1
資治通鑑第241卷
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 241
2
【唐紀五十九】起昭陽單閼，盡著雍涒灘，凡六年。
[Tang Records, Part 59] Spanning six years, from the Zhaoyang-danyan cycle year through Zhu-yong-tuantan.
3
穆宗睿聖文惠孝皇帝下長慶三年（ 癸卯，公元八二三年）
In the lower annals of Emperor Muzong, the Sagely, Cultured, Gracious, and Filial Emperor, the third year of Changqing ( guimao, AD 823)
4
春，正月，癸未，賜兩軍中尉以下錢。 二月，辛卯，賜統軍、軍使等綿彩、銀器各有差。
In spring, on the first month's guiwei day, the emperor distributed cash gifts to the eunuch-commanders of the Left and Right Divine Strategy Armies and their subordinates. In the second month, on the xinmao day, he granted silk brocade and silver vessels to army commanders and military commissioners in varying amounts.
5
戶部侍郎牛僧孺，素為上所厚。 初，韓弘之子右驍衛將軍公武為其父謀，以財結中外。 及公武卒，弘繼薨，稚孫紹宗嗣，主藏奴與吏訟於御史府。 上憐之，盡取弘財簿自閱視，凡中外主權，多納弘貨，獨朱句細字曰：「某年月日，送戶部牛侍郎錢千萬，不納。」 上大喜，以示左右曰：「果然，吾不繆知人！」 三月，壬戌，以僧孺為中書侍郎、同平章事。 時僧孺與李德裕皆有入相之望。 德裕出為浙西觀察使，八年不遷。 以為李逢吉排己，引僧孺為相，由是牛、李之怨愈深。
Vice Minister of Revenue Niu Sengru had long enjoyed the emperor's favor. Earlier, Han Hong's son Gongwu, a general of the Right Brave Guards, had worked on his father's behalf, using money to cultivate allies at court and beyond. After Gongwu died and Hong soon followed, the young grandson Shaozong inherited the estate, and the chief steward brought a lawsuit against officials at the Censorate. Taking pity on the family, the emperor personally went through Hong's account books. Nearly every powerful figure at court and beyond had taken Hong's money — except one line in fine red ink: 'On [date], sent ten million cash to Vice Minister Niu of Revenue; declined.' The emperor was delighted and showed those around him, saying, 'Just as I thought — I do not misjudge men!' In the third month, on the renxu day, Sengru was made Vice Director of the Secretariat and Associate Chief Minister. At the time both Sengru and Li Deyu had been expected to reach the chancellorship. Deyu had been posted as governor of Zhexi and had gone eight years without promotion. Believing Li Fengji had blocked him and installed Sengru as chief minister, Deyu deepened the rift between the Niu and Li factions.
6
夏，四月，甲午，安南奏陸州獠攻掠州縣。
In summer, on the fourth month's jiawu day, Annan reported that Liao tribesmen in Luzhou were raiding prefectures and counties.
7
丙申，賜宣徽院供奉官錢，紫衣者百二十緡，下至承旨各有差。
On the bingshen day he granted cash to the Xuanhui Court attendants — one hundred and twenty strings for those in purple robes, with lesser amounts down to the chief secretaries.
8
初，翼城人鄭注，眇小，目下視，而巧譎傾諂，善揣人意，以醫游四方，羈貧甚。 嘗以藥術干徐州牙將，牙將悅之，薦於節度使李愬。 愬餌其藥頗驗，遂有寵，署為牙推，浸預軍政，妄作威福，軍府患之。 監軍王守澄以眾情白愬，請去之，愬曰：「注雖如是，然奇才也，將軍試與之語，苟無可取，去之未晚。」 乃使注往謁守澄，守澄初有難色，不得已見之。 坐語未久，守澄大喜，延之中堂，促膝笑語，恨相見之晚。 明日，謂愬曰：「鄭生誠如公言。」 自是又有寵於守澄，權勢益張，愬署為巡官，列於賓席。 注既用事，恐牙將薦己者洩其本末，密以它愬，愬殺之。 及守澄入知樞密，挈注以西，為立居宅，贍給之。 遂薦於上，上亦厚遇之。 自上有疾，守澄專制國事，勢傾中外。 注日夜出入其家，與之謀議，語必通夕，關通賂遺，人莫能突擊其跡。 始則有微賤巧宦之士，或因以求進，數年之後，達官車馬滿其門矣。 工部尚書鄭權，家多姬妾，祿薄不能贍，因注通於守澄以求節鎮。 己酉，以權為嶺南節度使。
Earlier, Zheng Zhu of Yicheng was a slight man with downcast eyes, but crafty, deceitful, and ingratiating, skilled at reading people's wishes. He wandered as a physician and lived in bitter poverty. He once offered his medical skills to a guard officer in Xuzhou; pleased, the officer recommended him to Military Governor Li Su. Su found his medicines effective and soon favored him, appointing him military adjutant. Zhu gradually intruded into military affairs, abused his power, and the headquarters grew uneasy. Supervising Commissioner Wang Shoucheng reported the men's discontent and asked Su to dismiss Zhu. Su replied, 'Zhu may be like this, but he is a rare talent. Try talking with him; if he proves worthless, you can remove him later.' Su sent Zhu to call on Shoucheng, who at first showed reluctance but finally received him. They had scarcely begun to talk when Shoucheng was delighted, brought him into the central hall, and sat knee to knee in easy conversation, lamenting that they had met so late. The next day he told Su, 'Master Zheng is indeed as you said.' From then on Zhu won Shoucheng's favor as well, and his power grew. Su appointed him touring officer and seated him among honored guests. Once in power, Zhu feared the guard officer who had recommended him would expose his past. He secretly denounced the man on other grounds, and Su had him killed. When Shoucheng entered the capital to serve in the Bureau of Military Affairs, he brought Zhu west, built him a house, and provided for him. He then recommended Zhu to the emperor, who also treated him generously. After the emperor fell ill, Shoucheng monopolized state affairs, and his power overshadowed the entire court. Zhu came and went from his house day and night, plotting with him until dawn, handling bribes and gifts so deftly that no one could trace his dealings. At first only humble, ambitious men used him to seek promotion; within a few years the carriages of high officials crowded his gate. Minister of Works Zheng Quan kept many concubines but could not support them on his salary, so he used Zhu to reach Shoucheng and seek a frontier command. On the jiyou day Quan was appointed military governor of Lingnan.
9
五月，壬申，以尚書左丞柳公綽為山南東道節度使。 公綽過鄧縣，有二吏，一犯贓，一舞文，眾謂公綽必殺犯贓者。 公綽判曰：「贓吏犯法，法在； 奸吏亂法，法亡。」 竟誅舞文者。
In the fifth month, on the renshen day, Senior Assistant Director Liu Gongchuo was appointed military governor of Shannan East Circuit. Passing through Deng County, Gongchuo found two clerks, one guilty of embezzlement and one of twisting the law. People assumed he would execute the embezzler. Gongchuo ruled, 'The corrupt clerk broke the law, but the law remains; the treacherous clerk subverted the law, and the law is destroyed.' In the end he executed the one who had twisted the law.
10
丙子，以晉、慈二州為保義軍，以觀察使李寰為節度使。
On the bingzi day the prefectures of Jin and Ci were organized as the Baoyi Army, with Observation Commissioner Li Huan as military governor.
11
六月，己丑，以吏部侍郎韓愈為京兆尹。 六軍不敢犯法，私相謂曰：「是尚欲燒佛骨，何可犯也！」
In the sixth month, on the jichou day, Vice Minister of Personnel Han Yu was appointed metropolitan governor of Jingzhao. The Six Armies dared not break the law and whispered among themselves, 'This is the man who wanted to burn Buddhist relics — how could we cross him!'
12
秋，七月，癸亥，嶺南奏黃洞蠻寇邕州，破左江鎮。 丙寅，邕州奏黃洞蠻破欽州千金鎮，刺史楊嶼奔石南砦。
In autumn, on the seventh month's guihai day, Lingnan reported that Huangdong tribesmen raided Yongzhou and overran Zuo River garrison. On the bingyin day Yongzhou reported that Huangdong tribesmen had overrun Qianjin garrison in Qinzhou and that Prefect Yang Yu had fled to Shinan stockade.
13
南詔勸利卒，國人請立其弟豐祐。 豐祐勇敢，善用其眾，始慕中國，不與父連名。
Quanli of Nanzhao died, and his subjects asked that his younger brother Fengyou be enthroned. Fengyou was brave and skilled at leading his men; he began to admire China and did not include his father's name in his own.
14
八月，癸已，邕管奏破黃洞蠻。
In the eighth month, on the guisi day, Yong Circuit reported a victory over the Huangdong tribesmen.
15
丙申，上自復道幸興慶宮，至通化門樓，投絹二百匹施山僧。 上之濫賜皆此類，不可悉記。
On the bingshen day the emperor traveled by the covered passageway to Xingqing Palace and, at Tonghua Gate tower, tossed two hundred bolts of silk as alms to mountain monks. The emperor's lavish gifts were all of this kind and cannot all be recorded.
16
癸卯，以左僕射裴度為司空、山南西道節度使，不兼平章事。 李逢吉惡度，右補闕張又新等附逢吉，競流謗毀傷度，竟出之。 又新，薦之子也。
On the guimao day Left Vice Director Pei Du was made Minister of Works and military governor of Shannan West Circuit, without retaining his chief ministership. Li Fengji hated Du; Right Remonstrator Zhang Youxin and others attached themselves to Fengji and competed in slandering him until Du was finally sent out of the capital. Youxin was the son of Zhang Jian.
17
九月，丙辰，加昭義節度使劉悟同平章事。
In the ninth month, on the bingchen day, Zhaoyi Military Governor Liu Wu was made Associate Chief Minister.
18
李逢吉為相，內結知樞密王守澄，勢傾朝野。 惟翰林學士李紳每承顧問，常排抑之，擬狀至內庭，紳多所臧否。 逢吉患之，而上待遇方厚，不能遠也。 會御史中丞缺，逢吉薦紳清直，宜居風憲之地。 上以中丞亦次對官，不疑而可之。 會紳與京兆尹兼御史大夫韓愈爭台參及它職事，文移往來，辭語不遜。 逢吉奏二人不協，冬，十月，丙戌，以愈為兵部侍郎，紳為江西觀察使。 己丑，以中書侍郎、同平章事杜元穎同平章事，充西川節度使。
As chief minister, Li Fengji allied with Bureau Director Wang Shoucheng, and his power overshadowed the court. Only Hanlin Academician Li Shen, whom the emperor often consulted, regularly checked him; when draft memorials reached the inner court, Shen often approved or rejected them. Fengji resented this, but the emperor still favored Shen and Fengji could not remove him. When the post of Censor-in-Chief fell vacant, Fengji recommended Shen as upright and fit for the censorate. Because the censor-in-chief also answered at imperial audiences, the emperor approved without suspicion. Just then Shen and Metropolitan Governor and Concurrent Censor Grandee Han Yu quarreled over censorate protocol and other duties, exchanging documents in disrespectful language. Fengji reported that the two were at odds; in winter, on the tenth month's bingxu day, Yu was made Vice Minister of War and Shen governor of Jiangxi. On the jichou day Vice Director Du Yuanying was appointed Associate Chief Minister and military governor of Xichuan.
19
辛卯，安南奏黃洞蠻為寇。
On the xinmao day Annan reported Huangdong tribesmen on the march.
20
韓愈、李紳入謝，上各令自敘其事，乃深寤。 壬辰，復以愈為吏部侍郎，紳為戶部侍郎。
Han Yu and Li Shen came to give thanks for their appointments; the emperor had each explain the dispute in his own words and then fully understood. On the renchen day Yu was restored as Vice Minister of Personnel and Shen as Vice Minister of Revenue.
21
穆宗睿聖文惠孝皇帝下長慶四年（ 甲辰，公元八二四年）
In the lower annals of Emperor Muzong, the Sagely, Cultured, Gracious, and Filial Emperor, the fourth year of Changqing ( jiachen, AD 824)
22
春，正月，辛亥朔，上始御含元殿朝會。
In spring, on the first month's xinhai new-moon day, the emperor held his first court audience in Hanyuan Hall.
