Volume 3 Later Liang Annals 3: Later Emperors

卷三梁本纪第三

Volume 3: Later Liang Annals 3.

末帝，太祖第三子友贞也。「末」非謚號，從其本語。为人美容貌，沈厚寡言，雅好儒士。太祖即位，封均王，为左天兴军使、东京马步军都指挥使。乾化二年六月，太祖遇弑，友珪自立，杀博王友文，以弑帝之罪归之。以王为东京留守、开封尹，敬翔为中书侍郎、同中书门下平章事，户部尚书李振为崇政院使。明年，友珪改元曰凤历。二月，驸马都尉赵岩至东都，王私与之谋，遣马慎交之魏州，见杨师厚计事。师厚遣小校王舜贤至洛阳，告左龙虎统军袁象先使讨贼。是时怀州龙骧屯兵叛，方捕索之，王乃伪为友珪诏书，发左右龙骧在东都者皆还洛阳，因激怒之曰：「天子以怀州屯兵叛，追汝等欲尽坑之。」诸将皆泣，莫知所为。王曰：「先皇帝经营王业三十餘年，今日尚为友珪所杀，汝等安所逃死乎！」因出太祖画像示诸将而泣曰：「汝能趋洛阳擒逆贼，则转祸为福矣。」军士皆呼万岁，请王为主，王乃遣人趣象先等。庚寅，象先等以禁兵讨贼，友珪死，杜晓见杀。象先遣赵岩持传国宝至东都，请王入洛阳，王报曰：「夷门，太祖所以兴王业也，北拒并汾，东至淮海，国家藩镇，多在东方，命将出师，利于便近。」是月，皇帝即位於東都，即位大事，失其日而書「是月」，見亂之甚。「於東都」，終上文也。復稱乾化三年，復博王友文官爵。三月丁未，更名鍠。夏五月，楊師厚取滄州。秋九月甲辰，御史大夫姚洎为中书侍郎、同中书门下平章事。冬十二月，晋人取幽州。

The Last Emperor was Zhu Youzhen, Taizu’s third son. “Mo,” or “last,” is not a posthumous title; the text simply follows the original wording. He was handsome, reserved and taciturn, and had long cultivated the company of scholars. After Taizu became emperor he made Youzhen Prince of Jun and named him commissioner of the Left Heavenly Revival Army and commander of all horse and foot troops at the eastern capital. In the sixth month of Qianhua 2 (912) Taizu was murdered. Yougui seized the throne, executed Prince of Bo Zhu Youwen, and blamed him for the assassination. Youzhen was appointed eastern-capital regent and Kaifeng prefect; Jing Xiang became vice director of the Secretariat and co-equal grand councilor; and Minister of Revenue Li Zhen became commissioner of the Court of Esteemed Governance. The following year Yougui adopted the reign title Fengli. In the second month Imperial Son-in-law Commander Zhao Yan came to the eastern capital. Youzhen conferred with him in secret and sent Ma Shenjiao to Weizhou to win Yang Shihou to their cause. Shihou dispatched a junior officer, Wang Shunxian, to Luoyang with orders for Yuan Xiangxian, commander of the Left Dragon-Tiger Army, to march against the usurper. Meanwhile the Longxiang garrison at Huaizhou had mutinied and was being rounded up. Youzhen forged an edict in Yougui’s name recalling every Longxiang unit at the eastern capital to Luoyang, then told them: “The emperor, citing the mutiny at Huaizhou, is hunting you down to slaughter you to the last man.” The officers broke down in tears, utterly at a loss. Youzhen said: “The late emperor spent more than thirty years building this dynasty, and Yougui has just murdered him. Where can any of you hope to live?” He brought out Taizu’s portrait, wept before the troops, and said: “March on Luoyang, capture the usurper, and you will turn ruin into reward.” The men shouted their allegiance and begged Youzhen to lead them. He sent word urging Yuan Xiangxian and his allies to act. On the day gengyin Yuan Xiangxian led the palace guard against the usurper. Yougui was killed, and Du Xiao died with him. Xiangxian sent Zhao Yan with the imperial seal to the eastern capital, inviting Youzhen to Luoyang. He answered: “Yimen is where Taizu founded the dynasty. It commands the north against Bing and Fen and the Huai and sea in the east. Most of our provinces lie eastward, and campaigns are easier when the court stays near the front.” That month the emperor was enthroned at the Eastern Capital. Enthronement is a major event, and the loss of the exact day, leaving only “that month,” shows how severe the disorder was. The phrase “at the Eastern Capital” closes out the preceding passage. He restored the reign title Qianhua 3 and restored the offices and titles of Youwen, Prince of Bo. On dingwei in the third month, he changed his name to Huang. In the fifth month of summer, Yang Shihou captured Cangzhou. In the ninth month of autumn, on the day jiachen, Censor-in-Chief Yao Gui became vice director of the Secretariat and co-equal grand councilor. In the twelfth month of winter Jin forces seized Youzhou.

