Later Jin Records 4
Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government, Volume 283 [Later Jin Records, Book 4]: From the year Renzhai Shetige (Renzi year) to the first month of the year Yanfeng Zhixu (Jiayin year), covering a little over two years.
Spring, first month, on the Dingsi day, the yamen runner of Zhenzhou led the government troops into the city through the water mill gate in the western wall, killed twenty thousand civilian defenders, captured An Rongrong, and beheaded him. Du Zhongwei killed the yamen runner who had guided them, claiming the merit for himself. On the Gengshen day, An Rongrong’s head was sent to Ye capital; the emperor ordered it lacquered, placed in a wooden box, and given to the Khitan.
On the Guihai day, Zhenzhou was renamed Hengzhou, and Chengde Army was renamed Shunguo Army.
On the Bingyin day, Vice Director of the Chancellery and Vice Grand Councilor Zhao Ying was appointed Palace Attendant, and Du Zhongwei was appointed Military Governor of Shunguo Circuit and concurrently Palace Attendant. Du Zhongwei appropriated all of An Rongrong’s private property and the treasures in the Hengzhou treasury for himself; the emperor knew of this but did not question it. Du Zhongwei further submitted a memorial requesting the appointment of Wang Yu, Vice Director of the Court of the Imperial Clan from Fanyang, as deputy commissioner; Wang Yu then imposed heavy levies on the people, causing the people of Hengzhou great suffering.
Zhang Shi’s father, Zhang Duo, came to the court to appeal his grievances. On the Renwu day, Heyang Military Governor Wang Zhou was appointed Military Governor of Zhangyi Circuit, replacing Zhang Yanze.
The ruler of Min, Wang Xi, established Li as empress; she was the daughter of Grand Councilor Li Zhen. Li was fond of wine and stubborn, and Wang Xi both favored and feared her.
Zhangwu Military Governor Ding Shenqi kept a personal army of a thousand men and allowed them to commit crimes within his jurisdiction. Military Academy graduate He Xingzheng colluded with various Hu tribes to rebel, attacking Yanzhou. The emperor dispatched Caozhou Defense Commissioner He Chongjian to lead troops to relieve the siege; reinforcements from Tongzhou and Fuzhou arrived successively, and the siege was lifted. On the Guisi day of the second month, He Chongjian was appointed acting Military Governor of Zhangwu, and Ding Shenqi was recalled to court. He Chongjian was a Hu from the Yunzhou and Shuozhou regions.
The Left Grand Councilor of the Southern Tang, Song Qiqiu, insisted on participating in government affairs; the Southern Tang ruler allowed him to enter the Secretariat. He then requested concurrent control of the Department of State Affairs, so the post of Attendant Shou Prince Li Jing sui, who had been overseeing the Department of State Affairs, was abolished, and he was instead made concurrent head of the Chancellery and Secretariat. Song Qiqiu was placed in charge of Department of State Affairs matters; all affairs of the three departments were submitted to Qi Prince Li Jing for final decision. After Song Qiqiu had held office for several months, his trusted clerk Xia Changtu embezzled three thousand strings of public funds; Song Qiqiu ruled that he should be spared the death penalty. The Southern Tang ruler was furious and had Xia Changtu executed. Song Qiqiu claimed illness and requested dismissal from his post overseeing the Department of State Affairs; the Southern Tang ruler agreed.
Jingzhou reported that they had sent Yanya Chen Yanhui with an imperial edict to Liangzhou; the generals and officials of Liangzhou requested that Chen Yanhui be appointed Military Governor.
In the third month, the ruler of Min, Wang Xi, established Changle Prince Wang Yacheng as the Prince of Min.
While Zhang Yanze was in Jingzhou, he arbitrarily dispatched troops to attack various Hu tribes; the army was completely defeated and annihilated. He then requisitioned over a thousand civilian horses to replenish his forces. On his return to Shanzhou, he captured the fleeing general Yang Hong, and while drunk, cut off his hands and feet before beheading him. Wang Zhou submitted a memorial detailing twenty-six charges of Zhang Yanze’s corruption and cruelty in his circuit; over five thousand households of the common people had fled and scattered. When Zhang Yanze arrived at the capital, the emperor, considering his military merits and his marriage alliance with Yang Guangyuan, did not pursue the matter.
Summer, fourth month, on the Jiwei day, Right Remonstrance Counselor Zheng Shouyi submitted a statement saying: “The reason Yang Hong was brutally killed is that last year Your Majesty handed Zhang Shi over to Zhang Yanze, allowing him to have his way, which led Zhang Yanze to dare to act with unrestrained cruelty, without any fear. All who hear of this gnash their teeth in hatred, yet Your Majesty remains unmoved, without the slightest reproach; good and evil are not distinguished, rewards and punishments lack order. Both inside and outside the court say that Your Majesty accepted a hundred horses presented by Zhang Yanze and thus allowed him to act in this way. I privately regret this evil reputation for Your Majesty and request that Zhang Yanze be punished according to law to cleanse Your Majesty’s virtue.” The memorial was submitted but kept in the palace without a reply. Zheng Shouyi was the son of Zheng Cong’s elder brother.
On the Gengshen day, Vice Minister of Justice Li Tao and others knelt at the palace gates, vehemently arguing the crimes of Zhang Yanze, their words extremely earnest and fierce. On the Xinyou day, an imperial edict stated: “Zhang Yanze is reduced by one rank of office and one degree of nobility. Zhang Shi’s father, sons, and younger brothers are all granted offices. For the people of Jingzhou who restore their livelihoods, their corvée labor and taxes are remitted.” On the Guihai day, Li Tao, together with officials from the two departments and the Censorate, again knelt at the palace gates to submit a memorial, arguing that the punishment for Zhang Yanze was too light and requesting that he be dealt with according to law. The emperor summoned Li Tao and admonished him face to face. Li Tao straightened his tablet, stepped forward to the palace steps, and argued with a stern voice and fierce expression. The emperor became angry and shouted at him repeatedly, but Li Tao still did not retreat. The emperor said, “I have already promised not to execute Zhang Yanze.” Li Tao said, “Your Majesty promised not to execute Zhang Yanze and cannot break your word; but where is Fan Yanguang’s iron warrant now!” The emperor shook his sleeves, rose, and entered the inner palace. On the Bingyin day, Zhang Yanze was appointed General of the Left Dragon Wu Army.
The High Ancestor of the Southern Han, Liu Yan, was ill. Because his sons, Qin Prince Liu Hongdu and Jin Prince Liu Hongxi, were both arrogant and willful, while his youngest son, Yue Prince Liu Hongchang, was filial, respectful, and possessed knowledge and judgment, he consulted with Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and concurrently Director of the Western Imperial Academy, Wang Li, planning to send Liu Hongdu out to garrison Yongzhou and Liu Hongxi to garrison Rongzhou, and to establish Liu Hongchang as heir. The edict was about to be issued when, coincidentally, Chongwen Commissioner Xiao Yi entered the palace to inquire about the illness. The High Ancestor consulted him on the matter. Xiao Yi said, “When establishing the legitimate son, the elder should be chosen; going against this will certainly bring disaster.” So the plan was abandoned. On the Dingchou day, the High Ancestor died. The High Ancestor was discerning and eloquent, skilled in stratagems and schemes, fond of self-praise, and often referred to the Central Plains emperor as “Prefect of Luozhou.” Lingnan was a place where rare treasures gathered; he indulged in extreme luxury and splendor, decorating his palaces entirely with gold, jade, pearls, and kingfisher feathers. His punishments were cruel, including pouring water into the nose, cutting out the tongue, dismemberment, gouging, roasting, and boiling. Sometimes he would gather poisonous snakes in water and throw criminals into it, calling it the “water prison.” Grand Councilor Yang Dongqian admonished him, but he would not listen. In his later years, he became especially suspicious. Because most scholar-officials planned for their descendants, he exclusively employed eunuchs, and from then on, the eunuch faction in his state became very powerful.
