1
霍彥威，字子重，洺州曲周人也。 梁將霍存得之於村落間，年十四，從征討。 存憐其爽邁，養為己子。 存，梁史有傳。 彥威未弱冠，為梁祖所知，擢在左右，漸升戎秩，亟立戰功。 嘗中流矢，眇其一目。 開平二年，自開封府押衙、右親從指揮使、檢校司空授右龍驤軍使。 三年，自右監門衛將軍授左天武軍使，遷右監門上將軍。 乾化三年，與袁象先同誅朱友珪，梁末帝授洺州刺史，轉河陽留後。 乾化末，邠州留後李保衡背李茂貞以城歸梁，梁以彥威為邠州節度使。 其年五月，茂貞遣將劉知俊率大軍攻之，彥威固守逾年，竟不能下； 或得其俘，悉令放之，秦人懷其惠，遂無侵擾。 轉滑州節度使。 移鎮鄆州，兼北面行營招討，總大軍於河上。 師徒屢敗，降授陝州留後。 莊宗入汴，彥威自陝馳至請罪，詔釋之。 一日，莊宗於崇元殿宴諸將，彥威與段凝、袁象先等預會。 酒酣，莊宗舉酒屬明宗曰：「此席宴客，皆吾前歲之勁敵也，一旦與吾同宴，蓋卿前鋒之效也。」 彥威等伏陛謝罪，莊宗曰：「與卿話舊，無足畏也。」 因賜禦衣、器幣，盡歡而罷。 尋放歸藩。
Huo Yanwei, courtesy name Zizhong, came from Quzhou in Ming Prefecture. The Liang general Huo Cun found him in the countryside when he was fourteen, and the boy followed him on campaign. Cun took a liking to his spirited bearing and adopted him as his son. Cun has a biography in the history of Liang. Before Yanwei came of age, the Liang Founder noticed him and kept him at his side; he rose steadily through the ranks and won distinction again and again in battle. He was once hit by a stray arrow and lost the use of one eye. In the second year of Kaiping he was made commander of the Right Dragon-Tiger Army, having served as Kaifeng escort officer, commander of the right close attendants, and acting Minister of Works. The next year he moved from Right Gate Guard general to commander of the Left Heavenly Martial Army, then was promoted to senior general of the Right Gate Guard. In the third year of Qianhua he joined Yuan Xiangxian in killing Zhu Yougui; the Last Liang Emperor made him prefect of Ming, then regent of Heyang. Late in Qianhua, Li Baoheng, regent of Bin, broke with Li Maozhen and surrendered the city to Liang, which appointed Yanwei military governor of Bin. That May, Maozhen sent General Liu Zhijun with a large army to attack, but Yanwei held out for more than a year and the city could not be taken; Whenever he took prisoners he set them all free; the people of Qin were grateful for his kindness, and raids ceased. He was transferred to military governor of Hua. He was reassigned to Yan and made northern campaign pacification commissioner, taking overall command of the army on the Yellow River. After repeated defeats he was demoted to regent of Shan. When Emperor Zhuangzong entered Bian, Yanwei rode in from Shan to surrender and beg pardon, and an edict absolved him. One day Emperor Zhuangzong entertained his generals in the Chongyuan Hall; Yanwei was there with Duan Ning, Yuan Xiangxian, and others. As the wine flowed, Emperor Zhuangzong raised his cup to Emperor Mingzong and said, "Every guest at this table was a formidable enemy of mine only a year ago. That they now sit and feast with me is surely thanks to your work on the front lines." Yanwei and the others prostrated themselves on the steps to beg forgiveness. Emperor Zhuangzong said, "We are only talking over old times; there is nothing to fear." He then gave them imperial robes and gifts, and they drank until all were satisfied before the feast broke up. Before long he was permitted to return to his post.
