1
田紹斌
Tian Shaobin
2
田紹斌，汾州人。 仕河東劉鈞為佐聖軍使，戍遼州。 周顯德四年，領五十騎來歸，鈞屠其父母家屬。 世宗召補驍武副指揮使。
Tian Shaobin was from Fenzhou. He entered the service of Liu Jun of Hedong as deputy commander of the Zuosheng Army and was posted to garrison Liaozhou. In the fourth year of Xiande under the Later Zhou (957), he defected with fifty horsemen; Liu Jun had his parents and entire household put to death. Emperor Shizong of Zhou summoned him and made him deputy commander of the Valiant Martial Guard.
3
宋初，隨崔彥進征李筠，攻大會砦，破之，以功遷龍捷指揮使。 又敗筠於澤州茶碾村，筠退保澤州，紹斌鑿濠圍守，流矢中左目，前軍部署韓令坤以其事聞。 及太祖召見於潞州，紹斌殺晉軍益眾，奪其鎧甲。 又從討李重進於揚州，壁城南，圍三日，城潰，斬首踰千級。 賜袍帶、緡帛，尋補馬軍副都軍頭、龍衛指揮使。 下荊湖，平嶺南，率皆從行。 討蜀，隸大將劉延讓麾下。 會全師雄寇神泉，紹斌率所部敗其黨數千，時漢、劍道梗，因賴以寧，太祖遣使孫晏齎詔賜賚有加。 凡在蜀三歲，剽盜殄除。 還，改龍捷都虞候。
Early in the Song, he marched with Cui Yanjin against Li Jun, stormed the Great Assembly stockade and took it, and was promoted to commander of the Dragon Swift Guard for his service. He routed Li Jun again at Chanian Village in Zezhou; when Jun fell back to defend Zezhou itself, Shaobin dug trenches and laid siege. A stray arrow struck his left eye, and the forward commander Han Lingkun reported the incident to court. When Taizu summoned him to an audience at Luzhou, Shaobin went on killing Jin soldiers in ever greater numbers and stripping them of their armor. He also took part in the campaign against Li Chongjin at Yangzhou, camped south of the city walls, and after a three-day siege broke the defenses, taking more than a thousand heads. He received robes, a belt, and silk stipends, and was soon made deputy commander-in-chief of the Cavalry Army and commander of the Dragon Guard. He marched on nearly every major campaign of the early reign, including the conquest of Jinghu and the pacification of Lingnan. During the Shu campaign he served under the senior commander Liu Yanrang. When Quan Shixiong attacked Shenquan, Shaobin led his troops and routed several thousand of the rebel band. With the Han and Jian routes cut off, the region depended on him to restore order; Taizu sent the envoy Sun Yan with an edict and extra rewards. He spent three years in Shu in all, during which brigandage was wiped out. On his return he was made chief adjutant of the Dragon Swift Guard.
4
嘗盜官馬，貿直盡償博進，事發，獄具，有司引見講武殿，紹斌稱死罪。 太祖知其驍勇，欲宥之，執於門外，遣內侍私謂之曰：「爾今死有餘責。」 紹斌曰：「若恩貸臣死，當盡節以報。」 俄復引見，釋之，且密賜白金。
He once stole government horses and spent the entire proceeds paying off gambling debts. When the crime was exposed and the case closed, officials brought him before the Hall of Martial Instruction, where Shaobin pleaded guilty to a capital crime. Taizu knew how fierce a fighter he was and wished to spare him. He had Shaobin held outside the gate while a palace attendant told him privately, "By rights you deserve to die." Shaobin replied, "If Your Majesty grants me my life, I will repay the favor with my utmost loyalty." He was soon summoned again, released, and secretly given silver as a personal gift.
5
會征江南，擇諸軍借事得五百人，為步鬬軍，令紹斌領之，及率雲騎二千，抵昇州城下，克獲居多。 太祖親討河東，命紹斌從何繼筠扼契丹兵於北百井，奪賊皷幟而還。
During the Jiangnan campaign, five hundred men were drafted on loan from various units to form a foot-combat detachment under Shaobin's command. He also led two thousand Cloud Cavalry to the walls of Shengzhou and accounted for the lion's share of enemy captures. When Taizu led a personal campaign against Hedong, he ordered Shaobin to join He Jijun in holding the Khitan at Beibaijing, where they seized enemy drums and banners and withdrew in triumph.
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太平興國初，擢龍衛軍指揮使、領江州刺史。 二年，梅山洞蠻叛，命與翟守素分往擊之。 至邵州，聞蠻酋符漢陽死，去其居十里，大潰其眾，擒蠻二萬，令軍中取利劍二百斬之，餘五千遣歸諭諸洞，自是其黨帖服。 太宗賜以金帛、緡錢、金帶、鞍馬。 歷天武、日騎軍指揮使，改馬步都軍頭，出戍鎮、定、高陽關。
Early in the Taiping Xingguo era (976–984) he was promoted to commander of the Dragon Guard Army and made prefect of Jiangzhou. In the second year (977) the Meishan cave tribes rebelled; he and Zhai Shousu were sent to attack them on separate routes. Reaching Shaozhou, he learned that the tribal chieftain Fu Hanyang was dead. Ten li from the enemy camp he routed their main force, took twenty thousand captives, had two hundred of them beheaded with sharp swords drawn from the ranks, and sent five thousand survivors home to warn the other cave settlements; thereafter the tribes submitted. Taizong rewarded him with gold, silk, cash, a gold belt, and saddle horses. He served in turn as commander of the Heavenly Martial and Daily Cavalry guards, was made commander-in-chief of horse and foot, and was posted to garrison Zhenzhou, Dingzhou, and Gaoyang Pass.
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淳化中，為河中、同、丹、坊、鄜、延、橫嶺蕃界都巡檢使。 會鄭文寶議城席雞城砦為清遠軍，紹斌與文寶領其役。 城畢，以文寶之請，命為知軍事。 至道元年，拜會州觀察使，仍判解州，俄充靈州馬步軍部署。 領徒入蕃討賊，斬首二千級，獲羊、馬、橐駝二萬計，馬以給諸軍之闕者。 捷聞，手詔嘉諭之。 數部金粟帛詣靈武、清遠，遠人讋服不擾。
During the Chunhua era (990–994) he was appointed overall frontier inspector along the tribal borders of Hezhong, Tongzhou, Danzhou, Fangzhou, Fuzhou, Yan'an, and Hengling. When Zheng Wenbao proposed building up the Xijicheng stockade as Qingyuan Army, Shaobin and Wenbao jointly supervised the construction. When the fort was finished, at Wenbao's request he was put in charge of its military affairs. In the first year of Zhidao (995) he was made observation commissioner of Huizhou while continuing to administer Jiezhou; soon after he was appointed overall deployer of the horse and foot forces at Lingzhou. He led his men into the frontier to suppress raiders, took two thousand heads, and seized some twenty thousand sheep, horses, and camels, distributing the horses to units that were short of mounts. When word of the victory reached court, the emperor sent him a personal edict of commendation. He escorted supplies of gold, grain, and silk to Lingwu and Qingyuan on several occasions, and the frontier peoples, awed into submission, ceased their raids.
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未幾，皇甫繼明、白守榮等督轉餉於靈州，紹斌率兵援接，抵鹹井。 賊逾三千餘來薄陣，且行且鬥，至耀德，凡殺千人。 寇復尾後，紹斌為方陣，使被傷者居中，自將騎三百、步弩三百，與敵兵确於浦洛河，大敗之。
Before long Huangfu Jiming, Bai Shourong, and others were supervising grain shipments to Lingzhou; Shaobin led troops to reinforce the convoy and reached Xianjing. More than three thousand enemy fighters pressed the column; fighting as they marched, they reached Yaode and killed a thousand of the enemy in all. The raiders closed in again from the rear. Shaobin formed a square formation with the wounded in the center, then personally led three hundred horsemen and three hundred crossbowmen to engage the enemy at the Puluo River and routed them decisively.