Qin Prince Liu Hongdu ascended the throne and changed his name to Liu Bin. He appointed Liu Hongxi as regent and changed the reign title to Guangtian. He honored his mother, Zhao Zhaoyi, as Grand Consort.
The Khitan, because Later Jin had taken in the Tuyuhun, sent envoys to reprimand them. The emperor was worried and distressed, not knowing what to do. On the Wuxu day of the fifth month, he fell ill.
On the Yisi day, Consort Liu was honored as Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was the emperor’s stepmother.
After the Southern Tang Grand Councilor and Grand Guardian Song Qiqiu was dismissed from his post overseeing the Department of State Affairs, he ceased attending court. The Southern Tang ruler sent Shou Prince Li Jing sui to console and inquire after him, promising to let him go out to garrison Hongzhou, whereupon he came to court. The Southern Tang ruler held a banquet for him. When the wine was flowing freely, Song Qiqiu said, “Your Majesty’s restoration was achieved through my efforts; how can you forget this!” The Southern Tang ruler said angrily, “You sought an audience with me as a wandering persuader, and now you hold the position of one of the Three Dukes; that is enough. Yet you have said of me that I have a crow’s beak like Gou Jian and am difficult to share ease with—is this true?” Song Qiqiu said, “I did indeed say this. When I was a wandering persuader, Your Majesty was merely a partial general. Killing me today would not matter.” The next day, the Southern Tang ruler wrote an edict in his own hand to apologize to him, saying: “My narrow-minded nature, you have known it all along. To be close in youth and resentful in old age—how can this be right!” On the Bingwu day, Song Qiqiu was appointed Military Governor of Zhennan Circuit.
The emperor was ill in bed. One day, only Feng Dao was present for an audience. The emperor ordered his young son, Shi Chongrui, to come out and pay respects to Feng Dao, and also ordered a eunuch to hold Shi Chongrui and place him in Feng Dao’s arms, intending probably for Feng Dao to support and establish him.
In the sixth month, on the Yichou day, the emperor died.
Feng Dao, together with Tianping Military Governor and Chief of the Imperial Guard and Horse and Foot Capital Inspector Jing Yanguang, discussed the matter, considering that the state was in many difficulties and should establish an older ruler. They thus supported Guangjin Prefect and Qi Prince Shi Chonggui as heir. On that day, Qi Prince ascended the throne. Jing Yanguang considered this his own achievement and began to monopolize power, forbidding people in the capital from speaking privately with one another.
Earlier, when the High Ancestor was gravely ill, he issued an edict summoning Hedong Military Governor Liu Zhiyuan to court to assist in governance. Qi Prince suppressed this edict. Liu Zhiyuan therefore resented Qi Prince.
On the Dingmao day, the Empress Dowager was honored as Grand Empress Dowager, and the Empress was honored as Empress Dowager.
The Fusha Prince of Min, Wang Yan zheng, besieged Tingzhou. The ruler of Min, Wang Xi, mobilized five thousand troops from Zhangzhou and Quanzhou to relieve it. He also sent general Lin Shouliang into Youxi, and Daming Palace Commissioner Huang Jingzhong to garrison Youkou, intending to take advantage of the situation to make a surprise attack on Jianzhou. State Planning Commissioner Huang Shaopo led eight thousand infantry to support both armies.
Autumn, seventh month, on the Renchen day, Grand Empress Dowager Liu passed away.
The rich and peaceable king of Min, Wang Yanzheng, attacked Tingzhou. After forty-two battles, he was unable to capture it and turned back. His generals Bao Hongshi and Chen Wang led the navy to resist the Fuzhou army; on the day dingyou, the two forces met at Youkou. Huang Jingzhong prepared to give battle, but a diviner said the timing was unfavorable, so he held his troops still. Bao Hongshi and his men landed and attacked from both water and land, killing Huang Jingzhong, capturing and beheading two thousand men. Lin Shouliang and Huang Shaopo both fled back.
On the day gengzi, a general amnesty was granted under Heaven.
On the day guimao, Jing Yanguang was appointed Tong Pingzhangshi and concurrently Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard Cavalry and Infantry.
Meritorious old officials all wished to re-establish the post of Privy Councilor. Feng Dao and others submitted three memorials requesting to yield the former post of Privy Councilor; the emperor did not agree.
A spirit descended into the home of a commoner in Boluo County. It spoke with people but its form was invisible. Villagers went to divine good or ill fortune, and it was mostly efficacious. The county clerk Zhang Yuxian served this spirit with great reverence. At that time, brigands arose in Xunzhou, each group independent of the others. The bandit chieftains jointly prayed to the spirit, and the spirit loudly said: "Zhang Yuxian should be your master." Thereupon the chieftains together supported Zhang Yuxian, proclaiming him the King of the Middle Heaven and Eight Realms, changing the reign title to Yongle, establishing a full bureaucracy, and plundering the coastal regions. Zhang Yuxian was young and had no other strategy; the generals merely reported to him on their advances and retreats. The Southern Han ruler Liu Bin appointed Yue Wang Liu Hongchang as Commander-in-Chief and Xun Wang Liu Honggao as Vice Commander-in-Chief to campaign against Zhang Yuxian. They fought at the Qianbo Pavilion. The Southern Han forces were defeated, and both princes were surrounded by the bandit army. Commandant Chen Daoxiang and others fought fiercely to rescue them, and only then did they escape. The eastern prefectures and counties were mostly overrun by Zhang Yuxian. Chen Daoxiang was a native of Duanzhou.
Gao Xingzhou besieged Xiangzhou for over a year without being able to capture it. Inside the city, food was exhausted. Wang Qing, a native of Quzhou and Commander of the Fengguo Army, said to Gao Xingzhou: "The bandit city is already in danger, our army is already weary, the people's strength is already exhausted. If we do not press the attack soon, what are we waiting for!" Then, together with Fengguo Commander-in-Chief Liu Ci, a native of Yuancheng, he led the troops to be the first to scale the walls. In the eighth month, Xiangzhou was captured. An Congjin's entire clan died by self-immolation.
On the day jiazi, Zhao Ying was appointed Zhongshuling.
The Min ruler Wang Xi sent envoys bearing a personal imperial edict, along with nine hundred gold vessels, ten thousand strings of cash, and six hundred and forty appointment documents for generals and officials, to seek peace from the rich and peaceable king Wang Yanzheng. Wang Yanzheng did not accept. On the day bingyin, the Min ruler Wang Xi feasted his officials at the Nine Dragon Hall. His nephew Wang Jirou could not drink alcohol, but Wang Xi forced him. Wang Jirou secretly reduced his drink, and Wang Xi, enraged, had him executed along with the guest general.
The people of Min cast Yonglong Tongbao large iron coins, each worth one hundred lead coins.
Southern Han buried the Heavenly August Grand Emperor at Kangling, with the temple name Gaozu.
Since serving as the Wu Chancellor, the Southern Tang ruler had promoted benefits and eliminated harms, changing many old laws. After his accession, he ordered the judiciary and the Department of State to compile and edit the Shengyuan Tiao in thirty chapters. On the day gengyin, it was promulgated and implemented.
The Min ruler Wang Xi appointed Tong Pingzhangshi Yu Tingying, a native of Houguan, as Prefect of Quanzhou. Yu Tingying was corrupt and vile, seizing commoner women, falsely claiming he had received an edict to select them for the harem. When the matter was exposed, Wang Xi sent an imperial censor to investigate. Yu Tingying, terrified, went to Fuzhou to confess. Wang Xi interrogated him and prepared to hand him over to the officials for punishment. Yu Tingying withdrew and then presented ten thousand strings of cash as a "purchased banquet" fee. Wang Xi was pleased, and the next day summoned him, saying: "The banquet has been purchased, but where are the queen's tributes?" Yu Tingying then presented money and goods to Empress Li, and was thereupon sent back to Quanzhou. From then on, each prefecture separately presented tribute to the empress. Shortly thereafter, Yu Tingying was again summoned to be chancellor.
