← Back to 舊五代史

卷三十一 唐書7: 莊宗本紀五

Volume 31 Book of Later Tang 7: Zhuangzong Annals 5

Chapter 31 of 舊五代史 · Old History of the Five Dynasties
← Previous Chapter
Chapter 31
Next Chapter →
1
殿 使 使 使使 使 殿殿殿殿 使 使使 殿殿
On the gengzi new moon in spring of Tongguang 2, Cunxu held new-year court in Mingtang Hall with full guard. On renchen Li Yan of the rites office submitted temple dance names: Honored Ancestor, 《Dance of Manifest Virtue》; Offered Ancestor, 《Dance of Civilizing Brilliance》; Grand Ancestor, 《Dance of Responding to Heaven》; Zhaozong, 《Dance of Eternal Peace》. On jiachen Youzhou reported Khitan raiders at Wa Bridge. (The 《Records of the Khitan State》 says the Khitan were growing stronger and asked Tang for Youzhou for Lu Wenjin.)〉 Li Siyuan of Tianping was made northern commander with Huo Yanwei of Shanzhou as deputy to relieve Youzhou. On jisi the late Wang Zan of Xuanwu was posthumously made Grand Preceptor. On dingwei Chaoyuan Hall was restored to Mingtang and Chongxun to Zhongxing. On wushen Li Cunba of Zhenwu was made acting Lu prefect; and Gao Yuntao of Baoda was made Grand Guardian. On gengxu Li Congyan of Jingyuan was made Grand Preceptor and chief minister while keeping Jingyuan and Qin Prince posts. Gates and halls were renamed: Yingshun to Yongyao, Taiping to Wanchun, Tongzheng to Guangzheng, Fengming to Shaohe, Wanchun to Zhongxing, Jiezhuang to Duanming.
2
使 使 使 使 使 殿 使
That day an edict read, "The throne is secure and the palace strict; palace eunuchs must not live outside the capital. Every circuit must send its eunuchs and families to court at once, without delay." In his days as heir Cunxu already had five hundred eunuchs; now a thousand from the circuits came to court, richly paid, splendidly dressed, and trusted with power. Under Tang eunuchs ran inner offices and supervised circuits, wielding royal power until Zhaozong lost the realm. Having taken the realm he should have heeded that overturned cart, yet the abuse returned at once—commentators mourned it. Silla's King Geumpyeong sent tribute envoys. On xinhai the Secretariat said, "By precedent, patents for princes, consorts, ministers, and commissioners need brocade from the Patent Office, then sealing and imperial grant. Other civil and military officers and recommended commanders must pay for their brocade and paper. Under Liang all ranks were supplied free; hereafter only the cases above get court paper—inner-office guards and promoted commanders excepted." Approved. On renzi Wang Yan of Shu wrote that a fake envoy had reported Bian recovered; Cunxu ordered arrest but found no one. On guichou the rites office said that two days before the suburban rite the tablets of Gaozu through the Grand Ancestor should be brought to the temple. Some argued that restored Tang should not rank enfeoffed forebears with reigning emperors; from the Honored Ancestor down they wanted separate temples at Dai, as under Later Han. Youzhou reported the Khitan had left; Li Siyuan was ordered home. Li Maozhen of Fengxiang asked to act as a feudatory prince; Cunxu answered graciously. On jiayin Cunxu personally gave Guo Chongtao an iron tally at Zhongxing Hall. The rites office said the Emperor should welcome the Empress Dowager inside Yintai Gate. Cunxu was ordered to go himself to Huai to meet her. The Secretariat said that from the twenty-third, during the fast, the court should not travel far. Cunxu changed the meeting place to Heyang. Wang Zhengyan stayed Minister of Rites and was made land-tax commissioner.