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初，守榮與紹斌為期，既而繼明卒，故後一日，遂為賊所圍。 守榮等欲擊之，紹斌曰：「蕃戎輕佻，勿棄輜重與戰，當按轡結陣徐行。」 守榮等忿曰：「若但率兵來迎，勿預吾事。」 紹斌因率所部去輜重四五里。 繼遷初見紹斌旌旗，不敢擊。 守榮等自欲邀功，與戰。 賊先伏兵，以羸騎挑戰，已而伏發，守榮等戰敗，丁夫愕眙遁，蹂踐至死者眾。 紹斌率所部徐還，一無遺失。 至清遠，與張延州會食。 見濠中人裸而呼曰：「我白守榮也。」 繩引而上，解衣遺之，遣內侍馬從順驛聞。 太宗益嘉之，優詔褒美。
Shourong and Shaobin had agreed to rendezvous, but Jiming died en route, so they arrived a day late and found themselves surrounded. Shourong and the others wanted to attack. Shaobin said, "These frontier warriors are rash; do not abandon the baggage train to fight. Hold formation and advance at a steady pace." Shourong and his men snapped, "If you mean to help, bring your troops to meet us—stay out of our business." Shaobin accordingly led his unit four or five li away from the baggage train. When Li Jiqian first sighted Shaobin's banners, he did not dare attack. Shourong and his men, eager for glory on their own account, gave battle. The enemy had set an ambush first, baiting them with a few weak horsemen before springing the trap. Shourong's force was routed; laborers panicked and fled, and many were trampled to death in the stampede. Shaobin withdrew his unit at an orderly pace without losing a single man or pack animal. At Qingyuan he sat down to a meal with Zhang Yanzhou. He saw a naked man in the moat shouting, "I am Bai Shourong!" They hauled him up on a rope, gave him their own clothes, and sent the palace attendant Ma Congshun by fast courier to report to court. Taizong was all the more pleased and issued a gracious edict praising his conduct.
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時命李繼隆、范廷召討繼遷，就命紹斌為本州都部署兼內外都巡檢使。 繼隆以浦洛之敗上聞，言紹斌握兵不顧，自言「靈武非我不能守」，欲圖方面，有異志。 太宗怒曰：「此昔嘗背太原來投，今又首鼠兩端，真賊臣也。」 即遣使捕繫詔獄鞫問，貶右監門衛率府副率、虢州安置。
When Li Jilong and Fan Tingzhao were ordered to campaign against Li Jiqian, Shaobin was concurrently made overall deployer of the prefecture and chief frontier inspector within and without. Jilong reported the Puluo River disaster to court, accusing Shaobin of hoarding his troops and refusing to cooperate, boasting that "Lingwu cannot be held without me," and scheming for an independent regional command out of disloyal ambition. Taizong said angrily, "He once betrayed Taiyuan to defect to us; now he wavers between two sides again—a traitor in truth." He immediately sent agents to arrest him, had him interrogated in the imperial prison, and demoted him to deputy commandant of the Right Gate Guard, with residence assigned at Guozhou.
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咸平二年，北面寇警，復命為鎮、定、高陽關路押先鋒，隸傅潛。 潛遣與石普並戍保州，普陰與知州楊嗣議出兵擊討之。 及夜，普、嗣未還，紹斌疑其敗衄，即領兵援之。 普、嗣果為賊所困，度嚴涼河，頗喪師眾。 及紹斌至，即合兵疾戰，獲一百四十餘人，以勞遷邢州觀察使。 潛屯中山，紹斌三馳書於潛，且言：「邊眾大至，但列兵唐河南，背城與戰，慎無窮追。」 潛性巽懦，聞之益不敢出，賊眾益熾，焚劫城砦。 車駕駐大名，召潛屬吏，詞逮紹斌，即遣使械繫，下御史臺鞫問，免官，黜為左衛率府副率，送往上都，禁其出入。 五年，授右千牛衛將軍致仕。
In the second year of Xianping (999), with the northern frontier under threat, he was reappointed vanguard commander on the Zhen-Ding-Gaoyang Pass circuit under Fu Qian. Fu Qian posted him at Baozhou alongside Shi Pu; Pu secretly plotted with the prefect Yang Si to lead troops out against the enemy. When night fell and Pu and Si had still not returned, Shaobin feared they had been beaten and marched out to reinforce them at once. Pu and Si had indeed been trapped by the enemy; crossing the Yanliang River they suffered heavy losses. When Shaobin arrived they joined forces and fought hard, taking more than a hundred forty prisoners; for his efforts he was promoted to observation commissioner of Xingzhou. Fu Qian held Zhongshan while Shaobin sent him three urgent dispatches warning, "The enemy has arrived in force. Deploy south of the Tang River and fight with the city at your back—do not pursue too far." Timid by nature, Fu Qian was even less willing to march out after hearing this; the enemy grew bolder and burned and looted towns and stockades. With the emperor at Daming, Fu Qian's staff were questioned and their testimony implicated Shaobin. Agents were sent at once to arrest him in chains; the Censorate tried him, stripped his rank, demoted him to deputy commandant of the Left Guard, sent him to the capital, and confined him to quarters. In the fifth year (1002) he was granted retirement as general of the Right Imperial Stables Guard.
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景德初，起為左龍武軍將軍、永城兵馬都監。 三年，遷左監門衛大將軍。 帝以紹斌久失職，不宜在衝要，乃徙考城都監。 大中祥符初，領長州刺史。 從東封，朝覲壇就班，軍士建充庭旗，旗倒，壓紹斌仆地，遽起無傷。 時紹斌已老，其壯健若此。 遷左領軍衛大將軍、領康州團練使、鞏縣都監。 二年，卒，年七十七。
Early in the Jingde era (1004) he was recalled as general of the Left Dragon Martial Guard and overall military supervisor of Yongcheng. In the third year (1006) he was promoted to senior general of the Left Gate Guard. The emperor judged that Shaobin, long out of favor, should not hold a critical post and transferred him to overall supervisor of Kaocheng. Early in the Dazhong Xiangfu era (1008) he was made prefect of Changzhou. He took part in the eastern feng sacrifice; as the court formed ranks at the Hall of Imperial Audience, soldiers raised the ceremonial canopy flags. One flag toppled and knocked Shaobin down, but he sprang up unhurt. By then Shaobin was already elderly, yet he remained as vigorous as this. He was promoted to senior general of the Left Leading Army Guard, made regimental commissioner of Kangzhou, and overall supervisor of Gong County. In the second year (1009) he died at the age of seventy-seven.
13
紹斌長兵間，習戰法，其後累以格鬥立功，然性暴戾，故屢被黜。 子守信，為內殿崇班、閣門祗候。
Shaobin had grown up in the army and mastered tactics; he won repeated distinction in combat, but his violent temper earned him repeated demotions. His son Shouxin served as an inner-hall honored attendant and usher of the Inner Palace Gate.
