1
王周，魏州人。 少勇健，從軍事唐莊宗、明宗，稍遷裨校，以戰功累歷郡守。 晉天福初，範延光叛於魏州，周從楊光遠攻降之，安重榮以鎮州叛，從杜重威討平之，以功授貝州節度使。 歲餘，移鎮涇州。 先是，前帥張彥澤在任苛虐，部民逃者五千餘戶，及下車，革前弊二十餘事，逃民歸復，賜詔褒美。 後歷鄧、陜二鎮。 陽城之役，周時為定州節度使，大軍往來，供饋無闕，未幾，遷鎮州節度使。 周稟性寬惠，人庶便之。 開運末，杜重威降於契丹，引契丹主臨城諭之。 周泣曰：「受國重恩，不能死戰，而以兵降，何面南行見人主與士大夫乎？」 乃痛飲欲引決，家人止之。 事不獲已，乃見契丹主，授鄧州節度使、檢校太師。 高祖定天下，移鎮徐州，加同平章事。 乾祐元年二月，以疾卒於鎮，輟視朝二日，贈中書令。 周性寬恕，不忤物情。 初刺信都，州城西橋敗，覆民租車，周曰：「橋梁不飭，刺史之過也。」 乃還其所沈粟，出私財以修之，民庶悅焉。
Wang Zhou was a native of Weizhou. As a young man he was vigorous and daring. He served under Emperors Zhuangzong and Mingzong of Tang, rose step by step through the officer ranks, and with repeated victories held one prefectural post after another. Early in the Jin Tianfu reign, Fan Yanguang rebelled in Weizhou and Zhou joined Yang Guangyuan in the campaign that brought him down. When An Chongrong rose in Zhenzhou, Zhou followed Du Chongwei to crush that revolt and, for these services, was made military commissioner of Beizhou. A little over a year later he was reassigned to Jingzhou. His predecessor Zhang Yanzhe had ruled with harsh cruelty, and more than five thousand households had fled the prefecture. When Zhou arrived he abolished more than twenty longstanding abuses, the refugees came back, and the court issued an edict commending his administration. He later served in succession at Dengzhou and Shaanzhou. During the battle at Yangcheng he was military commissioner of Dingzhou and kept the armies supplied without fail as they marched back and forth. Soon afterward he was moved to Zhenzhou. By nature Zhou was lenient and benevolent, and the common people flourished under him. Late in the Kaiyun era Du Chongwei surrendered to the Khitan and brought the Khitan emperor to the walls to urge the garrison to submit. Zhou wept and said, "The state has shown me great favor, yet I could not die fighting and instead surrendered my troops. How can I face south and go before the emperor and the court?" He drank deeply, intending to kill himself, but his household stopped him. When there was no alternative he went before the Khitan emperor and was given the posts of military commissioner of Dengzhou and honorary Grand Preceptor. After Gaozu secured the empire, Zhou was reassigned to Xuzhou and made a co-director of the Secretariat. In the second month of Qianyou 1 he died of illness in office. The court suspended audiences for two days and posthumously appointed him Director of the Secretariat. Zhou was forbearing by nature and never set himself against popular sentiment. Early in his tenure at Xindu the west bridge of the city collapsed and overturned carts carrying the people's grain tax. Zhou said, "When bridges are left in disrepair, the fault lies with the prefect." He returned the grain that had been lost, paid for repairs out of his own purse, and the people rejoiced.
