Tang Records 36
Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 220
[Tang Record 36] From the ninth month of the year Qiangtu Zuoe to the end of the year Zhuyong Yamao, covering a little over one year.
On the dingchou day of the ninth month, Cai Xide led light cavalry to the base of the city wall to issue a challenge. Li Qianli led a hundred cavalry out through the open gate, intending to capture him alive. Just then, reinforcements arrived; Li Qianli withdrew his troops and retreated, but the bridge was damaged, and he fell into the moat, where he was captured by Cai Xide. Lifting his head, he said to his attendant cavalry: "I have been unlucky enough to fall into this predicament—it is Heaven's will! Go back and tell the various generals to defend well: better to lose their commander than to lose the city." Cai Xide attacked the city but ultimately could not take it. He sent Li Qianli to Luoyang, where An Qingxu appointed him tejin and imprisoned him in the guest province.
Guo Ziyi considered the Uyghur troops elite and urged the Emperor to summon their forces again to attack the rebels. Huairen Khagan sent his son, Yegou, along with General Dide and others, leading more than four thousand elite cavalry to Fengxiang. The Emperor received Yegou, feasted him, and granted rewards, satisfying all their requests. On the dinghai day, Marshal Guangping Wang Li Chu led the Shuofang army and others, along with fifteen thousand troops from the Uyghurs and the Western Regions, claiming to be two hundred thousand, and set out from Fengxiang. Li Chu met Yegou, and they became sworn brothers; Yegou was very pleased and called Li Chu "elder brother." When the Uyghur army reached Fufeng, Guo Ziyi kept them there and feasted them for three days. Yegou said: "The state is in dire straits, and we have come from afar to help—how can we spare time for meals!" As soon as the feast ended, they departed. Each day, they were supplied with two hundred sheep, twenty oxen, and forty hu of grain.
On the gengzi day, the various armies set out together. On the renyin day, they arrived west of Chang’an city and formed their battle lines north of Xiangji Temple and east of the Feng River. Li Siye commanded the vanguard, Guo Ziyi the center, and Wang Sili the rear. The rebel army, one hundred thousand strong, formed their lines to the north. Li Guiren came out of the formation to challenge, and the government troops pursued, pressing close to the rebel front. The entire rebel army advanced together, and the government troops fell back, allowing the rebels to press their attack. Panic and chaos broke out among the government troops, and the rebels raced for the baggage train. Li Siye said: "If today we do not use our own lives and families to block the rebels, the army will have no survivors." So he bared his torso, grasped a long sword, stood before the formation, and shouted loudly as he fought fiercely. Those struck by his blade—men and horses alike—were shattered; he killed several dozen, and the front line began to stabilize somewhat. Li Siye then led the vanguard, each holding a long sword, advancing like a wall, taking the lead himself, and wherever they went, nothing could withstand them. Duzhima bingmashi Wang Nande went to rescue his deputy commander; he was shot in the eyebrow by a rebel arrow, and the skin fell down, covering his eye. Wang Nande himself pulled out the arrow and tore away the hanging skin; blood streamed down his face, but he still fought on without stopping. The rebels had hidden elite cavalry east of the formation, intending to attack the government troops’ rear, but scouts discovered them. Shuofang zuoxiang bingmashi Pu Guhuai’en led the Uyghur army to meet them, nearly annihilating them all, and the rebels’ morale was thus broken. Li Siye then joined with the Uyghur army to circle behind the rebel formation, attacking from front and rear together with the main army. From noon until dusk, they beheaded sixty thousand, filling the gullies with dead, and the rebels were utterly defeated. The remnants fled into the city; throughout the night, the clamor did not cease.
Pu Guhuai’en said to Guangping Wang Li Chu: "The rebels have abandoned the city and fled. Allow me to lead two hundred cavalry in pursuit and capture An Shouzhong, Li Guiren, and the others alive." Li Chu said: "You, General, are also exhausted from battle. Rest for a while, and let us discuss it tomorrow." Huai’en said: "Li Guiren and An Shouzhong are the rebels’ bravest generals. They have just won a victory and then suffered defeat—this is a gift from Heaven. How can we let them go! If we allow them to regroup their forces and become a scourge to us again, regret will be too late! In war, speed is precious—why wait until tomorrow!" Li Chu firmly stopped him and ordered him to return to camp. Huai’en repeatedly requested, going and coming back four or five times in a single night. Just before dawn, scouts reported that An Shouzhong, Li Guiren, Zhang Tongru, Tian Qianzhen, and others had all already fled. On the guimao day, the main army entered the Western Capital.
Initially, the Emperor, eager to recover the capital as soon as possible, had made an agreement with the Uyghurs, saying: "On the day the city is taken, the land and the people belong to Tang; the gold, silk, and women all go to the Uyghurs." At this point, Yegou wanted to carry out the agreement. Guangping Wang Li Chu bowed before Yegou’s horse and said: "Now that we have just taken the Western Capital, if we immediately plunder, then the people of the Eastern Capital will all defend the city firmly for the rebels, and it will no longer be possible to take it. I hope we can fulfill the agreement when we reach the Eastern Capital." Yegou, startled, dismounted and returned the bow, knelt, and lifted Li Chu’s foot, saying: "I will go straight to the Eastern Capital for Your Highness." He immediately joined with Pu Guhuai’en to lead the Uyghur and Western Regions armies past the south of the city and encamped on the east bank of the Chan River. The common people, soldiers, and Hu, seeing Li Chu bow, all wept and said: "Guangping Wang is truly the ruler of both Chinese and barbarians!" When the Emperor heard of this, he said joyfully: "I am not as good as him!" Li Chu reorganized the troops and entered the city; the old and young of the people lined the roads, cheering and weeping. Li Chu remained in Chang’an, pacifying for three days, then led the main army eastward. He appointed taizi shaofu Wei Wang Li Ju as the guardian of the Western Capital.
On the jiachen day, the report of victory reached Fengxiang. The hundred officials entered the court to offer congratulations. The Emperor wept freely. That same day, he sent the palace attendant Ding Tingyao into Shu to report to the Retired Emperor, and ordered zuo puye Pei Mian to enter the capital, offer sacrifices at the suburban altars and ancestral temple, and pacify and comfort the people.
The Emperor summoned Li Bi from Chang’an using a swift horse. When Li Bi arrived, the Emperor said: "I have already sent a memorial requesting the Retired Emperor to return east. I should return to the Eastern Palace and resume the duties of a son." Li Bi said: "Can the memorial still be retrieved?" The Emperor said: "It has already been sent far away." Li Bi said: "The Retired Emperor will not come." The Emperor, startled, asked the reason. Li Bi said: "It is naturally so in principle and circumstance." The Emperor said: "Then what should be done?" Li Bi said: "Now, please let us write another memorial in the name of the officials, explaining that from Maweipo’s request to stay, to Lingwu’s urging to ascend the throne, until the present success, the Sage Emperor longs for morning and evening attendance, and requests a swift return to the capital to fulfill his filial care. That will be sufficient." The Emperor immediately had Li Bi draft the memorial. After reading it, the Emperor wept and said: "I was originally sincere in my wish to return the great power. Now, having heard your words, I understand my error." He immediately ordered a palace envoy to take the memorial into Shu, and then drank with Li Bi and slept on the same bed. Meanwhile, Li Fuguo requested that the keys to the palace be handed over to Li Bi, but Li Bi asked that Li Fuguo be allowed to keep them; the Emperor agreed.
Li Bi said: "Your servant has now repaid your grace enough. To become a man of leisure again—what could be more joyful than this!" The Emperor said: "We have shared many years of hardship together. Now is the time for us to enjoy ease together. Why are you in such a hurry to leave!" Li Bi replied: "Your servant has five reasons why he cannot stay. I hope Your Majesty will allow me to leave, so that I may avoid death." The Emperor said: "What do you mean?" Li Bi answered: "Your servant met Your Majesty too early, Your Majesty employed your servant too heavily, favored your servant too deeply, your servant’s merit is too great, and his conduct is too extraordinary—these are the reasons he cannot stay." The Emperor said: "Sleep first; we will discuss it another day." Li Bi replied: "Your Majesty now sleeps on the same mat with your servant and still cannot agree—how much less in the future at court! If Your Majesty does not allow your servant to leave, this is to kill him." The Emperor said: "I did not expect you to be so suspicious of me. How could someone like me kill you? You are regarding me as Gou Jian!" Li Bi replied: "Your Majesty will not kill your servant—that is why your servant dares to ask to leave. If Your Majesty truly intended to kill him, how would your servant dare to speak! Moreover, it is not Your Majesty who would kill your servant, but those ‘five reasons for not staying.’ In the past, when Your Majesty treated your servant so well, there were still things your servant dared not say. Now that the realm is at peace, how would your servant dare to speak!"
