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。 自即位以後，大事則書，變古則書，非常則書，意有所示則書，後有所因則書。 非此五者，則否。 戊辰，大赦，赦文皆曰大赦天下，此書大，見其志之欲遠及也，不曰天下，實有所不及也。 改元，國號梁。 封唐主为济阴王。 謂天子為唐主，錄其本語如此。 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。 州縣廢置，見職方考，惟京都則書。 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. After his accession, major events are recorded, changes to old practice are recorded, unusual events are recorded, things meant to convey a point are recorded, and things that later actions followed from are recorded. Events outside these five categories are not recorded. On the day wuchen there was a general amnesty. Amnesty proclamations all say "general amnesty under Heaven"; writing only "general" here shows his wish that it reach widely, while not saying "under Heaven" reflects that in fact it did not reach everywhere. He adopted a new reign title and named the dynasty Liang. The deposed Tang emperor was given the title Prince of Jiyin. This calls the Son of Heaven the Tang ruler, preserving the original wording as it stood. Bianzhou became Kaifengfu and the eastern capital; the old Tang eastern capital became the western capital. Jingzhaofu was downgraded to Yongzhou. The abolition and establishment of prefectures and counties are shown in the Treatise on Offices; only the capitals are recorded here. The eastern capital was granted a day of public celebration. Abaoji of the Khitan sent an envoy, Paoju Meilao.
2
夷狄來，不言朝，不責其禮； 不言貢，不貴其物。 故書曰來。 五代亂世，著其屢來，以見夷狄之來不來，不因治亂。 而亂世屢來，不足貴也。 五月丁丑朔，以唐相張文蔚楊涉為門下侍郎、御史大夫薛貽矩為中書侍郎：同中書門下平章事。 戊寅，渤海、契丹遣使者来。 夷狄君臣姓名、官爵，或書或否，不必備，或因其舊史之詳略，但書其來以示意爾。 乙酉，兄全昱為廣王，子友文博王，友文非子而書子，語在家人傳。 友珪郢王，友璋福王，友貞均王，友徽建王，姪友諒衡王，友能惠王，友誨邵王。 甲午，改樞密院為崇政院，太府卿敬翔為使。 是月，潞州行營都指揮使李思安及晉人戰，敗績。 我敗曰敗績，彼敗曰敗之，文理宜然。 已見行營，故戰不言地。 六月甲寅，平盧軍節度使韓建守司徒，同中書門下平章事。 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。 於此書，見不為瑞也。 九月，括马。 冬十月己未，講武于繁臺。 十一月壬寅，赦亡命背軍、髠黥刑徒。
When Yi and Di come, the text does not say "came to court," because it does not hold them to court ritual. It does not say "offered tribute," because it does not dignify their goods. Therefore it simply says "came." In the chaotic age of the Five Dynasties, recording their repeated arrivals shows that whether Yi and Di came did not depend on whether the realm was well ordered or in disorder. Repeated arrivals in a time of disorder were not worthy of honor. On the first day of the fifth month, dingchou, the former Tang chancellors Zhang Wenwei and Yang She were made vice directors of the Secretariat, and Censor-in-Chief Xue Yiju became vice director of the Chancellery; all held the rank of co-equal grand councilor of the Secretariat and Chancellery. On the day wuyin, Bohai and the Khitan sent envoys. For Yi and Di rulers and ministers, names and titles are sometimes recorded and sometimes not. They need not be complete; the text may simply follow the fullness or brevity of the old history, recording only their arrival to convey the point. On the day yiyou, his brother Quanyu was made Prince of Guang and his son Youwen Prince of Bo; Youwen was not actually his son, but he is written here as "son," as explained in the Biographies of the Imperial Household. Yougui was made Prince of Ying, Youzhang Prince of Fu, Youzhen Prince of Jun, Youhui written 友徽 Prince of Jian, his nephew Youliang Prince of Heng, Youneng Prince of Hui, and Youhui written 友誨 Prince of Shao. On the day jiawu, the Privy Council was renamed the Court of Esteemed Governance, with Grand Chamberlain Jing Xiang as its commissioner. That month Li Si'an, commander of the Lu Prefecture campaign army, fought the Jin forces and was defeated. When our own side loses, the text says "was defeated"; when the other side loses, it says "defeated them." This distinction is proper to the logic of the wording. The campaign army has already been mentioned, so the battle is recorded without naming the place. In the sixth month, on the day jiayin, Han Jian, military governor of Pinglu, was named acting Minister of Works and co-equal grand councilor of the Secretariat and Chancellery. 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. Its being recorded here shows that it was not treated as an auspicious omen. 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, fugitives, army deserters, and convicts marked by shaving and tattooing were pardoned.
