Volume 157 Biographies 107: Wang Hong, Chi Shimei, Li Yong, Xinmi, Ma Hui, Wei Hongjing, Wang Yanwei

李光進李光進，本河曲部落稽阿跌之族也。父良臣，襲雞田州刺史，隸朔方軍。光進姊適舍利葛旃，殺僕固瑒而事河東節度使辛雲京。光進兄弟少依葛旃，因家於太原。

Li Guangjin was a member of the Jie A Die people, one of the tribal confederations of the Hequ region. His father Liangchen had inherited the prefecture of Jitian and served under the Shuofang army. Guangjin's elder sister was married to Sheli Gezhan, who killed Pugu Chang and then served Hedong military commissioner Xin Yunjing. In their youth the Guangjin brothers had depended on Gezhan, and they settled their household in Taiyuan.

光進勇毅果敢，其武藝兵略次於葛旃。肅宗自靈武觀兵，光進從郭子儀破賊，收兩京，累有戰功。至德中，授代州刺史，封范陽郡公，食邑二百戶。上元初，郭子儀為朔方節度，以軍討大同、橫野、清夷，范陽及河北殘寇，用光進為都知兵馬使。尋遷渭北節度使。永泰初，進封武威郡王。大歷四年，檢校戶部尚書，知省事。未幾，又轉檢校刑部尚書、兼太子太保。是歲冬十月，葬母於京城之南原，將相致祭者凡四十四幄，窮極奢靡，城內士庶，觀者如堵。

Guangjin was bold, steadfast, and resolute, and in arms and strategy he ranked only below Gezhan. When Emperor Suzong mustered his forces at Lingwu, Guangjin followed Guo Ziyi in breaking the rebels, retaking the two capitals, and winning repeated victories. During the Zhide period he was made prefect of Daizhou and created Duke of Fanyang with an income of two hundred households. Early in the Shangyuan reign Guo Ziyi, as Shuofang military commissioner, led campaigns against remnant rebels in Datong, Hengye, Qingyi, Fanyang, and Hebei, and appointed Guangjin overall commander of troops and horses. He was soon transferred to military commissioner of Weibei. At the start of the Yongtai period he was promoted to Prince of Wuwei. In the fourth year of the Dali era he was appointed acting Minister of Revenue with charge of Secretariat affairs. Shortly thereafter he was reassigned as acting Minister of Justice and concurrent Grand Mentor of the Crown Prince. That winter, in the tenth month, he buried his mother on the southern heights outside the capital. Forty-four pavilions were erected for the rites of generals and ministers, with lavish display beyond measure, and the city's people packed the streets to watch.

元和四年，王承宗反。范希朝引師救易定，表光進為步都虞候，戰於木刀溝，光進有功。六年，拜銀青光祿大夫、檢校工部尚書，充單於大都護、振武節度使。詔以光進夙有誠節，克著茂勛，賜姓李氏。其弟光顏除洺州刺史，充本州團練使。兄弟恩澤同時，人皆嘆異。八年，遷靈武節度使。光進嘗從馬燧救臨洺，戰洹水，收河中，皆有功。前後軍中之職，無所不歷；中丞、大夫悉曾兼帶。先是救易定之師，光進、光顏皆在其行，故軍中呼光進為大大夫，光顏為小大夫。十年七月卒。

In the fourth year of Yuanhe, Wang Chengzong rose in rebellion. Fan Xichao marched to relieve Yiding and recommended Guangjin as chief infantry adjutant. At the battle of Mudao Gully Guangjin distinguished himself. In the sixth year he received the title Silver Gleam Grand Master for Splendid Happiness and acting Minister of Works, and was made Grand Protector of Chanyu and military commissioner of Zhenwu. An edict declared that Guangjin, having long proved his loyalty and won outstanding merit, was granted the imperial surname Li. His younger brother Guangyan was made prefect of Mingzhou and regimental training commissioner of the prefecture. The brothers received imperial favor together, and people everywhere remarked on the rarity of it. In the eighth year he was transferred to military commissioner of Lingwu. Guangjin had followed Ma Sui in the relief of Linming, fought at the Huan River, and helped recover Hezhong, earning credit in each campaign. Over the years he had held every kind of army post; and had at one time or another concurrently borne the titles of censor and grand master. When the army had marched to relieve Yiding, both Guangjin and Guangyan had been in the ranks, so the troops called Guangjin the Elder Grand Master and Guangyan the Younger Grand Master. He died in the seventh month of the tenth year.

光進兄弟少以孝睦推於軍中。及居母喪，三年不歸寢室。光顏先娶妻，其母委以家事。母卒，光進始娶。光顏使其妻奉管籥、家籍、財物，歸於其姒。光進命反之，且謂光顏曰：「新婦逮事母，嘗命以主家，不可改也。」因相持泣良久，乃如初。卒時年六十五，贈尚書左僕射。

From youth the Guangjin brothers were known in the army for their filial devotion and brotherly harmony. During their mother's mourning they abstained from the marital bed for the full three years. Guangyan had married first, and their mother had put him in charge of the household. Only after their mother's death did Guangjin take a wife. Guangyan had his wife hand over the keys, household records, and goods to their sister-in-law. Guangjin ordered everything returned and told Guangyan, "Your wife served our mother and was charged to run the house—that must not be altered." The brothers then held each other and wept for a long while before everything was restored as before. He was sixty-five at his death and was posthumously made Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs.

光顏與兄光進以葛旃善騎射，兄弟自幼皆師之，葛旃獨許光顏之勇健，己不能逮。及長，從河東軍為裨將，討李懷光、楊惠琳，皆有功。後隨高崇文平蜀，搴旗斬將，出入如神，由是稍稍知名。自憲宗元和已來，歷授代、洺二州刺史、兼御史大夫。

Guangyan and his brother Guangjin had studied horsemanship and archery under Gezhan from boyhood. Gezhan alone declared that Guangyan's courage and strength surpassed what he himself could match. As an adult he served in the Hedong army as a deputy commander and won distinction in campaigns against Li Huai'guang and Yang Huilin. He later followed Gao Chongwen in the pacification of Shu, tearing down banners and cutting down enemy officers with seemingly supernatural speed, and from that time his name slowly spread. From Emperor Xianzong's Yuanhe reign onward he served in turn as prefect of Dai and Ming and as concurrent Grand Censor.

九年，將討淮、蔡，九月，遷陳州刺史，充忠武軍都知兵馬使。逾月，遷忠武軍節度使、檢校工部尚書。會朝廷征天下兵，環申、蔡而討吳元濟，詔光顏以本軍獨當一面。光顏於是引兵臨溵水，抗洄曲。明年五月，破元濟之師於時曲。初，賊眾晨壓光顏之壘而陣，光顏不得出，乃自毀其柵之左右，出騎以突之。光顏將數騎冒堅而沖之，出入者數四。賊眾盡識，矢集於身如蝟。其子攬光顏馬鞅，止其深入。光顏舉刃叱之，乃退。於是人爭奮躍。賊乃大潰，死者數千人。捷聲至京師，人人相賀。時伐蔡之師，大小凡十余鎮，自裴度使還，唯奏光顏勇而知義，終不辱命。至是，果立功焉。是歲十一月，光顏又與懷汝節度烏重胤同破元濟之眾於小溵河，平其柵。

In the ninth year, with a campaign against Huai and Cai in preparation, he was transferred in the ninth month to prefect of Chenzhou and overall commander of the Zhongwu army's troops and horses. A little over a month later he became military commissioner of the Zhongwu army and acting Minister of Works. The court then raised armies from across the empire to surround Shen and Cai and attack Wu Yuanji, charging Guangyan to hold an entire sector with his own forces. Guangyan marched his army to the Yin River and took position opposite Huaiqu. The next year, in the fifth month, he routed Yuanji's forces at Shiqu. At dawn the rebels had pressed against Guangyan's camp and drawn up in battle order, pinning him inside. He tore gaps in his own palisade to either side and led his cavalry out in a charge. Leading a handful of horsemen, Guangyan plunged through the enemy line again and again, riding in and out four times. The rebels all knew him on sight, and arrows bristled on his body like quills on a hedgehog. His son caught hold of Guangyan's saddle flap to keep him from riding farther in. Guangyan raised his blade and shouted him down before he would fall back. At that the men surged forward with renewed fury. The rebels broke and fled in disorder, leaving several thousand dead. Word of the victory reached the capital, and people everywhere rejoiced. More than a dozen commands, great and small, were then campaigning against Cai. After Pei Du returned from his inspection tour, he reported to the throne that Guangyan alone was both brave and principled and would never fail his charge. Now, as predicted, he had won a decisive victory. That November Guangyan joined Huairu military commissioner Wu Chongyin in defeating Yuanji's troops at the Xiao Shen River and leveling their stockades.

初，都統韓弘令諸軍齊攻賊城，賊又徑攻烏重胤之壘。重胤禦之，中數槍，馳請救於光顏。光顏以小溵橋賊之堡也，乘其無備，使田穎、宋朝隱襲而取之。乃平其城塹，由是克救重胤。韓弘以光顏違令，取穎及朝隱將戮之。穎及朝隱勇而材，軍中皆惋惜之。光顏畏弘不敢留。會中使景忠信至，知其情，乃矯詔令所在械系之。走馬入見，具以本末聞。憲宗赦忠信矯詔罪，令即往釋穎及朝隱。弘及光顏叠以表論。憲宗謂弘使曰：「穎等違都統令，固當處死。但光顏以其襲賊有功，亦可宥之。軍有三令五申，宜舍此以收來效。」及以詔諭弘，弘不悅。十一年，光顏連敗元濟之眾，拔賊淩雲柵，憲宗大悅，賜其告捷者奴婢銀錦。進位檢校尚書左僕射。

Supreme commander Han Hong had ordered a joint assault on the rebel city, but the rebels turned and attacked Wu Chongyin's camp head-on. Chongyin held them off but took several spear wounds and rode in haste to ask Guangyan for help. Guangyan saw that the rebel fort at Xiao Shen Bridge was their key position. While they were off guard he sent Tian Ying and Song Chaoyin to storm and take it. He leveled their walls and ditches and so was able to relieve Chongyin. Han Hong, holding that Guangyan had defied his orders, seized Tian Ying and Chaoyin and prepared to put them to death. Ying and Chaoyin were brave and able men, and the whole army mourned the prospect of their execution. Guangyan, fearing Han Hong, did not dare to keep them. Palace envoy Jing Zhongxin arrived, learned what was happening, and forged an edict ordering the men seized and bound wherever found. He rode posthaste to court and reported the full story to the emperor. Emperor Xianzong pardoned Zhongxin for forging the edict and ordered him to go immediately and free Ying and Chaoyin. Han Hong and Guangyan sent repeated memorials debating the case. Emperor Xianzong told Han Hong's envoy, "Ying and the others defied the supreme commander's orders and deserve death. But Guangyan's raid on the enemy was meritorious, so they may be spared as well. An army lives by repeated orders and warnings. Let this go and win their future service instead." When the edict reached Han Hong, he was displeased. In the eleventh year Guangyan defeated Yuanji's forces again and again and took the rebel Lingyun stockade. Emperor Xianzong was delighted and rewarded the messenger of victory with slave women, silver, and brocade. Guangyan was promoted to acting Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs.

