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資治通鑑第251卷。 【唐紀六十七】起著雍困敦,盡屠維赤奮若,凡二年。。 懿宗昭聖恭孝文宗皇帝中咸通九年(戊子,公元八六八年)。 夏,六月,鳳翔少尹李師望上言:「巂州控扼南詔,為其要衝,成都道遠,難以節制,請建定邊軍,屯重兵於巂州,以邛州為理所。」 朝廷以為信然,以師望為巂州刺史,充定邊軍節度,眉、蜀、邛、雅、嘉、黎等州觀察,統押諸蠻並統領諸道行營、制置等使。 師望利於專制方面,故建此策。 其實邛距成都才百六十里,巂距邛千里,其欺罔如此。。 初,南詔陷安南,敕徐泗募兵二千赴援,分八百人別戍桂州,初約三年一代。 徐泗觀察使徐彥曾,慎由之從子也,性嚴刻; 朝廷以徐兵驕,命鎮之。 都押牙尹戡、教練使杜璋、兵馬使徐行儉用事,軍中怨之。 戍桂州者已六年,屢求代還,戡言於彥曾,以軍帑空虛,發兵所費頗多,請更留舊戍卒一年。 彥曾從之。 戍卒聞之,怒。 都虞候許佶、軍校趙可立、姚周、張行實皆故徐州群盜,州縣不能討,招出之,補牙職。 會桂管觀察使李叢移湖南,新使未至。 秋,七月,佶等作亂,殺都將王仲甫,推糧料判官龐勳為主,劫庫兵北還,所過剽掠,州縣莫能御。 朝廷聞之,八月,遣高品張敬思赦其罪,部送歸徐州,戍卒乃止剽掠。 以前靜海節度使高駢為右金吾大將軍。 駢請以從孫潯代鎮交趾,從之。。 九月,戊戌,以山南東道節度使盧耽為西川節度使,以有定邊軍之故,不領統押諸蠻安扶等使。。 龐勳等至湖南,監軍以計誘之,使悉輸其甲兵。 山南東道節度使崔鉉嚴兵守要害,徐卒不敢入境,泛舟沿江東下。 許佶等相與謀曰:「吾輩罪大於銀刀,朝廷所以赦之者,慮緣道攻劫,或潰散為患耳,若至徐州,必菹醢矣!」 乃各以私財造甲兵旗幟。 過浙西,入淮南,淮南節度使令狐綯遣使慰勞,給芻米。 都押牙李湘言於綯曰:「徐卒擅歸,勢必為亂,雖無敕令誅討,籓鎮大臣當臨事制宜。 高郵岸峻而水深狹,請將奇兵伏於其側,焚荻舟以塞其前,以勁兵蹙其後,可盡擒也。 不然,縱之使得渡淮,至徐州,與怨憤之眾合,為患必大。」 綯素懦怯,且以無敕書,乃曰:「彼在淮南不為暴,聽其自過,餘非吾事也。」。 勳招集銀刀等都竄匿及諸亡命匿於舟中,眾至千人。 丁巳,至泗州,刺史杜慆饗之於球場,優人致辭。 徐卒以為玩己,擒優人,欲斬之,坐者驚散。 悰素為之備,徐卒不敢為亂而止。 悰,慆之弟也。。 先是,朝廷屢敕崔彥曾慰撫戍卒擅歸者,勿使憂疑。 彥曾遣使以敕意諭之,道路相望。 勳亦申狀相繼,辭禮甚恭。 戊午,行及徐城,勳與許佶等乃言於眾曰:「吾輩擅歸,思見妻子耳。 今聞已有密敕下本軍,至則支分滅族矣! 丈夫與其自投羅網,為天下笑,曷若相與戮力同心,赴蹈湯火,豈徒脫禍,兼富貴可求! 況城中將士皆吾輩父兄子弟,吾輩一唱於外,彼必響應於內矣。 然後遵王侍中故事,五十萬賞錢,翹足可待也。」 眾皆呼躍稱善。 將士趙武等十二人獨憂懼,欲逃去,勳悉斬之,遣使致其首於彥曾,且為申狀,稱:「勳等遠戍六年,實懷鄉里; 而武等因眾心不安,輒萌奸計。 將士誠知詿誤,敢避誅夷! 今既蒙恩全宥,輒共誅首惡以補愆尤。」 冬,十月,甲子,使者至彭城,彥曾執而訊之,具得其情。 乃囚之。 丁卯,勳復於遞中申狀,稱:「將士自負罪戾,各懷憂疑,今已及苻離,尚未釋甲。 蓋以軍將尹戡、杜璋、徐行儉等狡詐多疑,必生釁隙,乞且停此三人職任,以安眾心,仍乞戍還將士別置二營,共為一將。」。 時戍卒拒彭城止四驛,闔城忷懼。 彥曾召諸將謀之,皆泣曰:「比以銀刀凶悍,使一軍皆蒙惡名,殲夷流竄,不無枉濫。 今冤痛之聲未已,而桂州戍卒復爾猖狂,若縱使入城,必為逆亂,如此,則闔境塗地矣! 不若乘其遠來疲弊,發兵擊之,我逸彼勞,往無不捷。」 彥曾猶豫未決。 團練判官溫庭皓復言於彥曾曰:「安危之兆,已在目前。 得失之機,決於今日。 今擊之有三難,而捨之有五害:詔釋其罪而擅誅之,一難也; 帥其父兄,討其子弟,二難也; 枝黨鉤連,刑戮必多,三難也。 然當道戍卒若擅歸,不誅則諸道戍邊者皆效之,無以制御,一害也; 將者一軍之首,而輒敢害之,則凡為將者何以號令士卒! 二害也; 所過剽掠,自為甲兵,招納亡命,此而不討,何以懲惡! 三害也; 軍中將士,皆其親屬,銀刀餘黨,潛匿山澤,一旦內外俱發,何以支梧! 四害也; 逼脅軍府,誅所忌三將,又欲自為一營,從之則銀刀之患復起,違之則托此為作亂之端,五害也。 惟明公去其三難,絕其五害,早定大計,以副眾望。」 時城中有兵四千三百,彥曾乃命都虞候元密等將兵三千人討勳,數勳之罪以令士眾,且曰:「非惟塗炭平人,實亦污染將士,倘國家發兵誅討,則玉石俱焚矣!」 又曰:「凡彼親屬,無用憂疑,罪止一身,必無連坐。」 仍命宿州出兵苻離,泗州出兵於虹以邀之,且奏其狀。 彥曾戒元密無傷敕使。。 戊辰,元密發彭城,軍容甚盛。 諸將至任山北數里,頓兵不進,共思所以奪敕使之計,欲俟賊入館,乃縱兵擊之,遣人變服負薪以詗賊。 日暮,賊至任山,館中空無人,又無供給,疑之,見負薪者,執而榜之。 果得其情,乃為偶人執旗幟列於山下而潛遁。 比夜,官軍始覺之,恐賊潛伏山谷及間道來襲,復引兵退宿於城南,明旦,乃進追之。。 時賊已至苻離,宿州戍卒五百人出戰於濉水上,望風奔潰,賊遂抵宿州。 時宿州闕刺史,觀察副使焦璐攝州事,城中無復餘兵。 庚午,賊攻陷之,璐走免。 賊悉聚城中貨財,令百姓來取之,一日之中,四遠雲集,然後選募為兵,有不願者立斬之,自旦至暮,得數千人。 於是勒兵乘城,龐勳自稱兵馬留後。 再宿,官軍始至,賊守備已嚴,不可復攻。 先是,焦璐聞苻離敗,決汴水以斷北路,賊至,水尚淺可涉,比官軍至,已深矣。 壬申,元密引兵渡水,將圍城,會大風,賊以火箭射城外茅舍,延及官軍營,士卒進則冒矢石,退則限水火,賊急擊之,死者近三百人。 元密等以為賊必固守,但為攻取之計。 賊夜使婦人持更,掠城中大船三百艘,備載資糧,順流而下,欲入江湖為盜。 以千縑贈張敬思,遣騎送至汴之東境,縱使西歸。 明旦,官軍知賊已去,狼狽追之,士卒皆未食,比追及,已饑乏。 賊艤舟堤下而陳於堤外,伏千人於舟中,官軍將至,陳者皆走入陂中。 密以為畏己,縱兵追之; 賊自舟中出,夾攻之,自午及申,官軍大敗。 密引兵走,陷於荷涫,賊追及之,密等諸將及監陳敕使皆死,士卒死者殆千人,其餘皆降於賊,無一人還徐者。 賊問降卒以彭城人情計謀,知其無備,始有攻彭城之志。。 乙亥,龐勳引兵北渡濉水,逾山趣彭城。 其夕,崔彥曾始知元密敗,移牒鄰道求救。 明日,塞門,選城中丁壯為守備,內外震恐,無復固志。 或勸彥曾奔兗州,彥曾怒曰:「吾為元帥,城陷而死,職也!」 立斬言者。 丁丑,賊至城下,眾六七千人,鼓噪動地,民居在城外者,賊皆慰撫,無所侵擾,由是人爭歸之,不移時,克羅城。 彥曾退保子城,民助賊攻之,推草車塞門而焚之,城陷。 賊囚彥曾於大彭館,執尹戡、杜璋、徐行儉,刳而坐刀之,盡滅其族。 勳坐聽事,盛陳兵衛,文武將吏伏謁,莫敢仰視。 即日,城中願附從者萬餘人。。 戊寅,勳召溫庭皓,使草表求節鉞,庭皓曰:「此事甚大,非頃刻可成,請還家徐草之。」 勳許之。 明旦,勳使趣之,庭皓來見勳曰:「昨日所以不即拒者,欲一見妻子耳。 今已與妻子別,謹來就死。」 勳熟視,笑曰:「書生敢爾,不畏死邪! 龐勳能取徐州,何患無人草表!」 遂釋之。 有周重者,每以才略自負,勳迎為上客,重為勳草表,稱:「臣之一軍,乃漢室興王之地。 頃固節度使刻削軍府,刑賞失中,遂致迫逐。 陛下奪其節制,翦滅一軍,或死或流,冤橫無數。 今聞本道復欲誅夷,將士不勝痛憤,推臣權兵馬留後,彈壓十萬之師,撫有四州之地。 臣聞見利乘時,帝王之資也。 臣見利不失,遇時不疑; 伏乞聖慈,復賜旌節。 不然,揮戈曳戟,詣闕非遲!」 庚辰,遣押牙張琯奉表詣京師。 勳以許佶為都虞侯,趙可立為都游弈使,黨與各補牙職,分將諸軍。 又遣舊將劉行及將千五百人屯濠州,李圓將二千人屯泗州,梁丕將千人屯宿州,自餘要害縣鎮,悉繕完戍守。 徐人謂旌節之至不過旬月,願效力獻策者遠近輻湊,乃至光、蔡、淮、折、兗、鄆、沂、密群盜,皆倍道歸之,闐溢郛郭,旬日間,米斗直錢二百。 勳詐為崔彥曾請翦滅徐州表,其略曰:「一軍暴卒,盡可翦除; 五縣愚民,各宜配隸。」 又作詔書,依其所請,傳佈境內。 徐人信之,皆歸怨朝廷,曰:「微桂州將士回戈,吾徒悉為魚肉矣!」。 劉行及引兵至渦口,道路附從者增倍,濠州兵才數百,刺吏盧望回素不設備,不知所為,乃開門具牛酒迎之。 行及入成,囚望回,自行刺史事。 泗州刺史杜慆聞勳作亂,完守備以待之,且求救於江、淮。 李圓遣精卒百人先入泗州,封府庫,慆遣人迎勞,誘之入城,悉誅之。 明日,圓至,即引兵圍城,城上矢石雨下,賊死者數百,乃斂兵屯城西。 勳以泗州當江、淮之沖,益發兵助圓攻之,眾至萬餘,終不能克。。 初,朝廷聞龐勳自任山還趣宿州,遣高品康道偉繼敕書撫慰之。 十一月,道偉至彭城。 勳出郊迎,自任山至子城三十里,大陳甲兵,號令金鼓響震山谷,城中丁壯,悉驅使乘城。 宴道偉於球場,使人詐為群盜降者數千人,諸寨告捷者數十輩。 復作求節鉞表,附道偉以聞。。 初,辛雲京之孫讜,寓居廣陵,喜任俠,年五十不仕。 與杜慆有舊,聞龐勳作亂,詣泗州,勸慆挈家避之。 慆曰:「安平享其祿位,危難棄其城池,吾不為也。 且人各有家,誰不愛之? 我獨求生,何以安眾! 誓與將士共死此城耳!」 讜曰:「公能如是,僕與公同死!」 乃還廣陵,與其家訣,壬辰,復如泗州。 時民避亂,扶老攜幼,塞塗而來,見讜,皆止之曰:「人皆南走,子獨北行,取死何為!」 讜不應。 至泗州,賊已至城下,讜急棹小舟得入,慆即署團練判官。 城中危懼,都押牙李雅有勇略,為慆設守備,帥眾鼓噪,四出擊賊,賊退屯徐城,眾心稍安。。 龐勳募人為兵,人利於剽掠,爭赴之,至父遣其子,妻勉其夫,皆斷鋤首而銳之,執以應募。 鄰道聞勳據徐州,各遣兵戍守要害,而官軍尚少,賊眾日滋,官軍數不利。 賊遂破魚台等近十縣。 宋州東有磨山,民逃匿其上,勳遣其將張玄稔圍之。 會旱,山泉竭,數萬口皆渴死。 或說勳曰:「留後止欲求節鉞,當恭順盡禮以事天子,外戢士卒,內撫百姓,庶幾可得。」 勳雖不能用,然國忌猶行香,饗士卒必先西向拜謝。 癸卯,勳聞敕使入境,以為必賜旌節,眾皆賀。 明日,敕使至,但責崔彥曾及監軍張道謹,貶其官。 勳大失望,遂囚敕使,不聽歸。。 詔以右金吾大將軍康承訓為義成節度使、徐州行營都招討使,神武大將軍王晏權為徐州北面行營招討使,羽林將軍戴可師為徐州南面行營招討使,大發諸道兵以隸三帥。 承訓奏乞沙陀三部落使朱邪赤心及吐谷渾、達靼、契苾酋長各帥其眾以自隨。 詔許之。。 龐勳以李圓攻泗州久不克,遣其將吳迥代之。 丙午,復進攻泗州,晝夜不息。 時敕使郭厚本將淮南兵千五百人救泗州,至洪澤,畏賊強,不敢進。 辛讜請往求救,杜慆許之。 丁未,夜乘小舟潛渡淮,至洪澤,說厚本,厚本不聽,比明,復還。 己酉,賊攻城益急,欲焚水門,城中幾不能御。 讜請復往求救。 慆曰:「前往徒還,今往何益?」 讜曰:「此行得兵則生返,不得則死之。」 慆與之泣別,讜復乘小舟負戶突圍出,見厚本,為陳利害。 厚本將從之,淮南都將袁公弁曰:「賊勢如此,自保恐不足,何暇救人!」 讜拔劍瞋目謂公弁曰:「賊百道攻城,陷在朝夕。 公受詔救援而逗留不進,豈惟上負國恩! 若泗州不守,則淮南遂為寇場,公詎能獨存邪! 我當殺公而後死耳!」 起,欲擊之,厚本起,抱止之,公弁僅免。 讜乃回望泗州,慟哭終日,士卒皆為之流涕。 厚本乃許分五百人與之,仍問將士,將士皆願行。 讜舉身自擲叩頭以謝將士,遂帥之抵淮南岸,望賊方攻城。 有軍吏言曰:「賊勢已似入城,還去則便。」 讜逐之,攬得其髻,舉劍擊之,士卒共救之,曰:「千五百人判官,不可殺也。」 讜曰:「臨陳妄言惑眾,必不可捨!」 眾請不能得,乃共奪之。 讜素多力,眾不能奪。 讜曰:「將士但登舟,我則捨此人。」 眾競登舟,乃捨之。 士卒有回顧者,則斫之。 驅至淮北,勒兵擊賊。 慆於城上佈兵與之相應,賊遂敗走,鼓噪逐之,至晡而還。。 龐勳遣其將劉佶將精兵數千助吳迥攻泗州,劉行及自濠州遣其將王弘立引兵會之。 戊午,鎮海節度使杜審權遣都頭翟行約將四千人救泗州。 己未,行約引兵至泗州,賊逆擊於淮南,圍之。 城中兵少,不能救,行約及士卒盡死。 先是,令狐綯遣李湘將兵數千救泗州,與郭厚本、袁公弁合兵屯都梁城,與泗州隔淮相望。 賊既破翟行約,乘勝圍之。 十二月,甲子,李湘等引兵出戰,大敗,賊遂陷都梁城,執湘及郭厚本送徐州,據淮口,漕驛路絕。 康承訓軍於新興,賊將姚周屯柳子,出兵拒之。 時諸道兵集者才萬人,承訓以眾寡不敵,退屯宋州。 龐勳以為官軍不足畏,乃分遣其將丁從實等各將數千人南寇舒、廬、北侵沂、海,破沭陽、下蔡、烏江、巢縣,攻陷滁州,殺刺史高錫望。 又寇和州,刺史崔雍遣人以牛酒犒之,引賊登樓共飲,命軍士皆釋甲,指所愛二人為子弟,乞全之。 其餘惟賊所處。 賊遂大掠城中,殺士卒八百餘人。。 泗州援兵既絕,糧且盡,人食薄粥。 閏月,己亥,辛讜言於杜慆,請出求救於淮、浙,夜,帥敢死士十人,執長柯斧,乘小舟,潛往斫賊水寨而出。 明旦,賊乃覺之,以五舟遮其前,以五千人夾岸追之。 賊舟重行遲,讜舟輕行疾,力鬥三十餘里,乃得免。 癸卯,至揚州,見令狐綯。 甲辰,至潤州,見杜審權。 時泗州久無聲問,或傳已陷,讜既至,審權乃遣押牙趙翼將甲士二千人,與淮南共輸米五千斛、鹽五百斛以救泗州。 戴可師將兵三萬渡淮,轉戰而前,賊盡棄淮南之守。 可師欲先奪淮口,後救泗州,壬申,圍都梁城; 城中賊少,拜於城上曰:「方與都頭議出降。」 可師為之退五里。 賊夜遁,明旦,惟空城。 可師恃勝不設備,是日大霧,濠州賊將王弘立引兵數萬疾徑奄至,縱擊官軍。 官軍不及成列,遂大敗,將士觸兵及溺淮死,得免者才數百人,亡器械、資糧、車馬以萬計,賊傳可師及監軍、將校首於彭城。 龐勳自謂無敵於天下,作露布,散示諸寨及鄉村,於是淮南士民震恐,往往避地江左。 令狐綯畏其侵軼,遣使詣勳說諭,許為奏請節鉞。 勳乃息兵俟命。 由是淮南稍得收散卒,修守備。。 時汴路既絕,江、淮往來者皆出壽州,賊既破戴可師,乘勝圍壽州,掠諸道貢獻及商人貨,其路復絕。 勳益自驕,日事游宴。 周重諫曰:「自古驕滿奢逸,得而復失,成而覆敗,多矣,況未得未成而為之者乎!」。 諸道兵大集於宋州,徐州始懼,應募者益少,而諸塞求益兵者相繼。 勳乃使其黨散入鄉村,驅人為兵。 又見兵已及數萬人,資糧匱竭,乃斂富室及商旅財,什取其七八,坐匿財夷宗者數百家。 又與勳同舉兵於桂州者尤驕暴,奪人資財,掠人婦女,勳不能制。 由是境內之民皆厭苦之,不聊生矣!。 王晏權兵數退衄,朝廷命泰寧節度使曹翔代晏權為徐州北面招討使。 前天雄節度使何全皞遣其將薛尤將兵萬三千人討龐勳,翔軍於滕、沛,尤軍於豐、蕭。。 是歲,江、淮旱,蝗。。 懿宗昭聖恭孝文宗皇帝中咸通十年(己丑,公元八六九年)。 春,正月,康承訓將諸道軍七萬餘人屯柳子之西,自新興至鹿塘三十里,壁壘相屬。 徐兵分戍四境,城中不及數千人,龐勳始懼。 民多穴地匿其中,勳遣人搜掘為兵,日不過得三二十人。 勳將孟敬文守豐縣,狡悍而兵多,謀貳於勳,自為符讖。 勳聞之,會魏博攻豐,勳遣腹心將將三千助敬文守豐。 敬文與之約共擊魏博軍,且譽其勇,使為前鋒。 新軍既與魏博戰,敬文引兵退走,新軍盡沒。 勳乃遣使紿之曰:「王弘立已克淮南,留後欲自往鎮之。 悉召諸將,欲選一人可守徐州者。」 敬文喜,即馳詣彭城,未至城數里,勳伏兵擒之,辛酉,殺之。。 丁卯,同昌公主適右拾遺韋保衡,以保衡為起居郎、附馬都尉。 公主,郭淑妃之女,上特愛之,傾宮中珍玩以為資送,賜第於廣化裡,窗戶皆飾以雜寶,井欄、藥臼、槽匱亦以金銀為之,編金縷以為箕筐,賜錢五百萬緡,它物稱是。。 徐賊寇海州。 時諸道兵戍海州者已數千人,斷賊所過橋柱而弗殊,仍伏兵要害以待之。 賊過,橋崩,蒼黃散亂,伏兵發,盡殪之。 其攻壽州者復為南道軍所破,斬獲數千人。 辛讜以浙西之軍至楚州,敕使張存誠以舟助之。 徐賊水陸佈兵,鎖斷淮流。 浙西軍憚其強,不敢進,讜曰:「我請為前鋒,勝則繼之,敗則汝走。」 猶不可。 讜乃募選軍中敢死士數十人,牒補職名,先以米舟三艘、鹽舟一艘乘風逆流直進,賊夾攻之,矢著舟板如急雨。 及鎖,讜帥眾死戰,斧斷其鎖,乃得過。 城上人喧呼動地,杜慆及將佐皆泣迎之。 乙酉,城上望見舟師張帆自東來,識其旗浙西軍也。 去城十餘里,賊列火船拒之,帆止不進。 慆令讜帥死士出迎之,乘戰艦沖賊陳而過,見張存誠帥米舟九艘,曰:「將士在道前卻,存誠屢欲自殺,僅得至此,今又不進。」 讜揚言:「賊不多,甚易與耳!」 帥眾揚旗鼓噪而前,賊見其勢猛銳,避之,遂得入城。。 二月,端州司馬楊收長流歡州,尋賜死,其僚屬黨友坐長流嶺表者十餘人。。 初,尚書右丞裴坦子娶收女,資送甚盛,器用飾以犀玉。 坦見之,怒曰:「破我家矣!」 立命壞之。 已而收竟以賄敗。。 康承訓使朱邪赤心將沙陀三千騎為前鋒,陷陳卻敵,十鎮之兵伏其驍勇。 承訓嘗引麾下千人濟渙水,賊伏兵圍之,赤心帥五百騎奮楇沖圍,拔出承訓,賊勢披靡,因合擊,敗之。 承訓數與賊戰,賊軍屢敗。 王弘立自矜淮口之捷,請獨將所部三萬人破承訓,龐勳許之。 己亥,弘立引兵渡濉水,夜,襲鹿塘塞,黎明,圍之。 弘立與諸將臨望,自謂功在漏刻。 沙陀左右突圍,出入如飛,賊紛擾移避,沙陀縱騎蹂之,寨中諸軍爭出奮擊,賊大敗。 官軍蹙之於濉水,溺死者不可勝紀,自鹿塘至襄城,伏屍五十里,斬首二萬餘級,弘立單騎走免,所驅掠平民皆散走山谷,不復還營,委棄資糧、器械山積。 時有敕,諸軍破賊,得農民,皆釋之,自是賊每與官軍遇,其驅掠之民先自潰。 龐勳、許佶以弘立驕惰致敗,欲斬之,周重為之說勳曰:「弘立再勝未賞,一敗而誅之,棄功錄過,為敵報仇,諸將咸懼矣。 不若赦之,責其後效。」 勳乃釋之。 弘立收散卒才得數百人,請取泗州以補過,勳益其兵而遣之。。 三月,辛未,以起居郎韋保衡為左諫議大夫,充翰林學士。。 徙郢王侃為威王。。 康承訓既破王弘立,進逼柳子,與姚週一月之間數十戰。 丁亥,周引兵渡水,官軍急擊之,周退走,官軍逐之,遂圍柳子。 會大風,四面縱火,賊棄寨走,沙陀以精騎邀之,屠殺殆盡,自柳子至芳城,死者相枕,斬其將劉豐。 周將麾下數十人奔宿州,宿州守將梁丕素與之有隙,開城聽入,執死斬之。 龐勳聞之大懼,與許佶議自將出戰。 周重泣言於勳曰:「柳子地要兵精,姚周勇敢有謀,今一旦覆沒,危如累卵,不若遂建大號,悉兵四出,決死力戰。」 又勸殺崔彥曾以絕人望。 術士曹君長亦言:「徐州山川不容兩帥,今觀察使尚在,故留後未興。」 賊黨皆以為然。 夏,四月,壬辰,勳殺彥曾及監軍張道謹、宣慰使仇大夫,僚佐焦璐、溫庭皓等,並其親屬、賓客、僕妾皆死; 斷淮南監軍郭厚本、都押衙李湘手足,以示康承訓軍。 勳乃集眾揚言曰:「勳始望國恩,庶全臣節; 今日之事,前志之乖。 自此,勳與諸君真反者也,當掃境內之兵,戮力同心,轉敗為功耳。」 眾皆稱善。 於是命城中男子悉集球場,仍分遣諸將比屋大索,敢匿一男子都族其家。 選丁壯,得三萬人,要造旗幟,給以精兵。 許佶等共推勳為天冊將軍、大會明王。 勳辭王爵。。 先是,辛讜復自泗州引驍勇四百人迎糧於揚、潤,賊夾岸攻之,轉戰百里,乃得出。 至廣陵,止於公館,不敢歸家,舟載鹽米二萬石,錢萬三千緡,乙未,還至斗山。 賊將王弘芝帥眾萬餘,拒之於盱胎,密佈戰艦百五十艘以塞淮流,又縱火船逆之。 讜命以長叉托過,自卯戰及未,眾寡不敵,官軍不利。 賊縛木於戰艦,旁出四五尺為戰棚,讜命勇士乘小舟入其下,矢刃所不能及,以槍揭火牛焚之,戰艦既然,賊皆潰走,官軍乃得過入城。 龐勳以父舉直為大司馬,與許佶等留守徐州。 或曰:「將軍方耀兵威,不可以父子之親,失上下之節。」 乃令舉直趨拜於庭,勳據案而受之。 時魏博屢圍豐縣,龐勳欲先擊之,丙申,引兵發徐州。。 戊戌,以前淮南節度使、同平章事令狐綯為太保、分司。。 龐勳夜至豐縣,潛入城,魏博軍皆不之知。 魏博分為五寨,其近城者屯數千人,勳縱兵圍之,諸寨救之,勳仗兵要路,殺官軍二千人,餘皆返走。 賊攻塞不克,至夜,解圍去。 官軍畏其眾,且聞勳自來,諸寨皆宵潰。 曹翔方圍滕縣,聞魏博敗,引兵退保兗州。 