Volume 25 Book of Later Tang 1: Wuhuang Annals 1

太祖武皇帝，諱克用，本姓朱耶氏，其先隴右金城人也。始祖拔野，唐貞觀中為墨離軍使，從太宗討高麗、薛延陁有功，為金方道副都護，因家於瓜州。太宗平薛延陁諸部，於安西、北庭置都護屬之，分同羅、仆骨之人，置沙陁都督府。蓋北庭有磧曰沙陁，故因以為名焉。永徽中，以拔野為都督，其後子孫五世相承。曾祖盡忠，貞元中，繼為沙陀府都督。既而為吐蕃所陷，乃舉其族七千帳徙於甘州。盡忠尋率部眾三萬東奔，俄而吐蕃追兵大至，盡忠戰歿。祖執宜，即盡忠之長子也，收合餘眾，至於靈州，德宗命為陰山府都督。元和初，入為金吾將軍，遷蔚州刺史、代北行營招撫使。〈（《新唐書·沙陀傳》：元和三年，盡忠款靈州塞，詔處其部鹽州置陰山府，以執宜為府兵馬使。朝長安，授特進、金吾衛將軍。從攻鎮州，進蔚州刺史。破吳元濟，授檢校刑部尚書。長慶初，破賊深州，入朝留宿衛，拜金吾衛將軍。太和中，授陰山府都督、代北行營招撫使。）〉莊宗即位，追諡為昭烈皇帝，廟號懿祖。烈考國昌，本名赤心，唐朔州刺史。咸通中，討龐勳有功，入為金吾上將軍，賜姓李氏，名國昌，〈（代州有《唐故龍武軍統軍檢校司徒贈太保隴四李公神道碑》云：公諱國昌，字德興。）〉仍係鄭王房。出為振武節度使，尋為吐渾所襲，退保於神武川。及武皇鎮太原，表為代北軍節度使。中和三年薨。莊宗即位，追諡為文皇，廟號獻祖。

The Supreme Ancestor Martial Emperor, personal name Keyong, was born of the Zhuye clan; his ancestors came from Jincheng in Longyou. The founding ancestor Baye served as Mori Army commissioner under Zhenguan; he followed Taizong against Goguryeo and the Xueyantuo, was rewarded as deputy protector of the Jin-fang Circuit, and settled his family at Guazhou. After Taizong subdued the Xueyantuo, he set protectors at Anxi and Beiting, assigned the Tongluo and Pugu to them, and founded the Shatuo Chief Commandery. A desert tract at Beiting was called Shatuo, and the name followed from that. Under Yonghui, Baye became chief; five generations of his line succeeded one another. His great-grandfather Jingzhong became Shatuo prefectural chief in the Zhenyuan era. The Tibetans soon overran him; he led seven thousand tents of his clan to relocate at Ganzhou. Jingzhong soon fled east with thirty thousand followers; Tibetan pursuit caught up and he fell in battle. His grandfather Zhiyi, Jingzhong's eldest son, rallied the survivors, reached Lingzhou, and Dezong made him governor of Yinshan Prefecture. Early in Yuanhe he became a Golden Crow general, then prefect of Wei and pacification commissioner for the northern Dai frontier. (The 《New Tang History · Shatuo Treatise》 says: In Yuanhe 3 Jingzhong came in at Lingzhou; the court settled his people at Yanzhou as Yinshan Prefecture and made Zhiyi its horse commissioner. At Chang'an he received Special Advancement and a post in the Golden Crow Guard. He took part in the Zhenzhou campaign and was promoted to Wei prefect. After Wu Yuanji was broken he received the acting post of Minister of Justice. Early in Changqing he crushed rebels at Shenzhou, stayed at court on palace guard duty, and became a Golden Crow Guard general. Under Taihe he was named governor of Yinshan Prefecture and northern campaign pacification commissioner for Dai.)〉 Zhuangzong enthroned him posthumously as Emperor Zhaolie with temple name Ancestor Yi. His father Guochang, born Chixin, had been Tang prefect of Shuo. Under Xiantong he helped crush Pang Xun, entered court as supreme Golden Crow general, and received the imperial surname Li and the name Guochang, (A Dai stele, the 《Stele of Lord Li, Late Tang Longwu Commander, Acting Minister of Works, Posthumously Grand Guardian of Longxi》, records his taboo name Guochang and style Dexing.)〉 and he was entered in the genealogical line of the Prince of Zheng. He was posted as Zhenwu military commissioner; the Tuyuhun soon struck, and he fell back to Shenwu River. Once Wuhuang secured Taiyuan he had him appointed military commissioner of the northern campaign. He died in Zhonghe 3. Zhuangzong enthroned him posthumously as Emperor Wen with temple name Ancestor Xian.

武皇即獻祖之第三子也。母秦氏，以大中十年丙子歲九月二十二日，生於神武川之新城。在妊十三月，載誕之際，母艱危者竟夕。族人憂駭，市藥於雁門，遇神叟告曰：「非巫醫所及，可馳歸，盡率部人，被甲持旄，擊鉦鼓，躍馬大噪，環所居三周而止。」族人如其教，果無恙而生。是時，虹光燭室，白氣充庭，井水暴溢。武皇始言，喜軍中語，齠齔善騎射，與儕類馳騁嬉戲，必出其右。年十三，見雙鳧翔於空，射之連中，眾皆臣伏。新城北有毗沙天王祠，祠前井一日沸溢，武皇因持酒而奠曰：「予有尊主濟民之志，無何井溢，故未察其禍福，惟天王若有神奇，可與仆交談。」奠酒未已，有神人被金甲持戈，隱然出於壁間，見者大驚走，惟武皇從容而退，由是益自負。

