Tang Annals 48
Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 232
[Tang Record 48] From the eighth month of the year Yichou to the seventh month of the year Dingmao, a total of two years.
In the eighth month, on the day Jiazi, Emperor Dezong issued an edict: All expenses that are not urgent and all cases of redundant personnel eating without working are to be abolished entirely.
Ma Sui arrived at the field headquarters and discussed with the generals, saying: "If Changchun Palace cannot be taken, then Li Huaiguang cannot be captured. The defenses of Changchun Palace are very tight; if we assault it by force, it will drag on for a long time. I should go myself to persuade them to surrender." He then went directly to the foot of the city wall and shouted to Li Huaiguang's defending general, Xu Tingguang. Xu Tingguang led his officers and men in lining up on the wall and kneeling in salute. Ma Sui knew that their hearts had already yielded, and said to them slowly: "I have come from the imperial court. You can face west and receive the orders." Xu Tingguang and the others again knelt facing west. Ma Sui said: "You, from the time of An Lushan onward, have served the state loyally and established military merit for over forty years. Why have you suddenly done something that would bring annihilation to your entire clan! If you follow my words, you will not only avoid disaster but can also seek wealth and honor." The did not answer. Ma Sui opened his robe and said: "If you do not believe my words, why not shoot me!" The officers and men all prostrated themselves on the ground and wept. Ma Sui said: "All of this was done by Li Huaiguang; you are without guilt. Just hold the city firmly and do not come out." The all said: "Yes."
On the day Renshen, Ma Sui, together with the armies of Hun Zhen and Han Yougui, advanced toward Hezhong and reached Jiaoli Fort. The defending general Wei Gui led seven hundred men to surrender. That evening, Li Huaiguang lit beacon fires, but none of the camps responded. Luo Yuanguang, at the foot of Changchun Palace, sent someone to summon Xu Tingguang to surrender. Xu Tingguang had always despised Luo Yuanguang; he sent soldiers to revile him and also had men on the wall dress up as Hu actors to insult him, saying: "I will only surrender to a Han general!" Luo Yuanguang sent a man to report to Ma Sui. Ma Sui returned to the foot of the wall, and Xu Tingguang opened the gate and surrendered. Ma Sui, accompanied by several cavalrymen, entered the city to pacify it. The troops in the city shouted loudly: "We have become men of the imperial court again!" Hun Zhen said to his subordinates: "At first I thought that Ma gong's use of troops was not much different from mine. Now I realize that I am far inferior to him!" Emperor Dezong issued an edict appointing Xu Tingguang as Acting Supervisor of the Palace Administration and concurrently Censor-in-Chief.
On the day Jiaxu, Ma Sui led the various armies to Hexi. The soldiers in Hezhong alarmed one another, saying: "The western city has already donned armor!" and again: "The eastern city has already formed ranks!" Soon after, within the army, everyone changed their banners to the words "Great Peace." Li Huaiguang did not know what to do, so he hanged himself. In the beginning, when Li Huaiguang had lifted the siege of Fengtian, Emperor Dezong appointed his son Li Cui as Investigating Censor and showed him great favor and preferential treatment. Later, when Li Huaiguang stationed his army at Xianyang and did not advance, Li Cui secretly said to Emperor Dezong: "Your servant's father will surely betray Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will prepare early against him. Your servant has heard that the lord and the father are the same, but given the current situation, Your Majesty cannot execute your servant's father, yet your servant's father is fully capable of harming Your Majesty. Your Majesty treats your servant generously. Your servant is a Hu, with a straightforward nature, and thus cannot bear not to speak." Emperor Dezong said in surprise: "We know that you are the beloved son of a great minister. You should, for Our sake, tactfully try to find a way to remedy things, yet you secretly submit a memorial!" Li Cui replied: "Your servant's father does not not love your servant, and your servant does not not love his father and his clan. It is only that your servant has exhausted all his strength and can no longer turn things around." Emperor Dezong said: "Then what means will you use to save yourself from disaster?" Li Cui replied: "Your servant speaks not in order to cling to life. When your servant's father fails, your servant will die together with him. What other way is there! If your servant were to sell out his father to seek life, how could Your Majesty ever employ your servant!" Emperor Dezong said: "Do not die. Go again for Us to Xianyang to exhort your father, so that lord and minister, father and son, may both be preserved. Would that not be good as well!" Li Cui went to Xianyang and then returned, saying: "It is useless. I hope Your Majesty will guard against him and not listen to others' words. When your servant went this time, he exhausted all means of persuasion, but your servant's father said: 'You brat, what do you know! The lord has no trust. I am not coveting wealth and honor; I am only afraid of death. How can you trap me in a death situation!'" Later, when Li Bi went to Shanzhou, Emperor Dezong said to him: "The reason We repeatedly wanted to preserve Li Huaiguang is truly because We cherished Li Cui. When you get there, try for Us to summon him to surrender." Li Bi replied: "When Your Majesty had not yet gone to Liangzhou and Yangzhou, Li Huaiguang could still surrender. Now it is impossible. How could there be a minister who has forced and driven away his own lord and still be able to stand again at court! Even if he had a thick face and felt no shame, when Your Majesty holds court each day, what mood would you have to see him! If your servant can enter Shanzhou, even if Li Huaiguang begged to surrender, your servant would not dare to accept him, let alone summon him! Li Cui is indeed a virtuous man. He will surely die together with his father. If he did not die, then he would not be worth esteeming." When Li Huaiguang died, Li Cui first killed his two younger brothers, then committed suicide. The Shuofang general Niu Mingjun cut off Li Huaiguang's head and went out of the city to surrender. The troops in Hezhong still numbered sixteen thousand. Ma Sui executed the general Yan Yan and six others; he did not pursue the rest. From the time Ma Sui took leave to set out until he pacified Hezhong, it was a total of twenty-seven days. Ma Sui released Gao Ying and Li Yong from prison and submitted a memorial requesting that both be placed in his own secretariat.
When Han Yougui attacked Li Huaiguang, Yang Huaibin fought very energetically. Emperor Dezong ordered a special pardon for his son Yang Zhaosheng. Han Yougui then appointed Yang Zhaosheng as Commander of the Capital Guards.
The Emperor De Zong sent someone to ask Lu Zhi: "With Hezhong already pacified, what other matters should be dealt with?" He ordered him to submit a detailed memorial on each item. Lu Zhi believed that after the pacification of Hezhong, there would inevitably be those who, catering to the imperial will and stirring up trouble, would argue that the imperial army was invincible and request to take advantage of the victory to attack Huaixi. Li Xilie would surely deceive and incite his subordinates and the newly submitted military governors, saying: "The decree to halt military action at Fengtian was spoken out of dire necessity. Once the court is slightly stabilized, it will surely launch another punitive campaign." In that case, all those with guilt in the four directions would become suspicious of themselves, the regions of Hebei and Qingqi would naturally respond, the calamity of war would spread continuously, taxes and corvée would be heavy, and the troubles of the Jianzhong era would arise again. Therefore, he submitted a memorial, the gist of which said: "Good fortune cannot be repeatedly obtained by luck, and luck cannot always be expected." He also said: "For now, I am troubled by the fear of calamity and dare not celebrate the acquisition of blessings." He further said: "Your Majesty, cherishing a sincere intention of deep regret, has issued an extraordinary great decree. When it was proclaimed throughout the lands, those who heard it could not stop weeping. Those who falsely claimed royal mandates and acted rebelliously and irregularly have shed their false titles and begged for punishment. Those who watched the situation and hesitated have all embraced a sincere heart to offer their service." He also said: "In the past, when they were attacked, they became more rebellious; now, when they are released, they all come to submit. In the past, a million troops were used and their strength was exhausted; now, with a single imperial decree, transformation has spread widely. From this, it is clear that a sage king, in implementing governance and subduing the violent, employs moral virtue and not military force; and that the generals who violated the rites of a subject and resisted the emperor's punishment were seeking to save their lives, not to become kings. From this, it is clear that cherishing life and bestowing it upon all things is the method of preserving one's own life; implementing peace and bestowing it upon all things is the method of preserving one's own peace. To push others to death while seeking one's own long life, to place others in danger while seeking one's own long peace—such things have never existed from ancient times to the present." He also said: "If one person does not submit, the entire territory suffers; if one territory is not at peace, the whole realm is disturbed." He also said: "The countless defiled people and the three or four rebellious generals, moved by Your Majesty's intention of self-renewal and delighted by Your Majesty's virtuous words, have changed their expressions and language and cultivated the rites of subjects. But regarding the profound words and secret discussions, they may not necessarily be completely at ease; they will surely gather their hearts to plan and incline their ears to listen, observing what Your Majesty does and examining what Your Majesty has sworn. If words and deeds match, their hearts inclined toward goodness will gradually be consolidated; but if deeds contradict words, then their minds anxious about calamity will arise anew." He also said: "Zhu Ci was eliminated and Li Huaiguang was executed; Li Huaiguang was executed and Li Xilie was attacked. If Li Xilie is pacified, calamity will fall upon others in turn. Then those who harbor long-standing suspicions and hold old offenses—can they be unmoved by this!" He also said: "Now the imperial fortunes are reviving, and Heaven's calamities are about to end. Like the rebel Zhu Ci who usurped the capital, and Li Huaiguang who preserved himself in the Central Plains, within less than two years, they have been beheaded and eliminated one after another. This is truly the time when the malicious are terrified and the multitudes change their perspective. Prestige has already been exercised, but grace has not yet been widely spread. It is truly appropriate to conform to Heaven's regard above and win over people's hearts below, to bestow compassionate grace on the people to assist prestige, and to take advantage of the prestige of annihilating the bandits to spread grace." He also said: "The only person I dare not guarantee will submit is Li Xilie alone. Gauging his private intentions, it is not that he is unwilling to submit; speculating on his inner thoughts, it is not that he does not repent. It is only because, in his reckless miscalculation, he has already usurped the great title. Although he has received Your Majesty's grace of sparing and forgiveness, he cannot help but feel ashamed before Heaven and Earth. Even if he does not obey the decree, he is merely a solitary man. Internally, he has no pretext to raise an army; externally, he has no allies to seek help. His plan is only to treat his subordinates generously, procrastinate for a while, and though his heart is arrogant, his situation will surely render him unable to act. Your Majesty need only order the various garrisons to each guard their own borders. Since his momentum has been seized and his schemes exhausted, he will be like a prisoner in a cell—if not destroyed by human calamity, then killed by ghosts. The ancient saying about subduing the enemy without fighting—this probably refers to such a case!"
