Volume 64: Hereditary House of Later Shu

孟知祥，字保胤，邢州龍岡人也。其叔父遷，當唐之末，據邢、洺、磁三州，為晉所虜。晉王以遷守澤潞，梁兵攻晉，遷以澤潞降梁。知祥父道，獨留事晉而不顯。及知祥壯，晉王以其弟克讓女妻之，以為左教練使。莊宗為晉王，以知祥為中門使。前此為中門使者多以罪誅，知祥懼，求他職，莊宗命知祥薦可代己者，知祥因薦郭崇韜自代，崇韜德之，知祥遷馬步軍都虞候。莊宗建號，以太原為北京，以知祥為太原尹、北京留守。

Meng Zhixiang, whose courtesy name was Baoyin, was a native of Longgang in Xing Prefecture. His uncle Qian, in the closing years of the Tang, seized control of Xing, Ming, and Ci prefectures and was taken captive by Jin. The Prince of Jin put Qian in charge of Ze and Lu; when Liang forces attacked Jin, Qian surrendered those circuits to Liang. Zhixiang's father Dao alone stayed on to serve Jin and never rose to prominence. Once Zhixiang reached manhood, the Prince of Jin married him to a daughter of his younger brother Kerang and made him Left Training Commissioner. While Zhuangzong was still Prince of Jin, he appointed Zhixiang Commissioner of the Inner Gate. Earlier holders of the Inner Gate commission had mostly been put to death on criminal charges, and Zhixiang, fearing the same fate, asked for another post. Zhuangzong told him to name his own successor; Zhixiang recommended Guo Chongtao to take his place. Chongtao was grateful, and Zhixiang was promoted to Chief Garrison Officer of the horse and foot armies. After Zhuangzong proclaimed his dynasty, he designated Taiyuan the Northern Capital and appointed Zhixiang Taiyuan Intendant and regent of the Northern Capital.

魏王繼岌代蜀，郭崇韜為招討使，崇韜臨訣，白曰：「即臣等平蜀，陛下擇帥以守西川，無如孟知祥者。」已而唐兵破蜀，莊宗遂以知祥為成都尹、劍南西川節度副大使。知祥馳至京師，莊宗戒有司盛供帳，多出內府珍奇諸物以宴勞之。酒酣，語及平昔，以為笑樂，嘆曰：「繼岌前日乳臭兒爾，乃能為吾平定兩川，吾徒老矣，孺子可喜，然益令人悲爾！吾憶先帝棄世時，疆土侵削，僅保一隅，豈知今日奄有天下，九州四海，珍奇異產，充刃吾府！」因指以示知祥，曰：「吾聞蜀土之富，無異於此，以卿親賢，故以相付。」

When Prince of Wei Jiji marched against Shu, Guo Chongtao served as Pacification Commissioner. On taking leave he said to the throne: "Once we pacify Shu, Your Majesty should choose a governor to hold the western circuit—and none is better suited than Meng Zhixiang." Before long Tang forces overran Shu, and Zhuangzong appointed Zhixiang Chengdu Intendant and deputy military commissioner of the Sword-South Western Circuit. Zhixiang rode posthaste to the capital, where Zhuangzong ordered officials to lay on a lavish reception and drew many rare treasures from the inner palace stores to feast and honor him. As the drinking deepened they reminisced about old times with laughter and pleasure. Zhuangzong sighed and said: "Jiji was only a milk-faced boy the other day, yet he could pacify both river circuits for me. We have grown old; the lad is heartening—and yet all the more heartbreaking! I remember when the former emperor died: our territory was being whittled away and we barely held a single corner. Who could have imagined that today we would suddenly possess the empire—the nine provinces and four seas—with rare and wondrous goods cramming my palace!" He gestured at the display and told Zhixiang: "I am told the wealth of Shu is no different from this. Because you are both kin and worthy, I entrust it to you."

同光四年正月戊辰，知祥至成都，而崇韜已死。魏王繼岌引軍東歸，先鋒康延孝反，攻破漢州。知祥遣大將李仁罕會任圜、董璋等兵擊破延孝，知祥得其將李肇、侯弘實及其兵數千以歸。而莊宗崩，魏王繼岌死，明宗入立。知祥乃訓練兵甲，陰有王蜀之志。益置義勝、定遠、驍銳、義寧、飛棹等軍七萬餘人，命李仁罕、趙廷隱、張業等分將之。

On the wuchen day of the first month in the fourth year of Tongguang, Zhixiang reached Chengdu—only to learn that Chongtao was already dead. Prince of Wei Jiji withdrew eastward with his army; the vanguard commander Kang Yanxiao mutinied and seized Han Prefecture. Zhixiang sent his chief general Li Renhan to join Ren Yuan, Dong Zhang, and others in crushing Yanxiao; he took Yanxiao's generals Li Zhao and Hou Hongshi, along with several thousand troops, back into his own service. Zhuangzong then died, Prince of Wei Jiji died as well, and Mingzong ascended the throne. Zhixiang thereupon drilled his arms and armor and secretly nurtured the ambition to rule Shu as king. He further raised more than seventy thousand men in the armies of Righteous Victory, Settled Distance, Fierce Sharpness, Righteous Tranquility, Flying Oar, and the like, placing Li Renhan, Zhao Tingyin, Zhang Ye, and others in divided command.

初，魏王之班師也，知祥率成都富人及王氏故臣家，得錢六百萬緡以犒軍，其餘者猶二百萬。任圜自蜀入為相，兼判三司，素知蜀所余錢。是冬，知祥拜侍中，乃以太僕卿趙季良賫官告賜之，因以為三川制置使，督蜀犒軍余錢送京師，且制置兩川征賦。知祥怒，不奉詔。然知祥與季良有舊，遂留之。

When the Prince of Wei first withdrew his army, Zhixiang levied six million strings of cash from Chengdu's wealthy and from families of former Wang ministers to reward the troops; two million strings still remained. Ren Yuan came up from Shu to serve as chief minister and concurrently head of the Three Bureaus, and he had long known about the surplus funds in Shu. That winter Zhixiang received appointment as Palace Attendant. The court sent Grand Master of the Stud Zhao Jiliang with the patent of office and, at the same time, named him Commissioner for the Three Rivers to oversee shipment of the remaining Shu reward funds to the capital and to regulate taxation in both circuits. Zhixiang was furious and refused to comply. But Zhixiang and Jiliang were old acquaintances, so he kept him at his side.