Winter, tenth month, on the day bingzi, Zhang Yuxian captured Xunzhou and killed the Southern Han Prefect Liu Zhuan.
The Chu ruler Ma Xifan built the Tiance Mansion, making its buildings exceedingly grand and beautiful. Doors, windows, and railings were all decorated with gold and jade. Cinnabar used for plastering the walls amounted to several hundred thousand catties. For floor coverings, in spring and summer they used bamboo mats, in autumn and winter, kapok. He amused himself and feasted with his sons, younger brothers, and staff within it.
Eleventh month, on the day gengyin, the Shengwen Zhangwu Mingde Xiao Huangdi was buried at Xianling, with the temple name Gaozu.
Earlier, the prefectures of He'nan and Hebei had the government sell sea salt on its own behalf, earning an annual revenue of one hundred seventy thousand strings of cash. They also distributed "silkworm salt" to collect money from the people. Discussants said that the number of people convicted for private salt smuggling was too great; it would be better to allow the people to sell it themselves, and instead levy on the people the annual revenue from government salt sales, calling it "salt consumption tax." Gaozu agreed. Soon after, the price of salt suddenly fell, dropping to ten cash per catty. At this time, the Director of the Three Fiscal Agencies, Dong Yu, wanted to increase surplus profit but found it difficult to abruptly change the previous policy. Therefore, he increased the tax on salt merchants: seven cash per catty for transit, and ten cash per catty for those who stayed to sell. From then on, salt merchants all but disappeared, and the government again sold salt on its own. The "salt consumption tax" continues to be levied to this day.
The Min Commissioner of Salt and Iron and Right Puye Li Renyu was the son of Li Min and the nephew of the Min ruler Wang Xi. He was young, handsome, and favored by Wang Xi. In the twelfth month, Li Renyu was appointed Left Puye and concurrently Zhongshu Shilang, and Hanlin Academician and Libu Shilang Li Guangzhun was appointed Zhongshu Shilang and concurrently Hubu Shangshu, both as Tong Pingzhangshi. Wang Xi was dissolute beyond measure. Once during a night banquet, Li Guangzhun, drunk, offended the imperial will. Wang Xi ordered him bound and sent to the marketplace for execution. The officials dared not kill him and confined him in prison. The next day, at court, he summoned him and restored him to his original position. That same evening, he held another banquet and had Hanlin Academician Zhou Weiyue arrested and imprisoned. The jailer spread out a bed to wait for him, saying: "The Chancellor slept here last night; the Shangshu need not worry." Zhou Weiyue was released after sobering up. Another day, he held another banquet. The attendant officials all left drunk, only Zhou Weiyue remained. Wang Xi said: "Weiyue's body is quite small; how can he drink so much?" Someone from the side said: "Wine has a separate set of intestines; one need not be large of stature." Wang Xi was pleased and ordered Zhou Weiyue dragged down from the hall, wanting to cut open his belly to see his wine gut. Someone said: "If you kill Weiyue, no one will be left to drink heartily with Your Majesty again." Thereupon he desisted.
When the emperor first ascended the throne, the great ministers discussed sending a memorial to the Khitan announcing the mourning, addressing them as "subject." Jing Yanguang proposed writing a letter calling himself "grandson" but not "subject." Li Song said: "Bending oneself to preserve the altars of state—what shame is there! If Your Majesty does this, he will in the future surely have to personally don armor and fight the Khitan; then it will be too late for regret." Jing Yanguang argued vehemently, and Feng Dao equivocated in the middle. The emperor ultimately followed Jing Yanguang's advice. The Khitan was greatly angered, sent envoys to rebuke him, and said: "Why did you not first report, but hastily ascend the throne?" Jing Yanguang again answered with disrespectful words.
The Khitan's Military Commissioner of Lulong, Zhao Yanshou, wished to replace the Later Jin as the Central Plains emperor. He repeatedly urged the Khitan to attack the Later Jin, and the Khitan ruler was quite inclined to agree.
Qi Wang, Part One
Spring, first month, on the day guimao, the Shu ruler appointed Xuanhui Shi and concurrently Gongyuan Shi Tian Jingquan as concurrently Yongping Military Commissioner. Tian Jingquan was a eunuch. The precedent of the former Shu's Wang Chengxiu was cited for this appointment, and the people of Shu all considered it improper.
The Later Jin emperor heard that the Khitan was about to invade. On the day jiwei, in the second month, he departed from Yedu. On the day yichou, he arrived at Dongjing. Nevertheless, he continued to exchange envoys, gifts, and presents with the Khitan, without a month's interruption.
Li Jingda, the Prince of Xuancheng of the Southern Tang, was resolute, decisive, open-minded, and straightforward. The Liezu (Emperor) favored him and repeatedly considered making him his heir. Song Qiqiu often praised his talents, but the Tang ruler desisted because the Prince of Qi, Li Jing, was the eldest. Li Jing therefore resented Song Qiqiu. The Tang ruler’s youngest son, Li Jingwu, had a mother, Consort Zhong, who was favored, while the Prince of Qi’s mother, Empress Song, seldom gained audience with the Tang ruler. Once, the Tang ruler visited Li Jing’s palace and encountered him personally tuning musical instruments. Enraged, he rebuked him for several days. Taking advantage of this, Consort Zhong suggested that Li Jingwu, though young, was very intelligent and could be established as heir. The Tang ruler angrily said, “If a son errs, his father disciplines him—this is a common matter. How can a woman meddle in and know about state affairs!” He immediately ordered her married off. The Tang ruler once dreamed of swallowing a divine pill. At dawn, the alchemist Shi Shouchong presented a prescription for the pill. The Tang ruler, deeming it miraculous, took it and gradually became irritable. His attendants remonstrated, but he would not listen. He once gave the pill to Li Jianxun, who said, “I have taken it for a few days and already feel hot and restless; how much more if one takes it in larger quantities!” The Tang ruler replied, “I have been taking it for a long time.” When ministers presented matters, the Tang ruler often flew into rages. Yet occasionally, when someone spoke with solemn demeanor and reasoned argument, he would restrain his anger, offer consolation and apologies, and follow their advice. The Tang ruler asked the Daoist Wang Qixia, “What method can achieve peace and order?” He replied, “A ruler must govern his heart and his person before he can govern his family and state. Now, Your Majesty has not yet shed the anger of hunger and the joy of satiety—how can peace be discussed!” Empress Song, from behind the curtain, sighed, considering this a profound saying. Whatever the Tang ruler bestowed, Wang Qixia refused to accept. Wang Qixia often submitted memorials on behalf of others, and the Tang ruler wanted to build an altar for him. He declined, saying, “The state’s finances are depleted; how can there be leisure for this! When the burned memorials do not turn to ash, then it will be time to petition.”
Feng Yanji, Director of the Ministry of Provisions, served as the regular secretary of the Prince of Qi’s Marshal’s office. He was cunning and deceitful, colluding with Song Qiqiu and Chen Jue, the Deputy Commissioner of the Palace Secretariat. Those in the same office who ranked above him, Feng Yanji gradually schemed to oust them. Feng Yanji once jested to Sun Sheng, Vice Director of the Secretariat, “What ability do you have to become a Vice Director of the Secretariat?” Sun Sheng replied, “I, Sun Sheng, am a crude scholar from Shandong. My literary skill is inferior to yours, my humor inferior to yours, my flattery and cunning inferior to yours. Yet the lord has sent you to associate with the Prince of Qi, intending you to guide him with benevolence and righteousness—not merely to be a companion in sensual pleasures! I am indeed without talent; but someone with talents like yours is precisely enough to be a calamity to the state.” Feng Yanji was from Shezhou. There was also a man named Wei Cen, who also served in the Prince of Qi’s household. Chang Mengxi, a Supervising Secretary, repeatedly spoke out, saying that Chen Jue, Feng Yanji, and Wei Cen were all treacherous and perverse villains, unworthy to serve the Eastern Palace heir. Xiao Yan, Director of the Ministry of Justice and Judge of the Grand Court, submitted a memorial accusing Chen Jue of treachery and disorder. The Tang ruler, somewhat moved and awakened, but had no time to remove them. Just then, a boil erupted on his back. The Tang ruler secretly ordered it not be known, covertly calling for medical treatment, while still attending to state affairs as usual. On the day Gengwu, his condition became critical. Imperial physician Wu Tingyu sent a trusted aide to summon the Prince of Qi, Li Jing, into the palace to attend to his illness. The Tang ruler said to Li Jing, “I took mineral drugs, initially hoping to prolong life, but they have only hastened my death. You should take this as a warning!” That night, he passed away. The death was not announced. An edict was issued: “Order the Prince of Qi to act as regent and grant a general amnesty.”
