1
三劉成杜鍾張王
The Three Liu's, Cheng, Du, Zhong, Zhang, and Wang
2
劉建鋒
Liu Jianfeng
3
建鋒已得志，即嗜酒不事事。 新息小史陳贍為建鋒御者，妻美且艷，乃私之。 贍怒，袖鐵撾擊建鋒死，斷其喉。 眾推張佶為帥，佶固辭，馬踶傷佶左髀，下令曰：「吾非而主。」 時馬殷攻邵州未克，於是遣人迎殷，磔贍於市。
Once Jianfeng had secured his position, he gave himself over to drink and ceased to attend to government. Chen Shan of Xinxing, a petty clerk whom Jianfeng employed as his driver, had a wife famed for her beauty—and Jianfeng carried on an affair with her in secret. Enraged, Shan hid an iron mace in his sleeve, beat Jianfeng to death, and cut his throat. The troops urged Zhang Ji to take command, but he stubbornly refused. A horse kicked him and injured his left thigh, and he declared, "I am not your leader. Ma Yin was then besieging Shaozhou without success, so they sent envoys to bring him in. Chen Shan was torn apart limb from limb in the public square.
4
殷至，佶坐受其謁。 既而率將吏推殷為留後。 詔即除檢校太傅、潭州刺史。 殷以成汭、楊行密、劉隱皆養士以圖王霸，謂其屬高郁曰：「吾欲重幣以奉四鄰而固吾境，計安出？」 郁曰：「荊南暗弱，焉能患我？ 淮南，我讎也，固不吾援。 公若置邸京師，歸天子職貢，王人來錫命，四方畏服，然後按兵討不廷，霸業成矣。」 殷悟，厚結宣武朱全忠以請於朝，乃拜湖南節度兵馬留後。 郁又教殷鑄鉛鐵錢，十當銅錢一。 民得自摘山，收茗算，募高戶置邸閣居茗，號「八床主人」。 歲入算數十萬，用度遂饒。
When Ma Yin arrived, Zhang Ji remained seated to receive his homage. He then led the commanders and officials in acclaiming Ma Yin as acting military governor. The throne immediately appointed him acting Grand Preceptor and prefect of Tanzhou. Seeing that Cheng Run, Yang Xingmi, and Liu Yin were all gathering men of talent in pursuit of empire, Ma Yin asked his adviser Gao Yu, "I mean to win over my neighbors with lavish gifts and firm up my frontiers. What course should we take? Gao Yu replied, "Jingnan is feeble and shortsighted—it cannot menace us. Huainan is our mortal foe and will never come to our aid. Establish a mission in the capital, resume regular tribute to the throne, and when imperial commissioners arrive with commissions the realm will submit in awe. Only then march against recalcitrant lords—and your supremacy will be secure." Ma Yin took the counsel to heart, cultivated Zhu Quanzhong of Xuanwu to intercede at court, and received appointment as acting military governor of Hunan. Gao Yu further urged Yin to mint lead-and-iron currency at a rate of ten to one against standard copper cash. Private citizens were allowed to harvest mountain tea on their own account; the state levied a tea tax; and wealthy patrons were enlisted to run lodging-houses for storing tea, styled "Masters of the Eight Couch-Beds." Annual receipts ran into the hundreds of thousands, and the treasury grew flush.
5
於是收邵、衡、永、道、郴、連六州，進攻桂州，執留後劉士政。 諸城望風奔潰，盡得昭、賀、梧、象、柳、宜、蒙等州。 又攻容管，執寧遠節度使龐巨曦，虜其眾及貲。 昭宗在鳳翔，難方亟，遣中人間道賜朱書，密詔使殷與楊行密攻汴州，殷兵訖不出。
He then secured Shao, Heng, Yong, Dao, Chen, and Lian, marched on Guizhou, and took the acting governor Liu Shizheng prisoner. City after city capitulated before his columns, and he brought Zhao, He, Wu, Xiang, Liu, Yi, Meng, and the rest under his control. He further invaded Rongguan, took the Ningyuan military governor Pang Juxi captive, and carried off his soldiers and stores. With Emperor Zhaozong besieged at Fengxiang and calamities closing in on every side, a eunuch was dispatched by a hidden route with an imperial letter in vermilion ink, secretly ordering Ma Yin and Yang Xingmi to strike Bianzhou. Yin's army never stirred.
6
殷弟賨，沈勇知書史，從孫儒為盜，晚事楊行密為黑雲軍使。 與錢镠戰，數有功。 夜臥，常有光怪。 行密知之，曰：「吾今歸汝於兄。」 辭曰：「賨一敗卒，公待以不死。 湖南在宇下，朝亡夕至，但誼不忍舍公。」 行密具賫以遣曰：「爾還，與兄共食湘、楚，然何以報我？」 答曰：「願通二國好，使商賈相資。」 行密喜。 既至，殷表以自副。 每勸殷與行密連和，殷畏全忠，卒不克。
Yin's younger brother Ma Cong was a man of depth and courage, well read in history. He had ridden with the bandit Sun Ru and later entered Yang Xingmi's service as commander of the Black Cloud Army. Campaigning against Qian Liu, he won repeated distinction. At night in his sleep, uncanny lights would often flare about him. Xingmi took note of this and said, "I am sending you back to your brother. Cong demurred: "I was only a beaten fugitive, yet you spared my life. Hunan lies at your doorstep—it could fall by morning and be at your gates by nightfall. Yet loyalty will not let me leave your service." Xingmi furnished him with lavish gifts for the journey and asked, "You will go home to share Hunan and Chu with your brother—but what will you do for me in return?" He answered, "I shall open friendly ties between our realms and let merchants trade freely across our borders." Xingmi was delighted. On his arrival, Ma Yin petitioned the court to name him his own deputy. He repeatedly urged Ma Yin to ally with Yang Xingmi, but Yin feared Zhu Quanzhong and never managed it.
7
殷與建鋒同里人，凡宗權黨散為盜者，皆以酷烈相矜，時通名「蔡賊」云。
Ma Yin and Liu Jianfeng were fellow townsmen. The scattered followers of Qin Zongquan who turned to brigandage all boasted of their ruthlessness and were known collectively as "the Cai bandits."