2
明年，從明宗平潞州，授徐州節度使。 契丹犯塞，莊宗以明宗為北面招討使，命彥威為副。 彥威善言論，頗能接奉，明宗尤重之。 趙太叛於邢州，奉詔討平之。 時趙在禮據魏州，與明宗會兵於鄴下，大軍夕亂，明宗為其所逼，彥威從入魏州。 皇甫暉等尤忌彥威，欲殺之，彥威機辯開說，竟免。 及出，彥威部下兵士獨全，衛護明宗至魏縣。 時明宗欲北趨常山，彥威與安重誨懇請赴闕。 從至洛陽，彥威首率卿相勸進於至德宮。 旬日之間，內外機事，皆決於彥威。 擅收段凝、溫韜下獄，將置於法。 安重誨曰：「溫、段罪惡，負於梁室，眾所知矣。 今主上克平內艱，冀安萬國，豈為公報仇耶！」 至天成初，除鄆州節度使。 值青州王公儼拒命，改平盧軍節度，至鎮，擒公儼，斬之。 明年冬，賜覲於汴州，明宗接遇甚厚，累官至檢校太尉、兼中書令。 三年冬，卒於理所，年五十七。 奏至之日，明宗方出近郊。 忽聞奏訃，掩泣歸宮，輟朝三日，至月終不舉樂。 〈（《五代會要》：天成四年六月敕：「故平盧軍節度使霍彥威，勳名顯著，宅兆已營，度遵定諡之規，俾議送終之制，宜以三公禮葬。」）〉 冊贈太師、晉國公，諡曰忠武。 子承訓，弟彥珂，累曆刺史。 皇朝乾德中，立明宗廟於洛州，詔以彥威配饗廟庭。
The following year he followed Emperor Mingzong in pacifying Luzhou and was made military governor of Xu. When the Khitan raided the border, Emperor Zhuangzong appointed Emperor Mingzong northern pacification commissioner and made Yanwei his deputy. Yanwei was an engaging speaker and knew how to win people over; Emperor Mingzong held him in particular esteem. When Zhao Tai rebelled at Xing, he received orders to put down the revolt. Zhao Zaili then held Wei; he and Emperor Mingzong joined forces below Ye, but at nightfall the army mutinied and forced Emperor Mingzong in, with Yanwei following him into the city. Huangfu Hui and his men especially hated Yanwei and wanted him dead, but Yanwei talked his way out of it with quick wit and was spared. When they left the city, Yanwei alone kept his troops intact and escorted Emperor Mingzong to Wei County. Emperor Mingzong then wanted to flee north toward Changshan, but Yanwei and An Chonghui urgently persuaded him to go to the capital instead. He followed to Luoyang, where Yanwei was first among the ministers to urge his accession at the Zhide Palace. Within ten days every matter of state, at home and abroad, was decided by Yanwei. He took it upon himself to arrest Duan Ning and Wen Tao and throw them in prison, intending to have them executed. An Chonghui said, "Wen and Duan are guilty men who betrayed the house of Liang, as everyone knows. Our lord has just overcome internal crisis and hopes to bring peace to the realm. Surely he is not settling your private score!" At the start of Tiancheng he was made military governor of Yan. When Wang Gongyan of Qing defied orders, he was reassigned as military governor of Pinglu; on reaching his post he captured Gongyan and executed him. The following winter he was granted an audience at Bian, where Emperor Mingzong received him with great warmth; he rose to acting Grand Preceptor and concurrent Director of the Secretariat. In the third winter he died at his headquarters, at the age of fifty-seven. When the memorial arrived, Emperor Mingzong was away on an outing in the suburbs. On hearing the news of his death he wept and returned to the palace, suspended court for three days, and forbade music for the rest of the month. (Institutional History of the Five Dynasties: An edict of the sixth month of the fourth year of Tiancheng: "The late military governor of Pinglu, Huo Yanwei, whose merit and fame were outstanding, already has his tomb prepared. In keeping with the regulations for fixing posthumous titles, let the rites for his funeral be determined; he should be buried with the honors due a Three Dukes.")〉 He was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Preceptor and Duke of Jin, with the posthumous title Loyal and Martial. His son Chengxun and his younger brother Yanke both served terms as prefect. In the Qiande era of our dynasty, when Emperor Mingzong's temple was established at Luo, an edict made Yanwei a co-honoree in the temple rites.
