1
長興四年春正月戊寅朔，帝御明堂殿受朝賀，仗衛如式。 是日雪盈尺。 戊子，秦王從榮加守尚書令、兼侍中，依前河南尹，判六軍諸衛事。 庚寅，以端明殿學士、尚書兵部侍郎劉煦為中書侍郎、平章事。 甲午，正衙命使冊故福慶長公主孟氏為晉國雍順長公主，遣太常卿崔居儉赴西川行冊禮。 突厥內附。 庚子，以前河東節度使李從溫為鄆州節度使。
On the wuyin new moon of the first month in spring of Changxing 4 Mingzong received New Year congratulations at the Bright Hall with full ceremonial guard. That day snow piled more than a foot deep. On wuzi Congrong, Prince of Qin, was made Acting Director of the Department of State Affairs and concurrent Palace Attendant; he remained Mayor of Henan and took charge of the Six Armies and palace guards. On gengyin Liu Xu, academician of the Palatial Hall and Vice Minister of War, was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat and Grand Counsellor. On jiawu court envoys were commissioned to ennoble the late Princess Meng of Fortune and Celebration as Long Princess Yongshun of Jin; Grand Minister of Rites Cui Jujian was sent to the Western Circuit to perform the investiture. The Turks came in allegiance. On gengzi Li Congwen, former commissioner of Hedong, was made commissioner of Yanzhou.
2
二月癸丑朔，帝於便殿問範延光內外見管馬數，對曰：「三萬五千匹。」 帝歎曰：「太祖在太願，騎軍不過七千，先皇自始至終馬才及萬。 今有鐵馬如是，而不能使九州混一，是吾養士練將之不至也。 吾老矣，馬將奈何！」 延光奏曰：「臣每思之，國家養馬太多，試計一騎士之費，可贍步軍五人，三萬五千騎抵十五萬步軍，既無所施，虛耗國力，臣恐日久難繼。」 帝曰：「誠如卿言，肥騎士而瘠吾民，何益哉！」 〈（《五代會要》：上問見管馬數，樞密使範延光奏：「天下常支草粟者近五萬匹。 見今西北諸道蕃賣馬者往來如市，其郵傳之費、中估之直，日以四十五貫，以臣計之，國力十耗其七，馬無所使，財賦漸消，朝廷甚非所利。」 上善之。 十月，敕沿邊藩鎮，或有蕃部賣馬，可擇其良壯給券，具數以聞。）〉 丁巳，以虔州節度使、檢校太尉、兼侍中馬希振為洪州節度使； 以鄂州節度使馬希廣為檢校太尉、同平章事，充桂州節度使； 以盧州節度使兼武安軍副使姚彥章為檢校太尉、同平章事； 以靜江節度副使馬希範為鄂州節度使。 故潞州節度使、檢校太保康君立贈太傅。 己未，宋州節度使安元信加兼侍中。 濮州進重修河堤圖，沿河地名，曆曆可數。 帝覽之，愀然曰：「吾佐先朝定天下，於此堤塢間小大數百戰。」 又指一邱曰：「此吾擐甲台也。 時事如昨，奄忽一紀，令人悲歎耳！」 癸亥，以西川節度使孟知祥為劍南東、西兩川節度使，封蜀王。 三司奏：「當省有諸道鹽鐵轉運使衙職員都押衙、正押衙、同押衙、通引、衙前虞候、子弟，今欲列為三司職名。」 從之。 庚午，以御史中丞崔衍為兵部侍郎，以右諫議大夫龍敏為御史中丞。
On the guichou new moon of the second month the Emperor asked Fan Yanguang in a side hall how many horses the court maintained inside and out; he answered, "Thirty-five thousand. The Emperor sighed and said, "When the Founding Emperor was at Taiyuan his cavalry numbered no more than seven thousand; throughout his reign the late Emperor had barely ten thousand horses. Now we have armored horses in such numbers, yet we cannot reunite the realm—this shows I have failed to nurture officers and train generals properly. I am old—what are we to do with all these horses?" Yanguang replied, "I have often thought about this: the state keeps far too many horses. The cost of one cavalryman could support five foot soldiers; thirty-five thousand riders equal a hundred and fifty thousand infantry, yet we have no use for them and are draining the treasury. I fear this cannot be sustained for long." The Emperor said, "You are right: fattening the cavalry while our people grow lean—what good does that do?" (From the Five Dynasties Essentials: When the Emperor asked how many horses were maintained, Fan Yanguang, Military Affairs Commissioner, reported, "Nearly fifty thousand head draw regular fodder and grain stipends empire-wide. Nowadays frontier horse traders in the northwest circuits come and go like a market; courier costs and purchase prices run to forty-five strings a day. By my reckoning the treasury is seven-tenths drained, the horses serve no purpose, and revenues are dwindling—this greatly harms the court. The Emperor approved the proposal. In the tenth month an edict ordered frontier commands that when tribesmen sold horses they should select sound animals, issue certificates, and report the numbers.)〉 On dingsi Ma Xizhen, commissioner of Qianzhou, Acting Grand Preceptor, and Palace Attendant, was made commissioner of Hongzhou; Ma Xiguang of Ezhou was made Acting Grand Preceptor and Associate Grand Counsellor and installed as commissioner of Guizhou; Yao Yanchang, commissioner of Luzhou and vice commissioner of the Wu'an Army, was made Acting Grand Preceptor and Associate Grand Counsellor; Ma Xifan, vice commissioner of Jingjiang, was made commissioner of Ezhou. Kang Junli, late commissioner of Luzhou and Acting Senior Tutor, was posthumously made Grand Tutor. On jiwei An Yuanxin of Songzhou was additionally made Palace Attendant. Puzhou submitted a revised map of the river dikes, with every place name along the course clearly marked. When the Emperor studied it his face fell. He said, "I helped the former court conquer the realm and fought several hundred battles, great and small, along these dikes and embankments. He pointed to a mound and said, "That is where I buckled on my armor. It all seems like yesterday, yet twelve years have slipped by in a flash—how it moves one to grief!" On guihai Meng Zhixiang of the Western Circuit was made commissioner of both Eastern and Western Jiannan and enfeoffed as Prince of Shu. The Three Offices reported, "Our ministry wishes to formalize as Three Offices titles the posts now held by transport commissioners' staff—Chief Escort Officer, Principal Escort Officer, Associate Escort Officer, Guide, Yamen Forward Guard, and Retainers. The request was approved. On gengwu Cui Yan, Censor-in-Chief, became Vice Minister of War, and Long Min, Right Remonstrance Counsellor, became Censor-in-Chief.