After a long time, the Emperor said, "Are you speaking thus because I did not follow your plan for the northern expedition?" Li Mi replied, "It is not that. What I dared not speak of concerns the matter of Prince Jianning." The Emperor said, "Prince Jianning was my beloved son. He was intelligent and resolute, and rendered meritorious service during the difficult times. Did I not know this? Yet because he was incited by petty men, he sought to harm his elder brother and scheme for the succession. For the sake of the state’s greater plan, I had no choice but to remove him. Do you not know the full details of the reason?" Li Mi replied, "If he had such intentions, Prince Guangping should have resented him. But whenever Prince Guangping speaks to me of his, he always weeps and sobs. I must now take leave of Your Majesty before I dare speak of it." The Emperor said, "He once touched Prince Guangping’s body in the night, intending to harm him." Li Mi replied, "These words all come from the mouths of slanderers. How could a man so filial, fraternal, and intelligent as Prince Jianning ever do such a thing? Moreover, when Your Majesty formerly wished to appoint Prince Jianning as Field Marshal, I requested that Prince Guangping be appointed instead. If Prince Jianning truly had such intentions, he should have deeply resented me. Instead, he regarded me as loyal and became even more intimate and friendly. Your Majesty can discern his true feelings from this." The Emperor then wept and said, "What you say is correct. Let bygones be bygones; I do not wish to hear more of it." Li Mi said, "The reason I speak of this is not to dwell on the past, but to urge Your Majesty to be cautious for the future. In former times, the Empress Dowager Tian had four sons. The eldest was Crown Prince Li Hong. The Empress Dowager, plotting to rule as regent, detested his intelligence and poisoned him with wine. She then established the second son, Li Xian, as Prince of Yong. Li Xian was fearful and anxious, and composed the ‘Song of the Melon under the Yellow Terrace,’ hoping to move the Empress Dowager. She did not heed it, and Li Xian ultimately died in Qianzhong. The song says: ‘Plant melons beneath the Yellow Terrace; when ripe, the melons hang in rows. One plucking makes the melon good; a second makes it scarce. A third plucking is still bearable; with the fourth, one holds only the vine!’ Now Your Majesty has already plucked once. Be extremely careful not to pluck again!" The Emperor, startled, said, "How could such a thing be!" He then had the song recorded, saying, "I should write it on my sash." Li Mi replied, "Your Majesty need only keep it in mind—why must it be displayed externally?" At that time, Prince Guangping had great merit, and Consort Zhang Liangdi was jealous of him. She secretly spread rumors, which is why Li Mi brought up this matter. Li Mi again firmly requested to return to the mountains. The Emperor said, "We will discuss this when the time for departure comes."
Guo Ziyi led Tufan and Han troops in pursuit of the rebel army as far as Tong Pass, cutting off five thousand heads and capturing Huayin and Hongnong Commanderies. Over a hundred prisoners from east of the pass were presented as captives, and the Emperor ordered them all beheaded. The Imperial Censor Li Mian said to the Emperor, "Now the chief culprit has not yet been eliminated, and those contaminated by the rebels are spread across the land. Hearing that Your Majesty has raised troops, they all wish to reform and accept Your Majesty’s civilizing influence. To execute them all now would be to drive them to follow the rebels." The Emperor immediately sent someone to pardon them.
Winter, tenth month, Dingwei day (October 28), Dan Tingya arrived in Shu.
Renzi day (November 2), the Xingping Army reported: defeated the rebels at Wu Pass and captured Shangluo Commandery.
Tubo captured Xiping.
Yin Ziqi had besieged Suiyang for a long time. The city’s food was exhausted, and there was discussion of abandoning the city and retreating eastward. Zhang Xun and Xu Yuan deliberated, saying: "Suiyang is the shield of the Jianghuai region. If we abandon it and leave, the rebels will surely take advantage of their victory to drive straight in, and thus we would lose Jianghuai. Moreover, our troops are hungry and weak; a retreat would certainly not succeed. In ancient times, the feudal lords of the Warring States still aided each other—how much more so, when we are near the various commanders! It is better to hold fast and await them." After the tea and paper were exhausted, they ate the horses. When the horses were gone, they netted sparrows and dug up rats. When the sparrows and rats were also gone, Zhang Xun offered up his beloved concubine, killed her, and fed her to the soldiers. Xu Yuan also killed his servant. Then they searched out the women in the city to eat. When the women were gone, they proceeded to eat the old and weak men. Everyone knew they would die, but none rebelled. Only four hundred remained.
Guichou day (November 3), the rebels scaled the city wall. The officers and soldiers were ill and could not fight. Zhang Xun bowed twice to the west and said, "My strength is exhausted. I cannot preserve the city. Alive, I have been unable to repay Your Majesty; dead, I shall become a vengeful spirit to kill the rebels!" The city then fell. Zhang Xun and Xu Yuan were both captured. Yin Ziqi asked Zhang Xun, "I hear that in every battle you fought, your eyes split and your teeth shattered—why is this?" Zhang Xun said, "My resolve was to swallow up the rebels, but my strength was insufficient!" Yin Ziqi pried open his mouth with a knife to examine it; only three or four teeth remained. Yin Ziqi, considering his conduct righteous and admirable, wanted to spare his life. His followers said, "He is a man of integrity and will never serve us. Moreover, he has won the hearts of the troops; leaving him alive will be a future disaster." So Zhang Xun, together with Nan Jiyun, Lei Wanchun, and thirty-six others, was executed. When Zhang Xun faced death, his expression did not change; he was calm and composed as usual. Xu Yuan was sent alive to Luoyang.
When Zhang Xun first defended Suiyang, he had only ten thousand soldiers, and the city’s residents also numbered several tens of thousands. Zhang Xun, upon seeing a person once and asking his name, would never fail to recognize him afterward. In all, there were over four hundred large and small battles, killing one hundred twenty thousand rebels. Zhang Xun’s military methods did not follow ancient texts on battle formations; he ordered each commander to teach according to his own understanding. Someone asked him the reason. Zhang Xun said, "Now we are fighting against the barbarians. They gather like clouds and scatter like birds, changing without fixed pattern. Within a few paces, the situation differs. One must adapt to the moment in the space of a breath. If one constantly has to consult the general, the opportunity is lost—this is not understanding the changes of warfare. Therefore, I make the soldiers understand the general’s intent, and the general understand the soldiers’ condition. When I send them into battle, it is like a hand directing the fingers. When soldiers and commanders know each other well, each man fights for himself—is this not acceptable?" From the time he raised troops, all weapons and armor were seized from the enemy; he never manufactured them himself. Whenever there was a battle, if some soldiers retreated or scattered, Zhang Xun would stand on the battlefield and say to them, "I will not leave this place. You go back and fight to the death for me." The soldiers never dared not to return and fight to the death, and ultimately they would break the enemy. Furthermore, he treated others with sincerity, without suspicion or concealment. When facing the enemy and adapting to circumstances, he produced endless surprises. His orders were strict and clear, his rewards and punishments trustworthy. He shared hardships and pleasures with everyone, so his subordinates vied to die for him.
Zhang Hao, hearing that Suiyang was under urgent siege, traveled day and night at full speed. He issued orders to the military commissioners of Zhedong, Zhexi, Huainan, and Beihai, as well as to the Governor of Qiaojun, Lüqiu Xiao, commanding them to jointly come to the rescue. Lüqiu Xiao had always been arrogant and fierce; he did not accept Zhang Hao’s orders. By the time Zhang Hao arrived, Suiyang had already fallen three days earlier. Zhang Hao summoned Lüqiu Xiao and had him beaten to death with a staff.