3
使 使 使殿 西 殿
On yimao Bohai sent tribute. Youzhou said thirteen mountain stockades behind Ji had returned to Xin. On wuwu Xue Tinggui was made acting revenue minister and retired Grand Mentor; Feng Shunqing, Grand Guardian emeritus; and Li Wengui, Vice Minister of Revenue emeritus. Salt, revenue, and household bureaus were placed under the land-tax commissioner. On gengshen the guest office asked that only third-rank envoys with the train or on tribute missions use the inner hall; others should use the main court. Approved. Cunxu went to Heyang to meet the Empress Dowager. On xinyou Cunxu escorted her in; the hundred officials met them at Shangdong Gate. That day Hezhong said Jishan county was transferred to Jiang. Li Shu became Director of the Imperial Clan; Yang Di became Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. A Huaqing Daoist reported the withered cypress at the Hall of the Heavenly Honored One had leafed again. On yichou the rites office said princes had traditionally performed the second and final libations at temple and altar. Jiji was made second libationer and Cunji final libationer. On bingyin Cunxu fasted at Mingtang. On dingmao he offered food at Taiwei Palace. On wuchen he fed the temple, then went to the southern altar.
4
使歿
On the jisi new moon of the second month Cunxu sacrificed to Heaven on the round altar, received congratulations, and returned to Wufeng Tower. He proclaimed a great amnesty: all crimes before dawn on the first of the second month of Tongguang 2, even those usually excluded, were pardoned. The ten abominations, coining, murder, poison, robbery, and embezzlement were excluded. Meritorious commanders were promoted and rewarded. Officials and commissioners whose parents had died received posthumous honors; living parents received added rank. Each commissioner's son entered office with a merit title. High regents and prefects gained a noble step; low ones gained an office grade. Tang servants killed by the Zhu were posthumously honored. Rich houses could not hoard cash, smiths could not melt coin, and merchants could not export money. Women's dress had grown extravagantly wide and costly. The powerful wore brocade regardless of rank; local authorities were to stop it. Women taken as captives might be reclaimed by kin. Tattooed men were to get papers and be freed to work. Book donors were to be rewarded by grade. Offices were to audit households and farmland to ease exactions." That day the weather was fair and the people rejoiced. Commentators said no such rite had been seen in fifty years. Yet from then on ministers turned stubborn, actors held power, and Kong Qian re-levied what the amnesty had freed—hearts were lost from this day.
5
使 祿
On gengwu Kong Qian asked that convoys and merchants evading tax on private roads be seized at every pass. Approved. On guiyou Dou Luge led three memorials offering the title Illustrious in Culture, Sagacious in Warfare, Utmost in Virtue, Radiant in Filial Piety; Cunxu accepted. On jiaxu an edict restored Bian's six counties and said Yingling, Fugou, Taikang, Yangwu, Zhongmou, and Kaocheng had been cut to Liang; Yangwu, Kuangcheng, Fugou, and Kaocheng would stay with Bian; the rest went home. On bingzi staff officer Geng Yuan became Director of Astronomy. On dingchou Li Yun became General of the Right Horse Guards.
6
使使 使 使 簿
On wuyin Cunxu feasted at Li Siyuan's house and left in high spirits. On jimao Li Jilin of Hezhong was made salt commissioner for Anyi and Jie. On xinsi Zhang Quanyi became Grand Preceptor, chief minister, Heyang commissioner, and Prince of Qi. Li Maozhen stayed Qin Prince with exemption from bowing and from naming his name. (The 《Institutions of the Five Dynasties》 says the sacrifice office cited Zhao Kuangning's precedent for Maozhen's patent. Maozhen was to supply his own carriage and patent cart with full insignia and music. Approved.)〉 That day Cunxu visited the Left Dragon Martial Army. On guimao Dou Luge and the officials asked for an empress. Empress Liu of Wei was proclaimed and a day set for full investiture.
7
使使使 使使 使 使使 使使使 使使使使使使使 使退
On dinghai Li Siyuan became Grand Preceptor, kept Tianping, gained a hundred households and an iron tally; Li Cunyi became Jin commissioner and Grand Mentor; Cunji became Xing commissioner and Grand Mentor; and Zhu Shouyin became Zhenwu commissioner and Grand Mentor. On wuzi Li Shaoqi became Zheng defender and Zhang Jisun Ruzhou defender. On jichou Cunba took Luzhou, Li Shaochen Shanzhou, and Mao Zhang Huazhou. On renchen Guo Chongtao again asked to leave the bureau; Cunxu graciously refused.
