Tang Annals 69
[Tang Record 69] From the year of Dingyou (Strong Qu Yu, 877 CE) to the tenth month of the year of Gengzi (Shang Zhang Kun Dun, 880 CE), a total of slightly more than three years.
Spring, first month: Wang Ying lured Zhou Shi into a boat, captured him, and the officers and soldiers following Zhou Shi all fled and scattered. When the court heard of this, it appointed You Longwu General-in-Chief Song Hao as Commander-in-Chief for Pacification of Jiangnan Circuits. In addition to the troops previously mobilized from various circuits, it also dispatched troops from the Zhongwu, Xuanwu, and Ganhua circuits, as well as from Xuanzhou and Sizhou prefectures. The old and new forces totaled over 15,000 men, all under Song Hao's command. Second month: Wang Ying captured Wanghai Town, plundered Mingzhou, then attacked and captured Taizhou; Prefect Wang Bao withdrew to defend Tangguang. The court issued an edict ordering the Two Zhe and Fujian circuits to each dispatch naval forces to suppress Wang Ying. Wang Xianzhi captured Ezhou. Huang Chao captured Yunzhou and killed Military Commissioner Xue Chong.
Since his accession, the Nanzhao ruler Qiu Long had been a border menace for nearly twenty years, draining the Central Plains' resources, while Nanzhao itself was also exhausted. Qiu Long died and was posthumously titled Emperor Jingzhuang; his son Fa succeeded him, changed the reign era to Zhenming Chengzhi Datong, renamed the state to Hetuo, and also called it Da Fengren. Fa was fond of hunting and heavy drinking, entrusting state affairs to his ministers. Intercalary second month: Lingnan West Circuit Military Commissioner Xin Dang memorialized that Nanzhao had sent Duan Cuibao and others to request peace, and further stated: "The troops from various circuits have garrisoned Yongzhou for a long time; the expense of transporting provisions has exhausted the Central Plains. I request permission to agree to peace talks, so that the weary people may rest and recover." The edict granted permission. Xin Dang sent General Du Hong and others bearing letters and gifts to escort Duan Cuibao back to Nanzhao, retaining only the troops from Jingnan and Xuanshe circuits to garrison Yongzhou, while reducing the troops from other circuits by seven-tenths. Wang Ying rampaged through Zhexi. Zhenhai Military Commissioner Pei Qiu rigorously prepared his troops, did not engage him in battle, but secretly induced his subordinate Zhu Shi to surrender, disbanding six to seven thousand of his followers, confiscating over 200,000 pieces of equipment, and a comparable amount of boats, grain, and cloth. The court issued an edict appointing Zhu Shi as General of the Golden Wu Guard. Thereupon, Wang Ying's followers scattered. Wang Ying gathered his remaining forces and moved east to Mingzhou. Yongqiao Town Pacification Commissioner Liu Jurong shot him to death with a tubular arrow, and the remaining followers were all pacified. Pei Qiu was the great-great-grandnephew of Pei Xu.
Third month: Huang Chao captured Yizhou.
Summer, fourth month: On the first day of month (Renshen, day 1), a solar eclipse occurred. The rebel leader Liu Yanzhang plundered and raided in Jiangxi. Troops in Shaanzhou mutinied and expelled the Surveillance Commissioner Cui Jie; the court demoted Cui Jie to be Sima of Huaizhou. Huang Chao joined forces with Shang Rang to garrison Chaya Mountain.
Fifth month: On the twenty-fourth day (Jiazi), the court appointed Jishizhong Yang Sun as Surveillance Commissioner of Shan and Guo. After Yang Sun arrived, he executed the chief instigators of the mutiny. Yang Sun was the son of Yang Sifu. Initially, Guangui Surveillance Commissioner Li Zan governed improperly. Staff Supervisor Xue Jianshi repeatedly remonstrated and corrected him, but Li Zan refused to listen. After Li Zan was expelled, Xue Jianshi acted as acting acting commissioner, sending dispatches to neighboring circuits, stopping and pacifying the mutineers, thereby stabilizing the region. The court issued an edict promoting Xue Jianshi to National University Erudite.
Sixth month: Liu Yanzhang attacked and captured Jiangzhou, arrested Prefect Tao Xiang, forced Tao Xiang to submit a memorial to the court, and appended his own request for surrender. The court issued an edict appointing Liu Yanzhang as Right Gate Guard General, ordering him to disband his troops and proceed to the capital. It appointed Zuo Wuwei General-in-Chief Liu Bingren as Prefect of Jiangzhou. Liu Yanzhang did not comply, using over a hundred warships to establish a water stockade on the Pen River, continuing to plunder and raid. Zhongwu Commander Li Kefeng was returning from garrisoning the border. When he reached Binzhou, he coerced the military governor, demanding arrears of grain and salt, and remained there for four months, causing alarm throughout the region. Autumn, seventh month: When he returned to Xuzhou, Military Commissioner Cui Anqian investigated and executed all involved.
On the twenty-first day (Gengshen), Wang Xianzhi and Huang Chao attacked Songzhou. The troops of three circuits engaged them and suffered defeat. The rebels then besieged Song Wei in Songzhou. On the fifteenth day (Jiayin), You Weiwei General-in-Chief Zhang Zimian led seven thousand Zhongwu troops to relieve Songzhou, killing over two thousand rebels. The rebels lifted the siege and fled. Wang Duo and Lu Xie wanted Zhang Zimian to place his troops under Song Wei's command. Zheng Tian argued that there was already suspicion and resentment between Song Wei and Zhang Zimian; if Zhang Zimian served under Song Wei, he would surely be killed, and refused to sign the memorial. Eighth month, on the third day (Xinwei), Wang Duo and Lu Xie petitioned the emperor, requesting dismissal from their posts. On the twelfth day (Gengchen), Zheng Tian requested to return to Chanchuan to recuperate from illness. The emperor did not approve either request.
Wang Xianzhi captured Anzhou. Troops in Yanzhou mutinied and expelled Prefect Wang Chengyan. The court issued an edict ordering Senior Eunuch Niu Conggui to go there to offer comfort and admonition, and demoted Wang Chengyan to be Household Administrator of Xiangzhou. Wang Chengyan and Cui Jie had previously enjoyed a reputation for good governance; they were expelled by arrogant soldiers because of their strictness. The court demoted them equally with those whose greed and cruelty had caused turmoil, and people at the time felt sorry for them. Niu Conggui returned from Yanzhou. The troops requested the appointment of General Wang Zongcheng as prefect. The court issued an edict summoning Wang Zongcheng to the capital, pardoned all the officers and soldiers, and granted them generous rewards.
On the seventeenth day (Yimao), Wang Xianzhi captured Suizhou and arrested Prefect Cui Xiuzheng. Shannan East Circuit Military Commissioner Li Fu sent his son to lead troops to relieve Suizhou, and his son was killed in battle. Li Fu memorialized requesting reinforcements. The court sent Zuo Wuwei General-in-Chief Li Changyan to lead five hundred Fengxiang cavalry to rush to the rescue. Wang Xianzhi then turned to plunder Fuzhou and Yingzhou. Zhongwu General Zhang Guan and four thousand others, together with Xuanwu troops, were relieving Xiangzhou. They fled back via a back road between Shenzhou and Caizhou. The court issued an edict ordering Zhongwu Military Commissioner Cui Anqian and Xuanwu Military Commissioner Mu Renyu to send people to restrain them and send them back.