Wuhuang was the third son of Ancestor Xian. His mother was Lady Qin; he was born on the twenty-second day of the ninth month, bingzi year of Dazhong 10, at New City on Shenwu River. The pregnancy lasted thirteen months; on the night he was born his mother hovered between life and death. Kinfolk in panic sought medicine at Yanmen; a divine old man told them, "No doctor can help—gallop home, arm every tribesman with banners, beat gongs and drums, ride shouting, and circle the house three times." They did so, and mother and child came through safely. A rainbow filled the room, white mist flooded the courtyard, and the well burst its banks. From his first words he loved camp speech; as a boy he rode and shot superbly and always beat his playmates in their games. At thirteen he brought down two mandarin ducks in one flight; onlookers bowed in awe. North of New City stood a Vaisravana shrine whose well one day boiled over; Wuhuang poured a libation and said, "I mean to serve my sovereign and save the people; this well has burst without warning, so I cannot read the omen—Heavenly King, if you have power, speak with me." Before the cup was drained an armored figure with a spear seemed to step from the wall; all fled in terror while Wuhuang walked away calmly, and his pride only grew.

獻祖之討龐勳也，武皇年十五，從征，摧鋒陷陣，出諸將之右，軍中目為「飛虎子」。賊平，獻祖授振武節度使，武皇為雲中牙將。嘗在雲中，宿於別館，擁妓醉寢，有俠兒持刃欲害武皇；及突入曲室，但見烈火熾赫於帳中，俠兒駭異而退。又嘗與達靼部人角勝，達靼指雙雕於空曰：「公能一發中否？」武皇即彎弧發矢，連貫雙雕，邊人拜伏。及壯，為雲中守捉使，事防禦使支謨，與同列晨集廨舍，因戲升郡閣，踞謨之座，謨亦不敢詰。

At fifteen Wuhuang followed Ancestor Xian against Pang Xun, led every charge, and outshone the generals; the troops nicknamed him the Flying Tiger Cub. After the rebels fell Ancestor Xian received Zhenwu and Wuhuang became an adjutant at Yunzhong. Once in Yunzhong he slept drunk with courtesans in a side lodge while an assassin crept in with a blade; but inside the tent blazed with fire; the man fled in horror. Another time he competed with Tatars who pointed to two eagles aloft and asked, "Can you drop both with one arrow?" He bent his bow and struck both; the border people prostrated themselves. As a man he was Yunzhong garrison commander under defense commissioner Zhi Mo; one morning he and his fellows climbed the prefectural tower for sport and sprawled on Mo's seat, and Mo did not dare rebuke him.

乾符三年，朝廷以段文楚為代北水陸發運、雲州防禦使。時歲薦饑，文楚稍削軍食，諸軍鹹怨。武皇為雲中防邊督將，部下爭訴以軍食不充，邊校程懷素、王行審、蓋寓、李存璋、薛鐵山、康君立等，即擁武皇入雲州，眾且萬人，營於鬥雞台，城中械文楚出，以應於外。諸將列狀以聞，請授武皇旄鉞，朝廷不允，征諸道兵以討之。

In Qianfu 3 the court appointed Duan Wenchu commissioner of northern transport and Yunzhou defense. Famine struck again; Wenchu trimmed rations and the whole army seethed. Wuhuang, as Yunzhong frontier superintendent, heard endless complaints of short rations; Cheng Huaisu, Wang Xingshen, Gai Yu, Li Cunzhang, Xue Tieshan, Kang Junli, and other frontier officers then forced him into Yunzhou with nearly ten thousand men at Cockfight Terrace while the city handed Wenchu over to them. The officers memorialized jointly for Wuhuang to receive the baton of command; the court refused and mobilized every circuit against them.

乾符五年，黃巢渡江，其勢滋蔓，天子乃悟其事，以武皇為大同軍節度使、檢校工部尚書。冬，獻祖出師討党項，吐渾赫連鐸乘虛陷振武，舉族為吐渾所擄。武皇至定邊軍迎獻祖歸雲州，雲州守將拒關不納。武皇略蔚、朔之地，得三千人，屯神武川之新城。赫邊鐸晝夜攻圍，武皇昆弟三人四面應賊，俄而獻祖自蔚州引軍至，吐渾退走，自是軍勢復振。天子以赫連鐸為大同軍節度使，仍命進軍以討武皇。

In Qianfu 5 Huang Chao crossed the river and his strength swelled; the emperor then grasped the situation and made Wuhuang Datong military commissioner and acting Minister of Works. That winter Ancestor Xian marched against the Tangut; Helian Duo of the Tuyuhun struck Zhenwu in his absence and carried off the whole clan. Wuhuang met Ancestor Xian at Dingbian and tried to return to Yunzhou, but the garrison barred the gates. He swept Wei and Shuo, raised three thousand men, and camped at New City on Shenwu River. Helian Duo pressed the siege without pause; Wuhuang and his three brothers fought on every side until Ancestor Xian marched from Weizhou and the Tuyuhun pulled back; their power revived. The court named Helian Duo Datong commissioner and ordered him to march on Wuhuang.

乾符六年春，朝廷以昭義節度使李鈞充北面招討使，將上黨、太原之師過石嶺關，屯於代州，與幽州李可舉會赫連鐸同攻蔚州。獻祖以一軍禦之，武皇以一軍南抵遮虜城以拒李鈞。是冬大雪，弓弩弦折，南軍苦寒，臨戰大敗，奔歸代州，李鈞中流矢而卒。

In spring of Qianfu 6 Li Jun of Zhaoyi was made northern commander-in-chief; he led Shangdang and Taiyuan forces through Shiling Pass to Dai, and with Li Keju of Youzhou and Helian Duo besieged Weizhou. Ancestor Xian met them with one wing; Wuhuang took another south to Zhelu Fort to stop Li Jun. Heavy snow that winter snapped every bowstring; the southern force froze, broke in battle, fled to Dai, and Li Jun died of an arrow wound.

