1
龐師古，曹州南華人，初名從。 以中涓從太祖，性端願，未嘗離左右。 及太祖鎮汴，樹置戎伍，始得馬五百匹，即以師古為偏將，援陳破蔡，累有戰功。 及朱珍以罪誅，遂用師古為都指揮使。 乃渡淮，餉軍於廬壽，攻滁州，破天長，下高郵，沿淮轉戰，所至克捷。 尋代朱友裕領軍，攻下徐州，斬時溥首以獻。 遂移軍伐兗州，入中都，寨於梁山，敗朱瑄之眾，襲至壘下； 又破朱瑾於清河。 從討汶陽，與朱瑄、朱瑾及晉將史儼兒戰於故樂亭，大捷而回。 乾寧四年正月，復統諸軍伐鄆，拔之，擒其帥朱瑄以獻，始表為天平軍節度留後，尋授徐州節度使，官至檢校司徒。 乾寧四年八月，與葛從周分統大軍，渡淮以伐楊行密。 十一月，師古寨於清口，寨地卑下， 〈（《玉堂閑話》云：龐從會軍五萬於清口，所屯之地，蓋兵書謂之絕地，人不駕肩，行一舍方至夷坦之處。）〉 或請遷移，弗聽。 俄有告淮人決上流者，曰：「水至矣。」 師古怒其惑眾，斬之。 〈（《九國誌·侯讚傳》：時兵起倉卒，加以陰寒，士皆飲冰餐雪而行。 甫及梁營，則豎戈植足，鬥志未決。 朱瑾與瓚率五十騎潛濟淮，入自壘北，舞槊而馳，囂聲雷沸，梁兵皆殞眩不能舉，遂斬龐從，大將繼之，死者大半。）〉 須臾，我軍在淖中，莫能戰，而吳人襲焉，故及於敗，師古沒於陣。
Pang Shigu came from Nanhua in Caozhou; he had first been named Cong. He entered the Founder's service as a palace attendant, dutiful and mild, and never strayed from his side. When the Founder took Bian and built up his forces, Shigu received five hundred horses and a deputy command; in the campaigns for Chen and against Cai he won repeated victories. After Zhu Zhen was put to death for his crimes, Shigu was made overall commander. He crossed the Huai, provisioned the army in Lu and Shou, took Chuzhou, stormed Tianchang and Gaoyou, and swept the Huai line with victory after victory. He soon succeeded Zhu Youyu in command, captured Xuzhou, and sent up Shi Pu's head. He then marched on Yanzhou, entered Zhongdu, camped on Liangshan, routed Zhu Xuan's force, and pressed the walls; He also beat Zhu Jin on the Qing River. In the Wenyang campaign he met Zhu Xuan, Zhu Jin, and the Jin officer Shi Yan'er at the old Yue Pavilion and came back in triumph. In the first month of Qianning 4 he led the armies against Yan, took the city, and sent up Zhu Xuan; he was first named acting commissioner of Tianping, then made military commissioner of Xuzhou, rising to Honorary Grand Master. In the eighth month of Qianning 4 he and Ge Congzhou led the main force across the Huai against Yang Xingmi. In the eleventh month Shigu camped at Qingkou on ground that was low and marshy, (The 《Idle Talk from the Jade Hall》 says Pang Cong had fifty thousand men at Qingkou on what strategists call death ground—so cramped that soldiers could not walk abreast, and a full stage's march was needed to reach open terrain.)〉 When officers urged him to relocate, he refused. Soon a report came that men of the Huai had cut the upper reaches, crying, "The flood is upon us." Shigu, furious that he was spreading panic, had him executed. (The 《Nine States Chronicle · Biography of Hou Zan》 says the army had been raised in haste; the weather turned bitter cold, and the men marched on ice and snow. When they reached the Liang camp the men had just set their spears and stood to arms, their will to fight still unsettled. Zhu Jin and Zan took fifty horsemen across the Huai by stealth, burst in from the north wall, and charged with levelled spears; the din rolled like thunder; Liang soldiers reeled and could not fight; Pang Cong was beheaded, senior officers fell in turn, and more than half the army was lost.)〉 Within moments our troops were trapped in the mud and helpless while Wu forces struck; defeat followed, and Shigu died in the rout.
2
霍存，洺州曲周縣人。 性驍勇，善騎射，在黃巢中已為將領。 唐中和四年，太祖大破巢軍於王滿渡，時存與葛從周、張歸霸皆自巢軍來降，太祖宥而納之。 其後破王夏寨，擊殷鐵林，並在戰中。 尋佐朱珍取滑台，攻淄州，取博昌，皆預戰立功。 時蔡賊張至在汴北，存以三千人夕犯其營，破之。 用本部騎兵敗秦賢軍，殺五千人，連破四寨，盡得其輜重。 從討盧瑭、張至，殪萬餘人，存功居多。 我軍之圍濮州也，有賊升眺樓大詬。 太祖怒甚，召存射之，矢一發而屍隕其下，賞賚甚厚。 復佐朱珍擒石璠，破魏師，敗徐戎。 又佐龐師古至呂梁，敗時溥二千餘眾，以是累遷官。 初，王師渡淮乏食，不甚利，惟存軍戰有功，淮賊乃引退。 太祖之討宿州也，葛從周以水壞其垣，丁會以師乘其墉，存戰壘外，敗其軍，宿人乃降。 明年，佐郴王友裕擊時溥於碭山，破之，獲蕃將石君和等五十人。 〈（《歐陽史》云：存代李唐賓攻時溥，溥敗碭山，存獲其將石君和等五十人。 梁攻宿州，葛從周引水浸之，丁會與存戰城下，遂下之。）〉 是歲，復與晉軍戰於馬牢川，始入為前鋒，出則後拒，晉不敢逼，乃渡河襲淇門，殺三千餘人。 曹州刺史郭紹賓之來歸也，存以師援之，遂代其任。 始，朱友裕以大軍伐鄆，臨其壁，既而師陷圍中，以急來告，存領二百騎馳赴擊退之。 太祖喜，拔為諸軍都指揮使。 景福二年春，太祖親至曹州，留騎軍數千，令存將之，且曰：「有急則倍道兼行以赴之。」 俄聞朱瑾領兵二萬入援彭門，存乃領騎軍馳赴之，與徐、兗之眾合戰於石佛山下，大敗之，存亦中流矢而卒，時人稱其忠勇。