Winter, tenth month: Bin'ning Military Commissioner Li Kan memorialized that he had sent troops to suppress Wang Zongcheng, executed him, and pacified all his remaining followers. Zheng Tian argued with Wang Duo and Lu Xie before the emperor about military strategy. Zheng Tian lost the argument. After withdrawing, he submitted another memorial stating: "Since Wang Xianzhi began his rebellion, Cui Anqian was the first to request a joint campaign against him. He then mobilized troops and exhausted his resources in providing supplies. The rebels roamed a thousand li, devastating various prefectures, but dared not invade his territory. He also sent his circuit's troops to assist Zhang Zimian, lifting the siege of Songzhou, ensuring the unimpeded flow of grain transport on the Jiang and Huai rivers, preventing it from falling into rebel hands. Now, however, all seven thousand soldiers under Zhang Zimian's command are to be placed under Zhang Guan and made subordinate to Song Wei. Zhang Zimian is returning alone to Xuzhou, and Song Wei has further submitted slanderous accusations against him. To be humiliated despite one's merits grieves me personally. Cui Anqian's campaigns have repeatedly achieved victories. Once all his strong troops are handed over to others, and his good general returns empty-handed, if a powerful enemy suddenly appears, how can he resist? I request that four thousand Zhongwu troops be given to Song Wei, and the remaining three thousand be led by Zhang Zimian to defend his own circuit. This will neither encroach upon Song Wei's achievements nor cause Cui Anqian shame and disgrace." At that time, Lu Xie disagreed, and the emperor could not decide. Zheng Tian further submitted: "Song Wei has deceived the court, and his defeats are notorious. It is also heard that Wang Xianzhi submitted seven written requests for surrender, but Song Wei did not report them to the court. Both court and countryside gnash their teeth in hatred, believing that military law should be applied to him. His conduct being such, he should no longer hold military command. I hope that Your Majesty will consult with the inner court ministers and dismiss him as soon as possible." The emperor did not follow this advice.
Troops in Hezhong mutinied, expelled the Military Commissioner Liu Mou, and allowed the soldiers to engage in arson and looting. The court appointed Jingzhao Yin Dou Jing as Hezhong Pacification Commissioner. Huang Chao raided and plundered Qizhou and Huangzhou. Zeng Yuanyu defeated him, beheading over four thousand of his men. Huang Chao fled.
On the jiyou day (12th) of the 11th month, Dou Jing was appointed as the military governor of Hezhong. The deputy commander of the punitive expedition and chief supervisor Yang Fuguang sent someone to persuade Wang Xianzhi to surrender; Wang Xianzhi dispatched Shang Junzhang and others to Yang Fuguang to request surrender, but Song Wei sent troops to ambush and capture Shang Junzhang and his party on the road. In the 12th month, Song Wei reported that he had fought with Shang Junzhang and others southwest of Yingzhou and captured them alive, presenting them as prisoners. Yang Fuguang reported that Shang Junzhang and the others had genuinely come to surrender and were not captured by Song Wei. An imperial edict ordered the attendant censor Gui Renshao and others to interrogate the matter, but it was never fully clarified. Shang Junzhang and his companions were executed at Gouji Ridge. Huang Chao captured Kuangcheng and then took Puzhou. An edict ordered Zhang Zimian, the prefect of Yingzhou, to lead troops from various circuits to attack him. Liu Bingren, the prefect of Jiangzhou, traveled to his post by relay horse and entered Liu Yanzhang's water stockade alone by boat. The bandits, caught off guard, came forward to greet and bow; Liu Bingren beheaded Liu Yanzhang and disbanded his followers. Wang Xianzhi raided Jingnan. The military governor Yang Zhiwen, elder brother of Yang Zhizhi, had risen through literary talent and was ignorant of military affairs. When someone reported the bandits' arrival, Yang Zhiwen dismissed it as false and made no preparations. At that time, the Han River was shallow and narrow, and the bandits crossed it at Jiaqian.
In spring, the 1st month, on the dingyou day (new year's day), heavy snow fell. As Yang Zhiwen was receiving New Year congratulations from his subordinates, the bandits had already reached the city wall and breached the outer city. The generals and officials jointly repaired the inner city and held out; until evening, Yang Zhiwen still had not come out. The generals and officials asked Yang Zhiwen to come out and reassure the soldiers; Yang Zhiwen emerged wearing a gauze cap and a black fur coat. They again asked him to don armor to guard against stray arrows. Seeing the soldiers resisting in battle, Yang Zhiwen recited poems for his staff to read and sent an envoy to urgently request aid from Li Fu, the military governor of Shannan East Circuit. Li Fu led his entire army personally to the rescue. At that time, five hundred Shatuo soldiers were stationed in Xiangyang; Li Fu arrived with them at Jingmen, encountered the bandits, and the Shatuo cavalry charged fiercely, defeating them. Upon learning this, Wang Xianzhi burned and looted Jiangling before leaving. The area below Jiangling city had originally housed 300,000 households, but by then three or four out of ten had perished.
On the renyin day (6th), the deputy commander of the punitive expedition Zeng Yuanrong decisively defeated Wang Xianzhi east of Shenzhou, killing 10,000 men and also persuading 10,000 to surrender and disbanding them. The emperor issued an edict stating that Song Wei had been ill for a long time, removed him from his post as commander of the punitive expedition, and ordered him to return to Qingzhou. Zeng Yuanrong was appointed commander of the punitive expedition, and Zhang Zimian, prefect of Yingzhou, as his deputy.
On the gengxu day (14th), Gao Pian, the military governor of Xichuan, was appointed military governor of Jingnan and concurrently salt and iron transport commissioner.
Li Keyong, son of Li Guochang, the military governor of Zhenwu, served as deputy commander of the Shatuo troops, stationed at Weizhou. At that time, bandits were rising like swarms in the Henan region. Li Jinzhong, the Shatuo troop commander of Yunzhou, together with the yamen general Kang Junli, Xue Zhiqin, Cheng Huaixin, Li Cunzhang, and others, plotted, saying: "Now the world is in great chaos; the court's orders no longer prevail across the four directions. This is precisely the time for heroes to establish merit and gain wealth and rank. Although each of us commands troops, Li Zhenwu's merits are great and his position high, his fame spreads throughout the empire, and his son's bravery surpasses all armies. If we support them in rising up, the Daibei region will be easy to pacify." Everyone agreed it was right. Kang Junli was from Xingtang; Li Cunzhang from Yunzhou; Xue Zhiqin from Fengcheng.
Just then, Duan Wenchu, the defense commissioner of Datong, also served as water and land transport commissioner. The Daibei region had suffered consecutive years of famine, and grain transport could not keep up. Duan Wenchu drastically reduced the soldiers' clothing and food supplies, and also governed with somewhat harsh laws, causing the soldiers to harbor resentment and anger. Li Jinzhong dispatched Kang Junli to secretly go to Weizhou to persuade Li Keyong to raise troops, remove Duan Wenchu, and take his place. Li Keyong said: "My father is in Zhenwu; I must wait to report to him." Kang Junli said: "Now the secret has been leaked; delay will lead to. Where is the time to travel a thousand li to receive orders?" Thereupon, Li Jinzhong, at night, led his yamen soldiers to attack the yamen city, captured Duan Wenchu and the judge Liu Hanzhang and others, imprisoned them, took charge of the military and administrative affairs of the prefecture, and sent someone to summon Li Keyong. Li Keyong led his troops to Yunzhou, recruiting soldiers along the way. In the 2nd month, on the gengwu day (4th), he arrived below Yunzhou city with nearly 10,000 men, encamping at Douji Terrace. On the renshen day (6th), Li Jinzhong sent an envoy with the tally and seal, requesting Li Keyong to act as acting defense commissioner. On the guichou day (7th), Li Jinzhong had Duan Wenchu and five others put in cangues and delivered to Douji Terrace; Li Keyong ordered the soldiers to cut them into pieces and eat them, and also had cavalry trample their bones. On the jiaxu day (8th), Li Keyong entered the government office to handle affairs, ordered the generals and soldiers to submit a memorial requesting the court's decree; the court did not grant it. Li Guochang submitted a memorial saying: "I request that the court quickly appoint a defense commissioner for Datong. If Li Keyong disobeys orders, I beg to lead the troops of my circuit to punish him; in the end, I will not betray the state out of love for one son." The court was just about to have Li Guochang instruct Li Keyong when it received his memorial. Thereupon, it appointed the minister of the Court of Imperial Agriculture, Zhi Xiang, as the pacification commissioner for Datong Army, and issued an edict ordering Li Guochang to tell Li Keyong to welcome and await orders in accordance with proper ceremony, and that the court would appoint Li Keyong an official post, ensuring his satisfaction. It also appointed the grand servant of the Imperial Stud, Lu Jianfang, as the defense commissioner of Datong.
Yang Zhiwen was demoted to be the sima of Chenzhou.
Zeng Yuanrong reported that he had decisively defeated Wang Xianzhi at Huangmei, killing over 50,000 men, pursued and beheaded Wang Xianzhi, sending his head to the capital; the remaining followers scattered and left.
