1
乾化二年六月二日，庶人友珪弑逆，矯太祖詔，遣供奉官丁昭溥馳至東京，密令帝害博王友文。 友珪即位，以帝為東京留守，行開封府尹，檢校司徒。 友珪以篡逆居位，群情不附。 會趙岩至東京，從帝私宴，因言及社稷事。 帝以誠款謀之，岩曰：「此事易如反掌，成敗在招討楊令公之手，但得一言諭禁軍，其事立辦。」 岩時典禁軍，洎還洛，以謀告侍衛親軍袁象先。 帝令腹心馬慎交之魏州見師厚，且言成事之日，賜勞軍錢五十萬緡，仍許兼鎮。 慎交，燕人也，素有膽辨，乃說師厚曰：「郢王殺君害父，篡居大位，宮中荒淫，靡所不至。 洛下人情已去，東京物望所歸，公若因而成之，則有輔立之功，討賊之效。」 師厚猶豫未決，謂從事曰：「吾於郢王，君臣之分已定，無故改圖，人謂我何！」 慎交曰：「郢王以子弑父，是曰元凶。 均王為君為親，正名仗義。 彼若一朝事成，令公何情自處！」 師厚驚曰：「幾誤計耳！」 乃令小校王舜賢至洛，密與趙岩、袁象先圖議。 時有左右龍驤都在東京，帝偽作友珪詔，遣還洛下。 先是，劉重遇部下龍驤一指揮於懷州叛，經年搜捕其黨，帝因遣人激怒其眾曰：「郢王以龍驤軍嘗叛，追汝等洛下，將盡坑之。」 翌日，乃以偽昭示之。 〈（《通鑒考異》：《梁太祖實錄》：「丙戌，東京言龍驤軍準詔追赴西京，軍情不肯進發。」 實友珪征之，非友貞偽作，但激怒言坑之耳。）〉 諸軍憂恐，將校垂泣告帝，乞指生路。 帝諭之曰：「先帝三十餘年，經營社稷，千征萬戰，爾等皆會從行。 今日先帝尚落人奸計，爾等安所逃避。」 因出梁祖御容以示諸將，帝歔欷而泣曰：「郢王賊害君父，違天逆地，復欲屠滅親軍，爾等苟能自趨洛陽，擒取逆豎，告謝先帝，即轉禍為福矣！」 眾踴躍曰：「王言是也。」 皆呼萬歲，請帝為主，時友珪改元之二月十五日也。
On the second day of the sixth month of Qianhua 2, the deposed Yougui murdered his sovereign; forging an edict as if from Taizu, he sent palace attendant Ding Zhaopu racing to the Eastern Capital with secret orders for the Emperor to kill Prince of Bo Youwen. When Yougui acceded, he made the Emperor custodian of the Eastern Capital, acting prefect of Kaifeng, and honorary Minister of Works. Yougui ruled by treason, and the realm would not rally to him. Zhao Yan came to the Eastern Capital; over a private banquet with the Emperor they spoke of the fate of the dynasty. The Emperor opened his heart in planning; Yan said: "This is easy as turning the hand; victory rests with Pacification Commissioner Yang—persuade the forbidden army and the thing is settled at once." Yan held the forbidden army; back in Luoyang he told the plot to Imperial Guard commander Yuan Xiangxian. The Emperor dispatched his confidant Ma Shenjiao to Weizhou to win Shihou, promising fifty thousand strings in rewards on success and a second command besides. Shenjiao, a Yan man known for nerve and speech, pressed Shihou: "Prince of Ying slew his sovereign and father, seized the throne, and now wallows in every palace excess. Luoyang has turned away; all eyes are on the Eastern Capital—act now and you win the credit of raising a ruler and crushing a rebel." Shihou wavered and told his staff: "Prince of Ying and I are already lord and subject; to shift without cause—what would people say!" Shenjiao replied: "Prince of Ying murdered his father as a son—the chief villain. Prince of Jun stands for sovereign and family—right in name and in arms. If he wins overnight, what place will you have, my lord!" Shihou cried: "I was on the verge of ruin!" He sent junior officer Wang Shunxian to Luoyang to conspire quietly with Zhao Yan and Yuan Xiangxian. The Left and Right Dragon-Prancing Armies were then at the Eastern Capital; the Emperor forged Yougui's edict and ordered them back to Luoyang. Earlier a Dragon-Prancing command under Liu Chongyu had mutinied at Huaizhou and been hunted a full year; the Emperor sent agents to stir them: "Prince of Ying means to drag you to Luoyang and slaughter every man, since Dragon-Prancing once rebelled." Next day he displayed the forged order. (《Zizhi Tongjian: Divergent Accounts》: 《Veritable Record of Emperor Taizu of Liang》: "On bingxu the Eastern Capital reported Dragon-Prancing troops under orders for the Western Capital would not move." Yougui truly summoned them; Youzhen did not forge the edict—only the threat of massacre was invented.)〉 The troops were terrified; commanders wept and pleaded for a path to survival. The Emperor told them: "For thirty years the late Emperor built the realm through endless campaigns—you marched at his side. Today even he was trapped by villains—there was nowhere to run." He displayed Taizu's portrait; weeping, he said: "Prince of Ying murdered sovereign and father, defied Heaven and earth, and now would butcher the guard—march on Luoyang, seize the rebel, and appease the late Emperor, and disaster becomes fortune!" All cried: "Your Highness is right." They shouted long life and begged him to lead them—the fifteenth day of Yougui's second regnal month.
