1
李瓊，字子玉，幽州人。 祖傳正，涿州刺史。 父英，涿州從事。 瓊幼好學，涉獵史傳。 杖策詣太原，依會唐莊宗屬募勇士，即應募，與周祖等十人約為兄弟。 一日會飲，瓊熟視周祖，知非常人。 因舉酒祝曰：“凡我十人，龍蛇混合，異日富貴無相忘，苟渝此言，神降之罰。 ”皆刺臂出血為誓。 周祖與瓊情好尤密，嘗造瓊，見其危坐讀書，因問所讀何書，瓊曰：“此《閫外春秋》，所謂以正守國，以奇用兵，較存亡治亂，記賢愚成敗，皆在此也。 ”周祖令讀之，謂瓊曰：“兄當教我。 ”自是周祖出入常袖以自隨，遇暇輒讀，每問難瓊，謂瓊為師。 及討河中，乃解瓊兵籍，令參西征軍事。 賊平，表於朝，授朝散大夫、大理司直。 歲中，遷太子洗馬。 周祖鎮鄴，表為大名少尹。
Li Qiong, whose style name was Ziyu, came from Youzhou. His grandfather Chuanzheng had served as prefect of Zhuo. His father Ying had been a staff officer at Zhuo. From boyhood Qiong loved study and read widely in history and the classics. He took his staff and went to Taiyuan, where Tang Zhuangzong happened to be recruiting warriors; he enlisted at once and, with the future Zhou founder and nine others, swore brotherhood. Once at a drinking party Qiong studied the Zhou founder closely and saw that he was no ordinary man. He raised his cup and vowed: "We ten are a mixed lot of dragons and snakes; when fortune comes, let none of us forget the rest; whoever breaks this oath, may the spirits punish him." They all pricked their arms and mixed blood to seal the pact. The Zhou founder and Qiong were especially close. Once he called on Qiong and found him sitting upright with a book; he asked what he was reading. Qiong said, "This is the Spring and Autumn Beyond the Gate. It teaches how to hold a state by rectitude and how to use troops by stratagem; it weighs survival against ruin, order against chaos, and records who was wise or foolish, who succeeded or failed—all of that is here." The Zhou founder had him read from it and said, "Brother, you must teach me. From then on the Zhou founder carried the book in his sleeve wherever he went; in spare moments he read it, questioned Qiong whenever he was puzzled, and called Qiong his teacher. When the campaign against Hezhong began, he released Qiong from the rolls and had him advise on the western expedition. After the rebels were subdued he recommended Qiong to court; Qiong received the posts of Grandee of Splendid Happiness and Direct Clerk of the Court of Judicial Review. Within the year he was promoted to Groom of the Heir Apparent. When the Zhou founder was posted at Ye, he recommended Qiong as junior administrator of Daming.
2
廣順初，拜將作監，充內作坊使，賜金紫。 連知亳、陝二州，改濟州刺史。 世宗初，遷洺州團練使，改安州防禦使，治郡寬簡，民請立碑頌德，詔中書舍人竇儀撰文賜之。 宋初，召為太子賓客。 建隆三年，上章請老，改右驍衛上將軍致仕。 瓊信釋氏，明年四月八日，詣佛寺，遇疾歸，至暮卒，年七十三，贈太子少師。
Early in the Guangshun reign he was made Director of the Directorate for Palace Buildings and Superintendent of the Inner Workshops, with gold-and-purple insignia. He served in succession as prefect of Bo and Shan, then was transferred to Ji as prefect. Early in Emperor Shizong's reign he was made regimental commissioner of Ming, then defense commissioner of An. His rule was easy and spare; the people asked to raise a stele in his praise, and the court ordered Secretariat drafter Dou Yi to compose the inscription. At the founding of the Song he was summoned to serve as Guest of the Heir Apparent. In Jianlong 3 (962) he memorialized to retire and was made senior general of the Right Martial Tiger Guards, with permission to leave office. Qiong was a devout Buddhist. On the eighth day of the fourth month the next year he visited a temple, fell ill on the way home, and died at dusk, aged seventy-three; the court posthumously named him Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent.
3
郭瓊，平州盧龍人。 祖海，本州兩冶使。 父令奇，盧台軍使。 瓊少以勇力聞，事契丹，為蕃漢都指揮使。 後唐天成中，挈其族來歸，明宗以為亳州團練使，改刺商州，遷原州。 清泰初，移階州，城壘未葺，蜀人屢寇，瓊患之，因徙城保險，民乃無患。 受詔攻文州，拔二十餘砦，生擒數百人。
Guo Qiong came from Lulong in Ping Prefecture. His grandfather Hai had been commissioner of the two smelteries in that prefecture. His father Lingqi had commanded the Lutai garrison. From youth Qiong was famed for strength and daring. He served the Khitans as supreme commander of their barbarian and Han forces. In Later Tang Tiancheng (926–933) he brought his clan over to the Tang side. Emperor Mingzong made him regimental commissioner of Bo, then prefect of Shang, and later transferred him to Yuan. Early in Qingtai (934–936) he was posted to Jie, where the walls were still in ruins and Shu raiders struck again and again. Troubled by this, he relocated the city to defensible ground, and the people were finally safe. Ordered to attack Wen, he seized more than twenty stockades and took several hundred prisoners alive.
4
晉天福中，移刺警州，屬羌、渾騷動，朔方節度張希崇表瓊為部署，將兵共討平之。 連領滑、坊、虢、衛四州。 開運初，為北面騎軍排陣使。 陽城之役，戰功居多。 改沂州刺史，充荊口砦主兼東面行營都虞候。 擒莫州刺史趙思以獻，改刺懷州。 俄為北面先鋒都監。 契丹陷中原，盜賊蜂起，山東為甚，契丹主命瓊復刺沂州以禦盜，瓊即日單騎赴郡。 盜聞瓊威名，相率遁去。
Under Later Jin Tianfu (936–944) he became prefect of Jing. When the Qiang and Hun rose in revolt, Shuofang commissioner Zhang Xichong recommended him as deployment commander; he led troops with Zhang and pacified the disturbance. He held in succession Hua, Fang, Guo, and Wei. Early in Kaiyun (944–946) he was array master of the northern cavalry. At Yangcheng his share of the victory was the greatest. He was made prefect of Yi, commandant of Jingkou Stockade, and chief controller of the eastern field headquarters. He captured Zhao Si, prefect of Mo, and presented him to court, then was transferred to Huai as prefect. Soon afterward he was named chief overseer of the northern vanguard. When the Khitans overran the Central Plains, bandits rose everywhere, worst in Shandong. The Khitan ruler sent Qiong back to Yi to suppress them; he rode alone to the prefectural seat that very day. Hearing Qiong's reputation, the bandits fled in droves.
5
漢乾祐中，淮人攻密州，以為行營都部署，未至，淮人解去。 會平盧節度劉銖恃佐命之舊，稱疾不朝，將相大臣，懼其難制，先遣瓊與衛州刺史郭超以所部兵屯青州。 銖不自安，置酒召瓊，伏壯士幕下，欲害瓊。 瓊知其謀，屏去從者，從容就席，略無懼色，銖不敢發。 瓊因為陳禍福，銖感其言，遂治裝。 俄詔至，即日上道。 瓊改潁州團練使，又加防禦使。 時朗州結荊、淮、廣南合兵攻湖南，詔瓊以州兵合王令溫大軍攻光州，尋以內難不果。 罷歸朝，遣詣河北計度兵甲芻糧。
In Later Han Qianyou (948–950), Huai forces attacked Mi. He was named field deployment commander, but before he arrived the attackers withdrew. Pinglu commissioner Liu Zhu, counting on his early service at the founding, pleaded illness and stayed away from court. The chief ministers feared he could not be controlled and sent Qiong and Wei prefect Guo Chao ahead with their troops to camp at Qingzhou. Uneasy, Zhu set out wine and summoned Qiong, with braves hidden beneath the curtain ready to kill him. Qiong saw through the plot, dismissed his escort, and took his seat calmly, showing no fear; Zhu did not dare strike. Qiong laid out the gains and risks for him; moved by the argument, Zhu began to pack for court. An edict soon arrived, and he set out for the capital the same day. Qiong was made regimental commissioner of Ying and also named defense commissioner. Lang had allied with Jing, Huai, and Guangnan to attack Hunan. Qiong was ordered to join his troops with Wang Lingwen's main force against Guang, but domestic turmoil soon ended the campaign. Recalled to court, he was sent to Hebei to assess troops, arms, fodder, and grain.