Huang Chao was attacking Bozhou but could not capture it. Shang Rang led the remnants of Wang Xianzhi's followers to join him, and they acclaimed Huang Chao as king, styling him the Great General Who Charges Heaven, changing the reign title to Wangba, and establishing officials and staff. Huang Chao attacked and captured Yizhou and Puzhou. Soon after, he was repeatedly defeated by government troops, so he wrote to Zhang Ti, the military governor of Tianping, asking him to submit a memorial on his behalf to the court. The emperor issued an edict appointing Huang Chao as General of the Right Guard, ordering him to disarm at Yunzhou. Huang Chao ultimately did not go.
Li Fu, the military governor of Shannan East Circuit, was granted the honorary title of Tong Ping Zhangshi, in reward for his merit in rescuing Jingnan.
In the 3rd month, various bandits captured Langzhou and Yuezhou. The commander of the punitive expedition, Zeng Yuanrong, was stationed in Jingzhou and Xiangyang. Huang Chao, from Puzhou, raided Songzhou and Bianzhou, so the deputy commander Zhang Zimian was appointed as the commander of the punitive expedition for the Southeast March. Huang Chao attacked Weinan, then Yexian and Yangdi. The emperor issued an edict conscripting 1,000 troops from Heyang to rush to the Eastern Capital, to join 2,000 troops from Xuanwu and Zhaoyi in jointly defending the palace. The General of the Left Shenwu Army, Liu Jingren, was appointed as the defense and prevention commissioner for the Eastern Capital, commanding the troops of the three circuits, and was permitted to recruit 2,000 soldiers in the Eastern Capital. Liu Jingren was the grandson of Liu Chang. Another edict ordered Zeng Yuanrong to lead his troops directly back to the Eastern Capital, and conscripted 3,000 troops from Yicheng to guard Huanyuan, Yique, Heyin, and Wulao.
The remnants of Wang Xianzhi's followers, Wang Zhongyin, captured Hongzhou. Gao Xiang, the Jiangxi observer, fled to Hukou. The bandits turned and raided Hunan. The lieutenant general Cao Shixiong raided Xuanzhou and Runzhou. The emperor issued an edict ordering Zeng Yuanrong and Yang Fuguang to lead troops to rescue Xuanzhou and Runzhou.
The Hunan army mutinied; the commander Gao Jie expelled the observer Cui Jin. Cui Jin was the son of Cui Yan.
Huang Chao led his troops across the Yangzi River and captured Qianzhou, Jizhou, Raozhou, Xinzhou, and other prefectures.
Because Li Keyong occupied Yunzhong, in summer, the 4th month, the court appointed the former defense commissioner of Datong Army, Lu Jianfang, as the military governor of Zhenwu, and Li Guochang, the military governor of Zhenwu, as the military governor of Datong, thinking that Li Keyong would certainly be unable to resist. The emperor issued an edict stating that the military supplies and reserves of the Eastern Capital were insufficient, and borrowed money and grain from merchants and wealthy people to cover expenses for several months. He also bestowed five blank certificates of appointment for Dianzhong Shiyushi and ten for Jiancha Yushi; those who could contribute substantial family wealth to the state would be granted these offices. At that time, there were successive years of drought and locust plagues; bandits were everywhere; farming and sericulture were largely abandoned; taxes and levies were insufficient; the inner treasury was empty, and there was no place to obtain funds for support. The Vice Minister of War and Finance Commissioner Yang Yan submitted three memorials stating that his abilities were insufficient to handle affairs, requesting to be relieved of his finance duties, with extremely earnest and sorrowful words. The emperor issued an edict not permitting it.
Cao Shixiong invaded Huzhou; Pei Qu, the military governor of Zhenhai, sent troops to defeat him. Wang Zhongyin died; his subordinate general Xu Tangju occupied Hongzhou. The Raozhou general Peng Youzhang, together with the Righteous Camp troops, recovered Raozhou.
Nanzhao sent its chieftain Zhao Zongzheng to request a marriage alliance; they did not submit a formal memorial, but only had the Dudu Shuang present a diplomatic note to the Secretariat, requesting to be called younger brother rather than vassal. The emperor issued an edict for the hundred officials to deliberate. Vice Minister of Rites Cui Dan and others believed: "Nanzhao is arrogant and presumptuous without propriety. Gao Pian does not understand the greater principle, and instead, through a monk's humble and flattering words, tricked their envoy into coming. If we grant their request, we fear future generations will mock us." When Gao Pian heard this, he submitted a memorial to argue with Cui Dan, and the emperor issued an edict to pacify them. Cui Dan was the son of Cui Yu.
On the first day of the fifth month (Bingshen), Zheng Tian and Lu Hu discussed the affairs of the southern barbarians. Lu Hu wanted to form a marriage alliance with Nanzhao, but Zheng Tian firmly argued against it. Lu Hu became angry, flicked his sleeves, and rose, his sleeve catching on an inkstone and knocking it to the ground, breaking it. When the emperor heard of this, he said, "High ministers insulting each other—how can they serve as models for the empire!" On the second day (Dingyou), both Zheng Tian and Lu Hu were dismissed and appointed as Adviser to the Heir Apparent and assigned to the Eastern Capital. The Hanlin Academician-in-Chief, Vice Minister of Revenue Dou Luzhu, was appointed Vice Minister of War, and Vice Minister of Personnel Cui Hang was appointed Vice Minister of Revenue; both were also made Grand Councilors.
At that time, there was a grand councilor who delighted in almsgiving. He often had someone carry money in cloth bags to follow him, distributing alms to beggars. Whenever he went out, tattered-clothed people crowded the roads. A court official wrote to admonish him, saying: "Now the people are weary and impoverished, and bandits are everywhere. Your Excellency should recommend the worthy and capable, rectify all government affairs, abandon unnecessary expenditures, block the doors of private requests, and enable all things to obtain their proper place. Then every household would be wealthy and every person prosperous, and naturally there would be no poor. Why must you practice such petty kindness?" The grand councilor was extremely angry.
The Qiongzhou grand general Du Hong escorted Duan Cuibao to Nanzhao, returning only after a year. On the ninth day (Jiachen), Xin Dang again sent the acting patrol officer Jia Hong, grand generals Zuo Yu, and Cao Lang as envoys to Nanzhao.
Li Guochang wanted his father and son to simultaneously occupy two commanderies. After receiving the imperial decree for Datong, he destroyed it, killed the eunuch overseer, refused to accept a replacement, and united with Li Keyong to capture the Zhehu Army, then attacked the Ningwu Army and the Kelan Army. Lu Jianfang was on his way to take up his post at Zhenwu when he died at Lan Prefecture. On the twenty-second day (Dingsi), the Hedong military governor Dou Huan conscripted laborers to dig moats at Jinyang. On the twenty-fourth day (Jiwei), he appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Yamen Kang Chuanzhu as acting prefect of Dai Prefecture, and also conscripted one thousand local militiamen to garrison Dai Prefecture. When the local militia reached the north of Jinyang, they formed ranks but refused to march, demanding generous rewards. At that time, the treasury was empty. Dou Huan sent the Cavalry and Infantry Commandant Deng Qian to comfort and instruct them. The militia killed Deng Qian by dismemberment, carried his body on a bed board into the government office. Dou Huan and the eunuch overseer personally came out to comfort and instruct them, giving each three hundred cash and one bolt of cloth, and only then did the crowd calm down. Yamen Officer Tian Gong'e distributed the money and cloth to the mutinous troops, and they then seized him as their commander and marched to Dai Prefecture. Dou Huan borrowed fifty thousand strings of cash from merchants to fund the army. The court considered Dou Huan incompetent, and in the sixth month, appointed former Zhaoyi military governor Cao Xiang as Hedong military governor.
The remnants of Wang Xianzhi's gang plundered in the area of Zhexi. Because the Jingnan military governor Gao Pian had previously had a reputation for authority in Tianping Army, and Wang Xianzhi's followers were mostly from Yun Prefecture, the court transferred Gao Pian to be Zhenhai military governor.
The Shatuo burned Tanglin and Gu County, then entered the territory of Xin Prefecture.
