1
資治通鑑第263卷
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 263
2
【唐紀七十九】起玄黓閹茂，盡昭陽大淵獻正月，凡一年有奇。
[Tang Records 79] From the cyclical year Xuanmao through the first month of Dayuanyuan—a span of somewhat more than one year.
3
昭宗聖穆景文孝皇帝中之下天復二年（ 壬戌，公元九零二年）
Emperor Zhaozong the Sagely, Solemn, Brilliant, and Cultured Filial, middle section, second part—Tianfu year 2 ( renxu cycle, corresponding to 902 CE)
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春，正月，癸丑，朱全忠復屯三原，又移軍武功。 河東將李嗣昭、周德威攻慈、隰，以分全忠兵勢。
In spring, in the first month, on guichou day, Zhu Quanzhong encamped again at Sanyuan and then moved his forces to Wugong. Hedong generals Li Sizhao and Zhou Dewei attacked Ci and Xi to draw off part of Quanzhong's forces.
5
丁卯，以給事中韋貽范為工部侍郎、同平章事。
On dingmao day, Wei Yifan, a Secretariat drafter, was appointed vice minister of works and associate chief minister.
6
丙子，以給事中嚴龜充岐、汴和協使，賜朱全忠姓李，與李茂貞為兄弟，全忠不從。 時茂貞不出戰。 全忠聞有河東兵，二月，戊寅朔，旋軍河中。
On bingzi day, Yan Gui, a Secretariat drafter, was appointed envoy to mediate peace between Qi and Bian; Zhu Quanzhong was granted the imperial surname Li and made a sworn brother of Li Maozhen, but Quanzhong refused. At the time, Maozhen would not take the field. When Quanzhong learned that Hedong forces were in the field, in the second month, on the wuyin new moon, he marched his army back to Hezhong.
7
李嗣昭等攻慈、隰，下之，進逼晉、絳。 己丑，全忠遣兄子友寧將兵會晉州刺史氏叔琮擊之。 李嗣昭襲取絳州，汴將康懷英復取之。 嗣昭等屯蒲縣。 乙未，汴軍十萬營於蒲南，叔琮夜帥眾斷其歸路而攻其壘，破之，殺獲萬餘人。 己亥，全忠自河中赴之，乙巳，至晉州。
Li Sizhao and his colleagues captured Ci and Xi and then advanced against Jin and Jiang. On jichou day, Quanzhong dispatched his nephew Youning with troops to join Jinzhou prefect Shi Shuzong in striking them. Li Sizhao seized Jiangzhou by surprise, but Bian general Kang Huaiying recovered it. Sizhao and his forces encamped at Pu County. On yiwei day, one hundred thousand Bian troops encamped south of Pu; that night Shuzong led his men to sever their retreat and storm their camp, routing them and killing or capturing more than ten thousand. On jihai day, Quanzhong marched from Hezhong to reinforce them; on yisi day he arrived at Jinzhou.
8
盜發簡陵。
Tomb robbers broke into Jianling.
9
西川兵至利州，昭武節度使李繼忠棄鎮奔鳳翔。 王建以劍州刺史王宗偉為利州制置使。
Xichuan forces reached Lizhou; Zhaowu military governor Li Jizhong abandoned his command and fled to Fengxiang. Wang Jian appointed Jianzhou prefect Wang Zongwei commissioner for the Lizhou pacification command.
10
三月，庚戌，上與李茂貞及宰相、學士、中尉、樞密宴，酒酣，茂貞及韓全誨亡去。 上問韋貽范：「朕何以巡幸至此？」 對曰：「臣在外不知。」 固問之，不對。 上曰：「卿何得於朕前妄語雲不知？」 又曰：「卿既以非道取宰相，當於公事如法，若有不可，必准故事。」 怒目視之，微言曰：「此賊兼須杖之二十。」 顧謂韓偓曰：「此輩亦稱宰相！」 貽范屢以大杯獻上，上不即持，貽范舉杯直及上頤。
In the third month, on gengxu day, the emperor held a banquet with Li Maozhen, the chief ministers, Hanlin scholars, palace commissioners, and Privy Council officials; when they were well into their cups, Maozhen and Han Quanhui slipped away. The emperor asked Wei Yifan, "Why have I been brought on this imperial progress to such a place?" Yifan answered, "Your servant was away from court and does not know." The emperor pressed him again and again, but he would not reply. The emperor said, "How dare you lie to my face and claim you do not know?" He went on, "Since you gained the chief ministership by improper means, you ought to conduct state affairs by the book; where anything is inadmissible, you must follow established precedent." Glaring at him in anger, he muttered, "This scoundrel deserves twenty strokes of the staff as well." Turning to Han Wo, he said, "And these men still call themselves chief ministers!" Yifan kept pressing large cups on the emperor; when the emperor did not take one immediately, Yifan thrust the cup right up to his chin.
11
戊午，氏叔琮、朱友寧進攻李嗣昭、周德威營。 時汴軍橫陳十里，而河東軍不過數萬，深入敵境，眾心忷懼。 德威出戰而敗，密令嗣昭以後軍先去，德威尋引騎兵亦退。 叔琮、友寧長驅乘之，河東軍驚潰，禽克用子廷鸞，兵仗輜重委棄略盡。 朱全忠令叔琮、友寧乘勝遂攻河東。
On wuwu day, Shi Shuzong and Zhu Youning attacked the camp of Li Sizhao and Zhou Dewei. The Bian forces were deployed across ten li, while the Hedong army numbered only a few tens of thousands; deep inside enemy territory, the troops were anxious and afraid. Dewei gave battle and was beaten; he secretly ordered Sizhao to withdraw with the rear guard first, and Dewei soon led the cavalry away as well. Shuzong and Youning pressed the pursuit; the Hedong army collapsed in panic, Keyong's son Tingluan was taken prisoner, and arms, baggage, and transport were abandoned almost to the last item. Zhu Quanzhong ordered Shuzong and Youning to follow up their victory with an invasion of Hedong.
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李克用聞嗣昭等敗，遣李存信以親兵逆之，至清源，遇汴軍，存信走還晉陽。 汴軍取慈、隰、汾三州。 辛酉，汴軍圍晉陽，營於晉祠，攻其西門。 周德威、李嗣昭收餘眾依西山得還。 城中兵未集，叔琮攻城甚急，每行圍，褒衣博帶，以示閒暇。 克用晝夜乘城，不得寢食。 召諸將議走保雲州，李嗣昭、李嗣源、周德威曰：「兒輩在此，必能固守。 王勿為此謀搖人心！」 李存信曰：「關東、河北皆受制於朱溫，我兵寡地蹙，守此孤城，彼築壘穿塹環之，以積久制我，我飛走無路，坐待困斃耳。 今事勢已急，不若且入北虜，徐圖進取。」 嗣昭力爭之，克用不能決。 劉夫人言於克用曰：「存信，北川牧羊兒耳，安知遠慮！ 王常笑王行瑜輕去其城，死於人手，今日反效之邪！ 且王昔居達靼，幾不自免。 賴朝廷多事，乃得復歸。 今一足出城，則禍變不測，塞外可得至邪！」 克用乃止。 居數日，潰兵復集，軍府浸安。 克用弟克寧為忻州刺史，聞汴寇至，中塗復還晉陽，曰：「此城吾死所也，去將何之！」 眾心乃定。
When Li Keyong learned of Sizhao's defeat, he sent Li Cunxin with his personal guard to meet the retreat; at Qingyuan they ran into Bian forces, and Cunxin fled back to Jinyang. The Bian army captured the three prefectures of Ci, Xi, and Fen. On xinyou day, the Bian army laid siege to Jinyang, encamped at Jinci, and assaulted the west gate. Zhou Dewei and Li Sizhao rallied the survivors along the Western Hills and made their way back. The city's defenders were not yet fully mustered; Shuzong pressed the assault relentlessly, yet whenever he inspected the siege lines he wore loose robes and a broad belt to affect ease. Keyong spent day and night on the walls and could neither sleep nor eat. He summoned his generals to discuss fleeing to Yunzhou; Li Sizhao, Li Siyuan, and Zhou Dewei said, "We are here, and we can surely hold the city. My lord, do not entertain such a plan and unsettle the troops!" Li Cunxin said, "Guandong and Hebei are all under Zhu Wen's thumb; our forces are few and our territory cramped. If we hold this lone city while they ring us with ramparts and trenches, they will wear us down in time. We have no escape—we can only sit here until we are spent. The crisis is upon us. Better to withdraw for now among the northern tribes and plan our comeback later." Sizhao argued fiercely against it, and Keyong could not make up his mind. Lady Liu said to Keyong, "Cunxin is a shepherd boy from the northern valleys—what does he know of long-range strategy! You yourself used to mock Wang Xingyu for lightly abandoning his city and dying at another's hands—will you now do the same! Besides, when you once lived among the Tatars, you nearly lost your life. Only because the court was beset with troubles were you able to come home. If even one foot steps outside the walls now, disaster may strike without warning—how can you hope to reach the steppe at all!" Keyong abandoned the plan. Within a few days scattered troops rallied again, and the headquarters gradually regained its footing. Keyong's younger brother Kening, prefect of Xinzhou, heard that Bian forces were at hand, turned back midway, and returned to Jinyang, saying, "This city is where I die—where else would I go!" The troops' morale steadied.
13
壬戌，朱全忠還河中，遣朱友寧將兵西擊李茂貞，軍於興平、武功之間。 李嗣昭、李嗣源數將敢死士夜入氏叔琮營，斬首捕虜，汴軍驚擾，備御不暇。 會大疫，丁卯，叔琮引兵還。 嗣昭與周德威將兵追之，及石會關，叔琮留數馬及旌旗於高岡之巔。 嗣昭等以為有伏兵，乃引去，復取慈、隰、汾三州。 自是克用不敢與全忠爭者累年。
On renxu day, Zhu Quanzhong returned to Hezhong and sent Zhu Youning west against Li Maozhen, encamping between Xingping and Wugong. Li Sizhao and Li Siyuan repeatedly led suicide squads by night into Shi Shuzong's camp, killing and taking prisoners; the Bian troops were thrown into alarm and could not keep their defenses in order. A severe epidemic broke out; on dingmao day, Shuzong withdrew his army. Sizhao and Zhou Dewei pursued; at Shihui Pass, Shuzong left a few horses and banners on a high ridge. Sizhao and his men took this for an ambush and withdrew, then recovered the three prefectures of Ci, Xi, and Fen. From then on Keyong did not dare contest Quanzhong for many years.
