1
乾化二年正月，宣：「上元夜，任諸市及坊市各點彩燈，金吾不用禁夜。」 近年以來，以都下聚兵太廣，未嘗令坊市點燈故也。 甲申，以時雪久愆，命丞相及三省官群望祈禱。 詔曰：「謗木求規，集囊貢事，將裨理道，豈限側言。 應內外文武百官及草澤，並許上封事，極言得失。」 以丁審衢為陳州，而審衢厚以鞍馬、金帛為謝恩之獻，帝慮其漁民，復其獻而停之。 封保義節度使王檀為琅琊郡王。 命供奉官硃嶠于河南府宣取先收禁定州進奉官崔騰並傔從一十四人，並釋放，仍命押領送至貝。 騰，唐戶部侍郎潔之子也。 廣明喪亂，客于北諸侯，為定州節度使王處存所辟，去載領貢獻至闕。 未幾，其帥稱兵，遂縶之。 至是，帝念賓介之來，又已出境，特命縱而歸焉。 丙戌，有司以孟春太廟薦享上言，命丞相杜曉攝祭行事。 丙申夕，熒惑犯房第二星。
In the first month of Qianhua 2, the court proclaimed: "On Lantern Festival night, every market and ward may hang colored lamps; the Gold Crow need not enforce the curfew." In recent years, with too many troops concentrated at the capital, the wards had not been allowed to light lamps—that was the reason. On jiashen, with timely snow long overdue, the Emperor ordered the chancellor and officials of the Three Departments to pray at the various altars. An edict read: "The slander-wood seeks counsel; the bag gathers reports—all to aid governance. Why limit oneself to oblique speech? Civil and military officials within and without, and commoners alike, may submit sealed memorials and speak freely of what is right and wrong." Ding Shenqu was appointed prefect of Chenzhou; he sent lavish gifts of saddles, horses, and silks in thanks for the appointment. Fearing he would fleece the people, the Emperor returned the gifts and refused them. Baoyi Military Commissioner Wang Tan was enfeoffed as Prince of Langya. The Emperor ordered Palace Attendant Zhu Qiao to proclaim at Henan Prefecture the release of detained Dingzhou tribute officer Cui Teng and his fourteen attendants, and had them escorted to Bei. He was the son of Tang Vice Minister of Revenue Cui Jie. During the Guangming upheaval he had lived among northern lords; Wang Chucun, military commissioner of Dingzhou, had recruited him, and the year before he had led tribute to court. Before long his commander rebelled and had him imprisoned. Now the Emperor, mindful that a guest envoy had come and had already crossed the border, specially ordered his release and return home. On bingxu the court reported on the spring ancestral offering; the Emperor had Chancellor Du Xiao conduct the rite in his stead. On the night of bingshen, Mars encroached on the second star of the Fang asterism.
2
二月庚戌，中和節，御崇勳殿，召丞相、大學士、河南尹，略封訖，于萬春門外廡賜以酒食。 《五代會要》，二月，追封故魏博節度使羅宏信為趙王。 癸丑，敕曰：「今載春寒頗甚，雨澤仍愆，司天監占以夏秋必多霖潦，宜令所在郡縣告喻百姓，備淫雨之患。」 庚申，禦宣威殿開宴，丞相洎文武官屬咸被召列侍，竟日而罷。 壬戌，帝將巡按北境，中外戒嚴，詔以河南尹、守中書令、判六軍事張宗奭為大內留守。 中書門下奏，差定文武官領務尤切宜扈駕者三十八人。 詔工部尚書李皎、左散騎常侍孫騭、右諫議大夫張衍、兵部侍郎劉邈、兵部郎中張俊、光祿少卿盧秉彝並令扈蹕。 甲子，發自洛師，夕次河陽。 《通鑒》云：至白馬屯，賜從官食，多未至，遣騎趣之于路。 左散騎常侍孫騭、右諫議大夫張衍、兵部郎中張俊最後至，帝命撲殺之。 乙丑，次溫縣。 丙寅，次武陟。 懷州刺史段明遠迎拜於境上，其內外所備，咸豐霈焉。 丁卯，次獲嘉。 戊辰，次衛州之新鄉。 己巳，晨發衛州，夕止淇門，內衙十將使以十指揮兵士至於行在。 辛未，駐蹕黎陽。 癸酉，發自黎陽，夕次內黃。 甲戌，次昌樂縣。 丁丑，次於永濟縣。 青州節度使賀德倫奏，統領兵士赴曆亭軍前。 戊寅，至貝州，命四丞相及學士李琪、盧文度、知制誥竇賞等十五人扈從，其左常侍韋戩等二十三人止焉。 己卯，發自貝州，夕駐蹕於野落。