3
於好殺之世，小赦必書，見其亦有愛人之意也。
In an age fond of killing, even a minor pardon had to be recorded, showing that he too had some impulse to care for the people.
4
二年春正月丁酉，渤海遣使者来。 己亥，卜郊于西都。 弑济阴王。 弒，臣子之大惡也，書濟陰王，從其實，書弒，正梁罪名。 二月辛未，契丹阿保机遣使者来。 三月壬申朔，如西都。 幸，已至也。 如，往而未至之辭。 有事，可以書。 丙子，如怀州。 五代亂世，兵無虛日，不可悉書。 故用兵無勝敗，攻城無得失，皆不書。 其命大將與天子有所如，自著大事爾。 此如懷、澤者，以兵方攻潞州也。 丁丑，如泽州。 戊寅，封鴻臚卿李崧萊國公，為二王後。 梁嘗更「戊」曰「武」，而舊史悉復為「戊」。 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，楊涉罷。 吏部侍郎于兢為中書侍郎，翰林學士承旨禮部侍郎張策為刑部侍郎：同中書門下平章事。 壬子，至澤州。 五月己丑，潞州行營都虞候康懷英及晉人戰于夾城，敗績。 築城圍潞，戰于城中，故書地。 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。 用兵之名有四：兩相攻曰攻，以大加小曰伐，加有罪曰討，天子自往曰征。 隨事為文，不得不異，非有褒貶也。 己酉，杀右金吾卫上将军王师范，灭其族。 當殺曰伏誅，不當殺者，以兩相殺為文。 丙辰，刘知俊及岐人战于漠谷，败之。 秋九月丁丑，如陝州，以晉人攻晉、絳故也。 博王友文留守東都。 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. Regicide is the great evil of subject and son. Calling him Prince of Jiyin follows the facts, and writing that he was murdered fixes Liang's crime by its proper name. 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. "Xing" means that he had already arrived. "Ru" is the term for going somewhere but not yet arriving. "Performed rites" was an acceptable wording to record. On the day bingzi he went to Huaizhou. In the chaotic age of the Five Dynasties, hardly a day passed without warfare, and it could not all be recorded. Therefore troop deployments with no victory or defeat, and attacks on cities with no gain or loss, are not recorded. The appointment of a great general, and places to which the Son of Heaven went, naturally mark major events. This journey to Huai and Ze was because the armies were then attacking Luzhou. On the day dingchou he went to Zezhou. On the day wuyin Li Song, Chamberlain for Ceremonials, was made Duke of Lai and successor to the two royal houses. Liang once changed the character "戊" to "武", but the old histories uniformly restored it as "戊". 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, vice minister of Personnel, became vice director of the Chancellery, and Zhang Ce, Hanlin academician-in-attendance and vice minister of Rites, became vice minister of Justice; both held the rank of co-equal grand councilor of the Secretariat and Chancellery. On the day renzi he arrived at Zezhou. In the fifth month, on the day jichou, Kang Huaiying, chief defense officer of the Lu Prefecture campaign army, fought the Jin forces at Jiacheng and was defeated. Because he built fortifications to surround Lu and fought inside the city, the place is recorded. 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. There are four terms for military action: when two sides attack one another it is called "attack"; when the great acts against the small it is "punitive expedition"; when punishing the guilty it is "to punish"; when the Son of Heaven goes in person it is "to campaign." The wording varies according to the event and cannot be otherwise; it does not imply praise or blame. On the day jiyou Wang Shifan, senior general of the Right Golden Guard, was put to death and his entire clan wiped out. When a killing was deserved, the text says "put to death"; when it was undeserved, it phrases the matter as mutual killing. 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 because the Jin forces were attacking Jin and Jiang. Prince Youwen of Bo stayed behind to guard 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.
