1
劉守光，深州樂壽人也。 其父仁恭，初隨父晟客於范陽，晟以軍吏補新興鎮將，事節度使李可舉。 仁恭幼多智機，數陳力於軍中。 李全忠之攻易、定也，別將于晏圍易州，累月不能拔，仁恭穴地道以陷之，軍中號曰「劉窟頭」，稍遷裨校。 仁恭誌大氣豪，自言嘗夢大佛幡出於指端，或云年四十九當領旄節。 此言頗泄，燕帥李匡威惡之，不欲令典軍，改為府掾，出為景城令。 屬瀛州軍亂，殺郡守，仁恭募白丁千人討平之，匡威壯其才，復使為帳中爪牙，令將兵戍蔚州。 兵士以過期不代，思歸流怨，會李匡儔奪兄位，戍軍擁仁恭為帥，欲攻幽州，比至居庸關，為府兵所敗，仁恭挈族奔於太原。 武皇遇之甚厚，賜田宅以處之，出為壽陽鎮將，從征吐渾。 仁恭數進畫於蓋寓，言幽州可圖之狀，願得步騎萬人，即指期可取，武皇從之。 洎仁恭舉兵，屢不克捷。
Liu Shouguang was a native of Leshou in Shenzhou. His father Liu Rengong had first accompanied his own father Liu Sheng as a dependent in Fanyang. Sheng was promoted from the clerical ranks to commandant of Xinxing Town and served under Military Governor Li Keju. Rengong had been clever and resourceful since boyhood and repeatedly proved his worth in the ranks. When Li Quanzhong attacked Yi and Ding, the subordinate general Yu Yan besieged Yizhou for months without success. Rengong undermined the walls by tunnel and was nicknamed "Liu Tunnel-Head" in the army; he was eventually promoted to assistant commander. Rengong was ambitious and high-spirited. He claimed to have dreamed that a great Buddhist banner sprang from his fingertips, and some said that at forty-nine he would receive a military governor's commission. Word of this spread. Yan commander Li Kuangwei took a dislike to him and refused to let him command troops, transferring him to a staff post and then sending him out as magistrate of Jingcheng. When the Yingzhou garrison mutinied and killed the prefect, Rengong raised a thousand civilians, put down the revolt, and so impressed Kuangwei that he was again made a trusted retainer in headquarters and ordered to garrison Weizhou with troops. The troops, overdue for rotation and bitter at being kept in the field, were ripe for mutiny. When Li Kuangchou seized power from his brother, the garrison proclaimed Rengong commander and marched on Youzhou, but were beaten at Juyong Pass by the prefectural army. Rengong fled with his family to Taiyuan. The Prince of Jin received him with great favor, granted him fields and a house, appointed him commandant of Shouyang Town, and took him on campaign against the Tuyuhun. Rengong repeatedly laid out plans to Gai Yu for taking Youzhou, asking for ten thousand foot and horse and promising a date by which he could deliver it. The Prince of Jin consented. Once Rengong took the field, however, he met defeat again and again.
2
唐乾寧元年十一月，武皇親征匡儔。 十二月，破燕軍於威塞，進拔媯州，收居庸。 二十六日，匡儔棄城而遁，武皇令李存審與仁恭入城撫勞，封府庫，即以仁恭為幽州節度使，留腹心燕留德等十餘人分典軍政，武皇乃還。 二年七月，武皇討王行瑜，師於渭北，上章請授仁恭節鉞。 九月，天子以仁恭為檢校司空、幽州廬龍軍節度使。 三年，羅宏信背盟，武皇遣李存信攻魏州，征兵於燕，仁恭托以契丹入寇，俟敵退聽命。 四年七月，武皇聞兗、鄆俱陷，復征兵於仁恭，數月之間，使車結轍，仁恭辭旨不遜。 武皇以書讓之，仁恭覽書嫚罵，拘其使人，晉之戍兵在燕者皆拘之，復以厚利誘晉之驍將，由是亡命者眾矣。 八月，武皇討仁恭。 九月五日，次安塞軍。 九日，渡木瓜澗，大為燕軍所敗，死傷大半。 既而仁恭告捷於梁祖，梁祖聞之喜，因表仁恭加平章事。 仁恭又遣使於武皇，自陳邊將擅興之罪，武皇以書報之。 仁恭既絕於晉，恒懼討罰，募兵練眾，常無虛月。
In the eleventh month of the first year of Qianning (894), the Prince of Jin led a personal campaign against Li Kuangchou. In the twelfth month he routed the Yan army at Weisai, took Guizhou, and recovered Juyong Pass. On the twenty-sixth Kuangchou abandoned the city and fled. The Prince sent Li Cun'an and Rengong into Youzhou to calm the populace and seal the treasury, then appointed Rengong military governor of Youzhou, leaving a dozen trusted men including Yan Liude to share civil and military duties before returning himself. In the seventh month of the following year the Prince campaigned against Wang Xingyu north of the Wei River and memorialized the court to grant Rengong the command baton. In the ninth month the emperor appointed Rengong acting Minister of Works and military governor of the Lulong circuit at Youzhou. In the third year Luo Hongxin broke faith. The Prince sent Li Cunxin against Weizhou and called on Yan for troops, but Rengong pleaded Khitan invasion and said he would march only after the raiders withdrew. In the seventh month of the fourth year, learning that Yanzhou and Yunzhou had both fallen, the Prince again demanded troops from Rengong. Envoys shuttled back and forth for months, but Rengong's answers grew ever more defiant. The Prince rebuked him by letter; Rengong read it and returned only abuse, seized the envoys, detained every Jin garrison soldier in Yan, and tempted Jin's best generals with rich rewards—so that defectors became numerous. In the eighth month the Prince marched against Rengong. On the fifth day of the ninth month he encamped at Anse Army. On the ninth he crossed Mugua Stream and suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Yan army; more than half his force was killed or wounded. Rengong then reported victory to the Liang founder Zhu Wen, who was delighted and memorialized the court to make Rengong a Grand Councilor. Rengong also sent envoys to the Prince, blaming the war on unruly frontier commanders; the Prince replied in writing. Having broken with Jin, Rengong lived in constant fear of reprisal and recruited and drilled troops month after month without respite.