2
帝乃遣人告趙岩、袁象先、傅暉、朱圭等。 十七日，象先引禁軍千人突入宮城，遂誅友珪。 事定，象先遣趙岩齎傳國寶至東京，請帝即位於洛陽。 帝報之曰：「夷門，太祖創業之地，居天下之衝，北拒並、汾，東至淮海，國家藩鎮，多在厥東，命將出師，利於便近，若都洛下，非良圖也。 公等如堅推戴，冊禮宜在東京，賊平之日，即謁洛陽陵廟。」
He then notified Zhao Yan, Yuan Xiangxian, Fu Hui, Zhu Gui, and the rest. On the seventeenth Yuan Xiangxian stormed the palace with a thousand guards and slew Yougui. Afterward Xiangxian sent Zhao Yan with the imperial seal to the Eastern Capital, urging enthronement at Luoyang. The Emperor answered: "Yimen is Taizu's foundation, the crossroads of the empire—blocking Shanxi in the north, reaching the coast in the east; most commands lie eastward, and campaigns are easier from there—Luoyang would be a poor capital. If you will force the crown on me, invest me at the Eastern Capital; when the rebel is gone, I shall pay homage at Luoyang's tombs."
3
是月，帝即位於東京，乃去珪曆之號，稱乾化三年。 詔曰：
That month he was enthroned at the Eastern Capital, abolished Yougui's era, and proclaimed Qianhua 3. An edict read:
4
我國家賞功罰罪，必葉朝章，報德伸冤，敢欺天道。 苟顯違於法制，雖暫滯於歲時，終振大綱，須歸至理。 重念太祖皇帝，嘗開霸府，有事四方。 迨建皇朝，載遷都邑，每以主留重務，居守難才，慎擇親賢，方膺寄任。 故博王友文，才兼文武，識達古今，俾分憂於在浚之郊，亦共理於興王之地，一心無易，二紀於茲。 嘗施惠於士民，實有勞於家國。 去歲郢王友珪，常懷逆節，已露凶鋒，將不利於君親，欲竊窺於神器。 此際值先皇寢疾，大漸日臻，博王乃密上封章，請嚴宮禁，因以萊州刺史授於郢王友珪，才睹宣頭，俄行大逆。 豈有自縱兵於內殿，卻翻事於東都，又矯詔書，枉加刑戮，仍奪博王封爵，又改姓名，冤恥兩深，欺誑何極。 伏賴上穹垂祐，宗社降靈。 俾中外以葉謀，致遐邇之共怒，尋平內難，獲剿元凶，既雪恥於同天，且免譏於共國。 朕方期遁世，敢竊臨人，遽迫推崇，爰膺纘嗣。 冤憤既伸於幽顯，霈澤宜及於下泉。 博王宜復官爵，仍令有司擇日歸葬雲。
In reward and punishment our state must keep to law; in gratitude and vengeance we dare not mock Heaven. Even when law seems briefly set aside, the great order will be restored in time. We remember Taizu opening the hegemon's office and campaigning in every direction. When the dynasty was founded the seat moved; the custodian's burden was always heavy, and trusted princes were chosen to bear it. Prince of Bo Youwen, skilled in letters and arms and wise in history, shared rule at Jun and in the founding lands—loyal through two reigns. He had shown kindness to soldiers and civilians and truly served the realm. Last year Prince of Ying Yougui nursed rebellion, bared his blade, and aimed at kin and throne alike. As the late Emperor lay dying, Prince of Bo secretly asked to seal the palace and gave Yougui the Laizhou post—hardly was the order read when the atrocity struck. He unleashed troops in the inner hall, shifted blame eastward, forged orders, executed the innocent, stripped Prince of Bo's titles, and changed his name—outrage piled on fraud without limit. Heaven favored us and the spirits aided the realm. Court and country conspired; the empire raged; the revolt was crushed and the chief villain slain—honor restored under Heaven, scandal among the states averted. We meant to leave public life and dared not rule men; forced by acclaim, we took the succession. Now that justice reaches the living and the dead, mercy should reach below as well. Prince of Bo's rank should be restored and the rites office should set a day for burial at Yun.
5
三月丁未，製曰：「朕仰膺天眷，近雪家仇，旋聞將相之謀，請紹祖宗之業。 群情見迫，三讓莫從，隻受推崇，懼不負荷。 方欲烝嘗寢廟，禋類郊丘，合征文體之辭，用表事神之敬。 其或於文尚淺，在理未周，亦冀隨時，別圖製義。 雖臣子行孝，重更名於已孤； 而君父稱尊，貴難知而易避。 今則虔遵古典，詳考前聞，允諧龜筮之占，庶合帝王之道。 載惟涼德，尤愧嘉名，中外群僚，當體朕意。 宜改名鍠。」 庚戌，以天雄軍節度使、充潞州行營都招討使、開府儀同三司、檢校太尉、兼侍中、弘農郡王楊師厚為檢校太師，兼中書令，進封鄴王。 壬戌，以夏州節度使、檢校太尉、同平章事李仁福為檢校太師，進封隴西郡王。 戊辰，以邢州保義軍留後、檢校太保戴思遠為檢校太傅，充邢州節度使。 庚午，以鎮東軍節度副使、充兩浙西面都指揮使、行睦州刺史馬綽為檢校太傅、同平章事，領秦州雄武軍節度使，進封開國候。 是月，文武百官上言，請以九月十二日帝降誕日為明聖節，休假三日。 從之。
On dingwei in the third month an ordinance said: "Heaven has favored us; we have avenged our kin and now ministers urge us to inherit the ancestral work. The multitude would not let us refuse thrice; we take the burden alone and fear we may fail it. We shall sacrifice at the temple and worship at the suburbs, gathering proper texts to honor the gods. Where the prose is thin or the logic unfinished, we may revise the text as occasion allows. A son may change his name in mourning, yet titles for sovereign and father are perilous to speak and best left untouched. We now follow the classics and ancient precedent, trusting the omens and the imperial way align. Our meager virtue ill suits a glorious name; let all officials understand our mind. Let the name be changed to Huang." On gengxu Yang Shihou, commissioner of Tianxiong, commander of the Luzhou campaign, and Prince of Hongnong, became Honorary Grand Preceptor and Grand Counselor and was advanced to Prince of Ye. On renxu Li Renfu of Xiazhou, Honorary Grand Tutor and co-counselor, became Honorary Grand Preceptor and Prince of Longxi. On wuchen Dai Siyuan, acting Baoyi commissioner at Xingzhou, became Honorary Grand Mentor and commissioner of Xingzhou. On gengwu Ma Chuo, Zhendong deputy and Two Zhes commander, became Honorary Grand Mentor and co-counselor, took Xiongwu at Qinzhou, and was made Marquis of the Opening State. That month officials asked that the Emperor's birthday, the twelfth of the ninth month, be Bright Sage Festival with three days off. The court approved.
