Later Liang Records, Volume 4
Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 269
[Later Liang Record 4] From the twelfth month of the year Zhaoyang Zuoe to the sixth month of the year Qiangyu Chifenruo, a total of three years and more.
Emperor Mo of Later Liang, the First Year of the Qianhua Era (Guiyou, 913 AD)
In the twelfth month, Xu Wen, the Zhenhai Military Governor of Wu, and Zhu Jin, the Pinglu Military Governor, led the generals to resist the Liang army, encountering them at Zhaobu. The troops conscripted by Wu had not yet assembled, so Xu Wen led over four thousand men to battle Wang Jingren but could not prevail and retreated. Wang Jingren led his troops to pursue and exploit the victory, nearly reaching a strategic pass when all the Wu officers and soldiers turned pale with fright. Zuo Xiaoqi Grand General Chen Shao of Wanqiu raised his long spear and shouted loudly: "We have lured the enemy deep in; we can counterattack now!" He then wheeled his horse around and fought back. His subordinates followed him in charging forward, and the Liang army thus retreated. Xu Wen patted him on the back and said: "If not for your wisdom and bravery, I would have been in dire straits!" He then rewarded Chen Shao with gold and silk, but Chen Shao distributed it all to his subordinates. After the Wu army assembled, they fought again at Huoqiu, and the Liang army suffered a great defeat. Wang Jingren brought up the rear with a few cavalrymen, and the Wu people dared not approach closely. When the Liang army crossed the Huai River southward, they had marked the fords where the water was shallow enough to wade across. Zhu Jing, the defending general of Huoqiu, moved these floating wooden markers to deeper waters. When the Liang army retreated and tried to cross the river using the markers as guides, more than half of them drowned. The Wu people collected the Liang corpses and built a grand mound (jingguan) at Huoqiu.
On the day Gengwu, the Jin King appointed Zhou Dewei as the Lulong Military Governor and concurrently as Shizhong, and appointed Li Siben as the Zhenwu Military Governor.
Liu Shouguang, the ruler of Yan, planned to flee to Cangzhou to join Liu Shouqi, but due to wading through cold water, his feet became swollen and he lost his way. Arriving within the territory of Yanle, he hid in pits and valleys during the day and went without food for several days. He sent his wife Lady Zhu to beg for food at the home of the farmer Zhang Shizao. Zhang Shizao found the woman suspicious, interrogated her, and learned of Liu Shouguang's hiding place. He then captured him along with his three sons. On the day Guiyou, the Jin King was feasting when the officers and soldiers arrived escorting Liu Shouguang. The Jin King said to him: "Why does the master hide so deeply from his guest?" He then housed Liu Rengong and his son in a guesthouse and bestowed upon them utensils, clothing, food, and drink. The Jin King ordered the Chief Secretary Wang Jian to draft a victory proclamation (lubu). Wang Jian, unfamiliar with the old precedents, wrote the text on cloth and had men drag it as they marched.
The Jin King intended to return via Yunzhou and Daizhou. Zhao King Wang Rong and Wang Chuzhi requested to go through Zhongshan and Zhending straight to Jingxing, and the Jin King agreed. On the day Gengchen, the Jin King departed from Youzhou, with Liu Rengong and his son both wearing cangues and standing beneath the victory proclamation. Liu Shouguang's parents spat in his face and cursed him, saying: "Rebellious wretch! You have ruined our family to such a state!" Liu Shouguang only hung his head. On the day Jiashen, they arrived at Dingzhou and stayed at the Guancheng. On the day Bingxu, the Jin King and Wang Chuzhi paid homage at the Temple of the Northern Marchmount. That same day, they arrived at Xingtang, where Zhao King Wang Rong greeted them on the road.
Emperor Mo of Later Liang, the Second Year of the Qianhua Era (Jiaxu, 914 AD)
Spring, first month, on the day Wuxu (new year's day), Zhao King Wang Rong went to the Jin King's camp to offer congratulations and set up a banquet. Wang Rong expressed a desire to see Grand Preceptor Liu. The Jin King ordered the officials to remove the cangues from Liu Rengong and Liu Shouguang and brought them to the feast. Wang Rong bowed in return to them and also presented them with clothing, saddles and horses, and wine and food. On the day Jihai, the Jin King and Wang Rong hunted west of Xingtang. Wang Rong saw the Jin King off to the border before taking his leave.
On the day Bingzi, the Shu ruler ordered the heir apparent to take command of the Six Armies, established the Chongxun Office, set up staff, and later renamed it the Tiance Office.
On the day Renzi, the Jin King bound Liu Rengong and his son with white silk and entered Jinyang with triumphant music. On the day Bingchen, he presented them at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. He personally supervised the execution of Liu Shouguang. Liu Shouguang shouted: "I, Liu Shouguang, die without regret, but the one who instructed me not to surrender was Li Xiaoxi!" The Jin King summoned Li Xiaoxi to confront him. Li Xiaoxi glared at Liu Shouguang and rebuked him: "Your internal strife and bestial conduct—was that also taught by me?" The Jin King, angered by his insolence, had him beheaded first. Liu Shouguang said: "I am skilled in archery and horsemanship. If the Great King wishes to achieve hegemony, why not spare me for service?" His two wives, Lady Li and Lady Zhu, rebuked him, saying: "Emperor, matters have come to this; what use is life? We beg to die first." They then stretched out their necks for the execution. Liu Shouguang, even until his death, kept weeping and begging for mercy without cease. The Jin King ordered the Deputy Military Governor Lu Rubi and others to escort Liu Rengong to Daizhou, extract his heart's blood to offer at the former king's tomb, and then behead him.
Someone advised Zhao King Wang Rong, saying: "The title of Chief Minister of the Chancellery (Shangshu Ling) that the Great King holds is an official title from the Liang dynasty. Since the Great King is an enemy of Liang, you should not use a Liang official title. Moreover, ever since Tang Taizong ascended the throne, no one has dared to assume this title. Now the Jin King is the leader of the alliance, with high merit and low rank. It would be better to yield the title of Chief Minister of the Chancellery to him." Wang Rong said: "Good!" He then, together with Wang Chuzhi, each sent envoys to recommend the Jin King as Chief Minister of the Chancellery. The Jin King thrice declined before accepting, and then began to establish a headquarters and set up a Branch Secretariat, following the old precedents of Tang Taizong.
Gao Jichang, because the four Shu prefectures of Kuizhou, Wanzhou, Zhongzhou, and Fuzhou had originally belonged to Jingnan, launched troops to seize them, first attacking Kuizhou with a naval force. At that time, the Zhenjiang Military Governor and concurrently Shizhong, Jia Wang Wang Zongshou, was stationed at Zhongzhou. The Kuizhou Prefect Wang Chengxian requested that armor be issued, but Wang Zongshou only gave him white cloth robes. Wang Chengxian led these soldiers into battle. Gao Jichang sent fire ships to burn the Shu pontoon bridge, but the Deputy Recruiting Commissioner Zhang Wu raised an iron chain across the river to block them, and the fire ships could not advance. Just then, the wind shifted direction, and many Jingnan soldiers were burned or drowned. Gao Jichang was aboard a warship covered with oxhide, but a flying stone struck the ship, breaking off its stern. Gao Jichang escaped in a small boat. The Jingnan army suffered a great defeat, with five thousand captured or killed. Wang Chengxian secretly sent a memorial reporting that Wang Zongshou had not issued armor, but Wang Zongshou intercepted the report, summoned Wang Chengxian, and had him beheaded.
The Later Liang Emperor, because the Qi people repeatedly invaded, on the day Jiaxu in the second month, transferred the Ganhua Military Governor Kang Huaijing to be the Yongping Military Governor, stationed at Chang'an. Kang Huaijing was originally Kang Huaizhen; he changed his name to avoid the Later Liang Emperor's personal name.
Summer, fourth month, on the day Bingzi, the Shu ruler moved the seat of the Zhenjiang Army to Kuizhou.
On the day Dingchou, the Minister of Public Works and concurrently Vice Director of the Chancellery and Tongping Zhangshi, Yu Jing, was found guilty of improperly promoting a military officer for personal favor. He was demoted to Vice Minister of Public Works, and further demoted to be the Marshal of Laizhou.
Liu Chongjing, the Yuanzhou Prefect of Wu, rebelled and submitted to Chu. Liu Chongjing was the son of Liu Wei. The Chu general Xu Zhen led ten thousand men to aid him. The Wu commander-in-chief Chai Zaiyong and Mi Zhicheng led the generals to campaign against him.
Xu Dexun, the Yuezhou Prefect of Chu, led a naval force to patrol the border. In the middle of the night, a strong south wind suddenly arose. The commander-in-chief Wang Huan rode the wind and charged straight to Huangzhou, climbed the city walls with rope ladders, went directly to the prefectural office, captured the Wu Prefect Ma Ye, and after extensive looting, returned. Xu Dexun said: "The Ezhou army will surely intercept us; we must be on guard." Wang Huan said: "Our army entered Huangzhou without the Ezhou people knowing. If we suddenly pass by their city, they will be too busy saving themselves to dare intercept us!" They then unfurled their banners, beat drums, and marched on. The Ezhou people dared not approach.
