← Back to 舊五代史

卷一百二十九 周書20: 列傳九 常思 翟光鄴 曹英 李彥頵 李暉 李建崇 王重裔 孫漢英 許遷 趙鳳 齊藏珍 王環 張彥超 張穎 劉仁贍

Volume 129 Book of Later Zhou 31: Biographies 9 - Chang Si, Di Guangye, Cao Ying, Li Yanyun, Li Hui, Li Jianchong, Wang Zhongyi, Sun Hanyin, Xu Qian, Zhao Feng, Qi Cangzhen, Wang Huan, Zhang Yanchao, Zhang Ying, Liu Renshan

Chapter 129 of 舊五代史 · Old History of the Five Dynasties
← Previous Chapter
Chapter 129
Next Chapter →
1
使 使 使 使
Chang Si, whose style name was Kegong, came from Taiyuan. His father Ren Yue had served as a military adjutant in Hedong and was posthumously honored on several occasions as Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent. When Zhuangzong of Tang was still Prince of Jin, he recruited elite troops on a wide scale; Si enlisted then for his swift, fierce prowess, fought in campaign after campaign, later became chief officer of the Long-Duty Guard, and in time rose to command the Fengsheng Army. Early in the Jin period he was transferred to chief inspector of the Six Armies. When Gaozu of Han took up his post at Bing Gate, he had Si accompany him by memorial; Si was soon appointed commander of the Hedong fortress garrison and became known for his diligent, capable service. At the founding of the Han state he received the acting title Grand Guardian and was given nominal jurisdiction over Deng Prefecture. Once Han held the empire, he was promoted to acting Grand Marshal and appointed military governor of Zhaoyi. In the first year of Qianyou, Li Shouzhen rebelled at Hezhong; Taizu marched against him, and the court ordered Si to lead his division in support. Before long he proved unable to handle the troops and was ordered to return to his former fief. Si spent five years in all at Shangdang without a reputation worth the name; he devoted himself solely to squeezing revenue, and by nature he was coarse and miserly—he never once shared food and wine with his staff. Once a staff member asked to see him; Si read the calling card and snapped, "He must be coming to scrounge wine. He told the usher to give the man a drink and send him away—such was his meanness. When Taizu received the Mandate, Si was at once made a Councilor of State. In the old days, when Taizu was still obscure, he had treated Si as a younger uncle; after he took the throne he had Si's wife come to court, bowed to her with the courtesy of family, and still called her Aunt—such was the grace he showed them. In the autumn of Guangshun year two, Si came to court, was given the additional title of Palace Attendant, and was transferred to Song Prefecture. In the summer of year three he was summoned to court by edict and reassigned as military governor of Pinglu. As Si was about to leave for his new command he memorialized Taizu: "When I departed Song Prefecture I had more than a hundred thousand taels of silk, which I respectfully offer upward; please have it levied and collected. Taizu nodded, and soon an edict ordered that prefecture to cancel the tax bonds and notify the people. Not long after he reached his post he fell ill with wind paralysis; he memorialized asking permission to seek a physician, and was soon carried home to Luoyang on a litter. In the spring of Xiande year one he died, at the age of sixty-nine. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Director of the Secretariat.