Sun Sheng, fearing that Feng Yanji and his ilk would seize power, wanted to fabricate a posthumous edict ordering the Empress Dowager to hold court and act as regent. Hanlin Academician Li Yiye said, “The former emperor once said, ‘Women interfering in government is the root of disaster.’ How could he himself create such a source of calamity! This must be a fraudulent act by treacherous villains nearby. Moreover, the successor is already grown, renowned for his virtue and wisdom. How can you suddenly utter such words of national ruin! If this is indeed proclaimed, I will tear it up before all the officials.” Sun Sheng, frightened, desisted. Li Yiye was the great-grandnephew of Li Wei.
On the day Bingzi, the posthumous edict was finally announced. In his later years, the Liezu was irritable, and many of his close attendants suffered punishment. Chen Jue pretended to be ill and did not attend court for several months. Only after the posthumous edict was announced did he appear. Xiao Yan submitted an impeachment, saying, “Chen Jue stayed safely at home, waiting for the former emperor’s death. I request that his crimes be investigated.” The Prince of Qi did not agree.
Ever since the Liezu served as Chancellor in Wu, he had prohibited oppressing free people into servitude, ordering that those who bought or sold slaves must register contracts with the authorities. Feng Yanji and his younger brother, Feng Yanlu, a Gentleman of the Ministry of Rites, both served in the Marshal’s office. They drafted a posthumous edict allowing the people to sell their children, intending thereby to purchase concubines for themselves. Xiao Yan refuted this, saying, “This must be the doing of Feng Yanji and his kind, not the former emperor’s final command. Previously, when Feng Yanlu served as the Eastern Capital Judge, he had already made such a request. The former emperor asked me, and I replied: ‘When Your Majesty was Chancellor in Wu, if the people sold their children, you would use treasury funds to redeem and return them, so that far and near all turned their hearts to you. Now, after ascending the throne, you would do the opposite, letting the children of the poor become servants of the rich—can this be allowed?’ The former emperor agreed with me and was about to punish Feng Yanlu. I thought Feng Yanlu was foolish and not worth blaming. The former emperor sealed Feng Yanlu’s memorial diagonally, marked it with three strokes, and took it into the palace. I request that a search be made in various palace places—it must still be there.” The Prince of Qi ordered a search through the thousands of memorials left in the palace from the former emperor’s time, all sealed diagonally and marked with a single stroke. They indeed found Feng Yanlu’s memorial. However, because the posthumous edict had already been issued, it was ultimately not changed.
Wang Yanzheng, the Prince of Fusha of Min, proclaimed himself emperor in Jianzhou, with the state title of Great Yin. He granted a general amnesty and changed the era name to Tiande. He established Jiangle County as Yongzhou and Yanping Town as Tanzhou. He installed Lady Zhang as Empress. He appointed Pan Chengyou, Administrative Assistant of the Circuit, as Minister of Personnel, and Yang Sigong, Circuit Inspector from Jianyang, as Minister of War. Shortly after, he appointed Pan Chengyou as Vice Director of the Secretariat with the rank of Tong Pingzhangshi, and promoted Yang Sigong to Chief Minister, overseeing all military and state affairs. Wang Yanzheng wore ochre-yellow robes when handling affairs, but the ceremonies for military officials’ audiences and receiving envoys from neighboring states still followed the protocol of a military governor. Yin’s territory was small, its people impoverished, and warfare unceasing. Yang Sigong gained favor through his skill in amassing wealth, increasing taxes on fields and mountains, so that even fish, salt, vegetables, and fruits were all taxed at double rates. The people called him “Yang the Flayer.”
On the first day of the third month, the day Jichou, Zhao Ying was appointed as Military Governor of Jinchang and concurrently Vice Director of the Secretariat. Sang Weihan, Military Governor of Jinchang and concurrently Attendant-in-Ordinary, was appointed as Attendant-in-Ordinary.
The Tang ruler Yuanzong ascended the throne, granted a general amnesty, and changed the era name to Baoda. Hanlin Secretary Han Xizai requested that the era name be changed only after the new year, but his request was not followed. The Empress was honored as Empress Dowager, and Consort Zhong was installed as Empress. The Tang ruler had not yet taken charge of state affairs, and Feng Yanji repeatedly entered the palace to report matters, as many as three or four times a day. The Tang ruler said, “The Secretary has his fixed duties—why must you trouble me so!” The Tang ruler’s character was humble and cautious. When he first ascended the throne, he did not address ministers by their personal names. He frequently invited dukes and ministers to discuss the fundamentals of governance. Li Jianxun said to others, “The lord is generous, benevolent, and magnanimous—he surpasses the former emperor. However, his habits and nature are not yet settled. If he lacks upright people by his side to assist him, I fear he may not be able to preserve the former emperor’s foundation.” The Tang ruler appointed Song Qiqiu, Military Governor of Zhennan, as Grand Guardian and concurrently Vice Director of the Secretariat, and Zhou Zong, Military Governor of Fenghua, as Attendant-in-Ordinary. Because Song Qiqiu and Zhou Zong were meritorious old officials of the previous dynasty, the Tang ruler summoned them as chancellors to satisfy popular expectations, but he decided all state affairs himself. He changed the title of Prince of Shou, Li Jingsui, to Prince of Yan, and the Prince of Xuancheng, Li Jingda, to Prince of E. Earlier, when the Tang ruler was the Prince of Qi and managed state affairs, whenever he had errors, Chang Mengxi often remonstrated directly and corrected him. Although initially angered, the Tang ruler ultimately praised him for his honesty and uprightness. After ascending the throne, he promised to appoint him as Hanlin Academician. However, Song Qiqiu’s faction, resenting him for his role in reviewing and rejecting edicts, demoted him to be the Judge of Chizhou. Chizhou had many exiled officials. The Military Governor of the circuit, Wang Yanzhou from Shangcai, was overly strict in his restrictions, making life nearly unbearable for them. Only toward Chang Mengxi did he treat him as if he were still at court.
Song Qiuqiu had always treated Chen Jue with great favor, and the Lord of Southern Tang also considered Chen Jue talented, thus entrusting him with important duties. Feng Yanji, Feng Yanlu, and Wei Cen, though former subordinates of the Qi Prince’s residence, all attached themselves to Chen Jue, and together with Zha Wenhui of Xiuning, they recommended and promoted each other, eroding and corrupting government affairs. The people of Southern Tang referred to Chen Jue and his group as the "Five Ghosts." Feng Yanlu rose from a Vice Director in the Ministry of Rites to a Secretariat Drafter and Academician of the Diligent Governance Hall. Du Changye, the Surveillance Commissioner of Jiangzhou, upon hearing this, sighed and said, "What the state uses to drive and control its ministers is nothing but official ranks and titles. If a single word pleases the sovereign, one is immediately promoted to a lofty and honored position. In the future, when there are those who achieve merit, what will be used to reward them?" Shortly after, the Lord of Southern Tang appointed both Wei Cen and Zha Wenhui as Vice Commissioners of the Secretariat. After Wei Cen gained power, it happened that Chen Jue’s mother died, and Wei Cen publicly proclaimed Chen Jue’s faults and crimes, pushing him aside.
Southern Tang established the Dingyuan Army in Haozhou.
