Annals of the Later Han, Volume 4
[Later Han Records, Volume 4] The year of shangzhang yanmao (the cyclical year xinhai), one year.
Spring, first month, dingwei day. The court bestowed upon Fengxiang Military Commissioner Zhao Hui the concurrent title of Attendant-in-Ordinary.
Mizhou Prefect Wang Wangan requested additional troops to attack the Southern Tang. The emperor issued an edict appointing former Qizhou Prefect Guo Qiong as Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Route March, leading the Imperial Guard and Qi Province troops there.
Guo Wei requested to lead troops northward, approaching the Khitan border. The emperor issued an edict to stop him.
Bingyin day. Sent envoys to Hezhong and Fengxiang to collect and bury the remains of those killed in battle or who died of starvation. At that time, monks had already gathered two hundred thousand corpses.
When the Southern Tang ruler heard that the Later Han army had completely pacified the three rebellions, he only then dismissed Li Jinquan from his post as Commander of the Northern Route March.
Southern Tang Qinghuai Military Commissioner Liu Yanzhen heavily extorted wealth from the people to bribe the powerful and influential, who competed in praising him. He had been in post at Shouzhou for many years and, fearing replacement, wanted to use border crises to secure his position. He falsely reported that the Later Han army was about to launch a major southern invasion. In the second month, the Southern Tang ruler appointed Eastern Capital Defender Prince Li Hongji as Grand Commander of Run and Xuan Prefectures, garrisoning Runzhou, and Ningguo Military Commissioner Zhou Zong as Eastern Capital Defender.
The court wanted to transfer the posts of the military governors, taking advantage of their requests to come to the capital to attend the Jiaqing Festival birthday celebrations, and approved their requests.
Jiashen day. Guo Wei returned from inspecting the northern border. Someone from Fuzhou went to Jianzhou to report to Southern Tang Yong'an Acting Commander Zha Wenhui, claiming that the Wuyue army had abandoned the city and left, asking Zha Wenhui to become the commander. Zha Wenhui believed this and dispatched Jianzhou Prefect Chen Hui to lead a naval force down the Min River, while Zha Wenhui himself led infantry and cavalry to follow. It happened to rain heavily, and the river swelled. Chen Hui marched seven hundred li in one night, reached the city, defeated the Fuzhou troops, and captured their general Ma Xianjin and others. Gengyin day. Zha Wenhui arrived at Fuzhou. Wuyue Acting Weiwu Army Commander Wu Cheng falsely sent several hundred men out of the city to welcome him. Chen Hui said, "The Min people are mostly deceitful; they cannot be trusted. We should set up camp and slowly plan." Zha Wenhui said, "Hesitation will lead to; we should seize the opportunity to occupy the city." He then led the troops straight forward. Chen Hui reorganized the ranks, beat the war drums, and halted by the river. Zha Wenhui was unprepared. Wu Cheng led troops out to attack, and the Southern Tang army was heavily defeated. Zha Wenhui fell from his horse and was captured by the Fuzhou people. Over ten thousand soldiers died. Chen Hui preserved his army and returned to Jianzhou. Wu Cheng sent Zha Wenhui to Qiantang. Wuyue King Qian Hongchu presented him to the five ancestral temples and then released him.
Dinghai day. Ruzhou memorialized that Defense Commissioner Liu Shenjiao had died. Officials and commoners went to the court to submit memorials, stating that Liu Shenjiao had benevolent governance and requesting that he be buried in Ruzhou so that his grave could be tended. The emperor issued an edict approving this. The people of Ruzhou gathered together, wept, and buried him, and built a temple for him, making sacrifices at the proper times each year. Grand Preceptor Feng Dao said, "I once served as an aide to Lord Liu. Observing his governance, he did nothing beyond the ordinary; he could not reduce the people's taxes or exempt them from corvée labor. He merely practiced impartiality, integrity, and a compassionate heart. This is also something everyone can do, but others do not do it, while Lord Liu alone did. That is why the people of Ruzhou loved him so. If all the commandery governors in the empire were to emulate his actions, why worry about not gaining the people's support? Would they not be inferior to Lord Liu?"
Jiawu day. Wuyue Chancellor, Zhaohua Military Commissioner, and Coequal of the Three Ducal Ministers Du Jianhui died.
Yiwei day. Appointed former Yongxing Military Commissioner Zhao Kuangzan as General-in-Chief of the Left Guard of the Swift Cavalry.
Third month, bingwu day. Jiaqing Festival. Yedu Garrison Commander Gao Xingzhou, Tianping Military Commissioner Murong Yanchao, Taining Military Commissioner Fu Yanqing, Zhaoyi Military Commissioner Chang Si, Anyuan Military Commissioner Yang Xin, Anguo Military Commissioner Xue Huairang, Chengde Military Commissioner Wu Xingde, Zhangde Military Commissioner Guo Jin, and Baoda Acting Commander Wang Rao all entered the court.
Jiayin day. Issued an edict to build a sleeping hall and temple at Gaozu's Changling and Shizu's Yuanling, for seasonal sacrifices. The relevant departments considered the expense too great and shelved the matter. Until the fall of the Later Han, these two tombs ultimately never received a single sacrifice.
Renxu day. Transferred Gao Xingzhou to be Tianping Military Commissioner, and Fu Yanqing to be Pinglu Military Commissioner. Jiazi day. Transferred Murong Yanchao to be Taining Military Commissioner.
Yong'an Military Commissioner Zhe Congruan led his entire clan to enter the court.
Summer, fourth month, wuchen shuo day. Transferred Xue Huairang to be Kuangguo Military Commissioner. Gengwu day. Transferred Zhe Congruan to be Wusheng Military Commissioner. Renshen day. Transferred Yang Xin to be Baoda Military Commissioner, transferred Zhenguo Military Commissioner Liu Ci to be Anguo Military Commissioner, and Yongqing Military Commissioner Wang Lingwen to be Anyuan Military Commissioner. When Li Shouzhen rebelled, Wang Rao had secretly colluded with him. After Li Shouzhen was pacified, everyone thought Wang Rao would certainly be placed in a sinecure position. But after he entered court, he lavishly cultivated ties with Shi Hongzhao and was promoted to Huguo Military Commissioner. Those who heard of this were astonished.
Yang Ye requested to be relieved of his post as Privy Councilor. The emperor dispatched a palace attendant to inform him to stop. Deputy Commissioner of the Secretariat for the Northern Institute Wu Qianyu, who was nearby, said, "The Privy Council is a vital place; it is difficult to hold it for long. It is proper to let later men take turns. The Excellency's resignation is correct." When the emperor heard this, he was very displeased. On Xinsi day, he appointed Wu Qianyu as Zhengzhou Defense Commissioner.
Because the Khitan had recently invaded, rampaging north of the Yellow River, and the various military governors were each defending their own territory, unable to resist, the court discussed having Guo Wei garrison Yedu and command the generals to guard against the Khitan. Shi Hongzhao wanted Guo Wei to concurrently retain the post of Privy Councilor. Su Fengji said there was no precedent. Shi Hongzhao said, "If he concurrently serves as Privy Councilor, he can act according to circumstances. The armies will fear and obey him, and his commands will be carried out." The emperor ultimately followed Shi Hongzhao's suggestion. Shi Hongzhao resented Su Fengji for raising objections. Su Fengji said, "Using the inner court to control the outer is proper; now instead using the outer to control the inner—how can that be?" On Renwu day, an edict was issued appointing Guo Wei as Yedu Garrison Commander and Tianxiong Military Commissioner, with his Privy Councilor post unchanged. An edict was also issued for the Hebei region that military and financial matters, upon seeing Guo Wei's document, should immediately be supplied and provided. The next day, the court dignitaries gathered at Dou Zhengu's residence for a drinking party. Shi Hongzhao raised a large cup to toast Guo Wei and said sternly, "Yesterday's court discussion—how divergent the opinions were! Today I drink this cup for you, younger brother." Su Fengji and Yang Ye also raised their cups and said, "This is a matter of state; why take it to heart!" Shi Hongzhao again said sternly, "To stabilize the state relies on long spears and great swords; where is the use of writing brushes!" Wang Zhang said, "Without writing brushes, from where would taxes and revenue come?" From this point, friction began to arise between the generals and the ministers.