3
三月己卯，幸龍門。 延州節度使安從進奏，夏州節度使李仁福卒，其子彝超自稱留後。 甲申，鎮州奏，行軍司馬趙瑰、節度判官陸浣、元從押衙高知柔等並棄市，坐受賂枉法殺人也。 節度使李從敏罰一季俸。 乙酉，以西川節度副使、知武泰軍節度兵馬留後趙季良為檢校太保、黔南節度使； 以西川諸軍馬步都指揮使、知武信軍節度兵馬留後李仁罕為檢校太傅、遂州節度使； 以西川左廂馬步指揮使、知保寧軍節度兵馬留後趙廷隱為檢校太保、閬州節度使； 以西川右廂馬步都指揮使、知寧江軍兵馬留後張知業為檢校司徒、夔州節度使； 以西川衙內馬步都指揮使、知昭武軍兵馬留後李肇為檢校太保、利州節度使，從孟知祥之請也。 丙戌，賜宰相李愚絹百匹、錢十萬、鋪陳物一十三件。 時愚病，帝令近臣翟光鄴宣問，所居寢室，蕭然四壁，病榻弊氈而已。 光鄴具言其事，故有是賜。 戊子，以延州節度使安從進為夏州留後，以夏州左都押衙、四州防遏使李彝超為延州留後，仍命邠州節度使藥彥稠、宮苑使安重益帥師援送從進赴鎮。 以左衛上將軍盧文進為潞州節度使，以右龍武統軍張溫為雲州節度使。 庚寅，以鳳翔行軍司馬李彥琮為鹽州防禦使。 時範延光等奏，請因夏州之師製置鹽州，故有是命。 癸巳，以右威衛上將軍安重霸為同州節度使。 己亥，以左龍武統軍符彥超為安州節度使。 詔除放京兆、秦、岐、邠、涇、延、慶、同、華、興元十州長興元年二年係欠夏秋稅物，及營田莊宅務課利，以其曾輦運供軍糧料也。 甲辰，故晉國夫人夏氏追冊皇后，有司上諡曰昭懿，從之。
On jimao in the third month the Emperor visited Longmen. An Congjin of Yanzhou reported that Li Renfu, commissioner of Xiazhou, had died and that his son Yichao had proclaimed himself acting commissioner. On jiashen Zhenzhou reported that campaign marshal Zhao Gui, adjutant Lu Huan, escort officer Gao Zhirou, and others had been executed for taking bribes, perverting justice, and unlawful killing. Commissioner Li Congmin was fined one quarter's salary. On yiyou Zhao Jiliang, Western Circuit vice commissioner and acting Wutai Army commissioner, was made Acting Senior Tutor and commissioner of Qiannan; Li Renhan, Western Circuit combined forces commander and acting Wuxin Army commissioner, was made Acting Grand Tutor and commissioner of Suizhou; Zhao Tingyin, left-wing commander of the Western Circuit and acting Baoning Army commissioner, was made Acting Senior Tutor and commissioner of Langzhou; Zhang Zhiye, right-wing commander of the Western Circuit and acting Ningjiang Army commissioner, was made Acting Minister of Works and commissioner of Kuizhou; Li Zhao, inner-palace commander of the Western Circuit and acting Zhaowu Army commissioner, was made Acting Senior Tutor and commissioner of Lizhou, at Meng Zhixiang's request. On bingxu Grand Counsellor Li Yu was given a hundred bolts of silk, a hundred thousand cash, and thirteen furnishings. Li Yu was then ill; the Emperor sent the attendant Zhai Guangye to inquire after him and found his bedchamber utterly bare, with only a sickbed and a threadbare felt rug. Guangye reported this in full, which led to the grant. On wuzi An Congjin of Yanzhou was made acting commissioner of Xiazhou, and Li Yichao, Xiazhou's left chief escort officer and four-prefecture defense commissioner, was made acting commissioner of Yanzhou; Yao Yanchou of Binzhou and Palace Parks Commissioner An Chongyi were ordered to escort Congjin to his post with troops. Lu Wenjin, senior general of the Left Guard, was made commissioner of Luzhou, and Zhang Wen, supreme general of the Right Martial Dragon Guard, commissioner of Yunzhou. On gengyin Li Yancong, campaign marshal of Fengxiang, was made defense commissioner of Yazhou. Fan Yanguang and others had asked that Yazhou be established in connection with the Xiazhou campaign, which led to this appointment. On guisi An Chongba, senior general of the Right Martial Might Guard, was made commissioner of Tongzhou. On jihai Fu Yanchao, supreme general of the Left Martial Dragon Guard, was made commissioner of Anzhou. An edict remitted summer and autumn tax arrears from Changxing 1–2 and farm-estate levies for ten prefectures—Jingzhao, Qin, Qi, Bin, Jing, Yan, Qing, Tong, Hua, and Xingyuan—because they had previously transported grain for the army. On jiachen the late Lady Xia of Jin was posthumously made empress with the temple name Zhaoyi.
