1
李存信，本姓張，父君政，回鶻部人也。 大中初，隨懷化郡王李思忠內附，因家雲中之合羅川。 存信通黠多數，會四夷語，別六蕃書，善戰，識兵勢。 初為獻祖親信，從武皇入關平賊，始補軍職，賜姓名。 大順中，累遷至馬步都校，與李存孝擊張浚軍於平陽。 時存孝驍勇冠絕，軍中皆下之，惟存信與爭功，由是相惡，有同水火。 及平定潞州，存孝以功望領節度，既而康君立授旄鉞，存孝怒，大剽潞民，燒邑屋，言發流涕，疑存信擯己故也。 明年，存孝得邢、洺，武皇與之節鉞。 存孝慮存信離間，欲立大功以勝之，屢請兵於武皇，請兼併鎮、冀，存信間之，不時許。 大順二年，武皇大舉略地山東，以存信為蕃漢馬步都校，存孝聞之怒，武皇令存質代之，存孝乃謀叛。 既誅，以存信為蕃漢都校。 從討李匡儔，降赫連鐸、白義誠，以功檢校右僕射，從入關討王行瑜，加檢校司空，領郴州刺史。
Li Cunxin was originally surnamed Zhang; his father Junzheng came from the Uighur tribes. In the early Dazhong reign he accompanied the Prince of Huaihua, Li Sizhong, in coming over to Tang territory, and his family then settled at Heluo River in Yunzhong. Cunxin was clever, shrewd, and skilled at reckoning; he knew the languages of the frontier peoples, could read the six foreign scripts, fought well, and understood how armies should be deployed. He first served as a trusted intimate of the Ancestor of Offerings, then followed the Martial Emperor through the passes to suppress rebels, received his first military appointment, and was granted the surname and name Li Cunxin. During the Dazhun era he rose to commander of cavalry and infantry and, together with Li Cunxiao, attacked Zhang Jun's forces at Pingyang. Cunxiao's martial prowess was then unmatched in the army, and all deferred to him—except Cunxin, who vied with him for credit. From this they grew mutually hostile, irreconcilable as fire and water. After Luzhou was pacified, Cunxiao expected the governorship for his achievements, but Kang Junli received the commission instead. Enraged, he looted the people of Lu, burned settlements, and wept openly as he spoke, convinced that Cunxin had turned the Martial Emperor against him. The following year Cunxiao took Xing and Ming prefectures, and the Martial Emperor invested him with command and regalia. Fearing Cunxin's intrigues, Cunxiao sought outstanding victories to outshine him. He repeatedly asked the Martial Emperor for reinforcements and permission to seize Zhen and Ji, but Cunxin obstructed him and the requests went unapproved. In the second year of Dazhun the Martial Emperor launched a major campaign east of the mountains and appointed Cunxin commander of barbarian and Han horse and foot. Cunxiao flew into a rage. The Martial Emperor sent Cunzhi to take the post in his place, whereupon Cunxiao began plotting rebellion. After Cunxiao was put to death, Cunxin was appointed overall commander of barbarian and Han forces. He campaigned against Li Kuangchou, accepted the surrenders of Helian Duo and Bai Yicheng, and was made acting Right Vice Director for his service. He then marched through the passes against Wang Xingyu, was promoted acting Minister of Works, and was given Chen Prefecture.
2
乾寧三年，兗、鄆乞師於武皇，武皇遣存信營於莘縣，與硃瑄合勢以抗梁人。 梁祖患之，遣使諜羅宏信曰：「河東志在吞食河朔，回軍之日，貴道堪憂。」 而存信戢兵無法，稍侵魏之芻牧，宏信怒，翻然結於梁祖，乃出兵三萬以攻存信。 存信斂眾而退，為魏人所薄，委棄輜重，退保洺州，軍士喪失者十二三。 武皇怒，大出師攻魏博，屠陷諸邑。 五月，存信軍於洹水，汴將葛從周、氏叔琮來援魏人，存信與鐵林都將落落遇汴人於洹水南，汴人為陷馬坎以待之，存信戰敗，落落被擒。 九月，存信敗葛從周於宗城，乘勝至魏州之北門。 明年，聞兗、鄆皆陷，乃班師。 八月，從討劉仁恭，師次安塞，為燕軍所敗。 武皇怒謂存信曰：「昨日吾醉，不悟賊至，公不辨耶！ 古人三敗，公姑二矣。」 存信懼，泥首謝罪，幾至不測。 自光化已後，存信多稱病，武皇以兵柄授李嗣昭，以存信為右校而已。 天復二年十月，以疾卒於晉陽，時四十一。
In the third year of Qianning, Yan and Yun sought reinforcements from the Martial Emperor. He sent Cunxin to encamp at Shen County and unite with Zhu Xuan against Liang. The Liang Founder, alarmed by this, sent envoys to Luo Hongxin with a warning: "The Hedong army means to devour the Hebei plain. The day they wheel homeward, your domain will be at risk. Cunxin, however, failed to keep his men in check, and they gradually encroached on Wei's grazing lands. Hongxin, enraged, abruptly aligned with the Liang Founder and marched thirty thousand men against Cunxin. Cunxin drew his troops back but was worsted by the Wei forces, abandoned his baggage, and fell back to Ming Prefecture, losing perhaps a fifth of his army. The Martial Emperor was furious and marched a large force against Weibo, sacking town after town. In the fifth month Cunxin camped on the Huan River. Bian generals Ge Congzhou and Shi Shuzong came to reinforce Wei. Cunxin and the Iron Forest commander Luoluo met Bian forces south of the river; the enemy had dug horse pits in ambush. Cunxin was beaten and Luoluo taken prisoner. In the ninth month he routed Ge Congzhou at Zongcheng and pressed on to the north gate of Wei Prefecture. The following year, learning that Yan and Yun had both been lost, he marched home. In the eighth month he joined the campaign against Liu Rengong. The force paused at Anse and was routed by Yan troops. The Martial Emperor raged at Cunxin: "Yesterday I was drunk and failed to notice the enemy's approach—were you blind to it?! Even the worthies of old could lose three times—you have only lost twice so far. Terrified, Cunxin prostrated himself in abject apology and narrowly escaped punishment. After the Guanghua era Cunxin frequently pleaded illness. The Martial Emperor entrusted the army to Li Sizhao and kept Cunxin in a nominal right-command post. He died of illness at Jinyang in the tenth month of the second year of Tianfu, at the age of forty-one.
