1
同光四年春正月戊午朔，帝不受朝賀，契丹寇渤海。 壬戌，詔以去歲災沴，物價騰踴，自今月三日後避正殿，減膳撤樂，以答天譴。 應去年遭水災州縣，秋夏稅賦並與放免。 自壬午年已前所欠殘稅，及諸色課利，已有敕命放免者，尚聞所在卻有征收，宜令租庸司切準前敕處分。 應京畿內人戶，有停貯斛斗者，並令減價出糶； 如不遵行，當令檢括。 西川王衍父子及偽署將相官吏，除已行刑憲外，一切釋放。 天下禁囚，除十惡五逆、官典犯贓、屠牛毀錢、放火劫舍、持刀殺人，準律常赦不原外，應合抵極刑者，遞降一等。 其餘罪犯悉與減降； 逃背軍健，並放逐便。
On the wuwu new moon in spring of Tongguang 4, Cunxu skipped New Year court; Khitan forces raided Bohai. On renxu an edict blamed last year's disasters for soaring prices and ordered him to leave the main hall, cut meals, and stop music from the third of the month to appease heaven. Autumn and summer taxes were waived for every county flooded last year. Tax arrears before renwu and levies already remitted by edict were still being collected locally; the Zuyong Office was told to enforce the earlier order. Capital households hoarding grain were ordered to sell at reduced prices; refusal would bring investigation and seizure. Wang Yan of Shu, his son, and Shu's puppet ministers and officials were freed except those already executed. Prisoners nationwide except capital crimes, corruption, cattle-slaughter, coin-breaking, arson, robbery, and blade murder had death sentences cut one grade where statute allowed. all other offenders received further reductions; deserters were banished outright.
2
癸亥，河中節度使李繼麟來朝。 諸州上言，準宣為去年十月地震，集僧道起消災道場。 甲子，魏王繼岌殺樞密使郭崇韜於西川，夷其族。 丙寅，百官上表，請復常膳，凡三上表，乃允之。 西川行營都監李廷安進西川樂官二百九十八人。 契丹寇女真、渤海。 戊寅，契丹阿保機遣使貢良馬。 庚辰，帝異母弟鄜州節度使存乂伏誅。 存乂，郭崇韜之子婿也，故亦及於禍。 是日，以河中節度使、守太師、兼尚書令、西平王李繼麟為滑州節度使，尋令朱守殷以兵圍其第，誅之，夷其族。 辛巳，吐渾、奚各遣使貢馬。 鎮州上言，部民凍死者七千二百六十人。 又奏，準宣進花果樹栽及抽樂人梅審譯赴京。 甲申，以鄆州節度使、永王存霸為河中節度使，以滑州節度使、申王存渥為鄆州節度使。 乙酉，內人景姹上言：「昭宗遇難之時，皇屬千餘人同時遇害，為三穴瘞於宮城西古龍興寺北，請改葬。」 從之，仍詔河南府監護其事。 丙戌，回鶻可汗阿咄欲遣使貢良馬。 鎮州上言，平棘等四縣部民，餓死者二千五十人。 丁亥，詔朱友謙同惡人史武等七人，已當國法，並籍沒家產。 武等友謙舊將，時皆為刺史，並以無罪族誅。 〈（《歐陽史》，丁亥，殺李繼麟之將史武、薛敬容、周唐殷、楊師太、王景、來仁、白奉國。）〉
On guihai Li Jilin of Heyang presented himself at court. Prefectures reported ritual grounds for last October's earthquake, per edict. On jiazi Jiji killed Guo Chongtao in Shu and wiped out his family. On bingyin officials petitioned three times before Cunxu resumed regular meals. Li Ting'an of the Shu campaign staff sent 298 Shu musicians to court. Khitan forces raided Jurchen and Bohai. On wuyin Abaoji sent fine horses as tribute. On gengchen Cunxu's half-brother Cunyi, commissioner of Fuzhou, was beheaded. Cunyi had married Guo Chongtao's daughter, so he fell with the Guo clan. That day Li Jilin of Heyang was shifted to Huazhou; Zhu Shouyin soon besieged his house, killed him, and exterminated his clan. On xinsi Tuyuhun and Xi envoys brought horses. Zhen reported 7,260 freeze deaths among its people. It also sent fruit trees and the musician Mei Shenyi to the capital, per edict. On jiashen Cunba of Yan became Heyang commissioner and Cunwo of Hua became Yan commissioner. On yiyou the palace woman Jing Cha said that when Emperor Zhaozong was killed, over a thousand royals were buried in three pits west of Longxing Temple and asked for reburial." Approved, with Henan ordered to oversee the reburial. On bingxu Uyghur qaghan Aduoyu sent fine horses. Zhen said 2,050 had starved in Pingji and four neighboring counties. On dinghai an edict confiscated the estates of Zhu Youqian's seven accomplices, including Shi Wu, already executed. Wu and the others had been Youqian's generals and serving prefects, yet were killed with their clans though innocent. (The 《Ouyang History》 dates dinghai: Shi Wu, Xue Jingrong, Zhou Tangyin, Yang Shitai, Wang Jing, Lai Ren, and Bai Fengguo, Li Jilin's killers, were executed.)〉
3
二月己丑，以宣徽南院使、知內侍省兼內勾、特進、右領軍衛上將軍李紹宏為驃騎大將軍、守左武衛上將軍、知內侍省，充樞密使。 甲午，以鄭州刺史李紹奇為河陽節度使，以樂人景進為銀青光祿大夫、檢校右散騎常侍、守御史大夫。 進以俳優嬖幸，善采訪閭巷鄙細事以啟奏，復密求妓媵以進，恩寵特厚。 魏州錢穀諸務，及招兵市馬，悉委進監臨。 孔謙附之以希寵，常呼為「八哥」。 諸軍左右無不托附，至於士人，亦有因之而求仕進者。 每入言事，左右紛然屏退，惟以陷害熒惑為意焉。 是日，帝幸冷泉校獵。 乙未，宰臣豆盧革上言，請支州縣官實俸，以責課效。
On jichou in the second month Li Shaohong of the Xuanhui Court became Flying Cavalry General, Privy Council commissioner, and palace domestic director. On jiawu Li Shaoqi of Zheng became Heyang commissioner; the actor Jing Jin became Silver-Glitter grand master and acting censor-in-chief. Favored as a comic actor, Jing Jin reported street gossip, secretly procured women for the palace, and won extraordinary favor. He supervised Weizhou taxes, recruitment, and horse purchases. Kong Qian flattered him and called him "Eighth Brother." Soldiers and even scholars curried favor through him for posts. When he spoke at court attendants were cleared away while he schemed to entrap rivals. That day Cunxu hunted at Lengquan. On yiwei Dou Luge asked that local officials be paid full salaries to enforce performance.