4
夏四月戊申，李彝超奏：「奉詔除延州留後，已受恩命訖，三軍百姓擁隔，未遂赴任。」 帝遣閣門使蘇繼顏齎詔促彝超赴任。 癸丑，以刑部侍郎劉讚為秘書監、秦王傅。 〈（《五代會要》：長興四年四月，以秘書監劉讚為秦王傅，前忠武軍節度判官蘇瓚為秦王友，前襄州觀察使魚崇遠為秦王府記室參軍。 時言事者請為秦王置師傅，上顧問近臣，皆以秦王名勢隆盛，不敢置議，請自選擇，乃降是命。）〉 甲寅，前鄧州節度使梁漢顒以太子少師致仕，太子賓客裴皞以兵部尚書致仕。 戊午，追冊昭宗皇后何氏為宣穆皇后，祔饗太廟，百僚進名奉慰，廢朝三日。 己巳，以左散騎常侍任讚為戶部侍郎，以吏部侍郎藥縱之為曹州刺史。 癸酉，延州奏，蕃部劫掠餉運及攻城之具，守蘆關兵士退守金明鎮。
On wushen in the fourth month Li Yichao reported, "I have received the edict appointing me acting commissioner of Yanzhou and accepted the commission, but the troops and populace are blocking me and I cannot take up the post. The Emperor sent Gate Commissioner Su Jiyan with an edict urging Yichao to take up his appointment. On guichou Liu Zan, Vice Minister of Justice, was made Director of the Secretariat and Tutor to the Prince of Qin. (From the Five Dynasties Essentials: In the fourth month of Changxing 4 Liu Zan, Director of the Secretariat, became Tutor to the Prince of Qin; Su Zan, former adjutant of the Zhongwu Army, became his Companion; and Yu Chongyuan, former observation commissioner of Xiangzhou, became Recorder of the Qin princely establishment. Memorialists had asked that tutors be appointed for the Prince of Qin. The Emperor consulted his close attendants, who all said the prince's stature was too great for them to propose candidates and asked that he choose himself—hence this order.)〉 On jiayin Liang Hanyong, former commissioner of Dengzhou, retired as Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent, and Pei Hao, Heir Apparent Guest, retired as Minister of War. On wuwu Empress He of Emperor Zhaozong was posthumously enfeoffed as Empress Xuanmu and given a place in the Grand Ancestral Temple; officials offered condolences and court was suspended for three days. On jisi Ren Zan, Left Regular Attendant, became Vice Minister of Revenue, and Yao Zongzhi, Vice Minister of Personnel, became prefect of Cao. On guiyou Yanzhou reported that frontier tribes had raided supply convoys and siege equipment and that the garrison at Luguan Pass had fallen back to Jinming.
5
五月丙子朔，帝御文明殿受朝。 戊寅，皇子鳳翔節度使從珂封潞王。 新授戶部侍郎任讚改刑部侍郎，讚訴以所授官是丁憂闕，故改正。 皇子從益封許王，鄆州節度使李從溫封兗王，河中節度使李從璋封洋王，鎮州節度使李從敏封涇王。 甲申，帝避暑於九曲池，既而登樓，風毒暴作，聖體不豫，翌日而愈。 〈（《北夢瑣言》云：上聖體乖和，馮道對寢膳之間，動思調衛，因指御前果實曰：「如食桃不康，翌日見李而思戒可也。」 初，上因禦李，暴得風虛之疾，馮道不敢斥言，因奏事諷悟上意。）〉 丙戌，契丹遣使朝貢。 丁酉，安從進奏，大軍已至夏州，攻城，以其不受命也。 庚子，以靈武留後張希崇為本州節度使。 辛丑，故夏州節度使、朔方郡王李仁福追封虢王。 壬寅，以前晉州留後薄文為本州節度使。
On the bingzi new moon of the fifth month the Emperor held court at the Hall of Civilization. On wuyin Congke, imperial son and commissioner of Fengxiang, was enfeoffed as Prince of Lu. Ren Zan, newly appointed Vice Minister of Revenue, was reassigned as Vice Minister of Justice after he explained that the Revenue post was a vacancy left by an official in mourning. Congyi was enfeoffed as Prince of Xu; Li Congwen of Yanzhou as Prince of Yan; Li Congzhang of Hezhong as Prince of Yang; and Li Congmin of Zhenzhou as Prince of Jing. On jiashen the Emperor took the summer retreat at the Nine-Bend Pool, then climbed a tower; a sudden chill brought on illness, but he recovered the next day. (The Northern Dreams Anecdotes records: When the Emperor was unwell Feng Dao, attending him at meals, thought constantly of his regimen. He pointed to fruit on the table and said, "If peaches disagree with you, seeing plums the next day should remind you to be cautious. Earlier the Emperor had eaten plums and been stricken with chills and weakness; Feng Dao dared not speak plainly and used this indirect admonition while reporting on state affairs.)〉 On bingxu Khitan envoys came to court with tribute. On dingyou An Congjin reported that the main army had reached Xiazhou and was besieging the city for refusing to submit. On gengzi Zhang Xichong, acting commissioner of Lingwu, was made its full commissioner. On xinchou Li Renfu, late commissioner of Xiazhou and Prince of Shuofang, was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Guo. On renyin Bo Wen, former acting commissioner of Jinzhou, was made its full commissioner.
