Wang Rong (王熔) | 24 Histories

Overview

The translated histories identify Wang Rong as an aristocrat, clan leader, official, and rebel. This record brings together 105 passages from 14 chapters across 2 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Wang Rong	王熔	Wang Rong
Title	Prince of Zhao	趙王	Zhao Wang
Title	Prince of Zhao	趙王
Title	Prince of Zhao	趙王	Zhào wáng
Title	Prince Zhao	趙王
Given	Rong	鎔	Rong
Given name	Rong	鎔	Rong
Given name	Rong	熔	Róng
Title	the lord	令公
Title	The lord	令公
Title	The prince	令公
Surname	Wang	王	Wang
Personal	Wang Rong	王熔
Personal name	Wang Rong	王鎔	Wang Rong
Personal name	Wang Rong	王镕	Wang Rong
Personal	Wang Rong	王鎔	Wang Rong
Personal name	Wang Rong	鎔	Rong
Personal name	Wang Rong	王熔	Wáng Róng
Personal	Wang Rong	王镕	Wang Rong
Title	Wang Rong of Zhao	趙王王鎔

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Strongly inferred · jiuwudaishi:006:s0025, jiuwudaishi:054:s0001, jiuwudaishi:071:s0004, xinwudaishi:003:s0107, xinwudaishi:044:s0062
Sex: male
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0186, jiuwudaishi:062:s0046, jiuwudaishi:072:s0125, jiuwudaishi:121:s0039, xinwudaishi:002:s0097, xinwudaishi:019:s0010
Value: male
Strongly inferred · jiuwudaishi:042:s0123
Value: male
Explicit · xinwudaishi:026:s0002

Roles

Aristocrat
Clan Leader
Official
Rebel
Ruler
Warlord

Life and dates

Death

Source Date: Text: 天祐末 · Western Year: AD 921 · Cause: killed by Zhang Wenli
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:121:s0057
Manner: beheaded by personal guards · Place: Zhenzhou headquarters / 鎮州府第 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天祐八年冬十二月 · Western Year: AD 911
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0110
Manner: murdered · Other Person Id: Wang Deming (王德明) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 張文禮弒 · Western Year: AD 921
Explicit · xinwudaishi:026:s0003
Manner: murdered · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 龙德元年春 · Western Year: AD 921
Explicit · xinwudaishi:003:s0107
Manner: killed · Killer Person Id: Wang Deming (王德明)
Explicit · xinwudaishi:019:s0011
Manner: killed by Wang Deming · Responsible Person Id: Wang Rong (王熔) · Place: Zhenzhou / 鎮州
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:010:s0075
Manner: killed in mutiny / 殺 · Other Person Id: Wang Deming (王德明)
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:062:s0083
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0062

Age

Age: 10 · Reckoning: sui · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 中和二年 · Western Year: AD 882
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0012
Age: 17 · Reckoning: sui · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 景福二年 · Western Year: AD 893
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0030

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 龍德元年二月 · Regnal Year: 1 · Lunar Month: 2 · Western Year: AD 921
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:010:s0075
Source Date: Text: AD 911-921 · Western Year: AD 921
Explicit event contextual date · xinwudaishi:026:s0002
Source Date: Text: 中和二年 · Western Year: AD 882
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:054:s0012
Source Date: Text: 乾化元年六月 · Western Year: AD 911
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:006:s0113
Source Date: Text: 乾化元年十二月 · Western Year: AD 911
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:006:s0183
Source Date: Text: 光化三年秋 · Western Year: AD 900
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:054:s0061
Source Date: Text: 光啟二年 · Western Year: AD 886
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:050:s0026
Source Date: Text: 光啟四年約 · Western Year: AD 888
Strongly inferred · jiuwudaishi:062:s0046
Western Interval: Start: AD 890 · End: AD 910 · Source Date: Text: 嘗聘王鎔於鎮州，官妓有轉轉者，美麗善歌舞，因宴席，郁累挑之。
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:071:s0007
Source Date: Text: 天祐七年 · Western Year: AD 910
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:054:s0081
Source Date: Text: 天祐八年 · Western Year: AD 911
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:054:s0096
Source Date: Text: 天祐末 · Western Year: AD 921
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:121:s0057
Source Date: Text: 开平四年 · Western Year: AD 910
Explicit event contextual date · xinwudaishi:002:s0097
Source Date: Text: 景福二年 · Western Year: AD 893
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:054:s0022
Western Year: AD 893 · Source Date: Text: 李匡威為王鎔所殺，鎔書報其弟匡儔。
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:071:s0004
Source Date: Text: 熔為張文禮所殺 · Western Interval: Start: AD 923 · End: AD 926
Strongly inferred · xinwudaishi:019:s0011, xinwudaishi:019:s0025
Source Date: Text: 王鎔據鎮、冀以稱王，治將數世 · Western Interval: Start: AD 900 · End: AD 921
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:054:s0186
Source Date: Text: 莊宗時 · Western Year: AD 921
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:062:s0075, jiuwudaishi:062:s0083
Source Date: Text: 貞明元年 · Western Year: AD 915
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0062
Western Interval: Start: AD 900 · End: AD 921 · Source Date: Text: 賈馥，故鎮州節度使王鎔判官也。
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:071:s0075
Source Date: Text: 鎮州王鎔 · Western Interval: Start: AD 900 · End: AD 921
Strongly inferred · jiuwudaishi:072:s0125
Source Date: Text: 長興二年 · Western Year: AD 931
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:042:s0123
Source Date: Text: 開平四年十一月 · Western Year: AD 910
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:006:s0025
Source Date: Text: 龙德元年春 · Western Year: AD 921
Explicit event contextual date · xinwudaishi:003:s0107

