1
謝瞳，字子明，福州人。 唐咸通末舉進士，因留長安，三歲不中第。 廣明初，黃巢陷長安，遂投跡於太祖，洎居門下，未嘗一日不在左右。 及太祖據同州，遂署右職。 其年秋，太祖與河中交戰，再不利，連上章請兵於巢，偽右軍都尉孟楷抑而不進。 瞳揣太祖有擇福意，乃進說曰：「黃家以數十萬之師，值唐朝久安，人不習戰，因利乘便，遂下兩京。 然始竊偽號，任用已失其所。 今將軍勇冠三軍，力戰於外，而孟楷專務壅蔽，奏章不達，下為庸才所製，無獨斷之明，破亡之兆必矣。 況土德未厭，外兵四集，漕運波注，日以收復為名，惟將軍察之。」 太祖曰：「我意素決，爾又如是，復何疑哉！」 翌日，遂定策，戮偽監軍使，悉眾歸順於河中。 王重榮表瞳為檢校屯田員外郎，賜緋，令奉表於蜀。 唐僖宗大悅，召入顧問，錫賚甚厚，以功授朝散大夫、太子率更令，賜紫，為陵州刺史。 治郡一歲，改檢校右散騎常侍、通州刺史。 在任四考，頗有政績。 秋罷，詣蜀行在，太祖遣人迎之。 龍紀二年，至東京，勞徠彌厚，賜第墅各一區，錢千緡，表為亳州團練使兼太清宮副使，加檢校工部尚書。 是年冬，太祖征淮南，過郡，因求侍府幕，表為宣義軍節度副使，充兩使留後。 瞳在滑十三年，部內增戶約五萬，益兵數千人，累遷至大中大夫、檢校右僕射，卒於滑。 開平初，追贈司徒。
Xie Tong, who styled himself Ziming, came from Fuzhou. Late in Xiantong he took the jinshi degree and stayed in Chang'an; three years passed without his name on the rolls. When Huang Chao seized Chang'an in the first year of Guangming, Tong entered the Founder's service and from that day was never far from his side. Once the Founder held Tongzhou, he gave Tong a chief post on his staff. That autumn, twice beaten fighting Hezhong, the Founder pleaded again and again to Chao for reinforcements, but the rebel Right Army commissioner Meng Kai blocked every dispatch. Reading the Founder's wish to change sides, Tong urged him: "Huang's army of hundreds of thousands took both capitals only because the Tang had grown soft in long peace and men had forgotten war. Yet the moment they claimed an emperor's title, every appointment went wrong. You fight abroad with unmatched courage while Meng Kai chokes every letter to court; mediocrities below him run the show, and without firm command ruin is certain. Heaven's mandate still favors the Tang: armies close from every quarter, grain fleets pour in, and every day another force marches to restore the throne—think on that, General." The Founder replied, "My mind was made long ago; hearing you say the same, what doubt could remain?" Next day the plan was fixed: the false inspector was killed, and the whole army went over to Hezhong. Wang Chongrong made Tong acting Director of the Palace Farms, dressed him in crimson, and sent him to present the submission to Shu. Xizong rejoiced, called him in for counsel, heaped gifts upon him, and for his service made him Grand Master of the Palace and Director of the Crown Prince's water clocks, clothed him in purple, and gave him Lingzhou. After one year as prefect he was promoted to acting Right Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and made governor of Tongzhou. Four terms in office won him a solid record of good rule. When autumn brought his term to an end, he went to the imperial camp in Shu, and the Founder sent escorts to meet him. In Longji 2 he reached the Eastern Capital; the Founder received him with exceptional honors—a mansion, a country villa, a thousand strings of cash—and memorialized him Bozhou regimental commissioner and deputy head of the Grand Pure Palace, with acting rank as Minister of Works. That winter, as the Founder marched on Huainan and passed through his circuit, Tong asked to join his staff and was made vice-commissioner of the Xuanyi army and regent for both civil and military commissioners. Thirteen years at Hua added fifty thousand households and several thousand troops to his circuit; he rose to Grand Master and acting Right Vice Director, and died there. At the opening of Kaiping he was posthumously named Grand Preceptor.