樞密使安重誨頗疑知祥有異志，思有以制之。初，知祥鎮蜀，莊宗以宦者焦彥賓為監軍，明宗入立，悉誅宦者，罷諸道監軍。彥賓已罷，重誨復以客省使李嚴為監軍。嚴前使蜀，既歸而獻策伐蜀，蜀人皆惡之，而知祥亦怒曰：「焦彥賓以例罷，而諸道皆廢監軍，獨吾軍置之，是嚴欲以蜀再為功也。」掌書記母昭裔及諸將吏皆請止嚴而無內，知祥曰：「吾將有以待其來！」嚴至境上，遣人持書候知祥，知祥盛兵見之，冀嚴懼而不來，嚴聞之自若。天成二年正月，嚴至成都，知祥置酒召嚴。是時，焦彥賓雖罷，猶在蜀，嚴於懷中出詔示知祥以誅彥賓，知祥不聽，因責嚴曰：「今諸方鎮已罷監軍，公何得來此？」目客將王彥銖執嚴下，斬之。明宗不能詰。

Chief Palace Secretary An Chonghui strongly suspected Zhixiang of disloyal intent and looked for ways to restrain him. When Zhixiang first took command in Shu, Zhuangzong had appointed the eunuch Jiao Yanbin army supervisor. After Mingzong's accession he executed the eunuchs and abolished army supervisors in every circuit. Yanbin had already been removed, yet Chonghui appointed Guest Reception Commissioner Li Yan as army supervisor once more. Yan had earlier been sent to Shu and, on returning, proposed a plan to conquer it, so the people of Shu detested him. Zhixiang too said in anger: "Jiao Yanbin was dismissed by precedent and every circuit abolished its supervisor—yet mine alone gets one. Yan means to win fresh glory by attacking Shu again." Recorder Mu Zhaoyi and the other officers all urged that Yan be stopped at the border. Zhixiang said: "I have my own way of dealing with him when he arrives!" When Yan reached the frontier he sent ahead a letter of greeting. Zhixiang paraded his troops in force, hoping Yan would be frightened off—but Yan, hearing of it, remained unmoved. In the first month of the second year of Tiancheng, Yan arrived in Chengdu, and Zhixiang held a banquet and summoned him. Jiao Yanbin, though dismissed, was still in Shu. Yan produced from his robe an edict ordering Yanbin's execution. Zhixiang refused to comply and rebuked him: "Every defense command has abolished its supervisor—what right have you to come here?" He signaled his guest officer Wang Yanzhen to seize Yan, drag him down, and behead him. Mingzong could not call him to account.

初，知祥鎮蜀，遣人迎其家屬於太原，行至鳳翔，鳳翔節度使李從嚴聞知祥殺李嚴，以為知祥反矣，遂留之。明宗既不能詰，而欲以恩信懷之，乃遣客省使李仁矩慰諭知祥，並送瓊華公主及其子昶等歸之。

When Zhixiang first took command in Shu he had sent for his family in Taiyuan. At Fengxiang, military commissioner Li Congyan, hearing that Zhixiang had killed Li Yan, assumed he had rebelled and detained them. Unable to punish him yet wishing to win him with kindness, Mingzong sent Guest Reception Commissioner Li Renju to reassure Zhixiang and returned Princess Qionghua, his son Chang, and the rest of his household.

知祥因請趙季良為節度副使，事無大小，皆與參決。三年，唐徙季良為果州團練使，以何瓚為節度副使。知祥得制書匿之，表留季良，不許。乃遣其將雷廷魯至京師論請，明宗不得已而從之。是時，瓚行至綿谷，懼不敢進，知祥乃奏瓚為行軍司馬。

Zhixiang then asked that Zhao Jiliang be made deputy military commissioner and consulted him on every matter, large or small. In the third year the Tang court transferred Jiliang to regimental commissioner of Guo Prefecture and appointed He Zan deputy military commissioner in his place. Zhixiang received the commission, hid it, and memorialized to keep Jiliang; the court refused. He then sent his general Lei Tinglu to the capital to press the request, and Mingzong reluctantly agreed. He Zan had reached Miangu but dared not go farther; Zhixiang thereupon memorialized to appoint him campaigning marshal.

是歲，唐師伐荊南，詔知祥以兵下峽，知祥遣毛重威率兵三千戍夔州。已而荊南高季興死，其子從誨請命，知祥請罷戍兵，不許。知祥諷重威以兵鼓噪，潰而歸，唐以詔書劾重威，知祥奏請無劾，由是唐大臣益以知祥為必反。

That year, as Tang forces campaigned against Southern Jing, the court ordered Zhixiang to send troops through the gorges. He dispatched Mao Chongwei with three thousand men to garrison Kui Prefecture. Soon afterward Gao Jixing of Southern Jing died and his son Conghui submitted to the throne. Zhixiang asked to withdraw the garrison, but the court refused. Zhixiang prompted Chongwei to let his men raise a clamor and break ranks for home. The Tang court impeached Chongwei by edict, but Zhixiang memorialized against the charge. Tang ministers now increasingly assumed Zhixiang would surely rebel.