On gengxu in the second month, the Zhonghe Festival, the Emperor presided at Chongxun Hall, summoned the chancellor, Grand Academicians, and Henan Intendant; after the brief audience he bestowed food and drink in the corridor outside Wanchun Gate. 《Five Dynasties Huiyao》: In the second month the court posthumously enfeoffed the late Weibo commissioner Luo Hongxin as Prince of Zhao. On guichou an order read: "This year spring cold is severe and rain still lacking; the Directorate of Astronomy divines heavy rains in summer and autumn—let every prefecture and county warn the people to prepare for floods." On gengshen the Emperor held a banquet at Xuanwei Hall; the chancellor and all civil and military officials were summoned to attend in rows until evening. On renxu, as the Emperor prepared to inspect the northern border, court and realm went on alert; Zhang Zongshi, Henan intendant, keeper of the Secretariat, and director of the Six Armies, was named Grand Inner Custodian. The Secretariat memorialized, naming thirty-eight civil and military officials whose duties were especially urgent and who should attend the imperial progress. By edict Li Jiao, minister of works, Sun Zhi, left regular attendant, Zhang Yan, right remonstrator, Liu Miao, vice minister of war, Zhang Jun, war bureau director, and Lu Bingyi, vice director of imperial sacrifices, were all ordered on the progress. On jiazi he left Luoyang and stopped at Heyang that night. 《Comprehensive Mirror》 says: Reaching Baima Station, he bestowed food on attending officials; many had not arrived, and he sent riders to hurry them along the road. Sun Zhi, Zhang Yan, and Zhang Jun came late; the Emperor had them beaten to death. On yichou he stopped at Wen County. On bingyin he stopped at Wuzhi. Duan Mingyuan, inspector of Huai Prefecture, met him at the border with obeisance; supplies within and without were lavish beyond measure. On dingmao he stopped at Huojia. On wuchen he stopped at Xinxiang in Weizhou. On jisi he left Weizhou in the morning and camped at Qimen that evening; Inner Palace Ten Generals marched their commands to the imperial camp. On xinwei he encamped at Liyang. On guiyou he left Liyang and camped at Neihuang that night. On jiaxu he stopped at Changle County. On dingchou he stopped at Yongji County. He Delun, Qingzhou commissioner, reported that he was marching his forces to Liting. On wuyin he reached Beizhou and ordered the four chancellors and Academicians Li Qi, Lu Wendu, Drafter Dou Shang, and fifteen others to attend; Left Regular Attendant Wei Zhan and twenty-three others remained behind. On jimao he set out from Beizhou and camped that evening in the open country.
