1
清泰三年春正月辛卯朔，帝御文明殿受朝賀，仗衛如式。 乙未，百濟遣使獻方物。 戊戌，幸龍門佛寺祈雪。 癸卯，以給事中、充樞密院直學士呂琦為端明殿學士； 以六軍諸衛判官、尚書工部郎中薛文遇為樞密院直學士。 乙巳，以上元夜京城張燈，帝微行，置酒於趙延壽之第。 丁未，皇子河南尹、判六軍諸衛事重美封雍王。 己未，以前司農卿王彥鎔為太僕卿。
On the New Year's day of the first month of the third year of Qingtai, the Emperor went to the Hall of Civilization to receive court congratulations, with guards and ceremonial escort according to custom. On yiwei Baekje sent envoys with tributary goods. On wuxu the Emperor visited Longmen Buddhist Temple to pray for snow. On guimao Lü Qi, Supervising Secretary and acting direct academician of the Bureau of Military Affairs, was appointed academician of the Hall of Illustrious Brightness; and Xue Wenyü, judge of the Six Armies and Palace Guards and Bureau Director in the Ministry of Works, was made direct academician of the Bureau of Military Affairs. On yisi, when the capital was hung with lanterns for the Lantern Festival, the Emperor went out incognito and held a banquet at Zhao Yanshou's mansion. On dingwei the imperial prince Chongmei, who was Henan Intendant and overseer of the Six Armies and Palace Guards, was enfeoffed as Prince of Yong. On jiwei former Director of the Directorate of Foodstuffs Wang Yanrong was appointed Director of the Imperial Stud.
2
二月戊辰，吐渾寧朔兩府留後李可久加檢校司徒。 可久本姓白氏，前朝賜姓。 庚午，監修國史姚顗，史官張昭遠、李祥、吳承範等修撰《明宗實錄》三十卷上之。 〈（《五代會要》：同修撰官中書舍人張昭遠、李祥，直館左拾遺吳承範，右拾遺楊昭儉等各頒賚有差。）〉 以大理卿竇維為光祿卿，以前許州節度判官張登為大理卿。 丁丑，以太常卿李鈴為兵部尚書，以兵部尚書梁文矩為太常卿。 庚辰，以前鄜州節度使皇甫立為潞州節度使。 辛巳，以前均州刺史仇暉為左威衛上將軍，保順軍節度使鮑君福加檢校太尉、同平章事。 丁亥，以昭義節度使安元信卒廢朝。
In the second month, on wuchen, Li Kejiu, acting commissioner of the Tuyuhun Ningshuo two prefectures, was given the additional title of Honorary Grand Mentor. Kejiu had originally borne the surname Bai; the previous dynasty had granted him a new surname. On gengwu Yao Yan, overseer of the national history, together with historiographers Zhang Zhaoyuan, Li Xiang, Wu Chengfan, and others, presented thirty juan of the 《Veritable Records of Emperor Mingzong》. (The 《Institutional Essentials of the Five Dynasties》 records that the co-compilers, Secretariat Drafters Zhang Zhaoyuan and Li Xiang, Left Reminder Wu Chengfan of the Historiography Office, Right Reminder Yang Zhaojian, and others each received graded rewards.)〉 Dou Wei, Director of the Court of Judicial Review, was appointed Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, and Zhang Deng, former military administrator of Xuzhou circuit, was made Director of the Court of Judicial Review. On dingchou Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Li Ling was appointed Minister of War, and Minister of War Liang Wenju was made Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. On gengchen former military governor of Binzhou circuit Huangfu Li was appointed military governor of Luzhou circuit. On xinsi former prefect of Junzhou Qiu Hui was made General-in-chief of the Left Majestic Guard, and Bao Junfu, military governor of the Baoshun army, was given the additional titles of Honorary Grand General and Grand Councilor. On dinghai court was suspended upon the death of Zhaoyi circuit military governor An Yuanxin.
3
三月庚子，中書門下奏：「準閣門分析內外官辭見謝規例：諸州判官、軍將進奉到闕，舊例門見門辭； 今後隻令朝見，依舊門辭。 新除諸道判官、書記以下無例中謝，並放謝放辭，得替到京無例見； 今後兩使判官許中謝，赴任即門辭，其書記以下並依舊例。 朝臣文五品、武四品以上舊例中謝，其以下無例對謝； 今請依天成四年正月敕，凡升朝官並許中謝。 諸道都押衙、馬步都指揮、虞候、鎮將、諸色場院，無例謝辭，並進榜子放謝放辭，得替到闕，無例入見。 在京鹽曲稅官、兩官巡即許中謝，新除令、錄並中謝，次日門辭，兼有口敕誡勵。 文武兩班所差吊祭使及告廟祠祭，隻正衙辭，不赴內殿。 諸道進奏官到闕，見，得假，進榜子門辭。」 從之。 辛丑，權知福建節度使王昶奏，節度使王延鈞以去年十月十四日卒。 是時延鈞父子雖僭竊於閩嶺，猶稱藩於朝廷，故有是奏。 甲辰，以右神武統軍楊漢章為彰武軍節度使。 丙午，以翰林學士、禮部侍郎馬裔孫為中書侍郎、同平章事。 丁巳，以端明殿學士呂琦為御史中丞。 〈（案《通鑒》：呂琦與李崧建和親契丹之策，為薛文遇所沮，改為御史中丞，蓋疏之也。）〉 戊午，御史中丞盧損責授右讚善大夫，知雜侍御史韋稅責授太僕寺丞，侍御史魏遜責授太府寺主簿，侍御史王嶽責授司農寺主簿。 初，延州保安鎮將白文審聞兵興岐下，專殺郡人趙思謙等十餘人，已伏其罪，復下台追係推鞫，未竟。 會去年五月十二日德音，除十惡五逆、放火殺人外並放。 盧損輕易即破械釋文審，帝大怒，收文審誅之。 台司稱奉德音釋放，不得追領祗證。 中書詰雲，德音言「不在追窮枝蔓」，無「不得追領祗證」六字，擅改敕語。 大理斷以失出罪人論，故有是命。 是月，有蛇鼠鬥於師子門外，鼠生而蛇死。
On gengzi in the third month the Secretariat and Chancellery reported: "Following the Gate Office's analysis of rules for farewells, audiences, and expressions of thanks by inner and outer officials: when circuit judges and military commissioners arrived at court with tribute, the old practice required an audience at the gate and a farewell at the gate; henceforth they are only to have a court audience, with farewell at the gate as before. Newly appointed circuit judges, secretaries, and those below them had no precedent for mid-court thanks; all were excused from thanks and farewells, and when replaced and arriving at the capital had no precedent for an audience; henceforth military administrators of the two commissioners are permitted mid-court thanks; upon taking office they take leave at the gate; secretaries and below follow the old rule. Court officials of civil rank 5 and above and military rank 4 and above had the old rule of mid-court thanks; those below had no precedent for facing thanks; we now ask that, pursuant to the first-month edict of the fourth year of Tiancheng, all court-attending officials be permitted mid-court thanks. Circuit chief military adjutants, cavalry and infantry commanders, military inspectors, garrison commanders, and various field offices had no precedent for thanks and farewells; all submitted memorials and were excused from thanks and farewells; when replaced and arriving at court, there was no precedent for an audience. Salt and liquor tax officials in the capital and inspectors of the two offices are permitted mid-court thanks; newly appointed magistrates and recorders all receive mid-court thanks, take leave at the gate the next day, and also