1
高祖聖文章武明德孝皇帝，姓石氏，諱敬瑭，太原人也。 本衛大夫碏、漢丞相奮之後，漢衰，關輔亂，子孫流泛西裔，故有居甘州者焉。 四代祖璟，以唐元和中與沙陀軍都督朱耶氏自靈武入附，憲宗嘉之，隸為河東陰山府裨校，以邊功累官至朔州刺史。 天福二年，追尊為孝安皇帝，廟號靖祖，陵曰義陵。 祖妣秦氏，追謚為孝安元皇后。 三代祖郴，早薨，贈左散騎常侍，追尊為孝簡皇帝，廟號肅祖，陵曰惠陵。 祖妣安氏，追謚孝簡恭皇后。 皇祖諱翌，任振武防禦使，贈尚書右僕射，追尊孝平皇帝，廟號睿祖，陵曰康陵。 祖妣米氏，追謚孝平獻皇后。 皇考諱紹雍，番字臬捩雞，善騎射，有經遠大略，事後唐武皇及莊宗，累立戰功，與周德威相亞，歷平、洺二州刺史，薨於任，贈太傅，追尊為孝元皇帝，廟號憲祖，陵曰昌陵。 皇妣何氏，追謚孝元懿皇后。
Gaozu, the Sagely, Cultured, Martial, and Virtuous Emperor of Brilliant Filial Piety, was of the Shi clan; his personal name was Jingtang, and he came from Taiyuan. He was descended from Qi, grandee of Wei, and Fen, chancellor of Han. When the Han dynasty waned and the Guanzhong region was thrown into chaos, his forebears scattered toward the western marches, and some of the family eventually settled in Ganzhou. His fourth-generation ancestor Jing, in the Yuanhe reign of Tang, entered allegiance from Lingwu together with the Zhu Ye clan, commanders of the Shatuo army. Emperor Xianzong rewarded him with appointment as a deputy officer of the Yinshan Garrison in Hedong, and through repeated frontier achievements he rose step by step to governor of Shuozhou. In the second year of Tianfu, he was posthumously honored as Emperor Xiao'an, with the temple name Jingzu and the mausoleum Yiling. His paternal grandmother, Lady Qin, was posthumously titled Empress Yuan of Xiao'an. His third-generation ancestor Chen died young. He was posthumously made Left Regular Attendant of the Cavalry and honored as Emperor Xiaojian, with the temple name Suzu and the mausoleum Huiling. His paternal grandmother, Lady An, was posthumously titled Empress Gong of Xiaojian. His imperial grandfather, whose name was Yi, served as defense commissioner of Zhenwu. He was posthumously made Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and honored as Emperor Xiaoping, with the temple name Ruizu and the mausoleum Kangling. His paternal grandmother, Lady Mi, was posthumously titled Empress Xian of Xiaoping. His imperial father, whose name was Shaoyong, also bore the non-Chinese name Niejieji. Skilled in horsemanship and archery and possessed of broad strategic vision, he served Later Tang's Martial Emperor and Emperor Zhuangzong, winning repeated battle honors and ranking only below Zhou Dewei. He served as prefect of Ping and Mo, died in office, was posthumously made Grand Tutor, and was honored as Emperor Xiaoyuan, with the temple name Xianzu and the mausoleum Changling. His imperial mother, Lady He, was posthumously titled Empress Yi of Xiaoyuan.
2
帝即孝元之第二子也，以唐景福元年二月二十八日生於太原汾陽裏，時有白氣充庭，人甚異焉。 及長，性沈淡，寡言笑，讀兵法，重李牧、周亞夫行事。 唐明宗為代州刺史，每深心器之，因妻以愛女。 唐莊宗聞其善射，擢居左右，明宗請隸大軍，從之。 後明宗從莊宗征行，命帝領親騎，號「三討軍」，倚以心腹。
The Emperor was the second son of Xiaoyuan. On the twenty-eighth day of the second month of the first year of Jingfu of Tang he was born in Fenyang Lane in Taiyuan. White vapor then filled the courtyard, and people were greatly astonished. As he grew to manhood, he was reserved and quiet, seldom speaking or laughing. He studied military texts and admired the careers of Li Mu and Zhou Yafu. When Emperor Mingzong of Tang was prefect of Daizhou, he took a deep liking to him and gave him his beloved daughter in marriage. When Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang heard of his skill in archery, he brought him into his personal service. Mingzong asked that he be assigned to the main army, and the request was granted. Later, when Mingzong followed Zhuangzong on campaign, he put the Emperor in command of the personal cavalry, a unit called the "Three Campaigns Army," and treated him as a trusted inner circle man.
3
天祐十二年，莊宗並有河北之地，開府於鄴，梁遣上將劉鄩以兵五萬營於莘。 十三年二月，鄩引兵突至清平，薄於城下。 莊宗至自甘陵，兵未陣，多為鄩所掩。 帝領十餘騎，橫槊深入，東西馳突，無敢當者，卒全部伍而還。 莊宗壯之，拊其背曰：「將門出將，言不謬爾。」 因頒以器帛，復親為啖酥，當時以為異恩，由是知名。 明年，鄩兵陣於莘之西北，明宗從莊宗酣戰。 久之，塵埃四合，帝與明宗俱陷陣內，帝挺身躍劍，反復轉鬥，行數十里，逐鄩於故元城之東。 是日，鄩軍殺傷過半。
In the twelfth year of Tianyou, Zhuangzong brought all of Hebei under his control and opened his headquarters at Ye. Liang sent its senior general Liu Yan with fifty thousand troops to encamp at Shen. In the second month of the thirteenth year, Yan marched his army in a sudden rush to Qingping and pressed up under the city walls. Zhuangzong arrived from Ganling before the army had finished forming its ranks, and many units were caught and overrun by Yan. The Emperor led a dozen horsemen, spear in hand, and plunged deep into the enemy lines, charging back and forth until no one dared stand against him. He finally brought the whole unit back intact. Zhuangzong was impressed by his bravery, clapped him on the back, and said, "A general's house breeds a general—the saying is no empty phrase." He then awarded him vessels and silks and personally fed him butter in token of honor. At the time this was regarded as extraordinary favor, and from then on his name was widely known. The following year, Yan's army drew up northwest of Shen, and Mingzong fought alongside Zhuangzong in a hard-fought battle. After a long while dust blotted out the field on every side. Both the Emperor and Mingzong were caught inside the enemy formation. The Emperor threw himself forward with sword drawn and fought back and forth for miles, finally driving Yan east of the old Yuancheng. That day more than half of Yan's army were killed or wounded.