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Parent of Wang Zhaohui (王昭誨)
Kinship Term: son / 男 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 長興二年 · Western Year: AD 931
Kinship Term: second son / 次子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son · Subject Birth Order: 2
Descendant of Wang Tingcou (王廷湊)
Kinship Term: fourth-generation ancestor / 四代祖 · Generation Distance: 4 · Line: paternal
Parent of Wang Deming (王德明)
Kinship Term: adopted son / 義男 · Parentage: adoptive · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father
Kinship Term: adopted son / 養子 · Parentage: adoptive · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father
Kinship Term: adopted son / 義男 · Parentage: adoptive · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son · Union Category: other
Descendant of Mo Nuogan (沒諾幹)
Kinship Term: distant ancestor / 遠祖 · Line: paternal
Child of Wang Jingchong (王景崇)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Parent of Wang Zhaozuo (王昭祚)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son · Subject Birth Order: 1
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son

Kinship Role: concubines · Count: 200 · Note: 姬妾數百 all died
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0111

Origins and identity

Label: Uighur ancestry / 回鶻
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0001

Career and standing

Label: Zhenzhou military commissioner / 鎮州節度使 · Action: formerly-held · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 長興二年 · Western Year: AD 931
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:042:s0123
Label: Minister of Works / 尚書令 · Action: granted
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0114
Label: Director of the Chancellery / 中書令 · Action: held
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0114
Label: Grand Preceptor / 太師 · Action: held
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0114
Label: military governor of the Chengde army / 成德軍節度使 · Action: held
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0114
Label: military governor of Zhenzhou / 鎮州節度使 · Action: held
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0010, jiuwudaishi:054:s0012
Label: Meritorious Minister of Lasting Concord, Preservation, and Endurance / 敦睦保定久大功臣 · Action: granted
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0114
Title: Prince of Zhao / 趙王 · Action: held · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 長興二年 · Western Year: AD 931
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:042:s0123
Title: Prince of Zhao / 趙王 · Action: held
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0114, jiuwudaishi:121:s0039, xinwudaishi:002:s0097, xinwudaishi:019:s0010
Title: king / 王 · Action: styled-himself · Place: Zhen and Ji / 鎮、冀
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0186
Status: rebel · Action: entered
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:006:s0025
Status: regional-ruler · Action: held · Label: ruled for nearly generations / 治將數世
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0186
Status: deceased · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 長興二年 · Western Year: AD 931
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:042:s0123
Label: execution of Li Honggui / 殺李宏規 · Action: ordered · Other Person Id: Li Honggui (李宏規)
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:062:s0076

Places and affiliations

Label: Zhao / 趙 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · xinwudaishi:026:s0002
Polity: Jin / 晉 · Relation: attached-to
Explicit · xinwudaishi:002:s0097
Polity: Zhao / Chengde / 趙 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0114
Place: Ji / 冀 · Relation: held
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0186
Place: Wang family ancestral tomb / 王氏故塋 · Relation: buried-at
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0116
Place: Zhen / 鎮 · Relation: held
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0186
Place: Zhenzhou / 鎮州 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:006:s0025, jiuwudaishi:072:s0125

Learning and skills

Belief: Buddhist and Taoist longevity practices / 佛道長生 · Relation: adherent-of
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0091

Works and attributed material

Kind: judgment · Role: subject · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0186, jiuwudaishi:054:s0188, jiuwudaishi:054:s0189