14
克用以使引咨幕府曰：「不貯軍食，何以聚眾？ 不置兵甲，何以克敵？ 不修城池，何以扞御？ 利害之間，請垂議度。」 掌書記李襲吉獻議，略曰：「國富不在倉儲，兵強不由眾寡，人歸有德，神固害盈。 聚斂寧有盜臣，苛政有如猛虎，所以鹿台將散，周武以興； 齊庫既焚，晏嬰入賀。」 又曰：「伏以變法不若養人，改作何如舊貫！ 韓建蓄財無數，首事朱溫； 王珂變法如麻，一朝降賊； 中山城非不峻，蔡上兵非不多； 前事甚明，可以為戒。 且霸國無貧主，強將無弱兵。 伏願大王崇德愛人，去奢省役，設險固境，訓兵務農。 定亂者選武臣，制理者選文吏，錢穀有句，刑法有律。 誅賞由我，則下無威福之弊； 近密多正，則人無譖謗之憂。 順天時而絕欺誣，敬鬼神而禁淫祀； 則不求富而國富，不求安而自安。 外破元兇，內康疲俗，名高五霸，道冠八元。 至於率閭閻，定間架，增曲薛，檢田疇，開國建邦，恐未為切。」 克用親軍皆沙陀雜虜，喜侵暴良民，河東甚苦之。 其子存勖以為言，克用曰：「此輩從吾攻戰數十年，比者帑藏空虛，諸軍賣馬以自給。 今四方諸侯皆重賞以募士，我若急之，則彼皆散去矣，吾安與同保此乎！ 俟天下稍平，當更清治之耳。」 存勖幼警敏，有勇略，克用為朱全忠所困，封疆日蹙，憂形於色。 存勖進言曰：「物不極則不返，惡不極則不亡。 朱氏恃其詐力，窮凶極暴，吞滅四鄰，人怨神怒。 今又攻逼乘輿，窺覦神器，此其極也，殆將斃矣！ 吾家代襲忠貞，勢窮力屈，無所愧心。 大人當遵養時晦以待其衰，奈何輕為沮喪，使群下失望乎！」 克用悅，即命酒奏樂而罷。 劉夫人無子，克用寵姬曹氏生存勖，劉夫人待曹氏加厚。 克用以是益賢之，諸姬有子，輒命夫人母之。 夫人教養，悉如所生。
Keyong sent envoys to consult his staff headquarters, saying, "Without stockpiling military grain, how can we gather troops? Without equipping arms and armor, how can we defeat the enemy? Without repairing the walls, how can we defend ourselves? Between benefit and harm, please give us your counsel." Chief secretary Li Xiji submitted a memorial that, in summary, said, "A state's wealth does not lie in its granaries; military strength does not depend on numbers alone; the people rally to virtue, and the spirits punish excess. Heavy exactions breed corrupt officials; harsh government is like a ravening tiger—thus when Lutai was about to fall, King Wu of Zhou rose up; when Qi's treasuries burned, Yan Ying came in to offer congratulations." He went on, "I submit that changing the laws is inferior to nurturing the people—what good are innovations compared with established practice! Han Jian hoarded untold wealth and was the first to throw in with Zhu Wen; Wang Ke changed laws at every turn and in a single morning surrendered to the rebels; Zhongshan's walls were not low, and Cai Shang's troops were not few; these recent examples are plain enough to serve as warnings. Moreover, a hegemonic state has no impoverished ruler, and a strong commander has no weak troops. I venture to hope that Your Highness will honor virtue and cherish the people, cut extravagance and lighten corvée, fortify the borders, drill the army, and encourage farming. Choose military men to quell disorder and civil officials to govern; keep clear accounts for revenue and grain, and fixed statutes for punishments and law. If rewards and punishments rest with you alone, subordinates cannot usurp authority; if those close at hand are upright, the people need not fear slander. Follow heaven's seasons and root out deceit; honor the spirits and forbid improper sacrifices; then without seeking wealth the state will grow rich, and without seeking peace it will find peace. Destroy the arch-enemy abroad and bring ease to a weary people at home—your fame will surpass the Five Hegemons and your Way outshine the Eight Worthies. As for surveying households, fixing tax brackets, increasing surcharges, and inspecting fields—founding a state and establishing a dynasty—these, I fear, are not yet the urgent tasks." Keyong's personal troops were Shatuo and other tribal auxiliaries who preyed on the common people; Hedong suffered greatly under them. His son Cunxu raised the matter; Keyong said, "These men have fought beside me for decades. Lately the treasury has been empty and the armies have had to sell their horses to live. Every warlord now offers rich rewards to recruit men. If I crack down on them, they will all desert—how could I hold this place with them! When the realm settles a little, I will set things right again." Cunxu had been clever and bold from boyhood. Hemmed in by Zhu Quanzhong, Keyong watched his domain shrink day by day, and his worry showed plainly. Cunxu spoke up: "Things that do not reach an extreme do not turn back; evil that does not reach an extreme does not perish. The Zhu clan trusts in deceit and brute force, has run to the utmost in cruelty, swallowed its neighbors on every side, and earned the hatred of men and the wrath of heaven. Now they press the imperial carriage and covet the throne itself—this is their extreme; they are near their end! Our house has served in loyalty for generations. Though we are spent in strength, we have nothing to be ashamed of. Father, you should bide your time in quiet strength and wait for their decline—why let yourself sink into despair and disappoint those below you! Keyong was pleased, ordered wine, had music played, and dismissed the gathering. Lady Liu had no children; Keyong's favored concubine Lady Cao bore Cunxu, and Lady Liu treated Lady Cao with exceptional kindness. Keyong esteemed her all the more for this; whenever a concubine bore a son, he charged Lady Liu to raise the child as her own. She reared and taught each one exactly as if he were her own."
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上以左金吾將軍李儼為江、淮宣諭使，書御衣賜楊行密，拜行密東面行營都統、中書令、吳王，以討朱全忠。 以朱瑾為平盧節度使，馮弘鐸為武寧節度使，朱延壽為奉國節度使。 加武安節度使馬殷同平章事。 淮南、宣歙、湖南等道立功將士，聽用都統牒承製遷補，然後表聞。 儼，張濬之子也，賜姓李。
The emperor appointed Left Golden Guards General Li Yan envoy to proclaim the court's will in the Jiang and Huai regions, wrote on imperial robes and bestowed them on Yang Xingmi, and named him eastern campaign commander-in-chief, Secretariat director, and King of Wu to campaign against Zhu Quanzhong. Zhu Jin was appointed military governor of Pinglu, Feng Hongduo of Wuning, and Zhu Yanshou of Fengguo. Ma Yin, military governor of Wuan, was additionally appointed associate chief minister. Meritorious officers and soldiers of Huainan, Xuanshe, Hunan, and other circuits might be promoted and reassigned on the commander's warrant in accordance with imperial procedure, with memorials to follow. Yan was the son of Zhang Jun and had been granted the imperial surname Li.
16
夏，四月，丁酉，崔胤自華州詣河中，泣訴於朱全忠，恐李茂貞劫天子幸蜀，宜以時迎奉，勢不可緩。 全忠與之宴，胤親執板，為全忠歌以侑酒。
In summer, in the fourth month, on dingyou day, Cui Yin went from Huazhou to Hezhong and tearfully pleaded with Zhu Quanzhong, fearing that Li Maozhen would seize the emperor and take him to Shu; the emperor should be welcomed back to the capital without delay—the moment would not wait. Quanzhong feasted with him; Yin himself beat time and sang to enliven the drinking.
17
辛丑，回鶻遣使入貢，請發兵赴難，上命翰林學士承旨韓偓答書許之。 乙巳，偓上言：「戎狄獸心，不可倚信。 彼見國家人物華靡，而城邑荒殘，甲兵雕弊，必有輕中國之心，啟其貪婪。 且自會昌以來，回鶻為中國所破，恐其乘危復怨。 所賜可汗書，宜諭以小小寇竊，不須赴難，虛愧其意，實沮其謀。」 從之。
On xinchou day, the Uyghurs sent tribute envoys asking that troops be sent to the court's aid; the emperor ordered Hanlin academician-in-chief Han Wo to reply granting the request. On yisi day, Wo memorialized, "The northern tribes have the hearts of beasts and cannot be trusted. They will see our splendor beside ruined cities and broken armies, and will surely despise China and give free rein to their greed. Moreover, since Huichang the Uyghurs have been broken by China; they may seize our weakness to settle old scores. The letter to the qaghan should explain that only petty raiders are abroad and no expedition is needed—outwardly to spare their pride, but in fact to block their design." The emperor agreed.
18
兵部侍郎參知機務盧光啟罷為太子太保。
Lu Guangqi, vice minister of war and participant in state affairs, was dismissed and appointed grand mentor of the heir apparent.
19
楊行密遣顧全武歸杭州以易秦裴，錢鏐大喜，遣裴還。
Yang Xingmi returned Gu Quanwu to Hangzhou in exchange for Qin Pei; Qian Liu was delighted and sent Pei back.
20
汴將康懷貞擊鳳翔將李繼昭於莫谷，大破之。 繼昭，蔡州人也，本姓苻，名道昭。
Bian general Kang Huaizhen attacked Fengxiang general Li Jizhao at Mogu and routed him completely. Jizhao was from Caizhou; his original surname was Fu and his given name Daozhao.
21
五月，庚戌，溫州刺史朱褒卒，兄敖自稱刺史。
In the fifth month, on gengxu day, Wenzhou prefect Zhu Bao died; his elder brother Ao proclaimed himself prefect.
22
鳳翔人聞朱全忠且來，皆懼，癸丑，城外居民皆遷入城。 己未，全忠將精兵五萬發河中，至東渭橋，遇霖雨，留旬日。
When Fengxiang learned that Zhu Quanzhong was coming, everyone was afraid; on guichou day, residents outside the walls all moved into the city. On jiwei day, Quanzhong marched fifty thousand elite troops from Hezhong to Dongwei Bridge, where heavy rains detained him for ten days.
23
庚午，工部侍郎、同平章事韋貽范遭母喪，宦官薦翰林學士姚洎為相。 洎謀於韓偓，偓曰：「若圖永久之利，則莫若未就為善； 倘出上意，固無不可。 且汴軍旦夕合圍，孤城難保，家族在東，可不慮乎！」 洎乃移疾，上亦自不許。
On gengwu day, Wei Yifan, vice minister of works and associate chief minister, entered mourning for his mother; the eunuchs recommended Hanlin academician Yao Ji for chief minister. Ji consulted Han Wo, who said, "If you want lasting good, nothing beats not taking the post at all; if the appointment comes from the emperor himself, that is another matter. Besides, the Bian army will close the ring any day; this lone city cannot be held—and your family is in the east. Have you considered that?" Ji then pleaded illness, and the emperor himself refused the appointment.
24
鎮海、鎮東節度使彭城王錢鏐進爵越王。
Qian Liu, military governor of Zhenhai and Zhendong and prince of Pengcheng, was promoted to prince of Yue.
25
六月，丙子，以中書舍人蘇檢為工部侍郎、同平章事。 時韋貽范在草土，薦檢及姚洎於李茂貞。 上既不用洎，茂貞及宦官恐上自用人，協力薦檢，遂用之。
In the sixth month, on bingzi day, Su Jian, a Secretariat drafter, was appointed vice minister of works and associate chief minister. At the time Wei Yifan was in mourning and recommended Su Jian and Yao Ji to Li Maozhen. Since the emperor had refused Ji, Maozhen and the eunuchs feared he would choose his own ministers; they joined to push Jian through, and he was appointed.
26
丁丑，朱全忠軍於虢縣。
On dingchou day, Zhu Quanzhong encamped at Guo County.
