1
劉皞，字克明，晉丞相譙國公句之弟也。 句，《晉書》有傳。 皞少離鄉里，唐天祐中，梁將劉鄩襲太原，軍至樂平，時皞客於縣舍，為鄩軍所俘。 謝彥章見之，知其儒者，待之以禮，謂其鄉人劉去非曰：「為君得一宗人。」 即令皞見之，去非詢其爵裏，乃親族也，對泣久之，自是隨去非客於彥章門下。 彥章得罪，去非為郢州刺史，皞隨之郡。 莊宗平河洛，去非以嘗從劉守奇歸梁，深懼獲罪，乃棄郡投高季興於荊南，皞累為荊州攝官。 既而兄句明宗朝為學士，遣人召歸。 梁漢颙鎮鄧州，辟為從事，入為監察御史，歷水部員外郎、史館修撰。 長興末，宰臣趙鳳鎮邢臺，表為節度判官。 清泰初，入為起居郎，改駕部員外郎，兼侍御史知雜事，移河南少尹、兵部郎中，轉太府卿。 漢祖受命，用為宗正卿。 周初，改衛尉卿。
Liu Hao, whose courtesy name was Keming, was the younger brother of Liu Gou, Duke of Qiao and chancellor of Jin. Gou has a biography in the 《Book of Jin》. Hao had left his hometown while still young. During the Tianyou reign of Tang, the Liang general Liu Zhen attacked Taiyuan; when his army reached Leping, Hao was staying at the county inn and was taken prisoner by Zhen's forces. When Xie Yanzhang saw him, he recognized a man of learning and treated him courteously. He told his fellow townsman Liu Qufei, "I have found a kinsman for you. He then had Hao brought to meet him. Qufei inquired into his title and home district and found they were relatives; the two wept together for a long while. Thereafter Hao followed Qufei as a client in Yanzhang's entourage. After Yanzhang fell from grace, Qufei was appointed prefect of Yingzhou, and Hao went with him to the prefecture. When Emperor Zhuangzong pacified the central plains, Qufei—who had once followed Liu Shouqi in defecting to Liang—feared severe punishment. He abandoned his post and threw in his lot with Gao Jixing in southern Jing; Hao served repeatedly as acting official in Jingzhou. Later his elder brother Gou became a Hanlin academician under Emperor Mingzong and sent for him to return. Liang Hanyong, military governor of Dengzhou, took him on as an aide. He then entered the capital as investigating censor and went on to serve as vice director of the Water Ministry and compiler in the Historiography Institute. Near the end of the Changxing era, Chief Minister Zhao Feng was posted to Xingtai and recommended him as adjutant to the military commissioner. Early in the Qingtai era he entered court as recorder of imperial activity, then became vice director of the Transport Ministry while also serving as attendant censor in charge of miscellaneous business. He was later posted as vice director of Henan, director of the War Ministry, and finally minister of the Grand Treasury. When the founder of Later Han took the throne, he was appointed director of the Imperial Clan Court. Early in the Zhou dynasty he was made minister of the Palace Guard.
2
廣順元年冬十月，稅居於東京，夜夢鬼詫之曰：「公於我冢上安床，深不奉益。」 皞問鬼姓氏，曰李丕文。 皞曰：「君言殊誤，都城內豈可冢耶？」 曰：「冢本在野，張十八郎展城時圍入。」 忽寤。 又半月，復夢前鬼曰：「公不相信，屈觀吾舍可乎？」 即以手掊地，豁然見華第，花木叢萃，房廊雕煥，立皞於西廡。 久之，見一團火如電，前來漸近，即前鬼也。 引皞深入，出其孥，泣拜如有所托。 皞問丕文鬼事，曰：「冥司各有部屬，外不知也。」 皞曰：「余官何至？」 再三不對，苦訊之，曰：「齊王判官。」 皞曰：「張令公為齊王，去世久矣。 今鄆州高令公為齊王，余方為列卿，豈復為賓佐乎？」 鬼曰：「不知也。」 皞既寤，欲掘而視之。 既而又告人曰：「鬼雖見訴，其如吾稅舍何？」 乃止。 廣順二年春，朝廷以皞為高麗冊使。 三月，至鄆，節度使高行周以皞嗜酒，留連累日，旦夕沈醉。 其月二十三日，晨興櫛發，狀如醉寐，男泳視之，已卒矣。 〈（《太平廣記》云：銜命使吳越，路由鄆州，卒於郵亭。）〉 時年六十一。 其年八月，鄆帥齊王高行周亦夢鬼請齊王判官，得無是乎！ 皞從儒學，好聚書，嗜酒無儀檢，然衷抱無他，急於行義，士友以此多之。
In the tenth month of winter in the first year of Guangshun, while renting a house in the Eastern Capital, he dreamed that a ghost rebuked him: "You have set your bed on my grave—this does me no good whatsoever. Hao asked the ghost's surname; it answered, Li Piwen. Hao said, "You are quite mistaken—how could there be a grave inside the capital? It replied, "The grave was originally in the countryside; when Zhang the Eighteenth expanded the city walls, it was taken inside." He woke with a start. Half a month later he dreamed again of the same ghost, who said, "Since you do not believe me, would you do me the honor of visiting my home? It struck the ground with its hand, and at once a splendid mansion appeared—flowers and trees massed together, corridors and halls carved and bright—and it placed Hao in the west wing. After a long while he saw a ball of fire, swift as lightning, drawing nearer—it was the same ghost as before. It led Hao farther inside, brought out its wife and children, and wept and bowed as if placing someone in their care. Hao asked Piwen about the affairs of the netherworld. He replied, "Each office of the underworld has its own staff; outsiders cannot know them. Hao asked, "What office will I reach?" It refused to answer despite repeated questioning; only when pressed hard did it say, "Adjutant to the Prince of Qi." Hao said, "Lord Zhang was Prince of Qi, and he has been dead for many years. Now Lord Gao of Yanzhou is Prince of Qi, and I am already a chief minister of a department—how could I become someone's staff officer again? The ghost said, "I do not know." When Hao woke, he wanted to dig and see for himself. But then he told someone, "The ghost may have complained, but what can I do about the house I am renting? So he let the matter drop. In the spring of the second year of Guangshun, the court appointed Hao envoy to invest the king of Goryeo. In the third month he reached Yan. Military Governor Gao Xingzhou, knowing Hao's love of drink, kept him for many days, and from morning to night he was deep in his cups. On the twenty-third of that month, as he rose in the morning to comb his hair, he appeared drunk and drowsy; his son Yong looked in on him and found he was already dead. (According to the 《Extensive Records of the Taiping Era》: While bearing imperial orders to Wu and Yue, he passed through Yanzhou on the route and died at a courier station.)〉 He was sixty-one years old at the time. In the eighth month of that year, Gao Xingzhou, Prince of Qi and governor of Yan, likewise dreamed that a ghost was seeking an adjutant to the Prince of Qi—surely this was no coincidence! Hao had pursued Confucian studies, loved to collect books, and was devoted to wine and lax in propriety; yet he harbored no ulterior motives and was quick to act on principle, which is why men of learning esteemed him.
