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明宗和武憲皇后曹氏昭懿皇后夏氏
Mingzong; Empress Wuhe, Lady Cao; and Empress Zhaoyi, Lady Xia
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宣憲皇后魏氏
Empress Xuanxian, Lady Wei
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淑妃王氏
Chaste Consort Lady Wang
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淑妃王氏，邠州餅家子也，有美色，號「花見羞」。 少賣梁故將劉鄩為侍兒，鄩卒，王氏無所歸。 是時，明宗夏夫人已卒，方求別室，有言王氏於安重誨者，重誨以告明宗而納之。 王氏素得鄩金甚多，悉以遣明宗左右及諸子婦，人人皆為王氏稱譽，明宗益愛之。 而夫人曹氏為人簡質，常避事，由是王氏專寵。
Chaste Consort Lady Wang came from a cake-selling family in Binzhou; famed for her beauty, she was called “Flowers Hide from Shame.” Young, she was sold as a maid to Liu Yan, once a Liang general; when Yan died, she was left with nowhere to turn. Lady Xia had just died and Mingzong sought a new consort; word of Wang reached An Chonghui, who brought her to Mingzong’s notice, and he took her in. Wang had amassed a great fortune from Yan and lavished it on Mingzong’s staff and his daughters-in-law; praise for her spread, and Mingzong’s affection deepened. Lady Cao was plain-spoken and unassuming and usually kept out of palace business, so Wang held favor alone.
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明宗即位，議立皇后，而曹氏當立，曹氏謂王氏曰：「我素多病，而性不耐煩，妹當代我。」 王氏曰：「后，帝匹也，至尊之位，誰敢幹之！」 乃立曹氏為皇后，王氏為淑妃。 妃事皇后亦甚謹，每帝晨起，盥櫛服御，皆妃執事左右，及罷朝，帝與皇后食，妃侍，食徹乃退，未嘗少懈，皇后心亦益愛之。 然宮中之事，皆主於妃。 明宗病，妃與宦者孟漢瓊出納左右，遂專用事，殺安重誨、秦王從榮，皆與焉。 劉鄩諸子，皆以妃故封拜官爵。 湣帝即位，冊尊皇后為皇太后，妃為皇太妃。 初，明宗後宮有生子者，命妃母之，是為許王從益。 從益乳母司衣王氏，見明宗已老而秦王握兵，心欲自托為後計，乃曰：「兒思秦王。」 是時從益已四歲，又數教從益自言求見秦王。 明宗遣乳嫗將兒往來秦府，遂與從榮私通，從榮因使王氏伺察宮中動靜。 從榮已死，司衣王氏以謂秦王實以兵入宮衛天子，而以反見誅，出怨言。 湣帝聞之，大怒，賜司衣王氏死，而事連太妃，由是心不悅，欲遷之至德宮，以太后素善妃，懼傷其意而止，然待之甚薄。
When Mingzong became emperor, the court debated the empress; Cao was the rightful choice. She told Wang: “I have been sick for years and cannot endure the burden—sister, you should take my place.” Wang replied: “The empress is the emperor’s match and the highest seat under Heaven—who would dare grasp at it!” Cao was enthroned as empress and Wang was made Chaste Consort. The consort served the empress with equal devotion: each dawn she attended Mingzong’s washing, combing, and dressing; after court she waited at their meals and withdrew only when they finished—never once slackening—and the empress came to love her in return. Yet within the palace, the consort held every thread of power. When Mingzong sickened, the consort and the eunuch Meng Hanqiong controlled who saw him; she ruled alone thereafter, and had a hand in the deaths of An Chonghui and Congrong, Prince of Qin. Liu Yan’s sons all received titles and posts through the consort’s favor. When the Last Emperor succeeded, the empress became empress dowager and the consort imperial consort dowager. When a consort in Mingzong’s harem bore a son, he entrusted the boy to the consort to raise—this was Congyi, Xu Wang. Congyi’s wet nurse, wardrobe attendant Lady Wang, saw Mingzong aging and the Prince of Qin commanding troops; scheming for her own future, she said: “The child longs for the Prince of Qin.” Congyi was then four; she also drilled him to beg on his own to visit the Prince of Qin. Mingzong sent the nurse to bring the boy to and from the Prince of Qin’s residence; she then colluded with Congrong, who set her to watch the palace. After Congrong’s death, the wardrobe attendant insisted the Prince of Qin had marched in to protect the emperor and been killed as a traitor, and she began to complain aloud. The Last Emperor heard, flew into a rage, and ordered the wardrobe attendant’s death; the affair implicated the consort dowager, and he turned against her. He meant to banish her to Zhide Palace, but held back lest he wound the dowager, who had always favored the consort—still, his treatment grew harsh.