Fifth month, the Shuofang Military Governor and concurrently Zhongshu Ling, Yingchuan King Han Xun, died. The army pushed forward his son Han Zhu as acting governor (liuhou). On the day Guichou, the Later Liang Emperor issued an edict appointing Han Zhu as the military governor.
Chai Zaiyong of Wu and others fought with Liu Chongjing and Xu Zhen at Wansheng Ridge, defeating them soundly. Liu Chongjing and Xu Zhen abandoned Yuanzhou and fled.
After the Jin King conquered Youzhou, he planned to invade Later Liang. Autumn, seventh month, he rendezvoused with Zhao King Wang Rong and Zhou Dewei at Zhaozhou, then invaded southward into Xingzhou. Li Sizhao led the Zhaoyi army to join them. Yang Shihou led troops to rescue Xingzhou and encamped east of the Zhang River. The Jin army reached Zhanggong Bridge, where the deputy general Cao Jinjin defected to Later Liang. The Jin army withdrew, and the various regional armies also pulled back. Eighth month, the Jin King returned to Jinyang.
Wang Zongxun, the military governor of Wutai in the Shu kingdom, was stationed in Qianzhou. He was greedy, violent, and lawless, and returned to Chengdu without authorization. On the gengchen day, he had an audience with the Shu ruler, making many demands with arrogant and rebellious words. The Shu ruler was furious and ordered his guards to beat him to death. On the wuzi day, Pan Qiao, the Inner Privy Commissioner, was appointed as the military governor of Wutai and Grand Councilor, and Mao Wenxi, the Chief Academician of the Hanlin Academy, was appointed as the Minister of Rites and Judge of the Privy Council. There was a dam in the gorge. Someone advised the Shu ruler to take advantage of the rising summer and autumn river waters to breach the dam and flood Jiangling. Mao Wenxi admonished, saying, "Gao Jichang does not submit, but what crime have his people committed? Your Majesty is pacifying the realm with virtue; how can you bear to let the people of a neighboring state become food for fish and turtles?" The Shu ruler then abandoned the plan.
The Later Liang emperor appointed Zhu Youzhang, the Prince of Fu, as the military governor of Wuning. The previous military governor, Wang Yin, had been appointed by Zhu Yougui. Fearful, he refused to accept the replacement and rebelled, defecting to the Wu kingdom. In the ninth month, the Later Liang emperor ordered Niu Cunjie, the Commander for Pacification and Response of the Northwest Circuit of Huainan, and Liu Xun, the Governor of Kaifeng, to lead troops to attack him. In winter, the tenth month, Niu Cunjie and his forces camped at Suzhou. Zhu Jin, the Pinglu military governor of the Wu kingdom, led troops to rescue Xuzhou. Niu Cunjie and his forces met them, defeated the Wu army, and the Wu troops withdrew.
On the yisi day of the eleventh month, Nanzhao invaded Lizhou. The Shu ruler appointed Wang Zongfan, the Prince of Kui, Wang Zongbo, the Grand Councilor concurrently, and Wang Zongshou, the Prince of Jia, as three route commanders to counterattack them. On the bingchen day, they defeated the Nanzhao army at Pancang Ridge, beheading their chieftain Zhao Cuozheng and others. On the renxu day, they defeated them again at Shankou Fortress. On the yihai day of the twelfth month, they breached thirteen camps at Wuhou Ridge. On the xinsi day, they defeated them again at the Dadu River, capturing and beheading tens of thousands. The barbarians scrambled to cross the river to flee, but the bridge broke, drowning tens of thousands. Wang Zongfan and his men prepared to build a pontoon bridge to cross the Dadu River and continue the attack, but the Shu ruler ordered them to return.
On the guiwei day, Wang Zongduo, the military governor of Xingzhou and concurrently the Commander for Control and Defense of the Northern Circuit of the Shu kingdom, attacked the Jie and Gu Towns of the Qi kingdom, breaching eleven camps including Xisha, and beheading four thousand men. On the jiashen day, the commander Wang Zongyan breached four camps including the Great Wall Pass of the Qi kingdom, beheading two thousand men.
Li Jihui, the Jingnan military governor of the Qi kingdom, was poisoned to death by his son Li Yanlu, who then declared himself acting military governor.
The First Year of the Zhenming Era of Emperor Jun of the Later Liang Dynasty (Year Yi Hai, 915 AD).
In spring, the first month, on the jihai day, the Shu ruler went to the Dexian Gate to receive the barbarian captives and granted a general amnesty. Initially, the barbarian chieftains of Lizhou and Yazhou, Liu Changsi, Hao Xuanjian, and Yang Shitai, although they had previously submitted to the Tang dynasty and received titles and rewards—known as the "Three Kings of Jinbao"—they secretly colluded with Nanzhao, acting as guides and spies for them. Those who guarded Shu were mostly civil officials; although they knew the truth, they dared not investigate. Consequently, the Shu ruler repeatedly executed them in the Chengdu marketplace on charges of leaking military secrets, and demolished Jinbao. From then on, Nanzhao dared not invade the border again.
In the second month, Niu Cunjie and his forces captured Pengcheng, and Wang Yin and his entire family burned themselves to death.
On the dingmao day of the third month, the Later Liang emperor appointed Zhao Guangfeng, the Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, concurrently Vice Director of the Chancellery and Grand Councilor, as the Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, with retirement.
Yang Shihou, the Tianxiong military governor and concurrently Grand Councilor and Prince of Ye, died. In his later years, Yang Shihou, relying on his achievements and military power, arbitrarily intercepted tax revenues, selected the bravest soldiers from the army to form a force of several thousand called the Silver Spear Elite Guard, bestowed generous rewards, and sought to restore the former prestige of the personal guard. Although the Later Liang emperor Zhu Yougui outwardly respected and treated him with courtesy, he inwardly feared him. After his death, he privately celebrated in the palace. Zhao Yan, the Commissioner of the Tax Bureau, and Shao Zan, an administrative aide, said to the emperor, "Weibo has been a persistent ailment to the Tang dynasty; for over two hundred years it could not be eliminated because its territory was vast and its military strong. Luo Shaowei and Yang Shihou held it, and the court could not control them. If Your Majesty does not take advantage of this opportunity to deal with it, it is what is called 'if you do not completely lance a carbuncle, it will surely recur.' How can we know that the successor will not be someone like Yang Shihou? You should divide the six prefectures into two circuits to weaken their power." The emperor agreed with them. He appointed He Delun, the Pinglu military governor, as the Tianxiong military governor. He established the Zhaode circuit at Xiangzhou, assigning Chanzhou and Weizhou to it, and appointed Zhang Yun, the Palace Commissioner, as the Zhaode military governor. He also divided the officers, soldiers, and treasury property of Weizhou, giving half to Xiangzhou. Zhang Yun was a native of Haizhou. After the two men assumed their posts, the court, fearing that the people of Weizhou would not submit, sent Liu Xun, the Governor of Kaifeng, leading sixty thousand troops across the river from Baima, ostensibly to attack Zhenzhou and Dingzhou, but in reality to intimidate them through a show of force.
The soldiers of Weizhou had been hereditary fathers and sons for centuries, with intricate marriage connections, and were unwilling to be separated and moved. He Delun repeatedly urged them; those who were supposed to depart all sighed and resented it, and soldiers from various camps gathered together weeping. On the jichou day, Liu Xun camped at Nanle, first sending Wang Yanzhang, the Prefect of Chanzhou, with five hundred Dragon Cavalry horsemen into Weizhou, camping at Jinbo Pavilion. The Weizhou soldiers discussed among themselves, saying, "The court fears the strength of our military government and wants to devise a plan to ruin us. Our six prefectures have been a circuit for generations, and soldiers have never ventured far beyond the river. Once our flesh and blood are scattered, death would be better than life." That night, the army mutinied, setting fires and looting wildly, surrounding Jinbo Pavilion. Wang Yanzhang fled through the gate. The next morning, the mutineers entered the inner city, killed five hundred of He Delun's personal guards, seized He Delun, and placed him on a tower. A schoolmaster of the Elite Guard named Zhang Yan personally led his followers, brandishing swords, and stopped the looting. In summer, the fourth month, the emperor sent the Attendant Officer Hu Yi to pacify and instruct the Weizhou army, promising to appoint Zhang Yan as a prefect. Zhang Yan requested the restoration of the three prefectures of Xiangzhou, Chanzhou, and Weizhou to the old Weibo system. After Hu Yi returned, he said that Zhang Yan was easy to deal with; if only Liu Xun were sent with reinforcements, his head could be brought back immediately. The emperor therefore did not agree, only replying with a gracious edict. When the envoy went back and forth again, Zhang Yan tore up the edict and threw it on the ground, pointed south, cursing the court, and said to He Delun, "The Son of Heaven is foolish and dull, manipulated by others. Now, though our army is strong, we have no external support and cannot stand alone. We should pledge allegiance to the Jin king." He then forced He Delun to write a letter seeking aid from the Jin king.
