1
資治通鑑第228卷
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 228
2
卷第二百二十八
Volume 228
3
【唐紀四十四】起昭陽大淵獻正月,盡十月,不滿一年。
Tang Records 44 — from the first month of the Zhaoyang Dayuan Xian cycle through the tenth month, less than a full year.
4
德宗神武聖文皇帝三建中四年( 癸亥,公元七八三年)
Fourth year of Jianzhong, reign of Emperor Dezong, the Divine Martial and Sagacious Cultural Emperor ( guihai, 783 CE)
5
春,正月,丁亥,隴右節度使張鎰與吐蕃尚結贊盟於清水。
In spring, the first month, on dinghai, Longyou military commissioner Zhang Zhen made a treaty with the Tibetan minister Shang Jiezan at Qingshui.
6
庚寅,李希烈遣其將李克誠襲陷汝州,執別駕李元平。 元平,本湖南判官,薄有才藝,性疏傲,敢大言,好論兵。 中書侍郎關播奇之,薦於上,以為將相之器,以汝州距許州最近,擢元平為汝州別駕,知州事。 元平至州,即募工徒治城。 希烈陰使壯士往應募執役,入數百人,元平不之覺。 希烈遣克誠將數百騎突至城下,應募者應之於內,縛元平馳去。 元平為人眇小,無須,見希烈恐懼,便液污地。 希烈罵之曰:「盲宰相以汝當我,何相輕也!」 以判官周晃為汝州刺史,又遣別將董待名等四出抄掠,取尉氏,圍鄭州,官軍數為所敗。 邏騎西至彭婆,東都士民震駭,竄匿山谷。 留守鄭叔則入保西苑。
On gengyin, Li Xilie sent his general Li Kecheng in a surprise attack that took Ruzhou and captured Vice-Prefect Li Yuanping. Yuanping had been a judicial officer in Hunan. He had a little talent, but he was careless and arrogant, spoke boldly, and loved to hold forth on military matters. Vice Director of the Secretariat Guan Bo took him for a marvel, recommended him to the throne, and declared him fit for high command or the chancellorship. Because Ruzhou lay closest to Xuzhou, Yuanping was promoted to vice-prefect of Ruzhou and given charge of the prefecture. As soon as Yuanping arrived, he recruited laborers to fortify the city. Xilie secretly sent stalwart men to enlist in the work crews. Several hundred got inside, and Yuanping never noticed. Xilie then sent Kecheng at the head of several hundred horsemen to strike the city. The men who had enlisted within opened the way, bound Yuanping, and rode off with him. Yuanping was slight of build and beardless. When he saw Xilie he was so terrified that he soiled himself on the spot. Xilie cursed him, saying, "The blind chancellor thought you could stand against me. What an insult!" He installed judicial officer Zhou Huang as prefect of Ruzhou, then sent separate commanders including Dong Daiming on raids in every direction. They took Weishi, besieged Zhengzhou, and repeatedly routed the imperial forces. Scouts rode as far west as Pengpo. The people of the Eastern Capital were terrified and fled into the hills. Resident commissioner Zheng Shuzhe withdrew to hold the Western Park.
7
上問計於盧杞,對曰:「希烈年少驍將,恃功驕慢,將佐莫敢諫止。 誠得儒雅重臣,奉宣聖澤,為陳逆順禍福,希烈必革心悔過,可不勞軍旅而服。 顏真卿三朝舊臣,忠直剛決,名重海內,人所信服,真其人也!」 上以為然。 甲午,命真卿詣許州宣慰希烈。 詔下,舉朝失色。
The emperor asked Lu Qi what should be done. Lu Qi answered, "Xilie is a young and fierce commander. Proud of his achievements, he is arrogant and overbearing, and none of his officers dare check him. Send a cultivated senior minister to proclaim the emperor's grace and explain the rewards of loyalty and the ruin of rebellion, and Xilie will surely repent. He can be brought to heel without an army. Yan Zhenqing served three reigns. He is loyal, upright, and resolute, and his name carries weight throughout the realm. Men trust him. He is the man for this!" The emperor agreed. On jiawu, the court ordered Yan Zhenqing to go to Xuzhou and offer words of reassurance to Xilie. When the edict was promulgated, the whole court turned pale.
8
真卿乘驛至東都,鄭叔則曰:「往必不免,宜少留,須後命。」 真卿曰:「君命也,將焉避之!」 遂行。 李勉表言:「失一元老,為國家羞,請留之。」 又使人邀真卿於道,不及。 真卿與其子書,但敕以「奉家廟,撫諸孤」而已。 至許州,欲宣詔旨,希烈使其養子千餘人環繞慢罵,拔刃擬之,為將剸啖之勢。 真卿足不移,色不變。 希烈遽以身蔽之,麾眾令退,館真卿而禮之。 希烈欲遣真卿還,會李元平在座,真卿責之,元平慚而起,以密啟白希烈。 希烈意遂變,留真卿不遣。
Zhenqing rode post horses to the Eastern Capital. Zheng Shuzhe said to him, "If you go, you will not come back alive. Stay awhile and wait for new orders." Zhenqing replied, "This is the emperor's command. Where could I hide from it?" And he went. Li Mian memorialized the throne: "To lose such an elder statesman would shame the realm. I beg that he be kept back." He also sent men to intercept Zhenqing on the road, but they arrived too late. Zhenqing wrote to his sons with only this charge: maintain the ancestral temple and care for the orphans. When he reached Xuzhou and tried to read the imperial message, Xilie had more than a thousand of his adopted sons ring him about with abuse, bare their blades, and make as if to carve him up and eat him alive. Zhenqing did not shift his feet and did not change expression. Xilie at once stepped between them with his own body, waved the mob back, housed Zhenqing as a guest, and treated him with courtesy. Xilie was about to send Zhenqing home when Li Yuanping happened to be present. Zhenqing rebuked him. Yuanping rose in shame and secretly reported the exchange to Xilie. "Xilie's mind changed at once, and he kept Zhenqing and would not let him go."
9
朱滔、王武俊、田悅、李納各遣使詣希烈,上表稱臣,勸進。 使者拜舞於希烈前,說希烈曰:「朝廷誅滅功臣,失信天下。 都統英武自天,功烈蓋世,已為朝廷所猜忌,將有韓、白之禍,願亟稱尊號,使四海臣民知有所歸。」 希烈召顏真卿示之曰:「今四王遣使見推,不謀而同,太師觀此事勢,豈吾獨為朝廷所忌無所自容邪!」 真卿曰:「此乃四凶,何謂四王! 相公不自保功業,為唐忠臣,乃與亂臣賊子相從,求與之同覆滅邪!」 希烈不悅,扶真卿出。 他日,又與四使同宴,四使曰:「久聞太師重望,今都統將稱大號而太師適至,是天以宰相賜都統也。」 真卿叱之曰:「何謂宰相! 汝知有罵安祿山而死者顏杲卿乎? 乃吾兄也。 吾年八十,知守節而死耳,豈受汝曹誘脅乎!」 四使不敢復言。 希烈乃使甲士十人守真卿於館舍,掘坎於庭,雲欲坑之。 真卿怡然,見希烈曰:「死生已定,何必多端! 亟以一劍相與,豈不快公心事邪!」 希烈乃謝之。
Zhu Tao, Wang Wujun, Tian Yue, and Li Na each sent envoys to Xilie, submitted memorials acknowledging him as sovereign, and urged him to proclaim himself emperor. The envoys bowed and danced before Xilie and pleaded with him: "The court destroys its own meritorious servants and has forfeited the trust of the realm. Your lordship's valor is heaven-sent and your achievements outshine the age, yet the court already mistrusts you. You will soon meet the fate of Han Xin and Bai Qi. Take the imperial title at once, so that subjects everywhere may know where their loyalty belongs." Xilie summoned Yan Zhenqing and showed him the memorials. "The four kings have sent envoys to urge me on, all of one mind without prior agreement. Grand Preceptor, look at the way things stand. Do you think I alone am so hated by the court that I have nowhere left to turn?" Zhenqing said, "These are the Four Evils. What do you mean, four kings? Will you not preserve your achievements and remain a loyal servant of Tang, instead of marching with rebels and traitors and begging to die with them?" Xilie was displeased and had Zhenqing escorted out. On another day he dined again with the four envoys. They said, "We have long heard of your great renown, Grand Preceptor. Now, just as our commander-in-chief is about to take the imperial title, you have arrived. Heaven itself is giving him a chancellor." Zhenqing thundered at them, "What do you mean, chancellor? Have you heard of Yan Gaoqing, who died cursing An Lushan? He was my elder brother. I am eighty years old. I know only how to keep my integrity and die. Do you think I would bow to your threats?" The four envoys did not dare speak again. Xilie then posted ten armored men to guard Zhenqing in his quarters and had a pit dug in the courtyard, saying he meant to bury him alive. Zhenqing was unperturbed. When he saw Xilie he said, "Life and death are already settled. Why all this fuss? Give me a sword now. Would that not satisfy what you really want?" Xilie then apologized to him.
10
戊戌,以左龍武大將軍哥舒曜為東都、汝州節度使,將鳳翔、邠寧、涇原、奉天、好畤行營兵萬餘人討希烈,又詔諸道共討之。 曜行至郟城,遇希烈前鋒將陳利貞,擊破之。 希烈勢小沮。 曜,翰之子也。
On wuxu, Left General of the Dragon Martial Army Geshu Yao was appointed military commissioner of the Eastern Capital and Ruzhou. At the head of more than ten thousand troops from the mobile camps of Fengxiang, Binning, Jingyuan, Fengtian, and Haozhi, he marched against Xilie, and the court also ordered every circuit to join the campaign. Yao reached Jia County and met Xilie's vanguard commander Chen Lizhen, whom he routed. Xilie's momentum faltered. Yao was the son of Geshu Han.
11
希烈使其將封有麟據鄧州,南路遂絕,貢獻、商旅皆不通。 壬寅,詔治上津山路,置郵驛。
Xilie had his general Feng Youlin seize Dengzhou. The southern route was cut, and tribute, merchants, and travelers could no longer get through. On renyin, the court ordered the Shangjin Mountain road repaired and post stations established along it.
12
二月,戊申朔,命鴻臚卿崔漢衡送區頰贊還吐蕃。
In the second month, on the wushen new moon, Grand Master of Ceremonies Cui Hanheng was ordered to escort the Tibetan envoy Qu Nianzan home.
13
丙寅,以河陽三城、懷、衛州為河陽軍。
On bingyin, the Three Cities of Heyang together with Huai and Wei prefectures were organized as the Heyang Army.
14
丁卯,哥舒曜克汝州,擒周晃。
On dingmao, Geshu Yao took Ruzhou and captured Zhou Huang.
15
三月,戊寅,江西節度使曹王皋敗李希烈將韓霜露於黃梅,斬之。 辛卯,拔黃州。 時希烈兵柵蔡山,險不可攻。 皋聲言西取蘄州,引舟師溯江而上,希烈之將引兵循江隨戰。 去蔡山三百餘里,皋乃復放舟順流而下,急攻蔡山,拔之。 希烈兵還救之,不及而敗。 皋遂進拔蘄州,表伊慎為蘄州刺史,王鍔為江州刺史。
In the third month, on wuyin, Jiangxi military commissioner Prince Cao Gao defeated Li Xilie's general Han Shuanglu at Huangmei and executed him. On xinmao, he captured Huangzhou. At that time Xilie's army was fortified on Mount Cai, a position so strong that a direct assault was impossible. Gao announced that he would strike Qizhou to the west and led his fleet upriver. Xilie's commanders marched along the bank and fought him as they went. When they were more than three hundred li from Mount Cai, Gao turned his fleet downstream again, struck Mount Cai in haste, and took it. Xilie's troops turned back to relieve the position, but arrived too late and were defeated. Gao then pressed on and captured Qizhou. He recommended Yi Shen as prefect of Qizhou and Wang E as prefect of Jiangzhou.