3
光化元年三月，令其長子襲淪州，盧彥威委城而遁，遂兼有滄、景、德三郡，以守文為留後，請節鉞於朝。 昭宗怒其擅興，不時與之。 會中使至范陽，仁恭私之曰：「旄節吾自有，但要長安本色耳，何以累章見阻？ 為吾言之。」 其悖戾如此。 仁恭兵鋒益盛，每戰多捷，以為天贊，遂有吞噬河朔之志。 二年正月，仁恭率幽、滄步騎十萬，號三十萬，將兼並魏博、鎮定。 師次貝州，一鼓而拔，無少長皆屠之，清水為之不流。 羅紹威求援於汴，汴將李思安、葛從周赴之，思安屯內黃。 仁恭兵圍魏州，聞汴軍在內黃，戒其子守文曰：「李思安怯懦，汝之智勇，比之十倍，當先殄此鼠輩，次擄紹威。」 守文與單可及率漁陽精甲五萬，夾清水而上。 思安設伏於內黃清水之左，袁象先設伏於內黃清水之右。 思安逆戰於繁陽城，偽不勝，徐退，燕人追躡，至於內黃，思安步兵成列，回擊之。 燕人將引退，左右伏兵發，燕軍大敗，臨陣斬單可及，守文單騎僅免，五萬之眾無生還者。 時葛從周率邢、洺之眾入魏州，與賀德倫、李暉出擊賊營。 是夜，仁恭燒營遁走，汴人長驅追擊，自魏至長河數百里，僵屍蔽地，敗旗折戟，累累於路。 鎮人又邀擊於東境，燕軍復敗。 仁恭自是垂翅不振者累年。 汴人乘勝攻滄州，仁恭率師援之，營於乾寧軍。 汴將氏叔琮逆戰，燕軍逗撓，退保瓦橋，乃卑辭厚禮乞師於晉，武皇遣兵逼邢、洺以應之。 十月，汴人陷瀛、鄚二州，晉將周德威將兵出飛狐，仁恭復修好於晉。
In the third month of the first year of Guanghua (898) he sent his eldest son to seize Luzhou; Lu Yanwei abandoned the city and fled. Rengong then held Cang, Jing, and De, installed Shouwen as acting governor, and petitioned the court for the command baton. Emperor Zhaozong, angered by this unauthorized aggression, withheld the commission. When a court envoy reached Fanyang, Rengong told him privately, "I already hold the command in fact—I only need the proper insignia from Chang'an. Why should repeated memorials stand in my way? Say as much for me there." Such was the arrogance and perversity of the man. Rengong's armies grew ever stronger and he won battle after battle; taking this as Heaven's blessing, he set his sights on swallowing the whole Hebei region. In the first month of the second year he led a hundred thousand infantry and cavalry from You and Cang—claiming three hundred thousand—with the aim of annexing Weibo and Zhending. His army reached Beizhou and took it at the first assault, slaughtering every soul regardless of age until the Clearwater ran red and ceased to flow. Luo Shaowei appealed to Bian for aid; Liang generals Li Si'an and Ge Congzhou marched to his relief, and Si'an encamped at Neihuang. Rengong besieged Weizhou. Learning that Bian troops were at Neihuang, he told his son Shouwen, "Li Si'an is a coward; in wit and courage you are ten times his better. Destroy these vermin first, then take Shaowei prisoner." Shouwen and Shan Keji then led fifty thousand crack troops from Yuyang up the Clearwater. Si'an posted an ambush on the left bank of the Clearwater at Neihuang, and Yuan Xiangxian another on the right. Si'an gave battle at Fanyang, feigning defeat and drawing back slowly. The Yan troops pursued to Neihuang, where Si'an's infantry formed line and wheeled to counterattack. As the Yan were about to pull back, the ambushers on both flanks struck; the Yan army was shattered. Shan Keji was killed in the field; Shouwen alone escaped on horseback. Of fifty thousand men, not one returned alive. Meanwhile Ge Congzhou had entered Weizhou with troops from Xing and Ming and, with He Delun and Li Hui, struck the enemy camp. That night Rengong burned his camp and fled. The Liang pursued at full gallop from Wei to the Changhe—for hundreds of li the dead covered the earth, and broken banners and snapped halberds lay heaped along the road. Zhending forces ambushed them again on the eastern frontier, and the Yan army was beaten a second time. From that day Rengong's wings were clipped, and for years he could not regain his strength. The Liang pressed their victory against Cangzhou; Rengong marched to relieve it and encamped at Qianning Army. Liang general Shi Shucong gave battle; the Yan army faltered, fell back to Wa Bridge, and then sent humble pleas and rich gifts begging Jin for aid. The Prince sent troops to threaten Xing and Ming in reply. In the tenth month the Liang took Ying and Mo; Jin general Zhou Dewei marched out through Flying Fox Pass, and Rengong renewed his alliance with Jin.
4
天祐三年七月，梁祖自將兵攻滄州，營於長蘆。 仁恭師徒屢喪，乃酷法盡發部內男子十五已上、七十已下，各自備兵糧以從軍，閭裏為之一空。 部內男子無貴踐，並黥其面，文曰「定霸都」，士人黥其臂，文曰「一心事主」。 由是燕、薊人民例多黥涅，或伏竄而免。 仁恭閱眾，得二十萬，進至瓦橋，汴人深溝高壘以攻滄州，內外阻絕，仁恭不能合戰，城中大饑，人相篡啖，析骸而爨，丸土而食，轉死骨立者十之六七。 自七月至十月，仁恭遣使求援於晉，前後百餘輩，武皇乃征兵於燕，仁恭遣都將李溥夏侯景、監軍張居翰、書記馬郁等，以兵三萬來會。 十二月，合晉師以攻潞州，降丁會，乃解滄州之圍。 是時，天子播遷，中原多故，仁恭嘯傲薊門，誌意盈滿，師道士王若訥，祈長生羽化之道。 幽州西有名山曰大安山，仁恭乃於其上盛飾館宇，僭擬宮掖，聚室女艷婦，窮極侈麗。 又招聚緇黃，合仙丹，講求法要。 又以瑾泥作錢，令部內行使，盡斂銅錢於大安山巔，鑿穴以藏之，藏畢即殺匠石以滅其口。 又禁江表茶商，自擷山中草葉為茶，以邀厚利。 改山名為大恩山。 仁恭有嬖妾曰羅氏，美姿色，其子守光烝之，事泄，仁恭怒，笞守光，謫而不齒。
In the seventh month of the third year of Tianyou (906) the Liang founder Zhu Wen personally led troops against Cangzhou and encamped at Changlu. Having lost army after army, Rengong imposed harsh levies, drafting every man in his domain from fifteen to seventy, each to supply his own arms and rations for the campaign until the villages stood empty. Every man, high or low, had his face tattooed with the words "Establish the Hegemon's Capital"; scholars had their arms marked "Serve the lord with one heart." Thereafter tattooing became common among the people of Yan and Ji, though some hid in the hills to escape it. Rengong reviewed his forces and mustered two hundred thousand, advancing to Wa Bridge. The Liang dug deep trenches and high ramparts against Cangzhou, cutting it off inside and out so that Rengong could not relieve it. Inside the city famine was ghastly: men seized one another to eat, split bones for fuel, rolled earth into balls to swallow; six or seven in ten starved until only skin and bone remained. From the seventh month through the tenth Rengong sent more than a hundred envoys begging Jin for aid. The Prince then called on Yan for troops; Rengong sent his commanders Li Pu and Xia Houjing, overseer Zhang Juhua, secretary Ma Yu, and others with thirty thousand men to join the campaign. In the twelfth month they joined Jin forces to attack Luzhou, won Ding Hui's surrender, and thereby lifted the siege of Cangzhou. The emperor was then driven from the capital and the central plains were in turmoil. Rengong swaggered at the Ji Gate, his ambition swollen to bursting. He took the Daoist Wang Ruone as teacher, seeking the path to long life and ascension as an immortal. West of Youzhou stands the famous Da'an Mountain. Rengong lavishly built halls there in imitation of the imperial palace and gathered palace women and courtesans in the utmost luxury. He also gathered monks and priests to compound elixirs and study the essentials of the Way. He also minted coins of clay for circulation in his domain, seizing all copper cash to the summit of Da'an Mountain, boring caves to hoard it, and when the hoarding was done killing the workmen to silence them. He also barred tea merchants from the lower Yangtze and picked mountain leaves himself to sell tea at great profit. He renamed the mountain Great Favor Mountain. Rengong had a favorite concubine named Luo, a woman of striking beauty. His son Shouguang took her as mistress; when the affair came out Rengong flew into a rage, flogged Shouguang, and cast him out of his presence.