4
丙申，武德使史彥瓊自鄴馳報稱：「今月六日，貝州屯駐兵士突入都城，剽劫坊市。」 初，帝令魏博指揮使楊仁晸率兵戍瓦橋，至是代歸，有詔令駐於貝州。 上歲天下大水，十月鄴地大震，自是居人或有亡去他郡者，每日族談巷語云：「城將亂矣！」 人人恐悚，皆不自安。
On bingshen Shi Yanqiong raced from Ye to report Beizhou garrison troops had stormed the city on the sixth and looted the markets." Yang Renjian's Weibo troops, recalled from Waqiao, had been ordered to camp at Beizhou. After last year's floods and Ye's tenth-month earthquake, some residents fled; daily rumor said, "The city will revolt!" and fear spread through the city.
5
十二月，以戶部尚書王正言為興唐尹、知留守事。 正言年耄風病，事多忽忘，比無經治之才。 武德使史彥瓊者，以伶官得幸，帝待以腹心之任，都府之中，威福自我，正言以下，皆脅肩低首，曲事不暇。 由是政無統攝，奸人得以窺圖。 洎郭崇韜伏誅，人未測其禍始，皆云：「崇韜已殺繼岌，自王西川，故盡誅郭氏。」 先是，有密詔令史彥瓊殺朱友謙之子澶州刺史建徽。 史彥瓊夜半出城，不言所往。 詰旦，閽報正言曰：「史武德夜半馳馬而去，不知何往。」 是日人情震駭，訛言云：「劉皇后以繼岌死於蜀，已行弑逆，帝已晏駕，故急征彥瓊。」 其言播於鄴市，貝州軍士有私寧親於都下者，掠此言傳於貝州。 軍士皇甫暉等因夜聚蒱博不勝，遂作亂，劫都將楊仁晸曰：「我輩十有餘年為國家效命，甲不離體，已至吞並天下，主上未垂恩澤，翻有猜嫌。 防戍邊遠，經年離阻鄉國，及得代歸，去家咫尺，不令與家屬相見。 今聞皇后弑逆，京邑已亂，將士各欲歸府寧親，請公同行。」 仁晸曰：「汝等何謀之過耶！ 今英主在上，天下一家，從駕精兵不下百萬，西平巴、蜀，威振華夷，公等各有家族，何事如此！」 軍人乃抽戈露刃環仁晸曰：「三軍怨怒，鹹欲謀反，苟不聽從，須至無禮。」 仁晸曰：「吾非不知此，但丈夫舉事，須計萬全。」 軍人即斬仁晸。 裨將趙在禮聞軍亂，衣不及帶，將逾垣而遁，亂兵追及，白刃環之曰：「公能為帥否？ 否則頭隨刃落！」 在禮懼，即曰：「吾能為之。」 眾遂呼噪，中夜燔劫貝郡。 詰旦，擁在禮趨臨清，剽永濟、館陶。 五日晚，有自貝州來者，言亂兵將犯都城，都巡檢使孫鐸等急趨史彥瓊之第，告曰：「賊將至矣，請給鎧仗，登陴拒守。」 彥瓊曰：「今日賊至臨清，計程六日方至，為備未晚。」 孫鐸曰：「賊來寇我，必倍道兼行，一朝失機，悔將何及！ 請僕射率眾登陴，鐸以勁兵千人伏於王莽河逆擊之； 賊既挫勢，須至離潰，然後可以剪除。 如俟其凶徒薄於城下，必慮奸人內應，則事未可測也。」 彥瓊曰：「但訓士守城，何須即戰。」 時彥瓊疑孫鐸等有他誌，故拒之。 是夜三更，賊果攻北門，彥瓊時以部眾在北門樓，聞賊呼噪，即時驚潰。 彥瓊單騎奔京師。 遲明，亂軍入城，孫鐸與之巷戰，不勝，攜其母自水門而出，獲免。 晡晚，趙在禮引諸軍據宮城，署皇甫暉等為都虞候、斬斫使，諸軍大掠。 興唐尹王正言謁在禮，望塵再拜。 是日，眾推在禮為兵馬留後，草奏以聞。 帝怒，命宋州節度使元行欽率騎三千赴鄴都招撫，詔征諸道之師進討。
In the twelfth month Wang Zhengyan of Revenue became Xingtang prefect and regent. Aged and ill, Zhengyan forgot duties and could not govern. Actor-favorite Shi Yanqiong held real power in Ye; Wang Zhengyan and others bowed to him while he ruled the prefecture. Government collapsed and plotters moved freely. After Guo Chongtao's death rumor said he had killed Jiji and seized Shu, so the Guo clan was wiped out." A secret edict had ordered Shi Yanqiong to kill Zhu Youqian's son Jianhui, prefect of Chan. Shi Yanqiong rode out at midnight without saying where. At dawn the gate officer told Zhengyan that Shi Yanqiong had fled at midnight." Rumor spread that Empress Liu had murdered Cunxu after Jiji's death in Shu, explaining Shi Yanqiong's midnight ride. The tale reached Beizhou through soldiers visiting kin in Ye. Huangfu Hui and others, losing at dice, seized Yang Renjian and said they had fought ten years without reward while the throne now suspected them. After years on distant frontiers they were denied even a glimpse of family on returning to Beizhou. Hearing the capital in chaos, they demanded to go home and ordered Yang Renjian to lead them. Yang Renjian said, "Your plan is madness! An enlightened ruler holds the realm," he said; "a million troops follow him; Shu is conquered—why rebel when you have families? They drew swords and said the whole army would rebel unless he obeyed. He said he understood but a leader must plan carefully." They killed him on the spot. Lieutenant Zhao Zaili tried to flee over the wall; mutineers caught him and demanded he lead