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資治通鑑第253卷。 【唐紀六十九】起強圉作噩,盡上章困敦十月,凡三年有奇。。 僖宗聖恭定孝皇帝上之下乾符四年(丁酉,公元八七七年)。 春,正月,王郢誘寔入舟中,執之,將士從寔者皆奔潰。 朝廷聞之,以右龍武大將軍宋皓為江南諸道招討使,先征諸道兵外,更發忠武、宣武、感化三道、宣、泗二州兵,新舊合萬五千餘人,並受皓節度。 二月,郢攻陷望海鎮,掠明州,又攻台州,陷之; 刺史王葆退守唐光。 詔二浙、福建各出舟師以討之。。 王仙芝陷鄂州。。 黃巢陷鄆州,殺節度使薛崇。。 南詔酋龍嗣立以來,為邊患殆二十年,中國為之虛耗,而其國中亦疲弊。 酋龍卒,謚曰景莊皇帝; 子法立,改元貞明承智大同,國號鶴拓,亦號大封人。 法好畋獵酣飲,委國事於大臣。 閏月,嶺南西首節度使辛讜奏南詔遣阤西段瑳寶等來請和,且言「諸道兵戍邕州歲久,饋餉之費,疲弊中國,請許其和,使贏瘵息肩。」 詔許之。 讜遣大將杜弘等繼書幣,送瑳寶還南詔,但留荊南、宣歙數軍戍邕州,自餘諸道兵什減其七。 王郢橫行浙西,鎮海節度使裴璩嚴兵設備,不與之戰,密招其黨朱實降之,散其徒六七千人,輸器械二十餘萬,舟航、粟帛稱是。 敕以實為金吾將軍。 於是郢黨離散。 郢收餘眾,東至明州,甬橋鎮遏使劉巨容以筒箭射殺之,餘黨皆平。 璩,諝之從曾孫也。。 三月,黃巢陷沂州。。 夏,四月,壬申朔,日有食之。。 賊帥柳彥璋剽掠江西。。 陝州軍亂,逐觀察使崔碣; 貶碣杯州司馬。。 黃巢與尚讓合兵保查牙山。。 五月,甲子,以給事中楊損為陝虢觀察使。 損至官,誅首亂者。 損,嗣復之子也。。 初,桂管觀察使李瓚失政,支使薛堅石屢規正之,瓚不能從。 及瓚被逐,堅石攝留務,移牒鄰道,禁遏亂兵,一方以安。 詔擢堅石為國子博士。。 六月,柳彥璋襲陷江州,執刺史陶祥,使祥上表,彥璋亦自附降狀。 敕以彥璋為右監門將軍,令散眾赴京師。 以左武衛將軍劉秉仁為江州刺史。 彥璋不從,以戰艦百餘固湓江為水寨,剽掠如故。。 忠武都將李可封戍邊還,至邠州,迫脅主帥,索舊欠糧鹽,留止四月,闔境震驚。 秋,七月,還至許州,節度命名崔安潛悉按誅之。。 庚申,王仙芝、黃巢攻宋州,三道兵與戰,不利,賊遂圍宋威於宋州。 甲寅,右威衛上將軍張自勉將忠武兵七千救宋州,殺賊二千餘人,賊解圍遁去。 王鐸、盧攜欲使張自勉以所將兵受宋威節度,鄭畋以為威與自勉已有疑忿,若在麾下,必為所殺,不肯署奏。 八月,辛未,鐸、攜訴於上,求罷免; 庚辰,畋請歸滻川養疾; 上皆不許。。 王仙芝陷安州。。 鹽州軍亂,逐刺史王承顏,詔高品牛從珪往慰諭之,貶承顏象州司戶。 承顏及崔碣素有政聲,以嚴肅為驕卒所逐,朝廷與貪暴致亂者同貶,時人惜之。 從珪自鹽州還,軍中請以大將王宗誠為刺史。 詔宗誠詣闕,將士皆釋罪,仍如優給。。 乙卯,王仙芝陷隨州,執刺史崔休征。 山南東道節度使李福遣其子將兵救隨州,戰死。 福奏求援兵,遣左武衛大將軍李昌言將鳳翔五百騎赴之,仙芝遂轉掠復、郢。 忠武大將張貫等四千人與宣武兵援襄州,自申、蔡間道逃歸。 詔忠武節度使崔安潛、宣武節度使穆仁裕遣人約還。。 冬,十月,邠寧節度使李侃奏遣兵討王宗誠,斬之,餘黨悉平。。 鄭畋與王鐸、盧攜爭論用兵於上前,畋不勝,退,復上奏,以為:「自王仙芝俶擾,崔安潛首請會兵討之,繼發士卒,罄供資糧。 賊往來千里,塗炭諸州,獨不敢犯其境。 又以本道兵援張自勉,解宋州圍,使江、淮漕運流通,不輸寇手。 今蒙盡以自勉所將七千兵令張貫將之,隸宋威。 自勉獨歸許州,威復奏加誣毀。 因功受辱,臣竊痛之。 安潛出師,前後克捷非一,一旦強兵盡付它人,良將空還,若勍敵忽至,何以枝梧! 臣請以忠武四千人授威,餘三千人使自勉將之,守衛其境,既不侵宋威之功,又免使安潛愧恥。」 時盧攜不以為然,上不能決。 畋復上言:「宋威欺罔朝廷,敗衄狼藉。 又聞王仙芝七狀請降,威不為聞奏。 朝野切齒,以為宜正軍法。 跡狀如此,不應復典兵權,願與內大臣參酌,早行罷黜。」 不從。。 河中軍亂,逐節度使劉侔,縱兵焚掠。 以京兆尹竇璟為河中宣慰制置使。。 黃巢寇掠蘄、黃,曾元裕擊破之,斬首四千餘級。 巢遁去。。 十一月,己酉,以竇璟為河中節度使。。 招討副使、都監楊復光遣人說諭王仙芝,仙芝遣尚君長等請降於復光,宋威遣兵於道中劫取君長等。 十二月,威奏與君長等戰於穎州西南,生擒以獻; 復光奏君長等實降,非威所擒。 詔侍御史歸仁紹等鞫之,竟不能明。 斬君長等於狗脊嶺。。 黃巢陷匡城,遂陷濮州。 詔穎州刺史張自勉將諸道兵擊之。。 江州刺史劉秉仁乘驛之官,單舟入柳彥璋水。 賊出不意,即迎拜,秉仁斬彥璋,散其眾。。 王仙芝寇荊南。 節度使楊知溫,知至之兄也,以文學進,不知兵,或告賊至,知溫以為妄,不設備。 時漢水淺狹,賊自賈塹度。。 僖宗聖恭定孝皇帝上之下乾符五年(戊戌,公元八七八年)。 春,正月,丁酉朔,大雪,知溫方受賀,賊已至城下,遂陷羅城。 將佐共治子城而守之,及暮,知溫猶不出。 將佐請知溫出撫士卒,知溫紗帽皁裘而行; 將佐請知溫擐甲以備流矢,知溫見士卒拒戰,猶賦詩示幕僚,遣使告急於山南東道節度使李福,福悉其眾自將救之。 時有沙陀五百在襄陽,福與之俱至荊門,遇賊,沙陀縱騎奮擊,破之。 仙芝聞之,焚掠江陵而去。 江陵城下舊三十萬戶,至是死者什三四。。 壬寅,招討副使曾元裕大破王仙芝於申州東,所殺萬人,招降散遣者亦萬人。 敕以宋威久病,罷招討使,還青州。 以曾元裕為招討使,穎州刺史張自勉為副使。。 庚戌,以西川節度使高駢為荊南節度使兼鹽鐵轉運使。。 振武節度使李國昌之子克用為沙陀副兵馬使,戍蔚州。 時河南盜賊蜂起,雲州沙陀兵馬使李盡忠與牙將康君立、薛志勤、程懷信、李存璋等謀曰:「今天下大亂,朝廷號令不復行於四方,此乃英雄立功名富貴之秋也。 吾屬雖各擁兵眾,然李振武功大官高,名聞天下,其子勇冠諸軍。 若輔以舉事,代北不足平也。」 眾以為然。 君立,興唐人; 存璋,雲州人; 志勤,奉誠人也。。 會大同防禦使段文楚兼水陸發運使,代北荐饑,漕運不繼。 文楚頗減軍士衣米,又用法稍峻,軍士怨怒。 盡忠遣君立潛詣蔚州說克用起兵,除文楚而代之。 克用曰:「吾父在振武,俟我稟之。」 君立曰:「今機事已洩,緩則生變,何暇千里稟命乎!」 於是盡忠夜帥牙兵攻牙城,執文楚及判官柳漢璋等繫獄,自知軍州事,遣召克用。 克用帥其眾趣雲州,行收兵,二月,庚午,至城下,眾且萬人,屯於鬥雞台下。 壬申,盡忠遣使送符印,請克用為防禦留後。 癸酉,盡忠械文楚等五人送鬥雞台下,克用令軍士玼食之,以騎踐其骸。 甲戌,克用入府捨視事,令將士表求敕命; 朝廷不許。 李國昌上言:「乞朝廷速除大同防禦使。 若克用違命,臣請帥本道兵討之,終不愛一子以負國家。」 朝廷方欲使國昌諭克用,會得其奏,乃以司農卿支詳為大同軍宣慰使,詔國昌語克用,令迎候如常儀,除克用官,必令稱愜。 又以太僕卿盧簡方為大同防禦使。。 貶楊知溫為郴州司馬。。 曾元裕奏大破王仙芝於黃梅,殺五萬餘人,追斬仙芝,傳首,餘黨散去。。 黃巢方攻亳州未下,尚讓帥仙芝餘眾歸之,推巢為王,號沖天大將軍,改元王霸,署官屬。 巢襲陷沂州、濮州。 既而屢為官軍所敗,乃遺天平節度使張裼書,請奏之。 詔以巢為右衛將軍,令就鄆州解甲。 巢竟不至。。 加山南東道節度使李福同平章事,賞救荊南之功也。。 三月,群盜陷朗州、岳州。 招討使曾元裕屯荊、襄,黃巢自濮州掠宋、汴,乃以副使張自勉充東南面行營招討使。 黃巢攻衛南,遂攻葉、陽翟。 詔發河陽兵千人赴東都,與宣武、昭義兵二千人共衛宮闕。 以左神武大將軍劉景仁充東都應援防遏使,並將三鎮兵,仍聽於東都募兵二千人。 景仁,昌之孫也。 又詔曾元裕將兵徑還東都,發義成兵三千守轘轅、伊闕、河陰、武牢。。 王仙芝餘黨王重隱陷洪州,江西觀察使高湘奔湖口。 賊轉掠湖南,別將曹師雄掠宣、潤。 詔曾元裕、楊復光引兵救宣、潤。。 湖南軍亂,都將高傑逐觀察使崔瑾。 瑾,郾之子也。。 黃巢引兵度江,攻陷虔、吉、饒、信等州。。 朝廷以李克用據雲中,夏,四月,以前大同軍防禦使盧簡方為振武節度使,以振武節度使李國昌為大同節度使,以為克用必無以拒也。 詔以東都軍儲不足,貸商旅富人錢穀以供數月之費,仍賜空名殿中侍御史告身五通,監察御史告身十通,有能出家財助國稍多者賜之。 時連歲旱、蝗,寇盜充斥,耕桑半廢,租賦不足,內藏虛竭,無所人次助。 兵部侍郎、判度支楊嚴三表自陳才短,不能濟辦,乞解使務,辭極哀切。 詔不許。。 曹師雄寇湖州,鎮海節度使裴璩遣兵擊破之。 王重隱死,其將徐唐莒據洪州。 饒州將彭幼璋合義營兵克復饒州。。 南詔遣其酋望趙宗政來請和親,無表,但令督爽牒中書,請為弟而不稱臣。 詔百官議之,禮部侍郎崔澹等以為:「南詔驕僭無禮,高駢不達大體,反因一僧呫囁卑辭誘致其使,若從其請,恐垂笑後代。」 高駢聞之,上表與澹爭辯,詔諭解之。 澹,璵之子也。。 五月,丙申朔,鄭畋、盧攜議蠻事,攜欲與之和親,畋固爭以為不可。 攜怒,拂衣起,袂罥硯墮地,破之。 上聞之,曰:「大臣相詬,何以儀刑四海!」 丁酉,畋、攜皆罷為主子賓客、分司。 以翰林學士承旨、戶部侍郎豆盧瑑為兵部侍郎,吏部侍郎崔沆為戶部侍郎,並同平章事。。 時宰相有好施者,常使人以布囊貯錢自隨,行施丐者,每出,襤褸盈路。 有朝士以書規之曰:「今百姓疲弊,寇盜充斥,相公宜舉賢任能,紀綱庶務,捐不急之費,杜私謁之門,使萬物各得其所,則家給人足,自無貧者,何必如此行小惠乎!」 宰相大怒。。 邕州大將杜弘送段瑳寶至南詔,逾年而還。 甲辰,辛讜復遣攝巡官賈宏、大將左瑜、曹朗使於南詔。。 李國昌欲父子並據兩鎮,得大同制書,毀之,殺監軍,不受代,與李克用合兵陷遮虜軍,進擊寧武及岢嵐軍。 盧簡方赴振武,至嵐州而薨。 丁巳,河東節度使竇浣發民塹晉陽。 己未,以都押衙康傳圭為代州刺史,又發土團千人戍代州。 土團至城北,娖隊不發,求優賞。 時府庫空竭,浣遣馬步都虞候鄧虔往慰諭之,土團□虔,床舁其屍入府。 浣與監軍自出慰諭,人給錢三百,布一端,眾乃定。 押牙田公鍔給亂軍錢布,從遂劫之以為都將,赴代州,浣借商人錢五萬緡以助軍。 朝廷以浣為不才,六月,以前昭義節度使曹翔為河東節度使。。 王仙芝餘黨剽掠浙西,朝廷以荊南節度使高駢先在天平有威名,仙芝黨多鄆人,乃徙駢為鎮海節度使。。 沙陀焚唐林、崞縣,入忻州境。。 秋,七月,曹翔至晉陽。 己亥,捕土團殺鄧虔者十三人,殺之。 義武兵至晉陽,不解甲,歡噪求優賞,翔斬其十將一人,乃定。 發義成、忠武、昭義、河陽兵會於晉陽,以御沙陀。 八月,戊寅,曹翔引兵救忻州。 沙陀攻岢嵐軍,陷其羅城,敗官軍於洪谷,晉陽閉門城守。。 黃巢寇宣州,宣歙觀察使王凝拒之,敗於南陵。 巢攻宣州不克,乃引兵入浙東,開山路七百里,攻剽福建諸州。。 九月,平盧軍奏節度使宋威薨。。 辛丑,以諸道行營招討使曾元裕領平盧節度使。。 壬寅,曹翔暴薨。 丙午,昭義兵大掠晉陽,坊市民自共擊之,殺千餘人,乃潰。。 中書侍郎、同平章事李蔚罷為東都留守。 以吏部尚書鄭從讜為中書侍郎、同平章事。 從讜,餘慶之孫也。。 以戶部尚書、判戶部事李都同平章事兼河中節度使。。 冬,十月,詔昭義節度使李鈞、幽州節度使李可舉與吐谷渾酋長赫連鐸、白義誠、沙陀酋長安慶、薩葛酋長米海萬,合兵討李國昌父子於蔚州。 十一月,甲午,岢嵐軍翻城應沙陀。 丁未,以河東宣慰使崔季康為河東節度、代北行營招討使。 沙陀攻石州,庚戌,崔季康救之。。 十二月,甲戌,黃巢陷福州,觀察使韋岫棄城走。。 南詔使者趙宗政還其國,中書不答督爽牒,但作西川節度使崔安潛書意,使安潛答之。。 崔季康及昭義節度使李鈞與李克用戰於洪谷,兩鎮兵敗,鈞戰死。 昭義兵還至代州,士卒剽掠,代州民殺之殆盡,餘眾自鴉鳴谷走歸上黨。。 王郢之亂,臨安人董昌以土團討賊有功,補石鏡鎮將。 是歲,曹師雄寇二浙,杭州募諸縣鄉兵各千人以討之,昌與錢塘劉孟安、阮結、富陽聞人宇、鹽官徐及、新城杜稜、餘杭凌文舉、臨平曹信各為之都將,號杭州八都,昌為之長。 其後宇卒,錢塘人成及代之。 臨安人錢鏐以驍勇事昌,以功為石鏡都知兵馬使。。 僖宗聖恭定孝皇帝上之下乾符六年(己亥,公元八七九年)。 春,正月,魏王佾薨。。 鎮海節度使高駢遣其將張璘、梁纘分道擊黃巢,屢破之,降其將秦彥、畢師鐸、李罕之、許勍等數十人,巢遂趣廣南。 彥,徐州人; 師鐸,冤句人; 罕之,項城人也。。 賈寵等未至南詔,相繼卒於道中,從者死亦太半。 時辛讜已病風痺,召攝巡官徐雲虔,執其手曰:「讜已奏朝廷發使入南詔,而使者相繼物故,奈何? 吾子既仕則思詢國,能為此行乎? 讜恨風痺不能拜耳。」 因嗚咽流涕。 雲虔曰:「士為知己死! 明公見辟,恨無以報德,敢不承命!」 讜喜,厚具資裝而遣之。 二月,丙寅,雲虔至善闡城,驃信見大使抗禮,受副使以下拜。 己巳,驃信使慈雙羽、楊宗就館謂雲虔曰:「貴府牒欲使驃信稱臣,奉表貢方物; 驃信已遣人自西川入唐,與唐約為兄弟,不則舅甥。 夫兄弟舅甥,書幣而已,何表貢之有?」 雲虔曰:「驃信既欲為弟、為甥,驃信景莊之子,景莊豈無兄弟,於驃信為諸父,驃信為君,則諸父皆稱臣,況弟與甥乎! 且驃信之先,由大唐之命,得合六詔為一,恩德深厚,中間小忿,罪在邊鄙。 今驃信欲修舊好,豈可違祖考之故事乎! 順祖考,孝也; 事大國,義也; 息戰爭,仁也; 審名分,禮也。 四者,皆令德也,可不勉乎!」 驃信待雲虔甚厚,雲虔留善闡十七日而還。 驃信以木夾二授雲虔,其一上中書門下,其一牒嶺南西道,然猶未肯奉表稱貢。。 辛未,河東軍至靜樂,士卒作亂,殺孔目官石裕等。 壬申,崔季康逃歸晉陽。 甲戌,都頭張鍇、郭昢帥行營兵攻東陽門,入府,殺季康。 辛巳,以陝虢觀察使高潯為昭義節度使; 以邠寧節度使李侃為河東節度使。。 三月,天平軍節度使張裼薨,牙將崔君裕自知州事,淄州刺史曹全晸討誅之。。 夏,四月,庚申朔,日有食之。。 西川節度使崔安潛到官不詰盜,蜀人怪之。 安潛曰:「盜非所由通容則不能為。 今窮核則應坐者眾,搜捕則徒為煩擾。」 甲子,出庫錢千五百緡,分置三市,置榜其上曰:「有能告捕一盜,賞錢五百緡。 盜不能獨為,必有侶。 侶者告捕,釋其罪,賞同平人。」 未幾,有捕盜而至者,盜不服,曰:「汝與我同為盜十七年,贓皆平分,汝安能捕我! 我與汝同死耳。」 安潛曰:「汝既知吾有榜,何不捕彼以來! 則彼應死,汝受賞矣。 汝既為所失,死復何辭!」 立命給捕者錢,使盜視之,然後□盜於市,並滅其家。 於是諸盜與其侶互相疑,無地容足,夜不及旦,散逃出境,境內遂無一人為盜。 安潛以蜀兵怯弱,奏遣大將繼牒詣陳、許諸州募壯士,與蜀人相雜,訓練用之,得三千人,分為三軍,亦戴黃帽,號黃頭軍。 又奏乞洪州弩手,教蜀人用弩走丸而射之,選得千人,號神機弩營。 蜀兵由是浸強。。 涼王侹薨。。 上以群盜為憂,王鐸曰:「臣為宰相之長,在朝不足分陛下之憂,請自督諸將討之。」 乃以鐸守司徒兼侍中,充荊南節度使、南面行營招討都統。。 五月,辛卯,敕賜河東軍士銀。 牙將賀公雅所部士卒作亂,焚掠三城,執孔目官王敬送馬步司。 節度使李侃與監軍自由慰諭,為之斬敬於牙門,乃定。。 泰寧節度使李系,晟之曾孫也,有口才而實無勇略,王鐸以其家世良將,奏為行營副將統兼湖南觀察使,使將精兵五萬並土團屯潭州,以塞嶺北之路,拒黃巢。。 河東都虞候每夜密捕賀公雅部卒作亂者,族滅之。 丁巳,餘黨近百人稱「報冤將」,大掠三城,焚馬步都虞候張鍇、府城都虞候郭昢家。 節度使李侃下令,以軍府不安,曲順軍情,收鍇、昢,斬於牙門,並逐其家; 以賀公雅為馬步都虞候。 鍇、昢臨刑,泣言於眾曰:「所殺皆捕盜司密申,今日冤死,獨無烈士相救乎!」 於是軍士復大噪,篡取鍇、昢歸都虞候司。 尋下令,復其舊職,並召還其家。 收捕盜司元義宗等三十餘家,誅滅之。 己未,以馬步都教練使朱玫等為三城斬斫使,將兵分捕報冤將,悉斬之,軍城始定。。 黃巢與浙東觀察使崔璆、嶺南東道節度使李迢書,求天平節度使,二人為之奏聞,朝廷不許。 巢復上表求廣州節度使,上命大臣議之。 左僕射于琮以為:「廣州市舶寶貨所聚,豈可令賊得之!」 亦不許,乃議別除官。 六月,宰相請除巢率府率,從之。。 河東節度使李侃以軍府數有亂,稱疾,請尋醫。 敕以代州刺史康傳圭為河東行軍司馬,征侃詣京師。 秋,八月,甲子,侃發晉陽。 尋以東都留守節蔚同平章事,充河東節度使。。 鎮海節度使高駢奏:「請以權舒州刺史郎幼復充留後,守浙西,遣都知兵馬使張璘將兵五千於郴州守險,兵馬留後王重任將兵八千於循、潮二州邀遮,臣將萬人自大庾嶺趣廣州,擊黃。 巢聞臣往,必當遁逃,乞敕王鐸以所部兵三萬於梧、昭、桂、永四州守險。」 詔不許。。 九月,黃巢得率府率告身,大怒,詬執政,急攻廣州,即日陷之,執節度使李迢,轉掠嶺南州縣。 巢使迢草表述其所懷,迢曰:「予代受國恩,親戚滿朝,腕可斷,表不可草。」 巢殺之。。 冬,十月,以鎮海節度使高駢為淮南節度使,充鹽鐵轉運使,以涇原節度使周寶為鎮海節度使,以山南東道行軍司馬劉臣容為節度使。 寶,平州人也。。 黃巢在嶺南,士卒罹瘴疫死者什三四,其徒勸之北還以圖大事,巢從之。 自桂州編大筏靈數千,乘暴水,沿湘江而下,歷衡、永州,癸未,抵潭州城下。 李系嬰城不敢出戰,巢急攻,一日,陷之,系奔朗州。 巢盡殺戍兵,流屍蔽江而下。 尚讓乘勝進逼江陵,眾號五十萬。 時諸道兵未集,江陵兵不滿萬人,王鐸留其將劉漢宏守江陵,自帥眾趣襄陽,雲欲會劉巨容之師。 鐸既去,漢寵大掠江陵,焚蕩殆盡,士民逃竄山谷。 會大雪,殭屍滿野。 後旬餘,賊乃至。 漢宏,兗州人也,帥其眾北歸為群盜。。 閏月,丁亥朔,河東節度使李蔚有疾,以供軍副使李邵權觀察留後,監軍李奉皋權兵馬留後。 己丑,蔚薨。 都虞侯張鍇、郭昢署狀納邵,以少尹丁球知觀察留後。。 十一月,戊午,以定州已來制置使萬年王處存為義武節度使、河東行軍司馬,雁門關已來制置使康傳圭為河東節度使。。 黃巢北趣襄陽,劉巨容與江西招討使淄州刺史曹全晸合兵,屯荊門以拒之。 賊至,巨容伏兵林中,全晸以輕騎逆戰,陽不勝而走。 賊追之,伏發,大破賊眾,乘勝逐北。 比至江陵,俘斬其什七八。 巢與尚讓收餘眾渡江東走。 或勸巨容窮追,賊可盡也。 巨容曰:「國家喜負人,有急則撫存將士,不愛官賞,事寧則棄之,或更得罪。 不若留賊以為富貴之資。」 眾乃止。 全晸度江追賊,會朝廷以泰寧都將段彥謨代為招討使,全晸亦止。 由是賊勢復振,攻鄂州,陷其外郭,轉掠饒、信、池、宣、歙、杭等十五州,眾至二十萬。。 康傳圭自代州赴晉陽,庚辰,至烏城驛。 張鍇、郭昢出迎,亂刀斫殺之,至府,又族其家。。 十二月,以王鐸為太子賓客、分司。。 初,兵部尚書盧攜嘗薦高駢可為都統,至是,駢將張璘等屢破黃巢,乃復以攜為門下侍郎、平章事,凡關東節度使,王鐸、鄭畋所除者,多易置之。。 是歲,桂陽賊陳彥廉陷郴州,殺刺史董岳。。 僖宗聖恭定孝皇帝上之下廣明元年(庚子,公元八八零年)。 春,正月,乙卯朔,改元。。 沙陀入雁門關,寇忻、代。 二月,庚戌,沙陀二萬餘人逼晉陽,辛亥,陷太谷。 遣汝州防禦使博昌諸葛爽帥東都防禦兵救河東。。 河東節度使康傳圭,專事威刑,多復仇怨,強取富人財。 遣前遮虜軍使蘇弘軫擊沙陀於太谷,至秦城,遇沙陀,戰不利而還,傳圭怒,斬弘軫。 時沙陀已還代北。 傳圭遣都教練使張彥球將兵三千追之。 壬戌,至百井,軍變,還趣晉陽。 傳圭閉城拒之,亂兵自西明門入,殺傳圭。 監軍周從寓自出慰諭,乃定,以彥球為府城都虞候。 朝廷聞之,遣使宣尉曰:「所殺節度使,事出一時,各宜自安,勿復憂懼。」。 左拾遺侯昌業以盜賊滿關東,而上不親政事,專務遊戲,賞賜無度,田令孜專權無上,天文變異,社稷將危,上疏極諫。 上大怒,召昌業至內侍省,賜死。。 上好騎射、劍槊、法算,至於音律、蒱博,無不精妙; 好蹴鞠、鬥雞,與諸王賭鵝,鵝一頭至直五十緡。 尤善擊球,嘗謂優人石野獵曰:朕若應擊球進士舉,須為狀元。 對曰:「若遇堯、舜作禮部侍郎,恐陛下不免駁放。」 上笑而已。 度支以用度不足,奏借富戶及胡商貨財。 敕借其半。 鹽鐵轉運使高駢上言:「天下盜賊蜂起,皆出於饑寒,獨富戶、胡商未耳。」 乃止。 高駢奏改楊子院為發運使。。 三月,庚午,以左金吾大將軍陳敬瑄為西川節度使。 敬瑄,許州人,田令孜之兄也。 初,崔安潛鎮許昌,令孜為敬瑄求兵馬使,安潛不許。 敬瑄因令孜得錄左神策軍,數歲,累遷至大將軍。 令孜見關東群盜日熾,陰為幸蜀之計,奏以敬瑄及其腹心左神策大將軍楊師立、牛勖、羅元杲鎮三川,上令四人擊球賭三川,敬瑄得第一籌,即以為西川節度使,代安潛。。 辛未,以門侍郎、同平章事鄭從讜同平章事,充河東節度使。 康傳圭既死,河東兵益驕,故以宰相鎮之,使自擇參佐。 從讜奏以長安令王調為節度副使,前後部員外郎、史館修撰劉崇龜為節度判官,前司勳員外郎、史館修撰趙崇為觀察判官,前進士劉崇魯為推官。 時人謂之小朝廷,言名士之多也。 崇龜、崇魯,政會之七世孫也。 時承晉陽新亂之後,日有殺掠,從讜貌溫而氣勁,多謀而善斷,將士欲為惡者,從讜輒先覺,誅之,奸猾惕息。 為善者撫待無疑,知張彥球有方略,百井之變,非本心,獨推首亂者殺之,召彥球慰諭,悉以兵柄委之,軍中由是遂安。 彥球為從讜盡死力,卒獲其用。。 淮南節度使高駢遣其將張璘等擊黃巢屢捷,盧攜奏以駢為諸道行營兵馬都統。 駢乃傳檄征天下兵,且廣召募,得土客之兵共七萬,威望大振,朝廷深倚之。。 