Volume 3 Book of Later Liang 3: Taizu Annals 3

二月戊申，帝之家廟棟間有五色芝生焉，狀若芙蓉，紫煙蒙護，數日不散。又，是月，家廟第一室神主上，有五色衣自然而生，識者知梁運之興矣。唐乾符中，木星入南斗，數夕不退，諸道都統晉國公王鐸觀之，問諸知星者吉凶安在，咸曰：「金火土犯斗即為災，唯木當為福耳！」或亦然之。時有術士邊岡者，洞曉天文，博通陰陽曆數之妙，窮天下之奇秘，有先見之明，雖京房、管輅不能過也。鐸召而質之，岡曰：「惟木為福神，當以帝王占之。然則非福於今，必當有驗於後，未敢言之，請他日證其所驗。」一日，又密召岡，因堅請語其詳，至於三四，岡辭不獲。鐸乃屏去左右，岡曰：「木星入斗，帝王之兆也。木在斗中，『朱』字也。以此觀之，將來當有朱氏為君者也，天戒之矣。且木之數三，其禎也應在三紀之內乎！」鐸聞之，不復有言。天后朝有讖辭云：「首尾三鱗六十年，兩角犢子自狂顛，龍蛇相鬥血成川。」當時好事者解云：「兩角犢子，牛也，必有牛姓干唐祚。」故周子諒彈牛仙客，李德裕謗牛僧孺，皆以應圖讖為辭。然「朱」字「牛」下安「八」，八即角之象也，故朱滔、朱泚構喪亂之禍，冀無妄之福，豈知應之帝也。

On wushen in the second month five-colored lingzhi sprouted between the rafters of the Emperor's ancestral shrine—lotus-shaped, veiled in purple mist that lingered for days. That same month five-colored vestments appeared of themselves on the spirit tablet of the first ancestral chamber—those in the know took it as a sign that Liang's fortune was rising. In the Qianfu era Jupiter entered the Southern Dipper and held there night after night. Wang Duo, Prince of Jin and overall commander of the circuits, watched it and asked the astrologers what it portended. All agreed: "Metal, fire, or earth in the Dipper means disaster—only wood should mean good fortune! Others agreed. There was then a diviner named Bian Gang, master of the heavens and of yin-yang calendrics, who knew secrets none could match and saw what was coming—surpassing even Jing Fang and Guan Luo. Duo called him in and pressed him. Gang said: "Wood alone is the star of blessing—it must be read as the omen of an emperor. But the blessing is not for today—it will prove itself later. I dare not say more; let another day show whether I am right. Another day Duo summoned him in private and pressed him again and again—three or four times—until Gang could not refuse. Duo sent attendants away. Gang said: "Jupiter in the Dipper is the sign of a Son of Heaven. Wood inside the Dipper forms the character Zhu. By that token a Zhu will rule in time to come—Heaven has given warning. And wood's number is three—perhaps the omen will run its course within three reigns! Duo heard him out and said nothing further. In the reign of Empress Wu a prophecy ran: "Head and tail, three scales, sixty years; the two-horned calf runs wild; dragons and serpents battle until rivers run red. Contemporaries read it thus: "A two-horned calf is an ox—surely someone surnamed Niu will overturn Tang's mandate." Hence Zhou Ziliang attacked Niu Senke and Li Deyu vilified Niu Sengru—each invoking the prophecy as proof. Yet in the character Zhu the element for "ox" stands above "eight"—eight being the sign of horns—so Zhu Tao and Zhu Ci stirred rebellion hoping for a throne that was not theirs, never guessing the omen pointed to the Emperor himself.

四月，唐帝御劄敕宰臣張文蔚等備法駕奉迎梁朝。宋州刺史王皋進赤烏一雙。又，宰臣張文蔚正押傳國寶、玉冊、金寶及文武群官、諸司儀仗法物及金吾左右二軍離鄭州。丙辰，達上源驛。是日，慶雲見。令曰：「王者創業興邦，立名傳世，必難知而示訓，從易避以便人。〈案：此下有闕文。〉或稽其符命，應彼開基之義，垂諸象德之言。爰考簡書，求於往代，周王昌、發之號，漢帝詢、衍之文，或從一德以徽稱，或為二名而更易。先王令典，布在縑緗。寡人本名，兼於二字，且異帝王之號，仍兼易之難，郡職縣官，多須改換。況宗廟不遷之業，憲章百世之規，事葉典儀，豈憚革易。寡人今改名晃，是以天意雅符於明德，日光顯契于瑞文，昭融萬邦，理斯在是。庶順昊穹之意，永臻康濟之期。宜令有司分告天地宗廟，其舊名，中外章疏不得更有回避。」時將受禪，下教以本名二字異帝王之稱，故改名。己未，賜文武百官一百六十人本色衣一副。戊辰，即位。制曰：