廣明元年春，天子復命元帥李涿率兵數萬屯代州。武皇令軍使傅文達起兵於蔚州，朔州刺史高文集與薛葛、安慶等部將縛文達送於李涿。六月，李涿引大軍攻蔚州，獻祖戰不利，乃率其族奔於達靼部。居數月，吐渾赫連鐸密遣人賂達靼以離間獻祖，既而漸生猜阻。武皇知之，每召其豪右射獵於野，或與之百步馳射馬鞭，或以懸針樹葉為的，中之如神，由是部人心伏，不敢竊發。俄而黃巢自江、淮北渡，武皇椎牛釃酒，饗其酋首。酒酣，諭之曰：「予父子為賊臣讒間，報國無由。今聞黃巢北犯江、淮，必為中原之患。一日天子赦宥，有詔征兵，仆與公等向南而定天下，是予心也。人生世間，光景幾何，曷能終老沙堆中哉！公等勉之。」達靼知無留意，皆釋然無間。

In spring of Guangming 1 the emperor again sent Marshal Li Zhuo with tens of thousands to camp at Dai. Wuhuang had Fu Wenda raise troops at Weizhou; Shuo prefect Gao Wenji and officers Xue Ge and An Qing bound Wenda and delivered him to Li Zhuo. In the sixth month Li Zhuo assaulted Weizhou; Ancestor Xian was beaten and fled with his clan to the Tatars. Months later Helian Duo bribed the Tatars to turn against Ancestor Xian, and distrust slowly took hold. Wuhuang saw it; he hunted with their leaders, matched them shooting horsewhips at a hundred paces, or pinned hanging needles and leaves—and never missed; the tribes submitted in awe and dared not plot. When Huang Chao crossed the Huai from the south, Wuhuang feasted the Tatar chiefs with oxen and wine. Deep in his cups he told them, "Slander cut my father and me off from the throne—we could not serve the realm. Now Huang Chao drives north along the Yangzi and Huai and will ravage the heartland. When the emperor pardons us and calls for armies, I mean to march south with you and settle the empire. Life is brief—who wants to die in the sand? Take heart, all of you." Seeing he would not linger, the Tatars put aside suspicion.

是歲十一月，黃巢寇潼關，天子令河東監軍陳景思為代北起軍使，收兵破賊。十二月，黃巢犯長安，僖宗幸蜀，陳景思與李友金發沙陁諸部五千騎南赴京師。友金即武皇之族父也。〈（《通鑒》：友金初與高文集並降於李琢，故得與陳景思南赴京師。）〉

In the eleventh month Huang Chao threatened Tong Pass; the emperor made Chen Jingsi of Hedong northern recruiting commissioner to raise troops against him. In the twelfth month Huang Chao took Chang'an; Xizong fled to Shu; Chen Jingsi and Li Youjin led five thousand Shatuo horsemen south to the capital. Youjin was Wuhuang's kinsman on his father's side. (The 《Zizhi Tongjian》 says Youjin had surrendered with Gao Wenji to Li Zhuo, which let him join Chen Jingsi's march south.)〉

中和元年二月，友金軍至絳州，將渡河，刺史瞿稹謂陳景思曰：「巢賊方盛，不如且還代北，徐圖利害。」四月，友金旋軍雁門，瞿稹至代州，半月之間，募兵三萬，營於崞縣之西。其軍皆北邊五部之眾，不閑軍法，瞿正、李友金不能制。友金謂景思曰：「興大眾，成大事，當威名素著，則可以伏人。今軍雖數萬，苟無善帥，進亦無功。吾兄李司徒父子，去歲獲罪於國家，今寄北部，雄武之略，為眾所推。若驃騎急奏召還，代北之人，一麾響應，則妖賊不足平也。」景思然之，促奏行在。天子乃以武皇為雁門節度使，仍令以本軍討賊。〈（《新唐書·王重榮傳》：重榮懼黃巢復振，憂之，與復光計，復光曰：「我世與李克用共憂患，其人忠不顧難，死義如己，若乞師焉，事蔑不濟。」乃遣使者約連和。）〉李友金發五百騎齎詔召武皇於達靼，武皇即率達靼諸部萬人趨雁門。五月，整兵二萬，南向京師。太原鄭從讜以兵守石嶺關，武皇乃引軍出他道；至太原城下，會大雨，班師於雁門。

In the second month of Zhonghe 1 Youjin reached Jiangzhou to cross the river; Qu Zhi told Chen Jingsi, "Chao is still rampant—fall back to Dai for now and choose your moment." In the fourth month Youjin withdrew to Yanmen; Qu Zhi reached Dai and raised thirty thousand men west of Guo in a fortnight. They were tribesmen of the five northern confederacies, untrained in drill; neither Qu Zheng nor Li Youjin could hold them. Youjin told Jingsi, "A great host needs a name men already fear. Tens of thousands without a proven leader will march nowhere. My kinsman Minister Li and his son offended the court last year and shelter in the north; everyone trusts their martial genius. Summon them by urgent memorial and every northerner will rally—Chao will fall easily." Jingsi agreed and rushed word to the court in exile. The emperor then named Wuhuang Yanmen military commissioner and ordered his troops against the rebels. (The 《New Tang History · Wang Chongrong Biography》 says Chongrong dreaded Chao's return and consulted Fuguang, who said, "Our houses and Li Keyong have shared peril for generations; he is loyal, fearless, and treats another's death as his own—ask him for troops and you cannot fail." Envoys were sent to ally with him.)〉 Li Youjin sent five hundred horsemen with the edict to fetch Wuhuang from the Tatars; he led ten thousand Tatar riders straight for Yanmen. In the fifth month he gathered twenty thousand men and marched south on the capital. Zheng Congdian of Taiyuan blocked Shiling Pass; Wuhuang detoured; but heavy rain at Taiyuan forced him back to Yanmen.