3
王晏球，字瑩之，自言洛都人。 少遇亂，為蔡賊所掠，汴人杜氏畜之為子，因冒姓杜氏。 晏球少沉勇有斷，倜儻不群。 梁祖之鎮汴也，選富家子有材力者，置之帳下，號曰「廳子都」。 〈（《清異錄》：宣武廳子都，尤勇悍，其弩張一大機，則十二小機皆發，用連珠大箭，無遠不及，晉人極畏此。）〉 晏球預選，從梁祖征伐，所至立功，累遷廳子都指揮使。 梁開平三年，自開封府押衙充直左耀武指揮使，授右千牛衛將軍，軍職如故。 朱友珪之篡位也，懷州龍驤守禦軍作亂，欲入京城。 已至河陽，友珪命晏球出騎迎戰擊亂軍，獲軍使劉重遇，以功轉左龍驤第一指揮使。 梁末帝嗣位，以晏球為龍驤四軍都指揮使。
Wang Yanqiu, courtesy name Yingzhi, claimed Luoyang as his home. As a boy he was caught up in the chaos and seized by Cai bandits; a Bian man surnamed Du adopted him, and he took the Du surname. As a youth Yanqiu was steady, brave, and decisive, with a bold and unconventional bearing. When the Liang Founder held Bian, he picked strong and capable sons of wealthy families for his personal retinue and called them the "Hall Sons Corps." (Records of Unusual Distinctions: The Xuanwu Hall Sons Corps were especially fierce. When their crossbow drew one main mechanism, twelve smaller ones fired together, shooting great linked-bead arrows that struck at any range; the men of Jin feared them above all.)〉 Yanqiu was selected for the corps and followed the Liang Founder on campaign, winning distinction wherever he fought until he rose to command the Hall Sons Corps. In the third year of Liang Kaiping he was made acting commander of the Left Dazzling Martial Guard and Right Thousand-Ox Guard general, while retaining his army command. When Zhu Yougui seized the throne, the Dragon-Tiger garrison at Huai mutinied and tried to march on the capital. They had reached Heyang when Yougui sent Yanqiu out with cavalry to meet the rebels; he captured the mutiny leader Liu Chongyu and was promoted to first commander of the Left Dragon-Tiger Army. When the Last Liang Emperor took the throne, he made Yanqiu overall commander of the four Dragon-Tiger armies.
4
貞明二年四月十九日夜，汴州捉生都將李霸等作亂，縱火焚剽，攻建國門，梁末帝登樓拒戰。 晏球聞亂，先得龍驤馬五百屯於鞠場，俄而亂兵以竿豎麻布沃油焚建國縷，勢將危急。 晏球隔門窺亂兵，見無甲胄，即出騎擊之，奮力血戰，俄而群賊散走。 梁末帝見騎軍討賊，呼曰：「非吾龍驤之士乎？」 晏球奏曰：「亂者惟李霸一都，陛下但守宮城，遲明臣必破之。」 既而晏球盡戮亂軍，全營族誅，以功授單州刺史。 尋領軍於河上，為行營馬軍都指揮兼諸軍排陣使。
On the night of the nineteenth day of the fourth month of the second year of Zhenming, Li Ba and other commanders of the Bianzhou foraging corps mutinied, setting fires and looting as they attacked the Jianguo Gate; the Last Liang Emperor mounted the tower to fight them off. Hearing of the mutiny, Yanqiu first gathered five hundred Dragon-Tiger horses at the drill ground; soon the rebels raised poles draped with oil-soaked cloth to set the Jianguo gate tower ablaze, and the situation grew desperate. Yanqiu looked through the gate at the rebels, saw they wore no armor, and led his cavalry out to attack; after a fierce fight the rebels broke and fled. The Last Liang Emperor saw the cavalry fighting the rebels and called out, "Are those not my Dragon-Tiger men?" Yanqiu reported, "The rebels are only Li Ba's one corps. Your Majesty need only hold the palace; by dawn I will destroy them." Before long Yanqiu slaughtered the mutineers and executed their entire camp by clan punishment; for this he was made prefect of Shan. Soon he took command on the Yellow River as overall cavalry commander of the campaign headquarters and marshal of battle formations for all armies.