3
三月庚辰朔，次於棗強縣之西城。 《通鑒》：辛巳，至下博南，登觀津塚。 趙將符暕引數百騎巡邏，不知是帝，遽前逼之。 或告曰：「晉兵大至矣！」 帝行幄，亟引兵趣棗強，與楊師厚軍合。 丙戌，鎮、定諸軍招討使楊師厚奏下棗強縣，車駕即日疾馳南還。 丁亥，復至貝州。 庚寅，楊師厚與副招討李周彝等准詔來朝。 辛卯，詔丞相、翰林六學士、文武從官、都招討使及諸軍統指揮使等，賜食於行殿。 壬辰，命以羊酒等各賜從官。 甲午，幸貝州之東闉閱武。 乙未，帝復幸東闉閱騎軍。 敕以攻下棗強縣有功將校杜暉等一十一人，並超加檢校官，衙官宋彥等二十五人並超授軍職。 丙午，次濟源縣。 詔曰：「淑律將遷，亢陽頗甚，宜令魏州差官祈禱龍潭。」 戊申，詔曰：「雨澤愆期，祈禱未應，宜令宰臣各于魏州靈祠精加祈禱。」 《五代會要》：三月，詔曰：「夫隆興邦國，必本於人民； 惠養疲羸，凡資於令長。 苟選求之逾濫，固撫理之乖違。 如聞吏部擬官，中書除授，或緣親舊所請，或為勢要所幹，姑徇私情，靡求才實，念茲蠹弊，宜舉條章。 今後應中書用人及吏部注擬，並宜省籓身之才業，驗為政之否臧，必有可觀，方可任用。 如或尚行請說，猶假貨財，其所司人吏，必當推窮，重加懲斷。」
On gengchen, the first of the third month, he halted at the west city of Zaoqiang County. 《Comprehensive Mirror》: On xinsi he came to south of Xiabo and ascended Guanjin Mound. Zhao general Fu Yan led several hundred horsemen on patrol, did not recognize the Emperor, and suddenly pressed forward. Someone cried: "Jin troops are upon us in force!" The Emperor quit his camp, hurried his troops toward Zaoqiang, and united with Yang Shihou's army. On bingxu Zhen and Ding Pacification Commissioner Yang Shihou memorialized that Zaoqiang County had fallen; the imperial carriage galloped south that same day. On dinghai he was back at Beizhou. On gengyin Yang Shihou, deputy pacifier Li Zhouyi, and others presented themselves at court by edict. On xinmao an edict ordered the chancellor, Hanlin Six Academicians, civil and military attendants, Grand Pacification Commissioner, and unified army commanders to be feasted at the traveling hall. On renchen he had mutton and wine distributed to each attending official. On jiawu he went to Beizhou's east gate to review the army. On yiwei he again went to the east gate to review the cavalry. An order promoted eleven officers distinguished in taking Zaoqiang, including Du Hui, with supernumerary inspector ranks, and gave twenty-five yamen officers including Song Yan higher military posts. On bingwu he stopped at Jiyuan County. An edict read: "The harmonious pitch is about to shift and drought is severe—let Weizhou dispatch officials to pray at Dragon Pool." On wushen an edict read: "Rain is overdue and prayers unanswered—let each chancellor pray with utmost care at the spirit shrines of Weizhou." 《Five Dynasties Huiyao》: In the third month an edict read: "To uplift a state one must be rooted in the people; nurturing the exhausted and feeble falls wholly to local magistrates. If appointments are excessive, governance will surely go astray. We hear that appointments proposed by the Ministry of Personnel and confirmed by the Secretariat often follow kin or patrons, favor private ties over merit—this abuse must be met with clear rules. Hereafter for Secretariat appointments and Ministry nominations, all should examine the candidate’s talent and verify whether his governance was good or bad—only if there is merit may he be employed. Should solicitation or bribery continue, responsible officials are to investigate fully and punish without mercy."
4
四月己酉，幸魏州。 金波亭，賜宴宰臣、文武官及六學士。 甲寅夕，月掩心大星。 丙辰，敕：「近者星辰違度，式在修禳，宜令兩京及宋州、魏州取此月至五月禁斷屠宰。 仍各於佛寺開建道場，以迎福應。」 己未，次黎陽縣。 《通鑒》：乙卯，博王友文來朝，請帝還東都。 丁巳，發魏州。 己未，至黎陽，以疾淹留。 東都留守官吏奉表起居，賜丞相、從官酒食有差。 己巳，至東都，博王友文以新創食殿上言，並進準備內宴錢三千貫、銀器一千五百兩。 辛未，宴於食殿，召丞相及文武從官等侍焉。 帝泛九曲池，御舟傾，帝墮溺于池中，宮女侍官扶持登岸，驚悸久之。 制加建昌宮使、金紫光祿大夫、檢校司徒、開封尹、博王友文為特進、檢校太保，兼開封尹，依前建昌宮使，充東都留守。 戊寅，車駕發自東京，夕次中牟縣。
