1
資治通鑑第265卷
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 265
2
【唐紀八十一】起閼逢困敦五月，盡柔兆攝提格，凡二年有奇。
[Tang Records 81] From the fifth month of Yanfeng Kundun through Rouzhao Shetige—spanning a little more than two years in all.
3
昭宗聖穆景文孝皇帝下之下天祐元年（ 甲子，公元九零四年）
Emperor Zhaozong, the Sagely, Solemn, Illustrious, Cultured, and Filial—Lower Part, Lower Section: First Year of Tianyou ( jiazi, 904 CE)
4
五月，丙寅，加河陽節度使張漢瑜同平章事。
In the fifth month, on bingyin, Zhang Hanyu, military governor of Heyang, was appointed Associate Grand Councillor.
5
帝宴朱全忠及百官於崇勳殿，既罷，復召全忠宴於內殿。 全忠疑，不入。 帝曰：「全忠不欲來，可令敬翔來。」 全忠擿翔使去，曰：「翔亦醉矣。」 辛未，全忠東還，乙亥，至大梁。
The emperor held a banquet for Zhu Quanzhong and the officials in the Hall of Honored Merit; when it ended, he summoned Quanzhong again to feast in the inner hall. Quanzhong grew suspicious and refused to enter. The emperor said, "If Quanzhong does not wish to come, send Jing Xiang instead." Quanzhong pushed Xiang away and said, "Xiang is drunk too." On xinwei, Quanzhong returned east; on yihai, he reached Daliang.
6
忠義節度使趙匡凝遣水軍上峽攻王建夔州，知渝州王宗阮等擊敗之。 萬州刺史張武作鐵絲亙絕江中流，立柵於兩端，謂之「鎖峽」。
Zhao Kuangning, military governor of Zhongyi, sent a naval force up the Yangtze gorges to attack Wang Jian's Kuizhou, but Wang Zongruan, prefect of Yuzhou, and others defeated them. Zhang Wu, prefect of Wanzhou, stretched iron cables across the river midstream, erected palisades at both ends, and called the barrier "Locking the Gorge."
7
六月，李茂貞、王建、李繼徽傳檄合兵以討朱全忠。 全忠以鎮國節度使朱友裕為行營都統，將步騎數萬擊之； 命保大節度使劉鄩棄鄜州，引兵屯同州。 癸丑，全忠引兵自大梁西討茂貞等。 秋，七月，甲子，過東都入見。 壬申，至河中。
In the sixth month, Li Maozhen, Wang Jian, and Li Jihui issued a joint proclamation and combined their forces to campaign against Zhu Quanzhong. Quanzhong appointed Zhu Youyu, military governor of Zhenguo, commander-in-chief of the field camp, and led tens of thousands of infantry and cavalry against them; he ordered Liu Yun, military governor of Baoda, to abandon Binzhou and station his troops at Tongzhou. On guichou, Quanzhong marched west from Daliang to campaign against Maozhen and his allies. In autumn, the seventh month, on jiazi, he passed through the Eastern Capital and had an audience with the emperor. On renshen, he reached Hezhong.
8
西川諸將勸王建乘李茂貞之衰，攻取鳳翔。 建以問節度判官馮涓，涓曰：「兵者凶器，殘民耗財，不可窮也。 今梁、晉虎爭，勢不兩立，若並而為一，舉兵向蜀，雖諸葛亮復生，不能敵矣。 鳳翔，蜀之籓蔽，不若與之和親，結為婚姻，無事則務農訓兵，保固疆場，有事則覘其機事，觀釁而動，可以萬全。」 建曰：「善！ 茂貞雖庸才，然有強悍之名，遠近畏之，與全忠力爭則不足，自守則有餘，使為吾籓蔽，所利多矣。」 乃與茂貞修好。 丙子，茂貞遣判官趙鍠如西川，為其侄天雄節度使繼崇求婚，建以女妻之。 茂貞數求貨及甲兵於建，建皆與之。 王建賦斂重，人莫敢言。 馮涓因建生日獻頌，先美功德，後言生民之苦。 建愧謝曰：「如君忠諫，功業何憂！」 賜之金帛。 自是賦斂稍損。
Wang Jian's generals in Xichuan urged him to strike while Li Maozhen was weak and seize Fengxiang. Jian consulted his military-governor's aide Feng Juan, who said, "War is an instrument of ill omen—it harms the people and drains the treasury, and must not be pursued without limit. Liang and Jin are locked in a tiger's fight from which neither can back down; if they unite and march on Shu, not even a reborn Zhuge Liang could hold them off. Fengxiang is Shu's shield on the frontier; you would do better to seek peace and a marriage alliance—cultivate the fields and train your troops in quiet times, hold your borders firm, and in crisis watch their moves and strike only when you see an opening. That is the path to complete security." Jian said, "Excellent! Maozhen is no great genius, but his reputation for fierceness makes men far and near fear him; he cannot match Quanzhong in open struggle, yet he can hold his own—and as our shield on the frontier, the gain is great." He then restored friendly relations with Maozhen. On bingzi, Maozhen sent his aide Zhao Heng to Xichuan to seek a bride for his nephew Jichong, military governor of Tianxiong; Wang Jian gave him a daughter in marriage. Maozhen repeatedly asked Wang Jian for goods, armor, and weapons, and Jian supplied everything he requested. Wang Jian's taxes and levies were crushing, yet no one dared complain. On Wang Jian's birthday, Feng Juan presented a eulogy that first praised his achievements, then spoke of the people's suffering. Ashamed, Jian thanked him and said, "With counsel as loyal as yours, what need I fear for my enterprise!" He rewarded him with gold and silks. After that, the levies were somewhat eased.
9
初，朱全忠自鳳翔迎車駕還，見德王裕眉目疏秀，且年齒已壯，惡之，私謂崔胤曰：「德王嘗奸帝位，豈可復留！ 公何不言之！」 胤言於帝。 帝問全忠，全忠曰：「陛下父子之間，臣安敢竊議，此崔胤賣臣耳。」 帝自離長安，日憂不測，與皇后終日沉飲，或相對涕泣。 全忠使樞密使蔣玄暉伺察帝，動靜皆知之。 帝從容謂玄暉曰：「德王，朕之愛子，全忠何故堅欲殺之？」 因泣下，嚙中指血流。 玄暉具以語全忠，全忠愈不自安。
Earlier, when Zhu Quanzhong escorted the emperor back from Fengxiang, he saw that Prince De, Li Yu, had handsome, refined features and was already a grown man; he took alarm and said privately to Cui Yin, "Prince De once coveted the throne—how can he be allowed to remain! Why do you not speak of it to the emperor!" Yin relayed this to the emperor. The emperor questioned Quanzhong, who replied, "Between Your Majesty and your son, how dare I presume to comment in private? This is Cui Yin betraying me to Your Majesty." Since leaving Chang'an, the emperor lived in daily dread of what might befall him; he and the empress drowned their days in drink, or sat facing each other in tears. Quanzhong had Jiang Xuanhui, Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, spy on the emperor, so that his every move was reported. The emperor said calmly to Xuanhui, "Prince De is my beloved son—why does Quanzhong insist on having him killed?" He wept, biting his middle finger until blood ran. Xuanhui reported everything to Quanzhong, who grew still more uneasy.
10
時李茂貞、楊崇本、李克用、劉仁恭、王建、楊行密、趙匡凝移檄往來，皆以興復為辭。 全忠方引兵討，以帝有英氣，恐變生於中，欲立幼君，易謀禪代。 乃遣判官李振至洛陽，與玄暉及左龍武統軍朱友恭、右龍武統軍氏叔琮等圖之。
At this time Li Maozhen, Yang Chongben, Li Keyong, Liu Rengong, Wang Jian, Yang Xingmi, and Zhao Kuangning exchanged proclamations among themselves, all invoking the restoration of the Tang. Quanzhong was campaigning at the time; the emperor's spirited bearing alarmed him, and he feared trouble from within the palace. He wished to install a young ruler, making abdication and usurpation easier to arrange. He sent his aide Li Zhen to Luoyang to plot with Xuanhui, Zhu Yougong of the Left Dragon Martial Army, Shi Shuzong of the Right Dragon Martial Army, and others.
11
八月，壬寅，帝在椒殿，玄暉選龍武牙官史太等百人夜叩宮門，言軍前有急奏，欲面見帝。 夫人裴貞一開門見兵，曰：「急奏何以兵為？」 史太殺之。 玄暉問：「至尊安在？」 昭儀李漸榮臨軒呼曰：「寧殺我曹，勿傷大家！」 帝方醉，遽起，單衣繞柱走，史太追而弒之。 漸榮以身蔽帝，太亦殺之。 又欲殺何-{后}-，-{后}-求哀於玄暉，乃釋之。
In the eighth month, on renyin, the emperor was in the Jiao Hall. Xuanhui selected a hundred Dragon Martial junior officers led by Shi Tai, who knocked on the palace gate at night claiming urgent military dispatches and demanding an audience. Lady Pei Zhenyi opened the gate, saw armed men, and said, "Why bring soldiers for an urgent memorial?" Shi Tai killed her. Xuanhui called out, "Where is His Majesty?" Lady of Bright Deportment Li Jianrong leaned from the balustrade and cried, "Kill us if you must, but spare His Majesty!" The emperor, who was drunk, sprang up in his undergarments and fled around a pillar; Shi Tai pursued and killed him. Jianrong shielded the emperor with her body, and Tai killed her too. They also meant to kill Empress He; she begged Xuanhui for mercy, and he spared her.
12
癸卯，蔣玄暉矯詔稱李漸榮、裴貞一弒逆，宜立輝王祚為皇太子，更名柷，監軍國事。 又矯皇后令，太子於柩前即位。 宮中恐懼，不敢出聲哭。 丙午，昭宣帝即位，時年十三。
On guimao, Jiang Xuanhui forged an edict declaring that Li Jianrong and Pei Zhenyi had murdered the emperor, and that Prince Hui, Li Zuo, should be made crown prince, renamed Zhu, and placed in charge of state and military affairs. He also forged an order from the empress commanding the crown prince to ascend the throne before the coffin. Inside the palace everyone was terrified and dared not weep aloud. On bingwu, Emperor Zhaoxuan ascended the throne at the age of thirteen.
13
李克用復以張承業為監軍。
Li Keyong again appointed Zhang Chengye as his military commissioner.
14
淮南將李神福攻鄂州未下，會疾病，還廣陵，楊行密以舒州團練使泌陽劉存代為招討使。 神福尋卒。 宣州觀察使台濛卒，楊行密以其子牙內諸軍使渥為宣州觀察使，右牙都指揮使徐溫謂渥曰：「王寢疾而嫡嗣出籓，此必奸臣之謀。 他日相召，非溫使者及王令書，慎無亟來！」 渥泣謝而行。
The Huainan general Li Shenfu besieged Ezhou without success, then fell ill and returned to Guangling; Yang Xingmi replaced him with Liu Cun of Biyang, regimental commander of Shuzhou, as commander for the campaign. Shenfu soon died. Tai Meng, governor of Xuanzhou, died. Yang Xingmi appointed his son Wo, commissioner of the Palace Inner Guards, governor of Xuanzhou. Xu Wen, right commander of the Palace Guards, told Wo, "The prince is gravely ill while the legitimate heir is sent to a distant province—this must be a treacherous minister's plot. If you are summoned later, unless the messenger is mine or the order bears the prince's seal, do not come in haste!" Wo wept, thanked him, and set out.