四年，明宗將有事於南郊，遣李仁矩責知祥助禮錢一百萬緡。知祥覺唐謀欲困己，辭不肯出。久之，請獻五十萬而已。初，魏王繼岌東歸，留精兵五千戍蜀。自安重誨疑知祥有異志，聽言事者，用己所親信分守兩川管內諸州，每除守將，則以精兵為其牙隊，多者二三千，少者不下五百人，以備緩急。是歲，以夏魯奇為武信軍節度使；分東川之閬州為保寧軍，以李仁矩為節度使；又以武虔裕為綿州刺史。仁矩與東川董璋有隙，而虔裕重誨表兄，由是璋與知祥皆懼，以謂唐將致討。自璋鎮東川，未嘗與知祥通問，於是璋始遣人求婚以自結。而知祥心恨璋，欲不許，以問趙季良，季良以為宜合從以拒唐，知祥乃許。於是連表請罷還唐所遣節度使、刺史等。明宗優詔慰諭之。

In the fourth year, as Mingzong prepared the southern suburban sacrifice, he sent Li Renju to demand one million strings of cash from Zhixiang for the ceremony. Zhixiang saw that the Tang court meant to squeeze him and refused to pay. After prolonged negotiation he offered only half a million. When Prince of Wei Jiji first withdrew eastward he had left five thousand elite troops to garrison Shu. Once An Chonghui suspected Zhixiang of disloyalty, he heeded informants and posted his own trusted men to hold prefectures throughout both circuits. Each new garrison commander received an elite headquarters guard—up to two or three thousand men, never fewer than five hundred—to meet emergencies. That year Xia Luqi was appointed military commissioner of the Martial Faith Army; Lang Prefecture was split from Eastern River as the Tranquil Preservation Army under Li Renju; and Wu Qianyu was made prefect of Mian. Renju was at odds with Dong Zhang of Eastern River, while Qianyu was Chonghui's cousin on his mother's side. Zhang and Zhixiang alike grew fearful, believing the Tang court meant to move against them. Since taking command in Eastern River, Zhang had never exchanged messages with Zhixiang; he now sent envoys to propose a marriage alliance. Zhixiang inwardly resented Zhang and was inclined to refuse, but when he asked Zhao Jiliang, Jiliang urged a joint stand against Tang, and Zhixiang consented. They then submitted joint memorials demanding withdrawal of the military commissioners and prefects the Tang court had posted to their circuits. Mingzong replied with a gracious edict of reassurance.

長興元年二月，明宗有事於南郊，加拜知祥中書令。初，知祥與璋俱有異志，而重誨信言事者，以璋盡忠於國，獨知祥可疑，重誨猶欲倚璋以圖知祥。是歲九月，董璋先反，攻破閬州，擒李仁矩殺之。是月應聖節，知祥開宴，東北望再拜，俯伏嗚咽，泣下沾襟，士卒皆為之歔欷，明日遂舉兵反。

In the second month of the first year of Changxing, when Mingzong performed the southern suburban sacrifice, he further promoted Zhixiang to Director of the Secretariat. Zhixiang and Zhang had both harbored rebellious intent, but Chonghui trusted informants who called Zhang wholly loyal and Zhixiang alone suspect; he still hoped to use Zhang against Zhixiang. That ninth month Dong Zhang rose first, stormed Lang Prefecture, captured Li Renju, and killed him. That month, on the Sacred Response Festival, Zhixiang held a banquet, bowed twice toward the northeast, and prostrated himself in sobs until tears soaked his robe. The troops wept with him, and the next day he took up arms in rebellion.

是秋，明宗改封瓊華公主為福慶長公主，有司言前世公主受封，皆未出降，無遣使就藩冊命之儀。詔有司草具新儀，乃遣秘書監劉嶽為冊使。嶽行至鳳翔，聞知祥反，乃旋。明宗下詔削奪知祥官爵，命天雄軍節度使石敬瑭為都招討使，夏魯奇為副。知祥遣李仁罕、張業、趙廷隱將兵三萬人會璋攻遂州，別遣侯弘實將四千人助璋守東川，又遣張武下峽取渝州。唐師攻劍門，殺璋守兵三千人，遂入劍門。璋來告急，知祥大駭，遣廷隱分兵萬人以東，已而聞唐軍止劍州不進，喜曰：「使唐軍急趨東川，則遂州解圍，吾勢沮而兩川搖矣。今其不進，吾知易與爾。」十二月，敬瑭及廷隱戰於劍門，唐師大敗。張武已取渝州，武病卒，其副將袁彥超代將其軍，又取黔州。二年正月，李仁罕克遂州，夏魯奇死之，知祥以仁罕為武信軍留後，遣人馳魯奇首示敬瑭軍，敬瑭乃班師。利州李彥珂聞唐軍敗東歸，乃棄城走，知祥以趙廷隱為昭武軍留後。李仁罕進攻夔州，刺史安崇阮棄城走，以趙季良為留後。

That autumn Mingzong changed Princess Qionghua's title to Princess of Long Felicity. The officials noted that in earlier ages princesses had been enfeoffed before marriage and that no precedent existed for sending envoys to a husband's domain to confer the patent. The court ordered officials to draft new ritual forms and sent Secretary Director Liu Yue as investiture envoy. Yue reached Fengxiang, heard of Zhixiang's rebellion, and turned back. Mingzong stripped Zhixiang of rank and office by edict and appointed Tianxiong military commissioner Shi Jingtang overall Pacification Commissioner with Xia Luqi as his deputy. Zhixiang sent Li Renhan, Zhang Ye, and Zhao Tingyin with thirty thousand men to join Zhang in attacking Suizhou, dispatched Hou Hongshi with four thousand to help hold Eastern River, and sent Zhang Wu through the gorges to seize Yu Prefecture. Tang forces attacked Sword Gate, killed three thousand of Zhang's garrison troops, and broke through. Zhang sent urgent word for help. Zhixiang was alarmed and sent Tingyin east with ten thousand men. Soon he learned the Tang army had halted at Sword Prefecture. He rejoiced and said: "Had Tang forces rushed on Eastern River, Suizhou would have been relieved, my momentum broken, and both circuits thrown into turmoil. Now that they hold back, I know they will be easy to handle." In the twelfth month Jingtang and Tingyin fought at Sword Gate and routed the Tang army. Zhang Wu had already taken Yu Prefecture; when Wu died of illness his deputy Yuan Yanchao assumed command and seized Qian Prefecture as well. In the first month of the second year Li Renhan took Suizhou and Xia Luqi was killed. Zhixiang made Renhan acting regent of the Martial Faith Army and sent Luqi's head posthaste to Jingtang's camp; Jingtang then withdrew. Li Yanke of Lizhou, hearing the Tang army had been beaten and was withdrawing east, abandoned the city and fled. Zhixiang made Zhao Tingyin acting regent of the Illustrious Martial Army. Li Renhan pressed the attack on Kui Prefecture; prefect An Chongruan fled, and Zhao Jiliang was made acting regent.

