1
資治通鑑第270卷
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 270
2
【後梁紀五】起強圉赤奮若七月，盡屠維單閼九月，凡二年有奇。
Later Liang Records 5: from the seventh month of 920 through the ninth month of 922, a period of slightly more than two years.
3
秋，七月，庚戌，蜀主以桑弘志為西北面第一招討，王宗宏為東北面第二招討。 己未，以兼中書令王宗侃為東北面都招討，武信節度使劉知俊為西北面都招討。
In autumn, on the gengxu day of the seventh month, the Shu ruler appointed Sang Hongzhi first commander for pacification on the northwest front and Wang Zonghong second commander on the northeast front. On jiwei, he named Wang Zongkan, who also served as Director of the Secretariat, overall commander on the northeast front, and Liu Zhijun, military governor of Wuxin, overall commander on the northwest front.
4
晉王以李嗣源、閻寶兵少，未足以敵契丹，辛未，更命李存審將兵益之。
Judging Li Siyuan and Yan Bao too weak to stand against the Khitan, the Prince of Jin on xinwei sent Li Cunshen with reinforcements.
5
蜀飛龍使唐文扆居中用事，張格附之，與司徒、判樞密院事毛文錫爭權。 文錫將以女適左僕射兼中書侍郎、同平章事庾傳素之子，會親族於樞密院用樂，不先表聞，蜀主聞樂聲，怪之，文扆從而譖之。 八月，庚寅，貶文錫茂州司馬，其子司封員外郎詢流維州，籍沒其家； 貶文錫弟翰林學士文晏為榮經尉； 傳素罷為工部尚書。 以翰林學士承旨庾凝績權判內樞密院事。 凝積，傳素之再從弟也。
At the Shu court, Flying Dragon Commissioner Tang Wenyi held the reins of power. Zhang Ge backed him and vied for influence with Mao Wensi, Minister of Works and administrator of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Wensi planned to marry his daughter to the son of Yu Chunsu, Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Co-Director of the Secretariat. He entertained relatives at the Bureau of Military Affairs with music without first informing the throne. When the Shu ruler heard it, he was puzzled, and Wenyi seized the chance to denounce him. In the eighth month, on gengyin, Wensi was demoted to military adjutant of Maozhou; his son Xun, an outer-office member of the Ministry of Rites, was exiled to Weizhou, and their property was confiscated; Wensi's brother Wenyuan, a Hanlin Academician, was demoted to magistrate of Rongjing; Chunsu was dismissed as Co-Director and appointed Minister of Works. Hanlin Academician Expositor Yu Ningji was given provisional charge of the Inner Bureau of Military Affairs. Ningji was Chunsu's second cousin once removed.
6
癸巳，清海、建武節度使劉巖即皇帝位於番禺，國號大越，大赦，改元乾亨。 以梁使趙光裔為兵部尚書，節度副使楊洞潛為兵部侍郎，節度判官李殷衡為禮部侍郎，並同平章事。 建三廟，追尊祖安仁曰太祖文皇帝，父謙曰代祖聖武皇帝，兄隱曰烈宗襄皇帝。 以廣州為興王府。
On guisi, Liu Yan, military governor of Qinghai and Jianwu, took the throne at Panyu as emperor of Great Yue, proclaimed a general amnesty, and adopted the era name Qianheng. He made the Liang envoy Zhao Guangyi Minister of War, deputy military governor Yang Dongqian Vice Minister of War, and staff officer Li Yinheng Vice Minister of Rites, all Co-Directors of the Department of State Affairs. He erected three ancestral temples and posthumously ennobled his grandfather Anren as Emperor Wen, Founding Ancestor; his father Qian as Emperor Shengwu, Substitute Ancestor; and his elder brother Yin as Emperor Xiang, Lieh Ancestor. He designated Guangzhou as the capital of his realm.
7
契丹圍幽州且二百日，城中危困。 李嗣源、閻寶、李存審步騎七萬會於易州，存審曰：「虜眾吾寡，虜多騎，吾多步，若平原相遇，虜以萬騎蹂吾陳，吾無遺類矣。」 嗣源曰：「虜無輜重，吾行必載糧食自隨，若平原相遇，虜抄吾糧，吾不戰自潰矣。 不若自山中潛行趣幽州，與城中合勢，若中道遇虜，則據險拒之。」 甲午，自易州北行，庚子，逾大房嶺，循澗而東。 嗣源與養子從珂將三千騎為前鋒，距幽州六十里，與契丹遇。 契丹驚卻，晉兵翼而隨之。 契丹行山上，晉兵行澗下，每至谷口，契丹輒邀之，嗣源父子力戰，乃得進。 至山口，契丹以萬餘騎遮其前，將士失色。 嗣源以百餘騎先進，免冑揚鞭，胡語謂契丹曰：「汝無故犯我疆場，晉王命我將百萬眾直抵西樓，滅汝種族！」 因躍馬奮□，三入其陳，斬契丹酋長一人。 後軍齊進，契丹兵卻，晉兵始得出。 李存審命步兵伐木為鹿角，人持一枝，止則成寨。 契丹騎環寨而過，寨中發萬弩射之，流矢蔽日，契丹人馬死傷塞路。 將至幽州，契丹列陳待之。 存審命步兵陳於其後，戒勿動，先令羸兵曳柴然草而進，煙塵蔽天，契丹莫測其多少。 因鼓噪合戰，存審乃趣後陳起乘之，契丹大敗，席捲其眾自北山去，委棄車帳鎧仗羊馬滿野，晉兵追之，俘斬萬計。 辛丑，嗣源等入幽州，周德威見之，握手流涕。 契丹以盧文進為幽州留後，其後又以為盧龍節度使，文進常居平州，帥奚騎歲入北邊，殺掠吏民。 晉人自瓦橋運糧輸薊城，雖以兵援之，不免抄掠。 契丹每入寇，則文進帥漢卒為鄉導，盧龍巡屬諸州為之殘弊。
The Khitan had besieged Youzhou for nearly two hundred days, and the city was in desperate straits. Li Siyuan, Yan Bao, and Li Cunshen mustered seventy thousand foot and horse at Yizhou. Cunshen said, "The enemy outnumbers us, and they are mostly cavalry while we are mostly infantry. On open ground they could overrun our line with ten thousand horsemen, and not one of us would be left alive. Siyuan replied, "They travel light, but we must carry our own grain. On open ground they could cut our supplies and we would fall apart without a fight. Better to slip through the mountains toward Youzhou and combine with the garrison. If we meet them on the way, we can hold the high ground and fight them there." On jiawu they marched north from Yizhou; on gengzi they crossed Mount Dafang and followed the stream east. Siyuan and his adopted son Congke led three thousand horsemen as vanguard. Sixty li from Youzhou they ran into the Khitan. The Khitan fell back in alarm, and the Jin troops pressed them on both flanks. The Khitan kept to the heights while the Jin force moved along the ravine below. At every pass the Khitan tried to block them, and only after father and son fought their way through could the column move on. At the pass more than ten thousand Khitan horsemen blocked their path, and the officers and men lost color. Siyuan rode forward with a little over a hundred men, bareheaded and whip raised, and shouted to the Khitan in their tongue: "You invaded our borders without cause. The Prince of Jin has sent me with a million men to strike straight at Xilou and destroy your people! He then spurred his horse, spear in hand, and three times charged their line, killing a Khitan chieftain. The rear echelon pressed forward, the Khitan gave way, and the Jin force at last broke through. Li Cunshen had the infantry cut branches into chevaux-de-frise; each man carried one, and wherever they halted a fortified camp sprang up. Khitan horsemen rode around the camps, and from inside ten thousand crossbows opened fire. Arrows darkened the sky; Khitan men and horses fell in heaps and choked the road. Near Youzhou the Khitan formed battle lines to meet them. Cunshen placed the infantry in the rear and ordered them to hold still. He sent weaker troops ahead dragging brush and setting grass afire; smoke blotted out the sky, and the Khitan could not gauge their numbers. Drums and shouts signaled the attack, and Cunshen ordered the rear ranks forward. The Khitan were routed and swept north over the hills, leaving carts, tents, armor, weapons, sheep, and horses strewn across the plain. The Jin force pursued them, taking or killing tens of thousands. On xinchou, Siyuan and his command entered Youzhou. Zhou Dewei met them, took their hands, and wept. The Khitan made Lu Wenjin acting governor of Youzhou and later military governor of Lulong. Wenjin usually stayed at Pingzhou and each year led Xi horsemen on raids into the northern borderlands, killing officials and civilians alike. The Jin hauled grain from Waqiao to supply Jicheng. Even with armed escorts, the convoys were still prey to raiders. Whenever the Khitan raided, Wenjin guided them with Han troops, and the prefectures under Lulong were laid waste.
8
劉鄩自滑州入朝，朝議以河朔失守責之。 九月，落鄩平章事，左遷亳州團練使。
Liu Yan came to court from Huazhou, and the court blamed him for the loss of Hebei. In the ninth month Yan was removed as Co-Director and demoted to regimental commissioner of Bozhou.
9
冬，十月，己亥，加吳越王鏐天下兵馬元帥。
In winter, on jihai of the tenth month, Qian Liu, King of Wuyue, was made Grand Marshal of All Armies Under Heaven.