Events and relationships

Kind: diplomatic · Role: participant · Action: allied-feast-with-Zhuangzong · Other Person Id: Emperor Zhuangzong (莊宗) · Place: Chengtian army / 承天軍 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天祐八年七月 · Western Year: AD 911
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0083, jiuwudaishi:054:s0085
Kind: military · Role: opponent · Action: forces-defeated-north-of-Jing
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:006:s0183
Kind: military · Role: rebel-leader · Action: rebelled-and-joined-Jin
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:006:s0025
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: relieved · Other Person Id: Meng Fangli (孟方立)
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:050:s0026
Kind: military · Role: ally · Action: sent-30000-to-Fangli · Other Person Id: Meng Fangli (孟方立)
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:062:s0046
Kind: defection · Role: rebel · Action: sided-with-Jin
Explicit · xinwudaishi:002:s0097
Relation: treated-as-father · Person Id: Li Kuangwei (李匡威) · Label: treated him like a father / 事之如父
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0023
Relation: commander-of · Person Id: Wang Deming (王德明)
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:010:s0075
Relation: allied-with · Person Id: Wang Chuzhi (王處直)
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:006:s0025

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: deluded by sycophantic ministers and his clan was overthrown · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0186, jiuwudaishi:054:s0188
Assessment: intelligent from youth but benevolent rather than martial · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0087
Assessment: wealth and honor lasted so long that benevolence and righteousness were neglected; could not guard against treachery before signs appeared · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0189
Kind: physical-description · Statement: slight and thin by nature
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0030

Source notes

Historicity: historical
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:054:s0001

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 6Volume 6 Book of Later Liang 6: Taizu Annals 6 · 3 passages

Open chapter

時鎮州王熔、定州王處直叛，結連晉人，故遣將討之。 Wang Rong of Zhenzhou and Wang Chuzhi of Dingzhou had rebelled and joined the Jin, so troops were sent against them.

矧又王熔、處直未曾削爵除名，若翻然改圖，不遠而復，必仍舊貫，當保前功。 Wang Rong and Chuzhi have not been stripped of rank; if they turn back soon, they keep their posts and their past merit.

是月，魏博節度上言，於涇縣北戮殺鎮州王熔兵士七千餘人，奪馬二千餘匹，戈甲未知其數，並擒都將以下四十餘人。 That month Weibo reported slaughtering more than seven thousand of Wang Rong’s men north of Jing county, seizing two thousand horses, armor in unknown quantity, and forty-odd commanders.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 10Volume 10 Book of Later Liang 10: Later Emperors Annals 3 · 1 passage

Open chapter

是月，鎮州大將王德明殺其帥王熔，自稱留後，遣使來求援。 That month Wang Deming of Zhenzhou murdered Wang Rong, declared himself acting commissioner, and asked for help.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 42Volume 42 Book of Later Tang 18: Mingzong Annals 8 · 1 passage

Open chapter

以故鎮州節度使、趙王王熔男昭誨為朝議大夫、司農少卿，賜紫金魚袋，繼絕也。 Wang Rong's son Zhaohui, heir to the extinct Prince of Zhao line, became court discussant and vice director of agriculture with a purple-gold fish bag.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 50Volume 50 Book of Later Tang 26: Biographies 2: Imperial Family · 1 passage

Open chapter

方立求援於鎮州，王鎔出師三萬援之，克修軍退。 Fangli appealed to Zhenzhou for help. Wang Rong marched out thirty thousand men to relieve him, and Ke Xiu's army fell back.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 54Volume 54 Book of Later Tang 30: Biographies 6: Wang Rong, Wang Zhaohui, Wang Chuzhi · 66 passages

Open chapter

王鎔，其先回鶻部人也。 Wang Rong's ancestors were of the Uighur tribes.

鎔即景崇之子也，年十歲，三軍推襲父位。 Rong was Jingchong's son. At the age of ten the three armies installed him in his father's place.

鎔苦之，遣使求救於幽州。 Rong was hard pressed and sent envoys to Youzhou seeking aid.

鎔以重賂結納，請以修和好。 Rong sought alliance through lavish gifts and asked to restore friendly relations.

晉軍討孟方立於邢州，鎔常奉以芻糧。 When the Jin army attacked Meng Fangli at Xingzhou, Rong regularly supplied them with fodder and provisions.

及方立平，晉將李存孝侵鎔於南部，鎔求援於幽州。）〉 After Fangli was defeated, the Jin general Li Cunxiao raided Rong's southern territories, and Rong again sought aid from Youzhou.) 〉

自是燕帥李匡威頻歲出軍，以為鎔援。 Thereafter the Yan commander Li Kuangwei marched out year after year to aid Rong.

時匡威兵勢方盛，以鎔衝弱，將有窺圖之志。 Kuangwei's forces were then at their strongest, and seeing Rong young and vulnerable, he began to contemplate seizing his domain.