5
四年四月，汴將李思安以急兵攻幽州，營於石子河，仁恭在大安山，城中無備，守光自外帥兵來援，登城拒守。 汴軍既退，守光乃自為幽州節度，令其部將李小喜、元行欽將兵攻大安山。 仁恭遣兵拒戰，為小喜所敗，乃擄仁恭歸幽州，囚於別室。 仁恭左右，迨至婢媵，與守光不協者畢誅之。 其兄守文在滄州，聞父被囚，聚兵大哭，諭之曰：「哀哀父母，生我劬勞。 自古豈有讎父者，吾家生此梟獍，吾生不如死！」 即率滄、德之師討之。 守光逆戰於雞蘇，為守文所敗。 既而守文詐悲，單馬立於陣場，泣諭於眾曰：「勿殺吾弟！」 時守光驍將元行欽識之，被擒，滄兵失帥自潰。 守光乃縶兄於別室，圍以叢棘，乘勝進攻滄州。 滄州賓佐孫鶴、呂兗已推守文子延祚為帥，守光攜守文於城下，攻圍累月。 城中乏食，米斗直三萬，人首一級亦直十千，軍士食人，百姓食墐土，驢馬相遇，食其鬃尾，士人出入，多為強者屠殺。 久之，延祚力窮，以城降於守光，守文尋亦遇害。
In the fourth month of the fourth year Liang general Li Si'an struck Youzhou with a rapid column and encamped at Shizi River. Rengong was on Da'an Mountain and the city was unprepared; Shouguang led troops in from outside, mounted the walls, and held the defense. After the Liang withdrew, Shouguang declared himself military governor of Youzhou and ordered his generals Li Xiaoxi and Yuan Xingqin to attack Da'an Mountain. Rengong sent troops to resist but was beaten by Xiaoxi, who seized him and brought him back to Youzhou, where he was imprisoned in a side chamber. Everyone in Rengong's household, down to maids and concubines, who were not on good terms with Shouguang was put to death. His elder brother Shouwen was at Cangzhou. Learning that their father was a prisoner, he gathered his troops and wept, telling them, "Alas, our parents—who bore us with such labor. Since antiquity has any son made war on his father? Our house has bred this monster; I would rather die than live on!" He then led the armies of Cang and De against his brother. Shouguang met him at Jisu and was defeated by Shouwen. Then Shouwen feigned grief, rode alone into the field, and weeping told his men, "Do not kill my brother!" Shouguang's fierce general Yuan Xingqin recognized him and seized him; the Cang troops, leaderless, broke and fled. Shouguang then bound his brother in a side chamber, penned him in with thorn hedges, and pressing his advantage marched on Cangzhou. Cangzhou aides Sun He and Lü Yan had already made Shouwen's son Yanzuo commander. Shouguang brought Shouwen before the walls and besieged the city for months on end. Inside the city food ran out: a dou of rice cost thirty thousand cash, and a human head ten thousand. Soldiers ate human flesh; civilians ate plaster and earth. Donkeys and horses gnawed one another's manes and tails. Scholars venturing out were often butchered by the strong. At length Yanzuo's strength gave out and he surrendered the city to Shouguang; Shouwen was soon killed.
6
守光性本庸昧，以父兄失勢，謂天所助，淫虐滋甚。 每刑人必以鐵籠盛之，薪火四逼，又為鐵刷劀剔人面。 嘗衣赭黃袍，顧謂將吏曰：「當今海內四分五裂，吾欲南面以朝天下，諸君以為何如？」 賓佐有孫鶴者，骨鯁方略之士也，率先對曰：「王西有並、汾之患，北有契丹之虞，乘時觀釁，專待薄人，彼若結黨連衡，侵我疆場，地形雖險，勢不可支，甲兵雖多，守恐不暇，縱能卻敵，未免生憂。 王但撫士愛民，補兵完賦，義聲馳於天下，諸侯自然推戴。 今若恃兵與險，未見良圖。」 守光不悅，及梁軍據深、冀，王镕乞師於守光，孫鶴勸守光出援軍以圖霸業，守光不從。 及莊宗有柏鄉之捷，守光謀攻易、定，諷動鎮人，欲為河朔元帥。 莊宗乃與鎮州節度使王镕、易定節度使王處直、昭義節度使李嗣昭、振武節度使周德威、天德軍節度使宋瑤，同遣使奉冊，推守光為尚父，以稔其惡。 守光不悟，謂藩鎮畏己，仍以諸鎮狀送梁祖，言：「臣被晉王等推臣為尚父，堅辭不獲，又難推違。 臣竊料所宜，不如陛下與臣河北道都統，則並、鎮之叛，不足平殄矣。」 梁祖知其詐，優答之。 仍命閣門使王瞳、供奉官史彥璋等使於燕，冊守光為河北道采訪使。
Shouguang was by nature dull and foolish. Seeing his father and brother fall, he took it as Heaven's aid and grew ever more cruel and debauched. Whenever he punished someone he placed the victim in an iron cage with fire closing in on all sides, and used an iron brush to scrape the face raw. Once he put on an ochre-yellow robe and asked his officers, "The realm is torn apart; I mean to face south and receive the homage of the empire—what do you think?" His aide Sun He, a man of backbone and strategic sense, answered first: "Your Highness faces trouble from Bing and Fen in the west and Khitan threat in the north. They watch for weakness and league against us. If they join forces and invade our borders, rugged terrain will not save us; however many troops we have, we may not even hold what we have. Even victory would leave us in peril. Your Highness should comfort the troops, cherish the people, replenish the army, and restore the tax rolls—let your righteous name spread and the lords will acclaim you of themselves. To rely on troops and terrain alone is no sound plan." Shouguang took offense. When Liang forces held Shen and Ji, Wang Rong begged Shouguang for aid; Sun He urged him to march out and seize his chance at hegemony, but Shouguang refused. After Emperor Zhuangzong's victory at Baixiang, Shouguang plotted to attack Yi and Ding, stirred up the men of Zhending, and sought to become commander-in-chief of Hebei. Emperor Zhuangzong then joined Wang Rong of Zhenzhou, Wang Chuzhi of Yiding, Li Sizhao of Zhaoyi, Zhou Dewei of Zhenwu, and Song Yao of Tiande in sending envoys to invest Shouguang as Imperial Father—a stratagem to ripen his folly. Shouguang failed to see through the ruse and thought the governors feared him. He forwarded their petitions to the Liang founder, writing, "Your subject was pressed by the Prince of Jin and others to accept the title Imperial Father; I declined firmly but could not refuse without giving offense. Your subject believes the better course is for Your Majesty to make me overall commander of Hebei—then the rebellions at Bing and Zhen would be easy to crush." The Liang founder saw through the pretense and answered him graciously. He also sent Palace Gate Commissioner Wang Tong, Palace Attendant Shi Yanzhang, and others to Yan to invest Shouguang as Hebei circuit investigation commissioner.