6
夏四月癸未，以西京內外諸軍馬步軍都指揮使、檢校司徒、左龍虎統軍、濮陽郡開國侯袁象先為特進、檢校太保、同平章事，充鎮南軍節度、江南西道觀察處置等使、開封尹、判在京馬步諸軍事，進封開國公，增食邑一千戶。 丁酉，宣義軍節度副大使、知節度事、鄭滑濮等州觀察使、檢校太傅、長沙郡開國公羅周翰加特進、駙馬都尉。
On guiwei in the fourth month Yuan Xiangxian, commander of Western Capital forces, became Special Advancement, Honorary Palace Attendant, co-counselor, Zhennan commissioner, Jiangnan West observer, Kaifeng prefect, and judge of capital armies, and was made Duke of the Opening State with a thousand added households. On dingyou Luo Zhouhan, Xuanyi deputy and Zheng-Hua-Pu observer, received Special Advancement and the post of Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant.
7
五月乙巳，天雄軍節度使楊師厚及劉守奇率魏、博、邢、洺、徐、兗、鄆、滑之眾十萬討鎮州。 庚戌，營於鎮之南門外。 壬子，晉將史建瑭自趙州領騎五百入於鎮州，師厚知其有備，自九門移軍於下博。 劉守奇以一軍自貝州掠冀州衡水、阜城，陷下博。 師厚自弓高渡御河，逼滄州，張萬進懼，送款，師厚表請以萬進為青州節度使，以劉守奇為滄州節度使。 詔曰：「太祖皇帝六月二日大忌。 朕聞姬周已還，並用通喪之禮，炎漢之後，方行易月之儀。 歷代相沿，萬幾斯重，遂為故實，難遽改更。 朕頃遘家冤，近平內難，倏臨祥製，俯迫忌辰，音容永遠而莫追，號感彌深而難抑。 將欲表宅憂於中禁，是宜輟聽政於外朝，雖異常儀，願申罔極。 宜輟五月二十二日至六月二十九日朝參，軍機急切公事，即不得留滯，並仰畫時聞奏施行。」 宰臣文武百官三上表，以國忌廢務多日，請依舊制。 詔報曰：「朕聞禮非天降，固可酌於人情，事係孝思，諒無妨於國體。 今以甫臨忌日，暫輟視朝，冀全哀感之情，用表始終之節。 宰臣等累陳章表，備述古今，慮以萬幾之繁，議以五月之請。 雖茲懇切，難盡允俞，況保身方荷於洪基，敢言過毀，而權制獲申於至性，必在得中。 宜自今月二十九日輟至六月七日，無煩抑請，深體朕懷。」
On yisi in the fifth month Yang Shihou and Liu Shouqi marched a hundred thousand from eight prefectures against Zhenzhou. On gengxu they camped south of Zhenzhou. On renzi Shi Jianya of Jin entered Zhenzhou with five hundred horse; Shihou, seeing them ready, shifted from Jiumen to Xiabo. Liu Shouqi swept from Beizhou through Jizhou's Hengshui and Fucheng and seized Xiabo. Shihou crossed the Imperial River at Gonggao and threatened Cangzhou until Zhang Wanjin surrendered; he asked Wanjin for Qingzhou and Shouqi for Cangzhou. An edict read: "The second day of the sixth month is Taizu's death anniversary. After the Zhou returned home they observed full mourning; after Han they shortened the mourning month. Each dynasty kept the custom; state business is weighty—the precedent stands and cannot be lightly broken. Fresh from family bloodshed and inner turmoil, we face mourning garb and the anniversary together; his countenance is gone beyond recall and grief will not be stilled. We would mourn within the palace and suspend court without—irregular, yet it expresses utmost filial grief. Suspend audiences from the twenty-second of the fifth month through the twenty-ninth of the sixth; urgent military matters must not wait and are to be reported and acted on immediately. Chancellors and officials thrice begged to resume the old schedule, saying the mourning closure had lasted too long. The reply read: "Rites are not heaven-sent and may bend to human feeling; filial duty need not harm the state. As the anniversary approaches we pause court briefly to honor grief and show constancy. Ministers repeatedly cited precedent, fearing the press of affairs and urging the May schedule. Their plea was earnest but could not be fully granted; we bear the foundation now and dare not indulge excess—yet temporary mourning must find the mean. Suspend court only from this month's twenty-ninth to the seventh of the sixth—no more petitions; understand our heart."
