1
韓令坤
Han Lingkun
2
韓令坤，磁州武安人。
Han Lingkun was a native of Wu'an in Cizhou.
3
父倫，少以勇敢隸成德軍兵籍，累遷徐州下邳鎮將兼守禦指揮使。 世宗以令坤貴，擢陳州行軍司馬，及令坤領陳州，徙倫許州。 罷職，復居宛丘，多以不法干郡政，私酤求市利，掊斂民財，公私患之。 項城民武郁詣闕訴其事，命殿中侍御史率汀按之。 倫詐報汀云被詔赴闕，汀奏之。 世宗怒，追劾具狀，法當棄市。 令坤泣請於世宗，遂免死流海島。 顯德六年，為左驍衛中郎將，遷左監門衛將軍。 宋初，拜磁州刺史，轉亳州團練使。 乾德四年，改本州防禦使，卒。
His father Lun had been known for courage since youth and was enrolled in the Chengde army. Through successive promotions he became fortress commander of Xiapi in Xuzhou and concurrently commander of the defense corps. Because Lingkun had risen to prominence, Emperor Shizong promoted Lun to acting military commissioner of Chenzhou; when Lingkun assumed command of Chenzhou, Lun was transferred to Xuzhou. After losing his post he returned to Wanqiu, where he repeatedly meddled in prefectural affairs by illegal means, selling liquor on the side for profit and squeezing the people for money. Both officials and commoners found him a nuisance. A man of Xiangcheng named Wu Yu went to the capital to report the matter, and the court ordered the palace attendant censor Shuai Ting to look into it. Lun falsely told Ting that he had been summoned to court, and Ting reported this to the throne. Emperor Shizong was furious. A follow-up investigation established the full facts of the case, and by law the sentence was death by public execution. Lingkun wept and begged Emperor Shizong for mercy, and Lun's life was spared; he was banished to an island in the sea instead. In the sixth year of Xiande he served as central commandant of the Left Tiger Cavalry Guard, then was transferred to general of the Left Gate Guard. At the founding of the Song dynasty he was appointed prefect of Cizhou, then transferred to regimentation commissioner of Bozhou. In the fourth year of Qiande he was made defense commissioner of his own prefecture and died in office.
4
世宗命宰相李穀將兵征淮南，俾令坤等十二將以從。 穀退保正陽，為吳人所乘。 令坤與宣祖、李重進合兵擊之，大敗吳人。 世宗親征，聞揚州無備，遣令坤及宣祖、白延遇、趙晁等襲之。 令坤先令延遇以精騎數百遲明馳入，城中不之覺。 令坤繼至撫之，民皆按堵。 南唐東都副留守馮延魯為僧匿寺中，令坤求獲之，送行在，遂以令坤知州事。 由是泰州懼以城降。
Emperor Shizong ordered Chief Minister Li Gu to lead an army against Huainan and sent twelve generals, including Lingkun, to serve under him. Li Gu fell back to defend Zhengyang and was caught at a disadvantage by the Wu army. Lingkun joined the future Song founder and Li Chongjin in a combined attack and routed the Wu forces. When Emperor Shizong led the campaign in person and learned that Yangzhou was undefended, he dispatched Lingkun along with the future founder, Bai Yan'yu, Zhao Chao, and others to seize it. Lingkun first sent Yan'yu galloping into the city at dawn with several hundred elite cavalry; the inhabitants never knew what was happening. When Lingkun arrived afterward and reassured the people, the populace remained calm and untroubled. Southern Tang's deputy military commissioner of the Eastern Capital, Feng Yanlu, had hidden himself as a monk in a temple. Lingkun tracked him down and sent him to the imperial camp, and Lingkun was then put in charge of the prefecture. Taizhou, alarmed by this, surrendered its city.
5
時錢俶受詔攻常、潤，圍毗陵，反為南唐所敗。 南唐乘勝遣將陸孟俊逼泰州，周師不能守，孟俊遂進軍蜀岡，逼揚州，令坤棄其城。 世宗怒，命太祖與張永德領兵趨六合援之。 令坤聞援至，復入城守，與孟俊兵戰，大敗之，擒孟俊，敗其將馬貴於楚州灣頭堰，擒漣州刺史秦進崇。 俄命向拱為緣江招討使，以令坤副之，下壽州。 歸朝，加檢校太尉、領鎮安軍節度使。 世宗乃復幸淮右，次楚州，遣令坤率兵先入揚州，命權知軍府事。 揚州城為吳人所毀，詔發丁壯別築新城，命令坤為修城都部署。
At the time Qian Chu had been ordered to attack Changzhou and Runzhou and was besieging Piling, but Southern Tang turned the tables and defeated him. Southern Tang pressed its advantage by sending the general Lu Mengjun against Taizhou. The Zhou army could not hold the city, and Mengjun advanced to Shugang and pressed Yangzhou, forcing Lingkun to abandon it. Emperor Shizong was enraged and ordered the future founder and Zhang Yongde to lead troops to Liuhe to relieve them. When Lingkun heard that relief had arrived, he re-entered the city to hold it. He fought Mengjun's army and routed it, capturing Mengjun himself. At Wantou Dam in Chuzhou he defeated Mengjun's general Ma Gui and captured Qin Jinchong, the prefect of Lianzhou. Shortly afterward Xiang Gong was appointed riverine pacification commissioner with Lingkun as his deputy, and they captured Shouzhou. On returning to court he was granted the honorary title of Grand Preceptor and made military governor of Zhen'an Circuit. Emperor Shizong then returned to the Huai region in person, stopping at Chuzhou. He sent Lingkun ahead with troops into Yangzhou and appointed him provisional military prefect. The Wu had destroyed Yangzhou's walls, so an edict went out to mobilize laborers to build a new city on a separate site, with Lingkun appointed overall supervisor of the project.
