1
資治通鑑第289卷
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 289
2
【後漢紀四】上章閹茂，一年。
[Later Han Records 4] From Shangzhang Yanmao—one year in all.
3
隱皇帝下乾祐三年（ 庚戌，公元九五零年）
Under Emperor Yin, third year of Qianyou ( gengxu, 950 CE)
4
春，正月，丁未，加鳳翔節度使趙暉兼侍中。
In spring, the first month, on dingwei, Zhao Hui, military governor of Fengxiang, was given the additional title of Grand Counselor.
5
密州刺史王萬敢請益兵以攻唐。 詔以前沂州刺史郭瓊為東路行營都部署，帥禁軍及齊州兵赴之。
Wang Wangan, prefect of Mi Province, asked for reinforcements to strike Southern Tang. The court appointed former Yizhou prefect Guo Qiong commander of the Eastern Route army and sent him with the imperial guard and troops from Qi Province.
6
郭威請勒兵北臨契丹之境，詔止之。
Guo Wei asked to march north toward the Khitan frontier, but the court ordered him to stand down.
7
丙寅，遣使詣河中、鳳翔收瘞戰死及餓殍遺骸，時有僧已聚二十萬矣。
On bingyin, the court sent officials to Hezhong and Fengxiang to bury the war dead and famine victims; one monk alone had already gathered two hundred thousand corpses.
8
唐主聞漢兵盡平三叛，始罷李金全北面行營招討使。
Learning that Later Han forces had crushed all three rebellions, the Southern Tang ruler at last removed Li Jinquan from his post as northern-route pacification commissioner.
9
唐清淮節度使劉彥貞多斂民財以賂權貴，權貴爭譽之。 在壽州積年，恐被代，欲以警急自固，妄奏稱漢兵將大舉南伐。 二月，唐主以東都留守燕王弘冀為潤、宣二州大都督，鎮潤州，寧國節度使周宗為東都留守。
Liu Yanzhen, Southern Tang's Qinghuai military governor, squeezed the people for bribes to buy favor at court, and the powerful at court vied to praise him. After years at Shouzhou he feared recall; to keep his post he invented a crisis, reporting falsely that Later Han was massing for a major southern campaign. In the second month, the Southern Tang ruler made Prince Yan Hongji, regent of the Eastern Capital, grand commander of Run and Xuan and posted him at Runzhou, while Ningguo military governor Zhou Zong became regent of the Eastern Capital.
10
朝廷欲移易籓鎮，因其請赴嘉慶節上壽，許之。
The court planned to shuffle the military governors and granted leave when they asked to come to court for the emperor's birthday at the Jiaqing Festival.
11
甲申，郭威行北邊還。 福州人或詣建州告唐永安留後查文徽，雲吳越兵已棄城去，請文徽為帥。 文徽信之，遣劍州刺史陳誨將水軍下閩江，文徽自以步騎繼之。 會大雨，水漲，誨一夕行七百里，至城下，敗福州兵，執其將馬先進等。 庚寅，文徽至福州，吳越知威武軍吳程詐遣數百人出迎。 誨曰：「閩人多詐，未可信也，宜立寨徐圖。」 文徽曰：「疑則變生，不若乘機據其城。」 因引兵徑進。 誨整眾鳴鼓，止於江湄。 文徽不為備，程勒兵出擊之，唐兵大敗。 文徽墮馬，為福人所執，士卒死者萬人。 誨全軍歸劍州。 程送文徽於錢唐，吳越王弘俶獻於五廟而釋之。
On jiashen, Guo Wei came back from his inspection of the northern frontier. Men from Fuzhou came to Jianzhou and told Zha Wenhui, Southern Tang's acting governor of Yong'an, that Wuyue forces had abandoned the city and asked him to take command. Wenhui believed the report. He sent Jianzhou prefect Chen Hui with the fleet down the Min River and followed with infantry and cavalry. Heavy rains swelled the river; Chen Hui drove his fleet seven hundred li in a single night, reached Fuzhou, routed its garrison, and captured Ma Xianjin and other commanders. On gengyin, Wenhui entered Fuzhou. Wu Cheng, Wuyue's administrator of Weiwu Army, sent several hundred men out in a feigned welcome. Chen Hui said, "The Min are treacherous—we cannot trust them yet. We should encamp and proceed with caution." Wenhui replied, "Hesitation breeds disaster. Better to strike now and take the city." He marched his troops straight in. Chen Hui formed up his men, sounded the drums, and held at the riverbank. Wenhui took no precautions. Wu Cheng sallied and routed the Southern Tang army. Wenhui was thrown from his horse and captured by Fuzhou men; ten thousand of his soldiers were killed. Chen Hui withdrew the entire fleet to Jianzhou. Wu Cheng sent Wenhui to Qiantang, where King Hongchu of Wuyue presented him before the ancestral shrines and then released him.
12
丁亥，汝州奏防禦使劉審交卒。 吏民詣闕上書，以審交有仁政，乞留葬汝州，得奉事其丘壟，詔許之。 州人相與聚哭而葬之，以為立祠，歲時享之。 太師馮道曰：「吾嘗為劉君僚佐，觀其為政，無以逾人，非能減其租賦，除其徭役也，但推公廉慈愛之心以行之耳。 此亦眾人所能為，但他人不為而劉君獨為之，故汝人愛之如此。 使天下二千石皆效其所為，何患得民不如劉君哉！」
On dinghai, Ruzhou reported the death of defense commissioner Liu Shenjiao. The people of Ruzhou petitioned the throne, praising Liu Shenjiao's righteous rule and asking to bury him locally so they could tend his grave; the court agreed. The people of the province gathered to weep at his burial, raised a shrine in his honor, and offered sacrifices each season. Grand Preceptor Feng Dao said, "I once served under Liu Shenjiao and watched him govern. He did nothing extraordinary—no tax cuts, no relief from corvée—but he simply governed with public integrity and genuine compassion. Anyone could have done the same; others simply would not, and Liu Shenjiao alone would. That is why the people of Ruzhou loved him so. If every prefect in the realm followed his example, who could fail to win the people's love as Liu Shenjiao did?"
13
甲午，吳越丞相、昭化節度使、同平章事杜建徽卒。
On jiawu, Du Jianhui, Wuyue chancellor, Zhaohua military governor, and Fellow Grand Counselor, died.
14
乙未，以前永興節度使越匡贊為左驍衛上將軍。
On yiwei, former Yongxing military governor Yue Kuangzan was appointed senior general of the Left Xiao Guard.
15
三月，丙午，嘉慶節，鄴都留守高行周、天平節度使慕容彥超、泰寧節度使符彥卿、昭義節度使常思、安遠節度使楊信、安國節度使薛懷讓、成德節度使武行德、彰德節度使郭瑾、保大留後王饒皆入朝。
In the third month, on bingwu, the Jiaqing Festival, the court received Gao Xingzhou of Yedu, Murong Yanchao of Tianping, Fu Yanqing of Taining, Chang Si of Zhaoyi, Yang Xin of Anyuan, Xue Huairang of Anguo, Wu Xingde of Chengde, Guo Jin of Zhangde, and Wang Rao of Baoda.
16
甲寅，詔營寢廟於高祖長陵、世祖原陵，以時致祭。 有司以費多，寢其事，以至國亡，二陵竟不沾一奠。
On jiayin, the court ordered spirit halls built at the changling of Emperor Gaozu and the yuanling of Emperor Shizu, with sacrifices at the proper seasons. The responsible offices balked at the cost and dropped the project; by the dynasty's fall neither tomb had ever received a single offering.
17
壬戌，徙高行周為天平節度使，符彥卿為平盧節度使。 甲子，徙慕容彥超為泰寧節度使。
On renxu, Gao Xingzhou was reassigned to Tianping and Fu Yanqing to Pinglu. On jiazi, Murong Yanchao was reassigned to Taining.
18
永安節度使折從阮舉族入朝。
Yong'an military governor Zhe Congruan came to court with his whole clan.
19
夏，四月，戊辰朔，徙薛懷讓為匡國節度使。 庚午，徙折從阮為武勝節度使。 壬申，徙楊信為保大節度使，徒鎮國節度使劉詞為安國節度使，永清節度使王令溫為安遠節度使。 李守貞之亂，王饒潛與之通。 守貞平，眾謂饒必居散地。 及入朝，厚結史弘肇，遷護國節度使，聞者駭之。
In summer, the fourth month, on the wuchen new moon, Xue Huairang was reassigned to Kuangguo. On gengwu, Zhe Congruan was reassigned to Wusheng. On renshen, Yang Xin went to Baoda, Liu Ci from Zhenguo to Anguo, and Wang Lingwen from Yongqing to Anyuan. During Li Shouzhen's rebellion, Wang Rao had secretly colluded with him. When Li Shouzhen fell, everyone expected Wang Rao to be stripped of real command. Yet when he came to court he lavishly cultivated Shi Hongzhao and was made Huguo military governor—a move that shocked all who heard it.
20
楊邠求解樞密使，帝遣中使諭止之。 宣徽北院使吳虔裕在旁曰：「樞密重地，難以久居，當使後來者迭為之，相公辭之是也。」 帝聞之，不悅，辛巳，以虔裕為鄭州防禦使。
Yang Bin asked to resign as commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs; the emperor sent a palace envoy to refuse the request. Xuannorth court commissioner Wu Qianyu, standing nearby, said, "The Bureau of Military Affairs is too weighty a post to hold indefinitely; successors should rotate through it. The Grand Counselor is right to resign." The emperor took offense. On xinsi he demoted Wu Qianyu to defense commissioner of Zhengzhou.
21
朝廷以契丹近入寇，橫行河北，諸籓鎮各自守，無扞御之者，議以郭威鎮鄴都，使督諸將以備契丹。 史弘肇欲威仍領樞密使，蘇逢吉以為故事無之，弘肇曰：「領樞密使則可以便宜從事，諸軍畏服，號令行矣。」 帝卒從弘肇議。 弘肇怨逢吉異議，逢吉曰：「以內制外，順也； 今反以外制內，其可乎！」 壬午，制以威為鄴都留守、天雄節度使，樞密使如故。 仍詔河北，兵甲錢穀，但見郭威文書立皆稟應。 明日，朝貴會飲於竇貞固之第，弘肇舉大觴屬威，厲聲曰：「昨日廷議，一何同異！ 今日為弟飲之。」 逢吉與楊邠亦舉觴曰：「是國家之事，何足介意！」 弘肇又厲聲曰：「安定國家，在長槍大劍，安用毛錐！」 王章曰：「無毛錐，則財賦何從可出？」 自是，將相始有隙。
With Khitan raiders ranging freely through Hebei while the military governors each looked only to their own defense, the court decided to post Guo Wei at Yedu to command the northern frontier against the Khitan. Shi Hongzhao wanted Guo Wei to keep the Bureau of Military Affairs commission. Su Fengji objected that precedent knew no such arrangement. Hongzhao replied, "With that commission he can act on his own authority—the armies will obey, and orders will be carried out." The emperor sided with Shi Hongzhao in the end. Shi Hongzhao resented Su Fengji's dissent. Su Fengji said, "It is natural for the inner court to control the outer frontier— but to let the frontier commander control the inner court—how can that be right?" On renwu the court appointed Guo Wei regent of Yedu and Tianxiong military governor while retaining his Bureau of Military Affairs commission. An edict further ordered that throughout Hebei arms, funds, and grain were to be supplied immediately upon any document from Guo Wei. The next day the high officials met for wine at Dou Zhengzhai's house. Shi Hongzhao raised a great cup to Guo Wei and said sharply, "Yesterday's deliberation—what sharp differences! Today I drink to you, my brother." Su Fengji and Yang Bin raised their cups as well and said, "This concerns the state—why take it so personally?" Shi Hongzhao thundered again, "The state is secured by long spears and great swords—not by brush pens!" Wang Zhang retorted, "Without brush pens, whence would revenue come?" From that day the generals and the chancellors were divided.