8
成汭，青州人。 少無行，使酒殺人，亡為浮屠。 後入蔡賊中，為賊帥假子，更姓名為郭禹。 當戍江陵，亡為盜，保火門山。 後詣荊南節度使陳儒降，署裨校。 久之，張瑰囚儒，以禹凶慓，欲殺之。 禹結千人奔入峽，夜有蛇環其所，祝曰：「有所負者，死生唯命。」 既而蛇亡。 禹乃襲歸州，入之，自稱刺史。 招還流亡，訓士伍，得勝兵三千，秦宗權故將許存奔禹，禹以青州剽卒三百畀之，使討荊南部將牟權於清江，禽權，取其眾。 禹又破其將王建肇，建肇奔黔州。 昭宗拜禹荊南節度留後，始改名汭，復故姓。
Cheng Run was a native of Qingzhou. In his youth he was dissolute; in a drunken rage he killed a man and fled, taking refuge as a Buddhist monk. He later joined the Cai bandits, was adopted as a son by a rebel leader, and took the name Guo Yu. While posted to garrison Jiangling he deserted to banditry and seized Huomen Mountain as his stronghold. He later surrendered to the Jingnan military governor Chen Ru and was given a post as staff officer. In time Zhang Gui imprisoned Chen Ru and, deeming Guo Yu dangerously fierce, meant to execute him. Guo Yu rallied a thousand men and fled into the gorges. That night a serpent coiled about his camp, and he prayed: "If I am guilty of some wrong, let fate decide whether I live or die. The serpent soon slithered away. Guo Yu then stormed Guizhou, took the city, and proclaimed himself prefect. He recalled exiles, drilled his troops, and mustered three thousand battle-ready soldiers. Xu Cun, a former officer of Qin Zongquan, came over to him; Guo Yu gave him three hundred Qingzhou raiders and sent him against the Jingnan subordinate Mou Quan at Qingjiang. Xu Cun captured Mou Quan and absorbed his troops. Guo Yu also routed the general Wang Jianzhao, who fled to Qianzhou. Emperor Zhaozong appointed him acting military governor of Jingnan. He then adopted the name Run and reclaimed his birth surname.
9
宗權餘黨常厚攻夔州。 是時，西川節度使王建遣將屯忠州，與夔州刺史毛湘相唇齒，厚屯白帝。 汭率存乘二軍之間攻之，二軍使人誶辱汭，韓楚言尤劇，汭恥之曰：「有如禽賊，當支解以逞！」 會存夜斬營襲厚，破之，厚奔萬州，為刺史張造所拒，走綿州。 存入夔州。 楚言妻李語夫曰：「君常辱軍，且支解，不如前死。」 楚言不決。 李礪刀席下，方共食，復語之，夫曰：「未可知。」 李取刀斷其首，並殺三子，乃自剄。 汭畏其烈，禮葬之，刻石表曰烈女。 即使司馬劉昌美守夔，率存溯江略雲安，建將皆奔。 存按兵渝州，盡下瀕江州縣。
Chang Hou, a survivor of Qin Zongquan's faction, attacked Kuizhou. The Xichuan military governor Wang Jian had posted a general at Zhongzhou in mutual support with Kuizhou prefect Mao Xiang, while Chang Hou held Baidi. Run led Xu Cun to strike between the two enemy forces. Envoys from both camps heaped abuse on Run, Han Chuyan's insults the bitterest of all. Stung to shame, Run swore, "If I take these rebels alive, I shall tear them limb from limb! That night Xu Cun cut through the enemy camp and routed Chang Hou. Hou fled to Wanzhou, was turned away by the prefect Zhang Zao, and retreated to Mianzhou. Xu Cun then entered Kuizhou. Chuyan's wife Li told her husband, "You have heaped insults on the army, and Run has sworn to tear you apart. Better to die now than face that fate. Chuyan could not make up his mind. Li honed a knife beneath their mat. While they were still at table she pressed him again, and he said, "The outcome is not yet certain. Li seized the blade, struck off his head, killed their three sons as well, and then cut her own throat. Run, awed by her resolve, gave them honorable burial and set up a stone tablet inscribed "A Woman of Fierce Virtue." He appointed Chief Administrator Liu Changmei to hold Kuizhou and led Xu Cun upriver to overrun Yun'an. Wang Jian's generals all fled. Xu Cun held his forces at Yuzhou and brought every riverside prefecture and county under his control.
10
時王建肇據黔州自守，帝以建肇為武泰軍節度使。 汭遣將趙武率存攻之，建肇走，汭乃以武為留後，存為萬州刺史。 存不得志，汭遣客伺之，方蹴球，汭曰：「存必叛，自試其力矣。」 遣將襲之。 存夜率左右超堞走，與王建肇皆降於王建。
Wang Jianzhao was then holding Qianzhou on his own authority, and the throne appointed him military governor of the Wutai Army. Run dispatched Zhao Wu with Xu Cun to attack him. Jianzhao fled, and Run appointed Wu acting governor while making Xu Cun prefect of Wanzhou. Dissatisfied with his lot, Xu Cun drew Run's suspicion. A spy reported that he was playing cuju, and Run said, "He is certain to rebel—he is testing how strong he still is. Run sent troops to strike him down. Cun fled by night with his personal guard over the city wall. He and Wang Jianzhao both submitted to Wang Jian.
11
汭頗知吏治，嘗錄囚，盡其情。 墊江賊陰殺令，其主簿疑小史導之，訊不承。 臨刑曰：「我且訟地下。」 逾月，吏暴死。 汭聞，益詳於獄。 始治州，民版無幾，未再期，自占者萬餘。 帝數詔刻石頌功，輒固辭。 時鎮國節度使韓建亦以治顯，號「北韓南郭」。 汭進累檢校太尉、中書令、上谷郡王。 雲安榷鹽，本隸鹽鐵，汭擅取之，故能畜兵五萬。 初任賀隱，隱，賢者也，故汭所舉少過。 晚得妻父任之，譖害諸子，汭皆手殺之，至絕嗣。 澧、朗本荊南隸州，為雷滿所據，別為節度，汭數請之，宰相徐彥若不許。 及彥若罷，道江陵，汭出怨言，彥若曰：「公專一面，自視桓、文，一賊不能取，而怨朝廷乎？」 汭大慚。 晚喜術士，餌藥濱死而蘇。
Run was notably adept at administration. Once, reviewing prisoners, he drew out the full truth in every case. Bandits in Dianjiang had secretly murdered the magistrate. The chief clerk suspected a petty clerk had guided them, but interrogation failed to extract a confession. On the scaffold he cried, "I will bring my case before the judges of the dead! Within a month the clerk died suddenly. When Run heard of it, he became still more meticulous in his handling of criminal cases. When he first took charge of the prefecture, registered households were few. In less than two years, voluntary registrants exceeded ten thousand. The emperor repeatedly ordered stone monuments to praise his achievements, but Run steadfastly refused. The Zhenguo military governor Han Jian was likewise famed for good government, and the two were styled "Han in the north, Guo in the south." Run rose through successive appointments to acting Grand Commandant, Director of the Secretariat, and Prince of Shanggu Commandery. The salt monopoly at Yun'an had belonged to the Salt and Iron Commission, but Run seized it for himself and thereby sustained an army of fifty thousand. At first he relied on He Yin, a man of talent, and so Run's appointments were rarely mistaken. In his later years he took up his father-in-law Ren Zhi, who slandered and destroyed his sons. Run killed them all with his own hand, leaving himself without heirs. Li and Lang had once been subordinate prefectures of Jingnan, but Lei Man seized them and made them a separate command. Run petitioned repeatedly for their return, but the chief minister Xu Yanru refused. When Yanru was dismissed and passed through Jiangling, Run voiced his grievances. Yanru replied, "You hold a realm of your own and fancy yourself a Duke of Huan or Wen—yet you cannot subdue a single bandit, and you blame the court? Run was deeply shamed. In his later years he dabbled with magicians, swallowed their elixirs, nearly died, and was revived.
