1
趙暉，字重光，澶州人也。 弱冠以驍果應募，始隸於莊宗帳前，與大梁兵經百餘戰，以功遷馬直軍使。 同光中，從魏王破蜀，命暉分統所部，南戍蠻陬。 明宗即位，征還，授禁軍指揮使。 晉有天下，參掌衛兵，從馬全節圍安陸，佐杜重威戰宗城，皆有功，改奉國指揮使。 開運末，以部兵屯於陜，屬契丹入汴，慨然有憤激之意。 及聞漢祖建義於並門，乃與部將王晏、侯章戮力葉謀，逐契丹所命官屬，據有陜州，即時馳騎聞於漢祖。 〈（《通鑒》：契丹主賜趙暉詔，即以為保義留後。 暉斬契丹使者，焚其詔，遣支使河間趙矩奉表晉陽。）〉 漢祖乃命暉為保義軍節度、陜虢等州觀察處置等使。 漢祖之幸東京，路出於陜，暉戎服朝於路左，手控六飛達於行宮，君臣之義如舊結焉，旋加檢校太尉。 乾祐初，移鎮鳳翔，加同平章事。 屬王景崇叛據岐山，及期不受代，朝廷即命暉為西南面行營都部署，統兵以討之。 時李守貞叛於蒲，趙思綰據於雍，與景崇皆遞相為援，又引蜀軍出自大散關，勢不可遏。 暉領兵數千，數戰而勝，然後塹而圍之。 暉屢使人挑戰，賊終不出，乃潛使千餘人，於城南一舍之外，擐甲執兵，偽為蜀兵旗幟，循南山而下，詐令諸軍聲言川軍至矣。 須臾，西南塵起，城中以為信，乃令數千人潰圍而出，以為應援，暉設伏而待，一鼓而盡殪之。 自是景崇膽破，不復敢出。 明年春，拔之，加檢校太保、兼侍中。 國初，就加兼中書令。 三年春，拜章請覲，詔從之，入朝授歸德軍節度使。 顯德元年，受代歸闕，以疾告老，授太子太師致仕，進封秦國公。 尋卒於其第，年六十七。 制贈尚書令。
Zhao Hui, whose style was Chongguang, was a native of Cangzhou. When he came of age he joined the elite shock troops and was first assigned to Emperor Zhuangzong's personal guard. He fought the armies of Later Liang in more than a hundred battles and, for his achievements, was promoted to commander of the imperial horse guard. During the Tongguang reign he accompanied the Prince of Wei in the campaign that conquered Shu. He was then ordered to lead his own detachment south to guard the frontier against the southern tribes. When Emperor Mingzong acceded, Hui was recalled to court and made commander of the imperial guard. Under the Later Jin he helped command the palace guard, joined Ma Quanjie in the siege of Anlu, and aided Du Chongwei at the battle of Zongcheng, earning merit in each. He was then made commander of the Fengguo army. Near the end of the Kaiyun reign he encamped his division at Shaan. When the Khitans entered Bian, he was filled with angry determination. Learning that the founder of Later Han had raised his standard at Taiyuan, he plotted together with his officers Wang Yan and Hou Zhang, drove out the officials the Khitans had installed, took control of Shaan prefecture, and immediately sent horsemen to inform the Han founder. (According to the 《Zizhi Tongjian》: The Khitan emperor issued an edict to Zhao Hui and immediately appointed him acting military governor of Baoyi. Hui executed the Khitan envoy, burned the edict, and sent his staff officer Zhao Ju of Hejian to submit a memorial at Jinyang.)〉 The Han founder then appointed Hui military governor of the Baoyi circuit and commissioner overseeing Shaan, Guo, and the adjoining prefectures. When the Han founder journeyed to the Eastern Capital, his route passed through Shaan. Hui, in full armor, paid his respects by the roadside, took the reins of the imperial carriage, and escorted it to the temporary palace. The bond between sovereign and minister seemed renewed, and he was soon given the honorary rank of Grand Preceptor. At the start of the Qianyou reign he was transferred to Fengxiang and made a co-equal chief councilor. Wang Jingchong had rebelled and seized Qishan, and when his term ended he refused to step down. The court promptly named Hui overall commander of the southwestern campaign and sent him with an army to suppress him. Li Shouzhen was in revolt at Pu, Zhao Sinian held Yong, and all three rebels supported one another. Shu forces were also brought through Dasan Pass, and the rebellion seemed unstoppable. Hui led several thousand men, won battle after battle, and then invested the city with trenches and a siege line. Hui repeatedly challenged the enemy to fight, but the rebels would not sally forth. He then secretly sent more than a thousand men a lodge's distance south of the city wall. They donned armor, took up weapons, and bore Shu banners and standards as they came down from the southern hills, while the main army shouted that Shu reinforcements had arrived. Soon dust rose in the southwest. The garrison took this for truth and sent several thousand men out through a breach in the siege lines to meet the supposed allies. Hui's ambush was waiting; at a single drumbeat his men annihilated them. After that Jingchong lost heart and dared not venture out again. The following spring he took the city. He was promoted to acting Grand Guardian and concurrent Palace Attendant. At the founding of the Zhou dynasty he was further made concurrent Director of the Chancellery. In the third year of the reign he submitted a memorial asking to come to court. The emperor assented, and on his arrival Hui was appointed military governor of the Guide circuit. In the first year of Xiande he was replaced and returned to court. Citing illness, he asked to retire and was made Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent with honorable discharge, and was advanced in rank to Duke of Qin. He soon died at his home, at the age of sixty-seven. An edict posthumously awarded him the title of Director of the Department of State Affairs.
