1
莊宗光聖神閔孝皇帝，諱存勖，武皇帝之長子也。 母曰貞簡皇后曹氏，以唐光啟元年歲在乙巳，冬十月二十二日癸亥，生帝於晉陽宮。 妊時，曹後嘗夢神人，黑衣擁扇，夾侍左右。 載誕之辰，紫氣出於窗戶。 及為嬰兒，體貌奇特，沈厚不群，武皇特所鍾愛。 及武皇之討王行瑜，帝時年十一，從行。 初令入覲獻捷，迎駕還宮，昭宗一見駭之，曰：「此兒有奇表。」 因撫其背曰：「兒將來之國棟也，勿忘忠孝於予家。」 因賜鸂鶒酒卮、翡翠盤。 〈（《北夢瑣言》云：昭宗曰：「此子可亞其父。」 時人號曰「亞子」。）〉 賊平，授檢校司空、隰州刺史，改汾、晉二郡，皆遙領之。 帝洞曉音律，常令歌舞於前。 十三習《春秋》，手自繕寫，略通大義。 及壯，便射騎，膽略絕人，其心豁如也。
Zhuangzong, the Guangsheng Shenmin Xia emperor, bore the taboo name Cunxu and was Wuhuang's eldest son. His mother was Empress Zhenjian, née Cao; in Tang Guangqi 1 (yisi), on the twenty-second of the tenth month (guihai), he was born at the Jinyang palace. During her pregnancy Empress Cao dreamed of a god in black with a fan, flanked by attendants. At his birth purple mist rose from the windows. Even as a baby he looked unusual—solemn and apart—and Wuhuang doted on him. When Wuhuang marched against Wang Xingyu, Cunxu was eleven and went with him. Sent first to court with news of victory to escort the throne home, he so startled Zhaozong that the emperor said, "This boy has a remarkable face." Zhaozong stroked his back and said, "You will be a pillar of the realm—do not forget loyalty and filial duty to our house." He gave him a xichi wine cup and a jadeite dish. (The 《Northern Dreams Miscellany》 records Zhaozong saying, "This boy can stand next to his father." So people called him "Lesser Son." )〉 After the rebels were crushed he received acting Sikong and Xi prefect, then Fen and Jin as well—all in absentia. Cunxu knew music well and kept singers and dancers before him. At thirteen he studied the 《Spring and Autumn Annals》, copied it himself, and understood its gist. Grown, he excelled at mounted archery, with courage and daring few could match and a mind at ease.
2
武皇起義雲中，部下皆北邊勁兵，及破賊迎鑾，功居第一。 由是稍優寵士伍，因多不法，或陵侮官吏，豪奪士民，白晝剽攘，酒博喧競。 武皇緩於禁制，惟帝不平之，因從容啟於武皇，武皇依違之。 及安塞不利之後，時事多難，梁將氏叔琮、康懷英頻犯郊圻，土疆日蹙，城門之外，鞠為戰場，武皇憂形於色。 帝因啟曰：「夫盛衰有常理，禍福係神道。 家世三代，盡忠王室，勢窮力屈，無所愧心。 物不極則不反，惡不極則不亡。 今朱氏攻逼乘輿，窺伺神器，陷害良善，誣誑神祇。 以臣觀之，殆其極矣。 大人當遵養時晦，以待其衰，何事輕為沮喪！」 太祖釋然，因奉觴作樂而罷。
Wuhuang's uprising at Yunzhong drew elite northern soldiers; when he crushed the rebels and escorted the emperor home, Cunxu's merit stood first. He then indulged his men until many broke the law, bullying officials, robbing townsfolk by day, and fighting over wine and dice. Wuhuang enforced little discipline; only Cunxu minded it and spoke to him gently, but Wuhuang could not decide. After Anse went badly, troubles multiplied: Liang's Shi Shuzong and Kang Huaiying harried the suburbs, the frontier shrank daily, and fighting reached the city gates until worry showed on Wuhuang's face. Cunxu urged him: "Rise and fall follow law; fortune and disaster rest with Heaven. Three generations of our clan have served the throne to the limit—we have nothing to reproach ourselves for. What has not peaked cannot reverse; wickedness that has not peaked cannot end. Zhu Wen now drives on the Son of Heaven, eyes the throne, harms the worthy, and lies to Heaven. In my view they are nearly at their limit. Father should hide your strength and wait for their fall—why sink into despair!" Wuhuang brightened, drank a toast, had music played, and the mood lifted.
3
及滄州劉守文為梁朝所攻，其父仁恭遣使乞師，武皇恨其翻覆，不時許之。 帝白曰：「此吾復振之道也，不得以嫌怨介懷。 且九分天下，朱氏今有六七，趙、魏、中山在他廡下，賊所憚者，惟我與仁恭爾； 我之興衰，係此一舉，不可失也。」 太祖乃征兵於燕，攻取潞州，既而丁會果以城來降。
When Liang besieged Liu Shouwen at Cangzhou, his father Rengong asked for aid; Wuhuang, angry at their past treachery, held back. Cunxu argued: "This is how we rise again—we cannot let old resentment block us. Nine parts divide the realm and Zhu holds six or seven; Zhao, Wei, and Zhongshan bow to him—only we and Rengong still daunt them; our fate turns on this one stroke and must not be lost." Wuhuang then levied Yan, seized Luzhou, and Ding Hui did surrender the city.