6
宋初，移領天平軍，加侍衛馬步軍都指揮使、同平章事。 太祖親征李筠，詔令坤率兵屯河陽。 及澤、潞平，還京，錫宴令坤等於禮賢講武殿，賜襲衣、器幣、鞍勒馬有差，以功加兼侍中。 又從討李重進。 建隆二年，改成德軍節度，充北面緣邊兵馬都部署。 將赴鎮，上於別殿置酒餞之，因勖其為治。
At the founding of Song he was transferred to Tiansping Circuit, appointed commander-in-chief of the palace guard, and made a co-director of the Chancellery. When the founder personally campaigned against Li Jun, an edict ordered Lingkun to lead troops and encamp at Heyang. After Ze and Lu were pacified, the founder returned to the capital and held a banquet for Lingkun and the others in the Hall of Reverence for Worthies and Martial Instruction, bestowing ceremonial robes, vessels, silks, saddles, bridles, and horses in varying amounts. For his service Lingkun was additionally made chief minister. He also took part in the campaign against Li Chongjin. In the second year of Jianlong he was made military governor of Chengde Circuit and appointed overall commander of frontier forces on the northern border. As he was about to leave for his post, the emperor held a farewell feast for him in a side hall and urged him to govern well.
7
乾德六年，疽發背，卒，年四十六。 太祖素服發哀於講武殿，錄其子慶朝為閑廄使，慶雄為閑廄副使。 令坤有才略，識治道，與太祖同事周室，情好親密。 鎮常山凡七年，北邊以寧。 聞其卒，甚悼惜之。
In the sixth year of Qiande an abscess broke out on his back and he died, aged forty-six. The founder, dressed in plain mourning, expressed his grief at the Martial Instruction Hall and appointed Lingkun's sons Qingchao as commissioner of the imperial stud and Qingxiong as vice commissioner. Lingkun was talented and resourceful, understood the art of governance, and had served the Zhou court alongside the founder; the two were on close and affectionate terms. He held Changshan for seven years in all, and the northern frontier remained secure throughout. When he heard of Lingkun's death, the founder deeply mourned and regretted the loss.
8
初，南唐遣邊鎬破湖南，以馬希崇分司揚州，及令坤克取之，希崇以妓楊氏獻，令坤甚嬖之。 會擒陸孟俊，將械送行在所，楊氏於簾間窺見之，即拊膺慟哭。 令坤怪，問之，楊氏曰：「孟俊往年入潭州，殺我家二百口，惟妾為希崇所匿得免，願甘心焉。」 令坤以詰孟俊，孟俊具狀，令坤乃殺之。
Earlier Southern Tang had sent Bian Hao to conquer Hunan and posted Ma Xichong to Yangzhou as deputy commissioner. When Lingkun took the city, Xichong presented the courtesan Lady Yang to him, and Lingkun became deeply infatuated with her. When Lu Mengjun was captured and about to be sent to the imperial camp in chains, Lady Yang caught sight of him from behind a curtain and at once beat her breast and wept bitterly. Lingkun was puzzled and asked her why. Lady Yang said, "Years ago when Mengjun entered Tanzhou he slaughtered two hundred members of my family. Only I survived because Xichong hid me. I wish to see him pay with his life." Lingkun questioned Mengjun about it. Mengjun confessed in full, and Lingkun had him executed.
9
慕容延釗
Murong Yanzhao
10
慕容延釗，太原人。 父章，襄州馬步軍都校、領開州刺史。 延釗少以勇幹聞。 漢祖之興也，周祖為其佐命，以延釗隸帳下。 周廣順初，補西頭供奉官，歷尚食副使、鐵騎都虞候。
Murong Yanzhao was a native of Taiyuan. His father Zhang was chief commander of the horse-and-foot army of Xiangzhou and concurrently served as prefect of Kaizhou. From youth Yanzhao was known for courage and ability. When Emperor Gaozu of Later Han rose to power, the future Zhou founder was among his chief supporters and placed Yanzhao in his personal retinue. At the beginning of the Zhou dynasty's Guangshun reign he was appointed attendant of the Western Head, then served successively as vice commissioner of palace provisions and chief adjutant of the Iron Cavalry Guard.
11
太祖即位，延釗方握重兵屯真定，帝遣使諭旨，許以便宜從事。 延釗與韓令坤率所部兵按治邊境，以鎮靜聞。 太祖嘉之，加殿前都點檢、同中書門下三品，避其父名故也。 李筠叛，初命與王全斌由東路會兵進討，俄為行營都部署、知潞州行府事； 及平，加兼侍中，詔還澶州。
When the founder took the throne, Yanzhao was holding substantial military power and was encamped at Zhending. The emperor sent envoys to convey his wishes and authorized him to act at his discretion. Yanzhao and Han Lingkun led their troops in pacifying the border regions and were known for their calm and steady conduct. The founder commended them, granting Yanzhao the additional posts of commander-in-chief of the palace guard and third-rank co-director of the Chancellery — the latter title was used to avoid the character in his father's name. When Li Jun rebelled, Yanzhao was first ordered to join Wang Quanbin on the eastern route for a converging attack; shortly afterward he was made overall commander of the mobile headquarters and provisional military prefect of Luzhou; After the rebellion was suppressed he was additionally made chief minister and ordered to return to Cazhou.