中和二年八月，獻祖自達靼部率其族歸代州。十月，武皇率忻、代、蔚、朔、達靼之軍三萬五千騎赴難於京師。先移檄太原，鄭從讜拒關不納，武皇以兵擊之，進軍至城下，遣人齎幣馬遺從讜；從讜亦遣人饋武皇貨幣、饔餼、軍器。武皇南去，自陰地趨晉、絳。十二月，武皇至河中。

In the eighth month of Zhonghe 2 Ancestor Xian brought his clan home from the Tatars to Dai. In the tenth month Wuhuang marched south with thirty-five thousand horse from Xin, Dai, Wei, Shuo, and the Tatars to save the court. He announced his coming at Taiyuan; Congdian barred the pass; Wuhuang assaulted the city and sent gifts of silk and horses; Congdian replied with goods, food, and arms. Wuhuang turned south through Yindi toward Jin and Jiang. In the twelfth month he reached Hezhong.

中和三年正月，晉國公王鐸承製授武皇東北面行營都統。武皇令其弟克修領前鋒五百騎渡河視賊，黃巢遣將米重威齎重賂及偽詔以賜武皇；武皇納其賂以給諸將，燔其偽詔。是時，諸道勤王之師雲集京畿，然以賊勢尚熾，未敢爭鋒。及武皇將至，賊帥相謂曰：「鴉兒軍至，當避其鋒。」武皇以兵自夏陽濟河。二月，營於乾坑店。黃巢大將尚讓、林言、王璠、趙璋等引軍十五萬屯於梁田坡。翌日，大軍合戰，自午及晡，巢賊大敗。是夜，賊眾遁據華州。武皇進軍圍之，巢弟黃鄴、黃揆固守。三月，尚讓引大軍赴援，武皇率兵萬餘逆戰於零口，巢軍大敗，武皇進軍渭橋。翌日，黃揆棄華州而遁。王鐸承製授武皇雁門節度使、檢校尚書左僕射。四月，黃巢燔長安，收其餘眾，東走藍關。武皇時收京師。七月，天子授武皇金紫光祿大夫、檢校左僕射、河東節度使。〈（《舊唐書·僖宗紀》：五月，製以雁門以北行營節度、忻代蔚朔等州觀察處置等使、檢校尚書左僕射、代州刺史、上柱國、食邑七百戶李克用檢校司空、同平章事兼太原尹、北京留守，充河東節度、管內觀察處置等使。《新唐書·沙陀傳》云：收京師功第一，進同中書門下平章事、隴西郡公。未幾，以克用領河東節度。）〉

In the first month of Zhonghe 3 Wang Duo, Duke of Jin, appointed Wuhuang overall commander of the northeastern campaign by imperial order. He sent his brother Kexiu with five hundred vanguard horsemen to scout the rebels; Chao's general Mi Chongwei came with rich gifts and a forged edict; Wuhuang paid his officers from the bribes and burned the forged edict. Every circuit had sent relief troops to the capital, but Chao was still too strong for anyone to close with him. As Wuhuang drew near, the rebel commanders said among themselves: "The Crow-Son Army is here—we must give way to their attack." Wuhuang crossed the Yellow River from Xiayang with his army. In the second month he camped at Qiangeng Post. Shang Rang, Lin Yan, Wang Fan, and Zhao Zhang, Huang Chao's chief generals, brought a hundred and fifty thousand men to Liangtian Slope. The next day the armies fought from noon until dusk and Huang Chao's forces were routed. That night the rebels withdrew into Hua prefecture. Wuhuang pressed the siege while Huang Ye and Huang Kui, Huang Chao's brothers, defended the city. In the third month Shang Rang marched to relieve the city; Wuhuang met him at Lingkou with over ten thousand men, routed the Chao army, and advanced to Wei Bridge. The next day Huang Kui abandoned Hua and fled. Wang Duo, acting on imperial orders, made Wuhuang military commissioner of Yanmen and honorary Left Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat. In the fourth month Huang Chao burned Chang'an, rallied his survivors, and fled east through Lan Pass. Wuhuang was then taking control of the capital. In the seventh month the emperor named Wuhuang Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon, honorary Left Vice Director, and military commissioner of Hedong. (The 《Old Book of Tang · Annals of Emperor Xizong》 records that in the fifth month Li Keyong—already campaign commissioner north of Yanmen and military commissioner of Xin, Dai, Wei, and Shuo—was promoted to Minister of Works, Tongping Grand Councilor, Grand Governor of Taiyuan, and full Hedong commissioner.) The 《New Book of Tang · Biography of the Shatuo》 adds that for leading the recovery of the capital he became Tongping Grand Councilor and Duke of Longxi. Soon afterward he took up the Hedong commission in full.)〉

是時，武皇既收長安，軍勢甚雄，諸侯之師皆畏之。武皇一目微眇，故其時號為「獨眼龍」。是月，武皇仗節赴鎮。遣使報鄭從讜，請治裝歸朝。武皇次於郊外，因往赴雁門寧覲獻祖。八月，自雁門赴鎮河東，時年二十有八。十一月，平潞州，表其弟克修為昭義節度使。潞帥孟方立退保於邢州。

By then Wuhuang held Chang'an and his army was so powerful that the other warlords feared him. One of his eyes was weak, and men called him the "One-Eyed Dragon." That month he set out for his post with the imperial baton of office. He notified Zheng Congdang and asked him to make ready for the return to court. He paused in the suburbs, then went to Yanmen to pay his respects at the tomb of his ancestor Xian. In the eighth month he left Yanmen for Hedong; he was twenty-eight years old. In the eleventh month he took Lu prefecture and asked that his brother Kexiu be made Zhaoyi military commissioner. Meng Fangli, the Lu commander, fell back to defend Xing prefecture.

