1
盧質，字子徵，河南人也。 曾祖偲，唐太原府祁縣尉，累贈右僕射。 祖衍，唐刑部侍郎、太子賓客，累贈太保。 父望，唐尚書司勛郎中，累贈太子少傅。 質幼聰慧，善屬文。 年十六，陜帥王重盈奏授芮城令，能以色養。 又為同州澄城令，從私便也。 秩滿改秘書郎，丁母憂，歸河南故裏。 天祐三年，北遊太原，時李襲吉在武皇幕府，以女妻之。 武皇憐其才，承制授檢校兵部郎中，充河東節度掌書記，賜緋魚袋。 武皇厭代，其弟克寧握兵柄，有嗣襲之望，質與張承業等密謀，同立莊宗為嗣，有翊贊之功。 及莊宗四征，質皆從行。 十六年，轉節度判官、檢校禮部尚書。 十九年，莊宗將即帝位，命為大禮使，累加至銀青光祿大夫、檢校右僕射。 二十年，授行臺禮部尚書。 莊宗既登極，欲相之，質性疏逸，不喜居高位，固辭獲免。 尋以本官兼太原尹，充北京留守事，未赴任，改戶部尚書、知制誥，充翰林學士承旨。 同光元年冬，從平大梁，權判租庸事，逾月隨駕都洛，旋受詔權知汴州軍府事。 時孔謙握利權，志在聚斂，累移文於汴，配民放絲，質堅論之，事雖不行，時論賞之。 俄又改金紫光祿大夫、兵部尚書、知制誥、翰林學士承旨，仍賜論思匡佐功臣。 會覆試進士，質以「後從諫則聖」為賦題，以「堯、舜、禹、湯傾心求過」為韻，舊例賦韻四平四側，質所出韻乃五平三側，由是大為識者所誚。 天成元年，制授特進、檢校司空、同州節度使。 時宰相馮道以詩餞別，其警句云：「視草北來唐學士，擁旄西去漢將軍。」 儒者榮之。 明年，改賜耀忠匡定保節功臣，就加檢校司徒。 三年，入拜兵部尚書，判太僕卿事。 四年，進封開國公。 長興二年，授檢校太保、河陽節度使，未幾，移鎮滄州，入為右僕射。 及秦王得罪，奉詔權知河南府事。 應順初，遷檢校太傅，正拜河南尹，後改太子少師。 清泰末，復為右僕射。 高祖登極，質以微恙分司洛宅。 少帝嗣位，拜太子太保。 天福七年秋，卒於洛陽，年七十六。 累贈太子太師，謚曰文忠。 〈（《五代會要》：漢乾祐元年九月，其子尚書兵部員外郎盧瓊上章請謚，下太常議，謚曰文忠。）〉
Lu Zhi, whose courtesy name was Zizheng, came from Henan. His great-grandfather Si had served as magistrate of Qi County in Taiyuan Prefecture under the Tang, and was posthumously promoted by successive honors to Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. His grandfather Yan had been Vice Minister of Justice and Tutor to the Crown Prince under the Tang, and was posthumously raised by successive honors to Grand Tutor. His father Wang had served as Director in the Bureau of Merits under the Tang Ministry of Personnel, and was posthumously promoted by successive honors to Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince. From childhood Zhi was exceptionally bright and gifted at literary composition. At sixteen, Wang Chongying, military governor of Shaanxi, had him appointed magistrate of Ruicheng by imperial order, and he was able to support his parents with devoted filial care. He later served as magistrate of Chengcheng in Tong Prefecture, a post chosen for his own convenience. When his term ended he was appointed Secretary; after his mother's death he returned to his ancestral home in Henan. In the third year of Tianyou he went north to Taiyuan, where Li Xiji was then serving on the Martial Emperor's staff and gave him his daughter in marriage. The Martial Emperor admired his talent and, acting by imperial commission, appointed him acting Director in the Bureau of Military Affairs and secretarial recorder for the Hedong military commission, granting him the scarlet robe and fish tally. After the Martial Emperor's death his younger brother Kening held the army and hoped to succeed him, but Zhi joined Zhang Chengye and others in a secret plot to install Zhuangzong as heir, earning merit for his loyal support. On all four of Zhuangzong's major campaigns, Zhi accompanied the army. In the sixteenth year he was made adjutant of the military commission and acting Minister of Rites. In the nineteenth year, as Zhuangzong prepared to take the throne, he was appointed Director of Grand Ceremonies and was promoted in succession to Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and acting Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. In the twentieth year he was appointed Minister of Rites of the mobile imperial secretariat. Once Zhuangzong had taken the throne he wished to make Zhi chief minister, but Zhi was by nature easygoing and aloof and disliked high office; he firmly declined and was excused. Soon he was additionally appointed Governor of Taiyuan and charged as regent of the northern capital, but before he took up the post he was reassigned as Minister of Revenue, Controller of Edicts, and Chief Academician of the Hanlin Academy. In the winter of the first year of Tongguang he followed the conquest of Daliang and was temporarily placed in charge of equal-tax and corvée affairs; a month later he accompanied the court to Luoyang, and soon received orders to serve as acting administrator of the Bianzhou military headquarters. At that time Kong Qian controlled the finances and was intent on squeezing revenue; he repeatedly sent orders to Bian requiring the people to be levied for silk deliveries. Zhi argued vigorously against this, and although his protest was not heeded, public opinion praised him. Before long he was promoted to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon, Minister of War, Controller of Edicts, and Chief Academician of the Hanlin Academy, and was granted the title Meritorious Minister for Deliberation and Support. When the repeat examination for presented scholars was held, Zhi set the fu topic "He who later follows remonstrance is sage" with the rhyme phrase "Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang bent their hearts to seek their faults." By precedent fu rhymes required four level tones and four oblique tones, but Zhi's set had five level and three oblique, and learned opinion mocked him roundly for it. In the first year of Tiancheng he was appointed by edict Special Advancement, acting Minister of Works, and military governor of Tong Prefecture. Chief Minister Feng Dao wrote a farewell poem whose memorable lines ran: "A Tang