The Emperor of Southern Han, the late ruler’s son, was arrogant and extravagant, not personally attending to state affairs. While the late emperor was still in mourning, he indulged in music and wine, and at night, he went out in disguise with prostitutes and women, watching naked men and women. Anyone among his attendants who displeased him was executed, and no one dared to remonstrate. Only the Prince of Yue, Liu Hongchang, and the Inner Palace Attendant, Wu Huai’en of Panyu, repeatedly admonished him, but he would not listen. He often suspected his various younger brothers, and whenever there was a banquet, he ordered eunuchs to guard the doors. All officials and clan members had to strip and be searched before they could enter. The Prince of Jin, Liu Hongxi, sought to plot against him, so he lavishly prepared singing and dancing performances to entertain and please him, thereby encouraging his evil ways. The Southern Han ruler enjoyed bare-handed wrestling. Liu Hongxi ordered the Commander of the Guard, Chen Daoxiang, to introduce the strongmen Liu Sichao, Tan Lingyin, Lin Shaoqiang, Lin Shaoliang, and He Changting to practice wrestling in the Prince of Jin’s residence. The Southern Han ruler was delighted to hear this. On the day of Bingxu, he feasted with the various princes in the Changchun Palace, watching wrestling. By evening, when the feast ended, the Southern Han ruler was heavily drunk. Liu Hongxi had Chen Daoxiang and Liu Sichao support the Southern Han ruler, taking the opportunity to strangle him to death, and killed all his attendants. The next morning, none of the hundred officials or the princes dared to enter the palace. The Prince of Yue, Liu Hongchang, led his younger brothers to the mourning hall to weep, then welcomed Liu Hongxi to ascend the throne. He changed his name to Liu Sheng and changed the era name to Yingqian. He appointed Liu Hongchang as Grand Commandant, concurrently Secretariat Director and Commander-in-Chief of All Circuits’ Military Affairs, in charge of government affairs; the Prince of Xun, Liu Honggao, as Deputy Commander-in-Chief, participating in decisions on government affairs. Chen Daoxiang and Liu Sichao and others were all given exceptionally generous rewards.
The Lord of Min, Wang Xi, married the daughter of the Gold Guard Commander, Shang Baoyin, and established her as the Virtuous Consort. The Virtuous Consort possessed extraordinary beauty, and Wang Xi doted on her. When he was drunk, she could kill anyone she wished to kill and pardon anyone she wished to pardon.
Summer, the fourth month, on the first day of Wushen, a solar eclipse occurred.
Southern Tang appointed the Secretariat Drafter and Co-Pingzhangshi, Li Jianxun, as the Military Commissioner of Zhaowu Circuit, stationed at Fuzhou.
The generals of Yin, Chen Wang and others, attacked Fuzhou of Min, breached its outer city, but soon were defeated and retreated.
Fifth month, the Minister of Personnel and Co-Pingzhangshi of Yin, Pan Chengyou, submitted a memorial presenting ten matters, the gist of which was: "Brothers attacking each other violates and harms heavenly principles—this is the first. Taxes and levies are excessive, and corvée labor knows no bounds—this is the second. Conscripting the people as soldiers, they are away from home, full of sorrow and resentment—this is the third. Yang Sigong plunders the people’s clothing and food, causing the people to direct their resentment at the ruler, yet none of the ministers dare to speak—this is the fourth. The territory is narrow, yet many prefectures and counties are established, increasing officials to trouble the people—this is the fifth. Repairing roads and carrying provisions, preparing to attack Tingzhou, without ever worrying about Jinling or Qiantang launching a surprise attack from behind—this is the sixth. Searching wealthy households, those with much property are granted office, while those in arrears with taxes suffer punishment—this is the seventh. At the various ferry crossings of Yanping, taxes are levied on fruits, vegetables, fish, and rice; the profit is very small, but the resentment incurred is great—this is the eighth. Neighboring Southern Tang and Wuyue, since ascending the throne, no envoys have been sent to exchange visits—this is the ninth. Palaces and towers are extravagantly decorated without restraint—this is the tenth." The Lord of Yin, Wang Yanzheng, was greatly angered, stripped Pan Chengyou of his official rank, and forced him to return to his private residence.
After the Emperor of Southern Han, Zhongzong, ascended the throne, there was much talk in the state. The Prince of Xun, Liu Honggao, requested that Liu Sichao and others be executed to apologize to the court and the public, but the Han ruler did not comply. When Liu Sichao and others heard this, they falsely accused Liu Honggao of plotting rebellion. The Han ruler ordered Liu Sichao and others to monitor him. Liu Honggao was just feasting guests when Liu Sichao and Tan Lingyin led guards charging in and beheaded Liu Honggao. Thereupon, the Han ruler planned to kill all his younger brothers. Because the Prince of Yue, Liu Hongchang, was virtuous and popular, he was particularly wary of him. The Military Commissioner of Xiongwu Circuit, the Prince of Qi, Liu Hongbi, considering himself in a major post, feared disaster and requested to enter the court; the Han ruler granted this.
Initially, the Lord of Min, Wang Xi, attended a feast of the Emperor Kangzong. It happened that Silla presented a sword, and Kangzong showed it to the Co-Pingzhangshi, Wang Tan, asking, "What use is this?" Wang Tan replied, "To kill disloyal ministers." At that time, Wang Xi already harbored treacherous intentions, and upon hearing this, his face changed with fear. At this later time, when feasting his ministers, someone again presented a sword. Wang Xi ordered Wang Tan’s grave to be opened and his corpse to be mutilated. The Collator of the Imperial Library, Chen Guangyi, said to his friend, "The ruler has lost virtue; his downfall is not far off. I wish to die by remonstrating." His friend stopped him, but he did not listen. He submitted a memorial listing fifty great evils of Wang Xi. Wang Xi was enraged and ordered the guards to flog him several hundred times, but he did not die. They tied a rope around his neck and hung him from a tree in the courtyard; it was a long time before he expired.
Autumn, the seventh month, on the day of Jichou, an edict was issued because of famine and insufficient state funds, sending over sixty envoys to various circuits to confiscate grain from the people.
The Prince of Wuyue, Qian Hongzuo, had just ascended the throne. The Senior Commander of the Upper Army, Kan Fan, was overbearing and violent, excluding those who disagreed with him, and Qian Hongzuo could not control him. The Inner Palace Superior Commander, Zhang De’an, repeatedly argued with him, and the Right Commander, Li Wenqing, did not submit to Kan Fan. On the day of Yisi, Zhang De’an was demoted to Chuzhou, and Li Wenqing to Muzhou. Kan Fan and the Right Commander of the Army, Hu Jinsi, became even more dictatorial. Kan Fan was a native of Mingzhou; Li Wenqing of Muzhou; Hu Jinsi of Huzhou.
The Lord of Southern Tang, following the will of his late father, appointed the Military Commissioner of Tianxiong Circuit, concurrently Secretariat Director and Governor of Jinling, the Prince of Yan, Li Jingsui, as Commander-in-Chief of All Circuits’ Military Affairs, changed his title to Prince of Qi, and had him reside in the Eastern Palace. He appointed the Military Commissioner of Tianping Circuit, Acting Attendant-in-Chief and Eastern Capital Defender, the Prince of E, Li Jingda, as Deputy Commander-in-Chief, changed his title to Prince of Yan. He proclaimed this to the court and the realm, stipulating that the throne would be passed to him in the future. He established his eldest son, Li Hongji, as the Prince of Nanchang. Li Jingsui and Li Jingda firmly declined, but were not permitted. Li Jingsui swore to himself that he would never dare to be the heir, and changed his style name to "Tuijun" (Retreating Body).