In the fourth month the Tang emperor sent an imperial decree ordering Zhang Wenwei and the other chief ministers to ready the imperial escort to receive the Liang. Wang Gao, prefect of Songzhou, offered a pair of crimson crows. Chief minister Zhang Wenwei meanwhile led the imperial seal, jade books, gold regalia, the full civil and military establishment, ceremonial equipage of every bureau, and the Left and Right Jinwu guards out of Zhengzhou. On bingchen they arrived at Shangyuan Post. That day auspicious clouds were seen. An edict declared: "Founders of dynasties who wish their names to endure must turn what is obscure into instruction and choose what is easy for the people to observe. 〈Note: Text is missing here.〉 Some consult portents that match the moment of founding, or phrases that embody the virtue of their emblem. Looking to the records of old: Zhou's Kings Chang and Fa, Han's Emperors Xun and Yan—some took one virtue as a style, others changed names because they bore two characters. The precedents of former kings stand written in the classics. My birth name has two characters, unlike an emperor's style, and would be awkward to taboo—countless prefectural and county posts would need revision. Yet the ancestral rites and laws meant to last generations demand it—how could I refuse what ritual requires? I now take the name Huang—Heaven's will aligns with Bright Virtue, sunlight with the omen in writing, that all under heaven may be illumined; this is the fitting course. May it satisfy Heaven above and bring lasting peace and plenty. Let the proper offices report to Heaven, Earth, and the temples. The old name need no longer be tabooed in memorials at court or abroad. He was on the verge of receiving the mandate; this edict explained that his two-character birth name was unsuitable for an emperor—hence the change. On jiwei he gave one set of plain court robes apiece to one hundred sixty officials, civil and military. On wuchen he took the throne. His inaugural edict read:

王者受命於天，光宅四海，祗事上帝，寵綏下民。革故鼎新，諒歷數而先定，創業垂統，知圖籙以無差。神器所歸，祥符合應。是以三正互用，五運相生，前朝道消，中原政散，瞻烏莫定，失鹿難追。朕經緯風雷，沐浴霜露，四征七伐，垂三十年，糾合齊盟，翼戴唐室。隨山刊木，罔憚胼胝；投袂揮戈，不遑寢處。洎上穹之所贊，知廣運之不興，莫諧輔漢之謀，徒罄事殷之禮。唐主知英華已竭，算祀有終，釋龜鼎以如遺，推劍紱而相授。朕懼德弗嗣，執謙允恭，避駿命于南河，眷清風于穎水。而乃列嶽群後，盈廷庶官，東西南北之人，斑白緇黃之眾，謂朕功蓋上下，澤被幽深，宜應天以順時，俾化家而為國。拒彼億兆，至於再三。且曰七政已齊，萬幾難曠。勉遵令典，爰正鴻名，告天地神祗，建宗廟社稷。

The ruler receives Heaven's mandate, holds the realm in light, serves the Lord on High, and shelters the people below. To renew what is old and raise what is new—the turn of fortune was already settled; to found a line and pass it on—the portents left no doubt. Where the sacred vessel belongs, omens align. The three calendars succeed one another; the five phases give birth in turn. Tang's Way faded and the heartland fell apart—no perch for the ravens, no catching the lost deer. I have braved storm and frost, fought east, west, north, and south for nearly thirty years, knit alliances together, and upheld the Tang house. I felled forests and opened roads without flinching from toil; I took up arms and scarcely slept. When Heaven favored me I saw that the great mandate would not return to Tang; plans to prop up Han came to nothing, and the rites owed a fallen house were spent in vain. The Tang sovereign knew his glory was spent and his years were up; he set aside the regalia of empire and offered sword and seal. I feared I lacked the virtue to succeed and clung to humility, declining the throne at South River and longing for the ease of Ying Stream. Yet the lords of the mountains, the officials who filled the court, folk from every quarter, gray heads and monks alike, said my merit reached heaven and earth and my grace the depths—that I must answer Heaven, follow the season, and turn a house into a realm. I refused the countless pleas, again and again. They said the seven luminaries were in order and the myriad duties could not lie idle. Yielding at last to precedent, I set the great name, reported to Heaven and Earth and the spirits, and founded temples and altars.

顧惟涼德，曷副樂推，栗若履冰，懍如馭朽。金行啟祚，玉曆建元，方宏經治之規，宜布惟新之令。可改唐天祐四年為開平元年，國號大樑。《書》載虞賓，斯為令範，《詩》稱周客，蓋有明文。是用先封，以禮後嗣，宜以曹州濟陰之邑奉唐主，封為濟陰王。凡曰軌儀，並遵故實。姬庭多士，比是殷臣；楚國群材，終為晉用。歷觀前載，自有通規，但遵故事之文，勿替在公之效。應是唐朝中外文武舊臣，見任前資官爵，一切仍舊。凡百有位，無易厥章，陳力濟時，盡瘁事我。古者興王之地，受命之邦，集大勳有異庶方，沾慶澤所宜加等。故豐沛著啟祚之美，穰鄧有建都之榮，用壯鴻基，且旌故里，爰遵令典，先示殊恩。宜升汴州為開封府，建名東都。其東都改為西都，仍廢京兆府為雍州佑國軍節度使。〈《五代會要》：「四月，改京兆府為大安府，長安縣為大安縣，萬年縣為大年縣，仍置佑國軍節度使額。始命韓建為佑國軍節度使。」〉

