1
丁會，字道隱，壽州壽春人。 父季。 會幼放蕩縱橫，不治農產，恒隨哀挽者學紼謳，尤嗜其聲。 既長，遇亂，合雄兒為盜，有誌功名。 黃巢渡淮，會從梁祖為部曲，梁祖鎮門，會曆都押衙。 自梁祖誅宗權，並時溥，屠朱瑄，走朱瑾，會恒以兵從，多立奇功。 文德中，表授懷州刺史，曆滑州留後、河陽節度使、檢校司徒。 自河陽以疾致政於洛陽。 梁祖季年猜忌，故將功大者多遭族滅，會陰有避禍之志，稱疾者累年。 天復元年，梁祖奄有河中、晉、絳，乃起會為昭義節度使。 昭宗幸洛陽，加同平章事。 其年，昭宗遇弑，哀問至，會三軍縞素，流涕久之。 時梁祖親討劉守文於滄州，駐軍於長蘆。 三年十二月，王師攻會，居旬日，會以潞州歸於武皇。 〈（《北夢瑣言》：梁祖雄猜，疑忌功臣，忽謂敬翔曰：「吾夢丁會在前祗候，吾將乘馬欲出，圉人以馬就台，忽為丁會跨之以出，時夢中怒，叱喝數聲，因驚覺，甚惡之。」 是月，丁會舉潞州軍民歸河東矣。）〉 引見，會泣曰：「臣非不能守潞，但以汴王篡弱唐祚，猜嫌舊將，臣雖蒙保薦之恩，而不忍相從，今所謂吐盜父之食以見王也。」 武皇納之，賜甲第於太原，位在諸將上。 五年，汴將李思安圍潞州，以會為都招討使、檢校太尉。
Ding Hui, whose style name was Daoyin, came from Shouchun in Shou Prefecture. His father was named Ji. In youth Ding Hui was unruly and idle, neglected the family fields, and constantly trailed funeral parties to learn mourning dirges for the pall ropes; he loved their cadence above all else. When he came of age amid the chaos, he gathered bold companions and turned bandit, yet he burned to win a name in arms. When Huang Chao crossed the Huai, Ding Hui entered the Liang Founder's personal command. After the Founder secured the capital, Hui rose to chief of the capital guard office. From the Founder's execution of Qin Zongquan through his absorption of Shi Pu, the slaughter of Zhu Xuan, and the rout of Zhu Jin, Ding Hui marched at his side and won repeated striking victories. During the Wende reign he was appointed by memorial as prefect of Huai, then served as acting governor of Hua, military commissioner of Heyang, and acting Minister of Works. He left Heyang on grounds of illness and retired to Luoyang. In his last years the Liang Founder grew suspicious, and veteran commanders of great merit were often wiped out to the last kinsman. Ding Hui quietly resolved to escape that fate and pleaded illness year after year. In the first year of Tianfu, after the Founder seized Hedong, Jin, and Jiang, he recalled Ding Hui and made him military commissioner of Zhaoyi. When Emperor Zhaozong came to Luoyang, Ding Hui was made Grand Councilor of the Pacification Court. That same year, when word came that Zhaozong had been murdered, Ding Hui's whole army put on white mourning and wept for a long while. The Liang Founder was then campaigning in person against Liu Shouwen at Cangzhou and had encamped at Changlu. In the twelfth month of the third year the imperial army besieged him; within ten days Ding Hui surrendered Luzhou to the Martial Sovereign. (According to the 《Miscellaneous Sayings of the Northern Dreams》: The Liang Founder was fierce, suspicious, and wary of his great commanders. One day he suddenly told Jing Xiang, "I dreamed that Ding Hui was waiting before me as I prepared to mount and ride out. The groom led the horse to the terrace, and in the dream Ding Hui vaulted onto it and rode out with me. I shouted at him in anger several times, then woke—and the omen filled me with loathing." ) That very month Ding Hui brought the army and people of Luzhou over to Hedong.)〉 When he was received in audience Ding Hui wept and said, "It is not that I could not hold Luzhou. The Prince of Bian has usurped and enfeebled the Tang house and now suspects every old commander. Though I owed him the grace of preservation, I could not bear to follow him further. What I do now is what they call vomiting out a robber father's food to show oneself before the true king." The Martial Sovereign welcomed him, granted him a great mansion in Taiyuan, and ranked him above the other generals. In the fifth year the Bian general Li Si'an besieged Luzhou, and Ding Hui was made chief campaign commander with the acting rank of Grand Mentor of State.
2
莊宗嗣王位，與會決謀，破汴軍於夾城。 七年十一月，卒於大原。 莊宗即位，追贈太師。 有子七人，知沆為梁祖所誅，餘皆曆內職。
When Zhuangzong succeeded to the kingship he took counsel with Ding Hui and shattered the Bian army at Jiacheng. In the eleventh month of the seventh year he died at Taiyuan. After Zhuangzong took the throne, Ding Hui was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Preceptor. He had seven sons. Zhihang was executed by the Liang Founder; the rest all rose through inner court offices.