On jiyou in the fourth month he went to Weizhou. At Jinbo Pavilion he feasted the chancellors, the civil and military officials, and the Six Academicians. On jiayin night the moon occulted the great star of Heart. On bingchen an order read: "Recently the stars have gone out of their courses—rectification lies in ritual prayer; let the two capitals and Songzhou and Weizhou from this month through the fifth month forbid slaughter. Let each also establish ritual platforms at Buddhist temples to welcome blessings." On jiwei he stopped at Liyang County. 《Comprehensive Mirror》: On yimao the Prince of Bo, Youwen, attended court and urged the Emperor to return east. On dingsi he departed Weizhou. On jiwei he came to Liyang and stayed on, held up by sickness. Custodian officials at the Eastern Capital sent memorials of greeting; chancellor and attendants received graded gifts of food and drink. On jisi he arrived at the Eastern Capital; Prince of Bo Youwen reported on the new Dining Hall and presented three thousand strings of cash and fifteen hundred taels of silver for an inner banquet. On xinwei he banqueted at the Dining Hall and summoned the chancellor and civil and military attendants to attend. The Emperor rowed on Nine-Bend Pool; the imperial boat capsized and he fell into the water; palace women and attendants helped him ashore, and he remained shaken for a long time. By order Youwen, Prince of Bo, Jianchang palace commissioner, golden-seal grand master of splendid happiness, honorary grand mentor, and Kaifeng intendant, was raised to special court attendance and honorary grand guardian, kept Kaifeng intendant, and remained Jianchang commissioner and Eastern Capital custodian. On wuyin the imperial train left the Eastern Capital and camped at Zhongmou that evening.
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五月己卯朔，從官文武自丞相而下，並詣行殿起居，親王及諸道籓帥咸奉表來上。 庚辰，發自鄭州，至滎陽，河南尹魏王宗奭望塵迎拜； 河陽留後邵贊、懷州刺史段明遠等邐迤來迎。 夕次汜水縣，帝召魏王宗奭入對，便於御前賜食，數刻乃退。 壬午，駐蹕于汜水，宰臣、河南尹、六學士並于內殿起居，敕以建昌宮事委宰臣於兢領之。 《五代會要》：其年六月，廢建昌宮，以河南尹、魏王張宗奭為國計使，凡天下金穀兵戎舊隸建昌宮者，悉主之。 癸未，帝發自汜水，宣令邵贊、段明遠各歸所理。 午憩任村屯，夕次孝義宮。 留都文武禮部尚書孔續而下道左迎拜。 次偃師。 甲申，至都，文武臣奉迎於東郊。 渤海遣使朝貢。 宰臣薛貽矩抱恙在假，不克扈從，宣問旁午，仍命且駐東京以俟良愈。 及薨，帝震悼頗久，命雒苑使曹守璫往弔祭之，又命輟六日、七日、八日朝參，丞相、文武並詣上閣門進名奉慰。 丁亥，以彗星謫見，詔兩京見禁囚徒大辟罪以下，遞減一等，限三日內疏理訖聞奏。 《五代會要》：彗星見於靈台之西，至五月始降赦宥罪，以答天譴。 又云：五月壬戌夜，熒惑犯心大星，去心四度，順行。 司天奏：「大星為帝王之星，宜修省以答天譴。」 詔曰：「生育之人，爰當暑月，乳哺之愛，方及薰風。 儻肆意于刲屠，豈推恩於長養，俾無殄暴，以助發生。 宜令兩京及諸州府，夏季內禁斷屠宰及採捕。 天民之窮，諒由賦分； 國章所在，亦務興仁。 所在鰥寡孤獨、廢疾不濟者，委長吏量加賑恤。 史載葬枯，用彰軫恤； 禮稱掩骼，將致和平。 應兵戈之地，有暴露骸骨，委所在長吏差人專攻收瘞。 國癘之文，尚標七祀； 良藥之市，亦載三醫。 用憐無告之人，宜征有喜之術。 凡有疫之處，委長吏檢尋醫方，于要路曉示。 如有家無骨肉兼困窮不濟者，即仰長吏差醫給藥救療之。 辛卯，詔曰：「亢陽滋甚，農事已傷，宜令宰臣於兢赴中嶽，杜曉赴西嶽，精切祈禱。 其近京靈廟，宜委河南尹，五帝壇、風師雨師、九宮貴神，委中書各差官祈之。」 《通鑒》：閏月壬戌，帝疾甚，謂近臣曰：「我經營天下三十年，不意太原餘孽更昌熾如此！ 吾觀其志不小，天復奪我年，我死，諸兒非彼敵也，吾無葬地矣！」 因哽咽，絕而復蘇。 帝長子郴王友裕早卒。 次假子友文，帝特愛之，常留守東都，兼建昌宮使。 次郢王友珪，其母亳州營倡也，為左右控鶴都指揮使。 次均王友貞，為東都馬步都指揮使。 帝雖未以友文為太子，意常屬之。 六月丁丑朔，帝命敬翔出友珪為萊州刺史，即命之官。 已宣旨，未行敕。 時左遷者多追賜死，友珪益恐。 戊寅，友珪易服微行入左龍虎軍，見統軍韓勍，以情告之。 勍亦見功臣宿將多以小過被誅，懼不自保，遂相與合謀。 勍以牙兵五百人從友珪雜控鶴士入，伏於禁中； 夜斬關入，至寢殿，侍疾者皆散走。 帝驚起，問：「反者為誰？」 友珪曰：「非他人也。」 帝曰：「我固疑此賊，恨不早殺之。 汝悖逆如此，天地豈容汝乎！」 友珪曰：「老賊萬段！」 友珪僕夫馮廷諤刺帝腹，刃出於背。 友珪自以敗氈裹之，瘞於寢殿，秘不發喪。 遣供奉官丁昭溥馳詣東都，命均王友貞殺友文。 己卯，矯詔稱：「博王友文謀逆，遣兵突入殿中，賴郢王友珮忠孝，將兵誅之，保全朕躬。 然疾因震驚，彌致危殆，宜令友珪權主軍國之務。」 韓勍為友珪謀，多出府庫金帛，賜諸軍及百官以取悅。 辛巳，丁昭溥還，聞友文已死，乃發喪，宣遺制，友珪即皇帝位。 友珪葬太祖于伊闕縣，號宣陵。 《五代史補》：太祖硃全忠，黃巢之先鋒。 巢入長安，以刺史王鐸圍同州，太祖遂降，鐸承制拜同州刺史。 黃巢滅，淮、蔡間秦宗權復盛，朝廷以淮、蔡與汴州相接，太祖汴人，必究其能否，遂移授宣武軍節度使以討宗權，未凡滅之。 