1
閔帝，諱從厚，小字菩薩奴，明宗第三子也。 母昭懿皇后夏氏，以天祐十一年歲在甲戌，十一月二十八日庚申，生帝於晉陽舊第。 帝髫齔好讀《春秋》，略通大義，貌類明宗，尤鍾愛。
Emperor Min, whose taboo name was Conghou and childhood name Pusainu, was the third son of Mingzong. His mother was Empress Zhao-yi of the Xia clan. In the eleventh year of Tianyou, the jiaxu year, on gengshen, the twenty-eighth day of the eleventh month, the future Emperor was born at the old family residence in Jinyang. From boyhood he loved reading the Spring and Autumn Annals and had some grasp of its larger meaning. He looked like Mingzong, who cherished him above the rest.
2
四年十一月二十日，秦王誅。 翌日，明宗遣宣徽使孟漢瓊馳驛召帝，二十六日，明宗崩，二十九日，帝至自鄴。 十二月癸卯朔，發喪於西宮，帝於柩前即位。 丁未，群臣上表請聽政，表再上，詔允。 己酉，中外將士給賜有差。 庚戌，帝縗服見群臣於廣壽門之東廡下，宰臣馮道進曰：「陛下久居哀毀，臣等鹹願一睹聖顏。」 朱宏昭前舉帽，群臣再拜而退。 禦光政樓存問軍民。 辛亥，賜司衣王氏死，坐秦王事也。 癸丑，以前鎮州節度使、涇王從敏權知河南府事，尋以盧質代之。 乙卯，賜司儀康氏死，事連王氏也。 丙辰，以天雄軍節度判官唐汭為諫議大夫，掌書記趙彖為起居郎，元從都押衙宋令詢為磁州刺史。 丁巳，以左僕射、平章事馮道為山陵使，戶部尚書韓彥惲為副，中書舍人王延為判官，禮部尚書王權為禮儀使，兵部尚書李鈴為鹵簿使，御史中丞龍敏為儀仗使，右僕射、權知河南府盧質為橋道頓遞使。 庚申，以前相州刺史郝瓊為右驍衛大將軍，充宣徽北院使； 以光祿卿、充三司副使王玫為三司使。 癸亥，故檢校太尉、右衛上將軍、充三司使孫嶽贈太尉、齊國公。 丁卯，帝釋縗服，群臣三上表，請復常膳，禦正殿，從之。 辛未，帝御中興殿，群臣列位，馮道升階進酒。 帝曰：「比於此物無愛，除賓友之會，不近樽斝。 況在沉痛之中，安事飲啖！」 命徹之。
On the twentieth day of the eleventh month of the fourth year, the Prince of Qin was put to death. The next day Mingzong sent Meng Hanqiong, Palace Attendant envoy, by express relay to summon him. On the twenty-sixth Mingzong died; on the twenty-ninth the Emperor arrived from Ye. On the guimao new moon of the twelfth month mourning was proclaimed at the Western Palace, and the Emperor took the throne before the coffin. On dingwei the ministers memorialized asking him to take up governance. When the memorial was submitted a second time, an edict granted the request. On jiyou soldiers and officers inside and outside the capital received stipends and gifts according to rank. On gengxu the Emperor, still in hemp mourning, met the ministers under the eastern portico of the Gate of Broad Longevity. Chief minister Feng Dao stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty has long kept to grief and fasting; we all long to see your face again. Zhu Hongzhao stepped forward and lifted his cap; the ministers bowed twice and withdrew. He went to the Hall of Radiant Governance to inquire after soldiers and civilians. On xinhai Lady Wang of the Wardrobe Service was sentenced to death for her part in the Prince of Qin affair. On guichou Congmin, Prince of Jing and former commissioner of Zhenzhou, was made acting mayor of Henan; Lu Zhi soon replaced him. On yimao Lady Kang of the Ceremonial Service was sentenced to death in connection with Lady Wang's case. On bingchen Tang Rui, adjutant of the Tianxiong Army, was made Remonstrance Counsellor; Zhao Tong, chief secretary, became Remending Officer; and Song Lingxun, chief military aide from the Emperor's original entourage, was made prefect of Cizhou. On dingsi Feng Dao, Left Vice Director and Grand Counsellor, was made imperial tomb commissioner, with Han Yanyun, Minister of Revenue, as deputy. Wang Yan, Secretariat drafter, was made administrative officer; Wang Quan, Minister of Rites, rites commissioner; Li Ling, Minister of War, guard-of-honor commissioner; Long Min, Vice Censor-in-Chief, ceremony commissioner; and Lu Zhi, Right Vice Director and acting mayor of Henan, bridge-route relay commissioner. On gengshen Hao Qiong, former prefect of Xiangzhou, was made General of the Right Martial Guard and appointed Palace Attendant of the Northern Bureau; Wang Mei, Court Provisioner and acting deputy commissioner of the Three Offices, was made commissioner of the Three Offices. On guihai Sun Yue, late honorary Grand Commandant, General of the Right Guard, and commissioner of the Three Offices, was posthumously made Grand Commandant and Duke of Qi. On dingmao the Emperor put off his mourning garb. The ministers memorialized three times asking him to resume normal meals and hold court in the main hall, and he agreed. On xinwei the Emperor held court in the Hall of Central Revival with the ministers in their places. Feng Dao mounted the steps and offered wine. The Emperor said, "I have never cared for this. Except when meeting guests and friends, I do not go near the cup. And now, in the depths of grief, what place is there for food and drink? He ordered it taken away.