12
天復三年，帝詔淮南節度使楊行密圍鄂州，朱全忠使韓救之，諷汭與馬殷、雷彥威掎角。 汭身自將而行，下知汭不足亢行密，無敢諫，唯親吏楊師厚勸之。 汭為巨艦，堂皇悉備，行至公安，卜不吉，欲還，師厚曰：「公舉全軍，中道還，何以見百姓？」 汭乃行。 彥威潛師略江陵，汭諸將念私，無鬥志。 淮南將李神福壁沙橋，望汭軍曰：「戰艦雖盛，首尾斷絕，可取也。」 擊汭君山，敗之，火其船，眾大潰，汭投江死，士民皆為彥威所劫。 韓走還。 王建遂取夔、施、忠、萬四州。 天祐中，全忠表汭死國事，請與杜洪皆立廟云。
In the third year of Tianfu the emperor ordered Yang Xingmi of Huainan to besiege Ezhou. Zhu Quanzhong sent Han to relieve the city and urged Run, Ma Yin, and Lei Yanwei to strike in concert from several directions. Run took the field in person. His officers knew he was no match for Yang Xingmi and dared not dissuade him—only his trusted aide Yang Shihou encouraged him to press on. Run fitted out enormous warships, splendid in every detail. At Gong'an the omens turned ill and he wished to turn back. Shihou said, "You have committed your entire force—how can you face the people if you retreat halfway? Run pressed on. Yanwei secretly sent troops against Jiangling. Run's generals were preoccupied with private concerns and had no heart for battle. The Huainan general Li Shenfu fortified Shaqiao, surveyed Run's fleet, and said, "Their warships may be imposing, but the line is broken at both ends—they can be taken. He attacked Run at Junshan, routed him, and burned his ships. The army broke in panic. Run threw himself into the river and drowned. Soldiers and civilians alike were plundered by Yanwei. Han fled homeward. Wang Jian then seized Kui, Shi, Zhong, and Wan. During the Tianyou reign, Zhu Quanzhong petitioned that Run had died in the state's service and asked that temples be erected for both him and Du Hong.
13
杜洪，鄂州人。 為裏俳兒。 乾符末，黃巢亂江南，永興民皆亡為盜。 刺史崔紹募民強雄者為土團軍，賊不敢侵，於是人人知兵。 杭州刺史路審中為董昌所拒，走客黃州。 中和末，聞紹卒，募士三千入鄂州以守。 洪為州將，有功，亦逐岳州刺史居之。 光啟二年，安陸賊周通率兵攻審中，審中亡去，洪乘虛入鄂，自為節度留後，僖宗即拜本軍節度使。
Du Hong was a native of Ezhou. He began as a village entertainer. At the close of the Qianfu era Huang Chao ravaged the south, and the people of Yongxing fled wholesale into banditry. The prefect Cui Shao recruited the sturdiest men among the populace into local militia units. Bandits no longer dared attack, and soon every man knew how to fight. The Hangzhou prefect Lu Shenzhong was driven out by Dong Chang and took refuge at Huangzhou. At the close of the Zhonghe era, hearing that Cui Shao had died, he raised three thousand men and marched into Ezhou to hold it. Hong was a prefectural officer who had distinguished himself in service and also drove out the Yuezhou prefect and seized that post. In the second year of Guangqi the Anlu bandit Zhou Tong attacked Lu Shenzhong, who fled. Hong seized the moment, entered Ezhou, and proclaimed himself acting military governor. Emperor Xizong immediately confirmed him as military governor of the command.
14
是時，永興民吳討據黃州，駱殷據永興，二人皆隸土團者也，故軍剽甚。 洪雖得節制，而附朱全忠，絕東南貢路。 乾寧初，身自將擊討，乞師淮南，楊行密遣朱延壽助之。 洪引還，延壽拔黃州，俘討獻京師。 駱殷棄永興走，行密取其地。 洪得駱殷，倚為心腹，間取永興守之。
Wu Tao of Yongxing held Huangzhou and Luo Yin held Yongxing itself. Both had risen from the local militia, and their forces were savagely predatory. Though Hong had won his commission, he attached himself to Zhu Quanzhong and severed the southeastern tribute route. Early in Qianning he took the field in person against Wu Tao, sought aid from Huainan, and Yang Xingmi sent Zhu Yanshou to reinforce him. Hong withdrew his forces. Zhu Yanshou seized Huangzhou, took Wu Tao prisoner, and sent him to the capital. Luo Yin abandoned Yongxing and fled, and Yang Xingmi seized his territory. Hong won Luo Yin over as a trusted confidant and periodically sent him to hold Yongxing.
15
全忠方圍鳳翔，昭宗遣使者東出，道武昌，洪皆殺之。 時行密略光州，詔洪出兵，與忠義趙匡凝、武安馬殷襲安州。 行密使李神福、劉存率舟師萬人討洪，駱殷棄永興走，縣民方詔守以待命。 神福已得詔，大喜，以永興壯縣，饋餫所仰，既得，鄂半矣，遂進圍鄂州。
While Zhu Quanzhong was besieging Fengxiang, Emperor Zhaozong sent envoys eastward. Every one who passed through Wuchang was killed by Hong. Yang Xingmi was then overrunning Guangzhou. An imperial edict ordered Hong to take the field jointly with Zhao Kuangning of Zhongyi and Ma Yin of Wu'an for a strike against Anzhou. Yang Xingmi dispatched Li Shenfu and Liu Cun with ten thousand men by water against Hong. Luo Yin fled Yongxing, leaving Fang Zhao and the county militia to hold the town pending further orders. Shenfu had already won Fang Zhao's submission and was overjoyed. Yongxing was a prosperous county on which his supply lines depended; with it in hand, he held half of Hong's realm, and he pressed on to besiege Ezhou.