賊悉毀其城柵,運其資糧,傳檄徐州,盛自誇大,謂官軍為國賊雲。。 馬舉將精兵三萬救泗州,乙巳,分軍三道渡淮,至中流,大噪,聲聞數里。 賊大驚,不測眾寡,斂兵屯城西寨。 舉就圍之,縱火焚柵,賊眾大敗,斬首數千級。 王弘立死,吳迥退保徐城,泗州之圍始解。 泗州被圍凡七月,守城者不得寐,面目皆生瘡。。 龐勳留豐縣數日,欲引兵西擊康承訓,或曰:「天時向暑,蠶麥方急,不若且休兵聚食,然後圖之。」 或曰:「將軍出師數日,摧七萬之眾,西軍震恐,乘此聲勢,彼破走必矣,時不可失。」 龐舉直以書勸勳乘勝進軍,勳意遂決。 丁未,發豐縣,庚戌,至蕭。 約襄城、留武、小睢諸寨兵合五六萬人,以二十九日遲明攻柳子。 淮南敗卒在賊中者,逃詣康承訓,告以其期。 承訓得先為之備,秣馬整眾,設伏以待之。 丙辰,襄城等兵先至柳子,遇伏,敗走。 龐勳既自失期,遽引兵自三十里外赴之,比至,諸寨已敗,勳所將皆市井白徒,睹官軍勢盛,皆不戰而潰。 承訓命諸將急追之,以騎兵邀其前,步卒蹙其後,賊狼狽不知所之,自相蹈藉,殭屍數十里,死者數萬人。 勳解甲服布襦而遁,收散卒,才及三千人,歸彭城,使其將張實分諸寨兵屯第城驛。 勳初起,下邳土豪鄭鎰聚眾三千,自備資糧器械以應之,勳以為將,謂之義軍。 五月,沂州遣軍圍下邳,勳命鎰救之,鎰帥所部來降。。 六月,陝民作亂,逐觀察使崔蕘。 蕘以器韻自矜,不親政事,民訴旱,蕘指庭樹曰:「此尚有葉,何旱之有!」 杖之。 民怒,故逐之。 蕘逃於民舍,渴求飲,民以溺飲之。 坐貶昭州司馬。。 以中書侍郎、同平章事徐商同平章事,充荊南節度使。 癸卯,以翰林學士承旨、戶部侍郎劉瞻同平章事。 瞻,桂州人也。。 馬舉自泗州引兵攻濠州,拔招義、鐘離、定遠。 劉行及設寨於城外以拒守,舉先遣輕騎挑戰,賊見其眾少,爭出寨西擊之,舉引大軍數萬自它道擊其東南,遂焚其寨。 賊入固守,舉塹其三面而圍之,北面臨淮,賊猶得與徐州通。 龐勳遣吳迥助行及守濠州,屯兵北津以相應,舉遣別將渡淮擊之,斬獲數千人,平其寨。。 曹翔之退屯兗州也,留滄州卒四千人戍魯橋,卒擅還,翔曰:「以龐勳作亂,故討之。 今滄卒不從約束,是自亂也。」 勒兵迎之,圍於兗州城外,擇違命者二千人,悉誅之。 朝廷聞魏博軍敗,以將軍宋威為徐州西北面招討使,將兵三萬屯於豐、蕭之間,翔復引兵會之。。 秋,七月,康承訓克臨渙,殺獲萬人,遂拔襄城、留武、小睢等寨。 曹翔拔滕縣,進擊豐、沛。 賊諸寨戍兵多相帥逃匿,保據山林,賊抄掠者過之,輒為所殺,而五八村尤甚。 有陳全裕者為之帥,凡叛勳者皆歸之,眾至數千人,戰守之具皆備,環地數十里,賊莫敢近。 康承訓遣人招之,遂舉眾來降,賊黨益離。 蘄縣土豪李兗殺賊守將,舉城降於承訓。 沛縣守將李直詣彭城計事,裨將朱玫舉城降於曹翔。 直自彭城還,玫逆擊,走之,翔發兵戍沛。 玫,邠州人也。 勳遣其將孫章、許佶各將數千人攻陳全裕、朱玫,皆不克而還。 康承訓乘勝長驅,拔第城,進抵宿州之西,築城而守之。 龐勳憂懣不知所為,但禱神飯僧而已。。 初,龐勳怒梁丕專殺姚周,黜之,使徐州舊將張玄稔代之治州事,以其黨張儒、張實等將城中兵數萬拒官軍。 儒等列寨數重於城外,環水自固; 康承訓圍之。 張實夜遣人潛出,以書白勳曰:「今國兵盡在城下,西方必虛,將軍宜引兵出其不意,掠宋、亳之郊,彼必解圍而西,將軍設伏要害,迎擊其前,實等出城中兵蹙其後,破之必矣!」 時曹翔使朱玫擊豐,破之,乘勝攻徐城、下邳,皆拔之,斬獲萬計。 勳方憂懼欲走,得實書,即從其策,使龐舉直、許佶守徐州,引兵而西。。 八月,壬子,康承訓焚外寨,張儒等入保羅城,官軍攻之,死者數千人,不能克,承訓患之,遣辯士於城下招諭之。 張玄稔嘗戍邊有功,雖脅從於賊,心嘗憂憤,時將所部兵守子城,夜,召所親數十人謀歸國,因稍令布諭,協同者眾,乃遣腹心張皋夜出,以狀白承訓,約期殺賊將,舉城降,至日,請立青旌為應,使眾心無疑。 承訓大喜,從之。 九月,丁巳,張儒等飲酒於柳溪亭,玄稔使部將董厚等勒兵於亭西。 玄稔先躍馬而前,大呼曰:「龐勳已梟首於僕射寨中,此輩何得尚存!」 士卒競進,遂斬張儒等數十人,城中大擾,玄稔諭以歸國之計,及暮而定。 戊午,開門出降。 玄稔見承訓,肉袒膝行,涕泣謝罪。 承訓慰勞,即宣敕,拜御史中丞,賜遺甚厚。 玄稔復進言:「今舉城歸國,四遠未知,請詐為城陷,引眾趨苻離及徐州,賊黨不疑,可盡擒也!」 承訓許之。 宿州舊兵三萬,承訓益以數百騎,皆賞勞而遣之。 玄稔復入城,暮發平安火如常日。 己未向晨,玄稔積薪數千束,縱火焚之,如城陷軍潰之狀,直趨苻離,苻離納之,既入,斬其守將,號令城中,皆聽命,收其兵,復得萬人,北趨徐州。 龐舉直、許佶聞之,嬰城拒守。 辛酉,玄稔至彭城,引兵圍之,按兵未攻,先諭城上人曰:「朝廷唯誅逆黨,不傷良人,汝曹奈何為賊城守? 若尚狐疑,須臾之間,同為魚肉矣!」 於是守城者稍稍棄甲投兵而下。 崔彥曾故吏路審中開門納官軍,龐舉直、許佶帥其黨保子城,日昃,賊黨自北門出,玄稔遣兵追之,斬舉直、佶首,餘黨多赴水死,悉捕戍桂州者親族,斬之,死者數千人,徐州遂平。。 龐勳將兵二萬自石山西出,所過焚掠無遺。 庚申,承訓始知之,引步騎八萬西擊之,使朱邪赤心將數千騎為前鋒。 勳襲宋州,陷其南城。 刺史鄭處沖守其北城,賊知有備,捨去,渡汴,南掠亳州,沙陀追及之。 勳引兵循渙水而東,將歸彭城,為沙陀所逼,不暇飲食,至蘄,將濟水,李袞發橋,勒兵拒之。 賊惶惑不知所之,至縣西,官軍大集,縱擊,殺賊近萬人,餘皆溺死,降者才及千人,勳亦死而人莫之識,數日,乃獲其屍。 賊宿遷等諸寨皆殺其守將而降。 宋威亦取蕭縣,吳迥獨守濠州不下。。 冬,十月,以張玄稔為右驍衛大將軍、御史大夫。。 馬舉攻濠州,自夏及冬不克,城中糧盡,殺人而食之,守軍深塹重圍以守之。 辛丑夜,吳迥突圍走,舉勒兵追之,殺獲殆盡,迥死於招義。。 以康承訓為河東節度使、同平章事,以杜慆為義成節度使。 上嘉朱邪赤心之功,置大同軍於雲州,以赤心為節度使,召見,留為左金吾上將軍,賜姓名李國昌,賞賚甚厚。 以辛讜為亳州刺史。 讜在泗州,犯圍出迎兵糧,往返凡十二。 及除亳州,上表言:「臣之功,非杜慆不能成也。」 賜和州刺史崔雍自盡,家屬流康州,兄弟五人皆遠貶。。 上荒宴,不親庶政,委任路巖。 巖奢靡,頗通賂遺,左右用事。 至德令陳蟠叟因上書召對,言:「請破邊咸一家,可贍軍二年。」 上問:「咸為誰?」 對曰:「路巖親吏。」 上怒,流蟠叟於愛州,自是無敢言者。。 初,南詔遣使者楊酋慶來謝釋董成之囚,定邊節度使李師望欲激怒南詔以求功,遂殺酋慶。 西川大將恨師望分裂巡屬,陰遣人致意南詔,使入寇。 師望貪殘,聚私貨以百萬計,戍卒怨怒,欲生食之,師望以計免。 朝廷征還,以太府少卿竇滂代之。 滂貪殘又甚於師望,故蠻寇未至,而定邊固已困矣。 是月,南詔驃信酋龍傾國入寇,引數萬眾擊董舂烏部,破之。 十一月,蠻進寇巂州,定邊都頭安再榮守清溪關,蠻攻之,再榮退屯大渡河北,與之隔水相射九日八夜。 蠻密分軍伐木開道,逾雪坡,奄至沐源川。 滂遣兗海將黃卓帥五百人拒之,舉軍覆沒。 十二月,丁酉,蠻衣兗海之衣,詐為敗卒,至江岸呼船,已濟,眾乃覺之,遂陷犍為,縱兵焚掠陵、榮二州之境。 後數日,蠻軍大集於陵雲寺,與嘉州對岸。 刺史楊忞與定邊監軍張允瓊勒兵拒之。 蠻潛遣奇兵自東津濟,夾擊官軍,殺忠武都將顏慶師,餘眾皆潰,忞、允瓊脫身走。 壬子,陷嘉州。 慶師,慶復之弟也。。 竇滂自將兵拒蠻於大渡河,驃信詐遣清平官數人詣滂約和,滂與語未畢,蠻乘船筏爭渡,忠武、徐宿兩軍結陳抗之。 滂懼,自經於帳中。 徐州將苗全緒解之,曰:「都統何至於是!」 全緒與安再榮及忠武將勒兵出戰,滂遂單騎宵遁。 三將謀曰:「今眾寡不敵,明旦復戰,吾屬盡矣。 不若乘夜攻之,使之驚亂,然後解去。」 於是夜入蠻軍,弓弩亂髮,蠻大驚,三將乃全軍引去。 蠻進陷黎、雅,民竄匿山谷,敗軍所在焚掠。 滂奔導江。 邛州軍資儲偫皆散於亂兵之手,蠻至,城已空,通行無礙矣。 詔左神武將軍顏慶復將兵赴援。。
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 251. [Tang Records 67] From Zhuanyong Kundun through Tuyi Chifenruo—two years in all. Ninth year of the Xiantong era of Emperor Yizong of Tang (wuzi; 868 CE). In summer, the sixth month, Li Shiwang, vice prefect of Fengxiang, memorialized the throne: "Xi Prefecture guards the strategic approach to Nanzhao and is a key choke point. Chengdu lies too far away for effective control. I ask that we form a Dingbian Army, concentrate substantial forces at Xi, and make Qiongzhou the administrative seat." The court took his word, appointed Shiwang prefect of Xi and military commissioner of the Dingbian Army, made him observer of Mei, Shu, Qiong, Ya, Jia, Li, and other prefectures, superintendent for pacifying the various barbarians, and overall commander of the various circuit campaign armies and disposition commissioner. Shiwang wanted sole control of the region, and so he devised this scheme. In fact Qiong lay only one hundred sixty li from Chengdu, while Xi was a thousand li from Qiong—such was the scale of his deceit. Earlier, after Nanzhao captured Annan, the court ordered Xu and Si to raise two thousand men for relief; eight hundred were separately posted to Guizhou, with an initial agreement that they would rotate home every three years. Xu Yanzeng, observation commissioner of Xu and Si, was a nephew by marriage of Shen You and a man of harsh, severe temperament; because the Xu troops were unruly, the court sent him to keep them in check. Chief military adjutant Yin Kan, drill instructor Du Zhang, and horse-and-arms officer Xu Xingjian held sway in the army, and the troops resented them. The Guizhou garrison had already served six years and repeatedly petitioned to be relieved and sent home. Kan told Yanzeng that the military treasury was empty and that moving troops would cost heavily, and he asked that the old garrison be kept one more year. Yanzeng agreed. When the garrison troops heard this, they were furious. Chief military adjutant Xu Ji and army officers Zhao Keli, Yao Zhou, and Zhang Xingshi had all been bandits in Xu Prefecture whom local authorities could not suppress; they were recruited and given adjutant posts. When Guiguan observation commissioner Li Cong was transferred to Hunan, his replacement had not yet arrived. In autumn, the seventh month, Ji and the others mutinied, killed chief commander Wang Zhongfu, and made grain-supply judge Pang Xun their leader. They seized weapons from the arsenal and marched north, plundering along the way, while no prefecture or county could stop them. When the court learned of this, in the eighth month it sent the high-ranking Zhang Jingsi to pardon their crimes and escort them back to Xu Prefecture, and the mutineers then ceased their plundering. Former Jinghai military commissioner Gao Pian was appointed right Golden Crow general. Pian asked that his grandnephew Gao Xun replace him as governor of Jiaozhi, and the court agreed. In the ninth month, on wuxu, Lu Dan, military commissioner of Shannan East Circuit, was appointed military commissioner of Xichuan; because of the Dingbian Army, he did not also hold the post of superintendent for pacifying the various barbarians. When Pang Xun and his men reached Hunan, the army supervisor tricked them into surrendering all their armor and weapons. Cui Xuan, military commissioner of Shannan East Circuit, massed troops to guard the strategic passes, and the Xu mutineers did not dare enter his territory. They took boats and sailed east along the river. Xu Ji and the others plotted together: "Our guilt is greater than that of the Silver Sabers. The court pardons us only because it fears we will raid along the road or scatter and become a plague. Once we reach Xu Prefecture, we are sure to be torn apart!" So they each used private funds to forge armor, weapons, banners, and flags. Passing through Zhexi, they entered Huainan. Huainan military commissioner Linghu Tao sent envoys to console them and supplied fodder and grain. Chief military adjutant Li Xiang said to Tao, "These Xu troops are returning on their own and will surely turn to rebellion. Though there is no edict to punish them, a frontier commissioner should act as the moment demands. The Gaoyou shore is steep and the channel deep and narrow. Post crack troops in ambush on the flank, burn the reed boats to block them ahead, and drive them with strong forces from behind—they can all be taken. If we let them cross the Huai and reach Xu Prefecture, where they will merge with angry troops, the harm will be grave indeed." Tao had always been timid, and besides there was no edict. He said, "So long as they do not ravage Huainan, let them pass—the rest is not my concern." Xun gathered Silver Saber mutineers and other fugitives hiding aboard the boats, along with outlaws of every stripe, until his following reached a thousand men. On dingsi they reached Sizhou. Prefect Du Tao entertained them in the ball ground, and players delivered speeches. The Xu troops thought