academician come from the north to draft edicts, a Han general going west bearing his commander's banner. Men of learning regarded this as a great honor. The following year he was granted the title Meritorious Minister for Glorious Loyalty, Rectification, and Preservation of Integrity and was further promoted to acting Minister of Education. In the third year he entered court as Minister of War and was concurrently charged with the duties of Director of the Imperial Stud. In the fourth year he was enfeoffed as Duke Who Establishes the State. In the second year of Changxing he was appointed acting Grand Mentor and military governor of Heyang; soon he was transferred to Cang Prefecture, then recalled to court as Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. When the Prince of Qin fell from favor, he was ordered to serve as acting administrator of Henan Prefecture. At the beginning of Yingshun he was promoted to acting Grand Preceptor and formally appointed Governor of Henan; he was later made Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince. Late in Qingtai he again became Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. When Gaozu took the throne, Zhi, suffering a minor illness, held a nominal post at his Luoyang residence. When the Lesser Emperor succeeded to the throne, Zhi was appointed Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. In the autumn of the seventh year of Tianfu he died in Luoyang at the age of seventy-six. He was posthumously promoted by successive honors to Grand Preceptor to the Crown Prince and was given the posthumous title Wenzhong. (From the Essentials of the Five Dynasties: In the ninth month of the first year of Gan you of Han, his son Lu Qiong, Outer Director in the Bureau of Military Affairs under the Ministry of War, submitted a memorial requesting a posthumous title; the Court of Imperial Sacrifices was ordered to deliberate, and the posthumous title Wenzhong was granted.)〉
2
子十一人，唯第六子夏，仕至省郎，余歷州縣焉。
He had eleven sons; only the sixth, Xia, rose to a directorship in a central ministry, while the others served in prefectural and county posts.
3
李專美，字翊商，京兆萬年人也。 曾祖隨，光祿卿。 祖正範，尚書庫部郎中。 專美少篤學文，以父樞唐昭宗時常應進士舉，為覆試所落，不許再入，專美心愧之，由是不遊文場。 偽梁貞明中，河南尹張全義以專美名族之後，奏為陸渾尉，秩滿，改舞陽令。 專美性廉謹，大著政聲。 後唐天成中，安邑榷鹽使李肅辟為推官，時唐末帝鎮河中，見其敦雅，心重之。 末帝一日曾召肅宴於衙署，專美亦預坐，末帝謂肅曰：「某夜來夢主上召去，與宋王同剃卻頭，何也？」 坐客都無對者，專美屏人謂曰：「將來必為嗣主。」 由是愈重焉。 末帝留守長安，奏為從事，及移鎮鳳翔，遷為記室。 末帝即位，除尚書庫部郎中，賜金紫，充樞密院直學士。 初，末帝起自鳳翔，大許諸軍厚賞。 洎至洛陽，閱內庫金帛不過二三萬，尋又配率京城戶民，雖行捶楚，亦所獲無幾，末帝憂之。 會專美宿於禁中，末帝召而讓之曰：「卿士人子弟，常言有才術，今致我至此，不能度運以濟時事，留才術何施也！」 專美惶恐待罪，良久奏曰：「臣才力駑劣，屬當興運，陛下猥垂錄任，無以裨益聖朝，然府藏空竭，軍賞不給，非臣之罪也。 臣思明宗棄代之際，是時府庫濫賞已竭，繼以鄂王臨朝，紀綱大壞，縱有無限之財賦，不能滿驕軍溪壑之心，所以陛下孤立岐陽而得天下。 臣以為國之存亡，不專在行賞，須刑政立於上，恥格行於下，賞當功，罰當罪，則近於理道也。 若陛下不改覆車之轍，以賞無賴之軍，徒困蒸民，存亡未可知也。 今宜取見在財賦以給之，不必踐前言而希茍悅。」 末帝然之。 及其行賞，雖不愜於軍士，然洛陽戶民獲免鞭笞之苦，由專美之敷揚也。 尋轉給事中，明年，遷兵部侍郎、端明殿學士，未幾，改檢校尚書右僕射、守秘書監，充宣徽北院使。 高祖入洛，以例除名。 三年，復授衛尉少卿，繼遷鴻臚、大理卿。 開運中，以病卒，時年六十二。
Li Zhuanmei, whose courtesy name was Yishang, came from Wannian in Jingzhao. His great-grandfather Sui had been Director of the Imperial Banquets. His grandfather Zhengfan had been Director in the Bureau of Storehouses under the Ministry of Works. Zhuanmei from youth was devoted to scholarship and letters. His father Shu had once taken the presented-scholar examination under Emperor Zhaozong of Tang but was failed in the repeat examination and barred from re-entry; ashamed on his father's account, Zhuanmei never entered the examination arena himself. During the Zhenming era of the Liang, Zhang Quanyi, Governor of Henan, because Zhuanmei came from a distinguished clan, had him appointed sheriff of Luhun; when his term ended he was made magistrate of Wuyang. Zhuanmei was by nature incorrupt and cautious, and his administrative reputation was excellent. In the Tiancheng era of Later Tang, Li Su, commissioner for the salt monopoly at Anyi, recruited him as investigating officer. The Last Emperor of Tang was then military governor of Hezhong; seeing Zhuanmei's earnest refinement, he came to esteem him highly. One day the Last Emperor summoned Su to a banquet at headquarters; Zhuanmei was also present. The Last Emperor said to Su: "Last night I dreamed that the sovereign summoned me and that the Prince of Song and I had our heads shaved together—what can this mean? None of the guests could answer. Zhuanmei drew him aside and said: "You will surely become the heir sovereign." From that time the Last Emperor valued him all the more. When the Last Emperor served as regent at Chang'an, he had Zhuanmei appointed as staff officer; when he was transferred to Fengxiang, Zhuanmei was promoted to recorder. When the Last Emperor took the throne, Zhuanmei was appointed Director in the Bureau of Storehouses, granted the gold seal and purple robe, and made direct academician of the Bureau of Military Affairs. When the Last Emperor first rose from Fengxiang, he had promised the armies lavish rewards. When he reached Luoyang and inspected the inner treasury, he found no more than twenty or thirty thousand in gold and silk. He then