是時，唐軍涉險，以餉道為艱，自潼關以西，民苦轉饋，每費一石不能致一斗，道路嗟怨，而敬瑭軍亦旋，所在守將又皆棄城走。明宗憂之，以責安重誨。重誨懼，遽自請行。而重誨亦以被讒得罪死。明宗謂致知祥等反，由重誨失策，及重誨死，乃遣西川進奏官蘇願、進奉軍將杜紹本西歸招諭知祥，具言知祥家屬在京師者皆無恙。

Tang troops were struggling through difficult terrain with supply lines stretched thin. West of Tong Pass the people groaned under transport levies—often paying the cost of a full stone of grain to move a single dou—and the roads filled with complaint. Jingtang's army withdrew as well, and garrison commanders everywhere abandoned their posts and fled. Mingzong was deeply troubled and held An Chonghui responsible. Chonghui, alarmed, promptly volunteered to go himself. But Chonghui was also destroyed by slander and put to death. Mingzong held that Zhixiang's rebellion stemmed from Chonghui's misjudgment. After Chonghui's death he sent Western River memorial officer Su Yuan and tribute-army officer Du Shaoben west to win Zhixiang over, assuring him that all his kin in the capital were safe.

知祥聞重誨誅死，而唐厚待其家屬，乃邀璋欲同謝罪，璋曰：「孟公家屬皆存，而我子孫獨見殺，我何謝為！」知祥三遣使往見璋，璋不聽，乃遣觀察判官李昊說璋，璋益疑知祥賣己，因發怒，以語侵昊。昊乃勸知祥攻之。而璋先襲破知祥漢州，知祥遣趙廷隱率兵三萬，自將擊之，陣雞距橋。知祥得璋降卒，衣以錦袍，使持書招降璋，璋曰：「事已及此，不可悔也！」璋軍士皆噪曰：「徒曝我於日中，何不速戰？」璋即麾軍以戰。兵始交，璋偏將張守進來降，知祥乘之，璋遂大敗，走。過金雁橋，麾其子光嗣使降，以保家族，光嗣哭曰：「自古豈有殺父以求生者乎，寧俱就死！」因與璋俱走。知祥遣趙廷隱追之，不及，璋走至梓州見殺，光嗣自縊死，知祥遂並有東川。然自璋死，知祥卒不遣使謝唐。

Hearing of Chonghui's execution and the Tang court's generous treatment of his family, Zhixiang invited Zhang to submit a joint plea for pardon. Zhang said: "Your household is intact, Lord Meng, while my sons and grandsons were slaughtered—what have I to apologize for!" Zhixiang sent envoys three times; Zhang refused to see them. Zhixiang then sent administrative aide Li Hao to reason with him. Zhang grew more convinced Zhixiang meant to betray him, flew into a rage, and insulted Hao to his face. Hao thereupon urged Zhixiang to attack him. Zhang struck first, overrunning Zhixiang's Han Prefecture. Zhixiang sent Zhao Tingyin with thirty thousand men and took the field himself, drawing up battle lines at Cock's Spur Bridge. Zhixiang took Zhang's surrendered troops, dressed them in brocade robes, and sent them with letters urging Zhang to yield. Zhang said: "Matters have gone too far for regret now!" Zhang's soldiers clamored: "You leave us baking in the midday sun—why not fight at once?" Zhang immediately ordered his army into battle. As battle was joined, Zhang's flank general Zhang Shoujin defected. Zhixiang pressed the advantage, and Zhang was routed and fled. At Golden Goose Bridge he ordered his son Guangsi to surrender and save the family. Guangsi wept and said: "Since antiquity has any son killed his father to live? Let us die together! He therefore fled together with his father. Zhixiang sent Zhao Tingyin in pursuit but could not catch them. Zhang reached Zizhou and was killed; Guangsi hanged himself. Zhixiang thereby gained control of Eastern River as well. Yet after Zhang's death Zhixiang never sent envoys to thank the Tang court.

唐樞密使範延光曰：「知祥雖已破璋，必借朝廷之勢，以為兩川之重，自非屈意招之，彼亦不能自歸也。」明宗曰：「知祥，吾故人也，本因間諜致此危疑，撫吾故人，何屈意之有？」先是，克寧妻孟氏，知祥妹也。莊宗已殺克寧，孟氏歸於知祥，其子瑰，留事唐為供奉官。明宗即遣瑰歸省其母，因賜知祥詔書招慰之。知祥兼據兩川，以趙季良為武泰軍留後、李仁罕武信軍留後、趙廷隱保寧軍留後、張業寧江軍留後、李肇昭武軍留後。季良等因請知祥稱王，以墨制行事，議未決而瑰至蜀。知祥見瑰倨慢。九月，瑰自蜀還，得知祥表，請除趙季良等為五鎮節度，其餘刺史已下，得自除授。又請封蜀王，且言福慶公主已卒。明宗為之發哀，遣閣門使劉政恩為宣諭使。政恩復命，知祥始遣其將朱滉來朝。

Tang Chief Palace Secretary Fan Yanguang said: "Though Zhixiang has defeated Zhang, he will surely lean on the court's authority to consolidate his hold on both circuits. Unless we woo him with deliberate humility, he will not come back on his own." Mingzong said: "Zhixiang is an old friend. Spies and informers created this crisis. To comfort an old friend—where is the need for humility?" Earlier, the wife of Kerning—Lady Meng—was Zhixiang's younger sister. Zhuangzong had executed Kerning; Lady Meng returned to Zhixiang. Her son Gui remained at the Tang court as a palace attendant. Mingzong sent Gui home to visit his mother and with him an edict summoning and reassuring Zhixiang. Holding both circuits, Zhixiang appointed Zhao Jiliang acting regent of the Martial Grand Army, Li Renhan of the Martial Faith Army, Zhao Tingyin of the Tranquil Preservation Army, Zhang Ye of the Tranquil River Army, and Li Zhao of the Illustrious Martial Army. Jiliang and the others urged Zhixiang to declare himself king and govern by informal imperial writ, but the matter was still undecided when Gui reached Shu. Zhixiang found Gui arrogant and disrespectful. In the ninth month Gui returned from Shu with Zhixiang's memorial asking that Zhao Jiliang and the others be made military commissioners of the five armies and that all appointments from prefect downward be left to his own discretion. He also requested enfeoffment as King of Shu and reported the death of the Princess of Long Felicity. Mingzong proclaimed mourning and sent Gate Commissioner Liu Zheng'en as Instruction Envoy. After Zheng'en reported back, Zhixiang at last sent his general Zhu Huang to court.