8
六月戊子，以滄州順化軍節度使、並潞鎮定副招討使、檢校太傅、同平章事張萬進為青州節度使。 秋九月甲辰，以光祿大夫、守御史大夫、吳興郡開國侯姚洎為中書侍郎、平章事。 十二月庚午，以前鄆州節度、檢校司徒、食邑二千戶、福王友璋為許州節度使，檢校太保。 是月，晉王收幽州，執偽燕主劉守光及其父仁恭歸晉陽。
On wuzi Zhang Wanjin of Cangzhou became commissioner of Qingzhou. On jiachen in the ninth month Yao Ji, Grandee of Splendid Happiness and acting censor-in-chief, became vice director of the Secretariat and grand counselor. On gengwu in the twelfth month Prince of Fu Youzhang, former Yunzhou commissioner, became Xuzhou commissioner and Honorary Palace Attendant. That month the Prince of Jin captured Youzhou and brought the puppet Yan ruler Liu Shouguang and his father Rengong to Jinyang.
9
乾化四年春正月壬寅，以青州節度使張萬進為兗州節度使、檢校太尉。 二月甲戌，以感化軍節度使、華商等州觀察使、檢校太傅、同平章事、太原郡開國公康懷英為大安尹，充永平軍節度使，大安金棣等州觀察處置使。
In the first month of Qianhua 4, on renyin, Zhang Wanjin of Qingzhou became Yanzhou commissioner and Honorary Grand Tutor. On jiaxu Kang Huaiying, Ganhua commissioner and Duke of Taiyuan, became prefect of Da'an and Yongping commissioner over Da'an, Jin, and Di.
10
夏四月丁丑，以守司空、平章事於兢為工部侍郎，尋眨萊州司馬，以其挾私與軍校遷改故也。 是日，以行營左先鋒馬軍使、濮州刺史王彥章為澶州刺史，充行營先鋒步軍都指揮使，加光祿大夫、檢校太保，封開國伯； 以永平軍節度使、檢校太傅、同平章事劉鄩為開封尹，遙領鎮南軍節度使。 五月癸丑，朔方軍留後、檢校司徒韓洙起復，授朔方軍節度使，檢校太保。
On dingchou Yu Jing, acting minister of works and grand counselor, became vice minister of works, then was exiled to Luzhou as marshal for nepotism toward officers. That day Wang Yanzhang, left vanguard horse commander and Puzhou prefect, became Cizhou prefect and foot vanguard of the campaign, Grandee of Splendid Happiness, Honorary Palace Attendant, and Earl of the Opening State; Liu Yan of Yongping became Kaifeng prefect with titular command of Zhennan. On guichou Han Zhu of Shuofang left mourning and became Shuofang commissioner and Honorary Palace Attendant.
11
秋七月，晉王率師自黃澤嶺東下，寇邢、洺，魏博節度使楊師厚軍於漳水之東。 晉將曹進金來奔，晉軍遂退。 九月，徐州節度使王殷反。 時朝廷以福王友璋鎮徐方，殷不受代，乃下詔削奪殷在身官爵，仍令卻還本姓蔣，便委友璋及天平軍節度使牛存節、開封尹劉鄩等進軍攻討。 是時，蔣殷求救於淮南，楊溥遣大將朱瑾率眾來援，存節等逆擊，敗之。
In the seventh month the Prince of Jin marched east from Huangzeling against Xing and Ming; Yang Shihou of Weibo camped east of the Zhang. Cao Jinjin of Jin defected; the Jin forces retreated. In the ninth month Wang Yin, commissioner of Xuzhou, rebelled. The court had posted Prince of Fu Youzhang at Xuzhou; Yin refused replacement; an edict stripped his titles, restored the surname Jiang, and sent Youzhang, Niucunjie, Liu Yan, and others against him. Jiang Yin called on Huainan; Yang Pu sent Zhu Jin; Niucunjie and the rest routed the relief force.
12
貞明元年春，牛存節、劉鄩拔徐州，逆賊將殷舉族自燔而死，於火中得其屍，梟首以獻。 詔福王友璋赴鎮。
In spring of Zhenming 1, Niucunjie and Liu Yan seized Xuzhou; Yin and his kin immolated themselves; his body was pulled from the flames and his head sent in. The court ordered Prince of Fu Youzhang to his post.
13
閏二月甲午，延州節度使、太原西面招討應接使、檢校太師、兼中書令、渤海郡王高萬興進封渤海王。 三月辛酉朔，以天平軍節度副大使、知節度事、兼淮南西北面行營招討應接等使、檢校太傅、同平章事牛存節為檢校太尉，加食邑一千戶，賞平徐之功也。 丁卯，以右僕射兼門下侍郎、同平章事、監修國史、判度支趙光逢為太子太保致仕。 魏博節度使楊師厚薨，輟視朝三日。
On jiawu in the intercalary second month Gao Wanxing of Yanzhou, western liaison commissioner for Taiyuan, became Prince of Bohai outright. On xinyou, first of the third month, Niucunjie of Tianping became Honorary Grand Tutor with a thousand added households for crushing Xu. On dingmao Zhao Guangfeng, right vice president and co-counselor, retired as Heir Apparent Grand Mentor. Yang Shihou of Weibo died; the court mourned three days without audience.
