1
开平元年春正月壬寅，天子使御史大夫薛贻矩来劳军。 宰相张文蔚率百官来劝进。 夏四月壬戌，更名晃。 甲子，皇帝即位。 戊辰，大赦，改元，国号梁。 封唐主为济阴王。 升汴州为开封府，建为东都，以唐东都为西都。 废京兆府为雍州。 赐东都酺一日。 契丹阿保机使袍笏梅老来。
In the first month of spring, Kaiping 1 (907), on the day renyin, the Tang emperor sent Censor-in-Chief Xue Yiju to visit the army and pay his respects. Chief Councillor Zhang Wenwei led the court in pressing Quanzhong to take the throne. In the fourth month of summer, on the day renxu, he took the taboo name Huang. On the day jiazi he ascended as emperor. On the day wuchen he declared a general amnesty, adopted a new reign title, and named the dynasty Liang. The deposed Tang emperor was given the title Prince of Jiyin. Bianzhou became Kaifengfu and the eastern capital; the old Tang eastern capital became the western capital. Jingzhaofu was downgraded to Yongzhou. The eastern capital was granted a day of public celebration. Abaoji of the Khitan sent an envoy, Paoju Meilao.
2
五月丁丑朔，以唐相张文蔚杨涉为门下侍郎，御史大夫薛贻矩为中书侍郎； 同中书门下平章事。 戊寅，渤海、契丹遣使者来。 乙酉，封兄全昱为广王，子友文博王，友珪郢王，友璋福王，友贞均王，友徽建王，侄友谅衡王，友能惠王，友诲邵王。 甲午，改枢密院为崇政院，太府卿敬翔为使。 是月，潞州行营都指挥使李思安及晋人战，败绩。 六月甲寅，平卢军节度使韩建守司徒，同中书门下平章事。 秋七月己亥，追尊祖考为皇帝，妣为皇后； 皇高祖黯谥曰宣元，庙号肃祖，祖妣范氏谥曰宣僖； 曾祖茂琳谥曰光献，庙号敬祖，祖妣杨氏谥曰光孝； 祖信谥曰昭武，庙号宪祖，祖妣刘氏谥曰昭懿； 考诚谥曰文穆，庙号烈祖，妣王氏谥曰文惠。 八月丁卯，同州虸蚄虫生。 隰州黄河清。 九月，括马。 冬十月己未，讲武于繁台。 十一月壬寅，赦亡命背军髡黥刑徒。
On the first of the fifth month, dingchou, the former Tang chancellors Zhang Wenwei and Yang She became vice directors of the Secretariat, and Censor-in-Chief Xue Yiju became vice director of the Chancellery; all with the rank of co-equal grand councilor of the Secretariat and Chancellery. On the day wuyin, Bohai and the Khitan sent envoys. On the day yiyou he enfeoffed his brother Quanyu as Prince of Guang; his sons Youwen as Prince of Bo, Yougui as Prince of Ying, Youzhang as Prince of Fu, Youzhen as Prince of Jun, and Youhui as Prince of Jian; and his nephews Youliang as Prince of Heng, Youneng as Prince of Hui, and Youhai as Prince of Shao. On the day jiawu the Privy Council became the Court of Esteemed Governance, headed by Grand Chamberlain Jing Xiang. That month Li Si'an, commander of the Lu Prefecture campaign army, met the Jin army and lost. In the sixth month, on the day jiayin, Han Jian, military governor of Pinglu, was named Minister of Works and co-equal grand councilor. In the seventh month of autumn, on the day jihai, he posthumously honored his forebears as emperors and their consorts as empresses; his great-grandfather An received the posthumous name Xuan Yuan and temple name Ancestor Su, and his great-grandmother of the Fan clan the name Xuanxi; his grandfather Maolin the name Guang Xian and temple name Ancestor Jing, and his grandmother of the Yang clan the name Guang Xiao; his grandfather Xin the name Zhao Wu and temple name Ancestor Xian, and his grandmother of the Liu clan the name Zhao Yi; his father Cheng the name Wen Mu and temple name Ancestor Lie, and his mother of the Wang clan the name Wen Hui. In the eighth month, on the day dingmao, locusts hatched in Tongzhou. In Xizhou the Yellow River ran clear—a portent. In the ninth month the court requisitioned horses. In the tenth month of winter, on the day jiwei, troops were reviewed at Fantai. In the eleventh month, on the day renyin, deserters, mutineers, and branded or tattooed convicts were granted amnesty.
