1
李進卿
Li Jinqing
2
李進卿，幷州晉陽人。 少以驍勇隸護聖軍。 晉天福中，杜重威帥師敗安重榮於宗城，進卿力戰有功，擢為興順軍校。 周祖開國，命領所部兵戍靈壽，久之，遷龍捷指揮使。 顯德初，從世宗戰高平，改鐵騎指揮使，歷散員左射都校，改鐵騎及內殿直都虞候。
Li Jinqing was a native of Jinyang in Bingzhou. As a youth he joined the Husheng Army for his martial prowess. During Later Jin's Tianfu era, when Du Chongwei routed An Chongrong at Zongcheng, Jinqing distinguished himself in the fighting and was made a squad commander in the Xingshun Army. After Zhou's founding emperor took power, he was sent to garrison Lingshou at the head of his troops; years later he became commissioner of the Dragon Swift command. Early in the Xiande era he fought with Emperor Shizong at Gaoping, then served as Iron Cavalry commander, left archery chief of the casual corps, and deputy chief of both the Iron Cavalry and the Inner Hall Straight.
3
宋初，領貴州刺史，三遷鐵騎左廂都指揮使，領乾州團練使。 乾德初，遷控鶴左廂都指揮使，改漢州團練使。 二年，轉虎捷左廂都指揮使，領澄州團練使。 是歲冬，伐蜀，以進卿為歸州路行營步軍都指揮使，拔巫山砦，下夔、萬二州。 蜀平，錄功拜侍衛親軍步軍都虞候，領保順軍節度。 開寶二年，太祖親征河東，留進卿為在京都巡檢，潁州刺史常暉、淄州刺史韓光愿分為河南、北巡檢。 及還，改親軍馬軍都虞候。 六年，遷步軍都指揮使，領靜江軍節度，卒，年五十九，贈侍中。 子延渥、延信。 延信至內殿崇班。
In the early Song he governed Gui prefecture, rose through three posts to command the left wing of the Iron Cavalry, and served as Qianzhou regimentation commissioner. At the start of the Qiande era he took command of the left wing of the Crane Control corps and became Hanzhou regimentation commissioner. In the second year he was made commander of the left wing of the Tiger Swift corps and Chengzhou regimentation commissioner. That winter, during the Shu campaign, Jinqing commanded the infantry of the Guizhou route field army, seized the Wushan stockade, and captured Kuai and Wan prefectures. After Shu fell, he was rewarded with the post of deputy chief of the palace guard infantry and the Baoshun military governorship. In Kaibao year two, when Emperor Taizu marched on Hedong in person, Jinqing was left as capital patrol inspector while Chang Hui of Ying prefecture and Han Guangyuan of Zi prefecture patrolled Henan and the north. On the emperor's return he became deputy chief of the palace guard cavalry. In the sixth year he was made infantry commander and Jingjiang military governor; he died at fifty-nine and was posthumously honored as Palace Attendant. He had sons Yanwo and Yanxin. Yanxin rose to serve in the Inner Hall Honored Corps.
4
子延渥
Son: Yanwo
5
延渥以蔭補供奉官，尋為閤門祗候，三遷至西京左藏庫使。 咸平初，歷知平戎、寧邊、順安軍、保州、威虜軍鈐轄，又知冀州。 六年，徙瀛州。
Yanwo entered office by privilege as a tribute officer, became a gate attendant, and after three promotions was manager of the Western Capital left treasury. Early in the Xianping era he served as military controller at Pingrong, Ningbian, Shun'an, Baozhou, and Weilu, and later governed Ji prefecture. In the sixth year he was transferred to Yingzhou.
6
景德初，契丹大舉擾邊，經胡盧河，踰關南，十月，抵城下。 晝夜鼓噪，四面夾攻。 旬日，其勢益張，唯擊鼓伐木之聲相聞，驅奚人負板秉燭乘墉而上。 延渥率州兵強壯，又集巡檢史普所部乘城，發礧石巨木擊之，皆纍纍而墜，殺傷甚眾。 翌日，契丹主與其母親鼓眾急擊，發矢如雨。 延渥分兵拒守益堅，契丹遁去，死者三萬餘，傷者倍之，獲鎧甲、兵矢、竿牌數百萬，驛書以聞。 賜延渥錦袍、金帶，將士緡錢，遷延渥本州團練使。 以通判、太子中允陸元凱為國子博士，賜緋； 推官李翔為太子中允； 錄事參軍蔡亨為右讚善大夫； 侍禁、兵馬監押王誨，殿直、貝冀同巡檢史普為內殿崇班充職如故。
Early in the Jingde era the Khitan launched a major border raid, crossed the Hulu River and the pass to the south, and in the tenth month reached the city walls. Day and night they beat drums and shouted, pressing the attack from every side. Within ten days their assault intensified; drumbeats and the crash of felled timber filled the air as Xi tribesmen, boards on their backs and torches in hand, scaled the walls. Yanwo rallied the prefecture's strongest troops and Shi Pu's patrol force to the walls, raining boulders and timber on the attackers; enemy soldiers fell in heaps and casualties were heavy. The next day the Khitan ruler and his mother personally drummed the troops forward in a furious assault, and arrows fell like rain. Yanwo held the line with divided forces and growing resolve until the Khitan withdrew; more than thirty thousand were killed and twice as many wounded, and millions of pieces of armor, weapons, and equipment were taken. A courier report was dispatched. Yanwo received a brocade robe and gold belt, his troops were rewarded with cash, and he was promoted to regimentation commissioner of Yingzhou. Assistant prefect Lu Yuankai, a Palace Attendant, was made Doctor of the National University and granted crimson robes; judicial aide Li Xiang was made Palace Attendant; recording secretary Cai Heng was made Right Supporter of Goodness Grandee; attendant guard and horse troop supervisor Wang Hui and joint Beiji patrol inspector Shi Pu were promoted to the Inner Hall Honored Corps while keeping their posts.
7
初，戍棚垂板護城才數寸許，契丹射之，矢集其上凡二百餘。 及請葺城，詔取板視之，真宗頗稱其勞。 又聞城守之際，陸元凱流矢中面，史普勇敢不避敵，復遷元凱屯田員外郎、普尚食副使。 普尋卒，又錄其子昭度為右侍禁，昭儉為奉職。
At first the garrison's hanging wall-shields were only a few inches thick; the Khitan riddled them with more than two hundred arrows. When the city repairs were proposed, the emperor ordered the arrow-studded boards brought for inspection, and Emperor Zhenzong praised their efforts. Learning that Lu Yuankai had been struck in the face by a stray arrow during the siege while Shi Pu fought fearlessly, the court promoted Yuankai to outer office director of garrison fields and Pu to deputy commissioner of the imperial kitchen. Shi Pu soon died, and his sons Zhaodu and Zhaojian were granted posts as right attendant guard and service officer.
8
二年，延渥徙知邢州，歷天雄軍、貝州副都部署，知冀、貝、博三州。 大中祥符八年入朝，以疾，連賜告，換右領軍衛大將軍，領演州團練使。 明年，從其請，以左武衛大將軍致仕。 天禧初，卒。 子宗禹，為內殿崇班。
In the second year Yanwo was made prefect of Xingzhou, served as deputy commander at Tianxiong and Beizhou, and governed Ji, Bei, and Bo prefectures. In Dazhong Xiangfu year eight he came to court; illness brought repeated leave, and he was reassigned as great general of the Right Leading Army Guard and Yanzhou regimentation commissioner. The following year, at his request, he retired with the rank of great general of the Left Martial Guard. He died early in the Tianxi era. His son Zongyu served in the Inner Hall Honored Corps.
9
楊美，幷州文水人。 本名光美，避太宗舊名改焉。 美狀貌雄偉，武力絕人，以豪俠自任。 漢乾祐中，周祖征三叛，美杖策詣軍門求見，周祖召與語，壯之，留帳下。 廣順初，累遷禁軍大校，從世宗征淮南，以功擢鐵騎都指揮使，領白州刺史。
Yang Mei was a native of Wenshui in Bingzhou. Originally named Guangmei, he changed his name to avoid the taboo on Emperor Taizong's former name. Mei was imposing in stature, unmatched in strength, and styled himself a bold man of honor. During Later Han's Qianyou era, when Zhou's founding emperor marched against the Three Rebellions, Mei came staff in hand to the camp gate and asked to see him; impressed, the emperor kept him in his retinue. Early in the Guangshun era he rose through the palace guard ranks, fought with Emperor Shizong in Huainan, and for his service was made Iron Cavalry commander and prefect of Bai prefecture.
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太祖與美有舊，即位，以為內殿直都知。 建隆三年，升青州北海縣為軍，以美為軍使。 為政尚簡易，民皆德之。 乾德二年，召還，北海民數百詣闕乞留，詔諭之不去，笞為首者始罷。 遷馬步軍都頭。 會討蜀，以美為歸州路戰棹左右廂都指揮使。 蜀平，遷內外馬步軍副都軍頭，領恩州團練使。 開寶二年，改領端州防禦使。 六年，加都軍頭，領宣州觀察使。 俄授虎捷左右廂都指揮使，領河西軍節度。 會遣党進、潘美征太原，命美為行營馬軍都虞候。 太平興國二年冬，出為保靜軍節度。 三年夏，以疾求解官歸京師，尋醫藥，詔遣內侍與道士馬志視之。 未幾，卒，年四十八，贈侍中。 命中使護葬。 美為人任氣好施，凡得予賜及奉祿，盡賙給親戚故舊。 死之日，家無餘財，人多歎息之。
Emperor Taizu and Mei were old acquaintances; when Taizu took the throne he made Mei director of the Inner Hall Straight. In Jianlong year three, Beihai county in Qing prefecture was raised to a garrison, and Mei was made its commissioner. His rule was plain and easy, and the people held him in high regard. In Qiande year two he was recalled, but hundreds of Beihai residents petitioned at court to keep him; even after an imperial edict they refused to leave, and only flogging the ringleaders ended the protest. He was promoted to chief of the horse and foot armies. During the Shu campaign he was made commander of both wings of the battle fleet on the Guizhou route. After Shu fell he became deputy chief of the inner and outer horse and foot armies and Enzhou regimentation commissioner. In Kaibao year two he became defense commissioner of Duanzhou. In the sixth year he was made army chief and observation commissioner of Xuanzhou. He was soon made commander of both wings of the Tiger Swift corps and given the Hexi military governorship. When Dang Jin and Pan Mei were sent against Taiyuan, Mei was made deputy chief of the field army cavalry. In the winter of Taiping Xingguo year two he was posted as Baojing military governor. In the summer of the third year, ill, he asked to resign and return to the capital for treatment; the emperor sent an inner attendant and the Daoist Ma Zhi to care for him. He soon died at forty-eight and was posthumously honored as Palace Attendant. An inner attendant was ordered to oversee his burial. Mei was proud and generous by nature; he gave away every grant and every paycheck to kin and old friends. When he died his household had nothing left, and many mourned the fact.