景福二年春，匡威率精騎數萬，再來赴援，會匡威弟匡儔奪據兄位，匡威退無歸路，鎔乃延入府第，館於寶壽佛寺。 In the spring of the second year of Jingfu, Kuangwei led tens of thousands of elite cavalry to aid Rong once more. His younger brother Kuangchou had meanwhile seized his place, leaving Kuangwei nowhere to return. Rong therefore welcomed him into his mansion and lodged him at Baoshou Buddhist Temple.

鎔以匡威因己而失國，又感其援助之力，事之如父。 Because Kuangwei had lost his domain on Rong's account and because Rong was deeply grateful for his aid, Rong treated him like a father.

五月，鎔謁匡威於其館，匡威陰遣部下伏甲劫鎔，抱持之。 In the fifth month Rong visited Kuangwei at his quarters. Kuangwei secretly ordered his men to lie in wait in armor and seize Rong, holding him fast.

鎔曰：「公戒部人勿造次。 Rong said, "Sir, restrain your men from rash action.

鎔軍拒之，竟殺匡威。 Rong's troops resisted, and in the end they killed Kuangwei.

鎔本疏瘦，時年始十七，當與匡威並轡之時，電雨驟作，屋瓦皆飛。 Rong was slight and thin by nature and was then only seventeen. As he rode beside Kuangwei, a sudden thunderstorm broke and roof tiles flew from the buildings.

有一人於缺垣中望見鎔，鎔就之，遽挾於馬上，肩之而去。 A man glimpsed Rong through a broken wall. Rong went to him, and the man swiftly lifted him onto a horse and carried him away on his shoulders.

翌日，鎔但覺項痛頭偏，蓋因為有力者所挾，不勝其苦故也。 The next day Rong's neck ached and his head was tilted to one side, apparently from being gripped too forcefully by a strong man.

既而訪之，則曰墨君和，乃鼓刀之士也，遂厚賞之。 When Rong inquired afterward, the man was Mo Junhe, a butcher by trade, and Rong rewarded him generously.

趙王鎔初即位，曾見之，悅而問曰：「此中何得昆侖兒也？」 When Prince Zhao Rong first took the throne he saw him and, delighted, asked, "How does such a Kunlun boy come to be here?"

告急於燕王，李匡威率師五萬來救之。 Rong urgently appealed to the Prince of Yan, and Li Kuangwei led fifty thousand troops to the rescue.

趙王感燕王之德，椎牛灑酒，大犒於稾城，輦金二十萬以謝之。 Grateful for the Prince of Yan's aid, Prince Zhao slaughtered cattle and poured libations, hosted a grand feast at Gaocheng, and sent two hundred thousand in gold as thanks.

燕王自以失國，又見趙王之幼，乃圖之。 Having lost his realm and seeing Prince Zhao's youth, the Prince of Yan then plotted against him.

遂伏甲俟趙王，旦至，即使擒之。 He concealed armed men and waited; at dawn when the prince arrived, he had him seized.

趙王請曰：「某承先代基構，主此山河，每被鄰寇侵漁，困於守備，賴大王武略，累挫戎鋒，獲保宗祧，實資恩力。 Prince Zhao pleaded: "I inherited my ancestors' foundation and hold this domain. Constantly harassed by neighboring enemies and hard pressed in defense, I rely on Your Highness's military prowess, which has repeatedly turned back the enemy and preserved my ancestral rites. I owe this entirely to your gracious aid.

燕王以為然，遂與趙王並轡而進。 The Prince of Yan agreed and rode side by side with Prince Zhao as they went forward.

俄有大風並黑雲起於城上，大雨雷電，至東角門內，有勇夫袒臂旁來，拳毆燕之介士，即挾負趙王逾垣而走，遂得歸公府。 Suddenly fierce winds and black clouds rose above the city, followed by heavy rain and thunder. At the East Corner Gate a bare-armed brave man appeared, struck the Yan bodyguards, seized Prince Zhao, and carried him over the wall to escape back to the palace.

趙王既免燕王之難，召墨生以千金賞之，兼賜上第一區，良田萬畝，仍恕其十死，奏授光祿大夫。）〉 After escaping this danger, Prince Zhao summoned the Ink Scholar and rewarded him with a thousand gold pieces, a top residence, ten thousand mu of fertile fields, exemption from ten death sentences, and a memorial appointing him Grand Master for Splendorous Enjoyment.) 〉

鎔既失燕軍之援，會武皇出師以逼真定，鎔遣使謝罪，出絹二十萬匹，及具牛酒犒軍，自是與鎔俱修好如初。 Having lost Yan military support, Rong found the Martial Emperor marching toward Zhending. He sent envoys to apologize, offered two hundred thousand bolts of silk, and supplied cattle and wine to reward the army; from then on he and the Jin were reconciled as before.

