1
王朴，字文伯，東平人也。 父序，以朴貴，贈左諫議大夫。 朴幼警慧，好學善屬文。 漢乾祐中，擢進士第，解褐授校書郎，依樞密使楊邠，館於邠第。 是時漢室浸亂，大臣交惡，朴度其必危，因乞告東歸。 未幾，李業輩作亂，害邠等三族，凡遊其門下者，多被其禍，而朴獨免。 國初，世宗鎮澶淵，朝廷以朴為記室。 及世宗為開封尹，拜右拾遺，充開封府推官。 世宗嗣位，授比部郎中，賜紫。 二年夏，世宗命朝廷文學之士二十餘人，各撰策論一首，以試其才。 時朴獻《平邊策》，云：
Wang Pu, whose style was Wenbo, came from Dongping. His father Wang Xu, on account of Pu's rise, was posthumously enfeoffed as Left Remonstrator. As a boy Pu was exceptionally bright, devoted to learning, and adept at literary writing. During the Later Han reign era Qianyou he took the jinshi degree, entered service as Collator, and served under Commissioner of Military Affairs Yang Bin, living as a guest in Bin's household. The Han court was then sliding into chaos and its leading ministers were feuding; Pu foresaw disaster and asked permission to go home to the east. Soon afterward Li Ye and his associates rebelled and wiped out Bin's clan and two related families; most who had associated with them perished, but Pu alone was spared. Early in the Zhou dynasty, while the future Emperor Shizong held Chanyuan, the court named Pu his recorder. When Shizong became Intendant of Kaifeng, Pu was made Right Reminder and assigned as investigating officer of the Kaifeng prefectural government. After Shizong acceded, Pu was appointed Director of the Bureau of Review and awarded the purple robe of high office. In the summer of his second year Shizong directed more than twenty learned officials at court each to write a policy essay as a test of their ability. Pu then presented his "Strategy for Pacifying the Borders," which read:
2
唐失道而失吳、蜀，晉失道而失幽、并，觀所以失之由，知所以平之術。 當失之時，莫不君暗政亂，兵驕民困，近者奸於內，遠者叛於外，小不制而至於大，大不制而至於僭。 天下離心，人不用命，吳、蜀乘其亂而竊其號，幽、并乘其間而據其地。 平之之術，在乎反唐、晉之失而已。 必先進賢退不肖以清其時，用能去不能以審其材，恩信號令以結其心，賞功罰罪以盡其力，恭儉節用以豐其財，徭役以時以阜其民。 俟其倉廩實、器用備、人可用而舉之。 彼方之民，知我政化大行、上下同心、力強財足、人和將和、有必取之勢，則知彼情狀者願為之間諜，知彼山川者願為之先導。 彼民與此民之心同，是與天意同，與天意同則無不成之功。
Tang lost the Mandate and with it Wu and Shu; Jin lost the Mandate and with it You and Bing. Study why they were lost, and you will know how to recover them. Whenever such losses occurred, the ruler was benighted and government corrupt, armies overbearing and the people exhausted, courtiers treacherous at home and frontier lords in revolt abroad; minor disorders left unchecked swelled into major ones, and major ones into outright usurpation. The realm lost its cohesion and men would not obey; Wu and Shu exploited the turmoil to seize imperial titles, while You and Bing took advantage of the crisis to hold the northern territories. The art of pacification is simply to undo what Tang and Jin did wrong. First promote the worthy and remove the unworthy to purify the age; appoint the capable and dismiss the incompetent to judge talent rightly; win loyalty through kindness, trust, and clear orders; reward merit and punish wrongdoing so that all give their utmost; practice respect, frugality, and restraint to fill the treasury; and levy labor only at proper seasons so the people may prosper. Wait until the granaries are full, arms and equipment ready, and the people fit for service—only then strike. Once the enemy's people see our government flourishing, court and army united, strength and wealth ample, soldiers and commanders in harmony, and an irresistible tide of conquest, those who know their secrets will volunteer as spies and those who know their terrain will volunteer as guides. When their people's hearts align with ours, we align with Heaven's will; and where Heaven's will is with us, no undertaking can fail.
3
攻取之道，從易者始，當今吳國，東至海，南至江，可撓之地二千里。 從少備處先撓之，備東則撓西，備西則撓東，必奔走以救其弊，奔走之間，可以知彼之虛實、眾之強弱，攻虛擊弱，則所向無前矣。 勿大舉但以輕兵撓之。 彼人怯，知我師入其地，必大發以來應，數大發則必民困而國竭，一不大發則我獲其利，彼竭我利，則江北諸州，乃國家之所有也。 既得江北，則用彼之民，揚我之兵，江之南亦不難而平之也。 如此，則用力少而收功多。 得吳，則桂、廣皆為內臣，岷、蜀可飛書而召之，如不至，則四面並進，席卷而蜀平矣。 吳、蜀平，幽可望風而至。 惟並必死之寇，不可以恩信誘，必須以強兵攻之，但亦不足以為邊患，可為後圖，候其便則一削以平之。
In conquest, begin with what is easiest: Wu today stretches from the sea in the east to the Yangzi in the south, offering two thousand li of vulnerable ground. Strike first where their defenses are weakest; if they reinforce the east, harass the west, and if the west, harass the east—they will be forced to rush about putting out fires, and in that confusion you can learn their true strength and weakness; attack where they are hollow and strike where they are feeble, and nothing will stand in your way. Do not launch a major invasion; use only light troops to harry them. They are a timid foe; once they see our troops in their territory they will mobilize heavily to meet us. Repeated large mobilizations will exhaust their people and drain their state; if even once they fail to mobilize, we profit. When they are spent and we gain, the prefectures north of the Yangzi will fall into our hands. Once we hold the north bank, we can use their people and advance our armies; the south bank will then be easy to subdue. In this way little effort yields great results. With Wu subdued, Gui and Guang will submit as inner provinces; Shu can be summoned by urgent dispatch, and if it refuses, a converging attack from all sides will sweep it up in one stroke. Once Wu and Shu are pacified, You will likely submit at the first sign of our advance. Only Bing is a foe that will fight to the death; it cannot be won by kindness and trust and must be crushed by a strong army, yet it is not enough of a border threat to demand immediate action—it can be left for later and struck down when the moment is ripe.
4
方今兵力精練，器用具備，群下知法，諸將用命。 一稔之後，可以平邊，此歲夏秋，便可於沿邊貯納。 臣書生也，不足以講大事，至於不達大體，不合機變，望陛下寬之。
Today our forces are well trained, arms and equipment ready, officials understand the law, and generals obey without question. After one full year of preparation the frontiers can be pacified; this summer and autumn we should begin stockpiling supplies along the border. I am only a scholar and hardly qualified to discourse on great affairs; if I have failed to grasp the larger design or to suit changing circumstances, I beg Your Majesty's indulgence.
5
世宗覽之，愈重其器識。 未幾，遷左諫議大夫，知開封府事。
Shizong read the memorial and esteemed Pu's talent and judgment all the more highly. Soon afterward he was promoted to Left Remonstrator and put in charge of the Kaifeng prefectural government.