3
李存孝，本姓安，名敬思。 《新唐書》：存孝，飛狐人。 少於俘囚中得隸紀綱，給事帳中。 及壯，便騎射，驍勇冠絕，常將騎為先鋒，未嘗挫敗； 從武皇救陳、許，逐黃寇，及遇難上源，每戰無不克捷。
Li Cunxiao was originally surnamed An and bore the personal name Jingsi. The 《New Tang History》 records that Cunxiao came from Feihu. As a boy he was taken among captives, enrolled on the camp roster, and assigned to serve in the command tent. Once grown to manhood he excelled at mounted archery; his daring was unmatched, he habitually led the cavalry vanguard, and he had never known defeat; he followed the Martial Emperor to relieve Chen and Xu, pursued the Huang Chao rebels, and at the Shangyuan debacle won victory in every engagement.
4
張浚之加兵於太原也，潞州小校馮霸殺其帥李克恭以城叛。 時汴將硃崇節入潞州，梁祖令張全義攻澤州。 李罕之告急於武皇，武皇遣存孝率騎五千援之。 初，汴人攻澤州，呼罕之曰：「相公常恃太原，輕絕大國，今張相公圍太原，葛司空已入潞府，旬日之內，沙陀無穴自處，相公何路求生耶！」 存孝聞其言不遜，選精騎五百，繞汴營呼曰：「我，沙陀求穴者，俟爾肉饌軍，可令肥者出鬥！」 汴將有鄧季筠者，亦以驍勇聞，乃引軍出戰。 存孝激勵部眾，舞槊先登，一戰敗之，獲馬千匹，生擒季筠於軍中。 是夜，汴將李讜收軍而遁，存孝追擊至馬牢山，俘斬萬計，遂退攻潞州。
When Zhang Jun marched additional forces against Taiyuan, a Luzhou junior officer named Feng Ba killed his commander Li Keong and turned the city in revolt. The Bian general Zhu Chongjie had meanwhile entered Luzhou, and the Liang Founder ordered Zhang Quanyi to assault Ze Prefecture. Li Hanzhi sent an urgent appeal to the Martial Emperor, who dispatched Cunxiao with five thousand horsemen to relieve him. Early in the siege the Bian troops taunted Han Zhi: "You have always leaned on Taiyuan and scorned the great power. Chancellor Zhang now invests Taiyuan, and Vice Director Ge holds the Lu prefectural seat. Within ten days the Shatuo will have nowhere to hide—what path remains for you to survive?! Cunxiao, hearing the insult, chose five hundred elite riders, circled the Bian camp, and shouted, "I am the Shatuo you said had nowhere to hide—I am waiting to feed your flesh to my army! Send out your stoutest men to fight!" A Bian commander named Deng Jiyun, likewise renowned for valor, led his troops out to meet him. Cunxiao rallied his men, spear dancing as he led the charge, routed them at the first clash, seized a thousand horses, and captured Jiyun alive on the field. That night the Bian general Li Dan broke camp and fled. Cunxiao pursued to Malaoshan, taking and killing enemies by the tens of thousands, then turned back to invest Luzhou.
