Tang Annals 60
[Tang Record, Volume 60] From the year Dinghai (Tuwei Zuoe) to the year Xinmao (Zhaoyang Chifenruo), a total of five years.
Emperor Wenzong Yuansheng Zhaoxian Xiaohuangdi, first year of Taihe (Jiyou, 829 AD)
Spring, first month: Qi Zhishao joined forces with the Chengde military governor to attack and plunder Beizhou.
Three thousand soldiers from the Yicheng field camp originally stationed in Qizhou were ordered to move to Yucheng. On the way, they mutinied and rebelled. The Henghai military governor Li You suppressed and executed them.
Li Ting and Shi Tang combined forces to attack Qi Zhishao, defeating him. Qi Zhishao led his remaining five thousand troops and fled to Zhenzhou.
Li Zaiyi reported the capture of Changlu in Cangzhou.
On the day Jiachen, Zhaoyi reported that the remaining fifteen thousand troops of Qi Zhishao surrendered to their circuit and were settled in Mingzhou.
Second month: Henghai military governor Li You led troops from various circuits' field camps to attack Li Tongjie, defeating him, and then advanced on Dezhou.
Shi Xiong, the commander of the Capture Bandits and Horses unit in Wuning, was brave and fearless, and cherished his soldiers. Wang Zhixing was cruel and oppressive, and the army wanted to expel Wang Zhixing and support Shi Xiong. Wang Zhixing learned of this and, taking advantage of Shi Xiong's meritorious service, petitioned to appoint him as a prefect. On the day Bingchen, Shi Xiong was appointed prefect of Bizhou. Shi Xiancheng, hearing that Cangzhou and Jingzhou were about to be pacified, became afraid. His son Shi Tang urged him to enter the court. On the day Bingyin, Shi Xiancheng sent Shi Tang to present a memorial requesting an audience, and also asked that the territories under his command submit to the court's orders.
After Shi Xiong left Wuning, Wang Zhixing killed over a hundred soldiers in the army who had good relations with him. Summer, fourth month, on the day Wuwu, Wang Zhixing reported that Shi Xiong had shaken the army's morale and requested his execution. The emperor knew Shi Xiong was innocent, spared him from the death penalty, and exiled him permanently to Baizhou. On the day Wuchen, Li Zaiyi reported attacking Cangzhou and breaching its outer city. Li You captured Dezhou, and over three thousand city officers and soldiers fled to Zhenzhou. Li Tongjie wrote a letter to Li You requesting surrender. Li You submitted the letter together with his own report. The Reminder-in-chief Bo Qi, who had been sent to the field camp to convey imperial comfort, loved to make a grand show to intimidate and control the various generals, who already detested him. When Li Tongjie requested surrender from Li You, Li You sent his senior general Wan Hong to temporarily guard Cangzhou. Bo Qi suspected Li Tongjie of deception, personally led several hundred cavalry in a swift ride into Cangzhou, used a pretext to execute Wan Hong, seized Li Tongjie and his family, and headed for the capital. On the day Yihai, reaching Jiangling, someone said Wang Tingcou intended to use surprise troops to seize Li Tongjie, so Bo Qi beheaded Li Tongjie and sent his head to the capital. Cangzhou and Jingzhou were completely pacified. Fifth month, on the day Gengyin, Li Zaiyi was appointed Tongping Zhangshi. The armies of various circuits had attacked Li Tongjie for three years before barely succeeding. But Bo Qi directly entered the city and claimed the credit for himself. The generals hated him and vied to submit memorials discussing the matter. On the day Xinmao, Bo Qi was demoted to the position of Registrar of Xunzhou. Li You soon died.
On the day Renyin, acting Vice Commissioner of Weibo, Shi Tang, submitted a memorial changing his name to Shi Xiaozhang.
Sixth month, on the day Bingchen, an edict was issued: "The field camps of the four circuits around Zhenzhou shall each return to their own circuits to rest. They need only defend the borders and must not interact with each other. Only if Wang Tingcou expresses submission shall his memorials be forwarded; all other communications are to be rejected."
On the day Xinyou, Shi Xiancheng was appointed Concurrent Attendant-in-Chief and military governor of Hezhong. Li Ting was appointed concurrent military governor of Weibo. The three prefectures of Xiang, Wei, and Chan were separated, and Shi Xiaozhang was appointed their military governor.
Initially, when Li You heard that Bo Qi had killed Wan Hong, he was greatly shocked, and his illness worsened. The emperor said, "If Li You dies, it is Bo Qi who killed him!" On the day Guiyou, Bo Qi was ordered to commit suicide.
The Hedong military governor Li Cheng reported receiving a letter from Wang Tingcou requesting to offer Jingzhou. He also reported that Qi Zhishao had hanged himself.
The emperor sent a palace eunuch to bestow the military governor's banner and staff on Shi Xiancheng. On the day Guiyou, the envoy arrived at Weizhou. At that time, Li Ting had returned from Beizhou and was stationed at Guantao, delaying his advance. Shi Xiancheng exhausted the prefectural treasury to prepare his travel gear, which angered the officers and soldiers. On the day Jiaxu, the army mutinied, killed Shi Xiancheng, and supported He Jintao, the Commander of the Inner Ya Troops and Horses from Lingwu, as acting military governor. Li Ting advanced to Weizhou, but He Jintao resisted him, preventing entry. Autumn, seventh month, He Jintao sent troops to attack Li Ting. Li Ting, caught off guard, suffered a great defeat. His forces scattered in flight, marching day and night toward Qiankou, losing more than half their men and abandoning all supplies and weapons. The Zhaoyi army came to his rescue, and Li Ting barely escaped with his life, returning to Huatai. The Hebei region had been at war for a long time; grain transport could not keep up, and the court also grew weary and troubled. Eighth month, on the day Renzi, He Jintao was appointed military governor of Weibo, and the three prefectures of Xiang, Wei, and Chan were returned to him.
After the war, Cangzhou was littered with bones, its city empty and fields barren. The surviving population was less than three or four out of ten. On the day Guichou, Yin You, the Commandant of the Palace Garrison, was appointed military governor of Qi, De, Cang, and Jing. After Yin You assumed office, he shared hardships with his soldiers, recruited and comforted the people, encouraged farming and sericulture, and the displaced gradually returned to their homes and resumed their occupations. Previously, the circuit's thirty thousand troops had all relied on the central government's fiscal commission for supplies. Within a year of Yin You's arrival, tax revenues covered half the expenses. The following year, he requested that all fiscal commission supplies and rewards be stopped. After three years, the population grew and storehouses were filled.
Wang Tingcou submitted a memorial, indirectly expressing his intent to submit via neighboring commanderies. On the day Renshen, Wang Tingcou and his officers and soldiers were pardoned, and their official ranks and titles were restored.
Li Deyu, the Surveillance Commissioner of Zhexi, was summoned and appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Pei Du recommended him as a chancellor. At that time, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Li Zongmin, had the support of eunuchs. On the day Jiaxu, Li Zongmin was appointed Tongping Zhangshi.
The emperor was frugal and simple by nature. Ninth month, on the day Xinsi, he ordered that officials from the rank of Zhongwei and below must not wear garments of gauze, crepe, or fine silk. In his spare time from court affairs, he only amused himself with reading histories and classics, and never paid attention to music, women, hunting, or excursions. His son-in-law, Wei Churen, once wore a lined gauze headdress. The emperor said to him, "I admire your family's pure and elegant standing, so I chose you as a son-in-law. Such headwear and clothing may be worn by other nobles and relatives, but you need not do so."
On the day Renchen, Li Deyu was appointed military governor of Yicheng. Li Zongmin resented him as a threat, so he pushed him out of the court.
Winter, tenth month, on the day Bingchen, Li Ting was appointed Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent.
