Volume 212 Biographies 137: Buffer Region Lulong

藩鎮盧龍

The Buffer Region of Lulong

李懷仙，柳城胡也。世事契丹，守營州。善騎射，智數敏給。祿山之反，以為裨將。史思明盜河南，留次子朝清守幽州，以阿史那玉、高如震輔之。朝義殺立，移檄誅朝清。二將亂，朝義以懷仙為幽州節度使，督兵馳入。如震欲拒，不及計，乃出迎。懷仙外示寬以安士，居三日，大會，斬如震，州部悉平。朝義敗，將趨范陽。中人駱奉先間遣鐫說，懷仙遂降，使其將李抱忠以兵三千戍范陽。朝義至，抱忠閉關不內，乃縊死，斬其首，因奉先以獻。仆固懷恩即表懷仙為幽州盧龍節度使，遷檢校兵部尚書，王武威郡。屬懷恩反，邊羌挐戰不解，朝廷方勤西師，故懷仙與田承嗣、薛嵩、張忠誌等得招還散亡，治城邑甲兵，自署文武將吏，私貢賦，天子不能制。

Li Huaixian was a non-Han tribesman from Liucheng. He had long served the Khitan and held Ying Prefecture. An expert horseman and archer, he was sharp-witted and resourceful. When An Lushan rose in rebellion, he was appointed a deputy commander. When Shi Siming seized control of Henan, he left his second son Chaocing to hold Youzhou, with Ashina Yu and Gao Ruzhen as his aides. After Chaoyi killed his father and seized power, he issued a proclamation calling for Chaocing's execution. With the two generals in disarray, Chaoyi appointed Huaixian military commissioner of Youzhou and sent him racing in with troops. Gao Ruzhen wanted to resist but could not act in time, and so went out to receive him. Huaixian put on a show of clemency to calm the troops; three days later, at a grand assembly, he executed Ruzhen and brought the prefecture fully under control. When Chaoyi was defeated, he prepared to flee to Fanyang. The eunuch Luo Fengxian sent a secret envoy to win him over; Huaixian surrendered and posted his general Li Baozhong at Fanyang with three thousand men. When Chaoyi arrived, Baozhong shut the passes against him; Chaoyi hanged himself, and his head was severed and sent to the court through Fengxian. Pugu Huai'en promptly recommended Huaixian as military commissioner of Youzhou-Lulong, appointed him acting minister of war, and enfeoffed him as Prince of Wuwei. When Huai'en rebelled and border fighting with the Qiang raged on, the court was absorbed in campaigns to the west; Huaixian, Tian Chengsi, Xue Song, Zhang Zhongzhi, and others were left free to reassemble scattered forces, rebuild fortifications, appoint their own officials, and collect taxes on their own authority, beyond the emperor's control.

大歷三年，麾下朱希彩、朱泚、泚弟滔謀殺懷仙，斬閽者以入，希彩不至。黎明，泚懼欲亡，滔曰：「謀不成，有死，逃將焉往？」俄希彩至，共斬懷仙，族其家。希彩自稱留後。張忠誌以兵討其亂，不克。代宗因赦罪，詔宰相王縉為節度使，以希彩副之。希彩聞縉至，蒐卒伍，大陳戎備以逆。縉建旌棨徐驅，希彩迎謁恭甚。縉度不可制，勞軍，閱旬乃還。希彩即領節度。五年，封高密郡王。驁恣不軌，人不堪。七年，其下李瑗間眾之怨，殺之，共推朱泚為留後。泚自有傳。

In 768, his subordinates Zhu Xicai, Zhu Ci, and Ci's younger brother Zhu Tao plotted to kill him; they slew the gatekeepers to force entry, but Xicai failed to appear. At daybreak Zhu Ci panicked and wanted to flee; Zhu Tao said, "If the plot fails we die anyway—where would running take us?" Soon Xicai arrived; together they killed Huaixian and wiped out his entire family. Xicai proclaimed himself acting military commissioner. Zhang Zhongzhi marched against them but failed to suppress the revolt. Emperor Daizong granted an amnesty and appointed Grand Counselor Wang Jin military commissioner, with Xicai as his deputy. When Xicai learned of Jin's arrival, he mustered his troops and put on a formidable military display to greet him. Jin advanced slowly under his banners and standards; Xicai came out to receive him with elaborate courtesy. Seeing he could not bring Xicai to heel, Jin reviewed the troops, and after ten days departed. Xicai thereupon took full control of the command. In 770 he was enfeoffed as Prince of Gaomi. Arrogant and unrestrained, he drove his men to the breaking point. In 772 his officer Li Yuan, reading the mood of the discontented troops, killed him, and the army jointly installed Zhu Ci as acting commissioner. Zhu Ci has a separate biography elsewhere in these annals.

朱滔，性變詐多端倪。希彩以同宗倚愛之，使主帳下親兵。泚領節度，遣滔將兵三千為天子西乘塞，為諸軍倡。始，安、史後，山東雖外臣順，實傲肆不廷。至泚首效款，帝嘉之，召見滔殿中。帝問曰：「卿材孰與泚多？」滔曰：「統禦士眾，方略明辨，臣不及泚；臣年二十八，獲謁天子，泚長臣五年，未識朝廷，此不及臣。」帝愈嘉，特詔勒兵貫王城而出，屯涇州，置酒開遠門餞之。戍還，乃謀奪泚兵，詭說曰：「天下諸侯未有朝者，先至，可以得天子意，子孫安矣。」泚信之，因入朝。稍不相平，泚遂乞留，西討吐蕃。以滔權知留後，兼御史大夫。滔殺有功者李瑗等二十餘人，威振軍中。

Zhu Tao was by nature cunning, treacherous, and endlessly scheming. Xicai, who was of the same clan, favored him and put him in charge of his personal guard. Once Zhu Ci assumed command, he sent Zhu Tao west with three thousand men to garrison the frontier passes for the emperor, setting the example for all other forces. After the An-Shi rebellion, the eastern provinces paid nominal allegiance to the throne but in practice remained defiant and absent from court. When Zhu Ci became the first to submit in earnest, the emperor was pleased and summoned Zhu Tao to an audience in the palace. The emperor asked, "Which of you brothers is the more capable? Zhu Tao replied, "In commanding troops and in strategic judgment, I cannot match Zhu Ci; but I am twenty-eight and have been received at court, whereas Zhu Ci, five years my senior, has never known the capital—in that respect I surpass him." The emperor was still more impressed. He issued a special order for Zhu Tao's troops to march through the capital, posted them at Jingzhou, and held a farewell banquet at Kaiyuan Gate. On returning from the frontier, he plotted to seize Zhu Ci's army and told him deceitfully, "No regional lord has yet presented himself at court; the first to arrive will win the emperor's favor and secure his line for generations." Zhu Ci believed him and set out for the capital. Relations between the brothers soon soured; Zhu Ci asked to remain at court and campaign against Tibet in the west. Zhu Tao was appointed acting commissioner and concurrently censor-in-chief. Zhu Tao executed more than twenty distinguished officers including Li Yuan, and his authority over the army was absolute.