10
晉王還晉陽。 王連歲出征，凡軍府政事一委監軍使張承業，承業勸課農桑，畜積金谷，收市兵馬，征租行法不寬貴戚，由是軍城肅清，饋餉不乏。 王或時須錢蒱博及給賜伶人，而承業靳之，錢不可得。 王乃置酒錢庫，令其子繼岌為承業舞，承業以寶帶及幣馬贈之。 王指錢積呼繼岌小名謂承業曰：「和哥乏錢，七哥宜以錢一積與之，帶馬未為厚也。」 承業曰：「郎君纏頭皆出承業俸祿，此錢，大王所以養戰士也，承業不敢以公物為私禮。」 王不悅，憑酒以語侵之，承業怒曰：「僕老敕使耳！ 非為子孫計，惜此庫錢，所以佐王成霸業也，不然，王自取用之，何問僕為！ 不過財盡民散，一無所成耳。」 王怒，顧李紹榮索劍，承業起，挽王衣泣曰：「僕受先王顧托之命，誓為國家誅汴賊，若以惜庫物死於王手，仆下見先王無愧矣。 今日就王請死！」 閻寶從旁解承業手令退，承業奮拳毆寶踣地，罵曰：「閻寶，朱溫之黨，受晉大恩，曾不盡忠為報，顧欲以諂媚自容邪！」 曹太夫人聞之，遽令召王，王惶恐叩頭，謝承業曰：「吾以酒失忤七哥，必且得罪於太夫人，七哥為吾痛飲以分其過。」 王連飲四卮，承業竟不肯飲。 王入宮，太夫人使人謝承業曰：「小兒忤特進，適已笞之矣。」 明日，太夫人與王俱至承業第謝之。 未幾，承製授承業開府儀同三司、左衛上將軍、燕國公。 承業固辭不受，但稱唐官以至終身。 掌書記盧質，嗜酒輕傲，嘗呼王諸弟為豚犬，王銜之。 承業恐其及禍，乘間言曰：「盧質數無禮，請為大王殺之。」 王曰：「吾方招納賢才以就功業，七哥何言之過也！」 承業起立賀曰：「王能如此，何憂不得天下！」 質由是獲免。 晉王元妃衛國韓夫人，次燕國伊夫人，次魏國劉夫人。 劉夫人最有寵，其父成安人，以醫卜為業。 夫人幼時，晉將袁建豐掠得之，入於王宮，性狡悍淫妒，從王在魏。 父聞其貴，詣魏宮上謁，王召袁建豐示之。 建豐曰：「始得夫人時，有黃須丈人護之，此是也。」 王以語夫人，夫人方與諸夫人爭寵，以門地相高，恥其家寒微，大怒曰：「妾去鄉時略可記憶，妾父不幸死亂兵，妾守屍哭之而去，今何物田舍翁敢至此！」 命笞劉叟於宮門。
The Prince of Jin returned to Jinyang. Campaigning year after year, the prince left all military administration to army supervisor Zhang Chengye. Chengye promoted farming and sericulture, stockpiled gold and grain, bought horses and arms, and enforced tax law without favor to the great families. The garrison city stayed disciplined and supplies never failed. When the prince wanted money for gambling or to reward entertainers, Chengye refused, and he could not get it. The prince held a banquet in the treasury and had his son Jiji dance for Chengye, who rewarded the boy with a jeweled belt, silks, and a horse. The prince pointed at the coin stacks, called Jiji by his pet name, and told Chengye, "Hege needs money. Seventh Brother, you ought to give him one whole pile—the belt and horse aren't enough. Chengye replied, "The boy's gift money comes from my own salary. This treasury money is for feeding your soldiers. I dare not treat public funds as a private gift. The prince took offense and, drunk, spoke to him harshly. Chengye flared up: "I am only an old imperial commissioner! I am not hoarding this money for my heirs—I am saving it to help you build an empire. Otherwise take what you want yourself; why ask me! You will only exhaust your treasury, drive the people away, and achieve nothing." The prince flew into a rage and called to Li Shaorong for a sword. Chengye rose, clutched the prince's robe, and wept: "Your father entrusted me on his deathbed to destroy the Bian usurpers. If I die by your hand for guarding the treasury, I can face him without shame. Today I ask you to kill me!" Yan Bao tried to pull Chengye away. Chengye punched him to the floor and shouted, "Yan Bao, you were Zhu Wen's man! Jin showed you great favor, and you never repaid it with loyal service—do you think flattery will save you!" Lady Cao sent for the prince at once. Terrified, he kowtowed and apologized to Chengye: "I offended you in my cups and have surely displeased the Lady. Seventh Brother, drink with me and share the fault." The prince drained four cups in a row, but Chengye would not drink. The prince went inside. Lady Cao sent word to Chengye: "The boy offended you, Special Advancement; I have just had him whipped." The next day Lady Cao and the prince came together to Chengye's house to apologize. Soon an edict arrived making Chengye Grandee of Splendid Happiness with Rank Equal to the Three Councillors, General of the Left Guard, and Duke of Yan. Chengye firmly refused the honors and used only his Tang titles for the rest of his life. Chief secretary Lu Zhi drank heavily and was insolent; he once called the prince's younger brothers pigs and dogs, and the prince never forgot it. Fearing Lu would bring disaster on himself, Chengye seized a moment and said, "Lu Zhi has been rude again and again. Let me kill him for you." The prince said, "I am trying to gather talent to build my enterprise—Seventh Brother, that goes too far!" Chengye stood and congratulated him: "If you can be like this, what is there to fear about winning the realm!" Lu Zhi was spared because of that. The Prince of Jin's primary consort was Lady Han of Weiguo, followed by Lady Yi of Yanguo and Lady Liu of Weiguo. Lady Liu was the favorite. Her father was from Cheng'an and earned his living as a physician and diviner. As a girl she was captured by the Jin general Yuan Jianfeng and taken into the palace. Crafty, fierce, and jealous, she followed the prince to Wei. When her father heard she had risen high, he came to the Wei palace to see her. The prince summoned Yuan Jianfeng to identify him. Jianfeng said, "When I first took her, a yellow-bearded old man was guarding her—this is the man." The prince told her. She was then vying with the other consorts over rank and was ashamed of her humble origins. She flew into a rage: "I still remember leaving home—my father died in the chaos, and I wept over his body before I left. What kind of country bumpkin dares show his face here!" She ordered the old man Liu beaten at the palace gate.
11
越王巖遣客省使劉瑭使於吳，告即位，且勸吳王稱帝。
King Yan of Yue sent guest-reception commissioner Liu Tang to Wu to announce his enthronement and urge the King of Wu to declare himself emperor.
12
閏月，戊申，蜀主以判內樞密院庾凝績為吏部尚書、內樞密使。
In the intercalary month, on wushen, the Shu ruler made Yu Ningji, administrator of the Inner Bureau of Military Affairs, Minister of Personnel and Commissioner of the Inner Bureau of Military Affairs.
13
十一月，丙子朔，日南至，蜀主祀圜丘。
On the first day of the eleventh month, bingzi, the winter solstice, the Shu ruler sacrificed at the Round Altar.
14
晉王聞河冰合，曰：「用兵數歲，限一水不得渡，今冰自合，天讚我也。」 亟如魏州。
When the Prince of Jin heard the river had frozen over, he said, "For years this river kept us from crossing. Now the ice has joined by itself—Heaven favors me." He hurried to Weizhou.
15
蜀主以劉知俊為都招討使，諸將皆舊功臣，多不用其命，且疾之，故無成功。 唐文扆數毀之，蜀主亦忌其才，嘗謂所親曰：「吾老矣，知俊非爾輩所能馭民。」 十二月，辛亥，收知俊，稱其謀叛，斬於炭市。
The Shu ruler had made Liu Zhijun overall commander for pacification, but the generals were old meritocrats who often ignored his orders and resented him, so he achieved nothing. Tang Wenyi kept slandering him, and the Shu ruler also feared his ability. He once told his intimates, "I am old. Zhijun is not someone you can control." In the twelfth month, on xinhai, Zhijun was arrested for alleged treason and executed at Tanshi Market.
16
癸丑，蜀大赦，改明年元曰光天。
On guichou Shu proclaimed a general amnesty and set the next year's era name to Guangtian.
17
壬戌，以張宗奭為天下兵馬副元帥。
On renxu Zhang Zongbi was made Deputy Grand Marshal of All Armies Under Heaven.
18
帝論平慶州功，丁卯，以左龍虎統軍賀瑰為宣義節度使、同平章事，尋以為北面行營招討使。
Reviewing the pacification of Qingzhou, the emperor on dingmao made He Gui, commander of the Left Dragon-Tiger Army, military governor of Xuanyi and Co-Director, and soon named him commander of the northern expeditionary camp.
19
戊辰，晉王畋於朝城。 是日，大寒，晉王視河冰已堅，引步騎稍度。 梁甲士三千戍楊劉城，緣河數十里，列柵相望，晉王急攻，皆陷之。 進攻楊劉城，使步卒斬其鹿角，負葭葦塞塹，四面進攻，即日拔之，獲其守將安彥之。
On wuchen the Prince of Jin hunted at Chaocheng. That day was fiercely cold. Seeing the ice firm, the prince led foot and horse across bit by bit. Three thousand Liang armored troops held Yangliu City, with palisades strung along the river for miles. The prince attacked hard and took them all. He assaulted Yangliu City itself, had infantry cut the chevaux-de-frise, pack reeds into the moat, and attack from all sides. The city fell the same day, and its commander An Yanzhi was captured.
20
先是，租庸使、戶部尚書趙巖言於帝曰：「陛下踐祚以來，尚未南郊，議者以為無異籓侯，為四方所輕。 請幸西都行郊禮，遂謁宣陵。」 敬翔諫曰：「自劉鏐失利以來，公私困竭，人心惴恐； 今展禮圜丘，必行賞賚，是慕虛名而受實弊也。 且勍敵近在河上，乘輿豈宜輕動！ 俟北方既平，報本未晚。」 帝不聽，己巳，如洛陽，閱車服，飾宮闕，郊祀有日，聞楊劉失守，道路訛言晉軍已入大梁，扼汜水矣，從官皆憂其家，相顧涕泣。 帝惶駭失圖，遂罷郊祀，奔歸大梁。
Earlier, tax commissioner and Minister of Revenue Zhao Yan told the emperor, "Since you took the throne you have not performed the southern suburban rite. Critics say you look no different from a feudal lord, and the realm holds you lightly. I urge you to go to the western capital for the suburban rite and then visit the Xuan Mausoleum." Jing Xiang objected: "Since Liu Zhen's defeat, public and private coffers are drained and people live in fear; if you hold the Round Altar ceremony now, lavish rewards must follow. You would chase empty prestige at real cost. And a formidable enemy is right on the river—how can the throne travel lightly! Wait until the north is secure; repaying Heaven's favor can come later." The emperor refused to listen. On jisi he went to Luoyang, reviewed chariots and regalia, and refurbished the palace. The rite was nearly at hand when news came that Yangliu had fallen. Travelers said the Jin army was already in Daliang and holding Sishui. Attendants feared for their families and wept together. Panicked and helpless, the emperor canceled the rite and raced back to Daliang.
21
甲戌，以河南尹張宗奭為西都留守。
On jiaxu Zhang Zongbi, Prefect of Henan, was made regent of the western capital.
22
是歲，閩王審知為其子牙內都指揮使延鈞娶越主巖之女。
That year Min king Wang Shenzhi had his son Yanjun, commander of the Inner Palace Guard, marry the daughter of Yue ruler Liu Yan.
23
春，正月，乙亥朔，蜀大赦，復國號曰蜀。
In spring, on the first day of the first month, yihai, Shu proclaimed a general amnesty and restored the state name to Shu.
24
帝至大梁，晉兵侵掠至鄆、濮而還。 敬翔上疏曰：「國家連年喪師，疆土日蹙。 陛下居深宮之中，所與計事者皆左右近習，豈能量敵國之勝負乎！ 先帝之時，奄有河北，親御豪傑之將，猶不得志。 今敵至鄆州，陛下不能留意。 臣聞李亞子繼位以來，於今十年，攻城野戰，無不親當矢石，近者攻楊劉，身負束薪為士卒先，一鼓拔之。 陛下儒雅守文，晏安自若，使賀瑰輩敵之，而望攘逐寇仇，非臣所知也。 陛下宜詢訪黎老，別求異策。 不然，憂未艾也。 臣雖駑怯，受國重恩，陛下必若乏才，乞於邊垂自效。」 疏奏，趙、張之徒言翔怨望，帝遂不用。
When the emperor reached Daliang, Jin forces raided as far as Yun and Pu and withdrew. Jing Xiang submitted a memorial: "The state has lost armies year after year, and our territory shrinks daily. Your Majesty lives deep in the palace and plans only with close attendants—how can you judge the enemy's strength! Even when the late emperor held all Hebei and led his best generals in person, he could not prevail. Now the enemy is at Yunzhou, and Your Majesty pays no heed. I hear that in the ten years since Li Yazi took the throne he has always faced arrows and stones himself in every siege and battle. At Yangliu he bore firewood on his back to lead the assault and took the city at the first rush. Your Majesty is a scholar who keeps to the written way, at ease in the palace, and you send men like He Gui to fight the enemy yet expect to drive off the invaders—that is beyond my understanding. Your Majesty should consult the people and seek another plan. Otherwise our troubles will never end. Though I am slow and timid, I owe the state a great debt. If Your Majesty lacks capable men, I beg to serve on the frontier." When the memorial was submitted, Zhao, Zhang, and their faction claimed Xiang was disgruntled, and the emperor ignored it.
25
吳以右都押牙王祺為虔州行營都指揮使，將洪、撫、袁、吉之兵擊譚全播。 嚴可求以厚利募贛石水工，故吳兵奄至虔州城下，虔人始知之。
Wu made Wang Qi, Right Chief Adjutant, commander of the Qianzhou expedition and sent troops from Hong, Fu, Yuan, and Ji against Tan Quanbo. Yan Keqiu hired Gan River boatmen with rich rewards, so Wu troops appeared suddenly beneath Qianzhou's walls before the city knew they were coming.