them. Lead us or lose your head! Terrified, Zhao Zaili agreed." The mutineers shouted and looted Beizhou at midnight. At dawn they marched Zhao Zaili toward Linqing and raided Yongji and Guantao. On the fifth evening a rider from Beizhou warned the rebels were marching on Ye; Sun Duo begged Shi Yanqiong for arms to man the walls." Shi Yanqiong said they were still six days from Linqing and defense could wait. Sun Duo said rebels would force-march and one lost hour would be fatal. He asked Shi Yanqiong to hold the wall while he ambushed a thousand elite troops at Wangmang River. A river ambush would break them before they reached the wall. Waiting until they reached the gates risked inside collaborators. Shi Yanqiong refused and said training the garrison was enough." He suspected Sun Duo's motives and rejected the plan. At the third watch rebels hit the north gate; Shi Yanqiong fled from the tower in panic. He rode alone to Luoyang. At dawn mutineers entered; Sun Duo fought in the streets, then escaped with his mother through the water gate. By evening Zhao Zaili held the palace, made Huangfu Hui adjutant, and the army looted Ye. Wang Zhengyan bowed twice in the dust to Zhao Zaili. That day the mutineers made Zhao Zaili acting commissioner and memorialized court. Cunxu sent Yuan Xingqin of Song with 3,000 horse to pacify Ye and ordered circuit armies to attack.
6
丁酉，淮南楊溥遣使賀平蜀。 己亥，魏王繼岌奏，康延孝擁眾反，回寇西川。 遣副招討使任圜率兵追討之。 庚子，福建節度副使王延翰奏，節度使王審知委權知軍府事。 邢州左右步直軍四百人據城叛，推軍校趙太為留後，詔東北面副招討使李紹真率兵討之。 辛丑，元行欽至鄴都，進攻南門，以詔書招諭城中，趙在禮獻羊酒勞軍，登城遙拜行欽曰：「將士經年離隔父母，不取敕旨歸寧，上貽聖憂，追悔何及！ 儻公善為敷奏，俾從渙汗，某等亦不敢不改過自新。」 行欽曰：「上以汝輩有社稷功，必行赦宥。」 因以詔書諭之。 皇甫暉聚眾大詬，即壞詔。 行欽以聞，帝怒曰：「收城之日，勿遺噍類！」 壬寅，行欽自鄴退軍，保澶州。 甲午，從馬直宿衛軍士王溫等五人夜半謀亂，殺本軍使，為衛兵所擒，磔於本軍之門。 丙午，以右散騎常侍韓彥惲為戶部侍郎。 丁未，鄴都行營招撫使元行欽率諸道之師再攻鄴都。 戊申，以洋州留後李紹文為夔州節度使。 詔河中節度使、永王存霸歸藩。 己酉，以樞密使宋唐玉為特進、左威衛上將軍，充宣徽南院使。
On dingyou Yang Pu of Huainan congratulated the Shu victory. On jihai Jiji reported Kang Yanxiao in revolt and raiding Shu. Ren Yuan was sent to pursue him. On gengzi Wang Yanhan reported Wang Shenzhi had left him in charge of Fujian. 400 Xingzhou guards rebelled, made Zhao Tai regent, and Li Shaozhen was sent to crush them. On xinchou Yuan Xingqin reached Ye, assaulted the south gate, and Zhao Zaili offered wine from the wall, begging forgiveness for troops who had not gone home. He asked Xingqin to secure an amnesty so they could reform. Xingqin said the throne would pardon them for their service." He read the edict to the wall. Huangfu Hui cursed and tore up the edict. Cunxu, told, raged: "When the city falls, spare none! On renyin Xingqin withdrew to Chan. On jiawu five palace guards led by Wang Wen killed their officer at midnight, were caught, and dismembered at the camp gate. On bingwu Han Yanheng became Revenue vice minister. On dingwei Yuan Xingqin led circuit armies against Ye again. On wushen Li Shaowen of Yang became Kuizhou commissioner. Cunba of Heyang, Prince of Yong, was ordered back to his fief. On jiyou Song Tangyu of the Privy Council became Special Advancement, Left Weijun upper general, and Xuanhui southern court commissioner.