On the Dingmao day, Emperor De Zong issued an edict saying: "Li Huaiguang once had merit, so pardon one of his sons to continue his lineage, grant him fields and a residence, and return his head and body for burial. Appoint Ma Sui as concurrent Attendant-in-Chief, Hun Zhen as Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, and reward the other generals and soldiers according to their rank. The various circuits bordering Huaixi should each guard their own borders. Unless they commit aggression, there is no need to advance and attack. If Li Xilie surrenders, he shall be spared death; the remaining generals, officers, and commoners shall not be investigated."
Initially, Li Sheng once led the Shence Army to garrison Chengdu. When he returned, he took an army courtesan named Gao Hong with him. Zhang Yanshang, the military governor of Xichuan, was very angry and recalled Gao Hong, thus creating a rift between the two. By this time, Liu Congyi was ill, and Emperor De Zong summoned Zhang Yanshang to the court to become a chancellor. Li Sheng submitted a memorial detailing his faults and crimes. The emperor, finding it difficult to go against Li Sheng's wishes, appointed Zhang Yanshang as Left Deputy Director of the Department of State Affairs.
Luo Yuanguang was about to kill Xu Tingguang. He discussed it with Han Youhuang, saying: "Xu Tingguang insulted my ancestors. I want to kill him. Duke Ma will surely be angry. Can you save my life?" Han Youhuang said: "Alright." On the Renwu day, he encountered Xu Tingguang outside the military camp gate. He folded his hands in salute, enumerated his crimes, and ordered his men to dismember him. Then he went in to see Ma Sui, kowtowed, and begged for punishment. Ma Sui was furious and said: "Xu Tingguang had already surrendered and received an official title from the court. You killed him without reporting—this means there is no commander!" He wanted to execute Luo Yuanguang. Han Youhuang said: "Luo Yuanguang killed a subordinate general, and you are so angry. If you kill a military governor, what would the Son of Heaven say?" Ma Sui fell silent. Hun Zhen also pleaded for him, so he was pardoned.
Hun Zhen, stationed at Hezhong, incorporated all of Li Huaiguang's troops. The Shuofang Army was henceforth divided between Binzhou and Puzhou.
Liu Peng, the military governor of Lulong, fell ill. In the ninth month, on the Jihai day, Emperor De Zong issued an edict appointing his son, Liu Ji, the marching secretary, to act as military governor. Liu Peng died shortly thereafter.
On the Jiwei day, Liu Congyi, Vice Director of the Secretariat and Grand Councilor of the same rank, was dismissed and appointed Minister of Revenue. On the Gengshen day, Liu Congyi died.
In winter, in the tenth month, Emperor De Zong performed the suburban sacrifice at the Round Mound and granted a general amnesty.
In the twelfth month, on the Jiaxu day, the Ministry of Revenue reported that there were a total of one hundred and fifty prefectures that had come to court to present tribute this year.
Yu Tian King Weichi Yao submitted a memorial saying: "My elder brother Weichi Sheng ceded the throne to me. Now I request permission to establish Weichi Sheng's son, Weichi Rui, as king." Emperor De Zong appointed Weichi Rui as Acting Courtier of the Imperial Stud, with the title of Guanglu, and ordered him to return to Yutian. Weichi Sheng firmly declined, saying: "Weichi Yao has long handled state affairs, and the people are sincerely pleased with him. Weichi Rui grew up in the capital Chang'an and is unfamiliar with local customs; he cannot go." The emperor praised him and appointed Weichi Rui as Advisor-in-Chief to Shao Wang Li Xia.
In the spring, the first month, on the renyin day, Emperor Dezong appointed the Vice Minister of Personnel, Liu Zi, as Left Vice Director of the Secretariat, and together with the Supervising Secretary Cui Zao and the Secretariat Drafter Qi Ying, they were all made Tong Ping Zhangshi. Liu Zi was the grandson of Liu Zixuan. Cui Zao lived in Shangyuan County when young, and became friends with Han Hui, Lu Dongmei, and Zhang Zhengye. They considered themselves capable of assisting the sovereign in governing the world, and people at the time called them the "Four Kui." Because Cui Zao had spoken frankly in court, Dezong promoted him exceptionally. Liu Zi and Qi Ying often deferred government affairs to Cui Zao for handling. Having long been in the Jiangnan region, Cui Zao resented the abuses of the various commissioners in charge of grain and money who deceived the sovereign. He submitted a memorial requesting the abolition of the Water and Land Transport Commissioner, the Du Patrol Office, and the Jianghuai Transport Commissioner. The tribute and taxes from each circuit were to be entirely entrusted to the Surveillance Commissioners and Prefects, who would dispatch officials to escort them to the capital. He also ordered the chancellors to separately manage the Six Ministries of the Department of State Affairs: Qi Ying managed the Ministry of War, Li Mian managed the Ministry of Justice, Liu Zi managed the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites, and Cui Zao managed the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works. Furthermore, he appointed the Vice Minister of Revenue, Yuan Xiu, to manage the salt, iron, and liquor monopolies of the various circuits, and Ji Zhongfu to manage the Du and the Two-Tax affairs.
Du Wenchao, a general under Li Xilie, invaded Xiangzhou. On the guihai day of the second month, Fan Ze, the Military Commissioner of Shannan East Circuit, attacked and captured him.
Cui Zao was on good terms with Yuan Xiu, so he entrusted him with the salt and iron affairs. Han Huang submitted a memorial criticizing Yuan Xiu's faults in managing the salt and iron affairs. On the jiaxu day, Dezong appointed Yuan Xiu as Right Assistant Director of the Department of State Affairs. Li Mi, the Water and Land Transport Commissioner of Shanzhou, memorialized: "From Jijin to Sanmen, I have opened a mountain to build an eighteen-li wagon road to avoid the danger of the Dizhu Mountain." That month, the road was completed.
In the third month, another army of Li Xilie invaded Zhengzhou. Li Cheng, the Military Commissioner of Yicheng, defeated them. Li Xilie's military situation grew increasingly desperate, and he happened to fall ill. In the summer, the fourth month, on the bingyin day, Chen Xianqi, a senior general under Li Xilie, instructed the physician Chen Shanfu to poison Li Xilie. Subsequently, Chen Xianqi led troops and killed all of Li Xilie's brothers, wives, and children, then surrendered with the entire army. On the jiashen day, Dezong appointed Chen Xianqi as the Military Commissioner of Huaixi.