Li Jihui's adopted son Li Baosheng killed Li Yanlu, proclaimed himself acting Jingnan military governor, and submitted with the two prefectures of Binzhou and Ningzhou. The emperor issued an edict appointing Li Baosheng as the Ganhua military governor and Huo Yanwei, the acting military governor of Heyang, as the Jingnan military governor.
Xu Wen of the Wu kingdom appointed his son Xu Zhixun, the Commander of the Inner and Outer Armies of the Capital, as the Vice Commissioner of the Huainan Circuit and Vice Commander of the Inner and Outer Horse and Foot Armies.
The Jin king, Li Cunxu, received He Delun's letter and ordered Li Cunzhen, the Vice Commander of the Horse and Foot Armies, to lead troops from Zhaozhou to occupy Linqing. In the fifth month, Li Cunzhen arrived at Linqing. Liu Xun camped at Huanshui. He Delun again sent an envoy to urgently request aid from the Jin king. The Jin king led his main army down from Huangze Ridge and rendezvoused with Li Cunzhen at Linqing, but still suspected the Weizhou people of treachery and held his troops back. He Delun sent the administrative aide Situ Ting to reward the army, secretly saying to the Jin king, "To eliminate chaos, one must eliminate its root." He then described Zhang Yan's fierce and treacherous behavior and advised the Jin king to eliminate him first, so there would be no future trouble. The Jin king remained silent. Situ Ting was a native of Beizhou. The Jin king advanced and camped at Yongji. Zhang Yan selected five hundred men from the Silver Spear Elite Guard, all armed, to meet him at Yongji. The Jin king ascended the post station tower and said to them, "You bullied and coerced your commander, cruelly harmed the people, and in the past few days, over a hundred people have come to stop my horse to lodge complaints. I have raised this army to pacify the people, not to covet others' land. Although you have rendered me service, I must execute you to apologize to the people of Weizhou." He then beheaded Zhang Yan and seven of his followers. The rest trembled with fear. The Jin king summoned and instructed them, saying, "Only eight men are guilty; the rest will not be pursued. From now on, you must exert all your strength to be my claws and teeth." All knelt and prostrated, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" The next day, the Jin king continued his advance, wearing loose robes and a light belt, and ordered Zhang Yan's soldiers to follow on both sides of his horse, fully armed, still designating them as the Silver Spear Guard of the Tent. The men were thus greatly won over.
Liu Xun, hearing that the Jin army had arrived, selected over ten thousand soldiers and hurried from Huanshui to Weixian. The Jin king left Li Cunzhen stationed at Linqing, sent Shi Jianzhang to camp at Weixian to resist Liu Xun, and himself led his personal troops to Weixian, where he camped across the river from Liu Xun.
Upon hearing that Weibo had rebelled, the emperor was filled with regret and fear. He sent Tianping Jiedushi Niu Cunjie to lead troops and station at Yangliu to support Liu Xun. Coincidentally, Niu Cunjie fell ill and died, so he appointed Kuanguo Jiedushi Wang Tan to replace him.
King Qi, Li Maozhen, sent Zhangyi Jiedushi Liu Zhijun to besiege Binzhou, but Huo Yanwei held out and resisted.
On the first day of the sixth month, in the year of Gengyin, He Delun led his generals and officials to request that the Jin King enter the city headquarters to offer condolences. After entering, He Delun presented the seal and ceremonial staff, asking the Jin King to concurrently command the Tianxiong Army. The Jin King firmly declined, saying, “Recently I heard that the enemy from Bianzhou was encroaching on your territory, so I personally led the army and came from afar to rescue you. I also heard that the city had just suffered devastation, so I temporarily entered to offer comfort and condolences. If you, Sir, do not trust me and instead yield the seal and staff to me, that is truly not my original intention.” He Delun bowed again and said, “Now the enemy is close at hand, and the military city has just undergone a great upheaval, leaving people’s hearts unsettled. My trusted aides and key officials have been mostly killed by Zhang Yan. I am isolated and weak—how can I lead the masses! If something happens, I fear I would fail your great kindness.” The Jin King then accepted. He Delun led the generals and officials in offering congratulations, and the Jin King, acting on imperial authority, appointed He Delun as Datong Jiedushi and ordered him to assume the post. When He Delun arrived at Jinyang, Zhang Chengye detained him.
At that time, the Silver Spear Valiant Guard Corps in Weicheng was still arrogant. The Jin King issued an order: “From now on, anyone who forms factions to spread rumors or violently robs the people will be killed without mercy!” He appointed Qinzhou Cishi Li Cunjin as Tianxiong Chief Patrol Inspector. Anyone who spread rumors to unsettle people’s hearts or took more than one coin by force would be beheaded and their body dismembered in the marketplace for public display. Within ten days, order was restored in the city, and no one dared to make noise. Li Cunjin was originally surnamed Sun, named Chongjin, and was from Zhenwu. The Jin King often went on campaigns, and the affairs of the Tianxiong Army government were all entrusted to Judge Gongting. Gongting relied on his talent and power, retaliated for the slightest grievance, accepted bribes, and was arrogant and extravagant. Gongting had a nephew south of the Yellow River, and he secretly sent someone to summon him. Commander of the Capital Guards Zhang Yu captured his messenger and reported it to the Jin King. The Jin King reprimanded Gongting, saying, “Since I obtained Weibo, I entrusted all affairs to you—how could you deceive me like this! Could you not have informed me first?” He waved his hand and sent him home. That same day, he had Gongting’s entire clan executed at the military gate, and appointed Judge Wang Zhengyan to replace him. Wang Zhengyan was from Yunzhou.
Weizhou Clerk Kong Qian was diligent, quick-witted, and full of schemes, skilled in managing records and documents. The Jin King appointed him as Commissioner of Expenditure and Revenue. Kong Qian knew how to flatter powerful and influential figures, so his favor and trust became even more secure. After the upheaval in Weizhou, the treasury was empty, and the people were impoverished. Yet, gathering the troops of three commanderies and fighting along the Yellow River for nearly ten years, the supply of military necessities never ran short—this was Kong Qian’s achievement. However, his urgent levies and heavy exactions caused suffering among the people of the six prefectures, and the resentment was directed at the Jin King—this was also his doing.
When Zhang Yan brought Weibo over to the Jin King, Beizhou Cishi Zhang Yuande did not submit. In the north, he allied with Cangzhou and Dezhou; in the south, he connected with Liu Xun to resist the Jin King, repeatedly cutting off the supply routes of Zhenzhou and Dingzhou. Someone advised the Jin King, saying, “Please first send ten thousand troops to capture Zhang Yuande, then in the east annex Cangzhou and Jingzhou, so that the coastal regions will all belong to us.” The Jin King said, “That is not right. Beizhou’s walls are strong and its troops numerous—it cannot be taken hastily. Dezhou is under Cangzhou’s jurisdiction and has no defenses. If we capture it and station troops to guard it, then Cangzhou and Beizhou cannot communicate with each other. Once the two strongholds are isolated, we can then capture them.” So he sent five hundred cavalry, traveling day and night, to raid Dezhou. The prefect, not expecting the Jin troops to arrive, fled over the wall, and they captured Dezhou. The Jin King appointed the Liaozhou garrison commander Ma Tong as its prefect. In the autumn, in the seventh month, the Jin army raided Chanzhou by night and captured it. Prefect Wang Yanzhang was in Liu Xun’s camp, so the Jin army captured his wife and children, treated them very well, and sent a secret envoy to lure Wang Yanzhang. Wang Yanzhang killed the envoy, so the Jin army slaughtered his entire family. The Jin King appointed Weizhou general Li Yan as Chanzhou Cishi.
The Jin King reviewed the troops at Weixian and then led over a hundred cavalry along the Yellow River upstream to scout Liu Xun’s camp. Coincidentally, the weather was overcast, and Liu Xun had ambushed five thousand soldiers in the woods by a river bend. They shouted and rushed out, surrounding the Jin King in several layers. The Jin King spurred his horse, shouting loudly, and led his cavalry charging and breaking through, crushing all resistance. Deputy General Xia Luqi and others fought fiercely with short weapons. From noon until shen hour (3–5 p.m.), they managed to break out, losing seven cavalrymen. Xia Luqi personally killed over a hundred men and was covered in wounds. Just then, Li Cun’s rescue force arrived, and they escaped. The Jin King turned to his attendant cavalry and said, “I almost became a laughingstock to the enemy.” Everyone said, “This only shows the enemy the king’s martial prowess.” Xia Luqi was from Qingzhou. The Jin King grew even fonder of him and gave him the name Li Shaoqi.
