1
初，孝成事唐獻祖為愛將，獻祖之失振武，為吐渾所攻，部下離散，孝成獨奮忠義，解蔚州之圍。 武皇之鎮雁門也，孝成厭代，帝年甫十三，善騎射，獻祖見而撫之曰：「英氣如父，可侍吾左右。」 每從圍獵，仰射飛鳥，控弦必中，尋隸武皇帳下。 武皇遇上源之難，將佐罹害者甚眾，帝時年十七，翼武皇逾垣脫難，於亂兵流矢之內，獨無所傷。 武皇鎮河東，以帝掌親騎。 時李存信為蕃漢大將，每總兵征討，師多不利，武皇遂選帝副之，所向克捷。
Earlier, Xiaocheng had been a favorite of Xianzu; when Xianzu lost Zhenwu to Tuyuhun attack and his men scattered, Xiaocheng alone held loyal and broke the siege of Wei. While Wuhuang held Yanmen, thirteen-year-old Siyuan, then in Dai, impressed Xianzu with his riding and archery; Xianzu stroked him and said, "Spirit like your father—you may wait on me." On hunts he shot birds on the wing without a miss and soon joined Wuhuang's personal guard. At Shangyuan, when many of Wuhuang's officers were killed, seventeen-year-old Siyuan helped him over the wall to safety and came through the mutiny and arrows unscathed. When Wuhuang held Hedong he made Siyuan commander of his bodyguard horse. Li Cunxin, Han and non-Han overall commander, often lost on campaign; Wuhuang paired Siyuan with him and thereafter the columns won.
2
帝嘗宿於雁門逆旅，媼方娠，不時具饌，媼聞腹中兒語云：「大家至矣，速宜進食。」 媼異之，遽起，親奉庖爨甚恭； 帝詰之，媼告其故。 〈（《北夢瑣言》云：帝以媼前倨後恭，詰之，曰：「公貴不可言也。」 問其故，具道娠子腹語事，帝曰：「老媼遜言，懼吾辱耳。」 後果如其言。）〉 帝既壯，雄武獨斷，謙和下士。 每有戰功，未嘗自伐。 居常惟治兵仗，持廉處靜，晏如也。 武皇常試之，召於泉府，命恣其所取，帝惟持束帛數緡而出。 凡所賜與，分給部下。 常與諸將會，諸將矜衒武勇，帝徐曰：「公輩以口擊賊，吾以手擊賊。」 眾慚而止。 景福初，黑山戍將王弁據振武叛，帝率其屬攻之，擒弁以獻。
Siyuan once stayed at a Yanmen inn; a pregnant landlady had not yet cooked when her unborn child said, "The great lord is here—serve food at once." Startled, she rose and waited on him in the kitchen with great respect; Siyuan asked why, and she told him. (The 《Beimeng Suoyan》 says Siyuan asked why the landlady had been rude then deferential; she said, "Your rank is beyond words." She told the belly-speech story; Siyuan said, "She flatters—she fears to shame me." Later events proved her right.)〉 Grown to manhood, Siyuan was fierce and self-reliant yet humble with his officers. He never boasted of his victories. In camp he drilled arms, lived plainly and quietly, and was perfectly at ease. Wuhuang tested him at the treasury and told him to take what he liked; Siyuan took only a few bolts of silk. Whatever he received he shared with his men. At councils when generals vaunted their prowess, Siyuan said, "You strike the enemy with your mouths—I strike with my hands." The others fell silent in shame. In Jingfu 1 Wang Bian of the Black Mountain garrison rebelled at Zhenwu; Siyuan attacked, captured him, and presented him to Wuhuang.
3
乾寧三年，梁人急攻兗、鄆，鄆帥朱瑄求救於武皇。 武皇先遣騎將李承嗣、史儼援之，復遣李存信將兵三萬屯於莘縣。 聞汴軍益盛，攻兗甚急，存信遣帝率三百騎而往，敗汴軍於任城，遂解兗州之圍。 朱瑾見帝，執手涕謝。 其年，魏帥羅宏信背盟，襲破李存信於莘縣，帝奮命殿軍而還，武皇嘉其功，即以所屬五百騎號曰「橫衝都」； 侍於帳下，故兩河間目帝為李橫衝。
In Qianning 3 Liang armies pressed Yan and Yun; Zhu Xuan of Yan begged Wuhuang for aid. Wuhuang first sent Li Chengsi and Shi Yan with horse, then Li Cunxin with thirty thousand men to Shen. As Bian pressure mounted on Yan, Cunxin sent Siyuan with three hundred horse; he routed Bian forces at Rencheng and lifted the siege of Yan. Zhu Jin took Siyuan's hand and wept his thanks. That year Luo Hongxin of Wei broke faith and routed Li Cunxin at Shen; Siyuan fought a desperate rearguard, and Wuhuang rewarded him by naming his five hundred horse the Hengchong Command; they served in Wuhuang's tent, and between the two He provinces men called him Li Hengchong.