receive oral edicts of admonition and encouragement. Mourning and sacrificial envoys dispatched from the civil and military cohorts take leave only at the main court and do not go to the inner palace. Circuit memorial presenters arriving at court have an audience, receive leave, submit a memorial, and take leave at the gate." The request was granted. On xinchou Wang Chang, acting military governor of Fujian circuit, reported that military governor Wang Yanjun had died on the fourteenth day of the tenth month of the previous year. At that time, although Yanjun and his son had seized power in the Min ranges, they still styled themselves vassals of the court; hence this report. On jiachen Yang Hanzhang, commander of the Right Divine Martial Army, was appointed military governor of the Zhangwu army. On bingwu Hanlin Academician and Vice Minister of Rites Ma Yisun was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat and Grand Councilor. On dingsi Lü Qi, academician of the Hall of Illustrious Brightness, was appointed Censor-in-chief. (Per the 《Comprehensive Mirror》, Lü Qi and Li Song had proposed an alliance with the Khitan through marriage; thwarted by Xue Wenyu, Lü was reassigned as Censor-in-chief, likely to push him aside.)〉 On wuwu Censor-in-chief Lu Sun was demoted to Right Mentor; supervising censor Wei Shui to Vice Director of the Imperial Stud; attendant censor Wei Xun to Registrar of the Imperial Treasury; and attendant censor Wang Yue to Registrar of the Directorate of Foodstuffs. Earlier, Bai Wenshen, garrison commander of Bao'an in Yanzhou, hearing that war had broken out in the Qi region, had on his own authority killed more than ten local men including Zhao Siqian. He had confessed, but was sent back to the censorate for detention and interrogation before the case was finished. It happened that an amnesty edict of the twelfth day of the fifth month of the previous year had released all prisoners except those guilty of the ten abominations, the five rebellions, arson, or murder. Lu Sun rashly had his shackles removed and released Wenshen. The Emperor was furious, had Wenshen seized, and executed him. The censorate argued that under the amnesty edict he had been released and could not be pursued to produce witnesses. The Secretariat challenged them: the amnesty edict read "without pursuing extended branches," and contained no phrase "may not pursue to produce witnesses"—they had altered the edict on their own authority. The Court of Judicial Review judged the matter under the statute on wrongly releasing convicted persons; hence these demotions. That month a snake and a rat fought outside the Lion Gate; the rat survived and the snake died.
4
夏四月己未朔，以左衛上將軍王景戡為左神武統軍，以右領軍上將軍李頃為華清宮使。 戊辰，以太子詹事盧演為工部尚書致仕。 辛未，以中書舍人、史館修撰張昭遠為禮部侍郎； 以前滄州節度使李金全為右領軍上將軍。 是月，有熊入京城捕人。
On the first day of the fourth month of summer, General-in-chief of the Left Guard Wang Jingzhan was appointed commander of the Left Divine Martial Army, and General-in-chief of the Right Metropolitan Guard Li Qing was made commissioner of Huaqing Palace. On wuchen Lu Yan, Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent, was appointed Minister of Works and retired from office. On xinwei Zhang Zhaoyuan, Secretariat Drafter and compiler of the Historiography Office, was appointed Vice Minister of Rites; and former military governor of Cangzhou circuit Li Jinquan was made General-in-chief of the Right Metropolitan Guard. That month a bear entered the capital and attacked people.
5
五月辛卯，以河東節度使、兼大同彰國振武威塞等軍蕃漢馬步總管、檢校太師、兼中書令、駙馬都尉石敬瑭為鄆州節度使，進封趙國公。 以河陽節度使、充侍衛馬步軍都指揮使宋審虔為河東節度使。 甲午，以前晉州節度使、大同彰國振武威塞等軍蕃漢副總管張敬達充西北面蕃漢馬步都部署，落副總管。 乙未，詔：「諸州兩使判官、畿赤令有闕，取省郎、遺補、丞博、少列宮僚，選擇擢任。」 以忠正軍節度使、侍衛步軍都指揮使張彥琪為河陽節度使，充侍衛馬軍都指揮使； 以彰聖都指揮使、饒州刺史符彥饒為忠正軍節度使，充侍衛步軍都指揮使。 丙申，以雍王重美與汴州節度使範延光結婚，詔兗王從溫主之。 丁酉，以國子祭酒馬縞卒廢朝。
On xinmao in the fifth month Shi Jingtang, military governor of Hedong circuit and overall commander of the Tangut and Han forces of the northern border armies, Honorary Grand Preceptor, concurrent Grand Secretary, and Commandant of the Imperial Son-in-law, was appointed military governor of Yanzhou circuit and advanced in rank to Duke of Zhao. Song Shenqian, military governor of Heyang circuit and commander of the Palace Guard cavalry and infantry, was appointed military governor of Hedong circuit. On jiawu Zhang Jingda, former military governor of Jinzhou circuit and deputy overall commander of the northern border armies, was appointed overall deployer of Tangut and Han cavalry and infantry on the northwest frontier and relieved of his deputy command. On yiwei an edict declared: "When vacancies arise for military administrators of the two commissioners in the circuits or for magistrates of the capital districts, select and promote from among provincial gentlemen, remonstrance and supplement officials, assistant directors and academicians, and junior palace officials. Zhang Yanqi, military governor of the Zhongzheng army and commander of the Palace Guard infantry, was appointed military governor of Heyang circuit and commander of the Palace Guard cavalry; and Fu Yanrao, commander of the Zhangsheng army and prefect of Raozhou, was made military governor of the Zhongzheng army and commander of the Palace Guard infantry. On bingshen, when Prince of Yong Chongmei was to marry into the family of Bianzhou military governor Fan Yanguang, an edict ordered Prince of Yan Congwen to preside over the ceremony. On dingyou court was suspended upon the death of Director of the Imperial University Ma Gao.