levied assessments on the capital's households, but even with beatings the yield was meager, and the Last Emperor was deeply troubled. Once when Zhuanmei was staying in the palace, the Last Emperor summoned and rebuked him: "You are the son of a scholar-official family and always claim talent and ability—yet you have brought me to this pass and cannot read the times to rescue the situation. What good is talent left unused? Zhuanmei, trembling with fear, waited a long while and then replied: "Your servant's abilities are mean, and though I have had the honor of serving in a time of rising fortune, I have been unable to benefit the court. Yet the treasury is empty and army rewards cannot be paid—this is not my fault. Consider Mingzong's death: the treasury had already been drained by reckless rewards. Then the Prince of E held court and discipline collapsed utterly. Even limitless wealth could not have satisfied the insatiable armies. That is why Your Majesty, standing alone at Qiyang, was able to win the realm. I believe a state's survival does not depend on rewards alone. Punishment and government must be established above, and the sense of shame must operate below; rewards must match merit and punishments must match crimes—then one approaches the way of good governance. If Your Majesty does not turn from the path that overturned the cart and keeps rewarding unruly troops, you will only exhaust the people, and whether the state survives is uncertain. You should pay them from wealth and revenue actually on hand, and need not fulfill your earlier promises merely to win momentary favor." The Last Emperor agreed. When rewards were distributed the soldiers were dissatisfied, but the households of Luoyang were spared the lash—thanks to Zhuanmei's advocacy. Soon he was made Supervising Censor; the next year he was promoted to Vice Minister of War and academician of the Hall of Brilliant Governance; before long he was made acting Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, acting Director of the Imperial Library, and Commissioner of the Northern Bureau of the Palace Secretariat. When Gaozu entered Luoyang, Zhuanmei was removed from office according to precedent. In the third year he was again appointed Vice Director of the Imperial Ancestral Temple and was subsequently promoted to Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments and Director of the Court of Judicial Review. During the Kaiyun era he died of illness at the age of sixty-two.
4
專美之遠祖本出姑臧大房，與清河小房崔氏、北祖第二房盧氏、昭國鄭氏為四望族，皆不以才行相尚，不以軒冕為貴，雖布衣徒步，視公卿蔑如也。 男女婚嫁，不雜他姓，欲聘其族，厚贈金帛始許焉。 唐太宗曾降詔以戒其弊風，終莫能改。 其間有未達者，必曰：「姓崔、盧、李、鄭了，余復何求耶！」 其遠者，則邈在天表，敻若千里，人罕造其門，浮薄自大，皆此類也。 唯專美未嘗以氏族形於口吻，見寒素士大夫，恒恂恂如也，人以此多之。 專美職岐下，曾夢具裳簡立嵩山之頂。 及為端明殿學士，學士李崧同列而班在其上，因以所夢告崧，且言：「某非德非勛，安可久居此位，處吾子之首乎！」 因懇求他官，尋移宣徽使，崧深德之。 及高祖臨朝，崧為樞密使，與桑維翰同列，維翰與專美亦有舊，乃協力以奏之，遂復朝序，位至九卿。 專美曾使閩中，遇風水漂至兩浙，逾歲無恙而還，至是善終，人以為神道福謙之所致也。
Zhuanmei's remote ancestors came from the great branch of the clan at Guzang. Together with the minor branch of the Cui of Qinghe, the second northern branch of the Lu, and the Zheng of Zhaoguo they formed the four eminent clans. None prized conduct or talent in one another, nor regarded rank and office as honorable; even in plain dress and on foot they looked down on dukes and ministers as beneath notice. In marriage they would not mix with other surnames; those who wished to marry into these clans had to offer lavish gifts of gold and silk before consent was granted. Emperor Taizong of Tang once issued an edict warning against this corrupt custom, yet it could never be changed. Those among them who had not yet attained office would say: "One has the surnames Cui, Lu, Li, and Zheng—what more could one want! The more remote among them were as distant as the heavens, remote as a thousand li; people rarely crossed their thresholds. Frivolous, shallow, and arrogant—all were of this kind. Only Zhuanmei never flaunted his clan name; toward poor and plain scholar-officials he was always respectful and deferential, and people praised him for it. While serving below Qi, Zhuanmei once dreamed that he stood atop Mount Song in full court dress holding bamboo slips. When he became academician of the Hall of Brilliant Governance, Academician Li Song was his colleague but ranked above him in court order. He told Song of his dream and said: "I lack both virtue and merit—how can I long hold this position above you! He earnestly requested another post and was soon transferred to Commissioner of the Palace Secretariat; Song was deeply grateful. When Gaozu held court, Song was Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs and sat with Sang Weihan; Weihan also had old ties with Zhuanmei, and together they memorialized on his behalf. He was restored to court rank and rose to one of the nine ministers. Zhuanmei had once been sent on mission to Min; he was driven by storm to the two Zhe regions but returned unharmed after more than a year. When he now died a peaceful death, people attributed it to the spirits rewarding his modesty.