十二年四月，光顏敗元濟之眾三萬於郾城。其將張伯良奔於蔡州，殺其賊什二三，獲馬千匹，器甲三萬聯，皆畫雷公符。仍書云：「速破城北軍。」尋而郾城守將鄧懷金請以城降。光顏許之，而收郾城。

In the fourth month of the twelfth year Guangyan routed thirty thousand of Yuanji's troops at Yancheng. Yuanji's general Zhang Boliang fled to Caizhou. Guangyan's men killed two or three tenths of the enemy force, took a thousand horses and thirty thousand sets of arms and armor, each marked with the Thunder Lord talisman. They also bore inscriptions reading, "Break the northern army outside the city at once." Before long Yancheng's defender Deng Huaijin offered to surrender the city. Guangyan accepted, and Yancheng fell into his hands.

初，鄧懷金以官軍圍青陵城，絕其歸路，懷金懼，謀於郾城令董昌齡。昌齡母素誡其子令降，昌齡因此勸懷金歸款於光顏，且曰：「城中之人，父母妻子皆質於蔡州，如不屈而降，則家盡屠矣。請來攻城，我則舉烽求救。救兵將至，官軍逆擊之必敗，此時當以城降。」光顏從之，賊果敗走。於是昌齡執印，帥吏列於門外，懷金與諸將素服倒戈列於門內；光顏受降，乃入羅城，其城自壞五十余步。

Earlier, when the imperial army had besieged Qingling and cut off his retreat, Huaijin grew afraid and took counsel with Yancheng magistrate Dong Changling. Changling's mother had long urged her son to surrender. He therefore persuaded Huaijin to submit to Guangyan, saying, "Everyone in the city has parents, wives, and children held hostage in Caizhou. Unless you feign resistance and then surrender, their families will be slaughtered to the last person. Ask Guangyan to attack the city. I will light beacon fires to summon rebel reinforcements. When the relief force arrives, the imperial army can strike them head-on and rout them. That is the moment to surrender the city." Guangyan agreed. The rebels were routed and fled as planned. Changling then came out holding the official seal, with commanders and clerks lined up outside the gate, while Huaijin and his officers, dressed in white with weapons reversed, waited inside; Guangyan accepted their surrender and entered the outer city, where more than fifty paces of wall had collapsed of their own accord.

時韓弘為汴帥，驕矜倔強。常倚賊勢索朝廷姑息，惡光顏力戰，陰圖撓屈，計無所施。遂舉大梁城求得一美婦人，教以歌舞弦管六博之藝，飾之以珠翠金玉衣服之具，計費數百萬，命使者送遺光顏，冀一見悅惑而怠於軍政也。使者即賫書先造光顏壘曰：「本使令公德公私愛，憂公暴露，欲進一妓，以慰公征役之思，謹以候命。」光顏曰：「今日已暮，明旦納焉。」詰朝，光顏乃大宴軍士；三軍咸集，命使者進妓。妓至，則容止端麗，殆非人間所有，一座皆驚。光顏乃於座上謂來使曰：「令公憐光顏離家室久，舍美妓見贈，誠有以荷德也。然光顏受國家恩深，誓不與逆賊同生日月下。今戰卒數萬，皆背妻子，蹈白刃，光顏奈何以女色為樂？」言訖，涕泣嗚咽。堂下兵士數萬，皆感激流涕。乃厚以縑帛酬其來使，俾領其妓自席上而回，謂使者曰：「為光顏多謝令公。光顏事君許國之心，死無貳矣！」自此兵眾之心，彌加激勵。

Han Hong was then military governor of Bianzhou—proud, overbearing, and stubborn. He had long used the rebels' strength to extract concessions from the court and resented Guangyan's aggressive fighting. He plotted secretly to undermine him but could find no opening. He found a beautiful woman in the great city of Daliang, trained her in song, dance, music, and games of chance, and dressed her in pearls, jade, gold, and fine silks at a cost of millions. He sent her to Guangyan through an envoy, hoping one look would beguile him and dull his zeal for the campaign. The envoy arrived first at Guangyan's camp with a letter: "Our commissioner, who holds you in high regard both publicly and privately, is concerned for your hardships in the field and wishes to send a courtesan to ease the burdens of campaign. He awaits your word." Guangyan replied, "It is late today. Bring her tomorrow morning." At dawn the next day he held a great feast for the army; the whole army gathered, and he had the envoy present the courtesan. When she appeared, her grace and beauty seemed scarcely of this world, and the entire hall was struck with wonder. Guangyan then addressed the envoy from his seat: "The commissioner, pitying me for my long absence from home, has sent this beautiful woman as a gift. I am deeply grateful. Yet I owe the state a profound debt and have sworn never to live under the same sky as the rebels. Tens of thousands of my soldiers have left their wives and children behind and face naked blades. How could I indulge in pleasure while they suffer?" As he spoke he broke into tears and sobs. Below the hall tens of thousands of soldiers wept with moved gratitude. He rewarded the envoy generously with silk, had him take the courtesan back from the hall, and said, "Give the commissioner my deepest thanks. My loyalty to the throne and the realm will never waver, even unto death!" From that day the army's spirit burned all the brighter.

及裴度至行營，率賓從於方城沱口觀板築、五溝。賊遽至，註弩挺刃，勢將及度。光顏決戰於前以卻之。時光顏預慮其來，先使田布以二百騎伏於溝中，出賊不意交擊之，度方獲免。布又先扼其溝中歸路，賊多棄騎越溝，相牽墜壓而死者千余人。是日微光顏之救，度幾陷矣。是月，賊知光顏勇冠諸將，乃悉其眾出當光顏之師。時李愬乘其無備，急引兵襲蔡州，拔之，獲元濟。董重質棄洄曲軍，入城降愬。光顏知之，躍馬入賊營，大呼以降，賊眾萬余人，皆解甲投戈請命。賊平，加檢校司空。

When Pei Du reached the forward camp he took his staff to Fangcheng Tuokou to inspect the fortifications and the Five Ditches. Rebels suddenly appeared, crossbows drawn and blades ready, and were about to reach Pei Du himself. Guangyan met them head-on in a pitched battle and drove them back. Guangyan had anticipated the attack and sent Tian Bu ahead with two hundred cavalry concealed in a ditch. The surprise cross-assault saved Pei Du from capture. Bu had also sealed off their retreat through the ditch. Many rebels abandoned their mounts to scramble across; in the crush more than a thousand perished. That day Pei Du would nearly have been lost but for Guangyan's rescue. That month the rebels, knowing Guangyan was the boldest of the imperial generals, mustered their full strength to face his army. Li Su seized the moment while they were undefended, marched swiftly on Caizhou, captured the city, and took Wu Yuanji prisoner. Dong Chongzhi abandoned his army at Huaiqu, entered the city, and surrendered to Li Su. When Guangyan heard the news he spurred his horse into the rebel camp and shouted for surrender. More than ten thousand rebels laid down their arms and begged for mercy. After the rebellion was crushed he was made acting Minister of Works.

十三年春，命中官宴光顏於居第，賜芻米二十余車。憲宗又禦麟德殿召對，賜金帶錦彩。朝廷東討李師道，授光顏義成軍節度使。至鎮，尋赴行營。數旬之內，再敗賊軍於濮陽，殺戮數千人，進軍深入。

In the spring of the thirteenth year an imperial eunuch was sent to entertain Guangyan at his home, with a gift of more than twenty wagonloads of fodder and grain. Emperor Xianzong received him in Linde Hall and presented him with a gold belt and brocade silks. As the court launched its eastern campaign against Li Shidao, Guangyan was made military commissioner of the Yicheng army. He reached his command and soon joined the campaign headquarters. Within weeks he routed rebel forces twice at Puyang, killing thousands, and pushed deeper into enemy country.

十四年，西蕃入寇，移授邠寧節度使。時鹽州為吐蕃所毀，命李文悅為刺史，令光顏充勾當修築鹽州城使。仍許以陳許六千人隨赴邠寧。是歲，吐蕃侵涇原。自田縉鎮夏州，以貪猥侵撓党項羌，乃引吐蕃入寇。及蕃軍攻涇州，邊將郝玼血戰始退。初，光顏聞賊攻涇州，料兵赴救，邠師喧然曰：「人給五十千而不識戰陣，彼何人也！常額衣資不得而前蹈白刃，此何人也！」憤聲恟々不可遏。光顏素得士心，曲為陳說大義，言發涕流。三軍感之，亦泣下，乃欣然即路，擊賊退之。

In the fourteenth year, with the Tibetans raiding from the west, he was reassigned as military commissioner of Binning. Yizhou had been wrecked by the Tibetans. Li Wenyue was appointed prefect, and Guangyan was charged with rebuilding the city's defenses. He was allowed to bring six thousand troops from his Chen-Xu command to Binning. That year Tibetan forces invaded Jingyuan. Since Tian Ji had taken command at Xiazhou, his greed and abuse had provoked the Tangut tribes and brought the Tibetans across the border. When the Tibetans besieged Jingzhou, frontier commander Hao Ci fought them to a bloody standstill before they retreated. When Guangyan heard the rebels were attacking Jingzhou he mustered troops to the rescue. The Binning soldiers erupted in protest: "Those men get fifty thousand cash apiece and don't know a battle line from a parade ground—who are they! They haven't even received their regular pay and clothing allowance, yet they march ahead onto naked blades—what sort of men are these!" The angry clamor swelled into an uproar that could not be stilled. Guangyan had always commanded his men's loyalty. He plead the larger cause with them, weeping as he spoke. The whole army wept with him, then marched willingly to the relief. They routed the enemy and drove them off.

穆宗即位，就加特進，仍與一子四品正員官。尋詔赴闕，賜開化裏第，進加同中書門下平章事。穆宗以光顏功冠諸將，故召赴闕，宴賜優給。已而帶平章復鎮，所以報勛臣也。

When Emperor Muzong took the throne, Guangyan received the honorary rank of Tejin, and one son was given a regular fourth-rank post. He was soon recalled to court, given a mansion in Kaihua Ward, and promoted to Grand Councillor. Because Guangyan's service outshone every other general, Muzong brought him to court and showered him with feasts and gifts. He was then sent back to the frontier as Grand Councillor—Muzong's way of honoring a proven champion.