Zhang Tongru and others gathered the remnants of their forces and fled to hold Shan Commandery. An Qingxu conscripted all the troops in Luoyang and sent his Imperial Censor-in-Chief Yan Zhuang to lead them, joining with Zhang Tongru to resist the government army. Together with the original troops, the infantry and cavalry still numbered one hundred fifty thousand. Jiwei day (November 9), Prince Guangping Li Chu arrived at Quwo. The Yelu of the Huihu sent his general Bishi Tubo Peiluo and others to lead troops along the southern mountains to search for ambushes, and then they camped north of the ridge. Guo Ziyi and others encountered the rebels at Xindian. The rebels formed ranks against the mountain. Guo Ziyi and his men initially engaged them but were at a disadvantage, and the rebels pursued them down the mountain. The Huihu army attacked the rebels from behind in the southern mountains, shooting over a dozen arrows through the yellow dust. The rebels, startled, looked back and cried, "The Huihu have come!" and then collapsed. The government army and the Huihu army attacked from front and rear, inflicting a great defeat on the rebels, whose corpses covered the fields. Yan Zhuang, Zhang Tongru, and others abandoned Shan Commandery and fled east. Prince Guangping Li Chu and Guo Ziyi entered Shan City. Pugu Huai’en and others pursued in separate directions.
Yan Zhuang first entered Luoyang to report to An Qingxu. On the night of Gengshen day (November 10), An Qingxu led his partisans out through the Garden Gate and fled to Hebei. Before leaving, he killed the captured Tang generals Geshu Han, Cheng Qianli, and over thirty others. Xu Yuan died at Yanshi.
Renxu day (November 12), Prince Guangping Li Chu entered the Eastern Capital (Luoyang). The Huihu’s desires were still unsatisfied, and Li Chu was worried about this. The local elders requested to offer ten thousand bolts of silk brocade to bribe the Huihu, after which the Huihu desisted.
The envoy from Chengdu returned, bearing the imperial decree of the retired Emperor: "I should be given the area of Jiannan to support my old age; I will not return." The Emperor was anxious and fearful, not knowing what to do. A few days later, another envoy arrived, saying: "At first, when the retired Emperor received the memorial from Your Majesty requesting to return to the Eastern Palace, he was distraught and could not eat, wishing not to return. Then, when the memorials from the assembled officials arrived, he was greatly pleased, ordered a meal to be prepared with music, and issued an edict setting the date of departure." The Emperor summoned Li Mi and told him: "This is all your achievement!" Li Mi repeatedly begged to return to the mountains; the Emperor firmly tried to detain him, but could not keep him, and so allowed him to return to Mount Heng. He ordered the prefecture and county to build him a house in the mountains and grant him the salary of a third-rank official.
On the Guihai day, the Emperor departed from Fengxiang, sending the Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent, Wei Jiansu, into Shu to welcome the retired Emperor.
On the Yichou day, Guo Ziyi dispatched the Left Commander of Cavalry, Zhang Yongji, and the Right Vanguard Commander, Hun Shizhi, to lead troops to capture Heyang and Henei; Yan Zhuang came to surrender. The people of Chenliu killed Yin Ziqi, and the entire prefecture surrendered. Tian Chengsi, who was besieging Lai Tian in Yingchuan, also sent an envoy to surrender; Guo Ziyi's response was slow, so Tian Chengsi rebelled again and fled with Wu Lingxun to Hebei. The Emperor issued an edict appointing Lai Tian as the Military Commissioner of Huainan.
On the Bingyin day, the Emperor arrived at Wangxian Palace and received a report of victory from the Eastern Capital. On the Dingmao day, the Emperor entered the Western Capital. The common people came out of the city gates to welcome him, forming an unbroken line for twenty li, dancing, leaping, and shouting long live the Emperor, some weeping. The Emperor entered and took up residence in the Daming Palace. The Censor-in-Chief, Cui Qi, ordered all the hundred officials who had accepted office or rank from the rebels to remove their headdresses, bare their feet, and stand before the Hanyuan Hall, beating their breasts and kowtowing to confess their crimes. Soldiers surrounded them, and the hundred officials were made to watch. The Imperial Ancestral Temple had been burned down by the rebels; the Emperor, dressed in plain clothes, wept before the temple for three days. On the same day, the retired Emperor departed from Shu Commandery.
An Qingxu fled to hold Ye Commandery, renamed it Ancheng Prefecture, and changed the reign title to Tiancheng; his accompanying cavalry were no more than three hundred, and infantry no more than one thousand. His generals, such as Ashi na Chengqing, fled separately to Changshan, Zhaojun, and Fanyang. Within ten days, Cai Xide from Shangdang, Tian Chengsi from Yingchuan, and Wu Lingxun from Nanyang each led their troops to join him. He also recruited people from various commanderies in Hebei, and his forces reached sixty thousand, his military might revived.
When Guangping Wang Li Chu entered the Eastern Capital, the three hundred-odd men, such as Chen Xilie, who had accepted office from An Lushan and his son, all dressed in white, wept and confessed their crimes. Li Chu, acting on the Emperor’s decree, released them, but soon sent them under escort to the Western Capital. On the Jisi day, Cui Qi ordered them to confess their crimes at the court, following the same ritual as the hundred officials in the Western Capital, and then they were imprisoned in the courts of the Dali Temple and the Jingzhao Prefecture. Those petty officials and servants in the prefectures and counties who had been forced by the rebels to pursue and arrest people were also imprisoned.
Earlier, Zhen Ji of Ji Commandery, a man of integrity, had lived in seclusion on Qingyan Mountain. When An Lushan was an Investigating Commissioner, he recommended Zhen Ji to serve as his secretary. Zhen Ji, perceiving that An Lushan had rebellious intentions, feigned a wind-stroke illness and was carried home. After An Lushan rebelled, he sent Cai Xide with two executioners, holding swords, to summon him. Zhen Ji stretched out his neck, waiting for the blade. Cai Xide reported to An Lushan that he was genuinely ill. Later, An Qingxu also sent men to forcibly carry him to the Eastern Capital. After more than a month, it happened that Guangping Wang Li Chu pacified the Eastern Capital. Zhen Ji rose, went to the military camp to pay his respects, and Li Chu sent men to escort him to the capital. The Emperor ordered him to be placed in the Three Departments, and made those who had accepted office from the rebels line up and bow before him to shame them, then appointed Zhen Ji as a Secretary of the Imperial Library. The Director of the National University, Su Yuanming, had claimed illness and refused to accept An Lushan's office; the Emperor promoted him to the post of Examining Censor and Drafter of Edicts. On the Renshen day, the Emperor ascended the Danfeng Tower and issued an edict, saying: "As for the scholars and commoners who have accepted rebel offices or salaries, or served the rebels, let the Three Departments investigate and report separately. Those who were captured in battle or lived nearby and thus had dealings with the rebels are all permitted to confess and be exempted from punishment. Their daughters who were defiled by the rebels shall not be investigated."
On the Guiyou day, the Yelu of the Uyghurs returned from the Eastern Capital. The Emperor ordered the hundred officials to welcome him at the Changle Courier Station, and the Emperor feasted with him at the Xuanzheng Hall. The Yelu memorialized, saying: "My army lacks horses. I request permission to leave my troops at Shayuan and return myself to procure horses, then come back to sweep away the remaining rebels in Fanyang for Your Majesty." The Emperor bestowed gifts and sent him off.
In the eleventh month, Guangping Wang Li Chu and Guo Ziyi arrived from the Eastern Capital. The Emperor comforted Guo Ziyi, saying: "My state and family have been rebuilt by you."
Zhang Hao led five Military Commissioners—Lu Jiong, Lai Tian, Wu Wang Li Zhi, Li Siye, and Li Huan—on a tour of the commanderies in Henan and Hedong, and they all captured them. Only Neng Yuanhao, holding Beihai, and Gao Xiuyan, holding Datong, remained unconquered.
On the Jichou day, the Uyghur Yelu was appointed as Minister of Works and Prince of Loyalty and Righteousness. An annual gift of twenty thousand bolts of silk was granted to the Uyghurs, to be collected by the Shuofang Army.
Yan Zhuang was appointed as Minister of the Imperial Granaries. When the Emperor was at Pengyuan, he had replaced the ancestral tablets of the nine imperial temples with ones made of chestnut wood. On the Gengyin day, an imperial sacrifice was held at the Changle Hall.