2
劉審交，字求益，幽州文安人也。 祖海，父師遂。 審交少讀書，尤精吏道，起家署北平主簿，轉興唐令，本府召補牙職。 劉守光之僭號，偽署兵部尚書，燕亡，歸於太原。 莊宗知之，用為諸府從事。 同光初，趙德鈞鎮幽州，朝廷以內官馬紹宏為北面轉運使，辟審交為判官。 王都據定州叛，朝廷命王晏球進討，以審交為轉運供軍使，王都平，以勞授遼州刺史。 明年，復為北面供軍轉運使，改磁州刺史，以母年高，去官就養。 及丁內艱，毀瘠過禮，服闋，不出累年。 晉高祖踐阼，範延光以魏州叛，命楊光遠以總兵討之，復召審交為供饋使。 鄴中平，命審交為三司使，授右衛大將軍。 六年夏，出為陳州防禦使，歲餘，移襄州防禦使。 審交治襄、漢，撫綏有術，民庶懷之。 青州楊光遠平，降平盧軍為防禦州，復用審交為防禦使，累官至檢校太傅。 時用軍之後，審交矜恤撫理，雕弊復蘇。 契丹破晉，審交以代歸，蕭翰在都，復用為三司使。 翰歸蕃，李從益在汴州，召高行周、武行德將委以軍事，皆不受命。 尋聞高祖起義於太原，史宏肇在澤潞，都人大懼。 時有燕軍千人守捉諸門，李從益母王淑妃詢於文武臣僚曰：「予子母在洛，孤危自處，一旦為蕭翰所逼，致令及此。 但遣人迎請太原，勿以予子母為事。」 或曰：「收拾諸處守營兵士與燕軍，足以把城，以俟河北救應可也。」 妃曰：「非謀也，我子母亡國之餘，安敢與人爭天下！」 眾議籍籍，猶以把城為詞。 審交曰：「余燕人也，今城有燕軍，固合為燕謀，然事機有所不可。 此城經敵軍破除之後，民力空匱，餘眾幸存，若更謀之不臧，閉門拒守，一月之內，無復遺類。 諸君勿言，宜從太妃處分。」 繇是從益遣使往太原貢奉。 高祖至汴，罷使歸班。 隱帝嗣位，用為汝州防禦使。 汝為近輔，號為難治，審交盡去煩弊，無擾於民，百姓歌之。
Liu Shenjiao, courtesy name Qiuyi, was a native of Wen'an in Youzhou. His grandfather was named Hai and his father Shisui. Shenjiao studied from an early age and excelled above all in administrative practice. He entered service as registrar of Beiping, became magistrate of Xingtang, and was then recalled to headquarters as a staff officer. When Liu Shouguang declared himself emperor, Shenjiao was given the bogus title of Minister of War. After Yan fell he made his way back to Taiyuan. Zhuangzong heard of him and put him to work as an aide in several headquarters. Early in the Tongguang era Zhao Dejun held Youzhou. The court sent the eunuch Ma Shohong as northern transport commissioner, and Shenjiao joined his staff as chief aide. When Wang Du rebelled from Dingzhou the court sent Wang Yanqiu against him with Shenjiao as transport and supply officer. After Wang Du was subdued, Shenjiao was rewarded with the prefecture of Liaozhou. The following year he again served as northern supply transport commissioner, then became prefect of Cizhou. When his mother grew old he resigned to care for her at home. After her death he mourned so severely that he wasted beyond what ritual required, and when the mourning period ended he stayed in seclusion for years. When Jin Gaozu took the throne, Fan Yanguang rebelled in Weizhou. Yang Guangyuan was placed in overall command of the punitive force, and Shenjiao was called back as supply commissioner. After Ye was pacified he was made commissioner of the Three Departments and appointed Grand General of the Right Guards. In the summer of the sixth year he became defense commissioner of Chenzhou, and a little over a year later was moved to Xiangzhou. In Xiang and Han he governed with a sure hand at reassurance and settlement, and the people held him in affection. After Yang Guangyuan of Qingzhou was subdued, Pinglu was reduced to a defense command and Shenjiao was sent back as its commissioner. He eventually rose to honorary Grand Tutor. In the aftermath of war he nursed the wounded region back to health with compassionate care, and a devastated land began to recover. When the Khitan overthrew Jin, Shenjiao came back from Dai. Xiao Han held the capital and again appointed him commissioner of the Three Departments. After Han withdrew to the steppe, Li Congyi was at Bianzhou and summoned Gao Xingzhou and Wu Xingde to take command of the armies, but neither would accept. Word soon came that Gaozu had risen in Taiyuan while Shi Hongzhao held Ze and Lu, and the people of the capital were seized with fear. A thousand Yan troops then held the gates. Li Congyi's mother, Lady Wang Shufei, asked the civil and military officials, "My son and I were left alone and vulnerable in Luoyang, and now, driven to this pass by Xiao Han, we stand in grave danger. Send envoys to welcome the forces from Taiyuan and do not trouble yourselves over my son and me." Others urged, "Rally the garrison troops from every post together with the Yan forces—we can hold the city until help arrives from Hebei." The lady replied, "That is no plan at all. My son and I are all that remain of a fallen house—how could we dare vie with others for the empire!" Debate raged on, but many still insisted on defending the walls. Shenjiao said, "I am a man of Yan, and with Yan troops in the city one might think we should act for Yan—but the moment will not permit it. The enemy has already gutted this city. The people are spent and only a remnant survives. If we plot badly again, shut the gates, and try to hold out, within a month there will be no one left alive. Say no more, gentlemen. Do as the princess mother directs." On that basis Congyi sent envoys to Taiyuan with tribute and submission. When Gaozu reached Bian he was relieved of special duty and returned to regular court service. When Emperor Yin succeeded he was appointed defense commissioner of Ruzhou. Ruzhou lay close to the capital and had a reputation for being hard to govern, but Shenjiao swept away abuses, left the people unmolested, and the folk sang his praise.