長慶初，遷鳳翔節度使，依前檢校司空、同中書門下平章事。歲末，復授許州節度使。朝廷以光顏昔鎮陳許，頗得士心，將討鎮、冀，故有此拜。赴鎮日，宰相百僚以故事送別於章敬寺，穆宗禦通化門臨送之，賜錦彩、銀器、良馬、玉帶等物。二年，討王廷湊，命光顏兼深州行營諸軍節度使。光顏既受命而行，懸軍討賊，艱於饋運。朝廷又以滄、景、德、棣等州俾之兼管，以其鄰賊之郡，可便飛挽。光顏以朝廷制置乖方，賊帥連結，未可朝夕平定，事若差跌，即前功悉棄，乃懇辭兼鎮。尋以疾作，表祈歸鎮。朝廷果討賊無功而赦廷湊。四年，敬宗即位，正拜司徒。

Early in the Changqing era he became military commissioner of Fengxiang, keeping his titles as acting Minister of Works and Grand Councillor. Before the year was out he was reassigned as military commissioner of Xuzhou. Guangyan had once held Chen-Xu and won deep loyalty from the ranks. With a campaign against Zhen and Ji in view, the court gave him this post. On the day he left for his command, the full court saw him off at Zhangjing Temple by custom. Muzong went in person to Tonghua Gate to farewell him, gifting brocades, silverware, fine horses, and a jade belt. In the second year, for the campaign against Wang Tingcou, he was named overall commander of the Shenzhou expedition. Guangyan accepted the command and marched out, but his army was deep in enemy territory and supply lines quickly became a struggle. The court added Cang, Jing, De, Di, and neighboring prefectures to his jurisdiction, hoping their proximity to the enemy would ease rapid resupply. Guangyan argued the court's plan was unsound: the rebel leaders were allied and would not fall quickly, and one misstep would waste everything already won. He begged off the extra territories. He soon fell ill and petitioned to return to his own headquarters. As he had foreseen, the campaign failed and the court pardoned Wang Tingcou. In the fourth year Emperor Jingzong took the throne and Guangyan was formally made Grand Preceptor.

汴州李絺逐其帥叛，詔光顏率陳許之師討之。營於尉氏，俄而誅絺。遷太原尹、北京留守、河東節度使，進階開府儀同三司，仍於正衙受冊司徒兼侍中。二年九月卒，年六十六，廢朝三日，贈太尉，謚曰忠。烏重胤烏重胤，潞州牙將也。元和中，王承宗叛，王師加討。潞帥盧從史雖出軍，而密與賊通。時神策行營吐突承璀與從史軍相近，承璀與重胤謀，縛從史於帳下。是日，重胤戒嚴，潞軍無敢動者。憲宗賞其功，授潞府左司馬，遷懷州刺史，兼充河陽三城節度使。會討淮、蔡，用重胤壓境，仍割汝州隸河陽。自王師討淮西三年，重胤與李光顏掎角相應，大小百余戰，以至元濟誅。就加檢校尚書右僕射，轉司空。蔡將有李端者，過溵河降重胤。其妻為賊束縛於樹，臠食至死，將絕，猶呼其夫曰：「善事烏僕射。」其得人心如此。

When Li Xi at Bianzhou ousted his superior and rebelled, Guangyan was ordered to march with the Chen-Xu forces to suppress him. He encamped at Weishi and soon Li Xi was put to death. He was made governor of Taiyuan, garrison commander of the Northern Capital, and Hedong military commissioner, promoted to Kaifu Yitong Sansi, and formally invested at court as Grand Preceptor and Vice Director of State. He died in the ninth month of the second year at sixty-six. Court business was suspended for three days. He was posthumously honored as Grand Commandant with the title "Loyal." Wu Chongyin was a garrison officer at Luzhou. During the Yuanhe era Wang Chengzong rebelled and the court dispatched armies against him. Lu Congshi, military commissioner of Lu, took the field but was secretly colluding with the enemy. Tufa Chenghui of the Shence expedition was camped near Lu Congshi. He and Chongyin conspired to seize Congshi in his own tent. That day Chongyin declared martial law, and the Lu troops did not dare move. Xianzong rewarded him with the post of Left Assistant Administrator at Lu, then prefect of Huai and military commissioner of the Heyang Three Cities. During the Huai-Cai campaign he was stationed to pin the enemy border, and Ruzhou was reassigned to his Heyang command. For the three years of the Huai-Xi war Chongyin and Li Guangyan fought in mutual support through more than a hundred battles, until Wu Yuanji was captured and executed. He was promoted to acting Right Vice Director of State and then Minister of Works. A rebel general named Li Duan crossed the Shen River to surrender to Chongyin. The rebels bound his wife to a tree and cut her apart piece by piece until she died. With her last breath she still called to her husband: "Serve Vice Director Wu well." Such was the devotion he inspired in others.

元和十三年，代鄭權為橫海軍節度使。既至鎮，上言曰：「臣以河朔能拒朝命者，其大略可見。蓋刺史失其職，反使鎮將領兵事。若刺史各得職分，又有鎮兵，則節將雖有祿山、思明之奸，豈能據一州為叛哉？所以河朔六十年能拒朝命者，只以奪刺史、縣令之職，自作威福故也。臣所管德、棣、景三州，已舉公牒，各還刺史職事訖，應在州兵，並令刺史收管。又景州本是弓高縣，請卻廢為縣，歸化縣本是草市，請廢縣依舊屬德州。」詔並從之。由是法制修立，各歸名分。

In Yuanhe 13 he replaced Zheng Quan as military commissioner of Henghai. After taking command he memorialized the throne: "The reason Hebei has defied the court for so long is not hard to see. Prefects have lost their proper roles, and garrison commanders hold military power instead. If every prefect did his proper job and garrison troops remained under separate command, not even a commander with the treachery of An Lushan or Shi Siming could rebel from a single prefecture. Hebei resisted the throne for sixty years only because military commissioners stripped prefects and magistrates of their authority and ruled as they pleased. In the three prefectures under my command—De, Di, and Jing—I have already issued orders restoring each prefect to his proper duties and placing all local troops under prefectural authority. Jing Prefecture was originally Gonggao County and should be demoted back to a county. Guihua County began as a market town and should be abolished and returned to De Prefecture as before." The emperor approved every proposal. From then on authority was clarified and every office held its proper place.

及屯軍深州，重胤以朝廷制置失宜，賊方憑淩，未可輕進，觀望累月。穆宗急於誅叛，遂以杜叔良代之，以重胤檢校司徒，兼興元尹，充山南西道節度使。召至京師，復以本官為天平軍節度、鄆曹濮等州觀察等使。李同捷據滄州，請襲父位，朝廷不從。議者慮狡童拒命，欲以重臣代。乃移鎮兗海，加太子太師、平章事，俾兼領滄景節度，仍舊割齊州隸之，蓋望不勞師而底定。制出旬日，重胤卒，贈太尉。

When stationed at Shenzhou, Chongyin judged the court's strategy unsound. The rebels were on the offensive and he refused to risk a rash advance, waiting for months. Eager to crush the rebels, Muzong replaced him with Du Shuliang and reassigned Chongyin as acting Grand Preceptor, governor of Xingyuan, and military commissioner of Shannan West. Recalled to the capital, he was soon sent out again as military commissioner of Tianping and inspector-general of Yan, Cao, Pu, and neighboring prefectures. Li Tongjie held Cangzhou and asked to inherit his father's post; the court refused. Officials feared the young rebel would resist and wanted a senior commander in his place. He was shifted to Yanhai, made Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent and Grand Councillor, and given concurrent command of Cang-Jing with Qi Prefecture attached—hoping the rebellion could be settled without a major campaign. Within ten days of the appointment Chongyin died and was posthumously honored as Grand Commandant.

重胤出自行間，及為長帥，赤心奉上。能與下同甘苦，所至立功，未嘗矜伐。而善待賓寮，禮分同至，當時名士，鹹願依之。身歿之日，軍士二十余人，皆割股肉以為祭酹，雖古之名將，無以加焉。

Raised from the ranks, he served the throne with wholehearted loyalty once he held high command. He shared hardship and comfort with his men, won victories wherever he was posted, and never trumpeted his own glory. He treated his staff with genuine respect and equal courtesy, and leading scholars of the day sought to serve under him. On the day he died more than twenty soldiers cut flesh from their own thighs as funeral offerings—a devotion unmatched even among the great generals of antiquity.

子漢弘嗣，起復授左領軍衛將軍。漢弘上表乞終服紀，文宗嘉詔從之。服闋，方授官。王沛王沛，許州人。年十八，有勇決。許州節度使上官涚奇其才，以女妻之，署為牙門將。及涚卒，子婿田偁迫脅涚子，欲邀襲位，懼監軍使不順其事，將結謀伏兵以圖之。沛竊知其謀，密告監軍，因盡擒其黨於伏匿之所。監軍範日用以其事聞，德宗乃以陳許行軍司馬劉昌裔總統其軍，賜沛手詔，令護涚之子赴上都。既至，召見，德宗謂之曰：「據卿忠義，寵宜加等。但昌裔所奏，只請加監察御史，朕意殊為不足。卿速歸，便宣付昌裔，更令奏來。」遂驛騎而還。未至許州，拜開府儀同三司、兼御史中丞，依前本職。

His son Han Hongsi was recalled from mourning and made a general of the Left Imperial Guard. Han Hong petitioned to finish his mourning period properly; Emperor Wenzong praised his filial conduct and agreed. Only after his mourning ended was he formally appointed. Wang Pei was a native of Xuzhou. At eighteen he was already bold and decisive. Shangguan Shuo, military commissioner of Xuzhou, admired his ability, married him to his daughter, and made him a garrison officer. When Shuo died, his son-in-law Tian Cheng threatened Shuo's son and tried to seize the command. Fearing the army supervisor would block him, he planned an ambush. Pei learned of the plot in secret, warned the army supervisor, and all the conspirators were arrested at their hideout. Supervisor Fan Riyong reported the affair. Dezong placed Liu Changyi in command of the Chen-Xu forces, sent Pei a personal edict, and ordered him to escort Shuo's son to the capital. When he arrived at court, Dezong told him, "Your loyalty deserves a far greater reward. But Changyi's memorial asked only for Investigatory Censor—a rank far below what you deserve. Return at once, tell Changyi on my authority to send up a new recommendation." He then rode post-haste back. Before he reached Xuzhou he was promoted to Kaifu Yitong Sansi and Censor-in-Chief while keeping his existing duties.