2
王守恩，字保信，太原人。 父建立，潞州節度使，封韓王，《晉書》有傳。 守恩以門蔭，幼為內職，遷懷、衛二州刺史，後歷諸衛將軍。 開運末，契丹陷中原，守恩時因假告歸於潞。 時潞州節度使張從恩懼契丹之盛，將朝於戎王。 以守恩婚家，甚倚信之，乃移牒守恩，請權為巡檢使。 從恩既去，守恩以潞城歸於漢祖，仍盡取從恩之家財。 〈（《通鑒》云：從恩以副使趙行遷知留後，牒守恩權巡檢使，與高防佐之。 高防與守恩謀，遣指揮使李萬超白晝率眾大噪，斬趙行遷，推守恩權知昭義留後。 守恩殺契丹使者，舉鎮來降。 《宋史·李萬超傳》云：張從恩將棄城歸契丹，會前驍衛將軍王守恩服喪私第，從恩即委以後事遁去。 及契丹使至，專領郡務，守恩遂無所預，萬超奮然謂其部下曰：「我輩垂餌虎口，茍延旦夕之命，今欲殺使保其城，非止逃生，亦足建勛業，汝曹能乎？」 眾皆躍然喜曰：「敢不唯命。」 遂率所部大噪入府署，殺其使，推守恩為帥，列狀以聞。 漢祖從其請，乃命史宏肇統兵，先渡河至潞，見萬超，語之曰：「收復此州，公之力也，吾欲殺守恩，以公為帥，可乎？」 萬超對曰：「殺契丹使以推守恩，蓋為社稷計耳，今若賊害於人，自取其利，非宿心也。」 宏肇大奇之。）〉 漢祖即以守恩為昭義軍節度使。 漢有天下，移鎮邠寧，加同平章事。 乾祐初，遷永興軍節度使。 時趙思綰已據長安，乃改授西京留守。
Wang Shou'en, whose style was Baoxin, was a native of Taiyuan. His father Wang Jianli had been military governor of Luzhou and was enfeoffed as Prince of Han; his biography appears in the 《Jin History》. Shou'en entered government through his family's privilege, served in the inner palace from youth, became prefect of Huai and Wei in turn, and later held a series of posts as guard general. Near the end of the Kaiyun reign the Khitans overran the Central Plains. Shou'en happened to be on leave and had returned to Luzhou. The military governor of Luzhou, Zhang Cong'en, feared the Khitans' power and was preparing to go pay homage to the Khitan emperor. Shou'en was a relation by marriage, and Cong'en trusted him deeply. He therefore sent a dispatch asking Shou'en to serve as acting inspector. Once Cong'en had left, Shou'en surrendered Luzhou to the Han founder and also seized all of Cong'en's family property. (The 《Zizhi Tongjian》 records: Cong'en left his deputy Zhao Xingqian in charge as acting regent, appointed Shou'en acting inspector by dispatch, and had Gao Fang assist him. Gao Fang plotted with Shou'en and sent the commander Li Wanchao to lead the troops in a loud uprising in broad daylight, execute Zhao Xingqian, and proclaim Shou'en acting regent of Zhaoyi. Shou'en killed the Khitan envoy and surrendered the entire circuit. The 《Song History · Biography of Li Wanchao》 states: Zhang Cong'en was about to abandon the city and submit to the Khitans. Wang Shou'en, formerly a general of the Valiant Guard, happened to be observing mourning at his home, and Cong'en entrusted him with affairs and fled. When the Khitan envoy arrived and took sole charge of the prefecture, Shou'en was left with no role. Wanchao roused his men and said, "We dangle as bait in the tiger's jaws, barely clinging to life from one day to the next. If we kill the envoy and hold this city, we will not only save ourselves but win real merit. Can you do it?" The men leaped up with joy and cried, "We will obey your every word." He then led his troops in a clamorous charge into the government offices, killed the envoy, proclaimed Shou'en commander, and submitted a formal report to the throne. The Han founder granted the request and ordered Shi Hongzhao to command the army. Hongzhao crossed the river first and reached Luzhou. Seeing Wanchao, he said, "Recovering this prefecture was your doing. I would like to kill Shou'en and make you commander. Would that suit you?" Wanchao replied, "We killed the Khitan envoy and raised Shou'en for the sake of the realm. If we now murder a man to seize the reward for ourselves, that was never our purpose." Hongzhao was deeply impressed.)〉 The Han founder then appointed Shou'en military governor of the Zhaoyi circuit. Once Later Han held the empire, he was transferred to Binning and made a co-equal chief councilor. At the start of the Qianyou reign he was made military governor of the Yongxing circuit. Zhao Sinian had already seized Chang'an, so Shou'en was reassigned as defender of the Western Capital instead.
3
守恩性貪鄙，委任群小，以掊斂為務，雖病廢殘癃者，亦不免其稅率，人甚苦之。 洛都嘗有豪士，為二姓之會，守恩乃與伶人數輩夜造，自為賀客，因獲白金數笏而退。 太祖回自河中，駐軍於洛陽，詔以白文珂代之，守恩甚懼。 而洛人有曾為守恩非理割剝者，皆就其第征其舊物，守恩一一償之。 及赴闕，止奉朝請而已。 乾祐末，既殺史宏肇等，漢少帝召群臣上殿以諭之，時守恩越班而揚言曰：「陛下今日始睡覺矣。」 其出言鄙俚如此。
Shou'en was greedy and vulgar by nature. He put petty men in charge and made extortion his chief occupation. Even the sick, crippled, and disabled were not spared his taxes, and the people suffered bitterly. A wealthy man in Luoyang once held a banquet joining two prominent families. Shou'en went with several actors by night, posed as a congratulatory guest himself, and walked away with several ingots of white gold. When Taizu returned from Hezhong and encamped at Luoyang, an edict named Bai Wenke to replace him. Shou'en was terrified. People of Luoyang whom Shou'en had once cheated now came to his mansion demanding their property back, and he repaid them one by one. When he went to court, he held only the nominal rank of court attendant. Late in the Qianyou reign, after Shi Hongzhao and the others had been killed, the young Han emperor summoned the ministers to explain what had happened. Shou'en stepped forward out of turn and shouted, "Your Majesty has only just woken up today. His speech was as crude as this.