The grain reserves in the Guanzhong region were exhausted. Some soldiers of the Imperial Guard removed their headscarves and shouted in the streets: "We are confined in the army without being supplied with food; we are truly criminals!" Dezong was deeply worried about this. Just then, Han Huang transported thirty thousand hu of grain to Shanzhou, and Li Mi immediately reported this. Dezong was overjoyed. He hurried to the Eastern Palace and said to the Crown Prince: "The grain has arrived at Shanzhou; father and son have a way to live!" At that time, wine was not brewed in the palace, so Dezong ordered it to be fetched from the market to celebrate. He also dispatched eunuchs to inform the Six Armies of the Divine Strategy Army, and the soldiers all shouted long live. At that time, there had been famines for several consecutive years, and soldiers and common people were mostly emaciated and dark-faced. Now that the wheat had just ripened, drunkards appeared in the markets, and people at the time regarded this as an auspicious sign. People who had suddenly eaten their fill died at a rate of two or three out of ten. After a few months, their complexions returned to normal.
Dezong appointed Cheng Rihua, the Military Commissioner of the Heng Navy, as Military Commissioner.
In autumn, the seventh month, Wu Shaocheng, the Commissioner of Military Affairs of Huaixi, killed Chen Xianqi and declared himself Acting Commissioner. Wu Shaocheng had always been cunning and treacherous, and was favored and trusted by Li Xilie, so he avenged him. On the jiyou day, Dezong appointed Prince Qian, Li Liang, as the Grand Military Commissioner of Shen, Guang, Sui, and Cai, and appointed Wu Shaocheng as Acting Commissioner. He appointed Qu Huan, the Military Commissioner of the Longyou Field Army, as the Military Commissioner of Chenxu. After the war and chaos in the Chenxu region, the registered population was scattered. Qu Huan set an example by being frugal and diligent, his orders were lenient and simple, and taxes and corvée were equitable. Within a few years, the displaced people returned to their homes and resumed farming, and the army's provisions were also abundant.
In the eighth month, on the guiwei day, Li Cheng, the Military Commissioner of Yicheng, died. His son, Li Kening, plotted to take over the military command and did not announce the death.
On the bingxu day, Shang Jiezan of launched a major invasion of Jingzhou, Longzhou, Binzhou, and Ningzhou, plundering people and livestock, and cutting down the crops. The western border was thrown into turmoil. The prefectures and counties each defended their cities. Dezong issued an edict ordering Hun Zhen to lead ten thousand men and Luo Yuanguang to lead eight thousand men to garrison Xianyang to guard against.
Initially, Dezong discussed with the Standing Attendant Li Mi the restoration of the Fubing system. Li Mi then enumerated for Dezong the reasons for the rise and fall of the Fubing system since the Western Wei, and said: "In peacetime, the Fubing soldiers all lived peacefully on their farmlands. Each fu had a Colonel commanding them. During the agricultural off-season, the Colonel taught them battle formations. When the state had military campaigns and mobilized them, the tally was sent down to the prefecture and fu. After verification, troops were dispatched to the appointed location. The generals inspected them; if their training was not proficient, the Colonel was punished, and in severe cases, the Prefect of the prefecture was also punished. When the army returned, they were given merits and rewards, and were allowed to disperse and return home along the way. Those who went on campaign were away no more than one season for short distances, and no more than one year for long distances. During the reign of Emperor Gaozong, Liu Rengui was appointed as the Zhenshou Commissioner of Taohe to deal with. From then on, there began to be soldiers on long-term garrison duty. Since the time of Empress Wu, after a long period of peace, the Fubing gradually declined and was looked down upon. The common people were even ashamed to be Fubing soldiers, and some even burned or scalded their hands and feet to evade service. Furthermore, Niu Xianke became Chancellor by accumulating wealth, and the border generals all imitated him. The garrison soldiers from Shandong mostly carried silk and other valuables with them. The border generals lured them into depositing these items in the military storehouses. During the day, they were put to hard labor; at night, they were locked in dungeons, hoping they would die so they could confiscate their belongings. Therefore, after the Tianbao era, fewer than two or three out of ten garrison soldiers from Shandong who survived returned home. Such was their cruelty and brutality. Yet there were never cases of rebellion outside or insurrection inside, where they killed their commander and seized power on their own. This was truly because they cherished their fields and gardens and feared implicating their clans and families. Since the end of the Kaiyuan era, Zhang Shuo began recruiting soldiers for long-term service, calling them guoqi, which later expanded into the Six Armies. When Li Linfu became Chancellor, he memorialized that all the armies should be filled by recruiting people. These soldiers were not registered in their home prefectures, had no clans or families, did not cherish themselves, and risked their lives for profit. Calamities then arose and continue to be a scourge to this day. If the laws of the Fubing could have been preserved and not abandoned, how could there have been the calamity of subordinates committing treason and superiors losing power! Your Majesty wishes to restore the Fubing system; this is the fortune of the state, and an age of great peace is in sight." Dezong said: "After we have pacified the Hezhong region, I will discuss this matter with you again." In the ninth month, on the dinghai day, Dezong issued an edict ordering each of the Sixteen Guards to establish a Senior General, to honor meritorious ministers. He changed the Left and Right Wings of the Divine Strategy Army into the Left and Right Divine Strategy Armies, and the Left and Right Wings of the Palace Front Archer-Crossbowmen into the Left and Right Palace Front Archer-Crossbowmen Armies, each establishing two Generals-in-Chief and two Generals.
On the gengyin day, Li Kening finally announced his father Li Cheng's death. He killed the Marching Military Secretary Sima Xuan, donned black mourning clothes to conduct official business, and increased the troops guarding the city gates. Liu Xuanzuo led his troops and camped on the border to pressure him, and sent a person to sternly admonish him. Li Kening then dared not succeed to the post of Military Commissioner. On the dingyou day, Dezong appointed Jia Dan, the Defender of the Eastern Capital, as the Military Commissioner of Yicheng. Li Kening emptied the treasury of all its goods, fled by night, and the soldiers followed and plundered. By dawn, the goods were almost all taken. Several thousand soldiers from Ziqing returned from the field army and passed through Weizhou. The staff officers all said: "Although Li Na outwardly obeys the court's orders, he harbors intentions of annexation. Please house his soldiers outside the city." Jia Dan said: "How can we be neighboring circuits and yet let their generals and soldiers sleep in the open?" He ordered them to be housed within the city. Jia Dan often led a hundred horsemen to hunt within Li Na's territory. When Li Na heard of this, he was very pleased and admired Jia Dan's magnanimity, so he dared not invade.
's scouting cavalry reached Haozhi. On the yisi day, the capital was placed under martial law. The Left Jinwu General Zhang Xianfu was also dispatched to garrison Xianyang. There were rumors among the people that Dezong was about to leave again to avoid. Qi Ying had an audience with Dezong and said: "Outside, everyone says Your Majesty has already packed your luggage and prepared dry provisions. People's hearts are uneasy. Great fortune does not repeat itself. Why does Your Majesty not discuss this thoroughly with your ministers?" He then prostrated himself on the ground and wept. Dezong was also moved by this.
Li Sheng dispatched his general Wang Bi to lead three thousand elite soldiers to ambush near Qianshui City, instructing him: "When the enemy passes beneath the city, do not attack their vanguard. Even if the vanguard is defeated, when their main force arrives in full, you will not be able to withstand them. It is better to let the front troops pass, and when you see the banners of the five directions and the troops clad in tiger and leopard skins—that is their central army—strike them by surprise, and you will surely achieve a great victory." Wang Bi followed his advice, and Shang Jiezan was defeated and fled. The soldiers did not recognize Shang Jiezan, allowing him to escape. Shang Jiezan said to his subordinates: "The capable generals of the Tang are only Li Sheng, Ma Sui, and Hun Zhen. They must be eliminated through stratagems." The troops entered the territory of Fengxiang without plundering anything, leading twenty thousand troops straight to the city walls and saying: "Duke Li (Li Sheng) summoned us here; why do you not come out and reward us!" After spending the night, they withdrew and departed. In winter, the tenth month, on the Guihai day, Li Sheng dispatched the Fanluo Ambassador Yeshi Liangfu and Wang Bi to lead five thousand infantry and cavalry to attack the Cuisha Fort. On the Renshen day, they encountered twenty thousand troops, engaged them in battle, defeated them, and pursued the fleeing remnants to the fort, capturing it. They beheaded its general Huqulü Ximeng, burned its supplies, and returned. Shang Jiezan led his troops north from Ningzhou and Qingzhou, and on the Guiyou day, encamped north of Heshui. The Binning Circuit Governor Han Youwei sent his general Shi Lücheng to raid the camp at night, killing several hundred men. The pursued them, but Han Youwei arrayed his forces on the plain and secretly sent men to beat drums on the western mountains. The panicked and abandoned the loot they had taken, fleeing.