吳元濟反，李光顏受命攻討，奇沛節概，署行營兵馬使，別統勁兵屯於近郊。及軍合，連破蔡寇。頻詔進軍，諸將觀望，無敢先渡溵河。沛率兵五千，夜渡溵河合流口，徑扼賊喉而成城。自是，河陽、宣武、太原、魏博等軍繼渡，掎角進攻郾城。沛先結壘與賊對，賊將鄧懷金率眾面縛而降。蔡賊平。沛隨李光顏入朝，光顏具陳沛功，加御史大夫。

When Wu Yuanji rose in rebellion, Li Guangyan was tasked with suppressing him. Impressed by Pei's character, he made him camp cavalry commander with elite troops stationed in the suburbs. Once the armies united they routed the rebels again and again. Edict after edict ordered them forward, but the generals hung back—none dared cross the Shen River first. Pei took five thousand men across the Shen River by night at its confluence, seized the critical chokepoint, and fortified a camp there. After that the armies of Heyang, Xuanwu, Taiyuan, Weibo, and others crossed in turn and pressed on Yancheng in concert. Pei built fortifications face-to-face with the enemy; rebel general Deng Huaijin came forward bound in surrender. The Cai rebellion was crushed. Pei accompanied Li Guangyan to court. Guangyan laid out his achievements in full, and Pei was made Chief Censor.

既還鎮，光顏受詔討鄆寇。及李師道誅，詔分許州兵戍於邠，以沛為都將，救鹽州，擊退吐蕃。以功加寧州刺史，遷陳州。李絺反，詔沛兼忠武節度副使，率師討絺。絺平，加檢校右散騎常侍，遷兗海沂密節度、觀察等使。此邦新造，人情獷驁，沛明申法令，選蒐軍政，期年大理。明年，改檢校工部尚書，充忠武軍節度、陳許蔡觀察等使。卒於鎮，贈右僕射。子逢。

After returning to his post, Guangyan was ordered to campaign against the Yan rebels. After Li Shidao was killed, Xuzhou troops were sent to garrison Bin; Pei was put in overall command, relieved Yizhou, and drove back the Tibetans. In recognition of his service he was made Prefect of Ningzhou and transferred to Chenzhou. When Li Chi rose in rebellion, the throne named Pei deputy military commissioner of Zhongwu and sent him to lead an expedition against Chi. After Chi was subdued, Pei received the acting title of Right Regular Attendant of the Scattered Riders and was posted as military commissioner and surveillance commissioner of Yan-Hai-Yi-Mi. The circuit was newly formed and its people rough and defiant. Pei made the laws plain, tightened military and civil administration, and within a year the region was well governed. The following year he was made acting Minister of Works and took up the posts of Zhongwu military commissioner and Chen-Xu-Cai surveillance commissioner. He died at his command; the court posthumously honored him as Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. His son was Feng.

逢，少沈勇，從父征伐有功，為忠武都知兵馬使。太和中，入宿衛，歷諸衛將軍。從石雄、劉沔破回紇於天德。性果決，用法嚴。其時有二千人不上陣，官賜賞給，逢皆不與。或非之，逢曰：「健兒向前冒白刃，若無功而賞，其如冒刃者何？」王宰攻劉稹，逢領陳許七千人屯翼城，代田令昭。賊平，檢校左散騎常侍。累遷至忠武軍節度、陳許觀察等使。李珙李珙，山東甲姓，代修婚姻。至珙，不好讀書，唯以弓馬為務。長六尺余，氣貌魁岸。嘗詣澤潞謁李抱真，異之，將選為衙門將，旋以酒酣使氣，復欲棄之。都將王虔休謂抱真曰：「李珙，奇士也，若不能用，不如殺之，無為他人所得。」

Feng was quiet and resolute from youth. He followed his father on campaign, earned distinction, and became Zhongwu's chief military affairs officer. In the Taihe reign he joined the palace guards and rose through the guard generalships. He served under Shi Xiong and Liu Mian when they routed the Uyghurs at Tiande. He was decisive by temperament and enforced discipline without leniency. Two thousand soldiers had never entered battle, yet the command issued them rewards and stipends; Feng refused to grant any of it. When others objected, Feng said, "Men who face naked steel deserve credit—if the absent are rewarded without merit, what honor is left for those who risked their lives? When Wang Zai moved against Liu Zhen, Feng took seven thousand Chen-Xu troops to Yicheng, relieving Tian Lingzhao. After the rebellion was crushed he was made acting Left Regular Attendant of the Scattered Riders. He rose through successive appointments until he held the Zhongwu military commission and the Chen-Xu surveillance commission. Li Gong came from one of Shandong's foremost clans, a line that had maintained marriage ties for generations. By Gong's time the family had lost interest in study and cared only for archery and horsemanship. He stood more than six feet tall, with a towering frame and commanding presence. On a visit to Li Baozhen in Zelu, Baozhen was impressed and meant to make him a gate commander, but after wine Gong's arrogant temper surfaced and Baozhen again wanted to discard him. Commander Wang Qianxiu told Baozhen, "Li Gong is no ordinary man. If you will not employ him, kill him rather than let a rival take him."

抱真死，虔休為帥，乃依虔休，累為昭義大將。吐突承璀之擒盧從史，烏重胤實預其謀，珙初不知，將救從史。聞重胤受朝旨，乃觀望不進，重胤以此德之。後領河陽，乃置於麾下。然朝廷以與從史厚善，竟出為北邊一校。

After Baozhen's death Qianxiu took command; Gong entered his service and eventually became a senior general of Zhaoyi. When Tutu Chenghuan seized Lu Congshi, Wu Chongyin had been party to the scheme. Gong knew nothing of this at first and was preparing to rescue Congshi. Once he learned that Chongyin was acting on imperial orders, he halted and did not move forward; Chongyin counted it a debt of gratitude. When Chongyin later assumed command at Heyang, he kept Gong in his own ranks. The court, however, distrusted his close ties to Congshi and finally reduced him to a frontier company commander in the north.

元和十年，征淮西，重胤懇表為諸道行營都虞候，詔特從之，俄以母憂去職。服闋，除右武衛上將軍。長慶四年八月卒，年六十四，廢朝一日。李祐李祐，本蔡州牙將。事吳元濟，驍勇善戰。自王師討淮西，祐為行營將，每抗官軍，皆憚之。元和十二年，為李愬所擒。愬知祐有膽略，釋其死，厚遇之。推誠定分，與同寢食，往往帳中密語，達曙不寐。人有耳屬於外者，但屢聞祐感泣聲。而軍中以前時為祐殺傷者多，營壘諸卒會議，皆恨不殺祐。愬以眾情歸怨，慮不能全，因送祐於京師，乃上表救之。憲宗特恕，遂遣祐賜愬。愬大喜，即以三千精兵付之。祐聽言，無有所疑，竟以祐破蔡，擒元濟。以功授神武將軍，遷金吾將軍、檢校左散騎常侍、夏州刺史、御史大夫、夏綏銀宥節度使。

In Yuanhe 10, as the Huai West expedition began, Chongyin urgently petitioned to have Gong named chief adjutant of the combined forward camp. The throne granted the request, but Gong soon left his post to observe mourning for his mother. After the mourning period he was appointed senior general of the Right Martial Guard. He died in the eighth month of Changqing 4, aged sixty-four; the court closed audience for a day in mourning. Li You had begun as a staff general in Caizhou. He served Wu Yuanji and was renowned for ferocity, courage, and battlefield skill. Once the imperial armies marched on Huai West, You commanded in the rebel forward camp, and every force that met him learned to dread him. In Yuanhe 12 he was taken prisoner by Li Su. Su saw that You had both nerve and strategic gifts, spared his life, and treated him with marked favor. Su won his trust outright, settled his standing, and shared his quarters and meals. Often they talked alone in the tent until dawn without sleep. Anyone listening outside the tent could hear You weeping again and again, overcome with feeling. Yet many in the army had been killed or maimed by You in earlier battles, and when the camps met in council the men cursed the fact that he still lived. Su saw the hatred gathering against You and feared he could not keep him safe, so he sent You to the capital and memorialized the throne to spare him. Emperor Xianzong granted a special pardon and returned You to Su as an imperial gift. Su was elated and at once placed three thousand picked troops under his command. Su trusted him completely, and in the end it was You who helped him storm Cai and seize Yuanji. For this achievement he was made General of the Divine Martial Guard, then Jinwu General, acting Left Regular Attendant of the Scattered Riders, Prefect of Xiazhou, Chief Censor, and military commissioner of Xia-Sui-Yin-You.

寶歷初，入為右金吾大將軍。尋以吐蕃入寇，出為涇州刺史、涇原節度使。太和初，討李同捷，遷檢校戶部尚書、滄州刺史、滄德景節度使。太和三年五月卒。董重質董重質，本淮西牙將，吳少誠之子婿也。性勇悍，識軍機，善用兵。及元濟拒命，重質又為謀主，領大軍當王師，連歲不拔，皆重質之謀也。元和十二年，宰相裴度督兵淮西，至郾城，元濟乃悉發左右及守城之卒，委重質而拒度。時李愬乘虛入蔡。既擒元濟，重質之家在蔡，愬乃安恤之，仍使其子持書禮以召重質。重質見其子，知城已陷，及元濟囚窘之狀，乃慨然以單騎歸愬，白衣叩伏。愬揖登階，以賓禮與之食。憲宗欲殺之，愬奏許以不死而來降，請免之，且乞於本軍驅使。於是，貶春州司戶參軍。

At the opening of the Baoli reign he entered the capital as senior general of the Right Jinwu Guard. When the Tibetans raided soon after, he was dispatched as Prefect of Jingzhou and military commissioner of Jingyuan. At the start of Taihe, while campaigning against Li Tongjie, he was made acting Minister of Revenue, Prefect of Cangzhou, and military commissioner of Cang-De-Jing. He died in the fifth month of Taihe 3. Dong Chongzhi had been a Huai West staff general and was married to a daughter of Wu Shaocheng. Fierce and bold by nature, he read battlefield conditions well and handled troops expertly. When Yuanji defied the court, Chongzhi again became his chief strategist. He led the main rebel force against the imperial armies, and for years they could not break him—chiefly because of his plans. In Yuanhe 12, when Chief Minister Pei Du took command of the Huai West campaign and advanced to Yancheng, Yuanji committed his entire household guard and garrison to Chongzhi to hold Du at bay. At that moment Li Su slipped through the gap and entered Cai. Once Yuanji was taken, Su saw to Chongzhi's family still in Cai, reassured and supplied them, and sent Chongzhi's son with a letter inviting him to surrender. When Chongzhi met his son he learned the city was lost and saw Yuanji in chains. With a deep sigh he rode alone back to Su and prostrated himself in plain clothes. Su raised him with a bow, led him up the steps, and received him with full guest honors at table. Emperor Xianzong wanted him put to death, but Su argued that Chongzhi had surrendered on a promise of life, pleaded for clemency, and asked to keep him under command in his own army. He was therefore demoted to registrar of Chunzhou.

