1
資治通鑑第278卷
Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 278
2
【後唐紀七】起玄黓執徐七月，盡閼逢敦牂閏正月，凡一年有奇。
Later Tang Records 7 — from the seventh month of the year jichou (932) through the intercalary first month of gengwu (933), a little more than one year in all.
3
明宗聖德和武欽孝皇帝下長興三年（ 壬辰，公元九三二年）
Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang — third year of the Changxing era ( renchen, AD 932)
4
秋，七月，辛巳，朔方奏夏州党項入寇，擊敗之，追至賀蘭山。
In autumn, in the seventh month, on the day xinsi, Shuofang reported a Tangut raid from Xia Prefecture; the invaders were defeated and pursued as far as Helan Mountain.
5
己丑，加鎮海、鎮東軍節度使錢元瓘中書令。
On jichou, Qian Yuanguan, governor of the Zhenhai and Zhendong circuits, was also appointed Director of the Secretariat.
6
庚寅，李存瑰至成都，孟知祥拜泣受詔。
On gengyin, Li Cungui reached Chengdu, where Meng Zhixiang received the edict with bowed head and tears.
7
武安、靜江節度使馬希聲以湖南比年大旱，命閉南嶽及境內諸神祠門，竟不雨。 辛卯，希聲卒，六軍使袁詮、潘約等迎鎮南節度使希範於朗州而立之。
Ma Xisheng, governor of Wu'an and Jingjiang, had the gates of Mount Heng and every shrine in Hunan closed on account of years of drought — yet still no rain came. On xinmao, Xisheng died; Yuan Quan, Pan Yue, and other commanders of the Six Armies fetched Ma Xifan, governor of Zhennan, from Lang Prefecture and enthroned him.
8
乙未，孟知祥遣李存瑰還，上表謝罪，且告福慶公主之喪。 自是復稱籓，然益驕倨矣。
On yiwei, Meng Zhixiang sent Li Cungui home with a memorial of apology and notice of Princess Fuqing's death. Thereafter he again acknowledged vassal status, but grew only more arrogant.
9
庚子，以西京留守、同平章事李從珂為鳳翔節度使。
On gengzi, Li Congke, who held the Western Capital and served as Associate Grand Councilor, was appointed military governor of Fengxiang.
10
廢武興軍，復以鳳、興、文三州隸山南西道。
The Wuxing garrison was disbanded, and Feng, Xing, and Wen prefectures were restored to Shannan West Circuit.
11
丁未，以門下侍郎，同平章事趙鳳同平章事，充安國節度使。
On dingwei, Zhao Feng, Vice Director of the Secretariat and Associate Grand Councilor, kept his council rank and was sent out as military governor of Anguo.
12
八月，庚申，馬希範至長沙； 辛酉，襲位。 甲子，孟知祥令李昊為武泰趙季良等五留後草表，請以知祥為蜀王，行墨制，仍自求旌節，昊曰：「比者諸將攻取方鎮，即有其地，今又自求朝廷節鋮及明公封爵，然則輕重之權皆在群下矣； 借使明公自請，豈不可邪！」 知祥大悟，更令昊為己草表，請行墨制，補兩川刺史已下； 又表請以季良等五留後為節度使。
In the eighth month, on gengshen, Ma Xifan reached Changsha; on xinyou he took the throne. On jiazi, Meng Zhixiang ordered Li Hao to draft, on behalf of Zhao Jiliang of Wutai and four other acting governors, a petition to make Zhixiang King of Shu under ink-written edicts, while Zhixiang himself also sought banners and credentials. Hao said, "Lately your generals have taken a circuit and kept it; now you would petition the court for your own commission and title as well — that would put every lever of power in the hands of your subordinates; even if you asked for them yourself, would that not serve as well?" Zhixiang saw the point at once and had Hao draft a new petition in his own name, asking for ink-written appointments to every post in the Two Rivers down to prefect; and another memorial asking that Jiliang and the other five acting governors receive full governorships.
13
初，安重誨欲圖兩川，自知祥殺李嚴，每除刺史，皆以東兵衛送之，小州不減五百人，夏魯奇、李仁矩、武虔裕各數千人，皆以牙隊為名。 及知祥克遂、閬、利、夔、黔、梓六鎮，得東兵無慮三萬人，恐朝廷征還，表請其妻子。
Earlier, An Chonghui had aimed to subdue the Two Rivers; after Zhixiang killed Li Yan, every new prefect was installed with an escort of eastern troops — five hundred at minimum even for a small prefecture, while Xia Luqi, Li Renju, and Wu Qianyu each commanded several thousand men styled "garrison guards." Once Zhixiang had seized the six circuits of Sui, Lang, Li, Kui, Qian, and Zi, he held nearly thirty thousand eastern troops; fearing the court would recall them, he petitioned to have their families sent to join them.
14
吳徐知誥廣金陵城周圍二十里。
In Wu, Xu Zhigao expanded Jinling's walls to a circuit of twenty li.
15
初，契丹既強，寇抄盧龍諸州皆遍，幽州城門之外，虜騎充斥。 每自涿州運糧入幽州，虜多伏兵於閻溝，掠取之。 及趙德鈞為節度使，城閻溝而戍之，為良鄉縣，糧道稍通。 幽州東十里之外，人不敢樵牧； 德鈞於州東五十里城潞縣而戍之，近州之民始得稼穡。 至是，又於州東北百餘里城三河縣以通薊州運路，虜騎來爭，德鈞擊卻之。 九月，庚辰朔，奏城三河畢。 邊人賴之。
After the Khitans grew strong, their raids touched every prefecture of Lulong; beyond Youzhou's gates, enemy horsemen were everywhere. Grain convoys from Zhuo to Youzhou were repeatedly ambushed at Yen Gully and stripped bare. Once Zhao Dejun took command, he fortified Yen Gully, garrisoned it as Liangxiang County, and the supply line began to open again. Within ten li east of Youzhou no one dared cut wood or graze herds; Dejun walled and garrisoned Lu County fifty li to the east, and the nearby population could farm again at last. Now he walled Sanhe County, more than a hundred li northeast, to secure the route to Jizhou; when Khitan horsemen contested the site, Dejun beat them off. In the ninth month, on the first day of the month (gengchen), word came that the Sanhe fortification was finished. The frontier population depended on it.
16
壬午，以鎮南節度使馬希範為武安節度使，兼侍中。
On renwu, Ma Xifan was transferred from Zhennan to Wu'an and named Palace Attendant as well.
17
孟知祥命其子仁贊攝行軍司馬，兼都總轄兩川牙內馬步都軍事。
Meng Zhixiang put his son Renzan in charge as acting army marshal and overall commander of the Two Rivers' palace guard forces.
18
冬，十月，己酉朔，帝復遣李存瓘如成都，凡劍南自節度使、刺史以下官，聽知祥差罷訖奏聞，朝廷更不除人； 唯不遣戍兵妻子，然其兵亦不復征也。
In winter, in the tenth month, on the first day of the month (jiyou), the emperor again dispatched Li Cunqiong to Chengdu: every post in Jiannan from governor down would be filled or dismissed by Zhixiang, who need only report afterward — the court would appoint no one else; only the families of the garrison troops were withheld, but those troops were no longer recalled either.
19
秦王從榮喜為詩，聚浮華之士高輦等於幕府，與相唱和，頗自矜伐。 每置酒，輒令僚屬賦詩，有不如意者面毀襲抵棄。 壬子，從榮入謁，帝語之曰：「吾雖不知書，然喜聞儒生講經義，開益人智思。 吾見莊宗好為詩，將家子文非素習，徒取人竊笑，汝勿效也。」
Prince of Qin Congrong loved to write verse; he gathered flashy literati such as Gao Nian in his staff and traded poems with them, quite pleased with himself. At every banquet he required his staff to compose poems; anyone who failed to please him was insulted to his face, struck, and cast aside. On renzi, Congrong came to court; the emperor told him, "I am no scholar myself, yet I love to hear Confucians lecture on the classics — it widens the mind. I watched Zhuangzong indulge in poetry — a soldier's son, no training in letters, and people only laughed behind his back. Do not copy him."
20
丙辰，幽州奏契丹屯捺剌泊。
On bingchen, Youzhou reported Khitan forces encamped at Nalapo.
21
前影義節度使李金全屢獻馬，上不受，曰：「卿在鎮為治何如？ 勿但以獻馬為事！」 金全，吐谷渾人也。
Li Jinquan, former governor of Yingyi, kept sending horses; the emperor refused them and said, "How do you govern your circuit? Do not make horse-gifts your whole occupation!" Jinquan was of Tuyuhun descent.