Lu Sui said to the emperor: "The chancellor's responsibilities are weighty; he should not concurrently manage trivial matters like money and grain. Yang Guozhong, Yuan Zai, and Huangfu Bo were all treacherous ministers; their actions are not worth emulating." The emperor considered this correct. Thus, Pei Du resigned from his post as Commissioner of the Fiscal Commission, and the emperor agreed.
Eleventh month, on the day Jiawu, the emperor performed the suburban sacrifice at the Round Mound. A general amnesty was granted. All regions were forbidden to present rare and ingenious items. Fine and ornate fabrics were prohibited, and the looms that produced them were burned.
On the day Bingshen, Du Yuanying, the Military Governor of Xichuan, reported that Nanzhao had invaded. Du Yuanying, relying on his status as a former chancellor, was proud of his literary elegance, understood nothing of military affairs, and devoted himself solely to amassing wealth, cutting the clothing and rations of his soldiers. The troops guarding the southwestern border lacked adequate food and clothing and entered the Man tribes' territory to rob and steal to support themselves. The Man, in turn, supplied them with clothing and food. Thus, the Man knew all about Shu's strengths and weaknesses, movements and intentions. Since Cuan Dian plotted a major invasion, the border prefectures repeatedly reported it, but Du Yuanying did not believe it. When Cuan Dian's army arrived, the border cities were completely unprepared. The Man used the Shu soldiers as guides, surprise-attacking and capturing Xizhou and Rongzhou. On the day Jiachen, Du Yuanying sent troops to fight the Man south of Qiongzhou. The Shu army was heavily defeated, and the Man then captured Qiongzhou.
Wang Zhixing, the Military Governor of Wuning, entered the court.
An edict was issued mobilizing troops from Dongchuan, Xingyuan, and Jingnan to relieve Xichuan. Twelfth month, on the first day Dingwei, troops from Eyue, Xiangdeng, and Chenxu were also ordered to follow.
Wang Zhixing was appointed Military Governor of Zhongwu.
On the day Jiyou, Guo Zhao, the Military Governor of Dongchuan, was appointed Military Governor of Xichuan, concurrently acting as Military Governor of Dongchuan. Cuan Dian led his army from Qiongzhou directly to Chengdu. On the day Gengxu, he breached Chengdu's outer city. Du Yuanying led his troops to defend the inner city, resisting, and repeatedly tried to flee. On the day Renzi, Du Yuanying was demoted to the Prefect of Shaozhou.
On the jiwei day, the Right Leading General of the Imperial Guard, Dong Zhongzhi, was appointed as the Military Commissioner of the Divine Strategy Army and the various circuits of the Xichuan March. Troops from Taiyuan and Fengxiang were also mobilized to rush to Xichuan. Nanzhao invaded Dongchuan, entering the western city of Zizhou. Guo Zhao, with insufficient troops to fight, sent a letter reprimanding Cuodian. Cuodian replied, “Du Yuanying provoked me, so I raised troops to take revenge.” After restoring friendly relations with Guo Zhao, he withdrew. The barbarians stayed in the western city of Chengdu for ten days. Initially, they pacified the people of Shu, and the market stalls operated as usual. When about to leave, they plundered tens of thousands of people—including women, children, and various craftsmen—along with treasures and goods, and departed. The people of Shu were terrified; many threw themselves into the river, their bodies floating and blocking the current. Cuodian himself guarded the rear. When they reached the Dadu River, Cuodian said to the people of Shu, “South of here is our country. I allow you to weep in farewell to your homeland.” Everyone wept bitterly, and over a thousand drowned themselves. From then on, Nanzhao’s craftsmanship equaled that of Shu. Cuodian sent an envoy to present a memorial, saying: “The barbarians have always adhered to their tribute duties; how would they dare to invade the border? It was only because Du Yuanying did not care for the soldiers, who resented him, that they vied to act as guides, begging us to come and execute the tyrannical commander. Since the execution was not carried out, we could not appease the hearts of the Shu soldiers. I hope Your Majesty will execute him.” On the dingmao day, Du Yuanying was further demoted to the position of xunzhou Sima. An edict was issued recalling Dong Zhongzhi and all circuit troops. Guo Zhao arrived in Chengdu, concluded a covenant with Nanzhao, and both sides agreed not to invade or harass each other. An edict was issued sending a eunuch envoy to bestow the court’s credentials upon Cuodian.
Emperor Wenzong, the Yuansheng Zhaoxian Filial Sovereign, above and below, the fourth year of Taihe (Gengxu, 830 AD).
Spring, the first month, on the xinsi day, the Military Commissioner of Wuchang, Niu Sengru, entered the court. On the wuzi day, his son Li Yong was established as the Prince of Lu. Li Zongmin recommended Niu Sengru. On the xinmao day, Niu Sengru was appointed as Minister of War and Co-chief Minister. Thereupon, the two together sidelined Li Deyu’s faction, gradually expelling them.
When Nanzhao invaded Chengdu, an edict was issued ordering the Shannan West Circuit to send troops to rescue. The Xingyuan forces were insufficient, so Military Commissioner Li Jiang recruited a thousand soldiers and set out, but before they arrived, the Nanzhao army had already withdrawn. The Xingyuan army had a fixed establishment, and an edict ordered all newly recruited soldiers to be disbanded. In the second month, on the yimao day, Li Jiang assembled all the new troops, announced the court’s decree, and dismissed them, granting them grain. The soldiers withdrew disgruntled. They went to bid farewell to the eunuch supervisor, Yang Shuyuan, who had long resented Li Jiang for not flattering him. Yang Shuyuan incited them by saying the rewards were meager. The soldiers grew angry, raised an uproar, looted the armory, and charged toward the commissioner’s office. Li Jiang was feasting with his aides and was unprepared; he hurriedly fled up to the north wall. Someone advised him to escape by rope, but Li Jiang said, “I am the marshal—how can I flee!” He waved for his aide Zhao Cunyue to leave. Zhao Cunyue said, “I have received your favor; how can I seek to escape death!” The personal guard commander Wang Jingyan fought and died against the rebels. Li Jiang, Zhao Cunyue, and the observer Judge Xue Qi were all killed by the rebels, who then massacred Li Jiang’s entire family. On the wuwu day, Yang Shuyuan memorialized that Li Jiang had embezzled the recruitment funds for the new troops, leading to the revolt. On the gengshen day, the Right Deputy Director of the Department of State Affairs, Wen Zao, was appointed as the Military Commissioner of Shannan West Circuit. At this time, officials from the Three Departments repeatedly submitted memorials arguing for Li Jiang’s grievance. The Remonstrance Advisor Yi Minxing detailed how Yang Shuyuan had incited the rebels, and the emperor finally came to understand.
In the third month, on the yihai day of the new moon, the Minister of Justice, Liu Gongchuo, was appointed as the Military Commissioner of Hedong. Previously, when the Uighurs came to pay tribute and trade, the areas they passed through, fearing disturbances, often sent heavy troops to escort and guard them. After Liu Gongchuo took office, the Uighurs sent Meilu Li Chang with ten thousand horses to trade. Liu Gongchuo only sent one personal guard on a single horse to the border to welcome and console them. When they arrived, he opened the military gate wide and received their ceremonial greetings. Li Chang was moved to tears and admonished his subordinates, saying that on the road, they must not gallop and hunt, and they did not harass the people. The Shatuo people north of the Jingxing Pass had always been fierce and were feared and admired by the Nine Clans and the Six Prefecture Hu. Liu Gongchuo memorialized, requesting the appointment of their chieftain, Zhu Xie Zhiyi, as the Yin Mountain Governor and the Recruiting Commissioner of the Daibei March, stationing him at the frontier passes of Yunzhou and Shuozhou to defend the north. Zhu Xie Zhiyi and the other chieftains entered the office to pay respects; Liu Gongchuo hosted a banquet for them. Zhu Xie Zhiyi looked solemn and dignified, and his conduct was proper. Liu Gongchuo said to his aides, “Zhu Xie Zhiyi is stern in appearance but generous within, slow in speech but appropriate in reasoning—he is a man of fortune.” Zhu Xie Zhiyi’s mother and wife came to visit, and Liu Gongchuo had his wife drink with them and gave them gifts. Zhu Xie Zhiyi was grateful and exerted himself for him. There were originally eleven abandoned military posts at the frontier; Zhu Xie Zhiyi repaired them and stationed three thousand of his tribesmen in them. From then on, the various barbarians did not dare to invade the border.