3
二年春正月丁酉，渤海遣使者来。 己亥，卜郊于西都。 弑济阴王。 二月辛未，契丹阿保机遣使者来。 三月壬申朔，如西都。 丙子，如怀州。 丁丑，如泽州。 戊寅，封鸿胪卿李崧介国公，为二王后。 壬午，匡国军节度使刘知俊为潞州行营招讨使。 癸巳，改卜郊。 张文蔚薨。 夏四月癸卯，杨涉罢，吏部侍郎于兢为中书侍郎，翰林学士承旨礼部侍郎张策为刑部侍郎：同中书门下平章事。 壬子，至泽州。 五月己丑，潞州行营都虞候康怀英及晋人战于夹城，败绩。 戊戌，立唐三庙。 契丹遣使者来。 六月壬寅，忠武军节度使刘知俊为西路行营招讨使，以伐岐。 己酉，杀右金吾卫上将军王师范，灭其族。 丙辰，刘知俊及岐人战于漠谷，败之。 秋九月丁丑，如陕州，博王友文留守东都。 冬十月丁未，至自陕州。 十一月癸巳，张策罢，左僕射杨涉同中书门下平章事。 十二月己亥，以介国公为三恪，酅国公、莱国公为二王后。
In the first month of spring, second year, on the day dingyou, Bohai sent envoys. On the day jihai the court chose an auspicious day for the suburban rite at the western capital. The Prince of Jiyin, the former Tang emperor, was murdered. In the second month, on the day xinwei, Khitan's Abaoji sent envoys. On the new moon of the third month, renshen, he traveled to the western capital. On the day bingzi he went to Huaizhou. On the day dingchou he went to Zezhou. On the day wuyin Li Song, Director of Ceremonies, was made Duke of Jie and charged with rites for the two fallen dynasties. On the day renwu Liu Zhijun, military governor of Kuangguo, was appointed to command the Lu Prefecture campaign. On the day guisi the suburban rite was postponed and a new date set. Zhang Wenwei died. In the fourth month of summer, on the day guimao, Yang She left office. Yu Jing of the Ministry of Personnel and Zhang Ce of the Hanlin became vice chancellors and co-equal grand councilors. On the day renzi he arrived at Zezhou. In the fifth month, on the day jichou, Kang Huaiying of the Lu campaign army met the Jin at Jiacheng and was beaten. On the day wuxu the court founded shrines to three Tang emperors. The Khitan sent envoys. In the sixth month, on the day renyin, Liu Zhijun of Zhongwu was named commander of the western campaign against Qi. On the day jiyou Wang Shifan, senior general of the Right Golden Guard, was put to death and his entire clan wiped out. On the day bingchen Liu Zhijun met the Qi army at Mogu and won. In the ninth month of autumn, on the day dingchou, he went to Shanzhou while Prince of Bo Youwen stayed behind at the eastern capital. In the tenth month of winter, on the day dingwei, he returned from Shanzhou. In the eleventh month, on the day guisi, Zhang Ce was removed; Yang She, Left Vice Director, again became co-equal grand councilor. In the twelfth month, on the day jihai, the Duke of Jie was named San Ke, highest ritual host to fallen thrones; the dukes of Xi and Lai tended the two exiled royal lines.