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廢帝入立，嘗置酒妃院，妃舉酒曰：「願辭皇帝為比丘尼。」 帝驚，問其故，曰「小兒處偶得命，若大人不容，則死之日，何面見先帝！」 因泣下。 廢帝亦為之淒然，待之頗厚。 石敬瑭兵犯京師，廢帝聚族將自焚。 妃謂太后曰：「事急矣，宜少回避，以俟姑夫。」 太后曰：「我家至此，何忍獨生，妹自勉之！」 太后乃與帝俱燔死，而妃與許王從益及其妹匿於鞠院以免。
When the Deposed Emperor seized the throne, he once feasted in the consort’s quarters; she lifted her cup and said: “I beg to leave the emperor’s household and take the tonsure.” The emperor was startled and asked why. She said: “The boy barely kept his life; if Your Majesty will not spare us, when I die how shall I face the late emperor!” And she wept. The Deposed Emperor was stricken too and treated her with new warmth. When Shi Jingtang’s army closed on the capital, the Deposed Emperor gathered his kin to die by fire. The consort told the dowager: “All is lost—withdraw for now and wait for our uncle-by-marriage.” The dowager answered: “Our house has come to this—how could I live on alone? Sister, save yourself!” The dowager burned with the emperor, while the consort hid with Congyi, Xu Wang, and his sister in the hospital ward and survived.
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晉高祖立，妃自請為尼，不可，乃遷於至德宮。 晉遷都汴，以妃子母俱東，置於宮中，高祖皇后事妃如母。 天福四年九月癸未，詔以郇國三千戶封唐許王從益為郇國公，以奉唐祀，服色、旌旗一依舊制。 太常議立莊宗、明宗、湣帝三室，以至德宮為廟； 詔立高祖、太宗，為五廟，使從益歲時主祠。
When Jin Gaozu rose, the consort begged to become a nun but was denied and sent to Zhide Palace. When Jin shifted the capital to Bian, the consort and the boy’s mother went east and were lodged in the palace; Gaozu’s empress honored the consort as a mother. On guiwei in the ninth month of Tianfu 4, an edict made Congyi, Xu Wang of Tang, Duke of Xun with three thousand households to keep the Tang rites; robes and banners followed the old forms. The Ministry of Rites proposed three ancestral tablets—for Zhuangzong, Mingzong, and the Last Emperor—with Zhide Palace as the shrine; an edict added Gaozu and Taizong for five shrines and put Congyi in charge of the seasonal offerings.
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出帝即位，妃母子俱還洛陽。 契丹犯京師，趙延壽所尚明宗公主已死，耶律德光乃為延壽娶從益妹，是為永安公主。 公主不知其母為誰，素亦養於妃，妃至京師主婚禮。 德光見明宗畫像，焚香再拜，顧妃曰：「明宗與我約為弟兄，爾吾嫂也。」 已而靳之曰：「今日乃吾婦也。」 乃拜從益為彰信軍節度使，從益辭，不之官，與妃俱還洛陽。
When the Deposing Emperor succeeded, the consort and her son returned to Luoyang. When the Khitan took the capital, Mingzong’s princess, Zhao Yanshou’s wife, was already dead; Yelü Deguang gave Yanshou Congyi’s sister as bride—she became Princess Yong’an. The princess never knew her mother; the consort had raised her from childhood, and when the consort reached the capital she oversaw the wedding. Deguang saw Mingzong’s portrait, burned incense, and bowed twice; turning to the consort he said: “Mingzong and I swore brotherhood—you are my sister-in-law.” Then he amended: “Today you are my daughter-in-law.” He then named Congyi military governor of Zhangxin Circuit; Congyi refused the post and returned to Luoyang with the consort.