22
癸未，罷永安軍。
On guiwei the court abolished Yong'an Army.
23
壬辰，以左監門衛將軍郭榮為貴州刺史、天雄牙內都指揮使。 榮本姓柴，父守禮，郭威之妻兄也，威未有子時養以為子。
On renchen Guo Rong, general of the Left Jianmen Guard, was made prefect of Guizhou and inner commander of the Tianxiong garrison. Guo Rong was born a Chai; his father Shouli was Guo Wei's brother-in-law. Guo Wei adopted him when he had no heir of his own.
24
五月，己亥，以府州蕃漢馬步都指揮使折德扆為本州團練使。 德扆，從阮之子也。
In the fifth month, on jihai, Zhe Deyi, combined Tang and Han cavalry and infantry commander of Fuzhou, was made regimental trainer of that province. Zhe Deyi was the son of Zhe Congruan.
25
庚子，郭威辭行，言於帝曰：「太后從先帝久，多歷天下事，陛下富於春秋，有事宜稟其教而行之。 親近忠直，放遠讒邪，善惡之間，所宜明審。 蘇逢吉、楊邠、史弘肇皆先帝舊臣，盡忠徇國，願陛下推心任之，必無敗失。 至於疆場之事，臣願竭其愚駑，庶不負驅策。」 帝斂容謝之。 威至鄴都，以河北困弊，戒邊將謹守疆場，嚴守備，無得出侵掠，契丹入寇，則堅壁清野以待之。
On gengzi, as Guo Wei prepared to depart, he told the emperor, "The Empress Dowager served the late emperor for many years and knows the realm's affairs. Your Majesty is still young; in weighty matters defer to her counsel. Keep loyal men close, keep slanderers at a distance, and judge good and evil with clear eyes. Su Fengji, Yang Bin, and Shi Hongzhao are the late emperor's loyal ministers. Trust them fully and you will not go wrong. As for the frontier, I will do all that my poor talents allow, and not fail the task you set me." The emperor composed himself and thanked him. At Yedu, seeing Hebei's exhaustion, Guo Wei ordered his frontier commanders to hold their lines, strengthen defenses, and refrain from raiding; if the Khitan invaded, they were to fortify the walls and strip the countryside bare and wait.
26
辛丑，敕：「防禦、團練使，自非軍期，無得專奏事，皆先申觀察使斟酌以聞。」
On xinchou an edict ruled that defense and regimental training commissioners, except in wartime, could not memorialize the throne directly but must first submit reports through their surveillance commissioners."
27
丙午，以皇弟山南西道節度使承勳為開封尹，加兼中書令，實未出閣。
On bingwu the emperor's younger brother Chengxun, military governor of Shannan West Circuit, was named Kaifeng Intendant and given the additional title of Director of the Department of State Affairs, though he had not yet formally left the inner palace.
28
平盧節度使劉銖，貪虐恣橫，朝廷欲征之，恐其拒命，因沂、密用兵於唐，遣前沂州刺史郭瓊將兵屯青州。 銖不自安，置酒召瓊，伏兵幕下，欲害之。 瓊知其謀，悉屏左右，從容如會，了無懼色，銖不敢發。 瓊因諭以禍福，銖感服，詔至即行。 庚戌，銖入朝。 辛亥，以瓊為穎州團練使。
Liu Zhu, military governor of Pinglu, was greedy and brutal. The court wished to recall him but feared defiance; using the campaign against Southern Tang in Yi and Mi as cover, it sent former Yizhou prefect Guo Qiong to encamp at Qingzhou. Liu Zhu, uneasy, invited Guo Qiong to a banquet and hid assassins in the tent. Guo Qiong saw through the plot, dismissed his escort, and entered alone without the least sign of fear; Liu Zhu dared not strike. Guo Qiong reasoned with him on the consequences; Liu Zhu was persuaded and obeyed the summons at once when it came. On gengxu Liu Zhu arrived at court. On xinhai Guo Qiong was made regimental trainer of Yingzhou.
29
癸丑，王章置酒會諸朝貴，酒酣，為手勢令，史弘肇不閒其事，客省使閻晉卿坐次弘肇，屢教之。 蘇逢吉戲之曰：「旁有姓閻人，何憂罰爵！」 弘肇妻閻氏，本酒家倡也，意逢吉譏之，大怒，以丑語詬逢吉，逢吉不應。 弘肇欲毆之，逢吉起去。 弘肇索劍欲追之，楊邠泣止之曰：「蘇公宰相，公若殺之，置天子何地，願孰思之！」 弘肇即上馬去，邠與之聯鑣，送至其第而還。 於是將相如水火矣。 帝使宣徽使王峻置酒和解之，不能得。 逢吉欲求出鎮以避之，既而中止，曰：「吾去朝廷，止煩史公一處分，吾齏粉矣！」 王章亦忽忽不樂，欲求外官，楊、史固止之。
On guichou Wang Zhang hosted the high officials. Deep in wine they played hand-signal drinking games; Shi Hongzhao did not know the rules, and guest-reception commissioner Yan Jinqing, seated beside him, kept explaining them. Su Fengji teased, "With a Yan beside you, why fear drinking penalties!" Shi Hongzhao's wife, née Yan, had been a tavern singer; he took Su Fengji's remark as a slight, flew into a rage, and showered him with abuse. Su Fengji did not reply. Shi Hongzhao moved to strike him; Su Fengji rose and walked away. Shi Hongzhao grabbed for a sword to chase him down. Yang Bin wept and held him back: "Su Fengji is a chancellor. If you kill him, what becomes of the throne? Think carefully!" Shi Hongzhao mounted and rode off; Yang Bin rode beside him to his gate and then returned. From then on the generals and chancellors were at open enmity. The emperor sent Xuann commissioner Wang Jun to host a reconciliation banquet, but failed. Su Fengji considered asking for a provincial post to escape Shi Hongzhao, then changed his mind: "If I leave court, one word from Shi Hongzhao would be enough to have me ground to dust." Wang Zhang too grew despondent and wanted a post outside the capital; Yang Bin and Shi Hongzhao firmly dissuaded him.
30
閏月，宮中數有怪。 癸巳，大風雨，發屋拔木，吹鄭門扉起，十餘步而落。 震死者六七人，水深平地尺餘。 帝召司天監趙延乂，問以禳祈之術，對曰：「臣之業在天文時日，禳祈非所習也。 然王者欲弭災異，莫如修德。」 延乂歸，帝遣中使問：「如何為修德？」 延乂對：「請讀《貞觀政要》而法之。」
In the intercalary month the palace was troubled by repeated omens. On guisi a violent storm tore off roofs and uprooted trees and lifted the leaves of the Zheng Gate a dozen paces before they fell. Lightning killed six or seven people; a foot of water stood on level ground. The emperor summoned Zhao Yanyi of the Directorate of Astronomy and asked how to avert the disasters. Yanyi replied, "My craft is astronomy and calendrics; ritual exorcism is not my field. Yet if a ruler wishes to still heaven's warnings, nothing avails like cultivating virtue." After Yanyi withdrew, the emperor sent a palace envoy to ask, "What does cultivating virtue mean?" Yanyi answered, "Read the Essentials of Governance of the Zhenguan Era and govern accordingly."
31
六月，河決鄭州。
In the sixth month the Yellow River broke through its banks at Zhengzhou.
32
馬希萼既敗歸，乃以書誘辰、漵州及梅山蠻，欲與共擊湖南。 蠻素聞長沙帑藏之富，大喜，爭出兵赴之，遂攻益陽。 楚王希廣遣指揮使陳璠拒之，戰於淹溪，璠敗死。
Ma Xie, defeated and driven home, wrote to the prefectures of Chen and Xu and the Meishan tribes, urging them to join him in striking Hunan. The tribes, hearing of Changsha's rich treasury, were delighted and rushed to join; together they attacked Yiyang. King Xiguang of Chu sent commander Chen Fan to resist them; at Yanxi Chen Fan was defeated and killed.
33
秋，七月，唐歸馬先進等於吳越以易查文徽。
In autumn, the seventh month, Southern Tang returned Ma Xianjin and the other captives to Wuyue in exchange for Zha Wenhui.
34
馬希萼又遣群蠻攻迪田，八月，戊戌，破之，殺其鎮將張延嗣。 楚王希廣遣指揮使黃處超救之，處超敗死。 潭人震恐，復遣牙內指揮使崔洪璉將兵七千屯玉潭。
Ma Xie sent the tribal forces against Ditan again; on wuxu in the eighth month they took the town and killed garrison commander Zhang Yansi. King Xiguang of Chu sent Huang Chuchao to the rescue; Huang Chuchao was defeated and killed. Changsha trembled; Xiguang sent inner-garrison commander Cui Honglian with seven thousand men to encamp at Yutan.
35
庚子，蜀主立其弟仕毅為夔王，仁贄為雅王，仁裕為彭王，仁操為嘉王。 己酉，立子玄喆為秦王，玄玨為褒王。
On gengzi the Shu ruler enfeoffed his brothers Shirong as Prince of Kui, Renzan as Prince of Ya, Renyu as Prince of Peng, and Rencao as Prince of Jia. On jiyou he enfeoffed his sons Xuanzhe as Prince of Qin and Xuanjue as Prince of Bao.
36
晉李太后在建州，臥病，無醫藥，惟與晉主仰天號泣，戟手罵杜重威、李守貞曰：「吾死不置汝！」 戊午，卒。 周顯德中，有自契丹來者云：「晉主及馮後尚無恙，其從者亡歸及物故則過半矣。」
Empress Dowager Li of Jin lay ill at Jianzhou without medicine or doctors; she and the Jin ruler could only weep heavenward and curse Du Chongwei and Li Shouzhen: "I will haunt you beyond the grave!" On wuwu she died. During Later Zhou's Xiande era a traveler from the Khitan reported, "The Jin ruler and Empress Feng were still alive, but more than half their followers had fled or perished."