16
淮寧都虞侯周曾、鎮遏兵馬使王玢、押牙姚憺、韋清密輸款於李勉。 李希烈遣曾與十將康秀琳將兵三萬攻哥舒曜,至襄城,曾等密謀還軍襲希烈,奉顏真卿為節度使,使玢、憺、清為內應。 希烈知之,遣別將李克誠將騾軍三千人襲曾等,殺之,並殺玢、憺及其黨。 甲午,詔贈曾等官。 始。 韋清與曾等約,事洩不相引,故獨得免。 清恐終及禍,說希烈請詣朱滔乞師,希烈遣之,行至襄邑,逃奔劉洽。 希烈聞周曾等有變,閉壁數日。 其黨寇尉氏、鄭州者聞之,亦遁歸。 希烈乃上表歸咎於周曾等,引兵還蔡州,外示悔過從順,實待朱滔等之援也。 置顏真卿於龍興寺。 丁酉,荊南節度使張伯儀與淮寧兵戰於安州,官軍大敗,伯儀僅以身免,亡其所持節。 希烈使人以其節及俘馘示顏真卿。 真卿號慟投地,絕而復甦,自是不復與人言。
Huaining chief commandant Zhou Zeng, military suppression commissioner Wang Bin, adjutant Yao Dan, and Wei Qing secretly pledged themselves to Li Mian. Li Xilie sent Zeng and the ten-generals commander Kang Xiulin with thirty thousand men to attack Geshu Yao. At Xiangcheng, Zeng and his confederates secretly plotted to turn the army about, strike Xilie, install Yan Zhenqing as military commissioner, and have Bin, Dan, and Qing rise within the city as their allies. Xilie learned of the plot and sent separate commander Li Kecheng with three thousand mule troops to strike Zeng and his party. He killed them, and killed Bin, Dan, and their followers as well. On jiawu, the court posthumously ennobled Zeng and his companions. At the outset, Wei Qing had agreed with Zeng and the others that if the plot were exposed they would not implicate one another, and so he alone escaped death. Fearing he would still be destroyed, Qing persuaded Xilie to let him go to Zhu Tao to beg for reinforcements. Xilie sent him off, but when he reached Xiangyi he fled to Liu Qia. When Xilie heard that Zhou Zeng and the others had rebelled, he shut himself inside the walls for several days. His followers who had been raiding Weishi and Zhengzhou heard the news and fled home as well. Xilie then memorialized the throne, blaming Zhou Zeng and the others, withdrew to Caizhou, and outwardly showed repentance and submission while in fact waiting for help from Zhu Tao and his allies. He confined Yan Zhenqing at Longxing Temple. On dingyou, Jingnan military commissioner Zhang Boyi fought Huaining troops at Anzhou. The imperial army was routed. Boyi barely escaped with his life and lost the credential of office he carried. Xilie sent men to show Zhenqing the captured credential together with prisoners and severed heads. Zhenqing wailed and threw himself to the ground. He lost consciousness, then revived, and from that day spoke to no one.
17
夏,四月,上以神策軍使白志貞為京城召募使,募禁兵以討李希烈。 志貞請諸嘗為節度、觀察、都團練使者,不問存沒,並勒其子弟帥奴馬自備資裝從軍,授以五品官。 貧者甚苦之,人心始搖。
In summer, the fourth month, the emperor appointed Shence Army commissioner Bai Zhizhen recruiting commissioner for the capital and ordered him to raise palace troops against Li Xilie. Zhizhen proposed that every man who had ever served as military, observation, or regional training commissioner, living or dead, should have his sons and younger brothers forced to march with their slaves and horses at their own expense. They were to be given fifth-rank offices. The poor were crushed by the burden, and public morale began to falter.
18
上命宰相、尚書與吐蕃區頰贊盟於豐邑裡,區頰贊以清水之盟,疆場未定,不果盟。 己未,命崔漢衡入吐蕃,決於贊普。
The emperor ordered the chancellor and senior ministers to treat with the Tibetan envoy Qu Nianzan at Fengyili. Qu Nianzan, citing the Qingshui treaty and the unsettled frontier, refused to complete the alliance. On jiwei, the court ordered Cui Hanheng to go into Tibet and leave the decision to the Tibetan ruler.
19
庚申,加永平、宣武、河陽都統李免淮西招討使,東都、汝州節度使哥舒曜為之副,以荊南節度使張伯儀為淮西應援招討使,山南東道節度使賈耽、江西節度使曹王皋為之副。 上督哥舒曜進兵,曜至穎橋,遇大雨,還保襄城。 李希烈遣其將李光輝攻襄城,曜擊卻之。
On gengshen, Li Mian, overall commander of Yongping, Xuanwu, and Heyang, was additionally appointed Huai West pacification commissioner, with Geshu Yao, military commissioner of the Eastern Capital and Ruzhou, as his deputy. Jingnan military commissioner Zhang Boyi was made Huai West support pacification commissioner, with Shannan East Circuit military commissioner Jia Dan and Jiangxi military commissioner Prince Cao Gao as his deputies. The emperor pressed Geshu Yao to advance. Yao reached Yingqiao, was caught in heavy rain, and withdrew to hold Xiangcheng. Li Xilie sent his general Li Guanghui against Xiangcheng, and Yao drove him back.
20
五月,乙酉,穎王□薨。
In the fifth month, on yiyou, the Prince of Ying, name missing in source, died.
21
乙未,以宣武節度使劉洽兼淄青招討使。
On yiwei, Xuanwu military commissioner Liu Qia was additionally appointed Zi-Qing pacification commissioner.
22
李晟謀取涿、莫二州,以絕幽、魏往來之路,與張孝忠之子升雲圍朱滔所署易州刺史鄭景濟於清苑,累月不下。 滔以其司武尚書馬寔為留守,將步騎萬餘守魏營,自將步騎萬五千救清苑。 李晟軍大敗,退保易州。 滔還軍瀛州,張升雲奔滿城。 會晟病甚,引軍還保定州。
Li Sheng planned to seize Zhuo and Mo and thereby cut the line of communication between You and Wei. With Zhang Xiaozhong's son Shengyun he besieged Zheng Jingji, whom Zhu Tao had installed as prefect of Yizhou, at Qingyuan, but the city held out for months. Tao left his Minister of War Ma Shi in charge, posted more than ten thousand infantry and cavalry to hold the Wei camp, and personally led fifteen thousand infantry and cavalry to relieve Qingyuan. Li Sheng's army was routed and fell back to hold Yizhou. Tao withdrew to Yingzhou, and Zhang Shengyun fled to Mancheng. Li Sheng then fell gravely ill and withdrew his army to Baoding.
23
王武俊以滔既破李晟,留屯瀛州,未還魏橋,遣其給事中宋端趣之。 端見滔,言頗不遜,滔怒,使謂武俊曰:「滔以熱疾,暫未南還,大王二兄遽有云云。 滔以救魏博之故,叛君棄兄,如脫屣耳。 二兄必相疑,惟二兄所為!」 端還報,武俊自辨於馬寔,寔以狀白滔,言:「趙王知宋端無禮於大王,深加責讓,實無他志。」 武俊亦遣承令官鄭和隨寔使者見滔,謝之。 滔乃悅,相待如初。 然武俊以是益恨滔矣。
Wang Wujun, seeing that Tao had already defeated Li Sheng yet still lingered at Yingzhou and had not returned to Weiqiao, sent his supervising secretary Song Duan to hurry him back. When Duan met Tao his words were insolent. Tao was furious and sent word to Wujun: "Tao has not yet returned south because of a fever. Great King, your elder brother has suddenly been saying such things. Tao turned against his ruler and abandoned his elder brother to save Weibo as easily as stepping out of a shoe. Your elder brother will surely mistrust me. Let him do as he pleases! Duan returned with his report. Wujun explained the matter to Ma Shi in person, and Shi laid the facts before Tao, saying, "The Prince of Zhao knows Song Duan was rude to you and has rebuked him sharply. He has no other design." Wujun also sent his commissioner of orders, Zheng He, with Shi's envoy to see Tao and offer an apology. Tao was mollified and treated him as he had before. Yet Wujun only hated Tao all the more for it."
24
六月,李抱真使參謀賈林詣武俊壁詐降。 武俊見之。 林曰:「林來奉詔,非降也。」 武俊色動,問其故,林曰:「天子知大夫宿著誠效,及登壇之日,撫膺顧左右曰:『我本徇忠義,天子不察。』 諸將亦嘗共表大夫之志。 天子語使者曰:『朕前事誠誤,悔之無及。 朋友失意,尚可謝,況朕為四海之主乎。』」 武俊曰:「僕胡人也,為將尚知愛百姓,況天子,豈專以殺人為事乎! 今山東連兵,暴骨如莽,就使克捷,與誰守之! 僕不憚歸國,但已與諸鎮結盟。 胡人性直,不欲使曲在己。 天子誠能下詔赦諸鎮之罪,僕當首唱從化。 諸鎮有不從者,請奉辭伐之。 如此,則上不負天子,下不負同列,不過五旬,河朔定矣。」 使林還報抱真,陰相約結。
In the sixth month, Li Baozhen sent his staff officer Jia Lin to Wujun's camp under pretense of surrender. Wujun received him. Lin said, "I have come bearing an imperial order. This is no surrender." Wujun's face changed. He asked why. Lin said, "The emperor knows you have long served with loyal devotion. On the day you took command, he beat his breast and told those around him, 'I meant only to serve loyalty and righteousness, but the throne did not see it. The generals too had jointly attested to your loyal intent. The emperor told the envoy, 'What I did before was truly wrong, and regret comes too late.' When a friend is wronged, one can still make amends. How much more so when I am sovereign of the realm?' Wujun said, "I am a barbarian myself. Even as a general I know to care for the people. Surely the emperor would not make killing his sole business! Armies clash without end east of the mountains, and the dead lie exposed like wild grass. Even if we won, who would be left to hold the land? I do not shrink from returning to allegiance, but I have already sworn alliance with the other circuits. We barbarians are blunt by nature and do not wish to bear the blame ourselves. If the emperor will truly issue an edict pardoning the circuits, I will be the first to lead them back to allegiance. If any circuit refuses, grant me leave to march against it. That way I would fail neither the throne above nor my peers below, and within fifty days the Hebei region would be settled." He sent Lin back to Baozhen with his answer, and the two men secretly bound themselves in agreement.