3
乾祐二年春，卒，年七十四。 郡人聚哭柩前所，列狀乞留葬本州界，立碑起祠，以時致祭。 本州以聞，詔曰：「朝廷之制，皆有舊章，牧守之官，比無贈典。 其或政能殊異，惠及蒸黎，生有令名，沒留遺愛，褒賢獎善，豈限彜章。 可特贈太尉，吏民所請宜依。」 故相國、太師、秦國公馮道聞之曰：「予嘗為劉汝州僚佐，知其為人廉平慈善，無害之良吏也。 刺遼、磁，治陳、襄、青，皆稱平允，不顯殊尤，其理汝也，又安有異哉！ 民之租賦不能減也，徭役不能息也，寒者不能衣也，餒者不能食也，百姓自汲汲然，而使君何有於我哉！ 然身死之日，致黎民懷感如此者，誠以不行鞭樸，不行刻剝，不因公而循私，不害物以利己，確然行良吏之事，薄罰宥過，謹身節用，安俸祿、守禮分而已。 凡從事於斯者，孰不能乎！ 但前之守土者不能如是，是以汝民咨嗟愛慕。 今天下戎馬之後，四方兇盜之餘，杼柚空而賦斂繁，人民稀而倉稟匱，謂之康泰，未易輕言。 侯伯牧宰，若能哀矜之，不至聚斂，不殺無辜之民，民為邦本，政為民本，和平寬易，即劉君之政安足稱耶！ 復河患不至於令名哉！」 道仍為著哀詞六章，鐫於墓碑之陰焉。
He died in the spring of Qianyou 2, at the age of seventy-four. The people of the prefecture gathered to weep before his coffin and petitioned that he be buried within their borders, with a stele and shrine and regular sacrifices. The prefecture reported this to the throne. An edict declared, "The court has long had fixed statutes, and regional governors as a rule receive no special posthumous honors. Yet when an official's conduct is truly exceptional, his kindness reaches the people, he wins a fine name in life and leaves devotion behind in death, to honor the worthy and reward goodness should not be bound by ordinary rule. Let him be specially posthumously appointed Grand Commandant, and grant what the officials and people have asked." When Feng Dao, former chief minister, Grand Preceptor, and Duke of Qin, heard this he said, "I once served under Liu of Ruzhou and know him to have been an honest, fair, and kindly official who harmed no one—a true good magistrate. As prefect of Liao and Ci and as administrator of Chen, Xiang, and Qing he was always called fair and steady, never marked by any extraordinary feat. His rule in Ru was no different! He could not cut their taxes or end their labor service, clothe the cold or feed the hungry. The people were busy with their own struggles—what had their magistrate really done for them! Yet on the day he died the people were moved to such grief precisely because he used no lash or rod, exacted nothing harshly, never bent public office to private ends or harmed others for his own gain. He simply did what a good official should: light penalties, pardon of small faults, restraint and thrift, contentment with his salary, and observance of his proper place. Who among those in office could not have done as much! Only because earlier governors had failed to do even that much did the people of Ru sigh and cherish him as they did. Today, after armies have trampled the empire and bandits have ravaged every quarter, the looms stand idle while taxes remain heavy, the population is thin while the granaries are bare—to speak of peace and plenty is no easy thing. If every lord and prefect could show compassion, refrain from crushing levies, and spare innocent lives—if the people are the root of the state and government the root of the people—then peace, leniency, and ease alone would scarcely make Liu's rule worth special praise! And who that merely avoided harming the people would fail to win a fine name!" Feng Dao also composed six stanzas of lament and had them engraved on the back of the tomb stele.