When Wen Zao reached Baocheng, he encountered the Xingyuan commander Wei Zhizhong returning from a campaign against the southern barbarians. Wen Zao secretly plotted with him to kill the rebels, using his eight hundred soldiers as a personal guard and five hundred as the vanguard. They entered the government office and separately guarded each gate. On the jimao day, Wen Zao took up his post and took charge. He rewarded the officers and soldiers at the military gate. Wen Zao said, “I want to ask about the intentions of the new troops regarding their stay or departure; they should all come forward.” After the reward was finished, he ordered them to sit and served wine. Wei Zhizhong secretly surrounded them with the personal guard. When the encirclement was complete, he shouted, “Kill!” All eight hundred or more new troops were killed. Yang Shuyuan rose and embraced Wen Zao’s boots, begging for mercy. Wen Zao ordered him to be imprisoned. Those who had personally killed Li Jiang were cut into a hundred pieces; the rest were all beheaded, their bodies thrown into the Han River. One hundred heads were used to sacrifice to Li Jiang, and thirty heads to the fallen officers and soldiers. Wen Zao reported the details to the court. On the jichou day, Yang Shuyuan was exiled to Kangzhou.
On the guimao day, the Military Commissioner of Huainan, Duan Wenchang, was concurrently appointed as Co-chief Minister and served as the Military Commissioner of Jingnan.
The Xi people invaded Youzhou. Summer, the fourth month, on the dingwei day, the Military Commissioner of Lulong, Li Zaiyi, defeated the Xi. On the xinyou day, he captured the Xi king, Rujie, and presented him.
Pei Du, due to advanced age and frequent illness, earnestly requested to resign from the key affairs of state. In the sixth month, on the dingwei day, Pei Du was appointed as the Grand Commandant, overseeing important military and state affairs. When his condition improved, he was to enter the Central Secretariat once every three to five days.
The emperor worried about the powerful influence of the eunuchs, as the factions responsible for the assassinations of Emperors Xianzong and Jingzong were still at court. The Central Director Wang Shoucheng was especially overbearing, monopolizing power and accepting bribes, which the emperor could not control. He once secretly discussed this with the Hanlin Academician Song Shenxi. Song Shenxi requested that they gradually eliminate this threat. The emperor, considering Song Shenxi steady, loyal, and prudent, capable of relying on him, promoted him to Right Deputy Director of the Department of State Affairs. In autumn, the seventh month, on the guiwei day, Song Shenxi was appointed as Co-chief Minister.
Earlier, when Pei Du campaigned against Huaixi, he memorialized and recommended Li Zongmin as the observer judge, and from this, Li Zongmin gradually rose in rank. By this time, Li Zongmin resented Pei Du for recommending Li Deyu. Taking advantage of Pei Du’s resignation due to illness, on the renwu day of the ninth month, Pei Du was appointed as concurrent Attendant-in-Chief and as the Military Commissioner of Shannan East Circuit.
The Military Commissioner of Xichuan, Guo Zhao, due to illness, requested someone to replace him. In winter, the tenth month, on the wushen day, the Military Commissioner of Yicheng, Li Deyu, was appointed as the Military Commissioner of Xichuan. The Shu region had been in a state of ruin since the Nanzhao invasion. Guo Zhao was often ill and had no time to repair or replenish it. After Li Deyu arrived, he built a “Strategy Tower” and drew maps of the Shu region, extending south to Nanzhao and west to Tibet. Every day, he summoned those familiar with military affairs and border matters, not shunning even common soldiers or barbarians, inquiring about mountains, rivers, cities, and the difficulty, ease, width, narrowness, and distances of roads. Within less than a month, it was as if he had personally experienced everything.
The emperor ordered Li Deyu to build and block the Qingxi Pass in order to cut off Nanzhao’s invasion route. If there was no earth, stones were to be used for piling. Li Deyu submitted a memorial, saying: “There are extremely many small paths leading into the barbarian territory, and they cannot all be blocked. Only by stationing heavy troops for defense can safety be ensured. It is only necessary to obtain ten thousand men in the Li and Ya prefectures and twenty thousand in Chengdu, and train them carefully, then the barbarians will not dare to act rashly. Border troops should not be too numerous either; they must be controllable. When Cui Gan killed Guo Yingyi and Zhang Fei expelled Zhang Yanshang, it was all because of the garrison troops.” At that time, the northern troops had all returned to their circuits, except for three thousand men from Hezhong and Chenxu who were in Chengdu. An edict was issued saying they would also return in the third month of the following year, and the people of Shu were terrified. Li Deyu submitted a memorial requesting that five hundred men from Zhengxiao and one thousand from Chenxu be kept to guard Shu. He further said: “The Shu troops are weak and brittle. Just now they were harassed by the barbarian, and their courage is shattered. They are unfit for battle or garrison duty. If all the northern troops are withdrawn, the situation will be no different from the time of Du Yuanying, and Shu will be difficult to preserve. I fear those who discuss matters will say that since the barbarian incursion, Shu has already increased its troops. At the beginning of the barbarian approach, Du Yuanying began recruiting citizens as soldiers and obtained more than three thousand men, but they were only in number and actually unusable. Guo Zhao recruited only a little over one hundred northern troops, and I have recruited more than two hundred more; the rest are all Du Yuanying’s old soldiers. I also fear that those who discuss matters have heard of the saying that one man can hold a pass and think that Qingxi Pass can be blocked. I have inquired of old Shu generals. Beside Qingxi Pass, there are three main roads and countless small paths. All were temporarily opened by the eastern barbarians. If it is said that they can be blocked, that is deceiving the court. The key is to build another city north of the Dadu River, linking it sinuously to Li Prefecture, and defend it with a large army. Moreover, I hear that Nanzhao has given two thousand captured Shu people and gold, silk, and goods to the Tibetans as bribes. If these two barbarians learn the true situation in Shu and join forces to invade, it is truly a deep concern. Those court officials who advocate this idea probably do so because the calamity does not fall on themselves. I hope each of them can be required to write a memorandum to be kept in the records of the Chancellery. If things go wrong in the future, I alone should not bear the full brunt of the state law.” The court followed all his requests. Li Deyu then trained the soldiers, repaired fortifications, and stored up provisions to strengthen border defense. The people of Shu gradually became settled.
That year, Bohai’s King Xuan, Renxiu, died. His son Xinde had died early, so his grandson Yizhen succeeded to the throne and changed the reign title to Xianhe.
[Emperor Wenzong, Yuansheng Zhaoxian Xiaohuangdi, Upper Consort, Fourth Year of Taihe (Xinhai, 831 AD)]
Spring, first month, on the day of Dingsi, the military command of Cang, Qi, and De was granted the army designation Yichang Army.
On the day of Gengshen, the eunuch supervisor of Lulong reported that Li Zaiyi was feasting with the imperial envoy in the back garden of the polo ground. Deputy Military Commissioner Yang Zhicheng and his confederates raised a clamor and started a rebellion. Li Zaiyi and his son Li Zhengyuan fled to Yizhou. Yang Zhicheng also killed Zhang Qingchu, the prefect of Mozhou. The emperor summoned the chief ministers to discuss the matter. Niu Sengru said: “Since An Lushan and Shi Siming, Fanyang has not belonged to the state. Liu Zong briefly yielded this territory, and the court spent eight hundred thousand strings of cash without any gain. Now that Yang Zhicheng has obtained it, it is like when Li Zaiyi obtained it before. We should go along with the situation and pacify him, letting him defend against the northern Di. There is no need to argue about his rebellion or submission.” The emperor followed his advice. Li Zaiyi went from Yizhou to the capital. Because Li Zaiyi had merit in pacifying Cang and Jing and was respectful and obedient to the court, on the day of Renchen in the second month, he was appointed Grand Guardian, retaining the same position as Co-participant in Deliberations of the Secretariat-Chancellery. Yang Zhicheng was appointed Lulong Acting Governor.