5
崔棁，字子文，博陵安平人。 累世冠冕。 曾祖元受，舉進士，直史館。 祖銖，安、濮二州刺史。 父涿，刑部郎中。 棁少好學，梁貞明三年，舉進士甲科，為開封尹王瓚從事。 棁性至孝，父涿有疾，謂親友曰：「死生有命，無醫為也。」 棁侍之衣不解帶，有賓至，必拜泣告於門外，請方便勸其進藥，涿終莫之從。 及丁憂，哀毀過制。 明宗朝，授監察御史，不應命，逾年詔再下，乃就列焉。 累遷都官郎中、翰林學士。 天福初，以戶部侍郎為學士承旨。 嘗草制，為宰相桑維翰所改，棁以唐故事，學士草制有所改者，當罷職，乃引經據爭，維翰不能詰，命權知二年貢舉。 時有進士孔英者，素有醜行，為當時所惡，棁受命往見維翰，維翰語素簡，謂棁曰：「孔英來矣。」 棁不諭其意，以謂維翰以孔英為言，乃考英及第，物議大以為非，遂罷學士，拜尚書左丞，遷太常卿。 後以風痹改太子賓客，分司西京。 卒年六十八。
Cui Zhuo, whose courtesy name was Ziwen, came from Anping in Boling. For generations his family had held high office. His great-grandfather Yuanshou had passed the presented-scholar examination and served in the Historiography Institute. His grandfather Zhuo had been prefect of An and Pu prefectures. His father Zhuo had been Director in the Ministry of Justice. From youth Zhuo loved learning. In the third year of Zhenming of Liang he passed the presented-scholar examination in the first class and became staff officer to Wang Zan, Governor of Kaifeng. Zhuo was supremely filial. When his father Zhuo fell ill, the father told relatives and friends: "Life and death are fated; physicians are of no use. Zhuo attended him without removing his belt even to sleep. When guests came he would bow and weep at the gate and ask them to urge his father to take medicine, but the father never consented. In mourning his grief exceeded the prescribed norms. Under Mingzong he was appointed Investigating Censor but declined; after more than a year the edict was issued again, and only then did he take up the post. He was promoted in succession to Director in the Bureau of Justice and Academician of the Hanlin Academy. At the beginning of Tianfu he served as Vice Minister of Revenue and Chief Academician. Once when he drafted an edict Chief Minister Sang Weihan altered it. Zhuo cited Tang precedent that when an academician's draft was altered the academician should be removed from office, and argued from classical authority; Weihan could not refute him and appointed him acting supervisor of the second year's tribute examinations. At that time there was a presented scholar named Kong Ying notorious for disgraceful conduct and detested by all. When Zhuo received his commission and went to see Weihan, Weihan spoke briefly and said to Zhuo: "Kong Ying has come. Zhuo misunderstood and thought Weihan meant to pass Kong Ying; he therefore passed Ying and ranked him among the degree recipients. Public opinion condemned this roundly, and Zhuo was removed as academician, appointed Left Assistant Director of the Department of State Affairs, and promoted to Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Later, afflicted with wind paralysis, he was made Tutor to the Crown Prince and held a nominal post at the western capital. He died at the age of sixty-eight.
6
棁平生所著文章、碑誄、制詔甚多，人有借本傳寫者，則曰：「有前賢，有來者，奚用此為！」 凡受托而作者，必親劄致之，即焚其槁，懼泄人之假手也。 棁笑不至矧，怒不至詈，接新進後生，未嘗無誨焉。 群居公會端坐寡言，嘗雲非止致人愛憎，且或幹人祖禰之諱。 指命仆役，亦用禮節，盛暑祁寒，不使冒犯。 嘗自話於知友云：「某少時，夢二人前引行路，一人計地裏，曰：『一舍矣，可以止。』 一人曰：『此君當更進三十有八里。』 復行如所言，二人皆止之，俄而驚覺。」 棁常識是夢，以為定命之限，故六十七請退，明年果終焉。
Throughout his life Zhuo wrote many essays, inscriptions, eulogies, and edicts. When people asked to borrow copies to transcribe, he would say: "There were worthies before and there will be those who come after—what use is this! For every commissioned piece he would deliver it personally in a letter and immediately burn the draft, fearing that others might circulate it through borrowed hands. When Zhuo laughed it never reached a broad grin; when angry he never reached cursing; toward newly advanced younger men he always offered instruction. At public gatherings he sat upright and spoke little, saying that this was not only to avoid arousing love or hatred but also lest one touch upon people's ancestral taboo names. Even when directing servants he observed ritual propriety; in blazing summer or bitter winter he would not let them suffer offense or harm. He once told a close friend: "In my youth I dreamed that two men walked ahead leading me on the road; one counted the distance in li and said: 'One stage has been reached; you may stop. The other said: 'This gentleman should go thirty-eight li farther. They went on as he had said; both men stopped him, and presently he awoke with a start.' Zhuo often knew it for a dream and took it as the limit ordained by fate; at sixty-seven he asked to retire, and the next year he died as foretold.
7
兄棆，有隱德，好釋氏，閑居滑州。 嘗欲訪人於白馬津北，及臨岸，嘆曰：「波勢洶湧如此，安可濟乎！」 乃止。 後征拜左拾遺，辭疾不赴。
His elder brother Lun was a man of quiet virtue who loved Buddhism and lived in retirement at Hua Prefecture. Once he wished to visit someone north of the Baima Ferry, but when he reached the bank he sighed and said, "The waves surge so fiercely—how could anyone cross? So he gave up and turned back. Later he was summoned and appointed Left Reminder, but he pleaded illness and declined the appointment.