My virtue is slight beside what men have urged upon me; I tremble as on thin ice, I drive as over rotten timber. Metal begins its reign; the calendar starts anew—it is time to widen governance and proclaim a fresh order. Let Tang's Tianyou year 4 become Kaiping year 1; the realm shall be called Great Liang. The 《Book of Documents》 praises Yu's guest as the model; the 《Classic of Poetry》 honors Zhou's guest—text enough for what follows. So we enfeoff before we enthrone: Caozhou's Jiyin district shall sustain the Tang ruler as Prince of Jiyin. Every rite shall follow established usage. Men of the Zhou court served Yin as well; and Chu's worthies ended in Jin's employ. History offers a constant rule: follow precedent and do not lessen the duty of public service. Every Tang official, civil or military, in post or holding former rank, keeps office and title unchanged. Let none among the hundred offices alter his charge; serve the times with all your strength and give your utmost to me. Anciently the land that raised a king and the state that received the mandate, for uncommon merit, deserved extra grace when rewards were given. Feng and Pei shone as seats of founding; Rang and Deng as places of enthronement—so we honor the cradle of empire and, by ancient right, show favor first to our home. Bianzhou is raised to Kaifeng Prefecture and named the Eastern Capital. The old Eastern Capital becomes the Western Capital; Jingzhao Prefecture is abolished and Youzhou given a Youguo Army governor. 〈The 《Five Dynasties Institutional Compendium》 records: "In the fourth month Jingzhao became Da'an Prefecture, Chang'an county Da'an, Wannian county Danian, and the Youguo Army post was created. Han Jian was first named Youguo Army governor."〉

是日大酺，賞賜有差。《通鑒》：甲辰，唐昭宣帝降御劄禪位於梁。以攝中書令張文蔚為冊禮使，禮部尚書蘇循副之；攝侍中楊涉為押傳國寶使，翰林院學士張策副之；御史大夫薛貽矩為押金寶使，尚書左丞趙光逢副之。帥百官備法駕，詣大樑。甲子，張文蔚、楊涉乘輅自上源驛至，從冊寶諸司各備儀衛鹵簿前導，百官從其後，至金祥殿前陳之。王被袞冕，即皇帝位。張文蔚、蘇循奉冊升殿進讀，楊涉、張策、薛貽矩、趙光逢以次奉寶升殿，讀已，降，帥百官舞蹈稱駕。帝遂與文蔚等宴於元德殿。帝舉酒曰：「朕輔政未久，此皆諸公推戴之力。」文蔚等慚懼，俯伏不能對，獨蘇循、薛貽矩及刑部尚書張禕盛稱帝功德，宜應天順人。宋州刺史王皋進兩岐麥，陳州袁象先進白兔一，付史館編錄，兼示百官。詔在京司及諸軍州縣印一例鑄換，其篆文則各如舊。辛未，武安軍節度使馬殷進封楚王。乙太府卿敬翔知崇政院，翔與帷幄之謀，故首擢焉。追尊四代廟號：高祖媯州府君上諡曰宣元皇帝，廟號肅祖，太廟第一室，陵號興極陵，祖妣高平縣君范氏追諡宣僖皇后；皇曾祖宣惠王上諡曰光獻皇帝，廟號敬祖，第二室，陵號永安，祖妣秦國夫人楊氏追諡光孝皇后；皇祖武元王上諡曰昭武皇帝，廟號憲祖，第三室，陵號光天，祖妣吳國夫人劉氏追諡昭懿皇后；皇考文明王上諡曰文穆皇帝，廟號烈祖，第四室，陵號咸寧，皇妣晉國太夫人王氏追諡文惠皇后。以宣武節度副使皇子友文為開封尹，判建昌院事。友文，本康氏子也，帝養以為子。