27
武寧節度使馮弘鐸介居宣、楊之間，常不自安，然自恃樓船之強，不事兩道。 寧國節度使田頵欲圖之，募弘鐸工人造戰艦，工人曰：「馮公遠求堅木，故其船堪久用，今此無之。」 頵曰：「第為之，吾止須一用耳。」 弘鐸將馮暉、顏建說弘鐸先擊頵，弘鐸從之，帥眾南上，聲言攻洪州，實襲宣州也。 楊行密使人止之，不從。 辛巳，頵帥舟師逆擊於葛山，大破之。
Feng Hongduo of Wuning lay between the Xuanshe and Yang circuits and was never secure, yet trusting in his tower ships, he submitted to neither. Ningguo military governor Tian Yun plotted against him and hired Hongduo's shipwrights to build warships; they said, "Lord Feng brought in hard timber from afar, so his ships last—there is none of that here." Yun said, "Build them anyway—I need them only once." Hongduo's generals Feng Hui and Yan Jian urged him to strike Yun first; he agreed, marched south claiming he would attack Hongzhou, but in fact aimed at Xuanzhou. Yang Xingmi sent envoys to stop him, but he refused. On xinsi day, Yun met him with his fleet at Geshan and won a crushing victory.
28
甲申，李茂貞大出兵，自將之，與朱全忠戰於虢縣之北，大敗而還，死者萬餘人。 丙戌，全忠遣其將孔勍出散關攻鳳州，拔之。 丁亥，全忠進軍鳳翔城下。 全忠朝服向城而泣，曰：「臣但欲迎車駕還宮耳，不與岐王角勝也。」 遂為五寨環之。
On jiashen day, Li Maozhen led a great army in person against Zhu Quanzhong north of Guo County, was routed, and lost more than ten thousand men. On bingxu day, Quanzhong sent his general Kong Qing through San Pass against Fengzhou and captured it. On dinghai day, Quanzhong marched to Fengxiang and camped beneath the walls. Quanzhong, in court dress, faced the city and wept, saying, "I only wish to bring the imperial carriage home—I am not fighting the Prince of Qi for victory." He then built five camps to encircle the city.
29
馮弘鐸收餘眾沿江將入海，楊行密恐其為後患，遣使犒軍，且說之曰：「公徒眾猶盛，胡為自棄滄海之外！ 吾府雖小，足以容公之眾，使將吏各得其所，如何？」 弘鐸左右皆慟哭聽命。 弘鐸至東塘，行密自乘輕舟迎之，從者十餘人，常服，不持兵，升弘鐸舟，慰諭之，舉軍感悅。 署弘鐸淮南節度副使，館給甚厚。 初，弘鐸遣牙將丹徒尚公乃詣行密求潤州，行密不許。 公乃大言曰：「公不見聽，但恐不敵樓船耳。」 至是，行密謂公乃曰：「頗記求潤州時否？」 公乃謝曰：「將吏各為其主，但恨無成耳。」 行密笑曰：「爾事楊叟如馮公，無憂矣！」 行密以李神福為升州刺史。
Feng Hongduo rallied his survivors and prepared to put to sea; Yang Xingmi, fearing future trouble, sent envoys with gifts and said, "Your force is still strong—why cast yourself beyond the sea? My domain is small, but large enough for your men, with a place for every officer—what say you?" Hongduo's followers wept and submitted. When Hongduo reached Dongtang, Xingmi rowed out in a light boat with only a dozen men in plain clothes and unarmed, boarded Hongduo's ship, and reassured him; the whole army was won over. He appointed Hongduo deputy military governor of Huainan and treated him with lavish hospitality. Earlier, Hongduo had sent his adjutant Shang Gongnai of Dantu to ask Xingmi for Runzhou, and Xingmi had refused. Gong had blustered, "If you won't listen, I fear only that you cannot match our tower ships." Now Xingmi said to him, "Do you remember asking for Runzhou?" Gong apologized, "Officers serve their lords—we only regret that we failed." Xingmi laughed and said, "Serve old Yang as you served Lord Feng, and you'll be fine!" Xingmi appointed Li Shenfu prefect of Shengzhou.
30
楊行密發兵討朱全忠，以副使李承嗣權知淮南軍府事。 軍吏欲以巨艦運糧，都知兵馬使徐溫曰：「運路久不行，葭葦堙塞，請用小艇，庶幾易通。」 軍至宿州，會久雨，重載不能進，士有饑色，而小艇先至，行密由是奇溫，始與議軍事。 行密攻宿州，久不克，竟以糧運不繼引還。
Yang Xingmi marched against Zhu Quanzhong and left his deputy Li Chengsi in charge of the Huainan headquarters. The staff wanted to move grain in large ships; director of military affairs Xu Wen said, "The water route has long been unused and is choked with reeds—use small boats instead; they will get through more easily." At Suzhou prolonged rains stalled the heavy transports and the men grew hungry, while the small boats arrived first; Xingmi was impressed and began to consult Wen on military affairs. Xingmi besieged Suzhou for a long time without success and finally withdrew when supplies failed.
31
秋，七月，孔勍取成、隴二州，士卒無斗者。 至秦州，州人城守，乃自故關歸。
In autumn, in the seventh month, Kong Qing took Cheng and Long; not a man resisted. At Qinzhou the people held the walls, so he turned back by the old pass.
32
韋貽范之為相也，多受人賂，許以官。 既而以母喪罷去，日為債家所噪。 親吏劉延美，所負尤多，故汲汲於起復，日遣人詣兩中尉、樞密及李茂貞求之。 甲戌，命韓偓草貽范起複製，偓曰：「吾腕可斷，此制不可草！」 即上疏論貽范遭憂未數月，遽令起復，實駭物聽，傷國體。 學士院二中使怒曰：「學士勿以死為戲！」 偓以疏授之，解衣而寢，二使不得已奏之。 上即命罷草，仍賜敕褒賞之。 八月，乙亥朔，班定，無白麻可宣。 宦官喧言韓侍郎不肯草麻，聞者大駭。 茂貞入見上曰：「陛下命相而學士不肯草麻，與反何異！」 上曰：「卿輩薦貽范，朕不之違，學士不草麻，朕亦不之違。 況彼所陳，事理明白，若之何不從！」 茂貞不悅而出，至中書，見蘇檢曰：「奸邪朋黨，宛然如舊。」 扼腕者久之。 貽范猶經營不已，茂貞語人曰：「我實不知書生禮數，為貽范所誤，會當於邠州安置。」 貽范乃止。 劉延美赴井死。
As chief minister, Wei Yifan took many bribes and promised offices in return. After he left office for his mother's mourning, creditors hounded him daily. His personal clerk Liu Yanmei was his heaviest creditor, so Yifan pressed desperately for recall from mourning, sending men daily to the palace commissioners, the Privy Council, and Li Maozhen. On jiaxu day, the emperor ordered Han Wo to draft Yifan's recall from mourning; Wo said, "You may cut off my wrist, but I will not draft this edict!" He immediately memorialized that Yifan had been in mourning only a few months and that hasty recall would shock opinion and injure the dignity of the state. The two palace commissioners at the Hanlin Academy snapped, "Academician, do not trifle with your life!" Wo handed them the memorial, undressed, and went to bed; the commissioners had no choice but to submit it. The emperor at once canceled the draft and issued an edict praising him. In the eighth month, on the yihai new moon, when court assembled, there was no white hemp edict to proclaim. The eunuchs clamored that Vice Minister Han had refused to draft the edict, and the court was alarmed. Maozhen went in and said, "Your Majesty appoints a chief minister, and the academician refuses to draft the edict—how is that different from rebellion!" The emperor said, "You recommended Yifan, and I did not refuse you; the academician will not draft the edict, and I will not force him either. Besides, what he argues is plainly right—why should I not heed it!" Maozhen left in displeasure, went to the Secretariat, and told Su Jian, "The wicked cliques are just as they ever were." He wrung his hands for a long while. Yifan kept scheming; Maozhen told someone, "I did not understand these scholar's rites—Yifan misled me. When the time comes I will park him at Binzhou." Yifan then gave up. Liu Yanmei drowned himself in a well.
33
保大節度使李茂勳將兵屯三原，救李茂貞。 朱全忠遣其將康懷英、孔勍擊之，茂勳遁去。 茂勳，茂貞之從弟也。
Baoda military governor Li Maoxun encamped at Sanyuan with troops to relieve Li Maozhen. Zhu Quanzhong sent Kang Huaiying and Kong Qing against him, and Maoxun fled. Maoxun was Maozhen's younger cousin.
34
初，孫儒死，其士卒多奔浙西，錢鏐愛其驍悍，以為中軍，號武勇都。 行軍司馬杜稜諫曰：「狼子野心，他日必為深患，請以土人代之。」 不從。
Earlier, when Sun Ru died, many of his soldiers fled to western Zhe; Qian Liu admired their fierceness, made them his central army, and called them the Martial Valor Command. Campaigning army marshal Du Ling warned, "They have the hearts of wolf cubs—one day they will be a grave danger. Replace them with local troops." Qian Liu refused.
35
鏐如衣錦軍，命武勇右都指揮使徐綰帥眾治溝洫； 鎮海節度副使成及聞士卒怨言，白鏐請罷役，不從。 丙戌，鏐臨饗諸將，綰謀殺鏐於座，不果，稱疾先出。 鏐怪之，丁亥，命綰將所部先還杭州。 及外城，縱兵焚掠。 武勇左都指揮使許再思以迎侯兵與之合，進逼牙城。 鏐子傳瑛與三城都指揮使馬綽等閉門拒之，牙將潘長擊綰，綰退屯龍興寺。 鏐還，及龍泉，聞變，疾驅至城北，使成及建鏐旗喜與綰戰，鏐微服乘小舟夜抵牙城東北隅，逾城而入。 直更卒憑鼓而寐，鏐親斬之，城中始知鏐至。 武安都指揮使杜建徽自新城入援，徐綰聚木將焚北門，建徽悉焚之。 建徽，稜之子也。 湖州刺史高彥聞難，遣其子渭將兵入援，至靈隱山，綰伏兵擊殺之。 初，鏐築杭州羅城，謂僚佐曰：「十步一樓，可以為固矣。」 掌書記餘杭羅隱曰：「樓不若皆內向。」 至是人以隱言為驗。
Liu went to the Yijin army and ordered Xu Kuan, right commander of the Martial Valor Command, to lead his men in digging ditches and canals; Zhenhai deputy military governor Cheng Ji heard the men's complaints and asked Liu to stop the work; Liu refused. On bingxu day, Liu feasted his generals; Xu Kuan plotted to kill him at table but failed, then pleaded illness and left early. Liu was suspicious; on dinghai day he ordered Xu Kuan to march his command back to Hangzhou ahead of him. Outside the city walls he turned his men loose to burn and plunder. Xu Zaisi, left commander of the Martial Valor Command, joined him with the escort troops and pressed the headquarters compound. Liu's son Chuanying, three-cities commander Ma Chuo, and others shut the gates to hold them off; adjutant Pan Chang struck Xu Kuan, who withdrew to Longxing Temple. Liu was on his way back; at Longquan he heard of the revolt, galloped to the north wall, and had Cheng Ji raise his banner and fight Kuan; Liu, in disguise, took a small boat by night to the northeast corner of the compound, scaled the wall, and entered. A night watchman was asleep against the drum; Liu beheaded him himself, and only then did the city know he had returned. Wuan commander Du Jianhui marched in from Xincheng to reinforce them; Xu Kuan piled wood to burn the north gate, and Jianhui burned the pile. Jianhui was Du Ling's son. Huzhou prefect Gao Yan heard of the trouble and sent his son Wei with troops; at Lingyin Mountain, Kuan's ambush killed him. Earlier, when Liu built Hangzhou's outer wall, he told his staff, "A tower every ten paces will make it secure." Chief secretary Luo Yin of Yuhang said, "Better build them all facing inward." Now people saw that Yin's advice had been proved right.