洎梁祖兼有山東，虎視天下，鎔卑辭厚禮，以通和好。 Once the Founding Emperor of Liang controlled Shandong and eyed the realm, Rong used humble words and lavish gifts to maintain friendly relations.

〈（《新唐書》：羅紹威諷鎔絕太原，共尊全忠，鎔依違，全忠不悅。）〉 (The 《New Book of Tang》: Luo Shaowei urged Rong to break with Taiyuan and jointly honor Quanzhong; Rong wavered, and Quanzhong was displeased.) 〉

鎔謂賓佐曰：「事急矣，謀其所向。」 Rong told his staff, "The crisis is upon us—we must decide what to do."

梁祖盛怒，逆謂式曰：「王令公朋附並汾，違盟爽信，敝賦業已及此，期於無舍！」 The Founding Emperor was furious and confronted Shi: "Lord Wang has allied with Bing and Fen, broken his treaty, and violated his word. My army has already reached your borders, and I intend to leave no quarter!"

〈（《新唐書》：李嗣昭攻洺州，全忠自將擊走之，得鎔與嗣昭書，全忠怒，引軍攻鎔。 (The 《New Book of Tang》: Li Sizhao attacked Mingzhou; Quanzhong personally led troops and drove him off, discovered letters between Rong and Sizhao, grew angry, and led an army against Rong.

式曰：「王公所與和者，息人鋒鏑間耳。 Shi replied, "Lord Wang's alliances were merely to silence weapons for a time.

式請鎔子昭祚及大將梁公儒、李宏規子各一人往質於汴。 Shi requested that Rong's son Zhaozhuo and one son each of the great generals Liang Gongru and Li Honggui be sent as hostages to Bian.

及梁祖稱帝，鎔不得已，行其正朔。 When the Founding Emperor of Liang declared himself emperor, Rong had no choice but to adopt his calendar.

先遣親軍三千，分據鎔深、冀二郡，以鎮守為名。 He first sent three thousand personal guards to occupy Rong's Shen and Ji prefectures, nominally to garrison them.

鎔遣使告急莊宗，莊宗命周德威率兵應之； Rong urgently appealed to Emperor Zhuangzong, who ordered Zhou Dewei to lead troops in response;

鎔復奉唐朝正朔，稱天祐七年。 Rong again adopted the Tang calendar, dating his reign the seventh year of Tianyou.

及破梁軍於高邑，我軍大振，自是遣大將王德明率三十七都從莊宗征伐，收燕降魏，皆預其功，然鎔未嘗親軍遠出。 After the Liang army was defeated at Gaoyi our forces were greatly heartened. Thereafter the great general Wang Deming led thirty-seven commands in Zhuangzong's campaigns, sharing in the conquest of Yan and the submission of Wei, yet Rong never personally led armies far afield.

八年七月，鎔至承天軍，與莊宗合宴同盟，奉觴獻壽，以申感概。 In the seventh month of the eighth year Rong came to Chengtian army, joined Zhuangzong in an allied feast, offered wine and birthday wishes, and expressed his gratitude.

莊宗以鎔父友，曲加敬異，為之聲歌，鎔亦報之，謂莊宗為四十六舅。 Zhuangzong, considering Rong a friend of his father, showed him special respect and sang for him; Rong reciprocated, calling Zhuangzong his forty-sixth uncle.

中飲，莊宗抽佩刀斷衿為盟，許女妻鎔子昭誨。 Mid-feast Zhuangzong drew his sword and severed his collar in alliance, promising his daughter in marriage to Rong's son Zhaohui.

鎔自幼聰悟，然仁而不武，征伐出於下，特以作藩數世。 Rong was intelligent from youth, yet benevolent rather than martial; warfare was left to subordinates, and he held his post only because his clan had governed the frontier for generations.

鎔宴安既久，惑於左道，專求長生之要，常聚緇黃，合煉仙丹，或講說佛經，親受符籙。 Long accustomed to ease, Rong became deluded by heterodox arts, obsessively seeking immortality. He constantly gathered monks and Taoists to refine elixirs, or expounded Buddhist sutras and personally received talismans.

西山多佛寺，又有王母觀，鎔增置館宇，雕飾土木。 The western mountains held many Buddhist temples and also the Queen Mother shrine; Rong added halls and lavishly ornamented the buildings.

道士王若訥者，誘鎔登山臨水，訪求仙跡，每一出，數月方歸，百姓勞弊。 The Taoist Wang Ruone seduced Rong to climb mountains and wade waters seeking immortal traces. Each excursion lasted months before he returned, exhausting the people.

王母觀石路既峻，不通輿馬，每登行，命仆妾數下人維錦繡牽持而上。 The Queen Mother shrine's stone path was steep and impassable to chariots and horses. Whenever Rong climbed it, he had maids and servants hold brocade to pull him upward.

