Volume 210 Biographies 135: Buffer Region Weibo

藩鎮魏博

Buffer Regions — Weibo

安、史亂天下，至肅宗大難略平，君臣皆幸安，故瓜分河北地，付授叛將，護養孽萌，以成禍根。亂人乘之，遂擅署吏，以賦稅自私，不朝獻於廷。效戰國，肱髀相依，以土地傳子孫，脅百姓，加鋸其頸，利怵逆汙，遂使其人自視猶羌狄然。一寇死，一賊生，訖唐亡百餘年，卒不為王土。

The An and Shi rebellions convulsed the empire. When Emperor Suzong had at last brought the greatest catastrophe roughly to an end, court and throne alike were so grateful for stability that they partitioned Hebei and handed its territories to defecting commanders — sheltering rebellious seedlings until they grew into enduring ruin. The unruly seized their chance. They appointed officials at will, pocketed tax revenues for themselves, and ceased sending tribute to the capital. Like the warring kingdoms of old, they braced one another — arm and thigh — bequeathing territory from father to son. They terrorized the populace, pressed the blade to their throats, and tempted and frightened them into crime and corruption, until the people came to regard themselves as little better than barbarians. One outlaw fell, another rose in his place. For more than a century until the Tang collapsed, the region never again became true imperial soil.

當其盛時，蔡附齊連，內裂河南地，為合從以抗天子。杜牧至以「山東，王不得，不王；霸不得，不霸；賊得之，故天下不安」。又曰：

At their height, the buffer lords of Cai clung to Qi and forged chains of alliance, carving up the lands south of the Yellow River and banding together to defy the throne. Du Mu went so far as to declare, 'East of the mountains — without it one cannot become king; without it one cannot become hegemon; the rebels hold it, and so the realm knows no peace.' He also wrote:

厥今天下何如哉？幹戈朽，斧鉞鈍，含引混貸，照育逆孽，殆為故常。而執事大人曾不歷算周思，以為宿謀，方且嵬岸抑揚，自以為廣大繁昌莫己若也。嗚呼！其不知乎，其俟蹇頓顛傾而後為之支計乎？且天下幾裏，列郡幾所，自河以北，蟠城數百，角奔為寇，伺吾人憔悴，天時不利，則將與其朋伍駭亂吾民於掌股之上。今者及吾之壯，不圖擒取，乃偷處恬逸，以為後世子孫背脅疽根，此復何也？

What has become of the empire? Spears lie rusted, executioners' axes dull; indulgence and leniency are lavished on traitors until rebellion itself seems ordinary. Yet you who hold power never reckon this as a deliberate strategy long in the making. Instead you stand on your high banks, swelling with pride, convinced that none is so vast and prosperous as yourselves. Alas! Do you not see? Or will you wait until disaster and collapse force you to act? Consider the empire's extent — how many leagues, how many prefectures? North of the Yellow River alone stand hundreds of walled cities. They raid at will, watching for our people to grow exhausted and fortune to turn, then with their allies they will terrorize the populace as easily as striking palm against thigh. While we still have strength, you refuse to strike and capture them. Instead you settle into complacent ease, leaving posterity a festering abscess at the spine — what folly is this?

議者曰：倔強之徒，吾以良將勁兵為銜策，高位美爵充飽其腸，安而不橈，外而不拘，猶豢虎狼而不拂其心，則忿氣不萌，此大歷、貞元所以守邦也。何必疾戰焚煎吾民，然後為快也？

The advocates of appeasement say: These stubborn warlords — we hold them with elite generals and crack troops as bit and bridle, sate them with high office and glittering honors, and they remain docile without rebellion, outwardly obedient without constraint — like keeping tigers and wolves without stirring their savage hearts, so that fury never takes root. Thus did the Dali and Zhenyuan eras preserve the dynasty. Why must we rush to war and scorch our own people before we can feel at ease?

愚曰：大歷、貞元之間，有城數十，千百卒夫，則朝廷貸以法，故於是闊視大言，自樹一家，破制削法，角為尊奢。天子不問，有司不呵；王侯通爵，越錄受之；覲聘不來，幾杖扶之；逆息虜胤，皇子嬪之。地益廣，兵益強，僭擬益甚，侈心益昌。土田名器，分劃大盡，而賊夫貪心，未及畔岸，淫名越號，走兵四略，以飽其誌。趙、魏、燕、齊，同日而起，梁、蔡、吳、蜀，躡而和之，其餘混澒軒囂，欲相效者，往往而是。運遭孝武，前英後傑，夕思朝議，故能大者誅鉏，小者惠來。大抵生人油然多欲，欲而不得則怒，怒則爭亂隨之。是以教笞於家，刑罰於國，征伐於天下，裁其欲而塞其爭也。大歷、貞元之間反此，提區區之有，而塞無涯之爭，是以首尾指支，幾不能相運掉也。凡今者不知非此，而反用以為經，將見為盜者非止於河北而已。嗚呼！大歷、貞元守邦之術，永戒之哉！

The answer is folly itself: Under Dali and Zhenyuan, when dozens of cities and thousands of soldiers answered to these lords, the court indulged them with slack enforcement of law. They grew bold in speech, set themselves up as sovereign houses, tore down regulations, and competed in arrogance and excess. The emperor never questioned them; the responsible ministries never rebuked them. Princes and marquises traded noble titles; they received appointments far above their proper rank. They skipped imperial audiences; the court sent them ceremonial staffs to ease their infirmity. Rebellious scions and captive heirs — imperial princes and princesses were married into their families. Their domains widened, their armies swelled, their pretensions grew bolder, and their appetite for luxury ran ever wilder. Land, population, and symbols of office were parceled out to the limit — yet even before open rebellion, their greed outran their titles. They seized unlawful ranks and sent armies in every direction to feed their ambitions. Zhao, Wei, Yan, and Qi rose together in a single day; Liang, Cai, Wu, and Shu joined in their wake. Everywhere others churned and clamored, eager to follow their example. Fortune then smiled on Emperor Xiaowu. Worthies served him in succession, debating policy night and day — and so the greatest rebels were cut down, the lesser brought back with clemency. Human nature brims with desire. Denied what they want, men grow angry — and anger breeds strife and chaos. Hence instruction and discipline within the household, law and punishment within the state, and campaigns across the realm — all to curb desire and choke off conflict. Dali and Zhenyuan reversed this wisdom: clutching a meager share while trying to dam an ocean of ambition — until head, tail, fingers, and limbs could scarcely act as one body. Men today fail to see this error and instead treat it as eternal doctrine — and will discover that rebellion is not confined to Hebei alone. Alas! The methods by which Dali and Zhenyuan preserved the dynasty — let them stand as an everlasting warning!

魏博傳五世，至田弘正入朝，十年復亂，更四姓，傳十世，有州七。成德更二姓，傳五世，至王承元入朝明年，王廷湊反，傳六世，有州四。盧龍更三姓，傳五世，至劉總入朝，六月，朱克融反，傳十二世，有州九。淄青傳五世而滅，有州十二。滄景傳三世，至程權入朝，十六年而李全略有之，至其子同捷而滅，有州四。宣武傳四世而滅，有州四。彰義傳三世而滅，有州三。澤潞傳三世而滅，有州五。雖然，跡其由來，事有因藉，地之輕重，視人謀臧否歟！今取擅興若世嗣者，為《藩鎮傳》。若田弘正、張孝忠等，暴忠納誠，以屏王室，自如別傳雲。

Weibo passed through five generations until Tian Hongzheng submitted to the court; ten years later rebellion returned. Four ruling clans succeeded one another across ten generations, holding seven prefectures. Chengde saw two ruling clans across five generations until Wang Chengyuan submitted; the following year Wang Tingcou rebelled. The domain endured six generations and held four prefectures. Lulong saw three ruling clans across five generations until Liu Zong submitted; six months later Zhu Kerong rebelled. The domain endured twelve generations and held nine prefectures. Ziqing lasted five generations before falling, holding twelve prefectures. Cangjing passed through three generations until Cheng Quan submitted; sixteen years later Li Quanlue seized control. The domain fell with his son Tongjie, holding four prefectures. Xuanwu lasted four generations before falling, holding four prefectures. Zhangyi lasted three generations before falling, holding three prefectures. Zelu lasted three generations before falling, holding five prefectures. Even so, tracing their origins, each rise had its causes. Whether a domain grew heavy or light in the balance depended on the wisdom or folly of the men who held it! Here we treat those who seized power on their own authority or passed it down through successive generations, composing the Biographies of Buffer Regions. As for Tian Hongzheng, Zhang Xiaozhong, and others who showed fierce loyalty and offered their sincerity to shield the throne — they receive separate biographies.

田承嗣，字承嗣，平州盧龍人。世事盧龍軍，以豪俠聞。隸安祿山麾下，破奚、契丹，累功至武衛將軍。祿山反，與張忠誌為賊前驅，陷河、洛。嘗大雪，祿山按行諸屯，至其營，若無人，已而擐甲列卒，閱所籍，不缺一人，祿山異其能，使守潁川。

Tian Chengsi, courtesy name Chengsi, was a native of Pingzhou in Lulong. His family had served for generations in the Lulong army and was renowned for bold chivalry. He served under An Lushan, defeated the Xi and Khitan tribes, and through accumulated merit rose to General of the Martial Guard. When Lushan rebelled, he and Zhang Zhizhi served as the rebels' vanguard, conquering the lands between the Yellow River and Luoyang. Once, in heavy snow, Lushan inspected the camps. Chengsi's quarters seemed empty — yet in a moment armored soldiers stood ranked in formation. Checking the rolls, not a single man was absent. Lushan marveled at his discipline and appointed him to defend Yingchuan.

郭子儀平東都，承嗣以郡降，俄而復叛。安慶緒奔鄴，承嗣自潁川來，與蔡希德、武令榔合兵六萬，慶緒復振，抗王師。歲餘，史思明亂，承嗣又為賊導，及朝義敗，與共保莫州。仆固玚追北，承嗣急，乃詐朝義使自求救幽州。承嗣守莫，因執賊妻息降於玚，厚以金帛反間玚將士。玚慮下生變，即約降。承嗣詐疾不出，玚欲馳入取之，承嗣列千刀為備，玚不得誌，承嗣重賂之以免。乃與張忠誌、李懷仙、薛嵩皆詣仆固懷恩謝，願備行間。朝廷以二賊繼亂，州縣殘析，數大赦，凡為賊詿誤，一切不問。當是時，懷恩功高，亦恐賊平則任不重，因建白承嗣等分帥河北，賜鐵券，誓不死。拜承嗣莫州刺史，三遷至貝博滄瀛等州節度使，檢校太尉。

When Guo Ziyi pacified the eastern capital, Chengsi surrendered his commandery — then rebelled again almost at once. When An Qingxu fled to Ye, Chengsi marched from Yingchuan and joined Cai Xide and Wu Linglang with sixty thousand men. Qingxu rallied his forces and stood against the imperial army. More than a year later, when Shi Siming rebelled, Chengsi again guided the rebel armies. When Shi Chaoyi was defeated, they held Mo Prefecture together. Pugu Chang pressed the pursuit northward. Hard pressed, Chengsi feigned that Chaoyi had dispatched him to seek relief from Youzhou. Chengsi held Mo Prefecture, seized the rebels' wives and children, and surrendered them to Chang — while lavishing gold and silk to sow discord among Chang's officers and men. Chang, fearing mutiny in the ranks, agreed to accept the surrender. Chengsi feigned illness and refused to emerge. Chang tried to ride in and seize him, but Chengsi lined up a thousand swords in readiness and Chang could not carry out his plan. Chengsi bribed him lavishly and escaped. He then joined Zhang Zhizhi, Li Huaixian, and Xue Song in presenting themselves to Pugu Huai'en to apologize and offer to serve on campaign. The court, seeing how the two rebel regimes had ravaged the land in succession until counties and prefectures lay in ruins, issued repeated great amnesties. All who had been misled into serving the rebels were fully pardoned. Huai'en's achievements were then at their height, yet he feared that once the rebels fell his importance would fade. He therefore proposed that Chengsi and the others divide command of Hebei, granting them iron certificates pledging they would not be executed. Chengsi was appointed prefect of Mo Prefecture, then promoted thrice to military commissioner of Bei, Bo, Cang, Ying, and neighboring prefectures, with the honorary title of Grand Preceptor.