16
洪嬰城，請救於汴，全忠率兵五萬營霍丘。 行密禦之，汴兵不利，引還，使別將吳章以三千兵解圍，神福迎破之。 時全忠方與河東軍薄戰，故不能救洪。 洪乃求助於馬殷，殷不答。 洪計窮，復走全忠，全忠遣曹延祚合吳章兵萬三千救洪。 淮南將劉存浚坎傅城。 殷為洪謀曰：「淮兵深入，仰永興以濟，若奇兵取之，賊不戰而潰。」 洪以精兵合汴人間道掩永興，三十里而舍。 存以方詔、苗璘當之。 汴亡卒走淮壁，言軍虛實曰：「鄆軍懦，可取，開道軍不可當也。」 璘曰：「殺強則弱者撓矣。」 乃自擊開道軍，敗之，禽汴士三百人，徇城下。 洪軍氣沮，存使辯士臨說，洪恃汴方強，無降意。 或勸存急擊援兵，則城自下，存曰：「擊之，賊入，則城固矣； 若縱其遁，城可取也。」 俄而汴軍走，是日城陷，執洪及曹延祚，窮斬其餘。 行密見洪，責曰：「爾同逆賊弒主，與孤為仇，吾軍還，而復為賊後拒，今定何如？」 洪謝曰：「不忍負朱公。」 與延祚皆斬揚州市。 以劉存守鄂州。 行密死，馬殷遂取其地。
Hong shut himself within the walls and appealed to Bian for relief. Zhu Quanzhong marched fifty thousand men to encamp at Huoqiu. Yang Xingmi met them in battle. The Bian forces fared poorly and withdrew, but Quanzhong sent Wu Zhang with three thousand men to relieve the siege. Shenfu sallied forth and routed them. Zhu Quanzhong was then locked in close combat with the Hedong army and could not rescue Hong. Hong then appealed to Ma Yin, who gave no reply. With his options exhausted, Hong fled once more to Zhu Quanzhong, who sent Cao Yanzuo with Wu Zhang's forces—thirteen thousand men in all—to relieve him. The Huainan general Liu Cun dug siege trenches around the outer works. Luo Yin advised Hong: "The Huainan army has pushed deep inland and depends on Yongxing for supplies. Send a surprise force against Yongxing and they will collapse without a battle. Hong led his best troops with the Bian relief force along a hidden route against Yongxing and encamped thirty li away. Liu Cun posted Fang Zhao and Miao Lin to meet them. Bian deserters reached the Huainan camp and reported on enemy dispositions: "The Yan contingent is timid and can be taken; the Kaodao contingent is not to be faced head-on. Miao Lin said, "Strike down the strong and the weak will lose heart." He led the assault on the Kaodao contingent himself, routed it, took three hundred Bian soldiers prisoner, and paraded them beneath the walls. Hong's army lost heart. Liu Cun sent an eloquent envoy to negotiate, but Hong still counted on Bian's strength and would not consider surrender. Some urged Liu Cun to strike the relief force at once so the city would fall of itself. Cun replied, "If we attack now, the enemy will pour into the city and make it impregnable. If we let them flee, the city can be taken. Before long the Bian army broke and fled. That same day the city fell. Hong and Cao Yanzuo were taken prisoner, and the rest were hunted down and slaughtered to the last man. Yang Xingmi confronted Hong and rebuked him: "You sided with rebels who murdered the emperor and made yourself my enemy. When my army withdrew, you again barred my path at the rebels' rear. What is there to settle now? Hong bowed and said, "I could not bring myself to betray Lord Zhu." He and Yanzuo were both beheaded in the Yangzhou marketplace. Liu Cun was left to garrison Ezhou. After Yang Xingmi's death, Ma Yin seized those territories.
17
鍾傳，洪州高安人。 以負販自業，或勸其為盜必大顯。 時王仙芝猖狂，江南大亂，眾推傳為長，乃鳩夷獠，依山為壁，至萬人，自稱高安鎮撫使。 仙芝遣柳彥璋略撫州，不能守，傳入據之，言諸朝，詔即拜刺史。 中和二年，逐江西觀察使高茂卿，遂有洪州。 撫民危全諷間傳之去，竊州以叛，使弟仔昌據信州。 僖宗擢傳江西團練使，俄拜鎮南節度使、檢校太保、中書令，爵潁川郡王，又徙南平。
Zhong Chuan was a native of Gao'an in Hongzhou. He made his living as a peddler until someone told him that if he turned to banditry he would surely rise to greatness. While Wang Xianzhi ravaged the south and Jiangnan fell into chaos, the people acclaimed Chuan as their leader. He gathered Yi and Liao tribesmen, fortified the mountains, and mustered ten thousand men, styling himself Pacification Commissioner of Gao'an. Xianzhi sent Liu Yanzhang against Fuzhou, but Yanzhang could not hold it. Chuan entered and seized the city, petitioned the court, and was immediately confirmed as prefect. In the second year of Zhonghe he drove out the Jiangxi observation commissioner Gao Maoqing and took Hongzhou. Wei Quanfeng of Fuzhou, while Chuan was away, seized the prefecture in revolt and posted his younger brother Zichang at Xinzhou. Emperor Xizong appointed him Jiangxi training commissioner, then shortly confirmed him as Zhennan military governor, acting Grand Guardian, Director of the Secretariat, and Prince of Yingchuan Commandery, later transferring his commission to Nanping.
18
傳率兵圍撫州，天火其城，士民讙驚，諸將請急攻之，傳曰：「乘人之險，不可。」 乃祝曰：「全諷罪，無害民者。」 火即止。 全諷聞，謝罪聽命，以女女傳子匡時。 傳以匡時為袁州刺史，擊馬殷。 又以彭玕為吉州刺史。 玕，健將也，傳倚以為重。
Chuan besieged Fuzhou. Heaven-sent fire broke out in the city, throwing soldiers and civilians into panic. His generals urged an immediate assault, but Chuan said, "We must not profit from another's calamity. He prayed aloud, "Let Quanfeng alone bear the guilt; let no harm come to the people." The fire died away. Quanfeng heard of this, submitted in apology, and gave his daughter in marriage to Chuan's son Kuangshi. Chuan appointed Kuangshi prefect of Yuanzhou and sent him against Ma Yin. He also appointed Peng Gan prefect of Jizhou. Peng Gan was a formidable commander on whom Chuan relied heavily.
19
廣明後，州縣不鄉貢，惟傳歲薦士，行鄉飲酒禮，率官屬臨觀，資以裝賫，故士不遠千里走傳府。 傳少射獵，醉遇虎，與鬥，虎搏其肩，而傳亦持虎不置，會人斬虎，然後免。 既貴，悔之，戒諸子曰：「士處世，尚智與謀，勿效吾暴虎也。」 乃畫搏虎狀以示子孫。 凡出軍攻戰，必禱佛祠，積餌餅為犀象，高數尋。 晚節重斂，商人至棄其貨去。 天祐三年卒。
After the Guangming era, most prefectures ceased sending examination candidates, but Chuan alone continued to recommend scholars each year, held the district drinking ceremony, led his officials in attendance, and provided travel funds. Scholars came from a thousand li away to seek his patronage. In his youth Chuan was a hunter. Once, drunk, he met a tiger and grappled with it. The beast clawed his shoulder, but Chuan would not let go until bystanders killed the tiger and he was freed. After he rose to power he regretted the episode and warned his sons, "A gentleman in this world must prize wit and strategy. Do not imitate my foolhardy bout with a tiger. He had the scene painted as a warning to his descendants. Whenever he took the field he prayed at Buddhist shrines and piled cakes into rhinoceros and elephant figures several yards high. In his later years he taxed heavily, and merchants sometimes abandoned their goods rather than pay. He died in the third year of Tianyou.