Liu Xun believed that all the Jin troops were in Weizhou, and that Jinyang must be empty. He planned to use a surprise tactic to capture it, so he secretly led his army westward from Huangze. The Jin soldiers found it strange that Liu Xun’s army had not come out for several days, silent with no trace, so they sent cavalry to scout. There was no smoke from cooking fires in the city, only occasional banners moving along the walls. The Jin King said, “I have heard that Liu Xun uses strategy at every step in war—this must be a trick.” He sent people to scout again, and it turned out they had tied up straw dummies, had them hold banners, and rode donkeys back and forth along the walls. They captured some old and weak people in the city and questioned them; they said the army had left two days earlier. The Jin King said, “Liu Xun is good at surprise attacks but not decisive battles. Calculate that they have only reached the foot of the mountain.” He immediately sent cavalry in pursuit. Just then, it rained continuously for over ten days. The road through Huangze was treacherous, with mud over a foot deep. The soldiers climbed by grabbing vines, all suffering from diarrhea and swollen feet, and those who fell into ravines and died accounted for two or three out of ten. Jin general Li Sien traveled day and night and entered Jinyang first. Upon hearing the news, the city organized troops and prepared defenses. When Liu Xun reached Leping, his dry rations were nearly exhausted. He also heard that the Jin forces were prepared and that pursuers were close behind. The troops were terrified and about to scatter. Liu Xun admonished them, saying, “Now we are a thousand li from home, deep in enemy territory, attacked from front and rear. The mountains and valleys are high and deep, like falling into a well. If we leave here, where can we go? Only by fighting with all our might can we perhaps avoid disaster. Otherwise, we must die repaying our lord and parents.” The troops wept and calmed down. Zhou Dewei heard that Liu Xun was marching west, so he led a thousand cavalry from Youzhou to rescue Jinyang. When he reached Tumen, Liu Xun had already reorganized his men and descended the mountain. He crossed the Zhang River at Chengchengkou in Xingzhou and went east, camping at Zongcheng. In Liu Xun’s army’s back-and-forth march, nearly half the horses died. At this time, the Jin army lacked food. Liu Xun learned that Linqing had supplies and wanted to occupy it to cut off the Jin army’s supply route. Zhou Dewei hurriedly pursued Liu Xun. After two nights, he reached Nangong, sent out cavalry to capture several dozen of Liu Xun’s scouts, cut off their hands, and released them, sending a message: “Zhou Shizhong has already occupied Linqing!” Liu Xun’s army was greatly alarmed. The next morning, Zhou Dewei rode past Liu Xun’s camp and entered Linqing. Liu Xun led his army toward Beizhou. At this time, the Jin King sent troops to camp at Bozhou. Liu Xun stationed his army at Tangyi. Zhou Dewei attacked him but did not succeed. The next day, Liu Xun camped at Shen County. The Jin army followed closely behind. Liu Xun repaired Shen County’s walls, dug moats for defense, and built a covered passage from Shen County to the Yellow River to transport supplies. The Jin King set up camp thirty li west of Shen County, and the cooking fires of the two armies were visible to each other, fighting several times a day.
The Jin King admired Yuan Xingqin’s bravery and agility. He demanded him from Daizhou Cishi Li Siyuan, who reluctantly offered him up. The Jin King appointed him as Commander of Scattered Troops and gave him the name Li Shaorong. Li Shaorong once fought fiercely deep into enemy lines; a sword struck his face, but he did not remove his armor. Gao Xingzhou rescued him, and he escaped danger. The Jin King also wanted Gao Xingzhou but found it hard to ask outright. Secretly, he sent someone to lure him with official rank and wealth. Gao Xingzhou declined, saying, “Daizhou nurtures strong warriors for your majesty. I serve Daizhou just as I would serve you. Daizhou saved my brother and me from death—I cannot bear to betray him.” The Jin King then dropped the matter.
The Prefect of Jiangzhou, Yin Hao, attacked Jin's prefecture of Xi. In the eighth month, he also attacked Ci Prefecture, but was unable to capture either. Wang Tan, together with He Gui, the Acting Commander of Zhaoyi, attacked Chan Prefecture, captured it, took Li Yan prisoner, and sent him to the Eastern Capital. The Emperor appointed Yang Yanzhi, a former general of Yang Shihou, as Prefect of Chan Prefecture, ordering him to lead ten thousand soldiers to assist Liu Xun, and also to tempt and subvert the people of Weizhou.
The King of Jin sent Li Cunzhen to lead five thousand soldiers to attack Bei Prefecture. Zhang Yuande had three thousand soldiers, and every night he would send out groups to plunder. The people of the prefecture suffered greatly from this and requested that a moat be dug to encircle the city, so that they could farm in peace. Li Cunzhen then conscripted able-bodied men from eight counties to dig a moat and besiege Bei Prefecture.
Liu Xun had been at Shen County for a long time. His grain supply routes were cut off, and Jin's army repeatedly challenged him before his camp, but Liu Xun did not come out to fight. The Jin army then attacked and cut off his covered passageways, using over a thousand axes to chop down the wooden palisades of his camp. The Liang troops panicked and emerged in alarm, whereupon the Jin army captured some men and then returned. The Emperor issued an edict rebuking Liu Xun for exhausting his troops and wasting provisions, for having many losses and desertions, and for not engaging in a decisive battle quickly. Liu Xun memorialized, saying: "I had recently planned to use a surprise force to strike directly at the enemy's heart, and then turn back to seize Zhenzhou and Dingzhou, expecting to pacify the Hebei region again within ten days. But unfortunately, Heaven has not yet tired of calamity, and a continuous heavy rain fell for over ten days, exhausting our provisions and causing illness among the soldiers. I then wanted to seize Linqing to cut off their supply routes, but Zhou Yangwu suddenly arrived, charging and striking like a divine soldier. I have now withdrawn to defend Shen County, rewarding the troops and training them to await an opportunity to strike. Observing their forces, they are numerous and skilled in cavalry archery; they are indeed a powerful enemy and not to be taken lightly. If there is an opportunity to exploit, how would I dare to be content with temporary safety and tolerate the enemy!" The Emperor then asked Liu Xun about his strategy for victory. Liu Xun said: "I have no strategy now; I only hope that each man can be given ten hu of grain, and then the enemy can be defeated." The Emperor grew angry and rebuked Liu Xun, saying: "General, you are storing grain—are you trying to defeat the enemy, or are you trying to cure hunger?" Thereupon, he sent a eunuch to supervise the battle. Liu Xun gathered his generals and asked them: "The Emperor, deep in his palace, does not understand military operations, and only schemes with those young newcomers. The art of war lies in adapting to circumstances; it cannot be predicted in advance. Now the enemy is still strong; fighting them would certainly be disadvantageous. What should be done?" The generals all said: "Victory or defeat must be decided in a single battle. What are we waiting for by delaying?" Liu Xun remained silent and was displeased. After withdrawing, he said to his close associates: "The ruler is benighted, the ministers are sycophantic, the generals are arrogant, and the soldiers are slack. I do not know where I will die!" A few days later, he again assembled the generals at the army gate and placed a vessel of Yellow River water before each of them, telling them to drink. The men could not fathom his intent. Liu Xun admonished them, saying: "A single vessel of water is still difficult to drink; as for the vast waters of the Yellow River, can they ever be drunk dry?" The faces of all changed color. Another few days passed, and Liu Xun led over ten thousand men to approach the camps of Zhenzhou and Dingzhou. The men of Zhenzhou and Dingzhou panicked and fell into chaos. Li Cunzhen of Jin led two thousand cavalry to attack from the flank, and Li Jianji led a thousand Silver Spear Army to assist. Liu Xun was heavily defeated and fled back to his camp. The Jin army pursued them all the way to the foot of the camp, capturing and beheading several thousand men.
Liu Yan went to Chu to marry a wife. The King of Chu, Ma Yin, sent the Military Governor of Yongshun Circuit to escort her.
On the Yihai day, the King of Shu appointed the Concurrent Zhongshu Ling Wang Zongwan as Commissioner of the Northern Route Army, and the Concurrent Zhongshu Ling Wang Zongbo as Recruiting Commissioner, to attack Qin Prefecture. He appointed the Concurrent Zhongshu Ling Wang Zongyao as Commissioner of the Northeastern Route, with Wang Zonghan, the Tong Pingzhang Shi, as his deputy, to attack Feng Prefecture.
On the Gengxu day, Wu appointed the Military Governor of Zhenhai Circuit, Xu Wen, as Commander-in-Chief of the Water, Land, Horse, and Infantry Armies of his Circuit, as well as Commissioner for the Two Zhe Regions, Shou Shizhong, and Duke of Qi, to garrison Run Prefecture, with the six prefectures of Sheng, Run, Chang, Xuan, She, and Chi as his area of inspection and jurisdiction. He was still to participate in the decision-making of all military and state affairs as before. Xu Zhixun was left in Guangling to handle government affairs.