4
明年，武皇遣大將軍李嗣昭率師下馬嶺關，將復邢、洺，梁將葛從周以兵應援。 嗣昭兵敗，退入青山口，梁軍扼其路，步兵不戰自潰，嗣昭不能制。 會帝本軍至，謂嗣昭曰：「步兵雖散，若吾輩空回，大事去矣。 為公試決一戰，不捷而死，差勝被囚。」 嗣昭曰：「吾為卿副。」 帝率其屬，解鞍礪鏃，憑高列陣，左右指畫，梁人莫之測，因呼曰：「吾王命我取葛司徒，他士可無並命。」 即徑犯其陣，奮擊如神。 嗣昭繼進，梁軍即時退去，帝與嗣昭收兵入關。 帝四中流矢，血流被股，武皇解衣授藥，手賜卮酒，撫其背曰：「吾兒神人也！ 微吾兒，幾為從周所笑。」 自青山之戰，名聞天下。
Next year Wuhuang sent Li Sizhao through Maling Pass to recover Xing and Ming; Ge Congzhou of Liang marched to meet him. Sizhao was beaten back into Qingshan Pass; Liang blocked the road, foot soldiers scattered without a fight, and Sizhao could not hold them. When Siyuan's column arrived he told Sizhao, "Though the foot have scattered, an empty retreat loses everything. Let me try one fight for you—if we fail, death beats chains." Sizhao said, "I follow you." Siyuan's men unslung, sharpened arrows, and formed on the heights; Liang troops could not read him, and he shouted, "Our king sent me for Minister Ge—let the rest stand aside." He charged straight in, fighting like a god. Sizhao pressed after; Liang withdrew, and Siyuan and Sizhao brought the army back through the pass. Four stray arrows struck Siyuan and blood soaked his thigh; Wuhuang stripped his own robe to dress the wounds, handed him wine, and stroked his back: "My son is a god! Without you, Congzhou would have had the laugh on us." After Qingshan his fame spread across the realm.
5
天復中，梁祖遣氏叔琮將兵五萬，營於洞渦。 是時，諸道之師畢萃於太原，郡縣多陷於梁，晉陽城外，營壘相望。 武皇登陴號令，不遑飲食。 屬大雨彌旬，城壘多壞，武皇令帝與李嗣昭分兵四出，突入諸營，梁軍由是引退； 帝率偏師追襲，復諸郡邑。 昭宗之幸鳳翔也，梁祖率眾攻圍岐下，武皇奉詔應援，遣李嗣昭、周德威出師晉、絳，營於蒲縣。 嗣昭等軍，大為梁將朱友寧、氏叔琮所敗，梁之追兵直抵晉陽，營於晉祠，日以步騎環城。 武皇登城督眾，憂形於色。 攻城既急，武皇與大將謀，欲出奔雲中。 帝曰：「攻守之謀，據城百倍，但兒等在，必能固守。」 乃止。 居數日，潰軍稍集，率敢死之士，日夜分出諸門掩襲梁軍，擒其驍將遊昆侖等。 梁軍失勢，乃燒營而退。
In the Tianfu years Liang's founder sent Shi Shuzong with fifty thousand men to camp at Donghuo. Every circuit had troops at Taiyuan; many counties had fallen to Liang, and camps ringed Jinyang. Wuhuang walked the walls shouting orders and scarcely ate or drank. After ten days of rain wrecked the walls, Wuhuang sent Siyuan and Li Sizhao in four columns to storm Liang camps and drive them off; Siyuan pursued with a detached force and recovered the lost counties. When Zhaozong fled to Fengxiang, Liang besieged Qi; Wuhuang marched to aid and sent Li Sizhao and Zhou Dewei from Jin and Jiang to camp at Pu. Zhu Youning and Shi Shuzong crushed Sizhao at Pu; Liang pursuers reached Jinyang, camped at Jinci, and ringed the city daily with foot and horse. Wuhuang walked the walls to rally the troops, worry plain on his face. With the assault tightening, Wuhuang and his generals planned flight to Yunzhong. Siyuan said, "Defense from the walls beats any other plan a hundred times over—as long as we are here, the city will hold." Wuhuang stayed. Within days scattered men rallied; Siyuan led dare-to-die troops out by night through every gate, raided Liang camps, and seized fierce generals including You Kunlun. Liang lost heart, burned their camps, and withdrew.
6
天祐五年五月，莊宗親將兵以救潞州之圍，帝時領突騎左右軍與周德威分為二廣。 帝晨至夾城東北隅，命斧其鹿角，負芻填塹，下馬乘城大噪。 時德威登西北隅，亦噪以應之。 帝先入夾城，大破梁軍，是日解圍，其功居最。 柏鄉之役，兩軍既成列，莊宗以梁軍甚盛，慮師入之怯，欲激壯之，手持白金巨鍾賜帝酒，謂之曰：「卿見南軍白馬、赤馬都否？ 睹之令人膽破。」 帝曰：「彼虛有其表耳，翌日當歸吾廄中。」 莊宗拊髀大笑曰：「卿已氣吞之矣！」 帝引鍾盡酹，即屬揮弭，躍馬挺身，與其部下百人直犯白馬都，奮楇舞槊，生挾二騎校而回，飛矢麗帝甲如蝟毛焉。 由是三軍增氣，自辰及未，騎軍百戰，帝往來衝擊，執訊獲醜，不可勝計。 是日，梁軍大敗，以功授代州刺史。 莊宗遣周德威伐幽州，帝分兵略定山後八軍，與劉守光愛將元行欽戰於廣邊軍，凡八戰，帝控弦發矢七中。 行欽酣戰不解，矢亦中帝股，拔矢復戰。 行欽窮蹙，面縛乞降，帝酌酒飲之，拊其背曰：「吾子，壯士也！」 因厚遇之。
In the fifth month of Tianyou 5 Zhuangzong marched in person to break the siege of Luzhou; Siyuan led the assault horse of the left and right guards with Zhou Dewei on the flanks. At dawn Siyuan reached Jiacheng's northeast corner, had stakes cut, fodder thrown into the ditch, climbed the wall on foot, and roared. Zhou Dewei on the northwest corner answered with a roar of his own. Siyuan broke into Jiacheng first, routed Liang, and won first credit when the siege lifted that day. At Baixiang, with both armies drawn up, Zhuangzong feared his men would falter before strong Liang lines and personally raised a great white-gold cup to toast Siyuan: "Do you see Liang's White Horse and Red Horse Commands? The sight alone breaks the heart." Siyuan said, "They are show—tomorrow they belong in our stables." Zhuangzong slapped his thigh and laughed: "You have already swallowed them whole!" Siyuan drained the cup, seized his bow, and with a hundred men charged the White Horse Command, club and spear swinging, seized two officers alive, and rode back with his armor bristling with arrows. Morale surged; from midmorning to midafternoon the horse fought a hundred rounds while Siyuan charged back and forth, taking prisoners and heads beyond count. Liang was routed that day, and Siyuan was made governor of Dai for his merit. When Zhuangzong sent Zhou Dewei against Youzhou, Siyuan pacified the eight rear-mountain commands and fought Yuan Xingqin, Liu Shouguang's favorite, at Guangbian in eight clashes, landing seven of seven shots. Xingqin fought on without pause; an arrow struck Siyuan's thigh—he pulled it and kept fighting. Cornered, Xingqin bound his face and surrendered; Siyuan gave him wine, clapped his back, and said, "My boy, what a fighter!" He treated him generously thereafter.