8
薛融，汾州平遙人。 性純和，以儒學為業。 初從雲州帥李存璋為幕職，唐莊宗平河南，歷鄆、徐二鎮從事。 明宗初，授華州節度判官。 長興四年，入為右補闕，直宏文館，歲餘，改河東觀察判官，會高祖鎮太原，遂居於幕府。 清泰末，高祖將舉義，延賓席而歷問之，次及融，對曰：「融本儒生，只曾讀三五卷書，至於軍旅之事，進退存亡之機，未之學也。」 座中聳然。 及登極，遷尚書吏部郎中兼侍御史知雜事。 天福二年，自左諫議大夫遷中書舍人，自以文學非優，不敢拜命，復為諫議。 時詔修西京大內，融以鄴下用兵，國用不足，上疏復罷之， 〈（《通鑒》：薛融諫曰：「今宮室雖經焚毀，猶侈於帝堯之茅茨； 所費雖寡，猶多於漢文之露臺。 況魏城未下，公私困窘，誠非陛下修宮館之日。 俟海內平寧，修之未晚。）〉 優詔嘉許。 俄轉御史中丞，秩滿改尚書右丞，分司西都。 天福六年，以疾卒，年六十餘。
Xue Rong came from Pingyao in Fen Prefecture. His nature was pure and gentle, and he devoted himself to Confucian learning. He first served on the staff of Li Cunzhang, military governor of Yun Prefecture; after Zhuangzong of Tang pacified Henan, he held aide posts in Yan and Xu in succession. At the start of Mingzong's reign he was appointed military governor's aide at Hua Prefecture. In the fourth year of Changxing he entered court as Right Supplements Censor and served in the Hongwen Pavilion. After a little over a year he was transferred to be aide to the Hedong observation commissioner, and when Gaozu was stationed at Taiyuan he joined the governor's staff. Near the end of Qingtai, as Gaozu prepared to raise the banner of rebellion, he gathered his guests and questioned each in turn. When it came to Rong, he answered, "I am only a Confucian scholar who has read a few volumes of books. As for military affairs and the timing of advance, retreat, survival, and destruction, I have never studied them. The whole assembly sat up in astonishment. When Gaozu took the throne, Rong was promoted to Director in the Ministry of Personnel and concurrently appointed Attendant Censor with charge of miscellaneous censorial duties. In the second year of Tianfu he was transferred from Left Remonstrance Grand Master to Drafting Secretary, but believing himself not strong enough in literary skill, he did not dare accept the appointment and returned to his former remonstrance post. At the time an edict ordered repairs to the inner palace at the Western Capital. Rong submitted a memorial arguing that with troops engaged below Ye and state funds exhausted, the project should again be cancelled, (Zizhi Tongjian: Xue Rong remonstrated, saying, "Although the palace halls have been burned, they are still more lavish than Emperor Yao's thatched huts; and although the expense may be small, it is still greater than Emperor Wen of Han's open terrace. Moreover, the city of Wei has not yet fallen and both public and private resources are strained. This is truly not the time for Your Majesty to repair palace halls. When the realm is pacified and tranquil, it will not be too late to repair them.)〉 An edict of warm praise commended him. Shortly afterward he was transferred to Censor-in-Chief, and when his term expired he was appointed Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs at the Western Capital branch office. In the sixth year of Tianfu he died of illness at over sixty years of age.
9
曹國珍，字彥輔，幽州固安人也。 曾祖藹，祖蟾，父絢，代襲儒素。 國珍少值燕薊亂離，因落發被緇，客於河西延州，高萬興兄弟皆好文，辟為從事。 國珍常以文章自許，求貢禮闈，且掌書奏，期年，入為左拾遺，累遷至尚書郎。 每與人交，傾財無吝。 性頗剛僻，經藝史學，非其所長，好自矜衒，多上章疏，文字差誤，數數有之，為縉紳所誚。 高祖在藩時，嘗通私謁，以兄事之。 及即位，國珍自比於嚴陵，上表敘舊，由是自吏部郎中拜左諫議大夫、給事中。 〈（《歐陽史·張彥澤傳》：國珍與御史中丞王易簡率三院御史詣閣門，連疏論張彥澤，不報。）〉 又求為御史中丞，時宰政不復為請，國珍銜之。 李崧之母薨，遣諸弟護喪歸葬深州，崧既起復，乃出北郊路隅設奠，公卿大夫皆送喪而出，國珍固爭不行，眾鹹推其讜直。 高祖晏駕，朝廷以宰臣馮道為山陵使，及靈盾既發，國珍上疏言：「馮道既為山陵使，不得復入都城，請除外佐，以桑維翰入輔。 李崧請罷相位，俾持喪制。」 少帝覽奏，以所言侵越，出為陜州行軍司馬。 至任悒怏，遘疾而卒。
Cao Guozhen, whose courtesy name was Yanfu, came from Gu'an in You Prefecture. His great-grandfather was Ai, his grandfather Chan, and his father Xuan; for generations the family had upheld the tradition of plain Confucian scholar-officials. In his youth Guozhen lived through the chaos and displacement of Yan and Ji. He tonsured himself and wore the black robe of a monk, then lived as a guest at Yan Prefecture west of the River, where the brothers Gao Wanxing, all lovers of literature, recruited him as an aide. Guozhen often prided himself on his writing. He sought advancement through the metropolitan examination while also managing memorial drafts, and within a year he entered court as Left Reminder, rising in succession to become a Director in the Department of State Affairs. Whenever he associated with others, he spent his wealth freely and without stint. His nature was obstinate and aloof. Classical studies and historical learning were not his strengths, yet he loved to show himself off. He submitted many memorials, and textual errors in them occurred again and again, for which the gentry mocked him. When Gaozu was still a prince, Guozhen had once paid him a private visit and treated him as an elder brother. When Gaozu took the throne, Guozhen compared himself to Yan Ling and submitted a memorial recounting their old connection. He was therefore promoted from Director in the Ministry of Personnel to Left Remonstrance Grand Master and Chief Drafting Secretary. (Ouyang Shi, Biography of Zhang Yanze: Guozhen and Censor-in-Chief Wang Yijian led the censors of the three bureaus to the Gate of Imperial Audience and submitted successive memorials denouncing Zhang Yanze, but received no response.)〉 He also requested appointment as Censor-in-Chief, but the chief ministers did not petition on his behalf again, and Guozhen resented it. When Li Song's mother died, he sent his younger brothers to escort the body home for burial in Shen Prefecture. Song had already returned to office after mourning and set out offerings at a roadside outside the northern suburbs. High ministers and officials all went out to send off the funeral procession, but Guozhen firmly objected and refused to go, and everyone praised his forthright integrity. When Gaozu passed away, the court appointed Chief Minister Feng Dao commissioner for the imperial tomb. After the spirit shield had been dispatched, Guozhen submitted a memorial stating, "Since Feng Dao has been made commissioner for the imperial tomb, he should not again enter the capital. I request that outside auxiliary officials be appointed and that Sang Weihan enter to assist in governance. Li Song should be asked to relinquish his chancellorship so that he may observe mourning. The Lesser Emperor reviewed the memorial and, deeming his words presumptuous and overstepping, dispatched him to serve as military adjutant at Shaan Prefecture. Upon reaching his post he was discontent; he fell ill and died.
