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卷253 唐紀六十九

Volume 253 Tang Records 69

Chapter 253 of 資治通鑑 · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance
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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.
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