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德光北歸，留蕭翰守汴州。 漢高祖起太原，翰欲北去，乃使人召從益，委以中國。 從益子母逃於徽陵域中，以避使者，使者迫之以東，遂以從益權知南朝軍國事。 從益禦崇元殿，翰率契丹諸將拜殿上，晉群臣拜殿下。 群臣入謁太妃，妃曰：「吾家子母孤弱，為翰所迫，此豈福邪？ 禍行至矣！」 乃以王松、趙上交為左右丞相，李式、翟光鄴為樞密使，燕將劉祚為侍衛親軍都指揮使。 翰留契丹兵千人屬祚而去。
Deguang marched north, leaving Xiao Han to guard Bianzhou. When Han Gaozu rose at Taiyuan, Xiao Han prepared to withdraw north and sent for Congyi, entrusting him with the Middle Kingdom. Congyi and his mother fled into the grounds of Huiling to evade the envoys; pressed east, Congyi was made acting regent of the southern court’s armies and state. Congyi took the throne at Chongyuan Hall; Han led Khitan generals in bowing on the dais while Jin ministers bowed below. The ministers came to pay court to the consort dowager; she said: “Our house—mother and son, weak and alone—forced by Han: is this fortune? Ruin is at hand!” She made Wang Song and Zhao Shangjiao left and right chancellors, Li Shi and Zhai Guangye commissioners of military affairs, and the Yan general Liu Zuo commander of the palace guard. Han left a thousand Khitan soldiers under Liu Zuo and withdrew.
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漢高祖擁兵而南，從益遣人召高行周、武行德等為拒，行周等皆不至，乃與王松謀以燕兵閉城自守。 妃曰：「吾家亡國之余，安敢與人爭天下！」 乃遣人上書迎漢高祖。 高祖聞其嘗召行周而不至，遣郭從義先入京師殺妃母子。 妃臨死呼曰：「吾家母子何罪？ 何不留吾兒，使每歲寒食持一盂飯灑明宗墳上。」 聞者悲之。 從益死時年十七。
Han Gaozu marched south; Congyi summoned Gao Xingzhou, Wu Xingde, and others to resist, but none came. He and Wang Song then planned to shut the gates and hold the city with Yan troops. The consort said: “We are what remains of a ruined house—how dare we fight others for the realm!” She sent a memorial welcoming Han Gaozu. Gaozu heard they had called on Xingzhou in vain; he sent Guo Congyi ahead into the capital to kill the consort and her son. Facing death, the consort cried: “What crime have we mother and son committed? Why not spare my son, so each Cold Food Festival he may bring one bowl of rice to Mingzong’s grave?” All who heard were moved to grief. Congyi was seventeen when he died.
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湣帝哀皇后孔氏
Empress Ai of the Last Emperor, Lady Kong
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明宗二子
Mingzong’s Sons
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明宗四子，曰從璟、從榮、從厚、從益。
Mingzong had four sons: Congjing, Congrong, Conghou, and Congyi.
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從璟初名從審，為人驍勇善戰，而謙退謹敕。 從莊宗戰，數有功，為金槍指揮使。 明宗軍變於魏，莊宗謂從璟曰：「爾父於國有大功，忠孝之心，朕自明信。 今為亂軍所逼，爾宜自往宣朕意，毋使自疑。」 從璟馳至衛州，為元行欽所執，將殺之，從璟呼曰：「我父為亂軍所逼，公等不亮其心，我亦不能至魏，願歸衛天子。」 行欽釋之。 莊宗憐其言，賜名繼璟，以為己子。
Congjing was first named Congshen—fierce in battle, yet modest, careful, and self-restrained. He campaigned with Zhuangzong, won repeated honors, and became commander of the Golden Spears. When Mingzong’s army mutinied at Wei, Zhuangzong told Congjing: “Your father has served the realm with great merit; I know his loyalty and filial heart for myself. Now mutineers press him; go yourself and speak my mind, lest he turn against himself.” Congjing raced to Weizhou, was seized by Yuan Xingqin, and faced execution; he cried: “Mutineers force my father; you do not see his heart—I cannot reach Wei; let me return to serve the Son of Heaven.” Xingqin let him go. Moved by his words, Zhuangzong renamed him Jijing and treated him as a son.