李惟嶽拒命，滔與成德張孝忠再破之束鹿，取深州，進檢校司徒，遂領節度，賜德、棣二州。德宗以康日知為深、趙二州團練使，詔滔還鎮。滔失深州，不平，又請恒、定七州所賦供軍，復不許，愈怨。時馬燧圍田悅，悅窮，間滔與王武俊同叛。滔姑子劉怦為涿州刺史，以書諫曰：「司徒身節制，太尉位宰相，恩遇極矣。今昌平有太尉鄉、司徒裏，不朽業也。能以忠順自將，則無不濟。比忘上樂戰，不顧成敗如安、史者，今復何有？司徒圖之，無貽悔。」滔不從，連兵救悅。又懼張孝忠之襲，使怦壁險而軍。滔激其眾曰：「士蹀血鬥，既下堅城，朝廷乃見奪，奏賞不報。君等疾趨，破馬燧軍以取貲糧，可乎？」軍中不應，三號之，乃曰：「幽人死於南者，骸撐不揜，痛藏心髓，奈何復欲暴骨中野乎？司徒兄弟受國寵，士各蒙官賞，願安之，不恤其它。」滔罷，潛殺不可共亂者數十人。日知發其謀於燧，天子聞，以悅未下，重起兩寇，即封滔通義郡王，實戶三百。

When Li Weiyue defied the court, Zhu Tao and Zhang Xiaozhong of Chengde routed him again at Shulu, seized Shen Prefecture, was promoted to acting grand marshal, assumed full command, and received De and Di prefectures as his domain. Emperor Dezong appointed Kang Rizhi regimental commissioner of Shen and Zhao and ordered Zhu Tao back to his post. Deprived of Shen Prefecture, Zhu Tao was furious; he also petitioned for the tax revenues of seven prefectures in Heng and Ding to supply his army, was refused again, and grew still more bitter. Ma Sui was then besieging Tian Yue, who was at his wits' end; Zhu Tao and Wang Wujun took the opportunity to rebel together. Zhu Tao's nephew by marriage Liu Ping, prefect of Zhuo, wrote to dissuade him: "You hold a military commission and your brother holds the rank of chief minister—the court's favor toward your family could scarcely be greater. Changping already has a Grand Preceptor's Village and a Grand Marshal's Hamlet named in your family's honor—that is an achievement that will endure. If you conduct yourself with loyalty and obedience, nothing need go wrong. Where today are men like An Lushan and Shi Siming, who forgot their sovereign and plunged heedlessly into war regardless of the outcome? Consider this carefully, Grand Marshal, and do not bring regret upon yourself." Zhu Tao ignored the warning and marched to Tian Yue's aid. Fearing an attack from Zhang Xiaozhong, he posted Liu Ping with troops in a fortified position. Zhu Tao roused his troops, saying, "You fought through blood to capture a fortified city, and the court snatched it away; our petitions for rewards went unanswered. Will you march swiftly, smash Ma Sui's army, and seize his supplies?" The troops did not answer. After he shouted three times, they finally replied, "Our men from Youzhou who died in the south still lie unburied—the grief is carved into our bones. Why would we go south again to leave our corpses on some field? You and your brother have received the empire's favor; we have all been granted rank and reward. We wish to be left in peace and care for nothing else." Zhu Tao gave up and secretly executed several dozen men who refused to join the revolt. Kang Rizhi exposed the plot to Ma Sui; learning that Tian Yue still held out and two new rebels had risen, the emperor promptly enfeoffed Zhu Tao as Prince of Tongyi with three hundred taxable households.

滔愈悖，分兵與武俊屯趙州脅日知，矯詔發其糧貯，即引兵救悅，次束鹿。軍大噪曰：「天子令司徒北還，而南救魏，寧有詔邪？」滔懼，走匿傳舍。裨將蔡雄好諭士曰：「始天子約取成德，所得州縣賜有功者。拔深州者，燕也。本鎮常苦無絲纊，冀得深州以佐調率，今顧不得。又天子以帛賜有功士，為馬燧掠去，今引而南，非自為也。」軍中悔謝，復曰：「雖然，司徒南行違詔書，莫如還。」滔回次深州，誅首變者二百人。眾懼，乃率兵南壁寧晉，與武俊合。帝命馬燧、李懷光擊之，滔屬鄭雲逵、田景仙皆奔燧。已而滔破懷光軍，則與王師屯魏橋，久不戰。

Zhu Tao grew bolder still. He split forces with Wang Wujun to threaten Kang Rizhi at Zhao Prefecture, forged an edict to seize his grain stores, then marched to relieve Tian Yue and halted at Shulu. The troops erupted in uproar: "The emperor ordered the Grand Marshal to return north—what edict sends him south to save Wei?" Zhu Tao panicked and hid in a relay station. Deputy commander Cai Xionghao reasoned with the men: "The emperor promised that when Chengde was taken, captured prefectures would go to those who earned them. It was our Yan troops who took Shen Prefecture. Our command has always lacked silk and cotton; we counted on Shen Prefecture to help meet our tax quotas, and now it has been taken from us. Furthermore, the silk the emperor granted our meritorious soldiers was seized by Ma Sui; we march south now not of our own choosing." The troops relented and apologized, then added, "Even so, marching south defies the emperor's order. We had better turn back." Zhu Tao turned back and halted at Shen Prefecture, executing two hundred ringleaders of the mutiny. The troops were terrified; he then marched south, fortified at Ningjin, and joined Wang Wujun. The emperor ordered Ma Sui and Li Huai'guang to attack him; Zhu Tao's officers Zheng Yunkui and Tian Jingxian both defected to Ma Sui. Zhu Tao soon routed Li Huai'guang's army, then faced the imperial forces at Weiqiao, where both sides remained locked in stalemate for a long time.

