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Overview Song Taizong was a ruler.
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History of Song, Chapter 482 Volume 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) · 13 passages
太宗謂齊王廷美曰：“太原，我必取之。”
Taizong told the Prince of Qi, Tingmei, "Taiyuan—I will take it."
四年，始議討伐，曹彬以為可，太宗意遂決，語在《彬傳》。
In year 4 the court began debating an expedition. Cao Bin said it could be done, and Taizong made up his mind; the fuller account is in Cao Bin's biography.
太宗曰：“今者事同而勢異，彼弱而我強。
Taizong replied, "The task is the same as before, but the balance of power has shifted—they are weak and we are strong.
會太宗奄至，親督衛士急攻，人百其勇，城無完堞。
Taizong arrived unexpectedly and personally drove the palace guards in a furious assault. Each man fought as if he were a hundred, and no stretch of wall was left intact.
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.
太宗躬擐甲胄，夜至長連城督諸將攻之，控弦之士數萬列陣於前，蹲甲交射，矢集城上如蝟毛，每給矢必數百萬，頃之鹹盡。
Taizong donned armor himself and came by night to the long linked siege works to direct the generals' assault. Tens of thousands of archers formed up before the walls and, armored and crouched, traded volleys until arrows bristled on the ramparts like hedgehog quills. Each resupply ran to millions of shafts—and in moments they were all gone.
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."
太宗又自草詔諭之曰：“越王、吳主獻地歸朝，或授以大藩，或列於上將，臣僚、子弟皆享官封。
Taizong again drafted an edict himself, saying, "The King of Yue and the Lord of Wu surrendered their lands and came back to court—one was given a great fief, the other was made a top general; their ministers, retainers, and sons all received offices and titles.
至是詔入，諸將銳攻不可遏，太宗臨之，恐城陷害民，麾眾少退。
When the edict reached the city, the generals' furious assault could not be checked. Taizong came forward in person, fearing the fall of the city would harm the people, and signaled the troops to pull back a little.
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.
夜漏未盡，太宗幸城北，張樂宴從臣於城台，繼元降。
Before the night watch had run its course, Taizong went to the north side of the city, set out music, and feasted his attending ministers on the city tower; Jiyuan surrendered.
太宗籍軍中亡投繼元者數百人，選其巨室者以從軍法，餘賜服及錢帛，分隸諸將。
Taizong registered several hundred soldiers who had deserted to Jiyuan, selected the ringleaders for punishment under military law, gave the rest clothing and cash and silk, and assigned them to the various generals.
淳化二年，繼元疾，遣中使護醫診視，及卒，遺奏以其子三豬為托，太宗惻然哀之，贈中書令，追封彭城郡王，賵賻加等，葬事官給。
In the second year of Chunhua Jiyuan fell ill, and palace envoys were sent with physicians to attend him. When he died, his final memorial entrusted his son Sanzhu to the emperor's care. Taizong was deeply moved and mourned him, posthumously made him chief minister of the Secretariat and Prince of Pengcheng commandery, granted enhanced funeral gifts, and had the burial expenses paid by the state.