1
太祖聖神恭肅文武孝皇帝,姓郭氏,諱威,字文仲,邢州堯山人也。 或云本常氏之子,幼隨母適郭氏,故冒其姓焉。 〈(《五代會要》:周虢叔之後。)〉 高祖諱璟,廣順初,追尊為睿和皇帝,廟號信祖,陵曰溫陵; 高祖妣張氏,追謚睿恭皇后。 曾祖諱諶,漢贈太保,追尊為明憲皇帝,廟號僖祖,陵曰齊陵; 曾祖妣鄭國夫人申氏,追謚明孝皇后。 祖諱蘊,漢贈太傅,追尊為翼順皇帝,廟號義祖,陵曰節陵; 〈(《五代會要》:溫陵、齊陵、節陵皆無陵所,遙申朝拜。)〉 祖妣陳國夫人韓氏,追謚翼敬皇后。 皇考諱簡,漢贈太師,追尊為章肅皇帝,廟號慶祖,陵曰欽陵; 皇妣燕國夫人王氏,追謚為章德皇后。 後以唐天祐元年甲子歲七月二十八日,生帝於堯山之舊宅。 載誕之夕,赤光照室,有聲如爐炭之裂,星火四迸。
Taizu, the Sagely Divine, Respectful, Solemn, Martial, Literary, and Filial Emperor, was of the Guo clan. His personal name was Wei, his courtesy name Wenzhong, and his home was Yao Mountain in Xingzhou. Some accounts hold that he was born a Chang, followed his mother into the Guo household as a child, and thereafter bore the Guo surname. (According to the Institutional Compendium of the Five Dynasties, the house descended from Guo Shu of Zhou.) (End of editorial note.)〉 The high ancestor, taboo name Jing, was posthumously enthroned as Emperor Ruihe at the opening of Guangshun, with the temple name Xizu and the mausoleum Wenling; His consort, Lady Zhang, received the posthumous title Empress Ruigong. The great-grandfather, taboo name Chen, was made Grand Guardian under the Han and later raised to Emperor Mingxian, with the temple name Xizu and the mausoleum Qiling; Lady Shen of Zheng was posthumously styled Empress Mingxiao. The grandfather, taboo name Yun, was made Grand Tutor under the Han and later raised to Emperor Yishun, with the temple name Yizu and the mausoleum Jieling; (The Institutional Compendium notes that Wenling, Qiling, and Jieling had no physical burial sites; rites were performed by distant petition.) (End of editorial note.)〉 Lady Han of Chen received the posthumous title Empress Yijing. His father, taboo name Jian, was made Grand Preceptor under the Han and later raised to Emperor Zhangsu, with the temple name Qingzu and the mausoleum Qinling; His mother, Lady Wang of Yan, was posthumously styled Empress Zhangde. On the twenty-eighth day of the seventh month in the first Tianyou year of Tang (jiazi), he was born at the family's old home on Yao Mountain. On the night he was born, a crimson glow filled the room, charcoal seemed to crackle in the brazier, and sparks burst outward on every side.
2
帝生三歲,家徙太原。 居無何,皇考為燕軍所陷,歿於王事。 帝未及齠齔,章德太后蚤世,姨母楚國夫人韓氏提攜鞠養。 及長,形神魁壯,趨向奇崛,愛兵好勇,不事田產。 天祐末,潞州節度使李嗣昭常山戰歿,子繼韜自稱留後,南結梁朝,據城阻命,乃散金以募豪傑。 帝時年十八,避吏壺關,依故人常氏,遂往應募。 帝負氣用剛,好鬥多力,繼韜奇之,或逾法犯禁,亦多假借焉。 嘗遊上黨市,有市屠壯健,眾所畏憚,帝以氣淩之,因醉命屠割肉,小不如意,叱之。 屠者怒,坦腹謂帝曰:「爾敢刺我否?」 帝即事刂其腹,市人執之屬吏,繼韜惜而逸之。 其年,莊宗平梁,繼韜伏誅,麾下牙兵配從馬直,帝在籍中,時年二十一。 帝性聰敏,喜筆劄,及從軍旅,多閱簿書,軍誌戎政,深窮綮肯,人皆服其敏。 嘗省昭義李瓊,瓊方讀《閫外春秋》,即取視之,曰:「論兵也,兄其教我。」 即授之,深通義理。 〈(《宋史·李瓊傳》:唐莊宗慕勇士,即應募,與周祖等十人約為兄弟。 一日會飲,瓊熟視周祖,知非常人,因舉酒祝曰:「凡我十人,尤蛇混合,異日富貴,無相忘。 苛渝此言,神降之罰。」 皆刺臂出血為誓。 周祖與瓊情好尤密,嘗造瓊,見其危坐讀書,因問所讀何書,瓊曰:「此《閫外春秋》,所謂以正守國,以奇用兵,較存亡治亂,記賢愚成敗,皆在此也。」 周祖令讀之,謂瓊曰:「兄當教我。」 自是周祖出入,常袖以自隨,遇暇輒讀,每問難瓊,謂瓊為師。)〉
At the age of three he moved with his family to Taiyuan. Before long his father was cut off by the Yan forces and died in the king's service. He was still a small child when Empress Zhangde died. His aunt, Lady Han of Chu, took him in and raised him. As he matured he grew tall and powerfully built, with an uncommon bearing. He loved arms and prized courage and cared nothing for farming. Late in the Tianyou era Li Sizhao, governor of Luzhou, fell at Changshan. His son Jitao declared himself acting governor, sought Liang support in the south, held the city against orders, and scattered gold to recruit daring men. He was eighteen at the time, dodging the authorities at Huguan while staying with his old friend the Changs, and then went to enlist. Proud and unyielding, he loved a fight and had uncommon strength. Jitao took him for a remarkable man and often overlooked his breaches of law and discipline. Once in the Shangdang market he came upon a butcher so burly that everyone feared him. He lorded it over the man and, drunk, ordered him to carve meat; when the cuts were not quite right he shouted at him. The butcher flew into a rage, bared his belly, and said to him, "Think you can stab me?" Without hesitation he drove a blade into the man's belly. The crowd seized him and turned him over to the authorities, but Jitao valued him and let him go. That year Zhuangzong conquered Liang. Jitao was put to death and his personal troops were assigned to the Imperial Horse Escort, with Guo Wei on the rolls at the age of twenty-one. Quick-witted by nature, he loved letters. Once in the ranks he pored over ledgers and registers and mastered military affairs down to their roots, and everyone marveled at his acuity. Once he called on Li Qiong of Zhaoyi, who was reading the Springs and Autumns Outside the Gate. He took the book and said, "This is about war, brother — teach me." Qiong gave him the book, and he came to a deep grasp of its doctrines. (From Li Qiong's biography in the History of Song: Zhuangzong of Tang sought bold warriors. Guo Wei enlisted and, with nine companions including Li Qiong, swore brotherhood. One day over wine Qiong studied Guo Wei closely and knew he was no ordinary man. He raised his cup and said, "We ten, noble and humble alike — when fortune comes, let none forget the rest. Whoever breaks this oath, let the spirits punish him." They all pricked their arms and sealed the vow in blood. Guo Wei and Qiong were especially close. Once he called on Qiong and found him reading upright. Asked what book it was, Qiong said, "This is the Springs and Autumns Outside the Gate — to hold a state by rectitude, to fight by stratagem, to weigh survival and ruin, order and chaos, and to record who won or lost, the wise and the foolish — all of that is here." Guo Wei had him read it and said, "Brother, you must teach me." Thereafter he carried the book in his sleeve whenever he went abroad, read it whenever he had a spare moment, questioned Qiong constantly, and called Qiong his teacher.) (End of editorial note.)〉
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天成初,明宗幸浚郊。 時朱守殷嬰城拒命,帝從晉高祖一軍率先登城。 晉祖領副侍衛,以帝長於書計,召置麾下,令掌軍籍,前後將臣,無不倚愛。 初,聖穆皇后嬪於帝,帝方匱乏,而後多資從。 〈(《東都事略》:柴後資周太祖以金帛,使事漢高祖。)〉 帝嘗晝寢,有小虺五色,出入顴鼻之間,後遽見愕然。 在太原時,有神尼與帝同姓,見帝,謂李瓊曰:「我宗天上大仙,頂上有肉角,當為世界主。」 清泰末,晉祖起於河東,時河陽節度使張彥琪為侍衛步軍都指揮使,奉命北伐,帝從之,營於晉祠。 是時屋壞,同處數人俱斃,唯帝獨無所傷。 漢高祖為侍衛馬步都虞候,召置左右。 所居官舍之鄰吳氏,有青衣佳娘者,為山魈所魅,鬼能人言而投瓦石,鄰伍無敢過吳氏之舍者。 帝過之,其鬼寂然,帝去如故,如是者再。 或謂鬼曰:「爾既神,向者客來,又何寂然?」 鬼曰:「彼大人者。」 繇是軍中異之。 範延光叛於魏,命楊光遠討之,帝當行,意不願從。 或謂帝曰:「楊公當朝重勛,子不欲從,何也?」 帝曰:「楊公素無英雄氣,得我何用? 能用我其劉公乎!」 漢祖累鎮藩閫,皆從之。 及鎮並門,尤深待遇,出入帷幄,受腹心之寄,帝亦悉心竭力,知無不為。 及吐渾白可久叛入契丹,帝勸漢祖誅白承福等五族,得良馬數千匹、財貨百萬計以資軍。
Early in the Tiancheng era Emperor Mingzong toured the Jun suburbs. Zhu Shouyin was then holding the city against orders. Guo Wei followed the army of the future Jin Gaozu and was first over the wall. The future Jin Gaozu was deputy commander of the Imperial Guard. Seeing Guo Wei's skill with accounts, he took him into his service to manage the rolls, and every officer came to rely on and favor him. Early on Empress Shengmu became his consort while he was still poor; she often supplied him with funds and goods. (The Summary of Affairs in the Eastern Capital records that Lady Chai furnished Guo Wei with gold and silks so he could enter the service of the future Han Gaozu.) (End of editorial note.)〉 Once while he napped by day a small five-colored serpent moved between his temples and nose. The empress saw it and was struck with awe. At Taiyuan a nun of his own surname saw him and told Li Qiong, "A great immortal of our house walks the earth — there is a fleshy horn on his crown, and he is destined to rule the world." Late in Qingtai the future Jin Gaozu rose in Hedong. Zhang Yanqi of Heyang, then commander of the guard infantry, was ordered north on campaign, and Guo Wei went with him, encamping at the Jin Shrine. Then a building collapsed and killed several men who were inside with him, but he alone escaped injury. When the future Han Gaozu became commander of the guard cavalry and infantry, he summoned Guo Wei to his side. Beside his quarters lived the Wus, whose young maid in blue had been possessed by a mountain demon. The spirit spoke like a man and hurled tiles and stones, and none of the neighbors dared pass their door. When he passed by, the ghost fell silent; when he left, it raged again. This happened twice. Someone asked the spirit, "If you are so powerful, why did you fall silent when that guest came?" The spirit answered, "That was a great man." From then on the army looked on him as someone out of the ordinary. When Fan Yanguang rebelled in Wei, Yang Guangyuan was ordered against him. Guo Wei was to accompany the campaign but did not wish to go. Someone asked him, "Lord Yang is one of the court's greatest men of merit — why will you not follow him?" He replied, "Yang has no heroic spirit. What use would he make of me? The man who could use me is Lord Liu!" Liu repeatedly governed frontier provinces, and Guo Wei always followed him. When Liu governed Bingzhou he treated Guo Wei with exceptional favor, taking him in and out of his council tent and entrusting him with his innermost designs. Guo Wei in turn gave his utmost and left nothing undone. When the Tuhun leader Bai Kejiu defected to the Khitan, he urged Liu to execute the five Bai clans including Chengfu, securing several thousand fine horses and wealth in the millions for the army.
