1
趙在禮，字翰臣，涿州人也。 曾祖景裕，祖士廉，皆不仕。 父元德，盧臺軍使。 在禮始事燕帥劉仁恭為小校，唐光化末，仁恭遣其子守文逐浮陽節度使盧彥威，據其城，升在禮為軍使，以佐守文。 及守文死，事其子。 延祚為守光所害，守光子繼威復為部將張萬進所殺，在禮遂事萬進。 萬進奔梁，在禮乃與滄州留後毛璋歸太原。 同光末，為效節指揮使，屯於貝州。 會軍士皇甫暉等作亂，推指揮使楊晸為帥，晸不從，為眾所害，攜晸首以脅在禮。 在禮知其不可拒，遂從之，以四年二月六日引眾入鄴，在禮自稱留後。 〈（《宋史·張錫傳》：趙在禮舉兵於鄴，瀕河諸州多構亂，錫權知棣州事，即出省錢賞軍，皆大悅，一郡獨全，棣人賴之。）〉 唐莊宗遣明宗率師討之，會城下軍亂，在禮迎明宗入城，事具《唐書》。 天成元年五月，授滑州節度使、檢校太保。 制下，在禮密奏軍情，未欲除移，且乞更伺少頃，尋就改天雄軍兵馬留後、鄴都留守、興唐尹。 既而在禮將皇甫暉、趙進等相次除郡赴任， 〈（《歐陽史·皇甫暉傳》：明宗即位，暉自軍卒擢拜陳州刺史。 《九國誌·趙進傳》：天成初，除貝州刺史、鄴都衙內指揮使。）〉 在禮乃上表乞移旌節。 十二月，授滄州節度使。 二年七月，移鎮兗州。 長興元年，入為左驍衛上將軍，俄改同州節度使。 會高祖受明宗命統大軍伐蜀，以在禮充西川行營步軍都指揮使，收劍州而還。 四年，移鎮襄州。 清泰三年，授宋州節度使，加檢校太尉、同平章事。 高祖登極，移鎮鄆州，加檢校太師、兼侍中，封衛國公。 天福六年七月，授許州節度使。 八年四月，移鎮徐州，進封楚國公。 開運元年，以契丹為患，少帝議北征。 八月朔，降制命一十五將，以在禮為北面行營馬步都虞候。 十一月，改行營副都統，都虞候如故。 受詔屯澶州，再除兗州節度使，依前副都統。 三年正月，授晉昌軍節度使。 時少帝為其子延煦娶在禮女為妻，禮會之日，其儀甚盛，京師以為榮觀。 五月，進封秦國公，累食邑至一萬三千戶，實封一千五百戶。
Zhao Zaili, courtesy name Hanchen, was a native of Zhuozhou. His great-grandfather Jingyu and grandfather Shilian both held no office. His father Yuande served as military commissioner of the Lu Terrace. Zaili first entered service under the Yan commander Liu Ren'gong as a junior officer. At the end of the Tang Guanghua era, Ren'gong sent his son Shouwen to expel Fuyang military commissioner Lu Yanwei and occupy his city, promoting Zaili to army commissioner to assist Shouwen. After Shouwen died, he served his son in turn. Yanzuo was killed by Liu Shouguang; Shouguang's son Jiwei was in turn killed by the subordinate commander Zhang Wanjin, and Zaili then entered Wanjin's service. When Wanjin fled to Liang, Zaili returned to Taiyuan together with Cangzhou acting prefect Mao Zhang. At the end of the Tongguang era he was commander of the Xiaojie army, stationed at Beizhou. When the soldiers Huangfu Hui and others mutinied, they tried to make the commander Yang Jing their leader. Jing refused and was killed by the mutineers, who then brought his head to force Zaili to lead them. Zaili knew he could not refuse, so he went along. On the sixth day of the second month of the fourth year he led his troops into Ye and styled himself acting prefect. (The History of Song, biography of Zhang Xi, records that when Zhao Zaili raised troops at Ye, most of the prefectures along the river fell into disorder. Xi was acting prefect of Dizhou; he immediately paid out provincial funds to reward the troops, to general delight, and that prefecture alone remained secure—the people of Di were indebted to him.)〉 Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang sent Emperor Mingzong at the head of an army against him. When the troops below the walls mutinied, Zaili welcomed Mingzong into the city; the full account is in the Book of Tang. In the fifth month of the first year of Tiancheng he was appointed military commissioner of Huazhou and acting Grand Guardian. When the appointment was announced, Zaili secretly reported on conditions in the army, saying he was not yet ready to be transferred and asking to wait a little longer. Soon afterward he was instead made acting commissioner of the Tianxiong army's horse and foot, garrison commander of the Ye capital, and prefect of Xingtang. Zaili then had Huangfu Hui, Zhao Jin, and others appointed in succession to prefectural posts and sent off to take office, (Ouyang Xiu's history, biography of Huangfu Hui: When Emperor Mingzong took the throne, Hui was raised from the ranks to prefect of Chenzhou. Annals of the Nine States, biography of Zhao Jin: At the beginning of Tiancheng he was appointed prefect of Beizhou and commander of the Ye capital inner guard.)〉 Zaili then memorialized, asking to be transferred to another post with full military commission. In the twelfth month he was appointed military commissioner of Cangzhou. In the seventh month of the second year he was transferred to Yanzhou. In the first year of Changxing he was recalled to the capital as General of the Left Valiant Cavalry Guards, and soon afterward was made military commissioner of Tongzhou. When Gaozu received orders from Emperor Mingzong to command a great army against Shu, Zaili served as overall commander of the campaign's foot forces in the west, recovered Jianzhou, and returned. In the fourth year he was transferred to Xiangzhou. In the third year of Qingtai he was appointed military commissioner of Songzhou and given the additional titles of acting Grand Marshal and Grand Councillor. When Gaozu took the throne, Zaili was transferred to Yanzhou, given the additional titles of acting Grand Preceptor and Palace Attendant, and enfeoffed as Duke of Wei. In the seventh month of the sixth year of Tianfu he was appointed military commissioner of Xuzhou. In the fourth month of the eighth year he was transferred to Xuzhou and advanced in rank to Duke of Chu. In the first year of Kaiyun, with the Khitan posing a threat, the Young Emperor considered a northern campaign. On the first day of the eighth month, appointments were issued for fifteen generals; Zaili was made overall adjutant of horse and foot for the northern campaign. In the eleventh month he was made deputy overall commander of the campaign, while retaining his post as overall adjutant. Ordered to encamp at Chanzhou, he was again appointed military commissioner of Yanzhou while continuing as deputy overall commander. In the first month of the third year he was appointed military commissioner of the Jinchang army. The Young Emperor had his son Yanxu marry Zaili's daughter. On the wedding day the ceremonies were splendid, and the capital treated the event as a spectacle of honor. In the fifth month he was advanced to Duke of Qin, with cumulative fief households rising to thirteen thousand and actual fief households of one thousand five hundred.