14
雍熙中召還，為副軍頭。 端拱初，改員寮左右直都虞候兼都軍頭，復領懿州刺史。 累遷龍衛都指揮使、領羅州團練使。 率兵戍遂城，邊騎來寇，擊敗之，擒千餘人。 召拜侍衛馬軍都虞候、峰州觀察使，出為定州行營都部署。 榮粗率，所為不中理，侵取官地蒔蔬，吝惜公錢，不以勞將士，且母老不迎養，供給甚薄。 太宗聞而怒曰：「忠臣出於孝子之門，榮事親若此，竄逐之餘，凶行弗悛，豈可復置左右，效晉帝養成張彥澤邪？」 即詔罷，督責，授右驍衛大將軍。 寄班供奉官張明護定州兵，睹榮不法，間嘗規正。 榮護短，每疾其攻己。 莊宅使王斌亦監軍是州，素與榮善，意明構榮之罪，因摭明以報怨。 下樞密院問狀，皆不實。 上怒，語左右曰：「張明起賤微中，以蹴鞠事朕，潔己小心，見於輩流。 夫刑罰之加，必當其罪。 今王斌以榮故而曲奏明罪，欲致刑憲，苟失其當，適足以快榮之心，而誣罔得以肆行矣。 且榮淩轢同類，事君與親鮮竭其力。 國家賞罰之柄，非所敢私，將帥之職，非裨校同。 朕豈黨張明而棄王榮哉，奈何不求直於理之當也？」 遂賜勞明緡錢、束帛，榮遷右羽林軍大將軍。
During the Yongxi era (984–987) he was recalled to court and made deputy army commander. Early in the Duangong era (988) he was made chief adjutant of the Left and Right Direct Imperial Attendants and army commander-in-chief, and again served as prefect of Yizhou. He rose through successive promotions to overall commander of the Dragon Guard and regimental commissioner of Luozhou. Leading troops to garrison Suicheng, he repelled a frontier cavalry raid and took more than a thousand prisoners. He was summoned to court as chief adjutant of the Palace Cavalry and observation commissioner of Fengzhou, then dispatched as overall deployer of the Dingzhou field headquarters. Rong was coarse and impulsive, and his conduct was improper: he seized government land for vegetable plots, hoarded public funds and failed to reward his troops, and though his mother was elderly he neither brought her to live with him nor provided adequately for her upkeep. When Taizong heard of it he said angrily, "Loyal ministers come from filial households. Rong treats his parents like this; even after exile his vicious ways have not changed—how can we keep him at court, as the Later Jin emperor nurtured Zhang Yanzhe?" He immediately ordered Rong dismissed, rebuked him sharply, and appointed him senior general of the Right Valiant Cavalry Guard. The probationary palace attendant Zhang Ming was assigned to oversee Dingzhou troops; seeing Rong's misconduct, he occasionally tried to correct him. Rong was touchy about his faults and resented every criticism Ming aimed at him. Estates Commissioner Wang Bin, who also supervised troops in that prefecture and was on friendly terms with Rong, assumed Ming was fabricating charges and seized on Ming's conduct to settle a grudge. The Bureau of Military Affairs investigated the charges and found none of them substantiated. The emperor was angry and told his attendants, "Zhang Ming rose from humble origins, served me through cuju football, and has always conducted himself with scrupulous care—he stands out among his peers. Punishment must fit the crime. Now Wang Bin, for Rong's sake, has distorted the facts to prosecute Ming. If punishment misses its mark, it will only gratify Rong while letting slander run unchecked. Moreover Rong bullies his peers and has scarcely given his full devotion either to the throne or to his parents. The power of reward and punishment belongs to the state, not to my private favor; a field commander's office is not the same as a junior officer's. Am I to favor Zhang Ming and abandon Wang Rong? Why not simply seek what justice requires?" He rewarded Ming with cash and silks and transferred Rong to senior general of the Right Forest Guard.
15
景德初，權判左金吾街仗司事。 上觀兵澶淵，契丹遊騎涉河冰抵濮州境，命為黃河南岸都巡檢使，與鄭懷德自行在領龍衛兵追襲。 時已詔滄州部署荊嗣先率所部屯淄、青，遣榮等合兵邀擊之。 二年，遷左神武軍大將軍、領恩州刺史。 郊祀，改左龍武軍、領達州團練使。 大中祥符中，遷左衛大將軍、領昌州防禦使。 六年，朝太清宮，命為河南府駐泊都監。 九年，卒，年七十。 官其一子。 榮善射，嘗引強注屋棟，矢入木數寸，時人目為「王硬弓」。
Early in the Jingde era he was given provisional charge of the Left Golden Crow Street Guard. When the emperor inspected troops at Chanyuan, Khitan scouting parties crossed the frozen river into Puzhou territory; Rong was made overall inspector south of the Yellow River and, with Zheng Huaide from the imperial camp, led Dragon Guard troops in pursuit. An edict had already ordered the Cangzhou deployer Jing Sixian to encamp his forces in Zi and Qing prefectures; Rong and others were sent to join forces and intercept the enemy. In the second year (1005) he was promoted to senior general of the Left Divine Martial Guard and made prefect of Enzhou. After the suburban sacrifice he was transferred to the Left Dragon Martial Guard and made regimental commissioner of Dazhou. During the Dazhong Xiangfu era he was promoted to senior general of the Left Guard and made defense commissioner of Changzhou. In the sixth year (1013) he attended court at the Grand Pure Palace and was appointed overall supervisor of the Henan prefectural garrison. In the ninth year (1016) he died at the age of seventy. One of his sons was granted an official appointment. Rong was an expert archer; once he drew a heavy bow and shot at a roof beam, driving the arrow several inches into the wood, and contemporaries nicknamed him "Wang the Hard Bow."
16
楊瓊，汾州西河人。 幼事馮繼業，以材勇稱。 太宗召置帳下。 即位，隸御龍直，三遷神勇指揮使。 從征太原，以勞補御龍直指揮使。 雍熙初，改弩直都虞候兼御前忠佐馬步都軍頭、領顯州刺史。
Yang Qiong came from Xihe county in Fen prefecture. As a youth he served under Feng Jiye and won a reputation for ability and valor. Emperor Taizong summoned him to serve in his personal guard. After Taizong's accession he joined the Imperial Dragon Guard and rose through three ranks to commander of the Divine Valor corps. He marched on the Taiyuan campaign and, rewarded for his exertions, was made commander of the Imperial Dragon Guard. Early in the Yongxi era (984) he became chief adjutant of the Crossbow Guard while also serving as commander-in-chief of the emperor's loyal horse and foot auxiliaries and acting prefect of Xianzhou.
17
淳化中，李順叛蜀，瓊往夔、峽擒賊招安，領兵自峽上，與賊遇，累戰抵渝、合，與尹元、裴莊分路進討，克資、普二州、雲安軍，斬首數千級。 詔書嘉獎，遣使即軍中真拜單州刺史。
During the Chunhua era (990–994), when Li Shun rose in rebellion in Shu, Qiong was sent to Kuizhou and the Three Gorges to suppress the rebels and win defectors. He led his troops upstream from the gorges, clashed repeatedly with the enemy as far as Yu and He prefectures, and together with Yin Yuan and Pei Zhuang struck along separate routes, taking Zi and Pu prefectures and Yun'an military district and slaying several thousand foes. The court issued a commendatory edict and dispatched an envoy to the field to appoint him prefect of Shanzhou there and then.
18
至道初，召還共職。 明年，徙知霸州兼鈐轄。 未幾，改防禦使，靈慶路副都部署、河外都巡檢使。 賊累寇疆，瓊固捍有功。 導黃河，溉民田數千頃。 敗賊於合河鎮北，擒獲人畜居多。 賊騎五百掠城下，擊破之，追北三十里。 並賜詔嘉諭。
Early in the Zhidao era (995) he was recalled to resume his post at court. The following year he was transferred to govern Bazhou while also serving as its military commissioner. Shortly afterward he was made defense commissioner, deputy commander of the Lingqing frontier circuit, and chief inspector of posts beyond the Yellow River. When enemy raids struck the frontier again and again, Qiong's stout defense earned him repeated credit. He diverted the Yellow River to irrigate several thousand acres of farmland. North of Hehe Town he routed the enemy and took a great haul of captives and livestock. When five hundred enemy horsemen raided beneath the walls, he shattered them and chased the fugitives thirty li northward. The throne rewarded each exploit with an edict of commendation.