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開運末,契丹入汴,晉帝北遷。 帝與蘇逢吉、楊邠、史宏肇等勸漢祖建號,以副人望。 漢高祖即位晉陽,時百度草創,四方猶梗,經綸締構,帝有力焉。 授權樞密副使、檢校司徒。 漢高祖至汴,正授樞密副使、檢校太保。 乾祐元年春,漢高祖不豫,及大漸,與蘇逢吉等同受顧命。 隱帝嗣位,拜樞密使,加檢校太尉。 舊制,樞密使未加使相者,不宣麻制,至是宣之,自帝始也。 〈(《東都事略魏仁浦傳》:仁溥少為刀筆吏,隸樞密院,太祖問以卒乘數,仁溥對曰:「帶甲者六萬。」 太祖喜曰:「天下事不足憂也。」)〉 有頃,河中李守貞據城反,朝廷憂之,諸大臣共議進取之計。 史宏肇曰:「守貞,河陽一客司耳,竟何能為?」 帝曰:「守貞雖不習戎行,然善接英豪,得人死力,亦敵,宜審料之。」 乃命白文珂、常思率兵攻取。 師未至,而趙思綰竊據永興,王景崇反狀亦露,朝廷遣郭從義、王峻討趙思綰。 七月,西面師徒大集,未果進取。 其月十三日,制授帝同平章事,即遣西征,以安慰招撫為名,詔西面諸軍,並取帝節度。 時論以白文珂、常思非守貞之敵,聞帝西行,群情大愜。 〈(《宋史·李蒨傳》:周祖討河中,蒨掌轉運。 時周祖已有人望,潛貯異志,屢以諷蒨,蒨但對以人臣當盡節奉上而已。)〉 八月六日,帝發離京師。 二十日,師至河中。 〈(《宋史·扈彥珂傳》:周祖為樞密使,總兵出征,時議多以先討景崇、思綰為便,周祖意未決。 彥珂曰:「三叛連衡,推守貞為主,宜先擊河中。 河中平,則永興、鳳翔失勢矣。 今舍近圖遠,若景崇、思綰逆戰於前,守貞兵其後,腹背受敵,為之奈何?」 周祖從其言。)〉 命白文珂營於河西,帝營於河東。 不數日,周設長塹,復築長連城以迫之。 帝在軍,居常接賓客,與大將宴語,即褒衣博帶; 或遇巡城壘,對陳敵,幅巾短後,與眾無殊。 臨矢石,冒鋒刃,必以身先,與士伍分甘共苦。 稍立功效者,厚其賜與; 微有傷痍者,親為循撫。 士無賢不肖,有所陳啟,溫顏以接,俾盡其情,人之過忤,未嘗介意,故君子小人皆思效用。 守貞聞之,深以為憂。 十二月,帝以蜀軍屯大散關,即親率牙兵往鳳翔、永興。 相度將發,謂白文珂、劉詞曰:「困獸猶鬥,當謹備之。」 帝至華州,聞蜀軍退敗,遂還。
Late in the Kaiyun era the Khitan entered Bianliang and the Jin emperor was carried north. He joined Su Fengji, Yang Bin, Shi Hongzhao, and others in urging Liu to take the throne and answer the people's hopes. When Han Gaozu was enthroned at Jinyang the realm was still being built from nothing and the provinces remained unsettled; Guo Wei played a major part in shaping the new order. He was made acting Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs and Acting Minister of Education. When Han Gaozu reached Bianliang he received formal appointment as Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs and Acting Grand Guardian. In the spring of the first Qianyou year Han Gaozu fell ill; as his end approached he, with Su Fengji and others, received the dying charge. When Emperor Yin succeeded, Guo Wei was made Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs with the additional title Acting Grand Commandant. By old custom a commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs who had not also been made a chief councilor was not announced by hemp edict; from Guo Wei onward that changed. (From Wei Renpu's biography in the Summary of Affairs in the Eastern Capital: In youth Renpu was a clerk in the Bureau of Military Affairs. Taizu asked how many troops he had, and Renpu answered, "Sixty thousand under arms." Taizu was delighted and said, "There is nothing under heaven worth worrying about." ) (End of editorial note.)〉 Before long Li Shouzhen of Hezhong rebelled and held the city. The court was alarmed, and the chief ministers debated how to take him. Shi Hongzhao said, "Shouzhen is only a staff officer from Heyang — what can he really do?" Guo Wei said, "Shouzhen may not be a soldier by training, but he wins heroes to his side and commands their utmost loyalty. He is a foe to be reckoned with." He then ordered Bai Wenke and Chang Si to lead troops against him. Before the army arrived, Zhao Sizhen seized Yongxing and Wang Jingchong's rebellion came to light. The court sent Guo Congyi and Wang Jun against Zhao. In the seventh month the western armies massed but made no advance. On the thirteenth of that month he was made Associate Councilor of State and sent west on campaign, nominally to reassure and win over the region. An edict placed all western armies under his command. Public opinion held that Bai Wenke and Chang Si were no match for Shouzhen; when word spread that Guo Wei was marching west, morale rose sharply. (From Li Qian's biography in the History of Song: When Guo Wei campaigned against Hezhong, Qian directed transport. Guo Wei already enjoyed wide esteem and secretly harbored larger ambitions. He repeatedly sounded Qian out, but Qian would only say that a subject must serve his sovereign with full loyalty.) (End of editorial note.)〉 On the sixth day of the eighth month he departed the capital. On the twentieth the army reached Hezhong. (From Hu Yanke's biography in the History of Song: As commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Guo Wei commanded the expedition. Many argued that Jingchong and Sizhen should be struck first, but he had not yet decided. Yanke said, "The three rebels are allied and take Shouzhen as their head. We should strike Hezhong first. Once Hezhong falls, Yongxing and Fengxiang will lose their leverage. If we leave the near foe for the distant one and Jingchong and Sizhen fight us in front while Shouzhen strikes from behind, we will be caught between two fires. What then?" Guo Wei followed his advice.) (End of editorial note.)〉 Bai Wenke was ordered to camp on the west bank of the river and Guo Wei on the east. Within days they threw up long trenches and built a chain of linked walls to press the siege. In camp he regularly received guests and, when feasting with his generals, wore loose robes with broad belts; but when he inspected the walls or faced the enemy in battle line he wore a plain headcloth and short jacket like any common soldier. Under arrow and blade he always led from the front and shared hardship and comfort with the men. Those who achieved even modest success received generous rewards; those with even slight wounds he comforted in person. Whether worthy or base, any soldier who wished to speak was met with a kindly face and heard to the full. He never bore a grudge when men crossed him, and so both the upright and the rough were eager to serve him. When Shouzhen heard of this, he was deeply alarmed. In the twelfth month, learning that Shu troops were at Dasanguan, he personally led his guard toward Fengxiang and Yongxing. As he prepared to march, he told Bai Wenke and Liu Ci, "A cornered beast still fights. We must stay on our guard." He reached Huazhou, heard that the Shu army had been beaten back, and returned.