In autumn, the seventh month, Cao Xiang arrived at Jinyang. On the fifth day (Jihai), he arrested the thirteen men among the local militia who had killed Deng Qian and executed them. When the Yiwu troops arrived at Jinyang, they did not remove their armor, shouting loudly for generous rewards. Cao Xiang beheaded one of their commanders to calm them. He conscripted troops from Yicheng, Zhongwu, Zhaoyi, and Heyang to assemble at Jinyang to resist the Shatuo. In the eighth month, on the fifteenth day (Wuyin), Cao Xiang led troops to rescue Xin Prefecture. The Shatuo attacked the Kelan Army, captured the outer city, and defeated the imperial army at Honggu, causing Jinyang to close its gates and defend the city.
Huang Chao invaded Xuan Prefecture. The Xuanshe observer Wang Ying resisted, but was defeated at Nanling. Huang Chao failed to capture Xuan Prefecture, so he led his troops into Zhedong, opening a mountain road of seven hundred li, attacking and plundering the various prefectures of Fujian.
In the ninth month, the Pinglu Army reported that military governor Song Wei had died.
On the eighth day (Xinchou), the court appointed the Commander-in-Chief of the various circuits' field armies, Zeng Yuanyu, concurrently as Pinglu military governor.
On the ninth day (Renyin), Cao Xiang suddenly died. On the thirteenth day (Bingwu), Zhaoyi troops plundered Jinyang on a large scale. The market dwellers jointly attacked them, killing over a thousand, and only then did the Zhaoyi troops scatter.
The Vice Director of the Secretariat and Grand Councilor Li Wei was dismissed and appointed as Defender of the Eastern Capital. The Minister of Personnel Zheng Congtang was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat and Grand Councilor. Zheng Congtang was the grandson of Zheng Yuqing.
The Minister of Revenue and Chief of the Revenue Bureau Li Du was appointed Grand Councilor and concurrently Hezhong military governor.
In winter, the tenth month, the emperor issued an edict ordering the Zhaoyi military governor Li Jun, the Youzhou military governor Li Keju, together with the Tuyuhun chieftains Helian Duo and Bai Yicheng, the Shatuo chieftain An Qing, and the Sagu chieftain Mi Haiwan, to unite their troops and campaign against Li Guochang and his son at Wei Prefecture. On the second day (Jiawu), the Kelan Army defected to the Shatuo. On the fifteenth day (Dingwei), the court appointed the Hedong Pacification Commissioner Cui Jikang as Hedong military governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Daibei field camp. The Shatuo attacked Shi Prefecture. On the eighteenth day (Gengxu), Cui Jikang rescued Shi Prefecture.
In the twelfth month, on the thirteenth day (Jiaxu), Huang Chao captured Fu Prefecture. The observer Wei Xiu abandoned the city and fled.
The Nanzhao envoy Zhao Zongzheng returned to his own country. The Secretariat did not reply to the diplomatic note from Dudu Shuang, but only wrote a summary of the letter from the Xichuan military governor Cui Anqian, instructing Cui Anqian to respond.
Cui Jikang and the Zhaoyi military governor Li Jun fought against Li Keyong at Honggu. The troops of both commanderies were defeated, and Li Jun died in battle. When the Zhaoyi troops returned to Dai Prefecture, the soldiers plundered. The people of Dai Prefecture killed nearly all of them. The remnants fled through the Crow's Cry Pass back to Shangdang.
When Wang Ying was in revolt, the Lin'an man Dong Chang led local militia to campaign against the bandits and rendered meritorious service. He was appointed as the commander of the Shijing Garrison. In this year, Cao Shixiong invaded the Two Zhe regions. Hangzhou recruited one thousand militia soldiers from each county to campaign against the bandits. Dong Chang, together with the Qiantang men Liu Meng'an and Ruan Jie, the Fuyang man Wen Renyu, the Yanguan man Xu Ji, the Xincheng man Du Leng, the Yuhang man Ling Wenju, and the Linping man Cao Xin, each served as commanders. They were called the Eight Commanders of Hangzhou, with Dong Chang as their leader. Later, Wen Renyu died, and the Qiantang man Cheng Ji succeeded him. The Lin'an man Qian Liu served Dong Chang with bravery and was appointed as the Commander of the Shijing Garrison's troops and horses due to his achievements.
In spring, the first month, the Prince of Wei, Li Yi, died.
The Zhenhai military governor Gao Pian sent his generals Zhang Lin and Liang Zuan to attack Huang Chao on separate routes. They defeated Huang Chao's army many times and induced the surrender of Huang Chao's generals Qin Yan, Bi Shidu, Li Hanzhi, Xu Qing, and several dozen others. Huang Chao then fled to Guangnan. Qin Yan was from Xu Prefecture; Bi Shidu was from Yuanju; Li Hanzhi was from Xiangcheng.
Jia Chong and his party had not yet reached Nanzhao when they died one after another on the road, and more than half of their attendants also died. At that time, Xin Dang was already afflicted with wind paralysis. He summoned the acting patrol officer Xu Yunqian, took his hand, and said, "I have already memorialized the court to send envoys to Nanzhao, but the envoys have died one after another. What can be done? Since you have entered official service, you should consider state affairs. Can you go on this mission for me? I regret that I am afflicted with wind paralysis and cannot bow!" Then he sobbed and wept. Xu Yunqian said, "A scholar dies for one who knows him! You summoned me, and I am only sorry that I cannot repay your kindness. How dare I refuse the mission!" Xin Dang was overjoyed, prepared generous provisions, and sent him off.
In the second month, on the bingyin day, Xu Yunqian arrived at Shancheng City. The Piaoxin received the great envoy with rites of equal status, and accepted the kneeling obeisance of the vice-envoy and officials below him. On the jisi day, the Piaoxin sent Ci Shuangyu and Yang Zong to the guesthouse to say to Xu Yunqian: "The document from your commandery wishes the Piaoxin to proclaim himself a vassal, present a memorial, and offer local products as tribute. The Piaoxin has already sent men via Xichuan to enter the Tang court, to make a covenant with the Tang as brothers, otherwise as uncle and nephew. Between brothers or uncle and nephew, there is merely an exchange of letters and gifts—what matter of presenting memorials and offering tribute is there?" Xu Yunqian said: "Since the Piaoxin wishes to be a younger brother or a nephew, the Piaoxin is the son of Jingzhuang Wang. Did Jingzhuang Wang have no brothers? They are uncles to the Piaoxin, and the Piaoxin is the sovereign; thus the uncles must all become vassals, let alone younger brothers or nephews! Moreover, the Piaoxin's ancestors, relying on the appointment of the Great Tang, were able to unite the six zhao into one kingdom. Their grace was profound. If there were minor frictions in between, the fault lay with the border officials. Now the Piaoxin wishes to restore the former good relations—how can he violate the precedents of his ancestors! Following the ancestors is filial piety; serving the great state is righteousness; ceasing warfare is benevolence; clarifying status is ritual propriety. These four are all virtuous deeds—how can he not strive to do them!" The Piaoxin treated Xu Yunqian with great generosity, and Xu Yunqian remained in Shancheng City for seventeen days before returning. The Piaoxin gave Xu Yunqian two wooden slips: one was to be presented to the Zhongshu Menxia, and the other was a dispatch to Lingnan Xidao, but he still refused to present a memorial proclaiming vassalage or offer tribute.
On the xinwei day, the Hedong army reached Jingle. Soldiers mutinied, killing Kongmu Officer Shi Yu and others. On the renshen day, Cui Jikang fled back to Jinyang. On the jiaxu day, Commander Zhang Kai and Guo Fu led the field army to attack Dongyang Gate, entered the government office, and killed Cui Jikang. On the xinsi day, Gao Xun, the Surveillance Commissioner of Shanguo, was appointed as Zhaoyi Military Commissioner; Li Kan, the Military Commissioner of Bin’ning, was appointed as Hedong Military Commissioner.
In the third month, Zhang Ti, the Military Commissioner of Tianping Army, died. The staff officer Cui Junyu acted on his own authority as prefectural administrator. Cao Quanzheng, the Inspector of Zizhou, attacked and killed him.
In summer, the fourth month, on the gengshen day, which was the first day of the month, a solar eclipse occurred.