37
馬希萼表請別置進奏務於京師。 九月，辛巳，詔以湖南已有進奏務，不許。 亦賜楚王希廣詔，勸以敦睦。 馬希萼以朝廷意佑楚王希廣，怒，遣使稱籓於唐，乞師攻楚。 唐加希萼同平章事，以鄂州今年租稅賜之，命楚州刺史何敬洙將兵助希萼。 冬，十月，丙午，希廣遣使上表告急，言：「荊南、嶺南、江南連謀，欲分湖南之地，乞發兵屯澧州，以扼江南、荊南援朗州之路。」
Ma Xie petitioned to establish a separate memorial office at the Later Han capital. In the ninth month, on xinsi, the court refused, noting that Hunan already had a memorial office at court. The court also sent King Xiguang of Chu an edict urging brotherly concord. Ma Xie, believing the court favored his brother, sent envoys to declare vassalage to Southern Tang and begged for troops to strike Chu. Southern Tang made Ma Xie Fellow Grand Counselor, granted him Ezhou's annual revenue, and ordered Chuzhou prefect He Jingzhu to reinforce him. In winter, the tenth month, on bingwu, Xiguang sent an urgent memorial: "Jingnan, Lingnan, and Jiangnan conspire to carve up Hunan. Send troops to Lizhou to block their lines of relief to Langzhou."
38
丁未，以吳越王弘俶為諸道兵馬元帥。
On dingwei King Hongchu of Wuyue was named supreme commander of all circuits.
39
楚王希廣以朗州與山蠻入寇，諸將屢敗，憂形於色。 劉彥瑫言於希廣曰：「朗州兵不滿萬，馬不滿千，都府精兵十萬，何憂不勝！ 願假臣兵萬餘人，戰艦百五十艘，逕入朗州縛取希萼，以解大王之憂。」 王悅，以彥瑫為戰棹都指揮使、朗州行營都統。 彥瑫入朗州境，父老爭以牛酒犒軍，曰：「百姓不願從亂，望都府之兵久矣！」 彥瑫厚賞之。 戰艦過，則運竹木以斷其後。 是日，馬希萼遣朗兵及蠻兵六千、戰艦百艘逆戰於湄州。 彥瑫乘風縱火以焚其艦，頃之，風回，反自焚。 彥瑫還走，江路已斷，士卒戰及溺死者數千人。 希廣聞之，涕泣不知所為。 希廣平日罕頒賜，至是，大出金帛以取悅於士卒。 或告天策左司馬希崇流言惑眾，反狀已明，請殺之。 希廣曰：「吾自害其弟，何以見先王於地下！」
With Langzhou and the mountain tribes raiding and his generals repeatedly defeated, King Xiguang's face showed his dread. Liu Yanchuang told Xiguang, "Langzhou has fewer than ten thousand men and a thousand horses. The capital commands a hundred thousand elites—how can we fail? Grant me ten thousand men and a hundred fifty warships, and I will march straight into Langzhou, seize Ma Xie, and lift this burden from Your Majesty." Xiguang was pleased and made Liu Yanchuang commander of the war fleet and overall commander of the Langzhou campaign. As Liu Yanchuang entered Langzhou territory, elders vied to bring cattle and wine, saying, "We have waited long for the capital's army—we want no part of rebellion." Liu Yanchuang rewarded them generously. Once the fleet had passed, they felled bamboo and timber to block the river behind it. That same day Ma Xie sent six thousand Langzhou and tribal troops with a hundred warships to meet Liu Yanchuang at Meizhou. Liu Yanchuang tried to burn the enemy fleet with the wind at his back; moments later the wind shifted and his own ships caught fire. Liu Yanchuang fled; the river behind him was blocked; thousands of his men were killed or drowned. When Xiguang heard the news he wept, helpless. Xiguang, who seldom rewarded his men, now lavished gold and silk to regain their loyalty. Someone reported that Left Tiance marshal Ma Xichong was stirring sedition and clearly plotting rebellion, and urged his execution. Xiguang said, "If I kill my own brother, how shall I face our father in the grave!"
40
馬軍指揮使張暉將兵自他道擊朗州，至龍陽，聞彥瑫敗，退屯益陽。 希萼又遣指揮使朱進忠等將兵三千急攻益陽，張暉紿其眾曰：「我以麾下出賊後，汝輩留城中待我，相與合勢擊之。」 既出，遂自竹頭市遁歸長沙。 朗兵知城中無主，急擊之，士卒九千餘人皆死。
Cavalry commander Zhang Hui marched on Langzhou by another route; at Longyang he heard of Liu Yanchuang's defeat and fell back to Yiyang. Ma Xie sent Zhu Jinzhong with three thousand men to storm Yiyang. Zhang Hui told his troops, "I will circle behind the enemy; hold the city and wait—we will crush them together." Once outside the walls he fled through Zhutou market back to Changsha. The Langzhou troops, finding the city leaderless, pressed the attack; more than nine thousand defenders were killed.
41
吳越王弘俶歸查文徽於唐，文徽得喑疾，以工部尚書致仕。
King Hongchu of Wuyue returned Zha Wenhui to Southern Tang; Wenhui had been struck mute and retired as Minister of Works.
42
十一月，甲子朔，日有食之。
In the eleventh month, on the jiazi new moon, the sun was eclipsed.
43
蜀太師、中書令宋忠武王趙廷隱卒。
Zhao Tingyin, Shu Grand Preceptor, Director of the Department of State Affairs, and Prince Song the Loyal and Martial, died.
44
楚王希廣遣其僚屬孟駢說馬希萼曰：「公忘父兄之仇，北面事唐，何異袁譚求救於曹公邪！」 希萼將斬之，駢曰：「古者兵交，使在其間，駢若愛死，安肯此來！ 駢之言非私於潭人，實為公謀也。」 乃釋之，使還報曰：「大義絕矣，非地下不相見也！」 朱進忠請希萼自將兵取潭州，辛未，希萼留其子光贊守朗州，悉發境內之兵趣長沙，自稱順天王。
King Xiguang of Chu sent his officer Meng Pian to reason with Ma Xie: "You forget your father's blood feud and bow north to Southern Tang—are you not Yuan Tan begging Cao Cao for aid?" Ma Xie moved to execute him. Meng Pian said, "When armies clash, envoys pass between them. If I feared death, I would never have come. I speak not for Changsha alone but in your own interest." Ma Xie spared him and sent him back with the reply: "All bonds of duty are broken—but we shall meet again in the grave!" Zhu Jinchong urged Xi'e to lead the army himself against Tanzhou. On the xinsi day, Xi'e left his son Guangzan at Langzhou, called up every soldier in his domain, marched on Changsha, and proclaimed himself the King Who Obeys Heaven.
45
詔侍衛步軍都指揮使、寧江節度使王殷將兵屯澶州以備契丹。 殷，瀛州人也。
The court ordered Wang Yin, Palace Attendant Infantry Commander and military governor of Ningjiang, to camp at Danzhou with his troops against the Khitan. Wang Yin was from Yingzhou.
46
朝廷議發兵，以安遠節度使王令溫為都部署，以救潭州，會內難作，不果。
The court planned to send an army under Wang Lingwen of Anyuan to relieve Tanzhou, but domestic crisis intervened and the expedition never happened.
47
帝自即位以來，樞密使、右僕射、同平章事楊邠總機政，樞密使兼侍中郭威主征伐，歸德節度使、侍衛親軍都指揮使兼中書令史弘肇典宿衛，三司使、同平章事王章掌財賦。 邠頗公忠，退朝，門無私謁，雖不卻四方饋遺，有餘輒獻之。 弘肇督察京城，道不拾遺。 是時承契丹蕩覆之餘，公私困竭，章捃摭遺利，吝於出納，以實府庫。 屬三叛連衡，宿兵累年而供饋不乏。 及事平，賜予之外，尚有餘積，以是國家粗安。 章聚斂刻急。 舊制，田稅每斛更輸二升，謂之「雀鼠耗」，章始令更輸二斗，謂之「省耗」； 舊錢出入皆以八十為陌，章台令入者八十，出者七十七，謂之「省陌」； 有犯鹽、麴、酒麴之禁，錙銖涓滴，罪皆死； 由是百姓愁怨。 章尤不喜文臣，嘗曰：「此輩授之握算，不知縱橫，何益於用！」 俸祿皆以不堪資軍者給之，吏已高其估，章更增之。 帝左右嬖倖浸用事，太后親戚亦干預朝政，邠等屢裁抑之。 太后有故人子求補軍職，弘肇怒而斬之。 武德使李業，太后之弟也，高祖使掌內帑，帝即位，尤蒙寵任。 會宣徽使闕，業意欲之，帝及太后亦諷執政； 邠、弘肇以為內使遷補有次，不可以外戚超居，乃止。 內客省使閻晉卿次當為宣徽使，久而不補。 樞密承旨聶文進、飛龍使後匡贊、翰林茶酒使郭允明皆有寵於帝，久不遷官，共怨執政。 文進，并州人也。 劉銖罷青州歸，久奉朝請，未除官，常戟手於執政。 帝初除三年喪，聽樂，賜伶人錦袍、玉帶。 伶人詣弘肇謝，弘肇怒曰：「士卒守邊苦戰，猶未有以賜之，汝曹何功而得此！」 皆奪以還官。 帝欲立所幸耿夫人為後，邠以為太速。 夫人卒，帝欲以後禮葬之，邠復以為不可。 帝年益壯，厭為大臣所制。 邠、弘肇嘗議事於帝前，帝曰：「審圖之，勿令人有言！」 邠曰：「陛下但禁聲，有臣等在。」 帝積不能平，左右因乘間譖之於帝云：「邠等專恣，終當為亂。」 帝信之。 嘗夜聞作坊鍛聲，疑有急兵，達旦不寐。 司空、同平章事蘇逢吉既與弘肇有隙，知李業等怨弘肇，屢以言激之。 帝遂與業、文進、匡贊、允明謀誅邠等，議既定，入白太后。 太后曰：「茲事何可輕發！ 更宜與宰相議之。」 業時在旁，曰：「先帝嘗言，朝廷大事不可謀及書生，懦怯誤人。」 太后復以為言，帝忿曰：「國家之事，非閨門所知！」 拂衣而出。 乙亥，業等以其謀告閻晉卿，晉卿恐事不成，詣弘肇第欲告之，弘肇以他故辭不見。
From the day he took the throne, four men ran the Later Han: Yang Bin held the privy council and chief ministry; Guo Wei commanded the armies; Shi Hongzhao, also chief councilor, held the palace guard; Wang Zhang, likewise chief councilor, held the purse. Yang Bin was conscientious and upright. After audience he admitted no private petitioners. He accepted gifts from the provinces but sent whatever remained to the treasury. Under Shi Hongzhao's policing, lost property lay untouched in the streets of the capital. The realm still reeled from Khitan destruction, public coffers and private stores alike drained dry. Wang Zhang squeezed every hidden profit from the economy, tight-fisted in spending, until the vaults swelled. Through three linked rebellions and years of encamped armies, provisions never ran out. When peace returned, rewards were paid and money still remained. The dynasty had a measure of stability. Wang Zhang's levies were relentless. By custom each bushel of grain tax carried two extra sheng—the "sparrow-and-rat allowance." Zhang raised it to two dou and called the levy "saving loss." Coins had always traded at eighty cash to the string, whether paid in or paid out. Zhang's office kept eighty on receipts and paid seventy-seven on disbursements, calling the difference "saving strings." Breaches of the salt, yeast, or liquor monopolies—down to the last grain or drop—were capital crimes. The people groaned under the burden. Wang Zhang despised the literati. "Hand these men an abacus," he said once, "and they cannot tell east from west. Of what use are they?" Salaries came in goods unfit for the army. Officials had already marked up their