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庚辰，宰臣馮道加司空，李愚加右僕射，劉煦加吏部尚書，餘並如故。 壬午，侍衛親軍馬步軍都指揮使、河陽節度使康義誠加檢校太尉、兼侍中，判六軍諸衛事。 甲申，以侍衛馬軍都指揮使、寧國軍節度使安彥威為河中節度使； 以侍衛步軍都指揮使、忠正軍節度使張從賓為涇州節度使，並加檢校太傅； 以捧聖左右廂都指揮使、欽州刺史朱洪實為寧國軍節度使，加檢校太保，充侍衛馬軍都指揮使； 以嚴衛左右廂都指揮使、岩州刺史皇甫遇為忠正軍節度使、檢校太保，充侍衛步軍都指揮使。 戊子，樞密使、檢校太尉、同平章事朱宏昭，樞密使、檢校太尉、同中書門下二品馮贇並加兼中書令。 北京留守、河東節度使兼大同彰國振武威塞等軍蕃漢馬步總管石敬瑭加兼中書令； 幽州節度使、檢校太尉、兼中書令趙德鈞加檢校太師、兼中書令。 樞密使馮贇表堅讓中書令，製改兼侍中，封邠國公。 庚寅，鳳翔節度使、潞王從珂加兼侍中； 青州節度使、檢校太尉、兼中書令房知溫加檢校太師。 辛卯，以翰林學士承旨、尚書右丞李懌為工部尚書，以秘書監盧文紀為太常卿，充山陵禮儀使。 壬辰，荊南節度使、檢校太尉、兼中書令高從誨封南平王； 湖南節度使、檢校太尉、兼中書令馬希範封楚王。 甲午，兩浙節度使、檢校太師、守中書令、吳王錢元瓘進封吳越王； 前洺州團練使皇甫立加檢校太保，充鄜州節度使； 前彰義軍節度使康福加檢校太傅，充邠州節度使； 劍南東、西兩川節度使、檢校太尉、兼中書令、蜀王孟知祥加檢校太師。 製下，知祥辭不受命。 丙申，鎮州節度使、檢校太尉、兼侍中範延光，汴州節度使、檢校太尉、兼侍中趙延壽，並加檢校太師。 戊戌，山南西道節度使、檢校太傅、同平章事張虔釗，襄州節度使趙在禮，並加檢校太尉。 辛丑，以振武軍節度使、安北都護楊檀兼大同、彰國、振武、威塞等軍都虞候，充北面馬軍都指揮使。
On gengchen chief minister Feng Dao was made Minister of Works; Li Yu became Right Vice Director; Liu Xu, Minister of Personnel; the rest kept their former posts. On renwu Kang Yicheng, commander of the imperial guard horse and foot and commissioner of Heyang, was made honorary Grand Commandant and concurrent Palace Attendant and given charge of the Six Armies and palace guards. On jiashen An Yanwei, commander of the imperial cavalry and commissioner of the Ningguo Army, was made commissioner of Hezhong; Zhang Congbin, commander of the imperial infantry and commissioner of the Zhongzheng Army, was made commissioner of Jingzhou; both were advanced honorary Grand Mentor; Zhu Hongshi, commander of the left and right wings of the Sacred Guard and prefect of Qinzhou, was made commissioner of the Ningguo Army, advanced honorary Grand Guardian, and appointed commander of the imperial cavalry; Huangfu Yu, commander of the left and right wings of the Strict Guard and prefect of Yanzhou, was made commissioner of the Zhongzheng Army and honorary Grand Guardian, and appointed commander of the imperial infantry. On wuzi Zhu Hongzhao, Military Affairs Commissioner, honorary Grand Commandant, and co-equal Grand Counsellor, and Feng Yun, Military Affairs Commissioner, honorary Grand Commandant, and Second Rank of the Secretariat and Chancellery, were both made concurrent Director of the Secretariat. Shi Jingtang, Beijing regent, Hedong commissioner, and overall commander of Han and non-Han forces of Datong, Zhangguo, Zhenwu, Weisai, and other armies, was made concurrent Director of the Secretariat; Zhao Dejun, commissioner of Youzhou, honorary Grand Commandant, and concurrent Director of the Secretariat, was advanced honorary Grand Preceptor while retaining the directorship. Feng Yun, Military Affairs Commissioner, firmly declined the directorship in a memorial. An edict changed the appointment to concurrent Palace Attendant and enfeoffed him as Duke of Bin. On gengyin Congke, Prince of Lu and commissioner of Fengxiang, was made concurrent Palace Attendant; Fang Zhiwen, commissioner of Qingzhou, honorary Grand Commandant, and concurrent Director of the Secretariat, was advanced honorary Grand Preceptor. On xinmao Li Yi, Hanlin Academician Exemplar and Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, was made Minister of Works; Lu Wenji, Director of the Palace Library, was made Grand Minister of Rites and appointed imperial tomb rites commissioner. On renchen