4
十五年，唐軍拔楊劉鎮，梁將賀瑰設伏於無石山，明宗為瑰所迫，帝為後殿，破梁軍五百餘騎，按轡而還。 十二月，莊宗與梁軍大戰於胡柳陂，眾號十萬。 總管周德威將左軍，雜以燕人，前鋒不利，德威死之。 莊宗率步眾五千，固守高陵以避敵之銳。 明宗獨完右廣，伏於土山之下，顧謂帝曰：「梁人首獲其利，旌旗甚整，何計可以挫之？」 帝曰：「臘後寒如此，出手墮指，彼多步眾，易進難退，莫若啜糒飲水，徐而困之。 且超乘徒行，其勢不等，一擊而破，期在必勝。」 明宗曰：「是吾心也。」 會日暮，梁軍列於平野，五六萬人為一方陣，麾遊騎以迫唐軍，帝曰：「敵將遁矣！」 乃請明宗令士整胄，寬而羅之，命左射軍三百人鳴矢馳轉，漸束其勢，以數千騎合之。 迨夜，旌旗皆靡，而一角先潰，三面踵之，其牙竿相擊，若火爆之聲，橫屍積甲，不可勝計。 由是梁人勢削，莊宗進營德勝渡。
In the fifteenth year the Tang army took Yangliu town. The Liang general He Gui laid an ambush at Wushi Mountain and pressed Mingzong hard. The Emperor covered the rear, broke more than five hundred Liang horsemen, and returned at an easy pace. In the twelfth month Zhuangzong fought a major battle with the Liang army at Huliupo. The forces on both sides were said to number one hundred thousand. Chief commander Zhou Dewei led the left wing with Yan troops mixed in. The vanguard fared badly, and Dewei was killed in the fighting. Zhuangzong led five thousand infantry and held a high mound to avoid the enemy's sharpest thrust. Mingzong alone kept the right wing intact and lay concealed below an earthen hill. He turned to the Emperor and said, "The Liang have taken the first advantage, and their banners are in perfect order. What plan can break them?" The Emperor said, "After the twelfth month the cold is so fierce that fingers freeze when you put out a hand. They are mostly infantry, easy to advance but hard to retreat. Better to take gruel and water and wear them down slowly. Besides, when cavalry charges infantry on foot their momentum is unequal. One strike will break them, and victory is certain." Mingzong said, "That is exactly what I had in mind." At dusk the Liang army formed on the open plain in a single block of fifty or sixty thousand men and sent out light cavalry to press the Tang forces. The Emperor said, "The enemy is about to flee!" He then asked Mingzong to have the men straighten their helmets and spread the net wide. He ordered three hundred men of the left archer corps to shoot whistling arrows and wheel about, gradually tightening the encirclement, then joined several thousand horsemen to them. By nightfall the banners were drooping. One corner of the formation collapsed first, and the other three sides followed. Their command pennants struck one another with a sound like exploding fire. Corpses and heaped armor lay across the field beyond counting. From this the Liang forces' strength was broken, and Zhuangzong advanced his camp to Desheng Ford.
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十八年十月，又從明宗戰梁人於德勝渡，敗其將戴思遠，殺二萬餘人。 十九年，戰胡盧套，唐軍稍卻，帝睹其敵銳，拔劍辟道，肩護明宗而退，敵人望之，無敢襲者。
In the tenth month of the eighteenth year he again followed Mingzong in fighting the Liang at Desheng Ford, defeated their general Dai Siyuan, and killed more than twenty thousand men. In the nineteenth year, at the battle of Hulu Tao, the Tang army fell back slightly. Seeing the enemy's sharp thrust, the Emperor drew his sword to clear a path and shielded Mingzong with his shoulder as they withdrew. The enemy looked on, and none dared attack.
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二十年十月，從明宗觀梁人之楊村寨，部曲皆不擐甲，俄而敵出不意，以兵掩明宗，刃將及背，帝挾戰戟而進，一擊而兇酋落馬者數輩，明宗遂解其難。 是歲，莊宗即位於鄴，改元同光，遣明宗越河，懸軍深入以取鄆。 鄆人始不之覺，帝以五十騎從明宗涉濟，突東門而入。 鄆兵來拒，帝中刃，翼明宗，羅兵通衢，嶷然不動。 會後騎繼至，遂拔中城以據之。 既而平汴水，滅梁室，成莊宗一統，集明宗大勛，帝與唐末帝功居最，莊宗朝官未顯者，以帝不好矜伐故也，唯明宗心知之。
In the tenth month of the twentieth year, while following Mingzong to observe the Liang at Yangjia village, the troops were all without armor when the enemy suddenly came out and enveloped Mingzong. Blades were about to reach his back when the Emperor advanced with a battle halberd in hand. With one strike he knocked several enemy chieftains from their horses, and Mingzong was saved from danger. That year Zhuangzong took the throne at Ye, changed the era name to Tongguang, and sent Mingzong across the river with a detached force to advance deep and take Yan. The people of Yan at first did not notice them. The Emperor followed Mingzong across the ford with fifty horsemen and burst in through the east gate. Yan troops came to resist. The Emperor was struck by a blade, shielded Mingzong on both sides, arrayed his men across the main thoroughfare, and stood firm without moving. When the rear cavalry arrived in succession, they stormed the inner city and held it. Thereafter they pacified the Bian region and destroyed the Liang dynasty, completing Zhuangzong's unification and securing Mingzong's greatest achievements. The Emperor and Tang's Last Emperor ranked highest in merit, yet he was not prominent among Zhuangzong's court officials because he did not like boasting of his deeds. Only Mingzong knew it in his heart.