3
張沆，字太元，徐州人。 父嚴，本州牙將。 沆少力學，攻詞賦，登進士第。 唐明宗子秦王好文，然童年疏率，動不由禮。 每賓僚大集，手自出題，令面前賦詩，少不如意，則壞裂抵棄。 沆初以刺謁，秦王屬合座客各為《南湖廳記》，因謂沆曰：「聞生名久矣，請為此文。」 沆不獲已，從之。 及群士記成，獨取沆所為勒之於石，繇是署為河南府巡官。 秦王敗，勒歸鄉里。 晉初，桑維翰秉政，沆以文幹進，用為著作佐郎、集賢校理，遷右拾遺。 維翰出鎮，奏為記室。 從維翰入朝，授殿中侍御史。 歲餘，自侍御史改祠部員外郎知制誥，召入翰林為學士。 維翰罷相，馮玉用事，不欲沆居禁密，改右諫議大夫，罷其職。 漢祖至汴，轉右常侍，復用為學士，未幾，遷工部尚書充職。 明年，以營奉葬事求解職，改禮部尚書。 及歸朝，復為學士。 太祖以沆耳疾罷職，改刑部尚書。 廣順二年秋，命為故齊王高行周冊贈使，復命而卒。 贈太子少保。
Zhang Hang, whose courtesy name was Taiyuan, came from Xuzhou. His father Yan was a military adjutant in the prefecture. In his youth Hang studied diligently, excelled in rhapsodies and fu, and passed the jinshi examination. The Prince of Qin, a son of Emperor Mingzong of Tang, loved literature, but as a youth he was careless and impulsive and seldom observed propriety. Whenever he gathered his guests and staff in large numbers, he would set topics himself and demand impromptu poems; if a composition fell even slightly short, he would tear it up and throw it away. When Hang first presented his visiting card, the Prince of Qin asked every guest present to compose a 《Record of the South Lake Hall》, and said to Hang, "I have heard your name for a long time—please write this essay. Hang, unable to decline, complied. When the scholars had all finished, he chose only Hang's piece to be carved in stone; Hang was then appointed touring official of the Henan prefectural government. After the Prince of Qin's downfall, Hang was forced to return home. Early in Jin, when Sang Weihan held power, Hang rose on his literary ability and was appointed assistant compiler and collator in the Hall of Assembled Worthies, then promoted to right remembrancer. When Weihan took up a provincial command, he recommended Hang as recorder on his staff. When Weihan returned to court, Hang was appointed palace attendant censor. After a little more than a year he moved from attendant censor to vice director of the Rites Ministry with responsibility for drafting edicts, and was summoned into the Hanlin Academy as an academician. After Weihan left the chief ministership, Feng Yu took power and did not want Hang in the inner secretariat; Hang was made right admonishing grandee and relieved of his Hanlin post. When the founder of Later Han reached Bian, Hang became right attendant at court and was again made a Hanlin academician; soon afterward he was promoted to minister of Works while keeping the academician post. The following year he asked to be relieved of duty in order to oversee funeral arrangements and was made minister of Rites. When he returned to court, he was again made a Hanlin academician. Because of Hang's ear ailment, Emperor Taizu relieved him of the Hanlin post and appointed him minister of Justice. In the autumn of the second year of Guangshun he was appointed envoy to confer posthumous honors on the late Prince of Qi, Gao Xingzhou; he died upon returning from the mission. He was posthumously granted the title Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent.
4
沆性儒雅，好釋氏，雖久居祿位，家無餘財，死之日，圖書之外，唯使鄆之資耳。 嗣子尚幼，親友慮其耗散，上言於太祖，乃令三司差人主葬，余資市邸舍，以贍其孤焉。 沆記覽文史，好征求僻事，公家應用，時出一聯以炫奇筆，故不為馮玉所重。 雖有聵疾，猶出入金門，凡五六年。 漢隱帝末年，楊、史遇害，翌日，沆方知之，聽猶未審，忽問同僚曰：「竊聞盜殺史公，其盜獲否？」 是時京師恟懼之次，聞者笑之。 有士人申光遜者，與沆友善，沆未病時，夢沆手出小佛塔示光遜，視其上有詩十四字云：「今生不見故人面，明月高高上翠樓。」 光遜既寤，心惡之，俄聞沆卒。
Hang was refined and scholarly and fond of Buddhism. Though he had long held office, his household had no surplus wealth; when he died, aside from his books, he possessed only the travel funds for his mission to Yan. His heir was still a child; relatives and friends, fearing the estate would be squandered, appealed to Emperor Taizu, who ordered the Three Departments to arrange the funeral; the remaining funds were used to buy a shop-house to support the orphan. Hang was widely read in literature and history and delighted in obscure lore; in official documents he would sometimes insert a striking couplet to show off his wit, which is why Feng Yu did not esteem him. Despite his deafness, he continued to attend court at the Golden Gate for five or six years. In the last years of Emperor Yindi of Han, Yang and Shi were murdered; Hang learned of it only the next day. His hearing was still poor, and he suddenly asked a colleague, "I hear bandits killed Lord Shi—have the bandits been caught? At a time when the capital was gripped by panic, those who heard him laughed. A scholar named Shen Guangxun was friendly with Hang. Before Hang fell ill, Guangxun dreamed that Hang held out a small Buddhist pagoda for him to see; on it was a fourteen-character poem: "In this life I shall not see an old friend's face; the bright moon climbs high above the green tower. When Guangxun woke, he was troubled by the dream; before long he heard that Hang had died.
5
張可復，字伯恭，德州平原人也。 父達，累贈戶部侍郎。 可復略通儒術，少習吏事。 梁末，薄遊於魏，鄴王羅紹威表為安陽簿。 唐天成初，依晉公霍彥威於青州，為從事。 晉公以其滑稽好避事，目為「奸兔兒」。 長興中入朝，拜監察御史，六遷至兵部郎中，賜金紫。 晉天福中，自西京留守判官入為秘書少監，改左司郎中。 開運中，遷左諫議大夫。 漢乾祐初，湘陰公鎮徐方，朝行中選可以從戎者，因授武寧軍節度副使、檢校禮部尚書。 及世宗鎮澶淵，改鎮寧軍節度行軍司馬。 三年，征拜給事中。 世宗嗣位，以澶淵幕府之舊，拜右散騎常侍。 顯德元年秋，以疾卒，年七十有三。 制贈戶部尚書。 可復無他才，惟以謹願保長年，加之迂懦，多為同列輕俊者所侮，而累階至金紫，居三品之秩，亦其命耶！
Zhang Kefu, whose courtesy name was Bogong, came from Pingyuan in Dezhou. His father Da was repeatedly granted posthumous promotion to vice minister of the Household Ministry. Kefu had a modest grounding in Confucian learning and trained in clerical work from youth. Late in Liang he traveled in Wei; the Prince of Ye, Luo Shaowei, recommended him as recorder of Anyang. Early in the Tiancheng era of Tang he joined Duke Jin Huo Yanwei in Qingzhou as an aide. The duke, finding him witty and prone to dodge responsibility, nicknamed him "the crafty little rabbit." During the Changxing era he entered court as investigating censor; after six promotions he became director of the War Ministry and was awarded the gold-and-purple insignia. During the Tianfu era of Jin he moved from adjutant to the western capital's military governor to vice director of the Secretariat in the capital, then became director of the left bureau. During the Kaiyun era he was promoted to left admonishing grandee. Early in the Qianyou era of Han, when the Duke of Xiangyin governed Xuzhou, the court selected an official fit for military service and appointed Kefu vice military commissioner of Wuning and acting minister of Rites. When the future Emperor Shizong was posted to Chanzhou, Kefu became campaigning marshal of the Zhenning circuit. In the third year he was summoned to court as attendant gentleman. When Shizong took the throne, in recognition of their earlier service together at Chanzhou he was made right regular attendant at court. In the autumn of the first year of Xiande he died of illness at the age of seventy-three. An edict posthumously granted him the title minister of the Household Ministry. Kefu had no special talent; he relied only on cautious docility to prolong his years, and being besides pedantic and timid, he was often mocked by cleverer colleagues—yet he climbed step by step to gold-and-purple and third-rank office: was this not simply his destiny!