26
蜀太子衍好酒色，樂遊戲。 蜀主嘗自夾城過，聞太子與諸王鬥雞擊球喧呼之聲，歎曰：「吾百戰以立基業，此輩其能守之乎！」 由是惡張格，而徐賢妃為之內主，竟不能去也。 信王宗傑有才略，屢陳時政，蜀主賢之，有廢立意。 二月，癸亥，宗傑暴卒，蜀主深疑之。
Shu's crown prince Yan loved wine, women, and play. Passing through the palace corridor one day, the Shu ruler heard the crown prince and the princes shouting over cockfights and ball games. He sighed: "I built this realm in a hundred battles—can these boys keep it! From then on he hated Zhang Ge, but Worthy Consort Xu protected him from within, and the ruler could never remove him. Prince Xin Zongjie was talented and often spoke on affairs of state. The Shu ruler admired him and considered replacing the crown prince. In the second month, on guihai, Zongjie died suddenly, and the Shu ruler strongly suspected murder.
27
河陽節度使、北面行營排陳使謝彥章將兵數萬攻楊劉城。 甲子，晉王自魏州輕騎詣河上。 彥章築壘自固，決河水，瀰浸數里，以限晉兵，晉兵不得進。 彥章，許州人也。 安彥之散卒多聚於兗、鄆山谷為群盜，以觀二國成敗，晉王招募之，多降於晉。
Xie Yanzhang, military governor of Heyang and northern battle-line commander, led tens of thousands of men against Yangliu City. On jiazi the Prince of Jin rode lightly from Weizhou to the river front. Yanzhang fortified his position, broke the river banks, and flooded several li to block the Jin advance. Yanzhang was from Xuzhou. An Yanzhi's scattered soldiers gathered as bandits in the hills of Yan and Yun, waiting to see which side would win. The Prince of Jin recruited them, and many defected.
28
己亥，蜀主以東面招討使王宗侃為東、西兩路諸軍都統。
On jihai the Shu ruler made Wang Zongkan, eastern pacification commander, overall commander of the eastern and western armies.
29
三月，吳越王鏐初立元帥府，置官屬。
In the third month Qian Liu, King of Wuyue, established a marshal's headquarters and appointed its staff.
30
夏，四月，癸卯朔，蜀主立子宗平為忠王，宗特為資王。
In summer, on the first day of the fourth month, guimao, the Shu ruler enfeoffed his son Zongping as Prince of Zhong and Zongte as Prince of Zi.
31
岐王復遣使求好於蜀。
The Prince of Qi again sent envoys seeking peace with Shu.
32
己酉，以吏部侍郎蕭頃為中書侍郎、同平章事。
On jiyou Xiao Qing, Vice Minister of Personnel, was made Vice Director of the Secretariat and Co-Director.
33
保大節度使高萬金卒。 癸亥，以忠義節度使高萬興兼保大節度使，並鎮鄜、延。
Gao Wanjin, military governor of Baoda, died. On guihai Gao Wanxing, military governor of Zhongyi, was also made military governor of Baoda, holding both Yan and Yan.
34
司空兼門下侍郎、同平章事趙光逢告老，己巳，以司徒致仕。 蜀主自永平末得疾，昏瞀，至是增劇。 以北面行營招討使兼中書令王宗弼沉靜有謀，五月，召還，以為馬步都指揮使。 乙亥，召大臣入寢殿，告之曰：「太子仁弱，朕不能違諸公之請，逾次而立之。 若其不堪大業，可置諸別宮，幸勿殺之。 但王氏子弟，諸公擇而輔之。 徐妃兄弟，止可優其祿位，慎勿使之掌兵預政，以全其宗族。」
Zhao Guangfeng, Minister of Works and Co-Director, requested retirement. On jisi he was granted retirement as Minister of Education. The Shu ruler had been ill since late Yongping, his sight dim and his mind clouded, and now it grew worse. Wang Zongbi, northern pacification commander and Director of the Secretariat, was calm and shrewd. In the fifth month he was recalled and made overall commander of horse and foot. On yihai he summoned the ministers to his sickroom and said, "The crown prince is gentle but weak. I could not refuse your request and made him heir out of turn. If he cannot bear the throne, place him in a separate palace, but do not kill him. Choose one of the Wang princes and support him. Give Consort Xu's brothers generous salaries and ranks only. Do not let them command troops or govern, so their clan may survive."1
35
內飛龍使唐文扆久典禁兵，參預機密，欲去諸大臣，遣人守宮門。 王宗弼等三十餘人日至朝堂，不得入見，文扆屢以蜀主之命慰撫之，伺蜀主殂，即作難。 遣其黨內皇城使潘在迎偵察外事，在迎以其謀告宗弼等。 宗弼等排闥入，言文扆之罪，以天冊府掌書記崔延昌權判六軍事，召太子入侍疾。 丙子，貶唐文扆為眉州刺史。 翰林學士承旨王保晦坐附會文扆，削官爵，流瀘州。 在迎，炕之子也。 丙申，蜀主詔中外財賦、中書除授、諸司刑獄案牘專委庾凝績，都城及行營軍旅之事委宣徽南院使宋光嗣。 丁酉，削唐文扆官爵，流雅州。 辛丑，以宋光嗣為內樞密使，與兼中書令王宗弼、宗瑤、宗綰、宗夔並受遺詔輔政。 初，蜀主雖因唐制置樞密使，專用士人，及唐文扆得罪，蜀主以諸將多許州故人，恐其不為幼主用，故以光嗣代之。 自是宦者始用事。 六月，壬寅朔，蜀主殂。 癸卯，太子即皇帝位。 尊徐賢妃為太后、徐淑妃為太妃。 以宋光嗣判六軍諸衛事。 乙卯，殺唐文扆、王保晦。 命西面招討副使王宗昱殺天雄節度使唐文裔於秦州，免左保勝軍使領右街使唐道崇官。
Inner Flying Dragon Commissioner Tang Wenyi had long controlled the palace guard and secret affairs. He wanted the great ministers removed and posted guards at the palace gates. Wang Zongbi and more than thirty others came daily to court but were barred from audience. Wenyi kept reassuring them in the ruler's name, waiting to move once the ruler died. He sent his man Pan Zaiying, commissioner of the Inner Imperial City, to watch outside affairs. Zaiying told Zongbi and the others of the plot. Zongbi and the others forced their way in, denounced Wenyi, made Cui Yanchang of the Celestial Register Office provisional commander of the Six Armies, and summoned the crown prince to the sickbed. On bingzi Tang Wenyi was demoted to prefect of Meizhou. Wang Baohui, Hanlin Academician Expositor, was stripped of rank for siding with Wenyi and exiled to Luzhou. Zaiying was Kang's son. On bingshen the Shu ruler entrusted all revenues, Secretariat appointments, and legal records to Yu Ningji, and capital and camp military affairs to Song Guangsi of the Southern Palace Secretariat. On dingyou Tang Wenyi was stripped of rank and exiled to Yazhou. On xinchou Song Guangsi was made Commissioner of the Inner Bureau of Military Affairs and, with Wang Zongbi, Zongyao, Zongwan, and Zongkui, received the dying charge to assist the new ruler. Earlier the Shu ruler had followed Tang practice and staffed the Bureau of Military Affairs with scholars. After Wenyi's fall he feared the generals, many old Xuzhou associates, would not serve the young ruler, and replaced Wenyi with Guangsi. From then on eunuchs began to wield power. In the sixth month, on the first day renyin, the Shu ruler died. On guimao the crown prince took the throne. Worthy Consort Xu was made Empress Dowager and Graceful Consort Xu Grand Consort. Song Guangsi was put in charge of the Six Armies and palace guards. On yimao Tang Wenyi and Wang Baohui were executed. He ordered western deputy commander Wang Zongyu to kill Tang Wenyi, military governor of Tianxiong, at Qinzhou, and stripped Tang Daozong, commander of the Left Victorious Guard and Right Street Commissioner, of his posts.
36
吳內外馬步都軍使、昌化節度使、同平章事徐知訓，驕倨淫暴。 威武節度使、知撫州李德誠有家妓數十，知訓求之，德誠遣使謝曰：「家之所有皆長年，或有子，不足以侍貴人，當更為公求少而美者。」 知訓怒，謂使者曰：「會當殺德誠，並其妻取之！」 知訓狎侮吳王，無復君臣之禮。 嘗與王為優，自為參軍，使王為蒼鶻，總角弊衣執帽以從。 又嘗泛舟濁河，王先起，知訓以彈彈之。 又嘗賞花於禪智寺，知訓使酒悖慢，王懼而泣，四座股慄。 左右扶王登舟，知訓乘輕舟逐之，不及，以鐵撾殺王親吏。 將佐無敢言者，父溫皆不之知。 知訓及弟知詢皆不禮於徐知誥，獨季弟知諫以兄事禮之。 知訓嘗召兄弟飲，知誥不至，知訓怒曰：「乞子不欲酒，欲劍乎！」 又嘗與知誥飲，伏甲欲殺之，知諫躡知誥足，知誥陽起如廁，遁去，知訓以劍授左右刁彥能使追殺之。 彥能馳騎及於中塗，舉劍示知誥而還，以不及告。 平盧節度使、同平章事、諸道副都統朱瑾遣家妓通候問於知訓，知訓強欲私之，瑾已不平。 知訓惡瑾位加己上，置靜淮軍於泗州，出瑾為靜淮節度使，瑾益恨之，然外事知訓愈謹。 瑾有所愛馬，冬貯於幄，夏貯於幬。 寵妓有絕色。 知訓過別瑾，瑾置酒，自捧觴，出寵妓使歌，以所愛馬為壽，知訓大喜。 瑾因延之中堂，伏壯士於戶內，出妻陶氏拜之。 知訓答拜，瑾以笏自後擊之踣地，呼壯士出斬之。 瑾先系二悍馬於廡下，將圖知訓，密令人解縱之，馬相蹄嚙，聲甚厲，以是外人莫之聞。 瑾提知訓首出，知訓從者數百人皆散走。 瑾馳入府，以首示吳王曰：「僕已為大王除害！」 王懼，以衣障面，走入內，曰：「舅自為之，我不敢知！」 瑾曰：「婢子不足與成大事！」 以知訓首擊柱，挺劍將出，子城使翟虔等已闔府門勒兵討之，乃自後逾城，墜而折足，顧追者曰：「吾為萬人除害，以一身任患。」 遂自剄。
Xu Zhixun of Wu, overall army commander, military governor of Changhua, and Co-Director, was arrogant, licentious, and brutal. Li Decheng, military governor of Weiwu and acting prefect of Fuzhou, had dozens of household entertainers. Zhixun demanded them. Decheng sent word: "All mine are older women, some with children—not fit for a noble lord. I will find younger and prettier ones for you. Zhixun raged and told the messenger, "One day I'll kill Decheng and take his wife too! Zhixun treated the King of Wu with open contempt and no longer observed court decorum. He once put on a comic play with the king, playing the straight man while making the king play the buffoon in shabby clothes with hair in knots, cap in hand. Another time they boated on the Zhuo River. When the king got up first, Zhixun shot him with a pellet. Another time at Chanzhisi Temple he got drunk and insulted the king, who wept in fear while everyone present trembled. Attendants helped the king aboard. Zhixun chased in a light boat but could not catch him and killed one of the king's personal attendants with an iron mace. No officer dared speak of it, and his father Wen knew nothing. Zhixun and his brother Zhixun both treated Xu Zhigao rudely; only the youngest brother Zhijian treated him as an elder. Zhixun once summoned his brothers to drink. When Zhigao did not come, Zhixun raged: "Does the beggar's son want wine—or a sword! Another time he drank with Zhigao and hid armed men to kill him. Zhijian trod on Zhigao's foot; Zhigao pretended to go to the privy and escaped. Zhixun gave a sword to Diao Yanneng and sent him to kill Zhigao. Yanneng rode hard, caught Zhigao on the road, showed him the sword, then returned and reported he had failed. Zhu Jin, military governor of Pinglu, Co-Director, and deputy overall commander, sent a household entertainer to greet Zhixun. Zhixun tried to take her by force, and Jin was already angry. Zhixun resented Jin's higher rank. He established the Jinghuai Army at Sizhou and transferred Jin there as military governor. Jin hated him more but outwardly treated him with greater deference. Jin had a beloved horse housed in a tent in winter and under a canopy in summer. His favorite entertainer was a woman of rare beauty. When Zhixun stopped to visit Jin, Jin set out wine, raised the cup himself, had his favorite entertainer sing, and offered his beloved horse as a gift. Zhixun was delighted. Jin then invited him into the central hall, hid strong men inside the doorway, and brought out his wife Lady Tao to bow to him. Zhixun returned the bow. Jin struck him from behind with his tablet, knocked him down, and had his men behead him. Jin had tied two fierce horses beneath the corridor. Before moving against Zhixun he had them released; they kicked and bit each other loudly, so no one outside heard. Jin carried out Zhixun's head, and his several hundred followers fled. Jin galloped into headquarters and showed the head to the King of Wu: "I have removed the threat for you! Terrified, the king covered his face and ran inside: "Uncle, do as you will—I want no part of this! Jin said, "This weakling is not fit for great things! He struck a pillar with Zhixun's head, drew his sword, and was about to leave when Zhai Qian and others had closed the gates and raised troops against him. He climbed the rear wall, fell and broke his foot, and told his pursuers: "I removed a scourge for the people and take the blame alone. Then he cut his own throat.