In the eleventh month, on the Jiawu day, Emperor Dezong appointed Consort Shu Wang as Empress.
On the Yiwei day, Han Huang entered the court.
On the Dingyou day, the Empress died.
On the Xinchou day, the invaded Yanzhou and said to the prefect Du Yanguang: "We want this city; we allow you to lead your people away." Du Yanguang led all his people to Fuzhou, and the entered and occupied Yanzhou.
Liu Xuanzuo was in Bianzhou, familiar with the precedents of neighboring circuits, and had not entered the court for a long time. When Han Huang passed through Bianzhou, Liu Xuanzuo valued his talent and reputation and paid him homage with the rites of a subordinate. Han Huang made a pact with him to become sworn brothers and requested to meet Liu Xuanzuo's mother. Liu Xuanzuo's mother was delighted and hosted a banquet for him. Halfway through the drinking, Han Huang said: "Brother, when will you enter the court?" Liu Xuanzuo said: "I have long wished to, but my strength is insufficient to do so." Han Huang said: "My strength can accomplish this; you should enter the court soon. The elder lady is advanced in age; we cannot let her lead the various women to fill the palace!" Liu Xuanzuo's mother wept sorrowfully, unable to stop herself. Han Huang then gave Liu Xuanzuo two hundred thousand strings of cash to prepare his travel gear. Han Huang stayed in Daliang for three days, distributing large amounts of gold, silver, and silk to reward and comfort the troops, shaking the entire army. Liu Xuanzuo was astonished and impressed, and soon sent someone to secretly inquire: Han Huang asked the clerk in charge of documents, "How much did we spend today?" and investigated the details very carefully. Liu Xuanzuo laughed and said: "I understand now!" On the Renyin day, Liu Xuanzuo and the Chen-Xu Circuit Governor Qu Huan entered the court together.
Cui Zao reformed the currency and grain regulations, but most matters were not accomplished. The establishment of various commissions had been in practice for a long time, and both the court and the provinces were accustomed to it. Yuan Xiu had already lost his position, and Cui Zao, worried and fearful, fell ill and could not handle government affairs. Soon, large quantities of grain shipped from Jiang and Huai arrived, and the emperor praised Han Huang's achievements. On the Dingsi day of the twelfth month, Han Huang was appointed concurrently as Commissioner for State Expenditure, Commissioner for Salt and Iron and Transport of the Various Circuits, and other posts. The matters that Cui Zao had listed and memorialized were all changed.
The again invaded Xiazhou, also ordering the prefect Tuoba Ganhui to lead his people away, and thus occupied Xiazhou city. They also invaded Yinzhou, which had never had city walls, and the officials and people all scattered. The also abandoned Yinzhou and then captured Linzhou.
Han Huang repeatedly spoke ill of Yuan Xiu before the emperor. On the Gengshen day, Cui Zao was dismissed to the post of Right Assistant Director, and Yuan Xiu was demoted to Lei Province Registrar. The Minister of Personnel Ban Hong was appointed as Vice Minister of Revenue and Vice Commissioner of State Expenditure.
Han Youwei memorialized requesting troops to attack Yanzhou, and if the came to its aid, to have the Hedong army attack their rear. On the Bingyin day, an edict ordered Luo Yuanguang and the Chen-Xu Military Commissioner Han Quanyi to lead twelve thousand infantry and cavalry to join the Binning army and rush to Yanzhou, and also ordered Ma Sui to lead the Hedong army to attack the. When Ma Sui reached Youzhou, the six Hu tribes of Hequ all surrendered, and they were moved to the area between Yunzhou and Shuozhou.
The Vice Minister of Public Works Zhang Yu was Li Sheng's son-in-law. When Li Sheng was in Fengxiang, he married his daughter to his staff member Cui Shu, treating and valuing Cui Shu more than Zhang Yu. Zhang Yu became angry and consequently attached himself to Zhang Yanshang. The Grand Master of Remonstrance Zheng Yunkui had previously served as Li Sheng's march executive, but lost Li Sheng's favor and also attached himself to Zhang Yanshang. The emperor also feared Li Sheng's merit and reputation. Just then, the spread divisive rumors, and Zhang Yanshang and others loudly spread slander in the court, stopping at nothing. When Li Sheng heard this, he wept day and night, his eyes becoming swollen from it. He sent all his sons and younger brothers to Chang'an and submitted a memorial requesting to shave his head and become a monk. The emperor comforted and instructed him, not allowing it. On the Xinwei day, at court, when he saw the emperor, he personally stated that he had a foot ailment and earnestly requested to resign his circuit command. The emperor did not permit it. Han Huang had always been friendly with Li Sheng, and the emperor ordered Han Huang and Liu Xuanzuo to convey his intent to Li Sheng, telling him to resolve his enmity with Zhang Yanshang. Li Sheng obeyed the edict, and Han Huang and others led Zhang Yanshang to Li Sheng's residence to apologize, where they became sworn brothers, and then feasted to their hearts' content. They also feasted at Han Huang's and Liu Xuanzuo's residences, doing the same. Han Huang then had Li Sheng submit a memorial recommending Zhang Yanshang as Chancellor.
In spring, the first month, on the Renyin day, the Left Grand Master Zhang Yanshang was appointed as Tong Ping Zhang Shi. Li Sheng requested a marriage alliance for his son with Zhang Yanshang, but Zhang Yanshang did not agree. Li Sheng said to others: "A military man is quick-tempered; when grievances are resolved over a cup of wine, he no longer holds them in his heart. Unlike a civil official, who is difficult to offend—though outwardly reconciled, the resentment stored within remains as before. How can I not be afraid!"
Originally, when Li Xilie occupied Huaixi, he selected especially elite cavalry to form the Left and Right Gate Spears and Fengguo Four Generals, and especially elite infantry to form the Left and Right Keping Ten Generals. Huaixi lacked horses, so the elite troops all rode mules, calling them the Mule Army. Chen Xianqi led Huaixi to surrender, and only a few months later, an edict was issued to dispatch his troops to the western capital region to guard against the autumn incursion. Chen Xianqi sent Du Zhizhi Bingshi Su Pu to lead five thousand elite Huaixi troops there. It happened that Chen Xianqi was killed by Wu Shaocheng, who secretly sent someone to summon the Gate Spear Bingshi Wu Fachao and others, ordering them to lead the troops back. Su Pu was unaware of this. Wu Fachao and others led four thousand infantry and cavalry from Fuzhou in rebellion and returned. Hun Jian sent his subordinate Bai Suolou to pursue them, but was instead defeated by them. On the Bingwu day, the emperor urgently dispatched a palace attendant to decree the Shanzhou and Shaanxi Observer Li Mi to raise troops to guard and block them, not allowing them to cross the Yellow River. Li Mi sent Yaya Tang Ying'an to lead troops to rush to Lingbao, but the Huaixi troops had already formed a battle array on the south bank of the Yellow River. Li Mi then ordered Lingbao to supply them with grain, and the Huaixi troops dared not plunder. The next day, the Huaixi troops camped seven li west of Shanzhou. Li Mi did not supply them with grain, and sent a subordinate to lead four hundred selected troops divided into two groups, ambushing them on the narrow road at Taiyuan Granary, ordering them: "When the enemy's ten columns pass, the eastern ambush will shout and attack them, and the western ambush will also shout in response. Do not block the road or intercept the columns, always leave half the road open, then follow and attack them." He also sent a Yu Hou to summon young men from nearby villages, each holding bows, knives, and roof tiles, following behind the enemy troops. Upon hearing the shouts, they also responded and pursued them. He also sent Tang Ying'an to lead one thousand five hundred men to exit from the south gate at night and form a battle array on the north bank of the Jian River. At the fourth watch the next day, the Huaixi troops rose and marched into the narrow road, where the ambushes on both sides launched their attack. The enemy troops were panicked and chaotic, fighting while fleeing, with a quarter of them killed. Advancing, they encountered Tang Ying'an, who intercepted and attacked them. The enemy troops were heavily defeated, and their Mule Army Bingshi Zhang Chongxian was captured. Li Mi believed that the enemy troops would surely split forces to flee south via mountain paths, so he also sent a general, Yan Zichu, to lead four hundred soldiers from Tandou Valley to Changshui. The enemy troops had not eaten for two days, were repeatedly defeated in battle, and Tang Ying'an pursued them east of Yongning, where they all scattered into the valleys. Wu Fachao indeed led the majority of his troops to Changshui, where Yan Zichu attacked them, killing Wu Fachao and two-thirds of his soldiers. The emperor, because the Shanzhou forces were few, dispatched five thousand Shence Army infantry and cavalry to aid Li Mi. When they reached Red Water, hearing that the enemy had already been defeated, they returned. The emperor ordered Liu Xuanzuo to take a relay horse back to Bianzhou, using an edict to summon and surrender along the way, obtaining over one hundred thirty men. After arriving in Bianzhou, they were all killed. Those who scattered along the road were also killed by villagers. Only forty-seven men managed to reach Caizhou. Wu Shaocheng, because they were few in number, killed them all and reported it to the court. He also sent envoys with goods to thank Li Mi for defeating the rebellious soldiers. Li Mi captured Zhang Chongxian and over sixty others and sent them to the capital. An edict ordered them all to be executed by waist-cutting at the Fuzhou army gate, to serve as a warning for the troops guarding against the autumn incursion.