3
閻寶，字瓊美，鄆州人。 父佐，海州刺史。 寶少事朱瑾為牙將，瑾之失守於兗也，寶與瑾將胡規、康懷英歸汴梁，皆擢任之。 自梁祖陳師河朔，爭霸關西，寶與葛從周、丁會、賀德倫、李思安各為大將，統兵四出，所至立功，曆洺、隨、宿、鄭四州刺史。 天祐六年，梁祖以寶為邢洺節度使、檢校太傅。 莊宗定魏博，十三年，攻相、衛、洺、磁，下之，寶獨保邢州，城孤援絕。 八月，寶以邢州降，莊宗嘉之，進位檢校太尉、同平章事，遙領天平軍節度使、東南面招討等使，待以賓禮，位在諸將上，每有謀畫，與之參決。 契丹之寇幽州也，周德威危急，寶與李存審從明宗擊契丹於幽州西北，解圍而還。 胡柳之役，諸軍逗撓，汴軍登無石山，其勢甚盛。 莊宗望之，畏其不敵，且欲保營。 寶進曰：「王深入敵境，偏師不利，王彥章騎軍已入濮州，山下唯列步兵，向晚皆有歸誌。 我盡銳擊之，敗走必矣。 今若引退，必為所乘，我軍未集，更聞賊勝，即不戰而自潰也。 凡決勝料情，情勢已得，斷在不疑。 今王之成敗，在此一戰，若不決勝，設使餘眾渡河，河朔非王有也，王其勉之！」 莊宗聞之聳聽，曰：「微公幾失計。」 即引騎大噪，奮槊登山，大敗汴人。 十八年，張文禮殺王鎔叛，寶帥師進討。 八月，收趙州，進渡滹水，擒賊黨張友順以獻。 九月，進逼真定，結營西南隅。 掘塹柵以環之，決大悲寺漕渠以浸其郛。 十九年正月，契丹三十萬來援鎮州，前鋒至新樂，眾心憂之。 寶見莊宗，指陳方略，軍情乃安。 敵退，加檢校侍中。 三月，城中饑，王處瑾之眾出城求食，寶縱其出，伏兵截擊之。 饑賊大至，諸軍未集，為賊年乘； 寶乃收軍退保趙州，因慚憤成疾，疽發背而卒，時年六十。 同光初，追贈太師； 晉天福中，追封太原郡王。
Yan Bao, whose style name was Qiongmei, came from Yan Prefecture. His father Zuo had served as prefect of Hai Prefecture. In youth Yan Bao served Zhu Jin as a guard officer. When Jin lost Yanzhou, Bao went with Jin's officers Hu Gui and Kang Huaiying to Bianliang, and the Liang court promoted them all. From the Founder's campaigns in the Hebei north through his struggle for the northwest, Yan Bao stood with Ge Congzhou, Ding Hui, He Delun, and Li Si'an among the great commanders. They led armies on every front, won merit wherever they marched, and Yan Bao in turn held the prefectures of Ming, Sui, Su, and Zheng. In the sixth year of Tianyou the Liang Founder made Yan Bao military commissioner of Xing and Ming with the acting rank of Grand Mentor. After Zhuangzong secured Weibo, in the thirteenth year he took Xiang, Wei, Ming, and Ci. Yan Bao alone still held Xingzhou, his city isolated and his relief cut off. In the eighth month Yan Bao surrendered Xingzhou. Zhuangzong praised him, raised him to acting Grand Mentor of State and Grand Councilor, and gave him titular command of Tianping and the southeastern campaign, treating him as an honored guest and ranking him above the other generals. On every major plan Zhuangzong consulted him and followed his counsel. When the Khitan besieged Youzhou and Zhou Dewei was hard pressed, Yan Bao and Li Cunshen followed Mingzong to strike the Khitan northwest of the city, broke the siege, and returned. At the battle of Huliu the allied armies hung back while the Bian forces took Wushi Mountain and gathered overwhelming strength. Zhuangzong looked on them, feared he could not prevail, and thought only of holding his camp. Yan Bao stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty has marched deep into enemy country, and one wing has already faltered. Wang Yanzhang's cavalry has entered Puzhou; below the mountain they have posted only foot soldiers, and by evening every man will be thinking of home. If we throw our best troops against them, they are sure to break and run. If we pull back now they will surely overtake us. Our forces are not yet fully assembled, and once the men hear the enemy has won they will scatter without a fight. Victory always turns on reading the moment aright; once the odds are in hand, the decisive thing is not to hesitate. Your Majesty's fate now hangs on this single battle. If we fail to win it here, and the rest of their army crosses the river, the north will no longer be yours. Press the fight, sire!" Zhuangzong listened with rising attention and said, "Without you I would nearly have thrown the campaign away." He at once led his cavalry forward with a great shout, drove his spears up the slope, and routed the Bian army. In the eighteenth year Zhang Wenli murdered Wang Rong and rebelled; Yan Bao marched to suppress him. In the eighth month he recovered Zhao Prefecture, crossed the Hutuo, and captured the rebel partisan Zhang Youshun for presentation to the throne. In the ninth month he pressed Zhending and pitched camp at the city's southwest corner. He dug trenches and palisades to ring the city and breached the Dabei Temple canal to flood the outer walls. In the first month of the nineteenth year three hundred thousand Khitan marched to relieve Zhenzhou; when their vanguard reached Xinle the army's spirits sank. Yan Bao laid out his plan before Zhuangzong, and the army's morale steadied. After the enemy withdrew he was promoted to acting Palace Attendant. In the third month famine gripped the city. Wang Chujin's men came out to forage; Yan Bao let them leave the gates, then ambushed and cut them down. The starving rebels came in force before the allied armies had fully gathered, and Yan Bao's men were overrun; Yan Bao drew his troops back to Zhao Prefecture. Shame and anger brought on illness; a carbuncle broke out between his shoulders and he died at the age of sixty. At the opening of the Tongguang era he was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Preceptor; and under Jin in the Tianfu era he was posthumously created Prince of Taiyuan.