4
武漢球，澤州人也。 少拳勇，潞帥李嗣昭倚為親信，事唐莊宗、明宗，繼為禁軍裨校。 清泰中，會晉高祖引契丹為援，與朝廷隔絕，遂歸晉祖。 天福初，授趙州刺史，入為奉國軍都指揮使，出刺曹州。 開運初，遷耀州團練使。 高祖至東京，授洺州刺史，漢球以目疾年高辭郡，帝曰：「廣平小郡，卿臥理有餘，無以疾辭。」 至郡未期，復以目疾請代而免。 乾祐二年秋，卒於京師。 漢球雖出自行伍，然長於撫理，常以掊斂為戒，民懷其惠，身死之日，家無餘財。 有管回者，漢球守郡日，辟為判官。 及漢球卒於汴，回在洺州未之知，一日，忽謂所親曰：「太保遣人召我。」 遂沐浴，新衣冠，無疾瞑目而終。 家人不知其故，後數日，方聞漢球卒。
Wu Hanqiu was a native of Zezhou. As a youth he was famed for courage in combat. Li Sizhao, military governor of Lu, trusted him as a confidant. He served under Zhuangzong and Mingzong of Tang and rose to staff officer in the palace guards. During the Qingtai era, when Jin Gaozu called in the Khitan and was cut off from the Tang court, Hanqiu went over to him. Early in Tianfu he became prefect of Zhaozhou, then commander of the Fengguo Army, and later governor of Caozhou. At the start of the Kaiyun era he was made regimentation commissioner of Yaozhou. When Gaozu reached the Eastern Capital he appointed Hanqiu prefect of Mingzhou. Hanqiu pleaded eye trouble and old age, but the emperor said, "Guangping is a small prefecture. You can govern it from your bed with ease—do not refuse because of illness." Before his term was out he again asked to be replaced because of his eyes and was excused. In the autumn of Qianyou 2 he died in the capital. Though he rose from the ranks, Hanqiu excelled at humane administration and always shunned extortion. The people cherished him, and when he died his family had nothing left. A man named Guan Hui had served as his chief aide when Hanqiu held the prefecture. When Hanqiu died at Bian, Hui was still in Mingzhou and knew nothing of it. One day he suddenly told his intimates, "The Grand Guardian has sent for me." He bathed, dressed in fresh robes, and died peacefully without illness. His family did not understand why until, days later, word came that Hanqiu was dead.
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張瓘，同州車渡村人，故太原監軍使承業之猶子也。 承業，《唐書》有傳。 唐天祐中，承業佐唐武皇、莊宗有功，甚見委遇，瓘聞之，與昆仲五人，自故裏奔於太原，莊宗皆任用之。 瓘天祐十三年補麟州刺史。 承業治家嚴毅，小過無所容恕，一侄為磁州副使，以其殺河西賣羊客，承業立捕斬之。 常誡瓘等曰：「汝車渡村百姓劉開道下賊，慣作非為，今須改行，若故態不除，死無日矣。」 故瓘所至不敢誅求。 晉天福中，為密州刺史，秩滿入居環衛。 乾祐三年夏，卒於官，輟視朝一日。
Zhang Guan came from Chedu Village in Tongzhou and was a nephew of the former Taiyuan military overseer Zhang Chengye. Chengye has a biography in the Tang History. During Tang Tianyou Chengye served the Martial Emperor and Zhuangzong with distinction and won great trust. When Guan heard of his success, he and his five brothers left their village for Taiyuan, and Zhuangzong gave them all posts. In Tianyou 13 Guan was appointed prefect of Linzhou. Chengye ran his household with stern discipline and tolerated no small fault. One nephew served as deputy commissioner of Cizhou; when he killed a sheep merchant from Hexi, Chengye had him seized and executed at once. He often warned Guan and his brothers, "You villagers of Chedu followed the bandit Liu Kaidao and grew used to wrongdoing. Reform yourselves now—if you do not, your deaths will come soon." For that reason Guan never dared to squeeze the people wherever he served. Under Jin Tianfu he governed Mizhou, and when his term ended he entered palace-guard service at court. In the summer of Qianyou 3 he died in office, and the court suspended audiences for a day.
