Volume 14 Book of Later Liang 14: Biographies 4 - Luo Shaowei, Zhao Chou, Wang Ke

羅紹威，〈（《舊唐書》云：紹威，字端己。）〉魏州貴鄉人。父宏信，本名宗弁，初為馬牧監，事節度使樂彥貞。光啟末，彥貞子從訓驕盈太橫，招聚兵甲，欲誅牙軍。牙軍怒，聚噪攻之，從訓出據相州。牙軍廢彥貞，囚於龍興寺，逼令為僧，尋殺之，推小校趙文建為留後。先是，宏信自言，於所居遇一白須翁，謂之曰：「爾當為土地主。」如是者再，心竊異之。既而文建不洽軍情，牙軍聚呼曰：「孰願為節度使者？」宏信即應曰：「白須翁早以命我，可以君長爾曹。」唐文德元年四月，牙軍推宏信為留後。朝廷聞之，即正授節旄。乾寧中，太祖急攻兗、鄆，朱瑄求援於太原。時李克用遣大將李存信率師赴之，假道於魏，屯於莘縣。存信御軍無法，稍侵魏之芻牧，宏信不平之。太祖因遣使謂宏信曰：「太原誌吞河朔，回戈之日，貴道堪憂。」宏信懼，乃歸款於太祖，仍出師三萬攻李存信，敗之。未幾，李克用領兵攻魏，營於觀音門外，屬邑多拔。太祖遣葛從周援之，戰於洹水，擒克用男落落以獻。太祖令送於宏信，斬之，晉軍乃退。是時，太祖方圖兗、鄆，慮宏信離貳，每歲時賂遺，必卑辭厚禮。宏信每有答貺，太祖必對魏使北面拜而受之，曰：「六兄比予有倍年之長，兄弟之國，安得以常鄰遇之。」故宏信以為厚己。其後，宏信累官至檢校太尉，封臨清王。光化元年八月，薨於位。

Luo Shaowei (The 《Old Book of Tang》 gives his style as Duanji.)〉 came from Guixiang in Weizhou. His father Hongxin, born Zongbian, began as a horse-pasture inspector under Commissioner Le Yanzhen. Late in Guangqi, Yanzhen's son Congxun grew arrogant, armed his followers, and plotted to wipe out the guard. The guards rose in fury; Congxun fled and seized Xiangzhou. They deposed Yanzhen, jailed him at Longxing Monastery, made him a monk, then killed him and made junior officer Zhao Wenjian acting commissioner. Hongxin once said a white-bearded elder at his home told him, "You will rule this land. It happened twice, and he took it as an omen. When Wenjian lost the army's trust, the guards cried, "Who will be commissioner? Hongxin answered, "The white-bearded elder chose me—you may make me your leader." Tang Wende 1, month 4, the guards made Hongxin acting commissioner. The court confirmed him with the commission banner. During Qianning the Founder besieged Yan; Zhu Xuan begged Taiyuan for help. Li Keyong sent Li Cunxin through Wei, where he camped at Xin county. Cunxin's men looted Wei fodder; Hongxin resented it. The Founder warned Hongxin, "Taiyuan means to swallow the north; when they turn homeward, Wei will be in danger. Fearing Taiyuan, Hongxin submitted and sent thirty thousand men who routed Cunxin. Soon Keyong besieged Wei at Guanyin Gate and seized nearby towns. The Founder sent Ge Congzhou; at Huan River they captured Keyong's son Luoluo. Hongxin beheaded Luoluo and the Jin army withdrew. While attacking Yan the Founder courted Hongxin yearly with humble, lavish gifts lest Wei turn away. He bowed north to Wei envoys, saying, "Sixth Brother is my elder in a brotherhood—I cannot treat him as a mere neighbor. Hongxin believed himself honored. He rose to honorary Grand Marshal and Prince of Linqing. He died in office in Guanghua 1, month 8.