Guiwei day. Abolished the Yong'an Army.
Renchen day. Appointed Left Gate Guard General Guo Rong as Guizhou Prefect and Tianxiong Yanei Commander-in-Chief. Guo Rong's original surname was Chai. His father, Chai Shouli, was the elder brother of Guo Wei's wife. Guo Wei, having no sons, adopted him as his son.
Fifth month, jihai day. Appointed Fuzhou Fan-Han Horse and Foot Commander-in-Chief Zhe Deyi as the head of the regiment for that prefecture. Zhe Deyi was the son of Zhe Congruan.
Gengzi day. Guo Wei took his leave and departed. He said to the emperor, "The Empress Dowager has followed the late emperor for a long time and has experienced many affairs of the empire. Your Majesty is still young; when matters arise, you should receive her instructions and act accordingly. Be close to the loyal and upright; keep afar the slanderous and wicked. Between good and evil, you must clearly examine and discern. Su Fengji, Yang Ye, and Shi Hongzhao are all old ministers of the late emperor, loyal and exerting themselves to repay the state. I hope Your Majesty will trust them wholeheartedly; there will certainly be no failures or errors. As for border affairs, your servant will exhaust his dull and inferior abilities; perhaps he will not disappoint Your Majesty's command." The emperor composed his expression and thanked him. When Guo Wei arrived at Yedu, because Hebei was impoverished and exhausted, he warned the border generals to guard the borders carefully and maintain strict vigilance, not to go out on raids, and when the Khitan invaded, to strengthen their walls and clear the fields to deal with them.
Xinchou day. An imperial decree stated: "Defense Commissioners and Regiment Heads, unless there is an urgent military situation, shall not memorialize on their own authority. They must first report to the Surveillance Commissioner for consideration before reporting upward."
Bingwu day. Appointed the emperor's younger brother, Shannan West Circuit Military Commissioner Liu Chengxun, as Kaifeng Yin, with the additional title of Concurrent Secretariat Director. In reality, he did not formally assume office.
The military governor of Pinglu, Liu Zhu, was greedy and tyrannical, acting arbitrarily. The court wanted to transfer him but feared he would resist orders. Taking advantage of the campaign against Southern Tang in Yi and Mi prefectures, they sent former Yi prefect Guo Qiong to lead troops stationed in Qingzhou. Liu Zhu, feeling uneasy, invited Guo Qiong to a banquet, hiding soldiers under the tent to kill him. Guo Qiong, aware of the plot, dismissed all his attendants and attended calmly without showing fear, so Liu Zhu dared not act. Guo Qiong then explained the consequences of good and ill fortune, moving Liu Zhu to admiration and submission. As soon as the imperial edict arrived, he set off. On the day gengxu, Liu Zhu entered the court. On the day xinhai, Guo Qiong was appointed as the militia commissioner of Yingzhou.
On the day guichou, Wang Zhang hosted a banquet for prominent court officials. When the wine flowed freely, they played a finger-guessing drinking game. Shi Hongzhao was unfamiliar with this game. The guest commissioner Yan Jinqing, sitting beside Shi Hongzhao, instructed him repeatedly. Su Fengji joked, "With a man named Yan nearby, why worry about being fined a drink?" Shi Hongzhao’s wife, née Yan, had been a tavern singing girl, and he thought Su Fengji was mocking him. Enraged, he cursed Su Fengji with foul language, but Su Fengji did not respond. Shi Hongzhao wanted to strike him, but Su Fengji rose and left. Shi Hongzhao searched for his sword to chase him, but Yang Bin wept and stopped him, saying, "Su is a chancellor. If you kill him, where does that leave the Son of Heaven? I hope you will think deeply about this!" Shi Hongzhao then mounted his horse and left. Yang Bin rode alongside him, escorting him to his residence before returning. From then on, the relationship between the generals and chancellors was like fire and water. The emperor sent the palace attendant commissioner Wang Jun to host a banquet to mediate, but it was unsuccessful. Su Fengji wanted to leave the capital to avoid him, but soon abandoned the idea, saying, "If I leave the court, it will only take one decree from Lord Shi to turn me to dust!" Wang Zhang was also dejected and unhappy, seeking an external appointment, but Yang Bin and Shi Hongzhao firmly stopped him.
During the intercalary month, many strange occurrences happened in the palace. On the day guisi, a great wind and rainstorm overturned roofs, uprooted trees, and blew the door of Zheng Gate over ten paces before it fell. Six or seven people were struck dead by lightning, and standing water on level ground was over a foot deep. The emperor summoned the director of the astronomical bureau, Zhao Yanyi, to ask about methods for exorcising calamities and praying. Zhao Yanyi replied, "Your servant’s duty lies in astronomy and the calendar; exorcising calamities and praying are not my expertise. However, if the ruler wishes to eliminate anomalies, nothing is better than cultivating virtue." After Zhao Yanyi returned, the emperor sent a palace attendant to ask, "What does it mean to cultivate virtue?" Zhao Yanyi replied, "I ask Your Majesty to read the Zhenguan Zhengyao and emulate it."
In the sixth month, the Yellow River breached its banks at Zhengzhou.
Ma Xiqie, after being defeated and returning, sent letters to entice the barbarians of Chen, Xu, and Meishan, wanting to attack Hunan together with them. The barbarians, having long heard of the wealth of the Changsha treasury, were very pleased and vied to send troops, thus attacking Yiyang. The king of Chu, Ma Xiguang, sent commander Chen Fan to resist them. They fought at Yanxi, and Chen Fan was defeated and died.
In autumn, the seventh month, Southern Tang returned Ma Xianjin and others to Wuyue in exchange for Zha Wenhui.
Ma Xiqie again sent various barbarian tribes to attack Ditian. On the day wuxu of the eighth month, they captured Ditian, killing the local garrison commander Zhang Yansi. The king of Chu, Ma Xiguang, sent commander Huang Chuchao to rescue them, but Huang Chuchao was defeated and died. The people of Tanzhou were shocked and frightened. They also sent the inner commander Cui Honglian to lead seven thousand soldiers stationed at Yutan.
On the day gengzi, the ruler of Shu enfeoffed his brother Meng Shiyi as the Prince of Kui, Meng Renzhi as the Prince of Ya, Meng Renyu as the Prince of Peng, and Meng Rencao as the Prince of Jia. On the day jiyou, he enfeoffed his son Meng Xuanzhe as the Prince of Qin and Meng Xuanjue as the Prince of Bao.
The Jin Empress Dowager Li, at Jianzhou, fell ill in bed. Without medicine or treatment, she could only weep with the Jin ruler, pointing at Du Zhongwei and Li Shouzhen and cursing, "I will not let you go even in death!" She passed away on the day wuwu. During the Xiande era of Later Zhou, someone who came from Khitan said, "The Jin ruler and Empress Feng are still safe, but more than half of their attendants have either fled back or died."