19
咸平二年，命為涇原儀渭邠寧環慶清遠軍靈州路副都部署。 尋徙鎮、定、高陽關三路押策先鋒，屯定州之北。 明年，副王超為鎮州都部署，再遷環慶，徙定州。 四年，召還，以鄜州觀察使充靈、環十州軍副都部署兼安撫副使。 嘗遣使諭旨，賊若寇清遠及青岡、白馬砦，即合兵與戰。 是秋，果長圍清遠，頓積石河。 清遠屢走間使詣瓊請濟師，瓊將悉出兵為援，鈐轄內園使馮守規、都監崇儀使張繼能曰：「敵近，重兵在前，繼無以進，不可悉往。」 乃止命副部署海州團練使潘璘、都監西京左藏庫劉文質率兵六千赴之，且曰：「伺我之繼至。」 瓊逗遛不進，頓慶州。 寇鼓兵攻南門，其子阿移攻北門，堙壕斷橋以戰。 瓊遣鈐轄李讓督精卒六百往援，至則城陷矣。 賊泊青岡城下，瓊與守規、繼能方緩行出師，及聞清遠之敗，益恇怯不前。 順州刺史王瑰普謂瓊曰：「青岡地遠水泉，非屯師計，願棄之。」 瓊合謀焚芻糧兵仗，驅老幼以出。 瓊卻師，退保洪德砦，寇威浸熾，未嘗交一鋒。 事聞於上，傳召瓊輩，悉繫御史獄，治罪當死。 兵部尚書張齊賢等議請如律，詔特貸命，削官，長流崖州，繼能、守規輩同坐，籍其家業。 明年，移道州。
In 999 he was appointed deputy commander of the northwestern frontier stretching from Jingyuan through Yi, Wei, Bin, Ning, Huan, and Qing prefectures to Qingyuan garrison and Lingzhou. He was soon shifted to lead the vanguard of the Zhen, Ding, and Gaoyang Pass frontier commands, with his camp north of Dingzhou. The next year he served under Wang Chao as deputy commander at Zhenzhou, then was posted to Huanqing and finally transferred to Dingzhou. In 1001 he was recalled and made observation commissioner of Fuzhou while serving as deputy commander of the ten frontier prefectures around Ling and Huan and as deputy pacification commissioner. The court had once sent word that if the enemy struck Qingyuan or the Qinggang and White Horse stockades, he was to unite his forces and give battle at once. That autumn the Tanguts duly laid prolonged siege to Qingyuan and pitched camp on the Jishi River. Qingyuan repeatedly slipped messengers through the lines begging Qiong for relief. He was preparing to march out with his whole army when Military Commissioner Feng Shougui of the Inner Park and Supervisory Commissioner Zhang Jineng objected: "The foe is too close—in sending the entire main body forward, nothing can follow behind. We cannot send everyone." So he held back and dispatched Deputy Commander Pan Lin of Haizhou and Supervisory Commissioner Liu Wenzhi of the Western Capital Left Storehouse with six thousand men, telling them, "Wait until we can come up behind you." Qiong himself dallied and never advanced, lingering at Qingzhou. The besiegers drummed up their assault on the south gate while the khan's son Ayi struck the north; they filled in the moat and broke the bridges to press the attack. Qiong sent Military Commissioner Li Rang with six hundred elite troops to relieve the garrison, but they arrived only after the city had fallen. With the enemy anchored below Qinggang, Qiong, Shougui, and Jineng were only then setting out at an unhurried pace; once news of Qingyuan's fall reached them, they grew still more timid and hung back. Wang Guipu, prefect of Shunzhou, urged Qiong: "Qinggang lies too far from reliable water to hold troops—we should give it up." Qiong agreed, burned stores of fodder, grain, and arms, and drove out the noncombatants. Qiong pulled his army back to Hongde stockade while the enemy's power swelled; he never once offered battle. When word reached the emperor, Qiong and his fellows were summoned back and clapped in the Censorate prison, where the statute called for death. Minister of War Zhang Qixian and others urged applying the death penalty, but an edict specially spared their lives, stripped their offices, and banished them for life to Yazhou; Jineng, Shougui, and the rest shared the punishment, and their household property was forfeited to the state. The following year his place of exile was shifted to Daozhou.
20
景德初，起為右領軍衛將軍。 分司西京。 累遷左領軍衛大將軍、領賀州團練使、知兗州。 有州卒自言得神術，能飛行空中，州人頗惑。 瓊捕至，折其足，奏戮之。 五年，卒，年六十七。 錄其子舜臣為奉職。 長子舜賓，內殿崇班、閤門祗候。
Early in the Jingde era (1004) he was restored to rank as a general of the Right Leading Army Guard. He held an honorary post in the Western Capital. He rose through several promotions to great general of the Left Leading Army Guard, training commissioner of Hezhou, and prefect of Yanzhou. A soldier in his command claimed supernatural powers and the ability to fly through the air, and many in Yanzhou were taken in. Qiong had him seized, broke both his legs, and memorialized the throne to put him to death. He died in 1008 at the age of sixty-seven. His son Shunchen was enrolled in palace service as an attendant. His eldest son Shunbin held posts as an Inner Hall honored cohort and gate chamberlain.
21
錢守俊
Qian Shoujun
22
錢守俊，濮州雷澤人。 少勇鷙，嘗為盜陂澤中，稱「轉陂鶻」。 周顯德中，應募為鐵騎卒。 早事太祖，從征淮南，戰紫金山，下壽春，獲戰艦千餘艘。 繼從克關南。
Qian Shoujun came from Leize in Pu prefecture. As a youth he was ferociously bold and had once robbed among the marshlands, where men called him "the Marsh-Hawk." During the Xiande era (954–959) he enlisted as a trooper in the Iron Horse Guard. He entered Taizu's service early, marched on Huainan, fought at Purple Gold Mountain, took Shouchun, and seized more than a thousand enemy warships. He went on to take part in the recovery of Guannan.
23
宋初，補禁衛，隸散員直。 乾德中，轉殿前班都知。 尋征太原，方戰，矢中左足，拔而復進，格鬥不已。 還，改東西班指揮使，遷馬步軍副都軍頭。 太平興國四年，命與張紹、李神祐、劉承珪率師屯定州，以備北邊。 俄加秩領演州刺史，移屯趙州。 又從征范陽，師還，道遇敵，戰於徐河，斬首千級，奪馬百匹。 雍熙三年，命將北征，田重進出飛狐道，守俊以偏師為援，邊騎雲集，守俊按甲從容進戰，大敗之。 連護屯兵於趙、定。 代還，掌軍頭引見司。
At the founding of the dynasty he joined the palace guard and was posted to the Loose Retainer Direct corps. During the Qiande era (963–968) he became commander of the Hall Front rank. He soon marched on Taiyuan; mid-battle an arrow pierced his left foot, but he pulled it out, pressed forward, and kept fighting without pause. After the campaign he was made commander of the East-West Classes and promoted to deputy chief of the army. In 979 he was ordered together with Zhang Shao, Li Shenyou, and Liu Chenggui to take troops to Dingzhou to guard the northern frontier. He soon received added rank as acting prefect of Yan prefecture and shifted his camp to Zhaozhou. He joined the expedition against Fanyang and, on the march home, intercepted the enemy at the Xu River, killing a thousand men and capturing a hundred horses. In 986 he commanded on the northern expedition while Tian Zhongjin advanced through Flying Fox Pass; Shoujun led a supporting column. When enemy horsemen swarmed the frontier, he held his ranks, engaged at a deliberate pace, and inflicted a crushing defeat. He went on to garrison troops on the Zhao and Ding frontier. After his tour of duty he returned to head the Army Presentation Office.
24
淳化三年，出為單州團練使。 又明年，改遷齊州。 時河西蕃部內擾，命以副都部署鎮其地。 既而徙屯石州，數改官。 時有言守俊病且老，握重兵不堪其職。 召還，授左領軍衛大將軍、領潘州防禦使、權金吾街仗。 大中祥符三年卒，年八十一。
In 992 he was posted out as training commissioner of Shanzhou. The year after he was transferred to Qizhou. When the Hexi tribes fell into civil strife, he was appointed deputy frontier commander to pacify the region. He was soon shifted to garrison Shizhou and underwent several further reassignments. Reports circulated that Shoujun was sick and aged and no longer fit to command a large army. He was recalled and made great general of the Left Leading Army Guard, defense commissioner of Panzhou, and acting commander of the Jinwu street guard. He died in 1010 at the age of eighty-one.