4
國初，授左衛上將軍。 顯德初，改右金吾衛上將軍，封許國公。 二年冬，舁疾歸洛而卒。 〈（《五代史補》：周高祖為樞密，鳳翔、永興、河中三鎮反，高祖帶職出討之，回戈路由洛陽。 時王守恩為留守，以使相自專，乘檐子迎高祖於郊外，高祖遙見大怒，且疾驅入於公館。 久之，始令人傳旨，托以方浴，守恩不知其怒，但安坐俟久。 時白文珂在高祖麾下，召而謂曰：「王守恩乘檐子俟吾，誠無禮也，安可久為留守，汝宜亟去代之。」 文珂不敢違，於是即時禮上。 頃之，吏馳去報守恩曰：「白侍中受樞密命，為留守訖。」 留恩大驚，奔馬而歸，但見家屬數百口皆被逐於通衢中，百姓莫不聚觀。 其亦有乘便號叫索取貸錢物者。 高祖使吏籍其數，立命償之，家財為之一空。 朝廷悚然，不甚為理。）〉
At the founding of the Zhou dynasty he was made senior general of the Left Guard. Early in the Xiande reign he was transferred to senior general of the Right Golden Crow Guard and enfeoffed as Duke of Xu. In the second year of the reign, winter, he was carried home to Luoyang in illness and died there. (From the 《Supplement to the History of the Five Dynasties》: When Zhou Gaozu was chief of the Bureau of Military Affairs, the circuits of Fengxiang, Yongxing, and Hezhong rebelled. Gaozu led his office out to suppress them, and his return march passed through Luoyang. Wang Shou'en was then defender of the capital. Acting with the arrogance of a commissioner and chief councilor, he rode in a sedan chair to welcome Gaozu in the suburbs. Gaozu saw this from afar, flew into a rage, and galloped straight into the official guesthouse. After a long while he sent word that he was bathing and could not receive him. Shou'en did not know he was angry and simply sat waiting. Bai Wenke was then serving under Gaozu. Gaozu summoned him and said, "Wang Shou'en waited for me in a sedan chair—that was truly insolent. He cannot remain defender any longer. Go at once and replace him." Wenke dared not refuse and immediately took office. Before long a clerk galloped off to tell Shou'en, "Vice Director Bai has received the Bureau's order and is already defender of the capital." Shou'en was stunned. He galloped home and found several hundred members of his household driven out into the main street while crowds of onlookers gathered. Some onlookers even seized the moment to shout demands for repayment of money and goods he owed them. Gaozu had clerks record every claim and ordered immediate repayment. Shou'en's household wealth was emptied in a single stroke. The court was shaken, but did not press the matter further.)〉
5
孔知濬，字秀川，徐州滕縣人。 太子太師致仕之猶子也。 父延緘，左武衛大將軍致仕，年九十餘卒。 知濬仕梁為天興軍使。 同光末，鎮昭義，時莊宗用唐朝故事，以黃門為監軍，皆恃恩暴橫，節將不能制。 明宗鄴城之變，諸鎮多殺監軍。 時監潞者懼誅，欲誘鎮兵謀變，知濬伏甲於室，淩晨監軍來謁，執而殺之，軍城遂寧。 明宗嘉之，洎罷鎮，以知濬為澤州刺史，入為左驍衛大將軍。 長興、清泰中，歷唐、復、成三郡刺史。 晉高祖即位，用為奉國右廂都指揮使，領舒州刺史，從征範延光於鄴，遷宿州團練使，俄改隴州防禦使。 開運中，移刺鳳州，累官至檢校太傅。 河池據關防之要，密邇邛、蜀，兵少勢孤，知濬撫士得宜，人皆盡力，故西疆無牧圉之失。 契丹主稱制，署滑州節度使。 漢祖受命，自鎮入朝。 隱帝嗣位，授密州防禦使，逾歲，以疾受代歸朝。 廣順三年冬，卒於京師。
Kong Zhijun, whose style was Xiuchuan, was a native of Teng county in Xuzhou. He was a nephew of a retired Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent. His father Yanjian had retired as senior general of the Left Martial Guard and died in his nineties. Zhijun served the Later Liang as commander of the Tianxing army. Near the end of the Tongguang reign he governed Zhaoyi. Emperor Zhuangzong had revived the Tang practice of appointing eunuchs as army supervisors, and they all abused imperial favor to act with violence and arrogance while the military governors could not restrain them. During the Yecheng mutiny under Emperor Mingzong, many circuits killed their army supervisors. The army supervisor at Luzhou feared execution and tried to incite the garrison to rebel. Zhijun hid armed men in his chamber. At dawn, when the supervisor came to pay his respects, Zhijun seized and killed him, and the garrison and city were pacified. Emperor Mingzong praised him for this. When he left his post as military governor, Zhijun was made prefect of Ze and then recalled to serve as senior general of the Left Valiant Guard. During the Changxing and Qingtai reigns he served in turn as prefect of Tang, Fu, and Cheng. When Jin Gaozu acceded, he was made commander of the right wing of the Fengguo army and concurrent prefect of Shuzhou. He joined the campaign against Fan Yanguang at Ye, was transferred to regimental commissioner of Suzhou, and soon made defender of Longzhou. During the Kaiyun reign he was transferred to Fengzhou and eventually rose to acting Grand Mentor. Hechi occupied a strategic pass close to Qiong and Shu. With few troops and little support, Zhijun treated his men well and they all gave their utmost, so the western frontier suffered no breach in its defenses. When the Khitan emperor assumed control of the Central Plains, he appointed Zhijun military governor of Huazhou. When the Han founder took the throne, Zhijun came to court from his post. When the Hidden Emperor succeeded, he was made defender of Mizhou. After a little more than a year he cited illness, was relieved, and returned to court. In the third year of Guangshun, winter, he died in the capital.