themselves mocked. They seized the players and were about to behead them, and the guests scattered in alarm. Tao had long made preparations, and the Xu mutineers did not dare make trouble and held back. Tao was Du Tao's younger brother. Earlier the court had repeatedly ordered Cui Yanzeng to reassure the garrison troops returning without leave and keep them from growing anxious or suspicious. Yanzeng sent envoys to explain the edicts, and messengers met one another all along the road. Xun too sent memorial after memorial, his tone and courtesy very deferential. On wuwu, as they reached Xucheng, Xun and Xu Ji and the others addressed the troops: "We came back without permission only because we long to see our wives and children. Now we hear a secret edict has already reached our army—when we arrive we shall be split apart and our families wiped out! Better to join our strength in one heart and brave fire and boiling water together than to walk into the net and become the world's laughingstock. We shall not only escape ruin—wealth and honor may yet be won! Besides, the officers and soldiers in the city are our fathers, elder brothers, sons, and younger brothers. If we shout outside, they are sure to answer inside. Then, following Vice Censor Wang's precedent, five hundred thousand strings in reward will be ours for the taking." The crowd shouted and leaped, all calling it good. Officers Zhao Wu and eleven others alone were fearful and wished to flee. Xun had them all beheaded, sent their heads to Yanzeng, and submitted a memorial saying, "We garrison troops have been far from home six years and truly long for our native districts; but Wu and the others, taking advantage of the troops' unrest, suddenly plotted treachery. The soldiers know they were led astray and dare not shirk punishment! Now that we have received grace and full pardon, we have jointly executed the ringleaders to atone." In winter, the tenth month, on jiazi, the envoy reached Pengcheng. Yanzeng seized and interrogated him and learned the full truth. He then imprisoned the envoy. On dingmao, Xun again submitted a memorial from the relay station: "The soldiers, bearing their guilt, each harbor anxiety. We have reached Fuli but have not yet laid aside our armor. This is because Yin Kan, Du Zhang, Xu Xingjian, and other army officers are crafty and suspicious and sure to breed strife. I beg that these three be temporarily removed to settle the troops' hearts, and that the returning garrison be placed in two separate camps under one commander." At that time the garrison troops were only four relay stages from Pengcheng, and the whole city was in turmoil and fear. Yanzeng summoned his generals to consult. They all wept and said, "Not long ago the Silver Sabers were fierce and violent, and the whole army was given a bad name. Extermination and exile were not without wrongful victims. The cry of the wronged has not yet ceased, and now the Guizhou garrison is again so brazen. If we let them enter the city they are sure to rebel—and then the whole circuit will be laid waste! Better to strike while they are still far off and weary from the march. We rested, they exhausted—no battle we cannot win." Yanzeng still hesitated and could not decide. Regimental training judge Wen Tinghao again said to Yanzeng, "The omens of safety and danger are already before us. Gain and loss will be decided today. To strike now has three difficulties, but to spare them has five harms: the edict pardoned their crimes yet we would kill them on our own—the first difficulty; leading fathers and elder brothers to attack sons and younger brothers—the second difficulty; their factions are interlinked, and executions would necessarily be many—the third difficulty. Yet if garrison troops on the main routes return without leave and go unpunished, frontier garrisons everywhere will imitate them and control will be lost—the first harm; A general is the head of an army, yet they dare harm one—how then can any general command his troops! The second harm; They plundered along the way, made their own armor, and recruited fugitives—if this goes unpunished, how can evil be restrained! The third harm; The army's officers and soldiers are all their kin, and Silver Saber remnants hide in mountains and marshes—if inside and outside rise together, how can we withstand it! The fourth harm; They coerced the military prefecture, killed three officers they resented, and wish to form their own camp—if we agree, the Silver Saber trouble returns; if we refuse, they will use this as a pretext for rebellion—the fifth harm. Only if Your Excellency removes the three difficulties and cuts off the five harms, settling the great plan early, will you answer what the multitude hopes for." At that time the city held four thousand three hundred troops. Yanzeng ordered chief military adjutant Yuan Mi and others to lead three thousand men against Xun, recited Xun's crimes to rally the troops, and said, "This will not only ruin the common people but stain the officers and soldiers as well. If the state sends troops to punish them, jade and stone will perish together!" He also said, "As for their kin, have no fear—guilt rests on the individual alone, and there will be no collective punishment." He also ordered Suzhou to send troops from Fuli and Sizhou to send troops from Hong to intercept them, and memorialized the court. Yanzeng warned Yuan Mi not to harm the edict envoy. On wuchen, Yuan Mi set out from Pengcheng with a very imposing army. When the generals reached a place several li north of Ren Hill, they halted and did not advance, jointly devising how to seize the edict envoy. They wished to wait until the rebels entered the relay station, then attack, and sent men in disguise carrying firewood to spy on the rebels. At dusk the rebels reached Ren Hill. The station was empty and had no supplies. They grew suspicious, seized the firewood carriers, and beat them. They learned the full truth, set up dummy men holding banners and flags on the hillside, and slipped away in secret. By night the government troops at last discovered it. Fearing ambush in mountain valleys and bypaths, they withdrew and encamped south of the city; at dawn the next day they advanced in pursuit. By then the rebels had reached Fuli. Five hundred Suzhou garrison troops fought them on the Sui River, broke and fled at sight of the enemy, and the rebels then reached Suzhou. Suzhou lacked a prefect at the time. Observation vice commissioner Jiao Lu was acting prefect, and no troops remained in the city. On gengwu the rebels stormed and took the city. Lu fled and escaped. The rebels gathered all goods in the city and told the people to come take them. Within a day crowds converged from every direction. Then they selected and recruited soldiers; those unwilling were beheaded on the spot. From dawn to dusk they got several thousand men. They then marshaled troops and manned the walls. Pang Xun styled himself acting military commissioner. After two nights the government troops at last arrived. The rebels' defenses were already strict and could not be attacked. Earlier, when Jiao Lu heard of the defeat at Fuli, he cut the Bian Canal to block the northern route. When the rebels arrived the water was still shallow enough to ford, but by the time the government troops came it was already deep. On renshen, Yuan Mi led troops across the water intending to besiege the city. A great wind arose. The rebels shot fire arrows at thatched huts outside the walls, which spread to the government camp. Advancing, the soldiers met arrows and stones; retreating, they were hemmed in by fire and water. The rebels pressed hard, and nearly three hundred died. Yuan Mi and the others thought the rebels would surely hold firm and planned only how to storm the city. At night the rebels had women keep watch, seized three hundred large boats in the city, loaded supplies, and went downstream intending to take to the rivers and lakes as bandits. They gave Zhang Jingsi a thousand bolts of silk, sent horsemen to escort him to the eastern border of Bian, and let him return west. At dawn the government troops learned the rebels had fled and pursued them in disorder. The soldiers had eaten nothing; by the time they caught up they were hungry and exhausted. The rebels moored below the embankment and