25
守俊累從軍征討，前後中三十六創。 景德中，錄其子允慶為奉職。 弟守信，官崇儀副使； 守榮，內園使。
Across many campaigns Shoujun had been wounded thirty-six times. During the Jingde era his son Yunqing was granted palace attendant status. His younger brother Shouxin served as deputy commissioner of honored ritual; his brother Shourong was an Inner Park envoy.
26
徐興，青州人。 以拳勇得隸兵籍。 周顯德中，從太祖征淮右。 宋初，隸御龍直。 會平澤、潞，上其功，補控鶴軍使。 征晉陽，部卒壅汾水灌幷州城，益多其勞。 還，遷本軍副指揮使。
Xu Xing came from Qing prefecture. His prowess in boxing won him a place on the military rolls. During the Xiande era he followed Taizu on the Huai River campaign. At the dynasty's founding he joined the Imperial Dragon Guard. When Ze and Lu prefectures were subdued, his feats were reported and he was made an officer of the Crane Control Army. On the Jinyang expedition his men dammed the Fen River to flood the walls of Taiyuan, adding still more to his credit. After the campaign he was promoted to deputy commander of his corps.
27
太平興國初，從潘美趣團柏谷，奮與賊鬥，有果敢氣，人莫能勝。 生擒偽兵馬都監李美，身被重創，無所回撓。 加指揮使。 太宗征太原，討幽、薊，興從戰，屢中流矢，以著跡聞。 補天武都虞候，累遷秩，出為洺州部署。 初議建方田，命興董其事，尋復輟。 端拱中，修鎮、定城，逾月訖工。 改莫州防禦使、知靜戎軍，歷祁、博二州。
Early in the Taiping Xingguo era he marched with Pan Mei toward Tuanbo Valley, fought the enemy with reckless valor, and carried such bold spirit that none could best him. He took the enemy horse-and-foot supervisor Li Mei alive; though grievously wounded, he did not flinch. He was promoted to corps commander. When Taizong campaigned against Taiyuan and against You and Ji, Xing fought in his train, took arrow after arrow, and won fame for the scars he carried. He became chief adjutant of the Heavenly Martial Guard, rose through several promotions, and was posted as deployment commissioner of Mingzhou. When the court first debated establishing the square-field tax system, Xing was assigned to oversee it, but the project was soon abandoned. During the Duangong era (988–989) he rebuilt the walls of Zhen and Ding and finished within a month. He was made defense commissioner of Mo prefecture and commandant of Jingrong Army, and later governed Qi and Bo prefectures.
28
咸平中，為涇、原、環、慶十州部署。 詔督轉靈武芻糧，道積石，率掠於寇。 興以步兵畏恧，戰不利，時王榮援兵不應，遂敗走。 坐削籍，流郢州。 會赦，入為右衛將軍，遷左監門衛大將軍。 景德二年卒，年六十八。
During the Xianping era he commanded deployment for the ten prefectures of Jing, Yuan, Huan, and Qing. Ordered to convoy fodder for Lingwu along the Jishi route, he and his column were ambushed by the enemy. His infantry fought poorly out of fear; when Wang Rong's reinforcements failed to come up, Xing was routed and driven off. He was stricken from the rolls and exiled to Yingzhou. After a general amnesty he returned as a general of the Right Guard and was promoted to great general of the Left Gate Guard. He died in 1005 at the age of sixty-eight.
29
王杲，齊州人。 周顯德中，應募為卒。 從世宗收三關，隸先鋒。 宋初，征澤、潞，平揚州，杲應選從行，既獲戰功，乃拔遷散指揮使，累轉馬軍副都軍頭，屯幷州。 雍熙中，為龍衛右第二軍都虞候。 會遣趙保忠還夏州，命杲引兵護送。 及還，保忠以方物贐，杲拒不納。 太宗知之，詔賜白金百兩。 遷右第一軍，屯鎮州。
Wang Gao came from Qi prefecture. During the Xiande era he enlisted as a common soldier. He followed Shizong in recovering the Three Passes and served in the vanguard. When the new dynasty campaigned in Ze and Lu and pacified Yangzhou, Gao marched with the armies; after distinguished service he was pulled up to commander of the Loose Retainer Guard, rose to deputy chief of the cavalry, and was stationed at Taiyuan. During the Yongxi era he became chief adjutant of the second company of the right Dragon Guard. When the court sent Zhao Baozhong back to Xiazhou, Gao was ordered to escort him with an armed column. On the return journey Baozhong offered him local gifts as a gratuity, but Gao refused them. Taizong learned of his integrity and issued an edict awarding him one hundred taels of silver. He was shifted to the first company of the right wing and stationed at Zhenzhou.
30
契丹入寇，隸大將郭守文，扞城，杲守北關。 寇退，命督餉藁趣威虜軍。 還抵徐河，時尹繼倫與寇戰，小衄，杲適遇賊河上，即按兵拒之，殺賊，奪所乘馬。 守文上聞，得召見問狀，補都軍頭、領勤州刺史，命監河北，有能聲，尋命閱教定州諸軍騎射，入掌軍頭引見司。
When the Khitan invaded, he served under General Guo Shouwen in the defense of the city, holding the north gate. After the raiders withdrew, he was ordered to supervise fodder shipments and hurry them to the Weilu garrison. On the return march he reached the Xu River, where Yin Jilun was already fighting the raiders and had taken a minor setback. Gao happened upon the enemy at the river, held his men in place to block them, killed several, and captured their mounts. Guo Shouwen reported his feat to the throne, and Gao was summoned to give an account of the fight. He was appointed chief army commander and acting prefect of Qinzhou, charged with oversight of Hebei, and soon won a name for efficiency. He was then ordered to review mounted archery drill for the Dingzhou garrisons and entered service in the office that presented army commanders to the emperor.
31
李順亂，與尹元並為西川招安使，敗賊，斬首萬級，以功真拜唐州刺史。 時賊雖平，道路尚梗，餘黨或保山林以肆姦，杲與石普等追捕於彭州，於是始平。 至道初，乃還。 復遷靈州副部署，道環州，留改幷州，徙知夏州。 會趙保吉歸款，召還，次伏落津，移知石州，徙石、隰副部署。 未幾，以轉餉河西失期，降右千牛衛大將軍。 咸平五年，出為亳州永城縣都監。 被召，將入見，以疾亟弗果，卒，年六十四。
During Li Shun's rebellion he served with Yin Yuan as pacification commissioner for the Sichuan basin, routed the rebels, and took ten thousand heads. For this he received a regular appointment as prefect of Tangzhou. Although the main rising had been crushed, communications were still unsafe and holdouts lurked in the hills. Gao, Shi Pu, and others hunted them down around Pengzhou, and only then was the region fully pacified. At the opening of the Zhidao reign he returned to court. He was posted again as deputy commissioner at Lingzhou, traveled by way of Huanzhou, was kept on and reassigned to Taiyuan, and was then transferred to govern Xiazhou. When Zhao Baoji submitted to the dynasty, Gao was recalled, paused at Fuluo Ford, was made prefect of Shizhou, and then became deputy commissioner for the Shi and Xi circuit. Soon afterward he was demoted to great general of the Right Palace Interior Service for delivering Hexi supplies late. In the fifth year of Xianping he was sent out as chief military supervisor of Yongcheng county in Bozhou. He was summoned to court but his illness worsened before he could attend; he died at sixty-four.