2
歿 使 使 耀使 西 使 使 使 使 使 使
Di Guangye, whose style name was Huaji, came from Juancheng in Puzhou. His father Jing Ke was bold and daring by nature. In the first year of Liang Zhenming, Zhuangzong of Tang first encamped his army on the Yellow River; Jing Ke led the people of his district to hold Yongding Post, held firm for more than a year, was later attacked by the northern army, fell in battle, and his force broke. Guangye was then ten; Mingzong's army captured him, and because he was bright they had him wait at the ruler's side and gave him the style name Yongding. Once he came of age he was grave, resolute, and resourceful, and rarely erred in office. When Mingzong acceded, Guangye enjoyed his deep trust and in time rose to Imperial City Commissioner and acting Minister of Works. During Changxing, when Chief Councilor An Chonghui fell from favor, Guangye and the eunuch Meng Xiaoseng had played a considerable part. Before long he was sent out as regimental commissioner of Yao Prefecture. In the first year of Qingtai he entered court service as Grand General of the Left Directorate of the Gate Guards. During Jin Tianfu he served in turn as prefect of Di and Yi and as deputy defender of the Western Capital. In the first year of Kaiyun he was appointed Commissioner of the Palace Directorate. After Yang Guangyuan's rebellion was crushed and Qingzhou pacified, he was made defense commissioner; the court, seeing how war had ravaged the region and thinned the population, put Guangye in charge of restoring it. Guangye loved to gather books, honored Confucian scholars, and in his quiet study held discussions aimed solely at principle. Six or seven tenths of the prefecture's people had died, yet he recruited, comforted, and instructed the survivors as though tending the wounded, and within a month refugees were streaming back. When the Khitan entered Bian, a puppet regime named him acting prefect of Cao. Li Congyi took a false title; because Guangye was an old minister of Mingzong, he appointed him Chief Councilor. When the Han founder reached Bian, Guangye was reassigned as Grand General of the Left Leading Guard. In Qianyou year one he was promoted to Grand General of the Right Golden Crow Guard, made street commissioner, and given the acting title Grand Guardian. When Taizu acceded he was again made Commissioner of the Palace Directorate, Grand General of the Left Thousand-Ox Guard, and acting Grand Tutor. Several months later he was also made Deputy Chief Councilor. When Li Hongxin of Yongxing came to court, Guangye acted in his stead administering the military government. In the tenth month of Guangshun year two he died at Chang'an, aged forty-six.
3
祿 便 漿 使
Guangye had breadth of manner, was cautious, steady, and generous by nature, and never let joy or anger show on his face. He was famed for filial care of his stepmother, and his brothers all lived in harmony. Though he had held office and drawn salary for years, his household had no surplus; as Golden Crow commissioner he borrowed a few government rooms against wind and rain; kin crowded about him and coarse grain barely fed them—others would have found it unbearable, but Guangye remained perfectly at ease. When guests arrived he would buy wine on credit to entertain them, talking the day through without tiring, and men of letters held him in esteem. When he acted for Jingzhao he governed with leniency and calm; every vexatious or harsh measure of the previous regime he stopped at once, to the people's relief. When his illness grew grave he summoned his close attendants to his bedside and charged them: "When my breath stops, take my body back to Luoyang; do not leave it here, lest you trouble the military government. He finished speaking and died. The officials of Jingzhao mourned him as they would a kinsman; some even poured libations of gruel and wine from afar. Chief Councilor Wang Jun had always esteemed Guangye and wished to enrich his household; he memorialized on their behalf, so from death through burial the gifts of condolence money ran to several thousand items. An edict posthumously enfeoffed him as Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent. Guangye's skin was plump and fair and he was skilled at tending his health; the Astronomical Commissioner Zhao Yanyi, versed in the arts of Yuan and Xu, once told others, "Master Di is thick outside but thin within; though he rises high he will not live long. It turned out exactly as he had said.