紹威襲父位為留後，〈（《舊唐書》：紹威自文德初授左散騎常侍，充天雄軍節度副使，自龍紀至乾寧，十年之中，累加官爵。）〉朝廷因而命之，尋正授旄鉞，累加檢校太尉、兼侍中，封長沙郡王。昭宗東遷，命諸道修洛邑，紹威獨營太廟，製加守侍中，進封鄴王。初，至德中，田承嗣盜據相、魏、澶、博、衛、貝等六州，召募軍中子弟，置之部下，號曰「牙軍」，皆豐給厚賜，不勝驕寵。年代浸遠，父子相襲，親黨膠固，其凶戾者，強賈豪奪，逾法犯令，長吏不能禁。變易主帥，有同兒戲，自田氏已後，垂二百年。主帥廢置，出於其手，如史憲誠、何全皞、韓君雄、樂彥貞，皆為其所立。優獎小不如意，則舉族被誅。紹威懲其往弊，雖以貨賂姑息，而心銜之。

Shaowei succeeded as acting commissioner, (The 《Old Book of Tang》 records steady promotion from Wende through Qianning.)〉 The court confirmed him with full commission, Grand Marshal, Palace Secretary, and the title Prince of Changsha. When the emperor moved east, Shaowei alone rebuilt the Great Temple, became chief minister, and was made Prince of Ye. Since Zhide, Tian Chengsi had held six prefectures and pampered a "Guard Army" of soldier sons beyond all discipline. Generations of guards grew into kin cliques that plundered at will while officials looked on. They swapped commanders like toys for nearly two centuries after the Tian clan. They installed every commander—Shi Xianzheng, He Quanhan, Han Junxiong, Le Yanzhen among them. Displease them slightly and your whole clan died. Shaowei bribed the guards but hated the system.

紹威嗣世之明年正月，幽州劉仁恭擁兵十萬，謀亂河朔，進陷貝州，長驅攻魏。紹威求援於太祖，太祖遣李思安援之，屯於洹水。葛從周自邢、洺引軍入魏州。燕將劉守文、單可及與王師戰於內黃，大敗之，乘勝追躡。會從周亦出軍掩擊，又敗燕軍，斬首三萬餘級。三年，紹威遣使會軍，同攻滄州以報之。自是紹威感太祖援助之恩，深加景附。紹威見唐祚衰陵，群雄交亂，太祖兵強天下，必知有禪代之志，故傾心附結，讚成其事，每慮牙軍變易，心不自安。天祐初，州城地無故自陷，俄而小校李公牷謀變，紹威愈懼，乃定計圖牙軍，遣使告太祖，求為外援。太祖許之，遣李思安會魏博軍再攻滄州。先是，安陽公主薨於魏，太祖因之遣長直軍校馬嗣勳選兵千人，伏兵仗於巨橐中，肩舁以入魏州，言助女葬事。天祐三年正月五日，太祖親率大軍濟河，聲言視行營於滄、景，牙軍頗疑其事。是月十六日，紹威率奴客數百與嗣勳同攻之，時宿於牙城者千餘人，遲明盡誅之，凡八千家，皆赤其族，州城為之一空。翌日，太祖自內黃馳至鄴。時魏軍二萬，方與王師同圍滄州，聞城中有變，乃擁大將史仁遇保於高唐，六州之內，皆為敵，太祖遣諸將分討之，半歲方平。自是紹威雖除其逼，然尋有自弱之悔。

In his second year, month 1, Liu Rengong of Youzhou marched a hundred thousand into Hebei, took Bei, and struck Wei. Shaowei begged the Founder, who sent Li Si'an to camp at Huan River. Ge Congzhou entered Wei from Xing and Ming. Yan generals Liu Shouwen and Shan Keji were crushed at Neihuang and pursued. Congzhou ambushed them again and took thirty thousand heads. In year 3 he joined the Founder's assault on Cangzhou. Thereafter he clung to the Founder in gratitude. Seeing Tang fail and the Founder's power rise, Shaowei backed his bid for the throne yet lived in fear of the guards. Early in Tianyou the city sank; officer Li Gongquan plotted revolt; Shaowei planned to destroy the guards and begged the Founder's aid. The Founder agreed and sent Li Si'an with Wei troops against Cangzhou again. When Princess Anyang died at Wei, the Founder sent Ma Sixun with a thousand men hidden in funeral coffers into the city. Tianyou 3, month 1, day 5, the Founder crossed the river claiming to inspect Cang and Jing camps; the guards grew suspicious. On day 16 Shaowei and Sixun slaughtered the thousand guards and eight thousand kin until the city stood empty. Next day the Founder rode in from Neihuang. Twenty thousand Wei troops at Cangzhou rebelled under Shi Renyu; six prefectures turned hostile until the Founder pacified them in six months. Shaowei ended the guard threat but soon regretted weakening himself.