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初，世宗以英武自任，喜言天下事，常憤廣明之後，中土日蹙，值累朝多事，尚未克復，慨然有包舉天下之志。 而居常計事者多不喻其旨，唯朴神氣勁峻，性剛決有斷，凡所謀畫，動愜世宗之意，由是急於登用。 尋拜左散騎常侍，充端明殿學士，知府如故。 是時，初廣京城，朴奉命經度，凡通衢委巷，廣袤之間，靡不由其心匠。 及世宗南征，以朴為東京副留守，車駕還京，改戶部侍郎兼樞密副使。 未幾，遷樞密使、檢校太保。 頃之，丁內艱，尋起復授本官。 四年冬，世宗再幸淮甸，兼東京留守，京邑庶務，悉以便宜制之，比及入蹕，都下肅如也。 〈（《默記》引《閑談錄》云：朴性剛烈，大臣藩鎮皆憚之。 世宗收淮南，俾朴留守。 時以街巷隘狹，例從展拆，朴怒鄉校弛慢，於通衢中鞭背數十，其人忿然嘆云：「宣補鄉虞候，豈得便從決。」 朴微聞之，命左右擒至，立斃於馬前。 世宗聞之，笑謂近臣曰：「此大愚人，去王朴面前誇宣補鄉虞候，宜其死矣。」）〉 六年三月，世宗令樹斗門於汴口，不逾時而歸朝。 是日，朴方過前司空李穀之第，交談之頃，疾作而仆於座，遽以肩舁歸第，一夕而卒，時年四十有五。 〈（《默記》：王朴仕周世宗，制禮作樂，考定聲律，正星曆，修刑統，百廢俱起。 又取三關，取淮南，皆朴為謀。 然事世宗才四年耳，使假之壽考，安可量也。）〉 世宗聞之駭愕，即時幸其第，及柩前，以所執玉鉞卓地而慟者數四。 贈賻之類，率有加等，優詔贈侍中。 〈（《宋史·王侁傳》：朴卒，世宗幸其第，召見諸孤，以侁為東頭供奉官。）〉
From the outset Shizong prided himself on martial prowess and loved to discuss empire-wide affairs. He often raged that since the Guangming reign the heartland had steadily contracted; through reign after reign of turmoil the lost territories had not been recovered, and he burned with ambition to reunite the realm. Yet the officials who routinely advised him often missed his meaning; only Pu, forceful in spirit and stern in manner, firm and decisive by nature, planned in ways that always matched Shizong's intent, and the emperor hastened to promote him. He was soon made Left Regular Attendant and Academician of the Duanming Hall while retaining his post as prefect. The capital was then being enlarged for the first time; Pu directed the planning, and every avenue and alley, every dimension of the project, bore the stamp of his design. When Shizong marched south, Pu was left as Deputy Protector of the Eastern Capital; on the emperor's return he was made Vice Minister of Revenue and Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs. Soon afterward he was promoted to Commissioner of Military Affairs with the acting rank of Grand Guardian. Before long he went into mourning for his mother; he was soon recalled to service and restored to his former posts. In the winter of his fourth year Shizong again toured the Huai region, leaving Pu as Protector of the Eastern Capital with full discretion over capital affairs; by the time the emperor returned, the city was perfectly orderly. (The Silent Record cites the Idle Talks Record: Pu was fierce by nature, and senior ministers and military governors alike feared him. When Shizong conquered Huainan, he left Pu behind as protector. The streets were being widened by demolition as usual; Pu, angered by a village school officer's slackness, had him flogged dozens of times in the public road. The man muttered resentfully, "When I'm made village patrol officer, you won't be able to punish me on the spot like this." Pu overheard this, had him seized, and had him beaten to death on the spot before his horse. When Shizong heard of it he laughed and told his close attendants, "What a fool—to boast before Wang Pu that he'd soon be village patrol officer. Small wonder he was killed.")〉 In the third month of the sixth year Shizong ordered a sluice gate built at the Bian River mouth and returned to court within the season. That day Pu happened to be visiting the former Minister of Works Li Gu; in mid-conversation he was stricken and collapsed. He was carried home at once and died that night, aged forty-five. (The Silent Record: Wang Pu served Emperor Shizong of Zhou, established rites and music, fixed pitch standards, corrected the calendar, revised the penal code, and revived a hundred neglected institutions. The capture of the Three Passes and of Huainan as well were all his strategies. Yet he served Shizong only four years; had he lived longer, who can say what he might have achieved?)〉 Shizong was shocked and grieved, went at once to Pu's house, and before the coffin struck the jade axe he carried to the ground and wept again and again. Funerary gifts were all raised a grade, and an edict posthumously enfeoffed him as Grand Counselor. (Biography of Wang Shen in the History of Song: When Pu died, Shizong visited his home, summoned his orphaned children, and appointed Shen Eastern Head Palace Attendant.)〉
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朴性敏銳，然傷於太剛，每稠人廣座之中，正色高談，無敢觸其鋒者，故時人雖服其機變而無恭懿之譽。 其筆述之外，多所該綜，至如星緯聲律，莫不畢殫其妙，所撰《大周欽天曆》及《律準》，並行於世。 〈（《默記》云：周世宗於禁中作功臣閣，畫當時大臣如李蒨、鄭仁誨之屬。 太祖即位，一日過功臣閣，風開半門，正與朴象相對，太祖望見，卻立聳然，整禦袍襟帶，磬折鞠躬。 左右曰：「陛下貴為天子，彼前朝之臣，禮何過也？」 太祖以手指禦袍云：「此人在，朕不得此袍著。」 其敬畏如此。 《五代史闕文》：周顯德中，朴與魏仁浦俱為樞密使。 時太祖皇帝已掌禁兵，一日，有殿直乘馬誤沖太祖導從，太祖自詣密地，訴其無禮。 仁浦令徽院勘詰，朴謂太祖曰：「太尉名位雖高，未加使相。 殿直，廷臣也，與太尉比肩事主，太尉況帶職，不宜如此。」 太祖唯唯而出。 臣謹按，朴之行事，傳於人口者甚眾，而史氏缺書。 臣聞重修《太祖實錄》，已於《李蒨傳》中見朴遺事，今復補其大者。 況太祖、太宗在位，每稱朴有上輔之器，朝列具聞。）〉
Pu was quick and sharp-witted, but excessively harsh; in any public gathering he spoke with stern countenance and forceful tone, and none dared cross him, so contemporaries respected his cleverness but never praised his courtesy. Beyond his writings he mastered many fields; in astronomy and music theory he plumbed their depths, and his Great Zhou Imperial Heaven Calendar and Pitch Standards both circulated widely. (The Silent Record: Emperor Shizong of Zhou built a Meritorious Ministers Pavilion in the palace and painted portraits of leading officials such as Li Qian and Zheng Renhui. After Taizu took the throne, he once passed the pavilion; a gust blew the door half open so that he faced Pu's portrait directly. Taizu stopped short in awe, straightened his imperial robe and belt, and bowed deeply. His attendants said, "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven; he was only a minister of the previous dynasty—why such excessive courtesy?" Taizu pointed at his robe and said, "While this man lived, I could not have worn this robe." Such was his reverence for him. Supplement to the History of the Five Dynasties: In the Xiande era, Pu and Wei Renpu both served as Commissioners of Military Affairs. The future Taizu already commanded the palace guard; one day a palace guard on horseback accidentally rode into his procession, and Taizu went in person to the Military Affairs office to complain of the insult. Renpu ordered an inquiry; Pu told Taizu, "Your rank as Grand Marshal is high, but you have not yet been made commissioner and chancellor. A palace guard is a court officer who serves the throne on equal footing with you; moreover you hold a concurrent post—you should not act this way." Taizu murmured agreement and withdrew. I note that Pu's deeds, widely known by word of mouth, are numerous, yet the official histories omit them. I understand that in the revised Veritable Records of Taizu, some anecdotes about Pu already appear in the biography of Li Qian; here I supplement the more important ones. Moreover, under Taizu and Taizong each often declared that Pu had the makings of a chief minister, as the whole court knew.)〉
