1
朱弘昭 〈（馮赟附）〉
Zhu Hongzhao (With Feng Yun appended)〉
2
朱弘昭，太原人也。 少事明宗為客將，明宗即位，為文思使。 與安重誨有隙，故常使於外。 董璋為東川節度使，乃以弘昭為副使。 西川孟知祥殺其監軍李嚴，弘昭大懼，求還京師，璋不許，遂相猜忌，弘昭益開懷待之不疑，璋頗重其為人。 後璋有軍事，遣弘昭入朝，弘昭乃免。 遷左衛大將軍內客省使、宣徽南院使、鳳翔節度使。 孟知祥反，石敬瑭伐蜀，久無功，明宗遣安重誨督軍。 是時重誨已有間。 重誨至鳳翔，弘昭迎謁，禮甚恭，延重誨於家，使其妻妾侍飲食。 重誨以弘昭厚己，酒酣，具言蒙天子厚恩，而所以讒間之端，因泣下。 弘昭即奏言重誨怨望，又陰遣人馳告敬瑭，使拒重誨。 會敬瑭以糧餉不繼，遽燒營返軍。 重誨亦以被讒召還，過鳳翔，弘昭閉門不納，重誨由此得罪死。 樞密使範延光尤惡弘昭為人，罷為左武衛上將軍、宣徽南院使。 久之，為山南東道節度使。 是時，明宗已病，而秦王從榮禍起有端，唐諸大臣皆欲引去以避禍。 樞密使範延光、趙延壽日夕更見，涕泣求去，明宗怒而不許。 延壽使其妻興平公主入言於中，延光亦因孟漢瓊、王淑妃進說，故皆得罷。 以弘昭及馮赟代延壽、延光，弘昭入見，辭曰：「臣廝養之才，不足當大任。」 明宗叱之曰：「公等皆不欲在吾目前邪？ 吾養公等安用！」 弘昭惶恐，乃視事。
Zhu Hongzhao came from Taiyuan. As a young man he served Mingzong as a guest officer. When Mingzong became emperor, he was made commissioner of the Bureau of Literary Thought. He feuded with An Chonghui and was therefore kept on duty outside the capital. Dong Chuan held Dongchuan as military governor; Hongzhao was appointed his deputy. Meng Zhixiang of Xichuan killed the army supervisor Li Yan. Hongzhao was terrified and begged to return to court, but Dong Chuan refused. Suspicion grew between them—yet Hongzhao treated him openly and without mistrust, and Zhang came to respect him. Later Dong Chuan sent him to court on official business, and Hongzhao was able to leave. He rose to Grand General of the Left Guard, commissioner of the Inner Service Bureau and of the Southern Palace Secretariat, and military governor of Fengxiang. When Meng Zhixiang rebelled, Shi Jingtang’s campaign against Shu dragged on without success. Mingzong sent An Chonghui to take charge of the army. By then Chonghui had already fallen from favor. Chonghui reached Fengxiang. Hongzhao received him with elaborate courtesy, entertained him at home, and had his household serve the meal. Hongzhao had been lavish toward him. Deep in wine, Chonghui spoke of the emperor’s kindness and of how slander had come between them—and wept. Hongzhao at once reported that Chonghui was disaffected, and secretly sent riders to urge Jingtang to defy him. Jingtang’s supplies failed; he burned the camps and marched home. Chonghui was recalled on charges of disloyalty. At Fengxiang, Hongzhao shut him out. That was how Chonghui fell and died. Fan Yanguang, chief councillor, detested Hongzhao and had him reduced to Senior General of the Left Martial Guard and commissioner of the Southern Palace Secretariat. In time he was made military governor of Shannan East Circuit. Mingzong was ill, and the Prince of Qin Congrong’s rebellion was taking shape. Tang’s senior ministers all wanted to leave court to escape what was coming. Fan Yanguang and Zhao Yanshou pleaded day and night, weeping to be released; Mingzong refused in anger. Yanshou’s wife, the Princess of Xingping, pleaded inside the palace; Yanguang won the same through Meng Hanqiong and Consort Wang. Both left office. Hongzhao and Feng Yun took their places. Hongzhao appeared and declined: “I am only menial stock—unfit for such a post.” Mingzong snapped: “Do you all refuse to remain in my sight? What use are you to me then!” Hongzhao, terrified, accepted the post.