不數月，復有浮陽之役，紹威飛挽饋運，自鄴至長蘆五百里，疊跡重軌，不絕於路。又於魏州建元帥府署，沿道置亭候，供牲牢、酒備、軍幕、什器，上下數十萬人，一無闕者。及太祖回自長蘆，復過魏州，紹威乘間謂太祖曰：「邠、岐、太原終有狂譎之志，各以興復唐室為詞，王宜自取神器，以絕人望。天與不取，古人所非。」太祖深感之。及登極，加守太傅、兼中書令，賜號扶天啟運竭節功臣。車駕將入洛，奉詔重修五鳳樓、朝元殿，巨木良匠非當時所有，倏架於地，溯流西立於舊址之上，張設綈繡，皆有副焉。太祖甚喜，以寶帶、名馬賜之。先是，河朔三鎮司管鑰、備灑掃皆有閹人，紹威曰：「此類皆宮禁指使，豈人臣家所宜畜也。」因搜獲三十餘輩，盡以來獻，太祖嘉之。開平中，加守太師、兼中書令，邑萬戶。紹威嘗以臨淄、海岱罷兵歲久，儲庾山積，惟京師軍民多而食益寡，願於太行伐木，下安陽、淇門，斫船三百艘，置水運自大河入洛口，歲漕百萬石，以給宿衛，太祖深然之。會紹威遘疾革，遣使上章乞骸骨，太祖撫案動容，顧使者曰：「亟行語而主，為我強飯，如有不可諱，當世世貴爾子孫以相報也。」仍命其子周翰監總軍府。及訃至，輟朝三日，冊贈尚書令。紹威在鎮凡十七年，年三十四薨。

He fed the Fuyang campaign with convoys from Ye to Changlu, five hundred li without pause. He built a marshal's hall at Wei and stocked the road with every supply for tens of thousands. On the Founder's return he urged him, "Bin, Qi, and Taiyuan still dream of Tang restoration—seize the throne yourself. Heaven's mandate unused is what the ancients condemned. The Founder took it to heart. At his enthronement Shaowei became Grand Tutor and Grand Secretary with the merit title Exhausting Heaven and Initiating Fortune. He rebuilt the Five Phoenix Tower and Chaoyuan Hall for the capital entry with timbers no one else could find. The Founder rewarded him with belts and horses. He refused to keep palace eunuchs as household stewards, saying they belonged at court alone. He sent thirty eunuchs to the Founder, who praised him. In Kaiping he became Grand Preceptor, Grand Secretary, with ten thousand households. He proposed a Taihang timber route and river convoys of a million piculs yearly to feed the capital—the Founder agreed. Dying, he begged to retire; the Founder wept and promised his children would be honored forever. He left son Zhouhan in charge of the army. Court mourned three days and posthumously made him Minister of Works. He ruled seventeen years and died at thirty-four.

紹威形貌魁偉，有英傑氣，攻筆劄，曉音律。性復精悍明敏，服膺儒術，明達吏理。好招延文士，聚書萬卷，開學館，置書樓，每歌酒宴會，與賓佐賦詩，頗有情致。〈（《太平廣記》引《羅紹威傳》云：當時藩牧之中，最獲文章之譽。每命幕客作四方書檄，小不稱意，壞裂抵棄，自擘箋起草，下筆成文，雖無藻麗之風，幕客多所不及。）〉江東人羅隱者，佐錢鏐軍幕，有詩名於天下。紹威遣使賂遺，敘南巷之敬，隱乃聚其所為詩投寄之。紹威酷嗜其作，因目己之所為曰《偷江東集》，至今鄴中人士諷詠之。紹威嘗有公宴詩云：「簾前淡泊雲頭日，座上蕭騷雨腳風。」雖深於詩者，亦所歎伏。

Tall and heroic, he wrote well and understood music. Sharp and learned, he governed with Confucian clarity. He gathered scholars, ten thousand books, a school and library, and wrote poetry at every feast. (The 《Taiping Era》 cites his biography: among frontier lords he was most praised for writing. He rewrote staff drafts himself and finished dispatches on the spot—often better than his aides.)〉 The poet Luo Yin served Qian Liu in Jiangdong. Shaowei sent gifts; Yin sent his collected poems. He adored Yin's verse and named his own book 《Stealing the Jiangdong Collection》. At a feast he wrote: Pale sun beyond the curtain; dreary rain-wind on the seat."

