1
天祐十六年春正月，李存審城德勝，夾河為柵。 帝還魏州，命昭義軍節度使李嗣昭權知幽州軍府事。 三月，帝兼領幽州，遣近臣李紹宏提舉府事。
In the first month of Tianyou 16 Li Cunshen fortified Desheng and ran stockades along both sides of the Yellow River. Cunxu went back to Weizhou and left Li Sizhao of Zhaoyi as acting head of the Youzhou command. In the third month he added Youzhou to his own titles and sent Li Shaohong to run the prefectural office.
2
夏四月，梁將賀瑰圍德勝南城，百道攻擊，復以艨艟扼斷津渡。 帝馳而往，陣於北岸。 南城守將氏延賞告急，且言矢石將盡。 帝以重賄召募能破賊艦者，於是獻技者數十，或言能吐火焚舟，或言能禁咒兵刃，悉命試之，無驗。 帝憂形於色，親從都將王建及進曰：「臣請效命。」 乃以巨索連舟十艘，選效節勇士三百人，持斧被鎧，鼓枻而進，至中流。 梁樓船三層，蒙以牛革，懸板為楯。 建及率持斧者入艨艟間，斬其竹笮，破其懸楯； 又於上流取甕數百，用竹笮維之，積薪於上，灌以脂膏，火發亙空； 又以巨艦載甲士，令乘煙鼓噪。 梁之樓船斷絏而下，沈溺者殆半。 軍既得渡，梁軍乃退。 命騎軍追襲至濮陽，俘斬千計。 賀瑰由此飲氣遘疾而卒。
In the fourth month He Gui of Liang invested the south citadel of Desheng from every angle and blocked the crossing with war junks. Cunxu raced to the scene and formed up on the north bank. Shi Yanbang, who held the south city, begged for relief and warned that missiles were almost gone. Cunxu posted rich rewards for anyone who could smash the Liang fleet; dozens came forward, some promising fire-breathing, others weapon-charms, but every trick failed when tested. Cunxu's worry showed plainly; Wang Jianji of the personal guard stepped forward: "Let me try. He lashed ten boats with heavy cables, picked three hundred loyal guards in mail with axes, and rowed hard into midstream. The Liang towers rose three stories, armored in oxhide with plank screens hung as shields. Jianji drove the axemen between the war junks, severed their bamboo bindings, and smashed the hanging screens; farther upriver he rigged hundreds of jars on bamboo rafts, heaped fuel, drenched them in oil, and sent flames across the sky; then sent great ships full of armored men to roar through the smoke. Liang towers broke their cables and drifted downstream; nearly half the crews drowned. When the crossing was open, the Liang force pulled back. Cavalry chased them to Puyang and took or killed on the order of a thousand. He Gui brooded himself into illness and died.
3
秋七月，帝歸晉陽。 八月，梁將王瓚帥眾數萬自黎陽渡河，營於楊村，造舟為梁，以通津路。 冬十月，帝自晉陽至魏州，發徒數萬以廣德勝北城，自是，日與梁軍接戰。
In the seventh month Cunxu returned to Jinyang. In the eighth month Wang Zan of Liang crossed from Liyang with tens of thousands, camped at Yangcun, and bridged the ford with boats. In the tenth month Cunxu came from Jinyang to Weizhou and drafted tens of thousands to expand the north citadel of Desheng; thereafter he fought Liang every day.
4
十二月戊戌，帝軍於河南，夜伏步兵於潘張村梁軍寨下，以騎軍掠其餉運，擒其斥候。 梁王瓚結陣以待，帝軍以鐵騎突之，諸軍繼進，梁軍大奔，赴水死者甚眾，瓚走保北城。
On wuxu in the twelfth month he camped south of the river, hid infantry under the Liang camp at Panzhang by night, raided their supply trains with horse, and seized scouts. Wang Zan of Liang drew up to meet him; iron cavalry smashed the line, the whole host piled in, Liang broke and many drowned, and Zan fled into the north citadel.
5
天祐十七年春，幽州民於田中得金印，文曰：「關中龜印」，李紹宏獻於行台。
In the spring of Tianyou 17 a farmer near Youzhou dug up a gold seal reading "Guanzhong turtle seal," which Li Shaohong sent to headquarters.
6
秋七月，梁將劉鄩、尹皓寇同州。 先是，河中節度使朱友謙取同州，以其子令德主留務，請梁主降節。 梁主怒，不與，遂請旄節於帝。 梁主乃遣劉鄩與華州節度使尹皓帥兵圍同州，友謙來告難，帝遣蕃漢總管李存審、昭義節度使李嗣昭、代州刺史王建及率師赴援。
In the seventh month Liu Yan and Yin Hao of Liang struck Tong. Earlier Zhu Youqian of Hezhong had seized Tong, left his son Lingde to govern, and asked Liang to confirm his post. Liang refused in anger, so Youqian turned to Cunxu for a banner. Liang sent Liu Yan and Yin Hao of Huazhou to invest Tong; Youqian cried for help, and Cunxu sent Li Cunshen as overall commander, Li Sizhao of Zhaoyi, and Wang Jianji of Dai to relieve him.
7
九月，師至河中，朝至夕濟，梁人不意王師之至，望之大駭。 明日約戰，與朱友謙謀，遲明，進軍距梁壘； 梁人悉眾以出，蒲人在南，王師在北。 騎軍既接，蒲人小卻，李嗣昭以輕騎抗之，梁軍奔潰，追斬二千餘級。 是夜，劉鄩收餘眾保營，自是閉壁不出。 數日，鄩遂宵遁。 王師追及於渭河，所棄兵仗輜重不可勝計，劉鄩、尹皓單騎獲免。 未幾，鄩憂恚發病而卒。 王師略地至奉先，嗣昭因謁唐帝諸陵而還。
In the ninth month the relief force reached Hezhong, crossed at dawn and were ashore by dusk; Liang had not expected Jin troops and panicked at the sight. The next day they offered battle; after counsel with Youqian they moved at first light and closed on the Liang camp; Liang came out in full strength with Pu allies on the south and the Jin host on the north. When horse met horse the Pu line wavered; Li Sizhao hit them with light cavalry, Liang collapsed, and over two thousand fell in the chase. That night Liu Yan pulled the survivors into camp and never came out again. Within days Yan slipped away by night. Jin caught them at the Wei; abandoned weapons and wagons littered the bank, while Yan and Yin rode off alone. Soon Yan died of shame and rage. The Jin columns swept to Fengxian; Sizhao paid respects at the Tang imperial tombs on the march home.