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同光四年二月，趙在禮據鄴為亂，朝廷遣元行欽招之不下，群議紛然，以為非明宗不可，莊宗乃以明宗為統帥。 時帝從行，至魏，諸軍有變，叩馬請明宗帝河北。 明宗受霍彥威勸，將自訴於天子，遂佯諾。 諸軍亦恐事不果，而散者甚眾，明宗所全者，唯常山一軍而已。 西次魏縣，帝密言於明宗曰：「猶豫者兵家大忌，必若求訴，宜決其行。 某願率三百騎先趨汴水，以探虎口，如遂其志，請大軍速進。 夷門者，天下之要害也，據之可以自雪。 安有上將與三軍言變，他日有平手乎！ 危在頃刻，不宜恬然。」 明宗至相州，遂分驍騎三百付之，遣帝由黎陽濟河，自汴西門而入，因據其城。 及明宗入汴，莊宗親統師亦至城之西北五里，登高嘆曰：「吾不濟矣！」 由此莊宗從兵大潰，來歸明宗。 明宗尋遣帝令率兵為前鋒，趨汜水關。 俄而莊宗遇內難而崩。
In the second month of the fourth year of Tongguang, Zhao Zaili seized Ye in rebellion. The court sent Yuan Xingqin to summon him, but he would not submit. Opinion in court was divided, and many held that only Mingzong could handle it. Zhuangzong therefore made Mingzong supreme commander. At that time the Emperor accompanied the campaign. When they reached Wei the armies mutinied, seized the horses' bridles, and asked Mingzong to become emperor in Hebei. Mingzong, persuaded by Huo Yanwei, intended to plead his case personally to the emperor and therefore pretended to agree. The armies also feared the affair would not succeed, and very many men dispersed. Of all his forces Mingzong kept only the Changshan army intact. Halting west at Wei county, the Emperor spoke privately to Mingzong: "Hesitation is the great taboo in military affairs. If you truly mean to plead your case, you should resolve on action at once. I am willing to lead three hundred horsemen ahead to the Bian region and probe the tiger's den. If your plan succeeds, please have the main army advance at once. Yimen is the vital choke point of the realm. Hold it, and you can clear your own name. How can a supreme commander discuss rebellion with the whole army and expect reconciliation later! Danger is upon you in an instant. You must not remain at ease." When Mingzong reached Xiangzhou, he detached three hundred elite horsemen and gave them to the Emperor, who crossed the river at Liyang, entered through Bian's west gate, and seized the city. When Mingzong entered Bian, Zhuangzong, leading his army in person, also reached a point five li northwest of the city. He climbed high and sighed, "I am undone!" From this Zhuangzong's following troops collapsed in great disorder and came over to Mingzong. Mingzong soon sent the Emperor to lead the vanguard toward Sishui Pass. Before long Zhuangzong met internal turmoil and died.
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是月，明宗入洛，嘉帝之功，自總管府都校署陜府兵馬留後。 明宗即位，改元天成，五月，加帝光祿大夫、檢校司徒，充陜州保義軍節度使，歲未期而軍民之政大治焉。 二年二月，加檢校太傅兼六軍諸衛副使，進封開國伯，增食邑四百戶。 是月，帝赴闕，以倅六軍諸衛事故也。 八月，加食邑八百戶，實封一百戶，旌為政之效也。 十月，明宗幸汴，以帝為御營使。 車駕次京水，飛報汴州節度使朱守殷叛，明宗命帝董親軍倍道星行，信宿及浚城，一戰而拔之。 尋以帝為宣武軍節度使、侍衛親軍馬步軍都指揮使兼六軍諸衛副使，進封開國公，加食邑五百戶，賜耀忠匡定保節功臣。 三年四月，車駕還洛，制加檢校太傅、同中書門下平章事、興唐尹、鄴都留守、天雄軍節度使。 五月丁未，加駙馬都尉。
That month Mingzong entered Luoyang, praised the Emperor's achievements, and promoted him from chief officer of the general commander's office to military commissioner and acting prefect of Shaan. When Mingzong took the throne he changed the era name to Tiancheng. In the fifth month he gave the Emperor the titles Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Honorary Minister of Education and appointed him military commissioner of the Baoyi Army at Shaanzhou. Before a year had passed both military and civil administration were in excellent order. In the second month of the second year he was made Honorary Grand Tutor and concurrent deputy commander of the Six Armies and various guards, advanced in enfeoffment to Baron of the Opening State, and granted four hundred additional households in his fief. That month the Emperor went to court in connection with his duties as deputy commander of the Six Armies and various guards. In the eighth month his fief was increased by eight hundred households and his actual enfeoffment by one hundred households, in recognition of the effect of his governance. In the tenth month Mingzong visited Bian and made the Emperor director of the imperial camp. When the imperial carriage halted at Jingshui, urgent reports arrived that Zhu Shouyin, military commissioner of Bianzhou, had rebelled. Mingzong ordered the Emperor to lead the personal army by forced marches day and night. Within two nights he reached Xun city and took it in one battle. Soon he was made military commissioner of the Xuanwu Army, commander-in-chief of the personal army's horse and foot forces, and concurrent deputy commander of the Six Armies and various guards. He was advanced in enfeoffment to Duke of the Opening State, granted five hundred additional households in his fief, and given the title Meritorious Minister Who Glorifies Loyalty, Rectifies and Secures, and Preserves Integrity. In the fourth month of the third year, when the imperial carriage returned to Luoyang, an edict made him Honorary Grand Tutor, Grand Councilor of the Secretariat and Chancellery, prefect of Xingtang, garrison commander of Yedu, and military commissioner of the Tianxiong Army. On the dingwei day of the fifth month he was made Commandant of the Imperial Sons-in-Law.
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是時，秦王從榮奏：「伏見北面頻奏報，契丹族移帳近塞，吐渾、突厥已侵邊地，戍兵雖多，未有統帥，早宜命大將一人，以安雲、朔。」 明宗曰：「卿等商量。」 從榮與諸大臣奏曰：「將校之中，唯石敬瑭、康義誠二人可行。」 帝素不欲為禁軍之副，即奏曰：「臣願北行。」 明宗曰：「卿為吾行，事無不濟。」 及受詔，不落六軍副使，帝復遷延辭避。 十一月乙酉，明宗復謂侍臣曰：「雲州奏，契丹自幽州移帳，言就放牧，終冬不退，其患深矣。」 樞密使範延光奏曰：「已議石敬瑭與康義誠北行，然其定奪，即在宸旨。」 帝奏曰：「臣雖不才，爭敢避事，但進退惟命。」 明宗曰：「卿為吾行，甚葉眾議。」 由是遂定。 丁亥，加兼侍中、太原尹、北京留守、河東節度使，兼大同、振武、彰國、威塞等軍蕃漢馬步軍總管，改賜竭忠匡運寧國功臣。 翌日，宴於中興殿，帝捧觴上壽，因奏曰：「臣雖微怯，惟邊事敢不盡其忠力，但臣遠違玉階，無以時申補報。」 帝因再拜告辭，明宗泣下沾衿。 左右怪其過傷，果與帝因此為訣，不復相見矣。 十二月，明宗晏駕，帝聞之，長慟若喪考妣。 應順元年正月，閔帝即位，加中書令，及增食邑。
At that time Prince of Qin Congrong memorialized: "I have seen repeated reports from the northern frontier that the Khitan have moved their camps close to the border, and that the Tuyuhun and Turks have already invaded the frontier. Although garrison troops are numerous, there is no commander in chief. A great general should be appointed at once to secure Yun and Shuo." Mingzong said, "You ministers should deliberate." Congrong and the ministers memorialized: "Among the generals and officers, only Shi Jingtang and Kang Yicheng are fit for the task." The Emperor had long wished to leave his post as deputy of the palace army and immediately memorialized: "Your servant is willing to go north." Mingzong said, "If you go for me, nothing will fail." When he received the edict he was not removed from his deputy post in the Six Armies, and the Emperor again delayed and declined. On the yiyou day of the eleventh month Mingzong again told his attending ministers: "Yunzhou reports that the Khitan have moved their camps from Youzhou, saying they have come to pasture. They will not withdraw all winter. The danger is grave." Chief Palace Secretary Fan Yanguang memorialized: "Shi Jingtang and Kang Yicheng going north have already been discussed, but the final decision rests with Your Majesty." The Emperor memorialized: "Although I lack talent, how could I dare avoid duty? I await only Your Majesty's command whether to go or stay." Mingzong said, "If you go for me, it accords very well with what everyone expects." From this the matter was settled. On the dinghai day he was additionally made Palace Attendant, prefect of Taiyuan, garrison commander of the Northern Capital, and military commissioner of Hedong, with overall command of the Han and non-Han horse and foot forces of the Datong, Zhenwu, Zhangguo, Weisai, and other armies. His title was changed to Meritorious Minister Who Exhausts Loyalty, Rectifies Fortune, and Pacifies the State. The next day, at a banquet in the Hall of Central Revival, the Emperor raised his cup to wish the emperor long life and memorialized: "Although I am slight and timid, in frontier affairs how could I fail to give my full loyalty and strength? Yet I am far from the throne and have no means to repay Your Majesty in timely fashion." The Emperor bowed twice in farewell. Mingzong wept until his collar was wet. Those at his side wondered at such excessive grief. Indeed, from this the Emperor and he took their leave of one another and never met again. In the twelfth month Mingzong died. When the Emperor heard of it, he mourned long and deeply as if he had lost his own parents. In the first month of the first year of Yingshun, Emperor Min took the throne. The Emperor was made Chief of the Secretariat and his fief was increased.