5
莊宗入汴，晏球率騎軍入援。 至封丘，聞梁末帝殂，即解甲降於莊宗。 明年，與霍彥威北捍契丹，授齊州防禦使、北面行營馬軍都指揮使，仍賜姓氏，名紹虔。 鄴之亂，明宗入赴內難，晏球時在瓦橋，遣人招之。 明宗至汴，晏球率騎從至京師，以平定功授宋州節度使，上章求還本姓名。 天成二年，授北面行營副招討，以兵戍滿城。 是歲，王都據定州， 〈（《通鑒》：遣人說北面副招討使王晏球，晏球不從，乃以金遺晏球帳下，使圖之，不克。 癸巳，晏球以都反狀聞。 壬寅，以王晏球為北面招討使，權知定州行州事。）〉 契丹遣禿餒率騎千餘來援都，突入定州，晏球引軍保曲陽。 王都、托諾出軍拒戰，晏球督厲軍士，令短兵擊賊，戒之曰：「回首者死。」 符彥卿以龍武左軍攻軍其左，高行周以龍武右軍攻其右，奮劍揮楇，應手首落，賊軍大敗於嘉山之下，追襲至於城門。 俄而契丹首領惕隱率勇騎五千至唐河。 是時大雨，晏球出師逆戰，惕隱復敗，追至易州，河水暴漲，所在陷沒，俘獲二千騎而還。 惕隱以餘眾北走幽州，趙德鈞令牙將武從諫以騎邀擊。 德鈞分扼諸要路，旬日之內，盡獲惕隱已下酋長七百餘人，契丹遂弱。 晏球圍城既久，帝遣使督攻城，晏球曰：「賊壘堅峻，但食三州租稅，撫恤黎民，愛養軍士彼自當魚潰。」 帝然其言。
When Emperor Zhuangzong entered Bian, Yanqiu led his cavalry in to reinforce the city. At Fengqiu he learned that the Last Liang Emperor was dead and at once laid down his arms and surrendered to Emperor Zhuangzong. The following year he joined Huo Yanwei in defending the north against the Khitan and was made defense commissioner of Qi and cavalry commander of the northern campaign; he was also granted the imperial surname and the name Shaoqian. During the Ye mutiny, Emperor Mingzong marched to answer the crisis; Yanqiu was at Waqiao and sent men to summon him. When Emperor Mingzong reached Bian, Yanqiu followed with his cavalry to the capital; for his role in the pacification he was made military governor of Song and petitioned to restore his original name. In the second year of Tiancheng he was made deputy northern pacification commissioner and garrisoned Mancheng. That year Wang Du held Ding, (Comprehensive Mirror: He sent men to win over the deputy northern pacification commissioner Wang Yanqiu, but Yanqiu refused; he then bribed men in Yanqiu's camp to plot against him, without success. On guisi day Yanqiu reported Du's rebellion to the throne. On renyin day Wang Yanqiu was made northern pacification commissioner and acting administrator of Ding.)〉 The Khitan sent Tunei with more than a thousand cavalry to aid Du; they broke into Ding, and Yanqiu withdrew his army to Quyang. Wang Du and Tuonuo marched out to fight; Yanqiu roused his men for close combat and warned them, "Turn back and you die." Fu Yanqing's Left Dragon Martial Army struck their left flank and Gao Xingzhou's Right Dragon Martial Army their right; swords and clubs flashed and heads fell at every stroke. The enemy was routed below Jia Mountain and pursued to the city gates. Soon the Khitan chieftain Tiyin arrived at Tang River with five thousand elite cavalry. Heavy rain was falling when Yanqiu marched out to meet him; Tiyin was defeated again and pursued to Yi, where flooding swallowed men and horses alike; Yanqiu returned with two thousand captives. Tiyin fled north toward You with the survivors; Zhao Dejun sent his officer Wu Congjian with cavalry to intercept him. Dejun blocked the key routes; within ten days he captured more than seven hundred Khitan chiefs down to Tiyin himself, and Khitan power was broken. After a long siege the emperor sent an envoy to urge an assault; Yanqiu said, "The rebel stronghold is formidable. If we simply live off the tax grain of three prefectures, treat the people well, and care for our soldiers, the enemy will collapse on their own." The emperor agreed.