悅德滔援，欲尊而臣之，滔讓武俊，曰：「篋山之勝，王大夫力也。」於是，滔、武俊官屬共議：「古有列國連衡共抗秦。今公等在此，李大夫在鄆，請如七國，並建號，用天子正朔。且師在外，其動無名，豈長為叛臣，士何所歸？宜擇日定約，順人心，不如盟者共伐之。」滔等從之。滔以祿山、思明皆起燕，俄覆滅，惡其名，以冀堯所都，因號冀，武俊號趙，悅號魏，納號齊。建中三年冬十月庚申，為壇魏西，祀天，各僭為王，與武俊等三讓乃就位。滔為盟主，稱孤；武俊、悅及納稱寡人。是日，三叛軍上有雲氣頗異，燧望笑曰：「是雲無知，乃為賊瑞邪！」先是，其地土息高三丈，魏人韋稔佞悅，以為益土之兆。後二年，滔等冊壝，正值其所。

Grateful for Zhu Tao's aid, Tian Yue wished to honor him as overlord and submit as his vassal; Zhu Tao deferred to Wang Wujun, saying, "The victory at Qieshan was Wang's achievement." Tao's and Wang Wujun's staffs then deliberated together: "In antiquity the warring states formed horizontal alliances to resist Qin. You lords are here and Grand Master Li is at Yun; let us, like the Seven Warring States, each proclaim a royal title while still using the emperor's calendar. With armies in the field, our cause lacks a proper name; how long can we remain mere rebels? Where would our soldiers find their loyalty? Let us choose a day to seal an alliance, win the hearts of our men, and jointly attack any who refuse to join." Zhu Tao and the others agreed. Zhu Tao, noting that both An Lushan and Shi Siming had risen from Yan only to be swiftly destroyed, shunned that name; because Ji had been Yao's capital, he styled himself King of Ji; Wang Wujun took Zhao, Tian Yue took Wei, and Li Na took Qi. On the gengshen day of the tenth month of 782, they built an altar west of Wei, sacrificed to Heaven, each proclaimed himself king, and after three ceremonial refusals with Wang Wujun and the others took their thrones. Zhu Tao, as leader of the alliance, styled himself Gu; Wang Wujun, Tian Yue, and Li Na styled themselves Guaren. That day an unusual cloud formation appeared above the three rebel armies; Ma Sui looked up and laughed, "That cloud knows nothing—does it think it brings good fortune to rebels?" Earlier, a mound of earth three zhang high had risen at that spot; Wei Ren, a native of Wei who flattered Tian Yue, had taken it as an omen of territorial expansion. Two years later, when Zhu Tao and the others built their sacrificial mound, it stood precisely on that spot.

滔改幽州為范陽府，以子為府留後，稱元帥，用親信為留守。滔等居室皆曰殿，妻曰妃，子為國公，下皆稱臣，謂殿下。上書曰箋，所下曰令。置左右內史，視丞相；內史令、監，視侍中、中書令；東西侍郎，視門下、中書；東曹給事、西曹舍人，視給事中、中書舍人；司議大夫，視諫議大夫；六官省，視尚書；東、西曹仆射，視左右仆射；御史臺曰執憲，置大夫至監察御史，驅使要籍官曰承令；左右將軍曰虎牙、豹略；軍使曰鷹揚、龍驤。以劉怦為范陽府留守，柳良器、李子千為左右內史，滔兄瓊瑰、陸慶為東、西曹仆射，楊霽、馬寔、寇瞻、楊榮國為司文、司武、司禮、司刑侍郎，李士真、樊播為執憲大夫、中丞。其餘以次補署。聘處士張遂、王道為司諫。

Zhu Tao renamed Youzhou Fanyang Prefecture, appointed his son acting prefect, styled himself commander-in-chief, and posted trusted men as resident commissioners. Zhu Tao and the others called their residences palaces, their wives consorts, their sons state dukes; subordinates styled themselves ministers and addressed them as Dianxia. Petitions to superiors were styled jian; orders issued downward were styled ling. He established Left and Right Inner Scribes, equivalent to chief counselors; Inner Scribe Directors and Supervisors, equivalent to attendants-in-chief and heads of the Secretariat; Eastern and Western Vice Ministers, equivalent to the Chancellery and Secretariat; Eastern Bureau Attendants and Western Bureau Drafting Officers, equivalent to supervising secretaries and drafting officers of the Secretariat; Remonstrance Grand Masters, equivalent to remonstrance grand masters; Six Bureaus Department, equivalent to the Ministry of State Affairs; Eastern and Western Bureau Vice Directors, equivalent to Left and Right Vice Directors; The Censorate was renamed Execution of Law, with grand censors down to investigating censors; attendants on the registry who carried orders were styled Order Bearers; Left and Right Generals were styled Tiger Fang and Leopard Strategy; Army commissioners were styled Soaring Hawk and Dragon Charger. He appointed Liu Ping resident commissioner of Fanyang Prefecture; Liu Liangqi and Li Ziqian as Left and Right Inner Scribes; Zhu Tao's elder brother Qionghui and Lu Qing as Eastern and Western Bureau Vice Directors; Yang Ji, Ma Shi, Kou Zhan, and Yang Rongguo as Vice Ministers of Documents, War, Rites, and Punishments; and Li Shizhen and Fan Bo as grand censor and vice censor of Execution of Law. All remaining posts were filled in order of precedence. He recruited the recluses Zhang Sui and Wang Dao as remonstrance officers.

燧遣李晟將兵至易、定，率張茂昭攻涿、莫，以絕滔援。明年，圍清苑，滔將鄭景濟固守。滔使馬寔將兵萬人，與武俊拒燧，自以兵萬餘救清苑，絕晟糧道。兵至定州，晟不知，夜引兵還。滔疑有伏，不敢逼，遽保瀛州。而孝忠、晟合兵千人城萊水，滔驍將烏薩戒以兵七百襲殺城卒數百，晟不出。景濟望滔軍立幟為應。滔進軍薄晟營，晟戰不利，城中兵亦出，晟大敗，奔易州。茂昭走滿城。滔已破晟，則回屯河間不進。武俊使宋端趣讓，滔怒曰：「孤亟戰且病，就醫藥，而王已復云云。孤南救魏，棄兄背君如脫屣。王必相疑，亦聽所為！」端還，武俊謂寔曰：「寡人望王速來指縱，決勝負，復何惡？王異日並天下，寡人得六七城，為節度足矣。」寔遣具道所以然，武俊亦遣使謝滔，滔悅，亦報謝。然武俊內銜之，滋不懌，與田悅潛謀絕滔。

Ma Sui dispatched Li Sheng with troops to Yi and Ding and had Zhang Maozhao attack Zhuo and Mo to sever Zhu Tao's line of supply. The following year they besieged Qingyuan, where Zhu Tao's general Zheng Jingji held the defenses. Zhu Tao sent Ma Shi with ten thousand men to join Wang Wujun against Ma Sui, while he personally led more than ten thousand to relieve Qingyuan and cut Li Sheng's supply line. When Zhu Tao's army reached Ding Prefecture, Li Sheng was unaware and withdrew his forces under cover of night. Zhu Tao suspected an ambush, dared not press the pursuit, and hastily fell back to Ying Prefecture. Meanwhile Zhang Xiaozhong and Li Sheng combined a thousand men to fortify Laishui; Zhu Tao's fierce general Wusa Jie raided with seven hundred troops and killed several hundred garrison soldiers, but Li Sheng would not sally out. Zheng Jingji watched for Zhu Tao's army and raised banners in signal. Zhu Tao pressed Li Sheng's camp; Li Sheng fought poorly, the city's garrison sallied forth, and he was routed and fled to Yi Prefecture. Zhang Maozhao retreated to Mancheng. Having defeated Li Sheng, Zhu Tao encamped at Hejian and made no further advance. Wang Wujun sent Song Duan to press and reproach him; Zhu Tao fumed, "I have fought repeatedly and am ill, seeking medicine, yet the King speaks thus again. I marched south to save Wei, abandoning my brother and betraying the emperor as easily as casting off shoes. The King must surely distrust me—let him do as he will!" When Song Duan returned, Wang Wujun told Ma Shi, "I only wanted the King to come quickly to direct operations and settle the outcome—what offense is there in that? When the King one day unites the realm, six or seven cities and a military commission will be enough for me." Ma Shi sent a full explanation; Wang Wujun also dispatched an envoy to apologize to Zhu Tao, who was mollified and returned thanks. Yet Wang Wujun nursed a grudge and grew ever more discontented; with Tian Yue he secretly plotted to break with Zhu Tao.