4
使 使 使 使使 使 使
Cao Ying, whose style name was Dexiu, bore an original given name that violated the present emperor's taboo and was therefore changed. He was originally from Zhen in Changshan. His father Quanwu had served Prince Zhao Wang Rong as a company commander, and Ying came to serve in Rong's headquarters. When Zhang Wenli rebelled, Zhuangzong of Tang suddenly seized the region and enrolled Rong's attendants, appointing Ying a scattered commander. When Mingzong acceded, Ying stood attendance below the imperial halberds; the emperor asked about his forebears and Ying answered truthfully; Mingzong said, "So you are one of my old associates. He was promoted to head of his guard company and won repeated favor. During Jin Tianfu he was transferred to commander of the Crossbow Hand Army. When Zhang Congbin was pacified at Sishui he was made company commander of his own army for his merit. Early in Han he was made commander of the Fengguo Army, given the acting title Minister of Works, and concurrently prefect of Kang. In Qianyou year one, when Li Shouzhen held Hezhong in rebellion, he was appointed company commander of the campaign army's foot soldiers. When Hezhong was pacified he was made wing commander of his army and given nominal charge as defense commissioner of Yue. Following Taizu at Wei he served as company commander of the northern campaign army's foot soldiers and helped quell the internal crisis. At the founding of the dynasty, for his merit in supporting the enthronement he was made military governor of Zhaowu, acting Grand Tutor, and commander of the palace guard foot soldiers. In the spring of year two he led troops against Murong Yanchao at Yan Prefecture; in scaling ladders, rams, ditches, and ramparts he played a major part. In the fifth month of summer Taizu campaigned in person; the armies were combined, the city stormed and taken; on the return in triumph he was given Zhangxin Army while keeping command of the troops as before. When Shizong succeeded he was made a Councilor and military governor of Chengde. When the imperial carriage returned from Taiyuan he was given the additional title of Palace Attendant. In the winter of Xiande year one he died at his post, aged forty-nine. An edict posthumously enfeoffed him as Director of the Secretariat. Ying was deep and steady by nature, humble and courteous; even beside his own mat he never treated guests with casual abruptness. When he died, men of the gentry mourned him as well.
5
使使 使 西使使
Li Yanyun, whose style name was Dexun, came from Taiyuan. He had originally been a merchant; when Taizu governed Ye he kept Yanyun at his side, and after the accession Yanyun served in turn as deputy commissioner of brocade and silk and as monopoly commissioner. When Shizong succeeded, because Yanyun was an old associate he was abruptly made Commissioner of the Inner Guests Directorate. Before long he was put in charge of Xiang Prefecture's military government; soon afterward he was made military commander of Yan. Once at his post he was much intent on amassing wealth, scheming for surplus profit and squeezing both tribal and Han subjects until the region was in uproar. When Shizong marched south the tribal peoples gathered and pressed the prefectural city; Yanyun shut the walls and held out, sought aid from neighboring circuits, and only when relief arrived was the siege lifted. Shizong was displeased and summoned him to the capital, yet still sheltered him tactfully and in the end did not hold him accountable. Soon afterward he was made inspector of the Western Capital's south-of-the-water circuit; before long he was ordered to act as military governor of Si and then made dual commissioner of Cang. When Yanyun took up his post his arrangements were ill judged and public opinion held him in contempt. In the autumn of Xiande year six he was relieved and returned to court; he fell ill on the way and died, aged fifty-two.
6
使 使 使 使
Li Hui, whose style name was Shunguang, came from Dongcheng in Ying Prefecture. In his youth he enlisted in the Dragon-Soaring Army; when the Han founder took charge of Hedong, Hui asked to follow him and was appointed a Hedong military adjutant. When Han held the empire he was given the acting title Minister of Works and made commissioner of the Inner Imperial City. Before long he was transferred to Commissioner of the Southern Palace Directorate. In Qianyou year one he was appointed military governor of Heyang and acting Grand Tutor. When Taizu took the throne he was made a Councilor and soon transferred to Cang Prefecture. In Xiande year one he was given the additional title of Palace Attendant in situ. In the autumn of year two he came to court for Shizong's birthday celebration and was transferred to military governor of Bin. In year five he was transferred to Fengxiang. A little more than a year later he died at his post. A gracious edict posthumously enfeoffed him as Director of the Secretariat. Hui's looks fell short of the ordinary, yet he rose to the summit of general and minister and lived to sixty—what need had he of the arts of Yuan and Xu! Yet he was greedy and base by nature and liked petty favors to win empty praise; so while at Heyang and Cang the people all petitioned the court to erect steles praising his virtue, but the discerning did not approve.