When Cui Anqian, the Military Commissioner of Xichuan, arrived at his post, he did not investigate or prosecute bandits. The people of Shu found this strange. Cui Anqian said: "If bandits are not sheltered and indulged by those connected with them, they cannot succeed. Now if we pursue the matter deeply, then those who should be punished would be many; if we conduct searches, it will only increase vexation." On the jiazi day, he took 1,500 strings of cash from the treasury and distributed them among the three markets, posting a notice above them saying: "Whoever can inform on and capture one bandit shall be rewarded with 500 strings of cash. A bandit cannot commit crimes alone; he must have accomplices. If an accomplice informs and captures, his crime shall be remitted, and the reward shall be the same as for an ordinary person." Before long, someone captured a bandit and brought him in. The bandit did not submit, saying: "You and I have been bandits together for seventeen years, dividing the spoils equally. How can you arrest me! I will die together with you." Cui Anqian said: "Since you knew of my notice, why did you not arrest him and bring him in? Then he would have died, and you would have received the reward. Now that he has captured you, what more is there to say!" He immediately ordered the reward to be given to the captor, had the bandit watch, then executed the bandit in the marketplace and exterminated his entire family. Consequently, the various bandits and their accomplices grew suspicious of one another, found no place to hide, and before dawn scattered and fled beyond the borders. From then on, there was not a single bandit within the territory. Cui Anqian considered the Shu soldiers cowardly and weak. He memorialized, sending a general with official documents to Chen, Xu, and other prefectures to recruit stalwart men. Mixing them with the Shu people, he trained and deployed them, obtaining 3,000 men. He divided them into three armies. They also wore yellow caps and were called the Yellow Head Army. He further memorialized, requesting crossbowmen from Hongzhou to teach the Shu people to shoot pellets with crossbows. He selected 1,000 men, called the Divine Mechanism Crossbow Battalion. The Shu army gradually grew strong from this.
Liang Wang Li Ting died.
The emperor was worried about the numerous bandits. Wang Duo said: "Your servant is the head of the chancellors. In the court, he is insufficient to share Your Majesty's. I request to personally lead the various generals in the campaign against them." Thereupon, Wang Duo was appointed as Acting Situ and concurrently as Shizhong, and was made Jingnan Military Commissioner and Supreme Commander of the Southern Front Campaign.
In the fifth month, on the xinmao day, an imperial edict granted silver to the Hedong army troops. Soldiers under the command of staff officer He Gongya mutinied, burning and looting the three walled districts. They seized Kongmu Officer Wang Jing and sent him to the Horse and Foot Department. Li Kan, the Military Commissioner, together with the Army Supervisor, personally went to pacify and explain. They beheaded Wang Jing at the ya gate, and only then was order restored.
Li Xi, the Military Commissioner of Taining, was a great-grandson of Li Sheng. He had eloquence but in reality lacked courage and strategy. Because he came from a general's family, Wang Duo memorialized to appoint him as Deputy Commander of the field army and concurrently as Surveillance Commissioner of Hunan, ordering him to lead 50,000 elite troops along with the local militia army to garrison Tanzhou, in order to block the road north of the ranges and resist Huang Chao.
Every night, the Hedong Commandant of the Capital secretly arrested the mutinous soldiers under He Gongya's command and exterminated their families. On the dingsi day, nearly a hundred of the remaining partisans, calling themselves "Revenge Generals," extensively plundered the three walled districts and burned the homes of Zhang Kai, the Commandant of the Horse and Foot Department of the Capital, and Guo Fu, the Commandant of the City Defense Department. Li Kan, the Military Commissioner, issued an order: because the military headquarters was not peaceful, he would compliantly follow the army's sentiments. He arrested Zhang Kai and Guo Fu, beheaded them at the ya gate, and expelled their families. He appointed He Gongya as Commandant of the Horse and Foot Department of the Capital. When Zhang Kai and Guo Fu were about to be executed, they wept and said to the crowd: "Those who were killed were secretly reported by the Bandit Arrest Department. Today we die unjustly. Is there no righteous man to save us?" Thereupon, the soldiers again raised a great clamor, seized Zhang Kai and Guo Fu, and returned them to the Commandant's Department. Shortly afterward, an order was issued restoring them to their former posts and recalling their families. They arrested over thirty families including Yuan Yizong of the Bandit Arrest Department and exterminated them all. On the jiwei day, Zhu Mei, the Chief Trainer of the Horse and Foot Department, and others were appointed as the Execution Commissioners for the three walled districts. They led troops to search out and arrest the "Revenge Generals" in separate groups, executing them all. Only then was the army city pacified.
Huang Chao wrote letters to Cui Qiu, the Surveillance Commissioner of Zhedong, and Li Tiao, the Military Commissioner of Lingnan Dongdao, requesting the post of Tianping Military Commissioner. The two men memorialized on his behalf, but the court did not permit it. Huang Chao further presented a memorial requesting the post of Guangzhou Military Commissioner. The emperor ordered the great ministers to deliberate. Zuo Puye Yu Cong considered: "Guangzhou is a place where goods and treasures from maritime trade gather—how can it be allowed to fall into the hands of bandits!" He also did not permit it. They then deliberated on granting him another office. In the sixth month, the chancellors requested that Huang Chao be granted the post of Shuaifu Lü (Commander of the Guards). The emperor agreed.
Li Kan, the Hedong Military Commissioner, because the military headquarters had experienced repeated disturbances, pleaded illness and requested to seek medical treatment. An imperial edict appointed Kang Chuan’gui, the Inspector of Daizhou, as Hedong Marching Adjutant, and summoned Li Kan to the capital. In autumn, the eighth month, on the jiazi day, Li Kan departed from Jinyang. Shortly afterward, Du Weijie, the Eastern Capital Defender, was appointed as Tong Pingzhangshi and made Hedong Military Commissioner.
Gao Pian, the Military Commissioner of Zhenhai, memorialized: "I request that Lang Youfu, the acting Inspector of Shuzhou, be made acting Liuhou to guard Zhexi, and that I dispatch Zhang Lin, the Commissioner of the Capital Cavalry and Infantry, to lead 5,000 troops to guard the strategic passes in Chenzhou, and that Wang Zhongren, the Army Liuhou, lead 8,000 troops to intercept in Xun and Chao prefectures. I myself will lead 10,000 men from Dayu Ridge directly to Guangzhou to attack Huang Chao. When Huang Chao hears of my approach, he will surely flee. I request an edict ordering Wang Duo to lead his 30,000 troops to guard the strategic passes in Wu, Zhao, Gui, and Yong prefectures." An edict did not permit this.
In the ninth month, Huang Chao received the commission for the post of Shuaifu Lü and was greatly enraged. He reviled the chief ministers and urgently attacked Guangzhou. On that day, he captured it, seized the Military Commissioner Li Tiao, and then turned to plunder the prefectures and counties of Lingnan. Huang Chao ordered Li Tiao to draft a memorial stating his intentions. Li Tiao said: "My family has received the state's grace for generations, and my relatives fill the court. My wrist may be cut off, but I cannot draft this memorial." Huang Chao killed him.
In winter, the tenth month, Gao Pian, the Military Commissioner of Zhenhai, was appointed as Huainan Military Commissioner and concurrently as Commissioner of Salt and Iron Transport. Zhou Bao, the Military Commissioner of Jingyuan, was appointed as Zhenhai Military Commissioner. Liu Jurong, the Marching Adjutant of Shannandongdao, was appointed as Military Commissioner. Zhou Bao was a native of Pingzhou.
Huang Chao was in Lingnan, where three or four out of ten soldiers had died from malaria. His subordinates urged him to return north to pursue great plans, and Huang Chao heeded their advice. He had several thousand large wooden rafts built in Guizhou, and taking advantage of the swollen river, they sailed down the Xiang River, passing through Hengzhou and Yongzhou. On the Guiwei day, they arrived at the city of Tanzhou. Li Xi held the city but dared not engage in battle. Huang Chao launched a fierce assault, capturing it in a single day. Li Xi fled to Langzhou. Huang Chao killed all the defending soldiers, whose corpses drifted on the river, covering its surface. Shang Rang pressed forward with his victory, advancing on Jiangling, his forces claiming to be five hundred thousand strong. At that time, troops from various circuits had not yet assembled, and Jiangling’s garrison numbered less than ten thousand. Wang Duo left his general Liu Hanhong to defend Jiangling while he himself led his forces straight to Xiangyang, claiming he would join forces with Liu Jurong. After Wang Duo left, Liu Hanhong plundered Jiangling wildly, burning and looting nearly everything. The local gentry and commoners fled into the mountains and valleys. A heavy snowfall occurred, leaving corpses strewn across the fields. Only after more than ten days did the bandit army arrive. Liu Hanhong was a man of Yanzhou; he led his troops northward and became a bandit chief.