四年二月癸亥，制以知祥檢校太尉兼中書令，行成都尹、劍南東西兩川節度，管內觀察處置、統押近界諸蠻，兼西山八國雲南安撫制置等使。遣工部尚書盧文紀冊封知祥為蜀王，而趙季良等五人皆拜節度使。唐兵先在蜀者數萬人，知祥皆厚給其衣食，因請送其家屬，明宗詔諭不許。十一月，明宗崩。明年閏正月，知祥乃即皇帝位，國號蜀。以趙季良為司空、同中書門下平章事，中門使王處回為樞密使，李昊為翰林學士。

On the guihai day of the second month in the fourth year an edict named Zhixiang Acting Grand Guardian and Director of the Secretariat, acting Chengdu Intendant, military commissioner of both Sword-South circuits, with circuit-wide observation and disposition, overall command of neighboring border tribes, and concurrent commissioner for the Eight Kingdoms of the Western Mountains and Yun'an pacification. Minister of Works Lu Wenji was dispatched to invest Zhixiang as King of Shu, and Zhao Jiliang and the other four were all appointed military commissioners. Several tens of thousands of Tang troops remained in Shu; Zhixiang generously supplied their food and clothing and asked permission to send their families home, but Mingzong refused by edict. In the eleventh month Mingzong died. In the intercalary first month of the following year Zhixiang proclaimed himself emperor and named his state Shu. He made Zhao Jiliang Minister of Works and Associate Director of the Secretariat, Inner Gate Commissioner Wang Chuhui Chief Palace Secretary, and Li Hao Hanlin Academician.

三月，唐潞王舉兵於鳳翔，湣帝遣王思同等討之，思同兵潰，山南西道節度使張虔釗、武定軍節度使孫漢韶皆以其地附於蜀。四月，知祥改元曰明德。六月，虔釗等至成都，知祥宴勞之，虔釗奉觴起為壽，知祥手緩不能舉觴，遂病，以其子昶為皇太子監國。知祥卒，謚為文武聖德英烈明孝皇帝，廟號高祖，陵曰和陵。

In the third month the Tang Prince of Lu rebelled at Fengxiang. Emperor Min sent Wang Sitong against him, but Sitong's army collapsed. Southern Mountain Western Circuit commissioner Zhang Qianzhao and Martial Settlement commissioner Sun Hanshao both submitted their territories to Shu. In the fourth month Zhixiang adopted the reign title Bright Virtue. In the sixth month Qianzhao and the others reached Chengdu, where Zhixiang feasted them. Qianzhao rose with a cup to toast his health, but Zhixiang's hand trembled and he could not raise his cup. He fell ill and made his son Chang crown prince regent. Zhixiang died. He was posthumously titled Civil and Martial Sage of Virtue, Heroic and Illustrious, Bright and Filial Emperor; his temple name was High Ancestor; his tomb was called Harmonious Tomb.

昶，知祥第三子也。知祥為兩川節度使，昶為行軍司馬。知祥僭號，以昶為東川節度使、同中書門下平章事。知祥病，昶監國。知祥已卒而秘未發，王處回夜過趙季良，相對泣涕不已，季良正色曰：「今強侯握兵，專伺時變，當速立嗣君以絕非望，泣無益也。」處回遂與季良立昶，而後發喪。昶立，不改元，仍稱明德，至五年始改元曰慶政。

Chang was Zhixiang's third son. While Zhixiang held both river circuits, Chang served as campaigning marshal. When Zhixiang declared himself emperor, he made Chang military commissioner of Eastern River and Associate Director of the Secretariat. When Zhixiang fell ill, Chang served as regent. Zhixiang was dead but the news had not yet been announced. Wang Chuhui visited Zhao Jiliang at night, and they wept together without end. Jiliang said sternly: "Powerful lords now hold armies and watch for any opening. Establish the heir at once to forestall ambition—tears will not help." Chuhui and Jiliang thereupon installed Chang and only then announced the mourning. On his accession Chang kept the reign title Bright Virtue; only in his fifth year did he change it to Celebrated Governance.

明德三年三月，熒惑犯積屍，昶以謂積屍蜀分也，懼，欲禳之，以問司天少監胡韞，韞曰：「按十二次，起井五度至柳八度，為鶉首之次，鶉首，秦分也，蜀雖屬秦，乃極南之表爾。前世火入鬼，其應在秦。晉咸和九年三月，火犯積屍，四月，雍州刺史郭權見殺。義熙四年，火犯鬼，明年，雍州刺史朱齡石見殺。而蜀皆無事。」乃止。

In the third month of the third year of Bright Virtue the Sparkling Deluder invaded the Heap of Corpses. Chang took this as a sign for Shu and grew fearful, wishing to perform expiatory rites. He asked Vice Director of Astronomy Hu Yun, who said: "By the twelve celestial stations, from five degrees in Well to eight degrees in Willow lies Quail's Head—Qin territory. Shu belongs to Qin only in the sense that it lies at Qin's far southern edge. In earlier ages, when fire entered the Ghost, the omen struck Qin. In the third month of the ninth year of Xiande under Jin, fire invaded the Heap of Corpses; in the fourth month Guo Quan, inspector of Yong Prefecture, was killed. In the fourth year of Yixi fire invaded the Ghost; the following year Zhu Lingshi, inspector of Yong Prefecture, was killed. Yet Shu each time escaped harm." Chang then abandoned the idea.