8
天祐十八年春正月，魏州開元寺僧傳真獲傳國寶，獻於行台。 驗其文，即「受命於天，子孫寶之」八字也，群僚稱賀。 傳真師於廣明中，遇京師喪亂得之，秘藏已四十年矣。 篆文古體，人不之識，至是獻之。 時淮南楊溥、四川王衍皆遣使致書，勸帝嗣唐帝位，帝不從。
In the first month of Tianyou 18 the Kaiyuan monk Chuanzhen at Weizhou found the heirloom seal and sent it to headquarters. The characters proved to be the eight words "Mandated by Heaven—may sons and grandsons treasure it," and the staff hailed the omen. Chuanzhen said he had taken it during the Guangming disorders and kept it secret for forty years. The archaic seal script had baffled everyone until he brought it forward. Yang Pu of Huainan and Wang Yan of Shu both wrote urging Cunxu to take the Tang throne; he refused.
9
二月，代州刺史王建及卒。 是月，鎮州大將張文禮殺其帥王鎔。 時帝方與諸將宴，酒酣樂作，聞鎔遇弑，遽投觶而泣曰：「趙王與吾把臂同盟，分如金石，何負於人，覆宗絕祀，冤哉！」 先是，滹沱暴漲，漂關城之半，溺死者千計。 是歲，天西北有赤昆如血，占者言趙分之災，至是果驗。 時張文禮遣使請旄節於帝，帝曰：「文禮之罪，期於無赦，敢邀予旄節！」 左右曰：「方今事繁，不欲與人生事。」 帝不得已而從之，乃承製授文禮鎮州兵馬留後。
In the second month Wang Jianji of Dai died. That month Zhang Wenli, a senior Zhen commander, murdered his lord Wang Rong. Cunxu was drinking with his officers when word came that Rong had been killed; he flung down his cup and wept: "The Prince of Zhao was my sworn brother, our bond iron-hard—what had he done to anyone, that his clan is wiped out? Monstrous wrong!" Earlier the Hutuo had burst and swept away half the frontier town, drowning thousands. That year a blood-red cloud hung in the northwest; seers called it Zhao's doom—and so it proved. Wenli then asked Cunxu for a commission; Cunxu said, "Wenli deserves no mercy—how dare he ask for my seal!" His attendants said, "Matters are urgent—we should not pick another fight." Cunxu yielded and, by rescript, confirmed Wenli as acting military commissioner of Zhen.
10
三月，河中節度使朱友謙、昭義節度使李嗣昭、滄州節度使李存審、定州節度使王處直、邢州節度使李嗣源、成德軍兵馬留後張文禮、遙領天平軍節度使閻寶、大同軍節度使李存璋、新州節度使王鬱、振武節度使李存進、同州節度使朱令德，各遣使勸進，請帝紹唐帝位，帝報書不允。 自是，諸鎮凡三上章勸進，各獻貨幣數十萬，以助即位之費，帝左右亦勸帝早副人望，帝撝挹久之。 〈（《九國誌·趙季良傳》：季良嘗蘿手扶御座，自謂輔佐之象，由是頗述天時人事以諷，莊宗深納其言。）〉 秋七月，河東節度副使盧汝弼卒。
In the third month Youqian of Hezhong, Sizhao of Zhaoyi, Cunshen of Cangzhou, Chuzhi of Ding, Siyuan of Xing, Wenli acting for Chengde, Yan Bao holding Taiping in title, Cunzhang of Datong, Yu of Xin, Cunjin of Zhenwu, and Lingde of Tong all urged Cunxu to take the throne; he wrote back refusing. Thereafter the circuits petitioned three times, each sending hundreds of thousands in goods toward the coronation; his courtiers pressed him to satisfy the realm; Cunxu demurred again and again. (The 《Nine Kingdoms Annals · Biography of Zhao Jiliang》 records that Jiliang once steadied the throne with his hand on the armrest, calling it a sign of ministerial destiny, and often hinted at Heaven and policy until Zhuangzong embraced his counsel.)〉 In the seventh month Lu Rubi, deputy commissioner of Hedong, died.
11
八月庚申，令天平節度使閻寶、成德兵馬留後符習率兵討張文禮於鎮州。 初，王鎔令偏將符習以本部兵從帝屯於德勝。 文禮既行弑逆，忌鎔故將，多被誅戮，因遣使聞於帝，欲以他兵代習歸鎮，習等懼，請留。 帝令傳旨於習及別將趙仁貞、烏震等，明正文禮弑逆之罪，且言：「爾等荷戟從征，蓋君父之故，銜冤報恩，誰人無心。 吾當給爾資糧，助爾兵甲，爾試思之！」 於是習等率諸將三十餘人，慟哭於牙門，請討文禮。 帝因授習成德軍兵馬留後，以部下鎮、冀兵致討於文禮； 又遣閻寶以助之，以史建瑭為前鋒。 甲子，攻趙州，刺史王鋌送符印以迎，閻寶遂引軍至鎮州城下，營於西北隅。 是月，張文禮病疽而卒，其子處瑾代掌軍事。 九月，前鋒將史建瑭與鎮人戰於城下，為流矢所中而卒。
On gengshen in the eighth month Yan Bao of Taiping and Fu Xi, acting commander of Chengde, marched on Wenli at Zhen. Rong had earlier detached Fu Xi with his own command to serve at Desheng under Cunxu. After the murder Wenli purged Rong's veterans and asked Cunxu to swap other troops for Fu Xi's return; Xi and his men, in fear, begged to remain. Cunxu sent orders to Xi, Zhao Renzhen, and Wu Zhen, spelling out Wenli's crime and saying, "You marched for lord and father—who would not want vengeance? I will feed you and arm you—think on it! Xi and thirty-odd officers wept at the gate and begged leave to punish Wenli. Cunxu made Xi acting commander of Chengde and sent the Zhen and Ji columns against Wenli; Yan Bao followed to assist, with Shi Jiantang in the van. On jiazi they took Zhao; Prefect Wang Di handed over his seal; Yan Bao then pitched camp below Zhen's northwest wall. That month Wenli died of a boil; his son Chujin succeeded him. In the ninth month Shi Jiantang fought under the walls and fell to a stray shaft.