十二月，許帥田從異、汴帥朱溫、徐帥時溥、陳州刺史趙犨各遣使來告，以巢、蔡合從，凶鋒尚熾，請武皇共力討賊。

In the twelfth month Tian Congyi of Xu prefecture, Zhu Wen of Bian, Shi Pu of Xuzhou, and Zhao Chou of Chen each wrote that Huang Chao and the Cai rebels were allied and still dangerous, and begged Wuhuang to help destroy them.

中和四年春，武皇率蕃漢之師五萬，自澤、潞將下天井關；河陽節度使諸葛爽辭以河橋不完，乃屯兵於萬善。數日。移軍自河中南渡，趨汝、洛。四月，武皇合徐、汴之師破尚讓於太康，斬獲萬計，進攻賊於西華，賊將黃鄴棄營而遁。是夜大雨，巢營中驚亂，乃棄西華之壘，退營陳州北故陽裏。五月癸亥，大雨震電，平地水深數尺，賊營為水所漂而潰。戊辰，武皇引軍營於中牟，大破賊於王滿渡。庚午，巢賊大至，濟汴而北。是夜，復大雨，賊黨驚潰。武皇營於鄭州，賊眾分寇汴境。武皇渡汴，遇賊將渡而南，半濟擊之，大敗之，臨陣斬賊將李周、王濟安、陽景彪等。是夜，賊大敗，殘眾保於胙縣、冤句。大軍躡之，黃巢乃攜妻子兄弟千餘人東走，武皇追賊至於曹州。

In the spring of Zhonghe 4 Wuhuang led fifty thousand mixed Tartar and Chinese troops from Ze and Lu down on Tianjing Pass; Zhuge Shuang of Heyang said the river bridge was unfinished, so the army halted at Wanshan. After several days, he crossed the river from Heyang and marched on Ru and Luo. In the fourth month, with the Xu and Bian armies, he crushed Shang Rang at Taikang, took tens of thousands of heads and captives, and drove on Xihua until Huang Ye abandoned his camp. That night heavy rain panicked Huang Chao's camp; they left Xihua and fell back to the old Yang quarter north of Chen. On guihai in the fifth month thunder and torrential rain flooded the plain several feet deep and washed the rebel camps away. On wuchen he encamped at Zhongmou and routed the rebels at Wangman Ford. On gengwu Huang Chao brought up his main force and crossed the Bian River northward. That night another storm broke the rebel ranks in panic. Wuhuang camped at Zhengzhou while rebel detachments raided the Bian border. He crossed the Bian, caught rebel columns mid-river, cut them down, and killed Li Zhou, Wang Ji'an, and Yang Jingbiao in the fighting. That night the rebels were shattered; the remnants held Zuo county and Yuanqu. The pursuit closed in; Huang Chao fled east with more than a thousand kin; Wuhuang chased him as far as Cao prefecture.

是月，班師過汴，汴帥迎勞於封禪寺，請武皇休於府第，乃以從官三百人及監軍使陳景思館於上源驛。是夜，張樂陳宴席，汴帥自佐饗，出珍幣侑勸。武皇酒酣，戲諸侍妓，與汴帥握手，敘破賊事以為樂。汴帥素忌武皇，乃與其將楊彥洪密謀竊發，彥洪於巷陌連車樹柵，以扼奔竄之路。時武皇之從官皆醉，俄而伏兵竄發，來攻傳舍。武皇方大醉，噪聲動地，從官十餘人捍賊。侍人郭景銖滅燭扶武皇，以茵幕裹之，匿於床下，以水灑麵，徐曰：「汴帥謀害司空！」武皇方張目而起，引弓抗賊。有頃，煙火四合，復大雨震電，武皇得從者薛鐵山、賀回鶻等數人而去。雨水如澍，不辨人物，隨電光登尉氏門，縋城而出，得還本營。監軍陳景思、大將史敬思並遇害。武皇既還營，與劉夫人相向慟哭。詰旦，欲勒軍攻汴，夫人曰：「司空比為國家討賊，赴東諸侯之急，雖汴人謀害，自有朝廷論列。若反戈攻城，則曲在我也，人得以為辭。」乃收軍而去，馳檄於汴帥。汴帥報曰：「竊發之夜，非仆本心，是朝廷遣天使與牙將楊彥洪同謀也。」武皇自武牢關西趨蒲、陝而旋。秋七月，至太原。武皇自以累立大功，為汴帥怨圖，陷沒諸將，乃上章申理。及武皇表至，朝廷大恐，遣內臣宣諭，尋加守太傅、同平章事、隴西郡王。