6
王繼宏，冀州南宮人。 少嘗為盜，攻剽閭裏，為吏所拘，械系於鎮州獄，會赦免死，配隸本軍，時明宗作鎮，致之麾下。 晉高祖為明宗將，署為帳中小校。 天福中，為六宅副使。 性負氣不遜，禁中與同列忿爭，出配義州軍。 歲餘，為奉國指揮使，從契丹主至相州，遂令以本軍戍守。 契丹主留高唐英為相州節度使。 唐英善待繼宏，每候其第，則升堂拜繼宏之母，贈遺甚厚，倚若親戚，又給以兵仗，略無猜忌。 會契丹主死，漢祖趨洛，唐英遣使歸款，漢祖大悅，將厚待唐英。 使未回，繼宏與指揮使樊暉等共殺唐英，繼宏自稱留後，令判官張易奉表於漢祖。 人或責以見利忘義，繼宏曰：「吾儕小人也，若不因利乘便，以求富貴，畢世以來，未可得志也。」 及漢祖征杜重威至德清軍，繼宏來朝，乃正授節旄。 是歲，就加檢校太傅。 節度判官張易，每見繼宏不法，必切言之，繼宏以為輕己。 乾祐中，因事誣奏殺之，尋又害觀察推官張制。 漢末，移鎮貝州，就加檢校太尉。 廣順初，加同平章事。 三年六月，移鎮河陽，會永壽節入覲，遇疾卒於京師，詔贈侍中。
Wang Jihong was a native of Nangong in Jizhou. As a youth he had been a bandit who robbed the neighborhoods. Officials arrested him and he was shackled in the prison at Zhen prefecture. An amnesty spared his life and he was assigned to the local army. Mingzong was then military governor there and took him into his service. When Jin Gaozu was still a general under Mingzong, he appointed Jihong a junior officer in his personal guard. During the Tianfu reign he served as deputy commissioner of the Six Residences. He was proud and defiant by nature. In the palace he quarreled violently with his colleagues and was banished to serve with the army at Yizhou. After more than a year he became commander of the Fengguo army. He followed the Khitan emperor to Xiangzhou and was then ordered to garrison the city with his own troops. The Khitan emperor left Gao Tangying as military governor of Xiangzhou. Tangying treated Jihong generously. Whenever he visited Jihong's home he would enter the hall and bow to Jihong's mother. He gave lavish gifts, treated Jihong like a kinsman, and even supplied him with arms and armor, showing scarcely any suspicion. When the Khitan emperor died and the Han founder hurried to Luoyang, Tangying sent an envoy to submit. The Han founder was delighted and was about to reward Tangying generously. Before the envoy returned, Jihong joined the commander Fan Hui and others in killing Tangying. Jihong proclaimed himself acting regent and had his judicial officer Zhang Yi submit a memorial to the Han founder. Some rebuked him for betraying a benefactor for gain. Jihong said, "We are petty men. If we do not seize the moment when fortune offers itself, we will never win wealth and rank in all our lives." When the Han founder marched against Du Chongwei as far as Deqing, Jihong came to court and was formally granted the military commission. That year he was further made acting Grand Mentor. The circuit judicial officer Zhang Yi spoke bluntly whenever he saw Jihong break the law. Jihong took this as an insult. During the Qianyou reign he framed Zhang Yi on a false charge and had him killed. Soon afterward he also murdered the observation circuit investigating officer Zhang Zhi. Late in the Han dynasty he was transferred to Beizhou and further made acting Grand Preceptor. Early in the Guangshun reign he was made a co-equal chief councilor. In the sixth month of the third year he was transferred to Heyang. He came to court for the Eternal Longevity festival, fell ill, and died in the capital. An edict posthumously awarded him the title of Palace Attendant.
7
子永昌，仕皇朝，歷內諸司使。
His son Yongchang served the Song court in a series of posts as commissioner of the inner bureaus.
8
馮暉，魏州人也。 始為效節軍士，拳勇騎射，行伍憚之，初事楊師厚為隊長。 唐莊宗入魏，以銀槍效節為親軍，與梁人對壘河上，暉以犒給稍薄，因竄入南軍，梁將王彥章置之麾下。 莊宗平河南，暉首罪，赦之。 從明宗征潞州，誅楊立有功。 又從魏王繼岌伐蜀，蜀平，授夔州刺史。 時荊州高季興叛，以兵攻其城，暉拒之，屢敗荊軍。 長興中，為興州刺史，以乾渠為治所。 會兩川叛，蜀人來侵，暉以眾寡不敵，奔歸鳳翔，朝廷怒其失守，詔於同州衙職安置。 未幾，從晉高祖討蜀，蜀人守劍門，領部下兵逾越險阻，從他道出於劍門之左掩擊之，殺守兵殆盡。 會晉祖班師，朝廷以暉為澶州刺史。 晉天福初，範延光據鄴叛，以暉為馬步都將，孫銳為監軍，自六明鎮渡河，將襲滑臺，尋為官軍所敗，暉退歸鄴，為延光城守。 明年秋，暉因出戰而降，授滑州節度使、檢校太傅。 鄴平，移鎮靈武。 初，張希崇鎮靈州，以久在蕃，頗究邊事，數年之間，侵盜並息。 希崇卒，未有主帥，蕃部寇鈔，無復畏憚，朝廷以暉強暴之名聞於遐僥，故以命之。 及暉到鎮，大張宴席，酒殽豐備，郡夷告醉，爭陳獻賀，暉皆以錦彩酬之，蕃情大悅。 党項拓拔彥昭者，州界部族之大者，暉至來謁，厚加待遇，仍為治第，豐其服玩，因留之不令歸部。 河西羊馬，由是易為交市。 暉期年得馬五千匹，而蕃部歸心，朝議患之。 〈（《隆平集·藥元福傳》：西戎三族攻靈州，命元福佐朔方節度使馮暉討之。 朔方距威州七百里，地無水草，謂之「旱海」。 攜糧至，暉食盡，詰朝行四十里，而敵騎數萬扼要路。 暉大懼，遣人致賂求成，雖許，及日中猶未決。 暉曰：「奈何？」 元福曰：「彼正欲困我耳，察其勢，敵雖眾，特依西山而陣者，其精兵也，請以驍銳先薄西山，彼或少怯，當舉黃旗為識。」 暉善其謀，斬馘殆盡。）〉
Feng Hui was a native of Weizhou. He began as a soldier in the Loyalty army, was fierce in hand-to-hand fighting and skilled in horsemanship and archery, and was feared in the ranks. He first served Yang Shihou as a squad leader. When Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang entered Wei, the Silver Spear Loyalty troops became his personal guard. Stationed opposite the Liang army along the Yellow River, Hui found the rewards and rations too meager and defected to the southern army. The Liang general Wang Yanzhang took him into his service. When Zhuangzong pacified Henan, Hui was the first to confess his crime and was pardoned. He followed Mingzong in the campaign against Luzhou and distinguished himself in the execution of Yang Li. He also followed Prince Jiji of Wei in the conquest of Shu. After Shu was pacified he was made prefect of Kuizhou. When Gao Jixing of Jingzhou rebelled and attacked his city, Hui held firm and repeatedly defeated the Jing forces. During the Changxing reign he was made prefect of Xingzhou and established his seat of government at Ganqu. When the two Sichuan circuits rebelled and Shu forces invaded, Hui found his troops too few to resist and fled to Fengxiang. The court was furious at his failure to hold his post and ordered him assigned to a yamen position at Tongzhou. Before long