Ma Xiqie submitted a memorial requesting the establishment of a separate tribute commissioner’s office in the capital. On the day xinsi of the ninth month, an edict stated that Hunan already had a tribute commissioner’s office and disallowed it. At the same time, an edict was sent to the king of Chu, Ma Xiguang, urging him to be harmonious with his brother. Ma Xiqie, angered that the court’s intent favored the king of Chu, Ma Xiguang, sent envoys to submit to Tang and request troops to attack Chu. Tang appointed Ma Xiqie as co-director of the Department of State Affairs, granted him the year’s taxes from Ezhou, and ordered the prefect of Chuzhou, He Qihong, to lead troops to assist Ma Xiqie. In winter, on the day bingwu of the tenth month, Ma Xiguang sent envoys to submit an urgent memorial, saying, "Jingnan, Lingnan, and Jiangnan are jointly plotting to carve up Hunan’s territory. I request troops to be stationed at Lizhou to block the routes of Jiangnan and Jingnan’s relief forces to Langzhou."
On the day dingwei, the king of Wuyue, Qian Hongchu, was appointed as commander-in-chief of all circuits’ armies.
The king of Chu, Ma Xiguang, due to the invasions by Langzhou and the mountain barbarians and the repeated defeats of his generals, showed worry on his face. Liu Yanxuan said to Ma Xiguang, "Langzhou’s soldiers are fewer than ten thousand, and its warhorses fewer than a thousand. The capital has a hundred thousand elite troops. Why worry about not winning? I ask to borrow over ten thousand soldiers and one hundred fifty warships to directly enter Langzhou and bind Ma Xiqie, to relieve Your Highness’s worries." The king of Chu was pleased and appointed Liu Yanxuan as commander of naval forces and commander-in-chief of the Langzhou campaign. When Liu Yanxuan entered Langzhou territory, the elders and common people vied to offer beef and wine to feast the army, saying, "The common people do not wish to follow the rebels and have long awaited the capital’s army!" Liu Yanxuan rewarded them generously. After the warships passed, they transported bamboo and wood to block and cut off the retreat route. That day, Ma Xiqie sent Langzhou troops and barbarian troops, six thousand men and one hundred warships, to meet the battle at Meizhou. Liu Yanxuan took advantage of the wind to set fire to their warships, but soon the wind shifted, and the fire burned his own ships instead. Liu Yanxuan fled back, but the river route was already cut off. Thousands of soldiers died in battle or drowned. When Ma Xiguang heard this, he wept, not knowing what to do. Ma Xiguang rarely bestowed rewards, but now he distributed large amounts of gold, silver, and silk to win over the soldiers. Someone reported that the chief of staff of the Heavenly Policy Office, Ma Xichong, was spreading rumors to confuse the people and that signs of rebellion were already clear, requesting his execution. Ma Xiguang said, "If I kill my own brother, how could I face our former king in the underworld!"
The cavalry commander Zhang Hui led troops on another route to attack Langzhou, reaching Longyang. Hearing of Liu Yanxuan’s defeat, he retreated and stationed at Yiyang. Ma Xiqie again sent commander Zhu Jinzhong and others to lead three thousand soldiers in a fierce attack on Yiyang. Zhang Hui deceived his troops, saying, "I will lead my men to the enemy’s rear. You stay in the city and wait for me, then we will join forces to attack them." After leaving, he fled back to Changsha via Zhutoushi. The Langzhou troops, knowing the city had no leader, attacked fiercely, and all nine thousand soldiers died.
The king of Wuyue, Qian Hongchu, returned Zha Wenhui to Tang. Zha Wenhui had developed a mute illness and retired as minister of public works.
On the day jiazi of the eleventh month, a solar eclipse occurred.
The grand preceptor and director of the Department of State Affairs of Shu, Prince Zhongwu of Song, Zhao Tingyin, died.
The king of Chu, Ma Xiguang, sent his subordinate Meng Pian to persuade Ma Xiqie, saying, "Have you forgotten the enmity of your father and brother? To serve Tang in the north—how is this different from Yuan Tan seeking aid from Cao Cao?" Ma Xiqie wanted to kill him, but Meng Pian said, "In ancient times, when two armies fought, envoys could pass between them. If I, Meng Pian, feared death, how would I dare come here? My words are not partial to the people of Tanzhou but are truly a plan for you." Ma Xiqie then released him and sent him back to report, "The bond between us is already severed. We will not meet until we are under the earth!" Zhu Jinzhong requested Ma Xiqie to personally lead troops to take Tanzhou. On the day xinwei, Ma Xiqie left his son Ma Guangzan to guard Langzhou, mobilized all his territory’s troops, and advanced toward Changsha, styling himself the King Who Follows Heaven.
An edict appointed the commander of the capital’s infantry, Ningjiang military governor Wang Yin, to lead troops stationed at Lizhou to guard against Khitan. Wang Yin was a native of Yingzhou.
The court discussed dispatching troops, appointing the military governor of Anyuan, Wang Lingwen, as commander-in-chief to relieve Tanzhou. But just then, internal turmoil arose, and it was not carried out.
Since the Emperor ascended the throne, the Privy Councilor, Right Deputy Director of the Department of State Affairs, and Co-Recipient of the Secretariat-Chancellery Yang Ye managed confidential government affairs; the Privy Councilor and concurrent Attendant-in-Chief Guo Wei directed military campaigns; the Guiyi Circuit Military Governor, Commander-in-Chief of the Palace Guards, and concurrent Secretariat Director Shi Hongzhang oversaw palace security; and the Third Fiscal Commissioner and Co-Recipient of the Secretariat-Chancellery Wang Zhang handled financial revenues and taxes. Yang Ye was upright and loyal; after retiring from court, he received no private visitors and, though he did not reject gifts from various regions, any surplus he contributed to the imperial treasury. Shi Hongzhang supervised the capital so strictly that items dropped on the road were never picked up. At that time, following the Khitan devastation and destruction, both public and private resources were exhausted. Wang Zhang collected every overlooked source of profit, being extremely stingy in expenditures and receipts to fill the state coffers. Just then, the three rebellious garrisons united, and armies were stationed year-round, yet supplies and provisions were never lacking. After the rebellion was pacified, aside from rewards and gifts, there remained surplus savings, so the state was largely stable. But Wang Zhang’s tax collection was harsh and urgent. Under the old system, for every picul of field tax, an extra two sheng were paid, called “sparrow-and-rat loss”; Wang Zhang ordered an extra two dou, called “provincial loss.” For old currency transactions, one hundred cash was counted as a “mo”; Wang Zhang ordered that receipts be counted at eighty cash per mo and expenditures at seventy-seven cash per mo, called “provincial mo.” Anyone violating the bans on salt, leaven, or distillers’ yeast, even in minuscule amounts, was sentenced to death. Thus the people were full of grief and resentment. Wang Zhang especially disliked civil officials. He once said, “If you give these men an abacus, they don’t even know which end is up. What use are they?” Salaries were issued in goods that could not supply the army; officials already overvalued these items, and Wang Zhang raised the prices further. The Emperor’s favored attendants gradually meddled in government affairs, and the Empress Dowager’s relatives also interfered. Yang Ye and the others repeatedly curtailed and suppressed them. The Empress Dowager had an old friend’s son who requested a military post; Shi Hongzhang killed him in anger. Military Virtue Commissioner Li Ye was the Empress Dowager’s younger brother. Emperor Gaozu had him manage the inner palace treasury; after the current Emperor ascended, Li Ye was especially favored and trusted. At the time, the position of Palace Audience Commissioner fell vacant. Li Ye expected to obtain it, and the Emperor and Empress Dowager hinted this to the chief ministers. Yang Ye and Shi Hongzhang argued that promotions and appointments within the palace service had their proper sequence and that an imperial relative should not skip the line, so the matter was dropped. Inner Palace Reception Commissioner Yan Jinqing, who by seniority should have become Palace Audience Commissioner, had long remained unpromoted. Privy Council Secretariat Director Nie Wenjin, Flying Dragon Commissioner Hou Kuangzan, and Palace Tea-and-Wine Commissioner Guo Yunming all enjoyed the Emperor’s