4
有子八人，宏倫、宏儒皆位至郡守。
He had eight sons; Honglun and Hongru both rose to commandery prefect.
5
符習，趙州昭慶縣人。 少從軍，事節度使王鎔，積功至列校。 自莊宗經略河朔，與鎔連衡，常令習率師從莊宗征討。 鎔為張文禮所害，時習在德勝寨，文禮上書請習等歸鎮。 習雨泣訴於莊宗曰：「臣本趙人，家世事王氏，故使嘗授臣一劍，俾臣平蕩凶寇。 自聞變故，徒懷冤憤，欲以自剄，無益於營魂。 且張文禮乃幽、滄叛將，趙王知人不盡，過意任使，致被反噬。 臣雖不武，願在霸府血戰而死，不能委身於凶首。」 莊宗曰：「爾既懷舊君之愛，可復仇乎？ 吾當助爾。」 習等舉身投地，號慟感激，謝曰：「王必以故使輔翼之勞，雪其冤恥，臣不敢期師旅為助，但悉本軍可以誅其逆豎。」 莊宗即令閻寶、史建瑭助習討文禮，乃以習為成德軍兵馬留後。 及文禮誅，將正授節鉞，習不敢當其任，辭曰：「臣緣故使未葬，又無嗣息，臣合服斬縗，候臣禮制畢聽命。」 及莊宗兼領鎮州，乃割相、衛二州置義寧軍，以習為節度使。 習奏曰：「魏博六州，見係霸府，不宜遽有割隸。 但授臣河南一鎮，臣自攻取。」 乃授天平軍節度、東南面招討使。
Fu Xi came from Zhaoqing County in Zhao Prefecture. He entered the army young, served the Zhao military commissioner Wang Rong, and by steady merit rose to regimental commander. Once Zhuangzong began his campaigns in the Hebei north and allied with Wang Rong, he regularly ordered Fu Xi to lead Zhao troops on Zhuangzong's campaigns. When Wang Rong was murdered by Zhang Wenli, Fu Xi was at Desheng Stockade. Wenli wrote asking Xi and his officers to return to Zhao. Fu Xi wept before Zhuangzong and said, "I am a man of Zhao. For generations my house served the Wang family. The late lord once gave me a sword and charged me to crush the murderers. Since I heard what befell him I have lived only with outrage. I might cut my own throat, but that would do my dead lord's spirit no good. Zhang Wenli was a turncoat from You and Cang. The Prince of Zhao misjudged him, trusted him too far, and was destroyed for it. I am no great warrior, but I would rather die fighting in your service than submit to that murderer." Zhuangzong said, "If you still love your old master, will you take revenge? I will help you do it." Fu Xi and his officers prostrated themselves, wept in gratitude, and said, "If Your Majesty will honor our late lord's service and avenge his death, I do not ask for a great host—only let my own Zhao troops strike down the traitor." Zhuangzong at once ordered Yan Bao and Shi Jiantang to aid Fu Xi against Wenli and made Xi acting military governor of the Chengde army. After Wenli was killed, Zhuangzong was ready to grant Fu Xi the full commission, but Xi declined. "My late lord is still unburied and left no heir," he said. "I ought to wear the deepest mourning. When those rites are finished I will await your command." When Zhuangzong also took charge of Zhenzhou, he carved out Xiang and Wei to form the Yining command and made Fu Xi its military commissioner. Fu Xi memorialized, "The six prefectures of Weibo already belong to your hegemony and ought not be carved away so soon. Grant me only one command south of the Yellow River, and I will take it myself." He was then made military commissioner of Tianping and southeastern campaign commissioner.
6
習有器度，性忠壯，自莊宗十年沿河戰守，習常以本軍從，心無顧望，諸將服其為人。 同光初，以習為邢州節度。 明年，移鎮青州。 四年二月，趙在禮盜據魏州，習受詔以淄、青之師進討； 至則會軍亂，習乃退軍渡河。 明宗自鄴赴洛，遣使召之，習不時而至。 既至，謁明宗於胙縣。 霍彥威謂習曰：「主上所知者十人，公在其四，何猶豫乎！」 習乃從明宗入汴。 明宗即位，加兼侍中，令歸本鎮。 屬青州守將王公儼拒命，復授天平軍節度使。 〈（《宋史·顏衎傳》：天成初，為鄒平令。 符習初鎮天平，習武臣之廉慎者，以書告屬邑，毋聚斂為獻賀。 衎未領書，以故規行之，尋為吏所訟，習遽召衎笞之，幕客軍吏，咸以為辱及正人，習甚悔焉，即表為觀察判官，且塞前事。）〉 四年，移汴州節度使。 安重誨素不悅習，會汴人言習厚賦民錢，以代納槁，及納軍租，多收加耗，由是罷歸京師。 〈（《通鑒》：習自恃宿將，議論多抗安重誨，故重誨求其過，奏之。）〉 授太子太師致仕，求歸故裏，許之，乃歸昭慶縣。 明宗以其子令謙為趙州刺史。 習飛揚痛飲，周遊田里，不集朋徒，不過郡邑，如此累年，中風而卒。 贈太師。
Fu Xi was broad-minded and steadfast. For ten years along the Yellow River he marched with Zhuangzong at the head of his Zhao troops, never wavering, and the other commanders respected him for it. At the opening of the Tongguang era he was made military commissioner of Xingzhou. The following year he was transferred to Qingzhou. In the second month of the fourth year Zhao Zaili seized Weizhou by force. Fu Xi was ordered to march from Zi and Qing to suppress him; but when he arrived the allied camp was already in revolt, and he drew his army back across the river. Mingzong marched from Ye to Luoyang and sent for him, but Fu Xi did not come at once. When he did arrive he presented himself to Mingzong at Zuo County. Huo Yanwei told him, "Of the ten men our lord trusts most, you are four of them—why still hesitate?" Fu Xi then followed Mingzong into Bian. When Mingzong took the throne Fu Xi was made concurrent Palace