he joined Jin Gaozu's campaign against Shu. The Shu forces held Jianmen Pass. Hui led his men over treacherous ground by another route, struck from the left of the pass, and killed nearly all the defenders. When the Jin founder withdrew his army, the court appointed Hui prefect of Cangzhou. Early in the Jin Tianfu reign Fan Yanguang rebelled and held Ye. Hui was made overall commander of horse and foot with Sun Rui as army supervisor. They crossed the river from Liuming town intending to strike Huatai, but were soon defeated. Hui retreated to Ye and defended the city for Yanguang. The following autumn Hui surrendered while going out to fight and was made military governor of Huazhou and acting Grand Mentor. After Ye was pacified he was transferred to Lingwu. Earlier Zhang Xichong had governed Lingzhou. Having long served on the frontier, he knew border affairs well, and within a few years raiding and plundering ceased entirely. When Xichong died there was no commander, and the frontier tribes raided without restraint. The court knew Hui's reputation for violence had reached even distant lands, and appointed him for that reason. When Hui arrived he held a lavish feast with abundant food and wine. The tribal leaders of the region grew drunk and competed to offer congratulations. Hui rewarded them all with brocades and silks, and the tribes were greatly pleased. Tuoba Yanzhao of the Tangut was the most powerful tribal leader in the region. When he came to pay his respects, Hui treated him lavishly, built him a residence, furnished him with rich clothing and ornaments, and detained him so that he could not return to his tribe. Sheep and horses from west of the river were thereby traded with ease. Within a year Hui obtained five thousand horses and won the loyalty of the frontier tribes, which alarmed the court. (From the 《Longping Collection · Biography of Yao Yuanfu》: Three western tribes attacked Lingzhou. Yao Yuanfu was ordered to assist the Shuofang military governor Feng Hui in suppressing them. Shuofang lay seven hundred li from Weizhou across land without water or grass known as the "Dry Sea." They carried provisions with them, but Hui's supplies ran out. At dawn they marched forty li, only to find tens of thousands of enemy horsemen blocking the vital pass. Hui was terrified and sent envoys with bribes seeking peace. Though the enemy agreed in principle, by midday nothing had been settled. Hui said, "What are we to do?" Yuanfu said, "They mean to wear us down. Look at their formation: though they are many, those arrayed along the western hills are their elite. Let me take our best troops and strike the western hills first. If they falter even slightly, raise a yellow banner as the signal." Hui approved the plan, and nearly all the enemy were slaughtered.)〉
9
晉開運初，桑維翰輔政，欲圖大舉以制北方，命將佐十五人，皆列藩之帥也。 惟暉不預其數，乃上章自陳，且言未老可用，而制書見遺。 詔報云：「非制書忽忘，實以朔方重地，蕃部窺邊，非卿雄名，何以彈壓！ 比欲移卿內地，受代亦須奇才。」 暉得詔甚喜，又達情乞移鎮邠州，即以節鉞授之。 行未及邠，又除陜州，暉獻馬千匹、駝五百頭。 在陜未幾，除侍衛步軍都指揮使，兼領河陽，即以王令溫為靈武節度使。 暉既典禁兵，兼領近鎮，為朝廷縻留，頗悔離靈武。 及馮玉、李彥韜用事，暉善奉之，未幾，復以暉為朔方節度使，加檢校太師。 漢高祖革命，就加同平章事。 隱帝嗣位，加兼侍中。 國初，加中書令，封陳留王。 廣順三年夏，病卒，年六十。 追贈衛王。
Early in the Jin Kaiyun reign Sang Weihan held power and planned a major campaign to control the north. He named fifteen generals and aides, all of them frontier military governors. Hui alone was not among them. He submitted a memorial arguing that he was not yet old and was still fit for service, yet the imperial appointment had passed him over. The edict in reply said, "We did not forget you. Shuofang is a vital region where the tribes watch our borders. Without your formidable reputation, who could hold it down? We have wished to move you inland, but your replacement must be a man of rare ability." Hui was delighted by the edict and also asked to be transferred to Binzhou. The military commission was granted at once. Before he reached Bin he was reassigned to Shaanzhou. Hui presented a thousand horses and five hundred camels. He had not been long at Shaan when he was made commander of the palace guard infantry and concurrently given Heyang. Wang Lingwen was appointed military governor of Lingwu in his place. Hui now commanded the palace guard and held a nearby circuit as well. Detained at court, he deeply regretted leaving Lingwu. When Feng Yu and Li Yantao came to power, Hui cultivated them assiduously. Before long he was restored as military governor of Shuofang and made acting Grand Preceptor. When Han Gaozu founded the dynasty, Hui was at once made a co-equal chief councilor. When the Hidden Emperor succeeded, he was further made concurrent Palace Attendant. At the founding of the Zhou dynasty he was made Director of the Chancellery and enfeoffed as Prince of Chenliu. In the summer of the third year of Guangshun he died of illness at the age of sixty. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Wei.
10
子繼業，朔方衙內都虞候。 暉亡，三軍請知軍府事，因授檢校太保，充朔方兵馬留後。 皇朝乾德中，移於內地，今為同州節度使。
His son Jiye served as chief adjutant within the Shuofang headquarters. When Hui died the army asked Jiye to manage headquarters affairs. He was made acting Grand Guardian and acting regent of Shuofang forces. In the Qiande era of the Song he was moved inland and now serves as military governor of Tongzhou.