6
周祖祀南郊，召權知宗正卿事。 世宗征劉崇，為北面行營都監，曆絳、蔡、齊三州防禦使。 在齊州，民饑，瓊以己俸賑之。 人懷其惠，相率詣闕頌其德政，詔許立碑。
When the Zhou founder performed the suburban sacrifice, Qiong was summoned to serve provisionally as director of the Court of the Imperial Clan. On Emperor Shizong's campaign against Liu Chong he was chief overseer of the northern field headquarters and served in turn as defense commissioner of Jiang, Cai, and Qi. At Qi the people were starving; he spent his own salary on relief. Grateful for his kindness, they went in groups to court to praise his rule, and an edict allowed a commemorative stele.
7
宋建隆三年，告老，加右領軍衛上將軍致仕，歸洛陽。 乾德二年，卒，年七十二。 瓊雖起卒伍，而所至有惠政，尊禮儒士，孜孜樂善，蓋武臣之賢者也。
In Song Jianlong 3 (962) he asked to retire, was made senior general of the Right Army Guards with permission to leave office, and went home to Luoyang. He died in Qiande 2 (964), aged seventy-two. Though he had risen from the ranks, wherever he served he left benevolent rule, honored scholars, and pursued good tirelessly—among military men he was truly worthy.
8
陳承昭
Chen Chengzhao
9
陳承昭，江表人。 始事李景為保義軍節度，周世宗征淮南，景以承昭為濠、泗、楚、海水陸都應援使。 世宗既拔泗州，引兵東下，命太祖領甲士數千為先鋒，遇承昭於淮上擊敗之，追至山陽北，太祖親禽承昭以獻。 世宗釋之，授右監門衛上將軍，賜錦袍、銀帶，改右領軍衛上將軍，分司西京。 宋初入朝，太祖以承昭習知水利，督治惠民、五丈二河以通漕運，都人利之。 建隆二年，河成，賜錢三十萬。 承昭言其婿王仁表在南唐，帝為致書於李景，令遣歸闕，曆左右神武統軍。
Chen Chengzhao came from the lower Yangzi region. He had first served Li Jing as Baoyi army commissioner. When Later Zhou Shizong marched on Huainan, Jing named Chengzhao overall land-and-sea relief commander for Hao, Si, Chu, and Hai. After Shizong took Si he marched east and ordered the future Taizu to lead several thousand armored men as vanguard. They met Chengzhao on the Huai, routed him, pursued him north of Shanyang, and the future Taizu captured him personally and presented him to Shizong. Shizong spared him, made him senior general of the Right Gate Guards, gave him a brocade robe and silver belt, then senior general of the Right Army Guards with detached duty at the western capital. When the Song was founded he came to court. Taizu, knowing his expertise in hydraulics, put him in charge of the Huimin and Wuzhang canals to restore the grain route, to the capital's great benefit. In Jianlong 2 (961) the works were finished and he received three hundred thousand cash. Chengzhao said his son-in-law Wang Renbiao was still in Southern Tang; the emperor wrote Li Jing to send him home, and Chengzhao later commanded the Left and Right Divine Martial armies in turn.
10
四年春，大發近甸丁壯數萬，修畿內河堤，命承昭董其役。 又令督諸軍子弟數千，鑿池於朱明門外，以習水戰。 從征太原，承昭獻計請壅汾水灌城，城危甚，會班師，功不克就。 乾德五年，遷右龍武軍統軍。 開寶二年，卒，年七十四。 贈太子太師，中使護喪。 大中祥符元年，錄其孫宗義為三班借職。
That spring tens of thousands of men from the nearby prefectures were drafted to repair the capital-region dikes, with Chengzhao overseeing the work. He also had him supervise several thousand young men of military families digging a training pool outside the Vermilion Bright Gate for naval drill. On the Taiyuan campaign he proposed damming the Fen to flood the city; the city was nearly lost, but the army withdrew before the plan could succeed. In Qiande 5 (967) he was transferred to command the Right Dragon Martial Army. He died in Kaibao 2 (969), aged seventy-four. The court posthumously named him Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent and sent a palace envoy to oversee the funeral. In Dazhong Xiangfu 1 (1008) his grandson Zongyi was given an acting post in the Third Class service.
11
李萬超
Li Wanchao
12
李萬超，并州太原人。 幼孤貧，負販以養母，晉祖起並門，萬超應募隸軍籍。 戰累捷，稍遷軍校。 從李守貞討楊光遠於青州，奮勇先登，飛石中其腦，氣不屬者久之。 開運中，從杜重威拒契丹於陽城，流矢貫手，萬超拔矢復戰，神色自若。 以功遷肅銳指揮使。
Li Wanchao came from Taiyuan in Bing Prefecture. Orphaned and poor as a boy, he peddled on his back to support his mother. When the Jin founder rose at Bing Gate, Wanchao enlisted and was entered on the rolls. Repeated victories in battle gradually raised him to company commander. On Li Shouzhen's campaign against Yang Guangyuan at Qingzhou he was first up the wall; a flying stone struck his head and he lay senseless for a long time. In Kaiyun (944–946) he followed Du Chongwei against the Khitans at Yangcheng. A stray arrow pierced his hand; he pulled it out, returned to the fight, and never changed expression. For his deeds he was made commander of the Solemn Sharpness Guard.
13
契丹入中原，時萬超以本部屯潞州，主帥張從恩將棄城歸契丹，會前驍衛將軍王守恩服喪私第，從恩即委以後事，遁去。 及契丹使至，專領郡務，守恩遂無所預。 萬超奮然謂其部下曰：“我輩垂餌虎口，苟延旦夕之命，今欲殺使，保其城。 非止逃生，亦足建勳業，汝曹能乎？ ”眾皆躍然喜曰：“敢不唯命。 ”遂率所部大噪入府署，殺其使，推守恩為帥，列狀以聞。 漢祖從其請，仍命史弘肇統兵先渡河至潞，見萬超，語之曰：“得復此州，公之力也。 吾欲殺守恩，以公為帥，可乎？ ”萬超對曰：“殺契丹使以推守恩，蓋為社稷計爾。 今若賊害於人，自取其利，非宿心也。 ”弘肇大奇之，表為先鋒馬步軍都指揮使，路經澤州，刺史翟令奇堅壁拒命，萬超馳至城下，諭之曰：“今契丹北遁，天下無主，并州劉公仗大義，定中土，所向風靡，後服者族，盍早圖之。 ”令奇乃開門迎納。 弘肇即留萬超權州事，漢祖遂以為刺史。 及征李守貞，以萬超為行營壕砦使。 河中平，拜懷州刺史。
When the Khitans overran the Central Plains, Wanchao's unit was garrisoned at Lu. Commander Zhang Cong'en meant to surrender the city to them. Former Martial Tiger general Wang Shou'en happened to be in mourning at home; Cong'en handed him command and fled. When the Khitan envoy arrived the envoy took full charge of the prefecture, leaving Shou'en with nothing to do. Wanchao roused his men and said, "We hang as bait in the tiger's mouth, living from day to day. Let us kill the envoy and hold this city. We will not only save ourselves but win merit as well. Will you follow?" They leaped up gladly: "We await only your word. He led his men with a shout into the yamen, killed the envoy, made Shou'en commander, and sent a memorial to court. The Han founder approved the move and sent Shi Hongzhao ahead across the river to Lu. Meeting Wanchao, he said, "Recovering this prefecture was your doing." I mean to kill Shou'en and make you commander. Will that do? Wanchao answered, "We killed the Khitan envoy and raised Shou'en for the realm's sake, not our own. To harm him now for my own gain would betray what I meant from the start. Hongzhao was deeply impressed and recommended him commander of the vanguard horse-and-foot armies. At Ze, prefect Zhai Lingqi held the walls and refused orders. Wanchao rode to the gate and called, "The Khitans have fled north; the realm has no master. Lord Liu of Bingzhou acts in righteousness to settle the Central Plains. All who resist are swept away, and latecomers lose their clans. Why not yield now? Lingqi opened the gates and welcomed them in. Hongzhao left Wanchao in provisional charge of Ze, and the Han founder soon confirmed him as prefect. On the campaign against Li Shouzhen he was named field trench-and-stockade commissioner. When Hezhong fell he was made prefect of Huai.