6
晏珠能與將士同其甘苦，所得祿賜私財，盡以饗士，日具飲饌，與將校筵宴，待軍士有禮，軍中無不敬伏。 其年冬，平賊。 自初戰至於城拔，不戮一士，上下歡心，物議以為有將帥之略，以功授天平軍節度使。 未幾，移鎮青州，就加兼中書令。 長興三年，卒於鎮，時年六十。 贈太尉。
Yanqiu shared hardship and comfort with his officers and men, spending every stipend and private coin on feasts for the troops; he dined daily with his commanders and treated the rank and file with courtesy, winning the respect of the entire army. That winter the rebels were subdued. From the first battle until the city fell he did not execute a single soldier; officers and men alike were content, and opinion held that he had a commander's true gift; for this he was made military governor of Tianping. Before long he was transferred to Qing and concurrently promoted to Director of the Secretariat. In the third year of Changxing he died at his post, at the age of sixty. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Marshal.
7
子徹，位至懷州刺史。
His son Che rose to prefect of Huai.
8
戴思遠，本梁之故將也。 初事梁祖，以武幹知名。 開平元年，自右羽林統軍加檢校司徒，出為晉州刺史。 二年，授右監門上將軍，尋改華州防禦使。 三年，自左天武使復授右羽林統軍。 郢王友珪篡位，授洺州團練使。 貞明中，為邢州留後，遷本州節度使。 屬燕將張萬進殺滄州留後劉繼威，以城歸梁，末帝命思遠鎮之。 莊宗平定魏博，以兵臨滄、德，思遠棄鎮渡河歸汴，累遷天平軍節度使兼北面招討使，將兵與莊宗對壘。 久之，莊宗討張文禮於鎮州，契丹來援，莊宗追襲契丹至幽州。 思遠聞之，總兵以襲魏州，至魏店，遇明宗騎軍適至，思遠乃涉洹水，陷成安，復歸楊村寨，盡率其眾，攻德勝北城。 城中危急，符存審晝夜乘城以拒之。 莊宗自薊五日馳至魏州，思遠聞之解去。 及明宗襲下鄆州，思遠罷軍權，降授宣化軍留後。 其年，莊宗入汴，思遠自鄧州入朝，復令歸鎮。 明宗即位，移授洋州節度使。 及西川俱叛，思遠以董璋故人，避嫌請代，征入朝宿衛，以年告老，授太子少保致仕。 清泰二年八月，卒於家。
Dai Siyuan had been a general of Liang. He first served the Liang Founder and was known for his martial prowess. In the first year of Kaiping he was made acting Minister of Education and sent out as prefect of Jin, having served as commander of the Right Forest Guard. The next year he was made senior general of the Right Gate Guard, then defense commissioner of Hua. In the third year he returned to command the Right Forest Guard after serving as commander of the Left Heavenly Martial Army. When Prince Ying Yougui usurped the throne, he was made training commissioner of Ming. During Zhenming he was regent of Xing and then military governor of the prefecture. When the Yan general Zhang Wanjin killed the regent of Cang, Liu Jiwei, and surrendered the city to Liang, the Last Emperor sent Siyuan to take command there. When Emperor Zhuangzong pacified Weibo and marched on Cang and De, Siyuan abandoned his post, crossed the river, and fled to Bian; he rose to military governor of Tianping and northern pacification commissioner and led troops to face Emperor Zhuangzong in the field. Later Emperor Zhuangzong marched against Zhang Wenli at Zhen; when the Khitan came to his aid, Emperor Zhuangzong pursued them all the way to You. Hearing this, Siyuan massed troops to strike Wei; at Weidian he ran into Emperor Mingzong's cavalry arriving, so he crossed the Huan River, took Chengan, withdrew to Yangjia Village, and led his full force against the north city of Desheng. The