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從莊宗如汴州，將士多亡於道，獨從璟不去，左右或勸其逃禍，從璟不聽。 莊宗聞明宗已渡黎陽，復欲遣從璟通問。 行欽以為不可，遂殺之。 明宗即位，贈太保。
When Zhuangzong marched on Bianzhou, soldiers melted away on the road; Congjing alone stayed. Some urged him to flee, but he refused. Hearing Mingzong had crossed Liyang, Zhuangzong meant to send Congjing again as envoy. Xingqin forbade it and had him killed. When Mingzong succeeded, he posthumously made Congjing Grand Guardian.
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嗚呼！ 無父烏生，無君烏以為生？ 而世之言曰：「為忠孝者不兩全。」 夫豈然哉？ 君父，人倫之大本； 忠孝，臣子之大節。 豈其不相為用，而又相害者乎？ 抑私與義而已耳。 蓋以其私則兩害，以其義則兩得。 其父以兵攻其君，為其子者，從父乎？ 從君乎？ 曰：「身從其居，誌從其義，可也。」 身居君所則從君，居父所則從父。 其從於君者，必辭其君曰：「子不可以射父，願無與兵焉！」 則又號泣而呼其父曰：「盍舍兵而歸我君乎！」 君敗則死之，父敗則終喪而事君。 其從於父者，必告之曰：「君不可以射也，盍舍兵而歸吾君乎！」 君敗則死之，父敗則待罪於君，赦己則終喪而事之。 古之知孝者莫如舜，知義者莫如孔、孟，其於君臣父子之際詳矣，使其不幸而遭焉，其亦如是而已矣！ 從璟之於莊宗，知所從而得其死矣。 哀哉！
Alas! Without a father, how is one born? Without a lord, how does one live? Yet people say: “Loyalty and filial piety cannot both be fulfilled.” Is that truly so? Lord and father are the great foundations of human bonds; loyalty and filial piety are the supreme duties of subject and son. How could they not serve each other—and instead destroy each other? The difference is only private desire against public duty. Follow private desire and both are ruined; follow duty and both are honored. If a father raises arms against his lord, should the son follow the father? Or follow the lord? The answer is: “Let the body stay where it stands, but let the will follow righteousness—that will do.” If one stands with the lord, serve the lord; if with the father, serve the father. He who follows the lord must plead with him: “A son must not shoot at his father—I beg leave not to bear arms!” Then he weeps and cries to his father: “Lay down your arms and return to my lord!” If the lord falls, die with him; if the father falls, mourn him fully, then serve the lord again. He who follows the father must tell him: “You must not shoot at the lord—lay down your arms and return to our lord!” If the lord falls, die with him; if the father falls, await judgment from the lord, and if spared, mourn fully and serve again. In antiquity none knew filial piety like Shun, none knew righteousness like Confucius and Mencius—they weighed every bond between lord and subject, father and son; had fate forced such a choice on them, they would have done no differently! Congjing, facing Zhuangzong, knew where he stood—and met the death that was his due. Alas!
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是歲秋，封從榮秦王。 故事，諸王受封不朝廟，而有司希旨，欲重其禮，乃建議曰：「古者因禘、嘗而發爵祿，所以示不敢專。 今受大封而不告廟，非敬順之道也。」 於是從榮朝服，乘輅車，具鹵簿，至朝堂受冊，出，載冊以車，朝於太廟，京師之人皆以為榮。 三年，加兼中書令。 有司又言：「故事，親王班宰相下，今秦王位高而班下，不稱。」 於是與宰相分班而居右。
That autumn Congrong was made Prince of Qin. By custom a newly enfeoffed prince did not worship at the ancestral temple; but the officials, eager to please, proposed: “In antiquity titles and stipends were granted at the di and chang rites to show the throne did not act alone. To receive so great an enfeoffment without informing the temple is not reverent obedience.” Congrong donned court robes, rode the state carriage with full guard, received the patent in the hall, then bore it by cart to the Grand Temple; the capital saw it as glory. In the third year he was also made concurrent Director of the Secretariat. The officials again said: “By custom princes stood below chancellors; the Prince of Qin outranks them yet sits lower—this ill becomes his station.” He was therefore ranked apart from the chancellors and seated on the right.