3
馮赟者，亦太原人也。 其父璋，事明宗為閽者。 赟為兒時，以通黠為明宗所愛。 明宗為節度使，以赟為進奏官。 明宗即位，即為客省使、宣徽北院使。 歷河東忠武節度使、三司使。 明宗病甚，大臣稀復進見，而孟漢瓊、王淑妃用事，弘昭及赟並掌機務於中，大事皆決此四人。 及殺秦王而立湣帝，益自以為功。 又其所用多非其人，給事中陳乂，為人險譎，好陰謀，嘗事梁張漢傑，又事郭崇韜，兩人皆輒敗死，弘昭乃引以為樞密直學士，而用其謀。 是時，弘昭、赟遣漢瓊至魏，召湣帝入立，而留漢瓊權知後事。 明年正月，漢瓊請入朝，弘昭、赟乃議徙成德範延光代漢瓊，北京留守石敬瑭代延光，鳳翔潞王從珂代敬瑭。 三人者皆唐大臣，以漢瓊故，輕易其地，又不降制書，第遣使者監其上道，從珂由此遂反。 從珂兵已東，湣帝大懼，遣人召弘昭計事。 弘昭謂其客穆延暉曰：「上召我急，將罪我也。 吾兒婦，君之女也，其以歸，無使及禍。」 乃拔劍大哭，欲自裁，而家人止之。 使者促弘昭入見甚急，弘昭呼曰：「窮至此邪！」 乃自投於井以死。 安從進聞之，亦殺赟於家，赟母新死，子母棄屍於道，妻子皆見殺。 赟有子三歲，其故吏張守素匿之以免。 漢高祖即位，贈弘昭尚書令，赟中書令。
Feng Yun too came from Taiyuan. His father Zhang had been a gatekeeper in Mingzong’s service. As a boy Yun’s quick wit won Mingzong’s favor. While Mingzong was still a military governor, he made Yun his memorial courier. At Mingzong’s accession Yun became commissioner of the Guest Bureau and of the Northern Palace Secretariat. He later governed Hedong and Zhongwu and headed the Three Departments. Mingzong lay dying; ministers seldom gained audience. Meng Hanqiong and Consort Wang ran affairs. Hongzhao and Yun held the inner councils, and these four decided everything of weight. After killing the Prince of Qin and raising Emperor Min, they counted the deed their greatest triumph. They staffed posts with the wrong men. Chen Yi, a supervisory attendant, was devious and loved intrigue. He had served Zhang Hanjie of Liang and Guo Chongtao—both destroyed. Hongzhao still made him a direct academician of the Bureau of Military Affairs and followed his counsel. Hongzhao and Yun sent Hanqiong to Wei to bring Emperor Min to the throne, with Hanqiong left to govern in their absence. The next year’s first month, Hanqiong sought audience. Hongzhao and Yun proposed shifting Fan Yanguang from Chengde into Hanqiong’s post, Shi Jingtang from the northern capital into Fan’s, and the Prince of Lu Congke from Fengxiang into Jingtang’s. All three were senior Tang ministers. For Hanqiong’s sake their commands were swapped casually, without formal edicts—only escorts hurried them on the road. Congke rebelled because of it. Congke’s host was eastward bound. Emperor Min, terrified, sent for Hongzhao. Hongzhao told his client Mu Yanhui: “The emperor calls me urgently. He means to blame me. My daughter-in-law is your daughter. Take her away—do not let her be caught in this.” He drew his sword, wept, and tried to take his life; his family restrained him. The messenger hurried him to court. Hongzhao shouted: “Brought to this pass!” He threw himself into a well and died. An Congjin heard and killed Yun at home. Yun’s mother had just died; their bodies were cast into the street. Wife and children perished with him. Yun’s son was three. His old clerk Zhang Shousu hid the boy and spared him. Emperor Gaozu of Later Han posthumously made Hongzhao Grand Secretary and Yun Grand Councillor.