5
二年正月五日夜,李守貞遣將王三鐵領千餘人,夜突河西呰,果為劉詞等力戰敗之。 先是,軍中禁酒,帝有愛將李審犯令,斬之以徇。 五月九日,取河西寨,賊將周光遜以寨及部眾千餘人來降。 十七日,下令攻城,會西北大風,揚沙晦冥,帝令禱河伯祠,奠訖而風止,自是晝夜攻之。 七月十三日,帝率三寨將士奪賊羅城。 二十一日,城陷,守貞舉家自焚而死。 帝前夢河神告曰:「七月下旬,上帝當滅守貞之族。」 至是收復賊壘,城中人言,見帝營上有紫氣,如樓閣華蓋之狀。 〈(《東都事略·王溥傳》:周太祖將兵討三叛,以溥為從事。 三叛既平,朝士及藩鎮嘗以書往來,詞意涉於悖逆者,太祖籍其名,欲按之。 溥諫曰:「魑魅伺夜而出,日月既照,則氛摐消矣。 請焚之,以安反側。」 太祖從之。)〉
On the night of the fifth day of the first month in the second year, Li Shouzhen sent Wang Santie with more than a thousand men in a night raid on the west-bank stockade. Liu Ci and others met them in fierce fighting and drove them off. Earlier the army had forbidden wine. When his favorite officer Li Shen broke the rule, he beheaded him as an example. On the ninth day of the fifth month they captured the west-bank stockade. The rebel general Zhou Guangxun surrendered the post and more than a thousand men. On the seventeenth he ordered the assault. A fierce northwest wind whipped up sand and darkened the sky. He had prayers offered at the River Lord shrine, and when the rites were finished the wind died. Thereafter the attack continued day and night. On the thirteenth day of the seventh month he led the troops of the three camps in taking the rebels' outer wall. On the twenty-first the city fell. Shouzhen and his entire household burned themselves to death. He had earlier dreamed that the River God told him, "In the latter part of the seventh month Heaven will destroy Shouzhen's house." When the rebel stronghold was recovered, people in the city said they saw purple vapor above his camp, shaped like towers and a ceremonial canopy. (From Wang Pu's biography in the Summary of Affairs in the Eastern Capital: When Taizu marched against the three rebellions, he made Pu a staff officer. After the three rebellions were crushed, letters passed between court officials and frontier governors that hinted at treason. Taizu listed the names and intended to prosecute. Pu remonstrated, "Demons emerge only in the dark; once sun and moon shine, the miasma vanishes. Burn them, I beg, to reassure the wavering." Taizu followed his advice.) (End of editorial note.)〉
6
二年八月五日,帝自河中班師,其月二十七日入朝。 漢帝命升階撫勞,酌禦酒以賜之,錫賫優厚。 翌日,漢帝議賞勛,欲兼方鎮,帝辭之,乃止。 帝以出征時廳子都七十三人,具籍獻之。 九月五日,制加檢校太師、兼侍中。 十月,契丹入寇,前鋒至邢、洺、貝、魏,河北告急,帝受詔率師赴北邊,以宣徽南院使王峻為監軍。 其月十九日,帝至邢州,遣王峻前軍趨鎮、定。 時契丹已退,帝大閱,欲臨寇境,詔止之。
On the fifth day of the eighth month in the second year he withdrew from Hezhong, and on the twenty-seventh he entered the capital for audience. The Han emperor had him ascend the steps to be personally commended, poured imperial wine for him, and bestowed lavish gifts. The next day the emperor discussed rewarding his merit and wished to add a frontier governorship, but Guo Wei declined and the offer was withdrawn. He submitted a full roster of the seventy-three men of his personal retinue who had accompanied the campaign. On the fifth day of the ninth month he was made Acting Grand Preceptor and Concurrent Palace Attendant. In the tenth month the Khitan invaded, their vanguard reaching Xing, Ming, Bei, and Wei. With Hebei in crisis he was ordered north at the head of an army, with Wang Jun of the Southern Bureau of the Palace Secretariat as supervisor. On the nineteenth of that month he reached Xingzhou and sent Wang Jun's vanguard toward Zhen and Ding. The Khitan had already withdrawn. He held a grand review and wished to push to the border, but an edict stopped him.
7
三年二月,班師。 三月十七日,制授鄴都留守,樞密使如故。 時漢帝以北兵為患,委帝以河朔之任,宰相蘇逢吉等議,藩臣無兼樞密使例。 史宏肇以帝受任之重,茍不兼密務,則難以便宜從事。 竟從宏肇之議,詔河北諸州,凡事一稟帝節度。 帝將北行,啟漢帝曰:「陛下富有春秋,萬幾之事,宜審於聽斷。 文武大臣,乃心王室,凡事諮詢,即無敗失。」 漢帝斂容謝之。 帝至鄴,盡去煩弊之事,不數月,閫政有序,一方晏然。 詔書褒美。 一夕,在山亭院齋中,忽有黃氣起於前,上際於天,帝於黃氣中見星文,紫微、文昌,爛然在目。 既而告之星者曰:「予於室中見天象,不其異乎?」 對曰:「坐見天衢,物不能隔,至貴之祥也。」 翌日,牙署中有紫氣起於幡竿龍首,凡三日。
In the second month of the third year he withdrew his army. On the seventeenth day of the third month he was made military governor of Yedu while retaining his post as commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. With northern armies a constant threat, the Han emperor entrusted him with the Hebei-Shanxi command. Chief councilor Su Fengji and others argued that frontier governors should not also hold the Bureau of Military Affairs. Shi Hongzhao argued that given the weight of his commission, he could not act with necessary flexibility unless he also retained the confidential post. They finally followed Hongzhao's view. An edict to all Hebei provinces placed every matter under Guo Wei's command. Before marching north he addressed the emperor: "Your Majesty is still young. In the myriad affairs of state you should judge and decide with care. The civil and military ministers are loyal to the throne. Consult them in all matters and nothing will go wrong." The emperor composed himself and thanked him. At Ye he swept away vexatious and corrupt practices. Within months frontier administration was in order and the region was at peace. An imperial edict praised his work. One evening in the mountain pavilion study, yellow vapor suddenly rose before him to the sky. Within it he saw the constellations Purple Forbidden and Literary Glory blazing plain before his eyes. He then told the court astrologer, "I saw heavenly signs indoors — is that not strange?" The astrologer answered, "To sit and see the heavenly thoroughfare with nothing to block the view is the omen of the highest nobility." The next day purple vapor rose from the dragon head atop the banner pole at headquarters for three days.
8
十一月十四日,澶州節度使李洪義、侍衛步軍都指揮使王殷遣澶州副使陳光穗至鄴都,報京師有變:是月十三日旦,群小等害史宏肇等。 前一夕,李業等遣腹心賫密詔至澶州,令李洪義殺王殷,又令護聖左廂都指揮使郭崇等害帝於鄴城。 十三日,洪義受得密詔,恐事不濟,乃以密詔示王殷,殷與洪義即遣陳光穗馳報於帝。 十四日,帝方與宣徽使王峻坐議邊事,忽得洪義文字,遽歸牙署,峻亦未知其事。 帝初知楊、史諸公被誅,神情惘然,又見移禍及己,伸訴無所,即集三軍將校諭之曰:「予從微至著,輔佐國家。 先皇登遐,親受顧托,與楊、史諸公,彈壓經謀,忘寢與食,一旦無狀,盡已誅夷。 今有詔來取予首級,爾等宜奉行詔旨,斷予首以報天子,各圖功業,且不累諸君也。」 崇等與諸將校泣於前,言曰:「此事必非聖意,即是左右小人誣罔竊發,假令此輩握重柄,國得安乎! 宜得投論,以判忠佞,何事信單車之使而自棄,千載之下,空受惡名。 崇等願從明公入朝,面自洗雪,除君側之惡,共安天下。」 眾然之,遂請帝南行,帝即嚴駕首途。 十六日,至澶州,王殷迎謁慟哭。 時隱帝遣小豎嵒脫偵鄴軍所在,為遊騎所執,帝即遣回。 令附奏隱帝赴闕之由,仍以密奏置嵒脫衣領中。 奏曰:「臣發跡寒賤,遭遇聖明,既富且貴,實過平生之望,唯思報國,敢有他圖! 今奉詔命,忽令郭崇等殺臣,即時俟死,而諸軍不肯行刑,逼臣赴闕,令臣請罪上前,仍言致有此事,必是陛下左右譖臣耳。 今嵒脫至此,天假其便,得伸臣心,三五日當及闕朝陛下。 若以臣有欺天之罪,臣豈敢惜死; 若實有譖臣者,乞陛下縛送軍前,以快三軍之意,則臣雖死無恨。 今托嵒脫附奏以聞。」 十七日,帝至滑州,節度使宋延渥開門迎納。 帝將發滑臺,召將士謂之曰:「主上為讒邪所惑,誅殺勛臣,吾之此來,事不獲己,然以臣拒君,寧論曲直! 汝等家在京師,不如奉行前詔,我以一死謝天子,實無所恨。」 將校前啟曰:「國家負公,公不負國。 請公速行,無遲久,安邦雪怨,正在此時。」 既而王峻諭軍曰:「我得公處分,俟平定京城,許爾等旬日剽掠。」 眾皆踴躍。
On the fourteenth day of the eleventh month, Li Hongyi, governor of Chanzhou, and Wang Yin, commander of the guard infantry, sent Chen Guangrui, vice commissioner of Chanzhou, to Yedu with word that the capital had changed: at dawn on the thirteenth, petty men had murdered Shi Hongzhao and his colleagues. The night before, Li Ye and others had sent trusted men with a secret edict to Chanzhou ordering Li Hongyi to kill Wang Yin and Guo Chong and others of the guard to kill Guo Wei at Ye. On the thirteenth Hongyi received the secret edict. Fearing the plot would fail, he showed it to Wang Yin, and the two at once sent Chen Guangrui racing to warn Guo Wei. On the fourteenth he was discussing frontier affairs with Wang Jun when Hongyi's message arrived. He hurried back to headquarters; Jun did not yet know what had happened. When he first learned that Yang, Shi, and the others had been executed, he was stunned. Learning that the disaster had been turned on him with no way to plead his case, he assembled the army officers and said, "I rose from obscurity to serve the state. When the late emperor died I received his dying charge. With Yang, Shi, and the others I suppressed plots and schemed without rest. Now, in a single morning and without cause, they have all been slaughtered. Now an edict has come for my head. Carry out the command, cut off my head and present it to the Son of Heaven, seek your own rewards, and do not involve yourselves on my account." Chong and the other officers wept before him and said, "This cannot be the sacred will. Petty men at the ruler's side have deceived him and launched this in secret. If such men hold power, can the state be secure? We should go and argue the case to distinguish loyal from treacherous. Why believe a lone messenger and abandon yourself, leaving an empty evil name for a thousand years? We wish to follow you to court, clear ourselves face to face, remove the evil at the ruler's side, and secure the realm together." The army agreed and asked him to march south. He arrayed his carriage and set out at once. On the sixteenth he reached Chanzhou. Wang Yin came out to meet him, weeping bitterly. The Hidden Emperor had sent the young attendant Yan Tuo to spy on the Ye army's whereabouts. Scouting horsemen seized him, and Guo Wei sent him back at once. He had him carry a memorial explaining why he was coming to court and placed a secret memorial in Yan Tuo's collar. The memorial read: "Your subject rose from cold poverty, met a sagely ruler, and has become rich and noble beyond anything I ever hoped. I think only of repaying the state and dare harbor any other design! Now by edict Guo Chong and others were suddenly ordered to kill me. I was ready to die at once, but the armies refused and forced me to come to court to plead before Your Majesty, saying this affair must be slander by those at your side. Now Yan Tuo has come; Heaven has lent the chance to speak my heart. In three or five days I shall reach the palace to attend Your Majesty. If I have the crime of deceiving Heaven, how would I dare spare my life; if there truly are those who slandered me, I beg Your Majesty to bind them and send them before the army to satisfy the troops. Then though I die, I shall have no regret. I entrust this to Yan Tuo for Your Majesty's knowledge." On the seventeenth he reached Huazhou. Governor Song Yanwo opened the gates to welcome him in. As he was about to leave Huatai he summoned the officers and said, "The sovereign has been misled by slanderers and has killed meritorious ministers. I did not come willingly, yet for a subject to resist his ruler — who can argue right and wrong? Your families are in the capital. Better carry out the earlier edict. I will die once to answer the Son of Heaven and have no regret." The officers came forward and said, "The state has wronged you; you have not wronged the state. March quickly without delay. To secure the realm and wipe away this wrong — the time is now." Then Wang Jun told the army, "I have the Lord's word: after the capital is pacified, you may plunder for ten days." The troops leaped for joy.