15
九月，己巳，尊皇后為皇太后。
In the ninth month, on jisi, the empress was honored as empress dowager.
16
朱全忠引兵北屯永壽，南至駱谷，鳳翔、邠寧兵竟不出。 辛未，東還。 冬，十月，辛卯朔，日有食之。
Zhu Quanzhong led troops north to Yongshou and south to Luogu, but the Fengxiang and Binning armies never came out to fight. On xinwei, he returned east. In winter, the tenth month, on the xinmao new moon, there was a solar eclipse.
17
朱全忠聞朱友恭等弒昭宗，陽驚，號哭自投於地，曰：「奴輩負我，令我受惡名於萬代！」 癸巳，至東都，伏梓宮慟哭流悌，又見帝，自陳非己志，請討賊。 先是，護駕軍士有掠米於市者，甲午，全忠奏朱友恭、氏叔琮不戢士卒，侵擾市肆，友恭貶崖州司戶，複姓名李彥威，叔琮貶白州司戶，尋皆賜自盡。 彥威臨刑大呼曰：「賣我以塞天下之謗，如鬼神何！ 行事如此，望有後乎！」
When Zhu Quanzhong learned that Zhu Yougong and the others had murdered Emperor Zhaozong, he feigned shock, wailed, and threw himself to the ground, crying, "Those slaves have betrayed me and left me with an evil name for all eternity!" On guisi, he reached the Eastern Capital, prostrated himself before the coffin, and wept until tears streamed down his face; he also saw the emperor, declared that the murder was not his doing, and asked permission to hunt down the criminals. Earlier, escort troops had plundered grain in the markets. On jiawu, Quanzhong reported that Zhu Yougong and Shi Shuzong had failed to restrain their men and had harassed the markets. Yougong was demoted to registrar of Yazhou and his original name, Li Yanwei, was restored; Shuzong was demoted to registrar of Baizhou; soon both were ordered to commit suicide. At the execution Yanwei shouted, "You sell me out to silence the world's blame—what will you say to heaven and earth! Act like this—do you expect to leave descendants!"
18
丙申，天平節度使，張全義來朝。 丁酉，復以全忠為宣武、護國、宣義、天平節度使，以全義為河南尹兼忠武節度使、判六軍諸衛事。 乙巳，全忠辭赴鎮，良戌，至大梁。
On bingshen, Zhang Quanyi, military governor of Tianping, came to court. On dingyou, Quanzhong was restored as military governor of Xuanwu, Huguo, Xuanyi, and Tianping; Quanyi was made prefect of Henan and military governor of Zhongwu, with charge of the Six Armies and palace guards. On yisi, Quanzhong took leave to return to his command; on gengxu, he reached Daliang.
19
鎮國節度使朱友裕薨於梨園。
Zhu Youyu, military governor of Zhenguo, died at the Pear Garden camp.
20
光州叛楊行密，降朱全忠，行密遣兵圍之，與鄂州皆告急於全忠。 十一月，戊辰，全忠自將兵五萬自穎州濟淮，軍於霍丘，分兵救鄂州。 淮南兵釋光州之圍還廣陵，按兵不出戰，全忠分命諸將大掠淮南以困之。
Guangzhou rebelled against Yang Xingmi and surrendered to Zhu Quanzhong; Xingmi sent troops to besiege it, and both Guangzhou and Ezhou sent urgent appeals to Quanzhong. In the eleventh month, on wuchen, Quanzhong personally led fifty thousand troops from Yingzhou across the Huai, encamped at Huoqiu, and divided his forces to relieve Ezhou. The Huainan forces lifted the siege of Guangzhou and returned to Guangling, holding their troops back from battle; Quanzhong ordered his generals to raid widely across Huainan to wear them down.
21
錢鏐潛遣衢州羅城使葉讓殺刺史陳璋，事洩。 十二月，璋斬讓而叛，降於楊行密。
Qian Liu secretly sent Ye Rang, commissioner of Quzhou's outer wall, to assassinate Prefect Chen Zhang, but the plot was exposed. In the twelfth month, Chen Zhang executed Ye Rang, rebelled, and surrendered to Yang Xingmi.
22
初，馬殷弟賨，性沉重，事孫儒，為百勝指揮使。 儒死，事楊行密，屢有功，遷黑雲指揮使。 行密嘗從容問其兄弟，乃知為殷之弟，大驚曰：「吾常怪汝器度瑰偉，果非常人，當遣汝歸。」 賨泣辭曰：「賨西殘兵，大王不殺而寵任之，湖南地近，嘗得兄聲問，賨事大王久，不願歸也。」 行密固遣之。 是歲，賨歸長沙，行密親餞之郊。
Earlier, Ma Yin's younger brother Cong was a man of grave temperament; he had served Sun Ru as commander of the Hundred Victories Army. After Ru's death he entered Yang Xingmi's service, won repeated distinction, and was promoted to commander of the Black Cloud Army. Xingmi once asked him casually about his family and learned he was Ma Yin's younger brother. Greatly startled, he said, "I have long marveled at your imposing bearing—you are no ordinary man—and I ought to send you home." Cong wept and declined, saying, "I was a remnant soldier from the Huai west; you spared me and gave me your trust. Hunan is near, and I have often heard from my brother, yet I have served you long and do not wish to leave." Xingmi insisted on sending him home. That year Cong returned to Changsha, and Xingmi personally saw him off beyond the city.
23
賨至長沙，殷表賨為節度副使。 它日，殷議入貢天子，賨曰：「楊王地廣兵強，與吾鄰接，不若與之結好，大可以為緩急之授，小可通商旅之利。」 殷作色曰：「楊王不事天子，一旦朝廷致討，罪將及吾。 汝置此論，勿為吾禍！」
When Cong reached Changsha, Ma Yin memorialized to appoint him deputy military governor. On another day Ma Yin discussed sending tribute to the emperor. Cong said, "The Prince of Yang holds broad lands and a strong army and borders our realm—we would do better to seek his friendship. In great matters he could aid us in crisis; in small matters we could profit from trade." Ma Yin flushed with anger and said, "The Prince of Yang does not serve the emperor—if the court moves against him, we will be implicated. Put aside this talk—do not bring disaster upon me!"
24
初，清海節度使徐彥若遺表薦副使劉隱權留後，朝廷以兵部尚書崔遠為清海節度使。 遠至江陵，聞嶺南多盜，且畏隱不受代，不敢前，朝廷召遠還。 隱遣使以重賂結朱全忠，乃奏以隱為清海節度使。
Earlier, Xu Yanruo, military governor of Qinghai, had left a memorial recommending his deputy Liu Yin as acting governor; the court appointed Cui Yuan, Minister of War, as military governor of Qinghai. Yuan reached Jiangling, heard that bandits were rife in Lingnan, and feared that Liu Yin would refuse to yield his post; he dared not proceed, and the court recalled him. Yin sent envoys with heavy bribes to win over Zhu Quanzhong, who then memorialized to appoint Yin military governor of Qinghai.
25
昭宣光烈孝皇帝
Emperor Zhaoxuan, the Bright, Mighty, and Filial
26
昭宗聖穆景文孝皇帝下之下天祐二年（ 乙丑，公元九零五年）
Emperor Zhaozong, the Sagely, Solemn, Illustrious, Cultured, and Filial—Lower Part, Lower Section: Second Year of Tianyou ( yichou, 905 CE)
27
春，正月，朱全忠遣諸將進兵逼壽州。
In spring, the first month, Zhu Quanzhong sent his generals to advance on Shouzhou.
28
潤州團練安仁義勇決得士心，故淮南將王茂章攻之，逾年不克。 楊行密使謂之曰：「汝之功，吾不忘也，能束身自歸，當以汝為行軍副使，但不掌兵耳。」 仁義不從。 茂章為地道入城，遂克之。 仁義舉族登樓，眾不敢逼。 先是，攻城諸將見仁義輒罵之，惟李德誠不然，至是仁義召德誠登樓，謂曰：「汝有禮，吾今以為汝功。」 且以愛妾贈之。 乃擲弓於地，德誠掖之而下，並其子斬於廣陵市。
An Renyi, regimental commander of Runzhou, was bold and resolute and won his men's loyalty; the Huainan general Wang Maozhang besieged him for more than a year without success. Yang Xingmi's envoy told him, "I shall not forget what you have done. If you submit and surrender yourself, you will be made Deputy Field Commander—but you will not hold command of troops." Renyi refused. Maozhang dug a tunnel into the city and captured it. Renyi brought his whole family up onto a tower, and no one dared approach. Before this, the besieging generals had cursed Renyi whenever they saw him, but Li Decheng alone had not. Now Renyi summoned Decheng to the tower and said, "You showed me courtesy—I count this as your accomplishment." He also presented his favorite concubine to him. He cast his bow to the ground. Decheng helped him down, and both he and his son were executed in the Guangling market.
29
兩浙兵圍陳詢於睦州，楊行密遣西南招討使陶雅將兵救之。 軍中夜驚，士卒多逾壘亡去，左右及裨將韓球奔告之，雅安臥不應，須臾自定，亡者皆還。 錢鏐遣其從弟鎰及指揮使顧全武、王球御之，為雅所敗，虜鎰及球以歸。
Troops from the Two Zhe regions besieged Chen Xun at Muzhou. Yang Xingmi sent Tao Ya, Commissioner for the Southwest Campaign, with an army to relieve him. The camp panicked at night, and many soldiers climbed over the walls and deserted. Attendants and the deputy general Han Qiu came running to report it, but Tao Ya lay in bed and made no reply. Before long the panic subsided on its own, and the deserters all came back. Qian Liu sent his younger cousin Yi and the commanders Gu Quanwu and Wang Qiu to meet them. Tao Ya defeated them and captured Yi and Wang Qiu, bringing them back as prisoners.
30
庚午，朱全忠命李振知青州事，代王師範。
On gengwu, Zhu Quanzhong placed Li Zhen in charge of Qingzhou, replacing Wang Shifan.
31
全忠圍壽州，州人閉壁不出。 全忠乃自霍丘引歸，二月，辛卯，至大梁。
Quanzhong besieged Shouzhou, but the defenders barred the gates and refused to sally. Quanzhong then withdrew from Huoqiu. In the second month, on xinmao, he arrived at Daliang.
32
李振至青州，王師範舉族西遷，至濮陽，素服乘驢而進。 至大梁，全忠客之。 表李振為青州留後。
When Li Zhen reached Qingzhou, Wang Shifan moved his whole family west. At Puyang he wore mourning dress and rode a donkey as he went. When he reached Daliang, Quanzhong treated him as an honored guest. He memorialized to appoint Li Zhen acting governor of Qingzhou.
33
戊戌，以安南節度使、同平章事朱全昱為太師，致仕。 全昱，全忠之兄也，戇樸無能，先領安南，全忠自請罷之。
On wuxu, Zhu Quanyu, military governor of Annam and Associate Grand Councillor, was made Grand Preceptor and granted retirement. Quanyu was Quanzhong's elder brother—simple-minded and incompetent. He had previously held Annam, and Quanzhong himself requested that the appointment be revoked.