14
初，師厚握強兵，據重鎮，每邀朝廷姑息，及薨，輟視朝三日，或者以為天意。 租庸使趙岩、租庸判官邵讚獻議於帝曰：「魏博六州，精兵數萬，蠹害唐室百有餘年。 羅紹威前恭後倨，太祖每深含怒。 太祖屍未屬纊，師厚即肆陰謀。 蓋以地廣兵強，得肆其志，不如分削，使如身使臂，即無不從也。 陛下不以此時製之，寧知後之人不為楊師厚耶！ 若分割相、魏為兩鎮，則朝廷無北顧之患矣！」 帝曰：「善。」 即以平盧軍節度使賀德倫為天雄軍節度使，遣劉鄩率兵六萬屯河朔。 詔曰：「分疆裂土，雖賞勳勞； 建節屯師，亦從機便。 比者魏博一鎮，巡屬六州，為河朔之大藩，實國家之巨鎮。 所分憂寄，允謂重難； 將葉事機，須期通濟。 但緣鎮、定賊境，最為魏、博親鄰； 其次相、衛兩州，皆控澤潞山口。 兩道並連於晉土，分頭常寇於魏封。 既須日有戰爭，未若懼分節制。 免勞兵力，因奔命於兩途； 稍泰人心，俾安居於終日。 其相州宜建節度為昭德軍。 以澶、衛兩州為屬郡，以張筠為相州節度使。」
Shihou had long held Weibo's armies and bullied the court for concessions; when he died and mourning closed court three days, some called it Heaven's judgment. Zhao Yan and Shao Zan urged the Emperor: "Weibo's six prefectures field tens of thousands of veterans who have plagued the Tang for a century. Luo Shaowei bowed first and defied later; Taizu nursed wrath each time. Before Taizu's body was shrouded, Shihou was already scheming. His vast territory and huge host let him do as he pleased—split the command so the court commands it like an arm, never a rival. Restrain them now, or the next man may be another Yang Shihou! Divide Xiang and Wei into two commands and the north ceases to threaten the throne. The Emperor said: "Well said." He Delun of Pinglu became Tianxiong commissioner; Liu Yan marched sixty thousand to camp in Hebei. An edict read: "Partitioning land rewards service; raising commands and posting armies follows the moment. Weibo had been one command over six prefectures—the greatest fortress of the north. Its burden was immense; to miss the moment demands a swift cure. Zhen and Ding border the enemy and are Weibo's closest neighbors; Xiang and Wei guard the Zelu passes. Both touch Jin lands and raid Weibo without cease. Fighting is daily; split command lest they exhaust themselves. Save the soldiers from running themselves to death on two fronts; steady morale so the region can breathe. Xiangzhou shall become the Zhaode Army command. Cang and Wei are subordinate; Zhang Jun is commissioner of Xiang."
15
己丑，魏博軍亂，囚節度使賀德倫。 是時，朝廷既分魏博六州為兩鎮，命劉鄩統大軍屯於南樂，以討王熔為名，遣澶州刺史、行營先鋒步軍都指揮使王彥章領龍驤五百騎先入於魏州，屯於金波亭。 詔以魏州軍兵之半隸於相州，並徙其家焉。 又遣主者檢察魏之帑廩。 既而德倫促諸軍上路，姻族辭決，哭聲盈巷。 其徒乃相聚而謀曰：「朝廷以我軍府強盛，故設法殘破，況我六州，歷代藩府，軍門父子，姻族相連，未嘗遠出河門，離親去族，一旦遷於外郡，生不如死。」 三月二十九日夜，魏軍乃作亂，放火大掠，首攻龍驤軍，王彥章斬關而遁。 遲明，殺德倫親軍五百餘人於牙城，執德倫置之樓上。 有效節軍校張彥者，最為粗暴，膽氣伏人，乃率無賴輩數百，止其剽掠。 是日，魏之士庶被屠戮者，不可勝計。
On jichou Weibo troops rebelled and seized He Delun. The court had split Weibo, sent Liu Yan to Nanle ostensibly against Wang Rong, and Wang Yanzhang with five hundred Dragon-Prancing horse into Weizhou to camp at Jinbo Pavilion. Half of Weizhou's soldiers were assigned to Xiangzhou and their families moved with them. Auditors were sent to inventory Weibo's stores. Delun ordered the troops on the road; families wailed in every street. They muttered: "The court means to break us because we are strong; six generations we held the gate, kin in every company—never sent beyond Hemen—and now they tear us away; death is kinder. On the twenty-ninth of the third month Weibo rose, burned, and looted; they struck Dragon-Prancing first; Wang Yanzhang hacked his way out and escaped. At dawn they slaughtered five hundred of Delun's guard at headquarters and held him on the tower. Zhang Yan, a brutal officer who cowed the host, rallied hundreds of ruffians and halted the sack. That day the dead of Weizhou could not be numbered.