12
冬十月己未，梁將戴思遠攻德勝北城，帝命李嗣源設伏於戚城，令騎軍挑戰。 梁軍大至，帝御中軍以禦之。 時李從珂偽為梁幟，奔入梁壘，斧其眺樓，持級而還。 梁軍愈恐，步兵漸至，李嗣源以鐵騎三千乘之，梁軍大敗，俘斬二萬計。 辛酉，閻寶上言，定州節度使王處直為其子都幽於別室，都自稱留後。 〈（《歐陽史》：王處直叛附於契丹，其子都幽處直以來附。）〉
On jiwei in the tenth month Dai Siyuan of Liang struck Desheng's north citadel; Cunxu had Li Siyuan lie in wait at Qi and sent horse to provoke. When Liang massed, Cunxu took the center himself. Li Congke rode in under false Liang colors, smashed a watchtower in their camp, and came back with heads. Liang wavered; when their foot came up, Siyuan hit them with three thousand iron cavalry and broke them, taking or killing on the order of twenty thousand. On xinyou Yan Bao reported that Wang Chuzhi of Ding had been shut up by his son Du, who called himself acting commissioner. (The 《Ouyang History》 says Chuzhi rebelled to the Khitan while Du locked up his father and submitted to Jin.)〉
13
十一月，帝至鎮州城下，張處瑾遣弟處琪、幕客齊儉等候帝乞降，言猶不遜，帝命囚之。 時王師築土山以攻其壘，城中亦起土山以拒之，旬日之間，機巧百變。 張處瑾令韓正時以千騎夜突圍，將入定州與王處直議事，為我遊軍追擊，破之； 餘眾保衡唐，賊將彭贇斬正時以降。
In the eleventh month Cunxu camped under Zhen; Chujin sent his brother Chuqi and adviser Qi Jian to sue for terms with insolent speech, and he had them jailed. Jin raised siege mounds while the city countered with its own, and in ten days the engineers traded a hundred tricks. Chujin sent Han Zhengshi with a thousand horse to break out by night for Ding to see Chuzhi; Jin scouts ran them down; the survivors held Hengtang until Peng Zan killed Zhengshi and came over.
14
十二月辛未，王鬱誘契丹安巴堅寇幽州， 〈（《契丹國志》：王處直在定州，以鎮、定為唇齒，恐鎮亡而定孤，乃潛使人語其子王鬱，使賂契丹，令犯塞以救鎮州之圍。 王鬱說太祖曰：「鎮州美女如雲，金帛似山，天皇速往，則皆為己物也； 不然，則為晉王所有矣。」 太祖以為然，率眾而南。）〉 遂引軍涿州，陷之。 又寇定州，王都遣使告急，帝自鎮州率五千騎赴之。
On xinwei in the twelfth month Wang Yu bribed the Khitan Anbajian to strike Youzhou, (The 《Annals of the Khitan State》 says Chuzhi at Ding feared that with Zhen lost he would be isolated, and secretly told his son Yu to bribe the Khitan to raid the border and save Zhen. Yu told the Khitan Taizu, "Zhen holds beauties like clouds and treasure like hills—march now and it is yours; wait, and the Prince of Jin takes it. Taizu agreed and marched south.)〉 He drove on Zhuozhou and seized it. He pressed Ding as well; Du cried for help, and Cunxu rode from Zhen with five thousand horse.