37
徐知誥在潤州聞難，用宋齊丘策，即日引兵濟江。 瑾已死，因撫定軍府。 時徐溫諸子皆弱，溫乃以知誥代知訓執吳政，沉朱瑾屍於雷塘而滅其族。 瑾之殺知訓也，泰寧節度使米志誠從十餘騎問瑾所向，聞其已死，乃歸。 宣諭使李儼貧困，寓居海陵。 溫疑其與瑾通謀，皆殺之。 嚴可求恐志誠不受命，詐稱袁州大破楚兵，將吏皆入賀，伏壯士於戟門，擒志誠，斬之，並其諸子。
Xu Zhigao at Runzhou heard of the crisis and, following Song Qiqiu's advice, crossed the river with troops the same day. Jin was already dead, and Zhigao pacified the headquarters. Xu Wen's sons were all weak, so Wen had Zhigao replace Zhixun in governing Wu, sank Zhu Jin's body in Leitang, and exterminated his clan. When Jin killed Zhixun, Mi Zhicheng, military governor of Taining, followed with a dozen horsemen to find him. Hearing Jin was dead, he turned back. Li Yan, imperial proclamation commissioner, was poor and living at Hailing. Wen suspected they had conspired with Jin and had them both killed. Yan Keqiu feared Zhicheng would not obey. He falsely announced a great victory at Yuanzhou over Chu. When officers came to congratulate, he hid men at the gate, seized Zhicheng, beheaded him, and killed his sons.
38
壬戌，晉王自魏州勞軍於楊劉，自泛舟測河水，其深沒槍。 王謂諸將曰：「梁軍非有戰意，但欲阻水以老我師，當涉水攻之。」 甲子，王引親軍先涉，諸軍隨之，褰甲橫槍，結陳而進。 是日水落，深才及膝。 匡國節度使、北面行營排陳使謝彥章帥眾臨岸拒之，晉兵不得進，乃稍引卻，梁兵從之。 及中流，鼓噪復進，彥章不能支，稍退登岸。 晉兵因而乘之，梁兵大敗，死傷不可勝紀，河水為之赤，彥章僅以身免。 是日，晉人遂陷濱河四寨。
On renxu the Prince of Jin came from Weizhou to review troops at Yangliu. He boated out to measure the river—it was deep enough to cover a spear. The prince told his generals, "The Liang army doesn't mean to fight—they only want to use the water to wear us down. We should wade across and attack. On jiazi the prince led his personal troops across first. The other armies followed, armor lifted and spears level, advancing in battle formation. That day the water had fallen to knee depth. Xie Yanzhang, military governor of Kuangguo and northern battle-line commander, blocked them at the bank. The Jin force could not advance and withdrew slightly, and the Liang troops followed. At midstream they advanced again with drums and shouts. Yanzhang could not hold and fell back up the bank. The Jin troops pressed the attack. The Liang army was routed; casualties were beyond count, the river ran red, and Yanzhang barely escaped alive. That day the Jin forces captured four riverbank camps.
39
蜀唐文扆既死，太傅、門下侍郎、同平章事張格內不自安，或勸格稱疾俟命，禮部尚書楊玢自恐失勢，謂格曰：「公有援立大功，不足憂也。」 庚午，貶格為茂州刺史，玢為榮經尉。 吏部侍郎許寂、戶部侍郎潘嶠皆坐格黨貶官。 格尋再貶維州司戶，庾凝績又奏徙格於合水鎮，令茂州刺史顧承郾伺格陰事。 王宗侃妻以格同姓，欲全之，謂承郾母曰：「戒汝子，勿為人報仇，他日將歸罪於汝。」 承郾從之。 凝績怒，因公事抵承郾罪。
After Tang Wenyi's death, Zhang Ge, Grand Mentor and Co-Director, was uneasy. Some advised him to feign illness and wait. Yang Bin, Minister of Rites, fearing his own fall, told him: "You have great merit in enthroning the new ruler—there is nothing to fear. On gengwu Ge was demoted to prefect of Maozhou and Bin to magistrate of Rongjing. Xu Ji, Vice Minister of Personnel, and Pan Qiao, Vice Minister of Revenue, were demoted as Zhang Ge's allies. Ge was soon demoted again to registrar of Weizhou. Yu Ningji also had him moved to Heshui Town and ordered Maozhou prefect Gu Chengyan to watch for any secret plots. Wang Zongkan's wife, sharing Ge's surname, wanted to protect him. She told Chengyan's mother: "Warn your son not to settle others' scores—the blame will fall on you one day. Chengyan took her advice. Ningji grew angry and used an official pretext to charge Chengyan with a crime.
40
秋，七月，壬申朔，蜀主以兼中書令王宗弼為巨鹿王，宗瑤為臨淄王，宗綰為臨洮王，宗播為臨穎王，宗裔、宗夔及兼侍中宗黯皆為琅邪郡王。 甲戌，以王宗侃為樂安王。 丙子，以兵部尚書庾傳素為太子少保兼中書侍郎、同平章事。 蜀主不親政事，內外遷除皆出於王宗弼。 宗弼納賄多私，上下咨怨。 宋光嗣通敏善希合，蜀主寵任之，蜀由是遂衰。
In autumn, on the first day of the seventh month, renshen, the Shu ruler enfeoffed Wang Zongbi as Prince of Julu; Zongyao as Prince of Linzi; Zongwan as Prince of Lintao; Zongbo as Prince of Linying; and Zongyi, Zongkui, and Zongan as Princes of Langye. On jiaxu Wang Zongkan was made Prince of Le'an. On bingzi Yu Chunsu, Minister of War, was made Junior Mentor to the Crown Prince, Vice Director of the Secretariat, and Co-Director. The Shu ruler did not govern in person; all appointments came from Wang Zongbi. Zongbi took bribes and pursued private gain, and resentment spread through the court. Song Guangsi was clever and skilled at flattery. The Shu ruler favored him, and from then on Shu began to decline.
41
吳徐溫入朝於廣陵，疑諸將皆預朱瑾之謀，欲大行誅戮。 徐知誥、嚴可求具陳徐知訓過惡，所以致禍之由，溫怒稍解，乃命網瑾骨於雷塘而葬之，責知訓將佐不能匡救，皆抵罪； 獨刁彥能屢有諫書，溫賞之。 戊戌，以知誥為淮南節度行軍副使、內外馬步都軍副使、通判府事，兼江州團練使。 以徐知諫權潤州團練事。 溫還鎮金陵，總吳朝大綱，自餘庶政，皆決於知誥。 知誥悉反知訓所為，事吳王盡恭，接士大夫以謙，御眾以寬，約身以儉。 以吳王之命，悉蠲天祐十三年以前逋稅，餘俟豐年乃輸之。 求賢才，納規諫，除奸猾，杜請托。 於是士民翕然歸心，雖宿將悍夫無不悅服，以宋齊丘為謀主。 先是，吳有丁口錢，又計畝輸錢，錢重物輕，民甚苦之。 齊丘說知誥，以為「錢非耕桑所得，今使民輸錢，是教民棄本逐末也。 請蠲丁口錢； 自餘稅悉輸谷帛，紬絹匹直千錢者當稅三十。」 或曰：「如此，縣官歲失錢億萬計。」 齊丘曰：「安有民富而國家貧者邪！」 知誥從之。 由是江、淮間曠土盡辟，桑柘滿野，國以富強。 知誥欲進用齊丘而徐溫惡之，以為殿直、軍判官。 知誥每夜引齊丘於水亭屏語，常至夜分，或居高堂，悉去屏障，獨置大爐，相向坐，不言，以鐵箸畫灰為字，隨以匙滅去之，故其所謀，人莫得而知也。
Xu Wen of Wu came to court at Guangling, suspected all the generals of joining Zhu Jin's plot, and wanted a general purge. Xu Zhigao and Yan Keqiu fully described Xu Zhixun's crimes and how he brought disaster on himself. Wen's anger eased. He had Jin's bones recovered from Leitang and buried, punished Zhixun's officers for failing to restrain him, and punished them all; Only Diao Yanneng, who had repeatedly remonstrated, was rewarded. On wuxu Zhigao was made deputy expeditionary commander of Huainan, deputy overall army commander, administrator of headquarters affairs, and regimental commissioner of Jiangzhou. Xu Zhijian was given provisional charge of Runzhou regimental affairs. Wen returned to Jinling and held the overall reins of Wu government; all routine affairs were decided by Zhigao. Zhigao reversed everything Zhixun had done: he served the King of Wu with full respect, treated officials humbly, ruled the people leniently, and lived frugally. By the king's order all tax arrears before Tianyou year 13 were remitted; the rest would be paid only in good harvest years. He sought talent, welcomed remonstrance, removed the corrupt, and blocked patronage. Scholars and commoners alike rallied to him; even old generals and fierce warriors submitted willingly. He took Song Qiqiu as chief strategist. Earlier Wu had a head-tax and a land tax paid in cash. Cash was valued over goods, and the people suffered greatly. Qiqiu advised Zhigao: "Money does not come from farming and sericulture. Making people pay in cash teaches them to abandon the root and chase profit. Abolish the head-tax; let all other taxes be paid in grain and cloth; tax silk worth a thousand cash per bolt at thirty." Someone objected: "That would cost the treasury tens of millions each year. Qiqiu replied: "How can the people be rich while the state is poor! Zhigao agreed. Idle land along the Yangzi and Huai was opened, mulberry and ramie filled the fields, and the state grew rich and strong. Zhigao wanted to promote Qiqiu, but Xu Wen disliked him and made him a palace attendant and army aide. Each night Zhigao met Qiqiu at a waterside pavilion in private, often until midnight. Sometimes in a high hall with all screens removed they sat facing each other by a brazier, writing in the ashes with iron chopsticks and rubbing the words away at once. No one could learn their plans.
42
虔州險固，吳軍攻之，久不下，軍中大疫，王祺病，吳以鎮南節度使劉信為虔州行營招討使，未幾，祺卒。 譚全播求救於吳越、閩、楚。 吳越王鏐以統軍使傳球為西南面行營應援使，將兵二萬攻信州； 楚將張可求將萬人屯古亭，閩兵屯雩都以救之。 信州兵才數百，逆戰，不利； 吳越兵圍其城。 刺史周本，啟關張虛幕於門內，召僚佐登城樓作樂宴飲，飛矢雨集，安坐不動； 吳越疑有伏兵，中夜，解圍去。 吳以前舒州刺史陳璋為東南面應援招討使，將兵侵蘇、湖，錢傳球自信州南屯汀州。 晉王遣間使持帛書會兵於吳，吳人辭以虔州之難。
Qianzhou was strong and secure. Wu troops besieged it for a long time without success. Plague broke out in the army and Wang Qi fell ill. Wu made Liu Xin, military governor of Zhennan, commander of the Qianzhou expedition. Qi soon died. Tan Quanbo sought help from Wuyue, Min, and Chu. Qian Liu, King of Wuyue, made Chuanqiu relief commander of the southwestern expedition and led twenty thousand troops against Xinzhou; Chu general Zhang Keqiu encamped ten thousand men at Guting; Min troops encamped at Yudu to help. Xinzhou had only a few hundred troops. They fought back but fared poorly; Wuyue troops besieged the city. Prefect Zhou Ben opened the gate, hung empty curtains inside, and summoned his staff to the tower for music and wine. Arrows fell like rain, but he sat unmoved; Wuyue suspected an ambush and withdrew in the middle of the night. Wu made former Shuzhou prefect Chen Zhang relief commander on the southeast front and raided Su and Hu. Qian Chuanqiu moved south from Xinzhou and encamped at Tingzhou. The Prince of Jin sent a secret envoy with a letter proposing a joint campaign. Wu declined, citing the crisis at Qianzhou.