On the homeward march that month he stopped at Bian; the Bian commander entertained him at Fengchan Temple and invited him to his residence while three hundred staff and the supervisor Chen Jingsi were lodged at Shangyuan Post. That night there was a banquet with music; the Bian commander waited on him in person and offered costly gifts with the wine. Drunk, Wuhuang bantered with the singing girls, clasped the Bian commander's hand, and exulted over their victory over the rebels. The Bian commander had long envied him; he and Yang Yanhong plotted a night attack and barricaded the streets with chained carts. Wuhuang's party was drunk when ambushers stormed the lodge. Still heavily drunk, he heard the clamor; a dozen followers fought off the attackers. Guo Jingyin put out the lamps, steadied Wuhuang, wrapped him in bedding, hid him beneath the couch, splashed water on his face, and whispered: "The Bian commander means to murder you, Minister of Works!" He opened his eyes, got up, and shot back at the assailants. Fire closed in on every side; thunder and rain broke again; he escaped with Xue Tieshan, He Huihu, and a few others. Rain fell in sheets and men could not see one another; by a flash of lightning he scaled Weishi Gate, was let down by rope, and reached his camp. Chen Jingsi, the army supervisor, and the general Shi Jingsi were killed. Back in camp he and Lady Liu wept together. At dawn he wanted to turn the army on Bian; Lady Liu said: "You have just served the throne against the rebels and hurried east at the other lords' call; if Bian plotted against you, the court will judge it. If you attack their city, the fault will be yours and they will have a case against you." He drew off the army and sent an urgent message to the Bian commander. The Bian commander answered: "I did not intend that night's attack; an imperial envoy from the court plotted it with Yang Yanhong. Wuhuang marched west through Wulao Pass by way of Pu and Shan and withdrew. In the seventh month of autumn he reached Taiyuan. Feeling that his repeated victories had been repaid with the Bian commander's treachery and the death of his officers, he memorialized the throne. The court was alarmed when his memorial arrived, sent an inner envoy to reassure him, and soon made him Grand Tutor, Tongping Grand Councilor, and Duke of Longxi.

十一月，河中王重榮遣使來乞師，且言邠州朱玫、鳳翔李符將加兵於己。初，武皇與汴人構怨，前後八表，請削奪汴帥官爵，自以本軍進討。天子累遣內臣楊復恭宣旨，令且全大體，武皇不時奉詔，天子頗右汴帥。時觀軍容使田令孜君側擅權，惡王重榮與武皇膠固，將離其勢，乃移重榮於定州。重榮告於武皇，武皇上章言：「李符、朱玫挾邪忌正，黨庇朱溫。臣已點檢蕃漢軍五萬，取來年渡河，先斬朱玫、李冒符，然後平蕩朱溫。」〈（《新唐書·王重榮傳》：詔克用將兵援河中，重榮貽克用書，且言：「奉密詔，須公到，使我圖公，此令孜、朱全忠、朱玫之惑上也。」因示偽詔。克用方與全忠有隙，信之，請討全忠及玫。）〉天子覽表，遣使譬喻百端，軺傳相望。既而朱玫引邠、鳳之師攻河中，王重榮出師拒戰。朱玫軍於沙苑，對壘月餘。十二月，武皇引軍渡河，與朱玫決戰，玫大敗，收軍夜遁，入於京師。時京城大駭。天子幸鳳翔，武皇退軍於河中。

In the eleventh month Wang Chongrong of Hezhong asked for aid, saying Zhu Mei of Bin and Li Fu of Fengxiang were marching against him. Already bitter toward Bian, Wuhuang had eight times asked that Zhu Wen be degraded and that he be allowed to attack him. The emperor repeatedly sent Yang Fugong to urge restraint; Wuhuang delayed obeying, and the court leaned toward Bian. Tian Lingzi, the army supervisor, hated the alliance of Chongrong and Wuhuang and tried to split them by moving Chongrong to Dingzhou. Chongrong appealed to Wuhuang, who wrote: "Li Fu and Zhu Mei are corrupt, hate the loyal, and protect Zhu Wen. I have fifty thousand Tartar and Chinese troops ready and will cross the river next year, kill Zhu Mei and Li Fu, and then destroy Zhu Wen." (The 《New Book of Tang · Biography of Wang Chongrong》 says: When Li Keyong was ordered to aid Hezhong, Chongrong wrote that a secret edict required him to destroy Keyong once he came—that Tian Lingzi, Zhu Quanzhong, and Zhu Mei had misled the throne.) He showed the forged edict as proof. Keyong, already hostile to Zhu Quanzhong, believed him and asked to attack Quanzhong and Mei.)〉 The emperor read the memorial and sent envoy after envoy to reason with him; dispatches crowded the road. Soon Zhu Mei brought the Bin and Fengxiang armies against Hezhong and Chongrong marched out to meet them. Zhu Mei camped at Shayuan and the armies faced each other for over a month. In the twelfth month Wuhuang crossed the river, routed Zhu Mei in a decisive battle, and Mei fled by night into the capital. The capital was thrown into panic. The emperor fled to Fengxiang; Wuhuang pulled back to Hezhong.

光啟二年正月，僖宗駐蹕於寶雞，武皇自河中遣使上章，請車駕還京，且言大軍止誅凶黨。時田令孜請僖宗南幸興元，武皇遂班師。朱玫於鳳翔立嗣襄王煴為帝，以偽詔賜武皇，武皇燔之，械其使，馳檄諸方鎮，遣使奉表於行在。九月，武皇遣昭義節度使李克修討孟方立於邢州，大敗方立之眾於焦崗，斬首數千級。以大將安金俊為邢州刺史，以撫其降人。十月，進攻邢州，邢人出戰，又敗之。盂方立求援於鎮州，鎮人出兵三萬以援方立，克修班師。

In the first month of Guangqi 2, with Xizong at Baoji, Wuhuang wrote from Hezhong asking him to return to Chang'an and promising to punish only the rebels. Tian Lingzi persuaded Xizong to go south to Xingyuan, and Wuhuang withdrew. Zhu Mei set up Li Yun, Prince of Xiang, as emperor at Fengxiang and sent a forged edict to Wuhuang; Wuhuang burned it, chained the envoy, notified the provinces, and wrote to the traveling court. In the ninth month he sent Li Kexiu of Zhaoyi against Meng Fangli at Xingzhou; at Jiaogang Kexiu routed Fangli and took several thousand heads. He installed the general An Jinjun as prefect of Xing to pacify the surrendered. In the tenth month he besieged Xing; the defenders sallied and were beaten again. Fangli called on Zhenzhou for help; thirty thousand men came to his aid and Kexiu withdrew.