23
初，柳泌等既誅，方士稍復，因左右以進，上餌其金石之藥。 有處士張皋者上疏，以為：「神慮淡則血氣和，嗜欲勝則疾疹作。 藥以攻疾，無疾不可餌也。 昔孫思邈有言：『藥勢有所偏助，令人藏氣不平，借使有疾用藥，猶須重慎。』 庶人尚爾，況於天子！ 先帝信方士妄言，餌藥致疾，此陛下所詳知也，豈得復循其覆轍乎！ 今朝野之人紛紜竊議，但畏忤旨，莫敢進言。 臣生長蓬艾，麋鹿與游，無所邀求，但粗知忠義，欲裨萬一耳！」 上甚善其言，使求之，不獲。
Earlier, after Liu Bi and others were executed, Daoist adepts gradually returned; introduced through the emperor's intimates, he began taking their mineral elixirs. “A recluse named Zhang Gao submitted a memorial arguing that when the mind is calm the body is in harmony, but when desires prevail illness follows. Medicine is meant to fight disease; without disease one must not take it. Sun Simiao once said, 'Medicine's potency is partial and disturbs the body's balance; even when treating illness one must be extremely cautious.' If commoners must be so careful, how much more the Son of Heaven! The late emperor believed adepts' reckless talk, took their elixirs, and fell ill — Your Majesty knows this well. How can you repeat the same mistake! Now court and countryside whisper about this, but fearing to offend the throne, none dare speak openly. I grew up among weeds, keeping company with deer, seeking nothing for myself — knowing only loyalty and wishing to serve in the smallest way!' The emperor greatly approved his words and had him sought, but he could not be found.
24
丁卯，嶺南奏黃洞蠻寇欽州，殺將吏。
On the dingmao day Lingnan reported that Huangdong tribesmen raided Qinzhou and killed officers.
25
庚午，上疾復作。 壬申，大漸，命太子監國。 宦官欲請郭太后臨朝稱制。 太后曰：「昔武後稱制，幾傾社稷。 我家世守忠義，非武氏之比也。 太子雖少，但得賢宰相輔之，卿輩勿預朝政，何患國家不安！ 自古豈有女子為天下主，而能致唐、虞之理乎！」 取制書手裂之。 太后兄太常卿釗聞有是議，密上箋曰：「若果徇其請，臣請先帥諸子納官爵歸田裡。」 太后泣曰：「祖考之慶，鐘於吾兄。」 是夕，上崩於寢殿。 癸酉，以李逢吉攝塚宰。 丙子，敬宗即位於太極東序。 初，穆宗之立，神策軍士人賜錢五十千，宰相議以太厚難繼，乃下詔稱：「宿衛之勒，誠宜厚賞，屬頻年旱歉，御府空虛，邊兵尚未給儀，沾恤期於均濟。 神策軍士人賜絹十匹、錢十千，畿內諸鎮又減五千。 仍出內庫綾二百萬匹付度支，充邊軍春衣。」 時人善之。
On the gengwu day the emperor's illness returned. On the renshen day his condition grew critical, and he ordered the crown prince to oversee the state. The eunuchs wished to have Empress Dowager Guo attend court as regent. The empress dowager said, 'When Empress Wu ruled as regent she nearly overturned the dynasty. Our family has kept faith with the throne for generations — we are not the Wu clan. The crown prince is young, but with worthy chief ministers to assist him, and if you stay out of court politics, what danger can there be to the realm! Since antiquity has any woman ruled the realm and brought about the golden age of Yao and Shun!' She took the draft edict and tore it apart. Hearing of the proposal, the empress dowager's elder brother Zhao, Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, secretly submitted a memorial: 'If this is granted, I ask first to lead my sons in resigning our offices and returning to the countryside.' The empress dowager wept and said, 'Our ancestors' blessing rests on my brother.' That evening the emperor died in his sleeping hall. On the guiyou day Li Fengji was appointed acting chief mourner. On the bingzi day Emperor Jingzong ascended the throne in the eastern wing of Taiji Hall. “When Muzong was enthroned, each Divine Strategy soldier had been granted fifty thousand cash. The chief ministers judged the amount unsustainable, and an edict declared that while the palace guard deserved generous reward, years of drought had emptied the treasury and frontier troops still lacked pay, so relief must be shared equally. Each Divine Strategy soldier received ten bolts of silk and ten thousand cash, while garrisons in the capital region had five thousand more cut. Two million bolts of damask from the inner treasury were also issued to Revenue to supply frontier troops with spring clothing." People of the time praised the decision.
26
自戊寅至庚辰，上賜宦官服色及錦彩金銀甚眾，或今日賜綠，明日賜緋。
From wuyin through gengchen the emperor lavished rank robes, brocade, gold, and silver on eunuchs — some receiving green one day and crimson the next.
27
初，穆宗既留李紳，李逢吉愈忌之。 紳族子虞頗以文學知名，自言不樂仕進，隱居華陽川，及從父耆為左拾遺，虞與耆書求薦，誤達於紳。 紳以書誚之，且以語於眾人。 虞深怨之，乃詣逢吉，悉以紳平日密論逢吉之語告之。 逢吉益怒，使虞與補闕張又新及從子前河陽掌書記仲言等伺求紳短，揚之於士大夫間。 且言「紳潛察士大夫有群居議論者，輒指為朋黨，白之於上。」 由是士大夫多忌之。 及敬宗即位，逢吉與其黨快紳失勢，又恐上復用之，日夜謀議，思所以害紳者。 楚州刺史蘇遇謂逢吉之黨曰：「主上初聽政，必開延英，有次對官，惟此可防。」 其黨以為然，亟白逢吉曰：「事迫矣，若俟聽政，悔不可追！」 逢吉乃令王守澄言於上曰：「陛下所以為儲貳，臣備知之，皆逢吉之力也。 如杜元穎、李紳輩，皆欲立深王。」 度支員外郎李續之等繼上章言之。 上時年十六，疑未信。 會逢吉亦有奏，言「紳謀不利於上，請加貶謫。」 上猶再三覆問，然後從之。 二月，癸未，貶紳為端州司馬。 逢吉仍帥百官表賀，既退，百官復詣中書賀，逢吉方與張又新語，門者弗內。 良久，又新揮汗而出，旅揖百官曰：「端溪之事，又新不敢多讓。」 眾駭愕辟易，憚之。 右拾遺內供奉吳思獨不賀，逢吉怒，以思為吐蕃告哀使。 丙戌，貶翰林學士龐嚴為信州刺史，蔣防為汀州刺史。 嚴，壽州人。 與防皆紳所引也。 給事中於敖，素與嚴善，封還敕書。 人為之懼。 曰：「於給事為龐、蔣直冤，犯宰相怒，誠所難也！」 及奏下，乃言貶之太輕，逢吉由是獎之。 張又新等猶忌紳，日上書言貶紳太輕，上許為殺之。 朝臣莫敢言，獨翰林侍讀學士韋處厚上疏，指述「紳為逢吉之黨所讒，人情歎駭。 紳蒙先朝獎用，借使有罪，猶宜容假，以成三年無改之孝，況無罪乎！」 於是上稍開寤，會閱禁中文書，有穆宗所封一篋，發之，得裴度、杜元穎、李紳疏請立上為太子，上乃嗟歎，悉焚人所上譖紳書。 雖未即召還，後有言者，不復聽矣。
After Muzong had kept Li Shen in office, Li Fengji hated him all the more. Shen's kinsman Yu was known for his literary talent and claimed to shun office, living in seclusion on Huayang Stream. When Yu's cousin Qi became Left Reminder, Yu wrote Qi asking for recommendation, but the letter mistakenly reached Shen. Shen wrote back to mock him and told the story publicly. Yu deeply resented this and went to Fengji, reporting everything Shen had privately said against him. Fengji grew angrier still and set Yu, Remonstrator Zhang Youxin, and his nephew Zhongyan, formerly secretary at Heyang, to hunt for Shen's faults and spread them among officials. “He also claimed that Shen secretly watched officials who met in groups to discuss affairs, denounced them as faction members, and reported them to the throne.” From this many officials came to fear and resent Shen. When Jingzong ascended the throne, Fengji and his faction rejoiced at Shen's fall but feared the emperor might restore him; day and night they plotted how to destroy him. Chuzhou Prefect Su Yu told Fengji's followers, 'When the emperor first takes up government he will hold audience in Yanying Hall with officials who answer in turn — that is our only opening.' They agreed and urgently told Fengji, 'Time is running out; if we wait until he holds audience, it will be too late!' Fengji had Wang Shoucheng tell the emperor, 'Your Majesty owes your position as heir entirely to Fengji's efforts. Men like Du Yuanying and Li Shen all wanted to make Prince Shen heir.' Revenue Ministry Assistant Director Li Xuzhi and others followed with memorials saying the same. The emperor was only sixteen and remained doubtful. “Then Fengji himself memorialized that Shen had plotted against the emperor and asked for a harsher exile.” The emperor questioned the matter repeatedly before finally consenting. In the second month, on the guiwei day, Shen was demoted to army adjutant of Duanzhou. Fengji led the officials in a congratulatory memorial, and when they came to the Secretariat afterward to congratulate again, Fengji was talking with Zhang Youxin and the gatekeeper refused them entry. After a long while Youxin emerged wiping his brow and bowed to the officials, saying, 'In the Duan Creek affair I dare not yield much credit to others.' The crowd recoiled in shock and fear. Right Reminder Wu Si alone refused to congratulate; Fengji in anger sent him as envoy to Tibet to announce mourning. On the bingxu day Hanlin Academicians Pang Yan and Jiang Fang were demoted to prefects of Xinzhou and Tingzhou. Yan was from Shouzhou. Both had been promoted by Shen. Supervising Secretary Yu Ao, who was close to Yan, returned the edict unopened. People feared for him. They said, 'Yu spoke up for Pang and Jiang — to defy the chief minister takes real courage!' When the edict was issued he said the demotion was too light, and Fengji rewarded him for it. Zhang Youxin and others still hated Shen and daily memorialized that his punishment was too light; the emperor agreed to have him killed. “No court official dared speak; only Hanlin Attendant Reader Wei Chuhou submitted a memorial stating that Shen had been slandered by Fengji's faction and that the public was appalled. Shen had been honored by the late emperor; even if guilty he deserved forbearance to fulfill mourning filial piety — how much more when he was innocent!' The emperor began to understand. Reviewing palace documents he found a casket sealed by Muzong; inside were memorials from Pei Du, Du Yuanying, and Li Shen supporting his appointment as heir. He sighed and burned every memorial slandering Shen. Though Shen was not immediately recalled, the emperor would hear no further accusations against him.
28
己亥，尊郭太后為太皇太后。
On the jihai day Empress Dowager Guo was honored as Grand Empress Dowager.
29
乙已，尊上母王妃為皇太后。 太后，越州人也。
On the yisi day the emperor's mother, Lady Wang, was honored as Empress Dowager. The empress dowager was from Yuezhou.
30
丁未，上幸中和殿擊球，自是數游宴、擊球、奏樂，賞賜宦官、樂人，不可悉紀。
On the dingwei day the emperor went to Zhonghe Hall to play cuju. Thereafter he constantly feasted, played ball, and enjoyed music, lavishing rewards on eunuchs and musicians beyond counting.
31
三月，壬子，赦天下。 諸道常貢之外，毋得進奉。
In the third month, on the renzi day, a general amnesty was declared. Beyond regular tribute from each circuit, no additional presentations were permitted.
32
甲寅，上始對宰相於延英殿。
On the jiayin day the emperor held his first audience with chief ministers in Yanying Hall.
33
初，牛元翼在襄陽，數賂王庭水奏以清其家，庭湊不與。 聞元翼薨，甲子，盡殺之。
Earlier, while Niu Yuanji was at Xiangyang, he repeatedly bribed Wang Tingcou to petition clearing his family, but Tingcou refused. When he learned Yuanji had died, on the jiazi day he slaughtered the entire family.
34
上視朝每晏，戊辰，日絕高尚未坐，百官班於紫宸門外，老病者幾至僵踣。 諫議大夫李渤白宰相曰：「昨日疏論坐晚，今晨愈甚，請出閣待罪於金吾仗。」 既坐班退，左拾遺劉栖楚獨留，進言曰：「憲宗及先帝皆長君，四方猶多叛亂。 陛下富於春秋，嗣位之初，當宵衣求理。 而嗜寢樂色，日晏方起，梓宮在殯，鼓吹日喧，令聞未彰，惡聲遐布。 臣恐福祚之不長，請碎首王階以謝諫職之曠。」 遂以額叩龍墀，見血不已，響聞閤外。 李逢吉宣曰：「劉栖楚休叩頭，俟進止！」 栖楚捧首而起，更論宦官事，上連揮令出。 栖楚曰：「不用臣言，請繼以死。」 牛僧孺宣曰：「所奏知，門外俟進止！」 栖楚乃出，待罪金吾仗，於是宰相贊成其言。 上命中使就仗，並李渤宣慰令歸。 尋擢栖楚為起居舍人，仍賜緋。 栖楚辭疾不拜，歸東都。
The emperor was habitually late for court. On the wuchen day the sun stood high and he still had not appeared; officials waited outside Zichen Gate until the old and sick nearly collapsed. Remonstrating Censor Li Bo told the chief ministers, 'Yesterday I protested the late audience; today it is worse. I ask leave to await punishment at the Golden Crow guard post.' After the officials withdrew, Left Reminder Liu Qichu alone remained and said, 'Emperors Xianzong and your father were mature rulers, yet rebellions still plagued the realm. Your Majesty is young; at the start of your reign you should rise before dawn to govern. Yet you love sleep and pleasure, rising only late in the day while your father's coffin still lies in state and music blares daily. Good repute has not appeared, but ill report spreads far. I fear your reign will not be long; let me dash my head on the palace steps to atone for failing in my duty as remonstrator.' He then struck his forehead on the imperial dais until blood flowed, the sound heard outside the gate. Li Fengji announced, 'Liu Qichu, stop — await the emperor's decision!' Qichu rose holding his head and spoke further about the eunuchs; the emperor repeatedly waved him out. Qichu said, 'If you will not heed me, let me die here.' Niu Sengru announced, 'Your memorial is noted; wait outside for the decision!' Qichu withdrew to await punishment at the Golden Crow guard post, and the chief ministers endorsed his words. The emperor sent palace envoys to comfort both men and order them home. Soon Qichu was promoted to diarist and granted crimson robes. Qichu declined on grounds of illness and returned to the eastern capital.
