Later Tang Records 3
In the eleventh month, on the bingshen day, the ruler of Shu arrived at Chengdu. The (hundred officials) and the rear palace met him at the Seven Mile Pavilion. The Shu ruler mingled among his consorts and entered the palace in a formation like a Uighur procession. On the dingyou day, he came out to receive the officials in the Wenming Hall, his tears soaking his lapel. Ruler and ministers looked at each other, but in the end, not a single word was spoken about saving the state from its crisis.
On the wuxu day, Li Shaochen reached Lizhou and repaired the pontoon bridge at Jubai. Zhao Wu Jiedushi Lin Sien had previously abandoned the city and fled to Langzhou; at this time he sent an envoy to request surrender. On the jiachen day, Prince Wei Jiji arrived at Jianzhou. The Shu Wu Xin Jiedushi and Zhongshu Ling Wang Zongshou led the five prefectures of Sui, He, Yu, Lu, and Chang in surrender.
Wang Zongbi arrived at Chengdu, ascended the Grand Mysterious Gate, and drew up his forces for self-defense. The Shu ruler and the Empress Dowager personally went to comfort him. Wang Zongbi was arrogant and rude, no longer observing the rites of a subject. On the yisi day, he seized and moved the Shu ruler, the Empress Dowager, the rear palace, and the various princes to the Western Palace. He confiscated their imperial seals and ribbons, and sent trusted officials to intercept and seize gold, silver, cloth, and silk from the Inner Treasury at the Yixing Gate, carting it all to his own home. His son Wang Chengjuan entered the palace with sword in hand and abducted several of the Shu ruler's favored concubines, taking them home. On the bingwu day, Wang Zongbi proclaimed himself acting Xichuan Military Governor (Liuhou).
Li Shaochen advanced to Mianzhou. The granaries and civilian dwellings had already been burned by Shu soldiers, and the pontoon bridge over the Mian River had been cut. The river was deep, and there were no boats to cross. Li Shaochen said to Li Yan, "We have advanced deep with a lone army. The advantage lies in swift action to force a decision. Take advantage of the Shu people's terror—if we can have just a hundred cavalry pass through Luchuan Pass, they will not even have time to surrender. If we wait to repair the bridge, we will certainly be delayed for several days. Perhaps someone might teach Wang Yan to hold the nearby passes firmly, blunting our military momentum. If we are delayed for ten or twenty days, then victory or defeat will be hard to predict." So he and Li Yan rode their horses across the river. Among the soldiers following, only about a thousand could cross; those who drowned also numbered over a thousand. They then entered Luchuan Pass. On the dingwei day, they advanced and occupied Hanzhou. After a three-day halt, the rear forces finally arrived.
Wang Zongbi sent envoys with coins, horses, cattle, and wine to comfort the army, and also presented a letter from the Shu ruler to Li Yan, saying, "If you come, I will surrender." Someone said to Li Yan, "You were the first to propose the strategy for the Shu campaign. The Shu people hate you to the bone. You must not go." Li Yan paid no heed and cheerfully rode into Chengdu. He comforted and instructed the officials and commoners, telling them that the main army would soon arrive. The Shu ruler and his court, as well as the rear palace, all wept bitterly. The Shu ruler took Li Yan to see the Empress Dowager and entrusted his mother and wife to him. Wang Zongbi was still on the city wall making defensive preparations, but Li Yan ordered all the watchtowers on the wall to be dismantled.
On the jiyou day, Prince Wei Jiji arrived at Mianzhou. The Shu ruler ordered Hanlin Academician Li Hao to draft a surrender memorial, and also ordered Zhongshu Shilang, Tong Pingzhangshi Wang Kai to draft a surrender document. He sent Minister of War Ouyang Bin to carry these documents to welcome Jiji and Guo Chongtao.
Wang Zongbi claimed that the Shu ruler and his ministers had long wished to submit, but Nei Shu Mi Shi Song Guangsi, Jing Yuncheng, Xuan Hui Shi Li Zhouge, and Ouyang Huang had deluded the Shu ruler. He then had them all beheaded, placed their heads in caskets, and sent them to Jiji. He also accused Wen Si Dian Daxueshi, Libu Shangshu, and Chengdu Yin Han Zhao of being a flattering sycophant, and had his head hung at the gate of the Golden Horse Market. The Nei Wai Ma Bu Du Zhihui Shi and Zhongshu Ling Xu Yancong, Guozhou Tuanlianshi Pan Zaiying, Jiazhou Cishi Gu Zaixun, and all the noble relatives were terrified. They emptied their homes of gold, silver, cloth, silk, singing girls, and concubines to bribe Wang Zongbi, and only then managed to escape death. Anyone who did not normally please Wang Zongbi was killed by him.
On the xinhai day, Jiji arrived at Deyang. Wang Zongbi sent an envoy with a letter, claiming that he had already moved the Shu ruler to a western residence, pacified the army and the city, and was awaiting the arrival of the imperial army. He also sent his son Wang Chengban to present the Shu ruler's rear palace women and precious curios to Jiji and Guo Chongtao, requesting to be appointed Xichuan Jiedushi. Jiji said, "These are all items belonging to my family. What need is there to offer them?" He kept the gifts but sent the son back.
Li Shaochen halted at Hanzhou for eight days to await the commander-in-chief. On the jiayin day, Jiji arrived at Hanzhou, and Wang Zongbi came out to welcome and pay homage. On the yimao day, they reached Chengdu. On the bingchen day, Li Yan led the Shu ruler, along with the hundred officials and the ceremonial guard, to surrender at the Shengqian Bridge. The Shu ruler wore white garments, held a jade disc in his mouth, led a sheep, and had his head bound with straw rope. The hundred officials wore mourning clothes, were barefoot, carried a coffin, and wailed as they awaited orders. Jiji accepted the jade disc. Guo Chongtao untied the ropes, burned the coffin, and, by imperial decree, pardoned their crimes. The ruler and his ministers faced northeast and bowed in thanks. On the dingsi day, the main army entered Chengdu. Guo Chongtao forbade the soldiers from plundering and disturbing, and the markets and shops continued business as usual. From the start of the campaign to the conquest of Shu, a total of seventy days had passed. They obtained ten Jiedushi circuits, sixty-four prefectures, two hundred and forty-nine counties, thirty thousand soldiers, and armor, weapons, money, grain, gold, silver, silk, and brocade calculated in the tens of millions.
Gao Jixing heard of Shu's destruction and, while eating, was so startled that he dropped his chopsticks and spoon, saying, "This is this old man's fault." Liang Zhen said, "It is not worth worrying about. The Lord of Tang, having obtained Shu, will become even more arrogant. His day of destruction is not far off. How do we know this is not our fortune?" Chu Wang Ma Yin, upon hearing of Shu's destruction, submitted a memorial saying, "Your servant has already built a retirement dwelling among the mountains of Hengshan and Lushan. I wish to submit my seal and ribbon to preserve my remaining years." The emperor comforted him with a gracious edict.
Among the achievements in pacifying Shu, Li Shaochen's was the greatest, and his status was above that of Dong Zhang. But Dong Zhang had always been on good terms with Guo Chongtao, and Guo Chongtao repeatedly summoned Dong Zhang to discuss military affairs. Li Shaochen was aggrieved and said to Dong Zhang, "I have the merit of pacifying Shu. You people are like little stakes following along, yet you whisper and plot in Guo's doorway, scheming to overthrow and harm each other. I am the commander-in-chief. Can I not use military law to kill you?" Dong Zhang reported this to Guo Chongtao. In the twelfth month, Guo Chongtao submitted a memorial appointing Dong Zhang as Dongchuan Jiedushi, relieving him of his military command. Li Shaochen was even more enraged, saying, "I braved the edge of the sword, traversed dangers and obstacles, and pacified the Two Chuan. And Dong Zhang enjoys the fruits of it sitting down!" He then went to see Guo Chongtao and said, "Dongchuan is an important place. Minister Ren has both civil and military talent. You should memorialize to make him the commander." Guo Chongtao angrily said, "Is Li Shaochen about to rebel? How dare he defy my orders!" Li Shaochen, frightened, withdrew.