32
李重誨
Li Zhonghui
33
李重誨，應州金城人。 祖高，後唐莊宅使、獎州刺史。 父彥榮，仕契丹，署環州刺史，重誨嘗為其應州馬步軍都指揮使。 太平興國五年，潘美出師禦寇，重誨從其節度使蕭咄李迎戰於代州北嶺，大敗。 美斬咄李，擒重誨以獻。 太宗召見，補鄧州馬步軍都指揮使。 會趙普出鎮，奏監州軍。
Li Zhonghui came from Jincheng in Ying prefecture. His grandfather Gao had served Later Tang as estate commissioner and as prefect of Jiangzhou. His father Yanrong served the Khitan and held the prefecture of Huanzhou; Zhonghui had once commanded the combined horse and foot forces of Yingzhou under him. In the fifth year of Taiping Xingguo, Pan Mei marched out against the invaders. Zhonghui followed the Khitan commissioner Xiao Duoli to give battle at North Ridge in Daizhou and was routed. Pan Mei executed Xiao Duoli, captured Zhonghui, and sent him up as a prize. Taizong received him at court and appointed him commander of the horse and foot forces at Dengzhou. When Zhao Pu took up a frontier post, he recommended Zhonghui to supervise the local garrison.
34
雍熙三年，召還，為武州刺史，出為忻州都巡檢、緣邊十八砦招安制置使，賜服帶、鞍馬。 北兵寇邊，重誨以所部邀戰，敗之，獲羊馬、鎧甲甚眾，賜詔嘉美。 會嶺蠻叛，改廣、桂、融、宜、柳州招安捉賊使，聽便宜從事。
In the third year of Yongxi he was recalled, appointed prefect of Wuzhou, then sent out as chief inspector of Xinzhou and commissioner for pacifying the eighteen border forts, with court dress, belt, saddle, and horse as gifts. When northern forces raided the frontier, Zhonghui met them with his troops, routed them, and took large numbers of sheep, horses, and armor. The throne issued an edict of commendation. When the hill tribes rebelled, he was reassigned as pacification and bandit-suppression commissioner for Guang, Gui, Rong, Yi, and Liuzhou, with discretionary authority.
35
至道初，累遷涇原儀渭鎮戎軍鈐轄。 咸平三年，徙邠寧環慶路。 坐轉餉靈武不嚴斥候，至積石為虜騎掠於道，營部大亂，除名，流光州。 五年，起為內殿崇班、鄜延駐泊都監，俄遷崇儀使。 景德中，趙德明既納款，或言以麟、府謀有他志。 上以涇原地要兵眾，慮有緩急，遂徙重誨為鈐轄。 復遷益州，改皇城使。 大中祥符六年，卒，年六十八。
At the opening of the Zhidao reign he rose to supervisory commissioner over the Jingyuan, Yiwei, and Zhenrong commands. In the third year of Xianping he was transferred to the Binning-Huanqing frontier circuit. He was cashiered for lax scouting while convoying supplies to Lingwu: at Jishi barbarian horsemen fell upon his column on the road, his camp broke in disorder, his name was struck from the rolls, and he was exiled to Guangzhou. In the fifth year he was restored as palace interior aide and chief supervisor of the Yan'an garrison on the Yan circuit, and soon promoted to commissioner of honored ceremony. During the Jingde era, after Zhao Deming had submitted, some claimed he was plotting mischief with the prefectures of Lin and Fu. The emperor, judging the Jingyuan frontier both vital and heavily garrisoned and fearing a sudden crisis, moved Zhonghui there as supervisory commissioner. He was later transferred to Yizhou and made commissioner of the Imperial City. In the sixth year of Dazhong Xiangfu he died at sixty-eight.
36
重誨純愨寡過。 真宗悼其沒於遠土，命其子乘傳往護柩歸，聽止驛舍之別次。 子禹謨，錄為將作監主簿。 弟重睿，歷官澄州團練使。 子禹偁，閤門祗候。
Zhonghui was upright, dutiful, and seldom in error. Zhenzong grieved that he had died so far from home and ordered his son to travel by imperial relay to escort the coffin back, with permission to use the private quarters at post stations along the way. His son Yumou was granted a registry appointment as master of records in the Directorate of Works. His younger brother Zhongrui eventually became regimental commissioner of Chengzhou. His son Yucheng served as a Privy Chamber gate attendant.
37
白守素
Bai Shousu
38
白守素，開封人。 祖延遇，仕周至鎮國軍節度。 父廷訓，宋初為龍捷都指揮使、領博州刺史。 守素以蔭補東班承旨。 太平興國五年，遷補右班殿直，以善射，授供奉官、帶御器械，三遷至供備庫使。
Bai Shousu came from Kaifeng. His grandfather Yanyu had served the Later Zhou and risen to military commissioner of the Zhenguo army. His father Tingxun, in the early Song, commanded the Dragon Swift Guard and concurrently governed Bozhou. Shousu entered service by hereditary privilege as an attendant of the Eastern Shift. In the fifth year of Taiping Xingguo he was promoted to palace interior aide of the Right Shift. His marksmanship won him appointment as tribute officer and bearer of imperial arms, and three further promotions brought him to commissioner of the Supply Repository.
39
咸平三年春，契丹犯邊，命與王能戍邢州，俄又與麥守恩、石贊領先鋒禦之。 敵退，復與荊嗣督河北、京東捕賊。 四年，命為鎮州行營鈐轄，領騎兵攝大陣西偏，屢當格鬥。 俄改定州鈐轄，復徙鎮州。 王繼忠之陷也，宋師還渡河，敵人乘之，守素據橋，有矢數百，每發必中，敵不敢近，遂引去。
In the spring of the third year of Xianping, when the Khitan raided the frontier, he was ordered with Wang Neng to hold Xingzhou and soon afterward joined Mai Shou'en and Shi Zan in leading the vanguard against them. After the enemy withdrew, he joined Jing Si in supervising bandit suppression in Hebei and the eastern capital region. In the fourth year he was made supervisory commissioner of the Zhenzhou field headquarters, commanding cavalry on the army's western wing and repeatedly fighting at close quarters. He was soon reassigned as supervisory commissioner at Dingzhou, then transferred back to Zhenzhou. After Wang Jizhong's capture the Song army recrossed the river with the enemy in pursuit. Shousu held the bridge with several hundred arrows and never missed; the pursuers dared not close and drew off.
40
真宗與輔臣議三路禦賊，咸曰：「威虜扼北道要害尤甚，請分騎兵六千屯之，命魏能為部署。」 上曰：「能頗強愎，尤難共事，聞守素久練邊計，張銳性頗和善，參知戎務，庶克相濟。」 乃命守素、銳為鈐轄，戍順安以貳之。
Zhenzong discussed frontier defense with his chief ministers. All agreed: "Weilu guards the most critical point on the northern route. We recommend posting six thousand cavalry there under Wei Neng as commissioner." The emperor replied: "Neng is headstrong and notoriously difficult. Shousu, I am told, has long experience on the frontier, and Zhang Rui is mild by nature. If they share military duties, they may balance one another." He therefore appointed Shousu and Zhang Rui supervisory commissioners and stationed them at Shun'an as Neng's deputies.
41
大中祥符三年，命副李迪使契丹。 守素居邊歲久，名聞北庭，頗畏伏之。 上慮其不欲行，密遣內侍詢於守素，守素頓首感咽，即以崔可道代焉。 再遷南作坊使。 大中祥符五年，卒。 上甚惜之，常賻外別賚錢五十萬，令護喪還京師，錄其一子官。
In the third year of Dazhong Xiangfu he was ordered to accompany Li Di as deputy envoy to the Khitan court. Shousu had served on the frontier for many years, and his name was well known in the northern court, where he was widely feared. The emperor feared he was unwilling to leave the frontier and secretly sent a palace attendant to ask him. Shousu bowed to the ground in tears, and Cui Kedao was sent in his stead. He was promoted again to commissioner of the Southern Works. In the fifth year of Dazhong Xiangfu he died. The emperor deeply mourned his loss, granted fifty thousand strings of cash beyond the usual funeral gifts, ordered his coffin escorted to the capital, and enrolled one of his sons in office.