8
楊凝式
Yang Ningshi
9
楊凝式，華陰人也。 〈（《遊宦紀聞》載《凝式年譜》云：唐咸通十四年癸巳，凝式是年生，故題識多自稱癸巳人。 又，《別傳》云：凝式，字景度。）〉 父涉，唐末梁初，再登臺席，罷相守左僕射卒。 〈（《歐陽史·楊涉傳》云：祖收，父嚴。 吳縝《纂誤》云：收與嚴乃兄弟，非父子也。 又，《遊宦紀聞》載《楊氏家譜》云：唐修行楊氏，系出越公房，本出中山相結，次子繼生洛州刺史暉，暉生河間太守恩，恩生越恭公鈞，出居馮翊，至藏器徙潯陽。 唐相楊收之父曰遺直，生四子，名皆從「又」，曰發、假、收、嚴，以四時為義，故發之子名皆從「木」，假之子從「火」，收之子從「金」，嚴之子從「水」。 嚴生涉，涉生凝式，而收乃藏器之兄、涉之伯也。 《新五代史記·唐六臣傳》乃以收為涉之祖、嚴之父，非也。）〉 凝式體雖蕞眇，而精神穎悟， 〈（《宣和書譜》云：凝式形貌寢侻，然精神矍然，要大於身。）〉 富有文藻，大為時輩所推。 唐昭宗朝，登進士第，解褐授度支巡官，再遷秘書郎，直史館。 梁開平中，為殿中侍御史、禮部員外郎、三川守，齊王張宗奭見而嘉之，請以本官充留守巡官。 梁相趙光裔素重其才，奏為集賢殿直學士，改考功員外郎。 唐同光初，授比部郎中、知制誥。 尋以心疾罷去，改給事中、史館修撰，判館事。 明宗即位，拜中書舍人，復以心疾不朝而罷。 長興中，歷右常侍、工戶二部侍郎，以舊恙免，改秘書監。 清泰初，遷兵部侍郎。 唐末帝按兵於懷覃，凝式在扈從之列，頗以心恙喧嘩於軍寨，末帝以其才名，優容之，詔遣歸洛。 晉天福初，改太子賓客，尋以禮部尚書致仕，閑居伊、洛之間，恣其狂逸，多所幹忤，自居守以降，咸以俊才耆德，莫之責也。 晉開運中，宰相桑維翰知其絕俸，艱於家食，奏除太子少保，分司於洛。 漢乾祐中，歷少傅、少師。 太祖總兵，凝式候於軍門，且以年老不任庶事上訴，太祖特為奏免之。 廣順中，表求致政，尋以右僕射得請。 顯德初，改左僕射，又改太子太保，並懸車。 元年冬，卒於洛陽，年八十五。 詔贈太子太傅。
Yang Ningshi came from Huayin. (Records of Travel and Official Service records the Ningshi Chronological Record: He was born in 873, the guisi year of the Xiantong era, and often signed his works as a man of guisi. The Separate Biography also gives his style as Jingdu.)〉 His father Yang She twice reached the chancellorship at the end of Tang and the beginning of Liang, then retired as Left Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat and died in that post. (Biography of Yang She in Ouyang Xiu's History names his grandfather as Shou and his father as Yan. Wu Zhen's Collected Corrections notes that Shou and Yan were brothers, not father and son. Records of Travel and Official Service also gives the Yang Clan Genealogy: the Xingxing Yangs descended from the house of the Duke of Yue in Zhongshan; through Ji, Hui of Luozhou, En of Hejian, and Jun the Respectful Duke of Yue, who settled in Fengyi, down to Zangqi, who moved to Xunyang. The father of Tang chancellor Yang Shou was Yizhi, who had four sons named with the "you" radical—Fa, Jia, Shou, and Yan—after the four seasons; Fa's descendants used the wood radical, Jia's the fire radical, Shou's the metal radical, and Yan's the water radical. Yan was She's father and She's son was Ningshi; Shou was the elder brother of Zangqi and She's uncle. The New History of the Five Dynasties' Biographies of the Six Tang Ministers wrongly makes Shou She's grandfather and Yan his father.)〉 Though slight in build, Ningshi was keen of mind, (The Xuanhe Calligraphy Compendium: Ningshi looked frail, yet his spirit was vigorous and seemed larger than his frame.)〉 He was richly gifted in letters and highly esteemed by his contemporaries. Under Emperor Zhaozong of Tang he took the jinshi degree, entered service as Revenue Circuit Inspector, was twice promoted to Secretary, and served in the History Office. In the Kaiping era of Liang he was Attending Censor, Vice Minister of Rites, and Administrator of the Three Rivers; Prince of Qi Zhang Zongshi admired him and asked that he serve as his protector's circuit inspector in his existing rank. Liang chancellor Zhao Guangyi had long valued his talent and had him appointed Direct Academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies, then Vice Director of the Bureau of Evaluations. At the start of the Tang Tongguang era he was made Director of the Bureau of Review with charge of drafting edicts. Soon he resigned because of a mental disorder and was made Supervising Secretary and History Office compiler with charge of the office. When Emperor Mingzong took the throne he was made Secretariat Drafter, but again left office because of his disorder and failure to attend court. During the Changxing era he served as Right Regular Attendant and Vice Ministers of Works and Revenue, then retired because of his old complaint and was made Director of the Secretariat. At the start of the Qingtai era he was promoted to Vice Minister of War. When the Last Emperor of Tang encamped at Huaizhen, Ningshi was in his retinue and often caused disturbances in camp because of his mental condition; the emperor indulged him for his reputation and ordered him back to Luoyang. At the start of the Jin Tianfu era he was made Guest of the Heir Apparent, then retired as Minister of Rites and lived between the Yi and Luo rivers, indulging his eccentric ways and often giving offense; yet from prefects downward all treated him as a gifted elder and none held him accountable. During the Jin Kaiyun era, Chancellor Sang Weihan learned that Ningshi had lost his salary and was struggling to feed his household; he memorialized to make him Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent with a post at Luoyang. Under the Later Han reign era Qianyou he served as Junior Tutor and then Junior Preceptor. When the future Taizu took command of the army, Ningshi waited at the camp gate and petitioned that age made him unfit for routine duties; Taizu had him specially excused by memorial. In the Guangshun era he petitioned to retire and soon received permission as Right Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat. At the start of the Xiande era he was made Left Vice Director, then Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, retiring from each post. He died at Luoyang in the winter of the first year, aged eighty-five. An edict posthumously enfeoffed him as Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent.