6
於德辰，字進明，元城人也。 幼敏悟，篤誌好學，及射策文場，數上不調。 後唐明宗鎮邢州，德辰往謁焉，明宗見而器之，因得假官於屬邑。 後繼歷州縣，歷仕晉、漢、周，官至工部尚書。
Yu Dechen, whose courtesy name was Jinming, came from Yuancheng. As a boy he was bright and quick, devoted to study; yet when he took the civil examinations he failed again and again. When Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang was posted to Xingzhou, Dechen went to see him; Mingzong took a liking to him and secured him a provisional post in a county under the prefecture. He later served in successive county and prefectural posts, held office under Jin, Han, and Zhou, and rose to minister of Works.
7
王延，字世美，鄚州長豐人也。 少為儒，善詞賦，會鄉曲離亂，不獲從鄉薦，因客於浮陽，隨滄帥戴思遠入梁。 嘗以所為賦謁梁相李琪，琪覽之，欣然曰：「此道近難其人，王生升我堂矣。」 繇是人士稱之。 尋薦為即墨縣令，歷徐、宋、鄆、青四鎮從事。 長興初，鄉人馮道、趙鳳在相位，擢拜左補闕。 逾年，以水部員外知制誥遷中書舍人，賜金紫。 清泰末，以本官權知貢舉。 時有舉子崔頎者，故相協之子也。 協素與吏部尚書盧文紀不睦，及延將入貢院，文紀謂延曰：「舍人以謹重聞於時，所以去冬老夫在相位時，與諸相首以長者聞奏，用掌文衡。 然貢闈取士，頗多面目。 說者云：『越人善泅，生子方晬，乳母浮之水上。 或駭然止之，乳母曰，其父善泅，子必無溺。』 今若以名下取士，即此類也。 舍人當求實才，以副公望。」 延退而謂人曰：「盧公之言，蓋為崔頎也。 縱與其父不悅，致意何至此耶！」 來春，以頎登甲科。 其年，改御史中丞，歲滿，轉尚書右丞。 奉使兩浙，吳人深重之。 復命，授吏部侍郎，改尚書左丞，拜太常卿，歷工、禮、刑三尚書。 以疾求分司西洛，授太子少保。 既而連月請告，為留臺所糾，改少傅致仕。 廣順二年冬卒，時年七十有三。
Wang Yan, whose courtesy name was Shimei, came from Changfeng in Mozhou. In youth he studied the classics and excelled in rhapsodies and fu; when his home region fell into chaos he could not obtain a local recommendation, so he lodged in Fuyang and followed the Cangzhou governor Dai Siyuan into Liang service. He once presented a fu he had written to Liang Chancellor Li Qi, who read it and said with delight, "This art has lately lacked a true master—Mr. Wang has raised himself to my level. From that time men of letters spoke highly of him. He was soon recommended as magistrate of Jimo and went on to serve as aide in the Xu, Song, Yan, and Qing circuits. Early in the Changxing era his fellow townsman Feng Dao and Zhao Feng were chief ministers; he was promoted to left supplementer. A year later he moved from vice director of the Water Ministry with responsibility for drafting edicts to secretariat drafter and received the gold-and-purple insignia. Near the end of the Qingtai era he was appointed in his existing post to oversee the civil examinations. Among the candidates was Cui Hao, son of the former chancellor Xie. Xie had long been at odds with Minister of Personnel Lu Wenji. As Yan was about to enter the examination hall, Wenji told him, "You are known for your caution and gravity; that is why last winter, when I was chief minister, I was the first among the ministers to recommend a man of mature reputation to oversee the examinations. Yet in selecting candidates for the examinations, personal connections often play a large part. As the saying goes: "The people of Yue are skilled swimmers; when a child is barely a month old, the wet nurse floats him on the water." Someone alarmed tries to stop her; the wet nurse says, "His father is a skilled swimmer—the child will surely not drown." If you choose candidates today by family name and reputation alone, it is exactly this sort of thing. You, as Drafter, should seek genuine talent to live up to the reputation you enjoy. Yan withdrew and told others, "Master Lu's remarks were surely directed at Cui Hao. Even if he bore ill will toward the boy's father, why make his meaning so plain! The next spring, Cui Hao placed in the highest tier of the examinations. That same year he was appointed Vice Censor-in-Chief, and when his term ended he was transferred to Vice Director of the Right in the Ministry of State. While serving as envoy to the Two Zhes, he won the deep respect of the people of Wu. After reporting back, he was appointed Vice Minister of Personnel, then Vice Director of the Left in the Ministry of State, then Minister of Imperial Sacrifices, and went on to hold the ministries of Works, Rites, and Punishments in succession. He pleaded illness and asked for a post in the Luoyang branch office in the west, and was appointed Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent. Before long he took medical leave month after month, was censured by the Luoyang branch office, and was reassigned as Junior Preceptor before retiring from office. He died in the winter of the second year of Guangshun, at the age of seventy-three.
8
子億，仕皇朝為殿中丞。
His son Yi served the present dynasty as a Director in the Palace Bureau.