自是威福由己，朝廷不能制，遂有天下。 先是，民間傳讖曰：「五公符」，又謂之「李淳風轉天歌」，其字有「八牛之年」，識者以「八牛」乃「硃」字，則太祖革命之應焉。 太祖之用兵也，法令嚴峻，每戰，逐隊主帥或有沒而不反者，其餘皆斬之，謂之：「跋隊斬」。 自是戰無不勝。 然健兒且多竄匿州郡，疲於追捕，因下令文面，健兒文面自此始也。 《五代史闕文》：世傳梁太祖迎昭宗於鳳翔，素服待罪，昭宗佯為鞋系脫，呼梁祖曰：「全忠為吾系鞋。」 梁祖不得已，跪而結之，汗流浹背。 時天子扈蹕尚有衛兵，昭宗意謂左右擒梁祖以殺之，其如無敢動者。 自是梁祖被召多不至，盡去昭宗禁衛，皆用汴人矣。 臣謹案：梁祖以天復三年迎唐昭宗於岐下，歲在甲子，其年改天祐，至國初建隆庚申歲，才五十六年矣，然則乾德七十歲人皆目睹其事。 蓋唐室自懿宗失政，天下亂離，故武宗以下實錄，不傳於世。 昭宗一朝，全無記注。 梁祖在位止及六年，均帝朝詔史臣修梁祖實錄，岐下系鞋之事，恥而不書。 晉天福中，史臣張昭重修《唐史》，始有《昭宗本紀》，但雲即位之始，有《會昌》之風，岐陽事蹟，不能追補。 此亦明唐昭宗有英睿之氣，而衰運不振； 又明左右無忠義奮發之臣，致梁祖得行其志。 有所警誡，不可不書。
On jimao, the first of the fifth month, civil and military attendants from the chancellor down all came to the traveling hall for inquiry; princes and military commissioners of every circuit presented memorials. On gengchen he set out from Zhengzhou and reached Xingyang; Henan Intendant Prince of Wei Zongshi met him bowing in the dust; Shao Zan, acting Heyang commissioner, Duan Mingyuan of Huai, and others met him in turn along the route. That night he stopped at Sishui; the Emperor called Prince of Wei Zongshi to audience, fed him before the throne, and after some time sent him away. On renwu he was at Sishui; chancellors, the Henan intendant, and the Six Academicians attended in the inner hall; Jianchang Palace business was placed in Chancellor Yu Jing's hands. 《Five Dynasties Huiyao》: In the sixth month Jianchang Palace was abolished and Prince of Wei Zhang Zongshi, Henan intendant, became state comptroller, taking over all grain, funds, and troops formerly held by the palace. On guawei he left Sishui and announced that Shao Zan and Duan Mingyuan should each return to their posts. He rested at Rencun Station at noon and lodged at Xiaoyi Palace that evening. Civil and military officials left in the capital, from Minister of Rites Kong Xu down, lined the road to welcome him. He stopped at Yanshi. On jiashen he entered the capital; civil and military officials received him at the eastern suburb. Bohai presented tribute envoys. Chancellor Xue Yiju was ill on leave and could not join the tour; the Emperor's inquiries came often, yet ordered him to stay at the Eastern Capital until recovery. At his death the Emperor mourned at length, sent Luoyuan commissioner Cao Shoucong to condole, and cancelled court for the sixth through eighth; chancellor and officials filed condolence at the Upper Gate. On dinghai, after a comet appeared, an edict reduced by one grade the sentences of all prisoners in both capitals down through capital offenses, requiring review within three days. 《Five Dynasties Huiyao》: A comet showed west of Lingtai; not until the fifth month did the court grant amnesty for crimes to answer Heaven's reproof. It adds: On renxu night in the fifth month Mars crossed the great star of Heart, four degrees off, moving direct. The directorate reported: "The great star is the sovereign's star—the ruler should cultivate virtue to answer Heaven's reproof." An edict read: "Living creatures are now in the summer months; the love of suckling meets the warm breeze. Wanton slaughter cannot square with nurturing life; let killing cease that growth may flourish. The two capitals and all prefectures and circuits shall forbid slaughter and hunting for the summer. The people's want surely lies in fate's decree; yet where