及泚反，燧等皆班師，武俊、寔亦還。悅、武俊遣使至河間，賀泚即位。武俊詭請寔共攻康日知於趙州，謀覆其軍，不克。實歸，武俊餞之，厚贈遺。泚遣人密召滔，使趨洛陽。滔發書，西向再拜，移檄諸道曰：「今發突騎四十萬走洛陽，與皇帝會上陽宮。」使王郅說悅連和俱西。滔素強調斂，武俊等不能堪。又令各以兵五千從攻洛，欲僭稱帝，乘輿、法從及赦令皆具。

When Zhu Ci rebelled, Ma Sui and the others withdrew their armies; Wang Wujun and Ma Shi also returned. Tian Yue and Wang Wujun sent envoys to Hejian to congratulate Zhu Ci on his accession. Wang Wujun falsely invited Ma Shi to join an attack on Kang Rizhi at Zhao Prefecture, intending to destroy his army, but failed. When Ma Shi returned, Wang Wujun entertained him at a farewell feast and sent lavish gifts. Zhu Ci secretly summoned Zhu Tao and ordered him to march on Luoyang. Zhu Tao issued a proclamation, bowed twice toward the west, and circulated it to all circuits: "I now dispatch four hundred thousand mounted shock troops racing to Luoyang to meet the emperor at Shangyang Palace." He sent Wang Zhi to persuade Tian Yue to join the alliance and march west together. Zhu Tao had always imposed heavy levies, which Wang Wujun and the others could scarcely bear. He also ordered each ally to contribute five thousand troops for the assault on Luoyang; he planned to usurp the imperial title, and had already prepared an imperial carriage, ceremonial retinue, and amnesty edicts.

初，回紇以女妻奚王，大歷末，奚亂，殺王，女逃歸，道平盧，滔以錦繡張道，待其至，請為婚，女悅，許焉。既而遣使修婿禮於回紇，回紇喜，報以名馬重寶。及僭相王，與武俊、悅、納納四金鑰於回紇，曰：「四國願聽命於可汗，謹上金鑰，啟閉出納，唯所命。」至是，乞師焉。回紇以二千騎從，而武俊亦先乞師，以斷懷光餉路，未至，而王師還。回紇過幽州，滔使說其酋達幹曰：「若能同度河而南，玉帛子女不貲，計可得也。」達幹許諾，滔啖以金帛，約曰：「五十里舍，以須悅軍。」滔兵五萬，車千乘，騎二萬，士私屬萬餘，虜兵三千，馬、橐它倍之；過武俊境，武俊勞之，牛酒芻米皆具。然悅已用武俊謀，不肯出，儲峙於野以待。滔至貝州，悅刺史邢曹俊上謁滔，即歸閉城守，滔疑之，次永濟。武俊陰遣客反間滔曰：「悅有憾，須公南，以兵斷公歸路，宜少備。」滔聞怒，入永濟，執悅吏掠訊，不得其情，殺之。使回紇大掠，南及澶、衛，系執老幼無遺者。悅大恐，闔城自保。滔遣將楊布略定館陶，屯平恩，置官吏。

Earlier the Uyghurs had given a princess to the Xi king; when the Xi rebelled at the end of the Dali era and killed their king, the princess fled homeward. Passing through Pinglu, Zhu Tao spread brocades and silks along the road, received her, and proposed marriage; she accepted. He then sent envoys to complete the marriage rites with the Uyghurs, who responded with famed horses and precious gifts. When they proclaimed themselves kings, Zhu Tao, Wang Wujun, Tian Yue, and Li Na presented four golden keys to the Uyghurs, saying, "Our four states submit to the Qaghan's command; we respectfully offer these golden keys—opening, closing, disbursement, and receipt are all at your will." Now they requested Uyghur troops. The Uyghurs followed with two thousand horsemen; Wang Wujun had also requested troops to cut Li Huai'guang's supply line, but before they arrived the imperial army had withdrawn. As the Uyghurs passed through Youzhou, Zhu Tao sent an envoy to persuade their chieftain Tagan: "If you cross the river south with us, silks, goods, women, and children beyond counting await you." Tagan agreed; Zhu Tao bribed him with gold and silks and stipulated, "Camp every fifty li and wait for Tian Yue's army." Zhu Tao marched with fifty thousand troops, a thousand chariots, twenty thousand cavalry, more than ten thousand soldiers' personal followers, three thousand allied barbarian troops, and twice as many horses and camels; passing through Wang Wujun's territory, where Wang Wujun entertained them with cattle, wine, fodder, and grain in abundance. But Tian Yue, following Wang Wujun's counsel, refused to march out and instead stockpiled supplies in the open country to wait. When Zhu Tao reached Bei Prefecture, Tian Yue's prefect Xing Caojun paid his respects then returned to shut the city gates; Zhu Tao grew suspicious and halted at Yongji. Wang Wujun secretly sent an agent to sow discord, telling Zhu Tao, "Tian Yue bears a grudge; once you march south he will cut your retreat—you should take precautions." Zhu Tao flew into a rage, entered Yongji, seized Tian Yue's officials and tortured them for information, learned nothing, and had them killed. He unleashed the Uyghurs to plunder south as far as Chan and Wei, seizing every man, woman, and child they could find. Tian Yue was terrified and shut himself inside the city walls. Zhu Tao sent his general Yang Bu to pacify Guantao, posted troops at Ping'en, and installed local officials.