6
六月丙午朔，文武百僚、宰臣馮道等拜章，請於尊號內加「廣運法天」四字，凡拜三章，詔允之。 詔宮西新園宜名永芳園，其間新殿宜名和慶殿。 丙辰，秦王從榮加食邑至萬戶，實封二千戶。 丁巳，以右驍衛上將軍李從昶為左龍武統軍，以前邢州節度使高允韜為右龍武統軍，以右驍衛上將軍羅周敬為左羽林統軍，以右監門上將軍婁繼英為金州刺史。 戊午，宋王從厚加食邑至萬戶，實封一千戶。 壬戌，以前涇州節度使李金全為滄州節度使。 癸亥，詔御史中丞龍敏等詳定《大中統類》。 甲子，第十四女封壽安公主，第十五女封永樂公主。 戊辰，以前利州節度使孫漢韶為洋州節度使。 壬申，永寧軍節度使、容州管內觀察使、檢校太尉、兼侍中馬存加食邑實封。 甲戌，帝復不豫。
On the bingwu new moon of the sixth month civil and military officials led by Grand Counsellor Feng Dao thrice petitioned to add "Broad Fortune Aligning with Heaven" to the honorific title, and the Emperor approved. An edict named the new garden west of the palace Ever-Fragrant Garden and its new hall Harmonious Celebration Hall. On bingchen Congrong, Prince of Qin, received a fief of ten thousand households with two thousand paying enfeoffment. On dingsi Li Congchang of the Right Martial Valiant Guard became supreme general of the Left Martial Dragon Guard; Gao Yuntao, former commissioner of Xingzhou, supreme general of the Right Martial Dragon Guard; Luo Zhoujing of the Right Martial Valiant Guard, supreme general of the Left Feathered Forest Guard; and Lou Jiying of the Right Gate Guard, prefect of Jin. On wuwu Conghou, Prince of Song, received a fief of ten thousand households with one thousand paying enfeoffment. On renxu Li Jinquan, former commissioner of Jingzhou, was made commissioner of Cangzhou. On guihai an edict ordered Long Min, Censor-in-Chief, and others to compile the Comprehensive Categories of the Dazhong Era. On jiazi the fourteenth daughter was made Princess Shou'an and the fifteenth Princess Yongle. On wuchen Sun Hanshao, former commissioner of Lizhou, was made commissioner of Yangzhou. On renshen Ma Cun, commissioner of the Yongning Army and Rongzhou, Acting Grand Preceptor and Palace Attendant, received additional fief and enfeoffment income. On jiaxu the Emperor fell ill again.
7
秋七月丁丑，以著作佐郎尹拙為左拾遺，直史館。 國朝舊制，皆以畿赤尉直史館，今用諫官自拙始，從監修李愚奏也。 己卯，東嶽三郎神贈威雄大將軍。 初，帝不豫，前淄州刺史劉遂清薦泰山僧一人，雲善醫，及召見，乃庸僧耳。 問方藥，僧曰：「不工醫，嘗於泰山中親睹嶽神，謂僧曰：『吾第三子威靈可愛，而未有爵秩，師為我請之。』」 宮中神其事，故有是命，識者嫉遂清之妖佞焉。 詔應台官出行，須令人訶引，使軍巡職掌等規避。 壬午，詔安從進班師，時王師攻夏州無功故也。 乙酉，以許州節度使孟鵠卒廢朝，贈太傅。 詔賜在京諸軍將校優給有差。 時帝疾未痊，軍士有流言故也。 丁亥，兩浙節度使、檢校太傅、守中書令錢元瓘封吳王。
On dingchou in the seventh month Yin Zhuo, Editorial Assistant, was made Left Reminder with concurrent duty in the Historiography Office. By old custom only capital-district magistrates served in the Historiography Office; using a remonstrance official began with Zhuo, at supervising compiler Li Yu's request. On jimao the Third Son of the Eastern Peak was granted the title Mighty and Heroic Grand General. When the Emperor had first fallen ill Liu Suiqing, former prefect of Zi, recommended a Mount Tai monk said to be a fine physician; when summoned the man proved to be a mere charlatan. Asked for remedies the monk said, "I am no physician. Once on Mount Tai I saw the god of the peak, who told me, 'My third son is full of majesty yet has no rank; please obtain one for him.'" The palace treated the tale as miraculous and issued the appointment; the knowing blamed Suiqing for superstitious flattery. An edict required that Censorate officials on the streets be preceded by a herald so patrol officers would clear the way. On renwu an edict ordered An Congjin to withdraw, as the assault on Xiazhou had failed. On yiyou Meng Hu, commissioner of Xuzhou, died; court was suspended and he was posthumously made Grand Tutor. An edict granted extra allowances to officers of the capital armies in varying amounts. The Emperor was still ill and rumors had spread among the troops. On dinghai Qian Yuanguan of Liang-Zhe, Acting Grand Tutor and Acting Secretariat Director, was enfeoffed as Prince of Wu.
8
八月戊申，帝被袞冕，禦明堂殿受冊，徽號曰聖明神武廣運法天文德恭孝皇帝。 禮畢，製大赦天下，常赦所不原者咸赦除之。 己酉，賜侍衛諸軍優給有差。 時月內再有頒給，自茲府藏無餘積矣。 辛亥，以晉州節度使薄文卒廢朝。 丁巳，以右龍武統軍李從昶為許州節度使。 戊午，以秘書監高輅卒廢朝。 辛酉，以太子太師致仕符習卒廢朝，贈太師。 辛未，秦王從榮以本官充天下兵馬大元帥，加食邑萬戶，實封三千戶； 以右羽林統軍翟璋為晉州節度使； 以太子賓客馬鎬為戶部侍郎。 壬申，幸至德宮。
On wushen in the eighth month the Emperor, in full regalia, received his investiture at the Bright Hall as Sagely, Illumined, Divinely Martial, Broad Fortune, Aligning with Heaven, Cultured in Virtue, Reverent and Filial Emperor. When the ceremony ended he proclaimed a general amnesty, extending even to crimes normally excluded from mercy. On jiyou the Palace Guard armies received extra allowances in varying amounts. Further distributions within the month left the treasury bare. On xinhai Bo Wen, commissioner of Jinzhou, died and court was suspended. On dingsi Li Congchang, supreme general of the Right Martial Dragon Guard, was made commissioner of Xuzhou. On wuwu Gao Lue, Director of the Secretariat, died and court was suspended. On xinyou Fu Xi, retired Grand Tutor to the Heir Apparent, died; court was suspended and he was posthumously made Grand Tutor. On xinwei Congrong, Prince of Qin, was made Grand Marshal of All Armies and Horses Under Heaven while retaining his existing offices, with a fief of ten thousand households and three thousand paying enfeoffment; Zhai Zhang, supreme general of the Right Feathered Forest Guard, was made commissioner of Jinzhou; Ma Hao, Heir Apparent Guest, was made Vice Minister of Revenue. On renshen the Emperor visited the Palace of Utmost Virtue.