4
劉延朗
Liu Yanlang
5
帝既立，以昭胤為左諫議大夫、端明殿學士，專美為比部郎中、樞密院直學士，審虔為皇城使，暠為宣徽北院使，延朗為莊宅使。 久之，昭胤、暠為樞密使，延朗為副使，審虔為侍衛步軍都指揮使，而薛文遇亦為職方郎中、樞密院直學士。 由是審虔將兵，專美、文遇主謀議，而昭胤、暠及延朗掌機密。
Once enthroned, the emperor made Zhao Yinchao Left Remonstrator and Duanming academician; Zhu Mei director of the Bureau of Revenue and direct academician of Military Affairs; Shen Qian commissioner of the Imperial City; Hao commissioner of the Northern Palace Secretariat; and Yanlang commissioner of the Imperial Estates. In time Zhao Yinchao and Hao became chief councillors, Yanlang deputy, Shen Qian commander of the palace foot guards, and Xue Wenyu director of Appointments and direct academician of Military Affairs. Shen Qian held the armies; Zhu Mei and Wenyu shaped policy; Zhao Yinchao, Hao, and Yanlang held the confidential seals.
6
初，帝與晉高祖俱事明宗，而心不相悅。 帝既入立，高祖不得已來朝，而心頗自疑，欲求歸鎮，且難言之，乃陽為羸疾，灸灼滿身，冀帝憐而遣之。 延朗等多言敬瑭可留京師，昭胤、專美曰：「敬瑭與趙延壽皆尚唐公主，不可獨留。」 乃復授高祖河東而遣之。 是時，契丹數寇北邊，以高祖為大同、振武、威塞、彰國等軍蕃漢馬步軍都總管，屯於忻州。 而屯兵忽變，擁高祖呼「萬歲」，高祖懼，斬三十餘人而後止。 於是帝益疑之。
The emperor and the Jin High Ancestor had both served Mingzong, yet they never liked each other. Once enthroned, the emperor compelled the High Ancestor to attend court. Jingtang came, uneasy and eager to return to his post. Unable to speak plainly, he pretended grave illness and covered himself with moxa burns, hoping pity would send him home. Yanlang’s faction urged keeping Jingtang in the capital. Zhao Yinchao and Zhu Mei objected: “Jingtang and Zhao Yanshou both married Tang princesses. You cannot hold one and not the other.” So the High Ancestor was sent back to Hedong. Khitan raids pressed the north. Jingtang was made overall commander of Tangut and Han forces of Datong, Zhenwu, Weisai, Zhangguo, and other commands, encamped at Xinzhou. His troops mutinied, surrounded him, and shouted “Long live!” He cut down thirty-odd men before order returned. The emperor’s suspicion deepened.
7
是時，高祖悉握精兵在北，饋運芻糧，遠近勞弊。 帝與延朗等日夕謀議，而專美、文遇叠宿中興殿盧，召見訪問，常至夜分而罷。 是時，高祖弟重胤為皇城副使，而石氏公主母曹太后居中，因得伺帝動靜言語以報高祖，高祖益自危懼。 每帝遣使者勞軍，即陽為羸疾不自堪，因數求解總管以探帝心。 是時，帝母魏氏追封宣憲皇太后，而墓在太原，有司議立寢宮。 高祖建言陵與民家墓相雜，不可立宮。 帝疑高祖欲毀民墓，為國取怨，帝由此發怒，罷高祖總管，徙鄆州。 延朗等多言不可，而司天趙延義亦言天象失度，宜安靜以弭災，其事遂止。
Jingtang held the best troops in the north; supply lines stretched far and exhausted the country. The emperor plotted with Yanlang day and night. Zhu Mei and Wenyu slept in the Zhongxing Hall and were called in for counsel, often until midnight. Jingtang’s brother Chongyin was deputy commissioner of the Imperial City. The Stone princess’s mother, Dowager Cao, was inside the palace. They watched the emperor’s every move and word and reported to Jingtang, who grew more fearful still. Whenever the emperor sent envoys to the army, Jingtang played at collapse and begged again and again to be relieved of command—testing the throne’s intent. The emperor’s mother, Lady Wei, was posthumously made Empress Dowager Xuanxian. Her tomb lay at Taiyuan, and the ministries debated building a palace there. Jingtang argued the tomb lay among commoners’ graves and that no palace should be raised. The emperor thought Jingtang meant to raze common graves and earn the realm’s hatred. Enraged, he stripped him of command and moved him to Yingzhou. Yanlang’s party objected; the Director of Astronomy Zhao Yanyi said the heavens were disturbed and the court should keep still. The transfer was dropped.