10
張仁願，字善政，開封陳留人也。 祖晸，唐右武衛大將軍。 父存敬，梁河中節度觀察留後，累贈中書令，《梁書》有傳。 仁願梁貞明初，以勛臣之子起家為衛尉寺主簿，改著作佐郎、左贊善大夫，賜緋魚袋。 唐同光初，遷大理正。 天成元年，自將作少監轉大理少卿。 長興中，歷昭武、歸德兩鎮節度判官。 四年，復入為大理少卿。 清泰中，除殿中監。 天福五年，拜大理卿。 八年，轉光祿卿。 仁願性溫雅，明法書，累居詳刑之地，議讞疑獄，號為稱職。 兄仁穎，梁朝仕至諸衛將軍，中年以風恙廢於家凡十餘年，仁願事之，出告反面，如嚴父焉，士大夫推為孝友。 仁穎善理家，勤而且約，婦女衣不曳地，什物多歷年所，如新市焉。 仁願開運元年再為大理卿，時隰州刺史王澈犯贓，朝廷以澈功臣之後，欲宥之，仁願累執奏不移，竟遣伏法，議者賞之。 開運二年，以疾卒，年五十一。 贈秘書監。
Zhang Renyuan, whose courtesy name was Shanzheng, came from Chenliu in Kaifeng. His grandfather Zhao served as Right Majordomo-General of the Martial Guard under Tang. His father Cunjing was military governor and observation commissioner of Hezhong under Liang and was posthumously ennobled through successive promotions to Central Secretariat Director; the Liang History contains his biography. At the beginning of Zhenming under Liang, Renyuan began his career as the son of a meritorious official, entering service as secretary in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He was then appointed Assistant Editor and Left Advisor to the Heir Apparent and granted the scarlet robe and fish tally. At the beginning of Tongguang under Tang, he was transferred to Senior Judge in the Court of Judicial Review. In the first year of Tiancheng he was transferred from Vice Director of Palace Construction to Vice Director of Judicial Review. During Changxing he served in succession as military governor's aide at Zhaowu and Guide. In the fourth year he again entered court as Vice Director of Judicial Review. During Qingtai he was appointed Supervisor of the Palace Receptions. In the fifth year of Tianfu he was appointed Director of Judicial Review. In the eighth year he was transferred to Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Renyuan was mild and refined by nature and skilled in legal writing. Having repeatedly held posts in judicial review, he was acclaimed as fulfilling his duties when he deliberated on doubtful cases. His elder brother Renying had served under Liang to the rank of general of the guard regiments, but in midlife he was disabled at home by wind ailment for more than ten years. Renyuan attended him, asking permission before going out and paying his respects upon returning, as to a strict father, and scholar-officials praised his filial brotherly devotion. Renying was skilled at managing the household, diligent and frugal. Women's garments did not trail on the ground, and household goods even after many years looked as if newly purchased. In the first year of Kaiyun Renyuan again served as Director of Judicial Review. At the time Wang Che, prefect of Xi, was guilty of embezzlement, and the court, considering him a descendant of a meritorious minister, wished to pardon him. Renyuan repeatedly submitted memorials without yielding, and Che was finally executed; commentators praised him. In the second year of Kaiyun he died of illness at fifty-one. Posthumously granted Director of the Secretariat.
11
趙熙，字績巨，唐宰相齊國公光逢之猶子也。 起家授秘書省校書郎，唐天成中，累遷至起居郎。 數上章言事，以稱旨尋除南省正郎。 天福中，承詔與張昭遠等修《唐史》，竟集其功。 開運中，自兵部郎中授右諫議大夫，賞筆削之功也。 及契丹犯闕，偽旨遣使於晉州率配豪民錢幣，以實行橐。 始受命之日，條制甚嚴，熙出衣冠族，性素輕急，既畏契丹峻法，乃窮理搜索，人甚苦之。 及晉之三軍殺副使駱從朗， 〈（《通鑒》：契丹以節度副使駱從朗知晉州事，大將藥可儔殺從朗。）〉 百姓相率持仗害熙於館舍，識者傷之。
Zhao Xi, whose courtesy name was Jiju, was the nephew of Tang chancellor Zhao Guangfeng, Duke of Qi. He began his career as proofreader in the Secretariat, and during Tiancheng under Tang he rose in succession to Diarist. He repeatedly submitted memorials on affairs of state, and because his views met with approval he was soon appointed a regular director in the southern ministries. During Tianfu he received an edict to compile the History of Tang with Zhang Zhaoyuan and others, and ultimately brought the work to completion. During Kaiyun he was transferred from Director in the Ministry of War to Right Remonstrance Grand Master, in reward for his work on the historical compilation. When the Khitans assaulted the capital, a forged edict dispatched an envoy to Jin Prefecture to levy and apportion money from wealthy families to fill the traveling coffers. From the day he received the commission the regulations were very strict. Xi came from a gentry clan and was by nature impulsive and harsh; fearing the Khitans' stern law, he searched exhaustively by every legal means, and the people suffered greatly. When Jin's three armies killed Vice Commissioner Luo Conglang, (Zizhi Tongjian: The Khitans appointed Vice Military Commissioner Luo Conglang to administer Jin Prefecture, and the great general Yao Kechou killed Conglang.)〉 The common people rose together with weapons and killed Xi at his lodging, and those who understood the matter lamented his fate.
