1
王鎔，其先回鶻部人也。 遠祖沒諾幹，唐至德中，事鎮州節度使王武俊為騎將。 武俊嘉其勇幹，畜為假子，號王五哥，其後子孫以王為氏。 四代祖廷湊，事鎮帥王承宗為牙將。 長慶初，承宗卒，穆宗命田宏正為成德軍節度使。 既而鎮人殺宏正，推廷湊為留後，朝廷不能制，因以旄鉞授之。 廷湊卒，子元逵尚文宗女壽安公主。 元逵卒，子紹鼎立。 紹鼎卒，子景崇立。 皆世襲鎮州節度使，並前史有傳。 景崇位至太尉、中書令，封常山王，中和二年卒。
Wang Rong's ancestors were of the Uighur tribes. His distant ancestor Mo Nuogan served as a cavalry commander under Wang Wujun, military governor of Zhenzhou, during the Zhide reign of Tang. Wujun admired his courage and competence, took him as an adoptive son, and called him Fifth Brother Wang; his descendants thereafter adopted Wang as their clan surname. His fourth-generation ancestor Tingcou served the military governor of Zhen, Wang Chengzong, as a guard officer. In the early Changqing reign Chengzong died, and Emperor Muzong appointed Tian Hongzheng military governor of the Chengde army. Soon afterward the garrison of Zhen killed Hongzheng and installed Tingcou as acting governor. The court could not restrain them and therefore granted him the insignia of command. When Tingcou died, his son Yuankui married Princess Shou'an, a daughter of Emperor Wenzong. When Yuankui died, his son Shaoding succeeded him. When Shaoding died, his son Jingchong succeeded him. Each in turn inherited the post of military governor of Zhenzhou, and all have biographies in earlier histories. Jingchong rose to Grand Preceptor and Director of the Chancellery, was enfeoffed as Prince of Changshan, and died in the second year of the Zhonghe era.
2
鎔即景崇之子也，年十歲，三軍推襲父位。 大順中，武皇將李存孝既平邢、洺，因獻謀於武皇，欲兼並鎮、定，乃連年出師以擾鎮之屬邑。 鎔苦之，遣使求救於幽州。 〈（《舊唐書》云：時天子蒙塵，九州鼎沸，河東節度使李克用虎視山東，方謀吞據。 鎔以重賂結納，請以修和好。 晉軍討孟方立於邢州，鎔常奉以芻糧。 及方立平，晉將李存孝侵鎔於南部，鎔求援於幽州。）〉 自是燕帥李匡威頻歲出軍，以為鎔援。 時匡威兵勢方盛，以鎔衝弱，將有窺圖之志。
Rong was Jingchong's son. At the age of ten the three armies installed him in his father's place. During the Dazhun era the Martial Emperor's general Li Cunxiao, having pacified Xing and Ming, proposed to the Martial Emperor that Zhen and Ding be seized together, and for years thereafter led campaigns harassing the counties under Zhen. Rong was hard pressed and sent envoys to Youzhou seeking aid. (The 《Old Book of Tang》 states: At that time the emperor was in exile and the realm seethed; Li Keyong, military governor of Hedong, eyed Shandong like a tiger and was plotting to seize it. Rong sought alliance through lavish gifts and asked to restore friendly relations. When the Jin army attacked Meng Fangli at Xingzhou, Rong regularly supplied them with fodder and provisions. After Fangli was defeated, the Jin general Li Cunxiao raided Rong's southern territories, and Rong again sought aid from Youzhou.) 〉 Thereafter the Yan commander Li Kuangwei marched out year after year to aid Rong. Kuangwei's forces were then at their strongest, and seeing Rong young and vulnerable, he began to contemplate seizing his domain.
