1
王殷，瀛州人。 曾祖昌裔，本州別駕。 祖光，滄州教練使，因家焉。 唐末，幽、滄大亂，殷父鹹珪避地南遷，因投於魏軍。 殷自言生於魏州之開元寺，既長從軍，漸為偏將。 唐同光末，為華州馬步軍副指揮使，因家於華下。 天成中，移授靈武都指揮使，久之代還。 清泰中，張令昭據鄴叛，殷從範延光討之，首冒矢石，率先登城，以功授祁州刺史，尋改原州。 殷性謙謹好禮，事母以孝聞，每與人結交，過從皆先稟於母，母命不從，殷必不往，雖在軍旅，交遊不雜。 及為刺史，政事小有不佳，母察之，立殷於庭，詰責而杖之。 〈（《歐陽史》：殷為刺史，政事有小失，母責之，殷即取杖授婢仆，自笞於母前。）〉 晉天福中，丁內艱，尋有詔起復，授憲州刺史，殷上章辭曰：「臣為末將，出處無損益於國家。 臣本燕人，值鄉國離亂，少罹偏罰，因母鞠養訓導，方得成人，不忍遽釋苴麻，遠離廬墓，伏願許臣終母喪紀。」 晉高祖嘉而許之。 晉少帝嗣位，會殷服闋，召典禁軍，累遷奉國右廂都指揮使。 漢祖受命，從討杜重威於鄴下，殷與劉詞皆率先力戰，矢中於首，久之，出折鏃於口中，以是漢祖嘉之。 乾祐末，遷侍衛步軍都指揮使，領夔州節度使，會契丹寇邊，遣殷領兵屯澶州。 及李業等作亂，漢隱帝密詔澶帥李洪義遣圖殷，洪義懼不克，反以變告殷，殷與洪義同遣人至鄴，請太祖赴內難。 殷從平京師，授侍衛親軍都指揮使。
Wang Yin was a native of Ying Prefecture. His great-grandfather Changyi had served as vice-prefect of that prefecture. His grandfather Guang had been training commissioner of Cang Prefecture, and the family made its home there. When the Tang dynasty was nearing its end, You and Cang were thrown into chaos. Yin's father Xian'gui fled south to escape the fighting and threw in his lot with the Wei army. Yin himself said he had been born at the Kaiyuan Temple in Wei Prefecture. After he came of age he took up arms and slowly rose to become a field commander. Near the end of the Tongguang era he was made deputy commander of Hua Prefecture's combined horse and foot forces, and he settled his household in the Hua region. During the Tiancheng period he was transferred to command Lingwu. After a long tour of duty he was relieved and recalled. In the Qingtai period Zhang Lingzhao held Ye in rebellion. Yin marched with Fan Yanguang against him, took the lead under fire, and was the first to scale the walls. For this he was made prefect of Qi Prefecture, and before long was reassigned to Yuan Prefecture. Yin was by nature modest, careful, and devoted to propriety, and he was famed for the way he honored his mother. Before he kept company with anyone he always asked her leave; if she forbade it he would not go. Even amid camp life his circle of friends remained small and select. Once he became a prefect, the least slip in his governance would be noticed by his mother. She would have him stand in the courtyard, rebuke him, and beat him with a rod. (The 《Ouyang History》 records that when Yin was prefect and committed a minor error in office, his mother rebuked him; he immediately handed the rod to a servant and had himself beaten in her presence.)〉 During the Jin Tianfu period he entered mourning for his mother. An edict soon recalled him to service and appointed him prefect of Xian Prefecture. Yin memorialized the throne to decline, writing: "Your servant is only a minor commander. Whether I serve or withdraw can neither help nor harm the state. I am a man of Yan. My homeland was ravaged by war, and in youth I suffered exile and hardship; it was only through my mother's care and teaching that I grew to manhood. I cannot bring myself to cast off my mourning garments so soon or to leave her grave. I beg that I be permitted to see out the full mourning period for my mother. Emperor Gaozu of Jin was pleased and granted his request. When Emperor Shaodi of Jin came to the throne, Yin's mourning had just ended. He was summoned to take charge of the palace guard and was eventually promoted to commander of the right wing of the Fengguo army. When the founder of Later Han took power, Yin joined the campaign against Du Chongwei at Ye. Both he and Liu Ci fought in the van with desperate courage. An arrow struck him in the head; long afterward he spat out the broken tip. The Han founder was deeply impressed. Near the end of the Qianyou era he was made commander of the palace infantry and concurrently military governor of Kuizhou. When the Khitans raided the border he was sent to hold Cazhou with his troops. When Li Ye and his faction rebelled, the Hidden Emperor of Han secretly ordered Li Hongyi, commander at Cazhou, to move against Yin. Hongyi, fearing failure, instead warned Yin of the plot. Yin and Hongyi together sent envoys to Ye asking Taizu to come to the capital's aid. Yin took part in pacifying the capital and was appointed commander of the palace guard.