the state's charge rests, benevolence must still be practiced. Where widowers, orphans, the solitary poor, the disabled, and the destitute are found, let chief officials give relief as needed. History praises burying the unburied dead as proof of compassion; ritual demands covering bleached bones to restore peace. Where war has left exposed bones, commission the local chief official to send men to gather and bury them. State plague ordinances still prescribe the seven sacrifices; the registry of fine medicines still lists three doctors. Pity those with none to speak for them—let skilled physicians be sought. Wherever plague appears, commission the chief official to search out medical formulas and post them at key roads. If any household lacks kin and is destitute and in distress, the chief official should dispatch a physician to give medicine and treat them. On xinmao an edict read: "Drought grows severe and farming is already harmed—let Chancellor Yu Jing go to the Central Peak and Du Xiao to the Western Peak for earnest prayer. Shrines near the capital were left to the Henan intendant; the Five Emperors Altar, Wind Master, Rain Master, and Nine Palaces spirits each received Secretariat officers to pray." 《Comprehensive Mirror》: On renxu of the intercalary month the Emperor was gravely ill; he said to his intimates: "Thirty years I have ruled, and never thought the Taiyuan remnant would grow so strong! Their aim is not small; Heaven again cuts my years—when I die my sons cannot stand against them; I have no grave prepared!" He sobbed until breath failed, then came back. His eldest son, Prince of Chen Youyu, had died young. Next came the adopted son Youwen, the Emperor's favorite, who often stayed at the Eastern Capital as Jianchang palace commissioner. Next was Prince of Ying Yougui, born of a Bozhou camp singer, commander of the left and right Crane-Controlled Armies. Next was Prince of Jun Youzhen, commander of horse and foot at the Eastern Capital. Youwen was not named crown prince, yet the Emperor's heart was often set on him. On dingchou, the first of the sixth month, the Emperor ordered Jing Xiang to issue an order posting Yougui as prefect of Laizhou, and at once ordered him to take office. The choice had been announced, but no edict had followed. Many recently demoted men were hunted down and forced to die; Yougui's fear deepened. On wuyin Yougui went in disguise to the Left Dragon-Tiger Army, confided in commander Han Qin, and laid bare his fear. Qin too had seen meritorious officers killed for trifles and feared for himself; they took counsel together. Qin brought five hundred guardsmen; Yougui mixed them with the Crane-Controlled troops and hid them inside the palace; At night they forced the gate and reached the sleeping hall; attendants scattered. The Emperor roused himself and cried: "Who rebels?" Yougui said: "No other." The Emperor said: "I long suspected this villain—only regret I did not kill him sooner. You rebel thus—Heaven and Earth will not bear you!" Yougui cried: "Old thief, ten thousand cuts!" Yougui's groom Feng Tingyu drove a blade into the Emperor's belly until it showed at his back. Yougui himself wrapped the body in a cast-off rug, buried it in the hall, and concealed the death. He sent palace attendant