2
在禮凡四子，雖歷內職，皆早卒。 孫延勛，仕皇朝，歷嶽、蜀二州刺史。 〈（《五代史補》：趙在禮之在宋州也，所為不法，百姓苦之。 一旦下制移鎮永興，百姓欣然相賀，曰：「此人若去，可為眼中拔釘子，何快哉！」 在禮聞之怒，欲報「拔釘」之謗，遽上表更求宋州一年，時朝廷姑息勛臣，詔許之。 在禮於是命吏籍管內戶口，不論主客，每歲一千，納之於家，號曰「拔釘錢」，莫不公行督責，有不如約，則加之鞭樸，雖租賦之不若也。 是歲獲錢百萬。）〉
Zaili had four sons in all; though they held posts at court, all died young. His grandson Yanxun served the imperial court and held successive appointments as prefect of Yue and Shu. (Supplement to the History of the Five Dynasties: While Zhao Zaili was at Songzhou, his conduct was lawless and the people suffered under him. One day an edict came transferring him to Yongxing. The people congratulated one another in delight, saying, "If this man leaves, it will be like pulling a nail from the eye—what relief!" When Zaili heard of this he was furious and wished to punish the "nail-pulling" talk. He hastily memorialized asking to remain at Songzhou for one more year. The court, indulgent toward meritorious ministers, granted his request. Zaili then ordered clerks to register every household in his jurisdiction, native or migrant alike, and exact one thousand cash per year for his private purse, calling it "nail-pulling money." Collection was enforced openly; anyone who fell short was beaten with whip and cudgel—harsher than ordinary taxes. That year he took in a million in cash.)〉
3
馬全節，字大雅，魏郡元城人也。 父文操，本府軍校，官至檢校尚書左僕射，以全節之貴，累贈太師。 全節少從軍旅，同光末，為捉生指揮使。 趙在禮之據魏州也，為鄴都馬步軍都指揮使。 唐明宗即位，授檢校司空，歷博、單二州刺史。 天成三年，賜竭忠建策興復功臣，移刺郢州。 長興初，就加檢校司徒，在郡有政聲，俄授河西節度使。 時明宗命高祖伐蜀，師次岐山，全節赴任及之，具軍容謁於轅門，高祖以地理隔越，乃奏還焉，移沂州刺史。 清泰初，為金州防禦使。 會蜀軍攻其城，州兵才千人，兵馬都監陳知隱懼，托以他事出城，領三百人順流而逸，賊既盛，人情憂沮。 全節乃悉家財以給士，復出奇拒戰，以死繼之。 賊退，朝廷嘉其功，詔赴闕，將議賞典。 時劉延朗為樞密副使，邀其厚賄，全節無以賂之，謂全節曰：「絳州闕人，請事行計。」 全節不樂，告其同輩，由是眾口喧然，以為不當，皇子重美為河南尹，聞而奏焉。 清泰帝召全節謂曰：「滄州乏帥，欲命卿制置。」 翌日，授橫海軍兩使留後。 高祖即位，加檢校太保，正授旌節。 天福五年，授檢校太傅，移鎮安州。 時李金全據州叛，引淮軍為援，因命全節將兵討平之，以功加檢校太尉，改昭義軍節度、澤潞遼沁等州觀察處置等使。 六年秋，移鎮邢州，加同中書門下平章事。 安重榮之叛也，授鎮州行營副招討兼排陣使，與重榮戰於宋城，大敗之。 鎮州平，加開府儀同三司，充義武軍節度、易定祁等州觀察處置、北平軍等使。 八年秋，丁母憂，尋起復焉。 屬契丹侵寇，加之蝗旱，國家有所征發，全節朝受命而夕行，治生餘財，必充貢奉。 開運元年秋，授鄴都留守、檢校太師、兼侍中、廣晉尹、幽州道行營馬步軍都虞候，尋加天雄軍北面行營副招討使，陽城之戰，甚有力焉。 全節始拜鄴都，以元城是桑梓之邑，具白襕詣縣庭謁拜，縣令沈遘逡巡避之，不敢當禮。 全節曰：「父母之鄉，自合致敬，勿讓之也。」 州裏榮之。 二年，授順國軍節度使，未赴鎮卒，年五十五。 贈中書令。
Ma Quanjie, courtesy name Daya, was a native of Yuancheng in Weijun. His father Wencao was a military officer of the native command, rising to acting Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing; because of Quanjie's eminence, he was repeatedly posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Preceptor. Quanjie entered the army in his youth. At the end of the Tongguang era he was commander of the captive-taking corps. When Zhao Zaili held Weizhou, Quanjie served as overall commander of the Ye capital's horse and foot forces. When Emperor Mingzong of Tang took the throne, Quanjie was appointed acting Minister of Works and served in succession as prefect of Bo and Shan. In the third year of Tiancheng he was granted the title Meritorious Minister Who Exhausts Loyalty, Devises Plans, and Restores the Dynasty, and was transferred to Yingzhou. At the beginning of Changxing he was further made acting Minister of Education. He earned a reputation for good government in his prefecture and was soon appointed military commissioner of Hexi. Emperor Mingzong had ordered Gaozu to campaign against Shu, and the army halted at Qishan. Quanjie arrived to take up his new post and presented himself in full military dress at the camp gate. Gaozu, finding the region too remote, memorialized to have him recalled and transferred him to prefect of Yizhou. At the beginning of Qingtai he was defense commissioner of Jinzhou. When Shu forces attacked his city, the prefectural garrison numbered only a thousand. The horse-and-foot supervisory commissioner Chen Zhiyin, in fear, left the city on a pretext and fled downstream with three hundred men. With the enemy strong, morale collapsed. Quanjie then spent his entire household fortune to supply the troops, led surprise attacks against the enemy, and fought on through repeated casualties. When the enemy withdrew, the court praised his achievement and summoned him to the capital to consider his reward. Liu Yanlang was then Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs and demanded a heavy bribe. Quanjie had nothing to give him. Yanlang told Quanjie, "Jiangzhou lacks a commander—make your travel plans accordingly." Quanjie was displeased and told his colleagues, and word spread that the appointment was improper. Prince Chongmei, serving as Henan Intendant, heard of it and memorialized the throne. Emperor Qingtai summoned Quanjie and said, "Cangzhou lacks a commander. I intend to put you in charge there." The next day he was appointed acting commissioner of the Henghai army. When Gaozu took the throne, Quanjie was given the added title of acting Grand Guardian and received a full military commission. In the fifth year of Tianfu he was appointed acting Grand Tutor and transferred to Anzhou. When Li Jinquan rebelled and held the prefecture, bringing Huai troops as reinforcements, Quanjie was ordered to lead an army against him and restore order. For this service he was made acting Grand Marshal and military commissioner of the Zhaoyi army, with oversight of Ze, Lu, Liao, Qin, and related prefectures. In the autumn of the sixth year he was transferred to Xingzhou and made Grand Councillor with Secretariat precedence. When An Chongrong rebelled, Quanjie was appointed deputy commander of the Zhenzhou suppression force and array marshal. He met Chongrong at Songcheng and routed him. After Zhenzhou was pacified, he was given the rank of Palace Captain with ceremonial parity to the Three Excellencies and appointed military commissioner of the Yiwu army, with oversight of Yi, Ding, Qi, and related prefectures and command of the Northern Pacification army. In the autumn of the eighth year he entered mourning for his mother, but was soon recalled to office. With Khitan raids and locust plague and drought afflicting the realm, whenever the court issued a call, Quanjie would receive orders in the morning and march by evening. Any surplus from his private affairs he turned over as tribute. In the autumn of the first year of Kaiyun he was appointed garrison commander of the Ye capital, acting Grand Preceptor, Palace Attendant, Guangjin Intendant, and overall adjutant of horse and foot on the Youzhou campaign. Soon afterward he was made deputy commander of the Tianxiong army's northern suppression force. At the battle of Yangcheng he distinguished himself greatly. When Quanjie first took office at the Ye capital, he went in white robes to the county court of Yuancheng, his home district, to pay his respects. The magistrate Shen Xun drew back in embarrassment and would not accept the gesture. Quanjie said, "This is the home of my parents. It is only right that I show respect—do not refuse me." The people of the district were proud of the gesture. In the second year he was appointed military commissioner of the Shunguo army, but died before he could take up the post, at the age of fifty-five. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Director of the Secretariat.
4
全節事母王氏至孝，位歷方鎮，溫清面告，畢盡其敬。 政事動與幕客謀議，故鮮有敗事。 鎮中山日，杜威為恒州，方奏括境內民家粟，時軍吏引恒州例，堅請行之，全節曰：「邊民遇蝗旱，而家食方困，官司復擾之，則不堪其命矣。 我為廉察，安忍效尤。」 百姓稱其德。 先是，全節自上黨攜歌妓一人之中山，館於外舍，有人以讒言中之，全節害之。 及詔除恒陽，遇疾，數見其妓，厭之復來。 妓曰：「我已得請，要公俱行。」 全節具告家人，數日而卒。
Quanjie was deeply filial toward his mother, Lady Wang. Though he held successive regional commands, he still attended to her comfort in person and showed her every respect. He routinely consulted his staff on affairs of government, and therefore rarely failed in his undertakings. While he was stationed at Zhongshan, Du Wei governed Hengzhou and had memorialized to seize grain from households within his jurisdiction. Quanjie's military staff cited the Hengzhou precedent and pressed to do the same. Quanjie said, "The border people have suffered locust plague and drought, and household stores are already exhausted. If the authorities harass them further, they cannot endure it. As overseer, how could I copy such an example?" The people praised his virtue. Earlier, Quanjie had brought a song-girl from Shangdang to Zhongshan and lodged her in an outer residence. When someone slandered him over the affair, he had her killed. When he was ordered to Hengyang, he fell ill and repeatedly saw the girl. He loathed her return. The girl said, "I have already obtained leave. You must come with me." Quanjie told his family everything. Within days he was dead.
5
子令威，歷隰、陳、懷三州刺史，卒。
His son Lingwei served in succession as prefect of Xi, Chen, and Huai, and died in office.