Your servant Sima Guang says: “In ancient times, the sages followed the principles of Heaven and understood human feelings. Knowing that the people could not govern each other, they set up officials to correct them. Knowing that the officials could not control each other, they established feudal lords to restrain them. Knowing that the various states could not submit to each other, they installed the Son of Heaven to command them. The Son of Heaven, in relation to the myriad states, could praise good conduct and punish evil, suppress the strong and help the weak, console the obedient and punish the rebellious, stop violence and eliminate insurrection. Only then could he issue orders and commands, and none within the four seas would fail to obey. The Book of Poetry says: ‘Diligent is our king, governing the four quarters.’ Li Zaiyi was a screen and great official, with merit to the state. Without crime, he was expelled by Yang Zhicheng. This was something the Son of Heaven ought to handle. If completely ignored, and his lands and rank were immediately given to Yang Zhicheng, then the appointment, removal, life, and death of generals and commanders would all come from the hands of soldiers. What use would the Son of Heaven be even if he were above? If the state has military commands, is it only to covet their wealth and taxes? Niu Sengru’s argument is merely a tactic of appeasement and temporary ease. How can it be the principle by which a chief minister assists the Son of Heaven in governing the world?”
The King of Silla, Yansheng, died, and his son Jinghui succeeded.
The emperor and Song Shenxi had secretly plotted to kill the eunuchs. Shenxi recommended Wang Fan, Vice Minister of Personnel, to be the governor of the capital district and informed him of the secret plan. Wang Fan leaked the plot. Zheng Zhu and Wang Shoucheng learned of it and secretly made preparations. The emperor’s younger brother, Prince Zhang, Li Cou, was virtuous and had a good reputation. Zheng Zhu instructed Dou Luyu, the Adjutant of the Divine Strategy Army, to falsely accuse Shenxi of plotting to establish Prince Zhang. On the day of Wuxu, Wang Shoucheng reported this to the emperor. The emperor believed it and was very angry. Wang Shoucheng wanted to immediately send two hundred cavalry to slaughter Shenxi’s entire family. Feilong Commissioner Ma Cunliang firmly remonstrated, saying: “If this is done, the capital will be in great chaos! We should summon the other chief ministers to discuss the matter together.” Wang Shoucheng then desisted. That day was a rest day. The emperor sent eunuchs to summon all the chief ministers to the east gate of the Secretariat. The eunuch said: “Among those summoned, the name of Lord Song is not included.” Shenxi knew he was in trouble. Gazing at the Yanying Hall, he knocked his forehead with his tablet and withdrew. When the chief ministers reached the Yanying Hall, the emperor showed them Wang Shoucheng’s memorial. Everyone looked at each other in astonishment. The emperor ordered Wang Shoucheng to arrest Yan Jingze, the market official of the Sixteen Mansions, and Shenxi’s personal attendant Wang Shiwen, whom Dou Luyu had denounced, and interrogate them within the palace. Wang Shiwen fled. On the day of Gengzi in the third month, Shenxi was dismissed and demoted to Right Deputy of the Household of the Heir Apparent. From the chief ministers and high officials downward, no one dared to openly argue his innocence. Only Jingzhao Governor Cui Guan and Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Wang Zhengya repeatedly submitted memorials requesting that the case tried within the palace be handed over to the outer court for verification. Because of this, the case gradually eased. Wang Zhengya was the son of Wang Yi. Yan Jingze and others were forced to confess, saying that Shenxi had sent Wang Shiwen to convey his intentions to Prince Zhang, seeking to prearrange future favor. When the trial was concluded, on the day of Renyin, the emperor summoned all officials from the rank of Guardian and below, as well as those from the Censorate, Secretariat, various bureaus, and the capital prefecture, to question them personally. At the noon hour, Left Regular Attendant Cui Xuanliang, Admonisher-in-Chief Li Guyan, Remonstrance Counselor Wang Zhi, Reminders Lu Jun, Shu Yuanbao, Jiang Xi, Pei Xiu, and Wei Wen again requested an audience at the Yanying Hall, begging that the case be handed over to the outer court for a new investigation. The emperor said: “I have already discussed it with the great ministers.” He repeatedly ordered them to withdraw, but they did not. Cui Xuanliang kowtowed, weeping, and said: “When killing an ordinary commoner, one cannot be careless, let alone a chief minister!” The emperor’s anger somewhat eased. He said: “I should discuss it again with the chief ministers.” So he summoned the chief ministers back in. Niu Sengru said: “The highest position a subject can attain is chief minister. Now Shenxi is already chief minister. If he had plotted as alleged, what more could he seek? Shenxi probably would not go that far!” Zheng Zhu, fearing that a new investigation would expose the deception, advised Wang Shoucheng to request only exile. On the day of Guimao, Prince Zhang, Li Cou, was demoted to Marquis of Chao County, and Song Shenxi was demoted to Adjutant of Kaizhou. Ma Cunliang requested retirement that very day. Cui Xuanliang was a man of Cizhou; Wang Zhi was the fifth-generation grandson of Wang Tong; Jiang Xi was the son of Jiang Yi; Shu Yuanbao was a man of Jiangzhou. Yan Jingze and others were executed for their crimes, and those implicated, executed, or exiled numbered several tens or hundreds. Shenxi ultimately died in his place of exile.
Summer, fourth month, on the day of Jichou, Li Zaiyi was appointed Military Commissioner of Shannan West Circuit, and Yang Zhicheng was appointed Military Commissioner of Youzhou.
On the xinchou day of the fifth month, the emperor, because two rooms of the Imperial Ancestral Temple were leaking and had not been repaired for a month, fined the salaries of the Director of the Palace Construction Office, the Revenue Judgment Official, and the Chief Minister of the Imperial Clan. He immediately ordered eunuchs to lead craftsmen and halt the use of construction materials from the palace to repair the Ancestral Temple. Left Rectifier of Omissions Wei Wen remonstrated, saying: "The state establishes the various officials, each with their own duties. If someone neglects their post, they should be dismissed and a worthy person selected to replace them. Now, for those who neglect their duties, you only fine their salaries, yet you entrust matters of deep concern to eunuchs. This treats the ancestral temple as Your Majesty's private property, and renders all officials useless." The emperor considered this correct and immediately recalled the eunuchs, ordering the relevant departments to carry out the repairs.
On the bingchen day, West Sichuan Military Commissioner Li Deyu memorialized that he had sent envoys to Nanzhao to demand the return of plundered commoners, obtaining four thousand people who were brought back.
In autumn, on the wuyin day of the eighth month, Shan-Guo Surveillance Commissioner Cui Ying was appointed as E-Yue Surveillance Commissioner. The E-Yue region was surrounded by mountains and traversed by the Yangtze River, located at the crossroads of Baiyue, Ba, Shu, Jing, and Han. The area had many bandits who robbed boats, killing everyone, young or old, without exception. After Cui Ying arrived, he trained soldiers, built Mengchong warships to pursue and attack them, and within a year, all the bandits were executed. When Cui Ying was in Shan-Guo, he governed with leniency and benevolence, sometimes not flogging a single person for an entire month. But upon arriving in E-Yue, he implemented harsh punishments. When someone asked him the reason, Cui Ying said: "The land of Shan is barren and the people impoverished; I could hardly manage to comfort them, still fearing to disturb them. The terrain of E is treacherous and the people mixed; the barbarian customs are fierce and cunning, prone to wrongdoing. Without applying stern authority, governance cannot be achieved. The essence of governance lies in knowing how to adapt—this is what is meant."