4
天祐五年春正月，武皇疾篤，召監軍張承業、大將吳珙謂曰：「吾常愛此子志氣遠大，可付後事，惟卿等所教。」 及武皇厭代，帝乃嗣王位於晉陽，時年二十有四。
In the first month of Tianyou 5 Wuhuang lay dying; he called Zhang Chengye and Wu Gong and said, "I have always prized this boy's great spirit—entrust what follows to him and teach him well." When Wuhuang died, Cunxu took the throne at Jinyang at twenty-four.
5
汴人方寇潞州，周德威宿兵於亂柳，以軍城易帥，竊議忷忷，訛言播於行路。 帝方居喪，將吏不得謁見，監軍使張承業排闥至廬所，言曰：「夫孝在不墜家業，不同匹夫之孝。 且君父厭世，嗣主未立，竊慮凶猾不逞之徒，有懷覬望。 又汴寇壓境，利我凶衰，苟或搖動，則倍張賊勢，訛言不息，懼有變生。 請依顧命，墨縗聽政，保家安親，此惟大孝。」 帝於是始聽斷大事，
Bian was besieging Luzhou while Zhou Dewei held Luanliu; a change of command at the army city bred whispered panic and roadside rumors. Cunxu was in mourning and would see no one; Zhang Chengye burst into the mourning lodge and said, "True filial piety keeps the house from falling—not the piety of a private man. The ruler is dead and no successor sits firm—I fear the wicked will plot. Bian presses the border and profits from our grief; any wavering doubles their strength and rumor will spark revolt. Obey the last charge: mourn in hemp yet rule, secure the clan—that is the greatest filial piety." Cunxu then took up major affairs,
6
時振武節度使克寧，即帝之季父也，為管內蕃漢馬步都知兵馬使，典握兵柄。 帝以軍府事讓季父，曰：「兒年幼稚，未通庶政，雖承遺命，恐未能彈壓。 季父勳德俱高，眾情推伏，且請製置軍府，俟兒有立，聽季父處分。」 克寧曰：「亡兄遺命，屬在我兒，孰敢異議！」 因率先拜賀。 初，武皇獎勵戎功，多畜庶孽，衣服禮秩如嫡者六七輩，比之嗣王，年齒又長，部下各綰強兵，朝夕聚議，欲謀為亂。 及帝紹統，或強項不拜，鬱鬱憤惋，托疾廢事。 會李存顥以陰計幹克寧曰：「兄亡弟立，古今舊事，季父拜侄，理所未安。」 克寧妻素剛狠，因激怒克寧，陰圖禍亂。 存顥欲於克寧之第謀害張承業、李存璋等，以並、汾九州歸附於梁，送貞簡太后為質。 克寧意將激發，乃擅殺大將李存質，請授己雲州節度使，割蔚、朔、應三州為屬郡，帝悉俞允，然知其陰禍有日矣。 克寧俟帝過其第，則圖竊發。 時幸臣史敬熔者，亦為克寧所誘，盡得其情，乃來告帝。 帝謂張承業曰：「季父所為如此，無猶子之情，骨肉不可自相魚肉，予當避路，則禍亂不作矣！」 承業曰：「臣受命先王，言猶在耳。 存顥輩欲以太原降賊，王欲何路求生？ 不即誅除，亡無日矣。」 因召吳珙、李存璋、李存敬、朱守殷諭其謀，眾鹹憤怒。
Zhenwu commissioner Kening, his uncle, commanded all Tartar and Chinese forces in the circuit and held the army. Cunxu offered him the army and said, "I am young and know no government; though I inherit the mandate I may not hold the troops. Uncle's merit wins every heart. Please run headquarters until I can stand on my own—then do as you will." Kening replied, "My brother's charge is on this boy—who would object!" and led the court in bowing congratulations. Wuhuang had rewarded warriors with many bastard sons—six or seven dressed and ranked like heirs, older than the heir, each with strong troops, meeting daily to plot revolt. When Cunxu took power some refused to bow, sulked, feigned sickness, and shirked duty. Li Cunhao secretly urged Kening: "Brother dies, younger brother succeeds—that is old custom; an uncle bowing to a nephew was never right." Kening's wife was harsh; she roused him and secretly plotted trouble. Cunhao meant to kill Zhang Chengye and Li Cunzhang at Kening's house, hand Bing and Fen's nine prefectures to Liang, and send Empress Dowager Zhenjian as hostage. Kening grew reckless, killed Li Cunzhi on his own, demanded Yunzhou and Yu, Shuo, and Ying; Cunxu granted everything yet knew treason was near. Kening waited for Cunxu to visit his house to strike. Favored minister Shi Jingrong was drawn in but learned all and warned Cunxu. Cunxu told Zhang Chengye, "Uncle acts without kinship—kin must not devour kin; I should step aside and peace will hold!" Chengye said, "I took orders from the late king—his words still ring. Cunhao would sell Taiyuan to the enemy—how will you survive? Strike now or you perish within days." He called Wu Gong, Li Cunzhang, Li Cunjing, and Zhu Shouyin; all raged.