value; Zhang marked them up again. The emperor's favorites grew bolder, and the empress dowager's relatives meddled in policy. Yang Bin and his colleagues checked them again and again. An old friend of the empress dowager secured a military post for her son. Shi Hongzhao cut off his head in fury. Li Ye, the empress dowager's brother, had managed the inner treasury under the late emperor. The new emperor favored him above all others. When the post of palace attendant fell vacant, Li Ye wanted it—and emperor and empress dowager both signaled their wish to the chief ministers. Yang Bin and Shi Hongzhao held that inner-office rank had its order and no maternal kinsman could jump the queue. They refused. Yan Jinqing of the Inner Guest Bureau stood next in line for palace attendant, yet the appointment lingered unfilled. Nie Wenjin of the privy council, Hou Kuangzan of the Flying Dragon office, and Guo Yunming of the Hanlin tea and wine service all had the emperor's ear—and all languished without promotion. They hated the chief ministers. Nie Wenjin was from Bingzhou. Liu Zhu, dismissed from Qingzhou, waited at court month after month without appointment. He shook his fist at the chief ministers to their faces. When mourning ended and music returned to court, the emperor gave the players brocade robes and jade belts. The players went to thank Shi Hongzhao. He exploded: "Soldiers on the frontier bleed in battle and get nothing like this. What have you done to deserve it?" He confiscated every gift and returned it to the state. The emperor wanted to make his favorite, Lady Geng, empress. Yang Bin said it was too soon. When she died, the emperor wanted empress rites for her burial. Yang Bin objected again. The emperor came of age and chafed under ministerial restraint. Once, as Yang Bin and Shi Hongzhao debated policy before him, the emperor said, "Think it through—and don't give people cause to talk." Yang Bin replied, "Your Majesty need only silence gossip. We are here." Resentment festered. The emperor's intimates whispered: "Yang Bin and his circle are arrogant—they will rebel in the end." The emperor believed it. One night he heard the workshops hammering and imagined an army being forged. He lay awake until dawn. Su Fengji, chief councilor, already hated Shi Hongzhao. Knowing that Li Ye and the rest despised him too, Su goaded them at every turn. The emperor plotted with Li Ye, Nie Wenjin, Hou Kuangzan, and Guo Yunming to kill Yang Bin and his colleagues. When the plan was fixed, he told the empress dowager. The empress dowager said, "You cannot do a thing like this lightly! Talk it over with the chief councilors first." Li Ye, standing by, said, "The late emperor warned that great affairs must never be entrusted to bookish men—their cowardice ruins everything." The empress dowager pressed her case. The emperor flared: "State affairs are no concern of the inner quarters!" He swept out. On yihai, Li Ye and the others confided the plot to Yan Jinqing. Fearful it would fail, Jinqing went to Shi Hongzhao's house to warn him—but Hongzhao refused to receive him.
48
丙子旦，邠等入朝，有甲士數十自廣政殿出，殺邠、弘肇、章於東廡下。 文進亟召宰相、朝臣班於崇元殿，宣云：「邠等謀反，已伏誅，與卿等同慶！」 又召諸軍將校至萬歲殿庭，帝親諭之，且曰：「邠等以稚子視朕，朕今始得為汝主，汝輩免橫憂矣！」 皆拜謝而退。 又召前節度使、刺史等升殿諭之，分遣使者帥騎收捕邠等親戚、黨與、傔從，盡殺之。
At dawn on bingzi, Yang Bin and his colleagues entered court. Dozens of armored men poured from the Guangzheng Hall and cut down Yang Bin, Shi Hongzhao, and Wang Zhang under the east gallery. Nie Wenjin rushed the chief councilors and court officials to the Chongyuan Hall and proclaimed: "Yang Bin and the others plotted rebellion and are dead. Rejoice with us!" He summoned the army officers to the Wansui Hall courtyard. The emperor addressed them: "Yang Bin and his circle treated me as a child. Now I am truly your master—you are free of their oppression!" They bowed, thanked him, and withdrew. Former governors and prefects were summoned and addressed. Then cavalry envoys fanned out to seize and slaughter every relative, ally, and retainer of the dead ministers.
49
弘肇待侍衛步軍都指揮使王殷尤厚，邠等死，帝遣供奉官孟業繼密詔詣澶州及鄴都，令鎮寧節度使李洪義殺殷，又令鄴都行營馬軍都指揮使郭崇威、步軍都指揮使真定曹威殺郭威及監軍、宣徽使王峻。 洪義，太后之弟也。 又急詔征天平軍節度使高行周、平盧節度使符彥卿、永興節度使郭從義、泰寧節度使慕容彥超、匡國節度使薛懷讓、鄭州防禦使吳虔裕、陳州刺史李穀入朝。 以蘇逢吉權知樞密院事，前平盧節度使劉銖權知開封府，侍衛馬軍都指揮使李洪建權判侍衛同事，內侍省使閻晉卿權侍衛馬軍都指揮使。 洪建，業之兄也。
Shi Hongzhao had favored Wang Yin, infantry commander of the palace guard. After the killings the emperor sent Meng Ye with secret orders to Danzhou and Yedu: Li Hongyi of Zhenning was to kill Wang Yin; Guo Chongwei and Cao Wei of Zhending were to kill Guo Wei and the army inspector Wang Jun. Li Hongyi was the empress dowager's brother. Urgent summons went out to Gao Xingzhou of Tiance, Fu Yanqing of Pinglu, Guo Congyi of Yongxing, Murong Yanchao of Taining, Xue Huairang of Kuangguo, Wu Qianyu of Zhengzhou, and Li Gu of Chenzhou. Su Fengji took the privy council in trust; Liu Zhu, former governor of Pinglu, took Kaifeng; Li Hongjian, cavalry commander, took concurrent charge of the palace guard; Yan Jinqing took the cavalry command. Li Hongjian was Li Ye's elder brother.
50
時中外人情憂駭，蘇逢吉雖惡弘肇，而不預李業等謀，聞變驚愕，私謂人曰：「事太匆匆，主上倘以一言見問，不至於此。」 業等命劉銖誅郭威、王峻之家，銖極其慘毒，嬰孺無免者。 命李洪建誅王殷之家，洪建但使人守視，仍飲食之。
Terror gripped the court and the city. Su Fengji had hated Shi Hongzhao but had not joined the plot. When he heard the news he was stunned. "Too hasty," he said privately. "One word from the emperor and this need not have happened." Li Ye ordered Liu Zhu to wipe out the families of Guo Wei and Wang Jun. Zhu was savage—not even infants were spared. Li Hongjian was told to destroy Wang Yin's household. He posted guards, watched over them, and kept them fed.
51
丁丑，使者至澶州，李洪義畏懦，慮王殷已知其事，不敢發，乃引孟業見殷。 殷囚業，遣副使陳光穗以密詔示郭威。 威召樞密吏魏仁浦，示以詔書曰：「奈何？」 仁浦曰：「公，國之大臣，功名素著，加之握強兵，據重鎮，一旦為群小所構，禍出非意，此非辭說所能解。 時事如此，不可坐而待死。」 威乃召郭崇威、曹威及諸將，告以楊邠等冤死及有密詔之狀，且曰：「吾與諸公，披荊棘，從先帝取天下，受托孤之任，竭力以衛國家，今諸公已死，吾何心獨生！ 君輩當奉行詔書，取吾首以報天子，庶不相累。」 郭崇威等皆泣曰：「天子幼沖，此必左右群小所為，若使此輩得志，國家其得安乎！ 崇威願從公入朝自訴，蕩滌鼠輩以清朝廷，不可為單使所殺，受千載惡名。」 翰林天文趙修已謂郭威曰：「公徒死何益！ 不若順眾心，擁兵而南，此天啟也。」 郭威乃留其養子榮鎮鄴都，命郭崇威將騎兵前驅，戊寅，自將大軍繼之。
On dingchou the envoys reached Danzhou. Li Hongyi, craven and afraid Wang Yin already knew, dared not strike. He brought Meng Ye before Yin. Wang Yin jailed Meng Ye and sent his deputy Chen Guangsu to show the secret order to Guo Wei. Guo Wei called Wei Renpu, his privy council clerk, showed him the edict, and asked, "What now?" Renpu said, "You are a pillar of the state, famous for your deeds, commanding strong troops from a vital post. Petty men have framed you for a death you never earned. No plea will save you. Matters stand as they stand. You cannot sit and wait to die." Guo Wei gathered Guo Chongwei, Cao Wei, and the other generals, told them how Yang Bin and the rest had been murdered and showed them the secret order. "We cut through thorns beside the late emperor and won this empire," he said. "We took the orphan in trust and gave everything to defend the realm. You are dead—how can I live alone? Carry out the edict. Take my head to the emperor so you are not destroyed with me." Guo Chongwei and the others wept. "The emperor is young—this is the work of rats at his ear. If they win, the realm is lost! I will follow you to court, drive out these vermin, and cleanse the palace. We will not let a lone envoy cut you down and leave our names in infamy for a thousand years." The Hanlin astronomer Zhao Xiu had already told Guo Wei, "What good is a useless death? Better follow the army's will, take up arms, and march south. Heaven itself opens the way." Guo Wei left his adopted son Rong at Yedu, sent Guo Chongwei ahead with the cavalry, and on wuyin marched south at the head of the main force.
52
慕容彥超方食，得詔，捨匕箸入朝。 帝悉以軍事委之。 己卯，吳虔裕入朝。
Murong Yanchao was at table when the summons came. He laid down his chopsticks and went to court. The emperor gave him full command. On jimao, Wu Qianyu arrived at court.