Earlier, Emperor Zhuangzong sent eunuch Li Congxi and others to accompany Prince Wei Jiji on the Shu campaign. Although Jiji was the commander-in-chief, all military arrangements and appointments were solely decided by Guo Chongtao. Guo Chongtao handled affairs all day long, with generals, officials, clerks, and guests bustling and crowding his hall. At the commander-in-chief's headquarters, however, aside from the great generals coming to pay their morning respects, the area before the gate was desolate and cold. Li Congxi and the others were already humiliated by this. After Shu was broken, the noble ministers and great generals of Shu vied to present treasures, goods, singing girls, and musical instruments to Guo Chongtao and his son Guo Tinghui. What Prince Wei Jiji received was nothing more than a horse, a bolt of silk, a spittoon, and a fly-whisk handle. Li Congxi and the others became even more indignant.
Wang Zongbi, after appointing himself acting Xichuan circuit intendant, bribed Guo Chongtao to request appointment as military commissioner. Guo Chongtao pretended to agree. After a long time without receiving the appointment, Wang Zongbi led the Shu people in a procession to see Li Jiji, requesting that Guo Chongtao be retained to govern Shu. Li Congxi and others took the opportunity to say to Li Jiji, "The Guo father and son are overbearing and tyrannical. Now they have the Shu people request that he be their commander-in-chief. His intentions are hard to fathom, and Your Highness must be on guard." Li Jiji said to Guo Chongtao, "The Emperor relies on the Attendant-in-Chief as on a mountain; you cannot leave the court. How could he abandon a veteran minister in a barbarian land? Besides, this is not something I dare to involve myself in. May I ask you gentlemen to go to court and state it yourselves." From then on, Li Jiji and Guo Chongtao became suspicious of each other. Just then, Song Guangbao arrived from Zizhou and accused Wang Zongbi of framing and killing Song Guangsi and others. Additionally, Guo Chongtao demanded several tens of thousands of strings of cash from Wang Zongbi as funds to reward the army. Wang Zongbi, being stingy, would not give them. The soldiers were resentful and angry, and at night they set fires and rioted. Guo Chongtao wanted to execute Wang Zongbi to clear himself. On the ji-si day, after informing Li Jiji, he arrested Wang Zongbi, along with Wang Zongxun and Wang Zongwo. He enumerated their crimes of disloyalty, exterminated their clans, and confiscated their property. The Shu people vied with each other to eat Wang Zongbi's flesh.
On the xin-wei day, Min Zhongyi Wang, Wang Shenzhi, died. His son Wang Yanhan styled himself acting Weiwu circuit intendant. The people of Tingzhou, led by Chen Ben, gathered thirty thousand men and besieged Tingzhou. Wang Yanhan sent the Right Army Supervisor Liu Yong with twenty thousand troops to attack them.
On the gui-you day, Wang Chengxiu and Wang Zongrui arrived at Chengdu. Prince of Wei, Li Jiji, questioned them, saying, "You held a major garrison with strong troops; why did you not resist and fight?" They replied, "We were in awe of the Prince's brilliant martial prowess." Li Jiji said, "Then why did you not surrender?" They replied, "The Imperial Army had not yet entered our territory." Li Jiji said, "How many men did you take with you into Qiang territory?" They replied, "Twelve thousand." Li Jiji said, "How many have returned now?" They replied, "Two thousand." Li Jiji said, "That is enough to compensate for the death of those ten thousand." He then had them, together with their sons, beheaded.
On the bing-zi day, Meng Zhixiang, who was acting as acting commissioner of the Northern Capital, was appointed Military Commissioner of Xichuan and Tongpingzhangshi. He was urged to travel quickly to Luoyang to take up his post. Zhuangzong discussed selecting a commissioner for the Northern Capital. The Chief Secretary of the Privy Council, Duan Hui, and others disliked the Yedu circuit intendant, Zhang Xian, and did not want him at court. They all said, "The Northern Capital cannot do without Zhang Xian. Although Zhang Xian has the capacity of a chancellor, the state has only recently gained the Central Plains. The chancellor is before the Emperor's eyes; if matters are wrong, they can be changed. This is less important than the Northern Capital, which alone controls the safety of one region." So Zhang Xian was transferred to be the Taiyuan Yin and acting commissioner of the Northern Capital. The Minister of Revenue, Wang Zhengyan, was appointed Xingtang Yin and acting commissioner of the Yedu circuit. Wang Zhengyan was old and senile. Zhuangzong sent the Military Virtue Commissioner, Shi Yanqiong, to be the Yedu military supervisor. Shi Yanqiong had originally been an actor and was favored by Zhuangzong. All military and financial affairs of the six prefectures of Wei and Bo were decided by Shi Yanqiong. He wielded power and authority, acted tyrannically and willfully, and bullied and insulted the generals and staff officers. Everyone from Wang Zhengyan downward flattered and served him.
Initially, Zhuangzong had obtained nearly eight thousand men from the Silver Spear Elite Guard of Weizhou and made them his personal troops. They were all fierce, strong, and invincible. In the battles along the Yellow River, he truly relied on them, and they repeatedly rendered extraordinary merit. Zhuangzong often promised that on the day the Liang state was destroyed, they would receive great rewards. Soon after Henan was pacified, although rewards were given more than once, the soldiers, relying on their merit, became arrogant and unruly, never satisfied. Instead, they turned resentful. This year there was a great famine. Many people fled. Taxes could not be collected. The roads were muddy, and water transport was difficult. The granaries in the Eastern Capital were empty and exhausted, unable to supply the soldiers. The Rent and Tax Commissioner, Kong Qian, watched daily from the Upper East Gate for the arrival of grain shipments from the various prefectures. As soon as they arrived, he distributed them immediately. The soldiers lacked food. Some sold their wives and children. The old and weak gathered wild vegetables in the fields, in groups of hundreds or thousands, and often died of starvation. Rumors and complaints filled the air, yet Zhuangzong continued his hunting expeditions without stop. On the ji-mao day, he hunted at Baisha. The Empress, the princes, and the harem all followed. On the geng-chen day, they stayed overnight at Yique. On the xin-si day, they stayed overnight at Tanbo. On the ren-wu day, they stayed overnight at Kanjian. On the gui-wei day, they returned to the palace. At that time, there was heavy snow, and many officials and soldiers froze and fell by the roadside. The famine between the Yi and Ru rivers was especially severe. Wherever the imperial guards passed, they demanded local provisions. If they did not get them, they destroyed the people's utensils and dismantled their houses for firewood, behaving worse than bandits. The county officials all fled and hid in the mountains and valleys. A white dragon appeared in the Han palace. The Han ruler changed the reign title to White Dragon and changed his personal name to Gong.
The Changhe Piaoxin, Zheng Min, sent his Buxie, Zheng Zhaochun, to Southern Han to propose marriage. The Southern Han ruler married his daughter, Princess Zengcheng, to him. Changhe was the Nanzhao of the Tang dynasty.
The Chengde Military Commissioner, Li Siyuan, came to court.
On the ji-chou day of the intercalary month, Meng Zhixiang arrived in Luoyang. Zhuangzong treated him with exceptional favor and generosity.
Because military supplies were insufficient, Zhuangzong discussed the matter with his ministers. Dou Luge and those below him did not know what to do. The Minister of Personnel, Li Qi, submitted a memorial, which stated: "In ancient times, expenditures were based on income, and troops were mobilized according to agricultural conditions. Thus, even with floods and droughts, there was no worry of shortage. In recent times, taxes have been levied on farmers to support the army. There has never been a case where the farmers were prosperous and the army was short, or where the farmers were impoverished and the army was well-supplied. Now, even if we cannot reduce taxes, if we can abolish the laws of zhe'na (conversion levies) and niupei (proportional surtaxes), the farmers can have a little respite." Zhuangzong immediately ordered the relevant departments to carry out what Li Qi had said, but in the end, it was not implemented.