紹威子三人，長曰廷規，位至司農卿，尚太祖女安陽公主，又尚金華公主，早卒。次曰周翰，繼為魏博節度使，〈（《通鑒考異》引《梁功臣傳》云：周翰起復雲麾將軍，充天雄軍節度留後，尋檢校司徒，正授魏博節度使。）〉亦早卒。季曰周敬，曆滑州節度使，別有傳。開平四年夏，詔金華公主出家為尼，居於宋州元靜寺，蓋太祖推恩於羅氏，令終其婦節也。

Even masters of verse admired it. His eldest son Tinggui became Minister of Agriculture, married two imperial princesses, and died young. Note on Zhouhan's succession:〉 (The 《Zizhi Tongjian》 supplement cites Zhouhan's rapid rise to Wei commissioner.)〉 He too died young. Youngest son Zhoujing governed Huazhou and has his own biography.

〈（《五代史補》：羅鄴王紹威，俊邁有詞學，尤好戲判。常有人向官街中韝驢，置鞍於地，值牛車過，急行碾破其鞍，驢主怒，歐駕車者，為廂司所擒。紹威更不按問，遂判其狀云：「鄴城大道甚寬，何故駕車碾鞍？領韝驢漢子科決，待駕車漢子喜歡！」詞雖俳諧，理甚切當，論者許之。）〉

(The 《Supplement》 says Shaowei loved comic judgments.) A donkey owner's saddle was crushed by a cart; he cursed the driver and was arrested. Shaowei judged without inquiry: "The road is wide—why crush his saddle? Punish the donkey man—until the driver is happy! Playful words, sound justice—critics approved.)〉

趙犨，其先天水人。代為忠武牙將，曾祖賓，祖英奇，父叔文，皆曆故職。犨幼有奇智，齠齔之時，與鄰裏小兒戲於道左，恒分布行列為部伍戰陣之狀，自為董帥，指顧有節，如夙習焉，群兒皆稟而從之，無敢亂其行者。其父目而異之，曰：「吾家千里駒也，必大吾門矣！」及赴鄉校，誦讀之性出於同輩。弱冠有壯節，好功名，妙於弓劍，氣義勇果。郡守聞之，擢為牙校。唐會昌中，壺關作亂，隨父北征，收天井關。末幾，從王師征蠻，浹月方克，惟忠武將士轉戰溪洞之間，斬獲甚眾。本道錄其勳，陟為馬步都虞候。

Zhao Chou's family came from Tianshui. For generations they served Zhongwu; Bin, Yingqi, and Shuwen held the family posts. As a boy he drilled playmates in battle lines and commanded them like a veteran. His father said, "A stallion of our house—you will enlarge our gate! At school he outread his peers. Young, he sought glory, excelled at arms, and was bold and just. The prefect made him a guard officer. In Huichang he followed his father north and retook Tianjing Pass. He campaigned in the south with the royal army; Zhongwu troops won heavy kills in the hill country. The circuit made him chief commandant of horse and foot.

乾符中，王仙芝起於曹、濮，大縱其徒，侵掠汝、鄭，犨乃率步騎數千襲之，賊黨南奔。及黃巢陷長安，天子幸蜀，中原無主，人心騷動。於是陳州數百人相率告許州連帥，願得犨知軍州事。其帥即以狀聞，於是天子下詔，以犨守陳州刺史。既視事，乃謂將吏曰：「賊巢之虐，遍於四方，苟不為長安市人所誅，則必驅殘黨以東下。況與忠武久為仇讎，淩我土疆，勢必然也。」乃遣增垣墉，浚溝洫，實倉廩，積薪芻。凡四門之外，兩舍之內，民有資糧者，悉令挽入郡中。繕甲兵，利劍槊，弓弩矢石無不畢備。又招召勁勇，置之麾下。以仲弟昶為防遏都指揮使，以季弟珝為親從都知兵馬使，長子麓、次子霖，皆分領銳兵。黃巢在長安，果為王師四面扼束，食盡人饑，謀東奔之計，先遣驍將孟楷擁徒萬人，直入項縣，犨引兵擊之。賊眾大潰，斬獲略盡，生擒孟楷。