city was in dire straits; Fu Cunshen mounted the walls day and night to hold them off. Emperor Zhuangzong rode from Ji to Wei in five days; on hearing of his approach Siyuan broke off and withdrew. When Emperor Mingzong captured Yan, Siyuan lost his military command and was demoted to regent of Xuanhua. That year, when Emperor Zhuangzong entered Bian, Siyuan came to court from Deng and was sent back to his post. When Emperor Mingzong took the throne, he was transferred to military governor of Yang. When both Shu territories rebelled, Siyuan, an old friend of Dong Zhang, asked to be replaced to avoid suspicion; he was recalled to court for palace guard duty, then retired on grounds of age as Crown Prince Junior Mentor. In the eighth month of the second year of Qingtai he died at home.
9
朱漢賓，字績臣，亳州譙縣人也。 父元禮，始為郡將。 梁太祖聞其名，擢為軍校，從龐師古渡淮，戰沒於淮南。 漢賓少有膂力，形神壯偉，膽氣過人。 梁祖以其父死王事，選置帳下，編入屬籍。 梁祖之攻兗、鄆也，朱瑾募驍勇數百人，黥雙雁於其頰，立為「雁子都」。 梁祖聞之，亦選數百人，別為一軍，號為「落雁都」。 署漢賓為軍使，當時目為「朱落雁」。 後與諸將破蔡賊有功，天復中，授右羽林統軍。 入梁，曆天威軍使、左羽林統軍，出為磁州刺史、滑宋二州留後、亳曹二州刺史、安州節度使。 莊宗至洛陽，漢賓自鎮入覲，復令還鎮。 明年，授左龍武統軍。 莊宗嘗幸漢賓之第，漢賓妻進酒上食，奏家樂以娛之，自是漢賓頗蒙寵待。 同光四年正月，冀王朱友謙入朝，明宗居洛陽，以友謙故人，置酒於第。 莊宗諸弟在席，友謙坐在永王存霸之上。 酒酣，漢賓以大觴奉友謙曰：「公雖名位高，坐於皇弟之上，非宜也。 仆與公俱在梁朝，以宗盟相厚，自公入朝，三發單函候問，略無報復，忽餘卑位，不亦甚乎！」 元行欽恐其紛然，為解之方止。 不數日，友謙赤族。 趙在禮據魏州，元行欽率軍進討，詔漢賓權知河南府事。 明宗以漢賓為右衛上將軍，樞密使安重誨方當委重，漢賓密令結托，得為婚家。 天成末，為潞州節度使，移鎮晉州。 重誨既誅，漢賓復為上將軍。 明年秋，漢賓告老，授太子少保致仕。 清泰二年六月卒，時年六十四。
Zhu Hanbin, courtesy name Jichen, came from Qiao County in Bo Prefecture. His father Yuanli had begun as a prefectural commander. The Liang Founder heard of him and made him an army officer; he followed Pang Shigu across the Huai and was killed in battle in Huainan. As a youth Hanbin was immensely strong, with an imposing build and courage beyond ordinary men. Because his father had died in imperial service, the Liang Founder took him into his personal retinue and enrolled him among his followers. When the Liang Founder attacked Yan and Yun, Zhu Jin recruited several hundred fierce warriors, tattooed twin geese on their cheeks, and formed them into the "Goose Sons Corps." Hearing of this, the Liang Founder selected several hundred men of his own, formed a separate corps, and called it the "Falling Geese Corps." He made Hanbin corps commander, and at the time people called him "Zhu the Falling Goose." Later he helped the other generals defeat the Cai bandits; during Tianfu he was made commander of the Right Forest Guard. Under Liang he served as commander of the Heavenly Might Army and the Left Forest Guard, then as prefect of Ci, regent of Hua and Song, prefect of Bo and Cao, and military governor of An. When Emperor Zhuangzong reached Luoyang, Hanbin came from his post for an audience and was sent back. The following year he was made commander of the Left Dragon Martial Guard. Emperor Zhuangzong once visited Hanbin at home; Hanbin's wife