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李殷，薊州人也。 自後唐莊宗、明宗、晉高祖朝，以偏校遞遷，歷官至檢校司徒，累為郡守。 性沈厚，所蒞無苛暴之名。 晉少帝御契丹於澶淵，殷典禁旅，駕還，授鄜州留後，俄加檢校太保。 開運中，授定州節度使，將行，啟少帝曰：「臣之此行，破敵必矣。」 眾皆壯其言，及至郡，威略無聞，敵再至，首納降款。 後隨契丹至常山，其將解裏遣殷與契丹首領楊安，同拒我師於洺水，俄而安退，殷以橐裝駝馬遺安。 安既北走，殷匿於丘墓獲免，馳以歸我。 高祖嘉其首赴朝闕，及魏州平，以甘陵乏帥，乃命殷為貝州節度使，加檢校太傅。 乾祐初，卒於鎮。 詔贈太師。
Li Yin was a native of Jizhou. From the reigns of Zhuangzong and Mingzong of Later Tang through Jin Gaozu he rose step by step from junior officer to honorary Minister of Works and held one prefectural post after another. He was sober and steady by nature and never earned a reputation for harsh rule. When Emperor Shao of Jin faced the Khitan at Chanyuan, Yin commanded the palace guard. After the emperor's return he was made military governor of Fuzhou and soon after honorary Grand Guardian. During Kaiyun he was appointed military commissioner of Dingzhou. Before leaving he told Emperor Shao, "On this campaign I shall surely crush the enemy." Everyone cheered his bold words, but once he reached his post no sign of military prowess appeared. When the enemy returned he was the first to offer surrender. He later followed the Khitan to Changshan. The Khitan general Jieli sent Yin with the Khitan leader Yang An to block our army at the Ming River. When Yang An soon withdrew, Yin gave him pack camels loaded with goods. After Yang An fled north, Yin hid among tombs and mounds until he could escape, then rode back to our side. Gaozu praised him for being the first to return to court. When Weizhou was pacified and Ganling lacked a commander, he appointed Yin military commissioner of Beizhou with the additional title of honorary Grand Tutor. Early in Qianyou he died in office. The court posthumously appointed him Grand Preceptor.
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劉在明，幽州人。 少有膽氣，本州節度使劉守光用為親信，出為平塞軍使。 守光敗，歸於太原，唐莊宗收為列校。 明宗時，為捧聖左廂都指揮使，領和州刺史。 從幸汴州，至滎陽，聞朱守殷叛，用為前鋒。 至汴城，率先登城，賊平，授汴州馬步軍都指揮使。 應順初，為貝州刺史。 明年，移趙州，兼北面行營馬軍都指揮使，以軍戍易州。 清泰末，幽州節度使趙德鈞引軍赴團柏谷，路由易州，取在明軍從。 及德鈞兵敗，在明奔歸懷州，唐末帝令與萇從簡同守河陽。 晉祖至，乃迎之，京都事定，出為單州刺史。 天福中，李金全以安州叛，在明從李守貞攻之，大破淮賊，以功授安州防禦使，明年，移絳州。 楊光遠據青州叛，召為行營馬步軍都指揮使，領齊州防禦使。 青州平，遷相州留後，歷邢州、晉州留後。 〈（《通鑒》：契丹犯闕，建雄留後劉在明朝於契丹，以節度副使駱知朗知州事。）〉 高祖踐阼，授幽州道行營都部署。 時契丹守中山，在明出師經略，契丹乃棄城而去，遂授鎮州留後。 乾祐元年五月，正授鎮州節度使。 六月，以疾卒於鎮。 贈侍中。
Liu Zaiming was a native of Youzhou. As a youth he was bold and spirited. Liu Shouguang, military governor of the region, took him as a confidant and later sent him out as commander of the Pingsai garrison. When Shouguang fell he made his way to Taiyuan, where Zhuangzong of Tang enrolled him among the officer corps. Under Mingzong he commanded the left wing of the Pingsheng Guard while also holding the prefecture of Hezhou. He accompanied the emperor to Bianzhou and, when they reached Xingyang and heard that Zhu Shouyin had rebelled, was placed in the vanguard. At Bian he was the first to scale the walls. After the rebels were crushed he was made commander of all horse and foot forces at Bianzhou. Early in the Yingshun era he became prefect of Beizhou. The following year he was moved to Zhaozhou as northern campaign cavalry