承嗣沈猜陰賊，不習禮義。既得誌，即計戶口，重賦斂，歷兵繕甲，使老弱耕，壯者在軍，不數年，有眾十萬。又擇趫秀強力者萬人，號牙兵，自署置官吏，圖版稅入，皆私有之。又求兼宰相，代宗以寇亂甫平，多所含宥，因就加同中書門下平章事，封雁門郡王，寵其軍曰天雄，以魏州為大都督府，即授長史，詔子華尚永樂公主，冀結其心。而性著兇詭，愈不遜。

Chengsi was deep, suspicious, and secretly treacherous, untrained in ritual and propriety. Once secure in power, he immediately registered households, imposed heavy taxes, drilled troops and repaired armor, set the old and weak to farming and the able-bodied to the ranks. Within a few years he commanded a hundred thousand men. He also selected ten thousand of the swiftest, finest, and strongest men, calling them the Tooth Army. He appointed officials on his own authority and kept land registers and tax revenues for himself alone. He further sought the concurrent post of chief minister. Emperor Daizong, with rebellion only just suppressed and leniency the order of the day, granted him the title Co-Director of the Department of State Affairs with the Secretariat, enfeoffed him as Prince of Yanmen, named his army the Tianxiong, made Weizhou the great protectorate capital, and appointed him chief administrator on the spot. An edict also married his son Hua to the Princess of Yongle, hoping to win his heart. But violence and cunning were stamped on his nature, and he grew ever more insubordinate.

大歷八年，相衛薛嵩死，弟萼求假節，牙將裴誌清逐萼，萼以眾歸承嗣。而帝自用李承昭為相州刺史，未至，承嗣使人訹吏士反，陽言救，實襲取之。帝遣使者諭罷兵，承嗣不奉詔，遣將盧子期取洺州，楊光朝取衛州，脅刺史薛雄亂，不從，屠其家，悉四州兵財以歸，擅置守宰。逼使者行礠、相，遣劉渾從之，陰使從子悅諷諸將詣使者剺面請承嗣為帥，使人不敢詰，於是厚賞請己者。帝乃下詔貶承嗣永州刺史，許一子從，悅及諸子皆逐惡地。詔河東節度使薛兼訓、成德李寶臣、幽州朱滔、昭義李承昭、淄青李正己、淮西李忠臣、永平李勉、汴宋田神玉等兵六萬掎角進，若承嗣不承命，聽在所討執，以軍法從事。其下霍榮國以礠降。李正己攻拔德州，李忠臣攻衛，築偃月壁河上。承嗣列將往往攜阻，殺數十人乃定。帝又遣御史大夫李涵督諸節度並力。承嗣遣裴誌清等攻冀州，誌清以兵附成德，承嗣悉眾圍之，為寶臣所逐，火輜重，歸於貝，計益窮，不知所出，遣其下郝光朝奉表請委身北闕下。又使悅與盧子期將萬人攻礠州，屯東山。宣慰使韓朝彩等固守，兼訓以萬騎屯西山，成德、幽州各遣兵救礠。時承昭以神策射生繼進，入河東壘。諸軍進討，數有功，頗賞，天子使中人多出禦服、良馬、黃白金萬計勞賚，使人供帳高會。諸軍少懈，而正己、寶臣二軍會棗強，更相見。會正己軍輒引去，忠臣乃棄月壘，濟河屯陽武。承昭使成德、幽州兵循東山襲子期軍，自閉壁以驕賊。子期分步騎萬人環承昭壁，以兵四千乘高望麾而進。河東將劉文英、辛忠臣等決戰，而成德、幽州兵繞出子期後，於是圍解。更陣高原，諸將與承昭夾攻，大戰臨水，賊敗，屍旁午數里，斬九千級、馬千匹，執子期及將士二千三百，旗纛器甲鼓角二十萬。諸軍乘勝進，距礠十里，暮而舍。承昭舉燧，朝彩出銳兵鼓噪薄魏營，斬首五百，悅驚，率餘兵夜走，盡棄旗幕鎧仗五千乘。成德將王武俊以子期歸寶臣，寶臣方攻洺州，因以示城下，降之，復徇瀛州，瀛州亦降。得兵萬人，粟二十萬石，獻子期京師，斬之。

In the eighth year of Dali, Xue Song of Xiang and Wei died. His younger brother E sought an acting commission, but the tooth general Pei Zhiqing drove him out. E brought his forces to Chengsi. The emperor appointed Li Chengzhao prefect of Xiang Prefecture on his own authority. Before Chengzhao arrived, Chengsi incited local officials and gentry to rebel, claiming to rescue them while in truth launching a surprise attack to seize the territory. The emperor sent envoys ordering him to stand down; Chengsi ignored the edict. He sent Lu Ziqi to seize Ming Prefecture and Yang Guangchao to seize Wei Prefecture. He tried to coerce the prefect Xue Xiong into rebellion; when Xiong refused, Chengsi slaughtered his household, gathered the troops and wealth of all four prefectures, and returned home, appointing governors and magistrates at will. He forced the envoy to travel through Ci and Xiang, with Liu Hun escorting him, while secretly sending his nephew Yue to urge the generals to appear before the envoy with slashed faces, begging that Chengsi be made commander. The envoy dared not challenge them, and Chengsi richly rewarded those who had petitioned on his behalf. The emperor then issued an edict demoting Chengsi to prefect of Yong Prefecture, allowing one son to accompany him. Yue and Chengsi's other sons were all exiled to remote and harsh lands. An edict ordered Hedong commissioner Xue Jianxun, Chengde's Li Baochen, Youzhou's Zhu Tao, Zhaoyi's Li Chengzhao, Ziqing's Li Zhengji, Huaixi's Li Zhongchen, Yongping's Li Mian, Biansong's Tian Shenyu, and others — sixty thousand troops advancing in concert — to attack and capture Chengsi wherever they met him if he refused the command, and to punish him by martial law. Among his subordinates, Huo Rongguo surrendered Ci Prefecture. Li Zhengji captured De Prefecture; Li Zhongchen attacked Wei and built a crescent fortification along the riverbank. Chengsi's deployed generals often faltered and obstructed one another; he executed several dozen men before restoring discipline. The emperor also dispatched Censor-in-Chief Li Han to supervise the commissioners in joint operations. Chengsi sent Pei Zhiqing and others to attack Ji Prefecture. Zhiqing attached his troops to Chengde. Chengsi mustered his entire army to besiege the city, was driven off by Baochen, burned his baggage train, and retreated to Bei. His options narrowed and he knew not what to do. He sent his subordinate Hao Guangchao to submit a memorial asking to surrender himself at the northern gate of the palace. He also sent Yue with Lu Ziqi and ten thousand men to attack Ci Prefecture, encamping at East Mountain. The pacification commissioner Han Chaocai and others held firm in defense. Jianxun encamped ten thousand cavalry on West Mountain. Chengde and Youzhou each dispatched troops to relieve Ci. At that time Chengzhao advanced in succession with the Shence Army's archers and entered the Hedong camp. The allied armies pressed the attack and won several victories. Rewards flowed freely. The emperor sent eunuchs bearing imperial garments, fine horses, and gold and silver by the tens of thousands. Envoys supplied pavilions and held grand feasts for the troops. The armies slackened their pace. Then the forces of Zhengji and Baochen met at Zaoqiang and paid visits to one another. When Zhengji's army suddenly withdrew, Zhongchen abandoned the crescent fortification, crossed the river, and encamped at Yangwu. Chengzhao sent the Chengde and Youzhou troops along East Mountain to strike Ziqi's army, while he himself shut the gates and feigned contempt for the rebels. Ziqi divided ten thousand infantry and cavalry to surround Chengzhao's camp, then sent four thousand men from the heights to advance at his signal. The Hedong generals Liu Wenying, Xin Zhongchen, and others joined battle. The Chengde and Youzhou troops swung around behind Ziqi — and the siege was broken. They re-formed on the high plain. The generals attacked in concert with Chengzhao. A great battle raged by the water. The rebels were routed. Corpses lay crisscrossed for miles. Nine thousand heads were taken, a thousand horses captured. Ziqi and two thousand three hundred officers and soldiers were seized, along with two hundred thousand banners, suits of armor, drums, and horns. The armies pressed their victory forward to within ten li of Ci and encamped at dusk. Chengzhao raised beacon fires. Chaocai sent crack troops with drums and battle cries to storm the Wei camp. Five hundred heads were taken. Yue, alarmed, fled by night with the survivors, abandoning five thousand cartloads of banners, tents, armor, and weapons. The Chengde general Wang Wujun delivered Ziqi to Baochen. Baochen was then besieging Ming Prefecture and displayed Ziqi below the walls to compel surrender. He then marched on Ying Prefecture, which submitted as well. He gained ten thousand troops and two hundred thousand shi of grain. Ziqi was sent to the capital and executed.

天子遣中人勞寶臣，不為禮，寶臣乃貳，反攻朱滔，與承嗣和，承嗣與之滄州。正己又請天子許承嗣入朝。十一年，帝遣諫議大夫杜亞持節至魏受其降，許闔門還京師，赦魏博所管與更始。承嗣逗留不至。其秋，復略滑州，敗李勉兵。會李靈耀以汴州叛，詔忠臣、勉、河陽馬燧合討。靈耀求救於魏，承嗣使悅將兵三萬赴之，敗勉將杜如江、正己將尹伯良，死者殆半，乘勝屯汴北郛，與靈耀合。燧、忠臣逆擊，破之，悅脫身遁，斬獲數萬。靈耀東走，欲歸承嗣，為如江所禽，並魏將常準獻京師。明年，承嗣上書請罪，有詔復官爵，子弟皆仍故官，復賜鐵券。

The emperor sent a eunuch to reward Baochen, who treated him without proper ceremony. Baochen then turned disloyal, counterattacked Zhu Tao, made peace with Chengsi, and Chengsi ceded Cang Prefecture to him. Zhengji also petitioned the emperor to allow Chengsi to come to court. In the eleventh year, the emperor sent Remonstrance Officer Du Ya, bearing imperial credentials, to Wei to accept his surrender — permitting him to return to the capital with his household and granting amnesty throughout Weibo's jurisdiction as at the dawn of a new reign. Chengsi lingered and never came. That autumn he raided Hua Prefecture again and defeated Li Mian's army. When Li Lingyao rebelled at Bian Prefecture, an edict ordered Zhongchen, Mian, and Heyang's Ma Sui to join forces against him. Lingyao sought aid from Wei. Chengsi sent Yue with thirty thousand troops to his relief. They defeated Li Mian's general Du Rujiang and Li Zhengji's general Yin Boliang; nearly half their men fell. Pressing their victory, they encamped at the northern outskirts of Bian and joined Lingyao. Ma Sui and Zhongchen counterattacked and routed them. Yue escaped with his life. Tens of thousands were killed or captured. Lingyao fled east, hoping to reach Chengsi. Du Rujiang captured him, and together with the Wei general Chang Zhun he was sent to the capital. The following year Tian Chengsi memorialized the throne to confess his crimes. An edict restored his titles and offices, his sons and brothers were all returned to their former posts, and he was once again granted an iron certificate of immunity.

承嗣盜有貝、搏、魏、衛、相、礠、洺七州，而未嘗北面天子。凡再興師，會國威中奪，窮而復縱，故承嗣得肆奸無怖忌。十四年死，年七十五，贈太保。

Chengsi held seven prefectures by force—Bei, Bo, Wei, Weizhou, Xiang, Ci, and Ming—and yet never once turned north in submission to the emperor. Twice the court raised armies against him; twice, when imperial authority was at its peak, he was brought low—only to be pardoned when desperate. Thus Chengsi grew bold in his wickedness, without fear or restraint. He died in the fourteenth year, at the age of seventy-five, and was posthumously honored as Grand Guardian.