22
壬申，大理少卿康澄上疏曰：「臣聞童謠非禍福之本，妖祥豈隆替之源！ 故雊雉升鼎而桑谷生朝，不能止殷宗之盛； 神馬長嘶而玉龜告兆，不能延晉祚之長。 是知國家有不足懼者五，有深可畏者六：陰陽不調不足懼，三辰失行不足懼，小人訛言不足懼，山崩川涸不足懼，蟊賊傷稼不足懼； 賢人藏匿深可畏，四民遷業深可畏，上下相徇深可畏，廉恥道消深可畏，毀譽亂真深可畏，直言蔑聞深可畏。 不足懼者，願陛下存而勿論； 深可畏者，願陛下修而靡忒。」 優詔獎之。 秦王從榮為人鷹視，輕佻峻急； 既判六軍諸衛事，復參朝政，多驕縱不法。 初，安重誨為樞密使，上專屬任之。 從榮及宋王從厚自襁褓與之親狎，雖典兵，常為重誨所制，畏事之。 重誨死，王淑妃與宣徽使孟漢瓊宣傳帝命，范延光、趙延壽為樞密使，從榮皆輕侮之。 河陽節度使、同平章事石敬瑭兼六軍諸衛副使，其妻永寧公主與從榮異母，素相憎疾。 從榮以從厚聲名出己右，尤忌之； 從厚善以卑弱奉之，故嫌隙不外見。 石敬瑭不欲與從榮共事，常思外補以避之。 范延光、趙延壽亦慮及禍，屢辭機要，請與舊臣迭為之，上不許。 會契丹欲入寇，上命擇帥臣鎮河東，延光、延壽皆曰：「當今帥臣可往者，獨石敬瑭、康義誠耳。」 敬瑭亦願行，上即命除之。 既受詔，不落六軍副使，敬瑭復辭，上乃以宣徽使朱弘昭知山南東道，代義誠詣闕。
On renshen, Kang Cheng, Vice Minister of Justice, memorialized: "I have heard that nursery rhymes are not the root of fortune and ruin, nor are strange omens the source of a dynasty's rise and fall! Yet when a crowing pheasant mounted the cauldron and mulberry and grain sprouted in the court, they did not stop the Yin king's glory; when the divine horse neighed and the jade tortoise foretold disaster, they did not lengthen Jin's reign. Thus a state has five things not worth fearing and six that should deeply alarm us: imbalance of yin and yang; the sun, moon, and stars out of course; slander from petty men; mountains collapsing and rivers drying up; locusts ravaging the harvest — none of these need terrify us; but worthy men in hiding; the four classes abandoning their trades; superiors and inferiors shielding one another; the extinction of shame and integrity; praise and blame confounding truth; honest counsel going unheard — these six should deeply alarm us. Of the five not worth fearing, may Your Majesty note them but not dwell on them; of the six that should alarm us, may Your Majesty mend them and never stray." The emperor issued a commendatory edict in his favor. Prince of Qin Congrong had a hawk's gaze, was frivolous, harsh, and quick-tempered; once placed over the Six Armies and palace guards he also joined in state affairs, and was often arrogant, unrestrained, and lawless. When An Chonghui served as Bureau Commissioner, the emperor relied on him exclusively. Congrong and Prince of Song Conghou had known him since infancy; though they held armies, Chonghui still kept them in check and they feared him. After Chonghui's death, Consort Wang Shufei and Palace Service Commissioner Meng Hanqiong relayed the emperor's orders; Fan Yanguang and Zhao Shou became Bureau Commissioners — Congrong despised them all. Shi Jingtang, governor of Heyang and Associate Grand Councilor, also served as deputy commander of the Six Armies and palace guards; his wife Princess Yongning, Congrong's half-sister by another mother, had long detested him. Congrong especially resented Conghou, whose reputation outshone his own; Conghou knew how to court him with humility, so their rift never showed openly. Shi Jingtang wanted no part of serving beside Congrong and kept looking for a provincial post to escape him. Fan Yanguang and Zhao Shou likewise feared for their lives, repeatedly tried to quit the Bureau, and asked to rotate the post among senior ministers — the emperor refused. As the Khitans prepared to invade, the emperor ordered a commander for Hedong; Yanguang and Shou both said, "Among today's commanders, only Shi Jingtang and Kang Yicheng are fit to go." Jingtang was willing to go, and the emperor appointed him at once. Once he had the edict he still would not give up his deputy command; Jingtang declined again, so the emperor sent Palace Service Commissioner Zhu Hongzhao to hold Shannan East in Yicheng's place and summon Yicheng to court.
23
十一月，辛巳，以三司使孟秸為忠武節度使，以忠武節度使馮贇充宣徽南院使，判三司。 鵠本刀筆吏，與范延光鄉里厚善，數年間引擢至節度使； 上雖知其太速，然不能違也。
In the eleventh month, on xinsi, Three Departments Commissioner Meng Jie was appointed governor of Zhongwu; Zhongwu governor Feng Yun became Southern Palace Service Commissioner and continued to head the Three Departments. Feng Yun had begun as a clerk; a fellow townsman of Fan Yanguang, he was raised within a few years to a governorship; the emperor knew the promotion was too fast but could not refuse.
24
乙酉，上以胡寇浸逼北邊，命趣議河東帥； 石敬瑭欲之，而范延光、趙延壽欲用康義誠，議久不決。 樞密直學士李崧以為非石太尉不可。 延光曰：「僕亦累奏用之，上欲留之宿衛耳。」 會上遣中使趣之，眾乃從崧議。 丁亥，以石敬瑭為北京留守、河東節度使，兼大同、振武、彰國、威塞等軍蕃漢馬步總管，加兼侍中。
On yiyou, with barbarian raids pressing the north, the emperor ordered an urgent council on who should command Hedong; Shi Jingtang wanted the post, but Fan Yanguang and Zhao Shou favored Kang Yicheng, and debate dragged on. Bureau Academician Li Song insisted that only Vice Marshal Shi would do. Yanguang said, "I have memorialized for him repeatedly; the emperor only wants to keep him on palace guard duty." Just then the emperor sent an envoy to hurry them along, and the court fell in with Song's view. On dinghai, Shi Jingtang was named Northern Capital garrison commander and Hedong governor, overall commander of the barbarian and Han forces of Datong, Zhenwu, Zhangguo, Weisai, and related armies, and also Palace Attendant.
25
己丑，加樞密使趙延壽同平章事。
On jichou, Bureau Commissioner Zhao Shou was also named Associate Grand Councilor.
26
吳以諸道都統徐知誥為大丞相、太師，加領德勝節度使； 知誥矢丞相、太師。
Wu made Overall Commander Xu Zhigao Grand Chancellor and Grand Preceptor, and also gave him the Desheng command; Zhigao declined Chancellor and Grand Preceptor.
27
大同節度使張敬達聚兵要害，契丹竟不敢南下而還。 敬達，代州人也。
Datong governor Zhang Jingda massed troops at a choke point; the Khitans at last dared not advance south and withdrew. Jingda was from Dai Prefecture.
28
蔚州刺史張彥超本沙陀人，嘗為帝養子，與石敬瑭有隙； 聞敬瑭為總管，舉城附於契丹，契丹以為大同節度使。
Wei Prefecture governor Zhang Yanchao was a Shatuo who had once been the emperor's adopted son and bore a grudge against Shi Jingtang; when he heard Jingtang had become overall commander, he surrendered his city to the Khitans, who named him governor of Datong.
29
石敬瑭至晉陽，以部將劉知遠、周瑰為都押衙，委以心腹； 軍事委知遠，帑藏委瑰。 瑰，晉陽人也。
When Shi Jingtang reached Jinyang, he made subordinates Liu Zhiyuan and Zhou Gui chief military administrators and trusted them as his inner circle; military affairs to Zhiyuan, the treasury to Gui. Gui was a native of Jinyang.
30
十二月，戊午，以康義誠為河陽節度使，兼侍衛親軍馬步都指揮使； 以朱弘昭為山南東道節度使。
In the twelfth month, on wuwu, Kang Yicheng was appointed governor of Heyang and Commander-in-Chief of the Palace Guard horse and foot; Zhu Hongzhao was made governor of Shannan East.
31
是歲，漢主立其子耀樞為雍正，龜圖為康王，弘度為賓王，弘熙為晉王，弘昌為越王，弘弼為齊王，弘雅為韶王，弘澤為鎮王，弘操為萬王，弘杲為循王，弘暐為思王，弘邈為高王，弘簡為同王，弘建為益王，弘濟為辯王，弘道為貴王，弘昭為宜王，弘政為通王，弘益為定王； 未幾，徙弘度為秦王。
That year the Han ruler enfeoffed his sons: Yaoshu as Prince of Yong, Guitu as Prince of Kang, Hongdu as Prince of Bin, Hongxi as Prince of Jin, Hongchang as Prince of Yue, Hongbi as Prince of Qi, Hongya as Prince of Shao, Hongze as Prince of Zhen, Hongcao as Prince of Wan, Honggao as Prince of Xun, Hongwei as Prince of Si, Hongmiao as Prince of Gao, Hongjian as Prince of Tong, Hongjian as Prince of Yi, Hongji as Prince of Bian, Hongdao as Prince of Gui, Hongzhao as Prince of Yi, Hongzheng as Prince of Tong, and Hongyi as Prince of Ding; Soon afterward Hongdu was made Prince of Qin.
32
明宗聖德和武欽孝皇帝下長興四年（ 癸巳，公元九三三年）
Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang — fourth year of the Changxing era ( guisi, AD 933)
33
春，正月，戊子，加秦王從榮守尚書令，兼侍中。 庚寅，以端明殿學士歸義劉昫為中書侍郎、同平章事。
In spring, in the first month, on wuzi, Prince of Qin Congrong was named Director of the Secretariat and Palace Attendant. On gengyin, Liu Xu of Guiyi, a Duanming Hall academician, was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat and Associate Grand Councilor.