10
凝式長於歌詩， 〈（《別傳》云：凝式詩什，亦多雜以詼諧，少從張全義辟，故作詩紀全義之德云：「洛陽風景實堪哀，昔日曾為瓦子堆。 不是我公重葺理，至今猶自一堆灰。」 他類若此。 張從恩尹洛，凝式自汴還，時飛蝗蔽日，偶與之俱，凝式先以詩寄曰：「押引蝗蟲到洛京，合消郡守遠相迎。」 從恩弗怪也。 然凝式詩句自佳，其題壁有「院似禪心靜，花如覺性圓」，清麗可喜。）〉 善於筆劄，洛川寺觀藍墻粉壁之上，題紀殆遍，時人以其縱誕，有「風子」之號焉。 〈（《別傳》云：凝式雖仕歷五代，以心疾閑居，故時人目以「風子」。 其筆跡遒放，宗師歐陽詢與顏真卿，而加以縱逸。 既久居洛，多遨遊佛道祠，遇山水勝概，輒留連賞詠，有垣墻圭缺處，顧視引筆，且吟且書，若與神會，率寶護之。 其號或以姓名，或稱癸巳人，或稱楊虛白，或稱希維居士，或稱關西老農。 其所題後，或真或草，不可原詰，而論者謂其書自顏中書後一人而已。 其佯狂之跡甚著，卜第於尹京之側，遇入府，前輿後馬，猶以為遲，乃策杖徒行，市人隨笑之。 嘗迫冬，家人未挾纊，會有故人過洛，贈以綿五十兩、絹百端，凝式悉留之修行尼舍，俾造襪以施崇德、普明兩寺飯僧，其家雖號寒啼饑，而凝式不屑屑也。 留守聞其事，乃自制衣給米遺之，凝式笑謂家人曰：「我固知留守必見赒也。」 每旦起將出，仆請所之，楊曰：「宜東遊廣愛寺。」 仆曰：「不若西遊石壁寺。」 凝式舉鞭曰：「姑遊廣愛。」 仆又以石壁為請，凝式乃曰：「姑遊石壁。」 聞者拊掌。 《五代史補》：楊凝式父涉為唐宰相。 太祖之篡唐祚也，涉當送傳國璽，時凝式方冠，諫曰：「大人為宰相，而國家至此，不可謂之無過，而更手持天子印綬以付他人，保富貴，其如千載之後云云何？ 其宜辭免之。」 時太祖恐唐室大臣不利於己，往往陰使人來探訪群議，搢紳之士及禍甚眾，涉常不自保，忽聞凝式言，大駭曰：「汝滅吾族。」 於是神色沮喪者數日。 凝式恐事泄，即日遂佯狂，時人謂之「楊風子」也。）〉
Ningshi excelled at lyric poetry, (The Separate Biography: Ningshi's verse often mixed in wit; in youth he had served Zhang Quanyi and wrote to commemorate his patron: "Luoyang's scenery is truly pitiable—in former days it was nothing but a heap of tile yards. Had our lord not rebuilt it from the ground up, it would still be a heap of ashes today." He wrote many poems in this vein. When Zhang Cong'en was intendant of Luoyang, Ningshi returned from Bian while locusts blotted out the sun; traveling together by chance, Ningshi sent ahead a poem: "Escorting locusts to the Luo capital—the prefect ought to ride far out to welcome them." Cong'en was not offended. Yet Ningshi's own verse could be fine; on one wall he wrote, "The courtyard rests like a Chan mind; flowers bloom round like awakened nature"—lines clear, lovely, and delightful.)〉 He was also skilled with the brush; he left inscriptions on nearly every monastery wall in the Luoyang region, and contemporaries called him the "Madman" for his eccentric ways. (The Separate Biography: Though Ningshi served through five dynasties, he lived in retirement because of his mental disorder, and contemporaries called him the "Madman." His calligraphy was bold and free, modeled on Ouyang Xun and Yan Zhenqing but with an added wildness. Long settled in Luoyang, he wandered Buddhist and Daoist temples; at any fine landscape he would linger to admire and compose; wherever he found a broken wall he would turn, take up the brush, chant and write as if possessed, and people treasured whatever he left. He signed himself by his name, or as "Man of guisi," "Yang the Empty White," "Layman Xiwi," or "Old Farmer of Guanxi." His inscriptions, in regular or cursive script, were often indecipherable, yet critics held that since Yan Zhenqing there had been only one calligrapher his equal. His feigned madness was notorious; he built a house near the capital prefect's seat; even when visiting the prefecture with carriage and escort he found it too slow and walked alone with a staff while townsfolk laughed behind him. Once as winter neared his family had no cotton padding; an old friend passing through gave him fifty liang of cotton and a hundred bolts of silk, which Ningshi gave entirely to a nunnery to make socks for monks at the Chongde and Puming temples; though his household shivered and starved, he paid no heed. The Protector heard of this and sent clothes and rice; Ningshi laughed and told his family, "I knew the Protector would surely send relief." Each morning as he set out, a servant asked his destination; Yang said, "Today we should visit Guang'ai Temple to the east." The servant said, "Better to visit Shibi Temple to the west." Ningshi raised his whip and said, "For now, Guang'ai it is." The servant again urged Shibi, and Ningshi then said, "For now, Shibi it is." Listeners clapped in delight. Supplement to the History of the Five Dynasties: Yang Ningshi's father She had been a Tang chancellor. When Taizu seized the Tang throne, She was to deliver the imperial seal; Ningshi, just come of age, remonstrated: "Father, as chancellor you cannot be blameless that the state has come to this; how can you hand the Son of Heaven's seal to another to save your wealth—what will posterity say? You ought to refuse the commission." Taizu then feared Tang ministers and secretly sent agents to sound opinion; many officials perished; She lived in constant fear. Hearing Ningshi's words he cried, "You will destroy our whole clan!" He was dejected for days afterward. Fearing exposure, Ningshi that same day began feigning madness, and people called him "Yang the Madman.")〉
11
薛仁謙
Xue Renqian
12
薛仁謙，字守訓，代居河東，近世徙家於汴，今為浚儀人也。 父延魯，仕唐為汝州長史，累贈吏部尚書。 仁謙謹厚廉恪，深通世務，梁鄴王羅紹威甚重之，累署府職。 唐莊宗即位於魏，授通事舍人。 梁開平中，三聘於吳，得使者之體。 遷衛尉少卿、引進副使，累加檢校兵部尚書。 長興中，轉客省使、鴻臚少卿，出為建雄軍節度副使，進階光祿大夫、檢校左僕射，改光祿少卿。 晉天福初，授檢校司空、河中節度副使，歸朝為衛尉、太僕二卿。 丁繼母憂，居喪制滿，授司農卿。 漢乾祐中，以本官致仕。 周初，改太子賓客致仕，仍加檢校司徒，進封侯爵。 顯德三年冬，以疾終，年七十八。 贈工部尚書。 初，仁謙隨莊宗入汴也，有舊第為梁朝六宅使李賓所據，時賓遠適，而仁謙復得其第。 或告云，賓之家屬厚藏金帛在其第內，仁謙立命賓親族盡出所藏而後入焉。 論者美之。