2
太祖即位，授天雄軍節度使，加同平章事，典軍如故。 殷赴鎮，以侍衛司局從，凡河北征鎮有戍兵處，鹹稟殷節制。 又於民間多方聚斂，太祖聞而惡之，因使宣諭曰：「朕離鄴時，帑廩所儲不少，卿與國家同體，隨要取給，何患無財。」 二年夏，太祖征兗還，殷迎謁於路，宴賜而去。 及王峻得罪，太祖遣其子飛龍使承誨往鄴，令口諭峻之過惡，以慰其心。 三年秋，以永壽節上表請覲，太祖雖允其請，且慮殷之不誠，尋遣使止之。 何福進在鎮州，素惡殷之太橫，福進入朝，摭其陰事以奏之，太祖遂疑之。 是年冬，以郊禋有日，殷自鎮入覲，太祖令依舊內外巡警。 殷出入部從不下數百人，又以儀形魁偉，觀者無不聳然。 一日，遽入奏曰：「郊禮在近，兵民大集，臣城外防警，請量給甲仗，以備非常。」 太祖難之。 時中外以太祖嬰疾，步履稍難，多不視朝，俯逼郊禋，殷有震主之勢，頗憂之。 太祖乃力疾坐於滋德殿，殷入起居，即命執之，尋降制流竄，及出都城，遽殺之，眾情乃安。 是歲春末，鄴城寺鐘懸絕而落，又火光出幡竿之上。 殷之入覲也，都人餞於離亭，上馬失鐙，翻墮於地，人訝其不祥，果及於禍。 太祖尋令澶帥鄭仁誨赴鄴，殷次子為衙內指揮使，不出候謁，仁誨誅之，遷其家屬於登州。
When Taizu took the throne, Yin was made military governor of the Tiantxiong army and granted the title of co-equal with the Secretariat and Chancellery, while retaining command of the army as before. When Yin went out to his command he took the palace guard staff with him. Every Hebei garrison under a military commissioner was placed under his authority. He also extorted wealth from the populace on many pretexts. When Taizu learned of this he was displeased and sent word: "When I left Ye the treasury was well stocked. You and the state are one body—take what you need whenever you need it. Why should you lack for money?" In the summer of the second year Taizu returned from the Yan campaign. Yin met him on the road to pay his respects, was entertained and rewarded, and then went on his way. When Wang Jun fell from favor, Taizu sent his son, the Feilong envoy Chenghui, to Ye with instructions to recount Jun's crimes to Yin by word of mouth and set his mind at ease. In the autumn of the third year he memorialized the court for an audience on the Yongshou festival. Taizu granted the request but doubted his sincerity and soon sent an envoy to forbid the journey. He Fujin, stationed at Zhen Prefecture, had long resented Yin's overbearing ways. When Fujin came to court he laid out Yin's secret wrongdoing in a memorial, and Taizu began to suspect him. That winter, with the suburban sacrifice approaching, Yin came in from his command to attend court. Taizu restored him to his former duties of internal and external patrol. Whenever he went abroad his escort numbered no fewer than several hundred men. His towering frame made every onlooker stand in awe. One day he rushed in to report: "The suburban rites are close at hand, and troops and civilians are assembling in great numbers. Your servant stands guard outside the walls. I ask that arms and armor be issued in due measure against any emergency. Taizu was troubled by the request. At the time, because Taizu was ill and walked with difficulty, he seldom held court. With the suburban sacrifice near at hand, Yin had grown so formidable that he seemed to overshadow his sovereign, and many at court were deeply uneasy. Taizu then dragged himself, despite his illness, to the Zide Hall. When Yin came in to pay his respects he was seized on the spot. An edict soon ordered him into exile, and as soon as he had left the capital he was put to death. Only then did public anxiety subside. Late that spring the temple bell at Ye City snapped its ropes and crashed down, and flames were seen leaping from the top of a banner pole. When Yin came to court the capital saw him off at the farewell pavilion. As he mounted his horse he lost a stirrup and fell to the ground. Onlookers took it for an evil omen—and disaster did indeed follow. Taizu soon sent Zheng Renhui, commander at Cazhou, to Ye. Yin's second son, a commander of the inner guard, failed to come out to receive him. Renhui had him executed and sent the rest of the family into exile at Deng Prefecture.
3
何福進，字善長，太原人。 父神劍，累贈左驍衛大將軍。 福進少從軍，以驍勇聞。 唐同光末，郭從謙以兵圍莊宗於大內，福進時為宿衛軍校，獨出死力拒戰於內，後明宗知而嘉之，擢為捧聖軍校，出為磁州刺史，充北面行營先鋒都校。 清泰中，自彰聖都虞候率本軍從範延光平鄴，以功歷鄭、隴二州防禦使。 開運中，由潁州團練使入拜左驍衛大將軍。 屬契丹陷中原，令中朝文武臣僚凡數十人隨帳北歸，時福進預其行。 行次鎮州，聞北主已斃，其黨尚據鎮陽，遂與李筠、白再榮之儔合謀力戰，盡逐契丹，據有鎮陽。 時漢祖已建號於河東，詔以福進為北面行營馬步都虞候，尋拜曹州防禦使、檢校太保。 太祖出鎮於鄴，將謀北伐，奏以福進自隨。 及太祖入平內難，以輔佐功拜忠武軍節度使，不數月，移領鎮州。 數年之間，北鄙無事。 及聞太祖將有事於南郊，拜章入覲，改天平軍節度使，加同平章事。 未及之任，卒於東京之私第，年六十有六，時顯德元年正月也。 累贈中書令。
He Fujin, whose courtesy name was Shanchang, was a native of Taiyuan. His father Shenjian was posthumously promoted several times to Grand General of the Left Qiaowei Guard. Fujin took up arms in his youth and won renown for his boldness in battle. At the end of the Tongguang era Guo Congqian besieged Emperor Zhuangzong inside the palace. Fujin was then a night-guard officer and fought alone with desperate valor within the walls. When Emperor Mingzong learned of this he was pleased and promoted him to an officer of the Pingsheng army, made him prefect of Ci Prefecture, and appointed him vanguard commander of the northern campaign headquarters. During the Qingtai period, as chief adjutant of the Zhangsheng army he led his troops with Fan Yanguang to pacify Ye. For his service he was made defense commissioner of Zheng and then of Long Prefecture in turn. During the Kaiyun period he came to court from his post as regimental trainer of Ying Prefecture and was appointed Grand General of the Left Qiaowei Guard. When the Khitans overran the Central Plains they compelled several dozen central-court officials to accompany the royal camp northward. Fujin was among them. When they reached Zhen Prefecture they learned that the Khitan ruler had died but his followers still held Zhenyang. Fujin joined Li Yun, Bai Zairong, and others in a fierce fight that drove the Khitans out completely and secured Zhenyang. By then the founder of Later Han had proclaimed his rule in Hedong. He appointed Fujin chief adjutant of horse and foot for the northern campaign headquarters, and soon made him defense commissioner of Cao Prefecture with the acting title of Grand Guardian. When Taizu took command at Ye and prepared a northern campaign, he asked that Fujin accompany him. When Taizu marched in to settle the capital crisis, Fujin was made military governor of the Zhongwu army for his supporting service. Within a few months he was transferred to command Zhen Prefecture. For several years the northern frontier remained quiet. Learning that Taizu was to perform the southern suburban rites, he memorialized for an audience, was made military governor of the Tianping army, and was granted the title of co-equal with the Secretariat and Chancellery. Before he could take up the new post he died at his private residence in the Eastern Capital, aged sixty-six, in the first month of the first year of Xiande. He was posthumously promoted several times, ultimately to Director of the Secretariat.