Huo Cun came from Quzhou in Mozhou. Fierce and expert with bow on horseback, he had already held command under Huang Chao. In Zhonghe 4 the Founder shattered Chao's host at Wangman Ford; Cun came over with Ge Congzhou and Zhang Guiba, and the Founder spared them and took them in. He fought in the storming of Wang Xia's camp and the attack on Yin Tielin. He helped Zhu Zhen seize Huatai, stormed Zizhou, and took Bochang, earning credit in every action. When the Cai rebel Zhang Zhi held ground north of Bian, Cun struck his camp at night with three thousand men and routed him. Leading his own horse he crushed Qin Xian, killed five thousand, took four camps in a row, and captured their entire train. In the campaigns against Lu Tang and Zhang Zhi more than ten thousand fell, and Cun's share of the credit was the largest. During the siege of Puzhou a rebel climbed the watchtower and hurled abuse. The Founder in rage called for Cun to shoot him down; one shaft dropped the man from the tower, and the reward was lavish. He again helped Zhu Zhen take Shi Fan, routed the Wei force, and beat back the Xu enemy. With Pang Shigu at Lüliang he destroyed more than two thousand of Shi Pu's men and rose steadily in rank. When the imperial army first crossed the Huai, supplies ran short and the campaign went badly; only Cun's division fought well, and the Huai enemy pulled back. In the Founder's siege of Suzhou, Ge Congzhou flooded the walls, Ding Hui escaladed the rampart, and Cun fought outside the wall and broke the garrison until Suzhou submitted. The following year he joined Prince of Chen Zhu Youyu against Shi Pu at Dangshan, routed him, and took the foreign officer Shi Junhe and fifty more. (The 《Ouyang History》 says Cun took Li Tangbin's place against Shi Pu, defeated him at Dangshan, and captured Shi Junhe and fifty officers. When Liang besieged Suzhou, Ge Congzhou flooded the walls; Ding Hui and Cun fought at the foot of the wall and the city fell.)〉 That year he fought the Jin at Malaocuan—vanguard on the advance, rearguard on the retreat—until the Jin dared not close; he then crossed the river, struck Qimen, and killed more than three thousand. When Guo Shaobin of Cao came over to the Founder, Cun reinforced him and then took his command. When Zhu Youyu besieged Yan with the main army and his force was surrounded, Cun rode in with two hundred cavalry, broke the ring, and drove the enemy off. Delighted, the Founder made him overall commander of all armies. In the spring of Jingfu 2 the Founder came to Caozhou in person, left several thousand horsemen under Cun, and told him, "At the first alarm ride day and night to the spot." Word came that Zhu Jin was marching twenty thousand men to relieve Pengcheng; Cun raced his cavalry to meet him, joined the Xu and Yan forces at Stone Buddha Mountain, and won a great victory—but took a fatal arrow; contemporaries praised his loyalty and valor.
3
初，朱珍、李唐賓之歿，龐師古代珍，存代唐賓，戰伐功績，多與師古同。 始遙領韶州牧，又改賀州，後用為權知曹州刺史，官至檢校右僕射。 及太祖登極，屢有征討，因起猛士之歎。 一日，幸講武台閱兵，謂諸將曰：「霍存在，朕安有此勞苦耶！ 諸君其思之。」 他日語又如是，累贈官至太保。
After Zhu Zhen and Li Tangbin died, Shigu had succeeded Zhen and Cun had succeeded Tangbin; in war and merit he stood on a par with Shigu. He was first named distant prefect of Shaozhou, then of Hezhou, later acting governor of Cao, and rose to Honorary Right Vice Director. Once the Founder took the throne, repeated campaigns moved him to lament the loss of bold fighters. One day on the drill ground he told his commanders, "With Huo Cun alive, would I bear such hardship? Think on that, all of you." On another day he said the same; Cun's posthumous honors rose to Grand Preceptor.
4
子彥威，後唐明宗朝為青州節度使。
His son Yanwei served as military commissioner of Qingzhou under Mingzong of Later Tang.