安南軍亂,節度使曾袞出城避之,諸道兵戍邕管者往往自歸。。 夏,四月,丁酉,以太僕卿李琢為蔚、朔等州招討都統、行營節度使。 琢,聽之子也。。 張璘渡江擊賊帥王重霸,降之。 屢破黃巢軍,巢退保饒州,別將常宏以其眾數萬降。 璘攻饒州,克之,巢走。 時江、淮諸軍屢奏破賊,率皆不實,宰相已下表賀,朝廷差以自安。。 以李琢為蔚朔節度使,仍充都統。。 以楊師立為東川節度使,牛勖為山南西道節度使。。 以諸葛爽為北面行營副招討。。 初,劉巨容既還襄陽,荊南監軍楊復光以忠武都將宋浩權知府事,泰寧都將段彥謨以兵守其城。 詔以浩為荊南安撫使,彥謨恥居其下。 浩禁軍士翦伐街中槐柳,彥謨部卒犯令,浩杖其背。 彥謨怒,扶刃馳入,並其二子殺之。 復光奏浩殘酷,為眾所誅。 詔以彥謨為朗州刺史,以工部侍郎鄭紹業為荊南節度使。。 五月,丁巳,以汝州防禦使諸葛爽為振武節度使。 劉漢宏之黨浸盛,侵掠宋、兗。 甲子,征東方諸道兵討之。。 黃巢屯信州,遇疾疫,卒徒多死。 張璘急擊之,巢以金啖璘,且致書請降於高駢,求駢保奏。 駢欲誘致之,許為之求節鉞。 時昭義、感化、義武等軍皆至淮南,駢恐分其功,乃奏賊不日當平,不煩諸道兵,請悉遣歸。 朝廷許之。 賊詗知諸道兵已北渡淮,乃告絕於駢,且請戰。 駢怒,令璘擊之,兵敗,璘死,巢勢復振。。 乙亥,以樞密使西門思恭鳳翔監軍。 丙子,以宣徽使李順融為樞密使。 皆降白麻,於閤門出案,與將相同。。 西川節度使陳敬瑄素微賤,報至蜀,蜀人皆驚,莫知為誰。 有青城妖人乘其聲勢,帥其黨詐稱陳僕射,止逆旅,呼巡虞候索白馬甚急。 馬步使瞿大夫覺其妄,執之,沃以狗血,即引服,悉誅之。 六月,庚寅,敬瑄至成都。。 黃巢別將陷睦州、婺州。。 盧攜病風不能行,謁告。 己亥,始入對,敕勿拜,遣二黃門掖之。 攜內挾田令孜,外倚高駢,上寵遇甚厚,由是專制朝政,高下在心。 既病,精神不完,事之可否決於親吏楊溫、李修,貨賂公行。 豆盧瑑無他材,專附會攜。 崔沆時有啟陳,常為所沮。。 庚子,李琢奏沙陀二千來降。 琢時將兵萬人屯代州,與盧龍節度使李可舉、吐谷渾都督赫連鐸共討沙陀。 李克用遣大將高文集守朔州,自將其眾拒可舉於雄武軍。 鐸遣人說文集歸國,文集執克用將傅文達,與沙陀酋長李友金、薩葛都督米海萬、安慶都督史敬存皆降於琢,開門迎官軍。 友金,克用之族父也。。 庚戌,黃巢攻宣州,陷之。。 劉漢宏南掠申、光。。 趙宗政之還南詔也,西川節度使崔安潛表以崔澹之說為是,且曰:「南詔小蠻,本雲南一郡之地。 今遣使與和,彼謂中國為怯,復求尚主,何以拒之!」 上命宰相議之。 盧攜、豆盧琢上言:「大中之末,府庫充實。 自咸通以來,蠻兩陷安南、邕管,一入黔中,四犯西川,徵兵運糧,天下疲弊,逾十五年,租賦太半不入京師,三使、內庫由茲虛竭。 戰士死於瘴癘,百姓困為盜賊,致中原榛杞,皆蠻故也。 前歲冬,蠻不為寇,由趙宗政未歸。 去歲冬,蠻不為寇,由徐雲虔覆命,蠻尚有冀望。 今安南子城為叛卒所據,節度使攻之未下,自餘戍卒,多已自歸,邕管客軍,又減其半。 冬期且至,倘蠻寇侵軼,何以枝梧! 不若且遣使臣報復,縱未得其稱臣奉貢,且不使之懷怨益深,堅決犯邊,則可矣。」 乃作詔賜陳敬瑄,許其和親,不稱臣,令敬瑄錄詔白,並移書與之,仍增賜金帛。 以嗣曹王龜年為宗正少卿充使,以徐去虔為副使,別遣內使,共繼詣南詔。 秋,七月,黃巢自採石渡江,圍天長、六合,兵勢甚盛。 淮南將畢師鐸言於高駢曰:「朝廷倚公為安危,今賊數十萬眾乘勝長驅,若涉無人之境,不據險要之地以擊之,使逾長淮,不可復製,必為中原大患。」 駢以諸道兵已散,張璘復死,自度力不能制,畏怯不敢出兵,但命諸將嚴備,自保而已,且上表告急,稱:「賊六十餘萬屯天長,去臣城無五十里。」 先是,盧攜謂「駢有文武長才,若悉委以兵柄,黃巢不足平。」 朝野雖有謂駢不足恃者,然猶庶幾望之。 乃駢表至,上下失望,人情大駭。 詔書責駢散遣諸道兵,致賊乘無備渡江。 駢上表言:「臣奏聞遣歸,亦非自專。 今臣竭力保衛一方,必能濟辦。 但恐賊迤邐過淮,宜急敕東道將士善為御備。」 遂稱風痺,不復出戰。。 詔河南諸道發兵屯殷水,泰寧節度使齊克讓屯汝州,以備黃巢。。 辛酉,以淄州刺史曹全晸為天平節度使、兼東面副都統。。 劉漢宏請降。 戊辰,以為宿州刺史。。 李克用自雄武軍引兵還,擊高文集於朔州,李可舉遣行軍司馬韓玄紹邀之於藥兒嶺,大破之,殺七千餘人,李盡忠、程懷信皆死; 又敗之於雄武軍之境,殺萬人。 李琢、赫連鐸進攻蔚州,李國昌戰敗,部眾皆潰,獨與克用及宗族北入達靼。 詔以鐸為雲州刺史、大同軍防禦使,吐谷渾白義成為蔚州刺史,薩葛米海萬為朔州刺史,加李可舉兼侍中。 達靼本靺羯之別部也,居於陰山。 後數月,赫連鐸陰賂達靼,使取李國昌父子,李克用知之。 時與其豪帥遊獵,置馬鞭、木葉或懸針,射之無不中,豪帥心服。 又置酒與飲,酒酣,克用言曰:「吾得罪天子,願效忠而不得。 今聞黃巢北來,必為中原患,一旦天子若赦吾罪,得與公輩南向共立大功,不亦快乎! 人生幾何,誰能老死沙磧邪!」 達靼知無留意,乃止。。 八月,甲午,以前西川節度使崔安潛為太子賓客、分司。。 九月,東都奏:「汝州所募軍李光庭等五百人自代州還,過東都,燒安喜門,焚掠市肆,由長夏門去。」。 黃巢眾號十五萬,曹全晸以其眾六千與之戰,頗有殺獲。 以眾寡不敵,退屯泗上,以俟諸軍至,並力擊之。 而高駢竟不之救,賊遂擊全晸,破之。。 徐州遣兵三千赴殷水,過許昌。 徐卒素名凶悖,節度使薛能,自謂前鎮彭城,有恩信於徐人,館之球場。 及暮,徐卒大噪,能登子城樓問之,對以供備疏闕,慰勞久之,方定。 許人大懼。 時忠武亦遣大將周岌詣殷水,行未遠,聞之,夜,引兵還,比明,入城,襲擊徐卒,盡殺之。 且怨能之厚徐卒也,遂逐之。 能將奔襄陽,亂兵追殺之,並其家。 岌自稱留後。 汝、鄭把截制置使齊克讓恐為岌所襲,引兵還兗州,於是,諸道屯殷水者皆散。 黃巢遂悉眾渡淮,所過不虜掠,惟取丁壯以益兵。。 先是征振武節度使吳師泰為左金吾大將軍,以諸葛爽代之。 師泰見朝廷多故,使軍民上表留己。 冬,十月,復以師泰為振武節度使,以爽為夏綏節度使。。 黃巢陷申州,遂入穎、宋、徐、兗之境,所至吏民逃潰。。 群盜陷澧州,殺刺史李詢、判官皇甫鎮。 鎮舉進士二十三上,不中第,詢辟之。 賊至,城陷,鎮走,問人曰:「使君免乎?」 曰:「賊執之矣。」 鎮曰:「吾受知若此,去將何之!」 遂還詣賊,竟與同死。。
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 253 [Tang Records 69] From Qiangyu Zuoe through Shangzhang Kundun, tenth month—a little over three years in all Emperor Xizong the Sagely, Respectful, Settled, and Filial—lower portion of the Upper Annals—Qianfu year 4 (dingyou, 877 CE) In spring, the first month, Wang Ying lured Shi into his boat, seized him, and the officers and soldiers who had followed Shi all broke and fled On hearing this, the court appointed Right Dragon Martial Grand General Song Hao pacification commissioner for the Jiangnan circuits. Besides troops already levied from the circuits, it sent further forces from Zhongwu, Xuanwu, and Ganhua and from Xu and Si prefectures—more than fifteen thousand men in all, old and new combined—all under Hao's command In the second month, Ying captured Wanghai garrison, plundered Mingzhou, then attacked Taizhou and took it; Prefect Wang Bao withdrew to hold Tangguang An edict ordered the Two Zhes and Fujian each to dispatch fleets against him Wang Xianzhi captured Ezhou Huang Chao captured Yanzhou and killed military governor Xue Chong Since Nanzhao's Chief Long Sili had come to the throne, he had been a border scourge for nearly twenty years; China was drained fighting him, and his own kingdom was worn out as well Chief Long died and was given the posthumous title Emperor Jingzhuang; his son Fa succeeded him, changed the era name to Zhenming Chengzhi Datong, took the state name Hezhe, and was also styled the Great Feng people Fa loved hunting and carousing and left state affairs to his senior ministers “In the intercalary month, Lingnan West Circuit military governor Xin Dan reported that Nanzhao had sent Tuo Xi Duan Chibao and others to sue for peace, adding that troops from the circuits had garrisoned Yongzhou for years at ruinous cost to the empire and begging that peace be granted so the realm might catch its breath” The court approved Dan sent Generals Du Hong and others with further letters and gifts and escorted Chibao back to Nanzhao, but kept only a few Jingnan and Xuanshe units to garrison Yongzhou and cut the other circuit garrisons by seven-tenths Wang Ying rampaged across western Zhejiang. Zhenhai military governor Pei Yu held his forces in readiness without giving battle, secretly won over Ying's follower Zhu Shi, dispersed six or seven thousand of Ying's men, and turned in more than two hundred thousand weapons, with boats, grain, and cloth to match An edict made Shi a Golden Guard general Ying's followers then scattered Ying rallied his remnants and went east to Mingzhou, where Yongqiao garrison commander Liu Jurong killed him with a bolt from a tube-bow; the rest of his band was wiped out Yu was a great-great-grandson of Xu Yan, by a collateral line of descent In the third month, Huang Chao captured Yizhou In summer, the fourth month, on the renshen new moon, the sun was eclipsed The bandit chief Liu Yanzhang plundered Jiangxi The Shaanzhou garrison mutinied and drove out observation commissioner Cui Jie; Jie was demoted to prefectural aide at Beizhou Huang Chao and Shang Rang united their forces and held Chaya Mountain In the fifth month, on jiazi, supervising secretary Yang Sun was appointed Shaan-Guo observation commissioner When Sun took office, he executed the ringleaders of the mutiny Sun was a son of Yang Sifu Earlier, Guiguan observation commissioner Li Zan had misgoverned; staff supervisor Xue Jianshi had repeatedly tried to correct him, but Zan would not listen When Zan was driven out, Jianshi took charge of affairs, notified neighboring circuits, and checked the mutinous troops, and the region was pacified An edict promoted Jianshi to Erudite of the National University In the sixth month, Liu Yanzhang raided and took Jiangzhou, seized prefect Tao Xiang, made Xiang submit a memorial to the throne, and Yanzhang himself sent in a surrender petition as well An edict made Yanzhang Right Gate Guard general and ordered him to disband his men and come to the capital Left Martial Guard general Liu Bingren was appointed prefect of Jiangzhou Yanzhang refused. With more than a hundred warships he fortified a camp on the Xun River and went on plundering as before Zhongwu commandery general Li Kefeng returned from frontier garrison duty. At Binzhou he coerced the commander, demanded back pay in grain and salt, and stayed four months, throwing the whole circuit into alarm In autumn, the seventh month, when they reached Xuzhou, military governor Cui Anqian had them all investigated and executed On gengshen, Wang Xianzhi and Huang Chao attacked Songzhou. Troops from three circuits fought them without success, and the rebels then besieged Song Wei in Songzhou On jiayin, Right Martial Guard senior general Zhang Zimian led seven thousand Zhongwu troops to relieve Songzhou, killed more than two thousand rebels, and the rebels broke the siege and fled Wang Duo and Lu Xie wanted Zhang Zimian's troops placed under Song Wei's command. Zheng Tian argued that Wei and Zimian already distrusted each other and that Zimian would be killed if placed under Wei; he refused to countersign the memorial In the eighth month, on xinwei, Duo and Xie appealed to the throne and asked to be dismissed; on gengchen, Tian asked to retire to Chanchuan to recover his health; the emperor refused all of them Wang Xianzhi captured Anzhou The Yanzhou garrison mutinied and drove out prefect Wang Chengyan. An edict sent high-ranking official Niu Conggui to reassure the troops and demoted Chengyan to registrar of Xiangzhou Chengyan and Cui Jie had long been known for good government, yet the court demoted them along with corrupt officials who had caused mutinies—because their severity had provoked unruly troops—and contemporaries deplored it When Conggui returned from Yanzhou, the troops asked that senior general Wang Zongcheng be made prefect An edict summoned Zongcheng to court, pardoned the officers and soldiers, and continued their generous allowances On yimao, Wang Xianzhi captured Suizhou and seized prefect Cui Xiuzheng Shannan East Circuit military governor Li Fu sent his son with troops to relieve Suizhou; the son was killed in battle Fu