20
匡時自立為節度觀察留後。 次子匡範為江州刺史，怨兄立，挈州附淮南，因言兄結汴人圖揚州。 楊渥使秦裴攻匡時，圍洪州。 匡時城守不出，凡三月，城陷，淮軍大掠三日止，執匡時及司馬陳象歸揚州。 渥切責，匡時頓首請死，渥哀赦之，斬象於市。
Kuangshi proclaimed himself acting military governor and observation commissioner. His second son Kuangfan, prefect of Jiangzhou, resented his brother's succession. He surrendered his prefecture to Huainan and claimed that his brother was conspiring with the Bian faction against Yangzhou. Yang Wo sent Qin Pei against Kuangshi and laid siege to Hongzhou. Kuangshi held the city for three months without sallying forth. When it fell, the Huainan army plundered for three days before stopping. Kuangshi and Chief Administrator Chen Xiang were taken to Yangzhou. Wo rebuked him sharply. Kuangshi kowtowed and begged for death. Wo took pity and spared him, but Chen Xiang was beheaded in the marketplace.
21
彭玕既失援，厚結馬殷，且觀虛實，使者還曰：「殷將校輯睦，未可圖也。」 遂歸款。 玕通《左氏春秋》，嘗募求西京《石經》，厚賜以金。 揚州人至相語曰：「十金易一筆，百金償一篇，況得士乎？」 故士人多往依之。
Having lost his patron, Peng Gan cultivated Ma Yin and sent envoys to probe his strength. They returned saying, "Yin's commanders are united in purpose—he cannot be overthrown. He then submitted in allegiance. Peng Gan was versed in the Zuo Commentary. He once offered lavish rewards in gold to anyone who could procure copies of the Western Capital Stone Classics. People in Yangzhou remarked to one another, "Ten ounces of gold for a single brushstroke, a hundred for an essay—what would it cost to win a true scholar? For this reason many scholars flocked to his service.
22
始，危全諷聞匡時立，喜曰：「聽鍾郎為節度三年，我自取之。」 及渥兵盛，不敢救，潛謀攻渥。 會淮南亡將王茂章過州，請曰：「聞公欲大舉，願見諸將軍才否。」 全諷搜眾十萬，邀茂章觀之，對曰：「揚州有士三等，公眾正當其下，盍更益之？」 全諷不能答。 後為楊氏所並。
When Wei Quanfeng first heard that Kuangshi had succeeded, he rejoiced and said, "Let Master Zhong hold the commission for three years—I will take it myself then. But when Yang Wo's army grew powerful, Quanfeng dared not intervene and secretly plotted against him. The Huainan fugitive general Wang Maozhang passed through and asked, "I hear you mean to mount a major campaign. May I see whether your generals are up to it? Quanfeng mustered a host of a hundred thousand and invited Maozhang to review them. Maozhang replied, "Yangzhou fields troops of three grades. Yours ranks only at the lowest. Why not raise more?" Quanfeng had no reply. He was later absorbed by the Yang clan.
23
劉漢宏
Liu Hanhong
24
劉漢宏，本兗州小史，從大將擊王仙芝，劫輜重叛去。 乾符末，略江陵，焚民室廬，廛無完家。 於是都統王鐸遣將崔鍇降之，表為宿州刺史，漢宏恨賞薄，有望言。 會浙東觀察使柳瑫得罪，乃授漢宏觀察使，代之。 僖宗在蜀，貢輸踵驛而西，帝悅，寵其軍為義勝軍，即授節度使。 漢宏既有七州，誌侈大，輒曰：「天下方亂，卯金刀非吾尚誰哉？」 鴉噪諸廷，命斫樹，或曰：「巨木不可伐。」 怒曰：「吾能斬白蛇，何畏一木！」
Liu Hanhong had begun as a petty clerk in Yanzhou. While campaigning against Wang Xianzhi under a senior commander, he looted the baggage train and deserted. At the close of the Qianfu era he overran Jiangling, burned dwellings throughout the city, and left not one household intact in the markets. The overall commander Wang Duo sent Cui Kai to accept his surrender and secured his appointment as prefect of Suzhou. Hanhong resented the meager reward and began to speak openly of greater ambitions. When the Zhedong observation commissioner Liu Tang fell from favor, Hanhong was appointed observation commissioner in his stead. With Emperor Xizong in exile in Shu, Hanhong's tribute arrived in an unbroken stream along the post roads. The emperor was pleased, renamed his force the Yisheng Army, and confirmed him as military governor. Once he held seven prefectures his ambitions swelled, and he would say, "The realm is in chaos—if the Liu throne is not for me, then for whom? Crows clamored throughout his halls, and he ordered the trees cut down. An adviser said, "Great trees cannot be felled so easily." He raged, "I slew the white serpent—why should I fear one tree!"
25
中和二年，遣弟漢宥率諸將攻杭州，壁西陵，為董昌所敗。 復遣兵七萬瀕江而屯，昌使錢镠宵濟襲破之。 明年，漢宏屯黃嶺，發洞獠同攻昌，镠出富陽擊諸營，多潰去。 漢宏大沮，悉軍十萬，列艦西陵，謀宵濟襲昌。 禱於江，有一矢墜前，惡之。 俄與镠遇，镠俘馘五千，漢宏羸服走，或執之，紿而免。 明日復戰，镠斬其弟漢容、將辛約。 時鍾季文守明州，盧約處州，蔣瑰婺州，杜雄臺州，朱褒溫州。 褒兵最強，故漢宏使褒治大艦習戰，以史惠、施堅實、韓公汶將其軍。 帝聞杭、越挐戰，遣中人焦居璠持節詔通好，皆不奉詔。
In the second year of Zhonghe he sent his brother Hanyou with his generals against Hangzhou. They encamped at Xiling and were defeated by Dong Chang. He sent seventy thousand men to camp along the river. Chang dispatched Qian Liu, who crossed by night and routed them. The following year Hanhong encamped at Huangling and mobilized cave tribes and Liao auxiliaries against Chang. Qian Liu marched from Fuyang, struck their camps, and put many to flight. Deeply discouraged, Hanhong mustered his entire force of a hundred thousand, lined his ships at Xiling, and planned a night crossing to surprise Chang. He prayed at the riverbank. An arrow fell before him, which he took as an ill omen. He soon met Qian Liu in battle. Liu took five thousand heads. Hanhong fled in rags. He was once seized but talked his way free. They fought again the next day. Liu beheaded Hanhong's brother Hanrong and the general Xin Yue. Zhong Jiwen held Mingzhou, Lu Yue Chuzhou, Jiang Gui Wuzhou, Du Xiong Taizhou, and Zhu Bao Wenzhou. Zhu Bao's force was the strongest, so Hanhong had him build great warships and drill for naval combat under Shi Hui, Shi Jianshi, and Han Gongwen. Learning that Hang and Yue were locked in combat, the emperor sent the eunuch Jiao Jufan with credentials to command peace. Neither side obeyed.