Xue Renqian, styled Shouxun, was of a Hedong family that in recent generations had moved to Bian; he was a native of Junyi. His father Yanlu had served Tang as Administrator of Ruzhou and was posthumously enfeoffed as Minister of the Civil Service. Renqian was prudent, honest, and deeply versed in affairs of state; Prince of Ye Luo Shaowei valued him highly and repeatedly gave him posts in his administration. When Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang took the throne at Wei, Renqian was appointed Herald. In the Liang Kaiping era he went on three missions to Wu and mastered the conduct expected of an envoy. He was promoted to Vice Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud and Deputy Commissioner of Presentation, with the acting rank of Minister of War. During the Changxing era he became Commissioner of the Guest Bureau and Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, then Military Governor's Deputy of the Jianxiong Army, advancing to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Acting Left Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat, then Vice Minister of Splendid Happiness. At the start of the Jin Tianfu era he was made Acting Minister of Works and Military Governor's Deputy of Hezhong; on returning to court he held the two directorships of the imperial stud offices. After mourning his stepmother he was appointed Director of the Directorate of Agriculture. In the Later Han reign era Qianyou he retired in his existing rank. Early in the Zhou he retired as Guest of the Heir Apparent, was given the acting rank of Minister of Education, and was enfeoffed as a marquis. He died of illness in the winter of the third Xiande year, aged seventy-eight. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Minister of Works. When Renqian followed Zhuangzong into Bian, his old residence had been taken by Li Bin, Liang's Commissioner of the Six Residences; Bin was away on assignment, and Renqian recovered the house. Someone reported that Bin's family had hidden gold and silk in the house; Renqian ordered Bin's relatives to remove everything before he would enter. Commentators praised his integrity.
13
子居正，皇朝門下侍郎平章事。
His son Juzheng became Vice Director of the Chancellery and Grand Councilor under the present dynasty.
14
蕭願，字惟恭，梁宰相頃之子也。 頃，明宗朝終於太子少保，《唐書》有傳。 初，願之曾祖仿，唐僖宗朝入相，接客之次，願為兒童戲，效傳呼之聲。 仿謂客曰：「余豈敢以得位而喜，所幸奕世壽考，吾今又有曾孫在目前矣。」 願弱冠舉進士第，解褐為校書郎，改畿尉、直史館、監察殿中侍御史，遷比部員外郎、右司郎中、太常少卿。 明宗朝祀太微宮，願醉預公卿之列，為御史所彈，左遷右贊善大夫。 未幾，授兵部郎中，復金紫。 丁內艱，服闋，自左司郎中拜右諫議大夫，歷給事中、右常侍、秘書監，改太子賓客。 廣順元年春卒。 贈禮部尚書。
Xiao Yuan, styled Weigong, was the son of the Liang chancellor Xiao Qing. Qing ended his career under Emperor Mingzong as Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent; the History of Tang records his biography. Yuan's great-grandfather Fang had entered the chancellorship under Emperor Xizong of Tang; once while receiving guests, the child Yuan played at imitating the heralds' calls. Fang told his guest, "I dare not rejoice merely at gaining office; my fortune is generations of long life—and now I have a great-grandson before me." Yuan passed the jinshi in early manhood, entered service as Collator, then Capital District Assistant Magistrate, History Office compiler, and Investigating Attending Censor, and rose to Vice Director of the Bureau of Review, Right Department Director, and Vice Minister of Imperial Sacrifices. During a Mingzong-era sacrifice at the Taiwei Palace, Yuan appeared drunk among the chief ministers; the censor impeached him and he was demoted to Right Mentor of the Heir Apparent. Soon afterward he was made Director of the Bureau of War and again awarded the gold-and-purple insignia. After mourning his father he was promoted from Right Department Director to Right Remonstrator, then Supervising Secretary, Right Regular Attendant, and Director of the Secretariat, and finally Guest of the Heir Apparent. He died in the spring of the first Guangshun year. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Minister of Rites.
15
願性純謹，承事父母，未嘗不束帶而見。 然性嗜酒無節，職事弛慢。 為兵部郎中日，常掌告身印，覃恩之次，頗怠職司，父頃為吏部尚書，代願視印篆，其散率如此。 願卒時年七十餘，其母猶在，一門壽考，人罕及者。
Yuan was pure and dutiful; he never visited his parents without being fully dressed. Yet he drank without restraint and was slack in his duties. As Director of the Bureau of War he often held the commission seal; during general amnesties he was notably negligent, and his father Qing, then Minister of the Civil Service, had to inspect the seals for him—such was his carelessness. Yuan died in his seventies while his mother still lived—a family's longevity rarely equaled.