8
後月余，文遇獨直，帝夜召之，語罷敬瑭事，文遇曰：「臣聞『作舍道邊，三年不成』。 國家之事，斷在陛下。 且敬瑭徙亦反，不徙亦反，遲速爾，不如先事圖之。」 帝大喜曰：「術者言朕今年當得一賢佐以定天下，卿其是邪！」 乃令文遇手書除目，夜半下學士院草制。 明日宣制，文武兩班皆失色。 居五六日，敬瑭以反聞。 敬瑭上書，言帝非明宗子，而許王從益次當立。 帝得書大怒，手壞而投之，召學士馬胤孫為答詔，曰：「宜以惡語詆之。」
A month later Wenyu held night watch alone. The emperor called him at night. When they came to Jingtang, Wenyu said: “They say, ‘Build a house beside the road and in three years it is still unfinished.’ State affairs belong to Your Majesty alone. Move Jingtang and he rebels; leave him and he rebels—only the timing differs. Strike first.” The emperor rejoiced: “Soothsayers said I would gain one worthy man this year to settle the realm—is it you!” He had Wenyu write the appointment order himself and at midnight sent it to the Hanlin to draft the edict. Next day the edict was read. Civil and military officials alike went white. Within a week came word that Jingtang had rebelled. Jingtang’s memorial claimed the emperor was not Mingzong’s son and that Prince Xu Congyi should reign. The emperor read it, flew into a rage, tore the letter apart, and summoned Ma Yinsun to answer: “Revile him in the vilest terms.”.
9
延朗等請帝親征，帝心憂懼，常惡言敬瑭事，每戒人曰：「爾無說石郎，令我心膽墮地！」 由此不欲行。 而延朗等屢迫之，乃行。 至懷州，帝夜召李崧問以計策。 文遇不知而繼至，帝見之色變，崧躡其足，文遇乃出。 帝曰：「我見文遇肉顫，欲抽刀刺之。」 崧曰：「文遇小人，致誤大事，刺之益醜。」 乃已。 是時，契丹已立敬瑭為天子，以兵而南，帝惶惑不知所之。 遣審虔將千騎至白馬坡踏戰地，審虔曰：「何地不堪戰？ 雖有其地，何人肯立於此？ 不如還也。」 帝遂還，自焚。 高祖入京師，延朗等六人皆除名為民。
Yanlang urged a personal campaign. The emperor was sick with fear, could not bear talk of Jingtang, and warned his court: “Do not mention Lord Stone—I feel my heart fall through the floor!” He did not want to march. Yanlang pressed him until he went. At Huaizhou he called Li Song at night for counsel. Wenyu came in unaware. The emperor’s face changed. Song stepped on his foot; Wenyu withdrew. The emperor said: “I see Wenyu and my flesh crawls—I want to stab him.”. Song said: “Wenyu is a petty man who has ruined everything. Stabbing him would only shame the throne.”.” He let it go. The Khitan had made Jingtang emperor and marched south. The emperor panicked, without a plan. He sent Shen Qian with a thousand horse to scout the White Horse Slope. Shen Qian said: “What ground cannot be fought? Even if there were, who would stand here? Better turn back.”. The emperor turned back and burned himself alive. Jingtang entered the capital. Yanlang and five others were demoted to commoners.