明年，轉太子少詹事，委武寧軍收管驅使，仍加金紫。十五年，征入，授左神武軍將軍，知軍事，兼御史中丞。仍賜金帛，與有功者等。尋授鹽州刺史，又遷左右神策及諸道劍南西川行營節度使、檢校左散騎常侍。太和四年，又轉夏綏銀宥節度使。五年，就加檢校工部尚書。重質訓兵立法，羌戎畏服。八年八月卒，贈尚書右僕射。楊元卿楊元卿，祖子華，德州安陵縣丞。父寓，申州鐘山縣令。元卿少孤，慷慨有才略。及冠，尚漂蕩江嶺之表，縱遊放言，人謂之狂生。時吳少誠專蔡州，朝廷姑息之。元卿白衣謁見，署以劇縣，旋辟為從事，奏授試大理評事。亦事少陽，後奏轉監察裏行。因上奏，宰相李吉甫深加慰納，自是一歲或再隨奏至京師。元卿每與少陽言，諭以大義。乃為兇黨所構，賴節度判官蘇肇保持，故免。元卿潛奉朝廷，內耗少陽之事。

The next year he was made Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince, assigned to the Wuning Army for supervised service, and given gold and purple insignia. In the fifteenth year he was recalled and appointed general of the Left Divine Martial Army with operational command, concurrently Censor-in-Chief. He also received gold and silk on the same scale as the men who had earned distinction in the campaign. Soon he was made Prefect of Yanzhou, then military commissioner of the Left and Right Divine Strategy Armies and the multi-route Xichuan forward camp, with the acting title of Left Regular Attendant of the Scattered Riders. In Taihe 4 he was transferred again to the Xia-Sui-Yin-You military commission. In the fifth year he was further granted the acting title of Minister of Works. Chongzhi drilled the army and set firm regulations, and the Qiang and Rong peoples submitted in awe. He died in the eighth month of the eighth year and was posthumously honored as Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. Yang Yuanqing's grandfather Zihua had served as assistant magistrate of Anling County in Dezhou. His father Yu had been magistrate of Zhongshan County in Shenzhou. Yuanqing lost his parents early. He was ardent in temperament and gifted with talent and strategic insight. Even after coming of age he wandered the Jiang-Ling frontier, roaming freely and speaking without restraint, and people called him a reckless young man. Wu Shaocheng then held Caizhou in his own hand, and the court indulged him. Yuanqing presented himself in plain clothes. Shaocheng gave him a difficult county post, then took him onto staff and memorialized the court to grant him provisional rank as an evaluator in the Court of Judicial Review. He later served Wu Shaoyang as well and was memorialized for appointment as acting censor. His memorials reached Chief Minister Li Jifu, who received him warmly; thereafter he traveled to the capital once or twice a year with dispatches. Yuanqing often urged Shaoyang toward the larger obligations of loyalty to the throne. The rebel hard-liners then plotted against him, and he survived only because the commissioner's aide Su Zhao shielded him. In secret he served the court, weakening Shaoyang's position from within.

及少陽死，其子元濟繼立。元卿說曰：「先尚書性吝，諸將皆饑寒。今須布惠以自固也。府中有無，元卿熟知之，曷若散聘諸道，卑辭厚禮，以丈人行呼群帥，庶幾一助，而諸將大獲矣。元卿願將留後表上聞，朝廷安得不從哉？」元濟許之。元卿即日離蔡，以賊勢盈虛條奏，潛請詔諸道拘留使者。及元濟覺，元卿妻陳氏並四男並為元濟所殺，同圬一射垛。蘇肇以保持元卿，亦同日被害。詔授元卿嶽王府司馬，尋遷太子僕射。

When Shaoyang died, his son Yuanji took his place. Yuanqing urged him, saying, "Your late father was tight-fisted by nature, and the generals are starving and freezing. You must now spread largesse if you mean to hold their loyalty. I know the command's coffers inside out. Why not send envoys to every circuit with humble words and rich gifts, address the other commanders as elders, and with even modest aid your officers would profit handsomely? Let me carry the acting-commissioner's memorial to court—surely the throne will not refuse. Yuanji agreed. That same day Yuanqing quit Cai, sent the court a detailed accounting of rebel strength and weakness, and secretly asked that the circuits detain Yuanji's envoys. When Yuanji discovered the betrayal, he killed Yuanqing's wife Lady Chen and all four of his sons and buried them together in a single execution mound. Su Zhao, who had shielded Yuanqing, was killed that same day. The throne appointed Yuanqing marshal of the Prince of Yue's household, then soon promoted him to Vice Director of the Crown Prince's Household.

元和十三年，授蔡州刺史、兼御史中丞。未行，改授光祿少卿。初，朝廷比令元卿與李愬會議，於唐州東境選要便處，權置行蔡州。如百姓官健有歸順者，便準敕優恤，必令全活。既而召見，元卿遽奏請借度支錢，及言事頗多不合旨。宰相裴度亦以諸將討賊三年，功成在旦暮，如更分土地與元卿，即恐相侵生事，故罷前命而改授焉。是歲，既平淮西，元卿奏曰：「淮西甚有寶貨及犀帶，臣知之，往取必得。」上曰：「朕本討賊，為人除害，今賊平人安，則我求之得矣。寶貨犀帶，非所求也，勿復此言。」是月，詔授左金吾衛將軍。未幾，改汾州刺史，復征為左金吾衛將軍。

In Yuanhe 13 he was named Prefect of Caizhou and Censor-in-Chief. Before he could depart, the appointment was changed to Vice Director of the Imperial Household. Earlier the court had ordered Yuanqing to meet with Li Su and, on Tangzhou's eastern frontier, choose a strategic site for a provisional seat of Caizhou. Any civilians or troops who came over were to receive the generous treatment prescribed by edict, with their lives fully protected. When he was summoned to court, Yuanqing at once asked to borrow Treasury funds, and much of what he said ran against the emperor's wishes. Chief Minister Pei Du also argued that after three years of campaigning victory was near; granting Yuanqing fresh territory now would only invite rivalry and disorder. The earlier order was therefore withdrawn and a new appointment made. That year, once Huai West was pacified, Yuanqing memorialized, "The region holds great treasure and rhinoceros-horn belts. I know where they are and could recover them if dispatched. The emperor replied, "I raised this army to rid the people of a scourge. With the rebels gone and the realm at peace, I have already won what I sought. Treasure and rhinoceros-horn belts were never my aim. Do not raise this again. That month he was appointed general of the Left Jinwu Guard. Soon he was sent out as Prefect of Fenzhou, then recalled once more as general of the Left Jinwu Guard.

長慶初，易置鎮、魏守臣。元卿詣宰相深陳利害，並具表其事。後穆宗感悟，賜白玉帶，旋授檢校左散騎常侍、涇州刺史、涇原渭節度觀察等使，兼充四鎮北庭行軍。元卿乃奏置屯田五千頃，每屯築墻高數仞，鍵閉牢密，卒然寇至，盡可保守。加檢校工部尚書。營田成，復加使號。居六年，涇人論奏，為立德政碑，移授懷州刺史，充河陽三城節度觀察等使。太和五年，就加檢校司空，進階光祿大夫，以其營田納粟二十萬石，以裨經費故也。是歲，改授汴宋亳觀察等使。凡所廢置，皆有弘益，詔並從之。年七十，寢疾，歸洛陽，詔授太子太保。是歲八月卒，廢朝三日，贈司徒。元卿始以毀家效順，累授方鎮。然性險巧，所至好聚斂，善結交，涇人得情，亦由此也。

At the start of Changqing the commanders of the Zhen and Wei garrisons were reshuffled. Yuanqing went to the chief ministers and laid out the risks and benefits at length, backing his argument with a full memorial. Later Emperor Muzong took his counsel to heart, granted him a white jade belt, and soon made him acting Left Regular Attendant of the Scattered Riders, Prefect of Jingzhou, military commissioner and surveillance commissioner of Jing-Yuan-Wei, and commander of the Four Garrisons Northern Court campaign force. Yuanqing then memorialized the throne to establish five thousand qing of military colony fields. At each settlement he had walls built several ren high, locked and sealed so they were secure; if raiders suddenly struck, every site could still be held. He was further appointed Acting Minister of Works. Once the colony farms were finished, he was given an additional commissioner title. After six years in office, the people of Jing submitted a joint petition and erected a monument to his virtuous rule. He was transferred to prefect of Huai and made military commissioner and inspector of the Heyang Three Cities and related posts. In the fifth year of Taihe he was further promoted to Acting Sikong and to Grand Master for Splendid Happiness, in recognition of the two hundred thousand shi of grain his colony farms had delivered to help meet state expenses. That year he was reassigned as inspector of Bian, Song, Bo, and related posts. Every measure he abolished or instituted proved broadly beneficial, and the throne approved them all. At seventy he took to his bed with illness, returned to Luoyang, and was appointed Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent by imperial edict. He died in the eighth month of that year. Court was suspended for three days of mourning, and he was posthumously enfeoffed as Situ. Yuanqing had first won the court's trust by sacrificing his own household to prove his loyalty, and was repeatedly given regional commands. Yet he was by nature cunning and scheming, loved to amass wealth wherever he served, and was adept at cultivating allies. That was also how he won the goodwill of the people of Jing.

子延宗，開成中為磁州刺史，坐謀逐河陽節度使以自立，為其黨所告，臺司推鞫得實，誅之。劉悟劉悟，正臣之孫也。正臣本名客奴。天寶末，祿山叛，平盧軍節度使柳知晦受賊偽署。客奴時職居牙門，襲殺知晦，馳章以聞。授平盧軍節度使，賜名正臣。

His son Yanzong served as prefect of Ci during the Kaicheng era. He was found guilty of plotting to expel the Heyang military commissioner and set himself up in power; his own associates reported him, the censorate investigated and confirmed the charge, and he was executed. Liu Wu was the grandson of Liu Zhengchen. Zhengchen's original name had been Kernu. Near the end of the Tianbao era, when An Lushan rebelled, Liu Zhihui, military commissioner of the Pinglu army, accepted a bogus commission from the rebels. Kernu then held a post in the headquarters guard. He launched a surprise attack, killed Zhihui, and sent an urgent memorial to report what he had done. He was appointed military commissioner of the Pinglu army and given the name Zhengchen.

悟少有勇力。叔逸準為汴帥，積緡錢數百萬於洛中；悟輒破扃鐍，悉盜用之。既而懼，亡歸李師古。始亦未甚知，後因擊球馳突，沖師古馬仆，師古怒，將斬之。悟猛以氣語押觸師古，師古奇而免之。因令管壯士，將後軍，累署衙門右職，奏授淄青節度都知兵馬使、兼監察御史。

In his youth Wu was known for courage and physical strength. His uncle Yizhun was military commissioner of Bian and had stored several million strings of cash in Luoyang. Wu broke the locks and stole the entire sum for himself. Fearing the consequences, he fled and took refuge with Li Shigu. At first Shigu paid him little heed. Later, during a game of mounted polo, Wu charged recklessly and knocked Shigu from his horse. Shigu flew into a rage and was about to have him executed. Wu answered back with fierce, defiant words. Shigu found him remarkable and spared his life. He was then put in charge of elite troops and given command of the rear guard. He rose through senior headquarters posts and was memorialized for appointment as overall commander of the Ziqing forces and concurrent Investigating Censor.