15
天祐十九年春正月甲午，帝至新城，契丹前鋒三千騎至新樂。 是時，梁將戴思遠乘虛以寇魏州，軍至魏店，李嗣源自領兵馳入魏州。 梁人知其有備，乃西渡洹水，陷成安而去。 時契丹渡沙河，諸將相顧失色； 又聞梁人內侵，鄴城危急，皆請旋師，唯帝謂不可，乃率親騎至新城。 契丹萬餘騎，遽見帝軍，惶駭而退。 帝分軍為二廣，追躡數十里，獲安巴堅之子。 時沙河冰薄，橋梁隘狹，敵爭踐而過，陷溺者甚眾。 阿保機方在定州，聞前軍敗，退保望都。 帝至定州，王都迎謁。 是夜，宿於開元寺。 翌日，引軍至望都，契丹逆戰。 帝身先士伍，馳擊數四，敵退而結陣，帝之徒兵亦陣於水次。 李嗣昭躍馬奮擊，敵眾大潰，俘斬數千，追擊至易水，獲氈裘、毳幕、羊馬不可勝紀。 時歲且北至，大雪平地五尺，敵乏芻糧，人馬斃踣道路，累累不絕，帝乘勝追襲至幽州。 〈（《契丹國志》：晉王趨望都，為契丹所圍，力戰，出入數四，不解。 李嗣昭引三百騎橫擊之，晉王始得出，因縱兵奮擊，太祖兵敗，遂北至易州。 會大雪彌旬，平地數尺，人馬死者相屬，太祖乃歸。）〉 是月，梁將戴思遠寇德勝北城，築壘穿塹，地道雲梯，晝夜攻擊； 李存審極力拒守，城中危急。 帝自幽州聞之，倍道兼行以赴，梁人聞帝至，燒營而遁。
On jiawu in the first month of Tianyou 19 Cunxu reached Xincheng as three thousand Khitan van horse reached Xinle. Meanwhile Dai Siyuan of Liang slipped in to raid Weizhou as far as Weidian; Li Siyuan raced into the city himself. Finding Weizhou ready, Liang crossed the Huan west, sacked Cheng'an, and withdrew. As the Khitan crossed the Sha the officers lost color; hearing Liang had struck within and Ye was in peril, all urged retreat—only Cunxu refused, and he led his personal horse to Xincheng. Ten thousand Khitan horse sighted Cunxu's line and bolted in panic. He split his force in two wings, chased tens of li, and took Anbajian's son. The Sha ice was thin and the bridges narrow; Khitan crowded the crossings and many drowned. Abaoji was at Ding; when he heard the van had lost, he fell back on Wangdu. Cunxu reached Ding and Du came out to greet him. That night he slept at Kaiyuan Temple. The next day he marched on Wangdu and the Khitan gave battle. Cunxu led from the front, charged again and again until the Khitan drew up, and his foot formed line on the riverbank. Li Sizhao spurred in and shattered them, taking thousands of heads to the Yi River and herds of sheep, horses, tents, and furs beyond count. With the solstice near, snow stood five feet deep on the plain; the Khitan ran out of fodder and horses and men dropped along the road; Cunxu chased in triumph to Youzhou. (The 《Records of the Khitan Kingdom》 says the Prince of Jin pressed on Wangdu, was ringed by the Khitan, and fought in and out four times without breaking free. Li Sizhao charged in with three hundred horse and cut the Prince of Jin free; he then drove the attack home, routed the Liang Taizu's host, and chased them to Yi. Snow fell for ten days and piled several feet deep; men and horses died in heaps along the road, and the Taizu turned back.)〉 That month Dai Siyuan of Liang struck Desheng's north wall, threw up ramparts and trenches, tunneled and raised ladders, and assaulted without pause; Li Cunxu held with everything he had, and the city was in grave danger. Word from Youzhou brought the Emperor at forced march; the Liang heard he was near, torched their camp, and ran.
16
三月丙午，王師敗於鎮州城下，閻寶退保趙州。 時鎮州累月受圍，城中艱食，王師築壘環之； 又決滹沱水以絕城中出路。 是日，城中軍出，攻其長圍，皆奮力死戰，王師不能拒，引師而退。 鎮人壞其營壘，取其芻糧者累日。 帝聞失律，即以昭義節度使李嗣昭為北面招討使，進攻鎮州。 夏四月，嗣昭為流矢所中，卒於師。 己卯，天平節度使閻寶卒。 以振武節度使李存進為北面招討使。 是月，大同軍節度使李存璋卒。
On bingwu in the third month the court army was beaten under Zhenzhou, and Yan Bao fell back to Zhao. Zhenzhou had been under siege for months with food running out; the court army had ringed it with camps; and had broken the Hutuo to cut off every way out. That day the garrison burst out on the siege lines and fought to the death; the court army could not stand, broke, and pulled back. The Zhen men wrecked the camps and hauled away fodder and grain for days. Hearing of the defeat, the Emperor made Li Sizhao of Zhaoyi northern campaign commander and sent him back on Zhenzhou. In the fourth month of summer Sizhao took a stray arrow and died in camp. On jimao Yan Bao, commissioner of Tianping, died. Li Cunjin of Zhenwu was made northern campaign commander. That month Li Cunzhang of Datong died.
17
五月乙酉，李存進圍鎮州，營於東渡。 八月，梁將段凝陷衛州，刺史李存儒被擒。 存儒，本俳優也，帝以其有膂力，故用為衛州刺史。 既而誅斂無度，人皆怨之，故為梁人所襲。 〈（《九國誌·趙季良傳》：莊宗入鄴，時兵革屢興，屬邑租賦逋久。 一日，莊宗召季良切責之，季良對曰：「殿下何時平河南？」 莊宗正色曰：「爾掌輿賦而稽緩，安問我勝負乎！」 季良曰：「殿下方謀攻守，復務急征，一旦眾心有變，恐河南非殿下所有。」 莊宗斂容前席曰：「微君之言，幾失吾大計！」）〉 梁將戴思遠又陷共城、新鄉等邑。 自是，澶淵之西，相州之南，皆為梁人所據。
On yiyou in the fifth month Cunjin laid siege to Zhenzhou and camped at Dongdu crossing. In the eighth month Duan Ning of Liang took Wei; Prefect Li Cunru was seized. Cunru had been a performer; the Emperor valued his brawn and made him prefect of Wei. He then taxed without limit until the people hated him, and the Liang took him in a surprise strike. (The 《Nine States Chronicle · Biography of Zhao Jiliang》 says when Zhuangzong entered Ye the armies had been in the field for years and district taxes were far in arrears. One day Zhuangzong called Jiliang in and rebuked him sharply. Jiliang said, "When will Your Highness finish the south of the River?" Zhuangzong's face hardened: "You hold the grain rolls and drag your feet—who are you to ask me about the war?" Jiliang said, "You are fighting for the south yet squeezing the districts—if the army turns in a day, the south of the River may not be yours." Zhuangzong softened and leaned forward: "Without your counsel I would have wrecked the whole plan!"）〉 Dai Siyuan of Liang took Gong, Xinxiang, and other towns. From then on everything west of Chanyuan and south of Xiang was Liang territory.