7
十三年二月，莊宗與梁將劉鄩大戰於故元城北，帝以三千騎環之，鼓噪奮擊，內外合勢，鄩軍殆盡。 帝徇地慈、洺。 四月，相州張筠遁走，乃以帝為相州刺史。 九月，滄州節度使戴思遠棄城歸汴，小將毛璋據州納款，莊宗命率兵慰撫。 既入城，以軍府乂安報莊宗，書吏誤云：「已至滄州，禮上畢。」 莊宗省狀，怒曰：「嗣源反耶！」 帝聞之懼，歸罪於書吏，斬之。 未幾，承製授邢州節度使。
In the second month of year 13 Zhuangzong fought Liu Yan of Liang north of old Yuan city; Siyuan ringed him with three thousand horse, drumming and charging in concert until Yan's army was nearly destroyed. Siyuan pacified Ci and Ming. In the fourth month Zhang Yun fled Xiangzhou, and Siyuan was made governor of Xiang. In the ninth month Dai Siyuan of Cangzhou abandoned his post for Bian; Mao Zhang seized the city and submitted; Zhuangzong sent Siyuan to reassure it. Inside the city he reported the garrison secure, but a clerk wrote by mistake, "Reached Cangzhou—submission rites complete." Zhuangzong read it and raged: "Has Siyuan rebelled?" Alarmed, Siyuan blamed the clerk and had him beheaded. Soon an imperial rescript made him military commissioner of Xing.
8
十四年四月，契丹安巴堅率眾攻幽州，周德威間使告急，莊宗召諸將議進取之計，諸將咸言：「敵勢不能持久，野無所掠，食盡自還，然後踵而擊之可也。」 帝奏曰：「德威盡忠於家國，孤城被攻，危亡在即，不宜更待敵衰。 願假臣突騎五千為前鋒以援之。」 莊宗曰：「公言是也。」 即命帝與李存審、閻寶率軍赴援，帝為前鋒，會軍於易州。 帝謂諸將曰：「敵騎以馬上為生，不須營壘，況彼眾我寡，所宜銜枚箝馬，潛行溪澗，襲其不備也。」
In the fourth month of year 14 Khitan Anbajian besieged Youzhou; Zhou Dewei sent urgent word, and Zhuangzong asked his generals how to relieve it; they said the Khitan could not stay long and should be struck only after they withdrew for hunger." Siyuan replied, "Dewei is wholly loyal; his lone city faces ruin—we must not wait for the Khitan to weaken. Lend me five thousand assault horse as vanguard to relieve him." Zhuangzong said, "You are right." He sent Siyuan with Li Cunshen and Yan Bao; Siyuan led the van and joined the column at Yi. Siyuan told the generals, "Khitan horse live in the saddle and need no camp; we are few—they are many—so we should march silent along streams and ravines and hit them unawares."
9
八月，師發上穀，陰晦而雨，帝仰天祈祝，即時晴霽，師循大房嶺，緣潤而進。 翌日，敵騎大至，每遇穀口，敵騎扼其前，帝與長子從珂奮命血戰，敵即解去，我軍方得前進。 距幽州兩舍，敵騎復當穀口而陣，我軍失色。 帝曰：「為將者受命忘家，臨敵忘身，以身徇國，正在今日。 諸君觀吾父子與敵周旋！」 因挺身入於敵陣，以北語諭之曰：「爾輩非吾敵，吾當與天皇較力耳。」 舞槌奮擊，萬眾披靡，俄挾其酋帥而還。 我軍呼躍奮擊，敵眾大敗，勢如席卷，委棄鎧仗羊馬殆不勝紀。 是日，解圍，大軍入幽州，周德威迎帝，執手歔欷。 九月，班師於魏州，莊宗親出郊勞，進位檢校太保。
In the eighth month the column left Shanggu in rain; Siyuan prayed, the sky cleared, and they marched Dafang Ridge along hidden ravines. Next day Khitan horse swarmed every pass; Siyuan and his eldest son Congke fought through in blood until the enemy gave way and the column could move on. Two marches from Youzhou the Khitan again blocked the pass, and the army lost color. Siyuan said, "A general forgets family when he takes command, forgets self when he meets the enemy—today we give our bodies for the state. Watch us father and son take them on!" He charged the enemy line and shouted in Khitan, "You are not our match—I will measure strength with the Heavenly Emperor alone." Club swinging, he broke ten thousand men, seized their chieftain, and rode back. The army roared and charged; the Khitan broke and fled, leaving armor, sheep, and horses beyond count. That day the siege lifted; the main force entered Youzhou, and Zhou Dewei took Siyuan's hand and wept. In the ninth month the army camped at Wei; Zhuangzong met them outside the city and advanced Siyuan to Grand Guardian by inspection.