commander and stationed his troops at Yizhou. Late in Qingtai, Zhao Dejun of Youzhou marched toward Tuanbai Valley by way of Yizhou and took Zaiming's force with him. When Dejun was defeated, Zaiming fled to Huaizhou. The last Tang emperor ordered him and Chang Congjian to hold Heyang together. When the Jin founder arrived he went out to welcome him. After the capital was secured he was appointed prefect of Shanzhou. During Tianfu, Li Jinquan rebelled from Anzhou. Zaiming joined Li Shouzhen in the attack, routed the Huai rebels, and was made defense commissioner of Anzhou for his service. The next year he was transferred to Jiangzhou. When Yang Guangyuan rebelled from Qingzhou he was summoned as campaign commander of all horse and foot forces and concurrently made defense commissioner of Qizhou. After Qingzhou was pacified he became regent of Xiangzhou and later served as regent at Xingzhou and Jinzhou in turn. (《Zizhi Tongjian》: When the Khitan invaded the capital, Liu Zaiming, regent of Jianxiong, had an audience with them and put Deputy Commissioner Luo Zhilang in charge of the prefecture.)〉 When Gaozu took the throne he was made overall commander of the Youzhou circuit campaign. The Khitan then held Zhongshan. Zaiming marched against them and drove them from the city, and he was appointed regent of Zhenzhou. In the fifth month of Qianyou 1 he was formally appointed military commissioner of Zhenzhou. In the sixth month he died of illness in office. He was posthumously appointed Palace Attendant.
8
馬萬，澶州人也。 少從軍，善水遊。 唐莊宗與梁軍對壘於河上，莊宗於德勝渡夾河立南北寨。 會梁軍急攻南寨，於中流聯戰艦以絕援路，晝夜攻城者三日，寨將氏延賞告急於莊宗。 莊宗隔河望敵，無如之何，乃召人能水遊破賊者。 時萬兄弟皆應募，遂潛行入南寨，往來者三，又助燒船艦，汴軍遂退。 由此升為水軍小校，漸典禁軍，遙領刺史，累遷奉國左廂都指揮使、泗州防禦使。 晉天福二年夏，範延光叛於鄴，牙將孫銳率兵至黎陽，朝廷遣侍衛馬軍都指揮使白奉進領兵渡滑州，萬亦預其行。 時滑州節度使符彥饒潛通鄴下，殺白奉進於牙署。 萬領本軍兵士將助亂，會奉國右廂都指揮使盧順密亦以兵至，諭以逆順，萬不得已，與順密急趨公府，執彥饒生送闕下。 朝廷即以萬為滑州節度使，而盧順密酬之甚淺。 居無何，晉高祖稍知其事，即以順密為涇州兵馬留後，漸薄於萬。 萬鎮鄧州，未幾罷鎮，授上將軍，以目疾致仕。 乾祐三年四月卒。 輟視朝一日。
Ma Wan was a native of Chanzhou. He entered the army young and was an expert swimmer. When Zhuangzong of Tang faced the Liang army on the Yellow River, he built north and south camps on either bank at Desheng Ford. The Liang forces then pressed hard against the southern camp, chaining warships across the river to block reinforcements and attacking day and night for three days. The camp commander Shi Yanzhang sent urgent word to Zhuangzong. Zhuangzong watched the enemy from the far bank, helpless, and called for men who could swim across and break the siege. Wan and his brothers volunteered, slipped into the southern camp three times, and helped set the enemy ships afire. The Bian army then withdrew. For this he was promoted in the navy, then rose through the palace guards, held a prefecture in absentia, and eventually became commander of the left wing of the Fengguo Army and defense commissioner of Sizhou. In the summer of Jin Tianfu 2, Fan Yanguang rebelled at Ye. Sun Rui marched on Liyang, and the court sent Bai Fengjin with the palace cavalry through Huazhou. Wan went with them. The military commissioner of Huazhou, Fu Yanrao, was secretly in league with