12
李遐，兗州人也。 少為儒，有節操。 歷數鎮從事，及升朝，累遷尚書庫部員外郎。 高祖即位，以皇子重乂保釐洛邑，知遐強幹有守，除為西京留守判官，使之佐理，復重其廉勤，兼委監西京左藏庫。 會張從賓作亂，使人輦取繒帛以賞群逆，遐曰：「不奉詔書，安敢承命！」 遂為其下所害。 高祖聞而嘆惜，賻贈加等，仍贈右諫議大夫。 其母田氏，封京兆郡太君，仍給遐所食月俸，終母餘年。 其子俟服闋與官。 後又遣兗州節度使李從溫就其舊業，賜牲幣綿帛等物，以旌其忠也。
Li Xia came from Yan Prefecture. He studied Confucianism in his youth and possessed integrity. He served as aide in several prefectures, and after entering court he rose in succession to Vice Director in the Ministry of Revenue. When Gaozu took the throne, the prince Chongyi was appointed to safeguard Luoyang. Knowing that Xia was forceful and steadfast, Gaozu appointed him aide to the Western Capital commandant to assist in administration, and further valuing his integrity and diligence, also entrusted him to supervise the Western Capital's left treasury storehouse. When Zhang Congbin raised rebellion, he sent men to cart away silk to reward the rebels. Xia said, "Without an imperial edict, how dare I accept the order! So he was killed by their subordinates. When Gaozu heard of it he sighed in grief, increased the funeral gifts by one grade, and posthumously granted him Right Remonstrance Grand Master. His mother, née Tian, was ennobled as Lady of Jingzhao Commandery and continued to receive the monthly salary that Xia had drawn until the end of her life. His son was granted an office after his mourning period ended. Later the military governor of Yan Prefecture, Li Congwen, was dispatched to attend to his old household, and sacrificial victims, ritual silks, cotton cloth, and other goods were granted to honor his loyalty.
13
尹玉羽，京兆長安人。 唐天福中，隨計京師，甚有文稱。 會有苴杖之喪，累歲羸疾，冬不釋菅屨，期不變倚廬。 制闋，隱居杜門，無仕宦之意。 梁貞明中，劉鄩辟為保大軍節度判官，歷雍、汴、滑、兗從事。 〈（案：以下有闕。 考宋黎持《移石經紀》：石經舊在務本坊，自天祐中韓建築新城，而石經委棄於野。 至朱梁時，劉鄩守長安，從幕吏尹玉羽之請，輦入城中，置於此地，即唐尚書省之西隅也。）〉 唐清泰中，為光祿少卿，退歸秦中，以林泉詩酒自樂，自號自然先生。 宰臣張延朗手書而召，高臥不從，謂人曰：「庶孽代宗，不可仕也。」 及高祖入洛，即受詔而來，以所著《自然經》五卷貢之，且告其老。 即日璽書褒美，頒其器幣，授少府監致仕，月給俸錢及冬春二時服。 天福中，卒，有《武庫集》五十卷行於世。
Yin Yuyu came from Chang'an in Jingzhao. During the Tianfu era he traveled to the capital for the metropolitan examination and enjoyed a considerable reputation for literary talent. When he incurred the mourning of staff and cane, for years he was emaciated and ill. In winter he did not lay aside his straw sandals, and throughout the mourning period he did not leave his mourning hut. When mourning ended, he lived in seclusion behind closed doors with no wish for office. During Zhenming under Liang, Liu Yan recruited him as military governor's aide of the Baoda army, and he served in succession as aide in Yong, Bian, Hua, and Yan. (Note: There is a lacuna below. Examining Song Lichi's Record of Moving the Stone Classics: The stone classics formerly stood in Wuben Ward; from Tianyou onward Han Jian built the new city wall, and the stone classics were abandoned in the wild. When the Later Liang came, Liu Yan held Chang'an; at the request of his staff officer Yin Yuyu, the classics were carted into the city and placed at this spot, at the western corner of the Tang Department of State Affairs.)〉 During Qingtai under Tang he served as Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, then retired to the Qin region and found his pleasure in forests, springs, poetry, and wine, styling himself Master Ziran. Chief Minister Zhang Yanlang summoned him by letter in his own hand, but he remained reclining and did not obey, telling others, "An illegitimate scion rules in place of the ancestral temple—one may not serve him. When Gaozu entered Luoyang, he immediately accepted the summons and came, presenting his own five-volume Classic of Nature and declaring his old age. That very day an imperial letter of seal-script praise was issued, ritual vessels and silks were bestowed, and he was granted retirement as Vice Director of the Palace Revenues with monthly salary stipends and clothing for winter and spring. During Tianfu he died, leaving his fifty-volume Armory Collection in circulation.