4
子繼筠，仕皇朝，領建武軍節度使卒。
His son Jiyun served the dynasty and died while military governor of the Jianwu army.
5
劉詞，字好謙，元城人。 梁貞明中，事故鄴帥楊師厚，以勇悍聞。 唐莊宗入魏，亦列於麾下，兩河之戰，無不預焉。 同光初，為效節軍使，轉劍直指揮使，尋以忤於權臣，出為汝州小校，凡留滯十餘年。 清泰初，詔諸道選驍果以實禁衛，由是得入典禁軍。 晉初，從侯益收汜水關，佐楊光遠平鄴都，累遷奉國第一軍都虞候。 後從馬全節伐安陸，敗淮賊萬餘眾，晉祖嘉之，授奉國都校，累加檢校司空。 又從杜重威敗安重榮於宗城。 及圍鎮陽，詞自登雲梯，身先士伍，以功加檢校司徒、沁州刺史。 時王師方討襄陽，尋命詞兼行營都虞候，襄陽平，遷本州團練使。 在郡歲餘，臨事之暇，必被甲枕戈而臥，人或問之，詞曰：「我以勇敢而登貴仕，不可一日而忘本也。 若信其溫飽，則筋力有怠，將來何以報國也！」 及漢有天下，復為奉國右廂都校，遙領閬州防禦使。 從太祖平鄴，加檢校太保。 乾祐初，李守貞叛於河中，太祖征之，朝廷以為侍衛步軍都指揮使，遙領寧江軍節度使，充行營馬步都虞候，命分屯於河西。 二年正月，守貞遣敢死之士數千，夜入其營。 皆怖懼不知所為，惟詞神氣自若，令於軍中曰：「此小盜耳，不足驚也。」 遂免胄橫戈，叱短兵以擊之，賊眾大敗而退。 自是守貞喪膽，不復有奔突之意。 河中平，太祖嘉之，表其功為華州節度使，歲餘，移鎮邢臺。 太祖受命，加同平章事。 三年秋，改鎮河陽。 顯德初，世宗親征劉崇，詞奉命領所部兵隨駕，行及高平南，遇樊愛能等自北退回，且言官軍已敗，止詞不行，詞不聽，疾驅而北。 世宗聞而嘉之，尋命為隨駕都部署，又授河東道行營副部署。 其年夏，車駕還京，授永興軍節度使，加兼侍中，行京兆尹。 二年冬，以疾卒於鎮，年六十有五。 贈中書令，謚曰忠惠。 詞發身軍校，亟歷戎事，常以忠勇自負。 洎領藩鎮，能靖恭為治，無苛政以撓民，謚以忠惠，議者韙之。
Liu Ci, whose courtesy name was Haoqian, was a native of Yuancheng. During the Liang Zhenming period he served under Yang Shihou, the former commander at Ye, and won fame for his fierce fighting. When Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang entered Wei, Ci entered his service as well. There was scarcely a battle fought between the two He rivers in which he did not take part. Early in the Tongguang era he was commissioner of the Xiaojie army and then commander of the Jianzhi guard. Soon, for offending a powerful minister, he was demoted to a petty officer at Ru Prefecture and languished there for more than ten years. Early in the Qingtai period an edict ordered the circuits to select their boldest fighters to strengthen the palace guard. Through this Ci was able to enter palace service. Early in the Jin period he followed Hou Yi in recovering Sishui Pass and assisted Yang Guangyuan in pacifying the Ye capital. He rose steadily to chief adjutant of the first Fengguo army. Later he joined Ma Quanjie in the attack on Anlu and routed more than ten thousand Huai rebels. The Jin founder was pleased and made him colonel of the Fengguo army, with repeated promotions to acting Minister of Works. He also followed Du Chongwei in the defeat of An Chongrong at Zongcheng. During the siege of Zhenyang he climbed the assault ladder himself and led the charge at the head of his men. For this he was given the acting title of Minister of Education and appointed prefect of Qin Prefecture. At the time the imperial army was campaigning against Xiangyang. Ci was soon made chief adjutant of the campaign headquarters as well. When Xiangyang fell he was made regimental trainer of that prefecture. For more than a year in office, whenever he had a moment free from affairs he would sleep in armor with his weapon for a pillow. When asked why, Ci said: "I won my high office through courage. I must not forget that for a single day. If I grow used to comfort and ease, my strength will fail me. How then will I serve the state when it needs me! When Later Han held the realm he again became colonel of the right wing of the Fengguo army and held the post of defense commissioner of Lang Prefecture in absentia. He followed Taizu in pacifying Ye and was given the acting title of Grand Guardian. Early in the Qianyou era Li Shouzhen rebelled at Hezhong and Taizu marched against him. The court made Ci commander of the palace infantry, military governor of the Ningjiang army in absentia, and chief adjutant of horse and foot for the campaign headquarters, with orders to encamp separately west of the river. In the first month of the second year Shouzhen sent several thousand suicide troops who raided Ci's camp by night. The men were terrified and at a loss. Ci alone remained calm and ordered through the ranks: "These are only petty raiders. There is nothing to fear. He doffed his helmet, seized his weapon crosswise, and drove the close fighters forward with a shout. The enemy broke and fled in rout. From that day Shouzhen lost heart and no longer dared to launch sudden attacks. When Hezhong