9
十九日,隱帝遣左神武統軍袁鳷、前鄧州節度使劉重進率禁軍來拒,與前開封尹侯益等屯赤岡,是夜俱退。 二十日,隱帝整陣於劉子坡。 二十一日,兩陣俱列,慕容彥超率軍奮擊,帝遣何福進、王彥超、李筠等大合騎以乘之。 慕容彥超退卻,死者百餘人,於是南軍奪氣,稍稍奔於北軍。 慕容彥超與數十騎東奔兗州,吳虔裕、張彥超等相繼來見帝。 是夜侯益、焦繼勛潛至帝營,帝慰勞遣還。 二十二日旦,郭允明弒漢隱帝於北郊。 初、官軍之敗,帝謂宋延渥曰:「爾國親,可速往衛主上,兼附奏,請陛下得便速奔臣軍,免為左右所圖。」 及延渥至,亂兵雲合,即惶駭而還。 是旦,帝望見天子旌旗於高坡之上,謂隱帝在其下,既免胄釋馬而前,左右慮有不測,請帝止。 帝泣曰:「吾君在此,又何憂焉!」 及至前,隱帝已去矣,帝歔欷久之。 俄聞隱帝遇弒,號慟不已。 帝至元化門,劉銖雨射城外,帝回車自迎春門入,諸軍大掠,煙火四發,帝止於舊第,何福進以部下兵守明德門。 翌日,王殷、郭崇言曰:「若不止剽掠,比夜化為空城耳。」 由是諸將部分斬其剽者,至晡乃定。 帝與王峻詣太后宮起居,請立嗣君,乃以高祖侄徐州節度使赟入繼大統,語在漢紀。 二十七日,帝以嗣君未至,請太后臨朝,會鎮、定州馳奏,契丹入寇,河北諸州告急,太后命帝北征。
On the nineteenth the Hidden Emperor sent Yuan Yi of the Left Divine Martial Army and former Dengzhou governor Liu Chongjin with the forbidden army to resist. With former Kaifeng prefect Hou Yi and others they encamped at Chigang, but withdrew that night. On the twentieth the Hidden Emperor arrayed his forces at Liuzipo. On the twenty-first both armies were drawn up. Murong Yanchao led a fierce assault. Guo Wei sent He Fujin, Wang Yanchao, Li Yun, and others to mass cavalry and strike him. Murong Yanchao fell back with more than a hundred dead. The southern army lost heart and gradually fled to Guo Wei's side. Murong Yanchao fled east to Yanzhou with several dozen horsemen. Wu Qianyu, Zhang Yanchao, and others came in succession to join Guo Wei. That night Hou Yi and Jiao Jixun secretly came to his camp. He comforted them and sent them back. At dawn on the twenty-second Guo Yunming assassinated the Hidden Emperor of Han in the northern suburbs. Earlier, when the government army was defeated, he told Song Yanwo, "You are a kinsman of the throne. Go quickly to protect the sovereign and also send a memorial asking His Majesty, if he can, to hurry to my army and avoid being plotted against by those at his side." When Yanwo arrived, rebel troops swarmed like clouds. Terrified, he turned back at once. That morning he saw the imperial banners on a high slope and thought the Hidden Emperor was below. He removed his helmet, dismounted, and went forward. His attendants feared mishap and begged him to stop. He wept and said, "My lord is here — what is there to fear!" When he reached the spot, the Hidden Emperor was already gone. He sighed and sobbed for a long while. Soon he heard that the Hidden Emperor had been assassinated and wailed without cease. He reached the Yuanhua Gate. Liu Zhu rained arrows outside the wall. He turned his carriage and entered by the Yingchun Gate. The armies plundered wildly and fires blazed on every side. He stopped at his old residence while He Fujin guarded the Mingde Gate with his troops. The next day Wang Yin and Guo Chong said, "If the plundering is not stopped, by nightfall the city will be empty." The generals then assigned sections and beheaded plunderers. By late afternoon order was restored. He and Wang Jun went to the empress dowager's palace to pay respects and asked that a successor be established. They named Yun, nephew of Gaozu and governor of Xuzhou, to succeed — the account is in the Annals of Han. On the twenty-seventh, because the successor had not yet arrived, he asked the empress dowager to preside over court. Urgent reports arrived from Zhen and Ding that the Khitan had invaded and Hebei was in crisis. The empress dowager ordered him north.
10
十二月一日,帝發離京師。 四日,至滑州,駐馬數日。 會湘陰公遣使慰勞諸將,受宜之際,相顧不拜,皆竊言曰:「我輩陷京師,各各負罪,若劉氏復立,則無種矣。」 或有以其言告帝者,帝愕然,即時進途。 十六日,至澶州。 是日旭旦,日邊有紫氣來,當帝之馬首。 十九日,下令諸軍進發。 二十日,諸軍將士大噪趨驛,如墻而進,帝閉門拒之。 軍士登墻越屋而入,請帝為天子。 亂軍山積,登階匝陛,扶抱擁迫,或有裂黃旗以被帝體,以代赭袍,山呼震地。 帝在萬眾之中,聲氣沮喪,悶絕數四,左右親衛,星散竄匿。 帝即登城樓,稍得安息,諸軍遂擁帝南行。 時河冰初解,浮梁未構。 是夜北風凜烈,比旦冰堅可渡,諸軍遂濟,眾謂之「淩橋」,濟竟冰泮,時人異之。 時湘陰公已駐宋州,樞密使王峻在京,聞澶州之變,遣侍衛馬軍指揮使郭崇率七百騎赴宋州,以衛湘陰公。 二十五日,帝至七里店,群臣謁見,遂營於臯門村。
On the first day of the twelfth month he departed the capital. On the fourth he reached Huazhou and halted for several days. When the Lord of Xiangyin sent envoys to comfort the generals, they looked at one another and did not bow as they received the gifts, whispering, "We seized the capital and each bears guilt. If the Liu house is restored, our clans will be exterminated." Someone reported their words to Guo Wei. Startled, he pressed on at once. On the sixteenth he reached Chanzhou. At early dawn that day purple vapor came from beside the sun and settled before his horse's head. On the nineteenth he ordered all armies to advance. On the twentieth the officers and soldiers raised a great clamor and rushed the post station like a wall. He shut the gates to refuse them. The soldiers climbed the walls and crossed the roofs to enter, asking him to become Son of Heaven. Troops piled up like mountains, mounting the steps and filling the hall, supporting and pressing upon him. Some tore the yellow banner to cover his body in place of the scarlet robe. The mountain shout shook the earth. Amid the myriad multitude his voice and spirit failed; he fainted several times, and his close guards scattered and hid. He ascended the city tower and gained a little rest. The armies then escorted him south. The river ice had just begun to break and no floating bridge had yet been built. That night a bitter north wind blew. By dawn the ice was firm enough to cross, and the armies crossed — the troops called it "Crossing on Ice." When the crossing was done the ice melted, and contemporaries marveled. The Lord of Xiangyin was already at Songzhou. Wang Jun, commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, was in the capital. Hearing of the change at Chanzhou, he sent Guo Chong with seven hundred horsemen to Songzhou to guard the Lord of Xiangyin. On the twenty-fifth he reached Qilidian. The ministers paid court, and he encamped at Gaomen Village.