36
庚戌，李茂貞出兵夜襲奉天，虜汴將倪章、邵棠以歸。 乙未，茂貞大出兵，與朱全忠戰，不勝，暮歸，汴兵追之，幾入西門。
On gengxu day, Li Maozhen raided Fengtian by night and captured Bian generals Ni Zhang and Shao Tang. On yiwei day, Maozhen led a great army against Zhu Quanzhong, was beaten, and returned at dusk with Bian troops in pursuit almost through the west gate.
37
己亥，再起復前戶部侍郎、同平章事韋貽范，使姚洎草制。 貽范不讓，即表謝，明日，視事。
On jihai day, former vice minister of revenue and associate chief minister Wei Yifan was recalled from mourning again, with Yao Ji ordered to draft the edict. Yifan did not decline, submitted his thanks at once, and took up office the next day.
38
西川兵請假道於興元，山南西道節度使李繼密遣兵戍三泉以拒之。 辛丑，西川前鋒將王宗播攻之，不克，退保山寨。 親吏柳修業謂宗播曰：「公舉族歸人，不為之死戰，何以自保？」 宗播令其眾曰：「吾與汝曹決戰取功名； 不爾，死於此！」 遂破金牛、黑水、西縣、褒城四寨。 軍校秦承厚攻西縣，矢貫左目，達於右目，鏃不出。 王建自舐其創，膿潰鏃出。 王宗播攻馬盤寨，繼密戰敗，奔還漢中。 西川軍乘勝至城下，王宗滌帥眾先登，遂克之，繼密請降，遷於成都。 得兵三萬，騎五千，宗滌入屯漢中。 王建曰：「繼密殘賊三輔，以其降，不忍殺。」 復其姓名曰王萬弘，不時召見諸將陵易之。 萬弘終日縱酒，俳優輩亦加戲誚。 萬弘不勝憂憤，醉投池水而卒。
Xichuan forces asked passage through Xingyuan; Shannan West Circuit military governor Li Jimi garrisoned Sanquan to block them. On xinchou day, Xichuan vanguard Wang Zongbo attacked but failed and withdrew to a mountain stockade. His personal clerk Liu Xiuye said to Zongbo, "You brought your whole clan to submit—if you will not fight to the death for your lord, how will you save yourselves? Zongbo told his men, "I will fight a decisive battle with you for honor and reward; otherwise we die here!" They then captured the four stockades at Jinniu, Heishui, Xixian, and Baocheng. Army officer Qin Chenghou led the assault on Xixian and took an arrow through his left eye and out his right; the head could not be removed. Wang Jian licked the wound himself; when the pus burst, the arrowhead came free. Wang Zongbo attacked Mapan stockade; Jimi was beaten and fled back to Hanzhong. Xichuan forces pressed their advantage to the walls; Wang Zongdi led the first assault and took the city. Jimi surrendered and was sent to Chengdu. They took thirty thousand troops and five thousand horses, and Zongdi garrisoned Hanzhong. Wang Jian said, "Jimi ravaged the Three Adjuncts as a rebel holdout; since he has surrendered, I cannot bring myself to kill him. He restored his original name, Wang Wanhong, and from time to time had him appear before the generals, who humiliated him. Wanhong drank all day, and the entertainers piled on taunts and ridicule. Unable to bear the shame and rage, Wanhong got drunk, threw himself into a pool, and drowned.
39
詔以王宗滌為山南西道節度使。 宗滌有勇略，得眾心，王建忌之。 建作府門，繪以朱丹，蜀人謂之「畫紅樓」，建以宗滌姓名應之，王宗佶等疾其功，復構以飛語。 建召宗滌至成都，詰責之，宗滌曰：「三蜀略平，大王聽讒，殺功臣可矣。」 建命親隨馬軍都指揮使唐道襲夜飲之酒，縊殺之，成都為之罷市，連營涕泣，如喪親戚。 建以指揮使王宗賀權興元留後。 道襲，閬州人也，始以舞童事建，後浸預謀畫。
An edict made Wang Zongdi military governor of the Shannan West Circuit. Zongdi was bold and capable and won the troops' loyalty, and Wang Jian grew jealous. Jian built a new prefectural gate and painted it red; the people of Shu called it the "Scarlet Tower," and Jian claimed Zongdi's name matched the omen. Wang Zongji and others, envious of his achievements, spread fresh rumors against him. Jian summoned Zongdi to Chengdu and rebuked him. Zongdi said, "The Three Shu are nearly pacified; if you listen to slander, go ahead and kill your loyal general. Jian had his personal attendant and cavalry commander Tang Daoxi ply him with wine at night and then strangle him. Chengdu shut its markets in mourning, and camp after camp wept as though they had lost kin. Jian appointed commander Wang Zonghe acting regent of Xingyuan. Daoxi was from Langzhou. He had begun as a dancing boy in Jian's service and gradually came to share in his counsels.
40
九月，乙巳，朱全忠以久雨，士卒病，召諸將議引兵歸河中，親從指揮使高季昌、左開道指揮使劉知俊曰：「天下英雄，窺此舉一歲矣。 今茂貞已困，奈何捨之去！」 全忠患李茂貞堅壁不出，季昌請以譎計誘致之。 募有能入城為諜者，騎士馬景請行，曰：「此行必死，願大王錄其妻子。」 全忠惻然止之，景不可。 時全忠遣朱友倫發兵於大梁，明日將至，當出兵迓之。 景請因此時給駿馬雜眾騎而出，全忠從之，命諸軍皆秣馬飽士。 丁未旦，偃旗幟潛伏，無得妄出，營中寂如無人。 景與眾騎皆出，忽躍馬西去，詐為逃亡，入城告茂貞曰：「全忠舉軍遁矣，獨留傷病者近萬人守營，今夕亦去矣，請速擊之！」 於是茂貞開門，悉眾攻全忠營，全忠鼓於中軍，百營俱出，縱兵擊之，又遣數百騎據其城門，鳳翔軍進退失據，自蹈藉，殺傷殆盡。 茂貞自是喪氣，始議與全忠連和，奉車駕還京，不復以詔書勒全忠還鎮矣。 全忠表季昌為宋州團練使。 季昌，硤石人，本朱友恭之僕夫也。
In the ninth month, on yisi day, prolonged rain had sickened Zhu Quanzhong's troops, and he called his generals to discuss pulling back to Hezhong. His personal attendant commander Gao Jichang and Left Vanguard commander Liu Zhijun said, "Every power in the realm has watched this siege for a year. Maozhen is already at bay—how can we walk away now! Quanzhong was frustrated that Li Maozhen would not leave his walls, and Jichang proposed a ruse to draw him out. He sought someone who could enter the city as a spy. Cavalryman Ma Jing stepped forward and said, "This mission will cost me my life; I ask that you provide for my wife and children. Quanzhong was moved and tried to dissuade him, but Jing would not be stopped. Quanzhong had already sent Zhu Youlun to raise troops at Daliang; they were due the next day, and the army would have to march out to meet them. Jing asked to take a swift horse and ride out among the other horsemen at that moment. Quanzhong agreed and ordered every unit to feed its horses and fill its men's bellies. At dawn on dingwei day the army lowered its banners and lay hidden; no one was to stir without orders, and the camp fell silent as if deserted. Jing rode out with the other horsemen, then suddenly spurred west as if deserting. Inside the city he told Maozhen, "Quanzhong has fled with the whole army, leaving nearly ten thousand wounded and sick to hold the camp; they will pull out tonight too—strike at once! Maozhen opened the gates and sent his whole force against Quanzhong's camp. Quanzhong sounded the drums at headquarters, every camp poured out, and he sent hundreds of riders to seize the gates. The Fengxiang army lost all room to advance or retreat, trampled one another, and was nearly wiped out. From then on Maozhen lost heart and began to talk peace with Quanzhong, offering to send the emperor back to the capital and no longer pressing him with edicts to withdraw. Quanzhong recommended Jichang for appointment as regimental commissioner of Songzhou. Jichang was from Xiashi and had once been a servant of Zhu Yougong."
41
戊申，武定節度使李思敬以洋州降王建。
On wushen day, Wuding military governor Li Sijing surrendered Yangzhou to Wang Jian.
42
辛亥，李茂貞盡出騎兵於鄰州就芻糧。 壬子，朱全忠穿蚰蜒壕圍鳳翔，設大舖、鈴架以絕內外。
On xinhai day, Li Maozhen sent all his cavalry into neighboring prefectures to forage for fodder and grain. On renzi day, Zhu Quanzhong dug serpentine trenches around Fengxiang and erected large sheds and alarm frames to seal the city off.
43
癸亥，以茂貞為鳳翔、靜難、武定、昭武四鎮節度使。
On guihai day, Maozhen was confirmed as military governor of Fengxiang, Jingnan, Wuding, and Zhaowu.
44
或勸錢鏐渡江東保越州，以避徐、許之難。 杜建微按劍叱之曰：「事或不濟，同死於此，豈可復東度乎！」 鏐恐徐綰等據越州，遣大將顧全武將兵戍之。 全武曰：「越州不足往，不若之廣陵。 鏐曰：「何故？」 對曰：「聞綰等謀詔田頵，田頵至，淮南助之，不可敵也。」 建徽曰：「孫儒之難，王嘗有德於楊公，今往告之，宜有以相報。」 鏐命全武告急於楊行密，全武曰：「徒往無益，請得王子為質。」 鏐命其子傳鐐微服為全武僕，與偕之廣陵，且求婚於行密。 過潤州，團練使安仁義愛傅鐐清麗，將以十僕易之。 全武夜半賂閽者逃去。
Some urged Qian Liu to cross the river to Yuezhou and make a stand there to escape the threat from Xu Kuan and Xu Zaisi. Du Jianhui drew his sword and shouted them down: "If we fail, we die here together—how can we flee east again! Liu feared Xu Kuan might seize Yuezhou and sent his chief general Gu Quanwu to garrison the city. Quanwu said, "Yuezhou is no refuge—we should go to Guangling instead. Liu asked, "Why? He replied, "I hear Kuan and his allies mean to summon Tian Yun. Once Yun arrives with Huainan's backing, we cannot stand against them. Jianhui said, "When Sun Ru threatened us, you once did Yang a favor. If we appeal to him now, he should repay it. Liu ordered Quanwu to seek aid from Yang Xingmi. Quanwu said, "A bare appeal will do no good—I need a prince as hostage. Liu sent his son Chuanliao in plain dress as Quanwu's servant to Guangling and asked for a marriage alliance with Xingmi. At Runzhou, regimental commissioner An Renyi was taken with Chuanliao's handsome looks and tried to trade ten servants for him. Quanwu bribed the gatekeepers at midnight and slipped away.
