1
資治通鑑第218卷
Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 218.
2
【唐紀三十四】起柔兆涒灘五月，至九月，不滿一年。
[Tang Annals 34] From the fifth month of rouzhao toushan through the ninth month—less than a full year.
3
肅宗文明武德大聖大宣孝皇帝上之下至德元年（ 丙申，公元七五六年）
The latter portion of the reign of Emperor Suzong (posthumous titles: Civilized, Martial, Virtuous, Great Sage, Great Proclaimer, Filial)—first year of Zhide ( bingshen, AD 756)
4
五月，丁巳，炅眾潰，走保南陽，賊就圍之。 太常卿張垍薦夷陵太守虢王巨有勇略，上征吳王祗為太僕卿，以巨為陳留、譙郡太守、河南節度使，兼統嶺南節度使何履光、黔中節度使趙國珍、南陽節度使魯炅。 國珍，本牂柯夷也。 戊辰，巨引兵自藍田出，趣南陽。 賊聞之，解圍走。
In the fifth month, on dingsi day, Lu Hui's forces collapsed in defeat and withdrew to hold Nanyang, where the rebels promptly laid siege. Minister of Ceremonies Zhang Yi recommended Yiling Administrator Prince of Guo Ju as a man of courage and stratagem. The emperor recalled Prince of Wu Zhi to appoint him Minister of the Imperial Stud, made Ju Administrator of Chenliu and Qiao and Military Commissioner of Henan, and placed him over Lingnan Commissioner He Lüguang, Qianzhong Commissioner Zhao Guozhen, and Nanyang Commissioner Lu Hui. Guozhen was originally a tribal chieftain of Zangge. On wuchen day, Ju marched out from Lantian toward Nanyang. When the rebels heard he was coming, they broke off the siege and withdrew.
5
令狐潮復引兵攻雍丘。 潮與張巡有舊，於城下相勞苦如平生，潮因說巡曰：「天下事去矣，足下堅守危城，欲誰為乎？」 巡曰：「足下平生以忠義自許，今日之舉，忠義何在！」 潮慚而退。
Linghu Chao once more led his army against Yongqiu. Chao and Zhang Xun were old friends. Below the walls they exchanged courtesies as in days gone by, and Chao then tried to persuade Xun: "The empire is finished. Why do you cling to this doomed city—and for whose sake?" Xun replied, "You have always styled yourself a man of loyalty and righteousness. Where is either loyalty or righteousness in what you do today?" Chao, abashed, drew back and left.
6
郭子儀、李光弼還常山，史思明收散卒數萬踵其後。 子儀選驍騎更挑戰，三日，至行唐，賊疲，乃退。 子儀乘之，又敗之於沙河。 蔡希德至洛陽，安祿山復使將步騎二萬人北就思明，又使牛廷玠發范陽等郡兵萬餘人助思明，合五萬餘人，而同羅、曳落河居五分之一。 子儀至恆陽，思明隨至，子儀深溝高壘以待之； 賊來則守，去則追之，晝則耀兵，夜斫其營，賊不得休息。 數日，子儀、光弼議曰。 「賊倦矣，可以出戰。」 壬午，戰於嘉山，大破之，斬首四萬級，捕虜千餘人。 思明墜馬，露髻跣足步走，至暮，杖折槍歸營，奔於博陵； 光弼就圍之，軍聲大振。 於是河北十餘郡皆殺賊守將而降。 漁陽路再絕，賊往來者皆輕騎竊過，多為官軍所獲，將士家在漁陽者無不搖心。
Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi withdrew to Changshan, with Shi Siming gathering tens of thousands of stragglers and pressing close on their heels. Ziyi picked elite horsemen and harried them with repeated challenges. After three days they reached Xingtang; once the rebels were worn down, Siming pulled back. Ziyi pressed the pursuit and routed them again at Shahe. When Cai Xide reached Luoyang, An Lushan again ordered him north with twenty thousand foot and horse to reinforce Siming, and had Niu Tingjie levy more than ten thousand men from Fanyang and neighboring districts. Together they numbered over fifty thousand, one-fifth of them Tongluo and yeluohe troops. Ziyi advanced to Hengyang with Siming hard on his trail. Ziyi entrenched himself behind deep trenches and high walls; when the rebels came he held firm, when they withdrew he harried them; by day he paraded his strength, by night he struck their camps, giving the enemy no respite. After several days, Ziyi and Guangbi conferred: "The enemy is exhausted—we can take the field." On renwu day they fought at Jiashan and won a crushing victory, taking forty thousand heads and more than a thousand prisoners. Siming was thrown from his horse, hair loose and feet bare, and fled on foot. By evening, leaning on a broken spear, he limped back to camp and then ran for Boling; Guangbi pressed the siege, and government morale soared. More than a dozen Hebei commanderies now killed their rebel garrison commanders and came over. The road to Fanyang was severed again. Rebel couriers could only slip through with light cavalry and were mostly intercepted. Every soldier with kin in Fanyang felt his heart quail.
7
祿山大懼，召高尚、嚴莊詬之曰：「汝數年教我反，以為萬全。 今守潼關，數月不能進，北路已絕，諸軍四合，吾所有者止汴、鄭數州而已，萬全何在？ 汝自今勿來見我！」 尚、莊懼，數日不敢見。 田乾真自關下來，為尚、莊說祿山曰：「自古帝王經營大業，皆有勝敗，豈能一舉而成！ 今四方軍壘雖多，皆新募烏合之眾，未更行陳，豈能敵我薊北勁銳之兵，何足深憂！ 尚、莊皆佐命元勳，陛下一旦絕之，使諸將聞之，誰不內懼！ 若上下離心，臣竊為陛下危之！」 祿山喜曰：「阿浩，汝能豁我心事。」 即召尚、莊，置酒酣宴，自為之歌以侑酒，待之如初。 阿浩，乾真小字也。 祿山議棄洛陽，走歸范陽，計未決。
Lushan was terrified. He summoned Gao Shang and Yan Zhuang and berated them: "For years you urged me to rebel, promising complete safety. Now we sit at Tong Pass for months without advancing. The northern route is gone, armies close in from every quarter, and I hold only Bian, Zheng, and a few other prefectures. Where is your 'complete safety'?" From this day forward, do not come before me again!" Shang and Zhuang were terrified and stayed away for days. Tian Qianzhen came down from the pass and pleaded with Lushan for Shang and Zhuang: "Since antiquity, every ruler who built a great enterprise has known both victory and defeat. Who ever won everything in one stroke? The enemy camps are many, but they are all fresh levies and rabble who have never drilled in formation. How can they match our crack troops from north of Ji? There is no cause for such deep alarm! Shang and Zhuang are founding ministers of the first rank. If Your Majesty casts them off in a moment, every general who hears of it will quake inwardly! If ruler and commanders lose faith in one another, I fear for Your Majesty's safety!" Lushan brightened: "Ahao, you know how to ease my mind." He summoned Shang and Zhuang at once, spread a feast, sang for them himself to keep the wine flowing, and treated them as he always had. Ahao was Qianzhen's childhood name. Lushan debated abandoning Luoyang and fleeing back to Fanyang, but could not make up his mind.
8
是時，天下以楊國忠驕縱召亂，莫不切齒。 又，祿山起兵以誅國忠為名，王思禮密說哥舒翰，使抗表請誅國忠，翰不應。 思禮又請以三十騎劫取以來，至潼關殺之。 翰曰：「如此，乃翰反，非祿山也。」 或說國忠：「今朝廷重兵盡在翰手，翰若援旗西指，於公豈不危哉！」 國忠大懼，乃奏：「潼關大軍雖盛，而後無繼，萬一失利，京師可憂。 請選監牧小兒三千於苑中訓練。」 上許之，使劍南軍將李福德等領之。 又募萬人屯灞上，令所親杜乾運將之，名為御賊，實備翰也。 翰聞之，亦恐為國忠所圖，乃表請灞上軍隸潼關。 六月，癸未，召杜乾運詣關，因事斬之； 國忠益懼。
Throughout the empire, men blamed Yang Guozhong's arrogance and excess for having provoked the rebellion, and gnashed their teeth at his name. Lushan had moreover raised his banners in the name of executing Guozhong. Wang Silun secretly urged Geshu Han to memorialize for Guozhong's death, but Han refused. Silun then proposed taking thirty horsemen to seize him by force and execute him at Tong Pass. Han said, "If I did that, it would be I who rebelled—not Lushan." Someone warned Guozhong: "The court's main armies are all in Han's hands. If he turned his banners west, would you not be in mortal danger?" Guozhong was terrified and memorialized: "Though the Tong Pass army is strong, it has no reserve behind it. One defeat, and the capital itself is at risk. I ask that three thousand lads from the imperial stud be selected and drilled in the park." The emperor approved and put them under Jiannan general Li Fude and others. He also raised ten thousand men at Bashang under his confidant Du Qianyun—nominally to resist the rebels, in truth to guard against Han. Han, hearing this, feared Guozhong meant to destroy him and memorialized that the Bashang force be placed under Tong Pass command. In the sixth month, on guiwei day, he summoned Du Qianyun to the pass and, on a pretext, executed him; Guozhong grew still more afraid.
9
會有告崔乾祐在陝，兵不滿四千，皆羸弱無備，上遣使趣哥舒翰進兵復陝、洛。 翰奏曰：「祿山久習用兵，今始為逆，豈肯無備！ 是必羸師以誘我。 若往，正墮其計中。 且賊遠來，利在速戰； 官軍據險以扼之，利在堅守。 況賊殘虐失眾，兵勢日蹙，將有內變； 因而乘之，可不戰擒也。 要在成功，何必務速！ 今諸道徵兵尚多未集，請且待之。」 郭子儀、李光弼亦上言：「請引兵北取范阻，覆其巢穴，質賊黨妻子以招之，賊必內潰。 潼關大軍，帷應固守以弊之，不可輕出。」 國忠疑翰謀己，言於上，以賊方無備，而翰逗留，將失機會。 上以為然，續遣中使趣之，項背相望。 翰不得已，撫膺慟哭； 丙戌，引兵出關。
Word came that Cui Qianyu held Shan with fewer than four thousand men, all weak and unprepared. The emperor sent envoys urging Geshu Han to advance and recover Shan and Luoyang. Han memorialized: "Lushan has commanded armies for years. Having just risen in rebellion, would he truly leave himself unguarded? This can only be a display of weakness to lure us in. If we march out, we walk straight into their trap. The rebels have marched far from home; their advantage lies in a quick fight. Our army holds the defiles; our advantage lies in holding firm. The rebels are brutal and losing the people's hearts. Their strength shrinks daily, and internal strife will come. Seize that moment, and we can take them without a battle. What matters is success—why insist on speed? The levies from the circuits have not yet mostly arrived. I beg Your Majesty to wait." Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi also wrote: "Let us march north on Fanyang, overturn their nest, and hold rebel families as hostages to summon their surrender. The rebels will collapse from within. The Tong Pass army should only hold fast and wear them down. It must not sally lightly." Guozhong suspected Han plotted against him and told the emperor the rebels were unprepared while Han dallied and would miss his chance. The emperor agreed and sent palace envoys one after another to hurry him—envoys stretching back to back along the road. Han had no choice. He beat his breast and wept; on bingxu day he led his army out of the pass.