11
二十七日,漢太后令曰:「樞密使、侍中郭威,以英武之才,兼內外之任,剪除禍亂,宏濟艱難,功業格天,人望冠世。 今則軍民愛戴,朝野推崇,宜總萬機,以允群議,可監國。 中外庶事,並取監國處分。」 二十八日,監國教曰:「寡人出自軍戎,本無德望,因緣際會,叨竊寵靈。 高祖皇帝甫在經綸,待之心腹,洎登大位,尋付重權。 當顧命之時,受忍死之寄,與諸勛舊,輔立嗣君。 旋屬三叛連衡,四郊多壘,謬膺朝旨,委以專征,兼守重藩,俾當敵,敢不橫身戮力,竭節盡心! 冀肅靜於疆場,用保安於宗社。 不謂奸邪構亂,將相連誅,寡人偶脫鋒铓,克平患難,誌安劉氏,願報漢恩,推擇長君,以紹丕構。 遂奏太后,請立徐州相公,奉迎已在於道途,行李未及於都輦。 尋以北面事急,寇騎深侵,遂領師徒,徑往掩襲,行次近鎮,已渡洪河。 十二月二十日,將登澶州,軍情忽變,旌旗倒指,喊叫連天,引袂牽襟,迫請為主。 環繞而逃避無所,紛紜而逼脅愈堅,頃刻之間,安危莫保,事不獲己,須至徇從,於是馬步諸軍擁至京闕。 今奉太后詔旨,以時運艱危,機務難曠,俾令監國,遜避無由,黽勉遵承,夙夜憂愧」云。 時文武百官、內外將帥、藩臣郡守等,相繼上表勸進。 三十日夜,御營西北隅步軍將校因醉揚言:「昨澶州馬軍扶策,今步軍亦欲扶策。」 尋令虞候詰其姓名,昧旦擒而斬之。 其一軍仍納甲仗,遣中使監送就糧所。
On the twenty-seventh the Empress Dowager of Han issued an edict: "Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs and Palace Attendant Guo Wei possesses heroic martial talent and bears responsibilities both at court and in the field. He has uprooted calamity and disorder, delivered the realm from grave hardship, achieved deeds that reach Heaven, and enjoys esteem unmatched in the age. Soldiers and civilians now love and uphold him; court and countryside alike acclaim him. He should oversee all affairs of state in accordance with general opinion — let him serve as Regent of the State. All routine affairs, civil and military, shall be decided by the Regent." On the twenty-eighth the Regent issued a proclamation: "I rose from the military ranks and had no standing for virtue or renown. By happenstance alone I presumptuously received imperial favor. When Gaozu was still forging the new order he treated me as a trusted confidant; once he took the throne he soon invested me with great power. At his deathbed I accepted the charge that cost him his life, and together with the veteran meritorious officials helped install the heir. Soon three rebellions joined in league and enemies besieged the capital on every side. I wrongly received the court's command for independent expedition and simultaneously held a great frontier command to face the foe — how could I fail to throw myself into the struggle and give my utmost loyalty! I hoped to pacify the frontiers and thereby safeguard the altars of state. I never expected wicked men to incite disorder or that generals and ministers would be executed one after another. I alone escaped the blade by chance, put down the crisis, sought to secure the Liu house, repay Han's grace, and choose an elder sovereign to carry on the great enterprise. I memorialized the Empress Dowager to install the Duke of Xuzhou. The welcoming party was already on the road, though his train had not yet reached the capital. When the northern front grew urgent and enemy cavalry pressed deep into our territory, I led the army on a surprise strike. Marching through a nearby garrison, we had already crossed the Grand River. On the twentieth of the twelfth month, as we were about to reach Chanzhou, the army's mood suddenly turned: banners reversed, shouts filled the sky, soldiers grasped sleeves and pulled at robes, pressing me to become their sovereign. Surrounded on every side, I had nowhere to flee. The pressure only intensified. In an instant my safety hung in the balance. Unable to refuse, I had no choice but to yield — and cavalry and infantry of all armies escorted me to the capital. Now, following the Empress Dowager's edict — because the times are perilous and state affairs cannot be left unattended — I am appointed Regent. Decline is impossible. I apply myself to the charge, troubled and ashamed day and night," the proclamation concluded. Civil and military officials, commanders at court and in the field, frontier lords, and prefectural governors then submitted memorial after memorial urging him to take the throne. On the night of the thirtieth, drunken infantry officers at the northwest corner of the imperial camp shouted: "Yesterday the cavalry at Chanzhou forced our hand — today the infantry mean to do the same." Patrol officers were sent to identify them; at dawn they were seized and executed. That unit surrendered its arms and armor and was escorted under palace supervision to its provision station.
12
廣順元年春正月丁卯,漢太后誥曰:「邃古以來,受命相繼,是不一姓,傳諸百王,莫不人心順之則興,天命去之則廢,昭然事跡,著在典書。 予否運所丁,遭家不造,奸邪構亂,朋黨橫行,大臣冤枉以被誅,少主倉卒而及禍,人自作孽,天道寧論。 監國威,深念漢恩,切安劉氏,既平亂略,復正頹綱,思固護於基扃,擇繼嗣於宗室。 而獄訟盡歸於西伯,謳謠不在於丹朱,六師竭推戴之誠,萬國仰欽明之德,鼎革斯契,圖箓有歸,予作佳賓,固以為幸。 今奉符寶授監國,可即皇帝位。 於戲! 天祿在躬,神器自至,允集天命,永綏兆民,敬之哉!」 是日,帝自臯門入大內,禦崇元殿,即皇帝位。 制曰:
In spring, the first month, on dingmao of Guangshun 1, the Empress Dowager of Han issued a grand pronouncement: "Since deepest antiquity those who received the Mandate have succeeded one another — no single surname has held it forever. The hundred kings all teach the same lesson: when hearts align, dynasties rise; when Heaven withdraws its Mandate, they fall. The record is plain in the canonical histories. I have met with adverse fortune and an ill-formed house. Wicked men stirred disorder and factions ran rampant. Great ministers were wrongly executed; the young sovereign perished in haste. When men bring calamity upon themselves, Heaven's Way needs no debate. Regent Wei, deeply mindful of Han's grace, urgently sought to secure the Liu house. Having pacified disorder and restored collapsed norms, he thought to protect the foundation of the realm and chose a successor from the imperial clan. Yet all authority flowed to the Earl of the West, and the people's songs did not belong to Danzhu. The Six Armies exhausted themselves in urging his elevation; all the realm looked up to his luminous virtue. The change of dynasty accorded with this destiny; the charts and registers found their owner. That I become an honored guest I count a blessing. Presenting the seal and jade, invest the Regent — let him immediately ascend the throne. Alas! Heaven's blessing rests upon you; the imperial regalia comes unbidden. Truly receive Heaven's Mandate and forever pacify the myriad people — hold it in reverence!" That day the Emperor entered the Inner Palace through Gaomen Gate, ascended Chongyuan Hall, and took the throne. An edict read:
13
自古受命之君,興邦建統,莫不上符天意,下順人心。 是以夏德既衰,爰啟有商之祚; 炎風不競,肇開皇魏之基。 朕早事前朝,久居重位。 受遺輔政,敢忘伊、霍之忠; 仗鉞臨戎,復委韓、彭之任。 匪躬盡瘁,焦思勞心,討叛渙於河、潼,張聲援於岐、雍,竟平大憝,粗立微勞。 才旋騑於關西,尋統兵於河朔,訓齊師旅,固護邊陲,只將身許國家,不以賊遺君父。 外憂少息,內患俄生,群小連謀,大臣遇害,棟梁既壞,社稷將傾。 朕方在藩維,以遭讒構。 逃一生於萬死,徑赴闕庭; 梟四罪於九衢,幸安區宇。 將延漢祚,擇立劉宗,征命已行,軍情忽變。 朕以眾庶所迫,逃避無由,扶擁至京,尊戴為主。 重以中外勸進,方嶽推崇,黽勉雖順於群心,臨御實慚於涼德。 改元建號,祗率於舊章; 革故鼎新,宜覃於霈澤。
"Since antiquity no sovereign who received the Mandate and founded a dynasty has failed to align with Heaven above and the people's hearts below." "When Xia's virtue waned, Shang's fortune opened;" "when Han's vigor faltered, Wei laid its foundation." "I long served the previous dynasty and long held high office." "Entrusted at deathbed to assist in government, I never forgot the loyalty of Yi Yin and Huo Guang;" "bearing the commander's axe on campaign, again entrusted with tasks worthy of Han Xin and Peng Yue." "I spared neither body nor mind, burning with worry and toil. I punished rebels at the He and Tong region, extended support through Qi and Yong, and at last put down the great enemy — a small merit, but real." "Hardly had I turned from the western passes when I took command in Heshuo, drilled the army, and held the frontier — offering my person to the state and leaving no enemy for my sovereign to face." "External threats had barely eased when internal calamity erupted. Petty men conspired; great ministers were slain. The pillars were broken; the altars of state near collapse." "I was at my frontier post when slander framed me." "Escaping death by a hair, I marched straight to the capital;" "executed the four criminals at the public crossroads and, by good fortune, restored peace to the realm." "Intending to preserve Han's line, I chose an heir of the Liu house. The summons had gone out when the army's mood suddenly turned." "Compelled by the multitude with no way to refuse, I was escorted to the capital and acclaimed as sovereign." "Urged further by court and field and acclaimed by the regional lords, I comply though the multitude wills it — yet in taking the throne I am ashamed of my slight virtue." "In changing the era name and founding the dynasty, I reverently follow established precedent;" "in replacing the old order and renewing the state, broad grace should pour forth in amnesty."
