1
開平三年九月癸巳朔，御崇勳殿，宴群臣文武百官。 賜張宗奭、楊師厚白綾各三百匹，銀鞍轡馬。 丁酉，上幸崇政院宴內臣，賜院使敬翔、直學士李班等繒彩有差。 以門下侍郎、平章事薛貽矩判建昌宮事，兼延資庫使。 制：「內外使臣復命，未見便歸私第者，朝廷命使，臣下奉行，惟於辭見之儀，合守敬恭之道。 近者凡差出使，往復皆越常規。 或已辭而尚在本家，或未見而先歸私第，但從己便，莫稟王程。 在禮敬而殊乖，置典章而私舉。 宜令御史臺別具條流事件具黜罰等奏聞。」 庚子，殿直王唐福自襄城走馬，以天軍勝捷逆將李洪歸降事上聞。 賜唐福絹銀有加，宰臣百官上表稱賀。 壬寅，開封府虞候李繼業齎襄州都指揮使程暉奏狀，以今月五日，殺戮逆黨千人，並生擒都指揮使傅霸以下節級共五百人，收復襄州人戶歸業事。 《通鑒》：八月，陳暉軍至襄州，李洪逆戰，大敗，王求死。 九月丁酉，拔其城，斬叛兵千人，執李洪、楊虔等送洛陽，斬之。 癸卯，帝御文明殿，以收復襄漢，受宰臣以下稱賀。 辛亥，侍中韓建罷守太保，左僕射、同平章事楊涉罷守本官，乙太常卿趙光逢為中書侍郎、平章事，翰林學士奉旨、工部侍郎、知制誥杜曉為尚書戶部侍郎、平章事。 詔曰：「秋冬之際，陰雨相仍，所司擇日拜郊，或慮臨時妨事，宜令別更擇日奏聞。」 是月，禮儀使奏：「據所司擇，十月二日，祀圓丘。 今參詳十月十七日以後入十一月節，十一月二日冬至一陽生之辰，宜行親告之禮。」 從之。 河中奏，准宣，詔使有銅牌者，所至即易騎以遣。
On guisi, the first of the ninth month of Kaiping 3, the Emperor held court at Chongxun Hall and feasted chief ministers and the full civil and military establishment. He gave Zhang Zongshi and Yang Shihou each three hundred bolts of white silk and horses fitted with silver saddles and bridles. On dingyou he visited Chongzheng Academy to feast the inner attendants, granting graded gifts of silks to director Jing Xiang, direct academician Li Ban, and the rest. Xue Yiju, vice director of the Chancellery and grand councilor, was put in charge of Jianchang Palace and named commissioner of the Yanzi Treasury as well. An edict read: "Envoys from within and without who report back must not go home before they have been received. The court issues orders and subjects obey; only in the ceremonies of farewell and audience is reverence required. Lately every envoy sent out has broken routine on the journey there and back. Some have bowed out yet still stay at home; some reach their own houses before an audience—each does as he pleases and ignores the imperial timetable. In ritual terms it is deeply wrong; in law they set aside the code for private convenience. The Censorate should draw up detailed rules on offenses and penalties and memorialize them." On gengzi Palace Guard Wang Tangfu galloped from Xiangcheng with word that the imperial army had won and the rebel Li Hong had surrendered. Tangfu received extra silk and silver; chief ministers and officials submitted felicitations. On renyin Li Jiye of Kaifeng Prefecture patrol delivered Cheng Hui’s report from Xiangzhou: on the fifth they had slain a thousand rebels, taken Fu Ba and some five hundred officers of command rank alive, and brought the people of Xiangzhou back to their fields. 《Zizhi Tongjian》 records: In the eighth month Chen Hui reached Xiangzhou; Li Hong gave battle and was routed; Wang Qiu was killed. On dingyou in the ninth month the city fell; a thousand mutineers were beheaded and Li Hong, Yang Qian, and the rest were sent to Luoyang and executed. On guimao the Emperor took the hall at Wuming and accepted congratulations from the chief ministers down on recovering Xiang and Han. On xinhai Han Jian stepped down as chief minister to Grand Preceptor; Yang She, left vice director and co-grand councilor, returned to his former post; Zhao Guangfeng became vice director of the Secretariat and grand councilor; Du Xiao, drafting Hanlin academician and vice minister of works, became vice director of the Revenue Ministry and grand councilor. An edict said: "Autumn and winter bring unbroken rain; though a suburban date has been chosen, it may yet be disrupted—select another day and report." That month the ritual commissioner reported: "The offices propose the second of the tenth month for the Round Altar sacrifice. On review, after the seventeenth of the tenth month we enter the eleventh month; on its second day, the winter solstice when yang is reborn, the Emperor should perform the personal announcement rite instead. The court agreed. Hezhong reported that per imperial order, envoys with bronze tallies were to have mounts changed at each post for rapid relay.