有閹人石希蒙者，奸寵用事，為鎔所嬖，恒與之臥起。 A eunuch named Shi Ximeng wielded wicked favor and was beloved by Rong, constantly sharing bed and waking with him.

天祐八年冬十二月，鎔自西山回，宿於鶻營莊，將歸府第，希蒙勸之佗所。 In the twelfth month of winter in the eighth year of Tianyou Rong returned from the western mountains and lodged at Gueying Manor. About to return to headquarters, he was urged by Ximeng to go elsewhere.

宦者李宏規謂鎔曰：「方今晉王親當矢石，櫛沐風雨，王殫供軍之租賦，為不急之遊盤，世道未夷，人心多梗，久虛府第，遠出遊從，如樂禍之徒，翻然起變，拒門不納，則王欲何歸！」 The eunuch Li Honggui told Rong: "The Prince of Jin now personally faces arrows and braves storms, while Your Highness exhausts supply revenues on frivolous excursions. The world is unsettled and hearts are restless. Headquarters has long stood empty, and you roam far afield—if troublemakers rise and bar the gates, where will Your Highness go!"

鎔懼，促歸。 Rong was afraid and hastened back.

希蒙譖宏規專作威福，多蓄猜防，鎔由是復無歸誌。 Ximeng slandered Honggui for arrogantly wielding power and harboring suspicion, and Rong therefore lost the will to return again.

宏規聞之怒，使親事偏將蘇漢衡率兵擐甲遽至鎔前，抽戈謂鎔曰：「軍人在外已久，願從王歸。」 Honggui heard this and grew angry. He sent his aide, the partial commander Su Hanheng, with armored troops rushing to Rong, drew his blade, and said: "The soldiers abroad have been away long and wish to follow Your Highness home."

宏規進曰：「石希蒙說王遊從，勞弊士庶，又結構陰邪，將為大逆。 Honggui stepped forward and said, "Shi Ximeng urged Your Highness on excursions, exhausting officials and commoners, and moreover plotted wicked treachery that would become great rebellion.

臣已偵視情狀不虛，請王殺之，以除禍本。」 I have investigated and found this to be true. I beg Your Highness to kill him and remove the root of the disaster."

鎔不聽。 Rong would not listen.

宏規因命軍士聚噪，斬希蒙首抵於前。 Honggui therefore ordered the soldiers to raise a clamor, beheaded Ximeng, and presented his head before Rong.

鎔大恐，遂歸。 Rong was greatly frightened and returned.

是夜，親事軍十餘人，自子城西門逾垣而入，鎔方焚香受籙，軍士二人突入，斷其首，袖之而出，遂焚其府第，煙焰亙天，兵士大亂。 That night more than ten personal guard soldiers climbed over the wall from the Zicheng West Gate. Rong was burning incense and receiving talismans when two soldiers burst in, severed his head, tucked it in their sleeves, and fled. They then burned his mansion; smoke and flames filled the sky and the army fell into chaos.

鎔姬妾數百，皆赴水投火而死。 Rong's several hundred concubines all drowned themselves or threw themselves into the fire and died.

鎔於昭宗朝賜號敦睦保定久大功臣，位至成德軍節度使、守太師、中書令、趙王，梁祖加尚書令。 Under Emperor Zhaozong, Rong was granted the title Meritorious Minister of Lasting Concord, Preservation, and Endurance, rose to military governor of the Chengde army, Grand Preceptor, Director of the Chancellery, and Prince of Zhao; the Founding Emperor of Liang later added Minister of Works.

初，鎔之遇害，不獲其屍，及莊宗攻下鎮州，鎔之舊人於所焚府第灰間方得鎔之殘骸。 When Rong was killed his corpse could not be recovered. After Zhuangzong captured Zhenzhou, Rong's old retainers found his remains among the ashes of the burned mansion.

鎔長子昭祚，亂之翌日，張文禮索之，斬於軍門。 Rong's eldest son Zhaozhuo was demanded by Zhang Wenli the day after the uprising and beheaded at the army gate.

當鎔被禍之夕，昭誨為軍人攜出府第，置之地穴十餘日，乃髡其發，被以僧衣。 On the night Rong was killed, soldiers carried Zhaohui out of the mansion, hid him in an underground pit for more than ten days, then shaved his head and dressed him in monk's robes.

時鎔故將符習為汴州節度使，會昭誨來投，即表其事曰：「故趙王王鎔小男昭誨，年十餘歲遇禍，為人所匿免，今尚為僧，名崇隱，謹令赴闕。」 At that time Rong's former general Fu Xi was military governor of Bianzhou. When Zhaohui came to seek refuge, he memorialized: "The late Prince of Zhao Wang Rong's younger son Zhaohui, barely in his teens when disaster struck, was hidden and spared. He is still a monk named Chongyin, and I respectfully send him to court."