6
戊戌，昭義奏，河東節度使石敬瑭叛。 以鴻臚卿兼通事舍人、判四方館王景崇為衛尉卿，充引進使。 壬寅，削奪石敬瑭官爵，便令張敬達進軍攻討。 乙卯。 以晉州節度使張敬達為太原四面兵馬都部署，尋改為招討使； 以河陽節度使、侍衛馬軍都指揮使張彥琪為太原四面馬步軍都指揮使； 以邢州節度使安審琦為太原四面馬軍都指揮使； 以陝州節度使相裏金為太原四面步軍都指揮使； 以右監門上將軍武廷翰為壕寨使。 丙辰，以定州節度使楊光遠為太原四面兵馬副部署、兼馬步都虞候，尋改為太原四面副招討使，都虞候如故。 以前彰武軍節度使高行周為太原四面招撫兼排陣使。 初，帝疑河東有異志，與近臣語及其事，帝曰：「石郎與朕近親，在不疑之地，流言毀譽，朕心自明，萬一失歡，如何和解？」 左右皆不對。 翌日，欲移石敬瑭於鄆州，房暠等堅言不可，司天監趙延乂亦言星辰失度，尤宜安靜，由是稍緩其事。 會薛文遇獨宿於禁中，帝召之，諭以太原之事。 文遇奏曰：「臣聞作舍於道，三年不成，國家利害，斷自宸旨以臣料之，石敬瑭除亦叛，不除亦叛，不如先事圖之。」 帝喜曰：「聞卿此言，豁吾憤氣。」 先是，有人言國家明年合得一賢佐主謀，平定天下，帝意亦疑賢佐者屬在文遇，即令手書除目，子夜下學士院草制。 翌日，宣製之際，兩班失色。 居六七日，敬瑭上章云：「明宗社稷，陛下纂承，未契輿情，宜推令辟。 許王先朝血緒，養德皇闈，儻循當璧之言，免負鬩牆之議。」 帝覽奏不悅，手攘抵地，召馬裔孫草詔報曰：「父有社稷，傳之於子； 君有禍難，倚之於親。 卿於鄂王，故非疏遠。 往歲衛州之事，天下皆知； 今朝許王之言，人誰肯信！ 英賢立事，安肯如斯」云。
On wuxu Zhaoyi circuit reported that Hedong military governor Shi Jingtang had rebelled. Wang Jingchong, Director of the Court for Dependencies and concurrent Master of Ceremonies overseeing the Four Offices, was appointed Director of the Court of Imperial Regalia and commissioner of introductions. On renyin Shi Jingtang's titles and offices were stripped, and Zhang Jingda was immediately ordered to march his army against him. On yimao. Zhang Jingda, military governor of Jinzhou circuit, was appointed overall deployer of the armies surrounding Taiyuan, soon retitled pacification commissioner; Zhang Yanqi, military governor of Heyang circuit and commander of the Palace Guard cavalry, was made overall commander of cavalry and infantry surrounding Taiyuan; An Shenqi, military governor of Xingzhou circuit, was made commander of cavalry surrounding Taiyuan; Xiangli Jin, military governor of Shanzhou circuit, was made commander of infantry surrounding Taiyuan; and Wu Tinghan, General-in-chief of the Right Gate Guards, was made commissioner of trenches and camps. On bingchen Yang Guangyuan, military governor of Dingzhou circuit, was appointed deputy overall deployer surrounding Taiyuan and chief military inspector of cavalry and infantry; he was soon retitled deputy pacification commissioner, retaining his post as chief military inspector. Former military governor of the Zhangwu army Gao Xingzhou was appointed pacification commissioner surrounding Taiyuan and commissioner of battle arrays. Earlier the Emperor had suspected that Hedong harbored disloyal intent. Speaking with close ministers about the matter, he said: "Shi Lang is my close kinsman, one in whom I ought to place unquestioning trust. Rumor may slander or praise him, but my own mind is clear. If by chance we should fall out, how could we ever be reconciled?" Those around him made no reply. The next day he wished to transfer Shi Jingtang to Yanzhou. Fang Hao and others firmly objected, and Director of the Astronomy Bureau Zhao Yanyi also said the stars were out of their proper courses and that quiet was especially advisable; thereby the matter was put off for a time. It happened that Xue Wenyü was lodging alone within the palace precincts. The Emperor summoned him and spoke to him about the Taiyuan affair. Wenyü replied: "I have heard that building a house in the middle of the road takes three years and still is not finished. The welfare of the state rests on Your Majesty's decision. In my judgment, whether Shi Jingtang is removed or left in place, he will rebel either way. It would be better to strike first." The Emperor was pleased and said: "Hearing you say this clears the anger pent up in my breast." Earlier someone had said that the next year the state would gain a worthy counselor to direct strategy and pacify the realm. The Emperor also suspected that this worthy counselor was meant to be Wenyü. He immediately wrote out the appointment list himself and at midnight sent it to the Hanlin Academy to draft the edict. The next day, when the edict was proclaimed, both civil and military cohorts turned pale. Six or seven days later Jingtang submitted a memorial saying: "The realm of Emperor Mingzong—Your Majesty has succeeded to it, yet it does not accord with public sentiment. You ought to yield the throne to a worthy successor. Prince of Xu is of the former dynasty's bloodline and was reared in virtue within the imperial household. If you heed the claim of one fit to hold the jade disk, you may avoid the reproach of fraternal strife." The Emperor, reading the memorial, was displeased. He struck the ground with his hand and summoned Ma Yisun to draft a reply edict: "A father holds the realm and passes it to his son; a lord in calamity relies on his kin. As for you and Prince of E, you are hardly strangers. Last year's affair at Weizhou is known to all under Heaven; who today would believe the words of Prince of Xu! Would a worthy hero undertaking great affairs ever stoop to such conduct?" and so forth.
