1
張美，字玄珪，貝州清河人。 少善書計，初為左藏小吏，以彊幹聞。 三司薦奏，特補本庫專知，出為澶州糧料使。 周世宗鎮澶淵，每有求取，美必曲為供給。 周祖聞之怒，將譴責之，而恐傷世宗意，徙美為濮州馬步軍都虞候。
Zhang Mei, styled Xuangui, was a native of Qinghe in Beizhou. As a youth he excelled at writing and accounts; he began as a junior clerk in the Left Treasury and won a reputation for forceful efficiency. The Three Offices recommended him to the throne, and he was specially appointed specialist in charge of that depot; he was then posted as grain commissary of Cangzhou. While Emperor Shizong of Zhou was garrisoned at Chanyuan, whenever he asked for supplies Mei would bend the rules to furnish them. The Zhou founder heard of it and was furious, intending to punish him, but fearing to offend Shizong he instead transferred Mei to be deputy commander of the horse-and-foot armies at Puzhou.
2
四年，世宗再幸淮上，皆為大內都點檢。 北征，又為大內都部署。 師還，為左監門衛上將軍，充宣徽北院使，判三司。 美彊力有心計，周知其利病，每有所條奏釐革，上多可之，常以幹敏稱。 世宗連歲征討，糧饋不乏，深委賴焉。 然以澶淵有所求假，頗薄之，美亦自愧。 恭帝嗣位，加檢校太傅。
In the fourth year, when Shizong again toured the Huai region, Mei served both times as chief inspector of the inner palace. On the northern expedition he again served as chief deployer of the inner palace. After the army returned he was made general-in-chief of the Left Directorate of Gate Guards, appointed commissioner of the northern bureau of the Palace Directorate, and given charge of the Three Offices. Mei was forceful and shrewd, with a thorough grasp of what worked and what did not; his memorials proposing reforms were usually approved, and he was widely praised for competence and quick judgment. Shizong campaigned year after year without ever lacking provisions, and he came to rely on Mei heavily. Yet because of the indulgence Mei had shown at Chanyuan, Shizong thought rather less of him, and Mei himself was ashamed. When Emperor Gong succeeded to the throne, Mei was given the additional title of honorary grand preceptor.
3
宋初，加檢校太尉。 初，李筠鎮上黨，募亡命，多為不法，漸倔彊難制。 美度筠必叛，陰積粟於懷、孟間。 後筠果叛，太祖親討之，大軍十萬出太行，經費無闕，美有力焉。 拜定國軍節度。 縣官市木關中，同州歲出緡錢數十萬以假民，長吏十取其一，謂之率分錢，歲至數百萬，美獨不取。 未幾，他郡有詣闕訴長吏受率分錢者，皆命償之。
At the founding of the Song he was given the additional title of honorary grand marshal. Earlier, Li Yun held Shangdang and recruited fugitives who committed many illegal acts; he grew increasingly defiant and difficult to control. Mei judged that Li Yun would rebel and quietly stockpiled grain in the Huai and Meng region. Li Yun did rebel; Taizu led the campaign in person, and when a hundred-thousand-man force marched out through Taihang Pass supplies never ran short — Mei had done much to make that possible. He was appointed military governor of the Dingguo Army. When the government bought timber in Guanzhong, Tongzhou each year issued several hundred thousand strings of cash to lend the people; local officials took a tenth as their cut, called the apportionment fee, which yearly amounted to millions — Mei alone refused his share. Before long people from other prefectures came to court accusing officials of taking apportionment fees, and the court ordered every offender to repay what he had taken.
4
乾德五年，移鎮滄州。 太平興國初來朝，改左驍衛上將軍。 美獻都城西河曲灣果園二、蔬圃六、亭舍六十餘區。 八年，請老，以本官致仕。 雍熙二年，卒，年六十八。 淳化初，諡恭惠。
In the fifth year of Qiande he was transferred to command at Cangzhou. Early in the Taiping Xingguo era he came to court and was made general-in-chief of the Left Martial Guards. Mei presented to the throne two orchards, six vegetable gardens, and more than sixty pavilions at Hequ Bay west of the capital. In the eighth year he asked to retire and was allowed to leave office with his existing rank. In the second year of Yongxi he died at the age of sixty-eight. Early in the Chunhua era he was given the posthumous title Gonghui, "Respectful and Kind."
5
子守瑛，至供備庫使。 孫士宗，至內殿承制。 士宗卒，士禹為崇班，士安至閤門祗候，士宣為禮賓副使。
His son Shouying rose to be commissioner of the supply reserve depot. His grandson Shizong rose to be an inner-palace drafter. After Shizong died, Shiyu held a honored-class post; Shi'an became a gate attendant; Shixuan became vice commissioner of ceremonial reception.
6
郭守文
Guo Shuowen
7
郭守文，幷州太原人。 父暉，仕漢為護聖軍使，從周祖征河中，戰死。 守文年十四，居喪哀毀，周祖憐之，召隸帳下。 廣順初，補左班殿直，再遷東第二班副都知。
Guo Shuowen was a native of Taiyuan in Bingzhou. His father Hui served the Later Han as commissioner of the Guard of Sacred Protection; he followed the Zhou founder on the campaign against Hezhong and was killed in battle. Shuowen was fourteen; in mourning he grieved so deeply that he was wasting away, and the Zhou founder took pity on him and brought him into his personal staff. At the beginning of Guangshun he was appointed a left-class palace attendant and was twice promoted to deputy chief of the eastern second class.
8
宋初，遷西頭供奉官。 蜀平，遷知簡州。 時劍外多寇，守文悉招來集附。 從潘美征嶺南，會擒劉鋹，遣守文馳傳告捷，遷翰林副使。 從曹彬等平金陵，護送李煜歸闕下。 時煜以拒命頗自歉，不欲生見太祖。 守文察知之，因謂煜曰：「國家止務恢復疆土，以致太平，豈復有後至之責耶？」 煜心遂安。 改西京作坊使、領翰林司事。 俄從党進破並寇於團柏谷。
At the founding of the Song he was promoted to western-head palace attendant. After Shu was pacified he was appointed prefect of Jianzhou. At that time bandits were numerous beyond the Sword Pass; Shuowen induced them all to submit and settle under his authority. He followed Pan Mei on the Lingnan campaign; when Liu Chang was captured he was sent by express relay to report the victory and was promoted to vice Hanlin commissioner. He followed Cao Bin and others in pacifying Jinling and escorted Li Yu to the capital. Li Yu, ashamed of having resisted the throne, did not wish to face Taizu while still alive. Shuowen noticed this and said to Li Yu, "The court seeks only to recover the realm and secure peace — why should there be any blame for submitting later than others?" Li Yu's mind was put at ease. He was made commissioner of the western-capital workshops and placed in charge of Hanlin affairs. Soon afterward he followed Dang Jin in defeating the Bingzhou raiders at Tuanbai Valley.