Initially, when the Emperor was the Prince of Jun, he married the daughter of Zhang Guiba, the Military Governor of Heyang Circuit, as his consort. After he ascended the throne, he wished to make her Empress. The consort firmly declined because the Emperor had not yet performed the Southern Suburb Sacrifice to Heaven. In the ninth month, on the Renwu day, the consort became gravely ill and was posthumously granted the title of Virtuous Consort; she died that same evening.
The Prince of Kang, Zhu Youjing, had double pupils in his eyes. Believing he was destined to become the Son of Heaven, he plotted a rebellion. In the winter, on the Xinhai day of the tenth month, on the night when the Virtuous Consort was to be buried, Zhu Youjing sent several confidants to hide in the imperial bedchamber. The Emperor detected this, fled barefoot over a wall, summoned the palace guards on duty to search the hall, found them, and personally killed them. On the Rentsu day, he arrested Zhu Youjing and executed him. From then on, the Emperor became distant and suspicious of his imperial clan members, exclusively employing Zhao Yan and the brothers of the Virtuous Consort, Zhang Handing and Zhang Hanjie, as well as their cousins Zhang Hanlun and Zhang Hanrong. They all held close and important positions, participated in planning and deliberation, and whenever an army was dispatched, they were sure to be sent as overseers. Zhao Yan and his ilk relied on their power to manipulate affairs, sold offices and titles, accepted bribes and perverted the law, and alienated the old generals and chancellors. Although Jing Xiang and Li Zhen were senior ministers, their words were mostly not heeded. Li Zhen often feigned illness and did not participate in government affairs, in order to avoid the Zhao and Zhang families. Government affairs became increasingly chaotic, ultimately leading to the state's downfall. Liu Xun sent soldiers to feign surrender to Jin, plotting to bribe a cook to poison the King of Jin. The plot was discovered, and the King of Jin executed him, along with five of his accomplices.
On the Jiwei day of the eleventh month, a fire broke out in the palace of Shu. Ever since the capture of Chengdu, the treasures and goods had been stored in the Hundred-Foot Tower, and they were all reduced to ashes. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armies, Wang Zongkan, and others led the guards, wanting to enter and extinguish the fire, but the King of Shu closed the palace gates and would not let them in. On the morning of the Gengshen day, the fire had not yet been extinguished. The King of Shu went out through the Yixing Gate to receive the ministers, ordered the relevant officials to gather the ancestral tablets of the Tai Temple, and separately patrol the capital city. After speaking, he returned to the palace and again closed the gates. The generals and chancellors all offered up curtains and food.
On the Renxu day, Shu declared a general amnesty.
On the Yichou day, the reign title was changed.
On the Jisi day, Wang Zonghan of Shu led his troops out from Qingni Ridge, captured Guzhen, and engaged in battle with the Qin general Guo Shouqian at Niyang River. The Shu army was defeated and withdrew to defend Lutai Mountain. On the Xinwei day, Wang Zongwan and others defeated the Qin army at Jinsha Valley, captured their general Li Yanchao and others, and took advantage of the victory to advance on Qin Prefecture. The Military Governor of Xing Prefecture, Wang Zongduo, captured Jie Prefecture and forced its prefect, Li Yan'an, to surrender. On the Jiaxu day, Wang Zongwan captured Cheng Prefecture and captured its prefect, Li Yande. When the Shu army reached Shang Rangfang, the Military Governor of Qin Prefecture, Li Jichong, sent his son Li Yanxiu, holding the seal and the tablet of office, to welcome and surrender. Wang Zongwan entered Qin Prefecture and submitted a memorial requesting the appointment of Pai Chen Shi Wang Zongchou as Acting Commander. Liu Zhijun had been attacking Huo Yanwei in Bin Prefecture for half a year without success. Upon hearing that Qin Prefecture had surrendered to Shu, and that his wife and children had all been relocated to Chengdu, Liu Zhijun lifted the siege and returned to Fengxiang. Ultimately, fearing that disaster would strike him, he led seventy of his personal guards at night, broke through the city gate, and on the Gengchen day, fled to the Shu army. Wang Zongwan advanced from Hechi and Liangdang, joined forces with Wang Zongyao to attack Feng Prefecture, and on the Guiwei day, captured it.
The Military Governor of Yisheng Circuit in Qi, Li Yantao, knew that the King of Qi was weak. In the twelfth month, he led Yao Prefecture and Ding Prefecture to surrender. Li Yantao was Wen Tao. On the Yiwei day, an edict was issued changing Yao Prefecture to Chong Prefecture, Ding Prefecture to Yu Prefecture, and Yisheng Army to Jingsheng Army. Li Yantao's surname was restored to Wen, and his name was changed to Wen Zhaotu, with his official position remaining as before.
On the Dingwei day, Shu declared a general amnesty and changed the reign title of the following year to Tongzheng. Wuxing Army was established in Feng Prefecture, with Wen Prefecture and Xing Prefecture subordinate to it. Wang Zonglu, the former Tuanlianshi of Li Prefecture, was appointed as its Military Governor.
In this year, Liu Yan, the Military Governor of Qinghai and Jianwu Circuits and Concurrent Zhongshu Ling, because the King of Wuyue, Qian Liu, had been enfeoffed as a king while he himself was only enfeoffed as the Prince of Nanping, submitted a memorial requesting to be enfeoffed as the Prince of Nanyue and to be given the additional title of Commander-in-Chief of the Armies. The Emperor did not permit it. Liu Yan said to his subordinates: "Now the Central Plains are in chaos; who is the Son of Heaven? How could one cross mountains and rivers for ten thousand li to serve that counterfeit court from afar!" From then on, his tribute missions were cut off.
(King Jun Shang, Zhenming second year, Bingzi, 916 AD)
In the spring, the first month, Zhu Quanyu, the Xuanyou military governor, Acting Zhongshu Ling, and Prince Guangde Jing of the Later Liang, passed away. The Later Liang Emperor heard that Li Yu, a former staff officer of Henan Prefecture, was learned and virtuous, and summoned him to court as a Left Reminder and a Direct Scholar of the Chongzheng Hall. Prince Heng, Zhu Youliang, held a high and noble status; when Li Zhen and others saw him, they performed the kneeling bow, but Li Yu only made a slight bow with folded hands. When the Later Liang Emperor heard of this, he reprimanded Li Yu, saying: “Prince Heng is my elder brother; I still bow to him. Is it acceptable for you only to make a slight bow?” Li Yu replied: “If Your Majesty receives Prince Heng with the rites of a family member, kneeling is appropriate. Li Zhen and the others are Your Majesty’s household ministers. I have never associated with Prince Heng, so I dare not casually submit to such deference.” After a long time, Li Yu was ultimately demoted to the post of Investigating Judge of Dengzhou because of his outspoken and upright words.
The Former Shu ruler appointed Li Jichong as Military Governor of Wutai, Acting Zhongshu Ling, and Prince of Longxi.
On the night of the xinchou day (the first day) of the second month, Ma Qian and Li Qiu, the imperial guards of Wu, seized the Wu ruler and brought him up to the city wall, distributing weapons from the armory to attack Xu Zhixun. Xu Zhixun was about to flee, but Yan Keqiu said: “A rebellion has broken out in the military city. If you abandon the crowd and leave first, on whom will the crowd rely?” Only then did Xu Zhixun stop. The people were still fearful and suspicious. Yan Keqiu closed his door and slept, with his snoring audible outside, and only then did the government offices become somewhat calm. On the renyin day (the second day), Ma Qian and his followers formed ranks outside the Tianxing Gate. Zhu Jin, the Vice Commander-in-Chief of all circuits, arrived from Runzhou, looked at them, and said: “Not worth fearing.” He turned to look at the troops outside, raised his hand and shouted loudly; the rebel troops all scattered in defeat. Ma Qian and Li Qiu were captured and executed.
The Later Liang Emperor repeatedly urged Liu Xun to give battle, but Liu Xun kept his camp gates closed and did not come out. The Jin ruler then left Deputy Commander-in-Chief Li Cun to guard the camp, while he himself went to Beizhou to reward the army, claiming he would return to Jinyang. When Liu Xun heard this, he submitted a memorial requesting permission to attack Weizhou. The Later Liang Emperor replied: “Now the entire realm is entrusted to the general. The survival or ruin of the altars of state hinges on this one action. Let the general strive!” Liu Xun ordered Yang Yanzhi, the prefect of Chanzhou, to lead ten thousand troops to rendezvous at Weizhou. Yang Yanzhi arrived south of the city at midnight. The city selected five hundred elite soldiers who quietly went out and attacked him. Yang Yanzhi, unprepared, scattered and fled. At dawn, Liu Xun led his entire army from Shen County to the east of the city, joining with the remnants of Yang Yanzhi’s troops. Li Cun led the troops from the camp following behind them. Li Siyuan led the troops from within the city out to fight. The Jin ruler also arrived from Beizhou and confronted them from the front with Li Siyuan. When Liu Xun saw them, he said in surprise: “It is the Jin ruler!” He withdrew his troops slightly. The Jin ruler pursued from behind. When they reached west of the old Yuancheng, they encountered Li Cun. The Jin ruler formed a square formation to the northwest, Li Cun formed a square formation to the southeast, and Liu Xun formed a circular formation in the middle, attacked from all sides. After fighting for a long time, the Liang troops were greatly defeated. Liu Xun led a few dozen cavalrymen and broke through to flee. The Liang infantry numbered seventy thousand in total. The Jin troops surrounded and attacked them. The defeated troops climbed trees, and the branches were broken by their weight. They were pursued to the banks of the Yellow River; those killed, wounded, or drowned were almost entirely wiped out. Liu Xun gathered his scattered troops and crossed the Yellow River at Liyang, holding onto Huazhou.