7
戊申，張敬達奏，西北面先鋒都指揮使安審信率雄義左第二指揮二百二十七騎，並部下共五百騎，剽劫百井，叛入太原。 又奏，大軍已至太原城下。 詔安審信及雄義兵士妻男並處斬，家產沒官。 先是，雄義都在伏州屯戍，其指揮使安元信謀殺伏州刺史張朗，事泄，戍兵自潰，奔安審信軍，審信與之入太原。 太常奏，於河南府東權立宣憲太后寢宮，從之。 己酉，振武節度使安叔千奏，西北界巡檢使安重榮驅掠戍兵五百騎叛入太原。 以新授河東節度使宋審虔為宣州節度使，充侍衛馬軍都指揮使。 壬子，鄴都屯駐捧聖都虞候張令昭逐節度使劉延皓，據城叛。 翌日，令昭召副使邊仁嗣已下逼令奏請節旄。
On wushen Zhang Jingda reported that An Shenxin, commander of the northwest frontier vanguard, had led two hundred twenty-seven horsemen of the Left Second Command of the Xiongyi army, together with five hundred horsemen counting his subordinates, raided Baijing, and defected to Taiyuan. He also reported that the main army had already reached the walls of Taiyuan. An edict ordered that the wives and children of An Shenxin and the Xiongyi soldiers all be executed and their household property confiscated. Earlier the Xiongyi army had been garrisoned at Fuzhou. Its commander An Yuanxin had plotted to kill Fuzhou prefect Zhang Lang; when the plot was exposed the garrison troops broke ranks on their own, fled to An Shenxin's army, and Shenxin entered Taiyuan with them. The Court of Imperial Sacrifices proposed establishing a provisional sleeping palace for Empress Dowager Xuanxian east of Henan prefecture; the request was granted. On jiyou An Shuqian, military governor of the Zhenwu army, reported that An Chongrong, frontier inspector of the northwest border, had driven off five hundred garrison horsemen and defected to Taiyuan. Song Shenqian, newly appointed military governor of Hedong circuit, was made military governor of Xuanzhou circuit and commander of the Palace Guard cavalry. On renzi Zhang Lingzhao, chief military inspector of the Pingsheng army garrisoned at Yedu, expelled military governor Liu Yanhao and seized the city in rebellion. The next day Lingzhao summoned deputy commissioner Bian Rensi and the others and compelled them to memorialize requesting the command baton for him.
8
六月辛酉，天雄軍節度使劉延皓削奪官爵，勒歸私第。 癸亥，以天雄軍守禦、右捧聖第二軍都虞候張令昭為檢校司空，行右千牛將軍，權知天雄軍府事。 丙寅，禦敷政殿，遣工部尚書崔居儉奉宣憲皇太后寶冊於寢宮。 時陵園在河東，適會兵興，故權於京城修奉寢宮上諡焉。 己巳，以西上閣門副使、少府監兼通事舍人劉頎為鴻臚卿，職如故。 庚午，詔曰：「時雨稍愆，頗傷農稼，分命朝臣祈禱。」 辛未，工部尚書致仕許寂卒。 以權知魏府事、右千牛將軍張令昭為齊州防禦使，以捧聖右第三指揮使邢立為德州刺史，以捧聖第五指揮使康福進為鄚州刺史。 甲戌，以汴州節度使範延光為天雄軍四面招討使，知行府事。 丙子，以西京留守李周為天雄軍四面副招討使兼兵馬都監。 詔河東將佐節度判官趙瑩以下十四人並籍沒家產。
On xinyou in the sixth month Liu Yanhao, military governor of the Tianxiong army, had his titles and offices stripped and was compelled to return to private life. On guihai Zhang Lingzhao, defender of the Tianxiong army and chief military inspector of the Right Second Army of the Pingsheng army, was given the additional title of Honorary Minister of Works, acting General of the Right Palace Guard, and provisional administrator of the Tianxiong army headquarters. On bingyin the Emperor took the Hall of Broad Governance and dispatched Minister of Works Cui Jujian to present the precious register of Empress Dowager Xuanxian at the sleeping palace. At that time the mausoleum lay in Hedong, and war had just broken out; therefore a sleeping palace was provisionally maintained in the capital and her posthumous title was bestowed there. On jisi Liu Qi, deputy commissioner of the Western Upper Gate Office, Director of the Palace Workshops, and concurrent Master of Ceremonies, was appointed Director of the Court for Dependencies, retaining his other duties. On gengwu an edict declared: "The seasonal rains are somewhat delayed and the crops have suffered greatly. Court officials are hereby dispatched to offer prayers." On xinwei Xu Ji, retired Minister of Works, died. Zhang Lingzhao, provisional administrator of the Wei prefecture headquarters and acting General of the Right Palace Guard, was appointed Defender of Qizhou; Xing Li, commander of the Right Third Command of the Pingsheng army, was made prefect of Dezhou; and Kang Fujin, commander of the Fifth Command of the Pingsheng army, was made prefect of Mozhou. On jiaxu Fan Yanguang, military governor of Bianzhou circuit, was appointed pacification commissioner on all four sides of the Tianxiong army and personally administered the headquarters. On bingzi Li Zhou, Western Capital regent, was appointed deputy pacification commissioner on all four sides of the Tianxiong army and overall military inspector. An edict ordered that Zhao Ying, military administrator of Hedong circuit, and fourteen of his subordinates below him all have their household property registered and confiscated.