9
太平興國初，秦州內附，蕃部騷動，命守文乘傳撫諭，西夏悅伏。 三年，遷西上閤門使。 是夏，汴水決於寧陵，發宋、亳丁壯四千五百塞之，命守文董其役。 是冬，又與閤門副使王侁、西八作副使石全振護塞靈河縣決河。
Early in Taiping Xingguo, when Qinzhou submitted and tribal groups grew restless, Shuowen was sent by express post to reassure them; the Western Xia were pleased and submitted. In the third year he was promoted to western upper gate commissioner. That summer the Bian River broke through at Ningling; four thousand five hundred laborers from Song and Bo were mobilized to seal the breach, and Shuowen was put in charge of the project. That winter he joined Vice Gate Commissioner Wang Shen and Western Workshops Vice Commissioner Shi Quanzhen in sealing the Yellow River breach at Linghe County.
10
及征太原，守文與判四方館事梁迥分護行營馬步軍。 會劉繼元降，其弟繼文據代州，依遼人之援以拒命，遣守文討平之。 俄受詔護定州屯兵，大破遼人於蒲城。 以功遷東上閤門使、領澶州刺史。 召還，擢拜內客省使。 八年，滑州房村河決，發卒塞之，命守文董其役。 遼人擾雄州，命守文率禁兵數萬人赴援，既至，遼人遁去。
On the campaign against Taiyuan, Shuowen and Liang Jiong of the Four Directions Bureau jointly commanded the escort of the campaign army's horse and foot forces. When Liu Jiyuan surrendered, his brother Jiwen held Daizhou and, with Liao support, refused to submit; Shuowen was sent to suppress him and restore order. Soon he was ordered to escort the garrison at Dingzhou and routed the Liao forces at Pucheng. For his achievements he was promoted to eastern upper gate commissioner and appointed prefect of Cangzhou. He was recalled to court and promoted to commissioner of the Inner Guests Bureau. In the eighth year the Fangcun River at Huazhou broke its banks; troops were mobilized to seal the breach, and Shuowen was put in charge. When the Liao raided Xiongzhou, Shuowen was ordered to lead tens of thousands of palace troops to its relief; as soon as he arrived the Liao withdrew.
11
雍熙二年，詔守文率兵屯三交，俄加領武州團練使。 屬夏人擾攘，命守文帥師討之，破夏州鹽城鎮岌羅膩等十四族，斬首數千級，俘獲生畜萬計。 又破咩嵬族，殲焉。 諸部畏懼，相率來降，凡銀、麟、夏三州歸附者百二十五族、萬六千餘戶，西鄙遂寧。 五年春，大舉北伐，為幽州道行營前軍步軍水陸都監。 卒與遼人遇，為流矢所中，氣色不撓，督戰益急，軍中服其量。 會大軍不利，坐違詔逗遛退軍，左遷右屯衛大將軍。 事具《曹彬傳》。
In the second year of Yongxi he was ordered to garrison Sanjiao with his troops; soon afterward he was also made regimental commissioner of Wuzhou. When the Tangut frontier grew turbulent he was ordered to lead a punitive campaign; he broke fourteen tribes including Jiluoni of Yancheng in Xiazhou, took several thousand heads, and captured livestock by the tens of thousands. He also destroyed the Miewei tribe, wiping them out entirely. The tribes were cowed and submitted in succession; in all one hundred twenty-five tribes and more than sixteen thousand households from Yin, Lin, and Xia came over, and the western frontier was pacified. In the spring of the fifth year, during the great northern expedition, he served as overall supervisor of infantry and naval forces in the vanguard of the Youzhou route headquarters. He suddenly met the Liao army, was struck by a stray arrow, yet showed no dismay; he pressed the fight all the harder, and the troops admired his composure. When the main army fared badly he was punished for disobeying orders by lingering and retreating, and was demoted to grand general of the Right Garrison Guards. The full account appears in the biography of Cao Bin.
12
明年復舊職，裁三月，拜宣徽北院使。 又與田欽祚並為北面排陣使，屯鎮州。 端拱初，改南院使、鎮州路都部署。 又為北面行營都部署兼鎮定、高陽關兩路排陣使。 是冬，遼騎南侵，大破之唐河。 端拱三年十月，卒，年五十五。 太宗悼惜之，贈侍中。 諡忠武，追封譙王，遣中使護喪，歸葬京師。
The following year he was restored to his former post; after only three months he was appointed commissioner of the northern bureau of the Palace Directorate. He and Tian Qinzuo were jointly appointed northern array commissioners and garrisoned Zhenzhou. At the beginning of Duangong he was made southern bureau commissioner and overall deployer of the Zhenzhou circuit. He was also appointed overall deployer of the northern campaign headquarters and array commissioner for the Zhending and Gaoyang Pass circuits. That winter, when Liao cavalry raided southward, he routed them in a great victory on the Tang River. In the tenth month of the third year of Duangong he died at the age of fifty-five. Taizong mourned him deeply and posthumously granted him the title of palace attendant. He was given the posthumous title Zhongwu, "Loyal and Martial," and posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Qiao; a palace envoy escorted his remains home for burial in the capital.
13
守文沈厚有謀略，頗知書，每朝退，習書百行，出言溫雅，未嘗忤人意。 先是，將臣戍邊者多致寇以邀戰功，河朔諸州殆無寧歲，既敗岐溝關，乃命守文以內職總兵鎮常山以經略之。
Shuowen was grave, steady, and shrewd, with a fair knowledge of letters; after each court session he practiced a hundred lines of calligraphy; his speech was mild and elegant, and he never gave offense. Earlier, frontier commanders often provoked raids to win battle honors, and the Hebei-Shuo region knew scarcely a year of peace. After the defeat at Qigou Pass, Shuowen was sent as an inner-court official to command troops at Changshan and manage the northern frontier.