2
十月癸未，大明節，帝御文明殿，設齋僧道，召宰臣、翰林學士預之，諸道節度、刺史及內外諸司使咸有進獻。 詔以寇盜未平，凡諸給過所，並令司門郎中、員外郎出給，以杜奸詐。
On guiwei, the Grand Brightness festival in the tenth month, the Emperor held Wuming Hall, fed monks and Daoists, and called in chief ministers and Hanlin scholars; governors, prefects, and commissioners from within and without all brought gifts. Because rebels still roamed, an edict required that all travel passes be issued only by directors and vice directors of the Gate Office to block forgery.
3
十一月癸已朔，帝齋於內殿，不視朝。 甲午，日長至，五更一點自大內出，于文明殿受宰臣以下起居，自五鳳樓出南郊，左右金吾、太常、兵部等司儀仗法駕鹵簿及左右內直控鶴等引從赴壇，文武百官太保韓建以下班以候，帝升壇告謝。 司天臺奏：冬至日，自夜半後，祥風微扇，帝座澄明，至曉，黃雲捧日。 丙申，畋於上東門外。 戊戌，制曰：
On guisi, the first of the eleventh month, he fasted in the inner palace and held no audience. On jiawu, the winter solstice, at the first mark of fifth watch he left the inner palace, took obeisance from the chief ministers at Wuming Hall, then went south from Wufeng Tower with Golden Guard, music directorate, war ministry, full regalia, and inner crane riders to the altar where Han Jian and the officials stood in ranks; the Emperor mounted and gave thanks. The Astronomical Bureau reported: After midnight on the solstice a lucky wind breathed lightly, the sky over the throne was bright, and at dawn yellow clouds cupped the sun. On bingshen he hunted beyond the Upper East Gate. On wuxu he issued an edict:
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夫嚴親報本，所以通神明； 流澤覃休，所以惠黎庶。 斯蓋邦家不易之道，皇王自昔之規，敢斁大猷，茲惟古義。 粵朕受命，於今三年，何曾不寅畏晨興，焦勞夕惕。 師唐、虞之典，上則於乾功，挹殷、夏之源，下涵於民極。 欲使萬方有裕，六辨無愆。 然而志有所未孚，理有所未達，致奸宄作釁，旱霪為災。 驕將守邊，擁牙旗而背義； 積陰馭氣，陵玉燭以幹和。 載考休征，式昭至警。 朕是以仰高俯厚，靡惜於責躬； 履薄臨淵，冀昭於元覽。 兢兢栗栗，夙夜匪寧。 及夫動干戈而必契靈誅，陳犧齋而克章善應，苟非天垂丕佑，神贊殊休，則安可致夷凶渠，就不戰之功，變沴戾氣，作有年之慶。 況靈旗北指，喪犬羊於亂轍之間，飛騎西臨，下鄜、翟若走丸之易。 息一隅之煙燧，復千里之封疆。 而又掃蕩左馮，討除峴首。 故得外戎內夏，益知天命之攸歸，喙息蚑行，共識皇基之永固。 仰懷昭應，欲報無階。 爰因南至之辰，親展圓丘之禮。 茲惟大慶，必及下民，乃宏渙汗之私，以錫疲羸之幸。 所冀漸增蘇息，亟致和平。 噫！ 朕自臨御以來，歲時尚邇，氛昏未殄，討伐猶頻。 甲兵須議於饋糧，飛挽頻勞於編戶，事非獲已，慮若納隍。 宜所在長吏，倍切撫綏，明加勉諭，每官中抽差徭役，禁猾吏廣斂貪求。 免至流散靡依，凋弊不濟。 宜令河南府、開封府及諸道觀察使切加鈴轄，刺史、縣令不得因緣賦斂，分外擾人。 凡關庶獄，每望輕刑。 只候才罷用軍，必當便議優給。 德音節文內有未該者，宜令所司類列條件奏聞。
To honor kin and repay origins is to reach the spirits; to spread blessing is to succor the people. Such are the unchanging ways of empire and the measure of kings since old—I dare not slight this great pattern; it is the ancient duty. From the day I received the Mandate three years have passed—when have I not risen before dawn in awe and labored far into the night? I take Tang and Yu as my pattern above to match Heaven’s work and draw on Yin and Xia below to hold up the people’s foundation— that all under Heaven may prosper and the six ministries keep their measure. Yet my will is not wholly trusted nor principle wholly reached—traitors make war and drought and flood scour the land. Proud commanders on the border fly their banners against their oath; yin masses and rides the qi, striking at the jade candle of harmony. Reading these omens shows the gravest warning. So I look up to Heaven and down to earth and spare nothing in blaming myself; walk on ice above an abyss, hoping the primal vision will clear. Fearful and uneasy, I find no rest by day or night. When