12
建隆二年，長春節來朝，賜宅一區。 表解軍職，徙為山南東道節度、西南面兵馬都部署。 是冬大寒，遣中使賜貂裘、百子氈帳。 四年春，命師南征，以延釗為湖南道行營前軍都部署。 時延釗被病，詔令肩輿即戎事。 賊將汪端與眾數千擾朗州，延釗擒之，磔於市。 荊、湘既平，加檢校太尉。 是冬，卒，年五十一。
In the second year of Jianlong he came to court for the Changchun Festival and was granted a residence. He memorialized asking to be relieved of military office and was transferred to military governor of Shannan East Circuit and overall commander of forces on the southwestern frontier. That winter was bitterly cold, and the court sent palace envoys to bestow sable fur robes and a felt tent embroidered with the "hundred sons" motif. In the spring of the fourth year the army was ordered south on campaign, and Yanzhao was made forward commander of the Hunan Circuit mobile headquarters. Yanzhao was ill at the time, but an edict ordered him to take up military affairs immediately, carried in a palanquin if need be. The rebel general Wang Duan harassed Langzhou with several thousand followers. Yanzhao captured him and had him dismembered in the marketplace. After Jing and Xiang were pacified he was granted the honorary title of Grand Preceptor. That winter he died, aged fifty-one.
13
初，延釗與太祖友善，顯德末，太祖任殿前都點檢，延釗為副，常兄事延釗； 及即位，每遣使勞問，猶以兄呼之。 洎寢疾，御封藥以賜，聞其卒，慟哭久之。 贈中書令，追封河南郡王，錄其子弟授官者四人。
Yanzhao and the founder had long been on friendly terms. At the end of the Xiande era, when the founder served as commander of the palace guard with Yanzhao as his deputy, the founder always treated Yanzhao as an elder brother; after taking the throne he repeatedly sent envoys to inquire after him and still addressed him as "elder brother." When Yanzhao fell gravely ill, the emperor personally sealed medicine and sent it to him. When he heard of Yanzhao's death, he wept bitterly for a long time. The court posthumously honored him as director of the Chancellery, posthumously enfeoffed him as Prince of Henan Commandery, and appointed four of his sons and younger relatives to office.
14
子德業、德豐、德鈞。 德業至衛州刺史； 德鈞至尚食副使。 延釗弟延忠，歷內殿直、供奉西頭官都知，至磁州刺史； 延卿至虎捷軍都指揮使。 延卿子德琛。
His sons were Deye, Defeng, and Dejun. Deye rose to prefect of Weizhou; Dejun rose to vice commissioner of palace provisions. Yanzhao's younger brother Yanzhong served successively as inner palace attendant and director of the Western Head attendant corps, and rose to prefect of Cizhou; Yanqing rose to commander of the Tiger Swift Guard. Yanqing's son was Dechen.
15
子德豐
Son: Defeng
16
德豐，字日新，幼聰悟，延釗愛之，嘗曰：「興吾門者必此子。」 八歲，補山南東道衙內指揮使。 延釗卒，授如京使。
Defeng, courtesy name Rixin, was clever and perceptive from childhood. Yanzhao doted on him and once said, "It is this boy who will raise our house." At the age of eight he was appointed commander of the inner guard of Shannan East Circuit. When Yanzhao died, Defeng was appointed commissioner of the Capital Reception Office.
17
開寶中，從征太原，領禦砦南面巡檢。 又為揚州都監。 征南唐，為洞子都監。 城既下，命為昇州都監，市廛安靜，澤國富饒，使者多裒聚金帛，德豐獨以廉潔聞。 俄領蔚州刺史。
During the Kaibao era he accompanied the campaign against Taiyuan and served as southern circuit inspector of the imperial encampments. He also served as overall supervisor of Yangzhou. In the campaign against Southern Tang he served as overall supervisor of the assault corps. After the city fell he was appointed overall supervisor of Shengzhou. The markets were quiet and the marsh lands prosperous; most envoys amassed gold and silks, but Defeng alone was known for integrity. Shortly afterward he took charge as prefect of Weizhou.
18
太平興國二年，知慶州兼邠、寧都巡檢。 嘗破小遇族，奪名馬數十匹，詔書褒諭。 居任九年，以簡靜為治，邊鎮安之。
In the second year of Taiping Xingguo he served as prefect of Qingzhou and concurrently as frontier inspector of Bin and Ning. He once defeated the Xiaoyu clan and seized several dozen prized horses, for which an edict praised and commended him. He held office nine years, governing with simplicity and restraint, and the border post remained at peace.
19
雍熙四年，使登、萊閱強壯，及還，拜西上閣門使。 是冬，出為定遠軍鈐轄，命領後陣中隊，別將萬騎以禦邊害。
In the fourth year of Yongxi he was sent to Deng and Lai to review able-bodied men, and upon his return was appointed envoy of the Western Upper Gate. That winter he was sent out as military controller of Dingyuan Army, ordered to lead the rear-echelon middle corps and separately command ten thousand cavalry to repel border incursions.
20
淳化二年，進秩東上，知邢州。 三年，改判四方館事，出知延州。 時侯延廣知靈武，或言其得西夏情，倔強難制，命德豐代之，就賜白金三千兩。 會建使名，改為四方館使。 未幾，以所部不治，徙知慶州，俄又改靈州兼部署。 穀價湧貴，德豐出私廩賑饑民，全活者眾。 轉引進使。 賊入境，德豐率兵擊走，獲羊馬甚眾。
In the second year of Chunhua he was promoted to envoy of the Eastern Upper Gate and appointed prefect of Xingzhou. In the third year he was reassigned to direct the affairs of the Four Directions Bureau and sent out as prefect of Yanzhou. At the time Hou Yanguang was administering Lingwu. Some said he had won the confidence of the Western Xia but was obstinate and hard to control, so Defeng was ordered to replace him and was granted three thousand taels of silver on the spot. When the bureau of envoys was established, his title was changed to envoy of the Four Directions Bureau. Before long, because his command was poorly governed, he was transferred to serve as prefect of Qingzhou; shortly afterward he was reassigned to Lingzhou with concurrent military deployment authority. When grain prices soared, Defeng opened his private granary to feed the hungry, saving many lives. He was transferred to the post of introduction commissioner. When raiders crossed the border, Defeng led troops to drive them off and captured a great number of sheep and horses.