10
帝性簡儉，未嘗以聲色滋味輒自宴樂，每公退，必召幕客論民間利害及刑政得失，明而難犯，事多親決。 有店婦與軍士訟，云「曝粟於門，為馬所食」。 而軍士懇訴，無以自明。 帝謂鞫吏曰：「兩訟未分，何以為斷？ 可殺馬刳腸而視其粟，有則軍士誅，無則婦人死。」 遂殺馬，馬腸無粟，因戮其婦人。 境內肅然，莫敢以欺事言者。 三月，移鎮常山。 所歷方鎮，以孝治為急，見民間父母在昆弟分索者，必繩而殺之。 勤於吏事，廷無滯訟。 常山屬邑曰九門，有人鬻地與異居兄，議價不定，乃移於他人。 他人須兄立券，兄固抑之，因訴於令。 令以弟兄俱不義，送府。 帝監之曰：「人之不義，由牧長新至，教化所未能及，吾甚愧焉。 若以至理言之，兄利良田，弟求善價，順之則是，沮之則非，其兄不義之甚也，宜重笞焉。 市田以高價者取之。」 上下服其明。
The Emperor was simple and frugal by nature. He never indulged himself in music, women, or fine food for private pleasure. Whenever he left public duties he summoned his staff to discuss what helped or harmed the people and what was right or wrong in penal administration. He was clear-minded and hard to cross, and he decided many matters personally. A shopkeeper's wife sued a soldier, saying, "I spread grain to dry at the door and a horse ate it." The soldier pleaded earnestly but had no way to clear himself. The Emperor said to the examining officer: "The two suits are unresolved. How can there be a judgment? Kill the horse, open its belly, and look for grain. If there is grain, execute the soldier; if not, the woman dies." They killed the horse. Its intestines held no grain, and therefore they executed the woman. Within the territory all was solemn, and none dared bring a deceitful suit. In the third month he was transferred to garrison Changshan. In every command where he served he made filial governance a priority. When he saw parents and sons dividing property against brothers, he always had them bound and executed. He was diligent in administrative affairs, and no lawsuit stalled in court. A subordinate county of Changshan was called Jiumen. Someone sold land to a brother living separately, but they could not agree on a price, so he sold it to someone else. The buyer required the brother to draw up the deed, but the brother firmly refused, and therefore sued before the magistrate. The magistrate held that both brothers were in the wrong and sent the case to the prefectural office. The Emperor reviewed the case and said: "Men's lack of righteousness comes from the prefect having newly arrived and instruction not yet reaching them. I am deeply ashamed. Speaking in terms of supreme principle, the elder brother wanted fertile land while the younger wanted a fair price. To go along would be right, to obstruct would be wrong. The elder brother was deeply in the wrong and deserved a heavy beating. The land went to whoever bought it at the higher price." Superiors and subordinates alike admired his clarity of judgment.
11
及岐陽兵亂，推潞王為天子，閔帝急詔帝赴闕，欲以社稷為托。 閔帝自洛陽出奔於衛，相遇於途，遂與閔帝回入衛州。 時閔帝左右將不利於帝，帝覺之，因擒其從騎百餘人。 閔帝知事不濟，與帝長慟而別，帝遣刺史王宏贄安置閔帝於公舍而去，尋為潞王所害，帝後長以此愧心焉。
When the Qiyang army rebelled and raised the Prince of Lu as emperor, Emperor Min urgently summoned the Emperor to court, intending to entrust the realm to him. Emperor Min fled Luoyang toward Wei. They met on the road, and the Emperor turned back with him into Weizhou. At that time those about Emperor Min were about to move against the Emperor. He sensed it and seized more than a hundred of their attendant horsemen. Emperor Min knew the affair was lost and parted from the Emperor in long, bitter weeping. The Emperor sent Prefect Wang Hongzan to lodge Emperor Min in a public residence and then departed. Before long Emperor Min was killed by the Prince of Lu, and the Emperor carried guilt over this for the rest of his life.
12
清泰元年五月，復授太原節度使、北京留守，充大同、振武、彰國、威塞等軍蕃漢馬步總管。 二年夏，帝屯軍於忻州，朝廷遣使送夏衣，傳詔撫諭，後軍人遽呼萬歲者數四，帝懼，斬挾馬將李暉以下三十餘人以徇，乃止。
In the fifth month of the first year of Qingtai he was again made military commissioner of Taiyuan and garrison commander of the Northern Capital, with overall command of the Han and non-Han horse and foot forces of the Datong, Zhenwu, Zhangguo, Weisai, and other armies. In the summer of the second year the Emperor encamped at Xinzhou. The court sent envoys with summer garments and an edict of reassurance, but afterward the soldiers suddenly shouted "Long live!" four times. The Emperor was alarmed, executed the horse-gripping general Li Hui and more than thirty men as a warning, and only then did it stop.