Attendant and ordered back to his command. When the Qingzhou garrison commander Wang Gongyan defied orders, Fu Xi was again made military commissioner of Tianping. (According to the 《History of Song · Biography of Yan Yan》: At the beginning of the Tiancheng era he was magistrate of Zouping. When Fu Xi first took command of Tianping—he was known among military men for integrity—he wrote the subordinate counties forbidding them to levy extra taxes as congratulatory gifts. Yan had not yet received the letter and followed the old custom. Clerks soon brought suit against him. Fu Xi had Yan summoned and flogged. His staff and officers all felt an upright man had been disgraced. Fu Xi deeply regretted it, memorialized to make Yan an administrative aide on his staff, and hushed the affair.)〉 In the fourth year he was transferred to military commissioner of Bianzhou. An Chonghui had long disliked Fu Xi. When men of Bian reported that he had levied heavy taxes to pay forage on the people's behalf and collected inflated military rents, he was removed and recalled to the capital. (According to the 《Comprehensive Mirror》: Fu Xi, trusting in his standing as a veteran commander, often contradicted An Chonghui in council, so Chonghui hunted out his faults and memorialized against him.)〉 He was granted retirement as Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, asked to return home, was permitted, and went back to Zhaoqing County. Mingzong appointed his son Lingqian prefect of Zhao. Fu Xi drank hard, wandered the countryside, kept no circle of followers, and avoided the county towns. After years of this he died of a stroke. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Preceptor.
7
子蒙嗣，位至禮部侍郎。
His son Meng succeeded him and rose to Vice Minister of Rites.
8
烏震，冀州信都人也。 少孤，自勤於鄉校。 弱冠從軍，初為鎮州隊長，以功漸升部將，與符習從征於河上，頗得士心。 聞張文禮弑王鎔，誌復主讎，雪泣請行。 兵及恒陽，文禮執其母妻洎兒女十口誘之，不回，攻城日急。 文禮忿之，鹹割鼻斷腕，不絕於膚，放至軍門，觀者皆不忍正視。 震一慟而止，憤激奮命，身先矢石。 鎮州平，以功授震深、趙二州刺史。 其性純質，以清直禦下，在河北獨有政聲，移易州刺史，兼北面水陸轉運、招撫等使。 契丹犯塞，漁陽路梗，震率師運糧，三入薊門，擢為河北道副招討，遙領宣州節度使，代房知溫軍於盧台。 及至軍，會戍兵龍至所部鄴都奉節等軍數千人作亂，未及交印而遇害。 明宗聞之，廢朝一日，詔贈太傅。 震略涉書史，尤嗜《左氏傳》，好為詩，善筆劄，凡郵亭佛寺，多有留題之跡。 及其遇禍，燕、趙之士皆歎惜之。
Wu Zhen came from Xindu in Ji Prefecture. Orphaned young, he threw himself into study at the district school. At twenty he entered the army as a squad leader in Zhenzhou, rose by merit to section commander, marched with Fu Xi on the Yellow River campaigns, and won strong loyalty from his men. When he heard that Zhang Wenli had murdered Wang Rong, he vowed to avenge his lord, wept aloud, and begged to march. When the army reached Hengyang, Wenli seized his mother, wife, and ten children to lure him back, but he would not turn aside, and the siege pressed harder day by day. Wenli in his rage had them mutilated, noses cut and wrists severed, wound upon wound, then sent them to the camp gate. The onlookers could not bear to meet their eyes. Wu Zhen choked back a single sob and drove on, burning with rage he threw himself into the assault and led the charge under arrow and stone. When Zhenzhou fell, Wu Zhen was rewarded with the prefectures of Shen and Zhao. Plain and upright by nature, he governed his subordinates with integrity and alone in the Hebei north won a name for good rule. He was moved to Yizhou and made concurrent northern commissioner for water and land transport and pacification. When the Khitan raided the frontier and the road to Yuyang was cut, Wu Zhen led grain convoys through Jimen three times. He was promoted to deputy Hebei campaign commissioner, given titular command of Xuanzhou, and sent to replace Fang Zhiwen at Lutai. When he reached camp, several thousand garrison troops of the Yedu Fengjie army under Long Zhi mutinied. He was killed before he could even take command. Mingzong suspended court for a day on hearing the news and posthumously enfeoffed him as Grand Tutor. Wu Zhen had some learning in history, loved the Zuo Commentary above all, wrote poetry, and penned fine letters. Post stations and temples all over the north still bore his inscriptions. When he was killed, men of worth in Yan and Zhao mourned him.