6
張筠，海州人也。 父傳古，世為郡之大商，唐乾符末，屬江淮俶擾，遂徙家彭門。 時彭門連帥時溥為東南面招討使，據有數郡之地，擢筠為偏將，累有軍功，奏授宿州刺史。 後溥與梁祖不協，梁人進攻宿州，下之，獲筠以歸。 梁方圖霸業，以筠言貌辯秀，命為四鎮客將，久之，轉長直軍使。 梁唐革命，遷右龍武統軍，歷客省使、宣徽使，出為復、商二州刺史，復為宣徽使。 梁室割相、衛為昭德軍，命筠為兩使留後。 唐莊宗入魏，筠委城南歸，授右衛上將軍。 會雍州康懷英以病告，詔筠往代之，比至，懷英已卒，因除筠為永平軍節度使、大安尹。 懷英在長安日，家財甚厚，筠盡奪之，復於大內掘地，繼獲金玉。 時有涇陽鎮將侯莫威，前與溫韜同剽唐氏諸陵，大貯瑰異之物，筠乃殺威而籍其家，遂蓄積巨萬。 然性好施，每出遇貧民於路，則給與口食衣物，境內除省賦外，未嘗聚斂，遂致百姓不撓，十年小康，秦民懷惠，呼為「佛子」。 同光中，從郭崇韜為劍南安撫使，蜀平歸洛，權領河南尹，俄鎮興元，所治之地，上下安之。 筠時有疾，軍州官吏久不得見，副使符彥琳等面請問疾，筠又不諾，彥琳等疑其已死，慮左右有謀，遂請權交牌印，筠命左右收彥琳下獄，以叛聞。 詔取彥琳等至洛，釋而不問，因授筠西京留守，誘離興元。 及至長安，守兵閉門不納，筠東朝於洛，詔遣歸第。 筠前為京兆尹，奉詔殺偽蜀主王衍，衍之妓樂寶貨，悉私藏於家。 及罷歸之後，第宅宏敞，花竹深邃，聲樂飲膳，恣其所欲，十年之內，人謂「地仙」。 天福二年，上表乞歸長安，俄而洛下張從賓之亂，筠獨免其難，人咸謂筠有五福之具美焉。 是歲，卒於家。 贈太子太師。 弟篯。
Zhang Yun was a native of Haizhou. His father Chuangu had for generations been one of the prefecture's great merchants. At the end of the Tang Qianfu era, with the Jiang-Huai region in turmoil, he moved the family to Pengmen. The Pengmen commander Shi Pu was then southeastern pacification commissioner, holding several prefectures. He promoted Yun to deputy general; Yun won repeated military distinction, and Pu memorialized to have him appointed prefect of Suzhou. Later, when Pu fell out with the Liang founder, Liang forces attacked Suzhou, captured it, and took Yun back with them. With Liang then plotting supremacy, Yun's eloquence and polished appearance won him appointment as guest general of the four commands. After a long interval he was made chief of the long-duty army. When Liang gave way to Tang, Yun was transferred to commander of the Right Valiant Dragons, served in succession as guest-reception commissioner and palace treasury commissioner, was sent out as prefect of Fu and Shang, and again became palace treasury commissioner. The Liang court carved out Xiang and Wei as the Zhaode army and appointed Yun acting commissioner of both civil and military affairs. When Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang entered Wei, Yun abandoned the southern city and submitted, and was appointed General of the Right Guards. When Kang Huaiying of Yongzhou reported illness, Yun was ordered to replace him. By the time he arrived, Huaiying was already dead, and Yun was appointed military commissioner of the Yongping army and Intendant of Da'an. Huaiying had amassed great wealth while at Chang'an; Yun seized it all. He also dug within the inner palace grounds and unearthed gold and jade. The Jingyang garrison commander Hou Mowei had earlier joined Wen Tao in plundering the tombs of the Tang imperial house and hoarded extraordinary treasures. Yun killed him and confiscated his property, amassing wealth in the tens of thousands. Yet he was generous by nature: whenever he went out and met the poor on the road, he gave them food and clothing. Apart from provincial levies, he never extorted within his jurisdiction, and the people were left unmolested. For ten years the region knew modest prosperity; the people of Qin were grateful and called him "the Buddha's son." During the Tongguang era he followed Guo Chongtao as Jiannan pacification commissioner. After Shu was pacified he returned to Luoyang, served provisionally as Henan Intendant, and soon took up command at Xingyuan, where high and low alike lived in peace under his rule. Yun was then ill, and the military and civil officials had long been unable to see him. Deputy commissioner Fu Yanlin and others came in person to inquire after his health, but Yun refused them again. Yanlin and the others suspected he was already dead and feared a plot among his attendants; they asked to take custody of the seals provisionally. Yun ordered his attendants to arrest Yanlin and imprison him, then reported him for rebellion. An edict summoned Yanlin and the others to Luoyang and released them without punishment. Yun was then appointed garrison commander of the western capital, a move intended to draw him away from Xingyuan. When he reached Chang'an, the garrison closed the gates and refused him entry. Yun went east to audience at Luoyang, where an edict sent him back to his private residence. Yun had earlier served as Intendant of Jingzhao and, by imperial order, executed the puppet Shu ruler Wang Yan; he then secretly kept at home all of Yan's performers, music, and valuables. After he retired and returned home, his mansion was grand and spacious, with deep groves of flowers and bamboo; music and feasting were at his pleasure. Within ten years people called him an "earth immortal." In the second year of Tianfu he memorialized asking to return to Chang'an. Soon afterward Zhang Congbin's rebellion erupted in Luoyang; Yun alone escaped harm, and all agreed that he truly enjoyed the full measure of the five blessings. That year he died at home. He was posthumously awarded the title Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent. Younger brother Jian.
7
篯，字慕彭，少嗜酒無節，為鄉里所鄙。 唐天復中，兄筠為大梁四鎮客將，篯自海州省兄，兄薦於兗州連帥王瓚，用為裨校。 篯性桀黠，善事人，累遷軍職。 後唐莊宗都洛，筠鎮長安，自衙內指揮使授檢校司空、右千牛衛將軍同正，領饒州刺史、西京管內三白渠營田制置使。 同光末，筠隨魏王繼岌伐蜀，奏篯權知西京留守事。 蜀平，王衍挈族入朝，至秦川驛，莊宗遣中使向延嗣乘驛騎盡戮王衍之族，所有奇貨，盡歸於延嗣。 俄聞莊宗遇內難，繼岌軍次興平，篯乃斷咸陽浮橋，繼岌浮渡至渭南死之，一行金寶妓樂，篯悉獲之。 俄而明宗使人誅延嗣，延嗣暗遁， 〈（《九國志》：明宗即位，忿閹豎輩怙勢擅權，先敕使四方及此遁不出者，皆擒戮之，死者殆盡。）〉 衍之行裝復為篯有，因為富家，積白金萬鎰，藏於窟室。 明宗即位，篯進王衍犀、玉帶各二，馬一百五十匹，魏王打球馬七十匹，旋除沂州刺史，入為西衛將軍。 高祖即位之明年，加檢校太保，出典密州，未幾，復居環衛。 時湖南馬希範與篯有舊，奏朝廷請命篯為使，允之。 篯密賫蜀之奇貨往售，又獲十餘萬緡以歸。 篯出入以庖者十餘人從行，食皆水陸之珍鮮，厚自奉養，無與為比。 少帝嗣位，詔遣往西蕃，及回，以其馬劣，為有司所糾，復當路有不足者，遂有詔征其舊價。 篯上言請貨故京田業，許之，因憤惋成疾而卒。
Jian, courtesy name Mupeng, was in his youth addicted to wine without restraint and was despised in his home district. During the Tang Tianfu era his elder brother Yun served as guest general of Daliang's four commands. Jian traveled from Haizhou to visit him; Yun recommended him to the Yanzhou commander Wang Zan, who took him on as adjutant. Jian was clever and crafty by nature, adept at winning people over, and rose repeatedly through military ranks. When Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang established his capital at Luoyang, Yun garrisoned Chang'an. From palace-inner commander he was made acting Minister of Works and Right Imperial Equerry General with concurrent appointment, and concurrently served as prefect of Raozhou and commissioner for the three Baibi canals farming administration in the western capital circuit. At the end of the Tongguang era Yun followed the Prince of Wei, Li Jiji, on the campaign against Shu and memorialized to have Jian provisionally handle western capital garrison affairs. After Shu was pacified, Wang Yan led his clan to court. At Qinchuan post station Zhuangzong sent the palace envoy Xiang Yansi on relay horses to slaughter Wang Yan's entire clan; all rare goods went entirely to Yansi. Soon word arrived that Zhuangzong had met with internal disaster. Li Jiji's army halted at Xingping; Jian cut the Xianyang floating bridge, and Jiji crossed by raft to Weinan, where he died. Jian seized the whole train of gold, jewels, and entertainers. Before long Mingzong sent men to execute Yansi; Yansi fled in secret, (Annals of the Nine States records: When Emperor Mingzong took the throne, enraged at the eunuchs who relied on power and monopolized authority, he first ordered that eunuch envoys throughout the realm and those in hiding who did not come forth be seized and executed; nearly all were killed.)〉 Wang Yan's traveling goods again fell into Jian's hands; he thus became a wealthy man, amassing ten thousand ingots of white silver in a hidden vault. When Mingzong took the throne, Jian presented two rhinoceros-horn belts and two jade belts from Wang Yan, one hundred fifty horses, and seventy of the Prince of Wei's polo horses; he was soon made prefect of Yizhou and then appointed general of the western guards. In the year after Gaozu's accession he was made acting Grand Guardian, sent out to govern Mizhou, and before long returned to the palace guards. At that time Ma Xifan of Hunan was an old acquaintance of Jian's and memorialized the court to appoint Jian as envoy; the request was granted. Jian secretly took Shu's rare goods to sell and returned with more than one hundred thousand strings of cash. Whenever Jian went out, more than ten cooks attended him; his meals were delicacies from land and sea. He lived in unrivaled luxury. When Emperor Shaodi succeeded, an edict sent him to the western tribes. On his return his horses were judged inferior and the authorities impeached him; moreover those in power who disliked him secured an edict to recover the original purchase price. Jian memorialized asking to mortgage his former estates in the capital; permission was granted, but indignation and distress brought on illness and he died.