served wine and food and played household music for him, and from then on Hanbin enjoyed considerable favor. In the first month of the fourth year of Tongguang, Prince Ji Zhu Youqian came to court; Emperor Mingzong was in Luoyang and, as an old friend of Youqian, held a banquet at his residence. Emperor Zhuangzong's younger brothers were present; Youqian was seated above Prince Yong Cunba. As the wine flowed, Hanbin raised a great cup to Youqian and said, "Sir, though your rank is high, it is not fitting to sit above the emperor's brothers. You and I were both in Liang and bound by clan ties; since you came to court I have sent three letters of inquiry with scarcely a reply. To treat me as beneath you—is that not going too far!" Yuan Xingqin, fearing a quarrel, stepped in to smooth things over. Within days Youqian's entire clan was exterminated. When Zhao Zaili held Wei, Yuan Xingqin marched to suppress him; Hanbin was made acting administrator of Henan. Emperor Mingzong made Hanbin senior general of the Right Guard; Palace Commissioner An Chonghui was then at the height of power, and Hanbin cultivated ties with him until their families were joined by marriage. Late in Tiancheng he was military governor of Lu, then was transferred to Jin. After Chonghui was executed, Hanbin returned to the post of senior general. The following autumn Hanbin retired on grounds of age and was made Crown Prince Junior Mentor. He died in the sixth month of the second year of Qingtai, at the age of sixty-four.
10
子四人，長曰崇勳，官至左武衛將軍。
He had four sons; the eldest, Chongxun, rose to general of the Left Martial Guard.
11
有子師道，仕皇朝，為右讚善大夫。 卒。
He had a son Shidao who served our dynasty as Right Advisor-in-Attendance. He died.
12
周知裕，字好問，幽州人也。 少事燕帥劉仁恭為騎將，表為媯州刺史。 久之，移刺德州。 天祐四年，劉守光既平滄州，乃以其幼子繼威為留後，大將張萬進與知裕佐之。 繼威衝幼，宣淫於萬進之家，萬進殺之。 詰旦，召知裕告其故，萬進自稱留後，署知裕為景州刺史。 會萬進納款於梁，知裕先奔於汴，梁主厚待之。 特置歸化軍，以知裕為指揮使。 凡軍士自河朔歸梁者，皆隸於部下。 梁與莊宗交戰於河，摧堅挫銳，惟恃歸化一軍，然歲將一紀，位不及郡守。 同光初，莊宗入汴，知裕隨段凝軍解甲封丘。 明宗時為總管，受降於郊外，見知裕甚喜，遙相謂曰：「周歸化今為吾人，何樂如之！」 因令諸子以兄事之。 莊宗撫憐尤異，而諸校心妒之。 有壯士唐從益者，因獵射之，知裕遁而獲免。 莊宗遂誅從益，出知裕為房州刺史。 魏王繼岌伐蜀，召為前鋒騎將。 明宗即位，移刺絳州，改淄州刺史、宿州團練使。 知裕老於軍旅，勤於稼穡，凡為郡勸課，皆有政聲，朝廷喜之，遷安州留後。 淮上之風惡病者，至於父母有疾，不親省視，甚者避於他室； 或時問訊，即以食物揭於長竿之首，委之而去。 知裕心惡之，召鄉之頑很者訶詰教導，俾知父子骨肉之恩，由是弊風稍革。 長興末，入為右神武統軍。 清泰初，卒於官。 贈太傅。
Zhou Zhiyu, courtesy name Haowen, came from You Prefecture. As a youth he served the Yan commander Liu Rengong as a cavalry officer and was recommended as prefect of Gui. Later he was transferred to prefect of De. In the fourth year of Tianyou, after Liu Shouguang pacified Cang, he made his youngest son Jiwei regent, with the great general Zhang Wanjin and Zhiyu to assist him. Jiwei was young and headstrong and openly debauched himself in Wanjin's household; Wanjin killed him. At dawn he summoned Zhiyu and explained what he had done; Wanjin declared himself regent and appointed