1
資治通鑑第276卷
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 276
2
【後唐紀五】起強圉大淵獻七月，盡屠維赤奮若，凡二年有奇。
[Later Tang Records 5] From the seventh month of the Qiangyu Dayuanxian year through the Tuyu Chifenruo year—a little more than two years in all.
3
明宗聖德和武欽孝皇帝中之上天成二年（ 丁亥，公元九二七年）
Emperor Mingzong the Sagely, Virtuous, Harmonious, Martial, and Filially Pious—middle section, upper part: Tiancheng year 2 ( dinghai, 927 CE)
4
秋，七月，以歸德節度使王晏球為北面副招討使。
In autumn, the seventh month, Wang Yanqiu, military governor of Guide, was appointed deputy northern campaign commissioner.
5
丙寅，升夔州為寧江軍，以西方鄴為節度使。
On bingyin, Qizhou was promoted to Ningjiang Circuit, with Xi Fangye as its military governor.
6
癸酉，以與高季興夔、忠、萬三州為豆盧革、韋說之罪，皆賜死。
On guiyou, Dou Luge and Wei Shuo were both ordered to take their own lives, having been convicted of surrendering the three prefectures of Kui, Zhong, and Wan to Gao Jixing.
7
流段凝於遼州，溫韜於德州，劉訓於濮州。
Duan Ning was banished to Liaozhou, Wen Tao to Dezhou, and Liu Xun to Puzhou.
8
任圜請致仕居磁州，許之。
Ren Yuan asked to retire and reside in Cizhou; the emperor approved.
9
八月，己卯朔，日有食之。
In the eighth month, on the new moon of jimao, there was a solar eclipse.
10
冊禮使至長沙，楚王殷始建國，立宮殿，置百官，皆如天子，或微更其名：翰林學士曰文苑學士，知制誥曰知辭制，樞密院曰左右機要司，群下稱之曰殿下，令曰教。 以姚彥章為左丞相，許德勳為右丞相，李鐸為司徒，崔穎為司空，拓跋恆為僕射，張彥瑤、張迎判機要司。 然管內官屬皆稱攝，惟朗、桂節度使先除後請命。 恆本姓元，避殷父訊改焉。 九月，帝謂安重誨曰：「從榮左右有矯宣朕旨，令勿接儒生，恐弱人志氣者。 朕以從榮年少臨大籓，故擇名儒使輔導之，今奸人所言乃如此！」 欲斬之； 重誨請嚴戒而已。
When the investiture envoy reached Changsha, King Yin of Chu formally founded his state. He built palaces and appointed a full bureaucracy on the model of the imperial court, with only slight changes to some titles: Hanlin academicians became Literary Garden academicians, edict drafters became proclamation drafters, the Bureau of Military Affairs became the Left and Right Secret Affairs Offices, subjects addressed him as Your Highness, and his commands were styled teachings. Yao Yanzhang was appointed left chief minister, Xu Dexun right chief minister, Li Duo Minister of Education, Cui Ying Minister of Works, and Tuoba Heng Grand Counselor; Zhang Yanyao and Zhang Ying oversaw the Secret Affairs Offices. Within his realm, however, all officials were designated acting appointees; only the military governors of Lang and Gui were installed first and sought imperial confirmation afterward. Heng had originally borne the surname Yuan but changed it to avoid the taboo on King Yin's father's name, Xun. In the ninth month, the emperor told An Chonghui, "Some of those around Congrong have been forging my orders, telling people not to admit Confucian scholars for fear they might sap men's resolve. I chose distinguished scholars to guide him because he is young and holds a major frontier post—yet this is what these schemers are saying!" He wanted them put to death; Chonghui urged strict warnings instead.
11
北都留守李彥超請複姓符，從之。
Li Yanchao, garrison commander of the Northern Capital, asked to resume the surname Fu; the emperor agreed.
12
丙寅，以樞密使孔循兼東都留守。
On bingyin, Kong Xun, commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, was also appointed garrison commander of the Eastern Capital.
13
壬申，契丹來請修好，遣使報之。
On renshen, the Khitan sought to restore friendly relations; the court sent an envoy in response.
14
冬，十月，乙酉，帝發洛陽，將如汴州； 丁亥，至滎陽。 民間訛言帝欲自擊吳，又雲欲制置東方諸侯。 宣武節度使、檢校侍中朱守殷疑懼，判官高密孫晟勸守殷反，守殷遂乘城拒守。 帝遣宣徽使范延光往諭之，延光曰：「不早擊之，則汴城堅矣； 願得五百騎與俱。」 帝從之。 延光暮發，未明行二百里，抵大梁城下，與汴人戰，汴人大驚。 戊子，帝至京水，遣御營使石敬瑭將親兵倍道繼之。 或謂安重誨曰：「失職在外之人，乘賊未破，或能為患，不如除之。」 重誨以為然，奏遣使賜任圜死。 端明殿學士趙鳳哭胃重誨曰：「任圜義士，安肯為逆！ 公濫刑如此，何以贊國！」 使者至磁州，圜聚其族酣飲，然後死，神情不撓。
In winter, the tenth month, on yiyou, the emperor left Luoyang, planning to travel to Bianzhou; On dinghai he reached Xingyang. Rumors spread among the people that the emperor meant to lead a personal campaign against Wu, and also that he planned to reorganize the eastern feudatories. Zhu Shouyin, military governor of Xuanwu and acting Palace Attendant, grew fearful. His aide Sun Sheng of Gaomi urged him to rebel, and Shouyin manned the walls in defiance. The emperor sent Fan Yanguang, commissioner of the Palace Secretariat, to reason with him. Yanguang said, "If we do not attack soon, Bian will be firmly held; I ask for five hundred cavalry to go with me." The emperor agreed. Yanguang set out at dusk. Before dawn he had ridden two hundred li, reached the walls of Daliang, and clashed with the defenders, throwing the city into great alarm. On wuzi the emperor reached Jingshui and sent Shi Jingtang, commissioner of the Imperial Camp, to hurry the personal guard forward in support. Someone told An Chonghui, "A dismissed official still at large might cause trouble while the rebels remain unbeaten—it would be better to remove him." Chonghui agreed and memorialized that an envoy be sent to order Ren Yuan to die. Zhao Feng, academician of the Duanming Hall, wept as he rebuked Chonghui: "Ren Yuan is a man of honor—how could he rebel! With such reckless executions, how can you serve the realm!" When the envoy reached Cizhou, Yuan gathered his clan for a final feast, then accepted death without flinching.
15
己丑，帝至大梁，四面進攻，吏民縋城出降者甚眾。 守殷知事不濟，盡殺其族，引頸命左右斬之。 乘城者望見乘輿，相帥開門降。 孫晟奔吳，徐知誥客之。
On jichou the emperor reached Daliang. As attacks closed in from every side, large numbers of officials and townspeople lowered themselves from the walls by rope to surrender. Seeing that all was lost, Shouyin killed his entire clan, bared his neck, and told his attendants to strike off his head. The defenders on the walls sighted the imperial carriage and opened the gates to surrender in succession. Sun Sheng fled to Wu, where Xu Zhigao entertained him as an honored guest.
16
戊戌，詔免三司逋負近二百萬緡。
On wuxu an edict remitted nearly two million strings of debt owed to the Three Departments.
17
辛丑，吳大丞相、都督中外諸軍事、諸道都統、鎮海、寧國節度使兼中書令東海王徐溫卒。 初，溫子行軍司馬、忠義節度使、同平章事知詢以其兄知誥非徐氏子，數請代之執吳政，溫曰：「汝曹皆不如也。」 嚴可求及行軍副使徐玠屢勸溫以知詢代知誥，溫以知誥孝謹，不忍也。 陳夫人曰：「知誥自我家貧賤時養之，奈何富貴而棄之！」 可求等言之不已。 溫欲帥諸籓鎮入朝，勸吳王稱帝，將行，有疾，乃遣知詢奉表勸進，因留代知誥執政。 知誥草表欲求洪州節度使，俟旦上之，是夕，溫凶問至，乃止。 知詢亟歸金陵。 吳主贈溫齊王，謚曰忠武。
On xinchou Xu Wen, Prince of the Eastern Sea—Wu grand chief minister, commander-in-chief of all military affairs at home and abroad, commander-in-chief of all circuits, and military governor of Zhenhai and Ningguo—died. Earlier, Wen's son Zhixun—acting army marshal, military governor of Zhongyi, and associate chief minister—had repeatedly asked to take over Wu government affairs, arguing that his elder brother Zhigao was not a Xu by blood. Wen replied, "None of you measures up to him." Yan Keqiu and the acting army deputy commissioner Xu Jie repeatedly urged Wen to replace Zhigao with Zhixun, but Wen, finding Zhigao filial and prudent, could not bring himself to do it. Lady Chen said, "We raised Zhigao when our family was poor—how can we cast him aside now that we are prosperous!" Keqiu and the others would not let the matter drop. Wen planned to lead the frontier commands to court to urge the King of Wu to assume the imperial title, but fell ill before he could depart. He sent Zhixun north with a memorial urging accession and kept him there to replace Zhigao in governing affairs. Zhigao drafted a memorial asking for the military governorship of Hongzhou and planned to submit it at dawn, but that evening word of Wen's death arrived and he set the memorial aside. Zhixun hurried back to Jinling. The ruler of Wu posthumously enfeoffed Wen as Prince of Qi with the posthumous title Loyal and Martial.
18
山南西道節度使張筠久疾，將佐請見，不許。 副使苻彥琳等疑其已死，恐左右有奸謀，請權交符印； 筠怒，收彥琳及判官都指揮使下獄，誣以謀反。 詔取彥琳等詣闕，按之無狀，釋之； 徙筠為西都留守。
Zhang Yun, military governor of Shannan West Circuit, had been ill for a long time. When his officers and staff asked to see him, they were refused. Deputy commissioner Fu Yanlin and others suspected Yun was already dead and feared a plot among his attendants; they asked to take temporary custody of the command tally and seal; Yun flew into a rage, arrested Yanlin and the capital guard commander, who served as his judge, and imprisoned them on a trumped-up charge of rebellion. The court ordered Yanlin and the others brought to the capital. Investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing and they were released; Yun was reassigned as garrison commander of the Western Capital.