7
使 滿 使使 使使使 使 使
Li Jianchong came from Luzhou. In his youth he took up arms and was skilled at mounted archery. He first served Wuhuang of Tang as a commander of the Iron Forest Guard, then rose to command the Sudden Cavalry and Flying Cavalry armies. When Zhuangzong attacked Changshan, Abaoji came to the enemy's aid; Zhuangzong led a thousand horse of his personal guard, met them at Mancheng with too few men, and was surrounded by the Khitan. Jianchong was then a commander of the personal guard; he fought the Khitan from noon to late afternoon, until Li Sizhao's cavalry arrived and the Khitan broke off. During Tongguang he rose from commander of the Dragon Martial Fengsheng Guard to serve in turn as army commander of Xiang, Qin, Xu, and Yong. Jianchong was plain and honest by nature; in how he carried himself and won appointments he could not play the courtier, and so long remained a subordinate officer. Mingzong had once commanded the guard troops alongside Jianchong; when he took the throne he pitied him deeply and in succession gave him Ci and Qin. In Jin service he became prefect of Shen. In the winter of Tianfu year seven, An Congjin of Xiangyang rebelled and led troops against Nanyang; Jianchong then commanded more than a thousand foot and horse at Ye County; the Prince of Zheng, as Kaifeng intendant, sent Palace Commissioner Zhang Congen and Imperial City Commissioner Jiao Jixun with the capital armies to join Jianchong; at Huashan in Huyang they met Congjin's force, Jianchong gave battle and routed them, and for his merit was made regimental commissioner of Bo. When Xiangyang was pacified he was transferred to defense commissioner of An. He served in turn as military commander of Heyang and Xing. Early in Han he entered court service as Grand General of the Right Guard. Past seventy, his spirit and vigor had not waned. Jianchong had followed Wuhuang from the northern frontier; by now more than forty years had passed; of the troops he had led, many subordinates had risen to military governorships and nearly all were gone—only Jianchong, though he never reached a frontier command, stayed hale and content even to great old age. When Taizu acceded he was appointed Grand General of the Left Directorate of the Gate Guards. In the spring of Guangshun year three he died. He was posthumously enfeoffed as military governor of Qiannan.
8
使 退退 退 使 使 使
Wang Zhongyi came from Wancheng in Chen Prefecture. His father Da had served in turn as prefect of An, Jun, and Luo and made his home at Luo. Zhongyi in youth was grave, brave, and skilled at mounted archery. Before he came of age he served Zhuangzong as a hall attendant and managed the Khitan guard. Following the pacification of Bian and Luo he rose through commands of the palace guard armies. During Jin Tianfu, An Chongrong of Zhen plotted rebellion and marched on the capital; the court ordered Du Chongwei to resist; the rebels formed east of Zongcheng; Jin sent the Qi army to strike; twice they clashed without breaking the stalemate. Du Chongwei feared and planned to pull back; Zhongyi said, "Armies dread retreat—only divide your troops to strike both wings; Zhongyi will break the line for you and take their center—they will surely fall into disorder. Chongwei agreed; Chongrong at once broke and fell back and was defeated. For his merit he was made commander of the right wing of the Fengsheng Guard and given Fei Prefecture. Early in Han he still commanded the palace guard, followed the campaign that pacified Yedu, and was transferred to prefect of Shen. Because the Huai tribes, on Li Shouzhen's account, repeatedly raided the frontier, Zhongyi was made defense commissioner of Bo and also ordered to inspect at Xu while concurrently administering the prefecture, and was given the acting title Grand Tutor on the spot. When Taizu acceded he increased his noble rank and fief and changed his merit title. In the summer of Guangshun year one he died of illness, aged fifty-three. He was posthumously enfeoffed as military governor of Wuxin.
9
使 使西使調 西使
Sun Hanyin came from Taiyuan. His father Chongjin had served Wuhuang and Zhuangzong of Tang as a great general, was granted the imperial surname, and took the name Cunjin; the 《Tang History》 has his biography. Hanyin entered the army young and in time rose to company commander; he once commanded the eastern face foot and horse armies. In Qingtai year one Zhang Qianzhao of Xingyuan lost at Qi and submitted that territory west to Shu; Hanyin's elder brother Hanshao, then military governor of Yang, was cut off and also submitted to Shu; Hanyin and his younger brother Hanjun long went without promotion. In Han Qianyou, Taizu campaigned west against Pu and Yong and, because Hanyin was kin by marriage, had him assigned command in the army. When Pu and Yong were pacified and the army returned, the Hidden Emperor made Hanyin prefect of Jiang and acting Minister of Works. In the winter of Guangshun year one he died at the capital.