滔整軍北還，使馬寔屯冠氏，聞悅死，遂攻魏州，圍貝州。於是，武俊、李抱真合軍擊滔。滔急召寔至貝州，步馬乏頓。明日，輒約戰，寔請休士三日，蔡雄、達幹等畏武俊堅壁難圖，請戰。楊布曰：「大王將取東都，逢小敵即怯，何以長驅天下邪？」術士尹少伯亦言必勝。既戰，為二軍所乘，大敗，大將朱良祐、李進皆被執，委杖如丘，滔奔入德州。恨少伯、雄、布之謬，殺之。俄而京師平，滔已敗，不能軍，走還幽州，上書待罪。有詔武俊、抱真開示大信，若誠心審固者，當洗釁錄勛，與更始。

Zhu Tao reorganized his army and marched north, posting Ma Shi at Guanshi; on hearing of Tian Yue's death he attacked Wei Prefecture and besieged Bei Prefecture. Wang Wujun and Li Baozhen then joined forces to attack Zhu Tao. Zhu Tao urgently recalled Ma Shi to Bei Prefecture; his infantry and cavalry were exhausted. The next day Zhu Tao offered battle at once; Ma Shi asked for three days' rest for the troops; Cai Xiong, Tagan, and others, fearing Wang Wujun's fortified position would be hard to crack, urged him to fight. Yang Bu said, "Your Majesty intends to take the Eastern Capital—if you flinch before a minor foe, how can you sweep across the realm?" The diviner Yin Shaobo also declared certain victory. Once battle was joined, the two armies seized their advantage and routed him; his great generals Zhu Liangyou and Li Jin were captured, abandoned weapons piled like hills, and Zhu Tao fled into De Prefecture. Blaming Shaobo, Xiong, and Bu for their bad counsel, he had them executed. Before long the capital was restored; Zhu Tao, already defeated and unable to hold his army together, fled back to Youzhou and submitted a letter awaiting punishment. An edict instructed Wang Wujun and Li Baozhen to offer full amnesty: those who proved sincerely loyal would have their offenses wiped clean, their merit recorded, and be given a fresh start.

劉怦，幽州昌平人。少為范陽裨將，以親老疾宜侍，輒去職。李懷仙為節度使，檄召不應。朱滔時，積功至雄武軍使，廣墾田，節用度，以辦治稱。稍遷涿州刺史。滔之討田承嗣，表知府事，和裕得眾心。李寶臣以兵劫滔於瓦橋，滔走，寶臣乘勝欲襲幽州，怦設方略，勒兵完守，寶臣不敢謀，擢御史中丞。滔敗歸，終不貳，益治兵，人嘉怦忠於所奉。及滔死，軍中盡推怦，乃總軍事。俄詔為節度副大使、彭城郡公。居鎮才三月死，年五十九，贈兵部尚書，謚曰恭。子濟。

Liu Ping was a native of Changping in Youzhou. In youth he served as a deputy general at Fanyang; when his parents grew old and ill he repeatedly resigned to care for them. When Li Huaixian was military commissioner, he issued summonses, but Liu Ping did not respond. Under Zhu Tao he rose through merit to commissioner of the Xiongwu Army, expanding reclaimed farmland, economizing expenditures, and earning a reputation for efficient administration. He was gradually promoted to prefect of Zhuo. When Zhu Tao campaigned against Tian Chengsi, he appointed Liu Ping to manage prefectural affairs; gentle and generous, he won the people's loyalty. Li Baochen ambushed Zhu Tao at Waqiao; Zhu Tao fled, and Baochen, pressing his advantage, planned to strike Youzhou; Liu Ping devised defenses, mustered troops, and completed the fortifications, and Baochen dared not attack; Liu Ping was promoted to vice censor. When Zhu Tao returned defeated, Liu Ping never wavered in loyalty, redoubled his military preparations, and people praised his fidelity to his lord. When Zhu Tao died, the army unanimously supported Liu Ping, who assumed overall command. He was soon appointed deputy military commissioner and Duke of Pengcheng. He had held command only three months when he died at fifty-nine; he was posthumously appointed minister of war and given the posthumous title Gong. His son was Liu Ji.

濟，字濟。遊學京師，第進士，歷莫州刺史。怦病，詔濟假州事。及怦卒，嗣節度，累遷檢校尚書右仆射、同中書門下平章事。奚數侵邊，濟擊走之，窮追千餘里，至青都山，斬首二萬級。其後又掠檀、薊北鄙，濟率軍會室韋，破之。

Liu Ji, courtesy name Ji. He studied in the capital, passed the jinshi examination, and served as prefect of Mo. When Liu Ping fell ill, an edict appointed Liu Ji acting prefect. When Liu Ping died, Liu Ji succeeded to the command and was progressively promoted to acting Right Vice Director of the Ministry of State Affairs and co-director of the Chancellery and Secretariat. When the Xi repeatedly raided the frontier, Liu Ji routed them, pursued them more than a thousand li to Qingdu Mountain, and took twenty thousand heads. When they again raided the northern borders of Tan and Ji, Liu Ji led troops in alliance with the Shiwei and defeated them.

王承宗叛，濟合諸將曰：「天子知我怨趙，必命我伐之，趙且大備我，奈何？」裨將譚忠欲激濟伐承宗，疾言曰：「天子不使我伐趙，趙亦不備燕。」濟怒，系之。使視趙，果不設備。數日，詔書許濟無出師。濟釋忠，謝而問之，忠曰：「昭義盧從史外親燕，內實忌之；外絕趙，內實與之。此為趙畫曰：『燕倚趙自固，雖甚怨，必不殘趙，故不足虞也。』趙既不備燕，從史則告天子曰：『燕、趙，宿怨也，今趙見伐而不備燕，是燕反與趙。』此所以知天子不使君伐趙，趙亦不備燕。」濟曰：「計安出？」曰：「今天子誅承宗，而燕無一卒濟易水者，正使潞人賣恩於趙，販忠於上，是君貯忠誼心，而染私趙之名，卒不見德於趙，惡聲徒嘈嘈於天下。」濟然之，以兵七萬先諸軍，斬首數千級，又拔饒陽，屯瀛州。進攻安平，久不拔，濟命次子總以兵八千先登，日中拔其城。會赦承宗，進中書令。

When Wang Chengzong rebelled, Liu Ji assembled his generals and said, "The emperor knows we bear a grudge against Zhao and will surely order us to attack; Zhao will prepare heavily against us—what shall we do?" Deputy commander Tan Zhong, wishing to spur Liu Ji to attack Chengzong, spoke sharply: "The emperor will not order us to attack Zhao, and Zhao will not prepare against Yan." Liu Ji was furious and had him imprisoned. He sent scouts to Zhao; indeed no preparations had been made. Several days later an edict arrived permitting Liu Ji not to dispatch troops. Liu Ji released Tan Zhong, apologized, and asked his reasoning; Tan Zhong said, "Lu Congshi of Zhaoyi outwardly favors Yan but inwardly resents it; outwardly he cuts ties with Zhao but is secretly allied with it. This is the counsel he gave Zhao: 'Yan relies on Zhao for its security; though deeply resentful, it will surely not harm Zhao, so there is nothing to fear.' Since Zhao makes no preparations against Yan, Congshi tells the emperor, 'Yan and Zhao are old enemies; now Zhao is under attack yet makes no preparations against Yan—this means Yan is secretly allied with Zhao. That is how I know the emperor will not order you to attack Zhao, and Zhao will not prepare against Yan." Liu Ji asked, "What plan do you propose?" He replied, "The emperor is punishing Chengzong, yet Yan has not sent a single soldier across the Yi River—this lets the men of Lu sell favor to Zhao and trade loyalty to the throne; you would hoard loyalty yet be branded as secretly favoring Zhao, win no gratitude from Zhao, and earn only ill repute throughout the realm." Liu Ji agreed; he marched ahead of the other armies with seventy thousand men, took several thousand heads, captured Raoyang, and encamped at Ying Prefecture. Advancing on Anping, they failed to capture it for a long time; Liu Ji ordered his second son Liu Zong with eight thousand men to lead the assault, and by midday the city fell. When Chengzong was pardoned, Liu Ji was promoted to head of the Secretariat.