43
晉王謀大舉入寇，周德威將幽州步騎三萬，李存審將滄景步騎萬人，李嗣源將邢洺步騎萬人，王處直遣將將易定步騎萬人，及麟、勝、雲、蔚、新、武等州諸部落奚、契丹、室韋、吐谷渾，皆以兵會之。 八月，並河東、魏博之兵，大閱於魏州。
The Prince of Jin planned a major invasion. Zhou Dewei led thirty thousand foot and horse from Youzhou; Li Cunshen ten thousand from Cang and Jing; Li Siyuan ten thousand from Xing and Ming; Wang Chuzhi's general ten thousand from Yi and Ding; and Xi, Khitan, Shiwei, and Tuyuhun tribes from Lin, Sheng, Yun, Yu, Xin, Wu, and other prefectures all joined with troops. In the eighth month he combined the Hedong and Weibo armies and held a grand review at Weizhou.
44
蜀諸王皆領軍使，彭王宗鼎謂其昆弟曰：「親王典兵，禍亂之本。 今主少臣強，讒間將興，繕甲訓士，非吾輩所宜為也。」 因固辭軍使，蜀主許之，但營書捨、植松竹自娛而已。
All Shu princes held army commands. Prince Peng Zongding told his brothers: "When princes command armies, that is the root of disaster. The ruler is young and the ministers are strong; slander and strife will come. Drilling troops is not for us." He firmly declined the command. The Shu ruler agreed and let him build a study, plant pine and bamboo, and amuse himself.
45
泰寧節度使張萬進，輕險好亂。 時嬖倖用事，多求賂於萬進，萬進聞晉兵將出，己酉，遣使附於晉，且求援。 以亳州團練使劉鄩為兗州安撫制置使，將兵討之。
Zhang Wanjin, military governor of Taining, was reckless and fond of trouble. Favored minions held power and often demanded bribes from Wanjin. Hearing Jin troops were about to march, on jiyou he sent envoys to Jin seeking alliance and aid. Liu Yan, regimental commissioner of Bozhou, was made pacification commissioner of Yanzhou and led troops against him.
46
甲子，蜀順德皇后殂。
On jiazi the Shunde Empress of Shu died.
47
乙丑，蜀主以內給事王廷紹、歐陽晃、李周輅、宋光葆、宋承蘊、田魯儔等為將軍及軍使，皆干預政事，驕縱貪暴，大為蜀患，周庠切諫，不聽。 晃患所居之隘，夜，因風縱火，焚西鄰軍營數百間，明旦，召匠廣其居； 蜀主亦不之問。 光葆，光嗣之從弟也。
On yichou the Shu ruler made inner attendants Wang Tingshao, Ouyang Huang, Li Zhou'e, Song Guangbao, Song Chengyun, and Tian Luchou generals and army commissioners. They meddled in government, were arrogant and brutal, and became a great scourge. Zhou Xiang remonstrated sharply but was ignored. Huang disliked his cramped quarters. At night he set a fire with the wind and burned hundreds of neighboring barracks. The next morning he summoned craftsmen to enlarge his residence; the Shu ruler did not question him. Guangbao was Guangsi's younger cousin.
48
晉王自魏州如楊劉，引兵略鄆、濮而還，循河而上，軍於麻家渡。 賀瑰、謝彥章將梁兵屯濮州北行台村，相持不戰。 晉王好自引輕騎迫敵營挑戰，危窘者數四，賴李紹榮力戰翼衛之，得免。 趙王鎔及王處直皆遣使致書曰：「元元之命繫於王，本朝中興繫於王，奈何自輕如此！」 王笑謂使者曰：「定天下者，非百戰何由得之！ 安可但深居帷房以自肥乎！」 一旦，王將出營，都營使李存審扣馬泣諫曰：「大王當為天下自重。 彼先登陷陳，將士之職也，存審輩宜為之，非大王之事也。」 王為之攬轡而還。 他日，伺存審不在，策馬急出，顧謂左右曰：「老子妨人戲！」 王以數百騎抵梁營，謝彥章伏精甲五千於堤下； 王引十餘騎度堤，伏兵發，圍王數十重，王力戰於中，後騎繼之者攻之於外，僅得出。 會李存審救至，梁兵乃退，王始以存審之言為忠。
The Prince of Jin went from Weizhou to Yangliu, raided Yun and Pu, followed the river upstream, and encamped at Majiadu. He Gui and Xie Yanzhang led Liang troops to Xingtai Village north of Puzhou. The two sides faced each other without fighting. The prince liked to lead light cavalry himself to provoke the enemy. He was in peril several times and escaped only because Li Shaorong fought fiercely to protect him. Prince Rong of Zhao and Wang Chuzhi both sent letters: "The people's lives depend on you; the dynasty's revival depends on you—how can you risk yourself so lightly! The prince smiled and told the envoys: "How can one win the realm without a hundred battles! How can one just hide in curtained chambers and grow soft!" One day as the prince was leaving camp, camp commander Li Cunshen seized his bridle and wept: "Your Highness must value yourself for the realm's sake. Leading the charge is the soldiers' duty—we should do that, not Your Highness." The prince pulled the reins and turned back. Another day, when Cunshen was absent, he spurred out and told his attendants: "That old man spoils my fun! He reached the Liang camp with several hundred horsemen. Xie Yanzhang had hidden five thousand elite armored troops beneath the embankment; the prince crossed the embankment with a dozen horsemen. The ambush sprang and surrounded him in rings. He fought at the center while followers attacked from outside, and he barely escaped. When Li Cunshen arrived, the Liang troops withdrew, and the prince then knew Cunshen had spoken truly.
49
吳劉信遣其將張宣等夜將兵三千襲楚將張可求於古亭，破之； 又遣梁詮等將兵擊吳越及閩兵，二國聞楚兵敗，俱引歸。
Liu Xin of Wu sent Zhang Xuan and others by night with three thousand troops to raid Chu general Zhang Keqiu at Guting and defeated him; he also sent Liang Quan and others against the Wuyue and Min forces. Hearing Chu had been defeated, both withdrew.
50
梅山蠻寇邵州，楚將樊須擊走之。
Meishan tribes raided Shaozhou. Chu general Fan Xu drove them off.
51
九月，壬午，蜀內樞密使宋光嗣以判六軍讓兼中書令王宗弼，蜀主許之。
In the ninth month, on renwu, Commissioner Song Guangsi yielded command of the Six Armies to Wang Zongbi, and the Shu ruler agreed.
52
吳劉信晝夜急攻虔州，斬首數千級，不能克； 使人說譚全播，取質納賂而還。 徐溫大怒，杖信使者。 信子英彥典親兵，溫授英彥兵三千，曰：「汝父居上游之地，將十倍之眾，不能下一城，是反也！ 汝可以此兵往，與父同反！」 又使升州牙內指揮使朱景瑜與之俱，曰：「全播守卒皆農夫，饑窘逾年，妻子在外，重圍既解，相賀而去，聞大兵再往，必皆逃遁，全播所守者空城耳，往必克之。」
Liu Xin of Wu attacked Qianzhou day and night, killing thousands, but could not take it; he sent men to persuade Tan Quanbo, took hostages and bribes, and withdrew. Xu Wen was furious and had Xin's envoy beaten. Xin's son Yingyan commanded the personal troops. Wen gave Yingyan three thousand men and said: "Your father holds the high ground with ten times the force and cannot take one city—that is rebellion! Take these troops and rebel with your father!" He also sent Shengzhou Inner Guard commander Zhu Jingyu with him, saying: "Quanbo's garrison are farmers. They have been hungry for over a year, their families are outside, and once the siege lifted they left rejoicing. If they hear a great army is coming again, they will flee. Quanbo will hold an empty city—go and you will take it.2
53
冬，十一月，壬申，蜀葬神武聖文孝德明惠皇帝於永陵，廟號高祖。
In winter, on renshen of the eleventh month, Shu buried Emperor Shenwu Shengwen Xiaode Minghui at Yongling with the temple name Gaozu.
54
越主巖祀南郊，大赦，改國號曰漢。
Yue ruler Liu Yan performed the southern suburban rite, proclaimed a general amnesty, and changed the state name to Han.
55
劉信聞徐溫之言，大懼，引兵還擊虔州。 先鋒始至，虔兵皆潰，譚全播奔雩都，追執之。 吳以全播為右威衛將軍，領百勝節度使。
Hearing Xu Wen's words, Liu Xin was terrified and led troops back to attack Qianzhou. When the vanguard arrived, Qian's troops collapsed. Tan Quanbo fled to Yudu and was captured. Wu made Quanbo General of the Right Victorious Guard and military governor of Baisheng.
56
先是，吳越王鏐常自虔州入貢，至是道絕，始自海道出登、萊，抵大梁。
Earlier Qian Liu, King of Wuyue, had sent tribute through Qianzhou. Now that route was cut, and for the first time he sent tribute by sea through Deng and Lai to Daliang.
57
初，吳徐溫自以權重而位卑，說吳王曰：「今大王與諸將皆為節度使，雖有都統之名，不足相臨制； 請建吳國，稱帝而治。」 王不許。 嚴可求屢勸溫以次子知詢代徐知誥知吳政，知誥與駱知祥謀，出可求為楚州刺史。 可求既受命，至金陵，見溫，說之曰：「吾奉唐正朔，常以興復為辭。 今朱、李方爭，朱氏日衰，李氏日熾。 一旦李氏有天下，吾能北面為之臣乎？ 不若先建吳國以系民望。」 溫大悅，復留可求參總庶政，使草具禮儀。 知誥知可求不可去，乃以女妻其子續。 晉王欲趣大梁，而梁軍扼其前，堅壁不戰百餘日。 十二月，庚子朔，晉王進兵，距梁軍十里而捨。
Earlier Xu Wen of Wu, powerful but low in rank, told the King of Wu: "You and the generals are all military governors. Your title of overall commander is not enough to command them; Establish the state of Wu and declare yourself emperor." The king refused. Yan Keqiu repeatedly urged Wen to replace Xu Zhigao with his second son Zhixun. Zhigao plotted with Luo Zhixiang and transferred Keqiu out as prefect of Chuzhou. After taking his appointment Keqiu reached Jinling and told Wen: "We observe the Tang calendar and always speak of restoring the dynasty. Now Zhu and Li are fighting; the Zhu clan declines daily while the Li clan grows stronger. If one day the Li clan wins the realm, can we bow north and serve them? Better to establish Wu first and hold the people's loyalty." Wen was delighted, kept Keqiu to help govern, and had him draft the ritual protocols. Knowing Keqiu could not be removed, Zhigao married his daughter to Keqiu's son Xu. The Prince of Jin wanted to press toward Daliang, but the Liang army blocked his path and held fast without fighting for more than a hundred days. In the twelfth month, on the first day gengzi, the Prince of Jin advanced and encamped ten li from the Liang army.