25
庚戌,初行稅間架、除陌錢法。 時河東、澤潞、河陽、朔方四軍屯魏縣,神策、永平、宣武、淮南、浙西、荊南、江泗、沔鄂、湖南、黔中、劍南、嶺南諸軍環淮寧之境。 舊制,諸道軍出境,則仰給度支。 上優恤士卒,每出境,加給酒肉,本道糧仍給其家。 一人兼三人之給,故將士利之。 各出軍才逾境而止,月費錢百三十餘萬緡,常賦不能供。 判度支趙贊乃奏行二法:所謂稅間架者,每屋兩架為間,上屋稅錢二千,中稅千,下稅五百,吏執筆握算,入人室廬計其數。 或有宅屋多而無它資者,出錢動數百緡。 敢匿一間,杖六十,賞告者錢五十緡。 所謂除陌錢者,公私給與及賣買,每緡官留五十錢,給它物及相貿易者,約錢為率。 敢隱錢百,杖六十,罰錢二千,賞告者錢十緡,其賞錢皆出坐事之家。 於是愁怨之聲,盈於遠近。
On gengxu, the building-interval tax and the transaction-cut cash law were first enacted. At the time the armies of Hedong, Zelu, Heyang, and Shuofang were encamped at Weixian, while Shence, Yongping, Xuanwu, Huainan, Zhexi, Jingnan, Jiangsi, Mian'e, Hunan, Qianzhong, Jiannan, and Lingnan forces ringed Huaining. Under the old system, when circuit armies crossed their borders, they were supplied by the fiscal directorate. The emperor treated the soldiers generously. Whenever they crossed the border, they received extra wine and meat, while their families still drew rations from their home circuit. One man thus drew the pay of three, so officers and soldiers had every reason to welcome it. Each circuit sent troops only just across the border and then halted. Monthly costs exceeded 1.3 million strings of cash, and ordinary revenue could not sustain them. Vice Director of the Fiscal Directorate Zhao Zan then proposed two new taxes. The building-interval tax counted every two roof bays as one interval: upper-grade houses paid two thousand cash, middle-grade one thousand, and lower-grade five hundred. Clerks with brush and counting rods entered people's homes to tally every bay. Some who owned many houses but little else had to pay several hundred strings of cash. Anyone who concealed a single interval received sixty blows with the staff, and informers were rewarded fifty strings of cash. The transaction-cut cash applied to public and private gifts and to all buying and selling: for every string of cash the government kept fifty. When goods were exchanged instead, the levy was reckoned by an equivalent cash value. Anyone who concealed a hundred cash received sixty blows with the staff and a fine of two thousand cash. Informers were rewarded ten strings, all paid by the offending household. Soon cries of grief and resentment filled the land near and far.
26
丁卯,徙郴王逾為丹王,鄜王遘為簡王。
On dingmao, Prince Yu of Chen was redesignated Prince of Dan, and Prince Gui of Fu was redesignated Prince of Jian.
27
庚午,答蕃判官監察御史於□與吐蕃使者論剌沒藏至自青海,言疆場已定,請遣區頰贊歸國。 秋,七月,甲申,以禮部尚書李揆為入蕃會盟使。 壬辰,詔諸將相與區頰贊盟於城西。 李揆有才望,盧杞惡之,故使之入吐蕃。 揆言於上曰:「巨不憚遠行,恐死於道路,不能達詔命!」 上為之惻然,謂杞曰:「揆無乃太老!」 對曰:「使遠夷,非諳練朝廷故事者不可。 且揆行,則自今年少於揆者,不敢辭遠使矣。」
On gengwu, the Tibet-response judge and censor Yu □ met with the Tibetan envoy to discuss La Meizang's arrival from Qinghai. They reported that the frontier had been settled and asked that Qu Zan be sent home. In autumn, the seventh month, on jiashen, Minister of Rites Li Kui was appointed envoy to Tibet for the treaty ceremony. On renchen, an edict ordered the generals to enter into alliance with Qu Zan west of the city. Li Kui had talent and standing. Lu Qi disliked him and therefore had him sent into Tibet. Kui told the emperor, "I do not shrink from a distant journey, but I fear I may die on the road and fail to carry out your command!" The emperor was moved and said to Qi, "Kui may be too old for this!" Qi replied, "An envoy to distant lands must be someone well versed in court precedent. And if Kui goes, then from this year on no one younger than he will dare refuse a distant mission."
28
八月,丁未,李希烈將兵三萬圍哥舒曜於襄城,詔李勉及神策將劉德信將兵救之。 乙卯,希烈將曹季昌以隨州降,尋復為其將康叔夜所殺。
In the eighth month, on dingwei, Li Xilie besieged Geshu Yao at Xiangcheng with thirty thousand men. The throne ordered Li Mian and the Shence general Liu Dexin to march to his relief. On yimao, Xilie's general Cao Jichang surrendered Suizhou, but was soon killed by another of Xilie's officers, Kang Shuye.
29
初,上在東宮,聞監察御史嘉興陸贄名,即位,召為翰林學士,數問以得失。 時兩河用兵久不決,賦役日滋,贄以兵窮民困,恐別生內變,乃上奏,其略曰:「克敵之要,在乎將得其人; 馭將之方,在乎操得其柄。 將非其人者,兵雖眾不足恃; 操失其柄者,將雖材不為用。」 又曰:「將不能使兵,國不能馭將,非止費財玩寇之弊,亦有不戢自焚之災。」 又曰:「今兩河、淮西為叛亂之帥者,獨四五凶人而已。 尚恐其中或傍遭詿誤,內蓄危疑。 蒼黃失圖,勢不得止。 況其餘眾,蓋並脅從,苟知全生,豈願為惡!」 又曰:「無紓目前之虞,或興意外之患。 人者,邦之本也。 財者,人之心也。 其心傷則其本傷,其本傷則枝幹顛瘁矣。」 又曰:「人搖不寧,事變難測,是以兵貴拙速,不尚巧遲。 若不靖於本而務救於末,則救之所為,乃禍之所起也。」 又論關中形勢,以為:「王者蓄威以昭德,偏廢則危; 居重以馭輕,倒持則悖。 王畿者,四方之本也。 太宗列置府兵,分隸禁衛,大凡諸府八百餘所,而在關中者殆五百焉。 舉天下不敵關中之半,則居重馭輕之意明矣。 承平漸久,武備浸微,雖府衛具存而卒乘罕習。 故祿山竊倒持之柄,乘外重之資,一舉滔天,兩京不守。 尚賴西邊有兵,諸牧有馬,每州有糧,故肅宗得以中興。 乾元之後,繼有外虞,悉師東討,邊備既弛,禁戒亦空,吐蕃乘虛,深入為寇,故先皇帝莫與為御,避之東遊。 是皆失居重馭輕之權,忘深根固柢之慮。 內寇則汧、函失險,外侵則汧、渭為戎。 於斯之時,雖有四方之師,寧救一朝之患,陛下追想及此,豈不為之寒心哉! 今朔方、太原之眾,遠在山東; 神策六軍之兵,繼出關外。 儻有賊臣啖寇,黠虜覷邊,伺隙乘虛,微犯亭障,此愚臣所竊憂也。 未審陛下其何以御之! 側聞伐叛之初,議者多易其事,僉謂有征無戰,役不逾時,計兵未甚多,度費未甚廣,於事為無擾,於人為不勞; 曾不料兵連禍拏,變故難測,日引月長,漸乖始圖。 往歲為天下所患,鹹謂除之則可致昇平者,李正己、李寶臣、梁崇義、田悅是也。 往歲謂國家所信,鹹謂任之則可除禍亂者,朱滔、李希烈是也。 既而正己死,李納繼之; 寶臣死,惟岳繼之; 崇義卒,希烈叛; 惟岳戮,朱滔攜。 然則往歲之所患者,四去其三矣,而患竟不衰; 往歲之所信者,今則自叛矣,而餘又難保。 是知立國之安危在勢,任事之濟否在人。 勢苟安,則異類同心也; 勢苟危,則舟中敵國也。 陛下豈可不追鑒往事,惟新令圖,修偏廢這柄以靖人,復倒持之權以固國! 而乃孜孜汲汲,報思勞神,徇無巳之求,望難必之效乎! 今關輔之間,征發已甚,宮苑之內,備衛不全。 萬一將帥之中,又如朱滔、希烈,或負固邊壘,誘致豺狼,或竊發郊畿,驚犯城闕,此亦愚臣所竊為憂者也,夫審陛下復何以備之! 陛下儻過聽愚計,所遣神策六軍李晟等及節將子弟,悉可追還。 明敕涇、隴、邠,寧,但令嚴備封守,仍雲更不征發,使知各保安居。 又降德音,罷京城及畿縣間架等雜稅,則冀已輸者弭怨,見處者獲寧,人心不搖,邦本自固。」 上不能用。
While still heir apparent, the emperor had heard of the Jiaxing censor Lu Zhi. After his accession he summoned Lu to the Hanlin Academy and repeatedly asked his judgment on what had gone right and wrong. The war in the two He regions dragged on without decision, and levies grew heavier by the day. Seeing armies exhausted and the people in distress, Zhi feared fresh internal turmoil and submitted a memorial whose gist ran: "The key to defeating the enemy lies in appointing the right commander; the method of controlling commanders lies in keeping firm hold of the reins. When the commander is wrong, numbers avail nothing; when control of the reins is lost, even a capable commander will not serve." He also wrote, "When commanders cannot command soldiers and the state cannot control commanders, the harm is not only wasted treasure and indulged enemies. There is also the disaster of failing to restrain oneself and being consumed by one's own fire." He also wrote, "Among the rebel leaders of the two He regions and Huaixi today, there are only four or five wicked men. Even among them, some may have been misled and now harbor doubt and fear within. Thrown into confusion without a plan, they cannot stop even if they wished to. As for the rest, they follow under coercion. If they knew how to save their lives, who would choose evil?" He also wrote, "Fail to relieve present anxieties, and unexpected calamity may follow. The people are the root of the state. Wealth is the heart of the people. When the heart is wounded, the root is wounded; when the root is wounded, branch and trunk wither." He also wrote, "When the people are unsettled, events become unpredictable. In war, blunt speed is prized, not clever delay. If one does not settle the root but strives only to remedy the branch, the remedy itself becomes the source of calamity." He also discussed the strategic situation of Guanzhong, arguing that "a ruler stores up authority to display virtue, but neglect one part of it and danger follows; hold the heavy to control the light; reverse the hilt and all is perverse. The royal domain is the root of the realm. Emperor Taizong arrayed garrison militia and assigned them to the palace guard. In all there were more than eight hundred garrisons, nearly five hundred of them in Guanzhong. The whole realm did not equal half of Guanzhong. The intent of holding the heavy to control the light was plain. Long peace gradually deepened, and military readiness slowly declined. The garrisons and guards remained, but soldiers and chariots were rarely trained. That was how Lushan seized the reversed hilt, exploited the weight of outer forces, and in one stroke raised rebellion to the skies until the two capitals fell. Still, because the western frontier had armies, the pastures had horses, and every prefecture had grain, Emperor Suzong was able to restore the dynasty. After the Qianyuan era came one foreign alarm after another. All forces were sent east to campaign, frontier defenses slackened, and the capital guard was emptied. Tibet seized the opening, raided deep, and the late emperor had no one to oppose it and fled east. All this came of losing the power of holding the heavy to control the light and forgetting to root deeply and fix the foundation. With internal rebellion, Qian and Han lost their passes; with external invasion, Qian and Wei became barbarian ground. At such a moment, though armies stood in the four quarters, could they save a single morning's peril? When Your Majesty thinks back to this, does it not chill the heart? Now the hosts of Shuofang and Taiyuan are far off in Shandong; and the six Shence armies have gone out beyond the passes one after another. If a treacherous minister fed the enemy, a cunning barbarian watched the border, waited for an opening, and lightly violated the outposts — that is what your humble servant privately fears. How would Your Majesty oppose it? I have heard that at the start of the campaign against rebellion many in council treated the matter lightly. All said there would be expedition without battle, service would not exceed its season, the troops would not be many, the expense not great, the affair would cause no disturbance, and the people no hardship; none expected war to drag on and calamity to multiply, events to prove unpredictable, days to stretch into months, and the outcome to drift ever farther from the original plan. In past years the men the realm regarded as its affliction, whom all said must be removed to restore peace, were Li Zhengji, Li Baochen, Liang Chongyi, and Tian Yue. In past years the men the state trusted, whom all said could be entrusted to remove calamity and rebellion, were Zhu Tao and Li Xilie. Then Zhengji died and Li Na succeeded him; Baochen died and Wei Yue succeeded him; Chongyi died and Xilie rebelled; Wei Yue was executed and Zhu Tao turned hostile. Thus of the men who had afflicted the realm, three of four were gone, yet the affliction did not abate; those once trusted have now rebelled on their own, and the rest cannot be relied on. From this one knows that a state's safety or peril lies in its strategic position, and whether affairs succeed lies in the men appointed. When the position is secure, even unlike kinds share one heart; when the position is perilous, those in one boat become enemy states. How can Your Majesty fail to take warning from the past, renew your plans, repair the neglected handle of power to settle the people, and restore the reversed authority to secure the state! Yet instead you toil tirelessly, wear your spirit with endless labor, indulge endless demands, and hope for effects that cannot be guaranteed! Now levies around the capital are already extreme, while within the palace grounds the guard is incomplete. If among the commanders there should again be men like Zhu Tao and Xilie, who hold fast at the frontier and invite wolves, or who rise secretly in the capital outskirts and strike at the palace gates — that too is what your humble servant privately fears. How would Your Majesty prepare against it? If Your Majesty will heed this humble plan, the six Shence armies under Li Sheng and the rest, and the sons of the frontier commanders, may all be recalled. Issue a clear edict to Jing, Long, Bin, and Ning to hold their defenses strictly, and declare that no further levies will be made, so that each region may know its people are secure. Also issue a gracious edict abolishing the building-interval and other miscellaneous taxes in the capital and its surrounding counties. Then those who have already paid may lay aside resentment, those still facing the taxes may find peace, hearts will not waver, and the root of the state will stand firm." The emperor did not adopt it.