5
時朝廷命京兆尹孫揆為昭義節度使，令供奉官韓歸范送旌節至平陽，揆乃仗節之潞； 梁祖與揆牙兵三千為紀綱，時揆為張浚副招討，所部萬人。 八月，自晉、絳逾刀黃嶺趨上黨。 存孝引三百騎伏於長子西崖間。 揆褒衣大蓋，擁眾而行，俟其軍前後不屬，存孝出騎橫擊之，擒揆與歸范及俘囚五百，獻於太原； 存孝乃急攻潞州。 九月，葛從周棄城夜遁，存孝收城，武皇乃表康君立為潞帥。 存孝怒，不食者累日。 十月，存孝引收潞州之師，圍張浚於平陽，營於趙城。 華州韓建遣壯士三百夜犯其營，存孝諜知，設伏以擊之，盡殪； 進壓晉州西門，獲賊三千，自是閉壁不出。 存孝引軍攻絳州。 十一月，刺史張行恭棄城而去，張浚、韓建亦由含口而遁。 存孝收晉、絳，以功授汾州刺史。
The court had appointed Sun Kui, metropolitan magistrate of Jingzhao, military commissioner of Zhaoyi, and ordered the palace attendant Han Guifan to convey the commissioner's insignia to Pingyang; Kui then marched with them toward Lu; the Liang Founder furnished him three thousand guards as escort. Kui served as Zhang Jun's deputy suppression commander with ten thousand men. In the eighth month he advanced from Jin and Jiang prefectures over Daohuang Ridge toward Shangdang. Cunxiao lay in wait with three hundred horsemen along the western cliffs of Changzi. Kui traveled in state, robes flowing and canopy raised, at the head of a large column. When the column stretched out and lost cohesion, Cunxiao struck from the flank, seized Kui and Guifan along with five hundred prisoners, and sent them to Taiyuan; then pressed the assault on Luzhou. In the ninth month Ge Congzhou abandoned the city under cover of night. Cunxiao took possession, and the Martial Emperor recommended Kang Junli as commander of Lu. Cunxiao was furious and refused food for days on end. In the tenth month he led the Luzhou veterans to besiege Zhang Jun at Pingyang and pitched camp at Zhaocheng. Han Jian of Huazhou sent three hundred picked men in a night raid on his camp. Cunxiao learned of it through scouts, laid an ambush, and wiped them out; then advanced on the west gate of Jin Prefecture and took three thousand enemy troops. Thereafter the defenders shut the gates and would not emerge. Cunxiao turned his army against Jiang Prefecture. In the eleventh month Prefect Zhang Xinggong abandoned the city. Zhang Jun and Han Jian likewise escaped through Hankou Pass. Cunxiao secured Jin and Jiang and, for his merit, was made prefect of Fen.
6
大順二年三月，邢州節度使安知建叛入汴軍，武皇令存孝定邢、洺，因授之節鉞。 時幽州李匡威與鎮州王鎔屢弱中山，將中分其疆土。 定州王處存求援於武皇； 武皇命存孝侵鎮、趙之南鄙，又令李存信、李存審率師出井陘以會之，並軍攻臨城、柏鄉。 李匡威救至，且議旋師。 李存信與存孝不協，因構於武皇，言存孝望風退衄，無心擊賊，恐有私盟也。 存孝知之，自恃戰功，鬱鬱不平，因致書通王鎔，又歸款於汴。 明年，武皇自出井陘，將逼真定，存孝面見王鎔陳軍機。 武皇暴怒，誅先獲汴將安康八方旋師。 七月，復出師討存孝，自縛馬關東下，攻平山，渡滹水，擊鎮州四關城。 王鎔懼，遣使乞平，請以兵三萬助擊存孝，許之。 《新唐書》：王鎔失幽州助，因乞盟，進幣五十萬，歸糧二十萬，請出兵助討存孝。 武皇蒐於欒城。 李存信屯琉璃陂。 九月，存孝夜犯存信營，奉誠軍使孫考老被獲，存信軍亂。 武皇進攻邢州，深溝高壘以環之，旋為存孝衝突，溝塹不成。 有軍校袁奉韜者，密令人謂存孝曰：「大王俟塹成即歸太原，如塹壘未成，恐無歸志。 尚書所畏惟大王耳，料諸將孰出尚書右。 王若西歸，雖限以黃河，亦可浮渡，況咫尺之洫，安能阻尚書鋒銳哉！」 存孝然之，縱兵成塹。 居旬日，深溝高壘，飛走不能及，由是存孝至敗，城中食盡。 乾寧元年三月，存孝登城首罪，泣訴於武皇曰：「兒蒙王深恩，位至將帥，苟非讒慝離間，曷欲捨父子之深恩，附仇讎之黨！ 兒雖褊狹設計，實存信構陷至此，若得生見王面，一言而死，誠所甘心。」 武皇愍之，遣劉太妃入城慰勞。 太妃引來謁見，存孝泥首請罪曰：「兒立微勞，本無顯過，但被人中傷，申明無路，迷昧至此！」 武皇叱之曰：「爾與王鎔書狀，罪我萬端，亦存信教耶！」 縶歸太原，車裂於市。 然武皇深惜其才。 存孝每臨大敵，被重鎧橐弓坐槊，僕人以二騎從，陣中易騎，輕捷如飛，獨舞鐵□，挺身陷陣，萬人辟易，蓋古張遼、甘寧之比也。 存孝死，武皇不視事旬日，私憾諸將久之。
In the third month of the second year of Dazhun, Xingzhou commissioner An Zhijian defected to the Bian army. The Martial Emperor sent Cunxiao to secure Xing and Ming and invested him with the commissioner's regalia. Li Kuangwei of Youzhou and Wang Rong of Zhen were then repeatedly pressing Zhongshan and meant to partition its territory between them. Wang Chucun of Ding Prefecture appealed to the Martial Emperor for help; who ordered Cunxiao to harry the southern marches of Zhen and Zhao while Li Cunxin and Li Cunshen marched through Jingxing Pass to join him. The united forces attacked Lincheng and Baixiang. Li Kuangwei came to their relief, and the commanders began discussing withdrawal. Li Cunxin, at odds with Cunxiao, slandered him to the Martial Emperor, claiming