11
高允權，延州人。 祖懷遷，本郡牙將。 懷遷生二子，長曰萬興，次曰萬金，梁、唐之間為延州節度使，卒於鎮。 允權即萬金子也。 雖出於將門，不嫻武藝，起家為義川主簿，歷膚施縣令，罷秩歸延州之第。 晉開運末，以周密為延帥，延有東西二城，其中限以深澗。 及契丹入汴，一日，州兵亂，攻密，密固守東城。 亂兵既無帥，亦無敢為帥者，或曰：「取高家西宅郎君為帥可也。」 是夜未曙，允權方寢，亂軍排闥，請知留後事，遂居於西城，與密相拒數日。 河東遣供奉官陳光穗宣撫河西，允權乃遣支使李彬奉表太原，周密棄東城而去。 漢祖遣使就加允權檢校太傅，仍正授旄鉞。 漢祖入汴，允權屢修貢奉。 隱帝即位，加檢校太尉、同平章事。 允權與夏州李彜興不協，其年李守貞據河中叛，密構彜興為援，及朝廷用兵夏州，軍逼延州，允權上章論列，彜興亦紛然自訴，朝廷賜詔和解之。 太子太師致仕劉景巖，允權妻之祖也，退老於州之別墅。 景巖舊事高氏為牙校，亦嘗為延帥，甚得民心。 景巖以允權婚家後輩，心輕之。 允權恒忌其強，是歲冬，盡殺景巖之家，收其家財萬計，以謀叛聞，朝廷不能辨。 關西賊平，方面例覃恩命，就加允權檢校太師。
Gao Yunquan was a native of Yanzhou. His grandfather Huaiqian had been a military adjutant in the local command. Huaiqian had two sons, Wanxing and Wanjin. Between the Liang and Tang dynasties they served in turn as military governors of Yanzhou and died in office. Yunquan was Wanjin's son. Though born to a military family, he was unskilled in martial arts. He began as registrar of Yichuan, served as magistrate of Fushi, left office, and retired to his family home at Yanzhou. Near the end of the Jin Kaiyun reign Zhou Mi was made military governor of Yan. Yan had eastern and western cities separated by a deep ravine. When the Khitans entered Bian, the prefectural troops mutinied one day and attacked Mi, who held firm in the eastern city. The mutineers had no leader and no one dared take command. Someone said, "We should make the young master of the Gao family's western residence our commander." That night before dawn, while Yunquan was still asleep, the mutineers burst in and asked him to serve as acting regent. He took up residence in the western city and confronted Mi for several days. Hedong sent the tribute commissioner Chen Guangsu to pacify Hexi. Yunquan sent his staff officer Li Bin to submit a memorial at Taiyuan, and Zhou Mi abandoned the eastern city and fled. The Han founder sent an envoy to make Yunquan acting Grand Mentor and formally grant him the military commission. When the Han founder entered Bian, Yunquan sent tribute repeatedly. When the Hidden Emperor acceded, Yunquan was made acting Grand Preceptor and co-equal chief councilor. Yunquan was on bad terms with Li Yiyin of Xiazhou. That year Li Shouzhen rebelled at Hezhong and secretly enlisted Yiyin as an ally. When the court campaigned against Xiazhou and the army pressed Yanzhou, Yunquan submitted a memorial of protest and Yiyin lodged complaints as well. The court issued an edict to reconcile them. Liu Jingyan, a retired Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, was Yunquan's wife's grandfather and lived in retirement at a villa in the prefecture. Jingyan had once served the Gao family as a military adjutant and had also been military governor of Yan. He enjoyed great popular support. Jingyan looked down on Yunquan as a junior in the family by marriage. Yunquan constantly resented his influence. That winter he slaughtered Jingyan's entire household, seized family wealth numbering in the tens of thousands, and reported it as a rebellion. The court could not determine the truth. When the Guanxi rebels were pacified, frontier commanders received grace appointments as was customary. Yunquan was at once made acting Grand Preceptor.
12
太祖即位，加兼侍中。 廣順三年春卒，其子紹基匿喪久之，又擅主軍政，欲邀承襲。 觀察判官李彬以為不可，當聽朝旨。 紹基與群小等惡其異議，乃殺彬，紿奏云：「彬結構內外，謀殺都指揮使及行軍副使，自據城池，已誅戮訖，其妻子及諸房骨肉，尋令捕系次。」 太祖聞之，詔並釋之，仍令都送汝州安置。 後朝廷令六宅使張仁謙往巡檢，紹基乃發喪以聞。 輟視朝兩日。
When Taizu acceded, Yunquan was further made concurrent Palace Attendant. He died in the spring of the third year of Guangshun. His son Shaoji concealed the death for a long time, seized control of military affairs, and sought to secure the succession for himself. The observation circuit judicial officer Li Bin objected, saying they must await the court's orders. Shaoji and his cronies hated his opposition and killed him. They submitted a false report claiming, "Bin plotted with insiders and outsiders to murder the chief commander and campaign deputy and seize the city on his own. He has been executed, and his wife, children, and all collateral kin will soon be arrested." When Taizu heard of this, he ordered them all released and sent to Ruzhou for resettlement. Later the court sent the Six Residences commissioner Zhang Renqian to inspect the circuit. Only then did Shaoji announce his father's death. The emperor suspended court audiences for two days.
13
折從阮，字可久，本名從遠，避漢高祖舊名下一字，故改焉。 代家雲中。 父嗣倫，為麟州刺史，累贈太子太師。 從阮性溫厚，弱冠居父喪，以孝聞。 唐莊宗初有河朔之地，以代北諸部屢為邊患，起從阮為河東牙將，領府州副使。 同光中，授府州刺史。 長興初，入朝，明宗以從阮洞習邊事，加檢校工部尚書，復授府川刺史。 晉高祖起義，以契丹有援立之恩，賂以雲中、河西之地，從阮由是以郡北屬。 既而契丹欲盡徙河西之民以實遼東，人心大擾，從阮因保險拒之。 晉少帝嗣位，北絕邊好，乃遣使持詔諭從阮令出師。 明年春，從阮率兵深入邊界，連拔十餘寨。 開運初，加檢校太保，遷本州團練使。 其年，兼領朔州刺史、安北都護、振武軍節度使、契丹西南面行營馬步都虞候。 漢祖建號晉陽，引兵南下，從阮率眾歸之。 尋升府州為永安軍，析振武之勝州並沿河五鎮以隸焉。 授從阮光祿大夫、檢校太尉、永安軍節度、府勝等州觀察處置等使，仍賜功臣名號。 乾祐元年，加特進、檢校太師。 明年春，從阮舉族入覲，朝廷命其子德扆為府州團練使，授從阮武勝節度使。 太祖受命，加同平章事，尋移鎮滑州，又改陜州。 二年冬，授靜難軍節度使。 世宗即位，就加兼侍中，以年老上章請代，優詔許之。 顯德二年冬，赴闕，行次西京，以疾卒，時年六十四。 制贈中書令。
Zhe Congruan, whose style was Kejiu, was originally named Congyuan. To avoid the taboo on one character in Han Gaozu's former name, he changed it. His family was from Yunzhong in the Dai region. His father Silun had been prefect of Linzhou and was repeatedly posthumously awarded the title of Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent. Congruan was mild and generous by nature. When he came of age he observed mourning for his father and was known for his filial devotion. When Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang first held Hebei, the tribes north of Dai repeatedly troubled the frontier. He appointed Congruan a military adjutant of Hedong and deputy prefect of Fu Prefecture. During the Tongguang reign he was made prefect of Fu Prefecture. Early in the Changxing reign he came to court. Mingzong, finding him thoroughly versed in frontier affairs, made him acting Minister