19
癸卯，以保義節度使石敬瑭為宣武節度使，兼侍衛親軍馬步都指揮使。
On guimao Shi Jingtang, military governor of Baoyi, was appointed military governor of Xuanwu and commander of the palace guard cavalry and infantry.
20
十一月，庚戌，吳王即皇帝位，追尊孝武王曰武皇帝，景王曰景皇帝，宣王曰宣皇帝。 安重誨議伐吳，帝不從。
In the eleventh month, on gengxu, the King of Wu took the throne. He posthumously honored the Filially Martial King as Emperor Martial, the Luminous King as Emperor Luminous, and the Accomplished King as Emperor Accomplished. An Chonghui urged a campaign against Wu, but the emperor would not agree.
21
甲子，吳大赦，改元乾貞。
On jiazi Wu proclaimed a general amnesty and adopted the era name Qianzhen.
22
丙子，吳主尊太妃王氏曰皇太后，以徐知詢為諸道副都統、鎮海寧國節度使兼侍中，加徐知誥都督中外諸軍事。
On bingzi the Wu emperor honored Senior Consort Lady Wang as empress dowager, appointed Xu Zhixun deputy commander-in-chief of all circuits and military governor of Zhenhai and Ningguo with the rank of palace attendant, and added to Xu Zhigao the title commander-in-chief of all military affairs at home and abroad.
23
十二月，戊寅朔，孟知祥發民丁二十萬修成都城。
In the twelfth month, on the new moon of wuyin, Meng Zhixiang drafted two hundred thousand laborers to repair the walls of Chengdu.
24
吳主立兄廬江公濛為常山王，弟鄱陽公澈為平原王，兄子南昌公珙為建安王。
The Wu emperor enfeoffed his elder brother Meng, Duke of Lujiang, as Prince of Changshan; his younger brother Che, Duke of Poyang, as Prince of Pingyuan; and his nephew Gong, Duke of Nanchang, as Prince of Jian'an.
25
初，晉陽相者周玄豹嘗言帝貴不可言，帝即位，欲召詣闕。 趙鳳曰：「玄豹言陛下當為天子，今已驗矣，無所復詢。 若置之京師，則輕躁狂險之人必輻輳其門，爭問吉凶。 自古術士妄言，致人族滅者多矣，非所以靖國家也。」 帝乃就除光祿卿致仕，厚賜金帛而已。
Earlier, the Jin Yang diviner Zhou Xuanbao had foretold that the emperor's destiny was beyond ordinary description. After his accession, the emperor wished to summon him to court. Zhao Feng said, "Xuanbao predicted that Your Majesty would become emperor, and that has already come true. There is nothing left to ask. If he is kept in the capital, reckless and unscrupulous men will flock to his door, all clamoring to learn their fortunes. Throughout history, fortune-tellers' reckless words have led to the destruction of many families. That is no way to secure the realm." The emperor then appointed him retired Grand Master for Splendid Happiness on the spot and rewarded him generously with gold and silk, but did not summon him.
26
中書舍人馬縞請用漢光武故事，七廟之外別立親廟； 中書門下奏請如漢孝德、孝仁皇例，稱皇不稱帝。 帝欲兼稱帝，群臣乃引德明、玄元、興聖皇帝例，皆立廟京師； 帝令立於應州舊宅，自高祖考妣以下皆追謚曰皇帝、皇后，墓曰陵。
Ma Gao, a drafter in the Palace Secretariat, proposed following the precedent of Emperor Guangwu of Han by establishing separate ancestral temples for close kin outside the seven main temples; the Secretariat memorialized that, following the Han examples of the Filially Virtuous and Filially Benevolent Emperors, they should be styled huang rather than di. The emperor wanted them styled di as well; the ministers then cited the precedents of Emperors Deming, Xuanyuan, and Xingsheng, all of whom had temples in the capital; the emperor ordered the temples built at the old family residence in Yingzhou. From the High Ancestor's parents downward, all forebears were posthumously titled emperor and empress, and their tombs were styled mausoleums.
27
漢主如康州。
The ruler of Han traveled to Kangzhou.
28
是歲，蔚、代緣邊粟鬥不過十錢。
That year grain along the Yu and Dai frontier sold for no more than ten cash per dou.
29
明宗聖德和武欽孝皇帝中之上天成三年（ 戊子，公元九二八年）
Emperor Mingzong the Sagely, Virtuous, Harmonious, Martial, and Filially Pious—middle section, upper part: Tiancheng year 3 ( wuzi, 928 CE)
30
春，正月，丁巳，吳主立子璉為江都王，璘為江夏王，璆為宜春王，宣帝子廬陵公玢為南陽王。
In spring, the first month, on dingsi the Wu emperor enfeoffed his son Lian as Prince of Jiangdu, Lin as Prince of Jiangxia, Qiu as Prince of Yichun, and the Accomplished Emperor's son Bin, Duke of Luling, as Prince of Nanyang.
31
昭義節度使毛璋所為驕僭，時報赭袍，縱酒為戲，左右有諫者，剖其心而視之。 帝聞之，征為右金吾衛上將軍。
Mao Zhang, military governor of Zhaoyi, behaved with arrogant presumption. He often reported wearing an imperial ochre robe, drank heavily for amusement, and when attendants remonstrated with him, he cut open their hearts to inspect them. On learning of this, the emperor recalled him to court as general-in-chief of the Right Golden Crow Guard.
32
契丹陷平州。
The Khitan captured Pingzhou.
33
二月，丁丑朔，日有食之。
In the second month, on the new moon of dingchou, there was a solar eclipse.
34
帝將如鄴都，時扈駕諸軍家屬甫遷大梁，又聞將如鄴都，皆不悅，哅哅有流言。 帝聞之，不果行。
The emperor planned to travel to Yedu. The families of the armies accompanying the court had only just been relocated to Daliang, and when they heard he would move on to Yedu, they were discontented and spread angry rumors. When the emperor heard of this, he abandoned the journey.
35
吳自莊宗滅梁以來，使者往來不絕。 庚辰，吳使者至，安重誨以為楊敢與朝廷抗禮，遣使窺覘，拒而不受，自是遂與吳絕。
Since Emperor Zhuangzong's destruction of Liang, diplomatic exchanges with Wu had never ceased. On gengchen a Wu envoy arrived. An Chonghui, believing Yang dared to treat the court as an equal, sent an observer to reconnoiter and then refused to receive the envoy. From that point diplomatic ties with Wu were cut.
36
張筠至長安，守兵閉門拒之； 筠單騎入朝，以為左衛上將軍。
When Zhang Yun reached Chang'an, the garrison closed the gates against him; Yun rode alone to court and was appointed general-in-chief of the Left Guard.
37
壬辰，寧江節度使西方鄴攻拔歸州； 未幾，荊南復取之。
On renchen Xi Fangye, military governor of Ningjiang, attacked and captured Guizhou; before long Jingnan recovered it.
38
樞密使、同平章事孔循，性狡佞，安重誨親信之。 帝欲為皇子娶重誨女，循謂重誨曰：「公職居近密，不宜復與皇子為婚。」 重誨辭之。 久之，或謂重誨曰：「循善離間人，不可置之密地。」 循知之，陰遣人結王德妃，求納其女； 德妃請娶循女為從厚婦，帝許之。 重誨大怒，乙未，以循同平章事，充忠武節度使兼東都留守。 重誨性強愎。 秦州節度使華溫琪入朝，請留闕下，帝嘉之，除左驍衛上將軍，月別賜錢穀。 歲餘，帝謂重誨曰：「溫琪舊人，宜擇一重鎮處之。」 重誨對以無闕。 他日，帝屢言之，重誨慍曰：「臣累奏無闕，惟樞密使可代耳。」 帝曰：「亦可。」 重誨無以對。 溫琪聞之懼，數月不出。 重誨惡成德節度使、同平章事王建立，奏建立與王都交結，有異志。 建立亦奏重誨專權，求入朝面言其狀，帝召之。 既至，言重誨與宣徽使判三司張延朗結婚，相表裡，弄威福。 三月，辛亥，帝見重誨，氣色甚怒，謂曰：「今與卿一鎮自休息，以王建立代卿，張延朗亦除外官。」 重誨曰：「臣披荊棘事陛下數十年，值陛下龍飛，承乏機密，數年間天下幸無事。 今一旦棄之外鎮，臣願聞其罪！」 帝不懌而起，以語宣徽使朱弘昭，弘昭曰：「陛下平日待重誨如左右手，奈何以小忿棄之！ 願垂三思。」 帝尋召重誨慰撫之。 明日，建立辭歸鎮，帝曰：「卿比奏欲入分朕憂，今復去何之！」 會門下侍郎兼刑部尚書、同平章事鄭玨請致仕； 己未，以玨為左僕射致仕，癸亥，以建立為右僕射兼中書侍郎、同平章事、判三司。
Kong Xun, commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs and associate chief minister, was crafty and sycophantic by nature, and An Chonghui trusted him deeply. The emperor wished to marry one of his sons to Chonghui's daughter. Xun told Chonghui, "Your post is at the heart of state secrets—it is unwise to marry into the imperial family as well." Chonghui declined. After some time someone told Chonghui, "Xun is adept at driving wedges between people—he should not hold a post at the inner court." Xun learned of this and secretly sent agents to cultivate Consort Wang of Virtue, seeking a marriage for his daughter; the consort asked that Xun's daughter marry Conghou, and the emperor agreed. Chonghui was furious. On yimao Xun was appointed associate chief minister and sent out as military governor of Zhongwu and garrison commander of the Eastern Capital. Chonghui was forceful and obstinate by nature. Hua Wenqi, military governor of Qinzhou, came to court and asked to remain at the capital. The emperor approved, appointed him general-in-chief of the Left Valiant Cavalry Guard, and granted him a separate monthly stipend in cash and grain. More than a year later the emperor told Chonghui, "Wenqi is an old companion of mine—he ought to be given a major frontier post." Chonghui replied that no posts were vacant. On another occasion the emperor raised the matter again. Chonghui snapped, "I have told Your Majesty repeatedly that nothing is open—only the post of commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs could serve." The emperor said, "That will do as well." Chonghui had no answer. When Wenqi heard of this, he was terrified and did not leave his residence for months. Chonghui hated Wang Jianli, military governor of Chengde and associate chief minister, and memorialized that Jianli was conspiring with Wang Du and harbored rebellious designs. Jianli also accused Chonghui of monopolizing power and asked to come to court to speak in person; the emperor summoned him. On arrival he charged that Chonghui had married into the family of Zhang Yanlang, commissioner of the Palace Secretariat and acting director of the Three Departments, that they backed each other, and together abused their power. In the third month, on xinhai, the emperor received Chonghui in a fury and said, "I am giving you a frontier post where you can rest. Wang Jianli will replace you, and Zhang Yanlang will be sent out of court as well." Chonghui said, "I have cut through thorns to serve Your Majesty for decades. When you ascended the throne I took charge of secret affairs, and for years the realm has been fortunate to know peace. Now, in a single stroke, I am cast out to the frontier. At least tell me my crime!" The emperor rose in displeasure and told Zhu Hongzhao, commissioner of the Palace Secretariat. Hongzhao said, "Your Majesty has always treated Chonghui like your own hands—how can you cast him aside over a petty grievance! I beg Your Majesty to think again." The emperor soon summoned Chonghui back and reassured him. The next day Jianli asked leave to return to his post. The emperor said, "You recently asked to come to court and share my burdens—where are you going now!" At the same time Zheng Jue, vice director of the Secretariat, minister of justice, and associate chief minister, asked to retire; on jiwei Jue was appointed retired left grand counselor; on guihai Jianli was made right grand counselor, vice director of the Secretariat, associate chief minister, and acting director of the Three Departments.