10
己丑，遇崔乾祐之軍於靈寶西原。 乾祐據險以待之，南薄山，北阻河，隘道七十里。 庚寅。 官軍與乾祐會戰。 乾祐伏兵於險，翰與田良丘浮舟中流以觀軍勢，見乾祐兵少，趣諸軍使進。 王思禮等將精兵五萬居前，龐忠等將餘兵十萬繼之，翰以兵三萬登河北阜望之，鳴鼓以助其勢。 乾祐所出兵不過萬人，什什伍伍，散如列星，或疏或密，或前或卻，官軍望而笑之。 乾祐嚴精兵，陳於其後。 兵既交，賊偃旗如欲遁者，官軍懈，不為備。 須臾，伏兵發，賊乘高下木石，擊殺士卒甚眾。 道隘，士卒如束，槍槊不得用。 翰以氈車駕馬為前驅，欲以沖賊。 日過中，東風暴急，乾祐以草車數十乘塞氈車之前，縱火焚之，煙焰所被，官軍不能開目，妄自相殺，謂賊在煙中，聚弓弩而射之。 日幕，矢盡，乃知無賊。 乾祐遣同羅精騎自南山過，出官軍之後擊之，官軍首尾駭亂，不知所備，於是大敗； 或棄甲竄匿山谷，或相擠排入河溺死，囂聲振天地，賊乘勝蹙之。 後軍見前軍敗，皆自潰，河北軍望之亦潰，瞬息間，兩岸皆空。 翰獨與麾下百餘騎走，自首陽山西渡河入關。 關外先為三塹，皆廣二丈，深丈，人馬墜其中，須臾而滿； 餘眾踐之以度，士卒得入關者才八千餘人。 辛卯，乾祐進攻潼關，克之。
On jichou day he met Cui Qianyu's army on the western plain of Lingbao. Qianyu held the defiles to receive him: mountains close on the south, the river on the north, a narrow road seventy li long. On gengyin day. The government army joined battle with Qianyu. Qianyu hid troops in the defiles. Han and Tian Liangqiu floated a boat midstream to survey the field, saw Qianyu's force was small, and ordered the armies forward. Wang Silun led fifty thousand elite troops in the van; Pang Zhong led the remaining hundred thousand behind. Han took thirty thousand men onto the north-bank heights to watch and beat drums to swell their momentum. Qianyu sent out no more than ten thousand men, scattered in squads of ten and five like stars in a row—now sparse, now dense, now advancing, now falling back. The government troops looked on and laughed. Behind them Qianyu held his crack troops in tight formation. Once battle was joined, the rebels lowered their banners as if to flee. The government army relaxed and took no precautions. In a moment the ambush struck. From the heights the rebels rained timber and stone, slaughtering great numbers. The road was so narrow the men were packed like cordwood; spears and halberds were useless. Han sent felt-covered wagons drawn by horses in the van, hoping to smash through the enemy line. Past midday a violent east wind sprang up. Qianyu blocked the felt wagons with dozens of straw carts and set them ablaze. Where smoke and flame spread, government troops could not open their eyes. They killed one another at random, thinking the enemy was in the smoke, and massed crossbows to shoot into the murk. At day's end their arrows were spent, and only then did they know there were no rebels there. Qianyu sent Tongluo crack cavalry around from the southern mountains to strike the government army from behind. Front and rear panicked, knowing not what to guard against, and the army was utterly broken; some cast off armor and fled into the valleys, others were crushed and pushed into the river to drown. The uproar shook heaven and earth as the rebels pressed the rout. The rear saw the van collapse and broke on its own. The Hebei troops on the north bank, seeing this, broke too. In an instant both banks were empty. Han alone fled with a little more than a hundred horsemen of his staff, crossing the river west of Shouyang Mountain to re-enter the pass. Outside the pass three ditches had been dug, each two zhang wide and one zhang deep. Men and horses tumbled in and filled them in moments; the rest trampled across atop the fallen to get through. Only a little more than eight thousand soldiers actually made it inside the pass. On xinmao day, Qianyu advanced on Tong Pass and took it.
11
翰至關西驛，揭榜收散卒，欲復守潼關。 蕃將火拔歸仁等以百餘騎圍驛，入謂翰曰：「賊至矣，請公上馬。」 翰上馬出驛，歸仁帥眾叩頭曰：「公以二十萬眾一戰棄之，何面目復見天子！ 且公不見高仙芝，封常清乎？ 請公東行。」 翰不可，欲下馬。 歸仁以毛縻其足於馬腹，及諸將不從者，皆執之以東。 會賊將田乾真已至，遂降之，俱送洛陽。 安祿山問翰曰：「汝常輕我，今定何如？」 翰伏地對曰：「臣肉眼不識聖人。 今天下未平，李光弼在常山，李祗在東平，魯炅在南陽，陛下留臣，使以尺書招之，不日皆下矣。」 祿山大喜，以翰為司空、同平章事。 謂火拔歸仁曰：「汝叛主，不忠不義。」 執而斬之。 翰以書招諸將，皆復書責之。 祿山知無效，乃囚諸苑中。 潼關既敗，於是河東、華陰、馮翊、上洛防禦使皆棄郡走，所在守兵皆散。
Han reached the Guanxi post station, posted notices to gather scattered troops, and hoped again to hold Tong Pass. The foreign general Huoba Guiren and others surrounded the station with a little more than a hundred horsemen, entered, and said to Han, "The rebels are here, sir—please mount." Han mounted and left the station. Guiren led the men in kowtowing: "Sir, you threw away two hundred thousand men in a single battle—what face have you to see the Son of Heaven again! Have you not seen what became of Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing? We beg you, sir, to go east." Han refused and tried to dismount. Guiren lashed his feet to the horse's belly with a thong. Every general who would not follow was seized and driven east. The rebel general Tian Qianzhen had already arrived. They surrendered to him and were all sent to Luoyang. An Lushan asked Han, "You always looked down on me—how do matters stand now?" Han prostrated himself and said, "These mortal eyes of mine failed to recognize a sage. The empire is not yet pacified. Li Guangbi holds Changshan, Li Zhi holds Dongping, Lu Hui holds Nanyang. Keep me, Your Majesty, and let me summon them with a brief letter—they will all submit in no time." Lushan was delighted and made Han Minister of Works and Fellow Grand Councillor. He said to Huoba Guiren, "You betrayed your lord—faithless and without honor." He had him seized and beheaded. Han wrote letters summoning the generals; every one wrote back to rebuke him. Lushan saw it was useless and had him imprisoned in the imperial park. With Tong Pass lost, the defense commissioners of Hedong, Huayin, Fengyi, and Shangluo all abandoned their posts and fled, and garrisons everywhere melted away.
12
是日，翰麾下來告急，上不時召見，但遣李福德等將監牧兵赴潼關。 及暮，平安火不至，上始懼。 壬辰，召宰相謀之。 楊國忠自以身領劍南，聞安祿山反，即令副使崔圓陰具儲偫，以備有急投之，至是首唱幸蜀之策。 上然之。 癸巳，國忠集百官於朝堂，惶懅流涕； 問以策略，皆唯唯不對。 國忠曰：「人告祿山反狀已十年，上下之信。 今日之事，非宰相之過。」 仗下，士民掠擾奔走，不知所之，市裡蕭條。 國忠使韓、虢入宮，勸上入蜀。
That day Han's officers brought urgent word, but the emperor would not see them in time and only sent Li Fude with the stud-guard troops toward Tong Pass. By evening the peace beacons had not come, and the emperor began to fear. On renchen day he summoned the chief ministers to counsel. Yang Guozhong himself held Jiannan as military commissioner. When Lushan rebelled he had already ordered Vice Commissioner Cui Yuan to stock supplies in secret against a sudden flight there. Now he was first to urge refuge in Shu. The emperor agreed. On guisi day Guozhong gathered the officials in the audience hall, weeping in terror; he asked them for counsel, and all murmured without a word. Guozhong said, "For ten years men reported Lushan's rebellious intent, yet neither court nor people would believe it. What has happened today is not the chief minister's fault." Below the hall soldiers and townspeople looted and fled in every direction; the markets stood empty. Guozhong sent the Ladies of Han and Guo into the palace to urge the emperor toward Shu.
13
甲午，百官朝者什無一二。 上御勤政樓，下制，雲欲親征，聞者皆莫之信。 以京兆尹魏方進為御史大夫兼置頓使； 京兆少尹靈昌崔光遠為京兆尹，充西京留守； 將軍邊令誠掌宮闈管鑰。 托以劍南節度大使穎王□將赴鎮，令本道設儲偫。 是日，上移仗北內。 既夕，命龍武大將軍陳玄禮整比六軍，厚賜錢帛，選閒廄馬九百餘匹，外人皆莫之知。 乙未，黎明，上獨與貴妃姊妹、皇子、妃、主、皇孫、楊國忠、韋見素、魏方進、陳玄禮及親近宦官、宮人出延秋門，妃、主、皇孫之在外者，皆委之而去。 上過左藏，楊國忠請焚之，曰：「無為賊守。」 上愀然曰：「賊來不得，必更斂於百姓； 不如與之，無重困吾赤子。」 是日，百官猶有入朝者，至宮門，猶聞漏聲，三衛立仗儼然。 門既啟，則宮人亂出，中外擾攘，不知上所之。 於是王公、士民四出逃竄，山谷細民爭入宮禁及王公第捨，盜取金寶，或乘驢上殿。 又焚左藏大盈庫。 崔光遠、邊令誠帥人救火，又募人攝府、縣官分守之，殺十餘人，乃稍定。 光遠遣其子東見祿山，令誠亦以管鑰獻之。
On jiawu day scarcely one official in ten came to court. The emperor went to the Qinzheng Tower and issued an edict claiming he would take the field in person. No one believed it. He made Metropolitan Magistrate Wei Fangjin Censor-in-Chief and Commissioner for Rest Stops; Assistant Metropolitan Magistrate Cui Guangyuan of Lingchang as Metropolitan Magistrate and Regent of the Western Capital; General Bian Lingcheng to hold the palace keys. On the pretext that Prince of Ying, military commissioner of Jiannan, was about to take up his post, he ordered that circuit to prepare supplies. That day the emperor withdrew to the Northern Inner Palace. At dusk he ordered Longwu Grand General Chen Xuanli to muster the Six Armies, gave lavish gifts of money and silk, and picked more than nine hundred horses from the spare stables. Outsiders knew nothing. At dawn on yiwei day the emperor slipped out the Yanqiu Gate with only the Noble Consort and her sisters, the princes, consorts, princesses, imperial grandsons, Yang Guozhong, Wei Jiansu, Wei Fangjin, Chen Xuanli, and a handful of close eunuchs and palace women. Consorts, princesses, and grandsons who were elsewhere were abandoned. Passing the Left Treasury, Yang Guozhong asked to burn it. "Do not leave it for the rebels," he said. The emperor said somberly, "If the rebels cannot take it, they will squeeze it from the people instead; better leave it and not burden our people twice." That day some officials still came to court. At the palace gates they still heard the water-clock and saw the Three Guards standing formation as if all were normal. When the gates opened, palace women poured out in disorder. Inside and outside were chaos, and no one knew where the emperor had gone. Nobles and commoners fled in every direction. Humble folk from the hills stormed the palace and noble mansions, looted gold and jewels, and some rode donkeys into the halls. They also burned the Left Treasury and the Great Abundance Storehouse. Cui Guangyuan and Bian Lingcheng led men to fight the blaze, recruited stand-in prefectural and county officials to hold posts, killed more than ten looters, and only then brought some order. Guangyuan sent his son Dong to Lushan; Lingcheng presented the palace keys as well.