I take up arms Heaven’s judgment answers; when I offer sacrifice the good omen appears—without Heaven’s great aid and the spirits’ rare grace, how could traitor chiefs be levelled, victory won without battle, and foul air turned to a year of plenty? Spirit banners drove north and dogs and sheep fled in rout; flying columns pressed west and Bin and Di fell like a rolling ball. Beacon smoke in one quarter died and a thousand li of border returned. We swept Zuofeng and stormed Xianshou as well. Barbarian and Chinese alike saw that Heaven’s mandate had returned; every creature that breathes knew the throne would stand forever. I cherish these signs yet have no way to repay them— so on this day of the southern solstice I myself offered at the Round Altar. This great joy must reach the humble; I pour out grace to bless the tired and poor. May relief grow little by little and peace come soon. Alas! Since I began to rule the years are still short, the murk is not cleared, and war is still frequent. Armies must be fed and relay convoys wear out the tax rolls—none of it could be helped; my heart is like a man drowning in a ditch. Senior officials everywhere must comfort the people twice over, urge them plainly, rotate corvée by office, and stop grasping clerks from extra levies and greed, lest families scatter homeless and the land sink beyond repair. Henan, Kaifeng, and every observation commissioner must tighten control so prefects and magistrates cannot use tax pretexts to harass the people. In every criminal matter I look for lighter sentences. When the armies stand down we will at once consider generous rewards. Where this grace edict is incomplete, let the offices list the gaps and report.
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己亥，以羅周韓為天雄軍節度副使，知府事，從鄴王紹威病請也。 辛丑，幸穀水。 戊午，禦文明殿，冊太傅張宗奭太保韓建受冊畢。 金吾仗引升輅車，儀仗導謁太廟訖，赴尚書省上。 幸榆林坡閱兵，教諸都馬步兵。 敕改乾文院為文思院，行殿為興安殿，球場為興安球場，又改弓箭庫殿為宣武殿。 靈州奏，鳳翔賊將劉知俊率邠、岐、秦、涇之師侵迫州城。 帝遣陝州康懷英、華州寇彥卿率兵攻迫邠、寧，以緩朔方之寇。 《五代春秋》：十一月，秦人來侵靈州。 陝州康懷英侵秦，克甯、慶、衍三州。 秦人來襲，懷英兵敗於升平。
On jihai Luo Zhouhan became vice military governor of Tianxiong and ran the prefecture at Prince of Ye Shao Wei’s plea of illness. On xinchou he went to Gushui. On wuwu at Wuming Hall the investiture of Grand Tutor Zhang Zongshi and Grand Preceptor Han Jian was completed. Golden Guard led them to the imperial carriage; the guard of honor took them to the ancestral shrine and then to the Secretariat. He went to Yulin Slope to review troops and drill the capital horse and foot. He renamed Qianwen Academy Wensi Academy, the traveling hall Xing’an Hall, the ball ground Xing’an Ball Ground, and the bow depot hall Xuanwu Hall. Lingzhou reported that Fengxiang rebel Liu Zhijun led Bin, Qi, Qin, and Jing troops against the prefectural seat. The Emperor sent Kang Huaiying of Shaan and Kou Yanqing of Hua to strike Bin and Ning and ease the Shuofang threat. 《Spring and Autumn of the Five Dynasties》 records: In the eleventh month Qin troops invaded Lingzhou. Kang Huaiying of Shaan attacked Qin and took Ning, Qing, and Yan. Qin struck back and Huaiying was beaten at Shengping.