4
三年春正月甲戌，如西都。 复然灯以祈福。 庚寅，享于太庙。 辛卯，有事于南郊，大赦。 丙申，群臣上尊号，曰睿文圣武广孝皇帝。 二月壬戌，讲武于西杏园。 甲子，延州高万兴叛于岐，来降。 三月辛未，渤海国王大諲譔遣使者来。 甲戌，如河中。 山南东道节度使杨师厚为潞州四面行营招讨使。 刘知俊取丹州。 夏四月丙午，知俊克延、鄜、坊三州。 五月己卯，至自河中，杀佑国军节度使王重师。 六月庚戌，刘知俊执佑国军节度使刘捍，叛附于岐。 辛亥，如陕州。 乙卯，冀王朱友谦为同州东面行营招讨使。 刘知俊奔于岐。 丹州军乱，逐其刺史宋知诲。 秋七月，商州军乱，逐其刺史李稠，稠奔于岐。 乙丑，克丹州，执其首恶王行思。 乙亥，至自陕州。 甲申，襄州军乱，杀其留后王班。 房州刺史杨虔叛附于蜀。 八月辛亥，降死罪囚。 辛酉，均州刺史张敬方克房州，执杨虔。 闰月癸酉，契丹遣使者来。 己卯，阅稼于西苑。 九月壬寅，行营招讨使左卫上将军陈晖克襄州，执其首恶李洪。 丁未，保义军节度使王檀为潞州东面行营招讨使。 辛亥，韩建、杨涉罢。 太常卿赵光逢为中书侍郎、翰林学士承旨工部侍郎杜晓为户部侍郎：同中书门下平章事。 辛酉，李洪、杨虔伏诛。 冬十一月甲午，日南至，告谢于南郊。 己酉，搜访贤良。 镇国军节度使康怀英伐岐。 十二月，怀英克宁、庆、衍三州。 及刘知俊战于升平，败绩。
In the first month of spring, third year, on the day jiaxu, he went to the western capital. Festival lamps were lit again to seek divine favor. On the day gengyin he sacrificed at the ancestral temple. On the day xinmao he performed the southern suburban sacrifice and declared a general amnesty. On the day bingshen the court offered him the honorific Sagely, Civil, Holy, Martial, and Broadly Filial Emperor. In the second month, on the day renxu, troops were reviewed at the West Apricot Garden. On the day jiazi Gao Wanxing of Yanzhou broke with Qi and defected. In the third month, on the day xinwei, Da Yinzhan, king of Bohai, sent envoys. On the day jiaxu he went to Hezhong. Yang Shihou, military governor of Shannan East, was appointed to command all armies around Lu Prefecture. Liu Zhijun captured Danzhou. In the fourth month of summer, on the day bingwu, Zhijun seized Yan, Bin, and Fang. In the fifth month, on the day jimao, he returned from Hezhong and had Wang Chongshi, military governor of Youguo, executed. In the sixth month, on the day gengxu, Liu Zhijun arrested Liu Han of Youguo, rebelled, and joined Qi. On the day xinhai he went to Shanzhou. On the day yimao Zhu Youqian, Prince of Ji, was named commander of the eastern campaign against Tongzhou. Liu Zhijun fled into Qi territory. The garrison at Danzhou mutinied and expelled Prefect Song Zhihui. In the seventh month of autumn the Shangzhou garrison mutinied, expelled Prefect Li Chou, and Chou fled to Qi. On the day yichou Danzhou was recovered and the rebel leader Wang Xingsi taken. On the day yihai he returned from Shanzhou. On the day jiashen the Xiangzhou garrison mutinied and killed Acting Governor Wang Ban. Fangzhou Prefect Yang Qian rebelled and defected to Shu. In the eighth month, on the day xinhai, prisoners sentenced to death were reprieved. On the day xinyou Junzhou Prefect Zhang Jingfang retook Fangzhou and seized Yang Qian. In the intercalary month, on the day guiyou, the Khitan sent envoys. On the day jimao he inspected the harvest in the western park. In the ninth month, on the day renyin, Chen Hui, campaign commander of the Left Guard, recovered Xiangzhou and seized the rebel Li Hong. On the day dingwei Wang Tan of Baoyi was appointed to command the eastern Lu Prefecture campaign. On the day xinhai Han Jian and Yang She left office. Zhao Guangfeng, Director of Ceremonies, and Du Xiao of the Hanlin became vice chancellors and co-equal grand councilors. On the day xinyou Li Hong and Yang Qian were executed. In the eleventh month of winter, on the day jiawu—the winter solstice—thanksgiving rites were held at the southern altar. On the day jiyou the court called for worthy men to serve. Kang Huaiying, military governor of Zhenguo, marched against Qi. In the twelfth month Huaiying captured Ning, Qing, and Yan. At Shengping he met Liu Zhijun and was routed.
