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Overview Wang Yanqiu was a general.
Identity Historical · Male
Other names Type English Chinese Pinyin
Changed name
Li Shaoqian
李紹虔
Li Shaoqian
Life and dates Death Age Attested activity Assessments and attributes Assessment strategist who comforted troops; wore down Dingzhou by waiting · Mode historian-judgmentReferences in the histories
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New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 46 Volume 46 Miscellaneous Biographies 26: Zhao Zaili, Huo Yanwei, Fang Zhiwen, Wang Yanqiu, An Zhongba, Wang Jianli, Kang Fu, Guo Yanlu · 16 passages
梁、晉軍河上，以晏球為行營馬步軍都指揮使。
Liang and Jin faced each other on the river. Yanqiu was made commander-in-chief of the campaign horse and foot.
莊宗入汴，晏球以兵追之，行至封丘，聞末帝已崩，即解甲降唐，莊宗賜姓名曰李紹虔，拜齊州防禦使，戍瓦橋關。
Zhuangzong entered Bian. Yanqiu pursued to Fengqiu, heard the Last Emperor was dead, doffed armor and surrendered to Tang. Zhuangzong gave him the name Li Shaoqian, made him defense commissioner of Qi, and garrisoned Waqiao Pass.
明宗兵變，自鄴而南，遣人招晏球，晏球從至洛陽，拜歸德軍節度使。
When Mingzong’s troops mutinied and marched south from Ye, he sent for Yanqiu. Yanqiu followed to Luoyang and was made military governor of Guide.
定州王都反，以晏球為招討使，與宣徽南院使張延朗等討之。
Wang Du of Dingzhou rebelled. Yanqiu was made pacification commissioner and campaigned against him with Zhang Yanlang of the Southern Court and others.
晏球聞禿餒等兵且來，留張延朗屯新樂，自逆於望都。
Yanqiu heard Tujie was near. He left Zhang Yanlang at Xinle and went to meet him at Wangdu.
而契丹從他道入定州，與都出不意擊延朗軍，延朗大敗，收餘兵會晏球趨曲陽，都乘勝追之。
The Khitan came by another road into Dingzhou, joined Du, and struck Yanlang by surprise. Yanlang was routed, gathered the remnant, and joined Yanqiu toward Quyang. Du pursued in victory.
晏球先至水次，方坐胡床指麾，而都眾掩至，晏球與左右十餘人連矢射之，都眾稍卻，而後軍亦至。
Yanqiu reached the river first and sat on a camp chair giving orders when Du’s masses closed in. Yanqiu and a dozen at his side shot in succession. Du’s men fell back a little; then the rear guard came up.
晏球立高岡，號令諸將皆橐弓矢、用短兵，回顧者斬。
Yanqiu stood on a high hill and ordered every general to case bow and arrow and fight with short steel—whoever looked back was beheaded.
契丹又遣惕隱以七千騎益都，晏球遇之唐河，追擊至滿城，斬首二千級，獲馬千匹。
The Khitan sent Tiyin with seven thousand horse to reinforce Du. Yanqiu met them on the Tang River, pursued to Mancheng, and took two thousand heads and a thousand horses.
自晏球擊敗禿餒，又走惕隱，其餘眾奔潰投村落，村落之人以鋤耰白梃所在擊殺之，無復遺類。
Yanqiu broke Tujie and routed Tiyin. The rest fled into villages. Villagers with hoes, flails, and white staves killed them wherever they met until none were left.
於是時，中國之威幾於大震，而契丹少衰伏矣，自晏球始也。
Then China’s prestige nearly shook the realm and the Khitan weakened and submitted. It began with Yanqiu.
晏球攻定州，久不克，明宗數遣人促其破賊，晏球以謂未可急攻。
Yanqiu besieged Dingzhou long without taking it. Mingzong urged him again and again. Yanqiu held that a rush would not do.
其偏將朱弘昭、張虔釗等宣言曰：「晏球怯耳！」
His deputies Zhu Hongzhao and Zhang Qianzhao proclaimed: “Yanqiu is only timid!”
晏球乃休養士卒，食其三州之賦，悉以俸祿所入具牛酒，日與諸將高會。
Yanqiu rested and fed his men on the tax of three prefectures, spent every cash of salary on oxen and wine, and daily feasted the generals.
晏球為將有機略，善撫士卒。
As a general Yanqiu had stratagem and knew how to comfort troops.
其擊禿餒，既因敗以為功，而諸將皆欲乘勝取都，晏球返，獨不動，卒以持久弊之。
He had turned defeat into merit against Tujie, yet every general wanted to press on and take Du. Yanqiu held back alone and in the end wore them down by waiting.