9
申文炳，字國華，洛陽人也。 父鄂，唐左千牛衛將軍。 文炳長興中進士擢第，釋褐中正軍節度推官，歷孟、懷支使，鄆城、陜縣二邑宰，自澶州觀察判官入為右補闕。 晉開運初，授虞部員外知制誥，轉金部郎中充職。 廣順中，為學士，遷中書舍人、知貢舉。 〈（《玉壺清話》：李慶，顯德中舉進士，工詩，有云：「醉輕浮世事，老重故鄉人。」 樞密王樸以此一聯薦於申文炳。 文炳知貢舉，遂為第三人。）〉 顯德五年秋，以疾解職，授左散騎常侍。 六年秋，卒於家，時年五十。 文炳為文典雅，有訓誥之風。 執性紓緩，待搢紳以禮，中年而卒，皆惜之。
Shen Wenbing, whose courtesy name was Guohua, was a native of Luoyang. His father E had been Left General of the Thousand-Ox Guard under the Tang. Wenbing passed the jinshi examination in the Changxing era and began his career as administrative aide to the military governor of Zhongzheng Army. He later served as branch commissioner in Meng and Huai, as magistrate of Yuncheng and Shaan County, and entered court from his post as administrative aide to the Cizhou governor, becoming Right Remonstrance Officer. At the start of the Kaiyun era of Jin he was appointed Vice Director in the Ministry of Works with concurrent duty drafting edicts, then transferred to Director in the Ministry of Revenue in the same capacity. During the Guangshun era he became an Academician, then was promoted to Drafter in the Secretariat and put in charge of the civil examinations. (From 《Jade Pot Pure Talk》: Li Qing passed the jinshi examination in the Xiande era and was skilled at poetry. One of his lines runs, "Drunk, I lightly float past worldly affairs; in old age I deeply cherish the people of my homeland. Wang Pu, Commissioner of Military Affairs, recommended this couplet to Shen Wenbing. When Wenbing oversaw the examinations, he placed Li third overall.)〉 In the autumn of the fifth year of Xiande he resigned because of illness and was appointed Left Regular Attendant. In the autumn of the sixth year he died at home, at the age of fifty. Wenbing wrote in an elegant style with the dignified tone of imperial edicts and admonitions. He was gentle and unhurried by nature and treated the gentry with courtesy. He died in midlife, and all who knew him mourned the loss.
10
扈載，少好學，善屬文，賦頌碑贊尤其所長。 廣順初，隨計於禮部，文價為一時之最，是歲升高等。 載因遊相國寺，見庭竹可愛，作《碧鮮賦》題其壁。 世宗聞之，遣小黃門就壁錄之，覽而稱善，因拜水部員外郎知制誥，遷翰林學士，賜緋。 〈（《宋史·李蒨傳》：扈載以文章馳名，樞密使王樸薦令知制誥，除書未下，樸詣中書言之，蒨曰：「斯人命薄，慮不克享耳。」 樸曰：「公在衡石之地，當以材進人，何得言命而遺才。」 載遂知制誥、遷翰林學士，未幾卒。 世謂樸能薦士，蒨能知人。）〉 而載已病，不能謝，居百餘日，乃力疾入直學士院。 世宗憐之，賜誥還第，遣太醫視疾。 年三十有六卒。 載始自解褐至終才四年，而與劉袞皆有才無命，時論惜之。
Hu Zai loved learning from youth and was skilled at literary composition, especially rhapsodies, eulogies, stele inscriptions, and encomia. At the start of Guangshun he traveled to the Ministry of Rites for the examinations. His literary reputation was the finest of the day, and that year he placed in the highest tier. While visiting Xiangguo Temple, Zai saw the courtyard bamboo and was charmed by it, so he wrote 《Rhapsody on Emerald Freshness》 on the temple wall. When Shizong heard of it, he sent a palace attendant to copy the text from the wall. After reading it and praising it, he appointed Zai Vice Director in the Ministry of Works with duty drafting edicts, promoted him to Hanlin Academician, and granted him the scarlet robe. (From 《History of Song · Biography of Li Qian》: Hu Zai was renowned for his writing. Military Affairs Commissioner Wang Pu recommended him to draft edicts. Before the appointment decree was issued, Pu went to the Secretariat to discuss the matter, and Qian said, "This man's fate is thin—I fear he will not live long enough to enjoy the appointment. Pu replied, "You stand where the scales of office are held; you should advance men for their talent. How can you speak of fate and leave talent unused?" Zai was then appointed to draft edicts and promoted to Hanlin Academician, but before long he died. People of the time said that Pu knew how to recommend talent and Qian knew how to read men.)〉 By then Zai was already ill and could not go to offer thanks. After more than a hundred days at home, he forced himself, despite his illness, to report for duty at the Hanlin Academy. Shizong took pity on him, granted him the appointment decree and sent him home, and dispatched the imperial physician to attend him. He died at the age of thirty-six. From the time Zai first took office until his death was only four years. Both he and Liu Gun were men of talent cut short by fate, and public opinion mourned the loss.
11
劉袞，彭城人。 神爽氣俊，富有文藻，繇進士第任左拾遺，與扈載齊名，年二十八而卒。
Liu Gun was a native of Pengcheng. Bright of spirit and lofty in bearing, he was richly gifted in letters. After passing the jinshi examination he was appointed Left Reminder, won fame equal to Hu Zai's, and died at the age of twenty-eight.
12
賈緯，真定獲鹿人也。 〈（宋祁《景文集·賈令君墓誌銘》：賈氏自唐司空魏國公耽，世貫滄州南皮，子孫稍稍徙真定。 五世祖諒，高祖瑾。 曾祖處士諱初，有至性，疾世方亂，守鄉里，不肯事四方。 祖諱緯。）〉 少苦學為文，唐末舉進士不第，遇亂歸河朔，本府累署參軍、邑宰。 唐天成中，範延光鎮定州，表授趙州軍事判官，遷石邑縣令。 緯屬文之外，勤於撰述，以唐代諸帝實錄，自武宗已下闕而不紀，乃采掇近代傳聞之事，及諸家小說，第其年月，編為《唐年補錄》，凡六十五卷，識者賞之。 〈（《景文集》：緯博學善詞章，論議明銳，一時諸儒皆屈。 唐自武宗後，史錄亡散，君掇拾殘余，為《唐年補錄》數十萬言，敘成敗事甚悉，書顯於時。）〉
Jia Wei was a native of Huolu in Zhending. (From Song Qi's 《Collected Works of Jing · Epitaph for Lord Jia》: The Jia clan traced its line to Tang Minister of Works and Duke of Wei Dan, who had long been established in Nanpi in Cangzhou; the descendants gradually moved to Zhending. His fifth-generation ancestor was Liang, and his great-grandfather was Jin. His great-grandfather, the retired gentleman whose taboo name was Chu, was a man of deep sincerity. Distressed by the disorder of the age, he remained in his home district and refused to serve elsewhere. His grandfather's taboo name was Wei.)〉 In youth he studied writing with great effort. At the end of the Tang he failed the jinshi examination, and when chaos broke out he returned to the north of the Yellow River, where the local prefecture repeatedly appointed him as aide and district magistrate. During the Tiancheng era of Tang, when Fan Yanguang governed Dingzhou, he recommended Wei for appointment as military administrative aide of Zhao Prefecture, and Wei was later promoted to magistrate of Shiyi County. Besides literary composition, Wei was diligent in historical writing. Because the Veritable Records of the Tang emperors from Emperor Wuzong onward were missing, he collected recent hearsay and materials from various minor histories, arranged them chronologically, and compiled 《Supplement to the Annals of Tang》 in sixty-five volumes, which discerning readers praised. (From 《Collected Works of Jing》: Wei was broadly learned and skilled in letters; his arguments were sharp and clear, and the scholars of the day all yielded to him. After Emperor Wuzong of Tang, historical records were lost and scattered. Wei gathered the surviving fragments and produced 《Supplement to the Annals of Tang》 in several hundred thousand characters, narrating successes and failures in great detail, and the book won renown in its time.)〉