That day the court held a grand feast; gifts varied by rank. The 《Zizhi Tongjian》 notes: On jiachen Emperor Zhaoxuan of Tang issued an imperial decree abdicating to Liang. Acting Zhongshu Ling Zhang Wenwei was made chief envoy for the investiture, with Minister of Rites Su Xun as deputy; Acting Shizhong Yang She was made chief custodian of the imperial seal, with Hanlin Academician Zhang Ce as deputy; Censor-in-Chief Xue Yiju was made chief custodian of the gold regalia, with Left Assistant Minister Zhao Guangfeng as deputy. They led the full court with the imperial escort to Daliang. On jiazi Zhang Wenwei and Yang She came in the imperial carriage from Shangyuan Post, regalia and seals borne ahead with full guard, officials following, and arrayed all before the Hall of Golden Auspice. He assumed the imperial regalia and took the throne. Zhang Wenwei and Su Xun presented and read the register; Yang She, Zhang Ce, Xue Yiju, and Zhao Guangfeng presented the seals in turn; then they led the court in the bowing dance and acclamation. The Emperor then banqueted Wenwei and the others in the Hall of Primordial Virtue. The Emperor raised his wine and said: "I have governed but briefly—this is entirely your doing in elevating me. Wenwei and the rest were abashed and speechless on their faces; only Su Xun, Xue Yiju, and Minister of Justice Zhang Yi loudly praised the Emperor's merit as fitting Heaven and the people. Wang Gao of Songzhou offered double-eared wheat; Yuan Xiangxian of Chenzhou a white hare—both were recorded by the Historiography Office and displayed to the court. An edict ordered all seals of capital bureaus and of armies, prefectures, and counties recast at once, each keeping its former inscription. On xinwei Ma Yin, governor of the Wu'an Army, was advanced to King of Chu. On a yi day Grand Master of Splendid Affairs Jing Xiang was put in charge of the Chongzhengyuan—first among promotions because he had shared the Emperor's counsels in the field. Four ancestral generations received temple names: the High Ancestor, Lord of Guizhou, posthumous Emperor Xuanyuan, temple Sizu, first chamber, tomb Xingji; Lady Fan of Gaoping, Empress Xuanxi; the great-grandfather, King Xuanhui, posthumous Emperor Guangxian, temple Jingzu, second chamber, tomb Yong'an; Lady Yang of Qin, Empress Guangxiao; the grandfather, King Wuyuan, posthumous Emperor Zhaowu, temple Xianzu, third chamber, tomb Guangtian; Lady Liu of Wu, Empress Zhaoyi; the father, King Wenming, posthumous Emperor Wenmu, temple Liezu, fourth chamber, tomb Xianning; the mother, Grand Lady of Jin Wang, Empress Wenhui. Prince Youwen, deputy Xuanwu governor and imperial son, was made Prefect of Kaifeng and superintendent of the Jianchang Court. Youwen was born to the Kang clan; the Emperor adopted him as his son.

是月，制宮殿門及都門名額：正殿為崇元殿，東殿為元德殿，內殿為金祥殿，萬歲堂為萬歲殿，門如殿名。帝自謂以金德王，又以福建上獻鸚鵡，諸州相繼上白烏、白兔洎白蓮之合蒂者，以為金行應運之兆，故名殿曰金祥。以大內正門為元化門，皇牆南門為建國門，滴漏門為啟運門，下馬門為升龍門，元德殿前門為崇明門，正殿東門為金烏門，西門為玉兔門，正衙東門為崇禮門，東偏門為銀台門，宴堂門為德陽門，天王門為賓天門，皇牆東門為寬仁門，浚儀門為厚載門，皇牆西門為神獸門，望京門為金鳳門，宋門為觀化門，尉氏門為高明門，鄭門為開明門，梁門為乾象門，酸棗門為興和門，封丘門為含耀門，曹門為建陽門。升開封、浚儀為赤縣，尉氏、封丘、雍丘、陳留為畿縣。〈《五代會要》：四月，改左右長直為左右龍虎軍，左右內衙為左右羽林軍，左右堅銳夾馬突將為左右神武軍，左右親隨軍將馬軍為左右龍驤軍。〉

That month palace and capital gates were named: main hall Chongyuan, east hall Primordial Virtue, inner hall Golden Auspice, Hall of Ten Thousand Years renamed Ten Thousand Years Hall—gates matching their halls. The Emperor held that he ruled by Metal's virtue; Fujian sent parrots, and one prefecture after another white crows, white hares, and twin-stemmed white lotuses—omens of Metal's mandate—so the hall was called Golden Auspice. The inner main gate became Primordial Transformation; the imperial south wall, Founding the State; the water-clock gate, Opening Fortune; the dismounting gate, Ascending Dragon; Primordial Virtue's front gate, Honoring Clarity; the main hall's east Golden Crow and west Jade Rabbit; the court's east Honoring Rites and east side Silver Terrace; the banquet hall Virtue and Yang; Heavenly King, Guest of Heaven; the wall's east Broad Benevolence; Junyi, Heavy Burden; west Divine Beast; Wangjing, Golden Phoenix; Song, Observing Transformation; Weishi, Lofty Bright; Zheng, Opening Bright; Liang, Qian Symbol; Suanzao, Rising Harmony; Fengqiu, Containing Glory; Cao, Establishing Yang. Kaifeng and Junyi were raised to chief counties; Weishi, Fengqiu, Yongqiu, and Chenliu to metropolitan counties. 〈The 《Five Dynasties Institutional Compendium》 records: In the fifth month the Left and Right Changzhi became Dragon-Tiger Armies, the inner guards Forest of Plumes Armies, the sharp lancers and chargers Divine Martial Armies, and the personal horse guards Dragon-Prancing Armies.〉