7
庚戌，諸軍大集於鄴都，進攻其城，不克。 行欽又大治攻具。 城中知其無赦，晝夜為備。 朝廷聞之益恐，連發中使促繼岌西征之師。 繼岌以康延孝據漢州，中軍之士從任圜進討，繼岌端居利州，不獲東歸。 是日，飛龍使顏思威部署西川宮人至。 辛亥，淮南楊溥遣使貢方物。 西京上言，客省使李嚴押蜀主王衍至本府。 壬子，以守太尉、中書令、河南尹兼河陽節度使、齊王張全義為檢校太師、兼尚書令，充許州節度使。 東川董璋奏，準詔誅遂州節度使李令德於本州，夷其族。 癸丑，湖南馬殷奏，福建節度使王審知疾甚，副使王延翰已權知軍府事，請降旄節。 司天監上言：自二月上旬後，晝夜陰雲，不見天象，自二十六日方晴，至月終，星辰無變。 以右衛上將軍朱漢賓知河南府事。
On gengxu the armies massed at Ye and assaulted the city without success. Yuan Xingqin again prepared siege engines in earnest. Knowing there would be no pardon, the city prepared day and night. The court grew more afraid and sent envoys in succession to hurry Jiji's western army. With Kang Yanxiao holding Han, Jiji sent the central army under Ren Yuan while he stayed at Lizhou and could not return east. That day Yan Siwei of the Flying Dragon Office brought the Shu palace women in. On xinhai Yang Pu of Huainan sent tribute envoys. The western capital reported that Li Yan of Guest Reception had brought Shu ruler Wang Yan there. On renzi Zhang Quanyi—acting Grand Preceptor, Secretariat director, Henan prefect, and Heyang commissioner—became Grand Preceptor and Secretariat director and took Xu as military commissioner. Dong Zhang of Dongchuan reported executing Suizhou commissioner Li Lingde there by edict and wiping out his clan. On guichou Ma Yin of Hunan reported Wang Shenzhi of Fujian gravely ill, Yanhan already running the prefecture, and asked for the commission. Astronomy reported overcast skies from early second month until clearing on the twenty-sixth, with no change in the stars through month's end. Zhu Hanbin of the Right Weijun was made acting Henan prefect.
8
甲辰，命蕃漢總管李嗣源統親軍赴鄴都，以討趙在禮。 帝素倚愛元行欽，鄴城軍亂，即命為行營招討使，久而無功。 時趙太據邢州，王景戡據滄州，自為留後，河朔郡邑多殺長吏。 帝欲親征，樞密使與宰臣奏言：「京師者，天下根本，雖四方有變，陛下宜居中以製之，但命將出征，無煩躬禦士伍。」 帝曰：「紹榮討亂未有成功，繼岌之軍尚留巴、漢，餘無可將者，斷在自行。」 樞密使李紹宏等奏曰：「陛下以謀臣猛將取天下，今一州之亂而雲無可將者，何也？ 總管李嗣源是陛下宗臣，創業已來，艱難百戰，何城不下，何賊不平，威略之名，振於夷夏，以臣等籌之，若委以專征，鄴城之寇，不足平也！」 帝素寬大容納，無疑於物，自誅郭崇韜、朱友謙之後，閹宦伶官交相讒諂，邦國大事皆聽其謀，繇是漸多猜惑，不欲大臣典兵，既聞奏議，乃曰：「予恃嗣源侍衛，卿當擇其次者。」 又奏曰：「以臣等料之，非嗣源不可。」 河南尹張全義亦奏云：「河朔多事，久則患生，宜令總管進兵。 如倚李紹榮輩，未見其功。」 帝乃命嗣源行營。 是日，延州知州白彥琛奏，綏、銀兵士剽州城謀叛。 魏王繼岌傳送郭崇韜父子首函至闕下，詔張全義收瘞之。 乙巳，以右武衛上將軍李肅為安邑、解縣兩池榷鹽使，以吏部尚書李琪為國計使。
On jiachen Li Siyuan, Han and non-Han overall commander, was sent with the imperial guard to Ye against Zhao Zaili. Cunxu had long favored Yuan Xingqin; when Ye mutinied he made him pacification commissioner, but months passed without success. Zhao Tai held Xing and Wang Jingzhan Cang, each as acting commissioner; across Hebei many killed their superiors. Cunxu wished to lead the army himself; the Privy Council and chancellors said, "The capital is the realm's root; though trouble stirs in the four quarters, Your Majesty should stay at the center and only send generals—there is no need to lead the ranks yourself. 」Cunxu said, "Shaorong has not yet put down the revolt, Jiji's army is still in Ba and Han, and no one else can command—I must go myself. 」Li Shaohong of the Privy Council said, "Your Majesty won the realm with plotting ministers and fierce generals—how can one prefecture's revolt leave no commander? Li Siyuan is Your Majesty's clansman; since the founding he has fought a hundred battles—what city did he not take, what bandit did he not pacify—his fame for strategy shakes barbarian and Chinese alike; entrust him with sole command and the Ye rebels are nothing! 」Cunxu had always been broad and trusting; after Guo Chongtao and Zhu Youqian were killed, eunuchs and actors slandered one another and state affairs went through them—he grew suspicious and would not let great ministers command armies; hearing this he said, "I rely on Siyuan for my guard—choose someone else. 」They said again, "In our view only Siyuan will do. 」Zhang Quanyi of Henan also said, "Hebei has many troubles; delay breeds more—order the overall commander forward. Relying on Li Shaorong and his sort has yet to show results. 」Cunxu then put Siyuan in command of the campaign. That day Bai Yanchen of Yanzhou reported Suizhou and Yin soldiers raiding the city in planned revolt. Jiji sent Guo Chongtao's and his son's heads in a box to court; Cunxu ordered Zhang Quanyi to bury them. On yisi Li Su of the Right Wuwei became salt commissioner for the Anyi and Jie pools; Li Qi of Revenue became state accounts commissioner.