13
三年五月，移授鄆州節度使，進封趙國公，仍改扶天啟運中正功臣。 尋降詔促帝赴任。 帝心疑之，乃召僚佐議曰：「孤再受太原之日，主上面宣云：『與卿北門，一生無議除改。』 今忽降此命，莫是以去年忻州亂兵見迫，過相猜乎？ 又今年千春節，公主入覲，當辭時，謂公主曰：『爾歸心甚急，欲與石郎反耶？』 此疑我之狀固且明矣。 今天子用後族，委邪臣，沈湎荒惑，萬機停壅，失刑失賞，不亡何待！ 吾自應順中少主出奔之日，睹人情大去，不能扶危持顛，憤憤於方寸者三年矣。 今我無異志，朝廷自啟禍機，不可安然死於道路。 況太原險固之地，積粟甚多，若且寬我，我當奉之。 必若加兵，我則外告鄰方，北構強敵，興亡之數，皎皎在天。 今欲發表稱疾，以俟其意，諸公以為何如？」 〈（《玉堂閑話》：晉祖在並部，嘗從容謂賓佐云：「近因晝寢，忽夢若頃年在洛京時，與天子連鑣於路，過舊第，天子請某入其第，某遜讓者數四，不得已即促轡而入，至廳事下馬，升自阼階，西向而坐，天子已馳車去矣。 其夢如此。」 群僚莫敢有所答。 是年冬，果有鼎革之事。 蓋晉祖懷不軌之心久矣，故托夢以惑眾也。）〉 掌書記桑維翰、都押衙劉知遠贊成密計，遂拒末帝之命。 朝廷以帝不奉詔，降旨削奪官爵，即詔晉州刺史、北面副招討使張敬達領兵圍帝於晉陽。 帝尋命桑維翰詣諸道求援，契丹遣人復書諾之，約以中秋赴義。 〈（《遼史太宗紀》云：七月丙申，唐河東節度使石敬瑭為其主所討，遣趙瑩求救，時趙德鈞亦遣使至，河東復遣桑維翰來告急，遂許興師。 八月庚午，自將以援敬瑭。）〉 六月，北面招收指揮使安重榮以部曲數千人入城。 七月，代州屯將安元信率一軍，與西北面先鋒指揮使安審信引五百騎俱至。 八月，懷州彰聖軍使張萬迪等各率千餘騎來降。 是月，外眾攻我甚急，帝親當矢石，人心雖固，廩食漸困。
In the fifth month of the third year he was transferred to military commissioner of Yanzhou, advanced in enfeoffment to Duke of Zhao, and given the title Meritorious Minister Who Supports Heaven, Initiates Fortune, and Upholds Rectitude. Soon an edict was issued ordering the Emperor to take up his new post at once. The Emperor grew suspicious and summoned his staff to discuss the matter. He said, "When I received Taiyuan a second time, the ruler announced to my face: 'I give you the northern gate; in your lifetime there shall be no talk of transfer or removal. Now this command suddenly arrives. Can it be that because last year at Xinzhou the mutinous troops pressed me, he suspects me beyond measure? Moreover, at this year's Thousand Spring Festival when the princess came to court, as she was taking leave he said to her, 'Your heart to return is very urgent. Do you wish to rebel with Master Shi? His suspicion of me is already perfectly clear. Now the emperor employs the empress's kin, entrusts wicked ministers, and sinks in dissipation and delusion. The myriad affairs of state are stalled, punishments and rewards are lost. If such a ruler does not perish, what is he waiting for! From the day in Yingshun when the young ruler fled, I have seen popular sentiment turn away and have been unable to support what was tottering and uphold what was falling. I have burned with anger in my breast for three years. Now I have no other intent. The court itself has opened the springs of disaster. I cannot die peacefully on the road. Moreover, Taiyuan is a strong and secure place with grain stored in great abundance. If you will only spare me for now, I shall serve you. If you must send troops, I shall appeal to neighboring powers and ally with strong enemies to the north. Whether we rise or fall shines bright in Heaven. Now I wish to send in a memorial claiming illness and await his intent. What do you gentlemen think?" (From 《Idle Talk of the Jade Hall》: While in Bing province, the Jin founder once said calmly to his guests and staff: "Recently, during a daytime nap, I dreamed that I was back in Luoyang years ago, riding abreast with the emperor along the road. Passing my old residence, the emperor asked me to enter. I declined several times, but unable to refuse further I urged my horse inside. Reaching the hall I dismounted, ascended from the eastern steps, and sat facing west while the emperor had already driven away. Such was the dream." None of the assembled officials dared reply. That winter there was indeed a dynastic revolution. For the Jin founder had long harbored rebellious intent and used the dream to mislead his followers.)〉 Chief secretary Sang Weihan and chief escort officer Liu Zhiyuan endorsed the secret plan, and he therefore refused the Last Emperor's command. Because the Emperor did not obey the edict, the court stripped his offices and titles and immediately ordered Jinzhou prefect and northern deputy campaign commander Zhang Jingda to lead troops and besiege him at Jinyang. The Emperor soon sent Sang Weihan to the various circuits seeking aid. The Khitan sent a reply promising help and agreeing to come by the Mid-Autumn Festival. (The 《Basic Annals of Taizong》 in the 《History of Liao》 states: On the bingshen day of the seventh month, Tang's Hedong military commissioner Shi Jingtang was attacked by his ruler and sent Zhao Ying to seek rescue. At that time Zhao Dejun also sent envoys, and Hedong again sent Sang Weihan to report urgency, whereupon the Khitan ruler permitted the raising of troops. On the gengwu day of the eighth month he personally led troops to rescue Jingtang.)〉 In the sixth month, northern recruitment commander An Chongrong entered the city with several thousand men of his personal following. In the seventh month, Daizhou garrison commander An Yuanxin led one army, and northwest vanguard commander An Shenxin brought five hundred horsemen. All arrived together. In the eighth month, Huai prefecture Zhangsheng Army commissioner Zhang Wandi and others each led more than a thousand horsemen to surrender. That month the besieging army pressed the attack very hard. The Emperor personally faced arrows and stones. Though morale held firm, granary provisions grew strained.