34
閩人有言真封宅龍見者，閩王延鈞更命其宅曰龍躍宮。 遂詣寶皇宮受冊，備儀衛，入府，即皇帝位，國號大閩，大赦，改元龍啟； 更名璘。 追尊父祖，立五廟。 以其僚屬李敏為左僕射、門下侍郎，其子節度副使繼鵬為右僕射、中書侍郎，並同平章事； 以親吏吳勖為樞密使。 唐冊禮使裴傑、程侃適至海門，閩主以傑為如京使； 侃固求北還，不許。 閩主自以國小地僻，常謹事四鄰，由是境內差安。
A man of Min reported a dragon at the Zhenfeng residence; Prince of Min Yanjun renamed it Dragon Leap Palace. He then went to Baohuang Palace for investiture with full ceremonial guard, entered his residence, and took the throne; the state was named Great Min, a general amnesty was proclaimed, and the era was renamed Longqi; He took the name Lin. He posthumously honored his father and ancestors and established five ancestral temples. He made staff member Li Min Left Vice Director and Vice Director of the Chancellery, and his son Jipeng, deputy governor, Right Vice Director and Vice Director of the Secretariat — both as Associate Grand Councilors; he made personal clerk Wu Xu Bureau Commissioner. Tang investiture envoys Pei Jie and Cheng Kan happened to reach Haimen; the Min ruler made Jie envoy to the Tang capital; Kan pleaded to return north, but was refused. Because his realm was small and remote, the Min ruler always treated his neighbors with care, and the country enjoyed a measure of calm.
35
二月，戊申，孟知祥墨制以趙季良等為五鎮節度使。
In the second month, on wushen, Meng Zhixiang used ink-written orders to appoint Zhao Jiliang and the others governors of five circuits.
36
涼州大將拓跋承謙及耆老上表，請以權知留後孫超為節度使。 上問使者：「超為何人？」 對曰：「張義潮在河西，朝廷以天平軍二千五百人戍涼州。 自黃巢之亂，涼州為党項所隔，鄆人稍稍物故皆盡，超及城中之人皆其子孫也。」
Liang Prefecture general Tuoba Chengqian and local elders petitioned to make acting governor Sun Chao full military governor. The emperor asked the envoy, "Who is Chao?" He replied, "When Zhang Yichao held Hexi, the court posted twenty-five hundred Tianping troops to garrison Liang Prefecture. Since Huang Chao's rebellion, Liang Prefecture has been cut off by the Tanguts; the Yan men posted there died off one by one until none were left, and Chao and everyone in the city are their descendants."
37
乙卯，以馬希範為武安、武平節度使，兼中書令。
On yimao, Ma Xifan was appointed governor of Wu'an and Wuping and also named Director of the Secretariat.
38
戊午，定難節度使李仁福卒； 庚申，軍中立其子彝超為留後。
On wuwu, Dingnan governor Li Renfu died; on gengshen the army installed his son Yichao as acting governor.
39
癸亥，以孟知祥為東西川節度使、蜀王。
On guihai, Meng Zhixiang was named governor of Eastern and Western Sichuan and King of Shu.
40
先是，河西諸鎮皆言李仁福潛通契丹，朝廷恐其與契丹連兵，併吞河右，南侵關中，會仁福卒，三月，癸未，以其子彝超為彰武留後，徙彰武節度使安從進為定難留後，仍命靜難節度使藥彥稠將兵五萬，以宮苑使安重益為監軍，送從進赴鎮。 從進，索葛人也。
Earlier, every command west of the Yellow River had reported that Li Renfu was secretly dealing with the Khitans; the court feared a joint campaign that would swallow the west and strike south into Guanzhong. When Renfu died, in the third month, on guiwei, his son Yichao was made acting governor of Zhangwu; Zhangwu governor An Congjin was shifted to acting governor of Dingnan; and Jingnan governor Yao Yanchou was ordered to lead fifty thousand men, with Palace Parks Commissioner An Chongyi as supervisor, to escort Congjin to his post. Congjin was a Suoge tribesman.
41
乙酉，始下制除趙季良等為五鎮節度使。
On yiyou, formal edicts at last appointed Zhao Jiliang and the others governors of five circuits.
42
丁亥，敕諭夏、銀、綏、宥將士吏民，以「夏州窮邊，李彝超年少，未能扞御，故徙之延安，從命則有李從曮、高允韜富貴之福，違命則有王都、李匡賓覆族之禍。」 夏，四月，彝超上言，為軍士百姓擁留，未得赴鎮，詔遣使趣之。
On dinghai, an edict addressed the troops and people of Xia, Yin, Sui, and You: "Xia Prefecture is a poor frontier post; Li Yichao is young and cannot hold it, so he is being moved to Yan'an. Obey and you share the rewards of Li Congyan and Gao Yuntao; resist and you share the ruin of Wang Du and Li Kuangbin." In summer, in the fourth month, Yichao reported that troops and civilians had detained him and he could not take up his post; the court sent envoys to hurry him along.
43
言事者請為親王置師傅，宰相畏秦王從榮，不敢除人，請令王自擇。 秦王府判官、太子詹事王居敏薦兵部侍郎劉瓚於從榮，從榮表請之。 癸丑，以瓚為秘書監、秦王傅，前襄州支使山陽魚崇遠為記室。 瓚自以左遷，泣訴，不得免。 王府參佐皆新進少年，輕脫諂諛，瓚獨從容規諷，從榮不悅。 瓚雖為傅，從榮一概以僚屬待之，瓚有難色； 從榮覺之，自是戒門者勿為通，月聽一至府，或竟日不召，亦不得食。
Memorialists asked that tutors be appointed for the imperial princes; the chief ministers feared Prince of Qin Congrong and dared not choose anyone themselves, and asked the prince to choose. Wang Jumin, an aide on the Prince of Qin's staff and Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent, recommended Vice Minister of War Liu Zan to Congrong, who memorialized for his appointment. On guichou, Zan was named Director of the Secretariat and tutor to the Prince of Qin; Yu Chongyuan of Shanyang, formerly an aide at Xiang Prefecture, was made recorder. Zan took the post as a demotion, wept and pleaded to be released, but could not escape it. The prince's staff were all newly risen young men, frivolous and sycophantic; only Zan calmly admonished him, and Congrong disliked it. Though Zan was his tutor, Congrong treated him like any other staff member; Zan looked pained; Congrong noticed and thereafter told the gatekeepers not to admit him; once a month he might be allowed one visit, or sometimes he was not summoned all day and went without food.
44
李彝超不奉詔，遣共兄阿囉王守青嶺門，集境內党項諸胡以自救。 藥彥稠等進屯蘆關，彝超遣党項抄糧運及攻具，官軍自蘆關退保金明。
Li Yichao refused the edict; he sent his elder brother Aluo to hold Qingling Pass and rallied the Tanguts and other tribes within his territory to defend himself. Yao Yanchou and the others advanced to Luguan; Yichao sent Tanguts to raid grain convoys and siege gear, and the government army fell back from Luguan to Jinming.
45
閩王璘立子繼鵬為福王，充寶皇宮使。 五月，戊寅，立皇子從珂為潞王，從益為許王，從子天平節度使從溫為兗王，護國節度使從璋為洋王，成德節度使從敏為涇王。
King of Min Lin made his son Jipeng Prince of Fu and put him in charge of the Baohuang Palace. In the fifth month, on wuyin, imperial sons were enfeoffed: Congke as Prince of Lu, Congyi as Prince of Xu, the emperor's nephew and Tianping governor Congwen as Prince of Yan, Huguo governor Congzhang as Prince of Yang, and Chengde governor Congmin as Prince of Jing.
46
庚辰，閩地震，閩主璘避位修道，命福王繼鵬權總萬機。 初，閩王審知性節儉，府捨皆庳陋； 至是，大作宮殿，極土木之盛。
On gengchen, an earthquake struck Min; King Lin yielded the throne to pursue religious cultivation and put Prince of Fu Jipeng in charge of state affairs. When Prince of Min Shen Zhixing ruled, he was frugal by nature and government buildings were modest; now he undertook vast palace construction, lavishing every extravagance of timber and stone.
47
甲申，帝暴得風疾； 庚寅，小愈，見群臣於文明殿。
On jiashen, the emperor was suddenly stricken with apoplexy; on gengyin he improved slightly and received the ministers in the Hall of Civilization.
48
壬辰夜，夏州城上舉火，比明，雜虜數千騎救之，安從進遣先鋒使宋溫擊走之。
On the night of renchen, signal fires blazed on the walls of Xia Prefecture; by dawn several thousand barbarian horsemen came to relieve it, and An Congjin sent vanguard commander Song Wen to drive them off.
49
吳宋齊丘勸徐知誥徙吳主都金陵，知誥乃營宮城於金陵。
Song Qiqiu of Wu urged Xu Zhigao to move the Wu capital to Jinling; Zhigao then built a palace city there.
50
帝旬日不見群臣，都人忷懼，或潛竄山野，或寓止軍營。 秋，七月，庚辰，帝力疾御廣壽殿，人情始安。
For ten days the emperor did not appear before the ministers; the capital was gripped with fear, some people hiding in the hills, others taking shelter in army camps. In autumn, in the seventh month, on gengchen, the emperor, forcing himself despite his illness, held court in the Hall of Broad Longevity, and the capital at last settled.