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四年，加尚書令，食邑萬戶。 太僕少卿何澤上書，請立從榮為皇太子。 是時明宗已病，得澤書不悅，顧左右曰：「群臣欲立太子，吾當養老於河東。」 乃召大臣議立太子事，大臣皆莫敢可否。 從榮入白曰：「臣聞奸人言，欲立臣為太子，臣實不願也。」 明宗曰：「此群臣之欲爾。」 從榮出，見範延光、趙延壽等曰：「諸公議欲立吾為太子，是欲奪吾兵柄而幽之東宮耳。」 延光等患之，乃加從榮天下兵馬大元帥。 有司又言：「元帥或統諸道，或專一面，自前世無天下大元帥之名，其禮無所考按。 請自節度使以下，凡領兵職者，皆具橐以軍禮庭參； 其兼同中書門下平章事者，初見亦如之，其後許如客禮。 凡元帥府文符行天下，皆用帖。 又升班在宰相上。」 從榮大宴元帥府，諸將皆有頒給：控鶴、奉聖、嚴衛指揮使，人馬一匹、絹十匹； 其諸軍指揮使，人絹十匹； 都頭已下，七匹至三匹。 又請嚴衛、捧聖千人為牙兵，每入朝，以數百騎先後，張弓挾矢，馳走道上，見者皆震懾。 從榮又命其寮屬及四方遊士試作《征淮檄》，陳己所以平一天下之意。
In the fourth year he was also made Director of the Department of State Affairs, with a fief of ten thousand households. He Ze, vice director of the Master of Horses, memorialized the throne to name Congrong crown prince. Mingzong was already ill; He’s petition angered him, and he told those at his side: “If the court wants a crown prince, I can go grow old in Hedong.” He called the ministers to debate the succession; none dared speak for or against it. Congrong entered and said: “I hear schemers want me made heir—I want no part of it.” Mingzong said: “That is what the ministers want.” Leaving, Congrong told Fan Yanguang and Zhao Yanshou: “You mean to make me heir so you can take my troops and lock me in the Eastern Palace.” Alarmed, Yanguang and the rest made Congrong Grand Marshal of All Armies Under Heaven. The ministries reported: “Marshals have ruled a circuit or a single front—never before has anyone borne the name Grand Marshal of All Armies Under Heaven, and no rite governs it. From military governors down, every officer with troops should attend the marshal in full kit and military ceremony; chief ministers too on first meeting, then by guest rite. All orders from the marshal’s headquarters would circulate as posted notices. His court rank was raised above the chief ministers. Congrong feasted the marshal’s staff and paid out gifts: Crane Control, Sacred Guard, and Strict Guard commanders each got a horse and ten bolts of silk; other army commanders, ten bolts apiece; company heads and below, from seven bolts down to three. He took a thousand Strict and Sacred Guard troops as his personal guard; each time he came to court, hundreds of riders rode before and behind with strung bows and drawn arrows, thundering down the road until onlookers quailed. Congrong had his staff and itinerant literati draft a “Proclamation for the Huai Campaign,” proclaiming his will to pacify the realm.
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言事者請為諸王擇師傅，以加訓導。 宰相難其事，因請從榮自擇。 從榮乃請翰林學士崔棁、刑部侍郎任贊為元帥判官。 明宗曰：「學士代予言，不可也。」 從榮出而恚曰：「任以元帥而不得請屬寮，非吾所諭也。」 將相大臣見從榮權位益隆，而輕脫如此，皆知其禍而莫敢言者。 惟延光、延壽陰有避禍意，數見明宗，涕泣求解樞密，二人皆引去，而從榮之難作。
Memorialists asked that tutors be chosen for the princes. The chief ministers balked and asked Congrong to choose his own. Congrong named Hanlin Academician Cui Rong and Vice Minister Ren Zan marshal adjutants. Mingzong said: “Academicians speak for me—they cannot serve you. Congrong left fuming: “You make me marshal but deny me my own staff—that was not the bargain.” Generals and ministers watched Congrong’s power swell and his heedless swagger; all saw the coming ruin, yet none spoke. Only Yanguang and Yanshou, hoping to dodge the blow, wept before Mingzong again and again to leave the Bureau of Military Affairs; both stepped down—and Congrong’s disaster began.