On the Bingshen day, the retired Emperor arrived at Fengxiang with over six hundred attending soldiers. The retired Emperor ordered them to hand over all their weapons and armor to the prefectural treasury. The Emperor dispatched three thousand elite cavalry to welcome him. On the twelfth month, on the Bingwu day, the retired Emperor arrived at Xianyang. The Emperor prepared the imperial procession and welcomed him at Wangxian Palace. The retired Emperor was on the southern tower of the palace. The Emperor removed his yellow robe and put on a purple one. Seeing the horses below the tower, he hurried forward, knelt, and performed a dance of obeisance at the foot of the tower. The retired Emperor descended the tower, patted the Emperor, and wept. The Emperor held the retired Emperor’s feet, sobbing uncontrollably. The retired Emperor asked for a yellow robe and personally dressed the Emperor in it. The Emperor prostrated himself, kowtowing and firmly declining. The retired Emperor said: "The Mandate of Heaven and the hearts of the people have turned to you. Allowing me to enjoy my remaining years is your filial piety!" The Emperor, unable to refuse, put it on. The elders outside the ceremonial guard shouted and kowtowed. The Emperor ordered the guard to be opened, allowing over a thousand people to enter and pay respects to the retired Emperor. They said: "We, your subjects, today see the two Sacred Ones meet again; we die without regret!" The retired Emperor was unwilling to reside in the main hall, saying: "This is the Son of Heaven’s place." The Emperor earnestly insisted, personally supporting the retired Emperor as he ascended the hall. The Imperial Chef presented food; the Emperor tasted it and then offered it. On the Dingwei day, as they were about to leave the traveling palace, the Emperor personally held the reins of the retired Emperor’s horse and led it forward. After a few steps, the retired Emperor stopped him. The Emperor rode ahead as a guide, not daring to take the imperial thoroughfare. The retired Emperor said to his attendants: "I was the Son of Heaven for fifty years, but that was not considered honorable. Now, being the father of the Son of Heaven is truly honorable!" The attendants all shouted long live the Emperor. The retired Emperor entered the Daming Palace through the Kaiyuan Gate, ascended the Hanyuan Hall, comforted and consoled the hundred officials, then went to the Changle Hall to pay respects to the tablets of the nine imperial temples, weeping bitterly for a long time. That same day, he visited the Xingqing Palace and took up residence there. The Emperor repeatedly submitted memorials requesting to abdicate and return to the Eastern Palace, but the retired Emperor did not consent.
On the Xinhai day, the Minister of Rites, Li Xian, and the Vice Minister of War, Lyu Yin, were appointed as Commissioners for Detailed Investigation, to jointly try the cases of Chen Xilie and others with the Censor-in-Chief, Cui Qi. Li Xian appointed the Attending Censor of the Palace Secretariat, Li Qiyun, as a Judge for Detailed Investigation. Li Qiyun handled cases with a great effort toward fairness and leniency, so people all resented the harshness and severity of Lyu Yin and Cui Qi, while Li Xian alone gained a fine reputation.
On the Wuwu day, the Emperor ascended the Danfeng Tower and issued a general amnesty, only excluding those who had rebelled together with An Lushan, as well as the descendants of Li Linfu, Wang Hong, and Yang Guozhong. Guangping Wang Li Chu was established as the Prince of Chu. Guo Ziyi was granted the additional title of Minister over the Masses, and Li Guangbi as Minister of Works. The remaining officials who had rendered meritorious service in escorting the Emperor from Shu Commandery and Lingwu were all promoted in rank, granted noble titles, and given increased fiefs with varying degrees. Li Cheng, Lu Yi, Yan Gaoqing, Yuan Lüqian, Xu Yuan, Zhang Xun, Zhang Jieran, Jiang Qing, Pang Jian, and others were all posthumously honored, and their sons and grandsons were appointed to office. Families of those who died in battle were exempted from taxes and corvée for two years. The tax and corvée levies of all commanderies and counties for the next year were reduced by one-third. All recent changes to commandery names and official titles were reverted to the old system. Shu Commandery was designated as the Southern Capital, Fengxiang as the Western Capital, and the Western Capital as the Central Capital. Zhang Liangdi was invested as the Shufei Consort. The Emperor’s son, Nanyang Wang Li Xi, was established as the Prince of Zhao; Xincheng Wang Li Yi as the Prince of Peng; Yingchuan Wang Li Xian as the Prince of Yan; Dongyang Wang Li Ting as the Prince of Jing; Li Huang as the Prince of Xiang; Li Chui as the Prince of Qi; Li Si as the Prince of Zhao; Li Zhao as the Prince of Xing; and Li Tong as the Prince of Ding.
Among those who discussed the matter, some criticized Zhang Xun for stubbornly defending Suiyang without retreating, arguing that rather than resorting to cannibalism, it would have been better to preserve lives. His friend Li Han wrote a biography of him and submitted a memorial to the emperor, stating: "Zhang Xun, with a small force, attacked a large enemy, with a weak force subdued a strong one, and preserved Jianghuai to await Your Majesty's army. When the army arrived, Zhang Xun had already died. Zhang Xun's merit is truly great. Yet among those who discuss the matter, some criticize Zhang Xun for eating people, considering him foolish for holding the city until death. This is truly a case of concealing evil and glorifying good, picking at flaws and discarding achievements. Your servant is deeply grieved! The reason Zhang Xun held out was to await reinforcements from various armies. When the reinforcements did not arrive, the food was exhausted; when the food was exhausted, it extended to people. This went against his usual intentions. Even if Zhang Xun, from the very beginning of defending the city, had intended to eat people, sacrificing several hundred lives to preserve the realm, your servant would still consider his merits and faults offsetting each other—how much more so when this was not his usual intention! Now Zhang Xun has died in great calamity, without seeing the age of peace. Only his good name is his glory. If it is not recorded in time, I fear that as time passes, it will be lost, causing Zhang Xun to suffer both in life and death. How truly lamentable! Your servant ventures to write one scroll of his biography and present it, requesting that it be included in the records of the court historians." Only then did the public criticism subside. Thereafter, no imperial decree failed to mention Li Cheng and others, but only Cheng Qianli, because he had been captured alive by the rebels, was not granted posthumous honors. On the day Jiazi, the Retired Emperor went to Xuanzheng Hall, handed the imperial seal to the Emperor, and the Emperor, weeping, received it.
When An Qingxu fled north, his great general, the Prince of Beiping, Li Guiren, along with elite troops including the Yeluohuo, Tongluo, and six prefectures of Hu, several tens of thousands in all, scattered and fled back to Fanyang, plundering wherever they passed, leaving nothing behind. Shi Siming took strict precautions and sent envoys to welcome and recruit them within the borders of Fanyang. The Yeluohuo and the six prefectures of Hu all surrendered. The Tongluo refused to submit, so Shi Siming attacked them. The Tongluo suffered a great defeat, all their plunder was taken, and the remnants fled back to their homeland.
An Qingxu, fearing Shi Siming's strength, sent Ashina Chengqing and An Shouzhong to conscript troops from him, while secretly plotting against him. The judge Geng Renzhi advised Shi Siming, saying: "Great General, your position is so high that no one dares to speak. I, Geng Renzhi, am willing to speak one sentence and die." Shi Siming said, "What do you mean?" Geng Renzhi said, "The reason the Great General has exerted himself to serve the An family is merely due to the pressure of their violent power. Now the Tang dynasty is reviving, and the Son of Heaven is benevolent and sage. If the Great General leads his troops to submit to the court, this is a plan to turn misfortune into fortune." The lieutenant general Wu Chengci also advised Shi Siming, saying: "Now the Tang dynasty is being rebuilt, and An Qingxu is merely dew on the leaves. Why should the Great General perish together with him? If you submit to the court to cleanse yourself, it is as easy as turning over your hand." Shi Siming considered this correct.
Ashina Chengqing and An Shouzhong led five thousand elite cavalry as their escort. When they reached Fanyang, Shi Siming led several tens of thousands of troops to welcome them. When they were about a li apart, he sent someone to tell Ashina Chengqing and the others: "The Chancellor and the Prince have come from afar, and the officers and soldiers are overjoyed. However, the border troops are timid and fear your troops, so they dare not advance. I hope you will lay down your bows and arrows to reassure everyone." Ashina Chengqing and the others complied. Shi Siming led Ashina Chengqing and the others into the inner hall for a feast with music, while separately sending others to confiscate their weapons and armor. The soldiers from various prefectures were given provisions and dismissed; those willing to stay were generously rewarded and assigned to various camps. The next day, Ashina Chengqing and the others were imprisoned. Shi Siming sent his general Dou Ziang to present a memorial and lead his thirteen prefectures and eighty thousand troops in surrender. He also led his Hedong military governor Gao Xiuyan to surrender with his troops. On the day Yichou, Dou Ziang arrived at the capital. The Emperor was greatly pleased and appointed Shi Siming as the Prince of Guiyi and military governor of Fanyang, granting high offices to all seven of his sons. He sent the eunuch Li Sijing and Wu Cheng'en to proclaim the imperial decree and pacify Shi Siming, ordering him to lead his troops to attack An Qingxu.