39
孟知祥屢與董璋爭鹽利，璋誘商旅販東川鹽入西川，知祥患之，乃於漢州置三場重征之，歲得錢七萬緡，商旅不復之東川。
Meng Zhixiang and Dong Zhang repeatedly clashed over salt revenues. Zhang lured merchants to sell Dongchuan salt in Xichuan, which troubled Zhixiang. He set up three tax stations at Hanzhou with heavy levies, collecting seventy thousand strings a year and diverting merchants away from Dongchuan.
40
楚王殷如岳州，遣六軍使袁詮、副使王環、監軍馬希瞻將水軍擊荊南，高季興以水軍逆戰。 至劉郎洑，希瞻夜匿戰艦數十艘於港中； 詰旦，兩軍合戰，希瞻出戰艦橫擊之，季興大敗，俘斬以千數，進逼江陵。 季興請和，歸史光憲於楚。 軍還，楚王殷讓環不遂取荊南，環曰：「江陵在中朝及吳、蜀之間，四戰之地也，宜存之以為吾扞蔽。」 殷說。 環每戰，身先士卒，與從同甘苦； 常置針藥於座右，戰罷，索傷者於帳前，自傅治之。 士卒隸環麾下者相賀曰：「吾屬得死所矣。」 故所向有功。 楚大舉水軍擊漢，圍封州。 漢主以《周易》筮之，遇《大有》，於是大赦，改元大有； 命左右街使蘇章將神弩三千、戰艦百艘救封州。 章至賀江，沉鐵絲亙於水，兩岸作巨輪挽絲亙，築長堤以隱之，伏壯士於堤中。 章以輕舟逆戰，陽不利，楚人逐之，入堤中； 挽輪舉緪，楚艦不能進退，以強弩夾水射之，楚兵大敗，解圍遁去。 漢主以章為封州團練使。
King Yin of Chu traveled to Yuezhou and sent Yuan Quan, commissioner of the Six Armies, his deputy Wang Huan, and supervising general Ma Xizhan to attack Jingnan by water. Gao Jixing met them with his own fleet. At Liulangpu, Xizhan hid several dozen warships in the harbor by night; at dawn the two fleets engaged. Xizhan brought his hidden ships out in a flanking attack. Jixing was routed; captives and dead numbered in the thousands, and the Chu army pressed toward Jiangling. Jixing sued for peace and returned Shi Guangxian to Chu. On the army's return, King Yin reproached Huan for failing to take Jingnan. Huan said, "Jiangling lies between the central court, Wu, and Shu—a crossroads of war. We should keep it alive as our buffer." Yin was persuaded. In every battle Huan led from the front and shared hardship with his men; he kept needles and medicine at his side, and after each fight summoned the wounded to his tent and dressed their wounds himself. Soldiers under his command congratulated one another: "We have found the place where we would choose to die." That is why they won wherever they fought. Chu mounted a major naval campaign against Han and besieged Fengzhou. The ruler of Han divined with the Book of Changes and obtained the hexagram Great Possession. He thereupon proclaimed a general amnesty and adopted the era name Dayou; and ordered Su Zhang, commissioner of the Left and Right Streets, to lead three thousand crossbowmen and a hundred warships to relieve Fengzhou. Zhang reached the He River, sank iron cables across the channel, mounted great wheels on both banks to haul them taut, built a long dike to conceal the trap, and hid warriors inside it. Zhang engaged with light boats and feigned defeat. The Chu fleet pursued them into the dike; the wheels were turned and the cables raised, trapping the Chu ships. Powerful crossbows fired from both banks. The Chu army was shattered, lifted the siege, and fled. The ruler of Han appointed Zhang regimental commissioner of Fengzhou.
41
夏，四月，以鄴都留守從榮為河東節度使、北都留守，以客省使太原馮贇為副留守，夾馬指揮使新平楊思權為步軍都指揮使以佐之。 戊寅，以宣武節度使石敬瑭為鄴都留守、天雄節度使，加同平章事； 以樞密使范延光為成德節度使。 丙戌，以樞密使安重誨兼河南尹，以河南尹從厚為宣武節度使，仍判六軍諸衛事。 吳右雄武軍使苗璘、靜江統軍王彥章將水軍萬人攻楚岳州，至君山，楚王殷遣右丞相許德勳將戰艦千艘御之。 德勳曰：「吳人掩吾不備，見大軍，必懼而走。」 乃潛軍角子湖，使王環夜帥戰艦三百，屯楊林浦，絕吳歸路。 遲明，吳人進軍荊江口，將會荊南兵攻岳州，丁亥，至道人磯。 德勳命戰棹都虞侯詹信以輕舟三百出吳軍後，德勳以大軍當其前，夾擊之，吳軍大敗，虜璘及彥章以歸。
In summer, the fourth month, Congrong, garrison commander of Yedu, was appointed military governor of Hedong and garrison commander of the Northern Capital, with Feng Yun of Taiyuan as deputy garrison commander and Yang Siquan of Xinping, commander of the Jia Ma guard, as infantry commander-in-chief to assist him. On wuyin Shi Jingtang, military governor of Xuanwu, was appointed garrison commander of Yedu and military governor of Tianxiong, with the added rank of associate chief minister; Fan Yanguang, commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, was made military governor of Chengde. On bingxu An Chonghui, commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, was also made metropolitan prefect of Henan; Conghou, metropolitan prefect of Henan, was appointed military governor of Xuanwu while retaining direction of the Six Armies and palace guards. Miao Lin, commissioner of Wu's Right Valiant Martial Army, and Wang Yanzhang, commander-in-chief of Jingjiang, led ten thousand men by water against Yuezhou in Chu. At Jun Mountain, King Yin sent Xu Dexun, his right chief minister, with a thousand warships to meet them. Dexun said, "Wu caught us off guard, but when they see a large fleet they will panic and run." He hid his main force at Jiaozi Lake and sent Wang Huan with three hundred warships by night to Yanglin Ford, cutting off Wu's retreat. Near dawn the Wu fleet advanced to the mouth of the Jing River, intending to join Jingnan forces against Yuezhou. On dinghai they reached Daoren Rock. Dexun ordered Zhan Xin, chief inspector of the battle oars, to take three hundred light boats around the Wu rear while he blocked them in front with the main fleet. Caught between the two forces, Wu was routed. Lin and Yanzhang were captured and brought back.
42
初，義武節度使兼中書令王都鎮易定十餘年，自除刺史以下官，租賦皆贍本軍。 及安重誨用事，稍以法制裁之； 帝亦以都篡父位，惡之。 時契丹數犯塞，朝廷多屯兵於幽、易間，大將往來，都陰為之備，浸成猜阻。 都恐朝遷移之它鎮，腹心和昭訓勸都為自全之計，都乃求婚於盧龍節度使趙德鈞。 又知成德節度使王建立與安重誨有隙，遣使結為兄弟，陰與之謀復河北故事，建立陽許而密奏之。 都又以蠟書遺青、徐、潞、益、梓五帥，離間之。 又遣人說北面副招討使歸德節度使王晏球，晏球不從； 乃以金遺晏球帳下，使圖之，不克； 癸巳，晏球以都反狀聞，詔宣徽使張延朗與北面諸將議討之。
Earlier, Wang Du, military governor of Yiwu and palace secretariat director, had ruled Yi and Ding for more than ten years, appointing his own officials down to the prefectural level and keeping all taxes for his army. When An Chonghui came to power, the court gradually restrained him with imperial law; the emperor also despised him for having seized power from his father. The Khitan were raiding the frontier repeatedly, and the court massed troops between You and Yi. As senior generals came and went, Du made secret preparations against them, and mutual suspicion grew. Du feared transfer to another post. His confidant He Zhaoxun urged him to secure his position, and Du sought a marriage alliance with Zhao Dejun, military governor of Lulong. Learning that Wang Jianli of Chengde was at odds with An Chonghui, he sent envoys to swear brotherhood and secretly plotted to restore the old Hebei autonomy. Jianli pretended to agree but reported the plot in secret. Du also sent sealed letters to the military governors of Qing, Xu, Lu, Yi, and Zi, seeking to turn them against the court. He also sent agents to win over Wang Yanqiu, deputy northern campaign commissioner and military governor of Guide, but Yanqiu refused; he then bribed Yanqiu's subordinates to assassinate him, but the plot failed; on guisi Yanqiu reported Du's rebellion. The court ordered Zhang Yanlang, commissioner of the Palace Secretariat, and the northern generals to plan the campaign against him.
43
戊戌，吳徙常山王濛為臨川王。
On wuxu Wu transferred Prince Meng of Changshan to Prince of Linchuan.