formed up outside it, with a thousand men hidden in the boats. When the government troops approached, those in formation all ran into the marsh. Mi thought they feared him and gave chase; The rebels emerged from the boats and attacked from both flanks. From noon to late afternoon the government army was utterly defeated. Mi fled into the Hehu marsh; the rebels caught up. Mi, his generals, and the edict-bearing army supervisor all died. Nearly a thousand soldiers died; the rest surrendered to the rebels—not one returned to Xu. The rebels questioned the surrendered troops about Pengcheng's mood and defenses, learned the city was unprepared, and first formed the plan to attack it. On yihai, Pang Xun led his troops north across the Sui River, crossed the mountains, and marched on Pengcheng. That evening Cui Yanzeng at last learned of Yuan Mi's defeat and sent dispatches to neighboring circuits begging for help. The next day he barred the gates and drafted able-bodied men for defense. Inside and out there was shock and terror; no one held firm. Some urged Yanzeng to flee to Yanzhou. Yanzeng said angrily, "I am the commander. If the city falls and I die, that is my duty!" He immediately beheaded the adviser. On dingchou the rebels reached the walls, six or seven thousand strong, drums and shouts shaking the earth. They reassured residents outside the walls and did not molest them, so people flocked to them. In no time they took the outer city. Yanzeng withdrew to the inner citadel. The people helped the rebels attack, pushing straw carts against the gates and burning them, and the city fell. The rebels imprisoned Yanzeng in the Great Peng lodge, seized Yin Kan, Du Zhang, and Xu Xingjian, disemboweled them and impaled them on blades, and exterminated their clans. Xun sat in the audience hall surrounded by armed guards. Civil and military officers prostrated themselves before him; none dared look up. That same day more than ten thousand in the city wished to follow him. On wuyin, Xun summoned Wen Tinghao to draft a memorial requesting a military commission. Tinghao said, "This is a grave matter and cannot be done in a moment. Let me go home and draft it at leisure." Xun agreed. The next morning Xun sent to hurry him. Tinghao came and said, "Yesterday I did not refuse at once only because I wished to see my wife and children once more. Now I have parted from them and come respectfully to await death." Xun stared at him and laughed. "A scholar dares this—are you not afraid of death! Pang Xun can take Xu Prefecture—why worry that no one will draft a memorial!" He then released him. There was a Zhou Chong who prided himself on talent and strategy. Xun received him as chief guest, and Chong drafted a memorial for Xun: "Your servant's army holds the very ground where the Han house rose to power. Recently the military commissioner pared down the military prefecture and rewards and punishments were unbalanced, forcing us to this course. Your Majesty took away their control and wiped out a whole army—some died, some were exiled—wrongs beyond counting. Now we hear this circuit intends to execute us again. The soldiers cannot bear the pain and have pushed your servant as acting military commissioner to command a hundred thousand men and pacify four prefectures. Your servant has heard that seizing advantage when the time is ripe is the stuff of emperors and kings. Your servant sees advantage and does not let it slip, meets the time and does not hesitate; I beg Your Sage compassion to bestow banners and axes once more. Otherwise, brandishing spears and halberds, marching on the capital will not be long delayed!" On gengchen he sent chief adjutant Zhang Guan to present the memorial at court. Xun made Xu Ji chief military adjutant and Zhao Keli roaming inspector; his partisans each received adjutant posts to command the armies. He sent old general Liu Xingji with fifteen hundred men to garrison Haozhou, Li Yuan with two thousand to Sizhou, and Liang Pi with a thousand to Suzhou; other strategic counties and towns were all repaired and garrisoned. Xu people said banners and axes would arrive within ten months. Men eager to serve converged from near and far—even bandits from Guang, Cai, Huai, Zhe, Yan, Yun, Yi, and Mi came at forced marches to join them, filling the suburbs. Within ten days rice reached two hundred cash per dou. Xun forged a memorial in Cui Yanzeng's name requesting extermination of Xu: "A whole army of violent soldiers—all can be cut down; the foolish people of five counties should each be assigned to penal service." He also forged an edict granting the request and spread it through the territory. The people of Xu believed it and blamed the court: "Had not the Guizhou garrison turned their spears, we would all have been meat on the block!" Liu Xingji led his troops to Wokou; followers along the road doubled again. Haozhou had only several hundred troops. Prefect Lu Wanghui had made no preparations and, not knowing what to do, opened the gates with oxen and wine to welcome them. When Xingji entered and took possession, he imprisoned Wanghui and acted as prefect himself. Sizhou prefect Du Tao heard Xun had rebelled, completed his defenses, and begged rescue from Jiang and Huai. Li Yuan sent a hundred elite troops first into Sizhou to seal the treasury. Tao sent men to welcome them, lured them into the city, and had them all executed. The next day Yuan arrived and besieged the city. Arrows and stones rained from the walls; several hundred rebels died. They drew off and encamped west of the city. Because Sizhou guarded the Jiang-Huai choke point, Xun sent more troops to help Yuan attack it. The force reached more than ten thousand but could not take the city. Earlier, when the court heard Pang Xun was returning from Ren Hill toward Suzhou, it sent the high-ranking Kang Daowei with a follow-up edict to console the troops. In the eleventh month Daowei reached Pengcheng. Xun went out to welcome him. From Ren Hill to the inner city was thirty li of armor, weapons, drums, and gongs shaking the valleys, and able-bodied men were driven to man the walls. He entertained Daowei in the ball ground, had men falsely present several thousand surrendered bandits, and dozens of victory reports from the camps. He again composed a memorial requesting a commission and sent it with Daowei to court. Earlier, Xin Yunyang's grandson Tan had lived in Guangling, loved chivalry, and at fifty had never held office. He was old friends with Du Tao. Hearing Pang Xun had rebelled, he went to Sizhou and urged Tao to flee with his family. Tao said, "In peace one enjoys rank and salary; in peril one abandons one's city—I will not do that. Moreover every man has a family—who does not love his own? If I alone seek to live, how can I reassure the troops! I swear to die in this city with the officers and soldiers!" Tan said, "If you can be thus, I will die with you!" He returned to Guangling, took leave of his family, and on renchen went again to Sizhou. People fleeing the turmoil clogged the roads. Seeing Tan, they stopped him: "Everyone goes south—why do you alone go north? Why seek death!" Tan did not answer. When he reached Sizhou the rebels were already below the walls. Tan rowed a small boat in. Tao immediately appointed him regimental training judge. The city was in peril. Chief adjutant Li Ya was brave and resourceful; he set up defenses for Tao, led shouts, and struck the rebels in four directions. The rebels withdrew to Xucheng and hearts calmed somewhat. Pang Xun recruited soldiers; men profited from plunder and rushed to join. Fathers sent sons, wives urged husbands—all cut hoe blades, sharpened them, and came to enlist. Neighboring circuits heard Xun held Xu and each sent troops to garrison strategic points, but government forces were still few, rebels daily increased, and government troops repeatedly fared ill. The rebels then took Yutai and nearly ten other nearby counties. East of Songzhou was Moshan, where people hid. Xun sent his general Zhang Xuanchen to besiege them. Drought came and the mountain springs dried; tens of thousands died of thirst. Someone told Xun, "The acting commissioner only wants a commission. Serve the Son of Heaven with full ritual, restrain the troops outwardly, comfort the people inwardly—then perhaps it can be won. Xun could