3
景福二年春，匡威率精騎數萬，再來赴援，會匡威弟匡儔奪據兄位，匡威退無歸路，鎔乃延入府第，館於寶壽佛寺。 鎔以匡威因己而失國，又感其援助之力，事之如父。 五月，鎔謁匡威於其館，匡威陰遣部下伏甲劫鎔，抱持之。 鎔曰：「公戒部人勿造次。 吾國為晉人所侵，垂將覆滅，賴公濟援之力，幸而獲存。 今日之事，本所甘心。」 即並轡歸府舍。 鎔軍拒之，竟殺匡威。 鎔本疏瘦，時年始十七，當與匡威並轡之時，電雨驟作，屋瓦皆飛。 有一人於缺垣中望見鎔，鎔就之，遽挾於馬上，肩之而去。 翌日，鎔但覺項痛頭偏，蓋因為有力者所挾，不勝其苦故也。 既而訪之，則曰墨君和，乃鼓刀之士也，遂厚賞之。 〈（《太平廣記》引《劉氏耳目記》云：真定墨君和，幼名三旺。 眉目棱岸，肌膚若鐵，年十五六。 趙王鎔初即位，曾見之，悅而問曰：「此中何得昆侖兒也？」 問其姓，與形質相應，即呼為墨昆侖，因以皂衣賜之。 是時，常山縣邑屢為并州中軍所侵掠，趙之將卒疲於戰敵。 告急於燕王，李匡威率師五萬來救之。 並人攻陷數城。 燕王聞之，躬領五萬騎徑與晉師戰於元氏，晉師敗績。 趙王感燕王之德，椎牛灑酒，大犒於稾城，輦金二十萬以謝之。 燕王歸國，比及境上，為其弟匡儔所拒，趙人以其有德於我，遂營東圃以居之。 燕王自以失國，又見趙王之幼，乃圖之。 遂伏甲俟趙王，旦至，即使擒之。 趙王請曰：「某承先代基構，主此山河，每被鄰寇侵漁，困於守備，賴大王武略，累挫戎鋒，獲保宗祧，實資恩力。 顧惟幼懦，夙有卑誠，望不匆匆，可伸交讓。 願與大王同歸衙署，即軍府必不拒違。」 燕王以為然，遂與趙王並轡而進。 俄有大風並黑雲起於城上，大雨雷電，至東角門內，有勇夫袒臂旁來，拳毆燕之介士，即挾負趙王逾垣而走，遂得歸公府。 問其姓名，君和恐其難記，但言曰：「硯中之物。」 王心志之。 左右軍士既見主免難，遂逐燕王。 燕王退走於東圃，趙人圍而殺之。 趙王既免燕王之難，召墨生以千金賞之，兼賜上第一區，良田萬畝，仍恕其十死，奏授光祿大夫。）〉
In the spring of the second year of Jingfu, Kuangwei led tens of thousands of elite cavalry to aid Rong once more. His younger brother Kuangchou had meanwhile seized his place, leaving Kuangwei nowhere to return. Rong therefore welcomed him into his mansion and lodged him at Baoshou Buddhist Temple. Because Kuangwei had lost his domain on Rong's account and because Rong was deeply grateful for his aid, Rong treated him like a father. In the fifth month Rong visited Kuangwei at his quarters. Kuangwei secretly ordered his men to lie in wait in armor and seize Rong, holding him fast. Rong said, "Sir, restrain your men from rash action. My realm has been invaded by the Jin and was nearly destroyed; only through your rescue have we survived. What happens today I accept willingly." Then they rode side by side back toward the headquarters. Rong's troops resisted, and in the end they killed Kuangwei. Rong was slight and thin by nature and was then only seventeen. As he rode beside Kuangwei, a sudden thunderstorm broke and roof tiles flew from the buildings. A man glimpsed Rong through a broken wall. Rong went to him, and the man swiftly lifted him onto a horse and carried him away on his shoulders. The next day Rong's neck ached and his head was tilted to one side, apparently from being gripped too forcefully by a strong man. When Rong inquired afterward, the man was Mo Junhe, a butcher by trade, and Rong rewarded him generously. (The 《Taiping Guangji》 cites the 《Liu Family Ear-and-Eye Record》: Mo Junhe of Zhending, childhood name Sanwang. His features were sharp and angular, his skin like iron; he was fifteen or sixteen. When Prince Zhao Rong first took the throne he saw him and, delighted, asked, "How does such a Kunlun boy come to be here?" When he learned his surname and found it matched his appearance, he called him Ink Kunlun and gave him black robes. At that time the counties of Changshan suffered repeated raids from Bingzhou's central army, and Zhao's officers and soldiers were worn down by fighting. Rong urgently appealed to the Prince of Yan, and Li Kuangwei led fifty thousand troops to the rescue. The Bing forces had already captured several cities. When the Prince of Yan heard this, he personally led fifty thousand cavalry to meet the Jin army head-on at Yuanshi and defeated them. Grateful for the Prince of Yan's aid, Prince Zhao slaughtered cattle and poured libations, hosted a grand feast at Gaocheng, and sent two hundred thousand in gold as thanks. On his return the Prince of Yan was blocked at the border by his brother Kuangchou. Because the Zhao people felt indebted to him, they built the Eastern Garden for his residence. Having lost his realm and seeing Prince Zhao's youth, the Prince of Yan then plotted against him. He concealed armed men and waited; at dawn when the prince arrived, he had him seized. Prince Zhao pleaded: "I inherited my ancestors' foundation and hold this domain. Constantly harassed by neighboring enemies and hard pressed in defense, I rely on Your Highness's military prowess, which has repeatedly turned back the enemy and preserved my ancestral rites. I owe this entirely to your gracious aid. I am young and