West Sichuan Military Commissioner Li Deyu memorialized: "Among the Shu soldiers, the old, weak, and disabled had never been culled for their entire lives. I ordered the establishment of a standard of five feet five inches, culling and eliminating over four thousand four hundred men. I also selected and recruited one thousand young and strong men to calm the people's hearts. The recruited northern soldiers have already reached one thousand five hundred, living mixed with the local soldiers, training and learning from each other, becoming increasingly elite. Furthermore, weapons made by Shu artisans only pursue ornate decorations and are not fit for use. I have now invited artisans from other circuits to manufacture them, and none are not sturdy and sharp." In the ninth month, Tibetan Deputy Commissioner of Weizhou, Xidamou, requested to surrender, leading his entire force to defect to Chengdu. Li Deyu sent Acting Weizhou Prefect Yu Cangjian to lead troops in and occupy the city. On the gengshen day, he reported this in detail, also saying: "I wish to send three thousand raw Qiang to burn thirteen bridges and strike directly at the heart of the Western Rong. This can wash away long-standing disgrace—a regret that Wei Gao carried to his death for not achieving!" The memorial was sent to the Department of State Affairs, where all officials were summoned to deliberate, and all requested to adopt Li Deyu's plan. Niu Sengru said: "Tibet's territory extends ten thousand li in each direction; losing one Weizhou cannot harm its power. Recently, the two states have made peace, agreeing to withdraw garrison troops. For the Central Plains to resist the Rong and Di, maintaining trust is the best policy. If they come to question: 'Why break faith?' and pasture horses on Weiru River, ascend Pingliang Slope, use ten thousand cavalry to pin down Huizhong, with fierce momentum and harsh words, they can reach Xianyang Bridge in less than three days. At that time, what use would gaining a hundred Weizhou be from several thousand li to the southwest? It would be a waste of trust, with only harm and no benefit. Even an ordinary person would not do this, let alone the Son of Heaven!" The emperor considered this correct and issued an edict ordering Li Deyu to return Weizhou City to Tibet and to arrest and return Xidamou and all those who came with him. Tibet killed all these people on the border, in an extremely cruel manner. From then on, Li Deyu resented Niu Sengru even more.
In winter, on the wuyin day of the tenth month, Li Deyu memorialized that Nanzhao had invaded Xi Prefecture and captured three counties.
[Emperor Wenzong Yuansheng Zhaoxian Xiaohuangdi, Upper Part, Second Year of Taihe (Renzi, 832 AD)]
In spring, on the renzi day of the first month, an edict was issued to reduce the punishment of prisoners due to floods and droughts. The assembled officials presented the honorific title Taihe Wenwu Zhide Emperor. Right Rectifier of Omissions Wei Wen submitted a memorial, saying: "Now, with floods and droughts causing disasters, I fear this is not the time to honor and embellish titles." The emperor considered this correct and declined to accept the honorific title.
On the xinchou day of the third month, Wuning Military Commissioner Wang Zhixing was appointed as acting Zhongshu Ling and made Zhongwu Military Commissioner. Bin-Ning Military Commissioner Li Ting was appointed as Wuning Military Commissioner.
The Uighur Zhaoli Qaghan was killed by his subordinates, and his nephew Hu Tele succeeded him.
Previously, when Li Ting governed Wuning, he had a household slave who served as a yamen general. By this time, Li Ting first sent a trusted official to Xuzhou to comfort the soldiers. This household slave did not want Li Ting to come again, incited the troops to kill Li Ting's trusted official, and hacked his flesh into pieces to eat. Li Ting was terrified and firmly declined on the grounds of illness. On the xinyou day, former Zhongwu Military Commissioner Gao Yu was appointed as Wuling Military Commissioner.
In summer, on the jiashen day of the fifth month, Li Deyu memorialized on the construction of Qionglai Pass and the relocation of Xi Prefecture's seat to Taideng City. In autumn, in the seventh month, Prince Yuan Li Kui died.
In winter, on the jiazi day of the tenth month, Prince Lu Li Yong was established as the crown prince. Initially, the emperor, because Prince Jin Li Pu was the eldest son of Emperor Jingzong and had a cautious and respectful nature, wanted to establish him as heir. He happened to die, and the emperor grieved deeply, so he did not discuss establishing a successor for a long time. Only now was it carried out.
On the yimao day of the eleventh month, Jingnan Military Commissioner Duan Wenchang was appointed as West Sichuan Military Commissioner. West Sichuan Palace Eunuch Supervisor Wang Jianyan entered the court to oversee the Privy Council and repeatedly said to the emperor: "Binding and sending Xidamou to satisfy the enemy's wishes cuts off the path for future defectors—it is not a good strategy." The emperor also regretted it, especially blaming Zhongshu Shilang and Tongping Zhangshi Niu Sengru for his miscalculation. Those who attached themselves to Li Deyu then said, "Niu Sengru has a grudge against Li Deyu, so he harmed his achievements." The emperor grew even more distant from Niu Sengru. Niu Sengru felt uneasy, and it happened that the emperor visited Yanying Hall and said to the chancellors: "When will the world be at peace? Do you also have intent for this?" Niu Sengru replied: "Peace has no definite signs. Now, the four barbarian tribes do not alternately invade, and the common people do not become displaced. Although this is not perfect governance, it can be called modest prosperity. If Your Majesty seeks peace elsewhere, it is not something I and others can achieve." After withdrawing, he said to his colleagues: "The sovereign questions and expects so much—how can we remain in this position for long?" He then repeatedly memorialized requesting dismissal. On the yichou day of the twelfth month, Niu Sengru was appointed with the title of Tongping Zhangshi to serve as Huainan Military Commissioner.
Your servant Sima Guang says: When the ruler is clear-sighted and the ministers loyal, when superiors issue orders and subordinates obey, when worthy talents are in office and wicked and devious men are expelled and kept far away, when rites and music are cultivated and complete, when punishments are clear and governance stable, when evil is eliminated and hidden, when warfare ceases and stops, when feudal lords comply and submit, when the four barbarians cherish virtue and submit, when winds and rains are timely and harvests are abundant, when every household is wealthy and everyone is plentiful—these are the signs of peace. At this time, the eunuchs monopolized power, coercing the sovereign within the palace, and could not be kept distant; the military governors relied on their troops, arrogant and rude outside, and could not be controlled; soldiers murdered and expelled their commanders, defied orders and set themselves up, and could not be prosecuted; armies were raised year after year, taxes became increasingly urgent, bones lay scattered across the wilderness, looms stood empty in the villages—yet Niu Sengru called this peace! Was this not deceit! When Emperor Wenzong sought governance, Niu Sengru occupied the position of chief minister. At court, he stole office by living in idle ease and currying favor; in retirement, he stole reputation by deceiving the sovereign and fooling the world. What crime could be greater than this!
Prince Zhen Li Cheng died.
On the yihai day, Zhaoyi Military Commissioner Liu Congjian entered the court.
On the dingwei day, former West Sichuan Military Commissioner Li Deyu was appointed as Minister of War.