濟之出，以長子緄攝留務，總為行營都知兵馬使。濟病甚，總與左右張玘、成國寶及帳內親近謀殺濟，乃使人詐從京師來，曰：「朝廷以公前屯瀛州逗留，詔副大使代節度。」明日，復使人曰：「詔節至太原矣。」又使人走呼曰：「過代矣。」舉軍驚。濟憤且怒，不知所為，誅主兵大將數十人及素與緄厚善者，亟追緄，以玨已兄臯代留事。濟自朝至中昃不食，渴索酏漿，總使吏唐弘實寘毒，濟飲而死，年五十四。緄至涿州，總矯濟命殺之。乃發喪，贈太師，謚曰莊武。

When Liu Ji marched out, he left his eldest son Liu Wen in charge of affairs and appointed Liu Zong commander of the campaign army. Liu Ji fell gravely ill; Liu Zong, together with his attendants Zhang Qi, Cheng Guobao, and close associates, plotted to kill him; they sent a false messenger from the capital saying, "The court, because you halted at Ying Prefecture, has ordered the deputy commissioner to replace you." The next day another messenger said, "The edict staff has reached Taiyuan." Another ran shouting, "It has passed Dai!" The entire army was alarmed. Liu Ji, furious and bewildered, executed several dozen chief generals and those close to Liu Wen, urgently recalled Liu Wen, and had Zhang Qi and his elder brother Gao take charge of affairs. From morning until midday Liu Ji ate nothing; thirsty, he asked for fermented milk; Liu Zong had the clerk Tang Hongshi poison it, and Liu Ji drank and died at fifty-four. When Liu Wen reached Zhuo Prefecture, Liu Zong forged Liu Ji's order and had him killed. He then announced the mourning; Liu Ji was posthumously granted Grand Preceptor and given the posthumous title Zhuangwu.

總性陰賊，尤險譎，已毒父，即領軍政，朝廷不知其奸，故詔嗣節度，封楚國公，進累檢校司空。承宗再拒命，總遣兵取武強，按軍兩端，以私饋賫。憲宗知之，外示崇寵，進同中書門下平章事。及吳元濟、李師道平，承宗憂死，田弘正入鎮州，總失支助，大恐，謀自安。又數見父兄為崇，乃衣食浮屠數百人，晝夜祈禳，而總憩祠場則暫安，或居臥內，輒驚不能寐。晚年益慘悸，請剔發，衣浮屠服，欲祓除之。

Liu Zong was by nature sinister and treacherous, especially cunning and deceitful; having poisoned his father, he immediately assumed command; the court unaware of his crime ordered him to succeed, enfeoffed him as Duke of Chu, and progressively promoted him to acting minister of works. When Chengzong again defied the court, Liu Zong sent troops to take Wuqiang, kept his army hedging both sides, and sent private gifts to both parties. Emperor Xianzong knew this but outwardly showed great favor, promoting him to co-director of the Chancellery and Secretariat. When Wu Yuanji and Li Shidao were pacified, Chengzong died of anxiety, Tian Hongzheng entered Zhen Prefecture, Liu Zong lost his backers, was terrified, and plotted to secure himself. He also repeatedly saw visions of his father and brother as spirits; he clothed and fed several hundred Buddhist monks, praying day and night for exorcism, and only when resting at the shrine grounds was he briefly at ease; in his bedchamber he would start awake and could not sleep. In his later years he grew ever more haunted and fearful; he had his head shaved, wore Buddhist robes, and sought exorcism.

譚忠復說總曰：「天地之數，合必離，離必合。河北與天下離六十年，數窮必合。往朱泚、希烈自立，趙、冀、齊、魏稱王，郡國弄兵，低目相視，可謂危矣，然卒於無事。元和以來，劉辟、李锜、田季安、盧從史、齊、蔡之強，或首於都市，或身為逐客，皆君自見。今兵骎骎北來，趙人已獻德、棣十二城，助魏破齊，唯燕無一日勞，後世得無事乎？為君憂之。」總泣且謝，因上疏願奉朝請，且欲割所治為三；以幽、涿、營為一府，請張弘靖治之；瀛、莫為一府，盧士玫治之；平、薊、媯、檀為一府，薛平治之。盡籍宿將薦諸朝。

Tan Zhong again counseled Liu Zong: "Heaven and earth follow a pattern: what joins must part, and what parts must join. Hebei has been separate from the empire for sixty years; when that cycle runs its course, reunion is inevitable. In the past Zhu Ci and Li Xilie declared themselves, Zhao, Ji, Qi, and Wei proclaimed kingship, and the provinces bristled with arms and glared at one another—it seemed perilous indeed—yet in the end nothing came of it. Since the Yuanhe era, Liu Pi, Li Qi, Tian Ji'an, Lu Congshi, and the strongmen of Qi and Cai—some lost their heads in the capital markets, others became exiles—you have seen it all yourself. Now imperial troops are pressing north; Zhao has surrendered twelve cities in De and Di and helped Wei defeat Qi—only Yan has not lifted a finger; can later generations remain untouched? I worry for you, my lord." Liu Zong wept and thanked him, then submitted a memorial offering to attend court as a regular official and to divide his domain into three commands; You, Zhuo, and Ying as one command, to be governed by Zhang Hongjing; Ying and Mo as one command, to be governed by Lu Shimei; Ping, Ji, Gui, and Tan as one command, to be governed by Xue Ping. He registered all veteran generals and recommended them to the court.

會穆宗沖逸，宰相崔植、杜元穎無遠謀，欲寵弘靖，重其權，故全付總地，唯分瀛、莫置觀察使。拜總檢校司徒兼侍中、天平節度使。又賜浮屠服，號大覺，榜其第為佛祠，遣使者以節、印偕來。時總已自髡祝，讓節、印，遂衣浮屠服。行及定州，卒。

Emperor Muzong was young and carefree; Grand Counselors Cui Zhi and Du Yuanying lacked foresight, wished to favor Zhang Hongjing and increase his authority, and therefore handed over all of Liu Zong's territory, separating only Ying and Mo under a surveillance commissioner. Liu Zong was appointed acting grand marshal and attendant-in-chief, military commissioner of Tianping. He was also granted Buddhist robes, given the title Great Awakening, his residence was converted into a Buddhist shrine, and envoys were sent bearing the staff of office and seal. By then Liu Zong had already shaved his head and taken vows, declined the staff and seal, and donned Buddhist robes. He died when he reached Ding Prefecture on the journey.