In the intercalary month, on the Dinghai day of the first month, Li Wei, the military governor of Hedong, fell ill. He appointed Deputy Military Supply Commissioner Li Shao as acting surveillance commissioner, and Supervisor Li Fenggao as acting military commissioner. On the Jichou day, Li Wei died. Chief Adjutant Zhang Kai and Guo Fang signed a petition recommending Li Shao, and appointed Junior Administrator Ding Qiu to oversee the affairs of surveillance commissioner.
In the eleventh month, on the Wuwu day, Wang Chucun, the imperial commissioner for areas from Dingzhou onward and a native of Wannian, was appointed military governor of Yiwu and chief military adjutant of Hedong. Kang Chuangui, the imperial commissioner for areas from Yanmen Pass onward, was appointed military governor of Hedong.
Huang Chao marched straight north toward Xiangyang. Liu Jurong combined forces with Cao Quanzheng, the Jiangxi suppression commissioner and prefect of Zizhou, and camped at Jingmen to defend against him. When the bandit army arrived, Liu Jurong set up an ambush in the woods, while Cao Quanzheng led light cavalry to meet them, feigning defeat and fleeing. The bandits gave chase, and the ambush was sprung, inflicting a major defeat on the bandit army. They pursued the defeated troops. By the time they reached Jiangling, seven or eight out of ten bandits had been captured or killed. Huang Chao and Shang Rang gathered their remaining forces and fled east across the river. Someone advised Liu Jurong to pursue relentlessly to annihilate the bandits. Liu Jurong said, "The state is fond of betraying people. In times of urgency, it pacifies its generals and soldiers, not stinting on official ranks and rewards. But once the crisis is over, it casts them aside, and they may even incur punishment. It is better to leave the bandits as capital for securing wealth and honor." The troops therefore halted. Cao Quanzheng crossed the river to pursue the bandits, but just then the court appointed Duan Yanmo, the commander of Taining, to replace him as suppression commissioner, and Cao Quanzheng also stopped. From then on, the bandits’ momentum revived. They attacked Ezhou, captured its outer city, and turned to plunder fifteen prefectures, including Rao, Xin, Chi, Xuan, She, and Hang, swelling their ranks to two hundred thousand.
Kang Chuangui traveled from Daizhou to Jinyang. On the Gengchen day, he reached Wucheng Post Station. Zhang Kai and Guo Fang came out to welcome him, then hacked him to death with random knife blows. After arriving at the government office, they also exterminated his clan.
In the twelfth month, Wang Duo was appointed Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent with a sinecure post in the eastern capital.
Earlier, Minister of War Lu Xie had recommended Gao Pian as suitable for the post of supreme commander. By this time, Gao Pian’s generals, such as Zhang Lin, had repeatedly defeated Huang Chao, so Lu Xie was again appointed Vice Director of the Chancellery and Chief Minister. Most of the military governors east of the passes that Wang Duo and Zheng Tian had appointed were replaced.
That year, Chen Yanlian, a bandit from Guiyang, captured Chenzhou and killed Prefect Dong Yue.
In the spring, in the first month, on the Yimao day of the first month, the reign title was changed.
The Shatuo people entered Yanmen Pass and raided Xinzhou and Daizhou. In the second month, on the Gengxu day, over twenty thousand Shatuo troops approached Jinyang. On the Xinhai day, they captured Taigu. The court sent Zhuge Shuang, the defense commissioner of Ruzhou and a native of Bochang, leading the eastern capital’s defense troops to rescue Hedong.
Kang Chuangui, the military governor of Hedong, relied solely on intimidation and punishment, creating many grievances and forcibly seizing the wealth of the rich. He sent former Frontier Defense Army Commissioner Su Hongzhen to attack the Shatuo at Taigu. When Su reached Qincheng, he encountered the Shatuo army, fought unsuccessfully, and withdrew. Kang Chuangui, enraged, executed Su Hongzhen. By then, the Shatuo army had already withdrawn to Daibei. Kang Chuangui sent Chief Training Commissioner Zhang Yanqiu to lead three thousand troops in pursuit. On the Renxu day, they reached Baijing, where the troops mutinied and turned back toward Jinyang. Kang Chuangui closed the city gates to resist, but the mutineers entered through the West Bright Gate and killed him. Supervisor Zhou Congyu personally went out to pacify and persuade them, and only then was order restored. The troops recommended Zhang Yanqiu as the prefectural deputy commander. When the court heard of this, it sent an envoy with an imperial decree to comfort them, saying: "The killing of the military governor was a matter of momentary impulse. Each of you should be at ease and no longer worry or fear."
Left Remonstrant Hou Changye believed that bandits were rampant east of the passes while the emperor did not attend to state affairs but indulged entirely in games, with excessive rewards, and that Tian Lingzi monopolized power and showed no respect for the emperor. Celestial omens had appeared, and the state was on the verge of peril. He thus submitted a memorial strongly admonishing the emperor. The emperor was furious, summoned Hou Changye to the Inner Attendant Office, and ordered him to commit suicide.
The emperor was fond of horseback riding, archery, sword dancing, spear play, and arithmetic. As for music, rhythm, and gambling, he was proficient in all. He enjoyed playing football and cockfighting, betting on geese with the various princes, with a single goose worth as much as fifty thousand strings of cash. He was especially skilled at polo. Once, he said to the performer Shi Yelie, "If I were to take the imperial examination for the polo jinshi degree, I would surely come out first." Shi Yelie replied, "If you encountered Yao or Shun as Vice Minister of Rites, I fear Your Majesty would inevitably be rejected and dismissed." The emperor only laughed. The Commissioner of Finance, citing insufficient funds, submitted a memorial requesting loans from wealthy households and foreign merchants. The emperor ordered that half their property be borrowed. The Salt and Iron Transport Commissioner Gao Pian memorialized: "The bandits have arisen across the realm, all due to hunger and cold. Only the wealthy households and foreign merchants have not yet experienced this." So the borrowing was halted. Gao Pian requested that the Yangzi Institute be renamed the Transport Commissioner's Office.
In the third month, on the Gengwu day, Chen Jingxuan, the Left Chief Commander of the Imperial Guard, was appointed military governor of Xichuan. Chen Jingxuan was a native of Xuzhou and the elder brother of Tian Lingzi. Earlier, when Cui Anqian was governing Xuchang, Tian Lingzi sought the post of military commissioner for Chen Jingxuan, but Cui Anqian refused. Chen Jingxuan, through Tian Lingzi, managed to be enrolled in the Left Shence Army. After several years, he was promoted repeatedly until he became chief commander. Tian Lingzi, seeing the bandits east of the passes growing increasingly rampant, secretly planned for the emperor to take refuge in Shu. He submitted a memorial requesting that Chen Jingxuan and his trusted associates, Left Shence Army Chief Commanders Yang Shili, Niu Xu, and Luo Yuangao, be appointed to govern the Three Rivers regions. The emperor had the four men compete in a polo match to decide the appointments. Chen Jingxuan came in first and was thus appointed military governor of Xichuan, replacing Cui Anqian.
On the Xinwei day, Zheng Congdang, Vice Director of the Chancellery and Chief Minister, was appointed Chief Minister and concurrently military governor of Hedong. After Kang Chuangui’s death, the Hedong soldiers became even more arrogant, so a chief minister was sent to govern, allowing him to choose his own staff. Zheng Congdang submitted a memorial requesting that Wang Diao, the magistrate of Chang’an, be appointed deputy military governor; Liu Chonggui, a secretary in the Ministry of Revenue and a compiler in the Historiography Institute, be appointed administrative assistant; Zhao Chong, a former secretary in the Ministry of Personnel and a compiler in the Historiography Institute, be appointed surveillance assistant; and Liu Chonglu, a former jinshi, be appointed judicial assistant. People at the time called it the "Little Court," meaning that many renowned scholars were gathered there. Liu Chonggui and Liu Chonglu were seventh-generation descendants of Liu Zhenghui. At that time, just after the upheaval in Jinyang, killings and plundering occurred daily. Zheng Congdang appeared gentle on the surface but was firm in character, resourceful, and decisive. Whenever soldiers or officers intended to do evil, Zheng Congdang always detected it beforehand and executed them, causing the treacherous to tremble with fear. For those who did good, he pacified and trusted them without suspicion. Recognizing Zhang Yanqiu’s strategic ability and that the Baijing mutiny was not his true intent, he only investigated and executed the original instigators. Then he summoned Zhang Yanqiu, comforted and instructed him, and handed over full military authority to him, thereby stabilizing the army. Zhang Yanqiu exerted himself to the utmost for Zheng Congdang and ultimately served him loyally.