11
何繼筠
He Jiyun
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建隆二年，升棣州為團練，以繼筠充使。 三年，命為關南兵馬都監。 乾德四年，加本州防禦使。 開寶元年秋，命昭義節度李繼勳等征太原，以繼筠為先鋒部署。 至渦河，與幷人遇，擊走之，奪汾河橋，敗其眾於城下，獲馬五百匹，擒其將張環、石贇以獻。 二年春，太祖親征晉陽，契丹來援。 繼筠時屯兵陽曲縣，驛召至行在所，授以方略，命將精騎數千赴石嶺關拒契丹，謂之曰：「翌日亭午，俟卿來奏捷也。」 至期，帝御北臺以俟。 見一騎自北來，亟遣逆問之，乃繼筠子承睿來獻捷。 生擒刺史二人，獲生口百餘，斬首千餘級，馬七百餘匹，器甲甚眾。 初，幷人恃契丹為聲援，及捷奏，太祖命以所獲首級、鎧甲示城下，幷人喪氣。 繼筠以功拜建武軍節度、判棣州。 三年，來朝，詔賜鞍馬、戎杖，令戍邊。 四年秋，來朝，疽發背。 車駕幸其第，錫齎甚厚。 未幾，卒，年五十一。 帝親臨之，為之流涕，從容謂侍臣曰：「繼筠捍邊有功，朕不早授方鎮者，慮其數奇耳。 今才領節制，果至淪沒，良可惜也。」 贈侍中，賻絹五百匹，中使護喪，令以生平所佩劍及介胄同葬。
In Jianlong year two, Di prefecture was raised to regimentation status and Jiyun was made its commissioner. In the third year he was made supervisor of the Guannan horse and foot forces. In Qiande year four he was also made defense commissioner of his prefecture. In the autumn of Kaibao year one, when Li Jixun of Zhaoyi and others were sent against Taiyuan, Jiyun was made vanguard commander. At the Wo River he met the Jin forces, drove them off, seized the Fen River bridge, and routed them below the city; he captured five hundred horses and took the generals Zhang Huan and Shi Yun. In the spring of the second year Emperor Taizu marched on Jinyang in person, and the Khitan came to its aid. Jiyun was then encamped at Yangqu county; summoned by courier to the imperial camp, he was given his orders and told to lead several thousand elite cavalry to Shiling Pass to block the Khitan. The emperor said, "Tomorrow at noon I expect your victory report." At the appointed hour the emperor took his place on the northern platform to wait. When a lone rider appeared from the north, he sent someone to meet him at once; it was Jiyun's son Chengrui bearing news of victory. Two prefects were taken alive, more than a hundred captives seized, over a thousand heads counted, more than seven hundred horses captured, and a great quantity of arms and armor. The Jin defenders had counted on Khitan support; when the victory report came, Emperor Taizu had the captured heads and armor displayed before the walls, and their morale collapsed. For this victory Jiyun was made Jianwu military governor with concurrent authority over Di prefecture. In the third year he came to court, received saddle horse and military staff, and was ordered back to the frontier. In the autumn of the fourth year he came to court, and a carbuncle erupted on his back. The emperor visited his home and bestowed lavish gifts. He soon died at fifty-one. The emperor attended him in person, wept, and told his ministers, "Jiyun served the frontier with distinction; I delayed giving him a regional command because I feared his luck would run out. He had only just taken command, and now he is gone — a great loss." He was posthumously honored as Palace Attendant, given five hundred bolts of burial silk, and an inner attendant was sent to oversee the funeral; he was buried with the sword and armor he had worn in life.
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繼筠深沉有智略，前後備邊二十年，與士卒同甘苦，得其死力。 善揣邊情，邊人畏伏，多畫像祠之。 子承矩。
Jiyun was shrewd and deliberate; for twenty years on the frontier he shared hardship with his men and won their utmost loyalty. He read the border situation well; frontier peoples feared and respected him, and many painted his portrait for worship. His son was Chengju.
14
子承矩
Son: Chengju
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米信知滄州，以其不習吏事，命承矩知節度副使，實專郡治。 時契丹撓邊，承矩上疏曰：「臣幼侍先臣關南征行，熟知北邊道路、川源之勢。 若於順安砦西開易河蒲口，導水東注於海，東西三百餘里，南北五七十里，資其陂澤，築堤貯水為屯田，可以遏敵騎之奔軼。 俟期歲間，關南諸泊悉壅闐，即播為稻田。 其緣邊州軍臨塘水者，止留城守軍士，不煩發兵廣戍。 收地利以實邊，設險固以防塞，春夏課農，秋冬習武，休息民力，以助國經。 如此數年，將見彼弱我強，彼勞我逸，此禦邊之要策也。 其順安軍以西，抵西山百里許，無水田處，亦望選兵戍之，簡其精銳，去其冗繆。 夫兵不患寡，患驕慢而不精； 將不患怯，患偏見而無謀。 若兵精將賢，則四境可以高枕而無憂。」 太宗嘉納之。
When Mi Xin governed Cangzhou but lacked skill in civil administration, Chengju was made deputy military governor and in practice ran the prefecture. As the Khitan harassed the frontier, Chengju submitted a memorial: "In youth I followed my late father on Guannan campaigns and know the northern roads and terrain well. If we opened the Yi River at Pukou west of Shun'an stockade and channeled its waters east to the sea across three hundred li east-west and fifty to seventy li north-south, we could use the marshes to build dikes, store water, and create garrison fields that would block enemy cavalry raids. Within a year the Guannan lakes would fill, and we could sow them as rice fields. Frontier garrisons along the impounded waters would need only city garrisons, without wide deployments of troops. We would harvest the land's bounty to strengthen the frontier, build defenses to guard the passes, farm in spring and summer and drill in autumn and winter, spare the people's strength, and bolster the state's resources. In a few years the enemy would grow weak while we grew strong, weary while we rested — the essential strategy for frontier defense. West of Shun'an garrison, for a hundred li to the western mountains where there is no paddy, I also ask that picked troops be posted — elite forces only, with the redundant removed. Armies need not fear being few, but being arrogant and undisciplined; generals need not fear timidity, but narrow-mindedness and lack of strategy. With elite troops and worthy generals, the realm could rest secure on every border." Emperor Taizong praised the plan and accepted it.
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屬霖雨為災，典者多議其非便。 承矩引援漢、魏至唐屯田故事，以折眾論，務在必行。 乃以承矩為制置河北緣邊屯田使，俾董其役。 事具《食貨志》。 由是自順安以東瀕海，廣袤數百里，悉為稻田，而有莞蒲蜃蛤之饒，民賴其利。
Heavy rains brought disaster, and many officials argued the plan was impractical. Chengju cited garrison-field precedents from Han through Tang to counter the objections and pressed for the plan to go forward. Chengju was then appointed frontier garrison-field commissioner for the Hebei border and put in charge of the project. The full account appears in the "Treatise on Food and Commodities." From Shun'an east to the coast, hundreds of li became rice fields rich in rushes, reeds, clams, and oysters, and the people prospered.
17
淳化四年，擢為西上閤門使、知滄州，逾年，徙雄州。 御書印紙錄其功最，仍賜以弓劍。 承矩推誠御眾，同其甘苦。 邊民有告機事者，屏左右與之款接，無所猜忌，故契丹動息皆能前知。 至道元年，契丹精騎數千夜襲城下，伐鼓縱火，以逼樓堞。 承矩整兵出拒，遲明，列陣酣戰久之，斬馘甚眾，擒其酋所謂鐵林相公者，契丹遁去。 是年春，府州嘗敗契丹眾，承矩條殺獲以諭州民，或揭於市，契丹愧忿，故有是役。 太宗意其輕率致寇，復命與滄州安守忠兩換其任。 魏廷式使河北，得雄州功狀，抗表上言。 又遣內侍劉核實，及麾下士有功者千餘人，皆進擢齎賜。
In Chunhua year four he became western upper gate envoy and prefect of Cangzhou; a year later he was transferred to Xiongzhou. The emperor wrote his outstanding service on sealed paper and granted him bow and sword. Chengju led his men with sincerity and shared their hardships. When border residents brought intelligence, he dismissed his attendants and received them openly; thus he learned Khitan movements before they happened. In Zhidao year one, several thousand Khitan elite cavalry raided the city at night, beating drums and setting fires to press the walls. Chengju marched out to meet them; at dawn his lines fought fiercely for hours, killing many and capturing their chieftain, the so-called Iron Forest Duke, and the Khitan withdrew. That spring Fuzhou had defeated Khitan forces; Chengju posted the tally of kills and captures for the people, some in the market square, shaming the Khitan and provoking this raid. Emperor Taizong blamed his rashness for provoking the raid and ordered him to swap posts with An Shouzhong of Cangzhou. Wei Tingshi, on mission to Hebei, obtained the Xiongzhou merit report and submitted a forthright memorial. An inner attendant named Liu was sent to verify the facts, and more than a thousand of Chengju's men who had served with merit were promoted and rewarded.
18
真宗嗣位，復遣知雄州，賜承矩詔曰：「朕嗣守鴻業，惟懷永圖，思與華夷共臻富壽。 而契丹自太祖在位之日，先帝繼統之初，和好往來，禮幣不絕。 其後克復汾、晉，疆臣貪地，為國生事，信好不通。 今者聖考上仙，禮當訃告。 汝任居邊要，洞曉詩書，凡有事機，必能詳究，輕重之際，務在得中。」 承矩貽書契丹，諭以懷來之旨，然未得其要。
When Emperor Zhenzong took the throne, he sent Chengju back to Xiongzhou with an edict: "I inherit the great enterprise and seek lasting peace, hoping that Chinese and barbarians alike may prosper. From Emperor Taizu's reign through my predecessor's accession, friendly exchanges and gifts had never ceased with the Khitan. Later, when Fen and Jin were recovered, greedy frontier officials stirred trouble for the state and good relations broke down. Now that my sacred predecessor has passed, propriety requires that his death be announced. You hold a critical frontier post and know the classics well; weigh every situation carefully and strike the right balance." Chengju wrote to the Khitan explaining the court's conciliatory intent, but failed to win them over.