was pacified Taizu praised him and recommended his merit, appointing him military governor of Hua Prefecture. After a year he was transferred to command at Xingtai. When Taizu took the throne Ci was granted the title of co-equal with the Secretariat and Chancellery. In the autumn of the third year he was transferred to command Heyang. Early in Xiande Emperor Shizong personally marched against Liu Chong. Ci was ordered to lead his troops with the imperial train. South of Gaoping he met Fan Aineng and others retreating from the north, who said the imperial army had already been beaten and urged him to halt. Ci would not listen and drove hard to the north. When Shizong heard of this he was pleased and soon appointed Ci overall commander of the imperial escort and deputy overall commander of the Hedong campaign headquarters. That summer, when the emperor returned to the capital, Ci was made military governor of the Yongxing army, given the concurrent title of Palace Attendant, and charged with the duties of metropolitan magistrate of Jingzhao. In the winter of the second year he died of illness at his post, aged sixty-five. He was posthumously made Director of the Secretariat with the posthumous name Loyal and Kind. Ci had risen from the ranks as a military school officer and had seen much hard fighting, always priding himself on loyalty and courage. Once he held a military commission he governed with quiet dignity and imposed no harsh measures on the people. That he was given the posthumous name Loyal and Kind met with general approval.
6
子延欽，仕皇朝為控鶴廂使。
His son Yanqin served the dynasty as commander of the Konghe wing.
7
史彥超，雲州人也。 性驍獷，有膽氣，累功至龍捷都指揮使。 太祖之赴內難，彥超以本軍從。 國初，與虎捷都指揮使何徵戍晉州，會劉崇與契丹入寇，攻圍州城月餘，是時本州無帥，知州王萬敢不協物情，彥超與何徵協力固拒，累挫敵鋒。 攻擊日急，禦捍有備，軍政甚嚴，居人無擾。 及朝廷遣樞密使王峻總兵為援，敵兵宵遁。 太祖嘉其善守之功，賞賜甚厚。 未幾，授龍捷右廂都指揮使，尋授鄭州防禦使。 劉崇之寇潞州也，車駕親征，以彥超為先鋒都指揮使。 高平之戰，先登陷陣，以功授華州節度使，先鋒如故。 大軍至河東城下，契丹營於忻、代之間，遙應賊勢，詔天雄軍節度使符彥卿率諸將屯忻州以拒之。 彥卿襲契丹於忻口。 彥超以先鋒軍追蕃寇，離大軍稍遠，賊兵伏發，為賊所陷。 世宗痛惜久之，詔贈太師，示加等也，仍命優恤其家焉。
Shi Yanchao was a native of Yun Prefecture. He was fierce and headstrong by nature, bold in spirit, and through repeated merit rose to commander of the Longjie army. When Taizu marched to settle the capital crisis, Yanchao followed with his own troops. Early in the dynasty he and He Zheng, commander of the Hujie army, garrisoned Jin Prefecture. When Liu Chong and the Khitans invaded they besieged the city for more than a month. The prefecture then had no military governor, and the prefect Wang Wang'an was unpopular. Yanchao and He Zheng held the city together in a stout defense and repeatedly drove back the enemy. As the assaults grew fiercer by the day their defenses held firm, military discipline remained strict, and the townspeople were left unmolested. When the court sent Wang Jun, commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, with relief troops, the enemy withdrew under cover of night. Taizu praised their skill in holding the city and rewarded them handsomely. Before long he was made commander of the right wing of the Longjie army and soon after defense commissioner of Zheng Prefecture. When Liu Chong attacked Lu Prefecture the emperor marched in person and appointed Yanchao vanguard commander. At the battle of Gaoping he was first over the walls and into the enemy line. For this he was made military governor of Hua Prefecture while retaining his post as vanguard commander. When the main army reached the walls of Hedong, the Khitans encamped between Xin and Dai in support of the enemy. An edict ordered Fu Yanqing, military governor of the Tiantxiong army, to lead the generals to hold Xin Prefecture against them. Yanqing attacked the Khitans at Xinkou. Yanchao pursued the enemy with the vanguard, drawing somewhat away from the main army. The enemy sprang an ambush and he was cut off and killed. Shizong mourned him deeply and decreed him posthumous Grand Preceptor—an exceptional honor—and ordered that his family receive generous care.