史臣曰：王鎔據鎮、冀以稱王，治將數世； The historian says: Wang Rong held Zhen and Ji and styled himself king, ruling for nearly generations;

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 62Volume 62 Book of Later Tang 38: Biographies 14: Meng Fangli, Zhang Wenli, Dong Zhang · 10 passages

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方立丐兵於王鎔，鎔以兵三萬赴之，克修還。 Fangli appealed to Wang Rong for troops; Rong sent thirty thousand men, and Kexiu withdrew.

及敗，奔於王鎔。 When the rebellion collapsed he fled to Wang Rong.

察鎔不親政事，遂曲事當權者，以求衒達。 Seeing that Rong neglected government, he cultivated those in power to advance himself.

每對鎔自言有將才，孫、吳、韓、白，莫己若也。 He told Rong repeatedly that as a commander he stood with Sun Wu, Wu Qi, Han Xin, and Bai Qi—and that none surpassed him.

鎔賞其言，給遺甚厚，因錄為義男，賜姓，名德明，由是每令將兵。 Rong was impressed, lavished gifts on him, adopted him as a son, granted him the surname and the name Deming, and thereafter regularly put him in command.

惟王鎔略無猜間，漸為腹心，乃以符習代其行營，以文禮為防城使，自此專伺間隙。 Wang Rong alone remained unsuspecting and drew him into his inner circle; he replaced Wenli in the field army with Fu Xi and made Wenli commissioner of city defense, after which Wenli watched only for his chance.

及鎔殺李宏規，委政於其子昭祚。 When Rong executed Li Honggui he handed power to his son Zhaozuo.

文禮因其離心，密以奸辭激之曰：「令公命我盡坑爾曹，我念爾十餘年荷戈隨我，為家為國，我若不即殺爾，則得罪於令公； Wenli exploited their disaffection and secretly incited them: "The lord has ordered me to bury you all alive. I remember how for more than ten years you bore arms and followed me, for family and state; if I do not kill you at once, I offend the lord;

是夜作亂，殺王鎔父子，舉族灰滅，惟留王昭祚妻朱氏通梁人； That night they rose in mutiny, killed Wang Rong and his son, and annihilated the clan—only Zhaozuo's wife Lady Zhu, who had connections with the Liang, was spared;

是歲八月，莊宗遣閻寶、史建瑭及趙將符習等率王鎔本軍進討。 In the eighth month Zhuangzong sent Yan Bao, Shi Jiantan, and the Zhao general Fu Xi with Wang Rong's former army to suppress him.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 71Volume 71 Book of Later Tang 47: Biographies 23: Ma Yu, Si Kongting, Cao Tingyin, Xiao Xifu, Yao Zongzhi, Jia Fu, Ma Gao, Luo Guan, Chun Yuyan, Zhang Ge, Xu Ji, Zhou Xuanbao · 7 passages

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李匡威為王鎔所殺，鎔書報其弟匡儔。 When Li Kuangwei was killed by Wang Rong, Rong sent a written report to Kuangchou, his brother.

匡儔遣使於鎔，問謀亂本末，幕客為書，多不如旨。 Kuangchou sent a messenger to Rong to ask how the conspiracy had unfolded; several secretaries drafted replies, yet most missed what he wanted.

嘗聘王鎔於鎮州，官妓有轉轉者，美麗善歌舞，因宴席，郁累挑之。 On an embassy to Wang Rong at Zhenzhou he took notice of an official courtesan named Zhuanzhuan, renowned for her beauty and dancing; during the feast Yu kept pressing his attentions on her.

乃棄其母妻，變姓名，亡之鎮州，自稱青州掌書記，進謁王鎔。 He abandoned his mother and wife, changed his name, fled to Zhenzhou, presented himself to Wang Rong as chief secretary of Qingzhou, and sought an audience.

鎔以希甫為參軍，尤不樂，居歲餘，又亡之易州，削髮為僧，居百丈山。 Rong appointed him a staff adjutant, which he liked even less; after a year he fled to Yizhou, took the tonsure, and lived as a monk on Mount Baizhang.

賈馥，故鎮州節度使王鎔判官也。 Jia Fu had served as secretary to Wang Rong, the former military commissioner of Zhenzhou.

張文禮殺王鎔，時莊宗未即尊位，文禮遣馥至鄴都勸進，因留鄴下，棲遲郵舍。 After Zhang Wenli killed Wang Rong, while Zhuangzong had not yet taken the throne, Wenli sent Fu to Yedu to urge his accession; Fu stayed on there, lodging at the post station.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 72Volume 72 Book of Later Tang 48: Biographies 24: Zhang Chengye, Zhang Juhan, Ma Shaohong, Meng Hangqiong · 1 passage

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孟漢瓊，本鎮州王鎔之小豎也。 Meng Hanqiong was originally a young attendant of Wang Rong of Zhenzhou.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 121Volume 121 Book of Later Zhou 23: Biographies 1: Empresses and Consorts · 3 passages

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妃幼以良家子中選，事趙王王镕。 Chosen in youth from a respectable family, she entered the service of Prince of Zhao Wang Rong.