5
三年春正月甲戌，如西都。 復然燈以祈福。 然燈，風俗相傳，自天子至于庶人，舉天下同其奢樂，而風俗敝之大者，故錄其詔意，則其失可知。 庚寅，享于太庙。 辛卯，有事于南郊，祀天于南郊，書曰有事，錄當時語。 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。 唐末之亂，彊弱相并，或去彼來此，不可為常，難於遽責。 至此乃書曰叛，始正其定分也。 三月辛未，渤海国王大諲譔遣使者来。 甲戌，如河中。 以高萬興降，劉知俊兵攻鄜、延故也。 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。 以身歸曰降，以地歸曰附，亦文理宜然爾。 知俊為忠武軍節度使，以同州附岐，今直書知俊叛，而不言地，蓋忠武已見上文。 辛亥，如陕州。 以劉知俊叛故也。 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。 初不知首惡之人，故直曰軍亂，既克而推得之也。 克丹州，無主將姓名，行思無官爵，又不見伏誅日，皆舊史失亡。 乙亥，至自陕州。 甲申，襄州軍亂，殺其留後王班。 智不足以衞身，才不足以治眾而見殺，不書死之，而以被殺為文，見死得其死者，士之大節，不妄以予人。 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。 閏月癸酉，契丹遣使者來。 己卯，閱稼于西苑。 九月壬寅，行營招討使左衞上將軍陳暉克襄州，執其首惡李洪。 命暉討亂，舊史失不書，至此始見。 既克而推得其首惡，故初亦且書軍亂。 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。 南至不必書，因其以至日告謝而書。 告謝主用至日，故書之。 不曰有事于南郊，亦從其本語。 蓋比南郊禮差簡。 己酉，搜訪賢良。 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 pray for blessings. Lighting lamps was a transmitted custom; from the Son of Heaven down to commoners, the whole realm indulged in its extravagance and pleasure, a major corruption of custom. Recording the edict's intent therefore makes the fault clear. On the day gengyin he sacrificed at the ancestral temple. On the day xinmao, he performed rites at the southern suburb; sacrificing to Heaven there is written as "performed rites" because the wording of the time is being recorded. A general amnesty was declared. 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. During the disorder at the end of Tang, strong and weak powers swallowed one another up, and some men left one side for another. This could not be treated as a fixed norm and was hard to condemn immediately. Only here does the text write "rebelled," first setting the proper status distinction. In the third month, on the day xinwei, Da Yinzhan, king of Bohai, sent envoys. On the day jiaxu he went to Hezhong. This was because Gao Wanxing had surrendered and Liu Zhijun's troops were attacking Fu and Yan. 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. Returning with one's person is called surrendering; returning with territory is called attaching oneself. This too is proper to the logic of the wording. Zhijun was military governor of Zhongwu and attached Tongzhou to Qi; here the text simply says Zhijun rebelled and does not mention the territory, probably because Zhongwu has already appeared above. On the day xinhai he went to Shanzhou. This was because Liu Zhijun had rebelled. 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. At first the ringleader was not known, so the text simply says "the army mutinied"; only after the place was recovered was he identified. That Danzhou was recovered without naming the commanding general, that Xingsi has no office or title, and that the date of his execution is not shown are all losses in the old history. On the day yihai he returned from Shanzhou. On the day jiashen the Xiangzhou garrison mutinied and killed Acting Governor Wang Ban. His judgment was insufficient to protect himself and his ability insufficient to govern the troops, and so he was killed. The text does not write that he "died for it," but phrases it as "was killed," showing that dying a worthy death is a great principle for a gentleman and is not lightly granted to anyone. 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. Hui had been ordered to suppress the disorder, but the old history failed to record it; only here does it first appear. After the city was recovered, the ringleader was identified, so at first the text merely records a military mutiny. 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. The winter solstice did not have to be recorded; it is recorded because he used the solstice day to offer thanks. The thanksgiving rite chiefly used the solstice day, so it is recorded. That the text does not say "performed rites at the southern suburb" also follows the original wording. It was probably somewhat simpler than the full southern-suburb rite. 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.