四年夏四月丁丑，贬于兢为莱州司马。武宁军节度使蒋殷反，天平军节度使牛存节讨之。

In the fourth month of summer in the fourth year, on the day dingchou, Yu Jing was demoted to military adjutant of Laizhou. Jiang Yin, military governor of Wuning, rebelled. Niu Cunjie, military governor of Tianping, marched against him.

贞明元年春正月，存节克徐州。蔣殷自燔死，故不書伏誅。三月丁卯，赵光逢罢。平盧軍節度使賀德倫為天雄軍節度使，命官不書，非常而有故則書，此書為天雄軍亂張本。分其相、澶、衞州為昭德軍，宣徽使張筠為節度使。己丑，天雄軍亂，賀德倫叛附于晉。軍亂書，首惡不書而書德倫叛，責貴者深也。德倫不可加以首惡，而可責其不死以叛。張彥實首惡，而略不書，彥，微者，德倫可以誅而不誅，故以德倫獨任其責。邠州李保衡叛于岐，来附。夏六月庚寅朔，晋王李存勖入于魏州，遂取德州。冬十月辛亥，康王友孜反，伏诛。反者不日，誅反者有日，故書。十一月乙丑，改元。耀州温昭图叛于岐，来附。是岁，更名瑱。

In the first month of spring, Zhenming 1, Cunjie captured Xuzhou. Because Jiang Yin burned himself to death, the text does not say he was executed. In the third month, on the day dingmao, Zhao Guangfeng was removed from office. He Delun of Pinglu was appointed military governor of Tianxiong. Appointments are normally not recorded, but this one was unusual and consequential, so it is written here to set up the Tianxiong mutiny. Xiang, Chan, and Wei prefectures were split off as the Zhaode circuit under Palace Commissioner Zhang Yun. On jichou, the Tianxiong army mutinied, and He Delun defected to Jin. The text records the mutiny but not its chief culprit, and instead records Delun’s defection, because it assigns heavier blame to the higher-ranking man. Delun could not be accused as the chief instigator, but he could be blamed for failing to die loyal and instead defecting. Zhang Yanshi was the chief culprit, but he is omitted because he was a minor figure. Delun could have executed him and failed to do so, so Delun alone is made to bear the blame. Li Baoheng of Binzhou broke with Qi and submitted to Liang. On the new moon of the sixth month, gengyin, Li Cunxu, Prince of Jin, entered Weizhou and seized Dezhou. In the tenth month of winter, on the day xinhai, Prince of Kang Youzi rebelled and was put to death. A rebellion itself is not dated by day, but the execution of a rebel is, so the date is recorded. In the eleventh month, on the day yichou, the reign title was changed. Wen Zhaotu of Yaozhou broke with Qi and submitted to Liang. That year he adopted the taboo name Zhen.

舊史失其月日。

The old history has lost the month and day.

二年春二月丙申，杨涉罢。三月，镇南军节度使刘掞及晋人战于故元城，败绩，奔于滑州。晋人取卫州、惠州。捉生都将李霸反，伏诛。夏六月，捉生都将张温叛降于晋。秋七月，晋人取相州，张筠奔于京师，安国军节度使阎宝叛附于晋。八月丁酉，太子太保致仕赵光逢为司空兼门下侍郎、同中书门下平章事。九月，晋人取沧州，横海军节度使戴思远奔于京师。晋人克贝州，守将张源德死之。冬十月丁酉，中书侍郎郑珏同中书门下平章事。