7
二月壬戌，命存璋伏甲以誅克寧，遂靖其難。 是月，唐少帝崩於曹州，梁祖使人鴆之也。 帝聞之，舉哀號慟。
On renxu in the second month Cunzhang ambushed and killed Kening, ending the crisis. That month the Tang Lesser Emperor died at Caozhou—poisoned on Liang's orders. Cunxu heard and wailed in deep mourning.
8
三月，周德威尚在亂柳，梁將李思安屢為德威所敗，閉壁不出。 是時，梁祖自將兵至澤州，以劉知俊為招討使以代思安，以範君實、劉重霸為先鋒，牛存節為撫遏，統大軍營於長子。
In the third month Zhou Dewei still held Luanliu; Li Si'an of Liang lost repeatedly and would not leave his walls. Liang's founder marched on Zezhou, replaced Si'an with Liu Zhijun as pacifier, set Fan Junshi and Liu Chongba in the van, Niu Cunjie to hold the rear, and camped a great host at Changzi.
9
四月，帝召德威軍歸晉陽。 汴人既見班師，知我國禍，以為潞州必取，援軍無俟再舉，遂停斥候。 梁祖亦自澤州歸洛。 帝知其無備，乃謂將佐曰：「汴人聞我有喪，必謂不能興師，人以我少年嗣位，未習戎事，必有驕怠之心。 若簡練兵甲，倍道兼行，出其不意，以吾憤激之眾，擊彼驕惰之師，拉朽摧枯，未雲其易，解圍定霸，在此一役。」 甲子，軍發自太原。 己巳，至潞州北黃碾下營。
In the fourth month Cunxu recalled Zhou Dewei to Jinyang. Bian saw the withdrawal, knew we mourned, assumed Luzhou would fall without another relief army, and quit scouting. Liang's founder left Zezhou for Luoyang. Knowing them slack, Cunxu told his staff, "Bian will think mourning bars a campaign and a boy on the throne means no soldiering—they will grow proud and lazy. Drill hard, march fast, and strike unawares—our angry troops against their lazy ones will snap them like rotten wood; relief and empire turn on this fight." On jiazi the host left Taiyuan. On jisi they camped at Huangnian, north of Luzhou.
10
五月辛未朔，晨霧晦暝，帝率親軍伏三垂崗下。 詰旦，天復昏霧，進軍直抵夾城。 時李嗣源總帳下親軍攻東北隅； 李存璋、王霸率丁夫燒寨，劚夾城為二道； 周德威、李存審各分道進攻，軍士鼓噪，三道齊進。 李嗣源壞夾城東北隅，率先掩擊，梁軍大恐，南向而奔，投戈委甲，噎塞行路，斬萬餘級，獲其將副招討使符道昭洎大將三百人，芻粟百萬。 梁招討使康懷英得百餘騎，出天井關而遁。 梁祖聞其敗也，既懼而歎曰：「生子當如是，李氏不亡矣！ 吾家諸子乃豚犬爾。」 初，唐龍紀元年，帝才五歲，從武皇校獵於三垂崗，崗上有明皇原廟在焉。 武皇於祠前置酒，樂作，伶人奏《百年歌》者，陳其衰老之狀，聲調悽苦。 武皇引滿，捋須指帝曰：「老夫壯心未已，二十年後，此子必戰於此。」 及是役也，果符其言焉。
At the xinwei new moon in the fifth month, thick morning fog hid Cunxu's personal troops below Sanchui Ridge. At dawn fog returned; they marched straight on Jiacity. Li Siyuan led the household guard against the northeast corner; Li Cunzhang and Wang Ba had laborers burn the camps and split Jiacity in two; Zhou Dewei and Li Cunshen struck on separate routes amid a roar as three columns closed in. Li Siyuan breached Jiacity's northeast and charged in; Liang panicked and fled south, shedding arms until the road jammed; over ten thousand were killed; Fu Daozhao and three hundred officers were taken, with a million bundles of fodder. Liang's pacifier Kang Huaiying fled with barely a hundred horse through Tianjing Pass. Hearing the defeat, Liang's founder sighed in fear, "A son like that—and the Li will not die! My own sons are piglets and curs. Long ago, in Tang Longji 1, five-year-old Cunxu hunted Sanchui Ridge with Wuhuang, where Minghuang's shrine stood. Wuhuang poured wine before the shrine; players sang the 《Hundred Year Song》, voicing old age in mournful tones. Wuhuang drank his fill, tugged his beard, pointed at Cunxu and said, "I am not done yet—in twenty years this boy will fight here. This battle proved him right.
11
是月，周德威乘勝攻澤州，刺史王班登城拒守。 梁將劉知俊自晉、絳將兵赴援，德威退保高平。 帝遂班師於晉陽，告廟飲至，賞勞有差。 乃下令於國中，禁賊盜，恤孤寡，征隱逸，止貪暴，峻堤防，寬獄訟，期月之間，其俗丕變。 帝每出，於路遇饑寒者，必駐馬而臨問之，由是人情大悅，王霸之業，自茲而基矣。
That month Zhou Dewei pressed on to Zezhou; Wang Ban held the walls. Liu Zhijun marched from Jin and Jiang to relieve; Dewei fell back to Gaoping. Cunxu returned to Jinyang, feasted the ancestors, and rewarded the army by rank. He banned brigandage, aided widows and orphans, sought recluses, curbed greed and cruelty, strengthened dikes and prisons—and within a month the realm changed. Whenever he rode out and met the cold and hungry he stopped to ask after them; hearts warmed, and his kingship took root.