父同芝，本州諮呈官、檢校工部尚書，事趙王王镕，歷職中要。 Her father Tongzhi was the prefecture's reporting officer and Acting Minister of Works; he served Prince of Zhao Wang Rong and rose to posts in the central administration.

天祐末，趙將張文禮殺王镕，以鎮州歸梁，莊宗命將符存審討平之。 At the end of Tianyou the Zhao general Zhang Wenli killed Wang Rong and surrendered Zhenzhou to Liang; Zhuangzong sent Fu Cunshen to suppress him.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 2Volume 2 Later Liang Annals 2: Taizu 2 · 1 passage

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趙王王鎔、北平王王處直叛附于晉，晉人救趙。 Wang Rong of Zhao and Wang Chuzhi of Beiping rebelled and sided with Jin; the Jin army marched to Zhao's aid.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 3Volume 3 Later Liang Annals 3: Later Emperors · 2 passages

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龍德元年春，趙將張文禮殺其君鎔來乞師，不許。 In spring of Longde 1, the Zhao general Zhang Wenli murdered his lord Wang Rong and requested military aid; the court refused.

文禮初為鎔養子，號王德明，此書張文禮者，從舊史。 Wenli had first been Wang Rong’s adopted son, under the name Wang Deming. The text calls him Zhang Wenli in accordance with the old history.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 19Volume 19: Taizu of Later Zhou's Family · 4 passages

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妃幼以色選入趙王宮，事王熔。 As a girl she was selected for her looks and sent into the Zhao princely household to serve Wang Rong.

熔為張文禮所殺，鎮州亂，妃亦流寓民間，後嫁里人石光輔。 When Rong was killed by Zhang Wenli and Zhen Prefecture was thrown into chaos, she too was cast adrift among the people and later married a local man, Shi Guangfu.

父同芝，事趙王王熔為諮呈官，官至檢校工部尚書。 Her father Tongzhi had served Wang Rong of Zhao as memorial presenter and reached the post of acting Minister of Works.

熔死，鎮州亂，莊宗遣幽州符存審以兵討張文禮，裨將武從諫館於妃家，見妃尚幼，憐之，而從諫家在太原，遂以妃歸，為其子婦。 After Rong's death threw Zhen Prefecture into chaos, Zhuangzong sent Fu Cunjian from Youzhou against Zhang Wenli. The subordinate commander Wu Congjian was quartered at her family's house, took pity on the girl still in her youth, and—his own family being in Taiyuan—brought her home as a daughter-in-law.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 26Volume 26 Later Tang Biographies 6: Fu Xi, Wu Zhen, Kong Qian, Zhang Yanlang, Li Yan, Li Renju, Mao Zhang · 4 passages

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少事趙王王镕為軍校，自晉救趙，破梁軍柏鄉，趙常遣習將兵從晉。 In youth he served Wang Rong of Zhao as a military officer. When Jin marched to save Zhao and broke Liang at Baixiang, Zhao often sent Xi with Jin’s host.

晉軍德勝，張文禮弒趙王王镕，上書莊宗，求習歸趙。 After Jin’s victory at Desheng, Zhang Wenli murdered Wang Rong of Zhao and petitioned Zhuangzong to send Xi home to Zhao.

少事趙王王镕為軍卒，稍以功遷裨校，隸符習軍。 In youth he served Wang Rong of Zhao as a common soldier, won promotion to captain, and joined Fu Xi’s command.

習從莊宗於河上，而镕為張文禮所弒，震從習討文禮，而家在趙，文禮執震母妻及子十餘人以招震，震不顧。 Xi followed Zhuangzong on the river while Wenli murdered Wang Rong. Zhen marched with Xi against Wenli, but his kin were still in Zhao. Wenli seized Zhen’s mother, wife, and more than ten children to force him over. Zhen would not look.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 44Volume 44 Miscellaneous Biographies 24: Liu Zhijun, Ding Hui, He Delun, Yan Bao, Kang Yanxiao · 1 passage

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末帝優詔答之，言：「王镕死，鎮人請降，遣鄩以兵定鎮州，非有佗也，若魏不便之，即召鄩還。」 The Last Emperor answered gently: “Wang Rong is dead; Zhen asks to submit; I sent Liu Yun to settle it—nothing more. If Wei is uneasy, I will recall him.”