2
司馬鄴，字表仁，其先河內溫人也。 祖德璋，仕唐為杞王傅。 父諲，左武衛大將軍。 鄴資蔭出身，頗知書，累官至大列。 唐天復初，韓建用為同州節度留後。 韓建傳判官司鄴昭宗之幸鳳翔也，太祖引兵入關，前鋒至左馮翊，鄴持印鑰迎謁道左。 太祖以兵圍華州，命入城招諭韓建，建果出降。 及大軍在岐下，遣奏事於昭宗，再入復出。 又使於金州，說其帥馮行襲，俾堅攀附。 後曆宣武、天平等軍從事。 開平元年，拜右武衛上將軍。 三年，使於兩浙。 時淮路不通，乘駔者迂回萬里，陸行則出荊、襄、潭、桂入嶺，自番禺泛海至閩中，達於杭、越。 復命則備舟楫，出東海，至於登、萊。 而揚州諸步多賊船，過者不敢循岸，必高帆遠引海中，謂之「入陽」，以故多損敗。 鄴在海逾年，漂至躭羅國，一行俱溺。 後詔贈司徒。
Si Maye, who styled himself Biaoren, came of a family from Wen in Henei. His grandfather Dezang had served the Tang as tutor to the Prince of Qi. His father Yin held the post of Grand General of the Left Martial Guard. Maye entered service by yin privilege, was well read, and rose to Grand Array. Early in Tianfu, Han Jian made him acting military commissioner of Tongzhou. Maye had served as Han Jian's administrative officer; when Zhaozong fled to Fengxiang and the Founder entered the Pass, Maye met the vanguard at Fengyi with seal and keys in hand. The Founder besieged Hua and sent Maye into the city to parley with Han Jian, who promptly surrendered. While the army camped at Qi's walls he carried dispatches to Zhaozong, going in twice and returning each time. He was also sent to Jinzhou to bind Feng Xingxi firmly to the Founder's cause. Later he served on the staffs of the Xuanyi and Tianping commands. In the first year of Kaiping he was made General-in-Chief of the Right Martial Guard. In his third year of office he was sent as envoy to the Two Zhes. With the Huai route cut, couriers wound ten thousand li overland—through Jing, Xiang, Tan, and Gui into the ranges, then by sea from Panyu into Fujian until they reached Hang and Yue. The return passage meant fitting out ships, crossing the Eastern Sea, and making land at Deng and Lai. Pirate fleets held the Yangzhou coast, so travelers dared not hug the shore but put out to open sea—"entering the sun"—and many ships were lost that way. More than a year at sea carried Maye to Silla, where his whole escort perished. Later he was posthumously named Grand Preceptor by edict.
3
劉捍，開封人。 父行仙，宣武軍大將。 捍少為牙職，太祖初鎮夷門，以捍聰敏，擢副典客。 唐中和四年夏，太祖以朱珍為淄州刺史，令收兵於淄、青間，命捍監其兵，路逢大敵，皆破之。 入博昌，獲精兵三萬以歸。 四月，合大軍敗蔡賊秦宗賢數萬眾於汴西。 文德元年十一月，蔡將申叢折宗權足，納款於太祖，使捍奏其事，加兼御史大夫。 光化三年六月，太祖北伐鎮、定，至常山，而王钅容危懾，送款於太祖，命捍入壁門傳諭。 時兩軍未整，守門者戈戟千匝，捍馳騎而入，竟達其命。 又移師以攻中山，至懷德驛，大破定人五萬眾，王處直乞降，捍復單馬入州，安撫而回。 太祖迎昭宗於岐下，以捍為親軍指揮。 天復三年正月，宋文通令客將郭啟奇使於太祖，命捍復命。 昭宗聞其至，即召見，詢東兵之事，仍以錦服、銀鞍勒馬賜之。 翌日，授光祿大夫、檢校司空、登州刺史。 昭宗還京，改常州刺史，賜號迎鑾毅勇功臣。 四月，太祖伐王師範於青州，改左右長直都指揮使。 天祐三年正月，授宋州刺史。 四月，加檢校司徒。 太祖受禪，授左龍虎統軍兼元從新軍馬步都虞候。 及上黨纏兵，太祖親往巡撫，以捍為御營使。 大軍次昂車，斥候來告蕃戎逼澤州，命捍以兵千人赴之，並軍遂遁，車駕還京，授捍侍衛親軍都指揮使。 晉人侵晉州，從幸陝回，加檢校太保。 及從駕幸河中，詔追王重師赴行在，以捍為雍州節度觀察留後。 才逾月，劉知俊據同州反，潛使人以厚利啖將校，遂為部下所執，送於知俊。 知俊縶捍歸於鳳翔，為李茂貞所害。 開平四年，贈太傅。 末帝即位，又贈太尉。