14
周祖開國，從征慕容彥超，又為都壕砦使，以功授洺州團練使，預收秦、鳳，改萊州。 從平淮南，連移蘄、登二州，所至有善政。 屬有詔重均田租，前牟平令馬陶，籍隸文登縣，隱苗不通，命係之，將斬而後聞。 陶懼遁去，由是境內肅然。 宋初，入為右武衛大將軍，遷左驍衛大將軍。 開寶八年，卒，年七十二。
When the Zhou was founded he joined the campaign against Murong Yanchao as chief trench-and-stockade commissioner, was made regimental commissioner of Ming for his merit, helped recover Qin and Feng, and was transferred to Lai. He helped pacify Huainan and served in turn at Qi and Deng, leaving good government wherever he went. An edict came to re-equalize field rents. Former Mouping magistrate Ma Tao, registered in Wendeng, had concealed taxable land. Wanchao had him bound and was about to execute him before reporting to court. Tao fled in fear, and the whole district fell quiet. At the founding of Song he entered court as grand general of the Right Martial Guards and was later made grand general of the Left Martial Tiger Guards. He died in Kaibao 8 (975), aged seventy-two.
15
白重讚
Bai Chongzan
16
白重讚，憲州樓煩人，其先沙陀部族。 重讚少從軍，有武勇。 漢初，自散員都虞候三遷護聖都指揮使。 乾佑中，李守貞據河中叛，隱帝以重讚為行營先鋒都指揮使。 河中平，以功領端州刺史。 周初，轉護聖左廂都指揮使。 未幾，出為鄭州防禦使，改相州留後。 廣順中，授義成軍節度。 在鎮日，河屢決，重讚親部丁壯，塞大程、六合二堤，詔書褒美。
Bai Chongzan came from Loufan in Xian Prefecture; his forebears were Shatuo. Chongzan entered the army young and was known for martial daring. Early in Later Han he rose in three steps from chief controller of miscellaneous personnel to commander of the Imperial Guard. During the Qianyou reign, Li Shouzhen rebelled and held Hezhong; Emperor Yindi made Chongzan commander of the field army's vanguard. After Hezhong was pacified, he was given Duan Prefecture as prefect for his merit. Early in Later Zhou he became commander of the Imperial Guard's left wing. Soon afterward he was posted as military commissioner of Zhengzhou, then made acting governor of Xiangzhou. During Guangshun he was appointed military governor of the Yicheng circuit. While in command the river broke its banks repeatedly; Chongzan personally led laborers to repair the Dacheng and Liuhe dikes, and received an imperial commendation.
17
世宗征劉崇，以重讚為河東道行營馬軍都指揮使，重讚與李重進居陣西偏，樊愛能、何徽居陣東偏。 既合戰，愛能與徽皆遁走，惟重讚與重進率所部力戰，世宗自督親軍合勢薄之，幷人大敗。 既誅愛能等，重讚以功授保大軍節度使。 及世宗征太原，以河陽劉詞為隨駕都部署，命重讚副之。 其忻州監軍殺刺史趙皋及契丹大將楊耨姑，以城降，而契丹兵猶盛，命重讚及符彥卿擊走之。 世宗還京，改河陽三城節度、檢校太尉。 及征淮南，命重讚率親兵三千軍於潁上。 未幾，改淮南道行營馬步軍都虞候。 俄遷彰義軍節度。
When Emperor Shizong marched against Liu Chong, Chongzan was made chief of cavalry for the Hedong field army; he and Li Chongjin took the west wing while Fan Aineng and He Hui held the east. When battle was joined, Aineng and Hui both fled; only Chongzan and Chongjin held their ground and fought hard. Shizong personally led the imperial guard to reinforce them and crush the enemy; the Shanxi army was routed. After Fan Aineng and the others were put to death, Chongzan was rewarded with the Baoda circuit governorship. When Shizong marched on Taiyuan, he named Liu Ci of Heyang chief of staff for the campaign and ordered Chongzan to serve as his deputy. The military supervisor at Xinzhou killed prefect Zhao Gao and the Khitan general Yang Nugun and surrendered the city, but Khitan forces remained strong; Chongzan and Fu Yanqing were sent to drive them off. After Shizong returned to the capital, Chongzan was made military governor of the Heyang three cities and honorary Grand Preceptor. For the Huainan campaign, he was ordered to lead three thousand household troops to Yingshang. He was soon made chief controller of infantry and cavalry for the Huainan field army. Shortly afterward he was transferred to the Zhangyi circuit.
18
宋初，加檢校太師，改鎮涇州。 有馬步軍教練使李玉，本燕人，凶狡，與重讚有隙。 遂與部下閻承恕謀害重讚，密遣人市馬纓，偽造制書雲重讚構逆，令夷其族。 乃自持偽制並馬纓，以告都校陳延正曰：“使者致而去矣。 ”延正具白重讚，重讚封其書以聞。 太祖大駭，令驗視之，率皆誕謬，遂命六宅使陳思誨馳赴涇州，禽玉及承恕鞫問，伏罪棄市。 延正擢領刺史以賞之，仍詔諸州，凡被制書有關機密，則詳驗印文筆跡。 俄改泰寧軍節度。 乾德四年，又為定國軍節度。 開寶二年，改左千牛衛上將軍，奉朝請。 三年，卒，年六十二。
Early in the Song he was made honorary Grandee and posted to Jingzhou. A drill instructor named Li Yu, a native of Yan, was vicious and cunning and bore a grudge against Chongzan. He conspired with his officer Yan Chengnu to murder Chongzan, secretly buying horse tassels and forging an edict accusing Chongzan of treason and ordering his entire clan destroyed. He then showed the forged edict and tassels to chief commander Chen Yanzheng, saying, "The messenger delivered this and has already left." Yanzheng reported everything to Chongzan, who sealed the document and sent it to the throne. Taizu was shocked and had it examined; it proved entirely bogus. He sent Six Residences commissioner Chen Sihui posthaste to Jingzhou to arrest Yu and Chengnu; they confessed and were executed in public. Yanzheng was promoted to prefect for his vigilance, and an edict went to all provinces requiring careful verification of seal and handwriting on any confidential imperial orders. He was soon transferred to the Taining circuit. In Qiande 4 he was again made governor of the Dingguo circuit. In Kaibao 2 he was made senior general of the Left Qianniu Guard with a court attendance stipend. In the third year he died, at sixty-two.
19
王仁鎬
Wang Rengao
20
五年，拜安國軍節度，制曰：“眷惟襄國，實卿故鄉。 分予龍節之權，成爾錦衣之美。 ”郡民扶老攜幼，迎於境上，有獻錦袍者四，仁鎬皆重衣之，厚酬以金帛。 視事翌日，省其父祖之墓，周視松檟，涕泗嗚咽，謂所親曰：“仲由以為不如負米之樂，信矣。 ”時人美之。 郡有群盜，仁鎬遣使遺以束帛，諭之，悉遁去，不復為盜。 恭帝嗣位，移山南東道節度。
In year five he was appointed military governor of Anguo; the edict read, "I have dear regard for Xiangguo—it is truly your homeland." "I grant you the authority of the commander's insignia, that you may enjoy the honor of returning home in glory." The people came to the border to welcome him, old and young together; four men presented brocade robes, each of which Rengao wore on top of the others, rewarding them generously with gold and silk. The day after taking office he visited his forefathers' graves, walked among the pine and cypress trees weeping, and said to those close to him, "Zhong You was right that serving one's parents in life is happier than honoring them only after death." People praised him for this. When bandits plagued the region, Rengao sent them gifts of silk with a message of warning; they all dispersed and never robbed again. When Emperor Gong ascended the throne, he was transferred to the Shannan East circuit.