51
安從進攻夏州。 州城赫連勃勃所築，堅如鐵石，斫鑿不能入。 又党項萬餘騎徜徉四野，抄掠糧餉，官軍無所芻牧。 山路險狹，關中民輸斗粟束蒿費錢數緡，民間困竭不能供。 李彝超兄弟登城謂從進曰：「夏州貧瘠，非有珍寶蓄積可以充朝廷貢賦也； 但以祖父世守此土，不欲失之。 蕞爾孤城，勝之不武，何足煩國家勞費如此！ 幸為表聞，若許其自新，或使之征伐，願為眾先。」 上聞之，壬午，命從進引兵還。 其後有知李仁福陰事者，云：「仁福畏朝廷除移，揚言結契丹為援，契丹實不與之通也； 致朝廷誤興是役，無功而還。」 自是夏州輕朝廷，每有叛臣，必陰與之連以邀賂遺。 上疾久未平，征夏州無功，軍士頗有流言，乙酉，賜在京諸軍優給有差； 既賞賚無名，士卒由是益驕。
An Congjin besieged Xia Prefecture. The city had been built by Helian Bobo; its walls were hard as iron and stone, and neither axe nor drill could breach them. More than ten thousand Tangut horsemen also ranged the countryside, raiding grain and fodder, so the government army could find no pasture or forage. The mountain roads were narrow and dangerous; delivering a single dou of grain or bundle of hay from Guanzhong cost several strings of cash, and the people were exhausted and could not keep up. Li Yichao and his brothers mounted the wall and called to Congjin, "Xia Prefecture is poor and barren; it holds no hoard of treasure that could pay the court's tribute; our forefathers have held this land for generations, and we do not wish to lose it. This tiny lone city — to take it would be unworthy; why should the state spend so much labor and treasure on it! Please report this for us; if we are allowed to reform, or if we are sent on campaign, we will lead the host." When the emperor heard this, on renwu he ordered Congjin to withdraw. Later someone who knew Li Renfu's private dealings said, "Renfu feared removal by the court and spread word that he was allying with the Khitans, but the Khitans in fact had no contact with him; this led the court mistakenly to launch this campaign and return empty-handed." From then on Xia Prefecture held the court in contempt; whenever a rebel appeared, it would secretly ally with him to extract bribes. The emperor's illness lingered; the Xia campaign had failed, and soldiers were murmuring; on yiyou he granted graded bonuses to all armies in the capital; because the rewards had no stated cause, the troops grew only more arrogant.
52
丁亥，賜錢元瓘爵吳王。 元瓘于兄弟甚厚，其兄中吳、建武節度使元璙自蘇州入見，元瓘以家人禮事之，奉觴為壽，曰：「此兄之位也，而小子居之，兄之賜也。」 元璙曰：「先王擇賢而立之，君臣位定，元璙知忠順而已。」 因相與對泣。
On dinghai, Qian Yuanguan was enfeoffed as Prince of Wu. Yuanguan was deeply devoted to his brothers; his elder brother Yuanqiao, governor of Zhongwu and Jianwu, came from Suzhou to court; Yuanguan received him with family ceremony, raised a cup in his honor, and said, "This seat was my elder brother's, yet I hold it — it is my brother's gift." Yuanqiao said, "Our late father chose the worthy man and set him in place; sovereign and subject have their stations — I know only loyalty." They wept together face to face.
53
戊子，閩主璘復位。 初，福建中軍使薛文傑，性巧佞，璘喜奢侈，文傑以聚使用求媚，璘以為國計使，親任之。 文傑陰求富民之罪，籍沒其財，被榜捶者胸背分受，仍以銅斗火熨之。 建州土豪吳光入朝，文傑利其財，求其罪，將治之； 光怨怒，帥其眾且萬人叛奔吳。
On wuzi, King of Min Lin resumed the throne. Xue Wenjie, commander of the Fujian central army, was clever and sycophantic; Lin loved luxury, and Wenjie curried favor by squeezing revenue; Lin made him state finance commissioner and trusted him closely. Wenjie secretly framed wealthy men, confiscated their property, and had victims beaten on chest and back in turn, then seared with a heated bronze ladle. Wu Guang, a powerful local man of Jian Prefecture, came to court; Wenjie coveted his wealth, sought grounds to punish him, and Guang, enraged, led nearly ten thousand followers in rebellion and fled to Wu.
54
帝以工部尚書盧文紀、禮部郎中呂琦為蜀王冊禮使，並賜蜀王一品朝服。 知祥自作九旒冕、九章衣，車服旌旗皆擬王者。 八月，乙巳朔，文紀等至成都。 戊申，知祥服痛冕，備儀衛詣驛，降階北面受冊，升玉輅。 至府門，乘步輦而歸。 文紀，簡求之孫也。
The emperor appointed Minister of Works Lu Wenji and Ritual Director Lü Qi envoys for the King of Shu's investiture, and granted the king first-rank court robes. Zhixiang had already made a nine-tassel crown and nine-emblem robe; his chariots, dress, banners, and flags all imitated royal regalia. In the eighth month, on the first day of the month (yisi), Wenji and the others reached Chengdu. On wushen, Zhixiang wore the investiture crown, went with full ceremonial guard to the post station, descended the steps to receive the investiture facing north, then mounted the jade carriage. At his residence gate he took a palanquin home. Wenji was a grandson of Jian Qiu.
55
戊申，群臣上尊號曰聖明神武廣道法天文德恭孝皇帝，大赦。 在京及諸道將士各等第優給。 時一月之間再行優給，由是月度益窘。
On wushen, the ministers offered the honorific Sagely, Illumined, Divinely Martial, Broad in the Way, Patterned in Heaven, Cultured in Virtue, and Reverently Filial Emperor, and a general amnesty followed. Officers and soldiers in the capital and in every circuit received graded bonuses. Within a single month special payments were issued again, and the monthly treasury grew ever tighter.
56
太僕少卿致仕何澤見上寢疾，秦王從榮權勢方盛，冀己復進用，表請立從榮為太子。 上覽表泣下，私謂左右曰：「群臣請立太子，朕當歸老太原舊第耳。」 不得已，丙戌，詔宰相樞密使議之。 丁卯，從榮見上，言曰：「竊聞有奸人請立臣為太子； 臣幼小，且願學治軍民，不願當此名。」 上曰：「群臣所欲也。」 從榮退，見范延光、趙延壽曰：「執政欲以吾為太子，是欲奪我兵柄，幽之東宮耳。」 延光等知上意，且懼從榮之言，即具以白上； 辛未，制以從榮為天下兵馬大元帥。
He Ze, retired Vice Minister of the Imperial Stud, seeing the emperor bedridden and Prince of Qin Congrong at the height of his power, hoped to win reinstatement and memorialized to make Congrong heir apparent. The emperor read the memorial and wept; privately he told his attendants, "The ministers want an heir — I should retire to my old home at Taiyuan." With no choice, on bingxu he ordered the chief ministers and Bureau commissioners to deliberate. On dingmao, Congrong came to court and said, "I hear villains are asking to make me heir; I am young, and wish to learn how to govern troops and people — I do not want that title." The emperor said, "That is what the ministers want." Congrong withdrew and told Fan Yanguang and Zhao Shou, "The chief ministers want to make me heir — they mean to strip my command and shut me in the Eastern Palace." Yanguang and the others knew the emperor's mind and feared Congrong's reaction; they reported everything at once; on xinwei an edict made Congrong Grand Marshal of All Forces Under Heaven.
57
九月，甲戌朔，吳主立德妃王氏為皇后。
In the ninth month, on the first day of the month (jiaxu), the Wu ruler made Virtuous Consort Wang empress.
58
戊寅，加范延光、趙延壽兼侍中。
On wuyin, Fan Yanguang and Zhao Shou were also named Palace Attendant.
59
癸未，中書奏節度使見元帥儀，雖帶平章事，亦以軍禮廷參，從之。
On guiwei, the Secretariat reported that military governors attending the grand marshal, even if they held council rank, should still pay court in military ceremony; the emperor agreed.
60
帝欲加宣徽使、判三司馮贇同平章事； 贇父名章。 執政誤引故事，庚寅，加贇同中書門下二品，充三司使。
The emperor wished to make Feng Yun, Palace Service Commissioner and head of the Three Departments, Associate Grand Councilor; Yun's father's name was Zhang. The chief ministers mistakenly cited precedent, and on gengyin Yun was given Second Grade of the Secretariat and Chancellery and kept as Three Departments Commissioner.
61
秦王從榮請嚴衛、捧聖步騎兩指揮為牙兵。 每入朝，從數百騎，張弓挾矢，馳騁衢路； 令文士試草《檄淮南書》，陳己將廓清海內之意。 從榮不快於執政，私謂所親曰：「吾一旦南面，必族之！」 范延光、趙延壽懼，屢求外補以避之。 以上為見己病而求去，甚怒，曰：「欲去自去，奚用表為！」 齊國公主復為延壽言於禁中，云「延壽實有疾，不堪機務。」 丙申，二人復言於上曰：「臣等非敢憚勞，願與勳舊迭為之。 亦不敢俱去，願聽一人先出。 若新人不稱職，復召臣，臣即至矣。」 上乃許之。 戊戌，以延壽為宣武節度使； 以山南節道節度使朱弘昭為樞密使、同平章事。 制下，弘昭復辭，上叱之曰：「汝輩皆不欲在吾側，吾蓄養汝輩何為！」 弘昭乃不敢言。
Prince of Qin Congrong asked to have the Yanwei and Shengsheng horse and foot commands as his personal guard. Whenever he came to court he was followed by several hundred horsemen with bows strung and arrows ready, galloping through the streets; he ordered literati to draft trial versions of a proclamation to Huainan, declaring his intent to pacify the realm. Congrong was displeased with the chief ministers and privately told his intimates, "Once I take the throne, I shall exterminate their whole clans!" Fan Yanguang and Zhao Shou were terrified and repeatedly sought provincial posts to escape him. Seeing that they sought to leave because of his illness, he was furious and said, "If you want to go, go — why bother with memorials!" Princess of Qi again pleaded for Shou in the inner palace, saying, "Shou is truly ill and cannot manage state affairs." On bingshen the two again told the emperor, "We do not shrink from labor; we wish to rotate the post among the old meritocrats. We dare not both leave; let one of us go first. If the replacement fails, recall us and we shall return at once." The emperor agreed. On wuxu, Shou was appointed governor of Xuanwu; Shannan East governor Zhu Hongzhao was made Bureau Commissioner and Associate Grand Councilor. When the edict was issued Hongzhao declined again; the emperor snapped, "You none of you wish to stay at my side — why have I kept you!" Hongzhao then dared say no more.