34
是日社，全忠使蔣玄暉邀昭宗諸子：德王裕、棣王祤、虔王禊、沂王禋、遂王禕、景王祕、祁王祺、雅王禛、瓊王祥，置酒九曲池，酒酣，悉縊殺之，投屍池中。
On the day of the She sacrifice, Quanzhong had Jiang Xuanhui invite Emperor Zhaozong's sons—Princes De (Yu), Di (Qi), Qian (Xi), Yi (Yin), Sui (Yi), Jing (Mi), Qi (Qi), Ya (Zhen), and Qiong (Xiang)—to a banquet at the Nine-Bend Pool. When they were drunk, he had them all strangled and their bodies thrown into the pool.
35
朱全忠遣其將曹延祚將兵與杜洪共守鄂州，庚子，淮南將劉存攻拔之，執洪、延祚及汴兵千餘人送廣陵，悉誅之。 行密以存為鄂岳觀察使。
Zhu Quanzhong sent his general Cao Yanzuo with troops to defend Ezhou jointly with Du Hong. On gengzi, the Huainan general Liu Cun stormed and captured the city, seized Hong, Yanzuo, and more than a thousand Bian soldiers, sent them to Guangling, and had them all executed. Xingmi appointed Liu Cun Governor of Ezhou and Yuezhou.
36
己酉，葬聖穆景文孝皇帝於和陵，廟號昭宗。
On jiyou, the Sagely, Solemn, Illustrious, Cultured, and Filial Emperor was interred at He Mausoleum with the temple name Zhaozong.
37
三月，庚午，以王師範為河陽節度使。
In the third month, on gengwu, Wang Shifan was appointed military governor of Heyang.
38
戊寅，以門下侍郎、同平章事獨孤損同平章事，充靜海節度使； 以禮部侍郎河間張文蔚同平章事。 甲申，以門下侍郎、同平章事裴樞為左僕射，崔遠為右僕射，並罷政事。
On wuyin, Dugu Sun, Vice Director of the Secretariat and Associate Grand Councillor, was reappointed Associate Grand Councillor and sent out as military governor of Jinghai; Zhang Wenwei of Hejian, Vice Director of the Ministry of Rites, was appointed Associate Grand Councillor. On jiashen, Pei Shu, Vice Director of the Secretariat and Associate Grand Councillor, was made Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Cui Yuan Right Vice Director; both were dismissed from the chief counsel.
39
初，柳璨及第，不四年為宰相，性傾巧輕佻。 時天子左右皆朱全忠腹心，璨曲意事之。 同列裴樞、崔遠、獨孤損皆朝廷宿望，意輕之，璨以為憾。 和王傅張廷范，本優人，有寵於全忠，奏以為太常卿。 樞曰：「廷范勳臣，幸有方鎮，何籍樂卿！ 恐非元帥之旨。」 持之不下。 全忠聞之，謂賓佐曰：「吾常以裴十四器識真純，不入浮薄之黨，觀此議論，本態露矣。」 璨因此並遠、損譖於全忠，故三人皆罷。
Earlier, Liu Can had passed the civil examinations and become chancellor in less than four years. By nature he was scheming, frivolous, and unserious. At the time those around the emperor were all Zhu Quanzhong's trusted agents, and Can went out of his way to curry favor with them. His colleagues Pei Shu, Cui Yuan, and Dugu Sun were all senior statesmen of long standing, and they looked down on him—a grievance Can nursed. Zhang Tingfan, tutor to the Prince of He, had originally been a performer and enjoyed Quanzhong's favor; a memorial proposed appointing him Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Pei Shu said, "Tingfan is a meritorious minister who already holds a provincial command—what need has he of the Court of Music! I doubt this reflects the marshal's wishes." He held firm and refused to issue the appointment. When Quanzhong heard of this, he told his staff, "I have always thought Pei Fourteen's character pure and his judgment sound—that he would not join the frivolous crowd. This argument shows his true colors." Because of this, Can also slandered Cui Yuan and Dugu Sun to Quanzhong, and all three were removed from office.
40
以吏部侍郎楊涉同平章事。 涉，收之孫也，為人和厚恭謹，聞當為相，與家人相泣，謂其子凝式曰：「此吾家之不幸也，必為汝累。」
Yang She, Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel, was appointed Associate Grand Councillor. Yang She was Yang Shou's grandson—a mild, respectful, and cautious man. When he learned he was to become chancellor, he wept with his family and told his son Ningshi, "This is a calamity for our house—it will surely bring ruin upon you."
41
為清海節度使劉隱同平章事。
Liu Yin, military governor of Qinghai, was appointed Associate Grand Councillor.
42
壬辰，河東都押牙蓋寓卒，遺書勸李克用省營繕，薄賦斂，求賢俊。 夏，四月，庚子，有彗星出西北。
On renchen, Gai Yu, chief adjutant of Hedong, died. In a final letter he urged Li Keyong to cut back on construction, lighten taxes, and seek out able men. In summer, in the fourth month, on gengzi, a comet appeared in the northwest.
43
淮南將陶雅會衢、睦兵攻婺州，錢鏐遣其弟鏢將兵救之。
The Huainan general Tao Ya combined forces from Quzhou and Muzhou to attack Wuzhou. Qian Liu sent his younger brother Biao with an army to relieve the city.
44
五月，禮院奏，皇帝登位應祀南郊，敕用十月甲午行之。
In the fifth month, the Board of Rites reported that the emperor's accession required a sacrifice at the Southern Suburb; an edict scheduled it for jiawu in the tenth month.
45
乙丑，彗星長竟天。
On yichou, the comet stretched across the entire sky.
46
柳璨恃朱全忠之勢，姿為威福。 會有星變，占者曰：「君臣俱災，宜誅殺以應之。」 璨因疏其素所不快者於全忠曰：「此曹皆聚徒橫議，怨望腹非，宜以之塞災異。」 李振亦言於朱全忠曰：「朝廷所以不理，良由衣冠浮薄之徒紊亂綱紀； 且王欲圖大事，此曹皆朝廷之難制者也，不若盡去之。」 全忠以為然。 癸酉，貶獨孤損為棣州刺史，裴樞為登州刺史，崔遠為萊州刺史。 乙亥，貶吏部尚書陸扆為濮州司戶，工部尚書王溥為淄州司戶。 庚辰，貶太子太保致仕趙崇為曹州司戶，兵部侍郎王贊為濰州司戶。 自餘或門冑高華，或科第自進，居三省台閣，以名檢自處，聲跡稍著者，皆指以為浮薄，貶逐無虛日，搢紳為之一空。 辛巳，再貶裴樞為瀧州司戶，獨孤損為瓊州司戶，崔遠為白州司戶。
Liu Can, relying on Zhu Quanzhong's power, wielded reward and punishment as he pleased. A celestial anomaly appeared, and diviners said, "Calamity threatens both ruler and ministers—the proper response is executions." Can then reported to Quanzhong a list of men he had long resented, saying, "These men band together and speak recklessly, nursing grievances and secretly criticizing the court—they should serve to answer the omen." Li Zhen also told Zhu Quanzhong, "The court is paralyzed because frivolous scholars and officials have thrown the state into disorder; and if Your Highness means to accomplish great things, these are precisely the men the court cannot control. Better to remove them all." Quanzhong agreed. On guiyou, Dugu Sun was demoted to prefect of Di Prefecture, Pei Shu to prefect of Deng, and Cui Yuan to prefect of Lai. On yihai, Lu Yi, Director of the Ministry of Personnel, was demoted to registrar of households at Puzhou, and Wang Pu, Director of the Ministry of Works, to the same post at Zizhou. On gengchen, Zhao Chong, the retired Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, was demoted to registrar of households at Caozhou, and Wang Zan, Vice Director of the Ministry of War, to the same at Weizhou. Thereafter, whether of eminent birth or risen through the examinations, anyone in the Three Departments or secretariat who conducted himself with regard for reputation and had made any mark at all was denounced as frivolous. Demotions and banishments came day after day without pause until the scholar-official class was nearly emptied. On xinsi, Pei Shu was demoted again to registrar of households at Longzhou, Dugu Sun to the same at Qiongzhou, and Cui Yuan to the same at Baizhou.
47
甲申，忠義節度使趙匡凝遣使修好於王建。
On jiashen, Zhao Kuangning, military governor of Zhongyi, sent envoys to seek friendly relations with Wang Jian.
48
六月，戊子朔，敕裴樞、獨孤損、崔遠、陸扆、王溥、趙崇、王贊等並所在賜自盡。
In the sixth month, on the wuzi new moon, an edict granted Pei Shu, Dugu Sun, Cui Yuan, Lu Yi, Wang Pu, Zhao Chong, Wang Zan, and the others permission to take their own lives wherever they were stationed.
49
時全忠聚樞等及朝士貶官者三十餘人於白馬驛，一夕盡殺之，投屍於河。 初，李振屢舉進士，竟不中第，故深疾搢紳之士，言於全忠曰：「此輩常自謂清流，宜投之黃河，使為濁流！」 全忠笑而從之。
Quanzhong had gathered Pei Shu and more than thirty other demoted officials at White Horse Post and killed them all in a single night, throwing their bodies into the river. Li Zhen had repeatedly sat for the jinshi examination without ever passing, and he therefore deeply resented scholar-officials. He told Quanzhong, "These men call themselves the 'clear stream'—they ought to be thrown into the Yellow River and made part of the muddy flow!" Quanzhong laughed and agreed.
50
振每自汴至洛，朝廷必有竄逐者，時人謂之鴟梟。 見朝士皆頤指氣使，旁若無人。
Whenever Zhen traveled from Bian to Luoyang, someone at court was always banished, and contemporaries called him "the owl and the kite." In the presence of court officials he ordered them about with arrogant contempt, as if no one else were there.
51
全忠嘗與僚佐及遊客坐於大柳之下，全忠獨言曰：「此木宜為車轂。」 眾莫應。 有遊客數人起應曰：「宜為車轂。」 全忠勃然厲聲曰：「書生輩好順口玩人，皆此類也！」 車轂須用夾榆，柳木豈可為之！」 顧左右曰：「尚何待！」 左右數十人捽言「宜為車轂」者，悉撲殺之。
Quanzhong once sat with his staff and guests beneath a great willow. He remarked alone, "This wood would do nicely for cart hubs." No one replied. Several guests rose and answered, "It would make fine cart hubs." Quanzhong flushed with anger and said sharply, "Scholars love to flatter with their mouths and toy with people—they are all like this!" Cart hubs require layered elm—willow wood is no use for that!" He turned to his attendants and said, "What are you waiting for!" “Dozens of attendants seized the men who had said the wood would make cart hubs and beat them all to death.”
52
己丑，司空致仕裴贄貶青州司戶，尋賜死。
On jichou, Pei Zan, the retired Minister of Works, was demoted to registrar of households at Qingzhou and soon afterward granted death.
53
柳璨餘怒所注，猶不啻十數，張文蔚力解之，乃止。
Liu Can's rage still had more than a dozen targets in view, but Zhang Wenwei argued strenuously on their behalf and at last he desisted.