53
帝聞郭威舉兵南向，議發兵拒之。 前開封尹侯益曰：「鄴都戍兵家屬皆在京師，官軍不可輕出，不若閉城以挫其鋒，使其母妻登城招之，可不戰而下也。」 慕容彥超曰：「侯益衰老，為懦夫計耳。」 帝乃遣益及閻晉卿、吳虔裕、前保大節度使張彥超將禁軍趣澶州。
When word came that Guo Wei was marching south with an army, the emperor debated sending forces to stop him. Hou Yi, former administrator of Kaifeng, said, "Every Yedu soldier's family is in the capital. Do not march out. Shut the gates, break their momentum, and let their mothers and wives call from the walls—they may yield without a fight." Murong Yanchao said, "Hou Yi is old and broken—that is a coward's counsel." The emperor sent Hou Yi, Yan Jinqing, Wu Qianyu, and Zhang Yanchao, former governor of Baoda, with the palace guard toward Danzhou.
54
是日，郭威已至澶州，李洪義納之。 王殷迎謁慟哭，以所部兵從郭威涉河。 帝遣內養鸗脫覘郭威，威獲之，以表置鸗脫衣領中，使歸白帝曰：「臣昨得詔書，延頸俟死。 郭崇威等不忍殺臣，雲此皆陛下左右貪權無厭者譖臣耳，逼臣南行，詣闕請罪。 臣求死不獲，力不能制。 臣數日當至闕庭。 陛下若以臣為有罪，安敢逃刑！ 若實有譖臣者，願執付軍前以快眾心，臣敢不撫諭諸軍，退歸鄴都！」
That same day Guo Wei was already at Danzhou. Li Hongyi opened the gates. Wang Yin came out weeping to meet him and crossed the river with his troops behind Guo Wei. The emperor sent the inner attendant Ying Tuo to spy on Guo Wei. Guo Wei seized him, tucked a memorial into his collar, and sent him back with a message: "Yesterday I received the edict and offered my neck for the blade. Guo Chongwei and the others could not bear to kill me. They say your greedy attendants slandered me and forced me south to plead at court. I sought death and was denied. I have not the power to resist. In a few days I will stand before the throne. If I am guilty, I will not flee punishment! If I was slandered, hand the slanderers to the army and I will calm the troops and withdraw to Yedu!"
55
庚辰，郭威趣滑州。 辛巳，義成節度使宋延渥迎降。 延渥，洛陽人，其妻晉高祖女永寧公主也。 郭威取滑州庫物以勞將士，且諭之曰：「聞侯令公已督諸軍自南來，今遇之，交戰則非入朝之義，不戰則為其所屬。 吾欲全汝曹功名，不若奉行前詔，吾死不恨！」 皆曰：「國家負公，公不負國，所以萬人爭奮。 如報私仇，侯益輩何能為乎！」 王峻徇於眾曰：「我得公處分，俟克京城，聽旬日剽掠。」 眾皆踴躍。
On gengchen Guo Wei marched on Huazhou. On xinsi, Song Yanwo of Yicheng came out to welcome him and surrendered. Song Yanwo was from Luoyang; his wife was Princess Yongning, daughter of the late Jin emperor Gaozu. Guo Wei opened Huazhou's stores to reward the army and told them, "Hou Yi is driving the imperial forces south. Battle would betray the purpose of this march; refusal would put us under his command. I would save your honor. Better execute the old order—I will not regret dying!" They answered, "The state wronged you; you did not wrong the state. That is why ten thousand men press forward. If this is vengeance, what can Hou Yi and his sort do?" Wang Jun cried through the ranks, "By the general's order—ten days of plunder once we take the capital!" The men roared with eagerness.
56
辛巳，鸗脫至大梁。 前此帝議自往澶州，聞郭威已至河上而止。 帝甚有悔懼之色，私謂竇貞固曰：「屬者亦太草草。」 李業等請傾府庫以賜諸軍，蘇禹珪以為未可，業拜禹珪於帝前，曰：「相公且為天子勿惜府庫！」 乃賜禁軍人二十緡，下軍半之，將士在北者給其家，仍使通家信以誘之。
On xinsi, Ying Tuo reached Daliang. The emperor had considered going to Danzhou himself, but halted when he learned Guo Wei had reached the Yellow River. Fear and regret showed on his face. To Dou Zhengu he whispered, "We moved too rashly." Li Ye demanded the treasury be emptied to pay the army. Su Yugui objected. Li Ye bowed to him before the emperor: "Chancellor—for the emperor's sake, do not hoard the vault!" Palace guards received twenty strings of cash each, lesser ranks half that. Families of northern troops got rations; letters from home were allowed through to turn them.
57
壬午，郭威軍至封丘，人情忷懼。 太后泣曰：「不用李濤之言，宜其亡也！」 慕容彥超恃其驍勇，言於帝曰：「臣視北軍猶蠛蠓耳，當為陛下生致其魁！」 退，見聶文進，問北來兵數及將校姓名，頗懼，曰：「是亦劇賊，未易輕也！」 帝復遣左神武統軍袁㠖、前威勝節度使劉重進等帥禁軍與侯益等會屯赤岡。 㠖，像先之子也。 彥超以大軍屯七里店。
On renwu Guo Wei reached Fengqiu. Dread spread through the city. The empress dowager wept, "Had we listened to Li Tao, none of this would have come!" Murong Yanchao, sure of his own ferocity, told the emperor, "The northern army is gnats to me. I will bring you their leader alive!" Withdrawn, he asked Nie Wenjin how many northerners were coming and who led them. His bravado collapsed. "Hard fighters," he said. "Not to be taken lightly." The emperor sent Yuan Qiang of the Left Spirit Martial Guard, Liu Chongjin of Weisheng, and others with the palace guard to join Hou Yi at Chigang. Yuan Qiang was the son of Xiangxian. Murong Yanchao camped the main force at Qilidian.
58
癸未，南、北軍遇於劉子陂。 帝欲自出勞軍，太后曰：「郭威吾家故舊，非死亡切身，何以至此！ 但按兵守城，飛詔諭之，觀其志趣，必有辭理，則君臣之禮尚全，慎勿輕出。」 帝不從。 時扈從軍甚盛，太后遣使戒聶文進曰：「大須在意！」 對曰：「有臣在，雖郭威百人，可擒也！」 至暮，兩軍不戰，帝還宮。 慕容彥超大言曰：「陛下來日宮中無事，幸再出觀臣破賊。 臣不必與之戰，但叱散使歸營耳！」
On guimwei the southern and northern armies faced each other at Liuzipo. The emperor wanted to ride out and rally the troops. The empress dowager said, "Guo Wei is an old friend of our house. Only mortal peril would bring him to this! Hold the walls. Send urgent edicts, read his intent—there must be room to talk, and lord and subject may yet keep their forms. Do not go out lightly." The emperor would not listen. The imperial escort was huge. The empress dowager sent word to Nie Wenjin: "Take care!" He answered, "With me here, a hundred Guo Weis could be taken!" By evening neither side had struck. The emperor returned to the palace. Murong Yanchao boasted, "Tomorrow the palace will be untroubled, Majesty. Come watch me break the rebels. I need not even fight—I will shout them apart and send them back to camp!"
59
甲申，帝欲再出，太后力止之，不可。 既陳，郭威戒其眾曰：「吾來誅群小，非敢敵天子也，慎勿先動。」 久之，慕容彥超引輕騎直前奮擊，郭崇威與前博州刺史李榮帥騎兵拒之。 彥超馬倒，幾獲之。 彥超引兵退，麾下死者百餘人，於是諸軍奪氣，稍稍降於北軍。 侯益、吳虔裕、張彥超、袁㠖、劉重進皆潛往見郭威，威各遣還營，又謂宋延渥曰：「天子方危，公近親，宜以牙兵往衛乘輿，且附奏陛下，願乘間早幸臣營。」 延渥未至御營，亂兵雲擾，不敢進而還。 比暮，南軍多歸於北。 慕容彥超與麾下十餘騎奔還兗州。 是夕，帝獨與三相及從官數十人宿於七里寨，餘皆逃潰。 乙酉旦，郭威望見天子旌旗在高阪上，下馬免冑往從之，至則帝已去矣。 帝策馬將還宮，至玄化門，劉銖在門上，問帝左右：「兵馬何在？」 因射左右。 帝回轡，西北至趙村，追兵已至，帝下馬入民家，為亂兵所弒。 蘇逢吉、閻晉卿、郭允明皆自殺。 聶文進挺身走，軍士追趕斬之。 李業奔陝州，後匡贊奔兗州。 郭威聞帝遇弒，號慟曰：「老夫之罪也！」 威至玄化門，劉銖雨射城外。 威自迎春門入，歸私第，遣前曹州防禦使何福進將兵守明德門。 諸軍大掠，通夕煙火四發。 軍士入前義成節度使白再榮之第，執再榮，盡掠其財，既而進曰：「某等昔嘗趨走麾下，一旦無禮至此，何面目復見公！」 遂刎其首而去。
On jiashen the emperor wanted to ride out again. The empress dowager fought to stop him and failed. When the lines were set, Guo Wei warned his men, "I come to kill the rats at court, not to fight the emperor. Do not strike first." After a long standoff Murong Yanchao charged with light cavalry. Guo Chongwei and Li Rong of Bozhou met him with horse. Yanchao's horse went down. He was nearly taken. He pulled back with more than a hundred dead. Heart went out of the southern ranks; one by one they went over to the north. Hou Yi, Wu Qianyu, Zhang Yanchao, Yuan Qiang, and Liu Chongjin slipped away to Guo Wei. He sent each back to camp and told Song Yanwo, "The emperor is in danger. You are kin—take your guard to the imperial carriage and ask that his Majesty come to my camp when he can." Before Song Yanwo reached the imperial camp, chaos swarmed like clouds. He dared not go on and turned back. By evening the southern army had mostly gone north. Murong Yanchao fled to Yanzhou with a dozen riders. That night the emperor slept at the Qili stockade with only the three chief councilors and a few dozen attendants. Everyone else ran. At dawn on yiyou Guo Wei saw the imperial banners on a rise. He dismounted, bared his head, and went to them—but the emperor was already gone. The emperor wheeled toward the palace. At the Xuanhua Gate Liu Zhu stood on the tower and called down, "Where is your army?" Then he shot at the emperor's men. The emperor turned northwest to Zhaocun. Pursuers caught him. He dismounted and hid in a peasant's house. Mutinous soldiers killed him there. Su Fengji, Yan Jinqing, and Guo Yunming took their own lives. Nie Wenjin ran on foot. Soldiers chased him down and killed him. Li Ye fled to Shanzhou; Hou Kuangzan to Yanzhou. When Guo Wei heard the emperor was dead he wailed, "This old man's crime!" At the Xuanhua Gate Liu Zhu showered arrows from the wall. Guo Wei entered by the Yingchun Gate, went to his own house, and sent He Fujin of Caozhou to hold the Mingde Gate. The army looted without restraint. Fires burned on every side through the night. Soldiers broke into the house of Bai Zairong, former governor of Yicheng, seized him, and stripped him bare. One said, "We once served under you—and now we have shamed you. What face have we to meet yours?" They cut off his head and went.