When Wang Xianzhi raided Ru and Zheng, Chou drove him south with thousands of troops. When Chao took Chang'an and the emperor fled to Shu, the heartland panicked. Hundreds of Chen men asked the Xu commander to put Chou in charge. The court named him Chen prefect. Taking office he warned, "If Chao is not killed in Chang'an he will drive east. Zhongwu hates us and will invade—that is certain. He raised walls, dredged moats, and stocked grain and fodder. Within two li of the gates all grain was brought inside the city. He armed the city with every weapon. He recruited fierce men to his command. Brothers Chang and Gui commanded defense and guard; sons Lu and Lin led elite troops. Starving in Chang'an, Chao sent Meng Kai east with ten thousand men; Chou attacked. Chou routed the bandits and captured Meng Kai alive.

中和三年，朝廷聞其功，就加檢校兵部尚書，俄轉右僕射。不數月，加司空，進潁川縣伯。巢黨知孟楷為陳所擒，大驚憤，乃悉眾東來，先據溵水，後與蔡州秦宗權合勢以攻宛丘，陳人懼焉。犨恐眾心攜離，乃於眾中揚言曰：「忠武素稱義勇，淮陽亦謂勁兵，是宜戮力同心，捍禦群寇，建功立節，去危就安，諸君宜圖之，況吾家食陳祿久矣！今賊眾圍逼，眾寡不均，男子當於死中求生，又何懼也。且死於為國，不猶愈於生而為賊之伍耶！汝但觀吾之破賊，敢有異議者斬之！」由是眾心靡不踴躍。無何，開門與賊接戰，每戰皆捷，賊眾益怒。巢於郡北三四里起八仙營，如宮闕之狀，又修百司廨署，儲蓄山峙，蔡人濟以甲胄，軍無所闕焉。凡圍陳三百日，大小數百戰，雖兵食將盡，然人心益固。犨因令間道奉羽書乞師於太祖，太祖素多犨之勇果，乃許之。四年四月，太祖引大軍與諸軍會於陳之西北，陳人望旗鼓出軍縱火，急攻巢寨，賊眾大潰，重圍遂解。獻捷於行在。

Zhonghe 3 the court made him honorary Minister of War, then Right Vice Director. Soon he became Grand Marshal and Earl of Yingchuan. Learning Meng Kai was taken, Chao marched east with Zongquan to besiege Chen; the city feared. Fearing panic he rallied the men: "We have eaten Chen's pay—stand together, kill bandits, and win honor from peril! The enemy outnumbers us—seek life in death; what is there to fear? Dying for the state beats living with bandits! Watch me break them—whoever wavers dies! The army's heart leaped to fight. They sallied and won every fight; the bandits raged. Chao built a palace camp north of the city and stocked it like a capital with Cai armor. For three hundred days and hundreds of battles, starving Chen held firm. Chou begged the Founder for aid by secret dispatch; the Founder agreed. Month 4, year 4, the Founder relieved Chen; the garrison sallied with fire and broke Chao's camp. Victory was reported to the court.

犨雖盡忠唐室，保全陳州，然默識太祖雄傑，每降心托跡，為子孫之計，故因解圍之後，以愛子結親。又請為太祖立生祠於陳州，朝夕拜謁。數年之間，悉力委輸，凡所征調，無不率先，故能保其功名。

Loyal to Tang yet seeing the Founder's power, he married his son into the Founder's house after the siege. He built a living shrine to the Founder at Chen and worshipped daily. For years he supplied the Founder first in every levy and kept his fame.