favor but had not been promoted for a long time; together they resented the chief ministers. Nie Wenjin was a man of Bingzhou. Liu Zhu, after being dismissed from the Qingzhou post, returned and attended court for a long time without receiving an appointment. He often pointed at the chief ministers and cursed them. The Emperor, having just completed the three-year mourning period, listened to music and awarded brocade robes and jade belts to entertainers. The entertainers went to Shi Hongzhang to thank him; Shi Hongzhang angrily said, “Soldiers guarding the border and fighting hard have yet to receive rewards. What merit do you have to get these?” He confiscated everything and returned it to the treasury. The Emperor wanted to establish his beloved Consort Geng as Empress, but Yang Ye considered it too hasty. When Consort Geng died, the Emperor wished to bury her with the rites due an empress; Yang Ye again deemed this improper. As the Emperor grew older, he grew weary of being controlled by his ministers. Once, Yang Ye and Shi Hongzhang discussed matters in the Emperor’s presence. The Emperor said, “Plan carefully, so no one can gossip.” Yang Ye replied, “Your Majesty just keep your mouth shut; we are here.” The Emperor’s accumulated anger could not be calmed. His close attendants then slandered the ministers to him, saying, “Yang Ye and the others are arrogant and overbearing; they will eventually rebel.” The Emperor believed them. Once, at night, he heard the sound of hammering from the workshop and suspected a sudden military revolt; he could not sleep until dawn. The Director of the Department of State Affairs and Co-Recipient of the Secretariat-Chancellery Su Fengji had long been at odds with Shi Hongzhang. Knowing that Li Ye and the others resented Shi Hongzhang, he repeatedly provoked them with words. The Emperor then plotted with Li Ye, Nie Wenjin, Hou Kuangzan, and Guo Yunming to kill Yang Ye and the others. After the plan was set, he entered the palace to inform the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager said, “How can such a matter be undertaken lightly? You should discuss it with the chief ministers.” Li Ye, who was present, said, “The late Emperor once said that important state affairs should not be discussed with scholars; they are weak and timid and will ruin things.” The Empress Dowager repeated her words, and the Emperor angrily said, “State affairs are not something a woman can understand!” He shook his sleeves and left. On the Yihai day, Li Ye and the others informed Yan Jinqing of their plan. Yan Jinqing, fearing the plan might fail, went to Shi Hongzhang’s residence to tell him, but Shi Hongzhang refused to see him on some pretext.
On the morning of the Bingzi day, as Yang Ye and the others entered court, several dozen armored soldiers emerged from the Guangzheng Hall and killed Yang Ye, Shi Hongzhang, and Wang Zhang in the eastern corridor. Nie Wenjin quickly summoned the chief ministers and court officials to arrange themselves in order at the Chongyuan Hall, where he announced: “Yang Ye and the others plotted rebellion and have been executed according to law. Let us all congratulate!” He then summoned all the military commanders and officers to the courtyard of the Wansui Hall. The Emperor personally told them, “Yang Ye and the others treated me like a child. Now I can finally be your sovereign, and you can be spared from unexpected calamities.” The officers all knelt, bowed, thanked him, and withdrew. He also summoned former military governors and prefects to the hall and informed them. Messengers were dispatched separately, leading cavalry to arrest the relatives, partisans, and followers of Yang Ye and the others, and they were all killed.
Shi Hongzhang treated Wang Yin, the Commander-in-Chief of the Capital Army’s Infantry, with special generosity. After Yang Ye and the others were killed, the Emperor sent Palace Attendant Meng Ye with a secret edict to Chanzhou and Yedu, ordering Zhenning Circuit Military Governor Li Hongyi to kill Wang Yin, and also ordering Yedu Field Army Cavalry Commander-in-Chief Guo Chongwei and Infantry Commander-in-Chief Cao Wei of Zhending to kill Guo Wei and the Army Supervisor and Palace Audience Commissioner Wang Jun. Li Hongyi was the Empress Dowager’s younger brother. The Emperor also issued urgent edicts summoning Tianping Circuit Military Governor Gao Xingzhou, Pinglu Circuit Military Governor Fu Yanqing, Yongxing Circuit Military Governor Guo Congyi, Taining Circuit Military Governor Murong Yanchao, Kuangguo Circuit Military Governor Xue Huairang, Zhengzhou Defense Commander Wu Qianyu, and Chenzhou Prefect Li Gu to court. He appointed Su Fengji to act provisionally as Director of the Privy Council, former Pinglu Circuit Military Governor Liu Zhu to act provisionally as Prefect of Kaifeng, Capital Army Cavalry Commander-in-Chief Li Hongjian to act provisionally as Commander-in-Chief of the Palace Guards, and Inner Palace Service Commissioner Yan Jinqing to act provisionally as Capital Army Cavalry Commander-in-Chief. Li Hongjian was Li Ye’s elder brother.
At that time, both court and commoners were filled with anxiety and fear. Su Fengji, though he disliked Shi Hongzhang, had not participated in Li Ye’s plot. On hearing of the coup, he was greatly shocked and privately said to someone: “The matter was handled too hastily. If the Emperor had asked even one question, it would not have come to this.” Li Ye and the others ordered Liu Zhu to kill the families of Guo Wei and Wang Jun. Liu Zhu was extremely cruel and ruthless; even infants and children were not spared. They ordered Li Hongjian to kill Wang Yin’s family. Li Hongjian merely posted guards and still supplied them with food and drink.
On the dingchou day, the envoy arrived at Chanzhou. Li Hongyi was timid and weak; fearing that Wang Yin might already know of the matter, he dared not act, so he took Meng Ye to see Wang Yin. Wang Yin imprisoned Meng Ye and sent Deputy Envoy Chen Guangsu to show the secret edict to Guo Wei. Guo Wei summoned the Privy Clerk Wei Renpu, showed him the edict, and said, “What is to be done?” Wei Renpu said, “You are a pillar of the state, your merit and reputation have long been prominent, and you hold heavy troops and command an important military town. If once framed by a pack of petty men, disaster will come from the unexpected, and this cannot be explained away with words. The situation has reached this point; you cannot sit here and wait for death.” Guo Wei then summoned Guo Chongwei, Cao Wei, and the other generals, and told them about the wrongful execution of Yang Bin and the others and about the secret edict. He also said, “Together with you, I cut through thorns and brambles, followed the late Emperor to seize the empire, received the charge of the orphan heir, and exhausted every effort to protect the state. Now those gentlemen are dead; what heart do I have to live on alone! You should follow the edict, cut off my head, and report to the Son of Heaven; thus you will probably not be implicated.” Guo Chongwei and the others all wept and said, “The Son of Heaven is young; this must be the doing of the petty men around him. If such men have their way, how can the state be at peace! Chongwei is willing to follow you into the capital to plead our case, to purge those rats and purify the court. We cannot be killed by a single envoy and bear a thousand years of infamy.” The Hanlin astronomer Zhao Xiu said to Guo Wei, “What good is it for you to die in vain? It is better to follow the will of the multitude and lead the army south—this is Heaven’s decree.” Guo Wei then left his adopted son Guo Rong to guard Yedu, ordered Guo Chongwei to lead the cavalry as the vanguard, and on the wuyin day, he himself led the main army and set out afterward.
Murong Yanzhao was just eating when he received the edict; he put down his chopsticks and spoon and entered the court. The Emperor entrusted all military matters to him. On the jimao day, Wu Qianyu entered the court.
The Emperor heard that Guo Wei had raised an army and marched south, and he deliberated on sending troops to resist. The former Kaifeng Yin Hou Yi said, “The families of the garrison soldiers at Yedu are all in the capital. The imperial army cannot be lightly deployed. It is better to close the city gates to blunt their momentum, and have their mothers and wives ascend the walls to call them to surrender. Then we can win without fighting.” Murong Yanzhao said, “Hou Yi is old and decrepit; this is a coward’s plan.” The Emperor then sent Hou Yi, together with Yan Jinqing, Wu Qianyu, and the former Baoda Jiedushi Zhang Yanchao, to lead the imperial guards and hurry to Chanzhou.