7
六月，梁使至，守光令所司定尚父采訪使儀註，所司取唐朝冊太尉禮以示之。 守光曰：「此儀註中何無郊天改元之事？」 梁使曰：「尚父雖尊，猶是人臣。」 守光怒，投於地，謂將吏曰：「方今天下鼎沸，英雄角逐。 朱公創號於夷門，楊渭假名於淮海，王建自尊於巴蜀，茂貞矯制於岐陽，皆因茅土之封，自假帝王之制，然兵虛力寡，疆場多虞。 我大燕地方二千里，帶甲三十萬，東有魚鹽之饒，北有塞馬之利，我南面稱帝，誰如我何！ 今為尚父，孰當帝者！ 公等促具帝者之儀，予且為河朔天子。」 燕之將吏竊議，以為不可。 守光置斧锧於庭，令將佐曰：「今三方協贊，予難重違，擇日而帝矣。 從我者賞，橫議者誅。 孫鶴對曰：「滄州破敗，仆乃罪人，大王寬容，乃至今日，不敢阿旨，以誤家國，茍聽臣言，死且無侮。」 守光大怒，推之伏锧，令軍士割其肉生啖之。 鶴大呼曰：「百日之外，必有急兵矣！」 守光命窒其口，寸斬之，有識為之嗟惋。 乃悉召部內官吏，教習朝儀，邊人既非素習，舉措失容，相顧誚笑。 八月十三日，守光僭號大燕皇帝，改年曰應天。 以梁使王瞳、判官齊涉為宰相，史彥璋為御史大夫。 偽冊之日，契丹陷平州。 莊宗聞之大笑，監軍張承業曰：「惡不積不足以滅身，老氏所謂『將欲取之，必先與之』。 今守光狂蹶，請遣使省問，以觀其釁。」 十月，莊宗令太原少尹李承勛往使。 承勛至，守光怒不稱臣，械之於獄。
In the sixth month the Liang envoys arrived. Shouguang ordered the court to draw up protocol for the Imperial Father and investigation commissioner; the offices produced the Tang rites for investing a Grand Marshal. Shouguang asked, "Why does this protocol include no sacrifice to Heaven or change of reign era?" The Liang envoy replied, "The Imperial Father is exalted, but he remains a subject." Shouguang flung the document to the ground and told his officers, "The realm boils like a cauldron and heroes contend for mastery. Lord Zhu took a title at Yimen; Yang Wei a false name on the Huai; Wang Jian exalted himself in Ba-Shu; Maozhen forged edicts at Qiyang—all on the strength of fief grants, each aping imperial rites—yet their forces were weak and their borders insecure. Great Yan commands two thousand li and three hundred thousand armored men. We have fish and salt in the east and frontier horses in the north. If I face south and declare myself emperor, who can stand against me! As Imperial Father, who is fit to be emperor but I! Prepare the rites of an emperor at once—I shall be Son of Heaven of Hebei." Yan's officers whispered among themselves that this could not be done. Shouguang set axes and blocks in the courtyard and told his officers, "The three parties have acclaimed me together; I can hardly refuse again—a day will be chosen and I shall take the throne. Follow me and be rewarded; speak out of turn and die. Sun He answered, "When Cangzhou fell I was the guilty one; the King in his mercy has spared me to this day. I dare not flatter you and ruin state and house. Hear me out, and I will die without regret." Shouguang flew into a rage, forced him down before the block, and ordered the soldiers to cut his flesh and eat it raw. He shouted, "Within a hundred days an enemy army will surely come!" Shouguang had his mouth gagged and cut him to pieces inch by inch; thoughtful men mourned him. He then summoned every official in his domain to drill in court ritual. The frontier men were unpracticed; their deportment was awkward and they laughed at one another. On the thirteenth of the eighth month Shouguang declared himself Emperor of Great Yan and adopted the era name Responding to Heaven. He appointed Liang envoy Wang Tong and adjutant Qi She as grand councilors and Shi Yanzhang as censor-in-chief. On the day of his usurped enthronement the Khitans captured Pingzhou. Emperor Zhuangzong laughed aloud when he heard. Overseer Zhang Chengye said, "Evil must pile high before it destroys a man—as Laozi said, 'To take, one must first give. Shouguang has gone mad with arrogance. Send an envoy to inquire of him and watch for his weakness." In the tenth month Emperor Zhuangzong sent Li Chengxun of Taiyuan as envoy. Chengxun arrived, but Shouguang in a rage refused to acknowledge subjecthood and threw him in chains.
