Five Dynasties · General

Liu Yanzhen 劉彥貞

Liú Yànzhēn

Died AD 956

Passages: 6
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Liu Yanzhen was a general.

Life and dates

Death

AD 956 顯德三年春正月
Expression died in battle 死於陣 · At Zhengyang 正陽
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 116, passages 9, 26

Attested activity

AD 956 顯德三年春正月
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 116, passages 1, 9

Places and affiliations

Polity Southern Tang 南唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 116, passages 9, 17

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 116, passages 22-23

Events and relationships

Advanced and was defeated at Zhengyang
AD 956 顯德三年春正月 · Military · Commander · At Zhengyang 正陽
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 116, passages 14-15, 24, 26

References in the histories

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 116Volume 116 Book of Later Zhou 18: Shizong Annals 3 · 6 passages

辛亥，李重進奏，大破淮賊於正陽，斬首二萬餘級，伏屍三十里，臨陣斬賊大將劉彥貞，生擒偏將鹹師朗已下，獲戎甲三十萬副、馬五百匹。 On xinhai, Li Chongjin reported a great victory at Zhengyang: over twenty thousand enemy dead, bodies strewn for thirty li along the field. He killed the rebel commander Liu Yanzhen in the fighting, took Deputy General Xian Shilang and others alive, and captured three hundred thousand suits of armor and five hundred horses.

時淮賊乘李穀退軍之勢，發戰棹數百艘沿淮而上，且張斷橋之勢，彥貞以大軍列陣而進。 The Huainan rebels exploited Li Gu's retreat, sending hundreds of warships up the Huai while positioning to cut the bridge; Liu Yanzhen advanced with his main force in battle order.

彥貞等聞蒨退軍，皆以為怯，裨將鹹師朗曰：「追之可大獲。」 Liu Yanzhen and his officers took Qian's withdrawal as a sign of cowardice. Deputy General Xian Shilang urged: "A pursuit would bring rich spoils."

彥貞曰：「軍容在我，汝輩何知？ Liu Yanzhen snapped: "I command this army—what do you know?

彥貞施利刃於拒馬，又刻木為獸，號捷馬牌，以皮囊布鐵蒺藜於地。 Yanzhen armed his abatis with blades, set up carved wooden beasts called Swift Horse Boards, and strewed the ground with bagged caltrops.

周兵見而知其怯，一鼓而敗之，彥貞死於陣。）〉 The Zhou soldiers saw these tricks and knew their foe lacked nerve; one charge broke them, and Yanzhen fell in battle.)〉