62
吏部侍郎張文寶泛海使杭州，船壞，水工以小舟濟之，風飄至天長； 從者二百人，所存者五人。 吳主厚禮之，資以從者儀服錢幣數萬，仍為之牒錢氏，使於境上迎侯。 文寶獨受飲食，餘皆辭之，曰：「本朝與吳久不通問，今既非君臣，又非賓主，若受茲物，何辭以謝！」 吳主嘉之，竟達命於杭州而還。
Vice Minister of Personnel Zhang Wenbao went by sea as envoy to Hangzhou; his ship was wrecked, sailors ferried him in small boats, and wind drove him ashore at Tianchang; of two hundred followers, only five survived. The Wu ruler received him with great honor, furnished his retinue with ceremonial dress and tens of thousands in coin, and sent word to the Qian clan to meet him at the frontier. Wenbao alone accepted food and drink; the others all refused, saying, "Our court and Wu have long been out of contact; we are neither sovereign and subject nor host and guest — if we took these gifts, what excuse could we offer?" The Wu ruler commended him; Wenbao finished his mission at Hangzhou and went home.
63
庚子，以前義成節度使李贊華為昭信節度使，留洛陽食其俸。
On gengzi, former Yicheng governor Li Zanhua was appointed governor of Zhaoxin but stayed at Luoyang on full pay.
64
辛丑，詔大元帥從榮位在宰相上。
On xinchou, an edict placed Grand Marshal Congrong above the chief ministers in rank.
65
吳徐知誥以國中水火屢為災，曰：「兵民困苦，吾安可獨樂！」 悉縱遣侍妓，取樂器焚之。
In Wu, Xu Zhigao said, as fire and flood had repeatedly ravaged the realm, "Soldiers and civilians are suffering — how can I alone take pleasure!" He dismissed all his courtesans and burned his musical instruments.
66
閩內樞密使薛文傑說閩王抑挫諸宗室； 從子繼圖不勝忿，謀反，坐誅，連坐者千餘人。
Min Bureau Commissioner Xue Wenjie urged the Min ruler to keep the imperial clansmen down; his nephew Jitu, consumed by rage, plotted revolt, was executed, and more than a thousand were punished with him.
67
冬，十月，乙卯，范延光、馮贇奏：「西北諸胡賣馬者往來如織，日月絹無慮五千匹，計耗國用什之七，請委緣邊鎮戍擇諸胡所賣馬良者給券，具數以聞。」 從之。 戊午，以前武興節度使孫岳為三司使。
In winter, in the tenth month, on yimao, Fan Yanguang and Feng Yun submitted a memorial: "Northwestern horse traders pass back and forth like shuttles on a loom; each month we spend nearly five thousand bolts of silk — some seven-tenths of the state's costs. We ask that frontier garrisons choose the best horses offered by these tribes, issue vouchers, and report the totals." The court approved it. On wuwu, former Wuxing governor Sun Yue was appointed Commissioner of the Three Departments.
68
范延光屢因孟漢瓊、王淑妃以求出。 庚申，以延光為成德節度使，以馮贇為樞密使。 帝以親軍都指揮使、同平章事康義誠為樸忠，親任之。 時要近之官多求出以避秦王之禍，義誠度不能自脫，乃令其子事秦王，務以恭順持兩端，冀得自全。
Fan Yanguang repeatedly appealed through Meng Hanqiong and Consort Wang Shufei for a provincial post. On gengshen, Yanguang was sent out as governor of Chengde, and Feng Yun was made Bureau Commissioner. The emperor saw Palace Guard Commander and Associate Grand Councilor Kang Yicheng as simple and loyal, and relied on him personally. Powerful officials at court were scrambling for provincial posts to escape the Prince of Qin; Yicheng saw no way out, so he sent his son to serve the prince, hoping to hedge with dutiful obedience and save himself.
69
權知夏州事李彝超上表謝罪，求昭雪； 壬戌，以彝超為定難軍節充使。
Li Yichao, acting administrator of Xia Prefecture, submitted a memorial of apology and asked to be cleared; On renxu, Yichao was confirmed as military governor of Dingnan.
70
十一月，甲戌，上餞范延光，酒罷，上曰：「卿今遠去，事宜盡言。」 對曰：「朝廷大事，願陛下與內久輔臣參決，勿聽群小之言。」 遂相泣而別。 時孟漢瓊用事，附之者共為朋黨以蔽惑上聽，故延光言及之。
In the eleventh month, on jiaxu, the emperor gave Fan Yanguang a farewell banquet; when the wine was done, he said, "You are going far off — speak plainly about whatever needs saying." Yanguang replied, "On great matters of state, I beg Your Majesty to decide with your senior inner ministers — do not listen to petty men." They wept together and parted. Meng Hanqiong then held sway; his followers had formed a faction that screened the emperor's ears, which was why Yanguang had said what he did.
71
庚辰，改慎州懷化軍。 置保順軍於洮州，領洮、鄯等州。
On gengchen, Shen Prefecture was redesignated the Huaihua garrison. The Baoshun garrison was set up at Tao Prefecture, with jurisdiction over Tao, Shan, and other prefectures.
72
戊子，帝疾復作，己丑，大漸，秦王從榮入問疾，帝俯首不能舉。 王淑妃曰：「從榮在此。」 帝不應。 從榮出，聞宮中皆哭，從榮意帝已殂，明旦，稱疾不入。 是夕，帝實小愈，而從榮不知。 從榮自知不為時論所與，恐不得為嗣，與其黨謀，欲以兵入侍，先制權臣。 辛卯，從榮遣都押牙馬處鈞謂朱弘昭、馮贇曰：「吾欲帥牙兵入宮中侍疾，且備非常，當止於何所？」 二人曰：「王自擇之。」 既而私於處鈞曰：「主上萬福，王宜竭心忠孝，不可妄信人浮言。」 從榮怒，復遣處鈞謂二人曰：「公輩殊不愛家族邪？ 何敢拒我！」 二人患之，入告王淑妃及宣徽使孟漢瓊，鹹曰：「茲事不得康義誠不可濟。」 乃召義誠謀之，義誠竟無言，但曰：「義誠，將校耳，不敢預議，惟相公所使。」 弘昭疑義誠不欲眾中言之，夜，邀至私第問之，其對如初。 壬辰，從榮自河南府常服將步騎千人陳於天津橋。 是日黎明，從榮遣馬處鈞至馮贇第，語之曰：「吾今日決入，且居興聖宮。 公輩各有宗族，處事亦宜詳允，禍福在須臾耳。」 又遣處鈞詣康義誠，義誠曰：「王為則奉迎。」 贇馳入右掖門，見弘昭、義誠、漢瓊及三司使孫岳方聚謀於中興殿門外，贇具道處鈞之言，因讓義誠曰：「秦王言『禍福在須臾，』其事可知，公勿以兒在秦府，左右顧望。 主上拔擢吾輩，自布衣至將相，苟使秦王兵得入此門，置主上何地？ 吾輩尚有遺種乎？」 義誠未及對，監門白秦王已將兵至端門外。 漢瓊指衣起曰：「今日之事，危及君父，公猶顧望擇利邪？ 吾何愛餘生，當自帥兵拒之耳！」 即入殿門，弘照、贇隨之，義誠不得已，亦隨之入。 漢瓊見帝曰：「從榮反，兵已攻端門，須臾入宮，則大亂矣！」 宮中相顧號哭，帝曰：「從榮何苦乃爾！」 問弘昭等：「有諸？」 對曰：「有之，適已令門者闔門矣。」 帝指天泣下，謂義誠曰：「卿自處置，勿驚百姓！」 控鶴指揮使李重吉，從珂之子也，時侍側，帝曰：「吾與爾父，冒矢石定天下，數脫吾於厄； 從榮輩得何力，今乃為人所教，為此悖逆！ 我固知此曹不足付大事，當呼爾父授以兵柄耳。 汝為我部閉諸門。」 重吉即帥控鶴兵守宮門。 孟漢瓊被甲乘馬，召馬軍都指揮使朱洪實，使將五百騎討從榮。 從榮方據胡床，坐橋上，遣左右召康義誠。 端門已閉，叩左掖門，從門隙中窺之，見朱洪實引騎兵北來，走白從榮。 從榮大驚，命取鐵掩心擐之，坐調弓矢。 俄而騎兵大至，從榮走歸府，僚佐皆竄匿，牙兵掠嘉善坊潰去。 從榮與妃劉氏匿床下，皇城使安從益就斬之，並殺其子，以其首獻。 初，孫岳頗得豫內廷密謀，馮、朱患從榮狼伉，岳嘗為之極言禍福之歸； 康義誠恨之，至是，乘亂密遣騎士射殺之。 帝聞從榮死，悲駭，幾落御榻，絕而復甦者再，由是疾復劇。 從榮一子尚幼，養宮中，諸將請除之，帝泣曰：「此何罪！」 不得已，竟與之。
On wuzi the emperor's illness returned; on jichou he was near death. Prince of Qin Congrong came to inquire after him, but the emperor could only bow his head and could not lift it. Consort Wang Shufei said, "Congrong is here." The emperor did not respond. Congrong left, heard weeping throughout the palace, and took it that the emperor was dead; the next morning he pleaded illness and stayed away. That night the emperor had in fact rallied slightly, but Congrong did not know it. Congrong knew public opinion was against him and feared he would not succeed; with his followers he plotted to force his way in with troops, attend the emperor, and first overpower the power-holders. On xinmao, Congrong sent Chief Adjutant Ma Chujun to Zhu Hongzhao and Feng Yun with this message: "I mean to lead my guard into the palace to attend the illness and guard against trouble — where should we stop?" The two replied, "Your Highness may choose for yourself." Then they told Chujun privately, "His Majesty enjoys boundless fortune; the prince should give himself wholly to loyalty and filial piety and not heed idle rumor." Congrong was furious and sent Chujun back: "Do you people care nothing for your families? How dare you refuse me!" Alarmed, the two reported to Consort Wang Shufei and Palace Service Commissioner Meng Hanqiong; all agreed, "This cannot be done without Kang Yicheng." They summoned Yicheng to counsel with them; he said almost nothing, only, "Yicheng is a mere field officer — I dare not join deliberation; I await your orders." Hongzhao suspected Yicheng would not speak openly before the group; that night he invited him home and questioned him again, and got the same answer. On renchen, Congrong left Henan Prefecture in plain clothes at the head of a thousand foot and horse, and formed them at Tianjin Bridge. At dawn that day Congrong sent Ma Chujun to Feng Yun's house with word: "I am going in today and will take