42
張思鈞
Zhang Sijun
43
張思鈞，邢州沙河人。 祖中正，漢澤州刺史。 思鈞少善擊劍、挽強，善博奕。 初應募為卒，晉開運間，遷廣銳軍使。 周廣順初，從聶知遇攻河東，破其眾三千餘。 從向訓東征，為捉生將，擒小校張萬於江豬嶺。 又從符彥卿與幷人鬥代州，留為南北兩關巡檢。
Zhang Sijun came from Shahe in Xing prefecture. His grandfather Zhongzheng had been prefect of Zezhou under the Later Han. As a youth Sijun excelled at swordplay and the heavy bow and was fond of gambling. He first enlisted as a common soldier and, during the Jin Kaiyun era, rose to command the Broad Sharp army. At the opening of the Zhou Guangshun reign he followed Nie Zhiyu against Hedong and routed more than three thousand of the enemy. He marched east with Xiang Xun as a captive-taking officer and seized the junior officer Zhang Wan at Jiangzhu Ridge. He then followed Fu Yanqing in fighting the Taiyuan forces at Daizhou and was left as inspector of the northern and southern passes.
44
宋初，補龍衛指揮使。 李繼勳下遼州，戰帶甲祠，斬首萬餘級，追奔至長城，擒其將莫山、鮑淑，掠人騎二百餘。 俄屯潞州，合戰三十餘。 乾德中，以勞秩遷都虞候。 開寶三年，郭進、田欽祚戍三交，嘗從戰於石嶺關，斬首萬五千餘級。 閤門祗候齊延琛、苗昶陷軍中，思鈞鼓勁騎突入，奪還。 何繼筠入晉境，思鈞隸麾下，拔南橋徑度。 大將之出，必辟為先鋒。 太平興國初，屯定州，領兵援磁窯，戰敗其眾，身中五十創，奮不顧，乃逐賊，薄軍城，奪馬及鎧甲居多。 未幾，邊人復攻，逆戰城下，斬首萬餘級。 上嘉之，命賜服帶，領河州刺史。
When the Song dynasty was founded he was appointed commander of the Dragon Guard. When Li Jixun marched on Liaozhou, Sijun fought at the Armored Shrine, took more than ten thousand heads, pursued the fugitives to the Long Wall, captured the generals Mo Shan and Bao Shu, and seized more than two hundred men and mounts. He soon encamped at Luzhou and took part in more than thirty engagements. During the Qiande era he was promoted to chief adjutant for his service. In the third year of Kaibao, when Guo Jin and Tian Qinhuo held Sanjiao, he fought with them at Shiling Pass and took more than fifteen thousand heads. When the Privy Chamber attendants Qi Yanchen and Miao Chang were cut off in the field, Sijun led crack horsemen in a charge and brought them out. When He Jiyun invaded Jin territory, Sijun served under him, stormed South Bridge, and broke through. Whenever a senior commander took the field, Sijun was chosen as vanguard. Early in the Taiping Xingguo era he was stationed at Dingzhou and marched to relieve Ciyao, routing the enemy though he took fifty wounds and fought on without pause. He drove the raiders to the walls of their stronghold and captured a great quantity of horses and armor. Soon afterward the frontier enemy attacked again; he met them beneath the walls and took more than ten thousand heads. The emperor praised his valor, granted him court dress and belt, and appointed him acting prefect of Hezhou.
45
雍熙三年，邊人寇河間，劉廷讓會戰君子館，命思鈞翼從。 時天大寒，弓不得彀，援兵不至，於是敗績，陷留軍中數年，役役不得還。 端拱初，自契丹始逃歸，授澄州刺史、知齊州。 思鈞以武進，素不知民政，僅踰月，即徙濮、鄆、濱、棣州巡檢。 至道中，改鄜延巡檢使。 會葺右堡砦，擊寇走之。 未幾，寇逼保安軍，與曹璨往援，追躡五十餘里，至木場，寇乃遁去。
In the third year of Yongxi, when frontier forces raided Hejian, Liu Tingrang gave battle at the Gentleman's Lodge and ordered Sijun to serve on his flank. The weather was bitterly cold, bows could not be drawn, and no reinforcements came. The army was routed, and Sijun spent years as a captive in Khitan hands, unable to return. At the opening of the Duangong reign he escaped from Khitan captivity, was appointed prefect of Chengzhou, and was made administrator of Qizhou. Sijun had risen by arms and knew nothing of civil government; after barely a month he was shifted to inspector over Pu, Yan, Bin, and Di prefectures. During the Zhidao era he became inspector commissioner on the Yan frontier. While the Right Fort stockade was under repair, he attacked the raiders and drove them off. Soon afterward raiders threatened Bao'an Army. Sijun marched with Cao Shen to its relief, pursued them more than fifty li to Mucang, and the enemy withdrew.
46
真宗即位，徙益州鈐轄兼綿、漢九州都巡檢使。 咸平中，以王均之亂，出兵保綿州。 賊陷漢州，思鈞進攻，克之，斬偽刺史苗進，又與石普敗賊彌牟砦。 巴西尉傅翱有善馬，思鈞求之，翱不與。 思鈞平賊，心恃功居多，召翱至，責以轉餉後期，斬之。 上聞其事，傳召付御史臺鞫治，罪當斬，特貸之，削籍流封州。
When Zhenzong ascended the throne, Sijun was made supervisory commissioner of Yizhou and chief inspector of the nine prefectures of Mian and Han. During the Xianping era, when Wang Jun rebelled, he marched out to hold Mianzhou. When the rebels seized Hanzhou, Sijun attacked, took the city, and executed the rebel prefect Miao Jin. He and Shi Pu then routed the rebels at Miyu stockade. Fu Ao, assistant magistrate of Baxi, owned a fine horse that Sijun demanded; Fu Ao refused. After pacifying the rebellion, Sijun, swollen with his own merit, summoned Fu Ao, accused him of late delivery of supplies, and executed him. When the emperor learned of it, he had Sijun summoned to court and handed over to the Censorate. The offense warranted death, but he was spared, struck from the rolls, and exiled to Fengzhou.
47
六年，起為左司禦率府率、考城監軍。 車駕幸澶淵，召詣行在，命李繼隆、石保吉同議兵事，賜服御有加。 景德二年，為西京水北都巡檢使，俄分司西京。 召對行在，上憫其老，授唐州防禦副使，徙鄭州。 大中祥待二年，再遷左千牛衛將軍。 四年七月，卒，年八十九。 子承恩，為三班奉職。
In the sixth year he was restored as colonel of the Left Bureau of the Imperial Guard and military supervisor of Kaocheng. When the emperor went to Chanyuan, Sijun was summoned to the camp and ordered with Li Jilong and Shi Baoji to deliberate on military affairs, with extra gifts of court dress. In the second year of Jingde he became chief inspector north of the river at Luoyang and soon held a separate commission there. Summoned to audience at the imperial camp, he was pitied for his age, appointed deputy commissioner of defense at Tangzhou, and transferred to Zhengzhou. In the second year of Dazhong Xiangfu he was promoted again to general of the Left Palace Interior Service. In the seventh month of the fourth year he died at eighty-nine. His son Chengen held office as a third-rank service officer.
48
思鈞起行伍，征討稍有功。 質狀小而精悍，太宗嘗稱其「樓羅」，自是人目為「小樓羅」焉。
Sijun had risen from the ranks and won modest distinction in the field. Small in stature but fierce and quick, he was once called "Luo Lou" by Taizong, and thereafter men knew him as "Little Luo Lou."