21
宋初，加檢校太師。 建隆二年，以疾召還，次唐州，卒於傳舍，年六十九。
Early in the Song he was made honorary Grandee. In Jianlong 2, recalled owing to illness, he died at a postal station in Tangzhou, aged sixty-nine.
22
仁鎬性端謹儉約，崇信釋氏，所得俸祿，多奉佛飯僧，每晨誦佛經五卷，或至日旰方出視事，從事劉謙責仁鎬曰：“公貴為藩侯，不能勤恤百姓，孜孜事佛，何也？ ”仁鎬斂容遜謝，無慍色。 當時稱其長者。
Rengao was proper, careful, and frugal, a devout Buddhist who spent most of his salary on offerings and feeding monks. He chanted five scrolls of scripture each morning and sometimes did not attend to official business until sunset. Staff officer Liu Qian rebuked him: "You are a high prefect—why do you neglect the people's welfare to busy yourself with Buddhism?" Rengao bowed his head and apologized without a trace of irritation. People of the day called him a man of true dignity.
23
陳思讓
Chen Sirang
24
八年冬，契丹謀入寇，以思讓監澶州軍，賜鞍勒馬、器帛。 討楊光遠於青州也，又為行營右廂兵馬都監，兵罷，改磁州刺史。 會符彥卿北征契丹，思讓表求預行。 未幾，改衛州。 連丁內外艱。 時武臣罕有執喪禮者，思讓不俟詔，去郡奔喪，聞者嘉之。 起復隨州刺史。
In the winter of Tianfu 8, with the Khitans threatening invasion, Sirang was placed in charge of forces at Cazhou and given a saddled horse, arms, and silks. During the campaign against Yang Guangyuan at Qingzhou he was made overseer of the field army's right wing; afterward he was appointed prefect of Cizhou. When Fu Yanqing marched north against the Khitans, Sirang petitioned to join the campaign. He was soon transferred to Weizhou. He suffered the deaths of both parents in succession. Military men rarely observed mourning rites in those days, but Sirang left his post without waiting for permission to observe his parents' funerals; all who heard of it praised him. He was recalled from mourning to serve as prefect of Suizhou.
25
漢初，移淄州，罷任歸朝。 會淮南與朗州馬希灊合兵淮南，攻湖南，馬希廣來乞師，旋屬內難，又周祖北征，乃分兵令思讓往郢州赴援，兵未渡而希廣敗。 思讓留於郢。
Early in Later Han he was posted to Zizhou, then recalled to the capital when his term ended. When forces from Huainan and Ma Xifan of Langzhou attacked Hunan, Ma Xiguang asked for aid; but internal turmoil broke out and the Zhou founder marched north, so detachments were sent with Sirang to Yingzhou; his troops had not yet crossed the river when Xiguang was defeated. Sirang stayed at Yingzhou.
26
周祖即位，遣供奉官邢思進召思讓及所部兵還。 劉崇僭號太原，周祖思得方略之士以備邊，遣思讓率兵詣磁州，控扼澤、潞。 未幾，授磁州刺史，充北面兵馬巡檢。 未行，升磁州為團練，即以思讓充使。
When the Zhou founder took the throne, he sent palace attendant Xing Sijin to recall Sirang and his troops. When Liu Chong declared himself emperor at Taiyuan, the Zhou founder sought skilled commanders for the frontier and sent Sirang with troops to Cizhou to block the Ze and Lu routes. He was soon made prefect of Cizhou and northern frontier military inspector. Before he could take up his post, Cizhou was elevated to a training prefecture and Sirang was appointed its commissioner.
27
顯德元年九月，改亳州防禦使，充昭義軍兵馬鈐轄，屢敗並人及契丹援兵，遷安國軍節度觀察留後，充北面行營馬步軍排陣使。 五年，敗並軍千餘於西山下，斬五百級。 是秋，邢州官吏、耆艾邢銖等四十人詣闕，求借留思讓，詔褒之。 十二月，改義成軍節度觀察留後。
In September of Xiande 1 he became military commissioner of Bozhou and overseer of Zhao-Yi forces, repeatedly defeating Northern Han and Khitan relief troops; he was promoted to acting governor of Anguo and marshal of the northern campaign's combined arms. In Xiande 5 he defeated more than a thousand Northern Han troops at West Mountain and took five hundred heads. That autumn forty Xingzhou officials and elders led by Xing Zhuo petitioned the court to keep him; the emperor issued a commendation. In December he was made acting governor of the Yicheng circuit.
28
六年春，世宗將北征，命先赴冀州以俟命。 及得瓦橋關，為雄州，命思讓為都部署，率兵戍守。 世宗不豫還京，留思讓為關南兵馬都部署。 恭帝嗣位，授廣海軍節度。
In spring of Xiande 6, with Shizong preparing a northern campaign, Sirang was ordered to proceed to Jizhou and await further orders. After Waqiao Pass was taken and organized as Xiongzhou, Sirang was named its military commander and assigned a garrison force. When Shizong fell ill and returned to the capital, Sirang remained as overall commander of forces south of the passes. When Emperor Gong succeeded to the throne, he was made military governor of the Guanghai circuit.
29
宋初，加檢校太傅。 乾德二年，又為保信軍節度。 時皇子興元尹德昭納思讓女為夫人。 開寶二年夏，改護國軍節度、河中尹。 七年，卒，年七十二。 贈侍中。
Early in the Song he was made honorary Grand Tutor. In Qiande 2 he was again made governor of the Baoxin circuit. At that time Prince Dezhao, prefect of Xingyuan, married Sirang's daughter. In the summer of Kaibao 2 he was made military governor of Huguo and prefect of Hezhong. In year seven he died, at seventy-two. He was posthumously made Palace Attendant.
30
思讓累曆方鎮，無敗政，然酷信釋氏，所至多禁屠宰，奉祿悉以飯僧，人目為“陳佛子”。 身沒之後，家無餘財。 弟思誨，至六宅使。 子欽祚，累遷至香藥庫使、長州刺史。 欽祚子若拙。
Sirang served in many regional posts without scandal, but was devoutly Buddhist: wherever he went he banned slaughter and spent his entire salary feeding monks; people nicknamed him "Chen the Buddha's son." After his death his family had nothing left. His younger brother Sihui rose to the rank of Six Residences commissioner. His son Qinzhuo rose to commissioner of the aromatics store and prefect of Changzhou. Qinzhuo's son was Ruozhuo.