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十二月乙丑臘，較獵於甘泉驛。 以蒲州肇跡之地，且因經略鄜、延，於是巡幸數月。 暇日游豫至焦梨店，頗述前事，念王重榮舊功，下詔褒獎而封崇之。 國子監奏：「創造文宣王廟，仍請率在朝及天下現任官僚俸錢，每貫每月克一十五文，充土木之植。」 允之。 是歲，以所率官僚俸錢修文宣王廟。 福建節度使王審知奏，舍錢造寺一所，請賜寺額。 敕名大樑萬歲之寺，仍許度僧四十九人。 贈牢牆使王仁嗣司空，故同州押衙史肇右僕射，押衙王彥洪、高漢詮、丘奉言、仇瓊並刑部尚書，王筠御史司憲。 初，知俊將叛，謀會諸將詢所宜，仁嗣等持正不撓，悉罹其酷，至是褒贈之。 劉守光上言，於薊州西與兄守文戰，擒守文。
On yichou, La month of the twelfth month, he held a comparative hunt at Ganquan Post. Puzhou was where the dynasty began and he was campaigning toward Bin and Yan, so he toured the region for months. At leisure he visited Jiaoli Shop, spoke of old days, and remembering Wang Chongrong’s service issued praise and enfeoffment. The Imperial Academy reported: "We will build the Temple of King Wenxuan and ask every serving official at court and in the provinces to give fifteen cash per string of monthly salary for timber and stone. The request was granted. That year the levied salaries went to repair the Temple of King Wenxuan. Wang Shenzhi, military governor of Fujian, offered money to build a monastery and asked for an imperial name. It was named Monastery of Great Liang’s Myriad Years and forty-nine ordinations were allowed. Wang Rensi, detention commissioner, was posthumously made grand master of splendid happiness; Shi Zhao, former Tong escort guard, right vice director; Wang Yanhong, Gao Hanchun, Qiu Fengyan, and Qiu Qiong, escort guards, ministers of justice; Wang Jun, censor-in-chief. When Zhijun was plotting revolt he called the generals for counsel; Rensi and the rest stood firm and suffered cruelly—now they were honored in death. Liu Shouguang reported that west of Jizhou he fought his brother Shouwen and took him prisoner.
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開平四年正月壬辰朔，帝御朝元殿，受百官稱賀，始用禮樂也。 敕：「公事難於稽遲，居處悉皆遙遠。 其逐日當直中書舍人及吏部司封知印郎官、少府監及篆印文兼書寫告身人吏等，並宜輪次於中書側近宿止。」 乙未，帝出師子門，至榆林坡下閱教。 壬寅，幸保寧球場，錫宴宰臣及文武百官。 賜宰臣張宗奭已下分物有加，賜廣王分物。 及湖南開元寺禪長老可復號惠光大師，仍賜紫衣。
On renchen, New Year’s Day of Kaiping 4, the Emperor held Chaoyuan Hall, took the officials’ congratulations, and for the first time used court music. An edict said: "State business cannot wait and homes are far away. Daily duty Secretariat draftsmen, Personnel seal clerks, Palace Stores seal-cutters and commission scribes, and the like should lodge in rotation near the Secretariat." On yiwei he left Shizi Gate and reviewed drill below Yulin Slope. On renyin he went to Baoning Ball Ground and feasted chief ministers and the full establishment. He gave Zhang Zongshi and those below extra shares and sent a share to the Prince of Guang. Ke Fu, Chan elder of Hunan’s Kaiyuan Monastery, was named Hui Guang Great Master and given a purple robe.