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篯始在雍州，因春景舒和，出遊近郊，憩於大冢之上，忽有黃雀銜一銅錢置於前而去。 未幾，復於衙院晝臥，見二燕相鬥畢，各銜一錢落於篯首。 前後所獲三錢，嘗秘於巾箱，識者以為大富之征。 其後家雖厚積，性實鄙吝，未嘗與士大夫遊處。 及令市馬，利在私門，不省咎以輸其直，郁郁致死，愚之甚耶！
When Jian was first at Yongzhou, in the mild spring weather he went out to the near suburbs and rested atop a great mound. Suddenly a yellow finch placed a copper coin before him and flew away. Before long, while napping by day in the yamen courtyard, he saw two swallows finish fighting; each dropped a coin onto Jian's head. The three coins he had received were kept secret in a cloth casket; those versed in omens took this as a sign of great wealth. Though his household later grew very rich, he was by nature mean and stingy and never kept company with scholar-officials. When ordered to supply horses, he kept the profit for himself and would not accept blame by paying the full price; he died in sullen distress—was his folly not extreme!
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華溫琪，字德潤，宋州下邑人也。 祖楚，以農為業。 父敬忠，後以溫琪貴，官至檢校尚書。 溫琪長七尺餘，唐廣明中，從黃巢為紀綱，巢陷長安，偽署溫琪為供奉都知。 巢敗，奔至滑臺，以形貌魁岸，懼不自容，乃投白馬河下流，俄而浮至淺處，會行人救免； 又登桑自經，枝折墜地，不死。 夜至胙縣界，有田父見溫琪非常人，遂匿於家。 經歲餘，會梁將朱友裕為濮州刺史，召募勇士，溫琪往依之，友裕署為小校，漸升為馬軍都將。 從友裕擊秦宗權於曹南，有功，奏加檢校太子賓客，梁祖擢為開道指揮使，加檢校工部尚書，出屯鄜畤。 會延州胡璋叛命，來寇郡境，溫琪擊退之。 尋奉詔營長安，以功遷絳州刺史。 歲餘，刺棣州。 溫琪以州城每年為河水所壞，居人不堪其苦，表請移於便地，朝廷許之。 板築既畢，賜立紀功碑，仍加檢校尚書左僕射，繼遷齊州、晉州節度使。 溫琪在平陽日，唐莊宗嘗引兵攻之，逾月不下，梁人賞之，升晉州為定昌軍，以溫琪為節度使，加檢校太保。 既而溫琪臨民失政，嘗掠人之妻，為其夫所訴，罷，入為金吾大將軍。 時梁末帝方姑息諸侯，重難其命，故責詞云：「若便行峻典，謂予不念功勛； 若全廢舊章，謂我不安黎庶。 為人君者，不亦難乎！」 溫琪大有愧色。 俄轉右監門衛上將軍、右龍武統軍。 會河中朱友謙叛，權授溫琪汝州防禦使、河中行營排陣使，尋為耀州觀察留後。 莊宗入洛，溫琪來覲，詔改耀州為順義軍，復以溫琪鎮之，加推忠向義功臣。 同光末，西蜀既平，命溫琪為秦州節度使。 明宗即位，因入朝，願留闕，明宗嘉而許之，除左驍衛上將軍，逐月別賜錢粟，以豐其家。 逾歲，明宗謂樞密使安重誨曰：「溫琪舊人，宜選一重鎮處之。」 重誨奏以天下無闕。 他日又言之，重誨素強愎，對曰：「臣累奏未有闕處，可替者，唯樞密院使而已。」 明宗曰：「可。」 重誨不能答。 溫琪聞其事，懼為權臣所怒，幾致成疾，由是數月不出。 俄拜華州節度使，依前光祿大夫、檢校太傅，進封平原郡開國公，累加食邑至三千戶。 溫琪至任，以己俸補葺祠廟廨舍千餘間，復於郵亭創待客之具，華而且固，往來稱之。 清泰中，上表乞骸骨歸宋城，制以太子少保致仕。 天福元年十二月，終於家，年七十五。 詔贈太子太保。
Hua Wenqi, courtesy name Derun, was a native of Xiayi in Songzhou. His grandfather Chu made his living as a farmer. His father Jingzhong later, through Wenqi's eminence, rose to acting Minister. Wenqi stood more than seven feet tall. In the Tang Guangming era he followed Huang Chao as enforcer; when Chao seized Chang'an he falsely appointed Wenqi director of imperial attendance. When Chao was defeated, Wenqi fled to Huatai. His imposing build made him fear he could not remain hidden; he threw himself into the lower reaches of the Baima River, soon floated to shallows, and was saved by passersby; He climbed a mulberry to hang himself; the branch broke and he fell to the ground, yet did not die. By night he reached the border of Zuo County; a farmer saw that Wenqi was no ordinary man and hid him in his home. After more than a year, the Liang general Zhu Youyu became prefect of Puzhou and recruited braves; Wenqi went to join him. Youyu appointed him junior officer, and he gradually rose to commander of the horse army. Following Youyu he attacked Qin Zongquan in southern Cao with distinction; he was memorialized for acting Grand Mentor to the Heir Apparent; the Liang founder promoted him to Kaizhou road commander and acting Minister of Works and stationed him at Meizhi. When Hu Zhang of Yanzhou rebelled and raided the prefectural borders, Wenqi drove him back. Soon he received orders to rebuild Chang'an; for this merit he was transferred to prefect of Jiangzhou. After more than a year he was appointed prefect of Dizhou. Wenqi saw that each year the prefectural city was ruined by the river and the people could not endure the hardship; he memorialized to relocate to a more suitable site, and the court approved. When the fortifications were complete, a merit stele was erected in his honor; he was further made acting Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and later served in succession as military commissioner of Qizhou and Jinzhou. While Wenqi was at Pingyang, Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang once led troops against him; for more than a month he could not take the city. The Liang court rewarded him by elevating Jinzhou to the Dingchang army, appointing Wenqi its military commissioner, and adding the title acting Grand Guardian. Before long Wenqi misgoverned the people; he once seized another man's wife and was denounced by her husband. He was dismissed and appointed metropolitan guards grand general. At that time Emperor Modi of Liang was indulging the feudal lords and found it difficult to issue a harsh order, so his reprimand read: "If I immediately apply severe punishment, you will say I do not remember your merit; if I wholly set aside established law, you will say I do not care for the common people. For one who is ruler of men, is it not difficult!" Wenqi was deeply ashamed. Soon he was transferred to General of the Right Gate Guards and commander of the Right Valiant Dragons. When Zhu Youqian of Hezhong rebelled, Wenqi was provisionally made defense commissioner of Ruzhou and array marshal of the Hezhong campaign; soon afterward he became acting governor of Yaozhou. When Zhuangzong entered Luoyang, Wenqi came to audience; an edict changed Yaozhou to the Shunyi army and again placed Wenqi in command, adding the title Merit-for-Loyalty-in-Faith. At the end of the Tongguang era, with western Shu already pacified, Wenqi was appointed military commissioner of Qinzhou. When Mingzong took the throne, Wenqi came to court and asked to remain at the capital; Mingzong approved and appointed him General of the Left Valiant Cavalry, granting him cash and grain each month to enrich his household. After a year Mingzong said to Military Affairs Commissioner An Chonghui: "Wenqi is an old acquaintance; he ought to be given an important post." Chonghui memorialized that there were no vacancies anywhere in the realm. On another day he raised the matter again; Chonghui, who was by nature domineering and obstinate, replied: "Your servant has repeatedly reported that there is no vacancy; the only post that could be replaced is that of Military Affairs Commissioner itself." Mingzong said: "Very well." Chonghui had no answer. Wenqi heard of the exchange, feared provoking the powerful minister, nearly fell ill, and for several months did not go out. Soon he was appointed military commissioner of Huazhou, retaining his titles as Grand Master for Splendid Happiness and acting Grand Mentor; he was advanced to Duke of Pingyuan commandery with a state fief, and his fief households were cumulatively increased to three thousand. When Wenqi took up his post, he used his own salary to repair more than a thousand shrines and government buildings, and also furnished post stations with splendid, sturdy guest accommodations; travelers praised them. During the Qingtai era he memorialized asking to retire to Songcheng; by decree he was granted retirement as Junior Mentor to the Heir Apparent. In the twelfth month of the first year of Tianfu he died at home at the age of seventy-five. An edict posthumously awarded him Grand Guardian to the Heir Apparent.