五月，以唐朝宰臣張文蔚、楊涉並為門下侍郎、平章事；以御史大夫薛貽矩為中書侍郎、平章事。帝初受禪，求理尤切，委宰臣搜訪賢良。或有在下位抱負器業久不得伸者，特加擢用；有明政理得失之道規救時病者，可陳章疏，當親鑒擇利害施行，然後賞以爵秩；有晦跡丘園不求聞達者，令彼長吏備禮邀致，冀無遺逸之恨。進封河南尹兼河陽節度使張全義為魏王，兩浙節度使錢鏐進封吳越王。辛巳，有司奏，以降誕之日為大明節，休假前後各一日。壬午，保義軍節度使朱友謙進百官衣二百副。乙酉，立皇兄全昱為廣王，皇子友文為博王，友珪為郢王，友璋為福王，友雍為賀王，友徽為建王。辛卯，以東都舊第為建昌宮，改判建昌院事為建昌宮使。初，帝創業之時，以四鎮兵馬倉庫籍繁，因總置建昌院以領之，至是改為宮，蓋重其事也。甲午，詔天下管屬及州縣官名犯廟諱者，各宜改換：城門郎改為門局郎，茂州改為汶州，桂州慕化縣改為歸化縣，潘州茂名縣改為越裳縣。魏泰《東軒筆錄》：京師呼城外為州東、州西、州南、州北，而韋城、相城、胙城等縣，但呼韋縣、相縣、胙縣，蓋沿梁時避諱之舊也。詔樞密院宜改為崇政院，以知院事敬翔為院使。改文思院為乾文院，同和院改為佐鸞院。〈《五代會要》：五月，改御食使為司膳使，小馬坊使為天驥使。以西都水北宅為大昌宮，廢雍州太清宮，改西都太微宮，亳州太清宮皆為觀，諸州紫極宮皆為老君廟。泉州僧智宣自西域回，進辟支佛骨及梵夾經律。丙申，御元德殿，宴犒諸軍使劉捍、符道昭已下，賜物有差。〉

In the fifth month former Tang chief ministers Zhang Wenwei and Yang She were both made Vice Directors of the Secretariat and Grand Councilors; Censor-in-Chief Xue Yiju was made Vice Director of the Secretariat and Grand Councilor. Fresh on the throne, the Emperor was urgent for good rule and charged his chief ministers to seek out talent. Men of talent in humble posts who had waited too long were promoted outright; those who saw what was right or wrong in policy and offered remedies could memorialise—the Emperor would read and adopt what helped or hurt, then grant rank; recluses who sought no fame were to be invited with full ceremony by their magistrates, lest any worthy be missed. Zhang Quanyi of Henan and Heyang was raised to Prince of Wei; Qian Liu of the two Zhes to King of Wu and Yue. On xinsi the ministries proposed the imperial birthday as the Great Brightness Festival, with a holiday on either side. On renwu Zhu Youqian of the Baoyi Army offered two hundred sets of court robes. On xinmao the Emperor enfeoffed his brother Quanyu as Prince of Guang and his sons Youwen, Yougui, Youzhang, Youyong, and Youhui as Princes of Bo, E, Fu, He, and Jian. On jiawu the old Eastern Capital residence became Jianchang Palace, and the Jianchang Court superintendent became palace superintendent. In founding days the four circuits' troop, horse, and granary rolls had been centralized in the Jianchang Court; elevating it to a palace marked how seriously he took the office. On jiawu an edict ordered titles that clashed with imperial taboo renamed everywhere—chengmenglang to gate-bureau lang, Maozhou to Wenzhou, Muhua to Guihua, Maoming to Yueshang. Wei Tai's 《Eastern Study Notes》 notes that the capital spoke of "east of the prefecture" and the like, while Weicheng and similar counties were shortened to Wei County—custom carried over from Liang taboo. The Bureau of Military Affairs became the Chongzhengyuan, with Jing Xiang as commissioner. The Wensi Court became Qianwen; the Tonghe Court, Zuoluan. 〈The 《Five Dynasties Institutional Compendium》 records: In the fifth month the imperial-food office became palace provisions, the small horse park the heaven-steed office. The Western Capital's north-of-the-water residence became Dachang Palace; Yongzhou's Supreme Unity Abbey was abolished; western and Bozhou Supreme Unity sites became abbeys; every prefecture's Purple Ultimate Palace became a Lord Lao temple. Zhixuan, a monk of Quanzhou, returned from the Western Regions with pratyeka-buddha relics and Sanskrit scriptures of vinaya and doctrine. On bingchen he held court in the Hall of Primordial Virtue and feasted army commissioners from Liu Han and Fu Daozhao downward, with graded gifts.〉

是月，青州、許州、定州三鎮節度使請開內宴，各賜方物。以青州節度使韓建守司徒、平章事。帝以建有文武材，且詳於稼穡利害、軍旅之事、籌度經費，欲盡詢焉，恩澤特異于時，罕有比者；隨拜為上相，賜賚甚厚。宿州刺史王儒進白兔一，濮州刺史圖嘉禾瑞麥以進。廣州進奇寶名藥，品類甚多。河南尹張全義進開平元年已前羨余錢十萬貫、綢六千匹、綿三十萬兩，仍請每年上供定額每歲貢絹三萬匹，以為常式。荊南高季昌進瑞橘數十顆，質狀百味，倍勝常貢。且橘當冬熟，今方仲夏，時人咸異其事，因稱為瑞。

That month the governors of Qing, Xu, and Ding asked for palace banquets and received local tribute in return. Han Jian of Qingzhou was made Minister of Works and Grand Councilor. The Emperor valued Jian for civil and military gifts and for knowing farming, war, and budgets inside out—his favor was almost unmatched— and soon made chief minister with lavish rewards. Wang Ru of Suzhou sent a white hare; the Pu prefect a chart of auspicious grain and lucky wheat. Guangzhou sent rare treasures and famed drugs in great variety. Zhang Quanyi of Henan offered a hundred thousand strings of surplus coin from before Kaiping 1, six thousand bolts of silk, and three hundred thousand taels of cotton, and asked that thirty thousand bolts of silk yearly be fixed as tribute. Gao Jichang of Jingnan sent dozens of auspicious oranges, finer in taste and look than ordinary tribute by far. Oranges ripen in winter, yet it was midsummer—men took it for a miracle and called them auspicious.