悅，蚤孤，母更嫁平盧戍卒，悅隨母轉側淄、青間。承嗣得魏，訪獲之，年十三，拜伏有禮，承嗣異之，委以號令，裁處皆與承嗣意合。及長，剽悍善鬥冠軍中，賊忍狙詐，外飭行義，輕財重施，以鉤美譽，人皆附之。承嗣愛其才，將死，顧諸子弱，乃命悅知節度事，令諸子佐之。帝因詔悅自中軍兵馬使、府左司馬擢留後，俄檢校工部尚書，為節度使。

Yue lost his father while still young. His mother remarried a soldier of the Pinglu garrison, and Yue drifted with her between Zi and Qing. When Chengsi secured Wei, he tracked Yue down. The boy was thirteen. He prostrated himself with perfect courtesy, and Chengsi, struck by the lad, put him in charge of issuing orders. Every decision Yue made matched Chengsi's own wishes. As he grew to manhood he became the fiercest fighter in the army—ruthless, cunning, and deceitful by nature, yet outwardly devoted to propriety. He spent freely and gave generously to win a fine reputation, and men flocked to his side. Chengsi admired his ability. Near death, seeing his own sons too weak to govern, he put Yue in charge of the command and ordered his sons to assist him. The emperor then promoted Yue from Central Army Military Commissioner and Left Assistant of the prefectural staff to acting military governor. Before long he was made inspecting Minister of Works and confirmed as military governor.

悅始招致賢才，開館宇，禮天下士，外示恭順，陰濟其奸。帝晚年尤寬弛，悅所奏請無不從。德宗立，不假借方鎮，諸將稍惕息。會黜陟使洪經綸至河北，聞悅養士七萬，輒下符罷其四萬歸田畝。悅即奉命，因大集將士，以好言激之曰：「而等籍軍中久，仰縑廩養父母妻子，今罷去，何恃而生？」眾大哭。悅乃悉出家貲給之，各令還部，自此，魏人德悅。

Yue began recruiting men of talent, opened guest halls, and treated scholars from across the realm with honor. Outwardly he appeared dutiful and obedient; in secret he furthered his treacherous designs. In his later years the emperor grew especially indulgent and lax. Nothing Yue requested was ever refused. When Emperor Dezong took the throne, he showed no indulgence toward the regional commands, and the generals gradually grew cautious and subdued. At that time the appointment-and-dismissal commissioner Hong Jinglun reached Hebei. Learning that Yue maintained an army of seventy thousand men, he immediately issued orders dismissing forty thousand of them to return to the fields. Yue at once accepted the order. Then he gathered all his officers and soldiers and roused them with gentle words: You have served in the army for years, depending on silk and grain rations to feed your parents, wives, and children. If you are dismissed now, how will you live? The men broke into loud weeping. Yue then distributed his entire personal fortune among them and sent each man back to his unit. From that day the people of Wei regarded Yue with gratitude.

及劉晏死，藩帥益懼，又傳言帝且東封泰山，李勉遂城汴州；而李正己懼，率兵萬人屯曹州，乃遣人說悅同叛。悅因與梁崇義等阻兵連和，以王侑、扈、許士則為腹心；邢曹俊、孟希祐、李長春、符璘、康愔為爪牙。建中二年，鎮州李惟嶽、淄青李納求襲節度，不許，悅為請，不答，遂合謀同叛。會於邵、令狐亙等表汰浮圖，悅乃詐其軍曰：「有詔閱軍之老疾疲弱者。」繇是舉軍咨怨。悅與納會濮陽，納分兵佐悅。

After Liu Yan's death the military governors grew still more fearful. Rumors spread that the emperor would soon perform the eastern feng rite at Mount Tai, and Li Mian hastily fortified Bianzhou. Li Zhengji, seized with fear, led ten thousand men to encamp at Caozhou and sent envoys to urge Yue to join him in rebellion. Yue accordingly joined Liang Chongyi and others in raising troops and forming alliances. Wang You, Hu, and Xu Shize became his closest confidants. Xing Caojun, Meng Xiyou, Li Changchun, Fu Lin, and Kang Yin served as his chief enforcers. In the second year of Jianzhong, Li Weiyue of Zhenzhou and Li Na of Ziqing petitioned to succeed their fathers as military governors and were refused. Yue interceded for them but received no reply, and the three men then plotted rebellion together. At that time Yu Shao, Linghu Geng, and others submitted a memorial calling for the reduction of Buddhist temples. Yue then deceived his troops, saying: An edict has come to inspect the army and dismiss the old, sick, weak, and infirm. The entire army erupted in angry complaint. Yue met with Li Na at Puyang, and Na detached part of his force to support him.

會幽州朱滔等奉詔討惟嶽，悅乃遣孟希祐以兵五千助惟嶽；別遣康愔以兵八千攻邢州；楊朝光以兵五千壁盧疃，絕昭義餉道。悅自將兵數萬繼進，又使朝光攻臨洺將張伾。伾固守，食且盡，賞賜不足，乃飾愛女示眾曰：「庫廩竭矣，願以此女代賞。」士感泣，請死戰，大破悅軍。有詔河東馬燧、河陽李芃與昭義軍救伾。三節度次狗、明二山間，未進。伾急，以紙為風鳶，高百餘丈，過悅營上，悅使善射者射之，不能及。燧營噪迎之，得書言「三日不解，臨洺士且為悅食。」燧乃自壺關鼓而東，破盧疃，戰雙岡，禽賊大將盧子昌而殺朝光，悅遁保洹水。

Meanwhile Zhu Tao of Youzhou and others had received orders to campaign against Li Weiyue. Yue sent Meng Xiyou with five thousand men to aid Weiyue. At the same time he dispatched Kang Yin with eight thousand men to attack Xingzhou. Yang Chaoguang encamped at Lu Tuan with five thousand men and severed the Zhaoyi army's supply line. Yue himself led several tens of thousands of men in pursuit, and ordered Chaoguang to press the attack against Zhang Pei, the Linming commander. Pei held firm, but provisions were nearly gone and he had nothing left with which to reward his men. He dressed his beloved daughter in finery and presented her to the army, saying: Our granaries are empty. Let this girl stand in place of the bounty you deserve. The soldiers wept at the sight and begged to fight to the death. They routed Yue's army. An imperial edict ordered Ma Sui of Hedong, Li Pi of Heyang, and the Zhaoyi army to relieve Zhang Pei. The three commanders encamped between Mount Gou and Mount Ming and made no move forward. In desperation Pei fashioned a paper kite more than a hundred zhang high and sent it drifting over Yue's camp. Yue ordered his best archers to bring it down, but none could reach it. Ma Sui's camp erupted in shouts as the kite was retrieved. The message inside read: If we are not relieved within three days, the men of Linming will be eaten by Yue's troops. Ma Sui then marched east from Huguan to the beat of drums, smashed Lu Tuan, fought at Shuang'gang, captured the rebel general Lu Zichang, and killed Yang Chaoguang. Yue fled and took refuge behind the Huan River.

於是曹俊為貝州刺史，乃承嗣時舊將，果而謀。悅未得誌，召問計安出，對曰：「兵法，十則攻，今公以逆幹順，勢不敵也。宜留兵萬人屯崞阝口，以遏西師，則舉河北二十四州，惟公所命。今攻臨洺，糧竭卒老，不見其可。」悅所昵扈、孟希祐等皆訾短之，故悅不聽其言。燧等距悅軍三十里，築壘相望。悅與納合兵三萬，陣洹水。燧引神策將李晟夾攻悅，悅大敗，死傷二萬計，引壯騎數十夜奔魏，其將李長春拒關不內，以須官軍。而三帥頓不進。明日，悅得入，殺長春，持佩刀立軍門，流涕曰：「悅藉伯父餘業，與君等同休戚。今敗亡及此，不敢圖全。然悅久稽天誅者，特以淄青、恒冀子弟不得承襲，既弗能報，乃至用兵，使士民塗炭。悅正緣母老不能自剄，願公等斬悅首以取富貴，無庸俱死。」乃自投於地。眾憐，皆抱持之曰：「今士馬之眾，尚可一戰，事脫不濟，死生以之。」悅收淚曰：「諸公不以悅喪敗，誓同存亡，縱身先地下，敢忘厚意乎？」乃斷發為誓，將士亦斷發，約為兄弟；乃率富民大家財及府庫所有，大行賜與。而李再春及其子瑤以博州降，悅從兄昂以洺州降，燧等受之、悅皆族昂等家。悅自視兵械乏，眾單耗，懼，不知所出，復召曹俊與之謀。曹俊為整軍完壘以振士氣，群心復堅，後十餘日，燧等始進薄城下。

At this time Xing Caojun was prefect of Beizhou—a veteran general from Chengsi's day, bold in counsel and shrewd in design. Frustrated in his ambitions, Yue summoned Caojun and asked what course he should take. Caojun answered: The art of war teaches that one attacks only with tenfold strength. You now meet loyal forces with rebellion—the balance of power is against you. Leave ten thousand men at Guokou to hold the western armies at bay, and all twenty-four prefectures of Hebei will lie at your command. To press the siege of Linming now, with provisions spent and troops exhausted, is a course I cannot see succeeding. Hu, Meng Xiyou, and the other men Yue favored all spoke against Caojun, and Yue refused to listen. Ma Sui and his allies halted thirty li from Yue's force and built opposing fortifications. Yue and Li Na combined their armies—thirty thousand strong—and drew up battle lines along the Huan River. Ma Sui brought the Shence general Li Sheng to attack Yue from both flanks. Yue suffered a crushing defeat, with some twenty thousand dead and wounded. He fled by night toward Wei with a few dozen picked horsemen. His general Li Changchun closed the pass and refused him entry, hoping to hold out for the imperial forces. Yet the three commanders held their positions and did not press forward. The next day Yue gained entry and killed Changchun. Sword in hand, he stood before the army gate in tears and said: I inherited my uncle's legacy and have shared fortune and misfortune with you all. Now defeat has brought us to this pass, and I no longer dare hope for survival. The reason I have long evaded Heaven's judgment is simply this: the heirs of Ziqing and Hengji were denied their rightful succession. Unable to make amends by any other means, I took up arms and brought ruin upon soldiers and civilians alike. Only because my mother is old do I lack the courage to fall on my own sword. Cut off my head and claim your reward—there is no need for you all to perish with me. With that he cast himself to the ground. The men were moved to pity and gathered around him, saying: Our force is still strong enough for one more fight. If fortune fails us, then so be it—we live or die together. Tian Yue wiped away his tears and said, You do not hold my defeat against me—you have sworn to stand or fall together. Even if I die first, how could I ever forget such loyalty? He then cut his hair to seal the oath, and his officers and men did the same, binding themselves as sworn brothers. He then pooled the riches of wealthy families and the entire contents of the treasury and distributed them lavishly among his men. Li Zaichun and his son Yao surrendered Bozhou, and Yue's cousin Ang surrendered Mingzhou; though Ma Sui and the others accepted their surrender, Yue had Ang's entire family—and those of the others—put to death. Seeing his arms exhausted and his ranks thinned, Tian Yue grew fearful and at a loss. He summoned Cao Jun once more to counsel him. Cao Jun drilled the troops and strengthened the ramparts to restore morale, and their resolve firmed again. More than ten days passed before Ma Sui and his allies at last pressed up to the walls.