Liu Han came from Kaifeng. His father Xingxian was a senior general of the Xuanyi army. As a youth Han served in the yamen staff; when the Founder first took Bian he made the quick-witted Han his deputy master of ceremonies. Summer of Zhonghe 4, the Founder sent Zhu Zhen to gather troops between Zi and Qing with Han overseeing his force; every major foe they met was defeated. At Bochang they took thirty thousand picked troops back with them. In the fourth month the combined army routed tens of thousands of Qin Zongxian's Cai rebels west of Bian. In the eleventh month of Wende 1 the Cai general Shen Cong broke Zongquan's foot and surrendered; Han carried word of it to the Founder and received concurrent rank as Censor-in-Chief. In the sixth month of Guanghua 3 the Founder marched north against Zhen and Ding; at Changshan a terrified Wang Rong submitted, and the Founder sent Han through the barbican to announce terms. While both armies were still unprepared, spears ringed the gate a thousand deep; Han rode straight through and carried out his orders. He marched on Zhongshan next; at Huaidi post fifty thousand men of Ding were shattered; Wang Chuzhi sued for peace; Han rode in alone again to calm the city and came back. When the Founder welcomed Zhaozong at Qi's walls, he made Han commander of his personal guard. In the first month of Tianfu 3, Song Wentong sent his guest-officer Guo Qiqi to the Founder with Han as the envoy to reply. Zhaozong summoned him at once, questioned him on the eastern armies, and gave him brocade robes and a horse with silver saddle and bridle. Next day he received Grand Master for Splendid Happiness, acting Sikong, and the prefecture of Deng. When Zhaozong returned to the capital Han became prefect of Chang and received the title "Meritous Minister for Courageously Welcoming the Imperial Chariot." In the fourth month, as the Founder attacked Wang Shifan at Qingzhou, Han was made commander of the left and right Long-Straight guards. In the first month of Tianyou 3 he was made prefect of Song. In the fourth month he received acting rank as Grand Preceptor. When the Founder took the throne he made Han commander of the Left Dragon-Tiger Guard and chief adjutant of his personal new army, horse and foot. When war tangled at Shangdang the Founder went in person and made Han commissioner of the imperial camp. The army halted at Angche; scouts reported barbarians pressing Ze; the Founder sent Han with a thousand men and the enemy fled; when the emperor returned to the capital Han was made commander of the palace guard. When the Jin struck Jinzhou and Han followed the court to Shan and back, he received acting rank as Grand Guardian. When the court moved to Hezhong, Wang Chongshi was recalled and Han was made acting military and surveillance commissioner of Yongzhou. Barely a month later Liu Zhijun rebelled at Tongzhou and secretly bribed Han's officers; they seized him and handed him to Zhijun. Zhijun sent Han bound to Fengxiang, where Li Maozhen put him to death. In Kaiping 4 he was posthumously named Grand Tutor. When the Last Emperor ascended he was posthumously named Grand Commandant as well.
4
捍便習賓讚，善於將迎，自司賓局及征討四出，必預其間。 雖無決戰爭鋒之績，而承命奔走，數揚命令，勤幹涖職，以至崇顯焉。
Han mastered guest rites and welcome ceremony; from the Bureau of Guest Rites to every campaign abroad he was always in the thick of it. He won no great battle, yet by racing on every order, bearing the Founder's word again and again, and tireless service he rose to the highest honors.