44
庚子，詔削奪王都官爵。 壬寅，以王晏球為北面討使，權知定州行州事，以橫海節度使安審通為副招討使，以鄭州防禦使張虔釗為都監，發諸道兵會討定州。 是日，晏球攻定州，拔其北關城。 都以重賂求救於奚酋禿餒，五月，禿餒以萬騎突入定州，晏球退保曲陽，都與禿餒就攻之。 晏球與戰於嘉山下，大破之。 禿餒以二千騎奔還定州。 晏球追至城門，因進攻之，得其西關城。 定州城堅，不可攻，晏球增修西關城以為行府，使三州民輸稅供軍食而守之。
On gengzi an edict stripped Wang Du of all rank and titles. On renyin Wang Yanqiu was appointed northern suppression commissioner with acting authority over Dingzhou. An Shentong, military governor of Heng Hai, was made deputy campaign commissioner; Zhang Qianzhao, defense commissioner of Zhengzhou, was overall supervisor; and troops from all circuits were mobilized against Dingzhou. That same day Yanqiu attacked Dingzhou and took its North Gate quarter. Du sent rich bribes to the Xi chieftain Tuyu. In the fifth month Tuyu burst into Dingzhou with ten thousand horsemen. Yanqiu fell back to Quyang, and Du joined Tuyu in attacking him. Yanqiu met them below Jia Mountain and routed them. Tuyu fled back to Dingzhou with two thousand horsemen. Yanqiu pursued to the city gate and pressed the attack, taking the West Gate quarter. Dingzhou's walls were too strong to storm. Yanqiu fortified the West Gate quarter as his field headquarters, levied grain from three prefectures to feed his army, and settled in for a siege.
45
辛酉，以天雄節度副使趙敬怡為樞密使。
On xinyou Zhao Jingyi, deputy military governor of Tianxiong, was appointed commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs.
46
王晏球聞契丹發兵救定州，將大軍趣望都，遣張延朗分兵退保新樂，延朗遂之真定，留趙州刺史朱建豐將兵修新樂城。 契丹已自他道入定州，與王都夜襲新樂，破之，殺建豐。 乙丑，王晏球、張延朗會於行唐，丙寅，至曲陽。 王都乘勝，悉其眾與契丹五千騎合萬餘人，邀晏球等於曲陽，丁卯，戰於城南。 晏球集諸將校令之曰：「王都輕而驕，可一戰擒也。 今日，諸君報國之時也。 悉去弓矢，以短兵擊之，回顧者斬！」 於是騎兵先進，奮，楇揮劍，直衝其陳，大破之，殭屍蔽野； 契丹死者過半，餘眾北走； 都與禿餒得數騎，僅免。 盧龍節度使趙德鈞邀擊契丹，北走者殆無孑遺。
Hearing that the Khitan were marching to relieve Dingzhou, Wang Yanqiu led his main force toward Wangdu and sent Zhang Yanlang with a detachment to hold Xinle. Yanlang went on to Zhending and left Zhu Jianfeng, prefect of Zhaozhou, to repair the walls of Xinle. The Khitan had already entered Dingzhou by another route. With Wang Du they raided Xinle by night, overran it, and killed Jianfeng. On yichou Yanqiu and Yanlang rendezvoused at Xingtang; on bingyin they reached Quyang. Wang Du, pressing his advantage, mustered his entire force and joined five thousand Khitan horsemen for more than ten thousand men. He intercepted Yanqiu at Quyang, and on dingmao they fought south of the city. Yanqiu assembled his officers and said, "Wang Du is reckless and arrogant. We can take him in one battle. Today is the day to repay your country. Cast aside your bows and strike with edged weapons. Anyone who turns back will be beheaded!" The cavalry charged first. Yanqiu waved his sword and drove straight into the enemy line. The foe was shattered, and corpses covered the field; more than half the Khitan were killed and the rest fled north; Du and Tuyu escaped with only a handful of horsemen. Zhao Dejun, military governor of Lulong, intercepted the fleeing Khitan, and scarcely a man escaped north alive.
47
吳遣使求和於楚，請苗璘、王彥章； 楚王殷歸之，使許德勳餞之。 德勳謂二人曰：「楚國雖小，舊臣宿將猶在，願吳朝勿以措懷。 必俟眾駒爭皁棧，然後可圖也。」 時殷多內寵，嫡庶無別，諸子驕奢，故德勳語及之。 六月，辛巳，高季興復請稱籓於吳，吳進季興爵秦王，帝詔楚王殷討之。 殷遣許德勳將兵攻荊南，以其子希範為監軍，次沙頭。 季興從子雲猛指揮使從嗣單騎造楚壁，請與希範挑戰決勝，副指揮使廖匡齊出與之鬥，拉殺之。 季興懼，明日，請和，德勳還。 匡齊，贛人也。
Wu sent envoys to sue for peace with Chu and asked for the return of Miao Lin and Wang Yanzhang; King Yin released them and had Xu Dexun host a farewell feast. Dexun told the two men, "Chu may be small, but its old ministers and veteran generals remain. I hope the Wu court will not take offense. You must wait until the young stallions fight over the manger—only then will there be an opening." Yin favored many consorts, made no distinction between legitimate and illegitimate sons, and his sons were arrogant and extravagant—hence Dexun's remark. In the sixth month, on xinsi, Gao Jixing again submitted to Wu as a vassal. Wu enfeoffed him as Prince of Qin. The Later Tang emperor ordered King Yin of Chu to attack him. Yin sent Xu Dexun against Jingnan with his son Xifan as supervising general, encamping at Shatou. Jixing's nephew Congsi, commander of Cloud Fierce, rode alone to the Chu camp and challenged Xifan to single combat. Deputy commander Liao Kuangqi accepted the duel, dragged him from his horse, and killed him. Jixing was terrified. The next day he sued for peace, and Dexun withdrew. Kuangqi was a native of Ganzhou.
48
王晏球知定州有備，未易急攻，朱弘昭、張虔釗宣言大將畏怯，有詔促令攻城。 晏球不得已，乙未，攻之，殺傷將士三千人。
Wang Yanqiu knew Dingzhou was well defended and could not be rushed. Zhu Hongzhao and Zhang Qianzhao spread word that the generals were timid, and an edict pressed them to assault the city. Yanqiu had no choice. On yimao he attacked, losing three thousand officers and men killed or wounded.
49
先是，詔發西川兵戍夔州，孟知祥遣左肅邊指揮使毛重威將三千人往。 頃之，知祥奏「夔、忠、萬三州已平，請召戍兵還，以省饋運。」 帝不許。 知祥陰使人誘之，重威帥其眾鼓噪逃歸。 帝命按其罪，知祥請而免之。
Earlier an edict had ordered Xichuan troops to garrison Qizhou. Meng Zhixiang sent Mao Chongwei, commander of the Left Border Pacification guard, with three thousand men. Soon afterward Zhixiang memorialized that the three prefectures of Kui, Zhong, and Wan were pacified and asked that the garrison be recalled to save transport costs." The emperor refused. Zhixiang secretly sent agents to incite them. Chongwei led his men in a clamorous mutiny and marched home. The emperor ordered him punished, but Zhixiang interceded and secured his pardon.
50
陝州行軍司馬王宗壽請葬故蜀主王衍，秋，七月，乙巳，贈衍順正公，以諸侯禮葬之。
Wang Zongshou, acting military governor of Shaanzhou, asked to bury the former Shu ruler Wang Yan. In autumn, the seventh month, on yisi, Yan was posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of Shunzheng and buried with feudal honors.
51
北面招討使安審通卒。
An Shentong, northern campaign commissioner, died.
52
東都民有犯私麴者，留守孔循族之。 或請聽民造麴，而於秋稅畝收五錢； 己未，敕從之。
When an Eastern Capital resident violated the private brewing ban, garrison commander Kong Xun executed his entire clan. Some proposed allowing private brewing and collecting five cash per mu of autumn tax instead; on jiwei an edict approved the proposal.
53
壬戌，契丹復遣其酋長惕隱將七千騎救定州，王晏球逆戰於唐河北，大破之； 甲子，追至易州，時久雨水漲，契丹為唐所俘斬及陷溺死者，不可勝數。
On renxu the Khitan again sent the chieftain Tiyin with seven thousand horsemen to relieve Dingzhou. Wang Yanqiu met them on the north bank of the Tang River and routed them; on jiazi he pursued to Yizhou. Prolonged rains had swollen the rivers, and Khitan killed, captured, or drowned were beyond counting.
54
戊辰，北威武節度使王延鈞為閩王。
On wuchen Wang Yanjun, military governor of North Valiant Martial, was enfeoffed as King of Min.
55
契丹北走，道路泥濘，人馬饑疲，入幽州境。 八月，甲戌，趙德鈞遣牙將武從諫將精騎邀擊之，分兵扼險要，生擒惕隱等數百人； 餘眾散投村落，村民以白梃擊之，其得脫歸國者不過數十人。 自是契丹沮氣，不敢輕犯塞。
The Khitan fled north over muddy roads, men and horses starving and exhausted, into Youzhou territory. In the eighth month, on jiaxu, Zhao Dejun sent his adjutant Wu Congjian with picked cavalry to intercept them, posted detachments at key passes, and captured Tiyin and several hundred others alive; the rest scattered into villages, where peasants beat them with clubs. Fewer than several dozen ever made it home. After that the Khitan lost their nerve and no longer dared raid the border freely.
56
初，莊宗徇地河北，獲小兒，畜之宮中，及長，賜姓名曰李繼陶； 帝即位，縱遣之。 王都得之，使衣黃袍坐堞間，謂王晏球曰：「此莊宗皇帝子也，已即帝位。 公受先朝厚恩，曾不念乎！」 晏球曰：「此公作小數竟何益！ 吾今教公二策，不悉眾決戰，則束手出降耳，自餘無以求生也。」
Earlier, when Emperor Zhuangzong was campaigning in Hebei, he took in a boy he found there and raised him in the palace; when the boy came of age, Zhuangzong gave him the name Li Jitao; Once Mingzong took the throne, he freed the man and sent him on his way. Wang Du seized him, dressed him in an imperial yellow robe, and posted him on the parapets, then said to Wang Yanqiu: "This is Emperor Zhuangzong's son, and he has already taken the throne. You owe the former court a great debt—have you forgotten it entirely! Yanqiu replied: "These little tricks of yours will do you no good whatsoever! I will give you two choices: either commit your full strength to one decisive battle, or surrender at once; there is no other way out."1
57
王建立以目不知書，請罷判三司，不許。
Wang Jianli asked to be removed from his concurrent post overseeing the Three Departments on the grounds that he could not read, but the request was denied.