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四年春正月壬辰朔，始用乐。 丁未，讲武于榆林。 二月己丑，阅稼于谷水。 秋八月丙寅，如陕州。 河南尹张宗奭留守西都。 辛未，护国军节度使杨师厚为西路行营招讨使以伐岐。 九月己丑，至自陕州。 辛亥，搜访贤良。 冬十一月己丑，宁国军节度使王景仁为北面行营招讨使以伐赵。 赵王王熔、北平王王处直叛附于晋，晋人救赵。 十二月癸酉，颁律令格式。
In the first month of spring, fourth year, on the new moon renchen, court music was performed for the first time. On the day dingwei troops were reviewed at Yulin. In the second month, on the day jichou, the harvest was inspected at Gushui. In the eighth month of autumn, on the day bingyin, he went to Shanzhou. Zhang Zongshi, prefect of Henan, stayed behind to guard the western capital. On the day xinwei Yang Shihou of Huguo was named commander of the western campaign against Qi. In the ninth month, on the day jichou, he returned from Shanzhou. On the day xinhai the court again called for worthy men. In the eleventh month of winter, on the day jichou, Wang Jingren of Ningguo was appointed to command the northern campaign against Zhao. Wang Rong of Zhao and Wang Chuzhi of Beiping rebelled and sided with Jin; the Jin army marched to Zhao's aid. In the twelfth month, on the day guiyou, the new code of laws and administrative formats was issued.
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乾化元年春正月丁亥，王景仁及晋人战于柏乡，败绩。 庚寅，赦流罪以下囚，求危言正谏。 癸巳，天雄军节度使杨师厚为北面行营招讨使。 夏四月壬申，契丹阿保机遣使者来。 五月甲申朔，大赦，改元。 癸巳，幸张宗奭第。 秋八月戊辰，阅稼于榆林。 渤海遣使者来。 戊寅，大阅于兴安鞠场。 九月辛巳朔，御文明殿，入阁。 庚子，如魏州。 张宗奭留守西都。 冬十月丙子，大阅于魏东郊。 十一月，高万兴取盐州。 壬辰，至自魏州。 乙未，回鹘、吐蕃遣使者来。 二年春二月丁巳，光禄卿卢玭使于蜀。 甲子，如魏州，张宗奭留守西都。 次白马，杀左散骑常侍孙骘、右谏议大夫张衍、兵部郎中张俊。 戊寅，如贝州。 三月丙戌，屠枣强。 丁未，复如魏州。 夏四月己巳，至自魏州。 戊寅，如西都。 五月丁亥，德音降死罪已下囚。 罢役徒，禁屠及捕生。 渤海遣使者来。 是月，薛贻矩薨。 六月，疾革，郢王友珪反。 戊寅，皇帝崩。
In the first month of spring, Qianhua 1 (911), on the day dinghai, Wang Jingren met the Jin at Baixiang and lost. On the day gengyin the court pardoned exiles and lesser offenders and called for frank remonstrance. On the day guisi Yang Shihou, military governor of Tianxiong, was appointed to command the northern campaign. In the fourth month of summer, on the day renshen, Khitan's Abaoji sent envoys. On the new moon of the fifth month, jiashen, he declared a general amnesty and adopted a new reign title. On the day guisi he paid a visit to Zhang Zongshi's mansion. In the eighth month of autumn, on the day wuchen, he inspected the harvest at Yulin. Bohai sent envoys. On the day wuyin troops were reviewed at the Xing'an ball grounds. On the new moon of the ninth month, xinsi, he held court in the Hall of Civilization and received ministers in the inner chamber. On the day gengzi he went to Weizhou. Zhang Zongshi stayed behind to guard the western capital. In the tenth month of winter, on the day bingzi, troops were reviewed east of Weizhou. In the eleventh month Gao Wanxing captured Salt Prefecture. On the day renchen he returned from Weizhou. On the day yiwei the Uyghurs and Tibetans sent envoys. In the second month of spring, second year, on the day dingsi, Lu Pin, Chamberlain for Ceremonials, was dispatched to Shu as envoy. On the day jiazi he went to Weizhou while Zhang Zongshi stayed to guard the western capital. At Baima he had Sun Zhi, Left Regular Attendant, Zhang Yan, Right Remonstrance Officer, and Zhang Jun of the Ministry of War put to death. On the day wuyin he went to Beizhou. In the third month, on the day bingxu, Zaoqiang was sacked and its people slaughtered. On the day dingwei he went to Weizhou again. In the fourth month of summer, on the day jisi, he returned from Weizhou. On the day wuyin he went to the western capital. In the fifth month, on the day dinghai, a mercy edict reprieved prisoners sentenced to death and below. Forced laborers were dismissed, and slaughter and hunting were banned. Bohai sent envoys. That month Xue Yiju died. In the sixth month, as his illness worsened, Prince of Ying Yougui rose in rebellion. On the day wuyin the emperor died.