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朕本姬室之遠裔,虢叔之後昆,積慶累功,格天光表,盛德既延於百世,大命復集於眇躬,今建國宜以大周為號,可改漢乾祐四年為廣順元年。 自正月五日昧爽已前,應天下罪人,常赦所不原者,咸赦除之。 故樞密使楊邠、侍衛都指揮使史宏肇、三司使王章等,以勞定國,盡節致君,千載逢時,一旦同命,悲感行路,憤結重泉,雖尋雪於沈冤,宜更伸於渥澤,並可加等追贈,備禮歸葬,葬事官給,仍訪子孫敘用。 其餘同遭枉害者,亦與追贈。 馬步諸軍將士等,戮力葉誠,輸忠效義,先則平持內難,後乃推戴朕躬,言念勛勞,所宜旌賞。 其原屬將士等,各與等第,超加恩命,仍賜功臣名號,已帶功臣者別與改賜。 應左降官,未量移者與量移,已量移者與復資,已復資者量加敘錄。 亡官失爵之人,宜與齒用,配流徒役人,並許放還。 諸處有犯罪逃亡之人,及山林草寇等,一切不問,如赦到後一月不歸本業者,復罪如初。 內外前任、見任文武官僚致仕官,各與加恩。 應在朝文武臣僚、內諸司使、諸道行軍副使、藩方馬步都指揮使,如父母在,未有恩澤者即與恩澤,已有者更與恩澤; 如亡沒,未曾追封贈者亦與封贈,已封贈者更與封贈。
"I am a distant scion of the Ji house, descended from Guo Shu. Blessings and merit accumulated until they reached Heaven; virtue long sustained now gathers the Mandate upon my humble person. The new state shall be called Great Zhou, and the fourth year of Han Qianyou shall become Guangshun 1." "Effective before dawn on the fifth of the first month, all criminals throughout the realm whom ordinary amnesties would not cover are fully pardoned." "Former Commissioner Yang Bin, Palace Guard Commander Shi Hongzhao, and Three Departments Commissioner Wang Zhang, among others, labored to settle the realm and gave their lives in loyal service. In a single morning they met a fate that moved all who passed on the road. Though their wrongs have been cleared, generous posthumous honors are due: promotion in rank, full burial rites at state expense, and their descendants sought out for appointment." "Others who suffered wrongful harm shall likewise receive posthumous honors." "The cavalry and infantry who pledged their loyalty — first quelling internal disorder, then urging my elevation — deserve commemoration and reward." "Original troops shall receive graded promotions and extraordinary honors, with titles of merit conferred anew — those already bearing such titles shall receive renewed grants." "Demoted officials not yet reassigned shall be reassigned; those reassigned shall be restored; those restored shall receive further promotion as appropriate." "Those who lost office and rank may be considered for appointment; exiles, convicts, and corvée laborers are all permitted to return." "Criminal fugitives and mountain bandits everywhere shall go unquestioned; but if they fail to return to honest livelihood within one month of the amnesty, their crimes revert." "Retired as well as serving civil and military officials shall receive additional favors." "For civil and military officials at court, inner-bureau commissioners, circuit deputy commanders, and frontier cavalry and infantry commanders: if their parents are living and have not yet received enfeoffment honors, grant them now; if already honored, grant additional honors;" "if deceased and not yet posthumously enfeoffed, grant enfeoffment; if already enfeoffed, grant additional honors."
15
應天下州縣,所欠乾祐元年、二年已前夏秋殘稅及沿征物色,並三年夏稅諸色殘欠,並與除放。 澶州已來,官路兩邊共二十里內,並乾祐三年殘稅欠稅,並與除放。 應河北沿邊州縣,自去年九月後來,曾經契丹蹂踐處,其人戶應欠乾祐三年終已前積年殘欠諸色稅物,並與除放。 應系三司主持錢谷敗闕場院官取乾祐元年終已前征納外,灼然無抵當者,委三司分析聞奏。 天下倉場、庫務,宜令節度使專切鈐轄,掌納官吏一依省條指揮,不得別納鬥餘、秤耗,舊來所進羨余物色,今後一切停罷。
"All outstanding summer and autumn taxes and collected goods in transit from before Qianyou 1 and 2, and all residual summer taxes of Qianyou 3, are remitted throughout the realm." "From Chanzhou eastward, all residual and overdue taxes of Qianyou 3 within twenty li on both sides of the imperial highway are remitted." "In Hebei frontier prefectures and counties ravaged by the Khitan since the ninth month of last year, all accumulated tax arrears through the end of Qianyou 3 are remitted." "Where Three Departments revenue officials show depot deficits for collections before the end of Qianyou 1 and clearly lack collateral, the Three Departments shall investigate and report." "Granaries and storehouses throughout the realm shall be placed under military governors' strict supervision. Receiving officials must follow provincial regulations and may not levy surplus measures or scale wastage. All former surplus tribute is abolished."
16
應乘輿服禦之物,不得過為華飾,宮闈器用,務從樸素,大官常膳,一切減損。 諸道所有進奉,以助軍國之費,其珍巧纖華及奇禽異獸鷹犬之類,不得輒有獻貢,諸無用之物、不急之務,並宜停罷。 帝王之道,德化為先,崇飾虛名,朕所不取,茍致治之未洽,雖多端以奚為! 今後諸道所有祥瑞,不得輒有奏獻。
"Imperial garments and accoutrements must not be excessively ornate; palace utensils shall be plain; the Chief Steward's regular meals shall all be reduced." "Circuit tribute meant to support military and state expenses must not include delicate luxuries, exotic birds and beasts, hawks, or hounds. All useless goods and non-urgent undertakings are to cease." "The way of kings puts moral transformation first. Empty show and hollow reputation I reject — if governance is not yet sound, what use are many expedients!" "Henceforth auspicious omens from all circuits must not be casually reported and offered."
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天下諸侯,皆有親戚,自可慎擇委任,必當克效參裨。 朝廷選差,理或未當,宜矯前失,庶葉通規。 其先於在京諸司差軍將充諸州郡元從都押衙、孔目官、內知客等,並可停廢,仍勒卻還舊處職役。 近代帝王陵寢,合禁樵采。 唐莊宗、明宗、晉高祖,各置守陵十戶,以近陵人戶充。 漢高祖皇帝陵署職員及守宮人,時日薦饗,並守陵人戶等,一切如故。 仍以晉、漢之胄為二王後,委中書門下處分雲。
"Regional lords throughout the realm all have kinsmen of their own. Let them choose and appoint carefully — such men can serve effectively as assistants." "Court appointments may not always have been appropriate. Past errors should be corrected so that common practice may be restored." "Army officers previously dispatched from capital bureaus to serve as chief yamen officers, clerks, and inner reception officers in the prefectures are abolished and ordered back to their former posts." "The tombs of recent emperors and kings shall be protected from woodcutting and gathering." "For the tombs of Tang Zhuangzong, Mingzong, and Jin Gaozu, ten guard households each shall be established from nearby families." "The tomb staff, palace guards, seasonal offerings, and guard households at Han Gaozu's tomb shall all remain as before." "The scions of Jin and Han shall continue as the Two Noble Descendants; the Secretariat and Chancellery are charged to arrange the matter," the edict concluded.
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司天上言:「今國家建號,以木德代水,準經法國以姓墓為臘,請以未日為臘。」 從之。 時議者曰:「昔武王勝殷,歲集於房,國家受命,金、木集於房。 文王厄羑裏,而卦遇明夷,帝脫於鄴,大衍之數,復得明夷,則周為國號,符於文、武矣。」 先是,丁未年夏六月,土、金、木、火四星聚於張,占者雲,當有帝王興於周者。 故漢祖建國,由平陽、陜服趨洛陽以應之,及隱帝將嗣位,封周王以符其事。 而帝以姬虢之胄,復繼宗周,而天下之契炳然矣。 昔武王以木德王天下,宇文周亦承木德,而三朝皆以木代水,不其異乎!
The Directorate of Astronomy submitted: "Now that the state has been founded, Wood replaces Water as the ruling element. By canonical law the La festival follows the tomb day of the dynastic surname — we request that the wei day be observed as La." The request was approved. Commentators of the time said: "When King Wu conquered Yin, the year star gathered in Fang; when the state received the Mandate, Metal and Wood gathered there as well. King Wen suffered at Youli and drew the hexagram Mingyi; the Emperor escaped at Ye and the Great Evolution numbers again yielded Mingyi — thus the state title Zhou accorded with King Wen and King Wu. Earlier, in the sixth month of summer in the dingwei year, the Earth, Metal, Wood, and Fire stars gathered in Zhang; diviners declared that an emperor would rise under the name Zhou." Therefore when Han's founder established the dynasty, he moved from Pingyang and Shanfu toward Luoyang to fulfill the omen; when Emperor Yin was about to succeed, he enfeoffed a Prince of Zhou to match it. Now the Emperor, as a scion of Ji and Guo, has restored the Zhou line — and Heaven's design for the realm stands plain. King Wu once ruled the realm under Wood; the Yuwen Zhou also claimed Wood — yet three dynasties all replaced Water with Wood. What a remarkable pattern!