20
十一月戊子，雪，明宗幸宮西士和亭，得傷寒疾。 己丑，從榮與樞密使朱弘昭、馮赟入問起居於廣壽殿，帝不能知人。 王淑妃告曰「從榮在此。」 又曰：「弘昭等在此。」 皆不應。 從榮等去，乃遷於雍和殿，宮中皆慟哭。 至夜半後，帝蹶然自興於榻，而侍疾者皆去，顧殿上守漏宮女曰：「夜漏幾何？」 對曰：「四更矣！」 帝即唾肉如肺者數片，溺涎液鬥余。 守漏者曰：「大家省事乎？」 曰：「吾不知也。」 有頃，六宮皆至，曰：「大家還魂矣！」 因進粥一器。 至旦，疾少愈，而從榮稱疾不朝。
On wuzi of the eleventh month it snowed; Mingzong went to Shihe Pavilion west of the palace and caught a chill. On jichou Congrong came with Bureau commissioners Zhu Hongzhao and Feng Yun to ask after Mingzong in Guangshou Hall; the Emperor knew no one. Consort Wang said: “Congrong is here. She added: “Hongzhao and the others are here.” He did not answer. Congrong and the rest withdrew; Mingzong was moved to Yonghe Hall, and the palace wept. Past midnight Mingzong suddenly sat up; his attendants had all gone; he asked the maid keeping the water clock: “What watch is it? She said: “The fourth watch!” He spat up several pieces of flesh like lung and voided more than a peck of phlegm. The maid asked: “Does Your Majesty feel easier? He said: “I do not know.” Soon the whole inner palace gathered: “His Majesty has come back from death!” They brought gruel. By dawn he was somewhat better, but Congrong pleaded illness and stayed away from court.
21
初，從榮常忌宋王從厚賢於己，而懼不為嗣。 其平居驕矜自得，及聞人道宋王之善，則愀然有不足之色。 其入問疾也，見帝已不知人，既去，而聞宮中哭聲，以謂帝已崩矣，乃謀以兵入宮。 使其押衙馬處鈞告弘昭等，欲以牙兵入宿衛，問何所可以居者。 弘昭等對曰：「宮中皆王所可居，王自擇之。」 因私謂處鈞曰：「聖上萬福，王宜竭力忠孝，不可草草。」 處鈞具以告從榮，從榮還遣處鈞語弘昭等曰：「爾輩不念家族乎？」 弘昭、赟及宣徽使孟漢瓊等入告王淑妃以謀之，曰：「此事須得侍衛兵為助。」 乃召侍衛指揮使康義誠，謀於竹林之下。 義誠有子在秦王府，不敢決其謀，謂弘昭曰：「仆為將校，惟公所使爾！」 弘昭大懼。
Congrong had long resented that the Prince of Song, Conghou, outshone him and feared he would not be heir. Proud and self-satisfied in daily life, he darkened whenever anyone praised the Prince of Song. On his sick visit he found Mingzong unrecognizing; leaving, he heard weeping in the palace, took the Emperor for dead, and plotted to march in with troops. He sent his adjutant Ma Chujun to tell Hongzhao and the rest he meant to quarter his guard in the palace and asked where he should stay. Hongzhao and the others said: “Anywhere in the palace is yours, Highness—choose yourself. Privately they told Chujun: “His Majesty still lives; serve him with loyalty and filial piety—do nothing rash.” Chujun told Congrong everything; Congrong sent him back: “Do you not care for your families?” Hongzhao, Feng Yun, and Palace Secretariat envoy Meng Hanqiong went to Consort Wang and said: “We will need the palace guard.” They summoned guard commander Kang Yicheng and plotted under the bamboo grove. Yicheng had a son in the Prince of Qin’s service and would not choose sides; he told Hongzhao: “I am a soldier—I obey your command! Hongzhao was terrified.