21
咸平二年，遷客省使，知鎮州，召對便坐，撫慰甚至。 是冬，遼人南侵，德豐繕兵固守，餉饋不絕，詔獎之。 三年，改滄州。 德豐輕財好施，厚享將士。 在西邊時，母留京師，妻孥寓長安，貧甚，真宗憫之，特詔給團練使奉。 逾年，進潁州團練使，知貝、瀛二州。 五年，卒，年五十五。 家無餘財，談者善之。
In the second year of Xianping he was transferred to commissioner of the Reception Bureau and appointed prefect of Zhenzhou. Summoned to an audience in the informal seat, he received exceptionally warm words of comfort and encouragement. That winter the Khitan invaded from the north. Defeng repaired his forces and held firm, keeping supplies flowing without interruption, and an edict commended him. In the third year he was transferred to Cangzhou. Defeng was generous with money and fond of giving, and treated his officers and soldiers lavishly. While he was on the western frontier, his mother remained in the capital and his wife and children lived in Chang'an in great poverty. Emperor Zhenzong took pity on them and specially ordered that they be given the salary of a regimentation commissioner. The following year he was promoted to regimentation commissioner of Yingzhou and appointed to administer Bei and Ying prefectures. In the fifth year he died, aged fifty-five. His household left no surplus wealth, and those who spoke of him praised him for it.
22
子惟素，至殿內承制。
His son Weisu rose to director of palace memorials within the Hall.
23
從子德琛
Nephew: Dechen
24
德琛以延釗蔭補供奉官，累遷內殿崇班、知夔州。 李順之亂，賊酋張餘領眾十萬餘、舟千艘來寇，與順戰龍山，斬首千餘級； 又與白繼贇擊賊，斬二萬餘，悉焚其舟。 賊剽開州，圍雲安，德琛往援之，又斬百餘級。 累詔褒諭。 歷西京作坊、左藏二副使。
Dechen entered service through Yanzhao's privilege as a descendant of an official, was appointed attendant official, and through successive promotions rose to senior rank of the inner palace and became prefect of Kuizhou. During Li Shun's rebellion, the bandit chieftain Zhang Yu led more than one hundred thousand followers and a thousand boats to raid. Dechen fought Shun at Longshan and took more than a thousand heads; He also joined Bai Jiyun in striking the rebels, beheading more than twenty thousand and burning all their boats. When bandits raided Kaizhou and besieged Yun'an, Dechen went to relieve them and took another hundred-odd heads. Repeated edicts praised and commended him. He served successively as vice commissioner of the Western Capital workshops and of the Left Treasury.
25
咸平二年，轉崇儀副使、荊湖北路鈐轄。 蠻擾澧、鼎境上，德琛戰於北氵義，奪耕牛、鎧甲，斬馘以歸。 徙峽路鈐轄，未至，復知夔州。 景德中，領梧州刺史，復任峽路，再遷莊宅使，又為並、代鈐轄，知憲州。 天禧初，改右監門衛大將軍。
In the second year of Xianping he was transferred to vice commissioner of ceremonial regalia and military controller of Jinghu North Route. When tribal peoples harassed the borderlands of Li and Ding, Dechen fought them at Beiyi, seizing plow oxen and armor and returning with heads taken in battle. He was transferred to military controller of the Gorges Route, but before he arrived he was again appointed prefect of Kuizhou. During the Jingde era he was given charge as prefect of Wuzhou, again assigned to the Gorges Route, then promoted to commissioner of estates, and later made military controller of Bing and Dai and prefect of Xianzhou. At the beginning of the Tianxi era he was made grand general of the Right Gate Guard.
26
符彥卿
Fu Yanqing
27
符彥卿，字冠侯，陳州宛丘人。 父存審，後唐宣武軍節度、蕃漢馬步軍都總管兼中書令。 彥卿年十三，能騎射。 事莊宗於太原，以謹愿稱，出入臥內，及長，以為親從指揮使。 入汴，遷散員指揮使。 郭從謙之亂，莊宗左右皆引去，惟彥卿力戰，射殺十數人，俄矢集乘輿，遂慟哭而去。 天成三年，以龍武都虞候、吉州刺史討王都於定州，大破契丹於嘉山。 明年克其城，授耀州團練使。 改慶州刺史。 奉詔築堡方渠北烏侖山口，以招党項。 清泰初，改易州，兼領北面騎軍，賜戎服、介胄、戰馬。 嘗射獵遂城鹽臺淀，一日射麞、彘、狼、狐、兔四十二，觀者神之。 晉天福初，授同州節度。 兄彥饒亦鎮滑臺。 俄而彥饒叛，彥卿上表待罪，乞田里，晉祖釋不問。 改左羽林統軍，俄兼領右羽林，改鎮鄜延。
Fu Yanqing, courtesy name Guanhou, was a native of Wanqiu in Chenzhou. His father Cunshen was military governor of Xuanwu Circuit under Later Tang, overall commander of barbarian and Han horse-and-foot forces, and concurrently director of the Chancellery. At the age of thirteen Yanqing could already ride and shoot. He served Emperor Zhuangzong at Taiyuan and was known for prudence and sincerity. He had access to the inner bedchamber, and when he came of age was made commander of the personal guard. When Zhuangzong entered Bian, Yanqing was transferred to commander of the scattered guards. During Guo Congqian's rebellion, all of Zhuangzong's attendants withdrew. Only Yanqing fought on, shooting down more than ten men. When arrows soon clustered about the imperial carriage, he wept bitterly and left. In the third year of Tiancheng, as chief adjutant of the Dragon Martial Guard and prefect of Jizhou, he campaigned against Wang Du at Dingzhou and inflicted a great defeat on the Khitan at Jiashan. The next year they captured the city, and he was appointed regimentation commissioner of Yaozhou. He was transferred to prefect of Qingzhou. By imperial order he built a fort at Wulun Mountain Pass north of Fangqu to win over the Tangut tribes. At the beginning of the Qingtai era he was transferred to Yizhou and concurrently commanded northern cavalry, and was granted military dress, armor, and war horses. Once while hunting at Salt Platform Marsh in Suicheng, he shot forty-two roe deer, boars, wolves, foxes, and hares in a single day, and onlookers marveled at him. At the beginning of the Later Jin Tianfu era he was appointed military governor of Tongzhou Circuit. His elder brother Yanrao also held Huatai as his post. Shortly afterward Yanrao rebelled. Yanqing submitted a memorial accepting blame and asking to retire to the countryside, and Emperor Gaozu of Jin pardoned him without further inquiry. He was made commander of the Left Feathered Forest Guard, then shortly afterward also commanded the Right Feathered Forest, and was transferred to hold Yan-Yan Circuit.