14
上過便橋，楊國忠使人焚橋。 上曰：「士庶各避賊求生，奈何絕其路！」 留內侍監高力士，使撲滅乃來。 上遣宦者王洛卿前行，告諭郡縣置頓。 食時，至咸陽望賢宮，洛卿與縣令俱逃，中使徵召，吏民莫有應者。 日向中，上猶未食，楊國忠自市胡餅以獻。 於是民爭獻糲飯，雜以麥豆； 皇孫輩爭以手掬食之，須臾而盡，猶未能飽。 上皆酬其直，慰勞之。 眾皆哭，上亦掩泣。 有老父郭從謹進言曰：「祿山包藏禍心，固非一日； 亦有詣闕告其謀者，陛下往往誅之，使得逞其奸逆，致陛下播越。 是以先王務延訪忠良以廣聰明，蓋為此也。 臣猶記宋璟為相，數進直言，天下賴以安平。 自頃以來，在廷之臣以言為諱，惟阿諛取容，是以闕門之外，陛下皆不得而知。 草野之臣，必知有今日久矣，但九重嚴邃，區區之心，無路上達。 事不至此，臣何由得睹陛下之面而訴之乎！」 上曰：「此朕之不明，悔無所及！」 慰諭而遣之。 俄而尚食舉御膳以至，上命先賜從官，然後食之。 命軍士散詣村落求食，期未時皆集而行。 夜將半，乃至金城。 縣令亦逃，縣民皆脫身走，飲食器皿具在，士卒得以自給。 時從者多逃，內侍監袁思藝亦亡去，驛中無燈，人相枕藉而寢，貴賤無以復分辨。 王思禮自潼關至，始知哥舒翰被擒； 以思禮為河西、隴右節度使，即令赴鎮，收合散卒，以俟東討。
At Bian Bridge Yang Guozhong had the bridge burned behind them. The emperor said, "Soldiers and townspeople alike flee the rebels to save their lives—how can we cut off their escape!" He left Inner Attendant Gao Lishi to put out the fire and then follow. The emperor sent the eunuch Wang Luoqing ahead to order the counties to prepare rest stops. At mealtime they reached Wangxian Palace at Xianyang. Luoqing and the county magistrate had both fled. Palace envoys called out, but no official or townsman answered. The sun neared noon and the emperor had still not eaten. Yang Guozhong bought flatbread at market and offered them himself. Then the people pressed forward with coarse rice mixed with wheat and beans; the imperial grandsons scooped it up in their hands; in a moment it was gone and they were still hungry. The emperor paid them all fairly and spoke words of comfort. All wept, and the emperor covered his face and wept as well. An old man named Guo Congjin came forward: "Lushan harbored treason—this was no sudden thing; men came to court to report his plots, yet Your Majesty often had them killed, letting him carry out his treason and bringing Your Majesty to this exile. That is why the former kings sought out loyal and worthy men to broaden their understanding—surely for this very reason. I still remember when Song Jing was chief minister—he spoke blunt truth again and again, and the empire knew peace through him. In recent years court ministers have treated speech as dangerous and flattered only to please, so beyond the palace gates Your Majesty has known nothing of the realm. Men in the wilds must have foreseen this day long ago, but the Ninefold Gates are stern and deep—a humble heart had no road upward. Had matters not come to this, how could I ever have looked upon Your Majesty's face to speak thus!" The emperor said, "This is my own blindness—regret comes too late!" He comforted him and sent him away. Soon the Imperial Kitchen brought the imperial meal. The emperor had it served first to his attendants, then ate. He ordered the soldiers to scatter into the villages for food, with orders to assemble and march by mid-afternoon. Near midnight they reached Jincheng. The magistrate had fled and the townspeople had all slipped away, but food, drink, and vessels remained, and the soldiers helped themselves. Many attendants had fled by then; Inner Attendant Yuan Siyi had absconded as well. There were no lamps in the post station. Men slept piled atop one another, and noble and common could no longer be told apart. Wang Silun came from Tong Pass with word that Geshu Han had been captured; Silun was made Military Commissioner of Hexi and Longyou and ordered at once to his post to gather scattered troops for the eastern campaign to come.
15
丙申，至馬嵬驛，將士饑疲，皆憤怒。 陳玄禮以禍由楊國忠，欲誅之，因東宮宦者李輔國以告太子，太子未決。 會吐蕃使者二十餘人遮國忠馬，訴以無食，國忠未及對，軍士呼曰：「國忠與胡虜謀反！」 或射之，中鞍。 國忠走至西門內，軍士追殺之，屠割支體，以槍揭其首於驛門外，並殺其子戶部侍郎暄及韓國、秦國夫人。 御史大夫魏方進曰：「汝曹何敢害宰相！」 眾又殺之。 韋見素聞亂而出，為亂兵所撾，腦血流地。 眾曰：「勿傷韋相公。」 救之，得免。 軍士圍驛，上聞喧嘩，問外何事，左右以國忠反對。 上杖屨出驛門，慰勞軍士，令收隊，軍士不應。 上使高力士問之，玄禮對曰：「國忠謀反，貴妃不宜供奉，願陛下割恩正法。」 上曰：「朕當自處之。」 入門，倚杖傾首而立。 久之，京兆司錄韋諤前言曰：「今眾怒難犯，安危在晷刻，願陛下速決！」 因叩頭流血。 上曰：「貴妃常居深宮，安知國忠反謀！」 高力士曰：「貴妃誠無罪，然將士已殺國忠，而貴妃在陛下左右，豈敢自安！ 願陛下審思之，將士安，則陛下安矣。」 上乃命力士引貴妃於佛堂，縊殺之。 輿屍置驛庭，召玄禮等入視之。 玄禮等乃免冑釋甲，頓首請罪，上慰勞之，令曉諭軍士。 玄禮等呼萬歲，再拜而出，於是始整部伍為行計。 諤，見素之子也。 國忠妻裴柔與其幼子晞及虢國夫人、夫人子裴徽皆走，至陳倉，縣令薛景仙帥吏士追捕，誅之。
On bingshen day they reached Mawei Post Station. The officers and soldiers, hungry and exhausted, were furious. Chen Xuanli blamed Yang Guozhong for the disaster and wished to kill him. Through Eastern Palace eunuch Li Fuguo he informed the Crown Prince, who had not yet decided. More than twenty Tibetan envoys blocked Guozhong's horse, complaining they had no food. Before Guozhong could answer, the soldiers shouted, "Guozhong plots rebellion with the barbarians!" Some shot at him and struck his saddle. Guozhong fled inside the west gate. The soldiers pursued and killed him, hacked his body apart, and impaled his head on a spear outside the post gate. They also killed his son Xuan, Vice Minister of Revenue, and the Ladies of Han and Qin. Censor-in-Chief Wei Fangjin cried, "How dare you harm the chief minister!" The mob killed him too. Wei Jiansu, hearing the uproar, came out and was beaten by the mob until blood streamed from his head upon the ground. The crowd cried, "Do not harm Chancellor Wei." They pulled him back and he was spared. The soldiers surrounded the post station. The emperor heard the uproar and asked what was happening outside. His attendants said Guozhong had rebelled. The emperor came out the post gate leaning on staff and slippers, spoke words of comfort, and ordered them to fall in. They would not obey. The emperor sent Gao Lishi to ask. Xuanli replied, "Guozhong plotted rebellion. The Noble Consort must not remain in attendance. We beg Your Majesty cut affection and apply the law." The emperor said, "I shall handle it myself." He went inside, leaned on his staff with head bowed, and stood in silence. After a long while Metropolitan Recorder Wei E came forward: "The people's wrath cannot be defied. Safety and peril hang on the turning of a shadow. We beg Your Majesty decide at once!" He kowtowed until blood flowed. The emperor said, "The Noble Consort always dwelt deep in the palace—how could she know of Guozhong's treason!" Gao Lishi said, "The Noble Consort is indeed without guilt, yet the soldiers have killed Guozhong. With the Noble Consort at Your Majesty's side, how can they feel secure! Consider carefully, Your Majesty—if the soldiers are secure, then Your Majesty is secure." The emperor ordered Lishi to lead the Noble Consort to the Buddha hall and strangle her. Her body was carried into the post courtyard. Xuanli and the others were summoned to view it. Xuanli and the others removed helmets and armor and kowtowed in confession. The emperor comforted them and ordered them to announce this to the soldiers. They shouted "Long live the emperor!" bowed twice, and withdrew. Only then did they begin to reorganize the ranks for the march. E was Jiansu's son. Guozhong's wife Pei Rou, his young son Xi, the Lady of Guo, and her son Pei Hui all fled. At Chencang Magistrate Xue Jingxian led officials and soldiers in pursuit and executed them.
16
丁酉，上將發馬嵬，朝臣惟韋見素一人，乃以韋諤為御史中丞，充置頓使。 將士皆曰：「國忠謀反，其將吏皆在蜀，不可往。」 或請之河、隴，或請之靈武，或請之太原，或言還京師。 上意在入蜀，慮違眾心，竟不言所向。 韋諤曰：「還京，當有御賊之備。 今兵少，未易東向，不如且至扶風，徐圖去就。」 上詢於眾，眾以為然，乃從之。 及行，父老皆遮道請留，曰：「宮闕，陛下家居，陵寢，陛下墳墓，今捨此，欲何之？」 上為之按轡久之，乃命太子於後宣慰父老。 父老因曰：「至尊既不肯留，某等願帥子弟從殿下東破賊，取長安。 若殿下與至尊皆入蜀，使中原百姓誰為之主？」 須臾，眾至數千人。 太子不可，曰：「至尊遠冒險阻，吾豈忍朝夕離左右。 且吾尚未面辭，當還白至尊，更稟進止。」 涕泣，跋馬欲西。 建寧王倓與李輔國執鞚諫曰：「逆胡犯闕，四海分崩，不因人情，何以興復！ 今殿下從至尊入蜀，若賊兵燒絕棧道，則中原之地拱手授賊矣。 人情既離，不可復合，雖欲復至此，其可得乎！ 不如收西北守邊之兵，召郭、李於河北，與之並力東討逆賊，克復二京，削平四海，使社稷危而復安，宗廟毀而更存，掃除宮禁以迎至尊，豈非孝之大者乎！ 何必區區溫情，為兒女之戀乎！」 廣平王俶亦勸太子留。 父老共擁太子馬，不得行。 太子乃使俶馳白上。 上總轡待太子，久不至，使人偵之，還白狀，上曰：「天也！」 乃命分後軍二千人及飛龍廄馬從太子，且諭將士曰：「太子仁孝，可奉宗廟，汝曹善輔佐之。」 又諭太子曰：「汝勉之，勿以吾為念。 西北諸胡，吾撫之素厚，汝必得其用。」 太子南向號泣而已。 又使送東宮內人於太子，且宣旨欲傳位，太子不受。 俶、倓，皆太子之子也。
On dingyou day the emperor was about to leave Mawei. Of court ministers only Wei Jiansu remained. Wei E was made Vice Censor-in-Chief and Commissioner for Rest Stops. The officers and soldiers all said, "Guozhong plotted rebellion. His commanders and officials are all in Shu—we cannot go there." Some urged He and Long, some Lingwu, some Taiyuan, and some spoke of returning to the capital. The emperor's mind was set on Shu, but fearing to defy the army's will, he said nothing of where he was headed. Wei E said, "If we return to the capital, we must have preparations against the rebels. Our troops are few and we cannot easily turn east. Better go first to Fufeng and consider our course slowly." The emperor asked the crowd, and all agreed, so they followed this plan. As they marched, elders blocked the road begging them to stay: "The palace is Your Majesty's home; the tombs are Your Majesty's graves. Now you abandon these—where do you mean to go?" The emperor reined in his horse a long while, then ordered the Crown Prince to follow behind and comfort the elders. The elders then said, "Since Your Majesty will not stay, we wish to lead our sons and younger brothers to follow Your Highness east, break the rebels, and recover Chang'an. If Your Highness and Your Majesty both enter Shu, who will be master for the people of the central plains?" In a moment the crowd swelled to several thousand. The Crown Prince refused: "Your Majesty ventures far through peril—I cannot bear to leave your side morning and evening. Moreover I have not yet taken leave in person. I must return to report to Your Majesty and receive further orders." Weeping, he spurred his horse to go west. Prince of Jianning Li Tan and Li Fuguo seized the reins and remonstrated: "The rebels have seized the capital and the realm is sundered. Without following the people's will, how can we restore the dynasty! If Your Highness follows Your Majesty into Shu and the rebels burn the plank roads, the central plains will be handed to the enemy without a fight. Once the people's hearts are lost they cannot be won back. Even if you wished to return to this moment, could you? Better gather the northwest border troops, summon Guo and Li from Hebei, and join them in an eastern campaign to recover the Two Capitals and pacify the realm—restore the altars of state and the ancestral temples, sweep the palace clean to welcome Your Majesty. Is this not the greatest filial piety! Why cling to petty tenderness and the love of sons and daughters!" Prince of Guangping Li Chu also urged the Crown Prince to remain. The elders together seized the Crown Prince's horse so he could not leave. The Crown Prince sent Chu riding swiftly to report to the emperor. The emperor reined in his horse and waited for the Crown Prince. When he did not come for a long while, the emperor sent men to learn what had happened. They returned and reported. The emperor said, "Heaven's will!" He ordered two thousand men from the rear guard and Flying Dragon Stud horses to follow the Crown Prince, and told the soldiers: "The Crown Prince is benevolent and filial and can uphold the ancestral temples. Assist him well." He also told the Crown Prince: "Strive on—do not think of me. The barbarians of the northwest—I have always treated them generously. You will surely win their service." The Crown Prince faced south and wept aloud, and that was all. He also sent Eastern Palace women to the Crown Prince and proclaimed his intent to abdicate. The Crown Prince refused. Chu and Tan were both sons of the Crown Prince.