16
盧損，其先范陽人也，近世任於嶺表。 父穎，遊宦於京師。 損少學為文，梁開平初，舉進士，惟頗剛介，以高情遠致自許。 與任贊、劉昌素、薛鈞、高總同年擢第，所在相詬，時人謂之「相罵榜」。 及任贊、劉昌素居要切之地，而損自異，不相親狎。 時左丞李琪素薄劉昌素之為人，常善待損。 琪有女弟眇，長年婚對不售，乃以妻損，損慕琪聲稱納之，及琪為輔相，致損仕進。 梁貞明中，累遷至右司員外郎。 唐天成初，由兵部郎中、史館修撰轉諫議大夫。 屢上書言事，詞理淺陋，不為名流所知。 清泰中，盧文紀作相，密與損參議時政。 初，長興中，唐末帝鎮河中，損嘗為加恩使副，及末帝即位，用為御史中丞。 拜命之日，以自前憲司不能振舉綱領，俾風俗頹壞，乃大為條奏，而有「平明放鑰，日出守端」之語，大為士人嗤鄙。 有頃，誤詳赦書，失出罪人，停任。 晉天福中，復為右散騎常侍，轉秘書監，大失所望，即拜章辭位，乃授戶部尚書致仕，退居潁川。 時少保李鏻年將八十，善服氣導引，損以鏻之遐齡有道術，酷慕之。 仍以潁川逼於城市，乃卜居陽翟，誅茅種藥，山衣野服，逍遙於林圃之間，出則柴車鶴氅，自稱具茨山人。 晚年與同輩五六人，於大隗山中疏泉鑿坯為隱所，誓不復出山，久之，齒發不衰，似有所得。 廣順三年秋卒，時年八十餘。 贈太子少傅。
Lu Sun was of Fanyang ancestry; in recent generations his family had served in the far south. His father Ying had pursued office and lived in the capital. Sun studied letters in youth; in the early Liang Kaiping era he passed the jinshi examination. He was stiffly upright and prided himself on lofty detachment. He graduated the same year as Ren Zan, Liu Changsu, Xue Jun, and Gao Zong; they abused one another wherever they met, and contemporaries called their class list the "Mutual Abuse List." When Ren Zan and Liu Changsu rose to key posts, Sun kept his distance and would not be friendly with them. Left Vice Director Li Qi had long despised Liu Changsu's character and often treated Sun kindly. Qi had a blind younger sister long unmarried; he gave her to Sun in marriage, and Sun, admiring Qi's reputation, accepted. When Qi became chief minister he advanced Sun's career. In the Liang Zhenming era he rose to Right Department Vice Director. At the start of the Tang Tiancheng era he moved from Director of the Bureau of War and History Office compiler to Remonstrator. He memorialized repeatedly on public affairs, but his reasoning was shallow and leading figures took no notice of him. During the Qingtai era Chancellor Lu Wenji privately consulted Sun on current affairs. Earlier, during the Changxing era, the Last Emperor of Tang held Hezhong; Sun had served as deputy grace commissioner, and when the emperor took the throne he made Sun Censor-in-Chief. On taking office he declared that the censorate had failed to uphold standards and customs had decayed, and issued a long list of regulations including "Unlock at dawn, guard rectitude at sunrise"—much ridiculed by scholars. Soon afterward he misread an amnesty edict and wrongly released a criminal; he was suspended from office. In the Jin Tianfu era he was again Right Regular Attendant, then Director of the Secretariat; deeply disappointed, he resigned at once and retired as Minister of Revenue, withdrawing to Yingchuan. Junior Guardian Li Lin was then nearly eighty and skilled in breath cultivation; Sun greatly admired his longevity and arts of longevity. Finding Yingchuan still too near the city, he settled at Yangzhai, built a thatched hut, planted herbs, wore rustic dress, and wandered among woods and gardens; abroad he rode a brushwood cart in a crane cloak and called himself the Mountain Man of Juci. In later years he and five or six companions carved out a hermitage on Mount Dawei, vowing never to leave the hills; in time his teeth and hair showed no decline, as if he had found the Way. He died in the autumn of the third Guangshun year, aged over eighty. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent.
17
王仁裕
Wang Renyu
18
王仁裕，字德輦，天水人。 少孤，不從師訓，年二十五，方有意就學。 一夕夢剖其腸胃，引西江水以浣之，又睹水中砂石，皆有篆文，因取而吞之。 及寤，心意豁然，自是資性絕高。 〈（案：此下有闕文。 《輿地紀勝》云：王仁裕知貢舉時，所取進士三十三人，皆一時名公卿，李昉、王溥為冠。）〉 有詩萬餘首，勒成百卷，目之曰《西江集》，蓋以嘗夢吞西江文石，遂以為名焉。 〈（《輿地紀勝》：仁裕所著有《紫泥集》、《西江集》、《入洛記》，共百卷。）〉 後為兵部尚書、太子少保，卒。
Wang Renyu, styled Delian, came from Tianshui. Orphaned young, he had no schooling; only at twenty-five did he begin to study in earnest. One night he dreamed his bowels were opened and washed with the waters of the West River; he saw pebbles in the water inscribed with seal script and swallowed them. On waking his mind was clear, and from then on his talent was extraordinary. (Note: Text is missing below this point. Geographical Records of the Empire: When Wang Renyu ran the metropolitan examination, the thirty-three jinshi he chose were all leading figures of the day, headed by Li Fang and Wang Pu.)〉 He wrote more than ten thousand poems, compiled in a hundred-scroll collection titled Collected Poems of the West River, named for his dream of swallowing the inscribed stones of the West River. (Geographical Records of the Empire: Renyu's works included Collected Purple Mud, Collected Poems of the West River, and Record of Entering Luo—a hundred scrolls in all.)〉 He later served as Minister of War and Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, then died.
19
裴羽，字用化，唐僖宗時宰相贄之子也。 羽少以父任為河南壽安尉。 入梁，遷御史臺主簿，改監察御史。 唐明宗時，為吏部郎中，使於閩，遇颶風，飄至錢塘。 時安重誨用事，削奪吳越王封爵，羽被留於錢塘，經歲不得歸，後重誨死，後吳越復通中國，羽始得還。 晉初，累遷禮部侍郎、太常卿。 廣順初，為左散騎常侍，卒。 贈工部尚書。 羽之使閩也，正使陸崇卒於道，羽載其喪還，歸其橐裝，時人義之。
Pei Yu, styled Yonghua, was the son of Chancellor Pei Zan under Emperor Xizong of Tang. In youth Yu entered office through his father's privilege as Assistant Magistrate of Shou'an in Henan. Under Liang he became Chief Clerk of the Censorate, then Investigating Censor. Under Emperor Mingzong of Tang he was Director of the Bureau of the Civil Service and sent as envoy to Min; a typhoon drove his ship to Qiantang. An Chonghui was then in power and stripped the King of Wuyue of his titles; Yu was detained at Qiantang for a year. After Chonghui's death Wuyue restored relations with the central court, and Yu was able to return. Early in the Later Jin he rose through repeated promotions to Vice Minister of Rites and Minister of Ceremonies. At the beginning of the Guangshun era he served as Left Regular Attendant of the Cavalier-at-Arms and died. He was posthumously given the title Minister of Works. On Yu's mission to Min the chief envoy Lu Chong died en route; Yu brought the body home and returned all his effects, for which contemporaries praised his integrity.