asked for reinforcements. Left Martial Guard grand general Li Changyan was sent with five hundred Fengxiang horsemen, but Xianzhi turned aside to plunder Fu and Ying prefectures Zhongwu general Zhang Guan and four thousand men, together with Xuanwu troops sent to aid Xiangzhou, slipped back through the byways of Shen and Cai An edict ordered Zhongwu military governor Cui Anqian and Xuanwu military governor Mu Renyu to send envoys and bring them back In winter, the tenth month, Binning military governor Li Kan reported that he had sent troops against Wang Zongcheng, beheaded him, and wiped out the rest of his followers “Zheng Tian debated troop deployment with Wang Duo and Lu Xie before the emperor and lost. He withdrew and submitted another memorial arguing that since Wang Xianzhi had first risen in revolt, Cui Anqian had been first to call for a joint campaign, had sent troops repeatedly, and had exhausted his supplies The rebels ranged a thousand li and ravaged prefecture after prefecture, yet never dared enter his circuit He had also sent his own troops to reinforce Zhang Zimian, lifted the siege of Songzhou, and kept Jiang-Huai grain transport flowing so nothing fell into rebel hands Now every one of the seven thousand men Zhang Zimian had led is given to Zhang Guan and placed under Song Wei Zimian came back to Xuzhou alone, while Wei filed fresh charges against him To be rewarded with insult after real service—this pains me deeply Anqian had campaigned again and again with repeated victories; now his best troops are given away and his best generals sent home empty-handed—if a strong enemy strikes suddenly, how will he resist? I ask that four thousand Zhongwu troops be assigned to Wei and the remaining three thousand left with Zimian to guard his circuit—so Wei's credit is untouched and Anqian is spared disgrace" Lu Xie disagreed, and the emperor could not decide Tian submitted again: "Song Wei has deceived the court; his defeats are a shambles I also hear that Wang Xianzhi sent seven petitions offering to surrender, and Wei never reported them Court and country alike demand that he face military justice With a record like this he should not command troops again. I beg that you consult the inner ministers and dismiss him at once" The emperor did not agree The Hezhong garrison mutinied, drove out military governor Liu You, and burned and plundered at will Capital magistrate Dou Yu was appointed Hezhong pacification and disposition commissioner Huang Chao raided Qi and Huang prefectures. Zeng Yuanyu defeated him and took more than four thousand heads Chao fled In the eleventh month, on jiyou, Dou Yu was appointed Hezhong military governor Pacification vice-commissioner and overall supervisor Yang Fuguang sent envoys to win over Wang Xianzhi. Xianzhi sent Shang Junzhang and others to offer surrender to Fuguang, but Song Wei sent troops to intercept Junzhang and his party on the road In the twelfth month, Wei reported that he had fought Junzhang and his party southwest of Yingzhou and presented them as live captives; Fuguang countered that Junzhang and the others had actually surrendered and were not Wei's prisoners The court ordered attending censor Gui Renshao and others to investigate, but the truth could not be established Junzhang and his companions were executed at Gouji Ridge Huang Chao took Kuangcheng and then captured Puzhou An edict ordered Yingzhou prefect Zhang Zimian to lead allied troops against him Jiangzhou prefect Liu Bingren traveled by post relay to take office and sailed alone into Liu Yanzhang's river stronghold Taken by surprise, the rebels came out to greet him; Bingren beheaded Yanzhang and dispersed his men Wang Xianzhi raided Jingnan Military governor Yang Zhiwen, elder brother of Yang Zhiwei, had risen through letters and knew nothing of war. When told the rebels were coming, he dismissed it as rumor and made no preparations The Han River was then shallow and narrow, and the rebels crossed at Jia Dam Emperor Xizong the Sagely, Respectful, Settled, and Filial—lower portion of the Upper Annals—Qianfu year 5 (wuxu, 878 CE) In spring, the first month, on the dingyou new moon, heavy snow fell. Zhiwen was still receiving New Year congratulations when the rebels were already at the walls and took the outer city His officers rallied to hold the inner citadel, but by evening Zhiwen still had not shown himself They begged him to come out and rally the men. He appeared in gauze cap and black fur robe; they asked him to don armor against stray arrows. Seeing the men fighting, he still composed poetry for his staff, sent an urgent appeal to Shannan East military governor Li Fu, and Fu marched in person with his entire force to relieve the city Five hundred Shatuo horsemen were then at Xiangyang. Fu brought them to Jingmen, met the rebels, and the Shatuo cavalry charged and broke them Xianzhi heard this, burned and plundered Jiangling, and withdrew Jiangling had once held three hundred thousand households below the walls; now three or four in ten were dead On renyin, pacification vice-commissioner Zeng Yuanyu routed Wang Xianzhi east of Shenzhou, killing ten thousand rebels and accepting the surrender and dispersal of another ten thousand An edict relieved the long-ill Song Wei of his pacification command and sent him back to Qingzhou Zeng Yuanyu was made pacification commissioner and Yingzhou prefect Zhang Zimian his deputy On gengxu, Xichuan military governor Gao Pian was appointed Jingnan military governor and concurrent salt and iron transport commissioner Zhenwu military governor Li Guochang's son Li Keyong was Shatuo deputy military commissioner, garrisoned at Weizhou Rebels were rising across Henan. Yunzhou Shatuo military commissioner Li Jinzhong and commandery generals Kang Junli, Xue Zhiqin, Cheng Huaixin, Li Cunzhang, and others plotted together, saying, "The empire is in chaos and the court's orders no longer reach the provinces. This is the season for heroes to win fame, fortune, and rank We each command troops, but Li the Zhenwu merit-holder has great deeds and high rank, his name is known throughout the realm, and his son's courage tops every army If we back him in rebellion, the north of Dai will be ours for the taking" All agreed Junli was from Xingtang; Cunzhang was from Yunzhou; Zhiqin was from Fengcheng Datong defense commissioner Duan Wenchu also served as land and water transport commissioner. North of Dai suffered repeated famine, and grain shipments could not keep up Wenchu cut the soldiers' clothing and grain rations and enforced the law harshly, and the troops seethed with resentment Jinzhong sent Junli secretly to Weizhou to urge Keyong to rise, remove Wenchu, and take his place Keyong said, "My father is at Zhenwu. I must consult him first" Junli replied, "The plot is already out. Delay will bring disaster—there is no time to send word a thousand li away!" That night Jinzhong led the commandery troops against headquarters, seized Wenchu and administrative aide Liu Hanzhang and others and threw them in prison, took charge of the garrison and prefecture himself, and sent for Keyong Keyong marched on Yunzhou, gathering troops along the way. In the second month, on gengwu, he reached the walls with nearly ten thousand men and encamped below Cockfight Terrace On renshen, Jinzhong sent the seals of office and asked Keyong to become acting defense commissioner On guiyou, Jinzhong sent Wenchu and four others in bonds to Cockfight Terrace. Keyong had the soldiers tear them apart and trample their remains under horses' hooves On jiaxu, Keyong entered the yamen to govern and had his officers petition for an imperial commission; the court refused Li Guochang wrote, "I beg the court to appoint a Datong defense commissioner at once If Keyong disobeys, I will lead this circuit's troops against him. I will not spare even my own son to betray the state" The court had meant to have Guochang reason with Keyong. On receiving this memorial, it appointed minister of finance Zhi Xiang Datong pacification commissioner, ordered Guochang to speak with Keyong, receive him with normal ceremony, grant him office, and satisfy his demands It also appointed grand stable master Lu Jianfang Datong defense commissioner Yang Zhiwen was demoted to prefectural aide at Chenzhou Zeng Yuanyu reported a great victory over Wang Xianzhi at Huangmei, killing more than fifty thousand rebels, pursuing and beheading Xianzhi and sending his head, after which the remnant bands scattered Huang Chao was still besieging Bozhou when Shang Rang brought Xianzhi's remnant forces to him. They made Chao king under the title Great General Who Charges Heaven, proclaimed the era Wangba, and appointed a full staff of officials Chao raided and captured Yizhou and Puzhou After repeated defeats by government troops, he wrote