12
六月，鳳翔李茂貞、邠州楊崇本合四川王建之師五萬，以攻長安，遣使會兵於帝，帝遣張承業率師赴之。
In the sixth month Li Maozhen of Fengxiang and Yang Chongben of Bin with fifty thousand of Wang Jian's Shu attacked Chang'an and asked Cunxu to join; he sent Zhang Chengye.
13
九月，邠、岐、蜀三鎮復大舉攻長安，遣李嗣昭、周德威將兵三萬攻晉州以應之。 德威與梁將尹皓戰於神山北，梁人大敗。 是時，晉之騎將夏侯敬受以一軍奔於梁，德威乃退保隰州。
In the ninth month Bin, Qi, and Shu struck Chang'an again; Cunxu sent Li Siyuan and Zhou Dewei with thirty thousand against Jinzhou in reply. Zhou Dewei met Yin Hao of Liang north of Shenshan and routed him. Then Jin's Xiahou Jingshou defected with his command; Dewei pulled back to Yizhou.
14
天祐六年秋七月，邠、岐二帥及梁之叛將劉知俊俱遣使來告，將大舉以伐靈、夏，兼收關輔，請出兵晉、絳，以張兵勢。 八月，帝御軍南征，先遣周德威、李存審、丁會統大軍出陰地關，攻晉州，為地道，壞城二十餘步，城中血戰拒守。 梁祖遣楊師厚領兵赴援，德威乃收軍而退。 〈（《通鑒》引《莊宗實錄》云：汴軍至蒙坑，周德威逆戰，敗之，斬首三百級，楊師厚退保絳州。 是役也，小將蕭萬通戰歿，師厚進營平陽，德威收軍而退。）〉
In the seventh month of Tianyou 6 Bin and Qi and Liang's turncoat Liu Zhijun all wrote that they would strike Ling and Xia, retake the passes, and asked Jin and Jiang troops to swell their front. In the eighth month Cunxu marched south, sending Zhou Dewei, Li Cunshen, and Ding Hui through Yindi Pass on Jinzhou with tunnels that breached twenty paces of wall—yet the city fought bloodily on. Liang sent Yang Shihou to relieve; Dewei withdrew. (The 《Comprehensive Mirror》 quotes the 《Veritable Records of Zhuangzong》: at Mengkeng Zhou Dewei beat Bian, took three hundred heads, and Yang Shihou fell back to Jiangzhou. In that fight the young officer Xiao Wantong fell; Shihou camped at Pingyang and Dewei withdrew.)〉
15
天祐七年秋七月，鳳翔李茂貞、邠州楊崇本皆遣師來會兵，同討靈、夏。 且言劉知俊三敗汴軍於寧州，靈、夏危蹙，岐、隴之師大舉，決取河西。 帝令周德威將兵萬人，西渡河以應之。 是役也，劉知俊為岐人所構，乃自退。
In the seventh month of Tianyou 7 Maozhen and Yang Chongben both sent armies to join for a strike on Ling and Xia. They reported Liu Zhijun had thrice beaten Bian at Ning, that Ling and Xia were hard pressed, and that Qi and Long were marching in force to seize the west of the River. The Emperor ordered Zhou Dewei to take ten thousand troops west across the Yellow River to join the campaign. In that campaign Liu Zhijun was set up by the Qi faction and withdrew of his own accord.
16
九月，德威班師。 冬十月，梁祖遣大將李思安、楊師厚率師營於澤州，以攻上黨。 十一月，鎮州王鎔遣使來求援。 是時，梁祖以羅紹威初卒，全有魏博之地，因欲兼並鎮、定，遣供奉官杜廷隱、丁延徽督魏軍三千人入於深、冀，鎮人懼，故來告難。 帝集軍吏議之，鹹欲按甲治兵，徐觀勝負，惟帝獨斷，堅欲救之，乃遣周德威率軍屯於趙州。 是月，行營都招討使丁會卒。
In the ninth month Dewei brought the army back. In the tenth month of winter the Liang Founder sent Li Si'an and Yang Shihou with a host to camp at Ze and besiege Shangdang. In the eleventh month Wang Rong of Zhen sent envoys asking for aid. The Liang Founder had just absorbed Weibo after Luo Shaowei's death and now aimed at Zhen and Ding as well; he sent Du Tingyin and Ding Yanhui with three thousand Wei troops into Shen and Ji, and the frightened Zhen lords sent word that they were in peril. The Emperor called his commanders to council; all favored standing pat and waiting, but he alone insisted on rescue and sent Zhou Dewei to camp at Zhao. That month Ding Hui, overall campaign commander, died.