9
三月丁未朔，李紹真奏，收復邢州，擒賊首趙太等二十一人，徇於鄴都城下，皆磔於軍門。 庚戌，李紹真自邢州赴鄴都城下。 辛亥，以威武軍節度副使、福建管內都指揮使、檢校太傅、守江州刺史王延翰為福建節度使，依前檢校太傅。 壬子，李嗣源領軍至鄴都，營於西南隅。 甲寅，進營於觀音門外，下令諸軍，詰旦攻城。 是夜，城下軍亂，迫嗣源為帝。 遲明，亂軍擁嗣源及霍彥威入於鄴城，復為皇甫暉、趙進等所脅，嗣源以詭詞得出，夜分至魏縣。 時嗣源遙領鎮州，詰旦，議欲歸藩，上章請罪，安重誨以為不可，語在《明宗紀》中。 翌日，遂次於相州。 元行欽部下兵退保衛州，以飛語上奏，嗣源一日之中遣使上章申理者數四。 帝遣嗣源子從審與中使白從訓齎詔以諭嗣源，行至衛州，從審為元行欽所械，不得達。 是日，西面行營副招討使任圜奏，收復漢州，擒逆賊康延孝。
On the dingwei new moon of the third month Li Shaozhen reported Xing retaken and Zhao Tai and twenty-one rebel leaders captured, displayed below Ye's walls, and torn apart at the army gate. On gengxu Li Shaozhen came from Xing to below Ye's walls. On xinhai Wang Yanhan—Weiwu deputy, Fujian commander, acting Grand Preceptor, and acting Jiang prefect—became Fujian commissioner while keeping acting Grand Preceptor. On renzi Li Siyuan reached Ye and camped at the southwest corner. On jiayin he moved camp outside Guanyin Gate and ordered an assault at dawn. That night the troops below the walls mutinied and forced Siyuan to be emperor. At dawn the mutineers pushed Siyuan and Huo Yanwei into Ye, then Huangfu Hui, Zhao Jin, and the rest coerced them again; Siyuan talked his way out and at midnight reached Wei county. Siyuan still held Zhen at a distance; at dawn he debated returning to his post and asked punishment; An Chonghui forbade it—the account is in the 《Mingzong Annals》. The next day he halted at Xiang. Yuan Xingqin's men fell back to Weizhou and sent rumors aloft; in one day Siyuan sent four envoys pleading his case. Cunxu sent Siyuan's son Congshen and envoy Bai Congxun with an edict; at Weizhou Xingqin shackled Congshen and they could not pass. That day Ren Yuan, western deputy pacification commissioner, reported Han retaken and rebel Kang Yanxiao captured.
10
丙辰，荊南高季興上言，請割峽內夔、忠、萬等三州卻歸當道，依舊管係，又請雲安監。 初，將議伐蜀，詔高季興令率本軍上峽，自收元管屬郡。 軍未進，夔、忠、萬三州已降，季興數請之，因賂劉皇后及宰臣樞密使，內外葉附，乃俞其請。 戊午，詔河南府預借今年秋夏租稅。 時年饑民困，百姓不勝其酷，京畿之民，多號泣於路，議者以為劉盆子復生矣。 庚申，詔潞州節度使孔赴闕，以右龍虎統軍安崇阮權知潞州。 是日，忠武軍節度使、齊王張全義薨。 壬戌，宰臣豆盧革率百官上表，以魏博軍變，請出內府金帛優給將士。 不報。 時知星者上言：「客星犯天庫，宜散府藏。」 又云：「流星犯天棓，主御前有急兵。」 帝召宰臣於便殿，皇后出宮中妝奩銀盆各二，並皇子滿哥三人，謂宰臣曰：「外人謂內府金寶無數，向者諸侯貢獻旋供賜與，今宮中有者，妝奩、嬰孺而已，可鬻之給軍。」 革等惶恐而退。 癸亥，以偽置昭武軍節度使林思諤為閬州刺史。 是日，出錢帛給賜諸軍，兩樞密使及宋唐玉、景進等各貢助軍錢幣。 是時，軍士之家乏食，婦女掇蔬於野，及優給軍人，皆負物而詬曰：「吾妻子已殍矣，用此奚為！」 甲子，元行欽自衛州率部下兵士歸，帝幸耀店以勞之。 西川輦運金銀四十萬至闕，分給將士有差。 元行欽請車駕幸汴州，帝將發京師，遣中官向延嗣馳詔所在誅蜀主王衍，仍夷其族。
On bingchen Gao Jixing of Jingnan asked to return Kui, Zhong, and Wan in the Gorges to his circuit and also sought the Yun'an salt office. When the Shu campaign was first planned, Gao Jixing was ordered to lead his army up the Gorges and recover his old prefectures. Before his army moved, Kui, Zhong, and Wan had surrendered; Jixing kept asking, bribed Empress Liu and the chancellors and Privy Council, and won approval inside and out. On wuwu Henan was ordered to advance this year's autumn and summer taxes. Famine pressed the people beyond bearing; capital folk wailed on the roads; some said Liu Penzi had come again. On gengshen Kong of Luzhou was summoned to court; An Chongruan of the Right Dragon-Tiger was made acting Luzhou commissioner. That day Zhang Quanyi, Zhongwu commissioner and Prince of Qi, died. On renxu Dou Luge led the officials in asking, because of the Weibo mutiny, to take inner-treasury gold and silk for the troops. There was no reply. Astrologers said, "The guest star violates the Heavenly Storehouse—the treasury should be opened. 」They also said, "A meteor violates the Heavenly Club—urgent troops before the throne. 」Cunxu called the chancellors to the informal hall; the empress brought out two silver dressing basins and three infant princes Mange and said, "Outsiders say the inner treasury is endless; tribute went out as fast as it came—now we have only dressing cases and infants—sell them for the army. 」Dou Luge and the rest withdrew in fear. On guihai false Zhaowu commissioner Lin Si'e was made Lang prefect. That day money and silk were issued to the armies; the Privy Council commissioners, Song Tangyu, Jing Jin, and the rest each gave aid money. Soldiers' families starved while women gleaned in the wild; when bounty reached the troops they shouldered goods and cursed, "Our wives and children are dead—what is this for! 」On jiazi Yuan Xingqin returned from Weizhou with his men; Cunxu went to Yaodian to comfort them. Four hundred thousand in western Shu gold and silver reached court and was parceled to the troops by rank. Yuan Xingqin asked Cunxu to go to Bian; as he was about to leave the capital he sent Xiang Yansi with a flying edict to execute Wang Yan and exterminate his clan.