Tianping military governor Zhang Ti asking that his offer be reported to the throne An edict made Chao Right Guard general and ordered him to Yanzhou to disarm Chao never came Shannan East military governor Li Fu was made co-director of the Secretariat in reward for saving Jingnan In the third month, rebel bands took Langzhou and Yuezhou Pacification commissioner Zeng Yuanyu held Jing and Xiang while Huang Chao marched from Puzhou to plunder Song and Bian. Vice-commissioner Zhang Zimian was then made southeast campaign pacification commissioner Huang Chao attacked Weinan, then Ye and Yangdi An edict sent a thousand Heyang troops to the Eastern Capital, together with two thousand from Xuanwu and Zhaoyi, to guard the palace Left Divine Martial grand general Liu Jingren was made Eastern Capital relief commissioner, given command of the three circuits' troops, and allowed to recruit two thousand men in the capital Jingren was a grandson of Liu Chang Another edict ordered Zeng Yuanyu to march straight back to the Eastern Capital and sent three thousand Yicheng troops to hold Huan-Yuan, Yique, Heyin, and Wulao Wang Xianzhi's remnant Wang Chongyin took Hongzhou; Jiangxi observation commissioner Gao Xiang fled to Hukou The rebels turned to plunder Hunan while another commander, Cao Shixiong, ravaged Xuan and Run An edict ordered Zeng Yuanyu and Yang Fuguang to march to the relief of Xuan and Run The Hunan garrison mutinied; commandery general Gao Jie drove out observation commissioner Cui Jin Jin was a son of Cui Yan Huang Chao crossed the Yangzi and took Qian, Ji, Rao, Xin, and other prefectures With Li Keyong holding Yunzhong, in summer, the fourth month, the court made former Datong defense commissioner Lu Jianfang Zhenwu military governor and Zhenwu military governor Li Guochang Datong military governor, expecting Keyong could not refuse Because Eastern Capital military stores were low, an edict borrowed money and grain from merchants and the wealthy for several months' expenses and offered blank commissions as attending palace censor (five) and investigating censor (ten) to those who contributed generously from private wealth Years of drought and locusts, rebels everywhere, farming half abandoned, taxes falling short, and the inner treasury empty left the court with nowhere to turn for funds Minister of war and acting treasury director Yang Yan submitted three memorials confessing his inadequacy, begging to be relieved of fiscal duties, in language of desperate humility The court refused Cao Shixiong raided Huzhou; Zhenhai military governor Pei Yu sent troops and defeated him Wang Chongyin died; his general Xu Tangju held Hongzhou Rao prefecture general Peng Youzhang joined local militia and recovered Raozhou Nanzhao sent chief minister Zhao Zongzheng to request a marriage alliance without a formal memorial, only a clerk's notice to the Secretariat asking to be treated as younger brother rather than subject “The court ordered deliberation. Vice minister of rites Cui Tan and others argued that Nanzhao was arrogant and insolent, that Gao Pian had lost sight of larger interests by letting a monk's wheedling bring the envoy, and that yielding would make the dynasty a laughingstock for generations” Gao Pian heard and memorialized in rebuttal; an edict soothed the dispute Tan was a son of Cui Yu In the fifth month, on the bingshen new moon, Zheng Tian and Lu Xie debated the Nanzhao question. Xie favored a marriage alliance; Tian argued fiercely against it Xie flew into a rage, swept his robe aside and stood; his sleeve snagged the inkstone, which fell and shattered on the floor When the emperor heard of it, he said, "Grand councillors hurling abuse at each other—how can this stand as an example for the empire? On dingyou, Tian and Xie were both removed from office and appointed Crown Prince's advisers with separate commissions Dou Lu Zhuan, Hanlin academician-in-attendance and vice minister of revenue, was appointed vice minister of war; Cui Hang, vice minister of personnel, was appointed vice minister of revenue; both became grand councillors One grand councillor at the time was fond of charity. He kept men carrying cloth sacks of cash wherever he went, handing coins to beggars; each time he went out, the ragged poor lined the streets A court official wrote to remonstrate with him: "The people are exhausted and bandits roam everywhere. Your Excellency should promote the worthy, employ the capable, restore order to public affairs, cut needless spending, and close the door to private favor-seeking. Let every man find his place, and households will prosper—there will be no poor. Why dispense petty handouts like this? The grand councillor was furious Du Hong, a senior officer of Yongzhou, escorted Duan Chen's tribute mission to Nanzhao and returned after more than a year On jiachen, Xin Dang again dispatched acting inspector Jia Hong and generals Zuo Yu and Cao Lang as envoys to Nanzhao Li Guochang wanted father and son to hold two circuits between them. When he received the Datong appointment, he tore up the order, killed the army supervisor, and refused to be replaced. He joined Li Keyong, seized Zhelu Army, and advanced against Ningwu and Kelan Lu Jianfang set out for Zhenwu and died en route at Lanzhou On dingsi, Hedong military governor Dou Huan conscripted civilians to dig trenches around Jinyang On jiwei, chief commandant Kang Chuangu was appointed prefect of Daizhou, and another thousand local militiamen were sent to garrison the prefecture When the militia reached the north gate, they formed ranks but refused to march, demanding extra pay The treasury was empty. Huan sent infantry and cavalry chief adjutant Deng Qian to reason with them, but the militia killed Qian and carried his body into the prefectural office on a litter Huan and the army supervisor went out in person to calm them, giving each man three hundred cash and one bolt of cloth; the crowd then settled Adjutant Tian Gong'e paid the mutineers money and cloth, but they seized him and made him their commander, then marched on Daizhou. Huan borrowed fifty thousand strings of cash from merchants to fund the army The court judged Huan incompetent. In the sixth month, former Zhaoyi military governor Cao Xiang was appointed Hedong military governor Remnants of Wang Xianzhi's rebels plundered western Zhejiang. Because Gao Pian had won fame at Tianping and many of Xianzhi's followers were men of Yan, the court transferred Pian to be Zhenhai military governor The Shatuo burned Tanglin and Guo counties and crossed into Xinzhou territory In autumn, the seventh month, Cao Xiang arrived at Jinyang On jihai, thirteen militiamen who had killed Deng Qian were captured and executed When Yiwu troops reached Jinyang, they kept their armor on and clamored for extra pay. Xiang beheaded one of their ten commanders, and order was restored Troops from Yicheng, Zhongwu, Zhaoyi, and Heyang were assembled at Jinyang to resist the Shatuo In the eighth month, on wuyin, Cao Xiang led troops to relieve Xinzhou The Shatuo attacked Kelan Army, breached its outer wall, and routed the government forces at Honggu. Jinyang shut its gates and held the city Huang Chao raided Xuanzhou. Xuanshe observation commissioner Wang Ning resisted but was defeated at Nanling Chao failed to take Xuanzhou, then marched into eastern Zhejiang, cut a mountain road seven hundred li long, and raided the prefectures of Fujian In the ninth month, the Pinglu army reported that military governor Song Wei had died On xinchou, Zeng Yuanyu, pacification commissioner of all circuits, was appointed military governor of Pinglu On renyin, Cao Xiang died suddenly On bingwu, Zhaoyi troops looted Jinyang on a large scale. Townspeople banded together to attack them, killed more than a thousand, and the raiders broke and fled Li Wei, vice director of the Secretariat and grand councillor, was removed and made regent of the eastern capital Zheng Congdang, minister of personnel, was appointed vice director of the Secretariat and grand councillor Congdang was a grandson of Zheng Yuqing Li Du, minister of revenue and acting head of the Revenue Bureau, was appointed grand councillor and concurrently Hedong military governor In winter, the tenth month, an edict ordered Zhaoyi military governor Li Jun, Youzhou military governor Li Keju, Tuyuhun chieftains Helian Duo and Bai Yicheng, Shatuo chieftain An Qing, and Sagye chieftain Mi Haiwan to combine forces and attack Li Guochang and his son at Weizhou In the eleventh month, on jiawu, Kelan Army opened the city gates to the Shatuo On dingwei, Cui Jikang, Hedong consolation commissioner, was appointed military governor of Hedong and pacification commissioner of the northern Dai campaign The Shatuo attacked Shizhou. On gengxu, Cui Jikang marched to relieve it In the twelfth