45
綰等果召田頵，頵引兵赴之，先遣親吏何饒謂鏐曰：「請大王東如越州，空府廨以相待，無為殺士卒！」 鏐報曰：「軍中叛亂，何方無之！ 公為節帥，乃助賊為逆。 戰則亟戰，又何大言！」 頵築壘絕往來之道。 鏐患之，募能奪其地者賞以州。 衢州制置使陳璋將卒三百出城奮擊，遂奪其地，鏐即以為衢州刺史。 顧全武至廣陵，說楊行密曰：「使田頵得志，必為王患。 王召頵還，錢王請以子傳□□為質，且求婚。」 行密許之，以女妻傅鐐。
Kuan and his allies did summon Tian Yun, who marched to join them and first sent his clerk He Rao to Liu with this message: "Go east to Yuezhou and leave your offices empty for us—spare your soldiers' lives! Liu replied, "Mutiny happens in every army! You hold a governor's commission, yet you aid rebels in treason. If you want a fight, then fight—enough of your bluster! Yun threw up fortifications and cut off the roads. Alarmed, Liu offered a prefecture to whoever could break the blockade. Quzhou commissioner Chen Zhang led three hundred men out in a fierce assault, broke the blockade, and Liu immediately made him prefect of Quzhou. Gu Quanwu reached Guangling and told Yang Xingmi, "If Tian Yun succeeds, he will become your gravest threat. Recall Yun, and the King of Qian will leave his son Chuanliao as hostage and seek a marriage alliance. Xingmi agreed and gave his daughter to Chuanliao in marriage.
46
冬，十月，李儼至楊州，楊行密始建制敕院，每有封拜，輒以告儼，於紫極宮玄宗像前陳制書，再拜然後下。
In winter, in the tenth month, Li Yan arrived at Yangzhou. Yang Xingmi then set up an office for imperial edicts; whenever he made an appointment or enfeoffment, he informed Yan, presented the edict before the image of Emperor Xuanzong in Ziji Palace, bowed twice, and only then took his seat.
47
王建攻拔興州，以軍使王宗浩為興州刺史。
Wang Jian captured Xingzhou and appointed army commissioner Wang Zonghao its prefect.
48
戊寅夜，李茂貞假子彥詢帥三團步兵奔於汴軍。 己卯，李彥韜繼之。
On the night of wuyin day, Li Maozhen's adopted son Yanxun led three infantry regiments in desertion to the Bian camp. On jimao day, Li Yantao followed suit.
49
庚辰，朱全忠遣幕僚司馬鄴奉表入城。 甲申，又遣使獻熊白，自是獻食物、繒帛相繼。 上皆先以示李茂貞，使啟視之，茂貞亦不敢啟。 丙戌，復遣使請與茂貞議連和，民出城樵采者皆不抄掠。 丁亥，全忠表請修宮闕及迎車駕。 己丑，遣國子司業薛昌祚、內使王延繢繼詔賜全忠。 癸巳，茂貞復出兵擊汴軍城西寨，敗還。 全忠以絳袍衣降者，使招呼城中人，鳳翔軍夜縋去，及因樵采去不返者甚眾。 是後茂貞或遣兵出擊汴軍，多不為用，散還。 茂貞疑上與全忠有密約，壬寅，更於御院北垣外增兵防衛。
On gengchen day, Zhu Quanzhong sent staff officer Sima Ye into the city with a memorial. On jiashen day he sent envoys again, this time with bear's paw, and thereafter food and silk gifts arrived in steady succession. The emperor always showed the gifts to Li Maozhen first and had him open them, but Maozhen did not dare. On bingxu day he sent envoys again to negotiate peace with Maozhen, and civilians who left the city to gather firewood were left unmolested. On dinghai day Quanzhong memorialized asking to restore the palace and escort the emperor home. On jichou day he sent Directorate of Education director Xue Changzuo and palace commissioner Wang Yanhui with further edicts for Quanzhong. On guisi day Maozhen attacked the Bian camp west of the city again and was beaten back. Quanzhong dressed defectors in crimson robes and had them call to the city. Fengxiang troops slipped out by rope at night, and many others left on the pretext of gathering firewood and never came back. After that, when Maozhen sent troops out against the Bian army, many refused to fight and drifted back. Suspecting a secret pact between the emperor and Quanzhong, Maozhen on renyin day posted more guards outside the north wall of the imperial compound.
50
十一月，癸卯朔，保大節度使李茂勳帥其眾萬餘人救鳳翔，屯於城北阪上，與城中舉烽相應。
In the eleventh month, on the guimao new moon, Baoda military governor Li Maoxun marched more than ten thousand men to relieve Fengxiang, camped on the slope north of the city, and exchanged beacon signals with the defenders.
51
甲辰，上使趙國夫人詗學士院二使皆不在，亟召韓偓、姚洎，竊見之於土門外，執手相泣。 洎請上速還，恐為它人所見，上遽去。
On jiachen day the emperor sent the Lady of Zhao to the Hanlin Academy, but both commissioners were away. He urgently summoned Han Wo and Yao Ji and met them secretly outside Tumen Gate, weeping as they clasped hands. Yao Ji urged the emperor to return at once, fearing they would be seen, and the emperor hurried off.
52
朱全忠遣其將孔勍、李暉將兵乘虛襲鄜、坊。 壬子，拔坊州。 甲寅，大雪，汴軍冒之夕進，五鼓，抵庸阜州城下。 鄜人不為備，汴軍入城，城中兵尚八千人，格鬥至午，鄜人始敗，擒留守李繼鐐。 就撫存李茂勳及將士之家，按堵無擾，命李暉權知軍府事。 茂勳聞之，引兵遁去。 汴軍每夜鳴鼓角，城中地如動。 攻城者詬城上人云「劫天子賊」，乘城者詬城下人云「奪天子賊」。 是冬，大雪，城中食盡，凍餒死者不可勝計，或臥未死，肉已為人所冎。 市中賣人肉斤直錢百，犬肉值五百。 茂貞儲偫亦竭，以犬彘供御膳。 上鬻御衣及小皇子衣於市以充用，削漬松梯以飼御馬。
Zhu Quanzhong sent Kong Qing and Li Hui to strike Yan and Fang while their defenses were thin. On renzi day they captured Fangzhou. On jiayin day a heavy snow fell. The Bian army marched through it by night and at the fifth watch reached the walls of Yanzhou. The people of Yanzhou were unprepared. The Bian army entered the city, where eight thousand defenders fought until noon before yielding. They captured regent Li Jiliao. They reassured the families of Maoxun and his officers, kept the city quiet, and put Li Hui in temporary charge of the prefecture. When Maoxun heard the news, he fled with his army. Each night the Bian drums and horns shook the ground inside the city. The besiegers shouted at the walls, "Kidnappers of the emperor!" The defenders shouted back, "Usurpers of the emperor!" That winter snow piled deep, food ran out, and the dead from cold and hunger were beyond count. Some still lay alive while others butchered them for meat. Human flesh sold in the market for a hundred cash a pound; dog meat went for five hundred. Maozhen's stores were gone too, and the imperial table was fed on dog and pig. The emperor sold imperial robes and the young princes' clothes in the market to raise money, and shaved soaked pine ladders to feed the imperial horses.
53
丙子，戶部侍郎、同平章事韋貽范薨。
On bingzi day, vice minister of revenue and associate chief minister Wei Yifan died.
54
癸亥，朱全忠遣人薙城外草以困城中。 甲子，李茂貞增兵守宮門，諸宦官自度不免，互相尤怨。
On guihai day Zhu Quanzhong had the grass outside the walls cut to deny the city any forage. On jiazi day Maozhen posted more guards at the palace gates. The eunuchs, each sure he would not survive, turned on one another in blame and recrimination.
55
蘇檢數為韓偓經營入相，言於茂貞及中尉、樞密，且遣親吏告偓，偓怒曰：「公與韋公自貶所召歸，旬月致位宰相，訖不能有所為。 今朝夕不濟，乃欲以此相污邪！」 田頵急攻杭州，仍具舟將自西陵渡江。 錢鏐遣其將盛造、朱郁拒破之。
Su Jian had been lobbying to make Han Wo chief minister, speaking to Maozhen and the chief eunuchs and also sending a personal clerk to tell Wo. Wo snapped, "You and Wei Yifan were recalled from exile and made chief ministers within a month, yet you accomplished nothing. Now, with the court on the brink of ruin, you would drag me down with you! Tian Yun pressed the attack on Hangzhou and prepared boats to cross the river from Xiling himself. Qian Liu sent Sheng Zao and Zhu Yu to repel and defeat them.
56
十二月，李茂勳遣使請降於朱全忠，更名周彝。 於是茂貞山南州鎮皆入王建，關中州鎮皆入全忠，坐守孤城。 乃密謀誅宦官以自贖，遺全忠書曰：「禍亂之興，皆由全誨。 僕迎駕至此，以備他盜。 公既志匡社稷，請公迎扈還宮，僕以弊甲雕兵，從公陳力。」 全忠復書曰：「僕舉兵至此，正以乘輿播遷； 公能協力，固所願也。」
In the twelfth month Li Maoxun sent envoys to surrender to Zhu Quanzhong and changed his name to Zhou Yi. By then every prefecture south of the mountains had fallen to Wang Jian and every stronghold in Guanzhong to Quanzhong, leaving Maozhen holding a lone city. He then secretly plotted to kill the eunuchs to redeem himself and wrote Quanzhong: "This disaster began with Han Quanhui. I brought the emperor here to protect him from other predators. Since you mean to restore the realm, welcome the emperor back to the capital and I will follow with what battered troops I have left. Quanzhong wrote back: "I marched here because the emperor was driven from the capital; if you will work with me, that is exactly what I want."
57
楊行密使人召田頵曰：「不還，吾且使人代鎮宣州。」 庚辰，頵將還，征犒軍錢二十萬緡於錢鏐，且求鏐子為質，將妻以女。 鏐謂諸子：「孰能為田氏婿者？」 莫對。 鏐欲遣幼子傳球，傳球不可。 鏐怒，將殺之。 次子傳瓘請行，吳夫人泣曰：「奈何置兒虎口！」 傳鏐曰：「紓國家之難，安敢愛身！」 再拜而出，鏐泣送之。 傳瓘從數人縋北門而下。 頵與徐綰、許再思同歸宣州。 鏐奪傳球內牙兵印。
Yang Xingmi sent for Tian Yun with this message: "If you do not return, I will replace you as governor of Xuanzhou. On gengchen day, as Yun prepared to withdraw, he exacted two hundred thousand strings in troop-reward money from Qian Liu, demanded a son of Liu as hostage, and offered his own wife's hand to a daughter in marriage. Liu asked his sons, "Which of you will marry into the Tian family? No one replied. Liu meant to send his youngest son Chuanqiu, but Chuanqiu would not go. Enraged, Liu was on the point of executing him. The second son, Chuangun, offered to go instead. Lady Wu wept and cried, "How can you throw our son to the tiger! Chuangun replied, "To relieve the realm's peril—how could I cling to my own life! He bowed twice and departed; Liu wept as he sent him away. Chuangun and a handful of men were let down by rope from the North Gate. Yun withdrew to Xuanzhou with Xu Wan and Xu Zaisi. Liu stripped Chuanqiu of his seal as commander of the Inner Guard.