5
王敬蕘，潁州汝陰人，世為郡武吏。 唐乾符初，敬蕘為本州都知兵馬使。 中和初，寇難益熾，郡守庸怯，不能自固，敬蕘遂代之監郡，俄真拜刺史，加檢校右散騎常侍。 時州境荒饉，大寇繼至，黃巢數十萬眾寨於州南，敬蕘極力抗禦，逾旬而退。 俄又宗權之眾，淩暴益甚，合圍攻壁，皆力屈而去。 蔡賊復遣將刁君務以萬眾來逼，敬蕘列陣當之，身先馳突，殺敵甚多，由是竟全郡壘，遠近歸附。 及淮人不恭，太祖屢以軍南渡，路由州境，敬蕘悉心供億，太祖甚嘉之。 乾寧二年，署為沿淮上下都指揮使。 四年冬，龐師古敗於清口，敗軍逃歸者甚眾，路出於潁。 時雨雪連旬，軍士凍餒，敬蕘自淮燎薪，相屬於道，郡中設糜糗餅餌以待之，全活者甚眾，由是表知武寧軍節度、徐宿觀察留後。 數月，真拜武寧軍節度使。 天復二年，入為右龍武統軍。 天祐三年，轉左衛上將軍。 開平元年八月，以疾致仕，尋卒於其第。
Wang Jinrao of Ruyin in Yingzhou came from a line of county military officers. Early in Qianfu he became the prefecture's commander of horse and foot. Early in Zhonghe, as raids grew fiercer and the timid prefect could not hold the city, Jinrao took charge of the circuit, was soon confirmed as prefect, and given acting rank as Right Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary. Famine stalked the circuit while great armies came one after another; hundreds of thousands of Huang Chao's men camped south of the city, and Jinrao fought them off until they withdrew after more than ten days. Soon Zongquan's forces came with still worse violence, besieged the walls, and withdrew only when their strength gave out. The Cai rebels sent Diao Junwu with ten thousand men; Jinrao formed his line, led the charge himself, and killed a great many; the walls held, and men near and far came to his banner. Each time the Founder crossed the Huai with an army and passed through Ying, Jinrao supplied his needs without stint, and the Founder took great notice. In Qianning 2 he was named commander of all forces along the upper and lower Huai. Winter of year 4, after Pang Shigu's defeat at Qingkou, shattered troops poured homeward through Ying. Snow fell ten days running; the troops were freezing and starving; Jinrao sent fuel from the Huai along the road and set out gruel and cakes in the city; many lived because of it, and he was memorialized acting commissioner of Wuning and regent of Xuzhou and Suzhou. A few months later he was confirmed full military commissioner of Wuning. In Tianfu 2 he was called to the capital as commander of the Right Dragon-Martial Guard. In Tianyou 3 he was transferred to General-in-Chief of the Left Guard. In the eighth month of Kaiping 1 he retired for illness and soon died at home.
6
敬蕘魁傑沈勇，多力善戰，所用槍矢，皆以純鐵鍛就，槍重三十餘斤，摧鋒突陣，率以此勝。 雖非太祖舊臣，而遠輸懇款，保境合兵，以輔興王之運，有足稱者。
Jinrao was a towering man, deep and brave; his spears and arrows were forged from solid iron, his spear alone weighed more than thirty pounds, and he broke enemy lines by sheer weight of steel. He was no veteran of the Founder's camp, yet from afar he offered loyal service, held his territory, and marshaled troops to help the new dynasty—grounds enough for praise.