Previously, An Qingxu had appointed Zhang Zhongzhi as the governor of Changshan. Shi Siming summoned Zhang Zhongzhi back to Fanyang and appointed his general Xue E as acting governor of Hengzhou, opening the Jingxing road and recruiting Zhao commandery governor Lu Ji to surrender. He ordered his son Shi Chaoyi to lead five thousand troops as acting governor of Jizhou, and appointed his general Linghu Zhang as governor of Bozhou. Wherever Wu Cheng'en went, he proclaimed the imperial decree, and the prefectures of Cang, Ying, An, Shen, De, and Di all surrendered. Although Xiangzhou was not taken, the Hebei region was largely in the possession of the Tang dynasty.
The Retired Emperor added the honorific title "Guangtian Wenwu Dasheng Xiaogan Huangdi" to the Emperor.
Guo Ziyi returned to the Eastern Capital to manage the Hebei region.
Cui Qi and Lü Yin submitted a memorial, saying: "All the officials who fell into the rebels' hands, betraying the state and following the illegitimate dynasty, should be sentenced to death according to the law." The Emperor intended to follow their advice. Li Xian argued: "When the rebels captured the two capitals, the Son of Heaven traveled south, and people sought to save themselves. These people are all relatives or descendants of meritorious officials of Your Majesty. To execute them all under the law of rebellion would, I fear, violate the principle of benevolence and forgiveness. Moreover, Hebei is not yet pacified, and many officials are still in the hands of the rebels. If we show leniency, it will be enough to open a path of reform. If we execute them all, this will strengthen their resolve to cling to the rebels. The 'Book of Documents' says: 'Exterminate the chief criminals; do not punish the coerced followers.' Lü Yin and Cui Qi are rigid in their interpretation of the law and do not understand the broader principles. I hope Your Majesty will consider this." After several days of debate, the Emperor followed Li Xian's advice and sentenced them in six grades: the heaviest was execution in the marketplace, the next was ordered suicide, the next was one hundred heavy strokes, and the next three grades were exile or demotion. On the day Renshen, Daxi Xun and seventeen others were beheaded under the Duliu tree southwest of the city; Chen Xilie and seven others were ordered to commit suicide at the Dali Temple; those sentenced to flogging were punished at the gate of the Jingzhao Prefecture.
The Emperor wanted to spare Zhang Jun and Zhang Ji from death. The Retired Emperor said: "Zhang Jun and Zhang Ji served the rebels and both held key positions. Zhang Jun even slandered my family affairs for the rebels; his crime is unforgivable!" The Emperor kowtowed twice and said: "Your servant would not be here today without Zhang Yue and his sons. If I cannot save Zhang Jun and Zhang Ji, and if the dead have consciousness, what face would I have to see Zhang Yue in the underworld?" Thereupon, he prostrated himself and wept. The Retired Emperor ordered his attendants to help the Emperor up and said: "Zhang Ji will be exiled to Lingnan for a long time; Zhang Jun absolutely cannot be spared. Do not plead further!" The Emperor wept and obeyed the order.
Zhang Wanqing, whom An Lushan had appointed as the governor of Henan, was the only one exempted from punishment because he had protected the common people while among the rebels. Shortly thereafter, someone who surrendered from the rebels said: "Among the Tang court officials who followed An Qingxu in Yecheng, when they heard that Guangping Wang had pardoned Chen Xilie and others, they all mourned for themselves and regretted having fallen into the rebels' hands. But when they heard that Chen Xilie and others had been executed, they abandoned that intention." The Emperor deeply regretted his decision.
Your servant Sima Guang says: As a subject, once his position is fixed, he entrusts his body to serve his lord, and only death can prevent him from having two minds. Chen Xilie and others—some were honored as ministers, some were close as relatives. In times of peace, they did not speak a single word to correct the lord's faults or save the altars from peril; they ingratiated themselves to steal wealth and rank. When the realm collapsed and the emperor fled, they clung to life, cherished their wives and children, flattered and called themselves subjects of the rebels, and served them with all their might. This is behavior that butchers and wine sellers would be ashamed of, worse than that of dogs and horses. If they could still keep their heads and restore their ranks, then sycophantic subjects would have no place they could not succeed. As for those like Yan Gaoqing and Zhang Xun, in peaceful times they were cast aside and sunk in low positions; in times of chaos, they were abandoned in isolated cities and ground to pieces by the enemy. Why are the virtuous so unfortunate and the wicked so fortunate? Why does the court treat the loyal and righteous so harshly and protect the treacherous so generously? As for the lowly minor officials and patrol soldiers, they could not participate in planning nor receive orders. In the morning they heard the imperial decree for the emperor's personal expedition, and by evening they had lost the emperor's whereabouts. To blame them for not protecting the emperor—is that not too harsh? To sentence them in six grades of punishment is sufficient. What is there to regret?
The former consort, Lady Wei, after being deposed as a nun, lived in the palace and died this year.
The Left and Right Shenwu Armies were established, selected from the original followers' sons and younger brothers to fill their ranks, with regulations all following those of the Four Armies, collectively called the Northern Guard Six Armies. Additionally, one thousand skilled horsemen and archers were selected as the Dianqian Sheshengshou, divided into Left and Right Wings, called the Yingwu Army.
The Hezhong Defense Command was promoted to a military governorship, governing seven prefectures including Pu and Jiang. Jiannan was divided into the Eastern and Western Sichuan military governorates; the Eastern Sichuan governorate administered twelve prefectures including Zi and Sui. The Jing-Li military governorate was established, governing five prefectures including Jing and Li. The Kui-Xia military governorate was established, governing five prefectures including Kui and Xia. Anxi was renamed Zhenxi.
In spring, the first month, on the day wuyin, the retired emperor personally went to the Xuanzheng Hall, presented the ceremonial book, and added the honorific title. The emperor firmly declined the title "Great Sage," but the retired emperor did not consent. The emperor honored the retired emperor as "Supreme Ultimate Way-Sage Heavenly August Emperor."
Previously, after the imperial army had recaptured the capital, many of the ritual vessels from the ancestral temples and the goods from the treasuries had been scattered among the people. The court sent envoys to search for and confiscate them, causing much trouble to the common people. On the day yiyou, an edict was issued to stop all this entirely, and the mayor of the capital, Li Xian, was ordered to pacify the markets and neighborhoods.
In the second month, on the guimao day of the first month, the Director of the Palace Administration, Li Fuguo, was also appointed as Grand Coachman of the Imperial Stud. Li Fuguo attached himself to Consort Zhang Shu and served as the Chief of Staff of the Marshal's Headquarters, his power shaking both court and countryside.
Neng Yuanhao, the Beihai military governor appointed by An Qingxu, led his troops to surrender. The court appointed him as Grand Master of the Palace Gate, serving as Commissioner for Pacification of Hebei.
On the day dingwei, the emperor went to the Mingfeng Gate, issued a general amnesty, and changed the reign title. All taxes and labor services for the common people for that year were completely exempted. The practice of calling years "zai" was restored.
On the day gengwu, Wang Xuanzhi, the Deputy Grand Protector of Andong, was appointed as Inspector of Yingzhou, serving as the Pinglu military governor.
In the third month, on the day jiaxu, the Prince of Chu, Li Chu, was renamed the Prince of Cheng.
On the day wuyin, Consort Zhang Shu was established as Empress.
The Zhenxi and Beiting Field Army Military Governor, Li Siye, stationed his troops at Henei. On the day guisi, the Beiting Military Commissioner Wang Weiliang plotted rebellion. Li Siye, together with his deputy general Li Feiyuanli, attacked and killed him.