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安崇阮，字晉臣，潞州上黨人也。 少倜儻，有詞辯，善騎射。 父文祐，為牙門將。 唐光啟中，潞州軍校劉廣逐節度使高潯，據其城，僖宗詔文祐平之，既殺劉廣，召赴行在，授邛州刺史。 其後孟方立據邢、洺，率兵攻上黨，朝廷以文祐本潞人也，授昭義節度使，令討方立，自蜀至澤州與方立戰，敗歿於陣。 昭宗朝，宰臣崔魏公以文祐歿於王事，薦崇阮於朝，自是累任諸衛將軍。 梁氏革命，以崇阮明辯，遣使吳越，回以所獲橐裝，悉充貢奉，梁祖嘉之，故每歲乘軺於江、浙間，及回貢獻皆如初。 梁末帝嗣位，授客省使，知齊州事。 時梁軍與莊宗對壘於河上，冀王友謙以河中叛，末帝使段凝領軍經略蒲、晉，詔崇阮監軍，又知華、雍軍府事。 期年，授青州兵馬留後，入為諸衛上將軍。 唐天成中，授黔南節度使、檢校太保，尋移鎮夔州。 以蜀寇侵逼，棄城歸闕，改晉州節度使，復為諸衛上將軍。 高祖登極之二年，詔葬梁末帝，以崇阮梁之舊臣，令主葬事。 崇阮盡哀致禮，以襄其事，時人義之。 五年，以老病請告，授右衛上將軍致仕。 開運元年九月，卒於西京。 贈太傅。
An Chongruan, courtesy name Jinchen, was a native of Shangdang in Luzhou. In youth he was bold and unconventional, skilled in debate, and adept at mounted archery. His father Wenyou served as a yamen gate general. In the Tang Guangqi era the Luzhou army commander Liu Guang expelled the military commissioner Gao Xun and seized the city; Emperor Xizong ordered Wenyou to pacify the disturbance. After killing Liu Guang he was summoned to the mobile court and appointed prefect of Qiongzhou. Thereafter Meng Fangli held Xing and Ming and led troops against Shangdang; because Wenyou was a native of Luzhou, the court appointed him Zhaoyi military commissioner and ordered him to attack Fangli. He marched from Shu to Zezhou, fought Fangli, was defeated, and died in battle. During Emperor Zhaozong's reign the chief minister, the Duke of Wei, Cui, because Wenyou had died in the king's service, recommended Chongruan to court; thereafter he served repeatedly as a guards general. When the Liang house took power, because Chongruan was eloquent he was sent as envoy to Wu and Yue; on his return the goods he obtained were all submitted as tribute. The Liang founder was pleased, and each year he traveled by light carriage between the Jiang and Zhe regions; his tribute on return was always as generous as before. When Emperor Modi of Liang succeeded, he was appointed guest-reception commissioner and placed in charge of Qizhou affairs. At that time Liang armies faced Zhuangzong in stalemate on the Yellow River; the Prince of Ji, Youqian, rebelled at Hezhong; Emperor Modi had Duan Ning lead troops to manage Pu and Jin; an edict made Chongruan army supervisor, and he also oversaw the military prefectures of Hua and Yong. After a year he was appointed acting Qingzhou horse-army commissioner and entered service as a guards general. During the Tang Tiancheng era he was appointed military commissioner of Qiannan and acting Grand Guardian; soon afterward he was transferred to garrison Kuizhou. When Shu raiders pressed the borders he abandoned the city and returned to court, was reassigned as military commissioner of Jinzhou, and again became a guards general. In the second year of Gaozu's reign an edict ordered the burial of Emperor Modi of Liang; because Chongruan was an old minister of Liang, he was charged with overseeing the funeral. Chongruan performed the rites with full mourning and assisted the undertaking; people of the time praised his righteousness. In the fifth year, citing old age and illness, he requested leave and was granted retirement as General of the Right Guards. In the ninth month of the first year of Kaiyun he died at the western capital. He was posthumously awarded the title Grand Mentor.
11
楊彥詢，字成章，河中寶鼎人。 父規，累贈少師。 彥詢年十三，事青帥王師範，有書萬卷，以彥詢聰悟，使掌之。 及長，益加親信，常委監護郡兵。 及梁將楊師厚降下青州，彥詢隨師範歸命。 洎師範見殺，楊師厚領鄴，召置麾下，俾掌賓客。 唐莊宗入魏，復事焉。 同光元年冬，從平大梁，升為引進副使，將命西川及淮南稱旨，累遷內職。 明宗時，為客省使、檢校司徒，使兩浙回，授德州刺史。 末帝即位，改羽林將軍。 時高祖鎮太原，朝廷疑貳，以彥詢沈厚，擇充北京副留守。 清泰末，以宋審虔為北京留守，高祖深懷不足，以情告彥詢。 彥詢恐高祖失臣節，乃曰：「不知太原兵甲芻粟幾何，可敵大國否？ 請明公反覆慮之。」 蓋欲回其意也。 高祖曰：「我不忿小人相代，方寸決矣。」 彥詢知其不可諫，遂止。 左右欲害之，高祖曰：「唯副使一人我自保，明爾勿復言也。」 及即位，授齊州防禦使、檢校太保，旋改宣徽使。 從高祖入洛，加左驍衛上將軍兼職。 天福二年秋，出為鄧州節度使，歲餘，入為宣徽使。 四年，使於契丹。 六年春，授邢州節度使、檢校太傅。 時鎮州安重榮有不臣之狀，彥詢憂其窺伺，會車駕幸鄴，表求入覲。 高祖慮契丹怒安重榮之殺行人也，移兵犯境，復命彥詢使焉，仍恐重榮要之，由滄州路以入蕃。 戎主果怒重榮，彥詢具言非高祖本意，蓋如人家惡子，無如之何。 尋聞重榮犯闕，乃放還。 七年春，授華州節度使、檢校太尉。 在任二年，屬部內蝗旱，道堇相望，彥詢以官粟假貸，州民賴之存濟者甚眾。 開運初，以風痹授右金吾衛上將軍，俄卒於官，年七十四。 贈太子太師。
Yang Yanxun, courtesy name Chenzhang, was a native of Baoding in Hezhong. His father Gui was repeatedly posthumously awarded the title Junior Mentor. At thirteen Yanxun entered the service of the Qing prefect Wang Shifan, who possessed ten thousand volumes of books; because Yanxun was quick-witted, Shifan put him in charge of them. As he grew older he won still greater trust and was regularly entrusted to supervise the prefectural troops. When the Liang general Yang Shihou took Qingzhou, Yanxun followed Shifan in submitting. By the time Shifan was killed, Yang Shihou held Ye and summoned Yanxun to his staff, putting him in charge of guests. When Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang entered Wei, he again entered his service. In the winter of the first year of Tongguang he followed the pacification of Daliang, was promoted to deputy introducing commissioner, carried out missions to western Shu and Huainan to the emperor's satisfaction, and rose repeatedly in inner-court posts. Under Mingzong he served as guest-reception commissioner and acting Minister of Works; after a mission to the two Zhes he was appointed prefect of Dezhou. When Emperor Modi took the throne, he was made general of the Forest of Feathers. At that time Gaozu was stationed at Taiyuan; the court was suspicious of his loyalty and, because Yanxun was steady and thoughtful, chose him as deputy garrison commander of the northern capital. At the end of the Qingtai era Song Shenqian was made garrison commander of the northern capital; Gaozu was deeply displeased and confided his feelings to Yanxun. Yanxun feared that Gaozu would abandon his duty as a subject and said: "I do not know how much armor, fodder, and grain Taiyuan possesses—can it stand against the great state or not? I beg the Illustrious Lord to weigh the matter again and again." He meant thereby to turn Gaozu's mind. Gaozu said: "I cannot endure being displaced by petty men; my mind is made up." Yanxun knew he could not be dissuaded and said no more. Those around Gaozu wished to harm him; Gaozu said: "I alone will protect the deputy commissioner—understand this and say no more of it." When Gaozu took the throne, he appointed Yanxun defense commissioner of Qi Prefecture and acting Grand Guardian, then soon made him palace treasury commissioner. He followed Gaozu into Luoyang and was additionally appointed Left Valiant Cavalry supreme general. In autumn of Tianfu 2 he was sent out as military commissioner of Dengzhou; after more than a year he returned to court as palace treasury commissioner. In the fourth year he was dispatched on embassy to the Khitan. In spring of the sixth year he was made military commissioner of Xingzhou and acting Grand Tutor. At that time An Chongrong of Zhenzhou showed signs of rebellion, and Yanxun feared he was watching for an opportunity. When the emperor visited Ye, Yanxun memorialized requesting an audience. Gaozu feared the Khitan would be angered that An Chongrong had killed envoys and would march against the border. He again sent Yanxun on embassy, still fearing Chongrong might intercept him, and had him enter Khitan territory by way of Cangzhou. The Khitan ruler was indeed angry at Chongrong. Yanxun explained at length that this was not Gaozu's intent—it was like a wicked son in one's household, whom one cannot control. When he soon heard that Chongrong had marched on the capital, they sent Yanxun back. In spring of the seventh year he was made military commissioner of Huazhou and acting Grand Commandant. During his two years in office the prefecture suffered locusts and drought, and corpses lined the roads. Yanxun lent out official grain, and very many of the people survived by it. At the beginning of Kaiyun he suffered a paralytic stroke and was made Left Golden Valiants supreme general; he soon died in office at seventy-four. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Master of the Crown Prince.