17
十二月丁巳朔，梁祖聞帝軍屯趙州，命寧國軍節度使王景仁為北面行營招討使，韓為副，相州刺史李思安為前鋒，會魏州之兵以討王鎔； 又令閻寶、王彥章率二千騎，會景仁於邢、洺。 丁丑，景仁營於柏鄉，帝遂親征，自讚皇縣東下。 辛巳，至趙州，與周德威兵合。 帝令史建瑭以輕騎嘗寇，獲芻牧者二百人，問其兵數，精兵七萬。 是日，帝觀兵於石橋南。 詰旦，進軍，距柏鄉一舍，周德威、史建瑭率蕃落勁騎以挑戰，四面馳射，梁軍閉壁不出，乃退。 翌日，進軍，距柏鄉五里，遣騎軍逼其營。 梁將韓、李思安率步騎三萬，鎧甲炫曜，其勢甚盛，分道以薄帝軍。 德威且戰且退，距河而止。 既而德威偵知梁人造浮橋，乃退保高邑。 乙酉，致師於柏鄉，帝禱戰於光武廟。 柏鄉無芻粟之備，梁軍以樵采為給，為帝之遊軍所獲，由是堅壁不出，剉屋茅坐席以秣其馬，眾心益恐。
On dingsi, the first day of the twelfth month, learning that the Jin host lay at Zhao, the Liang Founder made Wang Jingren of Ningguo overall northern commander, with Han as his deputy and Li Si'an of Xiang as vanguard, to unite Wei forces against Wang Rong; He also ordered Yan Bao and Wang Yanzhang with two thousand horse to rendezvous with Jingren at Xing and Ming. On dingchou Jingren camped at Baixiang; the Emperor marched in person east from Zanhuang. On xinsi he reached Zhao and united with Zhou Dewei. He sent Shi Jiantang with light horse to scout, took two hundred foragers, and learned that the enemy elite alone numbered seventy thousand. That day he reviewed the army south of Stone Bridge. At dawn he moved up to within one march of Baixiang; Dewei and Jiantang led tough frontier horse in circling challenges and volleys until the Liang men shut their walls and would not fight, then drew off. Next day he came within five li of Baixiang and sent horse to harass the camp. Han and Li Si'an of Liang led thirty thousand foot and horse in gleaming armor and came on in columns against the Emperor's line. Dewei fought as he fell back and made his stand at the river. Soon scouts reported a Liang pontoon bridge; Dewei pulled back to Gaoyi. On yiyou he drew up before Baixiang; the Emperor prayed for victory at Guangwu's temple. Baixiang had no fodder; the Liang host lived on foraging until Jin raiders cut them off; they stayed behind their walls, stripped thatch and mats to feed their horses, and fear spread through the camp.
18
天祐八年正月丁亥，周德威、史建瑭帥三千騎致師於柏鄉，設伏於村塢間，遣三百騎直壓其營。 梁將怒，悉其軍結陣而來，德威與之轉戰至高邑南，梁軍列陣，橫亙六七里。 時帝軍未成列，李存璋引諸軍陣於野河之上，梁以五百人爭橋，鎮、定之師與血戰，梁軍敗而復整者數四。 帝與張承業登高觀望，梁人戈矛如束，申令之後，囂聲若雷，王師進退有序，步騎嚴整，寂然無聲。 帝臨陣誓眾，人百其勇，短兵既接，無不奮力。 梁有龍驤、神威、拱宸等軍，皆武勇之士也，每一人鎧仗，費數十萬，裝以組繡，飾以金銀，人望而畏之。 自巳及午，騎軍接戰，至晡，梁軍欲抽退，塵埃漲天，德威周麾而呼曰：「汴人走矣！」 帝軍齊噪以進，魏人收軍漸退。 李嗣源率親軍與史建瑭、安金全兼北部吐渾諸軍衝陣夾攻，梁軍大敗，棄鎧投仗之聲，震動天地，龍驤、神威、神捷諸軍，殺戮殆盡。 自陣至柏鄉數十里，僵屍枕籍，敗旗折戟，所在蔽地。 夜漏一鼓，帝軍入柏鄉，梁軍輜重、帳幄、資財、奴仆，皆為帝軍所有。 梁將王景仁、韓、李思安等以數十騎夜遁。 是役也，斬首二萬級，獲馬三千匹，鎧甲兵仗七萬，輜車鍋幕不可勝計。 擒梁將陳思權以下二百八十五人。 帝號令收軍於趙州。 既而梁人棄深、冀二州而遁。
On dinghai in the first month of Tianyou 8, Dewei and Jiantang led three thousand horse to Baixiang, hid men in the hamlets, and sent three hundred to ride straight at the Liang camp. The Liang commander came out in full array; Dewei sparred with him south of Gaoyi until the Liang line stretched six or seven li. The main host was not yet formed when Li Cunzhang drew the armies up along the Wild River; five hundred Liang men fought for the bridge with the Zhen and Ding troops in bloody seesaw fighting that broke and re-formed four times. The Emperor and Zhang Chengye watched from a height; Liang spears stood thick as sheaves and their shouts rolled like thunder, while the royal line moved in silence, foot and horse in tight order. He swore the host before the line; at close quarters every man fought with redoubled fury. Liang Dragon Soar, Divine Might, Arch-Guard, and other picked corps wore armor worth fortunes, brocaded and gilded, and struck fear at a glance. Cavalry fought from si to noon; by you the Liang line tried to break off; dust filled the sky; Dewei turned in his saddle and cried, "The Bian men are running!" The Jin host roared forward as the Wei troops fell back step by step. Li Siyuan, Jiantang, An Jinquan, and the northern Tuguhun horse hit the Liang line from both flanks; the Liang host collapsed; discarded arms thundered on the ground; Dragon Soar, Divine Might, Divine Swift, and the rest were cut down almost to a man. For tens of li from the field to Baixiang corpses lay heaped and broken flags and halberds carpeted the ground. At the first watch the Jin army entered Baixiang and took Liang baggage, tents, wealth, and servants. Wang Jingren, Han, Li Si'an, and other Liang commanders escaped by night with a few dozen horsemen. The victory yielded twenty thousand heads, three thousand horses, seventy thousand sets of arms, and wagons and camp gear past counting. Two hundred eighty-five Liang officers including Chen Siquan were taken. The Emperor ordered the army to regroup at Zhao. Soon the Liang abandoned Shen and Ji and fled.