14
守文既喪月餘，中使自北邊來言：「守文死，軍士皆流涕。」 帝問：「何以得此？」 對曰：「守文得奉祿賜賚悉犒勞士卒，死之日，家無餘財。」 帝嗟歎久之，賜其家錢五百萬，為真宗納其女為夫人，即章穆皇后也。
More than a month after Shuowen's death a palace envoy returned from the north and reported, "When Shuowen died, the soldiers all wept." The emperor asked, "How did he win such loyalty?" He answered, "Shuowen spent all his salary and imperial gifts rewarding the troops; when he died his family had nothing left." The emperor sighed in admiration for a long while, gave the family five million in cash, and had Zhenzong take his daughter as consort — she became Empress Zhangmu.
15
子崇德，至太子中舍； 崇信，至西京左藏庫使、同知皇城司，贈福州觀察使； 崇儼至崇儀使、全州刺史，贈潤州觀察使。
His son Chongde rose to be middle household attendant of the heir apparent; Chongxin rose to be commissioner of the western-capital left treasury and associate director of the Imperial City Bureau, and was posthumously made military commissioner of Fuzhou; Chongyan rose to be honored ceremonial commissioner and prefect of Quanzhou, and was posthumously made military commissioner of Runzhou.
16
諸司使無廢朝、贈官之例，崇信、崇儼咸以后兄故，特示優禮。 崇德子承壽，至虞部員外郎。 天禧五年，錄承壽子若水為太常寺奉禮郎，崇仁為解州團練使。
Bureau commissioners were not normally granted court mourning or posthumous titles; Chongxin and Chongyan received these exceptional honors because they were brothers of the empress. Chongde's son Shoushou rose to be an outer gentleman of the Ministry of Works. In the fifth year of Tianxi, Shoushou's son Ruoshui was enrolled as a ceremonial gentleman of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and Chongren as regimental commissioner of Jiezhou.
17
尹崇珂
Yin Chongke
18
宋初，出為淄州刺史，有善政，民詣闕請刻石頌德，太祖命殿中侍御史李穆撰文賜之。 討湖南，為行營前軍馬軍都指揮使。 荊湘平，授朗州團練使。 又與潘美、丁德裕克郴州。
Early in the Song he was posted as prefect of Zizhou, where his rule was benevolent; the people came to court to request a stone inscription in his praise, and Taizu ordered Palace Attendant Censor Li Mu to compose the text and grant it to them. On the Hunan campaign he served as overall commander of cavalry in the campaign vanguard. After Jing and Xiang were pacified he was appointed regimental commissioner of Langzhou. Together with Pan Mei and Ding Deyu he captured Chenzhou.
19
乾德中，征嶺表，以崇珂為行營馬步軍副部署。 克廣州，擒劉鋹，即日詔與潘美同知廣州兼市舶轉運等使，錄功遷保信軍節度。 未幾，南漢開府樂範、容州都指揮使鄧存忠、韶州賊帥周思瓊、春恩道都指揮使麥漢瓊等據五州之地以叛。 崇珂討之，太祖遣中使李神祐督戰，數月盡平其黨，還治所。
During Qiande, on the Lingnan campaign, Chongke was made deputy deployer of horse and foot forces on the campaign headquarters. After Guangzhou fell and Liu Chang was captured, an edict that same day appointed Chongke and Pan Mei joint administrators of Guangzhou with charge of maritime trade and transport; for his recorded merit he was promoted to military governor of the Baoxin Army. Before long Le Fan of the Southern Han secretariat, Deng Cunzhong commander of Rongzhou, the bandit leader Zhou Siqiong of Shaozhou, Mai Hanqiong commander of Chun'en Circuit, and others seized five prefectures and rebelled. Chongke campaigned against them; Taizu sent Palace Envoy Li Shenyou to supervise the fighting, and within a few months their factions were all suppressed; Chongke then returned to his post.
20
六年，卒，年四十二。 贈侍中。 遣中使護其喪，歸葬洛陽。 以其子昭吉、弟崇珪並為西京作坊使，昭吉領會州刺史，崇珪領歙州刺史。
In the sixth year he died at the age of forty-two. He was posthumously granted the title of palace attendant. A palace envoy escorted his remains home for burial in Luoyang. His son Zhaoji and younger brother Chonggui were both appointed commissioners of the western-capital workshops; Zhaoji was made prefect of Huizhou and Chonggui of Shezhou.
21
初，太宗在周朝娶崇珂妹，追諡淑德皇后。 昭吉至洛苑使。 次子昭輯，至供奉官、閤閣門祗候。
Earlier, while still in the Zhou court, Taizong had married Chongke's younger sister, who was later posthumously titled Empress Shude. Zhaoji rose to be commissioner of the Luoyang imperial park. His second son Zhaoji rose to be a palace attendant and inner-gate attendant.
22
劉廷讓
Liu Tingrang
23
劉廷讓，字光乂，其先涿州范陽人。 曾祖仁恭，唐盧龍軍節度。 祖守文，襲滄州盧彥威，遂據其城，昭宗授以節鉞。 後其弟守光囚父仁恭，守文舉兵討之，軍敗，為守光所殺。 廷讓與其父延進避難南奔。 少有膂力，周祖鎮鄴，以隸帳下。 廣順初，補內殿直押班，累遷龍捷都校。 從世宗征淮南，以功領雷州刺史。 再遷涪州團練使、領鐵騎右廂。
Liu Tingrang, styled Guangyi, was descended from a family of Fanyang in Zhuozhou. His great-grandfather Rengong was military governor of the Lulong Army under the Tang. His grandfather Shouwen overthrew Lu Yanwei of Cangzhou, seized the city, and Emperor Zhaozong invested him with the commander's seal. Later his brother Shouguang imprisoned their father Rengong; Shouwen raised troops against him, was defeated, and was killed by Shouguang. Tingrang and his father Yanjin fled south to escape the fighting. As a youth he was powerfully built; when the Zhou founder garrisoned Ye he was taken into his personal staff. At the beginning of Guangshun he was appointed to the inner-palace direct escort class and rose to colonel of the Dragon Swift Army. He followed Shizong on the Huainan campaign and, for his achievements, was made prefect of Leizhou. He was promoted again to regimental commissioner of Fuzhou and given command of the right wing of the Iron Cavalry.