Gao Conghui, commissioner of Jingnan, honorary Grand Commandant, and concurrent Director of the Secretariat, was enfeoffed Prince of Nanping; Ma Xifan, commissioner of Hunan, honorary Grand Commandant, and concurrent Director of the Secretariat, was enfeoffed Prince of Chu. On jiawu Qian Yuanguan, commissioner of Liang-Zhe, honorary Grand Preceptor, Acting Director of the Secretariat, and Prince of Wu, was advanced and enfeoffed King of Wuyue; Huangfu Li, former training commissioner of Mingzhou, was advanced honorary Grand Guardian and made commissioner of Yanzhou; Kang Fu, former commissioner of the Zhangyi Army, was advanced honorary Grand Mentor and made commissioner of Binzhou; Meng Zhixiang, commissioner of the Eastern and Western Circuits of Jiannan, honorary Grand Commandant, concurrent Director of the Secretariat, and Prince of Shu, was advanced honorary Grand Preceptor. When the edict was issued, Zhixiang declined the appointment. On bingshen Fan Yanguang, commissioner of Zhenzhou, honorary Grand Commandant, and concurrent Palace Attendant, and Zhao Yanshou, commissioner of Bianzhou, honorary Grand Commandant, and concurrent Palace Attendant, were both advanced honorary Grand Preceptor. On wuxu Zhang Qianzhao, commissioner of the Shannan West Circuit, honorary Grand Mentor, and co-equal Grand Counsellor, and Zhao Zaili, commissioner of Xiangzhou, were both advanced honorary Grand Commandant. On xinchou Yang Tan, commissioner of the Zhenwu Army and Protector-General of Pacifying the North, was made concurrent chief commandant of Datong, Zhangguo, Zhenwu, Weisai, and other armies and appointed commander of northern-front cavalry.
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閏月壬寅朔，群臣赴西宮臨。 癸卯，禦文明殿入閣。 以前右僕射、權知河南府事盧質為太子少傅兼河南尹。 以諫議大夫唐汭、膳部郎中知制誥陳乂並為給事中，充樞密院直學士。 〈（《通鑒》：汭以文學從帝，曆三鎮在幕府。 及即位，將佐之有才者，朱、馮皆斥逐之。 汭性迂疏，朱、馮恐帝含怒有時而發，乃引汭於密近，以其黨陳乂監之。）〉 宣徽南院使、驃騎大將軍、左衛上將軍、知內侍省孟漢瓊加開府儀同三司，賜忠貞扶運保泰功臣。 丙午，正衙命使冊皇太后曹氏。 戊申，以前雄武軍節度使劉仲殷為右衛上將軍，邢州節度使趙鳳加爵邑。 自是諸藩鎮文武臣僚皆次第加恩，帝嗣位覃恩澤也。 以翰林學士、中書舍人崔棁為工部侍郎，依前充職。 以給事中張鵬為御史中丞，以御史中丞龍敏為兵部侍郎，以太僕少卿竇維為大理卿。 甲寅，正衙命使冊皇太妃王氏。 集賢院上言：「準敕書修創淩煙閣，尋奉詔問閣高下等級。 謹按淩煙閣，都長安時在西內三清殿側，畫像皆北面，閣有中隔，隔內面北寫功高宰輔，南面寫功高諸侯王，隔外面次第圖畫功臣題讚。 自西京板蕩，四十餘年，舊日主掌官吏及畫像工人，並已淪喪，集賢院所管寫真官、畫真官人數不少，都洛後廢職。 今將起閣，望先定佐命功臣人數，請下翰林院預令寫真本，及下將作監興功，次序間架修建。」 乃詔集賢御書院復置寫真官、畫真官各一員，餘依所奏。 丁巳，安州奏，此月七日夜，節度使符彥超為部曲王希全所害，廢朝一日。 戊午，以前振武軍節度使、安北都護高行周為彰武節度使。 辛酉，以前鄆州使範政為少府監。 丙寅，幸至德宮。 車駕至興教門，有飛鳶自空而墜，僵於御前。 是日大風晦冥。
On the renyin new moon of the intercalary month the ministers went to the Western Palace to attend the coffin. On guimao he held court in the Hall of Civil Brilliance and entered the pavilion. Lu Zhi, former Right Vice Director and acting mayor of Henan, was made Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent and concurrent mayor of Henan. Tang Rui, Remonstrance Counsellor, and Chen Yi, bureau director of the Board of Rites and drafter of edicts, were both made Supervising Secretaries and appointed direct academicians of the Bureau of Military Affairs. (From the Comprehensive Mirror: Rui had followed the Emperor for his literary talent and served on the staffs of three circuits. When he took the throne, Zhu and Feng drove away every capable commander and aide. Rui was pedantic and unworldly by nature. Zhu and Feng feared the Emperor's buried anger might someday erupt, so they brought Rui close and set their ally Chen Yi to watch him.)〉 