19
戊辰,前曹州防禦使何福進受宣權許州節度使,前復州防禦使王彥超受宣權徐州節度使,前澶州節度使李洪義受宣權宋州節度使。 己巳,上漢太后尊號曰昭聖皇太后。 是日,詔有司擇日為故主發哀。 〈(《五代會要》載原敕云:漢高祖為義帝發喪,魏明帝正禪陵尊號,一時達禮,千古所稱,況朕久事前朝,常參大政,雖遷虞事夏,見奪於群情,而四海九州,咸知予夙志。 宜令所司擇日為故主舉哀,仍備山陵葬禮。)〉 辛未,有司上言:「皇帝為故主舉哀日,服縞素,直領深衣、腰绖等。 成服畢祭奠,不視朝七日,坊市禁音樂。 文武內外臣僚成服後,每日赴太平宮臨,三日止,七日釋服。 至山陵啟攢塗日,服初服,盾車出城,班辭釋服。」 從之。 壬申,前博州刺史李筠受宣權滑州節度使。 癸酉,樞密使、檢校太傅王峻加同平章事; 以前澶州節度使李洪義為宋州節度使,加同平章事。 以滑州節度副使陳觀為左散騎常侍,鄴都留守判官王溥為左諫議大夫,並充樞密院直學士。 以元從都押衙鄭仁誨為客省使,知客押牙向訓為宮苑使。 北京留守劉崇遣押牙鞏廷美致書,求劉赟歸藩。 帝報曰:「朕在澶州之時,軍情推戴之際,先差來直省李光美備見,必想具言,而況遐邇所聞,在後盡當知悉。 湘陰公比在宋州駐泊,見令般取赴京,但勿憂疑,必令得所。 惟公在彼,固請安心,若能同力扶持,別無顧慮,即當便封王爵,永鎮北門,鐵券丹書,必無愛惜。 其諸情素,並令來人口宣。」 遣千牛衛將軍未憲充入契丹使。 先是,去年契丹永康王烏裕寇邢、趙,陷內丘,及回,兀裕遣使與漢隱帝書, 〈(《通鑒》:契丹之攻內丘也,死傷頗多,又值月食,軍中多妖異,契丹主不敢深入,引兵還,遣使請和於漢。)〉 使至境上,會朝廷有蕭墻之變,帝定京城,回至澶州,遇蕃使至,遂與入朝。 至是,遣朱憲伴送來使歸蕃,兼致書敘革命之由,仍以金酒器一副、玉帶一遺兀裕。 晉州節度使王晏殺行軍司馬徐建,以通河東聞。
On wuchen, former Caozhou Defender He Fujin was proclaimed acting Military Governor of Xu Prefecture; former Fuzhou Defender Wang Yanchao was proclaimed acting Military Governor of Xuzhou; former Chanzhou Military Governor Li Hongyi was proclaimed acting Military Governor of Songzhou. On jisi the Han Empress Dowager was given the honorific title Empress Dowager Zhaosheng. That day an edict ordered the relevant offices to set a date for mourning the former sovereign. (The Institutional Compendium of the Five Dynasties records the original edict: Han Gaozu proclaimed mourning for Emperor Yi; Wei Mingdi corrected the honorific of the Zen tomb — both timely fulfillment of ritual, praised through the ages. I long served the previous dynasty and regularly participated in great affairs. Though yielding Yu to serve Xia, I was displaced by public sentiment, yet all the realm knows my longstanding intent. Let the relevant offices choose a day to proclaim mourning for the former sovereign and provide full mountain-tomb burial rites.) (End of editorial note.)〉 On xinwei the relevant offices submitted: "On the day the Emperor proclaims mourning for the former sovereign, he shall wear unbleached hemp, a straight-collared deep robe, and a waist mourning sash. After the mourning garments are complete and offerings performed, he shall not hold court for seven days, and music shall be forbidden in the wards and markets. After civil and military officials complete their mourning garments, they shall attend daily mourning rites at Taiping Palace for three days, then cease; on the seventh day they shall lay mourning aside. On the day the mountain tomb is opened and the coffin sealed, he shall wear initial mourning dress; the shield carriage departs the city, and after the farewell ceremony he shall lay mourning aside." The memorial was approved. On renshen, former Bozhou Prefect Li Yun was proclaimed acting Military Governor of Huazhou. On guiyou, Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs Wang Jun, Grand Preceptor by special appointment, was made Grand Councilor; former Chanzhou Military Governor Li Hongyi was made Military Governor of Songzhou and appointed Grand Councilor. Huazhou Deputy Military Governor Chen Guan was made Left Regular Attendant of the Cavalry, and Yedu Garrison Aide Wang Pu was made Left Remonstrance Grandee — both appointed Direct Academicians of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Original-follower Chief Yamen Officer Zheng Renhui was made Commissioner of the Reception Bureau, and Reception Officer Xiang Xun was made Commissioner of the Palace Parks. Northern Capital Garrison Commander Liu Chong sent his yamen guard Gong Tingmei with a letter requesting Liu Yun's return to his post. The Emperor replied: "When I was at Chanzhou and the army urged my elevation, I first dispatched Palace Attendant Li Guangmei, who witnessed everything — you must have heard the full account by now. What near and far have heard will all become clear in time. The Lord of Xiangyin is presently at Songzhou and has been ordered brought to the capital. Do not worry — he will surely be properly provided for. As for you there, set your mind at ease. If you lend your strength in joint support without other concern, I shall at once enfeoff you as prince and charge you forever with guarding the northern gate — iron certificates and cinnabar writs will be granted without stint. All these matters shall also be conveyed orally by the envoy." He dispatched Qianniu Guard General Zhu Xian to serve as envoy to the Khitan. Earlier, the year before, Khitan Prince Yongkang Wuyu had raided Xing and Zhao and captured Neiqiu. On his return Wuyu sent an envoy with a letter to the Hidden Emperor of Han, (The Comprehensive Mirror records that in the attack on Neiqiu Khitan casualties were heavy; a lunar eclipse followed, and strange omens multiplied in the camp. The Khitan ruler dared not advance further, withdrew his army, and sent an envoy to sue for peace with Han.) (End of editorial note.)〉 When the envoy reached the border, the court was convulsed by internal strife. After the Emperor secured the capital he returned to Chan Prefecture, met the arriving Khitan envoy, and entered court with him. At this point he sent Zhu Xian to escort the Khitan envoy home, with a letter explaining the change of dynasty, and presented Wuyu with a set of gold wine vessels and a jade belt. Jin Prefecture Military Governor Wang Yan killed March Chief of Staff Xu Jian and notified Hedong.
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乙亥,鄆州節度使、守太師、兼中書令、齊王高行周進位尚書令; 襄州節度使、檢校太師、守太傅、兼中書令、齊國公安審琦進封南陽王; 青州節度使、檢校太師、守太保、兼中書令、魏國公符彥卿進封淮陽王,夔州節度使、侍衛親軍馬步軍都指揮使、檢校太傅王殷加同平章事,充鄴都留守,典軍如故。 丙子,帝赴太平宮,為漢隱帝發喪,百官陪位如儀。 是日,湘陰公元從右都押衙鞏廷美、教練使楊溫等,據徐州以拒命。 帝遣新授節度使王彥超率兵馳赴之,仍賜廷美等敕書。 〈(《通鑒》:帝復遺劉赟書曰:「爰念斯人,盡心於主,足以賞其忠義,何由責以悔尤。 俟新節度入城,當各除刺史,公可更以委曲示之。」)〉 丁丑,荊南高保融奏:去年十一月,朗州節度使馬希萼破潭州; 十二月十八日,縊殺馬希廣; 至十九日,希萼自稱天策上將軍、武平靜江寧遠等軍節度使、嗣楚王。 戊寅,湘陰公殂。 己卯,以前太師、齊國公馮道為中書令、宏文館大學士; 以司徒兼門下侍郎、同平章事、宏文館大學士竇貞固為侍中,監修國史; 以左僕射、平章事、集賢殿大學士蘇禹珪為守司空、平章事; 夏州節度使李彜興進封隴西郡王,荊南高保融進封渤海郡王,靈武馮暉進封陳留郡王; 西京白文珂、兗州慕容彥超、鳳翔趙暉並加兼中書令。 詔王彥超率兵攻徐州。 庚辰,故樞密使、左僕射、平章事楊邠追封恒農郡王,故宋州節度使兼侍衛親軍都指揮使史宏肇追封鄭王,故三司使、檢校太尉、平章事王章追封郎琊郡王。 是日,詔曰:
On yihai, Yan Prefecture Military Governor, Grand Preceptor, concurrent Grand Censor, and Prince of Qi Gao Xingzhou was promoted to Minister-in-Chief; Xiang Prefecture Military Governor, Honorary Grand Preceptor, Grand Mentor, concurrent Grand Censor, and Duke of Qi An Shenqi was enfeoffed as Prince of Nanyang; Qing Prefecture Military Governor, Honorary Grand Preceptor, Grand Guardian, concurrent Grand Censor, and Duke of Wei Fu Yanqing was enfeoffed as Prince of Huaiyang; Kuizhou Military Governor and Palace Guard Commander Wang Yin was made concurrent Grand Councilor and appointed Ye Capital Garrison Commander, retaining command of his troops. On bingzi the Emperor went to Taiping Palace to proclaim mourning for the Hidden Emperor of Han, and the officials attended in ritual order. That day Lord of Xiangyin Liu Yun's chief yamen officer Gong Tingmei, drill instructor Yang Wen, and others seized Xuzhou in defiance of orders. The Emperor sent the newly appointed Military Governor Wang Yanchao with troops in haste and granted edicts to Tingmei and his fellows. (The Comprehensive Mirror records that the Emperor again wrote Liu Yun: "Considering this man, he gave his all for his lord — loyalty enough to merit reward; how could one reproach him for regret? When the new military governor enters the city, each shall be appointed regional prefect. You may explain this fully to them.") (End of editorial note.)〉 