58
乙未，吳大赦。
On yiwei Wu issued a general amnesty.
59
吳越王鏐欲立中子傳瓘為嗣，謂諸子曰：「各言汝功，吾擇多者而立之。」 傳瓘兄傳璹、傳瓘、傳璟皆推傳瓘，乃奏請以兩鎮授傳瓘。 閏月，丁未，詔以傳瓘為鎮海、鎮東節度使。
King Qian Liu of Wuyue wanted to name his third son Chuanzan as his successor and told his sons: "Each of you describe your accomplishments; I will choose whoever has done the most and make him heir. His elder brothers Chuanshu, Chuanzan, and Chuanjing all stepped aside in Chuanzan's favor, and together they submitted a request that the two circuits be granted to him. In the intercalary month, on dingwei, Chuanzan was appointed military governor of both Zhenhai and Zhendong circuits.
60
戊申，趙德鈞獻契丹俘惕隱等，諸將皆請誅之，帝曰：「此曹皆虜中之驍將，殺之則虜絕望，不若存之以紓邊患。」 乃赦惕隱等酋長五十人，置之親衛，餘六百人悉斬之。
On wushen Zhao Dejun presented Khitan prisoners including the chieftain Tiyin. The generals all urged execution, but the emperor said: "These men are elite Khitan commanders; if we kill them the enemy will despair of reconciliation—better to spare them and so relieve pressure on the borders. He pardoned fifty Khitan chieftains including Tiyin and assigned them to his personal guard, but the other six hundred captives were all executed.
61
契丹遣梅老季素等入貢。
The Khitan dispatched Meilaojisu and others to pay tribute.
62
初，盧文進來降，契丹以籓漢都提舉使張希崇代之為盧龍節度使，守平州，遣親將以三百騎監之。 希崇本書生，為幽州牙將，沒於契丹，性和易，契丹將稍親信之，因與其部曲謀南歸。 部曲泣曰：「歸固寢食所不忘也，然虜眾我寡，奈何？」 希崇曰：「吾誘其將殺之，兵必潰去。 此去虜帳千餘里，比其知而徵兵，吾屬去遠矣。」 眾曰：「善！」 乃先為阱，實以石灰，明日，召虜將飲，醉，並從者殺之，投諸阱中。 其營在城北，亟發兵攻之，契丹眾皆潰去。 希崇悉舉其所部二萬餘口來奔，詔以為汝州刺史。
When Lu Wenjin defected to the Tang, the Khitan appointed Zhang Xichong—commissioner general over foreign and Han affairs—in his place as military governor of Lulong, with orders to hold Pingzhou under the watch of three hundred Khitan cavalry. Xichong had been a scholar and a staff officer in Youzhou before falling into Khitan hands. Even-tempered and affable, he gradually won the Khitan officers' trust and began plotting with his men to flee south. His men wept: "Going home is never far from our thoughts, waking or sleeping—but the enemy outnumber us. What can we do? Xichong said: "If I trick their officers into a trap and kill them, their troops will collapse and flee. The Khitan capital lies more than a thousand li from here; by the time they learn what happened and muster reinforcements, we will be long gone. They all agreed: "Good! They dug pits filled with lime, then the next day invited the Khitan officers to a feast; when they were drunk, Xichong's men killed them and their escorts and dumped the bodies into the pits. The Khitan garrison lay north of the city; he immediately attacked it, and the Khitan force broke and fled. Xichong led more than twenty thousand followers south in a mass defection, and was appointed prefect of Ruzhou."
63
吳王太后殂。
The queen dowager of Wu passed away.
64
九月，辛巳，荊南敗楚兵於白田，執楚岳州刺史李廷規，歸於吳。
In the ninth month, on xinsi, Jingnan routed Chu troops at Baitian, captured Li Tinggui—the Chu prefect of Yuezhou—and delivered him to Wu.
65
乙未，敕以溫韜發諸陵，段凝反覆，令所在賜死。
On yiwei an edict condemned Wen Tao for robbing the imperial tombs and Duan Ning for his repeated treachery, ordering both men executed on sight wherever found.
66
己亥，以武寧節度使房知溫兼荊南行營招討使，知荊南行府事； 分遣中使發諸道兵赴襄陽，以討高季興。
On jihai Fang Zhiwen, military governor of Wuning, was named concurrent Jingnan campaign commissioner and given authority over the Jingnan field headquarters; Eunuch envoys were sent out to every circuit to raise troops for an expedition against Gao Jixing at Xiangyang.
67
辛丑，徙慶州防禦使竇廷琬為金州刺史； 冬，十月，廷琬據慶州拒命。
On xinchou Dou Tingwan, defense commissioner of Qingzhou, was transferred to the post of Jinzhou prefect; That winter, in the tenth month, Tingwan seized Qingzhou and defied the court's orders.
68
丙午，以橫海節度使李從敏兼北面行營副招討使。 從敏，帝之從子也。
On bingwu Li Congmin, military governor of Henghai, was appointed deputy northern campaign commissioner. Congmin was the emperor's nephew.
69
戊申，詔靜難節度使李敬周發兵討竇廷琬。
On wushen Li Jingzhou, military governor of Jingnan, was ordered to raise an army against Dou Tingwan.
70
王都據定州，守備固，伺察嚴，諸將屢有謀翻城應官軍者，皆不果。 帝遣使者促王宴球攻城，晏球與使者聯騎巡城，指之曰：「城高峻如此，借使主人聽外兵登城，亦非梯沖所及。 徒多殺精兵，無損於賊，如此何為！ 不若食三州之租，愛民養兵以俟之，彼必內潰。」 帝從之。
Wang Du held Dingzhou behind strong defenses and tight surveillance; though several of his officers tried to open the gates to the imperial army, every attempt failed. The emperor dispatched an envoy to press Wang Yanqiu for an assault. Yanqiu rode around the walls with the envoy and said: "See how high these walls rise—even if Wang Du were willing to let our men climb them, ladders and battering rams could never reach the top. We would merely slaughter our best soldiers without hurting the rebels in the slightest—what would be the point! Better to subsist on the tax revenue of the three nearby prefectures, keep the people safe, and husband our troops until they crack from within. The emperor accepted his advice."
71
十一月，有司請為哀帝位廟，詔立廟於曹州。
In the eleventh month the ritual authorities petitioned for a temple to Emperor Ai of Tang, and an edict ordered one built at Caozhou.
72
平盧節度使晉忠武公霍彥威卒。
Huo Yanwei, Duke of Jin and Marquis of Zhongwu, military governor of Pinglu, died.
73
忠州刺史王雅取歸州。
Wang Ya, prefect of Zhongzhou, seized Guizhou.
74
庚寅，皇子從厚納孔循女為妃，循因之得之大梁，厚結王德妃之黨，乞留。 安重誨具奏其事，力排之，禮畢，促令歸鎮。
On gengyin Prince Conghou married Kong Xun's daughter. Xun used the connection to reach the capital at Daliang, cultivated allies among Consort Wang De's faction, and asked to stay. An Chonghui reported the whole affair to the throne and argued strenuously against letting Xun remain; once the wedding rites were complete, he pressed for Xun's immediate return to his command.
75
甲午，以中書侍郎、同平章事王建立同平章事，充平盧節度使。
On jiawu Wang Jianli, vice director of the Secretariat and associate grand counselor, was confirmed in his council rank and assigned as military governor of Pinglu.
76
丙申，上問趙鳳：「帝王賜人鐵券，何也？」 對曰：「與之立誓，令其子孫長享爵祿耳。」 上曰：「先朝受此賜者讓三人，崇韜、繼麟尋皆族滅，朕得脫如毫釐耳。」 因歎息久之。 趙鳳曰：「帝王心存大信，固不必刻之金石也。」
On bingshen the emperor asked Zhao Feng: "What is the purpose of an emperor's iron voucher of immunity? Zhao Feng answered: "It is a sworn pledge that the recipient's descendants will forever enjoy rank and emoluments. The emperor said: "Only three men received that gift under the previous emperor. Guo Chongtao and Li Jilin were soon executed along with their entire clans, and I myself escaped by a hair's breadth. He fell silent and sighed for a long time. Zhao Feng said: "When an emperor's word is truly trustworthy, there is no need to carve it into metal and stone.2
77
十二月，甲辰，李敬周奏拔慶州，族竇廷琬。
In the twelfth month, on jiachen, Li Jingzhou reported the capture of Qingzhou and the execution of Dou Tingwan's entire clan.
78
荊南節度使高季興寢疾，命其子行軍司馬、忠義節度使、同平章事從誨權知軍府事； 丙辰，季興卒。 吳主以從誨為荊南節度使兼侍中。
Gao Jixing of Jingnan fell seriously ill and entrusted provisional control of the circuit to his son Conghui—acting military governor, military governor of Zhongyi, and associate grand counselor; On bingchen Gao Jixing died. The ruler of Wu appointed Conghui military governor of Jingnan with the concurrent title of palace attendant.
79
史館修撰張昭遠上言：「臣竊見先朝時，皇弟、皇子皆喜俳優，入則飾姬妾，出則誇僕馬； 習尚如此，何道能賢！ 諸皇子宜精擇師傅，令皇子屈身師事之，講禮義之經，論安危之理。 古者人君即位則建太子，所以明嫡庶之分，塞禍亂之源。 今卜嗣建儲，臣未敢輕議。 至於恩澤賜與之間，婚姻省侍之際，嫡庶長幼，宜有所分，示以等威，絕其僥冀。」 帝賞歎其言而不能用。
Zhang Zhaoyuan, compiler at the Historiography Institute, submitted a memorial: "I have noticed that under the previous emperor, princes and imperial brothers all doted on actors—dressing their concubines lavishly at home and showing off their servants and horses abroad; When fashion runs to such pursuits, how can they become virtuous rulers! Each prince should be given a carefully chosen tutor whom he respects as a true teacher, to instruct him in the classics of ritual and the principles of governance that decide a realm's safety or ruin. In antiquity a new emperor would at once name a crown prince, making the line of succession clear and cutting off the roots of succession crises. As for choosing an heir and establishing a crown prince today, I do not presume to speak hastily on the matter. But in the distribution of honors and gifts, and in arrangements for marriage and court attendance, there should be clear distinctions between legitimate and secondary sons, elder and younger—making rank visible and denying them any ground for ambition. The emperor praised the memorial warmly but did not act on it."