timid and have always meant you honor; I beg you not to rush matters, so that we may yield to one another. Let us return together to headquarters—the military prefecture will surely not refuse." The Prince of Yan agreed and rode side by side with Prince Zhao as they went forward. Suddenly fierce winds and black clouds rose above the city, followed by heavy rain and thunder. At the East Corner Gate a bare-armed brave man appeared, struck the Yan bodyguards, seized Prince Zhao, and carried him over the wall to escape back to the palace. Asked his name, Junhe, fearing it would be forgotten, simply said, "The thing in the inkstone." The prince remembered this. Once the guards saw their lord safe, they drove off the Prince of Yan. The Prince of Yan retreated to the Eastern Garden, where Zhao forces surrounded and killed him. After escaping this danger, Prince Zhao summoned the Ink Scholar and rewarded him with a thousand gold pieces, a top residence, ten thousand mu of fertile fields, exemption from ten death sentences, and a memorial appointing him Grand Master for Splendorous Enjoyment.) 〉
4
鎔既失燕軍之援，會武皇出師以逼真定，鎔遣使謝罪，出絹二十萬匹，及具牛酒犒軍，自是與鎔俱修好如初。 洎梁祖兼有山東，虎視天下，鎔卑辭厚禮，以通和好。 〈（《新唐書》：羅紹威諷鎔絕太原，共尊全忠，鎔依違，全忠不悅。）〉 光化三年秋，梁祖將吞河朔，乃親征鎮、定，縱其軍燔鎮之關城。 鎔謂賓佐曰：「事急矣，謀其所向。」 判官周式者，有口辯，出見梁祖。 梁祖盛怒，逆謂式曰：「王令公朋附並汾，違盟爽信，敝賦業已及此，期於無舍！」 式曰：「公為唐室之桓、文，當以禮義而成霸業，反欲窮兵黷武，天下其謂公何！」 〈（《新唐書》：李嗣昭攻洺州，全忠自將擊走之，得鎔與嗣昭書，全忠怒，引軍攻鎔。 周式請見全忠，全忠即出書示式曰：「嗣昭在者，宜速遣。」 式曰：「王公所與和者，息人鋒鏑間耳。 況繼奉天子詔和解，能無一番紙墜北路乎？ 太原與趙本無恩，嗣昭庸肯入耶！」）〉 梁祖喜，引式袂而慰之曰：「前言戲之耳！」 即送牛酒貨幣以犒軍。 式請鎔子昭祚及大將梁公儒、李宏規子各一人往質於汴。 梁祖以女妻昭祚。 及梁祖稱帝，鎔不得已，行其正朔。
Having lost Yan military support, Rong found the Martial Emperor marching toward Zhending. He sent envoys to apologize, offered two hundred thousand bolts of silk, and supplied cattle and wine to reward the army; from then on he and the Jin were reconciled as before. Once the Founding Emperor of Liang controlled Shandong and eyed the realm, Rong used humble words and lavish gifts to maintain friendly relations. (The 《New Book of Tang》: Luo Shaowei urged Rong to break with Taiyuan and jointly honor Quanzhong; Rong wavered, and Quanzhong was displeased.) 〉 In the autumn of the third year of Guanghua the Founding Emperor of Liang planned to annex the Hebei region and personally campaigned against Zhen and Ding, while his troops burned Zhen's border fortresses. Rong told his staff, "The crisis is upon us—we must decide what to do." His secretary Zhou Shi was a skilled speaker and went out to meet the Founding Emperor of Liang. The Founding Emperor was furious and confronted Shi: "Lord Wang has allied with Bing and Fen, broken his treaty, and violated his word. My army has already reached your borders, and I intend to leave no quarter!" Shi replied, "Your Lordship is the Huan and Wen of the Tang house and should establish hegemony through ritual and righteousness. Instead you wish to exhaust armies in ceaseless warfare—what will the realm say of you!" (The 《New Book of Tang》: Li Sizhao attacked Mingzhou; Quanzhong personally led troops and drove him off, discovered letters between Rong and Sizhao, grew angry, and led an army against Rong. Zhou Shi requested an audience; Quanzhong produced the letters and showed them to Shi, saying, "If Sizhao is present, send him away at once." Shi replied, "Lord Wang's alliances were merely to silence weapons for a time. Moreover, having followed the Son of Heaven's decree for reconciliation, how could there not be occasional correspondence heading north? Taiyuan and Zhao owe each other no favor—why would Sizhao enter at all!" ) 〉 The Founding Emperor was pleased, took Shi's sleeve, and comforted him: "My earlier words were only in jest!" He then sent cattle, wine, and goods to reward the army. Shi requested that Rong's son Zhaozhuo and one son each of the great generals Liang Gongru and Li Honggui be sent as hostages to Bian. The Founding Emperor of Liang married his daughter to Zhaozhuo. When the Founding Emperor of Liang declared himself emperor, Rong had no choice but to adopt his calendar.