22
明日，從榮遣馬處鈞告馮赟曰：「吾今日入居興聖宮。」 又告義誠，義誠許諾。 赟即馳入內，見義誠及弘昭、漢瓊等坐中興殿閣議事，赟責義誠曰：「主上所以畜養吾徒者，為今日爾！ 今安危之機，間不容發，奈何以子故懷顧望，使秦王得至此門，主上安所歸乎？ 吾輩復有種乎？」 漢瓊曰：「賤命不足惜，吾自率兵拒之。」 即入見曰：「從榮反，兵已攻端門。」 宮中相顧號泣。 明宗問弘昭等曰：「實有之乎？」 對曰：「有之。」 明宗以手指天泣下，良久曰：「義誠自處置，毋令震動京師。」 潞王子重吉在側，明宗曰：「吾與爾父起微賤，至取天下，數救我危窘。 從榮得何氣力，而作此惡事！ 爾亟以兵守諸門。」 重吉即以控鶴兵守宮門。
Next day Congrong sent Ma Chujun to Feng Yun: “Today I move into Xingsheng Palace. He told Yicheng too, and Yicheng agreed. Feng Yun galloped in at once; finding Yicheng, Hongzhao, and Hanqiong in council at Zhongxing Hall, he rebuked Yicheng: “His Majesty kept us for this day! Life and death hang on a breath—how can you waver for your son and let the Prince of Qin reach this gate? Where will His Majesty go? Will any of us survive? Hanqiong said: “My life is nothing—I will lead troops to stop him myself.” He went in at once: “Congrong has rebelled; his troops are at Duan Gate.” In the palace they stared at one another and wept. Mingzong asked Hongzhao and the others: “Is it true? They said: “It is.” Mingzong pointed heavenward and wept; after a long silence he said: “Let Yicheng deal with it—do not shake the capital.” Chongji, son of the Prince of Lu, stood beside him; Mingzong said: “Your father and I rose from nothing and took the realm; again and again he pulled me from danger. What strength has Congrong to do this evil! Go now and hold the gates with troops. Chongji manned the palace gates with Crane Control troops.
23
是日，從榮自河南府擁兵千人以出。 從榮寮屬甚眾，而正直之士多見惡，其尤所惡者劉贊、王居敏，而所昵者劉陟、高輦。 從榮兵出，與陟、輦並轡耳語，行至天津橋南，指日景謂輦曰：「明日而今，誅王居敏矣！」 因陣兵橋北，下據胡床而坐，使人召康義誠。 而端門已閉，叩左掖門，亦閉，而於門隙中見捧聖指揮使朱弘實率騎兵從北來，即馳告從榮。 從榮驚懼，索鐵厭心，自調弓矢。 皇城使安從益率騎兵三百沖之，從榮兵射之，從益稍卻。 弘實騎兵五百自左掖門出，方渡河，而後軍來者甚眾，從榮乃走歸河南府，其判官任贊已下皆走出定鼎門，牙兵劫嘉善坊而潰。 從榮夫妻匿床下，從益殺之。
That day Congrong marched out of Henan with a thousand men. Congrong’s staff was large; upright men he mostly despised—above all Liu Zan and Wang Jumin; he favored Liu Zhi and Gao Nian. Marching out, Congrong rode beside Zhi and Nian, whispering; south of Tianjin Bridge he pointed at the sun’s shadow and told Nian: “This time tomorrow Wang Jumin dies! He formed ranks north of the bridge, sat on a camp stool, and sent for Kang Yicheng. Duan Gate was shut; the Left Flank Gate too; through a crack he saw Sacred Guard commander Zhu Hongshi riding down from the north and galloped to warn Congrong. Congrong panicked, called for iron arrowheads, and strung his bow himself. Imperial City envoy An Congyi charged with three hundred horse; Congrong’s men shot at him and Congyi gave ground. Hongshi came out the Left Flank Gate with five hundred horse; as they crossed the river reinforcements poured in; Congrong fled to Henan; adjutants Ren Zan and the rest ran out Dingding Gate; his guard looted Jiashan Ward and scattered. Congrong and his wife hid under a bed; Congyi killed them.
