refused to comply, thus creating a rift. When Yu Chao'en was executed, I happened to be bedridden with illness and therefore could not come to court, for which I am ashamed in life and in death. Now my condition is incurable. The livestock and goods in the treasuries have already been sealed and inventoried. The officers and men of the army and the officials of the prefectures and counties are all awaiting orders calmly. I believe that the Minister of Civil Office Liu Yan and the Minister of Works Li Mian can be entrusted with important matters, and I beg that they be sent to replace me as soon as possible. As for my son Linghu Jian and the others, I have ordered them to return to their private residences in the eastern capital." After Linghu Zhang's death, the officers and men wanted to install Linghu Jian, but Linghu Jian swore he would not comply and led his family westward back to the capital. In the third month, on the bingzi day, Li Mian was appointed as the military governor of Yongping Circuit.
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Xu Hao, and Xue Yong were both members of Yuan Zai and Wang Jin's faction. Xu Hao's sister-in-law's brother Houmo Chenfu was the magistrate of Meiyuan County. Xu Hao instructed the mayor of Jingzhao, Du Ji, to falsely report that Houmo Chenfu had performed outstanding service as a postal station manager and to submit it as a special commendation. He also instructed Xue Yong to appoint him as the magistrate of Chang'an County. When Houmo Chenfu went to the Censorate to pay his respects, Censor-in-Chief Li Jiyun impeached him and reported the matter. The emperor ordered the Vice Minister of Rites, the Wannian native Yu Shao, and others to investigate. Yu Shao reported that Xue Yong's crime occurred before the amnesty and should be pardoned. The emperor was enraged. In the summer, the fifth month, on the yiyou day, Xu Hao was demoted to be the Bie Jia of Mingzhou, and Xue Yong was demoted to be the prefect of Shezhou. On the bingxu day, Du Ji was demoted to be the prefect of Hangzhou, and Yu Shao was demoted to be the Zhang Shi of Guizhou. Court discipline was somewhat tightened.
On the xinmao day, Prince Zheng Li Miao died and was posthumously honored as Zhao Jing Crown Prince.
Since the Qianyuan era, the Uighurs had requested trade with the Tang dynasty every year, exchanging each horse for forty bolts of thin silk, often involving tens of thousands of horses, all of which were poor and weak and useless. The court found this troublesome, and the horses purchased often failed to meet their numbers; Uighur envoys awaiting dispatch and those arriving continuously were constantly present at the Court of State Ceremonial. By this time, the emperor wished to please them and ordered that all horses be bought. In autumn, in the seventh month, on the xinchou day, the Uighur envoys took their leave to return to their country. The gifts and horse payments bestowed by the court required over a thousand carts for transport.
In the eighth month, on the jiwei day, 60,000 cavalry invaded Lingwu, trampled the autumn crops, and then departed. On the xinshen day, Youzhou Military Governor Zhu Ci sent his younger brother Zhu Tao to lead 5,000 elite cavalry to Jingzhou for autumn defense. Since the An Lushan rebellion, the Youzhou army had never been mobilized. When Zhu Tao arrived, the emperor was overjoyed and bestowed generous rewards and commendations.
On the renshen day, the Uighurs again sent an envoy named Chixin leading 10,000 horses to request trade.
In the ninth month, on the renwu day, Xunzhou Prefect Ge Shuhui killed Lingnan Military Governor Lü Chongben and rebelled, occupying Lingnan.
On the guiwei day, a man from Jinzhou named Xun Mo, with his hair bound in hemp string and carrying a bamboo basket and a reed mat, wept in the Eastern Market. When asked why, he replied: "I wish to present thirty characters, each representing one matter. If my words are worthless, please wrap my corpse in this mat, place it in the basket, and discard it in the wilderness." The capital prefecture reported this to the emperor. The emperor summoned him, bestowed new clothes, and lodged him in the guest hostel. The character "tuan" he mentioned requested the abolition of the tuanlian commissioners in each prefecture; the character "jian" requested the abolition of the jianjun commissioners in each circuit.
Weibo Military Governor Tian Chengsi erected ancestral halls for An Lushan and Shi Siming and their sons, calling them the Four Sages, and requested to be appointed chief minister. The emperor ordered the inner attendant Sun Zhigu, while on an imperial mission, to persuade him to demolish the halls. In winter, in the tenth month, on the jiashen day, Tian Chengsi was granted the honorary title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi as a mark of favor.