8
使便 使 祿
On guisi an edict named the Empress Dowager's palace Changshou to mark her dignity. Guo Chongtao submitted fifteen reforms; Cunxu praised them. On jiawu Li Shaowei of Xi and Li Shaolu of Tuyuhun brought camels and horses. On dingyou Ma Xifan of Wuan became Yong prefect and Grand Guardian. On guimao Li Yan became Special Counselor and acting Minister of Works while keeping the Grand Mastership; Li Detiu, censor-in-chief, became vice minister of war; Cui Xie of Personnel became censor-in-chief.
9
使 使使使使 使 使 使 使
In the third month on jiachen the late Heyang commissioner Wang Shifan was posthumously made Grand Commandant. On yisi Fu Xi of Cangzhou—acting Grand Tutor and chancellor—went to Qing, and Li Shaobin, inner horse-and-foot commander of the northern capital and Right Guard general, took Cang. Zhen reported a Khitan raid; Li Siyuan was ordered to march and camp at Xing. On bingwu Gao Jixing of Jingnan kept acting Grand Preceptor and Director of the Imperial Secretariat and was made Prince of Nanping; Li Cunxian, Youzhou campaign marshal, stayed acting Grand Guardian and became Youzhou commissioner. The Secretariat reported, "Prefectures have been recommending magistrates in disorder; hereafter a commissioner over three or more prefectures may nominate three circuit officers a year; with fewer than three prefectures, only two; only with outstanding evaluations might a name go up; defense commissioners one each, and prefects none. 」The edict was approved. On jiyou Li Qi, Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent, became minister of punishments
10
滿 滿 殿殿殿 退 退 使
On gengxu Youzhou reported a Khitan strike on Xincheng. That day an edict granted every army commander from acting Sikong down the merit title Merit Lord Who Counsels Plans, Settles Disorder, and Stabilizes the State. Acting vice directors, ministers, regular attendants, and remonstrance grandees received Loyal Fruition, Arched Guard Merit Lord. Those first holding censorial titles received Loyal Martyr Merit Lord. Those advancing by sequential rank received Imperial Escort Merit Lord. 」The Secretariat added, "When a district officer finishes his term he must file the Personnel closing report; the circuit may not replace the appointee with an acting officer. 」The throne approved. (The 《Five Dynasties Institutes》 says in Tongguang 2 the Secretariat reported, "Where a prefect or magistrate is known for outstanding achievement; or has recovered households and increased taxes; or has cleared wrongful cases and saved lives; or has swept away long abuses, set new rules for the age, and won public praise—the locality should report each case and promotion should be considered. Greedy rule, killing subjects, neglect of office, or slack government should also be punished. After three evaluations an officer must file the Personnel closing report and await imperial assignment; the circuit may not replace him with an acting officer. 」The request was granted.)〉 The rites offices reported, "On the first of the fourth month the Emperor will take the honorific at Civilized Hall in dragon robe and crown; the day before he should fast in the inner hall. 」The court agreed. That day Li Siyuan asked to give up military command; the throne refused. The actor Jing Jin then held sway and eunuchs crowded forward, so great ministers feared for themselves and begged to step down. On guichou Dou Zhuan, Left Remonstrance Grandee, asked to abolish the rent-and-corvée commissioner and restore revenue to the Three Offices. 」The memorial went unanswered. Tang reported trees growing with conjoined trunks. An edict trimmed redundant posts: apart from those already reassigned, thirty including Li Wenju of Scattered Cavalry returned to old posts; five including Shi Jian of the Heir Apparent retired on present rank; fourteen including Cen Baosi awaited further orders. 」On bingchen eleven demoted officers including Zheng Jue of Laizhou were moved nearer the capital. Zhao Yan, Revenue vice minister and examination director, died; Pei Hao of the Secretariat took the examinations in his stead. Lead and tin coin were banned.