of Works and reappointed him prefect of Fu Prefecture. When Jin Gaozu raised his standard, he ceded Yunzhong and Hexi to the Khitans in gratitude for their aid in his enthronement. Congruan's prefecture thereby fell under Khitan control in the north. The Khitans then wished to relocate the entire population of Hexi to populate Liaodong. The people were thrown into turmoil, and Congruan held the strategic passes and resisted. When the Jin emperor Shaodi succeeded, relations with the north were broken off. The court sent an envoy with an edict ordering Congruan to take the field. The following spring Congruan led his troops deep into the frontier and captured more than ten stockades in succession. Early in the Kaiyun reign he was made acting Grand Guardian and regimental commissioner of his home prefecture. That year he also held the posts of prefect of Shuo, Protector-General Pacifying the North, military governor of the Zhenwu army, and chief adjutant of horse and foot for the Khitan southwestern campaign headquarters. When the Han founder proclaimed his reign at Jinyang and marched south, Congruan led his forces to join him. Fu Prefecture was soon elevated to the Yong'an army circuit, and Shengzhou from Zhenwu together with five river towns were placed under its jurisdiction. Congruan was made Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, acting Grand Preceptor, military governor of the Yong'an circuit, and commissioner overseeing Fu, Sheng, and the adjoining prefectures. He was also granted an honorific title as a meritorious minister. In the first year of Qianyou he was given special advancement and made acting Grand Preceptor. The following spring Congruan brought his entire clan to court. The court appointed his son Deyi regimental commissioner of Fu Prefecture and made Congruan military governor of Wusheng. When Taizu took the throne, Congruan was made a co-equal chief councilor. He was soon transferred to Huazhou and then to Shaanzhou. In the second year, winter, he was made military governor of the Jingnan circuit. When Shizong acceded, Congruan was further made concurrent Palace Attendant. Citing his age, he submitted a memorial asking to be replaced, and a gracious edict granted his request. In the second year of Xiande, winter, he set out for court but died of illness at the Western Capital on the way, at the age of sixty-four. An edict posthumously awarded him the title of Director of the Chancellery.
14
王饒，字受益，慶州華池人也。 父柔，以饒貴，累贈太尉。 饒沈毅有才幹，始事晉高祖。 天福初，授控鶴軍使，稍遷奉國軍校，累加檢校尚書左僕射。 六年，從杜重威平常山，以功加檢校司空，遷本軍都校，領鄆州刺史。 時安從進叛於襄陽，晉祖命高行周率兵討之，以饒為行營步軍都指揮使，賊平，授深州刺史。 逾年，復入為奉國都校，加檢校司徒，領欽州刺史。 未幾，改本軍右廂都指揮使，領閬州團練使。 晉末，契丹據中原，漢祖建義於晉陽，尋克復諸夏，惟常山郡為契丹所據，時饒在其郡，乃與李筠、白再榮之儔承間竊發，盡逐其黨。 漢祖嘉之，授鄜州觀察留後，加光祿大夫，賜爵開國侯，復移授鎮國軍節度使，加檢校太傅。 國初，就加同平章事，賜推誠奉義翊戴功臣。 顯德初，以郊丘禮畢，加檢校太尉，移鎮貝州。 世宗嗣位，加兼侍中，改彰德軍節度使。 滿歲受代，入奉朝請。 顯德四年冬，以疾卒於東京之私第，年五十九。 追封巢國公。 饒性寬厚，體貌詳雅，所蒞藩鎮，民皆便之。 每接賓佐，必怡聲緩氣，恂恂如也，故士君子亦以此多之。
Wang Rao, whose style was Shouyi, was a native of Huachi in Qingzhou. His father Rou, owing to Rao's eminence, was repeatedly posthumously awarded the title of Grand Preceptor. Rao was steady, resolute, and capable. He first entered the service of Jin Gaozu. Early in the Tianfu reign he was made commander of the Crane-Control army, was gradually promoted to an officer of the Fengguo army, and rose to acting Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. In the sixth year he joined Du Chongwei in pacifying Changshan. For his achievements he was made acting Minister of Works, promoted to chief officer of his army, and made concurrent prefect of Yanzhou. When An Congjin rebelled at Xiangyang, the Jin founder ordered Gao Xingzhou to suppress him and made Rao overall commander of the campaign infantry. After the rebels were defeated, Rao was appointed prefect of Shenzhou. After more than a year he returned to court as chief officer of the Fengguo army, was made acting Minister of Education, and was given concurrent command of Qinzhou. Before long he was made overall commander of the right wing of his army and regimental commissioner of Langzhou. Late in the Jin dynasty the Khitans held the Central Plains. The Han founder raised his standard at Jinyang and soon recovered the heartland, but Changshan alone remained in Khitan hands. Rao was then in that region. He joined Li Yun, Bai Zairong, and others in a sudden uprising and drove out the Khitan garrison entirely. The Han founder praised him and appointed him acting regent of the Fuzhou observation circuit, made him Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, and granted him the title Marquis Who Founded the State. He was then transferred to military governor of the Zhenguo circuit and made acting Grand Mentor. At the founding of the Zhou dynasty he was at once made a co-equal chief councilor and granted the honorific title of Meritorious Minister Who Sincerely Served Righteousness and Supported the Throne. Early in the Xiande reign, after the suburban altar rites were completed, he was made acting Grand Preceptor and transferred to Beizhou. When Shizong succeeded, Rao was further made concurrent Palace Attendant and transferred to military governor of the Zhangde circuit. When his term ended he was replaced and returned to court as a ceremonial attendant. In the fourth year of Xiande, winter, he died of illness at his home in the Eastern Capital, at the age of fifty-nine. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of Chao. Rao was generous by nature and dignified in bearing. In every circuit he governed the people found his rule a blessing. Whenever he received guests and staff he spoke in a pleasant, gentle voice, humble and respectful. For this reason scholars and gentlemen held him in high regard.