35
庚午，賜內教坊錢萬緡，以備行幸。
On the gengwu day ten thousand strings of cash were granted to the Inner Music Office for imperial excursions.
36
夏，四月，甲午，淮南節度使王播罷鹽鐵轉運使。 乙未，以布衣姜洽為補闕，試大理評事陸洿、布衣李虞、劉堅為拾遺。 時李逢吉用事，所親厚者張又新、李仲言、李續之、李虞、劉栖楚、姜洽及拾遺張權輿、程昔范，又有從而附麗之者，時人惡逢吉者，目之為八關、十六子。
In summer, on the fourth month's jiawu day, Huainan Military Governor Wang Bo was removed as salt and iron transport commissioner. On the yiwei day commoner Jiang Qia was made remonstrator, probationary court assessor Lu Yu and commoners Li Yu and Liu Jian were made removers. Li Fengji then held power. His favorites included Zhang Youxin, Li Zhongyan, Li Xuzhi, Li Yu, Liu Qichu, Jiang Qia, and removers Zhang Quanyu and Cheng Xifan, with many hangers-on. His enemies called them the Eight Passes and Sixteen Sons.
37
卜者蘇玄明與染坊供人張韶善，玄明謂韶曰：「我為子卜，當升殿坐，與我共食。 今主上晝夜球、獵，多不在宮中，大事可圖也。」 韶以為然，乃與玄明謀結染工無賴者百餘人，丙申，匿兵於紫草，車載以入銀台門，伺夜作亂。 未達所詣，有疑其重載而詰之者，韶急，即殺詰者，與其徒易服揮兵，大呼趣禁庭。 上時在清思殿擊球，諸宦者見之，驚駭，急入閉門，走白上。 盜尋斬關而入。 先是右神策中尉梁守謙有寵於上，每兩軍角伎藝，上常佑右軍。 至是，上狼狽欲幸右軍，左右曰：「右軍遠，恐遇盜，不若幸左軍近。」 上從之。 左神策中尉河中馬存亮聞上至，走出迎，捧上足涕泣，自負上入軍中，遣大將康藝全將騎卒入宮討賊。 上憂二太后隔絕，存亮復以五百騎迎二太后至軍。 張韶升清思殿，坐御榻，與蘇玄明同食，曰：「果如子言！」 玄明驚曰：「事止此邪！」 韶懼而走。 會康藝全與右軍兵馬使尚國忠引兵至，合擊之，殺韶、玄明及其黨，死者狼藉。 逮夜始定，餘黨猶散匿禁苑中。 明日，悉擒獲之。 時宮門皆閉，上宿於左軍，中外不知上所在，人情恇駭。 丁酉，上還宮，宰相帥百官詣延英門賀，來者不過數十人。 盜所歷諸門，監門宦者三十五人法當死。 己亥，詔並杖之，仍不改職任。 壬寅，厚賞兩軍立功將士。
Diviner Su Xuanming was close to Zhang Shao, a dyeworks laborer. Xuanming told him, 'I have divined for you — you will ascend the hall and sit, and we will eat together. The emperor spends day and night playing ball and hunting and is often away from the palace — a great deed can be attempted.' Shao agreed. He and Xuanming gathered more than a hundred ruffians from the dyeworks. On the bingshen day they hid weapons in bundles of purple-dyed goods, carted them through Yintai Gate, and waited for night to strike. Before they reached their goal someone questioned the heavy load. Shao killed him, changed clothes with his men, brandished weapons, and shouted as they rushed the palace. The emperor was playing ball in Qingsi Hall. The eunuchs who saw them fled inside, shut the gates, and ran to warn him. The intruders soon cut through the gate and entered. Right Divine Strategy Army Director Liang Shouqian had long enjoyed the emperor's favor; whenever the two armies competed in contests, the emperor usually backed the Right Army. Now the emperor in panic wished to flee to the Right Army, but his attendants said, 'The Right Army is far and you may meet the intruders — better the nearer Left Army.' The emperor agreed. Left Divine Strategy Army Director Ma Cunliang of Hezhong ran out to meet him, embraced his feet weeping, carried him into camp, and sent Grand General Kang Yiquan with cavalry into the palace to suppress the intruders. Fearing the two empress dowagers were cut off, Cunliang sent five hundred cavalry to bring them to the camp. Zhang Shao entered Qingsi Hall, sat on the imperial couch, and ate with Su Xuanming, saying, 'It is just as you said!' Xuanming cried in alarm, 'Is this all there is to it!' Shao fled in fear. Kang Yiquan and Right Army Cavalry Commissioner Shang Guozhong arrived with troops, joined battle, and killed Shao, Xuanming, and their followers; corpses lay strewn about. Order was restored only at night; survivors still hid in the imperial park. The next day they were all captured. The palace gates were closed and the emperor lodged in the Left Army; court and capital did not know where he was, and panic spread. On the dingyou day the emperor returned to the palace. Chief ministers led officials to Yanying Gate to congratulate, but fewer than thirty came. Thirty-five gate-keeping eunuchs at the gates the intruders passed were by law subject to death. On the jihai day an edict ordered them flogged but kept in office. On the renyin day the meritorious soldiers of both armies were richly rewarded.
38
五月，乙卯，以使部侍郎李程、戶部侍郎、判度支竇易直並同平章事。 上問相於李逢吉，逢吉列上當時大臣有資望者，程為之首，故用之。 上好治宮室，欲營別殿，制度甚廣，李程諫，請以所具木石回奉山陵，上即從之。
In the fifth month, on the yimao day, Vice Director Li Cheng and Vice Minister of Revenue Dou Yizhi, acting revenue commissioner, were both made associate chief ministers. The emperor asked Fengji about chief ministers; Fengji listed senior statesmen with Cheng first, and Cheng was appointed. The emperor loved building palaces and planned a vast new hall. Li Cheng remonstrated and asked that the timber and stone be used for the imperial tomb instead; the emperor at once agreed.
39
六月，己卯朔，以左神策大將軍康藝全為鄜坊節度使。
In the sixth month, on the jimao new-moon day, Left Divine Strategy Grand General Kang Yiquan was appointed military governor of Bianfang.
40
上聞王庭湊屠牛元翼家，歎宰輔非才，使凶賊縱暴。 翰林學士韋處厚因上疏言：「裴度勳高中夏，聲播外夷，若置之巖廊，委其參決，河北、山東必稟朝算。 管仲曰：『人離而聽之則愚，合而聽之則聖。』 理亂之本，非有他術，順人則理，違人則亂。 伏承陛下當食歎息，恨無蕭、曹，今有一裴度尚不能留，此馮唐所以謂漢文得廉頗、李牧不能用也。 夫御宰相，當委之，信之，親之，禮之，於事不效，於國無勞，則置之散寮，黜之遠郡。 如此，則在位者不敢不厲，將進者不敢苟求。 臣與逢吉素無私嫌，嘗為裴度無辜貶官。 今之所陳，上答聖明，下達群議耳。」 上見度奏狀無平章事，以問處厚。 處厚具言李逢吉排沮之狀。 上曰：「何至是邪！」 李程亦勸上加禮於度。 丙申，加度同平章事。 張韶之亂，馬存亮功為多，存亮不自矜，委權求出。 秋，七月，以存亮為淮南監軍使。
Hearing that Wang Tingcou had slaughtered Niu Yuanji's family, the emperor sighed that his chief ministers lacked talent and let fierce rebels run wild. “Hanlin Academician Wei Chuhou memorialized that Pei Du's merit towered at court and his fame reached foreign lands; if restored to the council and entrusted with deliberation, Hebei and Shandong would surely follow the court's plans. Guan Zhong said, 'Listen to men separately and you are foolish; listen to them together and you are wise.' The root of order and disorder has no other secret: follow the people and there is order; defy them and there is chaos. I hear Your Majesty sighed at table, lamenting the lack of men like Xiao He or Cao Shen; yet one Pei Du cannot be kept — this is why Feng Tang said Emperor Wen obtained Lian Po and Li Mu but could not use them. In governing chief ministers, entrust them, trust them, draw them close, and honor them; if they fail in office and serve the state no good, place them in idle posts or send them to distant commands. Then those in office will not dare slacken, and those seeking promotion will not dare scheme. I have no private quarrel with Fengji; I once spoke up when Pei Du was unjustly demoted. What I now say answers Your Majesty's wisdom and voices what many discuss.' The emperor noticed Du's memorial lacked the chief minister title and asked Chuhou about it. Chuhou fully explained how Li Fengji had blocked him. The emperor said, 'How could it come to this!' Li Cheng also urged the emperor to honor Du. On the bingshen day Du was made Associate Chief Minister. In Zhang Shao's disturbance Ma Cunliang's merit was greatest, yet he did not boast and sought to leave office. In autumn, in the seventh month, Cunliang was made army supervising commissioner of Huainan.
41
夏綏節度使李祐入為左金吾大將軍，壬申，進馬百五十匹，上卻之。 甲戌，侍御史溫造於閣內奏彈祐違敕進奉，請論如法，詔釋之。 祐謂人曰：』吾夜半入蔡州城取吳元濟，未嘗心動，今日膽落於溫御史矣！
Xiasui Military Governor Li You entered the capital as Left Golden Crow Grand General; on the renshen day he presented one hundred and fifty horses, which the emperor declined. On the jiaxu day Attending Censor Wen Zao impeached You in court for presenting tribute in violation of the edict and asked that he be punished by law; an edict pardoned him. Li You said to others: 'When I stormed Cai Prefecture at midnight and seized Wu Yuanji, my heart never wavered—but today Censor Wen has scared the wits out of me!'
42
八月，丁卯朔，安南奏黃蠻入寇。
In the eighth month, on the first day (dingmao), Annan reported that the Yellow Barbarians had invaded.
43
龍州刺史尉遲銳上言：「牛心山素稱神異，有掘斷處，請加補塞。」 從之。 役數萬人於絕險之地，東川為之疲弊。
Long Prefecture Inspector Yuchi Rui submitted a memorial: "Ox-Heart Mountain has always been reputed miraculous; a section has been excavated through—please order it repaired and sealed." The emperor approved. Tens of thousands of laborers were deployed in treacherous heights, and Eastern Chuan was exhausted by the project.
44
九月，丁未，波斯李蘇沙獻沉香亭子材。 左拾遺李漢上言：「此何異瑤台、瓊室！」 上雖怒，亦優容之。 漢，道明之六世孫也。
In the ninth month, on the dingwei day, Li Susa of Persia presented lumber for a pavilion of agarwood. Left Remonstrance Official Li Han memorialized: "How is this any different from the Jasper Terraces and Jade Chambers!" Though angry, the emperor nonetheless treated him with forbearance. Li Han was a sixth-generation descendant of Li Daoming.
45
冬，十月，戊戌，翰林學士韋處厚諫上宴游曰：「先帝以酒色致疾損壽，臣是時不死諫者，以陛下年已十五故也。 今皇子才一歲，臣安敢畏死而不諫乎！」 上感其言，賜錦彩百匹、銀器四。
In winter, the tenth month, on the wuxu day, Hanlin Academician Wei Chuhou admonished the emperor about his revels: "The late emperor impaired his health and shortened his life with wine and women. I did not risk my life remonstrating then because Your Majesty was already fifteen. Now the crown prince is only a year old—how can I shrink from death and refuse to speak!" Moved by his words, the emperor bestowed one hundred bolts of brocade and four silver vessels.
46
十一月，戊午，安南奏：黃蠻與環王合兵攻陷陸州，殺刺史葛維。
In the eleventh month, on the wuwu day, Annan reported that the Yellow Barbarians had allied with Huan and stormed Luzhou, killing Prefect Ge Wei.
47
庚申，葬睿聖文惠孝皇帝於光陵，廟號穆宗。
On the gengshen day Emperor Muzong—posthumously titled the Sagely, Cultured, Gracious, and Filial Emperor—was interred at Guang Mausoleum.