Ye and murdered Bai Fengjin at headquarters. Wan was about to join the mutiny with his men when Lu Shunmi, commander of the Fengguo right wing, arrived and persuaded him of right and wrong. Wan then rushed with Shunmi to the government hall, seized Yanrao alive, and sent him to the capital. The court at once made Wan military commissioner of Huazhou, but rewarded Lu Shunmi far more generously. Before long Gaozu learned what had really happened. He made Shunmi regent at Jingzhou and gradually came to favor Wan less. Wan governed Dengzhou, but was soon removed and made Senior General before retiring because of eye trouble. He died in the fourth month of Qianyou 3. The court suspended audiences for a day.
9
李彥從，字士元，汾州孝義人。 父德，麟州司馬。 彥從少習武藝，出行伍間，高祖典禁軍，以鄉里之舊，任為親信。 國初，用為左飛龍使、檢校司空。 鎮州逐敵之際，請兵於朝廷，高祖令彥從率軍赴之。 乾祐初，領恩州刺史。 趙暉討王景崇於岐下，彥從為兵馬都監，破川軍有功，賊平，授濮州刺史，治有政能，百姓悅之。 乾祐三年冬，卒於郡。
Li Yancong, courtesy name Shiyuan, was a native of Xiaoyi in Fenzhou. His father De had been assistant prefect of Linzhou. Yancong trained in the martial arts from youth and rose through the ranks. When Gaozu commanded the palace guard he took Yancong into his confidence as a fellow townsman. At the founding of the dynasty he was made Left Flying Dragon Commissioner and honorary Minister of Works. When Zhenzhou needed troops to drive off the enemy, Gaozu ordered Yancong to lead a force there. Early in Qianyou he held the prefecture of Enzhou. When Zhao Hui campaigned against Wang Jingchong at Qi, Yancong served as cavalry inspector, distinguished himself against the Chuan forces, and after the rebels were crushed was made prefect of Puzhou. He governed capably and won the people's approval. He died in office in the winter of Qianyou 3.
10
白再榮，本蕃部人也。 少從軍，累遷護聖左廂指揮使。 晉末，契丹入汴，明年，契丹主北去，再榮從部帳至真定。 其年閏七月晦，李筠、何福晉相率殺北帥滿達勒，據甲仗庫，敵勢未退，筠等使人召再榮。 再榮端坐本營，遲疑久之。 為軍吏所迫，乃行。 翊日，逐出床答勒，諸軍以再榮名次在諸校之右，乃請權知留後事。 〈（《東都事略·李筠傳》：筠請馮道領節度，道曰：「予主奏事而已，留後事當議功臣為之。」 以諸將之甲者為留後。）〉 再榮貪昧無決，舉止多疑，出入騎從，露刃註矢，諸校不相統攝，互有猜貳。 奉國廂主王饒懼為再榮所並，乃據東門樓，以兵自衛，偽稱足疾，不敢見再榮。 司天監趙延乂俱與之善，乃來往解釋，遂無相忌之意。 再榮以李崧、和凝攜家在彼，令軍士數百人環迫崧、凝，以求賞給，崧、凝各出家財與之。 再榮欲害崧以利其財，前磁州刺史李穀謂再榮曰：「公與諸將為契丹所擄，淩辱萬端，旦夕憂死。 今日眾力逐出蕃戎，鎮民死者不下三千人，豈獨公等之功！ 才得生路，便擬殺一宰相，他日到闕，儻有所問，何以為辭？」 再榮默然。 再榮又欲括率在城居民家財，以給軍士，李穀又譬解之，乃止。 其漢人曾事滿達勒者盡拘之，以取其財。 高祖以再榮為鎮州留後，為政貪虐難狀，鎮人呼為「白麻答」。 未幾，移授滑州節度使，箕斂誅求，民不聊生，乃征還京師。 周太祖入京城，軍士攻再榮之第，迫脅再榮，盡取財貨既，軍士前啟曰：「某等軍健，常趨事麾下，一旦無禮至此，今後何顏謁見？」 即奮刃擊之，挈其首而去，後家人以帛贖葬之。
Bai Zairong was originally from the frontier tribes. He entered the army young and eventually became commander of the left wing of the Husheng Guard. Late in Jin the Khitan entered Bian. The next year, as the Khitan emperor withdrew north, Zairong followed the camp to Zhending. On the last day of the intercalary seventh month that year, Li Jun and He Fujin led the killing of the Khitan commander Mandale and seized the armory. The enemy had not yet withdrawn, and they sent for Zairong. Zairong sat stiffly in his own camp, hesitating for a long while. Pressed by his officers, he finally went. The next day they drove out Chuangdale. Because Zairong outranked the other commanders, the troops asked him to serve as acting regent. (《Eastern Capital Affairs Outline · Biography of Li Jun》: Jun asked Feng Dao to take the military commission. Dao said, "I am here only to handle memorials to the throne. The regency should go to a man of merit." The commander with the highest rank was made regent.)〉 