12
李承約，字德儉，薊州人也。 曾祖瓊，薊州別駕，贈工部尚書。 祖安仁，檀州刺史，贈太子太保。 父君操，平州刺史，贈太子少師。 承約性剛健篤實，少習武事，弱冠為幽州牙門校，遷山後八軍巡檢使。 屬劉守光囚殺父兄，名儒宿將經事父兄者，多無辜被戮，自以握兵在外，心不自安。 時屬唐武皇召募英豪，方開霸業，乃以所部二千歸於并州，即補匡霸都指揮使、檢校右僕射兼領貝州刺史。 從破夾寨，及與梁人戰於臨清有功，再遷洺、汾二州。 莊宗即位，授檢校司空、磁州刺史，為治平直，移授潁州團練使。 天成中，以邠州節度使毛璋將圖不軌，乃命為涇州節度副使，且承密旨往偵之。 既至，以善言諭之，璋乃受代。 明宗賞其能，加檢校太保，拜黔南節度使。 數年之間，巴、邛蠻蜑不敢犯境，外勸農桑，內興學校，兇邪盡去，民皆感之，故父老數輩重趼詣闕，言其政化。 又聽留周歲，征為左衛上將軍，自左龍武統軍加特進、檢校太傅，充昭義軍節度使，賜推忠奉節翊戴功臣。 歲餘歸朝，復為左龍武統軍。 高祖禦宇之二年，授左驍衛上將軍，進封開國公，累上表請老，尋以病卒，時年七十五。 贈太子太師。
Li Chengyue, courtesy name Dejian, was a native of Jizhou. His great-grandfather Qiong served as vice prefect of Jizhou and was posthumously enfeoffed as Minister of Works. His grandfather Anren was prefect of Tanzhou and was posthumously enfeoffed as Crown Prince Grand Guardian. His father Juncao was prefect of Pingzhou and was posthumously enfeoffed as Crown Prince Junior Tutor. Chengyue was by nature sturdy, steadfast, and sincere. In youth he trained in military affairs. At twenty he was a company commander of the Ya Gate guard at Youzhou, then was promoted to inspector of the eight armies behind the mountains. When Liu Shouguang imprisoned and killed his father and elder brothers, many renowned scholars and veteran generals who had served them were slaughtered without cause. Chengyue, holding troops abroad, could not feel secure. At that time Emperor Wuzong of Tang was recruiting heroes and building his hegemony. Chengyue brought his two thousand men to Bingzhou and was at once appointed commander of the Suppressing-Bahe capital guard, acting Right Vice Minister, and concurrent prefect of Beizhou. He took part in breaking the encirclement and distinguished himself fighting Liang at Linqing, then was transferred twice to Luo and Fen. When Emperor Zhuangzong took the throne, Chengyue was appointed acting Minister of Works and prefect of Cizhou. His administration was fair and upright, and he was transferred to regimental commissioner of Yingzhou. During the Tiancheng era, when Binzhou military commissioner Mao Zhang was plotting rebellion, Chengyue was ordered to serve as deputy military commissioner of Jingzhou and was also given a secret edict to investigate him. When he arrived, he won Zhang over with persuasive words, and Zhang then agreed to be replaced. Emperor Mingzong rewarded his ability with acting Grand Guardian and appointed him military commissioner of Qiannan. Within a few years the Ba, Qiong tribes, and Dan raiders no longer dared cross the border. He promoted farming and sericulture abroad and founded schools at home; the wicked were driven out, and the people were deeply grateful. Several elders therefore traveled to the capital with feet calloused from the long journey to praise his governance. He was permitted to remain another year, then recalled as Left Guard supreme general. From commander of the Left Valiant Dragons he received extraordinary promotion and acting Grand Tutor, was made military commissioner of the Zhaoyi army, and granted the title Loyal, Observant, and Throne-Supporting Subject. After more than a year he returned to court and again became commander of the Left Valiant Dragons. In the second year of Gaozu's reign he was appointed Left Valiant Cavalry supreme general and enfeoffed as Duke Who Opens the State. He repeatedly memorialized asking to retire, but soon died of illness at seventy-five. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Master of the Crown Prince.
13
陸思鐸，澶州臨黃人。 父再端，贈光祿卿。 思鐸有武幹，梁太祖領四鎮，隸於麾下。 及即位，授廣武都指揮使，歷突陣、拱辰軍使，積前後戰勛，累官至檢校司徒、拱辰左廂都指揮使，遙領恩州刺史。 初，梁軍與莊宗對壘於河上，思鐸以善射，日預其戰。 嘗於箭笴之上自鏤其姓名，一日射中莊宗之馬鞍，莊宗拔箭視之，睹思鐸姓名，因而記之。 及莊宗平梁，思鐸以例來降，莊宗出箭以視之，思鐸伏地待罪，莊宗慰而釋之。 尋授龍武右廂都指揮使，加檢校太保。 天成中，為深州刺史，改雄捷右廂馬軍都指揮使。 會南伐荊門，思鐸亦預其行。 時高季興以舟兵拒王師，思鐸每發矢中敵，則洞胸達掖，由是賊鋒稍挫，不敢輕進，諸軍鹹壯之。 高祖革命，拜陳州刺史，秩滿，歷左神武、羽林二統軍，出為蔡州刺史，遇代歸朝。 天福八年，以疾卒，時年五十四。 思鐸典陳郡日，甚有惠政，常戒諸子曰：「我死則藏骨於宛丘，使我棲魂於所治之地。」 及卒，乃葬於陳，從其志也。
Lu Siduo was a native of Linhuang in Cao Prefecture. His father Zaiduan was posthumously enfeoffed as Director of the Imperial Household. Siduo had martial talent. When the Liang founding emperor held the four commands, Siduo served under his banner. When the emperor took the throne, Siduo was appointed commander of the Expansive Martial army and served as commander of the Sudden Array and Bowing to Heaven armies. With repeated battle honors he rose to acting Minister of Works, commander of the left wing of the Bowing to Heaven army, and titular prefect of Enzhou. Earlier, when Liang and Zhuangzong faced each other across the Yellow River, Siduo, skilled in archery, fought in the battles every day. He once carved his name into an arrow shaft. One day he shot and struck Emperor Zhuangzong's saddle. Zhuangzong drew out the arrow, saw Siduo's name carved on it, and remembered him. When Zhuangzong conquered Liang, Siduo surrendered according to precedent. Zhuangzong produced the arrow to show him. Siduo prostrated himself to await punishment, but Zhuangzong comforted him and let him go. Soon he was made commander of the right wing of the Valiant Dragon army and acting Grand Guardian. During Tiancheng he was prefect of Shenzhou, then became commander of the right-wing cavalry of the Valiant Achievers. When the court campaigned south against Jingmen, Siduo took part as well. At that time Gao Jixing used naval forces to resist the imperial army. Whenever Siduo's arrow found its mark, it pierced clean through from chest to armpit. The enemy vanguard was thus checked and no longer dared press forward rashly, and the armies took heart. When Gaozu founded the dynasty, Siduo was appointed prefect of Chenzhou. After his term ended he served in succession as commander of the Left Divine Martial and Forest of Plumes armies, was sent out as prefect of Caizhou, and returned to court when replaced. In Tianfu 8 he died of illness at fifty-four. While governing Chen commandery Siduo carried out benevolent policies and often warned his sons, saying, "When I die, bury my bones at Wansui and let my soul rest in the land I governed." When he died they buried him at Chen, as he had wished.