9
秋七月戊子，範延光奏，領軍至鄴都攻城。 己丑，誅右衛上將軍石重英、皇城副使石重裔，皆敬瑭之子也。 時重英等匿於民家井中，獲而誅之，並族所匿之家。 奚首領達剌幹遣通事介老奏，奚王李素姑謀叛入契丹，已處斬訖，達剌幹權知本部落事。 辛卯，沂州奏，誅都指揮使石敬德，並族其家，敬瑭之弟也。 乙未，以前彰武軍節度使高行周為潞州節度使，充太原四面招撫排陣使； 以潞州節度使皇甫立為華州節度使。 丁酉，雲州節度使沙彥珣奏，此月二日夜，步軍指揮使桑遷作亂，以兵圍子城，彥珣突圍出城，就西山據雷公口。 三日，招集兵士入城誅亂軍，軍城如故。 辛丑，以將作監丞、介國公宇文頡為汝州襄城令。 乙巳，以衛尉卿聶延祚為太子賓客。 戊申，範延光奏，此月二十一日收復鄴都，群臣稱賀。 己酉，以禮部侍郎張昭遠為御史中丞； 以御史中丞呂琦為禮部侍郎，充端明殿學士。 庚戌，中書奏：「劉延皓賓佐等，帥臣既已削奪，其行軍司馬李延筠、副使邊仁嗣以下，望命放歸田里。」 奏入，帝大怒，詔大理曰：「帥臣失守，已行削奪，其僚佐合當何罪？」 既而竟依中書所奏。 壬子，詔範延光誅張令昭部下五指揮及忠銳、忠肅兩指揮。 繼範延光奏，追兵遣襲張令昭部下敗兵至邢州沙河，斬首三百級，並獻張令昭、邢立、李貴等首級。 又奏，獲張令昭同惡捧聖指揮使米全以下諸指揮使都頭凡十三人，並磔於府門。 癸丑，左衛上將軍仇暉卒。 洺州奏擒獲魏府作亂捧聖指揮使馬彥柔以下五十八人。 邢、磁州相次擒獲亂兵，並送京師。 彰聖指揮使張萬迪以部下五百騎叛入太原，詔誅家屬於懷州本營。
On wuzi in the seventh month of autumn Fan Yanguang reported that he had led his army to Yedu and was besieging the city. On jichou Shi Chongying, General-in-chief of the Right Guard, and Shi Chongyi, deputy commissioner of the Imperial City, were executed; both were sons of Jingtang. At the time Chongying and the others were hiding in a commoner's well. They were seized and executed, and the households that had hidden them were exterminated to the clan. The Xi chieftain Dalagan sent the interpreter Jielao to report that the Xi king Li Sugu had plotted to defect to the Khitan and had already been executed; Dalagan was provisionally placed in charge of tribal affairs. On xinmao Yizhou reported that commander Shi Jingde had been executed and his household exterminated to the clan; he was Jingtang's younger brother. On yiwei former military governor of the Zhangwu army Gao Xingzhou was appointed military governor of Luzhou circuit and pacification commissioner and commissioner of battle arrays surrounding Taiyuan; and Huangfu Li, military governor of Luzhou circuit, was made military governor of Huazhou circuit. On dingyou Sha Yanxun, military governor of Yunzhou circuit, reported that on the night of the second day of that month the infantry commander Sang Qian had rebelled, surrounded the inner city with troops, and that Yanxun had broken out of the city and taken position at Leigong Pass on the western hills. On the third day he gathered troops, entered the city, executed the rebel soldiers, and the military city was restored as before. On xinchou Yuwen Qi, Assistant Director of the Directorate of Palace Buildings and Duke of Jie, was appointed magistrate of Xiangcheng in Ruzhou. On yisi Nie Yanzuo, Director of the Court of Imperial Regalia, was appointed Mentor of the Heir Apparent. On wushen Fan Yanguang reported that Yedu had been recovered on the twenty-first day of that month, and the ministers offered congratulations. On jiyou Zhang Zhaoyuan, Vice Minister of Rites, was appointed Censor-in-chief; and Lü Qi, Censor-in-chief, was made Vice Minister of Rites and academician of the Hall of Illustrious Brightness. On gengxu the Secretariat reported: "Since commander Liu Yanhao has already been stripped of office, we ask that his campaign marshal Li Yanjun, deputy commissioner Bian Rensi, and those below them be released to return to their home districts." When the memorial arrived, the Emperor was furious and ordered the Court of Judicial Review: "The commander lost his post and has already been stripped. What punishment do his assistants deserve?" In the end the court still followed the Secretariat's recommendation. On renzi an edict ordered Fan Yanguang to execute the five commands under Zhang Lingzhao and the two commands Zhongrui and Zhongsu. Fan Yanguang then reported that pursuing troops had attacked Zhang Lingzhao's defeated soldiers as far as Shahe in Xingzhou, taking three hundred heads, and that the heads of Zhang Lingzhao, Xing Li, Li Gui, and others had been presented. He also reported that Mi Quan, Pingsheng army commander, and twelve other commanders-in-chief who had shared Zhang Lingzhao's guilt were captured and dismembered at the prefectural gate. On guichou Qiu Hui, General-in-chief of the Left Guard, died. Luozhou reported that Ma Yanrou, Pingsheng army commander who had rebelled at the Wei prefecture headquarters, and fifty-eight men below him had been captured. Xingzhou and Cizhou in succession captured rebel troops and sent them all to the capital. Zhang Wandi, Zhangsheng army commander, defected to Taiyuan with five hundred horsemen of his command. An edict ordered his family executed at their home camp in Huaizhou.
10
八月戊午，契丹遣使摩哩入朝。 己未，以汴州節度使範延光為天雄軍節度使、守太傅、兼中書令； 以西京留守李周為汴州節度使、檢校太尉、同平章事。 癸亥，應州奏，契丹三千騎迫城。 詔端明殿學士呂琦往河東忻、代諸屯戍所犒軍。 以左龍武大將軍袁義為右監門上將軍，以振武軍節度使安叔千充代北兵馬都部署。 己巳，雲州沙彥珣奏，供奉官李讓勳送夏衣到州，縱酒淩轢軍都行，劫殺兵馬都監張思殷、都指揮使黨行進，其李讓勳已處斬訖。 張敬達奏，造五龍橋攻太原城次。 戊寅，以鎮州節度使董溫琪充東北面副招討使。 己卯，洺州獻野繭二十斤。 辛巳，張敬達奏，賊城內出騎軍三十隊、步卒三千人衝長連城，高行周襲殺入壕，溺死者大半，擒賊將安小喜以下百餘人，甲馬一百八十匹。
On wuwu in the eighth month the Khitan sent the envoy Moli to court. On jiwei Fan Yanguang, military governor of Bianzhou circuit, was appointed military governor of the Tianxiong army, Guardian Grand Mentor, and concurrent Grand Secretary; and Li Zhou, Western Capital regent, was made military governor of Bianzhou circuit, Honorary Grand General, and Grand Councilor. On guihai Yingzhou reported that three thousand Khitan horsemen were pressing the city. An edict ordered Lü Qi, academician of the Hall of Illustrious Brightness, to go to the garrisons at Xin, Dai, and other stations in Hedong to reward the troops. Yuan Yi, Grand General of the Left Dragon Martial Army, was made General-in-chief of the Right Gate Guards, and An Shuqian, military governor of the Zhenwu army, was appointed overall deployer of troops north of Dai. On jisi Sha Yanxun of Yunzhou reported that the palace attendant Li Rangxun, while delivering summer clothing to the prefecture, got drunk and bullied the army on the march, then robbed and killed overall military inspector Zhang Siyin and commander Dang Xingjin; Li Rangxun had already been executed. Zhang Jingda reported that he was building the Five Dragons Bridge to attack the walls of Taiyuan. On wuyin Dong Wenqi, military governor of Zhenzhou circuit, was appointed deputy pacification commissioner of the northeast. On jimao Luozhou presented twenty jin of wild cocoons. On xinsi Zhang Jingda reported that from within the rebel city thirty cavalry units and three thousand infantry had charged the long linked camps. Gao Xingzhou attacked them as they entered the moat; more than half drowned. Over a hundred rebel generals including An Xiaoxi were captured, along with one hundred eighty suits of armor and horses.