5
其後梁祖常慮河朔悠久難製，會羅紹威卒，因欲除移鎮、定。 先遣親軍三千，分據鎔深、冀二郡，以鎮守為名。 又遣大將王景仁、李思安率師七萬，營於柏鄉。 鎔遣使告急莊宗，莊宗命周德威率兵應之； 鎔復奉唐朝正朔，稱天祐七年。 及破梁軍於高邑，我軍大振，自是遣大將王德明率三十七都從莊宗征伐，收燕降魏，皆預其功，然鎔未嘗親軍遠出。 八年七月，鎔至承天軍，與莊宗合宴同盟，奉觴獻壽，以申感概。 莊宗以鎔父友，曲加敬異，為之聲歌，鎔亦報之，謂莊宗為四十六舅。 中飲，莊宗抽佩刀斷衿為盟，許女妻鎔子昭誨。 因茲堅附於莊宗矣。
Thereafter the Founding Emperor of Liang constantly worried that the Hebei provinces would long resist control. When Luo Shaowei died, he sought to replace the governors of Zhen and Ding. He first sent three thousand personal guards to occupy Rong's Shen and Ji prefectures, nominally to garrison them. He also dispatched the great generals Wang Jingren and Li Si'an with seventy thousand troops, encamped at Baixiang. Rong urgently appealed to Emperor Zhuangzong, who ordered Zhou Dewei to lead troops in response; Rong again adopted the Tang calendar, dating his reign the seventh year of Tianyou. After the Liang army was defeated at Gaoyi our forces were greatly heartened. Thereafter the great general Wang Deming led thirty-seven commands in Zhuangzong's campaigns, sharing in the conquest of Yan and the submission of Wei, yet Rong never personally led armies far afield. In the seventh month of the eighth year Rong came to Chengtian army, joined Zhuangzong in an allied feast, offered wine and birthday wishes, and expressed his gratitude. Zhuangzong, considering Rong a friend of his father, showed him special respect and sang for him; Rong reciprocated, calling Zhuangzong his forty-sixth uncle. Mid-feast Zhuangzong drew his sword and severed his collar in alliance, promising his daughter in marriage to Rong's son Zhaohui. From this he was firmly bound to Zhuangzong.
6
鎔自幼聰悟，然仁而不武，征伐出於下，特以作藩數世。 專製四州，高屏塵務，不親軍政，多以閹人秉權，出納決斷，悉聽所為。 皆雕靡第舍，崇飾園池，植奇花異木，遞相誇尚。 人士皆裒衣博帶，高車大蓋，以事嬉遊，藩府之中，當時為盛。 鎔宴安既久，惑於左道，專求長生之要，常聚緇黃，合煉仙丹，或講說佛經，親受符籙。 西山多佛寺，又有王母觀，鎔增置館宇，雕飾土木。 道士王若訥者，誘鎔登山臨水，訪求仙跡，每一出，數月方歸，百姓勞弊。 王母觀石路既峻，不通輿馬，每登行，命仆妾數下人維錦繡牽持而上。 有閹人石希蒙者，奸寵用事，為鎔所嬖，恒與之臥起。
Rong was intelligent from youth, yet benevolent rather than martial; warfare was left to subordinates, and he held his post only because his clan had governed the frontier for generations. Controlling four prefectures, he shielded himself from mundane affairs and never personally handled military administration. Eunuchs mostly wielded power, and revenue and decisions were entirely at their discretion. All built extravagant mansions and ornate gardens and ponds, planting exotic flowers and rare trees, each trying to outdo the other. Officials wore loose robes and broad sashes, rode tall carriages with large canopies, and devoted themselves to amusement—the military prefecture was then at its most splendid. Long accustomed to ease, Rong became deluded by heterodox arts, obsessively seeking immortality. He constantly gathered monks and Taoists to refine elixirs, or expounded Buddhist sutras and personally received talismans. The western mountains held many Buddhist temples and also the Queen Mother shrine; Rong added halls and lavishly ornamented the buildings. The Taoist Wang Ruone seduced Rong to climb mountains and wade waters seeking immortal traces. Each excursion lasted months before he returned, exhausting the people. The Queen Mother shrine's stone path was steep and impassable to chariots and horses. Whenever Rong climbed it, he had maids and servants hold brocade to pull him upward. A eunuch named Shi Ximeng wielded wicked favor and was beloved by Rong, constantly sharing bed and waking with him.