58
初，北面行營招討使賀瑰善將步兵，排陳使謝彥章善將騎兵，瑰惡其與己齊名。 一日，瑰與彥章治兵於野，瑰指一高地曰：「此可以立柵。」 至是，晉軍適置柵於其上，瑰疑彥章與晉通謀。 瑰屢欲戰，謂彥章曰：「主上悉以國兵授吾二人，社稷是賴。 今強寇壓吾門，而逗遛不戰，可乎！」 彥章曰：「強寇憑陵，利在速戰。 今深溝高壘，據其津要，彼安敢深入！ 若輕與之戰，萬一蹉跌，則大事去矣。」 瑰益疑之，密譖之於帝，與行營馬步都虞候曹州刺史朱珪謀，因享士，伏甲，殺彥章及濮州刺史孟審澄、別將侯溫裕，以謀叛聞。 審澄、溫裕，亦騎將之良者也。 丁未，以朱珪為匡國留後，癸丑，又以為平盧節度使兼行營馬步副指揮使以賞之。
He Gui, northern pacification commander, was skilled with infantry; Xie Yanzhang, battle-line commander, with cavalry. Gui resented sharing equal fame with him. One day Gui and Yanzhang drilled troops in the field. Gui pointed to high ground and said: "A palisade can go here. By then the Jin army had placed a palisade there, and Gui suspected Yanzhang of colluding with Jin. Gui repeatedly wanted to fight and told Yanzhang: "The emperor has entrusted all the state's armies to us—the realm depends on us. A formidable enemy is at our gate, yet we delay and do not fight—is that acceptable!" Yanzhang replied: "The enemy relies on aggression; the advantage lies in swift battle. We have deep moats and high ramparts and hold the strategic passes—how would they dare advance deeply! If we fight lightly and stumble once, the great enterprise is lost." Gui grew more suspicious and secretly denounced Yanzhang to the emperor. With Zhu Gui, chief adjutant and prefect of Caozhou, he hid armed men at an officers' feast and killed Yanzhang, Puzhou prefect Meng Shencheng, and detached commander Hou Wenyue, reporting it as treason. Shencheng and Wenyue were also excellent cavalry commanders. On dingwei Zhu Gui was made acting governor of Kuangguo. On guichou he was further made military governor of Pinglu and deputy expeditionary commander as a reward.
59
晉王聞彥章死，喜曰：「彼將帥自相魚肉，亡無日矣。 賀瑰殘虐，失士卒心，我若引軍直指其國都，彼安得堅壁不動！ 幸而一與之戰，蔑不勝矣。」 王欲自將萬騎直趣大梁，周德威曰：「梁人雖屠上將，其軍尚全，輕行徼利，未見其福。」 不從。 戊午，下令軍中老弱悉歸魏州，起師趨汴。 庚申，毀營而進，眾號十萬。
When the Prince of Jin heard Yanzhang was dead, he said with pleasure: "Their generals are devouring one another—their end is near. He Gui is brutal and has lost his soldiers' loyalty. If I march straight on their capital, how can they stay behind their walls! If we meet them in battle, we cannot fail to win." The prince wanted to lead ten thousand horsemen straight to Daliang. Zhou Dewei said: "Though the Liang killed a chief general, their army is still intact. A light march for quick gain brings no blessing. He refused to listen. On wuwu he sent the old and weak back to Weizhou and marched on Bian. On gengshen he broke camp and advanced with a force said to number one hundred thousand.
60
辛酉，蜀改明年元曰乾德。
On xinyou Shu set the next year's era name to Qiande.
61
賀瑰聞晉王已西，亦棄營而踵之。 晉王發魏博白丁三萬從軍，以供營柵之役，所至，營柵立成。 壬戌，至胡柳陂。 癸亥旦，候者言梁兵自後至矣。 周德威曰：「賊倍道而來，未有所捨，我營柵已固，守備有餘，既深入敵境，動須萬全，不可輕發。 此去大梁至近，梁兵各念其家，內懷憤激，不以方略制之，恐難得志。 王宜按兵勿戰，德威請以騎兵擾之，使彼不得休息，至暮營壘未立，樵爨未具，乘其疲乏，可一舉滅也。」 王曰：「前在河上恨不見賊，今賊至不擊，尚復何待，公何怯也！」 顧李存審曰：「敕輜重先發，吾為爾殿後，破賊而去！」 即以親軍先出。 德威不得已，引幽州兵從之，謂其子曰：「吾無死所矣。」 賀瑰結陳而至，橫亙數十里。 王帥銀槍都陷其陳，沖蕩擊斬，往返十餘里。 行營左廂馬軍都指揮使、鄭州防禦使王彥章軍先敗，西走趣濮陽。 晉輜重在陳西，望見梁旗幟，驚潰，入幽州陳，幽州兵亦擾亂，自相蹈藉； 周德威不能制，父子皆戰死。 魏博節度副使王緘與輜重俱行，亦死。
Hearing the Prince of Jin had marched west, He Gui abandoned camp and pursued. The prince mobilized thirty thousand laborers from Weibo to build camps and palisades. Wherever they went, fortifications sprang up at once. On renxu they reached Huluyang. At dawn on guihai scouts reported Liang troops approaching from the rear. Zhou Dewei said: "The enemy has marched hard and has nowhere to stop. Our camps are secure and our defenses ample. Deep in enemy territory, every move must be safe—we must not act rashly. Daliang is very close. The Liang soldiers think of home and burn with anger. Without strategy we may not succeed. Your Highness should hold the army and not fight. Let me harass them with cavalry so they cannot rest. By evening their camps won't be set and firewood won't be gathered. Seizing their exhaustion, we can destroy them at one stroke." The prince said: "On the river I regretted not meeting the enemy. Now they are here and we do not strike—what are we waiting for? How timid you are! He turned to Li Cunshen: "Send the baggage train ahead. I'll cover your rear, break the enemy, and go! He then led his personal troops out first. Dewei, having no choice, led the Youzhou troops after him and told his son: "I have no place left to die. He Gui drew up in battle formation stretching across miles. The prince led the Silver Spear Guard through the enemy line, charging and cutting down men back and forth for more than ten li. Wang Yanzhang, left-wing cavalry commander and defender of Zhengzhou, was defeated first and fled west toward Puyang. The Jin baggage train west of the line saw Liang banners, panicked, and rushed into the Youzhou formation. Youzhou troops fell into disorder and trampled one another; Zhou Dewei could not control them, and father and son both died in battle. Wang Jian, deputy military governor of Weibo, was with the baggage train and also died.
62
晉兵無復部伍。 梁兵四集，勢甚盛。 晉王據高丘收散兵，至日中，軍復振。 陂中有土山，賀瑰引兵據之。 晉王謂將士曰：「今日得此山者勝，吾與汝曹奪之。」 即引騎兵先登，李從珂與銀槍大將王建及以步卒繼之，梁兵紛紛而下，遂奪其山。
The Jin army lost all formation. Liang troops gathered from all sides in overwhelming force. The prince held a high mound and gathered scattered troops. By midday the army had rallied. In the marsh was an earthen hill. He Gui seized it. The prince told his officers and men: "Whoever holds this hill today wins. I will seize it with you. He led the cavalry up first. Li Congke, Silver Spear Guard general Wang Jianji, and the infantry followed. Liang troops fell back in disarray, and they took the hill.
63
日向晡，賀瑰陳於山西，晉兵望之有懼色。 諸將以為諸軍未盡集，不若斂兵還營，詰朝復戰。 天平節度使、東南面招討使閻寶曰：「王彥章騎兵已入濮陽，山下惟步卒，向晚皆有歸志，我乘高趣下擊之，破之必矣。 今王深入敵境，偏師不利，若復引退，必為所乘。 諸軍未集者聞梁再克，必不戰自潰。 凡決勝料敵，惟觀情勢，情勢已得，斷在不疑。 王之成敗，在此一戰； 若不決力取勝，縱收餘眾北歸，河朔非王有也。」 昭義節度使李嗣昭曰：「賊無營壘，日晚思歸，但以精騎擾之，使不得夕食，俟其引退，追擊可破也。 我若斂兵還營，彼歸整眾復來，勝負未可知也。」 王建及擐甲橫槊而進曰：「賊大將已遁，王之騎軍一無所失，今擊此疲乏之眾，如拉朽耳。 王但登山，觀臣為王破賊。」 王愕然曰：「非公等言，吾幾誤計。」 嗣昭、建及以騎兵大呼陷陳，諸軍繼之，梁兵大敗。 元城令吳瓊、貴鄉令胡裝，各帥白丁萬人，於山下曳柴揚塵，鼓噪以助其勢。 梁兵自相騰藉，棄甲山積，死亡者幾三萬人。 裝，證之曾孫也。 是日，兩軍所喪士卒各三之二，皆不能振。
As afternoon approached, He Gui formed lines west of the hill. The Jin troops looked on them with fear. The generals thought not all units had assembled and proposed gathering the troops and returning to camp to fight again at dawn. Yan Bao, military governor of Tianping and southeastern pacification commander, said: "Wang Yanzhang's cavalry is already in Puyang. Below the hill are only infantry, and toward evening they all want to go home. If we strike down from the heights, we will break them. Your Highness has penetrated deep into enemy territory and a detached force has fared poorly. If we withdraw again, we will be pursued and overcome. Units not yet assembled, hearing Liang has won again, will collapse without fighting. In deciding victory one looks only at the situation. Once the situation is clear, act without hesitation. Your Highness's fate hangs on this one battle; if you do not resolve to win by force, then even gathering the survivors and returning north, Hebei will no longer be yours." Li Sizhao, military governor of Zhaoyi, said: "The enemy has no camp. Toward evening they want to go home. Harass them with elite cavalry so they cannot eat at dusk. Wait until they withdraw, then pursue and break them. If we gather the troops and return to camp, they will regroup and come again—the outcome is uncertain." Wang Jianji, armor buckled and spear level, advanced and said: "The enemy's chief general has fled. Your Highness's cavalry has lost nothing. Striking this exhausted force is like pulling rotten wood. Your Highness need only climb the hill and watch me break the enemy." The prince, startled, said: "Without your words I would nearly have erred. Sizhao, Jianji, and others led the cavalry shouting into the enemy line. The other armies followed, and the Liang troops were routed. Wu Qiong, magistrate of Yuancheng, and Hu Zhuang, magistrate of Guixiang, each led ten thousand laborers below the hill dragging brush to raise dust and shouting with drums to boost the attack. Liang troops trampled one another. Abandoned armor piled like hills, and nearly thirty thousand died. Zhuang was the great-grandson of Zheng. That day each army lost two-thirds of its men, and neither could recover.
64
晉王還營，聞周德威父子死，哭之慟，曰：「喪吾良將，是吾罪也！」 以其子幽州中軍兵馬使光輔為嵐州刺史。 李嗣源與李從珂相失，見晉軍撓敗，不知王所之，或曰：「王已北渡河矣。」 嗣源遂乘冰北渡，將之相州。 是日，從珂從王奪山，晚戰皆有功。 甲子，晉王進攻濮陽，拔之。 李嗣源知晉軍之捷，復來見王於濮陽，王不悅，曰：「公以吾為死邪？ 渡河安之！」 嗣源頓首謝罪。 王以從珂有功，但賜大鐘酒以罰之，然自是待嗣源稍薄。
The prince returned to camp. Hearing Zhou Dewei and his son had died, he wept bitterly: "I have lost my fine general—this is my fault! He made Dewei's son Guangfu, Youzhou central army commander, prefect of Lanzhou. Li Siyuan and Li Congke lost one another. Seeing the Jin army routed and not knowing where the prince had gone, someone said: "The prince has already crossed north over the river. Siyuan crossed north over the ice and was about to go to Xiangzhou. That day Congke followed the prince in seizing the hill and fought well in the late battle. On jiazi the prince attacked Puyang and took it. When Li Siyuan learned of the Jin victory, he came to see the prince at Puyang. The prince was displeased: "Do you take me for dead? Why cross the river to safety!" Siyuan kowtowed to apologize. Because Congke had merit, the prince punished him only with a great bell of wine, but from then on treated Siyuan somewhat more coldly.