48
王播以錢十萬緡賂王守澄，求復領利權，十二月，癸未，諫議大夫獨孤朗、張仲方、起居郎柳公權、起居舍人宋申錫、拾遺李景讓、薛廷老請開延英論其奸邪。 上問：「前廷爭者不在中邪？」 即日，除劉栖楚諫議大夫。 景讓，憕之曾孫； 廷老，河中人也。
Wang Bo bribed Wang Shoucheng with one hundred thousand strings of cash to regain lucrative offices. In the twelfth month, on the guwei day, Remonstrance Officials Dugu Lang, Zhang Zhongfang, Diarist Liu Gongquan, Diarist-Recorder Song Shenxi, and Remonstrance Officials Li Jingrang and Xue Tinglao petitioned to debate his corruption in Yanying Hall. The emperor asked, "Weren't the men who spoke up in court earlier already in central office?" That same day Liu Qichu was made Remonstrance Official. Li Jingrang was the great-grandson of Li Ping; Xue Tinglao was from Hezhong.
49
十二月，庚寅，加天平節度使烏重胤同平章事。
In the twelfth month, on the gengyin day, Tianping Military Governor Wu Chongyin was made Associate Chief Minister.
50
乙未，徐泗觀察使王智興以上生日，請於泗州置戒壇，度僧尼以資福，許之。 自元和以來，敕禁此弊，智興欲聚貨，首請置之，於是四方輻湊，江、淮尤甚，智興家貲由此累巨萬。 浙西觀察使李德裕上言：「若不鈐制，至降誕日方停，計兩浙、福建當失六十萬丁。」 奏至，即日罷之。
On the yimao day Wang Zhixing, commissioner of Xu-Si, petitioned—since it was the emperor's birthday—to set up an ordination platform at Sizhou to tonsure monks and nuns for blessing; the request was granted. Imperial edicts since the Yuanhe era had forbidden this abuse, but Zhixing sought profit and was the first to ask; soon donors streamed in from every direction, especially along the Jiang and Huai, and his family wealth swelled to tens of millions. Zhexi Military Commissioner Li Deyu memorialized: "Unless this is checked, it will run until the emperor's birthday; the two Zhe circuits and Fujian stand to lose six hundred thousand men of tax age." As soon as the memorial arrived, the practice was halted that day.
51
是歲，回鶻崇德可汗卒，弟曷薩特勒立。
That year the Uighur Chongde Khaghan died, and his younger brother Yisadulu Teqin took the throne.
52
敬宗睿武昭愍孝皇帝
Emperor Jingzong, the Sagely Martial, Illustrious, Lamented, and Filial Emperor
53
敬宗睿武昭愍孝皇帝寶歷元年（ 乙巳，公元八二五年）
Emperor Jingzong, the Sagely Martial, Illustrious, Lamented, and Filial Emperor—first year of Baoli ( yisi, AD 825)
54
春，正月，辛亥，上祀南郊。 還，御丹鳳樓，赦天下，改元。 先是鄠令崔發聞外喧囂，問之，曰：「五坊人毆百姓。」 發怒，命擒以入，曳之於庭。 時已昏黑，良久，詰之，乃中使也。 上怒，收發，系御史台。 是日，發與諸囚立金雞下，忽有品官數十人執梃亂捶發，破面折齒，絕氣乃去。 數刻而蘇，復有繼來求擊之者，台吏以席蔽之，僅免。 上命復系發於台獄而釋諸囚。
In spring, the first month, on the xinhai day, the emperor offered sacrifice at the Southern Suburbs. On his return he took the throne at Danfeng Tower, proclaimed a general amnesty, and changed the reign title. Earlier, Cui Fa, magistrate of E County, heard a commotion outside and inquired; he was told, "Men of the Five Wards are beating commoners." Enraged, Fa ordered the men seized and hauled into the courtyard. Night had fallen; only after prolonged questioning did he learn they were palace emissaries. The emperor was furious, had Fa arrested, and confined him in the Censorate prison. That day, as Fa stood with the other prisoners beneath the golden rooster, dozens of ranking officials suddenly rushed in with clubs and beat him savagely, smashing his face and breaking his teeth; they withdrew only when he ceased to breathe. Moments later he revived; when more assailants arrived, the jail clerks covered him with mats and he barely survived. The emperor ordered Fa returned to the Censorate prison and released the other inmates.
55
中書侍郎、同平章事牛僧孺以上荒淫，嬖倖用事，又畏罪不敢言，但累表求出。 乙卯，升鄂岳為武昌軍，以僧孺同平章事、充武昌節度使。
Vice Director of the Secretariat and Associate Chief Minister Niu Sengru saw the emperor's debauchery and the sway of favorites; fearing reprisal, he dared not speak out and only filed repeated requests to leave court. On the yimao day E-Yue was elevated to the Wuchang Army command; Niu Sengru was appointed Associate Chief Minister and Wuchang military governor.
56
中旨復以王播兼鹽鐵轉運使，諫官屢爭之，上皆不納。
By secret imperial order Wang Bo was again named concurrent Salt and Iron Transport Commissioner; remonstrance officials protested repeatedly, but the emperor refused every appeal.
57
牛僧孺過襄陽，山南東道節度使柳公綽服橐鞬候於館舍，將佐諫曰：「襄陽地高於夏口，此禮太過！」 公綽曰：「奇章公甫離台席，方鎮重宰相，所以尊朝廷也。」 竟行之。
As Niu Sengru traveled through Xiangyang, Liu Gongchuo, military governor of Shannan East, met him at the lodge wearing bow-case and quiver on his belt. His officers objected: "Xiangyang ranks above Xiakou—this courtesy goes too far!" Liu Gongchuo replied, "Lord Qizhang has only just left the central council; a frontier command should honor a chief minister—this is how we show respect for the throne." He went through with it anyway.
58
上游幸無常，暱比群小，視朝月不再三，大臣罕得進見。 二月，壬午，浙西觀察使李德裕獻《丹扆六箴》：一曰《宵衣》，以諷視朝稀晚； 二曰《正服》，以諷服御乖異； 三曰《罷獻》，以諷徵求玩好； 四曰《納誨》，以諷侮棄讜言； 五曰《辨邪》，以諷信任群小； 六曰《防微》，以諷輕出遊幸。 其《納誨箴》略曰：「漢驁流湎，舉白浮鐘； 魏睿侈汰，陵霄作宮。 忠雖不忤，善亦不從。 以規為瑱，是謂塞聰。」 《防微箴》曰：「亂臣猖獗，非不遽數。 玄服莫辨，觸瑟始僕。 柏谷微行，豺豕塞路。 睹貌獻餐，斯可戒懼！」 上優詔答之。
The emperor toured at whim, kept company with low favorites, held court fewer than three times a month, and seldom received his senior ministers. In the second month, on the renwu day, Zhexi Military Commissioner Li Deyu submitted the Six Admonitions of the Cinnabar Screen: first, "Night Robes," rebuking infrequent and tardy audiences; second, "Correct Attire," rebuking improper dress and regalia; third, "Cease Presentations," rebuking demands for luxuries and curios; fourth, "Accept Remonstrance," rebuking contempt for honest advice; fifth, "Discern Evil," rebuking trust placed in base companions; sixth, "Guard the Slight," rebuking reckless excursions and pleasure travel. The Accept Remonstrance admonition reads in part: "The Han emperor drowned in wine, hoisting cups till the bells floated; Cao Rui of Wei was prodigal, raising the Lingxiao Palace. Loyal words met no outright rebuff, yet good counsel went unheeded. To treat remonstrance as an ear-plug is to deafen oneself." The Guard the Slight admonition says: "Traitors grow bold—not because their numbers were never reckoned. Assassins in dark robes went unrecognized; only when a lute string was brushed did attendants strike them down. A secret outing to Baigu left wolves and swine crowding the path. To read a man's face and set a meal before him—there is a lesson in dread!" The emperor answered with a gracious edict of commendation.
59
上既復系崔發於獄，給事中李渤上言：「縣令不應曳中人，中人不應毆御囚，其罪一也。 然縣令所犯在赦前，中人所犯在赦後。 中人橫暴，一至於此。 若不早正刑書，臣恐四夷籓鎮聞之，則慢易之心生矣。」 諫議大夫張仲方上言，略曰：「鴻恩將佈於天下而不行御前，霈澤遍被於昆蟲而獨遺崔發。」 自餘諫官論奏甚眾，上皆不聽。 戊子，李逢吉等從容言於上曰：「崔發輒曳中人，誠大不敬，然其母，故相韋貫之之姊也，年垂八十，自發下獄，積憂成疾。 陛下方以孝理天下，此所宜矜念。」 上乃愍然曰：「此諫官但言發冤，未嘗言其不敬，亦不言有老母。 如卿所言，朕何為不赦之！」 即命中使釋其罪，送歸家，仍慰勞其母。 母對中使杖發四十。
Once Cui Fa was jailed again, Supervising Secretary Li Bo argued: "A magistrate must not haul a palace emissary about, and an emissary must not beat a prisoner of the throne—the fault is equal on both sides. Yet the magistrate's crime predated the amnesty, while the attendants' crimes came after it. The emissaries' violence had reached such a pitch. Unless the law is enforced at once, I fear that when foreign peoples and frontier commands hear of this, they will learn to hold the court in contempt." Remonstrance Official Zhang Zhongfang wrote, in part: "Mercy is to blanket the realm yet cannot reach the emperor's own doorstep; favor is to fall on the smallest creatures yet Cui Fa alone is excluded." Other remonstrance officials piled on memorials, but the emperor would not heed them. On the wuzi day Li Fengji and others spoke softly to the emperor: "Cui Fa was wrong to seize a palace emissary—indeed a grave breach—but his mother is the sister of former Chief Minister Wei Guanzhi, nearly eighty; since Fa was imprisoned her grief has turned to illness. Your Majesty rules the world through filial piety—surely this merits compassion." The emperor sighed: "The remonstrators spoke only of Fa's wrongs; none said he had been disrespectful, and none mentioned his old mother. If that is so, how could I refuse to pardon him!" He at once ordered a palace attendant to release Fa and send him home, and sent condolences to his mother. The mother then had the attendant flog Fa forty strokes.
60
三月，辛酉，遣司門郎中於人文冊回鶻曷薩特勒為愛登裡囉汩沒密於合毘伽昭禮可汗。
In the third month, on the xinyou day, Yu Renwen of the Gate Office was sent to invest the Uighur Yisadulu Teqin as Aidengli Luogu Mimi he Hepijia Zhaoli Khaghan.
61
夏，四月，癸巳，群臣上尊號曰文武大聖廣孝皇帝。 赦天下。 赦文但云：「左降官已經量移者，宜與量移，」不言未量移者。 翰林學士韋處厚上言：「逢吉恐李紳量移，故有此處置。 如此，則應近年流貶官，因李紳一人皆不得量移也。」 上即追赦文改之。 紳由是得移江州長史。
In summer, the fourth month, on the guisi day, the court offered the honorific Civil and Martial Great Sagely Broadly Filial Emperor. A general amnesty was proclaimed. The amnesty decree said only that demoted officials already given a partial recall "should again be recalled in measure," and said nothing of those not yet recalled at all. Hanlin Academician Wei Chuhou wrote: "Fengji feared Li Shen would be recalled, and so engineered this wording. At this rate every recent exile would be denied recall—for the sake of one man, Li Shen." The emperor at once recalled the amnesty text and had it rewritten. Li Shen was thereby moved to senior recorder of Jiang Prefecture.
62
秋，七月，甲辰，鹽鐵使王播進羨餘絹百萬匹。 播領鹽鐵，誅求嚴急，正入不充而羨餘相繼。
In autumn, the seventh month, on the jiachen day, Salt Commissioner Wang Bo presented one million bolts of surplus silk. Wang Bo ran salt and iron with ruthless levies; ordinary receipts fell short even as "surplus" tribute poured in.
63
己未，詔王播造競渡船二十艘，運材於京師造之，計用轉運半年之費。 諫議大夫張仲方等力諫，乃減其半。
On the jiwei day the court ordered Wang Bo to build twenty racing boats, shipping timber to the capital for assembly at a cost equal to six months of transport funds. Remonstrance Officials Zhang Zhongfang and others protested vigorously, and the order was cut in half.
64
諫官言京兆尹崔元略以諸父事內常侍崔潭峻。 丁卯，元略遷戶部侍郎。
Remonstrance officials charged that Jingzhao Magistrate Cui Yuanlue attended Palace Attendant Cui Tanjun as a nephew would an uncle. On the dingmao day Cui Yuanlue was moved to Vice Minister of Revenue.