On dingchou Jingnan's Gao Baorong memorialized that in the eleventh month of the previous year Lang Prefecture Military Governor Ma Xie had captured Tan Prefecture; on the eighteenth of the twelfth month Ma Xiguang was strangled; and on the nineteenth Xie styled himself Generalissimo of Heavenly Strategy, Military Governor of Wuping, Jingjiang, Ningyuan and other armies, and successor King of Chu. On wuyin the Lord of Xiangyin died. On jimao former Grand Preceptor and Duke of Qi Feng Dao was appointed Grand Censor and Grand Academician of the Hall for the Extension of Culture; Minister of Education, Vice Director of the Chancellery, Grand Councilor, and Grand Academician Dou Zhengu was made Palace Secretary and put in charge of compiling the national history; Left Vice Director, Grand Councilor, and Grand Academician Su Yugui was appointed Honorary Minister of Works and retained as Grand Councilor; Xia Prefecture Military Governor Li Yixing was enfeoffed as Prince of Longxi; Jingnan's Gao Baorong as Prince of Bohai; and Lingwu's Feng Hui as Prince of Chenliu; Bai Wenke of the Western Capital, Murong Yanchao of Yan Prefecture, and Zhao Hui of Fengxiang were all made concurrent Grand Censor. An edict ordered Wang Yanchao to lead troops against Xuzhou. On gengchen the late Commissioner of Military Affairs Yang Bin was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Hengnong; the late Song Prefecture Military Governor and Palace Guard Commander Shi Hongzhao as Prince of Zheng; and the late Commissioner of the Three Departments Wang Zhang as Prince of Langya. That day an edict proclaimed:
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朕以眇末之身,托於王公之上,懼德弗類,撫躬靡遑,豈可化未及人而過自奉養,道未方古而不知節量。 與其耗費以勞人,曷若儉約而克己。 昨者所頒赦令,已述至懷。 宮闈服禦之所須,悉從減損; 珍巧纖奇之厥貢,並使寢停。 尚有未該,再宜條舉。 應天下州府舊貢滋味食饌之物,所宜除減。 其兩浙進細酒、海味、姜瓜,湖南枕子茶、乳糖、白沙糖、橄欖子,鎮州高公米、水梨,易、定粟子,河東白社梨、米粉、綠豆粉、玉屑鞏子面,永興禦田紅粳米、新大麥面,興平蘇粟子,華州麝香、羚羊角、熊膽、獺肝、朱柿、熊白,河中樹紅棗、五味子、輕餳,同州石𨫼餅,晉、絳葡萄、黃消梨,陜府鳳棲梨,襄州紫姜、新筍、橘子,安州折粳米、糟味,青州水梨,河陽諸雜果子,許州禦李子,鄭州新筍、鵝梨,懷州寒食杏仁,申州蘘荷,亳州萆薢,沿淮州郡淮白魚,如聞此等之物,雖皆出於土產,亦有取於民家,未免勞煩,率皆糜費。 加之力役負荷,馳驅道途,積於有司之中,甚為無用之物,今後並不須進奉。 諸州府更有舊例所進食味,其未該者,宜奏取進止。
I, a slight and humble man set above kings and dukes, fear my virtue falls short and can scarce examine myself. How could I lavish self-indulgence before my transforming influence has reached the people, or fail to restrain my measure when my conduct has not yet matched antiquity? Better thrift and self-restraint than wasteful spending that burdens the people. The amnesty recently issued already expressed my inmost intent. Palace needs for clothing and daily use shall all be cut back; exquisite and rare tribute items shall cease entirely. Where matters remain unaddressed, they should be set forth again in detail. Old tribute of savory foods and delicacies from prefectures throughout the realm should be abolished or reduced. Fine wine, seafood, ginger, and melons from the Two Zhes; pillow tea, milk sugar, white sand sugar, and olives from Hunan; Gao-family rice and water pears from Zhen Prefecture; chestnuts from Yi and Ding; white she pears, rice flour, mung bean flour, and jade-dust gongzi noodles from Hedong; imperial-field red japonica rice and new barley flour from Yongxing; su millet from Xingping; musk, antelope horn, bear gall, otter liver, red persimmons, and bear fat from Hua Prefecture; tree red dates, schisandra, and light malt sugar from Hezhong; stone jiang cakes from Tong Prefecture; grapes and yellow xiao pears from Jin and Jiang; phoenix-perch pears from Shaan Prefecture; purple ginger, fresh bamboo shoots, and oranges from Xiang Prefecture; broken japonica rice and fermented delicacies from An Prefecture; water pears from Qing Prefecture; assorted fruits from Heyang; imperial Li plums from Xu Prefecture; fresh bamboo shoots and goose pears from Zheng Prefecture; Cold Food Festival almonds from Huai Prefecture; lotus root from Shen Prefecture; bi xie from Bo Prefecture; Huai white fish from prefectures along the Huai — I am told that although these are local products, many are exacted from common households, causing needless hardship and mostly going to waste. Add the labor of porters hauling loads along the roads, and the goods pile up in government stores as utterly useless things. Hereafter none of these need be sent as tribute. For other food tributes under old precedent not covered here, prefectures should submit memorials for instructions.
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又詔在朝文武臣僚,各上封事,凡有益國利民之事,速具以聞。 〈(《通鑒》:詔曰:朕生長軍旅,不親學問,未知治天下之道。 文武官有益國利民之術,各具封事以聞,咸宜直書其事,勿事辭藻。)〉 辛巳,鎮州武行德、晉州王晏、相州張彥成、潞州常思、邠州候章並加兼侍中; 以侍衛馬軍都指揮使、果州防禦使、檢校太保郭崇為洋州節度使、檢校太傅,典軍如故; 以侍衛步軍都指揮使、岳州防禦使曹英為利州節度使、檢校太傅,典軍如故。 癸未,涇州史懿、延州高允權、滄州王景、永興郭從義、定州孫方簡並加兼侍中,鄜州楊信、同州薛懷讓、貝州王繼宏並加同平章事。 乙酉,華州王饒、河中扈彥珂、鄧州折從阮、邢州劉詞並加同平章事。 丙戌,幸西莊。 潞州奏,得石會關使王延美報,河東劉崇於正月十六日僭號。 丁亥,以前澶州節度使李洪義為宋州節度使,加同平章事; 以曹州防禦使、北面行營馬步都排陣使何福進為許州節度使,加檢校太傅; 以博州刺史、北面行營右廂排陣使李筠為滑州節度使,加檢校太保。 戊子,有司上言:「準赦書,以晉、漢之胄為二王後,其唐五廟仲祀合廢。」 從之。 庚寅,宗正寺奏:「請以晉、漢故事,遷漢七廟神主入升平宮,行仲享之禮,以漢宗子為三獻。」 從之。
Another edict ordered civil and military officials at court each to submit sealed memorials on any matter benefiting state or people, reporting at once. (The Comprehensive Mirror records the edict: I was reared in the army and never pursued learning myself; I do not know how to govern the realm. Any civil or military official with policies that benefit state or people should submit sealed memorials; write plainly of the matter and do not trouble over literary ornament.) (End of editorial note.)〉 On xinsi Wu Xingde of Zhen Prefecture, Wang Yan of Jin Prefecture, Zhang Yancheng of Xiang Prefecture, Chang Si of Lu Prefecture, and Hou Zhang of Bin Prefecture were all made concurrent Palace Secretary; Palace Guard Cavalry Commander and Defender of Guo Prefecture Guo Chong was appointed Military Governor of Yang Prefecture and Honorary Grand Mentor, retaining command of his troops; Palace Guard Infantry Commander and Defender of Yue Prefecture Cao Ying was appointed Military Governor of Li Prefecture and Honorary Grand Mentor, retaining command of his troops. On guiwei Shi Yi of Jing Prefecture, Gao Yunquan of Yan Prefecture, Wang Jing of Cang Prefecture, Guo Congyi of Yongxing, and Sun Fangjian of Ding Prefecture were made concurrent Palace Secretary; Yang Xin of Fu Prefecture, Xue Huairang of Tong Prefecture, and Wang Jihong of Bei Prefecture were made concurrent Grand Councilor. On yiyou Wang Rao of Hua Prefecture, Hu Yanke of Hezhong, Zhe Congruan of Deng Prefecture, and Liu Ci of Xing Prefecture were made concurrent Grand Councilor. On bingxu the Emperor visited the Western Villa. Lu Prefecture reported that Shihui Pass Commissioner Wang Yanmei had notified them that Liu Chong of Hedong had usurped the imperial title on the sixteenth of the first month. On dinghai former Chan Prefecture Military Governor Li Hongyi was appointed Military Governor of Song Prefecture and made concurrent Grand Councilor; Defender of Cao Prefecture and Northern Expeditionary Chief Array Marshal He Fujin was appointed Military Governor of Xu Prefecture and Honorary Grand Mentor; Prefect of Bo Prefecture and Northern Expeditionary Right Wing Array Marshal Li Jun was appointed Military Governor of Hua Prefecture and Honorary Grand Guardian. On wuzi the relevant offices submitted: "Under the amnesty, descendants of Jin and Han are appointed heirs of the two dynasties; the mid-year sacrifice at the Five Temples of Tang should be abolished. The request was approved. On gengyin the Office of the Imperial Clan submitted: "Following Jin and Han precedent, we request that the spirit tablets of Han's seven temples be moved to Shengping Palace for the mid-year offering, with a Han imperial clansman serving as thrice-presenter. The request was approved.