道古 Dàogǔ

Daogu was recommended as a presented scholar and offered writings at the palace gates, and was promoted to Collator and Academician of the Academy of Scholarly Worthies. He rose step by step to Vice Director of the Bureau of Gate Control and served as prefect of the four prefectures of Li, Sui, Tang and Mu. When Liu Gongchuo held the command of E and Yue, anonymous slanders against him reached the throne, and Xianzong wished to replace him. Pei Du said: "Gao, Prince of Cao by Succession, was once able to check Li Xilie with the troops of the Yangzi and Han, and his authority and kindness are remembered by the people. If his son is now made general, he will surely succeed." It happened that Daogu came to court from his post as Surveillance Commissioner of Qianzhong, so he replaced Gongchuo. He entered the army by forced marches; Gongchuo left in panic, and all his goods and wealth were seized. In the twelfth year of Yuanhe, Daogu attacked Shen Prefecture, broke through its outer wall, and went on to besiege the middle city. At night the garrison drove women up onto the walls to make a din, opened the portcullis and came out; Daogu's men fell into confusion, and many were killed by the rebels. Li Ting held An Prefecture and had never been defeated, but Daogu slandered him and had him driven out. Daogu led his troops out through Muling Pass himself, but his soldiers were arrogant and he could not control them. Moreover, he had given all the money from the Public Revenue to powerful favorites, so the rewards could not be paid; his men were resentful and angry and did not fight hard, and the rebels held him in contempt. So he went into Shen a second time and could not take it, and in the end achieved nothing. When Huaixi was pacified, he was given the additional title acting Censor-in-chief and summoned to be Chief Minister of the Court of the Imperial Clan and General of the Left Imperial Insignia Guard. The emperor liked to take elixirs, and Daogu wished to win his favor. His friend Liu Mi claimed he could turn gold into a drug of immortality, and Daogu had this reported to the emperor through the chief minister Huangfu Bo; soon afterwards the emperor died. Muzong, while Heir Apparent, had hated them; once enthroned, he executed Mi, demoted Bo, and banished Daogu as Administrator of Xun Prefecture. Daogu died in the end, vomiting blood from taking elixirs. At the start of Changqing an edict restored his offices. Daogu was skilled at advancement in office, glib and flattering, bending low to others. He moved among the high officials, often playing chess and gambling with them, pretending to lose and paying generously what he owed, and many who loved gain were won over by him, so he gained something of a fine name he did not deserve. When he died, his house had to be sold to pay for his burial. Edit