58
越州客軍指揮使張洪以徐綰之黨自疑，帥步兵三百奔衢州，刺史陳璋納之。 溫州將丁章逐刺史朱敖，敖奔福州。 章據溫州，田頵遣使招之，道出衢州。 陳璋聽其往還，錢鏐由是恨璋。
Zhang Hong, commander of the Yuezhou guest army, fearing guilt by association with Xu Wan's party, led three hundred foot soldiers in flight to Quzhou, where Prefect Chen Zhang took them in. Ding Zhang, a Wenzhou officer, expelled Prefect Zhu Ao, who fled to Fuzhou. Zhang seized Wenzhou. Tian Yun sent envoys to win him over, and their route lay through Quzhou. Chen Zhang let the envoys pass freely in both directions, and Qian Liu came to resent him for it.
59
丁酉，上召李茂貞、蘇檢、李繼誨、李彥弼、李繼岌、李繼遠、李繼忠食，議與朱全忠和，上曰：「十六宅諸王以下，凍餒死者日有數人。 在內諸王及公主、妃嬪，一日食粥，一日食湯餅，今亦竭矣。 卿等意如何？」 皆不對。 上曰：「速當和解耳！」
On dingyou day the emperor summoned Li Maozhen, Su Jian, Li Jihui, Li Yanbi, Li Jiji, Li Jiyuan, and Li Jizhong to dine and discuss peace with Zhu Quanzhong. The emperor said, "Below the princes of the Sixteen Mansions, several people die of cold and hunger every day. The princes within the palace, the princesses, and the consorts alternate gruel one day with soup-noodles the next—and even that is gone. What do you counsel?" No one spoke. The emperor said, "We must settle this at once!"
60
鳳翔兵十餘人遮韓全誨於左銀台門，喧罵曰：「闔境塗炭，闔城餒死，正為軍容輩數人耳！」 全誨叩頭訴於茂貞，茂貞曰：「卒輩何知！」 命酌酒兩杯，對飲而罷。 又訴於上，上亦諭解之。 李繼昭謂全誨曰：「昔楊軍容破楊守亮一族，今軍容亦破繼昭一族邪！」 慢罵之，遂出降於全忠，複姓苻，名道昭。
A dozen Fengxiang soldiers waylaid Han Quanhui at the Left Yintai Gate and shouted, "The whole country burns, the whole city starves—and for what? For a handful of Military Affairs Commissioners like you! Quanhui kowtowed and pleaded with Maozhen, who said, "What do rank-and-file soldiers know! He had two cups of wine poured; they drank together and let it drop. Quanhui appealed to the emperor as well, and the emperor too urged reconciliation. Li Jizhao told Quanhui, "Yang the Military Affairs Commissioner once wiped out Yang Shouliang's entire clan—is this Military Affairs Commissioner going to wipe out Jizhao's clan too! He cursed Quanhui to his face, then left and surrendered to Quanzhong, resuming his original surname Fu and the name Daozhao.
61
是歲，虔州刺史盧光稠攻嶺南，陷韶州，使其子延昌守之，進圍潮州。 清海留後劉隱發兵擊走之，乘勝進攻韶州。 隱弟陟以為延昌右虔州之援，未可遽取。 隱下從，逐圍韶州。 會江漲，饋運不繼，光稠自虔州引兵救之。 其將譚全播伏精兵萬人於山谷，以羸弱挑戰，大破隱於城南，隱奔還。 全播悉以功讓諸將，光稠益賢之。
That year Lu Guangchou, prefect of Qianzhou, attacked Lingnan, took Shaozhou and left his son Yanchang to garrison it, then pressed on to besiege Chaozhou. Liu Yin, acting commissioner of Qinghai, marched out, routed him, and pursued the victory against Shaozhou. Yin's brother Zhi argued that with Qianzhou backing Yanchang, Shaozhou could not be seized in a rush. Yin agreed and redirected the siege to Shaozhou. The rivers swelled, supplies failed, and Guangchou marched from Qianzhou to relieve the city. His general Tan Quanbo concealed ten thousand picked troops in a valley, drew the enemy with a feigned weak force, and shattered Yin south of the city; Yin fled homeward. Quanbo ascribed the whole victory to his fellow commanders, and Guangchou valued him all the more.
62
岳州刺史鄧進思卒，弟進忠自稱刺史。
Deng Jinsi, prefect of Yuezhou, died, and his younger brother Jinzhong proclaimed himself prefect.
63
昭宗聖穆景文孝皇帝中之下天復三年（ 癸亥，公元九零三年）
Emperor Zhaozong the Sagely, Solemn, Brilliant, and Cultured Filial, middle section, second part—Tianfu year 3 ( guihai cycle, corresponding to 903 CE)
64
春，正月，甲辰，遣殿中侍御史崔構、供奉官郭遵誨詣朱全忠營。 丙午，李茂貞亦遣牙將郭啟期往議和解。
In spring, in the first month, on jiachen day the court dispatched Palace Diarist Cui Gou and Palace Attendant Guo Zunhui to Zhu Quanzhong's camp. On bingwu day Maozhen too sent his staff officer Guo Qiqi to discuss reconciliation.
65
平盧節度使王師範，頗好學，以忠義自許，為治有聲跡。 朱全忠圍鳳翔，韓全誨以詔書征籓鎮兵入援乘輿，師範見之，泣下沾衿，曰：「吾屬為帝室籓屏，豈得坐視天子困辱如此。 各擁強兵，但自衛乎！」 會張濬自長水亦遺之書，勸舉義兵。 師範曰：「張公言正會吾意，夫復何疑！ 雖力不足，當死生以之。」 時關東兵多從全忠在鳳翔，師範分遣諸將詐為貢獻及商販，包束兵仗，載以小車，入汴、徐、兗、鄆、齊、沂、河南、孟、滑、河中、陝、虢、華等州，期以同日俱發，討全忠。 適諸州者多事洩被擒，獨行軍司馬劉鄩取兗州。 時泰寧節度使葛從周悉將其屯邢州，鄩先遣人為販油者入城，詗其虛實及兵所從入。 丙午，鄩將精兵五百夜自水竇入，比明，軍城悉定，市人皆不知。 鄩據府捨，拜從周母，每旦省竭； 待其妻子，甚有恩禮； 子弟職掌、供億如故。
Wang Shifan, military governor of Pinglu, loved learning, styled himself a man of loyalty and righteousness, and governed to wide acclaim. When Zhu Quanzhong besieged Fengxiang, Han Quanhui issued an edict summoning feudatory armies to rescue the emperor. Shifan wept until his collar was wet and said, "We are the throne's shield—how can we watch the Son of Heaven endure such humiliation. Each of us commands a powerful army, yet we do nothing but look to our own safety! About then Zhang Jun sent a letter from Changshui as well, urging him to take up arms. Shifan said, "Lord Zhang speaks my mind exactly—what is there to hesitate over! Even if our strength falls short, I will stake my life on it. Most eastern troops were with Quanzhong at Fengxiang. Shifan dispatched his generals in disguise—as tribute missions and merchants—packing arms on small carts into Bian, Xu, Yan, Yun, Qi, Yi, Henan, Meng, Hua, Hezhong, Shan, Guo, Hua, and other prefectures, intending a simultaneous rising against Quanzhong. In most prefectures the scheme leaked and the men were seized; only marching commander Liu Yan seized Yanzhou. Ge Congzhou, military governor of Taining, had then marched his entire garrison to Xingzhou. Yan first sent men disguised as oil sellers into the city to probe its defenses and the point of entry. On bingwu day Yan led five hundred elite troops at night through the water gate; by dawn the garrison city was fully in his hands, and the townspeople never knew. Yan took the governor's compound, paid respects to Congzhou's mother, and attended her each dawn; he treated Congzhou's wife and children with marked kindness; the sons kept their offices and allowances unchanged.
66
是日，青州牙將張居厚帥壯士二百將小車至華州東城，知州事婁敬思疑其有異，剖視之。 其徒大呼，殺敬思，攻西城。 崔胤在華州，帥眾拒之，不克，走至商州，追獲之。
That same day Zhang Juhou, a Qingzhou staff officer, led two hundred toughs with small carts to Hua Prefecture's east wall; Lou Jingsi, acting prefect, grew suspicious and sliced open the bundles. The men raised a cry, killed Jingsi, and stormed the west wall. Cui Yin was in Hua Prefecture and led the people in resistance but failed; the raiders fled toward Shang Prefecture and were run down and captured.
67
全忠留節度判官裴迪守大梁，師範遣走卒繼書至大梁，迪問以東方事，走卒色動。 迪察其有變，屏人問之，走卒具以實告。 迪不暇白全忠，亟請馬步都指揮使朱友寧將兵萬餘人東巡兗、鄆。 友寧召葛從周於邢州，共攻師範。 全忠聞變，亦分兵先歸，使友寧並將之。
Quanzhong left his governor's judge Pei Di to hold Daliang. Shifan sent a runner with a letter; when Di asked about the east, the runner's face betrayed him. Di sensed trouble, dismissed the room, and pressed the runner, who confessed the whole plot. Without reporting to Quanzhong, Di urgently asked Zhu Youning, commander of horse and foot, to lead more than ten thousand men east to patrol Yan and Yun. Youning called Ge Congzhou down from Xingzhou, and the two marched against Shifan. When Quanzhong learned of the uprising he too sent part of his army back ahead of him and placed Youning in supreme command.
68
戊申，李茂貞獨見上，中尉韓全誨、張彥弘、樞密使袁易簡、周敬容皆不得對。 茂貞請誅全誨等，與朱全忠和解，奉車駕還京。 上喜，即遣內養帥鳳翔卒四十人收全誨等，斬之。 以御食使弟五可范為左軍中尉，宣徽南院使仇承坦為右軍中尉，王知古為上院樞密使，楊虔朗為下院樞密使。 是夕，又斬李繼筠、李繼誨、李彥弼及內諸司使韋處廷等十六人。 己酉，遣韓偓及趙國夫人詣全忠營，又遣使囊全誨等二十餘人首以示全忠，曰：「曏來脅留車駕，懼罪離間，不欲協和，皆此曹也。 今朕與茂貞決意誅之，卿可曉諭諸軍，以豁眾憤。」 辛亥，全忠遣觀察判官李振奉表入謝。
On wushen day Maozhen saw the emperor alone; Chief Eunuchs Han Quanhui and Zhang Yanhong and Privy Councilors Yuan Yijian and Zhou Jingrong were barred from the audience. Maozhen asked that Quanhui and his circle be executed, that peace be made with Zhu Quanzhong, and that the emperor be escorted back to the capital. The emperor was delighted and at once sent inner attendants at the head of forty Fengxiang soldiers to seize Quanhui and the rest and behead them. Diwu Kefan, younger brother of the Imperial Food Commissioner, was appointed Left Chief Eunuch; Qiu Chengtan, commissioner of the Southern Court of the Palace Secretariat, Right Chief Eunuch; Wang Zhigu upper Privy Councilor; and Yang Qianlang lower Privy Councilor. That same night Li Jiyun, Li Jihui, Li Yanbi, and sixteen others including Inner Palace Bureau Commissioner Wei Chuting were beheaded as well. On jiyou day Han Wo and the Lady of Zhao State were sent to Quanzhong's camp, and messengers carried the heads of Quanhui and more than twenty others to show him, with this message: "These men coerced the emperor's detention, then feared punishment and blocked peace— Maozhen and I have now killed them. Explain this to the armies and ease the soldiers' wrath." On xinhai day Quanzhong sent his observation judge Li Zhen to present a memorial of thanks.