5
符道昭，淮西人。 性強敏，有武略，秦宗權用為心膂，使監督諸軍，後為騎將。 尤能布陣，勇聞於時。 然剛而無操，善迎人意，一見若盡肺腑，必愛其才，而道昭之心腹颺矣。 秦宗權之將敗也，有薛潛者，支擘隊伍，道昭謂所私曰：「蔡弱矣。」 乃歸潛。 潛欲敗，復奔洋州依葛佐。 佐攻興元軍不利，復奔於岐。 宋文通愛之，養為己子，名繼遠，遂易其宗。 及得軍職，悉超儕伍。 後為巴州刺史，又奏為隴州防禦使兼中軍都指揮使。 太祖迎奉昭宗，駐軍於岐下，道昭頻領騎士敢鬥戰，屢為王師所敗，遂來降。 太祖素聞其名，待之甚厚。 昭宗反正，奏授秦州節度使、同平章事，遣兵援送，不克而還。 先是，李周彝棄鄜州自投歸國，署為元帥府行軍左司馬，寵冠霸府。 及道昭至，以為右司馬，使與周彝同領寇彥卿、南大豐、閻寶已下大軍伐滄州。 及太祖幸魏州，討牙軍，中軍前有魏博將山河營指揮使左行遷，聞府中有變，引軍還屯曆亭，自稱留後，從亂者數萬人。 道昭佐周彝與彥卿已下大破之，殺四萬餘人，擒左行遷，斬之。 有史仁遇亦聚徒數萬據高唐，又破之，擒仁遇以獻。 乘勝取澶、博二州，平之，復殺萬餘人。 道昭性勇果，多率先犯陣，屢有摧失，而周彝、彥卿犄角繼進，連以捷告； 護兵者上功不實，皆以道昭為首。 太祖陰知之，俱不議賞。 及滄州之圍也，不用騎士，令道昭牧馬於唐陽。 太祖受禪後，委兵柄，與康懷英等攻潞州，以「蚰蜓塹」繚之，飛鳥不度。 既逾歲，晉人援至，王師大敗，道昭為晉軍所殺。
Fu Daozhao came from western Huai. Forceful, quick-witted, and skilled in war, he became Qin Zongquan's intimate and overseer of the armies, then a cavalry commander. He excelled at arraying troops, and his bravery was renowned. Yet he lacked constancy and courted favor; one meeting could seem to bare his soul, and men admired his talent even as his loyalty had long since fled. When Qin Zongquan neared ruin, Xue Qian held the lines together; Daozhao told his confidants, "Cai is failing." and went back to Qian's side. When Qian's cause collapsed he fled to Yangzhou and attached himself to Ge Zuo. Zuo's attack on the Xingyuan army failed, and he fled again to Qi. Song Wentong favored him, adopted him as a son under the name Jiyuan, and gave him a new lineage. Once he held command he outstripped every comrade. He later governed Bazhou and was named defense commissioner of Longzhou with command of the central army. When the Founder went to receive Zhaozong and camped below Qi, Daozhao led cavalry in repeated fierce charges, was beaten again and again by the imperial forces, and at last submitted. The Founder had long known his reputation and received him with great favor. After Zhaozong's restoration he was named commissioner of Qinzhou and Associate Grand Councillor and sent to escort the emperor home, but failed and returned. Earlier Li Zhouyi had abandoned Yan and come over; he was made left marshal on the Founder's staff and stood first in favor at Bian. When Daozhao came he was made right marshal and joined Zhouyi in leading Kou Yanqing, Nan Dafeng, Yan Bao, and the main force against Cangzhou. When the Founder went to Weizhou to crush the garrison mutiny, the Weibo commander Zuo Xingqian of the Mountain-and-River Camp heard of unrest at headquarters, marched back to Liting, declared himself acting regent, and tens of thousands rose with him. Daozhao and Zhouyi, with Yanqing and the rest, shattered the rebels, killed more than forty thousand, took Zuo Xingqian, and executed him. Shi Renyu had also raised tens of thousands and held Gaotang; they beat him too, seized Renyu, and sent him up. Pressing the victory they seized Chan and Bo, pacified both, and killed another ten thousand. Bold and decisive, Daozhao often led the charge and took losses, while Zhouyi and Yanqing pressed in from the flanks and sent one victory report after another; the clerks who recorded merit lied, always crediting Daozhao first. The Founder knew the truth and withheld rewards from all. During the Cangzhou siege he was kept from the fight and sent to pasture horses at Tangyang. After the Founder took the throne he was given command; with Kang Huaaiying and others he besieged Luzhou behind the "Millipede Trench," so tight that no bird could cross. A year on, Jin reinforcements arrived; the imperial army was shattered, and the Jin killed Daozhao.
6
徐懷玉，本名琮，亳州焦夷縣人。 少以雄傑自任，隨太祖起軍。 唐中和末，從至大梁。 光啟初，蔡寇屯金堤驛，懷玉將輕騎連破之，由是累遷親從副將，改左長劍都虞候。 又從破蔡賊於板橋，收秦宗權八寨，奏加檢校右散騎常侍。 文德初，同諸軍解河陽之圍，復從破徐、宿。 乾寧中，奏加檢校刑部尚書，太祖賜名懷玉。 破朱瑾於金鄉南，擒宗江以獻，表授金紫光祿大夫、檢校右僕射。 乾寧四年，龐師古失利於清口，懷玉獨完軍以退。 光化初，轉滑州右都押牙兼右步軍指揮使，俄奏授沂州刺史。 頃之，王師範以青州叛，屢出兵侵軼，懷玉擊退之。 天復四年，轉齊州防禦使，加檢校司空，從大軍迎駕於岐下。 歸署華州觀察留後。 一年，復領所部兵戍雍州，尋召赴河中，補晉、絳、同、華五州馬步都指揮使。 天祐三年，授左羽林統軍，轉右龍虎統軍，領六軍之士赴澤州。 尋為晉軍所攻，晝夜衝擊，穴地而入，懷玉率親兵逆殺於隧中，晉軍遂退。 開平元年，授曹州刺史，加檢校司徒。 明年，除晉州刺史。 其秋，晉軍大至，已乘其墉，懷玉選親兵五十餘人，擁殺下城。 晉軍既退，出家財以賞戰士。 歲中，晉軍又至，懷玉領兵敗之於洪洞。 三年，製授鄜坊節度使、特進、檢校太保，練兵繕壁，人頗安之，加檢校太傅。 乾化二年，庶人友珪既篡立，河中朱友謙拒命，遣兵襲鄜州，懷玉無備，尋為河中所擄，囚於公館。 及友珪遣康懷英率師圍河中，友謙慮懷玉有變，遂害之。 懷玉才氣剛勇，臨陣未嘗折退，平生金瘡被體，有戰將之名焉。
Xu Huaiyu, born Cong, came from Jiaoyi in Bozhou. As a young man he styled himself a hero and marched with the Founder from the first. In the last years of Zhonghe he went with the Founder to Daliang. Early in Guangqi, when Cai rebels held Jindi Post, Huaiyu with light horse broke them again and again and rose to deputy commander of the personal guard, then adjutant of the left long-sword corps. He fought at Banqiao, took eight of Qin Zongquan's camps, and was memorialized Honorary Right Regular Cavalier. At the opening of Wende he helped lift the siege of Heyang and joined in the conquest of Xu and Su. In Qianning he was named Honorary Minister of Justice, and the Founder gave him the name Huaiyu. South of Jinxiang he routed Zhu Jin, sent up the captive Zong Jiang, and was made Grand Master of the Gold-and-Purple with Honorary Right Vice Director. In Qianning 4, when Pang Shigu was destroyed at Qingkou, Huaiyu alone withdrew with his force intact. Early in Guanghua he became Huazhou's right chief adjutant and commander of the right foot corps, then prefect of Yizhou. When Wang Shifan rebelled at Qingzhou and raided repeatedly, Huaiyu drove him off each time. In Tianfu 4 he was made defense commissioner of Qizhou and Honorary Minister of Works and marched with the main force to receive the emperor below Qi. Returning, he was named acting regent of Huazhou. After a year he garrisoned Yongzhou with his troops, then was called to Hezhong as overall horse-and-foot commander for Jin, Jiang, Tong, and Hua. In Tianyou 3 he was made commander of the Left Feathered Forest, then of the Right Dragon-Tiger, and led the Six Armies to Zezhou. When the Jin attacked day and night and tunneled under the wall, Huaiyu led his bodyguard into the galleries and killed them there until the Jin withdrew. In Kaiping 1 he was made prefect of Caozhou and Honorary Grand Master. The next year he was transferred to Jinzhou. That autumn a great Jin host came, already on the walls; Huaiyu took fifty of his best men and hurled the climbers from the battlements. After the Jin withdrew he paid the fighters from his own purse. Later that year the Jin returned; Huaiyu led his men and beat them at Hongdong. In year 3 he was formally made commissioner of Yan-Fang, Special Advancement, and honorary Grand Guardian; he drilled the army and strengthened the walls until the people were secure, then was raised to honorary Grand Tutor. In Qianhua 2, after Yougui seized the throne, Zhu Youqian of Hezhong rebelled, stormed Yanzhou, and took Huaiyu unawares; he was held prisoner in the official residence. When Yougui sent Kang Huaiying to besiege Hezhong, Youqian, fearing Huaiyu might switch sides, had him killed. Huaiyu was bold and resolute and never broke in battle; scarred from head to foot, he was famed as a warrior.