昶，字大東，犨仲弟也。弱冠習兵機，沈默大度，神形灑落，臨事有通變之才。及兄犨為陳州刺史，以昶為防禦都指揮使。未幾，巢將孟楷擁眾萬餘據項城縣，昶與兄犨領兵擊破之，擒楷以歸。不數月，巢黨悉眾攻陳，以報孟楷之役；又與蔡寇合從，凶醜百萬，棲於陳郊，陳人大恐。一夕，昶因巡警，假寐於闍，恍惚間如有陰助，昶異而待之。遲明，開門決戰，人心兵勢，勇不可遏，若有陰兵前導。是日，擒賊將數人，斬首千餘級，群凶氣沮。其後連日交戰，無不應機俘斬，未嘗小衄，以至重圍數月，士心如一。及賊敗圍解，朝廷紀勳，昶一門之中，疊加爵秩。當時方鎮之內，言忠勇者、言守禦者、言功勳者、言政事者，皆以犨、昶為首焉。及犨遙領泰寧軍節度，以昶為本州刺史、檢校右僕射。俄而犨有疾，遂以軍州盡付於昶。詔授兵馬留後，旋遷忠武軍節度使，亦以陳州為理所。時宗權未滅，中原方受其毒。陳、蔡封疆相接，昶每選精銳，深入蔡境。蔡賊雖眾，終不能抗，以至宗權敗焉。朝廷賞勳，加檢校司徒。昶以大寇削平之後，益留心於政事，勸課農桑，大布恩惠。景福元年秋，陳、許將吏耆老錄其功，詣闕以聞，天子嘉之，命文臥撰德政碑植於通衢，以旌其功。俄加同平章事。昶自圍解之後，恒曰：「梁王之恩，不敢忘也。」是後太祖每有征伐，昶訓練兵甲，饋挽供億，無有不至。乾寧二年寢疾，薨於鎮，年五十五，追贈太尉。

Chang, styled Dadong, was Chou's second brother. Young he mastered warfare, was calm and broad, and handled crises with ease. When Chou governed Chen he made Chang defense commander. He and Chou defeated Meng Kai at Xiangcheng and took him alive. Months later Chao's whole host besieged Chen to avenge Kai; A million bandits with Cai allies camped at Chen's walls. Patrolling one night he dozed at the gate and felt unseen aid. At dawn he charged as if ghost soldiers led. That day he took bandit generals and a thousand heads. Daily victories followed until months of siege left the army united. After relief the court heaped honors on Chang's house. Frontier lords ranked Chou and Chang first in loyalty, defense, merit, and rule. Chou made Chang Taizhou prefect and honorary Right Vice Director. Ill, Chou gave army and prefecture to Chang. He became acting commissioner, then Zhongwu commissioner with Chen as capital. Zongquan still poisoned the heartland. Chang raided deep into Cai from neighboring Chen. Cai could not stand against him until Zongquan fell. The court made him honorary Minister of Works. After victory he promoted farming and generous rule. Jingfu 1 the court erected Wen Wo's virtue stele for Chang at the crossroads. Soon he became co-equal chief minister. After the siege he said, "I dare not forget the Prince of Liang. Whenever the Founder marched, Chang supplied men and grain. He died in Qianning 2 at fifty-five and was posthumously named Grand Marshal.

珝，字有節，犨季弟也。幼而剛毅，器宇深沉。既冠，好書籍。及壯，工騎射，尤精《三略》。及犨為陳州刺史，以珝為親從都知兵馬使。時巢黨東出商、鄧，與蔡賊會，眾至百餘萬，掘長壕五百道攻陳，陳人大懼。珝與二兄堅心誓眾，激勵將校，約以死節。珝以祖先鬆楸，去郭數里，慮為群盜穿發，乃夜縱心膂之士，遷柩入城。府庫舊有巨弩數百枝，機牙皆缺，工人咸謂不可用。珝即創意制度，自調弦筈，置之雉堞間，矢激五百餘步，凡中人馬，皆洞達胸腋，群賊畏之，不敢逼近。自仲秋至於首夏，軍食將竭，士雖不飽，而堅拒之志不移。會太祖率大軍解其圍，珝兄弟抆泣感謝。其後朝廷議功，加檢校右僕射，遙領處州刺史。犨薨，昶為忠武軍節度使，珝遷為行軍司馬、檢校司空。昶薨，珝知忠武軍留後。珝公幹之才，播於遠邇，至於符籍虛實，財穀耗登，備閱其根本，民之利病，無不洞知。庶事簡廉，公私俱濟，太祖深加慰薦。尋加特進、檢校司徒，充忠武軍節度使。陳州土壤卑疏，每歲壁壘摧圮，工役不暇，珝遂營度力用，俾以甓周砌四墉，自是無霖潦之虞。光化二年，加檢校太保、平章事。明年，檢校侍中，進封天水郡公。珝博通前古，以陳州本伏羲所都，南頓乃光武舊地，遂稽考古制，崇飾廟貌，為四民祈福之所。又詢鄧艾故址，決翟王河以溉稻粱，大實倉廩，民獲其利。珝兄弟節制陳、許，繼擁旌鉞，共二十餘年，陳人愛戴，風化大行。天復元年冬，韓建為忠武軍節度使，乃征珝知同州匡國軍節度留後。時太祖統軍岐下，珝輸挽調發，旁午道途。俄而昭宗還長安，詔征入覲，錫迎鑾功臣之號。珝因堅辭藩鎮，遂加檢校太傅、右金吾衛上將軍。及扈從東遷，歲餘，以痼疾免官，遂歸淮陽。未幾，薨於私第，年五十五。詔贈侍中，陳人為之罷市。子縠，仕至左驍衛大將軍、宣徽北院使。唐莊宗入汴，與從兄岩皆族誅。