10
十八年十月，從莊宗大破梁將戴思遠於戚城，斬首二萬級。 莊宗以帝為蕃漢副總管，加同平章事。
In the tenth month of year 18 he followed Zhuangzong in routing Dai Siyuan of Liang at Qi city with twenty thousand heads taken. Zhuangzong made Siyuan Han and non-Han deputy overall commander and added Tongping Zhangshi.
11
二十年，代李存審為滄州節度使。 四月，莊宗即位於鄴宮，帝進位檢校太傅、兼侍中。 尋命帝率步騎五千襲鄆州，下之，授天平軍節度使。 五月，梁人陷德勝南城，圍楊劉，以扼出師之路。 帝孤守汶陽，四面拒寇，久之，莊宗方解楊劉之圍。 九月，梁將王彥章以步騎萬人迫鄆州，自中都渡汶。 帝遣長子從珂率騎逆戰於遞坊鎮，獲梁將任釗等三百人，彥章退保中都。 莊宗聞其捷，自楊劉引軍至鄆，以帝為前鋒，大破梁軍於中都，生擒王彥章等。 是日，諸將稱賀，莊宗以酒屬帝曰：「昨朕在朝城，諸君多勸朕棄鄆州，以河為界，賴副總管禦侮於前，崇韜畫謀於內，若信李紹宏輩，大事已掃地矣。」 莊宗與諸將議兵所向，諸將多云：「青、齊、徐、兗皆空城耳，王師一臨，不戰自下。」 惟帝勸莊宗徑取汴州，語在《莊宗紀》中，莊宗嘉之。 帝即時前進，莊宗繼發中都。 十月己卯，遲明，帝先至汴州，攻封丘門，汴將王瓚開門迎降。 帝至建國門，聞梁主已殂，乃號令安撫，回軍於封禪寺。 辰時，莊宗至，帝迎謁路側。 莊宗大悅，手引帝衣，以首觸帝曰：「吾有天下，由公之血戰也，當與公共之。」 尋進位兼中書令。
In year 20 he replaced Li Cunshen as military commissioner of Cang. In the fourth month Zhuangzong took the throne at Ye; Siyuan was advanced to Grand Preceptor by inspection and made Palace Attendant. Soon Zhuangzong sent Siyuan with five thousand foot and horse to seize Yun by surprise and made him Tianping military commissioner. In the fifth month Liang took Desheng's south city and besieged Yangliu, blocking the line of march. Siyuan held Wenyang alone against raids on every side until Zhuangzong at last broke the siege of Yangliu. In the ninth month Wang Yanzhang of Liang pressed Yun with ten thousand foot and horse, crossing the Wen from Zhongdu. Siyuan sent Congke with horse to meet them at Difang, took Ren Zhao and three hundred others, and Yanzhang fell back to Zhongdu. Hearing the victory, Zhuangzong marched from Yangliu to Yun, put Siyuan in the van, routed Liang at Zhongdu, and took Wang Yanzhang alive. That day the generals congratulated him; Cunxu handed wine to Siyuan and said, "Yesterday at Chaocheng many of you wanted to abandon Yan and make the river the border; only the deputy overall commander held the front and Chongtao schemed within—had I listened to Li Shaohong and his crowd, the cause would be dust. 」Cunxu and his generals debated the next target; most said Qing, Qi, Xu, and Yan were empty and would fall without a fight. 」Only Siyuan urged a direct strike on Bian—the account is in the 《Zhuangzong Annals》—and Cunxu was pleased. Siyuan marched at once; Cunxu set out from Zhongdu after him. On jimao in the tenth month, before dawn, Siyuan reached Bian first, struck Fengqiu Gate, and Wang Zan opened the gate to surrender. At Jianguo Gate he learned the Liang ruler was dead, issued orders to calm the city, and withdrew to Fengchan Temple. At chen hour Cunxu arrived; Siyuan met him and bowed by the road. Cunxu was overjoyed, took Siyuan's robe, and pressed his head to him, saying, "I have the realm through your blood—we shall share it. 」Soon he was made concurrent Secretariat director.
12
同興二年正月，契丹犯塞，帝受命北征。 二月，莊宗以郊天禮畢，賜帝鐵券。 四月，潞州小將楊立叛，帝受詔討之。 五月，擒楊立以獻。 六月，進位太尉，移鎮汴州，代李存審為蕃漢總管。 十二月，契丹入寇。
In the first month of Tongxing 2 the Khitan raided the frontier and Siyuan was ordered north. In the second month, after the suburban rites, Cunxu granted Siyuan an iron certificate. In the fourth month Luzhou junior officer Yang Li rebelled and Siyuan was ordered to suppress him. In the fifth month Yang Li was captured and presented. In the sixth month he became Grand Preceptor, took Bian as military commissioner, and replaced Li Cun'an as Han and non-Han overall commander. In the twelfth month the Khitan raided again.