19
初，杜廷隱之襲深、冀也，聲言分兵就食。 時王鎔將石公立戍深州，欲杜關不納，鎔遽令啟關，命公立移車於外，廷隱遂據其城。 公立既出，指城而言曰：「開門納盜，後悔何追，此城數萬生靈，生為俘馘矣！」 因投刃泣下。 數日，廷隱閉城殺鎮兵數千人，遂登陴拒守，王鎔方命公立攻之，即有備矣。 及柏鄉之敗，兩州之人悉為奴擄，老弱者皆坑之。 己亥，遣史建瑭、周德威徇地於邢、魏，先馳檄以諭之。 〈（《冊府元龜》載晉王諭邢、洺、魏、博、衛、滑諸郡縣檄。 天祐八年正月，周德威等破賊，徇地邢、洺，先馳檄諭邢、洺、魏、博、衛、滑諸郡縣曰：「王室遇屯，七廟被陵夷之酷； 昊天不吊，萬民罹塗炭之災。 必有英主奮庸，忠臣仗順，斬長鯨而清四海，靖襖祲以泰三靈。 予位忝維城，任當分閫，念茲顛覆，詎可宴安。 故仗桓、文輔合之規，問羿、浞凶狂之罪。 逆溫碭山庸隸，巢孽餘凶，當僖宗奔播之初，我太祖掃平之際，束身泥首，請命牙門，苞藏奸詐之心，惟示婦人之態。 我太祖俯憐窮鳥，曲為開懷，特發表章，請帥梁汴，才出萑蒲之澤，便居茅社之尊，殊不感恩，遽行猜忍。 我國家祚隆周、漢，跡盛伊、唐，二十聖之鎡基，三百年之文物。 外則五侯九伯，內則百辟千官，或代襲簪纓，或門傳忠孝，皆遭陷害，永抱沉冤。 且鎮、定兩藩，國家巨鎮，冀安民而保族，鹹屈節以稱藩。 逆溫唯伏陰謀，專行不義，欲全吞噬，先據屬州。 趙州特發使車，來求援助。 予情惟蕩寇，義切親仁，躬率賦輿，赴茲盟約。 賊將王景仁將兵十萬，屯據柏鄉，遂驅三鎮之師，授以七擒之略。 鸛鵝才列，梟獍大奔，易如走阪之丸，勢若燎原之火。 僵屍仆地，流血成川。 組甲雕戈，皆投草莽，謀夫猛將，盡作俘囚。 群凶既快於天誅，大憝須垂於鬼錄。 今則選搜兵甲，簡練車徒，乘勝長驅，翦除元惡。 凡爾魏、博、邢、洺之眾，感恩懷義之人，乃祖乃孫，為聖唐赤子，豈徇虎狼之黨，遂忘覆載之恩。 蓋以封豕長蛇，馮陵薦食，無方逃難，遂被脅從。 空嘗膽以銜冤，竟無門而雪憤，既聞告捷，想所慰懷。 今義旅徂征，止於招撫。 昔耿純焚廬而向順，蕭何舉族以從軍，皆審料興亡，能圖富貴，殊勳茂業，翼子貽孫，轉禍見機，決在今日。 若能詣轅門而效順，開城堡以迎降，長官則改補官資，百姓則優加賞賜，所經詿誤，更不推窮。 三鎮諸軍，已申嚴令，不得焚燒廬舍，剽掠馬牛，但仰所在生靈，各安耕織。 予恭行天罰，罪止元凶，已外歸明，一切不問，凡爾士眾，鹹諒予懷。」）〉 帝御親軍南征。 庚子，至洺州，梁祖令其將徐仁浦將兵五百，夜入邢州。 張承業、李存璋以三鎮步兵攻邢州，遣周德威、史建瑭將三千騎，長驅至澶魏，帝與李嗣源率親軍繼進。
When Du Tingyin seized Shen and Ji he had claimed he was only sending detachments for supplies. Shi Gongli held Shen for Wang Rong and wanted to keep the gates shut; Rong ordered them opened and told Gongli to move his wagons out, and Tingyin took the city. Gongli pointed at the walls and cried, "You opened the gate to thieves—how can you undo it? Tens of thousands in this city are lost to captivity and the blade!" He flung down his sword and wept. Days later Tingyin massacred thousands of Zhen soldiers, manned the walls, and when Wang Rong sent Gongli to retake the city the defenders were ready. After Baixiang the people of both prefectures were enslaved and the old and weak were buried in pits. On jihai he sent Jiantang and Dewei to overrun Xing and Wei with proclamations sent ahead. (The 《Cefu Yuangui》 preserves the Jin Prince's proclamation to Xing, Ming, Wei, Bo, Wei, and Hua. In the first month of Tianyou 8, after Dewei's victory, a proclamation to Xing, Ming, Wei, Bo, Wei, and Hua ran: "The throne is in peril and the ancestral temples have been violated; Heaven shows no mercy and the people burn in misery. A hero must rise and loyal men take the righteous path—to slay the monster, pacify the realm, and restore order under Heaven. I hold the frontier charge of a bulwark prince; faced with ruin, how could I sit at ease? I follow the alliance of Huan and Wen and demand justice for the crimes of Yi and Zhuo. The traitor Wen was a Dangshan menial, a Huang Chao remnant; when Xizong fled the court my Grand Ancestor was pacifying the realm, and Wen groveled at the gate while nursing treachery behind a woman's meekness. My Grand Ancestor spared him and raised him to command Bian; scarcely out of the marshes he took a prince's seat—ungrateful, he turned at once to suspicion and cruelty. Our house rivals Zhou and Han in fortune and Tang in glory—twenty sage rulers and three hundred years of ritual and law. Marquises and ministers without, officials within—many hereditary houses of loyalty—were destroyed and live on in wronged silence. Zhen and Ding, great pillars of the state, bent to serve as loyal vassals to keep their people safe. Wen plotted in secret and seized their prefectures before moving to swallow them whole. Zhao sent envoys to beg for rescue. My heart is to crush the rebels and stand by an ally; I have led the levy here