19
咸平二年，契丹南侵，屢遣內侍以密詔問禦遏之計，密封以獻。 嘗詔聽邊民越拒馬河塞北市馬。 承矩上言曰：「緣邊戰棹司自淘河至泥姑海口，屈曲九百餘里，此天險也。 太宗置砦二十六，鋪百二十五，廷臣十一人，戍卒三千餘，部舟百艘，往來巡警，以屏奸詐，則緩急之備，大為要害。 今聽公私貿市，則人馬交度，深非便宜，且砦、鋪皆為虛設矣。」 疏奏，即停前詔，屢被手劄褒飭。 三年，召還，拜引進使。 州民百餘詣闕貢馬，乞借留承矩，詔書嘉獎，復遣之。 承矩上言曰：
In Xianping year two, as the Khitan invaded south, inner attendants repeatedly brought secret edicts asking for blocking plans, and Chengju submitted sealed reports. An edict once allowed frontier residents to cross the Horse-Rejection River north of the barrier to buy horses. Chengju submitted a memorial: "The frontier battle fleet patrols from the Tao River to the Nigu estuary, winding more than nine hundred li — a natural barrier. Emperor Taizong established twenty-six stockades, 125 posts, eleven court officials, more than three thousand garrison troops, and a fleet of one hundred boats to patrol against treachery — a vital emergency defense. Allowing public and private trade would let men and horses cross freely — highly inexpedient — and render the stockades and posts meaningless." The memorial was accepted, the previous edict was revoked, and he received repeated praise in personal notes from the emperor. In the third year he was recalled and made introduction commissioner. More than a hundred residents petitioned at court with horses, asking to keep Chengju; an edict praised them and sent him back. Chengju submitted a memorial:
20
「契丹輕而不整，貪而無親，勝不相讓，敗不相救。 以馳騁為容儀，以弋獵為耕釣。 櫛風沐雨，不以為勞； 露宿草行，不以為苦。 復恃騎戰之利，故頻年犯塞。 臣聞兵有三陣：日月風雲，天陣也； 山陵水泉，地陣也； 兵車士卒，人陣也。 今用地陣而設險，以水泉而作固，建設陂塘，綿亙滄海，縱有敵騎，安能折衝？ 昨者契丹犯邊，高陽一路，東負海，西抵順安，士庶安居，即屯田之利也。 今順安西至西山，地雖數軍，路才百里，縱有丘陵岡阜，亦多川瀆泉源，因而廣之，制為塘埭，自可息邊患矣。
"The Khitan are undisciplined and greedy, with no loyalty among themselves; in victory they yield to no one, in defeat they rescue no one. They treat galloping as decorum and hunting as farming and fishing. Wind and rain do not weary them; sleeping in the open and traveling through grass do not trouble them. Relying on cavalry, they raid the frontier year after year. I have heard that armies have three arrays: sun, moon, wind, and clouds form the heaven array; mountains, hills, water, and springs form the earth array; chariots, troops, and soldiers form the human array. If we use terrain for defense, water for fortification, and build ponds and dikes stretching to the sea, what enemy cavalry could break through? When the Khitan recently raided, the Gaoyang route from the sea to Shun'an remained secure — the benefit of garrison fields. From Shun'an west to the mountains, though several garrisons span the route, the distance is only a hundred li; with its hills and many streams, expanding ponds and dikes there could end frontier troubles.
21
今緣邊守將多非其才，不悅詩書，不習禮樂，不可守疆界。 制御無方，動誤國家，雖提貔虎之師，莫遏犬羊之眾。 臣按兵法，凡用兵之道，校之以計而索其情，謂將孰有能，天地孰得，法令孰行，兵眾孰強，士卒孰練，賞罰孰明，此料敵制勝之道也。 知此而用戰者必勝，否則必敗。 夫惟無慮而易敵者必擒於人也。 伏望慎擇疆吏，出牧邊民，厚之以奉祿，使悅其心，借之以威權，使嚴其令。 然後深溝高壘，秣馬厲兵，為戰守之備。 修仁立德，布政行惠，廣安輯之道。 訓士卒，辟田疇，勸農耕，畜芻粟，以備凶年。 完長戟，修勁弩，謹烽燧，繕保戍，以防外患。 來則禦之，去則備之，如此則邊城按堵矣。
Too many frontier commanders lack the talent for their posts; ignorant of the classics and untrained in ritual, they cannot hold the borders. Without proper command they harm the state; even with elite armies they cannot stop the barbarian hordes. Military doctrine teaches us to compare and assess: which general is capable, which side holds the advantage, which laws are enforced, which army is strong, which soldiers are trained, which rewards and punishments are clear — this is how to defeat the enemy. Those who know this will win; those who do not will lose. Only the thoughtless who underestimate the enemy will be captured. I ask that frontier officials be carefully chosen, paid well to win their loyalty, and granted authority to enforce strict discipline. Then dig deep moats, raise high walls, feed the horses, sharpen weapons, and prepare for both attack and defense. Cultivate benevolence, govern with kindness, and broaden the path to peace. Train the troops, open fields, encourage farming, and store grain and fodder against famine. Maintain halberds, repair crossbows, tend the beacon fires, and repair garrison defenses against external threats. Resist them when they come, prepare when they leave — and the frontier will be secure.
22
臣又聞古之明王，安集吏民，順俗而教，簡募良材，以備不虞。 齊桓、晉文皆募兵以服鄰敵，故強國之君，必料其民有膽勇者聚為一卒，樂進戰效力以顯忠勇者聚為一卒，能逾高赴遠、輕足善鬥者聚為一卒，此三者兵之練銳，內出可以決圍，外入可以屠城。 況小大異形，強弱異勢，險易異備。 卑身以事強，小國之形也。 以蠻夷伐蠻夷，中國之形也。 故陳湯統西域而郅支滅，常惠用烏孫而邊部寧。 且聚膽勇、樂戰、輕足之徒，古稱良策，請試行之。 且邊鄙之人，多負壯勇，識外邦之情偽，知山川之形勝。 望於邊郡置營召募，不須品度人才，止求少壯有武藝者萬人。 俟契丹有警，令智勇將統而用之，必顯成功，乃中國之長算也。
Ancient enlightened kings settled their people, taught according to custom, and selectively recruited talent against the unexpected. Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin recruited troops to subdue neighbors; strong states gather the courageous, the eager fighters, and the swift and skilled into three elite corps that can break sieges from within and storm cities from without. Small and large states differ in form, strong and weak in circumstance, difficult and easy terrain in preparation. Humbling oneself before the strong is the way of a small state. Using barbarians to fight barbarians is the way of the Central State. Chen Tang commanded the Western Regions and destroyed Zhizhi; Chang Hui used the Wusun and pacified the frontier. Gathering the bold, battle-eager, and swift — an ancient strategy — I ask that it be tried. Frontier people are mostly brave, know foreign lands well, and understand the strategic terrain. I ask that recruitment camps be set on the frontier, seeking ten thousand young, strong men with martial skill, without grading talent. When the Khitan threaten, wise and brave generals should command them — success is assured; this is the Central State's long-term strategy.
23
又如榷場之設，蓋先朝從權立制，以惠契丹，縱其渝信犯盟，亦不之廢，似全大體。 今緣邊榷場，因其犯塞，尋即停罷。 去歲以臣上言，於雄州置場賣茶，雖貲貨並行，而邊氓未有所濟。 乞延訪大臣，議其可否，或文武中有抗執獨議，是必別有良謀。 請委之邊任，使施方略，責以成功。 苟空陳浮議，上惑聖聰，秖如靈州，足為證驗，況茲契丹又非夏州之比也。」
As for frontier markets, the former court established them expediently to benefit the Khitan; even when they broke faith, the markets were not abolished, preserving the larger propriety. Now frontier markets are shut down as soon as the Khitan raid the border. Last year, on my recommendation, a tea market was opened at Xiongzhou; though trade flowed, frontier commoners gained little. I ask that great ministers debate the plan; if any civil or military official holds a firm independent view, he may have a better strategy. Entrust them with frontier duties, let them apply their strategies, and hold them accountable for results. Empty talk that confuses the throne has been disproved at Lingzhou alone; moreover, the Khitan are not like the Xiazhou Tanguts."
24
四年十月，建議選銳兵於乾寧軍，挽刀魚船自界河直趣平州境，以牽西面之勢。 五年，詔兼領制置屯田使。 始建榷場，或者謂承矩意在繼好，然契丹無厭，未足誠信，徒使公行窺伺。 會契丹有殺斥候卒者，復罷之。 時契丹數窺邊城，大浚渠，頗撓其役。 詔承矩握兵深入其境，以分其勢。 承矩以無騎兵，第遣數千卒出混泥城，襲之而還。
In the tenth month of the fourth year he proposed selecting elite troops at Qianning garrison to send knife-oar boats from the border river toward Pingzhou and draw off western Khitan forces. In the fifth year he was ordered to concurrently serve as garrison-field commissioner. When the frontier market opened, some said Chengju sought continued good relations, but the insatiable Khitan could not be trusted and used it for open espionage. When the Khitan killed scout soldiers, the market was closed again. The Khitan repeatedly spied on frontier cities and dredged canals, considerably disrupting the project. An edict ordered Chengju to lead troops deep into Khitan territory to divide their forces. Lacking cavalry, Chengju sent several thousand soldiers from Hunni city on a raid and withdrew.
25
景德元年，入朝，進領英州團練使。 真宗謂宰相曰：「承矩讀書好名，以才能自許，宜擇善地處之。」 冬，出知澶州。 承矩自守邊以來，嘗欲朝廷懷柔遠人，為息兵之計。 及是，車駕按巡本部，卒與契丹和，益加歎賞。 韓杞之至也，命郊勞之。 明年春，復知雄州。 是歲，契丹始遣使奉幣。 承矩以朝廷待邊人之禮悠久可行者，悉疏以聞。 手詔嘉納，仍聽事有未盡者便宜裁處。 三年，真拜雄州團練使。 時邊兵稍息，農政未修。 又置緣邊安撫使，命承矩為之，且詔邊民誘其復業。 承矩曰：「契丹聞之，必謂誘其部屬也。」 乃易詔文為水旱流民之意。 王欽若時知樞密，援漢蟲達、周仲居改詔，請罪承矩。 帝曰：「承矩任邊有功，當優假之。」 第詔自今朝旨未便者，奏稟進止。
In Jingde year one he came to court and was promoted to Yingzhou regimentation commissioner. Emperor Zhenzong told his chief ministers, "Chengju is learned and ambitious; find a good post for him." That winter he was posted as prefect of Danzhou. Since taking the frontier, Chengju had urged the court to treat distant peoples with kindness and seek peace. When the emperor inspected his jurisdiction and peace with the Khitan was achieved, Chengju received still greater praise. When Han Qi arrived, Chengju was ordered to welcome him at the suburbs. The following spring he returned as prefect of Xiongzhou. That year the Khitan sent envoys with tribute gifts for the first time. Chengju memorialized all long-standing court protocols for treating frontier peoples. A personal edict praised the report and authorized him to decide expediently on unfinished matters. In the third year he was formally appointed Xiongzhou regimentation commissioner. Frontier warfare had subsided, but agriculture had not yet recovered. A frontier pacification commissioner was established with Chengju in the post, and an edict urged border residents to return to their occupations. Chengju said, "The Khitan will think we are enticing their subjects." He changed the edict to refer to flood, drought, and displaced people instead. Wang Qinruo, then director of the Bureau of Military Affairs, citing precedents of Han Chongsui and Zhou Zhongju altering edicts, asked that Chengju be punished. The emperor said, "Chengju has served the frontier with merit; he should be treated leniently." An edict merely required that henceforth he memorialize for approval before acting on matters not clearly authorized.
26
承矩頗有識鑒，典長沙日，李沆、王旦為佐，承矩厚待之，以為有公輔器。 善推步，自知冥數，乃以老疾求僻郡。 詔自擇其代，承矩以李允則為請。 乃授承矩齊州團練使，遣之任，至郡裁七日，卒，年六十一。 特贈相州觀察使，賻錢五十萬，絹五百匹，中使護葬。
Chengju was discerning; when governing Changsha he treated assistants Li Hang and Wang Dan generously, recognizing their capacity for high office. Skilled in astronomy and aware of his fate, he requested a remote prefecture because of age and illness. Ordered to choose his own successor, Chengju recommended Li Yunze. Chengju was appointed Qizhou regimentation commissioner; he reached his post and died seven days later at sixty-one. He was posthumously honored as Xiangzhou observation commissioner, given five hundred thousand in burial funds and five hundred bolts of silk, and an inner attendant oversaw the funeral.