Meng Hanqiong, Palace Attendant of the Southern Bureau, General of Agile Cavalry, General of the Left Guard, and director of the Palace Domestic Service, was advanced Grand Preceptor with the Opening of a Prefecture and Three Departments of Equal Standing and granted the merit title Loyal Integrity, Upholding the Dynasty, and Preserving Tranquility. On bingwu court envoys were commissioned at formal audience to invest Empress Dowager of the Cao clan. On wushen Liu Zhongyin, former commissioner of the Xiongwu Army, was made General of the Right Guard; Zhao Feng, commissioner of Xingzhou, received additional noble rank and fief. From then on civil and military officers of the frontier commands received honors in turn, part of the broad grace granted on the Emperor's accession. Cui Wan, Hanlin Academician and Secretariat drafter, was made Vice Minister of Works while continuing his former duties. Zhang Peng, Supervising Secretary, was made Vice Censor-in-Chief; Long Min, Vice Censor-in-Chief, Vice Minister of War; and Dou Wei, Vice Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud, Director of the Court of Judicial Review. On jiayin court envoys were commissioned at formal audience to invest Imperial Consort Wang. The Academy of Scholarly Worthies reported, "By edict we are to repair and rebuild the Lingyan Pavilion, and we have now received an imperial order asking about the pavilion's height, levels, and ranks. We find that when the Lingyan Pavilion stood in Chang'an it was beside the Three Pure Hall in the inner western palace, with all portraits facing north. The pavilion had a central partition: within it, on the north side, were painted the highest-ranking chief ministers, and on the south the highest-ranking princes and kings; outside the partition meritorious ministers were painted in order with inscribed eulogies. Since the Western Capital was ravaged more than forty years ago, the former supervising officials and portrait painters have all been lost. The Academy once maintained many portrait-copying and portrait-painting officers, but those posts were abolished after the move to Luoyang. As the pavilion is now to be rebuilt, we ask first to fix the number of founding merit ministers, and request orders to the Hanlin Academy to prepare portrait models in advance and to the Directorate of Palace Buildings to begin construction in proper sequence and frame. An edict then restored one portrait-copying officer and one portrait-painting officer at the Academy of Scholarly Worthies and Imperial Calligraphy Academy; the rest followed the memorial. On dingsi Anzhou reported that on the seventh night of that month Commissioner Fu Yanchao was killed by his troops under Wang Xiquan; court was suspended for one day. On wuwu Gao Xingzhou, former commissioner of the Zhenwu Army and Protector-General of Pacifying the North, was made commissioner of Zhangwu. On xinyou Fan Zheng, former envoy of Yanzhou, was made Director of the Palace Workshops. On bingyin he visited the Palace of Utmost Virtue. When the imperial carriage reached the Gate of Promoting Instruction, a kite fell from the sky and dropped dead before the Emperor. That day fierce winds blew and the sky turned dark.