Zairong was greedy, indecisive, and suspicious. He went about surrounded by armed horsemen with blades drawn and bows strung. The commanders would not submit to one another and eyed each other with distrust. Wang Rao, commander of the Fengguo wing, feared that Zairong would swallow his command. He seized the east gate tower, garrisoned it with troops, feigned a foot ailment, and refused to see Zairong. Zhao Yanyi of the Directorate of Astronomy was friendly with both men and shuttled between them until their mutual suspicion eased. Because Li Song and He Ning had their families with them in the city, Zairong sent hundreds of soldiers to surround them and demand payment. Both men paid out of their private fortunes. Zairong then planned to kill Song for his wealth. Li Gu, former prefect of Cizhou, said to him, "You and the other generals were captured by the Khitan, humiliated in every way, and lived in daily fear of death. Today the combined effort of many men drove out the barbarians, and no fewer than three thousand townspeople died. Was that victory yours alone! You have only just won your lives, and already you would kill a chief minister. When you reach the capital, what answer will you give if you are questioned?" Zairong said nothing. Zairong next wanted to seize the property of everyone in the city to pay the troops, but Li Gu dissuaded him again and he desisted. He detained every Han who had once served Mandale and stripped them of their property. Gaozu made Zairong regent of Zhenzhou. His rule was so greedy and cruel that the people called him "White Mandale." Soon he was transferred to Huazhou as military commissioner, where his crushing exactions left the people destitute. He was then recalled to the capital. When Taizu of Zhou entered the capital, soldiers stormed Zairong's house and forced him to hand over everything he owned. Then one of them said, "We have always served under you, sir. After treating you so shamefully, how can we ever face you again?" They at once cut him down, took his head, and left. His family later ransomed the head with silk for burial.
11
史臣曰：晉、漢之際，有以懋軍功、勤王事、取旌旄符竹者多矣，其間有及民之惠者無幾焉。 如王周之閫政、審交之民譽，蓋其優者也； 漢球、張瓘抑又次焉。 是宜紀之篇以示來者，其餘皆不足觀也已。 張鵬以一言之失，遽滅其身，亦足誡後代多言橫議之徒歟！
The historian writes: Between Jin and Han, many men won banners and provincial commands through military merit and loyal service to the throne, yet few of them brought any real benefit to the people. Men such as Wang Zhou in frontier administration and Liu Shenjiao in popular esteem were among the best; while Hanqiu and Zhang Guan ranked a step below them. These are the men worth recording for posterity; the rest are scarcely worth notice. Zhang Peng destroyed himself over a single ill-chosen remark—a warning, too, for later generations of men who talk too much and argue too freely!