27
以其子龜齡為侍禁； 昌齡、九齡為殿直； 遐齡為齋郎。 緣邊洎涿、易州民，聞承矩卒，皆相率詣雄州發哀飯僧。 昌齡娶齊王女太和縣主，至內殿崇班。 昌齡子象中，為閤門祗候。
His son Guiling was made attendant guard; Changling and Jiuling were made palace attendants; Xialing was made a fast-officer. Frontier residents as far as Zhuo and Yi prefectures, hearing of Chengju's death, gathered at Xiongzhou to mourn and feed monks. Changling married the Princess of Taihe, daughter of the Prince of Qi, and rose to the Inner Hall Honored Corps. Changling's son Xiangzhong served as a gate attendant.
28
李漢超
Li Hanchao
29
李漢超，雲州雲中人。 始事鄴帥范延光，不為所知。 又事鄆帥高行周，亦不見親信。 會周世宗鎮澶淵，漢超遂委質焉。 即位，補殿前指揮使，三遷殿前都虞候。
Li Hanchao was a native of Yunzhong in Yunzhou. He first served Fan Yanguang, military governor of Ye, but won no recognition. He then served Gao Xingzhou of Yan, but was likewise given no trust. When Emperor Shizong of Zhou was posted at Chanyuan, Hanchao pledged himself to his service. When Shizong took the throne, Hanchao became palace front commander and rose through three posts to palace front deputy chief.
30
宋初，改散指揮都指揮使，領綿州刺史，累遷控鶴左廂都校，領恩州團練使。 從平李重進，尋遷齊州防禦使兼關南兵馬都監。 漢超在關南，人有訟漢超強取其女為妾及貸而不償者，太祖召而問之曰：「汝女可適何人？」 曰：「農家也。」 又問：「漢超未至關南，契丹如何？」 曰：「歲苦侵暴。」 曰：「今復爾耶？」 曰：「否。」 太祖曰：「漢超，朕之貴臣也，為其妾不猶愈於農婦乎？ 使漢超不守關南，尚能保汝家之所有乎？」 責而遣之。 密使諭漢超曰：「亟還其女並所貸，朕姑貰汝，勿復為也。 不足於用，何不以告朕耶？」 漢超感泣，誓以死報。 在郡十七年，政平訟理，吏民愛之，詣闕求立碑頌德。 太祖詔率更令徐鉉撰文賜之。
In the early Song he became casual corps commander and prefect of Mian, then rose to left wing chief of the Crane Control corps and Enzhou regimentation commissioner. He helped pacify Li Chongjin and was soon made defense commissioner of Qizhou and Guannan horse and foot supervisor. At Guannan, a man sued Hanchao for forcibly taking his daughter as a concubine and for an unpaid loan; Emperor Taizu summoned him and asked, "To whom could your daughter have been married?" He replied, "To a farming family." Taizu asked again, "Before Hanchao came to Guannan, how were the Khitan?" He said, "Year after year we suffered raids and violence." Taizu asked, "Is it so again now?" He said, "No." Emperor Taizu said, "Hanchao is my honored minister — is being his concubine not better than being a farmer's wife? If Hanchao did not guard Guannan, could you still keep what your household owns?" Taizu rebuked him and sent him away. A secret envoy told Hanchao, "Return his daughter and the loan at once; I forgive you this time — do not do it again. If you are short of funds, why not tell me?" Hanchao wept and vowed to repay the emperor with his life. For seventeen years in office his governance was fair and lawsuits were just; officials and people loved him and petitioned at court for a stele praising his virtue. Emperor Taizu ordered Xu Xuan, director of the Directorate of Astronomy, to compose the inscription.
31
霸州監軍馬仁瑀嘗兄事漢超，多自肆，擅發麾下卒入遼境，剽奪人口、羊馬，由是二將交惡。 太祖慮其生變，遣中使賜漢超、仁瑀金帛，令和解之。 太平興國初，遷應州觀察使、判齊州，仍為關南巡檢。 二年八月，卒於屯所。 太宗甚悼惜，贈太尉、忠武軍節度，中使護葬。 漢超善撫士卒，與之同甘苦，死之日，軍中皆流涕。 子守恩。
Ma Renyu, army supervisor of Bazhou, had once treated Hanchao as an elder brother but acted with great license, sending troops into Liao territory to plunder people and livestock; the two generals became bitter enemies. Fearing trouble, Emperor Taizu sent an inner attendant with gold and silk and ordered Hanchao and Renyu to reconcile. Early in Taiping Xingguo he became observation commissioner of Yingzhou with authority over Qizhou and remained Guannan patrol inspector. In the eighth month of the second year he died at his garrison post. Emperor Taizong deeply mourned him, posthumously honoring him as Grand Marshal and Zhongwu military governor; an inner attendant oversaw the burial. Hanchao treated his soldiers well and shared their hardships; on the day he died the whole army wept. His son was Shou'en.
32
子守恩
Son: Shou'en
33
守恩，少驍果善戰，有父風。 初補齊州牙職。 開寶二年，太祖親征太原，漢超為北面行營都監，守恩從父軍中。 會契丹遣兵援河東，至定州西嘉山，將入土門，守恩領牙兵數千騎戰敗之。 斬首三千級，獲戰馬、器甲甚眾，擒首領二十七人。 隨漢超見於行在，賜戎服金帶、器幣、緡錢，太祖謂左右曰：「此稚子能若是，他日將帥才也。」 漢超卒，擢為驍猛軍校，累官至隴州刺史、知靈州。 與轉運使陳緯部芻糧過瀚海，為賊所邀，守恩及子廣文助教象之、隴州衙內指揮使望之、弟寄班守忠皆沒。 真宗聞之震悼，特賜守恩洪州觀察使。 次子祐之、順之、用之、潤之、慶之、成之、藏之。
Shou'en was fierce and skilled in battle from youth and had his father's fighting spirit. He first served on the guard staff at Qizhou. In Kaibao year two, when Emperor Taizu marched on Taiyuan, Hanchao was northern field army supervisor and Shou'en served in his father's command. When Khitan troops came to aid Hedong and reached Jia Mountain west of Dingzhou, about to enter Tumen Pass, Shou'en led several thousand guard cavalry and routed them. Three thousand heads were counted, many horses and suits of armor were captured, and twenty-seven chieftains were taken. He was presented at the imperial camp with military dress, a gold belt, weapons, gifts, and cash; Emperor Taizu told his attendants, "This young man can do such things — someday he will be a general." After Hanchao died he was promoted to squad chief in the Fierce Army and rose to prefect of Long prefecture and governor of Lingzhou. Escorting fodder and grain across the Hanhai with transport commissioner Chen Wei, he was ambushed by bandits; Shou'en, his son Xiangzhi, Longzhou inner commander Wangzhi, and his younger brother Shouzhong all perished. Emperor Zhenzong was shocked and grieved and posthumously granted Shou'en the title of Hongzhou observation commissioner. Other sons included Youzhi, Shunzhi, Yongzhi, Runzhi, Qingzhi, Chengzhi, and Cangzhi.
34
周廣順初，移淄州。 二年，吏民詣觀察使舉留。 是秋，遷登州刺史。 會群盜攻劫居民，進率鎮兵平之，部內清肅，民吏千餘人詣闕請立《屏盜碑》，許之。 顯德初，移衛州。 衛、趙、邢、洺間多亡命者，以汲郡依山帶河，易為出沒，伺間椎剽，吏捕之輒遁去，故累歲不能絕其黨類。 進備知其情狀，因設計發擿之，數月間剪滅無餘，郡民又請立碑記其事。 改洺州團練使，有善政，郡民復詣闕請立碑頌德，詔左拾遺鄭起撰文賜之。 進嘗於城四面植柳，壕中種荷芰蒲薍，後益繁茂。 郡民見之有垂涕者，曰：「此郭公所種也。」
Early in Zhou's Guangshun era he was transferred to Zi prefecture. In the second year officials and residents petitioned the observation commissioner to keep him in office. That autumn he was made prefect of Deng prefecture. When bandits raided the populace, Jin led garrison troops to suppress them and restore order; more than a thousand officials and residents petitioned at court for a "Bandit-Suppression Stele," and permission was granted. Early in the Xiande era he was transferred to Wei prefecture. Fugitives were numerous between Wei, Zhao, Xing, and Ming prefectures; Ji commandery's mountains and rivers made raids easy and captures futile, and for years their bands could not be eliminated. Knowing their ways, Jin devised a plan to expose and arrest them; within months they were wiped out, and the people again requested a commemorative stele. Made Mingzhou regimentation commissioner, he governed well; the people again petitioned for a stele praising his virtue, and Left Reminder Zheng Qi was ordered to compose the inscription. Jin once planted willows around the city walls and lotus, water chestnuts, bulrushes, and cattails in the moat; they later grew ever more lush. Some residents wept when they saw them and said, "These were planted by Lord Guo."
35
建隆初，太祖親征澤、潞，遷本州防禦使，充西山巡檢。 嘗與曹彬、王全斌入太原境，獲數千人。 開寶二年，太祖親征河東，以進為行營前軍馬軍都指揮使。 九年，命將征河東，以進為河東道、忻、代等州行營馬步軍都監，招徠山後諸州民三萬七千餘口。 太平興國初，領雲州觀察使、判邢州，仍兼西山巡檢，賜京城道德坊第一區。
Early in Jianlong, when Emperor Taizu campaigned in Ze and Lu, Jin became defense commissioner of his prefecture and western mountain patrol inspector. He once entered Taiyuan territory with Cao Bin and Wang Quanbin and captured several thousand people. In Kaibao year two, when Emperor Taizu marched on Hedong, Jin was made vanguard cavalry commander of the field army. In the ninth year, during the Hedong campaign, Jin was made field army supervisor for the Hedong route and Xin and Dai prefectures and recruited more than thirty-seven thousand people from the mountain prefectures. Early in Taiping Xingguo he became Yunzhou observation commissioner with authority over Xingzhou, remained western mountain patrol inspector, and received the first residence on Daode Lane in the capital.
36
四年，車駕將征太原，先命進分兵控石嶺關，為都部署，以防北邊。 契丹果犯關，進大破之，又攻破西龍門砦，俘馘來獻，自是幷人喪氣。 時田欽祚護石嶺軍，恣為奸利諸不法事，進雖力不能禁，亦屢形於言。 進武人，性剛烈，戰功高，欽祚以他事侵之，心不能甘，自經死，年五十八，欽祚以暴卒聞。 太宗悼惜久之，贈安國軍節度，中使護葬。 後頗聞其事。 因罷欽祚內職，出為房州團練使。
In the fourth year, as the emperor prepared to march on Taiyuan, Jin was ordered to hold Shiling Pass as overall commander against the northern frontier. The Khitan did attack the pass; Jin routed them, captured the western Longmen stockade, and presented captives and heads; the Jin defenders' morale collapsed. Tian Qinhuo, guarding the Shiling garrison, committed all manner of illegal profiteering; Jin could not stop him but spoke out repeatedly. Jin was a fierce warrior with high battle merit; when Qinhuo harassed him on other matters he could not bear it and hanged himself at fifty-eight; Qinhuo reported it as sudden death. Emperor Taizong mourned him for a long time, posthumously granting the Anguo military governorship; an inner attendant oversaw the burial. Later the truth came to light. Qinhuo was removed from his inner court post and sent out as Fangzhou regimentation commissioner.