14
九月辛丑，契丹主率眾自雁門而南，旌騎不絕五十里餘。 〈（《遼史》：九月丁酉，入雁門。 戊戌，次忻州。 己亥，次太原。）〉 先使人報帝云：「吾欲今日便破賊，可乎？」 帝使人馳告曰：「皇帝赴難，比要成功，賊勢至厚，可明旦穩審議戰，未為晚也。」 使未達，契丹已與南軍騎將高行周、符彥卿等合戰。 時張敬達、楊光遠列陣西山下，士未及成伍，而行周、彥卿為伏兵所斷，舍軍而退，敬達等步兵大敗，死者萬人。 是夜，帝出北門與戎王相見，契丹主執帝手曰：「恨會面之晚。」 因論父子之義。 〈（《遼史》：敬瑭率官屬來見，帝執手撫慰之。 《契丹國志》云：敬瑭見契丹帝，問曰：「皇帝遠來，士馬疲倦，遽與唐大戰而勝，何也？」 帝曰：「始我謂唐必斷雁門諸路，伏兵險要，不可得進。 使人偵視皆無之，是以長驅而深入。 我氣方銳，乘此擊之，是以勝之。」 敬瑭嘆服。）〉 明日，帝與契丹圍敬達營寨，南軍不復出矣。 帝與契丹本無結好，自末帝見迫之後，遣心腹何福，以刀錯為信，一言親赴其難，迅若流電，信天意耶！ 己酉，唐末帝率親軍步騎三萬出次河橋。 辛亥，末帝詔樞密使趙延壽分眾二萬為北面招討使，又詔魏博節度使範延光統本軍二萬人屯遼州。 十月，幽州節度使趙德鈞領所部萬餘人自上黨吳兒谷合延壽兵屯團柏谷，與敬達寨相去百里，彌月竟不能相通。 〈（《遼史》：初圍晉安，分遣精兵守其要害，以絕援兵之路。 趙延壽等皆逗留不進。）〉
On the xinchou day of the ninth month the Khitan ruler led his host south from Yanmen. Banners and horsemen stretched unbroken for more than fifty li. (The 《History of Liao》: On the dingyou day of the ninth month he entered Yanmen. On the wuxu day he halted at Xinzhou. On the jihai day he halted at Taiyuan.)〉 He first sent men to tell the Emperor: "I wish to break the enemy today. May I?" The Emperor sent men in haste to reply: "Your Majesty has come to relieve distress and above all seeks success. The enemy's strength is very great. It would be well to deliberate calmly on battle tomorrow morning. That would not be too late." Before the envoy arrived, the Khitan had already joined battle with the southern army's cavalry generals Gao Xingzhou, Fu Yanqing, and others. At that time Zhang Jingda and Yang Guangyuan drew up ranks west of the mountain. The troops had not yet formed files when Xingzhou and Yanqing were cut off by ambush troops, abandoned the army, and withdrew. Jingda's infantry were routed, and ten thousand men were killed. That night the Emperor went out the north gate to meet the Khitan ruler. The Khitan ruler grasped his hand and said, "I regret that our meeting comes so late." He thereupon spoke of the bond between father and son. (The 《History of Liao》: Jingtang led his officials to an audience. The Khitan emperor grasped his hand and comforted him. The 《Khitan State Annals》 states: When Jingtang saw the Khitan emperor, he asked, "Your Majesty has come from afar. Men and horses are weary. How was it that you suddenly fought a great battle with Tang and won?" The emperor said, "At first I thought Tang would surely block the routes through Yanmen and set ambush troops at perilous points so that we could not advance. I sent men to reconnoiter and found none of this. Therefore we drove straight in and advanced deep into enemy territory. Our spirit was at its keenest. Seizing that moment we struck them, and therefore we won." Jingtang sighed in admiration.)〉 The next day the Emperor and the Khitan besieged Jingda's camp, and the southern army did not come out again. The Emperor and the Khitan had originally no pact of friendship. After the Last Emperor pressed him, he sent his trusted man He Fu with a knife and file as tokens of faith. With one word the Khitan ruler came personally to his aid, swift as lightning. Was this not Heaven's intent! On the jiyou day Tang's Last Emperor led thirty thousand personal infantry and cavalry and encamped at Heqiao. On the xinhai day the Last Emperor ordered Chief Palace Secretary Zhao Yanshou to take twenty thousand troops as northern campaign commander, and also ordered Weibo military commissioner Fan Yanguang to command his own army of twenty thousand men at Liaozhou. In the tenth month, Youzhou military commissioner Zhao Dejun led more than ten thousand men from Shangdang through Wu'er Valley to join Yanshou's troops at Tuanbai Valley. They were a hundred li from Jingda's camp, yet for a full month could not get through at all. (The 《History of Liao》: When they first besieged Jin'an, they dispatched elite troops to hold its vital points and cut off the routes of relief troops. Zhao Yanshou and the others all lingered and did not advance.)〉
15
十一月，戎王會帝於營，謂帝曰：「我三千里赴義，事須必成。 觀爾體貌恢廓，識量深遠，真國主也。 天命有屬，時不可失。 欲徇蕃漢群議，冊爾為天子。」 帝飾讓久之。 既而諸軍勸請相繼，乃命築壇於晉陽城南，冊立為大晉皇帝，戎王自主解衣冠授焉。 〈（《遼史太宗紀》：十一年冬十月甲子，封敬瑭為晉王。 十一月丁酉，冊敬瑭為大晉皇帝。）〉 文曰：
In the eleventh month the Khitan ruler met the Emperor in camp and said to him, "I have come three thousand li to fulfill righteousness. The affair must succeed. Observing your bearing, broad and magnanimous, and your insight, deep and far-reaching, you are truly fit to be a ruler of a state. Heaven's mandate has its chosen man. The time cannot be lost. I wish to follow the collective opinion of Khitan and Han alike and invest you as Son of Heaven." The Emperor made a show of declining for a long while. Thereafter the various armies urged him in succession. He ordered an altar built south of Jinyang city and was invested as emperor of Great Jin. The Khitan ruler personally removed his robes and cap and bestowed them on him. (The Basic Annals of Taizong in the History of Liao: In the eleventh year, winter, tenth month, on the jiazi day, he enfeoffed Jingtang as Prince of Jin. On the dingyou day of the eleventh month he invested Jingtang as emperor of Great Jin.)〉 The text reads:
16
維天顯九年，歲次丙申，十一月丙戌朔，十二日丁酉，大契丹皇帝若曰：於戲！ 元氣肇開，樹之以君； 天命不恒，人輔以德。 故商政衰而周道盛，秦德亂而漢圖昌，人事天心，古今靡異。
In the ninth year of Tianxian, the year bingshen, on the dingyou day, the twelfth day of the eleventh month beginning with bingxu, the Great Khitan Emperor speaks thus: Alas! When primordial breath first opened forth, a ruler was set up to govern it; Heaven's mandate is not constant; men support it through virtue. Therefore when Shang's government declined Zhou's Way flourished; when Qin's virtue fell into disorder Han's design prospered. Human affairs and Heaven's heart have never differed from ancient times to the present.