7
郭言，太原人也。 家於南陽新野，少以力穡養親，鄉里稱之。 唐廣明中，黃巢擁眾西犯秦、雍，言為巢黨所執。 後從太祖赴汴，初為騎軍，繼有戰功，後擢為裨校。 言性剛直，有權略，勤於戎事，或以家財分給將士之貧者，由是頗得士心。 屢將兵與蔡寇戰於浚郊，每以少擊眾，出必勝歸。 太祖嘉其勇果，謂賓佐曰：「言乃吾之虎侯也。」 時宗權支黨數十萬，太祖兵不過數十旅，每恨其寡，與之不敵。 一日，命言董數千人，越河、洛，趨陝、虢，招召丁壯，以實部伍。 言夏往冬旋，得銳士萬餘，遂遷步軍都將。 自是隨太祖掩襲察寇，斬獲掠奪，不可勝紀。 宗權以茲敗北，太祖盡收其地。 因命言將兵導達貢奉，以安郵傳，自汴、鄭迄於潼關，去奸恤弱，甚得其所。 光啟中，唐天子以太祖兵威日振，命兼揚州節度使。 太祖遣幕吏李璠領兵赴維揚以製置為名，時言為李璠前鋒，深入淮甸，破盱眙而還。 梁祖東伐徐、鄆，言將偏師，略地千里； 頻逢寇敵，言出奇決戰，所向皆捷，大挫東人之銳。 太祖錄其績，以「排陣斬斫」之號委之，尋表為宿州刺史、檢校右僕射。 於時徐、宿兵鋒日夕相接，控扼偵邏，以言為首。 景福初，時溥大舉來攻宿州，言勇於野戰，喜逢大敵，自引銳兵擊溥，殺傷甚眾，徐戎乃退。 言為流矢所中，一夕而卒。
Guo Yan came from Taiyuan. His family lived at Xinye in Nanyang; as a youth he toiled to support his parents and won praise in the district. In Guangming of Tang, when Huang Chao marched west into Qin and Yong, Yan was impressed into his ranks. He later followed the Founder to Bian, first in the horse corps, won repeated distinction, and rose to staff captain. Upright, resourceful, and tireless in the field, he often paid poor soldiers from his own purse and won strong loyalty. He fought Cai rebels again and again near Junzhou, always beating larger forces and returning victorious. The Founder praised his daring and told his advisers: "Yan is my Tiger Marquis. 」 Zongquan had hundreds of thousands of followers while the Founder had only a few brigades and bitterly felt himself outmatched. One day he sent Yan with several thousand men across the Yellow and Luo into Shan and Guo to recruit men and swell the ranks. He left in summer and returned in winter with more than ten thousand picked men and was made commander of the foot army. Thereafter he joined the Founder's raids on Cai rebels, with kills and loot beyond reckoning. Zongquan was driven north and the Founder took all his lands. Yan was then put in charge of tribute convoys and the post road from Bian and Zheng to Tong Pass, rooting out bandits and protecting the weak. In Guangqi the Tang court, seeing the Founder's power grow, made him concurrent commissioner of Yangzhou. The Founder sent Li Fan to Yangzhou to "set affairs in order"; Yan led the van deep into the Huai country, took Xuyi, and withdrew. When the Liang Founder marched east on Xu and Yan, Yan led a detached column and overran a thousand li of country; wherever he met the enemy he fought with brilliant tactics and crushed the easterners' spirit. The Founder rewarded him with the title Array-Slashing Champion and soon had him made prefect of Xu and honorary Right Vice Director. With Xu and Su in daily combat, Yan headed the scouts and the forward screen. Early in Jingfu, Shi Pu besieged Suzhou in force; Yan, who loved open battle, led his best men against Pu, inflicted heavy losses, and drove the Xu army off. A stray arrow struck him and he died that night.