Zhiyu prefect of Jing. When Wanjin submitted to Liang, Zhiyu fled first to Bian, where the Liang ruler received him warmly. A special Return-to-Grace Army was created with Zhiyu as its commander. All soldiers who came over to Liang from the Hebei region were placed under his command. In Liang's battles with Emperor Zhuangzong on the Yellow River, where hardened lines were broken and elite troops blunted, they relied solely on the Return-to-Grace Army; yet after nearly twelve years his rank still fell short of a prefect. Early in Tongguang, when Emperor Zhuangzong entered Bian, Zhiyu followed Duan Ning's army in surrendering at Fengqiu. Emperor Mingzong was then overall commander and received the surrender outside the city; seeing Zhiyu he was delighted and called out from afar, "Zhou of the Return-to-Grace Army is ours now—what could bring greater joy!" He then told his sons to treat Zhiyu as an elder brother. Emperor Zhuangzong showed him exceptional favor, but the other officers grew jealous. A warrior named Tang Congyi shot at him while hunting; Zhiyu fled and escaped. Emperor Zhuangzong executed Congyi and sent Zhiyu out as prefect of Fang. When Prince Wei Jiji campaigned against Shu, he was summoned as vanguard cavalry commander. When Emperor Mingzong took the throne, he was transferred to Jiang, then made prefect of Zi and training commissioner of Su. Zhiyu was a veteran of camp and field and diligent in promoting agriculture; in every prefecture he governed he won a reputation for good administration, and the court was pleased to make him regent of An. Along the Huai there was a custom of shunning the sick; when parents fell ill their children would not visit them in person, and some even kept to another room; when they did inquire, they would tie food to the end of a long pole, leave it, and go away. Zhiyu abhorred this practice; he summoned the most stubborn men of the district, rebuked and instructed them in the bonds of family, and gradually reformed the custom. Late in Changxing he was recalled to court as commander of the Right Divine Martial Guard. Early in Qingtai he died in office. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Tutor.
13
史臣曰：夫才之良者，在秦亦良也，在虞亦良也。 故彥威而下，昔為梁臣，不虧亮節； 洎歸唐祚，亦無醜聲，蓋鬆貞不變於四時，玉粹寧虞其烈焰故也。 況彥威之輔明宗也，有翊戴之績； 晏球之伐中山也，著戡定之功。 方之數公，尤為優矣。
The historian writes: True talent shines wherever it serves—in Qin or in Yu alike. From Yanwei downward, though they had once served Liang, they never compromised their integrity; and when they entered Tang's service they bore no stain on their names—for the pine keeps its constancy through every season, and pure jade does not fear the flame. Moreover, Yanwei had the achievement of supporting Emperor Mingzong's accession; and Yanqiu won distinction in pacifying Zhongshan. Among these men, they stood out above the rest.