24
明宗聞從榮已死，悲咽幾墮於榻，絕而蘇者再。 馮道率百寮入見，明宗曰：「吾家事若此，慚見群臣！」 君臣相顧，泣下沾襟。 從榮二子尚幼，皆從死。 後六日而明宗崩。
When he heard Congrong was dead, Mingzong wept until he nearly fell from the couch; twice he fainted and came back. Feng Dao led the hundred officials in; Mingzong said: “My house has come to this—I am ashamed to face you! Sovereign and ministers looked at one another; tears soaked their robes. Congrong’s two young sons died with him. Six days later Mingzong died.
25
明宗四侄
Mingzong’s four nephews
26
明宗兄弟皆不見於世家，而有侄四人，曰從璨、從璋、從溫、從敏。
Mingzong’s brothers are missing from the genealogies, but four nephews are recorded: Congcan, Congzhang, Congwen, and Congmin.
27
從璨初為右衛大將軍，安重誨用事，自諸王將相皆下之，從璨為人剛猛，不能少屈，而性倜儻，輕財好施，重誨忌之。 明宗幸汴州，以從璨為大內皇城使。 嘗於會節園飲，酒酣，戲登禦榻，重誨奏其事，貶房州司戶參軍，賜死。 重誨見誅，詔復其官，贈太保。
Congcan first served as Right Guard grand general; An Chonghui ruled the court and even princes and ministers bowed to him; Congcan was hard and proud, open-handed and bold, and Chonghui hated him. When Mingzong visited Bian, he made Congcan grand envoy of the inner imperial city. Drunk in Festival Garden he climbed onto the imperial couch in jest; Chonghui reported it; he was demoted to Fangzhou adjutant and granted death. After Chonghui’s execution an edict restored his rank and posthumously made him Grand Guardian.
28
從溫字德基，初為北京副留守。 歷安國、忠武、義武、成德、武寧五節度使，封兗王。 晉高祖立，復為忠武軍節度使。 從溫為人貪鄙，多作天子器服以自僭，宗族、賓客諫之，不聽，其妻關氏大呼於牙門曰：「從溫欲反，而造天子服器。」 從溫大恐，乃悉毀之。
Congwen, styled Deji, was first deputy commissioner of the Northern Capital. He governed five circuits in turn—Anguo, Zhongwu, Yiwu, Chengde, and Wuning—and was enfeoffed Prince of Yan. When Jin Gaozu took the throne he was again made governor of Zhongwu. Congwen was greedy and coarse; he forged imperial robes and vessels; kin and guests warned him in vain; his wife Lady Guan shouted at the gate: “Congwen means to rebel—see the Son of Heaven’s gear he is making! Terrified, Congwen destroyed them all.
29
明宗諸子八人，至晉出帝時六已亡歿，惟從溫、從敏在，太后常曰：「吾惟有一兄，豈可繩之以法！」 從溫由此益驕。 嘗誣親吏薛仁嗣為盜，悉籍沒其家貲數千萬。 仁嗣等詣闕自訴，事下有司，從溫具伏。 出帝懼傷太后意，釋之而不問。 開運二年，徙河陽三城，卒於官。
Of Mingzong’s eight sons, six were dead by the Deposed Emperor’s day; only Congwen and Congmin remained; the empress dowager often said: “I have only this one elder kinsman—how can I punish him by law! Congwen grew bolder still. Once he falsely accused his clerk Xue Rensi of theft and seized his household wealth—tens of millions. Rensi and the others appealed at court; the case went to the ministries and Congwen confessed in full. The Deposed Emperor, fearing to hurt the empress dowager, released him without punishment. In Kaiyun 2 he was moved to the Heyang three cities and died in office.
30
是時從璋子重俊為虢州刺史，坐臟，亦以太后故，罪其判官高獻而已。 重俊復為商州刺史。 坐與其妹奸及殺其仆孫漢榮掠其妻，賜死。
Then Congzhang’s son Chongjun was prefect of Guo; convicted of graft; again for the empress dowager’s sake only his adjutant Gao Xian was punished. Chongjun was again made prefect of Shang. Convicted of lying with his sister and of killing his servant Sun Hanrong to take his wife, he was granted death.