24
宋初，轉江州防禦使、領龍捷右廂。 從征李筠，為行營先鋒使。 建隆二年，改侍衛馬軍都指揮使、領江寧軍節度。 乾德二年春，詔領兵赴潞州，以備幷寇。 冬，興師伐蜀，為四川行營前軍兵馬副都部署，率禁兵步騎萬人、諸州兵萬人，由歸州進討。 入其境，連破松木、三會、巫山等砦，獲蜀將南光海等五千餘人，擒戰棹都指揮使袁德宏等千二百人，奪戰艦二百餘艘。 又獲水軍三千人，因度南岸，斬三千餘級。
At the founding of the Song he was made defender of Jiangzhou and given command of the right wing of the Dragon Swift Army. On the campaign against Li Yun he served as vanguard commissioner of the campaign headquarters. In the second year of Jianlong he was made overall commander of the palace cavalry and military governor of the Jiangning Army. In the spring of the second year of Qiande he was ordered to lead troops to Luzhou to guard against raids from Bingzhou. That winter, on the Shu campaign, he served as deputy overall deployer of the Sichuan route vanguard, leading ten thousand palace horse and foot troops and ten thousand men from the prefectures in an advance from Guizhou. Once inside Shu territory he took the stockades at Songmu, Sanhui, Wushan, and elsewhere in succession, capturing more than five thousand men including the Shu general Nan Guanghai, taking twelve hundred men including battle-oar commander Yuan Dehong, and seizing more than two hundred warships. He also captured three thousand naval troops, crossed to the south bank, and took more than three thousand heads.
25
初，夔州有鎖鏁江為浮梁，上設敵棚三重，夾江列礮具。 廷讓等將行，太祖以地圖示之，指鏁江曰：「我軍至此，泝流而上，慎勿以舟師爭勝，當先以步騎陸行，出其不意擊之，俟其勢卻，即以戰棹夾攻，取之必矣。」 及師至，距鏁江三十里，舍舟步進，先奪其橋，復牽舟而上，破州城，守將高彥儔自焚，悉如太祖計。 遂進克萬、施、開、忠四州，峽中郡縣悉下。
At Kuizhou the Suoluo River had been chained into a floating bridge with three tiers of fighting sheds above and artillery lined along both banks. Before Tingrang's departure Taizu showed him a map, pointed to the Suoluo River, and said, "When our army reaches here and moves upstream, do not try to win by naval battle alone. March infantry and cavalry overland first and strike by surprise; when the enemy recoils, attack with warships from both sides and you are sure to take it. When the army arrived, thirty li from the river they left the boats and marched overland, seized the bridge first, then hauled the fleet upstream and stormed the city; the defender Gao Yanfu burned himself to death — exactly as Taizu had foreseen. He then took Wan, Shi, Kai, and Zhong, and all the counties of the Gorges fell.
26
明年正月，次遂州，州將陳俞率吏民來降。 盡出府庫金帛以給將士。 初出師也，太祖命之曰：「所得郡縣，當傾帑藏，為朕賞戰士，國家所收唯土疆爾。」 故人皆效命，所至成功。 蜀平，王全斌等皆坐縱部下掠奪子女玉帛及納賄賂左降，惟廷讓秋毫無犯。 及全師雄等作亂，郡縣相應，寇盜蠭起。 廷讓又與曹彬破之，以功改領鎮安軍節度，從征太原。 開寶六年，出為鎮寧軍節度。 太平興國二年，入為右驍衛上將軍。
In the first month of the following year he reached Suizhou, where the commander Chen Yu led officials and people in surrender. He emptied the prefectural treasury of gold and silk to reward the troops. Before the campaign Taizu had told him, "In every prefecture and county you take, empty the treasuries to reward the troops for me; the state wants only the land. Men gave their utmost, and wherever he went he succeeded. After Shu was pacified, Wang Quanbin and others were demoted for letting their men plunder people and goods and for taking bribes; only Tingrang had taken nothing at all. When Quan Shixiong and others rebelled, prefectures and counties joined them and bandits swarmed everywhere. Tingrang joined Cao Bin in crushing the revolt; for his merit he was made military governor of the Zhen'an Army and took part in the campaign against Taiyuan. In the sixth year of Kaibao he was posted as military governor of the Zhenning Army. In the second year of Taiping Xingguo he was recalled to court as general-in-chief of the Right Martial Guards.
27
雍熙三年，曹彬敗於岐溝關，諸將失律，多坐黜免。 既而契丹擾邊，時議遣將，無愜上意者。 時廷讓與宋偓、張永德並罷節鎮在環列，帝欲令擊契丹自效，乃遣分守邊郡，以廷讓知雄州，又徙瀛州兵馬都部署。 是冬，契丹數萬騎來侵，廷讓與戰君子館。 時天大寒，兵士弓弩皆不能彀，契丹圍廷讓數重。 廷讓先分精兵屬李繼隆為後殿，緩急為援。 至是，繼隆退保樂壽，廷讓一軍皆沒，死者數萬人，僅以數騎獲免。 先鋒將賀令圖、楊重進皆陷於契丹。 自是河朔戍兵無鬥志，又科鄉民為兵以守城，皆未習戰鬥。 契丹遂長驅而入，陷深、祁、德數州，殺官吏，俘士民，所在輦金帛而去。 博、魏之北，民尤苦焉。 太宗聞之，下哀痛之詔。
In the third year of Yongxi Cao Bin was defeated at Qigou Pass; many generals who had broken discipline were dismissed. Soon the Khitan raided the frontier; court discussion turned to sending generals, but none satisfied the emperor. Tingrang, Song Wo, and Zhang Yongde had all lost their commands and stood at court; the emperor wanted them to redeem themselves against the Khitan, so he sent them to frontier posts — Tingrang as administrator of Xiongzhou, then as overall deployer of horse and foot forces at Yingzhou. That winter tens of thousands of Khitan horsemen invaded, and Tingrang met them in battle at Junzi Lodge. The cold was so severe that the men's bows and crossbows could not be drawn, and the Khitan surrounded Tingrang in layer after layer. Tingrang had earlier detached elite troops under Li Jilong as rearguard to support him if needed. Li Jilong then withdrew to Leshou; Tingrang's whole force was wiped out, tens of thousands were killed, and he escaped with only a handful of horsemen. The vanguard generals He Lingtu and Yang Chongjin were both captured by the Khitan. After this the Hebei-Shuo garrisons lost their will to fight; villagers were conscripted to hold the cities, and none were trained for combat. The Khitan then swept deep into the country, taking Shen, Qi, De, and other prefectures, killing officials, capturing civilians, and carting off gold and silk wherever they went. The people north of Bo and Wei suffered most of all. When Taizong heard of it he issued an edict of mourning and grief.