16
帝聞之，遣使齎詔安撫， 〈（《通鑒》：夏四月，帝遣供奉官扈異撫諭魏軍。）〉 仍許張彥除郡厚賜，將士優賞。 彥等不遜，投詔於地，侮罵詔使，因迫德倫飛奏，請卻復相、衛，抽退劉鄩軍。 帝復遣諭曰：「製置已定，不可改易。」 如是者三。 彥等奮臂南向而罵曰：「傭保兒，敢如是也！」 復迫德倫列其事。 時有文吏司空頲者，甚有筆才，彥召見，謂曰：「為我更草一狀，詞宜抵突，如更敢違，則渡河擄之。」 乃奏曰：「臣累拜封章，上聞天聽，在軍眾無非共切，何朝廷皆以為閑。 半月三軍切切，而戈予未息； 一城生聚皇皇，而控告無門。 惟希俯鑒丹衷，苟從眾欲，須垂聖允，斷在不疑。 如或四向取謀，但慮六州俱失。 言非意外，事在目前。」 張彥又以楊師厚先兼招討使，請朝廷依例授之，故復逼德倫奏曰：「臣當道兵甲素精，貔貅極銳，下視並、汾之敵，平吞鎮、定之人。 特乞委臣招討之權，試臣湯火之節，苟無顯效，任賜明誅。」 詔報曰：「魏、博寇敵接連，封疆懸遠，凡於應赴，須在師徒。 是以別建節旄，各令捍禦，並、鎮則委魏、博控製，澤、潞則遣相、衛枝梧。 咸逐便安，貴均勞逸，已定不移之制，宜從畫一之規。 至於征伐事權，亦無定例。 且臨清王領鎮之日，羅紹威守藩以來，所領事銜，本無招討。 隻自楊師厚先除陝、滑二帥，皆以招討兼權，因茲帶過鄴中，原本不曾落下，苟循事體，寧吝施行。 況今劉鄩指鎮、定出征，康懷英往邠、岐進討，隻令統率師旅，亦無招討使銜。 切宜遍諭群情，勿興浮議，倚注之意，卿宜體之。」 詔至，張彥壞裂，抵之於地，謂德倫曰：「梁主不達時機，聽人穿鼻，城中擾攘，未有所依。 我甲兵雖多，須資勢援，河東晉王統兵十萬，匡復唐朝，世與大梁仇讎。 若與我同力，事無不濟，請相公改圖，以求多福。」 德倫不得已而從之，乃遣牙將曹廷隱奉書求援於太原。 彥使德倫告諭軍城曰：「可依河東稱天祐十三年，此後如有人將文字於河南往來，便仰所在處置。」
Hearing this, the Emperor sent an envoy with soothing orders, (《Zizhi Tongjian》: That fourth month the Emperor sent Hu Yi to reassure Weibo's army.)〉 Zhang Yan was still offered a prefecture and rich gifts, the troops generous bounty. Yan defied the court, trampled the edict, cursed the envoy, and made Delun demand Xiang and Wei back and Liu Yan's withdrawal. The Emperor replied: "The plan stands and will not change." Three times he said it. Yan shook his fist southward: "Bondservant brats, how dare you!" They forced Delun to memorialize again. Clerk Sikong Ting, a fine writer, was summoned; Yan said: "Draft a fiercer memorial—if they refuse again, we cross the Yellow River and take them." The memorial ran: "We have pleaded again and again; every soldier shares this urgency—why does the court treat us as noise? Half a month the host has clamored while swords stay drawn; the city trembles yet has no voice at court. Look on our loyal hearts; grant the army's wish without hesitation. Hesitate and all six prefectures may fall. This is no surprise; the crisis is now." Yan also demanded the Pacification title Shihou once held; Delun was forced to add: "Our blades are sharp, our host the fiercest—we despise Shanxi's enemies and could take Zhen and Ding. Give us Pacification power and test us; fail, and execute us." The reply read: "Weibo faces enemies on every side; distance demands armies. Separate commands were set to defend; Bing and Zhen fall to Weibo, Ze and Lu to Xiang and Wei. Each post eases its sector; the division is fixed and uniform. Campaign authority has no fixed precedent either. Linqing and Shaowei held Weibo without Pacification titles. Only Shihou, when made commissioner of Shaan and Hua, carried Pacification—and kept it passing through Ye; by precedent we would not withhold it. Liu Yan fights Zhen and Ding; Kang Huaiying Bin and Qi—neither bears Pacification. Tell the troops plainly and end the clamor; we trust you to steady them." Yan shredded the edict and told Delun: "The Liang ruler is blind, led by the nose; the city has no anchor. We have arms but need allies; the Prince of Jin holds a hundred thousand, claims to restore Tang, and has long hated Liang. Join him and we prevail—change course, my lord, for fortune." Delun yielded and sent Cao Tingyin to Taiyuan for aid. Yan made Delun proclaim: "Take Hedong's Tianyou year 13; any papers bound for Henan are to be seized on the road."
17
是月，邠州留後李保衡以城歸順。 保衡，楊崇本養子也。 崇本乃李茂貞養子，任邠州二十餘年，去歲為其子彥魯所毒。 彥魯領知州事五十餘日，保衡殺彥魯送款於帝，即以保衡為華州節度使，以河陽留後霍彥威為邠州節度使。
That month Li Baoheng of Binzhou submitted. Baoheng was adopted by Yang Chongben. Chongben, Maozhen's adoptee, had ruled Bin twenty years until Yanlu poisoned him last year. Yanlu ruled fifty days; Baoheng killed him and surrendered; the Emperor made Baoheng commissioner of Hua and Huo Yanwei of Bin.
18
秋七月，又陷澶州，刺史王彥章棄城來奔。 〈（《通鑒》：晉人夜襲澶州，刺史王彥章在劉鄩營，晉人獲其妻子。）〉 是月，劉鄩自洹水潛師由黃澤路西趨晉陽，至樂平縣，值霖雨積旬，乃班師還。 次宗城，遂至貝州，軍於堂邑。 遇晉軍，轉鬥數十里，晉軍稍退。 翌日，鄩移軍於莘。 八月，賀瑰收復澶州。
In the seventh month Cizhou fell; Wang Yanzhang fled. (《Zizhi Tongjian》: Jin struck Cizhou by night; Wang Yanzhang was with Liu Yan; Jin seized his family.)〉 That month Liu Yan stole march from Huan River toward Jinyang by Huangze; rains trapped him at Leping ten days and he withdrew. He stopped at Zongcheng, then Beizhou, camping at Tangyi. They clashed with Jin for miles; Jin slowly gave ground. Next day Yan shifted camp to Xin. In the eighth month He Gui retook Cizhou.