28
少帝幼與彥卿狎，即位，召還，出鎮河陽三城。 遼人南侵，詔彥卿率所部拒戰澶州。 契丹騎兵數萬圍高行周於鐵邱，諸將莫敢當其鋒，彥卿獨引數百騎擊之，遼人遁去，行周得免。 又副李守貞討平青州楊光遠，移鎮許州，封祁國公。
Emperor Shaodi had been close to Yanqing since childhood. When he took the throne he summoned Yanqing back and sent him out to hold the Three Cities of Heyang. When the Liao invaders came south, an edict ordered Yanqing to lead his troops to resist them at Cazhou. Tens of thousands of Khitan cavalry besieged Gao Xingzhou at Tieqiu. None of the generals dared meet their charge, but Yanqing alone led several hundred horsemen against them. The Liao forces fled, and Xingzhou was saved. He also served under Li Shouzhen in suppressing Yang Guangyuan of Qingzhou, was transferred to hold Xuzhou, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Qi.
29
開運二年，與杜重威、李守貞經略北鄙。 契丹主率眾十餘萬圍晉師於陽城，軍中乏水，鑿井輒壞，爭絞泥吮之，人馬多渴死，時晉師居下風，將戰，弓弩莫施。 彥卿謂張彥澤、皇甫遇曰：「與其束手就擒，曷若死戰，然未必死。」 彥澤等然之。 遂潛兵尾其後，順風擊之，契丹大敗，其主乘橐駝以遁，獲其器甲、旗仗數萬以歸。 少帝嘉之，改武寧軍節度、同平章事。
In the second year of Kaiyun he joined Du Chongwei and Li Shouzhen in securing the northern frontier. The Khitan ruler led more than one hundred thousand men to besiege the Jin army at Yangcheng. The army lacked water; wells collapsed as soon as they were dug, and soldiers competed to squeeze mud and suck out whatever moisture they could. Many men and horses died of thirst. The Jin army was downwind, and when battle was about to begin they could not use their bows and crossbows. Yanqing said to Zhang Yanze and Huangfu Yu, "Rather than wait to be captured, how much better to fight to the death — and death is not necessarily certain." Zhang Yanze and the others agreed. They then secretly sent troops to follow behind the enemy and struck them downwind. The Khitan suffered a great defeat; their ruler fled on a camel, and the Jin forces returned with tens of thousands of pieces of armor and captured standards and weapons. Emperor Shaodi commended him and made him military governor of Wuning Circuit and co-director of the Chancellery.
30
為左右所間，會再出師河朔，彥卿不預，易其行伍，配以羸師數千，戍荊州口。 及杜重威以大軍降於滹水，急詔彥卿與高行周領禁兵屯澶淵。 會彥澤引遼兵入汴，彥卿與行周遂歸遼。 遼主以陽城之敗詰彥卿，彥卿對曰：「臣事晉王，不敢愛死，今日之事，死生唯命。」 遼主笑而釋之。
Slandered by those around the emperor, when troops were again dispatched to the Hebei region Yanqing was left out. His unit was changed and he was given several thousand weak troops to garrison at Jingzhoukou. When Du Chongwei surrendered the main army at the Hutuo River, urgent orders summoned Yanqing and Gao Xingzhou to lead palace troops to encamp at Canyuan. When Zhang Yanze led Liao troops into Bian, Yanqing and Xingzhou thereupon submitted to the Liao. The Liao ruler questioned Yanqing about the defeat at Yangcheng. Yanqing replied, "I served the Prince of Jin and did not spare my life. As for today's matter, life and death are entirely at your command." The Liao ruler smiled and released him.
31
會徐、宋寇盜蠭起，遼主即遣歸鎮。 行次甬橋，賊魁李仁恕擁眾數萬攻徐州。 彥卿領數十騎遽至城下，仁恕遣其徒執彥卿馬，請隨入城，俄頃，彥卿子昭序自城中遣軍校陳守習縋而出，大呼賊中曰：「相公當為國討賊，何故自入虎口，乃助賊攻城？ 我雖父子，今為讎敵，當死戰，城不可入！。」 賊惶愧，羅拜彥卿前，乞免罪，彥卿為設誓，乃解去。
When bandits rose like swarms in Xu and Song, the Liao ruler immediately sent him back to his post. While traveling through Yongqiao, the bandit chieftain Li Renshu with a host of tens of thousands attacked Xuzhou. Yanqing led several dozen horsemen and suddenly arrived beneath the city wall. Renshu sent his followers to seize Yanqing's horse and invited him to enter the city. Shortly afterward Yanqing's son Zhaoxu had the officer Chen Shouxi lowered by rope from inside the city and shouted among the bandits, "The lord chancellor should be suppressing bandits for the state — why enter the tiger's maw yourself and help the bandits attack the city? Though we are father and son, we are now enemies and must fight to the death. The city must not be entered! The bandits were ashamed and alarmed. They kowtowed before Yanqing begging forgiveness; Yanqing set an oath for them, and they then dispersed.