元和末，憲宗既平淮西，下詔誅師道。遣悟將兵拒魏博軍，而數促悟戰。悟未及進，馳使召之。悟度使來必殺己，乃偽疾不出，令都虞候往迎之。使者亦果以誠告其人，雲「奉命殺悟以代悟」。都虞候即時先還，悟劾之得其實，乃召諸將與謀曰：「魏博田弘正兵強，出戰必敗，不出則死。今天子所誅者，司空一人而已，悟與公等皆為所驅迫，使就其死。何如殺其來使，整戈以取鄆，立大功，轉危亡為富貴耶！」眾咸曰：「善，唯都將所命！」悟於是立斬其使，以兵取鄆，圍其內城，兼以火攻其門。不數刻，擒師道並男二人，並斬其首以獻。擢拜悟檢校工部尚書、兼御史大夫、義成軍節度使，封彭城郡王，仍賜實封五百戶，錢二萬貫，莊、宅各一區。十五年正月入覲，又加檢校兵部尚書，余如故。

At the end of the Yuanhe era, once Xianzong had pacified Huai-Xi, the court issued an edict calling for Li Shidao's execution. Wu was ordered to lead troops against the Weibo army, and was repeatedly urged to engage. Before Wu could move forward, an urgent messenger was dispatched to summon him. Wu concluded that the envoy had come to kill him. He feigned illness and refused to appear, sending his chief adjutant to meet the messenger in his place. The envoy did in fact confide the truth to the adjutant, saying, "I have orders to kill Wu and replace him." The chief adjutant returned immediately. Wu investigated, confirmed the plot, and summoned his generals to counsel them: "Tian Hongzheng of Weibo commands strong troops. If we take the field we are sure to be defeated; if we refuse, we die all the same. The Son of Heaven means to punish the Chief Minister alone. Wu and all of you are being driven to die with him. Why not kill this envoy, take up our arms, seize Yun, win a great victory, and turn disaster into fortune and honor? They all answered, "Well said—we will do whatever the commander orders!" Wu immediately executed the envoy, marched on Yun with his troops, besieged the inner city, and set fire to the gates. Within scarcely a quarter-hour he captured Shidao and two of his sons, beheaded all three, and sent their heads to the court. Wu was promoted to Acting Minister of Works and Censor-in-Chief, and made military commissioner of Yicheng. He was enfeoffed as Prince of Pengcheng Commandery and granted five hundred taxable households, twenty thousand strings of cash, and both an estate and a residence. In the first month of the fifteenth year he came to court. He was further appointed Acting Minister of War; his other titles remained unchanged.

穆宗即位，以恩例遷檢校尚書右僕射。是歲十月，移鎮澤潞，旋以本官兼平章事。

When Muzong took the throne, Wu was transferred by grace precedent to Acting Vice Director of the Right Department of State Affairs. That October he was transferred to command Ze-Lu, and soon afterward was given his existing rank concurrently with the title of Grand Councilor.

長慶元年，幽州大將硃克融叛，囚其帥張弘靖，朝廷求名將以鎮漁陽。乃加悟檢校司空、平章事，充盧龍軍節度使。悟以幽州方亂，未克進討，請授之節鉞，徐圖之。乃復以悟為澤潞節度，拜檢校司徒，兼太子太傅，依前平章事。時監軍劉承偕頗恃恩權，常對眾辱悟；又縱其下亂法，悟不能平。異日有中使至，承偕宴之，請悟，悟欲往。左右皆曰：「往則必為其困辱矣！」軍眾因亂，悟不止之。乃擒承偕至牙門，殺其二仆，欲並害承偕，悟救之獲免。朝廷不獲已，貶承偕。自是悟頗縱恣，欲效河朔三鎮。朝廷失意不逞之徒，多投寄潞州以求援。往往奏章論事，辭旨不遜。

In the first year of Changqing, Zhu Kerong, a senior general of Youzhou, rebelled and imprisoned his commander Zhang Hongjing. The court looked for a renowned general to secure Yuyang. Wu was promoted to Acting Sikong and Grand Councilor and appointed military commissioner of Lulong. Youzhou was still in chaos and he could not yet march to suppress the rebellion, so Wu asked to be granted the command seal and take his time planning the campaign. He was then returned to command Ze-Lu, appointed Acting Situ and Concurrent Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent, and retained his post as Grand Councilor. At the time the army supervisor Liu Chengjie leaned heavily on imperial favor and often humiliated Wu in front of the assembled troops. He also allowed his men to break regulations with impunity, and Wu could not endure it. One day an imperial envoy arrived. Chengjie entertained him and invited Wu to join; Wu was about to go. Those around him said, "If you go, he is sure to trap and humiliate you! The troops erupted in disorder, and Wu did not restrain them. They seized Chengjie and dragged him to headquarters, killed two of his attendants, and were about to kill Chengjie himself. Wu intervened and saved him. The court, having no other choice, demoted Chengjie. From then on Wu grew increasingly unrestrained and sought to imitate the three Hebei circuits. Many men who had fallen from favor at court and could not have their way took refuge in Lu Prefecture seeking his backing. They often submitted memorials on state affairs in language that was openly insubordinate.

寶歷元年九月病卒，贈太尉。遺表請以其子從諫繼纘戎事。敬宗下大臣議。僕射李絳以澤潞內地，與三鎮事理不同，不可許。宰相李逢吉、中尉王守澄受其賂，曲為奏請。

He died of illness in the ninth month of the first year of Baoli and was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Marshal. In his deathbed memorial he asked that his son Congjian succeed to command of the army. Emperor Jingzong referred the request to his ministers for deliberation. Vice Director Li Jiang argued that Ze-Lu lay in the interior and was fundamentally unlike the three circuits, and that the request could not be granted. Chief Minister Li Fengji and Chief Palace Steward Wang Shoucheng accepted bribes from the family and maneuvered a memorial in their favor.

從諫自將作監主簿，起復雲麾將軍，守金吾衛大將軍同正、檢校左散騎常侍、兼御史大夫，充昭義節度副大使，知節度觀察等留後。二年，加金吾上將軍、檢校工部尚書，充昭義節度等使。文宗即位，進檢校司空。六年十二月入覲。七年春歸籓，加同中書門下平章事。九年，李訓事敗，宰相王涯等四人被禍。時涯兼掌邦計，雖不與李訓同謀，然不自異於其間，既死非其罪。從諫素德涯之私恩，心頗不平，四上章請涯等罪名，仇士良輩深憚之。是時中官頗橫，天子不能制。朝臣日憂陷族，賴從諫論列，而鄭覃、李石方能粗秉朝政。

Congjian was recalled from mourning from his post as Master Recorder in the Directorate for Palace Buildings, appointed General of the Cloud-Banner Guard, Acting Left Regular Attendant, and Censor-in-Chief, and made deputy military commissioner of Zhaoyi with acting authority over the circuit and related duties. In the second year he was appointed Senior General of the Golden Guard, Acting Minister of Works, and full military commissioner of Zhaoyi. When Emperor Wenzong took the throne, Congjian was promoted to Acting Sikong. In the twelfth month of the sixth year he came to court. In the spring of the seventh year he returned to his command and was made Concurrent Associate Grand Councilor of the Secretariat and Chancellery. In the ninth year the Li Xun plot failed, and Grand Councilor Wang Ya and three others were destroyed. Wang Ya was then also in charge of state finance. Though he had not plotted with Li Xun, he had not kept himself apart from the affair, and his execution was undeserved. Congjian had long felt a personal debt to Wang Ya and was deeply troubled by the case. Four times he memorialized asking what crimes Wang Ya and the others had committed. Qiu Shiliang and his faction feared him greatly. At that time the eunuch officials were rampant, and the emperor could not restrain them. Court officials lived in daily fear that their entire clans would be wiped out. They depended on Congjian's outspoken memorials, and only then could Zheng Tan and Li Shi roughly hold the reins of government.

先是，有蕭洪者，詐稱太后弟，因仇士良保任，許之厚賂。及洪累授方鎮，納賂不滿士良之誌，士良怒，遣人上書論洪非太后之親，又以蕭本者為太后弟。從諫深知內宮之故，乃自潞府飛章論之曰：「臣聞造偽以亂真者，匹夫知之尚不可，況天下皆知乎？執疏以為親者，在匹夫之家尚不可，況處大國之朝乎？臣受國恩深，奉公心切，知有此失，安敢不言！伏唯皇帝陛下仁及萬方，孝敦九族，而推心無黨，唯理是求。微臣所以不避直言，切論深事。伏見金吾將軍蕭本，稱是太后親弟，受此官榮。今喧然國都，迨聞籓府，自上及下，異口同音，皆言蕭弘是真，蕭本是偽。臣傍聽眾論，遍察群情，鹹思發明，以正名分。今年二月，其蕭弘投臣當道，求臣上聞，自言：比者福建觀察使唐扶及監軍劉行立具審根源，已曾論奏。其時屬蕭本得為外戚，來自左軍，臺司既不敢研窮，聖意遂勒還鄉里。自茲議論，轉益沸騰。臣亦令潛問左軍，榷論大體，而士良推至公之道，發不黨之言。蓋蕭本自度孤危，妄有憑恃。伏以名居國舅，位列朝班，而真偽不分，中外所恥。切慮皇太后受此罔惑，已有恩情，若含垢於一時，終取笑於千古。伏乞追蕭弘赴闕，與蕭本對推，細詰根源，必辨真偽。」詔令三司使推按。帝以二蕭雖詐，托名太后之宗，不欲誅之，俱流嶺表。從諫進位檢校司徒。會昌三年卒。

Earlier there had been a man named Xiao Hong who falsely claimed to be the empress dowager's younger brother. With Qiu Shiliang's backing he promised lavish bribes. After Hong was repeatedly given regional commands, the bribes he paid failed to satisfy Shiliang. Shiliang in anger had someone submit a memorial claiming Hong was not the empress dowager's kinsman, and declared that Xiao Ben was her true younger brother. Congjian understood the inner-palace intrigue behind the affair and sent an urgent memorial from Lu, writing: "I have heard that to manufacture falsehood and confound the truth cannot be tolerated even when only a common man knows of it—how much less when all the realm knows? To clutch a written claim and declare someone a kinsman cannot be allowed even in a commoner's household—how much less in the court of a great empire? I have received deep grace from the state and serve the public with all my heart. Knowing of this wrong, how could I dare remain silent? Your Majesty's benevolence reaches every quarter, your filial piety embraces the nine clans, your heart is open and without faction, and you seek only what is right. That is why I do not shrink from blunt speech on so grave a matter. I observe that General of the Golden Guard Xiao Ben claims to be the empress dowager's own younger brother and has been granted rank and honor on that basis. Now the capital is in an uproar, and the news has spread to the frontier posts. From high to low, all say with one voice that Xiao Hong is genuine and Xiao Ben is a fraud. I have listened to public opinion on every side and weighed the mood of the court. All wish this matter clarified so that names and ranks may be set aright. This year, in the second month, Xiao Hong came to me on the road and asked me to report his case to the throne. He said that Fujian observation commissioner Tang Fu and army supervisor Liu Xingli had already fully investigated the matter and submitted a memorial on it. At that time Xiao Ben had become an imperial in-law through the empress dowager and enjoyed backing from the Left Army. The censorial offices dared not pursue the matter, and the throne ordered Xiao Hong sent back to his home district. Since then public debate has grown ever fiercer. I also made discreet inquiries of the Left Army and weighed the larger issue. Shiliang spoke of utmost fairness and declared himself free of partiality. It appears Xiao Ben saw himself isolated and imperiled, and presumptuously sought something to lean on. A man who bears the title of imperial uncle-in-law and holds rank in the court assembly, yet with truth and falsehood left undistinguished—this shames both court and frontier alike. I deeply fear the empress dowager has been misled and has already formed an affectionate bond with the impostor. If we tolerate this stain even for a moment, we will invite ridicule for ages to come. I beg that Xiao Hong be summoned to the capital to confront Xiao Ben, that the origins be examined in detail, and truth and falsehood decisively distinguished. An edict ordered the Three Offices commissioners to investigate the case. Because both impostors had invoked the empress dowager's clan, the emperor did not wish to execute them. Both were banished to the far south beyond the Ling region. Congjian was promoted to Acting Situ. He died in the third year of Huichang.