11
乙丑，車駕發京師。 戊辰，遣元行欽將騎軍沿河東向。 壬申，帝至滎澤，以龍驤馬軍八百騎為前軍，遣姚彥溫董之。 彥溫行至中牟，率所部奔於汴州。 時潘瑰守王村寨，有積粟數萬，亦奔汴州。 是時，李嗣源已入於汴。 帝聞諸軍離散，精神沮喪，至萬勝鎮即命旋師。 登路旁荒塚，置酒視諸將流涕。 俄有野人進雉，因問塚名，對曰：「里人相傳為愁台。」 帝彌不悅，罷酒而去。 是夜，次汜水。 初，帝東出關，從駕兵二萬五千，及復至汜水，已失萬餘騎。 乃留秦州都指揮使張塘以步騎三千守關。 帝過罌子穀，道路險狹，每遇衛士執兵仗者，皆善言撫之曰：「適報魏王繼岌又進納西川金銀五十萬，到京當盡給爾等。」 軍士對曰：「陛下賜與大晚，人亦不感聖恩。」 帝流涕而已。 又索袍帶賜從官，內庫使張容哥對曰：「頒給已盡。」 衛士叱容哥曰：「致吾君社稷不保，是此閹豎！」 抽刀逐之，或救而獲免。 容哥謂同黨曰：「皇后惜物不散，軍人歸罪於吾輩，事若不測，吾輩萬段，願不見此禍。」 因投河而死。 〈（《隆平集》：內臣李承進逮事唐莊宗，太祖嘗問莊宗時事，對曰：「莊宗好畋獵，每次近郊，衛士必控馬首曰：『兒郎輩寒冷，望陛下與救接。』 莊宗隨所欲給之，如此者非一。 晚年蕭牆之禍，由賞賚無節，威令不行也。」 太祖歎曰：「二十年夾河戰爭，不能以軍法約束此輩，誠兒戲。」）〉
On yichou the imperial carriage left the capital. On wuchen Yuan Xingqin was sent to lead cavalry east along the river. On renshen Cunxu reached Xingze, made eight hundred Dragon-Flight horsemen the vanguard, and put Yao Yanwen in command. At Zhongmou Yao Yanwen led his command in flight to Bian. Pan Gui held Wang village stockade with tens of thousands in grain and also fled to Bian. By then Li Siyuan had already entered Bian. Hearing the armies had scattered, Cunxu was dispirited; at Wansheng post he ordered an immediate turnback. He climbed a roadside mound, set out wine, and wept before the generals. A countryman brought a pheasant; asked the mound's name, he was told villagers called it Sorrow Mound. 」Cunxu was all the more displeased, broke off the wine, and left. That night he halted at Sishui. When Cunxu first went east through the pass he had twenty-five thousand men; by Sishui he had lost more than ten thousand horse. He left Zhang Tang of Qin with three thousand foot and horse to hold the pass. Passing Jar Valley on a narrow road, whenever he met armed guards he comforted them, saying, "Word just came that Jiji has forwarded another fifty thousand in western Shu gold and silver; when it reaches the capital you shall all have it. 」The soldiers answered, "Your Majesty's gifts come too late—we feel no grace. 」Cunxu could only weep. He again asked for robes and belts for attending officials; Zhang Rongge of the Inner Treasury said, "Distribution is exhausted. 」Guards shouted at Rongge, "You cost our lord his state—this eunuch! 」They drew swords and chased him; some saved him and he narrowly escaped. Rongge told his fellows, "The empress hoarded goods and would not give; the soldiers blame us—if things go wrong we are torn in ten thousand pieces—I would rather not see that day. 」He threw himself into the river and died. (The 《Longping Collection》 says inner attendant Li Chengjian long served Zhuangzong; Taizu once asked about his reign and he said, "Zhuangzong loved the hunt; each time he neared the suburbs guards seized the bridle and said, 'Lads, we are cold—grant relief. Zhuangzong gave whatever they wanted—not once or twice. The late palace calamity came from boundless rewards and commands that would not run. 」Taizu sighed, "Twenty years of war on both banks of the river, yet military law could not bind them—child's play."）〉
12
甲戌，次石橋，帝置酒野次，悲啼不樂，謂元行欽等諸將曰：「鄴下亂離，寇盜蜂起，總管迫於亂軍，存亡未測，今訛言紛擾，朕實無聊。 卿等事餘已來，富貴急難，無不共之，今茲危蹙，賴爾籌謀，而竟默默無言，坐觀成敗。 予在滎澤之日，欲單騎渡河，訪求總管，麵為方略，招撫亂軍，卿等各吐胸襟，共陳利害，今日俾餘至此，卿等如何！」 元行欽等百餘人垂泣而奏曰：「臣本小人，蒙陛下撫養，位極將相，危難之時，不能立功報主，雖死無以塞責，乞申後效，以報國恩。」 於是餘人皆援刀截發，置髻於地，以斷首自誓，上下無不悲號，識者以為不祥。 是日，西京留守張筠部署西征兵士到京，見於上東門外，晡晚，帝還宮。 初，帝在汜水，衛兵散走，京師恐駭不寧，及帝至，人情稍安。 乙亥，百官進名起居。 安義節度使孔奏，點校兵士防城，準詔運糧萬石，進發次。 時已殺監軍使據城，詭奏也。 丙子，樞密使李紹宏與宰相豆盧革、韋說會於中興殿之廊下，商議軍機，因奏：「魏王西征兵士將至，車駕且宜控汜水，以俟魏王。」 從之。 午時，帝出上東門親閱騎軍，誡以詰旦東幸，申時還宮。