54
時士大夫避亂，多不入朝。 壬辰，敕所在州縣督遣，無得稽留。 前司勳員外郎李延古，德裕之孫也，去官居平泉莊，詔下未至。 戊申，責授衛尉寺主簿。
At the time many scholar-officials, fleeing the chaos, stayed away from court. On renchen, an edict ordered local prefectures and counties to press them to report and forbade any delay. Li Yanggu, a former Outer Gentleman of the Ministry of Merits and grandson of Li Deyu, had left office and was living at his Pingquan estate when the edict was issued, but he had not yet reported. On wushen, he was punished with appointment as chief clerk of the Court of Imperial Carriages.
55
秋，七月，癸亥，太子賓客致仕柳遜貶曹州司馬。
In autumn, in the seventh month, on guihai, Liu Xun, the retired Consultant to the Heir Apparent, was demoted to vice-military administrator of Caozhou.
56
庚午夜，天雄牙將李公佺與牙軍謀亂，羅紹威覺之； 公佺焚府捨，剽掠，奔滄州。 八月，王建遣前山南西道節度使王宗賀等將兵，擊昭信節度使馮行襲於金州。
At midnight on gengwu, Li Gongxian, a Tianxiong guard officer, plotted mutiny with the army guard; Luo Shaowei discovered the plot; Gongxian set fire to the headquarters, looted the city, and fled to Cangzhou. In the eighth month, Wang Jian sent Wang Zonghe, former military governor of Shannan West, and others to attack Feng Xingsi, military governor of Zhaoxin, at Jinzhou.
57
朱全忠以趙匡凝東與楊行密交通，西與王建結婚，乙未，遣武寧節度使楊師厚將兵擊之，己亥，全忠以大軍繼之。
Because Zhao Kuangning was in contact with Yang Xingmi to the east and allied by marriage with Wang Jian to the west, Zhu Quanzhong on yiwei sent Yang Shihou, military governor of Wuning, against him with an army, and on jihai followed with the main force.
58
處州刺史盧約使其弟佶攻陷溫州，張惠奔福州。
Lu Yue, prefect of Chuzhou, had his younger brother Ji capture Wenzhou, and Zhang Hui fled to Fuzhou.
59
錢鏐遣方永珍救婺州。
Qian Liu sent Fang Yongzhen to relieve Wuzhou.
60
初，禮部員外郎知制詔司空圖棄官居虞鄉王官谷，昭宗屢征之，不起。 柳璨以詔書征之，圖懼，詣洛陽入見，陽為衰野，墜笏失儀。 璨乃復下詔，略曰：「既養高以傲代，類移山以釣名。」 又曰：「匪夷匪惠，難居公正之朝。 可放還山。」 圖，臨淮人也。
Earlier, Sikong Tu, Outer Gentleman of the Ministry of Rites and Drafting Secretary, had resigned and was living at Wangguan Valley in Yuxiang. Emperor Zhaozong repeatedly summoned him, but he refused to come. Liu Can summoned him by edict. Tu was frightened, went to Luoyang for an audience, and feigned feebleness and rustic ignorance, dropping his court tablet and making a spectacle of himself. Can then issued another edict that read in part, "Having cultivated lofty retirement to scorn the age, you are like someone who moved a mountain merely to fish for a name." It also said, "Neither foreigner nor benefactor—you cannot remain in a court devoted to justice. You are dismissed to return to the mountains." Tu was a native of Linhuai.
61
楊師厚攻下唐、鄧、復、郢、隨、均、房七州，朱全忠軍於漢北。 九月，辛酉，命師厚作浮梁於陰谷口，癸亥，引兵渡漢。 甲子，趙匡凝將兵二萬陳於漢濱，師厚與戰，大破之，遂傅其城下。 是夕，匡凝焚府城，帥其族及麾下士沿漢奔廣陵。 乙丑，師厚入襄陽； 丙寓，全忠繼至。 匡凝至廣陵，楊行密戲之曰：「君在鎮，歲以金帛輸朱全忠，今敗，乃歸我乎？」 匡凝曰：「諸侯事天子，歲輸貢賦乃其職也，豈輸賊乎！ 今日歸公，正以不從賊故耳。」 行密厚遇之。
Yang Shihou captured the seven prefectures of Tang, Deng, Fu, Ying, Sui, Jun, and Fang, while Zhu Quanzhong camped north of the Han. In the ninth month, on xinyou, he ordered Shihou to build a pontoon bridge at the mouth of Yingu Valley. On guihai he led his army across the Han. On jiazi, Zhao Kuangning drew up twenty thousand men on the Han's bank. Shihou engaged him, routed his army utterly, and pressed his attack to the walls of the city. That night Kuangning burned the headquarters city and fled along the Han to Guangling with his clan and his followers. On yichou, Shihou entered Xiangyang; On bingyin, Quanzhong arrived in turn. When Kuangning reached Guangling, Yang Xingmi taunted him, saying, "In your command you sent gold and silk every year to Zhu Quanzhong—now that you are beaten, you come to me?" Kuangning replied, "When lords serve the emperor, sending annual tribute is their duty—how could that be supplying a rebel! I come to you today precisely because I refused to serve the rebel." Xingmi treated him with great hospitality.
62
封皇弟禔為穎王，祐為蔡王。
The emperor's younger brother Ti was enfeoffed as Prince of Ying and You as Prince of Cai.
63
丁卯，荊南節度使趙匡明帥眾二萬，棄城奔成都。 戊辰，朱全忠以楊師厚為山南東道留後，引兵擊江陵。 至樂鄉，荊南牙將王建武遣使迎降。 全忠以都將賀瑰為荊南留後。 全忠尋表師厚為山南東道節度使。
On dingmao, Zhao Kuangming, military governor of Jingnan, abandoned his city with twenty thousand men and fled to Chengdu. On wuchen, Zhu Quanzhong appointed Yang Shihou regent of Shannan East Circuit and marched to attack Jiangling. At Ledistrict, Wang Jianwu, a junior general of Jingnan, sent envoys to welcome him and surrender. Quanzhong appointed his commandery general He Gui regent of Jingnan. Quanzhong soon submitted a memorial to appoint Shihou military governor of Shannan East Circuit.
64
王宗賀等攻馮行襲，所向皆捷。 丙子，行襲棄金州，奔均州。 其將全師朗以城降。 王建更師朗姓名曰王宗朗，補金州觀察使，割渠、巴、開三州以隸之。
Wang Zonghe and others attacked Feng Xingxi and won every engagement. On bingzi, Xingxi abandoned Jin Prefecture and fled to Jun. His general Quan Shilang surrendered the city. Wang Jian renamed Shilang Wang Zonglang, made him observation commissioner of Jin Prefecture, and detached the three prefectures of Qu, Ba, and Kai to place under his authority.
65
乙酉，詔更用十一月癸酉親郊。
On yiyou, an edict rescheduled the imperial suburban sacrifice to guiyou in the eleventh month.
66
淮南將陶雅、陳璋拔婺州，執刺史沈夏以歸。 楊行密以雅為江南都招討使，歙、婺、衢、睦觀察使，以璋為衢、婺副招討使。 璋攻暨陽，兩浙將方習敗之。 習進攻婺州。
Huainan generals Tao Ya and Chen Zhang took Wuzhou, seized Prefect Shen Xia, and brought him back. Yang Xingmi appointed Ya overall Jiangnan suppression commissioner and observation commissioner of She, Wu, Qu, and Mu, and made Zhang deputy suppression commissioner for Qu and Wu. Zhang attacked Jiyang, but Fang Xi, a general of the Two Zhes, defeated him. Xi then pressed the attack on Wuzhou.
67
濠州團練使劉金卒，楊行密以金子仁規知濠州。
Liu Jin, regimental commissioner of Haozhou, died. Yang Xingmi put Jin's son Ren Gui in charge of Haozhou.
68
楊行密長子宣州觀察使渥，素無令譽，軍府輕之。 行密寢疾，命節度判官周隱召渥。 隱性憃直，對曰：「宣州司徒輕易信讒，喜擊球飲酒，非保家之主。 餘子皆幼，未能駕馭諸將。 廬州刺史劉威，從王起細微，必不負王，不若使之權領軍府，俟諸子長以授之。」 行密不應。 左右牙指揮使徐溫、張顥言於行密曰：「王平生出萬死，冒矢石，為子孫立基業，安可使他人有之！」 行密曰：「吾死瞑目矣！」 隱，舒州人也。 他日，將佐問疾，行密目留幕僚嚴可求。 眾出，可求曰：「王若不諱，如軍府何？」 行密曰：「吾命周隱召渥，今忍死待之。」 可求與徐溫詣隱，隱未出見，牒猶在案上，可求即與溫取牒，遣使者如宣州召之。 可求，同州人也。 行密以潤州團練使王茂章為宣州觀察使。
Yang Xingmi's eldest son Wo, observation commissioner of Xuanzhou, had never enjoyed a good reputation, and the headquarters held him in low regard. When Xingmi fell gravely ill, he ordered his military-governor's aide Zhou Yin to summon Wo. Yin was blunt and plainspoken by nature. He replied, "The grand commandant of Xuanzhou is rash and credulous of slander, fond of polo and wine—not a man to preserve the family estate. The other sons are all still young and cannot yet command the generals. Liu Wei, prefect of Luzhou, rose with you from humble beginnings and would surely not betray you. Better to have him govern the headquarters provisionally and invest your sons when they come of age." Xingmi made no reply. The left and right fang-army commanders Xu Wen and Zhang Hao said to Xingmi, "Your Highness risked death a thousand times in battle and braved arrows and stones to build this estate for your descendants—how can we let another take it!" Xingmi said, "Then I can die in peace!" Yin was a native of Shuzhou. On another day, when generals and aides came to inquire after his health, Xingmi signaled with his eyes for staff member Yan Keqiu to remain. After the others had left, Keqiu said, "If Your Highness does not recover, what will become of the headquarters?" Xingmi said, "I ordered Zhou Yin to summon Wo. I am clinging to life to wait for him." Keqiu and Xu Wen went to Yin. Yin had not yet come out to receive them, but the dispatch was still on his desk. Keqiu and Wen at once took it and sent a messenger to Xuanzhou to summon Wo. Keqiu was a native of Tongzhou. Xingmi appointed Wang Maozhang, regimental commissioner of Runzhou, observation commissioner of Xuanzhou.
69
冬，十月，丙戌朔，以朱全忠為諸道兵馬元帥，別開幕府。 是日，全忠部署將士，將歸大梁，忽變計，欲乘勝擊淮南。 敬翔諫曰：「今出師未逾月，平兩大鎮，闢地數千里，遠近聞之，莫不震懾。 此威望可惜，不若且歸息兵，俟釁而動。」 不聽。
In winter, the tenth month, on the bingwu new moon, Zhu Quanzhong was appointed commander-in-chief of all circuits' armies and opened a separate field headquarters. That same day Quanzhong mustered his officers and troops to return to Daliang, but suddenly changed plan and decided to press the victory against Huainan. Jing Xiang remonstrated, "Your campaign has not yet lasted a month. You have subdued two great circuits and seized territory for thousands of li. Near and far, all who hear of it are awestruck. It would be a shame to squander this prestige. Better to return for now, rest the army, and wait for an opening." Quanzhong refused to listen.