6
四年春正月壬辰朔，始用乐。 自唐末之亂，禮樂亡，至此始用樂，故書。 丁未，讲武于榆林。 二月己丑，閱稼于穀水。 秋八月丙寅，如陕州。 以岐人、晉人攻夏州故也。 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，搜訪賢良。 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。 趙王王鎔、北平王王處直叛附于晉，晉人救趙。 十二月癸酉，頒律令格式。
In the first month of spring, fourth year, on the new moon renchen, court music was performed for the first time. Since the disorder at the end of Tang, rites and music had fallen away; music was first used again here, so the event is recorded. 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. This was because the Qi and Jin forces were attacking Xiazhou. 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.
7
乾化元年春正月丁亥，王景仁及晉人戰于柏鄉，敗績。 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，大閱于興安鞠場。 九月辛巳朔，御文明殿，入閤。 御殿而云入閤，錄其本語。 事在李琪列傳。 此禮，其後屢行，皆不書，一書以見其失足矣。 庚子，如魏州。 以晉人攻魏故也。 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，回鶻、吐蕃遣使者來。 二年春二月丁巳，光祿卿盧玭使于蜀。 甲子，如魏州，亦以晉人及鎮、定攻相、魏也。 張宗奭留守西都。 次白馬，殺左散騎常侍孫騭、右諫議大夫張衍、兵部郎中張儁。 戊寅，如貝州。 三月丙戌，屠棗彊。 丁未，复如魏州。 夏四月己巳，至自魏州。 下書「如西都」，則此至東都可知。 戊寅，如西都。 五月丁亥，德音降死罪已下囚。 「德音」，赦之小者。 從其本名，以著其實。 罢役徒，禁屠及捕生。 渤海遣使者来。 是月，薛貽矩薨。 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. To say "entered the cabinet" while he was in fact holding court in a palace records the original wording. The matter appears in Li Qi's biography. This ceremony was repeated many times afterward, but none of those instances are recorded; recording it once shows the impropriety of the step. On the day gengzi he went to Weizhou. This was because the Jin forces were attacking Wei. 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, also because Jin and the forces of Zhen and Ding were attacking Xiang and Wei. Zhang Zongshi stayed behind 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. Since the later text says "went to the western capital," this arrival at the eastern capital can be inferred. 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. A "gracious decree" is a lesser form of amnesty. The text follows its original name to show what it actually was. 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.
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年六十一。 不書崩處，以異於得其終者。 乾化二年十一月，友珪葬之河南伊闕縣，號宣陵。 以不得其死，故不書葬。 嗚呼，天下之惡梁久矣！ 自後唐以來，皆以為偽也。 至予論次五代，獨不偽梁，而議者或譏予大失春秋之旨，以謂：「梁負大惡，當加誅絕，而反進之，是奬篡也，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。」 「然則春秋亦奬篡乎？」 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。」
He was sixty-one years old. The place of his death is not recorded, distinguishing him from those who met a proper end. In the eleventh month of Qianhua 2, Yougui buried him in Yique County, Henan, and named the tomb Xuanling. Because he did not die a proper death, the text does not record his burial. 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."