未幾，王武俊殺惟嶽，而深州降朱滔，滔分兵守之。天子授武俊恒州刺史，以康日知為深、趙二州觀察使。武俊恨賞薄，滔怨不得深州，悅知二將可間，乃路使王侑、許士則說滔曰：「司徒奉詔討賊，不十日，拔束鹿，下深州，惟嶽勢蹙，故王大夫能得逆首。聞出幽州日，有詔破惟嶽得其地即隸麾下，今乃以深州與康日知，是朝廷不信於公也。且上英武獨斷，有秦皇、漢武風，將誅豪桀，掃除河朔，不使父子相襲。又功臣劉晏等皆旋踵破滅，殺梁崇義，誅其口三百餘，血丹漢江。今日破魏，則取燕、趙如牽轅下馬耳。夫魏博全則燕、趙安，鄙州尚書必以死報德。且合從連衡，救災恤患，不朽之業也，尚書願上貝州以廣湯沐，使侑等奉簿最孔目，司徒朝至魏則夕入貝，惟孰計之。」滔心素欲得貝，即大喜，使侑先還告師期。

Before long Wang Wujun killed Li Weiyue, Shenzhou submitted to Zhu Tao, and Tao posted troops to hold it. The emperor appointed Wang Wujun governor of Hengzhou and made Kang Rizhi military commissioner over Shen and Zhao. Wang Wujun resented his stingy reward; Zhu Tao resented losing Shenzhou. Tian Yue saw that the two could be set against each other, and sent Wang You and Xu Shize with bribes to win Tao over. They said, Your Excellency received the imperial command to suppress rebellion. In fewer than ten days you took Shulu and seized Shenzhou. Li Weiyue was cornered—that is how Lord Wang won the rebel's head. When you marched out of Youzhou, we hear, the throne decreed that whoever broke Li Weiyue and took his lands would keep them under his own command. Now Shenzhou has been handed to Kang Rizhi. The court plainly does not trust you. Besides, the Son of Heaven is bold and decisive—he has something of the First Emperor and Han Wudi in him. He means to destroy the great warlords of the north, purge the Hebei provinces, and end hereditary rule. Meritorious ministers such as Liu Yan were ruined almost overnight. Liang Chongyi was slain, and more than three hundred members of his clan were executed until the Han River ran red. Once Wei falls, taking Yan and Zhao will be as easy as leading a horse down from beneath the axle. While Weibo stands whole, Yan and Zhao remain safe. Your humble servant will repay your kindness with his life. To league together in alliance, to succor one another in disaster—that is work that outlasts a lifetime. Your servant is willing to surrender Beizhou to enlarge your domain. Let Wang You and the others bring the registers and tallies. If Your Excellency reaches Wei by morning, you may enter Bei by evening. We beg you to weigh this carefully. Zhu Tao had long coveted Beizhou. Overjoyed, he sent Wang You back at once to set the date for marching.

先是，詔武俊出恒冀粟三十萬賜滔，使還幽州，以突騎五百助燧軍。武俊懼悅破，將起師北伐，不肯歸粟、馬。滔因使王郅說武俊曰：「天子以君善戰，天下無前，故分散粟、馬以弱君軍。今若舉魏博，則王師北向，漳、滏勢危。誠能連營南旆，解田悅於倒縣，大夫之利也，豈特粟不出窖，馬不離廄，又有排危之義，聲滿天下。大夫親斷逆首，血蔑釁衣袖，日知不出趙城，何功於國，而坐兼二州。河北士以不得深州為大夫恥。」武俊既得深，亦喜，即日使使報滔。

Earlier, the throne had ordered Wang Wujun to furnish three hundred thousand bushels of grain from Heng and Ji for Zhu Tao, return to Youzhou, and detach five hundred mounted shock troops to reinforce Ma Sui. Wang Wujun feared that Tian Yue would be destroyed and intended to march north himself. He refused to surrender the grain or the horses. Zhu Tao then sent Wang Zhi to persuade him. The Son of Heaven knows you are the finest fighter under heaven, he said. That is why he scattered your grain and horses—to weaken your army. If Weibo falls now, the imperial armies will wheel north, and Zhang and Fu will be in grave danger. If you truly joined camps and marched south under your banners, lifting Tian Yue from his desperate plight, that would serve my lord well. Not only would your grain remain in the storehouse and your horses in the stable—you would also win the fame of saving a man in peril, and your name would fill the realm. My lord cut off the rebel's head himself—his blood stained your sleeve when you swore your oath. Kang Rizhi never even left Zhao city. What deed did he perform for the empire, that he should sit holding two prefectures? Every man of Hebei counts it a disgrace to my lord that he was denied Shenzhou. Wang Wujun, now satisfied on the matter of Shenzhou, was pleased as well, and that same day sent envoys to inform Zhu Tao.

於是滔率兵二萬屯寧晉，武俊以兵萬五千會之。悅恃救至，使康愔督兵與王師戰禦河上，大敗，棄甲走城。悅怒，閉門不內，蹈藉死塹中者甚眾。其夏，滔、武俊軍至，悅具牛酒迎犒。燧等營魏河西，武俊、滔、悅壁河東，起樓櫓營中，兩軍相持，自秋汔冬。燧遣晟以兵三千，自邢、趙與張孝忠合攻涿、莫二州，以絕幽、薊路。

Zhu Tao then led twenty thousand men to encamp at Ningjin, and Wang Wujun joined him with fifteen thousand. Emboldened by the arrival of relief, Tian Yue sent Kang Yin to lead his troops against the imperial forces on the riverbank. They were routed, threw off their armor, and fled back toward the city. Tian Yue flew into a rage, shut the gates, and refused them entry. Many were trampled to death in the moat. That summer, when the armies of Zhu Tao and Wang Wujun arrived, Tian Yue laid out oxen and wine to welcome and feast them. Ma Sui and his allies encamped west of the Wei River; Wang Wujun, Zhu Tao, and Tian Yue fortified the east bank, raising watchtowers and palisades in their camps. The two sides faced each other from autumn through winter. Ma Sui dispatched Li Sheng with three thousand men from Xing and Zhao to join Zhang Xiaozhong in assailing Zhuo and Mo, severing the road to You and Ji.

悅重德滔，欲推為盟主而臣之。滔不敢當，乃更議如七國故事。悅國號魏，僭稱魏王，以府為大名府，署子為府留後；以扈為留守，許士則為司武，曾穆司文，裴抗司禮，封演司刑，並為侍郎；劉士素為內史舍人，張瑜、孫光佐為給事中，邢曹俊、孟希祐為左右仆射，田晁、高緬為征西節度使，蔡濟、薛有倫為虎牙將軍，高崇節知軍前兵馬，夏侯<赤真>為兵馬使。晁以兵數千助李納守鄆。明年夏，滔屯河間，留大將馬寔以兵萬人戍魏。會朱泚亂，帝出奉天，燧還太原，武俊等皆罷，悅餞之，厚遺武俊、寔，官屬皆有贈。

Tian Yue held Zhu Tao in deep respect and wished to make him leader of the alliance and submit to him as sovereign. Zhu Tao declined the honor, and they settled instead on the old arrangement of the Seven Warring States. Tian Yue declared his state Wei, took the title King of Wei, made Daming his capital, and appointed his son acting prefect of the prefecture. He appointed Hu as garrison commander; Xu Shize as Minister of War; Zeng Mu as Minister of Documents; Pei Kang as Minister of Rites; and Feng Yan as Minister of Punishment—all with the rank of vice minister. Liu Shisu became Secretariat Attendant; Zhang Yu and Sun Guangzuo, Supervising Censors; Xing Caojun and Meng Xiyou, Left and Right Vice Premiers; Tian Chao and Gao Mian, Commissioners of the Western Expedition; Cai Ji and Xue Youlun, Tigertooth Generals; Gao Chongjie, commander of the vanguard; and Xiahou Chizhen, Army Horse Commissioner. Tian Chao led several thousand men to help Li Na hold Yan. The following summer Zhu Tao encamped at Hejian and left his chief general Ma Shi with ten thousand men to guard Wei. When Zhu Ci rebelled and the emperor withdrew to Fengtian, Ma Sui returned to Taiyuan and Wang Wujun and the others broke off the siege. Tian Yue gave them a lavish farewell, heaping gifts on Wang Wujun and Ma Shi and presenting every officer with parting rewards.

興元元年，滔自將兵欲南度河助泚，使王郅見悅計事曰：「頃大王在重圍，孤與趙刻日赴王難以全魏、貝。今秦帝已據關中，孤以步騎十萬與回紇趨東都相應接，王能從孤濟河，合勢以取大梁，孤得西收鞏、陜，與秦兵會，天下可定也。則王與趙王永無南慮，為唇齒之國，幸速計之。」是時，悅聞天子已赦罪，復官爵，心不欲行，重遽絕滔，陽遣薛有倫報滔如約。滔大喜，復使舍人李琯申固所言，悅猶豫，許士則諫曰：「冀王勇決權略，一世之雄也，殺懷仙，屠希彩，訹兄使如京師而奪之權，有恩者誅，同謀者覆，彼心腹渠可量哉？今大王之親不加泚，勇不加懷仙、希彩也，而念恩不已，拘攣匹夫義，出且見禽。彼得魏博，北聯幽薊，南入梁、鄭而與泚合，其理然也。大王不如偽許出迎，遣州縣具牛酒，至則以事自解，不可顧恩取禍也。」悅然之。先是，武俊陰約悅背滔，使相望。及聞滔要悅西，使田秀馳說悅曰：「聞大王欲從滔度河，為泚掎角，非也。方泚未盜京師時，滔為列國，且自高，如得東都，與泚連禍，兵多勢張，返制於豎於乎？今日天子復官赦罪，乃王臣，豈舍天子而北面滔、泚耶！願大王閉壘不出，武俊須昭義軍出，為王討之。」悅因秀還，具道其謀，而遣曾穆報滔。滔喜，自河間悉師而南，逾貝州，次清河，使人報悅，悅不至。進屯永濟，使王郅等督之曰：「王約出館陶與大王會，乃濟河。」悅良久曰：「始約從王，今舉軍持悅曰：『魏比困侵掠，供擬屈竭。』以悅日拊循，猶恐人且攜間，一日去城邑，朝出夕變，且何歸？不然，悅不敢背約。今遣孟希祐悉兵五千助王。」因使其屬裴抗、盧南史報命。滔怒罵曰：「逆虜前日求救，許我貝州，我不取；尊我為天子，我與同為王；教我遠來而不出。是賊不擊，尚何誅？」乃囚抗等，使馬寔取數縣，已而釋抗還之，悅兵不敢出，遂圍貝州。滔取武城，通德、棣，供軍饋，盡囚諸縣官吏，唯清陽不下，滔圍之。寔拔清平，殺五百人，俘男女貲財去。