Ding Zhaopu in haste to the Eastern Capital to order Prince of Jun Youzhen to kill Youwen. On jimao a forged edict read: "Prince of Bo Youwen plotted revolt and burst into the hall with troops; Prince of Ying Yougui, loyal and filial, led forces to execute them and saved Us. Shock has worsened Our illness—let Yougui govern state and army affairs for now." Han Qin schemed for him, emptying much gold and silk from the treasury to buy the armies and the officials. On xinsi Ding Zhaopu returned; learning Youwen was dead, they announced mourning, proclaimed the testament, and Yougui seized the throne. Yougui buried Taizu at Yique, naming the tomb Xuan. 《Supplement to the History of the Five Dynasties》: Taizu Zhu Quanzhong was Huang Chao's vanguard. When Chao took Chang'an, Wang Duo besieged Tongzhou; Taizu surrendered, and Duo, with imperial warrant, made him prefect of Tong. After Huang Chao fell, Qin Zongquan rose again between Huai and Cai; because those regions marched with Bian and Taizu was a native of Bian, the court had to try him and transferred him as Xuanwu commissioner to destroy Zongquan—which he soon did. Thereafter he held power in his own hands and the court could not restrain him until he possessed the realm. Earlier folk prophecy spoke of "Five Lords' tally," also called Li Chunfeng's Turning Heaven Song, containing "the year of eight oxen"—readers saw eight oxen as the character Zhu, presaging Taizu's rise. Taizu's armies were ruled by harsh law: when a unit commander fell and did not return, his whole unit was beheaded—this was called "beheading the straggler." From then on his battles knew no defeat. Yet able men often hid among the prefectures, exhausted from pursuit—so he ordered facial brands, and the branding of strong soldiers began. 《Lost Passages》: Tradition says that when Liang Taizu welcomed Emperor Zhaozong from Fengxiang, he wore plain dress to await punishment; Zhaozong feigned a loose shoe-thong and called: "Quanzhong, tie my shoe for me." Liang Taizu could only kneel to tie it, sweat soaking his back. The Son of Heaven's escort still had guards; Zhaozong hoped those beside him would seize Taizu and kill him—yet none dared. Thereafter Taizu often ignored summons; he stripped Zhaozong of every palace guard and replaced them with men from Bian. This commentator notes: Liang Taizu in Tianfu year 3 welcomed Tang Emperor Zhaozong from below Qi in the jiazi year, then Tianyou; from Jianlong's founding gengshen to our day is only fifty-six years—yet men of seventy in the Qiande era saw it with their own eyes. From Tang Yizong's loss of rule the realm shattered; veritable records from Wuzong down no longer circulated. Zhaozong's entire reign left no record whatsoever. Taizu reigned only six years; under Emperor Jun historians were ordered to compile his veritable record—yet the shoe-tying at Qi was too shameful to write. In Jin's Tianfu era Zhang Zhao revised the Tang history and added Annals of Emperor Zhaozong, noting only Huichang-era style at his accession—affairs at Qi-yang could not be recovered. This shows that Zhaozong had keen spirit, yet declining fortune would not turn; and that none beside him were loyal enough to strike, so Taizu could do as he pleased. There is a lesson here, and it must be written.