not follow this advice, yet on national mourning he still burned incense, and before feasting his troops he always bowed west in thanks. On guimao Xun heard the edict envoy had entered the territory and thought banners and axes were sure to be granted. All congratulated him. The next day the envoy arrived but only blamed Cui Yanzeng and army supervisor Zhang Daojin and degraded their offices. Xun was deeply disappointed, imprisoned the envoy, and would not let him return. The court appointed Kang Chengxun, right Golden Crow general, as Yicheng military commissioner and overall Xu campaign commander; Wang Yanquan, Divine Martial great general, as northern Xu campaign commander; and Dai Keshi, Feathered Forest general, as southern Xu campaign commander, and mobilized troops from all circuits under them. Chengxun asked that Zhuye Chixin of the three Shatuo tribes and chiefs of Tuyuhun, Tatar, and Qibi each lead their followers with him. The edict granted it. Because Li Yuan had long failed to take Sizhou, Pang Xun sent his general Wu Tong to replace him. On bingwu he again pressed the attack on Sizhou day and night without cease. Edict envoy Guo Houben was leading fifteen hundred Huainan troops to rescue Sizhou. At Hongze he feared the rebels and did not dare advance. Xin Tan asked to go beg rescue; Du Tao permitted it. On dingwei at night he took a small boat, secretly crossed the Huai, reached Hongze, and pleaded with Houben, but Houben would not listen. By dawn he returned. On jiyou the rebels pressed harder and wished to burn the water gate; the city was nearly lost. Tan asked to go beg rescue again. Tao said, "Last time you returned empty-handed—what good is going now?" Tan said, "If I get troops I return alive; if not, I die." Tao parted from him in tears. Tan again took a small boat, broke through the siege carrying a door on his back, saw Houben, and explained the stakes. Houben was about to agree when Huainan chief general Yuan Gongbian said, "The rebels are so strong we can barely save ourselves—how can we spare troops for others!" Tan drew his sword and glared at Gongbian. "The rebels attack by a hundred paths; the city will fall within days. You were ordered to rescue yet linger—is this not betraying the state's grace! If Sizhou falls, Huainan becomes rebel territory—can you alone survive! I shall kill you first and then die!" He rose to strike him. Houben rose and held him back; Gongbian barely escaped. Tan then looked back toward Sizhou and wept all day; the soldiers all wept with him. Houben then agreed to give five hundred men and asked the troops; all wished to go. Tan kowtowed to thank the soldiers, then led them to the Huai south bank and saw the rebels still attacking the city. An officer said, "The rebels seem already to have entered the city. If we turn back we are finished." Tan drove him off, seized his hair, and raised his sword. The soldiers rescued him: "The judge of fifteen hundred men must not be killed." Tan said, "Reckless words at the battle line that confuse the troops cannot be spared!" The crowd pleaded in vain and together seized the man from him. Tan was very strong and they could not take him. Tan said, "Board the boats—all of you—and I will release this man." The troops scrambled aboard and he released him. Any soldier who looked back he cut down. He drove them north of the Huai, formed up, and struck the rebels. Tao arrayed troops on the walls to coordinate. The rebels broke and fled; with shouts they pursued until late afternoon and returned. Pang Xun sent Liu Ji with several thousand elite troops to help Wu Tong attack Sizhou. Liu Xingji from Haozhou sent Wang Hongli to join them. On wuwu, Zhenhai military commissioner Du Shenquan sent chief commander Zhai Xingyue with four thousand men to rescue Sizhou. On jiwei, Xingyue reached Sizhou. The rebels met them on the Huai south bank and besieged them. The city had too few troops to rescue them. Xingyue and all his men died. Earlier Linghu Tao had sent Li Xiang with several thousand troops to rescue Sizhou. He joined Houben and Gongbian and encamped at Duliang, facing Sizhou across the Huai. After defeating Zhai Xingyue the rebels besieged Duliang in turn. In the twelfth month, on jiazi, Li Xiang led troops out and was utterly defeated. The rebels took Duliang, seized Xiang and Houben and sent them to Xu, and held the Huai mouth, cutting the grain route. Kang Chengxun's army was at Xinxing. Rebel general Yao Zhou was at Liuzi and sent troops to resist. Troops from the circuits had gathered to only ten thousand. Chengxun, outnumbered, withdrew to Songzhou. Pang Xun thought government troops were not to be feared and sent Ding Congshi and others, each with several thousand men, south into Shu and Lu and north into Yi and Hai, taking Muyang, Xiaocai, Wujiang, and Chaoxian, storming Chuzhou and killing prefect Gao Xiwang. They also raided Hezhou. Prefect Cui Yong sent oxen and wine, led the rebels up a tower to drink, ordered his soldiers to lay aside armor, pointed to two favorites as his kin, and begged their lives. The rest were left to the rebels' pleasure. The rebels then plundered the city greatly and killed more than eight hundred soldiers. Rescue for Sizhou was cut off and grain nearly gone; people ate thin gruel. On jihai in the intercalary month, Xin Tan asked Du Tao to let him beg rescue from Huai and Zhe. At night he led ten daredevils with long-shafted axes in small boats and secretly chopped through the rebel river stockade to escape. At dawn the rebels discovered them. Five boats blocked ahead and five thousand men on both banks pursued. Rebel boats were heavy and slow; Tan's were light and fast. After fierce fighting for more than thirty li they escaped. On guimao he reached Yangzhou and saw Linghu Tao. On jiachen he reached Runzhou and saw Du Shenquan. Sizhou had long been silent; some said it had fallen. When Tan arrived, Shenquan sent Zhao Yi with two thousand armored men and, with Huainan, five thousand hu of rice and five hundred hu of salt for Sizhou. Dai Keshi led thirty thousand troops across the Huai, fighting forward, and the rebels abandoned all Huainan garrisons. Keshi wished first to seize the Huai mouth, then rescue Sizhou. On renshen he besieged Duliang; Few rebels were in the city. They bowed from the walls: "We are just discussing surrender with the chief commander." Keshi withdrew five li for them. The rebels fled by night. At dawn only an empty city remained. Keshi, trusting victory, made no preparations. That day heavy fog fell. Wang Hongli of Haozhou led tens of thousands by a swift route and suddenly attacked the government army. The government army could not form in time and was utterly defeated. Men died by weapons and drowning; only several hundred escaped. Lost weapons, grain, horses, and carts numbered in the tens of thousands. The rebels displayed Keshi's head and those of the supervisor and generals at Pengcheng. Pang Xun deemed himself matchless under heaven, composed a proclamation, and spread it through camps and villages. Huainan gentry and commoners were terrified and often fled east of the Yangzi. Linghu Tao, fearing invasion, sent an envoy to persuade Pang Xun and promised to memorialize requesting a commission for him. Xun then ceased fighting and awaited orders. Thereby Huainan was able somewhat to gather scattered troops and repair defenses. The Bian route was cut off; Jiang-Huai traffic went by Shouzhou. After defeating Dai Keshi the rebels besieged Shouzhou, plundered tribute and merchants' goods, and cut the route again. Xun grew ever more arrogant and daily devoted himself to tours and feasts. Zhou Chong remonstrated: "Since antiquity pride, luxury, and dissipation—gain then lose, succeed then fail—have been countless; how much more for one who has not yet gained or succeeded!" Troops from all circuits massed at Songzhou. Xu Prefecture at last grew fearful; recruits grew fewer while outposts asked for reinforcements in succession. Xun sent his partisans into villages to drive people into the army. With troops already in the tens of thousands and supplies exhausted, he levied rich households and merchants, taking seven or eight tenths; several hundred families who hid wealth had their clans exterminated. Those who had risen with Xun at Guizhou were especially violent, seizing