9
王瓚，故河中節度使重盈之諸子也。 天復初，梁祖既平河中，追念王氏舊恩，辟瓚為賓佐。 梁祖即位，曆諸衛大將軍、兗華兩鎮節度使、開封尹。 貞明五年，代賀瑰統軍駐於河上。 時李存審築壘於德勝渡。 秋八月，瓚率汴軍五萬，自黎陽渡河，將掩擊魏州，明宗出師拒之。 瓚至頓丘而旋，於楊村夾河築壘，架浮航，自滑饋運相繼。 瓚嚴於軍法，令行禁止，然機略應變，則非所長。 十一月，瓚率其眾觀兵於戚城，明宗以前鋒擊之，獲其將李立。 十二月，邏騎報汴之饋糧千計，沿河而下，可掩而取之。 莊宗遣徒兵五千，設伏以待之，使騎軍循河南岸西上，俘獲饋役數千。 瓚結陣河曲，以待王師，既而兵合，一戰敗之。 瓚眾走保南城，瓚以小舟北渡僅免。 是日，獲馬千餘匹，俘斬萬級，王師乘勝徇地曹、濮。 梁主以瓚失律，令戴思遠代還。
Wang Zan was a son of the former Hedong military commissioner Wang Chongying. Early in the Tianfu era, after the Liang Founder pacified Hedong, he recalled the Wang family's old kindness and took Wang Zan into his staff. After the Founder took the throne, Wang Zan rose through the guard commands to military commissioner of Yan and Hua and mayor of Kaifeng. In the fifth year of Zhenming he replaced He Gui as commander of the army on the Yellow River. Li Cunshen was then building fortifications at Desheng Ford. In the eighth month Wang Zan led fifty thousand Bian troops across from Liyang, intending to strike Wei Prefecture by surprise. Mingzong marched out to meet him. Wang Zan turned back at Dunqiu, built paired camps at Yangcun on the river, threw pontoon bridges across, and fed his army by continuous convoys from Hua. Wang Zan enforced military law with iron discipline, but strategy and improvisation were not his gifts. In the eleventh month Wang Zan paraded his army at Qi City. Mingzong's vanguard struck and captured his general Li Li. In the twelfth month scouts reported thousands of Bian grain barges moving downriver, ripe for ambush. Zhuangzong sent five thousand foot soldiers to lie in wait and cavalry up the south bank, seizing several thousand supply men. Wang Zan drew up his line at a bend of the river to await the Tang army. When the forces met, a single battle broke him. His army fled into the southern citadel while Wang Zan himself escaped north in a small boat by a hair's breadth. That day they took more than a thousand horses and killed or captured ten thousand men. The Tang army swept on through Cao and Pu. The Liang emperor removed Wang Zan for the defeat and sent Dai Siyuan to replace him.
10
及王師襲汴，時瓚為開封府尹。 梁主聞王師將至，自登建國門樓，日夜垂泣，時持國寶謂瓚曰：「吾終保有此者，係卿耳。」 令瓚閱市人散徒，登城為備。 洎明宗至封丘門，瓚開門迎降。 翌日，莊宗禦元德殿，瓚與百官待罪及進幣馬，詔釋之，仍令收梁主屍，備槥櫝權厝於佛寺，漆首函送於郊社。 居數日，段凝上疏奏：「梁朝掌事權者趙岩等，並助成虐政，結怨於人，聖政惟新，宜誅首惡，以謝天下。」 於是張漢傑、張漢融、張漢倫、張希逸、趙縠、朱珪等並族誅，家財籍沒。 瓚聞諸族當法，憂悸失次，每出則與妻子訣別。 郭崇韜遣人慰譬之，詔授宣武軍節度副使，知府事，檢校太傅如故。 〈（《歐陽史》云：瓚伏地請死，莊宗勞而起之曰：「朕與卿家世婚姻，然人臣各為主耳，復何罪邪！」 因以為開封尹，遷宣武軍節度使。）〉 瓚心憂疑成疾，十二月卒。 贈太子太師。
When the Tang army struck at Bian, Wang Zan was mayor of Kaifeng. Hearing the Tang army was near, the Liang emperor climbed the Jianguo Gate tower and wept day and night. Clutching the imperial regalia he told Wang Zan, "Whether I keep these treasures at last depends on you alone." He ordered Wang Zan to disperse the townspeople, man the walls, and prepare the defense. When Mingzong reached the Fengqiu Gate, Wang Zan opened the gates and surrendered. The next day Zhuangzong held court at the Yuande Hall. Wang Zan and the officials awaited judgment and presented tribute. Zhuangzong pardoned them, ordered the Liang emperor's body collected, placed the coffin provisionally in a temple, and sent the lacquered head in a case to the suburban altars. Days later Duan Ning memorialized, "Zhao Yan and the other men who wielded power in the Liang court helped build a cruel regime and earned the hatred of the realm. Your new rule should cut down the chief culprits to satisfy the world." Zhang Hanjie, Zhang Hanrong, Zhang Hanlun, Zhang Xiyi, Zhao Gu, Zhu Gui, and their kin were executed to the last house, and their estates were confiscated. Hearing that whole clans were to be punished, Wang Zan was sick with fear and bade his wife and children farewell each time he left the house. Guo Chongtao sent envoys to reassure him. An edict made him deputy military commissioner of Xuanwu, in charge of the prefecture, with his acting rank of Grand Mentor unchanged. (According to Ouyang Xiu's history: Wang Zan prostrated himself and begged for death. Zhuangzong raised him and said, "Our houses have been joined by marriage for generations. A minister serves his own lord. What crime is that?" ) He then made him mayor of Kaifeng and later military commissioner of Xuanwu.)〉 Anxiety and dread brought on illness, and he died in the twelfth month. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent.