17
己亥，上至岐山。 或言賊前鋒且至，上遽過，宿扶風郡。 士卒潛懷去就，往往流言不遜，陳玄禮不能制，上患之。 會成都貢春彩十餘萬匹，至扶風，上命悉陳之於庭，召將士入，臨軒諭之曰：「朕比來衰耄，托任失人，致逆胡亂常，須遠避其鋒。 知卿等皆蒼猝從朕，不得別父母妻子，茇涉至此，勞苦至矣，朕甚愧之。 蜀路阻長，郡縣褊小，人馬眾多，或不能供，今聽卿等各還家，朕獨與子、孫、中官前行入蜀，亦足自達。 今日與卿等訣別，可共分此彩，以備資糧。 若歸，見父母及長安父老，為朕致意，各好自愛也！」 因泣下沾襟。 眾皆哭，曰：「臣等死生從陛下，不敢有貳。」 上良久曰：「去留聽卿。」 自是流言始息。
On jihai day the emperor reached Qishan. Word came that the rebel vanguard was near. The emperor hurried on and lodged at Fufeng. The soldiers secretly weighed desertion. Seditious rumors spread. Chen Xuanli could not control them, and the emperor was troubled. Chengdu's tribute of more than a hundred thousand bolts of spring silk arrived at Fufeng. The emperor had it displayed in the courtyard, summoned the officers and soldiers, and from the hall addressed them: "I have grown old and feeble, entrusted office to the wrong men, and brought the rebels to disorder the realm. I must flee far from their edge. I know you all followed me in haste, unable to bid farewell to parents, wives, and children, and have trudged here through the utmost hardship. I am deeply ashamed. The road to Shu is long and difficult, the counties small—with so many men and horses they may not be able to supply us. I permit you each to return home. I alone with sons, grandsons, and palace eunuchs will go on into Shu—that will suffice. Today I take leave of you. Divide this silk among yourselves for provisions. If you return and see your parents and the elders of Chang'an, convey my regards and tell them to take good care!" He wept until his robe was soaked. All wept and said, "We live and die with Your Majesty and dare not desert you." After a long while the emperor said, "Stay or go—as you wish." From then on the seditious rumors ceased.
18
太子既留，未知所適。 廣平王俶曰：「日漸晏，此不可駐，眾欲何之？」 皆莫對。 建寧王倓曰：「殿下昔嘗為朔方節度大使，將吏歲時致啟，倓略識其姓名。 今河西、隴右之眾皆敗降賊，父兄子弟多在賊中，或生異圖。 朔方道近，士馬全盛，裴冕衣冠名族，必無貳心。 賊入長安方虜掠，未暇徇地，乘此速往就之，徐圖大舉，此上策也。 眾皆曰：「善！」 至渭濱，遇潼關敗卒，誤與之戰，死傷甚衆。 已，乃收餘卒，擇渭水淺處，乘馬涉渡； 無馬者涕泣而返。 太子自奉天北上，比至新平，通夜馳三百餘里，士卒、器械失亡過半，所存之眾不過數百。 新平太守薛羽棄郡走，太子斬之，是日，至安定，太守徐瑴亦走，又斬之。
The Crown Prince had stayed behind but did not yet know where to go. Prince of Guangping Chu said, "The day grows late—this place cannot be held. Where does everyone wish to go?" No one answered. Prince of Jianning Tan said, "Your Highness once served as Military Commissioner of Shuofang. The officers sent seasonal greetings each year—I roughly know their names. Now the troops of Hexi and Longyou have mostly been defeated and surrendered. Their kin are mostly among the rebels—some may harbor other designs. Shuofang is near, its soldiers and horses in full strength. Pei Mian is of a great official clan and will surely prove loyal. The rebels have just entered Chang'an and are still plundering, with no leisure to extend control. Seize this moment, go swiftly thither, and plan a great campaign. This is the best course. All said, "Good!" Reaching the Wei bank, they met defeated troops from Tong Pass and mistakenly fought them, with heavy casualties. Afterward they gathered the survivors, found a shallow place on the Wei, and crossed on horseback; those without horses wept and turned back. The Crown Prince marched north from Fengtian. By Xinping he had ridden more than three hundred li through the night. More than half his men and equipment were lost—the force remaining numbered only a few hundred. Xinping Administrator Xue Yu abandoned his post and fled; the Crown Prince beheaded him. That day he reached Anding; Administrator Xu Jun also fled and was beheaded.
19
庚子，以劍南節度留後崔圓為劍南節度等副大使。 辛丑，上發扶風，宿陳倉。
On gengzi day Cui Yuan, acting commissioner of Jiannan, was appointed Vice Military Commissioner of Jiannan. On xinchou day the emperor left Fufeng and lodged at Chencang.
20
太子至烏氏，彭原太守李遵出迎，獻衣及糗糧。 至彭原，募士，得數百人。 是日，至平涼，閱監牧馬，得數萬匹，又募士，得五百餘人，軍勢稍振。
The Crown Prince reached Wushi. Pengyuan Administrator Li Zun came out to welcome him with clothing and dry provisions. At Pengyuan he recruited soldiers and obtained several hundred men. That day he reached Pingliang, inspected the stud herds, and obtained tens of thousands of horses. He recruited more than five hundred soldiers. Military strength was somewhat restored.
21
壬寅，上至散關，分扈從將士為六軍，使穎王□先行詣劍南。 壽王瑁等分將六軍以次之。 丙午，上至河池郡。 崔圓奉表迎車駕，具陳蜀土豐稔，甲兵全盛。 上大悅，即日，以圓為中書侍郎、同平章事，蜀郡長史如故。 以隴西公瑀為漢中王、梁州都督、山南西道採訪防禦使。 瑀，璡之弟也。
On renyin day the emperor reached San Pass, divided his escort into six armies, and sent Prince of Ying ahead first toward Jiannan. Prince of Shou Li Mao and others each commanded one of the six armies in turn. On bingwu day the emperor reached Hechi. Cui Yuan submitted a memorial welcoming the imperial carriage, describing Shu as abundant in harvest and fully armed. The emperor was delighted. That same day Yuan was made Vice Director of the Secretariat and Fellow Grand Councillor, retaining his post as Chief Secretary of Shu. Prince of Longxi Li Yu was made Prince of Hanzhong, Area Commander of Liangzhou, and Investigation and Defense Commissioner of Shannan West Circuit. Yu was the younger brother of Li Jin.
22
王思禮至平涼，聞河西諸胡亂，還，詣行在。 初，河西諸胡部落聞其都護皆從哥舒翰沒於潼關，故爭自立，相攻擊； 而都護實從翰在北岸，不死，又不與火拔歸仁俱降賊。 上乃以河西兵馬使周泌為河西節度使，隴右兵馬使彭元耀為隴右節度使，與都護思結進明等俱之鎮，招其部落。 以思禮為行在都知兵馬使。
Wang Silun reached Pingliang, heard the barbarians of Hexi were in turmoil, and returned to the mobile court. The tribal groups of Hexi had heard their protectors had all perished with Geshu Han at Tong Pass and vied to set themselves up independently, attacking one another; yet the protector had in fact followed Han on the north bank, did not die, and did not surrender with Huoba Guiren. The emperor appointed Zhou Bi Military Commissioner of Hexi and Peng Yuanyao Military Commissioner of Longyou, and together with Protector Sinü Jinming and others proceeded to their posts to summon the tribes. Silun was made Mobile Court Commissioner General of Army and Horse.
23
戊申，扶風民康景龍等自相帥擊賊所署宣慰使薛總，斬首二百餘級。 庚戌，陳倉令薛景仙殺賊守將，克扶風而守之。
On wushen day the people of Fufeng, led by Kang Jinglong and others on their own initiative, attacked rebel Pacification Commissioner Xue Zong and took more than two hundred heads. On gengxu day Chencang Magistrate Xue Jingxian killed the rebel garrison commander, captured Fufeng, and held it.
24
安祿山不意上遽西幸，遣使止崔乾祐兵留潼關，凡十日，乃遣孫孝哲將兵入長安，以張通儒為西京留守，崔光遠為京兆尹； 使安忠順將兵屯苑中，以鎮關中。 孝哲為祿山所寵任，尤用事，常與嚴莊爭權； 祿山使監關中諸將，通儒等皆受制於孝哲。 教哲豪侈，果於殺戮，賊黨畏之。 祿山命搜捕百官、宦者、宮女等，每獲數百人，輒以兵衛送洛陽。 王、侯、將、相扈從車駕、家留長安者，誅及嬰孩。 陳希烈以晚節失恩，怨上，與張均、張垍等皆降於賊。 祿山以希烈、垍為相，自餘朝士皆授以官。 於是賊勢大熾，西脅汧、隴，南侵江、漢，北割河東之半。 然賊將皆粗猛無遠略，既克長安，自以為得志，日夜縱酒，專以聲色寶賄為事，無復西出之意，故上得安行入蜀，太子北行亦無追迫之患。
An Lushan had not expected the emperor to flee west so swiftly. He kept Cui Qianyu's troops at Tong Pass for ten days, then sent Sun Xiaozhe into Chang'an, appointing Zhang Tongru Western Capital Regent and Cui Guangyuan Metropolitan Magistrate; he had An Zhongshun encamp in the park precincts to secure Guanzhong. Xiaozhe was favored by Lushan, wielded great power, and often contended with Yan Zhuang; Lushan had him supervise the Guanzhong generals; Tongru and the others were all subject to Xiaozhe. Xiaozhe was extravagant and ruthless in killing; the rebels feared him. Lushan ordered the capture of officials, eunuchs, palace women, and the like. Whenever several hundred were seized, troops escorted them to Luoyang. Princes, marquises, generals, and chancellors who had followed the emperor or left families in Chang'an were executed down to infants. Chen Xilie, having lost favor in his later years, resented the emperor and surrendered with Zhang Jun, Zhang Yi, and others. Lushan made Xilie and Yi chancellors and gave offices to the remaining court gentlemen. Rebel strength now blazed—pressing west upon Qian and Long, invading south into the Yangzi and Han, and seizing half of Hedong in the north. Yet the rebel generals were crude and fierce without far-reaching plans. Having taken Chang'an they thought themselves triumphant, drank day and night, and devoted themselves to pleasure and plunder, with no further intent to march west. Thus the emperor could travel safely into Shu and the Crown Prince north without fear of pursuit.
25
李光弼圍博陵未下，聞潼關不守，解圍而南。 史思明踵其後，光弼擊卻之，與郭子儀皆引兵入井陘，留常山太守王輔將景城、河間團練兵守常山。 平盧節度使劉正臣將襲范陽，未至，史思明引兵逆擊之，正臣大敗，棄妻子走，士卒死者七千餘人。 初，顏真卿聞河北節度使李光弼出井陘，即斂軍還平原，以待光弼之命。 聞郭、李西入井陘，真卿始復區處河北軍事。
Li Guangbi besieged Boling but had not taken it. Hearing Tong Pass was lost, he lifted the siege and marched south. Shi Siming followed close behind. Guangbi struck and drove him back. He and Guo Ziyi both led troops into Jingxing Pass, leaving Wang Fu with Jingcheng and Hejian militia to defend Changshan. Pinglu Commissioner Liu Zhengchen was marching on Fanyang when Siming met and routed him. Zhengchen abandoned wife and children and fled. More than seven thousand of his men died. When Yan Zhenqing heard Hebei Commissioner Li Guangbi was coming out through Jingxing Pass, he gathered his army and returned to Pingyuan to await orders. When he heard Guo and Li had withdrawn into Jingxing Pass, Zhenqing resumed organizing Hebei military affairs.