Gui, styled Youjie, was Chou's youngest brother. Youthful, firm and deep in bearing. As a man he loved books. Grown, he excelled at archery and the 《Three Strategies》. Chou made him personal guard commander. Chao's millions with Cai allies dug five hundred trench lines around Chen. The three brothers swore the army to die defending Chen. He moved the family tombs inside the walls lest bandits violate them. Hundreds of great crossbows in store were broken; craftsmen said they were useless. Gui rebuilt them; bolts pierced men five hundred paces off and kept bandits at bay. From autumn to summer they starved yet never broke. When the Founder relieved the siege the brothers wept thanks. The court honored him Right Vice Director and distant Chuzhou commissioner. After Chou's death Gui became campaign deputy under Chang. When Chang died Gui acted as Zhongwu commissioner. He knew every register, granary, and hardship of the people. His clean rule won the Founder's praise. Soon he was Grand Marshal and full Zhongwu commissioner. He bricked Chen's crumbling walls against flood. Guanghua 2 he became Grand Guardian and chief minister. Next year he was Palace Secretary and Duke of Tianshui. He restored Fuxi and Guangwu shrines at Chen for public worship. He opened the Zhaiwang River on Deng Ai's route and filled the granaries. For twenty years the Zhao brothers ruled Chen and Xu and won the people's love. Tianfu 1 winter Han Jian summoned Gui to Tongzhou as acting Kuangguo commissioner. While the Founder campaigned at Qi, Gui fed the armies on the roads. When the emperor returned to Chang'an, Gui was summoned and honored as Welcoming-the-Carriage merit minister. Declining the frontier, he became Grand Tutor and Golden Guard general. Escorting the court east, he retired ill to Huaiyang. He died at home at fifty-five. The court posthumously made him Palace Secretary; Chen closed its markets in mourning. Son Gu became Left Valiant Cavalry general and northern palace commissioner. When Zhuangzong took Bian, he and cousin Yan were executed with their clans.

王珂，河中人。祖縱，鹽州刺史。父重榮，河東節度使，破黃巢有大功，封琅邪郡王。珂本重榮兄重簡之子，出繼重榮。唐僖宗光啟三年，重榮為部將常行儒所害，推重榮弟重盈為蒲帥，以珂為行軍司馬。及重盈卒，軍府推珂為留後。時重盈子珙為陝州節度使，瑤為絳州刺史，由是爭為蒲帥，瑤、珙連上章論列，又與太祖書云：「珂非吾兄弟，蓋餘家之蒼頭也，小字忠兒，安得繼嗣！」珂亦上章云：「亡父有興復之功。」又遣使求援於太原，李克用為保薦於朝，昭宗可之。既而珙厚結王行瑜、李茂貞、韓建為援，三鎮互相表薦，昭宗詔諭之曰：「吾以太原與重榮有再造之功，已俞其奏矣。」乾寧二年五月，三鎮率兵入覲，賊害時政，請以河中授珙、瑤，又連兵以攻河中。克用聞之，出師以討三鎮，瑤、珙兵退，晉師拔絳州，擒瑤斬之。及克用駐軍於渭北，昭宗以珂為河中節度使，正授旄鉞，克用因以女妻珂；珂至太原謝婚成禮，克用令李嗣昭將兵助珂，攻珙於陝焉。光化末，太祖謂張存敬曰：「珂恃太原之勢，侮慢鄰封，爾為我持一繩以縛之。」天復元年春，存敬兵下晉、絳，令何糸因守晉州以扼太原援師。二月，大軍逼河中，珂妻書告太原曰：「敵勢攻逼，朝夕為俘囚，乞食於大梁矣，大人安忍不救！」克用曰：「前途既阻，眾寡不敵，救則與爾兩亡。可與王郎歸朝廷。」珂復求救於李茂貞，茂貞不答。珂勢窮蹙，即登城謂存敬曰：「吾與汴王有家世事分，公宜退舍，俟汴王至，吾自聽命。」存敬即日退舍。三月，太祖自洛陽至，先哭於重榮之墓，蒲人聞之感悅。珂欲麵縛牽羊以見，太祖曰：「太師阿舅之恩，何時可忘，郎君若以亡國之禮相見，黃泉其謂我何！」〈（《歐陽史》云：梁太祖自同州降唐，即依重榮，以母王氏，故事重榮為舅。）〉及珂出迎於路，握手歔欷，聯轡而入。乃以居敬守河中，珂舉家徙於汴。後入覲，被殺於華州傳舍。