37
進有材幹，輕財好施，然性喜殺，士卒小違令，必寘於死，居家御婢僕亦然。 進在西山，太祖遣戍卒，必諭之曰：「汝輩謹奉法。 我猶貸汝，郭進殺汝矣。」 其御下嚴毅若此。 然能以權道任人，嘗有軍校自西山詣闕誣進者，太祖詰知其情狀，謂左右曰：「彼有過畏罰，故誣進求免爾。」 遣使送與進，令殺之。 會幷人入寇，進謂誣者曰：「汝敢論我，信有膽氣。 今捨汝罪，能掩殺幷寇，即薦汝於朝； 如敗，可自投河東。」 其人踴躍聽命，果致克捷。 進即以聞，乞遷其職，太祖從之。
Jin was capable and generous, but by nature he was quick to kill; the slightest breach of orders by soldiers or servants meant death. When Jin was in the western mountains, Emperor Taizu always warned newly posted garrison soldiers, "Obey the law carefully. I may spare you, but Guo Jin will kill you." Such was the stern discipline with which he ruled his men. Yet he could use men shrewdly; once an officer from the western mountains came to court to falsely accuse Jin; Emperor Taizu learned the truth and told his attendants, "He had committed an offense and feared punishment, so he falsely accused Jin to escape it." Taizu sent him back to Jin and ordered Jin to kill him. When Jin forces invaded, Jin told the accuser, "You dared to speak against me — you have real nerve. I pardon you now; if you can ambush and kill the Jin raiders, I will recommend you to the court; if you fail, surrender yourself to Hedong." The man eagerly accepted and indeed won the victory. Jin reported the victory and requested the man's promotion; Emperor Taizu agreed.
38
初，開寶中，太祖令有司造宅賜進，悉用筒瓦。 有司言：「舊制，非親王公主之第不可用。」 帝怒曰：「進控扼西山十餘年，使我無北顧憂。 我視進豈減兒女耶？ 亟往督役，無妄言。」 太平興國初，又賜宅一區。
During Kaibao, Emperor Taizu ordered a residence built for Jin using tube tiles throughout. The officials said, "By old regulation, tube tiles may be used only for imperial princes and princesses." The emperor angrily said, "Jin has held the western mountains for more than ten years and freed me from worry in the north. Do I value Jin less than my own children? Go supervise the work at once — no more idle talk." Early in Taiping Xingguo another residence was granted to him.
39
附牛思進
Appendix: Niu Sijin
40
牛思進者，祁州無極人。 少從軍，以膂力聞。 嘗取強弓絓於耳，以手引之令滿。 又負牆立，力士二人撮其乳曳之，嶷不動，軍中咸異之。 太平興國四年，知平定軍，從征河東，石嶺關部署郭進卒，命思進代之。 師還，以功改本州團練使。 七年，授右千牛衛上將軍致仕，卒。
Niu Sijin was a native of Wuji in Qizhou. He joined the army young and was known for his strength. He once hooked a strong bow on his ear and drew it to the full with one hand. Standing back to a wall, two strong men grasped his chest and pulled — he did not budge; the whole army marveled. In Taiping Xingguo year four he governed Pingding Army; after Guo Jin died at Shiling Pass during the Hedong campaign, Sijin replaced him. After the army returned he was made regimentation commissioner of his prefecture for his service. In the seventh year he retired as upper general of the Right Thousand-Ox Guard and died.
41
李謙溥
Li Qianpu
42
李謙溥，字德明，幷州盂人。 性慷慨，重然諾。 父蕘，後唐清泰中，晉祖鎮幷門，署為參謀。 天福初，為開封府推官，使契丹還，上言：「屈節外國，非久長策。」 時晉祖方父事契丹，不悅其言，出為汝州魯山令，卒官。
Li Qianpu, courtesy name Deming, was a native of Yu in Bingzhou. He was generous by nature and valued his word. His father Rao, during Later Tang's Qingtai era when the Jin founder was posted at Bingmen, served as staff adviser. Early in Tianfu he was judicial aide of Kaifeng prefecture; returning from a Khitan mission he memorialized, "Bowing to a foreign state is no long-term strategy." The Jin founder, then treating the Khitan as overlord, disliked this and sent him out as magistrate of Lushan in Ru prefecture, where he died in office.
43
謙溥少通《左氏春秋》。 從晉祖入汴，補殿直，奉使契丹。 少帝即位，改西頭供奉官，漢初，遷東頭。 周祖討三叛及守鄴都，謙溥往來宣密命，周祖愛之。 廣順初，遷供備庫副使。 世宗征劉崇，遼州刺史張乙堅壁不下，遣謙溥單騎說之，乙以城降，以功改閑廄使。 師還，留為晉州兵馬都監。 以偏師入河東境，頻致克捷，世宗詔褒美之。 會隰州刺史孫義卒，時世宗親征淮南，謙溥謂節帥楊廷璋曰：「大寧，咽喉要地，不可闕守。 且車駕出征，若俟報，則孤城陷矣。」 廷璋即署謙溥權隰州事。 至郡，亟命浚城隍，嚴兵備，凡八日，幷人果以數千騎來寇。 時盛暑，謙溥單衣持扇，從二小吏登城，徐步按視戰具。 幷人退舍，後旬餘，大發衝車攻城。 謙溥募敢死士，得百餘人，短兵堅甲，銜枚夜縋出城。 會廷璋兵至，合勢夾攻，掩其不及。 幷人大擾，悉眾遁去。 追北數十里，斬首千餘級，時顯德四年也。 明年五月，攻破孝義縣，以功領衢州刺史、監軍如故。 世宗北征，召赴行在。 恭帝即位，為澶州巡檢使，詔城莫州，數旬而就。 改丹州刺史。
Qianpu mastered the Zuo Commentary to the Spring and Autumn Annals in youth. Following the Jin founder into Bian, he became palace attendant and served as envoy to the Khitan. When Emperor Shaodi took the throne he became western head tribute officer; early in Later Han he was transferred to eastern head. When Zhou's founding emperor campaigned against the Three Rebellions and held Ye capital, Qianpu carried secret orders back and forth and won his favor. Early in the Guangshun era he became deputy commissioner of the supply depot. Campaigning against Liu Chong, Emperor Shizong sent Qianpu alone on horseback to persuade Zhang Yi, prefect of Liao, who held the walls; Yi surrendered, and Qianpu was made commissioner of the idle stables. When the army returned he was kept on as Jinzhou horse and foot supervisor. Leading a detached force into Hedong he won repeated victories, and Emperor Shizong issued an edict praising him. When Xi prefect Sun Yi died while Emperor Shizong was campaigning in Huainan, Qianpu told military governor Yang Tingzhang, "Daning is a vital choke point and must not be left undefended. With the emperor on campaign, waiting for orders would mean the isolated city falls." Tingzhang immediately put Qianpu in provisional charge of Xi prefecture. On reaching the prefecture he urgently dredged the moat, strengthened defenses, and within eight days Jin forces raided with several thousand cavalry. In peak summer heat Qianpu mounted the wall in light clothing with a fan, followed by two clerks, and slowly inspected the battle equipment. The Jin forces withdrew; more than ten days later they returned with battering rams. Qianpu recruited more than a hundred dare-to-die soldiers with short weapons and strong armor, gagged and lowered from the wall by rope at night. When Tingzhang's troops arrived they pincered the enemy and caught them unprepared. The Jin forces were thrown into disorder and fled with their entire army. Pursuing north for tens of li they counted more than a thousand heads; this was Xiande year four. The following fifth month he captured Xiaoyi county and for his service held the post of Qu prefecture prefect while retaining army supervision. When Emperor Shizong marched north he was summoned to the imperial camp. When Emperor Gongdi took the throne he became Danzhou patrol inspector; ordered to build Mo prefecture's walls, he finished in several weeks. He was made prefect of Dan prefecture.
44
建隆四年，移慈州，兼晉、隰緣邊都巡檢，行石州事，以興同砦為治所。 冬，將有事於南郊。 太祖命四路進兵，略地太原。 鄭州刺史孫延進、絳州刺史沈繼深、通事舍人王睿等師出陰地，以謙溥為先鋒，會霍邑。 謙溥因畫攻取之策，繼深等共沮之，延進不能用。 軍還，出白璧關，次谷口，謙溥語諸將曰：「王師深入敵境，今既退軍，彼必乘我，諸君當備之。」 諸將不答，謙溥獨令所部擐甲。 俄追騎果至，延進等倉皇走谷中，獨謙溥麾兵拒之，幷人引退。 未幾，移隰州刺史。
In Jianlong year four he was transferred to Ci prefecture as overall frontier patrol inspector of Jin and Xi, governing Shi prefecture affairs from Xingtong stockade. That winter a southern suburb ceremony was planned. Emperor Taizu ordered four columns to advance and seize territory around Taiyuan. Sun Yanjin of Zheng prefecture, Shen Jishen of Jiang prefecture, palace attendant Wang Rui, and others marched from Yindi with Qianpu as vanguard, joining at Huoyi. Qianpu drew up an attack plan, but Jishen and others blocked it and Yanjin would not adopt it. On the return march, exiting Baiyu Pass and halting at Gukou, Qianpu told the generals, "We have penetrated deep into enemy territory; on withdrawal they will surely pursue — prepare yourselves." The generals said nothing; Qianpu alone ordered his troops to don armor. Pursuing cavalry soon arrived; Yanjin and others fled panic-stricken into the valley while Qianpu alone held them off and the Jin forces withdrew. He was soon made prefect of Xi prefecture.
45
開寶三年，召謙溥為濟州團練使。 後邊將失律，復為晉、隰緣邊巡檢使，邊民聞之喜，爭相迎勞於道左。 六年，領兵入太原，連拔七砦。 八年，以疾求歸，肩輿抵洛，太祖遣中使領太醫就視之。 至京師，疾篤，累上章辭祿，不許。 明年春，卒，年六十二。 太祖甚痛惜之，賻贈有加，葬事官給。
In Kaibao year three Qianpu was summoned as Jizhou regimentation commissioner. When frontier generals lost discipline he was again made Jin and Xi frontier patrol inspector; border residents rejoiced and lined the roads to welcome him. In the sixth year he led troops into Taiyuan and captured seven stockades in succession. In the eighth year, ill, he requested to return; carried in a sedan he reached Luoyang, and Emperor Taizu sent an inner attendant with imperial physicians. Reaching the capital gravely ill, he repeatedly asked to resign his salary but was refused. The following spring he died at sixty-two. Emperor Taizu deeply mourned him, increased the burial gifts, and supplied the funeral at state expense.