13
三年正月，帝領兵破契丹於涿州，移授鎮州節度使。 先是，帝領兵過鄴，鄴庫素有禦甲，帝取五百聯以行。 是歲，莊宗幸鄴，知之，怒甚。 無何，帝奏請以長子從珂為北京內衙都指揮使，莊宗愈不悅，曰：「軍政在吾，安得為子奏請！ 吾之細鎧，不奉詔旨強取，其意何也？」 令留守張憲自往取之，左右說諭，乃止。 帝憂恐不自安，上表申理，方解。
In the first month of year three Siyuan defeated the Khitan at Zhuo and was transferred to Zhenzhou as military commissioner. Earlier, marching past Ye, he took five hundred suits of armor from the Ye storehouse and went on. That year Cunxu visited Ye, learned of it, and was furious. Soon Siyuan asked that his eldest son Congke be Beijing inner-palace commander; Cunxu grew angrier and said, "Military affairs are mine—how dare you ask for your son! You seized my fine armor without an edict—what did you mean by that? 」He ordered regent Zhang Xian to fetch it in person; aides talked him down and he desisted. Siyuan grew fearful and uneasy; a clarifying memorial finally settled the matter.
14
十二月，帝朝於洛陽。 是時，莊宗失政，四方饑饉，軍士匱乏，有賣兒貼婦者，道路怨谘。 帝在京師，頗為謠言所屬，洎朱友謙、郭崇韜無名被戮，中外大臣皆懷憂懾。 諸軍馬步都虞候朱守殷奉密旨伺帝起居，守殷陰謂帝曰：「德業振主者身危，功蓋天下者不賞，公可謂振主矣，宜自圖之，無與禍會。」 帝曰：「吾心不負天地，禍福之來，吾無所避，付之於天，卿勿多談也。」
In the twelfth month Siyuan attended court at Luoyang. Cunxu had lost control; famine spread; soldiers went without; some sold children and pawned wives; the roads seethed with complaint. At the capital Siyuan was the target of rumor; when Zhu Youqian and Guo Chongtao were killed without cause, court and command alike were afraid. Imperial guard inspector Zhu Shouyin was secretly ordered to watch Siyuan; he whispered, "Virtue that outshines the ruler endangers the man; merit that covers the realm goes unrewarded—you shake the throne; plan for yourself before calamity finds you. 」Siyuan said, "My heart is clear before heaven and earth; fortune and calamity I do not flee—I leave them to heaven; say no more."
15
四年二月六日，趙在禮據魏州反，莊宗遣元行欽將兵攻之； 行欽不利，退保衛州。 初，帝善遇樞密使李紹宏，及帝在洛陽，群小多以飛語謗毀，紹宏每為庇護。 會行欽兵退，河南尹張全義密奏，請委帝北伐，紹宏讚成之，遂遣帝將兵渡河。
On the sixth day of the second month in the fourth year Zhao Zaili rebelled at Ye; Cunxu sent Yuan Xingqin against him; Xingqin failed and fell back to Weizhou. Siyuan had long favored Li Shaohong of the Privy Council; at Luoyang petty men slandered him, and Shaohong shielded him each time. When Xingqin retreated, Henan prefect Zhang Quanyi secretly urged the northern campaign on Siyuan; Shaohong backed it, and Siyuan was sent across the river.
16
三月六日，帝至鄴都，趙在禮等登城謝罪，出牲餼以勞師，帝亦慰納之，營於鄴城之西南，下令以九日攻城。 八日夜，軍亂。 從馬直軍士有張破敗者，號令諸軍，各殺都將，縱火焚營，歡噪雷動。 至五鼓，亂兵逼帝營，親軍搏戰，傷痍者殆半，亂兵益盛。 帝叱之，責其狂逆之狀，亂兵對曰：「昨貝州戍兵，主上不垂厚宥； 又聞鄴城平定之後，欲盡坑全軍。 某等初無叛誌，直畏死耳。 已共諸軍商量，與城中合勢，擊退諸道之師，欲主上帝河南，請令公帝河北。」 帝泣而拒之，亂兵呼曰：「令公欲何之？ 不帝河北，則為他人所有。 苟不見幾，事當不測！」 抽戈露刃，環帝左右。 安重誨、霍彥威躡帝足，請詭隨之，因為亂兵迫入鄴城。 懸橋已發，共扶帝越濠而入，趙在禮等歡泣奉迎。 〈（《通鑒》：亂兵擁嗣源及李紹真等入城，城中不受外兵。 皇甫暉逆擊張破敗，斬之，外兵皆潰。 趙在禮等率諸校迎拜嗣源。）〉 是日，饗將士於行宮，在禮等不納外兵，軍眾流散，無所歸向。 帝登南樓，謂在禮曰：「欲建大計，非兵不能集事，吾自於城外招撫諸軍。」 帝乃得出。 夜至魏縣，部下不滿百人。 時霍彥威所將鎮州兵五千人獨不亂，聞帝既出，相率歸帝。 詰朝，帝登城掩泣曰：「國家患難，一至於此！ 來日歸藩上章，徐圖再舉。」 安重誨、霍彥威等曰：「此言非便也。 國家付以閫外之事，不幸師徒逗撓，為賊驚奔。 元行欽狂妄小人，彼在城南，未聞戰聲，無故棄甲； 如朝天之日，信其奏陳，何所不至！ 若歸藩聽命，便是強據要君，正墮讒慝之口也。 正當星行歸闕，面叩玉階，讒間沮謀，庶全功業，無便於此者也。」 帝從之。 十一日，發魏縣，至相州，獲官馬二千匹，始得成軍。