Originally, the Yunnan king Heluofeng captured Xizhou and took captive the Xilu County Magistrate Zheng Hui. Zheng Hui was a native of Xiangzhou, well-versed in the classics. Heluofeng cherished and valued him. His son Fengjiayi, as well as his grandson Yimouxun and great-grandson Xunmengcou, all served him as their teacher. During lessons, Zheng Hui could flog them. When Yimouxun became king, he appointed Zheng Hui as Qingping Guan. Qingping Guan was the prime minister of the Man tribe; there were six altogether, but state affairs were exclusively decided by Zheng Hui. The other five served Zheng Hui with great humility and caution. If they made mistakes, Zheng Hui would flog them. Yunnan had a population of several hundred thousand. Whenever the invaded, they often used Yunnan as the vanguard, imposing heavy taxes and levies, and also seized their strategic locations to build fortresses, annually conscripting troops to help defend them. Yunnan suffered from this. Zheng Hui then persuaded Yimouxun to reattach to the Tang dynasty, saying: "China values ritual propriety and righteous grace, bestowing favor and benefits, and imposes no taxes or corvée labor." Yimouxun thought it was correct but had no means to express it himself, for over ten years. When the Xichuan Jiedushi Wei Gao arrived at his post, he pacified the various Man tribes on the borders. Yimouxun secretly sent someone through the various Man tribes to request submission. Wei Gao memorialized: "Now the has broken the peace and is causing havoc in Yanzhou and Xiazhou. We should take advantage of Yunnan and the Eight Kingdoms of raw Qiang who have a heart to submit, to recruit them, so as to split the's party and disperse their power." The emperor ordered Wei Gao to first write a letter in the name of a border general to inform them, secretly observing their intentions.
Zhang Yanshang had a grievance with Qi Ying. Among the various chancellors, Qi Ying was quite outspoken, and the emperor gradually came to dislike him. Zhang Yanshang said that Qi Ying was not fit to be chancellor. On the Renzi day, Qi Ying was demoted to be the prefect of Kuizhou. Liu Zi was dismissed to be the Left Sanqi Changshi, and the Minister of War Liu Hun was appointed Tong Pingzhangshi. Han Huang had a harsh and irritable nature, and he was trusted by the emperor; nothing he said was not heeded. The other chancellors merely filled positions, and the hundred officials and clerks were too busy saving themselves from mistakes. Although Liu Hun was recommended and introduced by Han Huang, he sternly reproached him, saying: "Your late father, the former chancellor, was dismissed within a year because of his narrow-minded and harsh governance. Now you are even more severe than him. How can you flog officials in the Shangshu Province, to the point of killing them? Moreover, exercising authority and favor, is this what a subject should do?" Han Huang was ashamed and somewhat restrained his severity as a result.
On the Renxu day of the second month, the Jianguo Zuo Shuzi Cui Huan was appointed as the envoy to the.
On the Wuyin day, the Zhenhai Jiedushi, Tong Pingzhangshi, and acting Jiang-Huai Transport Commissioner Han Huang died. Han Huang had long been in the Two Zhe region. The subordinates he recruited were each used according to their strengths, and none were misplaced. Once, an old friend's son came to visit him. Examining his abilities, he had no particular skills. Han Huang feasted with him until the end of the banquet, never looking around or sitting side by side to talk with him. After a few days, he appointed him as a Suijun, ordering him to supervise the warehouse gate. This man sat upright all day, and none of the clerks dared to come and go casually.
The Zhejiang East and West circuits were divided into three circuits: Zhexi, with its seat at Runzhou; Zhedong, with its seat at Yuezhou; and Xuan, She, and Chi, with its seat at Xuanzhou. Each was established with an Observer to govern it. The emperor appointed the Guozhou Prefect Bai Zhizhen as the Zhexi Observer. Liu Hun said: "Bai Zhizhen is a treacherous villain and should not be used again." It happened that Liu Hun was ill and not handling affairs. On the Xinsi day, the edict was issued, appointing Bai Zhizhen. After Liu Hun recovered from his illness, he requested retirement but was not permitted.
On the Jiashen day, Empress Zhaode was buried in Jingling.
On the Dingyou day of the third month, the Zuo Shuzi Li Xian was appointed as the envoy to the.
Initially, after the Shang Jiezan occupied Yanzhou and Xiazhou, they left over a thousand men each to garrison them, and they themselves retreated to camp at Mingsha. From winter into spring, the's sheep and horses died in large numbers, their grain and fodder transport could not keep up, and hearing that Li Sheng had captured Cuisha, Ma Sui, Hun Jian, and others each led troops to approach, they became very fearful. They repeatedly sent envoys to seek peace, but the emperor did not agree. Then the sent envoys with humble words and generous gifts to sue for peace with Ma Sui, and also requested to renew the Qing Shui Alliance, returning the land they had seized. Envoys came one after another on the road. Ma Sui believed the's words, halted his troops at Shizhou, no longer crossing the Yellow River, and spoke on their behalf to the court.
Li Sheng said, "The Rong and Di have no trustworthiness; we should attack them." Han Yougui said, "When the are weak, they seek alliances; when strong, they invade. Now they have penetrated deep into the borderlands yet request an alliance—this is surely deceit!" Han Huang said, "Now there is no trouble in the two river regions. If we build the four prefectural cities of Yuan, Shan, Tao, and Wei, and have Li Sheng, Liu Xuanzuo, and others lead a hundred thousand troops to garrison them, then the twenty-odd prefectures of He and Huang can be recovered. I request to be responsible for raising the necessary supplies and funds." The Emperor therefore did not adopt Ma Sui's plan and urged him to advance. Ma Sui requested to enter court together with the envoy Lun Jiere to discuss the matter. Coincidentally, Han Huang died, and Ma Sui and Zhang Yanshang both had conflicts with Li Sheng. They wanted to overturn his plans and vied to argue that peace through marriage was advantageous. The Emperor also harbored resentment against the Huihu and wished to make peace with the to jointly attack the Huihu. Hearing the words of these two men, which matched his own intentions, the plan was thus settled.
Zhang Yanshang repeatedly spoke, saying, "Li Sheng should not long be in charge of the military. Please replace him with Zheng Yunkui." The Emperor said, "He should be allowed to choose his own replacement." He then said to Li Sheng, "For the sake of the common people, I have already decided on peace through marriage with the. Since you, Grand Minister, have a grudge against the, you can no longer return to Fengxiang. You should remain at court, assisting me day and night. Choose someone yourself who can govern Fengxiang in your place." Li Sheng recommended the Metropolitan Commandant Xing Junya. Xing Junya was a native of Leshou. On the bingwu day, Xing Junya was appointed as the Fengxiang Yin and Militia Commissioner. On the dingwei day, Li Sheng was elevated to Grand Commandant and Secretariat Director, with his honorary title and fief as before; all his other offices were abolished. When Li Sheng was in Fengxiang, he once said to his staff, "Wei Zheng loved to speak frankly in remonstrance, and I secretly admire him." The Army Marshal Li Shudu said, "This is something a Confucian scholar does, not what a man of merit and virtue should do." Li Sheng's expression turned serious, and he said, "The Marshal has misspoken. I, Li Sheng, hold the posts of both general and minister. If I know of gains and losses at court yet do not speak, how can I be a subject!" Li Shudu withdrew in shame. When Li Sheng was at court, whenever the Emperor inquired, he spoke fully and frankly, without concealment. His nature was deep and meticulous; he never leaked anything to others.