10
初，延朗與暠並掌機密，延朗專任事，諸將當得州者，不以功次為先後，納賂多者得善州，少及無賂者得惡州，或久而不得，由是人人皆怨。 暠心患之，而不能爭也，但日飽食高枕而已。 每延朗議事，則垂頭陽睡不省。 及晉兵入，延朗以一騎走南山，過其家，指而嘆曰：「吾積錢三十萬於此，不知何人取之！」 遂為追兵所殺。 晉高祖聞暠常不與延朗事，哀之，後復以為將。 歲餘卒。 專美事晉為大理卿，開運中卒。 當晉之將起，廢帝以昭胤為中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事，出為河陽節度使，與審虔、文遇皆不知其所終。
Yanlang and Hao had shared the secrets, but Yanlang ran everything. Generals awaiting commands bought their posts—heavy bribes won good provinces, light or none won bad ones, and some waited forever. Everyone hated him. Hao was uneasy but could not fight him. He ate well and slept with a high pillow. Whenever Yanlang met to discuss policy, Hao hung his head and pretended to sleep. When Jin troops entered, Yanlang fled south alone. At his house he pointed and sighed: “I piled three hundred thousand strings of cash here—who will take it now!” Pursuers cut him down. The Jin High Ancestor heard Hao had kept out of Yanlang’s plots and pitied him; later he was restored to command. A year later he died. Zhu Mei served Jin as director of the Court of Judicial Review and died in the Kaiyun period. As Jin rose, the Deposed Emperor made Zhao Yinchao Vice Grand Councillor and sent him to govern Heyang. He, Shen Qian, and Wenyu vanish from the record.
11
嗚呼，禍福成敗之理，可不戒哉！ 張濛神言驗矣，然焉知其不為禍也！ 予之所記，大抵如此，覽者可以深思焉。 廢帝之起，所與圖議者，此五六人而已。 考其逆順之理，雖有智者為之謀，未必能不敗，況如此五六人者哉！ 故並述以附延朗，見其始終之際云。
Alas—the logic of fortune and ruin is a lesson not to be ignored! Zhang Meng’s oracle proved true—yet who could tell it would bring ruin as well! What I have set down is roughly this; let readers weigh it carefully. When the Deposed Emperor came to power, only these five or six men shaped the plot. Weigh their course against right and rebellion: even a wise counselor might not have saved them—what chance had men like these? I tell their whole story here with Yanlang, from first rise to final fall.
12
康思立
Kang Sili
13
康思立，本山陰諸部人也。 少為騎將，從莊宗破梁夾城，戰柏鄉，累以功遷突騎指揮使。 明宗即位，歷應嵐二州刺史、宿州團練使、昭武軍節度使，徙鎮保義，皆有善政。 潞王從珂反於鳳翔，湣帝遣王思同等討之，思立有捧聖、羽林屯兵千五百人，乃以羽林千人屬思同。 思同至鳳翔，軍叛，降於從珂。 思立聞之，欲盡誅羽林千人家屬，未及，而從珂兵已至，思立乃以捧聖兵城守，從珂兵傅其城，呼曰：「西兵七萬策新天子，爾五百人其能拒邪？ 徒陷陜人於死耳！」 捧聖兵聞之，皆解甲，思立遂開門迎從珂。 廢帝即位，以思立初無降意，頗不悅之，徙安遠，又徙安國，以年老罷為右神武統軍。 石敬瑭反太原，廢帝以思立為北面行營馬軍都指揮使。 廢帝幸懷州，遣思立將從駕騎兵出團柏谷救張敬達，未至，而敬達死，楊光遠降晉，思立疾，卒於道。 晉高祖入立，贈太子少師。
Kang Sili came from the Shanyin tribal confederations. As a young cavalry officer he followed Zhuangzong at Jia City and Baxiang and rose for merit to command the Vanguard Cavalry. Under Mingzong he governed Ying and Lan, commanded Suzhou’s regiments, and held Zhaowu and Baoyi with a reputation for good rule. When the Prince of Lu Congke rebelled at Fengxiang, Emperor Min sent Wang Sitong against him. Sili had fifteen hundred Sacred Support and Feathered Forest troops and lent Sitong a thousand of the Feathered Forest. Sitong reached Fengxiang; his army mutinied and went over to Congke. Sili meant to slaughter the families of the thousand mutineers, but Congke’s host was already there. He held the walls with the Sacred Support. Congke’s men shouted: “Seventy thousand western troops have raised a new emperor—can five hundred of you stand against them? You will only bury the people of Shaan in slaughter! The Sacred Support heard and threw down their arms. Sili opened the gates and welcomed Congke in. The Deposed Emperor resented Sili’s first refusal to yield and moved him to Anyuan, then Anguo, then retired him as Senior Commander of the Right Divine Martial Guard. When Shi Jingtang rebelled at Taiyuan, the Deposed Emperor made Sili commander of the northern campaign’s cavalry. The emperor marched to Huaizhou and sent Sili with the imperial escort through Tuanbai Valley to relieve Zhang Jingda. Jingda died first; Yang Guangyuan surrendered to Jin. Sili fell ill and died on the march. Jingtang posthumously made him Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent.