On the ding-you day, an edict was issued: Officials appointed by the Shu court, those of the fourth rank and above, were to be demoted and given posts with discrimination; those of the fifth rank and below, whose abilities and family background were not noteworthy, were all to be sent back to their home villages; those who had first surrendered and those who had merit were entrusted to Guo Chongtao to reward and appoint according to circumstances. An edict was also bestowed upon Wang Yan, which roughly said: "I originally intended to enfeoff you with land, and I will certainly not drive you into a desperate situation. The sun, moon, and stars above are witness; I do not deceive you by a single word."
On the geng-zi day, the Zhangwu and Baoda Military Commissioner and concurrent Zhongshuling, Gao Wanxing, died. His son, the Baoda acting circuit intendant, Gao Yuntao, was appointed the Zhangwu acting circuit intendant.
Because military supplies were insufficient, Zhuangzong wanted to go to Bianzhou. Remonstrating officials memorialized, saying: "It would be better to practice economy to make the supplies sufficient. Since ancient times, there has been no case of the Son of Heaven going to seek food in another region. Now the Yang family has not yet been destroyed; it is inadvisable to reveal our weakness to them." So the plan was dropped.
On the xin-hai day, the Emperor's younger brothers were enfeoffed: Li Cunmei as Prince of Yong, Li Cunba as Prince of Yong, Li Cunli as Prince of Xue, Li Cunwo as Prince of Shen, Li Cunyou as Prince of Mu, Li Cunque as Prince of Tong, and Li Cunji as Prince of Ya.
Guo Chongtao had always detested eunuchs and once privately said to Prince Wei, Ji’ji: “In the future, when Your Highness gains the empire, you should not even ride a gelded horse, let alone employ eunuchs! They should all be eliminated, and only scholar-officials should be used.” Lü Zhirou overheard these words, and from then on, the eunuchs gnashed their teeth in hatred. Although Chengdu had been captured at the time, bandits arose in great numbers throughout Shu, spreading across the mountains and forests. Guo Chongtao, worried that after the main army departed, these bandits would become a future calamity, ordered Ren Huan and Zhang Yun to divide their forces for pacification and suppression, and thus he lingered and did not return. Emperor Zhuangzong sent the eunuch Xiang Yansi to urge him, but Guo Chongtao did not go out of the city to greet him. When they met, his demeanor was very arrogant, and Xiang Yansi was furious. Li Congxi said to Xiang Yansi, “Prince Wei is the heir apparent; His Majesty is in good health and peace, yet Guo Gong acts with such arbitrary power. Guo Tinghai comes and goes with his attendants, daily drinking intimately with the army’s valiant generals and the local tyrants and talents of Shu, pointing at the sky and drawing on the ground. Recently, I heard he asked his father to submit a memorial requesting that he himself be made the military governor of Shu. He also said, ‘The land of Shu is wealthy; Father should make good plans for himself.’ Now all the army officers are members of Guo’s faction. The prince is lodged in the mouth of a tiger or wolf. If an incident occurs, where will people like us end up buried?” Thereupon, they wept together. Xiang Yansi returned and reported all these words to Empress Liu. The empress, weeping, told Emperor Zhuangzong, begging him to rescue Ji’ji from death as soon as possible. Before this, Emperor Zhuangzong had already been displeased upon hearing that the people of Shu requested Guo Chongtao to be their commander-in-chief. Now, hearing Xiang Yansi’s words, he could not help but become suspicious. Emperor Zhuangzong inspected the account books of the Shu treasury and said, “People say there are countless treasures in Shu. Why are there so few?” Xiang Yansi said, “I have heard that after Shu was broken, all the treasures fell into the hands of Guo Chongtao and his son. Guo Chongtao possesses ten thousand liang of gold, four hundred thousand liang of silver, a million strings of cash, a thousand famous horses, and other goods in similar amounts; what Guo Tinghai took is beyond this. Therefore, what the court received is not much.” Emperor Zhuangzong then showed anger on his face. When Meng Zhixiang was about to depart, Emperor Zhuangzong said to him, “I have heard that Guo Chongtao has treacherous intentions. When you arrive there, kill him for me.” Meng Zhixiang said, “Guo Chongtao is a meritorious old minister of the state. This should not be the case. Let me observe him when I reach Shu. If he has no treacherous intentions, I will send him back.” Emperor Zhuangzong agreed.
On the renzi day, Meng Zhixiang departed from Luoyang. Soon after, Emperor Zhuangzong sent Ma Yangui, the Commissioner of the Armor and Vestment Depots, to hurry to Chengdu to observe Guo Chongtao’s movements. If Guo complied with the imperial edict to return, it would be fine; if he delayed or acted arrogantly, Ma was to plot against him together with Ji’ji. Ma Yangui, upon seeing the empress, advised, “I have heard from Xiang Yansi that the situation in Shu is critical, and the danger could come at any moment day or night. Now His Majesty should make a decision but does not. The difference between success and failure is like the space between a hair; how can we wait for orders from three thousand li away to respond to an emergency?” The empress again spoke to Emperor Zhuangzong, who said, “These are hearsay words; we do not know truth from falsehood. How can we be so decisive?” The empress requested but was not granted permission. After withdrawing, she wrote an edict on her own to Ji’ji, ordering him to kill Guo Chongtao. When Meng Zhixiang reached Shihao, Ma Yangui knocked on his door at night to read the imperial decree, urging Meng Zhixiang to hasten to his post. Meng Zhixiang sighed privately and said, “Disorder is about to occur!” He then traveled day and night.
Initially, after King Ma Yin of Chu obtained Hunan, he did not tax traveling merchants. Therefore, merchants from all directions gathered like spokes of a wheel. The Hunan region produced much lead and iron. Ma Yin, adopting the plan of the Military Judge Gao Yu, cast lead-iron coins. When merchants left the region, these coins were useless, so they exchanged them for other goods before leaving. Thus, he could use the region’s surplus to trade for various goods from the empire, and the state became wealthy. The people of Hunan did not engage in sericulture or mulberry planting. Gao Yu ordered the people to pay taxes using silk instead of money. Soon, the textile industry among the people flourished greatly.
King Qian Liu of Wuyue sent an envoy, Shen Mou, to deliver a letter to the state of Wu, informing them of his acceptance of the jade book and his enfeoffment as the King of Wuyue. The people of Wu, because the state name was the same as their own, did not accept the letter and sent Shen Mou back. They also warned the border regions not to have any contact with envoys or merchants from Wuyue.
The Emperor Above of the Saintly Virtue and Harmonious Martial Filial Piety of Mingzong
Spring, first month, on the gengshen day (the 17th), Prince Wei, Ji’ji, dispatched Li Jiye and Li Yan to organize the escort of Wang Yan and his clan, along with several thousand officials, to Luoyang.
Li Jilin, the Military Governor of Hezhong and Minister of Works, relied on his old friendship with the emperor and his merits. The emperor treated him generously, but he suffered from the endless demands for goods from numerous actors and eunuchs, so he resolutely refused to give them anything. When the great army attacked Shu, Li Jilin reviewed his troops and sent his son, Li Lingde, to lead a contingent to follow the campaign. Jing Jin and the eunuchs slandered him, saying, “Li Jilin, upon hearing of the great army’s departure, thought it was to attack him. Thus, he was terrified and reviewed his troops for self-defense.” They also said, “The reason Guo Chongtao dared to be stubborn in Shu is that he secretly colluded with Hezhong, forming an internal and external response.” When Li Jilin heard this, he was very fearful and wanted to go to court in person to clarify his intentions. His close associates advised against it, but Li Jilin said, “Guo Shizhong’s merits are higher than mine. Now the situation is critical. If I can see His Majesty and state my utmost sincerity face to face, then those who slander me will be punished.” On the guihai day (the 20th), Li Jilin entered the court.