26
光啟二年，镠率諸將攻越，自趨導山，破公汶於曹娥埭。 與褒戰，燒其艦，進屯豐山。 堅實詣镠降，漢宏率麾下六百人走臺州，镠斬其母妻於屯。 杜雄饗其軍，皆醉，執漢宏以見董昌。 漢宏曰：「自古豈有不亡國邪？」 昌使斬於市，叱刑者曰：「吾節度使，非庸人可殺。 我嘗夢持金殺我者，必錢镠也。」 昌命镠斬之。
In the second year of Guangqi, Qian Liu led his generals against Yue, advanced on Daoshan himself, and defeated Han Gongwen at Cao'e Ford. He fought Zhu Bao, burned his fleet, and advanced to encamp at Fengshan. Shi Jianshi surrendered to Qian Liu. Hanhong fled to Taizhou with six hundred followers. Liu executed Hanhong's mother and wife at his camp. Du Xiong feasted Hanhong's troops until they were drunk, seized Hanhong, and brought him before Dong Chang. Hanhong said, "Since antiquity, has any state not perished in its time? Chang ordered his execution in the marketplace and shouted at the headsman, "I am a military governor—not some common felon you may kill. I once dreamed that my killer would bear gold—it must be Qian Liu." Chang ordered Qian Liu to behead him.
27
張雄，泗州漣水人。 與里人馮弘鐸皆為武寧軍偏將。 弘鐸為吏辱，雄為辯數，並見疑於節度使時溥。 二人懼禍，乃合兵三百度江，壁白下，取蘇州據之。 稍稍嘯會，戰艦千餘，兵五萬，乃自號「天成軍」。
Zhang Xiong was a native of Lianshui in Sizhou. He and his fellow townsman Feng Hongduo both served as deputy generals in the Wuning Army. When Hongduo was insulted by a clerk, Xiong argued eloquently in his defense. Both men fell under suspicion with the military governor Shi Pu. Fearing for their lives, the two combined three hundred men, crossed the Yangzi, fortified Baixia, and seized Suzhou. Their following grew steadily until they fielded more than a thousand warships and fifty thousand men, styling their force the Tiancheng Army.
28
鎮海節度使周寶之敗，奔常州，聞高駢將徐約兵銳甚，誘之使擊雄，與之蘇州。 雄匿眾海中，使別將趙暉據上元，資以舟械。 寶兵散，多降暉，眾數萬。 雄即以上元為西州。 負其才，欲治臺城為府，旌旗衣服僭王者。
When the Zhenhai military governor Zhou Bao was defeated, he fled to Changzhou. Hearing that Xu Yue, a general of Gao Pian, commanded a formidable force, he lured him against Zhang Xiong with the promise of Suzhou. Zhang Xiong kept his main force at sea and posted Zhao Hui at Shangyuan with ships and arms. Zhou Bao's army broke apart, and many of his men surrendered to Zhao Hui, whose force soon numbered in the tens of thousands. Xiong made Shangyuan his western capital. Confident in his abilities, he meant to make Taicheng his seat of government, and his banners, regalia, and dress all aped royal style.
29
楊行密圍揚州，畢師鐸厚賫寶幣，啖雄連和。 雄率軍浮海屯東塘。 是時揚州圍久，皮囊革帶食無余，軍中殺人代糧，才千錢。 聞雄至，間道挾珍走軍，以銀二斤易斗米，逮糠乞以差為直。 雄軍富過所欲，即不戰去。 暉數剽江道，雄擊殺之，坑其眾，自屯上元。 大順初，以上元為升州，詔授雄刺史。 未幾，卒。 雄善馭眾，人思之，為立廟。 弘鐸代為刺史。
While Yang Xingmi besieged Yangzhou, Bi Shiduo lavished treasure on Zhang Xiong to win an alliance. Xiong led his fleet to Dongtang by sea. The siege of Yangzhou had dragged on so long that soldiers ate leather bags and belts until nothing remained. Human flesh sold for a thousand cash in the camp. Hearing that Xiong had arrived, they slipped out by hidden routes with treasures to his camp. Two catties of silver bought a single dou of rice; even bran was traded at graded prices. Xiong's army grew wealthier than it could use and withdrew without fighting. Zhao Hui had repeatedly raided the river routes. Xiong killed him, buried his troops alive, and returned to garrison Shangyuan. Early in Dashun, Shangyuan was renamed Shengzhou, and an edict confirmed Xiong as prefect. He died soon afterward. Xiong was skilled at commanding men, and the people missed him so deeply that they built him a shrine. Hongduo succeeded him as prefect.
30
弘鐸善騎射，侃侃若儒者。 行密已得淮南，弘鐸納好。 然倚兵艦完利，謀取潤州，遣客尚公乃進說行密，行密不從。 客曰：「公不見聽，未知勝幾樓船？」 時行密大將田頵在宣州，陰圖弘鐸，募工治艦。 工曰：「上元為舟，市木遠方，堅致可勝數十歲。」 頵曰：「我為舟於一用，不計其久，取木於境可也。」 弘鐸介宣、揚間，不自安，而州數有怪。 天復二年，大風發屋，巨木飛舞，州人駭曰：「州且易主。」 大將馮暉等勸弘鐸悉軍南向，聲言討鍾傳，實襲頵。 行密知之，遣客說止，不聽。 頵逆擊於曷山，弘鐸大敗，收殘士欲入海。 行密懼復振，遣人迎犒東塘，好謂曰：「兵有勝負，今眾尚強，乃自棄於海，奈何？ 吾府雖隘，尚可以居。 若欲揚州，我且讓公。」 弘鐸舉軍盡哭。 行密挐飛艫，不持兵入其軍，執弘鐸手尉勉，遂以歸，表為淮南節度副使。 見尚公乃曰：「頗憶為馮公求潤州否？ 何多尚邪？」 謝曰：「臣為君，恨其未遂。」 行密笑曰：「吾得君，尚何憂？」
Hongduo was an expert horseman and archer who spoke with the easy grace of a scholar. Once Yang Xingmi held Huainan, Hongduo sought friendly ties with him. Yet relying on his powerful fleet, he plotted to seize Runzhou and sent his adviser Shang Gongnai to persuade Yang Xingmi, who refused. The envoy said, "If you will not listen, how many of your tower-ships do you think will survive? Yang Xingmi's great general Tian Jun was then at Xuanzhou, secretly plotting against Hongduo and recruiting shipwrights. The shipwrights said, "At Shangyuan they buy timber from far away—timber so sound it lasts decades. Jun replied, "I build ships for a single campaign, not for the ages. Local timber will do." Caught between Xuanzhou and Yangzhou, Hongduo grew uneasy, and strange omens multiplied in his prefecture. In the second year of Tianfu a violent wind tore houses apart and sent great trees flying. The people cried in alarm, "The prefecture is about to change hands! His generals Feng Hui and others urged him to march south with his entire force, claiming an expedition against Zhong Chuan while actually striking Tian Jun. Yang Xingmi learned of the plan and sent an envoy to dissuade him, but Hongduo would not listen. Tian Jun met him at Yeshan and routed him utterly. Hongduo gathered his shattered remnants and prepared to flee by sea. Fearing Hongduo might recover, Yang Xingmi sent men to welcome him at Dongtang with feasts and kind words: "Armies win and lose, but yours is still strong. Why throw yourselves into the sea? My headquarters may be modest, but there is room for you. If you want Yangzhou, I will yield it to you. Hongduo's entire army wept together. Yang Xingmi came in swift ships, entered the camp unarmed, took Hongduo's hand in consolation, and brought him home. He was memorialized as deputy military governor of Huainan. Seeing Shang Gongnai, he said, "Do you still remember begging Runzhou on Feng's behalf? Why so much talk of Shang? He bowed and said, "I served my lord and regret that I failed." Yang Xingmi laughed and said, "With you at my side, what have I to fear?"