14
康義誠
Kang Yicheng
15
秦王從榮素驕，自為河南尹，典六軍，拜大元帥，唐諸大臣皆懼禍及，思自脫，獨義誠心結之，遣其子事秦王府。 明宗病，從榮謀以兵入宮，唐大臣朱弘昭、馮赟等皆以為不可，而義誠獨持兩端。 從榮已舉兵，至天津橋，弘昭等入，以反白，明宗涕泣召義誠，使自處置，而義誠卒不出兵。 馬軍指揮使朱弘實以兵擊從榮，從榮敗走，見殺。
Prince of Qin Congrong was proud. As Henan governor he held the Six Armies and the title Grand Marshal. Tang’s ministers feared ruin and tried to slip away—only Yicheng tied himself to Congrong and sent his son into the prince’s household. Mingzong lay ill; Congrong planned to march on the palace. Zhu Hongzhao, Feng Yun, and the rest forbade it; Yicheng alone straddled both camps. Congrong’s troops reached the Tianjin Bridge. Hongzhao reported treason inside. Mingzong wept and told Yicheng to act—but Yicheng never marched. Zhu Hongshi of the horse guard struck Congrong; the prince fled, was caught, and died.
16
三司使孫嶽嘗為馮赟言從榮必敗之狀，義誠聞而不悅。 及從榮死，義誠始引兵入河南府，召嶽檢閱從榮家貲。 嶽至，義誠乘亂，使人射之，嶽走至通利坊見殺，明宗不能詰。 義誠已殺嶽，又以從榮故，與弘實有隙。 湣帝即位，弘實常以誅從榮功自負，義誠心益不平。
Sun Yue of the Three Departments had warned Feng Yun that Congrong must fail. Yicheng heard and took offense. After Congrong’s death Yicheng entered the Henan yamen with troops and called Yue to inventory the prince’s property. Yue came; in the chaos Yicheng had him shot. Yue ran to Tongli Ward and died. Mingzong could not pursue the matter. Having killed Yue, Yicheng hated Hongshi for Congrong’s sake. Emperor Min enthroned Hongshi for killing Congrong. Yicheng’s resentment deepened.
17
潞王從珂反鳳翔，王思同率諸鎮兵圍之，興元張虔釗兵叛降從珂，思同走，諸鎮兵皆潰。 湣帝大怒，謂朱弘昭等曰：「朕新即位，天下事皆出諸公，然於事兄，未有失範，諸公以大計見迫，不能獨違，事一至此，何方轉禍？ 吾當率左右往迎吾兄，遜以位，茍不吾信，死其所也！」 弘昭等惶恐不能對，義誠前曰：「西師驚潰，主將怯耳。 今京師兵尚多，臣請盡將以西，扼關而守，招集亡散，以為後圖。」 湣帝以為然，幸左藏庫，親給將士人絹二十匹，錢五千。 是時，明宗山陵未畢，帑藏空虛。 軍士負物揚言曰：「到鳳翔更請一分。」 朱弘實見軍士無鬥志，而義誠盡將以西，疑其二心，謂義誠曰：「今西師小衄，而無一騎東者，人心可知。 不如以見兵守京師以自固，彼雖幸勝，特得虔釗一軍耳。 諸鎮之兵在後，其敢徑來邪！」 義誠怒曰：「如此言，弘實反矣！」 弘實曰：「公謂誰欲反邪？」 其聲厲而聞。 湣帝召兩人，爭於前，帝不能決，遂斬弘實，以義誠為招討使，悉將禁軍以西。 湣帝奔衛州。 義誠行至新安，降於從珂。 清泰元年四月，斬於興教門外，夷其族。
Congke rebelled at Fengxiang. Wang Sitong besieged him with allied hosts. Zhang Qianzhao of Xingyuan defected; Sitong fled and the coalition broke. Emperor Min raged at Hongzhao and the rest: “I am new on the throne; you run the realm. I have not failed my brother in duty. You forced this plan on me. Now catastrophe is here—how do we turn it aside? I will go west myself to welcome my brother and yield the crown. If he will not believe me, I die where I must.” They were mute. Yicheng said: “The western host panicked because its general is a coward. The capital still has strength. Let me take every man west, seal the passes, rally the fugitives, and plan again.” The emperor agreed, opened the Left Treasury, and gave each soldier twenty bolts of silk and five thousand cash. Mingzong’s tomb was unfinished and the treasury bare. Soldiers shouldered their pay and shouted: “We will demand another share at Fengxiang!” Hongshi saw no fight left in them and feared Yicheng’s march west. He said: “A small defeat in the west, and not one rider comes east—the mood of the army is plain. Hold the capital with the men here. If they win, it is only Zhang Qianzhao’s host. The other circuits are still behind