On that same day, Guo Wei had already reached Chanzhou, and Li Hongyi received him. Wang Yin came to welcome him, bowed, and wept bitterly, then led his own troops to follow Guo Wei across the River. The Emperor sent the eunuch Lu Tuo to secretly spy on Guo Wei. Guo Wei captured him, placed a memorial inside Lu Tuo’s collar, and sent him back to report to the Emperor, saying: “Your servant yesterday received the edict and stretched out his neck awaiting death. Guo Chongwei and the others could not bear to kill me, saying that this was all the work of those greedy and insatiable petty men by Your Majesty’s side who slandered me, and they forced me to march south to beg forgiveness at the palace gates. Your servant cannot die, nor can he control the situation. Within a few days, your servant will reach the court. If Your Majesty considers your servant guilty, how dare I evade punishment? If there are indeed those who slandered me, I hope you will seize them and send them to the army, so that the multitude’s hearts may be appeased. How would your servant dare not pacify the various troops and withdraw back to Yedu?”
On the gengchen day, Guo Wei hurried to Huazhou. On the xinsi day, the Yicheng Jiedushi Song Yanwo came out to welcome him and surrendered. Song Yanwo was a native of Luoyang; his wife was the daughter of Emperor Gaozu of the Later Jin, Princess Yongning. Guo Wei took goods from the Huazhou treasury to reward the officers and troops, and told them: “I have heard that Hou Linggong has already urged the various armies from the south. If we now meet them, to fight would not accord with the original intention of entering the court; if we do not fight, we will be suppressed. I want to preserve your merit and reputation. It would be better to carry out the previous edict; I will die without regret!” The multitude all said, “The state has failed you; you have not failed the state. That is why ten thousand men strive to be the first, as if avenging a personal grievance. What can men like Hou Yi do?” Wang Jun proclaimed to the crowd: “I have already received Lord Guo’s instruction: when we take the capital, you are permitted to plunder for ten days.” The multitude all shouted with joy.
On the xinsi day, Lu Tuo returned to Daliang. Before this, the Emperor had discussed personally going to Chanzhou, but when he heard that Guo Wei had already reached the River, he stopped. The Emperor showed a look of deep regret and fear, and privately said to Dou Zhengu, “It was too hasty before.” Li Ye and others requested that goods from the treasury be distributed as rewards to the various armies. Su Yuzhu considered it improper, but Li Ye bowed to Su Yuzhu in the Emperor’s presence and said, “Lord Chancellor, for the sake of the Son of Heaven, do not begrudge the treasury!” So they rewarded the imperial guards with twenty strings of cash each, half that for the lower soldiers, and gave rewards to the families of officers and troops stationed in the north, while also allowing them to exchange letters to induce them.
On the renwu day, Guo Wei’s army reached Fengqiu, and the people’s hearts were filled with fear. The Empress Dowager wept and said, “If only Li Tao’s advice had been heeded, we would not deserve to perish!” Murong Yanzhao, relying on his own bravery, said to the Emperor, “I see the northern army as nothing more than a swarm of gnats. I will capture their leader alive for Your Majesty!” When he withdrew and saw Nie Wenjin, he asked about the number of troops in the northern army and the names of the officers, and was greatly frightened, saying, “This is also a formidable bandit; it cannot be taken lightly!” The Emperor then sent the Left Shenwu Commander-in-Chief Yuan Ai, the former Weisheng Jiedushi Liu Chongjin, and others to lead the imperial guards and join with Hou Yi’s forces, encamping at Chigang. Yuan Ai was the son of Yuan Xiangxian. Murong Yanzhao led the main army and camped at Qilidian.
On the guiwei day, the southern and northern armies met at Liuzipo. The Emperor wanted to personally go out to reward the troops. The Empress Dowager said, “Guo Wei is an old subordinate of our house. If it were not a matter of life and death, how would it have come to this! Simply hold the troops and guard the city; quickly send an edict to instruct him, observe his intentions—he will surely have something to say. Then the rites between ruler and subject can still be preserved. Do not go out lightly under any circumstances.” The Emperor would not listen. At that time, the following army was very large. The Empress Dowager sent an envoy to warn Nie Wenjin, saying, “You must be extremely careful!” Nie Wenjin replied, “With me here, even if Guo Wei had a hundred men, I could capture them!” By evening, the two armies had not engaged, and the Emperor returned to the palace. Murong Yanzhao shouted loudly, “Tomorrow, if Your Majesty has no business in the palace, I hope you will come out again to see your servant defeat the bandit army. Your servant need not even fight them; just by shouting an order, I can make them scatter and return to camp!”
On the day Jiashen, the emperor wanted to leave the city again. The empress dowager strongly tried to stop him but could not hold him back. After the battle array was set up, Guo Wei warned his troops, saying: “I have come to eliminate those petty villains, and dare not oppose the Son of Heaven. On no account strike first.” After a long while, Murong Yanchao led light cavalry straight forward in a fierce attack. Guo Chongwei, together with the former Bo Prefect Li Rong, led cavalry to resist. Murong Yanchao’s horse fell, and he was nearly captured. Murong Yanchao withdrew his troops, losing over a hundred of his men. Then the various armies lost their fighting spirit, and gradually some began to surrender to the northern army. Hou Yi, Wu Qianyu, Zhang Yanchao, Yuan Ai, and Liu Chongjin all secretly went to see Guo Wei. Guo Wei sent each of them back to their camps. He also said to Song Yanwo: “The Son of Heaven is in grave danger. You are a close relative. You should lead the imperial guard to protect the emperor and also convey a message to His Majesty, hoping that he will find an opportunity to come to my camp as soon as possible.” Before Song Yanwo reached the emperor’s traveling camp, the mutinous soldiers had already gathered like clouds in chaos. He dared not advance and turned back. By evening, most of the southern army had defected to the northern army. Murong Yanchao fled back to Yanzhou with a dozen of his cavalry. That night, the emperor stayed alone with the three chancellors and several dozen attendant officials in the Qili Stockade; the rest had all fled and scattered.
On the morning of the day Yiyou, Guo Wei saw the emperor’s banner on a high slope. He dismounted, removed his helmet, and went forward to follow, but by the time he arrived, the emperor had already left. The emperor rode his horse, intending to return to the palace. When he reached the Xuanhua Gate, Liu Zhu was on the gate tower and asked the people around the emperor: “Where are the troops?” Then he shot arrows at those near the emperor. The emperor turned his horse and fled northwest to Zhao Village. The pursuing troops had already arrived. The emperor dismounted and entered a commoner’s house, where he was killed by the mutinous soldiers. Su Fengji, Yan Jinqing, and Guo Yunming all committed suicide. Nie Wenjin fled alone, but soldiers caught up and killed him. Li Ye fled to Shanzhou, and Hou Kuangzan fled to Yanzhou. When Guo Wei heard that the emperor had been killed, he wept aloud and said: “This is my fault!” Guo Wei arrived at the Xuanhua Gate, but Liu Zhu shot arrows like rain outside the city. Guo Wei entered the city through the Yingchun Gate and returned to his residence. He sent the former Cao Prefectural Defense Commissioner He Fujin to lead troops in guarding the Mingde Gate. The various armies engaged in widespread looting, and smoke from fires rose all night. Soldiers entered the residence of the former Yicheng Military Commissioner Bai Zairong, seized him, and plundered all his wealth. Then they stepped forward and said: “We once served under your command. Now that we have been so discourteous, what face do we have to see you again?” So they cut off his head and left.