The Southern Han Commander, Wan Jingxin, defeated Zhang Yuxian in Xunzhou. Zhang Yuxian prayed to the spirits, and the spirits said, "Take Qianzhou, and the great matter will succeed." Zhang Yuxian led his followers over the mountains and headed straight for Qianzhou. The Southern Tang Military Commissioner of the Hundred Victories Circuit, Jia Kuanghao, was unprepared. Zhang Yuxian’s over one hundred thousand followers overran the various counties, twice defeated the prefectural troops, and the city gates were kept closed even in daytime. Zhang Yuxian built palaces and offices in Baiyun Cave and sent generals to plunder everywhere. Jia Kuanghao was the son of Jia Gongduo.
Eighth month, on the day of Yimao, the Lord of Southern Tang established his younger brother, Li Jingshu, as the Prince of Baoning. Empress Dowager Song resented Lady Zhong and repeatedly sought to harm Li Jingshu, but the Lord of Tang did his utmost to protect him.
The Inner Commandant of the Xia Prefecture Army, Tuoba Chongbin, plotted rebellion. The Prefect of Suizhou, Li Yimin, was about to assist him, but the matter was exposed. On the day of Xinwei, Li Yimin abandoned his prefectural city and fled with his younger brother, Li Yijun, and five others to Yanzhou.
Ninth month, the Emperor honored his mother, the Lady of Qin, An Shi, as the Grand Imperial Consort. The Grand Imperial Consort was a native of Daibei. The Emperor served the Empress Dowager and the Grand Imperial Consort with great care, often attending meals in their palaces, and was also fraternal to his younger brothers.
In the beginning, Heyang dental officer Qiao Rong followed Zhao Yanshou into Khitan, and the Khitan appointed him as a trade envoy, conducting commerce between Jin and Khitan, establishing a residence in Daliang. When Khitan and Jin became estranged, Jing Yanguang persuaded the Emperor to imprison Qiao Rong in jail and confiscate all goods in the residence. All Khitan people trading within Jin territory were killed and their goods seized. The ministers all said that Khitan had rendered great merit to Jin and should not be betrayed. On the day wuzi, Qiao Rong was released, comforted, rewarded, and sent back. Qiao Rong bid farewell to Jing Yanguang, who declared loudly: "Go back and tell your lord: the late emperor was established by the Northern Dynasty, so he called himself subject and presented memorials. Today's emperor is established by the Central Plains. The reason he humbles himself toward the Northern Dynasty is merely not to forget the covenant of the late emperor. Being a neighbor and calling himself grandson is sufficient; there is no reason to call himself subject. Let the Northern Dynasty’s emperor not believe Zhao Yanshou’s deceitful enticements and lightly insult the Central Plains. The troops and horses of the Central Plains are what your own eyes have seen. If the grandfather is angry and comes to fight, the grandson has a hundred thousand sharp swords, enough to face him. If in the future he is defeated by his grandson and laughed at by the world, let him not regret it!" Qiao Rong, fearing punishment upon his return because of his lost goods and wealth, and also wishing to leave evidence for the future, said: "Your words are many; I fear I may forget them. I hope you will write them down on paper." Jing Yanguang ordered his clerk to write down his words and give them to Qiao Rong. Qiao Rong reported them in detail to the Khitan ruler. The Khitan ruler was greatly angered, and his resolve to invade became firm from then on. All Jin envoys to Khitan were detained in Youzhou and could not see the Khitan ruler. Sang Weihan repeatedly requested to apologize to Khitan with humble words, but was always blocked by Jing Yanguang. The Emperor, because Jing Yanguang had merit in establishing him, favored him above all other ministers; and as he commanded the palace guard troops, no minister could contend with him. The Hedong military governor Liu Zhiyuan knew that Jing Yanguang would surely invite enemy attack, but feared his power and dared not speak; he only urgently recruited soldiers and petitioned to establish over ten armies like Xingjie and Wujie to prepare against Khitan.
On the day jiawu, the Dingnan military governor Li Yiyin reported the rebellion of Li Yimin. An edict was issued to arrest Li Yimin and send him to Xiazhou, where he was executed.
Winter, tenth month, on the day wushen, Lady Feng of Wu State was established as Empress. Initially, Gaozu loved his younger brother Shi Zhongyin and adopted him as his son; when he stayed as garrison commander in Yedu, he married the daughter of the deputy garrison commander of Anxi, Feng Meng, to him. Shi Zhongyin died early, and Lady Feng was widowed. She was beautiful, and the Emperor saw and loved her. When Gaozu died, while the coffin was still in mourning, the Emperor married her. All the ministers congratulated him. The Emperor said to Feng Dao and others: "This is the order of the Empress Dowager; together with you, I receive this great joy." After the ministers withdrew, the Emperor drank freely with Lady Feng. Passing before the coffin, he sprinkled wine and offered a prayer: "By the order of the Empress Dowager, together with the late emperor, I receive this great joy." The attendants could not help laughing, and the Emperor himself laughed. Turning to those around him, he said: "How am I as a groom today?" Lady Feng and those around her all laughed heartily. Although the Empress Dowager was angry, she could do nothing. After Feng became Empress, she meddled considerably in government affairs. The Empress’s elder brother Feng Yu, then serving as Director of the Ministry of Rites and Salt and Iron Judge, was suddenly promoted by the Emperor to the post of Academician of the Duanming Palace and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, participating in discussions of state affairs.
The Southern Han ruler ordered Prince of Shao, Liu Hongya, to retire.
The Southern Tang ruler dispatched Yan En, the commander of the Hongzhou camp and garrison, leading troops to attack Zhang Yuxian, and appointed Bian Gao, the Attendant of the Communication Office from Jinling, as supervisor of the army. Bian Gao used Bai Changyu, a man from Qianzhou, as his chief strategist to attack Zhang Yuxian; he defeated him many times. Zhang Yuxian prayed to the spirits, but the spirits no longer spoke, and his followers were greatly terrified. Bai Changyu advised Bian Gao to cut down trees to open a road and attack Zhang Yuxian from behind his camp. Zhang Yuxian abandoned his followers and fled to another general, Li Tai. Li Tai, knowing that the spirits were no longer efficacious, captured Zhang Yuxian and surrendered. Zhang Yuxian was beheaded in the marketplace of Jinling.
Eleventh month, on the day dinghai, the Southern Han ruler performed the grand sacrifice to Heaven at the southern suburbs, granted a general amnesty, and changed the era name to Ganhe.
On the day wuzi, the Wuyue king Qian Hongzuo took Lady Yang as his consort; she was the daughter of Yang Renquan.
Initially, Gaozu lent three hundred horses to the Pinglu military governor Yang Guangyuan. Jing Yanguang, using an edict, took them back. Yang Guangyuan angrily said: "This is to suspect me." He secretly summoned his son, the Danzhou prefect Yang Chengzuo. On the day wuxu, Yang Chengzuo claimed his mother was ill, opened the city gate at night, and fled to Qingzhou. On the day gengzi, He Chao, the Left Flying Dragon Commissioner from Jincheng, was appointed acting Danzhou prefect. The Emperor sent a eunuch to bestow on Yang Guangyuan a jade belt, imperial horses, gold and silk, to appease his heart. On the day renyin, the Commander of the Palace Guard Infantry, Guo Jin, was dispatched to lead troops to garrison Yunzhou.
Southern Tang buried the Guangwen Suwu Xiao Gao Emperor in Yongling, with the temple name Liezu.
Twelfth month, on the day yisi (first day of the month), the Left Commandant of the Imperial Guard, Cai Xingyu, was dispatched to lead troops to garrison Yunzhou. Yang Guangyuan sent cavalry into Zizhou, seized the prefect Zhai Jinzong, and took him back to Qingzhou. On the day jiayin, Yang Chengzuo was transferred to be the Dengzhou prefect to accommodate his convenience. Yang Guangyuan became even more arrogant. He secretly told Khitan that the Jin ruler had turned his back on kindness and violated the covenant, that a great famine was occurring within the territory, and that both public and private resources were exhausted; if they attacked at this opportunity, they could take the country in one stroke. Zhao Yanshou also urged the Khitan ruler. The Khitan ruler then assembled troops from behind the mountains and from Lulong, totaling fifty thousand men, and placed them under Zhao Yanshou’s command, entrusting him with planning the conquest of the Central Plains, saying: "If you obtain the Central Plains, I shall establish you as emperor." He also often pointed at Zhao Yanshou and said to the Jin people: "This is your ruler." Zhao Yanshou believed these words, and therefore exerted all his efforts for Khitan, devising strategies to take the Central Plains. The imperial court had heard somewhat of these plans. On the day bingchen, envoys were sent to build the city of Nanle and the Deqing Army, and troops from nearby circuits were mobilized for defense.