7
高劭，字子將，淮南節度使駢之從子也。 父泰，黔中觀察使。 唐僖宗避敵在蜀，駢鎮淮南為都統，兼諸道鹽鐵使，兵賦在己，朝廷優假之，以故劭幸而早官，年十四遙領華州刺史。 光啟中，以駢命遏晉公王鐸於鄭。 俄而州陷於蔡，劭為賊所得，使人守之，戒四門曰：「無出高大夫。」 劭伺守者稍惰，佯為乞食者，過危垣，取殍者衣，坌身易服，得他兒抱之行，出東郊門。 人以為丐者，不之止。 及稍遠，棄所抱兒，疾趨至中牟，遂達於汴。 太祖以客禮遇之，尋表為亳州團練副使，知州事。 又數年，辟為宣武軍節度判官，在幕下頗以氣直自許。 後監鄭州事，復權知徐州留後。 唐昭宗之鳳翔，太祖迎奉未出，劭有疑謀，遂令赴華州，詣丞相府以議其事； 行至高陵，為盜所害。
Gao Shao, who styled himself Zijiang, was a cousin of the Huainan commissioner Gao Pian. His father Tai had been surveillance commissioner of Qianzhong. While Xizong sheltered in Shu, Pian ruled Huainan as supreme commander and salt-and-iron commissioner with troops and taxes in his fist; the court indulged him, and Shao at fourteen was given distant command as prefect of Hua. Midway through Guangqi he blocked Wang Duo, Duke of Jin, at Zheng on Pian's order. Soon Cai rebels took the city; they seized Shao and posted guards with orders at every gate: "Let no one let Lord Gao out." When the guards slackened he played a beggar, crept past a broken wall, dressed in a dead man's rags, took up another child as if his own, and walked out the eastern gate. Passers took him for a beggar and let him go. Once he was clear of the city he abandoned the child, ran to Zhongmu, and reached Bian. The Founder received him as an honored guest and soon made him vice-regimental commissioner at Bozhou with charge of the prefecture. Some years later he joined the Xuanyi staff as chief adjutant and prided himself on blunt honesty. He later oversaw Zhengzhou and served acting regent at Xuzhou. When Zhaozong fled to Fengxiang and the Founder had not yet marched to receive him, Shao's plotting aroused suspicion; he was sent to Hua to consult the chief minister's office— on the road at Gaoling bandits killed him.
8
馬嗣勳，濠州鍾離縣人，世為軍吏。 嗣勳有口辯，習武藝，初為州客將。 唐景福元年三月，太祖以壽州刺史江儒反下蔡鎮使，李立率兵攻濠梁，刺史張遂俾嗣勳持州印籍戶口以歸於太祖。 乾寧二年三月，楊行密復攻濠州，張遂遣嗣勳求援於太祖。 俄而郡陷，嗣勳無所歸，即署為元從押牙、副典客，頗稱任使。 光化元年三月，太祖令往光州說刺史劉存背淮賊以向國，又從李彥威復黃州及武昌縣，獲刺史瞿章。 俄復使光州，持幣馬以賜劉存。 會淮賊急攻光州，存與嗣勳率兵大戰，敗而走之。 又遣使於蜀，及歸，得其助軍貲實甚多。 天復中，太祖迎昭宗於岐下，軍至華之西，使嗣勳入見，韓建即時同出迎謁。 及羅紹威將殺牙軍，遣使告於太祖，求為外援。 時安陽公主初卒於魏，太祖乃遺嗣勳率長直官千人，實兵仗於橐中，肩舁以入於魏，聲言來致祭會葬，牙軍不之覺。 天祐三年正月十六日夜，嗣勳與紹威親軍同攻牙軍，至曙，盡殪之。 嗣勳重傷，旬日而卒。 開平中，累贈太保。
Ma Sixun of Zhongli in Haozhou came from a family of army officers. Sixun was eloquent and trained in arms; he began as the prefecture's guest-officer. In the third month of Jingfu 1, when Shou prefect Jiang Ru rebelled at Xia'ai, Li Li attacked Hao and Liang; prefect Zhang Sui sent Sixun with the seal and household registers to submit to the Founder. In the third month of Qianning 2, when Yang Xingmi attacked Haozhou again, Zhang Sui sent Sixun to plead for help. When the city soon fell Sixun had nowhere to go; the Founder made him yamen adjutant of his personal following and deputy master of ceremonies, and found him thoroughly reliable. In the third month of Guanghua 1 the Founder sent him to Guangzhou to urge Liu Cun to abandon the Huai rebels for the throne; he then joined Li Yanwei in retaking Huangzhou and Wuchang county and took Prefect Qu Zhang captive. He was soon dispatched to Guangzhou again with gifts of silk and horses for Liu Cun. When Huai rebels stormed Guangzhou, Liu Cun and Sixun gave battle and routed them. He later went as envoy to Shu and on his return brought back abundant military stores. During Tianfu, as the Founder brought Zhaozong from Qixia and halted west of Hua, he sent Sixun in to audience; Han Jian came out at once to greet them together. When Luo Shaowei planned to destroy the guard corps, he asked the Founder for reinforcements. Princess Anyang had just died at Wei; the Founder sent Sixun with a thousand hand-picked men, weapons hidden in coffers carried on poles into the city under cover of funeral rites, and the guard army never suspected. On the night of the sixteenth of the first month of Tianyou 3, Sixun and Shaowei's own troops struck the guard corps and wiped them out by dawn. Sixun was badly wounded and died ten days later. Under Kaiping he was posthumously raised to Grand Guardian.