始，總請代，獻馬萬五千匹，群臣或疑其詐，帝獨納之，使給事中薛存慶宣慰，給所部復一歲，緡錢百萬勞軍，高年惸獨不能自存者，官吏就問，賜粟帛。總遂與忠俱行，軍中世懷其惠，擁留不得進。總殺首謀者十人，以節付張臯，夜間道去，遲明，軍中乃知。

When Liu Zong first offered to surrender his command, he presented fifteen thousand horses; some ministers suspected deceit, but the emperor alone accepted, sent Supervising Secretary Xue Cunqing to proclaim consolation, granted his domain tax exemption for another year, a million strings of cash to reward the army, and dispatched officials to grant grain and cloth to the aged and destitute who could not support themselves. Liu Zong then set out with Tan Zhong; the army, long grateful for his kindness, crowded around and detained him so he could not leave. Liu Zong executed ten ringleaders, handed the staff of office to Zhang Gao, and slipped away by night on a side road; at dawn the army only then learned he was gone.

詔贈太尉。子礎及弟約至長安者十一人，皆擢州刺史。忠護總喪至，亦卒。忠，絳人，喜兵，善謀事，蓋健男子雲。

An edict posthumously granted him Grand Preceptor. His son Liu Chu and younger brothers who reached Chang'an—eleven in all—were all promoted to provincial prefect. Tan Zhong escorted Liu Zong's coffin to its destination and also died. Tan Zhong was a man of Jiang, fond of military affairs and skilled at strategy—a robust and capable man, it is said.

朱克融，滔孫也。以偏校事劉總。總將入朝，慮後有變，籍其軍材勇與黠暴不制者，悉薦之朝，冀厚與爵位，使北方歆艷，無甘亂心，克融在遣。方是時，執政非其人，既見總納地，謂天下曠然無復事。克融等留京師，久之不得調，數詣宰相求自試，皆不聽，羸色敗服，饑寒無所貣丐，內怨忿。會張弘靖赴鎮，因悉遣還。

Zhu Kerong was Zhu Tao's grandson. As a deputy officer he served Liu Zong. When Liu Zong prepared to enter court, fearing future trouble, he registered the army's brave and talented along with the cunning and violent, and recommended them all to the court, hoping rich ranks would make the north admire and envy them and lose taste for rebellion; Kerong was among those sent. At that time the wrong men held power; seeing Liu Zong surrender his territory, they thought the realm was suddenly free of further trouble. Kerong and the others remained in the capital; for a long time they received no appointments; they repeatedly petitioned grand counselors for trial assignments but were refused; emaciated and in tattered clothes, hungry and cold with nowhere to turn, they nursed bitter resentment. When Zhang Hongjing departed for his command, they were all sent back.

明年，陷弓高，攻下博，與王廷湊共圍深州。裴度以檄譙諭，克融乃還，因進檢校工部尚書，表獻馬萬匹、羊十萬，請直賞軍。敬宗初，遷檢校司空，賜邊屯時服，克融以帛疏惡，囚詔使楊文端以聞。又上言：「聞陛下東幸雒，願率匠丁五千助營宮室，迎乘輿，且請帛三十萬，備一歲費。」帝怒，用裴度謀，忍不問，以好言答之，屈其謀，進爵吳興郡王。

The following year he captured Gonggao, attacked Xiabo, and together with Wang Tingcou besieged Shen Prefecture. Pei Du reproached him in a proclamation; Kerong then withdrew, was promoted to acting minister of works, and memorialized presenting ten thousand horses and a hundred thousand sheep, requesting cash to reward his army. At the start of Emperor Jingzong's reign he was promoted to acting minister of works; when seasonal garments for frontier garrisons were granted, Kerong, finding the silks coarse and inferior, imprisoned the edict envoy Yang Wenduan to report it. He also memorialized: "Hearing that Your Majesty will travel east to Luoyang, I wish to lead five thousand craftsmen to help build palace halls and welcome the imperial carriage, and request three hundred thousand bolts of silk for one year's expenses." The emperor was furious; following Pei Du's counsel, he endured without inquiry, answered with kind words, thwarted the scheme, and promoted Kerong to Prince of Wuxing.

是年，軍亂，殺克融及其子延齡，詔贈司徒。次子延嗣立，領留後，為大將李載義殺而代之，並族其家。

That year the army mutinied and killed Kerong and his son Yanling; an edict posthumously granted him grand marshal. The second son Yansi succeeded as acting commander but was killed and replaced by the great general Li Zaiyi, who also exterminated his entire clan.

李載義，自稱恒山湣王之後。性矜蕩，好與豪傑遊，力挽強搏鬥。劉濟在幽州，高其能，引補帳下，從征伐，積多為牙中兵馬使。朱克融死，子延嗣叛命，殘用其人。載義因眾不忍，殺之，暴其罪於朝。敬宗即授檢校戶部尚書、盧龍軍節度使，封武威郡王。

Li Zaiyi claimed descent from the Min King of Hengshan. By nature he was proud and unrestrained, fond of associating with bold men, and strong at archery and wrestling. When Liu Ji held Youzhou, he valued Li Zaiyi's ability, recruited him to his staff, followed him on campaigns, and through accumulated merit rose to commander of military affairs in the guard. When Zhu Kerong died, his son Yansi defied the court and cruelly exploited his men. Li Zaiyi, because the troops could not endure Yansi's cruelty, killed him and reported his crimes to the court. Emperor Jingzong immediately appointed him acting minister of revenue and military commissioner of the Lulong Army, and enfeoffed him as Prince of Wuwei.

初，張弘靖之囚，幕府多見害，妻子留不遣。及是，載義悉護送京師，雖僮廝畢行。俄而李同捷據滄、景，邀襲封，載義請討賊自效，文宗嘉之，進檢校尚書右仆射。斬級數有功，賊平，詔同中書門下平章事，賜白玉帶，示殊禮。

When Zhang Hongjing was imprisoned, many of his staff were killed and their wives and children were detained. Li Zaiyi then escorted them all to the capital, even the servants. Before long Li Tongjie held Cang and Jing and raided Feng; Li Zaiyi volunteered to campaign against the rebels; Emperor Wenzong praised this and promoted him to acting Right Vice Director of the Ministry of State Affairs. He took many enemy heads with repeated distinction; when the rebels were pacified, an edict made him co-director of the Chancellery and Secretariat and granted a white jade belt as a special honor.