7
呜呼，天下之恶梁久矣！ 自后唐以来，皆以为伪也。 至予论次五代，独不伪梁，而议者或讥予大失《春秋》之旨，以谓「梁负大恶，当加诛绝，而反进之，是奖篡也，非《春秋》之志也。」 予应之曰：「是《春秋》之志尔。 鲁桓公弑隐公而自立者，宣公弑子赤而自立者，郑厉公逐世子忽而自立者，卫公孙剽逐其君衎而自立者，圣人于《春秋》，皆不绝其为君。 此予所以不伪梁者，用《春秋》之法也。」 「然则《春秋》亦奖篡乎？」 曰：「惟不绝四者之为君，于此见《春秋》之意也。 圣人之于《春秋》，用意深，故能劝戒切，为言信，然后善恶明。 夫欲著其罪于后世，在乎不没其实。 其实尝为君矣，书其为君。 其实篡也，书其篡。 各传其实，而使后世信之，则四君之罪，不可得而掩尔。 使为君者不得掩其恶，然后人知恶名不可逃，则为恶者庶乎其息矣。 是谓用意深而劝戒切，为言信而善恶明也。 桀、纣，不待贬其王，而万世所共恶者也。 《春秋》于大恶之君不诛绝之者，不害其褒善贬恶之旨也，惟不没其实以著其罪，而信乎后世，与其为君而不得掩其恶，以息人之为恶。 能知《春秋》之此意，然后知予不伪梁之旨也。」
Alas—the world has hated Liang for ages! Since the Later Tang, every court has treated Liang as a usurper's regime. When I set the Five Dynasties in order, I alone refused to brand Liang illegitimate. Some reproached me for betraying the Spring and Autumn Annals: "Liang committed crimes too great to name; you should erase it from the succession, not enshrine it. That is to reward usurpation—not what the Spring and Autumn intended. I answered: "On the contrary—that is precisely what the Spring and Autumn intended. Duke Huan of Lu murdered Duke Yin and took the throne; Duke Xuan murdered Prince Chi and took the throne; Duke Li of Zheng expelled the crown prince Hu and took the throne; Gongsun Piao of Wei drove out his lord Kuan and took the throne—yet in the Spring and Autumn the Sage never struck their titles as rulers. That is why I will not brand Liang illegitimate: I follow the Spring and Autumn's method." Then does the Spring and Autumn reward usurpation after all?" The answer: "Only by refusing to strike their titles do you see what the Spring and Autumn truly means. In the Spring and Autumn the Sage's purpose runs deep—deep enough to admonish with force, truthful enough that good and evil stand plain. If you mean to expose a man's guilt to later ages, you must not erase what he actually did. If he truly ruled, write him down as a ruler. If the truth is usurpation, write the usurpation. Record each fact faithfully so posterity will believe it; then the four rulers' crimes cannot be buried. Let no ruler hide his wickedness. Then men learn that infamy offers no escape—and perhaps the wicked will think twice. That is what it means for the intent to run deep and the warning to bite, for the words to be true and good and evil to stand clear. Jie and Zhou needed no demotion from kingship—the ages have condemned them of themselves. When the Spring and Autumn spares even a ruler of great evil from utter erasure, it does not abandon praise of virtue and condemnation of vice. It only refuses to falsify the record so guilt may stand before posterity—so that, recorded as rulers, they cannot hide their crimes, and men may cease from evil. Understand this intent of the Spring and Autumn, and you will understand why I refuse to brand Liang illegitimate."