30
壬戌,以汴西運使崔縱兼魏州四節度都糧料使。 縱,渙之子也。
On renxu, Bianxi transport commissioner Cui Zong was additionally appointed chief commissary officer for the four military commissioners at Weizhou. Zong was the son of Huan.
31
九月,丙戌,神策將劉德言、宣武將唐漢臣與淮寧將李克誠戰,敗於滬澗。 時李勉遣漢臣將兵萬人救襄城,上遣德信帥諸將家應募者三千人助之。 勉奏:「李希烈精兵皆在襄城,許州空虛,若襲許州,則襄城圍自解。」 遣二蔣趣許州,未至數十里,上遣中使責其違詔,二將狼狽而返,無復斥候。 克誠伏兵邀之,殺傷大半。 漢臣奔大梁,德信奔汝州。 希烈遊兵剽掠至伊闕。 勉復遣其將李堅帥四千人助守東都,希烈以兵絕其後,堅軍不得還。 汴軍由是不振,襄城益危。
In the ninth month, on bingxu, the Shence general Liu Deyan, the Xuanwu general Tang Hanchen, and the Huaining general Li Kecheng were defeated at Hujian. Li Mian had sent Hanchen with ten thousand men to relieve Xiangcheng. The emperor sent Dexin with three thousand recruits drawn from the generals' families to assist him. Li Mian memorialized the throne: "Li Xilie's crack troops are all at Xiangcheng, and Xuzhou lies empty. A strike at Xuzhou would break the siege of Xiangcheng by itself. He then sent the two generals hurrying toward Xuzhou. They had not yet come within several tens of li when the emperor dispatched a palace envoy to rebuke them for defying the edict. The two generals fled back in disorder and posted no scouts thereafter. Kecheng ambushed them and killed or wounded more than half their force. Hanchen fled to Daliang and Dexin to Ruzhou. Xilie's marauding detachments raided as far as Yique. Mian again sent his general Li Jian with four thousand men to help hold the Eastern Capital. Xilie cut off their rear, and Jian's force could not get back. From this the Bian armies lost heart, and Xiangcheng grew ever more desperate.
32
上以諸軍討淮寧者不相統壹,庚子,以舒王謨為荊襄等道行營都元帥,更名誼。 以戶部尚書蕭復為長史,右庶子孔巢父為左司馬,諫議大夫樊澤為右司馬,自餘將佐皆選中外之望。 未行,會涇師作亂而止。 復,嵩之也; 巢父,孔子三十七世孫也。
Because the armies campaigning against Huaining lacked unified command, on gengzi the emperor appointed Prince Shu Mo commander-in-chief of the mobile camp on the Jing-Xiang and other routes and renamed him Yi. Minister of Revenue Xiao Fu was made chief secretary, Right Companion of the Heir Apparent Kong Chaofu left secretary, and Remonstrance Officer Fan Ze right secretary; all the remaining commanders and staff were drawn from men respected at court and in the provinces. Before they could depart, the Jingyuan troops mutinied and the appointment was shelved. Fu was Song's son. Chaofu was a thirty-seventh-generation descendant of Confucius.
33
上發涇原等諸道兵救襄城。 冬,十月,丙午,涇原節度使姚令言將兵五千至京師。 軍士冒雨,寒甚,多攜子弟而來,冀得厚賜遺其家,既至,一無所賜。 丁未,發至滻水,詔京兆尹王滻犒師,惟糲食菜啖。 眾怒,蹴而覆之,因揚言曰:「吾輩將死於敵,而食且不飽,安能以微命拒白刃邪! 聞瓊林、大盈二庫,金帛盈溢,不如相與取之。」 乃擐甲張旗鼓噪,還趣京城。 令言入辭,尚在禁中,聞之,馳至長樂阪,遇之。 軍士射令言,令言抱馬鬣突入亂兵,呼曰:「諸君失計! 東征立功,何患不富貴,乃為族滅之計乎!」 軍士不聽,以兵擁令言而西。 上遽命賜帛,人二匹。 眾益怒,射中使。 又命中使宣慰,賊已至通化門外,中使出門,賊殺之。 又命出金帛二十車賜之。 賊已入城,喧聲浩浩,不復可遏。 百姓狼狽駭走,賊大呼告之曰:「汝曹勿恐,不奪汝商貨僦質矣! 不稅汝間架陌錢矣!」 上遣普王誼、翰林學士姜公輔出慰諭之。 賊已陳於丹鳳門外,小民聚觀者以萬計。
The emperor mobilized troops from Jingyuan and other circuits to relieve Xiangcheng. In winter, the tenth month, on bingwu, Jingyuan military commissioner Yao Lingyan reached the capital with five thousand troops. The soldiers marched through rain in bitter cold. Many had brought sons and younger brothers along, hoping for generous rewards to send home. When they arrived, they received nothing. On dingwei they marched on to Chan River. The throne ordered Capital Prefect Wang Mi to feast the troops, but they were given only coarse grain and vegetables. The men grew furious, kicked the food over, and began shouting, "We are sent to die fighting the enemy, yet we cannot even eat our fill. How can we stake our lives against naked steel! We hear the Qionglin and Daying treasuries overflow with gold and silk. Let us go take them together. With that they donned armor, raised banners and drums, and clamored their way back toward the capital. Lingyan had entered the palace to bid farewell and was still within the forbidden precinct when he heard the uproar. He galloped to Changle Slope and met the mutineers. The soldiers fired on Lingyan. He seized his horse's mane and plunged into the mob, shouting, "You have lost your heads! March east and win glory in battle—why should wealth and rank elude you? Why choose a course that will destroy your families to the last man! The soldiers would not listen and, weapons raised, swept Lingyan westward with them. The emperor hastily ordered each man given two bolts of silk. The mob only grew angrier and fired on the palace envoy. The emperor again sent a palace envoy to offer reassurance. The rebels had already reached Tonghua Gate. When the envoy stepped outside, they killed him. The emperor again ordered twenty cartloads of gold and silk sent out as gifts. The rebels were already inside the walls. The uproar was thunderous and could no longer be stopped. Civilians fled in terror. The rebels shouted reassurances: "Do not be afraid—we will not seize your goods or your market pledges! We will not collect your building-interval and street taxes! The emperor sent Prince Pu Yi and Hanlin Academician Jiang Gongfu out to soothe and reason with them. The rebels had already formed ranks outside Danfeng Gate, and tens of thousands of common people had gathered to watch."
34
初,神策軍使白志貞掌召募禁兵,東征死亡者志貞皆隱不以聞,但受市井富兒賂而補之,名在軍籍受給賜,而身居市廛為販鬻。 司農卿段秀實上言:「禁兵不精,其數全少,卒有患難,將何待之!」 不聽。 至是,上召禁兵以御賊,竟無一人至者。 賊已斬關而入,上乃與王貴妃、韋淑妃、太子、諸王、唐安公主自苑北門出,王貴妃以傳國寶系衣中以從。 後宮諸王、公主不及從者什七八。
Earlier, Shence Army commissioner Bai Zhizhen had charge of recruiting palace troops. He concealed the dead from the eastern campaign and never reported them. He simply took bribes from wealthy youths in the markets to fill the rolls. Their names stood on the military registers and they drew pay and rations, yet they lived in the markets as peddlers. Minister of Agriculture Duan Xiushi memorialized the throne: "The palace troops are poorly trained and far too few in number. If sudden disaster strikes, what shall we rely on! The emperor did not heed him. Now the emperor summoned the palace troops to repel the rebels, yet not one man appeared. The rebels had already broken through the gates. The emperor then fled with Consort Wang, Consort Wei, the crown prince, the princes, and Princess Tang'an through the northern gate of the imperial park. Consort Wang hid the imperial seal in her robes and went with them. Seven or eight tenths of the consorts, princes, and princesses in the rear palace could not get away in time.
35
初,魚朝恩既誅,宦官不復典兵,有竇文場、霍仙鳴者,嘗事上於東宮,至是,帥宦官左右僅百人以從,使普王誼前驅,太子執兵以殿。 司農卿郭曙以部曲數十人獵苑中,聞蹕,謁道左,遂以其眾從。 曙,曖之弟也。 右龍武軍使令狐建方教射於軍中,聞之,帥麾下四百人從,乃使建居後為殿。
After Yu Chao'en was executed, eunuchs no longer commanded troops. Dou Wenchang and Huo Xianming, who had once served the emperor in the Eastern Palace, now led scarcely a hundred eunuch attendants in the flight. Prince Pu Yi went ahead as vanguard; the crown prince bore arms as rearguard. Minister of Agriculture Guo Shu was hunting in the park with several dozen retainers. Hearing the imperial flight, he bowed at the roadside and joined the procession with his men. Shu was Ai's younger brother. Right commissioner of the Dragon Martial Army Linghu Jian was drilling archery in camp when he heard the news. He led four hundred of his men in pursuit, and was then posted at the rear as rearguard.