Gao Pian, the military governor of Huainan, sent his general Zhang Lin and others to attack Huang Chao, achieving repeated victories. Lu Xie submitted a memorial requesting that Gao Pian be appointed Supreme Commander of the Various Circuit Field Armies. Gao Pian then issued proclamations summoning troops from across the realm and extensively recruited soldiers, gathering a total of seventy thousand local and foreign troops. His prestige greatly increased, and the court relied heavily on him.
A military mutiny occurred in Annan. Military Governor Zeng Gun fled the city to take refuge, and various troops stationed in Yongguan also often returned on their own.
In the summer, in the fourth month, on the Dingyou day, Li Zhuo, the Grand Servant, was appointed Supreme Commander for the Pacification of Weizhou and Shuozhou and concurrently Field Army Military Governor. Li Zhuo was the son of Li Ting.
Zhang Lin crossed the Yangtze River to attack the rebel general Wang Zhongba, forcing him to surrender. He defeated Huang Chao’s forces multiple times, and Huang Chao withdrew to protect Raozhou. A subordinate general, Chang Hong, surrendered with tens of thousands of troops. Zhang Lin attacked Raozhou, captured it, and Huang Chao fled. At that time, various armies in the Jiang and Huai regions repeatedly reported victories over the rebels, but most reports were untrue. Officials from the chief councilor downward all presented memorials to congratulate the court, which consequently felt at ease.
Li Zhuo was appointed as the military governor of Shuoxi Circuit and also served as the overall commander. Yang Shili was appointed as the military governor of Dongchuan Circuit, and Niu Xu as the military governor of Shannan West Circuit. Zhuge Shuang was appointed as the deputy commander of the Northern Front.
Initially, after Liu Jurong returned to Xiangyang, Yang Fuguang, the eunuch military supervisor of Jingnan, had Song Hao, the commander of Zhongwu Army, temporarily handle the prefectural affairs, while Duan Yanmo, the commander of Taining Army, led troops to guard the city. The court issued an edict appointing Song Hao as the pacification commissioner of Jingnan, but Duan Yanmo was ashamed to be subordinate to Song Hao. Song Hao prohibited soldiers from cutting down locust and willow trees in the streets. Duan Yanmo’s subordinates violated the prohibition, and Song Hao beat their backs with a stick. Duan Yanmo became enraged, rode on horseback with a sword, and killed Song Hao along with his two sons. Yang Fuguang reported that Song Hao was cruel and had been killed by the people. The court issued an edict appointing Duan Yanmo as the prefect of Langzhou and Zheng Shaoye, the vice minister of public works, as the military governor of Jingnan.
In the fifth month, on the day Ding-si (the 14th day), Zhuge Shuang, the defense commissioner of Ruzhou, was appointed as the military governor of Zhenwu Circuit.
Liu Hanhong’s faction grew increasingly powerful, plundering and raiding Songzhou and Yanzhou. On the day Jia-zi (the 21st day), the court mobilized various armies from the east to attack them.
Huang Chao stationed his forces in Xinzhou, where a plague broke out, causing many soldiers to die. Zhang Lin attacked fiercely. Huang Chao bribed Zhang Lin with money and sent a letter to Gao Pian requesting surrender, asking Gao Pian to guarantee and recommend him. Gao Pian wanted to lure him in and promised to request a military command seal and authority for him. At that time, the armies of Zhaoyi, Ganhua, and Yiwu had all arrived at Huainan. Gao Pian, fearing they would share his merit, submitted a memorial saying the rebels would soon be pacified and there was no need to trouble the various armies, requesting their withdrawal. The court agreed. When the rebels learned that the various armies had crossed the Huai River northward, they broke off relations with Gao Pian and requested battle. Gao Pian became enraged and ordered Zhang Lin to attack the rebels, but was defeated, and Zhang Lin was killed. Huang Chao’s power revived.
On the day Yi-hai (uncertain), Xi Men Si Gong, the chief of the Palace Secretariat, was appointed as the eunuch military supervisor of Fengxiang. On the day Bing-zi (uncertain), Li Shun Rong, the chief of the Palace Communications Office, was appointed as the chief of the Palace Secretariat. Both were issued white hemp paper edicts, displayed on the court gate, and treated equally with the chief councilors.
Chen Jingxuan, the military governor of Xichuan Circuit, had always been poor and lowly. When the news of his appointment reached Shu, the people of Shu were astonished and did not know who he was. A sorcerer from Qingcheng Mountain seized the opportunity to lead his followers, pretending to be Chen, the vice director of the Chancellery. He stayed at an inn and called for the patrol officer to demand a white horse, urgently. The horse-step commissioner Qu Da-fu suspected the deception, captured him, poured dog’s blood on him, and he immediately confessed. The sorcerer and his followers were all executed. On the day Geng-yin (uncertain), Chen Jingxuan arrived in Chengdu.
A subordinate general of Huang Chao captured Muzhou and Wuzhou.
Lu Xie suffered from wind paralysis and could not walk, so he took leave to recover. On the day Ji-hai (uncertain), he finally appeared in court for an audience. The emperor ordered that he need not kneel and sent two eunuchs to support him. Lu Xie relied on Tian Lingzi internally and Gao Pian externally, and the emperor favored him greatly. Consequently, he monopolized court affairs and acted arbitrarily. After falling ill, his spirit weakened, and the decisions of government affairs depended on his trusted clerks Yang Wen and Li Xiu, with bribery rampant. Dou Lu Zhuan had no other talents and specifically relied on Lu Xie. Cui Hang occasionally made statements, but was often obstructed by him.
On the day Geng-zi (uncertain), Li Zhuo reported that two thousand Shatuo people had surrendered. Li Zhuo was then leading ten thousand troops stationed in Daizhou, jointly with Li Keju, the military governor of Lulong Circuit, and He Lian Duo, the chieftain of Tuyuhun, to attack the Shatuo. Li Keyong sent his general Gao Wenji to guard Shuozhou while he himself led forces to resist Li Keju at Xiongwu Army. He Lian Duo sent someone to persuade Gao Wenji to submit to the court. Gao Wenji captured Li Keyong’s general Fu Wenda and, together with the Shatuo chieftain Li Youjin, the Sagu chieftain Mi Haiwan, and the Anqing chieftain Shi Jingcun, surrendered to Li Zhuo, opening the city gates to welcome the government troops. Li Youjin was Li Keyong’s uncle of the same clan.
On the day Geng-xu (uncertain), Huang Chao attacked Xuanzhou and captured it.
Liu Hanhong advanced southward to raid Shenzhou and Guangzhou.