13
晉天福中，入為監察御史，改太常博士。 緯常以史才自負，銳於編述，不樂曲臺之任，乃陳情於相座。 又與監修國史趙瑩詩曰：「滿朝唯我相，秉柄無親讎，三年司大董，最切是編修，史才不易得，勤勤處處求。 愚從年始立，東觀思優遊，昔時人未許，今來虛白頭，春臺與秋閣，往往興歸愁，信運北闕下，不系如虛舟。 綿蕝非所好，一日疑三秋，何當適所願，便如升瀛洲。」 未幾，轉屯田員外郎，改起居郎、史館修撰。 又謂瑩曰：「《唐史》一百三十卷，止於代宗，已下十餘朝未有正史，請與同職修之。」 瑩以其言上奏，晉祖然之，謂李崧曰：「賈緯欲修《唐史》，如何？」 對曰：「臣每見史官輩言，唐朝近百年來無實錄，既無根本，安能編紀。」 緯聞崧言，頗怒，面責崧沮己。 崧曰：「與公鄉人，理須相惜，此事非細，安敢輕言。」 緯與宰臣論說不已。 明年春，敕修《唐史》，緯在籍中。 月餘，丁內艱，歸真定。 開運初，服闋，復起居郎，修撰如故，尋以本官知制誥。 緯長於記註，應用文筆，未能過人，而議論剛強，儕類不平之，因目之為「賈鐵嘴」。 開運中，累遷中書舍人。 契丹入京師，隨契丹至真定，後與公卿還朝，授左諫議大夫。 緯以久次綸閣，比望丞郎之拜，及遷諫署，觖望彌甚。 蘇逢吉監修國史，以緯頻投文字，甚知之，尋充史館修撰，判館事。 乾祐中，受詔與王伸、竇儼修漢高祖實錄，緯以筆削為己任，然而褒貶之際，憎愛任情。 晉相桑維翰執政日，薄緯之為人，不甚見禮，緯深銜之。 及敘《維翰傳》：「身沒之後，有白金八千鋌，他物稱是。」 翰林學士徐臺符，緯邑人也，與緯相善，謂緯曰：「切聞吾友書桑魏公白金之數，不亦多乎！ 但以十目所睹，不可厚誣。」 緯不得已，改為白金數千錠。
During the Tianfu era of Jin he entered court as Investigating Censor and was later transferred to Erudite of the Ministry of Imperial Sacrifices. Wei often prided himself on his talent for history and was eager to compile and write. Unhappy with his post at the Ministry of Imperial Sacrifices, he appealed to the chief minister. He also sent a poem to Zhao Ying, who supervised the compilation of the national history, saying, "In the whole court only I am minister; in holding power I have no personal enemy. For three years I have overseen the great commission, and what matters most is compilation. Talent for history is hard to find, and I seek it diligently everywhere. I, slow-witted as I am, have dreamed since coming of age of leisurely work at the Eastern Pavilion. In former days men did not approve me, and now my white head has been wasted. The Spring Office and Autumn Office often stir thoughts of withdrawal in sorrow; truly my fate beneath the northern gate is unmoored, like an empty boat adrift. The sacrificial mat is not what I love; one day feels like three autumns. When may I fulfill my wish and rise as if to ascend to Yingzhou? Before long he was transferred to Vice Director in the Ministry of Public Works, then reassigned as Diarist and compiler in the History Office. He also told Ying, "The 《History of Tang》 in one hundred thirty volumes stops at Emperor Daizong, and for more than ten reigns thereafter there is no standard history. I ask to join my colleagues in compiling one. Ying reported this to the throne. The Jin emperor approved and asked Li Song, "Jia Wei wishes to compile the 《History of Tang》—what do you think?" He replied, "Your subject often hears the historiographers say that for nearly a hundred years of the Tang there are no Veritable Records. Without a foundation, how can one compile a chronicle?" When Wei heard Song's reply he grew angry and rebuked Song to his face for obstructing him. Song said, "I am your fellow townsman, and by rights we ought to look out for one another. This is no small matter—how dare I speak lightly? Wei continued arguing with the chief ministers without letup. The following spring an edict ordered the compilation of the 《History of Tang》, and Wei was listed among the compilers. A little more than a month later he entered mourning for his mother and returned to Zhending. At the start of Kaiyun, when his mourning ended, he resumed his post as Diarist and continued as compiler as before. Soon he was given his existing office with concurrent duty drafting edicts. Wei was skilled at annals, notes, and practical writing, though he did not surpass others in those arts. His arguments, however, were forceful and unyielding, and his peers resented him, so they nicknamed him "Iron Mouth Jia." During the Kaiyun era he was promoted in succession to Drafter in the Secretariat. When the Khitans entered the capital, he followed them to Zhending. Later he returned to court with the high officials and was appointed Left Remonstrance Adviser. Wei had long served in the drafting office and had hoped for appointment as a vice minister or director. When he was transferred instead to the remonstrance office, his disappointment grew all the sharper. Su Fengji supervised the compilation of the national history. Because Wei frequently submitted writings, Su knew him well and soon appointed him compiler in the History Office with charge of its affairs. In the Qianyou era he received an edict to compile the Veritable Records of Emperor Gaozu of Han together with Wang Shen and Dou Yan. Wei took editorial judgment as his personal charge, yet in praise and blame he let personal likes and dislikes rule. While Jin chancellor Sang Weihan held power, he looked down on Wei's character and did not treat him with much courtesy, and Wei deeply resented it. When he came to write Sang Weihan's biography, he recorded, "After his death there were eight thousand ingots of white gold, with other goods in proportion. Hanlin Academician Xu Taifu, a fellow townsman of Wei, was on good terms with him and said, "I have just heard, my friend, that you recorded the amount of white gold belonging to Duke Sang of Wei—is that not rather much! But what many eyes have seen cannot be grossly misrepresented." Wei had no choice and changed the figure to several thousand ingots of white gold.
