Baoyang Version of Zizhi Tongjian (Set of 18 volumes)

Author: Bo Yang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: Excerpt:
In the 933rd year of the Guisi era after Tang, the 4th year of Changxing in Southern Han, the 5th year of Dahewu in Southern Wu, the 4th year of Changxing in Nanzhao, the 4th year of Changxing in Min, the first year of Longqi in Min, the 4th year of Changxing in Wuyue, and the 7th year of Tiannxian in Khitan.
1. In spring, on the 11th day of the first month, Emperor Li Siyuan (the second Mingzong) of the Later Tang Empire (capital: Henanfu [Luoyang City, Henan Province]) promoted his son, Prince Lichong, to temporarily serve as the Prime Minister of the State Council (acting as the), concurrently as the High Supervisor (concurrently as Shizhong). On the 13th day of the first month, he appointed Liu Xun, a scholar and attendant at the Duanming Hall from Guiyi (Rongcheng County, Hebei Province), as the Vice Minister of Legislation (Zhongshu Shilang) and the second-level de facto Prime Minister (Tong Pingzhangshi).
2. In the Min Kingdom (capital: Fuzhou [Fuzhou City, Fujian Province]), it was claimed that a true dragon was seen in the Zhenfeng Mansion (the former residence of King Wang Yanjun before becoming king). King Wang Yanjun ordered the Zhenfeng Mansion to be renamed the Longyue Palace. He then went to the Baoguang Palace to receive the Taoist spiritual document of the Baoguang, and returned to the royal palace in a grand procession, proclaiming himself emperor (the first Huizong), establishing the state as Min, granting a general amnesty, changing the era name to Longqi (Min thus acquired its own era name), and renaming himself Wang Lin (though we still refer to him as Wang Yanjun). He posthumously honored his father, grandfather, and other esteemed ancestors, and constructed five imperial temples. He appointed his subordinate Li Min as the High Executive Minister of the State Council (Zu Pushi) and the Vice Supervisor (Menxia Shilang); he also appointed his son, Wang Jipeng, as the High Executive Minister of the State Council (You Pushi) and the Vice Minister of Legislation (Zhongshu Shilang); both were concurrently appointed as the second-level de facto Prime Ministers (Tong Pingzhangshi). He also appointed his trusted associate Wu Xi as the Chief of the Imperial Staff Headquarters (Shumi Shi). Coincidentally, the enfeoffment envoy (Cunli Shi) sent by the Later Tang, Pei Jie and Cheng Kan, arrived at Haimen (Southeast Coastal Port, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province). King Wang Yanjun (Wang Lin) appointed Pei Jie as the envoy to the capital (Rujing Shi), but Cheng Kan repeatedly requested to return north with Pei Jie, and Wang Yanjun refused. Wang Yanjun understood that his territory was too small and remote, and he cautiously maintained relations with neighboring states (north: Wuyue [capital: Hangzhou], west: Southern Wu [capital: Jiangdufu], south: Southern Han [capital: Xingwangfu], east: Taiwan Strait), thus achieving a rough stability within his borders.
3. On the 2nd day of the second month, General Meng Zhixiang (headquartered in Xichuan [Chengdu Prefecture]) of the Later Tang wrote an edict in ink, appointing Zhao Jiliang and others as commanders of the five military zones (the five military zones, see last year [932] on the 15th day of the eighth month). The general of the Hexi Military Zone (headquartered in Liangzhou [Wuwei City, Gansu Province]) Tuo Bo Chengqian, along with local scholars and officials, submitted a memorial to Emperor Li Siyuan (the second Mingzong) of the Later Tang (Maojile), requesting the promotion of Sun Chao, who was temporarily serving as the acting commander of the military zone (quanzhi liuhou), to the position of commander (). Li Siyuan asked the envoy, "Who is Sun Chao?" The envoy replied, "When Zhang Yichao returned to the Hexi region (see February 851), the central government once sent 2,500 troops from the Tianping Military Zone (headquartered in Yanzhou [Dongping County, Shandong Province]) to garrison Liangzhou (Wuwei City, Gansu Province. Zhang Yichao recovered Liangzhou, see March 863). Since the Huangchao Rebellion, Liangzhou has been isolated by the Dangxi tribes, and the troops stationed there from Yanzhou have almost all died. Sun Chao and the people in the city are their descendants (Liangzhou was once occupied by the Tang Dynasty before its collapse, see January 906).