32
漢祖入汴，彥卿自徐州來朝，改鎮兗州，加兼侍中。 乾祐中，加兼中書令，封魏國公，拜守太保，移鎮青州。 及殺楊邠輩，召促赴闕下。
When Emperor Gaozu of Later Han entered Bian, Yanqing came from Xuzhou to court, was transferred to hold Yanzhou, and was additionally made chief minister. During the Qianyou era he was additionally made director of the Chancellery, enfeoffed as Duke of Wei, appointed honorary grand preceptor, and transferred to hold Qingzhou. When Yang Ye and his associates were killed, Yanqing was urgently summoned to the capital.
33
世宗初，幷人擾潞州，潞兵敗，命彥卿領兵從磁州固鎮路壓其背。 及帝親征，命為行營一行都部署兼知太原行府事，領步騎二萬進討。
At the beginning of Emperor Shizong's reign, the Bingzhou forces harassed Luzhou and the Luzhou troops were defeated. Yanqing was ordered to lead troops by the Cizhou-Guzhen route to press on their rear. When the emperor personally campaigned, Yanqing was appointed overall commander of the first echelon of the mobile headquarters and provisional administrator of the Taiyuan field prefecture, leading twenty thousand infantry and cavalry in the advance.
34
初，彥卿之行也，世宗以幷人雖敗，朝廷饋運不繼，未議攻擊，且令觀兵城下，徐圖進取。 及周師入境，汾、晉吏民望風款接，皆以久罹虐政，願輸軍須以資兵力，世宗從之。 而連下數州，彥卿等皆以芻糧未備，欲旋軍。 世宗不之省，乃調山東近郡輓軍食濟之。 及世宗至城下，命與郭從義、向訓、白重贊、史彥超率萬騎屯忻口，以拒北援，又下盂縣。
At first, when Yanqing set out, Emperor Shizong held that although the Bingzhou forces had been defeated, court supply lines were not yet secure and no attack was planned. Yanqing was only to observe the enemy beneath the walls and slowly consider how to advance. When the Zhou army entered the territory, officials and people of Fen and Jin submitted at the first approach, all saying they had long suffered tyrannical rule and wished to supply army provisions to support the troops. Emperor Shizong agreed. But after capturing several prefectures in succession, Yanqing and the others all said fodder and grain were not ready and wished to withdraw. Emperor Shizong paid no heed and mobilized grain from nearby prefectures east of the mountains to supply them. When Emperor Shizong reached beneath the walls, he ordered Yanqing together with Guo Congyi, Xiang Xun, Bai Chongzan, and Shi Yanchao to lead ten thousand horsemen to encamp at Xinkou and block northern reinforcements. They also captured Meng County.
35
遼人駐忻北，遊騎及近郊，史彥超以二千騎當其鋒，左右馳擊，彥超死之； 敗遼眾二千餘，遼騎遁走。 先鋒為遼人所掩，重傷數百人，諸將論議矛盾，師故不振。 世宗乃班師，數賜彥卿繒綵、鞍勒馬，遣歸本鎮。 還京，拜彥卿太傅，改封魏王。 恭帝即位，加守太尉。
The Liao encamped north of Xin, and their scouting horsemen reached the suburbs. Shi Yanchao with two thousand horsemen met their vanguard and charged left and right, but Yanchao was killed; They defeated more than two thousand Liao troops and the Liao horsemen fled. The vanguard was ambushed by the Liao and several hundred were severely wounded. The generals' counsel conflicted, and the army therefore failed to rally. Emperor Shizong then withdrew the army, repeatedly bestowing silks and saddled horses on Yanqing, and sent him back to his original post. On returning to the capital, Yanqing was appointed Grand Tutor and his enfeoffment was changed to Prince of Wei. When Emperor Gong took the throne, Yanqing was additionally given the honorary rank of Grand Commandant.
36
太祖即位，加守太師。 建隆四年春，來朝，賜襲衣、玉帶。 宴射於金鳳園，太祖七發皆中的，彥卿貢名馬稱賀。
When the founder took the throne, Yanqing was additionally given the honorary rank of Grand Preceptor. In the spring of the fourth year of Jianlong he came to court and was granted ceremonial robes and a jade belt. At an archery banquet in the Golden Phoenix Garden, the founder's seven shots all hit the mark, and Yanqing presented a famous horse in congratulation.
37
開寶二年六月，移鳳翔節度，被病肩輿赴鎮，至西京，上言疾亟，請就醫洛陽，從之。 假滿百日，猶請其奉，為御史所劾，下留司御史臺。 太祖以姻舊特免推鞫，止罷其節制。 八年六月，卒，年七十八。 喪事官給。
In the sixth month of the second year of Kaibao he was transferred to Fengxiang Circuit. Ill, he traveled to his post in a palanquin. Reaching the Western Capital, he reported that his illness was critical and requested medical treatment in Luoyang, and this was granted. When his leave of a hundred days expired he still sought to draw his salary. Censors impeached him and the case went to the resident censorial bureau. Because of their relationship by marriage, the founder specially exempted him from investigation and only removed his military command. In the sixth month of the eighth year he died, aged seventy-eight. His funeral expenses were provided by the state.
38
彥卿將家子，勇略有謀，善用兵。 存審之第四子，軍中謂之『符第四』。 前後賞賜鉅萬，悉分給帳下，故士卒樂為效死。 遼人自陽城之敗，尤畏彥卿，或馬病不飲齕，必唾而咒曰：「此中豈有符王邪？」 晉少主既陷契丹，德光之母問左右曰：「彥卿安在？」 或對曰：「聞其已遣歸徐州矣。」 德光母曰：「留此人中原，何失策之甚！」 其威名如此。
Yanqing came from a military family. He was courageous and resourceful, skilled in the use of troops. He was the fourth son of Cunshen, and in the army he was called "Fu the Fourth." Rewards totaling tens of thousands were bestowed on him over the years, and he distributed them all among his personal retinue, so his soldiers were glad to die for him. Since the defeat at Yangcheng the Liao people feared Yanqing above all. If a horse fell ill and would not eat or drink, they would spit and curse, "Could the Prince of Fu be in this place?" After Emperor Shaodi of Jin fell to the Khitan, Empress Dowager Deguang asked those around her, "Where is Yanqing?" Someone replied, "It is said he has already been sent back to Xuzhou." Empress Dowager Deguang said, "To leave this man in central China — what a blunder!" Such was his renown.