9
張存敬，譙郡人也。 性剛直，有膽勇，臨危無所畏憚。 唐中和中，從太祖赴汴，以其折節，頗見親昵，首為右騎都將。 從討巢、蔡，凡曆百戰，多於危蹙之間，顯有奇略，由是頻立殊效。 光啟中，李罕之會晉軍圍張宗奭於盟津，太祖遣丁會、葛從周、存敬同往馳救。 存敬引騎軍先犯敵將，諸軍翼之，敵騎大敗，乃解河橋之圍。 大順二年，為諸軍都虞候，佐霍存董大軍收宿州，以功奏加檢校兵部尚書。 太祖東征徐、兗，存敬屢有俘斬之功。 凡受指顧，皆與機會，矢石所及，必以身先，太祖屢加優異，以為行營都指揮使、檢校右僕射。 乾寧三年，充武寧軍留後，行潁州刺史。 光化二年夏四月，幽、滄侵淩魏郡，復以存敬為都指揮使。 三年，大舉，與葛從周連統諸軍攻浮陽，樹數十柵，圍劉守文累月。 時幽州劉仁恭舉兵來援，存敬潛軍擊之於乾寧軍南老鴉堤。 是日，燕人大敗，斬首五萬級，生擒馬慎交已下一百餘人，獲馬萬餘蹄。 其年秋九月，引軍收鎮州，存敬勒眾涉滹沲河，師人鼓行而進，逢鎮之遊兵數千，因逐之，直入鎮之壅門，收鞍馬牛駝萬計。 翌日，鎮人納質而旋。 尋為宋州刺史，逾年，甚有能政。 復擁眾伐薊門，數旬間連下瀛、莫、祁、景四州，擒俘不可勝紀。 自懷德驛與中山兵接戰，枕屍數十里，中山開壁請降。 天復元年春，太祖以河中節度使王珂與太原結親，憑恃驕恣，命存敬統大軍討之。 即日收絳州，擒刺史陶建釗，降晉州刺史張漢瑜，二郡平。 進圍河中，王珂請降。 太祖嘉之，乃以存敬為護國軍留後。 未幾，檢校司空，尋移宋州刺史。 將之任所，寢疾，逾旬卒於河中。 太祖聞之，痛惜移晷。 開平初，追贈太保。 乾化三年，又追贈太傅。
Zhang Cunjin came from Qiao commandery. Upright, bold, and utterly fearless in danger, he never flinched. In Zhonghe of Tang he followed the Founder to Bian; his discipline won favor, and he became the first Right Cavalry commander. In the wars on Chao and Cai he fought a hundred engagements and, again and again in tight corners, showed brilliant tactics that won him repeated distinction. In Guangqi, Li Hanzhi and the Jin besieged Zhang Zongshi at Mengjin; the Founder sent Ding Hui, Ge Congzhou, and Cunjin to relieve him. Cunjin led the cavalry against the enemy commander while the rest flanked; the Jin horse were routed and the siege of He Bridge was broken. In Datong 2 he was made army inspector, helped Huo Cun retake Suzhou, and was memorialized Acting Minister of War. In the eastern campaigns against Xu and Yan, Cunjin took many prisoners and heads. He seized every chance in battle and always led where stones and arrows fell; the Founder favored him and made him field commander and Acting Right Vice Director. In Qianning 3 he was acting Wuning commissioner and prefect of Yingzhou. In the fourth month of summer, Guanghua 2, when You and Cang raided Wei, Cunjin was again made overall commander. In year 3 he joined Ge Congzhou in a major siege of Fuyang, building dozens of camps around Liu Shouwen for months. When Liu Rengong of Youzhou marched to relieve the city, Cunjin ambushed him at Old Crow Embankment south of Qianning. That day the Yan army was shattered: fifty thousand heads, more than a hundred captives led by Ma Shenjiao, and over ten thousand horses. In the ninth month he marched on Zhenzhou; Cunjin crossed the Hutuo at the drum, routed several thousand scouts, chased them through the barrier gate, and seized tens of thousands of animals. The next day Zhenzhou submitted hostages and he withdrew. He soon became