36
姜公輔叩馬言曰:「朱訿嘗為涇帥,坐弟滔之故,廢處京師,心嘗怏怏。 臣嘗謂陛下既不能推心待之,則不如殺之,毋貽後患。 今亂兵若奉以為主,則難制矣。 請召使從行。」 上倉猝不暇用其言,曰:「無及矣!」 遂行。 夜至咸陽,飯數匕而過。 時事出非意,群臣皆不知乘輿所之。 盧杞、關播逾中書垣而出。 白志貞、王翃及御史大夫於頎、中丞劉從一、戶部侍郎趙贊、翰林學士陸贄、吳通微等追及上於咸陽。 頎,□之從父兄弟; 從一,齊賢之從孫也。
Jiang Gongfu caught the emperor's bridle and said, "Zhu Ci once commanded Jingyuan. Because of his brother Tao's rebellion he was sidelined in the capital, and he has long nursed a grievance. I once told Your Majesty that if you could not trust him openly, you would do better to kill him and leave no trouble behind. If the mutineers now rally behind him, he will be impossible to control. I beg that he be summoned to join Your Majesty's flight." In the panic the emperor had no time to heed him. "Too late!" he said. And they pressed on. They reached Xianyang by night and moved on after no more than a few mouthfuls of food. Events had taken everyone by surprise, and not one minister knew where the emperor was headed. Lu Qi and Guan Bo climbed over the Secretariat wall and fled. Bai Zhizhen, Wang Hong, Censor-in-Chief Yu Yi, Vice Censor-in-Chief Liu Congyi, Vice Minister of Revenue Zhao Zan, and Hanlin Academicians Lu Zhi and Wu Tongwei caught up with the emperor at Xianyang. Yi was a paternal cousin of □. Congyi was a grand-nephew of Qixian.
37
賊入宮,登含元殿,大呼曰:「天子已出,宜人自求富!」 遂歡噪,爭入府庫,運金帛,極力而止。 小民因之,亦入宮盜庫物,出而復入,通夕不已。 其不能入者,剽奪於路。 諸坊居民各相帥自守。 姚令言與亂兵謀曰:「今眾無主,不能持久,朱太尉閒居私第,請相與奉之。」 眾許諾。 乃遣數百騎迎泚於晉昌裡第。 夜半,泚按轡列炬,傳呼入宮,居含元殿,設警嚴,自稱權知六軍。 戊申旦,泚徙居白華殿,出榜於外,稱:「涇原將士久處邊陲,不閒朝禮,輒入宮闕,致驚乘輿,西出巡幸。 太尉已權臨六軍,應神策等軍士及文武百官凡有祿食者,悉詣行在。 不能往者,即詣本司。 若出三日,檢勘彼此無名者,皆斬!」 於是百官出見泚。 或勸迎乘輿,泚不悅,百官稍稍遁去。
The rebels entered the palace, mounted Hanyuan Hall, and shouted, "The emperor has fled. Gentlemen, help yourselves to wealth! With that they broke into cheers, stormed the treasuries, and hauled away gold and silk until they could carry no more. Ordinary people joined in, raiding the palace treasuries, going out and returning again and again all night long. Those who could not get inside looted along the streets. Residents of every ward rallied leaders and defended themselves. Yao Lingyan said to the mutineers, "This host has no leader and cannot hold together. Grand Commandant Zhu sits idle at home. Let us install him as our chief. The men agreed. They sent several hundred horsemen to bring Ci from his residence in Jinchang Lane. At midnight Ci entered the palace in a slow procession lit by ranks of torches. He took up residence in Hanyuan Hall, posted guards, and styled himself provisional overseer of the Six Armies. At dawn on wushen Ci moved to Baihua Hall and posted a proclamation, declaring, "The Jingyuan officers and soldiers have long served on the frontier and are unused to court ceremony. They rashly entered the palace, sending the emperor fleeing west on tour. The Grand Commandant has provisionally assumed command of the Six Armies. Shence troops and all civil and military officials who draw stipends should go at once to the traveling court. Those who cannot go should report to their own offices instead. After three days, anyone whose name appears on neither roll shall be executed! Officials then came out to pay court to Ci. Some urged him to welcome the emperor back. Ci took offense, and officials gradually began to slip away."
38
源休以使回紇還,賞薄,怨朝廷,入見泚,屏人密語移時,為泚陳成敗,引符命,勸之僭逆。 泚喜,然猶未決。 宿衛諸軍舉白幡降者,列於闕前甚眾。 泚夜於苑門出兵,旦自通化門入,駱驛不絕,張弓露刃,欲以威眾。
Yuan Xiu had returned from a mission to the Uyghurs with meager rewards and nursed a grievance against the court. He sought an audience with Ci, dismissed everyone else, and spoke with him in secret for a long while. He laid out Ci's prospects, cited omens and mandates, and urged him to seize the throne. Ci was pleased but still hesitated. Palace guard units that surrendered under white banners lined up before the gates in great numbers. That night Ci sent troops out through the park gate. At dawn they filed in through Tonghua Gate without pause, bows drawn and blades bare, to overawe the populace.
39
上思桑道茂之言,自咸陽幸奉天。 縣僚聞車駕猝至,欲逃匿山谷,主簿蘇弁止之。 弁,良嗣之兄孫也。 文武之臣稍稍繼至。 己酉,左金吾大將軍渾瑊至奉天。 瑊素有威望,眾心恃之稍安。
Mindful of Sang Daomao's prophecy, the emperor went on from Xianyang to Fengtian. When the county staff heard the emperor had arrived without warning, they wanted to flee into the hills. Chief clerk Su Bian stopped them. Bian was a grandson of Liangsi's elder brother. Civil and military officials gradually rejoined the court. On jiyou Left General of the Golden Quellers Hun Jian reached Fengtian. Jian had long commanded respect, and the court took heart at his arrival.
40
庚戌,源休勸朱泚禁十城門,毋得出朝士,朝士往往易服為傭僕潛出。 休又為泚說誘文武之士,使之附泚。 檢校司空、同平章事李忠臣久失兵柄,太僕卿張光晟自負其才,皆鬱鬱不得志,泚悉起而用之。 工部侍郎蔣鎮出亡,墜馬傷足,為泚所得。 先是,休以才能,光晟以節義,鎮以清素,都官員外郎彭偃以文學,太常卿敬釭以勇略,皆為時人所重,至是皆為泚用。
On gengxu Yuan Xiu urged Zhu Ci to seal the ten city gates and bar court officials from leaving. Officials often disguised themselves as hired servants to slip out. Xiu also worked to win over civil and military men and attach them to Ci. Acting Minister of Works and Co-Equal Grand Counselor Li Zhongchen had long lost military command, and Minister of Imperial Studs Zhang Guangsheng prided himself on his talents. Both nursed grievances. Ci restored them all to office. Vice Minister of Works Jiang Zhen fled but fell from his horse and hurt his foot, and Ci's men captured him. Earlier, Xiu had been esteemed for talent, Guangsheng for integrity, Zhen for rectitude, Court Review secretary Peng Yan for literary talent, and Minister of Ceremonies Jing Gang for courage and strategy. Now Ci employed them all.
41
鳳翔、涇原將張廷芝、段誠諫將數千人救襄城,未出潼關,聞朱泚據長安,殺其大將隴右兵馬使戴蘭,潰歸於泚。 泚於是自謂眾心所歸,反謀遂定,以源休為京兆尹、判度支,李忠臣為皇城使。 百司供億,六軍宿門,鹹擬乘輿。
Fengxiang and Jingyuan generals Zhang Tingzhi and Duan Chengjian were marching several thousand men to relieve Xiangcheng. Before they cleared Tong Pass they heard Zhu Ci held Chang'an. They killed their commander, Longyou army commissioner Dai Lan, and fled back in collapse to Ci. Ci then convinced himself that the people's hearts were his. His rebellion was decided. He made Yuan Xiu Capital Prefect and fiscal commissioner, and Li Zhongchen imperial city commissioner. The hundred offices provided supplies, the Six Armies guarded the gates—the whole apparatus modeled on the imperial court.
42
辛亥,以渾瑊為京畿、渭北節度使,行在都虞候白志貞為都知兵馬使,令狐建為中軍鼓角使,以神策都虞候侯仲莊為左衛將軍兼奉天防城使。
On xinhai Hun Jian was appointed military commissioner of the capital region and north of the Wei River; traveling-court chief adjutant Bai Zhizhen was made overall army commander; Linghu Jian was made central-army drum and horn officer; and Shence chief adjutant Hou Zhongzhuang was made Left Guard general and concurrently Fengtian city defense commissioner.
43
朱泚以司農卿段秀實久失兵柄,意其必怏怏,遣數十騎召之。 秀實閉門拒之,騎士逾垣入,劫之以兵。 秀實自度不免,乃謂子弟曰:「國家有患,吾於何避之,當以死徇社稷; 汝曹宜人自求生。」 乃往見泚。 泚喜曰:「段公來,吾事濟矣。」 延坐問計。 秀實說之曰:「公本以忠義著聞天下,今涇軍以犒賜不豐,遽有披猩,使乘輿播越。 夫犒賜不豐,有司之過也,天子安得知之! 公宜以此開諭將士,示以禍福,奉迎乘輿,復歸宮闕,此莫大之功也!」 泚默然不悅,然以秀實與己皆為朝廷所廢,遂推心委之。 左驍衛將軍劉海濱、涇原都虞候何明禮、孔目官岐靈岳,皆秀實素所厚也,秀實密與之謀誅泚,迎乘輿。
Zhu Ci supposed that Minister of Agriculture Duan Xiushi, long stripped of military command, must nurse a grievance, and sent several dozen horsemen to summon him. Xiushi shut his gate against them. The horsemen scaled the wall, entered, and forced him out at swordpoint. Xiushi knew he could not escape and told his sons and younger brothers, "The state is in peril. Where could I flee? I must die for the altars of the realm. You must look to your own survival. With that he went to see Ci. Ci said gladly, "Master Duan has come—my cause is won! He seated him and asked his plan. Xiushi urged him, "You were once famed throughout the realm for loyalty and righteousness. Now the Jing troops, angry that rewards were too meager, suddenly rampaged and drove the emperor into exile. Meager rewards were the fault of the officials responsible—the emperor could not have known! You should use this to persuade the troops, show them what they stand to gain or lose, welcome the emperor back, and restore the palace. Nothing could surpass such an achievement! Ci said nothing and looked displeased, but because Xiushi and he had both been cast aside by the court, he opened his heart and entrusted him fully. Left Guard general Liu Haibin, Jingyuan chief adjutant He Mingli, and clerk Qiling Yue were all men Xiushi had long favored. Xiushi secretly plotted with them to kill Ci and welcome the emperor back."
44
上初至奉天,詔征近道兵入援。 有上言:「朱泚為亂兵所立,且來攻城,宜早修守備。」 盧杞切齒言曰:「朱泚忠貞,群臣莫及,奈何言其從亂,傷大臣心! 臣請以百口保其不反。」 上亦以為然。 又聞群臣勸泚奉迎,乃詔諸道援兵至者皆營於三十里外。 姜公輔諫曰:「今宿衛單寡,防慮不可不深,若泚竭忠奉迎,何憚於兵多; 如其不然,有備無患。」 上乃悉召援兵入城。 盧杞及白志貞言於上曰:「臣觀朱泚心跡,必不至為逆,願擇大臣入京城宣慰以察之。」 上以問從臣皆畏憚,莫敢行。 金吾將軍吳漵獨請行,上悅。 漵退而告人曰:「食其祿而違其難,何以為臣! 吾幸托肺附,非不知往必死,但舉朝無蹈難之臣,使聖情慊慊耳!」 遂奉詔詣泚。 泚反謀已決,雖陽為受命,館漵於客省,尋殺之。 漵,湊之兄也。
When the emperor first reached Fengtian, he ordered nearby troops to march to his aid. A memorial came in: "Zhu Ci was set up by mutinous troops and is coming to attack the city. Defenses ought to be strengthened at once." Lu Qi said through clenched teeth, "Zhu Ci is loyal and faithful as no other minister can match. How dare anyone accuse him of rebellion and wound a great minister's heart! I pledge the lives of my entire household that he will not rebel." The emperor agreed. Hearing also that the ministers were urging Ci to welcome him back, he ordered relief troops from all circuits to encamp thirty li outside the city. Jiang Gongfu remonstrated, "The palace guard is dangerously thin, and precautions must be thorough. If Ci is truly loyal and means to welcome Your Majesty back, what harm could more troops do? If he is not, preparedness will see us through." The emperor then brought all relief troops into the city. Lu Qi and Bai Zhizhen told the emperor, "We have seen Zhu Ci's intentions and are sure he will not rebel. We should send a senior minister into the capital to reassure him and learn his mind." The emperor asked his attendants, but all were afraid and none would go. Golden Quellers general Wu Jin alone volunteered; the emperor was pleased. Jin withdrew and said to others, "To draw one's stipend yet shrink from danger—what sort of minister is that? I have been honored as a close confidant. I know going means certain death—but when no one in the entire court will face danger, how can the emperor's heart not be heavy!" He then obeyed the edict and went to Ci. Ci had already settled on rebellion. Though he pretended to accept the mission, he housed Jin in the guest quarters and soon killed him. Jin was the elder brother of Chou.