9
九月甲戌，以戶部尚書李鈴為兵部尚書，以前戶部尚書韓彥惲為戶部尚書。 丙子，幸至德宮。 戊寅，樞密使範延光、趙延壽並加兼侍中，依前充使。 中書奏：「元帥儀注，諸道節度使以下帶兵權者，階下具軍禮參見； 其帶使相者，初見亦展一度公禮。 天下軍務公事，元帥府行帖指揮，其判六軍諸衛事則公牒往來，其官屬軍職，委元帥府奏請。」 從之。 癸未，以兵部侍郎盧詹為吏部侍郎。 丙戌，宰臣馮道加左僕射，李愚加吏部尚書，劉煦加刑部尚書。 戊子，河陽節度使兼侍衛親軍都指揮使康義誠、山南西道節度使檢校太傅張虔釗並加同平章事。 宣徽南院使、判三司馮贇依前檢校太傅、同中書門下二品，充三司使。 贇亡父名章，故改平章事為同二品。 壬戌，永寧公主石氏進封魏國公主，興平公主趙氏進封齊國公主； 皇孫重光、重哲並授銀青光祿大夫、檢校工部尚書，秦王、宋王子也。 前洋州節度使梁漢顒以太子少傅致仕。 丁酉，以右龍武統軍高允韜為滑州節度使，以韶州刺史、檢校司空王萬榮為華州節度使。 萬榮，王妃之父也。 戊戌，以樞密使趙延壽為汴州節度使，以襄州節度使朱宏昭為檢校太尉、同平章事，充樞密使。 時範延光、趙延壽相繼辭退樞密務，及朱宏昭有樞密之命，又麵辭訴，帝叱之曰：「爾輩皆欲離朕左右，怕在眼前，素養爾輩，將何用也！」 宏昭退謝，不復敢言。 吏部侍郎張文寶卒。 庚子，清海軍節度使錢元璹加檢校太傅、同平章事； 中吳、建武等軍節度使錢元尞加檢校太師、兼中書令。 以前滑州節度使李讚華遙領虔州節度使。 辛丑，詔天下兵馬大元帥、秦王從榮班宜在宰臣之上。 〈（《五代會要》：秦王從榮加兼中書令，與宰臣分班左右定位，及為天下兵馬元帥。 敕曰：「秦王位隆將相，望重磐維，委任既崇，等威合異，班位宜在宰臣之上。」）〉 壬寅，以北面行營都指揮使、易州刺史楊檀為振武軍節度使。
On jiaxu in the ninth month Li Ling, Minister of Revenue, became Minister of War, and Han Yanhun, former Minister of Revenue, became Minister of Revenue. On bingzi the Emperor again visited the Palace of Utmost Virtue. On wuyin Fan Yanguang and Zhao Shou, Military Affairs Commissioners, were additionally made Palace Attendants while retaining their posts. The Secretariat reported, "Under Grand Marshal protocol, military commissioners and lower officials with troop authority shall perform full military salute below the steps when attending; those who also hold commissioner and counsellor titles shall on first audience perform one round of civil salute as well. All military affairs empire-wide shall be directed by posted orders from the Grand Marshal's office; matters concerning the Six Armies and palace guards shall pass by official memorandum; military staff appointments shall be submitted by the Grand Marshal's office. The proposal was approved. On guiwei Lu Zhan, Vice Minister of War, was made Vice Minister of Personnel. On bingxu Grand Counsellor Feng Dao was made Left Vice Director, Li Yu Minister of Personnel, and Liu Xu Minister of Justice. On wuzi Kang Yicheng, commissioner of Heyang and commander of the Palace Guard personal army, and Zhang Qianzhao, commissioner of Shannan West Circuit and Acting Grand Tutor, were both made Associate Grand Counsellors. Feng Yun, Southern Bureau Commissioner and supervisor of the Three Offices, retained Acting Grand Tutor and Second Rank of the Secretariat and Chancellery and was installed as Three Offices Commissioner. Because Yun's late father was named Zhang, the title Grand Counsellor was changed to Second Rank to avoid the taboo. On renxu Princess Yongning, née Shi, was advanced to Princess of Wei, and Princess Xingping, née Zhao, to Princess of Qi; Imperial grandsons Chongguang and Chongzhe were both granted Silver-Gleaming Grand Master for Splendid Happiness and Acting Minister of Works—sons of the Princes of Qin and Song. Liang Hanyong, former commissioner of Yangzhou, retired as Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent. On dingyou Gao Yuntao, supreme general of the Right Martial Dragon Guard, was made commissioner of Huazhou, and Wang Wanrong, prefect of Shaozhou and Acting Minister of Works, commissioner of Hua. Wanrong was the father of the imperial consort. On wuxu Zhao Shou, Military Affairs Commissioner, was made commissioner of Bianzhou, and Zhu Hongzhao of Xiangzhou Acting Grand Preceptor, Associate Grand Counsellor, and Military Affairs Commissioner. Fan Yanguang and Zhao Shou had successively asked to leave the Military Affairs post; when Zhu Hongzhao received the appointment he pleaded again in person. The Emperor rebuked him: "You all want to leave my side—you cannot bear to face me! After all I have done for you, what good are you? Hongzhao withdrew in apology and dared say no more. Zhang Wenbao, Vice Minister of Personnel, died. On gengzi Qian Yuanshan, commissioner of the Qinghai Army, was made Acting Grand Tutor and Associate Grand Counsellor; Qian Yuanliao, commissioner of the Zhongwu and Jianwu armies, was made Acting Grand Preceptor and Secretariat Director. Li Zanhua, former commissioner of Huazhou, was given titular command of Qianzhou. On xinchou an edict placed Congrong, Grand Marshal and Prince of Qin, in court rank above the Grand Counsellors. (From the Five Dynasties Essentials: Congrong, Prince of Qin, was additionally made Secretariat Director and took position in a separate row from the Grand Counsellors; he was then made Grand Marshal of All Armies and Horses. An edict read: "The Prince of Qin stands as general and minister, a pillar of the state; his commission is exalted and his dignity should be distinct—his court rank shall be above the Grand Counsellors.")〉 On renyin Yang Tan, northern expedition commander and prefect of Yi, was made commissioner of the Zhenwu Army.