8
史懿，字繼美，代郡人也。 本名犯太祖廟諱，故改焉。 父建瑭，事唐莊宗為先鋒都校，《唐書》有傳。 莊宗之伐鎮陽，時建瑭為流矢所中而卒，懿時年甫弱冠，莊宗以其父歿於王事，召拜昭德軍使，俄遷先鋒左右廂都校，俾嗣其家聲。 天成中，為涿州刺史。 晉初，由趙州刺史遷洺州團練使，尋歷亳、鳳二州防禦使。 晉祖以其弟翰尚晉國長公主，故尤所註意。 天福中，授彰武軍節度觀察留後。 開運初，歷澶、貝二鎮節度使。 三年，移鎮涇原。 未幾，契丹入中原，時四方征鎮為契丹所召者靡不灊至，惟懿堅壁拒命，仍送款於漢祖。 漢有天下，就拜檢校太尉、同平章事，及賜功臣名號。 廣順初，加檢校太師、兼侍中，進封邠國公。 顯德元年春，以抱病歸朝。 〈（《東都事略·楊廷璋傳》：周太祖常諭廷璋圖涇帥史懿，廷璋屏左右，示以詔書，懿受代入朝，遂免禍。）〉 途經洛，卒於其第，年六十三。 贈中書令。
Shi Yi, whose courtesy name was Jimei, was a native of Dai Commandery. His original given name violated the taboo of Taizu's temple name, and for that reason it was changed. His father Jiantang had served Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang as vanguard colonel and has a biography in the 《Tang History》. When Emperor Zhuangzong campaigned against Zhenyang, Jiantang was struck by a stray arrow and killed. Yi was then barely twenty. Zhuangzong, honoring his father's death in the state's service, summoned him and appointed him commissioner of the Zhaode army, and soon made him colonel of the left and right wings of the vanguard so that he might carry on his family's martial renown. During the Tiancheng period he served as prefect of Zhuo Prefecture. Early in the Jin period he was transferred from prefect of Zhao Prefecture to regimental trainer of Luo Prefecture, and soon served in turn as defense commissioner of Bo and Feng prefectures. Because Yi's younger brother Han had married the eldest princess of Jin, the Jin founder took special notice of him. During the Tianfu period he was appointed regent military governor and observation commissioner of the Zhangwu army. Early in the Kaiyun period he served in turn as military governor of the Cao and Bei commands. In the third year he was transferred to command Jingyuan. Before long the Khitans overran the Central Plains. Of the military commissioners summoned by them across the realm, scarcely one failed to submit. Yi alone held his walls and refused their orders, while sending pledges of loyalty to the founder of Later Han. When Later Han held the realm he was at once made acting Grand Commandant and co-equal with the Secretariat and Chancellery, and was granted a title honoring his merit. Early in the Guangshun period he was given the acting title of Grand Preceptor and concurrent Palace Attendant, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Bin. In the spring of the first year of Xiande he returned to court, ill. (The 《Eastern Capital Summary, Biography of Yang Tingzhang》 records that Zhou Taizu often directed Tingzhang to move against Shi Yi, commander at Jing. Tingzhang dismissed his attendants and showed him the edict. Yi accepted recall and came to court, thereby escaping disaster.)〉 Passing through Luoyang he died at his residence, aged sixty-three. He was posthumously made Director of the Secretariat.
9
王令溫，字順之，瀛州河間人也。 父迪，德州刺史，累贈太子太師。 令溫少以武勇稱，初隸唐莊宗麾下，稍遷廳直軍校。 明宗之為統帥，嘗與契丹戰於上谷，明宗臨陣馬逸，為敵所迫，令溫乃以所乘馬授明宗，而自力戰，飛矢連發，敵兵為之稍卻。 及明宗即位，歷遷神武彰聖都校。 晉初，自淄州刺史遷洺州團練使。 及安重榮稱兵於鎮州，晉祖以令溫為行營馬軍都指揮使，與都帥杜重威敗賊於宗城，以功授亳州防禦使，尋拜永清軍節度使。 屬契丹來寇，時令溫奉詔入朝，契丹遂陷貝州，其家屬因沒於契丹。 晉少帝憫之，授武勝軍節度使。 未幾，移鎮延州，又遷靈武。 漢有天下，復為永清軍節度使，尋改安州。 國初，加檢校太尉、同平章事。 世宗嗣位，遷鎮安軍節度使，罷鎮歸闕。 顯德三年夏，以疾卒，時年六十有二，詔贈侍中。
Wang Lingwen, whose courtesy name was Shunzhi, was a native of Hejian in Ying Prefecture. His father Di had been prefect of De Prefecture and was posthumously promoted several times to Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent. Lingwen won early fame for his martial courage. He first served under Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang and was gradually promoted to a hall guard officer. When Mingzong was supreme commander he once fought the Khitans at Shanggu. Mingzong's horse bolted under him on the field and the enemy closed in. Lingwen gave him his own mount and fought on foot, loosing arrow after arrow until the enemy drew back. When Mingzong took the throne, Lingwen rose to colonel of the Shenwu and Zhangsheng armies. Early in the Jin period he was transferred from prefect of Zi Prefecture to regimental trainer of Luo Prefecture. When An Chongrong rebelled at Zhen Prefecture, the Jin founder made Lingwen commander of the campaign cavalry. With the supreme commander Du Chongwei he defeated the rebels at Zongcheng. For this he was made defense commissioner of Bo Prefecture and soon military governor of the Yongqing army. When the Khitans invaded, Lingwen was ordered to court. The Khitans then took Bei Prefecture, and his family fell into their hands. Emperor Shaodi of Jin took pity on him and appointed him military governor of the Wusheng army. Before long he was transferred to Yan Prefecture and then to Lingwu. When Later Han held the realm he again became military governor of the Yongqing army and soon was reassigned to An Prefecture. Early in the dynasty he was given the acting title of Grand Commandant and made co-equal with the Secretariat and Chancellery. When Shizong came to the throne, Lingwen was made military governor of the Zhen'an army, then recalled from his post to court. In the summer of the third year of Xiande he died of illness, aged sixty-two. An edict posthumously made him Palace Attendant.