The Southern Tang Attendant-in-chief Zhou Zong was old and cautious, adhering to his duties. The Chief of the Secretariat Song Qiqiu widely built up a faction and used various means to push him aside. Zhou Zong tearfully complained to the Tang ruler, who therefore despised Song Qiqiu. Soon, Chen Jue was alienated, and Song Qiqiu was transferred to be the Zhenhai military governor. Song Qiqiu was furious and resentful. He submitted a memorial requesting to return to his old retreat at Jiuhua Mountain. The Tang ruler knew he was feigning, and after only one memorial, granted his request, sending a letter saying: "Your departure today was promised long ago. I truly understand you, so I do not take away your ambition." He also conferred on him the title Master of Jiuhua, enfeoffed him as Duke of Qingyang, and granted him the tax revenues of one county. Song Qiqiu then built a great mansion in Qingyang, with clothing, carriages, and staff all like those of a prince, but his resentment and melancholy grew even more intense.
The Ningzhou chieftain Mo Yanshu led the eighteen prefectures under his command, including Wenna, to submit to Chu. Those prefectures had no official government; they only erected wooden markers on the hills and were roughly controlled through a combination of kindness and authority.
That year, there was drought in spring and summer, followed by floods in autumn and winter. Locusts arose on a massive scale, reaching the sea in the east, Longdi in the west, crossing the Yangzi and Dongting Lakes in the south, and reaching Youzhou and Jizhou in the north. They covered the plains, valleys, cities, and houses everywhere, and even the leaves of bamboos and trees were completely eaten. In addition, the government seized grain from the people, and the envoys urged and punished them severely and urgently, to the point of sealing up mills and mortars, not leaving the people any rations for their own consumption. Some were executed for the crime of concealing grain. County magistrates often, because they could not complete the levies, returned their official seals and resigned of their own accord. Several hundred thousand people starved to death, and countless numbers became refugees. Consequently, the (Liu-shou), the military governors (Jiedushi) and below, down to the generals, each contributed horses, gold, silver, cloth and silk, fodder and grain to aid the state. Because the famine was particularly severe in Hengzhou and Dingzhou, the imperial court alone did not seize grain from the people there. Shunguo military governor Du Wei memorialized that army rations were insufficient and requested that the same policy be applied as in the other prefectures; the court granted his request. Du Wei, following the plan of his administrative assistant Wang Xu, seized grain until nothing was left, obtaining one million hu. Du Wei reported only three hundred thousand hu and kept the rest for his own household. He also ordered his administrative assistant Li Zhao to borrow from the people, again making up a full one million hu, to be sold in the spring of the following year, obtaining two million strings of cash. The entire region suffered because of this. The officials of Dingzhou wanted to follow this precedent and submit a memorial, but Yiwu military governor Ma Quanjie would not allow it, saying, "I serve as an observing commissioner; my duty is to nourish the people. How could I bear to imitate what they have done?"
The Chu region abounded in gold and silver, and the profits from tea were especially great, so wealth was abundant and accumulated. But the King of Chu, Ma Xifan, was extravagant and insatiably greedy, and he loved to boast. He had long spears and great halberds made, decorated with gold, which could be held but not used. He recruited eight thousand fat and wealthy young men from rich families to form the Silver Spear Guard. In his palaces, gardens, and clothing and utensils, he strove for the utmost in luxury and extravagance. He built the Nine Dragons Hall, carving eight dragons from aloeswood, decorated with gold and jewels, over ten zhang long, coiled around pillars facing each other. Ma Xifan sat in the middle, considering himself a dragon; his turban had a foot-long tail over one zhang long to symbolize a dragon's horn. When funds were insufficient, he increased taxes and levies. Every time he sent envoys to inspect the fields, they made it their special merit to increase the registered acreage. The people could not bear the rent and taxes and fled. The King of Chu said, "As long as the fields are still there, why worry about not having grain?" He ordered the Agricultural Commissioner (Yingtianshi) Deng Yiwen to register the lands of the fugitives and recruit people to cultivate them and pay rent. The people abandoned their old fields and followed the new ones, barely able to survive. From west to east, each lost their original property. He also allowed people to pay money to purchase official positions, using the amount of money as the standard for the rank of office. Rich merchants and great traders filled every official post. When local officials completed their terms and returned to the capital, they were invariably ordered to contribute goods and money. When commoners committed crimes, the rich were made to pay money, the strong were conscripted as soldiers, and only the poor and weak were punished. He also set up mailboxes, allowing people to submit anonymous letters to inform on each other, to the point that some families were wiped out. That year, following the advice of the Archivist (Kongmuguan) Zhou Zhi, he ordered that, in addition to the regular taxes, large counties contribute two thousand hu of rice, middle counties one thousand hu, and small counties seven hundred hu; those without rice could pay in cloth and silk. Tiance academician Tuoba Heng submitted a memorial saying: "Your Highness was born and raised in the deep palace, relying on an already accomplished foundation. You yourself do not know the toil of planting and harvesting, nor do your ears hear the sound of war drums. You indulge in galloping and pleasure trips, carving walls and eating fine jade-like food. The treasuries are already empty, yet extravagant expenses become even more severe; the people are already exhausted, yet heavy levies do not stop. Now, Huainan is an enemy state, Panyu harbors ambitions of annexation, Jingzhu daily plots and spies, and the (Xi-dong) tribes wait for us to be lenient. The proverb says: 'Cold feet hurt the heart; the people's resentment hurts the state.' I hope you will stop the order for grain contributions, execute Zhou Zhi to apologize to the prefectures and counties, remove non-urgent matters, and reduce the labor of construction projects. Do not let disaster and defeat come one day, and be laughed at by the four quarters." The King of Chu was greatly angered. Another day later, Tuoba Heng requested an audience. The King of Chu excused himself on the pretext of taking a daytime nap and refused to see him. Tuoba Heng said to the guest officer (Kezhang) Qu Honglian, "The king indulges his desires and stubbornly rejects remonstrance. I see his family of a thousand souls scattered to the winds within a few days." The King of Chu became even angrier and thus never saw him again for the rest of his life.
The Min ruler Wang Xi married off his daughter. He took out the roster of officials and examined it. Among the court officials, twelve had not offered congratulations. He had them all beaten in the court hall. Because the Censor-in-Chief (Yushizhongcheng) Liu Zan had not reported and impeached them, he was also about to be beaten. Liu Zan insisted on principle and refused to be disgraced, wanting to commit suicide. Remonstrance Grand Master (Jianyidafu) Zheng Yuanbi remonstrated, saying, "In ancient times, punishment did not extend to the grand officers. The Censor-in-Chief is the model for all officials. How is it appropriate to subject him to beating?" Wang Xi said sternly, "Do you want to imitate Wei Zheng?" Zheng Yuanbi replied, "Because I consider Your Majesty to be Tang Taizong, I dare to imitate Wei Zheng." Wang Xi's anger eased somewhat, so he released Liu Zan. Liu Zan eventually died of worry.