六月，幸乾元院，宴召宰臣、學士及諸道入貢陪臣。己亥，帝御崇元殿，內出追尊四廟上諡號玉冊寶共八副，宰臣文武百官儀仗鼓吹導引至太廟行事。癸卯，司天監奏：「日辰內有『戊』字，請改為『武』。」從之。癸亥，詔以前朝官僚，譴逐南荒，積年未經昭雪，其間有懷抱材器為時所嫉者，深負冤抑。仍令錄其名姓，盡復官資，兼告諭諸道令津致赴闕。如已亡歿，並許歸葬，以明恩蕩。以西都徽安門北路逼近大內宮垣，兼非民便，令移自榆林直趨端門之南。改耀州報恩禪院為興國寺。馬殷奏破淮寇；靜海軍節度使曲裕卒。

In the sixth month he visited the Qianyuan Court and feasted chief ministers, Hanlin scholars, and circuit envoys. On jihai he held court in Chongyuan Hall, produced eight jade books and seals of posthumous honor for the four temples, and with full court and guard went to the Great Temple to perform the rites. On guimao the Directorate of Astronomy reported: "The day-cycle contains the character wu—we ask it be changed to wu, 'martial.' The request was granted. On guihai an edict said: "Tang officials exiled south, uncleared for years, include men of talent wronged by their times. Record their names, restore rank and pay, and tell every circuit to bring them to court." Those already dead might be buried at home—a sign of mercy." The road north of the Western Capital's Huian Gate hugged the palace wall and troubled the people; it was shifted from Yulin to south of the Duan Gate. Yaozhou's Baoen Chan Monastery became Xingguo Temple. Ma Yin reported victory over Huai raiders; Qu Yu, governor of the Jinghai Army, died.

七月丙申，以靜海軍行營司馬權知留後曲顥起復為安南都護，充節度使。〈《五代會要》：七月，敕云：「建國遷都，俾新其制，況山河之險，表裏為防。今二京俱在關東以內，仍以潼關隸陝州，復置河潼軍使，命虢州刺史兼領之。」〉其月，敕改虎牢關為軍，仍置虎牢關軍使。己亥，追尊皇妣為皇太后。

On bingchen in the seventh month Qu Hao, acting Jinghai staff officer and acting inspector, was recalled from mourning as Protector-General of Annan and full governor. 〈The 《Five Dynasties Institutional Compendium》 records: In the seventh month an edict said: "With the capital moved east, defenses must be renewed. Both capitals now lie east of the pass; Tong Pass goes to Shaanzhou, the He-Tong Army post is restored, and the Guo prefect shall hold it."〉 That month Hulao Pass was made an army command with its own commissioner. On jihai the Emperor's mother was posthumously titled Empress Dowager.

八月，以潞州軍前屯師旅，壁壘未收，乃別議戎帥，於是以亳州刺史李思安充潞州行營都統。敕：「朝廷之儀，封冊為重，用報勳烈，以隆恩榮，固合親臨，式光典禮。舊章久缺，自我復行。今後每封冊大臣，宜令有司備臨軒之禮。」〈《五代會要》：八月，敕云：「諸道所有軍事申奏，令直至右銀台門，委客省使畫時引進，尋常公事依前四方館收接。」〉甲子平明前，老人星見於南極。壬申，密州進嘉禾，又有合歡榆樹，並圖形以獻。是月，隰州奏，大寧縣至固鎮上下二百里，今月八日，黃河清，至十月如故。

In the eighth month, with Luzhou still besieged, a new commander was named: Li Si'an of Bozhou, overall chief of the Luzhou campaign. An edict said: "Court ritual and investiture are grave—they reward merit and magnify grace; the sovereign should attend in person. The old rule had lapsed; I restore it. Henceforth, whenever a great minister is enfeoffed, the proper offices shall prepare the throne-side rite." 〈The 《Five Dynasties Institutional Compendium》 records: In the eighth month an edict said: "Circuit military memorials go straight to the Right Silver Terrace Gate for immediate presentation; routine business still through the Four Directions Hall."〉 Before dawn on jiazi the Old Man Star appeared at the southern pole. On renshen Mizhou sent auspicious grain and an interlocking-locust tree, both drawn and presented. That month Xizhou reported that for two hundred li along the Yellow River from Daning to Gu Town the waters ran clear from the eighth of the month until the tenth, as before.