myself. The rebel Wang Jingren held Baixiang with a hundred thousand men and the hosts of three circuits with a conqueror's brief. Their array scarcely stood when they broke like routed beasts—easy as a ball on a slope, fierce as a prairie fire. Corpses littered the field and blood ran in streams. Gilded armor and carved blades littered the grass; their best men were taken. The rebels have tasted Heaven's stroke; the arch-villain belongs in the registers of the dead. We are gathering arms, drilling troops, and pressing the victory to destroy the chief villain. You of Wei, Bo, Xing, and Ming—sons of the Tang for generations—how can you follow wolves and forget the grace that sustains you? The boar and serpent ravage every land; with no escape you were forced to follow them. You bore wrongs in silence with no redress; hearing of our victory, your hearts should be eased. Our righteous host advances to win men over, not to destroy. Geng Chun burned his home for loyalty; Xiao He brought his clan to the colors—both read the times and won lasting honor; the moment to turn fortune is today. Come to the gate in submission, open your walls, and officers will be reappointed and people rewarded; past errors will not be traced. The three armies are under strict orders not to burn homes or seize livestock; let every district return to field and loom. I execute Heaven's punishment on the arch-villain alone; all who come over are pardoned; soldiers and people alike, know my intent.")〉 The Emperor marched south at the head of the host. On gengzi he reached Ming; the Liang Founder sent Xu Renpu with five hundred men into Xing by night. Zhang Chengye and Li Cunzhang besieged Xing with foot from the three circuits while Dewei and Jiantang raced three thousand horse to Chan and Wei; the Emperor and Li Siyuan followed with the guard.
20
二月戊午，師次洹水，周德威進至臨河。 己未，魏帥羅周翰出兵五千，塞石灰窯口，周德威以騎掩擊，迫入觀音門。 是日，王師迫魏州，帝舍於狄公祠西。 周翰閉壁自固，帝軍攻之，其城幾陷。 帝歎曰：「予為兒童時，從先王渡河，今其忘矣。 方春桃花水滿，思一觀之，誰從予者？」 癸亥，帝觀河於黎陽。 是時，梁祖發兵萬餘將渡河，聞王師至，棄舟而退。 黎陽都將張從楚、曹儒以部下兵三千人來降，立其軍為左右匡霸使。 乙丑，周德威自臨清徇地貝郡，攻博州，下東武、朝城。 時澶州刺史張可臻棄城而遁，遂攻黎陽，下臨河、淇門。 庚午，梁祖在洛，聞王師將攻河陽，率親軍屯白馬坡。 壬申，帝下令班師。 帝至趙州，王鎔迎謁。 翌日，大饗諸軍。 壬午，帝發趙州，歸晉陽，留周德威戍趙州。
On wuwu in the second month the host camped on the Huan; Dewei pushed to Linhe. On jiwei Luo Zhouhan of Wei led five thousand to hold Lime Kiln Pass; Dewei's horse surprised them and chased them to Guanyin Gate. That day the royal army closed on Wei; the Emperor lodged west of the Di Gong shrine. Zhouhan held the walls; the assault nearly took the city. The Emperor sighed, "As a boy I crossed this river with the late king—that is forgotten now. Spring floods the peach-blossom river; I would see it again—who will come with me?" On guihai he viewed the river at Liyang. The Liang Founder had sent ten thousand men to cross; hearing the Jin host was near, they abandoned their boats and fled. Zhang Congchu and Cao Ru of Liyang surrendered with three thousand men and were formed as the Left and Right Kuangba Commissioners. On yichou Dewei from Linqing overran Bei, took Bo, and seized Dongwu and Chaocheng. Chan's Zhang Kezhen fled; Dewei then took Liyang, Linhe, and Qimen. On gengwu the Liang Founder, at Luoyang, heard the Jin host aimed at Heyang and camped his guard at White Horse Slope. On renshen the Emperor ordered withdrawal. At Zhao, Wang Rong came out to welcome him. The next day he feasted the armies. On rengwu he left Zhao for Jinyang and left Dewei to hold the city.