39
鎮大名餘十年，政委牙校劉思遇。 思遇貪黠，怙勢斂貨財，公府之利多入其家，彥卿不之覺。 時藩鎮率遣親吏受民租，概量增溢，公取其餘羨，而魏郡尤甚。 太祖聞之，遣常參官主其事，由是斛量始平。 詔以羨餘粟賜彥卿，以愧其心。
He held Daming for more than ten years and entrusted administrative affairs to his staff officer Liu Siyu. Siyu was greedy and cunning. Relying on his power he gathered wealth, and most of the revenue of the government office went into his household, but Yanqing did not notice. At the time military governors commonly sent trusted clerks to collect the people's rent, measuring broadly to inflate the levy and keeping the surplus for themselves — and Wei Commandery was especially bad in this regard. The founder heard of this and sent a regular court official to oversee the matter, and from then on grain measures were standardized. An edict granted the surplus grain to Yanqing to shame his conscience.
40
彥卿酷好鷹犬，吏卒有過，求名鷹犬以獻，雖盛怒必貰之。 性不飲酒，頗謙恭下士，對賓客終日談笑，不及世務，不伐戰功。 居洛陽七八年，每春月，乘小駟從家僮一二遊僧寺名園，優遊自適。
Yanqing was passionately fond of hawks and hounds. When officers and soldiers committed errors, they could obtain prized hawks or dogs to present as gifts, and even in great anger he would pardon them. By nature he did not drink. He was humble toward men of talent, and with guests he talked and laughed all day without touching on affairs of state or boasting of his battle achievements. Living in Luoyang seven or eight years, each spring he would ride a small team with one or two household servants to visit Buddhist temples and famous gardens, enjoying himself at leisure.
41
周世宗宣懿皇后、太宗懿德皇后，皆彥卿女也。 自恭帝及太祖兩朝，賜詔書不名。 子昭信、昭愿、昭壽。
Empress Xuanyi of Emperor Shizong of Zhou and Empress Yide of Emperor Taizong were both Yanqing's daughters. From the reigns of Emperor Gong and the founder, edicts addressed to him omitted his personal name. His sons were Zhaoxin, Zhaoyuan, and Zhaoshou.
42
昭信，天雄軍衙內都指揮使、領賀州刺史。 周顯德初，卒，贈檢校太保、閬州防禦使。
Zhaoxin was commander of the inner guard of Tianxiong Army and concurrently prefect of Hezhou. At the beginning of the Xiande era he died and was posthumously honored as honorary grand preceptor and defense commissioner of Langzhou.
43
子昭愿
Son: Zhaoyuan
44
昭愿，字致恭，謹厚謙約，頗讀書好士。 周廣順中，以蔭補天雄軍牙職，俄領興州刺史。
Zhaoyuan, courtesy name Zhigong, was careful, generous, and modest. He read widely and loved men of talent. During the Zhou Guangshun era he entered service through privilege as a descendant of an official and was appointed to a staff office in Tianxiong Army; shortly afterward he took charge as prefect of Xingzhou.
45
開寶中，改領恩州。 彥卿養疾居洛，入補供奉官。 四年，改領羅州刺史。 七年，遷西京作坊副使。 俄授尚食使，出護陳、許、蔡、潁等州巡兵。 從征太原，為御營四面巡檢使。 及攻幽州，命與定國軍節度偓率兵萬餘，置砦城南。 師還，真拜蔡州刺史，知幷澶二州。 不逾月，復移幷門兼副部署。 丁內艱，起復，為本州團練使，連知永興軍、梓滑二州。
During the Kaibao era he was transferred to hold Enzhou. While Yanqing was convalescing at Luoyang, Zhaoyuan entered court and was appointed attendant official. In the fourth year he was transferred to serve as prefect of Luozhou. In the seventh year he was transferred to vice commissioner of the Western Capital workshops. Shortly afterward he was appointed commissioner of palace provisions and sent out to oversee patrol troops in Chen, Xu, Cai, Ying, and other prefectures. He accompanied the campaign against Taiyuan as circuit inspector of the imperial encampments on all four sides. When they attacked Youzhou, he was ordered together with Wo, military governor of Dingguo Army, to lead more than ten thousand troops and establish an encampment south of the city. When the army returned, he was formally appointed prefect of Caizhou and put in charge of Bing and Cao prefectures. Within a month he was again transferred to Bingmen with concurrent deputy deployment authority. When mourning his mother's death he was recalled to service and made regimentation commissioner of his own prefecture, then successively administered Yongxing Army and Zihua prefectures.
46
咸平初，又為天雄軍、邢州二鈐轄。 三年，以疾求歸京師，詔遣中使、尚醫馳傳診視。 既還，帝賜以名方御藥，拜本州防禦使。 四年，卒，年五十七。 車駕臨哭，贈鎮東軍節度。 子承煦，為左千牛衛將軍。
At the beginning of the Xianping era he again served as military controller of Tianxiong Army and Xingzhou. In the third year, ill, he requested to return to the capital. An edict dispatched palace envoys and court physicians by express relay to examine him. After he returned, the emperor bestowed famous prescriptions and imperial medicine on him and appointed him defense commissioner of his own prefecture. In the fourth year he died, aged fifty-seven. The emperor personally came to mourn, and he was posthumously honored as military governor of Zhendong Circuit. His son Chengxu was general of the Left Millennial Bull Guard.