46
謙溥與宣祖同里閈，弟謙升與太祖為布衣交。 其母閻嘗厚待太祖，及即位，數迎入宮中，使左右掖之，不令拜，命坐飲食，話及舊故，賜齎優厚。 雍熙中，太宗為許王納謙升女為夫人，以謙升為如京副使。 謙溥子允則、允正。 允則至寧州防禦使。 從子允恭為內殿崇班、閤門祗候。
Qianpu was from the same neighborhood as the Imperial Ancestor; his younger brother Qiansheng had been Emperor Taizu's friend since their commoner days. His mother Yan had once treated Emperor Taizu generously; after his accession Taizu repeatedly welcomed her to the palace, had attendants support her, forbade her to bow, seated her for meals, reminisced, and gave lavish gifts. During Yongxi, Emperor Taizong took Qiansheng's daughter as consort for the Prince of Xu and made Qiansheng deputy envoy to the capital. Qianpu had sons Yunze and Yunzheng. Yunze rose to defense commissioner of Ningzhou. His nephew Yun'gong served in the Inner Hall Honored Corps and as gate attendant.
47
子允正
Son: Yunzheng
48
允正，字修己，以蔭補供奉官。 太平興國中，掌左藏庫，屢得升殿奏事，太宗頗記憶其舊故。 雍熙中，與張平同掌三班，俄為閤門祗候。 四年，遷閤門通事舍人。 時女弟適許王，以居第質於宋偓，太宗詰之曰：「爾父守邊二十餘年，止有此第耳，何以質之？」 允正具以奏，即遣內侍輦錢贖還，縉紳咸賦詩頌美。
Yunzheng, courtesy name Xiuji, entered office by privilege as a tribute officer. During Taiping Xingguo he managed the left treasury, repeatedly reported at audience, and Emperor Taizong remembered their old connection. During Yongxi he jointly managed the three ranks with Zhang Ping and soon became a gate attendant. In the fourth year he became gate palace attendant. His younger sister was married to the Prince of Xu; he had pledged the family residence to Song Wo; Emperor Taizong asked, "Your father guarded the frontier for more than twenty years and owned only this house — why pledge it?" Yunzheng explained fully; the emperor sent an inner attendant with cash to redeem it, and officials composed poems praising the act.
49
淳化中，命討戎、瀘州叛蠻。 遷西上閤門副使。 太宗慮京城獄囚淹繫，命允正提總之。 嘗請詔御史臺給開封府司錄司、左右軍巡、四排岸司印紙作囚簿，署禁繫月日，條其罪犯，歲滿較其殿最。 詔從其請。 逾年，開封府上言：「京師浩穰，禁繫尤眾，御史府考較之際，胥吏奔命，有妨推鞫，況無欺隱，不煩推校。」 卒罷之。 允正又提點左右藏，屢乘傳北面，經度邊要。 五年，為衛州修河部署。 會建清遠軍積石砦，命詣瀚海部分其役。 還，拜西上閤門使、幷州駐泊鈐轄。 俄代張永德知州事，徙代州。
During Chunhua he was ordered to suppress rebellious tribes in Rong and Lu prefectures. He became western upper gate deputy envoy. Fearing capital prisoners were detained too long, Emperor Taizong put Yunzheng in overall charge. He requested that the Censorate supply Kaifeng offices with sealed registers noting detention dates and crimes, with annual performance reviews. The request was granted. A year later Kaifeng prefecture reported, "The capital is crowded with detainees; censorate reviews overwork the clerks and hinder interrogation; there is no concealment — detailed verification is unnecessary." The system was finally abolished. Yunzheng also supervised the left and right treasuries and repeatedly traveled north by relay post to manage frontier strategic points. In the fifth year he was river-repair commander of Wei prefecture. When Qingyuan Army's Jishi stockade was being built, he was sent to the Hanhai to allocate the labor. On return he became western upper gate envoy and Bingzhou garrison military controller. He soon replaced Zhang Yongde as prefect and was transferred to Dai prefecture.
50
咸平初，使西蜀詢訪民事，還，進秩東上閤門使，歷知鎮、莫二州。 又為幷、代馬步軍鈐轄。 契丹擾邊，車駕駐大名，允正與高瓊率太原軍出土門路來會，召見便殿。 所部有廣銳騎士數百，皆素練習，命允正引以入，賜緡錢。 遣屯邢州，與石保吉逐遼人，遼人遁去。 俄以兵會大名，復還幷代。 五年，合涇原儀渭、邠寧環慶兩路為一界，命王漢忠為都部署，驛召允正為鈐轄兼安撫都監，即日上道。 又命與錢若水同詣洪德、懷安沿邊諸砦經度邊事，加領誠州刺史。 七月，罷兩路之職，復任幷代鈐轄。 每錢若水按巡邊壘，即詔權蒞州事。 進四方館使，代馬知節為鄜延部署、兼知延州，改客省使、知定州兼鎮定都鈐轄。
Early in Xianping he was envoy to western Shu to inquire into civilian affairs; on return he was promoted to eastern upper gate envoy and governed Zhen and Mo prefectures. He also served as Bing and Dai horse and foot military controller. When the Khitan harassed the frontier and the emperor was at Daming, Yunzheng and Gao Qiong led the Taiyuan army through Tumen route to join him and he was received in the side hall. His command included several hundred well-trained Broad Sharp cavalry; he was ordered to lead them in and was rewarded with cash. Posted at Xingzhou, he and Shi Baoji drove off the Liao forces. He soon joined the forces at Daming and returned to Bing and Dai. In the fifth year the Jingyuan-Yiwei and Binning-Huanqing routes were combined; Wang Hanzhong was made overall commander and Yunzheng was summoned by courier as military controller and pacification supervisor, setting out the same day. With Qian Ruoshui he was sent to Hongde, Huaian, and other frontier stockades to manage border affairs and was additionally given charge of Cheng prefecture. In the seventh month the two-route posts were abolished and he returned as Bing and Dai military controller. Whenever Qian Ruoshui inspected frontier fortifications, Yunzheng was ordered to provisionally govern the prefecture. Promoted to envoy of the Four Directions Hall, he replaced Ma Zhijie as Yan-Yan commander and governor of Yanzhou, then became guest reception envoy and prefect of Dingzhou with overall military control of Zhending.
51
大中祥符三年，累表求還。 至京師，將祀汾陰，以疾難於扈從，命為河陽部署以便養。 會張崇貴卒，趙德明頗逾軼，亟詔徙允正為鄜延部署，內侍密詔存諭。 禮成，領河州團練使。 允正頗知書，性嚴毅，疏財，喜自修飭。 素病佝僂，以是罕在要近，累典邊任，多殺戮。 是秋，徙知永興軍，卒，年五十一。
In Dazhong Xiangfu year three he repeatedly asked to return to court. Reaching the capital, too ill to join the Fenyin sacrifice, he was made Heyang commander for recuperation. When Zhang Chonggui died and Zhao Deming grew overbearing, Yunzheng was urgently transferred as Yan-Yan commander with a secret edict of encouragement from an inner attendant. After the rite he became Hezhou regimentation commissioner. Yunzheng was learned, stern, generous, and fond of self-discipline. A lifelong hunchback kept him from key court posts, but he repeatedly held frontier duties and was quick to kill. That autumn he was transferred to govern Yongxing Army and died at fifty-one.
52
姚內斌
Yao Neibin
53
姚內斌，平州盧龍人。 仕契丹為關西巡檢、瓦橋關使。 周顯德六年，太祖從世宗北征，兵次瓦橋關，內斌率眾五百人以城降。 世宗以為汝州刺史，吏民詣闕舉留，恭帝詔褒之。 內斌本名犯宣祖諱下一字，遂改今名。 從平李筠，改虢州刺史。 西夏數犯西鄙，以內斌為慶州刺史兼青、白兩池榷鹽制置使。 在郡十數年，西夏畏伏，不敢犯塞，號內斌為「姚大蟲」，言其武猛也。
Yao Neibin was a native of Lulong in Ping prefecture. Serving the Khitan he was Guanxi patrol inspector and commissioner of Waqiao Pass. In Zhou's Xiande year six, when Emperor Taizu followed Emperor Shizong north and halted at Waqiao Pass, Neibin surrendered the city with five hundred men. Emperor Shizong made him prefect of Ru prefecture; officials and residents petitioned at court to keep him, and Emperor Gongdi issued a praising edict. Neibin's original name violated a taboo on the Imperial Ancestor's name, so he changed to his present name. After helping pacify Li Jin he became prefect of Guo prefecture. As Western Xia repeatedly raided the west, Neibin was made Qing prefecture prefect and salt monopoly commissioner of the Green and White pools. For more than ten years in office Western Xia feared him and dared not raid the frontier, calling him "Big Bug Yao" for his martial fierceness.
54
初，內斌降，其妻子皆在契丹。 乾德四年，子承贊密自幽州來歸。 五年，幽州民田光嗣等又以內斌兒女六人間道來歸，太祖並召見，賜以衣服、緡錢、鞍馬，令中使護送還內斌。 開寶四年，召赴闕，上待之甚厚，遣歸治所。 七年春，暴得疾卒，年六十四。 遣中使護喪，歸葬洛陽，常賻外，賜其子田三十頃。 承贊為供奉官、閤門祗候，死於陣； 承鑒至殿中丞。
When Neibin first surrendered, his wife and children were still with the Khitan. In Qiande year four his son Chengzan secretly came from Youzhou to join him. In the fifth year Youzhou residents led six of Neibin's children and grandchildren by secret route to join him; Emperor Taizu received them, granted clothing, cash, and horses, and sent an inner attendant to escort them to Neibin. In Kaibao year four he was summoned to court, treated generously, and sent back to his post. In the spring of the seventh year he suddenly fell ill and died at sixty-four. An inner attendant oversaw the funeral; he was buried in Luoyang; beyond regular burial gifts, thirty qing of fields were granted to his son. Chengzan served as tribute officer and gate attendant and died in battle; Chengjian rose to palace director.
55
董遵誨
Dong Zunhui
56
董遵誨，涿州范陽人。 父宗本，善騎射，隸契丹帥趙延壽麾下，嘗以事說延壽，不能用。 及延壽被執，舉族南奔。 漢祖得之，擢拜隨州刺史，署遵誨隨州牙校。 周顯德初，世宗北征，大將高懷德，遵誨之舅也，表遵誨從行。 師次高平，與晉人遇。 將接戰，晉兵未成列，懷德命遵誨先出奇兵擊之，晉人潰，大軍繼進，遂敗之。 二年，討秦、鳳，大將韓通又表遵誨自隨。 與賊戰於唐倉，先登陷陣，擒蜀招討使王鸞以獻，克秦、鳳二州。 師還，錄其前後功，補東西班押班，又遷驍武指揮使。 四年，從世宗征淮南，攻合肥，下之。 六年，從韓通平雄、霸二州。
Dong Zunhui was a native of Fanyang in Zhuo prefecture. His father Zongben was skilled in horsemanship and archery, served under Khitan commander Zhao Yanshou, and once offered advice that Yanshou ignored. When Yanshou was captured the whole clan fled south. The Han founder took him in, made him prefect of Sui prefecture, and appointed Zunhui to the Suizhou guard staff. Early in Zhou's Xiande era, when Emperor Shizong marched north, great general Gao Huaide, Zunhui's maternal uncle, recommended that Zunhui accompany the campaign. When the army halted at Gaoping they encountered Jin forces. As battle was about to begin, the Jin forces had not yet formed their ranks. Huaide ordered Zunhui to lead a surprise detachment against them first. The Jin troops broke and fled, the main army pressed forward, and they were defeated. In the second year, during the campaign against Qin and Feng prefectures, great general Han Tong again recommended that Zunhui accompany him. They fought the enemy at Tangcang. Zunhui was the first to scale the walls and break the enemy formation, captured the Shu pacification commissioner Wang Luan and presented him as a prize, and took both Qin and Feng prefectures. When the army returned, his earlier and later achievements were recorded. He was appointed to the east and west ranks escort corps and was further promoted to commander of the Xiao Wu guard. In the fourth year he accompanied Emperor Shizong on the Huainan campaign, attacked Hefei, and captured it. In the sixth year he followed Han Tong in pacifying Xiong and Ba prefectures.