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二月乙丑，幸甘水亭。 出師子門，幸榆林東北坡，教諸軍兵事。 賜潞州投歸軍使張行恭錦服銀帶並食。 戊辰，宴于金鑾殿。 甲戌，以春時無事，頻命宰臣勳戚宴于河南府池亭。 辛巳，楊師厚赴鎮於陝。 寒食假，諸道節度使、郡守、勳臣競以春服賀。 又連清明宴，以鞍轡馬及金銀器、羅錦進者迨千萬，乃禦宣威殿，宴宰臣及文武官四品已上。 己丑，出光政門，至穀水觀麥。
On yichou in the second month he went to Ganshui Pavilion. He left Shizi Gate for the northeast slope of Yulin to drill the armies. Zhang Xinggong, Lu defector and military commissioner, received brocade, a silver belt, and rations. On wuchen he held a feast at Jinluan Hall. On jiaxu, with a quiet spring, he often sent chief ministers and kinsmen of merit to feast at Henan’s pool pavilions. On xinsi Yang Shihou left for his post at Shan. On Cold Food holiday governors, prefects, and men of merit competed to send spring garments in congratulation. Through the Clear and Bright season gifts of saddled horses, gold, silver, and silks neared ten million—then at Xuanwei Hall he feasted chief ministers and officials of fourth rank and above. On jichou he went out Guangzheng Gate to Gushui to see the wheat.
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三月壬辰，幸崇政院宴勳臣。 己亥，幸天驥院宴侍臣。 壬寅，幸甘水亭宴宰臣、勳戚、翰林學士。 辛亥，宴宰臣於內殿。 丙辰，于興安球場大饗六軍，樂春時也。
On renchen in the third month he feasted meritorious ministers at Chongzheng Academy. On jihai he feasted attendant ministers at Tianji Academy. On renyin at Ganshui Pavilion he feasted chief ministers, kinsmen of merit, and Hanlin scholars. On xinhai he gave chief ministers a feast in the inner palace. On bingchen at Xing’an Ball Ground he held a great feast for the Six Armies to celebrate spring.
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四月壬戌，詔曰：「追養以祿，王者推歸厚之恩； 欲靜而風，人子抱終身之感。 其以刑部尚書致仕張策及三品、四品常參官二十二人先世，各追贈一等。」 乙丑，宴崇政院。 帝在籓及踐阼，勵精求理，深戒逸樂，未嘗命堂上歌舞。 是日，止令內妓升階，擊鼓弄曲甚歡，至午而罷。 丁卯，宋州節度使、衡王友諒進瑞麥，一莖三穗。 《通鑒》：友諒獻瑞麥，帝曰：「豐年為上瑞，今宋州大水，安用此為！」 詔除本縣令名，遣使詰責友諒。 丙戌，幸建春門閱新樓，至七里屯觀麥，召從官食于樓。 河南張昌孫及蒲、同主事吏賜物各有差。 帝過朝邑，見鎮將位在縣令上，問左右，或對曰：「宿官秩高。」 帝曰：「令長字人也，鎮使捕盜耳。 且鎮將多是邑民，奈何得居民父母上，是無禮也。」 至是，敕天下鎮使，官秩無高卑，位在邑令下。 葉縣鎮遏使馮德武于蔡州西平縣界殺戮山賊，擒首領張濆等七人以獻。 鎮海軍節度使錢鏐擊高灃於湖州，大敗之，梟夷擒殺萬人，拔其郡，湖州平。 先是，灃以州叛入淮南，故詔鏐討之也。
On renxu an edict read: "To support one’s parents from office salary is how a king repays deep kindness; to want peace yet feel the wind is a son’s lifelong debt. Zhang Ce, retired minister of justice, and twenty-two third- and fourth-rank regular attendees shall each have one forebear raised a grade in posthumous rank. On yichou he feasted at Chongzheng Academy. As prince and since taking the throne he had labored at rule and shunned dissipation—never once had he ordered hall music and dance. That day he allowed only inner performers on the steps, drumming and playing in high spirits until noon. On dingmao You Liang, Prince of Heng and military governor of Songzhou, presented lucky wheat with three ears on one stalk. 《Zizhi Tongjian》 records: You Liang sent lucky wheat; the Emperor said, "A full harvest is the true omen—Songzhou is flooded; what is this for! He struck the county magistrate from the rolls and sent an envoy to rebuke You Liang. On bingxu he inspected the new tower at Jianchun Gate, went to Qili Post to see the wheat, and fed his attendants at the tower. Zhang Changsun of Henan and the lead clerks at Pu and Tong received graded gifts. At Chaoyi he saw the garrison commander seated above the magistrate and asked why; someone said the old post outranked the new. The Emperor said, "A magistrate raises the people; a garrison chief only catches thieves. Most garrison chiefs are local men—how can they sit above the people’s parents? That is rank without rite. An edict then placed every garrison commander, high or low, below the county magistrate throughout the realm. Feng Dewu, Ye County suppression commissioner, killed mountain bandits on the Xiping border in Cai and sent up seven chiefs including Zhang Fen. Qian Liu of Zhenhai attacked Gao Hong at Huzhou, crushed him, killed or captured ten thousand men, and took the city; Huzhou was pacified. Hong had earlier rebelled and gone over to Huainan, which was why Liu was ordered to strike him.