wealth and women; Xun could not control them. Thereby the people within the territory all grew weary and could not live. Wang Yanquan's army had repeatedly suffered setbacks. The court ordered Taining military commissioner Cao Xiang to replace him as northern Xu campaign commander. Former Tianxiong military commissioner He Quanzhen sent Xue You with thirteen thousand men against Pang Xun. Xiang encamped at Teng and Pei, You at Feng and Xiao. That year Jiang and Huai suffered drought and locusts. Tenth year of the Xiantong era of Emperor Yizong of Tang (jichou; 869 CE). In spring, the first month, Kang Chengxun led more than seventy thousand men from all circuits to encamp west of Liuzi. From Xinxing to Lutang for thirty li, ramparts and camps lined the route. Xu troops garrisoned the four borders; fewer than several thousand remained in the city, and Pang Xun at last grew fearful. People mostly hid in burrows. Xun sent men to dig them out for the army, getting no more than twenty or thirty a day. Xun's general Meng Jingwen guarded Feng County—crafty, fierce, and with many troops. He plotted to turn against Xun and made his own prognostications. When Xun heard, Wei Bo was attacking Feng. He sent a trusted general with three thousand to help Jingwen hold Feng. Jingwen agreed to strike Wei Bo together and praised the new troops' courage, making them the vanguard. Once the new troops joined battle with Wei Bo, Jingwen withdrew and fled, and the new army was entirely destroyed. Xun then sent an envoy to deceive him: "Wang Hongli has taken Huainan. The acting commissioner wishes to garrison it himself. He summons all generals and will choose one to hold Xu Prefecture." Jingwen was pleased and galloped toward Pengcheng. Several li from the city Xun's ambush seized him. On xinyou he was killed. On dingmao, Princess Tongchang married right remonstrance Wei Baoheng, who was made attendance gentleman and imperial son-in-law. The princess was Consort Guo Shufei's daughter. The emperor especially loved her and emptied palace treasures for her dowry, granting a residence in Guanghua ward with windows adorned in gems, well rails and mortars of gold and silver, gold-thread baskets, five million strings in cash, and other goods in proportion. Xu rebels raided Haizhou. Government troops garrisoning Haizhou already numbered several thousand. They cut bridge pillars the rebels would cross but did not sever them fully, and laid ambush to await them. When the rebels passed, the bridges collapsed. They scattered in panic; the ambush struck and annihilated them. Those attacking Shouzhou were again broken by the southern-route army; several thousand were beheaded or captured. Xin Tan arrived with the Zhexi army at Chuzhou; edict envoy Zhang Cuncheng aided him with boats. Xu rebels arrayed troops by land and water and chained off the Huai. The Zhexi army feared their strength and would not advance. Tan said, "Let me be vanguard—if we win, follow; if we lose, flee." Still they would not. Tan selected several dozen daredevils, issued them appointments, and first sent three grain boats and one salt boat upstream against the wind. The rebels attacked from both sides; arrows struck the boards like rain. At the chain Tan led desperate fighting and cut it with axes, and only then got through. People on the walls shouted until the earth shook. Du Tao and his generals wept as they welcomed them. On yiyou those on the walls saw sails from the east and recognized the Zhexi banners. More than ten li out the rebels arrayed fire boats to block them; the sails stopped. Tao ordered Tan to lead daredevils out. Charging through the rebel line they saw Zhang Cuncheng with nine grain boats. Tan said, "The troops on the road wavered. Cuncheng nearly killed himself to get here, and now will not advance." Tan cried aloud, "The rebels are few—very easy to handle!" He led the crowd forward with drums and shouts. The rebels, seeing their fierce momentum, avoided them, and they entered the city. In the second month, Duanzhou vice prefect Yang Shou was exiled to Huan Prefecture for life; soon he was put to death, and more than ten subordinates and associates were exiled to Lingnan. Earlier Pei Tan's son had married Shou's daughter with a lavish dowry; utensils were adorned with rhinoceros horn and jade. When Tan saw it he said angrily, "You have ruined my family!" He immediately ordered it destroyed. Before long Shou was ruined through bribery after all. Chengxun sent Zhuye Chixin with three thousand Shatuo horsemen as vanguard. They broke the line and drove the enemy back, and troops of ten circuits relied on their fierceness. Chengxun once led a thousand men across the Huan River. Rebel ambush surrounded them. Chixin led five hundred horsemen in fierce charge, broke the encirclement, pulled Chengxun out, and they routed the rebels. Chengxun fought the rebels repeatedly and the rebel army was repeatedly defeated. Wang Hongli, proud of his Huai mouth victory, asked to lead his thirty thousand men alone to defeat Chengxun. Pang Xun agreed. On jihai, Hongli crossed the Sui River, raided the Lutang stockade at night, and besieged it at dawn. Hongli and his generals looked down and thought victory was within the hour. The Shatuo broke out left and right like flight. The rebels scattered. The Shatuo trampled them; garrison troops rushed out and struck. The rebels were utterly defeated. The government army drove them to the Sui River; countless drowned. From Lutang to Xiangcheng corpses lay for fifty li; more than twenty thousand were beheaded. Hongli alone escaped. Plundered civilians scattered into the hills and abandoned supplies heaped like hills. An edict ordered that peasants captured in defeating rebels be released. Thereafter whenever rebels met government troops, the people they drove to plunder would break first. Pang Xun and Xu Ji wished to behead Hongli for arrogance and indolence. Zhou Chong pleaded: "Hongli was not rewarded for two victories yet is to die for one defeat—discarding merit, recording faults, avenging the enemy. The generals will all fear. Better to pardon him and demand later achievement." Xun released him. Hongli gathered only several hundred scattered troops, asked to take Sizhou to atone, and Xun increased his troops and sent him. In the third month, on xinwei, attendance gentleman Wei Baoheng was made left remonstrance grandee and Hanlin academician. Prince of E Wang Kan was transferred to be Prince of Wei. After defeating Wang Hongli, Chengxun pressed Liuzi and fought Yao Zhou several tens of times within a month. On dinghai, Zhou led troops across the water. The government army pressed him; Zhou fled; they pursued and besieged Liuzi. A great wind arose and fire was set on all sides. The rebels fled. The Shatuo intercepted and slaughtered nearly all. From Liuzi to Fangcheng the dead lay piled; general Liu Feng was beheaded. Zhou fled to Suzhou with several dozen men. Garrison commander Liang Pi, who had long feuded with him, opened the gates, seized him, and beheaded him. Pang Xun was greatly afraid and discussed with Xu Ji leading troops out personally. Zhou Chong wept and said to Xun, "Liuzi is vital and Yao Zhou brave—now all is lost, perilous as piled eggs. Better establish a great title at once, marshal all troops, and fight to the death. He also urged killing Cui Yanzeng to cut off hope. Diviner Cao Junchang also said, "Xu's mountains and rivers cannot hold two commanders. While the observation commissioner lives, the acting commissioner cannot rise. The rebel partisans all agreed. In summer, the fourth month, on renchen, Xun killed Yanzeng, army supervisor Zhang Daojin, consolation commissioner Qiu Dafu, staff Jiao Lu, Wen Tinghao, and others, with all their kin, guests, and concubines; he cut off the hands and feet of Huainan supervisor Houben and adjutant Li Xiang and displayed them to Chengxun's army. Xun assembled the crowd and proclaimed, "At first I hoped for the state's grace and wished to remain a loyal minister; today's affair departs from that intent. From now I and you are truly rebels. We must sweep the realm's troops, join in one heart, and turn defeat into victory." The crowd all approved. He ordered all able-bodied men to assemble in the ball ground and sent generals to search house by house; anyone hiding a man had his