10
退
Xu Qian came from Yan Prefecture. He first served as a military adjutant in his home prefecture; he was stern and narrow by nature. In Han Qianyou year one he was Left Colonel of the Garrison Guard and, with Vice Director Ma Congbin, supervised ritual objects for Gaozu's tomb, saving materials and cutting costs by tens of thousands. He was made Grand General of the Left Directorate of the Gate Guards and given the acting title Minister of Works. Late in Han he acted as prefect of Xi. When Taizu acceded, Liu Chong sent his son Jun to raid Pingyang; the route passed Xi; rebels besieged the city with few defenders inside; Qian roused the men with passionate exhortation and they fought twice as hard; the rebels suffered heavy losses and soon withdrew. Taizu issued a comforting edict and formally appointed him prefect of Xi. Qian was zealous in rooting out bandits and hated evil to excess; sometimes he nailed or dismembered thieves and had his men carve them up. He wrongly executed a man who should not have died; the family petitioned at court; an edict sent the case to Kaifeng prefectural prison. Chen Guan was then prefect, had long been at odds with Qian, impeached him deeply, and wished to summon him to answer the suit; Taizu found the matter forgivable and only removed him from office. Once Qian attended court as a petitioner and loudly reviled Chen Guan, telling Wang Jun, "When the Chancellor holds power, those he consults should be men of virtue. Men like Chen Guan have no family conduct befitting a scholar and act capriciously in office; if they knew his true character, even butchers and peddlers would scorn his company—how much more should you! Jun had no way to silence him. Before long he fell ill, asked leave, returned to Wen, and died.
11
· 使使 宿使 宿使 使 忿
Zhao Feng came from Zaoqiang in Ji Prefecture; as a boy he studied and passed the child-candidate examination. Grown, he was a fierce bully of great strength who lived by killing and plunder; officials could not restrain him. When An Chongrong held Changshan he recruited fugitives; Feng enlisted; soon he broke the law and deserved death, broke his fetters, leaped the prison wall, and escaped. During Tianfu, Zhao Yanshou guided the Khitan; year after year they raised Shen and Ji; Feng went to join him. (From the 《Song History·Biography of Jing Hanru》: Hanru in youth was a wastrel; with Zhao Feng and Zhang Nian he formed a band of robbers; in Jin Tianfu they went together to Fanyang, presented themselves to Prince Yan Zhao Yanshou, and gained command of troops.)〉 The Khitan ruler had long heard of his fierceness and appointed him commander of the Feathered Forest Army; he rose to commander of the Feathered Forest Guard, often led troops on the frontier, and the people of Bei and Ji suffered him daily. Late in Jin the Khitan entered Luoyang; Feng followed to the Eastern Capital and was made defense commissioner of Su. When the Han founder acceded, Feng was relieved and returned to court; soon he was made march commander of Heyang. In Qianyou year one he entered service as Dragon Martial General. When his father's mourning ended he was recalled and appointed Grand General of the Right Thousand-Ox Guard. Late in Han, when turmoil broke out in the capital, on the night troops gathered no house escaped looting—only Feng's lane the soldiers did not dare touch; all admired his bold courage. Early in Guangshun he was made inspector of Song, Bo, and Su. Feng came from the wilds and knew how bandits hid; he lured bandit chiefs into his service, treated them well, and whenever drums sounded for a raid none escaped—people called him capable, yet many common families were ruined by his catching bandits. Feng was skilled at courting favor; whenever envoys passed he lavished gifts until he was poor, winning praise that masked his crimes. Taizu heard of his ability and made him prefect of Shan; in office he grew fiercer, crueler, and more lawless in punishments. He seized others' wives and daughters, and under the name of tribute for the southern suburban rite he extorted the people until they sued. In the twelfth month of Guangshun year three an edict stripped Feng of all offices and ranks; soon he was ordered to take his own life.