65
初，契丹主之弟撒剌阿撥號北大王，謀作亂於其國。 事覺，契丹主數之曰：「汝與吾如手足，而汝興此心，我若殺汝，則與汝何異！」 乃囚之期年而釋之。 撒剌阿撥帥其眾奔晉，晉王厚遇之，養為假子，任為刺史； 胡柳之戰，以其妻子來奔。
Earlier the Khitan ruler's brother Salabuo, titled Northern Great King, plotted rebellion in their realm. When the plot was discovered, the Khitan ruler rebuked him: "You and I are like hands and feet, yet you harbored this intent. If I kill you, how am I different from you! He imprisoned him for a year and released him. Salabuo fled to Jin with his followers. The prince treated him generously, adopted him as a nominal son, and made him prefect; at the Battle of Huluyang his wife and children joined him.
66
晉軍至德勝渡，王彥章敗卒有走至大梁者，曰：「晉人戰勝，將至矣。」 頃之，晉兵有先至大梁問次捨者，京城大恐。 帝驅市人登城，又欲奔洛陽，遇夜而止。 敗卒至者不滿千人，傷夷逃散，各歸鄉里，月餘僅能成軍。
When the Jin army reached Desheng Ford, Wang Yanzhang's defeated soldiers who had fled to Daliang said: "The Jin have won and are coming. Soon Jin scouts reached Daliang asking where to lodge, and the capital was terrified. The emperor drove townspeople onto the walls and wanted to flee to Luoyang, but stopped when night came. Fewer than a thousand defeated troops arrived. Wounded and scattered, they returned home, and only after more than a month could an army be formed again.
67
春，正月，辛巳，蜀主祀南郊，大赦。
In spring, on xinsi of the first month, the Shu ruler performed the southern suburban rite and proclaimed a general amnesty.
68
晉李存審於德勝南北夾河築兩城而守之。 晉王以存審代周德威為內外番漢馬步總管。 晉王還魏州，遣李嗣昭權知幽州軍府事。
Li Cunshen built two cities north and south of Desheng on either side of the river and garrisoned them. The prince made Cunshen replace Zhou Dewei as overall commander of all inner and outer, barbarian and Han, horse and foot. The prince returned to Weizhou and sent Li Sizhao to provisionally administer Youzhou headquarters.
69
漢主巖立越國夫人馬氏為皇后，殷之女也。
Han ruler Liu Yan made Lady Ma of Yue empress. She was Yin's daughter.
70
三月，丙戌，蜀北路行營都招討、武德節度使王宗播等自散關擊岐，渡渭水，破岐將孟鐵山。 會大雨而還，分兵戍興元、鳳州及威武城。 戊子，天雄節度使、同平章事王宗昱攻隴州，不克。 蜀主奢縱無度，日與太后、太妃游宴於貴臣之家，及游近郡名山，飲酒賦詩，所費不可勝紀。 仗內教坊使嚴旭強取士民女子內宮中，或得厚賂而免之，以是累遷至蓬州刺史。 太后、太妃各出教令賣刺史、令、錄等官，每一官闕，數人爭納賂，賂多者得之。
In the third month, on bingxu, Wang Zongbo and others, northern overall commanders and military governors of Wude, attacked Qi from Sanguan, crossed the Wei River, and defeated Qi general Meng Tieshan. Heavy rain forced them back. They left garrisons at Xingyuan, Fengzhou, and Weiwu City. On wuzi Wang Zongyu, military governor of Tianxiong and Co-Director, attacked Longzhou but failed. The Shu ruler was extravagantly unrestrained. Day after day he feasted and toured with the Empress Dowager and Grand Consort at nobles' homes and nearby mountains, drinking and composing poetry at expense beyond reckoning. Yan Xu, commissioner of the Inner Music Office, forcibly took commoners' daughters into the palace. Some escaped by paying heavy bribes, and through this he rose to prefect of Pengzhou. The Empress Dowager and Grand Consort sold prefect, magistrate, and registrar posts by edict. For each vacancy several people competed in bribes, and the highest bidder won.
71
晉王自領盧龍節度使，以中門使李紹宏提舉軍府事，代李嗣昭。 昭宏，宦者也，本姓馬，晉王賜姓名，使與知嵐州事孟知祥俱為河東、魏博中門使。 孟知祥又薦教練使雁門郭崇韜能治劇，王以為中門副使。 崇韜倜儻有智略，臨事敢決，王寵待日隆。 先是，中門使吳珪、張虔厚相繼獲罪，及紹宏出幽州，知祥懼禍，稱疾辭位，王乃以知祥為河東馬步都虞候，自是崇韜專典機密。
The prince personally took the post of military governor of Lulong and made inner-gate commissioner Li Shaohong administrator of military headquarters, replacing Li Siyuan. Shaohong was a eunuch originally surnamed Ma. The prince bestowed a surname and given name and made him, with Lanzhou administrator Meng Zhixiang, inner-gate commissioners for Hedong and Weibo. Meng Zhixiang also recommended training commissioner Guo Chongtao of Yanmen as able to handle difficult affairs, and the prince made him deputy inner-gate commissioner. Chongtao was bold and resourceful, daring and decisive. The prince favored him more each day. Earlier inner-gate commissioners Wu Gui and Zhang Qianhou had been punished in succession. When Shaohong went to Youzhou, Zhixiang feared disaster, feigned illness, and resigned. The prince made Zhixiang chief adjutant of Hedong horse and foot, and from then on Chongtao alone managed secret affairs.
72
詔吳越王鏐大舉討淮南。 鏐以節度副大使傳瓘為諸軍都指揮使，帥戰艦五百艘，自東洲擊吳。 吳遣舒州刺史彭彥章及裨將陳汾拒之。
An edict ordered Qian Liu, King of Wuyue, to launch a major campaign against Huainan. Liu made Chuanjian, deputy military governor, overall army commander and led five hundred warships from Dongzhou against Wu. Wu sent Shuzhou prefect Peng Yanzhang and subordinate general Chen Fen to resist them.
73
吳徐溫帥將吏籓鎮請吳王稱帝，吳王不許。 夏，四月，戊戌朔，即吳國王位。 大赦，改元武義。 建宗廟社稷，置百官，宮殿文物皆用天子禮。 以金繼土，臘用丑。 改謚武忠王曰孝武王，廟號太祖，威王曰景王，尊母為太妃； 以徐溫為大丞相、都督中外諸軍事、諸道都統、鎮海、寧國節度使、守太尉兼中書令、東海郡王，以徐知誥為左僕射、參政事兼知內外諸軍事，仍領江州團練使，以揚府左司馬王令謀為內樞密使，營田副使嚴可求為門下侍郎，鹽鐵判官駱知祥為中書侍郎，前中書舍人盧擇為吏部尚書兼太常卿，掌書記殷文圭為翰林學士，館驛巡宮游恭為知制誥，前駕部員外郎楊迢為給事中。 擇，醴泉人； 迢，敬之之孫也。
Xu Wen of Wu led generals, officials, and military governors in asking the King of Wu to declare himself emperor. The king refused. In summer, on the first day of the fourth month, wuxu, he assumed the throne of Wu. He proclaimed a general amnesty and adopted the era name Wuyi. He built ancestral temples and state altars, established the bureaucracy, and used imperial rites for palace halls and regalia. Metal succeeded earth, and the twelfth month used the branch chou. He changed Prince Wuzhong's posthumous title to Prince Xiaowu with temple name Taizu, Prince Wei to Prince Jing, and honored his mother as Grand Consort; He made Xu Wen Grand Chancellor, Commander-in-Chief, Overall Commander of All Circuits, military governor of Zhenhai and Ningguo, Grand Master and Director of the Secretariat, and Prince of Donghai; Xu Zhigao Left Vice Director, participant in government, and administrator of military affairs, still regimental commissioner of Jiangzhou; Wang Lingmou Commissioner of the Inner Bureau of Military Affairs; Yan Keqiu Vice Director of the Chancellery; Luo Zhixiang Vice Director of the Secretariat; Lu Ze Minister of Personnel and Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; Yin Wengui Hanlin Academician; You Gong Drafting Officer for Proclamations; and Yang Tiao Supervising Censor. Ze was from Liquan; Tiao was Jingzhi's grandson.
74
錢傳瓘與彭彥章遇； 傳瓘命每船皆載灰、豆及沙，乙巳，戰於狼山江。 吳船乘風而進，傳瓘引舟避之，既過，自後隨之。 吳回船與戰，傳瓘使順風揚灰，吳人不能開目； 及船舷相接，傳瓘使散沙於己船而散豆於吳船，豆為戰血所漬，吳人踐之皆僵仆。 傳瓘因縱火焚吳船，吳兵大敗。 彥章戰甚力，兵盡，繼之以木，身被數十創，陳汾按兵不救； 彥章知不免，遂自殺。 傳瓘俘吳裨將七十人，斬首千餘級，焚戰艦四百艘。 吳人誅汾，籍沒家貲，以其半賜彥章家，稟其妻子終身。
Qian Chuanjian encountered Peng Yanzhang; Chuanjian ordered every ship to carry ash, beans, and sand. On yisi they fought on the Langshan River. Wu ships advanced with the wind. Chuanjian drew aside, then followed from behind once they had passed. Wu turned to fight. Chuanjian had ash blown with the wind, and Wu men could not open their eyes; when the gunwales met, Chuanjian scattered sand on his ships and beans on Wu ships. The beans were soaked with blood, and Wu men who stepped on them slipped and fell. Chuanjian then set fire to the Wu ships. The Wu army was routed. Yanzhang fought fiercely. When his troops were exhausted he fought on with wooden clubs, took dozens of wounds, and Chen Fen held back without rescuing him; Knowing he could not escape, Yanzhang killed himself. Chuanjian captured seventy Wu subordinate generals, beheaded more than a thousand, and burned four hundred warships. Wu executed Fen, confiscated his property, gave half to Yanzhang's family, and provided for his wife and children for life.
75
賀瑰攻德勝南城，百道俱進，以竹笮聯艨艟十餘艘，蒙以牛革，設睥睨、戰格如城狀，橫於河流，以斷晉之救兵，使不得渡。 晉王自引兵馳往救之，陳於北岸，不能進； 遣善游者馬破龍入南城，見守將氏延賞，延賞言矢石將盡，陷在頃刻。 晉王積金帛於軍門，募能破艨□童者； 眾莫知為計，親將李建及曰：「賀瑰悉眾而來，冀此一舉； 若我軍不渡，則彼為得計。 今日之事，建及請以死決之。」 乃選效節敢死士得三百人，被鎧操斧，帥之乘舟而進。 將至艨□童，流矢雨集，建及使操斧者入艨艟間，斧其竹笮，又以木罌載薪，沃油然火，於上流縱之，隨以巨艦實甲士，鼓噪攻之。 艨艟既斷，隨流而下，梁兵焚溺者殆半，晉兵乃得渡。 瑰解圍走，晉兵追之，至濮州而還。 瑰退屯行台村。
He Gui attacked Desheng's southern city from every direction. He linked more than ten mengchong warships with bamboo cables, covered them with ox hide, set parapets and battle platforms like a wall, and stretched them across the river to block Jin relief troops. The prince personally led troops to the rescue and formed lines on the north bank but could not advance; he sent strong swimmer Ma Polong into the southern city to see defender Shi Yanshang, who said arrows and stones were nearly gone and the city would fall at any moment. The prince piled gold and silks at the camp gate and offered a reward to anyone who could break the mengchong blockade; No one knew what to do. Personal general Wang Jianji said: "He Gui has brought all his forces, hoping for success in this one move; if our army does not cross, he wins. On today's matter, Jianji asks to settle it with his life." He selected three hundred loyal dare-to-die warriors, armored them with axes, and led them forward in boats. Near the mengchong blockade arrows fell like rain. Jianji sent axemen into the mengchong ships to chop the bamboo cables, loaded firewood in jars with oil and set them afire upstream, then followed with great ships full of armored troops shouting as they attacked. Once the mengchong ships were cut loose they drifted downstream. Nearly half the Liang troops were burned or drowned, and the Jin troops at last crossed. Gui lifted the siege and fled. Jin troops pursued him to Puzhou and returned. Gui withdrew to Xingtai Village.