10
長子銳，仕皇朝為內職。 次子廣，歷諸衛大將軍。
His eldest son Rui served the dynasty in an inner-court office. His second son Guang rose to grand general of the guards.
11
李懷忠，字光孝，太原晉陽人。 父海，本府軍校。 懷忠形質魁壯，初事唐莊宗，隸於保衛軍。 夾城之役，懷忠率先登城，以功補本軍副兵馬使。 莊宗平定山東，累遷保衛軍使。 天成中，歷陜府、許州、滄州都指揮使，遙領辰州刺史。 清泰初，以河西蕃部寇鈔，命懷忠屯方渠。 晉祖受命，以懷忠故人，召典禁兵，三遷護聖左右廂都指揮使，遙領壽州節度使、檢校太保。 未幾，為同州節度使、檢校太傅。 少帝嗣位，入為右羽林統軍，改左武衛上將軍。 廣順中，以太子太傅致仕。 三年夏卒，年六十六。 詔贈太子太師。
Li Huaizhong, whose courtesy name was Guangxiao, was a native of Jinyang in Taiyuan. His father Hai had been a military school officer of the Taiyuan command. Huaizhong was tall and powerfully built. He first served Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang in the Baowei army. At the siege of Jiacheng he was first over the wall. For this he was made deputy horse-and-weapons commissioner of his army. When Emperor Zhuangzong pacified Shandong, Huaizhong rose to commissioner of the Baowei army. During the Tiancheng period he served in turn as commander at Shaanfu, Xu Prefecture, and Cang Prefecture, and held the prefecture of Chen in absentia. Early in the Qingtai period, when the tribes of Hexi were raiding the borders, Huaizhong was ordered to encamp at Fangqu. When the Jin founder took power he recalled Huaizhong, an old comrade, to command the palace guard. He was promoted three times to commander of the left and right wings of the Husheng army and held the posts of military governor of Shou Prefecture and acting Grand Guardian in absentia. Before long he was made military governor of Tong Prefecture with the acting title of Grand Mentor. When Shaodi came to the throne he entered court as commander of the Right Yulin Guard and was made senior general of the Left Wuwei Guard. During the Guangshun period he retired with the title of Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent. He died in the summer of the third year, aged sixty-six. An edict posthumously made him Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent.
12
白文珂，字德溫，太原人也。 曾祖辯。 父君成，遼州刺史。 文珂初事後唐武皇，補河東牙將，改遼州副使。 莊宗嗣位，轉振武都指揮使。 天成中，鎮州節度使王建立表為本州馬步軍都指揮使，遙授舒州刺史、檢校司空，歷青州、魏府都指揮使，歷瀛、蔚、忻、代四州刺史。 領代州日，兼蕃漢馬步都部署。 漢高祖鎮並門，表為副留守、檢校太保。 漢國初建，授河中節度使、西南面招討使、檢校太傅。 漢祖定兩京，改天平軍節度使，加同平章事。 未幾，鎮陜州，檢校太師。 會河中李守貞叛，詔充河中府行營都部署。 時文珂已老，朝議恐非守貞之敵，乃命太祖西征。 河中平，文珂授西京留守、河南尹。 太祖踐阼，加兼中書令，頃之，以太子太師致仕。 世宗即位，封晉國公。 顯德元年，卒於西京，年七十九。 輟視朝一日。
Bai Wenke, whose courtesy name was Dewen, was a native of Taiyuan. His great-grandfather was Bian. His father Juncheng had been prefect of Liao Prefecture. Wenke first served the Martial Emperor of Later Tang as a Hedong guard general and was later made vice-commissioner of Liao Prefecture. When Emperor Zhuangzong came to the throne, Wenke was made commander of Zhenwu. During the Tiancheng period Wang Jianli, military governor of Zhen Prefecture, recommended him as commander of horse and foot for that prefecture. He was given the acting title of Minister of Works and prefect of Shu Prefecture in absentia, then served as commander at Qing Prefecture and the Wei command, and in turn as prefect of Ying, Wei, Xin, and Dai. While he held Dai Prefecture he also served as overall commander of tribal and Han forces, horse and foot. When Gaozu of Han held Bingmen he recommended Wenke as deputy defender with the acting title of Grand Guardian. When Later Han was first established he was made military governor of Hezhong, pacification commissioner of the southwest, and acting Grand Mentor. When the Han founder secured the two capitals, Wenke was made military governor of the Tianping army and granted the title of co-equal with the Secretariat and Chancellery. Before long he was posted to Shaan Prefecture with the acting title of Grand Preceptor. When Li Shouzhen rebelled at Hezhong, an edict appointed Wenke overall commander of the Hezhong campaign headquarters. Wenke was by then elderly, and the court feared he was no match for Shouzhen. Taizu was therefore ordered to campaign west. When Hezhong was pacified, Wenke was made defender of the Western Capital and metropolitan magistrate of Henan. When Taizu took the throne, Wenke was given the concurrent title of Director of the Secretariat. Soon after he retired as Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent. When Shizong came to the throne, Wenke was enfeoffed as Duke of Jin. In the first year of Xiande he died in the Western Capital, aged seventy-nine. The court suspended audiences for one day in mourning.
13
子廷誨，仕皇朝，歷諸衛將軍卒。
His son Tinghui served the dynasty and died after rising through the guard commands.