20
段希堯
Duan Xiyao
21
段希堯，河內人也。 祖約，定州戶掾，贈太常少卿。 父昶，晉州神山縣令，累贈太子少保。 希堯少有器局，累歷州縣。 唐天成中，為衛州錄事參軍，會晉高祖作鎮於鄴，聞其勤幹，奏改洺州糾曹。 及晉祖鎮太原，辟為從事。 清泰中，晉祖總戎於代北，一日軍亂，遽呼萬歲，晉高祖惑之，希堯曰：「夫兵猶火也，弗戢將自焚。」 遽請戮其亂首，乃止。 明年，晉祖將舉義於太原，召賓佐謀之，希堯極言以拒之，晉祖以其純朴，弗之咎也。 晉祖龍飛，霸府舊僚皆至達官，惟希堯止授省郎而已。 天福中，稍遷右諫議大夫，尋命使於吳越。 及乘舟泛海，風濤暴起，楫師仆從皆相顧失色，希堯謂左右曰：「吾平生履行，不欺暗室，昭昭天鑒，豈無祐乎！ 汝等但以吾為托，必當無患。」 言訖而風止，乃獲利涉。 使回，授萊州刺史、檢校尚書右僕射，未赴任，改懷州。 六年秋，移棣州刺史兼榷鹽礬制置使。 少帝嗣位，加檢校司空。 開運中，歷戶部、兵部侍郎。 漢初，遷吏部侍郎，判東西兩銓事。 國初，拜工部尚書。 世宗嗣位，轉禮部尚書。 顯德三年夏，卒於洛陽，時年七十九。 贈太子少保。
Duan Xiyao was from Henei. His grandfather Yue served as a household registrar in Ding Prefecture and was posthumously made Vice Minister of Ceremonies. His father Chang was magistrate of Shenshan County in Jin Prefecture and was posthumously promoted over time to Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent. Xiyao showed strong character and ability from youth and served in successive prefectural and county posts. During the Tiancheng era of Tang he was recording secretary for Wei Prefecture; when Jin Gaozu held his fief at Ye he heard of Xiyao's diligence and had him transferred to investigating officer for Luo Prefecture. When Jin Gaozu governed from Taiyuan he took Xiyao onto his staff as an aide. In the Qingtai era Jin Gaozu commanded forces in the northern Dai region; one day the troops erupted in disorder and shouted "Long live!" Jin Gaozu was alarmed; Xiyao said, "An army is like fire—if it is not checked, it will consume itself." He immediately asked that the ringleaders be executed, and the disturbance ceased. The following year, when Jin Gaozu planned to raise arms at Taiyuan and summoned his advisers, Xiyao spoke strongly against it; Jin Gaozu, finding him sincere and unpretentious, did not hold it against him. When Jin Gaozu took the throne, all former staff of his supremacy office reached high office—only Xiyao received a mere provincial bureau post. During the Tianfu era he was gradually promoted to Right Remonstrating Censor and soon sent as envoy to Wuyue. When his boat put to sea violent wind and waves arose; pilots and attendants looked at one another in alarm; Xiyao told those beside him, "All my life I have conducted myself without deceit even in darkness—the clear heavens surely see—how could I lack protection! Take me alone as your trust and you will certainly come to no harm." When he had finished speaking the wind died down, and they crossed safely. On his return he was appointed prefect of Lai and acting Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs; before taking up the post he was transferred to Huai Prefecture. In the autumn of his sixth year in office he was transferred to prefect of Di and concurrently made commissioner for the salt and alum monopoly. When the Young Emperor succeeded to the throne he was given the acting title of Grand Marshal. During the Kaiyun era he served successively as Vice Minister of Revenue and Vice Minister of War. Early in the Later Han he was promoted to Vice Minister of Personnel and oversaw both eastern and western selection boards. At the founding of the dynasty he was appointed Minister of Works. When Emperor Shizong succeeded to the throne he was transferred to Minister of Rites. In the summer of the third year of the Xiande era he died at Luoyang at the age of seventy-nine. He was posthumously given the title Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent.
22
子思恭，右諫議大夫。
His son Sigong served as Right Remonstrating Censor.
23
司徒詡
Si Tubi
24
司徒詡，字德普，清河郡人也。 父倫，本郡督郵，以清白稱。 詡少好讀書，通《五經》大義，弱冠應鄉舉，不第。 唐明宗之鎮邢臺，詡往謁之，甚見禮遇，命試吏於邯鄲，歷永年、項城令，皆有能名。 長興初，唐末帝鎮河中，奏辟為從事。 未幾，征拜左補闕、史館修撰。 秦王從榮之開府也，朝廷以詡為戶部員外郎，充河南府判官。 秦王遇害，以例貶寧州司馬。 清泰初，入為兵部員外郎。 晉祖踐阼，改刑部郎中，充度支判官、樞密直學士，由兵部郎中遷左諫議大夫、給事中，充集賢殿學士判院事，轉左散騎常侍、工部侍郎，歷知許、齊、亳三州事。 漢初，除禮部侍郎，凡三主貢舉，自起部貳卿，不數年間，遍歷六曹，由吏部侍郎拜太子賓客。 世宗即位，授太常卿。 時世宗留意於雅樂，議欲考正其音，而詡為足疾所苦，居多假告，遂命以本官致仕。 顯德六年夏，卒於洛陽之私第，年六十有六。 贈工部尚書。
Si Tubi, styled Depu, was from Qinghe Commandery. His father Lun was the commandery's chief postal inspector and was known for his integrity. Tubi in youth loved reading and mastered the meaning of the Five Classics; at his coming of age he took the prefectural examination but did not pass. When Emperor Mingzong of Tang held his fief at Xingtai, Tubi went to pay his respects and was treated with great courtesy; Mingzong had him tried as an official at Handan; he served successively as magistrate of Yongnian and Xiangcheng, both with a reputation for competence. At the beginning of the Changxing era the Last Emperor of Tang held his fief at Hedong and memorialized to appoint him as a staff aide. Before long he was summoned and appointed Left Supplementation Censor and Historiography Compiler. When Prince of Qin Congrong opened his establishment, the court made Tubi Vice Director of Revenue and acting administrative aide of Henan Prefecture. When the Prince of Qin met disaster, by precedent Tubi was demoted to military affairs aide of Ning Prefecture. At the beginning of the Qingtai era he entered service as Vice Director of War. When Jin Gaozu took the throne he became Director of Punishments, served as fiscal affairs assessor and academician direct of the Bureau of Military Affairs, was promoted from Director of War to Left Remonstrating Censor and Attendant, served as Academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies with authority over the institute, then became Left Regular Attendant of the Cavalier-at-Arms and Vice Minister of Works, and successively governed Xu, Qi, and Bo prefectures. Early in the Later Han he was appointed Vice Minister of Rites and presided three times over the civil examinations; starting as a deputy minister, within a few years he passed through all six ministries and was appointed Mentor of the Heir Apparent from Vice Minister of Personnel. When Emperor Shizong assumed the throne he was appointed Minister of Ceremonies. Shizong was then attending to court music and wished to examine and correct its tones, but Tubi was afflicted by a foot ailment and often took leave; he was therefore ordered to retire in his original office. In the summer of the sixth year of the Xiande era he died at his private residence in Luoyang at the age of sixty-six. He was posthumously given the title Minister of Works.
25
詡善談論，性嗜酒，喜賓客，亦信浮圖之教。 漢乾祐中，嘗使於吳越，航海而往，至渤澥之中，睹水色如墨。 舟人曰：「其下龍宮也。」 詡因註香興念曰：「龍宮珍寶無用，俟回棹之日，當以金篆佛書一帙，用伸贄獻。」 洎復經其所，遂以經一函投於海中。 俄聞梵唄絲竹之音，喧於船下，舟人云：「此龍王來迎其經矣。」 同舟百餘人皆聞之，無不嘆訝焉。
Tubi was skilled in conversation, fond of wine by nature, delighted in guests, and also believed in Buddhist teaching. During the Qianyou era of the Later Han he once served as envoy to Wuyue, traveling by sea; when he reached the midst of the Bohai waters the sea was black as ink. The boatman said, "Below lies the dragon palace." Tubi burned incense and vowed, "Treasures of the dragon palace are of no use—when we turn our sails homeward I shall offer one volume of Buddhist scripture inscribed in gold as tribute." When he again passed that spot he cast a case of scriptures into the sea. Suddenly they heard chanting and the sound of silk and bamboo instruments beneath the boat; the boatman said, "The Dragon King has come to welcome the scripture." More than a hundred fellow travelers all heard it, and every one marveled.