At the beginning, Li Zongmin and Li Deyu had a conflict. When Li Deyu returned to court from Xichuan, the emperor held him in high regard and would soon appoint him chancellor. Li Zongmin tried every means to obstruct this but failed. The mayor of Jingzhao, Du Cong, was a member of Li Zongmin's faction. He once visited Li Zongmin and, seeing his worried expression, asked, "Is it because of the Great Rong (referring to Li Deyu)?" Li Zongmin said, "Yes. Is there any way to save the situation?" Du Cong said, "I have a plan that can eliminate the old grievances, but I'm afraid you won't adopt it." Li Zongmin asked, "What plan?" Du Cong said, "Li Deyu has literary talent but did not pass the imperial examinations. He often regrets this. If you let him oversee the examinations, he will surely be pleased." Li Zongmin was silent for a while, then said, "Let's think of another way." Du Cong said, "Otherwise, appoint him as Censor-in-Chief." Li Zongmin said, "That can be done." Du Cong repeatedly urged him to agree, then went to visit Li Deyu. Li Deyu greeted him with a bow and said, "Why have you come to visit me, a person of such low standing?" Du Cong said, "Jing'an Chancellor (referring to Li Zongmin) asked me to convey his intentions." He then told Li Deyu about the appointment as Censor-in-Chief. Li Deyu was both surprised and delighted, weeping as he said, "This is the Gate Official (referring to Censor-in-Chief); how could I be worthy of it!" He expressed his gratitude many times. Li Zongmin then discussed the matter with the Supervising Secretary Yang Yuqing, and the plan was abandoned. Yang Yuqing was the cousin of Yang Rushi.
Emperor Wenzong, Yuan Sheng Zhao Xian Xiao Emperor, Part Two, Below the Throne, Taihe Seventh Year (Guichou, 833 AD)
In spring, the first month, on the day of Jiawu, Liu Congjian, the military governor of Zhaoyi, was given the additional title of Tong Pingzhangshi and ordered to return to his garrison. Initially, Liu Congjian had prided himself on loyalty and righteousness. When he came to court, he wanted to request a transfer to another command. After arriving in the capital, he saw that the court's policies were inconsistent and that many scholar-officials were engaging in personal requests, so he held the court in contempt. After returning, he became even more arrogant. In Xuzhou, after Wang Zhixing, the soldiers were unruly and rebellious. The military governor Gao Yu could not control them, and the emperor was worried about this. On the day of Jiayin, Cui Gong, the military governor of Lingnan, was appointed as the military governor of Wuning. When Cui Gong arrived at his post, he balanced leniency and strictness, and the people of Xu settled down. Cui Gong was the younger brother of Cui Guan.
In the second month, on the day of Guihai, Yang Zhicheng, the military governor of Lulong and the Acting Minister of Works, was promoted to Acting Minister of Personnel. The reporting officer Xu Di went to the chancellors and said, "The army does not understand the court's regulations. They only know that changing from Minister to Vice Director is a promotion; they do not know that changing from the Ministry of Works to the Ministry of Personnel is a better appointment. If an imperial envoy goes there, I'm afraid he won't be able to come out." His words and manner were very arrogant, but the chancellors paid no attention.
On the day of Bingxu, Li Deyu, the Minister of War, was appointed as Tong Pingzhangshi. When Li Deyu entered the court to thank the emperor, the emperor discussed the matter of factions with him. Li Deyu replied, "Currently, one-third of the scholar-officials at court belong to factions." At that time, the Supervising Secretary Yang Yuqing, together with his elder cousin Zhongshu Sheren Yang Rushi, his younger brother Hubu Langzhong Yang Hangong, Zhongshu Sheren Zhang Yuanfu, Supervising Secretary Xiao Huan, and others, were skilled at forming connections and attached themselves to the powerful. They interfered with the government above and disrupted the various departments below. When seeking official positions or examination success for scholars, they never failed to get what they wanted. The emperor heard of this and detested them, so when speaking with Li Deyu, he first mentioned this matter. Li Deyu thus was able to push aside those he disliked. Initially, the Left Sanqi Changshi Zhang Zhongfang had once criticized Li Jifu's posthumous title. When Li Deyu became chancellor, Zhang Zhongfang claimed illness and did not go out. In the third month, on the day of Renchen, Zhang Zhongfang was appointed as a Guest of the Eastern Capital.
Yang Zhicheng was angry because he did not get the post of Vice Director. He detained the imperial envoy for announcing appointments, Wei Baoyi, as well as the spring clothing envoy Jiao Fengluan, and the envoy to the Xi and Khitan, Yin Shigong. On the day of Jiawu, he sent his yajiang Wang Wenyin to court to thank the emperor and decline the official position. On the day of Bingshen, the certificate of appointment and the imperial reply were again given to him, but Wang Wenyin did not accept them and left.
Prince He, Li Qi, died.
On the day of Gengxu, Yang Yuqing was appointed as the prefect of Changzhou, and Zhang Yuanfu as the prefect of Ruzhou. Another day, the emperor again mentioned the matter of factions. Li Zongmin said, "I have long known about this, so I have not given Yang Yuqing and the others good posts." Li Deyu said, "Are the posts of Supervising Secretary and Zhongshu Sheren not good posts?" Li Zongmin's face changed color greatly. On the day of Dingsi, Xiao Huan was appointed as the prefect of Zhengzhou.
In summer, the fourth month, on the day of Bingxu, the new khan of the Uighurs was enfeoffed as Ai Dengli Luo Gu Mi Shi He Ju Lu Pijia Zhangxin Khan.
In the sixth month, on the day of Yisi, Li Zaiyi, the military governor of Shannan West Circuit, was appointed as the military governor of Hedong. Previously, whenever the Uighurs came to court to pay tribute, they plundered heavily wherever they passed. The prefectures and counties dared not ask questions, only strengthening their defenses. When Li Zaiyi arrived at his post, the Uighur envoy Li Chang came to court to pay tribute. Li Zaiyi said to him, "The khan sent the general to pay tribute to consolidate the friendly relations between uncle and nephew. He did not send the general to trample on the superior state. If the general does not restrain his subordinates and allows them to plunder and steal, I may kill them. Do not think that the laws of China can be ignored." He then dismissed all the defensive soldiers, leaving only two soldiers to guard the gate. Li Chang was afraid and obeyed, not daring to violate the laws.
On the day of Renshen, Zheng Tan, the Minister of Works, was appointed as Censor-in-Chief. Initially, Li Zongmin disliked Zheng Tan for frequently discussing government affairs in the inner court, so he memorialized to dismiss him from his post as lecturer. The emperor said calmly to the chancellors, "Yin You's expertise in the classics is very similar to Zheng Tan's." Li Zongmin replied, "Zheng Tan and Yin You's expertise in the classics is indeed commendable, but their opinions are not worth listening to." Li Deyu said, "Zheng Tan and Yin You's opinions are what others do not want to hear; only Your Majesty wants to hear them." Ten days later, an edict was issued appointing Zheng Tan as Censor-in-Chief. Li Zongmin said to the Privy Commissioner Cui Tanjun, "Everything is decided directly from the inner palace; what need is there for the Secretariat?" Cui Tanjun said, "Having been the Son of Heaven for eight years, it is permissible for him to act on his own!" Li Zongmin, with a gloomy expression, stopped his argument.
On the day of Yihai, Li Zongmin, the Zhongshu Shilang and Tong Pingzhangshi, was appointed as Tong Pingzhangshi and acting as the military governor of Shannan West Circuit.
In autumn, the seventh month, on the day of Renyin, Wang Ya, the Right Vice Director, was appointed as Tong Pingzhangshi and concurrently in charge of the Ministry of Finance and the Salt and Iron Transport Commission. The military governor of Xuanwu, Yang Yuanqing, was ill, and the court discussed a replacement. Li Deyu requested to transfer Liu Congjian to Xuanwu in order to move him away from Shangdang and prevent him from forming connections with the Shandong region. The emperor thought it was not feasible. On the day of Guichou, Li Cheng, the Left Vice Director, was appointed as the military governor of Xuanwu.