After Zhao Zongzheng returned to Nanzhao, Cui Anqian, the military governor of Xichuan Circuit, submitted a memorial arguing that Cui Dan’s proposal was correct, and said: “Nanzhao is a small barbarian tribe, originally just a prefecture of Yunnan. Now sending envoys to negotiate peace with them will make China appear timid. If they again request to marry a princess, what reason can be used to refuse?” The emperor ordered the chief councilors to discuss. Lu Xie and Dou Lu Zhuan submitted a memorial saying: “In the late Dazhong era, the treasury was full. Since the Xiantong era, the barbarians have twice captured Annan and Yongguan, once invaded Qianzhong, and four times attacked Xichuan. Conscripting soldiers and transporting grain has exhausted the empire for over fifteen years. Most of the land taxes could not reach the capital, and the three offices of the Ministry of Revenue, Salt and Iron Monopoly, and the Board of Revenue, as well as the inner treasury, became empty. Soldiers died from miasma and plague, and the common people were reduced to banditry, leading to desolation in the Central Plains—all due to the barbarians. In the winter of the year before last, the barbarians did not invade because Zhao Zongzheng had not yet returned. Last winter, they did not invade because Xu Yunqian had returned with a reply, and the barbarians still had expectations. Now the inner city of Annan is occupied by rebel forces, and the military governor’s attacks have not succeeded. Most of the remaining garrison troops have returned on their own. The guest armies of Yongguan have been reduced by half. Winter is approaching; if the barbarians invade, how can they be resisted? It is better to temporarily send an envoy to respond to them. Even if they cannot be made to submit as vassals or pay tribute, at least let them not bear deeper resentment and resolutely violate the border. That would be acceptable.” Thus, they drafted an edict to Chen Jingxuan, allowing peace and marriage with Nanzhao, and Nanzhao need not claim vassalage. They ordered Chen Jingxuan to copy the edict, write a letter to them, and additionally increase gifts of gold and silk. They appointed Li Guinian, the Prince of Cao, as the junior steward of the Imperial Clan Court to serve as the envoy, with Xu Yunqian as deputy, and also sent eunuchs to accompany them with the edict to Nanzhao.
In autumn, the seventh month, Huang Chao crossed the Yangtze River from Caishi, surrounded Tianchang and Liuhe, and his military strength was very formidable. Bi Shiduo, a general of Huainan, said to Gao Pian: “The court relies on you as the pillar of safety. Now the rebel army, hundreds of thousands strong, takes advantage of victory to advance straight in, as if entering an uninhabited land. If you do not occupy strategic points to attack them and let them cross the Huai River, they cannot be controlled and will surely become a great calamity for the Central Plains.” Gao Pian, considering that the various armies had already been dispersed and Zhang Lin was dead, estimated that his own strength was insufficient to subdue the rebels. He was fearful and dared not send out troops, only ordering the generals to strengthen defenses to protect themselves. Moreover, he submitted a memorial reporting the emergency, saying: “The rebel army, over six hundred thousand strong, is stationed at Tianchang, less than fifty li from my city.” Previously, Lu Xie had believed that “Gao Pian has great civil and military talent. If all military power is entrusted to him, Huang Chao will not be difficult to pacify.” Although some in the court and among the people thought Gao Pian unreliable, everyone still had expectations of him. When Gao Pian’s memorial arrived, disappointment spread from top to bottom, and the people were greatly alarmed. An edict reprimanded Gao Pian for arbitrarily dismissing the various armies, allowing the rebels to cross the river while unprepared. Gao Pian memorialized: “My request to send the armies back was not arbitrary. Now I am doing my utmost to protect this region and will certainly manage well. I only fear the rebels may advance circuitously to cross the Huai River, so urgent orders should be given to the eastern circuit’s troops to prepare defenses properly.” He then claimed to have contracted wind paralysis and no longer went out to battle.
An edict ordered the various armies of Henan to deploy troops at Yinshui, and Qi Kerang, the military governor of Taining Circuit, to station troops at Ruzhou to guard against Huang Chao.
On the day Xin-you (the 19th day), Cao Quanzheng, the prefect of Zizhou, was appointed as the military governor of Tianping Circuit and also the deputy overall commander of the Eastern Front.
Liu Hanhong requested to surrender. On the day Wu-chen (the 26th day), he was appointed as the prefect of Suzhou.
Li Keyong led his army back from Xiongwu Army and attacked Gao Wenji at Shuozhou. Li Keju sent his marching adjutant Han Xuanzhao to intercept at Yao'er Ridge, where he heavily defeated Li Keyong, killing over seven thousand men; Li Jinzhong and Cheng Huaixin both died in battle. He then defeated Li Keyong again in Xiongwu Army territory, killing ten thousand men. Li Zhuo and Helian Duo attacked Weizhou. Li Guochang was defeated, his forces completely scattered, and he only fled north with Li Keyong and their clan into the Dada. An edict appointed Helian Duo as Prefect of Yunzhou and Defender of Datong Army, the Tuyuhun man Bai Yicheng as Prefect of Weizhou, the Sage man Mi Haiwan as Prefect of Shuozhou, and granted Li Keju the concurrent title of Attendant-in-Chief. The Dada were originally a separate branch of the Mohe, dwelling in the Yin Mountains. Several months later, Helian Duo secretly bribed the Dada to capture Li Guochang and his son. Li Keyong learned of this. At the time, he was hunting with the Dada chieftains, placing horsewhips, leaves, or suspended needles at a distance and shooting them without missing; the chieftains were impressed. He then set out wine and drank with them. When the wine was flowing, Li Keyong said: "I have offended the Son of Heaven and wish to serve loyally but cannot. Now I hear that Huang Chao is advancing north; he will surely become a calamity for the Central Plains. If the Son of Heaven once pardons my crime, I can join you all in the south to accomplish great merit—would that not be a pleasure! How long can a man live? Who can grow old and die in the desert?" The Dada chieftains realized he had no intention of staying long, so they no longer heeded Helian Duo's request.
In the eighth month, on the jiawu day (the twenty-third), the former Xichuan Circuit Military Governor Cui Anqian was appointed as Grand Mentor to the Heir Apparent, with an office in the Eastern Capital.
In the ninth month, the Eastern Capital memorialized: "The troops recruited in Ruzhou, Li Guangting and five hundred others, returned from Daizhou. Passing through the Eastern Capital, they burned the Anxi Gate, looted and plundered the market stalls, and left through the Changxia Gate."
Huang Chao's forces, claiming to be one hundred fifty thousand strong, engaged Cao Quanzheng with his six thousand troops. Cao inflicted considerable casualties and captures. But because they were outnumbered, he withdrew and camped at Sishang, awaiting the arrival of various armies to attack together. However, Gao Pian never sent reinforcements. The rebel forces then attacked Cao Quanzheng and defeated him.
Xuzhou sent three thousand troops to Ganshui, passing through Xuchang. The Xuzhou soldiers were notorious for their ferocity and insubordination. The Military Governor, Xue Neng, claimed that since he had previously governed Pengcheng and enjoyed favor and trust among the Xuzhou people, he housed them in the ball court for the night. By evening, the Xuzhou soldiers raised a great clamor. Xue Neng ascended the inner city tower to inquire, and they replied that supplies were lacking. Xue Neng appeased them at length before they settled down. The people of Xuzhou were terrified. At that time, the Zhongwu Army also sent General Zhou Ji to Ganshui. He had not marched far when he heard of this incident. That night, he led his troops back, entering the city at dawn, where they attacked the Xuzhou soldiers and killed them all. They also resented Xue Neng for treating the Xuzhou soldiers generously, so they expelled him. As Xue Neng was about to flee to Xiangyang, the mutineers caught up and killed him, along with his family. Zhou Ji declared himself Acting Governor. Qi Kerang, the Commissioner for Blockade and Defense of Ru and Zheng, fearing an attack from Zhou Ji, led his troops back to Yanzhou. Consequently, all the armies stationed at Ganshui scattered. Huang Chao then led his entire force across the Huai River. Wherever they passed, they did not plunder but only conscripted able-bodied men to expand their army.
Before this, the court had summoned Zhenwu Circuit Military Governor Wu Shitai to be General of the Left Guard of the Palace, replacing him with Zhuge Shuang. Wu Shitai, seeing the court beset with troubles, had the army and people present a petition requesting that he remain. In the winter, the tenth month, the court again appointed Wu Shitai as Zhenwu Circuit Military Governor and Zhuge Shuang as Xia Sui Circuit Military Governor.
Huang Chao captured Shenzhou, then entered the territories of Yingzhou, Songzhou, Xuzhou, and Yanzhou. Wherever he went, officials and people fled and scattered.
The bandits captured Lizhou, killing Prefect Li Xun and Judge Huangfu Zhen. Huangfu Zhen had taken the jinshi examination twenty-three times without passing, but Li Xun had recruited him as an official. When the bandits arrived and the city fell, Huangfu Zhen fled. He asked someone: "Has the Prefect escaped disaster?" The man replied: "The bandits have captured him." Huangfu Zhen said: "I have received such deep kindness from him—where else can I go?" So he returned to face the bandits and ultimately died together with Li Xun.