When An Qingxu fled north, his commandery governor of Pingyuan, Wang Jian, and the commandery governor of Qinghe, Yuwen Kuan, both killed his envoys and surrendered. Qingxu sent his generals Cai Xide and An Taihe to capture these two commanderies. They captured Wang and Yuwen alive, brought them back, and executed them by dismemberment in the marketplace of Yecheng. Anyone who plotted to submit to the court had their entire clan executed, even extending to their retainers, prefectures, counties, and subordinate officials; many died from the implicated killings. He also made a blood oath with his officials south of Yecheng, but people's hearts became even more estranged. Qingxu heard that Li Siye was at Henei. In summer, the fourth month, together with Cai Xide and Cui Ganyou, he led 20,000 infantry and cavalry, crossed the Qinshui River to attack him, but failed to win and returned.
On the day guimao, the Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, the Prince of Guo, Li Ju, was appointed as Governor of Henan, serving as the (liushou, commissioner for defense) of the Eastern Capital.
On the day xinmao, the new spirit tablet was placed in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. On the day jiayin, the emperor sacrificed to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and then sacrificed to the August Heaven Supreme God. On the day yimao, he went to the Mingfeng Gate and issued a general amnesty.
In the fifth month, on the day renwu, an edict was issued to abolish the position of Surveillance Commissioner and change the Posting and Deposing Commissioner to an Observer Commissioner.
Zhang Gao had a simple and detached nature and did not flatter the powerful. When he heard that Shi Siming had requested to surrender, he submitted a memorial, saying: "Siming is treacherous and dangerous. He took advantage of the chaos to seize power. When his strength is great, people flock to him; when the situation is unfavorable, people's hearts scatter. Although he has a human face, his heart is like a wild beast. It is difficult to win him over with kindness. I hope you will not grant him authority." He also said: "The Defense Commissioner of Huazhou, Xu Shuji, is cunning and full of deceit. When encountering danger, he will surely change his allegiance. Please summon him to the capital to serve as a palace guard." At that time, the emperor was favoring and accepting Shi Siming. Just then, eunuch envoys returned from Fanyang and Baima, both saying that Siming and Shuji were loyal and trustworthy. The emperor thought Zhang Gao was unrealistic. On the day wuzi, he was dismissed and appointed as the Defense Commissioner of Jingzhou; the Minister of Rites, Cui Guangyuan, was appointed as the Henan military governor.
Empress Zhang gave birth to the Prince of Xing, Li Jiao, who was only a few years old. She wanted to establish him as the heir. The emperor hesitated and did not decide. He spoke unhurriedly to the Examiner of Merit, Drafter of the Secretariat, Li Kui, saying: "The Prince of Cheng is older and has merits. I want to establish him as the heir apparent. What does the Minister think?" Li Kui bowed twice and congratulated him, saying: "This is the blessing of the altars of state and soil. Your servant is extremely overjoyed!" The emperor said happily: "My mind is made up." On the day gengyin, the Prince of Cheng, Li Chu, was established as the Heir Apparent. Li Kui was the great-great-grandson of Li Xuandao.
On the day yiwu, Cui Yuan was appointed as Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, and Li Lin as Junior Tutor; both were dismissed from their posts as Chancellors. The emperor greatly enjoyed matters of ghosts and spirits. The Junior Steward of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Wang Yu, specialized in attaching himself to ghosts and spirits to seek favor. Whenever he discussed rituals, he often mixed in vulgar shamanistic and folk sayings. The emperor liked him and appointed Wang Yu as Vice Director of the Secretariat, with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi.
The late Changshan Commandery Governor Yan Gaoqing was posthumously appointed as Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, with the posthumous title "Loyal and Virtuous." His son Yan Weiming was appointed as Assistant Director of the Imperial Stud. When Yan Gaoqing died, Yang Guozhong, due to the slander of Zhang Tongyou, did not grant him any posthumous honors. When the emperor was at Fengxiang, Yan Zhenqing served as Censor-in-Chief. He wept and told the emperor the whole story. The emperor then demoted Zhang Tongyou to be the commandery governor of Pu'an, and presented the matter in detail to the retired emperor. The retired emperor had Zhang Tongyou beaten to death with clubs. Yan Gaoqing's son, Yan Quanming, was detained by Wang Chengye, and so lived as a guest in Shouyang. He was captured by Shi Siming, wrapped in cowhide, and sent to Fanyang. Just then, An Qingxu had just ascended the throne and issued a general amnesty, so he escaped death. After Shi Siming surrendered, he was finally able to return. He went to the Eastern Capital to search for his father's body, found it, and then encoffined it together with the coffin of Yuan Lüqian to transport back. Yan Gaoqing's sisters, daughters, and Quanming's sons were all stranded in Hebei. Yan Zhenqing was then the Inspector of Puzhou. He sent Quanming to search for them. Quanming wept as he searched, his sorrow moving even passersby. It was a long time before he found them. Quanming went to the homes of relatives and old friends to beg and ask for money, using whatever he obtained to ransom people. He ransomed his aunts and sisters first, and then his own sons. An aunt's daughter had been captured by bandits. Quanming had two hundred strings of cash. He wanted to ransom his own daughter, but pitying his aunt's grief and haggardness, he ransomed his aunt's daughter first. By the time he got more money to search for his own daughter, she had already disappeared. He encountered his female cousins, as well as the wives and children of his father's former subordinate officers like Yuan Lüqian, who were wandering and stranded. He brought them all back, a total of over fifty families and more than three hundred people. He distributed money and grain equally, treating them like relatives. When they reached Puzhou, Yan Zhenqing provided for and supported them all. After a long time, he allowed them to go wherever they wished and provided travel expenses. Yuan Lüqian's wife suspected that Lüqian's burial clothes were too simple. She opened the coffin to inspect, and found them no different from Yan Gaoqing's. Only then was she ashamed and convinced.
In the sixth month, on the day jiyou, an altar to the Great Unity was established east of the Southern Suburb, following Wang Yu's request. The emperor had once been ill. Divination said it was caused by the spirits of mountains and rivers. Wang Yu requested that eunuch envoys and female shamans be sent on post horses to go separately and sacrifice to all the famous mountains and great rivers under heaven. The female shamans, relying on their power, harassed the prefectures and counties wherever they passed, demanding bribes. There was a female shaman in Huangzhou, young and beautiful, who followed dozens of reckless youths. The harm she caused was especially severe. When she arrived at Huangzhou, she lodged in the official postal station. The Inspector Zuo Zhen went to the station in the morning. The door was locked and could not be opened. Zuo Zhen was angry. He broke the lock and entered. He dragged the female shaman out beneath the steps and beheaded her. All the following youths were executed. He confiscated several hundred thousand cash of illicit gains, reported the matter in detail, and requested that these funds be used to replace the rent and taxes of the poor people. He sent the eunuch envoy back to the capital. The emperor was unable to punish him.
Li Siye, the Grand Master of the Palace with the designation Kaifu Yitong Sansi, was appointed as Inspector of Huaizhou, serving as the Zhenxi and Beiting Field Army Military Governor.
The mountain hermit Han Ying reformed the calendar. On the day dingsi, Han Ying's calendar began to be implemented.
On the day wuwu, an edict was issued: for officials of the two capitals who had been captured by the rebels, those whose cases had not yet been fully adjudicated by the Three Judicial Offices were all to be released; those who had already been demoted or dismissed would have their cases handled accordingly.
After the Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, Fang Guan, lost his position, he felt resentful and unhappy. He often claimed illness and did not attend court, but guests thronged his gate from morning to night. His partisans in the court spoke up for him, saying: "Fang Guan has both civil and military talents; he should be given a major appointment." When the emperor heard this, he detested him. He issued an edict enumerating Fang Guan's crimes and demoted him to be the Inspector of Youzhou. The former Libationer of the Directorate of Education, Liu Zhi, was demoted to be the Inspector of Langzhou. The Mayor of the Capital, Yan Wu, was demoted to be the Inspector of Bazhou. They were all Fang Guan's partisans.
Initially, Shi Siming served as a partial general under the Army Commissioner of Laishui, Wu Zhiyi. Zhiyi treated him well. Zhiyi's son, Wu Cheng'en, served as the commandery governor of Xindu. He surrendered his commandery to Siming. Siming, recalling past kindness, spared him. After An Qingxu was defeated, Cheng'en persuaded Siming to surrender to the Tang court. Li Guangbi believed that Siming would eventually rebel, and since Cheng'en was a trusted confidant of Siming, he secretly instructed him to plot against Siming. He also advised the emperor to appoint Cheng'en as the Deputy Military Governor of Fanyang, and granted a iron-coupon to Ashina Shi Chengqing, ordering them to plot together against Siming. The emperor followed this advice.