The emperor was worried that recent scholars did not understand the classics. Li Deyu requested, following Yang Wan's proposal, that for the Jinshi examination, they should test essays on discussions, not poetry and rhapsody. Li Deyu also said, "In the past, Emperor Xuanzong, as the Prince of Linzi, pacified internal rebellions. From then on, he became suspicious of the imperial clan and did not allow them to leave the palace. People throughout the empire criticized this as imprisoning blood relatives and harming human relations. If, at the end of the Tianbao era or the beginning of the Jianzhong era, the imperial clan had been scattered in the prefectures, even if they could not have stabilized the royal house, they could at least have preserved their own lives. The reason they were all slaughtered by An Lushan and Zhu Ci was precisely because they were gathered in one palace. If Your Majesty, taking advantage of the occasion of establishing the crown prince, issues an edict allowing those senior and distant members of the imperial clan to leave the palace and appoints them as superior aides in the prefectures, allowing them to take their children out to marry, then a hundred-year-old defective system will be abolished by Your Majesty in one day. Who in the empire would not rejoice!" The emperor said, "I have long known that this cannot be done. Currently, among the princes, are there no worthy talents? It is only that they have no opportunity to show themselves!" In the eighth month, on the day of Gengyin, the crown prince was established, and an edict was issued: from now on, the princes should leave the palace in order, to be appointed as prefects of important or strategic prefectures, or as superior aides; the county princesses of the Sixteen Mansions should be married when the time comes; the Jinshi examination should stop testing poetry and rhapsody. The matter of the princes leaving the palace was ultimately abandoned because discussions about appointing them to official posts could not be decided.
On the day of Renyin, Yang Zhicheng, the military governor of Youzhou, was promoted to Acting Right Vice Director, and another envoy was sent separately to comfort and persuade him.
Du Mu was indignant at the unruliness of the three towns of Hebei, while those discussing state affairs in the court merely appeased and compromised. So he wrote an essay titled "Words of Blame," the gist of which was: "Since the Tianbao era when bandits arose, over a hundred cities in Hebei have not recovered a single inch of land. People regard that region like the Uighurs or Tibetans, and no one dares to cast a glance at it. Qi, Liang, Cai, and other places were influenced by this trend and followed suit in rebellion. There has never been a period of five years without war, and in this desperate state, over seventy years have passed. Today, the best strategy is to govern oneself well; the middle strategy is to seize the land of Wei; the worst strategy is to fight blindly, without considering terrain or examining offensive and defensive positions."
He was also pained by the abolition of the garrison militia system and wrote "Tracing the Origins of the Sixteen Guard Units," arguing: "The state initially followed the Sui system and established the Sixteen Guard Units. From today's perspective, if there are official posts said to be meaningless, they are probably the Sixteen Guard Units! Tracing their origins and deeds, these were in fact the foundation of the empire's destiny. During the Zhenguan era, the Sixteen Guard Units were used internally to nurture military officials, while externally five hundred and seventy-four Zhechong and Guoyi garrisons were established to store troops. When there was war, military officials led troops abroad; when there was peace, troops were rested within the interior. When they were inside, wealth and favor nurtured their persons, and the soldiers under their command were scattered across various garrisons. The largest garrisons had no more than twelve hundred men; three seasons they farmed, one season they trained. Their names were recorded in the general's office, but the soldiers were scattered in the fields. Their strength was dispersed, their power weakened, and each man cherished himself. Even if Chi You were the commander, they could not be incited to rebel. When they were outside, the soldiers under their command assembled upon receiving orders. With axes before them and rewards behind, they fought swiftly and fiercely—how could they have leisure for treachery! Even if Chi You were the commander, they could not betray. From the Zhenguan era to the Kaiyuan era, over one hundred and thirty years, there was never a case of military officials or soldiers rebelling or usurping power. This was how the great sage could grasp the balance, control internal and external affairs, and exercise divine strategy. By the end of the Kaiyuan era, foolish Confucians submitted memorials saying: 'The realm's civil governance is already flourishing; please abolish the garrison troops.' Martial men submitted memorials saying: 'The realm's military strength is abundant; please campaign against the four barbarians.' Thus the garrison troops were eradicated within, and border troops arose without. Military officials and soldiers rushed outward like a swift current or flying arrow, and within the interior, not a single man remained. The tail grew too large to wag, the center became hollow, and the power of Yan became predominant. The realm was in turmoil, the root like smoldering ashes reignited. Seven sage emperors toiled sleeplessly, trying to eliminate it but could not. From this perspective, can military officials and soldiers be left out of control for even a single day! Yet those who govern the state cannot do without an army. If placed outside, they rebel; if placed inside, they usurp. To ensure that outside there is no rebellion and inside there is no usurpation, from ancient times to the present, the most enduring method is probably to establish garrison troops and set up the Sixteen Guard Units! In recent times, the appointment of generals has become even more problematic. Most are marketplace scoundrels, obtained by carrying much gold and jade, relying on secret collusion, drawing up contracts, and making deals. Such people have no understanding of the teachings of propriety and righteousness from fathers and elders, nor do they possess heroic and stirring spirit. When they gain a territory of a hundred li or a thousand li, the fierce, unruly, stubborn, and violent ones disrupt the laws, not allowing the law to bind them. They slaughter the loyal and good, not allowing others to oppose them. With power concentrated and circumstances favorable, none fail to become bandits. The insidious, slippery, cunning, and treacherous ones also calculate at home and extort by headcount, handing over to evil favorites, rising from minister to duke, leaving commanderies to obtain prefectures. Their four administrative seats are pointed to as private mansions. Or if one man is unfortunate enough to live long, he butchers the people and scrapes together the realm's wealth. Thus the realm's military chaos never ceases, and the people's resources are exhausted—all for this reason. Alas! Who can trace and restore the profound intent of Emperor Wen in establishing the Sixteen Guard Units!"
He also wrote "On Warfare," arguing: "Hebei regards the realm like a pearl; the realm regards Hebei like its four limbs. Hebei's customs are simple and honest, its people brave in battle and farming. Moreover, the land breeds strong horses, convenient for galloping and engaging the enemy. Thus when they go out, they are victorious; when they stay, they are prosperous. They do not covet the realm's resources but can naturally be wealthy. It is like a great farming household that does not consider pearls as wealth. If the state lacks Hebei, then fine armor, sharp soldiers, keen blades, good bows, and strong horses are all gone. This is one loss: military strength is lost. Hedong, Mengjin, Huatai, Daliang, Pengcheng, and Dongping all station heavy troops to block the enemy's strategic points and cannot be used elsewhere. This is a second loss: military strength is lost. The armies of the six towns number three hundred million men, bowing their heads and relying on supplies, folding their hands and doing nothing. Then the land along the Huai River northward, along the Yellow River southward, east to the sea, and west to Luoyang must be scraped clean to meet expenses. This is a third loss: financial resources are lost. Northwest of Xianyang, the Rong and Yi tribes are heavily settled, and the wealth of Wu, Yue, Jing, and Chu is entirely used to support garrison troops. This is a fourth loss: financial resources are lost. When all four limbs of the realm are severed, the head and torso stand alone—can this ensure long-term stability! If we can truly remedy the five defects, then one campaign will bring peace, and the four limbs can be regenerated. When the realm is at peace, court officials who are transient and idle seek ease and private gain. Soldiers desert, weapons and armor rust. This is the fault of failing to inspect and train: the first defect. A hundred men bear arms and are supported by the government, yet they carry the names of a thousand men. Great and small generals pocket the surplus profit, rejoicing in the enemy's strength and delighting in the army's exhaustion. Thus those who bear arms are often few, while those who consume grain are often many. This is the fault of failing to verify numbers and calculate rations: the second defect. When a small victory is won, they exaggerate the merit, rushing to present battle reports to seek top rewards. Sometimes they are rewarded twice in a day, sometimes granted multiple promotions in a month. Before the victory song is sung, their official rank is already high. When noble titles reach their peak, lands and mansions become vast, gold and silk overflow, and their sons and grandsons obtain office. How would they be willing to seek extraordinary strategies, risk their lives, and toil for me! This is the fault of excessive rewards: the third defect. When many soldiers are lost and a great city is overturned, they escape alone, are appointed as prefects, and depart. Looking back at the executioner's blade, they are quite at ease. Within a year, they are already standing on the altar again. This is the fault of light punishment: the fourth defect. The authority of the great general is not concentrated; favored courtiers and messenger-bearing envoys come one after another to direct. When the formation is about to be arrayed and the drums about to sound, one moment they say the Crescent formation must be used, the next the Fish-Scale formation must be used. The three armies and ten thousand men, in the midst of circling hesitation and panicked confusion, the enemy cavalry seize the opportunity to attack, thus taking our drums and flags. This is the fault of failing to delegate responsibility: the fifth defect. If we truly wish to reorganize weapons, sweep away the filth, and seek eternal peace, yet follow the old mistakes, this is not feasible."