26
太子至平涼數日，朔方留後杜鴻漸、六城水陸運使魏少游、節度判官崔漪、支度判官盧簡金、鹽池判官李涵相與謀曰：「平涼散地，非屯兵之所，靈武兵食完富，若迎太子至此，北收諸城兵，西發河、隴勁騎，南向以定中原，此萬世一時也。」 乃使涵奉箋於太子，且籍朔方士馬、甲兵、谷帛、軍須之數以獻之。 涵至平涼，太子大悅。 會河西司馬裴冕入為御史中丞，至平涼見太子，亦勸太子之朔方，太子從之。 鴻漸，暹之族子； 涵，道之曾孫也。 鴻漸、漪使少游居後，葺次捨，庀資儲，自迎太子於平涼北境，說太子曰：「朔方，天下勁兵處也。 今吐蕃請和，回紇內附，四方郡縣大抵堅守拒賊以俟興復。 殿下今理兵靈武，按轡長驅，移檄四方，收攬忠義，則逆賊不足屠也。」 少游盛治宮室，帷帳皆仿禁中，飲膳備水陸。 秋，七月，辛酉，太子至靈武，悉命撤之。
After several days at Pingliang, Shuofang Acting Commissioner Du Hongjian, Transport Commissioner Wei Shaoyou, Circuit Judge Cui Yi, Supply Judge Lu Jianjin, and Salt Pond Judge Li Han deliberated: "Pingliang is open country—not a place to encamp. Lingwu's soldiers and provisions are abundant. Welcome the Crown Prince there, gather northern troops, send out He and Long cavalry, and march south to settle the central plains—this is a once-in-ten-thousand-generations chance." They had Han present a memorial to the Crown Prince and register Shuofang's soldiers, horses, arms, grain, cloth, and military supplies. When Han reached Pingliang, the Crown Prince was greatly pleased. Hexi Vice Commissioner Pei Mian had entered the capital as Vice Censor-in-Chief. Reaching Pingliang he urged the Crown Prince toward Shuofang, and the Crown Prince agreed. Hongjian was a clansman of Du Huan; Han was the great-grandson of Li Dao. Hongjian and Yi had Shaoyou remain behind to repair lodgings and prepare stores, and went themselves to welcome the Crown Prince at Pingliang's northern border: "Shuofang is where the empire's crack troops are stationed. Tibet seeks peace and the Uyghurs have submitted. Commanderies and counties on all sides for the most part hold firm and resist the rebels, awaiting restoration. Array troops at Lingwu, gather the reins and drive far, send proclamations to the four directions, and gather the loyal—the rebel traitors will not stand." Shaoyou lavishly prepared palace chambers modeled on the inner palace, with provisions for feast and drink on land and water. In autumn, the seventh month, on xinyou day, the Crown Prince reached Lingwu and ordered it all removed.
27
甲子，上至普安，憲部侍郎房琯來謁見。 上之發長安也，群臣多不知，至咸陽，謂高力士曰：「朝臣誰當來，誰不來？」 對曰：「張均、張垍父子受陛下恩最深，且連戚裡，是必先來。 時論皆謂房琯宜為相，而陛下不用，又祿山嘗薦之，恐或不來。」 上曰：「事未可知。」 及琯至，上問均兄弟，對曰：「臣帥與偕來，逗留不進：觀其意，似有所蓄而不能言也。」 上顧力士曰：「朕固知之矣。」 即日，以□為文部侍郎、同平章事。
On jiazi day the emperor reached Pu'an. Vice Minister of Justice Fang Guan came to pay his respects. When the emperor left Chang'an, most of the court did not know. At Xianyang he said to Gao Lishi, "Which court ministers will come and which will not?" He answered, "Zhang Jun and Zhang Yi have received Your Majesty's favor most deeply and are connected by marriage—they will surely come first. Opinion held Fang Guan fit for chief minister, yet Your Majesty did not employ him. Lushan once recommended him—I fear he may not come." The emperor said, "That cannot yet be known." When Guan arrived, the emperor asked about the Jun brothers. Guan answered, "They came with me but lingered without advancing. Judging by their intent, they seem to harbor something they cannot speak." The emperor looked at Lishi and said, "I knew it all along." That same day Guan was made Vice Minister of Culture and Fellow Grand Councillor.
28
初，張垍尚寧親公主，聽於禁中置宅，寵渥無比。 陳希烈求解政務，上幸垍宅，問可為相者。 垍未對。 上曰：「無若愛婿。」 垍降階拜舞。 既而不用，故垍懷怏怏，上亦覺之。 是時均、垍兄弟及姚崇之子尚書右丞奕、蕭蒿之子兵部侍郎華、韋安石之子禮部侍郎陟、太常少卿斌，皆以才望至大官，上嘗曰：「或命相，當遍舉故相子弟耳。」 既而皆不用。
Zhang Yi had married Princess Ningqin and was permitted a residence within the forbidden precincts, favored beyond compare. Chen Xilie requested release from office. The emperor visited Yi's residence and asked who could serve as chief minister. Yi did not answer. The emperor said, "None like my beloved son-in-law." Yi descended the steps and bowed in obeisance. Yet afterward he was not employed. Yi harbored resentment, and the emperor perceived it. At that time the brothers Zhang Jun and Zhang Yi, together with Yao Chong's son Yi (Right Vice Minister of the Secretariat), Xiao Song's son Hua (Vice Minister of War), and Wei Anshi's sons Zhi (Vice Minister of Rites) and Bin (Vice Minister of Ceremonies), had all risen to high office on talent and reputation. The emperor once said, "When it comes time to appoint a chief minister, one need only recommend the sons of former chief ministers." In the end, none of them were appointed.
29
裴冕、杜鴻漸等上太子箋，請遵馬嵬之命，即皇帝位，太子不許。 冕等言曰：「將士皆關中人，日夜思歸，所以崎嶇從殿下遠涉沙塞者，冀尺寸之功。 若一朝離散，不可復集。 願殿下勉徇眾心，為社稷計！」 箋五上，太子乃許之。 是日，肅宗即位於靈武城南樓，群臣舞蹈，上流涕歔欷。 尊玄宗曰上皇天帝，赦天下，改元。 以杜鴻漸、崔漪並知中書舍人事，裴冕為中書侍郎、同平章事。 改關內採訪使為節度使，徒治安化，以前蒲關防禦使呂崇賁為之。 以陳倉令薛景仙為扶風太守，兼防禦使； 隴右節度使郭英乂為天水太守，兼防禦使。 時塞上精兵皆選入討賊，惟餘老弱守邊，文武官不滿三十人，披草萊，立朝廷，制度草創，武人驕慢。 大將管崇嗣在朝堂，背闕而坐，言笑自若，監察御史李勉奏彈之，繫於有司。 上特原之，歎曰：「吾有李勉，朝廷始尊！」 勉，元懿之曾孫也。 旬日間，歸附者漸眾。
Pei Mian, Du Hongjian, and others submitted a memorial to the Crown Prince asking him to follow the command issued at Mawei and take the throne at once. The Crown Prince refused. Mian and the others said, "The officers and soldiers are all from Guanzhong and long day and night to go home. They have followed Your Highness over hard roads deep into the frontier only in hopes of winning some small measure of merit. If they scatter overnight, they cannot be assembled again. We beg Your Highness to yield to the army's will for the sake of the realm!" After five such memorials, the Crown Prince finally agreed. That day Emperor Suzong ascended the throne at the south tower of Lingwu. The ministers performed the court dance of submission while the new emperor wept aloud. He honored Emperor Xuanzong as Retired Emperor and Heavenly Sovereign, proclaimed a general amnesty, and changed the reign title. Du Hongjian and Cui Yi were both put in charge of Secretariat drafting affairs; Pei Mian was made Vice Minister of the Secretariat and Fellow Grand Councillor. The Guannei Investigation Commissioner was redesignated a military commissioner, with administration relocated to Anhua commandery; former Puguan Defense Commissioner Lü Chongben was appointed to the post. Chencang Magistrate Xue Jingxian was made Administrator of Fufeng and concurrent Defense Commissioner; Longyou Military Commissioner Guo Yingyi was made Administrator of Tianshui and concurrent Defense Commissioner. The frontier's best troops had all been drafted for the anti-rebel campaign, leaving only the aged and weak to hold the border. Fewer than thirty civil and military officials remained. They hacked clearings in the wild grass to set up a court, improvised institutions from scratch, and faced swaggering, insubordinate soldiers. General Guan Chongsi sat in the audience hall with his back to the palace gate, chatting and laughing as he pleased. Supervising Censor Li Mian impeached him and had him turned over to the judicial authorities. The emperor personally pardoned Guan Chongsi and exclaimed, "With Li Mian, the court at last commands respect!" Li Mian was the great-grandson of Li Yuanyi. Within ten days, ever more people came over to submit.
30
張良娣性巧慧，能得上意，從上來朔方。 時從兵單寡，良娣每寢，常居上前。 上曰：「禦寇非婦人所能。」 良娣曰：「蒼猝之際，妾以身當之，殿下可從後逸去。」 至靈武，產子； 三日起，縫戰士衣。 上止之，對曰：「此非妾自養之時。」 上以是益憐之。
Consort Zhang Liangdi was clever and quick-witted and knew how to please the emperor. She accompanied him north to Shuofang. The escort was thin at the time, and whenever Liangdi slept she would lie in front of the emperor. The emperor said, "Warding off enemies is no task for a woman." Liangdi replied, "In a sudden attack I will take the blow myself, and Your Highness can escape from behind." When they reached Lingwu she gave birth; On the third day she got up and sewed clothing for the soldiers. The emperor tried to stop her. She answered, "This is no time for me to rest and recover." The emperor therefore doted on her all the more.
31
丁卯，上皇制：「以太子亨充天下兵馬元帥，領朔方、河東、河北、平盧節度都使，南取長安、洛陽。 以御史中丞裴冕兼左庶子，隴西郡司馬劉秩試守右庶子； 永王璘充山南東道、嶺南、黔中、江南西道節度都使，以少府監竇紹為之傅，長沙太守李峴為都副大使； 盛王琦充廣陵大都督，領江南東路及淮南、河南等路節度都使，以前江陵都督府長史劉匯為之傅，廣陵郡長史李成式為都副大使； 豐王珙充武威都督，仍領河西、隴右、安西、北庭等路節度都使，以隴西太守濟陰鄧景山為之傅，充都副大使。 應須士馬、甲仗、糧賜等，並於當路自供。 其諸路本節度使虢王巨等並依前充使。 其署置官屬及本路郡縣官，並任自簡擇，署訖聞奏。」 時琦、珙皆不出閣，惟璘赴鎮。 置山南東道節度，領襄陽等九郡。 升五府經略使為嶺南節度，領南海等二十二郡。 升五溪經略使為黔中節度，領黔中等諸郡。 分江南為東、西二道，東道領餘杭，西道領豫章等諸郡。 先是四方聞潼關失守，莫知上所之，及是制下，始知乘輿所在。 匯，秩之弟也。
On dingmao day the Retired Emperor issued an edict: "Crown Prince Heng is appointed Commander-in-Chief of all armies and horses in the empire, overseeing the Shuofang, Hedong, Hebei, and Pinglu military superintendents, to march south and retake Chang'an and Luoyang. Supervising Censor Pei Mian is appointed concurrent Left Subordinate Heir; Longxi Administrator's Assistant Liu Zhi is appointed acting Right Subordinate Heir; Prince Yong Li Lin is appointed superintendent of the Shannan East, Lingnan, Qianzhong, and Jiangnan West military commissions; Junior Chamberlain for the Imperial Household Dou Shao is appointed his tutor, and Changsha Administrator Li Xian Grand Deputy Commissioner; Prince Sheng Li Qi is appointed Grand Governor of Guangling, overseeing the Jiangnan East, Huainan, Henan, and other circuit superintendents; former Chief Administrator of the Jiangling Supervisory Office Liu Hui is appointed his tutor, and Guangling Chief Administrator Li Chengshi Grand Deputy Commissioner; Prince Feng Li Gong is appointed Governor of Wuwei, continuing to oversee the Hexi, Longyou, Anxi, Beiting, and other circuit superintendents; Longxi Administrator and former Jiyin official Deng Jingshan is appointed his tutor and Grand Deputy Commissioner. All required troops, horses, armor, provisions, and supplies are to be furnished locally by each circuit. The existing circuit commissioners, including Prince of Guo Ju, shall remain in their posts. Each superintendent may freely appoint his own staff and the commandery and county officials on his route, reporting the appointments afterward to the throne." At the time Qi and Gong had not yet left the palace; only Li Lin went to take up his command. A Shannan East Circuit military commission was created, governing nine commanderies including Xiangyang. The Five Prefectures Frontier Commissioner was elevated to Lingnan Military Commissioner, governing twenty-two commanderies including Nanhai. The Five Streams Frontier Commissioner was elevated to Qianzhong Military Commissioner, governing the commanderies of Qianzhong. Jiangnan was split into eastern and western circuits: the eastern circuit took Yuhang, and the western circuit took Yuzhang and neighboring commanderies. After Tong Pass fell, the empire had not known where the emperor had gone; only when this edict appeared did people learn where the imperial carriage was. Liu Hui was Liu Zhi's younger brother.