8
十二月，莊宗遣周德威出飛狐，會鎮、定之師以討之，德威攻圍歷年，屬郡皆下。 守光堅保幽州，求援於梁，北誘契丹，救終不至。 十年十月，守光遣使持幣馬見德威乞降，又乘城呼曰：「予俟晉王至即出城。」 十一月，莊宗親征。 二十三日，至幽州，單騎臨城，召守光曰：「丈夫成敗，須決所向，公將何如？」 守光曰：「某俎上肉耳！」 莊宗湣之，折弓為盟，許其保全。 守光辭以他日，莊宗乃令諸軍攻之。 二十四日，四面畢攻，莊宗登燕太子墓觀之。 俄而數騎執仁恭並其孥來獻，檀州遊奕將李彥暉於燕樂縣獲守光，並妻李氏、祝氏，男繼珣、繼方、繼祚等來獻。 初，守光城破後，攜其妻子將走關內依劉守奇，沿路寒瘡足踵，經日不食。 至燕樂縣，匿於坑谷，令妻祝氏乞食於田父張師造家，怪婦人異狀，詰之，遂俱擒焉。 莊宗方宴府第，引仁恭、守光至席，父子號泣謝罪，莊宗慰撫之曰：「往事不復言。 人誰無過，改之為貴。」 乃歸之傳舍。 是月己卯，晉人執守光及仁恭，露布表其罪，驅以班師。
In the twelfth month Emperor Zhuangzong sent Zhou Dewei through Flying Fox Pass to join Zhen and Ding in the attack. Dewei besieged for a year until every subordinate prefecture had fallen. Shouguang clung to Youzhou, begged Liang for aid, and courted the Khitans in the north, but no rescue came. In the tenth month of the tenth year Shouguang sent envoys with gifts and horses to Dewei to sue for surrender and called from the walls, "I will open the gates when the Prince of Jin comes." In the eleventh month Emperor Zhuangzong led the campaign in person. On the twenty-third he reached Youzhou, rode alone to the walls, and called to Shouguang, "Success or failure must be chosen—what is your decision, sir?" Shouguang said, "I am meat on the block!" Emperor Zhuangzong pitied him, broke a bow to seal an oath, and promised his life. Shouguang asked for another day; the emperor then ordered a general assault. On the twenty-fourth the assault closed on all sides. Emperor Zhuangzong watched from the tomb of the Yan crown prince. Soon horsemen brought in Rengong and his household. Tanzhou patrol commander Li Yanhui captured Shouguang at Yanle County with his wives Lady Li and Lady Zhu and sons Jixun, Jifang, and Jizuo. After the city fell Shouguang fled with his family toward the passes to seek Liu Shouqi. Frostbite ravaged his heels and he went days without food. At Yanle he hid in a ravine and sent Lady Zhu to beg food from a farmer named Zhang Shizao, who found her manner strange, questioned her, and seized them all. Emperor Zhuangzong was feasting at the prefectural seat and had Rengong and Shouguang brought before him. Father and son wept and begged forgiveness. The emperor said, "Let the past be past. Who is without fault? To mend it is what matters. He then sent them back to the guest quarters. On the day jimao that month the Jin seized Shouguang and Rengong, published their crimes, and marched them away with the army.
9
十一年正月，至晉陽，仁恭父子荷校於露布之下，父母唾面罵守光曰：「逆賊，破家如是！」 守光俯首不顧。 自范陽至晉陽，涉千餘里，所在聚觀，呼守光為「劉黑子」，略無愧色。 莊守以仁恭、守光徇於都城，即告南宮七廟，禮畢，守光與李小喜、鄭藏斐、劉延卿及其二妻皆伏誅。 李小喜者，本晉之小校，先奔於燕，守光以為愛將。 守光雖兇淫出於天性，然而稔惡侈毒，抑亦小喜贊成。 守光將敗，前一日來降。 守光將死，大呼曰：「臣之誤計，小喜熒惑故也，若罪人不死，臣必訴於地下。」 莊宗急召小喜至，令證辯。 小喜瞋目叱守光曰：「囚父殺兄，烝淫骨肉，亦我教耶！」 莊宗怒小喜失禮，先斬之。 守光慟哭曰：「王將定天下，臣精於騎，何不且留指使。」 二妻讓之曰：「皇帝，事勢及此，生不如死！」 即延頸就戮。 守光猶哀訴不已。 既誅，命判官司馬揆備彗櫝祭叕，瘞於城西三里龍山下。 令副使盧汝弼、李存霸拘送仁恭至代州，於武皇靈前刺心血以祭，誅於雁門山下。 自仁恭乾寧二年春入幽州，至天祐十年，父子相承，十九年而滅。
In the first month of the eleventh year, at Jinyang, Rengong and his son wore the cangue under the victory bulletin. The parents spat in Shouguang's face and cried, "Rebel! Look what you have done to our house! Shouguang bowed his head and would not look up. From Fanyang to Jinyang, over a thousand li, crowds gathered at every stop and called him "Liu the Black One"; he showed little shame. Emperor Zhuangzong paraded Rengong and Shouguang through the capital, reported to the seven temples of the Southern Palace, and then executed Shouguang with Li Xiaoxi, Zheng Zangfei, Liu Yanqing, and his two wives. Li Xiaoxi had been a petty Jin officer who defected to Yan, where Shouguang favored him as a trusted general. Though Shouguang's cruelty sprang from his nature, his worst excesses were also urged on by Xiaoxi. The day before Shouguang's fall, Xiaoxi surrendered. Facing death Shouguang cried, "My error was Xiaoxi's delusion! If the guilty one is not killed, I will plead against him below. Emperor Zhuangzong hurried Xiaoxi forward to answer. Xiaoxi glared and shouted, "Did I teach you to imprison your father, kill your brother, and debauch your kin? Angered by Xiaoxi's insolence, the emperor beheaded him first. Shouguang wept, "When you settle the realm, I am skilled in horsemanship—keep me to serve. His two wives rebuked him: "Emperor, it has come to this—better to die!" They stretched their necks to the blade. Shouguang still wailed on. After the executions he had judicial officer Sima Kui prepare burial rites and inter them three li west of the city at Long Mountain. He sent Vice-Commissioner Lu Rubi and Li Cunba to escort Rengong to Daizhou, offer his heart's blood before the Prince of Jin's spirit tablet, and execute him below Yanmen Mountain. From Rengong's entry into Youzhou in the second year of Qianning to the tenth year of Tianyou, father and son held power nineteen years before extinction.