70
改昭信軍為戎昭軍。 仍割均州隸之。
The Zhao Xin Army was renamed the Rong Zhao Army. Jun Prefecture was also detached and placed under its jurisdiction.
71
辛卯，朱全忠發襄州。 壬辰，至棗陽，遇大雨。 自申州抵光州，道險狹塗潦，人馬疲乏，士卒尚未冬服，多逃亡。 全忠使人謂光州刺史柴再用曰：「下，我以汝為蔡州刺史； 不下，且屠城！」 再用嚴設守備，戎服登城，見全忠，拜伏甚恭，曰：「光州城小兵弱，不足以辱王之威怒。 王苟先下壽州，敢不從命。」 全忠留其城東旬日而去。
On xinmao, Zhu Quanzhong marched out from Xiangzhou. On renchen he reached Zaoyang in heavy rain. From Shenzhou to Guangzhou the route was treacherous, narrow, and waterlogged. Men and horses were exhausted, the soldiers still lacked winter clothing, and many deserted. Quanzhong sent a messenger to Chai Zaiyong, prefect of Guangzhou, saying, "Surrender, and I will make you prefect of Caizhou; refuse, and I will slaughter the city!" Zaiyong made his defenses tight, donned armor, mounted the wall, and when he saw Quanzhong bowed low and said respectfully, "Guangzhou is small and weak—not worthy of Your Highness's wrath. If Your Highness takes Shouzhou first, I shall not fail to obey." Quanzhong camped east of the city for ten days and then withdrew.
72
起居郎蘇楷，禮部尚書循之子也，素無才行，乾寧中登進士第，昭宗覆試黜之，仍永不聽入科場。 甲午，楷帥同列上言：「謚號美惡，臣子不得而私，先帝謚號多溢美，乞更詳議。」 事下太常，丁酉，張廷范奏改謚恭靈莊愍孝皇帝，廟號襄宗，詔從之。
Attendant Su Kai, son of Minister of Rites Su Xun, had never shown talent or character. During Qianning he passed the jinshi examination, but Emperor Zhaozong failed him on re-examination and permanently barred him from the civil service examinations. On jiawu, Kai led his colleagues in submitting a memorial: "Whether a posthumous title is flattering or condemnatory is not for subjects to decide privately. The late emperor's title is excessively flattering. We beg that it be reconsidered in full." The matter was referred to the Ministry of Rites. On dingyou, Zhang Tingfan memorialized to change the posthumous title to Emperor Gongling Zhuangmin Xiao, with temple name Xiangzong, and an edict approved it.
73
楊渥至廣陵。 辛丑，楊行密承製以渥為淮南留後。
Yang Wo arrived at Guangling. On xinchou, Yang Xingmi, acting under imperial commission, appointed Wo regent of Huainan.
74
戊申，朱全忠發光州，迷失道百餘里，又遇雨，比及壽州，壽人堅壁清野以待之。 全忠欲圍之，無林木可為柵，乃退屯正陽。
On wushen, Zhu Quanzhong marched out from Guangzhou, lost his way for more than a hundred li, and ran into rain again. By the time he reached Shouzhou, the people there had sealed their walls and stripped the countryside bare in anticipation. Quanzhong wanted to besiege the city but found no timber for palisades, so he withdrew and encamped at Zhengyang.
75
癸丑，更名成德軍曰武順。
On guichou, the Chengde Army was renamed Wushun.
76
十一月，丙辰，朱全忠渡淮而北，柴再用抄其後軍，斬首三千級，獲輜重萬計。 全忠悔之，躁忿尤甚。 丁卯，至大梁。
In the eleventh month, on bingchen, Zhu Quanzhong crossed the Huai and marched north. Chai Zaiyong struck his rear guard, took three thousand heads, and seized vast amounts of baggage and supplies. Quanzhong bitterly regretted the campaign and grew still more furious. On dingmao he reached Daliang.
77
先是，全忠急於傳禪，密使蔣玄暉等謀之。 玄暉與柳璨等議：以魏、晉以來皆先封大國，加九錫，殊禮，然後受禪，當次第行之。 乃先除全忠諸道元帥，以示有漸，仍以刑部尚書裴迪為送宮告使，全忠大怒。 宣徽副使王殷、趙殷衡疾玄暉權寵，欲得其處，因譖之於全忠曰：「玄暉、璨等欲延唐祚，故逗遛其事以須變。」 玄暉聞之懼，自至壽春，具言其狀。 全忠曰：「汝曹巧述閒事以沮我，借使我不受九錫，豈不能作天子邪！」 玄暉曰：「唐祚已盡，天命歸王，愚智皆知之。 玄暉與柳璨等非敢有背德，但以今茲晉、燕、岐、蜀皆吾勍敵，王遽受禪，彼心未服，不可不曲盡義理，然後取之，欲為王創萬代之業耳。」 全忠叱之曰：「奴果反矣！」 玄暉惶遽辭歸，與璨議行九錫。 時天子將郊祀，百官既習儀，裴迪自大梁還，言全忠怒曰：「柳璨、蔣玄暉等欲延唐祚，乃郊天也。」 璨等懼，庚午，敕改用來年正月上辛。 殷衡本姓孔名循，為全忠家乳母養子，故冒姓趙，後漸貴，復其姓名。
Earlier, Quanzhong was eager to have the throne abdicated to him and secretly sent Jiang Xuanhui and others to arrange it. Xuanhui discussed with Liu Can and others that since Wei and Jin, every usurper had first been enfeoffed with a great state, granted the Nine Bestowals and special honors, and only then received the abdication. They should proceed in that order. They first stripped Quanzhong of his title as commander-in-chief of all circuits to show gradual progress, and still dispatched Pei Di, Minister of Justice, as envoy to deliver the palace announcement. Quanzhong was furious. Deputy commissioners of the Palace Secretariat Wang Yin and Zhao Yinheng resented Xuanhui's power and favor and coveted his position. They slandered him to Quanzhong, saying, "Xuanhui, Can, and the others mean to prolong the Tang dynasty and are deliberately stalling, waiting for some turn of events." When Xuanhui heard this he was frightened and went in person to Shouchun to explain everything. Quanzhong said, "You people invent petty excuses to block me. Even if I never receive the Nine Bestowals, can I not still become emperor?" Xuanhui said, "The Tang dynasty's mandate is spent. Heaven's favor rests with you—everyone knows it, wise and simple alike. Xuanhui and Liu Can are not disloyal. But Jin, Yan, Qi, and Shu are all formidable foes. If you accept the throne too hastily, they will not submit in heart. Every propriety must be observed before you take it—we mean only to secure an empire that will last ten thousand generations for you." Quanzhong barked at him, "The slave really has turned traitor!" Xuanhui fled in panic and returned to discuss the Nine Bestowals with Can. The emperor was about to perform the suburban sacrifice, and the officials had already rehearsed the rites. When Pei Di returned from Daliang, he reported that Quanzhong had raged, "Liu Can, Jiang Xuanhui, and the others mean to prolong the Tang—so they sacrifice to Heaven!" Can and the others were terrified. On gengwu, an edict rescheduled the ceremony for the upper xin day of the first month of the coming year. Yinheng's original name was Kong Xun. He had been adopted by the wet nurse of Quanzhong's household and had taken the surname Zhao, but as he rose in rank he restored his true name.
78
壬申，趙匡明至成都，王建以客禮遇之。
On renshen, Zhao Kuangming arrived at Chengdu, and Wang Jian received him as an honored guest.
79
昭宗之喪，朝廷遣告哀使司馬卿宣諭王建，至是始入蜀境。 西川掌書記韋莊為建謀，使武定節度使王宗綰諭卿曰：「蜀之將士，世受唐恩，去歲聞乘輿東遷，凡上二十表，皆不報。 尋有亡卒自汴來，聞先帝已罹朱全忠弒逆。 蜀之將士方日夕枕戈，思為先帝報仇。 不知今茲使來以何事宣諭？ 舍人宜自圖進退。」 卿乃還。
After Emperor Zhaozong's death, the court had sent mourning envoy Sima Qing to announce the news to Wang Jian. Only now did he enter Shu territory. Wei Zhuang, chief secretary of Xichuan, advised Wang Jian to have Wang Zongyan, military governor of Wuding, tell Qing, "Shu's officers and soldiers have owed their livelihood to the Tang for generations. Last year, when we heard the emperor had been taken east, we submitted twenty memorials, none of which received a reply. Soon a deserter arrived from Bian with word that the late emperor had fallen victim to Zhu Quanzhong's murder and treason. Shu's soldiers now sleep with weapons at hand day and night, longing to avenge the late emperor. We do not know what message you bring on this visit. Attendant, you would do well to consider your next move." Qing turned back.
80
庚辰，吳武忠王楊行密薨，將佐共請宣諭使李儼承製授楊渥淮南節度使、東南諸道行營都統，兼侍中、弘農郡王。
On gengchen, Prince Wu Zhong of Wu, Yang Xingmi, died. His generals and aides jointly asked announcement envoy Li Yan to invest Yang Wo, under imperial commission, as military governor of Huainan, commander-in-chief of the Southeast circuits' field camp, concurrently Grand Secretary, and Prince of Hongnong.