26
邊蔚，字得升，長安人。 父操，華州下邽令，累贈太子少師。 〈（《宋史》：邊珝，華州鄭人也。 曾祖頡，石泉令； 祖操，下珪令； 父蔚，太常卿。）〉 蔚幼孤，篤學，有鄉里譽，從交辟，歷晉、陜、華三府從事。 唐莊宗之伐蜀，大軍出於華下，時屬華方闕帥，蔚為記室，詔令權領軍府事，供億軍儲，甚有幹濟之稱。 及明宗入洛，遣李沖賫詔於關右，盡誅閹官。 沖性深刻，而華人有為閹官所累者，沖欲盡戮之，蔚以理救護，獲免者甚眾。 毛璋之鎮邠寧，奏為廉判。 時璋為麾下所惑，有跋扈之意。 蔚因乘間極言，諭以逆順之理，璋即時遣其子入貢。 朝廷以蔚有贊畫之效，錫以金紫，改許州戎判。 晉天福初，自涇州戎幕征拜虞部員外郎、鹽鐵判官，歷開封、廣晉少尹。 晉少帝嗣位，拜左散騎常侍，判廣晉府事，轉工部左右侍郎，再知開封府事。 開運初，出為亳州防禦使，為政清肅，亳民感之。 歲餘，入為戶部侍郎。 漢初，拜御史中丞，轉兵部侍郎。 太祖受命，復知開封府事，遷太常卿，後以足疾辭位。 顯德二年冬，卒於家，時年七十有一。
Bian Wei, styled Desheng, was from Chang'an. His father Cao was magistrate of Xia County in Hua Prefecture and was posthumously promoted over time to Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent. (Song History: Bian Bing was from Zheng in Hua Prefecture. His great-grandfather Jie was magistrate of Shiquan; his grandfather Cao was magistrate of Xia; his father Wei was Minister of Ceremonies.)〉 Wei was orphaned in youth, studied diligently, and won local renown; through acquaintances he was recruited and served on the staffs of the Jin, Shan, and Hua prefectural governments. When Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang campaigned against Shu the main army passed through Hua; the prefecture then lacked a military governor, and Wei as secretariat recorder was ordered by edict to act as head of the military headquarters and supply the army stores, winning high praise for his efficiency. When Emperor Mingzong entered Luoyang he sent Li Chong with an edict to the western passes to execute all eunuch officials. Chong was harsh by nature; among the people of Hua were many implicated through ties to eunuchs, and Chong wished to kill them all; Wei argued on their behalf and saved a great many. When Mao Zhang governed Binning he memorialized to appoint Wei as integrity assessor. Zhang was then swayed by his subordinates and showed signs of defiance. Wei seized an opportunity to speak plainly and explain the logic of loyalty and rebellion; Zhang immediately sent his son to court with tribute. The court rewarded Wei's counsel by granting him gold and purple insignia and appointing him military administrative aide of Xu Prefecture. At the beginning of the Tianfu era of the Later Jin he was summoned from the Jingzhou military staff to Vice Director of the Ministry of Parks and Forests and salt and iron assessor, and served successively as junior prefect of Kaifeng and Guangjin. When the Young Emperor of Later Jin succeeded he was appointed Left Regular Attendant of the Cavalier-at-Arms and put in charge of Guangjin prefecture, then transferred to vice minister of works on both sides and again put in charge of Kaifeng. At the beginning of the Kaiyun era he was sent out as defense commissioner of Bo; his administration was clear and strict, and the people of Bo were grateful. After a little more than a year he was recalled as Vice Minister of Revenue. Early in the Later Han he was appointed Censor-in-Chief and then Vice Minister of War. When Taizu received the Mandate he again took charge of Kaifeng, was promoted to Minister of Ceremonies, and later resigned because of a foot ailment. In the winter of the second year of the Xiande era he died at home at the age of seventy-one.
27
子玕、珝，俱仕皇朝為省郎。
His sons Gan and Bing both served the dynasty as provincial bureau officials.
28
王敏，字待問，單州金鄉人。 性純直，少力學攻文，登進士第。 後依杜重威，凡歷數鎮從事。 漢初，重威叛於鄴，時敏為留守判官，嘗泣諫重威，懇請歸順，重威始雖不從，及其窮也，納敏之言，以其城降。 時魏之饑民十猶四五，咸保其餘生者，敏之力也。 入朝，拜侍御史。 世宗鎮澶淵，太祖以敏謹厚，遂命為澶州節度判官。 及世宗尹正王畿，改開封少尹。 世宗嗣位，權知府事，旋拜左諫議大夫、給事中，遷刑部侍郎。 敏嘗以子婿陳南金薦於曹州節度使李繼勛，表為記室，其後繼勛僨軍於壽春，及歸闕而無待罪之禮，世宗以繼勛武臣，不之責也，因遷怒南金，謂其裨贊無狀，乃黜之。 敏由是連坐，遂免其官。 歲餘，復拜司農卿。 顯德四年秋，以疾卒。
Wang Min, styled Daiwen, was from Jinxiang in Shan Prefecture. He was upright by nature; in youth he studied hard and passed the jinshi examination. He later entered the service of Du Chongwei and served on the staffs of several military governors. Early in the Later Han Chongwei rebelled at Ye; Min was acting administrative aide of the garrison and once wept as he urged Chongwei to submit; Chongwei at first refused, but when he was cornered he took Min's advice and surrendered the city. In the famine in Wei perhaps four or five in ten survived; those who did owed their lives to Min. On entering court he was appointed Attending Censor. When Shizong governed Chanyuan, Taizu found Min careful and dependable and appointed him administrative aide of the Chanzou military commission. When Shizong took charge of the capital region he was made junior prefect of Kaifeng. When Shizong succeeded to the throne Min acted as prefect of the capital, then was appointed Left Remonstrating Censor and Attendant, and promoted to Vice Minister of Punishments. Min once recommended his son-in-law Chen Nanjin to Li Jixun, military commissioner of Caozhou, who memorialized to appoint him secretariat recorder; later Jixun was defeated at Shouchun, and on returning to court he did not observe the ritual of awaiting punishment. Shizong, because Jixun was a military man, did not blame him but redirected his anger toward Nanjin, saying his staff counsel had been improper, and demoted him. Min was implicated by association and was dismissed from office. After a little more than a year he was again appointed Minister of Agriculture. In the autumn of the fourth year of the Xiande era he died of illness.