昶好打球走馬，又為方士房中之術，多采良家子以充後宮。樞密副使韓保貞切諫，昶大悟，即日出之，賜保貞金數斤。有上書者，言臺省官當擇清流，昶嘆曰：「何不言擇其人而任之？」左右請以其言詰上書者，昶曰：「吾見唐太宗初即位，獄吏孫伏伽上書言事，皆見嘉納，奈何勸我拒諫耶！」

Chang loved polo and horse racing and practiced the bedroom arts of Daoist masters, taking many daughters of respectable families into the rear palace. Deputy Chief Palace Secretary Han Baozhen remonstrated sharply. Chang took the lesson to heart, released the women the same day, and rewarded Baozhen with several jin of gold. A memorial arrived arguing that Secretariat and Censorate posts should go only to men of pure pedigree. Chang sighed and said: "Why not say choose the right man for the post?" His attendants urged him to use these words to rebuke the memorialist. Chang said: "I recall that when Emperor Taizong of Tang first took the throne, the prison clerk Sun Fugai submitted memorials on public affairs and all were welcomed—how can you urge me to shut out remonstrance!"

然昶年少不親政事，而將相大臣皆知祥故人，知祥寬厚，多優縱之，及其事昶，益驕蹇，多逾法度，務廣第宅，奪人良田，發其墳墓，而李仁罕、張業尤甚。昶即位數月，執仁罕殺之，並族其家。是時，李肇自鎮來朝，杖而入見，稱疾不拜，及聞仁罕死，遽釋杖而拜。

Yet Chang was young and left government largely to others. His generals and chief ministers were Zhixiang's old companions; Zhixiang had been indulgent with them, and under Chang they grew still more arrogant and lawless, enlarging their mansions, seizing fertile land, and opening graves—Li Renhan and Zhang Ye worst of all. Within months of his accession Chang seized Renhan and executed him, exterminating his entire clan. At that time Li Zhao came to court from his command leaning on a staff, claiming illness and refusing to bow. When he heard Renhan was dead he promptly dropped the staff and bowed.

廣政九年，趙季良卒，張業益用事。業，仁罕甥也。仁罕被誅時，業方掌禁兵，昶懼其反，乃用以為相，業兼判度支，置獄於家，務以酷法厚斂蜀人，蜀人大怨。十一年，昶與匡聖指揮使安思謙謀，執而殺之。王處回、趙廷隱相次致仕，由是故將舊臣殆盡。昶始親政事，於朝堂置匭以通下情。

In the ninth year of Broad Governance Zhao Jiliang died, and Zhang Ye's influence grew. Ye was Renhan's nephew. When Renhan was executed Ye still commanded the palace guard. Fearing rebellion, Chang made him chief minister. Ye also oversaw the Revenue Bureau, maintained a private prison, and squeezed the people of Shu with harsh laws until they bitterly resented him. In the eleventh year Chang plotted with Upright Sage Command Commissioner An Siqian, seized Ye, and killed him. Wang Chuhui and Zhao Tingyin retired in succession, and with them nearly all of Zhixiang's old generals and ministers were gone. Chang at last took up government himself and placed a complaint box in the court hall to hear from the people.

是時，契丹滅晉，漢高祖起於太原，中國多故，雄武軍節度使何建以秦、成、階三州附於蜀，昶因遣孫漢韶攻下鳳州，於是悉有王衍故地。漢將趙思綰據永興、王景崇據鳳翔反，皆送款於昶。昶遣張虔釗出大散關，何建出隴右，李廷珪出子午谷，以應思綰。昶相母昭裔切諫，以為不可，然昶誌欲窺關中甚銳，乃遣安思謙益兵以東。已而漢誅思綰、景崇，虔釗等皆罷歸，而思謙恥於無功，多殺士卒以威眾。昶與翰林使王藻謀殺思謙，而邊吏有急奏，藻不以時聞，輒啟其封，昶怒之。其殺思謙也，藻方侍側，因並擒藻斬之。

The Khitan had destroyed Jin and Han Gaozu had risen at Taiyuan; the central plains were in turmoil. Heroic Martial commissioner He Jian submitted Qin, Cheng, and Jie prefectures to Shu. Chang sent Sun Hanshao to take Feng Prefecture and thereby recovered all of Wang Yan's former territory. Han generals Zhao Sixuan at Yongxing and Wang Jingchong at Fengxiang rebelled and both offered their allegiance to Chang. Chang sent Zhang Qianzhao through Great Scatter Pass, He Jian through the Longyou region, and Li Tinggui through Ziwu Valley to support Sixuan. Chancellor Mu Zhaoyi remonstrated sharply that the move was unwise, but Chang was eager to probe the Guanzhong region and sent An Siqian east with reinforcements. Han soon executed Sixuan and Jingchong, and Qianzhao and the others withdrew. Siqian, shamed by his failure, killed many soldiers to intimidate his men. Chang plotted with Hanlin envoy Wang Zao to kill Siqian. When an urgent frontier report arrived, Zao failed to forward it promptly and opened the seal himself; Chang was furious. When Siqian was killed, Zao was attending at his side and was seized and beheaded as well.

十二年，置吏部三銓、禮部貢舉。

In the twelfth year he established the three selection boards of the Ministry of Personnel and civil-service examinations under the Ministry of Rites.

十三年，昶加號睿文英武仁聖明孝皇帝。封子玄喆秦王，判六軍事；次子玄玨褒王；弟仁毅夔王，仁贄雅王，仁裕嘉王。

In the thirteenth year Chang added the honorific Sagacious in Culture, Heroic in Martial Affairs, Benevolent and Sage, Bright and Filial Emperor. His son Xuanzhe was enfeoffed Prince of Qin and given command of the six armies; the second son Xuanjue as Prince of Bao; his younger brothers Renyi as Prince of Kui, Renzan as Prince of Ya, and Renyu as Prince of Jia.