60
吏部侍郎張允，家貲以萬計，而性吝，雖妻亦不之委，常自系眾鑰於衣下，行如環珮。 是夕，匿於佛殿藻井之上，登者浸多，板壞而墜，軍士掠其衣，遂以凍卒。
Zhang Yun of the Ministry of Personnel was worth tens of thousands yet could not spend a coin. He trusted not even his wife. He wore all his keys beneath his robe, clinking like jade as he walked. That night he hid in the rafters of a temple hall. Others climbed up; the beams gave way and he fell. Soldiers took his clothes. He froze to death.
61
初，作坊使賈延徽有寵於帝，與魏仁浦為鄰，欲並仁浦所居以自廣，屢譖仁浦於帝，幾至不測。 至是，有擒延徽以授仁浦者，仁浦謝曰：「因亂而報怨，吾所不為也！」 郭威聞之，待仁浦益厚。
Once, Jia Yanhui of the workshops had the emperor's favor. Neighbor to Guo Wei, he wanted Wei Renpu's house for his own and slandered Renpu to the throne until disaster nearly found him. Now men seized Yanhui and brought him to Renpu. Renpu refused: "I will not settle scores in chaos!" Guo Wei heard and favored Renpu all the more.
62
右千牛衛大將軍棗強趙鳳曰：「郭侍中舉兵，欲誅君側之惡以安國家耳； 而鼠輩敢爾，乃賊也，豈侍中意邪！」 執弓矢，踞胡床，坐於巷首，掠者至，輒射殺之，裡中皆賴以全。
Zhao Feng of Zaoqiang, Right Thousand-Ox Gate general, said, "Attendant Guo marched to kill the evil beside the throne and save the realm— and these rats dare this? They are bandits! Is this what Attendant Guo wanted?" He took bow and arrow, sat on a camp stool at the lane mouth, and shot every looter who came. The neighborhood survived because of him.
63
丙戌，獲劉銖、李洪建，囚之。 銖謂其妻曰：「我死，汝且為人婢乎？」 妻曰：「以公所為，雅當然耳！」
On bingxu Liu Zhu and Li Hongjian were taken and jailed. Liu Zhu told his wife, "When I die, will you be another man's servant?" His wife said, "Given what you have done, that is only fitting."
64
王殷、郭崇威言於郭威曰：「不止剽掠，今夕止有空城耳。」 威乃命諸將分部禁止掠者，不從則斬之。 至晡，乃定。
Wang Yin and Guo Chongwei said to Guo Wei, "If we do not stop the looting, by tonight there will be nothing left but an empty city." Guo Wei ordered his generals to divide the city and suppress looters; anyone who refused was beheaded. By late afternoon the city was calm again.
65
竇貞固、蘇禹珪自七里寨逃歸，郭威使人訪求得之，尋復其位。 貞固為相，值楊、史弄權，李業等作亂，但以凝重處其間，自全而已。 郭威命有司遷隱帝梓宮於西宮。 或請如魏高貴鄉公故事，葬以公禮。 威不許，曰：「倉猝之際，吾不能保衛乘輿，罪已大矣，況敢貶君乎！」 太師馮道帥百官謁見郭威，威見，猶拜之，道受拜如平時，徐曰：「侍中此行不易！」 丁亥，郭威帥百官詣明德門起居太后，且奏稱：「軍國事殷，請早立嗣君。」 太后誥稱：「郭允明弒逆，神器不可無主。 河東節度使崇，忠武節度使信，皆高祖之弟； 武寧節度使贇，開封尹勳，高祖之子。 其令百官議擇所宜。」 贇，崇之子也，高祖愛之，養視如子。 郭威、王峻入見太后於萬歲宮，請以勳為嗣。 太后曰：「勳久贏疾不能起。」 威出諭諸將，諸將請見之，太后令左右以臥榻舉之示諸將，諸將乃信之。 於是郭威與峻議立贇。 己丑，郭威帥百官表請以贇承大統。 太后誥所司，擇日，備法駕迎贇即皇帝位。 郭威奏遣太師馮道及樞密直學士王度、秘書監趙上交詣徐州奉迎。 郭威之討三叛也，每見朝廷詔書，處分軍事皆合機宜，問使者：「誰為此詔？」 使者以翰林學士范質對。 威曰：「宰相器也。」 入城，訪求得之，甚喜。 時大雪，威解所服紫袍衣之，令草太后誥令，迎新君儀注。 蒼黃之中，討論撰定，皆得其宜。
Dou Zhengu and Su Yugui fled back from Qili Stockade. Guo Wei had them tracked down and soon restored them to office. Zhengu had been chancellor while Yang Bin and Shi Hongzhao manipulated power and Li Ye stirred rebellion; he had survived by holding himself aloof and grave—nothing more. Guo Wei ordered the Hidden Emperor's coffin moved to the Western Palace. Some urged that he be buried with ducal honors, as the Wei had done for the Duke of Gaogui Township. Guo Wei refused. "In that desperate hour I failed to protect the throne," he said. "My guilt was already great enough—how could I dare demean my sovereign further?" Grand Preceptor Feng Dao led the officials to pay their respects to Guo Wei. Guo Wei still bowed to him; Feng received the bow as he always had and said quietly, "Your Excellency, this road you have walked was not an easy one." “On dinghai, Guo Wei led the officials to the Gate of Virtuous Clarity to attend the Empress Dowager and memorialized that state and military affairs were pressing and a successor should be enthroned without delay.” “The Empress Dowager's decree declared that Guo Yunming had murdered his sovereign and that the throne could not remain empty. Chong, military governor of Hedong, and Xin, military governor of Zhongwu, were both younger brothers of Gaozu. Yun, military governor of Wuning, and Xun, mayor of Kaifeng, were sons of Gaozu. Let the officials meet and choose whoever is most suitable." Yun was Chong's son, but Gaozu loved him and raised him as if he were his own. Guo Wei and Wang Jun went to the Palace of Ten Thousand Years and asked the Empress Dowager to name Xun as heir. The Empress Dowager said, "Xun has long been crippled by illness and cannot even rise." Guo Wei went out and told the generals. They asked to see Xun for themselves, and the Empress Dowager had attendants carry his sickbed forward so they could look—then they believed it. Guo Wei and Wang Jun then agreed to install Liu Yun instead. On jichou, Guo Wei led the officials in petitioning that Liu Yun succeed to the throne. The Empress Dowager ordered the appropriate offices to fix a date, prepare the imperial escort, and bring Yun to the capital to be enthroned. Guo Wei proposed sending Grand Preceptor Feng Dao, Hanlin academician Wang Du, and Secretariat director Zhao Shangjiao to Xuzhou to escort the new emperor west. While Guo Wei was suppressing the three rebellions, he noticed that every court edict on military affairs was perfectly timed. He asked the messenger, "Who wrote these orders?" The messenger answered: Hanlin academician Fan Zhi. "Chancellor timber," Guo Wei said. Once inside the capital he found Fan Zhi and was delighted. Heavy snow was falling. Guo Wei stripped off his own purple robe and put it on Fan, then had him draft the Empress Dowager's enthronement decree and the protocol for welcoming the new emperor. Amid the panic and haste, every clause they debated and settled proved sound.
66
初，隱帝遣供奉官押班陽曲張永德賜昭義節度使常思生辰物。 永德，郭威之婿也，會楊邠等誅，密詔思殺永德。 思素聞郭威多奇異，囚永德以觀變，及威克大梁，思乃釋永德而謝之。 庚寅，郭威帥百官上言：「比皇帝到闕，動涉浹旬，請太后臨朝聽政。」
Earlier the Hidden Emperor had sent Zhang Yongde of Yangqu, a director of palace attendants, to present birthday gifts to Chang Si, military governor of Zhaoyi. Yongde was Guo Wei's son-in-law. When Yang Bin and his faction were killed, a secret order commanded Chang Si to murder him. Chang Si had long heard that Guo Wei was a man of uncanny fortune. He kept Yongde in custody to see which way the wind would blow; when Guo Wei seized Daliang, Chang freed Yongde and apologized. On gengyin, Guo Wei led the officials in asking that the Empress Dowager preside over court, since the new emperor would not reach the capital for more than ten days."
67
先是，馬希萼遣蠻兵圍玉潭，朱進忠引兵會之。 崔洪璉兵敗，奔還長沙。 希萼引兵繼進，攻岳州，刺史王贇拒之，五日不克。 希萼使人謂贇曰：「公非馬氏之臣乎？ 不事我，欲事異國乎？ 為人臣而懷貳心，豈不辱其先人？」 贇曰：「亡父為先王將，六破淮南兵。 今大王兄弟不相容，贇常恐淮南坐收其弊，一旦以遺體臣淮南，誠辱先人耳！ 大王苟能釋憾罷兵，兄弟雍睦如初，贇敢不盡死以事大王兄弟，豈有二心乎？」 希萼慚，引兵去。 辛卯，至湘陰，焚掠而過。 至長沙，軍於湘西，步兵及蠻兵軍於岳麓，朱進忠自玉潭引兵會之。
Earlier Ma Xie had sent tribal warriors to besiege Yutan, and Zhu Jinzhong marched to join him. Cui Honglian was defeated and fled back to Changsha. Ma Xie pressed on to Yue Prefecture. Prefect Wang Yun held the city, and after five days Xie still could not take it. Ma Xie sent a messenger to Wang Yun: "Are you not a servant of the Ma house? If you will not serve me, will you serve a foreign power instead? A subject who keeps a second heart—would that not shame his ancestors?" Wang Yun answered, "My dead father served the late king as a general and six times routed the armies of Huainan. Now the king's own brothers turn on each other. I live in fear that Huainan will sit back and profit from our ruin—and that one day this body of mine should bow to Huainan would be a true disgrace to my forebears! If you can lay down your grudge and sheathe your sword, and the brothers live in peace as before, I would gladly die in your service. Would I then keep a divided heart?" Ashamed, Ma Xie withdrew. On xinmao he reached Xiangyin and burned and looted his way through. At Changsha he camped west of the river; his foot soldiers and tribal auxiliaries camped at Yuelu, and Zhu Jinzhong brought his forces from Yutan to link up.
68
馬希廣遣劉彥瑫召水軍指揮使許可瓊帥戰艦五百艘屯城北津，屬於南津，以馬希崇為監軍。 又遣馬軍指揮使李彥溫將騎兵屯駝口，扼湘陰路，步軍指揮使韓禮將二千人屯楊柳橋，扼柵路。 可瓊，德勳之子也。
Ma Xiguang sent Liu Yantang to summon Xu Keqiong, commander of the river fleet, to anchor five hundred warships at the city's north ford under the south ford's command, with Ma Xichong as overseer. He also posted Li Yanwen and his cavalry at Tuokou to block the road from Xiangyin, and Han Li with two thousand foot soldiers at Yangliu Bridge to block the stockade route. Keqiong was the son of the famed general Xu Dexun.