8
李唐賓，陝州陝縣人也。 中和四年二月，尚讓之寇繁台也，唐賓與李讜、霍存並為巢將，與太祖之軍戰於尉氏門外。 三月，太祖破瓦子寨，唐賓與王虔裕來降。 時黃巢壁於陳郊，乃命唐賓摩其西焚焉。 王滿之師，王夏之陣，唐賓悉在戰中。 後與朱珍趣淄州，所向摧敵。 及取滑平蔡，前後破鄆、淮、徐之眾，功與朱珍略等，而驍勇絕倫，善用矛，未嘗不率先陷陣。 其善於治軍行師之道，亦與珍齊名。 珍之擒石璠也，唐賓亦沿淮與郭言犄角下盱眙，其後渡河破黎陽、李固等鎮，攻澶州，下內黃，敗魏師，未嘗不與珍同。 暨攻蔡之役，珍自西南破其外垣，唐賓亦堙壕坎墉，摧其東北隅。 及伐徐取豐，時溥軍於吳康，珍亟遇之，未能卻，唐賓引本軍擊敗之，珍遂大勝。 每興師必與珍偕用，故往無不利，然而剛中用壯，遂為珍所害，以謀叛聞。 太祖聞之，痛惜累日。 及誅朱珍後，令其妻孥至軍收葬，而加吊祭焉。
Li Tangbin came from Shan county in Shanzhou. In the second month of Zhonghe 4, when Shang Rang raided Fantai, Tangbin served Chao with Li Zan and Huo Cun and fought the Founder outside the Weishi Gate. In the third month the Founder took Wazi stockade; Tangbin and Wang Qianyu defected to him. With Huang Chao entrenched east of Chen, he sent Tangbin to burn the western camps. He fought at Wang Man's camp and in Wang Xia's line. He later marched on Zizhou with Zhu Zhen and swept all before them. In the conquest of Hua, the pacification of Cai, and the defeats of Yan, Huai, and Xu he matched Zhu Zhen in merit, yet his valor was unequaled; with the spear he always led the charge. He was Zhen's equal in drilling troops and leading campaigns. When Zhen took Shi Fan, Tangbin with Guo Yan seized Xuyi on the Huai; he then crossed the river, took Liyang and Ligui, stormed Chanzhou, captured Neihuang, and routed the Wei army—always at Zhen's side. At the siege of Cai, Zhen breached the outer wall from the southwest while Tangbin filled the ditches and broke the northeast corner. At Feng in the Xu campaign, when Zhen could not shake Shi Pu at Wukang, Tangbin with his own corps routed the enemy and let Zhen win decisively. They campaigned together so often that their armies never failed, but Tangbin's blunt strength made Zhen destroy him on a false charge of treason. The Founder mourned him for days. After Zhen was put to death he had Tangbin's family recover the body and added funeral honors.
9
王虔裕，琅琊臨沂人也，家於楚丘。 少有膽勇，多力善射，以弋獵為事。 唐乾符中，諸葛爽聚徒於青、棣間，攻剽郡縣，虔裕依其眾。 及爽歸順，乃以虔裕及其眾隸於宣武軍。 太祖鎮汴，四郊多事，始議選將征討，首以虔裕綰騎兵，恒為前鋒。 及太祖擊巢、蔡於陳州，虔裕連拔數寨，擒獲萬計。 巢孽既遁，虔裕躡其跡，追至萬勝戍，賊眾饑乏，短兵才接而潰。 太祖以其勞，表授義州刺史。 蔡人日縱侵掠，陳、鄭、許、亳之郊頻年大戰，虔裕掩襲攻拒，凡百餘陣，剿戮生擒，不知紀極。 秦宗賢寇汴南鄙，太祖令虔裕逆擊於尉氏，不利而還。 太祖怒，命削職，拘於別部。 逾年，邢州孟遷請降。 未幾，晉人伐邢，孟遷遣使來乞師，太祖先遣虔裕選勇士百餘人徑往赴之，伺夜突入邢州。 明日，循堞樹立旗幟，晉人不測，乃退。 數月，復來圍邢，時太祖大軍方討兗、鄆，未及救援。 邢人困而攜貳，遷乃縶虔裕送於太原，尋為所害。
Wang Qianyu came from Linyi in Langye and lived at Chuqiu. As a youth he was bold and strong, a fine archer, and lived by the hunt. In Qianfu of Tang, when Zhuge Shuang raided Qing and Di, Qianyu joined his band. When Shuang surrendered, Qianyu and his men entered the Xuanwu army. When the Founder held Bian amid constant border fighting, he chose Qianyu to lead the horse corps and always sent him first. At Chenzhou he stormed several Chao and Cai camps and took tens of thousands prisoner. He pursued the fleeing rebels to Wansheng post; starving and ill-armed, they broke at the first clash. The Founder rewarded him with appointment as prefect of Yi. For years Cai raiders ravaged Chen, Zheng, Xu, and Bo; Qianyu fought them in more than a hundred engagements with uncounted kills and captures. When Qin Zongxian struck Bian's south, Qianyu met him at Weishi, was beaten, and withdrew. The Founder stripped his rank and held him in another command. A year later Meng Qian of Xingzhou offered to submit. Jin soon besieged Xing; Meng Qian begged aid, and the Founder sent Qianyu with a hundred picked men who entered the city by night. Next day they raised banners on the walls; the Jin army, baffled, withdrew. Months later the Jin returned; the Founder's main force was fighting Yan and Yan and could not relieve the city. With Xing wavering under the siege, Meng Qian handed Qianyu over to Taiyuan, where he was soon killed.