光啟三年六月，河中節度使王重榮為部將常行儒所殺，武皇表重榮兄重盈為帥。七月，武皇以安金俊為澤州刺史。時張全義自河陽據澤州，及李罕之收復河陽，召全義令守洛陽，全義乃棄澤州而去，故以金俊守之。

In the sixth month of Guangqi 3 the Hezhong commissioner Wang Chongrong was murdered by his officer Chang Xingru; Wuhuang asked that his brother Chongying succeed him. In the seventh month he made An Jinjun prefect of Ze. Zhang Quanyi had seized Ze from Heyang; when Li Hanzhi retook Heyang he called Quanyi to Luoyang, Quanyi abandoned Ze, and Jinjun was stationed there.

龍紀元年五月，遣李罕之、李存孝攻邢州。六月，下磁州。邢將馬溉率兵數萬來拒戰，罕之敗之於琉璃陂，生擒馬溉，徇於城下。孟方立恚恨，飲鴆而死。三軍立其侄遷為留後，使求援於汴。汴將王虔裕率精甲數百入於邢州，罕之等班師。

In the fifth month of Longji 1 he sent Li Hanzhi and Li Cunxiao against Xingzhou. In the sixth month they took Cizhou. Ma Gai of Xing brought tens of thousands to the fight; Hanzhi beat him at Liuli Slope, took him alive, and paraded him before the city. Meng Fangli, in despair, took poison and died. The army made his nephew Qian acting commander and asked Bian for help. Wang Qianyu of Bian entered Xing with several hundred elite horsemen; Hanzhi withdrew.

五月，潞州軍亂，殺節度使李克恭，州人推牙將安居受為留後，南結汴將。時潞之小將馮霸擁叛徒三千騎駐於沁水，居受使人召之，馮霸不至。居受懼，出奔至長子，為村胥所殺，傳首於霸；霸遂入潞州，自為留後。武皇遣大將康君立、李存孝等攻之，汴將朱崇節、葛從周率兵入潞州以固之。是時，幽州李匡威、雲州赫連鐸與汴帥協謀，連上表請加兵於太原，宰相張浚、孔緯讚成其事。六月，天子削奪武皇官爵，以張浚為招討使，以京兆尹孫揆為副，華州韓建為行營都虞候，以汴帥為河東南面招討使，幽州李匡威為河東北面招討使，雲州赫連鐸為副。汴將朱友裕將兵屯晉、絳，時汴軍已據潞州，又遣大將李讜等率軍數萬，急攻澤州，武皇遣李存孝自潞州將三千騎以援之。汴將鄧季筠以一軍犯陣，存孝追擊，擒其都將十數人，獲馬千餘匹。是夜，李讜收軍而退，大軍掩擊至馬牢關，斬首萬餘級，追襲至懷州而還。存孝復引軍攻潞州。

In the fifth month the Lu garrison killed commissioner Li Kegong; the men made the junior officer An Jushou acting commander and turned to Bian. Feng Ba, a Lu officer, held three thousand mutinous horsemen at Qinshui; Jushou summoned him, but he refused. Jushou fled in fear to Changzi, where a village headman killed him and sent his head to Feng Ba; Feng Ba then entered Lu and declared himself acting commander. Wuhuang sent Kang Junli and Li Cunxiao against him; Zhu Chongjie and Ge Congzhou of Bian marched into Lu to hold the city. Li Kuangwei of Youzhou and Helian Duo of Yunzhou joined Zhu Wen in urging the court to reinforce the campaign against Taiyuan; Zhang Jun and Kong Wei backed them. In the sixth month the emperor degraded Wuhuang, made Zhang Jun commander of the expedition with Sun Kui as deputy and Han Jian as chief of staff, Zhu Wen southern commissioner against Hedong, Li Kuangwei northern commissioner, and Helian Duo his deputy. Zhu Youyu of Bian encamped at Jin and Jiang; Bian already held Lu, and Li Dan and others were hurrying tens of thousands against Ze; Wuhuang sent Li Cunxiao from Lu with three thousand horsemen to relieve the city. Bian general Deng Jiyun led a detachment against the line; Li Cunxiao pursued, took a dozen of his commanders, and captured more than a thousand horses. That night Li Dang pulled back; the main army struck in pursuit to Malao Pass, took more than ten thousand heads, and chased as far as Huai Prefecture before turning back. Cunxiao again marched on Lu Prefecture.

八月，存孝擒新授昭義節度使孫揆。初，朝廷授揆節鉞，以本軍取刀黃嶺路赴任，存孝偵知之，引騎三百伏於長子縣崖穀間。揆建牙持節，褒衣大蓋，擁眾而行，存孝突出穀口，遂擒揆及中使韓歸範，並將校五百人。存孝械揆等，以組練係之，環於潞州，遂獻於武皇。武皇謂揆曰：「公搢紳之士，安言徐步可至達官，何用如是！」揆無以對，令係於晉陽獄。武皇將用為副使，使人誘之，揆言不遜，遂殺之。

In the eighth month Li Cunxiao captured the newly appointed Zhaoyi military commissioner Sun Kui. The court had given Kui his commission and ordered him to take his troops by the Daohuang Ridge road to his post. Cunxiao learned of it, led three hundred cavalry, and hid in the cliff gorges of Changzi. Kui went forth with his insignia, broad robes, and a great canopy, surrounded by his train. Cunxiao rushed from the gorge, seized Kui and the palace envoy Han Guifan, and five hundred officers and men. Cunxiao put Kui and the rest in fetters, tied them with cords, paraded them around Lu Prefecture, and sent them to Wuhuang. Wuhuang told Kui, "You are a court gentleman; they say a man need only walk slowly to reach high rank—why trouble yourself like this! 」Kui could not answer and was confined in the Jinyang prison. Wuhuang meant to make him his deputy and sent men to win him over; Kui answered insolently and was executed.