69
壬辰，太后始臨朝，以王峻為樞密使，袁㠖為宣徽南院使，王殷為侍衛馬步軍都指揮使，郭崇威為侍衛馬軍都指揮使，曹威為侍衛步軍都指揮使，陳州刺史李穀權判三司。
On renchen the Empress Dowager began to hold court. Wang Jun became director of the Bureau of Military Affairs; Yuan Yi, commissioner of the southern palace secretariat; Wang Yin, commander of the palace guard horse and foot; Guo Chongwei, commander of palace cavalry; Cao Wei, commander of palace infantry; and Li Gu of Chenzhou was made acting head of the Three Departments.
70
劉銖、李洪建及其黨皆梟首於市，而赦其家。 郭威謂公卿曰：「劉銖屠吾家，吾復屠其家，怨仇反覆，庸有極乎！」 由是數家獲免。 王殷屢為洪建請免死，郭威不許。 後匡贊至兗州，慕容彥超執而獻之。 李業至陝州，其兄保義節度使洪信不敢匿於家。 業懷金將奔晉陽，至絳州，盜殺之而取其金。
Liu Zhu, Li Hongjian, and their accomplices were beheaded and their heads displayed in the market, but their families were spared. Guo Wei told the court, "Liu Zhu butchered my family. If I butcher his in turn, hatred will chase hatred forever—where would it end?" Several families were spared because of this. Wang Yin pleaded again and again for Hongjian's life, but Guo Wei refused. Later Hou Kuangzan fled to Yanzhou, where Murong Yanchao seized him and handed him over. Li Ye reached Shanzhou, but his brother Hongxin, military governor of Baoyi, dared not shelter him. Li Ye fled toward Jinyang with gold in his pack. At Jiangzhou a bandit killed him and stole it.
71
蜀施州刺史田行皋奔荊南。 高保融曰：「彼貳於蜀，安肯盡忠於我！」 執之，歸於蜀，伏誅。
Tian Xinggao, prefect of Shi in Shu, defected to Jingnan. Gao Baorong said, "A man who betrayed Shu will never serve us faithfully!" He was arrested, sent back to Shu, and executed.
72
鎮州、刑州奏：「契丹主將數萬騎入寇，攻內丘，五日不克，死傷其眾。 有戍兵五百叛應契丹，引契丹入城，屠之，又陷饒陽。」 太后敕郭威將大軍擊之，國事權委竇貞固、蘇禹珪、王峻，軍事委王殷。 十二月，甲午朔，郭威發大梁。
“Reports from Zhenzhou and Xingzhou said the Khitan khan had invaded with tens of thousands of horsemen, besieged Neiqiu for five days without success, and lost many men. Five hundred garrison troops mutinied, opened the gates to the Khitan, and the city was slaughtered. Raoyang fell next." The Empress Dowager ordered Guo Wei north with the main army. Civil affairs were left to Dou Zhengu, Su Yugui, and Wang Jun; military affairs to Wang Yin. On the jiawu new moon of the twelfth month, Guo Wei marched out of Daliang.
73
丁酉，以翰林學士、戶部侍郎范質為樞密副使。
On dingyou, Fan Zhi, hanlin academician and vice minister of revenue, was appointed deputy director of the Bureau of Military Affairs.
74
初，蠻酋彭師暠降於楚，楚人惡其獷直。 楚王希廣獨憐之，以為強弩指揮使，領辰州刺史，師暠常欲為希廣死。 及朱進忠與蠻兵合七千餘人至長沙，營於江西，師暠登城望之，言於希廣曰：「朗人驟勝而驕，雜以蠻兵，攻之易破也。 願假臣步卒三千，自巴溪渡江，出岳麓之後，至水西，令許可瓊以戰艦渡江，腹背合擊，必破之。 前軍敗，則其大軍自不敢輕進矣。」 希廣將從之。 時馬希萼已遣間使以厚利啖許可瓊，許分湖南而治，可瓊有貳心，乃謂希廣曰：「師暠與梅山諸蠻皆族類，安可信也！ 可瓊世為楚將，必不負大王，希萼竟何能為！」 希廣乃止。 希萼尋以戰艦四百餘艘泊江西。 希廣命諸將皆受可瓊節度，日賜可瓊銀五百兩，希廣屢造其營計事。 可瓊常閉壘，不使士卒知朗軍進退。 希廣歎曰：「真將軍也，吾何憂哉！」 可瓊或夜乘單舸詐稱巡江，與希萼會水西，約為內應。 一旦，彭師暠見可瓊，瞋目叱之，拂衣入見希廣曰：「可瓊將叛國，人皆知之，請速除之，無貽後患。」 希廣曰：「可瓊，許侍中之子，豈有是邪！」 師暠退，歎曰：「王仁而不斷，敗亡可翹足俟也！」
Earlier the tribal chief Peng Shigao had submitted to Chu, but the Chu court disliked his blunt, rough manner. King Xiguang alone favored him, made him commander of crossbowmen and prefect of Chen, and Shigao was ready to die for him. When Zhu Jinzhong and more than seven thousand tribal soldiers reached Changsha and camped west of the river, Shigao climbed the wall to watch them and told Xiguang, "The Langzhou men are flush with a quick victory and drunk on pride, and their ranks are laced with tribesmen. Strike them and they will break. Give me three thousand foot soldiers. I will cross at Baxi, come out behind Yuelu, and take the west bank. Have Xu Keqiong ferry his warships across—we will crush them between hammer and anvil. Once their vanguard breaks, the main host will not dare press forward." Xiguang was ready to assent. By then Ma Xie had already bribed Xu Keqiong through secret agents, promising to split Hunan between them. Keqiong's heart was divided, and he told Xiguang, "Shigao and the Meishan tribes are kin—how can you trust him? My family has served Chu for generations. I would never betray you. What can Xie truly do?" Xiguang dropped the plan. Ma Xie soon moored more than four hundred warships on the west bank. Xiguang placed every general under Keqiong's command, sent him five hundred taels of silver each day, and visited his camp again and again to consult. Keqiong kept his camp shut and hid from his men whether the Langzhou army advanced or retreated. Xiguang sighed with relief: "A true general. What is there to fear?" Keqiong would slip out at night in a single boat, pretending to patrol the river, and meet Ma Xie on the west bank to arrange treason from within. One day Shigao caught sight of Keqiong, glared at him, then strode in to Xiguang and said, "Keqiong is about to sell the kingdom—everyone knows it. Remove him now, before the wound festers." Xiguang replied, "Keqiong is the son of Xu Dexun. How could he do such a thing?" Shigao withdrew and sighed, "The king is kind but cannot choose. Disaster is only a step away."
75
潭州大雪，平地四尺，潭、朗兩軍久不得戰。 希廣信巫覡及僧語，塑鬼於江上，舉手以卻朗兵，又作大像於高樓，手指水西，怒目視之，命眾僧日夜誦經，希廣自衣僧服膜拜求福。
Tanzhou was buried in snow four feet deep on level ground, and the Tan and Lang armies could not come to blows for days. Xiguang put his faith in shamans and monks. They molded a demon on the riverbank and lifted its hand to drive back the Langzhou army; they erected a giant idol on a tower, finger thrust toward the west bank, eyes blazing, and set monks to chant without rest. Xiguang himself put on monk's robes and bowed for luck.
76
甲辰，朗州步軍指揮使武陵何敬真等以蠻兵三千陳於楊柳橋，敬真望韓禮營旌旗紛錯，曰：「彼眾已懼，擊之易破也。」 朗人雷暉衣潭卒之服潛入禮寨，手劍擊禮，不中，軍中驚擾。 敬真等乘其亂擊之，禮軍大潰，禮被創走，至家而卒。 於是朗兵水陸急攻長沙，步軍指揮使吳宏、小門使楊滌相謂曰：「以死報國，此其時矣！」 各引兵出戰。 宏出清泰門，戰不利。 滌出長樂，戰自辰至午，朗兵小卻。 許可瓊、劉彥瑫按兵不救。 滌士卒饑疲，退就食。 彭師暠戰於城東北隅。 蠻兵自城東縱火，城上人招許可瓊軍使救城，可瓊舉全軍降希萼，長沙遂陷。 朗兵及蠻兵大掠三日，殺吏民，焚廬舍，自武穆王以來所營宮室，皆為灰燼，所積寶貨，皆入蠻落。 李彥溫望見城中火起，自駝口引兵救之，朗人已據城拒戰。 彥溫攻清泰門，不克，與劉彥瑫各將千餘人奉文昭王及希廣諸子趣袁州，遂奔唐。 張暉降於希萼。 左司馬希崇帥將吏詣希萼勸進。 吳宏戰，血滿袖，見希萼曰：「不幸為許可瓊所誤，今日死，不愧先王矣！」 彭師暠投槊於地，大呼請死。 希萼歎曰：「鐵石人也！」 皆不殺。
On jiachen, He Jingzhen of Wuling and other Langzhou infantry commanders drew up three thousand tribal soldiers at Yangliu Bridge. Jingzhen saw Han Li's banners in confusion and said, "They are already rattled. Hit them and they will shatter." Lei Hui, a Langzhou man disguised in Tan uniform, stole into Han Li's camp and lunged at him with a sword. He missed, but the camp erupted in panic. Jingzhen charged into the confusion. Han Li's force collapsed. Li was wounded, fled home, and died there. The Langzhou army then pressed Changsha by land and water. Infantry commander Wu Hong and junior gate commissioner Yang Di said to each other, "If not now, when do we repay the state with our lives?" Each marched out to fight. Wu Hong sallied from the Gate of Pure Felicity and was beaten back. Yang Di went out from Changle and fought from morning until noon, forcing the Langzhou lines back a little. Xu Keqiong and Liu Yantang held their men back and did not move to help. Yang Di's exhausted, hungry soldiers fell back to eat. Peng Shigao fought at the northeast corner of the wall. Tribal soldiers torched the eastern quarter. Defenders on the wall cried to Xu Keqiong's fleet for help. Instead Keqiong surrendered his whole force to Ma Xie, and Changsha fell. Lang and tribal soldiers looted for three days, killing officials and common people and burning houses. Every palace raised since King Wumu was reduced to ash, and the hoarded wealth vanished into the hill country. From Tuokou, Li Yanwen saw flames over the city and rushed to relieve it, but the Langzhou men already held the walls and fought him off. Yanwen assaulted the Gate of Pure Felicity and failed. He and Liu Yantang each took more than a thousand men, escorted King Wenzhao and Xiguang's sons toward Yuanzhou, and fled to Southern Tang. Zhang Hui submitted to Ma Xie. Left marshal Ma Xichong led the officers to Ma Xie and urged him to take power. Wu Hong, his sleeves drenched in blood, faced Ma Xie and said, "Xu Keqiong misled us. If I die today, I will not shame the late king." Peng Shigao threw down his spear and shouted that he wished to die. Ma Xie sighed, "Men cast from iron and stone." He spared them both.