Spring, first month, on the day Yihai, border defense commands urgently reported: "The Khitan vanguard generals Zhao Yanshou and Zhao Yanzhao are leading fifty thousand troops to invade, approaching Beizhou." Zhao Yanzhao was the son of Zhao Siwen. Previously, the court considered Beizhou a strategic hub for water and land transportation, so it had accumulated a large amount of grain and fodder as several years' supply for the main army, to prepare against the Khitan. The army school officer Shao Ke was violent and rebellious by nature. Yongqing military governor Wang Lingwen dismissed him. Shao Ke therefore harbored resentment and secretly sent a man to flee into Khitan, saying, "Beizhou has much grain and fodder but weak military strength; it is easy to capture." It happened that Wang Lingwen entered the court. The chief ministers appointed former Fuzhou (Fangyushi) Wu Luan as acting prefect of Beizhou. After Wu Luan arrived, he sincerely comforted the soldiers. It happened that the Khitan invaded. Wu Luan was a scholar and had no capable assistants. Shao Ke volunteered, saying he was willing to die in service. Wu Luan then had him lead troops to guard the south gate, while he himself guarded the east gate. The Khitan ruler personally attacked Beizhou. Wu Luan resisted with all his might, nearly burning all their siege equipment. On the day Jimao, the Khitan attacked the city again. Shao Ke led the Khitan army in through the south gate. Wu Luan threw himself into a well and died. The Khitan then captured Beizhou and killed nearly ten thousand people. On the day Gengchen, the Later Jin appointed Guide military governor Gao Xingzhou as Commissioner of the Northern March (Beixingying Dudu), Heyang military governor Fu Yanqing as Marshal of the Left Wing of the Cavalry (Majun Zuoxiang Paichenshi), Right Shenwu Army Commander (You Shenwu Tongjun) Huangfu Yu as Marshal of the Right Wing of the Cavalry (Majun Youxiang Paichenshi), Shanfu military governor Wang Zhou as Marshal of the Left Wing of the Infantry (Bujun Zuoxiang Paichenshi), and Left Yulin General Pan Huan as Marshal of the Right Wing of the Infantry (Bujun Youxiang Paichenshi).
Taiyuan reported that Khitan troops had entered Yanmen Pass. Hengzhou, Xingzhou, and Cangzhou all reported Khitan invasions.
Chengde military governor Du Wei sent his aide Cao Guangyi to Yang Guangyuan, explaining the advantages and disadvantages and the blessings and calamities. Yang Guangyuan sent Cao Guangyi to the court to report, saying, "My son Yang Chengzuo fled back to Qingzhou because his mother was ill. Since we have already received the favor of pardon, our entire clan is grateful for your virtue." The court believed his words and sent an envoy together with Cao Guangyi to again go and pacify and instruct him.
Southern Tang appointed Attendant-in-Ordinary (Shizhong) Zhou Zong as military governor of Zhennan, and Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs (Zuopuye) and concurrently Vice Director of the Chancellery (Menxia Shilang) and (Tong Pingzhangshi) Zhang Juyong as military governor of Zhenhai.
The Lord of Southern Tang was determined to pass the throne to Prince Qi, Jing Sui, and Prince Yan, Jing Da. The Academician of the Hanlin Academy, Feng Yanji, and others sought to use this opportunity to isolate the court from the outside, in order to monopolize power. On the Xin Si day, the Lord of Southern Tang issued an edict: “Prince Qi, Jing Sui, shall participate in deciding all government affairs; among the hundred officials, only Vice Privy Councilors Wei Cen and Zha Wenwei may report matters to him; other officials, unless summoned for an audience, shall not be allowed to appear before him.” The people in the state were greatly alarmed. The Supervising Secretary, Xiao Yan, submitted a memorial earnestly remonstrating, but there was no response. The Commandant of the Imperial Guard, Jia Chong, knocked at the palace gate and requested an audience, saying: “Your servant served the late emperor for thirty years, and saw him receiving even those with distant relations with tireless diligence; yet there were still cases where the sentiments of the lower ranks could not reach him. Your Majesty has just ascended the throne; what kind of person are you employing, that you suddenly cut yourself off from all the officials? Your servant is already old, and can no longer see Your Majesty’s countenance.” Then he wept. The Lord of Southern Tang, awakening, immediately rescinded the previous edict. The Lord of Southern Tang built a high tower within the palace and summoned his attendants to view it; all praised the tower’s beauty. Xiao Yan said: “It is a pity that there is no well at the foot of the tower.” The Lord of Southern Tang asked him why. Xiao Yan replied: “Because then it would not be as good as the Jingyang Tower.” The Lord of Southern Tang, angered, banished him to Shuzhou. The Surveillance Commissioner, Sun Sheng, sent troops to guard him. Xiao Yan said: “I am punished for speaking bluntly in remonstrance; I have no other intentions. Previously, during the time of the testamentary appointment, you nearly endangered the state and the altars of grain and soil; is your crime not heavier than mine? Now you have come to guard me!” Sun Sheng, ashamed and afraid, hastily withdrew the soldiers.
The Emperor of the Later Jin sent an envoy bearing a letter to the Khitan, but the Khitan had already encamped at Yedu, and the envoy could not get through and returned. On the Ren Wu day, the Later Jin appointed the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard Cavalry and Infantry, Jing Yanguang, as Commander of the Imperial Camp, and the former Jingnan Circuit Military Governor, Li Zhou, as the of Dongjing. On that day, Gao Xingzhou led the vanguard and set out first. At that time, all military strategies and orders came from Jing Yanguang; officials from the Grand Councilor down had no part in them. Jing Yanguang, relying on his power and arrogance, insulted and bullied the various generals, and even the Son of Heaven could not control him. On the Yi You day, the Emperor of the Later Jin departed from Dongjing. On the Ding Hai day, Weizhou reported that the Khitan army had reached Liyang. On the Wu Zi day, the Emperor of the Later Jin arrived at Chan Prefecture. The Khitan Lord encamped at Yuancheng, and Zhao Yanshou encamped at Nanle; the Khitan appointed Zhao Yanshou as the Military Governor of Wei-Bo and enfeoffed him as the Prince of Wei. The Khitan army invaded Taiyuan; Liu Zhiyuan, together with Bai Chengfu, united their forces of 20,000 and attacked them. On the Jia Wu day, the Later Jin appointed Liu Zhiyuan as the Commissioner for the Pacification of the Circuit of Youzhou, with Du Wei as his deputy and Ma Quanjie as Commandant of the Guard. On the Bing Shen day, they dispatched the Right Chief General of the Martial Guard, Zhang Yanze, and others to lead troops to resist the Khitan at Liyang.
On the Wu Xu day, the Lord of Shu again had generals and chancellors concurrently serve as military governors in absentia.
The Emperor of the Later Jin again sent the interpreter Meng Shouzhong with a letter to the Khitan, requesting a restoration of peaceful relations. The Khitan Lord replied: “The situation that has already taken shape cannot be changed.”
On the Xin Chou day, Taiyuan reported a victory over the Khitan Prince Wei at Xiurong, beheading 3,000 men. The Khitan army fled through the Yaming Valley.
The Yin state cast large iron coins, the "Tian De Tong Bao," each worth one hundred smaller coins.
The Lord of Southern Tang sent an envoy with a letter to the Lord of Min, Wang Xi, and the Lord of Yin, Wang Yanzheng, rebuking them for engaging in warfare between brothers. Wang Xi replied, citing the examples of the Duke of Zhou executing Guan Shu and Cai Shu, and Emperor Taizong of Tang executing Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji as analogies. Wang Yanzheng replied, denouncing the Lord of Southern Tang for seizing the Jiangshan of the Yang family. The Lord of Southern Tang, angered, then severed relations with the Yin state.
The Deputy Military Governor of Tianping Circuit and Acting Prefect of Yunzhou, Yan Kan, sent the Surveillance Judge, Dou Yi, to submit a memorial, saying: “The Prefect of Bozhou, Zhou Ru, has surrendered the city to the Khitan and has also exchanged envoys with Yang Guangyuan, leading the Khitan army to cross the Yellow River at the Majiakou, capturing the Left Chief General of the Martial Guard, Cai Xingyu.” Dou Yi said to Jing Yanguang: “If the barbarians cross the Yellow River and join forces with Yang Guangyuan, then the region south of the Yellow River will be in danger.” Jing Yanguang considered his words correct. Dou Yi was a native of Jizhou.