In the first year of the Xingyuan reign, Zhu Tao personally led his army south intending to cross the river and aid Zhu Ci. He sent Wang Zhi to consult with Tian Yue. When Your Majesty was hemmed in tight, he said, Zhao and I fixed a day and raced to your rescue to preserve Wei and Bei. Now the Emperor of Qin holds Guanzhong. I will march a hundred thousand foot and horse with the Uyghurs toward the Eastern Capital to coordinate our attack. If Your Majesty will cross the river with me and unite our strength to seize Daliang, I can then sweep west to take Gong and Shaan and join the Qin armies—the empire will be settled. Then Your Majesty and the King of Zhao would never again fear attack from the south—you would be lip and teeth to each other. I beg you to decide quickly. By then Tian Yue had learned that the emperor had pardoned his crimes and restored his rank and titles. In his heart he had no wish to march. Yet he broke sharply with Zhu Tao while sending Xue Youlun to reply as though he still meant to keep their pact. Zhu Tao was delighted and sent his attendant Li Guan to confirm the plan once more. Tian Yue wavered. Xu Shize admonished him: The Prince of Ji is bold, decisive, and cunning—a hero of his generation. He killed Li Huaixian, butchered Li Xicai, and drove his own elder brother to the capital so he could seize power. He destroys those who show him kindness and turns on those who plotted with him. Who can read the depths of such a man? Your Majesty is no closer to Zhu Ci than others were, nor braver than Li Huaixian or Li Xicai. Yet if you cling to gratitude like some petty man of honor and go out to meet him, you will be taken. Once he holds Weibo, joins the north with You and Ji, and drives south into Liang and Zheng to unite with Zhu Ci—that is exactly what reason dictates. Your Majesty should feign agreement to go out and welcome him, order the prefectures and counties to prepare oxen and wine, and when he arrives plead necessity as your excuse. Do not invite ruin out of misplaced loyalty. Tian Yue accepted the advice. Earlier, Wang Wujun had secretly agreed with Tian Yue to betray Zhu Tao, their armies keeping watch on each other. When he learned that Zhu Tao wanted Tian Yue to cross the river with him, he sent Tian Xiu in haste to dissuade him. I hear Your Majesty means to follow Zhu Tao across the river and serve as Zhu Ci's pincer—that would be a mistake, he said. Before Zhu Ci even seized the capital, Zhu Tao already ranked among the great regional lords and thought himself above others. If he takes the Eastern Capital, binds his fate to Zhu Ci's, and commands a vast, swelling army—will he then submit to that upstart? The emperor has restored their ranks and pardoned their crimes; they are the emperor's own ministers. Would they truly forsake the throne to bow north to Zhu Tao and Zhu Ci? Your Highness should hold the fort and stay within the walls. Wang Wujun must wait until the Zhaoyi army comes out to fight this war for you. When Xiu returned, Tian Yue laid out the whole scheme in detail and sent Zeng Mu to inform Zhu Tao. Zhu Tao was delighted. From Hejian he marched his entire force south, crossed Beizhou, and encamped at Qinghe. He sent word to Tian Yue, but Yue never appeared. He pushed on to Yongji and sent Wang Zhi and others to urge him on: 'Our lord promised to come out from Guantao and meet Your Highness before crossing the river together. After a long pause Tian Yue replied: 'We first agreed to march at our lord's side. Now the whole army confronts me and says: Wei has been ground down by constant raids and looting—our provisions are completely spent. Even though I comfort and reassure the men every day, I still fear they may turn against us. Leave the city for a single day—out in the morning, in revolt by evening—and where would we have left to go? If not for that, I would not dare break our pact. For the moment I am sending Meng Xiyou with all five thousand of his troops to aid our lord.' He then sent his officers Pei Kang and Lu Nanshi back with this reply. Zhu Tao flew into a rage and cursed: 'That rebel cur came begging for help the other day and promised me Beizhou—and I did not even take it. They proclaimed me Son of Heaven and pledged that we would reign as kings together. They summoned me from far away—and now they refuse to come out. If traitors like these go unstruck, what villainy is left worth punishing? He imprisoned Kang and the rest, sent Ma Shi to overrun several counties, then soon released Kang and his party and sent them back. Tian Yue's troops dared not venture out, and Zhu Tao laid siege to Beizhou. Zhu Tao seized Wucheng, Tongde, and Di, stripping them for army supplies, and imprisoned every county official he could lay hands on. Only Qingyang held out, and he laid siege to it as well. Ma Shi stormed Qingping, slaughtered five hundred people, and marched off with captives—men and women alike—and all their goods and wealth.

於是李抱真、武俊約出兵救魏。會有詔拜悅檢校尚書右仆射，封濟陽郡王，而給事中孔巢父持節宣勞。始悅阻兵凡四年，狂愎少謀，亟戰數北，死者什八，士苦之，且厭兵。既巢父至，莫不欣然。悅與巢父張飲，門階皆徹衛。至夜分，從弟緒與族人私語曰：「仆射妄起兵，幾赤吾族。以金帛厚天下，而不至兄弟。」或諫止之，緒怒，殺諫者，乃與左右逾垣入。悅方醉，寢酣。緒挺刃升堂，二弟諫止，緒斬之，因手刺悅，並殺基母妻。悅死，年三十四。比明，以悅命召許士則、蔡濟計事，至則殺之。劉忠信者，悅常使防督緒直寢門，緒呼曰：「忠信刺仆射，與扈反。」眾執之，語曰：「無之。」支已殊絕。

Li Baozhen and Wang Wujun then agreed to march out and relieve Wei. At that moment an imperial edict arrived appointing Tian Yue Acting Right Vice Minister of Works and enfeoffing him as Prince of Jiyang, while the Supervising Secretary Kong Chaofu arrived with imperial credentials to announce the grace of the throne and comfort the army. Tian Yue had kept his arms raised for four years altogether—arrogant, stubborn, and short on strategy. Battle after battle ended in defeat; eight men in ten were dead. The troops had suffered beyond endurance and were sick of war. When Kong Chaofu arrived, every man rejoiced. Tian Yue held a grand banquet with Kong Chaofu, and every guard was pulled from the gates and stairways. Deep into the night, his younger cousin Tian Xu whispered with kinsmen: 'The Vice Minister raised arms without cause and nearly wiped our whole clan from the earth. He showered gold and silk on the whole world, yet never so much as reached his own brothers. Someone tried to stop him. Tian Xu in a fury killed the man who spoke up, then climbed the wall with his closest followers and went in. Tian Yue was drunk and sleeping deeply. Tian Xu drew his sword and mounted the hall. Two younger brothers tried to intervene; he cut them down, then drove the blade into Tian Yue himself, and killed his stepmother and wife as well. Tian Yue died at thirty-four. At daybreak he summoned Xu Shize and Cai Ji in Tian Yue's name to consult on affairs of state—and killed them the moment they arrived. Liu Zhongxin—whom Tian Yue had regularly posted to guard the bedchamber door and keep watch over Tian Xu—Xu now shouted: 'Zhongxin stabbed the Vice Minister! He is in league with Hu to rebel! The men seized him. He cried: 'It is not true!' Before he could finish, they had already hacked him limb from limb.

緒字緒，承嗣第六子。悅待諸弟無所間，使緒主牙軍，而兇險多過，嘗笞勖之。悅於飲食衣服，儉嗇有節，緒常苦不足，頗怨望，故作難。悅既死，懼眾不附，以其徒數百將出奔，邢曹俊率眾追還。緒乃下令軍中曰：「我先王子，能立我者賞。」眾乃共推緒為留後，歸罪扈，斬其首以徇。復殺悅親信薛有倫等數十人，因巢父遣使者聽命天子。滔聞悅死，以兵五千合寔軍，進攻魏州。寔瀕王莽河壁，南距河，東抵博州，殺略甚眾。使人入魏招緒降。緒新篡，而寔圍且急，乃遣使以好言見滔，滔許與盟。曾穆勸緒絕滔，而緒部分亦定，乃乘城戰，武俊、抱真各脩好如悅時。詔即拜緒節度使。寔圍魏凡三月，滔敗走。

Tian Xu, styled Xu, was the sixth son of Tian Chengsi. Tian Yue treated his younger brothers without reserve and put Tian Xu in command of the headquarters guard, but Xu was cruel and reckless by nature, and Yue had once beaten him with the whip as punishment. Tian Yue was sparing and disciplined in food, drink, and dress. Tian Xu always felt himself shortchanged and nursed a deep grievance—and so he made his move. After Tian Yue's death, Tian Xu feared the army would not rally to him. He was about to flee with a few hundred of his own men when Xing Caojun led the troops after him and brought him back. Tian Xu then proclaimed to the army: 'I am the late prince's own son. Whoever helps establish my rule will be richly rewarded. The men together acclaimed Tian Xu as acting governor, pinned the crime on Hu, and beheaded him as a public example. He went on to kill several dozen of Tian Yue's trusted men, including Xue Youlun, and through Kong Chaofu sent envoys to submit to the emperor's command. When Zhu Tao learned of Tian Yue's death, he combined five thousand of his own troops with Ma Shi's force and marched on Weizhou. Ma Shi fortified his line along the Wang Mang River—the river at his back to the south, Buzhou to the east—and killed and looted without mercy. He sent envoys into Wei to demand Tian Xu's surrender. Tian Xu had only just seized power, and with Ma Shi's siege tightening by the day, he sent envoys with conciliatory words to Zhu Tao—who agreed to treat with him. Zeng Mu urged Tian Xu to break with Zhu Tao, but once his own ranks were steady he fought from the walls. Wang Wujun and Li Baozhen each renewed their alliance with Wei, just as in Tian Yue's day. An imperial edict promptly confirmed Tian Xu as military governor. Ma Shi besieged Wei for three months altogether before Zhu Tao was beaten and driven off.

累遷檢校尚書左仆射、常山郡王，又徙王雁門，實封五百戶，加同中書門下平章事。暴疾死，年三十三，贈司空。少子季安嗣。

He was promoted in succession to Acting Left Vice Minister of Works and Prince of Changshan, then transferred to Prince of Yanmen with a substantive fief of five hundred households, and further granted the title of Grand Councilor. He died suddenly of illness at thirty-three; the court posthumously enfeoffed him as Minister of Works. His youngest son, Tian Ji'an, succeeded him.

會詔中尉吐突承璀以神策兵討王承宗，季安謀曰：「王師不跨河二十五年，今越魏伐趙，趙誠虜，魏亦虜矣，奈何？」或請以五千騎決除君憂。季安曰：「善，沮軍者斬！」時幽州劉濟將譚忠適使魏，聞之，入見季安曰：「往年王師取蜀取吳，算不失一，是宰相謀也。今伐趙，不使耆臣宿將而付中臣，不起天下甲而出秦甲，君知誰為之謀？此上自為謀，以誇服臣下。若師未叩趙，而先碎於魏，是上之謀不及下，且能不恥！既恥且怒，必任智畫，仗猛將，再舉涉河。鑒前之敗，必不越魏誅趙；校罪輕重，必不先趙後魏。是上不上，下不下，當魏而來也。」季安曰：「計安出？」忠曰：「王師入魏，君厚犒之。悉甲伐趙，而陰遺趙書曰：『魏若伐趙，為賣友；魏若與趙，為反君。賣友反君，魏不忍受。執事能弛陴鄣，遺一城，魏得持之獻捷天子以為符，此使魏北得以奉趙，西得以為臣，不世之利也。』趙不拒君，則魏安矣。」季安然之，遣大將率兵會王師伐承宗，糧餉自辦，取堂陽以報，加太子太保。

Just then an edict dispatched the Chief Eunuch Tuhu Chenghuang with the Shence Army to campaign against Wang Chengzong. Tian Ji'an counseled: 'Imperial armies have not crossed the river in twenty-five years. To march through Wei to strike Zhao—even if Zhao is truly brought to heel, Wei will be lost as well. What are we to do? Some even urged that five thousand cavalry might settle the matter at a stroke and lift his cares. Ji'an replied, 'Agreed. Anyone who hampers the campaign dies! Meanwhile Tan Zhong, a commander serving Liu Ji of Youzhou, happened to be in Wei on an embassy. When he heard of this, he went to see Ji'an and said, 'When the imperial armies conquered Shu and Wu in years past, not a single stratagem failed—that was the work of chancellors at court. This campaign against Zhao—veteran statesmen and seasoned generals are passed over in favor of lesser courtiers; troops are not mobilized from across the realm but drawn from Guanzhong alone. Do you know whose design this is? The emperor is scheming for himself—to dazzle and cow his own officials. If the army reaches Zhao's borders only after being shattered at Wei, the emperor's strategy will have proved inferior to those beneath him—and will he not be mortified? Once shamed and enraged, he will surely enlist sharper counsel, commit his fiercest generals, and launch another crossing of the Yellow River. Chastened by the last defeat, he will not bypass Wei to strike at Zhao; weighing which side bears the heavier guilt, he will certainly not move against Zhao before Wei. Caught between advancing and retreating, he will march straight on Wei.' Ji'an asked, 'What is your counsel?' Tan Zhong replied, 'When the imperial troops enter Wei, treat them with lavish hospitality. Then march in full force against Zhao—but secretly send Zhao a letter saying, "If Wei joins in attacking Zhao, it betrays a friend; if Wei stands with Zhao, it rebels against the throne. Betrayal on one hand, treason on the other—Wei cannot endure either charge. If you would lift your defenses and yield one city, Wei can take it and present it to the Son of Heaven as proof of victory—letting Wei honor Zhao in the north while playing the loyal subject in the west. A prize beyond price. If Zhao does not rebuff you, Wei is saved. Ji'an agreed. He dispatched a senior general at the head of his troops to join the imperial campaign against Wang Chengzong, supplied his own provisions, seized Tangyang in repayment, and was appointed Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent.