31
孫若拙
Ruozhuo (grandson)
32
若拙，字敏之。 幼嗜學，思讓嘗令持書詣晉邸，太宗嘉其應對詳雅，將縻以軍職，若拙懇辭。 太平興國五年，進士甲科，解褐將作監丞、通判鄂州，改太子右讚善大夫、知單州。 以能政，就改太常丞，遷監察御史，充鹽鐵判官。 益州係囚甚眾，太宗覽奏訝之，召若拙面諭委以疏決，遷殿中侍御史、通判益州。 淳化三年，就命為西川轉運副使，未幾，改正使，召歸。 會李至守洛都，表若拙佐治，改度支員外郎，通判西京留司。 久之，柴禹錫鎮涇州，復奏為通判，遷司封員外郎，部送芻糧至塞外，優詔獎之。
Ruozhuo, courtesy name Minzhi. He loved learning from childhood. Sirang once sent him with a letter to the Prince of Jin's household; the future Taizong admired his polished replies and was about to offer him a military post, but Ruozhuo firmly declined. In Taiping Xingguo 5 he passed the jinshi as top class and was appointed assistant director of palace construction and vice-prefect of Ezhou, then made right tutor to the heir apparent and magistrate of Shan Prefecture. Recognized for capable administration, he was made vice director of imperial sacrifices, then investigating censor and salt and iron commissary judge. When reports showed Yizhou overrun with prisoners, Taizong was alarmed; he summoned Ruozhuo and charged him with clearing the backlog, then made him palace attendant censor and vice-prefect of Yizhou. In Chunhua 3 he was appointed deputy transport commissioner for Western Sichuan, soon promoted to chief commissioner and recalled. When Li Zhi governed Luoyang he recommended Ruozhuo as his assistant; Ruozhuo was made outer vice director of revenue and vice-prefect of the Western Capital retention office. Later, when Chai Yuxi governed Jingzhou, Ruozhuo was again recommended as his vice-prefect and promoted to outer vice director of the ministry of honors; he convoyed fodder beyond the frontier and received an imperial commendation.
33
入為鹽鐵判官，轉工部郎中。 與三司使陳恕不協，求徙他局，改主判開拆司。 車駕北巡，命李沆留守東京，以若拙為判官。 河決鄆州，朝議徙城以避水患，命若拙與閻承翰往規度，尋命權京東轉運使，因發卒塞王陵口，又於齊州浚導水勢，設巨堤於采金山，奏免六州所科梢木五百萬，民甚便之。 河平，真授轉運使。 召還，拜刑部郎中、知潭州。 時三司使缺，若拙自謂得之。 及是大失望，因請對，言父母年老，不願遠適，求納制命。 上怒，謂宰相曰：“士子操修，必須名實相副，頗聞若拙有能幹，特遷秩委以藩任，而貪進擇祿如此。 往有黃觀者，或稱其能，選為西川轉運使，輒訴免，當時黜守遠郡。 今若拙復爾，亦須譴降。 凡用人，豈以親疏為間，苟能盡瘁奉公，有所樹立，何患名位之不至也。 ”乃追若拙所授告敕，黜知處州，徙溫州。 代還，復授刑部郎中，再為鹽鐵判官，改兵部郎中、河東轉運使，賜金紫。
Recalled to the capital, he served again as salt and iron judge and was promoted to director of works in the Ministry of Works. He clashed with Chen Shu, director of the three finance commissions, and asked for another post, becoming chief judge of the dispatch office. On the emperor's northern tour, Li Hang was left to guard the eastern capital and Ruozhuo served as his deputy. When the Yellow River broke its banks at Yanzhou the court considered relocating the city; Ruozhuo and Yan Chenghan were sent to survey the damage. He was soon made acting transport commissioner for the eastern capital region, mobilized workers to seal Wangling Pass, dredged channels at Qizhou, and built a great dike at Caijin Mountain; his memorial exempted five million units of timber levies across six prefectures, to the people's great relief. Once the river was controlled he was confirmed as transport commissioner. Recalled to court, he was made director of punishments and magistrate of Tanzhou. When the directorship of the three commissions fell vacant, Ruozhuo expected to receive it. When he was passed over he was bitterly disappointed and requested an audience, claiming his aged parents made him unwilling to serve far from home and asking to relinquish his appointment. The emperor was furious and told his chief ministers, "A gentleman's conduct must match his reputation. I had heard Ruozhuo was capable and specially promoted him to a regional post, yet he shows such greed for rank and salary." "There was Huang Guan, praised for ability and made Sichuan transport commissioner, who immediately petitioned to resign; he was demoted to a distant post." "Ruozhuo does the same thing; he must be demoted as well." "In appointing men I do not favor kin over strangers. Whoever exhausts himself in public service and achieves something need not fear that rank will elude him." The court revoked his commission, demoted him to magistrate of Chuzhou, and transferred him to Wenzhou. After his term he was again made director of punishments and salt and iron judge, then director of war and Hedong transport commissioner, with the gold-and-purple regalia.
34
會親祀汾陰，若拙以所部緡帛、芻粟十萬，輸河中以助費，經度制置使陳堯叟言其幹職，擢拜右諫議大夫，徙知永興軍府。 時鄰郡歲饑，前政拒其市糴，若拙至，則許貿易，民賴以濟。 又移知鳳翔府，入拜給事中、知澶州。 蝗旱之餘，勤於政治，郡民列狀乞留。 天禧二年，卒，年六十四。 錄其子映為奉禮郎。
For the emperor's sacrifice at Fenyin, Ruozhuo forwarded one hundred thousand units of cash and grain from his circuit to Hezhong to help defray costs; planning commissioner Chen Yaosou praised his efficiency, and he was promoted to right remonstrating advisor and made prefect of Yongxing. Neighboring prefectures were in famine; the previous governor had refused to sell them grain, but Ruozhuo permitted trade and the people were saved. He was later transferred to Fengxiang, then recalled to serve as supervisory secretary and magistrate of Cazhou. In the aftermath of locust plague and drought he governed diligently, and the people petitioned collectively that he be kept. In Tianxi 2 he died, at sixty-four. His son Ying was enrolled as a supplementary ceremonial officer.
35
若拙多誕妄，寡學術，當時以第二人及第者為榜眼，若拙素無文，故目為“瞎榜”云。
Ruozhuo was boastful and ignorant. In his day the second-place jinshi was called bangyan, the "dragon's eye"; Ruozhuo had never shown literary talent, so people nicknamed him "Blind Second."
36
焦繼勳
Jiao Jixun
37
焦繼勳，字成績，許州長社人。 少讀書有大志，嘗謂人曰：“大丈夫當立功異域，取萬戶侯。 豈能孜孜事筆硯哉？ ”遂棄其業，遊三晉間為輕俠，以飲博為務。 晉祖鎮太原，繼勳以儒服謁見，晉祖與語，悅之，留帳下。 天福初，授皇城兼宮苑使，遷武德使。 安重榮反鎮州，安從進自襄陽舉兵為應。 晉祖命繼勳督諸將進討。 至唐州南，遇從進軍萬餘，設伏擊敗之，禽其牙將安洪義、鮑洪等五十餘人，得山南東道印，從進單騎奔還。 從進弟從貴率兵千餘人，援均州刺史蔡行遇，繼勳殺其眾七百，生禽百，獲從貴，斷腕放入城中，從進自此不能復鎮。 繼勳以功就拜齊州防禦使。 少帝即位，從進平，藉繼勳威名鎮之，徙襄陽防禦使。 歲餘，入為右千牛衛大將軍，拜宣徽北院使，遷南院使。
Jiao Jixun, courtesy name Chengjie, came from Changshe in Xuzhou. As a youth he studied and dreamed large. He once said, "A real man wins glory beyond the frontier and takes a marquisate of ten thousand households. Why toil over brush and inkstone?" He abandoned his studies, roamed the Three Jins as a swaggering blade-for-hire, and devoted himself to drink and dice. When the Jin founder held Taiyuan, Jixun presented himself in scholar's dress. The founder talked with him, took a liking to him, and kept him on his staff. Early in Tianfu he was made commissioner of the imperial city and palace parks, then promoted to Wude commissioner. An Chongrong rebelled at Zhenzhou, and An Congjin raised troops at Xiangyang in support. The Jin founder ordered Jixun to lead the generals against them. South of Tangzhou he met Congjin's force of over ten thousand, ambushed and routed it, and took more than fifty officers including staff generals An Hongyi and Bao Hong, along with the seal of Shannan East Circuit. Congjin fled back alone. Congjin's brother Conggui led a thousand men to relieve Junzhou prefect Cai Xingyu. Jixun killed seven hundred, took a hundred prisoners, and captured Conggui, whose wrist he severed before sending him into the city. Congjin never regained his footing. For these victories he was made defense commissioner of Qizhou. When the young emperor took the throne and Congjin was subdued, the court relied on Jixun's reputation to hold the region and transferred him to Xiangyang as defense commissioner. A year later he entered court as grand general of the Right Thousand-Bull Guards, became northern commissioner of the palace secretariat, and then southern commissioner.