九月辛丑，西京大內放出兩宮內人及前朝宮人，任其所適。敕以近年文武官諸道奉使，皆於所在分外停住，逾年涉歲，未聞歸闕。非惟勞費州郡，抑且侮慢國經。臣節既虧，憲章安在。自今後兩浙、福建、廣州、安南、邕、容等道使到發許住一月；湖南、洪、鄂、黔、桂許住二十日；荊、襄、同、雍、鎮、定、青、滄許住十日；其餘側近不過三五日。凡往來道路，據遠近里數，日行兩驛。如遇疾患及江河阻隔，委所在長吏具事由奏聞。如或有違，當行朝典，命御史點檢糾察，以儆慢官。魏博羅紹威二男廷望、廷矩，年在幼稚，皆有材器，帝以其籓屏勳臣之胄，宜受非次之用，皆擢為郎。恩命既行之後，二子亦就班列。紹威乃上章，以齒幼未任公事，乞免主印、宿直。從之。封鎮東軍神祠為崇福侯。浙西奏，道門威儀鄭章、道士夏隱言，焚修精志，妙達希夷，推諸輩流實有道業。鄭章宜賜號貞一大師，仍名元章，隱言賜紫衣。〈《五代會要》：九月，置左右天興、左右廣勝軍，仍以親王為軍使。〉

On xinchou the Western Capital released inner-palace women and women of the former dynasty to go where they wished. An edict noted that civil and military envoys from the circuits lately lingered at post for years without returning. They wasted local resources and slighted the state's order. Where integrity fails, law cannot stand. Henceforth envoys to the two Zhes, Fujian, Guangzhou, Annan, Yong, and Rong may stay one month; Hunan, Hong, E, Qian, and Gui twenty days; Jing, Xiang, Tong, Yong, Zhen, Ding, Qing, and Cang ten days; nearby circuits no more than three to five. On the road, measure by distance and travel two relay-stages a day. Sickness or rivers may delay travel—local magistrates shall report by memorial. Violators face the court code; censors shall inspect and punish the negligent. Luo Shaowei's sons Tingwang and Tingju, though young, showed talent; as sons of a loyal frontier lord both were made court gentlemen. After the edict they took their places in court ranks. Shaowei then asked that, being young, they be excused seals and night duty. The request was granted. The Zhendong Army shrine was enfeoffed as Marquis of Chongfu. Western Zhe reported that ritual master Zheng Zhang and priest Xia Yinyan, in refined devotion, had truly attained the Way among their peers. Zheng Zhang was titled Great Master of Perfect Unity with the name Yuanzhang; Yinyan received purple robes. 〈The 《Five Dynasties Institutional Compendium》 records: In the ninth month the Left and Right Tianxing and Guangsheng Armies were created, led by imperial princes.〉

十月，帝以用軍，未暇西幸，文武百官等久居東京，漸及疑訝，令就便各許歸安，只留韓建、薛貽矩，翰林學士張策、韋郊、杜曉，中書舍人封舜聊、張袞並左右御史、司天監、宗正寺，兼要當諸司節級外，其宰臣張文蔚已下文武百官，並先於西京祗候。庚午，大明節，內外臣僚各以奇貨良馬上壽。故事，內殿開宴，召釋、道二教對禦談論，宣旨罷之。命閣門使以香合賜宰臣佛寺行香。駕幸繁台講武。癸酉，御史司憲薛廷圭奏請文武百官仍舊朝參。先是，帝欲親征河東，命朝臣先赴洛都，至是緩其期，乃允所奏。宰臣請每月初入閣，望日延英聽政，永為常式。山南東道節度使楊師厚進納越匡凝東第書籍。先是，收復襄、漢，帝閱其圖書，至是命師厚進焉。廣州進獻助軍錢二十萬，又進龍腦、腰帶、珍珠枕、玳瑁、香藥等。

In the tenth month, busy with war and unable to go west, the Emperor let officials long in the Eastern Capital return home on leave, keeping only Han Jian, Xue Yiju, Zhang Ce, Wei Jiao, Du Xiao, Feng Shunliao, Zhang Gun, censors, the astronomical directorate, and the imperial clan office—while Zhang Wenwei and the rest were to wait at the Western Capital. On gengwu, the Great Brightness Festival, officials within and without offered rare goods and fine horses. By old custom inner banquets summoned Buddhist and Daoist debate before the throne; an edict ended it. Gate commissioners were told to give chief ministers incense boxes for temple offerings. The Emperor reviewed troops at Fantai. On guiyou Censor-in-Chief Xue Tinggui asked that civil and military officials resume regular court. The Emperor had meant to campaign east against Hedong and sent the court ahead to Luoyang; he now delayed and granted the request. Chief ministers asked that on the first palace entry each month and on Yanying audience days policy be heard—as a permanent rule. Yang Shihou of Shannan East surrendered the library of Yue Kuangning's eastern mansion. When Xiangyang and Hanzhong were retaken the Emperor had browsed these books; now he ordered Shihou to deliver them. Guangzhou sent two hundred thousand in military aid plus dragon-brain, belts, pearl pillows, tortoiseshell, and aromatics.