31
徐約者，曹州人。 已得蘇州，有詔授刺史。 錢镠遣弟銶攻之，約驅民墨镵其耏曰：「願戰南都。」 從事或曰：「都者，國稱，杭終有國乎？」 約後浸窘，與其下哭而別，入海死。 镠使沈粲守蘇州。 約眾降潤州阮結，結不能定。 镠以成及討之，盡殲其眾。
Xu Yue was a native of Caozhou. Having seized Suzhou, he received an edict appointing him prefect. Qian Liu sent his brother Qian against him. Yue had the people tattoo their foreheads in ink with the words, "We will fight the Southern Capital. A staff officer objected, "'Capital' is the title of a realm—does Hangzhou mean to proclaim a kingdom?" Yue's situation grew desperate. He wept farewell to his followers and drowned himself at sea. Qian Liu appointed Shen Can to garrison Suzhou. Yue's followers surrendered to Ruan Jie of Runzhou, who could not control them. Qian Liu sent Cheng Ji against them and annihilated them to the last man.
32
王潮，字信臣，光州固始人。 五代祖曄為固始令，民愛其仁，留之，因家焉。 世以貲顯。 僖宗入蜀，盜興江、淮，壽春亡命王緒、劉行全合群盜據壽州。 未幾，眾萬餘，自稱將軍，復取光州，劫豪傑置軍中，潮自縣史署軍正，主稟庾，士推其信。 緒提二州籍附秦宗權。 它日，賦不如期，宗權切責，緒懼，與行全拔眾南走，略潯陽、贛水，取汀州，自稱刺史，入漳州，皆不能有也。 初以糧少，故兼道馳，約軍中曰：「以老孺從者斬！」 潮與弟審邽、審知奉母以行，緒切責潮曰：「吾聞軍行有法，無不法之軍。」 對曰：「人皆有母，不聞有無母之人。」 緒怒，欲斬其母，三子同辭曰：「事母猶事將軍也，殺其母焉用其子？」 緒赦之。 會毋死，不敢哭，夜殯道左。
Wang Chao, styled Xinchen, was a native of Gushi in Guangzhou. His fifth-generation ancestor Ye had served as magistrate of Gushi. The people loved his benevolence and persuaded him to stay, and the family settled there. For generations the family had grown prominent through wealth. When Emperor Xizong fled to Shu, banditry flared along the Yangzi and Huai. The Shouchun outlaws Wang Xu and Liu Xingquan united bandit bands and seized Shouzhou. Before long their force exceeded ten thousand. Xu styled himself general, retook Guangzhou, and impressed local strongmen into his ranks. Chao, formerly a county clerk, was made army steward in charge of supplies, and the troops praised his reliability. Xu submitted the registers of two prefectures and attached himself to Qin Zongquan. When tribute fell due and was not delivered, Zongquan rebuked him harshly. Xu fled south with Xingquan, overran Xunyang and the Gan valley, seized Tingzhou and styled himself prefect, and entered Zhangzhou—but could hold none of these places. Grain was scarce, so they marched at forced pace. Xu ordered the army: "Anyone who brings the old or children along will be beheaded! Chao marched with his brothers Shenbian and Shenzhi, supporting their mother. Xu rebuked him sharply: "Armies on campaign have laws. No army is above the law." Chao answered, "Every man has a mother. I have never heard of a man without one." Xu flew into a rage and meant to execute their mother. The three brothers pleaded together: "Serving one's mother is like serving a commander. Kill our mother, and what use are we to you?" Xu relented. Their mother died on the march. They dared not weep openly and laid her out for burial by the roadside that night.
33
時望氣者言軍中當有暴興者，緒潛視魁梧雄才，皆以事誅之，眾懼。 次南安，潮語行全曰：「子美須眉，才絕眾，吾不知子死所。」 而行全怪寤，亦不自安，與左右數十人伏叢翳，狙縛緒以徇。 眾呼萬歲，推行全為將軍，辭曰：「我不及潮，請以為主。」 潮苦讓不克，乃除地剚劍祝曰：「拜而劍三動者，我以為主。」 至審知，劍躍於地，眾以為神，皆拜之。 審知讓潮，自為副。 緒嘆曰：「我不能殺是子，非天乎！」 潮令於軍曰：「天子蒙難，今當出交、廣，入巴、蜀，以幹王室。」 於是悉師將行，會泉州刺史廖彥若貪暴，聞潮治軍有法，故州人奉牛酒迎潮。 乃圍城，歲餘克之，殺彥若，遂有其地。
A geomancer declared that someone in the army would rise to sudden greatness. Xu secretly marked out tall, formidable men and executed them on one pretext or another until the troops were terrified. At Nan'an, Chao told Xingquan, "You are a striking figure, and your talent surpasses all others. I do not know where you will meet your end. Xingquan woke from an uneasy dream and grew restless himself. With several dozen followers he hid in the brush, ambushed Xu, bound him, and paraded him before the army. The troops shouted their acclaim and pressed Xingquan to lead them. He declined: "I am not Chao's equal. Make him your leader. Chao refused repeatedly but could not prevail. He cleared a patch of ground, planted a sword, and prayed: "Whichever of us bows and the sword moves three times shall be leader." When Shenzhi bowed, the sword leaped from the earth. The troops took it as a divine sign and bowed to him. Shenzhi yielded to Chao and took the post of deputy. Xu sighed, "I could not kill this man—is it not Heaven's will! Chao proclaimed to the army, "The Son of Heaven is in peril. We shall march through Jiaozhi and Guangzhou into Ba and Shu to serve the throne." As he prepared to march, the Quanzhou prefect Liao Yanruo was ruling with greed and cruelty. Hearing that Chao disciplined his troops well, the people of Quanzhou came out with oxen and wine to welcome him. He besieged the city for more than a year, took it, executed Yanruo, and seized the territory.
34
初，黃巢將竊有福州，王師不能下，建人陳巖率眾拔之，又逐觀察使鄭鎰，自領州，詔即授刺史。 久之，巖卒，其婿範暉擁兵自稱留後。 巖舊將多歸潮，言暉可取，潮乃遣從弟彥復將兵，審知監之，攻福州。 審知乘白馬履行陣，望者披靡，號「白馬將軍」。 暉守彌年不下，潮令曰：「兵盡益兵，將盡益將，兵將盡，則吾至矣。」 於是彥復急攻，暉亡入海，追斬之。 建、汀二州皆舉籍聽命，潮乃盡有五州地。
Huang Chao's generals had meant to seize Fuzhou, but the imperial army could not take it. Chen Yan of Jian led his forces to capture the city, drove out the observation commissioner Zheng Yi, and was confirmed as prefect by edict. In time Chen Yan died. His son-in-law Fan Hui gathered troops and proclaimed himself acting governor. Many of Chen Yan's former officers joined Chao and assured him that Fan Hui could be taken. Chao sent his cousin Yanfu with Shenzhi as overseer to attack Fuzhou. Shenzhi rode a white horse through the battle lines, and all who saw him gave way. He was styled the White Horse General. Fan Hui held out for a year. Chao declared, "When our soldiers are spent, we shall send more soldiers. When our generals are spent, we shall send more generals. When both are spent, I shall come myself. Yanfu pressed the assault. Fan Hui fled to sea and was pursued and killed. Jian and Ting submitted to his authority, and Chao came to hold five prefectures in all.