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二月乙亥，以前鎮州節度使、涇王從敏為宋州節度使。 己卯，以前徐州節度使、檢校太傅李敬周為安州節度使。 是日，宣授鳳翔節度使、潞王從珂為權北京留守； 以北京留守石敬瑭權知鎮州軍州事； 以鎮州範延光權知鄴都留守事； 以前河中節度使、洋王從璋權知鳳翔軍軍府事。 庚寅，幸山陵工作所。 是日，西京留守王思同奏，鳳翔節度使、潞王從珂拒命。 丁酉，王思同加同平章事，充西面行營都部署； 以前邠州節度使藥彥稠為副部署。 以河中節度使安彥威為西面兵馬都監，以前定州節度使李德充為權北京留守。 山陵使奏：「伏睹御劄，皇帝親奉靈駕至園陵。 伏見累朝故事，人君無親送葬之儀，請車駕不行。」 不從。 乙未，樞密使馮贇起復視事，時贇丁母憂也。 己亥，以司農卿張鎛為殿中監。 庚子，殿直楚匡祚上言，監取亳州團練使李重吉至宋州，係於軍院。 重吉，潞王之長子，及幽於宋州，帝猶以金帛賜之，及聞西師鹹叛，方遣使殺之。
On yihai of the second month Congmin, Prince of Jing and former commissioner of Zhenzhou, was made commissioner of Songzhou. On jimao Li Jingzhou, former commissioner of Xuzhou and honorary Grand Mentor, was made commissioner of Anzhou. That same day Congke, Prince of Lu and commissioner of Fengxiang, was proclaimed acting Beijing regent; Shi Jingtang, Beijing regent, was made acting administrator of Zhenzhou; Fan Yanguang of Zhenzhou was made acting regent of Yedu; Congzhang, Prince of Yang and former commissioner of Hezhong, was made acting administrator of Fengxiang headquarters. On gengyin he visited the imperial tomb construction site. That day Wang Sitong, regent of the Western Capital, reported that Congke, Prince of Lu and commissioner of Fengxiang, had refused orders. On dingyou Wang Sitong was made co-equal Grand Counsellor and appointed supreme commander of the western campaign; Yao Yanchou, former commissioner of Binzhou, was made deputy commander. An Yanwei, commissioner of Hezhong, was made inspector of armies and horses for the western campaign; Li Dechong, former commissioner of Dingzhou, was made acting Beijing regent. The imperial tomb commissioner reported, "We have seen the imperial note that Your Majesty will personally escort the spirit carriage to the imperial park tomb. By the precedents of successive dynasties, no sovereign has ever personally escorted a burial. We ask that the imperial carriage not go. The Emperor did not agree. On yiwei Feng Yun, Military Affairs Commissioner, was recalled from mourning to resume office; he was then in mourning for his mother. On jihai Zhang Bo, Director of the Court of the Imperial Granaries, was made Director of the Palace Domestic Service. On gengzi Chu Kuangzuo, Palace Guard, reported that he had escorted Li Chongji, training commissioner of Bozhou, to Songzhou and detained him in the military compound. Chongji was the Prince of Lu's eldest son. Though he was imprisoned at Songzhou, the Emperor still sent him gold and silk; only when he heard that the entire western army had rebelled did he dispatch envoys to kill him.