whole clan exterminated. He selected thirty thousand able-bodied men, required banners and flags, and gave them elite troops. Xu Ji and others pushed Xun as Heavenly-Mandate General and Great Assembly Bright King. Xun declined the royal title. Earlier Xin Tan again led four hundred fierce men from Sizhou to fetch grain at Yang and Run. Rebels attacked from both banks; after fighting a hundred li they escaped. At Guangling he stopped at the official hostel and dared not go home. His boats carried twenty thousand shi of salt and rice and thirteen thousand strings in cash. On yiwei he returned to Doushan. Rebel general Wang Hongzhi led more than ten thousand to block him at Xuyi, arraying a hundred fifty war boats to block the Huai and sending fire boats against them. Tan used long forks to push past. From mao to wei they fought; outnumbered, the government army fared ill. Rebels bound timbers to war boats as fighting platforms. Tan sent brave men in small boats beneath, where blades could not reach, and burned them with fire oxen. The war boats blazed; the rebels fled and the government army entered the city. Pang Xun made his father Juzhi grand marshal and left him with Xu Ji to hold Xu Prefecture. Someone said, "The general displays military might—father and son must not lose superior-inferior propriety." He ordered Juzhi to hurry forward and bow in the hall while Xun received it seated at his desk. Wei Bo repeatedly besieged Feng County. Pang Xun wished to strike them first. On bingshen he led troops out from Xu Prefecture. On wuxu, former Huainan military commissioner and Associate Grand Councilor Linghu Tao was made grand mentor with a separate court. Pang Xun reached Feng County by night and secretly entered the city; the Wei Bo army knew nothing. Wei Bo had five stockades; the nearest garrisoned several thousand. Xun besieged them; other stockades came to rescue; Xun held the roads and killed two thousand government soldiers; the rest fled. The rebels could not take the stockade and by night lifted the siege. The government army feared their numbers, and hearing Xun had come in person, all stockades fled by night. Cao Xiang was besieging Teng County when he heard Wei Bo was defeated; he withdrew to hold Yanzhou. The rebels destroyed their ramparts, transported supplies, and spread proclamations to Xu Prefecture, greatly boasting and calling the government army state rebels. Ma Ju led thirty thousand elite troops to rescue Sizhou. On yisi he divided into three columns to cross the Huai; midstream they shouted, heard for several li. The rebels were greatly alarmed, unable to gauge their numbers, and encamped at the western stockade outside the city. Ju immediately besieged them, burned the palisades, and utterly defeated the rebels; several thousand were beheaded. Wang Hongli died. Wu Tong withdrew to Xucheng. The siege of Sizhou was at last lifted. Sizhou had been besieged seven months; defenders could not sleep and sores grew on their faces. Pang Xun stayed several days at Feng County and wished to march west against Chengxun. Someone said, "The season turns hot and silkworms and wheat are urgent—better rest and gather food, then plan. Someone said, "You have crushed seventy thousand in days; the western army is terrified—seize this momentum and they will break and flee. The moment must not be lost. Pang Juzhi urged Xun by letter to advance while victory was hot, and Xun decided. On dingwei he set out from Feng County; on gengxu he reached Xiao. He arranged for stockades at Xiangcheng, Liuwu, and Xiaosui to combine fifty or sixty thousand men to attack Liuzi at dawn on the twenty-ninth. Huainan defeated soldiers among the rebels fled to Chengxun and told him the date. Chengxun prepared first, fed horses, marshaled troops, and set ambush. On bingchen the Xiangcheng troops reached Liuzi first, met ambush, and fled defeated. Pang Xun had missed the rendezvous and hurried from more than thirty li away. When he arrived the stockades were already defeated. His troops were marketplace rabble; seeing the government army's strength, none fought and all broke. Chengxun ordered urgent pursuit, cavalry in front and infantry behind. The rebels fled in disorder, trampled one another; corpses lay for tens of li; tens of thousands died. Xun doffed armor, wore cloth coats, and escaped. He gathered only three thousand scattered troops, returned to Pengcheng, and sent Zhang Shi to garrison Dicheng relay. When Xun first rose, Xiapi strongman Zheng Yin gathered three thousand with their own supplies to join him. Xun made him a general and called them the Righteous Army. In the fifth month Yizhou besieged Xiapi. Xun ordered Yin to rescue it; Yin led his men to surrender instead. In the sixth month the people of Shan rebelled and drove out observation commissioner Cui Rao. Rao prided himself on the tone of his vessels and did not govern. When the people complained of drought he pointed at a courtyard tree: "It still has leaves—how can there be drought!" And had them beaten. The people were enraged and drove him out. Rao fled to a commoner's house, desperately thirsty; the people gave him urine to drink. He was demoted to Zhao Prefecture vice prefect. Vice Director Xu Shang was made Associate Grand Councilor and Jingnan military commissioner. On guimao, Hanlin ex officio and Vice Minister of Revenue Liu Zhan was made Associate Grand Councilor. Zhan was from Guizhou. Ma Ju led troops from Sizhou to attack Haozhou, taking Zhaoyi, Zhongli, and Dingyuan. Liu Xingji set a stockade outside the city. Ju sent light cavalry to challenge; the rebels, seeing few numbers, rushed west to strike. Ju led tens of thousands by another route to strike their southeast and burned the stockade. The rebels held firm inside. Ju trenched three sides and besieged; the north faced the Huai, and rebels could still reach Xu Prefecture. Pang Xun sent Wu Tong to help Xingji hold Haozhou, garrisoning the north ford. Ju sent a general across the Huai, beheaded and captured several thousand, and leveled the stockade. When Cao Xiang withdrew to Yanzhou he left four thousand Cangzhou soldiers at Luqiao; they returned without orders. Xiang said, "We campaign because Pang Xun rebelled. Now Cang troops disobey—that is rebellion itself." He marshaled troops, besieged them outside Yanzhou, selected two thousand who had disobeyed, and executed them all. When the court heard Wei Bo was defeated it appointed Song Wei northwestern Xu campaign commander with thirty thousand troops between Feng and Xiao; Xiang again joined him. In autumn, the seventh month, Kang Chengxun took Linhuan, killed and captured ten thousand, and took stockades at Xiangcheng, Liuwu, Xiaosui, and others. Cao Xiang took Teng County and advanced to attack Feng and Pei. Garrison troops in rebel stockades mostly fled to mountains and forests. When rebel plunderers passed they were killed—the Five-Eight Villages especially so. Chen Quanyu became their leader. All who had rebelled against Xun joined him until they numbered several thousand, fully armed, holding several tens of li that rebels dared not approach. Chengxun sent men to recruit them. They surrendered with their followers, and rebel partisans scattered further. Qizhou strongman Li Yan killed the rebel garrison commander and surrendered the city to Chengxun. Pei garrison commander Li Zhi went to Pengcheng on business. Vice general Zhu Mei surrendered the city to Cao Xiang. When Zhi returned from Pengcheng, Mei met and drove him off. Xiang sent troops to garrison Pei. Mei was from Bin Prefecture. Xun sent Sun Zhang and Xu Ji, each with several thousand men, against Chen Quanyu and Zhu Mei. Both failed and returned. Chengxun drove on in victory, took Dicheng, advanced west of Suzhou, and built a fortified camp. Pang Xun was distressed and knew not what to do, only praying to gods and feeding monks. Earlier Xun, angry that Liang Pi had killed Yao Zhou on his own authority, removed him and had old Xu general Zhang Xuanchen govern the prefecture, with partisans Zhang Ru and Zhang Shi leading tens of thousands to resist the government army. Ru arrayed stockades in several rings outside the city and used water to secure themselves; Chengxun besieged them. Zhang Shi sent men out by night with a letter: "State troops are all below the city; the west is empty. Lead