38
西人寇邊，朝議發師致討，繼勳抗疏請行，拜秦州觀察使兼諸蕃水陸轉運使。 既至，推恩信、設方略招誘，諸郡酋長相率奉玉帛、牛酒乞盟，邊境以安。 俄徙知陝州，就遷保義軍兵馬留後。
When western tribes raided the frontier the court debated a punitive campaign. Jixun memorialized asking to lead it and was made observation commissioner of Qinzhou and overseer of tribal water and land transport. On arrival he won tribes with generosity and strategy. Chieftains from many districts came in succession with gifts of silk, cattle, and wine to sue for peace, and the frontier grew quiet. He was soon made prefect of Shanzhou and then acting military governor of the Baoyi circuit.
39
漢初，鳳翔軍校陽彥昭據城叛，命繼勳率師討之，以功授保大軍節度。 召入，會漢祖幸大名，留為京城右廂巡檢使，俄改右羽林統軍。 隱帝末，命繼勳領兵北征。 及周祖舉兵向闕，繼勳奉隱帝逆戰於留子陂，戰不利，遂歸周祖。
Early in the Later Han, Fengxiang officer Yang Yanzhao seized his city in revolt. Jixun was sent to suppress him and, for his success, was made military governor of the Baoda circuit. Recalled to court, he was left as right-wing capital inspector when the Han founder visited Daming, and soon made commander of the Right Yulin Army. Late in Emperor Yin's reign he was ordered north with an army. When the Zhou founder marched on the capital, Jixun fought for Emperor Yin at Liuzi Slope, was defeated, and went over to the Zhou founder.
40
廣順初，改右龍武統軍。 世宗征淮南，為左廂排陣使，又改右羽林統軍、左屯衛上將軍，以戰功拜彰武軍節度。
Early in Guangshun he was made commander of the Right Longwu Army. On Shizong's Huainan campaign he served as left-wing array marshal, then commander of the Right Yulin Army and senior general of the Left Tunwei Guards, and was made military governor of Zhangwu for his victories.
41
宋初，召為右金吾衛上將軍，改右武衛上將軍。 乾德三年，權知延州。 四年，判右街仗杜審瓊卒，命繼勳代之。 時向拱為西京留守，多飲燕，不省府事，群盜白日入都市劫財，拱被酒不出捕逐。 太祖選繼勳代之，月餘，京城肅然。 太祖將幸洛，遣莊宅使王仁珪、內供奉官李仁祚部修洛陽宮，命繼勳董其役。 車駕還，嘉其幹力，召見褒賞，以為彰德軍節度，仍知留府事。 仁珪領義州刺史，仁祚為八作副使。 繼勳以太平興國三年卒，年七十八，贈太尉。
Early in the Song he was recalled as senior general of the Right Golden Crow Guards and then of the Right Martial Guards. In Qiande 3 he acted as prefect of Yanzhou. In year four Du Shenqiong, overseer of the right-street guard, died, and Jixun was appointed in his place. Xiang Gong was then Western Capital retention prefect. He feasted constantly and neglected government, and robbers plundered the markets in broad daylight while Gong, drunk, refused to pursue them. Taizu chose Jixun to replace him, and within a month the capital was orderly again. When Taizu prepared to visit Luoyang he sent estate commissioner Wang Rengui and palace attendant Li Renzuo to repair the Luoyang palace and put Jixun in overall charge. On the emperor's return he praised Jixun's efficiency, received him with rewards, and made him military governor of Zhangde while he continued to govern the retention office. Rengui was made prefect of Yizhou and Renzuo deputy commissioner of the Eight Works. Jixun died in Taiping Xingguo 3, at seventy-eight, and was posthumously made Grand Commandant.
42
繼勳獵涉史傳，頗達治道，所至有善政。 然性吝嗇，多省公府用度，時論少之。 子守節。
Jixun read widely in history and understood governance well; wherever he served he left sound administration. Yet he was miserly and pared public spending to the bone, which contemporaries held against him. His son was Shoujie.
43
子守節
Shoujie (son)
44
守節，字秉直，初補左班殿直，選為江、淮南路采訪。 還奏稱旨，擢閣門祗候。 李順餘黨擾西川，命與上官正討平之。 高、溪州蠻內寇，又命往圖方略，守節言：“山川回險，非我師之利。 ”詔許招納。
Shoujie, courtesy name Bingzhi, began as a left-wing hall attendant and was chosen as investigator for the Jiang-Huai South circuit. His report pleased the throne, and he was promoted to gatehouse attendant. When Li Shun's remnants troubled Sichuan he was ordered with Shangguan Zheng to suppress them. When Gao and Xizhou tribes raided inland he was again sent to plan strategy. Shoujie said, "The terrain is twisted and treacherous—not ground that favors our troops. The court authorized peaceful overtures instead.
45
咸平中，置江淮南、荊湖路兵馬都監，首被選擢。 又討施、夔州叛蠻，以大義諭其酋長，皆悔過內附，因為之畫界定約。 還遷閣門通事舍人，監香藥榷易院，三司言歲課增八十餘萬。 時守節已為衣庫副使，當遷閣門副使，真宗謂輔臣曰：“守節緣財利羨餘而遷橫行，何以勸邊陲效命者？ ”止以為宮苑副使。
During Xianping the office of overall military overseer for the Jiang-Huai South and Jing-Hu circuits was created, and he was its first appointee. He also campaigned against rebel tribes in Shi and Kuizhou, persuaded their chiefs with moral argument, and brought them all back into allegiance, then demarcated borders and sealed treaties. Back at court he became gatehouse transmitting-attendant and oversaw the aromatics monopoly; the three commissions reported annual receipts up by more than eight hundred thousand. Shoujie was already deputy robe-store commissioner and due for deputy gatehouse attendant. Zhenzong told his ministers, "Shoujie advances on account of surplus revenue. How does that encourage men who risk their lives on the frontier? He was left only as deputy palace-park commissioner.
46
奉使契丹，館伴丁求說指遠山謂曰：“此黃龍府也。 ”守節應聲曰：“燕然山距此幾許？ ”求說慚服。 久之，遷皇城副使，管勾軍頭引見司。 坐以白直假樞密院副承旨尹德潤治第，免所居官。 三遷東上閣門使，加榮州刺史。 數請補外，曆知襄、鄧、汝三州，遷四方館使，以右神武大將軍致仕卒。
On embassy to the Khitan, his host Ding Qiushuo pointed to a distant mountain and said, "That is Huanglong Prefecture. Shoujie answered at once, "How far from here is Mount Yanran?" Qiushuo was abashed into silence. In time he became deputy imperial-city commissioner and oversaw the army audience office. He was stripped of office for lending his off-duty labor to Bureau of Military Affairs deputy recipient Yin Derun to build a mansion. After three promotions he became eastern upper gatehouse commissioner with the added title of prefect of Rongzhou. He repeatedly sought an outside post, served in turn as prefect of Xiang, Deng, and Ru, became Four Directions Hall commissioner, and died in retirement as senior general of the Right Divine Martial Army.
47
劉重進
Liu Zhongjin
48
劉重進，幽州人，本名晏僧。 梁末隸軍籍。 晉初，以習契丹語，應募使北邊，改右班殿直，因賜是名。 遷西頭供奉官，再使契丹。 契丹主以其敏慧，留為帳前通事； 俄南侵，署重進忠武軍節度。
Liu Zhongjin of Youzhou was originally named Yanseng. Late in the Liang he was enrolled in the army. Early in the Later Jin, knowing Khitan, he volunteered as envoy to the north, was made a right-wing hall attendant, and received the name by which he is known. He was promoted to western-head tribute officer and sent again to the Khitan. The Khitan ruler kept him at court as liaison interpreter for his quick wit; when they soon invaded south they made him military governor of the Zhongwu circuit.