In the second month of spring, the second year, on the day bingshen, Yang She was removed from office. In the third month Liu Shan, military governor of Zhennan, met Jin forces at Old Yuancheng, was routed, and fled to Huazhou. Jin forces seized Weizhou and Huizhou. Li Ba, commander of the captive-recruitment guard, rebelled and was executed. In the sixth month of summer Zhang Wen, commander of the captive-recruitment guard, defected to the Jin. In the seventh month of autumn the Jin took Xiangzhou. Zhang Yun fled to the capital, and Yan Bao, military governor of Anguo, defected to the Jin. In the eighth month, on the day dingyou, the retired grand guardian of the heir apparent Zhao Guangfeng became minister of works, vice director of the Chancellery, and co-equal grand councilor. In the ninth month Jin forces captured Cangzhou. Dai Siyuan, military governor of Henghai, fled to the capital. The Jin stormed Beizhou; its defender Zhang Yuande was killed. In the tenth month of winter, on the day dingyou, Vice Director of the Secretariat Zheng Jue became co-equal grand councilor.

三年夏四月辛卯，右千牛卫大将军刘璩使于契丹。冬十二月，宣义军节度使贺瑰为北面行营招讨使。己巳，如西都卜郊。晋人取杨刘。

In the fourth month of summer in the third year, on the day xinmao, General of the Right Thousand-Ox Guard Liu Zan was dispatched as envoy to the Khitan. In the twelfth month of winter He Gui, military governor of Xuanyi, was appointed to command the northern campaign. On the day jisi he traveled to the western capital to perform the suburban oracle. Jin forces seized Yangliu.

四年正月，不克郊，己卯，至自西都。夏四月己酉，尚书吏部侍郎萧顷为中书侍郎、同中书门下平章事。己巳，赵光逢罢。冬十二月庚子朔，賀瓌殺其將謝彥章、孟審澄、侯溫裕。癸亥，瓌及晉人戰于胡柳，敗績。是歲，泰寧軍節度使張守進叛附于晉，亳州團練使劉鄩為兗州安撫制置使以討之。舊史不書，亡其月日，故書于歲末，為明年克兗州張本。五年春正月，晉軍于德勝。用兵無勝敗不書，此梁、晉得失所繫，故書也。秋八月乙未朔，開封尹王瓚為北面行營招討使。冬十月，劉鄩克兗州，張守進伏誅。十二月，晉人取濮陽。天平军节度使霍彦威为北面行营招讨使。六年夏四月己亥，降死罪以下囚。乙巳，尚书左丞李琪为中书侍郎、同中书门下平章事。河中節度使朱友謙襲同州，殺其節度使程全暉，叛附于晉，泰寧軍節度使劉鄩討之。秋七月，陳州妖賊毋乙自稱天子。九月庚寅，供奉官郎公遠為契丹歡好使。冬十月，毋乙伏誅。

In the first month of the fourth year the suburban rites were abandoned. On the day jimao he returned from the western capital. In the fourth month of summer, on the day jiyou, Vice Minister of Personnel Xiao Qing became vice director of the Secretariat and co-equal grand councilor. On the day jisi Zhao Guangfeng was removed from office. On the gengzi new moon of the twelfth month in winter, He Gui put his generals Xie Yanzhang, Meng Shencheng, and Hou Wenyu to death. On guihai, He Gui fought Jin forces at Huliu and was routed. That year Zhang Shoujin of Taining defected to Jin. Liu Xun, training commissioner of Bozhou, was appointed pacification commissioner of Yanzhou to suppress him. The old history omits the month and day, so the event is placed at year’s end to set up the capture of Yanzhou the next year. In the first month of spring in the fifth year, Jin forces encamped at Desheng. Military operations without victory or defeat are normally not recorded, but this affected the fortunes of both Liang and Jin, so it is written. On the yiwei new moon of the eighth month in autumn, Kaifeng prefect Wang Zan was appointed commander of the northern campaign headquarters. In the tenth month of winter, Liu Xun captured Yanzhou and Zhang Shoujin was put to death. In the twelfth month, Jin forces seized Puyang. Huo Yanwei, military governor of Tianping, was appointed to command the northern campaign. In the fourth month of summer in the sixth year, on the day jihai, sentences below death were commuted. On the day yisi Left Vice Director Li Qi became vice director of the Secretariat and co-equal grand councilor. Zhu Youqian of Hezhong raided Tongzhou, killed its military governor Cheng Quanhui, and defected to Jin; Liu Xun of Taining marched against him. In the seventh month of autumn, the Chenzhou sorcerer-rebel Wu Yi declared himself emperor. On gengyin in the ninth month, Palace Attendant Lang Gongyuan was dispatched as goodwill envoy to the Khitan. In the tenth month of winter, Wu Yi was put to death.