28
初，廷讓詣闕待罪，太宗知為李繼隆所誤，不之責。 四年，復命代張永德知雄州兼兵馬部署。 是秋以疾聞，帝遣內醫診視，因上言求歸京師，不俟報，乃離屯所。 帝怒，下御史按問，獄具。 下詔曰：「右驍衛上將軍劉廷讓，朕以其宿舊，曾董軍政，擢自環尹，付之成師，俾控邊關，式防寇鈔。 而乃以病為解，不俟報命，委棄戎重，俶裝上道。 矧萬旅所集，實制於中權，列燧相望，或虞於外侮。 事機一失，咎責安歸？ 有司議刑，當在不赦。 錄其素效，特從寬典，可削奪在身官爵，配隸商州。」 又黜其子如京使永德為濠州團練副使，崇儀副使永和為唐州刺史。 廷讓既黜，怏怏不食，行至華州卒，年五十九。 帝錄其舊勳，贈太師。
When Tingrang first came to court to await punishment, Taizong knew Li Jilong had misled him and did not hold him responsible. In the fourth year he was again ordered to replace Zhang Yongde as administrator of Xiongzhou with charge of horse and foot forces. That autumn word of his illness reached court; the emperor sent a palace physician to examine him; Tingrang then asked to return to the capital and, without waiting for a reply, left his post. The emperor was furious and ordered the censorate to investigate; the case was proved. An edict declared: "Liu Tingrang, general-in-chief of the Right Martial Guards — as an old companion I once placed him in charge of military affairs, raised him from the imperial circle, entrusted him with a full army, and set him to hold the frontier passes against raiders. Yet he pleaded illness, left without awaiting orders, abandoned his military command, and set out for the capital. Tens of thousands of troops were gathered under central command; beacon towers stood in sight of one another, and the frontier was exposed to attack. Once the moment was lost, on whom would blame fall? The responsible offices held that his offense deserved no pardon. In view of his long service we apply leniency: strip his offices and titles and assign him to Shangzhou. His sons were also demoted: Yongde, a capital commissioner, to vice regimental commissioner of Haozhou, and Yonghe, vice honored ceremonial commissioner, to prefect of Tangzhou. After his demotion Tingrang brooded and refused to eat; he died on the road at Huazhou at the age of fifty-nine. The emperor honored his past service and posthumously granted him the title of grand preceptor.
29
子永德，至內殿崇班； 永恭，至西京作坊副使； 永和，為內殿承制； 永錫，至崇班； 永保、永昌、永規並至閤門祗候； 永崇，為崇班； 永寧及孫允忠並為閤門祗候。
His son Yongde rose to honored class of the inner palace; Yonggong rose to vice commissioner of the western-capital workshops; Yonghe became an inner-palace drafter; Yongxi rose to honored class; Yongbao, Yongchang, and Yonggui all became gate attendants; Yongchong held honored class; Yongning and his grandson Yunzhong both became gate attendants.
30
袁繼忠
Yuan Jizhong
31
袁繼忠，其先振武人，後徙幷州。 父進，仕周為階州防禦使。 繼忠以父任補右班殿直。 太祖平澤、潞，討幷、汾，悉預攻戰。 乾德中征蜀，隸大將劉廷讓麾下。 既克蜀，知雲安軍，歷嘉、蜀二州監軍。 開寶中伐廣南，為先鋒壕砦。 廣南平，以功遷供奉官，護隰州白壁關屯兵。 時河東拒命，繼忠累入其境，破三砦，擒將校二人，得生口、馬牛羊、鎧仗逾萬計。 近戍主將懼無功受譴，以誠告繼忠，繼忠以所獲分與之，遂與都巡檢郭進略地忻、代州，改天平軍巡檢。
Yuan Jizhong's family was originally from Zhenwu and later moved to Bingzhou. His father Jin served the Zhou as defender of Jiezhou. Jizhong entered service through his father's office and was appointed a right-class palace attendant. When Taizu pacified Ze and Lu and campaigned against Bing and Fen, Jizhong took part in every engagement. During Qiande, on the Shu campaign, he served under Liu Tingrang. After Shu fell he administered Yun'an Army and served as military supervisor of Jia and Shu prefectures in turn. During Kaibao, on the Guangnan campaign, he commanded the vanguard trench stockades. After Guangnan was pacified he was promoted to palace attendant for his merit and given charge of the garrison at Baiyu Pass in Xizhou. While Hedong still resisted the throne, Jizhong repeatedly raided its territory, took three stockades, captured two officers, and seized captives, livestock, and arms numbering more than ten thousand. The nearby garrison commander, fearing punishment for lack of results, confided in Jizhong; Jizhong shared his spoils with him, then joined overall inspector Guo Jin in raiding Xin and Daizhou, and was made inspector of the Tianping Army.
32
太宗即位，以為閤門祗候，令擊梅山洞賊，破之。 又巡遏邊部於唐龍鎮。 太宗征太原，繼忠預破鷹揚軍，先登陷陣。 契丹入代境，繼忠率兵擊走之。 以功遷通事舍人，護高陽關屯兵。 與崔彥進破契丹長城口，殺獲數萬眾，璽書褒美。 時有勸繼忠自論其功者，繼忠不答。 會趙保忠來朝獻其地，綏州刺史李克憲偃蹇不奉詔，遣繼忠諭旨，竟率克憲入朝。 遷西上閤門副使。 詔與田仁朗率兵定河西諸州，大破西人於葭蘆州，遷引進副使，護定州屯兵。
When Taizong took the throne he was made a gate attendant and ordered to attack the bandits of Meishan Cave; he routed them. He also patrolled the frontier tribes at Tanglong Town. On Taizong's Taiyuan campaign, Jizhong first broke the Eagle Soaring Army and was the first to scale the walls and break into the enemy line. When the Khitan entered Dai territory Jizhong led troops and drove them back. For his achievements he was promoted to memorial presenter and given charge of the garrison at Gaoyang Pass. With Cui Yanjin he defeated the Khitan at Changcheng Pass, killing and capturing tens of thousands; the emperor sent a letter of praise. Some urged Jizhong to petition for recognition of his merit; he made no reply. When Zhao Baozhong came to court to offer his territory, Suizhou prefect Li Kexian defied the edict; Jizhong was sent to convey the imperial will and eventually brought Kexian to court. He was promoted to western upper gate vice commissioner. He was ordered with Tian Renlang to pacify the Hexi prefectures; he routed the western forces at Jialu Prefecture, was promoted to vice introducing commissioner, and took charge of the garrison at Dingzhou.