10
冬十月丙午，以前同州節度使趙在禮為襄州節度使。 丁未，以前滑州節度使張敬詢卒廢朝。 以刑部侍郎任讚為兵部侍郎，充元帥府判官。 戊午，以前鳳翔節度使孫嶽為三司使。 庚申，以樞密使範延光為鎮州節度使，以三司使馮贇為樞密使。 辛酉，以前潞州節度使李承約為左龍武統軍； 以前威寨軍節度使王景戡為右龍武統軍； 以左驍衛上將軍安崇阮為左神武統軍； 以右監門上將軍高允貞為右神武統軍。 壬戌，以權知夏州事、檢校司空李彝超為夏州節度使、檢校司徒。 丙寅，詔在朝文武臣僚並與加恩，以受冊尊號也。 戊辰，以前安州節度使楊漢章為兗州節度使，以前雲州節度使張敬達為徐州節度使。 庚午，以前兗州節度使張延朗為秦州節度使。 壬申，秦州節度使劉仲殷移鎮宋州。
On bingwu in the tenth month Zhao Zaili, former commissioner of Tongzhou, was made commissioner of Xiangzhou. On dingwei Zhang Jingxun, former commissioner of Huazhou, died and court was suspended. Ren Zan, Vice Minister of Justice, was made Vice Minister of War and adjutant of the Grand Marshal's office. On wuwu Sun Yue, former commissioner of Fengxiang, was made Three Offices Commissioner. On gengshen Fan Yanguang, Military Affairs Commissioner, was made commissioner of Zhenzhou, and Feng Yun, Three Offices Commissioner, Military Affairs Commissioner. On xinyou Li Chengyue, former commissioner of Luzhou, was made supreme general of the Left Martial Dragon Guard; Wang Jingzhan, former commissioner of the Weizhai Army, supreme general of the Right Martial Dragon Guard; An Chongruan, senior general of the Left Martial Valiant Guard, supreme general of the Left Divine Martial Guard; and Gao Yunzhen, senior general of the Right Gate Guard, supreme general of the Right Divine Martial Guard. On renxu Li Yichao, acting commissioner of Xiazhou and Acting Minister of Works, was made full commissioner of Xiazhou and Acting Minister of Education. On bingyin an edict granted favors to all civil and military officials at court in celebration of the investiture. On wuchen Yang Hanzhang, former commissioner of Anzhou, was made commissioner of Yan, and Zhang Jingda, former commissioner of Yunzhou, commissioner of Xuzhou. On gengwu Zhang Yanlang, former commissioner of Yanzhou, was made commissioner of Qinzhou. On renshen Liu Zhongyin, commissioner of Qinzhou, was transferred to Songzhou.
11
十一月丙子，以前滄州節度使盧質為右僕射。 庚辰，改慎州懷化軍為昭化軍，升洮州為保順軍。 辛巳，以保大軍節度使、檢校太尉鮑君福為保順軍節度、洮鄯等州觀察等使； 以彰義軍節度使、檢校太尉、同平章事杜建徽為昭化軍節度、慎瑞司等州觀察使。 乙酉，以前汴州節度使李從嚴為鄆州節度使，以鄆州節度使李從溫為定州節度使。 丙戌，新授右僕射盧質奏：「臣忝除官，合赴省上事，若準舊例，左右僕射上事儀注所費極多，欲從權務簡，隻取尚書丞、郎上事例，止集南省屬僚及兩省官送上，亦不敢輒援往例，有費官用，自量力排比； 兼不敢自臣隳廢前規，他時任行舊制。」 從之。
On bingzi in the eleventh month Lu Zhi, former commissioner of Cangzhou, was made Right Vice Director. On gengchen the Huaihua Army at Shenzhou was renamed Zhaohua Army and Taozhou was elevated to Baoshun Army. On xinsi Bao Junfu, commissioner of the Baoda Army and Acting Grand Preceptor, was made commissioner of Baoshun Army and observation commissioner of Taozhou, Shanzhou, and adjacent prefectures; and Du Jianhui, commissioner of the Zhangyi Army, Acting Grand Preceptor and Associate Grand Counsellor, commissioner of Zhaohua Army and observation commissioner of Shen, Rui, Si, and adjacent prefectures. On yiyou Li Congyan, former commissioner of Bianzhou, was made commissioner of Yanzhou, and Li Congwen of Yanzhou commissioner of Dingzhou. On bingxu Lu Zhi, newly appointed Right Vice Director, memorialized: "Having received this appointment I should report to the ministry. The traditional ceremony for a Vice Director costs a great deal. I wish to simplify matters and follow only the precedent for vice directors and bureau chiefs—gathering only southern ministry staff and officials of both secretariats—and not invoke the full old ceremony or waste public funds; I will arrange what I can afford; nor do I mean to abolish the old regulations permanently—others may follow the full ceremony in future. The request was approved.