Cheng'en spent much of his own wealth to recruit retainers, and repeatedly wore women's clothing to visit the camps of various generals, enticing and persuading them. The generals reported this to Shi Siming, who grew suspicious but could not verify it. Just then, Cheng'en went to the capital, and the emperor sent the inner attendant Li Sijing to go with him to Fanyang to issue an imperial proclamation of comfort. After Cheng'en finished reading the imperial decree, Shi Siming kept him lodged in the residence, screened off his bed with a curtain, and hid two men beneath it. Cheng'en's youngest son was in Fanyang, and Shi Siming sent him to visit his father. In the middle of the night, Cheng'en quietly said to his son, "I have been ordered to eliminate this barbarian rebel; they should make me a military governor." The two men under the bed shouted and rushed out. Shi Siming then arrested Cheng'en, searched his luggage, and found an iron talisman and a letter from Li Guangbi, which said, "If Chengqing succeeds, give him the iron talisman; if not, do not give it." He also found several hundred pages of a ledger, all containing the names of officers and soldiers who had previously followed Shi Siming in rebellion. Shi Siming reprimanded him, saying, "What have I done to wrong you, that you would do this?" Cheng'en apologized, saying, "This is a capital offense; it was all Li Guangbi's scheme." Shi Siming then summoned his officers, aides, officials, and the people, faced west, and wept loudly, saying, "Your servant led 130,000 troops to surrender to the court. What have I done to wrong His Majesty, that he should want to kill me?" He then had Cheng'en and his son beaten to death with clubs; more than two hundred people were implicated and executed. Cheng'en's younger brother, Chengci, was spared death. Shi Siming imprisoned Sijing and submitted a memorial reporting the situation. The emperor sent a eunuch to comfort Shi Siming, saying, "This was not the intention of the court or Li Guangbi; it was all Cheng'en's doing. He was well put to death."
Just then, the document from the Three Judicial Offices regarding the sentencing of officials who had been captured by the rebels arrived at Fanyang. Shi Siming said to his generals, "Chen Xilie and others were all high court ministers. The Supreme Emperor abandoned them and fled to Shu, and now they still cannot avoid death. How much more so for us, who originally followed An Lushan in rebellion?" The generals asked Shi Siming to submit a memorial requesting the execution of Li Guangbi. Shi Siming agreed and ordered his administrative assistant Geng Renji and his subordinate Zhang Bujin to draft the memorial, which said, "If Your Majesty does not kill Guangbi for your servant, your servant will personally lead troops to Taiyuan to kill him." Bujin drafted the memorial and showed it to Shi Siming. When it was about to be sealed, Renji deleted all those words. The scribe who copied the memorial informed Shi Siming, who ordered the arrest and execution of the two men. Renji had served Shi Siming for a long time, and Shi Siming pitied him, wanting to spare his life. He summoned him back and said, "I have employed you for nearly thirty years. Today, it is not I who have wronged you." Renji shouted, "Everyone must die once. To die for loyalty and righteousness is to die in the right place. Now, following the Grand Commander in rebellion only prolongs a few years; how could it compare to dying quickly?" Shi Siming became enraged, beat him with clubs, and his brains splattered on the ground.
Wu Chengci fled to Taiyuan. Li Guangbi submitted a memorial appointing him Prince of Changhua and acting as military commissioner of Shiling.
In autumn, in the seventh month, on the bingxu day, casting of the ten-dang large coin began, with the inscription "Qianyuan Zhongbao." This followed the plan of the Imperial Censor-in-Chief Diwu Qi.
On the dinghai day, the Uyghur Khagan was enfeoffed as the Yingwu Weiyuan Piqie Khagan, and the emperor's youngest daughter, Princess Ningguo, was married to him. Li Yu, Prince of Hanzhong, was appointed as the Enfeoffment Commissioner, with the Right Secretariat Director Li Xun as his deputy. The Left Grand Councilor Pei Mian was ordered to escort the princess to the border. On the wuzi day, the Vice Director of the Bureau of Merits and Titles, Xianyu Shuming, was further appointed as Li Yu's deputy. Shuming was the younger brother of Zhongtong. On the jiazi day, the emperor saw Princess Ningguo off at Xianyang. The princess bid farewell, saying, "The affairs of state are weighty; I die without regret!" The emperor returned in tears.
Li Yu and his party arrived at the Uyghur headquarters. The Khagan, wearing a crimson robe and a barbarian hat, sat on a couch inside the tent, with a grand array of guards and attendants. He had Li Yu and the others stand outside the tent. Li Yu did not bow but stood. The Khagan said, "The Son of Heaven and I are both rulers of our states. There is proper ritual between ruler and subject; why do you not bow?" Li Yu and Shuming replied, "In the past, when Tang married into other states, it always used imperial clan women as princesses. Now the Son of Heaven, because of the Khagan's merits, has married his own daughter to the Khagan. The grace and ritual are extremely weighty. How can the Khagan, acting as a son-in-law, be arrogant toward his father-in-law, sitting on a couch to receive the enfeoffment?" The Khagan changed his expression, rose, and accepted the enfeoffment. The next day, the princess was established as the Khatun, and the entire kingdom rejoiced.
On the yiwei day, Guo Ziyi entered the court.
In the eighth month, on the renyin day, Xu Shuqi, Military Commissioner of Qing, Deng, and other five prefectures, was appointed Military Commissioner of Hua, Pu, and other six prefectures.
On the gengxu day, Li Guangbi entered the court. On the bingchen day, Guo Ziyi was appointed Zhongshu Ling, and Li Guangbi was appointed Shizhong. On the dingsi day, Ziyi went to the field camp.
The Uyghurs sent their minister Guzhuo Tele and Dide, leading 3,000 elite cavalry, to assist in the campaign against An Qingxu. The emperor ordered the Shuofang Left Wu Fengshi, Pugu Huai'en, to command them.
In the ninth month, on the gengwu day, which was the first day of the month, Zhao Ci, the General of the Right Yulin Guards, was appointed Military Commissioner of Pu, Tong, and Gui prefectures.
On the bingzi day, the Recruiting and Pacification Commissioner for the Dangxiang, Wang Zhongsheng, beheaded the Dangxiang chieftain Tuoba Rongde and sent his head to the capital.
When An Qingxu first arrived at Yecheng, although his followers were scattered, he still held seven commanderies and over sixty cities, with ample armor, troops, and supplies. Qingxu did not attend to government affairs but devoted himself entirely to building terraces, pavilions, ponds, boats, and indulging in heavy drinking. His high ministers, Gao Shang and Zhang Tongru, quarreled over power and were not on good terms; there was no longer any discipline. Cai Xide had talent and strategy, and his troops were elite, but his nature was upright and he liked to speak bluntly. Tongru framed him and had him killed; several thousand of his troops scattered. The various generals, resentful and angry, refused to serve Qingxu. Cui Ganyou was appointed as the Commissioner of All Armies Under Heaven, with overall command of internal and external military power. Ganyou was stubborn, violent, and liked to kill, so the troops were not attached to him.
On the gengyin day, the emperor ordered seven military commissioners—Guo Ziyi of Shuofang, Lu Jiong of Huaixi, Li Huan of Xingping, Xu Shuqi of Huapu, Li Siye of Zhenxi and Beiting, Ji Guangchen of Zhengcai, and Cui Guangyuan of Henan—along with the Pinglu Army Commissioner Dong Qin, to lead 200,000 infantry and cavalry to campaign against Qingxu. He also ordered two military commissioners, Li Guangbi of Hedong and Wang Sili of Guannei and Zelu, to lead their troops to assist. Because Ziyi and Guangbi were both meritorious senior officials and difficult to place under one another, the emperor did not appoint a marshal but only appointed the eunuch, the Grand Master of the Palace with the rank of Kaifu Yitong Sansi, Yu Chao'en, as the Army Inspector, Pacification, and Disposition Commissioner. The title "Army Inspector" originated from this. On the guisi day, Guangzhou reported that the Arabs and Persians were besieging the prefectural city. The prefect, Wei Lijian, fled over the wall. The troops of the two states plundered the granaries, burned houses, and sailed out to sea.