17
咨爾子晉王，神鐘睿哲，天贊英雄，葉夢日以儲祥，應澄河而啟運。 迨事數帝，歷試諸艱。 武略文經，乃由天縱； 忠規孝節，固自生知。 猥以眇躬，奄有北土，暨明宗之享國也，與我先哲王保奉明契，所期子孫順承，患難相濟。 丹書未泯，白日難欺，顧予纂承，匪敢失墜。 爾惟近戚，實系本枝，所以余視爾若子，爾待予猶父也。
Consider, Prince of Jin, my son: your spirit is struck with sagely wisdom, and Heaven assists your heroism. Omens were stored on the day of the leaf-dream, and fortune opened as you answered the clear river. You have served several emperors in succession and passed through many trials. Military strategy and civil governance alike are Heaven's gift to you; loyal counsel and filial integrity are naturally known to you from birth. I, slight in person, suddenly hold the northern lands. When Mingzong ruled the realm, he and my former sage king preserved a bright covenant, expecting that descendants would follow in succession and aid one another in hardship. The cinnabar writing is not yet effaced, the white sun is hard to deceive. Looking to my succession, how could I dare let it fall away? You are my close kin, truly of the same root and branch. Therefore I regard you as a son, and you treat me as a father.
18
朕昨以獨夫從珂，本非公族，竊據寶圖，棄義忘恩，逆天暴物，誅剪骨肉，離間忠良，聽任矯諛，威虐黎獻，華夷震悚，內外崩離，知爾無辜，為彼致害。 敢征眾旅，來逼嚴城，雖並吞之志甚堅，而幽顯之情何負，達於聞聽，深激憤驚。 乃命興師，為爾除患，親提萬旅，遠殄群兇，但赴急難，罔辭艱險。 果見神祇助順，卿士葉謀，旗一麾而棄甲平山，鼓三作而僵屍遍野。 雖以遂予本誌，快彼群心，將期稅駕金河，班師玉塞。
I have lately seen that the usurper Congke, not of the imperial clan, stole the throne, abandoned righteousness and forgot kindness, defied Heaven and ravaged the people, executed his own kin, set loyal men at odds, listened to flattery, tyrannized the common people, and made Chinese and barbarians alike tremble until inner and outer order collapsed. Knowing you were innocent, he brought harm upon you. He dared to raise armies and press a fortified city. Though his will to swallow all was firm, how could the feelings of the living and the dead be betrayed? When this reached my ears, it deeply stirred my indignation. I therefore ordered troops raised to remove your affliction, personally led ten thousand hosts, and came from afar to exterminate the wicked band. I came only to urgent distress and did not shrink from hardship. Truly I saw the spirits assist the righteous, and ministers and scholars cast their plans with mine. One wave of the banner and they cast off armor on the hills; three beats of the drum and stiff corpses filled the wilds. Though this fulfilled my original intent and pleased the hearts of the multitude, I intended to rest my carriage at the Golden River and withdraw the army to the Jade Barrier.
19
矧今中原無主，四海未寧，茫茫生民，若墜塗炭。 況萬幾不可以暫廢，大寶不可以久虛，拯溺救焚，當在此日。 爾有庇民之德，格於上下； 爾有戡難之勛，光於區宇； 爾有無私之行，通乎神明； 爾有不言之信，彰乎兆庶。 予懋乃德，嘉乃丕績。 天之歷數在爾躬，是用命爾，當踐皇極。 仍以爾自茲並土，首建義旗，宜以國號曰晉。 朕永與為父子之邦，保山河之誓。 於戲！ 補百王之闕禮，行茲盛典； 成千載之大義，遂我初心。 爾其永保兆民，勉持一德，慎乃有位，允執厥中。 亦惟無疆之休，其誡之哉！
Moreover, now the central plains have no ruler, the four seas are not at peace, and the vast living people are as if falling into mud and fire. How much more may the myriad affairs of state not be briefly abandoned, nor the great treasure long left vacant. To rescue the drowning and save from burning must be done on this day. You have the virtue of sheltering the people, reaching to above and below; you have the merit of quelling hardship, shining throughout the realm; you have selfless conduct, penetrating to the spirits; you have unspoken faithfulness, manifest among the myriad people. I exalt your virtue and praise your great achievements. Heaven's succession rests on your person. Therefore I command you to ascend the imperial throne. Moreover, because you in Bing province first raised the banner of righteousness, the state name shall be Jin. I shall forever be with you a realm bound as father and son, preserving the oath upon mountains and rivers. Alas! Repair the deficient rites of the hundred kings and perform this great ceremony; complete the great righteousness of a thousand ages and fulfill my original intent. Forever preserve the myriad people, strive to hold to one virtue, be careful in your position, and truly hold fast to the center. May there also be boundless blessing. Take this as your warning!
20
禮畢，帝鼓吹道從而歸。
When the ceremony was complete, the Emperor returned with drums and pipes clearing the road before him.
21
始梁開國之歲，即前唐天祐四年也，潞州行營使李思安奏：「壺關縣庶穰鄉鄉人伐樹，樹倒自分兩片，內有六字如左書，云『天十四載石進』。」 梁祖令藏於武庫，然莫詳其義。 至帝即位，識者曰：「『天』字取『四』字中兩畫加之於傍，則『丙』字也； 『四』字去中之兩畫，加『十』字，則『申』字也。」 帝即位之年乃丙申也。 又，《易》云：「晉者，進也。」 國號大晉，皆符契焉。 又，帝即位之前一年，歲在乙未，鄴西有柵曰李固，清、淇合流在其側。 柵有橋，橋下大鼠與蛇鬥，鬥及日之申，蛇不勝而死。 行人觀者數百，識者誌之。 後唐末帝果滅於申。 又，末帝，真定常山人也，有先人舊廬，其側有古佛剎，剎有石像，忽搖動不已，人皆異之。 及重圍晉陽，帝遣心腹何福輕騎求援北蕃，蕃主自將諸部赴之。 不以繒帛，不以珠金，若響應聲。 謂福曰：「吾已兆於夢，皆上帝命我，非我意也。」 〈（《契丹國志》引《紀異錄》云：契丹主德光常晝寢，夢一神人花冠美姿容，輜梅甚盛，忽自天而下，衣白衣，佩金帶，執钅骨钅朵，有異人十二隨其後，內一黑兔入德光懷而失之。 神人語德光曰：「石郎使人喚汝，汝須去。」 覺告其母，母忽之，不以為異。 後復夢，即前神人也，衣冠儀貌，儼然如故，曰：「石郎已使人來喚汝。」 既覺而驚，復以告母。 母曰：「可命筮。」 乃召巫筮，言：「太祖從西樓來，言中國將立天王，要爾為助，爾須去。」 未浹旬，唐石敬瑭反於河東，為後唐張敬達所敗，亟遣趙瑩持表重賂，許割燕雲，求兵為援，契丹主曰：「我非為石郎興師，乃奉天帝敕使也。」）〉 時援兵未至，偽將張敬達引軍逼城設柵，柵將成，必有大風暴雨，柵無以立。 後築長城，城就，又為水潦所壞，城終不能合。 晉陽有北宮，宮城之上有祠曰毗沙門天王，帝曾焚修默而禱之。 經數日，城西北正受敵處，軍候報稱，夜來有一人長丈餘，介金執殳，行於城上，久方不見。 帝心異之。 又，牙城有僧坊曰崇福，坊之廡下西北隅有泥神，神之首忽一日有煙生，其騰郁如曲突之狀。 坊僧奔赴，以為人火所延，及俯而視之，無所有焉。 事尋達帝，帝召僧之臘高者問焉，僧曰：「貧道見莊宗將得天下，曾有此煙。 觀此噴湧，甚於當時，兆可知矣。」 自此，日旁多有五色雲氣，如蓮芰之狀。 帝召占者視之，謂曰：「此驗應誰？」 占者曰：「見處為瑞，更應何人！」 又，帝每詰旦使慰撫守陴者，率以為常。 忽一夕已暝，城上有號令之聲，聲不絕者三。 帝使人問之，將吏云：「從上傳來者。」 皆知神助。 時城中復有數家井泉，暴溢不止。 及蕃軍大至，合勢破之，末帝之眾，似拉朽焉。 斯天運使然，非人力也。