up residence in Xingsheng Palace. You all have families; handle this with care — fortune and ruin hang on an instant." He also sent Chujun to Kang Yicheng, who said, "If the prince moves, I shall receive him." Feng Yun galloped in through the Right Wing Gate and found Hongzhao, Yicheng, Hanqiong, and Commissioner of the Three Departments Sun Yue conferring outside the Zhongxing Hall. Yun repeated Chujun's message and rebuked Yicheng: "When the Prince of Qin says 'fortune and ruin hang on an instant,' his meaning is plain — do not hedge because your son serves in the Qin household. His Majesty raised us from commoners to generals and chancellors — if the Prince of Qin's troops pass this gate, where will that leave the emperor? Will any of our families survive?" Before Yicheng could reply, the gate warden announced that the Prince of Qin had already brought troops to the Duan Gate. Hanqiong pointed at his robe and stood, saying, "Today's crisis threatens lord and father — and you still hesitate, weighing gain? Why should I cling to what life remains — I will lead troops myself to stop him!" He went straight through the hall gate; Hongzhao and Yun followed, and Yicheng, with no choice, went in after them. Hanqiong saw the emperor and said, "Congrong has rebelled — his troops are already at the Duan Gate; in a moment they will enter the palace and all will be chaos!" Inside the palace everyone looked at one another and wailed; the emperor said, "Why must Congrong come to this!" He asked Hongzhao and the others, "Is it true?" They answered, "It is — we have just ordered the gates shut." The emperor pointed heavenward and wept, telling Yicheng, "Deal with it yourself — do not frighten the people!" Palace Crane Commander Li Chongji — Li Congke's son — was then at the emperor's side. The emperor said, "Your father and I braved arrow and stone to settle the realm and again and again pulled me from disaster; what strength had Congrong's crowd ever shown? Now others have taught him this outrage! I always knew this lot could not be trusted with great affairs — I ought to summon your father and give him command of the armies. You — deploy for me and shut every gate." Chongji at once led the Palace Crane troops to hold the palace gates. Meng Hanqiong put on armor, mounted a horse, summoned Cavalry Commander Zhu Hongshi, and ordered him to take five hundred horsemen against Congrong. Congrong was lounging on a folding stool on the bridge and sent attendants to summon Kang Yicheng. The Duan Gate was already shut; they knocked at the Left Wing Gate, peered through the crack, saw Zhu Hongshi leading cavalry northward, and ran to tell Congrong. Congrong was badly shaken; he had an iron breastplate brought and put on, and sat tuning bow and arrow. Soon cavalry arrived in force; Congrong fled to his residence; his staff scattered and hid; his guard troops looted Jiahe Ward and broke away. Congrong and his consort Lady Liu hid under a bed; Imperial City Commissioner An Congyi went in and beheaded him, killed his son as well, and presented their heads. Earlier Sun Yue had been privy to the inner court's secret plans; Feng and Zhu feared Congrong's unruliness, and Yue had often warned him plainly where fortune and ruin would lead; Kang Yicheng resented this; now, amid the chaos, he secretly sent horsemen to shoot Yue dead. When the emperor heard Congrong was dead, grief and shock nearly threw him from the imperial couch; he lost consciousness twice and came back; from then on his illness worsened again. Congrong had one young son being raised in the palace; the generals asked that he be killed too; the emperor wept and said, "What crime has he committed!" Unable to refuse, he finally consented.
73
癸巳，馮道帥群臣入見帝於雍和殿，帝雨泣嗚咽，曰：「吾家事至此，慚見卿等！」
On guisi, Feng Dao led the ministers in to see the emperor in Yonghe Hall; the emperor wept aloud and said, "My house has come to this — I am ashamed to face you!"
74
宋王從厚為天雄節度使； 甲午，遣孟漢瓊征從厚，且權知天雄軍府事。
Prince of Song Conghou was made governor of Tianxiong; On jiawu, Meng Hanqiong was sent to campaign against Conghou and also made acting administrator of the Tianxiong headquarters.
75
丙申，追廢從榮為庶人。 執政共議從榮官屬之罪，馮道曰：「從榮所親者高輦、劉陟、王說而已，任贊到官才半月，王居敏、司徒詡在病告已半年，豈豫其謀！ 居敏尤為從榮所惡，昨舉兵向闕之際，與輦、陟並轡而行，指日景曰：『來日及今，已誅王詹事矣。』 自非與之同謀者，豈得一切誅之乎！」 朱弘昭曰：「使從榮得入光政門，贊等當如何任使，而吾輩猶有利乎！ 且首從差一等耳，今首已孥戮而從皆不問，主上能不以吾輩為庇奸人乎！」 馮贇力爭之，始議流貶。 時咨議高輦已伏誅。 丁酉，元帥府判官、兵部侍郎任贊、秘書監兼王傅劉瓚、友蘇瓚、記室魚崇遠、河南少尹劉陟、判官司徒詡、推官王說等八人並長流，河南巡官李瀚、江文蔚等六人勒歸田裡，六軍判官、太子詹事王居敏、推官郭晙並貶官。 瀚，回之族曾孫也； 詡，貝州人； 文蔚，建安人也。 文蔚奔吳，徐知誥厚禮之。
On bingshen, Congrong was posthumously stripped of rank and reduced to commoner status. The chief ministers jointly debated the guilt of Congrong's staff; Feng Dao said, "Congrong's intimates were only Gao Nian, Liu Zhi, and Wang Yue; Ren Zan had been in office barely half a month; Wang Jumin and Situ Xu had been on sick leave for half a year — how could they have joined the plot! Jumin was especially hated by Congrong; when the troops marched on the palace yesterday, he rode alongside Gao Nian and Liu Zhi, pointed at the sun's shadow, and said, 'By this hour tomorrow the Crown Prince's Tutor will already be dead.' If he were not in league with them, how could all alike be put to death!" Zhu Hongzhao said, "If Congrong had entered the Guangzheng Gate, how would Zan and the rest have been used — and would we still have come out ahead! Besides, ringleader and follower differ by one degree — the ringleader is already executed with his family while followers go unpunished; will His Majesty not think we are shielding criminals!" Feng Yun argued hard, and exile was finally agreed on. By then Adviser Gao Nian had already been executed. On dingyou, eight men — Grand Marshal staff judge and Vice Minister of War Ren Zan; Secretariat Director and Crown Prince Tutor Liu Zan; companion Su Zan; recorder Yu Chongyuan; Henan Vice Governor Liu Zhi; staff judge Situ Xu; and staff officer Wang Yue — were sentenced to distant exile; six men including Henan patrol officer Li Han and Jiang Wenwei were ordered home to their villages; Six Armies staff judge and Crown Prince Tutor Wang Jumin and staff officer Guo Jun were demoted. Li Han was a great-great-grandson of Han Hui; Situ Xu was from Beizhou; Jiang Wenwei was from Jian'an. Wenwei fled to Wu, where Xu Zhigao received him with great honor.
76
初，從榮失道，六軍判官、司諫郎中趙遠諫曰：「大王地居上嗣，當勤修令德，奈何所為如是！ 勿謂父子至親為可恃，獨不見恭世子、戾太子乎！」 從榮怒，出為涇州判官； 及從榮敗，遠以是知名。 遠，字上交，幽州人也。
Earlier, when Congrong had lost his way, Six Armies staff judge and Remonstrance Bureau Director Zhao Yuan admonished him: "Your Highness stands as heir — you should diligently cultivate virtue; why behave like this! Do not think the closeness of father and son is something you can rely on — have you never heard of Crown Prince Gong and Crown Prince Li!" Congrong was furious and sent him out as judge of Jing Prefecture; When Congrong fell, Yuan became famous for it. Zhao Yuan, styled Shangjiao, was from Youzhou.