month, on jiaxu, Huang Chao took Fuzhou. Observation commissioner Wei Xiu abandoned the city and fled Nanzhao envoy Zhao Zongzheng returned home. The Secretariat did not answer the clerk's notification directly but drafted a reply in the name of Xichuan military governor Cui Anqian and had Anqian send it Cui Jikang and Zhaoyi military governor Li Jun fought Li Keyong at Honggu. Both armies were defeated and Jun was killed in battle When Zhaoyi troops returned to Daizhou, the soldiers looted the countryside. The people of Daizhou killed nearly all of them; the survivors fled back to Shangdang through Yamming Valley During Wang Ying's rebellion, Dong Chang of Lin'an, who had distinguished himself suppressing bandits with local militia, was appointed garrison commander of Shijing That year Cao Shixiong raided the two Zhes. Hangzhou recruited a thousand village militiamen from each county to fight him. Chang, together with Liu Meng'an and Ruan Jie of Qiantang, Wenren Yu of Fuyang, Xu Ji of Yanguan, Du Ling of Xincheng, Ling Wenju of Yuhang, and Cao Xin of Linping, each commanded a unit. They were called the Eight Commands of Hangzhou, with Chang as their leader Later Yu died and was replaced by Cheng Ji of Qiantang Qian Liu of Lin'an, fierce and brave, served under Chang and, for his achievements, was made Shijing director of military affairs Emperor Xizong the Sagely, Respectful, Settled, and Filial—lower portion of the Upper Annals—Qianfu year 6 (jihai, 879 CE) In spring, the first month, Prince of Wei Yi died Zhenhai military governor Gao Pian sent generals Zhang Lin and Liang Zuan by separate routes against Huang Chao, repeatedly defeated him, and accepted the surrender of his generals Qin Yan, Bi Shiduo, Li Hanzhi, Xu Qing, and dozens of others. Chao then fled toward Guangnan Yan was from Xuzhou; Shiduo was from Yuanqu; Hanzhi was from Xiangcheng. Jia Chong and the others never reached Nanzhao—they died one after another on the road, and more than half their followers died as well Xin Dang was already stricken with paralysis. He summoned acting inspector Xu Yunqian, took his hand, and said, "I have memorialized the court to send envoys to Nanzhao, yet they keep dying on the road. What can be done? You hold office and ought to serve the state. Can you make this journey? Dang lamented that paralysis kept him from bowing" He broke down in tears Yunqian said, "A gentleman dies for one who knows him! You took me in, and I have no way to repay your kindness. How could I refuse?" Dang was overjoyed, furnished him generously for the journey, and sent him off In the second month, on bingyin, Yunqian reached Shanchan. Piluoge received the chief envoy as an equal and had the deputy and those below bow On jisi, Piluoge sent Ci Shuangyu and Yang Zong to the guest quarters to tell Yunqian, "Your office's notice asks Piluoge to style himself subject, submit a memorial, and offer tribute goods; Piluoge has already sent men from Xichuan to arrange with Tang to be brothers, or else uncle and nephew Between brothers or uncle and nephew, letters and gifts suffice. What need is there for memorials and tribute?" Yunqian replied, "If Piluoge wishes to be younger brother or nephew, consider this: Piluoge is the son of Jingzhuang. Jingzhuang surely had brothers—they are Piluoge's paternal uncles. If Piluoge is ruler, his uncles must style themselves subjects. How much more so a younger brother or nephew! Moreover, Piluoge's forebears, by Tang's command, united the six zhao into one. The grace was profound; the small quarrel since lay with border officials Now Piluoge wishes to restore the old friendship. How can he violate his ancestors' precedent? Following one's ancestors is filial piety; serving the great state is righteousness; ending warfare is benevolence; examining names and ranks is propriety. All four are fine virtues. Should one not strive for them?" Piluoge treated Yunqian with great generosity. Yunqian remained at Shanchan seventeen days, then returned Piluoge gave Yunqian two wooden tablets, one for the Secretariat and Chancellery and one for Lingnan West Circuit—but he still would not submit a memorial or styled tribute On xinwei, when the Hedong army reached Jingle, the soldiers mutinied and killed chief clerk Shi Yu and others On renshen, Cui Jikang fled back to Jinyang On jiaxu, commanders Zhang Kai and Guo Fen led campaign troops against the Dongyang Gate, entered the prefectural office, and killed Jikang On xinsi, Gao Xun, observation commissioner of Shaan and Guo, became military governor of Zhaoyi; Li Kan, military governor of Binning, became military governor of Hedong. In the third month the Tianping commander Zhang Ti died. His adjutant Cui Junyu seized the prefecture; Cao Quanzhen, prefect of Zi, marched in and executed him. Summer, fourth month: on the gengshen new moon, the sun was eaten. When Cui Anqian arrived in Sichuan as military governor, he did not hunt robbers. The people of Shu thought this odd. Anqian said, "Robbers cannot work unless someone in office shelters them. Dig deep and many must fall; hunt them down and you only stir useless trouble." On jiazi he took fifteen hundred strings from the treasury, split the reward across three markets, and posted this: "Capture one robber—five hundred strings. A robber cannot act alone; he must have accomplices If an accomplice informs and captures him, his crime is pardoned and he receives the same reward as anyone else" Soon a captor brought a robber before him. The robber refused to yield: "Seventeen years we robbed together and split every take. How dare you capture me! I will die with you—that is all" Anqian said, "You knew my notice—why not capture him and bring him in? Then he would die and you would collect the reward You missed your chance. What excuse do you have for dying now?" He paid the captor at once, made the robber watch, then executed him in the market and wiped out his household. Robbers and partners turned on one another. With nowhere to stand, they fled the region before dawn, and the land held not one thief. Shu soldiers were timid; Anqian sent General Ji Die to Chen, Xu, and neighboring prefectures to recruit hard men, mixed them with locals, and trained three thousand in three armies—all in yellow caps, the Yellow-cap Army. He also requested crossbowmen from Hongzhou, taught Shu soldiers to shoot while running, selected a thousand men, and formed the Divine-engine Crossbow Camp Shu troops gradually grew stronger Prince of Liang Yan died The emperor brooded over the bandits. Wang Duo said, "I am chief among your councillors, yet in court I cannot lighten your burden. Let me take the field and command the generals myself. Duo was made defender of the Ministry of Works and palace attendant, and appointed Jingnan military governor and overall commander of the southern campaign. In the fifth month, on xinmao, an edict granted silver to Hedong soldiers Troops under adjutant He Gongya mutinied, burned and plundered the three cities, seized chief clerk Wang Jing, and sent him to the infantry and cavalry office Military governor Li Kan and the army supervisor went out in person to calm them and beheaded Jing at headquarters gate; order was restored Li Xi of Taining was Li Sheng's great-grandson—silver-tongued, empty of courage. Duo, honoring a house of generals, made him deputy campaign commander and Hunan observation commissioner, with fifty thousand picked troops and militia to hold Tanzhou, seal the northern passes, and block Huang Chao. Each night the Hedong chief adjutant secretly captured mutineers among He Gongya's troops and exterminated their clans On dingsi nearly a hundred survivors called themselves the "Avengers." They looted the three cities and burned the homes of Zhang Kai and Guo Fen. Li Kan issued an order that, with headquarters unsettled, he would bend to the soldiers' mood. Kai and Fen were seized, beheaded at headquarters gate, and their families expelled; He Gongya was made infantry and cavalry chief adjutant At the block, Kai and Fen wept to the troops: "Every man we killed was named in secret by the bandit office. Will no one save us from this unjust death? The soldiers raised a great clamor, seized Kai and Fen, and returned them to the chief adjutant's office An order soon restored them to their old posts and recalled their families More than thirty households of the bandit-capture office, including Yuan Yizong, were seized and exterminated On jiwei, drill instructor Zhu Mei and others were made slash-and-cut commissioners of the three cities. They led troops to hunt the Avengers, beheaded them all, and the army city was finally settled Huang Chao wrote to eastern Zhe observation commissioner Cui Qiu and Lingnan East Circuit military governor Li Tiao requesting the Tianping military governorship. Both