45
泚遣涇原兵馬使韓旻將銳兵三千,聲言迎大駕,實襲奉天。 時奉天守備單弱,段秀實謂岐靈岳曰:「事急矣!」 使靈岳詐為姚令言符,令旻且還,當與大軍俱發。 竊令言印未至,秀實倒用司農印印符,募善走者追之。 旻至駱驛,得符而還。 秀實謂同謀曰:「旻來,吾屬無類矣! 我當直搏泚殺之,不克則死,終不能為之臣也!」 乃令劉海賓、何明禮陰結軍中之士,欲使應之於外。 旻兵至,泚、令言大驚。 岐靈岳獨承其罪而死,不以及秀實等。
Ci sent Jingyuan military envoy Han Min with three thousand elite troops, claiming they would welcome the emperor but actually to strike Fengtian. Fengtian's defenses were weak. Duan Xiushi said to Qiling Yue, "This is urgent!" He had Ling Yue forge a dispatch in Yao Lingyan's name ordering Min to turn back for now and wait to march out with the main army. Lingyan's seal had not yet arrived, so Xiushi stamped the dispatch with the Commissioner of Imperial Granaries seal reversed and sent swift runners after him. Min reached Luoyi station, got the dispatch, and turned back. Xiushi told his fellow conspirators, "If Min gets through, we are all dead! I will go straight at Ci and kill him. If I fail, I die—but I will never serve him!" He then had Liu Haibin and He Mingli secretly rally troops in the army to support him from outside. When Min's troops returned, Ci and Lingyan were greatly alarmed. Qiling Yue alone took the blame and was executed; Xiushi and the others were not implicated.
46
是日,泚召李忠臣、源休、姚令言及秀實等議稱帝事。 秀實勃然起,奪休象笏,前唾泚面,大罵曰:「狂賊! 吾恨不斬汝萬段,豈從汝反邪!」 因以笏擊泚,泚舉手扞之,才中其額,濺血灑地。 泚與秀實相搏忷忷,左右猝愕,不知所為。 海賓不敢進,乘亂而逸。 忠臣前助泚,泚得匍匐脫走。 秀實知事不成,謂泚黨曰:「我不同汝反,何不殺我!」 眾爭前殺之。 泚一手承血,一手止其眾曰:「義士也,勿殺。」 秀實已死,泚哭之甚哀,以三品禮葬之,海賓縗服而逃,後二日,捕得,殺之。 亦不引何明禮。 明禮從泚攻奉天,復謀殺泚,亦死。 上聞秀實死,恨委用不至,涕泗久之。
That day Ci summoned Li Zhongchen, Yuan Xiu, Yao Lingyan, Xiushi, and others to discuss declaring himself emperor. Xiushi sprang up, snatched Xiu's ivory court tablet, stepped forward and spat in Ci's face, and shouted, "Mad rebel! I only regret I cannot hack you into ten thousand pieces—do you think I would follow you in rebellion!" He struck Ci with the tablet. Ci threw up a hand to block it; the blow glanced off his forehead and blood splattered on the floor. Ci and Xiushi grappled wildly; those around them stood frozen, unsure what to do. Haibin did not dare intervene and slipped away in the chaos. Zhongchen stepped forward to help Ci, and Ci crawled away to safety. Xiushi knew he had failed and said to Ci's followers, "I will not join your rebellion—why not kill me!" The crowd rushed forward and killed him. Ci caught the blood in one hand and held the crowd back with the other. "He was a righteous man," he said. "Enough." Xiushi was already dead. Ci wept over him bitterly and buried him with third-rank honors. Haibin fled in mourning dress; two days later he was captured and killed. He did not implicate He Mingli either. Mingli marched with Ci against Fengtian, plotted again to kill him, and also died. When the emperor learned of Xiushi's death, he grieved that such a man had never been properly used, and wept for a long time.
47
壬子,以少府監李昌雛為京畿、渭南節度使。
On renzi Li Changchu, Director of the Palace Parks, was appointed Military Commissioner of the Capital Region and Weinan.
48
鳳翔節度使、同平章事張鎰,性儒緩,好修飾邊幅,不習軍事,聞上在奉天,欲迎大駕,具服用貨財,獻於行在。 後營將李楚琳,為人剽悍,軍中畏之,嘗事朱泚,為泚所厚。 行軍司馬齊映與同幕齊抗言於鎰曰:「不去楚琳,必為亂首。」 鎰命楚琳出屯隴州。 楚琳托事不時發。 鎰方以迎駕為憂,謂楚琳已去矣。 楚琳夜與其黨作亂,鎰縋城而走,賊追及,殺之,判官王沼等皆死。 映自水竇出,抗為傭保負荷而逃,皆免。
Fengxiang Military Commissioner and Co-Equal Grand Counselor Zhang Yi was scholarly, unhurried, fastidious about appearances, and no soldier. Learning the emperor was at Fengtian, he prepared clothing, supplies, and goods to welcome him and sent them to the mobile court. Rear-camp general Li Chulin was fierce and violent, and the army feared him. He had once served Zhu Ci and enjoyed Ci's favor. Field officer Qi Ying and fellow staff member Qi Kang told Yi, "Unless Chulin is removed, he will surely lead a revolt." Yi ordered Chulin to withdraw and encamp at Longzhou. Chulin pleaded pressing business and did not leave on schedule. Yi, preoccupied with welcoming the emperor, assumed Chulin had already left. Chulin rebelled with his followers that night. Yi lowered himself from the wall by rope and fled, but the rebels caught and killed him, along with chief secretary Wang Zhao and others. Ying slipped out through a drain; Kang escaped disguised as a hired porter carrying goods. Both survived.
49
始,上以奉天迫隘,欲幸鳳翔。 戶部尚書蕭復聞之,遽請見曰:「陛下大誤,鳳翔將卒皆朱泚故部曲,其中必有與之同惡者。 臣尚憂張鎰不能久,豈得以鑾輿蹈不測之淵乎!」 上曰:「吾行計已決,試為卿留一日。」 明日,聞鳳翔亂,乃止。
At first, finding Fengtian cramped, the emperor wanted to go to Fengxiang. Minister of Revenue Xiao Fu heard this and urgently requested an audience. "Your Majesty is gravely mistaken," he said. "The Fengxiang troops are Zhu Ci's old units—some of them must still share his cause. I already doubt Zhang Yi can hold the city—how can Your Majesty risk the imperial carriage in such uncertainty!" The emperor said, "My mind is made up, but I will wait one day—for your sake." The next day word came of the Fengxiang uprising, and he abandoned the plan.
50
齊映、齊抗皆詣奉天,以映為御史中丞,抗為侍御史。 楚琳自為節度使,降於朱泚。 隴州刺史郝通奔於楚琳。
Qi Ying and Qi Kang both reached Fengtian. Ying was made Censor-in-Chief and Kang Attending Censor. Chulin declared himself military commissioner and submitted to Zhu Ci. Longzhou Prefect Hao Tong fled to Chulin.
51
商州團練兵殺其刺史謝良輔。
Shangzhou regimental troops killed their prefect Xie Liangfu.
52
朱泚自白華殿入宣政殿,自稱大秦皇帝,改元應天。 癸丑,泚以姚令言為侍中、關內元帥,李忠臣為司空兼侍中,源休為中書侍郎、同平章事、判度支,蔣鎮為吏部侍郎,樊系為禮部侍郎,彭偃為中書舍人,自餘張光晟等各拜官有差。 立弟滔為皇大弟。 姚令言與源休共掌朝政,凡泚之謀畫、遷除、軍旅、資糧,皆稟示休。 休勸泚誅翦宗室在京城者以絕人望,殺郡王、王子、王孫凡七十七人。 尋又以蔣鎮為門下侍郎,李子平為諫議大夫,並同平章事。 鎮憂懼,每懷刀欲自殺,又欲亡竄,然性怯,竟不果。 源休勸泚誅朝士之竄匿者以脅其餘,鎮力救之,賴以全者甚眾。 樊系為泚撰冊文,既成,仰藥而死。 大理卿膠水蔣沇詣行在,為賊所得,逼以官,沇絕食稱病,潛竄得免。
Zhu Ci moved from Baihua Hall into Xuanzheng Hall, declared himself Emperor of Great Qin, and changed the era name to Yingtian. On guichou Ci made Yao Lingyan Grand Counselor and Commander-in-Chief of Guannei, Li Zhongchen Minister of Works and Grand Counselor, Yuan Xiu Vice Director of the Secretariat and Co-Equal Grand Counselor with charge of the treasury, Jiang Zhen Vice Minister of Personnel, Fan Xi Vice Minister of Rites, Peng Yan Secretariat Draftsman, and the rest—including Zhang Guangsheng—received appointments of varying rank. He made his younger brother Tao Imperial Great Younger Brother. Yao Lingyan and Yuan Xiu jointly ran the court. Ci reported all planning, appointments, military affairs, and supplies to Xiu. Xiu urged Ci to slaughter the imperial clansmen still in the capital to destroy any hope of restoration; seventy-seven princes and grandsons were killed. Soon Jiang Zhen was made Vice Director of the Chancellery and Li Ziping Remonstrance Grandee, both Co-Equal Grand Counselors. Zhen lived in terror, kept a knife to kill himself, and thought of fleeing—but he was too timid, and in the end did nothing. Yuan Xiu urged Ci to kill hidden court officials to intimidate the rest. Zhen intervened forcefully, and many owed their lives to him. Fan Xi wrote Ci's accession document; when it was done, he took poison and died. Minister of Justice Jiang Yan of Jiaoshui was going to the mobile court when rebels captured him and pressed him to serve. He stopped eating, claimed illness, slipped away, and escaped.
53
哥舒曜食盡,棄襄城奔洛陽。 李希烈陷襄城。
Geshu Yao ran out of food, abandoned Xiangcheng, and fled to Luoyang. Li Xilie took Xiangcheng.
54
右龍武將軍李觀將衛兵千餘人從上於奉天,上委之召募,數日,得五千餘人,列之通衢,旗鼓嚴整,城人為之增氣。
Right Dragon Guard general Li Guan had brought more than a thousand guard troops to Fengtian with the emperor. The emperor put him in charge of recruitment, and within days he raised more than five thousand men. Drawn up on the main thoroughfare with banners and drums in tight order, they greatly heartened the town.