The Vice Minister of Personnel Zhang Yun had a family fortune worth tens of thousands, but he was exceedingly miserly. He did not even entrust it to his wife, often stringing his keys together and hanging them under his clothes, so that they jingled like jade pendants when he walked. That night, he hid in the ceiling of a Buddhist hall. More and more people climbed up; the planks broke under the weight and collapsed. The soldiers stripped off his clothes, and he died of cold.
Earlier, the Workshop Commissioner Jia Yanhui was favored by the emperor. He was a neighbor of Wei Renpu and wanted to annex Wei Renpu’s residence to expand his own property. He repeatedly slandered Wei Renpu before the emperor, nearly causing Wei Renpu to meet with disaster. At this time, someone seized Jia Yanhui and handed him over to Wei Renpu. Wei Renpu declined, saying: “To take advantage of chaos to avenge a personal grudge—this is something I will not do!” When Guo Wei heard of this, he treated Wei Renpu with even greater favor.
The Right Qianniu Guard General Zhao Feng of Zaoqiang said: “The Attendant-in-Waiting Guo raised troops to clear away the evil men around the ruler and to stabilize the state. Yet these wretches dare to behave like this—they are nothing but bandits. How could this be the Attendant-in-Waiting’s original intention?” He took up his bow and arrows, sat on a folding chair, and guarded the entrance of the lane. When looters came, he shot and killed them. The entire lane was saved by him.
On the day Bingxu, Liu Zhu and Li Hongjian were captured and imprisoned. Liu Zhu said to his wife: “When I die, will you become another man’s slave?” His wife replied: “Given what you have done, this is only natural!”
Wang Yin and Guo Chongwei said to Guo Wei: “If we do not stop the looting, by tonight there will be nothing left but an empty city.” Guo Wei then ordered the various generals to prohibit looting, each in their own sectors. Those who disobeyed were to be beheaded. By evening, order was restored.
Dou Zhengu and Su Yuqi fled back from the Qili Stockade. Guo Wei sent people to search for them and found them. Shortly afterward, they were reinstated in their positions. When Dou Zhengu served as chancellor, it was a time when Yang Bin and Shi Hongzhao were abusing their power and Li Ye and others were in rebellion. He merely maintained a dignified and composed demeanor among them, preserving himself. Guo Wei ordered the relevant offices to move the late Emperor Yin’s coffin to the Western Palace. Someone requested that, following the precedent of the Duke of Gaogui of Wei, the emperor be buried with the rites of a duke. Guo Wei did not agree, saying: “In the midst of the sudden crisis, I could not protect the emperor. My crime is already great. How dare I further degrade the ruler?” Grand Preceptor Feng Dao led the hundred officials to pay respects to Guo Wei. When Guo Wei saw them, he still bowed. Feng Dao accepted the bow as usual and said slowly: “Attendant-in-Waiting, this action of yours was not easy!”
On the day Dinghai, Guo Wei led the hundred officials to the Mingde Gate to pay respects to the empress dowager and presented a memorial, saying: “Military and state affairs are numerous and urgent. We beg that an heir to the throne be established as soon as possible.” The empress dowager issued an edict, saying: “Guo Yunming has committed regicide and rebellion. The state cannot be without a ruler. The Hedong Military Commissioner Liu Chong and the Zhongwu Military Commissioner Liu Xin are both younger brothers of the late Emperor Gaozu. The Wuning Military Commissioner Liu Yun and the Kaifeng Yin Liu Xun are both sons of the late Emperor Gaozu. I order the hundred officials to deliberate and choose a suitable person.” Liu Yun was Liu Chong’s son. The late Emperor Gaozu loved him and raised him as his own son. Guo Wei and Wang Jun entered the Wansui Palace to see the empress dowager and requested that Liu Xun be established as the heir. The empress dowager said: “Liu Xun has been ill for a long time and is too weak to rise.” Guo Wei went out and informed the various generals. The generals requested to see Liu Xun. The empress dowager ordered her attendants to carry him on a couch to show him to the generals. Only then did the generals believe it. Thereupon, Guo Wei and Wang Jun discussed establishing Liu Yun. On the day Jichou, Guo Wei led the hundred officials in presenting a memorial requesting that Liu Yun succeed to the throne. The empress dowager ordered the relevant offices to select an auspicious day and prepare the imperial carriage to welcome Liu Yun to ascend the throne. Guo Wei memorialized, sending Grand Preceptor Feng Dao, together with the Privy Council Direct Academician Wang Du and the Palace Library Director Zhao Shangjiao, to Xuzhou to welcome him.
When Guo Wei was campaigning against the three rebels, every time he saw an imperial edict that handled military matters in a timely and appropriate manner, he asked the messenger: “Who wrote this edict?” The messenger replied that it was the Hanlin Academician Fan Zhi. Guo Wei said: “This man has the talent to be a chancellor.” After entering the city, he sought out Fan Zhi and was overjoyed. It was then snowing heavily. Guo Wei took off his own purple robe and put it on Fan Zhi, and had him draft the empress dowager’s edict and the ceremonial regulations for welcoming the new ruler. In the midst of the rush, the discussions and drafting were all appropriate and timely.
Earlier, the late Emperor Yin had sent the Palace Attendant-in-Chief, the Yangqu man Zhang Yongde, to bestow birthday gifts on the Zhaoyi Military Commissioner Chang Si. Zhang Yongde was Guo Wei’s son-in-law. It happened that Yang Bin and others were killed. The late Emperor Yin secretly ordered Chang Si to kill Zhang Yongde. Chang Si had long heard that Guo Wei had many extraordinary qualities, so he imprisoned Zhang Yongde to observe how events developed. When Guo Wei captured Daliang, Chang Si released Zhang Yongde and apologized to him. On the day Gengyin, Guo Wei led the hundred officials in presenting a memorial, saying: “By the time the emperor arrives in the capital, nearly ten days will have passed. We beg that the empress dowager conduct court affairs as regent.”
Prior to this, Ma Xī’ē dispatched barbarian troops to surround Yùtán, and Zhu Jinzhong led his forces to join them. Cui Honglian was defeated and fled back to Changsha. Ma Xī’ē advanced with his army and attacked Yuezhou. The prefect Wang Yun resisted, and after five days they could not capture it. Ma Xī’ē sent a messenger to Wang Yun, saying: “Are you not a vassal of the Ma clan? If you do not serve me, do you wish to serve another state? As a subject harboring a divided heart, does this not disgrace your ancestors?” Wang Yun replied: “My late father was a general of the former king, and six times he defeated the Huainan army. Now that the king’s sons cannot tolerate each other, I constantly fear that Huainan will reap the benefits of their discord. If I were to submit to Huainan with my remaining strength, that would truly disgrace my ancestors! If the great king can eliminate resentment and cease hostilities, restoring harmony between brothers as before, how would I dare not to exhaust my strength in serving the great king and his brother? Would I then harbor a divided heart?” Ma Xī’ē felt ashamed and withdrew his army. On the Xīnmǎo day, he reached Xiangyin, burning and looting as he passed. Upon arriving at Changsha, he encamped his forces on the west bank of the Xiang River, while his infantry and barbarian troops camped at Yuelu Mountain. Zhu Jinzhong led his forces from Yùtán to join him.
Ma Xiguang sent Liu Yandao to summon the naval commander Xu Keqiong to lead five hundred warships to anchor at the northern ferry of the city, connecting to the southern ferry, and appointed Ma Xichong as supervisor of the army. He also dispatched cavalry commander Li Yanwen to lead cavalry to station at Tuokou, guarding the road to Xiangyin, and infantry commander Han Li to lead two thousand troops to station at Yangliu Bridge, guarding the palisade road. Xu Keqiong was the son of Xu Dexun.