35
昭宗假潮福建等州圍練使，俄遷觀察使。 乃作四門義學，還流亡，定賦斂，遣吏勸農，人皆安之。 乾寧中，寵福州為威武軍，即拜潮節度使、檢校尚書左僕射。 卒，贈司空。
Emperor Zhaozong appointed him acting training commissioner of Fujian, then shortly promoted him to observation commissioner. He founded the Four Gates Academy, recalled exiles, fixed taxes and levies, sent officials to encourage farming, and the people lived in peace. During Qianning, Fuzhou was elevated as the Weiwu Army command, and Chao was appointed military governor and acting Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. He died and was posthumously awarded the title Minister of Works.
36
潮病，以審知權節度，讓審邽，不許。 詔審知檢校刑部尚書、節度觀察留後。 厚事朱全忠，全忠薦為節度使、同中書門下平章事。 帝在鳳翔，賜審知朱詔，自三品皆得承制除授。 天祐初，進瑯邪郡王。
When Chao fell ill, he entrusted military authority to Shenzhi and offered the post to Shenbian, but the offer was refused. An edict appointed Shenzhi acting Minister of Justice and acting military governor and observation commissioner. He cultivated Zhu Quanzhong lavishly, and Quanzhong secured his appointment as military governor and Associate Director of the Secretariat. With the emperor at Fengxiang, Shenzhi received a vermilion edict empowering him to appoint and dismiss officials from the third rank downward on his own authority. Early in Tianyou he was enfeoffed as Prince of Langye Commandery.
37
審邽，字次都。 為泉州刺史，檢校司徒。 喜儒術，通《書》、《春秋》。 善吏治，流民還者假牛犁，興完廬舍。 中原亂，公卿多來依之，振賦以財，如楊承休、鄭璘、韓偓、歸傳懿、楊贊圖、鄭戩等賴以免禍，審邽遣子延彬作招賢院以禮之。
Shenbian, styled Cidu. He served as prefect of Quanzhou and acting Minister of Education. He delighted in Confucian learning and was versed in the Book of Documents and the Spring and Autumn Annals. He governed ably, lending oxen and plows to returning refugees and helping them rebuild their homes. As the Central Plains fell into chaos, many court officials fled to him for refuge. He supported them from the treasury—men such as Yang Chenxiu, Zheng Lin, Han Wo, Gui Chuanyi, Yang Zantu, and Zheng Xian owed their survival to his patronage. Shenbian had his son Yanbin establish the Hall for Recruiting Talent to receive them with full ceremony.
38
劉知謙
Liu Zhiqian
39
劉知謙，壽州上蔡人。 避亂客封州，為清海牙將。 節度使韋宙以兄女妻之，眾謂不可，宙曰：「若人狀貌非常，吾以子孫托之。」
Liu Zhiqian was a native of Shangcai in Shouzhou. Fleeing the chaos, he took refuge at Fengzhou as a junior officer under the Qinghai command. The military governor Wei Zhou gave him his brother's daughter in marriage. Others objected, but Zhou said, "This man's bearing is extraordinary. I entrust my descendants to him."
40
黃巢自嶺表北還，湖、湘間群盜蟻結，知謙因據封州，有詔即授刺史兼賀水鎮使，以遏梧、桂。 知謙撫納流亡，愛嗇用度，養士卒。 未幾，得精兵萬人，多具戰艦，境內肅然。 久之，疾病，召諸子曰：「今五嶺盜賊方興，吾有精甲犀械，爾勉建功，時哉不可失也！」
When Huang Chao marched north from Lingnan, bandits swarmed through Hunan and the Xiang region. Zhiqian seized Fengzhou and received an edict appointing him prefect and commander of the He River garrison to block Wuzhou and Guilin. Zhiqian welcomed refugees, husbanded his resources, and trained his troops. Before long he mustered ten thousand seasoned troops, built a strong fleet, and brought order to his territory. In time he fell ill and summoned his sons. "Banditry is rising in the Five Ridges," he said. "I have left you fine armor and war elephants. Strive for achievement—the moment will not wait!"
41
知謙卒，共推其子隱為嗣，清海軍節度使劉崇龜表為封州刺史。 嗣薛王知柔代領節度，未至，而牙將盧琚叛。 隱率兵奉迎知柔，直趨廣州，禽琚獻之。 於是知柔以聞，昭宗拜隱本軍行軍司馬，俄遷副使。 天復初，節度徐彥若死，隱自稱留後。
When Zhiqian died, his followers acclaimed his son Liu Yin as successor. The Qinghai military governor Liu Chonggui petitioned to confirm Yin as prefect of Fengzhou. The heir Prince of Xue, Zhirou, was appointed to succeed to the command but had not yet arrived when the guards officer Lu Ju rebelled. Yin marched to welcome Zhirou, drove straight on Guangzhou, captured Lu Ju, and presented him as a prisoner. Zhirou reported the deed to court. Emperor Zhaozong appointed Yin campaign marshal of the command, then shortly promoted him to deputy commissioner. Early in Tianfu the military governor Xu Yanruo died, and Yin proclaimed himself acting governor.
42
盧光稠
Lu Guangchou
43
虔人盧光稠者，有眾數萬，據州自為留後，又取韶州。 隱與爭之，戰不勝，悉師攻虔州。 光稠伏軍掉戰，隱縱驅，伏發，挺身免。 天祐初，始詔隱權節度留後，乃遣使者入朝，重賂朱全忠以自固。 是歲，光稠死，子延昌自稱刺史，為其下所殺，更推李圖總州事。 圖死，鍾傳盡劫其眾，欲遣子匡時守之。 不克，州人自立譚全播為刺史，附全忠云。
Lu Guangchou of Qianzhou commanded tens of thousands of men, held the prefecture as self-proclaimed acting governor, and also seized Shaozhou. Yin fought him but could not prevail and marched his entire force against Qianzhou. Guangchou laid an ambush and feigned retreat. Yin pressed the pursuit, the trap closed, and he barely escaped with his life. Early in Tianyou an edict at last confirmed Yin as acting military governor. He sent envoys to court and lavished gifts on Zhu Quanzhong to secure his position. That year Guangchou died. His son Yanchang proclaimed himself prefect but was killed by his own men, who then installed Li Tu to govern the prefecture. When Li Tu died, Zhong Chuan seized his entire force and meant to post his son Kuangshi as garrison commander. He failed to hold the city. The people of the prefecture installed Tan Quanbo as prefect and submitted to Zhu Quanzhong.