On jiaxu he halted at Stone Bridge; Cunxu set wine in the wild and wept, telling Yuan Xingqin and the rest, "Below Ye there is disorder and bandits swarm; Siyuan is pressed by mutineers and may live or die; rumors stir and I am at a loss. You have shared fortune and hardship with me without exception; now in danger I rely on your plans, yet you sit silent and watch. At Xingze I wished to cross alone to find Siyuan, lay plans face to face, and win the mutineers—you should each speak your mind on harm and benefit; today you have brought me here—what of you! 」Yuan Xingqin and more than a hundred wept and said, "We were petty men Your Majesty raised to general and minister; in danger we cannot repay you—though we die we cannot fulfill our charge; let us show later merit for the state's grace. 」The rest drew knives, cut their hair, laid their topknots on the ground, and swore to cut off their own heads; all wailed; observers called it ill-omened. That day Zhang Yun of the western capital brought the western campaign troops to the upper east gate; in late afternoon Cunxu returned to the palace. At Sishui the guards had scattered and the capital was afraid; when Cunxu returned, feeling calmed somewhat. On yihai the hundred officials presented themselves in audience. Kong of Anyi reported mustering troops for defense and, by edict, moving ten thousand shi of grain in stages. By then he had killed the army monitor and held the city—it was a false report. On bingzi Li Shaohong met Dou Luge and Wei Shuo in the Zhongxing corridor and said, "Jiji's western troops are near—the carriage should hold at Sishui to await him. 」Approved. At noon Cunxu went out the upper east gate to review the cavalry and told them to march east at dawn; at shen he returned to the palace.
13
四月丁丑朔，以永王存霸為北都留守，申王存渥為河中節度使。 是日，車駕將發京師，從駕馬軍陳於宣仁門外，步兵陳於五鳳門外。 帝內殿食次，從馬直指揮使郭從謙自本營率所部抽戈露刃，至興教門大呼，與黃甲兩軍引弓射興教門。 帝聞其變，自宮中率諸王近衛禦之，逐亂兵出門。 既而焚興教門，緣城而入，登宮牆歡噪，帝御親軍格鬥，殺亂兵數百。 俄而帝為流矢所中，亭午，崩於絳霄殿之廡下，時年四十三。 〈（《琬琰集》載《宋實錄·王全斌傳》云：同光末，蕭牆有變，亂兵逼宮城，近臣宿將，皆釋甲潛遁，惟全斌與符彥卿等十數人居中拒戰。 莊宗中流矢，扶掖歸絳霄殿，全斌慟哭而去。 《東都事略·符彥卿傳》云：郭從謙之亂，莊宗左右皆引去，惟彥卿力戰，殺十餘人。 莊宗崩，彥卿慟哭而去。）〉 是時，帝之左右例皆奔散，唯五坊人善友斂廓下樂器簇於帝屍之上，發火焚之。 及明宗入洛，止得其燼骨而已。
On the dingchou new moon of the fourth month Prince Yong Cunba became northern capital regent and Prince Shen Cunwo Heyang commissioner. That day, as the court prepared to leave the capital, escort cavalry formed outside Xuaren Gate and infantry outside Wufeng Gate. While the Emperor dined in the inner palace, Guo Congqian, commander of the Direct Horse Corps, led his troops from camp with drawn swords to Xingjiao Gate, shouting; the Yellow Armor armies shot at the gate. Hearing the mutiny, the Emperor led princes and palace guards out to fight and drove the rebels from the gate. They soon burned Xingjiao Gate, scaled the wall, and cheered from the palace ramparts; the Emperor fought with his personal guard and killed hundreds of rebels. Soon a stray arrow struck the Emperor; at noon he died under the eaves of Jiangxiao Hall, aged forty-three. (The 《Collected Writings》 cites the 《Song Veritable Records · Wang Quanbin Biography》: at the end of Tongguang, palace mutiny drove rebels against the capital; close ministers and veteran generals shed armor and fled; only Quanbin, Fu Yanqing, and a dozen others held the center to fight. Zhuangzong was hit by a stray arrow and was helped back to Jiangxiao Hall; Quanbin wept and withdrew. The 《Outline of the Eastern Capital · Fu Yanqing Biography》 says that in Guo Congqian's revolt Zhuangzong's attendants all fled; only Yanqing fought hard and killed more than ten men. When Zhuangzong died, Yanqing wept and left.)〉 By then the Emperor's attendants had all scattered; only Shan You of the Five Workshops piled court instruments on the body and burned them. When Mingzong entered Luoyang, only charred bones were found.