On the Rénchén day, the Empress Dowager began to hold court in person. She appointed Wang Jun as Privy Councilor, Yuan Ai as Director of the Southern Hall of the Palace Secretariat, Wang Yin as Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard Cavalry and Infantry, Guo Chongwei as Commander of the Imperial Guard Cavalry, Cao Wei as Commander of the Imperial Guard Infantry, and Li Gu, the prefect of Chenzhou, as acting administrator of the Three Fiscal Agencies.
Liu Zhu, Li Hongjian, and their accomplices were all beheaded and their heads displayed, but their families were pardoned. Guo Wei said to the high officials: “Liu Zhu slaughtered my family; if I then slaughter his family, the cycle of vengeance will have no end!” Consequently, these families were spared death. Wang Yin repeatedly pleaded for Li Hongjian’s life, but Guo Wei did not agree. Later, Kuang Zan arrived at Yunzhou, and Murong Yanchao captured him and presented him to the court. Li Ye reached Shanzhou; his elder brother, the military governor of Baoyi, Li Hongxin, dared not hide him in his home. Li Ye, carrying gold and silver, planned to flee to Jinyang, but when he reached Jiangzhou, he was killed by bandits who took his valuables.
The Shu prefect of Shizhou, Tian Xinggao, fled to Jingnan. Gao Baorong said: “He harbored a divided heart toward Shu; how could he be loyal to me?” He then arrested him and sent him back to Shu, where he was executed.
Zhenzhou and Xingzhou reported: “The Khitan ruler led tens of thousands of cavalry to invade, attacking Neiqiu. After five days they could not capture it, and suffered heavy casualties. Five hundred garrison troops mutinied and joined the Khitan, guiding them into the city. They massacred the entire city, then captured Raoyang.” The Empress Dowager ordered Guo Wei to lead a large army to counterattack, temporarily entrusting state affairs to Dou Zhengu, Su Yugui, and Wang Jun, and military affairs to Wang Yin. In the twelfth month, on the Jiǎwù day of the first month, Guo Wei departed from Daliang.
On the Dīngyǒu day, Fan Zhi, the Hanlin Academician and Vice Minister of Revenue, was appointed Deputy Privy Councilor.
Earlier, the barbarian chieftain Peng Shigao had surrendered to Chu, and the Chu people disliked his coarse and straightforward nature. Only the Chu king Ma Xiguang showed him favor, appointing him as Commander of the Strong Crossbows and concurrently as Prefect of Chenzhou. Peng Shigao often wished to die for Ma Xiguang’s sake. When Zhu Jinzhong and the barbarian troops, totaling over seven thousand, arrived at Changsha and camped on the west bank of the Xiang River, Peng Shigao ascended the city wall to observe and said to Ma Xiguang: “The Langzhou troops have just won and are arrogant, and they are mixed with barbarian soldiers. Attacking them would be easy to break. I request three thousand infantry to cross the river at Baxi, circle behind Yuelu Mountain, and reach the west side of the water. Order Xu Keqiong to cross the river with warships, and we will strike from both front and rear, surely defeating them. If their vanguard is broken, their main force will naturally not dare to advance rashly.” Ma Xiguang intended to follow this plan. At that time, Ma Xī’ē had already sent a secret envoy with lavish bribes to Xu Keqiong, promising to divide Hunan and rule it jointly. Xu Keqiong, harboring a divided heart, said to Ma Xiguang: “Peng Shigao and the various Miao tribes are of the same kind—how can he be trusted? Xu Keqiong has served as a general of Chu for generations and will certainly not betray the great king. What can Ma Xī’ē ultimately achieve?” Ma Xiguang then abandoned the plan. Soon after, Ma Xī’ē led over four hundred warships and anchored on the west bank of the Xiang River. Ma Xiguang ordered all his generals to be under Xu Keqiong’s command and control, granting Xu Keqiong five hundred taels of silver daily. Ma Xiguang frequently went to his camp to discuss matters. Xu Keqiong often kept his camp closed, preventing his soldiers from learning the movements of the Langzhou army. Ma Xiguang sighed and said: “This is truly a general! What do I have to worry about?” Sometimes at night, Xu Keqiong would take a single boat, pretending to patrol the river, and meet with Ma Xī’ē west of the water, agreeing to act as an inside agent. One day, Peng Shigao saw Xu Keqiong, glared at him, and rebuked him. He then swept his sleeves and entered to see Ma Xiguang, saying: “Xu Keqiong is about to betray the state—everyone knows this. Please remove him quickly and leave no future trouble.” Ma Xiguang said: “Xu Keqiong is the son of Minister Xu—how could he do such a thing?” Peng Shigao withdrew, sighed, and said: “The great king is benevolent but lacks decisiveness; ruin can be awaited in the blink of an eye!”
Heavy snow fell in Tanzhou, accumulating four feet on level ground. The armies of Tanzhou and Langzhou were unable to engage for a long time. Ma Xiguang believed in the words of shamans and monks, and had ghost images built on the river with raised hands to block the Langzhou army. He also built a large image on a high tower, pointing its finger toward the west bank of the water, glaring angrily. He ordered monks to chant scriptures day and night, and Ma Xiguang himself wore monk’s robes, kneeling and bowing to pray for blessings.
On the Jiǎchén day, the Langzhou infantry commander, the Wuling man He Jingzhen and others, led three thousand barbarian troops and formed a battle array at Yangliu Bridge. He Jingzhen saw that the banners in Han Li’s camp were in disarray and said: “Their troops are already terrified—attacking them will be easy to defeat.” A Langzhou man named Lei Hui, dressed in Tanzhou soldier’s uniform, infiltrated Han Li’s camp. He wielded a sharp sword and attacked Han Li but failed to hit him, causing panic and chaos in the camp. He Jingzhen and the others took advantage of the confusion to launch an assault. Han Li’s army was utterly defeated; Han Li was wounded and fled, dying after reaching home. Thereupon, the Langzhou army advanced by both land and water, fiercely attacking Changsha. The infantry commander Wu Hong and the minor gate officer Yang Di said to each other: “To die in service to the state—this is the time!” Each led his troops into battle. Wu Hong sallied from the Qingtai Gate but fought unfavorably. Yang Di sallied from the Changle Gate, and the battle lasted from the Chén hour to the Wǔ hour. The Langzhou army was somewhat repelled. Xu Keqiong and Liu Yandao held their troops back and did not aid them. Yang Di’s soldiers, hungry and exhausted, withdrew to eat. Peng Shigao fought at the northeast corner of the city. The barbarians set fire from the east side of the city. Those on the city wall called for Xu Keqiong’s troops to come to the city’s rescue, but Xu Keqiong led his entire army and surrendered to Ma Xī’ē. Thus, Changsha fell. The Langzhou army and the barbarians plundered violently for three days, killing officials and civilians, burning houses. All the palaces and halls built since the time of King Wumu were reduced to ashes, and the accumulated treasures and goods fell into the hands of the barbarians. Li Yanwen saw the smoke rising from within the city, led his troops from Tuokou to rescue, but the Langzhou people had already occupied the city and were resisting. Li Yanwen attacked the Qingtai Gate but could not capture it. Together with Liu Yandao, each leading over a thousand men, they escorted King Wenzhao’s sons and several of Ma Xiguang’s sons to Yuanzhou, then fled to Southern Tang. Zhang Hui surrendered to Ma Xī’ē. The Left Minister Ma Xichong led the officials and generals to Ma Xī’ē to urge him to assume the throne. When Wu Hong fought, his sleeves were drenched in blood. Upon seeing Ma Xī’ē, he said: “Unfortunately, I was misled by Xu Keqiong. Today, dying, I have not disgraced the former king!” Peng Shigao threw his spear to the ground and loudly asked to be executed. Ma Xī’ē sighed and said: “Truly a man with an iron heart!” None of them were killed.