65
昭義節度使劉悟方去鄆州也，以鄆兵二千自隨為親兵。 八月，庚戌，悟暴疾薨，子將作監主簿從諫匿其喪，與大將劉武德及親兵謀，以悟遺表求知留後。 司馬賈直言入責從諫曰：「爾父提十二州地歸朝廷，其功非細，只以張汶之故，自謂不潔淋頭，竟至羞死。 爾孺子，何敢如此！ 父死不哭，何以為人！」 從諫恐悚不能對，乃發喪。
When Zhaoyi Military Governor Liu Wu had left Yun Prefecture earlier, he kept two thousand Yun soldiers as a personal guard. In the eighth month, on the gengxu day, Liu Wu died suddenly; his son Congjian, a chief secretary in the palace workshops, hid the corpse and, with General Liu Wude and the guard, planned to use Wu's deathbed memorial to secure Congjian's succession. Assistant Military Governor Jia Zhiyan burst in and upbraided Congjian: "Your father surrendered twelve prefectures to the throne—no small deed; yet over Zhang Wen he felt himself stained through and shamed unto death. You reckless boy—how dare you behave thus! Your father is dead and you will not mourn—what kind of man are you!" Congjian, terrified and speechless, at last proclaimed the funeral.
66
初，陳留人武昭罷石州刺史，為袁王府長史，鬱鬱怨執政。 李逢吉與李程不相悅，水部郎中李仍叔，程之族人，激怒之雲，程欲與昭官，為逢吉所沮。 昭因酒酣，對左金吾兵曹茅匯言欲刺逢吉，為人所告。 九月，庚辰，詔三司鞫之。 前河陽掌書記李仲言謂匯曰：』君言李程與昭謀則生，不然必死。 匯曰：「冤死甘心！ 誣人自全，匯不為也！」 獄成。 冬，十月，甲子，武昭杖死，李仍叔貶道州司馬，李仲言流象州，茅匯流崖州。
Earlier Wu Zhao of Chenliu, removed as prefect of Shi, served as chief secretary to the Prince of Yuan and nursed a grudge against the ministers in power. Li Fengji and Li Cheng were estranged; Li Yingshu of the Water Section, a kinsman of Cheng, goaded Zhao with word that Cheng meant to give him a post—only for Fengji to thwart it. Drunk, Zhao told Mao Hui of the Left Golden Crow Army Bureau that he meant to stab Fengji; an informer brought word. In the ninth month, on the gengchen day, the Three Offices were ordered to investigate. Li Zhongyan, formerly records officer at Heyang, told Hui: 'Say that Li Cheng conspired with Zhao and you live; say otherwise and you die.' Hui replied, "To die unjustly—I accept it gladly! To frame an innocent man to save my skin—Mao Hui will not do it!" The investigation was concluded. In winter, on the tenth month's jiazi day, Wu Zhao was beaten to death. Li Yingshu was demoted to militia commissioner of Daozhou, Li Zhongyan was banished to Xiangzhou, and Mao Hui to Yazhou.
67
上欲幸驪山溫湯，左僕射李絳、諫議大夫張仲方等屢諫不聽，拾遺張權輿伏紫宸殿下，叩頭諫曰：「昔周幽王幸驪山，為犬戎所殺； 秦始皇葬驪山，國亡； 玄宗宮驪山而祿山亂； 先帝幸驪山，而享年不長。」 上曰：「驪山若此之凶邪？ 我宜一往以驗彼言。」 十一月，庚寅，幸溫湯，即日還宮，謂左右曰：「彼叩頭者之言，安足信哉！」
The emperor wished to visit the hot springs at Mount Li. The Left Vice Director Li Jiang, Remonstrance Officer Zhang Zhongfang, and others remonstrated again and again, but he would not heed them. The Reminder Zhang Quanyu prostrated himself below Zichen Hall and, knocking his head on the ground, remonstrated: "Long ago King You of Zhou visited Mount Li and was killed by the Quanrong; the First Emperor of Qin was buried at Mount Li and his dynasty fell; Emperor Xuanzong built his palace at Mount Li and An Lushan rose in rebellion; and the late emperor visited Mount Li and did not live to old age." The emperor said, "Is Mount Li truly so ill-omened? I should go once and put their words to the test." In the eleventh month, on the gengyin day, he visited the hot springs and returned to the palace the same day. He told his attendants, "What that man who kowtowed said—how is it worth believing!"
68
丙申，立皇子普為晉王。
On the bingshen day, Prince Pu was created Prince of Jin.
69
朝廷得劉悟遺表，議者多言上黨內鎮，與河朔異，不可許。 左僕射李絳上疏，以為：「兵機尚速，威斷貴定，人情未一，乃可伐謀。 劉悟死已數月，朝廷尚未處分，中外人意，共惜事機。 今昭義兵眾，必不盡與從諫同謀，縱使其半葉同，尚有其半效順。 從諫未嘗久典兵馬，威惠未加於人。 又此道素貧，非時必無優賞。 今朝廷但速除近澤潞一將充昭義節度使，令兼程赴鎮，從諫未及佈置，新使已至潞州，所謂『先人奪人之心』也。 新使既至，軍心自有所繫。 從諫無位，何名主張，設使謀撓朝命，其將士必不肯從。 今朝廷久無處分，彼軍不曉朝廷之意，欲效順則恐忽授從諫，欲同軍惡則恐別更除人，猶豫之間，若有奸人為之畫策，虛張賞設錢數，軍士覬望，尤難指揮。 伏望速賜裁斷，仍先下明敕，宣示軍眾，獎其從來忠節，賜新使繒五十萬匹，使之賞設。 續除劉從諫一剌史。 從諫既粗有所得，必且擇利而行，萬無違拒。 設不從命，臣亦以為不假攻討，何則？ 臣聞從諫已禁山東三州軍士不許自畜兵刀，足明群心殊未得一，帳下之事亦在不疑。 熟計利害，決無即授從諫之理。」 時李逢吉、王守澄計議已定，竟不用絳等謀。 十二月，辛丑，以從諫為昭義留後。 劉悟煩苛，從諫濟以寬厚，眾頗附之。
When the court received Liu Wu's final memorial, many argued that Shangdang was an interior commandery, unlike the Hebei frontier, and that the request could not be granted. The Left Vice Director Li Jiang submitted a memorial arguing: "Military opportunity demands speed, and decisive authority must be settled quickly. When hearts are divided, that is when you can overturn their plots. Liu Wu has been dead for months, yet the court still has not decided the matter. At court and in the provinces alike, everyone laments the missed chance. The Zhaoyi troops surely do not all stand with Congjian. Even if half join him, the other half will still submit to the throne. Congjian has never held military command for long, and neither authority nor kindness has yet won over the soldiers. The circuit has always been poor, and in ordinary times there are no lavish rewards to offer. The court should promptly appoint a general from the Ze-Lu region as Zhaoyi military commissioner and order him to rush to the post by forced marches. Before Congjian can organize anything, the new commissioner will already be at Luzhou—the classic case of seizing the initiative. Once the new commissioner arrives, the troops will naturally have someone else to follow. Without an appointment, what standing would Congjian have to press his claims? Even if he tried to block the court's decision, his officers and men would not follow him. The court's long delay has left the army unsure of its intent. Men who want to submit fear Congjian will suddenly be confirmed; men who want to join in rebellion fear someone else will be appointed instead. In that uncertainty, schemers can inflate promised rewards, the soldiers' greed will be stirred, and command will become all the harder. I beg Your Majesty to decide at once: issue a clear edict praising the troops' long loyalty, and grant the new commissioner five hundred thousand bolts of silk for rewards and distributions. Then appoint Liu Congjian to a prefectural post. Once Congjian has gained something tangible, he is sure to take what benefits him and comply—he will not resist. If he still refuses, I believe there is no need for military action either. Why? I have heard that Congjian has already forbidden soldiers in the three eastern prefectures from keeping weapons privately—proof enough that the ranks are far from united and that his own hold on them is shaky. Weigh the gains and losses carefully, and there is simply no case for confirming Congjian at once." By then Li Fengji and Wang Shoucheng had already made up their minds, and Li Jiang's plan was never adopted. In the twelfth month, on the xinchou day, Congjian was appointed acting military commissioner of Zhaoyi. Liu Wu had been harsh and finicky; Congjian tempered that with lenience and generosity, and the troops came to favor him.
70
李絳好直言，李逢吉惡之。 故事，僕射上日，宰相送之，百官立班，中丞列位於廷，尚書以下每月當牙。 元和中，伊慎為僕射，太常博士韋謙上言舊儀太重，削去之。 御史中丞王播恃逢吉之勢，與絳相遇於塗，不之避。 絳引故事上言：「僕射，國初為正宰相，禮數至重。 倘人才忝位，自宜別授賢良。 若朝命守官，豈得有虧法制。 乞下百官詳定。」 議者多從絳議。 上聽行舊儀。 甲子，以絳有足疾，除太子少師、分司。
Li Jiang was fond of blunt counsel; Li Fengji detested him. By precedent, on a Vice Director's first day in office chancellors escorted him, the full bureaucracy stood in formation, the Censor in Chief took his place in the hall, and Vice Ministers and below attended the monthly audience ceremony. During the Yuanhe reign, when Yin Shen became Vice Director, Academician Wei Qian of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices argued that the old ceremony was excessive, and it was abolished. Censor in Chief Wang Bo, counting on Fengji's backing, met Jiang on the road and did not step aside. Jiang cited precedent in a memorial: "At the founding of the dynasty the Vice Director was the chief minister, and the ceremonial honor due him was supreme. If the incumbent lacks the talent for the office, another worthy man should be appointed. But if the court has ordered a man to hold the post, how can the regulations be set aside? I ask that all officials be ordered to deliberate and settle the matter." Most of those who debated sided with Li Jiang. The emperor approved restoring the old ceremony. On the jiazi day, citing Jiang's foot ailment, the emperor made him Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince in a sinecure post away from court.
71
言事者多稱裴度賢，不宜棄之籓鎮，上數遣使至興元勞問度，密示以還期。 度因求入朝，逢吉之黨大懼。
Many memorializers praised Pei Du as worthy and argued that he should not be left in the provinces. The emperor repeatedly sent envoys to Xingyuan to comfort him and quietly signaled when he might return. Du then asked to come to court, and Fengji's faction was terrified.
72
敬宗睿武昭愍孝皇帝寶歷二年（ 丙年，公元八二六年）
In the annals of Emperor Jingzong, the Sagely, Martial, Illustrious, and Gracious Filial Emperor, the second year of Baoli ( bing year, AD 826)
73
春，正月，壬辰，裴度自興元入朝，李逢吉之黨百計毀之。 先是民間謠云：「緋衣小兒坦其腹，天上有口被驅逐。」 又，長安城中有橫亙六岡，如乾象，度宅偶居第五岡。 張權輿上言：「度名應圖讖，宅占岡原，不召而來，其旨可見。」 上雖年少，悉察其誣謗，待度益厚。
In spring, on the first month's renchen day, Pei Du arrived at court from Xingyuan. Fengji's faction tried every trick to destroy his reputation. Earlier a street rhyme had circulated: "A child in crimson bares his belly; heaven bears a mouth and is driven off." Chang'an also had six ridges running across it like the Qian hexagram, and Pei Du's house happened to stand on the fifth ridge. Zhang Quanyu memorialized: "Du's name fits the prophecies, his house sits on a dragon ridge, and he has come without being summoned—the meaning is obvious. Though still young, the emperor saw through the smears and treated Du with even greater favor.
74
度初至京師，朝士填門，度留客飲。 京兆尹劉棲楚附度耳語，侍御史崔鹹舉觴罰度曰：「丞相不應許所由官呫囁耳語。」 度笑而飲之。 棲楚不自安，趨出。 二月，丁未，以度為司空、同平章事。 度在中書，左右忽白失印。 聞者失色，度飲酒自如。 頃之，左右白復於故處得印，度不應。 或問其故，度曰：「此必吏人盜之以印書券耳，急之則投諸水火，緩之則復還故處。」 人服其識量。
When Du first reached the capital, officials thronged his gate. He entertained guests with wine. Jingzhao Intendant Liu Qichu leaned close and whispered in Du's ear. Attending Censor Cui Xian raised his cup and fined Du, saying, "A chief minister must not let a subordinate official mutter in his ear." Du smiled and drained the cup. Qichu, mortified, rushed away. In the second month, on the dingwei day, Du was appointed Minister of Works and Associate Chief Minister. While Du was at the Secretariat, an attendant suddenly announced that the seal was missing. Everyone present went pale; Du went on drinking as if nothing had happened. Soon an attendant reported that the seal had reappeared where it belonged. Du made no reply. When someone asked why, Du said, "Some clerk stole it to stamp documents. Press him and he'll destroy it; leave him alone and it comes back." People marveled at his composure and judgment.