69
全誨等已誅，而全忠圍猶未解。 茂貞疑崔胤教全忠欲必取鳳翔，白上急召胤，令帥百官赴行在。 凡四降詔，三賜朱書御札，言甚切至，悉復故官爵，胤竟稱疾不至。 茂貞懼，自致書於胤，辭甚卑遜。 全忠亦以書召胤，且戲之曰：「吾未識天子，須公來辨其是非。」 胤始來。
Quanhui and his circle were dead, yet Quanzhong's siege remained. Maozhen suspected Cui Yin had urged Quanzhong to demand Fengxiang outright; he told the emperor to summon Yin at once and ordered him to bring the hundred officials to the traveling court. Four edicts went out, and three vermilion imperial letters, urgent and pleading, restored every former rank—but Yin still pleaded illness and stayed away. Maozhen grew afraid and wrote Yin himself, in the most abject terms. Quanzhong summoned Yin as well and teased him: "I have never met the emperor; I need you to tell me whether he is real or not. Only then did Yin set out.
70
甲寅，鳳翔始啟城門。 丙辰，全忠巡諸寨，至城北，有鳳翔兵自北山下，全忠疑其逼己，遣兵擊之，擒其將李繼欽。 上遣趙國夫人、馮翊夫人詣全忠營詰其故，全忠遣親吏蔣玄暉奉表入奏。
On jiayin day Fengxiang finally opened its gates. On bingchen day Quanzhong toured the camps. Near the north wall, Fengxiang troops descended from the northern hills; Quanzhong took it for an attack on him and sent men to strike them, capturing their commander Li Jiqin. The emperor sent the Lady of Zhao State and the Lady of Fenyang to Quanzhong's camp to demand an explanation; Quanzhong dispatched his personal clerk Jiang Xuanhui to memorialize the court.
71
李茂貞請以其子侃尚平原公主，又欲以蘇檢女為景王秘妃以自固。 平原公主，何-{后}-之女也，-{后}-意難之。 上曰：「且令我得出，何憂爾女！」 後乃從之。 壬戌，平原公主嫁宋侃。 納景王妃蘇氏。 時鳳翔所誅宦官已七十二人，朱全忠又密令京兆搜捕致仕不從行者，誅九十人。
Li Maozhen asked that his son Kan marry Princess Pingyuan and also sought to install Su Jian's daughter as Prince Jing's consort to strengthen his position. Princess Pingyuan was Empress He's daughter, and the empress balked at the match. The emperor said, "Once I am free of this place, what need to worry over your daughter! Only then did she agree. On renxu day Princess Pingyuan was married to Song Kan. Lady Su of the Su clan was taken in as Prince Jing's consort. By then seventy-two eunuchs had already been killed at Fengxiang; Zhu Quanzhong also secretly ordered the capital prefect to hunt down retired eunuchs who had not followed the court into exile, and ninety more were executed.
72
甲子，車駕出鳳翔，幸全忠營，全忠素服待罪。 命客省使宣旨釋罪，去三仗，止報平安，以公服入謝。 全忠見上，頓首流涕。 上命韓偓扶起之。 上亦泣，曰：「宗廟社稷，賴卿再安； 朕與宗族，賴卿再生。」 親解玉帶以賜之。 少休，即行。 全忠單騎前導十許裡，上辭之。 全忠乃令朱友倫將兵扈從，自留部分後隊，焚撤諸寨。 友倫，存之子也。 是夕，車駕宿岐山。 丁卯，至興平，崔胤始帥百官迎謁，復以胤為司空、門下侍郎、同平章事，領三司如故。 己巳，入長安。
On jiazi day the emperor left Fengxiang and entered Quanzhong's camp; Quanzhong met him in undyed mourning garb, awaiting judgment. The emperor ordered the Guest Reception Commissioner to announce absolution, dispense with the three ceremonial guards, require only a report of "peace," and admit Quanzhong in court dress to give thanks. Quanzhong saw the emperor, kowtowed, and wept aloud. The emperor told Han Wo to raise him up. The emperor wept too and said, "The altars of state owe their restoration to you; I and my kin owe you our lives. With that he unfastened his jade belt and gave it to him. After a short rest they departed at once. Quanzhong rode alone ahead for some ten li as escort; the emperor declined. Quanzhong then put Zhu Youlun in command of the escort while he stayed behind with the rear guard, burning and breaking up the camps. Youlun was Zhu Cun's son. That night the emperor slept at Qishan. On dingmao day they reached Xingping; Cui Yin at last led the hundred officials out to welcome them, and Yin was restored as Minister of Works, Vice Director of the Secretariat, Associate Chief Minister, and head of the Three Fiscal Agencies. On jisi day they entered Chang'an.
73
庚午，全忠、崔胤同對。 胤奏：「國初承平之時，宦官不典兵預政。 天寶以來，宦官浸盛。 貞元之末，分羽林衛為左、右神策軍以便衛從，始令宦官主之，以二千人為定制。 自是參掌機密，奪百司權，上下彌縫，共為不法，大則構扇籓鎮，傾危國家； 小則賣官鬻獄，蠹害朝政。 王室衰亂，職此之由，不翦其根，禍終不已。 請悉罷內諸司使，其事務盡歸之省寺，諸道監軍俱召還闕下。」 上從之。 是日，全忠以兵驅宦官第五可范等數百人於內侍省，盡殺之，冤號之聲，徹於內外。 出使外方者，詔所在收捕誅之，止留黃衣幼弱者三十人以備灑掃。 又詔成德節度使王鎔選進五十人充敕使，取其土風深厚、人性謹樸也。 上愍可范等或無罪，為文祭之。 自是宣傳詔命，皆令宮人出入。 其兩軍內外八鎮兵悉屬六軍，以崔胤兼判六軍十二衛事。
On gengwu day Quanzhong and Cui Yin attended audience together. Yin memorialized: "At the founding, in times of peace, eunuchs neither commanded troops nor meddled in government. From the Tianbao era onward, eunuch power steadily increased. Near the end of the Zhenyuan reign, the Imperial Guard was divided into the Left and Right Divine Strategy Armies to serve as the emperor's escort, and eunuchs were placed in command for the first time, with a fixed strength of two thousand men each. From then on they shared in confidential affairs, stripped the hundred offices of their powers, covered for one another from top to bottom, and together broke the law; at their worst they stirred up the military governors and shook the state to its foundations; at their petty worst they sold offices and judgments, poisoning the governance of the court. The throne's decline sprang chiefly from this; unless the root were cut away, calamity would never cease. I ask that all the inner palace commissioners be abolished outright, that their business be returned entirely to the ministries and courts, and that the army supervisors in every circuit be recalled to the capital. The emperor agreed. That same day Quanzhong used troops to drive several hundred eunuchs, including Diwu Kefan, into the Palace Domestic Service Office and slaughtered them all; wails of injustice echoed throughout the palace and beyond. Those on assignment outside the capital were ordered seized and executed wherever found; only thirty young eunuchs in yellow robes were kept for menial service. The emperor also ordered Wang Rong, military governor of Chengde, to select and send up fifty men to serve as imperial messengers, chosen for the region's solid local ways and its people's plain, sober character. The emperor, believing that Kefan and the others might have been innocent, wrote a memorial text to mourn them. Thereafter the delivery of imperial edicts was entrusted entirely to palace women. The forces of both Divine Strategy Armies and the eight garrison commands, inner and outer, were placed under the Six Armies, and Cui Yin was given concurrent charge of the Six Armies and Twelve Guards.
74
臣光曰：宦官用權，為國家患，其來久矣。 蓋以出入宮禁，人主自幼及長，與之親狎，非如三公六卿，進見有時，可嚴憚也。 其間復有性識儇利，語言辯給，善伺候顏色，承迎志趣，受命則無違遷之忠，使令則有稱愜之效。 自非上智之主，燭知物情，慮患深遠，侍奉之外，不任以事，則近者日親，遠者日疏，甘言悲辭之請有時而從，浸潤膚受之訴有時而聽。 於是黜陟刑賞之政，潛移於近習而不自知，如飲醇酒，嗜其味而忘其醉也。 黜陟刑賞之柄移而國家不危亂者，未之有也。
Your servant Guang observes: Eunuch power has long been a plague upon the state. Because they move in and out of the inner palace, the ruler grows up among them in daily intimacy—nothing like the Three Dukes and Six Ministers, whose audiences are scheduled and who inspire due awe. Some among them are quick-witted and sharp-tongued, expert at reading a face and catching a mood; when tasked they never show the loyalty that resists a command, and when ordered they deliver exactly what pleases. Unless the ruler is exceptionally wise—seeing through men, thinking far ahead, and employing eunuchs for attendance alone and for nothing else—those nearest grow ever closer while honest ministers drift away; honeyed pleas and tearful appeals win a hearing, and private grievances soaked in by steady repetition find a willing ear. Before he knows it, the power to appoint, dismiss, punish, and reward has shifted to his intimates—like a man sipping fine wine, savoring the taste and forgetting that he is drunk. Never yet has a state remained secure once the power of appointment, dismissal, punishment, and reward changed hands.
75
東漢之衰，宦官最名驕橫，然皆假人主之權，依憑城社，以濁亂天下，未有能劫脅天子如制嬰兒，廢置在手。 東西出其意，使天子畏之若乘虎狼而挾蛇虺如唐世者也。 所以然者非它，漢不握兵，唐握兵故也。
In the decline of Eastern Han, eunuchs were notorious for arrogance, yet they still only borrowed the emperor's authority and leaned on the power of office to corrupt the realm; none could seize the emperor as one seizes an infant, with enthronement and deposition in their own hands. They moved at will, leaving the emperor in terror as if riding among tigers and wolves with serpents coiled in his lap—such was Tang. The reason is simple: Han eunuchs did not command troops; Tang eunuchs did.