19
九月，以行營先鋒步軍都指揮使、行澶州刺史、檢校太保王彥章為汝州防禦使，依前行營先鋒步軍都指揮使。 壬午，正衙命使冊德妃張氏。 是夕，妃薨。 冬十月辛亥，康王友孜謀反，伏誅。 是夕，帝於寢殿熟寐，忽聞禦榻上寶劍有聲，帝遽起視之，而友孜之黨已入於宮中，帝揮之獲免。 〈（《清異錄》：末帝夜於寢間擒刺客，乃康王友孜所遣，帝自戮之。 造雲母匣貯所用劍，名匣曰「護聖將軍之館」。）〉 壬子，葬德妃張氏。
In the ninth month Wang Yanzhang became defender of Ruzhou while keeping the foot vanguard. On renwu the court sent envoys to invest Noble Consort Zhang. She died that night. On xinhai in the tenth month Prince of Kang Youzi rebelled and was put to death. That night he slept deeply until his sword on the couch rang; he leapt up as Youzi's men entered the palace and drove them off with the blade. (《Records of Unusual Matters》: The Later Emperor caught an assassin sent by Youzi in the bedchamber and slew him himself. He kept the sword in a mica case called "Hall of the Guardian Sage General.")〉 On renzi Noble Consort Zhang was interred.
20
十一月乙丑，改乾化五年為貞明元年。 十二月乙未，詔升華原縣為崇州靜勝軍，以美原縣為裕州，以為屬郡。 以偽命義勝軍節度使、鼎耀等州觀察使、特進、檢校太保、同平章事李彥韜為特進、檢校太傅、同平章事，充靜勝軍節度使、崇裕等州觀察使，河內郡開國侯，仍復本姓溫，名昭圖。 昭圖，華原賊帥也。 李茂貞以為養子，以華原為耀州，美原為鼎州，偽命昭圖為節度使。 至是歸款，故有是命。
On yichou the fifth year of Qianhua became Zhenming 1. On yiwei Huayuan became Chong Prefecture's Jingsheng Army and Meiyuan Yu Prefecture, both subordinate. Li Yantao, puppet commissioner of Yisheng, became Honorary Grand Mentor and commissioner of Jingsheng over Chong and Yu, Marquis of Henei, restored to Wen Zhaotu. Zhaotu had been a Huayuan bandit leader. Maozhen adopted him, made Huayuan Yao and Meiyuan Ding, and named him commissioner. His surrender won him the post.
21
貞明二年春正月庚申，以皇伯父宋州節度使、開府儀同三司、檢校太師、兼中書令、廣王全昱為守中書令，餘如故。 〈（《通鑒》：二年春正月，宣武節度使、守中書令、廣德靖王全昱卒。）〉 以浙江東道營田副使、檢校太傅、前常州刺史杜建徽遙領涇州節度使。 二月丙申，右僕射，門下侍郎、平章事、諸道鹽鐵轉運等使楊涉罷相，守左僕射。 涉累上章以疾辭位，故有是命。 是月，命許州節度使王檀、河陽節度使謝彥章、汝州防禦使王彥章率師自陰地關抵晉陽，急攻其壘，不克而還。
On gengshen in the first month of Zhenming 2 Prince of Guang Quanyu, the Emperor's uncle and Songzhou commissioner, became acting Grand Counselor, retaining his other titles. (《Zizhi Tongjian》: That first month Xuanyi commissioner Prince of Guangde Jing Quanyu died.)〉 Du Jianhui, Zhejiang farmland deputy and former Changzhou prefect, received titular command of Jingzhou. On bingshen Yang She left the council, keeping only the left vice presidency. He had pleaded illness repeatedly and was released from the council. That month Wang Tan, Xie Yanzhang, and Wang Yanzhang marched from Yindi Pass on Jinyang, assaulted the walls, failed, and withdrew.
22
三月，劉鄩率師與晉王大戰於故元城，鄩軍敗績。 先是，鄩駐於莘，帝以河朔危急，師老於外，餉饋不充，遣使賜鄩詔，微有責讓。 鄩奏以寇勢方盛，未可輕動。 帝又問鄩決勝之策，鄩奏曰：「但人給糧十斛，盡則破敵。」 帝不悅，復遣促戰。 鄩召諸將會議，諸將欲戰，鄩默然。 一日，引軍攻鎮定之營，彼眾大駭，上下騰亂，俘斬甚眾。 時帝遣偏將楊延直領軍萬餘人屯澶州以應鄩，既而晉王詐言歸太原，劉鄩以為信。 是月，召楊延直會於魏城下。 鄩自莘率軍亦至，與延直會。 既而晉王自貝州至，鄩引軍漸退，至故元城西，與晉人決戰，大為其所敗。 追襲至河上，軍士赴水死者甚眾，鄩自黎陽濟河奔滑州。 己巳，製以鄩為滑州宣義軍節度副大使，知節度事。 晉人攻衛州，陷之； 又攻惠州。
In the third month Liu Yan met the Prince of Jin at Old Yuancheng and was routed. Yan had camped at Xin; with Hebei desperate, the army exhausted, and grain short, the Emperor sent a reproachful edict. Yan replied that the foe was still fierce and must not be provoked. The Emperor asked for a winning plan; Yan said: "Give every man ten hu of grain—when it runs out, we win." The Emperor was angry and ordered him to fight at once. Yan called his officers; they wanted battle; he said nothing. One day he struck the Zhen-Ding camp; panic swept them and many were killed or taken. The Emperor had posted Yang Yanzhi with ten thousand at Cizhou to support Yan; the Prince of Jin feigned retreat to Taiyuan and Yan believed him. That month Yan called Yanzhi to Weicheng. Yan marched from Xin and joined him. The Prince of Jin came from Beizhou; Yan fell back to Old Yuancheng and was shattered in the decisive battle. Pursuit drove men into the river by the thousands; Yan crossed at Liyang and fled to Huazhou. On jisi Yan was made Xuanyi deputy and acting commissioner. Jin took Weizhou; then besieged Huizhou.