大將郭誼等匿喪，用其侄稹權領軍務。時宰相李德裕用事，素惡從諫之奸回，奏請劉稹護喪歸洛，以聽朝旨。稹竟叛。德裕用中丞李回奉使河朔，說令三鎮加兵討稹；乃削奪稹官，命徐許滑孟魏鎮幽并八鎮之師，四面進攻。四年，郭誼斬稹，傳首京師。

Senior generals including Guo Yi concealed his death and put his nephew Zhen in charge of military affairs. Chief Minister Li Deyu was then in power and had long despised Congjian's duplicity. He memorialized that Liu Zhen should escort the coffin back to Luoyang and await the court's orders. Zhen rebelled in the end. Deyu sent Censor-in-Chief Li Hui as envoy to the Hebei region to persuade the three circuits to commit additional troops against Zhen. Zhen's offices were then stripped. Armies from Xuzhou, Xu Prefecture, Huazhou, Mengzhou, Weibo, Zhenzhou, Youzhou, and Bingzhou were ordered to attack from every direction. In the fourth year Guo Yi executed Zhen and sent his head to the capital.

從諫妻裴氏。初，稹拒命，裴氏召集大將妻同宴，以酒為壽，泣下不能已。諸婦請命，裴曰：「新婦各與汝夫文字，勿忘先相公之拔擢，莫效李丕背恩，走投國家。子母為托，故悲不能已也。」諸婦亦泣下，故潞將叛誌益堅。稹死，裴亦以此極刑。稹族屬昆仲九人，皆誅。劉沔劉沔，許州牙將也。少事李光顏為帳中親將。元和末，光顏討吳元濟，常用沔為前鋒。蔡將有董重質者，守洄曲，其部下乘騾即戰，號「騾子軍」，最為勁悍，官軍常警備之。沔驍銳善騎射，每與騾軍接戰，必冒刃陷堅，俘馘而還，故忠武一軍，破賊第一。淮、蔡平，隨光顏入朝。憲宗留宿衛，歷三將軍。歷鹽州刺史、天德軍防禦使，在西北邊累立奇效。

Congjian's wife was Lady Pei. When Zhen first defied the court's orders, Lady Pei gathered the generals' wives for a banquet, raised a cup in toast, and wept without stopping. The wives asked what troubled her. Lady Pei said, "Each of you new brides write to your husbands: do not forget how the late lord raised you up, and do not follow Li Pi's example by betraying his grace and turning against the state. It is my son I entrust to you—that is why I cannot stop weeping. The other wives wept as well, and the Lu commanders' determination to rebel hardened all the more. After Zhen was executed, Lady Pei was put to death by the same extreme penalty. Nine male members of Zhen's clan were all put to death. Liu Mian was a guard officer in the Xuzhou military yamen. In his youth he served Li Guangyan as a trusted general on his personal staff. At the end of the Yuanhe reign, when Guangyan marched against Wu Yuanji, he regularly sent Mian ahead as vanguard. One of the Cai generals, Dong Chongzhi, held Huaiqu. His men fought from muleback and were known as the Mule Army—the toughest force in the field, and one the imperial armies always treated with caution. Mian was fierce, quick, and a superb mounted archer. In every clash with the Mule Army he charged through the blades, broke the enemy line, and came back with prisoners and severed heads. Among the Zhongwu forces he stood first in breaking the rebels. After Huai and Cai were pacified, he accompanied Guangyan to the capital. Emperor Xianzong retained him in the palace guard, where he rose through three general's ranks. He served as prefect of Yanzhou and defense commissioner of the Tiande army, winning one outstanding victory after another on the northwest frontier.

太和末，河西党項羌叛。沔以天德之師屢誅其酋渠，移授振武節度使，檢校右散騎常侍、單於大都護。開成中，党項雜虜大擾河西。沔率吐渾、契苾、沙陁三部落等諸族萬人、馬三千騎，徑至銀、夏討襲，大破之。俘獲萬計，告捷而還。以功加檢校戶部尚書。會昌初，回紇部饑，烏介可汗奉太和公主至漢南求食。過杷頭峰，犯雲、朔、北川。朝廷以太原重地，控扼諸戎，乃移沔河東節度使、檢校尚書左僕射、太原尹、北京留守。詔與幽州張仲武協力招撫回鶻，竟破虜寇，迎公主還宮。以功進位檢校司空，尋改滑州刺史、義成軍節度使。

Near the end of the Taihe reign the Tangut Qiang of Hexi rose in rebellion. With the Tiande army Mian repeatedly killed their chieftains. He was then transferred to military commissioner of Zhenwu, with the acting titles of Right Regular Grand Master of the Palace Retinue and Grand Protector of Chanyu. During the Kaicheng reign the Tangut and other frontier tribes threw Hexi into turmoil. Mian led ten thousand men from the Tuquhun, Qibi, Shatuo, and other allied tribes, with three thousand horsemen, straight into Yin and Xia to strike and raid, and broke them completely. Captives ran into the tens of thousands. He reported victory and returned. For this achievement he was further appointed acting Minister of Revenue. At the opening of the Huichang reign famine struck the Uyghur tribes, and Khagan Wujie led Princess Taihe south of the frontier to seek provisions. Passing Batou Peak, he raided Yun, Shuo, and Beichuan. Because Taiyuan was a vital choke point for the frontier peoples, the court transferred Mian to Hedong military commissioner, with the acting titles of Left Vice Minister of Works, Taiyuan magistrate, and Northern Capital garrison commander. An edict ordered him to join Zhang Zhongwu of Youzhou in winning the Uyghurs over by conciliation. In the end they shattered the raiders and escorted the princess back to court. For his merit he was promoted to acting Grand Master of Works, and soon after was made prefect of Huazhou and military commissioner of the Yicheng army.

四年，潞帥劉從諫卒，子稹匿喪，擅主留務，要求旌鉞。武宗怒，命忠武節度使王宰、徐州節度李彥佐等，充潞府西南面招撫使。遂復授沔太原節度，充潞府北面招討使。沔與張仲武不協，方征兵幽州，乃移沔為鄭滑節度使，進位檢校司徒。既而以疾求歸洛陽，授太子太保，卒。

In the fourth year Liu Congjian, military commissioner of Lu, died. His son Zhen concealed the death, seized control of local affairs on his own authority, and demanded the commissioner's staff and ceremonial axe. Emperor Wuzong was furious. He ordered Wang Zai, military commissioner of Zhongwu, Li Yanzuo of Xuzhou, and others to serve as pacification commissioners on the southwest approach to Lu Prefecture. Mian was then reappointed military commissioner of Taiyuan and made overall commander on the northern front of the Lu campaign. Mian and Zhang Zhongwu did not get along. While troops were being levied from Youzhou, Mian was transferred to military commissioner of Zheng-Hua and promoted to acting Grand Mentor of State. Soon afterward, pleading illness, he asked to return to Luoyang. He was appointed Grand Mentor of the Crown Prince and died.

初，沔為忠武小校，從李光顏討淮西，為捉生將。前後遇賊血戰，鋒刃所傷，幾死者數四。嘗傷重臥草中，月黑不知歸路，昏然而睡，夢人授之雙燭，曰：「子方大貴，此行無患，可持此而還。」既行，炯然有雙光在前。自後破虜危難，每行常有此光。及罷鎮後，雙光息。五年，李德裕出鎮，罷沔為太子太保。明年，以太子太保致仕卒。石雄石雄，徐州牙校也。王智興之討李同捷，以雄為石廂捉生兵馬使。勇敢善戰，氣淩三軍。自智興以兵臨賊境，率先收棣州，雄先驅渡河，前無堅陣。徐人伏雄之撫待，惡智興之虐，欲逐之而立雄。智興以軍在賊境，懼其變生，因其立功，請授一郡刺史。朝廷征赴京師，授壁州刺史。智興尋殺雄之素相善諸將士百余人，仍奏雄搖動軍情，請行誅戮。文宗雅知其能，惜之，乃長流白州。

Earlier, when Mian was a junior officer in Zhongwu, he followed Li Guangyan against Huai-West and served as a capture-and-reconnaissance officer. Time and again he fought the enemy in bloody combat. Blades wounded him on four separate occasions, and he nearly died. Once, gravely wounded, he lay in the grass. The night was black and he could not find the way back. He sank into sleep, and in a dream someone handed him a pair of candles, saying, "You are destined for great honor. On this march you need fear nothing—take these and go home. As he walked, two bright lights burned ahead of him. After that, whenever he broke the enemy in danger on campaign, those twin lights went before him. Once he left his command, the twin lights vanished. In the fifth year, when Li Deyu left office, Mian was removed from his command and made Grand Mentor of the Crown Prince. The following year he retired as Grand Mentor of the Crown Prince and died. Shi Xiong was a guard officer in the Xuzhou military yamen. When Wang Zhixing marched against Li Tongjie, he made Xiong commander of the Stone Quarters' capture-and-reconnaissance troops. Brave and skilled in battle, his fighting spirit overawed the entire army. From the moment Zhixing brought his army to the rebel frontier, Xiong was first to take Di Prefecture. As vanguard he crossed the river ahead of the rest, and no enemy line could hold against him. The men of Xuzhou admired how Xiong treated them and hated Zhixing's cruelty. They wanted to drive Zhixing out and put Xiong in his place. With his army still in enemy country, Zhixing feared a mutiny. Citing Xiong's merit, he asked that Xiong be given a prefectural post. The court summoned him to the capital and appointed him prefect of Bi Prefecture. Zhixing soon killed more than a hundred generals and soldiers who had been close to Xiong, and still memorialized that Xiong had unsettled the army and should be executed. Emperor Wenzong knew his talent and valued him, and so instead had him exiled to distant Bai Prefecture.