10
劉陟，即劉龑，初名陟。 其先彭城人，祖仁安，仕唐為潮州長史，因家嶺表。 父謙，素有才識。 唐咸通中，宰相韋宙出鎮南海，謙時為牙校，職級甚卑，然氣貌殊常，宙以猶女妻之。 妻以非其類，堅止之，宙曰：「此人非常流也，他日我子孫或可依之。」 謙後果以軍功拜封州刺史兼賀水鎮使，甚有稱譽。 謙之長子曰隱，即韋氏女所生也，幼而奇特。 及謙卒，賀水諸將有無賴者，幸變作亂，隱定計誅之。 連帥劉崇龜聞其才，署為右都校，復領賀水鎮，俄奏兼封州刺史，用法清肅，威望頗振。 唐昭宗以嗣薛王知柔石門扈蹕功，授清海軍節度使。 詔下，有府之牙將盧琚、譚玘謀不稟朝命，隱舉部兵誅琚、玘以聞，知柔至，深德之，辟為行軍司馬，委以兵賦。 唐昭宗命宰相徐彥若代知柔復署前職。 彥若在鎮二年，臨薨，手表奏隱為兩使留後，昭宗未之許，命宰相崔遠為節度使。 遠行及江陵，聞嶺表多盜，懼隱違詔，遲留不進，會遠復入相，乃詔以隱為留後，然久未即真。 及梁祖為元帥，隱遣使持重賂以求保薦，梁祖即表其事，遂降旄節。 梁開平初，恩寵殊厚，遷檢校太尉、兼侍中，封大彭郡王。 梁祖郊禋，禮畢，加檢校太師、兼中書令，又命兼領安南都護，充清海、靜海兩軍節度使，進封南海王。 開平四年三月卒。
Liu Zhi—that is, Liu Yan—had originally been named Zhi. His forebears were from Pengcheng. His grandfather Ren'an served Tang as long secretary of Chaozhou and settled the family in Lingnan. His father Qian was gifted and perceptive. During Tang Xiantong, Chief Minister Wei Zhou governed the Southern Sea. Qian was a lowly guards officer, but his bearing was extraordinary; Zhou gave him his youngest daughter in marriage. His wife objected that he was not their sort, but Zhou said, "This man is no ordinary man. Our descendants may one day rely on him. Qian later won military merit and was appointed prefect of Fengzhou and commandant of Hesui Town, earning high praise. Qian's eldest son Yin was born of the Wei lady and was remarkable from childhood. When Qian died, ruffians among the Hesui generals tried to stir revolt; Yin devised their execution. Circuit commander Liu Chonggui heard of his talent, made him right guard commander and again commandant of Hesui, then memorialized him as prefect of Fengzhou as well; his rule was stern and his prestige strong. Emperor Zhaozong rewarded the heir Prince of Xue Zhirou's service at Shimen by appointing Yin military governor of the Qinghai Army. When the edict arrived, guard officers Lu Ju and Tan Qi plotted defiance. Yin raised troops, killed them, and reported it; Zhirou on arrival was deeply grateful, made him campaigning marshal, and entrusted him with troops and revenue. Emperor Zhaozong ordered Chief Minister Xu Yanruo to replace Zhirou and reappoint Yin to his former post. Yanruo governed two years; dying, he memorialized that Yin be acting governor of both commissions. The emperor refused and named Chief Minister Cui Yuan governor. Yuan reached Jiangling, heard of banditry in Lingnan, feared Yin would defy the edict, and lingered. When Yuan returned to office, Yin was made acting governor but long went unconfirmed. When the Liang founder became commander-in-chief, Yin sent envoys with heavy gifts; the founder memorialized the court and the baton was granted. In Liang Kaiping's first year favor ran deep; he was promoted acting Grand Guardian and Palace Attendant and enfeoffed Prince of Dapeng. After the Liang founder's suburban sacrifice he was made acting Grand Preceptor and Director of the Secretariat, named Protector-General of Annan and military governor of Qinghai and Jinghai, and advanced to Prince of the Southern Sea. In the third month of Kaiping's fourth year he died.
11
陟，隱之弟也，隱卒，代據其位。 及梁末帝嗣位，務行姑息之政，乃盡以隱之官爵授陟。 先是，邕州葉廣略、容州龐巨源，或自擅兵賦，數侵廣之西鄙，陟舉兵討之，邕、容皆敗，因附庸於陟。 又，交州土豪曲承美亦專據其地，送款於梁，因正授旄鉞。 陟不平之，遣將李知順伐之，執承美以獻，陟自是盡有嶺表之地。 及聞錢镠冊封吳越王，陟恥稱南海之號，乃嘆曰：「中原多故，誰為真主，安能萬里梯航而事偽庭乎！」 梁貞明三年八月，陟乃僭號於廣州，國號大漢，偽改元為乾亨。 明年，僭行郊禮，赦其境內，及改名巖。 陟僭位之後，廣聚南海珠璣，西通黔、蜀，得其珍玩，窮奢極侈，娛僭一方，與嶺北諸藩歲時交聘。 及聞莊宗平梁，遣偽宮苑使何詞來聘，稱「大漢國王致書上大唐皇帝」。 莊守召見於鄴宮，問南海事狀，且言本國已發使臣，大陳物貢，期今秋即至。 初，陟聞莊宗兵威甚盛，故令何詞來視虛實，時朝政已紊，莊宗亦不能以道制禦遠方，南海貢亦不至，自是與中國遂絕。 唐同光三年冬，白龍見於南海，改偽乾亨元年為白龍元年，陟又改名龔，以符龍之瑞也。 白龍四年春，又改大有元年。 是歲，陟僭行耤田之禮。 陟之季年，有梵僧善占算之術，謂陟不利名龔，他年慮有此姓敗事，陟又改名纻。 纻讀為儼，古文無此字，蓋妄撰也。
Zhi was Yin's younger brother; when Yin died he took his place. When the Last Emperor of Liang succeeded and pursued indulgent rule, he transferred all Yin's offices and titles to Zhi. Ye Guanglue of Yongzhou and Pang Juyuan of Rongzhou had each seized military revenue and raided Guang's west. Zhi campaigned against them; both were defeated and became vassals. Jiaozhou magnate Qu Chenmei also held his ground, submitted to Liang, and received formal investiture. Zhi resented this, sent Li Zhishun against him, seized Chenmei, and thereafter held all of Lingnan. Learning that Qian Liu was made Prince of Wuyue, Zhi scorned the title Southern Sea and sighed, "The heartland is in chaos—who is the true sovereign? Why should I sail ten thousand li to serve a false court? In the eighth month of Liang Zhenming's third year Zhi usurped rule at Guangzhou as Great Han and adopted the era Qianheng. The next year he performed a false suburban rite, amnestied his realm, and changed his name to Yan. After usurping the throne he hoarded southern pearls and jade, traded west to Qian and Shu for luxuries, reveled in extravagance, and exchanged yearly embassies with the northern Lingnan governors. Hearing that Emperor Zhuangzong had conquered Liang, he sent He Ci with a letter reading "King of Great Han to the Great Tang Emperor." Emperor Zhuangzong received him at Ye, asked about the Southern Sea, and was told that a great tribute mission would arrive that autumn. Zhi had sent He Ci to test Zhuangzong's strength; the court was already chaotic and Zhuangzong could not govern the far south—the tribute never came and ties with China were severed. In Tongguang's third winter a white dragon appeared in the Southern Sea; he changed Qianheng to White Dragon and renamed himself Gong to match the omen. In White Dragon's fourth spring he changed the era to Dayou. That year he performed a false plowing rite. Late in life a Buddhist monk said the name Gong was unlucky and that a man of that surname would ruin him; Zhi changed his name again to Zhu. Zhu was read as Yan; the character did not exist in antiquity—it was invented.