he shrank from battle, lacked zeal against the enemy, and may have struck a private bargain. When Cunxiao learned of this, confident in his battle record yet bitterly aggrieved, he opened correspondence with Wang Rong and also offered his allegiance to Bian. The following year the Martial Emperor marched in person through Jingxing Pass toward Zhending. Cunxiao met Wang Rong in person to discuss strategy. The Martial Emperor flew into a rage, executed the captured Bian officer An Kang, and turned the army homeward. In the seventh month he marched out again against Cunxiao, descending east from Fuma Pass, taking Pingshan, crossing the Hutuo, and assaulting the four garrison towns of Zhen Prefecture. Wang Rong, alarmed, sued for peace and offered thirty thousand men to help crush Cunxiao. The Martial Emperor agreed. The 《New Tang History》 adds that, having lost Youzhou's support, Wang Rong sought alliance, sent five hundred thousand in tribute goods, returned two hundred thousand in grain, and asked to join the campaign against Cunxiao. The Martial Emperor mustered his forces at Luancheng. Li Cunxin camped at Liuli Marsh. In the ninth month Cunxiao struck Cunxin's camp at night, captured the Fengcheng commissioner Sun Kaolao, and threw Cunxin's army into chaos. The Martial Emperor invested Xingzhou with deep trenches and high ramparts, but Cunxiao repeatedly broke through the works and the encirclement could not be finished. An officer named Yuan Fengtao secretly sent word to Cunxiao: "The Prince will return to Taiyuan once the siege works are complete; if the ramparts are not finished, he may not intend to go home at all. The Inspector-General fears you alone. Which of his commanders could stand above him? If the Prince withdraws westward, the Yellow River alone cannot stop him—and how could this ditch at your very feet check his spearhead? Cunxiao believed him and let the besiegers finish the works. Within ten days the trenches and ramparts were complete; not even birds could pass. Cunxiao was thereby brought to ruin as the city's provisions ran out. In the third month of the first year of Qianning Cunxiao mounted the wall to confess his guilt and wept before the Martial Emperor: "I owed you deep kindness and rose to command armies. Had slanderers not driven us apart, why would I ever have forsaken a father's bond to join your enemies?! Whatever schemes I devised, it was Cunxin who brought me to this pass. If I might see your face once more and speak a single word before I die, I would accept that gladly. The Martial Emperor was moved and sent Consort Liu into the city to comfort him. She brought him to audience. Cunxiao prostrated himself and pleaded: "I earned only modest merit and committed no grave offense, yet I was struck down by slander with no way to clear my name, and in my confusion came to this! The Martial Emperor thundered at him: "Your letters to Wang Rong heaped ten thousand charges upon me—did Cunxin dictate those as well?!" He was bound, taken to Taiyuan, and torn apart by chariots in the marketplace. Yet the Martial Emperor deeply regretted his talent. Whenever Cunxiao met a major foe he donned heavy armor, bow slung as he rode spear in hand, with two spare mounts led behind him. In the press of battle he changed horses mid-charge, light as flight, wielding his iron spear alone as he drove into the enemy line until ten thousand men shrank back—worthy, indeed, of comparison with Zhang Liao and Gan Ning of old. After Cunxiao's death the Martial Emperor neglected state business for ten days and long harbored private resentment toward his generals.