7
天祐八年冬十二月，鎔自西山回，宿於鶻營莊，將歸府第，希蒙勸之佗所。 宦者李宏規謂鎔曰：「方今晉王親當矢石，櫛沐風雨，王殫供軍之租賦，為不急之遊盤，世道未夷，人心多梗，久虛府第，遠出遊從，如樂禍之徒，翻然起變，拒門不納，則王欲何歸！」 鎔懼，促歸。 希蒙譖宏規專作威福，多蓄猜防，鎔由是復無歸誌。 宏規聞之怒，使親事偏將蘇漢衡率兵擐甲遽至鎔前，抽戈謂鎔曰：「軍人在外已久，願從王歸。」 宏規進曰：「石希蒙說王遊從，勞弊士庶，又結構陰邪，將為大逆。 臣已偵視情狀不虛，請王殺之，以除禍本。」 鎔不聽。 宏規因命軍士聚噪，斬希蒙首抵於前。 鎔大恐，遂歸。 是日，令其子昭祚與張文禮以兵圍李宏規及行軍司馬李藹宅，並族誅之，詿誤者凡數十家。 又殺蘇漢衡，收部下偏將下獄，窮其反狀，親軍皆恐，復不時給賜，眾益懼。 文禮因其反側，密諭之曰：「王此夕將坑爾曹，宜自圖之。」 眾皆掩泣相謂曰：「王待我如是，我等焉能效忠？」 是夜，親事軍十餘人，自子城西門逾垣而入，鎔方焚香受籙，軍士二人突入，斷其首，袖之而出，遂焚其府第，煙焰亙天，兵士大亂。 鎔姬妾數百，皆赴水投火而死。 軍校有張友順者，率軍人至張文禮之第，請為留後。 遂盡殺王氏之族。 鎔於昭宗朝賜號敦睦保定久大功臣，位至成德軍節度使、守太師、中書令、趙王，梁祖加尚書令。 初，鎔之遇害，不獲其屍，及莊宗攻下鎮州，鎔之舊人於所焚府第灰間方得鎔之殘骸。 莊宗命幕客致祭，葬於王氏故塋。
In the twelfth month of winter in the eighth year of Tianyou Rong returned from the western mountains and lodged at Gueying Manor. About to return to headquarters, he was urged by Ximeng to go elsewhere. The eunuch Li Honggui told Rong: "The Prince of Jin now personally faces arrows and braves storms, while Your Highness exhausts supply revenues on frivolous excursions. The world is unsettled and hearts are restless. Headquarters has long stood empty, and you roam far afield—if troublemakers rise and bar the gates, where will Your Highness go!" Rong was afraid and hastened back. Ximeng slandered Honggui for arrogantly wielding power and harboring suspicion, and Rong therefore lost the will to return again. Honggui heard this and grew angry. He sent his aide, the partial commander Su Hanheng, with armored troops rushing to Rong, drew his blade, and said: "The soldiers abroad have been away long and wish to follow Your Highness home. Honggui stepped forward and said, "Shi Ximeng urged Your Highness on excursions, exhausting officials and commoners, and moreover plotted wicked treachery that would become great rebellion. I have investigated and found this to be true. I beg Your Highness to kill him and remove the root of the disaster." Rong would not listen. Honggui therefore ordered the soldiers to raise a clamor, beheaded Ximeng, and presented his head before Rong. Rong was greatly frightened and returned. That day he ordered his son Zhaozhuo and Zhang Wenli to surround the residences of Li Honggui and the campaign secretary Li Ai with troops, executed their entire clans, and implicated several dozen households by error. He also killed Su Hanheng, imprisoned his subordinate partial commanders, and exhaustively investigated their rebellion. The personal guard was terrified, rewards were no longer given on time, and fear spread among the troops. Wenli, taking advantage of their restlessness, secretly told them, "The prince intends to bury you all alive tonight. You should plan for yourselves." All wept and said to one another, "The prince treats us like this—how can we still serve him loyally?" That night more than ten personal guard soldiers climbed over the wall from the Zicheng West Gate. Rong was burning incense and receiving talismans when two soldiers burst in, severed his head, tucked it in their sleeves, and fled. They then burned his mansion; smoke and flames filled the sky and the army fell into chaos. Rong's several hundred concubines all drowned themselves or threw themselves into the fire and died. An army officer named Zhang Youshun led soldiers to Zhang Wenli's residence and asked that he be made acting governor. They then slaughtered the entire Wang clan. Under Emperor Zhaozong Rong was granted the title Meritorious Minister of Lasting Concord, Preservation, and Endurance, rose to military governor of the Chengde army, Grand Preceptor, Director of the Chancellery, and Prince of Zhao; the Founding Emperor of Liang later added Minister of Works. When Rong was killed his corpse could not be recovered. After Zhuangzong captured Zhenzhou, Rong's old retainers found his remains among the ashes of the burned mansion. Zhuangzong ordered his staff to perform sacrifices and buried him in the Wang family ancestral tomb.