On the sixth of the third month Siyuan reached Ye; Zhao Zaili and the rest apologized from the wall and sent food; Siyuan accepted and camped southwest of the city, ordering assault on the ninth. On the night of the eighth the army mutinied. A horse escort named Zhang Pobai ordered each unit to kill its commander, burn the camps, and roar like thunder. By the fifth watch mutineers pressed Siyuan's camp; his guard fought until half were down and the rebels still swelled. Siyuan shouted and rebuked their treason; they answered, "Yesterday at Beizhou garrison you showed no mercy; and after Ye fell you meant to slaughter the whole army. We never meant to rebel—we only fear death. We have agreed with the garrison to drive off the other columns; we want you emperor south of the river and our lord emperor north. 」Siyuan wept and refused; they shouted, "If you will not go north, where will you go? Refuse the north and another will own you. Miss the moment and anything may happen! 」They bared swords and ringed him. An Chonghui and Huo Yanwei trod his foot and urged him to pretend consent; mutineers forced him into Ye. The drawbridge was up; they helped him over the moat; Zhao Zaili and the rest wept and welcomed him. (The 《Zizhi Tongjian》 says mutineers forced Siyuan and Li Shaozhen into the city, which would not admit outside troops. Huangfu Hui struck Zhang Pobai, killed him, and outside troops scattered. Zhao Zaili and the officers welcomed and bowed to Siyuan.)〉 That day he feasted officers at the traveling palace; Zaili barred outside troops and the armies drifted without direction. Siyuan climbed the south tower and told Zaili, "A great plan needs troops; I will go outside to rally the armies. 」He was able to leave. By night he reached Wei county with fewer than a hundred men. Huo Yanwei's five thousand Zhenzhou men alone held firm; hearing Siyuan was out, they joined him. At dawn he stood on the wall, wept, and said, "The state's trouble has come to this! Tomorrow I return to my post and memorialize, then plan again. 」An Chonghui and Huo Yanwei said, "That will not do. The throne entrusted you beyond the passes; the army faltered and fled in panic. Yuan Xingqin is a reckless nobody south of the city who never fought yet threw away his armor; if you heed his reports at court, what limit is there! Return to your post and you hold the ruler for ransom and feed the slanderers. March straight to the capital, face the throne, and clear the slander—only then is your merit safe; nothing better. 」Siyuan agreed. On the eleventh he left Wei county; at Xiangzhou he seized two thousand government horses and finally had an army.
17
元行欽退保衛州，果以飛語上奏，帝上章申理，莊宗遣帝子從審及內官白從訓齊詔諭帝。 從審至衛州，為行欽所械，帝奏章亦不達。 帝乃趨白皋渡，駐軍於河上，會山東上供綱載絹數船適至，乃取以賞軍，軍士以之增氣。 及將濟，以渡船甚少，帝方憂之。 忽有木伐數隻，沿流而至，即用以濟師，故無留滯焉。 二十六日至汴州，莊宗領兵至滎澤，遣龍驤都校姚彥溫為前鋒。 是日，彥溫率部下八百騎歸於帝，具言：「主上為行欽所惑，事勢已離，難與共事。」 帝曰：「卿自不忠，言何悖也！」 乃奪其兵，仍下令曰：「主上未諒吾心，遂致軍情至此，宜速赴京師。」 既而房知溫、杜晏球自北面相繼而至。
Xingqin held Weizhou and slandered him by memorial; Siyuan answered; Cunxu sent his son Congshen and the eunuch Bai Congxun with an edict. At Weizhou Xingqin shackled Congshen; Siyuan's memorial never arrived. He hurried to Baigao Ford and camped on the river; Shandong tribute silk ships arrived and he paid the troops, lifting their spirits. At the crossing boats were scarce and he worried. Suddenly rafts drifted downriver; they ferried the army without delay. On the twenty-sixth he reached Bian; Cunxu marched to Xingze and sent Flying Dragon commander Yao Yanwen ahead. That day Yanwen brought eight hundred horse to Siyuan and said, "The ruler trusts Xingqin; the cause is lost—we cannot serve together. 」Siyuan said, "You are the disloyal one—how dare you! 」He seized their horses and ordered, "The ruler has not understood me and the army is here—hurry to the capital. 」Soon Fang Zhiwen and Du Yanqiu came up from the north.