18
九月戊寅朔，張處球悉城中兵奄至東垣渡，急攻我之壘門。 時騎軍已臨賊城，不覺其出，李存進惶駭，引十餘人鬥於橋上，賊退，我之騎軍前後夾擊之，賊眾大敗，步兵數千，殆無還者。 是役也，李存進戰歿於師，以蕃漢馬步總管李存審為北面招討使，以攻鎮州。 丙午夜，趙將李再豐之子衝投縋以接王師，諸軍登城，遲明畢入，鎮州平。 獲處球、處瑾、處琪並其母，及同惡高濛李翥、齊儉等，皆折足送行台，鎮人請醢而食之； 發張文禮屍，磔於市。 帝以符習為鎮州節度使，烏震為趙州刺史，趙仁貞為深州刺史，李再豐為冀州刺史。 鎮人請帝兼領本鎮，從之，乃以符習遙領天平軍節度使。
On the wuyin new moon of the ninth month Zhang Chuqiu hurled every man in the city on our camp gate at the east wall ford. Our horse were already at the walls and missed the sortie; Cunjin in alarm fought on the bridge with a dozen men; the rebels gave way; our cavalry struck from front and rear; thousands of foot were cut down and few came back. Cunjin fell in the fight; Li Cunxu, overall commander of Tangut and Han horse and foot, became northern campaign commander and pressed Zhenzhou. At midnight on bingwu Li Zaifeng's son Chong slid down a rope to the court army; the troops scaled the wall, and by dawn Zhenzhou had fallen. Chuqiu, Chujin, Chuqi, their mother, and ringleaders including Gao Meng, Li Zhu, and Qi Jian were seized, their feet broken, and sent to headquarters; the Zhen people begged to mince them for food; Zhang Wenli's corpse was dug up and torn apart in the market. The Emperor made Fu Xi commissioner of Zhen, Wu Zhen prefect of Zhao, Zhao Renzhen prefect of Shen, and Li Zaifeng prefect of Ji. Zhen asked the Emperor to hold the circuit himself; he agreed and kept Fu Xi as titular commissioner of Tianping.
19
十一月，河東監軍張承業卒。 十二月，以魏州觀察判官張憲權知鎮州軍州事。
In the eleventh month Zhang Chengye, Hedong army supervisor, died. In the twelfth month Zhang Xian, Wei observation judge, was made acting commissioner of Zhen.
20
三月己卯，以橫海軍節度使、內外蕃漢馬步總管李存審為幽州節度使。 潞州留後李繼韜叛，送款於梁。 是月，築即位壇於魏州牙城之南。
On jimao in the third month Li Cunxu of Bohai, overall commander of inner and outer Tangut and Han horse and foot, became commissioner of Youzhou. Li Jitao, acting prefect of Lu, rebelled and offered himself to Liang. That month an accession altar was raised south of the Weizhou headquarters.
21
夏四月己巳，帝升壇，祭告昊天上帝，遂即皇帝位，文武臣僚稱賀。 禮畢，禦應天門宣製：改天佑二十年為同光元年，大赦天下，自四月二十五日昧爽以前，除十惡五逆、放火行劫、持杖殺人、官典犯贓、屠牛鑄錢、合造毒藥外，罪無輕重，咸赦除之。 應蕃漢馬步將校並賜功臣名號，超授檢校官，已高者與一子六品正員官，兵士並賜等第優給。 其戰歿功臣各加追贈，仍賜諡號。 民年八十已上，與免一子役。 內外文武職官，並可直言極諫，無有隱諱。 貢、選二司，宜令有司速商量施行。 雲、應、蔚、朔、易、定、幽、燕及山後八軍，秋夏稅率量與蠲減。 民有三世已上不分居者，與免雜徭。 諸道應有祥瑞，不用聞奏。 赦書有所未該，委所司條奏以聞雲。 是歲，自正月不雨，人心憂恐，宣赦之日，澍雨溥降。
On jisi in the fourth month of summer the Emperor mounted the altar, sacrificed to Heaven, and took the throne; civil and military officials hailed him. When the rites ended he proclaimed at the Yingtian Gate that Tianyou 20 became Tongguang 1 and declared a great amnesty: before dawn on the twenty-fifth of the fourth month, save the ten abominations, five capital crimes, arson, robbery, murder with a weapon, official graft, cattle slaughter, coining, and poison-making, all crimes were forgiven. Tangut and Han commanders received merit titles and acting palace ranks; the highest won a son a sixth-rank post, and every soldier a graded bounty. Fallen officers were raised in rank posthumously and given posthumous names. Men and women eighty and older won exemption from one son's labor levy. Every civil and military officer, inside court and out, was invited to speak plainly without fear. The tribute and selection offices were told to have the bureaus settle rules and act on them quickly. Summer and autumn taxes were cut for Yun, Ying, Wei, Shuo, Yi, Ding, You, Yan, and the eight garrisons behind the mountains. Families of three generations under one roof were freed from miscellaneous corvée. Circuits were told not to report lucky signs. Gaps in the amnesty were left to the offices to list and report up. Rain had failed since the first month and people were afraid; the day the amnesty was read, soaking rain fell.