11
瓚雖為治嚴肅，而慘酷有家世風。 自曆守蕃鎮，頗能除盜，而明不能照下。 及尹正京邑，委政於愛婿牙將辛廷蔚，曲法納賄，因緣為奸。 初，汴人駐軍於河上，軍計不足，瓚請率汴之富戶，出助軍錢，賦取不均，人靡控訴，至有雉經者，又有富室致賂幸而免率者。 及明宗即位，素知廷蔚之奸，乃勒歸田里。 然瓚能優禮搢紳，抑挫豪猾，故當時士流皆稱仰焉。
Though Wang Zan governed with stern discipline, cruelty ran in his family line. In frontier commands he was effective against bandits, but he could not see clearly what his subordinates were doing. As mayor of the capital he handed affairs to his son-in-law and guard officer Xin Tingwei, who bent the law for bribes and used his post for every kind of fraud. Earlier, when Bian troops were stationed on the river and funds ran short, Wang Zan levied the wealthy households of Bian for war money. The assessments were unfair, appeals went nowhere, some men hanged themselves, and rich families bought exemption with bribes. When Mingzong took the throne he already knew Xin Tingwei's corruption and sent him back to the countryside. Yet Wang Zan honored the gentry and checked the bullying powerful, so men of standing in his day still spoke well of him.
12
象先即梁祖之甥也。 性寬厚，不忤於物，幼遇亂，慨然有憂時之意。 象先嘗射一水鳥，不中，箭落水中，下貫雙鯉，見者異之。 梁祖鎮夷門，象先起家授銀青光祿大夫、檢校太子賓客、兼御史中丞。 景福元年，自檢校左省常侍，遷檢校工部尚書，充元從馬軍指揮使兼左靜邊都指揮使。 乾寧五年，再遷檢校右僕射、左領軍衛將軍同正，充宣武軍內外馬步軍都指揮使。 光化二年，權知宿州軍州事。 天復元年，表授刺史，充本州團練、埇橋鎮遏都知兵馬使。 會淮寇大至，圍迫州城，象先雘力禦備，時援兵未至，頗懷憂沮。 一日，登北城，憩其樓堞之上，怳然若寢，夢人告曰：「我陳璠也，嘗板築是城，舊第猶在，今為軍舍，可為我立廟，即助公陰兵。」 象先納之。 翌日，淮寇急攻其壘，梯衝角進，是日州城幾陷。 頃之，有大風雨，居民望見城上兵甲無算，寇不能進，即時退去。 象先方信鬼神之助，乃為之立祠，至今里人禱祝不輟。 三年，權知洺州軍州事。 天祐三年，授陳州刺史、檢校司空。 是歲，陳州大水，民饑，有物生於野，形類蒲萄，其實可食，貧民賴焉。 梁開平二年，授左英武軍使，再遷左神武、右羽林統軍。 三年，轉右衛上將軍，封汝南縣男。 四年，權知宋州留後，到任五月，改天平軍兩使留後。 時鄆境再饑，戶民流散，象先即開倉賑恤，蒙賴者甚眾。 五年，梁祖北征，以象先為鎮定東南行營都招討應接副使，進封開國伯。 領兵攻蓚縣，不克而還。 俄奉詔自鄆赴闕，鄆人遮留，毀石橋而不得進，乃自他門而逸。 尋授左龍武統軍兼侍衛親軍都指揮使。 乾化三年，與魏博節度使楊師厚合謀，誅朱友珪於洛陽。 梁末帝即位，以功授檢校太保、同平章事，遙領洪州節度使、行開封尹、判在京馬步諸軍，進封開國公。 四年，授青州節度使，加檢校太傅。 未幾，移鎮宋州，加檢校太尉。 象先在宋凡十年。
Yuan Xiangxian was the Liang Founder's nephew by marriage. He was generous by nature and easy with the world. He grew up amid chaos and early felt a patriot's sorrow for the times. Once Yuan Xiangxian shot at a water bird and missed. The arrow fell into the river and pierced two carp beneath the surface. Onlookers took it as an omen. When the Founder held Yimen, Yuan Xiangxian entered service as Silver-Gleam Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, acting Guest of the Heir Apparent, and concurrent Censor-in-Chief. In the first year of Jingfu he rose from acting Regular Attendant of the Left Secretariat to acting Minister of Works, commander of the Founder's personal horse guard, and concurrent commander of the Left Quiet-the-Border army. In the fifth year of Qianning he was made acting Right Vice Director, full-rank commander of the Left Army of Inspired Leadership, and overall commander of the Xuanwu army's horse and foot forces. In the second year of Guanghua he was made acting administrator of Suzhou. In the first year of Tianfu he was appointed prefect by memorial, regimental trainer of the prefecture, and overall military commander of the Yongqiao garrison. When Huai rebels came in force and pressed the city, Yuan Xiangxian strained every nerve to defend it. Relief had not arrived, and his spirits sank. One day on the north wall he rested on the parapet and fell into a trance. A figure in a dream said, "I am Chen Fan. I helped build this wall. My old house still stands, now a barracks. Build me a shrine and I will send you hidden troops." Yuan Xiangxian agreed. The next day the Huai rebels stormed the ramparts with ladders and rams, and the city nearly fell that day. Then a great storm broke. Townsfolk saw countless armed men on the walls. The rebels could not advance and withdrew at once. Yuan Xiangxian then believed the spirits had helped him, built Chen Fan a shrine, and local people pray there to this day. In the third year he was made acting administrator of Mingzhou. In the third year of Tianyou he was made prefect of Chen and acting Minister of Works. That year a great flood struck Chen and the people starved. A wild plant like a grapevine grew in the fields; its fruit was edible, and the poor lived on it. In the second year of Liang Kaiping he was made commander of the Left Army of Heroic Martiality, then commander of the Left Army of Divine Martiality and the Right Forest of Feathers. In the third year he was made Senior General of the Right Guard and enfeoffed as Baron of Runan. In the fourth year he was acting military governor of Song. Five months later he was transferred to acting military governor of Tianping. Famine again ravaged Yan, and the people fled. Yuan Xiangxian opened the granaries at once, and multitudes were saved. In the fifth year, on the Founder's northern campaign, Yuan Xiangxian was made deputy liaison commissioner of the southeastern stabilization headquarters and promoted to Founding Baron. He led troops against Zhuo County, failed to take it, and withdrew. Soon he was ordered from Yan to court. The people of Yan blocked him, destroyed the stone bridge, and he escaped through another gate. He was soon made commander of the Left Dragon Martial army and overall commander of the palace guard. In the third year of Qianhua he conspired with the Weibo military commissioner Yang Shihou and killed Zhu Yougui at Luoyang. When the Last Emperor of Liang took the throne, Yuan Xiangxian was rewarded with acting Grand Guardian, Grand Councilor, titular command of Hongzhou, acting mayor of Kaifeng, and command of the capital armies, and was advanced to Founding Duke. In the fourth year he was made military commissioner of Qing with the acting rank of Grand Mentor. Before long he was transferred to Song and advanced to acting Grand Mentor of State. Yuan Xiangxian spent ten years at Song in all.