them—they will not dare march on us!” Yicheng snapped: “Talk like that makes you the rebel!” Hongshi said: “Who do you call a rebel?” Their shouts rang through the hall. The emperor called them in; they quarreled to his face and he could not judge. He killed Hongshi, made Yicheng pacification commissioner, and sent the palace army west. The emperor fled to Weizhou. Yicheng reached Xin’an and surrendered to Congke. In the fourth month of Qingtai 1 he was beheaded outside the Xingjiao Gate and his clan wiped out.
18
嗚呼！ 五代為國，興亡以兵，而其軍制，後世無足稱焉。 惟侍衛親軍之號，今猶因之而甚重，此五代之遺制也。 然原其始起微矣，及其至也，可謂盛哉！ 當唐之末，方鎮之兵多矣，凡一軍有指揮使一人，而合一州之諸軍，又有馬步軍都指揮使一人，蓋其卒伍之長也。 自梁以宣武軍建國，因其舊制，有在京馬步軍都指揮使，後唐因之，至明宗時，始更為侍衛親軍馬步軍都指揮使。 當是時，天子自有六軍諸衛之職，六軍有統軍，諸衛有將軍，而又以大臣宗室一人判六軍諸衛事，此朝廷大將天子國兵之舊制也。 而侍衛親軍者，天子自將之私兵也，推其名號可知矣。 天子自為將，則都指揮使乃其卒伍之都長耳。 然自漢、周以來，其職益重，漢有侍衛司獄，凡朝廷大事皆決侍衛獄。 是時，史弘肇為都指揮使，與宰相、樞密使並執國政，而弘肇尤專任，以至於亡。 語曰：「涓涓不絕，流為江河。 熒熒不滅，炎炎奈何？」 可不戒哉！ 然是時，方鎮各自有兵，天子親軍猶不過京師之兵而已。 今方鎮名存而實亡，六軍諸衛又益以廢，朝廷無大將之職，而舉天下內外之兵皆屬侍衛司矣。 則為都指揮使者，其權豈不益重哉！ 親軍之號，始於明宗，其後又有殿前都指揮使，亦親軍也，皆不見其更置之始。 今天下之兵，分屬此兩司矣。
Alas! The Five Dynasties lived and died by the sword, yet their military system wins no praise from later ages. Only the Personal Guard of the Palace Attendants still bears that name and still carries weight—a Five Dynasties legacy. It began in small steps; at its height it was truly grand. Late Tang swarmed with frontier armies. Each host had a commander; each prefecture’s hosts together had a horse-and-foot commander—the captain of the ranks. Liang founded its dynasty on the Xuanwu army and kept the old form: a capital commander of horse and foot. Later Tang copied it. Under Mingzong the title became commander of the Personal Guard’s horse and foot. The throne still kept the Six Armies and the guard offices, each with its commanders and generals, and again a great minister or kinsman oversaw them—the old court system for the emperor’s own hosts. The Personal Guard was different: the emperor’s private army, led by himself—the name says as much. When the emperor took the title of general, the overall commander was merely chief of his own soldiers. From Later Han and Zhou the post grew heavier still. Han had a guard prison; great state matters were settled there. Shi Hongzhao held the command and shared rule with the chief councillors and Military Affairs—yet Hongzhao ruled alone, down to ruin. They say: “Trickles that never cease become rivers. Sparks that never die—how will you stop the fire?” Take warning! Even then each military governor kept his own troops; the emperor’s personal force was only the capital garrison. Today the frontier commands are names without armies; the Six Armies and guards are gone. The court has no great field marshal, and every soldier in the realm answers to the Guard. How could the commander’s power not weigh still more heavily! The Personal Guard title began under Mingzong. Later came the Palace Front commander—also imperial troops—and the books do not say when those offices were first refashioned. Now the empire’s soldiers are split between those two bureaus.