8
鎔長子昭祚，亂之翌日，張文禮索之，斬於軍門。 次子昭誨。 當鎔被禍之夕，昭誨為軍人攜出府第，置之地穴十餘日，乃髡其發，被以僧衣。 屬湖南綱官李震南還，軍士以昭誨托於震，震置之茶褚中。 既至湖湘，乃令依南嶽寺僧習業，歲給其費。 昭誨年長思歸，震即齎送而還。 時鎔故將符習為汴州節度使，會昭誨來投，即表其事曰：「故趙王王鎔小男昭誨，年十餘歲遇禍，為人所匿免，今尚為僧，名崇隱，謹令赴闕。」 明宗賜衣一襲，令脫僧服。 頃之，昭誨稱前成德軍中軍使、檢校太傅，詣中書陳狀，特授朝議大夫、檢校考功郎中、司農少卿，賜金紫。 符習因以女妻之。 其後，累曆少列，周顯德中，遷少府監。
Rong's eldest son Zhaozhuo was demanded by Zhang Wenli the day after the uprising and beheaded at the army gate. His second son was Zhaohui. On the night Rong was killed, soldiers carried Zhaohui out of the mansion, hid him in an underground pit for more than ten days, then shaved his head and dressed him in monk's robes. When Li Zhen, transport officer for Hunan, was returning south, the soldiers entrusted Zhaohui to him, and Zhen hid him in a tea crate. Once he reached Hunan he had Zhaohui study under the monks of Nanyue Temple and provided his expenses each year. When Zhaohui grew older and longed to return home, Zhen escorted him back. At that time Rong's former general Fu Xi was military governor of Bianzhou. When Zhaohui came to seek refuge, he memorialized: "The late Prince of Zhao Wang Rong's younger son Zhaohui, barely in his teens when disaster struck, was hidden and spared. He is still a monk named Chongyin, and I respectfully send him to court." Emperor Mingzong granted him a suit of clothing and ordered him to remove his monk's robes. Before long Zhaohui claimed his former title of central army commander of the Chengde army and Honorary Grand Mentor, petitioned the Secretariat, and was specially appointed Grand Master for Discussion, Honorary Director of the Bureau of Merit, and Vice Minister of Agriculture, with gold and purple robes. Fu Xi therefore married his daughter to him. Thereafter he rose through junior court ranks, and in the Xiande era of Zhou was promoted to Director of the Palace Workshops.
9
王處直。 〈（《王處直傳》，原本止存王都廢立之事，而處直事闕佚。 今考《舊唐書》列傳云：處直，字允明，處存母弟也。 初為定州後院軍都知兵馬使，汴人入寇，處直拒戰，不利而退，三軍大噪，推處直為帥，乃權知留後事。 汴將張存敬攻城，梯衝雲合，處直登城呼曰：「敝邑於朝廷未嘗不忠，於藩鄰未嘗失禮，不虞君之涉吾地，何也？」 朱溫使人報之曰：「何以附太原而弱鄰道？」 處直報曰：「吾兄與太原同時立勳王室，地又親鄰，修好往來，常道也。 請從此改圖。」 溫許之，仍歸罪於孔目吏梁問，出絹十萬匹，牛酒以犒汴軍，存敬修盟而退； 溫因表授旄鉞、檢校左僕射。 天祐元年，加太保，封太原王。 後仕偽梁，授北平王、檢校太尉，不數歲，復歸於莊宗。 後十餘年，為其子都廢歸私第，尋卒，年六十一。）〉
Wang Chuzhi. (The Biography of Wang Chuzhi in the original preserved only the matter of Wang Du's deposition and installation, while Chuzhi's affairs were missing. Examining the biographies in the Old Book of Tang, it states: Chuzhi, courtesy name Yunming, was the younger maternal brother of Chucun. At first he was commander of horse and infantry of the Dingzhou rear guard army. When the Bian forces invaded, Chuzhi fought them but was driven back. The three armies raised a clamor and installed him as commander, and he then acted as acting governor. The Bian general Zhang Cunjing attacked the city with scaling ladders and battering rams massed like clouds. Chuzhi mounted the wall and called out, "Our humble district has never been disloyal to the court nor discourteous to neighboring prefectures. Why did we not expect Your Lordship to enter our land?" Zhu Wen sent a messenger to reply, "Why ally with Taiyuan and weaken the neighboring circuit?" Chuzhi replied, "My elder brother and Taiyuan at the same time established merit for the royal house. Our lands are close neighbors, and maintaining friendly relations is the constant way. I ask to change course from this point." Wen agreed, blamed the clerk Liang Wen, offered one hundred thousand bolts of silk plus cattle and wine to reward the Bian army, and Cunjing renewed the covenant and withdrew; Wen then memorialized to invest him with the insignia of command and appoint him Honorary Left Vice Director. In the first year of Tianyou he was promoted to Grand Guardian and enfeoffed as Prince of Taiyuan. Later he served the Liang, was appointed Prince of Beiping and Honorary Grand Commandant, and within a few years returned to Zhuangzong. More than ten years later he was deposed by his son Du and retired to a private residence. He soon died at the age of sixty-one.) 〉
10
王都，本姓劉，小字雲郎，中山陘邑人也。 初，有妖人李應之得於村落間，養為己子。 及處直有疾，應之以左道醫之，不久病間，處直神之，待為羽人。 始假幕職，出入無間，漸署為行軍司馬，軍府之事，鹹取決焉。 處直時未有子，應之以都遺於處直曰：「此子生而有異。」 因是都得為處直之子。 其後應之閱白丁於管內，別置新軍，起第於博陵坊，麵開一門，動皆鬼道。 處直信重日隆，將校相慮，變在朝夕，謀先事為禍。 會燕師假道，伏甲於外城，以備為不虞，昧旦入郭，諸校因引軍以圍其第，應之死於亂兵，鹹雲不見其屍，眾不解甲。 乃逼牙帳請殺都，處直堅靳之，久乃得免。 翌日賞勞，籍其兵於臥內，自隊長已上記於別簿，漸以他事孥戮。 迨二十年，別簿之記，略無孑遺。 都既成長，總其兵柄，奸詐巧佞，生而知之。 處直愛養，漸有付托之意，時處直諸子尚幼，乃以都為節度副大使。