Wang Tan, the military governor of Kuangguo, secretly submitted a memorial requesting the mobilization of troops from west of the Pass to attack Jinyang. The Later Liang Emperor followed his advice and mobilized a total of thirty thousand troops from the garrisons of Hezhong, Shanzhou, and Tonghua. They set out from Yindiguan and suddenly arrived at the foot of Jinyang city, attacking fiercely day and night. The city was unprepared. They mobilized laborers and craftsmen from various offices and drove the city’s commoners up the walls to defend. The city walls were nearly breached several times. Zhang Chengye was extremely fearful. An Jinquan, an old general from Daibei who had retired and was living in Taiyuan, went to see Zhang Chengye and said: “Jinyang is the foundation. If it is lost, then the great enterprise is finished. Although I am old and ill, my worry extends to my family and the state. Please give me the armor from the armory, and I will attack them for you.” Zhang Chengye then gave him the armor. An Jinquan led his sons and younger brothers, along with the families of retired generals, gathering several hundred men. That night, they went out from the north gate and attacked the Liang troops within the Sheep and Horse Wall. The Liang troops were greatly startled and retreated. Li Sizhao, the military governor of Zhaoyi, heard that there was an enemy at Jinyang and sent his personal officer Shi Junli with five hundred cavalry to rescue them. Shi Junli set out from Shangdang in the morning and arrived at Jinyang by evening. The Liang troops held the Fen River bridge. Shi Junli defeated them, went straight to the foot of the city, and shouted loudly: “The army of the Zhaoyi Attendant-in-Ordinary has arrived!” Then he entered the city. That night, together with An Jinquan and others, they separately attacked the Liang troops from various gates. The Liang troops’ dead and wounded amounted to two or three out of ten. At dawn, Wang Tan led his troops in a great plunder and then returned. The Jin ruler’s nature was fond of boasting about his achievements. Because this plan was not his own, the rewards for An Jinquan and others were not implemented.
When the Liang troops were at the foot of Jinyang city, many of the soldiers under He Delun, the military governor of Datong, had fled and joined the Liang army. Zhang Chengye, fearing he would start a rebellion, arrested He Delun and executed him.
When the Later Liang Emperor heard of Liu Xun’s defeat, and also that Wang Tan had achieved nothing, he sighed and said: “My great enterprise is finished!”
On the yimao day (the first day) of the third month, the Jin ruler attacked Weizhou. On the renxu day (the eighth day), the prefect Mi Zhao surrendered. He then attacked Huizhou. The prefect Jin Shao fled, was pursued and beheaded. Huizhou was renamed Cizhou again. The Jin ruler returned to Weizhou.
The Later Liang Emperor repeatedly summoned Liu Xun, but Liu Xun did not come. On the jisi day (the fifteenth day), he appointed Liu Xun as Military Governor of Xuanyi and had him station his troops at Liyang.
In the summer, the fourth month, the Jin forces captured Mingzhou and appointed Yuan Jianfeng, the Chief Inspector of Weizhou, as its prefect.
After Liu Xun’s defeat, Henan was in great panic. Liu Xun also did not respond to the summons, so the morale of the officers and soldiers was shaken. The Later Liang Emperor sent Li Ba, the Commander-in-Chief of the Capture-the-Ready Troops, to lead his thousand men to garrison Yangliu. On the guimao day (the nineteenth day), they departed from the Song Gate. That same night, they re-entered through the Water Gate, raising a great clamor. They set fires and looted, attacking the Jianguo Gate. The Later Liang Emperor ascended the city tower to resist and fight. Du Yanqiu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Four Dragon-Banner Armies, was stationed with five hundred cavalry at the ball court. The rebel troops soaked tents in oil, raised them on long wooden poles, and intended to burn the city tower; the situation was extremely critical. Du Yanqiu peered through a crack in the door and saw that the rebel troops had no armor. He then led his cavalry out, fought desperately with all his might, and soon the rebel troops scattered and fled. When the Later Liang Emperor saw the cavalry attacking the rebels, he shouted: “Are these not my Dragon-Banner Army officers and soldiers? Who is the leader of the rebellion?” Du Yanqiu said: “Only Li Ba’s unit is in revolt; the rest of the army is not moving. Your Majesty need only lead the Control-Crane Army to guard the palace city. Wait until dawn, and I will surely defeat them.” Afterwards, Du Yanqiu pursued the rebels and exterminated their entire camp. For his merit, he was appointed as the Prefect of Danzhou.
In the fifth month, Qian Liu, the King of Wuyue, sent Pi Guangye, the Administrative Judge of Zhexi, to enter the court and present tribute via Jianzhou, Tingzhou, Qianzhou, Chenzhou, Tanzhou, Yuezhou, and the Jingnan Circuit. Pi Guangye was the son of Pi Rixiu.
In the sixth month, the Jin forces attacked Xingzhou. Yan Bao, the military governor of Baoyi, held the city and defended it. The Later Liang Emperor sent Zhang Wen, the Commander-in-Chief of the Capture-the-Ready Troops, with five hundred troops to rescue him. Zhang Wen led his troops and surrendered to Jin.
In the autumn, the seventh month, on the jiayin day (the first day), the Jin ruler arrived at Weizhou.
The Later Liang Emperor commended the diligence of Qian Liu, the King of Wuyue, in presenting tribute. On the renxu day (the ninth day), he added to Qian Liu the title of Commander-in-Chief of all Circuits’ Armies. Many in the court’s discussions said that Qian Liu’s tribute was beneficial for trade and that it was inappropriate to excessively bestow titles and honors upon him. Dou Mengzheng, a Hanlin Academician, held the patent of appointment and wept, and was therefore demoted to the post of Constable of Penglai. Dou Mengzheng was from Dizhou.
On the jiazi day (the eleventh day), Zhou Jiao, a staff officer of Runzhou in Wu, rebelled. He entered the government office and killed the senior general Qin Shiquan and others. The senior general Chen You and others suppressed and executed him.
On the dingyou day (the fifteenth day) of the eighth month, Zhao Guangfeng, who had retired as Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, was appointed as Minister of Works, Vice Director of the Chancellery, and co-Chancellor.
On the bingwu day (the twenty-fourth day), the Former Shu ruler appointed Wang Zongwan as Commander-in-Chief of the Northeast Circuit, King Ji Wang Zonghan and King Jia Wang Zongshou as the First and Second Expeditions, leading one hundred thousand troops from Fengzhou. He appointed Wang Zongbo as Commander-in-Chief of the Northwest Circuit, Liu Zhijun, the military governor of Wuxin, Wang Zongchou, the military governor of Tianxiong, and Tang Wenyi, the Army Commissioner of Kuangguo, as the First, Second, and Third Expeditions, leading one hundred and twenty thousand troops from Qinzhou, to attack the State of Qi.
The Jin King personally led troops to attack Xingzhou. Zhang Yun, the Zhaode Military Governor, abandoned Xiangzhou and fled. The Jin people reassigned Xiangzhou to the Tianxiong Army and appointed Li Cunxu as its prefect. The Jin King sent someone to tell Yan Bao that Xiangzhou had been captured, and also dispatched Zhang Wen to lead relief troops to the city walls to persuade him. Yan Bao surrendered the entire city. The Jin King appointed Yan Bao as the Southeastern Campaign Commander, concurrently serving as Tianping Military Governor and Tongping Zhangshi; Li Cunxu was appointed as Anguo Military Governor to garrison Xingzhou.
The Khitan King Abaoji led 300,000 troops from various tribes, claiming to have one million, and attacked Wei Prefecture in Jin from Linzhou and Shengzhou, capturing it and taking Li Cunben, the Zhenwu Military Governor, prisoner. He also sent envoys with wooden letters to Li Cunzhang, the Datong Defense Commissioner, demanding tribute. Li Cunzhang executed the envoy. The Khitan attacked Yunzhou, and Li Cunzhang resisted with all his strength.
In the ninth month, the Jin King returned to Jinyang. The Jin King was by nature benevolent and filial, so although he was managing Hebei, he often returned to Jinyang to visit Lady Cao, two or three times a year.