In the year when Liang first founded its state, the fourth year of Tianyou of former Tang, Lu prefecture campaign commissioner Li Si'an memorialized: "In Shurang township of Huguan county, when villagers felled a tree, it split of itself into two pieces. Within were six characters in seal script reading 'Heaven, fourteenth year, Shi advances.' The Liang founder ordered it stored in the armory, yet none could make clear its meaning. When the Emperor took the throne, those who understood said: "If one takes the two strokes from the middle of the character for 'four' in the character for 'Heaven' and adds them to the side, one gets the character for 'bing'; if one removes the two middle strokes from the character for 'four' and adds the character for 'ten,' one gets the character for 'shen.' The year the Emperor took the throne was indeed bingshen. Moreover, the Book of Changes says: "Jin means advance." The state name Great Jin accorded with all of these tokens. Moreover, in the year before the Emperor took the throne, the year was yiwei. West of Ye there was a stockade called Liguo, where the Qing and Qi rivers joined beside it. The stockade had a bridge. Below the bridge a great rat and a snake fought until the hour of shen, when the snake could not prevail and died. Several hundred passersby watched, and those who understood recorded it. Later Tang's Last Emperor was indeed destroyed at the hour of shen. Moreover, the Last Emperor was from Zhending in Changshan. He had an ancestral residence, and beside it stood an ancient Buddhist monastery with a stone image that suddenly shook without cease. All regarded it as strange. When Jinyang was heavily besieged, the Emperor sent his trusted man He Fu with light cavalry to seek aid from the northern tribes. The Khitan ruler personally led his tribes to come. Without silks, without pearls and gold, he came like an echo answering a sound. He said to Fu: "I have already been foretold in a dream. All of this is the Supreme Lord's command to me, not my own intent." (The 《Khitan State Annals》 cites the 《Record of Strange Events》: The Khitan ruler Deguang often napped by day and dreamed of a divine man with a flowered crown and beautiful countenance, with very abundant plum blossoms in his carriage, who suddenly descended from Heaven, wore white robes, bore a golden belt, and grasped an axe. Twelve strange men followed behind him, and among them a black rabbit entered Deguang's bosom and vanished. The divine man said to Deguang: "Master Shi has sent men to summon you. You must go." When he awoke he told his mother. She dismissed it and did not regard it as strange. Later he dreamed again. It was the same divine man as before, robes, cap, bearing, and appearance all exactly as before, who said: "Master Shi has already sent men to summon you." When he awoke he was alarmed and again told his mother. His mother said: "You may order divination." He summoned a shaman to divine, who said: "The Founding Ancestor comes from the Western Tower and says China will establish a Heavenly King and wants you to assist. You must go." Before ten days had passed, Tang's Shi Jingtang rebelled in Hedong, was defeated by Later Tang's Zhang Jingda, and urgently sent Zhao Ying with a memorial and heavy bribes, promising to cede Yan and Yun and seeking troops as aid. The Khitan ruler said, "I do not raise troops for Master Shi. I obey the Heavenly Emperor's command.".)〉 At that time relief troops had not yet arrived. The rebel general Zhang Jingda led troops against the city and set up stockades. Whenever the stockades were about to be completed, great wind and violent rain would come, and the stockades could not stand. Later they built a long wall. When the wall was completed it was again destroyed by flooding, and the wall in the end could not be joined. Jinyang had a Northern Palace. Above the palace city was a shrine to Vaisravana, the Heavenly King. The Emperor once burned incense, performed repairs, and prayed to it in silence. After several days, at the northwest of the city where the enemy pressed directly, military scouts reported that in the night a man more than ten feet tall, armored in gold and grasping a halberd, walked upon the city wall and only after a long while vanished from sight. The Emperor was astonished. Moreover, in the garrison city was a monks' quarter called Chongfu. In the northwest corner beneath its cloister walk stood a clay spirit, and one day smoke suddenly arose from the spirit's head, rising thick like smoke from a bent chimney. The monks of the quarter rushed there, thinking human fire had spread, but when they bent down to look, there was nothing at all. The matter soon reached the Emperor. He summoned the monk of highest monastic standing and asked him. The monk said: "This humble priest saw when Zhuangzong was about to gain the realm that there was once this smoke. Observing this gushing forth, it is greater than at that time. The omen can be known." From this time, beside the sun there were often five-colored clouds in the shape of lotus leaves. The Emperor summoned diviners to observe them and said: "For whom is this sign fulfilled?" The diviners said: "Where it is seen is where the auspice falls. For whom else could it be!" Moreover, every dawn the Emperor sent men to comfort and reassure those guarding the battlements, and this was his constant practice. Suddenly one night, already dark, there were sounds of commands on the wall, and the sounds did not cease for three rounds. The Emperor sent men to ask about it. The generals and officers said: "They come transmitted from above." All knew it was divine assistance. At that time within the city several households' wells and springs also overflowed violently without cease. When the Khitan army arrived in great force and joined strength to break them, the Last Emperor's host collapsed like rotten wood pulled apart. This was Heaven's turning made so. It was not human power.
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是日，帝言於契丹主，願以雁門已北及幽州之地為戎王壽，仍約歲輸帛三十萬，戎王許之。
That day the Emperor spoke to the Khitan ruler, offering the lands north of Yanmen and Youzhou as a gift for the Khitan ruler's longevity and agreeing to deliver three hundred thousand bolts of silk yearly. The Khitan ruler consented.