12
戊子，帝不豫。 己丑，大漸，自廣壽殿移居雍和殿。 是夜四鼓後，帝自禦榻蹶然而興，顧謂知漏宮女曰：「今夜漏幾何？」 對曰：「四更。」 因奏曰：「官家省事否？」 帝曰：「省。」 因唾出肉片如肺者數片，便溺升餘。 六宮皆至，慶躍而奏曰：「官家今日實還魂也。」 已進食一器，侍醫進湯膳。 至曙，帝小康。 壬辰，天下大元帥、守尚書令、兼侍中、秦王從榮領兵陣於天津橋，內出禁軍拒之。 從榮敗奔河南府，遇害。 帝聞之，悲駭，幾落禦榻，氣絕而蘇者再，由是不豫有加。 癸巳，馮道率百僚見帝於雍和殿，帝雨泣哽噎，曰：「吾家事若此，慚見卿等！」 百僚皆泣下沾襟。 甲午，賜宰臣、樞密使禦衣玉帶，康義誠已下錦帛鞍馬有差。 遣宣徽使孟漢瓊召宋王於鄴都。 乙未，以三司使孫嶽為亂兵所害廢朝。 丁酉，敕秦王府官屬，除諮議參軍高輦已處斬外，元帥府判官、兵部侍郎任讚配武州，秘書監兼秦王傅劉讚配嵐州，河南少尹劉陟配均州，並為長流百姓，縱逢恩赦，不在放還。 河南少尹李蕘配石州，河南府判官司徒詡配寧州，秦王友蘇瓚配萊州，記室參軍魚崇遠配慶州，河南府推官王說配隨州，並為長流百姓。 河南府推官尹諲，六軍巡官董裔、張九思，河南府巡官張沆、李潮、江文蔚並勒歸田里。 應長流人並除名。 六軍判官、殿中監王居敏責授復州司馬，六軍推官郭晙責授坊州司戶，並員外置，所在馳驛發遣。 時宰相、樞密使共議任讚等已下罪，馮道等曰：「任讚前在班行，比與從榮無舊，除官未及月餘，便逢此禍。 王居敏、司徒詡疾病請假，將近半年，近日之事，計不同謀。 從榮所款昵者高輦、劉陟、王說三人，昨從榮稱兵指闕之際，沿路隻與劉陟、高輦並轡耳語，至天津橋南，指日影謂諸判官曰：『明日如今，已誅王居敏矣。』 則知其冗泛之徒，不可一例從坐。」 朱宏昭意欲盡誅任讚已下，馮贇力爭之乃已。 戊戌，帝崩於大內之雍和殿，壽六十七。
On wuzi the Emperor fell ill. On jichou his condition grew critical and he was moved from the Hall of Broad Longevity to the Hall of Harmonious Peace. That night after the fourth watch the Emperor suddenly sat up on his couch and asked the clepsydra attendant, "What watch is it? She answered, "The fourth watch." She then asked, "Does Your Majesty feel any better?" The Emperor said, "A little." He then spat out several lung-like pieces of flesh and passed more than a sheng of urine. The palace women all came and cried with joy, "Your Majesty has truly come back to life today! A bowl of food was brought and the physicians served broth. By dawn he had improved somewhat. On renchen Congrong, Grand Marshal, Acting Director of the Department of State Affairs, Palace Attendant, and Prince of Qin, drew up his troops at the Tianjin Bridge; the palace guard marched out to oppose him. Congrong was defeated, fled to the Henan prefectural seat, and was killed. When the Emperor heard the news he was stricken with grief and nearly fell from his couch; twice he lost consciousness and revived, and his illness grew worse. On guisi Feng Dao led the officials to the Hall of Harmonious Peace. The Emperor wept and said through his tears, "My family has come to this—I am ashamed to face you! All the officials wept until their robes were wet. On jiawu the Grand Counsellors and Military Affairs Commissioners received imperial robes and jade belts; from Kang Yicheng downward, brocade, saddles, and horses in varying amounts. Palace Secretariat Commissioner Meng Hanqiong was sent to summon the Prince of Song from Yedu. On yiwei Sun Yue, Three Offices Commissioner, was killed by mutinous troops and court was suspended. On dingyou an edict punished the staff of the Qin princely establishment: Advisory Assistant Gao Nian had already been executed; Grand Marshal's adjutant Ren Zan, Vice Minister of War, was exiled to Wuzhou; Liu Zan, Director of the Secretariat and Tutor to the Prince of Qin, to Lanzhou; and Liu Sheng, Henan Vice Mayor, to Junzhou—all as permanent exiles never to be recalled even by amnesty. Li Rao, Henan Vice Mayor, was exiled to Shizhou; Situ Xu, Henan prefectural judge, to Ningzhou; Su Zan, Companion to the Prince of Qin, to Laizhou; Yu Chongyuan, Recorder, to Qingzhou; and Wang Yue, Henan investigating officer, to Suizhou—all as permanent exiles. Yin Shen, Henan investigating officer; Dong Yi and Zhang Jiusi, Six Armies patrol officers; and Zhang Hong, Li Chao, and Jiang Wenwei, Henan patrol officers, were all ordered home. All permanent exiles were also struck from the registers. Wang Jumin, Six Armies adjutant and Palace Reception Supervisor, was demoted to vice prefect of Fuzhou; Guo Jun, Six Armies investigating officer, to registrar of Fangzhou—both supernumerary posts—and they were sent off by urgent relay. The Grand Counsellors and Military Affairs Commissioners then debated the guilt of Ren Zan and the others. Feng Dao said, "Ren Zan had long served at court and had no prior tie to Congrong; he had held office less than a month when this calamity struck him. Wang Jumin and Situ Xu had been on sick leave for nearly half a year; they can hardly have plotted in recent events. Congrong's intimates were Gao Nian, Liu Sheng, and Wang Yue. When he marched on the palace he rode whispering only with Liu Sheng and Gao Nian; south of the Tianjin Bridge he pointed at the sun and told his adjutants, 'By this hour tomorrow Wang Jumin will be dead.' This shows that the rest were mere hangers-on and should not all be punished alike. Zhu Hongzhao had wanted to execute Ren Zan and all the rest; only Feng Yun's forceful protest stopped him. On wuxu the Emperor died in the Hall of Harmonious Peace within the inner palace, aged sixty-seven.