prefect of Songzhou and governed ably for more than a year. He again marched on Ji Gate and within weeks took Ying, Mo, Qi, and Jing, with captives beyond count. At Huaide post he fought the Zhongshan army until the dead lay for miles; Zhongshan opened the walls and surrendered. In spring of Tianfu 1 the Founder, angered that Wang Ke of Hezhong had married into Taiyuan and grown insolent, sent Cunjin with a great army against him. The same day he took Jiangzhou, seized Tao Jianzhao, and won Zhang Hanyu of Jinzhou—both districts were pacified. He then besieged Hezhong until Wang Ke surrendered. The Founder was pleased and made Cunjin acting commissioner of Huguo. Soon he was Acting Minister of Works, then transferred to Songzhou. On his way to take up Songzhou he fell ill and died at Hezhong within a fortnight. The Founder mourned him for hours on hearing the news. At the founding of Kaiping he was posthumously made Grand Guardian. In Qianhua 3 he was posthumously raised to Grand Tutor.
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子仁願，晉天福中，仕至大理。
His son Renyuan rose under Later Jin to chief judge of the Court of Judicial Review.
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寇彥卿，字俊臣，大梁人也。 祖琯，父裔，皆宣武軍牙校。 太祖鎮汴，以彥卿將家子，擢在左右。 弱冠，選為通讚官。 太祖為元帥，補元帥府押牙，充四鎮通讚官行首兼右長直都指揮使，累奏授檢校司徒，領洺州刺史。 羅紹威將殺牙軍，遣使告於太祖，太祖命彥卿使於魏，密與紹威謀之。 竟成其事，彥卿之力也。 彥卿身長八尺，隆準方面，語音如鍾。 善騎射，好書史，復善伺太祖之旨，凡所作為，動皆云合。 太祖每言曰：「敬翔、劉捏、寇彥卿，蓋為我而生。」 其見重如此。 太祖有所乘烏馬，號「一丈烏」，嘗以賜彥卿。
Kou Yanqing, styled Junchen, came from Daliang. His grandfather Guan and father Yi had both been guard officers of the Xuanwu army. When the Founder governed Bian he kept Yanqing, a general's son, at his side. In his youth he was made a protocol officer. As grand marshal the Founder made him headquarters guard officer, chief protocol officer of the four commands and Right Long Direct commander, and had him memorialized Acting Minister of Works and prefect of Mingzhou. When Luo Shaowei moved against the guard corps he asked the Founder for help; the Founder sent Yanqing to Wei to conspire with him. The plot succeeded largely through Yanqing's efforts. Yanqing stood eight feet tall, with a high nose and square face, and a voice like a bell. He excelled at riding and archery, loved history, and read the Founder's mind so well that his every act seemed foreordained. The Founder would say: "Jing Xiang, Liu Han, and Kou Yanqing might as well have been made for me. 」 Such was the esteem in which he held them. The Founder once gave him his black charger, the "Ten-foot Crow."