55
姚令言之東出也,以兵馬使京兆馮河清為涇原留後,判官河中姚況知涇州事。 河清、況聞上幸奉天,集將士大哭,激以忠義,發甲兵、器械百餘車,通夕輸行在。 城中方苦無甲兵,得之,士氣大振。 詔以河清為四鎮、北庭行營、涇原節度使,況為行軍司馬。
When Yao Lingyan marched east, he left Jingyuan military envoy Feng Heqing of Jingzhao as acting commissioner and staff member Yao Kuang of Hezhong in charge of Jingzhou. When Heqing and Kuang heard the emperor had reached Fengtian, they assembled the troops, wept openly, and roused them with talk of loyalty. They sent more than a hundred cartloads of armor and weapons to the mobile court, working through the night. The city had been desperate for arms; when they arrived, morale soared. Heqing was appointed Military Commissioner of the Four Garrisons and Northern Frontier Mobile Command and Jingyuan, and Kuang field officer.
56
上至奉天數日,右僕射、同平章事崔寧始至,上喜甚,撫勞有加。 寧退,謂所親曰:「主上聰明英武,從善如流,但為盧杞所惑,以至於此!」 因潸然出涕。 杞聞之,與王翃謀陷之。 翃言於上曰:「臣與寧俱出京城,寧數下馬便液,久之不至,有顧望意。」 會朱泚下詔,以左丞柳渾同平章事,寧為中書令。 渾,襄陽人也,時亡在山谷。 翃使盩厔尉康湛詐為寧遺朱泚書,獻之。 杞因譖寧與朱泚結盟,約為內應,故獨後至。 乙卯,上遣中使引寧就幕下,雲宣密旨,二力士自後縊殺之,中外皆稱其冤。 上聞之,乃赦其家。
Several days after the emperor reached Fengtian, Right Vice Director and Co-Equal Grand Counselor Cui Ning finally arrived. The emperor was overjoyed and received him with warm praise and reward. Ning withdrew and told those close to him, "The emperor is intelligent and decisive and takes good counsel readily—but Lu Qi has led him to this pass!" He wept openly. Qi heard of it and with Wang Xiong plotted to destroy him. Xiong told the emperor, "Ning and I left the capital together. He kept dismounting to relieve himself and was slow to arrive—I suspect he was hesitating." Just then Zhu Ci issued an edict making Left Assistant Director Liu Hun Co-Equal Grand Counselor and Ning Grand Director of the Secretariat. Hun was from Xiangyang and was then hiding in the hills. Xiong had Zhouzhi magistrate Kang Zhan forge a letter from Ning to Zhu Ci and submitted it. Qi then accused Ning of allying with Zhu Ci and promising to serve as his inside collaborator—that was why he arrived late alone. On yimao the emperor sent a palace envoy to bring Ning to a tent, ostensibly to deliver a secret edict. Two strongmen strangled him from behind. Court and country alike called it a miscarriage of justice. When word reached the emperor, he pardoned Ning's family.
57
朱泚遣使遺朱滔書,稱:「三秦之地,指日克平; 大河之北,委卿除殄,當與卿會於洛陽。」 滔得書,西向舞蹈宣示軍府,移牒諸道,以自誇大。
Zhu Ci sent an envoy with a letter to Zhu Tao saying, "The Three Qins will fall within days; north of the Great River I leave to you to destroy. We shall meet at Luoyang." When Tao got the letter, he danced facing west to proclaim it through headquarters and sent dispatches to every circuit, swaggering in triumph.
58
上遣中使告難於魏縣行營,諸將相與慟哭。 李懷光帥眾赴長安,馬燧、李艽各引兵歸鎮,李抱真退屯臨洺。
The emperor sent a palace envoy to report the crisis to the field headquarters at Weixian; the generals wept together. Li Huaiguang marched toward Chang'an with his army; Ma Sui and Li Qi each returned to their commands; Li Baozhen withdrew to Linming.
59
丁巳,以戶部尚書蕭復為吏部尚書,吏部郎中劉從一為刑部侍郎,翰林學士姜公輔為諫議大夫,並同平章事。
On dingsi Minister of Revenue Xiao Fu was made Minister of Personnel, Department Director Liu Congyi Vice Minister of Justice, and Hanlin Academician Jiang Gongfu Remonstrance Grandee—all Co-Equal Grand Counselors.
60
朱泚自將逼奉天,軍勢甚盛。 以姚令言為元帥,張光晟副之,以李忠臣為京兆尹、皇城留守,仇敬忠為同、華等州節度使、拓東王,以扞關東之師,李日月為西道先鋒經略使。
Zhu Ci personally marched on Fengtian at the head of a formidable army. He made Yao Lingyan commander-in-chief with Zhang Guangsheng as deputy, Li Zhongchen Metropolitan Magistrate of Jingzhao and Warden of the Imperial City, Qiu Jingzhong Military Commissioner of Tong, Hua, and other prefectures and Prince Who Expands the East to block armies from east of the Pass, and Li Riyue Vanguard Strategist of the Western Route.
61
邠寧留後韓游瑰,慶州刺史論惟明,監軍翟文秀,受詔將兵三千拒泚於便橋,與泚遇於醴泉。 游瑰欲還趣奉天,文秀曰:「我向奉天,賊亦隨至,是引賊以迫天子也。 不若留壁於此,賊必不敢越我向奉天。 若不顧而過,則與奉天夾攻之。」 游瑰曰:「賊強我弱,若賊分軍以綴我,直趣奉天,奉天兵亦弱,何夾攻之有! 我今急趣奉天,所以衛天子也。 且吾士卒饑寒而賊多財,彼以利誘吾卒,吾不能禁也。」 遂引兵入奉天,泚亦隨至。 官軍出戰,不利,泚兵爭門,欲入。 渾瑊與游瑰血戰竟日。 門內有草車數乘,瑊使虞候高固帥甲士以長刀斫賊,皆一當百,曳車塞門,縱火焚之。 眾軍乘火擊賊,賊乃退。 會夜,泚營於城東三里,擊柝張火,佈滿原野,使西明寺僧法堅造攻具,毀佛寺以為梯沖。 韓游瑰曰:「寺材皆乾薪,但具火以待之。」 固,侃之玄孫也。 泚自是日來攻城,瑊、游瑰等晝夜力戰。 幽州兵救襄城者聞泚反,突入潼關,歸泚於奉天,普潤戍卒亦歸之,有眾數萬。
Acting Commissioner of Binning Han Yougui, Qingzhou Prefect Lun Weiming, and army supervisor Zhai Wenxiu were ordered to lead three thousand men to block Ci at Bianqiao and met him at Liquan. Yougui wanted to turn back toward Fengtian. Wenxiu said, "If we march toward Fengtian, the rebels will follow—that is leading them straight at the emperor. Better to hold our ground here—the rebels will not dare pass us to reach Fengtian. If they ignore us and pass, we can strike them from both sides with Fengtian." Yougui said, "The rebels are strong and we are weak. If they split off a force to pin us down and rush straight for Fengtian, Fengtian itself is weak—where is the pincer? I am rushing to Fengtian now precisely to protect the emperor. Our men are hungry and cold, while the rebels are rich—they will bribe our soldiers with gold, and I cannot stop them." With that he marched into Fengtian, and Zhu Ci came after him. The imperial forces sallied and were beaten; Zhu Ci's men fought for the gates, trying to break in. Hun Jian and Yougui fought a bloody battle all day long. There were several hay wagons inside the gate. Jian sent reconnaissance officer Gao Gu at the head of armored troops with long swords to cut down the rebels—each man fought like a hundred. They dragged the wagons to bar the gate, set them ablaze, and burned them. The whole army pressed the attack in the fire, and the rebels fell back. That night Zhu Ci encamped three li east of the city, sounding watch-clappers and lighting fires until the plain blazed. He had Fajian, a monk of Ximing Temple, build siege engines, tearing down temples for ladders and battering rams. Han Yougui said, "The temple timber is all dry kindling—simply get fire ready and wait." Gao Gu was the great-great-grandson of Li Kan. From then on Zhu Ci attacked the city every day, and Jian, Yougui, and the others fought without rest. Yanzhou troops bound for Xiangcheng heard Zhu Ci had rebelled, stormed through Tong Pass, and joined him at Fengtian; the Pujun garrison came over as well, swelling his army to tens of thousands.
62
上與陸贄語及亂故,深自克責。 贄曰:「致今日之患,皆群臣之罪也。」 上曰:「此亦天命,非由人事。」 贄退,上疏,以為:「陛下志壹區宇,四征不庭,凶渠稽誅,逆將繼亂,兵連禍結,行及三年,征師日滋,賦斂日重,內自京邑,外洎邊陲,行者有鋒刃之憂,居者有誅求之困。 是以叛亂繼起,怨讟並興,非常之虞,億兆同慮,唯陛下穆然凝邃,獨不得聞,至使凶卒鼓行,白晝犯闕,豈不以乘我間隙,因人攜離哉! 陛下有股肱之臣,有耳目之任,有諫諍之列,有備衛之司,見危不能竭其誠,臨難不能效其死。 臣所謂致今日之患,群臣之罪者,豈徒言歟! 聖旨又以國家興衰,皆有天命。 臣聞天所視聽,皆因於人。 故祖伊責紂之辭曰:『我生不有命在天!』 武王數紂之罪曰:『乃曰吾有命,罔懲其侮。』 此又舍人事而推天命必不可之理也! 《易》曰:『視履考祥。』 又曰:『吉凶者,失得之象。』 此乃天命由人,其義明矣。 然則聖哲之意,《六經》會通,皆謂禍福由人,不言盛衰有命。 蓋人事理而天命降亂者,未之有也; 人事亂而天命降康者,亦未之有也。 自頃征討頗頻,刑網稍密,物力耗竭,人心驚疑,如居風濤,洶洶靡定。 上自朝列,下達蒸黎,日夕族黨聚謀,鹹憂必有變故,旋屬涇原叛卒,果如眾庶所虞。 京師之人,動逾億計,固非悉知算術,皆曉占書,則明致寇之由,未必盡關天命。 臣聞理或生亂,亂或資理,有以無難而失守,有因多難而興邦。 今生亂失守之事,則既往不可復追矣; 其資理興邦之業,在陛下克勵而謹修之。 何憂乎亂人,何畏乎厄運! 勤勵不息,足致昇平,豈止蕩滌祆氛,旋復宮闕而已!」
The emperor spoke with Lu Zhi about how the rebellion had come about and blamed himself deeply. Lu Zhi said, "The troubles we face today are entirely the fault of your ministers." The emperor said, "This is Heaven's will, not something men could have prevented." Lu Zhi withdrew and submitted a memorial in which he wrote: "Your Majesty seeks to unite the empire. You dispatched armies on four fronts against those who refused to attend court. Great rebels evaded punishment, and one mutinous general after another rose in revolt. War and disaster have chained together for nearly three years. Campaign forces grow every day, and taxes grow heavier every day. From the capital to the frontier, travelers fear the sword and those who remain at home suffer crushing exactions. Rebellions followed one after another, complaint and curses rose together, and the whole people feared some extraordinary calamity—yet Your Majesty remained withdrawn and heard nothing of it, until mutinous soldiers marched beating drums and stormed the palace in broad daylight. Did they not seize our weakness and exploit the people's alienation? Your Majesty has ministers to serve as arms and legs, officials charged as eyes and ears, remonstrators in rank, and guards on duty—yet when danger appeared they could not give their full loyalty, and when crisis came they could not offer their lives. When I say today's disaster is the fault of the ministers, I do not speak in vain! Your Majesty also declared that the rise and fall of the state are all Heaven's decree. I have heard that what Heaven sees and hears, it learns through men. So Zu Yi's rebuke of King Zhou says: 'Was I not born with Heaven's mandate!' King Wu listed Zhou's crimes and said: 'Yet you say you have a mandate, and will not repent of your insolence.' This is exactly the error of setting human affairs aside and declaring that Heaven's mandate makes ruin inevitable! The Book of Changes says: 'Examine your conduct and read the signs.' It also says: 'Fortune and misfortune are the signs of success and failure.' Here the Mandate of Heaven depends on men—the meaning is plain. The sages and the Six Classics taken together all teach that fortune and disaster depend on men—they never say that a state's rise and fall are fixed by fate. When human affairs were well ordered yet Heaven sent disaster—there is no such case; and when human affairs were in chaos yet Heaven sent peace—there is no such case either. Lately campaigns and punishments have come one after another, the law has grown tighter, resources are exhausted, and people live in fear and uncertainty like a ship tossed on stormy seas. From the court down to the common people, families met night and day to whisper that some upheaval was coming—and when the Jingyuan mutineers rose, events unfolded exactly as the people had feared. The people of the capital number in the tens of millions—they are not all mathematicians and diviners—yet it is clear that the causes of this disaster do not all lie in Heaven's will. I have heard that order can breed chaos and chaos can become the seed of order—that some states fell though they knew no hardship, and some rose to greatness through many trials. What is done cannot be undone—the disorder and loss we have already suffered are past recovery; but the work of turning adversity into national renewal rests with Your Majesty's resolve and careful cultivation. Why worry about rebels, or fear ill fortune! Unceasing diligence can bring the realm to peace—not merely purging evil and returning to the palace!"