22
初，唐咸通中，金、水、土、火四星聚於畢、昴，太史奏：「畢、昴，趙、魏之分，其下將有王者。」 懿宗乃詔令鎮州王景崇被袞冕攝朝三日，遣臣下備儀注、軍府稱臣以厭之。 其後四十九年，帝破梁軍於柏鄉，平定趙、魏，至是即位於鄴宮。 是月，以行台左丞相豆盧革為門下侍郎、同中書門下平章事、太清宮使； 以行台右丞相盧澄為中書侍郎平章事、監修國史； 以前定州掌書記李德休為御史中丞； 以河東節度判官盧質為兵部尚書，充翰林學士承旨； 以河東掌書記馮道為戶部侍郎，充翰林學士； 以魏博、鎮冀觀察判官張憲為工部侍郎，充租庸使； 以中門使郭崇韜、昭義監軍使張居翰並為樞密使； 以權知幽州軍府事李紹宏為宣徽使； 以魏博節度判官王正言為禮部尚書，行興唐尹； 以河東軍城都虞候孟知祥為太原尹，充西京副留守； 以澤潞節度判官任圓為工部尚書兼真定尹，充北京副留守。 詔升魏州為東京興唐府，改元城縣為興唐縣，貴鄉縣為廣晉縣，以太原為西京，以鎮州為北都。 是時，所管節度一十三，州五十。
Long before, in Tang's Xiantong era, metal, water, earth, and fire met in Bi and Mao; the astronomer reported, "Bi and Mao are Zhao and Wei's stars—a king will rise there." Yizong made Wang Jingchong of Zhen wear imperial robes for three days, sent ministers with full rites, and had the army submit as subjects to ward off the sign. Forty-nine years later the Emperor routed Liang at Baixiang, pacified Zhao and Wei, and now enthroned himself at Ye. That month Dou Lu Ge, left chief of the field headquarters, became vice director of the Secretariat, joint chancellor, and commissioner of the Grand Pure Palace; Lu Cheng, right chief, became vice director of the Secretariat with chancellor rank and commissioner for the national history; former Ding secretarial aide Li Detiu became censor-in-chief; Hedong judge Lu Zhi became minister of war and chief Hanlin academician; Hedong secretary Feng Dao became vice minister of revenue and Hanlin academician; Wei-Bo and Zhen-Ji judge Zhang Xian became vice minister of works and grain transport commissioner; inner gate commissioner Guo Chongtao and Zhaoyi army supervisor Zhang Juhun both became commissioners of military affairs; acting Youzhou commissioner Li Shaohong became palace commissioner; Wei-Bo judge Wang Zhengyan became minister of rites and acting Xingxing prefect; Hedong garrison commandant Meng Zhixiang became Taiyuan prefect and deputy western capital defender; Zelu judge Ren Yuan became minister of works, acting Zhending prefect, and deputy northern capital defender. An edict made Weizhou the eastern capital Xingxing, renamed Yuancheng to Xingxing and Guixiang to Guangjin, set Taiyuan as western capital and Zhenzhou as northern capital. The realm then held thirteen circuits and fifty prefectures.
23
閏月丁丑，以李嗣源為檢校侍中，依前橫海軍節度使、內外蕃漢副總管； 以幽州節度使李存審為檢校太師、兼中書令，依前蕃漢馬步總管； 以河東節度使朱友謙為檢校太師、兼尚書令。 安國軍節度使符習加同平章事，定州節度使王都加檢校侍中。 是月，追尊曾祖蔚州太保為昭烈皇帝，廟號懿祖； 夫人崔氏曰昭列皇后。 追尊皇祖代州太保為文景皇帝，廟號獻祖； 夫人秦氏曰文景皇后。 追尊皇考河東節度使、太師、中書令、晉王為武皇帝，廟號太祖。 詔於晉陽立宗廟，以高祖神堯皇帝、太宗文皇帝、懿宗昭聖皇帝、昭宗聖穆皇帝及懿祖以下為七廟。 甲午，契丹寇幽州，至易、定而還。 時有自鄆來者，言節度使戴思遠領兵在河上，州城無守兵，可襲而取之。 帝召李嗣源謀曰：「昭義阻命，梁將董璋攻迫澤州，梁志在澤、潞，不慮別有事生，汶陽無備，不可失也。」 嗣源以為然。 壬寅，命嗣源率步騎五千，箝枚自河趨鄆。 是夜陰雨，我師至城下，鄆人不覺，遂乘城而入，鄆州平。 製以李嗣源為天平軍節度使。 梁主聞鄆州陷，大恐，乃遣王彥章代戴思遠總兵以來拒。 時朱守殷守德勝南城，帝懼彥章奔衝，遂幸澶州。
On dingchou in the intercalary month Li Siyuan became acting palace attendant, remaining Bohai commissioner and inner and outer Tangut and Han deputy overall commander; Li Cunxu of Youzhou became acting grand preceptor and joint director of the Secretariat, still overall commander of Tangut and Han horse and foot; Zhu Youqian of Hedong became acting grand preceptor and director of the Secretariat. Fu Xi of Anguo received joint chancellor rank; Wang Du of Ding became acting palace attendant. That month the great-great-grandfather, grand protector of Wei, was raised as Illustrious Liege Emperor, temple name Yizu; Lady Cui was named Illustrious Array Empress. The grandfather, grand protector of Dai, was raised as Cultured Splendor Emperor, temple name Xianzu; Lady Qin was named Cultured Splendor Empress. The father, Hedong commissioner, grand preceptor, chancellor, and Prince of Jin, was raised as Martial Emperor, temple name Taizu. An edict built a temple at Jinyang with Shenyao, Taizong, Yizong, Zhaozong, and the new ancestors from Yizu down—seven halls in all. On jiawu the Khitan struck Youzhou, reached Yi and Ding, and withdrew. Word came from Yan that Dai Siyuan was on the river with his army and Yan city lay undefended—a sudden strike could take it. The Emperor called Li Siyuan and said, "Zhaoyi is in revolt and Dong Zhang of Liang is hammering Ze; they have eyes only for Ze and Lu and will not look for trouble elsewhere—Wenyang is open and we must not miss it." Siyuan agreed. On renyin he sent Siyuan with five thousand foot and horse, branches in their mouths, racing along the river on Yan. Rain fell that night; the army came under the walls unseen, scaled them, and Yan fell before dawn. A proclamation made Li Siyuan commissioner of Tianping. The Liang ruler, hearing Yan was lost, panicked and sent Wang Yanzhang to replace Dai Siyuan and block the advance. Zhu Shouyin held Desheng's south wall; fearing Yanzhang would burst through, the Emperor went to Chanyuan himself.