13
初，梁祖領四鎮，統兵十萬，威震天下，關東藩守，皆其將吏，方面補授，由其保薦，四方輿金輦璧，駿奔結轍，納賂於其庭。 如是者十餘年，寢成風俗，藩侯牧守，下逮群吏，罕有廉白者，率皆掊斂剝下，以事權門。 象先恃甥舅之勢，所至藩府，侵刻誅求尤甚，以此家財巨萬。 莊宗初定河南，象先率先入覲，輦珍幣數十萬，遍賂權貴及劉皇后、伶官巷伯，居旬日，內外翕然稱之。
Early on the Founder held four commands and a hundred thousand men, and his might shook the realm. The governors east of the Pass were his officers; regional appointments rode on his recommendation. Gold and jade poured in from every quarter, and gifts crowded his gate. For more than ten years this became custom. From governors down to clerks, few were clean. Nearly all squeezed their subjects to feed the powerful at court. Yuan Xiangxian traded on his kinship with the Founder. In every command he squeezed harder than most, and his household wealth swelled into the millions. When Zhuangzong first secured the south, Yuan Xiangxian was first to court, bringing tribute worth hundreds of thousands. He bribed every powerful man, Empress Liu, the actor-officials, and the palace brokers. Within ten days the court was praising him on every side.
14
初，梁將未復官資者，凡上章奏姓名而已。 郭崇韜奏曰：「河南征鎮將吏，昭洗之後，未有新官，每上表章，但書名姓，未頒綸製，必負憂疑。」 即日，復以象先為宋、亳、耀、輝、潁節度使，依前檢校太尉、平章事，仍賜姓，名紹安，尋令歸鎮。 明年，以郊禮，象先復來朝。 是時，製改宋州宣武軍為歸德軍，因侍宴，莊宗謂象先曰：「歸德之名，無乃著題否？」 象先拜謝而退，即命歸鎮。 其年夏，以疾卒於理所，年六十一。 冊贈太師，周廣順中，贈中書令，追封楚國公。
At first, Liang officers who had not yet received new appointments submitted memorials bearing only their names. Guo Chongtao memorialized, "The officers of the southern commands, after the purge, still hold no new posts. They submit memorials with only their names, and without fresh appointments from the throne they live in anxiety." That same day Yuan Xiangxian was restored as military commissioner of Song, Bo, Yao, Hui, and Ying, with his former ranks of acting Grand Mentor of State and Grand Councilor, granted the imperial surname and the name Shao'an, and soon sent back to his command. The next year he came to court again for the suburban sacrifice. Song's Xuanwu command had been renamed Guide-to-Virtue. At a feast Zhuangzong said to him, "Guide-to-Virtue as a name—is it not a little too pointed?" Yuan Xiangxian bowed and withdrew, and was ordered back to his command at once. That summer he died of illness at his headquarters, aged sixty-one. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Preceptor. Under Later Zhou in the Guangshun era he was posthumously made Director of the Secretariat and created Duke of Chu.
15
象先二子，長曰正辭，曆衢、雄二州刺史。 次曰{山義}，至周顯德中，終於滄州節度使。
Yuan Xiangxian had two sons. The elder, Zhengci, served as prefect of Qu and Xiong. The younger, Yan, ended his career under Zhou in the Xiande era as military commissioner of Cangzhou.