The Jin army approached Cangzhou. Dai Siyuan, the Shunhua Military Governor, abandoned the city and fled to the Eastern Capital. The Cangzhou general Mao Zhang seized the city and surrendered to Jin. The Jin King ordered Li Cunxu to lead troops to garrison and pacify it. Li Cunxu sent Mao Zhang to Jinyang. The Jin King transferred Li Cunxu to be the Heng-hai Military Governor, garrisoning Cangzhou, and appointed Li Cunxu as Anguo Military Governor. Li Cunxu appointed An Chonghui as the Middle Gate Commissioner, treating him as a confidant, and An Chonghui also exerted himself for Li Cunxu. An Chonghui was a Hu from Yingzhou.
The Jin King personally led troops to rescue Yunzhou. When he reached Daizhou, the Khitan heard of it and withdrew their forces, so the Jin King also returned. He appointed Li Cunzhang as the Datong Military Governor.
The Jin army besieged Beizhou for over a year. Zhang Yuande heard that all the prefectures of Hebei had been taken by Jin and wanted to surrender, so he discussed it with his troops. The troops thought that surrendering only when desperate might still lead to death and refused to comply. They jointly killed Zhang Yuande and held the city. When food in the city was exhausted, they resorted to cannibalism. Then they said to the Jin general, “We fear death if we surrender from the city, so allow us to surrender wearing armor and bearing arms, and release us after the situation is settled.” The Jin general agreed. Their 3,000 troops came out of the city and surrendered. After they set down their armor, they were surrounded and killed, all of them annihilated. The Jin King appointed Mao Zhang as the prefect of Beizhou. Thus, all of the Yellow River’s northern regions were incorporated into Jin, only Liyang was still held by Liang. The Jin King went to Weizhou.
Wang Yan, a general of Guangzhou in Wu, killed the prefect Zai Zai. The Wu King sent Li Hou, the Tuanlian Commissioner of Chuzhou, to punish him. Zhang Chong, the Inspector of Luzhou, did not await orders and led troops to Guangzhou. Wang Yan abandoned the city and fled. Li Hou was appointed acting prefect of Guangzhou. Zhang Chong was a native of Shen County.
On a gengshen day (date uncertain), the new palace of Former Shu was completed, located north of the old palace.
Wang Tan, the Tianping Military Governor and Zhongshu Ling, titled Langya Zhongyi Wang, recruited many bandits and placed them under his command as personal guards. On a jimao day (28th day), the bandits, taking advantage of Wang Tan’s unpreparedness, burst into his residence and killed him. The Deputy Military Governor Pei Yan led the garrison troops to punish and execute them, thereby securing the military headquarters.
Winter, tenth month, on a jiashen day, the Shu ruler Wang Jian sent Wang Zongwan and others to march out from Dasanguan Pass, heavily defeating the Qi army, capturing and killing tens of thousands, and then captured Baoji. On a jichou day, Wang Zongbo and others marched out from Guguan Pass and reached Longzhou. On a bingyin day, Li Jiyi, the Baosheng Military Governor and Shizhong, fearing the suspicions of the Qi King Li Maozhen, led his 20,000 troops, abandoned Longzhou, and fled to the Shu army. The Shu army attacked Longzhou and appointed Li Jiyi as the Fourth Recruitment Commissioner of the Northwestern Campaign. Liu Zhijun, together with Wang Zongwan and others, surrounded Fengxiang, but the Qi troops did not come out to fight. It happened to be heavy snow, and the Shu ruler ordered the army to withdraw. Li Jiyi’s original name, Sang Hongzhi, was restored. Sang Hongzhi was a native of Liyang.
On a dingyou day, the Later Liang Emperor appointed Zheng Jue, the Vice Minister of Rites, as Zhongshu Shilang and Tongping Zhangshi. Zheng Jue was the grandnephew of Zheng Qi.
On a jihai day, Shu issued a general amnesty.
The Jin King Li Cunxu sent envoys to Wu to agree on a joint campaign against Later Liang. In the eleventh month, Wu appointed Xu Zhixun, the Vice Commissioner of the March, as the Capital Recruitment Commissioner of the Huaibei Campaign, and together with Zhu Jin and others, led troops to Songzhou and Bozhou to coordinate with the Jin army. They then crossed the Huai River, issued proclamations to the various prefectures and counties, and advanced to besiege Yingzhou.
Twelfth month, on a wushen day, Shu issued a general amnesty, changed the reign title for the following year to Tianhan, and changed the state name to Great Han.
The Chu King Ma Yin, upon hearing that the Jin King had pacified Hebei, sent envoys to establish friendly relations with Jin. The Jin King also sent envoys to reciprocate.
In this year, Qingzhou rebelled and defected to Qi, and the Qi general Li Jizhi occupied it. The Later Liang Emperor issued an edict appointing He Gui, the Commander of the Left Dragon-Tiger Army, as the Capital Commandant of the Western Campaign’s Horse and Foot Soldiers, leading troops to suppress the rebellion. He defeated the Qi army and captured the two prefectures of Ningzhou and Yanzhou.
The Hedong Supervisor of the Army, Zhang Chengye, after attaining power and influence, had his nephews Zhang Guan and four others come from Tongzhou to seek refuge with him. The Jin King, for Zhang Chengye’s sake, promoted and employed them all. Zhang Chengye was very strict in managing his household. One of his nephews became a bandit and killed a cattle seller. Zhang Chengye immediately had him beheaded. The Jin King quickly sent someone to save him, but it was too late. The Jin King appointed Zhang Guan as the prefect of Linzhou. Zhang Chengye said to Zhang Guan, “You were originally a commoner from a cart, committing crimes with Liu Kaidao, always doing unlawful things. If you do not reform now, death will not be far away!” From then on, wherever Zhang Guan went, he dared not be greedy or tyrannical.
The Qian Chuanxiang, the Commander of the Wuyue Palace’s Vanguard, went to Min to marry a wife. From then on, Min and Wuyue established friendly relations.
Min minted lead coins, which circulated alongside copper coins.
Initially, the people of Yan suffered under the tyrannical rule of Liu Shouguang, and many soldiers defected to the Khitan. When Liu Shouguang was besieged in Youzhou, many northern people were captured by the Khitan, and the Khitan thus grew increasingly powerful. The Khitan King Abaoji proclaimed himself emperor; the Khitan people called him Tianhuang Wang. He established his wife, Empress Shulu, and set up a hundred officials. At this time, he changed the reign title to Shence. Empress Shulu was brave, decisive, and resourceful. When Abaoji led troops and commanded the masses, Empress Shulu often participated in planning. Abaoji once crossed the desert to attack the Dangxiang, leaving Empress Shulu to guard his camp. The Huangtou and Choupo tribes of the Shiwei took advantage of the void and combined forces to raid. When Empress Shulu learned of this, she deployed troops to await them, attacked fiercely, and decisively defeated them. From then on, Empress Shulu’s prestige intimidated all tribes. Empress Shulu had a mother and a mother-in-law; they all sat on the bed to receive her kneeling bows. Empress Shulu said, “I only bow to Heaven, not to people.” The Jin King, while managing Hebei, wanted to form an alliance with the Khitan for support, often serving Abaoji like an uncle and Empress Shulu like an aunt.
In the final years of Liu Shouguang, he was declining and in dire straits. He sent the adjutant Han Yanhui to the Khitan to request reinforcements. The Khitan ruler was angry that Han Yanhui did not bow to him, detained him, and sent him to herd horses in the wilderness. Han Yanhui was a man of Youzhou, possessed of wisdom and strategy, and was very skilled in writing. Empress Shulü said to the Khitan ruler: “Han Yanhui can uphold his integrity without yielding; he is a worthy man of the present day. How can you insult him by making him herd horses! You should treat him with courtesy and employ him.” The Khitan ruler summoned Han Yanhui, spoke with him, was greatly pleased, and thereupon made him his chief strategist, consulting him on every move. Han Yanhui began to teach the Khitan to establish government offices, open administrative headquarters, build city walls, set up market towns and neighborhoods, to settle the Han people, let each have a spouse, and reclaim wasteland for farming. From then on, the Han people each lived and worked in peace, and those who fled became fewer and fewer. The Khitan’s power intimidated all the states, and Han Yanhui contributed to this. Soon after, Han Yanhui fled to Jinyang. The Prince of Jin wanted to place him in his, but the Wang Ji was jealous of him. Han Yanhui felt uneasy, requested leave to return east to visit his mother, and when passing through Zhending, he stayed at the home of his fellow townsman Wang Deming. Wang Deming asked him where he was going. Han Yanhui said: “Now all of Hebei is held by Jin; I should go back to the Khitan.” Wang Deming said: “Having betrayed them and then returning, is that not walking into death?” Han Yanhui said: “Since I left, the Khitan ruler has been as if he lost his hands and eyes. Now if I go to see him, his hands and eyes will be restored; how would he be willing to harm me!” After visiting his mother, he thereupon went back to the Khitan. When the Khitan ruler heard that he had returned, he was overjoyed, as if he had descended from heaven, and patting his back said: “Where did you go earlier?” Han Yanhui said: “I missed my mother; I wanted to ask for leave to return, but feared you would not permit it, so I went back privately.” The Khitan ruler treated him even more generously. When the Khitan ruler proclaimed himself emperor, he appointed Han Yanhui as chancellor, and he was repeatedly promoted until he reached Zhongshu Ling. The Prince of Jin sent an envoy to the Khitan; Han Yanhui entrusted the envoy with a letter to the Prince of Jin, recounting the reasons for his departure north, and also said: “It is not that I am not attached to my enlightened lord, nor that I do not miss my homeland; the reason I did not stay was only fear of Wang Ji’s slander.” Thereupon he entrusted his elderly mother to the Prince of Jin, and also said: “With me, Han Yanhui, here, the Khitan will certainly not send their herds south.” Therefore, until the end of the Tongguang era, the Khitan did not launch a major invasion to cause harm; this was Han Yanhui’s achievement.