76
蜀主命天策府諸將無得擅離屯戍。 五月，丁卯朔，左散旗軍使王承諤、承勳、承會違命，蜀主皆原之。 自是禁令不行。
The Shu ruler ordered Celestial Strategy Office generals not to leave their garrisons without authorization. In the fifth month, on the first day dingmao, Left Scattered Banner Army commanders Wang Cheng'e, Chengxun, and Chenghui disobeyed orders, and the Shu ruler pardoned them all. From then on orders were not enforced.
77
楚人攻荊南，高季昌求救於吳，吳命鎮南節度使劉信等帥洪、吉、撫、信步兵自瀏陽趣潭州，武昌節度使李簡等帥水軍攻復州。 信等至潭州東境，楚兵釋荊南引歸。 簡等入復州，執其知州鮑唐。
Chu attacked Jingnan. Gao Jichang sought help from Wu. Wu ordered Liu Xin and others to lead infantry from Hong, Ji, Fu, and Xin from Liuyang toward Tanzhou, and Li Jian and others to lead naval forces against Fuzhou. When Xin and the others reached eastern Tanzhou, Chu troops released Jingnan and withdrew. Jian and the others entered Fuzhou and seized prefect Bao Tang.
78
六月，吳人敗吳越兵於沙山。
In the sixth month Wu defeated Wuyue troops at Mount Sha.
79
秋，七月，吳越王鏐遣錢傳瓘將兵三萬攻吳常州，徐溫帥諸將拒之，右雄武統軍陳璋以水軍下海門出其後。 壬申，戰於無錫。 會溫病熱，不能治軍，吳越攻中軍，飛矢雨集，鎮海節度判官陳彥謙遷中軍旗鼓於左，取貌類溫者，擐甲冑，號令軍事，溫得少息。 俄頃，疾稍間，出拒之。 時久旱草枯，吳人乘風縱火，吳越兵亂，遂大敗，殺其將何逢、吳建，斬首萬級。 傳瓘遁去，追至山南，覆敗之。 陳璋敗吳越於香彎。 溫募生獲叛將陳紹者賞錢百萬，指揮使崔彥章獲之。 紹勇而多謀，溫復使之典兵。
In autumn, in the seventh month, Qian Liu, King of Wuyue, sent Qian Chuanjian with thirty thousand troops against Changzhou. Xu Wen led the generals to resist, and Chen Zhang took naval forces down to Haimen to strike from the rear. On renshen they fought at Wuxi. Wen had a fever and could not command. Wuyue attacked the center as arrows fell like rain. Chen Yanqian, Zhenhai staff officer, moved the center banners left, found a Wen lookalike, armored him, and issued orders, giving Wen a brief rest. Soon his fever eased and he went out to resist. After a long drought the grass was dry. Wu men set fires with the wind. Wuyue troops fell into disorder and were routed. Generals He Feng and Wu Jian were killed and more than ten thousand heads were taken. Chuanjian fled. They pursued him south of the mountain and defeated him again. Chen Zhang defeated Wuyue at Xiangwan. Wen offered a million cash for capturing defector Chen Shao alive. Commander Cui Yanzhang captured him. Shao was brave and shrewd. Wen again put him in command of troops.
80
初，錦衣之役，吳馬軍指揮曹筠叛奔吳越，徐溫赦其妻子，厚遇之，遣間使告之曰：「使汝不得志而去，吾之過也，汝無以妻子為念。」 及是役，筠復奔吳。 溫自數昔日不用筠言者三，而不問筠去來之罪，歸其田宅，復其軍職，筠內愧而卒。
Earlier, in the Jinyi campaign, Wu cavalry commander Cao Yun defected to Wuyue. Xu Wen pardoned his family and treated them generously. He sent a secret messenger: "That you left because you could not achieve your aims is my fault. Do not worry about your wife and children. In this campaign Yun defected back to Wu. Wen counted three times how he had ignored Yun's advice, yet did not punish him for leaving and returning. He restored his lands and post. Yun died of shame.
81
知誥請帥步卒二千，易吳越旗幟鎧仗，躡敗卒而東，襲取蘇州。 溫曰：「爾策固善； 然吾且求息兵，未暇如汝言也。」 諸將皆以為：「吳越所恃者舟楫，今大旱，水道涸，此天亡之時也，宜盡步騎之勢，一舉滅之。」 溫歎曰：「天下離亂久矣，民困已甚，錢公亦未易可輕； 若連兵不解，方為諸君之憂。 今戰勝以懼之，戢兵以懷之，使兩地之民各安其業，君臣高枕，豈不樂哉！ 多殺何為！」 遂引還。
Zhigao asked to lead two thousand infantry in Wuyue banners and armor, follow the defeated troops east, and seize Suzhou by surprise. Wen said: "Your plan is good; but I am seeking peace and have no time for that now." The generals all said: "Wuyue relies on boats. Now drought has dried the waterways. Heaven is destroying them. We should use all our foot and horse and destroy them at one stroke. Wen sighed: "The realm has been torn by disorder for long. The people are deeply distressed, and Lord Qian is not to be taken lightly; if war continues without end, that will become your worry. Win the battle and frighten them, sheathe arms and win their hearts, let people on both sides live in peace, and let rulers and ministers rest easy—would that not be joy! What is the use of more killing!" He then withdrew.
82
吳越王鏐見何逢馬，悲不自勝，故將士心附之。 寵姬鄭氏父犯法當死，左右為之請，鏐曰：「豈可以一婦人亂我法。」 出其女而斬之。 鏐自少在軍中，夜未嘗寐，倦極則就圓木小枕，或枕大鈴，寐熟輒欹而寤，名曰：「警枕」。 置粉盤於臥內，有所記則書盤中，比老不倦。 或寢方酣，外有白事者，令侍女振紙即寤。 時彈銅丸於樓牆之外，以警直更者。 嘗微行，夜叩北城門，吏不肯啟關，曰：「雖大王來亦不可啟。」 乃自他門入。 明日，召北門吏，厚賜之。
When Qian Liu saw He Feng's horse, he was overcome with grief. The old officers and soldiers therefore rallied to him. The father of favored concubine Lady Zheng had violated the law and deserved death. Attendants pleaded for him. Liu said: "How can I let one woman overturn my law. He sent out her daughter and executed him. “From youth Liu had been in the army and never slept through the night. When exhausted he rested on a small round-wood pillow or a large bell; when he slept deeply he would tilt and wake. He called it the Alarm Pillow.” He kept a powder tray in his sleeping quarters and wrote notes in it, and even in old age he never tired of it. Sometimes when he slept soundly and someone reported business outside, he had a maid shake paper and woke at once. He shot copper pellets outside the tower wall to alert the night watch. Once he traveled incognito and knocked at the north gate at night. The clerk refused to open it: "Even the king cannot enter now. He entered through another gate. The next day he summoned the north gate clerk and rewarded him generously.
83
丙戌，吳王立其弟濛為廬江郡公，溥為丹楊郡公，潯為新安郡公，澈為鄱陽郡公，子繼明為廬陵郡公。
On bingxu the King of Wu enfeoffed his brother Meng as Duke of Lujiang, Pu as Duke of Danyang, Xun as Duke of Xin'an, Che as Duke of Poyang, and his son Jiming as Duke of Luling.
84
晉王歸晉陽，以巡官馮道為掌書記。 中門使郭崇韜以諸將陪食者眾，請省其數。 王怒曰：「孤為效死者設食，亦不得專，可令軍中別擇河北帥，孤自歸太原。」 即召馮道令草詞以示眾。 道執筆逡巡不為，曰：「大王方平河南，定天下，崇韜所請未至大過； 大王不從可矣，何必以此驚動遠近，使敵國聞之，謂大王君臣不和，非所以隆威望也。」 會崇韜入謝，王乃止。
The prince returned to Jinyang and made touring officer Feng Dao chief secretary. Inner-gate commissioner Guo Chongtao, noting many generals attended the prince's meals, asked to reduce their number. The prince angrily said: "I set out food for those who would die for me, and I may not even decide that alone. Let the army choose another Hebei commander—I will return to Taiyuan myself. He summoned Feng Dao and ordered him to draft a proclamation to show the assembly. Dao hesitated with brush in hand and said: "Your Highness is just pacifying Henan and settling the realm. What Chongtao requested is not too great an offense; You may refuse if you wish—why alarm near and far and let the enemy hear that ruler and ministers are divided? That does not enhance authority." When Chongtao came to apologize, the prince stopped.
85
初，唐滅高麗，天祐初，高麗石窟寺眇僧躬乂，聚眾據開州稱王，號大封國，至是，遣佐良尉金立奇入貢於吳。
Earlier, when Tang destroyed Goryeo, in early Tianyou the blind monk Gongyi of Goryeo's Shiku Temple gathered followers, seized Kaizhou, and declared himself king of Great Feng. By this time he sent Jin Liqi to pay tribute to Wu.
86
八月，乙未朔，宣義節度使賀瑰卒。 以開封尹王瓚為北面行營招討使。 瓚將兵五萬，自黎陽渡河掩擊澶、魏，至頓丘，遇晉兵而旋，瓚為治嚴，令行禁止，據晉人上游十八里楊村，夾河築壘，運洛陽竹木造浮梁，自滑州饋運相繼。 晉蕃漢馬步副總管、振武節度使李存進亦造浮梁於德勝，或曰：「浮梁須竹笮、鐵牛、石囷，我皆無之，何以能成！」 存進不聽，以葦笮維巨艦，繫於土山巨木，逾月而成，人服其智。
In the eighth month, on the first day yimao, He Gui, military governor of Xuanyi, died. Wang Zan, Prefect of Kaifeng, was made northern pacification commander. Zan led fifty thousand troops, crossed from Liyang to strike Chan and Wei, reached Dunqiu, met Jin troops and turned back. Strict in command, he held Yangcun eighteen li upstream, built fortifications on both banks, transported Luoyang timber for a pontoon bridge, and kept supplies flowing from Huazhou. Li Cunjin, deputy overall commander and military governor of Zhenwu, also built a pontoon bridge at Desheng. Someone said: "A pontoon bridge needs bamboo cables, iron oxen, and stone bins—we have none. How can it be done! Cunjin refused to listen. He bound great ships with reed cables tied to huge trees on an earthen hill. In more than a month it was done, and people admired his ingenuity.
87
吳徐溫遣使以吳王書歸無錫之俘於吳越； 吳越王鏐亦遣使請和於吳。 自是吳國休兵息民，三十餘州民樂業者二十餘年。 吳王及徐溫屢遺吳越王鏐書，勸鏐自王其國； 鏐不從。
Xu Wen of Wu sent envoys with a letter from the King of Wu to return the Wuxi captives to Wuyue; Qian Liu, King of Wuyue, also sent envoys requesting peace with Wu. From then on Wu ceased hostilities and rested the people. In more than thirty prefectures people lived in peace for more than twenty years. The King of Wu and Xu Wen repeatedly urged Qian Liu to declare himself king of his own state; Liu refused.
88
九月，丙寅，詔削劉巖官爵，命吳越王鏐討之。 鏐雖受命，竟不行。
In the ninth month, on bingyin, an edict stripped Liu Yan of rank and ordered Qian Liu, King of Wuyue, to suppress him. Though Liu accepted the order, he never marched.
89
吳廬江公濛有材氣，常歎曰：「我國家而為它人所有，可乎！」 徐溫聞而惡之。
Meng, Duke of Lujiang in Wu, was talented and spirited. He often sighed: "Our state possessed by others—is that acceptable! When Xu Wen heard of it, he hated him for it.
Footnotes
- End of testament
- End of speech