Wang Du was originally surnamed Liu; his childhood name was Yunlang, and he was a native of Xingyi in Zhongshan. At first a sorcerer named Li Yingzhi obtained him in a village and raised him as his own son. When Chuzhi fell ill, Yingzhi treated him with heterodox medicine. Before long the illness abated, and Chuzhi regarded him as divine and treated him as an immortal. At first he was given a temporary staff post and entered and left without restriction. Gradually he was appointed campaign secretary, and all military prefecture affairs were decided by him. Chuzhi then had no son. Yingzhi presented Du to him, saying, "This child was born with something extraordinary." From this Du became Chuzhi's son. Thereafter Yingzhi reviewed common conscripts within the jurisdiction, separately established a new army, built a mansion in Boling Ward with a door facing outward, and every action followed demonic ways. Chuzhi's trust in him grew daily. The commanders feared revolt was imminent and plotted to strike first. When Yan troops requested passage, they concealed armor in the outer city as a precaution, entered the walled town at dawn, and the commanders led troops to surround Yingzhi's residence. Yingzhi died among the disorderly soldiers, and though no corpse was seen, the troops did not remove their armor. They then pressed headquarters to kill Du. Chuzhi firmly refused, and only after a long time was Du spared. The next day he rewarded them, registered their soldiers in his private quarters, recorded squad leaders and above in a separate ledger, and gradually executed them and their families on other pretexts. After twenty years scarcely a single name remained on the separate ledger. Once Du had grown up he held military authority. Treacherous, cunning, and artfully sycophantic, he seemed born to such ways. Chuzhi cherished him and gradually intended to entrust affairs to him. As Chuzhi's sons were still young, he made Du vice military governor.
11
王鬱者，亦處直之孽子也。 〈（案：以下有闕文。）〉
Wang Yu was also an illegitimate son of Chuzhi. (Note: There is missing text below.) 〉
12
天祐十八年十二月，莊宗親征鎮州，敗契丹於沙河。 明年正月，乘勝追敵，過定州，都馬前奉迎，莊宗幸其府第曲宴。 都有愛女，十餘歲，莊宗與之論婚，許為皇子繼岌妻之。 自是恩寵特異，奏請無不從。 同光三年，莊宗幸鄴都，都來朝覲，留宴旬日，錫賚钜萬，遷太尉、侍中。 時周元豹見之曰：「形若鯉魚，難免刀機。」 及明宗嗣位，加中書令，然以其奪據父位，深心惡之。
In the twelfth month of the eighteenth year of Tianyou Zhuangzong personally campaigned against Zhenzhou and defeated the Khitan at Shahe. In the first month of the following year, pressing his victory in pursuit of the enemy, he passed Dingzhou. Du met him on the road to welcome him, and Zhuangzong visited his mansion for a private feast. Du had a beloved daughter of more than ten. Zhuangzong discussed marriage with him and promised her as wife to his son Jiji. From then on he enjoyed exceptional favor, and no memorial or request went ungranted. In the third year of Tongguang Zhuangzong visited Yedu. Du came to court, was kept for a ten-day feast, granted gifts worth tens of thousands, and promoted to Grand Commandant and Palace Attendant. At that time Zhou Yuanbao saw him and said, "His form is like a carp—hard to escape the knife." When Mingzong succeeded to the throne he was promoted to Director of the Chancellery, yet because he had seized his father's position, Mingzong deeply hated him.
13
初，同光中，祁、易二州刺史，都奏部下將校為之，不進戶口，租賦自贍本軍，天成初仍舊。 既而安重誨用事，稍以朝政厘之。 時契丹犯塞，諸軍多屯幽、易間，大將往來，都陰為之備，屢廢迎送，漸成猜間。 和昭訓為都籌畫曰：「主上新有四海，其勢易離，可圖自安之計。」 會朱守殷據汴州反，鎮州節度使王建立與安重誨不協，心懷怨嫉。 都陰知之，乃遣人說建立謀叛，建立偽許之，密以狀聞。 都又與青、徐、岐、潞、梓五帥蠟書以離聞之。
During the Tongguang era the prefects of Qi and Yi were commanders under Du whom he memorialized for appointment. They did not submit household registers, and tax revenues supported their own armies. This continued unchanged at the beginning of Tiancheng. Soon afterward An Chonghui came to power and gradually used court administration to regulate this. At that time the Khitan raided the frontier and many armies were stationed between You and Yi. Great generals came and went; Du secretly prepared against them, repeatedly neglected welcoming and escorting them, and suspicion gradually grew. He Zhaoxun plotted for Du, saying, "The sovereign has newly possessed the realm; the situation is easy to divide. One may plan a course of self-preservation." It happened that Zhu Shouyin held Bianzhou in rebellion. Wang Jianli, military governor of Zhenzhou, was at odds with An Chonghui and harbored resentment. Du secretly learned of this and sent men to persuade Jianli to plot rebellion. Jianli falsely agreed and secretly reported the matter. Du also sent sealed letters to the five commanders of Qing, Xu, Qi, Lu, and Zi to sow discord.