19
藥彥稠
Yao Yanchou
20
藥彥稠，沙陀三部落人也。 初為騎將，明宗即位，拜澄州刺史。 從王晏球破王都定州，遷侍衛步軍都虞候，領壽州節度使。 安重誨矯詔遣河中指揮使楊彥溫逐其節度使潞王從珂。 以彥稠為招討使，明宗疑彥溫有所說，戒彥稠得彥溫毋殺，將訊之。 彥稠希重誨旨，殺彥溫以滅口，明宗大怒，然不之罪也。 長興中，為靜難軍節度使，党項阿埋、屈悉保等族抄掠方渠，邀殺回鶻使者，明宗遣彥稠與靈武康福會兵擊之，阿埋等亡竄山谷。 明宗以謂党項知懼，可加約束而綏撫之。 使者未至，彥稠等自牛兒族入白魚谷，盡誅其族，獲其大首領連香等，遣人上捷。 明宗謂其使者曰：「吾誅党項，非有所利也。 凡軍中所獲，悉與士卒分之，毋以進奉為名，重斂軍士也。」 已而彥稠以党項所掠回鶻進奉玉兩團及遺秦王金裝胡錄等來獻，明宗曰：「吾已語彥稠矣，不可失信。」 因悉以賜彥稠。 又逐鹽州諸戎，取其所掠男女千餘人。
Yao Yanchou came from the three Shatuo tribal groups. He began as a cavalry officer. At Mingzong’s accession he became prefect of Chengzhou. He followed Wang Yanqiu against Wang Du at Dingzhou, then became deputy commander of the palace foot guard and military governor of Shouzhou. An Chonghui forged an edict and sent Yang Yanwen of Hedong to expel the Prince of Lu Congke from his command. Yanchou was made pacification commissioner. Mingzong suspected coaching and told Yanchou to take Yanwen alive for questioning, not kill him. Yanchou pleased Chonghui, killed Yanwen to seal his lips, and Mingzong raged but did not punish him. In Changxing he governed Jingnan. Tangut chiefs Amai and Quxinbao raided Fangzhou and killed a Uyghur envoy. Mingzong sent Yanchou and Kang Fu of Lingwu against them; the Tangut fled to the hills. Mingzong thought the Tangut were frightened enough to accept restraint and peace. Before the envoy arrived Yanchou marched from the Niu’er tribe into Baiyu Valley, exterminated the clan, seized chiefs including Lianxiang, and sent word of victory. Mingzong told the messenger: “I strike the Tangut for no gain. Whatever the army takes goes to the soldiers. Do not call it tribute and squeeze the ranks again.” Soon Yanchou sent up Uyghur jade the Tangut had seized and a gold-mounted barbarian register left by the Prince of Qin. Mingzong said: “I have told Yanchou—do not break faith.” He gave the whole lot to Yanchou. He also routed the Yanzhou tribes and recovered more than a thousand captives.
21
潞王從珂反，彥稠為招討副使。 王思同兵潰，彥稠與思同俱東走，為潞王兵所得，囚之華州獄，已而殺之。 晉高祖立，贈侍中。
When Congke rebelled, Yanchou was deputy pacification commissioner. Sitong’s army broke; Yanchou fled east with him, was caught, jailed at Hua, and killed. Jingtang posthumously made him Palace Attendant.