11
五月己丑朔，以連雨不止，至壬辰，禦文明殿，命宰臣分拜祠廟。 自朔旦至癸巳，內外以午日奉獻巨萬，計馬三千蹄，餘稱是，復相率助修內壘。 甲辰，詔曰：「奇邪亂正，假偽奪真，既刑典之不容，宜違犯而勿赦。 應東、西兩京及諸道州府，創造假犀玉真珠腰帶、璧珥並諸色售用等，一切禁斷，不得更造作。 如公私人家先已有者，所在送納長吏，對面毀棄； 如行敕後有人故違，必當極法。 仍委所在州府差人檢察收捕，明行處斷。」 魏博節度使、守太師、兼中書令、鄴王羅紹威薨，帝哀慟曰：「天不使我一海內，何奪忠臣之速也！」 詔贈尚書令。 六月己未朔，詔軍鎮勿起土功。
On jichou, the first of the fifth month, rain would not stop; by renchen the Emperor was at Wuming Hall and sent chief ministers to sacrifice at separate shrines. From New Year’s dawn to guisi, court and provinces gave Midyear gifts by the tens of thousands—three thousand horses among them—and again joined to repair the inner walls. On jiachen an edict said: "The crooked overturn the straight and fakes drive out truth—law forbids it and offenders must not be spared. In both capitals and every prefecture, fake rhinoceros, jade, pearl belts, earrings, and painted goods for sale are banned and may not be made again. Households that already own them must surrender them to the local chief for destruction on the spot; anyone who defies the edict will face the death penalty. Each prefecture must send men to search, seize, and punish openly. Luo Shaowei, Prince of Ye, regent grand preceptor, director of the Secretariat, and military governor of Weibo, died; the Emperor grieved: "Heaven will not let me unite the realm—why take a loyal minister so soon! He was posthumously made minister of works. On jiwei, the first of the sixth month, garrisons were forbidden to begin earthworks.
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七月壬子，宴宰臣、河南尹、翰林學士、兩街使于甘水亭。 丙辰，宴群臣于宣威殿，賜物有差。 劉知俊攻逼夏州。 《通鑒》：七月，岐王與邠涇二帥各遣使告晉，請合兵攻定難節度使李仁福，晉王遣振武節度使周德威將兵會之，合五萬眾，圍夏州。 以宣化軍留後李思安為東北面行營都指揮使，陝州節度使楊師厚為西路行營招討使。 福州貢方物，獻桐皮扇，廣州貢犀玉，獻舶上薔薇水。 時陳、許、汝、蔡、潁五州境內有蝝為災，俄而許州上言，有野禽群飛蔽空，旬日之間，食蝝皆盡，是歲乃大有秋。
On renzi he feasted chief ministers, the Henan prefect, Hanlin scholars, and both street commissioners at Ganshui Pavilion. On bingchen at Xuanwei Hall he feasted the officials and gave graded gifts. Liu Zhijun pressed Xia Prefecture. 《Zizhi Tongjian》 records: In the seventh month the Prince of Qi and the Bin and Jing governors asked Jin for a joint attack on Li Renfu of Dingnan; the Prince of Jin sent Zhou Dewei of Zhenwu with fifty thousand men to besiege Xia. Li Si’an, acting prefect of Xuanhua, became northeast campaign commander-in-chief; Yang Shihou of Shan became western-route suppression commissioner. Fuzhou sent tribute of paulownia-bark fans; Guangzhou sent rhinoceros, jade, and rose water from the ships. Caterpillars ravaged Chen, Xu, Ru, Cai, and Ying; then Xuzhou reported birds darkening the sky—in ten days the worms were gone and the year brought a rich harvest.