12
陟性雖聰辯，然好行苛虐，至有炮烙、刳剔、截舌、灌鼻之刑，一方之民，若據爐炭。 惟厚自奉養，廣務華靡，末年起玉堂珠殿，飾以金碧翠羽，嶺北行商或至其國，皆召而示之，誇其壯麗。 每對北人自言家本鹹秦，恥為蠻夷之主。 又呼中國帝王為洛州刺史，其妄自尊大，皆此類也。 晉天福七年夏四月，陟以疾卒，凡僭號二十六年，年五十四。 偽謚為天皇大帝，廟號高祖，陵曰康陵。 子玢嗣。
Clever though he was, Zhi loved cruel punishments—branding, disemboweling, tongue-cutting, nose-pouring—so that his people lived over coals. He pampered himself lavishly and in his last years built jade and pearl halls adorned with gold and kingfisher plumes, summoning northern merchants to boast of their splendor. Facing northerners he claimed descent from Qin on the Wei and professed shame at ruling barbarians. He called China's emperor the prefect of Luozhou—such was his arrogant conceit. In the fourth month of Jin Tianfu's seventh year Zhi died of illness, having usurped for twenty-six years at age fifty-four. His false posthumous title was Great Heavenly Emperor, temple name High Ancestor, tomb Kangling. His son Bin succeeded him.
13
晟，陟第二子也。 偽封勤王，又封晉王。 玢之立也，多行淫虐，人皆患之，晟因與其弟偽越王昌等同謀弒玢，自立為帝，改元為應乾，又改為乾和。 晟率性荒暴，得志之後，專以威刑禦下，多誅滅舊臣及其昆仲，數年之間，宗族殆盡。 又造生地獄，凡湯鑊、鐵床之類，無不備焉。 人有小過，咸被其苦。 及湖南馬氏昆弟尋戈，晟因其釁，遣兵攻桂林管內諸郡及郴、連、梧、賀等州，皆克之，自此全有南越之地。 周顯德五年秋八月，晟以疾卒，偽謚曰文武光聖明孝皇帝，廟號中宗，陵曰昭陵。 是歲，晟以六月望夜宴於甘泉宮，是夕月有食之，測在牛女之度，晟自覽占書，既而投之於地，曰：「自古豈有長存者乎！」 縱長夜之飲，至是而卒。
Sheng was Zhi's second son. He was falsely made Diligent King and then Prince of Jin. When Bin succeeded he debauched and tyrannized until all resented him. Sheng joined his brother the false Prince of Yue Chang to murder Bin, made himself emperor, adopted Responding to Qian, then Qianhe. Reckless and violent by nature, once enthroned Sheng ruled by terror, slaughtering old ministers and kinsmen until the clan was nearly gone within years. He built a hell on earth, complete with boiling cauldrons and iron beds. Even small faults brought these torments. When the Ma brothers of Hunan fell out, Sheng attacked Guilin's prefectures and Chen, Lian, Wu, and He, taking them all and holding the whole Southern Yue. In the eighth month of Zhou Xiande's fifth year Sheng died. His false posthumous title was Civil and Martial, Radiant and Sagely, Bright and Filial Emperor; temple name Middle Ancestor; tomb Zhaoling. That year on the mid-autumn full moon he feasted at Sweet Spring Palace. An eclipse fell in the Ox and Woman mansions. Sheng read the prognostic books, flung them down, and said, "Since antiquity has anyone lived forever? He drank through the long night and died.
14
鋹，晟長子也。 偽封衛王。 晟卒，乃襲偽位，時年十七，改元為大寶。 鋹性庸懦，不能治其國，政事鹹委於閹官，復有宮人具冠帶、預職官、理外事者，由是綱紀大壞。 先是，廣州法性寺有菩提樹一株，高一百四十尺，大十圍，傳云蕭梁時西域僧真諦之所手植，蓋四百餘年矣，皇朝乾德五年夏，為大風所拔。 是歲秋，鋹之寢室屢為雷震，識者知其必亡。 皇朝開寶三年夏，王師始議南征。 四年二月五日，王師壓廣州，鋹盡焚其府庫，將赴火而死，既而不能引決，尋為王師所擒，舉族遷於京師。 皇上赦而不誅，仍賜爵為恩赦侯，其後事具皇家日曆。 陟始自梁貞明三年僭號，歷三世四主，至皇朝開寶四年，凡五十五年而亡。
Chang was Sheng's eldest son. He was falsely made Prince of Wei. When Sheng died he usurped the throne at seventeen and adopted the era Great Treasure. Timid and incompetent, Chang entrusted government to eunuchs; palace women wore official dress, held nominal posts, and handled state affairs until discipline collapsed entirely. Earlier at Guangzhou's Faxi Temple stood a bodhi tree one hundred forty chi tall and ten arm-spans around, said to have been planted by the Western monk Paramartha in the Liang dynasty over four hundred years before. In the summer of Our Dynasty's fifth year of Qiande a great wind uprooted it. That autumn thunder struck Chang's bedchamber again and again; the knowing said he was doomed. In the summer of Kaibao's third year the imperial army began planning the southern expedition. On the fifth of the second month of the fourth year the imperial army reached Guangzhou. Chang burned the treasury and meant to die in the fire but could not; he was seized and his clan was sent to the capital. The emperor spared him and granted the title Marquis of Enpardon; his later fate is recorded in the imperial calendar. From Zhi's usurpation in Liang Zhenming's third year through three generations and four rulers until Kaibao's fourth year, the regime lasted fifty-five years.