10
劉康乂，壽州安豐縣人也。 以農桑為業，唐乾符中，關東群盜並起，江、淮間偏罹其苦，因為巢黨所掠。 康乂沉默有膂力，善用矛槊，然不樂為暴。 中和三年，從太祖赴鎮，委以心腹，康乂枕戈擐甲，夷險無憚。 其後累典親軍，襲巢破蔡，斬獲尤多，累以戰功遷元從都將。 從太祖連年攻討徐、兗、鄆，所向多捷，尤善於營壘，充諸軍壕寨使。 及太祖盡下三鎮，議其功，奏加檢校右僕射，兼領軍衛，尋遷密州刺史，政甚簡靜。 時王師範叛據青州，乞師於淮夷，淮人遂攻密州。 密兵素少，執銳者不滿千夫，而淮賊逾萬，康乂率老弱守陴，自別領少壯，日與接戰於密之四郊，俘擒千計。 賊知密州虛弱，援兵未至，晝夜急攻，遂陷，康乂出為賊所害。
Liu Kangyi came from Anfeng in Shouzhou. A farmer by trade, he was swept up when bandits overran the east and the Huai country in Qianfu of Tang. Quiet and powerfully built, skilled with spear and halberd, he took no joy in pillage. In Zhonghe 3 he followed the Founder to Bian as a trusted man, always armed and armored, fearless in hardship. He later led the personal guard, won heavy spoils against Chao and at Cai, and rose to commander of the original followers. In the long wars on Xu, Yan, and Yan he was usually victorious and excelled at entrenchments, serving as trench commissioner for all forces. When the three circuits fell he was made honorary Right Vice Director and guard commander, then prefect of Mi, where he ruled with quiet simplicity. When Wang Shifan held Qingzhou and called on Huai allies, the Huai army attacked Mi. Mi had fewer than a thousand men under arms against ten thousand Huai rebels; Kangyi put the old and weak on the walls and led the young men in daily skirmishes, taking a thousand prisoners. Seeing Mi weak and unreinforced, the enemy stormed day and night until the city fell and Kangyi was killed leaving the walls.
11
王彥章，字賢明，鄆州壽張縣人也。 祖秀，父慶宗，俱不仕。 以彥章貴，秀贈左散騎常侍，慶宗贈右武衛將軍。 彥章少從軍，隸太祖帳下，以驍勇聞。 稍遷軍職，累典禁兵。 從太祖征討，所至有功，常持鐵槍衝堅陷陣。 開平二年十月，自開封府押牙、左親從指揮使授左龍驤軍使。 三年，轉左監門衛上將軍，依前左龍驤軍使。 乾化元年，改行營左先鋒馬軍使，加金紫光祿大夫、檢校司空，依前左監門衛上將軍。 二年，庶人友珪篡位，加檢校司徒。 三年正月，授濮州刺史、本州馬步軍都指揮使，依前左先鋒馬軍使。 未幾，改先鋒步軍都指揮使。 四年，為澶州刺史，進封開國伯。 五年三月，朝廷議割魏州為兩鎮，慮魏人不從，遣彥章率精騎五百屯鄴城，駐於金波亭，以備非常。 是月二十九日夜，魏軍作亂，首攻彥章於館舍，彥章南奔。 七月，晉人攻陷澶州，彥章舉家陷沒。 〈（《通鑒》云：晉人夜襲澶州，陷之。 刺史王彥章在劉鄩營，晉人獲其妻子。）〉 晉王遷其家於晉陽，待之甚厚，遣細人間行誘之，彥章即斬其使以絕之。 後數年，其家被害。 九月，授汝州防禦使、檢校太保，依前行營先鋒步軍都指揮使。 貞明二年四月，改鄭州防禦使。 三年十二月，授西面行營馬軍都指揮使，加檢校太傅，依前鄭州防禦使。 頃之，授行營諸軍左廂馬軍都指揮使。 五年五月，遷許州兩使留後，軍職如故。 六年正月，正授許州匡國軍節度使，充散指揮都頭都軍使，進封開國侯。 未幾，授北面行營副招討使。 七年正月，移領滑州。
Wang Yanzhang, styled Xianming, came from Shouzhang in Yanzhou. His grandfather Xiu and father Qingzong never held office. When Yanzhang rose, Xiu was posthumously made Left Regular Cavalry Attendant and Qingzong Right Martial Guard General. He entered the army young, served in the Founder's guard, and won fame for valor. He rose through the ranks and repeatedly commanded the palace guard. In the Founder's campaigns he always distinguished himself, charging with an iron spear. In the tenth month of Kaiping 2 he went from Kaifeng yamen guard and Left Personal Followers commander to Left Dragon Soaring Army commander. In year 3 he became senior general of the Left Gate Guard while keeping the Left Dragon Soaring command. In Qianhua 1 he was made Left Vanguard Horse Army commander of the field army, Golden Purple Glory Grandee, and honorary Minister of Works, retaining the Left Gate Guard post. In year 2, after Yougui seized the throne, he was made honorary Minister of War. In the first month of year 3 he was made prefect of Pu and commander of its horse and foot while keeping the Left Vanguard Horse command. Soon he was shifted to Vanguard Foot Army commander. In year 4 he became prefect of Chan and was enfeoffed as founding baron. In the third month of year 5, when the court planned to split Wei into two commands, Yanzhang was sent with five hundred picked horsemen to Ye, camped at Jinbo Pavilion, against trouble. On the night of the twenty-ninth the Wei troops mutinied and attacked his quarters; Yanzhang fled south. In the seventh month the Jin took Chanzhou and Yanzhang's family was captured. （The 《Zizhi Tongjian》 says: the Jin stormed Chanzhou by night and took it. Prefect Wang Yanzhang was in Liu Yun's camp; the Jin seized his wife and children.）〉 The Jin ruler sent his family to Jinyang and treated them well, then tried to win him by secret envoys; Yanzhang killed the messenger at once. Years later his family was killed. In the ninth month he was made defender of Ru, honorary Grand Guardian, and kept the Vanguard Foot Army command. In the fourth month of Zhenming 2 he was transferred to defender of Zheng. In the twelfth month of year 3 he was made Western Campaign Horse Army commander and honorary Grand Tutor while keeping Zheng. Soon he was made Left Wing Horse Army commander of the field army. In the fifth month of year 5 he became acting prefect of Xu with his military commands unchanged. In the first month of year 6 he was formally made Kuangguo commissioner of Xu, head of the scattered commands, and founding marquis. Soon he was made deputy pacification commissioner of the northern campaign. In the first month of year 7 he took command of Hua.