49
李琪，河南伊闕人。 幼生長兵家，得給事宣祖，左右太祖，以材力稱，進備執御。 及受禪，命補鎮職。 太宗在京府，復令事之。 由是累遷效忠都虞候、開封府馬步軍副都指揮使、領富州刺史。 嘗請對，自言經事太祖，而京師無居宅，太宗以官第假之。
Li Qi came from Yique in Henan. He grew up in a military family, entered service under the dynastic founder, attended Taizu, won renown for strength and skill, and rose to serve in the imperial guard. When Taizu took the throne, he was appointed to a frontier garrison post. When Taizong held the capital prefecture, he was again assigned to attend him. He rose through successive promotions to chief adjutant of the Loyal Service Guard, deputy commander-in-chief of the Kaifeng horse and foot forces, and prefect of Fuzhou. On one audience he noted that he had served Taizu from the beginning yet owned no house in the capital; Taizong lent him an official residence.
50
王延範
Wang Yanfan
51
王延範，江陵人。 形貌奇偉，喜任俠，家富於財。 父保義，為荊南高氏行軍司馬兼領武泰軍留後。 高從誨奏署延範太子舍人。 後隨從誨孫繼冲入覲，薦為大理寺丞、知泰州累遷司門員外郎。
Wang Yanfan was from Jiangling. He was striking in appearance, loved bold and chivalrous exploits, and came from a wealthy family. His father Baoyi had served the Gao regime of Jingnan as campaigning marshal and acting regent of the Wutai Army. Gao Conghui had him appointed attendant in the heir apparent's household. He later accompanied Gao Conghui's grandson Jichong to an audience at court, was recommended as a vice-director of the Court of Judicial Review and prefect of Taizhou, and rose to outer-section vice-director of the Department of Gates.
52
太平興國九年，為廣南轉運使。 性豪率尚氣，尤好術數。 嘗通判梓州，有杜先生以左道惑眾，謂延範曰：「汝意有所之，我常陰為之助。」 延範心喜，敢為恣橫。 後為江南轉運使，有劉昴賣卜於吉州市，其言多驗，謂延範曰：「公當偏霸一方。」 又有徐肇為延範推九宮算法，得八少一，肇驚起曰：「君侯大貴不可言，當如江南李國主。」 前戎城主簿田辨自言善相，謂延範曰：「君是坐天王形、頻伽眼、仙人鼻、雌龍耳、虎望，有大威德，猛烈富貴之相也。 即日當乘四門輦。」 至是，有豹入其公宇，噬傷數吏，從者皆恐慄，不敢進，延範獨拔戟前逐，刺殺之，益以此自負。 與廣州掌務殿直趙延貴、將作監丞雷說會宿，觀天象，延貴指西方一大星曰：「此所謂『火星入南斗，天子下殿走』者也。」 雷說出《星經》證之，乃太白行度經南斗，延貴謬為火星也。
In the ninth year of Taiping Xingguo (984) he was appointed transport commissioner of Guangnan. He was bold, impulsive, and proud by nature, with a special fondness for divination and occult arts. While serving as co-administrator of Zizhou, a Master Du won followers through heterodox practices and told Yanfan, "Whatever you aim to do, I will secretly help you achieve it." Heartened by this, Yanfan grew reckless and overbearing in his conduct. Later, as Jiangnan transport commissioner, he met Liu Mao, a fortune-teller in Jizhou whose predictions often came true. Liu told him, "You are destined to rule a region in your own right." Xu Zhao also cast the Nine Palaces divination for him and obtained eight short of the highest number. Xu exclaimed, "Your fortune is beyond words—you will rank with Li Yu of Jiangnan." Tian Bian, formerly registrar of Rongcheng, claimed skill in physiognomy and told Yanfan, "You have the bearing of a seated heavenly king, kalavinka eyes, an immortal's nose, dragon ears, and a tiger's gaze—a countenance of fierce majesty and towering fortune. Today you will ride the imperial palanquin through the four gates." About then a leopard entered his yamen, mauled several clerks, and his attendants shrank back in terror. Yanfan alone seized a halberd, ran it down, and killed it—an exploit that swelled his pride still further. He lodged with Zhao Yingui, a Guangzhou palace attendant, and Lei Shuo of the Directorate of Works to study the night sky. Yingui pointed to a bright star in the west and said, "This is the omen 'Mars enters the Southern Dipper—the Son of Heaven flees his hall.'" Lei Shuo checked the Classic of Stars and showed it was Venus crossing the Southern Dipper—Yingui had mistaken it for Mars.
53
延範日夕與掌市舶陸坦議欲發兵，會坦代歸，延範寓書左拾遺韋務昇為隱語，偵朝廷機事。 延範奴視僚屬，峻刑多怨。 會懷勇小將張霸給使轉運司，延範因事杖之，霸知延範與知廣州徐休復不協，詣休復，告延範將謀不軌及諸不法事。 休復馳奏之。 太宗遣高品閻承翰乘傳，會轉運副使李琯暨休復雜治延範，具伏。 與昴、辨、坦俱斬廣州市，籍沒延範家。 務昇除名配商州，延貴等皆抵罪，賜霸錢十萬。
Yanfan met daily with Lu Tan, commissioner of maritime trade, to plot raising troops. When Tan was recalled, Yanfan sent coded letters to the Left Reminder Wei Wusheng to probe the court's intentions. He treated his staff like slaves and imposed harsh punishments that bred deep resentment. Zhang Ba, a junior officer of Huaiyong serving the transport commission, was beaten by Yanfan over a petty matter. Knowing Yanfan was at odds with Guangzhou prefect Xu Xiufu, Zhang went to Xiufu and accused Yanfan of plotting rebellion and other crimes. Xiufu sent an urgent memorial to court. Taizong dispatched the high-ranking Yan Chenghan by fast courier; together with transport vice-commissioner Li Guan and Xiufu he tried Yanfan, who confessed fully. He, together with Mao, Bian, and Tan, was executed in Guangzhou, and his family's property was confiscated. Wusheng was struck from the registers and exiled to Shangzhou; Yingui and the others were punished, and Zhang Ba received a reward of a hundred thousand cash.
54
論曰：紹斌從征討，凡逾百戰，未嘗以為憚； 屢被廢斥，未嘗以為慊。 太祖宥盜馬罪，引見賜予，屈法使過，用能致其力也。 榮薄事親，下詔督過。 瓊折州卒足以釋妖惑。 王杲辭贐於夏。 思鈞拔身自歸，當斬而貸。 琪以鄙稱。 守俊、興輩以勇得備給使。 守素久練邊計，人頗畏伏。 重誨雖將略不足，亦有可稱。 大抵武夫悍卒，不能無過，而亦各有所長。 略其過而用其長，皆足以集事。 至於一勝一負，兵家常勢，顧其大節何如耳。 若榮也，薄其所生，大節虧矣，屢以罪黜，宜哉。
Commentary: In campaigns and punitive expeditions Shaobin fought more than a hundred battles and never showed fear; though repeatedly dismissed and banished, he never bore resentment. Taizu pardoned his horse-theft offense, received him in audience with gifts, bent the law to spare him, and thereby won his utmost loyalty. Rong neglected his parents, and the throne issued an edict rebuking him. Qiong broke the legs of a soldier who claimed supernatural powers, thereby putting an end to the delusion. Wang Gao refused gifts from the Xia ruler. Sijun escaped from captivity and returned to Song service; though liable to execution, he was spared. Qi was known by a humble sobriquet among the troops. Shoujun, Xing, and men like them won palace appointments through sheer courage. Shousu had long mastered frontier strategy and was widely feared on the northern border. Though Zhonghui lacked military genius, he still had qualities worth commending. In general, fierce warriors cannot avoid faults, yet each also has his own strengths. Overlook their faults and use their strengths, and each can still accomplish the state's business. Victory and defeat are the common lot of war; what matters is the quality of a man's fundamental conduct. As for Rong, who neglected the parents who bore him—his fundamental conduct was flawed, and his repeated demotions were only just.