14
三年四月，製削都在身官爵，遣宋州節度使王晏球率師討之。 都急與王鬱謀，引契丹為援。 洎王師攻城，契丹將托諾率騎萬人來援，都與契丹合兵大戰於嘉山，為王師所敗，唯餒諾以二千騎奔入定州。 都仗之守城，呼為諾王，屈身瀝懇，冀其盡力。 孤壘周年，亦甚有備，諸校或思歸向，以其訪察嚴密，殺人相繼，人無宿謀，故數構不就。
In the fourth month of the third year an edict stripped Du of all his titles and ranks, and Wang Yanqiu, military governor of Songzhou, was sent with troops to suppress him. Du urgently plotted with Wang Yu and brought in the Khitan as support. When the imperial army besieged the city, the Khitan general Tuonuo led ten thousand cavalry to the rescue. Du and the Khitan joined forces and fought a great battle at Jiashan but were defeated by the imperial army. Only Nuonuo with two thousand cavalry fled into Dingzhou. Du relied on him to defend the city, called him Prince Nuo, bowed low and pleaded earnestly, hoping he would exert himself fully. The isolated fortress held for a full year and was well prepared. Some commanders thought of defecting, but surveillance was strict and killings followed one after another. With no long-standing plots, several conspiracies came to nothing.
15
都好聚圖書，自常山始破，梁國初平，令人廣將金帛收市，以得為務，不責貴賤，書至三萬卷，名畫樂器各數百，皆四方之精妙者，萃於其府。 四年三月，晏球拔定州，時都校馬讓能降於曲陽門，都巷戰而敗，奔馬歸於府第，縱火焚之，府庫妻孥，一夕俱燼，惟擒托餒並其男四人、弟一人獻於行在。
Du loved to collect books and scrolls. From the time Changshan first fell and the Liang was newly pacified, he sent men far and wide with gold and silk to buy on the market, caring only to acquire and not whether prices were high or low. Books reached thirty thousand scrolls, famous paintings and musical instruments each numbered in the hundreds—all the finest from the four directions were gathered in his mansion. In the third month of the fourth year Yanqiu captured Dingzhou. Du's officer Ma Rangneng surrendered at the Quyang Gate. Du fought in the lanes and was defeated, fled on horseback to his mansion, and set it ablaze. The treasury, wives, and children were all reduced to ashes in one night. Only Tuonuo was captured along with his four sons and one younger brother and presented at the imperial camp.
16
李繼陶者，莊宗初略地河朔，俘而得之，收養於宮中，故名曰得得。 天成初，安重誨知其本末，付段佪養之為兒； 佪知其不稱，許其就便。 王都素蓄異志，潛取以歸，呼為莊宗太子。 及都叛，遂僭其服裝，時俾乘墉，欲惑軍士，人咸知其偽，競詬辱之。 城陷，晏球獲之，拘送於闕下，行至邢州，遣使戮焉。
Li Jitao was captured when Zhuangzong first seized lands in the Hebei region, was raised in the palace, and therefore was named Dede. At the beginning of Tiancheng An Chonghui knew his origins and entrusted him to Duan Si to raise as a son; Si knew this was unsuitable and allowed him to go as he pleased. Wang Du had long harbored rebellious intent. He secretly took Jitao back and called him Zhuangzong's crown prince. When Du rebelled he dressed Jitao in princely robes and at times had him ride the ramparts, hoping to delude the soldiers. All knew he was a fraud and cursed and insulted him. When the city fell Yanqiu captured him and sent him to court. When he reached Xingzhou an envoy was sent to execute him.
17
史臣曰：王鎔據鎮、冀以稱王，治將數世； 處直分易、定以為帥，亦既重侯。 一則惑佞臣而覆其宗，一則嬖孽子而失其國，其故何哉？ 蓋富貴斯久，仁義不修，目眩於妖妍，耳惑於絲竹，故不能防奸於未兆，察禍於未萌，相繼敗亡，又誰咎也！
The historian says: Wang Rong held Zhen and Ji and styled himself king, ruling for nearly generations; Chuzhi held Yi and Ding as commander and was likewise a powerful regional lord. One was deluded by sycophantic ministers and his clan was overthrown; one favored an illegitimate son and lost his state. What was the reason? Surely wealth and honor had lasted so long that benevolence and righteousness were neglected. Eyes were dazzled by seductive beauty and ears bewitched by music. They could not guard against treachery before signs appeared or discern disaster before it sprouted. Successive ruin followed—who else is to blame!