14
白延遇，字希望，太原人也。 幼畜於晉之公宮，年十三，從晉祖伐蜀，以趫悍見稱。 晉有天下，歷典禁軍，累遷至檢校司空。 天福中，晉祖在鄴，安重榮叛於鎮州，帥眾數萬詣闕而來，晉祖命杜重威統諸將以禦之。 時延遇不預其行，乃泣告晉祖，願以身先，許之。 及陣於宗城，延遇率其屬先犯之，斬級數十，戰既酣，而劍亦折，諸將由是推伏。 晉祖聞之，即命中使以寶劍良馬賜之。 常山平，以功授檢校司徒，充馬軍左廂都校。 後出為汾州刺史，遷復州防禦使。 國初，加檢校太保，尋受代歸闕。 屬太祖親征兗海，以延遇為先鋒都校，兗州平，授齊州防禦使。 歲餘，改兗州防禦使。 在兗二年，為政有聞，人甚安之，州民數百詣闕，乞立德政碑以頌其美。 顯德二年冬，世宗命宰臣李穀為淮南道軍都部署，乃詔延遇為先鋒都校。 三年春，帥其所部與韓令坤先入揚州，軍聲甚振，尋命以別部屯於盛唐，前後敗淮賊萬餘眾。 四年夏，世宗回自壽春，制以延遇為同州節度使，未赴任，復命帥眾南征。 是年冬，以疾卒於濠州城下。 詔贈太尉。
Bai Yanyu, whose courtesy name was Xiwang, was a native of Taiyuan. He was raised from childhood in the Jin ducal palace. At thirteen he followed the Jin founder in the campaign against Shu and won praise for his fierce agility. When Jin held the realm he served in the palace guard and rose to acting Minister of Works. During the Tianfu period, while the Jin founder was at Ye, An Chongrong rebelled at Zhen Prefecture and marched tens of thousands toward the capital. The Jin founder ordered Du Chongwei to lead the generals against him. Yanyu was not included in the expedition. He wept before the Jin founder and begged to lead the van in person. His request was granted. At the battle line at Zongcheng he led his men in the first charge and took several dozen heads. In the heat of battle his sword snapped. The other generals were deeply impressed. When the Jin founder heard of this he immediately sent a palace envoy with a precious sword and fine horses as rewards. When Changshan was pacified he was given the acting title of Minister of Education and made colonel of the left wing of the cavalry. Later he was made prefect of Fen Prefecture and then defense commissioner of Fu Prefecture. Early in the dynasty he was given the acting title of Grand Guardian. Soon he was relieved and recalled to court. When Taizu personally campaigned in Yanhai, Yanyu was made vanguard colonel. When Yan Prefecture fell he was made defense commissioner of Qi Prefecture. After a year he was reassigned as defense commissioner of Yan Prefecture. For two years at Yan his governance won wide praise and the people lived in peace. Several hundred residents went to court to ask that a stele be erected honoring his virtuous rule. In the winter of the second year of Xiande Shizong appointed Chief Minister Li Gu overall commander of the Huainan army and made Yanyu vanguard colonel. In the spring of the third year he and Han Lingkun led their troops into Yangzhou first, and the army's fame spread far. Soon he was ordered to station a separate force at Shengtang and in repeated engagements routed more than ten thousand Huai rebels. In the summer of the fourth year, when Shizong returned from Shouchun, an edict made Yanyu military governor of Tong Prefecture. Before he could take up the post he was ordered south again at the head of his troops. That winter he died of illness below the walls of Hao Prefecture. An edict posthumously made him Grand Commandant.
15
唐景思，秦州人也。 幼以屠狗為業，善角觝戲。 初事偽蜀為軍校。 唐同光中，莊宗命魏王繼岌帥師伐蜀，時景思以所部戍於固鎮，首以其城降於繼岌，乃授興州刺史，為貝州行軍司馬。 屬契丹攻其城，因陷於幕庭，趙延壽素知其名，令隸於帳下，署為所部壕寨使。 開運末，契丹據中原，以景思為亳州防禦使。 領事之日，會草寇數萬攻圍其城，景思悉力以拒之。 後數日城陷，景思挺身而出，使人告於鄰郡，得援軍數百，逐其草寇，復有其城，亳民賴是以濟。 漢初，改授鄧州行軍司馬，常郁郁不得志，後受代歸闕。 乾祐中，命景思為沿淮巡檢使，屢挫淮賊。 時史宏肇淫刑黷貨，多織羅南北富商殺之，奪其財，大開告密之門。 景思部下有仆夫，希求無厭，雖委曲待之，不滿其心，一日拂衣而去，見宏肇，言景思受淮南厚賂，私貯器械，欲為內應。 宏肇即令親吏殿三十騎往收之，告者謂收吏曰：「景思多力，十夫之敵也，見便殺之，不然則無及矣。」 收騎至，景思迎接。 有欲擒之者，景思以兩手抱之，大呼曰：「冤哉！ 景思何罪？ 設若有罪，死亦非晚，何不容披雪？ 公等皆丈夫，安忍如此！」 都將命釋之，引告者面證景思，言受淮南賂。 景思曰：「我從人家人並在此，若有十緡貯積，亦是受賂。 言我貯甲仗，除官賜外，有一事亦是私貯。」 使者搜索其家，惟衣一笥，軍籍糧簿而已，乃寬之。 景思曰：「使但械系送我入京。」 先是，景思別有紀綱王知權者，在京，聞景思被誣，乃見史宏肇曰：「唐景思赤心為國，某服事三十年，孝於父母，義於朋友，被此誣罔，何以伸陳。 某請先下獄，願公追劾景思，免至冤橫。」 宏肇湣之，令在獄，日與酒食。 景思既桎梏就路，潁、亳之人隨至京師，眾保證之。 宏肇乃令鞫告事者，具伏誣陷，即斬之，遂奏釋景思。
Tang Jinsi was a native of Qin Prefecture. In youth he made his living as a dog butcher and was skilled in wrestling. He first served the puppet Shu state as a military school officer. During the Tongguang era Emperor Zhuangzong ordered Prince Jiji of Wei to lead an expedition against Shu. Jinsi was then garrisoning Gu Town with his troops and was the first to surrender the place to Jiji. He was made prefect of Xing Prefecture and campaign marshal of Bo Prefecture. When the Khitans attacked his town he fell into their hands. Zhao Yanshou, who had long known his reputation, took him into his service and appointed him trench-and-stockade commissioner under his command. Near the end of the Kaiyun period the Khitans held the Central Plains and made Jinsi defense commissioner of Bo Prefecture. Soon after he took office, tens of thousands of bandits besieged the city. Jinsi resisted with all his strength. Several days later the city fell. Jinsi went out in person, sent word to neighboring prefectures, and secured several hundred relief troops. He drove off the bandits, recovered the city, and the people of Bo were thereby saved. Early in Later