On the xinhai day, Ma Sui entered court. After Ma Sui arrived, the various armies all closed their camps and did not engage in battle. Shang Jiezan hurriedly withdrew his troops from Mingsha. His troops lacked horses, and many were marching on foot. Cui Huan met Shang Jiezan and rebuked him for violating the treaty. Shang Jiezan said, "The broke Zhu Ci and received no reward, so they came here. But the various prefectures all held their cities in defense, and we could not reach them ourselves. The defending generals of Yan and Xia prefectures handed their cities over to me and fled; I did not take them by force. Now that you, Illustrious Sir, have come and wish to fulfill the old covenant of peace, this is precisely the's desire. Now, among the generals and ministers below, twenty-one men have come. Hun Shizhong once worked with them and knows their loyalty and trustworthiness. The Lingzhou Military Commissioner Du Xiquan and the Jingyuan Military Commissioner Li Guan are both renowned for their sincerity and integrity among foreign lands. Please let them preside over the alliance."
Summer, fourth month, on the bingyin day, Cui Huan arrived at Chang'an. On the xinwei day, Cui Huan was appointed as Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial and again sent as an envoy to the, saying to Shang Jiezan, "Du Xiquan guards Lingzhou and cannot leave its borders. Li Guan has already been reassigned. Now we send Hun Zhen to form an alliance at Qingshui." He also ordered the to first return the two prefectures of Yan and Xia. Fifth month, on the jiashen day, Hun Zhen entered court from Xianyang and was appointed as the Qingshui Alliance Commissioner. On the wuzi day, the Minister of War Cui Hanheng was appointed as deputy commissioner, the Vice Director of the Bureau of Merit Titles Zheng Shuju as judge, and the Extraordinary Advance Song Fengchao as supervisor. On the jichou day, Hun Zhen led over twenty thousand men to the alliance site. On the yisi day, Shang Jiezan sent his subordinate Lun Qizan to speak, saying: "Qingshui is not an auspicious place. Please form the alliance at Tuli Tree in Yuan Prefecture. After the alliance, we will return the two prefectures of Yan and Xia." The Emperor agreed to all. The Shence Army General Ma Youlin submitted a memorial, saying: "The terrain at Tuli Tree has many dangerous features; I fear the may ambush troops. Pingliang Plain is better, being open and flat." By then, Lun Qizan had already returned. On the dingwei day, an envoy was sent to pursue him and inform him of this.
The Shencai Rear Commander Wu Shaocheng repaired weapons and fortified the city, intending to resist the court's orders. The Judge Zheng Chang and the General Yang Ji plotted to expel him. They forged an imperial edict under the Emperor's hand, bestowing it on the various generals and the Shenzhou Prefect Zhang Boyuan and others. The plot was leaked, and Wu Shaocheng killed Zheng Chang, Yang Ji, and Zhang Boyuan. The Generals Song Min and Cao Ji fled to Chang'an.
Intercalary month, on the jiwei day, Wei Gao again wrote to the Eastern Man and the King of Yiyi, Qina Shishi, telling him to reconnoiter and guide the road to Yunnan.
On the gengshen day, there was a large-scale reduction of officials in prefectures and counties, and their salaries were collected to supply the soldiers. This was Zhang Yanshang's plan. At the time, there were 1,500 newly appointed officials, and those to be reduced numbered over a thousand. Grievances filled the roads.
Initially, Han Huang recommended that Liu Xuanzuo could lead troops to recover He and Huang. The Emperor asked Liu Xuanzuo about this, and Liu Xuanzuo also expressed agreement. After Han Huang died, Liu Xuanzuo submitted a memorial, saying: "The are at their peak; we cannot contend with them." The Emperor sent a palace attendant to comfort and inquire of Liu Xuanzuo, who lay down to receive the order. Zhang Yanshang knew Liu Xuanzuo could not be employed and submitted a memorial entrusting the affairs of He and Huang to Li Baozhen, who also firmly declined. This was all because Zhang Yanshang had stripped Li Sheng of his military authority, so the military officials were all angry and disappointed, unwilling to serve the court.
Because Xiangzhou and Dengzhou guarded the strategic point of Huaixi, on the guihai day, the Jingnan Military Commissioner Cao Wang Li Gao was appointed as the Shandong East Circuit Military Commissioner, administering the seven prefectures of Xiang, Deng, Fu, Ying, An, Sui, and Tang.
When Hun Zhen set out from Chang'an, Li Sheng earnestly warned him, saying that precautions at the alliance site must not be lax. Zhang Yanshang said to the Emperor, "Li Sheng does not want the peace to succeed, so he warns Hun Zhen to be strictly vigilant. If we show a trace of suspicion, then the other side will also suspect us. How can the alliance succeed!" The Emperor then summoned Hun Zhen and earnestly admonished him to treat the barbarians with sincerity, not to be suspicious and create divisions, and not to obstruct the barbarians' good faith. Hun Zhen submitted a memorial stating that the had decided to form the alliance on the xinwei day. Zhang Yanshang assembled all officials, citing Hun Zhen's memorial and the imperial edict, and displayed them, saying: "Grand Commandant Li says that the peace will surely not succeed. This is Hun Shizhong's memorial; the date of the alliance is already fixed." When Li Sheng heard this, he wept and said to those close to him, "I grew up in the western borderlands and am thoroughly familiar with the barbarians' situation. The reason I presented my arguments was merely out of shame that the court would be deceived by the Dog Rong!"
The Emperor initially ordered Luo Yuanguang to station his troops at Panyuan and Han Youwei to station his troops at Luokou, to serve as reinforcements for Hun Zhen. Luo Yuanguang said to Hun Zhen, "Panyuan is nearly seventy li from the site. If you have an emergency, how can I know! Please let me go with you." Hun Zhen firmly stopped him, citing the intent of the imperial edict. Luo Yuanguang did not comply and had his camp connected to Hun Zhen's, a little over thirty li from the site. Luo Yuanguang's moats and palisades were deep and strong, while Hun Zhen's moats and palisades could be easily crossed. Luo Yuanguang ambushed troops west of his camp, and Han Youwei also sent five hundred cavalry to lie in ambush nearby, saying, "If there is a disturbance, you will ride west to Boquan to split their forces." Shang Jiezan and Hun Zhen agreed that each would deploy three thousand armored soldiers on the east and west sides of the altar, with four hundred in plain clothes following to the base of the altar. On the day of Xinwei, when the was about to be sworn, Shang Jiezan again requested that each side send several dozen cavalry scouts to reconnoiter and search each other, and Hun Zhen agreed. The Tibetans ambushed tens of thousands of elite cavalry west of the altar. The scouts rode through the Tang army's formations, coming and going without restriction. Tang cavalry entered the barbarian camp, and all were captured by them. Hun Zhen and the others did not know this. They entered the tent and changed into ceremonial robes. The barbarians beat the drum three times, shouted loudly, and charged over, killing Song Fengzhao and others in the tent. Hun Zhen escaped from behind the tent, happened to obtain another horse and mounted it, crouched low on the horse's mane, bit the bit, and galloped more than ten li before the bit reached the horse's mouth. Thus arrows flew over his back without wounding him. All the Tang officers and soldiers fled eastward. The barbarians released their troops in pursuit; some were killed, some captured. Several hundred died, and over a thousand were captured. Cui Hanheng was captured by the barbarian cavalry. When Hun Zhen returned to his camp, the officers and soldiers had already fled, and the camp was empty. Luo Yuanguang unleashed his ambush, formed ranks, and waited. The pursuing barbarian soldiers were stunned, staring wide-eyed. Hun Zhen entered Luo Yuanguang's camp. The pursuers looked back, saw the Bin'ning army galloping westward, and thus turned back. Luo Yuanguang provided supplies to Hun Zhen, and together with Hun Zhen, gathered the scattered troops, reorganized the army, and formed ranks before returning.
On this day, the Emperor held court and said to the various chancellors, "Today, making peace with the Rong and Di and stopping war is the blessing of the state." Ma Sui said, "Yes." Liu Hun said, "The Rong and Di are jackals and wolves; they cannot be won over by. This matter today, I privately worry about!" Li Sheng said, "Indeed, it is as Liu Hun says." The Emperor's expression changed and he said, "Liu Hun is a scholar; he does not understand major border policies. Even a great minister speaks such words!" Both men prostrated themselves on the ground, kowtowed in apology, and then the court was dismissed. That evening, Han Youwei's memorial arrived, saying, "The barbarians have seized those at the, and their army is pressing on the nearby garrisons." The Emperor was greatly shocked and sent the memorial by relay to Liu Hun for him to see. The next morning, he said to Liu Hun, "You are a scholar, yet you were able to predict the enemy so accurately!" The Emperor wanted to go on an imperial tour to avoid the Tibetans, but was stopped by the admonitions of his ministers.