Prince Wei, Ji’ji, prepared to depart from Chengdu and ordered Ren Huan to act as temporary regent, awaiting the arrival of Meng Zhixiang. The deployment of the various armies was already settled. On this day, Ma Yangui arrived and showed the empress’s edict to Ji’ji. Ji’ji said, “The great army is about to depart. He has no faults. How can we do such a harmful thing? Say no more! Moreover, there is no imperial decree. Is it permissible to kill the commander-in-chief based solely on the empress’s edict?” Li Congxi and others wept and said, “Since there is such a sign, if Guo Chongtao hears of it and starts a rebellion midway, it will be even harder to save the situation.” Thereupon, they all cleverly argued the pros and cons. Ji’ji, having no choice, followed them. On the jiazi day (the 21st), in the morning, Li Congxi, in Ji’ji’s name, summoned Guo Chongtao to discuss matters. Ji’ji went upstairs to avoid him. As Guo Chongtao was just mounting the steps, Ji’ji’s attendant, Li Huan, smashed his head with a hammer and also killed his sons, Guo Tinghai and Guo Tingxin. Those outside did not yet know. Li Song, the Dutong Tuiguan from Raoyang, said to Ji’ji, “Now we are on a campaign three thousand li away. Initially, there was no imperial decree. To kill a great general without authorization—how could Your Highness do such a dangerous thing? Could you not have waited until we reached Luoyang?” Ji’ji said, “You are right, but it is too late to regret.” Li Song then summoned several clerks, went upstairs, removed the ladder, forged an imperial decree, sealed it with a wax seal, and announced it. The army was then generally pacified. Guo Chongtao’s close attendants all fled and hid. Only Zhang Li, the Zhangshuji from Fuyang, went to Prince Wei’s residence and wept for a long time. Ji’ji ordered Ren Huan to replace Guo Chongtao in overseeing military and political affairs.
The Prince Wei’s Tongye, Li Ting’an, presented over two hundred Shu musicians. Among them was one named Yan Xu, whom Wang Yan had appointed as the Prefect of Pengzhou. The emperor asked him, “How did you obtain the post of prefect?” He replied, “By singing.” The emperor had him sing, found his voice good, and promised to restore his former office.
On the wuchen day (the 25th), Meng Zhixiang arrived in Chengdu. At that time, Guo Chongtao had just been killed, and people’s hearts were not yet settled. Meng Zhixiang comforted the officials and common people, rewarded and bestowed gifts upon the soldiers, and arranged matters for both those who stayed and those who left, making everything calm and appropriate.
The Min people broke through Chen Ben’s stronghold and killed him.
The Khitan ruler attacked the Jurchen and Bohai. Fearing that the Tang army might take advantage of his absence to raid, on the wuyin day, he sent Meilao Xieli to come and repair friendly relations.
Ma Yangui returned to Luoyang. An imperial decree was then issued, proclaiming Guo Chongtao’s crimes, and his sons Guo Tingshuo, Guo Tingrang, and Guo Tingyi were also killed. From this time, within and outside the court, there was shock and regret, and discussions were rife. The emperor sent eunuchs to investigate secretly. Li Cunyi, the Prince of Mu and Military Governor of Baoda, was Guo Chongtao’s son-in-law. The eunuchs wanted to completely eliminate Guo Chongtao’s faction and said, “Li Cunyi, in front of the generals, rolled up his sleeves and wept, crying out for Guo Chongtao’s injustice, his words full of resentment.” On the gengchen day, Li Cunyi was placed under house arrest in his mansion and was soon killed.
Jing Jin said, "In Hezhong there is one who reported a rebellion, saying that Li Jilin conspired with Guo Chongtao to rebel; after Guo Chongtao died, he again plotted with Li Cunyi." The eunuchs then together urged the emperor to eliminate him quickly, so the emperor transferred Li Jilin to be the military governor of Yicheng. That night, he sent the Fan-Han Horse and Foot Army Commissioner Zhu Shouyin to lead troops to surround his mansion, drove Li Jilin out of the Hui'an Gate and killed him, restoring his original name Zhu Youqian. Zhu Youqian had two sons: Li Lingde served as military governor of Wuxin, and Li Lingxi served as military governor of Zhongwu; an edict ordered Prince Wei Li Jiji to execute Li Lingde in Suizhou, Zhengzhou Prefect Wang Sitong to execute Li Lingxi in Xuzhou, and Heyang Military Governor Li Shaoqi to execute his family in Hezhong. When Li Shaoqi arrived at his house, Zhu Youqian's wife Zhang led the family of over two hundred people out to meet Li Shaoqi, saying, "The Zhu clan deserves death, but I hope you will not indiscriminately kill innocent commoners." Then she separated out one hundred servants and maids, and submitted the family of one hundred people to execution. Zhang also took out the iron covenant and showed it to Li Shaoqi, saying, "This was bestowed by the emperor last year. I am a woman and cannot read characters; I do not know what words are spoken on it." Li Shaoqi also felt ashamed because of this. Zhu Youqian's former generals, such as Shi Wu and six others, who were then prefects, were all implicated and exterminated along with their clans. At that time, the various armies in Luoyang were hungry and destitute, and they recklessly spread rumors. The actor-officials collected these rumors and reported them to the emperor, so Guo Chongtao and Zhu Youqian both met with disaster. Chengde Military Governor and Concurrent Zhongshu Ling Li Siyuan was also implicated by rumors, and the emperor sent Zhu Shouyin to investigate him; Zhu Shouyin privately said to Li Siyuan, "Your Excellency's merit and achievements shake the sovereign; you should seek to return to your own circuit to distance yourself from calamity." Li Siyuan said, "My heart does not betray Heaven and Earth; whether misfortune or fortune comes, there is nothing to avoid; I simply entrust it to fate." At that time, actors and eunuchs held power, and meritorious old officials could not protect themselves. Li Siyuan was in danger many times, but relied entirely on Xuanhui Commissioner Li Shaohong to protect and rescue him by his side, and thus was preserved.
Prince Wei Li Jiji left behind the Horse and Foot Army Commander Chenliu native Li Renhan, Horse Army Commander Dongguang native Pan Rensi, Left Wing Commander Zhao Tingyin, Right Wing Commander Junyi native Zhang Ye, Yanei Commander Wenshui native Wu Zhang, and Xiaorui Commander Ping'en native Li Tinghou to guard Chengdu. On the jiashen day, Li Jiji departed from Chengdu and ordered Li Shaochen to lead twelve thousand men as the rear army, halting on the march usually one she (thirty li) behind the central army.
In the second month, on the jichou day (the first day), Xuanhui Nanyuan Commissioner Li Shaohong was appointed as the Privy Council Commissioner.