77
戊戌，帝殂。 帝性不猜忌，與物無競，登極之年已逾六十，每夕於宮中焚香祝天曰：「某胡人，因亂為眾所推； 願天早生聖人，為生民主。」 在位年谷屢豐，兵革罕用，校於五代，粗為小康。
On wuxu, the emperor died. The emperor was free of suspicion and did not contend with others; he was already past sixty when he took the throne; each evening in the palace he burned incense and prayed to Heaven, saying, "I, a certain Hu man, was raised up by the multitude in chaos; may Heaven soon send a sage to rule the people." During his reign harvests were often plentiful and war was seldom waged; measured against the Five Dynasties, his age was a modest peace.
78
辛丑，宋王至洛陽。
On xinchou, the Prince of Song reached Luoyang.
79
閩主尊魯國太夫人黃氏為皇太后。 閩主好鬼神，巫盛韜等皆有寵。 薛文傑言於閩主曰：「陛下左右多奸臣，非質諸鬼神，不能知也。 盛韜善視鬼，宜使察之。」 閩主從之。 文傑惡樞密使吳勖，勖在疾，文傑省之，曰：「主上以公久疾，欲罷公近密，僕言公但小苦頭痛耳，將愈矣。 主上或遣使來問，慎勿以它疾對也。」 勖許諾。 明日，文傑使韜言於閩主曰：「適見北廟崇順王訊吳勖謀反，以銅釘釘其腦，金椎擊之。」 閩主以告文傑，文傑曰：「未可信也，宜遣使問之。」 果以頭痛對，即收下獄，遣文傑及獄吏雜治之，勖自誣服，並其妻子誅之。 由是國人益怒。
The Min ruler honored Lady Huang, Grand Matron of Lu, as Empress Dowager. The Min ruler doted on spirits and ghosts; shamans such as Sheng Tao all enjoyed favor. Xue Wenjie said to the Min ruler, "Your Majesty is surrounded by treacherous ministers — unless the truth is tested before the spirits, it cannot be known. Sheng Tao is skilled at seeing ghosts — he should be sent to investigate." The Min ruler agreed. Wenjie hated Bureau Commissioner Wu Xu. Xu lay ill, and Wenjie visited him, saying, "The ruler, seeing your long illness, wishes to remove you from his inner circle. I told him you suffer only a slight headache and will soon recover. If the ruler sends someone to inquire, be careful not to mention any other ailment." Xu agreed. The next day Wenjie had Tao tell the Min ruler, "I have just seen at the Northern Temple Prince Chongshun interrogating Wu Xu for plotting rebellion — copper nails driven into his brain, beaten with a golden mace. The Min ruler told Wenjie, who said, "That cannot be trusted yet — send an envoy to inquire. Xu indeed answered that he had a headache. He was arrested at once and thrown into prison; Wenjie and the jailers tortured him together until Xu falsely confessed — he and his wife and children were all executed. The people of Min grew only angrier.
80
吳光請兵於吳，吳信州刺史蔣延徽不俟朝命，引兵會光攻建州，閩主遣使求救於吳越。
Wu Guang asked Wu for troops; Xin Prefecture governor Jiang Yanhui, without waiting for court orders, led his army to join Guang in attacking Jian Prefecture — the Min ruler sent envoys to Wuyue begging for aid.
81
十二月，癸卯朔，始發明宗喪，宋王即皇帝位。
In the twelfth month, on the first day of the month (guimao), Mingzong's funeral procession set out, and the Prince of Song ascended the throne.
82
秦王從榮既死，朱洪實妻入宮，司衣王氏與之語及秦王，王氏曰：「秦王為人子，不在左右侍疾，致人歸禍，是其罪也； 若雲大逆，則厚誣矣。 朱司徒最受王恩，當時不為之辨，惜哉！」 洪實聞之，大懼，與康義誠以其語白閔帝，且言王氏私於從榮，為之詗宮中事，辛亥，賜王氏死。 事連王淑妃，淑妃素厚於從榮，帝由是疑之。
After Prince of Qin Congrong's death, Zhu Hongshi's wife entered the palace. Palace Attendant Lady Wang spoke with her about the prince, saying, "As a son, the Prince of Qin was not at his father's bedside in illness and brought calamity upon others — that was his crime; to call it treason would be a gross false charge. Minister Zhu received the greatest favor from the late emperor — that he did not speak in the prince's defense then is a pity!" Hongshi heard of this and was terrified. He and Kang Yicheng reported her words to Emperor Min, adding that Lady Wang had been intimate with Congrong and spied on palace affairs for him. On xinhai, Lady Wang was sentenced to death. The affair implicated Consort Wang Shufei, who had long been close to Congrong — the emperor grew suspicious of her.
83
丙辰，以天雄左都押牙宋令詢為磁州刺史。 朱弘昭以誅秦王立帝為己功，欲專朝政； 令詢侍帝左右最久，雅為帝所親信，弘昭不欲舊人在帝側，故出之。 帝不悅而無如之何。
On bingchen, Song Lingxun, Left Chief adjutant of Tianxiong, was appointed governor of Ci Prefecture. Zhu Hongzhao counted the slaying of the Prince of Qin and the emperor's enthronement as his own achievement and sought to monopolize court governance; Lingxun had attended the emperor longest and was deeply trusted; Hongzhao wanted no old intimates at the emperor's side and therefore had him sent out. The emperor was displeased but could do nothing.
84
孟知祥聞明宗殂，謂僚佐曰：「宋王幼弱，為政者皆胥史小人，其亂可坐俟也。」
When Meng Zhixiang heard that Mingzong had died, he told his staff, "The Prince of Song is young and weak, and those who hold power are petty clerk scribes — their collapse can be awaited sitting down."
85
辛未，帝始御中興殿。 帝自終易月之制，即召學士讀《貞觀政要》、《太宗實錄》，有致治之志； 然不知其要，寬柔少斷。 李愚私謂同列曰：「吾君延訪，鮮及吾輩，位高責重，事亦堪憂。」 眾惕息不敢應。 順化節度使、同平章事、判明州錢元珦驕縱不法，每請事於王府不獲，輒上書悖慢。 嘗怒一吏，置鐵床炙之，臭滿城郭。 吳王元瓘遣牙將仰仁詮詣明州召之，仁詮左右慮元珦難制，勸為之備，仁詮不從，常服徑造聽事。 元珦見仁詮至，股心栗，遂還錢塘，幽於別第。 仁詮，湖州人也。
On xinwei, the emperor held his first audience in the Zhongxing Hall. As soon as mourning garb ended, the emperor summoned academicians to read the Essentials of Governance from the Zhenguan Reign and the Veritable Record of Emperor Taizong — he harbored the will to bring good order; yet he did not grasp what mattered — lenient, gentle, and seldom decisive. Li Yu privately told his colleagues, "Our lord holds audiences, yet rarely seeks us out — with rank so high and responsibility so heavy, the situation gives cause for worry. The others held their breath and dared not reply. Shunhua governor, Associate Grand Councilor, and administrator of Ming Prefecture Qian Yuanxiang was arrogant and lawless; whenever his petitions to the princely headquarters were denied, he submitted insolent, contemptuous memorials. Once, enraged at a clerk, he had him roasted on an iron bed — the stench filled the city. King of Wu Yuanqian sent gate officer Yang Renquan to Ming Prefecture to summon him. Renquan's attendants feared Yuanxiang would resist and urged precautions, but Renquan refused and went straight to headquarters in plain dress. At Renquan's arrival Yuanxiang trembled with fear; he returned to Qiantang and was confined in a separate residence. Renquan was from Hu Prefecture.
86
閩主改福州為長樂府。
The Min ruler renamed Fuzhou Prefecture as Changle Prefecture-fu.
87
親從都指揮使王仁達有擒王延稟之功，性慷慨，言事無所避。 閩主惡之，嘗私謂左右曰：「仁達智有餘，吾猶能御之，非少主臣也。」 至是，竟誣以叛，族誅之。
Personal guard overall commander Wang Renda had captured Wang Yanbin; generous and forthright by nature, he spoke his mind without reservation. The Min ruler hated him and once told his attendants privately, "Renda has wit to spare — I can still control him, but he is no minister for a young ruler. Now he was framed for rebellion and his entire clan executed.
88
初，馬希聲、希範同日生。 希聲母曰袁德妃，希範母曰陳氏。 希範怨希聲先立不止，及嗣位，不禮於袁德妃。 希聲母弟希旺為親從都指揮使，希範多譴責之。 袁德妃請納希旦官為道士，不許，解其軍職，使居竹屋草門，不得預兄弟燕集。 德妃卒，希旦憂憤而卒。
Ma Xisheng and Xifan had been born on the same day. Xisheng's mother was Consort Yuan De; Xifan's mother was Lady Chen. Xifan resented that Xisheng had been made heir first and would not yield; once enthroned, he showed no courtesy to Consort Yuan De. Xisheng's maternal younger brother Xiwang served as personal guard overall commander; Xifan frequently rebuked him. Consort Yuan De asked that Xidan be made a Daoist priest — denied. His military post was stripped, he was made to live in a bamboo hut with a grass gate, and barred from his brothers' gatherings. When Consort De died, Xidan died of grief and anger.
