《资治通鉴·唐纪·唐纪五十五》
考功郎中、知制诰韩愈进言认为： 淮西只有申、光、蔡三个小州，正当残灭破败、困顿艰难的末路，而且面临着天下的全部兵力，他们的毁灭是指日可待的。
考功郎中、知制诰韩愈上言，以为： 淮西三小州，残弊困剧之馀，而当天下之全力，其破败可立而待。
The Zhongshu Shenji Sheren and Zhi Zaogao Han Yu extended advice which said: Huai Xi had only three small provinces: Shen, Guang, and Cai, and were on the brink of utter ruin and impoverishment, facing the combined strength of the empire. Their destruction was only a matter of time.