13
八月，車駕西征。 己巳，次陝府。 是時憫雨，且命宰臣從官分禱靈跡，日中而雨，翼日止，帝大悅。 辛未，老人星見。 是日，宴本府節度使楊師厚及扈從官於行宮，賜師厚帛千匹，仍授西路行營招討使。 丙子，宴文武從官軍使已下，設龜茲樂，賜物有差。
In the eighth month the Emperor marched west. On jisi he stopped at Shan Prefecture. Moved by the rains, he sent chief ministers and attendants to pray at holy sites; rain fell at noon and stopped the next day—the Emperor rejoiced. On xinwei the Old Man star appeared. That day at the traveling palace he feasted Yang Shihou and the entourage, gave Shihou a thousand bolts of silk, and confirmed him western-route suppression commissioner. On bingzi he feasted civil and military attendants and army commissioners, played Kuche music, and gave graded gifts.
14
九月丁亥朔，命宰臣於兢赴西都，祀昊天上帝於圓丘。 甲午，至西京。 下詔曰：
On dinghai, the first of the ninth month, he sent chief minister Yu Jing to the Western Capital to offer at the Round Altar to the Supreme Lord. On jiawu he reached the Western Capital. He proclaimed:
15
朕聞歷代帝王，首推堯、舜； 為人父母，孰比禹、湯。 睿謀高出於古先，聖德普聞于天下，尚或卑躬待士，屈己求賢。 俯仰星雲，慮一民之遺逸； 網羅岩穴，恐片善之韜藏。 延爵祿以徵求，設丹青而訪召，使其為政，樂在進賢，蓋由國有萬幾，朝稱百揆，非才不治，得士則昌。 自朕光宅中區，迄今三載，宵分輟寐，日旰忘餐，思共力於廟謀，庶永清于王道。 而乃朝廷之內，或未盡於昌言； 軍旅之間，亦罕聞於奇策。 眷言方嶽，下及山林，豈無英奇，副我延佇。 諸道都督、觀察防禦使等，或勳高翊世，或才號知人，必於途巷之賢，備察芻蕘之士。 詔到，可精搜郡邑，博訪賢良，喻之以千載一時，約之以高官美秩，諒無求備，惟在得人。 如有卓犖不羈，沉潛自負，通霸王之上略，達文武之大綱，究古今刑政之源，識禮樂質文之變，朕則待之不次，委以非常，用佐經綸，豈勞階級。 如或一言拔俗，一事出群，亦當舍短從長，隨才授任。 大小方圓之器，寧限九流，溫良恭儉之人，難誣十室。 勉思薦舉，勿至因循，俟爾發揚，慰予翹渴。 仍從別敕處分。
I am told that of all emperors and kings, Yao and Shun stand first; and as fathers and mothers of the people, none match Yu and Tang. Their wisdom outran the ancients and their virtue filled the world—yet they still humbled themselves for scholars and stooped to find talent. They scanned heaven and earth, fearing even one man was lost; they cast nets over crags and caves, lest one virtue stay hidden. They raised rank and pay to call men in and hung portraits to invite them—so rulers loved to advance the able; a state has a thousand tasks and a court a hundred posts—without talent nothing is governed, with men it flourishes. Since I took the central land three years have passed—I sleep little at midnight and miss meals at dusk, seeking counsel in the ancestral hall and a clear royal road. Yet in court frank speech may not be fully heard; in the armies bold plans are seldom offered. I turn from the governors to the mountains—is there no excellence to end my long waiting? Governors, observation and defense commissioners—whether your merit supports the age or your fame is for knowing men—search lanes and huts and heed the counsel of the humble. When this edict arrives, search counties and towns, seek the good and able, tell them the age comes once in a thousand years, promise high office and rich rank—do not demand perfection, only find men. If a man is wholly outstanding, self-contained, master of kingly strategy, versed in civil and military outline, deep in law old and new, skilled in ritual’s form and substance—I will use him out of turn and set him at my side without regard to rank. If one word rises above the common or one deed stands out, overlook small faults, use the long gift, and appoint by talent. Great vessels and small, square and round—can the nine currents be bounded? Good and gentle men are not hidden in a hamlet of ten houses. Recommend with zeal, do not delay—lift up what you find and quench my thirst. Further rules follow in a separate edict.