He also wrote "On Defense," arguing: "Today, those who discuss matters all say: 'As for those stubborn ones, we use good generals and strong troops as bit and reins, and fill their bellies with high positions and fine titles. We make them secure without disturbance, outside without restraint. It is like raising tigers and wolves without touching their hearts, so their angry energy does not arise. This was the method for guarding the state in the Dali and Zhenyuan eras. Why hasten to fight, torment our people, and then feel satisfied!' I say: The Dali and Zhenyuan eras precisely caused harm because of this. At that time, if there were dozens of cities and a thousand or so soldiers, the court would treat them differently and relax the laws for them. Thus they swaggered and spoke arrogantly, setting themselves up as a separate faction, breaking systems and reducing laws, vying in extravagance. The Son of Heaven nurtured their power without questioning, and officials were complacent without rebuking. Princes and nobles with titles exceeded their stipends in acceptance; when court visits did not come, they were granted staffs and mats; rebellious descendants were married to imperial princes; decorations and paintings were all complete. Thus their territory grew wider, their military strength grew stronger, their overstepping and presumptuousness grew more severe, and their extravagance grew more intense. Thus lands and titles were carved up to the last, yet the bandits' greed was still unsatisfied. Then some usurped titles, some called themselves emperors, some kings. They formed alliances and oaths, set up their own factions, were complacent and fearless, and plundered in all directions to satisfy their ambitions. Thus Zhao, Wei, Yan, and Qi rose up in great song; Liang, Cai, Wu, and Shu followed in chorus; the rest, in chaotic clamor wanting to imitate, were everywhere. When fate met Emperor Xiaowu (Tang Xianzong), who toiled from dawn to dusk and never forgot state affairs, and with the heroes before and after, thinking and discussing day and night, the great could be eliminated and the small appeased. Otherwise, the fields of Zhou and Qin would almost have become hunting grounds! Generally, humans are born with many desires. When desires are unmet, they become angry; anger leads to conflict and chaos. Thus within the family, the whip is used; within the state, punishments are used; within the realm, campaigns are used. This is how to restrain desires and stop conflict. The Dali and Zhenyuan eras completely violated this principle, using small holdings to block boundless conflict. Thus the head, tail, and four limbs could hardly coordinate with each other. Today, not knowing this is wrong, they instead take it as a constant method. I see that rebellion is not limited to Hebei alone. Alas! The method of guarding the state in the Dali and Zhenyuan eras should be a perpetual warning!"
He also annotated Sunzi and wrote a preface for it, arguing: "Warfare is punishment; punishment is governance. It is the affair of Confucius's disciples, actually of Zhong You and Ran You. I do not know from what era or who divided it into the two paths of civil and military, letting them operate separately. Thus officials and scholars dare not discuss warfare, and some even consider it shameful. If someone does discuss it, the world regards him as a crude outsider and does not count him as a peer. Alas! Losing the root is no worse than this! The Book of Rites says: 'When there are many fortifications in the four suburbs, it is the shame of the high ministers and officials.' Surveying history, no state has been established or destroyed without warfare. Those who direct military affairs must be sages, worthies, talented, and broadly knowledgeable to achieve merit. When court discussions take place, the military situation is already formed, and then it is entrusted to a general. Emperor Gaozu of Han said, 'The one who directs the tracks is the man; the one who catches the hare is the dog.' This is the principle. Those who serve as prime ministers say: 'Military affairs are not my business; I should not know them.' The gentleman says: 'Just do not occupy that position!'"
Former Bining Marching Army Sima Zheng Zhu, relying on his connection with Wang Shoucheng, wielded immense power and an overbearing demeanor, which the emperor deeply detested. In the ninth month, on the day Bingyin, Attending Censor Li Kuan submitted an impeachment memorial in the inner court, accusing Zheng Zhu: "He colludes internally with eunuchs who transmit imperial edicts, and externally with court officials, shuttling back and forth between both sides, extorting bribes and wealth, active by night and lurking by day, stealing and meddling in the great authority of the court. People dare not openly denounce him, only exchanging glances on the road. I request that he be handed over to the judicial authorities for trial." Within ten days, the memorials were submitted dozens of times. Wang Shoucheng hid Zheng Zhu in the Right Army. The Left Army Commander Wei Yuansu, Privy Councilors Yang Chenghe, and Wang Jianyan all detested Zheng Zhu. Left Army General Li Hongchu advised Wei Yuansu, saying: "Zheng Zhu is unparalleled in cunning and deceit. If we do not eliminate him while he is still a fledgling, once his wings grow full, he will surely become a calamity for the state. Now that he is hiding in the army due to the censor’s impeachment, I, Li Hongchu, request to act on your honor’s behalf, pretending you are ill and summoning him for medical treatment. When he arrives, you invite him to sit, and I will stand by. At your signal, I will drag him out and beat him to death with a staff. Then, you can go before the emperor, kneel and confess, detailing his treachery. Yang Chenghe and Wang Jianyan will surely speak for you. Moreover, you have the merit of assisting and supporting the emperor’s ascension—how could you be faulted for eliminating a traitor?" Wei Yuansu deemed this feasible and summoned Zheng Zhu. When Zheng Zhu arrived, he bent like an inchworm and crouched like a rat, his flattering words gushing like a spring. Wei Yuansu unconsciously took his hand, conversed amiably, and listened intently, forgetting his fatigue. Li Hongchu paced back and forth, signaling several times, but Wei Yuansu ignored him, instead giving Zheng Zhu generous gifts of gold and silk before sending him off. Li Hongchu angrily said: "Your honor has missed today’s opportunity for decisive action; you will surely not escape future calamity!" He then resigned his military post and left. Soon after, Li Hongchu developed a malignant boil on his back and died. Wang Ya’s appointment as chancellor was aided by Zheng Zhu, and Wang Ya also feared Wang Shoucheng, so he set aside Li Kuan’s memorial. Wang Shoucheng spoke for Zheng Zhu before the emperor, who then released Zheng Zhu. Shortly afterward, Wang Shoucheng recommended Zheng Zhu as Attending Censor and acting Right Shence Staff Officer, shocking and sighing the entire court.
On the day Jiayin, former Zhongwu Military Governor Wang Zhixing was appointed as Hezhong Military Governor.
The court officials, noting that the emperor had been on the throne for eight years without accepting an honorary title, in the winter, twelfth month, on the day Jiawu, presented the title of Taihe Wenwu Rensheng Emperor. It happened that a falconry eunuch, Xue Jiling, returned from Tongzhou and Huazhou, reporting the hardship and suffering among the people. The emperor sighed and said: "The Guanzhong region has had a modest harvest, yet the people are still like this. What about the Jianghuai area, which has suffered consecutive years of flooding? How can the people there fare! I have no means to relieve them—how dare I cherish an empty title?" He then bestowed the Tongtian Belt on Xue Jiling. The court officials submitted four memorials in total, but in the end, the emperor did not accept the honorary title.
On the day Gengzi, the emperor first contracted wind-stroke illness, losing his ability to speak. Wang Shoucheng then recommended Zhaoyi Marching Army Sima Zheng Zhu for his medical expertise. The emperor summoned Zheng Zhu to the capital, took the medicine he presented, and found it quite effective, whereupon Zheng Zhu gained imperial favor.