memorialized the request; the court refused Chao again memorialized requesting the Guangzhou military governorship, and the emperor ordered deliberation among the grand ministers Left vice director Yu Cong said, "Guangzhou is where the sea-trade treasure gathers. You would give that to thieves? That too was refused, and they deliberated appointing him to another office In the sixth month, the grand councillors requested appointing Chao chamberlain of the crown prince's household; the request was granted Hedong military governor Li Kan, because headquarters had repeatedly suffered disturbances, claimed illness and asked leave to seek treatment An edict appointed Daizhou prefect Kang Chuangu Hedong acting army commander and summoned Kan to the capital In autumn, the eighth month, on jiazi, Kan departed Jinyang Soon eastern capital regent Li Wei was appointed grand councillor and Hedong military governor Zhenhai military governor Gao Pian memorialized: "I ask that acting Shu prefect Lang Youfu be made acting regent to hold western Zhe; that director of military affairs Zhang Lin lead five thousand troops to garrison Chenzhou and hold the passes; that military affairs acting regent Wang Zhongren lead eight thousand at Xun and Chaozhou to intercept; and that I lead ten thousand over Dayu Range toward Guangzhou to strike Huang When Chao hears I am coming, he will surely flee. I beg an order for Wang Duo to station thirty thousand troops at Wu, Zhao, Gui, and Yong to hold the passes" The edict refused In the ninth month Huang Chao received his appointment as chamberlain of the crown prince's household. He raged, cursed the ministers, stormed Guangzhou, took it the same day, seized Li Tiao, and swept through Lingnan. Chao ordered Tiao to draft a memorial of grievance. Tiao said, "I owe the state my life; my kin fill the court. Cut off my wrist—I will not write." Chao killed him In winter, the tenth month, Zhenhai military governor Gao Pian was made Huainan military governor and salt and iron transport commissioner; Jingyuan military governor Zhou Bao was made Zhenhai military governor; Shannan East Circuit acting army commander Liu Jurong was made military governor Bao was from Pingzhou In Lingnan, malarial pestilence killed three or four men in ten. His followers urged a northern return to seize the greater prize, and Chao agreed. From Guizhou he lashed together several thousand large rafts, rode the floodwaters down the Xiang River, passed Heng and Yong, and on guwei reached the walls of Tanzhou Li Xi shut the gates and would not fight. Chao pressed hard and took the city in a day. Xi fled to Langzhou. Chao slaughtered the garrison. Corpses choked the river downstream. Shang Rang pressed the victory and advanced on Jiangling. The host was proclaimed at five hundred thousand The circuits had not yet mustered; Jiangling held fewer than ten thousand. Wang Duo left Liu Hanhong to guard the city and marched for Xiangyang, claiming he would join Liu Jurong. Once Duo was gone, Hanhong plundered Jiangling, burned it nearly bare, and drove gentry and commoners into the hills. Snow fell heavily. Frozen dead filled the fields. More than ten days later the rebels arrived Hanhong was from Yanzhou. He led his followers north and became a bandit chieftain In the intercalary month, on the dinghai new moon, Hedong military governor Li Wei fell ill. Army-supply deputy Li Shao was made acting observation regent, and army supervisor Li Fenggao acting military affairs regent On jichou, Wei died Chief adjutants Zhang Kai and Guo Fen signed a petition installing Shao; junior administrator Ding Qiu was made acting observation regent In the eleventh month, on wuwu, disposition commissioner from Dingzhou southward Wang Chucun of Wannian was made Yiwu military governor and Hedong acting army commander, and disposition commissioner from Yanmen Pass southward Kang Chuangu was made Hedong military governor Huang Chao marched north toward Xiangyang. Liu Jurong and Jiangxi pacification commissioner Zi prefect Cao Quanzhen combined forces and encamped at Jingmen to block him When the rebels arrived, Jurong hid troops in the forest. Quanzhen offered battle with light cavalry, feigned defeat, and fled The rebels pursued; the ambush struck and routed them. Pressing the victory, the government forces pursued north By the time they reached Jiangling, seven or eight tenths of the rebels had been captured or killed Chao and Shang Rang gathered the remnants, crossed the river, and fled east Some urged Jurong to pursue to the end and wipe out the rebels Jurong said, "The court loves to betray its soldiers. In crisis it pampers them with rank and gold; when peace returns it casts them off—or punishes them again. Leave the bandits alive, and wealth and office will keep coming." The pursuit stopped Quanzhen crossed the river in pursuit, but the court appointed Taining general Duan Yanmo to replace him as pacification commissioner, and he stopped The rebels rallied. They took the outer wall of Ezhou and ravaged fifteen prefectures—Rao, Xin, Chi, Xuan, She, Hang, and the rest—until their host reached two hundred thousand. Kang Chuangu set out from Daizhou for Jinyang. On gengchen he reached Wucheng post station Zhang Kai and Guo Fen came out to welcome Kang Chuangu, cut him down in a frenzy of blades, and at headquarters exterminated his clan. In the twelfth month, Wang Duo was appointed crown prince's adviser with separate commission Initially, Minister of War Lu Xie had once recommended Gao Pian as suitable for overall command. Now that Pian's generals Zhang Lin and others had repeatedly defeated Huang Chao, Lu Xie was restored as vice director of the chancellery and grand councillor, and most of the eastern circuit military governors appointed by Wang Duo and Zheng Tian were replaced. That year, the Guiyang bandit Chen Yanlian took Chen prefecture and killed Prefect Dong Yue. Emperor Xizong the Sagely, Respectful, Settled, and Filial—lower portion of the Upper Annals—Guangming year 1 (gengzi, 880 CE) In spring, first month, on the yimao new moon, the reign era was changed. The Shatuo entered Yanmen Pass and raided Xin and Dai. In the second month, on gengxu, more than twenty thousand Shatuo pressed Jinyang. On xinhai they took Taigu. The court dispatched Bochang's Zhuge Shuang, defense commissioner of Ru prefecture, to lead the eastern capital defense troops to rescue Hedong. Kang Chuanguì, military governor of Hedong, relied exclusively on harsh punishments, nursed many vendettas, and forcibly seized the wealth of the rich. He sent former Barrier Army commander Su Hongzhen to strike the Shatuo at Taigu. Reaching Qincheng they met the Shatuo, fought without success and withdrew. Chuanguì was enraged and executed Hongzhen. By then the Shatuo had already returned to northern Dai. Chuanguì sent chief training officer Zhang Yanqiu with three thousand troops in pursuit. On renxu, at Baijing, the army mutinied and turned back toward Jinyang. Chuanguì shut the city against them. The mutineers entered through the Ximing Gate and killed Chuanguì. Supervising eunuch Zhou Congyu went out himself to pacify them, and order was restored. Yanqiu was made chief adjutant of the headquarters city. When the court heard of it, it sent an envoy to announce reassurance: "The military governor who was killed—this arose in a single moment. Each of you should settle your minds and fear no more. Left Reminder Hou Changye submitted a memorial of the strongest remonstrance: bandits filled the eastern circuits, the emperor did not attend to state affairs but devoted himself to games, rewards were bestowed without limit, Tian Lingzi wielded unchecked power, celestial signs changed, and the altars of state were in peril. The emperor was greatly enraged, summoned Changye to the Directorate of Palace Attendants, and had him put to death. The emperor loved horseback archery, sword and spear, and reckoning; in music and gambling too he was without peer in refinement. He loved cuju and cockfighting, wagered geese with the princes, and a single goose could fetch as much as fifty strings of cash. He was especially skilled at polo, and once said to the actor Shi Yelie, "If I entered the polo examination for the jinshi degree, I would have to come out first." He replied, "If Yao and Shun were vice director of the Ministry of Rites, I fear Your Majesty would still fail the examination. The emperor only laughed. The Department of Public Revenue, because expenditures were insufficient, memorialized to borrow the property of wealthy households and foreign merchants. An edict ordered half of it borrowed. Salt and Iron Transport Commissioner Gao Pian submitted a memorial: "Bandits are rising everywhere under Heaven, all because of hunger and cold; only the wealthy households and foreign