Li Sheng's Da'an Garden had many bamboos, and again someone spread rumors, saying, "Li Sheng has ambushed troops in Da'an Ting, plotting to start a rebellion in the event of a sudden crisis." Li Sheng then cut down those bamboos.
On the day of Guiyou, the Emperor sent the eunuch envoy Wang Zifan with an edict to Shang Jiezan. When he reached Tibetan territory, he was not received and returned. Hun Zhen stayed and garrisoned at Fengtian. On the day of Jiaxu, Shang Jiezan arrived at the old city of Yuanzhou, received Cui Hanheng and the others, and said, "I decorated a golden cangue and lock, intending to lock up Hun Zhen and present him to the Tsenpo. Now I have lost Hun Zhen, and have invited you gentlemen in vain." He also said to Ma Sui's nephew Ma Mi, "The Hu people regard horses as their lives. When I was at Hequ, the spring grass had not grown, and the horses could not lift their hooves. At that time, if the Minister had crossed the Yellow River and attacked me, my entire army would have been annihilated! Therefore, I sought peace, thanks to the Minister's efforts. Now the entire army can return; how can I detain his descendants!" He ordered Ma Mi to return together with the eunuch Ju Wenjian and Hun Zhen's subordinate general Ma Ning. Cui Hanheng and the others were separately imprisoned in Hezhou, Guozhou, and Shanzhou. When the Emperor heard Shang Jiezan's words, from then on he detested Ma Sui.
In the sixth month, on the day of Bingxu, Ma Sui was appointed as Minister of Education and concurrently Attendant-in-Waiting, and his posts as Vice-Commander and Military Commissioner were removed. Initially, Shang Jiezan of Tibet hated Li Sheng, Ma Sui, and Hun Zhen, saying, "Remove these three men, and then we can plot against the Tang dynasty." So he sowed discord against Li Sheng, sought reconciliation through Ma Sui, and wanted to capture Hun Zhen to betray Ma Sui, so that they would all be implicated in a crime, and then take the opportunity to launch troops and directly attack Chang'an. It happened that he failed to capture Hun Zhen, and so stopped. Zhang Yanshang felt both ashamed and fearful, claimed illness, and no longer handled government affairs.
The Governor of Shan and Guo, Li Mi, was appointed as Vice-Director of the Secretariat and Co-Chancellor of the Secretariat.
The Commander-in-chief of the He'ong Army, Li Ziliang, followed Ma Sui to court. The Emperor wanted to appoint him as the Military Commissioner of He'ong, but Li Ziliang firmly declined, saying, "I have served Ma Sui for a very long time and am unwilling to replace him as the commander." So he was appointed as the General of the Right Valiant Cavalry. The next day, Li Ziliang entered court to give thanks. The Emperor said to him, "In your conduct toward Ma Sui, you can preserve the distinction of rank in the army, which truly conforms to propriety. But the heavy responsibility of the northern gateway cannot be given to anyone else." Ultimately, Li Ziliang was appointed as the Military Commissioner of He'ong.
For the Tibetan troops stationed in Yanzhou and Xiazhou, grain transport could not keep up, and many fell ill with epidemics and wanted to return. Shang Jiezan sent three thousand cavalry to escort them, burned all their houses, destroyed the city walls, and drove the population away. The Military Commissioner of Ling and Yan, Du Xiquan, sent troops to guard these places separately.
Wei Gao, because the Yunnan people were very familiar with poetry and books, on the day of Renchen, personally wrote a letter to pacify and instruct them, urging them to quickly send envoys to the court for an audience.
Li Bi had just begun to handle government affairs. On the _renyin_ day, he entered the court for an audience together with Li Sheng, Ma Sui, and Liu Hun. The emperor said to Li Bi, "You should have held this post back at Lingwu; it was you yourself who declined. I am appointing you now and wish to make an agreement with you: you must not seek revenge. For those who have shown you kindness, I will repay them on your behalf." Li Bi replied, "I have always adhered to righteousness and have not made enemies. Li Fuguo and Yuan Zai both harmed me, but they have died on their own. Those who have been friendly to me or shown me kindness have mostly become prominent and prosperous, or have already passed away; I have no one left to repay." The emperor said, "Even so, for those with slight favors, you should still repay them." Li Bi replied, "Today I also wish to make an agreement with Your Majesty—may I?" The emperor said, "Why not!" Li Bi said, "I hope Your Majesty will not harm those who have rendered great service. I have received Your Majesty's profound grace and originally have no suspicions to avoid. Li Sheng and Ma Sui have performed great deeds for the state. I hear there are slanderers, and though Your Majesty will certainly not heed them, I speak these words today in their presence so that they will not become suspicious themselves. If Your Majesty should harm them, then the guards on duty and the commanders guarding the frontiers would all be indignant and regretful, filled with fear and dread. I fear that internal and external upheavals might soon arise again! If a minister can receive the ruler's favor and trust, that is fortune enough—what does official rank matter! When I was at Lingwu, I held no office, yet the generals and ministers all accepted my direction and planning. Your Majesty appointed Li Huaiguang as Grand Preceptor, but Li Huaiguang grew even more fearful and ultimately rebelled. These are things Your Majesty has seen with your own eyes. Now Li Sheng and Ma Sui have wealth and rank in abundance. If Your Majesty treats them openly, allowing them to preserve themselves without worry, they will go out to campaign when the state is in need and attend court when at peace—what could be more joyful than that! Therefore, I hope Your Majesty will not suspect these two ministers because of their great merit, and the two ministers should not suspect themselves because of their high positions. Then the realm will be at peace forever." The emperor said, "When I first heard your words, I was startled and did not know what you meant. After hearing your analysis, I realize this is the most important strategy for the state! I will carefully write these words on my sash, and the two ministers should also work together to preserve themselves." Li Sheng and Ma Sui both rose and wept as they thanked him. The emperor then said to Li Bi, "From now on, all matters concerning military provisions and supplies are to be managed by you. Matters of the Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Rites are entrusted to Zhang Yanshang, and legal matters to Liu Hun." Li Bi said, "This cannot be. Your Majesty, not considering me unworthy, has placed me in the position of chief minister. The duties of a chief minister cannot be divided. This is not like the Censor-in-Chief, who has separate oversight of the Ministry of Personnel's errors or the Ministry of War's errors, or the Secretariat Drafter, who has the six divisions of duties. As for the chief minister, all matters of the realm are discussed and handled together. If each person manages their own affairs, that would make them merely department heads, not chief ministers." The emperor laughed and said, "I just misspoke; your words are correct." Li Bi requested the restoration of the prefectural and county officials that had been abolished. The emperor said, "The purpose of appointing officials is to serve the people. Now the registered households are reduced by two-thirds compared to the peaceful times, yet the number of officials has increased—is this acceptable?" Li Bi replied, "Though the number of households has decreased, the volume of affairs has increased nearly tenfold compared to peaceful times. How could officials not increase! Moreover, those who were abolished were all officials with actual duties, while idle officials were not abolished—this is the impropriety. Since the Zhide era, supernumerary officials have been appointed, amounting to one-third of the regular officials. If we allow them to count their seniority and then stop, and increase the selection of regular officials by two rounds, not only will this not incur resentment, but it will also make them happy." He also requested that princes who had not yet left the palace not be appointed to staff positions. The emperor agreed to all of this. On the _yimao_ day, an edict was issued restoring all previously abolished officials to their original posts.