24
五月辛酉，彥章夜率舟師自楊村浮河而下，斷德勝之浮橋，攻南城，陷之。 帝令中書焦彥賓馳至楊劉，固守其城； 令朱守殷撤德勝北城屋木攻具，浮河而下，以助楊劉。 是時，德勝軍食芻茭薪炭數十萬計，至是令人輦負入澶州，事既倉卒，耗失殆半。 朱守殷以所毀屋木編筏，置步軍於其上。 王彥章以舟師沿流而下，各行一岸，每遇轉灘水彙，即中流交鬥，流矢雨集，或全舟覆沒，一彼一此，終日百戰，比及楊劉，殆亡其半。 己巳，王彥章、段凝率大軍攻楊劉南城，焦彥賓與守城將李周極力固守。 梁軍晝夜攻擊，百道齊進，竟不能下，遂結營於楊劉之南，東西延袤十數柵。
On xinyou in the fifth month Yanzhang led boats by night from Yangcun down the river, severed Desheng's pontoon, stormed the south city, and took it. The Emperor sent chancellor Jiao Yanbin at full gallop to hold Yangliu; and ordered Zhu Shouyin to strip Desheng's north wall of timber and engines and float them down to Yangliu. Desheng then held fodder, reeds, and charcoal by the hundred thousand loads; men were rushed to haul it to Chanyuan and nearly half was lost in the scramble. Zhu Shouyin bound the wrecked timbers into rafts and put foot soldiers aboard. Yanzhang's boats drifted down, one line on each bank; at every bend they fought in midstream under a rain of arrows, boats sinking whole; the duel lasted all day, and by Yangliu nearly half were gone. On jisi Yanzhang and Duan Ning stormed Yangliu's south wall; Jiao Yanbin and Li Zhou held with everything they had. Liang assaulted day and night along a hundred lines and still could not enter; they camped south of Yangliu in a line of more than ten stockades.
25
六月己亥，帝親禦軍至楊劉，登城望見梁軍，重壕復壘，以絕其路，帝乃選勇士持短兵出戰。 梁軍於城門外，連延屈曲，穿掘小壕，伏甲士於中，候帝軍至，則弓弩齊發，師人多傷矢，不得進。 帝患之，問計於郭崇韜； 崇韜請於下流據河築壘，以救鄆州。 又請帝日令勇士挑戰，旬日之內，寇若不至，營壘必成。 帝善之，即令崇韜與毛璋率數千人中夜往博州濟河東，晝夜督役，居六日，營壘將成。 戊子，梁將王彥章、杜晏球領徒數萬，晨壓帝之新壘。 時板築雖畢，牆仞低庳，戰具未備，沙城散惡，王彥章列騎環城，虐用其人，使步軍堙壕登堞。 又於上流下巨艦十餘艘，扼斷濟路。 自旦至午，攻擊百端，城中危急。 帝自楊劉引軍陣於西岸，城中望之，大呼，帝艤舟將渡，梁軍遂解圍，退保鄒家口。
On jihai in the sixth month the Emperor came to Yangliu in person, mounted the wall, saw Liang trenches and double ramparts choking every road, and sent picked men with short weapons to sally. Outside the gate Liang had dug zigzag trenches and hidden armored men; when the court army came crossbows volleyed together, many fell, and the line could not move. The Emperor was vexed and asked Guo Chongtao for counsel; Chongtao urged stockades downriver on the Yellow River to save Yan. He also urged the Emperor to send champions out to fight every day; if the enemy stayed away ten days, the fort would stand. The Emperor agreed and sent Chongtao and Mao Zhang with several thousand men at midnight from Bozhou across the river to the east bank, pressing the work night and day; in six days the works were nearly done. On wuzi Wang Yanzhang and Du Yanqiu of Liang brought tens of thousands and at dawn drove on the Emperor's new camp. The tamped earth was up but the walls were low and weak, weapons were not ready, and the sandworks were rotten; Yanzhang ringed the place with horse, drove the people cruelly to fill the ditch and scale the wall. Upstream he posted more than ten great ships to block the crossing. From morning to noon they struck from every quarter and the city was in grave danger. The Emperor marched from Yangliu and drew up on the west bank; the garrison saw him and cheered; he made to cross by boat and the Liang broke off and fell back on Zoujiakou.
26
秋七月丁未，帝御軍沿河而南，梁軍棄鄒家口夜遁，委棄鍋甲芻糧千計。 戊午，遣騎將李紹貽直抵梁軍壘，梁益恐。 又聞李嗣源自鄆州引大軍將至，己未夜，梁軍拔營而遁，復保於楊村。 帝軍屯於德勝。 甲子，帝幸楊劉城，巡視梁軍故壘。
On dingwei in the seventh month he led the host south along the river; the Liang quit Zoujiakou by night and left thousands of pots, armor, fodder, and grain behind. On wuwu he sent the horse commander Li Shaoyi straight to the Liang lines and their fear deepened. Word came that Li Siyuan was marching a great host from Yanzhou; that jiwei night the Liang struck camp and fled back to Yangcun. The Emperor's host halted at Desheng. On jiazi he went to Yangliu and walked the old Liang encampments.
