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卷五 本紀第五: 世宗

Volume 5 Annals 5: Shizong

Chapter 5 of 遼史 · History of Liao
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Chapter 5
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1
使 祿 使
In the fourth month that summer, on dingchou day, Emperor Taizong died at Luancheng. On wuyin day the imperial coffin paused at Zhenyang, and he took the throne before the bier. On jiashen day he stopped at Ding Prefecture and ordered Tiande, Shuogu, Jieli, and others to escort the coffin on to the Supreme Capital first. Learning that the Emperor had succeeded, the Empress Dowager sent his younger brother Li Hu with an army to oppose him. On the jiayin new moon of the sixth month he reached the Southern Capital; Five Courts yilijin Anduan and xiangwen Liu Ge sent riders in haste to offer themselves as vanguard. At Taide Spring he met Li Hu's army and routed it. The Emperor sent langjun Qinde and others to both camps to urge a settlement. In the intercalary seventh autumn month he halted at the Huang River; the Empress Dowager and Li Hu arrayed troops to resist at Hengdu Ford, and the two sides faced off for several days. Following Wuzhi's counsel, both sides disbanded their armies and marched for the Supreme Capital. Before long, hearing that the Empress Dowager and Li Hu were plotting again, he had them moved to Zu Prefecture. He executed Minister of Agriculture Huashe and Chubuli. On the renwu new moon of the eighth month he honored his mother, Lady Xiao, as Empress Dowager, made the empress dowager's kinsman Laji Saguolu head of the imperial maternal-uncle account, and set a xiangwen over it. Households from the Palace of Honored Virtue were divided and bestowed on those who had raised him to the throne; Northern Chancellor Wa and Southern Chancellor Hou each received fifty, and Anpo and Chubu each a hundred. Descendants of Dilu and Tiela, earlier registered and confiscated though guilty of no crime, were restored to them. On guiwei day the Northern Palace Commissioner was established for the first time, with Anpo appointed to the post. On the renzi new moon of the ninth month the Succeeding Sage Emperor was interred at Huai Mausoleum. On dingmao day the firewood-and-script rites were performed, and the assembled ministers offered the honorific title Emperor Who Received Heaven's Mandate. He proclaimed a general amnesty and changed the first year of Datong to the first year of Tianlu. He gave his late father the posthumous title Emperor Who Yielded the Realm. Anduan was set to rule the Dongdan state and enfeoffed as Prince of Ming; Chage was made Prince of Taining; Liu Ge was made tiyin; and Gao Xun was made Southern Palace Commissioner.
2
In the spring of the third year, first month, Xiao Han and Princess Abuli plotted rebellion; Han was executed, and Abuli wasted away and died in prison. On gengshen day he proclaimed a general amnesty. Every civil and military official was promoted one step in rank. That summer, on wuyin day of the sixth month, Yelü Hulizhen, chamberlain of records, was made Northern Chancellor. On jimao day tiyin Tuibai was enfeoffed as Prince of Qishui commandery. On the xinchou new moon of the ninth autumn month he summoned the ministers to deliberate on a southern campaign. In the tenth month of winter he sent generals with troops to take Gaolao town in Bei Prefecture, raided through Yedu, Nangong, and Tangyang, killed Shen Prefecture prefect Shi Wanshan, and captured a great host.
3
西 鹿
In the fourth year, spring, second month, on xinwei day Prince of Taining Chage came to court and was kept in attendance at court. That month he established the Directorate of Government Affairs. On the wuxu new moon of the third month Southern Tang sent Zhao Yansi, Zhang Fu, and others to congratulate him on the southern campaign's victory. On the yichou new moon of the ninth autumn month he traveled to Shanxi. In the tenth month of winter he personally led a southern campaign, took Anping, Neiqiu, Shulu, and other cities, and returned laden with booty. That year he installed Lady Xiao as empress.
4
The eulogy says: Shizong was a ruler of middling talent. Having succeeded to the great mandate, within barely three years he accepted Tang's wax-sealed letter and at once debated a southern campaign — lacking steadiness and contrary to circumspection; he surely had within him the ways that bring ruin. Yet in filial piety, brotherly affection, lenience, and kindness he still showed a measure fit for a ruler. Before the army could return, upheaval arose from deep drinking — how could it not be lamentable!
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