16
辛丑，以久雨，命宰臣薛貽矩抃定鼎門，趙光逢祠嵩嶽。 敕：「魏博管內刺史，比來州務，並委督郵。 遂使曹官擅其威權，州牧同於閑冗，俾循通制，宜塞異端。 並依河南諸州例，刺史得以專達。」 壬寅，頒奪馬令。 先是，王師擊賊，獲馬多上獻，至是盡止之，蓋欲邀其奮擊之功也。 乙巳，王師敗蕃寇于夏州。 初，劉知俊誘沙陀振武賊帥周德威、涇原賊帥李繼鸞合步騎五萬大舉，欲俯拾夏台，節度使李仁福兵力俱乏，以急來告。 先是，供奉官張漢玫宣諭在壁，國禮使杜廷隱賜幣于夏，及石堡寨，聞賊至，以防卒三百人馳入州。 既而大兵圍合，廷隱、漢玫與指揮使張初、李君用率州民防卒，與仁福部分固守，晝夜戮力逾月。 及鄜、延援至，大軍奮擊，敗之。 河東、邠、岐賊分路逃遁，夏州圍解。 《通鑒》：甲申，遣夾馬指揮使李遇、劉綰自鄜、延趨銀、夏。 李遇等至夏州，岐、晉兵皆解去。 丙午，詔曰：「劉知俊貴為方伯，尊極郡王，而乃背誕朝恩，竄投賊壘，固神人之共怒，諒天地所不容。 雖命討除，尚稽擒戮，宜懸爵賞，以大功名，必有忠貞，咸思憤發。 有生擒劉知俊者，賞錢千萬，授節度使，首級次之； 得孟審登者，錢百萬，除刺史； 得孫亢、卓環、劉儒、張鄰等，賞有差。」 乙卯，宴會群臣于宣威殿。
On xinchou, with rain unending, he sent Xue Yiju to worship at Dingding Gate and Zhao Guangfeng to Mount Song. An edict said: "In Weibo, prefects lately leave all business to supervisory commissioners. Petty clerks seize power and prefects sit idle—to restore the common rule, shut off side paths. Follow Henan: prefects may report directly to court. On renyin the edict seizing war horses was issued. Before, horses taken in rebel fights were mostly sent up as tribute—now that stopped, so men would fight all the harder. On yisi the imperial army beat the barbarian rebels at Xia. Zhijun had drawn Shatuo Zhou Dewei of Zhenwu and Li Jiluan of Jingyuan with fifty thousand horse and foot, thinking Xia would fall at a touch; Li Renfu was spent and cried for help. Earlier Zhang Hanmei, duty commissioner, was at the walls; Du Tingyin, state rites envoy, was gifting at Xia—at Shibao Stockade they heard the enemy and rode in with three hundred guards. The host soon encircled the city; Tingyin, Hanmei, Zhang Chu, Li Junyong, militia and garrison fought with Renfu for more than a month without rest. When Bin and Yan relief came, the imperial army struck and broke them. Hedong, Bin, and Qi rebels fled apart and the siege of Xia was raised. 《Zizhi Tongjian》 records: On jiashen he sent flank-horse commanders Li Yu and Liu Chao from Bin and Yan toward Yin and Xia. When Li Yu reached Xia, Qi and Jin troops all withdrew. On bingwu an edict said: "Liu Zhijun was made governor and raised to prince—yet he betrayed the court and fled to rebels; gods and men alike rage and heaven and earth will not hold him. Though we ordered his destruction, he still lives—hang out rank and gold to swell merit; let every loyal man burn to strike. Whoever takes Zhijun alive gets ten million cash and a military governorship; for his head, the next reward; for Meng Shendeng, one million and a prefecture; for Sun Kang, Zhuo Huan, Liu Ru, Zhang Lin, and the rest, graded rewards. On yimao he feasted the officials at Xuanwei Hall.