33
雍熙二年，遷西上閤門使。 三年，大將田重進征契丹，命繼忠為定州路行營馬步軍都監。 領師取飛狐，下靈丘，平蔚州，擒其帥大鵬翼以獻，事見《重進傳》。 師還，繼忠為後殿，行列甚整。 至定州，重進欲斬降卒後期至者，繼忠諭以殺降不祥，皆救免之。 遷判四方館事、領播州刺史，護屯兵如故。 大將李繼隆以易州靜塞騎兵尤驍果，取隸麾下，畜其妻子城中。 繼忠言於繼隆曰：「此精卒，止可守城，萬一敵至，城中誰與悍者？」 繼隆不從。 既而契丹入寇，城陷，卒妻子皆為所俘。 繼隆疑此卒怨己，欲分隸諸軍。 繼忠曰：「不可，但奏升其軍額，優以廩給，使之盡節可也。」 從之，眾皆感悅。 繼忠因自請以隸麾下。
In the second year of Yongxi he was promoted to western upper gate commissioner. In the third year, on General Tian Chongjin's Khitan campaign, Jizhong was made overall supervisor of horse and foot forces on the Dingzhou route headquarters. He led the army to take Feihu, reduce Lingqiu, pacify Weizhou, and capture the commander Dapengyi as a prize; the full account appears in the biography of Tian Chongjin. On the return march Jizhong commanded the rearguard, and the ranks remained perfectly orderly. At Dingzhou Chongjin wanted to execute surrendered soldiers who arrived late; Jizhong argued that killing men who had submitted was ill-omened, and all were spared. He was promoted to handle affairs of the Four Directions Bureau and appointed prefect of Bozhou, while continuing to command the garrison as before. General Li Jilong, because the Jingse Cavalry of Yizhou were especially fierce, took them under his command and kept their families in the city. Jizhong told Jilong, "These elite troops should stay to defend the city — if the enemy comes, who in the city will fight them off? Jilong would not listen. Soon the Khitan invaded; the city fell and the soldiers' families were all captured. Jilong suspected the men blamed him and wanted to scatter them among other units. Jizhong said, "You must not — only petition to raise their army quota, pay them generously, and they will serve with all their strength. Jilong followed his advice and the men were deeply grateful. Jizhong then asked to take them under his own command.
34
會契丹騎大至，駐唐河北，諸將欲堅壁待之。 繼忠曰：「今強敵在近，城中屯重兵不能剪滅，令長驅深入，侵略他郡，雖欲謀自安之計，豈折衝禦侮之用乎？ 我將身先士卒，死於寇矣！」 辭氣慷慨，眾壯之。 靜塞軍摧鋒先入，契丹兵大潰。 太宗聞之，降璽書獎諭，賜予甚厚。 淳化初，遷引進使，護鎮定、高陽關兩路屯兵。 三年，被病，召赴闕，卒，年五十五。
When a large Khitan force arrived and camped north of the Tang River, the generals wanted to hold the walls and wait. Jizhong said, "A strong enemy is at our gates and we hold a large garrison yet cannot destroy them — if we let them sweep inland and ravage other prefectures, how does holding the walls serve to break the enemy and defend the realm? I will lead the charge in person and die fighting the enemy if I must! His words were fierce and the troops took heart. The Jingse Army broke the enemy vanguard and led the charge; the Khitan army collapsed in rout. When Taizong heard of it he sent an imperial letter of commendation and rewarded him generously. Early in Chunhua he was promoted to introducing commissioner and given charge of the garrisons on the Zhending and Gaoyang Pass circuits. In the third year he fell ill, was summoned to court, and died at the age of fifty-five.
35
繼忠長厚忠謹，士大夫多與遊，前後賜賚鉅萬計，悉以犒賞士卒。 身死之日，家無餘財，搢紳稱之。 子用成，雍熙初登進士第，至太常博士。
Jizhong was generous, loyal, and careful; many scholar-officials sought his company; imperial gifts totaling tens of thousands he spent entirely on rewarding the troops. When he died his family had nothing left, and the gentry praised him for it. His son Yongcheng passed the jinshi examination early in Yongxi and rose to be a doctor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
36
崔彥進
Cui Yanjin
37
崔彥進，大名人。 純質有膽略，善騎射。 漢乾祐中，隸周祖帳下。 廣順初，補衛士。 世宗鎮澶淵，令領禁兵以從。 顯德初，為控鶴指揮使。 從征淮南，以功遷散員都虞候。 從平瓦橋關，改東西班指揮使、領昭州刺史。
Cui Yanjin was a native of Daming. Plain and honest by nature, he was bold and resourceful and skilled in horsemanship and archery. During the Qianyou era of the Later Han he entered the Zhou founder's personal staff. At the beginning of Guangshun he was appointed a palace guardsman. When Shizong was garrisoned at Chanyuan he was ordered to lead palace troops in his train. At the beginning of Xiande he became commander of the Crane Control Army. On the Huainan campaign he was promoted for merit to overall deputy of the loose members. He took part in pacifying Waqiao Pass and was made commander of the eastern and western classes and prefect of Shaozhou.