32
安祿山使孫孝哲殺霍國長公主及王妃、附馬等於崇仁坊，刳其心，以祭安慶宗。 凡楊國忠、高力士之黨及祿山素所惡者皆殺之，凡八十三人，或以鐵棓揭其腦蓋，流血滿街。 己巳，又殺皇孫及郡、縣主二十餘人。
An Lushan had Sun Xiaozhe kill the Princess of Huoguo, consorts, imperial sons-in-law, and others in Chongren Ward, cut out their hearts, and sacrifice them to An Qingzong. Everyone tied to Yang Guozhong and Gao Lishi, and everyone Lushan had long hated, was killed—eighty-three people in all. Some had their skulls smashed open with iron clubs until blood ran in the streets. On jisi day he killed more than twenty imperial grandsons and commandery and county princesses.
33
庚午，上皇至巴西； 太守崔渙迎謁。 上皇與語，悅之，房琯復薦之，即日，拜門下侍郎、同平章事，以韋見素為左相。 渙，玄□之孫也。
On gengwu day the Retired Emperor reached Baxi; Administrator Cui Huan came out to welcome him. The Retired Emperor spoke with Cui Huan and was pleased. Fang Guan recommended him again, and that same day Cui Huan was appointed Vice Minister of the Chancellery and Fellow Grand Councillor, with Wei Jiansu as Left Chancellor. Cui Huan was a grandson of Cui [Xuanwei].
34
初，京兆李泌，幼以才敏著聞，玄宗使與忠王游。 忠王為太子，泌已長，上書言事。 玄宗欲官之，不可； 使與太子為布衣交，太子常謂之先生。 楊國忠惡之，奏徒蘄春，後得歸隱，居穎陽。 上自馬嵬北行，遣使召之，謁見於靈武，上大喜，出則聯轡，寢則對榻，如為太子時，事無大小皆咨之，言無不從，至於進退將相亦與之議。 上欲以泌為右相，泌固辭曰：「陛下待以賓友，則貴於宰相矣，何必屈其志！」 上乃止。 同羅、突厥從安祿山反者屯長安苑中，甲戌，其酋長阿史那從禮帥五千騎，竊廄馬二千匹逃歸朔方，謀邀結諸胡，盜據邊地。 上遣使宣慰之，降者甚眾。
Li Mi of Jingzhao had been known from youth for quick wit; Emperor Xuanzong had him keep company with Prince Zhong. When Prince Zhong became Crown Prince, Mi was already grown and began submitting memorials on state affairs. Emperor Xuanzong wanted to give him office, but Mi refused; Instead the emperor let him become the Crown Prince's friend as a private citizen; the Crown Prince always called him "Master." Yang Guozhong hated him and had him exiled to Qichun; later Mi was able to retire and lived in seclusion at Yingyang. When Emperor Suzong marched north from Mawei he sent for Li Mi. Mi had an audience at Lingwu, and the emperor was overjoyed. Out of doors they rode side by side; at night they shared a couch, just as in the Crown Prince's days. The emperor consulted Mi on everything, great or small, and never refused his counsel—even the appointment and dismissal of generals and chief ministers was decided with him. The emperor wanted to make Li Mi Right Chancellor. Mi firmly declined: "If Your Majesty treats me as a guest and friend, that is more honor than being a chief minister—why bend my will?" The emperor let the matter drop. Tongluo and Turk followers of An Lushan were encamped in the Chang'an imperial parks. On jiaxu day their chieftain Ashina Congli led five thousand horsemen, stole two thousand stable horses, and fled toward Shuofang, planning to rally the frontier tribes and seize the borderlands. The emperor sent envoys to reassure them, and large numbers surrendered.
35
賊遣兵寇扶風，薛景仙擊卻之。
Rebel troops raided Fufeng; Xue Jingxian beat them back.
36
安祿山遣其將高嵩以敕書、繒彩誘河、隴將士，大震關使郭英乂擒斬之。
An Lushan sent his general Gao Song with an edict and silks to win over the Hedong and Longyou garrisons; Dazhen Pass Commissioner Guo Yingyi captured and executed him.
37
同羅、突厥之逃歸也，長安大擾，官吏竄匿，獄囚自出。 京兆尹崔光遠以為賊且遁矣，遣吏卒守孫孝哲宅。 孝哲以狀白祿山，光遠乃與長安令蘇震帥府、縣官十餘人來奔。 己卯，至靈武，上以光遠為御史大夫兼京兆尹，使之渭北招集吏民； 以震為中丞。 震，瑰之孫也。 祿山以田乾真為京兆尹。 侍御史呂諲、右拾遺楊綰、奉天令安平崔器相繼詣靈武； 以諲、器為御史中丞，綰為起居舍人、知制誥。
When the Tongluo and Turks fled, Chang'an was thrown into turmoil: officials went into hiding and prisoners broke out on their own. Jingzhao Governor Cui Guangyuan thought the rebels were about to withdraw and sent clerks and soldiers to occupy Sun Xiaozhe's house. Xiaozhe reported this to Lushan, whereupon Guangyuan fled with Chang'an Magistrate Su Zhen and more than ten prefectural and county officials to join the Tang court. On jimao day they reached Lingwu. The emperor made Guangyuan Censor-in-Chief and concurrent Jingzhao Governor, sending him north of the Wei to rally officials and people; Su Zhen was made Vice Censor-in-Chief. Su Zhen was the grandson of Su Gui. Lushan appointed Tian Qianzhen Jingzhao Governor. Attending Censor Lü Yin, Right Reminder Yang Wan, and Fengtian Magistrate Cui Qi of Anping arrived at Lingwu in succession; Lü Yin and Cui Qi were made Vice Censors-in-Chief; Yang Wan was made Drafting Secretary for Imperial Diaries and Controller of Edicts.
38
上命河西節度副使李嗣業將兵五千赴行在，嗣業與節度使梁宰謀，且緩師以觀變。 綏德府折衝段秀實讓嗣業曰：「豈有君父告急而臣子晏然不赴者乎！ 特進常自謂大丈夫，今日視之，乃兒女子耳！」 嗣業大慚，即白宰如數發兵，以秀實自副，將之詣行在。 上又徵兵於安西； 行軍司馬李棲筠發精兵七千人，勵以忠義而遣之。
The emperor ordered Hexi Deputy Commissioner Li Siye to bring five thousand troops to the imperial camp. Siye and Military Commissioner Liang Zai plotted to delay the march and watch how events unfolded. Suide Prefecture assault-commander Duan Xiushi rebuked Siye: "How can a subject sit idle when his lord and father are in peril? You, an Honored One who always call yourself a great man—today you look like nothing but a weakling!" Deeply ashamed, Siye at once told Liang Zai to send the full force as ordered, made Xiushi his deputy, and marched to the imperial camp. The emperor also called up troops from Anxi; Chief Administrator's Assistant Li Qiyun raised seven thousand elite troops, exhorted them with appeals to loyalty and duty, and sent them off.
39
敕改扶風為鳳翔郡。
An edict renamed Fufeng as Fengxiang commandery.
40
庚辰，上皇至成都，從官及六軍至者千三百人而已。
On gengchen day the Retired Emperor reached Chengdu; only thirteen hundred followers and Six Armies troops had made it there.
41
令狐潮圍張巡於雍丘，相守四十餘日，朝廷聲問不通。 潮聞玄宗已幸蜀，復以書招巡。 有大將六人，官皆開府、特進，白巡以兵勢不敵，且上存亡不可知，不如降賊。 巡陽許諾。 明日，堂上設天子畫像，帥將士朝之，人人皆泣。 巡引六將於前，責以大義，斬之。 士心益勸。
Linghu Chao besieged Zhang Xun at Yongqiu. The siege lasted more than forty days with no word from the court. Chao heard that Emperor Xuanzong had already gone to Shu and again wrote to win Zhang Xun over. Six senior generals, all holding Kaifu and Tejin rank, told Xun that they were outmatched and that the emperor's fate was unknown—it would be better to surrender. Zhang Xun pretended to agree. The next day he set the emperor's portrait in the hall, led his officers and men to bow before it, and everyone wept. Zhang Xun brought the six generals forward, rebuked them for betraying their duty, and executed them. The troops' morale rose all the higher.
42
中城矢盡，巡縛蒿為人千餘，被以黑衣，夜縋城下，潮兵爭射之，久乃知其蒿人； 得矢數十萬。 其後復夜縋人，賊笑不設備，乃以死士五百斫潮營； 潮軍大亂，焚壘而遁，追奔十餘里。 潮慚，益兵圍之。
When the inner city's arrows ran out, Zhang Xun tied more than a thousand scarecrows from artemisia stalks, dressed them in black, and lowered them down the wall by night. Chao's men shot at them furiously; only after a long while did they realize they were dummy figures; and recovered several hundred thousand arrows. Later they lowered men down again by night; the rebels laughed and let their guard down. Then five hundred picked men raided Chao's camp; Chao's army broke in panic, burned its camp, and fled; the Tang force pursued them more than ten li. Humiliated, Chao brought up more troops to tighten the siege.
43
巡使郎將雷萬春於城上與潮相聞，語未絕，賊弩射之，面中六矢而不動。 潮疑其木人，使諜問之，乃大驚，遙謂巡曰：「向見雷將軍，方知足下軍令矣，然其如天道何！」 巡謂之曰：「君未識人倫，焉知天道！」 未幾，出戰，擒賊將十四人，斬道百餘級。 賊乃夜遁，收兵入陳留，不敢復出。
Zhang Xun had Commandant Lei Wanchun shout back and forth with Chao from the wall. Before he finished speaking, rebel crossbowmen shot him; six bolts struck his face, yet he did not stir. Chao thought he was a wooden dummy and sent a spy to check; then, greatly startled, he shouted to Zhang Xun from afar: "Just now I saw General Lei and knew your discipline is iron—but what can anyone do against Heaven's mandate?" Zhang Xun replied: "You do not even understand human duty—how can you speak of Heaven's mandate?" Before long they sallied out, captured fourteen rebel officers, and killed more than a hundred men on the road. The rebels withdrew by night, pulled their forces back into Chenliu, and did not dare come out again.
44
頃之，賊步騎七千餘眾屯白沙渦，巡夜襲擊，大破之。 還，至桃陵，遇賊救兵四百餘人，悉擒之。 分別其眾，媯、檀及胡兵，悉斬之； 滎陽、陳留脅從兵，皆散令歸業。 旬日間，民去賊來歸者萬餘戶。
Soon afterward more than seven thousand rebel foot and horse encamped at Baisha Bend; Zhang Xun attacked by night and routed them completely. On the return march, at Taoling they met more than four hundred rebel reinforcements and took them all. Sorting the prisoners, they executed all the Gui, Tan, and Hu soldiers; the pressed men of Xingyang and Chenliu were disbanded and sent home to their livelihoods. Within ten days more than ten thousand households that had submitted to the rebels came back over to Tang rule.
45
河北諸郡猶為唐守，常山太守王輔欲降賊，諸將怒，因擊球，縱馬踐殺之。 時信都太守烏承恩麾下有朔方兵三千人，諸將遣使者宗仙運帥父老詣信都，迎承恩鎮常山。 承恩辭以無詔命，仙運說承恩曰：「常山地控燕、薊，路通河、洛，有井陘之險，足以扼其咽喉。 頃屬車駕南遷，李大夫收軍退守晉陽，王太守權統後軍，欲舉城降賊，眾心不從，身首異處。 大將軍兵精氣肅，遠近莫敵，若以家國為念，移據常山，與大夫首尾相應，則洪勳盛烈，孰與為比！ 若疑而不行，又不設備，常山既陷，信都豈能獨全！」 承恩不從。 仙運又曰：「將軍不納鄙夫之言，必懼兵少故也。 今人不聊生，鹹思報國，競相結聚，屯據鄉村，若懸賞招之，不旬日十萬可致； 與朔方甲士三千餘人相參用之，足成王事。 若捨要害以授人，居四通而自安，譬如倒持劍戟，取敗之道也。」 承恩竟疑不決。 承恩，承玼族兄也。
The Hebei commanderies still held for Tang. Changshan Administrator Wang Fu wanted to surrender to the rebels; the generals were furious, struck him, trampled him under their horses, and killed him. At that time Xindu Administrator Wu Cheng'en had three thousand Shuofang troops under his command. The generals sent the envoy Zong Xianyun, leading local elders, to Xindu to welcome Cheng'en and install him as commander at Changshan. Cheng'en declined, citing the lack of an imperial order. Xianyun urged him: "Changshan overlooks Yan and Ji, its roads link the He and Luo valleys, and Jingxing Pass gives it a choke point strong enough to grip the enemy by the throat. Not long ago, when the court moved south, Grandee Li withdrew his forces to hold Jinyang. Administrator Wang, who had temporarily commanded the rear guard, tried to surrender the city to the rebels; the men refused to follow him, and he was executed. Your troops are elite and disciplined, unmatched anywhere near or far. If you act for family and state, move to Changshan and coordinate with the Grandee in a pincer, your achievement will be beyond compare! If you hesitate, fail to move, and leave yourself unprepared, once Changshan falls Xindu cannot stand alone!" Cheng'en would not agree. Xianyun added: "If you reject my counsel, General, it must be because you fear your force is too small. The people are destitute and eager to serve the dynasty; they are rallying in villages throughout the countryside. Offer bounties to recruit them, and within ten days you can raise a hundred thousand men; combined with your three thousand Shuofang veterans, that would be enough to restore the throne. To abandon a key stronghold to others while you settle at a crossroads and seek safety is like holding a sword by the blade—the sure path to defeat." In the end Cheng'en wavered and never made up his mind. Cheng'en was an elder cousin of Cheng Ci.