十八年，周世宗伐蜀，攻自秦州。昶以韓繼勛為雄武軍節度，聞周師來伐，嘆曰：「繼勛豈足以當周兵邪！」客省使趙季劄請行，乃以季劄為秦州監軍使。季劄行至德陽，聞周兵至，遽馳還奏事。昶問之，季劄惶懼不能道一言，昶怒殺之，乃遣高彥儔、李廷珪出堂倉以拒周師。彥儔大敗，走青泥，於是秦、成、階、鳳復入於周。昶懼，分遣使者聘於南唐、東漢，以張形勢。

In the eighteenth year Emperor Shizong of Zhou attacked Shu from Qin Prefecture. Chang appointed Han Jixun military commissioner of the Heroic Martial Army. Hearing that Zhou forces were advancing, he sighed: "Can Jixun really stand against the Zhou army!" Guest Reception Commissioner Zhao Jizha volunteered to go, and Chang made him army supervisor at Qin Prefecture. Jizha reached Deyang, heard Zhou troops had arrived, and raced back to report. Chang questioned him, but Jizha was too terrified to speak. Chang had him executed and sent Gao Yanchou and Li Tinggui out from Tang Granary to resist the Zhou army. Yanchou was routed and fled to Green Mud, and Qin, Cheng, Jie, and Feng fell back to Zhou control. Alarmed, Chang sent envoys to Southern Tang and Eastern Han to display his strength.

二十年，世宗以所得蜀俘歸之，昶亦歸所獲周將胡立於京師，因寓書於世宗，世宗怒昶無臣禮，不答。

In the twentieth year Shizong returned the Shu captives he had taken. Chang sent back the Zhou general Hu Li and enclosed a letter to Shizong, who, angered by Chang's lack of subject ritual, did not reply.

二十一年，周兵伐南唐，取淮南十四州，諸國皆懼。荊南高保融以書招昶使歸周，昶以前嘗致書世宗不答，乃止。昶幼子玄寶，生七歲而卒，太常言無服之殤無贈典，昶問李昊，昊曰：「昔唐德宗皇子評生四歲而卒，贈揚州大都督，封肅王，此故事也。」昶乃贈玄寶青州大都督，追封遂王。

In the twenty-first year Zhou forces attacked Southern Tang and seized fourteen Huainan prefectures, and every neighboring state grew fearful. Gao Baorong of Southern Jing wrote inviting Chang to submit to Zhou, but Chang, remembering Shizong's silence to his earlier letter, let the matter drop. Chang's youngest son Xuanbao died at seven. The Court of Imperial Sacrifices said a child who died before wearing mourning had no posthumous honors. Chang asked Li Hao, who said: "Under Tang Dezong the imperial son Ping died at four and was posthumously made Grand Governor of Yang Prefecture and enfeoffed Prince of Su—that is precedent." Chang thereupon posthumously made Xuanbao Grand Governor of Qing Prefecture and enfeoffed him as Prince of Sui.

二十五年，立秦王玄喆為皇太子。昶幸晉、漢之際，中國多故，而據險一方，君臣務為奢侈以自娛，至於溺器，皆以七寶裝之。宋興，已下荊、潭，昶益懼，遣大程官孫遇以蠟丸書間行東漢，約出兵以撓中國，遇為邊吏所得。太祖皇帝遂詔伐蜀，遣王全斌、崔彥進等出鳳州，劉光乂、曹彬等出歸州；詔八作司度右掖門南、臨汴水為昶治第一區，凡五百餘間，供帳什物皆具，以待昶。

In the twenty-fifth year he made Prince of Qin Xuanzhe crown prince. Chang was fortunate to reign while Jin and Han collapsed and the central plains were in chaos, holding a secure corner apart. Court and ministers devoted themselves to luxury—even their chamber pots were set with the seven treasures. When the Song rose and took Jing and Tan, Chang grew more fearful and sent Senior Process Officer Sun Yu with a wax-sealed letter through secret routes to Eastern Han to arrange a diversion against the central plains. Yu was captured by frontier officials. The founding emperor then ordered an attack on Shu, sending Wang Quanbin and Cui Yanjin out from Feng Prefecture and Liu Guangyi and Cao Bin out from Gui Prefecture; and ordered the Eight Works Bureau to build south of the Right Flank Gate on the Bian River a first-class residence of more than five hundred rooms, fully furnished, to await Chang's arrival.

昶遣王昭遠、趙彥韜等拒命。昭遠，成都人也，年十三，事東郭禪師智諲為童子。知祥嘗飯僧於府，昭遠執巾履從智諲以入，知祥見之，愛其惠黠。時昶方就學，即命昭遠給事左右，而見親狎。昶立，以為卷簾使。樞密使王處回致仕，昶以樞密使權重難制，乃以昭遠為通奏使知樞密使事，然事無大小，一以委之，府庫金帛恣其所取不問。昶母李太后常為昶言昭遠不可用，昶不聽。昭遠好讀兵書，以方略自許。兵始發成都，昶遣李昊等餞之，昭遠手執鐵如意，指揮軍事，自比諸葛亮，酒酣，謂昊曰：「吾之是行，何止克敵，當領此二三萬雕面惡少兒，取中原如反掌爾！」昶又遣子玄喆率精兵數萬守劍門。玄喆輦其愛姬，攜樂器、伶人數十以從，蜀人見者皆竊笑。全斌至三泉，遇昭遠，擊敗之。昭遠焚吉柏江浮橋，退守劍門。軍頭向韜得蜀降卒言：「來蘇小路，出劍門南清強店，與大路合。」全斌遣偏將史延德分兵出來蘇，北擊劍門，與全斌夾攻之，昭遠、彥韜敗走，皆見擒。玄喆聞昭遠等敗，亦逃歸。