14
趙延乂，字子英，秦州人。 曾祖省躬，以明術數為通州司馬，遇亂避地於蜀。 祖師古，黔中經略判官。 父溫珪，仕蜀為司天監。 溫珪長於袁、許之術，兼之推步。 王建時，深蒙寵待，延問得失，事微差跌，即被詰讓。 臨終謂其子曰：「技術雖是世業，吾仕蜀已來，幾由技術而死，爾輩能以他途致身，亦良圖也。」 延乂少以家法仕蜀，由蔭為奉禮部翰林待詔。 蜀亡入洛，時年三十。 天成中，得蜀舊職。 延乂世為星官，兼通三式，尤長於袁、許之鑒。 清泰中，嘗與樞密直學士呂琦同宿於內廷，琦因從容密問國家運祚，延乂曰：「來年厄會之期，俟過別論。」 琦訊之不已，延乂曰：「保邦在刑政，保祚在福德。 在刑政則術士不敢言，奈際會諸公，罕有卓絕福德者，下官實有恤緯之僭。」 其年，兼衛尉少卿。 晉天福中，代馬重績為司天監。 契丹入京師，隨至鎮州，時契丹滿達勒為帥，會漢高祖定兩京，控鶴都將李筠與諸校密謀劫庫兵，逐契丹，猶豫未決，謀於延乂，因假以術數贊成之。 契丹既去，還京師，官秩如舊。 廣順初，加檢校司徒，本官如故，太祖數召對焉。 〈（《歐陽史》：周太祖自魏以兵入京師，召延乂問：「漢祚短促者，天數耶？」 延乂言：「王者撫天下，當以仁恩德澤，而漢淫酷，刑法枉濫，天下稱冤，此其所以亡也。」 是時太祖方以兵圍蘇逢吉、劉銖第，欲誅其族，聞延乂言悚然，因貸其族，二家獲全。）〉 延乂善交遊，達機變，兼有技術，見者歡心。 二年，授太府卿，判司天監事。 其年夏初，火犯靈臺，延乂自言星官所忌，又言身命宮災並，未幾其子卒，尋又妻卒，俄而延乂嬰疾，故人省之，舉手曰：「多謝諸親，死災不可逭也。」 尋卒，年五十八。 贈光祿卿。
Zhao Yanyi, whose courtesy name was Ziying, was a native of Qin Prefecture. His great-grandfather Shenggong, skilled in numerology and divination, served as Vice Prefect of Tong Prefecture. When disorder broke out he fled to Shu for refuge. His grandfather Shigu served as administrative aide to the military commissioner of Qianzhong. His father Wengui served Shu as Director of the Astronomy Bureau. Wengui was skilled in the divinatory arts associated with Yuan Tian'gang and Xu Fu, and also in calendrical calculation. Under Wang Jian he enjoyed deep favor. When consulted on success and failure, if anything went even slightly wrong he was immediately rebuked. On his deathbed he told his sons, "Though technical arts are our family profession, since I entered service in Shu I have nearly died because of them. If you can establish yourselves by another path, that would be a wise course. Yanyi entered Shu service in youth through the family profession and, through hereditary privilege, became a Hanlin Awaiting Edict in the Ministry of Ceremonies. When Shu fell he went to Luoyang, at the age of thirty. During the Tiancheng era he recovered his former post from Shu. Yanyi came from generations of astral officials, was also versed in the Three Methods of divination, and was especially skilled in the discernment taught in the Yuan and Xu traditions. During the Qingtai era he once lodged overnight in the inner court with Direct Academician of Military Affairs Lu Qi. Qi then casually asked in private about the dynasty's fortune, and Yanyi replied, "Next year is the term of calamity. Wait until it has passed and we may discuss the matter separately. Qi pressed him without letup, and Yanyi said, "Preserving the state lies in penal administration; preserving the mandate lies in virtue and merit. Where penal administration is concerned, diviners dare not speak plainly. Yet among the lords who meet at court, few possess outstanding virtue and merit, and your humble servant truly oversteps in worrying like a wife anxious for the state." That year he was concurrently appointed Vice Minister of the Guard. During the Tianfu era of Jin he replaced Ma Chongji as Director of the Astronomy Bureau. When the Khitans entered the capital he followed them to Zhen Prefecture, where the Khitan Mandale was commander. When Emperor Gaozu of Han secured the Two Capitals, Li Jun, commander of the Crane-Controlled Army, and several officers secretly plotted to seize weapons from the armory and drive out the Khitans. Hesitating and unable to decide, they consulted Yanyi, who used divination to encourage them. After the Khitans departed he returned to the capital with his rank and office unchanged. At the start of Guangshun he was given the honorary title of Grand Preceptor while retaining his original office, and Taizu repeatedly summoned him for audience. (From 《History of the Five Dynasties by Ouyang》: Emperor Taizu of Zhou entered the capital from Wei at the head of an army and summoned Yanyi to ask, "Was the brevity of the Han mandate ordained by Heaven? Yanyi replied, "A ruler who pacifies the realm should do so through benevolence, grace, and virtue. Yet the Han was licentious and cruel, its penal laws perverse and excessive, and the realm cried out in grievance—that is why it perished." At that time Taizu had troops besieging the residences of Su Fengji and Liu Zhu and intended to execute their entire clans. When he heard what Yanyi said he was startled, spared both clans, and the two families were saved.)〉 Yanyi was skilled at making friends, quick to grasp shifting circumstances, and also possessed technical arts; everyone who met him took an immediate liking to him. In the second year he was appointed Minister of the Grand Treasury and put in charge of the Astronomy Bureau. At the beginning of that summer, Mars trespassed against the Observatory. Yanyi said this was an omen star officials dread, and that calamity was converging on his life palace. Before long his son died, then his wife, and soon Yanyi himself fell gravely ill. When old friends came to visit, he raised his hand and said, "My thanks to you all—the death I foresaw cannot be avoided." He died soon after, at the age of fifty-eight. He was posthumously granted the title Minister of Splendid Happiness.
15
沈遘，字期遠，睢陽人也。 父振，貝州永濟令，累贈左諫議大夫。 遘幼孤，以苦學為誌，弱冠登進士第，釋褐除校書郎，由御史臺主簿拜監察御史，凡五遷至金部郎中，充三司判官。 廣順中，以本官知制誥。 世宗嗣位，擢為翰林院學士，歲滿，拜中書舍人充職。 顯德三年夏，以扈從南征，因為遇疾歸，及京而卒。 遘為人謙和，勤於接下，每文士投贄，必擇其賢者而譽之，故當時後進之士多歸焉。
Shen Gou, whose courtesy name was Qiyuan, was a native of Suiyang. His father Zhen served as magistrate of Yongji in Beizhou and was repeatedly promoted posthumously to Left Reminder of the Censorate. Gou lost his father young and devoted himself to rigorous study. In his early twenties he passed the jinshi examination, entered service as a collator, rose from chief clerk of the Censorate to investigating censor, and after five promotions reached Director of the Ministry of Revenue, where he served as judge of the Three Offices. During the Guangshun era he retained his existing rank and was appointed drafter of edicts. When Emperor Shizong succeeded to the throne, he was promoted to academician of the Hanlin Academy. When his term was fulfilled he was appointed Secretariat Drafter in full capacity. In the summer of the third year of Xiande he accompanied the southern campaign as an imperial attendant, fell ill on the way home, and died after reaching the capital. Gou was modest and gentle by nature and diligent in welcoming those beneath him. Whenever literary men submitted presentation pieces, he always singled out the worthy for praise, and many rising scholars of the day therefore gathered around him.