81
柳璨、蔣玄暉等議加朱全忠九錫，朝士多竊懷憤邑，禮部尚書蘇循獨揚言曰：「梁王功業顯大，歷數有歸，朝廷速宜揖讓。」 朝士無敢違者。 辛巳，以全忠為相國，總百揆。 以宣武、宣義、天平、護國、天雄、武順、佑國、河陽、義武、昭義、保義、戎昭、武定、泰寧、平廬、忠武、匡國、鎮國、武寧、忠義、荊南等二十一道為魏國，進封魏王，仍加九錫。 全忠怒其稽緩，讓不受。 十二月，戊子，命樞密使蔣玄暉繼手詔詣全忠諭指。 癸巳，玄暉自大梁還，言全忠怒不解。 甲午，柳璨奏稱：「人望歸梁王，陛下釋重負，今其時也。」 即日遣璨詣大梁達傳禪之意，全忠拒之。 初，璨陷害朝士過多，全忠亦惡之。 璨與蔣玄暉、張廷范朝夕宴聚，深相結，為全忠謀禪代事。 何太后泣遣宮人阿秋、阿虔達意玄暉，語以他日傳禪之後，求子母生全。 王殷、趙殷衡譖玄暉，云「與柳璨、張廷范於積善宮夜宴，對太后焚香為誓，期興復唐祚。」 全忠信之，乙未，收玄暉及豐德庫使應頊、御廚使朱建武系河南獄； 以王殷權知樞密，趙殷衡權判宣徽院事。 全忠三表辭魏王、九錫之命。 丁酉，詔許之，更以為天下兵馬元帥，然全忠已修大梁府捨為宮闕矣。 是日，斬蔣玄暉，杖殺應頊、朱建武。 庚子，省樞密使及宣徽南院使，獨置宣徽使一員，以王殷為之，趙殷衡為副使。 辛丑，敕罷宮人宣傳詔命及參隨視朝。 追削蔣玄暉為凶逆百姓，令河南揭屍於都門外，聚眾焚之。
Liu Can, Jiang Xuanhui, and others debated granting Zhu Quanzhong the Nine Bestowals. Many court officials seethed in private, but Minister of Rites Su Xun alone declared openly, "The Prince of Liang's achievements are immense and the mandate clearly rests with him. The court should abdicate at once." No one in court dared dissent. On xinsi, Quanzhong was appointed Chancellor of State with authority over all government affairs. The twenty-one circuits of Xuanwu, Xuanyi, Tianping, Huguo, Tianxiong, Wushun, Youguo, Heyang, Yiwu, Zhaoyi, Baoyi, Rongzhao, Wuding, Taining, Pinglu, Zhongwu, Kuangguo, Zhenguo, Wuning, Zhongyi, and Jingnan were constituted as the State of Wei. Quanzhong was elevated to Prince of Wei and granted the Nine Bestowals. Quanzhong, still angry at the delay, refused on pretext of modesty. In the twelfth month, on wuzi, Commissioner of the Secretariat Jiang Xuanhui was sent with a handwritten edict to explain the emperor's intent to Quanzhong. On guisi, Xuanhui returned from Daliang and reported that Quanzhong's rage had not subsided. On jiawu, Liu Can memorialized, "The people's hopes rest with the Prince of Liang. Your Majesty may lay down your heavy burden—the time has come." That same day Can was dispatched to Daliang to broach abdication. Quanzhong refused. Can had already framed too many court officials, and Quanzhong had come to despise him. Can, Jiang Xuanhui, and Zhang Tingfan feasted together day and night, bound themselves closely, and schemed over Quanzhong's succession. Empress Dowager He wept and sent palace women A-Qiu and A-Qian to Xuanhui, begging that after the abdication she and her son might be allowed to live. Wang Yin and Zhao Yinheng slandered Xuanhui, claiming that "he banqueted at night in Jishan Palace with Liu Can and Zhang Tingfan, burned incense before the Empress Dowager as an oath, and pledged to restore the Tang dynasty." Quanzhong believed them. On yimwei, Xuanhui, Fengde Storehouse commissioner Ying Qi, and Imperial Kitchen commissioner Zhu Jianwu were arrested and jailed in Henan; Wang Yin was put in charge of the Secretariat on an acting basis, and Zhao Yinheng was given acting charge of the Palace Secretariat. Quanzhong submitted three memorials declining the title of Prince of Wei and the Nine Bestowals. On dingyou, an edict granted his request and reappointed him commander-in-chief of all armies, though Quanzhong had already converted his Daliang headquarters into an imperial palace. That same day Jiang Xuanhui was beheaded, and Ying Qi and Zhu Jianwu were beaten to death. On gengzi, the offices of Commissioner of the Secretariat and Palace Secretariat South Court commissioner were abolished. A single Palace Secretariat commissioner was retained: Wang Yin, with Zhao Yinheng as deputy. On xinchou, an edict barred palace women from proclaiming edicts and from attending court. Jiang Xuanhui was posthumously degraded to common rebel. Henan was ordered to display his corpse outside the capital gate and burn it before the assembled crowd.
82
玄暉既死，王殷、趙殷衡又誣玄暉私侍何太后，令阿秋、阿虔通導往來。 己酉，全忠密令殷、殷衡害太后於積善宮，敕追廢太后為庶人，阿秋、阿虔皆於殿前撲殺。 庚戌，以皇太后喪，廢朝三日。
After Xuanhui's death, Wang Yin and Zhao Yinheng further accused him of having secretly attended Empress Dowager He, with A-Qiu and A-Qian acting as go-betweens. On jiyou, Quanzhong secretly ordered Yin and Yinheng to murder the Empress Dowager at Jishan Palace. An edict degraded her posthumously to commoner status, and A-Qiu and A-Qian were beaten to death in the palace courtyard. On gengxu, mourning for the Empress Dowager was observed with a three-day suspension of court audiences.
83
辛亥，敕以宮禁內亂，罷來年正月上辛謁郊廟禮。
On xinhai, an edict announced that due to turmoil within the palace, the first month's upper-xin ceremony of homage at the suburban temples would be canceled the following year.
84
癸丑，守司空兼門下侍郎、同平章事柳璨貶登州刺史，太常卿張廷范貶萊州司戶。 甲寅，斬璨於上東門外，車裂廷范於都市。 璨臨刑呼曰：「負國賊柳璨，死其宜矣！」 西川將王宗朗不能守金州，焚其城邑，奔成都。 戎昭節度使馮行襲復取金州，奏稱「金州荒殘，乞徙理均州，」從之。 更以行襲領武安軍。
On guichou, Liu Can—acting Director of the Works, Grand Secretary of the Chancellery, and Associate Grand Councillor—was demoted to prefect of Deng Prefecture, while Zhang Tingfan, Minister of Rites, was demoted to revenue clerk of Laizhou. On jiayin, Liu Can was beheaded outside the Upper East Gate, and Zhang Tingfan was torn apart by chariots in the marketplace. Facing execution, Liu Can cried out: "Liu Can, traitor to the state—death is what I deserve! The Shu commander Wang Zonglang, unable to hold Jin Prefecture, burned its towns and fled to Chengdu. Feng Xingxi, military governor of Rongzhao, reconquered Jin Prefecture and memorialized that the prefecture was too devastated to serve as a seat of government, asking to relocate administration to Jun Prefecture. His request was approved. "Xingxi was additionally given command of the Wu'an army."
85
陳詢不能守睦州，奔於廣陵，淮南招討使陶雅入據其城。
Chen Xun, unable to hold Muzhou, fled to Guangling; Tao Ya, Huainan's pacification commissioner, entered the city and took possession of it.
86
楊渥之去宣州也，欲取其幄幕及親兵以行，觀察使王茂章不與，渥怒。 既襲位，遣馬步都指揮使李簡等將兵襲之。
When Yang Wo departed Xuan Prefecture, he wanted to take his tent equipage and personal troops with him. The observation commissioner Wang Maozhang refused, and Wo was enraged. Once he had assumed leadership, he dispatched Li Jian, commander of infantry and cavalry, along with others to lead troops against Wang Maozhang.
87
湖南兵寇淮南，淮南牙內指揮使楊彪擊卻之。
When Hunan forces raided Huainan, Yang Biao, commander of the Huainan garrison troops, drove them back.
88
昭宗聖穆景文孝皇帝下之下天祐三年（ 丙寅，公元九零六年）
Emperor Zhaozong, the Sagely, Solemn, Illustrious, Cultured, and Filial—Lower Part, Lower Section: Third Year of Tianyou ( bingyin, 906 CE)
89
春，正月，壬戌，靈武節度使韓遜奏吐番七千餘騎營於宗高谷，將擊嗢末及取涼州。
In spring, the first month, on renxu, Han Xun, military governor of Lingwu, reported that over seven thousand Tibetan horsemen had encamped at Zonggao Valley with the intention of attacking the Wamo and capturing Liang Prefecture.
90
李簡兵奄至宣州，王茂章度不能守，帥眾奔兩浙。 親兵上蔡刁彥能辭以母老，不從行，登城諭眾曰：「王府命我招諭汝曹，大兵行至矣。」 眾由是定。 陶雅畏茂章斷其歸路，引兵還歙州，錢鏐復取睦州。 鏐以茂章為鎮東節度副使，更名景仁。
Li Jian's army suddenly appeared at Xuan Prefecture. Judging the city indefensible, Wang Maozhang led his men in flight to the Two Zhes. Diao Yanneng of Shangcai, a man of the personal guard, pleaded that his aged mother kept him from marching. He mounted the wall and proclaimed to the crowd: "The princely headquarters has charged me to summon and reassure you—the main army is already at hand." The people were thus calmed. Fearing Wang Maozhang would cut off his retreat, Tao Ya withdrew to She Prefecture, and Qian Liu retook Muzhou. Qian Liu appointed Wang Maozhang deputy military governor of Zhendong and renamed him Jingren.
91
乙丑，加靜海節度使曲承裕同平章事。
On yichou, Qu Chengyu, military governor of Jinghai, was appointed Associate Grand Councillor.
92
初，田承嗣鎮魏博，選募六州驍勇之士五千人為牙軍，厚其給賜以自衛，為腹心。 自是父子相繼，親黨膠固，歲久益驕橫，小不如意，輒族舊帥而易之。 自史憲誠以來皆立於其手。 天雄節度使羅紹威心惡之，力不能制。 朱全忠之圍鳳翔也，紹威遣軍將楊利言密以情告全忠，欲借其兵以誅之。 全忠以事方急，未暇如其請，陰許之。 及李公佺作亂，紹威益懼，復遣牙將臧延范趣全忠。 全忠乃發河南諸鎮兵七萬，遣其將李思安將之，會魏、鎮兵屯深州樂城，聲言擊滄州，討其納李公佺也。 會全忠女適紹威子廷規者卒，全忠遣客將馬嗣勳實甲兵於橐中，選長直兵千人為擔夫，帥之入魏，詐雲會葬，全忠自以大軍繼其後，雲赴行營，牙軍皆不之疑。 庚午，紹威潛遣人入庫斷弓弦、甲襻。 是夕，紹威帥其奴客數百，與嗣勳合擊牙軍。 牙軍欲戰而弓甲皆不可用，遂闔營殪之，凡八千家，嬰孺無遺。 詰旦，全忠引兵入城。
In earlier days, when Tian Chengsi held Weibo, he selected five thousand elite fighters from the six prefectures to form the garrison guard—the elite corps—and lavished pay and rewards upon them as his personal shield and innermost core. Thereafter leadership passed from father to son, kinsmen and allies entwined like glue. With the years they grew ever bolder, and at the slightest disappointment they would wipe out the ruling commander by clan extermination and install another. From Shi Xiancheng onward, every commander had been installed at their pleasure. Luo Shaowei, military governor of Tianxiong, loathed them but was powerless to restrain them. While Zhu Quanzhong was besieging Fengxiang, Shaowei sent his officer Yang Liyan to confide in Quanzhong in secret, hoping to borrow Quanzhong's forces to destroy the guard corps. Quanzhong, pressed by urgent affairs, could not act on the request at once but gave his secret consent. When Li Gongxian rebelled, Shaowei's fear deepened, and he again dispatched the guard officer Zang Yanfan to press Quanzhong for action. Quanzhong then mustered seventy thousand troops from the Henan prefectures, placed them under his general Li Si'an, and joined Wei and Zhen forces at Lecheng in Shen Prefecture, proclaiming an expedition against Cangzhou to punish its sheltering of Li Gongxian. When the daughter Quanzhong had married to Shaowei's son Tinggui died, Quanzhong sent his retainer-commander Ma Sixun with armor hidden in traveling chests, chose a thousand veteran troops disguised as porters, and marched them into Wei under the pretense of attending the funeral. Quanzhong himself followed at the head of a great army, claiming he was bound for the field camp—and the garrison guard never suspected a thing. On gengwu, Shaowei secretly sent men into the arsenals to sever bowstrings and armor lacings. That night, Shaowei led several hundred household warriors and joined Sixun in a surprise attack on the guard corps. The guard tried to fight, but their bows and armor had been rendered useless. The entire camp was slaughtered—eight thousand households in all, down to the last infant. At first light, Quanzhong marched his army into the city.
