Liu Jiyuan (劉繼元) | 24 Histories

Overview

Liu Jiyuan was a ruler.

Life and dates

Death

AD 991 淳化二年
Directly stated · History of Song 482, passage 136

Attested activity

AD 977 to AD 992 AD 977-992
Directly stated · History of Song 482, passage 101

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Liu Xu (劉續)
son 子
Directly stated · History of Song 482, passage 111
Parent of Liu Shoujie (劉守節)
son 子
Directly stated · History of Song 482, passage 136

Career and standing

Baokang Army military governor 保康軍節度
AD 986 雍熙三年 · Appointed
Directly stated · History of Song 482, passage 135
Director of the Chancellery (posthumous gift) 贈中書令
AD 991 淳化二年 · Bestowed posthumously
Directly stated · History of Song 482, passage 136
Duke of Pengcheng Commandery 彭城郡公
AD 979 979 · Enfeoffed
Directly stated · History of Song 482, passage 130
Offered
Wealth and rank promised on surrender
Directly stated · History of Song 482, passages 122-123

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · History of Song 482, passage 128

Events and relationships

Surrendered
AD 979 979 · Military · Surrendered ruler
Directly stated · History of Song 482, passage 126

References in the histories

Search passages

History

20 passages

History of Song, Chapter 482Volume 482 Biographies 241, Hereditary Houses 5: Liu Jiyuan of the Northern Han Liu Family (Father: Liu Jun; Elder Brother: Liu Ji'en; Appended: Wei Rong, Zhao Wendu, Li Yun, Ma Feng, Guo Wuwei) · 20 passages

Open chapter

太平興國二年，繼元胡桃砦指揮使史溫等以其民內附。 In Taiping Xingguo 2, Jiyuan's Hetao stockade commander Shi Wen and others led their people to defect to the Song.

初，繼元遣子續質於契丹，契丹為進所敗。 Earlier Jiyuan had sent his son Xu to the Khitans as a hostage. The Khitans were then defeated by Guo Jin.

繼元又遣健步間道齎蠟丸帛書求救，進又得之，徇於城下。 Jiyuan again sent swift couriers by hidden routes with wax-sealed silk appeals for help. Guo Jin captured these too and paraded them beneath the walls.

繼元外援不至，餉道又絕，潘美等兵數十萬長圍四合，自春徂夏，矢石如雨，晝夜不息，城中大懼。 Outside help never came and the supply lines were severed. Pan Mei and the others, with several hundred thousand men, tightened a long siege on every side. From spring into summer arrows and stones rained down without pause, day or night, and terror gripped the city.

太宗慮城陷則殺傷者眾，以手詔諭繼元降，詔至城下，守陴者不納，繼元不能知。 Taizong feared massive casualties if the city fell by storm. He sent a personal edict urging Jiyuan to surrender, but when it was brought to the foot of the walls the defenders on the battlements refused to take it in, and Jiyuan never learned of it.

捕得城中人雲，繼元以十錢購一矢，凡聚百餘萬，太宗笑曰：“此為我畜也。” Prisoners from the city said Jiyuan was paying ten cash per arrow and had stockpiled more than a million. Taizong laughed and said, "So he was hoarding them for me."

五月庚辰，繼元宣徽使範超來降，攻城者以超為出戰，禽而戮之。 On the gengchen day of the fifth month, Jiyuan's commissioner Fan Chao came over to surrender. The attackers mistook him for a sortie and seized and executed him.

繼元遂斬超妻子，投其首城外。 Jiyuan then had Chao's wife and children executed and their heads thrown outside the walls.

壬午，馬軍都指揮使郭萬超逾城降，繼元帳下親信因之漸亡去，城中危急。 On the renwu day, Guo Wanchao, commander of the Horse Army, climbed over the walls and surrendered. Jiyuan's trusted followers gradually deserted, and the city reached a crisis.

繼元但速降，必保終始富貴，安危兩途，爾宜自擇。” Jiyuan, surrender at once and your wealth and rank are secure for life. Safety and ruin lie before you—choose for yourself."

是夕，繼元遣其客省使李勳奉表請降，太宗賜勳襲衣、金帶、銀器、錦彩、銀鞍勒馬，復遣通事舍人薛文寶齎詔答之。 That evening Jiyuan sent his reception commissioner Li Xun with a memorial asking to surrender. Taizong rewarded Xun with formal robes, a gold belt, silver vessels, brocades, and a horse with silver saddle and bridle, and sent interpreter gentleman Xue Wenbao back with an edict in reply.