57
太祖微時，客遊至漢東，依宗本，而遵誨憑藉父勢，太祖每避之。 遵誨嘗謂太祖曰：「每見城上紫雲如蓋，又夢登高臺，遇黑蛇約長百尺餘，俄化龍飛騰東北去，雷電隨之，是何祥也？ ”」太祖皆不對。 他日論兵戰事，遵誨理多屈，拂衣而起。 太祖乃辭宗本去，自是紫雲漸散。 及即位，一日，便殿召見，遵誨伏地請死，帝令左右扶起，因諭之曰：「卿尚記往日紫雲及龍化之夢乎？」 遵誨再拜呼萬歲。 俄而部下有軍卒擊登聞鼓，訴其不法十餘事，太祖釋不問。 遵誨益惶愧待罪，太祖召而諭之曰：「朕方赦過賞功，豈念舊惡耶？ 汝可勿復憂，吾將錄用汝。」 遵誨再拜感泣。 又問遵誨：「母安在？」 遵誨奏曰：「母氏在幽州，經患難睽隔。」 太祖因令人賂邊民，竊迎其母，送與遵誨。 遵誨遣外弟劉綜貢馬以謝，太祖解其所服真珠盤龍衣，命齎賜之。 綜曰：「遵誨人臣，豈敢當此。」 太祖曰：「吾方委以方面，不此嫌也。」
When Emperor Taizu was still obscure, he traveled as a guest to Handong and lived under Zongben's roof, but Zunhui traded on his father's influence, and Taizu always kept his distance. Zunhui once said to Taizu, "Time and again I have seen purple clouds on the city walls like a canopy, and I dreamed that I climbed a high terrace and met a black serpent about a hundred feet long that suddenly turned into a dragon and soared away to the northeast, with thunder and lightning in its wake. What omen could this be? To all of this, Emperor Taizu made no reply." On another day, when they discussed military affairs, Zunhui was repeatedly worsted in argument and swept his robes aside and stalked off. Taizu then took leave of Zongben and departed, and from that time the purple clouds gradually faded away. After he took the throne, one day he summoned Zunhui to the informal palace hall. Zunhui prostrated himself and begged for death. The Emperor ordered attendants to help him up and said, "Do you still remember the purple clouds and the dream of the dragon's transformation from those days?" Zunhui bowed twice and cried, "Long live the Emperor!" Before long a soldier under his command beat the drum of direct appeal to the throne and accused him of more than ten unlawful acts, but Taizu dismissed the charges without investigation. Zunhui grew still more fearful and ashamed, awaiting punishment. Taizu summoned him and said, "I am now pardoning past faults and rewarding merit—why would I dwell on old grievances? You need worry no more. I intend to employ you according to your merits." Zunhui bowed twice and wept with gratitude. He also asked Zunhui, "Where is your mother?" Zunhui replied, "My mother is in Youzhou, separated from me by hardship and long distance." Taizu then had border people bribed to smuggle his mother out and sent her to Zunhui. Zunhui sent his younger maternal cousin Liu Zong to present horses in thanks. Taizu removed the pearl dragon robe he was wearing and ordered it sent as a gift. Zong said, "Zunhui is a subject—how could he accept such a gift?" Taizu said, "I am about to entrust him with a frontier command—I have no such scruples about this."
58
會李筠叛澤、潞，令遵誨從慕容延釗討之，遷馬軍都軍頭，因留之鎮守。 三年，召歸，再遷為散員都虞候。 乾德六年，以西夏近邊，授通遠軍使。 遵誨既至，召諸族酋長，諭以朝廷威德，刲羊釃酒，宴犒甚至，眾皆悅服。 後數月，復來擾邊，遵誨率兵深入其境，擊走之，俘斬甚眾，獲羊馬數萬，夷落以定。 太祖嘉其功，就拜羅州刺史，使如故。 太宗即位，兼領靈州路巡檢。
When Li Jin rebelled in Ze and Lu, Zunhui was ordered to follow Murong Yanzhao to suppress him. He was promoted to army director of the horse corps and was then left behind to garrison the region. In the third year he was recalled and promoted again to corps deputy director of the scattered staff. In the sixth year of Qiande, because Western Xia lay close to the border, he was appointed commissioner of Tongyuan Army. Once Zunhui arrived, he summoned the tribal chieftains, explained the court's majesty and benevolence, slaughtered sheep and poured wine, and feasted and rewarded them lavishly. All were pleased and submitted. Several months later they raided the border again. Zunhui led troops deep into their territory, drove them off, captured and killed a great many, seized tens of thousands of sheep and horses, and the frontier tribes were pacified. Taizu commended his achievement and appointed him on the spot as prefect of Luo, while he continued in his former post. When Emperor Taizong took the throne, Zunhui additionally served as inspector of the Lingzhou circuit.
59
遵誨不知書，豁達無崖岸，多方略，能挽強命中，武藝皆絕人。 在通遠軍凡十四年，安撫一面，夏人悅服。 嘗有剽略靈武進奉使鞍馬、兵器者，遵誨部署帳下欲討之。 夏人懼，盡歸所略，拜伏請罪，遵誨即慰撫令去。 自是各謹封略，秋毫不敢犯。 歷太祖、太宗朝，委遇始終不替，許以便宜制軍事。 太平興國六年，卒，年五十六。 帝軫悼久之，遣中使護葬，賵賻加等，錄其子嗣宗、嗣榮為殿直。
Zunhui was unlettered, open and unpretentious, and full of stratagems. He could draw a heavy bow and hit his mark, and in martial skill he surpassed everyone. He spent fourteen years altogether at Tongyuan Army, pacifying his sector of the frontier until the Xia people willingly submitted. Once bandits plundered the horses and weapons of an envoy bearing tribute to Lingwu. Zunhui deployed men from his staff to punish them. The Xia people were afraid, returned everything they had taken, kowtowed and begged forgiveness, and Zunhui immediately reassured them and sent them away. From then on each side kept strictly to its borders and dared not trespass even in the slightest. Through the reigns of Emperors Taizu and Taizong, the favor shown him never wavered, and he was permitted to handle military affairs at his discretion. In the sixth year of Taiping Xingguo he died at the age of fifty-six. The Emperor mourned him at length, sent an inner attendant to oversee the funeral, increased the funeral gifts, and appointed his sons Sizong and Sirong as palace attendants.
60
賀惟忠
He Weizhong
61
賀惟忠，忻州定襄人。 少勇敢，善騎射。 周祖將兵討三叛，惟忠謁於道左，自陳其有武藝，周祖悅之，即留置所部。 洎開國，得隸世宗帳下，奏補供奉官，不辭，輒入朝。 世宗怒之，及嗣位，終不遷擢。
He Weizhong was a native of Dingxiang in Xin prefecture. As a youth he was brave and skilled in horsemanship and archery. When the Zhou founder was about to lead troops against the three rebellions, Weizhong presented himself by the roadside and declared his martial skills. The Zhou founder was pleased and immediately kept him in his command. When the dynasty was founded he came under Emperor Shizong's retinue. He petitioned to be appointed tribute officer and, without waiting for a reply, entered court. Shizong was angry with him, and when he succeeded to the throne he never promoted him.
62
初授儀鸞副使，令知易州，捍邊有功，尋遷正使。 開寶二年，太祖駐常山，以惟忠為本州刺史兼易、定、祁等州都巡檢使。 嘗中流矢，六年，金瘡發而卒。 太祖聞之嗟悼，即以其子昭度為供奉官。
He was first appointed deputy commissioner of the Ceremonial Guard and ordered to govern Yi prefecture. He distinguished himself defending the border and was soon promoted to full commissioner. In the second year of Kaibao, Taizu was stationed at Changshan and made Weizhong prefect of Ben prefecture while also appointing him inspector-in-chief of Yi, Ding, Qi, and other prefectures. He had once been struck by an arrow in battle. In the sixth year the old wound reopened and he died. When Taizu heard of it he sighed in grief and immediately appointed his son Zhaodu as tribute officer.
63
惟忠性剛果，知書，洞曉兵法，有方略。 在易州繕完亭障，撫士卒，得其死力，每乘塞用兵，所向必克，威名震北邊，故十餘年間契丹不敢南牧。
Weizhong was stern and resolute by nature. He was literate, thoroughly versed in military methods, and full of strategic insight. At Yi prefecture he repaired the watchtowers and barriers, treated his soldiers well, and won their utmost loyalty. Whenever he took the field on the border he invariably prevailed, and his renown shook the northern frontier, so for more than ten years the Khitan did not dare drive their herds south.
64
昭度至西京作坊使。 淳化中，知通遠軍，有罪當棄市，減死流商州。
Zhaodu rose to workshop commissioner of the Western Capital. During the Chunhua era he governed Tongyuan Army. Guilty of a capital crime, his sentence was reduced to exile in Shang prefecture.
65
馬仁瑀
Ma Renyu
66
馬仁瑀，大名夏津人。 十餘歲時，其父令就學，輒逃歸。 又遣於鄉校習《孝經》，旬餘不識一字。 博士笞之，仁瑀夜中獨往焚學堂，博士僅以身免。 常集里中群兒數十人，與之戲，為行陣之狀，自稱將軍，日與之約，鞭其後期者，群兒皆畏伏。 又市果均給之，益相親附。 及長，善射，挽弓二百斤。
Ma Renyu was a native of Xiajin in Daming. When he was about ten years old, his father sent him to school, but he always ran away home. His father sent him again to a village school to study the "Classic of Filial Piety," but after more than ten days he could not recognize a single character. The teacher flogged him. Renyu went alone in the night to burn down the schoolhouse, and the teacher barely escaped with his life. He often gathered several dozen neighborhood boys to play war games with him in marching formation, calling himself general. Every day he set appointments with them and flogged those who were late, and all the boys feared and submitted to him. He also bought fruit and distributed it equally among them, and they grew still more attached to him. When he grew up he was skilled at archery and could draw a two-hundred-jin bow.