14
安元信，朔州馬邑人也。 少善騎射。 後唐莊宗為晉王時，元信詣軍門求自效。 尋隸明宗麾下，累從明宗征討有功，明宗即位，擢為捧聖軍使，加檢校兵部尚書。 清泰三年，遷雄義都指揮使，受詔屯於代州，太守張朗遇之甚厚，元信亦以兄事之。 是歲五月，高祖建義於太原，俄聞契丹有約赴難，元信入說朗曰：「張敬達雖圍太原，而兵尚未合，代郡當雁門之沖，敵至其何以禦？ 仆觀石令公素長者，舉必成事，若使人道意歸款，俟其兩端，亦求全之上策也。」 朗不納，元信悔以誠言之，反相猜忌。 尋聞安重榮、安審信相次以騎兵赴太原，元信遂率部曲以歸高祖。 〈（《通鑒》：元信謀殺朗，不克，帥其眾奔審信，審信遂帥麾下數百騎，與元信掠百井奔晉陽。）〉 高祖見之喜，謂元信曰：「爾睹何利害，背強歸弱？」 元信曰：「某非知星識氣，唯以人事斷之。 夫帝王者，出語行令，示人以信。 嘗聞主上許令公河東一生，今遽改之，是自欺也。 且令公國之密親，親尚不能保，肯保天下之心乎！ 以斯而言，見其亡也，何得為強也。」 高祖知其誠，因開懷納之，委以戎事。 高祖即位之元年，授耀州團練使，加檢校太保。 四年，入為右神武統軍，其年八月，復出牧洺州。 少帝嗣位，尋遷宿州，九年，罷任來朝。 開運初，授復州防禦使。 三年，卒於任，年六十三。 贈太傅。
An Yuanxin was a native of Mayi in Shuozhou. In youth he excelled at mounted archery. When Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang was still Prince of Jin, Yuanxin came to the army gate to offer his service. He soon entered Mingzong's service and followed him on repeated campaigns with distinction. When Mingzong took the throne he was promoted to commander of the Upholding Sagacity army and acting Minister of War. In Qingtai 3 he was transferred to commander of the Valiant Righteous army and ordered to garrison at Daizhou. The defender Zhang Lang treated him very generously, and Yuanxin in turn treated him as an elder brother. That year in the fifth month Gaozu raised his banner at Taiyuan. Soon word came that the Khitan had agreed to come to his aid. Yuanxin went to persuade Lang, saying, "Zhang Jingda may have besieged Taiyuan, but his forces are not yet fully gathered. Dai commandery stands at the throat of Wild Goose Gate—when the enemy arrives, how will you defend it? I see that Lord Shi has always been a man of stature, and his cause is sure to prevail. If you send someone to convey your intent to submit and keep your options open, that is the best way to preserve yourself." Lang would not listen. Yuanxin regretted having spoken frankly, and thereafter they grew suspicious of each other. When he soon heard that An Chongrong and An Shenxin had in succession led cavalry to Taiyuan, Yuanxin led his personal troops to join Gaozu. (Comprehensive Mirror: Yuanxin plotted to kill Lang but failed, then led his men to join Shenxin. Shenxin then led several hundred horsemen under his command, together with Yuanxin, to raid Baijing and flee to Jinyang.)〉 Gaozu was delighted to see him and said to Yuanxin, "What did you see in the balance of advantage and harm, that you abandoned the strong to join the weak? Yuanxin said, "I do not read the stars or discern the qi of the age—I judge only by human affairs. A man who would be emperor speaks and acts in a way that shows the people he can be trusted. I once heard that the present sovereign promised Lord Shi Hedong for life, yet now he suddenly revokes it—that is deceiving himself. Moreover Lord Shi is the state's close kin. If he cannot even protect his own kin, how can he win the hearts of the realm! From that one sees his ruin—how can he be called strong?" Gaozu knew he spoke sincerely, welcomed him wholeheartedly, and entrusted him with military affairs. In the first year of Gaozu's reign he was appointed regimental commissioner of Yaozhou and acting Grand Guardian. In the fourth year he entered court as commander of the Right Divine Martial army; that same year, in the eighth month, he was again sent out to govern Luozhou. When Emperor Shaodi succeeded, he was soon transferred to Suzhou. In the ninth year his term ended and he returned to court. At the beginning of Kaiyun he was appointed defense commissioner of Fuzhou. In the third year he died in office at sixty-three. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Tutor.
15
張朗，徐州蕭縣人。 父楚，贈工部尚書。 朗年十八，善射，膂力過人，鄉里敬憚之，梁祖聞其名，就補蕭縣鎮使，充吾縣都遊奕使，時朗年才二十三。 歲餘，補宣武軍內衙都將，歷洛州步軍、曹州開武、汴州十內衙、鄆州都指揮使。 梁末，從招討使段凝襲衛州，下之，遂授衛州刺史。 事梁僅三年，凡有征討，無不預之。 同光三年，從魏王繼岌伐蜀，為先鋒橋道使。 明宗朝，歷興、忠、登三州刺史。 清泰初，以契丹犯邊，補西北面行營步軍都指揮使，從高祖屯軍於代北，俄兼代州刺史，又改行營諸軍馬步都虞候。 高祖建義於太原，遣使以書諭之，朗曰：「為人臣而有二心可乎！」 乃斬其使。 〈（《通鑒》：帝以晉安已降，遣使諭諸州，代州刺史張朗斬其使。 蓋晉祖初起，安元信勸朗歸順，不從，至是復斬其使也。）〉 洎高祖入洛，領全師朝覲，授貝州防禦使，在任數歲。 天福五年，除左羽林統軍，六年，授光祿大夫、檢校太傅、慶州刺史。 在官二年卒，年七十四。
Zhang Lang was a native of Xiaoxian in Xuzhou. His father Chu was posthumously enfeoffed as Minister of Works. At eighteen Lang was skilled in archery and unusually strong; his neighbors both respected and feared him. The Liang founding ancestor heard of him and appointed him garrison commander of Xiaoxian and touring commissioner of the district—Lang was then only twenty-three. After more than a year he became an inner-palace commander of the Xuanwu army and served in succession as Luozhou infantry commander, Caozhou Kaiwu commander, one of Bianzhou's ten inner-palace commanders, and Yunzhou army commander. Late in Liang he followed pacification commissioner Duan Ning in attacking Weizhou, took it, and was appointed prefect of Weizhou. In only three years of service to Liang he took part in every campaign. In Tongguang 3 he followed Prince of Wei Jiji in the Shu campaign as vanguard bridge-and-road commissioner. Under Mingzong he served in succession as prefect of Xing, Zhong, and Deng. At the beginning of Qingtai, when the Khitan raided the border, he was appointed northwestern campaign infantry commander-in-chief, followed Gaozu in garrisoning northern Dai, soon also served concurrently as prefect of Daizhou, and was later made chief adjutant of horse and foot for the campaign armies. When Gaozu raised his banner at Taiyuan he sent envoys with letters urging him to submit. Lang said, "Can a subject harbor two hearts!" He then beheaded the envoys. (Comprehensive Mirror: Because Jin'an had already surrendered, the emperor sent envoys to instruct the various prefectures, but Zhang Lang, prefect of Daizhou, beheaded his envoys. When the Jin founder first rose, An Yuanxin had urged Lang to submit, but he refused; now he again beheaded the envoys.)〉 When Gaozu entered Luoyang, Lang led his entire army to audience and was appointed defense commissioner of Beizhou, where he served several years. In Tianfu 5 he was made commander of the Left Forest of Plumes; in the sixth year he was given Grandee Counsellor of State, acting Grand Tutor, and prefect of Qingzhou. He died in office after two years at seventy-four.