7
李存進，振武人，本姓孫，名重進。 《歐陽史》：太祖破朔州得之，賜以姓名，養為子。 父牷，世吏單于府。 重進初仕嵐州刺史湯群為部校，獻祖誅群，乃事武皇。 從入關，還鎮太原，署牙職。 景福中，為義兒軍使，賜姓名。 從討王行瑜，以功授檢校常侍，與李嗣昭同破王珙於河中。 光化三年，契丹犯塞，寇雲中，改永安軍使、雁門以北都知兵馬使。 天復初，破氏叔琮前軍於洞渦。 三年，授石州刺史。 莊宗初嗣位，入為步軍右都檢校司空，師出井陘，授行營馬軍都虞候，破汴軍於相鄉，論功授邠州刺史，轉檢校司徒。 俄兼西南面行營招討使，出師收慈州，授慈、沁二州刺史。 十二年，定魏博，授天雄軍都巡按使。 時魏人初附，有銀槍效節都，強傑難制，專謀騷動。 存進沈厚果斷，犯令者梟首屍於市，諸軍無不惕息，靡然向風。 十四年，擢蕃漢馬步副總管，從攻楊劉，戰胡柳。
Li Cunjin came from Zhenwu; he was originally surnamed Sun and named Chongjin. The 《Ouyang History》 records that the Ancestor took him when Shuozhou fell, gave him the Li surname and name Cunjin, and raised him as an adopted son. His father Quan had for generations served as a clerk in the Chanyu Court. Chongjin first served Lan Prefect Tang Qun as a company commander. After the Ancestor of Offerings executed Qun, he entered the Martial Emperor's service. He followed the army through the passes, returned to garrison Taiyuan, and was posted to the guard staff. During the Jingfu era he became commander of the adopted-sons corps and received the Li surname and name Cunjin. He campaigned against Wang Xingyu and was made acting Palace Attendant for his service. With Li Sizhao he defeated Wang Gong at Hezhong. In the third year of Guanghua, when the Khitan raided the frontier and struck Yunzhong, he was made commissioner of the Yong'an army and overall commander of forces north of Yanmen Pass. Early in the Tianfu era he routed Shi Shuzong's vanguard at Dongwo. In the third year he was appointed prefect of Shi. When Zhuangzong first took the throne, Cunjin entered court as right commander of infantry and acting Minister of Works. On the Jingxing campaign he was made chief adjutant of the field cavalry, routed the Bian army at Xiangxiang, and was rewarded with Bin Prefecture, then promoted acting Grand Mentor. He was soon made commissioner for the southwestern suppression campaign, marched out to recover Ci Prefecture, and was given Ci and Qin prefectures. In the twelfth year, after Weibo was pacified, he was made overall inspector of the Tianxiong army. The Wei troops had only just submitted. Their Silver Spear Loyalty Corps was fierce, unruly, and bent on stirring trouble. Cunjin was grave, steady, and decisive. Offenders were beheaded and their bodies displayed in the market. Every unit fell silent in awe and bent to his authority. In the fourteenth year he was promoted deputy overall commander of barbarian and Han forces, joined the assault on Yangliu, and fought at Huliu.
8
十六年，以本職兼領振武節度使。 時王師據德勝渡，汴軍據楊村渡在上流。 汴人運洛陽竹木，造浮橋以濟軍。 王師以船渡，緩急難濟，存進率意欲造浮橋。 軍吏曰：「河橋須竹笮大□，兩岸石倉鐵牛以為固，今無竹石，竊慮難成。」 存進曰：「吾成算在心，必有所立。」 乃課軍造葦笮，維大艦數十艘，作土山，植巨木於岸以纜之。 初，軍中以為戲，月餘橋成，制度條直，人皆服其勤智。 莊宗舉酒曰：「存進，吾之杜預也。」 賜寶馬御衣，進檢校太保，兼魏博馬步都將。 與李存審固守德勝。
In the sixteenth year he retained his post while also taking the Zhenwu military commission. The imperial army held Desheng Ford while Liang forces occupied Yangcun Ford upstream. The Liang army hauled bamboo and timber from Luoyang and threw a pontoon bridge across the river to supply their troops. The imperial forces relied on boats, which could not keep pace in a crisis. Cunjin resolved to build a pontoon bridge of his own. His officers objected: "River bridges need bamboo rafts and heavy timbers, with stone cribs and iron ox anchors on both banks. We have neither bamboo nor stone—I fear it cannot be done. Cunjin replied, "I already have the plan in mind. It will be done." He set the troops to weaving reed rafts, lashed dozens of large vessels together, raised earthen mounds, and drove great timbers into the banks to anchor the cables. At first the troops treated the project as a joke. A little over a month later the bridge stood complete, trim and true, and all marveled at his ingenuity and persistence. Zhuangzong raised his cup and declared, "Cunjin, you are my Du Yu. He received an imperial horse and robes, was promoted acting Grand Guardian, and was made overall commander of Weibo horse and foot. He and Li Cunshen held Desheng in a stubborn defense.