太和中，河西党項擾亂，選求武士。乃召還，隸振武劉沔軍為裨將，累立破羌之功。文宗以智興故，未甚提擢，而李紳、李德裕以崔群舊將，素嘉之。

During the Taihe reign the Tangut of Hexi were in turmoil, and the court searched for fighting men. Xiong was recalled and placed under Liu Mian in the Zhenwu army as a subordinate general, winning repeated victories over the Qiang. Because of Zhixing, Emperor Wenzong did not promote him far; but Li Shen and Li Deyu, who had once served under Cui Qun, had long admired him.

會昌初，回鶻寇天德，詔命劉沔為招撫回鶻使。三年，回鶻大掠雲、朔北邊，牙於五原。沔以太原之師屯於雲州。沔謂雄曰：「黠虜離散，不足驅除。國家以公主之故，不欲急攻。今觀其所為，氣淩我輩。若稟朝旨，或恐依違。我輩捍邊，但能除患，專之可也。公可選驍健，乘其不意，徑趨虜帳，彼以疾雷之勢，不暇枝梧，必棄公主亡竄。事茍不捷，吾自繼進，亦無患也。」雄受教，自選勁騎，得沙陁李國昌三部落，兼契苾拓拔雜虜三千騎，月暗夜發馬邑，徑趨烏介之牙。時虜帳逼振武，雄既入城，登堞視其眾寡。見氈車數十，從者皆衣硃碧，類華人服飾。雄令諜者訊之：「此何大人？」虜曰：「此公主帳也。」雄喻其人曰：「國家兵馬欲取可汗。公主至此，家國也，須謀歸路。俟兵合時不得動帳幕。」雄乃大率城內牛馬雜畜及大鼓，夜穴城為十余門。遲明，城上立旗幟炬火，乃於諸門縱其牛畜，鼓噪從之，直犯烏介牙帳。炬火燭天，鼓噪動地，可汗惶駭莫測，率騎而奔。雄率勁騎追至殺胡山，急擊之。斬首萬級，生擒五千，羊馬車帳皆委之而去。遂迎公主還太原。以功加檢校左散騎常侍、豐州刺名、兼御史大夫、天德防禦等使。

At the opening of Huichang, when the Uyghurs raided Tiande, an edict appointed Liu Mian commissioner to pacify the Uyghurs. In the third year the Uyghurs looted heavily along the Yun and Shuo northern frontier and pitched camp at Wuyuan. Mian stationed the Taiyuan army at Yun Prefecture. Mian said to Xiong, "These cunning barbarians are scattered—not worth chasing off in a full campaign. Because of the princess, the court does not want a hurried attack. Judging by what they are doing now, their arrogance outmatches ours. If we ask the court for orders, I fear we will meet only hesitation. We who guard the frontier need only remove the threat. That we may do on our own authority. Choose your best fighters, catch them off guard, and strike straight at the barbarian camp. Moving like sudden thunder, they will have no time to brace themselves and will surely abandon the princess and flee. If the plan fails, I will follow up myself. Even then there will be no great risk. Xiong accepted the plan. He personally picked crack cavalry, mustered three Shatuo tribes under Li Guochang together with Qibi, Tuoba, and other allied barbarians—three thousand horsemen in all—and on a moonless night set out from Mayi straight for Wujie's camp. The barbarian camp then pressed close to Zhenwu. Once inside the city, Xiong climbed the wall to gauge their strength. He saw several dozen felt wagons. The attendants all wore vermilion and green, in dress like that of Chinese. Xiong sent a scout to ask, "What great personage is this? The barbarian answered, "This is the princess's camp." Xiong told the man, "The imperial army means to seize the khagan. The princess has come this far—this is her home and country. You must plan your return. When the armies join battle, do not stir the tent curtains. Xiong then gathered inside the city all cattle, horses, and other livestock, together with great drums. By night they opened more than ten breaches in the wall. At dawn they raised banners, torches, and signal fires on the wall, then at every breach drove out the livestock to the thunder of drums and charged after them straight at Wujie's main camp. Torches lit the sky and the uproar shook the earth. The khagan was terrified beyond reckoning and fled on horseback. Xiong led crack cavalry in pursuit to Mount Sha Hu and pressed the attack hard. They took ten thousand heads, five thousand captives, and left sheep, horses, wagons, and tents abandoned in heaps. They then escorted the princess back to Taiyuan. For this achievement he was further appointed acting Left Regular Grand Master of the Palace Retinue, prefect of Feng Prefecture, concurrent Censor-in-Chief, and defense commissioner of Tiande.

雄沈勇徇義，臨財甚廉。每破賊立功，朝廷特有賜與，皆不入私室；置於軍門，首取一分，余並分給，以此軍士感義，皆思奮發。累遷檢校左僕射、河中尹、河中晉絳節度使。

Xiong was resolute, brave, and devoted to duty, and scrupulously honest where wealth was concerned. Whenever he won merit against the rebels the court sent special rewards, yet he never kept them for his private quarters; he placed them at the camp gate, took one share for himself, and divided the rest among the men. The soldiers were moved by his righteousness and burned to fight. He rose in succession to acting Left Vice Minister, magistrate of Hezhong, and military commissioner of the Hezhong-Jin-Jiang circuit.

俄而昭義劉從諫卒，其子稹擅主軍務，朝議問罪。令徐帥李彥佐為潞府西南面招撫使，以晉州刺史李丕為副。時王宰在萬善柵，劉沔在石會，相顧未進。雄受代之翌日，越烏嶺，破賊五砦，斬獲千計。武宗聞捷大悅，謂侍臣曰：「今之義而有勇，罕有雄之比者。」雄既率先破賊，不旬日，王宰收天井關，何弘敬、王元逵亦收磁洺等郡。先是潞州狂人折腰於市，謂人曰：「雄七千人至矣。」劉從諫捕而誅之。及稹危蹙，大將郭誼密款請斬稹歸朝，軍中疑其詐。雄倡言曰：「賊稹之叛，郭誼為謀主。今請斬稹，即誼自謀，又何疑焉？」武宗亦以狂人之言，詔雄以七千兵受降。雄即徑馳潞州降誼，盡擒其黨與。賊平，進加檢校司空。

Before long Liu Congjian of Zhaoyi died. His son Zhen seized military affairs on his own authority, and court opinion demanded punishment. Li Yanzuo, commander of Xu, was ordered to serve as pacification commissioner on the southwest approach to Lu; Li Pi, prefect of Jin, was made his deputy. At the time Wang Zai held Wanshan Stockade and Liu Mian held Shihui. They faced each other and neither advanced. The day after Xiong took up his new command, he crossed Wuling, broke five rebel stockades, and took more than a thousand heads and captives. When Emperor Wuzong heard of the victory he was greatly pleased and said to his attendants, "Among men today who join righteousness with courage, few can compare with Xiong. Once Xiong had broken the rebels first, within ten days Wang Zai recovered Tianjing Pass, and He Hongjing and Wang Yuankui recovered Ci, Ming, and other prefectures. Earlier a madman in Lu Prefecture had bowed double in the market and told people, "Xiong and seven thousand men have arrived. Liu Congjian arrested and executed him. When Zhen was cornered, the great general Guo Yi secretly offered to behead Zhen and surrender to the court. The army suspected a ruse. Xiong declared openly, "In Zhen's rebellion Guo Yi was the chief plotter. Now that he asks to behead Zhen, it is Yi's own design—why doubt him? Emperor Wuzong also remembered the madman's words and ordered Xiong to accept the surrender with seven thousand men. Xiong rode straight to Lu Prefecture to receive Yi's surrender and seized all his accomplices. When the rebels were pacified he was further promoted to acting Grand Master of Works.

王宰，智興之子，於雄不足，雄以轅門子弟善禮之。然討潞之役，雄有始卒之功，宰心惡之。及李德裕罷相，宰黨排擯雄，罷鎮。既而聞德裕貶，發疾而卒。

Wang Zai was Zhixing's son and could not match Xiong, yet Xiong treated him courteously as a commander's son. Yet in the Lu campaign Xiong had merit from beginning to end, and Zai inwardly resented him. When Li Deyu left the chancellorship, Zai's faction forced Xiong out and stripped him of his command. Soon afterward, on hearing that Deyu had been demoted, he fell ill and died.

史臣曰：古所謂名將者，不必蒙輪拔距之材，拉虎批熊之力；要當以義終始，好謀而成。而阿跌昆仲，稟氣陰山，率多令範。讓家權於主婦，拒美妓於奸臣；章武恢復之功，義師之效也。重胤忠於事上，仁於撫下，淮、蔡之役，勛亞光顏；殿邦之臣也，不可多得。王沛之擒僚婿，李祐之執賊渠，皆因事立功，轉禍為福。智則智矣，仁者不為！而劉悟自恃太尤，世邀纘襲，至於赤族，報亦晚耶！雄、沔負羽邊城，聲馳沙漠，奉迎貴主，摧破昆戎，不亦壯乎！雄能感於知己，不為無義，美哉！

The historiographer writes: What the ancients called a famous general did not have to possess the raw strength to vault over chariots or pull up house beams, nor the brute force to drag tigers and strike bears; what mattered was to keep faith from first to last and to win through careful planning. The Jie A Die brothers drew their spirit from the Yin Mountains and, for the most part, set a standard of conduct. They yielded household authority to the mistress of the house and turned away the beautiful entertainers proffered by treacherous ministers; Emperor Xianzong's work of restoration was the fruit of righteous armies. Wu Chongyin was loyal in serving his superiors and humane in caring for his men; in the Huai-Cai campaign his merit stood second only to Guangyan; a minister who steadies the realm—men like that are not easily found. Wang Pei's capture of the son-in-law and Li You's seizure of the rebel chieftain both won merit by seizing opportunity and turned misfortune into blessing. Clever, yes—but a humane man would not have done such things! Liu Wu, trusting himself too far, for generations sought hereditary succession—to the point where his clan was wiped out. Was the retribution not long in coming! Xiong and Mian shouldered the frontier's heavy burden, their fame racing across the desert; they escorted an imperial princess and crushed the Kun barbarians—was that not magnificent! That Xiong could be moved by one who knew his worth and refused to act without righteousness—how fine!

贊曰：淮、鄆砥平，義將輸誠。二兇受縛，亦其同惡。毀義棄忠，必殄爾宗。孰稱善將？劉沔、石雄。

In praise: When Huai and Yun were brought to heel, righteous generals offered their loyalty. Two villains were bound—yet their accomplices shared the guilt. Whoever destroys righteousness and abandons loyalty—your clan shall be wiped out. Who may be called good generals? Liu Mian and Shi Xiong.

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