11
九月甲辰，張敬達奏，此月十五日，與契丹戰於太原城下，王師敗績。 時契丹主自率部族來援太原，高行周、符彥卿率左右廂騎軍出鬥，蕃軍引退。 巳時後，蕃軍復成列，張敬達、楊光遠、安審琦等陣於賊城西北，倚山橫陣，諸將奮擊，蕃軍屢卻。 至晡，我騎軍將移陣，蕃軍如山而進，王師大敗，投兵仗相藉而死者山積。 是夕，收合餘眾，保於晉祠南晉安寨，蕃軍塹而圍之，自是音聞阻絕。 朝廷大恐。 是日，遣侍衛步軍都指揮使符彥饒率兵屯河陽，詔範延光率兵由青山路趨榆次，詔幽州趙德鈞由飛狐路出敵軍後，輝州防禦使潘環合防戍軍出慈、隰以援張敬達。 以前絳州刺史韓彥惲為太子賓客。 契丹主移帳於柳林。 乙巳，詔取二十二日幸北面軍前。 戊申，帝發京師，路經徽陵，帝親行謁奠。 夕次河陽，召群臣議進取，盧文紀勸帝駐河橋。 庚戌，樞密使趙延壽先赴潞州。 辛亥，幸懷州。 召吏部侍郎龍敏訪以機事，敏勸帝立東丹王讚華為契丹主，以兵援送入蕃，則契丹主有後顧之患，不能久駐漢地矣。 帝深以為然，竟不行其謀。 〈（《遼史·義宗傳》云：「倍雖在異國，常思其親，問安之使不絕。 後明宗養子從珂弑其君自立，倍密報太宗曰：「從珂弑君，盍討之！」 是東丹王實啟兵端，唐君臣或知其陰謀，故龍敏之說不行。）〉 帝自是酣飲悲歌，形神慘沮。 臣下勸其親征，則曰：「卿輩勿說石郎，使我心膽墮地！」 其怯憊也如此。
On jiachen in the ninth month Zhang Jingda reported that on the fifteenth day of that month he had fought the Khitan below the walls of Taiyuan and the imperial army had been defeated. At the time the Khitan ruler personally led his tribes to relieve Taiyuan. Gao Xingzhou and Fu Yanqing led the left and right wing cavalry out to fight, and the barbarian army withdrew. After the si hour the barbarian army re-formed its ranks. Zhang Jingda, Yang Guangyuan, An Shenqi, and others arrayed northwest of the rebel city in a line along the mountains. The generals fought fiercely and the barbarian army repeatedly fell back. By late afternoon our cavalry was about to shift formation when the barbarian army advanced like a mountain. The imperial army was routed; men who cast aside their weapons lay piled upon one another in death, heaped like hills. That evening they gathered the survivors and held Jin'an camp south of Jinci. The barbarian army dug trenches and besieged them; from then on all communications were cut off. The court was seized with terror. That day Fu Yanrao, commander of the Palace Guard infantry, was dispatched to station troops at Heyang. Fan Yanguang was ordered to lead troops by the Qingshan route toward Yuci; Zhao Dejun of Youzhou was to come out behind the enemy by the Flying Fox route; and Pan Huan, Defender of Huizhou, was to combine frontier garrison troops and advance from Ci and Xi to relieve Zhang Jingda. Han Yanyun, former prefect of Jiangzhou, was appointed Mentor of the Heir Apparent. The Khitan ruler moved his camp to Willow Grove. On yisi an edict set the twenty-second day for the Emperor to visit the northern frontier army. On wushen the Emperor departed the capital. Passing Hui Mausoleum, he personally went to offer libation. That evening he halted at Heyang, summoned the ministers to discuss strategy, and Lu Wenji urged the Emperor to remain at He Bridge. On gengxu Zhao Yanshou, Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, went ahead to Luzhou. On xinhai he visited Huaizhou. He summoned Long Min, Vice Minister of Personnel, to consult on urgent affairs. Min urged the Emperor to install the Prince of Eastern Dan, Zanhua, as Khitan ruler and send troops to escort him into the barbarian lands; then the Khitan ruler would have worries behind him and could not long remain in Han territory. The Emperor deeply agreed, but in the end did not carry out the plan. (The 《History of Liao, Biography of the Righteous Ancestor》 says: "Bei, though in a foreign land, constantly thought of his kin; envoys bearing inquiries after their welfare never ceased. Later Emperor Mingzong's adopted son Congke murdered his lord and established himself. Bei secretly reported to Emperor Taizong: "Congke murdered his lord. Why not punish him!" Thus the Prince of Eastern Dan had in fact opened hostilities; the Tang ruler and ministers may have known his secret plot; hence Long Min's proposal was not carried out.)〉 From then on the Emperor drank heavily and sang mournful songs; his body and spirit were wretched and dejected. When his ministers urged him to take the field in person, he said: "Do not speak to me of Shi Lang. It makes my heart drop into my boots!" Such was his timidity and exhaustion.
12
冬十月丁巳夜，彗星出虛危，長尺餘。 壬戌，詔天下括馬，又詔民十戶出兵一人，器甲自備。 〈（《契丹國志》：唐發民為兵，每七戶出征夫一人，自備鎧仗，謂之「義軍」，凡得馬二千餘匹，征夫五千人，民間大擾。）〉 戊辰，代州刺史張朗超授檢校太保，以其屢殺敵眾，故以是命獎之。 癸酉，幽州趙德鈞以本軍三千騎與鎮州董溫琪由吳兒穀趨潞州。
On the night of dingsi in the tenth month of winter a comet appeared in Xu and Wei, more than a foot long. On renxu an edict ordered horses requisitioned throughout the realm. Another edict ordered one soldier from every ten households, with weapons and armor to be provided by themselves. (The 《Chronicle of the Khitan State》 records that Tang conscripted the people as soldiers: for every seven households one conscript was taken, providing his own armor and weapons. They were called the "Righteous Army." In all more than two thousand horses and five thousand conscripts were obtained, and the populace was greatly disturbed.)〉 On wuchen Zhang Lang of Daizhou was given the additional title of Honorary Grand Guardian because he had repeatedly killed many of the enemy; hence this order to reward him. On guiyou Zhao Dejun of Youzhou led three thousand horsemen of his own army with Dong Wenqi of Zhenzhou by the Wuer Valley route toward Luzhou.