75
上自即位以來，欲幸東都，宰相及朝臣諫者甚眾。 上皆不聽，決意必行，已令度支員外郎盧貞按視，修東都宮闕及道中行宮。 裴度從容言於上曰：「國家本設兩都以備巡幸，自多難以來，茲事遂廢。 今宮闕、營壘、百司廨捨率已荒阤，陛下倘欲行幸，宜命有司歲月間徐加完葺，然後可往。」 上曰：「從來言事者皆雲不當往，如卿所言，不往亦可。」 會朱克融、王庭湊皆請以兵匠助修東都。 三月丁亥，敕以修東都煩擾，罷之，召盧貞還。 先是，朝廷遣中使賜朱克融時服，克融以為疏惡，執留敕使。 又奏「當道今歲將士春衣不足，乞度支給三十萬端匹」，又奏「欲將兵馬及丁匠五千助修宮闕」。 上患之，以問宰相，欲遣重臣宣慰，仍索敕使。 裴度對曰：「克融無禮已甚，殆將斃矣！ 譬如猛獸，自於山林中咆哮跳踉，久當自困，必不敢輒離巢穴。 願陛下勿遣宣慰，亦勿索敕使，旬日之後，徐賜詔書云：『聞中官至彼，稍失去就，俟還，朕自有處分。 時服，有司製造不謹，朕甚欲知之，已令區處。 其將士春衣，從來非朝廷征發，皆本道自備。 朕不愛數十萬匹物，但素無此例，不可獨與范陽。』 所稱助修宮闕，皆是虛語，若欲直挫其奸，宜云『丁匠宜速遣來，已令所在排比供擬。』 彼得此詔，必蒼黃失圖。 若且示含容，則云『修宮闕事在有司，不假丁匠遠來。』 如是而已，不足勞聖慮也。」 上悅，從之。
Since taking the throne the emperor had wanted to visit the Eastern Capital, and a great many chancellors and officials had remonstrated against it. He would not listen, was determined to go, and had already sent Revenue Section aide Lu Zhen to survey repairs to the Eastern Capital palaces and the roadside lodges along the way. Pei Du said gently to the emperor, "The empire set up two capitals for imperial tours, but since the rebellions that practice has lapsed. Palaces, barracks, and government offices are mostly in ruins. If Your Majesty still wishes to go, let the responsible offices spend months restoring them gradually, and only then set out." The emperor said, "Everyone who has remonstrated has said I should not go. As you put it, staying home is fine too." Just then Zhu Kerong and Wang Tingcou both offered troops and craftsmen to help repair the Eastern Capital. On the third month's dinghai day, an edict canceled the Eastern Capital repairs as too burdensome and recalled Lu Zhen. Earlier the court had sent a palace envoy to present Zhu Kerong with seasonal robes. Kerong judged them shoddy and insulting and held the envoy hostage. “He also asked the Revenue Section for three hundred thousand bolts of cloth for his troops' spring uniforms, and offered five thousand soldiers and laborers to help repair the palaces.” The emperor was alarmed and consulted the chancellors. He wanted to send a senior envoy to soothe Kerong and recover the detained messenger. Pei Du answered, "Kerong's insolence has gone as far as it can—he is nearly finished! He is like a savage beast roaring and thrashing in the hills: given time he will exhaust himself and will not dare leave his den. I urge Your Majesty not to send a comforting envoy and not to demand the messenger back. After ten days or so, send a leisurely edict: 'I hear the palace envoy lost his composure at your court; when he returns I will deal with it myself. As for the robes, the offices were careless in making them and I very much wish to know how that happened—I have already ordered an inquiry. Spring uniforms for troops have never been issued from the capital; each circuit supplies its own. I do not begrudge a few hundred thousand bolts of cloth, but there is no precedent for such a grant, and Fanyang alone cannot receive it.' His offer to repair the palaces is empty talk. To strike at his scheme directly, say: 'Send the laborers at once—I have already ordered the prefectures along the route to assemble provisions for them.' Once he receives that edict he will panic and lose his footing. If you prefer a softer line for now, say: 'Palace repairs are handled by the proper offices; there is no need to send laborers from afar.' That is enough, and it need not trouble Your Majesty further." The emperor was pleased and did as Pei Du advised.
76
立才人郭氏為貴妃。 妃，晉王普之母也。
The Talented Lady Guo was elevated to Noble Consort. She was the mother of Prince Pu of Jin.
77
橫海節度使李全略薨。 其子副大使同捷擅領留後，重賂鄰道，以求承繼。
Li Quanlüe, military commissioner of Henghai, died. His son Tongjie, the deputy commissioner, seized the post as acting regent and lavished bribes on neighboring circuits to win approval for his succession.
78
夏，四月，戊申，以昭義留後劉從諫為節度使。
In summer, on the fourth month's wushen day, Liu Congjian was confirmed from acting regent to full military commissioner of Zhaoyi.
79
五月，幽州軍亂，殺朱克融及其子延齡，軍中立其少子延嗣主軍務。
In the fifth month the Youzhou garrison mutinied, killed Zhu Kerong and his son Yanling, and set up Kerong's younger son Yansi to run the command.
80
六月，甲子，上御三殿，令左右軍、教坊、內園為擊球、手搏、雜戲。 戲酣，有斷臂、碎首者，夜漏數刻乃罷。
In the sixth month, on the jiazi day, the emperor watched from the Three Halls as the Left and Right Armies, the Music Bureau, and the inner parks staged polo, wrestling, and variety acts. The contests grew so fierce that men lost arms and had their skulls smashed. The games did not end until several night watches had passed.
81
己卯，上幸興福寺，觀沙門文漵俗講。
On the jimao day the emperor visited Xingfu Temple to hear the monk Wenji preach in the vernacular.
82
癸未，衡王絢薨。
On the guiwei day Prince Xuan of Heng died.
83
壬辰，宣索左藏見在銀十萬兩、金七千兩，悉貯內藏，以便賜與。
On the renchen day the emperor ordered one hundred thousand taels of silver and seven thousand taels of gold from the Left Treasury moved into the inner vault for ready distribution.
84
道士趙歸真說上以神仙，僧惟貞、齊賢、正簡說上以禱祠求福，皆出入宮禁，上信用其言。 山人杜景先請遍歷江、嶺，求訪異人。 有潤州人週息元，自言壽數百歲，上遣中使迎之。 八月，乙巳，息元至京師，上館之禁中山亭。
The Daoist Zhao Guizhen preached immortality to the emperor; the monks Weizhen, Qixian, and Zhengjian urged prayer and sacrifice for fortune. All moved freely in and out of the palace, and the emperor believed them. The recluse Du Jingxian asked to travel the Yangzi and Lingnan regions in search of wonder-workers. A Runzhou man named Zhou Xiyuan claimed to be several centuries old, and the emperor sent a palace envoy to escort him to court. In the eighth month, on the yisi day, Xiyuan arrived at the capital and was housed in Zhongshan Pavilion within the imperial park.
85
朱延嗣既得幽州，虐用其人。 都知兵馬使李載義與弟牙內兵馬使載寧共殺延嗣，並屠其家三百餘人。 載義權知留後，九月，數延嗣之罪以聞。 載義，承乾之後也。
Once Zhu Yansi held Youzhou, he oppressed the people brutally. Command-and-control commissioner Li Zaiyi and his brother Zaining, commissioner of the inner army, killed Yansi together and massacred more than three hundred of his kin. Zaiyi took charge as acting regent and, in the ninth month, repeatedly memorialized the court listing Yansi's crimes. Li Zaiyi was a descendant of Li Chengqian.
86
庚申，魏博節度使史憲誠妄奏李同捷為軍士所逐，走歸本道，請束身歸朝。 尋奏同捷復歸滄州。
On the gengshen day Shi Xiancheng, military commissioner of Weibo, falsely reported that Li Tongjie had been expelled by his troops, had fled home, and wished to surrender himself to the throne. Before long the court reported that Li Tongjie had gone back to Cangzhou.
87
壬申，以中書侍郎、同平章事李程同平章事、充河東節度使。
On the renshen day Li Cheng, Vice Director of the Secretariat and Jointly Appointed Councilor, was confirmed as councilor and sent out as military commissioner of Hedong.
88
冬，十月，己亥，以李載義為盧龍節度使。
In winter, on the tenth month’s jihai day, Li Zaiyi was appointed military commissioner of Lulong.
89
十一月，甲申，以門下侍郎、同平章事李逢吉同平章事、充山南東道節度使。
In the eleventh month, on the jiashen day, Li Fengji, Vice Director of the Chancellery and Jointly Appointed Councilor, was confirmed as councilor and posted to the Shannan East Circuit as its military commissioner.
90
上遊戲無度，狎暱群小，善擊球，好手摶，禁軍及諸道爭獻力士，又以錢萬緡付內園令召募力士，晝夜不離側。 又好深夜自捕狐狸。 性復褊急，力士或恃恩不遜，輒配流、籍沒。 宦官小過，動遭捶撻，皆怨且懼。 十二月，辛丑，上夜獵還宮，與宦官劉克明、田務澄、許文端及擊球軍將蘇佐明、王嘉憲、石從寬、閻惟直等二十八人飲酒。 上酒酣，入室更衣，殿上燭忽滅，蘇佐明等弒上於室內。 劉克明等矯稱上旨，命翰林學士路隋草遺制，以絳王悟權句當軍國事。 壬寅，宣遺制，絳王見宰相百官於紫宸外廡。 克明等欲易置內侍之執權者，於是樞密使王守澄、楊承和、中尉魏從簡、梁守謙定議，以衛兵迎江王涵入宮，發左、右神策、飛龍兵進討賊黨，盡斬之。 克明赴井，出而斬之。 絳王為亂兵所害。 時事起蒼猝，守澄等以翰林學士韋處厚博通古今，一夕處置，皆與之共議。 守澄等欲號令中外，而疑所以為辭。 處厚曰：「正名討罪，於義何嫌，安可依違，有所諱避！」 又問：』江王當如何踐祚？ 處厚曰：「詰朝，當以王教佈告中外以已平內難。 然後群臣三表勸進，以太皇太后令冊命即皇帝位。」 當時皆從其言，時不暇復問有司，凡百儀法，皆出於處厚，無不葉宜。 癸卯，以裴度攝塚宰。 百官謁見江王於紫宸外廡，王素服涕泣。 甲辰，見諸軍使於少陽院。 趙歸真等諸術士及敬宗時佞幸者，皆流嶺南或邊地。 乙已，文宗即位，更名昂。 戊申，尊母蕭氏為皇太后，王太后為寶歷太后。 是時，郭太后居興慶宮，王太后居義安殿，蕭太后居大內。 上性孝謹，事三宮如一，每得珍異之物，先薦郊廟，次奉三宮，然後進御。 蕭太后，閩人也。
The emperor indulged in games without restraint, kept company with low favorites, excelled at polo, and delighted in hand wrestling. The Imperial Army and every circuit vied to present him with brawny champions, and he also handed ten thousand strings of cash to the director of the inner park to recruit more such men, who stayed at his side day and night. He also liked to go out deep into the night and hunt foxes on his own. He was besides quick-tempered and unforgiving: when a champion took his favor for granted and showed disrespect, the emperor would immediately have him exiled and his property seized. Eunuchs who committed minor offenses were often flogged, and they all nursed resentment and dread. In the twelfth month, on the xinchou day, the emperor came back to the palace from a night hunt and drank with the eunuchs Liu Keming, Tian Wucheng, and Xu Wenduan, together with the polo generals Su Zuoming, Wang Jiaxian, Shi Congkuan, Yan Weizhi, and twenty-five others—twenty-eight men in all. When he was drunk he went inside to change clothes. The candles in the hall suddenly went dark, and Su Zuoming and his companions murdered the emperor in the chamber. Liu Keming and the rest forged an imperial command ordering Hanlin academician Lu Sui to draft a deathbed edict placing the Crimson Prince, Li Wu, in provisional charge of state and military affairs. On the renyin day the testament was announced, and the Crimson Prince met the chief ministers and the full bureaucracy in the outer corridor of Zichen Hall. Keming's faction meant to displace the powerful eunuchs at court. The commissioners of military affairs Wang Shoucheng and Yang Chenghe, together with the grand marshals Wei Congjian and Liang Shouqian, then resolved to bring the River Prince, Li Han, into the palace with palace guards, and sent the Left and Right Divine Strategy Armies and the Flying Dragon Army to attack the rebels and execute every one of them. Keming threw himself down a well; they hauled him out and cut off his head. The Crimson Prince perished at the hands of the mutinous soldiers. Events had erupted too suddenly for orderly procedure. Shoucheng and his allies, knowing that Hanlin academician Wei Chuhou was deeply learned in history, spent the night consulting him on every step they took. They wanted to proclaim their authority throughout the palace and the empire, yet could not settle on the right words. Wei Chuhou said, "To set the record straight and punish crime is plainly righteous. Why hesitate or trim your language?" They asked again, "How should the River Prince ascend the throne?" Wei Chuhou answered, "At dawn tomorrow issue a princely proclamation telling the court and the empire that the palace rebellion has been put down. Then have the ministers submit three memorials urging him to reign, and by order of the Grand Empress Dowager invest him and seat him on the throne." Everyone followed his advice. There was no time to consult the ritual offices; every ceremony that night was shaped by Wei Chuhou, and none of it misfired. On the guimao day Pei Du was named acting regent of the realm. The full bureaucracy paid court to the River Prince in the outer corridor of Zichen Hall. He wore mourning dress and wept. On the jiachen day he received the military commissioners of the various armies in Shaoyang Courtyard. Zhao Guizhen and the other wonder-workers, together with the sycophants of Jingzong's reign, were all banished to Lingnan or the borderlands. On the yisi day Wenzong ascended the throne and took the personal name Ang. On the wushen day his mother, Lady Xiao, was elevated to Empress Dowager, and Empress Dowager Wang was given the title Baoli Empress Dowager. At that time Grand Empress Dowager Guo lived in Xingqing Palace, Empress Dowager Wang in Yi'an Hall, and Empress Dowager Xiao within the inner quarters. The emperor was by nature reverent and dutiful. He treated the three palaces with equal devotion, and whenever he received a rare treasure he first offered it at the suburban shrines, then sent it to the three palaces, and only afterward kept it for his own use. Empress Dowager Xiao came from Min.