merchants are untouched. Thereupon the plan was halted. Gao Pian memorialized to change the Yangzi Office into a transport commission. In the third month, on gengwu, Left Golden Guard General Chen Jingxuan was made military governor of Xichuan. Jingxuan was a man of Xu prefecture and elder brother of Tian Lingzi. Initially, when Cui Anqian governed Xuchang, Lingzi sought for Jingxuan the post of army and horse commissioner; Anqian did not permit it. Through Lingzi, Jingxuan obtained enrollment in the Left Divine Strategy Army; over several years he rose repeatedly to great general. Lingzi saw the eastern bandits growing fiercer by the day and secretly laid plans to flee to Shu. He memorialized that Jingxuan and his trusted men—Left Divine Strategy great generals Yang Shili, Niu Xu, and Luo Yuangao—should govern the Three Circuits. The emperor had the four men play polo for the Three Circuits; Jingxuan drew the first token and was immediately made military governor of Xichuan, replacing Anqian. On xinwei, gate director and associate grand councillor Zheng Congdan was made associate grand councillor and military governor of Hedong. After Kang Chuanguì's death the Hedong troops grew still more insolent; therefore a grand councillor was sent to govern them, allowed to choose his own staff. Congdan memorialized to appoint Chang'an Magistrate Wang Diao deputy military governor, former Department of State Affairs aide and historiography compiler Liu Chonggui military affairs judge, former Ministry of Personnel aide and historiography compiler Zhao Chong observation judge, and former jinshi Liu Chonglu investigating officer. People of the time called it a little court, meaning how many eminent men there were. Chonggui and Chonglu were seventh-generation descendants of Liu Zhenghui. At the time, in the aftermath of the fresh turmoil at Jinyang, killings and plunder occurred daily. Congdan's bearing was mild but his spirit was forceful; he was full of plans and good at decisions. Whenever the officers and soldiers meant to do evil he foresaw it and executed them, so the cunning grew wary and fell silent. Those who meant to do good he treated without suspicion. Knowing Zhang Yanqiu had strategy and that the Baijing mutiny was not from his heart, he alone executed the ringleaders, summoned Yanqiu to reassure him, and entrusted all military authority to him; the army thereafter settled. Yanqiu gave Congdan his utmost loyalty and in the end proved fully useful. Huainan military governor Gao Pian sent his generals Zhang Lin and others to strike Huang Chao with repeated victories; Lu Xie memorialized to make Pian overall commander of the expeditionary armies of all circuits. Pian then issued a proclamation summoning troops from all under Heaven and widely recruiting as well, obtaining seventy thousand local and guest soldiers. His prestige surged greatly and the court relied on him deeply. The Annan army mutinied; military governor Zeng Gun fled the city to avoid them, and troops from various circuits garrisoning Yong and Guan often returned on their own. In summer, fourth month, on dingyou, grand stablemaster Li Zhuo was made overall pacification commissioner of Wei, Shuo, and other prefectures and expeditionary military governor. Zhuo was a son of Li Ting. Zhang Lin crossed the river to strike the bandit chief Wang Chongba and made him surrender. He repeatedly defeated Huang Chao's army. Chao withdrew to hold Raozhou, and a separate commander, Chang Hong, surrendered with his host of tens of thousands. Lin attacked Raozhou, took it, and Chao fled. At the time the Jiang and Huai armies repeatedly memorialized victories over the bandits, but most were untrue; the grand councillors and below submitted congratulatory memorials, and the court was somewhat reassured. Li Zhuo was made military governor of Wei and Shuo while still serving as overall commander. Yang Shili was made military governor of Dongchuan, and Niu Xu military governor of Shannan West Circuit. Zhuge Shuang was made deputy overall pacification commissioner of the Northern Expedition. Initially, after Liu Jurong had returned to Xiangyang, Jingnan supervising eunuch Yang Fuguang had Zhongwu chief general Song Hao act as provisional prefect, and Taining chief general Duan Yanmo hold the city with troops. An edict made Hao Jingnan pacification commissioner; Yanmo was shamed to serve beneath him. Hao forbade the soldiers to cut down the pagoda trees in the streets; Yanmo's troops violated the order, and Hao caned their backs. Yanmo was enraged, drew his blade and galloped in, and killed Hao together with his two sons. Fuguang memorialized that Hao had been cruel and was executed by the host. An edict made Yanmo prefect of Lang, and Ministry of Works vice director Zheng Shaoye military governor of Jingnan. In the fifth month, on dingsi, Zhuge Shuang, defense commissioner of Ru prefecture, was made military governor of Zhenwu. The faction of Liu Hanhong grew ever stronger and raided Song and Yan. On jiazi, troops from the eastern circuits were mobilized to attack them. Huang Chao encamped at Xin prefecture, encountered pestilence, and many of his soldiers and followers died. Zhang Lin pressed the attack. Chao bribed Lin with gold and also sent a letter requesting surrender to Gao Pian, asking Pian to guarantee the memorial for him. Pian wished to lure him in and promised to seek a commission and credentials for him. At the time the Zhaoyi, Ganhua, and Yiwu armies had all reached Huainan; Pian feared they would divide his credit and memorialized that the bandits would soon be pacified and the armies of the various circuits need not trouble themselves, asking that all be sent back. The court approved. The bandits learned by espionage that the armies of the various circuits had already crossed north of the Huai, broke off with Pian, and requested battle. Pian was enraged and ordered Lin to attack; the army was defeated, Lin died, and Chao's power revived. On yihai, palace secretariat commissioner Ximen Sigong was made Fengxiang supervising army. On bingzi, palace emissary Li Shunrong was made palace secretariat commissioner. Both received white hemp edicts; the cases were issued at the Gate of Receiving Mandates, the same as for generals. Xichuan military governor Chen Jingxuan had always been of humble origin; when the appointment reached Shu, the people of Shu were all astonished and did not know who he was. A sorcerer of Qingcheng, riding the commotion, led his faction falsely claiming to be Vice Director Chen, stopped at an inn, and urgently demanded a white horse from the patrol adjutant. Cavalry and infantry commissioner Qu Dafu perceived the imposture, seized him, poured dog's blood over him, and he immediately confessed; all were executed. In the sixth month, on gengyin, Jingxuan reached Chengdu. A separate commander of Huang Chao took Mu prefecture and Wu prefecture. Lu Xie was ill with paralysis and could not walk, and requested leave. On jihai he first entered audience; an edict forbade bowing, and two yellow gate attendants supported him. Within, Xie relied on Tian Lingzi; without, he leaned on Gao Pian. The emperor favored him exceedingly, and thereby he monopolized court governance, deciding high and low as he pleased. Once ill, his mind was no longer whole; whether affairs should proceed fell to his personal clerks Yang Wen and Li Xiu, and bribes flowed openly. Dou Lu Zhuan had no other talent and devoted himself wholly to aligning with Xie. Whenever Cui Hang submitted memorials of advice, Xie often blocked them. On gengzi, Li Zhuo memorialized that two thousand Shatuo had come to surrender. Zhuo then commanded ten thousand troops encamped at Dai prefecture, and together with Lulong military governor Li Keju and Tuyuhun commander-in-chief Helian Duo jointly attacked the Shatuo. Li Keyong sent great general Gao Wenji to hold Shuo prefecture and himself led his host to oppose Keju at Xiongwu Army. Duo sent men to persuade Wenji to return to the state. Wenji seized Keyong's general Fu Wenda, and the Shatuo chieftain Li Youjin, Sagye commander-in-chief Mi Haiwan, and Anqing commander-in-chief Shi Jingcun all surrendered to Zhuo and opened the gates to welcome the government army. Youjin was Keyong's clansman elder. On gengxu, Huang Chao attacked Xuan prefecture and took it. Liu Hanhong raided south into Shen and Guang. When Zhao Zongzheng returned to Nanzhao, former Xichuan military governor Cui Anqian memorialized that Cui Tan's proposal was correct, and said, "Nanzhao is a small barbarian state, originally the territory of a single commandery in Yunnan. Now if we send envoys to make peace, they will take China for cowardly and again seek an imperial princess in marriage—how can we refuse!" The emperor ordered the grand councillors to discuss it. Lu