11
使 · 使 使使
On dingsi the Secretariat asked that the Yizong tomb be called Yongxing, the Xianzong tomb Changning, and the Taizu tomb Jianji. 」The throne approved. Yang Pu of Huainan sent envoys with gifts for the suburban rites. (The 《Ten States Spring and Autumn · Wu Annals》 says the king sent Xu Que with two thousand liang of silver, twelve hundred bolts of brocade, five hundred jin of fine tea, four ivory tusks, and ten rhinoceros horns for Tang's suburban rites.)〉 On wuwu every officer who served at the southern suburb was to pass the three selection boards and receive favorable treatment. On jiwei Zhang Shaogui of Judicial Review was made salt-monopoly commissioner for the Anyi and Jie pools. Cunxu visited the Left Dragon Martial Army as Prince Jiji took over Zhang Quanyi's charge of the Six Armies and Guards. On guihai Gao Wanxing of Zhangwu and Baoda kept Yan and Mi, acting Grand Guardian, Secretariat Director, and Prince of Beiping. On jiazi Cunxu visited the eastern residence.
12
殿 使 使 使 使使
On the jisi new moon of the fourth month Cunxu took dragon robe and crown at Civilized Hall and received the honorific Zhaowen Ruiwu Zhide Guangxiao Emperor. On renshen Ren Yuan, Chengde campaign marshal and acting prefect, became acting Right Vice Director and northern transport commissioner. On jiaxu Hua Wenqi of Shunyi kept acting Grand Guardian and stayed as acting commissioner. On yihai Ma Yin of Chu—Celestial Stratagem general, Wu'an commissioner, acting Grand Preceptor, and chancellor—kept Grand Preceptor and took Director of the Imperial Secretariat. An edict sent every commissioner, prefect, and magistrate at court back to his post. On dingchou Li Cunshen—former Youzhou commissioner, barbarian-and-Chinese commander-in-chief, acting Grand Preceptor, and chancellor—became Xuanwu commissioner, the rest unchanged.
13
殿 使使 使使 使使 使使 使使 使 使使 西使西使使 使 使使 使使 使
On jimao Cunxu enfeoffed Lady Liu of Wei as empress at Civilized Hall. On gengchen Huo Yanwei took the imperial surname with the name Shaozhen. On guiwei Li Ji'an of Song kept acting Grand Commandant, chancellor, and Song commission; Li Jichong of Xu kept acting Grand Commandant, chancellor, and Xu commission; Kong of Xiang kept acting Grand Tutor, chancellor, and Xiang commission. On jiawu Song Tangyu—deputy Military Affairs commissioner and acting Inner Palace eunuch—became Left Gate Guard general of the same rank while keeping his deputy post; Yang Xilang of the Inner Reception Bureau became Right Gate Guard general of the same rank and kept his bureau; both men received Push Loyalty, Support the Throne Merit Lord. The court went to Longmen. On bingxu Uyghur envoys brought tribute. On jichou Li Renfu of Xia kept acting Grand Preceptor, chancellor, and Xia commission and was made Prince of Shuofang; Han Zhu of Shuofang and Hexi kept acting Grand Tutor and Palace Attendant and took those commissions plus observation of Ling, Yan, Wei, Jing, Xiong, Liang, Gan, and Su. On xinmao Li Shaohong—Southern Secretariat attendant, Inner Palace overseer, Special Grandee, and Left Gate Guard general—became senior general of the Right Guard. On guisi Ma Cong of Jingjiang—Prince of Fufeng—became acting Grand Preceptor and chancellor while keeping Jingjiang; Ma Xizhen of Lang became acting Grand Tutor and Palace Attendant and kept Lang. Li Maozhen, Fengxiang commissioner and Prince of Qin, died.
14
使
On bingchen Yang Li, a Luzhou junior officer, rebelled and held the city; Li Siyuan was made pacification commissioner with Li Shaozhen of Shaan as deputy to march against him.
← Previous Chapter
Back to Chapters
Next Chapter →