9
十九年，汴將王瓚率眾逼北城，為地穴火車，百道進攻。 存進隨機拒應，或經日不得食。 汴軍退，加檢校太傅。 王師討張文禮於鎮州，閻寶、李嗣昭相次不利而歿。 七月，存進代嗣昭為招討，進營東垣渡，夾滹□為壘，沙土散惡，垣壁難成。 存進斬伐林樹，版築旬日而就，賊不能寇。 九月，王處球盡率其眾，乘其無備，奄至壘門。 存進聞之，得部下數人出鬥，驅賊於橋下。 俄而賊大至，後軍不繼，血戰而歿，時年六十六。 同光時，贈太尉。 存進行軍出師，雖無奇跡，然能以法繩其驕放，營壘守戰之備，特推精力，議者稱之。
In the nineteenth year the Liang general Wang Zan pressed the north wall with tunnel mines and fire carts, assaulting along a hundred avenues at once. Cunjin met each threat as it came, sometimes going a full day without a meal. After the Liang army withdrew he was promoted acting Grand Tutor. The imperial army campaigned against Zhang Wenli at Zhenzhou. Yan Bao and Li Sizhao met defeat in turn and died. In the seventh month Cunjin replaced Sizhao as suppression commissioner and encamped at Dongyuan Ford, building ramparts along the Hutuo. The sand and soil were loose and treacherous, and the walls would not hold. Cunjin felled timber from the woods and finished the earthworks in ten days, so the rebels could not break through. In the ninth month Wang Chuqiong marched out with his full strength, caught them unprepared, and burst upon the rampart gate. Hearing the alarm, Cunjin took a handful of men and sallied forth, driving the enemy back below the bridge. But the enemy soon swarmed up in force, his reinforcements failed to arrive, and he fell in a bloody last stand at the age of sixty-six. In the Tongguang era he was posthumously honored as Grand Commandant. Cunjin's campaigns produced no legendary feats, yet he disciplined arrogant troops by strict law and was especially tireless in preparing camps and defenses. Commentators spoke well of him.
10
有子四人，長曰漢韶。
He had four sons; the eldest was Hanshao.
11
漢韶，字享天，幼有器局，風儀峻整。 初事莊宗，為定安軍使，遷河東牢城指揮使。 時孟知祥權知太原軍府事，會契丹侵北鄙。 表令漢韶率師進討，既而大破契丹，以功加檢校右僕射。 同光中，為蔡州刺史。 天成初，復姓孫氏，尋授彰國軍留後，累加檢校太保。 長興中，為洋州節度使。 《九國志》：閔帝嗣位，加特進，漢韶以其父名上表讓之，改檢校左僕射。 制曰：「改會稽之字，抑有前聞； 換瑰寶之文，非無故事。」 末帝之起於鳳翔也，漢韶與興元張虔釗各帥部兵會王師於岐山下，及西師俱叛，漢韶逃歸本鎮。 聞末帝即位，心不自安，乃與張虔釗各舉其城送款於蜀。 洎至成都，孟知祥以漢韶故人，尤善待之。 《九國志》：漢韶與知祥敘汾上舊事，及洛中更變，相對感泣。 知祥曰：「豐沛故人，相遇於此，何樂如之！」 於是賜第宅金帛，供帳什物，悉官給之。 偽命永平軍節度使，孟昶嗣偽位，歷興元、遂州兩鎮連帥，累偽官至中書令，封樂安郡王。 年七十餘，卒於蜀。
Hanshao, whose courtesy name was Xiangtian, showed early promise and carried himself with grave, composed dignity. He first served Zhuangzong as commissioner of the Ding'an army, then became commander of the Hedong prison garrison. Meng Zhixiang was then acting administrator of Taiyuan military affairs when the Khitan raided the northern frontier. He recommended Hanshao to lead the counterattack. Hanshao routed the Khitan and was made acting Right Vice Director for his service. During the Tongguang era he served as prefect of Cai. Early in the Tiancheng era he resumed the surname Sun, was soon made acting commissioner of the Zhangguo army, and rose to acting Grand Guardian. During the Changxing era he became military commissioner of Yang Prefecture. The Nine States Chronicle records that when Emperor Min took the throne, Hanshao was promoted to Special Advancement. He declined the honor in a memorial, citing his father's name, and accepted acting Left Vice Director instead. The edict read: "To alter a tabooed character, as with Kuaiji, has precedent in antiquity; and to substitute one honored title for another is likewise no invention of our day. When the Last Emperor rose at Fengxiang, Hanshao and Zhang Qianzhao of Xingyuan each led their troops to join the imperial army at the foot of Mount Qi. When the western armies mutinied, Hanshao fled back to his post. Learning that the Last Emperor had taken the throne, he grew uneasy. He and Zhang Qianzhao each surrendered their cities to Shu. On reaching Chengdu, Meng Zhixiang received him with special warmth as an old friend. The Nine States Chronicle relates that Hanshao and Zhixiang recalled old days in Fen and the upheavals in Luoyang, and wept face to face. Zhixiang said, "Old companions from Fen and Pei meeting again here—what could bring greater joy! He then granted him a residence, gold and silks, and full household furnishings from the public stores. Under Shu he was made military commissioner of Yongping. When Meng Chang succeeded to the throne, he held Xingyuan and Suizhou in succession, rose to Director of the Secretariat, and was enfeoffed Prince of Le'an. He died in Shu at over seventy years of age.