Xie and Dou Lu Zhuan submitted a memorial: "At the end of the Dazhong era the treasuries were full. From Xiantong onward the barbarians twice took Annan and Yong and Guan, once entered Qianzhong, and four times invaded Xichuan; mobilizing troops and transporting grain exhausted all under Heaven for more than fifteen years, and more than half of tax and tribute never reached the capital—the Three Offices and the inner treasury were thereby drained. Soldiers died of miasma; the people were driven into banditry; the central plains were laid waste—all because of the barbarians. The winter before last the barbarians did not raid because Zhao Zongzheng had not yet returned. Last winter the barbarians did not raid because Xu Yunqian had returned with the reply and the barbarians still had hope. Now the Annan sub-prefecture city is held by mutinous soldiers and the military governor has not yet taken it; of the remaining garrison troops most have already returned on their own, and the guest armies of Yong and Guan are again reduced by half. Winter is near; if the barbarians raid and sweep across the borders, how can we resist! Better for now to dispatch envoys with a reply; even if we do not obtain their submission and tribute, at least let them not harbor deeper resentment and resolutely violate the frontier—that will suffice." Thereupon an edict was drafted for Chen Jingxuan, permitting marriage alliance without requiring them to call themselves subjects; Jingxuan was ordered to copy the edict in white and send a letter as well, with additional gifts of gold and silk. Heir of the Prince of Cao Gui Nian was made vice director of the Imperial Clan and chief envoy, Xu Quqian deputy envoy; separately an inner attendant was dispatched to continue on to Nanzhao with them. In autumn, seventh month, Huang Chao crossed the river at Caishi, besieged Tianchang and Liuhe, and his military power was very strong. Huainan general Bi Shiduo said to Gao Pian, "The court relies on you for its safety and peril. Now the bandits, several hundred thousand strong, are driving forward on victory as if crossing an unpeopled land. If you do not hold strategic ground and strike them, letting them cross the Long Huai, they cannot be controlled again and will surely become a great calamity for the central plains. Pian, because the armies of the various circuits had already dispersed and Zhang Lin had again died, reckoned he lacked the strength to control matters, was afraid and dared not send troops, but only ordered the generals to make strict preparations and protect themselves; he also submitted an urgent memorial saying, "Six hundred thousand bandits are encamped at Tianchang, less than fifty li from my city. Earlier, Lu Xie had said that "Pian possessed both civil and military talent; if military authority were wholly entrusted to him, Huang Chao would not be hard to pacify. Although some in court and country said Pian could not be relied on, people still hoped in him somewhat. Now when Pian's memorial arrived, high and low lost hope and public sentiment was greatly terrified. An edict rebuked Pian for dispersing the armies of the various circuits, causing the bandits to cross the river while he was unprepared. Pian submitted a memorial saying, "When I memorialized reporting their dispatch for return, it was not my own sole decision either. Now I am exerting my strength to defend one region and can surely manage it. But I fear the bandits will wind past the Huai; the eastern circuit officers and soldiers should urgently be ordered to make good defensive preparations." Thereupon he claimed rheumatism and no longer went out to battle. An edict ordered the circuits south of the Yellow River to mobilize troops and encamp at Yinshui; Taining military governor Qi Kerang encamped at Ru prefecture to guard against Huang Chao. On xinyou, Zi prefect Cao Quanzhen was made military governor of Tianping and concurrently eastern deputy overall commander. Liu Hanhong requested surrender. On wuchen, he was made prefect of Su. Li Keyong withdrew his troops from Xiongwu Army and struck Gao Wenji at Shuo prefecture. Li Keju sent expeditionary deputy Han Xuanshao to intercept him at Yao'er Ridge and routed him, killing more than seven thousand; Li Jinzhong and Cheng Huaijin both died. He was again defeated within the borders of Xiongwu Army, and ten thousand were killed. Li Zhuo and Helian Duo pressed the attack on Yu prefecture. Li Guochang was defeated in battle, his followers all scattered, and he alone with Keyong and their clan entered the north among the Tatars. An edict made Duo prefect of Yun and defensive commissioner of the Datong Army, Bai Yicheng prefect of Yu, Mi Haiwan of the Sagye prefect of Shuo, and added Li Keju as palace secretary. The Tatars were originally a separate branch of the Mohe and dwelt in the Yin Mountains. Several months later Helian Duo secretly bribed the Tatars to seize Li Guochang and his son; Keyong learned of it. At the time he was hunting with their chieftains; he would set up a horsewhip, a tree leaf, or hang a needle and shoot without missing, and the chieftains were impressed in heart. He again set out wine for them to drink. When the wine was warm, Keyong said, "I have offended Heaven's Son and wish to show loyalty yet cannot. Now I hear Huang Chao is coming north and will surely become a calamity for the central plains. If Heaven's Son should one day pardon my crime and I can turn south with you all to establish great merit together, would that not be a joy! How many years does a man live—who can die old in the desert sands!" The Tatars knew he had no intention of staying and therefore stopped. In the eighth month, on jiawu, former Xichuan military governor Cui Anqian was made grand preceptor of the heir apparent with fractional duty at the capital. In the ninth month, the eastern capital reported, "Five hundred men recruited at Ru prefecture—Li Guangting and others—returning from Dai prefecture passed the eastern capital, burned the Anxi Gate, plundered the markets, and departed through the Changxia Gate. Huang Chao's host was said to number one hundred fifty thousand; Cao Quanzhen fought them with his host of six thousand and killed and captured a fair number. Finding his numbers unequal to theirs, he withdrew to encamp on the Si River to wait until the various armies arrived and could strike together with combined strength. But Gao Pian in the end did not rescue him, and the bandits then struck Quanzhen and routed him. Xuzhou dispatched three thousand troops to Yinshui, passing through Xuchang. The Xuzhou soldiers had always been notorious for violence; military governor Xue Neng, trusting that he had formerly governed Pengcheng and had kindness and faith among the men of Xu, quartered them on the ball field. At dusk the Xuzhou soldiers raised a great clamor. Neng mounted the inner city tower to ask the reason; they answered that supplies were deficient; he comforted them for a long time before they settled. The people of Xu were greatly afraid. At the time Zhongwu also sent great general Zhou Ji toward Yinshui; he had not gone far when he heard of it. By night he led troops back, and at dawn entered the city and attacked the Xuzhou soldiers, killing them all. They also resented Neng for treating the Xuzhou soldiers generously and drove him out. Neng was about to flee to Xiangyang; the mutinous soldiers pursued and killed him, together with his family. Ji declared himself acting governor. Yu and Zheng interdiction and pacification commissioner Qi Kerang, fearing attack by Ji, led troops back to Yan prefecture; thereupon the various circuits encamped at Yinshui all dispersed. Huang Chao then led his entire host across the Huai; wherever he passed he did not plunder, but only took strong young men to increase his army. Earlier, Zhenwu military governor Wu Shitai had been summoned as Left Golden Guard General, with Zhuge Shuang replacing him. Shitai saw that the court faced many troubles and had the army and people submit a memorial asking that he be kept. In winter, tenth month, Shitai was again made military governor of Zhenwu, and Shuang military governor of Xia and Sui. Huang Chao took Shen prefecture, then entered the territories of Ying, Song, Xu, and Yan; wherever he went officials and people fled and collapsed. Bandit hosts took Li prefecture and killed Prefect Li Xun and administrative judge Huangfu Zhen. Zhen had presented himself for the jinshi examination twenty-three times without passing; Xun had recruited him. When the bandits arrived the city fell; Zhen fled and asked someone, "Has the prefect escaped? He said, "The bandits have seized him. Zhen said, "I received his trust to this extent—where would I go! Thereupon he returned to seek out the bandits and in the end died together with Xun.