有丘絳者，父時賓佐，與同府侯臧爭權，季安怒，斥為下縣尉，俄召還，先坎道左，既至，生瘞之。忍酷無忌憚，大抵如此，死年三十二，贈太尉。

One Qiu Jiang, a retainer from his father's day, had jockeyed for power with a fellow officer named Hou Zang. Ji'an flew into a rage, banished Qiu to a lowly county post as assistant magistrate—then summoned him back, had a pit dug by the roadside, and when Qiu arrived, buried him alive. Such was his savage, unbridled cruelty. He died at thirty-two and was posthumously ennobled as Grand Commandant.

妻元誼女，召諸將立其子懷諫，最幼，不能事，政決於私奴蔣士則，數易置諸將，軍中怒，取田興為留後，所謂田弘正者，以懷諫歸第，殺士則等十餘人。季安既葬，送懷諫京師，授右監門衛將軍，寵錫蕃渥。緒弟縉、華顯於朝。

His wife was a daughter of Yuan Yi. The generals were summoned to install his youngest son, Huaijian—still a child, unable to rule. Real power fell to a household slave, Jiang Shize, who shuffled commanders at whim until the troops revolted. They installed Tian Xing—later known as Tian Hongzheng—as acting military governor, sent Huaijian home, and put Jiang Shize and a dozen others to death. After Ji'an's burial, Huaijian was escorted to the capital and made a general of the Right Gate Guard, showered with imperial favors. Ji's younger brothers Jin and Hua both rose to prominence at court.

縉字雲長，貞元十年入朝，授左驍衛將軍，封扶風郡公。元和中，拜夏綏銀節度使。始開元時，置宥州，扼寇路，久而廢，縉復城之。王師伐蔡，縉上橐它牛馬助軍。吐蕃寇豐州，縉設伏邀其歸，俘斬過當。入為左衛大將軍，李聽代之。聽劾縉盜沒軍糧四萬斛，強取羌人羊馬，故吐蕃得乘隙。貶衡王傅。俄而吐蕃又攻鹽州，貶房州司馬。長慶初，終左領軍衛將軍。華，太常少卿，尚永樂、新都二公主。

Jin, styled Yunzhang, came to court in the tenth year of the Zhenyuan reign and was appointed Left Valiant Cavalry General and created Duke of Fufeng. During the Yuanhe era, he was made military commissioner of the Xia-Sui-Yin circuit. You Prefecture had been established in the Kaiyuan era to block barbarian incursions, but had long lain in ruins; Jin restored its fortifications. When the imperial army marched on Cai, Jin sent pack camels, oxen, and horses to support the campaign. When Tibetans raided Feng Prefecture, Jin laid an ambush along their retreat and killed or captured far more than he lost. He was recalled to serve as Grand General of the Left Guard; Li Ting succeeded him in the field. Li Ting accused Jin of diverting forty thousand bushels of military grain and seizing sheep and horses from the Qiang—leaving the frontier porous enough for Tibetan raiders to strike through. Jin was demoted to tutor to the Prince of Heng. When Tibetans attacked Yan Prefecture again soon after, he was further demoted to vice administrator of Fang Prefecture. At the opening of the Changqing era, he died while serving as Left Army Guard General. Hua served as Vice Minister of Rites and married two imperial princesses—those of Yongle and Xindu.

田氏自承嗣至懷諫，四世，凡四十九年。

From Chengsi to Huaijian, the Tian family held power for four generations over forty-nine years.

史憲誠，其先奚也，內徙靈武，為建康人。三世署魏博將，祖及父爵皆為王。憲誠始以趫敢從父軍，田弘正討李師道，將先鋒兵四千濟河，拔城柵，師踵進，乘勝逐北，傅鄆堞。師道傳首，以功兼御史中丞。

Shi Xiancheng's ancestors were Khitan Xi who had been resettled inland at Lingwu; his family were natives of Jian' Kang. For three generations his family held generalships in Weibo; both his grandfather and father were ennobled as kings. Xiancheng first won notice for his daring in his father's campaigns. When Tian Hongzheng marched against Li Shidao, he led four thousand vanguard troops across the river, stormed fortified stockades, and pressed the pursuit northward until his lines hugged the walls of Yan Prefecture. When Li Shidao's head was sent to court, Xiancheng was rewarded with the concurrent post of Vice Censor in Chief.

長慶二年，田布之自殺也，軍亂且囂。時憲誠為中軍兵馬使，頗言河朔舊事以搖其眾，眾乃逼還府，擅總軍務。穆宗以朱克融、王廷湊方盜幽、鎮，未有以制，即以節度使授之。憲誠外詫王命，而陰結幽、鎮，依以自固。時李方亂，私與交通，數助請旄節，城馬頭，具舟黎陽，示將濟師者。會天子遣司門郎中韋文恪宣慰，憲誠見使者禮倨，言辭悖慢。俄聞斬，更恭謹謂文恪曰：「我本奚，如狗也，唯知識主，雖日加箠不忍離。」其譎獪類此。進檢校司空。

In the second year of Changqing, after Tian Bu took his own life, the army fell into uproar and rebellion. Xiancheng, then commander of the middle army, stirred the troops with tales of old Hebei grievances until they forced their way back to headquarters and seized control of the command. With Zhu Kerong and Wang Tingcou already raiding You and Zhen, Emperor Muzong had no leverage left—and confirmed Xiancheng as military commissioner. Xiancheng paid lip service to the throne while secretly aligning with You and Zhen, using them to buttress his own position. While the court faction loyal to Li was in disarray, he maintained secret ties with them, repeatedly lobbying for a formal commission, fortified Matou, and readied boats at Liyang as though preparing a river crossing. When the emperor dispatched Wei Wenke of the Ministry of Rites to announce imperial condolences, Xiancheng received the envoy with brazen disrespect and answered with open insolence. When word spread that heads would roll, he turned meek and told Wei Wenke, 'I am a Xi by birth—no better than a dog that knows only its master. Beat me every day and still I would not leave his side. Such was the tenor of his cunning. He was promoted to honorary Grand Master of Works.

與李全略為婚家，大和中，其子同捷反，潛以糧餉資之。文宗申約，使者相望，因進同中書門下平章事。憲誠使大將至京師偵事，作謾言自大，宰相韋處厚折其詐，遣去。憲誠懼，出兵從王師討之，復遣大將丌誌沼率師二萬攻德州。時王廷湊援同捷，陰誘誌沼以利。誌沼反，屯永濟，兵銳甚，諸鎮共禦之。憲誠告急，天子詔義武李聽進討。於是誌沼與廷湊合兵劫貝州，為聽所敗，奔廷湊。滄景平，憲誠不自安，請納地，進檢校司徒兼侍中，徙河中，封千乘郡公，以李聽代。

He was connected by marriage to Li Quanlue; during the Dahe era, when Li's son Tongjie rose in rebellion, Xiancheng secretly fed his army. Emperor Wenzong reaffirmed their pact—envoys shuttled back and forth in an unbroken stream—and Xiancheng was elevated to Associate Counselor of the Secretariat and Chancellery. Xiancheng dispatched a senior general to the capital to gather intelligence. The man swaggered and spoke with flagrant arrogance until Chancellor Wei Chuhou saw through the deception and sent him packing. Alarmed, Xiancheng marched out with the imperial forces to suppress the rebellion and again dispatched his general Qizhao with twenty thousand men to attack De Prefecture. Wang Tingcou, then aiding Tongjie, secretly tempted Qizhao with promises of profit. Qizhao turned traitor, encamped at Yongji with a fierce and crack army, and the surrounding commands united to hold him at bay. Xiancheng sent urgent appeals for help, and the emperor ordered Li Ting of Yiwu to march against the rebels. Qizhao then united with Tingcou to plunder Bei Prefecture, but Li Ting routed them, and Qizhao fled to Tingcou's camp. Once Cang and Jing were pacified, Xiancheng no longer felt secure in his seat. He offered to surrender his territory and was promoted to Honorary Minister of Education with the concurrent rank of Palace Attendant, transferred to Hezhong, and created Duke of Qiansheng, while Li Ting took his place at Weibo.

初，憲誠將以族行，懼魏軍之留，問策於弟憲忠，憲忠教分相、衛，請置帥，因以弱魏。復請詔聽引軍聲圖誌沼而假道清河，帝從之。憲誠因欲倚聽公去魏，及聽次清河，魏人驚，憲忠曰：「彼假道取賊，吾軍無負朝廷，何懼為？」乃稍安。然魏素聚兵清河，聽至，悉出其甲，將入魏，魏軍聞之懼，明日盡甲而出。聽按軍館陶不進。眾謂憲誠賣己，曰：「紿我以沽恩耶？」夜攻殺之，並監軍史良佐，推何進滔為帥以請，詔贈憲誠太尉，實大和三年。憲誠起，凡七年，死。

At first Xiancheng planned to move his entire clan, fearing the men of Wei would hold them back. He consulted his brother Xianzhong, who advised petitioning the throne to split off Xiang and Wei into separate commands with their own governors—thus sapping Weibo's strength. He further petitioned that Li Ting be ordered to march—ostensibly against Qizhao, but in reality to pass through Qinghe on the way. The emperor consented. Xiancheng meant to use Li Ting's departure to clear him from Wei. When Li Ting encamped at Qinghe, the people of Wei panicked. Xianzhong said, 'He is only borrowing the road to strike at rebels. Our army has done the court no wrong—what do we have to fear? With that, tempers eased a little. But Weibo had long kept a concentration of troops at Qinghe. When Li Ting arrived, they all took up their armor as though he meant to invade Wei itself. The garrison was terrified, and the next morning every man marched out in full battle gear. Li Ting held his army at Guantao and made no move forward. The troops decided Xiancheng had betrayed them. 'Did you trick us just to curry favor with the court?' they cried. That night they stormed in and killed him, along with the supervising commissioner Shi Liangzuo. They proclaimed He Jintao their leader and petitioned the throne. An edict posthumously ennobled Xiancheng as Grand Preceptor. This was the third year of the Dahe reign. From his rise to power until his death, Xiancheng ruled seven years.

何進滔，靈武人，世為本軍校。少客魏，委質軍中，事田弘正。弘正攻王承宗，夜以兵壓鎮州。承宗使健將以鐵冒面，引精騎千餘馳魏壁。進滔率猛士逐之，幾獲，鎮人大懼。從討李師道，以功兼侍御史。憲誠死，軍中傳謼曰：「得何公事之，軍安矣！」進滔下令曰：「公等既迫我，當聽吾令。」眾唯唯。「孰殺前使及監軍者，疏出之。」凡斬九十餘人，釋脅從者。素服臨哭，將吏皆入吊。詔拜留後，俄進授節度使。居魏十餘年，民安之。進累檢校司徒、同中書門下平章事。開成五年死，贈太傅，謚曰定。

He Jintao was a native of Lingwu; for generations his family had served as officers in the garrison. In youth he lived as a guest in Wei, pledged himself to the army, and entered the service of Tian Hongzheng. When Hongzheng campaigned against Wang Chengzong, he pressed Zhen Prefecture by night. Chengzong sent a champion general whose face was masked in iron, at the head of a thousand picked horsemen, to charge the Wei lines. Jintao led his fiercest warriors in pursuit and nearly took him. The garrison at Zhen was seized with dread. In the campaign against Li Shidao he distinguished himself and was made concurrent Palace Censor. When Xiancheng died, a cry went up through the ranks: 'Get Lord He to lead us and this army will be at peace! Jintao proclaimed, 'You have forced this on me—then you will obey my orders.' The men murmured their assent. 'Name every man who took part in killing the former governor and the supervising commissioner. More than ninety were executed. Those who had been compelled to follow were set free. He appeared in undyed mourning dress to weep over the dead, and every officer and official came to offer condolences. An imperial edict confirmed him as acting governor; before long he received the full commission of military governor. He governed Wei for more than a decade, and the people lived in quiet under his rule. He rose through successive honors to Honorary Minister of Education and Associate Counselor of the Secretariat and Chancellery. He died in the fifth year of Kaicheng, was posthumously ennobled Grand Tutor, and given the posthumous name Ding.