27
八月壬申朔，帝遣李紹斌以甲士五千援澤州。 初，李繼韜之叛也，潞之舊將裴約以兵戍澤州，不徇韜之逆。 既而梁遣董璋率眾攻其城，約拒守久之，告急於帝，故遣紹斌救之。 未至而城已陷，裴約被害，帝聞之，嗟痛不已。 甲戌，帝自楊劉歸鄴。 梁以段凝代王彥章為帥。 戊子，凝帥眾五萬結營於王村，自高陵渡河。 帝軍遇之，生擒梁前鋒軍士二百人，戮於都市。 庚寅，帝御軍至朝城。 戊戌，梁左右先鋒指揮使康延孝領百騎來奔，帝虛懷引見，賜禦衣玉帶，屏人問之。 對曰：「臣竊觀汴人兵眾不少，論其君臣將校，則終見敗亡。 趙岩、趙鵠、張漢傑居中專政，締結宮掖，賄賂公行。 段凝素無武略，一朝便見大用； 霍彥威、王彥章皆宿將有名，翻出其下。 自彥章獲德勝南城，梁主亦稍獎使。 彥章立性剛暴，不耐淩製，梁主每一發軍，即令近臣監護，進止可否，悉取監軍處分，彥章悒悒，形於顏色。 自河津失利，段凝、彥章又獻謀，欲數道舉軍，合董璋以陝虢、澤潞之眾，趨石會關以寇太原。 霍彥威統關西、汝、洛之眾自相衛以寇鎮定，段凝、杜晏球領大軍以當陛下，令王彥章、張漢傑統禁軍以攻鄆州，決取十月內大舉。 又自滑州南決破河堤，使水東注曹、濮之間，至於汶陽，彌漫不絕，以陷北軍。 臣在軍側聞此議。 臣惟汴人兵力，聚則不少，分則無餘。 陛下但待分兵，領鐵騎五千，自鄆州兼程直抵於汴，不旬日，天下事定矣。」 帝懌然壯之。
On the renshen new moon in the eighth month he sent Li Shaobin with five thousand armored men to relieve Ze. When Li Jitao had rebelled, the old Lu officer Pei Yue garrisoned Ze and refused to join him. The Liang then sent Dong Zhang against the city; Yue held long and cried to the Emperor for help, and Shaobin was dispatched. Shaobin had not yet arrived when the city fell and Yue was slain; the Emperor grieved without cease. On jiaxu he went from Yangliu back to Ye. The Liang replaced Wang Yanzhang with Duan Ning as supreme commander. On wuzi Ning brought fifty thousand men to camp at Wang Village and crossed from Gaoling. The Jin host met them, took two hundred Liang vanguard alive, and put them to death in the market. On gengyin he led the army to Chaocheng. On wuxu Kang Yanxiao, Liang commander of the Left and Right Vanguard, came over with a hundred riders; the Emperor welcomed him generously, gave him court robe and jade belt, and questioned him in private. He said, "I have watched the Bian host: their numbers are great, but their ruler, ministers, and commanders are already doomed. Zhao Yan, Zhao He, and Zhang Hanjie rule from the center, court the palace women, and buy every office. Duan Ning has no military talent, yet overnight he commands all; Huo Yanwei and Wang Yanzhang are famous old commanders, yet they rank below him. After Yanzhang took Desheng's south city the Liang ruler gave him some favor again. Yanzhang is harsh and proud and hates oversight; every campaign the Liang ruler set eunuchs over him who ordered every move—Yanzhang brooded and his face showed it. After the river defeat Ning and Yanzhang proposed a multi-pronged advance: Dong Zhang with Shaanxi-Guo and Ze-Lu would march on Shihui Pass against Taiyuan. Huo Yanwei would take Guanxi, Ru, and Luo from Xiangwei against Zhen and Ding; Ning and Du Yanqiu would face Your Majesty; Yanzhang and Zhang Hanjie would lead the palace guard on Yanzhou—the grand stroke was set for before the tenth month ended. They would break the dyke south of Huazhou and flood Cao and Pu to Wenyang without end to drown the northern armies. I heard this plan in their camp. Bian's strength gathered looks large, but split up it is nothing. Wait until they divide, then take five thousand iron horse from Yanzhou by forced march straight to Bian—in ten days the realm is yours. The Emperor was delighted and took heart.
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九月壬寅朔，帝在朝城，凝兵至臨河南，與帝之騎軍接戰。 是時澤潞叛，衛州、黎陽為梁人所據，州以西、相以南，寇鈔日至，編戶流亡，計其軍賦，不支半年。 又王鬱、盧文進召契丹南侵瀛、涿。 及聞梁人將圖大舉，帝深憂之，召將吏謀其大計，或曰：「自我得汶陽以來，須大將固守，城門之外，元是賊疆，細而料之，得不如失。 今若馳檄告諭梁人，卻衛州、黎陽以易鄆州，指河為界，約且休兵。 我國力稍集，則議改圖。」 帝曰：「嘻，行此謀則無葬地矣！」 時郭崇韜勸帝親禦六軍，直趨汴州，半月之間，天下可定。 帝曰：「正合朕意。 大丈夫得則為王，失則為寇，予行計決矣！」 又問司天監，對曰：「今歲時不利，深入必無成功。」 帝弗聽。 戊辰，梁將王彥章率眾至汶河，李嗣源遣騎軍偵視，至遞公鎮，梁軍來挑戰，嗣源以精騎擊而敗之，生擒梁將任釗、田章等三百人，俘斬二百級，彥章引眾保於中都。 嗣源飛驛告捷，帝置酒大悅，曰：「是當決行渡河之策。」 己巳，下令軍中將士家屬並令歸鄴。
On the renyin new moon in the ninth month he was at Chaocheng when Ning's troops came south of Linhe and fought his horse. Ze and Lu were in revolt, Weizhou and Liyang were Liang, and west of Zhou and south of Xiang raiders came daily while taxpayers fled—supplies would not last six months. Wang Yu and Lu Wenjin also called the Khitan south against Ying and Zhuo. Hearing of the Liang grand design he was deeply troubled and called his commanders; one said, "Since Wenyang fell we have had to post great generals to hold ground that was always enemy land—we have gained less than we hold. Send a proclamation offering Weizhou and Liyang for Yanzhou, the river as border, and a truce for now— when our strength recovers we can plan again. The Emperor said, "Foolishness! Do that and I shall have no grave!" Guo Chongtao then urged him to lead the six armies himself straight on Bian—in half a month the realm would be his. The Emperor said, "That is exactly my mind. Win and be king, lose and be an outlaw—I have made up my mind! He asked the Director of Astronomy, who said, "The stars this year forbid it; a deep advance cannot succeed." The Emperor would not hear it. On wuchen Wang Yanzhang of Liang reached the Wen; Li Siyuan sent scouts to Digong post; the Liang offered battle and Siyuan routed them with picked horse, taking Ren Zhao, Tian Zhang, and three hundred others alive and two hundred heads; Yanzhang fell back on Zhongdu. Siyuan sent word by urgent post; the Emperor feasted in joy and said, "Now we must decide to cross the river. On jisi he ordered every soldier's family sent back to Ye.