80
閩王延鈞度民二萬為僧，由是閩中多僧。
King Yanjun of Min ordained twenty thousand commoners as monks, and afterward monks were everywhere in Fujian.
81
河東節度使、北都留守從榮，年少驕很，不親政務，帝遣左右素與從榮善者往與之處，使從容諷導之。 其人私謂從榮曰：「河南相公恭謹好善，親禮端士，有老成之風； 相公齒長，宜自策勵，勿令聲問出河南之下。」 從榮不悅，退，告步軍都指揮使楊思權曰：「朝廷之人皆推從厚而短我，我其廢乎！」 思權曰：「相公手握強兵，且有思權在，何憂？」 因勸從榮多募部曲，繕甲兵，陰為自固之備。 又謂帝左右曰：「君每譽弟而抑其兄，我輩豈不能助之邪！」 其人懼，以告副留守馮贇，贇密奏之。 帝召思權詣闕，以從榮故，亦弗之罪也。
Li Congrong, military governor of Hedong and regent at the northern capital, was young, arrogant, and indifferent to governance. The emperor sent attendants who were on friendly terms with him to keep him company and counsel him tactfully. One of them took Congrong aside and said: "The Prince of Henan is dutiful and upright, treats worthy men with respect, and carries himself with the gravity of a seasoned statesman; You are the elder brother—you should push yourself hard, and not let your standing fall below his. Congrong bristled at this. Afterwards he told Yang Siquan, commander of the infantry guard: "Everyone at court favors Conghou and belittles me. Am I being passed over for succession? Yang Siquan replied: "You command a powerful army, and I am here beside you—what is there to worry about? He urged Congrong to recruit more retainers, stockpile arms and armor, and quietly build up his own strength. He also warned the emperor's attendants: "You keep praising the younger son while running down the elder—do you think we cannot support our lord? The attendant was alarmed and reported Yang's words to deputy regent Feng Yun, who submitted a secret memorial. The emperor summoned Yang Siquan to the capital but, for Congrong's sake, did not punish him."
82
明宗聖德和武欽孝皇帝中之上天成四年（ 己丑，公元九二九年）
Emperor Mingzong the Sagely, Virtuous, Harmonious, Martial, and Filially Pious—middle section, upper part: Tiancheng year 4 ( jichou, 929 CE)
83
春，正月，馮贇入為宣徽使，謂執政曰：「從榮剛僻而輕易，宜選重德輔之。」
In spring, the first month, Feng Yun arrived at court as director of the palace secretariat and told the chief ministers: "Congrong is headstrong and reckless; he needs a sober, experienced mentor at his side.3
84
王都、禿餒欲突圍走，不得出。 二月，癸丑，定州都指揮使馬讓能開門納官軍，都舉族自焚，擒禿餒及契丹二千人。 辛亥，以王晏球為天平節度使，與趙德鈞並加兼侍中。 禿餒至大梁，斬於市。
Wang Du and the Khitan general Tueri tried to break out of the siege but could not escape. In the second month, on guichou, Ma Rangneng, chief commander of Dingzhou, opened the gates to the imperial army. Wang Du and his family set themselves on fire; Tueri and two thousand Khitan troops were taken prisoner. On xinhai Wang Yanqiu was appointed military governor of Tianping, and both he and Zhao Dejun were promoted to the concurrent rank of palace attendant. Tueri was taken to Daliang and executed in the public square.
85
樞密使趙敬怡卒。
Zhao Jingyi, commissioner of military affairs, died.
86
甲子，帝發大梁。
On jiazi the emperor left Daliang.
87
丁卯，門下侍郎、同平章事崔協卒於須水。
On dingmao Cui Xie, vice director of the chancellery and associate grand counselor, died at Xushui.
88
庚午，帝至洛陽。
On gengwu the emperor arrived in Luoyang.
89
王宴球在定州城下，日以私財饗士，自始攻至克城未嘗戮一卒。 三月，辛巳，晏球入朝，帝美其功； 晏球謝久煩饋運而已。
Throughout the siege of Dingzhou, Wang Yanqiu feasted his troops daily at his own expense, and from the first day of the assault until the city fell he never once put a soldier to death. In the third month, on xinsi, Yanqiu returned to court, and the emperor commended his victory; Yanqiu merely apologized for having been such a burden on the supply lines for so long.
90
皇子右衛大將軍從璨性剛，安重誨用事，從璨不為之屈。 帝東巡，以從璨為皇城使。 從璨與客宴於會節園，酒酣，戲登御榻，重誨奏請誅之； 丙戌，賜從璨死。 橫山蠻寇邵州。
Prince Congcan, general of the right guard, had a stubborn temper; though An Chonghui dominated the court, Congcan refused to defer to him. During the emperor's eastern tour, Congcan was appointed commissioner of the imperial city. Congcan hosted a banquet for guests in the Festival Garden; drunk, he climbed onto the imperial couch in jest. An Chonghui memorialized demanding his execution; On bingxu Congcan was ordered to take his own life. Hengshan tribesmen raided Shaozhou.
91
楚王殷命其子武安節度副使、判長沙府希聲知政事，總錄內外諸軍事，自是國政先歷希聲，乃聞於殷。
King Yin of Chu put his son Xisheng—deputy military governor of Wuan and administrator of Changsha—in charge of civil administration and all military affairs, so that from then on state business went to Xisheng first and only then reached the king.
92
夏，四月，庚子朔，禁鐵錫錢。 時湖南專用錫錢，銅錢一直錫錢百，流入中國，法不能禁。
In summer, the fourth month, on the new moon of gengzi, iron and tin coinage was banned. Hunan used almost nothing but tin coins, worth one copper coin to every hundred tin; they flooded into the central provinces, and the ban proved impossible to enforce.
93
丙午，楚六軍副使王環敗荊南兵於石首。
On bingwu Wang Huan, deputy commissioner of the Chu Six Armies, routed Jingnan forces at Shishou.
94
初令緣邊置場市党項馬，不令詣闕。 先是，党項皆詣闕，以貢馬為名，國家約其直酬之，加以館谷賜與，歲費五十餘萬緡。 有司苦其耗蠹，故止之。
A new rule established frontier markets for Tangut horses and forbade them from being brought to the capital as tribute. Previously Tangut tribesmen had come to court bearing horses as "tribute"; the state paid market price for each mount, then housed and fed the envoys and showered them with gifts—costing the treasury more than five hundred thousand strings of cash a year. The fiscal authorities had long complained of the expense, which is why the practice was halted.
95
壬子，以皇子從榮為河南尹、判六軍諸衛事，從厚為河東節度使、北都留守。
On renzi the prince Congrong was appointed Metropolitan Prefect of Henan and placed in charge of the Six Armies and palace guards, while Conghou was made military governor of Hedong and regent of Taiyuan.
96
契丹寇雲州。
Khitan forces raided Yun Prefecture.
97
甲寅，以端明殿學士、兵部侍郎趙鳳為門下侍郎、同平章事。
On jiayin Zhao Feng, Duanming Hall academician and Vice Minister of War, was appointed Vice Minister of the Secretariat and Grand Councillor.
98
五月，乙酉，中書言：「太常改謚哀帝日昭宣光烈孝皇帝，廟號景宗。 既稱宗則應入太廟，在別廟則不應稱宗。」 乃去廟號。
In the fifth month, on yiyou, the Secretariat reported: "The Court of Imperial Sacrifices has posthumously titled Emperor Ai as the Bright, Propagating, Glorious, Filially Pious Emperor and assigned him the temple name Jingzong. A ruler styled 'zong' belongs in the Grand Temple; if he is housed in a separate shrine, he should not bear that designation." The temple name was accordingly dropped.
99
帝將祀南郊，遣客省使李仁矩以詔諭兩川，今西川獻錢一百萬緡，東川五十萬緡； 皆辭以軍用不足，西川獻五十萬緡，東川獻十萬緡。 仁矩，帝在籓鎮時客將也，為安重誨所厚，恃恩驕慢。 至梓州，董璋置宴召之，日中不往，方擁妓酣飲。 璋怒，從卒徒執兵入驛，立仁矩於階下而詬之曰：「公但聞西川斬李客省，謂我獨不能邪！」 仁矩流涕拜請，僅而得免； 既而厚賂仁矩以謝之。 仁矩還，言璋不法。 未幾，帝復遣退事舍人李彥珣詣東川，入境，失小禮，璋拘其從者，彥珣奔還。
As the emperor prepared to offer sacrifice at the Southern Suburb, he dispatched Reception Commissioner Li Renju with an edict to the Two Shu circuits, demanding one million strings of cash from Western Shu and half a million from Eastern Shu; Both circuits pleaded insufficient military funds; Western Shu sent only five hundred thousand strings and Eastern Shu only one hundred thousand. Renju had served as a client general when the emperor held a frontier command; An Chonghui favored him, and he grew arrogant on that patronage. At Zizhou, Dong Zhang laid a banquet and summoned him, but at midday Renju still had not appeared—he was in his quarters, courtesans in his arms, drinking his fill. In a rage Zhang sent armed retainers into the post station, thrust Renju down the steps, and berated him: "You've heard how Western Shu beheaded the Reception Commissioner named Li—do you think I'm incapable of the same!" Renju wept and begged on his knees and barely escaped with his life; Afterward he paid Renju a heavy bribe by way of apology. Back at court Renju denounced Zhang's defiance of the law. Not long after the emperor sent palace attendant Li Yanxun to Eastern Shu again; Yanxun committed some small breach of protocol on crossing the border, Zhang seized his escort, and Yanxun fled home.
