曹元德称司徒考

Textual Research on Cao Yuande's Title of Si-tu

曹元德、曹元深兄弟二人任归义军节度使的时间不长,有关文书保存下来的不多,因而很容易将两个不同节度使执政时期的文书混淆。935年曹元德出任归义军节度使后,沿用之前的司空称号。939年,曹元德已经以司徒自称。曹元德去世后,940年沙州刺史曹元深继任归义军节度使。曹元德的太保称号是在他去世以后由中原王朝诏赠的。

The two brothers Cao Yuande and Cao Yuanshen were the governors of the Gui-yi-jun Regime（Return-to-Allegiance Army） for a short period, a fact mentioned in only a few surviving documerts. Becauseof this, it can be seen that documents of two different periods are often confused. Cao Yuande was called hisprevious title Si-kong when he became governor in 935 CE. It was in 939 CE that Cao Yuande addressedhimself as Si-tu. When Cao Yuande died, Cao Yuanshen, the commander of Shazhou, became his successor in940 CE. Cao Yuande＇s title as Tai-bao was posthumously granted to him by the dynasty of the Central Plainsafter he passed away.