Chang sent Wang Zhaoyuan, Zhao Yantao, and others to resist. Zhaoyuan was from Chengdu. At thirteen he became a novice under the Chan master Zhiyun of East Suburb. When Zhixiang once entertained monks at his residence, Zhaoyuan followed Zhiyun in carrying towel and shoes. Zhixiang took a liking to his quick wit. Chang was then still at his studies, and Zhixiang put Zhaoyuan in his service, where he grew intimate with the prince. When Chang took the throne he made him Curtain-Raising Commissioner. When Wang Chuhui retired, Chang found the Chief Palace Secretary's office too powerful to control and made Zhaoyuan Memorial Transmission Commissioner acting in that role. Every matter, large or small, was left to him, and he helped himself to treasury gold and silk without question. Empress Dowager Li often told Chang that Zhaoyuan was unfit for office, but he would not listen. Zhaoyuan loved military texts and fancied himself a strategist. As the army left Chengdu, Chang sent Li Hao and others to see them off. Zhaoyuan gripped an iron ruyi scepter, directed the troops, and compared himself to Zhuge Liang. Deep in wine he told Hao: "This campaign will be more than defeating the enemy—I mean to lead these twenty or thirty thousand fierce young brutes and take the central plains as easily as turning my hand!" Chang also sent his son Xuanzhe with tens of thousands of elite troops to hold Sword Gate. Xuanzhe brought his favorite concubines in palanquins and dozens of musicians and actors with him, and the people of Shu who saw it snickered behind their hands. Quanbin reached Three Springs, met Zhaoyuan, and routed him. Zhaoyuan burned the floating bridge on the Lucky Cypress River and fell back to Sword Gate. Army head Xiang Tao learned from a surrendered Shu soldier: "The Laisu bypath runs south of Sword Gate from Qingqiang post station and joins the main road." Quanbin sent flank general Shi Yande along the Laisu path to strike Sword Gate from the north while he attacked from the south. Zhaoyuan and Yantao were routed, fled, and were both captured. Hearing of Zhaoyuan's defeat, Xuanzhe fled home as well.

劉光乂攻夔州，守將高彥儔戰敗，閉牙城拒守，判官羅濟勸其走，彥儔曰：「吾昔不能守秦川，今又奔北，雖人主不殺我，我何面目見蜀人乎！」又勸其降，彥儔不許，乃自焚死。而蜀兵所在奔潰，將帥多被擒獲。昶問計於左右，老將石頵以謂東兵遠來，勢不能久，宜聚兵堅守以敝之。昶嘆曰：「吾與先君以溫衣美食養士四十年，一旦臨敵，不能為吾東向放一箭，雖欲堅壁，誰與吾守者邪！」乃命李昊草表以降，時乾德三年正月也。自興師至昶降，凡六十六日。初，昊事王衍為翰林學士，衍之亡也，昊為草降表，至是又草焉，蜀人夜表其門曰「世修降表李家」，當時傳以為笑。

Liu Guangyi attacked Kui Prefecture. Garrison commander Gao Yanchou was beaten, shut himself in the headquarters city, and refused to yield. Administrative aide Luo Ji urged flight. Yanchou said: "I failed to hold Qinchuan before; if I flee north again, even if the emperor spares me, what face have I to show the people of Shu!" When Ji urged surrender, Yanchou refused and burned himself to death. Shu troops everywhere broke and fled, and most commanders were captured. Chang asked his advisers for counsel. The veteran Shi Yun said the eastern army had come from far away and could not sustain a long campaign; they should mass their forces and hold out to wear the enemy down. Chang sighed: "My father and I clothed and fed these men generously for forty years, yet when the enemy comes not one will shoot an arrow eastward for me. Even if I wanted to hold behind walls, who would stand with me!" He ordered Li Hao to draft the surrender memorial. It was the first month of the third year of Qiande. From the opening of the campaign to Chang's surrender, sixty-six days had passed. Hao had earlier served Wang Yan as Hanlin Academician and drafted Yan's surrender; now he drafted Chang's as well. The people of Shu posted on his gate by night: "The Li family—hereditary drafters of surrender memorials," and the line became a byword for ridicule.

昶至京師，拜檢校太師兼中書令，封秦國公，七日而卒，追封楚王。其母李氏，為人明辯，甚見優禮，詔書呼為「國母」，嘗召見勞之曰：「母善自愛，無戚戚思蜀，他日當送母歸。」李氏曰：「妾家本太原，倘得歸老故鄉，不勝大願。」是時劉鈞尚在。太祖大喜曰：「俟平劉鈞，當如母願。」昶之卒也，李氏不哭，以酒酹地祝曰：「汝不能死社稷，茍生以取羞。吾所以忍死者，以汝在也。吾今何用生為！」因不食而卒。其餘事具國史。

Chang reached the capital, was made Acting Grand Preceptor and Director of the Secretariat, and enfeoffed Duke of Qin. He died seven days later and was posthumously enfeoffed Duke of Chu. His mother Lady Li was sharp-witted and treated with exceptional honor; edicts addressed her as State Mother. The emperor once summoned and comforted her: "Take good care of yourself, Mother; do not pine for Shu. One day I shall send you home." Lady Li said: "My family is from Taiyuan. To end my days in my native place would be my dearest wish." Liu Jun of Northern Han was still alive at the time. The founding emperor was delighted and said: "When Liu Jun is pacified, I shall grant your wish." When Chang died, Lady Li did not weep. She poured a libation on the ground and prayed: "You could not die for your state but lived on in shame. I have endured living only because you were still alive. What reason have I to go on living! She thereupon stopped eating and died. The remaining events are recorded in full in the national histories.

〈（知祥興滅年數甚明，諸書皆同，蓋自同光三年乙酉入蜀，至皇朝乾德三年乙丑國滅，凡四十一年。惟《舊五代史》，雲同光三年丙戌至乾德三年乙丑，四十年者，繆也。）〉

(The span of Zhixiang's rise and fall is perfectly clear, and all books agree: from his entry into Shu in the third year of Tongguang (yiyou) until the state's destruction in the third year of Qiande of the present dynasty (yichou) is forty-one years in all. Only the 《Old History of the Five Dynasties》, which gives the third year of Tongguang (bingxu) to the third year of Qiande (yichou) as forty years, is mistaken.)]〉

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