13
十一月戊子，以趙德鈞為諸道行營都統，以趙延壽為河東道南面行營招討使，以劉延朗副之。 庚寅，以範延光為河東道東南面行營招討使，以李周副之。 帝以呂琦嘗佐幽州幕，乃命齎都統官告以賜德鈞，兼犒軍士。 琦至，從容宣帝委任之意，德鈞曰：「既以兵相委，焉敢惜死！」 德鈞志在並範延光軍，奏請與延光會合。 帝以詔諭延光，延光不從。 丁酉，延州上言，節度使楊漢章為部眾所殺，以前坊州刺史劉景嚴為延州留後。 庚子，趙德鈞奏，大軍至團柏穀，前鋒殺蕃軍五百騎。 範延光奏，軍至榆次，蕃軍退入河東川界。 潘環奏，隰州逐退蕃軍。 壬寅，趙德鈞奏，軍出穀口，蕃軍漸退，契丹主見駐柳林寨。 時德鈞累奏乞授延壽鎮州節制，帝怒曰：「德鈞父子堅要鎮州，苟能逐退蕃戎，要代予位，亦甘心矣。 若玩寇要君，但恐犬兔俱斃。」 德鈞聞之不悅。
On wuzi in the eleventh month Zhao Dejun was appointed overall commander of the expeditionary forces of all circuits; Zhao Yanshou was made pacification commissioner of the southern Hedong circuit expeditionary camp, with Liu Yanlang as deputy. On gengyin Fan Yanguang was appointed pacification commissioner of the southeastern Hedong circuit expeditionary camp, with Li Zhou as deputy. Because Lü Qi had once served on the Youzhou staff, the Emperor ordered him to carry the overall commander's commission and bestow it on Dejun, and also to reward the troops. When Qi arrived, he calmly conveyed the Emperor's intent to entrust him. Dejun said: "Since troops have been entrusted to me, how could I dare spare my life!" Dejun's aim was to absorb Fan Yanguang's army. He memorialized requesting to join forces with Yanguang. The Emperor sent an edict instructing Yanguang, but Yanguang did not comply. On dingyou Yanzhou reported that military governor Yang Hanzhang had been killed by his troops. Liu Jingyan, former prefect of Fangzhou, was made acting commissioner of Yanzhou. On gengzi Zhao Dejun reported that the main army had reached Tuanbai Valley and the vanguard had killed five hundred barbarian horsemen. Fan Yanguang reported that the army had reached Yuci and the barbarian army had withdrawn into the Hedong riverlands. Pan Huan reported that Xizhou had driven back the barbarian army. On renyin Zhao Dejun reported that the army had left the valley mouth, the barbarian army was gradually withdrawing, and the Khitan ruler was seen stationed at Willow Grove camp. At the time Dejun repeatedly memorialized requesting that Yanshou be granted control of Zhenzhou. The Emperor said angrily: "Dejun father and son insist on Zhenzhou. If they can drive back the barbarians, even if they want to take my throne, I would be content. But if they toy with the enemy and coerce their lord, I fear we shall all perish together." Dejun, hearing this, was displeased.
14
閏月丙辰，日南至，群臣稱賀於行宮，帝曰：「晉安寨內將士，應思家國矣。」 因泣下久之。 丁巳，以岢嵐軍為勝州。 辛酉，以右龍武統軍李從昶為左龍武統軍，以前邠州節度使楊思權為右龍武統軍。 壬戌，丹州刺史康承詢停任，配流鄧州。 時承詢奉詔率義軍赴延州義軍亂，承詢奔鄜州，故有是責。 甲子，太原行營副招討使楊光遠殺招討使張敬達於晉安寨，以兵降契丹。 時契丹圍寨，自十一月以後芻糧乏絕，軍士毀居屋茅、淘馬糞、削鬆甗以供秣飼，馬尾鬛相食俱盡。 楊光遠謂敬達曰：「少時人馬俱盡，不如奮命血戰，十得三四，猶勝坐受其弊。」 敬達曰：「更少待之。」 一日，光遠伺敬達無備，遂殺之，與諸將同降契丹。 時馬猶有五千匹，戎王主以漢軍與石敬瑭，其馬及甲仗即齎驅出塞。 丁卯，戎王立石敬瑭為大晉皇帝，約為父子之國，改元為天福。 戎王與晉高祖南行，趙德鈞父子與諸將自團柏穀南奔，王師為蕃騎所蹙，投戈棄甲，自相騰踐，擠於岩穀者不可勝紀。
On bingchen in the intercalary month, at the winter solstice the ministers offered congratulations at the traveling palace. The Emperor said: "The officers and soldiers within Jin'an camp must be thinking of home and state." He then wept for a long time. On dingsi the Kelan army was made Shengzhou. On xinyou Li Congchang, commander of the Right Dragon Martial Army, was made commander of the Left Dragon Martial Army, and Yang Siquan, former military governor of Binzhou circuit, was made commander of the Right Dragon Martial Army. On renxu Kang Chengxun, prefect of Danzhou, was removed from office and exiled to Dengzhou. At the time Chengxun had been ordered to lead the Righteous Army to Yanzhou when the Righteous Army rebelled. Chengxun had fled to Binzhou; hence this punishment. On jiazi Yang Guangyuan, deputy pacification commissioner of the Taiyuan expeditionary camp, killed pacification commissioner Zhang Jingda at Jin'an camp and surrendered his troops to the Khitan. At the time the Khitan had besieged the camp. From the eleventh month onward fodder and grain were exhausted. Soldiers tore thatch from houses, washed horse dung, and shaved pine vessels to supply feed. Horses ate one another's tails and manes until nothing remained. Yang Guangyuan said to Jingda: "Before long men and horses will all be gone. Better to stake our lives in bloody battle. If three or four out of ten survive, that is still better than sitting here and suffering defeat." Jingda said: "Wait a little longer." One day Guangyuan watched for a moment when Jingda was unprepared, then killed him and surrendered to the Khitan together with the other generals. At the time there were still five thousand horses. The barbarian ruler gave the Han army to Shi Jingtang and immediately drove their horses and armor out of the frontier. On dingmao the barbarian ruler installed Shi Jingtang as Emperor of Great Jin, with an agreement of father-and-son states, and changed the era name to Tianfu. The barbarian ruler and the Jin Founder went south. Zhao Dejun father and son and the generals fled south from Tuanbai Valley. The imperial army was pressed by barbarian horsemen, cast aside spears and abandoned armor, trampled one another in flight, and those crushed in ravines and valleys were beyond counting.