6
三月甲辰，以前太僕少卿魏仁鍔為太僕卿。 興元節度使張虔釗奏，會合討鳳翔。 丙午，以右領衛上將軍武延翰為郢州刺史。 丁未，洋州孫漢韶奏，至興元與張虔釗同議進軍。 己酉，以鎮州節度使範延光依前檢校太師、兼侍中，行興唐尹，充天雄軍節度使、北面水陸轉運製置使； 以北京留守、河東節度使石敬瑭依前檢校太尉、兼中書令，其真定尹、充鎮州節度使、大同彰國振武威塞等軍蕃漢馬步總管如故。 辛亥，以前定州節度使李德充為北京留守，充河東節度使。 許王從益加檢校太保，前河中節度使、洋王從璋加檢校太傅。 詔：「藩侯帶平章事以上薨，許立神道碑，差官撰文。 未帶平章事及刺史，準令式合立碑者，其文任自製撰，不在奏聞。」 乙卯，興元張虔釗奏，自鎮將兵赴鳳翔，收大散關。 宗正寺奏：「準故事，諸陵有令、丞各一員，近例更委本縣令兼之。 緣河南洛陽是京邑，兼令、丞不便。」 詔特置陵台令、丞各一員。 己未，以前金吾大將軍李肅為左衛上將軍，充山陵修奉上下宮都部署。
On jiachen of the third month Wei Rene, former Vice Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud, was made its minister. Zhang Qianzhao, commissioner of Xingyuan, reported that he would join the campaign against Fengxiang. On bingwu Wu Yanhan, General of the Right Leading Guard, was made prefect of Yingzhou. On dingwei Sun Hanshao of Yangzhou reported that he had reached Xingyuan and agreed with Zhang Qianzhao on advancing the army. On jiyou Fan Yanguang, commissioner of Zhenzhou, retained his honorary Grand Preceptor rank and concurrent Palace Attendant post, was made acting mayor of Xingtang, and appointed commissioner of the Tianxiong Army and northern-front water-and-land transport commissioner; Shi Jingtang, Beijing regent and Hedong commissioner, retained his honorary Grand Commandant rank and concurrent Directorship, and kept his posts as mayor of Zhending, commissioner of Zhenzhou, and overall commander of Han and non-Han forces of Datong, Zhangguo, Zhenwu, Weisai, and other armies. On xinhai Li Dechong, former commissioner of Dingzhou, was made Beijing regent and commissioner of Hedong. Congyi, Prince of Xu, was advanced honorary Grand Guardian; Congzhang, Prince of Yang and former commissioner of Hezhong, was advanced honorary Grand Mentor. An edict declared, "When a frontier lord of Grand Counsellor rank or above dies, he may be granted a spirit-way stele, and officials shall be dispatched to compose the inscription. For those who did not hold Grand Counsellor rank or who served as prefects, but who were eligible under regulations to erect steles, the text could be composed at their own discretion without submitting it for imperial review. On yimao Zhang Qianzhao of Xingyuan reported that he would lead troops from his commission to Fengxiang and recover Dasan Pass. The Court of the Imperial Clan reported, "By established precedent each imperial tomb had one director and one vice-director, but recent practice had the local county magistrate hold both posts concurrently. Because Luoyang in Henan was the capital, having one man serve as both director and vice-director was impracticable. An edict then specially established one director and one vice-director for the Tomb Platform. On jiwei Li Su, former Grand General of the Gold Crow Guard, was made General of the Left Guard and appointed overall director of repair and maintenance for the upper and lower palace tombs.
7
庚申，西面步軍都監王景從等自軍前至，奏：「今月十五日，大軍進攻鳳翔。 十六日，嚴衛右廂都指揮使尹暉引軍東面入城，右羽林都指揮使楊思權引軍西面入城，山南軍潰。」 帝聞之，謂康義誠等曰：「朕幼年嗣位，委政大臣，兄弟之間，必無榛梗。 諸公大計見告，朕獨難違，事至於此，何方轉禍？ 朕當與左右自往鳳翔，迎兄主社稷； 朕自歸藩，於理為便。」 朱宏昭、馮贇不對，義誠曰：「西師驚潰，蓋由主將失策。 今駕下兵甲尚多，臣請自往關西，振其兵威，扼其衝要。」 義誠又累奏請行，帝召侍衛都將以下宣曰：「先皇帝棄萬國，朕於兄弟之中，無心爭立，一旦被召主喪，便委社稷，岐陽兄長，果致猜嫌。 卿等頃從先朝千征萬戰，今日之事，寧不痛心！ 今據府庫，悉以頒賜，卿等勉之！」 乃出銀絹錢厚賜於諸軍。 是時方事山陵，復有此賜，府藏為之一空，軍士猶負賞物揚言於路曰：「到鳳翔更請一分。」 其驕誕無畏如是。 辛酉，幸左藏庫，視給將士金帛。 是日，誅馬軍都指揮使朱洪實，坐與康義誠忿爭故也。
On gengshen Wang Jingcong, overall supervisor of the western infantry, and others arrived from the front and reported, "On the fifteenth of this month the main army advanced to attack Fengxiang. On the sixteenth Yin Hui, commander of the right wing of the Honored Guard, led his troops in through the east gate, while Yang Siquan, commander of the Right Forest Guard, led his in through the west gate. The Shannan army broke and fled. When the Emperor heard this, he said to Kang Yicheng and the others, "I came to the throne young and entrusted the government to my chief ministers. Between brothers there ought to be no estrangement. If you would tell me your grand design, I alone would find it hard to refuse. Matters have come to this—what way remains to turn disaster aside? I shall take my attendants and go in person to Fengxiang to welcome my elder brother to take charge of the realm; I myself shall return to my fief. By every reasonable measure that is the fitting course. Zhu Hongzhao and Feng Yun made no reply. Kang Yicheng said, "The western army's panic and collapse were surely the fault of the commanding general's bad strategy. Your Majesty still has many troops and arms at hand. I ask leave to go in person to the western passes, restore their fighting spirit, and hold the critical positions. Kang Yicheng repeatedly memorialized asking to take the field. The Emperor summoned the Guard commanders and those below and announced, "When the late Emperor left the myriad lands, I had no heart among my brothers to contend for the throne. Once summoned to preside at the mourning, I entrusted the realm to my charge. My elder brother at Qiyang indeed came to suspicion and resentment. You have just now followed the late court through a thousand campaigns and ten thousand battles. Can today's affair fail to pierce your hearts! Now I shall draw on the treasuries and distribute everything among you. Do your utmost! Silver, silk, and cash were then brought out and lavishly distributed to all the armies. Tomb construction was then underway, and with this distribution added the treasury was emptied. Soldiers still shouldered their rewards and shouted in the roads, "When we reach Fengxiang we will demand another share. Such was their arrogance and reckless insolence. On xinyou the Emperor visited the Left Treasury to oversee the distribution of gold and silk to officers and soldiers. That day Zhu Hongshi, commander of the cavalry, was executed for quarreling with Kang Yicheng.