九月，汴將葛從周棄潞州而遁，武皇以康君立為潞州節度使，以李存孝為汾州刺史。十月，張浚之師入晉州，遊軍至汾、隰。武皇遣薛鐵山、李承嗣將騎三千出陰地關，營於洪洞，遣李存孝將兵五千，營於趙城。華州韓建以壯士三百人冒犯存孝之營，存孝追擊，直壓晉州西門，張浚之師出戰，為存孝所敗，自是閉壁不出。存孝引軍攻絳州。十二月，晉州刺史張行恭棄城而奔，韓建、張浚由含山路遁去。

In the ninth month Ge Congzhou of Bian abandoned Lu and fled. Wuhuang made Kang Junli military commissioner of Lu and Li Cunxiao prefect of Fen. In the tenth month Zhang Jun's army entered Jin Prefecture and scouting parties reached Fen and Xi. Wuhuang sent Xue Tieshan and Li Chengsi with three thousand horse out Yindi Pass to camp at Hongdong, and Li Cunxiao with five thousand men to camp at Zhaocheng. Han Jian of Huazhou sent three hundred picked men against Cunxiao's camp; Cunxiao pursued them to the west gate of Jin Prefecture. When Zhang Jun's army came out to fight, Cunxiao routed it; from then on they shut the walls and would not come out. Cunxiao marched on Jiang Prefecture. In the twelfth month Jin prefect Zhang Xinggong abandoned the city and fled; Han Jian and Zhang Jun slipped away by the Hanshan road.

大順二年春正月，武皇上章申理，其略曰：「臣今身無官爵，名是罪人，不敢歸陛下藩方，且欲於河中寄寓，進退行止，伏候聖裁。」天子尋就加守中書令。〈（《歐陽史》：二月，復拜克用河東節度使、隴西郡王，加檢校太師、兼中書令。）〉是月，魏博為汴將葛從周所寇，節度使羅宏信遣使來求援，武皇出師以赴之。

In the first month of spring in Datong 2, Wuhuang memorialized in his own defense, saying in summary: "Your servant now holds no office and bears the name of a criminal; I dare not return to my circuit under Your Majesty and wish instead to lodge at Hezhong for a time; my movements await the sacred decision. 」The emperor soon made him acting chief councilor. (Ouyang's history says: In the second month Keyong was again made military governor of Hedong and Prince of Longxi, with the added titles of honorary Grand Preceptor and chief councilor.)〉 That month Ge Congzhou of Bian raided Weibo; military commissioner Luo Hongxin sent envoys asking for help, and Wuhuang marched to relieve him.

三月，邢州節度使安知建叛，奔青州。天子以知建為神武統軍，自棣州溯河歸朝。鄆州朱瑄邀斬於河上，傳首晉陽。以李存孝為邢州節度使。四月，武皇大舉兵討赫連鐸於雲州，遣騎將薛阿檀率前軍以進攻，武皇設伏兵於御河之上，大破之，因塹守其城。七月，武皇進軍柳會，赫連鐸力屈食盡，奔於吐渾部，遂歸幽州，雲州平。武皇表石善友為大同軍防禦使。邢州節度使李存孝以鎮州王熔托附汴人，謀亂河朔，北連燕寇，請乘雲、代之捷，平定燕、趙，武皇然之。八月，大搜於晉陽，遂南巡澤、潞，略地懷、孟，河陽趙克裕望風送款，請修鄰好。九月，蒐於邢州。十月，李存孝董前軍攻臨城，鎮人五萬營於臨城西北龍尾崗。武皇令李存審、李存賢以步軍攻之，鎮人大敗，殺獲萬計，拔臨城，進攻元氏。幽州李匡威以步騎五萬營於鄗邑，以援鎮州，武皇分兵大掠，旋軍邢州。

In the third month Xing military commissioner An Zhijian rebelled and fled to Qingzhou. The emperor named him commander of the Divine Martial Army and ordered him to return to court up the river from Di Prefecture. Zhu Xuan of Yanzhou cut him down on the river and sent his head to Jinyang. Li Cunxiao was made military commissioner of Xing. In the fourth month Wuhuang raised a great army against Helian Tuo at Yunzhou, sent the cavalry commander Xue Atan with the vanguard to press the attack, and set ambushers along the Yu River; he broke Tuo utterly and then walled the city in. In the seventh month Wuhuang advanced to Liuhui; Helian Tuo, out of strength and food, fled to the Tuyuhun and then to Youzhou; Yunzhou was pacified. Wuhuang memorialized that Shi Shanyou be made defense commissioner of the Datong Army. Li Cunxiao of Xing, seeing that Wang Rong of Zhen had thrown in with Bian, plotted to stir trouble in Hebei and ally with Yan in the north; he asked to use the Yun and Dai victories to pacify Yan and Zhao, and Wuhuang agreed. In the eighth month he held a great hunt at Jinyang, then marched south through Ze and Lu and overran Huai and Meng; Zhao Keyu of Heyang submitted at his approach and asked for peace between neighbors. In the ninth month he hunted at Xingzhou. In the tenth month Li Cunxiao led the vanguard against Lincheng; fifty thousand men of Zhen camped on Longwei Ridge northwest of the city. Wuhuang sent Li Cunshen and Li Cunxian with infantry against them; the Zhen army was routed, with tens of thousands killed or taken; Lincheng fell and the attack moved on Yuanshi. Li Kuangwei of Youzhou camped at Hao with fifty thousand foot and horse to relieve Zhen; Wuhuang split his forces for wide raiding and then wheeled back to Xingzhou.

Cite this Chapter