91
庚戌，以翰林學士韋處厚為中書侍郎、同平章事。
On the gengxu day Hanlin academician Wei Chuhou was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat and Jointly Appointed Councilor.
92
上自為諸王，深知兩朝之弊，及即位，勵精求治，去奢從儉。 詔宮女非有職掌者皆出之，出三千餘人。 五坊鷹犬，准元和故事，量留校獵外，悉放之。 有司供宮禁年支物，並准貞元故事。 省教坊、翰林、總監冗食千二百餘員，停諸司新加衣糧。 御馬坊場及近歲別貯錢穀所佔陂田，悉歸之有司。 先宣索組繡、雕鏤之物，悉罷之。 敬宗之世，每月視朝不過一二，上始復舊制，每奇日未嘗不視朝，對宰相群臣延訪政事，久之方罷。 待制官舊雖設之，未嘗召對，至是屢蒙延問。 其輟朝、放朝皆用偶日，中外翕然相賀，以為太平可冀。
As a prince he had seen clearly how the two previous reigns had gone wrong. Once enthroned he threw himself into reform and turned from luxury to restraint. He decreed that every palace woman without an assigned office be released—more than three thousand left the palace. Following Yuanhe precedent, the hawks and hunting dogs of the Five Prefectures were set free except for a limited number kept for palace hunts. Annual provisions for the palace were scaled back to the levels of the Zhenyuan era. He cut more than twelve hundred superfluous posts in the Music Bureau, the Hanlin Academy, and the Directorate, and stopped the new clothing and grain allowances that various offices had added. Flood-retention lands seized for imperial horse farms and for recent grain and cash hoards were all returned to the civil administration. Orders for embroidered silks and carved ornaments were canceled outright. Under Jingzong the throne had been attended only once or twice a month. Wenzong restored the old practice: on every odd-numbered day he held court without fail, questioning chief ministers and officials at length on policy before adjourning. The post of attendant-at-court had existed for years but had never been called in for audience; now such men were questioned again and again. Recesses and dismissals were scheduled only on even-numbered days. Court and country alike celebrated, believing that order might yet return.
93
文宗元聖昭獻孝皇帝上太和元年（ 丁未，公元八二七年）
In the upper annals of Emperor Wenzong, the Sagely, Cultured, Illustrious, and Filial Emperor, the first year of Tahe ( dingwei, AD 827)
94
春，二月，乙巳，赦天下，改元。
In spring, on the second month's yisi day, he proclaimed a general amnesty and changed the reign title.
95
李同捷擅據滄景，朝廷經歲不問。 同捷冀易世之後或加恩貸，三月，壬戌朔，遣掌書記崔從長奉表與其弟同志、同巽俱入見，請遵朝旨。
Li Tongjie had seized Cangzhou and Jingzhou without authorization, and for a year the court left him alone. Tongjie hoped a new reign might bring him mercy. On the third month's renxu new moon he sent his chief secretary Cui Congchang with memorial in hand, together with his brothers Tongzhi and Tongxun, all entering court to ask that he be allowed to obey imperial orders.
96
上雖虛懷聽納而不能堅決，與宰相議事已定，尋復中變。 夏，四月，丙辰，韋處厚於延英極論之，因請避位。 上再三慰勞之。
Though willing to listen, the emperor could not hold a firm line: once he and his councilors had decided a policy, he would often reverse himself. In summer, on the fourth month's bingchen day, Wei Chuhou argued his case to the hilt in Yanying Hall and asked to step down. The emperor comforted him again and again and would not accept his resignation.
97
忠武節度使王沛薨。 庚申，以太僕卿高瑀為忠武節度使。 自大歷以來，節度使多出禁軍，其禁軍大將資高者，皆以倍稱之息貸錢於富室，以賂中尉，動逾億萬，然後得之，未嘗由執政。 至鎮，則重斂以償所負。 及沛薨，裴度、韋處厚始奏以瑀代之。 中外相賀曰：「自今債帥鮮矣！」 五月，丙子，以天平節度使烏重胤為橫海節度使，以前橫海節度副使李同捷為兗海節度使。 朝廷猶慮河南、北節度使構扇同捷使拒命，乃加魏博史憲誠同平章事。 丁丑，加盧龍李載義、平盧康志睦、成德王庭湊檢校官。
Wang Pei, military commissioner of Zhongwu, died. On the gengshen day Grand Master of the Imperial Stud Gao Yu was appointed military commissioner of Zhongwu. Since the Dali era most frontier commissioners had been drawn from the Imperial Army. Senior generals borrowed from rich families at ruinous interest—often more than a hundred million cash—to bribe the eunuch grand marshals and buy their posts, never through the chief ministers. Once installed, they taxed their circuits mercilessly to pay their debts. After Pei's death Pei Du and Wei Chuhou memorialized for the first time that Gao Yu should succeed him. Court and country alike rejoiced, saying, "From now on there will be fewer debt-bought commanders!" In the fifth month, on the bingzi day, Wu Chongyin of Tianping was transferred to Henghai, and Li Tongjie, former vice commissioner of Henghai, was named military commissioner of Yanhai. The court still worried that commissioners north and south of the Yellow River might stir Tongjie to defiance, and so promoted Shi Xiancheng of Weibo to Jointly Appointed Councilor. On the dingchou day Li Zaiyi of Lulong, Kang Zhimu of Pinglu, and Wang Tingcou of Chengde were granted honorary chief-ministerial titles.
98
鹽鐵使王播自淮南入朝，力圖大用，所獻銀器以千計，綾絹以十萬計。 六月，癸巳，以播為左僕射、同平章事。
Salt and Iron Commissioner Wang Bo came to court from Huainan bent on high office, presenting thousands of silver vessels and tens of thousands of bolts of silk. In the sixth month, on the guisi day, Wang Bo was made Left Vice President and Jointly Appointed Councilor.
99
秋，七月，癸酉，葬睿武昭愍孝皇帝於莊陵，廟號敬宗。
In autumn, on the seventh month's guiyou day, Emperor Jingzong was buried at Zhuang Mausoleum.
100
李同捷托為將士所留，不受詔。 乙酉，武寧節度使王智興奏請將本軍三萬人，自備五月糧以討同捷，許之。 八月，庚子，削同捷官爵，命烏重胤、王智興、康志睦、史憲誠、李載義與義成節度使李聽、義武節度使張播各帥本軍討之。 同捷遣其子弟以珍玩、女妓賂河北諸鎮，戊午，李載義執其侄，並所賂獻之。 史憲誠與李全略為婚姻，及同捷叛，密以糧助之。 裴度不知其所為，謂憲誠無貳心。 憲誠遣親吏至中書請事，韋處厚謂曰：「晉公於上前以百口保爾使主，處厚則不然，但仰俟所為，自有朝典耳！」 憲誠懼，不敢復與同捷通。 王庭湊為同捷求節鉞不獲，乃助之為亂，出兵境上以撓魏師。 又遣使厚賂沙陀酋長朱邪執宜，欲與之連兵，執宜拒不受。
Li Tongjie claimed his troops would not let him leave and refused to accept the appointment. On the yiyou day Wang Zhixing of Wuning asked to lead thirty thousand of his own troops, at his own expense for five months' rations, against Tongjie, and the court agreed. In the eighth month, on the gengzi day, Tongjie was stripped of rank. Wu Chongyin, Wang Zhixing, Kang Zhimu, Shi Xiancheng, and Li Zaiyi, with Li Ting of Yicheng and Zhang Bo of Yiwu, were each ordered to march with their own forces against him. Tongjie sent relatives bearing treasures and courtesans to buy off the Hebei commissioners. On the wuwu day Li Zaiyi arrested his nephew and forwarded him to court together with the gifts. Shi Xiancheng was tied to Li Quanlue by marriage, and when Tongjie rebelled he secretly supplied him with grain. Pei Du knew nothing of this and assured the throne that Xiancheng remained loyal. Xiancheng sent a trusted clerk to the Secretariat for guidance. Wei Chuhou told him, "The Duke of Jin staked a hundred lives before the throne on your master's loyalty. I make no such pledge. I will simply watch what your master does, and the law will do the rest." Xiancheng was terrified and dared not traffic with Tongjie again. Wang Tingcou, denied a commission for Tongjie, aided his revolt and sent troops across the border to harry the Wei expedition. He also sent envoys laden with gifts to the Shatuo chief Zhuye Zhiyi, hoping for an alliance; Zhiyi refused them.
101
冬，十月，天平、橫海節度使烏重胤擊同捷，屢破之。 十一月，丙寅，重胤薨。 庚辰，以保義節度使李寰為橫海節度使，從王智興之請也。
In winter, in the tenth month, Wu Chongyin of Tianping and Henghai attacked Tongjie and beat him again and again. In the eleventh month, on the bingyin day, Wu Chongyin died. On the gengchen day Li Huan of Baoyi was transferred to Henghai at Wang Zhixing's request.
102
十二月，庚戌，加王智興同平章事。
In the twelfth month, on the gengxu day, Wang Zhixing was made Jointly Appointed Councilor.
103
文宗元聖昭獻孝皇帝上太和二年（ 戌申，公元八二八年）
In the upper annals of Emperor Wenzong, the Sagely, Cultured, Illustrious, and Filial Emperor, the second year of Tahe ( wushen, AD 828)
104
春，三月，己卯，王智興攻棣州，焚其三門。
In spring, on the third month's jimao day, Wang Zhixing attacked De Prefecture and burned its three gate towers.