8
癸亥，以康義誠為鳳翔行營都招討使，餘如故。 以王思同為副招討使； 以安從進為順化軍節度使，充侍衛馬軍都指揮使。 詔左右羽林軍四十指揮改為嚴衛，左右龍武、神武軍改為捧聖。 甲子，陝州奏，潞王至潼關，害西面都部署王思同。 乙亥，宣諭西面行營將士，俟平鳳翔日，人賞二百千，府庫不足，以宮闈服玩增給。 詔侍衛馬軍都指揮使安從進京城巡檢。 是日，從進已得潞王書檄，潛布腹心矣。 丁卯，潞王至陝州。 戊辰，帝急召孟漢瓊，不至； 召朱宏昭，宏昭懼，投於井。 安從進尋殺馮贇於其第。 是夜，帝以百騎出元武門，謂控鶴指揮使慕容遷曰：「爾誠有馬，控鶴從予。」 及駕出，即闔門不行。 遷乃帝素親信者也，臨危如是，人皆惡之。
On guihai Kang Yicheng was made overall commissioner for the Fengxiang campaign headquarters; his other posts remained unchanged. Wang Sitong was made deputy commissioner; An Congjin was made military commissioner of Shunhua and appointed commander of the Guard cavalry. An edict changed the forty commands of the Left and Right Forest Guards to Honored Guard, and the Left and Right Dragon Martial and Divine Martial armies to Sacred Escort. On jiazi Shaanzhou reported that the Prince of Lu had reached Tong Pass and killed Wang Sitong, overall deployer of the western front. On yihai the western campaign armies were publicly notified that when Fengxiang was pacified each man would receive two hundred strings in reward; if the treasuries proved insufficient, palace garments and curios would be added to make up the grants. An edict ordered An Congjin, commander of the Guard cavalry, to patrol the capital. That same day Congjin had already received the Prince of Lu's letters and proclamations and secretly planted his own confidants throughout the city. On dingmao the Prince of Lu reached Shaanzhou. On wuchen the Emperor urgently summoned Meng Hanqiong, but he did not come; Zhu Hongzhao was summoned; in fear he threw himself into a well. An Congjin soon killed Feng Yun at his residence. That night the Emperor rode out through Xuanyuan Gate with a hundred horsemen and said to Murong Qian, commander of the Crane-Control Guard, "If you truly have horses, let the Crane-Control follow me. When the imperial carriage had gone out, Qian shut the gate at once and refused to follow. Qian had long been one of the Emperor's trusted intimates; that he acted thus at the hour of crisis earned the hatred of all.