76
太宗鑒前世之弊，深抑宦官無得過四品。 明皇始隳舊章，是崇是長，晚節令高力士省決章奏，乃至進退將相，時與之議，自太子王公皆畏事之，宦官自此熾矣。 及中原板蕩，肅宗收兵靈武，李輔國以東宮舊隸參豫軍謀，寵過而驕，不復能制，遂至愛子慈父皆不能庇，以憂悸終。 代宗踐阼，仍遵覆轍，程元振、魚朝恩相繼用事，竊弄刑賞，壅蔽聰明，視天子如委裘，陵宰相如奴虜，是以來瑱入朝，遇讒賜死。 吐蕃深侵郊甸，匿不以聞，致狼狽幸陝。 李光弼危疑憤郁，以損其生。 郭子儀擯廢家居，不保丘壟。 僕固懷恩冤抑無訴，遂棄勳庸，更為叛亂。 德宗初立，頗振綱紀，宦官稍絀。 而返自興元，猜忌諸將，以李晟、渾瑊為不可信，悉奪其兵，而以竇文場、霍仙鳴為中尉，使典宿衛，自是太阿之柄，落其掌握矣。 憲宗末年，吐突承璀欲廢嫡立庶，以成陳洪志之變。 寶歷狎暱群小，劉克明與蘇佐明為逆，其後絳王及文、武、宣、懿、僖、昭六帝，皆為宦官所立，勢益驕橫。 王守澄、仇士良、田令孜、楊復恭、劉季述、韓全誨為之魁傑。 至自稱「定策國老」，目天子為門生，根深蒂固，疾成膏肓，不可救藥矣！ 文宗深憤其然，志欲除之，以宋申錫之賢，猶不能有所為，反受其殃。 況李訓、鄭注反覆小人，欲以一朝譎詐之謀，翦累世膠固之黨，遂至涉血禁塗，積屍省戶，公卿大臣，連頸就誅，闔門屠滅，天子陽瘖縱酒，飲泣吞氣，自比赧、獻，不亦悲乎！ 以宣宗之嚴毅明察，猶閉目搖首，自謂畏之。 況懿、僖之驕侈，苟聲色球獵足充其欲，則政事一以付之，呼之以父，固無怪矣。 賊污宮闕，兩幸梁、益，皆令孜所為也。 昭宗不勝其恥，力欲清滌，而所任不得其人，所行不由其道。 始則張濬覆軍於平陽，增李克用跋扈之勢； 復恭亡命於山南，啟宋文通不臣之心； 終則兵交闕庭，矢及御衣，漂泊莎城，流寓華陰，幽辱東內，劫遷岐陽。 崔昌遐無如之何，更召朱全忠以討之。 連兵圍城，再罹寒暑，御膳不足於糗□，王侯斃踣於饑寒，然後全誨就誅，乘輿東出，翦滅其黨，靡有孑遺，而唐之廟社因以兵墟矣！ 然則宦者之禍，始於明皇，盛於肅、代，成於德宗，極於昭宗。 《易》曰：「履霜堅冰至。」 為國家者，防微杜漸，可不慎其始哉！ 此其為患，章章尤著者也。 自餘傷賢害能，召亂致禍，賣官鬻獄，沮敗師徒，蠹害烝民，不可遍舉。
Taizong, taking warning from earlier ages, strictly capped eunuchs at the fourth rank. Minghuang was the first to break the old rules, lavishing favor upon them; in his later years he had Gao Lishi screen and decide memorials, even disposing of generals and chancellors, sometimes consulting him in the matter; from the crown prince to the princes, all feared and deferred to him—and eunuch power blazed up from that point. When the central plains were thrown into chaos, Suzong rallied his armies at Lingwu; Li Fuguo, a former Eastern Palace servant, joined in military planning, and once over-favored grew too proud to be controlled, until neither loving son nor fond father could shelter the other, and Suzong died of dread and grief. Daizong took the throne yet walked the same ruinous path; Cheng Yuanzhen and Yu Chao'en wielded power in turn, stealing control of punishments and rewards, blinding the emperor to truth, treating the throne like a cast-off garment and chancellors like bondsmen—so when Lai Tian came to court, slander reached him and he was condemned to death. Tibetans raided deep into the capital's outskirts, yet the news was suppressed, leaving the court in chaos and forcing the emperor's frantic flight to Shaan. Li Guangbi, hemmed in by suspicion and swallowed by rage, died of it. Guo Ziyi was pushed aside and sent home, unable even to guard his family graves. Pugu Huai'en, unjustly humiliated and with no one to hear him, abandoned his honors and rose in rebellion. When Dezong first took the throne he revived discipline somewhat, and eunuch influence ebbed a little. But after returning from Xingyuan he grew suspicious of his generals, judged Li Sheng and Hun Jian untrustworthy, stripped them of command, and made Dou Wenchang and Huo Xianming army supervisors over the palace guard—from that moment the sword hilt passed into eunuch hands. In Xianzong's last years Tuhu Chenghui tried to set aside the heir in favor of a younger son, leading to Chen Hongzhi's coup. Under Baoli the court doted on petty favorites; Liu Keming and Su Zuoming plotted treason; thereafter Prince Jiang and six emperors—Wenzong, Wuzong, Xuanzong, Yizong, Xizong, and Zhaozong—were all put on the throne by eunuchs, and eunuch power grew ever more insolent. Wang Shoucheng, Qiu Shiliang, Tian Lingzi, Yang Fugong, Liu Jishu, and Han Quanhui were the worst of them. They even styled themselves "Elders Who Fixed the Succession," looked upon the emperor as their disciple, put down roots too deep to pull up, and sank their poison into the dynasty's vital organs until it was past cure! Wenzong hated this deeply and resolved to destroy them; yet even with a man as worthy as Song Shenxi he could do nothing—and paid for the attempt with his ruin. What then of Li Xun and Zheng Zhu, shifty petty schemers who thought one morning's conspiracy could uproot a faction hardened over generations—until blood flooded the forbidden avenues, corpses heaped at the ministry gates, ministers were led off to slaughter in chains, whole families were wiped out, and the emperor feigned dumbness and drowned his sorrow in wine, likening himself to the last kings of Zhou and Han—was it not pitiable! Even Xuanzong, stern, resolute, and sharp-eyed, would shut his eyes and shake his head, admitting that he feared them. What then of Yizong and Xizong, vain and self-indulgent? Once music, women, sport, and the hunt satisfied their appetites, they handed all government over to eunuchs and called them "Father"—small wonder. Rebels staining the palace, the emperor's two flights to Liang and Yi—all were Tian Lingzi's work. Zhaozong, unable to bear the humiliation, strove to purge the court—but chose the wrong men and pursued the wrong course. First Zhang Jun lost his army at Pingyang, only strengthening Li Keyong's arrogance; Yang Fugong fled into the mountains south of the capital, awakening disloyalty in Song Wentong; In the end weapons clashed at the palace gates and arrows pierced the emperor's robe; he was driven to wander at Sha City, lodge at Huayin, endure imprisonment in the Eastern Palace, and be seized and moved to Qiyang. Cui Changxia could find no remedy and again summoned Zhu Quanzhong to strike them down. Troops laid siege through two seasons of cold and heat; even the emperor's table ran short of provisions; princes and nobles collapsed from hunger and cold; only then was Quanhui executed, the emperor marched east, and the eunuch faction was exterminated to the last man—yet Tang's altars of state had already been turned into a wasteland of war! So the eunuchs' disaster began with Minghuang, swelled under Suzong and Daizong, took shape under Dezong, and reached its climax under Zhaozong. The Book of Changes says: "Tread on frost, and solid ice is not far behind." For the ruler of a state, to guard against the small and stop the gradual—how can he fail to be careful at the outset! Of all their harms, this is the most conspicuous. The rest—destroying the worthy, inviting rebellion, selling offices and judgments, ruining armies, and devouring the people—cannot all be counted.
77
夫寺人之官，自三王之世，載於詩、禮，所以謹閨闥之禁，通內外之言，安可無也。 如巷伯之疾惡，寺人披之事君，鄭眾之辭賞，呂□疆之直諫，曹日昇之救患，馬存亮之弭亂，楊復光之討賊，嚴遵美之避權，張承業之竭忠，其中豈無賢才乎！ 顧人主不當與之謀議政事，進退士大夫，使有威福足以動人耳。 果或有罪，小則刑之，大則誅之，無所寬赦。 如此，雖使之專橫，孰敢焉！ 豈可不察臧否，不擇是非，欲草薙而禽獮之，能無亂乎！ 是以袁紹行之於前而董卓弱漢，崔昌遐襲之於後而朱氏篡唐，雖快一時之忿而國隨以亡。 是猶惡衣之垢而焚之，患木之蠹而伐之，其為害豈不益多哉！ 孔子曰：「人而不仁，疾之已甚，亂也。」 斯之謂矣！ 王師範遣使以起兵告李克用，克用貽書褒贊之。 河東監軍張承業亦勸克用發兵救鳳翔，克用攻晉州，聞車駕東歸，乃罷。
The office of palace attendant dates from the age of the Three Kings; it is recorded in the Songs and the Rites to guard the inner quarters and carry word between palace and court—how could it be abolished? Xiangbo's zeal against evil, the palace attendant Pi's faithful service, Zheng Zhong's refusal of reward, Lü Qiang's blunt remonstrance, Cao Risheng's saving the court in crisis, Ma Cunliang's calming of rebellion, Yang Fuguang's campaign against rebels, Yan Zunmei's refusal of power, Zhang Chengye's steadfast loyalty—among these, were there no able men? Only the ruler ought never to discuss government with them or let them appoint and dismiss officials, giving them power and favor enough to sway the realm. If one is guilty, punish him for small offenses and execute him for large ones, without mercy. Then, even were they inclined to arrogance, who would dare defy the throne? How can one refuse to distinguish good from bad, right from wrong, and try to mow eunuchs down like weeds or slaughter them like quarry—without breeding chaos? Yuan Shao tried it first, and Dong Zhuo enfeebled Han; Cui Changxia copied him, and the Zhu house seized Tang—a moment's vengeance, and the state perished with it. That is like burning a filthy robe because one hates the stain, or felling a tree because one fears the worms—the harm done is only greater! Confucius said: "Where there is a man without humanity, to hate him beyond measure is to invite disorder." That is the saying! Wang Shifan sent envoys to tell Li Keyong that he had taken up arms; Keyong replied with a letter of praise. Zhang Chengye, Hedong's army supervisor, also urged Keyong to march and relieve Fengxiang; Keyong attacked Jin Prefecture, but hearing that the emperor was returning east, he broke off.
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楊行密承製加朱瑾東面諸道行營副都統、同平章事，以升州刺史李神福為淮南行軍司馬、鄂岳行營招討使，舒州團練使劉存副之，將兵擊杜洪。 洪將駱殷戍永興，棄城走，縣民方詔據城降。 神福曰：「永興大縣，饋運所仰，已得鄂之半矣！」」
Acting on imperial orders, Yang Xingmi promoted Zhu Jin to deputy overall commander of the eastern circuits and Associate Chief Minister, appointed Shengzhou prefect Li Shenfu as Huainan campaign marshal and pacification commissioner for the E-yue expedition with Shuzhou commissioner Liu Cun as his deputy, and marched against Du Hong. Du Hong's general Luo Yin had been holding Yongxing; he fled the city, and a local man named Fang Zhao took possession of it and surrendered. Shenfu said, "Yongxing is a major county that feed the supply lines—we already hold half of E!"”