15
孫方諫，鄚州清苑縣人也。 本名方簡，廣順初，以犯廟諱，故改焉。 定州西北二百里有狼山，山上有堡，邊人賴之以避剽掠之患，因中置佛舍。 有尼深意者，俗姓孫氏，主其事，以香火之教聚其徒，聲言屍不壞，因復以衣襟，瞻禮信奉，有同其生。 方諫即其宗人也，嗣行其教，率眾不食葷茹，其黨推之為寨主。 晉開運初，定帥表為邊界遊奕使。 〈（《宋史·孫行友傳》：方諫懼主帥捕逐，乃表歸朝，因署為東北面招收指揮使，且賜院額曰勝福。 每契丹軍來，必率其徒襲擊之，鎧丈畜產所得漸多，人益依以避難焉。 易定帥聞於朝，因以方諫為邊界遊奕使，行友副之。 自是捍禦侵軼。 多所殺獲，乘勝入祁溝關，平庸城，破飛狐砦，契丹頗畏之。）〉 求請多端，因少不得志，潛通於契丹。 戎王之入中原也，以方諫為定州節度使，尋以其將耶律忠代之，改方諫雲州節度使。 方諫恚憤，與其黨歸狼山，不受契丹命。 漢初，契丹隳定州城壘，燒爇廬舍，盡驅居民而北，中山為之一空。 方諫自狼山率其部眾回保定州，上表請命，漢祖嘉之，即授以節鉞，累官至使相。 太祖受命，加兼侍中。 未幾，改華州節度使。 朝廷以其弟行友為定州留後， 〈（《宋史》云：行友上言，偵得契丹離合，願得勁兵三千，乘間平定幽州。 乃移方諫鎮華州，以行友為定州留後。）〉 又以弟議為德州刺史，兄弟子侄職內廷者凡數人。 世宗嗣位，史彥超代之，車駕駐蹕於並門，方諫自華覲於行在，從大駕南巡，以疾就醫於洛下。 尋授同州節度使，加兼中書令，未及赴任，以疾卒於洛陽，年六十二。 輟視朝兩日，詔贈太師。
Sun Fangjian was a native of Qingyuan county in Mozhou. His original name was Fangjian. Early in the Guangshun reign, because it violated an imperial taboo, he changed it. Two hundred li northwest of Dingzhou stood Langshan, on which was a fort. Frontier people relied on it to escape raiders, and a Buddhist chapel was built there. A nun named Shenyi, born to the Sun clan, directed its affairs. Through her incense cult she gathered followers, claiming that corpses did not decay and dressing them in garments. People worshipped them as if they were still alive. Fangjian was a kinsman of hers. He succeeded to her teaching, led his followers in vegetarian abstinence, and his faction proclaimed him fort chief. Early in the Jin Kaiyun reign the military governor of Ding recommended him as frontier patrol commissioner. (From the 《Song History · Biography of Sun Xingyou》: Fangjian feared the military governor would arrest him and submitted to the court. He was appointed northeastern recruitment commander, and the monastery was granted the plaque name Shengfu, Victorious Blessing. Whenever Khitan armies came he led his followers in attacks. The armor, livestock, and plunder they captured grew steadily, and more people relied on him for refuge. The military governor of Yiding reported this to the court. Fangjian was made frontier patrol commissioner with Xingyou as his deputy. From then on they defended the frontier against raids and incursions. They killed and captured many enemies, advanced into Qigou Pass, pacified Yongcheng, and stormed Feihu stockade. The Khitans came to fear them greatly.)〉 His demands were many, and when he received too little he grew resentful and secretly contacted the Khitans. When the Khitan emperor entered the Central Plains he made Fangjian military governor of Dingzhou. Soon his general Yelü Zhong replaced him, and Fangjian was reassigned to Yunzhou. Fangjian was furious. He returned to Langshan with his followers and refused to obey the Khitans. Early in the Later Han the Khitans destroyed the walls of Dingzhou, burned the houses, and drove all the inhabitants north. Zhongshan was left empty. Fangjian led his followers from Langshan back to Dingzhou and submitted a memorial requesting appointment. The Han founder praised him and at once granted the military commission. He eventually rose to the rank of commissioner and chief councilor. When Taizu took the throne, Fangjian was further made concurrent Palace Attendant. Before long he was transferred to military governor of Huazhou. The court appointed his younger brother Xingyou acting regent of Dingzhou, (The 《Song History》 records: Xingyou memorialized that he had learned of Khitan divisions and alliances and asked for three thousand elite troops to seize an opportunity and pacify Youzhou. Fangjian was therefore transferred to Huazhou, and Xingyou was made acting regent of Dingzhou.)〉 His younger brother Yi was also made prefect of Dezhou. Several of his brothers, sons, and nephews held posts in the inner court. When Shizong succeeded, Shi Yanchao replaced him. The emperor halted at Bing Gate. Fangjian came from Hua to pay his respects at the traveling palace, accompanied the imperial procession south, and sought medical treatment in Luoyang when he fell ill. He was soon appointed military governor of Tongzhou and further made concurrent Director of the Chancellery. Before he could take up his post he died of illness in Luoyang at the age of sixty-two. Court audiences were suspended for two days. An edict posthumously awarded him the title of Grand Preceptor.
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史臣曰：昔晉之季也，敵騎長驅，中原無主，漢祖雖思拯溺，未果圖南。 趙暉首變陜郊，同扶義舉，漢之興也，暉有力焉，命以作藩，斯無愧矣。 守恩乘時效順，雖有可觀，好利殘民，夫何足貴！ 允權、方諫，因版蕩之世，竊屏翰之權，比夫畫雲臺之功臣，何相去之遠也！
The historian writes: In the last days of Later Jin, enemy horsemen swept deep into the heartland and the Central Plains had no master. Though the Han founder wished to rescue the realm, he had not yet succeeded in marching south. Zhao Hui was the first to rise in the Shaan region and helped launch the righteous cause. In the founding of Later Han he played a vital part. Appointing him to a frontier post was well deserved. Shou'en seized the moment to submit to the new dynasty, and there was something admirable in that. Yet he loved profit and harmed the people—what is there to esteem in such a man! Yunquan and Fangjian exploited a time of chaos to seize frontier power for themselves. Compared with the meritorious ministers whose portraits adorned the Cloud Terrace, how far they fall short!