16
田武，字德偉，大名元城人。 父簡，累贈右僕射。 武少有拳勇，初事莊宗為小校，歷遷勝節指揮使。 明宗登極，轉帳前都指揮使，領澶州刺史。 天成二年，改左羽林都指揮使，遙領宜州，充襄州都巡檢使。 三年，自汴州馬步軍都指揮使授曹州刺史。 長興初，遷齊州防御史，又移洺州。 清泰中，歷成、隴二州，充西面行軍副部署。 天福初，授金州防禦使，及金州建節鉞，武丁母憂，乃起復為節度使。 開運元年，移鎮滄州，兼北面行營右廂都指揮使。 二年，授寧江軍節度使，充侍衛步軍都指揮使。 歲內改昭義軍節度、澤潞等州管內觀察處置等使、潞州大都督府長史、檢校太傅，封雁門郡開國公。 未赴任，以疾卒。 武出身戎行，性鯁正，禦軍治民，鹹盡其善。 及卒，朝廷惜之，詔贈太尉，輟視朝一日。
Tian Wu, courtesy name Dewei, was a native of Yuancheng in Daming. His father Jian received repeated posthumous promotions to Right Vice Minister. Wu in youth was bold in hand-to-hand fighting. He first served Zhuangzong as a petty officer and rose in succession to commander of the Shengjie army. When Mingzong ascended the throne, Wu was made commander before the imperial tent and appointed prefect of Cao Prefecture. In Tiancheng 2 he became commander of the Left Forest of Plumes army, held Yizhou in title only, and served as touring inspector of Xiangzhou. In the third year he was appointed prefect of Caozhou after serving as Bianzhou horse-and-foot army commander-in-chief. At the beginning of Changxing he was transferred to defense commissioner of Qizhou, then to Luozhou. During Qingtai he served in succession at Cheng and Long and was deputy deployment of the western campaign army. At the beginning of Tianfu he was appointed defense commissioner of Jinzhou. When Jinzhou was elevated to a full military commission, Wu was mourning his mother but was recalled from mourning to serve as military commissioner. In Kaiyun 1 he was transferred to garrison Cangzhou and concurrently made Right Wing commander-in-chief of the Northern Campaign army. In the second year he was appointed military commissioner of the Ningjiang army and commander-in-chief of the palace guard infantry. Within the year he was transferred to military commissioner of the Zhaoyi army, commissioner for observation and disposition of Ze, Lu, and other prefectures, senior administrator of the Lu metropolitan prefecture, acting Grand Tutor, and enfeoffed as Duke Who Opens the State of Yanmen commandery. Before he could take up the post he died of illness. Wu came up through the ranks; he was upright by nature, and whether commanding troops or governing the people he did all to the best of his ability. When he died the court mourned his loss, posthumously enfeoffed him as Grand Marshal, and suspended court audiences for a day.
17
子仁朗、仁遇並歷內職。 〈（《宋史》：仁朗以父任西頭供奉官。）〉
His sons Renlang and Renyu both served at court. (The History of Song records that Renlang received appointment as western-head attendant through his father's office.)〉
18
李承福，字德華，漢陽人。 少寒賤，事元行欽掌皂棧之役，後為高祖家臣。 高祖登極，歷皇城武德宣徽使、左千牛將軍，出為澶州刺史，遷齊州防禦使、檢校太保。 承福性鄙狹，無器局，好察人微事，多所詆訐，雖小過不能恕，工商之業，輿隸之情，官吏之幸，皆善知之，然自任所見，無所準的，故人多薄之。 少帝嗣位，授同州節度使，尋卒於鎮。 少帝以高祖佐命之臣，聞之嗟嘆，賻物加等，輟視朝一日，詔贈太傅。
Li Chengfu, courtesy name Dehua, was a native of Hanyang. Born poor and lowly, he served Yuan Xingqin managing the stables and later became a household retainer of Gaozu. When Gaozu took the throne, Chengfu served as Wude palace treasury commissioner of the Imperial City and as Left Thousand-Ox general, was sent out as prefect of Chanzhou, and was transferred to defense commissioner of Qizhou and acting Grand Guardian. Chengfu was mean-spirited and narrow-minded, without breadth of character. He pried into petty matters and slandered others relentlessly, forgiving not even small faults. He knew the trades of merchants and artisans, the gossip of servants, and the private fortunes of officials—but trusted only his own judgment, without consistent principle, and many despised him for it. When the Young Emperor succeeded, he was appointed military commissioner of Tongzhou and soon died in office. The Young Emperor, remembering him as one of Gaozu's founding ministers, sighed at the news, raised the funeral gifts by one grade, suspended court for a day, and posthumously enfeoffed him as Grand Tutor.
19
相裏金，字奉金，并州人也。 性勇悍果敢，能折節下士。 唐景福初，武皇始置五院兵，金首預其選。 從莊宗攻下夾寨，得補為小校，後與梁師戰於柏鄉及胡柳陂，以功授黃甲指揮使。 同光中，統帳前軍拔中都，賜忠勇拱衛功臣、檢校刑部尚書。 二年，自羽林都虞候出為忻州刺史，凡部曲私屬，皆不令干預民事，但優其贍給，使分掌家事而已，故郡民安之，大有聲績。 應順元年，為隴州防禦使，會唐末帝起兵於鳳翔，傳檄於鄰道，諸侯無應者，唯金遣判官薛文遇往來計事，末帝深德之。 及即位，擢為陜州節度使加檢校太保。 清泰三年夏，高祖建義於太原，唐末帝發兵來攻，以金為太原四面步軍都指揮使。 高祖即位，移鎮晉州，及受代歸闕，累為諸衛上將軍，加開府儀同三司，官至檢校太尉。 爵列開國公，勛登上柱國，以久居散地，優之故也。 天福五年夏，卒於任。 贈太師。
Xiang Lijin, courtesy name Fengjin, was a native of Bingzhou. He was fierce, bold, and resolute, yet able to humble himself before men of talent. At the beginning of the Tang Jingfu era, when the Martial Emperor first established the Five-Court armies, Jin was among the first selected. He followed Zhuangzong in the capture of the stockaded camps and was made a junior officer. Later he fought Liang forces at Baixiang and Huliupo and, for his service, was appointed commander of the Yellow Armor corps. During the Tongguang era he led the vanguard in the capture of Zhongdu and was granted the title Meritorious Minister of Loyal Valor and Imperial Guard and acting Minister of Justice. In the second year he left his post as Feathered Forest adjutant to become prefect of Xinzhou. He forbade his troops and personal retainers to meddle in civil affairs, contenting himself with generous support while they managed his household affairs alone. The prefecture lived in peace under him, and his reputation was excellent. In the first year of Yingshun he was defense commissioner of Longzhou. When the Last Emperor of Tang raised troops at Fengxiang and sent proclamations along the neighboring circuits, no other lord responded—only Jin sent his judicial officer Xue Wenyu to consult on strategy, for which the Last Emperor was deeply grateful. When he took the throne, Jin was promoted to military commissioner of Shaanzhou and acting Grand Guardian. In the summer of the third year of Qingtai, when Gaozu raised the righteous cause at Taiyuan and the Last Emperor of Tang sent troops against him, Jin was appointed overall commander of the foot forces encircling Taiyuan on all sides. When Gaozu took the throne, Jin was transferred to Jinzhou. After his term ended he returned to court and served repeatedly as supreme general of the guards, was given the rank of Palace Captain with ceremonial parity to the Three Excellencies, and rose to acting Grand Marshal. He held the noble rank of founding duke and the merit rank of Pillar of the State—honors granted because he had long served in lighter posts at court. In the summer of the fifth year of Tianfu he died in office. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Preceptor.
20
史臣曰：在禮之起甘陵也，當鼎革之期，會富貴來逼，既因人成事，亦何足自多。 及其仗鉞擁旄，積財敗德，貨之為累，可不誡乎！ 全節之佐晉氏也，平安陸之妖，預宗城之戰，功既茂矣，貴亦宜然。 張筠歷事累朝，享茲介福，蓋近代之幸人也。 自溫琪而下，皆服冕乘軒，苴茅燾土，垂名汗簡，詠亦宜焉。
The historiographer writes: Zaili's rise at Ganling came during a dynastic transition, when fortune pressed upon him. Having achieved his position through others' efforts, there was little cause for self-congratulation. Once he bore commander's authority, he amassed wealth and ruined his virtue. How wealth can become a burden—surely this is a warning worth heeding! Quanjie's service to the Jin house included pacifying An Chongrong's rebellion and fighting at Zongcheng. His achievements were considerable, and his honors were deserved. Zhang Yun served successive dynasties and enjoyed such good fortune—among the men of recent times, he was singularly blessed. From Wenqi onward, all wore court regalia and rode noble carriages, received feudal investiture, and left their names in the historical records—praise was fitting for them all.