100
高季興之叛也，其子從誨節諫，不聽。 從誨既襲位，謂僚佐曰：「唐近而吳遠，捨近臣遠，非計也。」 乃因楚王殷以謝罪於唐。 又遺山南東道節度使安元信書，求保奏，復修職貢。 丙申，元信以從誨書聞，帝許之。
When Gao Jixing rebelled, his son Conghui cautioned restraint, but Jixing would not hear it. Once Conghui had succeeded him, he told his advisers: "Tang is close and Wu is distant—to abandon a near patron for a far one is folly." He then made his peace with Tang through King Yin of Chu. He also wrote Shannan East Circuit military governor An Yuanxin, asking him to intercede and restore the circuit's tribute obligations. On bingshen Yuanxin forwarded Conghui's letter and the emperor granted his request.
101
契丹寇雲州。
Khitan forces raided Yun Prefecture.
102
六月，戊申，復以鄴都為魏州，留守、皇城使並停。
In the sixth month, on wushen, Yedu was once again designated Wei Prefecture, and the posts of regent and palace-city commissioner were abolished.
103
庚申，高從誨自稱前荊南行軍司馬、歸州刺史，上表求內附。 秋，七月，甲申，以從誨為荊南節度使兼侍中。 己丑，罷荊南招討使。
On gengshen Gao Conghui submitted a memorial seeking to rejoin the empire, styling himself former Jingnan expeditionary deputy commissioner and prefect of Gui. In autumn, the seventh month, on jiashen Conghui was appointed military governor of Jingnan and Grand Counselor. On jichou the Jingnan pacification commissioner post was abolished.
104
八月，吳武昌節度使兼侍中李簡以疾求還江都，癸丑，卒於採石。 徐知詢，簡婿也，擅留簡親兵二千人於金陵，表薦簡子彥忠代父鎮鄂州，徐知誥以龍武統軍柴再用為武昌節度使； 知詢怒曰：「劉崇俊，兄之親，三世為濠州； 彥忠吾妻族，獨不得邪！」
In the eighth month Li Jian, Wu's military governor of Wuchang and Grand Counselor, asked to return to Jiangdu on account of illness; on guichou he died at Caishi. Jian's son-in-law Xu Zhixun kept two thousand of his father-in-law's personal troops at Jinling and recommended Jian's son Yanzhong to succeed him at Ezhou; Xu Zhigao instead installed Dragon Martial commanding general Chai Zaiyong as military governor of Wuchang; Zhixun fumed: "Liu Chongjun is kin to our elder brother—his family held Haozhou for three generations; Yanzhong is my wife's kin—why should he alone be denied!"
105
初，楚王殷用都軍判官高郁為謀主，國賴以富強，鄰國皆疾之。 莊宗入洛，殷貴其子希範入貢，莊宗愛其警敏，曰：「比聞馬氏當為高郁所奪，今有子如此，郁安能得之！」 高季興亦以流言間鬱於殷，殷不聽； 乃遣使遺節度副使、知政事希聲書，盛稱郁功名，願為兄弟。 使者言於希聲曰：「高公常云『馬氏政事皆出高郁』，此子孫之憂也。」 希聲信之。 行軍司馬楊昭遂，希聲之妻族也，謀代郁任，日譖之於希聲。 希聲屢言於殷，稱郁奢僭，且外交鄰籓，請誅之。 殷曰：「成吾功業，皆郁力也； 汝勿為此言！」 希聲固請罷其兵柄，乃左遷郁行軍司馬。 郁謂所親曰：「亟營西山，吾將歸老。 猘子漸大，能咋人矣。」 希聲聞之，益怒，明日，矯以殷命殺鬱於府捨，榜諭中外，誣郁謀叛，並誅其族黨。 至暮，殷尚未知，是日，大霧，殷謂左右曰：「吾昔從孫儒渡淮，每殺不辜，多致茲異。 馬步院豈有冤死者乎？」 明日，吏以郁死告，殷拊膺大慟曰：「吾老耄，政非己出，使我勳舊橫罹冤酷！」 既而顧左右曰：「吾亦何可久處此乎！」
Early on King Yin of Chu had relied on chief army judge Gao Yu as his chief strategist; under Yu's counsel the state grew prosperous and strong, to every neighbor's resentment. When Emperor Zhuangzong entered Luoyang, Yin had sent his son Xifan as tribute envoy; the emperor was taken with the boy's quick mind and said, "People said the Ma clan would fall to Gao Yu—with an heir like this, Yu hasn't a chance!" Gao Jixing also tried to turn Yin against Yu with rumors, but Yin would not listen; Instead he sent an envoy to deputy military governor and chief minister Xisheng with a letter lavishing praise on Yu's achievements and offering brotherhood. The envoy told Xisheng: "Lord Gao often says, 'The Ma family's affairs all run through Gao Yu'—a dangerous thing for their heirs." Xisheng believed him. Expeditionary deputy commissioner Yang Zhaosui, a kinsman of Xisheng's wife, schemed to take Yu's place and daily poisoned Xisheng's ears against him. Xisheng repeatedly urged Yin that Yu was arrogant and overreaching, consorting with neighboring circuits, and ought to be put to death. Yin replied: "Everything I've built, Yu made possible; Don't you say such things again!" When Xisheng kept pressing to strip Yu of military command, Yin demoted Yu to expeditionary deputy commissioner. Yu told his intimates: "Start building my retreat on West Mountain—I'm going to retire. The pup is growing teeth—it can bite now." When Xisheng heard that he flew into a worse rage; the next day he forged the king's order, killed Yu at headquarters, posted notices throughout the realm accusing Yu of treason, and had his kin and followers executed as well. By evening Yin still knew nothing; a heavy fog settled that day, and Yin told his attendants: "When I followed Sun Ru across the Huai, innocent blood we spilled always brought omens like this. Has someone been wrongly killed in the Horse and Foot yard?" The next day an official reported Yu's death. Yin clutched his chest and wept: "I'm old and feeble, no longer master of my own court—and now a veteran of my service dies in injustice!" Then he looked around and said: "How much longer can I stay in this place!"
106
九月，上與馮道從容語及年谷屢登，四方無事。 道曰：「臣常記昔在先皇幕府，奉使中山，歷井陘之險，臣憂馬蹶，執轡甚謹，幸而無失； 逮至平路，放轡自逸，俄至顛隕。 凡為天下者亦猶是也。」 上深以為然。 上又問道：「今歲雖豐，百姓贍足否？」 道曰：「農家歲凶則死於流殍，歲豐則傷於谷賤，豐凶皆病者，惟農家為然。 臣記進士聶夷中詩云：『二月賣新絲，五月糶新谷； 醫得眼下瘡，剜卻心頭肉。』 語雖鄙俚，曲盡田家之情狀。 農於四人之中最為勤苦，人主不可不知也。」 上悅，命左右錄其詩，常諷誦之。
In the ninth month the emperor spoke easily with Feng Dao of bumper harvests year after year and quiet on every frontier. Feng Dao said: "I still remember serving in the late emperor's staff, when I was sent to Zhongshan and rode the treacherous Jingxing Pass—I gripped the reins for fear of a stumble and came through safely; Then on level ground I let the reins slack and relaxed—and promptly fell. Governing an empire is no different." The emperor took the point to heart. The emperor asked again: "Harvests are good this year—are the people actually getting by?" Feng Dao replied: "In famine years farmers starve to death on the roads; in bumper years they're ruined by cheap grain—misery comes in both plenty and want, and farmers alone know it. I remember a poem by the jinshi Nie Yizhong: 'In the second month they sell fresh silk; in the fifth month they sell the new grain; To heal the wound before their eyes they cut out the flesh of their hearts.' The lines are coarse, but they capture peasant life exactly. Of the four estates farmers toil hardest—a ruler must never forget that." Delighted, the emperor had the poem copied and often chanted it aloud.
107
鄜州兵戍東川者歸本道，董璋擅留其壯者，選贏老歸之，仍收其甲兵。
Fu Prefecture troops finishing garrison duty in Eastern Shu were sent home, but Dong Zhang kept the able-bodied men, returned only the weak and aged, and seized their arms and armor.
108
癸巳，西川右都押牙孟容弟為資州稅官，坐自盜抵死，觀察判官馮璩、中門副使王處回為之請，孟知祥曰：「雖吾弟犯法，亦不可貸，況他人乎！」
On guisi the younger brother of Western Shu's right chief military adjutant Meng Rong, a tax official at Zizhou, was sentenced to death for embezzlement; observation judge Feng Qi and inner-gate deputy Wang Chuhui interceded for him, but Meng Zhixiang said: "Even though he is my brother, the law stands—how much less should anyone else expect mercy!"
109
吳越王鏐居其國好自大，朝廷使者曲意奉之則贈遺豐厚，不然則禮遇疏薄。 嘗遺安重誨書，辭禮頗倨。 帝遣供奉官烏昭遇、韓玫使吳越，昭遇與玫有隙，使還，玫奏：「昭遇見鏐，稱臣拜舞，謂鏐為殿下，及私以國事告鏐。」 安重誨奏賜昭遇死。 癸巳，制鏐以太師致仕，自餘官爵皆削之，凡吳越進奏官、使者、綱吏，令所在系治之。 鏐令子傳瓘等上表訟冤，皆不省。
In his own realm King Qian Liu of Wuyue liked to play the sovereign; envoys who flattered him received lavish gifts, while those who did not were treated with open contempt. He once wrote An Chonghui a letter whose tone and formality were brazenly superior. The emperor sent tribute commissioners Wu Zhaoyu and Han Mei to Wuyue; the two were at odds, and on their return Mei accused Zhaoyu of prostrating himself before Liu as a subject, addressing him as "Your Highness," and leaking state secrets." An Chonghui urged that Zhaoyu be executed. On guisi Liu was forced to retire as Grand Preceptor and stripped of every other title; Wuyue memorial officers, envoys, and transport agents were to be arrested wherever found. Liu had his sons Chuanguan and others petition for redress, but the court ignored them.