12
西 使
Qi Cangzhen in youth held inner-court posts and rose through the guard generalships. He repeatedly supervised troops abroad and was called capable, yet he was treacherous, cruel, and glib, and all feared his sharp tongue. During Guangshun he patrolled the Yellow River dikes on the Hua border; through negligence the river broke through; he was dismissed and exiled to Shamen Island. When Shizong sat in the western class he and Cangzhen were colleagues; Shizong often heard him discuss affairs and judge the times as though there were something worth taking. When he acceded he was recalled from exile. In the Qin-Feng campaign he was ordered to supervise a detached column. When the Huai campaign began he was again entrusted to supervise; with army commander He Chao he led troops to take Guang Prefecture. Cangzhen concealed much government property; Chao objected; Cangzhen said, "Shamen Island already has several rooms—it would not hurt to go again. Such was his contempt for the law. After Shizong broke the Zijin Mountain camp and pursued the Wu enemy to Shiwokou, he spoke with Cangzhen about the victory. He replied, "Your Majesty's martial achievement is unmatched in recent times, yet your civil virtue has not yet shone. Shizong nodded and asked about Yangzhou; he replied, "Yangzhou's land is truly low and damp; food there is mostly rank and rotten. Last year when I was there, someone presented eel; in the dish they writhed like serpents—if storks and magpies had sense they would not eat it, how much less men!" His memorials were mostly of this kind; hearers were all struck with dread. One day he memorialized again, "Jing Jingsi has already been made prefect, yet I have not yet received Your Majesty's grace. Shizong assented; Hao and Liang had not yet fallen, and he was at once made acting prefect on the Hao campaign. When Zhang Yongde and Li Chongjin fell out, Cangzhen once urged Chongjin; when the Shouyang army returned, some generals memorialized what Cangzhen had said. Shizong was angry and urgently summoned him to court. In the summer of year four, for falsely claiming an acting official title, his case was investigated and he was put to death—so as not to expose his wicked deeds openly.
13
西 西使
Wang Huan was originally from Zhending. In Tang Tiancheng year one Meng Zhixiang governed Western Chuan; Huan served him; when Zhixiang declared a state Huan rose through guard commands; when Meng Chang succeeded, Huan held both left and right guards. In the autumn of Xiande year two the imperial army marched west; Huan was then military governor of Feng. At first a detached column reached his walls and was defeated by Huan; deputy commander Hu Li was captured. That winter the main army gathered and pressed the city; Shu relief armies were beaten in succession and fled. When Huan heard this his defense grew firmer; the imperial army attacked for months before the city fell. When the city fell Huan was taken. At court Shizong, because he had been loyal to his master, pardoned him and appointed him Grand General of the Ruoxiao Guard. In the winter of year four Shizong marched south; Huan followed to Si, fell ill, and died.
14
使使 使 使 使
Zhang Yanchao was originally of the Shatuo tribe. He had long suffered Xi Ke's affliction and was known as "the Lame One." At first, for mounted archery he served Zhuangzong of Tang as commander of the Horse Guard Army; when Zhuangzong entered Bian he was made commander of the Divine Martial Army. Mingzong once took him as a foster son. During Tiancheng he was promoted to prefect of Yu. He had long been at odds with Gaozu of Jin; when Gaozu commanded at Taiyuan he surrendered his city to the Khitan, who made him military governor of Yun. When the Khitan marched south, Yanchao led his troops and became a serious scourge to Zhen and Wei. When the Khitan entered Bian he was made company commander of the palace guard horse army and soon military governor of Jinchang. When Gaozu of Han entered Luoyang, Yanchao sent an urgent memorial pledging loyalty and was transferred to military governor of Baoda. In Qianyou year one he was ordered back to court and held only the status of court petitioner. When Taizu came from Ye to quell the internal crisis, the Hidden Emperor ordered Yanchao to command the cavalry against him; at the rout at Liuzi Slope, Yanchao was first to pay court to Taizu. During Guangshun he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Divine Martial Army. In the winter of Xiande year three he died of illness at home. By edict he was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent.