46
是月，史思明、蔡希德將兵萬人南攻九門。 旬日，九門偽降，伏甲於城上。 思明登城，伏兵攻之； 思明墜城，鹿角傷其左脅，夜，奔博陵。
That month Shi Siming and Cai Xide marched south with ten thousand men to attack Jiumen. Ten days later Jiumen pretended to surrender and concealed armored men on the walls. When Siming climbed the wall, the hidden troops struck; Siming fell from the ramparts; field obstacles gashed his left side. That night he fled to Boling.
47
顏真卿以蠟丸達表於靈武。 以真卿為工部尚書兼御史大夫，依前河北招討、採訪、處置使，並致赦書，亦以蠟丸達之。 真卿頒下河北諸郡，又遣人頒於河南、江、淮。 由是諸道始知上即位於靈武，徇國之心益堅矣。
Yan Zhenqing smuggled a memorial to Lingwu inside a wax pellet. The court appointed Zhenqing Minister of Works and Censor-in-Chief, confirmed him in his former posts as Hebei Recruit-and-Pacify, Investigation, and Disposition Commissioner, and sent an amnesty edict by the same wax-pellet route. Zhenqing distributed the edicts across Hebei and dispatched couriers to circulate them in Henan, the Yangzi valley, and the Huai region. Only then did the provinces learn that the emperor had taken the throne at Lingwu, and loyalty to the dynasty strengthened everywhere.
48
郭子儀等將兵五萬自河北至靈武，靈武軍威始盛，人有興復之望矣。 八月，壬午朔，以子儀為武部尚書、靈武長史，以李光弼為戶部尚書、北都留守，並同平章事，餘如故。 光弼以景城、河間兵五千赴太原。
Guo Ziyi and others brought fifty thousand troops from Hebei to Lingwu. Lingwu's military strength swelled at last, and people began to hope for restoration. In the eighth month, on the new moon of the day renwu, Ziyi was appointed Minister of War and chief administrator of Lingwu; Li Guangbi was appointed Minister of Revenue and protector of the Northern Capital; both were made chief ministers with the rank of Counselor of State, and their other duties were unchanged. Guangbi marched five thousand men from Jingcheng and Hejian to Taiyuan.
49
先是，河東節度使王承業軍政不修，朝廷遣待御史崔眾交其兵，尋遣中使誅之； 眾侮易承業，光弼素不平。 至是，敕交兵於光弼，眾見光弼，不為禮，又不時交兵，光弼怒，收斬之，軍中股慄。
Earlier, Hedong Military Commissioner Wang Chengye had neglected military and civil administration. The court sent Attending Censor Cui Zhong to take command of his army, then dispatched a palace envoy to execute him; Zhong openly humiliated Chengye, which Guangbi had resented for some time. Now an edict ordered the troops transferred to Guangbi. When Zhong appeared before him, he showed no respect and delayed handing over the army. Guangbi, furious, had him arrested and executed, and the whole force quaked.
50
回紇可汗、吐蕃贊普相繼遣使請助國討賊，宴賜而遣之。
The Uyghur khan and the Tibetan tsenpo sent envoys in succession offering to help the dynasty crush the rebels. The court entertained them, bestowed gifts, and sent them home.
51
癸未，上皇下制，赦天下。
On the day guiwei the Retired Emperor issued an edict granting a general amnesty.
52
北海太守賀蘭進明遣錄事參軍第五琦入蜀奏事，琦言於上皇，以為：「今方用兵，財賦為急，財賦所產，江、淮居多，乞假臣一職，可使軍無乏用。」 上皇悅，即以琦為監察御史、江淮租庸使。
Beihai Administrator Helan Jinming sent Recording Officer Diwu Qi to Shu to report to the Retired Emperor. Qi argued: "With war underway, finance is the urgent need, and most revenue comes from the Jiang and Huai regions. Grant me an office, and I can keep the armies supplied." The Retired Emperor was pleased and at once appointed Qi Attending Censor and commissioner of Jiang-Huai taxes and corvée.
53
史思明再攻九門，辛卯，克之，所殺數千人； 引兵東圍蒿城。
Shi Siming attacked Jiumen again. On the day xinmao he took the city and slaughtered several thousand people; then marched east to besiege Gaocheng.
54
李庭望將蕃、漢二萬餘人東襲寧陵、襄邑，夜，去雍丘城三十里置營。 張巡帥短兵三千掩擊，大破之，殺獲太半。 庭望收軍夜遁。
Li Tingwang led more than twenty thousand Tibetan and Han troops east against Ningling and Xiangyi. By night he made camp thirty li from Yongqiu. Zhang Xun struck with three thousand hand-picked troops in a night raid, routing them and killing or capturing more than half their force. Tingwang regrouped what he could and fled under cover of night.
55
癸巳，靈武使者至蜀，上皇喜曰：「吾兒應天順人，吾復何憂！」 丁酉，制：「自今改制敕為誥，表疏稱太上皇。 四海軍國事，皆先取皇帝進止，仍奏朕知； 俟克復上京，朕不復預事。」 己亥，上皇臨軒，命韋見素、房琯、崔渙奉傳國寶玉冊詣靈武傳位。
On the day guisi an envoy from Lingwu reached Shu. The Retired Emperor rejoiced: "My son has answered Heaven and won the people's assent—what more have I to fear!" On the day dingyou he decreed: "Henceforth edicts shall be styled gao, and memorials shall address me as the Retired Emperor. All military and state affairs throughout the realm shall first await the emperor's decision, though they are still to be reported to me; once the capital is recovered, I shall withdraw from affairs altogether." On the day jihai the Retired Emperor appeared at court and ordered Wei Jiansu, Fang Guan, and Cui Huan to carry the imperial seal and jade register to Lingwu to abdicate in his son's favor.
56
辛丑，史思明陷蒿城。
On the day xinchou Shi Siming took Gaocheng.
57
初，上皇每酺宴，先設太常雅樂坐部、立部，繼以鼓吹、胡樂、教坊、府縣散樂、雜戲； 又以山車、陸船載樂往來； 又出宮人舞《霓裳羽衣》； 又教舞馬百匹，銜杯上壽； 又引犀、象入場，或拜，或舞。 安祿山見而悅之，既克長安，命搜捕樂工，運載樂器、舞衣，驅舞馬、犀、象皆詣洛陽。
In earlier days, whenever the Retired Emperor held a grand banquet, he began with the Court of Imperial Sacrifices' refined seated and standing ensembles, then added military bands, foreign music, Music Bureau pieces, local entertainments, and variety acts; he had mountain carts and land boats carry musicians to and fro; he sent palace women to dance Rainbow Skirts and Feathered Robes; he trained a hundred dancing horses to hold cups in their teeth and offer toasts; he even brought rhinoceroses and elephants into the arena to bow or dance. An Lushan saw all this and was delighted. After taking Chang'an he had musicians rounded up, instruments and costumes shipped, and the dancing horses, rhinoceroses, and elephants driven to Luoyang.
58
臣光曰：聖人以道德為麗，仁義為樂； 故雖茅茨土階，惡衣菲食，不恥其陋，惟恐奉養之過以勞民費財。 明皇恃其承平，不思後患，殫耳目之玩，窮聲技之巧，自謂帝王富貴皆不我如，欲使前莫能及，後無以逾，非徒娛己，亦以誇人。 豈知大盜在旁，已有窺窬之心，卒致鑾輿播越，生民塗炭。 乃知人君崇華靡以示人，適足為大盜之招也。
Your servant Guang observes: The sage finds adornment in virtue and the Way, and delight in benevolence and righteousness; so even with a thatched roof and earthen steps, coarse clothes and plain food, he feels no shame at their austerity, fearing only that lavish display will burden the people and waste the treasury. Emperor Ming, secure in long peace, gave no thought to what might follow. He exhausted every spectacle for eye and ear and pushed music and craft to their limits, convinced that no emperor had ever been so rich or grand. He wanted no predecessor to match him and no successor to exceed him—not merely to please himself, but to dazzle the world. He never imagined that a great bandit stood beside him, already eyeing his throne, until the imperial carriage was driven into exile and the people were plunged into misery. This shows that when a ruler flaunts luxury to impress others, he is only inviting the great bandit.
59
祿山宴其群臣於凝碧池，盛奏眾樂； 梨園弟子往往歔欷泣下，賊皆露刃睨之。 樂工雷海清不勝悲憤，擲樂器於地，西向慟哭。 祿山怒，縛於試馬殿前，支解之。
Lushan entertained his ministers at Ningbi Pool with a lavish musical performance; Pear Garden performers often broke down in sobs; the rebels bared their blades and glared at them. The musician Lei Haiqing, overcome with grief and fury, hurled his instrument to the ground and wailed toward the west. Lushan, furious, had him bound before the Horse-Trial Hall and torn limb from limb.
60
祿山聞向日百姓乘亂多盜庫物，既得長安，命大索三日，並其私財盡掠之。 又令府縣推按，銖兩之物無不窮治，連引搜捕，支蔓無窮，民間騷然，益思唐室。
Lushan learned that during the chaos the people had looted the treasuries. After taking Chang'an he ordered a three-day dragnet and seized their private property as well. He ordered prefectures and counties to investigate every case down to the last mace and tael. Denunciations spread in chains, searches never ended, the people seethed, and loyalty to Tang only grew.
61
自上離馬嵬北行，民間相傳太子北收兵來取長安，長安民日夜望之，或時相驚曰：「太子大軍至矣！」 則皆走，市裡為空，賊望見北方塵起，輒驚欲走。 京畿豪傑往往殺賊官吏，遙應官軍； 誅而復起，相繼不絕，賊不能制。 其始自京畿、鄜、坊至於岐、隴皆附之，至是西門之外率為敵壘，賊兵力所及者，南不出武關，北不過雲陽，西不過武功。 江、淮奏請貢獻之蜀、之靈武者，皆自襄陽取上津路抵扶風，道路無壅，皆薛景仙之功也。
After the emperor left Mawei and marched north, word spread that the Crown Prince was raising troops in the north to retake Chang'an. The people of Chang'an watched day and night, and sometimes panicked one another with shouts: "The Crown Prince's army is here!" Everyone would run; streets emptied. When the rebels saw dust rising in the north they panicked and prepared to flee. Bold men around the capital often killed rebel officials and rallied to the imperial armies from afar; they were cut down only to rise again, one after another, and the rebels could not suppress them. At first the capital region, Fu, Fang, and lands as far as Qi and Long all rallied to the cause. Now enemy camps ringed the city west of the western gate. Where rebel power still held, it reached no farther south than Wuguan, no farther north than Yunyang, and no farther west than Wugong. Tribute and memorials from the Jiang and Huai bound for Shu and Lingwu all traveled from Xiangyang by the Shangjin road to Fufeng without obstruction—thanks entirely to Xue Jingxian.
62
九月，壬子，史思明圍趙郡，丙辰，拔之； 又圍常山，旬日，城陷，殺數千人。
In the ninth month, on the day renzi, Shi Siming besieged Zhao Commandery. On the day bingchen he took it; then besieged Changshan. Ten days later the city fell and several thousand were slaughtered.