龍德元年春，趙將張文禮殺其君鎔來乞師，不許。文禮初為鎔養子，號王德明，此書張文禮者，從舊史。

In spring of Longde 1, the Zhao general Zhang Wenli murdered his lord Wang Rong and requested military aid; the court refused. Wenli had first been Wang Rong’s adopted son, under the name Wang Deming. The text calls him Zhang Wenli in accordance with the old history.

三月丁亥朔，禁私度僧尼。陳州刺史惠王友能反。夏五月丙戌朔，德音改元，降流罪已下囚。秋，赦友能，降封房陵侯。天平军节度使戴思远为北面行营招讨使。冬十月，思远及晋人战于戚城，败绩。

In the third month, on the new moon dinghai, unauthorized ordination of monks and nuns was banned. Prince of Hui Youneng, prefect of Chenzhou, rose in rebellion. On the new moon of the fifth month of summer, bingxu, a general amnesty changed the reign title and commuted punishments through exile. That autumn Youneng was pardoned and reduced to Marquis of Fangling. Dai Siyuan of Tianping was appointed to command the northern campaign. In the tenth month of winter Dai Siyuan met Jin forces at Qicheng and was routed.

二年春正月，思远袭魏州，取成安。秋八月，滑州兵马留后段凝攻卫州，执其刺史李存儒。戴思远克淇门、共城、新乡。三年春三月，潞州李繼韜叛于晉，來附。夏閏四月，唐人取鄆州。晉未即位，已自與梁為敵國，至其建號，於梁無所利害，故不書。唐建號而書「唐人」者，因事而見爾。五月庚申，宣义军节度使王彦章为北面行营招讨使，取德胜南城。秋八月，段凝为北面行营招讨使。先锋将康延孝叛降于唐。冬十月甲戌，宣义军节度使王彦章及唐人战于中都，败绩，死之。凡官皆不重書，此書者，嫌彥章已罷招討使而與唐戰，蓋罷使而別將兵以戰也。唐人取曹州。盗窃传国宝奔于唐。戊寅，皇帝崩。年三十六。梁亡。四月，莊宗立，稱唐，十月，梁始亡，見唐不待滅梁而立。

In the first month of spring in the second year Dai Siyuan raided Weizhou and captured Cheng’an. In the eighth month of autumn Duan Ning, acting commander of the Huazhou garrison, attacked Weizhou and took its prefect Li Cunru prisoner. Dai Siyuan seized Qimen, Gongcheng, and Xinxiang. In the third month of spring in the third year, Li Jitao of Luzhou broke with Jin and submitted to Liang. In the intercalary fourth month of summer, Tang forces captured Yunzhou. Even before Jin formally enthroned its ruler, it was already an enemy state of Liang; its adoption of a dynastic title did not affect Liang, so that is not recorded. The fact that Tang had taken its dynastic name is shown only incidentally here through the phrase “Tang forces.” In the fifth month, on the day gengshen, Wang Yanzhang of Xuanyi was appointed to command the northern campaign and recovered the southern citadel at Desheng. In the eighth month of autumn Duan Ning was appointed to command the northern campaign. The vanguard commander Kang Yanxiao defected to Tang. In the tenth month of winter, on the day jiaxu, Wang Yanzhang of Xuanyi met Tang forces at Zhongdu, was defeated, and was killed. Offices are normally not repeated. It is repeated here lest readers think Yanzhang had already been removed as campaign commander when he fought Tang; apparently he had been dismissed from that commission but separately led troops into battle. Tang forces seized Caozhou. A thief stole the imperial seal and fled to Tang. On the day wuyin the emperor died. He was thirty-six sui old. The Liang dynasty fell. Zhuangzong proclaimed Tang in the fourth month, while Liang did not fall until the tenth; this shows that Tang was founded before Liang was destroyed.

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