Initially, when Zhang Yanshang was in Xichuan, he had a feud with the Dongchuan Military Commissioner Li Shuming. When the emperor entered the Luogu Pass, it happened to be a period of continuous heavy rain, the roads were muddy and slippery, and many of the guards deserted to join Zhu Ci. Li Shuming's son Li Sheng, along with Guo Xi's son Guo Shu, Linghu Zhang's son Linghu Jian, and three others, fearing that traitors might harm the imperial carriage, bit their arms to make a pact. They put on leggings and nailed straw sandals, taking turns leading the emperor's horse all the way to Liangzhou, while no one else could approach. After returning to Chang'an, the emperor appointed them all as generals of the Imperial Guard, treating them with exceptional favor. Zhang Yanshang, knowing that Li Sheng was secretly visiting the residence of the Grand Princess of Guoguo, secretly informed the emperor. The emperor said to Li Bi, "The Grand Princess of Guoguo is already old, while Li Sheng is young. Why would this happen! There must be a reason; you should investigate." Li Bi said, "This must be someone trying to shake the Crown Prince. Who spoke these words to Your Majesty?" The emperor said, "Do not ask; just investigate on my behalf." Li Bi said, "It must be Zhang Yanshang." The emperor asked, "How do you know it is him?" Li Bi detailed the feud between the two men and added, "Li Sheng has received favor and controls the palace troops; Zhang Yanshang cannot harm him. The Grand Princess of Guoguo is the mother of the Crown Prince's Consort Xiao, so he wants to use this matter to frame him." The emperor laughed and said, "That is correct." Li Bi then requested that Li Sheng be appointed to another post and not serve as a guard to avoid suspicion.
In autumn, the seventh month, Li Sheng was appointed as Supervisor of the Household. The Grand Princess of Guoguo was Emperor Suzong's daughter.
On the _jiazi_ day, the two prefectures of Sui and Yin were separated from Zhenwu. You Wuwei General of the Right Han Tan was appointed as the Military Commissioner of Xia, Sui, and Yin, leading five thousand soldiers from the Shence Army and three thousand soldiers from Shuofang and Hedong to garrison Xiazhou.
At that time, large numbers of troops were amassed east of the pass to guard against the autumn invasion of Tubo, and state finances were insufficient. Li Bi submitted a memorial: "Since the implementation of the two-tax system, the (military commands), prefectures, and counties have mostly violated laws to amass wealth. Then came the rebellion of Zhu Ci, and they vied to levy monopoly taxes and fines as military funds, recruiting soldiers to defend themselves. After Zhu Ci was pacified, they feared the violation of laws and concealed the matter, not daring to speak. I request that an envoy be sent with an edict pardoning their crimes, only ordering them to correct the situation. Aside from the funds legally retained by the military commands and prefectures, all the rest should be sent to the capital. For arrears owed by officials, those that can be collected should be collected, and those hard to collect should be waived, to demonstrate leniency. Anyone who dares to conceal or embezzle should be severely punished under a system of generous rewards for informants." The emperor said happily, "Your plan is far-reaching, but the law is too lenient; I fear the yield will not be great!" Li Bi replied, "I have already thought this through carefully. Leniency will yield much and quickly, while severity will yield little and slowly. Because with leniency, people will be glad to be pardoned and willingly pay; with severity, people will vie to hide things, and without interrogation the truth cannot be obtained. The wealth will not suffice for today's urgent needs, and will all fall into the hands of corrupt officials." The emperor said, "Good!" Yuan Youzhi, a Bureau Director of the Ministry of Revenue, was appointed as the Commissioner for Auditing the Two-Tax Revenue in Henan, Jiang, and Huainan.
Previously, Hezhou and Longzhou had already fallen to Tibet. Since the Tianbao era, the envoys from Anxi and Beiting who reported to the court, as well as envoys from the Western Regions in Chang’an, had their return routes cut off, and both men and horses relied on the Court of State Ceremonial for supplies. The Office of Reception delegated the supply duties to the prefectures and counties, obtaining funds from the Ministry of Revenue. The Ministry of Revenue did not provide funds on time, and the markets and shops in Chang’an could not bear the burden. Li Mi knew that some foreign guests had stayed in Chang’an for a long time, some for over forty years, all with wives and children, having purchased fields and residences, lending money at interest, and contentedly settling down without wanting to return. He ordered an investigation into foreign guests who had fields and residences, and their supplies were to be cut off. A total of four thousand people were found, and preparations were made to stop their provisions. All the foreign guests went to the authorities to appeal. Li Mi said, “This is all the fault of former chancellors. How could there be a principle that foreign envoys paying tribute remain in the capital for decades without being allowed to return? Now we should borrow the route through the Uighurs, or send them back to their countries by sea. Those who do not wish to return should state this themselves at the Court of State Ceremonial, be granted official positions, and receive salaries to become subjects of the Tang dynasty. In life, one should seize the opportunity to display their talents—how can they end up as strangers in a foreign land for their entire lives?” Consequently, not one foreign guest was willing to return. Li Mi assigned them all to the Left and Right Armies of the Divine Strategy Army. Princes and envoys became scattered cavalry commanders or, while the rest became soldiers, further strengthening the Imperial Guard. Only a little over ten foreign guests were supplied by the Court of State Ceremonial, saving five hundred thousand strings of cash annually from the Ministry of Revenue, and the market people were all delighted.
Emperor Dezong again asked Li Mi about the strategy for restoring the militia system (). Li Mi replied, “This year, there are one hundred seventy thousand soldiers conscripted from east of the passes to guard the western borders. Calculating this, they consume two million forty thousand hu of grain annually. Now, grain costs one hundred fifty cash per dou, totaling three million sixty thousand strings of cash. The state has recently suffered successive famines and wars, and funds are insufficient. Even with money, there is no grain to purchase, so we cannot yet discuss restoring the militia system.” Dezong said, “If that is so, what should be done? Could we quickly reduce the garrison soldiers and send them back?” Li Mi replied, “If Your Majesty can truly adopt my proposal, we can avoid reducing garrison soldiers, avoid disturbing the people, make grain abundant, gradually lower grain prices, and also establish the militia system.” Dezong said, “If this can truly be achieved, why not adopt it!” Li Mi replied, “This matter must be done urgently; if delayed for ten days, it will be too late. Now, the Tibetans are long stationed between Yuanzhou and Lanzhou, using oxen to transport grain. Once the grain is delivered, the oxen become useless. I request that Your Majesty take inferior silk fabrics from the Left Storehouse, dye them into colored silk goods, and exchange them with the Tibetans through the Tanguts for oxen. Each ox will cost no more than two or three bolts of silk. With one hundred eighty thousand bolts of silk, we can obtain over sixty thousand oxen. Also, order the various foundries to cast farming tools, purchase wheat seeds, and distribute them to the border garrisons. Recruit garrison soldiers to cultivate the wasteland, with the agreement that when the wheat ripens next year, they repay the seeds twofold. The remaining grain will be purchased by the government at the market price plus one-fifth. Next spring, when planting millet, the same method will be used. The land in Guanzhong is fertile but long abandoned, so the harvest will surely be excellent. If the garrison soldiers gain benefits, more people will gradually take up farming. The border regions have very few residents, and soldiers receive official grain monthly. With nowhere to sell the grain, prices will inevitably fall. The nominal price increase in government purchases will actually result in greater savings compared to this year’s expenditures.” Dezong said, “Excellent!” He immediately ordered the implementation of these measures.
Li Mi also said, “There are many vacancies among border officials. I request permission to recruit people to pay grain in exchange for official appointments. This will make this year’s grain supply sufficient.” Dezong also followed this advice and then asked, “You said the militia system could also be established—how exactly?” Li Mi replied, “Garrison soldiers, becoming wealthy through farming, will settle in the area and no longer wish to return home. According to the old system, soldiers rotate every three years. When their terms are about to end, order that those willing to stay be allowed to take the fields they have cultivated as their permanent property. If their families are willing to come, the local authorities in their home prefectures will issue long-term passes, supply them with grain along the way, and send them over. Based on the number of recruits, report to the home circuit. Even the military governors of the Hebei circuits can avoid the trouble of rotation and will be happy to hear of this. After just a few rotations, the garrison soldiers will all become local residents. Then manage them entirely according to the militia system, thus transforming the weakened state of Guanzhong into a rich and strong one.” Dezong said happily, “If this happens, there will be nothing left to worry about in the empire.” Li Mi said, “It does not stop there. I can make the Tibetans fall into difficulties without using the central plain’s troops.” Dezong said, “Where does this plan come from?” Li Mi replied, “I dare not say yet. Wait until the wheat and millet harvests show results, and then we can discuss it.” Dezong pressed him persistently, but Li Mi would not answer. Li Mi’s intention was to ally with the Uighurs, Dashi (the Abbasid Caliphate), and Yunnan (Nanzhao) to jointly plot against the Tibetans, causing the Tibetans to have to defend many places. He knew that Dezong had always hated the Uighurs and feared that if Dezong was displeased upon hearing this, the farming plan would also be shelved, so he would not speak. Soon, among the garrison soldiers who answered the call, those willing to cultivate farmland reached fifty to sixty percent.
On the Ren Shen day, Luo Yuanguang was granted the name Li Yuanliang.
The Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and co-Chancellor Zhang Yanshang passed away.