16
李知損，字化機，大梁人也。 少輕薄，利口無行。 梁朝時，以牒刺篇詠出入於內臣之門，繇是浪得虛譽，時人目之為「李羅隱」。 為累藩鎮從事，入拜左補闕，歷刑部兵二員外、度支判官、右司郎中。 坐受榷鹽使王景遇厚賂，謫於均州。 漢初歸朝，除右司郎中，兼侍御史知雜事。 廣順中，拜右諫議大夫。 時王峻為樞密使，知損以與峻有舊，遂指峻求使於江浙，峻為上言。 太祖素聞知損所為，甚難之。 峻曰：「此人如或辱命，譴之可也。」 太祖重違其請，遂可之。 知損既受命，大恣其荒誕之意，遂假資於人，廣備行李。 及即路，所經州郡，無不強貸，又移書於青州符彥卿，借錢百萬。 及在郵亭，行止穢雜。 王峻聞而奏之，乃責授棣州司馬。 世宗即位，切於求人，素聞知損狂狷，好上封事，謂有可采，且欲聞外事，即命征還，遽與復資。 數月之間，日貢章疏，多斥讟貴近，自謀進取，又上章求為過海使。 世宗因發怒，仍以其醜行日彰，故命除名，配沙門島。 知損將行，謂所親曰：「余嘗遇善相者，言我三逐之後，當居相位，余自此而三矣，子姑待我。」 後歲餘，卒於海中，其庸誕也如此。 〈（《五代史補》：李知損，官至諫議大夫，好輕薄，時人謂之「李羅隱」。 至於親友間往還簡牘，往往引裏巷常談，謂之偶對。 常有朝士奉使回，以土物為贈，其意猶望卻回。 知損覺之，且貽書謝之曰：「在小子一時間卻擬送去，恐大官兩羅裏更不將來。」 乾祐中，奉使鄭州，時宋彥筠為節度。 彥筠小字忙兒，因宴會，彥筠酒酣，輒問曰：「眾人何為號足下為羅隱？」 對曰：「下官平素好為詩，其格致大抵如羅隱，故人為號。」 彥筠曰：「不然，蓋為足下輕薄如羅隱耳。」 知損大怒，厲聲曰：「只如令公，人皆謂之宋忙兒，未必便能放牛。」 滿座皆笑。）〉
Li Zhisun, whose courtesy name was Huaji, was a native of Daliang. In his youth he was frivolous, sharp-tongued, and devoid of decent conduct. During the Liang dynasty he circulated occasional poems and verses through the doors of palace eunuchs and thereby won an empty reputation he did not deserve. People of the time nicknamed him "Li Luoyin," after the poet. He served in turn as staff officer to several military commissioners, entered the capital as Left Supplementation Officer, and held the posts of Vice Director of the Ministries of Justice and War, revenue judge, and Right Director of the Secretariat. He was demoted to Jun Prefecture for accepting heavy bribes from the salt monopoly commissioner Wang Jingyu. At the beginning of the Han dynasty he returned to court, was appointed Right Director of the Secretariat, and concurrently served as attendant censor in charge of miscellaneous affairs. During the Guangshun era he was appointed Right Reminder of the Censorate. At the time Wang Jun served as Commissioner of Military Affairs. Zhisun, who had old ties with Jun, asked Jun to recommend him as envoy to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and Jun put the request before the emperor. Taizu had long heard of Zhisun's conduct and was very reluctant to approve. Jun said, "If this man disgraces his mission, he can be punished afterward." Taizu, reluctant to refuse Jun outright, approved the appointment. Once Zhisun received his commission, he indulged his wild and absurd impulses to the full, borrowing money from others and lavishly outfitting his baggage. On the road, he forcibly borrowed money in every prefecture and commandery he passed, and also wrote to Fu Yanqing in Qing Prefecture requesting a loan of a million in cash. At post stations his behavior was sordid and disgraceful. When Wang Jun heard of it he reported him to the throne, and Zhisun was demoted to Military Adjutant of Di Prefecture. When Emperor Shizong acceded to the throne he was eager to recruit talent. He had long heard that Zhisun was wild and outspoken and fond of submitting sealed memorials, believed some of his views worth adopting, and also wished to hear news from beyond the court. He at once ordered Zhisun recalled and quickly restored his rank. Within a few months he submitted memorials daily, many of them reviling powerful figures at court as he sought advancement for himself. He also submitted a memorial requesting appointment as envoy across the sea. Emperor Shizong grew angry, and because Zhisun's disgraceful conduct was growing daily more conspicuous, ordered his name stricken from the rolls and sent him into exile on Shamen Island. As Zhisun was about to depart he told those close to him, "I once met a skilled physiognomist who said that after three dismissals I would reach the chancellorship. This is my third—wait for me." A little over a year later he died at sea—such was the depth of his absurd presumption. (From 《Supplement to the History of the Five Dynasties》: Li Zhisun rose to Reminder of the Censorate. Fond of frivolity, he was known to his contemporaries as "Li Luoyin." In letters exchanged among kin and friends he often drew on ordinary street talk, calling such passages "paired couplets." Once a court gentleman returning from an embassy gave him local products as a gift, apparently still hoping for a reciprocal gift in return. Zhisun noticed this and wrote to thank him, saying, "For the moment this humble fellow was inclined to send it back—but I fear that you, a great official doubly styled 'Luoyin,' will never bring another." During the Qianyou era he was sent on mission to Zheng Prefecture, when Song Yanyun was military commissioner. Yanyun's childhood name was Mang'er. At a banquet, when Yanyun was deep in his cups he asked repeatedly, "Why do people call you Luoyin? Zhisun replied, "I have always loved writing poetry; its tone and spirit are much like Luoyin's, so my friends gave me the name. Yanyun said, "Not so—it is because you are as frivolous as Luoyin. Zhisun flew into a rage and said sharply, "Take Your Excellency, for instance—everyone calls you 'Busy Son Song,' but that hardly means you can actually herd cattle." The whole company burst out laughing.)〉
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孫晟，本名鳳。 〈（《南唐書》云：孫忌，高密人，一名鳳，又名晟，少舉進士。）〉 性陰賊，好奸謀。 少為道士，工詩，於廬山簡寂觀畫唐詩人賈島像，懸於屋壁，以禮事之。 觀主以為妖妄，執杖驅出之，大為時輩所嗤。 改儒服，謁唐莊宗於鎮州，授秘書省著作郎。 〈（《南唐書》云：豆盧革為相，雅知忌，辟為判官。）〉 天成初，朱守殷據夷門叛，時晟為幕賓，贊成其事。 是時晟常擐甲露刃，以十數騎自隨，巡行於市，多所屠害，汴人為之切齒。 城陷，朱氏被誅，晟乃匿跡更名，棄其妻子，亡命於陳、宋間。 〈（《歐陽史》云：安重誨惡晟，以為教守殷反者晟也，畫其像購之，不可得，遂族其家。 晟奔於吳。）〉 會同惡者送之過淮，吳人方納叛亡，即以偽官授之。 晟亦微有詞翰，李昇偽尊楊溥為讓皇之冊文，即晟之詞也，故江南尤重之。 二十年間，累歷偽任，財貨邸第，頗適其意。 晟以家妓甚眾，每食不設食機，令眾妓各執一食器，周侍於其側，謂之「肉臺盤」，其自養稱愜也如是。 〈（《南唐書》云：忌為舒州節度使，治軍嚴，有歸化卒二人，正晝挺白刃入府，求忌殺之。 入自西門，吏士倉卒莫能禦。 適忌閑行在東門，聞亂，得民家馬乘之，奔桐城。 叛卒不得忌，乃殺都押衙李建崇而逸。 忌坐貶光祿卿。）〉