troops by surprise, plunder Song and Bo—the enemy will lift the siege and go west. Set ambush and strike in front; we will press from behind—certain victory!" Cao Xiang had Zhu Mei attack Feng and win, then took Xucheng and Xiapi, beheading and capturing to the tens of thousands. Xun was distressed and wished to flee. Receiving Shi's letter he followed the plan, left Juzhi and Xu Ji at Xu, and led troops west. In the eighth month, on renzi, Chengxun burned the outer stockades. Zhang Ru entered the outer wall. The government army attacked; several thousand died and could not take it. Chengxun sent persuaders below the walls. Zhang Xuanchen had frontier merit but was coerced to follow the rebels. At night he summoned followers to plan return to the state, spread word, and many agreed. He sent Zhang Gao to Chengxun to fix a date to kill rebel generals and surrender, raising a blue banner as signal. Chengxun was greatly pleased and agreed. In the ninth month, on dingsi, Zhang Ru drank at Liuxi pavilion. Xuanchen had Dong Hou marshal troops west of the pavilion. Xuanchen leaped forward on horseback and shouted, "Pang Xun's head is already hung in the vice director's stockade—how can you still exist!" Soldiers vied forward and beheaded Zhang Ru and dozens of others. Turmoil arose in the city. Xuanchen explained the plan to return to the state; by evening it was settled. On wuwu they opened the gates and surrendered. Xuanchen saw Chengxun bare to the waist, advancing on his knees, weeping and begging pardon. Chengxun consoled him, proclaimed the edict, appointed him vice censor-in-chief, and bestowed generous gifts. Xuanchen said further, "The whole city returns but the four quarters do not know. Feign that the city has fallen and lead troops toward Fuli and Xu—the rebel partisans will not doubt and can all be taken! Chengxun agreed. Suzhou's old troops numbered thirty thousand. Chengxun added several hundred horsemen, rewarded them, and sent them off. Xuanchen re-entered the city and at dusk sent the usual peace fires. Before dawn on jiwei Xuanchen piled firewood, set fire as if the city had fallen, and rushed to Fuli. Fuli admitted them; they beheaded the commander, gathered ten thousand men, and marched north on Xu Prefecture. Juzhi and Xu Ji heard and closed the city to resist. On xinyou Xuanchen reached Pengcheng, besieged it without attacking, and announced to the walls, "The court only punishes rebels, not good people—why hold the city for rebels? If you still hesitate, in a moment you will all be meat on the block!" The defenders one after another cast off armor, threw down weapons, and came down. Yanzeng's former clerk Lu Shenzhong opened the gate. Juzhi and Xu Ji held the inner citadel. At sundown rebels exited the north gate; Xuanchen pursued and beheaded them. Kin of Guizhou garrisoners were beheaded; several thousand died. Xu Prefecture was pacified. Pang Xun led twenty thousand troops out west of Shishan, burning and plundering wherever they passed. On gengshen Chengxun learned of it and led eighty thousand infantry and cavalry west, with Zhuye Chixin and several thousand horsemen as vanguard. Xun raided Songzhou and took its south city. Prefect Zheng Chuchong held the north city. The rebels, knowing he was prepared, abandoned it, crossed the Bian, raided Bozhou, and the Shatuo caught up. Xun led troops east along the Huan toward Pengcheng. Pressed by the Shatuo he could not eat. At Qi he was about to cross when Li Gun burned the bridge and resisted. The rebels panicked. West of the county the government army massed and attacked, killing nearly ten thousand; the rest drowned. Only a thousand surrendered. Xun died unrecognized; after several days his corpse was found. Rebel stockades at Suqian and elsewhere killed their commanders and surrendered. Song Wei also took Xiao County. Wu Tong alone held Haozhou and would not submit. In winter, the tenth month, Zhang Xuanchen was made right Martial Valor great general and grand censor. Ma Ju attacked Haozhou from summer through winter without success. Grain was exhausted; they killed people to eat. The garrison dug deep trenches and held under heavy siege. On xinchou night Wu Tong broke out and fled. Ju pursued and killed or captured nearly all. Tong died at Zhaoyi. Kang Chengxun was made Hedong military commissioner and Associate Grand Councilor. Du Tao was made Yicheng military commissioner. The emperor praised Zhuye Chixin, established the Datong Army at Yun with him as commissioner, summoned him, kept him as left Golden Crow upper general, bestowed the surname Li and name Guochang, and rewarded him generously. Xin Tan was made Bozhou prefect. At Sizhou Tan had broken through the siege twelve times to meet troops and grain. When appointed to Bozhou he memorialized, "My achievement could not have been accomplished without Du Tao." Cui Yong, prefect of Hezhou, was granted suicide; his family was exiled to Kang Prefecture; five brothers were all exiled far. The emperor was dissolute in feasts and did not handle government affairs, entrusting power to Lu Yan. Yan was extravagant and accepted bribes; his close attendants held power. Zhide magistrate Chen Pansou said at audience, "Confiscate the whole household of Bian Xian and the army can be supplied two years. The emperor asked, "Who is Xian?" He answered, "Lu Yan's close clerk." The emperor was angry and exiled Pansou to Ai Prefecture. Thereafter none dared speak. Earlier Nanzhao had sent envoy Yang Qiouqing to thank them for releasing Dong Cheng. Dingbian commissioner Li Shiwang wished to provoke Nanzhao for merit and killed Qiouqing. Xichuan generals resented Shiwang for splitting their jurisdictions and secretly signaled Nanzhao to invade. Shiwang was greedy and cruel, amassed private wealth to a million, and garrison soldiers wished to eat him alive. He escaped by stratagem. The court recalled him and replaced him with grand treasury vice minister Dou Pang. Pang was greedier and crueler than Shiwang; before the barbarians arrived Dingbian was already in distress. That month Nanzhao chieftain Qiulong Qingguo invaded with tens of thousands, struck the Dongchunwu tribe, and defeated it. In the eleventh month barbarians raided Xi Prefecture. Dingbian chief An Zairong held Qingxi Pass; barbarians attacked; Zairong withdrew north of the Dadu and shot across the water nine days and eight nights. Barbarians secretly cut timber and opened a road, crossed the snow slope, and suddenly reached Muyuan River. Pang sent Yanhai general Huang Zhuo with five hundred men to resist; the whole army was destroyed. In the twelfth month, on dingyou, barbarians wore Yanhai clothing, pretended to be defeated soldiers, called for boats at the riverbank, crossed, and took Qianwei, burning and plundering Ling and Rong. Several days later barbarian troops massed at Lingyun Temple, facing Jia Prefecture across the river. Prefect Yang Min and Dingbian supervisor Zhang Yunqiong marshaled troops to resist. Barbarians secretly crossed from the east ford, flanked the government army, killed Yan Qingshi, chief general of Loyalty and Martial, and the rest broke. Min and Yunqiong escaped. On renzi they took Jia Prefecture. Qingshi was Qingsi's younger brother. Dou Pang personally resisted barbarians at the Dadu. The chieftain pretended to send Qingping officials to treat for peace. Before Pang finished speaking barbarians crossed in boats. Loyalty and Martial and Xu-Su armies formed ranks to resist. Pang was afraid and hanged himself in the tent. Xu general Miao Quanxu cut him down and said, "Why should the commander come to this!" Quanxu, Zairong, and the Loyalty and Martial general marched out to fight. Pang fled alone by night on horseback. The three generals said, "We cannot match the enemy. If we fight tomorrow we are all finished. Better to attack by night, throw them into disorder, and withdraw." They entered the barbarian camp by night; bows shot wildly; barbarians were alarmed; the three generals withdrew intact. Barbarians took Li and Ya. People hid in valleys. Defeated troops burned and plundered everywhere. Pang fled to Daojiang. Qiong's stores were scattered among disorderly troops. When barbarians arrived the city was empty and passage unobstructed. The court ordered left Divine Martial general Yan Qingsi to lead troops to the rescue.