12
李存璋，字德璜，雲中人。 武皇初起雲中，存璋與康君立、薛志勤等為奔走交，從入關，以功授國子祭酒，累管萬勝、雄威等軍。 從討李匡儔，改義兒軍使。 光化二年，授澤州刺史，入為牢城使。 從李嗣昭討雲州叛將王暉，平之，改教練使、檢校司空。 五年，武皇疾篤，召張承業與存璋授遺顧。 存璋爰立莊宗，夷內難，頗有力焉。 改河東馬步都虞候，兼領鹽鐵。 初，武皇稍寵軍士，籓部人多干擾廛市，肆其豪奪，法司不能禁。 莊宗初嗣位，銳於求理。 存璋得行其志，抑強撫弱，誅其豪首，期月之間，紀綱大振，弭群盜，務耕稼，去奸宄，息幸門，當時稱其材干。 從破汴軍於夾城，轉檢校司徒。 柏鄉之役，為三鎮排陣使。 十一年，從盟硃友謙於猗氏，授汾州刺史。 汴將尹皓攻慈州，逆戰敗之。 十三年，王檀逼太原，存璋率汾州之軍入城固守，授大同防禦使、應蔚朔等州都知兵馬使。 秋，契丹攻蔚州，安巴堅遣使馳木書求賂，存璋斬其使。 契丹逼雲州，存璋拒守，城中有古鐵車，乃熔為兵仗，以給軍士。 敵退，以功加檢校太傅、大同軍節度使、應蔚等州觀察使。 十九年四月，以疾卒於雲州府第。 同光初，追贈太保、平章事。 晉天福初，追贈太師。
Li Cunzhang, whose courtesy name was Dehuang, came from Yunzhong. When the Martial Emperor first rose in Yunzhong, Cunzhang, Kang Junli, Xue Zhiqin, and others were his trusted runners. He followed him through the passes and was made Libationer of the Imperial Academy for his service, later commanding the Wansheng, Xiongwei, and other armies in turn. He campaigned against Li Kuangchou and was made commissioner of the adopted-sons army. In the second year of Guanghua he was made prefect of Ze, then recalled to serve as prison commissioner. He joined Li Sizhao against the Yunzhou rebel Wang Hui, suppressed him, and was made training commissioner and acting Minister of Works. In the fifth year, as the Martial Emperor lay gravely ill, he summoned Zhang Chengye and Cunzhang to receive his deathbed instructions. Cunzhang helped install Zhuangzong and quell the internal crisis, playing a major part in the succession. He was made chief adjutant of Hedong horse and foot and also placed in charge of salt and iron. The Martial Emperor had long indulged his troops. Frontier soldiers meddled in markets and plundered at will, and the courts could not stop them. When Zhuangzong first took the throne he was determined to restore order. Cunzhang was able to act. He humbled the strong, protected the weak, and executed the worst offenders. Within a month discipline was restored: banditry was suppressed, farming encouraged, villains removed, and court favoritism curbed. His contemporaries praised his ability. He helped defeat the Bian army at Jiacheng and was promoted acting Grand Mentor. At the battle of Baixiang he served as deployment commissioner for the three allied commands. In the eleventh year he joined the alliance with Zhu Youqian at Yishi and was given Fen Prefecture. When the Bian general Yin Hao attacked Ci Prefecture, he met him in battle and routed him. In the thirteenth year, when Wang Tan threatened Taiyuan, Cunzhang led the Fenzhou troops into the city for a stubborn defense. He was made defender of Datong and overall commander of forces in Ying, Yu, and Shuo. That autumn the Khitan attacked Yu Prefecture. Anbajian sent an envoy with a wooden letter demanding tribute. Cunzhang executed the envoy. When the Khitan pressed Yun Prefecture, Cunzhang held the city. Ancient iron wagons in the town were melted down for arms to supply the garrison. After the enemy withdrew he was promoted acting Grand Tutor, military commissioner of Datong, and surveillance commissioner over Ying, Yu, and neighboring prefectures. He died of illness at his Yunzhou residence in the fourth month of the nineteenth year. Early in the Tongguang era he was posthumously honored as Grand Guardian and Grand Councilor. Early in the Jin Tianfu era he was posthumously honored as Grand Preceptor.
13
有子三人，彥球為裨校，戰歿於鎮州。
He had three sons. Yanqiu served as a junior officer and was killed fighting at Zhenzhou.