77
乙巳，希崇迎希萼入府視事，閉城，分捕希廣及掌書記李弘皋、弟弘節、都軍判官唐昭胤及鄧懿文、楊滌等，皆獲之。 希萼謂希廣曰：「承父兄之業，豈無長幼乎？」 希廣曰：「將吏見推，朝廷見命耳。」 希萼皆囚之。 丙午，希萼命內外巡檢侍衛指揮使劉賓禁止焚掠。 丁未，希萼自稱天策上將軍、武安、武平、靜江、寧遠等軍節度使、楚王。 以希崇為節度副使、判官府事，湖南要職，悉以朗人為之。 臠食李弘皋、弘節、唐昭胤、楊滌，斬鄧懿文於市。 戊申，希萼謂將吏曰：「希廣懦夫，為左右所制耳，吾欲生之，可乎？」 諸將皆不對。 朱進忠嘗為希廣所答，對曰：「大王三年血戰，始得長沙，一國不容二主，他日必悔之。」 戊申，賜希廣死。 希廣臨刑，猶誦佛書，彭師暠葬之於瀏陽門外。
On yisi, Xichong ushered Ma Xie into the prefectural seat to take command, sealed the city, and sent parties to seize Xiguang, chief secretary Li Honggao, his brother Hongjie, army judge Tang Zhaoyin, Deng Yiwen, Yang Di, and others. All were captured. Ma Xie said to Xiguang, "When a man inherits his father's and elder brother's realm, does he not know elder from younger?" Xiguang answered, "The officers chose me, and the court confirmed it—that is all." Ma Xie had them all imprisoned. On bingwu, Ma Xie ordered patrol commander Liu Bin to stop the burning and looting. On dingwei, Ma Xie proclaimed himself generalissimo of the Heavenly Strategy, military governor of Wuan, Wuping, Jingjiang, Ningyuan, and other circuits, and king of Chu. He made Xichong deputy military governor and head of headquarters affairs, and filled every important post in Hunan with men from Langzhou. He had Li Honggao, Hongjie, Tang Zhaoyin, and Yang Di cut to pieces and ate their flesh; Deng Yiwen was beheaded in the market. On wushen, Ma Xie asked his officers, "Xiguang is a coward pushed around by his counselors. I want to let him live. May I?" The officers said nothing. Zhu Jinzhong, whom Xiguang had once beaten, answered, "Great king, you bled for three years to win Changsha. A kingdom cannot hold two rulers. One day you will regret mercy." On wushen, Xiguang was put to death. At the block Xiguang still recited sutras. Peng Shigao buried him outside the Liuyang Gate.
78
武寧節度使贇留右都押牙鞏延美、元從都教練使楊溫守徐州，與馮道等西來，在道仗衛，皆如王者，左右呼萬歲。 郭威至滑州。 留數日，贇遣使慰勞。 諸將受命之際，相顧不拜，私相謂曰：「我輩屠陷京城，其罪大矣，若劉氏復立，我輩尚有種乎！」 己酉，威聞之，即引兵行，趣澶州。 辛亥，遣蘇禹珪如宋州迎嗣君。
Liu Yun, military governor of Wuning, left Geng Yanmei and Yang Wen to hold Xuzhou and marched west with Feng Dao and the others. On the road his escort matched a sovereign's, and his attendants shouted "Long live the emperor!" Guo Wei reached Huazhou. After several days there, Yun sent envoys to comfort and reward the army. When the generals received Yun's orders they looked at one another and refused to bow. Among themselves they said, "We plundered the capital. Our crime is grave. If the Liu house returns, will any of us survive?" On jiyou, hearing this, Guo Wei marched at once for Danzhou. On xinhai he sent Su Yugui to Songzhou to welcome the heir.
79
楚王希萼以子光贊為武平留後，以何敬真為朗州牙內都指揮使，將兵戍之。 希萼召拓跋恆，欲用之，恆稱疾不起。
King Ma Xie made his son Guangzan military commissioner of Wuping and appointed He Jingzhen commander of Langzhou's inner guard to garrison the city. Ma Xie summoned Tuoba Heng to office, but Heng pleaded illness and would not serve.
80
壬子，郭威渡河，館於澶州。 癸丑旦，將發，將士數千人忽大噪。 威命閉門，將士逾垣登屋而入曰：「天子須侍中自為之，將士已與劉氏為仇，不可立也！」 或裂黃旗以被威體，共扶抱之，呼萬歲震地，因擁威南行。 威乃上太后箋，請奉漢宗廟，事太后為母。 丙辰，至韋城，下書撫諭大梁士民，以昨離河上，在道秋毫不犯，勿有懷疑。 戊午，威至七里店，竇貞固帥百官出迎拜謁，因勸進。 威營於皋門村。
On renzi, Guo Wei crossed the Yellow River and lodged at Danzhou. At dawn on guichou, just as he was about to march, several thousand soldiers broke into a roar. Guo Wei ordered the gates shut, but soldiers scaled the walls and roofs and burst in, shouting, "The throne must go to the Attendant-in-Ordinary himself! We are already enemies of the Liu house—Yun cannot be emperor!" Some ripped yellow banners and draped them over Guo Wei. They lifted him up, crying "Long live the emperor!" until the ground shook, and carried him south. Guo Wei then memorialized the Empress Dowager, pledging to preserve the Han ancestral temples and honor her as his mother. On bingchen, at Weicheng, he issued a proclamation to calm the people of Daliang: since he had left the river the day before, not a blade of grass had been touched on the march—they need not fear. On wuwu, at Qili Store, Dou Zhengu led the officials out to welcome him and urged him to take the throne. Guo Wei camped at Gaomen Village.
81
武寧節度使贇已至宋州，王峻、王殷聞澶州軍變，遣侍衛馬軍都指揮使郭崇威將七百騎往拒之，又遣前申州刺史馬鐸將兵詣許州巡檢。 崇威忽至宋州，陳於府門外，贇大驚，闔門登樓詰之。 對曰：「澶州軍變，郭公慮陛下未察，故遣崇威來宿衛，無他也。」 贇召崇威，崇威不敢進。 馮道出與崇威語，崇威乃登樓，贇執崇威手而泣。 崇威以郭威意安諭之。 少頃，崇威出，時護聖指揮使張令超帥部兵為贇宿衛，徐州判官董裔說贇曰：「觀崇威視瞻舉措，必有異謀。 道路皆言郭威已為帝，而陛下深入不止，禍其至哉！ 請急召張令超，諭以禍福，使夜以兵動崇威，奪其兵。 明日，掠睢陽金帛，募士卒，北走晉陽。 彼新定京邑，未暇追我，此策之上也！」 贇猶豫未決。 是夕，崇威密誘令超，令超帥眾歸之。 贇大懼。
Liu Yun had already reached Songzhou. When Wang Jun and Wang Yin heard of the mutiny at Danzhou, they sent Guo Chongwei with seven hundred cavalry to intercept him and Ma Duo, former prefect of Shenzhou, to Xuzhou on patrol. Chongwei suddenly appeared at Songzhou and drew up his men outside the prefectural gate. Yun was terrified, barred the doors, climbed the tower, and demanded an explanation. Chongwei answered, "There was a mutiny at Danzhou. Lord Guo feared you had not understood the danger, so he sent me to guard you through the night—nothing more." Yun summoned Chongwei inside, but Chongwei would not enter. Feng Dao went out to parley with him, and only then did Chongwei climb the tower. Yun took his hand and wept. Chongwei soothed him with Guo Wei's assurances. Soon Chongwei left. Zhang Lingchao of the Guardian Sage command was then guarding Yun with his troops. Dong Yi, judge of Xuzhou, warned Yun, "Look at Chongwei's eyes and bearing—he is plotting something. Every road says Guo Wei is already emperor, yet you keep marching west. Ruin is close! Summon Zhang Lingchao at once, show him what is at stake, and have him strike Chongwei by night and take his troops. Tomorrow seize the gold and silk of Suiyang, raise soldiers, and flee north to Jinyang. They have only just taken the capital and will not have time to chase you. It is the best plan left." Yun wavered and could not decide. That night Chongwei secretly turned Zhang Lingchao, and Lingchao brought his men over to him. Yun was stricken with fear.
82
郭威遺贇書，雲為諸軍所迫，召馮道先歸，留趙上交、王度奉侍。 道辭行，贇曰：「寡人此來所恃者，以公三十年舊相，故無疑耳。 今崇威奪吾衛兵，事危矣，公何以為計？」 道默然。 客將賈貞數目道，欲殺之。 贇曰：「汝輩勿草草，此無預馮公事。」 崇威遷贇於外館，殺其腹心董裔、賈貞等數人。
Guo Wei wrote to Yun that the army had forced his hand. He recalled Feng Dao first and left Zhao Shangjiao and Wang Du to attend him. When Feng Dao prepared to leave, Yun said, "I came west trusting you—a minister of thirty years—so I had no fear. Now Chongwei has stripped me of my guard. The danger is real. What do you advise?" Feng Dao said nothing. Jia Zhen, a client officer, kept catching Feng Dao's eye as if to urge his murder. Yun said, "Do nothing rash. This is not Master Feng's fault." Chongwei moved Yun to a guest house and killed his confidants Dong Yi, Jia Zhen, and several others.
83
己未，太后誥，廢贇為湘陰公。
On jiwei, the Empress Dowager deposed Yun and made him Duke of Xiangyin.
84
馬鐸引兵入許州，劉信惶惑自殺。
Ma Duo marched into Xuzhou. Liu Xin, in panic, took his own life.
85
庚申，太后誥，以侍中監國。 百官籓鎮相繼上表勸進。 壬戌夜，監國營有步兵將校醉，揚言向者澶州騎兵扶立，今步兵亦欲扶立，監國斬之。
On gengshen, the Empress Dowager named the Attendant-in-Ordinary regent of the realm. Officials and frontier governors one after another submitted memorials urging him to take the throne. On the night of renxu, a drunken infantry officer in the regent's camp shouted that if the Danzhou cavalry could force an emperor onto the throne, the foot soldiers could do the same. The regent had him beheaded.
86
南漢主以宮人盧瓊仙、黃瓊芝為女侍中，朝服冠帶，參決政事。 宗室勳舊，誅戮殆盡，惟宦官林延遇等用事。
The ruler of Southern Han made the palace women Lu Qiongxian and Huang Qiongzhi female attendants-in-ordinary. They wore court robes, caps, and belts and joined in deciding state affairs. The imperial clan and old meritocrats had been slaughtered almost to the last man; only eunuchs such as Lin Yanyu ran the court.