18
四月丁亥朔，至罌子穀，聞蕭牆釁作，莊宗晏駕，帝慟哭不自勝。 詰旦，朱守殷遣人馳報：「京城大亂，燔剽不息，請速至京師。」 己丑，帝至洛陽，止於舊宅，分命諸將止其焚掠。 百官弊衣旅見，帝謝之，斂衽泣涕。 時魏王繼岌征蜀未還，帝謂朱守殷曰：「公善巡撫，以待魏王。 吾當奉大行梓宮山陵禮畢，即歸藩矣。」 是日，群臣諸將上箋勸進，帝面諭止之。 樞密使李紹宏、張居翰、宰相豆盧革、韋說、六軍馬步都虞候朱守殷、青州節度使符習、徐州節度使霍彥威、宋州節度使杜晏球、兗州節度使房知溫等頓首言曰：「帝王應運，蓋有天命，三靈所屬，當協冥符。 福之所鍾，不可以謙遜免； 道之已喪，不可以智力求。 前代因敗為功，殷憂啟聖，少康重興於有夏，平王再復於宗周，其命維新，不失舊物。 今日廟社無依，人神乏主，天命所屬，人何能爭！ 光武所謂『使成帝再生，無以讓天下』。 願殿下俯徇樂推，時哉無失，軍國大事，望以教令施行。」 帝優答不從。
On the dinghai new moon of the fourth month at Yingzi Valley he heard of palace trouble; Cunxu was dead; Siyuan wailed beyond bearing. At dawn Zhu Shouyin sent word, "Luoyang is burning and looting will not stop—come quickly. 」On jichou he reached Luoyang, stayed at his old house, and ordered the generals to stop the looting. Officials came in rags; he apologized, straightened his robe, and wept. Jiji's Shu campaign had not returned; Siyuan told Zhu Shouyin, "Patrol well and await the Prince of Wei. I will bury the late emperor and then return to my post. 」That day officials and generals urged him to take the throne; he refused to their faces. Li Shaohong, Zhang Juhun, Dou Luge, Wei Shuo, Zhu Shouyin, Fu Xi, Huo Yanwei, Du Yanqiu, Fang Zhiwen, and the rest bowed and said, "Heaven chooses the throne; the spirits align; the hidden mandate is his. Fortune fixed cannot be refused by modesty; where the Way is lost, wit cannot win it. Past ages turned defeat to triumph—Shaokang revived Xia, Ping restored Zhou—renewed mandate without losing the realm. Today altars stand empty and men and spirits lack a lord; the mandate is yours—who can contest it! As Guangwu said, "Make Chengdi live again and I still could not yield the realm. Bend to our push, seize the hour; govern army and state by your command. 」He answered gently and refused.
19
壬辰，文武百僚三拜箋，請行監國之儀，以安宗社，答旨從之。 既而有司上監國儀注。 甲午，幸大內興聖宮，始受百僚班見之儀。 所司議即位儀注，霍彥威、孔循等言：「唐之運數已衰，不如自創新號。」 因請改國號，不從土德。 帝問藩邸侍臣，左右奏曰：「先帝以錫姓宗屬，為唐雪冤，以繼唐祚。 今梁朝舊人，不願殿下稱唐，請更名號。」 帝曰：「予年十三事獻祖，以予宗屬，愛幸不異所生。 事武皇三十年，排難解紛，櫛風沐雨，冒刃血戰，體無完膚，何艱險之不曆！ 武皇功業即予功業，先帝天下即予天下也。 兄亡弟紹，於義何嫌。 且同宗異號，出何典禮？ 曆之衰隆，吾自當之，眾之莠言，吾無取也。」 時群臣集議，依違不定，惟吏部尚書李琪議曰：「殿下宗室勳賢，立大功於三世，一朝雨泣赴難，安定宗社，撫事因心，不失舊物。 若別新統製，則先朝便是路人，煢煢梓宮，何所歸往！ 不惟殿下追感舊君之義，群臣何安！ 請以本朝言之，則睿宗、文宗、武宗皆以弟兄相繼，即位柩前，如儲後之儀可也。」 於是群議始定。 河中軍校王舜賢奏，節度使李存霸以今月三日出奔，不知所在。 乙未，敕曰：「寡人允副群情，方監國事，外安黎庶，內睦宗親，庶諧敦惇之規，永保隆平之運。 昨京師變起，禍難薦臻，至於戚屬之間，不測驚奔之所，慮因藏竄，濫被傷痍，言念於茲，自然流涕。 宜令河南府及諸道，應諸王眷屬等，昨因驚擾出奔，所至之處，即時津送赴闕。 如不幸物故者，量事收瘞以聞。」 〈（《北夢瑣言》：莊宗諸弟存紀、存確匿於南山民家，人有以報安重誨者，重誨曰：「主上以下詔尋訪，帝之仁德，必不加害，不如密令殺之。」 果並命於民家。 後明宗聞之，切讓重誨，傷惜久之。）〉 以中門使安重誨為樞密使，以鎮州別駕張延朗為樞密副使，以客將範延光為宣徽使，進奏官馮贇為內客省使。
On renchen the hundred officials thrice bowed and asked regency rites to steady the state; he assented. The offices then submitted regency ritual forms. On jiawu he entered Great Xingsheng Palace and first received official audience. Offices debated enthronement rites; Huo Yanwei and Kong Xun said Tang's fortune was spent and urged a new dynastic name. They asked to change the state name and reject the earth virtue. He asked his household staff; they said the late ruler took the Tang surname to avenge Tang and continue its line. Liang holdovers do not want you called Tang and ask a new name. He said, "At thirteen I served the Founding Ancestor; as his clansman he loved me as a son. Thirty years under Wuhuang I fought through wind and rain and blood until no skin was whole—what hardship did I not bear! Wuhuang's merit is mine; the late emperor's realm is mine. Brother dies, younger succeeds—where is the shame? Moreover, one clan yet a new reign name—what ritual precedent is there for that? Fortune's rise and fall are mine to bear; I will not heed the crowd's idle talk. 」The ministers debated without settling; only Li Qi of Personnel said, "Your Highness is a clansman and meritorious worthy who served three reigns; weeping you rushed to the crisis, stabilized the altars of state, and governed from the heart without losing the old inheritance. If you create a new system and reign title, the former court becomes strangers—where would the lonely coffin go? Your Highness would fail to honor the former lord—and how could the ministers be at ease? In our own dynasty Ruizong, Wenzong, and Wuzong all succeeded as brothers before the coffin—heir-apparent ceremony would suffice. 