Lingzhou defeated over 10,000 troops. 100,000 invaded Jingzhou and Binzhou. Guo Ziyi dispatched Shuofang Army Commissioner Hun Jian to lead 5,000 infantry and cavalry to resist. On the gengshen day, they fought at Yilu. Hun Jian ascended Huangzhi Plain to observe the enemy and ordered the occupation of strategic points, setting up juma obstacles to prepare for the enemy's charge. Veteran generals Shi Kang and Wen Ruya, among others, despised Hun Jian and did not follow his orders. When Hun Jian summoned them to attack the enemy, they were already drunk. Seeing the juma, they said: "In field warfare, what use is this?" and ordered them removed. They drove their cavalry to charge the battle formation but failed to break through and returned. The then pursued and took advantage of the momentum to attack. The official army suffered a great defeat, with seven or eight out of ten soldiers killed, and over a thousand civilians were captured by the.
On the jiazi day, Ma Lin fought the at Yancang and was again defeated. Ma Lin was cut off by the enemy and had not returned by evening. Jingyuan Army Commissioner Jiao Lingchen and others, along with the defeated soldiers, rushed headlong into the city gate. Someone advised the acting army marshal Duan Xiushi to defend the city from the walls, but Duan Xiushi said: "The commander's whereabouts are unknown; I should advance and attack the enemy. How can I seek my own safety?" He summoned Jiao Lingchen and others and rebuked them: "According to military law, if a general is lost, his subordinates are all to be executed. Have you forgotten your own death sentence?" Jiao Lingchen and others, terrified and fearful, knelt and begged for punishment. Duan Xiushi then mobilized all the soldiers in the city who had not yet fought, deployed them in formation on the eastern plain, and gathered the scattered troops, making preparations for a fierce battle. The, fearing this, gradually withdrew. By nightfall, Ma Lin was able to return.
Guo Ziyi summoned all the generals and discussed: "The blame for this defeat lies with me, not with you generals. Yet the Shuofang army has been renowned for its elite troops throughout the empire; now it has been defeated by the enemy. What strategy can we use to wipe out this disgrace?" No one answered. Hun Jian said: "A defeated general should not participate in discussions. However, I wish to speak about today's matter. I only ask that you punish my crime; otherwise, employ me again." Guo Ziyi pardoned his crime and ordered him to lead troops to Zhaona. After defeating the official army, the enemy intended to plunder Qianzhou and Longzhou. Yanzhou Military Governor Li Guochen said: "The enemy, taking advantage of their victory, will inevitably invade the outskirts of the capital. If we harass them from behind, they will necessarily turn back in concern." He then led troops to Qinyuan and beat drums as they marched westward. When the enemy heard this, they reached Baicheng and then turned back. Hun Jian intercepted them at a strategic point and recovered all the plunder. Ma Lin also sent elite troops to ambush the enemy's baggage train at Pan'gan, killing several thousand, and the enemy then fled.
On the jichou day, Jiangxi Surveillance Commissioner Lu Sigong was concurrently appointed Lingnan Military Governor to campaign against Ge Shuhui.
Previously, Yuan Zai had served as Xizhou Prefect and was familiar with the terrain of Hexi and Longyou. At this time, the repeatedly invaded, and Yuan Zai said to the emperor: "After the troops of the Four Garrisons and Beiting were transferred to Jingzhou, there is no strategic terrain to defend. Mount Long is steep, connecting to the Qinling Mountains in the south and reaching the Yellow River in the north. Now the western border of the state ends at Panyuan, while the garrison Cuisha Fort. Yuanzhou lies between them, directly at the entrance of Mount Long. To its west are all the old lands of the imperial horse pastures, with abundant water and grass. Pingliang lies to its east, with only one county's farmland that can supply military provisions. The old fortifications still exist, and the have abandoned them without occupying. Every midsummer, the graze their herds in Qinghai, far from the border. If we take this opportunity to build the city of Yuanzhou, it can be completed in twenty days. Transfer the troops from the western capital to garrison Yuanzhou, move Guo Ziyi's troops to garrison Jingzhou as a foundation, and deploy troops to defend Shimen and Muxia. Gradually expand Longyou, then reach Anxi, occupying the heartland of the, and the court can rest easy." He then presented a map and secretly sent people to survey the terrain and plan the construction along the passes. Coincidentally, Biansong Military Governor Tian Shengong came to court, and the emperor asked his opinion. He replied: "Marching and fighting, predicting the enemy's movements—even veteran generals find it difficult. How can Your Majesty listen to a scholar's words and want the entire realm to follow him?" Yuan Zai was soon implicated in a crime, and the matter was shelved.
The relevant authorities, because the Uighur Chixin had brought too many horses, requested to buy only a thousand. Guo Ziyi believed this would seriously violate the Uighur's wishes and offered to donate his own year's salary to buy horses for the state. The emperor did not permit it. In the eleventh month, on the wuzi day, an order was given to buy six thousand horses.