93
辛未，以權知寧遠留後龐巨昭、嶺南西道留後葉廣略並為節度使。
On xinwei, Pang Juzhao, provisional commander of Ningyuan, and Ye Guanglue, provisional commander of Lingnan West Circuit, were both confirmed as full military governors.
94
庚辰，錢鏐如睦州。
On gengchen, Qian Liu traveled to Muzhou.
95
西川將王宗阮攻歸州，獲其將韓從實。
The Shu general Wang Zongruan attacked Guizhou and captured the enemy commander Han Congshi.
96
陳璋聞陶雅歸歙，自婺州退保衢州。 兩浙將方永珍等取婺州，進攻衢州。
Learning that Tao Ya had returned to She Prefecture, Chen Zhang withdrew from Wuzhou and fell back to defend Qu Prefecture. Fang Yongzhen and other Two Zhes generals captured Wuzhou and pressed on to attack Qu Prefecture.
97
楊渥遣先鋒指揮使陳知新攻湖南。 三月，乙丑，知新拔岳州，逐刺史許德勳，渥以知新為岳州刺史。
Yang Wo dispatched Chen Zhixin, commander of the vanguard, to attack Hunan. In the third month, on yichou, Chen Zhixin took Yue Prefecture, drove out the prefect Xu Dexun, and Yang Wo appointed him prefect of Yue.
98
戊寅，以朱全忠為鹽鐵、度支、戶部三司都制置使。 三司之名始於此。 全忠辭不受。
On wuyin, Zhu Quanzhong was appointed chief commissioner of the three revenue bureaus—Salt and Iron, Revenue, and Public Works. The title "Three Bureaus" dates from this appointment. Quanzhong declined the appointment.
99
夏，四月，癸未朔，日有食之。
In summer, the fourth month, on the first day (guiwei), a solar eclipse occurred.
100
羅紹威既誅牙軍，魏之諸軍皆懼，紹威雖數撫諭之，而猜怨益甚。 朱全忠營於魏州城東數旬，將北巡行營，會天雄牙將史仁遇作亂，聚眾數萬據高唐，自稱留後，天雄巡內州縣多應之。 全忠移軍入城，遣使召行營兵還攻高唐，至歷亭，魏兵在行營者作亂，與仁遇相應。 元帥府左司馬李周彝、右司馬苻道昭擊之，所殺殆半，進攻高唐，克之，城中兵民無少長皆死。 擒史仁遇，鋸殺之。
After Luo Shaowei destroyed the guard corps, every Wei army was seized with fear. Though Shaowei offered repeated reassurances, suspicion and resentment only deepened. Zhu Quanzhong had encamped east of Weizhou for several weeks and was preparing to inspect the northern field camps when Tianxiong guard officer Shi Renyu rebelled. Renyu rallied tens of thousands of men, seized Gaotang, and declared himself acting military governor—and counties throughout the Tianxiong circuit rose in response. Quanzhong moved his army into the city and sent orders recalling field troops to attack Gaotang. At Liting, Wei soldiers in the camps mutinied in concert with Renyu. Li Zhouyi, left chief of staff, and Fu Daozhao, right chief of staff, at the marshal's headquarters struck back, killing nearly half the rebels. They advanced on Gaotang, took the city, and put every soul within it to the sword—soldiers and civilians, young and old alike. Shi Renyu was captured and executed by sawing.
101
先是，仁遇求救於河東及滄州，李克用遣其將李嗣昭將三千騎攻邢州以救之。 時邢州兵才二百，團練使牛存節守之，嗣昭攻七日不克。 全忠遣右長直都將張筠將數千騎助存節守城，筠伏兵於馬嶺，擊嗣昭，敗之，嗣昭遁去。
Earlier Renyu had appealed for aid to Hedong and Cangzhou. Li Keyong dispatched Li Sizhao with three thousand horsemen to attack Xing Prefecture in relief. Xing Prefecture had only two hundred defenders under the militia commissioner Niu Cunjie. Sizhao besieged it for seven days without success. Quanzhong sent Zhang Yun, right commander of the long-service corps, with several thousand cavalry to reinforce Cunjie. Yun lay in ambush at Maling, struck Sizhao, routed him, and Sizhao fled.
102
義昌節度使劉守文遣兵萬人攻貝州，又攻冀州，拔蓨縣，進攻阜城。 時鎮州大將王釗攻魏州叛將李重霸於宗城。 全忠遣歸救冀州，滄州兵去。 丙午，重霸棄城走，汴將胡規追斬之。
Liu Shouwen, military governor of Yichang, dispatched ten thousand men against Bei Prefecture, then turned on Ji Prefecture, captured Tiao County, and pressed on toward Fucheng. Meanwhile Wang Zhao, a senior general of Zhen Prefecture, was besieging the Wei rebel Li Chongba at Zongcheng. Quanzhong ordered him to break off and save Ji Prefecture, and the Cangzhou army withdrew. On bingwu, Li Chongba abandoned the city and fled; the Bian general Hu Gui pursued and killed him.
103
鎮南節度使鍾傳以養子延規為江州刺史。 傳薨，軍中立其子匡時為留後。 延規恨不得立，遣使降淮南。
Zhong Chuan, military governor of Zhennan, appointed his adopted son Yan Gui prefect of Jiang Prefecture. When Zhong Chuan died, the army installed his son Kuangshi as acting military governor. Yan Gui, bitter over being passed over, sent envoys offering surrender to Huainan.
104
五月，丁巳，朱全忠如洺州，遂巡北邊，視戎備，還，入於魏。
In the fifth month, on dingsi, Zhu Quanzhong proceeded to Ming Prefecture, made a circuit of the northern frontier to inspect defenses, then returned and entered Wei.
105
丙子，廢戎昭軍，並均、房隸忠義軍。 以武定節度使馮行襲為匡國節度使。
On bingzi, the Rongzhao command was abolished, and Jun and Fang prefectures were annexed to the Zhongyi command. Feng Xingxi, military governor of Wuding, was appointed military governor of Kuangguo.
106
楊渥以升州刺史秦裴為西南行營都招討使，將兵擊鍾匡時於江西。
Yang Wo appointed Qin Pei, prefect of Sheng Prefecture, chief pacification commissioner of the southwestern field army, and sent him to attack Zhong Kuangshi in Jiangxi.
107
六月，甲申，復以忠義軍為山南東道。
In the sixth month, on jiashen, the Zhongyi command was restored to its former name, Shannan East Circuit.
108
朱全忠以長安鄰於邠、岐，數有戰爭，奏徙佑國節度使韓建於淄青，以淄青節度使長社王重師為佑國節度使。
Because Chang'an lay adjacent to Bin and Qi and saw frequent warfare, Zhu Quanzhong memorialized to transfer Han Jian from Youguo to Ziqing and appoint Wang Chongshi of Changshe, the Ziqing military governor, as military governor of Youguo in his stead.
109
秋，七月，朱全忠克相州。 時魏之亂兵散據貝、博、澶、相、衛州及魏之諸縣，全忠分命諸將攻討，至是悉平之，引兵南還。 全忠留魏半歲，羅紹威供億，所殺牛羊豕近七十萬，資糧稱是，所賂遺又近百萬，比去，蓄積為之一空。 紹威雖去其逼，而魏兵自是衰弱。 紹威悔之，謂人曰：「合六州四十三縣鐵，不能為此錯也！」 壬申，全忠至大梁。
In autumn, the seventh month, Zhu Quanzhong took Xiang Prefecture. Wei mutineers still held scattered positions across Bei, Bo, Chan, Xiang, and Wei prefectures and throughout Wei's counties. Quanzhong dispatched his generals to suppress them one by one, and by this time all had been subdued. He then marched his army southward. Quanzhong had lingered in Wei for half a year. Luo Shaowei fed his army, slaughtering nearly seven hundred thousand head of cattle, sheep, and swine, with provisions to match, and lavished nearly a million more in gifts. By the time Quanzhong departed, Wei's accumulated stores had been utterly drained. Shaowei had rid himself of the guard corps' stranglehold, but Wei's military strength was thereafter permanently diminished. Shaowei came to rue his decision. "If all the iron of six prefectures and forty-three counties were smelted into one," he told others, "it could not atone for this mistake!" On renshen, Quanzhong arrived at Daliang.
110
秦裴至洪州，軍於蓼州。 諸將請阻水立寨，裴不從。 鍾匡時果遣其將劉楚據之。 諸將以咎裴，裴曰：「匡時驍將獨楚一人耳，若帥眾守城，不可猝拔，吾故以要害誘致之耳。」 未幾，裴破寨，執楚，遂圍洪州，饒州刺史唐寶請降。
Qin Pei reached Hong Prefecture and made camp at Liao Prefecture. His officers urged him to dam the water and build a fortified camp; Pei refused. Zhong Kuangshi duly sent his general Liu Chu to occupy the position. The officers reproached Pei, but he replied: "Of Kuangshi's able generals, only Liu Chu is truly formidable. Had Chu held the city with a full garrison, we could never have taken it quickly. That is why I baited him to this critical spot." Before long Pei stormed the camp, captured Liu Chu, and laid siege to Hong Prefecture. Tang Bao, prefect of Rao, offered his surrender.
111
八月，乙酉，李茂貞遣其子侃為質於西川，王建以侃知彭州。 朱全忠以幽、滄相首尾為魏患，欲先取滄州，甲辰，引兵發大梁。
In the eighth month, on yiyou, Li Maozhen sent his son Kan as a hostage to Shu, and Wang Jian appointed him administrator of Peng Prefecture. Zhu Quanzhong, judging You and Cang a joint threat to Wei through their mutual support, resolved to take Cangzhou first. On jiachen he led his army out of Daliang.
112
兩浙兵圍衢州，衢州刺史陳璋告急於淮南。 楊渥遣左廂馬步都虞候周本將兵迎璋。 本至衢州，浙人解圍，陳於城下。 璋帥眾歸於本，兩浙兵取衢州。 呂師造曰：「浙人近我而不動，輕我也，請擊之！」 本曰：「吾受命迎陳使君，今至矣，何為復戰！ 彼必有以待我也。」 遂引兵還。 本為之殿，浙人躡之，本中道設伏，大破之。
Two Zhes forces besieged Qu Prefecture, and the prefect Chen Zhang sent desperate appeals to Huainan. Yang Wo dispatched Zhou Ben, inspector of the left wing cavalry and infantry, to lead troops to Chen Zhang's relief. When Ben reached Qu Prefecture, the Zhe army lifted the siege and drew up in battle order below the walls. Chen Zhang led his forces over to Zhou Ben, and the Two Zhes army took possession of Qu Prefecture. Lu Shizao urged: "The Zhe troops are right beside us and yet hold still—they are treating us with contempt. I beg leave to attack!" Zhou Ben replied: "My orders were to escort Commissioner Chen. He is here now—why should we fight again? Surely they have some stratagem waiting for us." He then withdrew his troops. Ben himself covered the retreat. When the Zhe army pressed close in pursuit, he laid an ambush along the way and inflicted a crushing defeat.