On the day of Yisi, Xichong welcomed Xi’e into the residence to handle government affairs, closed the city gates, and sent out parties to search for Xiguang, along with the chief secretary Li Honggao, his younger brother Li Hongjie, the military judge Tang Zhaoyin, Deng Yiwen, Yang Di, and others, all of whom were captured. Xi’e said to Xiguang, “In inheriting the foundation laid by your father and elder brother, is there no distinction between senior and junior?” Xiguang replied, “It was merely the recommendation of the generals and officials, and the appointment of the imperial court.” Xi’e had them all imprisoned. On the day of Bingwu, Xi’e ordered Liu Bin, the commander of the inner and outer patrols and guard troops, to prohibit burning and looting. On the day of Dingwei, Xi’e styled himself Heavenly Policy Grand General, Military Governor of Wu’an, Wuping, Jingjiang, and Ningyuan Circuits, and King of Chu. He appointed Xichong as Deputy Military Governor and Judge of the Prefecture, and all important positions in Hunan were filled by men from Langzhou. Li Honggao, Li Hongjie, Tang Zhaoyin, and Yang Di were minced into meat sauce, and Deng Yiwen was executed in the market. On the day of Wushen, Xi’e said to the generals and officials, “Xiguang is a coward, merely controlled by those around him. I wish to spare his life—can this be done?” None of the generals answered. Zhu Jinzhong, who had once been flogged by Xiguang, replied, “Your Highness, after three years of bloody war, has only now taken Changsha. A single kingdom cannot tolerate two rulers; in the future, you will surely regret it.” On the day of Wushen, Xi’e ordered Xiguang to commit suicide. As Xiguang faced execution, he was still reciting Buddhist sutras. Peng Shigao buried him outside Liuyang Gate.
Liu Yun, the Military Governor of Wuning, left the right chief yajiang Gong Yanmei and the original chief training instructor Yang Wen to guard Xuzhou, and journeyed westward with Feng Dao and others. On the road, his ceremonial guard and retinue were all like those of an emperor, with those around him shouting “Long live!” Guo Wei arrived at Huazhou. After staying for several days, Liu Yun sent an envoy to offer condolences. When the generals received the command, they looked at each other and refused to kneel, privately saying among themselves, “We slaughtered and sacked the capital—our crimes are too great. If the Liu clan is re-established as emperor, will any of us leave descendants?” On the day of Jiyou, Guo Wei heard of this and immediately led his troops out, rushing to Chanzhou. On the day of Xinhai, he sent Su Yuqi to Songzhou to welcome the heir apparent.
The King of Chu, Xi’e, appointed his son Guangzan as the acting governor of Wuping, and appointed He Jingzhen as the commander of the Langzhou inner yamen troops, leading soldiers to garrison there. Xi’e summoned Tuoba Heng, intending to employ him, but Tuoba Heng claimed illness and refused to come out.
On the day of Renzi, Guo Wei crossed the Yellow River and camped at Chanzhou. On the morning of the day of Guichou, just as he was about to depart, several thousand soldiers suddenly raised a great clamor. Guo Wei ordered the camp gates closed, but the soldiers climbed over the walls and onto the roofs to enter the camp, saying, “The Son of Heaven must be made by you, the Attendant-in-Chief yourself. The soldiers have already become enemies of the Liu clan and cannot establish a member of the Liu family as emperor!” Someone tore a yellow banner and draped it over Guo Wei. Together, they embraced and supported him, shouting “Long live!” with a sound that shook the earth, and then they crowded around Guo Wei as he moved southward. Guo Wei then submitted a memorial to the Empress Dowager, requesting that the Han ancestral temple be honored and that he serve the Empress Dowager as his mother. On the day of Bingchen, he arrived at Weicheng and issued a proclamation to reassure the scholars and commoners of Daliang, stating that since leaving the banks of the Yellow River the previous day, there had been no harm to anyone along the way, and they should have no suspicions. On the day of Wuwu, Guo Wei arrived at Qilidian. Dou Zhengu led the hundred officials out of the city to welcome and pay homage, and then urged him to ascend the throne. Guo Wei camped at Gaomen Village.
Liu Yun, the Military Governor of Wuning, had already arrived at Songzhou. When Wang Jun and Wang Yin heard of the mutiny in the Chanzhou army, they dispatched Guo Chongwei, the commander of the Palace Cavalry, with seven hundred cavalry to block him, and also sent the former prefect of Shenzhou, Ma Duo, to lead troops to Xuzhou for patrol. Guo Chongwei suddenly arrived at Songzhou and arrayed his troops outside the residence gate. Liu Yun was greatly alarmed, closed the residence gate, climbed the tower, and questioned him. Guo Chongwei replied, “The Chanzhou army has mutinied. Duke Guo feared that Your Majesty might not be aware, so he sent me, Guo Chongwei, to come and stand guard—there is no other intention.” Liu Yun summoned Guo Chongwei, but Guo Chongwei dared not enter. Feng Dao came out and spoke with Guo Chongwei, who then ascended the tower. Liu Yun grasped Guo Chongwei’s hand and wept. Guo Chongwei comforted and reassured him with Guo Wei’s intentions. After a while, Guo Chongwei came out. At that time, the commander of the Husheng Guard, Zhang Lingchao, was leading his troops to guard Liu Yun. The Xuzhou judge Dong Yi advised Liu Yun, saying, “Observing Guo Chongwei’s expression and actions, he must have treacherous designs. Everyone on the road is saying that Guo Wei has already become emperor, while Your Majesty has penetrated deep into this territory without stopping—disaster is imminent! Please urgently summon Zhang Lingchao, explain the consequences of fortune and misfortune to him, and have him send troops by night to seize Guo Chongwei and take his army. Tomorrow, plunder the gold, silver, and silk of Suiyang, recruit soldiers, and flee north to Jinyang. Guo Wei has just pacified the capital and will have no leisure to pursue us—this is the best plan!” Liu Yun hesitated and could not decide. That same night, Guo Chongwei secretly lured Zhang Lingchao, and Zhang Lingchao led his troops to surrender to him. Liu Yun was greatly terrified.
Guo Wei sent a letter to Liu Yun, saying that he had been compelled by the various armies, and summoned Feng Dao to return first, leaving Zhao Shangjiao and Wang Du to attend to him. When Feng Dao took his leave, Liu Yun said, “The reason I came here, relying on you as a veteran chancellor of thirty years, was that I had no suspicions. Now Guo Chongwei has taken away my guards—the situation is critical. What plan do you have?” Feng Dao remained silent. The guest general Jia Zhen repeatedly signaled Feng Dao with his eyes, intending to kill him. Liu Yun said, “Do not act rashly—this has nothing to do with Duke Feng.” Guo Chongwei moved Liu Yun to an outer residence and killed several of his close associates, including Dong Yi and Jia Zhen.
On the day of Jiwei, the Empress Dowager issued an edict deposing Liu Yun and reducing him to the rank of Duke of Xiangyin.
Ma Duo led troops into Xuzhou. Liu Xin, in fear and confusion, committed suicide.
On the day of Gengshen, the Empress Dowager issued an edict appointing the Attendant-in-Chief Guo Wei as regent. The hundred officials and the regional governors successively submitted memorials urging him to ascend the throne. On the night of the day of Renxu, in the camp of the regent Guo Wei, a infantry colonel got drunk and loudly declared that the cavalry at Chanzhou had previously set up Guo Wei, and now the infantry also wanted to set up someone. The regent Guo Wei had him executed.
The Emperor of the Southern Han appointed the palace women Lu Qiongxian and Huang Qiongzhi as female Attendants-in-Chief, wearing court robes and caps, and participating in decision-making on state affairs. Almost all of the imperial clan and meritorious old officials were killed, and only the eunuch Lin Yanyu and others held power.
The Later Zhou Annals