Third year of the Zhenming reign of Emperor Jun of the Later Liang (Dingchou year, AD 917)
Spring, first month: The Later Liang emperor issued an edict ordering the Xuanwu Jiedushi Yuan Xiangxian to relieve Yingzhou. When Yuan Xiangxian arrived, the Wu army withdrew and departed.
Second month, on the jiashen day: The Prince of Jin attacked Liyang. Liu Xun resisted him; after several days, the Prince of Jin failed to capture it and left.
The Prince of Jin’s younger brother, the Weisai Army Defense Commissioner Li Cunju, was in Xinzhou. He was arrogant and lazy, did not govern affairs, and his serving maids intervened in government. The Prince of Jin sent him to recruit brave warriors from the mountain north tribes and Liu Shouguang’s deserters to expand the southern expedition army. He also forced the local people to hand over horses; some people sold ten oxen to get one war horse. The deadline was urgent, and the border people were full of complaints. Li Cunju recruited five hundred cavalry and personally escorted them, appointing the Shouzhou Cishi Lu Wenjin as his deputy. Those who set out all feared the long march, and Li Cunju did not show any consideration. On the jiawu day, they reached Qigou Pass. The junior officer Gong Yanzhang plotted with the soldiers, saying: “We hear that the Prince of Jin is fighting fiercely with the Liang army, and many cavalry have been killed or wounded. We have abandoned our parents, wives, and children to fight for others far away, traveling a thousand li to die, and the commanding general does not show us any pity. What can we do?” The crowd said: “Kill the commander, support General Lu in returning to Xinzhou, hold the city and defend ourselves; what can he do to us!” Thereupon they took up weapons, raised a great clamor, and rushed straight to the post station. The next morning, before Li Cunju had risen, they went forward and killed him. Lu Wenjin could not stop them; he beat his chest and wept over Li Cunju’s corpse, saying: “These scoundrels have already murdered the young master; what face do I have left to see the Prince of Jin!” Thereupon he was supported by the crowd and returned to Xinzhou. The Xinzhou garrison commander Yang Quanzhang refused them entry into the city. They then attacked Wuzhou. Li Jisi, the Defense Commissioner north of Yanmen, defeated them. Zhou Dewei also sent troops to pursue and attack them. Lu Wenjin led his followers and fled to the Khitan. When the Prince of Jin heard that Li Cunju’s lack of virtue had caused the revolt, he killed his serving maids and several of his staff.
Initially, seven hundred li north of Youzhou was Yuguan Pass, below which the Yushui River flowed to the sea. From the northeast of the pass along the coast there was a road; at its narrowest points it was only a few feet wide, flanked by chaotic mountains so steep they could not be crossed. To the north, reaching Jinniukou, eight defense garrisons had originally been established, recruiting local soldiers to guard them. The land taxes all supplied military rations and were not sent to Jizhou; each year Youzhou transported silk and cotton to provide clothing for the soldiers. Every year, when the crops ripened early, they would strengthen their walls and clear the fields to await the Khitan. When the Khitan came, they would close their fortifications and not engage in battle, and when they left, they would select brave soldiers to occupy strategic terrain and ambush them; the Khitan often lost and fled. The local soldiers all cultivated their own fields and gardens, and those who fought bravely and achieved merit were granted honors and rewards; therefore the Khitan did not dare to invade lightly. But when Zhou Dewei became the Lulong Jiedushi, relying on his courage, he did not repair border defenses, and thus lost the strategic advantage of Yuguan Pass; the Khitan frequently grazed their herds between Yingzhou and Pingzhou. Zhou Dewei also resented the old Youzhou generals who had reputations and often killed them.
The Prince of Wu sent an envoy to present the Khitan ruler with “fierce fire oil,” saying: “When besieging a city, use this oil to ignite and burn the enemy’s towers; if the enemy pours water on it, the fire will flare even higher.” The Khitan ruler was greatly pleased and immediately selected thirty thousand cavalry, intending to attack Youzhou. Empress Shulü laughed at him and said: “How can there be a principle of attacking a state just to test oil?” Thereupon she pointed to a tree in front of the tent and said to the Khitan ruler: “If this tree has no bark, can it live?” The Khitan ruler said: “It cannot.” Empress Shulü said: “Youzhou city is the same. We only need to have three thousand cavalry ambush by its side, plunder the fields of its four suburbs, so that the city has no grain; in no more than a few years, the city will naturally be in distress. Why be so rash and reckless! If we cannot win by chance, we will be laughed at by the people of the Central Plains, and our tribes will also disintegrate.” The Khitan ruler thereupon desisted. Third month: Lu Wenjin led Khitan troops in a fierce attack on Xinzhou. The Cishi An Quanjin could not hold it and abandoned the city to flee. Lu Wenjin appointed his subordinate general Liu Yin as Cishi and had him defend the city. The Prince of Jin sent Zhou Dewei to combine the armies of Hedong, Zhenzhou, and Dingzhou to attack Xinzhou; after ten days they had not captured it. The Khitan ruler led a host of three hundred thousand to relieve Xinzhou. Zhou Dewei, with few against many, was heavily defeated by the Khitan and fled back.
The Prince of Chu, Ma Yin, sent his younger brother Ma Cun to attack Wu’s Shanggao. They captured some people and returned.
The Khitan, taking advantage of their victory, advanced and besieged Youzhou, claiming a million troops, with felt-covered carts and wool tents covering the mountains and marshes. Lu Wenjin taught them methods of attacking the city: they dug tunnels, attacking from all four sides day and night simultaneously. The people inside the city dug holes in the tunnels and lit oil to block them. They also piled up earthen mounds close to the city walls; the people inside melted copper and poured it on them, killing a thousand men each day, yet the attack did not stop. Zhou Dewei sent a secret envoy to urgently report to the Prince of Jin. The Prince of Jin was then locked in battle with the Liang army along the Yellow River. He wanted to divide his forces but had insufficient troops; he wanted not to rescue them but feared losing Youzhou. His anxious expression showed on his face. He consulted with the various generals; only Li Siyuan, Li Cunshen, and Yan Bao urged the Prince of Jin to rescue them. The Prince of Jin was pleased and said: “In the past, Emperor Taizong of Tang got one Li Jing and was able to capture Jieli. Now I have three fierce generals; what worry is there!” Li Cunshen and Yan Bao believed that the Khitan had no baggage and supplies, so their campaign could not last long. When they could not plunder in the wild and their food was exhausted, they would naturally retreat, and then we could pursue them. Li Siyuan said: “Zhou Dewei is an important minister of the state. Now Youzhou may fall at any moment; I fear that internal changes might occur. How can we wait for the Khitan to decline! I request to personally lead the vanguard to rescue them.” The Prince of Jin said: “What you say is correct.” That very day, he ordered the army to be readied. Summer, fourth month: The Prince of Jin ordered Li Siyuan to lead the troops out first, encamping at Laishui. Yan Bao led the troops of Zhenzhou and Dingzhou to follow behind.
Xu Zhigao, the governor of Sheng Prefecture in Wu, renovated the city and its government offices, making them very grand. In the fifth month, Xu Wen toured his domain and arrived at Sheng Prefecture, delighting in its prosperity and abundance. Runzhou's military advisor Chen Yanqian advised Xu Wen to move the headquarters of the Zhenhai Army to Sheng Prefecture. Xu Wen followed his advice and transferred Xu Zhigao to the position of Runzhou's militia commissioner. Xu Zhigao requested to go to Xuan Prefecture instead, but Xu Wen did not agree, and Xu Zhigao was very displeased. Song Qiqiu privately said to Xu Zhigao, "The Third Young Master is arrogant and will surely be defeated soon. Runzhou is separated from Guangling only by a river; this is an opportunity granted to you by Heaven." Only then did Xu Zhigao become pleased and immediately proceeded to his post. The Third Young Master referred to Xu Wen's eldest son, Xu Zhixun. Xu Wen appointed Chen Yanqian as the administrative assistant of the Zhenhai Circuit. Xu Wen only handled major affairs, entrusting all specific matters to Chen Yanqian, and thus the Jiang and Huai regions were well governed. Chen Yanqian was a native of Changzhou.
Gao Jichang restored friendly relations with Kong Qing and resumed sending tribute.