67
漢乾祐中，周祖鎮鄴，仁瑀年十六，願隸帳下，周祖素聞其勇，既見，甚喜，留置左右。 廣順初，補內殿直。 世宗嗣位，命衛士習射苑中，仁瑀弓力最勁，而所發多中，賜錦袍、銀帶。 會太原劉崇入寇，世宗親征至高平，周師不利，諸將多引退。 仁瑀謂眾曰：「主辱臣死，安用我輩！」 乃控弦躍馬，挺身出陣射賊，斃者數十人，士氣益振，大軍乘之，崇遂敗績。 世宗至上黨，諸將坐失律誅者七十餘人。 擢仁瑀為弓箭控鶴直指揮使，及還京，又遷散指揮使。 從征淮南，至楚州，攻水砦。 砦中建飛樓高百尺餘，世宗觀之，相去殆二百步，樓上望卒厲聲嫚罵，世宗怒甚，命左右射之，遠莫能及。 仁瑀引滿，應弦而顛。 及淮南平，身被數十創，賜以良藥，遷內殿直都虞候。 又從平三關。 恭帝嗣位，詔從太祖北伐。
During the Qianyou period of Han, the Zhou founder was stationed at Ye. Renyu was sixteen and wished to join his retinue. The Zhou founder had long heard of his courage, and when they met he was greatly pleased and kept Renyu at his side. At the beginning of Guangshun he was appointed to the inner palace guard. When Shizong succeeded to the throne he ordered the guard to practice archery in the imperial garden. Renyu's bow strength was the greatest and most of his shots hit the mark, and he was rewarded with a brocade robe and silver belt. When Liu Chong of Taiyuan invaded, Shizong personally marched to Gaoping. The Zhou forces fared badly and many generals fell back. Renyu said to those around him, "When the lord is shamed the minister must die—of what use are we!" Then he strung his bow, leapt on his horse, and thrust himself out of the formation to shoot at the enemy, felling dozens. Morale surged, the main army pressed the advantage, and Chong was utterly defeated. Shizong reached Shangdang, and more than seventy generals were executed for dereliction of duty. Renyu was promoted to commander of the archer Crane Direct guard, and upon returning to the capital he was further promoted to commander of the scattered guard. He followed the Huainan campaign to Chuzhou and attacked the river fortresses. The fortress had a flying tower more than a hundred feet high. Shizong observed it from about two hundred paces away. Lookouts on the tower shouted abuse at him in harsh voices. Shizong was furious and ordered those at his side to shoot, but none could reach that far. Renyu drew his bow to the full, and the man toppled at the sound of the string. When Huainan was pacified he had suffered dozens of wounds. He was given fine medicine and promoted to deputy director of the inner palace guard. He also followed in pacifying the Three Passes. When Emperor Gong succeeded to the throne, an edict ordered him to follow Taizu on the northern expedition.
68
初以佐命功授散員都指揮使，領貴州刺史，俄遷鐵騎右廂都指揮使，又為虎捷左廂都指揮使，領扶州團練使。 從平澤、潞，以功領常州防禦使，改龍捷左廂都指揮使。 建隆二年，改領岳州防禦使，俄又移領漢州。
For his contribution in establishing the dynasty he was first appointed commander of the scattered staff corps and given concurrent appointment as prefect of Gui. Soon he was promoted to commander of the right wing of Iron Cavalry, then became commander of the left wing of Tiger Fierce and concurrent prefect of Fu. He followed in pacifying Ze and Lu. For his merit he was given concurrent appointment as defense commissioner of Changzhou and was transferred to commander of the left wing of Dragon Fierce. In the second year of Jianlong he was transferred to defense commissioner of Yue, and soon afterward was moved to Han prefecture.
69
初，詔仁瑀等領荊湖諸郡，不數歲，復其地。 至是，將征蜀，又詔領川、峽諸郡，遂平之。 先是，薛居正知貢舉，仁瑀私囑所與者，榜出，無其人。 聞喜宴日，仁瑀酒酣，攜所囑者詣居正切責之。 為御史中丞劉溫叟所劾，帝優容之。 王繼勳以后族驕恣，淩蔑將帥，人皆引避。 獨仁瑀詞氣不相下，嘗攘臂欲毆之。 會帝將講武郊外，遂欲相圖，各勒所部兵私市白梃。 太祖密知之，詔罷講武，出仁瑀為密州防禦使。
Initially an edict had Renyu and others govern the Jing-Hu prefectures, and within several years they recovered the territory. At this point, as Shu was about to be attacked, he was again ordered to govern the Chuan and Xia prefectures, and they pacified it. Earlier Xue Juzheng had supervised the examinations. Renyu privately asked a favor for someone he knew, but when the list of successful candidates was published that person was not on it. On the day of the banquet celebrating the examination results, Renyu, deep in his cups, took the man he had recommended and went to Xue Juzheng to rebuke him sharply. Censor-in-chief Liu Wensou impeached him, but the Emperor treated him leniently. Wang Jixun, as a member of the imperial family by marriage, was arrogant and overbearing and looked down on generals, and everyone avoided him. Only Renyu would not yield to him in tone, and once rolled up his sleeves wanting to strike him. When the Emperor was about to hold military exercises in the suburbs, they intended to settle matters by force, and each secretly had his troops buy white clubs. Taizu learned of this in secret, cancelled the exercises, and sent Renyu out as defense commissioner of Mi prefecture.
70
太祖征晉陽，命仁瑀率師巡邊，至上谷、漁陽。 契丹素聞仁瑀名，不敢出，因縱兵大掠，俘生口、牛羊數萬計。 駕還，仁瑀歸治所。 明年，群盜起兗州，賊首周弼、毛襲甚勇悍，材貌奇偉，弼號曰「長腳龍」。 監軍討捕數不利，詔仁瑀掩擊。 仁瑀率帳下十餘卒入泰山，擒弼，盡獲其黨，魯郊遂寧。
When Taizu campaigned against Jinyang he ordered Renyu to lead troops on a border patrol, reaching Shanggu and Yuyang. The Khitan had long heard Renyu's name and did not dare come out, so Renyu let his troops plunder extensively, capturing people and cattle and sheep numbering in the tens of thousands. When the imperial carriage returned, Renyu went back to his post. The next year bandits rose in Yan prefecture. The bandit leaders Zhou Bi and Mao Xi were very fierce and bold, of unusual stature and appearance, and Bi was called "Long-Legged Dragon." The military superintendent's punitive campaigns met repeated setbacks, and an edict ordered Renyu to strike by surprise. Renyu led a dozen-odd men from his retinue into Mount Tai, captured Bi, and seized his entire gang, and the Lu region was thus pacified.
71
開寶四年，遷瀛州防禦使。 兄子嘗因醉誤殺平民，繫獄當死。 民家自言非有宿憾，但過誤爾，願以過失殺傷論。 仁瑀曰：「我為長吏，而兄子殺人，此怙勢爾，非過失也。 豈敢以私親而亂國法哉？」 遂論如律，給民家布帛為棺斂具。 太平興國初，移知遼州。 四年，車駕征太原，命仁瑀與成州刺史慕容超、飛龍使白重貴、八作使李繼昇分兵攻城。 及征范陽，命仁瑀率禁兵擊契丹於盧龍北，契丹兵奔潰。 師還，遷朔州觀察使，判瀛州事。 七年，卒，年五十。 贈河西軍節度，葬事官給。
In the fourth year of Kaibao he was transferred to defense commissioner of Ying. His brother's son once killed a commoner by mistake while drunk and was imprisoned facing execution. The victim's family said they bore no old grudge and that it was only a mistake, and they asked that it be judged as accidental homicide. Renyu said, "I am the senior official, and my brother's son killed a man. This is relying on power, not a mistake. How could I let private kinship disrupt the laws of the state?" He therefore sentenced according to law and gave the victim's family cloth and silk for coffin and burial goods. At the beginning of Taiping Xingguo he was transferred to govern Liao prefecture. In the fourth year, when the imperial carriage campaigned against Taiyuan, Renyu was ordered along with Cheng prefect Murong Chao, Flying Dragon envoy Bai Chonggui, and Eight Works commissioner Li Jisheng to divide their forces and besiege the city. During the Fanyang campaign Renyu was ordered to lead palace guard troops against the Khitan north of Lulong, and the Khitan army fled in rout. When the army returned he became Shuo prefecture observation commissioner with authority over Yingzhou. In the seventh year he died at fifty. He was posthumously honored as Hexi military governor, and the state supplied the funeral.
72
論曰：宋初，交、廣、劍南、太原各稱大號，荊湖、江表止通貢奉，契丹相抗，西夏未服。 太祖常注意於謀帥，命李漢超屯關南，馬仁瑀守瀛州，韓令坤鎮常山，賀惟忠守易州，何繼筠領棣州，以拒北敵。 又以郭進控西山，武守琪戍晉州，李謙溥守隰州，李繼勳鎮昭義，以禦太原。 趙贊屯延州，姚內斌守慶州，董遵誨屯環州，王彥昇守原州，馮繼業鎮靈武，以備西夏。 其族在京師者，撫之甚厚。 郡中筦榷之利，悉以與之。 恣其貿易，免其所過征稅，許其召募亡命以為爪牙。 凡軍中事皆得便宜，每來朝，必召對命坐，厚為飲食，錫齎以遣之。 由是邊臣富貲，能養死士，使為間諜，洞知敵情； 及其入侵，設伏掩擊，多致克捷，二十年間無西北之憂。 以至命將出師，平西蜀，拓湖湘，下嶺表，克江南，所向遂志，蓋能推赤心以馭群下之所致也。 若李進卿、楊美亦專師西征，而美居北海，以樂易結民心，誠得為政之本。 延渥、承矩、守恩、允正皆紹先業，以勳名著。 承矩議屯田，贊和好，其謀甚遠。 守恩以果敢死事。 宋之武功，於斯為盛焉。
The commentary says: In the early Song, Jiao, Guang, Jiannan, and Taiyuan each claimed imperial titles; Jinghu and the south sent only tribute; the Khitan stood opposed, and Western Xia was not yet subdued. Emperor Taizu constantly focused on choosing commanders: Li Hanchao at Guannan, Ma Renyu at Yingzhou, Han Lingkun at Changshan, He Weizhong at Yi prefecture, and He Jiyun at Di prefecture — all to resist the northern enemy. He also posted Guo Jin on the western mountains, Wu Shouqi at Jin prefecture, Li Qianpu at Xi prefecture, and Li Jixun at Zhaoyi to guard against Taiyuan. Zhao Zan was at Yanzhou, Yao Neibin at Qing prefecture, Dong Zunhui at Huanzhou, Wang Yansheng at Yuan prefecture, and Feng Jiye at Lingwu — all to guard against Western Xia. Their families in the capital were treated very generously. All monopoly-tax profits in their prefectures were given to them. They were allowed free trade, exempted from transit taxes, and permitted to recruit fugitives as their agents. In military affairs they had full discretion; whenever they came to court they were received in audience, seated, feasted, and sent away with gifts. Thus frontier officials grew wealthy, maintained dare-to-die soldiers, employed spies, and knew the enemy thoroughly; when enemies invaded they ambushed and struck by surprise, often winning victories, and for twenty years the northwest was secure. Thus when generals marched forth they pacified western Shu, expanded Hunan and Hubei, took Lingnan, and conquered Jiangnan — succeeding wherever they went because Taizu commanded subordinates with sincere loyalty. Li Jinqing and Yang Mei also led armies westward; Mei governed Beihai with ease and won the people's hearts — truly grasping the root of governance. Yanwo, Chengju, Shou'en, and Yunzheng all continued their fathers' careers and won fame for their merit. Chengju proposed garrison fields and favored good relations — his plans were far-reaching. Shou'en died in service through boldness and resolution. Song military achievement reached its height in this generation.