In winter, in the tenth month, on the jiaxu day, the crown prince was established and his name changed to Li Yu. Since the restoration, there had been no more rewards for the court officials. At this time, with the newly cast large coins, the hundred officials and the six armies were rewarded according to rank.
Guo Ziyi led his troops across the Yellow River at Xingyuan, advanced east to Huojia, defeated An Taiqing, beheaded 4,000 men, and captured 500. Taiqing fled to defend Weizhou. Ziyi advanced and besieged it. On the bingwu day, he sent an envoy to report the victory. Lu Jiong crossed the river at Yangwu; Ji Guangchen and Cui Guangyuan crossed at Suanzao; and together with Li Siye's troops, they all joined Ziyi at Weizhou. Qingxu mobilized all his troops from Yecheng, 70,000 men, to rescue Weizhou. He divided them into three armies, with Cui Ganyou commanding the upper army, Tian Chengsi the lower, and Qingxu himself the center. Ziyi stationed 3,000 skilled archers in ambush behind the camp walls and ordered them, "When I retreat, the rebels will surely pursue me. Then you climb the walls, beat drums, shout, and shoot arrows." Soon, he engaged Qingxu in battle, feigned a retreat, and the rebels pursued. When they reached the wall, the ambushed troops rose and shot at them, arrows falling like rain. The rebels turned and fled. Ziyi again led his troops in pursuit, and Qingxu was heavily defeated. His brother Qinghe was captured and killed. Weizhou was thus taken. Qingxu fled, and Ziyi pursued him to Yecheng. Xu Shuqi, Dong Qin, Wang Sili, and the Hedong Army Commissioner Xue Jianxun all arrived with their troops one after another. Qingxu gathered his remaining forces and resisted at Chousi Ridge but was defeated again. In total, 30,000 heads were taken and 1,000 captured. Qingxu then entered the city and defended it. Ziyi besieged it, and Li Guangbi arrived with his troops. Qingxu, in desperate straits, sent Xue Song to seek help from Shi Siming, offering to yield the throne to him. Siming mobilized 130,000 troops from Fanyang, intending to rescue Yecheng, but he hesitated and did not advance. He first sent Li Guiren with 10,000 infantry and cavalry to station at Fuyang, providing distant support to Qingxu.
On the jiayin day, the Supreme Emperor visited the Huaqing Palace. In the eleventh month, on the dingchou day, he returned to the capital.
Cui Guangyuan captured Weizhou. On the bingxu day, the former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Xiao Hua, was appointed Defense Commissioner of Weizhou. Just then, Shi Siming divided his army into three routes: one route out of Xing and Ming, one out of Ji and Bei, and one from Huanshui straight toward Weizhou. Guo Ziyi submitted a memorial requesting that Cui Guangyuan replace Xiao Hua. In the twelfth month, on the guimao day, an imperial edict appointed Guangyuan as the concurrent Prefect of Weizhou.
On the jiachen day, the Zhejiang West Circuit Military Commissioner was established, overseeing ten prefectures including Su and Run, with Sheng Prefecture Governor Wei Huangshang appointed to the post. On the gengxu day, the Zhejiang East Circuit Military Commissioner was established, overseeing eight prefectures including Yue and Mu, with Minister of Revenue Li Huan appointed, concurrently serving as Huainan Circuit Military Commissioner.
On the jiwei day, the assembled officials requested that the Emperor be honored with the title "Qianyuan Dasheng Guangtian Wenwu Xiaogan Emperor"; the Emperor consented.
Shi Siming took advantage of Cui Guangyuan’s recent arrival to launch a major offensive with his troops. Guangyuan sent General Li Chuyin to resist. The rebels were strong, and Chuyin, after consecutive defeats, retreated into the city. The rebel troops pursued him to the city walls and shouted, "Chuyin summoned us here—why doesn’t he come out?" Guangyuan believed this and had Chuyin executed by waist-cutting. Chuyin was a valiant general, relied upon by all; after his death, the troops lost their will to fight, and Guangyuan fled back to Bian Prefecture. On the dingmao day, Siming captured Wei Prefecture, killing thirty thousand people.
Pinglu Circuit Military Commissioner Wang Xuanzhi died. The Emperor sent a palace envoy to comfort the troops and investigate whom the army wished to establish, intending to bestow the ceremonial tally. Li Huaiyu, a Goguryeo man serving as a vice-general, killed Xuanzhi’s son and recommended Hou Xiyi as the Pinglu Army Commissioner. Xiyi’s mother was Huaiyu’s aunt, so Huaiyu installed him. The court then appointed Xiyi as Deputy Military Commissioner. The practice of military officers deposing and installing commissioners began from this point.
Your servant Sima Guang comments: Humans are born with desires; without a ruler, there would be chaos. Therefore, the sages established ritual order to govern. From the Son of Heaven and feudal lords down to ministers, high officials, scholars, and commoners, there are distinctions of honor and lowliness, and hierarchies of size and rank, like net ropes holding each other, or arms and fingers using each other. Thus, the people submit to their superiors, and those below harbor no ambitions. This is what the Book of Changes means when it says, "Heaven above, marsh below—the image of Treading." The Xiang Commentary says, "The noble man uses this to distinguish high and low and settle the people’s hearts." This is the principle. Generally, the reason a ruler can possess his subjects is that the eight handles of power are held in his own hands. If he abandons them, then the forces become equal—how can he command his subordinates?
Emperor Suzong encountered the Tang dynasty’s mid-decline and fortunately restored the state. At this very moment, he should have rectified the rites between high and low to establish order throughout the realm. Instead, he sought temporary peace and did not consider long-term troubles. Appointing generals and commanding frontier garrisons is a great national affair, yet he entrusted it to an envoy, yielding to the sentiments of the rank and file, without asking whether they were worthy or unworthy, granting the post to whomever they desired. From then on, this became habitual, and rulers and subjects followed it in succession, considering it a good policy, calling it "appeasement." Even when deputy officers or soldiers killed or expelled their commander, they were not punished; instead, the commander’s post was given to them. Thus, ranks and salaries, appointments and removals, life and death, rewards and punishments no longer came from above but from below. Could there ever be an end to the disasters and rebellions that followed?
Moreover, one who possesses a state rewards good and punishes evil, so that doers of good are encouraged, and doers of evil are punished. For those who, as subjects, kill or expel their superiors, is there any crime greater than this? Yet they were allowed to hold banners and axes, becoming leaders of a region—this is rewarding them. Rewarding to encourage evil—what evil would not be done? The Book of Documents says, "Make your plans far-reaching." The Book of Songs says, "Your plans are not far-reaching, therefore I offer this great remonstrance." Confucius said, "If a man has no far-reaching plans, he will have immediate worries." To govern the realm while solely practicing appeasement—can the resulting worries be counted? From then on, those below constantly spied on those above, and if they found an opportunity, they attacked and exterminated their clans. Those above were constantly anxious and fearful of those below, and if they found an opportunity, they ambushed and slaughtered them. They competed to strike first to satisfy their ambitions, with no thought of mutual preservation for shared benefit and lasting stability. Under such conditions, to seek peace and order in the realm—is it possible? Tracing the origin of this calamity, it began here.
In ancient times, governing the military was always rooted in ritual. Thus, in the Battle of Chengpu, Duke Wen of Jin saw that his army observed proper hierarchy between young and old and knew it could be used. Now, the Tang governed the military without regard for ritual, allowing soldiers to bully vice-generals, and vice-generals to bully commanders. Then it was the natural course for commanders to bully the Son of Heaven.
From this point, calamities arose one after another, warfare never ceased, and the people were plunged into misery, with no one to turn to for redress, for over two hundred years. Then the Song received the Mandate of Heaven. Emperor Taizu began to establish military law, making ranks and grades follow in succession; any slight violation was punished by death. Thus, high and low were in order, orders were carried out and prohibitions observed, expeditions were launched against those who did not submit, and none refused to obey. The realm was peaceful, the myriad people thrived, down to the present day—all because the military was governed with ritual. Was this not far-sighted strategy?
This year, the Zhenwu Circuit Military Commissioner was established, overseeing the Zhenbei Grand Protectorate and the two prefectures of Lin and Sheng. Additionally, the two circuits of Shan, Guo, Hua, and Yu, Xu, Ru were established. The Annan Protectorate was changed to a military commissioner, overseeing eleven prefectures including Jiao and Lu.
The Tibetans captured Heyuan Army.