23
夏四月乙酉朔，威武軍節度使、守太傅、兼中書令、閩王王審知賜號忠勤保安興國功臣，餘如故。 晉人陷洺州。 癸卯夜，捉生都將李霸作亂，龍驤都將杜晏球討平之。 時遣捉生軍千人戌楊劉，軍出宋門外。 是夜，由水門復入，二鼓大噪，火發燭城，李霸與其徒燔建國門，不克。 龍驤都將杜晏球屯鞠場，聞亂兵至，率騎擊之，亂軍退，走馬登建國門。 晏球奏曰：「亂者惟李霸一軍，但守宮城，遲明，臣必破之。」 未明，晏球誅霸及其同惡，京師方定。 是月，以行營先鋒步軍都指揮使、汝州防禦使王彥章為鄭州防禦使，依前先鋒步軍都指揮使。
On yiyou, first of the fourth month, Prince of Min Wang Shenzhi received the merit title Loyal, Diligent, Security, and Revival Lord, retaining his other ranks. Jin seized Mingzhou. On guimao night Li Ba of the captive-recruiters mutinied; Du Yanqiu of Dragon-Prancing crushed him. A thousand captive-recruits garrisoned Yangliu and had marched out through Song Gate. That night they came back through the water gate; at the second watch fire and uproar filled the capital; Ba burned Jianguo Gate but failed to break it. Du Yanqiu at the ball court heard the alarm, charged with horse, and drove the rebels toward Jianguo Gate. Yanqiu reported: "Only Li Ba's band rebels—hold the palace; by dawn I will destroy them." Before dawn he killed Ba and his fellows and the capital was calm. That month Wang Yanzhang became defender of Zhengzhou while keeping the foot vanguard.
24
五月，晉軍還太原。 六月，晉人急攻邢州，帝遣捉生都將張溫率步騎五百人入於邢州，至內黃，溫率眾降於晉人。 秋七月甲寅朔，晉王自太原至魏州，節度使張筠棄城奔京師，邢州節度使閻寶以城降於晉王。 壬戌，以淮南鎮海鎮東等軍節度使、充淮南宣潤等道西面行營都統、開府儀同三司、尚父、守尚書令、吳越王錢鏐為諸道兵馬元帥，餘如故。 以左僕射楊涉為太子太傅致仕。
In the fifth month Jin withdrew to Taiyuan. In the sixth month Jin besieged Xingzhou; the Emperor sent Zhang Wen with five hundred troops; at Neihuang Wen defected to Jin. On jiayin, first of the seventh month, the Prince of Jin reached Weizhou; Zhang Jun fled to court; Yan Bao of Xingzhou surrendered. On renxu Qian Liu of Wu, commander of Huainan and the western campaign, became Commander-in-Chief of All Circuits, retaining his other honors. Yang She retired as Heir Apparent Grand Tutor.
25
八月丁酉，以開府儀同三司、太子太保致仕趙光逢為司空兼門下侍郎、平章事、宏文館大學士、延資庫使，充諸道鹽鐵轉運使。
On dingyou Zhao Guangfeng, retired Heir Apparent Grand Mentor, returned as minister of works, co-counselor, Hongwen chancellor, treasury commissioner, and salt and transport chief.
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九月，晉王還太原。 滄州節度使戴思遠棄城來奔，晉人陷貝州。 〈（《歐陽史》本紀：二年九月，晉人克貝州，守將張源德死之。 又，《死事傳》略云：太祖時，源德自金吾衛將軍為蔡州刺史。 貞明元年，魏博節度使楊師厚卒，末帝分魏、相等六州為兩鎮，遣劉鄩將兵萬人屯於魏。 魏軍叛降晉，源德為鄩守貝州。 晉王入魏，諸將欲先擊貝州，晉王曰：「貝城小而堅，攻之難卒下。」 乃先襲破德州，然後以兵五千攻源德，源德堅守不下，晉軍塹而圍之。 已而劉鄩大敗於故元城，南走黎陽，六鎮數十州之地皆歸晉，獨貝一州，圍之逾年不可下。 源德守既堅，而貝人聞晉已盡有河北，城中食且盡，乃勸源德出降，源德不從，遂見殺。）〉 己卯，天平軍節度副大使、知節度事、檢校太師、兼中書令、琅琊郡王王檀薨。
In the ninth month the Prince of Jin went back to Taiyuan. Dai Siyuan fled Cangzhou; Jin took Beizhou. (《New History of the Tang: Basic Annals》: In the ninth month of year two Jin took Beizhou; defender Zhang Yuande died. 《Biographies of Those Who Died for the State》 adds: Under Taizu, Yuande went from Golden Crow guard to Caizhou prefect. In Zhenming 1, when Shihou died, the Later Emperor split Weibo and sent Liu Yan with ten thousand to Wei. Weibo mutinied to Jin; Yuande held Beizhou for Yan. When the Prince of Jin entered Wei his officers wanted Beizhou first; he said: "Bei is small and hard—do not linger." He smashed Dezhou first, then besieged Yuande with five thousand; Yuande held. When Liu Yan was routed at Old Yuancheng and fled, Hebei fell to Jin—all but Bei, besieged more than a year. Yuande held on until Bei's grain was gone and the people knew Jin owned Hebei; they begged him to yield; he refused and was slain.)〉 On jimao Wang Tan of Tianping, Prince of Langya, died.