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天復中，太祖迎昭宗於鳳翔，累與岐軍對陣。 時彥卿為諸道馬步軍都排陣使。 嘗躬擐甲胄，乘其所賜烏馬，馳騁於陣前，太祖目之曰：「真神王也！」 昭宗還京，賜迎鑾毅勇功臣，改邢州刺史，尋遷亳州團練使。 〈（案《通鑒》：開平二年，帝從吳越王錢鏐之請，以亳州團練使寇彥卿為東南面行營都指揮使，使擊淮南。 十一月，彥卿率眾一千襲霍丘，為土豪朱景所敗； 又攻廬、壽二州，皆不勝。 淮南遣滁州刺史李儼拒之。 《九國誌·朱景傳》：梁祖聞景名，命寇彥卿率勁騎三千襲霍丘，圖取景，且諭梁祖之意令降，景率其徒戰於丘墟林澤中，射死者無數，彥卿兵折力殫而去。）〉
During Tianfu, as the Founder brought Zhaozong from Fengxiang, he fought the Qi army again and again. Yanqing then served as overall battle-line marshal for the allied forces. Once, armored and mounted on his gifted black horse, he charged before the ranks; the Founder watched and cried, "A true war god! 」 After Zhaozong returned to the capital he received the merit title Welcome-the-Chariot Bold and Brave, became prefect of Xingzhou, and soon regimental commissioner of Bozhou. (The 《Zizhi Tongjian》 says: In Kaiping 2, at Wuyue king Qian Liu's request the Emperor named Kou Yanqing of Bozhou overall commander of the southeast campaign against Huainan. In the eleventh month Yanqing led a thousand men against Huoqiu and was beaten by the local chief Zhu Jing; he then attacked Lu and Shou and failed in both. Huainan sent Li Yi, prefect of Chuzhou, to oppose him. The 《Nine States Chronicle · Biography of Zhu Jing》 says the Liang Founder sent Yanqing with three thousand elite cavalry to take Huoqiu and capture Jing, offering surrender terms; Jing fought him in scrub and marsh, killing many; Yanqing withdrew with his force spent.）〉
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太祖受禪，為華州節度使，加檢校太保。 歲餘，入為左金吾衛大將軍，充街使。 一日，過天津橋，有老人誤衝其趨道者，排之，落橋而斃，為御史府所彈，太祖不得已，責授左衛中郎將。 不數月，除相州防禦使，依前行營諸軍排陣使。 未幾，授河陽節度使，加檢校太傅。 及太祖遇弑，彥卿追感舊恩，圖御容以奠之。 每因對客言及先朝舊事，即涕泗交流。 末帝嗣位，遙領興元節度使、東南面行營都招討使。 以拒淮寇，尋改右金吾衛上將軍。 貞明初，授鄧州節度使。 會淮人圍安陸，彥卿奉詔領兵解圍，大破淮賊而回。 四年，卒於鎮，時年五十七。 詔贈侍中。 彥卿貞幹明敏，善事人主，然怙寵作威，多忌好殺，雖顯立功名，而猶為識者之所鄙焉。
At the Liang founding he became military commissioner of Huazhou with Acting Grand Guardian. A year later he entered court as grand general of the Left Golden Crow Guard and city street commissioner. Once on Tianjin Bridge an old man blundered into his path; Yanqing shoved him off the bridge to his death; the censors impeached him, and the Founder reluctantly demoted him to middle-rank general of the Left Guard. Within months he was made defense commissioner of Xiangzhou while keeping his post as army array marshal. Soon he received Heyang as military commissioner with Acting Grand Tutor. After the Founder was murdered, Yanqing painted his portrait and made offerings in memory of old kindness. Whenever he spoke of the former court before guests he wept openly. Under the Last Emperor he held Xingyuan and the southeast suppression command in absentia. Fighting the Huai rebels, he was soon made senior general of the Right Golden Crow Guard. Early in Zhenming he became military commissioner of Dengzhou. When Huainan besieged Anlu he marched to the rescue, routed the Huai army, and returned. In year 4 he died in office at fifty-seven. He was posthumously made Palace Attendant. Yanqing was capable and shrewd in serving his prince, yet abused favor, was jealous and bloodthirsty, and despite his fame men of judgment held him in contempt.
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史臣曰： 〈（案：原本有闕文。）〉 存敬有提鼓之勞，彥卿遇攀鱗之會，俱為藩後，亦其宜哉！
The historian writes: (The original is defective here.)〉 Cunjin had served at the drum; Yanqing caught the rise of the dragon; each became a frontier lord—as was only fitting!