38
宋初，改控鶴右廂指揮使、領果州團練使。 征李筠，為先鋒部署，以功遷常州防禦使。 從平李重進，改虎捷右廂。 建隆二年，遷侍衛步軍都指揮使、領武信軍節度。 大舉伐蜀，為鳳州路行營前軍副都部署。 蜀平，坐縱部下略玉帛、子女及諸不法事，左遷昭化軍節度觀察留後。 太祖郊祀西洛，彥進來朝，授彰信軍節度。
At the founding of the Song he was made commander of the right wing of the Crane Control Army and regimental commissioner of Guozhou. On the campaign against Li Yun he served as vanguard deployer and was promoted to defender of Changzhou for his achievements. He took part in pacifying Li Chongjin and was transferred to the right wing of the Tiger Swift Army. In the second year of Jianlong he was made overall commander of the palace infantry and military governor of the Wuxin Army. On the great Shu campaign he served as deputy overall deployer of the Fengzhou route vanguard. After Shu was pacified he was demoted for letting his men plunder goods and people and for other illegal acts, and was made military governor and observation commissioner of the Zhaohua Army with retention of post. When Taizu performed the suburban sacrifice in western Luoyang, Yanjin came to court and was appointed military governor of the Zhangxin Army.
39
太平興國二年，移鎮河陽。 四年正月，遣將征太原，分命攻城，以彥進與郢州防禦使尹勳攻其東，彰德軍節度李漢瓊、冀州刺史牛思進攻其南，桂州觀察使曹翰、翰林使杜彥圭攻其西，彰信軍節度劉遇、光州刺史史珪攻其北。 彥進督戰甚急，太祖嘉之。 晉陽平，從征幽州，又與內供奉官江守鈞率兵攻城之西北。 及班師，詔彥進與西上閤門副使薛繼興、閤門祗候李守斌領兵屯關南，以功加檢校太尉。 是秋，契丹侵遂城，彥進與劉廷翰、崔翰等擊破之，斬首萬級。 五年，車駕北巡，以彥進為關南都部署，敗契丹於唐興口。
In the second year of Taiping Xingguo he was transferred to command at Heyang. In the first month of the fourth year generals were dispatched against Taiyuan with separate assaults: Yanjin and Yin Xun, defender of Yingzhou, attacked from the east; Li Hanqiong and Niu Sijin from the south; Cao Han and Du Yangui from the west; Liu Yu and Shi Gui from the north. Yanjin pressed the assault vigorously, and Taizu commended him. After Jinyang fell he joined the Youzhou campaign and, with Inner Palace Attendant Jiang Shoujun, led the assault on the northwest of the city. On the return march Yanjin was ordered with Xue Jixing and Li Shoubin to garrison the region south of the passes; for his achievements he was given the additional title of honorary grand marshal. That autumn, when the Khitan raided Suicheng, Yanjin with Liu Tinghan, Cui Han, and others routed them and took ten thousand heads. In the fifth year, during the northern tour, Yanjin was made overall deployer south of the passes and defeated the Khitan at Tangxing Ford.
40
彥進頻立戰功，然好聚財貨，所至無善政。 沒後，諸子爭家財，有司攝治。 太宗召見，為決之，謂左右曰：「此細務，朕不宜親臨，但以彥進嘗任節制，不欲令其子辱於父耳。」
Yanjin won repeated battle honors, but he loved to amass wealth and governed poorly wherever he was posted. After his death his sons fought over the family estate, and the authorities took up the case. Taizong summoned them, settled the dispute, and told his attendants, "This is a trifling matter and I should not handle it myself, but because Yanjin once held a command I do not want his sons to disgrace their father."
41
子懷遵，至內殿崇班； 懷清，至崇儀副使。
His son Huaizun rose to honored class of the inner palace; Huaqing rose to vice honored ceremonial commissioner.
42
懷遵子上賢，娶鎮王女崇安縣主。 懷清子從湜，娶岐王女永壽縣主，為西京左藏庫副使，後坐事除名。
Huaizun's son Shangxian married the Princess of Chong'an, daughter of the Prince of Zhen. Huaqing's son Congshi married the Princess of Yongshou, daughter of the Prince of Qi; he served as vice commissioner of the western-capital left treasury and was later struck from the rolls for an offense.
43
張廷翰
Zhang Tinghan
44
張廷翰，澤州陵川人。 初為漢祖親校。 漢祖入汴，補內殿直，遷東西班軍使。 周初，改護聖指揮使。 從世宗平淮甸，以功遷鐵騎右第二軍都虞候。 顯德末，改殿前散都頭都虞候。 宋初，權為鐵騎左第二軍都校、領開州刺史。 從平揚州，又以功遷控鶴左廂都指揮使、領果州團練使。 未幾，轉龍捷左廂都指揮使、領春州團練使。 乾德中，興師伐蜀，以廷翰為歸州路行營馬軍都指揮使，隨劉廷讓由歸州路進討。 師次夔州，廷讓頓兵白帝廟西，俄而夔州監軍武守謙率所部來拒戰，廷翰引兵逆擊，敗之於豬頭鋪，乘勝拔其城。 蜀平，授侍衛馬步軍都虞候、領彰國軍節度。 開寶二年，寢疾，太祖親臨問，未幾卒，年五十三。 贈侍中。
Zhang Tinghan was a native of Lingchuan in Zezhou. He began as a personal guard of the Han founder. When the Han founder entered Bian he was appointed an inner-palace direct attendant and promoted to commissioner of the eastern and western class armies. At the beginning of the Zhou he was made commander of the Guard of Sacred Protection. He followed Shizong in pacifying the Huai region and was promoted to deputy commander of the right second army of the Iron Cavalry. Late in Xiande he was made deputy commander of the loose chiefs before the throne hall. At the founding of the Song he was acting colonel of the left second army of the Iron Cavalry and prefect of Kaizhou. He took part in pacifying Yangzhou and was promoted to commander of the left wing of the Crane Control Army and regimental commissioner of Guozhou. Soon he was transferred to commander of the left wing of the Dragon Swift Army and regimental commissioner of Chunzhou. During Qiande, on the Shu campaign, Tinghan was made overall commander of cavalry on the Guizhou route headquarters and advanced with Liu Tingrang along the Guizhou route. The army reached Kuizhou; Tingrang encamped west of the White Emperor Shrine. When Wu Shouqian, military supervisor of Kuizhou, came out to fight, Tinghan met him in battle, routed him at Zhutou Post, and stormed the city in the pursuit. After Shu was pacified he was made overall deputy of the palace horse and foot forces and military governor of the Zhangguo Army. In the second year of Kaibao he fell gravely ill; Taizu visited him in person; he died soon afterward at the age of fifty-three. He was posthumously granted the title of palace attendant.