Han he was reassigned as campaign marshal of Deng Prefecture. He remained depressed and unfulfilled, and was later relieved and recalled to court. During the Qianyou period he was appointed inspector along the Huai and repeatedly defeated Huai rebels. At that time Shi Hongzhao abused the law and plundered the realm. He often framed wealthy merchants from north and south, had them killed, and seized their goods, throwing wide the door to secret denunciation. Among Jinsi's followers was a servant whose greed knew no bounds. Though Jinsi treated him with every consideration, the man was never satisfied. One day he stormed off and went to Hongzhao, accusing Jinsi of taking heavy bribes from Huainan, secretly hoarding arms, and plotting to act as an inside collaborator. Hongzhao at once sent a trusted officer with thirty horsemen to seize him. The accuser told the arresting party: "Jinsi is immensely strong—the equal of ten men. Kill him on sight, or it will be too late. When the horsemen arrived, Jinsi came out to meet them. When some moved to seize him, Jinsi seized one man in both arms and cried out: "This is injustice! What crime have I committed? If I am guilty, death will not come too late—why not let me clear my name first? You are all men of honor—how can you bear to act like this! The commander ordered him released and brought the accuser forward to confront Jinsi, who was accused of taking Huainan bribes. Jinsi said: "My followers and my household are all here. If you find so much as ten strings of cash laid by, call that a bribe. He says I have been hoarding arms and armor. Aside from what the court has granted me, if there is even one such item it would count as private hoarding. The envoy searched his home and found only a single chest of clothes and his military registers and grain accounts. He was then released. Jinsi said: "Put me in chains and send me to the capital—that is enough. Earlier Jinsi had a steward named Wang Zhiquan in the capital. When he heard that Jinsi had been falsely accused, he went to Shi Hongzhao and said: "Tang Jinsi has served the state with a loyal heart. I have served him for thirty years and know him to be filial to his parents and faithful to his friends. How can he answer such a false charge? I ask to be imprisoned first. I beg you to investigate Jinsi thoroughly so that he may not suffer wrongful destruction." Hongzhao took pity on him and had him held in prison, sending him wine and food each day. When Jinsi was shackled and sent on his way, people from Ying and Bo followed him all the way to the capital, and many came forward to vouch for his character. Hongzhao then had the accuser interrogated. The man confessed fully to the false charge and was beheaded on the spot. Hongzhao then memorialized for Jinsi's release.
16
顯德初，河東劉崇帥眾來寇，世宗親總六師以禦之。 及陣於高平，景思於世宗馬前距踴數四，且曰：「願賜臣堅甲一聯，以觀臣之效用。」 世宗由是知其名，因以高平陣所得降軍數千人，署為效順指揮，命景思董之，使於淮上。 三年春，世宗親征淮甸，景思繼有戰功，乃命遙領饒州刺史。 未幾，改授濠州行刺史，令帥眾攻圍濠州。 四年冬，因力戰，為賊鋒所傷，數日而卒。 世宗甚憫之，詔贈武清軍節度使。
Early in the Xiande period Liu Chong of Hedong invaded with his army. Shizong personally took command of the six armies to meet him. When the armies drew up at Gaoping, Jinsi leaped and stamped four times before Shizong's horse and said: "I beg Your Majesty to grant me a full suit of stout armor, that I may prove my worth in battle. Shizong thereby learned his name. He took several thousand enemy soldiers who had surrendered at Gaoping, organized them as the Submission command, placed Jinsi in charge of them, and sent him to the Huai frontier. In the spring of the third year Shizong personally campaigned in the Huai region. Jinsi won repeated victories in battle and was given Rao Prefecture in absentia. Before long he was made acting prefect of Hao Prefecture and ordered to lead troops in the siege of that city. In the winter of the fourth year he was wounded by the enemy vanguard in fierce fighting and died several days later. Shizong mourned him deeply and posthumously made him military governor of the Wuqing army.
17
史臣曰：自古為人臣者，望重則必危，功崇則難保，自非賢者，疇能免之。 況王鄴帥昧明哲之規，周太祖乃雄猜之主，欲無及禍，其可得乎！ 自福進而下，皆將帥之英也，擁旌作翰，諒亦宜然。 惟彥超以捍寇而沒，可不謂忠乎！
The historian remarks: From antiquity, ministers whose prestige grows great have inevitably faced danger, and those whose merit rises high have found it hard to preserve themselves. Only the truly worthy could escape such a fate. How much less could Wang Yin, commander at Ye, who lacked the wisdom to see danger clearly, hope to escape harm under Zhou Taizu, a ruler both formidable and suspicious! From Fujin downward, all were outstanding commanders. That they should bear imperial banners and serve as pillars of the realm was only fitting. Only Yanchao died while holding the enemy at bay—can this fail to be called loyalty!