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天成元年七月丁卯，有司上諡曰光聖神閔孝皇帝，廟號莊宗。 是月丙子，葬於雍陵。 〈（《五代史補》：莊宗之嗣位也，志在渡河，但恨河東地狹兵少，思欲百練其眾，以取必勝於天下，乃下令曰：「凡出師，騎軍不見賊不許騎馬，或步騎前後已定，不得越軍分以避險惡。 其分路並進，期會有處，不得違晷刻。 並在路敢言病者，皆斬之。」 故三軍懼法而戮力，皆一以當百，故朱梁舉天下而不能禦，卒為所滅，良有以也。 初，莊宗為公子，雅好音律，又能自撰曲子詞。 其後凡用軍，前後隊伍皆以所撰詞授之，使揭聲而唱，謂之「御製」。 至於入陣，不論勝負，馬頭才轉，則眾歌齊作。 故凡所鬥戰，人忘其死，斯亦用軍之一奇也。 莊宗好獵，每出，未有不蹂踐苗稼。 一旦至中牟，圍合，忽有縣令，忘其姓名，犯圍諫曰：「大凡有國家者，當視民如赤子，性命所係。 陛下以一時之娛，恣其蹂踐，使比屋囂然動溝壑之慮，為民父母，豈其若是耶！」 莊宗大怒，以為遭縣令所辱，遂叱退，將斬之。 伶官鏡新磨者，知其不可，乃與群伶齊進，挽住令，佯為詬責曰：「汝為縣令，可以指麾百姓為兒，既天子好獵，即合多留閑地，安得縱百姓耕鋤皆遍，妨天子鷹犬飛走耶！ 而又不能自責，更敢咄咄，吾知汝當死罪。」 諸伶亦皆嘻笑繼和，於是莊宗默然，其怒少霽，頃之，恕縣令罪。 《五代史闕文》：莊宗嘗因博戲，睹骰子采有暗相輪者，心悅之，乃自置暗箭格，凡博戲並認采之在下者。 及同光末，鄴都兵亂，從謙以兵犯興教門，莊宗禦之，中流矢而崩。 識者以為暗箭之應。）〉
In the seventh month of Tiancheng 1, on dingmao, the offices proposed the posthumous title Radiant Sagely Spirit Compassionate Filial Emperor and the temple name Zhuangzong. That month, on bingzi, he was buried at Yong Mausoleum. (The 《Supplement to the Five Dynasties History》 says Zhuangzong, on taking the throne, meant to cross the river but found Hedong too small and weak; he wanted iron discipline for certain victory and ordered: "On campaign, cavalry may not mount until they see the enemy; once ranks are set, no unit may break away to dodge hardship. Separate columns must meet at the appointed place on time. Anyone who complains of illness on the march is executed. 」The armies feared the law and fought as one, each man worth a hundred; Liang mustered the realm yet could not stop him and was destroyed—there was reason in it. As heir, Zhuangzong loved music and wrote his own song lyrics. Later, on every campaign, front and rear units sang the lyrics he wrote aloud—they called them "imperial compositions." Even in battle, win or lose, when the horses wheeled the men sang together. In every fight men forgot death—a singular way to use troops. Zhuangzong loved the hunt; every outing trampled crops. Once at Zhongmou, when the beat closed, a magistrate whose name is lost broke through and said, "Whoever holds a state should treat the people as infants, for their lives depend on it. Your Majesty tramples the fields for sport and fills every house with fear of ruin—as parent to the people, how can this be right! 」Zhuangzong flew into a rage, took it as an insult, shouted him off, and was about to kill him. The actor Jing Xinmo knew better; he and the whole troupe rushed in, seized the magistrate, and pretended to scold him: "You are magistrate—you may order the people about; if the Son of Heaven loves hunting you should leave open ground—how dare you let farmers plow everywhere and block the royal hawks and hounds! You will not blame yourself yet yap on—I know you deserve death. 」The actors laughed along; Zhuangzong fell silent, his anger eased, and he soon pardoned the magistrate. The 《Lost Text of the Five Dynasties History》 says Zhuangzong once at dice saw a hidden linked pattern and was pleased; he made "dark arrow" rules so only the bottom face counted. At the end of Tongguang the Ye garrison mutinied; Congqian attacked Xingjiao Gate; Zhuangzong resisted, was struck by a stray arrow, and died. The knowing called it the omen of the dark arrow.)〉
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史臣曰：莊宗以雄圖而起河、汾，以力戰而平汴、洛，家仇既雪，國祚中興，雖少康之嗣夏配天，光武之膺圖受命，亦無以加也。 然得之孔勞，失之何速？ 豈不以驕於驟勝，逸於居安，忘櫛沐之艱難，徇色禽之荒樂。 外則伶人亂政，內則牝雞司晨。 靳吝貨財，激六師之憤怨； 征搜輿賦，竭萬姓之脂膏。 大臣無罪以獲誅，眾口吞聲而避禍。 夫有一於此，未或不亡，矧咸有之，不亡何待！ 靜而思之，足以為萬代之炯誡也。
The historian writes: Zhuangzong rose with heroic purpose from the Yellow and Fen rivers and by force pacified Bian and Luo; he avenged his house and revived the dynasty—matching Shaokang's restoration of Xia or Guangwu's mandate, yet surpassing neither in praise. Yet he won it only with great labor—how quickly he lost it! Was it not pride after swift victory, ease in peace, forgetting the hardship of rule, and indulgence in women, wine, and sport? Outside, eunuchs threw government into chaos; inside, the hen ruled the dawn. He hoarded wealth and goods and provoked the six armies' wrath; he levied carts and taxes and drained the people's substance. Great ministers died though innocent; the people fell silent to escape harm. One such fault brings ruin—how much more when all were present? What ruin could wait for? Calm reflection shows a warning bright enough for ten thousand generations.