113
九月，辛亥朔，朱全忠自白馬渡河，丁卯，至滄州，軍於長蘆，滄人不出。 羅紹威饋運，自魏至長蘆五百里，不絕於路。 又建元帥府捨於魏，所過驛亭供酒饌、幄幕、什器，上下數十萬人，無一不備。
In the ninth month, on the first day (xinhai), Zhu Quanzhong crossed the Yellow River at Baima. On dingmao he reached Cangzhou and encamped at Changlu; the defenders of Cangzhou refused to come out. Luo Shaowei maintained an unbroken supply line from Wei to Changlu—five hundred li of ceaseless convoys. He also erected a marshal's headquarters at Wei and at every relay station along the route furnished wine, food, tents, and equipment—nothing omitted for an army of hundreds of thousands.
114
秦裴拔洪州，虜鍾匡時等五千人以歸。 楊渥自兼鎮南節度使，以裴為洪州制置使。
Qin Pei captured Hong Prefecture, taking Zhong Kuangshi and some five thousand captives back with him. Yang Wo assumed the post of Zhennan military governor himself and appointed Qin Pei commissioner for the administration of Hong Prefecture.
115
靜難節度使楊崇本以鳳翔、保塞、彰義、保義之兵攻夏州，匡國節度使劉知俊邀擊坊州之兵，斬首三千餘級，擒坊州刺史劉彥暉。
Yang Chongben, military governor of Jingnan, led armies from Fengxiang, Baosai, Zhangyi, and Baoyi against Xia Prefecture. Liu Zhijun, military governor of Kuangguo, intercepted the Feng Prefecture contingent, took more than three thousand heads, and captured Liu Yanhui, prefect of Feng.
116
劉仁恭救滄州，戰屢敗。 乃下令境內：「男子十五以上，七十以下，悉自備兵糧詣行營，軍發之後，有一人在閭裡，刑無赦！」 或諫曰：「今老弱悉行，婦人不能轉餉，此令必行，濫刑者眾矣！」 乃命勝執兵者盡行，文其面曰「定霸都」，士人則文其腕或臂曰「一心事主」，於是境內士民，稚孺之外無不文者。 得兵十萬，軍於瓦橋。
Liu Rengong marched to relieve Cangzhou but suffered defeat after defeat. He then issued orders throughout his domain: "Every man from fifteen to seventy shall equip himself with arms and rations and report to the field camp. After the army marches, any man found still at home in the villages shall be punished without mercy!" An adviser objected: "If the old and weak all march away, women will be unable to haul supplies. Enforce this order and the ranks of those punished will swell beyond measure!" He then ordered every able-bodied man to march, tattooing their faces with "Ding Ba Capital" and marking scholars on wrist or arm with "Wholeheartedly serving the lord." Throughout his domain, not a soul above infancy was left unmarked. He mustered one hundred thousand troops and encamped at Waqiao.
117
時汴軍築壘圍滄州，鳥鼠不能通。 仁恭畏其強，不敢戰。 城中食盡，丸土而食，或互相掠啖。 朱全忠使人說劉守文曰：「援兵勢不相及，何不早降！」 守文登城應之曰：「僕於幽州，父子也。 梁王方以大義服天下，若子叛父而來，將安用之！」 全忠愧其辭直，為之緩攻。
By then the Bian army had ringed Cangzhou with siege works so tight that not even birds or mice could slip through. Rengong feared their strength and dared not give battle. When food in the city ran out, the people ate balls of earth; some turned to cannibalism. Zhu Quanzhong sent an envoy to persuade Liu Shouwen, saying, "Relief cannot reach you in time—why not surrender now?" Shouwen mounted the wall and replied, "I and Youzhou are father and son. The Prince of Liang wins the realm through righteousness—if a son betrays his father and comes to you, how could you accept him!" Quanzhong was shamed by his blunt reply and eased the assault on his account.
118
冬，十月，丙戌，王建始立行台於蜀，建東向舞蹈，號慟，稱「自大駕東遷，制命不通，請權立行台，用李晟、鄭畋故事，承製封拜。」 仍以膀帖告諭所部籓鎮州縣。
In winter, the tenth month, on bingxu, Wang Jian established a provisional government office in Shu. He danced facing east, wailed aloud, and declared, "Since the emperor was taken east, imperial orders no longer reach us. I ask leave to establish a provisional office, following the precedents of Li Sheng and Zheng Tian, to receive imperial commissions and grant titles and appointments." He also posted notices to announce this to the governors, prefectures, and counties under his authority.
119
劉仁恭求救於河東，前後百餘輩。 李克用恨仁恭返覆，竟未之許，其子存勖諫曰：「今天下之勢，歸朱溫者什七八，雖強大如魏博、鎮、定，莫不附之。 自河以北，能為溫患者獨我與幽、滄耳，今幽、滄為溫所困，我不與之並力拒之，非我之利也。 夫為天下者不顧小怨，且彼嘗困我而我救其急，以德懷之，乃一舉而名實附也。 此乃吾復振之時，不可失也。」 克用以為然，與將佐謀召幽州兵與攻潞州，曰：「於彼可以解圍，於我可以拓境。」 乃許仁恭和，召其兵。 仁恭遣都指揮使李溥將兵三萬詣晉陽，克用遣其將周德威、李嗣昭將兵與之共攻潞州。
Liu Rengong sent more than a hundred successive appeals for aid to Hedong. Li Keyong resented Rengong's fickleness and refused; his son Cunxu remonstrated, saying, "Seven or eight tenths of the realm now belong to Zhu Wen—even powers as great as Weibo, Zhen, and Ding have submitted to him. North of the Yellow River, only we and Youzhou and Cangzhou can still threaten Wen. Now they are besieged—if we do not join them, we harm ourselves. A ruler of the realm does not nurse petty grudges. They once beset us; if we now save them in their extremity and win them with virtue, we gain both reputation and power in a single stroke. This is our chance to revive our fortunes—we must not miss it." Keyong agreed and discussed with his officers summoning Youzhou troops to attack Luzhou, saying, "For them it lifts the siege; for us it extends our territory." He then made peace with Rengong and summoned his troops. Rengong sent Chief Commander Li Pu with thirty thousand men to Jinyang; Keyong sent Zhou Dewei and Li Sizhao to join them in attacking Luzhou.
120
夏州告急於朱全忠。 戊戌，全忠遣劉知俊及其將康懷英救之。 楊崇本將六鎮之兵五萬，軍於美原。 知俊等擊之，崇本大敗，歸於邠州。 武貞節度使雷彥恭屢寇荊南，留後賀瑰閉城自守。 朱全忠以為怯，以穎州防禦使高季昌代之，又遣駕前指揮使倪可福將兵五千戍荊南以備吳、蜀。 朗兵引去。
Xia Prefecture sent an urgent appeal to Zhu Quanzhong. On wuxu, Quanzhong dispatched Liu Zhijun and his general Kang Huaiying to relieve the city. Yang Chongben led fifty thousand troops from six circuits and encamped at Meiyuan. Zhijun and his forces attacked; Chongben was routed and fled back to Binzhou. Lei Yangong, military governor of Wuzhen, repeatedly raided Jingnan; Regent He Gui shut the gates and held out. Zhu Quanzhong judged this cowardly and replaced him with Gao Jichang, defender of Yingzhou; he also sent Imperial Escort Commander Ni Kefu with five thousand men to garrison Jingnan against Wu and Shu. The Langzhou troops withdrew.
121
十一月，劉知俊、康懷貞乘勝攻鄜、延等五州，下之。 加知俊同平章事，以懷貞為保義節度使。 西軍自是不振。
In the eleventh month, Liu Zhijun and Kang Huaiying pressed their victory, attacked five prefectures including Bin and Yan, and captured them. Zhijun was appointed Associate Grand Councillor; Huaiying was made military governor of Baoyi. From this point the western armies never recovered their strength.
122
湖州刺史高彥卒，子澧代之。
Gao Yan, prefect of Huzhou, died; his son Li succeeded him.
123
十二月，乙酉，錢鏐表薦行軍司馬王景仁，詔以景仁領寧國節度使。
In the twelfth month, on yiyou, Qian Liu memorialized recommending Field-Staff Marshal Wang Jingren; an edict appointed Jingren military governor of Ningguo.
124
朱全忠分步騎數萬，遣行軍司馬李周彝將之，自河陽救潞州。
Zhu Quanzhong divided tens of thousands of infantry and cavalry and sent Field-Staff Marshal Li Zhouyi from Heyang to relieve Luzhou.
125
閏月，乙丑，廢鎮國軍興德府復為華州，隸匡國節度，割金、商州隸佑國軍。
In the intercalary month, on yichou, Xingde Prefecture of the Zhenguo Army was abolished and restored as Hua Prefecture under Kuangguo; Jin and Shang prefectures were transferred to the Youguo Army.
126
初，昭宗凶訃至潞州，昭義節度使丁會帥將士縞素流涕久之。 及李嗣昭攻潞州，會舉軍降於河東。 李克用以嗣昭為昭義留後。 會見克用，泣曰：「會非力不能守也。 梁王陵虐唐室，會雖受其舉拔之恩，誠不忍其所為，故來歸命耳。」 克用厚待之，位於諸將之上。
Earlier, when news of Emperor Zhaozong's murder reached Luzhou, Ding Hui, military governor of Zhaoyi, led his officers and soldiers in white mourning and wept long. When Li Sizhao attacked Luzhou, Hui surrendered his entire army to Hedong. Li Keyong appointed Sizhao regent of Zhaoyi. When Hui met Keyong, he wept and said, "It is not that I lacked the strength to hold the city. The Prince of Liang tyrannizes the Tang house. Though he raised me up, I could not bear what he does—so I have come to submit to you." Keyong treated him generously and ranked him above the other generals.
127
己巳，朱全忠命諸軍治攻具，將攻滄州。 壬申，聞潞州不守，甲戌，引兵還。
On jisi, Zhu Quanzhong ordered his armies to prepare siege equipment for an assault on Cangzhou. On renshen he learned that Luzhou had fallen; on jiaxu he withdrew his army.
128
先是，調河南北芻糧，水陸輸軍前，諸營山積，全忠將還，命悉焚之，煙炎數里，在舟中者鑿而沉之。 劉守文使遺全忠書曰：「王以百姓之故，赦僕之罪，解圍而去，王之惠也。 城中數萬口，不食數月矣。 與其焚之為煙，沉之為泥，願乞其餘以救之。」 全忠為之留數囷以遺之，滄人賴以濟。
Earlier, fodder and grain from north and south of the Yellow River had been shipped to the front until the camps were heaped like mountains. As Quanzhong prepared to withdraw, he ordered it all burned—smoke and flame stretched for miles—and supplies aboard boats were scuttled. Liu Shouwen sent Quanzhong a letter saying, "Your Highness, for the people's sake, pardoned me and lifted the siege—that was a great kindness. Tens of thousands in the city have not eaten for months. Rather than burn it to smoke or sink it in the river, I beg you to leave what remains to save them." Quanzhong left several granaries of supplies for them; the people of Cangzhou survived on it.
129
河東兵進攻澤州，不克而退。
Hedong troops attacked Ze Prefecture, failed to take it, and withdrew.
130
吉州刺史彭玕遣使請降於湖南，玕本赤石洞蠻酋，鍾傳用為吉州刺史。
Peng Gan, prefect of Ji Prefecture, sent envoys to surrender to Hunan. Gan was originally a chieftain of the Chishi Cave people whom Zhong Chuan had appointed prefect of Ji.