45
皇甫繼明
Huangfu Jiming
46
皇甫繼明，冀州蓨人。 父濟，汾川令。 繼明身長七尺，善騎射，以膂力聞郡中。 刺史張廷翰以隸左右，薦於太祖，補殿前指揮使，歷左右番押班都知。
Huangfu Jiming was a native of Tiao in Jizhou. His father Ji was magistrate of Fenchuan. Jiming stood seven feet tall, excelled at horsemanship and archery, and was famed throughout the commandery for his strength. Prefect Zhang Tinghan took him into his staff, recommended him to Taizu, and he was appointed a commander before the throne hall, rising through the left and right palace escort classes.
47
至道元年，改領洋州觀察使，充環慶路馬步軍都部署，繼明謹愿，御下嚴肅，士卒頗畏憚之。 二年，受詔護送輜重赴靈州，繼明已先約靈州部署田紹斌率軍迎援，適被病，裨將白守榮謂繼明曰：「君疾甚，不可行，恐失期會，守榮當率兵先往。」 繼明宿將，慮守榮等輕佻，與戎人接戰，因謂之曰：「我疾少間。」 遂矍鑠被甲上馬，強行至清遠軍，卒，年六十三，詔贈彰武軍節度。 遷其子懷信為供奉官。
In the first year of Zhidao he was made military commissioner of Yangzhou and overall deployer of horse and foot forces on the Huanqing circuit; Jiming was careful and sincere, stern with his men, and the troops feared him. In the second year he was ordered to escort supply trains to Lingzhou; Jiming had already arranged for Tian Shaobin at Lingzhou to meet him with reinforcements. When he fell ill, Vice General Bai Shourong said, "Your illness is too severe to travel — we may miss the rendezvous. Let me lead the troops ahead. Jiming was a veteran and feared Shourong's men were too rash against the enemy, so he said, "My illness will ease shortly. He roused himself, donned armor, mounted, and forced his way to Qingyuan Army, where he died at sixty-three; the court posthumously granted him the title of military governor of the Zhangwu Army. His son Huaixin was promoted to palace attendant.
48
張瓊，大名館陶人。 世為牙中軍。 瓊少有勇力，善射，隸太祖帳下。 周顯德中，太祖從世宗南征，擊十八里灘砦，為戰艦所圍，一人甲盾鼓噪而前，眾莫敢當，太祖命瓊射之，一發而踣，淮人遂卻。
Zhang Qiong was a native of Guantao in Daming. His family had served for generations in the headquarters guard. As a youth Qiong was strong and brave, skilled in archery, and entered Taizu's personal staff. During Zhou Xiande, when Taizu followed Shizong south and attacked the stockade at Shibalitan, they were surrounded by warships; one armored man came forward shouting, and none dared face him; Taizu ordered Qiong to shoot — one arrow and the man fell, and the Huai forces withdrew.
49
瓊性暴無機，多所淩轢。 時史珪、石漢卿方用事，瓊輕侮之，目為巫媼。 二人銜之切齒，發瓊擅乘官馬，納李筠隸僕，畜部曲百餘人，恣作威福，禁軍皆懼； 又誣毀太宗為殿前都虞候時事。 建隆四年秋，郊禋制下，方欲肅靜京師，乃召訊瓊。 瓊不伏，太祖怒，令擊之。 漢卿即奮鐵撾亂下，氣垂絕，曳出，遂下御史案鞫之。 瓊知不免，行至明德門，解所係繫帶以遺母。 獄具，賜死於城西井亭。 太祖旋聞家無餘財，止有僕三人，甚悔之。 因責漢卿曰：「汝言瓊有僕百人，今何在？」 漢卿曰：「瓊所養者一敵百耳。」 太祖遂優恤其家。 以其子尚幼，乃擢其兄進為龍捷副指揮使。
Qiong was violent and tactless by nature and often bullied others. When Shi Gui and Shi Hanqing were in power, Qiong despised them and called them witch crones. The two hated him bitterly and accused him of riding official horses without permission, taking Li Yun's household servants, keeping more than a hundred retainers, and abusing his power until the palace troops all feared him; they also slandered Taizong's conduct when he was deputy commander before the throne hall. In the autumn of the fourth year of Jianlong, as suburban sacrifice regulations were issued and the court sought to quiet the capital, Qiong was summoned for questioning. Qiong would not confess; Taizu was furious and ordered him beaten. Hanqing immediately beat him wildly with an iron club until he was nearly dead; he was dragged out and the case was sent to the censorate. Knowing he could not escape, Qiong at the Gate of Bright Virtue untied his belt and gave it to his mother. When the case was proved he was granted death at the well pavilion west of the city. Taizu soon learned that the household had no wealth left and only three servants, and deeply regretted the affair. He rebuked Hanqing: "You said Qiong had a hundred servants — where are they now? Hanqing answered, "The men Qiong kept were each a match for a hundred." Taizu then treated his family with generous care. Because his son was still young, his elder brother Jin was promoted to vice commander of the Dragon Swift Army.
50
論曰：崔彥進與王全斌征蜀，黷貨殺降，以致蜀亂，惟劉廷讓一軍秋毫無犯，紀律嚴否於斯別矣。 尹崇珂斤斤謹厚，臨淄攻守之績，嶺嶠廓清之勞，至於瘁事。 皇甫繼明力疾以護軍行，純誠勇節，皆足嘉尚。 張廷翰西征，未睹奇效。 張美雖稱幹敏，而初有自愧之行。 郭守文敦詩閱禮，輕財好施，慎保封疆，士卒樂用，終以勳舊蒙眷，聯姻戚里。 宋初諸將，要終而論，臧否異趣，何昭昭若是哉！
The commentary observes: Cui Yanjin and Wang Quanbin on the Shu campaign took bribes and killed surrendering men, bringing on the Shu revolt — only Liu Tingrang's army took nothing at all; strict and lax discipline are plainly distinguished here. Yin Chongke was scrupulous and steady; his record at Linzi and his labor in pacifying Lingnan wore him out in the end. Huangfu Jiming forced himself onward despite illness to escort the army; his pure loyalty and courage are all worthy of praise. Zhang Tinghan on the western expedition achieved nothing striking. Zhang Mei, though praised for competence, had early conduct that left him ashamed. Guo Shuowen loved learning and ritual, was generous with wealth, guarded the frontier carefully, and won the loyalty of his troops; in the end, as an old merit-holder, he won imperial favor and marriage ties with the imperial clan. The generals of early Song, judged in sum, show praise and blame running in different directions — how plainly this stands forth!