子全臯襲，明年，拜節度使。平龐勛，以功遷檢校司空、同中書門下平章事。母喪，納所賜節，願行喪，詔不許。全臯年少好殺戮，下有小罪，鮮縱貰，人人危懼。後軍中相傳晙減糧帛，眾遂叛，全臯單騎遁，眾推韓君雄以總軍事，而殺全臯，實咸通十一年。詔贈太保。

His son Quangao succeeded him and received the military commission the following year. After suppressing Pang Xun's rebellion he was promoted to Honorary Grand Master of Works and Associate Counselor. When his mother died he surrendered his commissioner's baton, begging leave to mourn—but the throne refused. Quangao was young and bloodthirsty. Even petty infractions rarely escaped punishment, and every man under him lived in fear. Later a rumor spread through the army that supplies and pay were being cut. The men mutinied. Quangao fled alone on horseback. They installed Han Junxiong to command affairs and killed Quangao. This was the eleventh year of Xiantong. An edict posthumously ennobled him Grand Guardian.

自進滔至全臯，凡三世，四十二年。

From Jintao to Quangao, the He family held power for three generations over forty-two years.

懿宗更以普王為大使，擢君雄留後。君雄，魏州人。不五月，進副大使，三遷檢校司空。僖宗即位，進同中書門下平章事，賜名允中。死年六十一，贈太尉。

Emperor Yizong appointed Prince Pu as grand envoy and promoted Han Junxiong to acting governor. Junxiong was a native of Weizhou. Within five months he was advanced to vice grand envoy and thrice promoted to Honorary Grand Master of Works. When Emperor Xizong took the throne, he was promoted to Associate Counselor and granted the name Yunzhong. He died at sixty-one and was posthumously ennobled Grand Preceptor.

子簡，襲留後。俄授節度使，進累檢校太尉、同中書門下平章事，封魏郡王。帝在蜀，天下亂，簡恃強完，欲拓地，覬望非常。時諸葛爽為黃巢守河陽，簡攻之，爽走，即戍以兵，以略邢、洺而歸。東攻鄆，鄆將曹存實出戰，敗死，其將朱宣率眾以守，久不下，爽乘其隙，復取河陽。簡還攻之，爽迎擊新鄉，簡大敗，樂彥禛以一軍先還，簡奔歸，疽發背死。彥禎代之。再世，凡十二年。

His son Jian succeeded him as acting governor. He was soon confirmed as military commissioner, promoted to Honorary Grand Preceptor and Associate Counselor, and created Prince of Wei Commandery. With the emperor in exile in Shu and the realm in chaos, Jian trusted in his own strength and security, sought to expand his territory, and nursed ambitions beyond his station. At that time Zhuge Shuang held Heyang for Huang Chao. Jian attacked, Shuang fled, and Jian left a garrison before raiding Xing and Mo and returning home. He marched east against Yan. The Yan general Cao Cunshi rode out to fight and was killed in defeat. His subordinate Zhu Xuan held the city, but the siege dragged on. Shuang seized the opening and retook Heyang. Jian returned to attack. Shuang intercepted him at Xingxiang. Jian suffered a crushing defeat. Yue Yanzhen brought one division home first. Jian fled back and died of a back abscess. Yue Yanzhen replaced him. Two generations held power for twelve years in all.

彥禎者，亦魏人。簡時，歷博州刺史，下河陽有功，遷澶州。魏人立之，詔檢校工部尚書，領留後，進節度使，累加檢校尚書左仆射、同中書門下平章事。

Yue Yanzhen was also a native of Wei. During Jian's time he had served as prefect of Bo, distinguished himself in the descent on Heyang, and was transferred to Cang Prefecture. The people of Wei installed him. An edict appointed him Honorary Minister of Works and acting governor, then military commissioner, and cumulatively Honorary Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Associate Counselor.

彥禎喜儒術，引公乘億、李山甫皆在幕府。嗣襄王煴之亂，彥禎使山甫往見鎮州王镕，欲合幽、邢、滄諸鎮同盟拒賊，镕厚謝，卒不克。彥禎見王室微，頗驕滿不軌，大興其眾，城魏周八十里，一月畢，人怨其殘。子從訓，資兇悖，劫王鐸，取其家，魏人不直。又聚亡命五百人，號「子將」，出入臥內，軍中藉藉惡之。從訓懼，易服奔近縣，彥禎即以為六州指揮使、相州刺史，輦兵械泉布，跡接於道，軍中益貳。彥禎常夢解佩帶覆而行，既寤，曰：「此神告我，下將有背乎？」已而軍亂，果囚彥禎，迫為桑門，尋殺之，推大將趙文㺹總留後。

Yue Yanzhen favored Confucian learning and recruited Gongcheng Yi and Li Shanfu into his staff. During the turmoil of the successor Prince Yun of Xiang, Yue Yanzhen sent Shanfu to see Wang Rong of Zhenzhou, hoping to unite the commands of You, Xing, and Cang in alliance against the rebels. Rong thanked him warmly but ultimately could not agree. Seeing the royal house enfeebled, Yue Yanzhen grew arrogant and unrestrained. He massively conscripted labor to wall Wei for eighty li all around, completed in one month. The people resented his cruelty. His son Congxun, by nature fierce and defiant, plundered Wang Duo and seized his household. The people of Wei thought it unjust. He also gathered five hundred outlaws, called the 'Prince's Guards,' who entered the bedchamber at will. The army murmured against them with loathing. Congxun, afraid, changed clothes and fled to a nearby county. Yue Yanzhen immediately made him commander of six prefectures and prefect of Xiang, hauling weapons and coin along the road in an unbroken train. Dissatisfaction in the ranks deepened. Yue Yanzhen often dreamed his girdle and sash undone, walking bent over. On waking he said, 'Is this the gods warning me that subordinates will betray me? Soon the army mutinied. They imprisoned Yue Yanzhen, forced him to become a monk, then killed him, and pushed the great general Zhao Wen'gao to oversee affairs as acting governor.

從訓求救於朱全忠，全忠為起師，次內黃。從訓自相州以軍三萬傅城，文㺹不敢出，眾懼，殺之，更推羅弘信帥軍。弘信出戰，從訓敗，裒餘眾壁洹水，弘信遣將程公佐擊斬之，梟首軍門，實文德元年。彥禎起，凡七年。

Congxun begged Zhu Quanzhong for rescue. Quanzhong raised an army and halted at Neihuang. Congxun marched from Xiang Prefecture with thirty thousand men to press the city. Wen'gao dared not sally forth. The men, afraid, killed him and instead proclaimed Luo Hongxin to lead the army. Hongxin rode out to battle. Congxun was defeated, gathered his remaining troops, and fortified at the Huan River. Hongxin sent General Cheng Gongzuo to strike and behead him; his head was displayed at the army gate. This was the first year of Wende. From Yue Yanzhen's rise to his fall, seven years in all.

羅弘信，字德孚，魏州貴鄉人。善騎射，狀貌雄偉。為裨將，主馬牧。魏有巫告弘信曰：「白頭老人使謝君，君當有是地。」弘信曰：「神欲危我耶？」文㺹死，眾曰：「孰願主吾軍者？」弘信輒曰：「神命我矣！」眾環視，以為宜，遂立之。詔擢知留後，再遷節度使，加檢校司空、同中書門下平章事、豫章郡公。

Luo Hongxin, styled Defu, was a native of Guixiang in Weizhou. He was skilled in horsemanship and archery and imposing in appearance. He served as a deputy general in charge of horse pasturage. A Wei shaman told Hongxin, 'A white-haired old man sends his thanks—you shall have this territory. Hongxin said, 'Does the god mean to endanger me?' When Wen'gao died, the crowd said, 'Who is willing to lead our army?' Hongxin at once said, 'The god has commanded me!' The crowd looked around one another, deemed him suitable, and installed him. An edict promoted him to acting governor and then military commissioner, adding Honorary Grand Master of Works, Associate Counselor, and Duke of Yuzhang Commandery.

朱全忠討黃巢，餉粟三萬斛、馬二百匹。秦宗權亂，復詔弘信以粟二萬斛助軍，未輸，檢校工部尚書雷鄴來責粟，弘信素脅於牙軍，擅殺鄴。全忠以檄譙讓，弘信不敢報。大順初，全忠討太原李克用，遣將趙昌嗣見弘信假糧馬；又議屯邢、洺，假道相、衛，弘信不納。全忠使丁會、龐師古、葛從周、霍存等引萬騎度河，弘信壁內黃，凡五戰皆敗，禽大將馬武等，乃厚幣求和。方全忠圖河北，欲結納弘信，乃還兵。

When Zhu Quanzhong campaigned against Huang Chao, Hongxin supplied thirty thousand bushels of grain and two hundred horses. During Qin Zongquan's disorder, the court again ordered Hongxin to supply twenty thousand bushels. Before delivery, Honorary Minister of Works Lei Ye came to demand the grain. Hongxin, long intimidated by the yabing, had Ye killed on his own authority. Quanzhong sent a proclamation rebuking him. Hongxin dared not reply. In the early Dashun era, Quanzhong campaigned against Li Keyong of Taiyuan and sent General Zhao Changsi to see Hongxin to borrow grain and horses; He also planned to encamp at Xing and Mo and borrow passage through Xiang and Wei. Hongxin refused. Quanzhong sent Ding Hui, Pang Shigu, Ge Congzhou, Huo Cun, and others leading ten thousand cavalry across the river. Hongxin fortified at Neihuang, lost five battles in succession, and lost his great general Ma Wu and others before sending rich gifts to sue for peace. Just as Quanzhong was scheming for Hebei and wished to win Hongxin over, he withdrew his troops.

全忠攻兗鄆，朱宣求援於克用，遣李存信率兵救之，請道屯莘，其下侵魏芻牧，弘信不平。克用欲合鎮、定兵營河曲，搤魏、滑路，弘信馳告全忠，請禁遊舸，絕往來。久之，魏人不至，全忠疑其紿，自將至滑州。弘信來告曰：「魏人未動者，正欲緩圖之。」全忠遂屯曹。太原將李瑭救宣，復壁莘，弘信厭其暴，而瑭溝壘自固。全忠遣使謂曰：「晉人誌並河朔，師還，為公憂之。」弘信乃攻瑭，告全忠師期，全忠將趨滑為援，次封丘，而弘信已破瑭。克用怒，以兵掠魏博。全忠將侯言屯洹水，克用兵數求戰，言不敢出，全忠以葛從周代將。從周為暗竇，每克用兵至，輒出精卒薄戰，必捷。克用逾洹西北挑戰，從周大破之，禽其子落落，乃引去。然侵魏不已，大戰白龍潭，弘信敗，克用追薄魏門而還。弘信乃乞師全忠，全忠遣將壁洹水救魏。克用遊兵剽相、魏，民死十九，弘信不堪其逼。光化元年，如全忠告亟。全忠復遣葛從周將兵追躡，拔洺州，執其刺史邢行恭；復攻邢，馬師素自拔走；遂圍礠州，袁奉韜自殺。不五日，取三州，斬首二萬級，禽其將百餘人，自是克用兵不出。