21
三月己丑，鎮、定州各遣使言幽州劉守光凶僭之狀，請推為尚父，以稔其惡。 乙未，帝至晉陽宮，召監軍張承業諸將等議幽州之事，乃遣牙將戴漢超齎墨製並六鎮書，推劉守光為尚書令、尚父； 守光由是凶熾日甚，遂邀六鎮奉冊。
On jichou in the third month Zhen and Ding reported Liu Shouguang's tyranny and asked that he be made August Father to ripen his crimes. On yiwei he reached Jinyang, called Zhang Chengye and his generals to discuss Yan, and sent Dai Hanchao with an ink edict and letters from six circuits making Liu Shouguang Minister Director and August Father; Shouguang grew bolder daily and then demanded a formal investiture from the six circuits.
22
五月，六鎮使至幽州，梁使亦集。 〈（《通鑒考異》引《莊宗實錄》云：三月己丑，鎮州遣押衙劉光業至，言劉守光凶淫縱毒，欲自尊大，請稔其惡以咎之，推為尚父。 乙未，上至晉陽宮，召張承業諸將等議討燕之謀，諸將亦云宜稔其惡。 上令押衙戴漢超持墨製及六鎮書如幽州，其辭曰：「天祐八年三月二十七日，天德軍節度使宋瑤、振武節度使周德威、昭義節度使李嗣昭、易定節度使王處直、鎮州節度使王鎔、河東節度使尚書令晉王謹奉冊進盧龍橫海等軍節度、檢校大尉、中書令、燕王為尚書令、尚父。」 五月，六鎮使至，汴使亦集。 六月，守光令有司定尚父、采訪使議。）〉 是月，梁祖遣都招討使楊師厚將兵三萬屯邢州，帝令李嗣昭出師掠相、衛而還。
In the fifth month envoys of the six circuits and of Liang alike gathered at Youzhou. (The 《Zizhi Tongjian》 “Examination of Variants” cites the 《Veritable Record of Zhuangzong》: On jichou in the third month Zhen sent Liu Guangye to say Shouguang was brutal and lustful, sought to exalt himself, and asked that he be made August Father to ripen his guilt. On yiwei he reached Jinyang, called Zhang Chengye and the generals to plan the Yan campaign, and they too said his crimes should be ripened. He ordered Dai Hanchao to Youzhou with the ink edict and six-circuit letters reading: "On the twenty-seventh day of the third month of Tianyou 8, Song Yao of Tiande, Zhou Dewei of Zhenwu, Li Sizhao of Zhaoyi, Wang Chuzhi of Yiding, Wang Rong of Zhen, and the Jin Prince, Minister Director and military commissioner of Hedong, reverently advance Liu Shouguang, commissioner of the Lulong and Henghai armies, honorary Grand Marshal, Grand Councilor, and Prince of Yan, to Minister Director and August Father. 」In the fifth month the six-circuit envoys arrived, and Bian envoys gathered as well. In the sixth month Shouguang ordered the relevant offices to fix the protocol for Sire Father and the investigative commissioner.）〉 That month the Liang Founder sent Yang Shihou, overall campaign commander, with thirty thousand men to camp at Xingzhou; the emperor ordered Li Sizhao to strike Xiang and Wei and withdraw.
23
秋七月，帝會王鎔於承天軍。 鎔，武皇之友也，帝奉之盡敬，捧卮酒為壽，鎔亦捧酒酬帝。 鎔幼子昭誨從行，因許為婚。 八月甲子，幽州劉守光僭稱大燕皇帝，年號應天。 九月庚子，梁祖將親軍自洛渡河而北，至相州，聞帝軍未出，乃止。 十月，幽州劉守光殺帝之行人李承勳，忿其不行朝禮也。
In the seventh month of autumn the emperor met Wang Rong at Chengtian Army. Rong was Wuhuang's friend; the emperor treated him with full courtesy, lifted a cup to toast his years, and Rong raised wine in reply. Rong's youngest son Zhaohui came along, and a marriage alliance was agreed. On jiazi in the eighth month Liu Shouguang of Youzhou declared himself emperor of Great Yan and took the era name Yingtian. On gengzi in the ninth month the Liang Founder led his personal army from Luoyang north across the Yellow River to Xiangzhou; learning the emperor's forces had not moved, he stopped. In the tenth month Liu Shouguang of Youzhou killed the emperor's envoy Li Chengxun, furious that he would not observe court ceremony.
24
十一月辛丑，燕人侵易、定，王處直來告難。 十二月甲子，帝遣周德威、劉光浚、李嗣源及諸將率蕃漢之兵發晉陽，伐劉守光於幽州。
On xinchou in the eleventh month Yan troops raided Yi and Ding, and Wang Chuzhi came asking for help. On jiazi in the twelfth month the emperor sent Zhou Dewei, Liu Guangjun, Li Siyuan, and the other generals with mixed tribal and Han forces from Jinyang against Liu Shouguang at Youzhou.