」At that the assembly's debate was settled. Hezhong adjutant Wang Shunxian reported that commissioner Li Cunba fled on the third of this month, whereabouts unknown. On yiwei an edict said, "I have accepted the people's wish and oversee state affairs, securing the people without and harmonizing kin within, hoping for honest governance and lasting peace. Yesterday's capital turmoil brought calamity close; even kin fled in panic to unknown places, and fearing many would be harmed in hiding, I weep at the thought. Henan prefecture and all circuits should escort princes' dependents who fled in alarm wherever found straight to court. If any have died, bury them as circumstances allow and report." (The 《Miscellaneous Dreams of the Northern Realm》 says Zhuangzong's brothers Cunji and Cunque hid with south-mountain peasants; when someone told An Chonghui, he said, "The throne has ordered a search; the Emperor's grace will not harm them—better have them killed in secret. 」Both were indeed killed in the peasant home. When Mingzong later heard, he sharply reproached Chonghui and grieved long.)〉 An Chonghui of the Central Gate became Privy Council commissioner; Zhang Yanlang, Zhen vice prefect, became deputy commissioner; Fan Yanguang, guest general, became Xuanhui commissioner; Feng Yun, memorial officer, became Inner Guest Service commissioner.
20
丙申，下敕：「今年夏苗，委人戶自供，通頃畝五家為保，本州具帳送省，州縣不得差人檢括。 如人戶隱欺，許人陳告，其田倍征。」 己亥，命石敬瑭權知陝州兵馬留後，皇子從珂權知河南府兵馬留後。 庚子，淮南楊溥進新茶。 以權知汴州軍州事孔循為樞密副使，以陳州刺史劉仲殷為鄧州留後，以鄭州防禦使王思同為同州留後。 敕曰：「租庸使孔謙，濫承委寄，專掌重權，侵剝萬端，奸欺百變。 遂使生靈塗炭，軍士饑寒，成天下之瘡痍，極人間之疲弊。 載詳眾狀，側聽輿辭，難私降黜之文，合正誅夷之典。 宜削奪在身官爵，按軍令處分。 雖犯眾怒，特貸全家，所有田宅，並從籍沒。」 是日，謙伏誅。 敕停租庸名額，依舊為鹽鐵、戶部、度支三司，委宰臣豆盧革專判。
On bingshen an edict said, "This summer's field tax shall be reported by households themselves; by mu, five households form one bao; the prefecture shall send accounts to the ministry, and counties may not send inspectors. If households conceal holdings, informants may report them and the land shall be taxed at double. 」On jihai Shi Jingtang was ordered acting Shan commissioner and Prince Congke acting Henan commissioner. On gengzi Yang Pu of Huainan presented new tea. Kong Xun, acting Bian commissioner, became deputy Privy Council commissioner; Liu Zhongyin of Chen became Deng acting commissioner; Wang Sitong of Zheng became Tong acting commissioner. An edict said, "Rent-and-corvée commissioner Kong Qian abused his heavy commission and monopoly power, plundering endlessly and deceiving in every way. He drove the people to ruin and soldiers to hunger and cold, scourging the realm and exhausting mankind. Public accounts and popular outcry make a private demotion impossible—he deserves execution by law. Strip his ranks and punish him under military law. Though the crowd demands his blood, his whole family is spared; all fields and houses are confiscated. 」That day Qian was executed. An edict abolished the rent-and-corvée office and restored the Salt and Iron, Revenue, and Expenditure Three Offices under Dou Luge.
21
中書門下上言：「請停廢諸道鹽運使、內勾司、租庸院大程官，出放豬羊柴炭戶。 括田竿尺，一依朱梁制度，仍委節度、刺史通申三司，不得差使量檢。 州使公廨錢物，先被租庸院管係，今據數卻還州府，州府不得科率百姓。 百姓合散蠶鹽，每年隻二月內一度亻表散，依夏稅限納錢。 夏秋苗稅子，除元征石鬥及地頭錢，餘外不得紐配。 先遇赦所放逋稅，租庸違制征收，並與除放。 今欲曉告河南府及諸道準此施行。」 從之。 是日，宋州節度使元行欽伏誅。 壬寅，以樞密副使孔循為樞密使。
The Secretariat memorialized, "Abolish circuit salt transport commissioners, inner auditing offices, rent-and-corvée bureau senior clerks, and pig, sheep, firewood, and charcoal household releases. Land surveys shall follow Former Liang rules; commissioners and prefects shall report to the Three Offices without sending measuring agents. Prefectural funds held by the rent-and-corvée bureau are returned in full; prefectures may not levy the people. Combined silkworm salt for the people shall be allotted only once yearly in the second month, payable by the summer-tax deadline. Summer and autumn field taxes may add nothing beyond the original grain levy per dou and ground-head money. Arrears amnestied earlier but illegally collected under rent-and-corvée rules are also remitted. We ask to proclaim this to Henan and all circuits for implementation. 」The request was approved. That day Yuan Xingqin, Song commissioner, was executed. On renyin Kong Xun became Privy Council commissioner.