Wang Ke came from Hedong. His grandfather Zong was Yan commissioner. His father Chongrong, Hedong commissioner, broke Huang Chao and became Prince of Langye. Ke was Chongjian's son, adopted by Chongrong. Guangqi 3 Chongrong was killed; Chongying took Pu and made Ke deputy. When Chongying died the army made Ke acting commissioner. Cousins Gong and Yao disputed the succession, calling Ke a household slave unfit to rule. Ke memorialized that his father had restored the dynasty. He begged Taiyuan; Keyong backed him and Zhaozong agreed. Gong won Wang Xingyu, Maozhen, and Han Jian; the court favored Ke for Chongrong's service to Taiyuan. Qianning 2, month 5, the three circuits marched on court politics and attacked Hezhong for Gong and Yao. Keyong drove them off and beheaded Yao at Jiangzhou. Keyong camped at Wei; the court confirmed Ke at Hezhong and Keyong gave him his daughter; Ke married at Taiyuan; Keyong sent Li Sizhao against Gong at Shan. Late in Guanghua the Founder told Zhang Cunjing to bind Ke with a rope. Tianfu 1 spring Cunjing seized Jin and Jiang and blocked Taiyuan relief at Jinzhou. Besieged, Ke's wife wrote Keyong, "We will be prisoners unless you save us from Daliang! Keyong said, "The road is blocked—we would die together. Go to the court with Prince Wang." Ke begged Maozhen, who refused. Ke called down, "I am kin to the Prince of Liang—withdraw until he comes. Cunjing withdrew that day. Month 3 the Founder came from Luoyang and wept at Chongrong's tomb; Pu was moved. Ke offered to surrender bound with a sheep; the Founder refused, citing Chongrong's kindness. (Ouyang Xiu notes the Founder called Chongrong uncle through Lady Wang.)〉 Ke met him on the road; they wept and entered together. Jujing held Hezhong; Ke moved his family to Bian. Later at audience he was killed at a Huazhou inn.

珙，少有俊氣，才兼文武，性甚驕虐。屬世多故，遂代伯父重霸為陝州節度使。為政苛暴，且多猜忌，殘忍好殺，不以生命為意，內至妻孥宗屬，外則賓幕將吏，一言不合，則五毒將施，鞭笞刳斮，無日無之。奢縱聚斂，民不堪命，由是左右惕懼，憂在不測。唐光化二年夏六月，為部將李璠所殺。璠自稱留後，因是陝州不復為王氏所有。

Gong was talented yet arrogant and cruel. In troubled times he replaced uncle Chongba at Shan. He ruled with torture and suspicion, killing kin and staff on a whim daily. His greed and cruelty made everyone fear for their lives. Guanghua 2, month 6, officer Li Fan killed him. Li Fan seized Shan and ended Wang rule there.

史臣曰：紹威始為唐雄，據魏地，當土德之季運，倡梁祖以強禪，在梁則為佐命也，在唐則豈得為忠臣乎！趙犨以淮陽咫尺之地，抗黃巢百萬之眾，功成事立，有足多者。岩、縠非賢，遽泯其嗣，惜哉！王珂奕世山河，勢危被擄，乃魏豹之徒與！

The historian asks: Shaowei aided Liang's usurpation—hero to Liang, traitor to Tang? Zhao Chou held tiny Chen against Chao's millions—his defense deserves praise. Unworthy Yan and Gu ended the line—pity! Wang Ke lost his hereditary domain like Wei Bao!

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