9
是月二十九日夜，帝至衛州東七八里，遇騎從自東來不避，左右叱之，乃曰：「鎮州節度使石敬瑭也。」 帝喜，敬瑭拜舞於路，帝下馬慟哭，諭以「潞王危社稷，康義誠以下叛我，無以自庇，長公主見教，逆爾於路，謀社稷大計。」 敬瑭曰：「衛州王宏贄宿舊諳事，且就宏贄圖之。」 敬瑭即馳騎而前，見宏贄曰：「主上播遷，至此危迫，吾戚屬也，何以圖全？」 宏贄曰：「天子避狄，古亦有之，然於奔迫之中，亦有將相、國寶、法物，所以軍長瞻奉，不覺其亡也。 今宰職近臣從乎？ 寶玉、法物從乎？」 詢之無有。 宏贄曰：「大樹將顛，非一繩所維。 今以五十騎奔竄，無將相一人擁從，安能興復大計！ 所謂蛟龍失雲雨者也。 今六軍將士總在潞邸矣，公縱以戚藩念舊，無奈之何！」 遂與宏贄同謁於驛亭，宣坐謀之。 敬瑭以宏贄所陳以聞，弓箭庫使沙守榮、奔洪進前謂敬瑭曰：「主上即明宗愛子，公即明宗愛婿，富貴既同受，休戚合共之。 今謀於戚藩，欲期安復，翻索從臣、國寶，欲以此為辭，為賊算天子耶！」 乃抽佩刀刺敬瑭，敬瑭親將陳暉捍之，守榮與暉單戰而死，洪進亦自刎。 是日，敬瑭盡誅帝之從騎五十餘輩，獨留帝於驛，乃馳騎趨洛。
On the night of the twenty-ninth of that month the Emperor reached a point seven or eight li east of Weizhou and met horsemen riding from the east who did not give way. When attendants shouted at them, they answered, "It is Shi Jingtang, military commissioner of Zhenzhou. The Emperor rejoiced. Jingtang bowed and danced in the road. The Emperor dismounted and wept bitterly, telling him, "The Prince of Lu endangers the realm. Kang Yicheng and those below have betrayed me, and I have no means to protect myself. The Grand Princess gave me counsel and sent me to meet you on the road to plan the great design for the realm. Jingtang said, "Wang Hongzan of Weizhou is an old acquaintance who knows how affairs are managed. Let us first go to Hongzan and devise a plan. Jingtang immediately galloped ahead, saw Hongzan, and said, "The sovereign is in flight and has come to this desperate pass. We are kinsmen—how can we find a way to preserve him? Hongzan said, "That an emperor flees barbarian invasion has happened before in antiquity, yet even in flight there are usually generals and ministers, national treasures, and ritual regalia, so that military commanders may look up in reverence and not realize that the dynasty is lost. Are chief ministers and close attendants following now? Are jade treasures and ritual regalia following? Upon inquiry there were none. Hongzan said, "When a great tree is about to topple, one rope cannot hold it up. Now with fifty horsemen fleeing in disorder and not a single general or minister in attendance, how can anyone undertake a plan to restore the dynasty! This is what people mean when they speak of a dragon deprived of clouds and rain. Now the officers and soldiers of the Six Armies are all at the Prince of Lu's residence. Though you may, by reason of kinship and old frontier ties, wish otherwise, nothing can be done! Thereupon he and Hongzan together waited upon the Emperor at the post station and invited him to sit and deliberate. Jingtang reported what Hongzan had said. Sha Shourong and Ben Hongjin, commissioners of the Bow-and-Arrow Store, stepped forward and said to Jingtang, "The sovereign is Mingzong's beloved son, and you are Mingzong's beloved son-in-law. You have shared fortune alike—glory and peril ought to be borne together. Now you plot with a frontier kinsman, hoping for safe restoration, yet turn about to demand attending ministers and national treasures, intending to use this as a pretext—are you scheming against the sovereign on the traitor's behalf! They then drew their girdle daggers to stab Jingtang. Chen Hui, Jingtang's personal guard, parried them. Shourong and Hui fought one-on-one and died, and Hongjin cut his own throat. That day Jingtang had all fifty-odd of the Emperor's attending horsemen executed, left the Emperor alone at the post station, and galloped toward Luoyang.
10
史臣曰：閔帝爰自衝年，素有令問，及征從代邸，入踐堯階，屬軒皇之弓劍初遺，吳王之几杖未賜，遽生猜間，遂至奔亡。 蓋輔臣無安國之謀，非少主有不君之咎。 以至越在草莽，失守宗祧，斯蓋天命之難忱，土德之將謝故也。
The historiographer writes: Emperor Min from infancy had enjoyed a fine reputation. When summoned from the fief at Dai he ascended the throne, yet while the Yellow Emperor's bow and sword had only just been bequeathed and the King of Wu's armrest and staff had not yet been granted, suspicion suddenly arose and flight and ruin followed. This was because the chief ministers lacked any plan to secure the realm; it was not that the young sovereign bore guilt for unkingly conduct. Thus he wandered in the wilds and lost hold of the ancestral temple—perhaps because Heaven's mandate was hard to rely upon and the dynasty of Earth Virtue was about to fade.