12
龍德三年四月晦，晉師陷鄆州，中外大恐。 五月，以彥章代戴思遠為北面招討使。 拜命之日，促裝以赴滑台，遂自楊村寨浮河而下，水陸俱進，斷晉人德勝之浮梁，攻南城，拔之。 晉人遂棄北城，並軍保楊劉。 彥章以舟師沿流而下，晉人盡徹北城，拆屋木編筏，置步軍於其上，與彥章各行一岸。 每遇轉灘水彙，即中流交鬥，流矢雨集，或舟筏覆沒，比及楊劉，凡百餘戰。 彥章急攻楊劉，晝夜不息，晉人極力固守，垂陷者數四。 六月，晉王親援其城，彥章之軍，重壕復壘，晉人不能入。 晉王乃於博州東岸築壘，以應鄆州。 彥章聞之，馳軍而至，急攻其柵，自旦及午，其城將拔，會晉王以大軍來援，彥章及退。 七月，晉王至楊劉，彥章軍不利，遂罷彥章兵權，詔令歸闕，以段凝為招討使。
On the last day of the fourth month of Longde 3 the Jin took Yanzhou and the court was terrified. In the fifth month Yanzhang replaced Dai Siyuan as northern pacification commissioner. The day he took command he raced to Huatai, floated down from Yangcun by river and land together, severed the Jin bridge at Desheng, stormed the southern city, and took it. The Jin abandoned the north bank and concentrated at Yangliu. Yanzhang sailed downstream while the Jin stripped the north bank, built rafts from house timber, loaded infantry on them, and fought from opposite shores. At every bend they clashed in midstream under showers of arrows; boats and rafts sank; by Yangliu they had fought more than a hundred engagements. Yanzhang stormed Yang Liu without rest; the Jin garrison held with all its strength and nearly fell several times. Month 6 the Prince of Jin came to relieve the city; Yanzhang's trenches and walls kept the Jin army out. The Prince of Jin built stockades east of Bozhou to support Yanzhou. Yanzhang rushed to attack the stockade from dawn to noon and nearly took it, but when the Prince of Jin arrived with the main army he withdrew. Month 7, at Yang Liu, Yanzhang lost; command was taken from him, he was recalled to court, and Duan Ning became campaign commander.
13
先是，趙、張二族撓亂朝政。 彥章深惡之，性復剛直，不能緘忍。 及授招討之命，因謂所親曰：「待我立功之後，回軍之日，當盡誅奸臣，以謝天下。」 趙、張聞之，私相謂曰：「我輩寧死於沙陀之手，不當為彥章所殺。」 因協力以傾之。 時段凝以賄賂交結，自求兵柄，素與彥章不協，潛害其功，陰行逗撓，遂至王師不利，竟退彥章而用段凝。 未及十旬，國以之亡矣。
Earlier the Zhao and Zhang factions had thrown the court into disorder. Yanzhang hated them deeply; he was blunt by nature and could not hold back. On receiving the campaign command he told his intimates: "When I win and march home I will kill every traitor to answer the realm. 」Zhao and Zhang whispered: "Better die to the Shatuo than at Yanzhang's hands. 」So they united to bring him down. Duan Ning bought allies to seize command, hated Yanzhang, sabotaged his victories, and dragged his feet until the army failed; Yanzhang was removed and Duan Ning put in his place. Within a hundred days the state was lost because of it.
14
是歲秋九月，朝廷聞晉人將自兗州路出師，末帝急遣彥章領保鑾騎士數千於東路守捉。 且以鄆州為敵人所據，因圖進取，令張漢傑為監軍。 一日，彥章渡汶，以略鄆境，至遞坊鎮，為晉人所襲，彥章退保中都。 十月四日，晉王以大軍至，彥章以眾拒戰，兵敗，為晉將夏魯奇所擒。 魯奇嘗事太祖，與彥章素善，及彥章敗，識其語音，曰：「此王鐵槍也。」 揮槊刺之，彥章重傷，馬踣，遂就擒。 晉王見彥章，謂之曰：「爾常以孺子待我，今日服未？」 又問：「我素聞爾善將，何不保守兗州？ 此邑素無城壘，何以自固？」 彥章對曰：「大事已去，非臣智力所及。」 晉王惻然，親賜藥以封其創。 晉王素聞其勇悍，欲全活之，令中使慰撫，以誘其意。 彥章曰：「比是匹夫，本朝擢居方面，與皇帝十五年抗衡； 今日兵敗力窮，死有常分，皇帝縱垂矜宥，何面目見人！ 豈有為臣為將，朝事梁而暮事晉乎！ 得死，幸矣！」 晉王又謂李嗣源曰：「爾宜親往諭之，庶可全活。」 時彥章以重傷不能興，嗣源至臥內以見之，謂嗣源曰：「汝非邈佶烈乎？」 邈佶烈，蓋嗣源小字也。 彥章素輕嗣源，故以小字呼之。 既而晉王命肩輿隨軍至任城，彥章以所傷痛楚，堅乞遲留，遂遇害，時年六十一。
Autumn, month 9, the court learned the Jin army would march from Yanzhou; the Last Emperor sent Yanzhang with several thousand Palace Guard cavalry to hold the east. With Yanzhou in enemy hands they planned an advance and appointed Zhang Hanjie inspector. One day he crossed the Wen to raid Yan, reached Difang, was ambushed by Jin troops, and fell back on Zhongdu. On the fourth of month 10 the Prince of Jin arrived; Yanzhang fought, was beaten, and taken by Xia Luqi. Luqi had served the Founder and knew Yanzhang well; hearing his voice he cried, "That is Wang Iron Spear! 」He thrust with his spear; Yanzhang was badly wounded, his horse collapsed, and he was seized. The Prince of Jin said: "You always called me a stripling—are you satisfied now? 」He asked: "They say you are a fine commander—why not hold Yanzhou? This place has no walls—how could you defend it? 」Yanzhang said: "The cause is lost; no wit of mine could save it. 」The Prince of Jin was moved and dressed his wound himself. The Prince of Jin admired his valor and wanted him alive; he sent an envoy to comfort him and win him over. Yanzhang said: "I am a common soldier whom your court made a frontier commander; for fifteen years I fought your emperor; today I am beaten and spent—death is fitting; even if your emperor spared me, how could I face anyone! What minister or general serves Liang at dawn and Jin at dusk! Death is blessing enough! 」The Prince of Jin told Li Siyuan: "Go yourself and persuade him—he may yet live. 」Yanzhang was too hurt to rise; Siyuan came to his bed and Yanzhang said, "So you are Yaojilie? 」Yaojilie was Siyuan's childhood name. Yanzhang had always despised Siyuan and used his childhood name. Soon the Prince of Jin had him carried with the army to Rencheng; Yanzhang begged to stay behind from the pain of his wounds and was killed—aged sixty-one.