49
漢初，移鎮鄧州。 漢法，禁牛革甚嚴，州民崔彥、陳寶選八人自本鎮持革詣漢祖廟鞔鼓，重進杖遣之。 判官史在德謂重進不善用法，宜置極典。 及大理、刑部詳覆，重進所斷為是。 在德坐故入，杖死之。
Early in the Later Han he was transferred to Dengzhou. Later Han law strictly banned cattle hide. Eight locals led by Cui Yan and Chen Baoxuan took hide from the circuit to the Han founder's temple to reskin drums. Zhongjin had them beaten and driven off. Judge Shi Zaide argued that Zhongjin had misapplied the law and deserved the death penalty. Review by the Court of Review and Ministry of Justice upheld Zhongjin's ruling. Zaide was convicted of deliberate malfeasance and beaten to death.
50
乾佑末，罷鎮來朝。 周祖起兵至封丘，詔重進與左神武統軍袁義率兵拒之，重進望塵退走。 周廣順初，從征兗州。 未幾，封薛國公。 俄召為右神武統軍，累加檢校太師。 世宗南征，為右廂排陣使。 顯德三年，世宗聞揚州無備，遣宣祖、韓令坤與重進等往襲取之，又為先鋒都部署，進克泰州。 初，楊行密子孫居海陵，號永寧宮，周師渡淮，盡為李景所殺。 重進入其家，得玉硯、玉杯盤、水晶盞、瑪瑙碗、翡翠瓶以獻。 俄命判廬州行府事兼行營都部署，敗淮人千餘於州境，又敗五百眾於白城湖。 及世宗再巡，吳師潰於紫金山，有至東山口者，重進殺三千餘眾。 及下壽州，以功授武勝軍節度。 淮南平，改鎮邠州。 世宗北征，為先鋒都指揮使。 恭帝即位，封開府。
Late in Qianyou he left his post and came to court. When the Zhou founder marched to Fengqiu, Zhongjin and left Divine Martial commander Yuan Yi were ordered to block him. Zhongjin fled at the sight of their dust. Early in Guangshun he joined the campaign against Yanzhou. He was soon enfeoffed as Duke of Xue. He was soon recalled as commander of the Right Divine Martial Army and eventually made honorary Grand Preceptor. On Shizong's southern campaign he served as right-wing array marshal. In Xiande 3, hearing Yangzhou was undefended, Shizong sent Xuanzu, Han Lingkun, Zhongjin, and others to seize it. Zhongjin served as vanguard commander and took Taizhou. Yang Xingmi's descendants had lived at Hailing in what was called the Ever-Tranquil Palace. When Zhou forces crossed the Huai, Li Jing had them all killed. Zhongjin entered the palace and presented jade inkstones, jade tableware, crystal goblets, agate bowls, and jadeite vases he found there. He was soon made acting prefect of Luzhou and overall field commander, defeated more than a thousand Huai troops in the prefecture, and routed five hundred more at Baicheng Lake. On Shizong's second visit, Wu forces broke at Purple Gold Mountain. Zhongjin killed more than three thousand who fled toward East Mountain Pass. When Shouzhou fell he was made military governor of Wusheng for his service. After Huainan was pacified he was transferred to Binzhou. On Shizong's northern campaign he commanded the vanguard. When Emperor Gong succeeded he was granted the privilege of an open government office.
51
宋初，進封燕國公。 建隆二年秋，授右羽林統軍。 乾德五年，改左領軍衛上將軍。 重進徒善譯語，無他才能，值契丹入中原，遂至方鎮。 及在環衛，嘗從幸玉津園，太祖召與語。 既退，謂左右曰：“觀重進應對不逮常人，前朝以為將帥，何足重耶？ ”六年，卒，年七十。
Early in the Song he was promoted to Duke of Yan. In the autumn of Jianlong 2 he was made commander of the Right Yulin Army. In Qiande 5 he was made senior general of the Left Leading Army Guards. Zhongjin knew only translation and little else. He rose to regional command only because the Khitan entered the Central Plains. While serving in the palace guard he once accompanied Taizu to Jade Ford Garden and was summoned to speak with him. Afterward Taizu told his attendants, "Zhongjin's answers fall below an ordinary man's. The last dynasty made him a commander—what was there to admire? In year six he died, at seventy.
52
袁彥，河中河東人。 少以趫勇應募從事，隸奉國營。 漢乾佑中，周祖領軍討李守貞，以彥置麾下，及鎮鄴，以為部直小將。 周廣順中，世宗在澶淵，遷為親事都校。 世宗尹京，改開封府步直指揮使。 顯德初，授內外步軍都軍頭，領泉州刺史。 未幾，改岳州防禦使。 從征壽州，為城北造竹龍都部署。 竹龍者，以竹數十萬竿，圍而相屬，上設版屋，載甲士數百人，以攻其城。 又命於渦口修橋，橋成，世宗幸焉，因立為鎮淮軍。 李繼勳以淮上失律，罷軍職，命彥為武信軍節度，權侍衛步軍都指揮使。 又命為淮南道行營馬步軍副都指揮使，賜衣服、金帶、鞍勒馬、鎧甲、器仗，遣赴軍前。
Yuan Yan came from Hedong in Hezhong. In youth his agility won him enlistment in the Fengguo camp. During Later Han Qianyou the Zhou founder campaigned against Li Shouzhen and took Yan onto his staff. When he held Ye, Yan became a junior officer in his personal guard. During Guangshun, when Shizong was at Chanyuan, Yan was made chief of his personal attendants. When Shizong governed the capital Yan became commander of the Kaifeng foot-direct guard. Early in Xiande he was made chief of the inner and outer foot armies with the concurrent title of prefect of Quanzhou. He was soon made defense commissioner of Yuezhou. On the Shouzhou campaign he commanded construction of the bamboo dragon north of the walls. The bamboo dragon was a siege tower built from hundreds of thousands of bamboo poles lashed into a ring, topped with plank chambers that carried several hundred armored men against the walls. He was also ordered to build a bridge at Wokou. When it was finished Shizong visited the site and established the Zhenhuai Army there. Because Li Jixun had broken discipline on the Huai front, he was removed from command. Yan was made military governor of Wuxin and acting commander-in-chief of the palace foot guards. Yan was also named deputy commander of the Huainan expeditionary forces and given clothes, a gold belt, saddled horses, armor, and arms before being dispatched to the army.
53
太祖下滁陽，禽皇甫暉、姚鳳，彥皆有勞績，詔褒之。 又令率師屯下蔡以逼壽春。 及劉仁贍降，從世宗攻濠、泗，又禽南唐將許文績、邊鎬等以獻。 師還，真授步軍都指揮使，領彰信軍節度。 六年春，發近畿丁壯浚五丈河，命彥董其役。 恭帝嗣位，移保義軍節度。
When the future Taizu captured Chuyang and took Huangfu Hui and Yao Feng prisoner, Yan shared in the credit and received an imperial commendation. He was again ordered to station at Xia'cai to press the siege of Shouchun. After Liu Renshan surrendered he followed Shizong against Hao and Si and captured the Southern Tang generals Xu Wenji, Bian Hao, and others as captives for the throne. On the army's return he was confirmed as commander-in-chief of the foot guards with the concurrent rank of military governor of Zhangxin. In the spring of the sixth year the court drafted men from the capital region to dredge the Wuzhang River and put Yan in charge of the work. When Emperor Gong acceded, Yan was shifted to governor of Baoyi.
54
宋初，加檢校太尉。 是秋來朝，改鎮曹州。 乾德六年，為靜難軍節度。 開寶二年，移鄜州。 五年，罷鎮歸闕，卒，年六十六。
Early in the Song he was made honorary Grand Commandant. That autumn he attended court and was reassigned to Caozhou. In Qiande 6 he became military governor of Jingnan. In Kaibao 2 he was transferred to Fuzhou. In the fifth year he left his post and returned to the capital, where he died at sixty-six.