110
初，朔方節度使韓洙卒，弟澄為留後。 未幾，定遠軍使李匡賓聚黨據保靜鎮作亂，朔方不安； 冬，十月，丁酉，韓澄遣使繼絹表乞朝廷命帥。 前磁州刺史康福，善胡語，上退朝，多召入便殿，訪以時事，福以胡語對； 安重誨惡之，常戒之曰：「康福，汝但妄奏事，會當斬汝！」 福懼，求外補。 重誨以靈州深入胡境，為帥者多遇害，戊戌，以福為朔方、河西節度使。 福見上，涕泣辭之； 上命重誨為福更他鎮，重誨曰：「福自刺史無功建節，尚復何求！ 且成命已行，難以復改。」 上不得已，謂福曰：「重誨不肯，非朕意也。」 福辭行，上遣將軍牛知柔、河中都指揮使衛審𡷣等將兵萬人衛送之。 審𡷣，徐州人也。
Shuofang military governor Han Zhu had died, leaving his brother Cheng as acting governor. Soon afterward Dingyuan army commissioner Li Kuangbin raised a faction, seized Baojing Town, and rebelled, leaving Shuofang in turmoil; In winter, the tenth month, on dingyou Han Cheng sent envoys bearing tribute silk and a memorial pleading for a court-appointed military governor. Former prefect of Cizhou Kang Fu spoke the northern tongues; after audiences the emperor often brought him into the privy chamber to discuss affairs of the day, and Fu answered in those languages; An Chonghui hated this and repeatedly warned him: "Kang Fu, keep fabricating reports to the throne and I'll have your head!" Terrified, Fu asked for a provincial appointment. An Chonghui noted that Lingzhou lay deep in barbarian country and its governors often met violent ends; on wuxu he had Fu appointed military governor of Shuofang and Hexi. When Fu presented himself he wept and begged to be excused; The emperor told An Chonghui to give Fu another circuit, but Chonghui said: "Fu went from prefect to commissioner with no achievements to his name—what more does he want! Besides, the appointment is already published—it cannot be undone." With no choice the emperor told Fu: "Chonghui wouldn't bend—this isn't what I wanted for you." Fu set out; the emperor dispatched general Niu Zhirou and Hezhong guard commander Wei Shenjun with ten thousand men to escort him safely. Shenjun was a native of Xuzhou.
111
辛亥，割閬、果二州置保寧軍，壬子，以內客省使李仁矩為節度使。
On xinhai Lang and Guo prefectures were split off to form the Baoning Army circuit; on renzi Inner Reception Commissioner Li Renju was appointed its military governor.
112
先是，西川常發芻糧饋峽路，孟知祥辭以本道兵自多，難以奉它鎮，詔不許，屢督之； 甲寅，知祥奏稱財力乏，不奉詔。
Western Shu had long sent fodder and grain to supply the Three Gorges garrison, but Meng Zhixiang pleaded that his own circuit's armies left him no margin to feed other commands; the court refused and kept pressing him; On jiayin Meng Zhixiang memorialized that his treasury was empty and he would defy the order.
113
吳諸道副都統、鎮海寧國節使兼侍中徐知詢自以握兵據上流，意輕徐知誥，數與知誥爭權，內相猜忌，知誥患之，內樞密使王令謀曰：「公輔政日久，挾天子以令境內，誰敢不從！ 知詢年少，恩信未洽於人，無能為也。」 知詢待諸弟薄，諸弟皆怨之。 徐玠知知詢不可輔，反持其短以附知誥。 吳越王鏐遺知詢金玉鞍勒、器皿，皆飾以龍鳳； 知詢不以為嫌，乘用之。 知詢典客周廷望說知詢曰：「公誠能捐寶華以結朝中勳舊，使皆歸心於公，則彼誰與處！」 知詢從之，使廷望如江都諭意。 廷望與知誥親吏周宗善，密輸款於知誥，亦以知誥陰謀告知詢。 知詢召知誥詣金陵除父溫喪，知誥稱吳主之命不許，周宗謂廷望曰：「人言侍中有不臣七事，宜亟入謝！」 廷望還，以告知詢。 十一月，知詢入朝，知誥留知詢為統軍，領鎮海節度使，遣右雄武都指揮使柯厚征金陵兵還江都，知誥自是始專吳政。 知詢責知誥曰：「先王違世，兄為人子，初不臨喪，可乎？」 知誥曰：「爾挺劍待我，我何敢往！ 爾為人臣，畜乘輿服御物，亦可乎！」 知詢又以廷望所言誥知誥，知誥曰：「以爾所為告我者，亦廷望也。」 遂斬廷望。
Xu Zhixun of Wu, deputy overall commander of all circuits and military governor of Zhenhai and Ningguo as well as Grand Counselor, considered himself strong because he held troops on the upper Yangtze and looked down on Xu Zhigao; the two repeatedly clashed for power, each wary of the other. Zhigao was troubled; inner privy councilor Wang Lingmou told him: "You've governed for years—who in the realm dares defy a regent who holds the throne! Zhixun is young and hasn't won men's loyalty—he cannot stand against you." Zhixun treated his younger brothers harshly and they all resented him. Xu Jie saw that Zhixun was a lost cause and instead fed Zhigao every fault he could find. King Qian Liu of Wuyue sent Zhixun golden and jade saddle fittings and vessels all emblazoned with dragons and phoenixes; Zhixun saw no impropriety in gifts fit for a sovereign and used them openly. Zhixun's master of guests Zhou Tingwang urged him: "If you lavish gifts on the court's veteran ministers and win their loyalty, who will stand with him then!" Zhixun agreed and sent Tingwang to Jiangdu to make his approach. Tingwang was close to Zhigao's personal clerk Zhou Zong; he secretly offered his loyalty to Zhigao while also reporting Zhigao's intrigues back to Zhixun. Zhixun summoned Zhigao to Jinling to mourn their father Wen, but Zhigao claimed the Wu ruler forbade it. Zhou Zong told Tingwang: "People say the chief minister has seven counts of disloyalty—you should hurry to Jiangdu and apologize!" Tingwang returned and told Zhixun. In the eleventh month Zhixun came to court; Zhigao kept him there as overall commander with the Zhenhai governorship, sent right Intrepid Martial commander Ke Hou to march Jinling's army back to Jiangdu, and from that point held Wu's government in his own hands. Zhixun rebuked Zhigao: "When our father died, you as his son never came to mourn—is that acceptable?" Zhigao replied: "You waited for me with a drawn sword—how could I have gone! You are a subject of the throne, yet you keep imperial carriage fittings and regalia—is that permissible!" Zhixun repeated Tingwang's words to Zhigao. Zhigao replied, "The man who informed on you was Tingwang himself." He then had Tingwang executed.
114
壬辰，吳主加尊號曰睿聖文明光孝皇帝，大赦，改元大和。
On renchen the Wu emperor adopted the honorific Sagely, Civilized, Luminous, and Filially Pious Emperor, proclaimed a general amnesty, and changed the era name to Dahe.
115
康福行至方渠，羌胡出兵邀福，福擊走之； 至青剛峽，遇吐蕃野利、大蟲二族數千帳，皆不覺唐兵至，福遣衛審𡷣掩擊，大破之，殺獲殆盡。 由是威聲大振，遂進至靈州，自是朔方始受代。
Kang Fu reached Fangqu, where Qiang and Hu forces tried to intercept him; he routed them; At Qinggang Gorge he came upon several thousand tents of the Tibetan Yeli and Dachong clans, none aware that Tang troops were near. He sent Wei Shenjuan in a surprise attack and shattered them, killing or capturing nearly everyone. His reputation soared, and he advanced to Lingzhou. From that point Shuofang began to accept regular turnover of its governors.
116
十二月，吳加徐知誥兼中書令，領寧國節度使。 知誥召徐知詢飲，以金鍾酌酒賜之，曰：「願弟壽千歲。」 知詢疑有毒，引他器均之，跽獻知誥曰：「願與兄各享五百歲。」 知誥變色，左右顧，不肯受，知詢捧酒不退。 左右莫知所為，伶人申漸高徑前為詼諧語，掠二酒合飲之，懷金鐘趨出，知誥密遣人以良藥解之，已腦潰而卒。
In the twelfth month Wu made Xu Zhigao concurrent palace secretariat director and military governor of Ningguo. Zhigao invited Xu Zhixun to drink, poured wine from a golden bell, and offered it to him, saying, "May my younger brother live a thousand years." Suspecting poison, Zhixun poured the wine into another cup to split it evenly, knelt, and offered it back to Zhigao: "Then let us each enjoy five hundred years." Zhigao's face darkened. His attendants glanced at one another; he refused the cup, but Zhixun would not lower it. No one knew what to do until the actor Shen Jiangao stepped forward with a jest, seized both cups and drank them down together, tucked the golden bell under his arm, and hurried out. Zhigao secretly sent antidote, but Jiangao's brain had already ruptured and he died.
117
奉國節度使、知建州王延稟稱疾退居裡第，請以建州授其子繼雄； 庚子，詔以繼雄為建州刺史。
Wang Yanbin, military governor of Fengguo and acting prefect of Jianzhou, claimed illness and retired home, asking that Jianzhou be given to his son Jixiong; On gengzi an edict appointed Jixiong prefect of Jianzhou.
118
安重誨既以李仁矩鎮閬州，使與綿州刺史武虔裕皆將兵赴治。 虔裕，帝之故吏，重誨之外兄也。 重誨使仁矩詗董璋反狀，仁矩增飾而奏之。 朝廷又使武信節度使夏魯奇治遂州城隍，繕甲兵，益兵戍之。 璋大懼。 時道路傳言，又將割綿、龍為節鎮，孟知祥亦懼。 璋素與知祥有隙，未嘗通問，至是，璋遣使詣成都，請為其子娶知祥女； 知祥許之，謀並力以拒朝廷。
After An Chonghui installed Li Renju at Langzhou, he ordered Renju and Wu Qianyu, prefect of Mianzhou, to bring troops and take up their posts. Qianyu was an old retainer of the emperor and An Chonghui's brother-in-law. Chonghui had Renju investigate Dong Zhang's disloyalty; Renju embellished the report before submitting it. The court also ordered Xia Luqi, military governor of Wuxin, to repair Suizhou's defenses, stock arms, and reinforce the garrison. Zhang was terrified. Rumors spread that Mian and Long would be carved into separate military commands, and Meng Zhixiang grew fearful as well. Zhang and Zhixiang had long been estranged and never exchanged messages. Now Zhang sent an envoy to Chengdu to ask that his son marry Zhixiang's daughter; Zhixiang agreed, and they plotted to join forces against the court.
Footnotes
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