15
彥章性忠勇，有膂力，臨陣對敵，奮不顧身。 嘗謂人曰：「李亞子鬥雞小兒，何足畏！」 初，晉王聞彥章授招討使，自魏州急赴河上，以備衝突，至則德勝南城已為所拔。 晉王嘗曰：「此人可畏，當避其鋒。」 一日，晉王領兵迫潘張寨，大軍隔河，未能赴援，彥章援槍登船，叱舟人解纜，招討使賀瑰止之，不可。 晉王聞彥章至，抽軍而退，其驍勇如此。 及晉高祖遷都夷門，嘉彥章之忠款，詔贈太師，搜訪子孫錄用。 〈（《五代史補》：王彥章之應募也，同時有數百人，而彥章營求為長。 眾皆怒曰：「彥章何人，一旦自草野中出，便欲居我輩之上，是不自量之甚也！」 彥章聞之，乃對主將指數百人曰：「我天與壯氣，自度汝等不及，故求作長耳。 汝等咄咄，得非勝負將分之際耶！ 且大凡健兒開口便言死，死則未暇，且共汝輩赤腳入棘針地走三五遭，汝等能乎？」 眾初以為戲，既而彥章果然，眾皆失色，無敢效之者。 太祖聞之，以為神人，遽擢用之。）〉
Yanzhang was loyal and brave, powerfully built, and in battle he never held back. He once said: "Li Yazi is a cockfighting lad—why fear him! 」When the Prince of Jin heard Yanzhang was made commander he rushed from Weizhou to the river to block him, but Desheng's south city had already fallen. The Prince of Jin said: "He is fearsome—avoid his edge. 」Once the Prince of Jin pressed Panzhang Stockade while his main force was cut off by the river; Yanzhang boarded a boat with spear in hand and ordered the lines cast off; He Kui could not stop him. Hearing Yanzhang was coming, the Prince of Jin withdrew—such was his terror. When Jin Gaozu moved the capital to Yimen he honored Yanzhang's loyalty, posthumously made him Grand Preceptor, and sought his descendants for office. (The 《Supplement to the History of the Five Dynasties》 says: When Wang Yanzhang enlisted, several hundred men were present and he asked to be squad chief. They cried in anger: "Who is Yanzhang to come from nowhere and put himself over us—he does not know himself! 」Yanzhang told the commander before the men: "Heaven gave me strength you cannot match—that is why I want to lead. You talk big—is this not the time to settle it by trial! Bold men talk of death, but death can wait—run barefoot through thorns three or five times with me; can you? 」They thought it a joke until he did it; all turned pale and none dared follow. The Founder heard, called him a wonder, and promoted him at once.)〉
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賀德倫，其先河西部落人也。 父懷慶，隸滑州軍為小校。 德倫少為滑之牙將。 太祖領四鎮，德倫以本軍從，繼立軍功，累曆刺史留後，遷平盧軍節度使。 及魏博楊師厚卒，朝廷以德倫代其任。 貞明元年三月二十九日夜，魏軍作亂，執德倫，囚於別館，盡殺其部眾，為亂首張彥所迫，遣使歸款於太原。 晉王自黃澤嶺東下，至臨清，德倫遣從事司空頲密啟晉王，訴以張彥淩辱之事。 晉王至永濟，斬彥等八人，然後入於魏，德倫即以符印上晉王。 〈（《通鑒》：晉王既入，德倫上印節，請王兼領天雄軍。 王固辭，曰：「比聞汴寇侵逼貴道，故親董師徒，遠來相救，又聞城中新罹塗炭，故暫入存撫。 明公不垂鑒信，乃以印節見推，誠非素懷。」 德倫再拜曰：「今寇敵密邇，軍城新有大變，人心未安，德倫心腹紀綱為張彥所殺殆盡，形孤勢弱，安能撫軍！ 一旦生事，恐負大恩。」 王乃受之。）〉 尋授雲州節度使，行次河東，監軍張承業留之不遣。 頃之，王檀以急兵襲太原，德倫部下多奔逸，承業懼其為變，遂誅德倫，並其部曲盡殺之。
He Delun's forebears came from the Western River tribes. His father Huaiqing was a junior officer in the Hua army. Delun began as a Hua garrison officer. When the Founder held four circuits Delun followed with his command, won repeated honors, served as prefect and acting commissioner, and became Pinglu military commissioner. When Yang Shihou of Weibo died, the court gave Delun his post. On the night of the twenty-ninth of month 3, Zhenming 1, Weibo mutinied, seized Delun, held him apart, slaughtered his staff, and under Zhang Yan sent envoys to Taiyuan. The Prince of Jin marched east from Huangze Ridge to Linqing; Delun sent Sikong Yan secretly to tell him of Zhang Yan's abuse. At Yongji the Prince of Jin beheaded Yan and seven others, entered Wei, and Delun surrendered his seals. (The 《Zizhi Tongjian》 says: Once inside, Delun offered his seal and asked the Prince to command Tianxiong as well. The Prince refused: "I heard Bian raiders threatened your circuit and came far to save you; I heard the city had just been ravaged and entered only to comfort it. If you will not trust me but push your seal on me, that was never my intent. 」Delun bowed again: "Enemies are near, the garrison is unsettled, and Zhang Yan has killed nearly all my trusted men—I am alone and weak; I cannot hold the army! If trouble broke out tomorrow I could not repay your kindness. 」The Prince then accepted.)〉 Soon he was made Yunzhou commissioner; at Hedong Inspector Zhang Chengye held him back. Soon Wang Tan struck Taiyuan in haste; Delun's men fled; Chengye feared revolt, killed Delun, and slaughtered his entire following.