15
劉崇，太原人，漢高祖之從弟也。 少無賴，好陸博意錢之戲，弱冠隸河東軍。 唐長興中，遷虢州軍校。 漢祖鎮並、汾，奏為河東步軍都指揮使。 逾年，授麟州刺史，復為河東馬步軍都指揮使兼三城巡檢使，遙領泗州防禦使。 漢祖起義於河東，以崇為特進、檢校太尉、行太原尹。 是歲五月，漢祖南行，以崇為北京留守，尋加同平章事。 隱帝嗣位，加檢校太師、兼侍中。 乾祐二年九月，加兼中書令。 時漢隱帝以幼年在位，政在大臣，崇亦招募亡命，繕完兵甲，為自全之計，朝廷命令，多不稟行，征斂一方，略無虛日，人甚苦之。 三年十一月，隱帝遇害，朝廷議立崇之子徐州節度使赟為主，會周太祖為軍眾所推，降封赟為湘陰公。 崇乃遣牙將李筠奉書求赟歸藩，會赟已死，唯以優辭答之。
Liu Chong was from Taiyuan, a younger cousin of the Han founder. As a youth he was a ruffian who loved dice and gambling; at twenty he joined the Hedong army. In Tang Changxing he was made army commander of Guozhou. When the Han founder held Bing and Fen he had Chong appointed overall commander of Hedong infantry. A year later he was made prefect of Lin, again overall commander of Hedong horse and foot and inspector of the Three Cities, and nominally Defender of Sizhou. When the Han founder rose in Hedong, Chong was made Special Grand Master, acting Grand Guardian, and acting Prefect of Taiyuan. That fifth month, when the Han founder marched south, Chong was left regent of the northern capital and soon made Grand Councilor. When Emperor Yindi succeeded, Chong was made acting Grand Preceptor and Palace Attendant. In the ninth month of Qianyou's second year he was also made Director of the Secretariat. Emperor Yindi was young and power lay with ministers. Chong recruited fugitives, armed himself for safety, ignored many court orders, and taxed his region without respite until the people groaned. In the eleventh month of the third year Yindi was murdered. The court considered Chong's son Yun of Xuzhou, but the Zhou founder was raised by the army and Yun was reduced to Duke of Xiangyin. Chong sent Li Yun to beg Yun's return; when Yun was already dead he answered with gracious words only.
16
周廣順元年正月，崇僭號於河東，稱漢，改名旻，仍以乾祐為年號。 署其子承鈞為侍衛親軍都指揮使、太原尹，以判官鄭拱、趙華為宰相，副使李瑰、代州刺史張暉為腹心，尋遣承鈞率兵攻晉、隰二州，不克而退。 九月，崇自領兵由陰地關寇晉州，乞師於契丹，契丹以五千騎助之，合兵以攻平陽，又分兵寇昭義。 周太祖遣樞密使王峻等率大軍以援晉、絳，崇聞周師至，遂焚營而遁。 是歲，晉、絳大雪，崇駐軍六十餘日，邊民走險自固，兵無所掠，士有饑色，比至太原，十亡三四。 二年二月，崇遣兵三千餘眾寇府州，為折德扆所破，其所部岢嵐軍為德扆所取。 崇自僭稱之後，以重幣求援於契丹，仍稱侄以事之，契丹偽冊為英武皇帝。 及周世宗嗣位，崇復乞師於契丹，以圖入寇，契丹遣將楊袞合勢大舉，來迫潞州。 顯德元年三月，周世宗親征，與崇戰於高平，大敗之。 崇與親騎十數人逾山而遁，中夜迷懵，不知所適，劫村民使為鄉導，誤趨晉州路，行百餘里方覺。 崇怒，殺鄉導者，得他路而去，乃易名號，被毛褐、張樺笠而行。 至沁州，與從者三五騎止於郊舍，寒餒尤甚，潛令告偽刺史李廷誨，廷誨饋盤餐、解衣裘而與之。 每至屬邑，縣吏奉食，匕箸未舉，聞周師至，即蒼黃而去。 崇年老力憊，伏於馬上，日夜奔竄，僅能支持。 距太原一舍，其子承鈞夜以兵百人迎之而入。 及周師臨城下，崇氣懾，自固閉壘不出。 月餘，世宗乃旋軍。
In the first month of Zhou Guangshun's first year Chong usurped rule in Hedong as Han, renamed himself Min, and kept the era Qianyou. He made his son Chengjun guard commander and Prefect of Taiyuan, Zheng Gong and Zhao Hua grand councilors, Li Gui and Zhang Hui of Daizhou his intimates, then sent Chengjun against Jin and Xi; failing, he withdrew. In the ninth month Chong led troops through Yindi Pass against Jinzhou, begged Khitan aid, and received five thousand horse. They attacked Pingyang and raided Zhaoyi. The Zhou founder sent Wang Jun with a great army to relieve Jin and Jiang. Hearing of it, Chong burned his camp and fled. That year snow lay heavy on Jin and Jiang. Chong camped sixty days while the border people fled to the hills; his men went hungry, and three or four in ten died before Taiyuan. In the second month of the second year he sent three thousand men against Fuzhou; Zhe Dewei defeated them and took his Keilan army. After usurping he bought Khitan aid with heavy gifts, called himself their nephew, and received false investiture as Martial Emperor. When Zhou Shizong succeeded, Chong again begged Khitan aid; Yang Gun marched in force on Luzhou. In the third month of Xiande's first year Shizong campaigned in person and routed Chong at Gaoping. Chong fled over the mountains with a dozen horsemen. At midnight, lost, they forced villagers to guide them, took the road to Jinzhou by mistake, and went a hundred li before they knew it. Enraged, he killed the guides, changed route, assumed a false name, and traveled in fur coat and birch hat. At Qinzhou he stopped with a few followers at a country inn, half frozen and starving. He secretly notified false prefect Li Tinghui, who fed him and gave him a fur robe. At each county clerks brought food, but before he could eat he heard Zhou troops were near and fled in panic. Old and spent, he lay on his horse and fled day and night, barely enduring. One stage from Taiyuan his son Chengjun met him at night with a hundred soldiers and brought him in. When Zhou troops reached the walls Chong was terrified, shut the gates, and would not come out. After more than a month Shizong withdrew.
17
顯德二年十一月，崇以病死，其子承鈞襲偽位。 鈞之事跡具皇家日曆。
In the eleventh month of Xiande's second year Chong died; Chengjun usurped the throne. Chengjun's career is recorded in the imperial calendar.
18
史臣曰：守光逆天反道，從古所無，迨至臨刑，尚求免死，非唯惡之極也，抑亦愚之甚也。 劉晟據南極以稱雄，屬中原之多事，洎乎奕世，遇我昌朝，力憊而亡，不泯其嗣，亦其幸也。 劉崇以亡國之餘，竊偽王之號，多見其不知量也。 今元惡雖斃，遣孽尚存，勢蹙民殘，不亡何待！
The historian writes: Shouguang defied Heaven and reversed the Way as few have since antiquity; at execution he still begged for life—wickedness and folly together. Liu Sheng held the far south while the heartland churned; through generations until our dynasty his house fell yet survived—a kind of fortune. Liu Chong, a remnant of a fallen house, stole a king's title—he did not know his measure. Though the chief villain is dead, his brood remains; power is spent and the people ruined—how can they long endure?