13
十二月癸卯朔，遷梓宮於二儀殿，宋王從厚自鄴都至。 是日發哀，百僚縞素於位，中書侍郎、平章事劉煦宣遺製，宋王從厚於柩前即皇帝位，服紀以日易月，一如舊制雲。 明年四月，太常卿盧文紀上諡議曰聖智仁德欽孝皇帝，廟號明宗，宰臣馮道議請改「聖智仁德」四字，為聖德和武欽孝皇帝。 宰臣劉煦撰諡冊文，宰臣李愚撰哀冊文，是月二十七日葬於徽陵。 〈（《五代史補》：明宗之在位也，一日幸倉場觀納，時主者以車駕親臨，懼得罪，其較量甚輕。 明宗因謂之曰：「且朕自省事以來，倉場給散，動經一二十年未畢，今輕量如此，其後銷折將何以償之？」 對曰：「竭盡家產，不足則繼之以身命。」 明宗愴然曰：「隻聞百姓養一家，未聞一家養百姓。 今後每石加二斗耗，以備鼠雀侵蠹，謂之鼠雀耗。」 倉糧加耗，自此始也。 《五代史闕文》：明宗出自邊地，老於戰陳，即位之歲，年已六旬，純厚仁慈，本乎天性。 每夕宮中焚香仰天禱祝云「某蕃人也，遇世亂為眾推戴，事不獲已，願上天早生聖人，與百姓為主。」 故天成、長興間，比歲豐登，中原無事，言於五代，粗為小康。）〉
On the guimao new moon of the twelfth month the coffin was moved to the Hall of the Two Principles and Conghou, Prince of Song, arrived from Yedu. That day mourning was proclaimed; officials stood in white; Liu Xu, Vice Director and Grand Counsellor, read the testamentary edict; and Conghou took the throne before the bier, observing mourning by counting days as months according to custom. In the fourth month of the following year Lu Wenji, Grand Minister of Rites, proposed the posthumous title Sagely, Wise, Benevolent, Cultured, Reverent and Filial Emperor and the temple name Mingzong; Feng Dao proposed changing the middle four characters to Sagely, Cultured, Harmonious, Martial, Reverent and Filial. Liu Xu composed the posthumous-title text and Li Yu the lamentation text; on the twenty-seventh of that month Mingzong was buried at Huiling. (From the Supplement to the History of the Five Dynasties: Once during Mingzong's reign he visited a granary to observe the intake. The steward, fearing punishment because the Emperor came in person, measured the grain very lightly. Mingzong said to him, "Since I began to economize, granary distributions often take ten or twenty years to complete. If you measure so lightly now, how will you make good the losses when they are written off? He answered, "I would exhaust my family's property, and if that were not enough, my own life." Mingzong said sadly, "I have only ever heard of the people supporting one family—not of one family supporting the people. Henceforth two dou per shi were added as allowance against rats, sparrows, and spoilage—the "rat-and-sparrow allowance." Thus began the practice of adding surcharges to granary grain.)〉 Lost Texts of the History of the Five Dynasties: Mingzong came from the frontier and was a veteran of the battlefield; when he took the throne he was already in his sixties, and his pure, benevolent nature was inborn. Each evening in the palace he burned incense and prayed to Heaven: "I am a man of the frontier; in troubled times the multitude thrust me forward though I had no wish for it. May Heaven soon send a sage to rule the people. Hence between Tiancheng and Changxing harvests were good year after year and the central plain was at peace—a modest prosperity rare among the Five Dynasties.)〉
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史臣曰：明宗戰伐之勳，雖高佐命，潛躍之事，本不經心。 會王室之多艱，屬神器之自至，諒由天讚，匪出人謀。 及應運以君臨，能力行於王化，政皆中道，時亦小康，近代已來，亦可宗也。 倘使重誨得房、杜之術，從榮有啟、誦之賢，則宗祧未至於危亡，載祀或期於綿遠矣。 惜乎！ 君親可輔，臣子非才，遽泯烝嘗，良可深歎矣！
The historiographer writes: Though Mingzong's military achievements in founding the dynasty were great, he never set his heart on seizing the throne. When the royal house fell into hardship the regalia came to him unbidden—surely by Heaven's favor, not by human scheming. Once he ruled in accord with the times he was able to carry out humane governance; his policies were moderate and the age knew a modest peace—among rulers of recent times he may be honored as an example. Had Chonghui possessed the counsel of Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, and Congrong the virtue of Qi and Song—then the dynasty might not have fallen into peril and its line might have endured. Alas! The ruler could have been well served, but his ministers and sons lacked the talent; the ancestral rites were cut short all too soon—how deeply to be lamented!