63
田悅說王武俊,使與馬寔共擊李抱真於臨洺,抱真復遣賈林說武俊曰:「臨洺兵精而有備,未易輕也。 今戰勝得地,則利歸魏博; 不勝,則恆冀大傷。 易、定、滄、趙,皆大夫之故地也,不如先取之。」 武俊乃辭悅,與馬寔北歸,壬戌,悅送武俊於館陶,執手泣別,下至將士,贈遺甚厚。
Tian Yue persuaded Wang Wujun to join Ma Shi in attacking Li Baozhen at Linming. Baozhen sent Jia Lin to Wujun again, saying, "The troops at Linming are strong and well prepared—you should not treat them lightly. If you win and take ground, Weibo gets the profit; if you lose, Heng and Ji will suffer heavily. Yi, Ding, Cang, and Zhao are all your old domains—you would do better to seize them first." Wujun then declined Yue's plan and marched north with Ma Shi. On renxu, Yue saw him off at Guantao with clasped hands and tears; officers and soldiers alike received lavish parting gifts.
64
先是,武俊召回紇兵,使絕李懷光等糧道,懷光等已西去,而回紇達干將回紇千人、雜虜二千人適至幽州北境。 朱滔因說之,欲與俱詣河南取東都,應接朱泚,許以河南子女、金帛賂之。 滔娶回紇女為側室,回紇謂之朱郎,且利其俘掠,許之。
Earlier Wujun had recalled Uyghur troops to cut Li Huaiguang's supply lines. Huaiguang had already marched west, but the Uyghur commander Tarqan was leading one thousand Uyghurs and two thousand allied tribesmen to the Youzhou frontier. Zhu Tao persuaded them to join him in marching on Henan to seize the Eastern Capital and support Zhu Ci, promising the women, gold, and silk of Henan as payment. Tao had taken an Uyghur woman as a concubine, and the Uyghurs called him Lord Zhu. Eager for booty, they agreed.
65
賈林復說武俊曰:「自古國家有患,未必不因之更興。 況主上九葉天子,聰明英武,天下誰肯捨之共事朱泚乎! 滔自為盟主以來,輕蔑同列,河朔古無冀國,冀乃大夫之封域也。 今滔稱冀王,又西倚其兄,北引回紇,其志欲盡吞河朔而王之,大夫雖欲為之臣,不可得矣。 且大夫雄勇善戰,非滔之比。 又本以忠義手誅叛臣,當時宰相處置失宜,為滔所誑誘,故蹉跌至此,不若與昭義並力取滔,其勢必獲。 滔既亡,則泚自破矣。 此不世之功,轉禍為福之道也。 今諸道輻湊攻泚,不日當平。 天下已定,大夫乃悔而歸國,則已晚矣!」 時武俊已與滔有隙,因攘袂作色曰:「二百年天子吾不能臣,豈能臣此田舍兒乎!」 遂密與抱真及馬燧相結,約為兄弟。 然猶外事滔,禮甚謹,與田悅各遣使見滔於河間,賀朱泚稱尊號,且請馬寔之兵共攻康日知於趙州。
Jia Lin again urged Wujun, saying, "Since antiquity, a state in crisis has not always failed to rise because of it. The emperor is the ninth of his line—wise and heroic. Who in the realm would abandon him to serve Zhu Ci! Since Tao made himself chief of the alliance he has looked down on his peers. Heshuo never had a Ji kingdom—Ji was your domain. Now Tao has declared himself King of Ji, leans on his brother in the west, and has drawn in the Uyghurs from the north. He means to swallow all of Heshuo and rule as king—you could not remain his vassal even if you wished. And you are bold and skilled in war—Tao is no match for you. You yourself once killed a rebel out of loyalty—and only because the court mishandled matters and Tao deceived you did you fall to this pass. Join Zhaoyi, strike Tao together, and you are sure to prevail. Once Tao is gone, Ci will fall on his own. This would be a feat without parallel—the path from disaster to triumph. The provinces are already closing in on Ci—within days he should be crushed. If you wait until the realm is settled before you repent and return to the emperor, it will be too late!" By then Wujun was already at odds with Tao. He rolled up his sleeves, flushed with anger, and said, "I would not serve an emperor of two hundred years—how could I serve this country oaf!" He then secretly allied with Baozhen and Ma Sui and swore brotherhood. Outwardly he still treated Tao with scrupulous courtesy. He and Tian Yue each sent envoys to Tao at Hejian to congratulate Zhu Ci on his imperial title and to ask for Ma Shi's troops to join an attack on Kang Rizhi at Zhaozhou.
66
汝、鄭應援使劉德信將子弟軍在汝州,聞難,引兵入援,與泚眾戰於見子陵,破之。 以東渭橋有轉輸積粟,癸亥,進屯東渭橋。
Liu Dexin, relief commissioner for Ru and Zheng, was at Ruzhou with the sons-and-brothers army. Hearing of the crisis, he marched to the rescue and defeated Zhu Ci's forces at Jianzi Ridge. Because East Wei Bridge held stored grain for the supply lines, on guihai he advanced and encamped there.
67
朱泚夜攻奉天東、西、南三面。 甲子,渾瑊力戰卻之。 左龍武大將軍呂希倩戰死。 乙丑,泚復攻城,將軍高重捷與泚將李日月戰於梁山之隅,破之。 乘勝逐北,身先士卒,賊伏兵擒之。 其麾下十餘人奮不顧死,追奪之。 賊不能拒,乃斬其首,棄其身而去。 麾下收之入城,上親撫而哭之盡哀,結莆為首而葬之,贈司空。 朱泚見其首,亦哭之曰:「忠臣也!」 束蒲為身而葬之。 李日月,泚之驍將也,戰死於奉天城下。 泚歸其屍於長安,厚葬之。 其母竟不哭,罵曰:「奚奴! 國家何負於汝而反? 死已晚矣!」 及泚敗,賊黨皆族誅,獨日月之母不坐。
Zhu Ci attacked Fengtian by night from the east, west, and south. On jiazi Hun Jian fought fiercely and drove him back. Left Dragon Martial Grand General Lü Xiqian was killed in the fighting. On yichou Zhu Ci attacked again. General Gao Chongjie defeated Zhu Ci's general Li Riyue at the foot of Liangshan. Pursuing the rout at the head of his men, he was seized by rebel ambushers. More than a dozen of his men, heedless of death, charged after him and snatched him back. Unable to hold him, the rebels cut off his head, left his body, and fled. His men bore him into the city. The emperor mourned over him with full grief, bound rushes into a head for burial, and posthumously appointed him Grand Counselor. Zhu Ci saw the head and wept as well, saying, "A loyal subject!" He bound rushes into a body and buried it. Li Riyue was Zhu Ci's foremost warrior; he died fighting below the walls of Fengtian. Zhu Ci sent his body back to Chang'an and buried him with full honors. His mother did not weep at all. She cursed him, saying, "You good-for-nothing! What did the country ever do to you that you turned traitor? Even your death came too late!" When Zhu Ci fell, rebel accomplices were executed to the last of their clans—but Riyue's mother alone went unpunished.
68
己巳,加渾瑊京畿、渭南、北、金商節度使。
On jisi Hun Jian was additionally appointed military commissioner of the capital region, south of the Wei, the north, and Jin and Shang.
69
壬申,王武俊與馬寔至趙州城下。
On renshen Wang Wujun and Ma Shi arrived before the walls of Zhaozhou.
70
初,朱泚鎮鳳翔,遣其將牛雲光將幽州兵五百人戍隴州,以隴右營田判官韋皋領隴右留後。 及郝通奔鳳翔,牛雲光詐疾,欲俟皋至,伏兵執之以應泚,事洩,帥其眾奔泚。 至汧陽,遇泚遣中使蘇玉繼詔書加皋中丞,玉說雲光曰:「韋皋,書生也。 君不如與我俱之隴州,皋幸而受命,乃吾人也。 不受命,君以兵誅之,如取孤犬屯耳!」 雲光從之。 皋從城上問雲光曰:「曏者不告而行,今而復來,何也?」 雲光曰:「曏者未知公心,今公有新命,故復來,願托腹心。」 皋乃先納蘇玉,受其詔書,謂雲光曰:「大使苟無異心,請悉納甲兵,使城中無疑,眾乃可入。」 雲光以皋書生,易之,乃悉以甲兵輸之而入。 明日,皋宴玉、雲光及其卒於郡捨,伏甲誅之。 築壇,盟將士曰:「李楚琳賊虐本使,既不事上,安能恤下,宜相與討與!」 遣兄平、弇詣奉天,復遣使求援於吐蕃。
Earlier, when Zhu Ci held Fengxiang, he sent his general Niu Yunguang with five hundred Yanzhou troops to garrison Longzhou and put Longyou farming-assignment vice-prefect Wei Gao in charge as acting commissioner of Longyou. When Hao Tong fled to Fengxiang, Niu Yunguang feigned illness, planning to seize Gao with hidden troops once he arrived and join Zhu Ci. The plot leaked, and he fled with his men to Zhu Ci. At Qianyang he met the palace envoy Su Yu, who was bringing an edict promoting Gao to vice censor. Su Yu urged Yunguang, saying, "Wei Gao is a mere scholar. You had better come with me to Longzhou. If Gao accepts the appointment, he is one of us. If he refuses, you can crush him with your troops—as easily as routing a stray dog!" Yunguang agreed. From the wall Gao called down to Yunguang, "You left without a word before—why have you come back?" Yunguang said, "Before I did not know where you stood. Now that you have a new appointment, I have returned—I wish to trust you with all my heart." Gao first admitted Su Yu and accepted the edict. Then he told Yunguang, "If you mean no treachery, surrender all arms and armor so the city has no cause for doubt—then your men may enter." Thinking Gao a helpless scholar, Yunguang surrendered every weapon and marched in. The next day Gao gave a feast for Su Yu, Niu Yunguang, and their men at the prefectural hall—and hidden troops cut them down. He built an altar and swore in his officers and soldiers, saying, "Li Chulin murdered our former commissioner. He will not serve the throne—how can he care for his men? Let us join together and attack him!" He sent his elder brothers Ping and Yan to Fengtian and dispatched envoys to seek aid from Tibet.