14
鄭雲叟，本名遨，雲叟其字也，以唐明宗廟諱，故世傳其字焉，本南燕人也。 少好學，耿介不屈。 唐昭宗朝，嘗應進士舉，不第，因欲攜妻子隱於林壑，其妻非之，不肯行，雲叟乃薄遊諸郡，獲數百緡以贍其家，辭訣而去。 尋入少室山，著《擬峰詩》三十六章，以導其趣，人多傳之。 後妻以書達意，勸其還家，雲叟未嘗一覽，悉投於火，其絕累如此。 俄聞西嶽有五鬛松，淪脂千年，能去三屍，因居於華陰。 與李道殷、羅隱之友善，時人目為「三高士」。 道殷有釣魚之術，鉤而不餌，又能化易金石，無所不至，雲叟恒目睹其事，信而不求。 雲叟與梁室權臣李振善，振欲祿之，拒而不諾，及振南遷，雲叟千里徒步以省之，識者高焉。 後妻兒繼謝，每聞兇服，一哭而止。 時惟青衿二童子、一琴、一鶴，從其遊處。 好棋塞之戲，遇同侶則以晝繼夜，雖寒風大雪，臨檐對局，手足皸裂，亦無倦焉。 唐天成中，召拜左拾遺，不起。 與羅隱之朝夕遊處，隱之以藥術取利，雲叟以山田自給，俱好酒能詩，善長嘯。 有大瓠，雲可辟寒暑，置酒於其中，經時味不壞，日攜就花木水石之間，一酌一詠。 嘗因酒酣聯句，鄭曰：「一壺天上有名物，兩個世間無事人。」 羅曰：「醉卻隱之、雲叟外，不知何處是天真。」 高祖即位，聞其名，遣使賫書致禮，征為右諫議大夫，雲叟稱疾不起，上表陳謝。 高祖覽表嘉之，賜近臣傳觀，尋賜號逍遙先生，以諫議大夫致仕，月給俸祿。 雲叟好酒，嘗為《詠酒詩》千二百言，海內好名者書於縑緗，以為贈貺。 復有越千里之外，使畫工潛寫其形容列為屏障者焉。 其為時望所重也如此。 天福末，以壽終，時年七十四。 有文集二十卷行於世。
Zheng Yunsou, whose original personal name was Ao and whose courtesy name was Yunsou, was originally a man of Southern Yan. Because of the temple taboo on Mingzong of Tang, posterity transmitted his courtesy name. He loved learning in his youth and was upright and unyielding. During the reign of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang he once took the Jinshi examination but failed. He therefore wished to take his wife and children and live hidden in mountains and valleys, but his wife disapproved and refused to go. Yunsou then traveled lightly through various prefectures, obtained several hundred strings of cash to support his family, bade farewell, and departed. Soon he entered Mount Shaoshi and composed thirty-six chapters of Peak-Inspired Poetry to express his inclinations, which many people copied and circulated. Later his wife sent a letter expressing her wishes and urging him to return home, but Yunsou never so much as read it—he threw it all into the fire. Such was his severing of worldly ties. Soon he heard that the Western Peak had a five-needled pine that oozed resin for a thousand years and could drive out the three corpses, and he therefore settled at Huayin. He was on friendly terms with Li Daoyin and Luo Yin, and people of the time regarded them as the "Three High Recluses." Daoyin possessed the art of fishing with hook but no bait and could also transform and transmute metal and stone—there was nothing he could not do. Yunsou constantly witnessed these things and believed without seeking them for himself. Yunsou was on good terms with Li Zhen, the powerful minister of the Liang court. Zhen wished to give him an official salary, but Yunsou refused. When Zhen moved south, Yunsou traveled a thousand li on foot to visit him, and those who understood the matter held him in high esteem. Later his wife and children died one after another; whenever he heard that someone was in mourning, he wept once and stopped. At that time only two youths in blue collars, a zither, and a crane accompanied him wherever he went. He loved chess and pitch-and-toss; when he found companions he would play from day into night. Even in bitter wind and heavy snow, sitting under the eaves across the board from them with cracked hands and feet, he never grew weary. In the Tiancheng era of Tang he was summoned as Left Remonstrance Aide but declined to serve. He spent his days with Luo Yin, who made a living through pharmaceutical arts while Yunsou supported himself from hillside fields. Both loved wine, wrote poetry well, and were skilled at long whistling. He owned a large gourd that he said could ward off cold and heat; wine placed in it did not spoil even after a long time. Each day he carried it among flowers, trees, water, and rocks, drinking and composing a verse in turn. Once, when they were warm with wine, they composed linked verses; Zheng said, "One pot—a famous thing from heaven; two men in the world without affairs. Luo said, "When drunk, apart from Yin and Yunsou, I no longer know where true innocence lies." When Gaozu took the throne he heard of Yunsou's fame and sent an envoy with a letter and gifts to summon him as Right Remonstrance Grand Master. Yunsou pleaded illness and declined, submitting a memorial of thanks. Gaozu read the memorial and praised it, having it passed among his close ministers for viewing. He soon granted Yunsou the title Master Free Wanderer and allowed him to retire as Remonstrance Grand Master with a monthly salary. Yunsou loved wine and once composed an Ode to Wine of twelve hundred characters. Admirers throughout the realm copied it onto silk and gave it as gifts. Some even came from more than a thousand li beyond Yue and sent painters to sketch his likeness in secret and mount it on screens. Such was the esteem his contemporaries accorded him. At the end of Tianfu he died a natural death at the age of seventy-four. His collected works in twenty juan circulated widely.
15
史臣曰：自古攀龍鱗，附鳳翼，坐達於雲衢者，豈獨豐沛之士哉！ 茍懷才抱器，適會興王，亦可以取貴於一時，如盧質而下數君子是也。 至如國珍之讜直，仁願之友悌，趙、李二子沒於王事，皆無忝於士林矣。 唯玉羽之貞退，雲叟之肥遁，足可以柅奔競之風，激高尚之節也。
The historiographer says: From antiquity, those who grasped dragon scales and attached themselves to phoenix wings, rising to the highways of the clouds while still seated—were they only the men of Feng and Pei! If one cherishes talent and bears capacity and happens to meet a rising sovereign, one may also win honor for a time, as with Lu Zhi and the several gentlemen below him. As for Guozhen's forthright integrity, Renyuan's fraternal devotion, and Zhao and Li, who perished in the service of the state—all were without shame before the community of scholars. Only Yuyu's steadfast withdrawal and Yunsou's ample reclusion were enough to check the wind of frantic striving and inspire the integrity of the lofty-minded.