Weibo Commandant Yang Renzheng led his troops to garrison Wagang. After more than a year, they were relieved and returned, reaching Beizhou. Because Yedu was empty, and fearing that upon the army's arrival there would be disturbances, an edict ordered them to remain stationed in Beizhou. At that time, the people of the realm did not know Guo Chongtao's crime, and among the commoners, rumors said, "Guo Chongtao killed Li Jiji and proclaimed himself king in Shu, so the emperor exterminated his entire family." Zhu Youqian's son Zhu Jianhui served as military prefect of Chanzhou, and the emperor secretly ordered Yedu Supervisor Shi Yanqiong to kill him. The gatekeeper reported to the acting governor Wang Zhengyan, saying, "Shi Wude (Shi Yanqiong) rode out of the city in the middle of the night without saying where he was going." Another rumor arose, saying, "The empress blamed the emperor for Li Jiji's death and has already killed the emperor, so she urgently summoned Shi Yanqiong to discuss matters." People's hearts were even more alarmed. Yang Renzheng's soldier Huangfu Hui and his companion gambled and lost at night, and taking advantage of the people's unease, they started a rebellion. They seized Yang Renzheng and said, "The reason the sovereign can possess the realm is due to the merit of our Wei army; for over ten years, our Wei army has never removed its armor or unsaddled its horses. Now that the realm is settled, the Son of Heaven does not remember past labors but instead becomes more suspicious. We were garrisoned far away for over a year, just happy to be relieved and return, only to be within a short distance of home, yet not allowed to see our families. Now we hear that the empress has committed regicide and the capital is in great chaos. The officers and men are willing to go back with you and simultaneously submit a memorial to report to the court. If the Son of Heaven is in good fortune and sends troops to suppress us, relying on the strength of our Weibo army, we can resist. How do we know this will not become capital for wealth and honor again?" Yang Renzheng did not comply, so Huangfu Hui killed him. They then seized a junior officer; when he did not comply, they also killed him. Xiaojie Commander Zhao Zaili heard of the rebellion, and without having tied his belt, jumped over a wall to flee. Huangfu Hui caught up with him, grabbed his foot, pulled him down, and showed him the two heads. Zhao Zaili was frightened and complied. The rebel troops then pushed him forward as their leader, burning and looting Beizhou. Huangfu Hui was a man of Weizhou; Zhao Zaili was a man of Zhuozhou. The next morning, Huangfu Hui and others crowded around Zhao Zaili and headed south straight toward Linqing, Yongji, and Guantao, plundering along the way. On the renchen day (the fourth day) evening, someone came from Beizhou to report that the army had rebelled and was about to invade Yedu. Chief Patrol Inspector Sun Duo and others urgently went to see Shi Yanqiong, requesting to deploy troops to ascend the city walls and prepare for battle. Shi Yanqiong suspected Sun Duo and others of having different intentions and said, "The reporter said the rebel soldiers reached Linqing today; according to the distance, they will need six nights to arrive, so there is still time to prepare." Sun Duo said, "Since the rebels have started a rebellion, they will certainly take advantage of our lack of preparedness and travel day and night; how could they march according to the schedule! I request that you, puye, lead the multitude to ascend the city walls, while I recruit a thousand elite troops to ambush them at Wangmang River. If the rebels' momentum is broken, they will certainly scatter, and then we can extinguish them. If we must wait until they reach the city, and if there happens to be traitors inside to act as collaborators, then the situation will be dangerous." Shi Yanqiong said, "It is enough to strictly guard the city; why must we go out to fight!" That night, the rebel vanguard attacked the north gate, with crossbows and arrows flying wildly. At that time, Shi Yanqiong was leading his troops stationed at the north gate tower; upon hearing the rebels' shouting, he immediately panicked and fled in disorder. Shi Yanqiong rode alone and fled to Luoyang.
On the guisi day (the fifth day), the rebels entered Yedu. Sun Duo and others resisted but could not prevail and fled. Zhao Zaili occupied the palace city, appointed Huangfu Hui and school officer Zhao Jin as Horse and Foot Commanders, and let the soldiers plunder wildly. Zhao Jin was a man of Dingzhou.
Wang Zhengyan was sitting at his desk summoning clerks to draft a memorial, but no one came. Wang Zhengyan became angry, but his family said, "The rebels have already entered the city, killing and plundering in the markets. The officials have all scattered. Who are you still calling for!" Wang Zhengyan said in surprise, "I did not know initially." He then sought a horse but could not find one, so he led his staff and walked out the gate to pay respects to Zhao Zaili, bowing twice and confessing his fault. Zhao Zaili also returned the bow and said, "The soldiers only want to return home; you, shangshu, are of high virtue and prestige; do not debase yourself like this." After comforting and advising him, he sent him away. The multitude pushed Zhao Zaili forward as Weibo's acting governor and submitted a detailed report of the situation. Beijing's acting governor Zhang Xian's family was in Yedu; Zhao Zaili treated them generously and sent an envoy with a letter to entice Zhang Xian. Zhang Xian did not open the letter, killed the envoy, and reported the matter.
On the jiawu day (the sixth day), Jing Jin was appointed as Yin Qingguang Lu Daifu, Inspector of the Right Sanji Changshi, Concurrent Imperial Censor-in-Chief, and Shangzhuguo.
On the bingshen day (the eighth day), Shi Yanqiong arrived in Luoyang. The emperor asked Privy Council Commissioner Li Shaohong who could be appointed as a great general. Li Shaohong again requested to use Li Shaoqin, and the emperor agreed, ordering him to present a battle plan. The subordinate generals that Li Shaoqin requested were all old Liang generals and his own close associates; the emperor became suspicious and stopped the plan. The empress said, "This is a minor matter and not worth troubling a great general; Li Shaorong can handle it." The emperor then ordered Guide Military Governor Li Shaorong to lead three thousand cavalry to Yedu to pacify them, and also mobilized troops from various circuits in case they did not comply.
After Guo Chongtao died, Li Shaochen said to Dong Zhang, "Are you going to whisper again at whose gate?" Dong Zhang was afraid and apologized. King Wei, Li Jiji's army returned to Wulian and encountered an imperial envoy, who informed them that Zhu Youqian had already been executed and ordered Dong Zhang to lead troops to Suizhou to kill Zhu Lingde. At that time, Li Shaochen was commanding the rear army stationed at Weicheng. When he heard about this, he was very surprised because the emperor did not assign him to kill Zhu Lingde but instead assigned Dong Zhang. Soon after, Dong Zhang passed through Li Shaochen's army without paying a visit. Li Shaochen became angry and, under the influence of alcohol, said to the generals, "The state took Daliang in the south and conquered Bashu in the west—these were all the strategies of Lord Guo and my military achievements. As for leaving the rebels and pledging allegiance, forming a pincer attack with the state to destroy Liang, that was Lord Zhu's merit. Now Zhu and Guo, both innocent, have been exterminated. When I return to court, it will be my turn. Injustice! Heaven! What can be done!" Most of the soldiers under Li Shaochen were from Hezhong. General Jiao Wu and others wept together at the army gate, saying, "What crime did the King of Xiping commit, that his entire family was slaughtered? If we go back, we will be killed along with Shi Wu and the others. We will never go east again." That day, King Wei Li Jiji arrived at Nixi. Li Shaochen reached Jianzhou and sent a report to Li Jiji saying, "The Hezhong officers and soldiers are weeping uncontrollably and want to rebel." On Dingyou (the 9th day), Li Shaochen led his troops westward from Jianzhou, declaring himself Military Commissioner of Xichuan and Controller of Sanchuan, and issued a proclamation to Chengdu, claiming he had received an edict to replace Meng Zhixiang, summoning and pacifying the Shu people. Within three days, his forces reached fifty thousand.
On Wuxu (the 10th day), Li Jiyan arrived at Fengxiang. The Army Supervisor Chai Chonghou did not hand over the tally and seal to him but urged him to proceed to court.
On Jihai (the 11th day), King Wei Li Jiji arrived at Lizhou. Li Shaochen sent men to cut off the Jiebo Ferry. When Li Jiji heard this, he appointed Ren Huan as Deputy Chief Pacification Commissioner, leading seven thousand infantry and cavalry, along with Commander-in-Chief Liang Hanyong and Supervisor Li Yan'an, to pursue and attack him.
On Gengzi (the 12th day), Zhao Tai and four hundred others from the Left and Right Infantry Guard of Xingzhou occupied the prefectural city, declaring themselves Acting Liuhou of Anguo. An edict was issued ordering the Northeast Front Deputy Commander-in-Chief Li Shaozhen to attack them.
On Xinchou (the 13th day), Ren Huan first ordered the deputy general He Jianchong to attack the Jianmen Pass, and it was taken.
Li Shaorong arrived at Yedu and attacked the south gate. He sent men with an imperial edict to summon and pacify the defenders. Zhao Zaili used sheep and wine to reward the army and bowed from atop the wall, saying, "The officers and soldiers missed home and returned without permission. If the honorable minister can properly report this and spare us from death, how would we dare not reform and start anew!" He then widely proclaimed the edict to the soldiers. Shi Yanqiong pointed at them and cursed loudly, saying, "You pack of dead rebels—once the city is taken, you will be cut into ten thousand pieces!" Huangfu Hui said to his men, "Judging by Shi Wude's words, the emperor will not pardon us." So they gathered, shouted, seized the edict, tore it up with their hands, and held the battlements to resist. Li Shaorong's attack was unsuccessful. He reported the situation, and the emperor angrily said, "On the day the city falls, leave no one alive!" He then mobilized troops from all circuits on a large scale to attack. On Renyin (the 14th day), Li Shaorong withdrew and camped at Chan Prefecture.