89
潞王上
Prince of Lu, Part One
90
明宗聖德和武欽孝皇帝下清泰元年（ 甲午，公元九三四年）
Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang — first year of the Qingtai era ( jiawu, AD 934)
91
春，正月，戊寅，閔帝大赦，改元應順。 壬午，加河陽節度使兼侍衛都指揮使康義誠兼侍中，判六軍諸衛事。
In spring, the first month, on wuyin, Emperor Min proclaimed a general amnesty and changed the era name to Yingshun. On renwu, Heyang governor and Palace Guard overall commander Kang Yicheng was made Palace Attendant as well and put in charge of the Six Armies and all guard units.
92
朱弘昭、馮贇忌侍衛馬軍都指揮使、寧國節度使安彥威、侍衛步軍都指揮使、忠正節度使張從賓，甲申，出彥威為護國節度使，以捧聖馬軍都指揮使朱洪實代之； 出從賓為彰義節度使，以嚴衛步軍都指揮使皇甫遇代之。 彥威，崞人； 遇，真定人也。
Zhu Hongzhao and Feng Yun envied Palace Guard horse commander and Ningguo governor An Yanwei and Palace Guard foot commander and Zhongzheng governor Zhang Congbin. On jiashen, Yanwei was sent out as Huguo governor, with Sacred Guard horse commander Zhu Hongshi replacing him; Congbin was sent out as Zhangyi governor, with Strict Guard foot commander Huangfu Yu replacing him. Yanwei was from Guo; Yu was from Zhending.
93
戊子，樞密使、同平章事朱弘昭、同中書門下二品馮贇、河東節度使兼侍中石敬瑭並兼中書令。 贇以超遷太過，堅辭不受； 己丑，改兼侍中。
On wuzi, Bureau Commissioner and Associate Grand Councilor Zhu Hongzhao, Second Rank under the Secretariat and Chancellery Feng Yun, and Hedong governor and Palace Attendant Shi Jingtang were all made Director of the Secretariat as well. Yun said the promotion was too sudden and firmly declined; On jichou, he was instead made Palace Attendant.
94
壬辰，以荊南節度使高從誨為南平王，武安、武平節度使馬希範為楚王。
On renchen, Jingnan governor Gao Conghui was enfeoffed as Prince of Nanping, and Wu'an and Wuping governor Ma Xifan as Prince of Chu.
95
甲午，以鎮海、鎮東節度使吳王元瓘為吳越王。
On jiawu, Zhenhai and Zhendong governor King of Wu Yuanqian was enfeoffed as King of Wuyue.
96
吳徐知誥別治私第於金陵，乙未，遷居私第，虛府捨以待吳主。
Xu Zhigao of Wu had built a private residence at Jinling; on yiwei he moved into it, leaving the official residence empty for the Wu ruler.
97
鳳翔節度使兼侍中潞王從珂，與石敬瑭少從明帝征伐，有功名，得眾心。 朱弘昭、馮贇位望素出二人下遠甚，一旦執朝政，皆忌之。 明宗有疾，潞王屢遣其夫人入省侍； 及明宗殂，潞王辭疾不來，使臣至鳳翔者或自言伺得潞王陰事。 時潞王長子重吉為控鶴都指揮使，朱、馮不欲其典禁兵，己亥，出為亳州團練使。 潞王有女惠明為尼，在洛陽，亦召入禁中。 潞王由是疑懼。
Fengxiang governor and Palace Attendant Prince of Lu Congke had campaigned at Emperor Ming's side from youth with Shi Jingtang; both had merit, fame, and the soldiers' loyalty. Zhu Hongzhao and Feng Yun had always ranked far below the two men; now that they held power, they envied them both. When Mingzong fell ill, the Prince of Lu repeatedly sent his wife to the palace to attend him; When Mingzong died, the Prince of Lu pleaded illness and stayed away; some envoys who reached Fengxiang claimed to have uncovered his secret dealings. The Prince of Lu's eldest son Chongji then commanded the Control Cranes; Zhu and Feng did not want him holding the forbidden troops — on jihai he was sent out as training commissioner of Bo Prefecture. The Prince of Lu had a daughter, Huiming, a nun in Luoyang — she too was summoned into the palace. The Prince of Lu grew suspicious and afraid.
98
吳蔣延徽敗閩兵於浦城，遂圍建州，閩主璘遣上軍張彥柔、驃騎大將軍王延宗將兵萬人救建州。 延宗軍及中塗，士卒不進，曰：「不得薛文傑，不能討賊。」 延宗馳使以聞，國人震恐。 太后及福王繼鵬泣謂璘曰：「文傑盜弄國權，枉害無辜，上下怨怒久矣。 今吳兵深入，士卒不進，社稷一旦傾覆，留文傑何益！」 文傑亦在側，互陳利害。 璘曰：「吾無如卿何，卿自為謀。」 文傑出，繼鵬伺之於啟聖門外，以笏擊之仆地，檻車送軍前，市人爭持瓦礫擊之。 文傑善術數，自雲過三日則無患。 部送者聞之，倍道兼行，二日而至，士卒見之踴躍，臠食之； 閩主亟遣赦之，不及。 初，文傑以為古制檻車疏闊，更為之，形如木匱，攢以鐵鋩，內向，動輒觸之。 車成，文傑首自入焉。 並誅盛韜。 蔣延徽攻建州垂克，徐知誥以延徽吳太祖之婿，與臨川王濛素善，恐其克建州奉濛以圖興復，遣使召之。 延徽亦聞閩兵及吳越兵將至，引兵歸； 閩人追擊，敗之，士卒死亡甚眾，歸罪於都虞侯張重進，斬之。 知誥貶延徽為右威衛將軍，遣使求好於閩。
Jiang Yanhui of Wu defeated Min troops at Pucheng and besieged Jian Prefecture; Min ruler Lin sent Chief of Staff Zhang Yanrou and Flying Cavalry Grand General Wang Yanzong with ten thousand men to relieve the city. Yanzong's army had marched halfway when the troops refused to advance, crying, "Without Xue Wenjie we cannot punish the enemy! Yanzong sent a fast messenger to report it — the nation was shaken with fear. The Empress Dowager and Prince of Fu Jipeng wept and told Lin, "Wenjie has usurped state power and wrongfully harmed the innocent — court and people have hated him for years. Wu troops have penetrated deep, the soldiers refuse to advance — the state may fall in a day. What good is keeping Wenjie!" Wenjie was present as well; each side argued the stakes. Lin said, "There is nothing I can do for you — look to your own salvation. Wenjie left; Jipeng waited outside the Qisheng Gate, struck him down with a court tablet, and sent him to the army in a prisoner cart — townspeople vied to pelt him with rubble. Wenjie practiced divination and declared that after three days he would be safe. His escorts, hearing this, forced double marches and arrived in two days — the soldiers leaped for joy at the sight and tore him to pieces; The Min ruler hastily sent a pardon — too late. Wenjie had found the old-style prisoner cart too roomy and designed a new one shaped like a wooden chest, studded with inward-pointing iron spikes — the slightest movement drew blood. When the cart was finished, Wenjie was the first to enter it. Sheng Tao was executed as well. Jiang Yanhui was on the verge of taking Jian Prefecture when Xu Zhigao, knowing Yanhui was the Wu founder's son-in-law and close to Prince of Linchuan Meng, feared that capturing the city would let Meng mount a restoration — and summoned him back. Yanhui also heard that Min and Wuyue troops were approaching and withdrew; Min forces pursued and routed him with heavy losses; blame fell on Chief Adjutant Zhang Chongjin, who was beheaded. Zhigao demoted Yanhui to Right Prestige Guard general and sent envoys seeking peace with Min.
99
閏月，以左諫議大夫唐汭、膳部郎中、知制誥陳乂皆為給事中，充樞密直學士。 汭以文學從帝，歷三鎮在幕府。 及即位，將佐之有才者，朱、馮皆斥逐之。 汭性過疏，朱、馮恐帝含怒有時而發，乃引汭於密近，以其黨陳乂監之。 丙午，尊皇后為皇太后。
In the intercalary month, Left Remonstrance Grandee Tang Rui and Board of Provisions Director and Drafting Commissioner Chen Yi were both made Supervising Secretaries and Direct Secretarial Academicians of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Rui had followed the emperor for his literary talent, serving in three circuits' headquarters. When the emperor took the throne, Zhu and Feng drove away every capable general and aide. Rui was too undisciplined by nature; Zhu and Feng feared the emperor's smoldering anger might one day erupt, and so kept Rui close — with their ally Chen Yi set to watch him. On bingwu, the empress was honored as Empress Dowager.
100
安遠節度使符彥超奴王希全、任駕兒見朝廷多事，謀殺彥超，據安州附於吳，夜，叩門稱有急遞，彥超出至聽事，二奴殺之，因以彥超之命召諸將，有不從己者輒殺之。 己酉旦，副使李端帥州兵討誅之，並其黨。
Anyuan governor Fu Yanchao's slaves Wang Xiquan and Ren Jia'er, seeing turmoil at court, plotted to kill Yanchao, seize An Prefecture, and submit to Wu. At night they knocked at the gate claiming an urgent dispatch; when Yanchao came to headquarters the two slaves killed him, then summoned the generals in his name — any who refused were killed on the spot. At dawn on jiyou, Deputy Commissioner Li Duan led prefectural troops against them and executed them along with their followers.
101
甲寅，以王淑妃為太妃。
On jiayin, Consort Wang Shufei was elevated to Senior Consort.
102
蜀將吏勸蜀王知祥稱帝。 己巳，知祥即皇帝位於成都。
Shu's generals and officials urged King of Shu Zhixiang to take the imperial title. On jisi, Zhixiang declared himself emperor at Chengdu.