Quanzhong attacked Yan and Yun. Zhu Xuan sought aid from Li Keyong and sent Li Cunxin with troops to the rescue, requesting passage to encamp at Shen. His subordinates raided Wei's fodder and pastures, and Hongxin was indignant. Li Keyong wished to unite the armies of Zhen and Ding to camp on the river bend and choke the routes through Wei and Hua. Hongxin galloped to inform Quanzhong, requesting a ban on patrol boats and an end to river traffic. A long time passed and the men of Wei had not arrived. Quanzhong suspected deception and personally led his army to Hua Prefecture. Hongxin came to report, 'The reason the men of Wei have not moved is precisely that they wish to plan slowly. Quanzhong then encamped at Cao. The Taiyuan general Li Tang rescued Xuan and again fortified at Shen. Hongxin loathed their violence, while Tang dug trenches and ramparts to hold firm. Quanzhong sent an envoy saying, 'The Jin people's ambition is to swallow Hedong. When our army returns, I worry for you. Hongxin then attacked Tang and informed Quanzhong of the date of battle. Quanzhong was about to rush to Hua as relief and halted at Fengqiu, but Hongxin had already broken Tang. Li Keyong flew into a rage and sent troops to raid Weibo. Quanzhong's general Hou Yan encamped at the Huan River. Li Keyong's troops repeatedly sought battle, but Yan dared not sally forth. Quanzhong replaced him with Ge Congzhou. Congzhou dug hidden tunnels. Whenever Keyong's troops arrived, he sent elite soldiers into close fighting and always won. Li Keyong crossed northwest of the Huan to challenge him. Congzhou crushed him, captured his son Luoluo, and then withdrew. Yet raids on Wei did not cease. At the great battle of White Dragon Pool, Hongxin was defeated. Li Keyong pursued to the gates of Wei and returned. Hongxin then begged Quanzhong for troops. Quanzhong sent a general to fortify at the Huan River to save Wei. Li Keyong's raiding cavalry plundered Xiang and Wei. Nine in ten civilians died. Hongxin could not endure the pressure. In the first year of Guanghua he went to Quanzhong to plead urgently for help. Quanzhong again sent Ge Congzhou in pursuit. He took Mo Prefecture and seized its prefect Xing Xinggong; again attacked Xing, and Ma Shisu fled on his own; then besieged Ci Prefecture, and Yuan Fengtao killed himself. Within five days he took three prefectures, beheaded twenty thousand men, and captured more than a hundred generals. From then on Li Keyong's troops did not venture out.

始全忠亟討兗鄆，懼弘信貳，故歲時賂遺良厚。弘信每有饋答，全忠引其使北面拜受，兄事之，弘信以為厚己，故推心焉。

At first Quanzhong urgently campaigned against Yan and Yun and feared Hongxin might defect, so his yearly gifts were very generous. Whenever Hongxin sent return gifts, Quanzhong had his envoys bow facing north to receive them and treated him as an elder brother. Hongxin thought himself honored and thus gave Quanzhong his heart.

進累檢校太師，守侍中，徙臨清郡王。光化元年死，年六十三，贈太師，追封北平王，謚曰莊肅。子紹威襲。

He was promoted cumulatively to Honorary Grand Preceptor and Palace Attendant and transferred to Prince of Linqing Commandery. He died in the first year of Guanghua at sixty-three, was posthumously ennobled Grand Preceptor and Prince of Beiping, and given the posthumous name Zhuangsu. His son Shaowei succeeded him.

紹威字端己。少有英氣，性精悍，吏事明辦。既領留後，昭宗即詔嗣父節度，加累檢校太尉，號「忠勤宣力致聖功臣」。幽州劉仁恭引兵攻鎮、冀，遂掠魏，紹威告急於全忠，全忠自將與仁恭戰內黃，日中，大破之，斬首三萬級。葛從周方守邢，亦敗其眾於魏縣。仁恭以眾十萬陷貝州，全忠使李思安屯內黃，從周悉軍入魏。仁恭攻魏，從周以五百騎出鬥，謂門者曰：「前有強敵，不可易。」命闔扉。士死戰，執仁恭將二人。仁恭使別將攻內黃，為思安所敗。從周乘勝破八壁，追北至臨清。仁恭乃還滄州，與李克用圖魏。紹威與全忠連兵伐滄州，從周攻拔德州，進薄浮陽。仁恭以兵至，監軍蔣玄暉請須其入壁，食盡可取。從周曰：「兵在機，機在上將，豈監軍所知！」逆戰老鴉堤，破之，斬首五萬，獲其將百餘人。又戰唐昌範橋，六遇輒勝。仁恭約和，乃還。紹威德全忠，故奉事愈固。全忠遷帝洛陽，命諸鎮治宮闕，而紹威營太廟，加侍中，封鄴王。

Shaowei, styled Duanji. In youth he had a heroic spirit; by nature he was keen and hardy, and he handled administrative affairs with clear judgment. Once he received the acting governorship, Emperor Zhaozong immediately confirmed his succession to his father's commission, cumulatively ennobled him Honorary Grand Preceptor, and granted him the title 'Meritorious Minister of Loyal Diligence and Sacred Service.' Liu Rengong of Youzhou led troops against Zhen and Ji, then plundered Wei. Shaowei urgently appealed to Quanzhong. Quanzhong personally fought Rengong at Neihuang and at midday won a crushing victory, beheading thirty thousand men. Ge Congzhou, then guarding Xing, also defeated Rengong's forces at Wei County. Rengong with a hundred thousand men took Bei Prefecture. Quanzhong sent Li Si'an to encamp at Neihuang, and Congzhou led his entire army into Wei. Rengong attacked Wei. Congzhou rode out with five hundred cavalry to fight and told the gatekeepers, 'A strong enemy lies ahead. We cannot be careless. He ordered the gates shut. His soldiers fought to the death and captured two of Rengong's generals. Rengong sent another general to attack Neihuang, but Si'an defeated him. Riding his victory, Congzhou broke eight fortifications and pursued north to Linqing. Rengong then returned to Cangzhou and plotted against Wei with Li Keyong. Shaowei combined forces with Quanzhong against Cangzhou. Congzhou attacked and took De Prefecture and advanced to press Fuyang. Rengong arrived with troops. The supervising commissioner Jiang Xuanhui requested that they wait until the enemy entered their walls and their provisions were exhausted before striking. Congzhou said, 'War turns on timing, and timing rests with the commander. How would a supervising commissioner know! He met them in battle at Old Crow Embankment, broke them, beheaded fifty thousand men, and captured more than a hundred generals. He fought again at Tangchang Fan Bridge and won six encounters in succession. Rengong sued for peace and then returned. Shaowei was indebted to Quanzhong and thus served him ever more steadfastly. Quanzhong moved the emperor to Luoyang and ordered the commands to repair the palace halls. Shaowei built the Grand Temple, was made Palace Attendant, and was enfeoffed Prince of Ye.

魏牙軍，起田承嗣募軍中子弟為之，父子世襲，姻黨盤互，悍驕不顧法令，憲誠等皆所立，有不慊，輒害之無噍類。厚給稟，姑息不能制。時語曰：「長安天子，魏府牙軍。」謂其勢強也。紹威懲曩禍，雖外示優假，而內不堪。俄而小校李公佺作亂，不克，奔滄州。紹威乃決策屠翦，遣楊利言與全忠謀。全忠乃遣苻道昭將兵合魏軍二萬攻滄州，求公佺，又遣李思安助戰，魏軍不之疑。紹威子，全忠婿也，會女卒，使馬嗣勛來助葬，選長直千人納盟器，實甲以入。全忠自滑濟河，聲言督滄景行營。紹威欲出迎，假銳兵以入，軍中勸毋出而止。紹威遣人潛入庫，斷纮解甲，註夜，將奴客數百與嗣勛攻之，軍趨庫得兵，不可戰，因夷滅凡八千族，市為空。平明，全忠亦至，聞事定，馳入軍。魏兵在行者聞變，於是史仁遇保高唐，李重霸屯宗縣，分據貝、澶、衛等六州。仁遇自稱魏博留後，全忠解滄州兵以攻高唐，仁遇引眾走，為遊騎所獲，支解之，進拔博、澶二州。李重霸走，俄斬其首，相、衛皆降。

The Wei yabing originated when Tian Chengsi recruited the sons of officers for the corps. Fathers and sons inherited their places in succession, and marriage cliques intertwined. They were fierce and arrogant, heedless of law. Xiancheng and others were all installed by them; if displeased, they killed without leaving a scrap. They were generously supplied with rations, and indulgence could not control them. A saying of the time ran: 'The Son of Heaven in Chang'an, the yabing in Wei's headquarters. It meant their power was strong. Shaowei, chastened by past calamity, outwardly showed them favor but inwardly could not endure them. Soon the petty officer Li Gongtuan rebelled, failed, and fled to Cangzhou. Shaowei then decided on massacre and purge and sent Yang Liyan to plot with Quanzhong. Quanzhong sent Fu Daozhao leading troops to join the Wei army—twenty thousand in all—against Cangzhou to seize Gongtuan, and also sent Li Si'an to assist. The Wei army suspected nothing. Shaowei's son was Quanzhong's son-in-law. When his daughter died, Quanzhong sent Ma Sixun to assist with the burial. Sixun selected a thousand long-service guards to bring in alliance vessels that in fact concealed armor. Quanzhong himself crossed the river from Hua, proclaiming that he was supervising the Cang and Jing field headquarters. Shaowei wished to go out to welcome him and borrow crack troops to enter the city, but the army advised against going out and he stopped. Shaowei sent men secretly into the arsenal to sever bowstrings and unstrap armor. That night he led several hundred slaves and retainers with Sixun to attack. The army rushed the arsenal for weapons but could not fight. Thus eight thousand clans were exterminated and the market stood empty. At dawn Quanzhong also arrived. Hearing the matter was settled, he galloped into the army. Wei soldiers on the march heard of the upheaval. Then Shi Renyu held Gaotang, Li Chongba encamped at Zong County, and they divided among themselves Bei, Cang, Wei, and four other prefectures. Renyu styled himself Weibo acting governor. Quanzhong diverted the Cangzhou army to attack Gaotang. Renyu fled with his followers, was captured by patrol cavalry, and was dismembered. Quanzhong then advanced and took Bo and Cang. Li Chongba fled and was soon beheaded. Xiang and Wei both surrendered.

紹威雖除其逼，然勢弱，為全忠牽制，比州刺史矣，內悒悒悔恨。全忠兵在滄州，紹威主饋免，自鄴至長蘆五百里，不絕於道。全忠還，紹威建元帥行府，極土木壯麗，全忠大悅。紹威間說曰：「邠、岐、太原皆狂譎，以復唐室為言。王宜自取神器，專天下之望。」全忠歸，乃受禪。

Though Shaowei had removed their pressure, his power was now weak. Controlled by Quanzhong, he was little more than a prefectural governor, and brooded inwardly with regret. While Quanzhong's army was at Cangzhou, Shaowei personally supplied provisions along five hundred li from Ye to Changlu without cease. When Quanzhong returned, Shaowei built a grand marshal's field headquarters of the utmost splendor in earthworks. Quanzhong was greatly pleased. Shaowei privately counselled him, 'Bin, Qi, and Taiyuan are all mad and deceitful, speaking of restoring the Tang house. Your Majesty should yourself take the sacred vessel and monopolize the hopes of the realm. Quanzhong returned and then accepted the abdication.

紹威多聚書，至萬卷。江東羅隱工為詩，紹威厚幣結之，通譜系昭穆，因目己所為詩為「偷江東集」雲。

Shaowei gathered many books, reaching ten thousand scrolls. Luo Yin of Jiangdong was skilled at poetry. Shaowei befriended him with rich gifts, linked their genealogies, and thus titled his own poems 'Collection Stolen from Jiangdong.'

贊曰：田承嗣幾禽矣，李寶臣怒承倩而釋魏。建中之際，三將軍持銳躪血，功無成者。四叛連勢，兵結難作，天子不能守宗廟。傳及弘正，去汙入朝，數年復亂，唐終不得魏。與夫豎刁亂齊，孰為輕重？

The commentary says: Tian Chengsi was nearly captured; Li Baozhen, angered at Cheng Qian, yet released Wei. At the time of Jianzhong, three generals wielded sharp blades and trod through blood, yet none completed their achievement. Four rebels linked their power, armies knotted and calamity arose, and the Son of Heaven could not guard the ancestral temple. Power passed to Tian Hongzheng, who left his stain behind to enter court; within years chaos returned, and Tang ultimately never regained Wei. Compared with Shu Diao's disruption of Qi, which was the greater calamity?

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