On the night of Jiachen (the 16th day), five soldiers from the Congma Guard, including Wang Wen, killed their commander and plotted rebellion but were captured and beheaded. The Congma Guard Commander Guo Congqian was originally a performer, with the stage name Guo Mengao. When the emperor was confronting the Liang army at Desheng, he recruited brave men to challenge the enemy. Guo Congqian answered the call, captured and killed enemies, and returned, thus gaining more favor. The emperor selected the bravest soldiers from various armies to form his personal guard, which was divided into four commands and called the Congma Guard. Guo Congqian rose from company commander to commandant through merit. When Guo Chongtao was in power, Guo Congqian served him as an uncle. King Mu Li Cunyi adopted Guo Congqian as his foster son. After Guo Chongtao and Li Cunyi were convicted, Guo Congqian repeatedly used his private wealth to reward the officers of the Congma Guard, weeping before them and recounting Guo Chongtao's injustice. When Wang Wen rebelled, the emperor joked to him, "Since you have betrayed me by siding with Guo Chongtao and Li Cunyi and also taught Wang Wen to rebel, what do you intend to do?" Guo Congqian became even more afraid. After withdrawing, he privately said to the officers, "Because of Wang Wen's affair, the lord, after Yedu is pacified, will bury all of you alive. You should spend all the wealth from your homes to buy wine and meat—don't make long-term plans." From then on, the personal guard was all uneasy.
On Yisi (the 17th day), Wang Yan arrived at Chang'an, and an edict ordered him to stop there.
Earlier, although the emperor's younger brothers concurrently held the post of military commissioners, they all remained in the capital, only collecting salaries. On Wushen (the 20th day), for the first time, an order was given for the Guardian of the State Circuit, King Yong Li Cunba, to proceed to Hezhong.
On Dingwei (the 19th day), Li Shaorong led troops from various circuits to attack Yedu again. On Gengxu (the 22nd day), the deputy general Yang Zhongba led several hundred men to scale the city wall, but there was no support from behind, and Yang Zhongba and his men all died in battle. The rebels, knowing they would not be pardoned, held firm without any intention of surrendering. The court was very worried and daily sent imperial envoys to urge King Wei Li Jiji to return east. Li Jiji, because the elite troops of the central army had all followed Ren Huan to attack Li Shaochen, remained in Lizhou waiting for them and could not return.
Li Shaorong had been attacking Zhao Zaili for a long time without success, while Zhao Tai occupied Xingzhou without being taken. The Cangzhou army mutinied, and the junior officer Wang Jingkan suppressed the rebellion and then declared himself acting Liuhou. Reports of disturbances from the Heshuo prefectures and counties came one after another. The emperor wanted to personally campaign against Yedu, but the Chancellor and Chief Secretary all said that the capital was the foundation and the imperial carriage should not be lightly moved. The emperor said, "Among the generals, there is no one suitable to send." They all said, "Li Siyuan is the most meritorious old official." The emperor was wary of Li Siyuan and said, "I cherish Li Siyuan and want to keep him in the palace as a guard." They all said, "No one else is available." The Loyal and Martial Circuit Military Commissioner Zhang Quanyi also said, "The troubles in Heshuo have lasted too long, and the harm will deepen. You should order the General-in-Chief to march and attack. If you rely on people like Li Shaorong, you will not see the day of success." Li Shaohong also repeatedly spoke up. Because of the recommendations both inside and outside the court, the emperor agreed after a long time. On Jiayin (the 26th day), he ordered Li Siyuan to lead the personal guard to attack Yedu.
Yan Prefecture reported that the armies of Sui Prefecture and Yin Prefecture had rebelled and plundered the prefectural city.
Dong Zhang led twenty thousand troops and camped at Mian Prefecture, just as Ren Huan was attacking Li Shaochen. The emperor sent the imperial envoy Cui Yanchen to Chengdu, who encountered Li Shaochen's army. He lied, saying, "I have received an edict to summon the Meng boy. If you slow your advance, you can naturally obtain Shu." After arriving in Chengdu, he advised Meng Zhixiang to prepare for defense and battle. Meng Zhixiang deepened the moats and erected palisades, sending the Cavalry and Infantry Commander-in-Chief Li Renhan with forty thousand men and the Valiant and Sharp Commander Li Yanhou with two thousand men to attack Li Shaochen. Li Yanhou gathered his men and asked them, "Those who are strong, brave, and sharp, and want to win merit and seek wealth, go east! Those who are old, sick, timid, and weary of battle, go west!" He selected seven hundred elite soldiers and set out. That day, Ren Huan's army caught up with Li Shaochen at Han Prefecture, and Li Shaochen led out his troops to meet the attack. The Pacification Commissioner's Secretary Zhang Li requested to ambush elite troops in the rear and lure the enemy with weak troops. Ren Huan followed his advice, ordering Dong Zhang to lead the weak troops of Dongchuan into battle first and then retreat. Li Shaochen, despising Ren Huan as a scholar and seeing his weak army, pursued with full force. The ambushed troops struck, decisively defeating Li Shaochen, cutting off several thousand heads. From then on, Li Shaochen retreated into Han Prefecture and closed the gates without coming out.
In March, on Ding Si (the 1st day), Li Shaozhen reported that Xingzhou had been taken and Zhao Tai and others captured. On Geng Shen (the 4th day), Li Shaozhen led his troops to Yedu and camped northwest of the city. He paraded Zhao Tai and others before the city walls of Yedu and then executed them.
On Xin You (the 5th day), Wang Tinghan, Deputy Commissioner of the Majestic and Martial Circuit, was appointed Military Commissioner of the Majestic and Martial Circuit.
On the day renxu (the 6th), Li Siyuan arrived at Yedu and set up camp southwest of the city. On the day jiazi (the 8th), Li Siyuan ordered the army to attack the city the next morning. That night, soldiers of the Congma Direct Guard, led by Zhang Pobai, mutinied, raising a loud clamor, killing their commander, and burning the camp buildings. The next morning, the rebel soldiers approached the central army. Li Siyuan led his personal guards to resist and fight, but they could not withstand the attack, and the rebels grew more rampant. Li Siyuan rebuked them, asking, "What do you want to do?" They replied, "The soldiers have followed the Sovereign for ten years, fighting a hundred battles to gain the realm. Now the Sovereign has abandoned benevolence and abused his authority. The garrison troops at Beizhou wanted to return home, but the Sovereign would not pardon them, saying, 'After taking the city, we will bury all the Weibo troops alive.' Recently, a few soldiers of the Congma Guard quarreled and struggled, and he wanted to kill them all. We initially had no rebellious intent, only feared death. Now we all plan to join forces with the city to repel the armies from the various circuits, and we invite the Sovereign to proclaim himself emperor south of the River, and you, Lord, to proclaim yourself emperor north of the River, becoming the lord of the military and the people." Li Siyuan wept as he tried to persuade them, but they would not listen. Li Siyuan said, "If you do not heed my words, do as you please, and I will return to the capital myself." The rebel soldiers drew their blades and surrounded him, saying, "These people are like tigers and wolves, knowing no distinction of rank. If you, Lord, leave, where will you go?" They then crowded around Li Siyuan, Li Shaozhen, and others and entered the city. The city did not accept the troops from outside, and Huangfu Hui attacked Zhang Pobai, killing him, and the outside troops all scattered. Zhao Zaili led the various school officers to greet and bow to Li Siyuan, weeping and apologizing, saying, "The soldiers have failed you, Lord. How dare they not obey your commands!" Li Siyuan feignedly said to Zhao Zaili, "Whenever one undertakes a great enterprise, one must rely on military strength. Now the outside troops have scattered with nowhere to go. I will go out and gather them for you." Zhao Zaili then allowed Li Siyuan and Li Shaozhen to leave the city together. They lodged at Weixian, and the scattered troops gradually returned.
Hanzhou had no city moat and used wooden stakes as a stockade. On the day yichou (the 9th), Ren Huan attacked the stockade, setting it on fire. Li Shaochen led his troops to fight at the Golden Goose Bridge, was defeated, and fled to Mianzhu with a dozen cavalrymen, where he was pursued and captured. Meng Zhixiang personally went to Hanzhou to reward the army, feasting with Ren Huan and Dong Zhang. He had Li Shaochen’s prisoner cart brought into the midst of the banquet. Meng Zhixiang personally poured a large cup of wine for him and said, "You already held a commander’s banner and had the merit of pacifying Shu. Why fear not being wealthy and honored? Yet you ended up in this prisoner cart!" Li Shaochen said, "Guo the Attendant-in-Chief assisted the imperial enterprise with the foremost merit, taking the Two Chuan without bloodying a blade. Yet he was executed without cause, his clan destroyed. How could someone like me, Li Shaochen, hope to keep his head? Therefore, I dared not return to court."