55
景德四年，特詔錄其孫昭慶為借職。 大中祥符八年，昭慶上彥周朝所受告敕有二聖名諱者，特遷殿直。
In Jingde 4 an exceptional decree enrolled his grandson Zhaoping in a provisional office. In Dazhong Xiangfu 8 Zhaoping presented commission documents Yan had received under the Zhou that bore the taboo names of Taizu and Taizong of Song; he was specially promoted to Diance direct attendant.
56
祁廷訓
Qi Tingxun
57
廷訓形質魁岸，無才略，臨事多規避，時人目為“祁橐駝”，以其龐大而無所取也。
Tingxun was a man of imposing bulk but no talent or nerve, and in a crisis he usually found a way to duck duty. People dubbed him "Qi the Bactrian Camel"—all size and nothing to show for it.
58
張鐸，河朔人，少以材武應募隸軍籍。 漢初，為奉國右第六軍都指揮使，領澧州刺史。 周祖以樞密使鎮鄴，鐸以所部從行，及起兵，鐸預焉。 廣順初，鐸為奉國左廂都指揮使，韓通為右廂都指揮使； 俄並兼防禦使，鐸領永州，通領睦州。 會改奉國為虎捷，鐸仍領其職。 是冬，出為密州防禦使，改亳州。 三年，授鎮國節度。 郊祀畢，加檢校太傅。 世宗初，移彰義軍，未幾，加檢校太尉。 顯德三年，又移河中尹、護國軍節度。
Zhang Duo came from the Hebei region. In youth his martial skill won him enlistment on the army roster. Early in the Later Han he became commander of the Fengguo Right Sixth Army with the concurrent title of prefect of Lizhou. When the Zhou founder governed Ye as military affairs commissioner, Duo marched with his command; when the rebellion was launched, he was among its backers. Early in Guangshun Duo commanded the Fengguo left wing and Han Tong the right; they soon received concurrent defense commissions, Duo at Yongzhou and Tong at Muzhou. When Fengguo was redesignated Hujie, Duo kept his command. That winter he was made defense commissioner of Mizhou, then transferred to Bozhou. In the third year he received the Zhenguo governorship. After the suburban sacrifice he was made honorary Grand Tutor. Early under Shizong he was shifted to Zhangyi; shortly afterward he became honorary Grand Commandant. In Xiande 3 he was transferred again, as prefect of Hezhong and military governor of Huguo.
59
孫禹珪
Yugui (grandson)
60
景德初，授高陽關行營副都部署。 契丹既請和，帝思守臣有武幹能鎮靜邊郡者，親錄十餘人名付中書，禹珪預焉。 遂知石州，徙代、兗州，又移澶州，頗勤政治，以瑞麥生、獄空，連詔嘉獎。 會河堤決溢，禹珪率徒塞之，宰相王旦使兗州還，言其狀，優詔褒之。 就拜洺州團練使，尋知廣信軍。 天禧初，復為高陽關副都部署兼知瀛州。 明年召還，將授四廂之職，卒，年五十九。 錄其二子。
At the opening of Jingde he was named deputy commander of the Gaoyang Pass field headquarters. Once the Khitan had sued for peace the emperor sought frontier commanders with martial steadiness who could keep the border quiet. He personally wrote down more than ten names for the Secretariat, and Yugui was on the list. He was made prefect of Shizhou, then shifted to Dai and Yanzhou and later to Chanzhou. Conscientious in government, he earned repeated commendations when auspicious wheat sprouted and his prisons stood empty. When a dike broke Yugui led the work crews to stem the flood. Chief councilor Wang Dan reported what he had seen on returning from Yanzhou, and the court answered with a warm commendation. He was promptly made regiment commander of Luozhou and soon after was appointed to govern Guangxin. At the start of Tianxi he again became deputy commander at Gaoyang Pass with concurrent authority over Yingzhou. The following year he was recalled to court to receive one of the Four Wings commands but died first, at fifty-nine. Both his sons were granted appointments.
61
李萬全田景咸王暉
Li Wanquan, Tian Jingxian, and Wang Hui
62
李萬全，吐穀渾部人。 善左右射，隸護聖軍為騎士，累遷至本軍都校，與田景咸、王暉等從周祖入汴，號十軍主。 顯德中，為彰武軍節度。 宋初，加檢校太尉、橫海軍節度。 乾德中代歸，太祖數召於苑中宴射。 萬全無將略，惟挽強弓，老而不衰，帝亦以此賞之。
Li Wanquan came from the Tuyuhun tribes. A crack bowman from the saddle in either hand, he rose through the Husheng Army to become its chief commander. With Tian Jingxian, Wang Hui, and others he entered Bian with the Zhou founder and was hailed among the "Ten Army commanders." Under Shizong he governed Zhangwu. Early in the Song he became honorary Grand Commandant and military governor of Henghai. During Qiande, after he had come back from his post, Taizu often called him to the imperial park for banquets and archery. Wanquan had no gift for command, only the strength to bend a heavy bow, which even in age did not fail him. The emperor valued him for that alone.
63
田景咸、王暉，皆太原人。 景咸仕漢，為奉國右廂都校，從周祖入汴，為龍捷左廂都校，改安國軍留後。 俄真拜，升本軍節度。 世宗時，拜武勝軍節度。 宋初，為左驍衛上將軍。 開寶三年卒。
Tian Jingxian and Wang Hui were both from Taiyuan. Jingxian had served the Later Han as chief of the Fengguo right wing, marched with the Zhou founder into Bian, became chief of the Longjie left wing, and was made acting governor of the An'guo army. He soon received a full appointment and was raised to military governor of that same army. Under Shizong he received the Wusheng governorship. Early in the Song he was made general of the Left Palace Valiant Cavalry. He died in Kaibao 3.
64
景咸性鄙吝，務聚斂，每使命至，惟設肉一器，賓主共食。 後罷鎮，常忽忽不樂。 妻識其意，引景咸遍閱囊儲，景咸方自釋。 在邢州日，使者王班至，景咸勸班酒曰：“王班請滿飲。 ”典客曰：“是使者姓名也。 ”景咸悟曰：“我意‘王班’是官爾，何不早諭我。 ”聞者笑之。
Jingxian was base and miserly and labored to hoard wealth. Whenever an envoy came he offered only one platter of meat for host and guest together. After leaving his governorship he was often listless and depressed. His wife guessed his worry and took him through every purse and storehouse until he was satisfied at last. While at Xingzhou the envoy Wang Ban arrived. Jingxian pressed wine on him and said, "Wang Ban, please drink your fill. " The protocol officer said, "That is the envoy's personal name. " Jingxian caught on and said, "I thought 'Wang Ban' was an office—why did no one tell me sooner? " The story made everyone laugh.
65
暉性亦吝嗇，貲甚富，而妻子飯疏糲，縱部曲誅求，民甚苦之。 世宗以先朝功臣，知而弗問焉，至右神武統軍。 建隆四年，終右領軍衛上將軍。
Hui was just as tight-fisted. He was hugely rich yet fed his family coarse fare while his men squeezed the people dry. Shizong, honoring him as a veteran of the fallen Zhou, knew but did not call him to account, and Hui rose to overall commander of the Right Shenwu Guards. He died in Jianlong 4 while serving as general of the Right Yulin Guards.
66
論曰：太祖事漢、周，同時將校多聯事兵間，及分藩立朝，位或相亞。 宋國建，皆折其猛悍不可屈之氣，俯首改事，且為盡力焉。 揚雄有言：“御之得其道，則狙詐咸作使。 ”此太祖之英武而為創業之君也歟！
Commentary: While serving the Later Han and Later Zhou, Taizu and many of the same generation of commanders had fought side by side; when they were enfeoffed and took posts at court their ranks were often nearly equal. Once the Song was founded they were tamed of their untamable fierceness, bowed to the new order, and gave the dynasty their full strength besides. Yang Xiong wrote, "When governed by the right method, even monkeys and tricksters can all be made to serve. " Was this not Taizu's martial prowess as a dynasty-founder—or was it not?