十一月壬寅，帝以征討未罷，調補為先，遂命盡赦逃亡背役髡黥之人，各許歸鄉里。廣州進龍形通犀腰帶、金托裏含稜玳瑁器百餘副，香藥珍巧甚多。廣南管內獲白鹿，並圖形來獻，耳有兩缺。按《符瑞圖》，鹿壽千歲變白，耳一缺。今驗此鹿耳有二缺，其獸與色皆應金行，實表嘉瑞。

On renyin, with war unfinished and levies urgent, the Emperor pardoned deserters, draft-dodgers, and branded convicts to return home. Guangzhou sent dragon-pattern rhinoceros belts, a hundred-odd gold-mounted tortoiseshell sets, and countless aromatics and curios. Guangnan captured a white deer, diagrammed and sent to court, its ears notched twice. The 《Records of Omens》 says a deer of a thousand years turns white and its ear has one notch. This deer's two notches and white coat matched the Metal phase—a true omen of blessing.

十二月辛亥，詔曰：「潞寇未平，王師在野。攻戰之勢，難緩於寇圍；飛晳免之勤，實勞於人力。永言輟耒，深用軫懷。宜令長吏，丁寧佈告，期以兵罷之日，給復賦租。」於是人戶聞之，皆忘其倦。詔故荊南節度使、守中書令、上谷王周汭贈太師，故武昌軍節度使、兼中書令、西平王杜洪贈太傅。先是，鄂渚再為淮夷所侵，攻圍甚急，杜洪以兵食將盡，繼來乞師。帝料其隔越大江，難以赴援，兼以荊州據上游，多戰艦，去江夏甚邇，因命周汭舉舟師沿流以救之。汭於是引兵東下，才及鄂界，遇朗州背盟作亂，乘江陵之虛，縱兵襲破之，俘掠且盡。既而汭士卒知之，皆顧其家，咸無鬥志，遂為淮寇所敗，將卒潰散，汭忿恚自投于江。汭之本姓犯文穆皇帝廟諱，至是因追贈，以其系出周文，故賜姓周氏。及汭兵敗之後，武昌以重圍經年，糧盡力困，救援不至，訖為淮寇所陷，載洪以送淮師，遂殺之。此二鎮，皆以忠貞歿于王事。帝每言諸籓屏翰經綸之業，必首痛汭、洪之薨，至是追贈之，深加軫悼，各以其子孫宗屬錄用焉。棣州蒲台縣百姓王知嚴妹，以亂離並失怙恃，因舉哀追感，自截兩指以祭父母。帝以遺體之重，不合毀傷，言念村閭，何知禮教。自今後所在郡縣，如有截指割股，不用奏聞。

On xinhai an edict said: "Luzhou is not yet pacified; the royal army is in the field. Attack cannot slacken while the enemy is ringed; grain convoys and night watches wear men out. I grieve for the idle plow. Let magistrates proclaim: when the army stands down, taxes and corvée will be remitted. Hearing it, the people took heart. Zhou of Jingnan, late Prince of Shanggu, was posthumously made Grand Preceptor; Du Hong of Wuchang, late Prince of Xiping, Grand Tutor. Ezhou had again been harried by Huai foes; Du Hong, grain nearly gone, begged repeatedly for relief. The Emperor judged the Yangzi too wide for timely aid; Jingzhou upstream had many warships and lay near Jiangxia—so he ordered Zhou Yu downriver by fleet. Yu marched east; at E's border Langzhou broke faith, struck empty Jiangling, and plundered it bare. His men thought only of home and would not fight; Huai raiders routed them; Yu drowned himself in grief. Yu's birth surname violated Emperor Wenmu's taboo; on posthumous honor, as his line came from King Wen of Zhou, he was granted the surname Zhou. After Yu's defeat Wuchang, besieged for years without relief, fell to Huai raiders who carried Hong away and killed him. Both circuits died loyal in royal service. The Emperor always grieved Zhou and Du first when he spoke of frontier duty; now he honored them posthumously and employed their kin. Wang Zhiyan's sister of Dizhou's Putai, orphaned in chaos, mourned her parents and cut off two fingers as offering. The Emperor said the body is a gift of parents and must not be maimed—villagers know no better ritual. Henceforth local officials need not report finger-cutting or thigh-flesh offerings.

是年，諸道多奏軍人百姓割股，青、齊、河朔尤多。帝曰：「此若因心，亦足為孝。但苟免徭役，自殘肌膚，欲以庇身，何能療疾？並宜止絕。」〈《五代會要》：十二月，於輝州碭山縣置崇德軍。太祖榆社在碭山，置使以領之，始命朱彥讓為軍使。〉

That year many circuits reported soldiers and peasants cutting thigh-flesh; Qing, Qi, and Hebei had the most. The Emperor said: "If it comes from the heart, it may count as filial. But to dodge corvée by maiming oneself—how does that heal anyone? Let it all cease." 〈The 《Five Dynasties Institutional Compendium》 records: In the twelfth month the Chongde Army was set up in Huizhou's Dangshan County. Taizu's ancestral elm grove lay in Dangshan; a commissioner was appointed to oversee it, and Zhu Yanrang was first named army commissioner.〉

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