After capturing Li Shaochen, Prince Wei, Li Jiji, led his troops eastward day and night. Meng Zhixiang captured Li Zhao, the commander of the Shan-Shao Metropolitan Command, a native of Ruyin, and Hou Hongshi, the commander of the Hezhong Metropolitan Command, a native of Qiansheng. He appointed Li Zhao as Deputy Commander of the Inner Guard Cavalry and Foot, and Hou Hongshi as his assistant. The bandits in Shu had not yet been pacified. Meng Zhixiang selected incorruptible officials to govern the prefectures and counties, abolished exorbitant taxes, comforted and gathered the displaced people, issued lenient decrees, and began anew with the people. He dispatched Zhao Tingyin, Commander of the Left Division, and Zhang Ye, Commander of the Right Division, to lead troops in separate campaigns against the bandits, and they killed them all.
When Li Siyuan was threatened by the rebel soldiers, Li Shaorong had a force of ten thousand men encamped south of the city. Li Siyuan sent his personal officer Zhang Qianchou, Gao Xingzhou, and five others one after another to summon him, hoping to join him in killing the rebels. Li Shaorong suspected Li Siyuan of deceit, detained the messengers, and closed his camp without responding. When Li Siyuan entered Yedu, Li Shaorong led his troops away. When Li Siyuan was at Weixian, his forces numbered fewer than a hundred men, and he had no weapons. The five thousand Zhenzhou troops under Li Shaozhen, upon hearing that Li Siyuan had emerged, joined him one after another. From then on, Li Siyuan’s military strength gradually revived. Li Siyuan wept and said to the generals, "Tomorrow I should return to my commandery, submit a memorial confessing my guilt, and await the Sovereign’s judgment." Li Shaozhen and the Chief of the Central Office, An Chonghui, said, "This plan is not appropriate. You, Lord, are the commander-in-chief, and unfortunately, you were seized by evil men. Li Shaorong retreated without fighting, and when he returns to court, he will surely use you as a pretext. If you return to your commandery, you will be occupying territory to coerce the sovereign, which will just confirm the slanderers’ words. It would be better to travel to the court day and night, see the Son of Heaven face to face, and perhaps you can vindicate yourself." Li Siyuan said, "Good!" On the day dingmao (the 11th), he went from Weixian straight south to Xiangzhou, met the Horse Office Director Kang Fu, obtained several thousand horses, and was thus able to form an army. Kang Fu was a native of Weizhou.
Fu Xi, the Military Governor of Pinglu, led his own troops to attack Yedu. Hearing that Li Siyuan’s army had been defeated, he turned his troops back. When he reached Zizhou, the Army Supervisor Yang Xiwang sent troops to intercept him. Fu Xi became afraid and led his troops westward. Wang Gongyan, the Commandant of Qingzhou, attacked Yang Xiwang, killed him, and then occupied the prefectural city.
At that time, the eunuchs serving as army supervisors in the various circuits all relied on imperial favor to contend for power with the military governors. When the rebellion broke out in the Yedu army, most of them were killed wherever they were. The Army Supervisor of Anyi, Yang Jiyuan, plotted to kill the Military Governor Kong Qing, but Kong Qing first lured him and killed him. The Army Supervisor of Wuning, because Li Shaozhen had followed Li Siyuan, plotted to kill his former followers and occupy the prefectural city to resist. The Acting Liu-hou, Chunyu Yan, led the various generals to kill him first. Chunyu Yan was a native of Dengzhou.
On the day wuchen (the 12th), because military rations were insufficient, an imperial edict ordered the Henan Yin to advance the summer and autumn taxes. The people could not survive.
Zhang Quanyi, the Military Governor of Zhongwu, Minister of Works, and Prince of Qi, upon hearing that Li Siyuan had entered Yedu, became so worried and fearful that he could not eat. On the day xinwei (the 15th), he died in Luoyang.
The Tax Commissioner, because granaries were insufficient, severely cut military rations, and the soldiers' rumors grew even more intense. The chancellor, afraid, led the hundred officials to submit a memorial, saying: "Now the tax resources are exhausted, but the inner treasury still has surplus wealth. The families of the various army officers and soldiers cannot support themselves. If they are not relieved, I fear there will be a loss of loyalty. After the bad year passes, wealth will accumulate again." The emperor wanted to comply immediately, but Empress Liu said, "We, husband and wife, rule over the myriad states. Although we relied on military merit, it was also due to Heaven's mandate. Since Heaven's mandate is with us, what can men do to us!" The chancellor again discussed the matter in the side hall, and the empress eavesdropped from behind a screen. After a while, she brought out her dressing case, three silver basins, and three young imperial princes, and went out, saying, "People say there is much accumulated in the palace, but the tribute from all directions is given away on the spot. What remains is only this. Please sell it to support the army!" The chancellor withdrew in fear.
Li Shaorong retreated from Yedu to guard Weizhou and reported that Li Siyuan had already rebelled and allied with the rebel troops. Li Siyuan sent envoys to submit memorials in his own defense, sending several batches a day. Li Siyuan’s eldest son, Li Congshen, served as Commander of the Gold Lancer Guard. The emperor said to Li Congshen, "I deeply know that your father is loyal and honest. Go and convey my intentions, and do not let him suspect himself." When Li Congshen reached Weizhou, Li Shaorong imprisoned him and wanted to kill him. Li Congshen said, "Since you do not trust my father, I cannot go to my father either. Please let me return to serve as a palace guard." So he was released. The emperor pitied Li Congshen, gave him the name Li Jijing, and treated him like his own son. After this, Li Siyuan’s memorials were all obstructed by Li Shaorong and could not reach the court, so Li Siyuan became suspicious and fearful. Shi Jingtang said, "Success in affairs depends on decisiveness, failure on hesitation. How could a high general enter a rebel city with rebel troops and later be guaranteed safety? Daliang is the strategic hub of the realm. I hope you will lend me three hundred cavalry to seize it first. If we are fortunate to take it, you, Lord, should lead the main army forward swiftly. Only then can we protect ourselves." Kang Yicheng, the Commander of the Tuqi Metropolitan Command, said, "The Sovereign is without the Way, and the military and people are full of resentment and anger. If you follow the multitude, you will survive; if you hold to your integrity, you will surely die." Li Siyuan then ordered An Chonghui to issue proclamations to assemble forces. Kang Yicheng was a Dai Bei Hu.
At that time, the Qi Prefecture Defense Commissioner Li Shaogian, the Taining Circuit Military Governor Li Shaoqin, and the Bei Prefecture Prefect Li Shaoying were stationed at Wa Bridge; the Beijing Right Wing Cavalry Capital Commander An Shentong was stationed at Fenghua Army. Li Siyuan sent envoys to summon them all. Li Shaoying was a native of Xiaqiu, originally surnamed Fang, named Zhiwen; An Shentong was the nephew of An Quanquan. Li Siyuan’s home was in Zhen Prefecture; the Yuhou General Wang Jianli first killed the army supervisor, thus preserving it. Wang Jianli was a native of Liao Prefecture. Li Congke led his troops from Hengshui through Yu County straight to Zhen Prefecture, joined forces with Wang Jianli’s army, and followed Li Siyuan day and night with forced marches. Because Li Shaorong was at Wei Prefecture, Li Siyuan planned to cross the Yellow River from Baigao; he divided three hundred cavalry and had Shi Jingtang lead them as the vanguard, with Li Congke bringing up the rear; thus the army’s momentum grew strong. Li Siyuan’s nephew Li Congzhang led troops from Zhen Prefecture southward, passing through Xing Prefecture, where the people of Xing Prefecture welcomed him as their military governor.