Sun Chen—originally named Feng. (From 《Book of Southern Tang》: Sun Ji was a native of Gaomi. He was also called Feng and also called Shen, and in his youth he passed the jinshi examination.)〉 By nature he was secretive and vicious, and fond of treacherous schemes. In his youth he was a Daoist priest and skilled at poetry. At the Jianji Abbey on Mount Lu he painted a portrait of the Tang poet Jia Dao, hung it on the wall, and treated it with ritual reverence. The abbot judged this deluded and drove him out with a staff. His contemporaries mocked him roundly. He put on Confucian dress, presented himself to Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang at Zhen Prefecture, and was appointed Compiler in the Secretariat. (From 《Book of Southern Tang》: When Doulu Ge became chancellor he knew Ji well by reputation and recruited him as administrative aide.)〉 At the beginning of the Tiancheng era Zhu Shouyin rebelled and held Yimen. Shen was then a staff adviser and supported the rebellion. At that time Shen often wore armor with bared blade, keeping a dozen or so horsemen with him as he patrolled the markets and slaughtered many. The people of Bian gnashed their teeth at the mention of him. When the city fell Zhu was executed. Shen then went into hiding, changed his name, abandoned his wife and children, and fled for his life between Chen and Song. (From 《History of the Five Dynasties by Ouyang》: An Chonghui hated Shen and believed Shen had taught Zhu Shouyin to rebel. He posted Shen's likeness with a reward offer but could not capture him, and therefore exterminated his clan. Shen fled to Wu.)〉 Men who likewise despised him escorted him across the Huai. The Wu were then accepting defectors and fugitives and at once granted him office in their puppet regime. Shen also had some literary talent. The patent of honor in which Li Bian of the puppet regime elevated Yang Pu as abdicated emperor was written in Shen's words, and Jiangnan therefore held him in particular esteem. Over twenty years he rose through successive appointments in the puppet regime, accumulating wealth, goods, and a mansion that quite suited his wishes. Shen kept a great many household singing girls. At each meal he dispensed with a proper food table and had the girls each hold a food vessel and stand in attendance at his side—he called this a "flesh serving tray." Such was the life of indulgence that contented him. (From 《Book of Southern Tang》: When Ji served as military commissioner of Shu Prefecture he governed the army strictly. Two surrendered soldiers drew bare blades in broad daylight, entered headquarters, and sought to kill him. They entered by the west gate, and in the sudden crisis officials and soldiers could not stop them. Ji happened to be strolling at the east gate. Hearing the disturbance, he borrowed a horse from a commoner's household, mounted it, and fled to Tongcheng. The mutinous soldiers failed to catch Ji, killed the chief judge-adjutant Li Jianchong instead, and fled. Ji was demoted to Minister of Splendid Happiness.)〉
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顯德三年春，王師下廣陵，江左驚窘，李景偽署晟為司空，令奉貢於行在，世宗遣右常侍劉悅伴之，賜與甚厚。 洎隨駕到闕，舍於都亭驛，禮遇殊優。 每召見，飲之醇醴，問以江南事，晟但言：「吳畏陛下之神武，唯以北面為求，保無二也。」 先是，張永德守下蔡，素與李重進不協，每宴將校，多暴其短。 一日，永德乘醉，乃大言重進潛蓄奸謀，當時將校無不驚駭，繇是人情大擾。 後密遣親信乘驛上言，世宗不聽，亦不介意。 一日，重進自壽陽去其部從，直指永德帳下，宴飲終日而去，自此人情稍安。 時李景覘而知之，因密令人賫蠟書遺重進，勸為不軌，重進以其蠟書進呈，世宗覽之，皆斥讟反間之言。 世宗怒晟前言失實，因急召侍衛都虞候韓通令收晟下獄，與其從者百餘人皆誅之。 〈（《南唐書》云：世宗命都承旨曹翰護至右軍巡院，猶飲之酒，數酌，翰起曰：「相公得罪，賜自盡。」 忌怡然整衣索笏，東南望再拜曰：「臣受恩深，謹以死謝。」 從者二百人，亦皆誅死於東相國寺。）〉 翌日，宰臣上謁，世宗親諭之，始知其事實。 議者以晟昔構禍於梁民，令伏法於梁獄，報應之道，豈徒然哉！
In the spring of the third year of Xiande the imperial army took Guangling and the Jiang left was thrown into alarm. Li Jing of the puppet regime appointed Shen Minister of Works and ordered him to present tribute at the imperial camp. Emperor Shizong sent Right Regular Attendant Liu Yue to accompany him and lavished generous rewards upon him. When he followed the imperial procession to the capital he lodged at the Capital Pavilion Station, where he was treated with exceptional courtesy. Whenever he was summoned he was given strong wine and questioned about affairs in Jiangnan. Shen would say only, "Wu fears Your Majesty's divine martial prowess and seeks only to submit as your vassal facing north, guaranteeing there will be no second thought." Earlier Zhang Yongde held Xia Cai and had long been at odds with Li Chongjin. Whenever he feasted his officers he often aired Chongjin's faults. One day, while drunk, Yongde loudly declared that Chongjin was secretly plotting treason. The officers were all shocked, and morale was badly shaken. Later he secretly sent a trusted agent by express relay to report to the throne, but Emperor Shizong paid no heed and was unconcerned. One day Chongjin left his escort at Shouyang and went straight to Yongde's headquarters, where they feasted all day before he departed. From then on morale gradually settled. Li Jing learned of this and secretly sent a man bearing a wax-sealed letter to Chongjin urging him to rebel. Chongjin presented the letter to the throne. Emperor Shizong read it and found it full of slander and words meant to sow discord. Emperor Shizong, angry that Shen's earlier statements had been false, urgently summoned Palace Guard Director of Ceremonial Han Tong and ordered Shen imprisoned. More than a hundred of his followers were executed as well. (From 《Book of Southern Tang》: Emperor Shizong ordered Chief Palatial Drafter Cao Han to escort him to the Right Army Circuit Court. They still gave him wine, and after several cups Han rose and said, "Lord Chancellor, you have offended and are granted the privilege of taking your own life. Ji composed himself calmly, straightened his robes, took up his tablet, bowed twice toward the southeast, and said, "Your subject has received deep grace and accepts death in gratitude." Two hundred followers were also executed at East Xiangguo Temple.)〉 The next day, when the chief ministers came to audience, Emperor Shizong personally explained the matter to them—and only then did they learn what had actually happened. Commentators observed that Shen had once brought calamity upon the people of Liang and now met the law's punishment in a Liang prison—the way of retribution, they said, was hardly empty.
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晟性慷慨，常感李景之厚遇，誓死以報之。 〈（《釣磯立談》云：晟將命周朝，自知不免，私謂副使王崇質曰：「吾思之熟矣，終不忍負永陵一壞土，余非所知也。」）〉 及將下獄，世宗令近臣問以江南可取之狀，晟默然不對。 臨刑之際，整其衣冠，南望金陵再拜而言曰：「臣惟以死謝。」 遂伏誅。
Shen was generous by nature and deeply moved by Li Jing's generous treatment of him; he swore to repay that kindness with his life. (From 《Collected Conversations from the Angler's Reef》: When Shen was about to receive his commission to the Zhou court he knew he would not escape. He privately told Vice Envoy Wang Chongzhi, "I have thought this through carefully. In the end I cannot bear to betray even a clod of Yongling's soil—as for the rest, that is beyond what you can know.")〉 When he was about to be imprisoned Emperor Shizong had a close attendant ask him how Jiangnan might be taken. Shen remained silent and would not answer. At the moment of execution he straightened his hat and robes, bowed twice toward Jinling in the south, and said, "Your subject can repay only with my death." He was then executed.