15
調 滿 使
Zhang Ying came from Taiyuan; he was son-in-law to Commissioner of the Imperial Son-in-Law's Household Yongde (《Song History》 biographies: Yongde came from Yangqu in Bing Prefecture. His family had been wealthy for generations; his great-grandfather Pi was high-spirited and principled. When Wuhuang of Later Tang governed Taiyuan and urgently needed funds, he often picked sons of rich families to manage the treasury; if supplies ran short they were executed and their assets seized. Pi held the post a full year and the prefectural treasury had a surplus. A clansman Zheng was next in line; he led the clan in weeping and bowing, begging Pi to relieve their distress, and Pi again took charge for a year—the countryside admired his righteousness.)〉 who was his father. He served in turn as a company commander in frontier prefectures and rose through inner service to the guard generalships. At the founding of the dynasty, through marriage kinship, he rose from march commander of Hua to prefect of Ying and Huai, then defense commissioner of An. Ying was harsh, impatient, stern, and unforgiving of the smallest fault; even his trusted attendants resented him. His subordinate Cao Cheng had a virgin daughter; Ying forced her into marriage; Cheng then joined several unruly men to kill Ying; in the dead of night they entered the bedroom with blades, seized Ying and killed him, then fled to Jinling. When Shizong campaigned against Huainan, for Yongde's sake he sent word to Li Jing of Jiangnan to deliver Cheng and the others to headquarters. When they arrived Shizong gave Cheng and the others to Yongde to satisfy his heart by executing them.
16
使 使 使 使 使
Liu Renshan had some mastery of Confucian learning, loved military books, and enjoyed great repute in the marsh country. The Wu ruler knew him and repeatedly promoted him to acting Grand General of the Right Directorate of the Gate Guards; he served in turn as prefect of Huang and Yuan and wherever he went his rule was praised. When Li Jing usurped the false throne he put him in command of the personal army and made him military governor of E. After several years he again entrusted him with military authority and transferred him to military governor of Shou. When the imperial army crossed the Huai, Renshan held firm in defense. When Shizong encamped north of his ramparts, several columns attacked together, filling ditches and breaching walls day and night without cease for months. Shizong came before the city to instruct him, but Renshan only answered with humble apologies. When the imperial carriage returned to the capital he ordered Li Chongjin to hold the siege; Renshan again seized an opening and stormed our southern camp. From then the siege grew tighter and very many inside the city died of hunger. In the winter of year three Huai rebels came to relieve the siege, forming camps at Zijin Mountain in a line along the road for tens of li, nearly reaching the walls of Shou while Chongjin's army could hardly hold; Shizong was troubled and debated campaigning in person again. When the imperial carriage reached Shouchun he ordered the present emperor to lead troops to break the host at Zijin Mountain and capture relief commander Chen Chengzhao to present. When Renshan heard the relief army was defeated he had no plan left and could only wring his wrists and sigh. When Shizong sent a flying edict on the Zijin Mountain victory to instruct him, Renshan was already gravely ill; he suddenly submitted, and the tens of thousands of troops in the city all held their breath and obeyed his command. When he was received at headquarters Shizong treated him very generously, gave him higher gifts, and again ordered him into the city to recover; soon he was appointed military governor of Tianping and concurrently Director of the Secretariat. On the day the appointment was issued he died at home, aged fifty-eight. When Shizong heard he sent envoys to mourn, ordered inner attendants to supervise the funeral, and posthumously enfeoffed him as Prince of Pengcheng. Later his son Chongzan was made prefect of Huai. Renshan was light with wealth and heavy toward scholars; his laws were stern; in the tight siege his son Chongjian violated military law and he at once had him beheaded—therefore with one city's troops he could hold out for years. When he surrendered his subordinates did not dare whisper in private—he had secured his descendants, and there was reason in that.
17
Chongzan served Zhou and successively governed prefectures. His youngest son Chongliang later returned from Jiangnan to the court and also rose to a secretariat post.
← Previous Chapter
Back to Chapters
Next Chapter →