On Guiyou (the 17th day), an imperial edict ordered the Huaiyuan Command Envoy Bai Conghui to lead cavalry to hold the Heyang Bridge. The emperor took out gold and silk to reward the various armies; the Privy Councilors, the Palace Secretariat and Audience Hall Commissioners, and the Inner Palace Servitor Jing Jin and others all contributed gold and silk to aid the rewards. The soldiers, carrying the rewarded goods, cursed, saying: “Our wives and children have already starved to death—what use is this!” On Jiaxu (the 18th day), Li Shaorong arrived at Luoyang from Wei Prefecture. The emperor went to the Yao Shop to console him. Li Shaorong said: “The mutinous troops from Ye Capital have already sent their comrade Zhai Jianbai to occupy Bo Prefecture, intending to cross the river and attack Hui Prefecture and Bian Prefecture. I hope Your Majesty will go to Guandong to pacify them.” The emperor followed his advice.
Jing Jin and others said to the emperor: “The Prince of Wei has not yet arrived; Kang Yanxiao has just been pacified; the southwest is still unsettled. The Wang Yan clan and its partisans are numerous. I hear that when Your Majesty’s carriage goes on the eastern expedition, they may rebel—it would be better to eliminate them.” The emperor then sent the Inner Palace Messenger Xiang Yansi with an edict to execute them. The edict said: “The entire party of Wang Yan—kill them all.” After it was sealed and signed, the Privy Councilor Zhang Juhan reviewed it, erased the character “party” on the palace pillar, and changed it to the character “household.” Thus more than a thousand people among the Shu officials and Wang Yan’s servants were spared death. When Xiang Yansi reached Chang’an, he killed all of Wang Yan’s clan at Qinzhou Station. Wang Yan’s mother, Lady Xu, cried out at her death: “My son surrendered with an entire state, yet he still could not escape the extermination of his clan—faith and righteousness have been cast aside. I know that you (the emperor) will soon meet calamity too!”
On Yihai (the 19th day), the emperor set out from Luoyang. On Dingchou (the 21st day), he halted at Sishui. On Wuyin (the 22nd day), he sent Li Shaorong to lead cavalry eastward along the river. Many of Li Siyuan’s trusted followers who had been with the emperor fled. Someone advised Li Jijing to extricate himself early, but Li Jijing never showed any intention of leaving. The emperor repeatedly sent Li Jijing to Li Siyuan, but Li Jijing firmly refused, willing to die before the emperor to show his pure loyalty. When the emperor heard that Li Siyuan was at Liyang, he forcibly sent Li Jijing across the river to summon him. On the way, Li Jijing encountered Li Shaorong, who killed him.
The King of Wuyue, Qian Liu, fell ill and went to the Yijin Army, ordering the Military Governor’s Deputy Qian Chuanguan, the retainers of the Zhenhai and Zhendong Circuits, to act as regent. The Wu state’s Xu Wen sent an envoy to inquire about the illness. Qian Liu’s attendants advised him not to meet the envoy, but Qian Liu said: “Xu Wen is sinister and treacherous; this is ostensibly an inquiry about my illness, but in fact he has sent him to spy on me.” He forced himself to receive him. Xu Wen had indeed assembled an army intending to attack Wuyue, but when he heard that Qian Liu had recovered, he stopped. Qian Liu soon returned to Qiantang.
The Wu state appointed the Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and co-Chancellor of the Secretariat Xu Zhigao as Palace Attendant, and the Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs Yan Keqiu as concurrently Vice Director of the Chancellery and co-Chancellor.
On Gengchen (the 24th day), the emperor set out from Sishui. On Xinsi (the 25th day), Li Siyuan reached Baigao and encountered several boats carrying silk tribute from the Shandong region; he took them to reward his army. An Chonghui’s followers fought over the boats, and the Mobile Camp Horse and Foot Commissioner Tao Qi beheaded them to make an example, after which the army was orderly. Tao Qi was a native of Xu Prefecture. Li Siyuan crossed the Yellow River, reached Hua Prefecture, and sent someone to summon Fu Xi. Fu Xi joined Li Siyuan at Zuo City, and An Shentong also led his troops to meet them. The acting Bian Prefecture governor, Kong Xun, sent an envoy with a memorial going west to welcome the emperor, and also sent an envoy north to secretly express allegiance to Li Siyuan, saying: “Whoever arrives first will gain (Bian Prefecture).” Previously, the emperor had sent the cavalry general, Mancheng native Fang Xiyun, to guard Bian Prefecture. Shi Jingtang sent a subordinate general, Li Qiong, to lead elite troops to burst into the Fengqiu Gate; Shi Jingtang followed closely behind, entered the city through the West Gate, and thus seized the prefectural seat. Fang Xiyun requested to surrender. Shi Jingtang sent someone to urge Li Siyuan forward. On Renwu (the 26th day), Li Siyuan entered Daliang. On this day, the emperor reached the east of Xingze and ordered the Dragon Soaring Command Envoy Yao Yanwen to lead three thousand cavalry as the vanguard, saying: “You are men of Bian Prefecture. When I enter your territory, I do not wish other troops to serve as the vanguard, lest they disturb your families.” After generous rewards, he sent them off. Yao Yanwen immediately led his troops to defect and join Li Siyuan, saying to Li Siyuan: “The capital is in urgent peril. The sovereign is misled by Yuan Xingqin; the situation has already caused disaffection, and he can no longer be served.” Li Siyuan said: “You yourself are disloyal—how can you speak such rebellious words!” He immediately stripped him of his military command. The Command Envoy Pan Huan was guarding Wangcun Camp, which had several tens of thousands of grain and fodder. The emperor sent cavalry to inspect, but Pan Huan also fled to Daliang. The emperor reached Wansheng Town, heard that Li Siyuan had already occupied Daliang, and that the various armies were disaffected and deserting. His expression became dejected, and he sighed as he climbed a high place, saying: “I am finished!” He immediately ordered a retreat and that night returned to Sishui. When the emperor left the pass, the accompanying troops numbered twenty-five thousand; by the time he returned, more than ten thousand had been lost. He then left the Qin Prefecture Capital Commander Zhang Tang to lead three thousand infantry and cavalry to guard the pass.
On Guiwei (the 27th day), the emperor passed through Yingzi Valley on his return. The road was narrow. Whenever he encountered soldiers bearing weapons, he used kind words to placate them, saying: “I have just received a report that the Prince of Wei is presenting another five hundred thousand gold and silver from Xichuan. When it reaches the capital, I will surely give it all to you.” They replied: “Your Majesty’s rewards have already come too late; we are not grateful for your grace!” The emperor only wept. He then wanted to give his own sashes and robes to reward his attendant officials, but the Inner Treasury Commissioner Zhang Rongge claimed the supplies were exhausted. The guards scolded Zhang Rongge, saying: “Those who have caused our sovereign to lose the state are all these eunuch villains.” They drew their swords and chased him; someone saved him, and he barely escaped death. Zhang Rongge said to his fellows: “The empress’s stinginess with wealth has led to this state of affairs, and now they blame us. If things go awry, we will be chopped into ten thousand pieces. I cannot bear to wait!” He then drowned himself.
On Jiashen (the 28th day), the emperor reached Stone Bridge West. He set out wine, wept sorrowfully, and said to Li Shaorong and the other generals: “Since you have served me, we have shared hardships, honors, and wealth alike. Now that you have brought me to this pass, is there not one strategy to save me?” The hundred-odd generals all cut off their hair and threw it on the ground, vowing to repay him with death, and then all wailed together. That evening, he entered Luoyang city.
Li Siyuan ordered Shi Jingtang to lead the vanguard toward Sishui to gather and pacify the scattered troops, with Li Siyuan following behind. Li Shaogian and Li Shaoying led their troops to join them. On Bingxu (the 30th day), the Chancellors and Privy Councilors jointly submitted a memorial: “The Prince of Wei’s western army is about to arrive. Your Majesty should temporarily hold Sishui, gather and pacify the scattered troops, and await them.” The emperor followed this advice, personally went out of the Upper East Gate to review the cavalry, and instructed them to set out eastward the next morning.