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己巳，帝聞晉安寨為敵所陷，詔移幸河陽，時議以魏府軍尚全，契丹必憚山東，未敢南下，車駕可幸鄴城。 帝以李崧與範延光相善，召入謀之。 薛文遇不知而繼至，帝變色，崧躡文遇足，乃出。 帝曰：「我見此物肉顫，適擬抽刀刺之。」 崧曰：「文遇小人，致誤大事，刺之益醜。」 崧因請帝歸京。 壬申，車駕至河陽。 甲戌，晉高祖與契丹至潞州，契丹遣蕃將大相溫率五千騎送晉高祖南行。 丁丑，車駕至自河陽。 時左右勸帝固守河陽。 居數日，符彥饒、張彥琪至，奏帝不可城守。 是日晚，至東上門，小黃門鳴鞘於路，索然無聲。 己卯，帝遣馬軍都指揮使宋審虔率千餘騎至白馬坡，言踏陣地，時諸將謂審虔曰：「何地不堪交戰，誰人肯立於此？」 審虔乃請帝還宮。 庚辰，晉高祖至河陽。 辛巳辰時，帝舉族與皇太后曹氏自燔於元武樓。 晉高祖入洛，得帝燼骨於火中，來年三月，詔葬於徽陵之封中。 帝在位共二年，年五十二。 〈（《五代史闕文》：晉高祖引契丹圍晉安寨，降楊光遠。 清泰帝至自覃懷，京師父老迎帝於上東門外，帝垂泣不止。 父老奏曰：「臣等伏聞前唐時中國有難，帝王多幸蜀以圖進取。 陛下何不且入西川？」 帝曰：「本朝兩川節度使皆用文臣，所以玄宗、僖宗避寇幸蜀。 今孟氏已稱尊矣，吾何歸乎！」 因慟哭入內，舉族自焚。）〉
On jisi the Emperor heard that Jin'an camp had fallen to the enemy. An edict ordered removal to Heyang. At the time opinion held that the Wei prefecture army was still intact, the Khitan would fear Shandong and would not dare go south, and the imperial carriage could visit Yecheng. Because Li Song was on good terms with Fan Yanguang, the Emperor summoned him to consult. Xue Wenyü, not knowing, arrived next. The Emperor's expression changed. Song trod on Wenyü's foot, and then left. The Emperor said: "When I see this creature my flesh trembles. I was just about to draw my knife and stab him." Song said: "Wenyü is a petty man who ruined great affairs. Stabbing him would only make the ugliness worse." Song then urged the Emperor to return to the capital. On renshen the imperial carriage reached Heyang. On jiaxu the Jin Founder and the Khitan reached Luzhou. The Khitan sent the barbarian general Daxiangwen with five thousand horsemen to escort the Jin Founder south. On dingchou the imperial carriage arrived from Heyang. At the time those around him urged the Emperor to hold firm at Heyang. After several days Fu Yanrao and Zhang Yanqi arrived and reported that the Emperor could not defend the city. That evening he reached the Upper East Gate. The junior palace attendants struck their scabbards along the road, yet all was desolately silent. On jimao the Emperor dispatched Song Shenqian, commander of the cavalry, with more than a thousand horsemen to White Horse Slope, saying it was ground on which to take the battle line. At the time the generals said to Shenqian: "What ground is not fit for battle? Who would be willing to stand here?" Shenqian then asked the Emperor to return to the palace. On gengchen the Jin Founder reached Heyang. On xinsi at the chen hour the Emperor, his entire clan, and Empress Dowager Cao burned themselves at the Yuanwu Tower. The Jin Founder entered Luoyang, recovered the Emperor's charred bones from the fire, and in the third month of the following year ordered burial within the mound of Hui Mausoleum. The Emperor had reigned for two years in all and was fifty-two years old. (The 《Supplementary Texts to the History of the Five Dynasties》 records that the Jin Founder led the Khitan to besiege Jin'an camp and received Yang Guangyuan's surrender. The Qingtai Emperor arrived from Tanhuai. The elders of the capital welcomed him outside the Upper East Gate, and the Emperor wept without cease. The elders said: "We have heard that in former Tang times when China was in difficulty, emperors often went to Shu to plan recovery. Your Majesty, why not for the time being go to Western Chuan?" The Emperor said: "In our dynasty the military governors of the two Chuan circuits have all been civil officials. That is why Emperor Xuanzong and Emperor Xizong, fleeing bandits, were able to go to Shu. Now the Meng clan has already proclaimed itself sovereign. Where could I go!" He then wailed and went inside. His entire clan burned themselves.)〉
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史臣曰：末帝負神武之才，有人君之量。 由尋戈而踐阼，慚德應深； 及當寧以居尊，政經未失。 屬天命不祐，人謀匪臧，坐俟焚如，良可悲矣！ 稽夫衽金甲於河壖之際，斧眺樓於梁壘之時，出沒如神，何其勇也！ 及乎駐革輅於覃懷之日，絕羽書於汾晉之辰，涕淚沾襟，何其怯也！ 是知時之來也，雕虎可以生風； 運之去也，應龍不免為醢。 則項籍悲歌於帳下，信不虛矣！
The historiographer says: The Last Emperor possessed divine martial talent and the measure of a true ruler. Having seized the throne by force, his shame in virtue should have been deep; yet once he took the throne and dwelt in honor, he did not lose the threads of government. But Heaven's mandate did not protect him and human counsel was not sound. He sat and awaited the flames. Truly pitiable! Consider how when he spread golden armor on the river bank and gazed from the tower with axe at the Liang ramparts, he appeared and vanished like a spirit. How brave he was! Yet when he halted his carriage at Tanhuai and cut off urgent dispatches between Fen and Jin, tears soaked his robe. How timid he was! Thus one knows that when fortune arrives, even a carved tiger can give birth to wind; when fortune departs, even the responsive dragon cannot escape becoming mince. Then Xiang Yu's mournful song beneath his tent. Truly it was no empty tale!