16
張溫，字德潤，魏州魏縣人也。 始仕梁祖為步直小將，改崇明都校。 貞明初，蔣殷以徐州叛，從劉鄩討平之，改左右捉生都指揮使。 莊宗伐邢台，獲之，用為永清都校，曆武州刺史、山後八軍都將。 從莊宗襲契丹於幽州，收新州，曆銀槍效義都指揮使，再任武州刺史。 同光初，契丹陷媯、儒、檀、順、平、薊六州，武州獨全，改授蔚州刺史。 天成初，曆振武、昭武留後，尋授利州節度使，入為右衛上將軍。 無幾，授洋州節度使、右龍武統軍，改雲州節制。 清泰初，屯兵雁門，逐契丹出塞，移鎮晉州，嬰疾而卒。 詔贈太尉。
Zhang Wen, whose style name was Derun, came from Wei County in Wei Prefecture. He first entered the Liang Founder's service as a junior foot-guard officer, then became commander of the Chongming command. Early in Zhenming, when Jiang Yin rebelled at Xuzhou, Zhang Wen followed Liu Kun to crush the revolt and was made overall commander of the left and right captive-taking commands. When Zhuangzong attacked Xingzhou he was captured, made commander of the Yongqing command, and served as prefect of Wu and overall commander of the eight armies behind the mountains. He followed Zhuangzong's raid on the Khitan at Youzhou, recovered Xinzhou, commanded the Silver Spear Loyalty army, and again held Wu Prefecture. At the opening of Tongguang the Khitan took Gui, Ru, Tan, Shun, Ping, and Ji. Wu alone stood intact, and Zhang Wen was transferred to Yuzhou. Early in Tiancheng he was acting governor of Zhenwu and Zhaowu, then military commissioner of Lizhou, and entered court as Senior General of the Right Guard. Before long he was made military commissioner of Yang and commander of the Right Dragon Martial army, then controller of Yunzhou. Early in Qingtai he camped at Yanmen, drove the Khitan beyond the frontier, was transferred to Jinzhou, fell ill, and died. An edict posthumously enfeoffed him as Grand Mentor of State.
17
李紹文，鄆州人，本姓張，名從楚。 少事朱瑄為帳下，瑄敗，歸於梁祖，為四鎮牙校，累典諸軍。 天祐八年，從王景仁戰，敗於柏鄉，紹文與別將曹儒收殘眾，退保相州。 王師之攻魏州也，紹文率眾自黎陽將渡河。 時汴人大恐，河無舟楫，紹文懼為王師所逼，乃剽黎陽、臨河、內黃至魏州，歸於莊宗。 莊宗嘉納之，賜姓名，分其兩將三千人為左右匡霸軍旅，仍令紹文、曹儒分將之。 從周德威討劉守光，進檢校司空，移將匡衛軍。 十二年，授博州刺史，預破劉鄩於故元城，曆貝、隰、代三郡刺史，領天雄軍馬步副都將，屯於德勝。 從閻寶討張文禮，為馬步軍都虞候。 明宗收鄆州，以紹文為右都押衙、馬步軍都將，從破王彥章於中都。 同光中，曆徐、滑二鎮副使，知府事。 三年，從郭崇韜討西川，為洋州節度留後，領鎮江軍節度。 天成初，為武信軍節度使，尋卒於鎮。
Li Shaowen came from Yan Prefecture. His original surname was Zhang and his given name Congchu. In youth he served Zhu Xuan on his staff. When Xuan fell he entered the Liang Founder's service as an officer of the four commands and rose through repeated army commands. In the eighth year of Tianyou he fought under Wang Jingren and was defeated at Bai Township. Li Shaowen and the officer Cao Ru gathered the survivors and fell back to Xiangzhou. When the Tang army besieged Weizhou, Li Shaowen led his troops from Liyang to cross the river. The Bian army was in panic and the river had no boats. Fearing the Tang advance, Li Shaowen plundered his way from Liyang through Linhe and Neihuang to Weizhou and surrendered to Zhuangzong. Zhuangzong welcomed him, granted him the imperial surname and name Li, and formed his three thousand men and two officers into the Left and Right Support-the-Hegemon brigades under Shaowen and Cao Ru. He followed Zhou Dewei against Liu Shouguang, was promoted to acting Minister of Works, and was given command of the Support-the-Guard army. In the twelfth year he was made prefect of Bo, helped defeat Liu Kun at the old Yuan City, served as prefect of Bei, Xi, and Dai, became deputy overall commander of the Tianxiong army, and encamped at Desheng. He followed Yan Bao against Zhang Wenli and was made overall adjutant of the horse and foot forces. When Mingzong took Yanzhou, Li Shaowen was made right chief capital guard officer and overall commander of the horse and foot forces, and helped break Wang Yanzhang at Zhongdu. During Tongguang he served as deputy commissioner of Xu and Hua and managed their civil affairs. In the third year he followed Guo Chongtao into western Shu, was made acting military commissioner of Yang, and held titular command of the Zhenjiang army. Early in Tiancheng he was made military commissioner of Wuxin and soon died in office.
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史臣曰：昔丁會之事梁祖也，功既隆矣，禍將及矣，挺身北首，故亦宜然。 然食人之祿，豈合如是哉！ 閻寶再降於人，夫何足貴焉。 符習雪故主之沉冤，享通侯之貴位，乃趙之奇士也。 烏震不憫其親，仁斯鮮矣，雖慕樂羊之跡，豈事文侯之宜。 瓚洎象先而下，皆降將也，又何足以譏焉！
The historiographer writes: When Ding Hui served the Liang Founder, his merit had grown great and ruin was closing in. He turned north to save himself, and that much is understandable. Yet he had eaten his lord's bread. How could such conduct be right?! Yan Bao surrendered twice. What is there to admire in that? Fu Xi avenged his murdered lord and rose to a marquis's rank. He was a rare man of Zhao. Wu Zhen showed no pity for his kin when they were tortured, and humanity was thin in him. He may have wished to follow Yue Yang's ruthless example, but that is no model for a worthy minister. Wang Zan, Yuan Xiangxian, and the rest were all men who had surrendered. What point is there in dwelling on their faults?!