47
子昭壽
Son: Zhaoshou
48
昭壽，初補供奉官。 開寶七年，改西京作坊副使。 歷遷六宅副使、領蘭州刺史。 雍熙二年冬，命與劉知信護鎮州屯兵。 命遣將北征，又與知信為押隊都監，轉尚食使，真拜光州刺史。 端拱二年，知洪州。 淳化四年，改定州。 咸平初，遷鳳州團練使、益州鈐轄。
Zhaoshou was first appointed attendant official. In the seventh year of Kaibao he was made vice commissioner of the Western Capital workshops. Through successive promotions he became vice commissioner of the Six Residences and was given charge as prefect of Lanzhou. In the winter of the second year of Yongxi he was ordered together with Liu Zhixin to oversee the encamped troops at Zhenzhou. When troops were ordered north on campaign, he again served with Zhixin as overall supervisor of the escort corps, was transferred to commissioner of palace provisions, and was formally appointed prefect of Guang Prefecture. In the second year of Duangong he was appointed to administer Hongzhou. In the fourth year of Chunhua he was transferred to Dingzhou. At the beginning of the Xianping era he was transferred to regimentation commissioner of Fengzhou and military controller of Yizhou.
49
昭壽以貴家子日事遊宴，簡倨自恣，常紗帽素氅衣，偃息後圃，不理戎務，有所裁決，即令家人傳道。 多集錦工就廨舍織纖麗綺帛，每有所須，取給於市，餘半歲方給其直，又令部曲私邀取之。 廣糴黍稻，未及成熟者亦取之，悉貯寺觀中，久之損敗，即勒道釋償之。 縱其下淩忽軍校。
As the son of an eminent house, Zhaoshou spent his days in feasting and merrymaking. Arrogant and self-indulgent, he commonly wore a gauze cap and plain cloak, reclining in the rear garden without attending to military affairs. When he needed to make a decision he had family members convey it. He gathered many brocade workers at his official residence to weave fine silks. Whenever he needed something he took it from the market and only paid half a year later, and also had his retainers seize goods on the side. He bought up millet and rice in large quantities, taking even crops not yet ripe. He stored it all in temples and monasteries, and when it rotted after a long time he forced monks and Taoists to compensate for the loss. He let his subordinates bully and insult military officers.
50
劍南自李順平後，人心洶洶，知州牛冕緩馳無政，昭壽又不能御軍，人皆怨憤。 神衛卒趙延順等八人謀，欲害昭壽，未敢發。 三年正旦，中使自峨眉山還京，昭壽戒馭吏具鞍馬將送之，延順等悉解廄中馬韁，奔逸庭下，陽逐喧呼，登廳執昭壽殺之，並殺二僕，據甲仗庫，取兵器。 都監王澤聞之，急召本軍都虞候王均率兵擒捕。 延順左執昭壽首，右操劍，仿徨無所適，卒見均至，即與眾推均為帥，合驍猛、威武兵為亂。 牛冕洎轉運使張適奔漢州。 是秋，官兵討平之。 見《雷有終傳》。
After Li Shun was pacified in southern Shu, popular sentiment was turbulent. Prefect Niu Mian was lax and slow in governance, and Zhaoshou also could not control the army. Everyone harbored resentment. Eight palace guard soldiers including Zhao Yanshun plotted to kill Zhaoshou but did not yet dare act. On New Year's Day of the third year, a palace envoy was returning from Emei Mountain to the capital. Zhaoshou ordered his attendants to prepare saddles and horses to send him off. Yanshun and the others all loosened the reins of the horses in the stables, and the horses bolted into the courtyard. Pretending to pursue them with shouts, they mounted the hall, seized Zhaoshou and killed him along with two servants, occupied the armory, and took weapons. Overall supervisor Wang Ze heard of this and urgently summoned the chief adjutant of the local army, Wang Jun, to lead troops and capture them. Yanshun held Zhaoshou's head in his left hand and a sword in his right, wandering with nowhere to go. When Jun arrived they immediately pushed Jun as commander, and the Tiger Fierce and Martial Prestige troops combined in rebellion. Niu Mian and the transport commissioner Zhang Shi fled to Hanzhou. That autumn government troops suppressed the rebellion. See the biography of Lei Youzhong.
51
昭壽子承諒，娶齊王女嘉興縣主，至內殿承制。
Zhaoshou's son Chengliang married the Princess of Jiaxing, daughter of the Prince of Qi, and rose to director of palace memorials within the Hall.
52
論曰：五季之亂，內則權臣擅命，外則藩鎮握兵。 宋興，內外廓清，若天去其疾，或納節以備宿衛，或請老以奉朝請。 雖太祖善禦，諸臣知機，要亦否極而泰之象也。 彥卿一門二后，累朝襲寵，有謀善戰，聲振殊俗，與時進退，其名將之賢者歟？ 令坤、延釗素與太祖親善，平荊、湘則南服底定，鎮常山則北邊載寧，未嘗恃舊與功以啟嫌隙。 創業君臣有過人者，類如是夫。
The commentary says: In the chaos of the Five Dynasties, powerful ministers usurped command within the realm while military governors held armed power without. When Song rose, within and without were cleared, as if heaven had removed its affliction. Some surrendered their seals to serve as palace guards; others requested retirement to attend regular court audiences. Although the founder was skilled at control and his ministers knew the moment, this was also the image of misfortune reaching its limit and turning to peace. Yanqing's house produced two empresses and enjoyed successive imperial favor. Resourceful and skilled in battle, his fame resounded in foreign lands, and he advanced and withdrew with the times — was he not among the worthy of famous generals? Lingkun and Yanzhao had long been on intimate terms with the founder. Pacifying Jing and Xiang stabilized the south, and holding Changshan kept the north secure. They never relied on old ties and past merit to provoke suspicion. The founding emperor and his ministers surpassed ordinary men in such ways.