105
自元和之末，宦官益橫，建置天子在其掌握，威權出人主之右，人莫敢言。 辛已，上親策制舉人，賢良方正，昌平劉蕡對策極言其禍，其略曰：「陛下宜先憂者：宮闈將變，社稷將危，天下將傾，海內將亂。」 又曰：』陛下將杜篡弒之漸，則居正位而近正人，遠刀鋸之賤，親骨鯁之直，輔相得以專其任，庶職得以守其官，奈何以褻近五六人總天下大政！ 禍稔蕭牆，奸生帷幄，臣恐曹節、侯覽復生於今日。 又曰：「忠賢無腹心之寄，閫寺恃廢立之權，陷先君不得正其終，致陛下不得正其始。」 又曰：「威柄陵夷，籓臣跋扈。 或有不達人臣之節，首亂者以安君為名； 不究《春秋》之微，稱兵者以逐惡為義。 則政刑不由乎天子，征伐必自於諸侯。」 又曰：「陛下何不塞陰邪之路，屏褻狎之臣，制侵陵迫脅之心，復門戶掃除之役，戒其所宜戒，憂其所宜憂！ 既不能治於前，當治於後，既不能正其始，當正其終； 則可以虔奉典謨，克承丕構矣。 昔秦之亡也失於強暴，漢之亡也失於微弱。 強暴則賊臣畏死而害上，微弱則奸臣竊權而震主。 伏見敬宗皇帝不虞亡秦之禍，不翦其萌。 伏惟陛下深軫亡漢之憂，以杜其漸，則祖宗之鴻業可紹，三、五之遐軌可追矣。」 又曰：「臣聞昔漢元帝即位之初，更制七十餘事，其心甚誠，其稱甚美，然而紀綱日紊，國祚日衰，奸宄日強，黎元日困者，以其不能擇賢明而任之，失其操柄也。」 又曰：「陛下誠能揭國權以歸相，持兵柄以歸將，則心無不達，行無不孚矣。」 又曰：「法宜畫一，官宜正名。 今分外官、中官之員，立南司、北司之局，或犯禁於南則亡命於北，或正刑於外則破律於中，法出多門，人無所措，實由兵農勢異而中外法殊也。」 又曰：』今夏官不知兵籍，止於奉朝請； 六軍不主兵事，止於養勳階。 軍容合中官之政，戎律附內臣之職。 首一戴武弁，疾文吏如仇讎。 足一蹈軍門，視農夫如草芥。 謀不足以翦除凶逆，而詐足以抑揚威福； 勇不足以鎮衛社稷，而暴足以侵軼里閭。 羈紲籓臣，干陵宰舖，隳裂王度，汩亂朝經。 張武夫之威，上以制君父； 假天子之命，下以御英豪。 有藏奸觀釁之父，無伏節死難之義。 豈先王經文緯武之旨邪！ 又曰：「臣非不知言發而禍應，計行而身戮，蓋痛社稷之危，哀生人之困，豈忍姑息時忌，竊陛下一命之寵哉！」
Since the close of the Yuanhe era the eunuchs had grown ever bolder, enthroning and deposing emperors at will. Their power eclipsed the throne itself, and no one dared protest. On the xinsi day the emperor held the special civil examination for "upright and good" candidates. Liu Zhen of Changping answered with a memorial that laid bare the peril in the plainest terms: "Your Majesty's first concerns ought to be these: the inner palace is on the verge of upheaval, the altars of state are in danger, the realm is tottering, and turmoil is about to engulf the empire. He went on: "To choke off the drift toward regicide, hold the throne in dignity and keep honest men close. Banish the butcher's minions; cherish the blunt counselors who speak truth. Let your chief ministers govern, and let every office do its work—how can five or six favored eunuchs run the empire?" "Disaster is ripening behind the palace walls; treachery is breeding within the curtained hall. I fear that Cao Jie and Hou Lan live again in our time." He also wrote: "Loyal ministers have nowhere to place their trust. The eunuch commanders rest on the power to make and unmake emperors. They prevented your predecessor from ending his reign in peace, and they have kept you from beginning yours in legitimacy." He also said: "Sovereign power erodes daily, while the military commissioners grow insolent on their borders. Some who lack a subject's restraint raise rebellion in the name of saving the throne; without grasping the Spring and Autumn Annals' deeper lesson, men who march armies call it righteous to expel the wicked. Then law and punishment no longer flow from the Son of Heaven, and war is waged only at the command of the regional lords." He urged: "Block the road of secret malice. Cast out the emperor's coarse intimates. Curb the impulse to bully and threaten. Restore the old duties of gatekeeping and court order. Warn yourself where warning is needed; fear what ought to be feared. If you could not set things right at the start, set them right at the finish; if you could not cure what came before, cure what comes after. Then you may reverently uphold the classics and inherit the great enterprise of your house. Qin fell because its rule was too brutal; Han fell because its rule was too feeble. Under brutal rule, treacherous ministers, fearing for their lives, murder their lord; under feeble rule, crafty ministers seize power and terrify the throne. I see that Emperor Jingzong never foresaw Qin's fate and never cut the evil in its bud. I pray that Your Majesty will take Han's fall deeply to heart and stop the rot while it is still slight. Then the ancestral legacy may be renewed and the distant example of the sage kings pursued once more." He also wrote: "When Emperor Yuan of Han first reigned he reformed more than seventy institutions. His intent was sincere and his praise resounded—yet order unraveled daily, the dynasty weakened daily, villains grew bolder daily, and the people suffered daily, because he could not choose wise men and give them real authority. He lost the tiller of state." He said further: "If Your Majesty will truly restore civil authority to the chief ministers and military authority to the generals, nothing you intend will go unheard and nothing you do will lack credibility." He also said: "Law should be one; offices should bear their proper names. Today outer and inner officials multiply without limit; southern and northern bureaus stand side by side. Break the law in one jurisdiction and flee to the other; punish a crime in the open court and see it voided within the palace. When law has many mouths, the people do not know where to stand. This comes of treating army and empire as separate worlds, with one law for the court and another for the realm." He went on: "Today the Ministry of War no longer knows the rolls of the armies and exists only to attend morning audience; The Six Armies no longer commanded military affairs but only cultivated ranks of merit. Military prestige merged with eunuch policy, and martial law became an inner-court function. Once they donned the warrior's cap, they hated civil officials like mortal enemies. Once they entered the army gate, they treated farmers as worthless weeds. They lacked the wit to destroy traitors, yet their cunning sufficed to raise and lower power and favor; their courage could not guard the realm, yet their violence could trample villages and lanes. They bound frontier ministers, overawed chief ministers, shattered royal standards, and muddied court regulations. They stretched warriors' might upward to control emperor and father; they borrowed the Son of Heaven's mandate downward to command heroes and champions. There were fathers who hid treachery and watched for openings, but none who died loyal deaths for the throne. How could this be what the former kings intended when they wove culture and arms together! He also wrote, 'I know that words bring calamity and action brings death — yet I grieve the realm's peril and pity the people's distress. How could I indulge the taboos of the age and steal Your Majesty's favor!'
106
閏月，丙戌朔，史憲誠奏遣其子副大使唐、都知兵馬使亓志紹將兵二萬五千趣德州討李同捷。 時憲誠欲助同捷，唐泣諫，且請發兵討之； 憲誠不能違。
In the intercalary month, on the bingxu new-moon day, Shi Xiancheng reported sending his son Tang and Cavalry Commissioner Qi Zhishao with twenty-five thousand troops toward Dezhou against Li Tongjie. Xiancheng wished to aid Tongjie, but Tang remonstrated through tears and asked to raise troops against him; Xiancheng could not refuse.
107
甲午，賢良方正裴休、李郃、李甘、杜牧、馬植、崔璵、王式、崔慎由等二十二人中第，皆除官。 考官左散騎常侍馮宿等見劉蕡策，皆歎服，而畏宦官，不敢取。 詔下，物論囂然稱屈。 諫官、御史欲論奏，執政抑之。 李郃曰：「劉蕡下第，我輩登科，能無厚顏！」 乃上疏，以為：「蕡所對策，漢、魏以來無與為比。 今有司以蕡指切左右，不敢以聞，恐中良道窮，綱紀遂絕。 況臣所對不及蕡遠甚，乞回臣所授以旌蕡直。」 不報。 蕡由是不得仁於朝，終於使府御史。 牧，佑之孫； 植，勳之子； 式，起之子； 慎由，融之玄孫也。
On the jiawu day Worthy and Upright candidates Pei Xiu, Li He, Li Gan, Du Mu, Ma Zhi, Cui Yu, Wang Shi, Cui Shenyou, and twenty-two others passed the examination and received offices. Examining officials including Left Regular Attendant Feng Su read Liu Fen's answer and admired it, yet feared the eunuchs and dared not pass him. When the edict was issued, public opinion loudly cried injustice. Remonstrating officials and censors wished to protest, but the chief ministers suppressed them. Li He said, 'Liu Fen failed while we passed — how can we not feel shame!' “He submitted a memorial stating that Fen's answer had had no equal since Han and Wei. Now the authorities, because Fen criticized the emperor's intimates, dare not report it — I fear the upright path will be cut off and law will perish. My own answer falls far short of Fen's; I beg to return my appointment to honor his integrity.' There was no reply. Fen never found favor at court and ended his career as a censor in a military governor's staff. Du Mu was Du You's grandson; Ma Zhi was Ma Xun's son; Wang Shi was Wang Qi's son; Cui Shenyou was Cui Rong's great-great-grandson.
108
夏，六月，晉王普薨。 辛酉，贈悼懷太子。
In summer, in the sixth month, Prince of Jin Pu died. On the xinyou day he was posthumously honored as the Lamented and Cherished Crown Prince.
109
初，蕭太后幼去鄉里，有弟一人。 上即位，命福建觀察使求訪，莫知所在。 有茶綱役人蕭洪，自言有姊流落，商人趙縝引之見太后近親呂璋之妻，亦不能辨，與之俱見太后。 上以為得真舅，甲子，以為太子洗馬。
When young, Empress Dowager Xiao left her native place; she had one younger brother. When the emperor ascended the throne he ordered the Fujian observation commissioner to seek him, but no one knew where he was. A tea-transport laborer named Xiao Hong claimed a lost sister; merchant Zhao Zhen brought him to the wife of the empress dowager's kinsman Lü Zhang, who could not identify him, and they were brought before the empress dowager together. The emperor believed he had found his true uncle; on the jiazi day Hong was appointed crown prince's study companion.
110
峰州刺史王升朝叛。 庚辰，安南都護武陵韓約討斬之。
Fengzhou Prefect Wang Shengchao rebelled. On the gengchen day Protector-General of Annan Han Yue of Wuling attacked and beheaded him.
111
王庭湊陰以兵及鹽糧助李同捷，上欲討之。 秋，七月，甲辰，詔中書集百官議其事。 宰相以下莫敢違，衛尉卿殷侑獨以為：「廷湊雖附兇徒，事未甚露，宜且含容，專討同捷。」 己巳，下詔罪狀廷湊，命鄰道各嚴兵守備，聽其自新。 九月，丁亥，王智興奏拔棣州。
Wang Tingcou secretly sent troops and salt grain to aid Li Tongjie, and the emperor wished to attack him. In autumn, on the seventh month's jiachen day, an edict ordered the Secretariat to gather officials to deliberate the matter. “From the chief ministers down none dared dissent; only Director of the Court of Imperial Regalia Yin You argued that although Tingcou had aided rebels, the matter was not yet clear and he should be tolerated while the court concentrated on Tongjie.” On the jisi day an edict listed Tingcou's crimes and ordered neighboring circuits to ready their defenses while allowing him to reform. In the ninth month, on the dinghai day, Wang Zhixing reported capturing Di Prefecture.
112
李寰自晉州兵赴鎮，不戢士卒，所過殘暴，至則擁兵不進，但坐索供饋。 庚寅，以寰為夏綏節度使。
Li Huan marched troops from Jin Prefecture to his post without restraining them; they ravaged the countryside, and on arrival he held back from battle and merely demanded supplies. On the gengyin day Huan was appointed military governor of Xiasui.
113
甲午，詔削奪王庭湊官爵，命諸軍四面進討。
On the jiawu day an edict stripped Wang Tingcou of office and rank and ordered armies on all sides to attack.
114
加王智興守司徒，以前夏綏節度使傅良弼為橫海節度使。
Wang Zhixing was promoted to acting Minister of Education; former Xiasui Military Governor Fu Liangbi was made military governor of Henghai.
115
岳王緄薨。
Prince of Yue Chun died.
116
庚戌，容管奏安南軍亂，逐都護韓約。 冬，十月，洋王忻薨。
On the gengxu day Rong Circuit reported that the Annan army had mutinied and driven out Protector-General Han Yue. In winter, in the tenth month, Prince of Yang Xin died.
117
魏博敗橫海兵於平原，遂拔之。
Weibo defeated Henghai troops at Pingyuan and captured the city.
118
十一月，癸未朔，易定節度使柳公濟奏攻李同捷堅固寨，拔之。 又破其兵於寨東。 時河南、北諸軍討同捷久未成功，每有小勝，則虛張首虜以邀厚賞，朝廷竭力奉之，江、淮為之耗弊。
In the eleventh month, on the guiwei new-moon day, Yiding Military Governor Liu Gongji reported capturing Li Tongjie's Jian'gu stockade. He also defeated Tongjie's troops east of the stockade. The Henan and Hebei armies had long failed against Tongjie; after every small victory they inflated reports of captives to claim rich rewards, draining the court until the Yangzi and Huai regions were exhausted.
119
傅良弼至陝而薨。 乙酉，以左金吾大將軍李祐為橫海節度使。
Fu Liangbi reached Shan Prefecture and died. On the yiyou day Left Golden Crow Grand General Li You was appointed military governor of Henghai.
120
甲辰，禁中昭德寺火，延及宮人所居，燒死者數百人。
On the jiachen day fire broke out at Zhaode Temple in the palace and spread to the women's quarters; several hundred died in the flames.
121
十二月，丁已，王智興奏兵馬使李君謀將兵濟河，破無棣。 壬申，中書侍郎、同平章事韋處厚薨。
In the twelfth month, on the dingsi day, Wang Zhixing reported that Cavalry Commissioner Li Junmou crossed the river and captured Wudi. On the renshen day Vice Director Wei Chuhou died.
122
李同捷軍勢日蹙，王庭湊不能救，乃遣人說魏博大將亓志紹使殺史憲誠父子取魏博。 志紹遂作亂，引所部兵二萬人還逼魏州。 丁丑，命諫議大夫柏耆宣慰魏博，且發義成、河陽兵以討志紹。
Li Tongjie's position grew daily tighter; Wang Tingcou could not save him and sent men to persuade Weibo Grand General Qi Zhishao to kill Shi Xiancheng and his son and seize Weibo. Zhishao thereupon rebelled, leading twenty thousand troops back to threaten Weizhou. On the dingchou day Remonstrance Official Bai Qi was sent to console Weibo and to raise troops from Yicheng and Heyang against Zhishao.
123
戊寅，以翰林學士路隋為中書侍郎、同平章事。
On the wuyin day Hanlin Academician Lu Sui was made Vice Director and Associate Chief Minister.
124
辛已，史憲誠奏亓志紹兵屯永濟，告急求援。 詔義成節度使李聽帥滄州行營諸軍以討志紹。
On the xinsi day Shi Xiancheng reported that Qi Zhishao's troops were at Yongji and urgently sought aid. An edict ordered Yicheng Military Governor Li Ting to command the Cangzhou field armies against Zhishao.