14
李存賢，字子良，本姓王，名賢，許州人。 祖啟忠，父惲。 賢少遇亂，入黃巢軍； 武皇破賊陳、許，存賢來歸。 景福中，典義兒軍，為副兵馬使，因賜姓名。 天祐三年，從周德威赴援上黨，營於交口。 五年，權知蔚州刺史，以御吐渾。 六年，權沁州刺史。 先是，州當賊境，不能保守，乃於州南五十里據險立柵為治所，已歷十餘年矣。 存賢至郡，乃移復舊郡，劃辟荊棘，特立廨捨，州民完集。 莊宗嘉之，轉檢校司空，真拜刺史。 九年，汴人乘其無備，來攻其城，存賢擊退之。 十一年，授武州刺史、山北團練使。 十二年，移刺慈州。 七月，汴將尹皓攻州城，存賢督軍拒戰，汴軍攻擊百端，月餘遁去。 十八年，河中硃友謙來求援，命存賢率師赴之。 十九年，汴將段凝軍五萬營臨晉，蒲人大恐，鹹欲歸汴。 或問於存賢曰：「河中將士欲拘公降於汴。」 厚賢曰：「吾奉命河中，死王事固其所也。」 汴軍退，以功加檢校司徒。 同光初，授右武衛上將軍。 十一月，入覲洛陽。 二年三月，幽州李存審疾篤，求入覲，議擇帥代之。 方內宴，莊宗曰：「吾披榛故人，零落殆盡，所殘者存審耳。 今復衰疾，北門之事，知付何人！」 因目存賢曰：「無易於卿。」 即日授特進、檢校太保，充幽州盧龍節度使。 五月，到鎮。 時契丹強盛，城門之外，烽塵交警，一日數戰。 存賢性忠謹周慎，晝夜戒嚴，不遑寢食，以至憂勞成疾，卒於幽州，時年六十五。 詔贈太傅。
Li Cunxian, whose courtesy name was Ziliang, was originally surnamed Wang and named Xian, and came from Xu Prefecture. His grandfather was Qizhong and his father Yun. As a youth Xian was caught up in the turmoil and joined Huang Chao's army; but when the Martial Emperor broke the rebels at Chen and Xu, Cunxian came over to his side. During the Jingfu era he served in the adopted-sons corps as deputy horse commander and was granted the Li surname and name Cunxian. In the third year of Tianyou he followed Zhou Dewei to relieve Shangdang and camped at Jiaokou. In the fifth year he was made acting prefect of Yu to guard against the Tuhun. In the sixth year he was made acting prefect of Qin. The prefecture had long lain on the frontier and could not be held. For more than ten years the seat of government had stood in a fortified camp fifty li to the south. When Cunxian took office he moved the seat back to the old city, cleared the brush, built new government halls, and the people returned in full. Zhuangzong praised him, promoted him acting Minister of Works, and formally appointed him prefect. In the ninth year the Liang army caught him unprepared and assaulted the city. Cunxian beat them back. In the eleventh year he was made prefect of Wu and training commissioner of Shannan. In the twelfth year he was transferred to Ci Prefecture. In the seventh month the Liang general Yin Hao besieged the city. Cunxian directed the defense through every form of assault. After more than a month the Liang army withdrew. In the eighteenth year Zhu Youqian of Hezhong sought aid, and Cunxian was ordered to march to his relief. In the nineteenth year the Liang general Duan Ning camped at Linjin with fifty thousand men. The people of Pu were terrified and many wished to defect to Liang. Someone warned Cunxian: "The Hezhong troops mean to seize you and hand you over to Liang. Cunxian replied, "I was sent to serve in Hezhong. To die in the prince's service is only fitting." When the Liang army withdrew he was promoted acting Grand Mentor for his service. Early in the Tongguang era he was made General-in-Chief of the Right Martial Guard. In the eleventh month he presented himself at court in Luoyang. In the third month of the second year Li Cunshen of Youzhou fell gravely ill and asked to come to court. The court debated who should replace him. At a private banquet Zhuangzong said, "Of the old companions who cleared the thorns with me, nearly all are gone. Only Cunshen remains. Now he too is failing. Who can I entrust with the northern frontier?! He turned to Cunxian and said, "No one is better suited than you." That same day he was made Special Advancement and acting Grand Guardian, military commissioner of Youzhou and Lulong. He reached his post in the fifth month. The Khitan were then at their height. Beyond the gates beacon fires and battle dust rose day after day, with several clashes daily. Cunxian was loyal, careful, and thorough by nature. He kept the defenses night and day, scarcely sleeping or eating, until worry and exhaustion brought on illness. He died at Youzhou at sixty-five. He was posthumously honored as Grand Tutor by edict.
15
存賢少有材力，善角牴。 初，莊宗在籓邸，每宴，私與王郁角牴鬥勝，郁頻不勝。 莊宗自矜其能，謂存賢曰：「與爾一博，如勝，賞爾一郡。」 即時角牴，存賢勝，得蔚州刺史。
In youth Cunxian was powerfully built and skilled at wrestling. When Zhuangzong was still heir apparent, he would wrestle privately with Wang Yu at banquets and usually beat him. Proud of his own prowess, Zhuangzong told Cunxian, "Wrestle me once. If you win, I will give you a prefecture. They wrestled on the spot. Cunxian won and was made prefect of Yu.
16
史臣曰：昔武皇之起並、汾也，會鹿走於中原，期龍戰於大澤，蓄驍果之士，以備鷹犬之用。 故自存信而下，皆錫姓以結其心，授任以責其效。 與夫董卓之畜呂布，亦何殊哉！ 惟存孝之勇，足以冠三軍而長萬夫，苟不為叛臣，則可謂良將矣。
The historian remarks: When the Martial Emperor first rose in Bing and Fen, the realm was in turmoil like deer scattering across the central plains and dragons contending in the great marsh. He gathered fierce, resolute men to serve as the hawks and hounds of his cause. From Li Cunxin downward, he bestowed surnames to win their loyalty and gave them commands to demand their service. How different, after all, was this from Dong Zhuo nurturing Lu Bu! Only Cunxiao's valor was fit to lead all three armies and command ten thousand men. Had he not turned rebel, he might truly have been counted among the great generals.