63
建寧王倓，性英果，有才略，從上自馬嵬北行，兵眾寡弱，屢逢寇盜。 人炎自選驍勇，居上前後，血戰以衛上。 上或過時求食，倓悲泣不自勝，軍中皆屬目向之。 上欲以倓為天下兵馬元帥，使統諸將東征，李泌曰：「建寧誠元帥才； 然廣平，兄也。 若建寧功成，豈可使廣平為吳太伯乎！」 上曰：「廣平，塚嗣也，何必以元帥為重！」 泌曰：「廣平未正位東宮。 今天下艱難，眾心所屬，在於元帥。 若建寧大功既成，陛下雖欲不以為儲副，同立功者其肯已乎！ 太宗、上皇，即其事也。」 上乃以廣平王俶為天下兵馬元帥，諸將皆以屬焉。 倓聞之，謝泌曰：「此固倓之心也！」
Prince of Jianning Tan was bold, resolute, and gifted with strategy. He accompanied the emperor north from Mawei when the force was small and weak and bandits struck again and again. Tan personally picked the bravest men, placed them before and behind the emperor, and fought through blood to protect him. When the emperor went hungry for lack of provisions, Tan wept uncontrollably, and the whole army watched him with admiration. The emperor wanted to make Tan supreme commander of all armies and send him east to lead the generals. Li Bi said, "Jianning truly has the makings of a commander-in-chief; but Guangping is his elder brother. If Jianning wins glory, can you leave Guangping in the role of Wu Taibo?" The emperor replied, "Guangping is the heir apparent—why should the command matter so much!" Bi said, "Guangping has not yet been formally installed as crown prince. The realm is in crisis, and men's hopes now attach to whoever holds the command. If Jianning wins a great victory, even if Your Majesty does not wish to name him heir, will the men who fought beside him accept that? Emperor Taizong and the Retired Emperor are the very precedents." The emperor then appointed Prince of Guangping Xu supreme commander, and all the generals were placed under his command. When Tan heard the news, he thanked Bi: "That was always my wish!"
64
上與泌出行軍，軍士指之，竊言曰：「衣黃者，聖人也。 衣白者，山人也。」 上聞之，以告泌，曰：「艱難之際，不敢相屈以官，且衣紫袍以絕群疑。」 泌不得已，受之； 服之，入謝。 上笑曰：「既服此，豈可無名稱！」 出懷中敕，以泌為侍謀軍國、元帥府行軍長史。 泌固辭，上曰：「朕非敢相臣，以濟艱難耳。 俟賊平，任行高志。」 泌乃受之。 置元帥府於禁中，俶入則泌在府，泌入俶亦如之。 泌又言於上曰：「諸將畏憚天威，在陛下前敷陳軍事，或不能盡所懷； 萬一小差，為害甚大。 乞先令與臣及廣平熟議，臣與廣平從容奏聞，可者行之，不可者已之。」 上許之。 時軍旅務繁，四方奏報，自昏至曉無虛刻，上悉使送府，泌先開視，有急切者及烽火，重封，隔門通進，餘則待明。 禁門鑰契，悉委俶與泌掌之。
The emperor and Bi walked among the troops. Soldiers pointed and whispered: "The man in yellow is the sage. The man in white is the mountain recluse." The emperor heard and told Bi: "In these hard times I did not wish to press you into office, but put on a purple robe to quiet the rumors." Bi, unable to refuse, accepted it; donned it and came in to give thanks. The emperor smiled: "Once you wear this, you cannot go without a title!" He produced an edict from his robe and appointed Bi staff strategist for state and army affairs and chief administrator on campaign at the marshal's headquarters. Bi refused again. The emperor said, "I am not trying to bind you as a minister—I only need your help through the crisis. When the rebels are crushed, you may follow your own high purpose." Bi accepted at last. The marshal's headquarters was established inside the palace. When Xu went in, Bi remained at headquarters; when Bi went in, Xu did the same. Bi also told the emperor: "The generals stand in awe of your majesty. Before you they may not speak their minds fully on military matters; even a small mistake could do great harm. Let them first discuss matters fully with Guangping and me. We will then report calmly to you: what is sound will be done, what is not will be dropped." The emperor agreed. Military business was urgent; dispatches from every quarter arrived from dusk to dawn without pause. The emperor had them all sent to headquarters. Bi opened them first: urgent items and beacon reports he resealed and passed through the gate at once; the rest waited until morning. The keys and tally-slips to the palace gates were entrusted entirely to Xu and Bi.
65
阿史那從禮說誘九姓府、六胡州諸胡數萬眾，聚於經略軍北，將寇朔方，上命郭子儀詣天德軍發兵討之。 左武鋒使僕固懷恩之子玢別將兵與虜戰，兵敗，降之； 既而復逃歸，懷恩叱而斬之。 將士股慄，無不一當百，遂破同羅。 上雖用朔方之眾，欲借兵於外夷以張軍勢，以豳王守禮之子承寀為敦煌王，與僕固懷恩使於回紇以請兵。 又發拔汗那兵，且使轉諭城郭諸國，許以厚賞，使從安西兵入援。 李泌勸上：「且幸彭原，俟西北兵將至，進幸扶風以應之； 於時庸調亦集，可以贍軍。」 上從之。 戊辰，發靈武。
Ashina Congli persuaded tens of thousands of Hu from the Nine-Surname and Six-Hu prefectures to gather north of Jinglue Army and prepare to raid Shuofang. The emperor ordered Guo Ziyi to Tiande Army to raise troops and crush them. Pugu Bin, son of Left Martial Vanguard Commissioner Pugu Huai'en, fought the enemy in a separate detachment, was defeated, and surrendered; he later escaped and returned. Huai'en rebuked him and had him beheaded. The officers and soldiers fought with such fury that each man seemed worth a hundred, and they routed the Tongluo. Though the emperor relied on the Shuofang army, he wished to borrow troops from foreign powers to swell his strength. He made Chengcai, son of Prince of Bin Shouli, Prince of Dunhuang, and sent him with Pugu Huai'en as envoy to the Uyghurs to request troops. He also mobilized Ferghana troops and sent word through the oasis states, promising rich rewards if they would march in with the Anxi army to aid the cause. Li Mi urged the emperor: "For now go to Pengyuan and wait until the northwestern troops are near, then advance to Fufeng to meet them; by then the corvée tax substitutes will also have been gathered and can supply the army." The emperor agreed. On wuchen day he departed Lingwu.
66
內侍邊令誠復自賊中逃歸，上斬之。
Inner Attendant Bian Lingcheng fled back from the rebels again; the emperor had him beheaded.
67
丙子，上至順化。 韋見素等至自成都，奉上寶冊，上不肯受，曰：「比以中原未靖，權總百官，豈敢乘危，遽為傳襲！」 群臣固請，上不許，置寶冊於別殿，朝夕事之，如定省之禮。 上以韋見素本附楊國忠，意薄之； 素聞房琯名，虛心待之，琯見上言時事，辭情慷慨，上為之改容，由是軍國事多謀於琯。 琯亦以天下為己任，知無不為，專決於胸臆； 諸相拱手避之。
On bingzi day the emperor reached Shunhua. Wei Jiansu and others arrived from Chengdu and presented the imperial registers of investiture. The emperor refused them, saying, "Because the central plains are not yet pacified, I have provisionally taken charge of the hundred officials. How dare I seize this perilous moment and hastily accept the throne!" The ministers pressed their request, but the emperor would not agree. He placed the registers in a separate hall and attended them morning and evening with the rites due a son inquiring after his father. The emperor held Wei Jiansu in low regard because he had originally attached himself to Yang Guozhong; Jiansu had heard Fang Guan's reputation and received him with an open mind. Guan spoke to the emperor on current affairs with passionate urgency, and the emperor's expression changed. Thereafter military and state affairs were largely planned with Guan. Guan too took the empire as his own charge, doing whatever he knew should be done and deciding everything from his own judgment; the other chief ministers folded their hands and yielded before him.
68
上皇賜張良娣七寶鞍，李泌言於上曰：「今四海分崩，當以儉約示人，良娣不宜乘此。 請撤其珠玉付庫吏，以俟有戰功者賞之。」 良娣自閣中言曰：「鄰里之舊，何至如是！」 上曰：「先生為社稷計也。」 遽命撤之。 建寧王倓泣於廊下，聲聞於上； 上驚，召問之，對曰：「臣比憂禍亂未已，今陛下從諫如流，不日當見陛下迎上皇還長安，是以喜極而悲耳。」 良娣由是惡李泌及倓。
The Retired Emperor bestowed on Consort Zhang Liangdi a saddle set with seven treasures. Li Mi said to the emperor, "The realm is sundered—we should show frugality to the people. The Consort should not ride this. Remove its pearls and jade and give them to the treasury, to reward those who earn merit in battle." The Consort called from within the pavilion: "We are old neighbors—how can it come to this!" The emperor said, "The gentleman is thinking of the altars of state." He ordered it removed at once. Prince of Jianning Tan wept beneath the corridor, and his voice reached the emperor; Startled, the emperor summoned and asked him. Tan replied, "I lately feared the turmoil would never end. Now Your Majesty follows remonstrance like flowing water. Soon we shall see you welcome the Retired Emperor back to Chang'an. My grief is joy pushed past its limit." The Consort thereupon came to hate Li Mi and Tan.
69
上嘗從容與泌語及李林甫，欲敕諸將克長安，發其塚，焚骨揚灰。 泌曰：「陛下方定天下，奈何仇死者！ 彼枯骨何知，徒示聖德之不弘耳。 且方今從賊者皆陛下之仇也，若聞此舉，恐阻其自新之心。」 上不悅，曰：「此賊昔日百方危朕，當是時，朕不保朝夕。 朕之全，特天幸耳！ 林甫亦惡卿，但未及害卿而死耳，奈何矜之！」 對曰：「臣豈不知！ 所以言者，上皇有天下向五十年，太平娛樂，一朝失意，遠處巴蜀。 南方地惡，上皇春秋高，聞陛下此敕，意必以為用韋妃之故，內慚不懌。 萬一感憤成疾，是陛下以天下之大，不能安君親。」 言未畢，上流涕被面，降階，仰天拜曰：「朕不及此，是天使先生言之也！」 遂抱泌頸泣不已。
The emperor once spoke at ease with Mi about Li Linfu and wished to order the generals, when Chang'an was taken, to open his tomb, burn his bones, and scatter his ashes. Mi said, "Your Majesty is just now settling the empire—why take vengeance on the dead! What do dry bones know? It would only show that your virtue is not magnanimous. Moreover, those who now follow the rebels are all your enemies. If they hear of this, I fear it will block their hearts from turning back." The emperor was displeased and said, "This villain endangered me in a hundred ways. At that time I could not be sure of morning or evening. That I survived was purely Heaven's fortune! Linfu hated you too, but died before he could harm you—why pity him!" He replied, "Do I not know this! I speak because the Retired Emperor held the empire for nearly fifty years in peace and pleasure. In a single morning he lost everything and was sent far to Ba-Shu. The southern lands are harsh, and the Retired Emperor is advanced in years. If he hears this edict, he will surely think it is because of Consort Wei and feel ashamed and displeased inwardly. If grief and anger should turn to illness, then with so great an empire you cannot give peace to your father." Before he finished, the emperor wept until his face was covered. He descended the steps, looked up to Heaven, and bowed: "I had not reached this thought—Heaven sent you to speak it!" He embraced Mi about the neck and wept without cease.
70
他夕，上又謂泌曰：「良娣祖母，昭成太后之妹也，上皇所念。 朕欲使正位中宮，以慰上皇心，何如？」 對曰：「陛下在靈武，以群臣望尺寸之功，故踐大位，非私己也。 至於家事，宜待上皇之命，不過晚歲月之間耳。」 上從之。
Another evening the emperor said to Mi again, "Consort Liangdi's grandmother was the younger sister of Empress Zhaocheng—someone the Retired Emperor holds dear. I wish to make her empress to comfort the Retired Emperor's heart—what do you think?" He replied, "When you were at Lingwu, you ascended the throne because the ministers hoped for some small measure of achievement—not for private ends. As for household affairs, you should await the Retired Emperor's command—it will be only a matter of months." The emperor agreed.
71
南詔乘亂陷越巂會同軍，據清溪關； 尋傳、驃國皆降之。」
Nanzhao seized the disorder to capture the Yuexi Huitong Army garrison and held Qingxi Pass; soon afterward Xunchuan and Piaoguo both submitted to it.”