大和四年，為兵馬使楊誌誠所逐，奔易州，即上言：「自破滄州賊，屢請朝不許，今願將妻子身入見。」帝令使者抵太原尉迎，賜袍笏裝器；又以其嘗有功，且意恭順，乃冊拜太保，仍平章事。俄為山南西道節度使。徙河東。

In 830 he was driven out by military commissioner Yang Zhicheng, fled to Yi Prefecture, and memorialized: "Since defeating the Cangzhou rebels I have repeatedly requested audience but was refused; now I wish to bring my wife and children and come in person to see Your Majesty." The emperor ordered envoys to meet him at the Taiyuan post station and granted robes, tablet, and travel gear; and because he had once served with merit and seemed respectful and obedient, he was appointed Grand Guardian and retained as co-director. He was soon appointed military commissioner of Shannan West Circuit. He was transferred to Hedong.

始，回鶻使者歲入朝，所過暴慢，吏不敢何禁，但嚴兵自守。虜忸習，益謷悍，至鞭候人，剽突市區。時大酋李暢者，曉華人語，尤兇黠。既就館，橫須索，抶{疒只}郵人。載義召暢語曰：「可汗以舅甥故，使將軍朝貢，誼不容將軍暴也。天子厚饔餼以禮客，有不謹，吏皆論死。若將軍所部不戢，而奪攘自如，我必殺所犯者，將軍其少戒。」因悉罷所防兵，以兩卒護闔。暢嚴憚之，訖無犯者。進兼侍中。會吏下請立碑紀功，詔李程為之辭，未有字。帝詔曰：「《周書》『凡厥正人，既富方谷。』卿宜當之，以方谷為字。」其寵待如此。開成二年卒，年五十，贈太尉。

Uyghur envoys entered court each year; wherever they passed they were violent and insolent; officials dared not restrain them and only maintained strict guard. Accustomed to indulgence, they grew ever more arrogant and fierce, even whipping relay attendants and raiding market districts. At that time the great chieftain Li Chang understood Chinese and was especially fierce and cunning. Once lodged at the guest house, he made unreasonable demands and beat the relay attendants. Li Zaiyi summoned Li Chang and said, "The Qaghan, because of the uncle-nephew bond, sent you to pay tribute; propriety does not permit you to act violently. The emperor generously feasts guests as ritual demands; for any breach of propriety, officials are sentenced to death. If your followers are not restrained and plunder as they please, I will kill the offenders—General, take warning." He then dismissed all guarding troops and posted only two soldiers at the gate. Li Chang was deeply intimidated, and in the end there were no further offenses. He was promoted to concurrently serve as attendant-in-chief. When officials requested a stele to record his merit, an edict had Li Cheng compose the text, but no courtesy name had yet been given. The emperor issued an edict, "The Book of Zhou says, 'For all upright men, when enriched, give them Fanggu. You are worthy of this; take Fanggu as your courtesy name." Such was the favor shown him. He died in 837 at fifty; he was posthumously granted Grand Preceptor.

初，載義母葬范陽，為楊誌誠掘發。後誌誠被逐，道太原，載義奏請剔其心，償母怨，不許。又欲殺之，官屬苦救乃免，然盡戕其妻息士卒，其天資驕暴雲，帝屈法弗劾也。

Li Zaiyi's mother had been buried at Fanyang and was exhumed by Yang Zhicheng. Later when Zhicheng was driven out and passed through Taiyuan, Li Zaiyi memorialized requesting to cut out his heart to avenge his mother, but was refused. He also wished to kill Zhicheng; officials strenuously intervened to save him, yet Li Zaiyi slaughtered all his wives, children, and soldiers—such was his inborn arrogance and violence, it is said—the emperor bent the law and did not prosecute him.

誌誠者，事載義為牙將。載義宴天子使者鞠場，誌誠與其黨噪而起，載義走，因自為都知兵馬使。文宗更以嘉王領節度，用誌誠為留後。俄檢校工部尚書，擢節度副大使。逾年，進檢校吏部。詔下，邸吏白宰相曰：「軍中不識朝廷儀，惟知尚書改仆射為進秩。今一府盛服以待天子命，如復為尚書，則舉軍慚，使者勢不得出。」既誌誠果怨望，軍有謾言，囚中人魏寶義及它使焦奉鸞、尹士恭，而遣部將王文穎入謝，讓還所命。帝復賜之，文穎不肯受，輒去。帝忍不責，乃遣使進檢校尚書右仆射。

Zhicheng had served Li Zaiyi as a guard officer. When Li Zaiyi entertained the emperor's envoy at the cuju field, Zhicheng and his faction rose in uproar; Li Zaiyi fled, and Zhicheng made himself commander of military affairs. Emperor Wenzong appointed Prince Jia nominal military commissioner and Zhicheng acting commissioner. He was soon appointed acting minister of works and promoted to deputy military commissioner. After a year he was promoted to acting minister of civil affairs. When the edict was issued, the relay clerk informed the grand counselor: "The army does not understand court protocol; they only know that changing from minister to vice director is a promotion. The entire command is in full dress awaiting the emperor's order; if he is again made minister, the whole army will be shamed and the envoy will likely be unable to depart." Zhicheng was indeed resentful; there was slander in the army; he imprisoned the eunuch Wei Baoyi and envoys Jiao Fengluan and Yin Shigong, and sent his officer Wang Wenying to court to apologize and return the appointment. The emperor again granted the appointment; Wenying refused to accept it and simply departed. The emperor endured without blame and sent envoys to promote him to acting Right Vice Director of the Ministry of State Affairs.

八年，為下所逐，推部將史元忠總留後。誌誠在鎮，密制天子袞冕，其被服皆擬乘輿。元忠表而暴於朝，詔御史按治，斥嶺南，至商州，誅之，而以通王領節度，授元忠留後。明年，檢校工部尚書，為副大使。會昌初，為偏將陳行泰所殺。行泰邀節制，未報。次將張絳殺行泰，起求帥軍，武宗自用張仲武代之。

In the eighth year he was driven out by his subordinates, who installed the officer Shi Yuanzhong as overall acting commander. While Zhicheng held command, he secretly had imperial ceremonial robes made; his garments all imitated the emperor's. Yuanzhong memorialized and exposed this to the court; censors were ordered to investigate and banish him to Lingnan; at Shang Prefecture he was executed, Prince Tong was made nominal commissioner, and Yuanzhong was granted acting command. The following year he was appointed acting minister of works and deputy commissioner. At the start of the Huichang era he was killed by the deputy general Chen Xingtai. Chen Xingtai demanded the military commission; no response had yet come. The next officer Zhang Jiang killed Chen Xingtai and demanded command of the army; Emperor Wuzong himself appointed Zhang Zhongwu to replace him.

張仲武，范陽人。通《左氏春秋》。會昌初，為雄武軍使。行泰殺元忠，宰相李德裕計：河朔請帥，皆報下太速，故軍得以安，若少須下，且有變。帝許之，未報，果為絳所殺，復誘其軍以請，亦置未報。是時，回鶻為黠戛斯所破，烏介可汗托天德塞上，而仲武遣其屬吳仲舒入朝，請以本軍擊回鶻。德裕因問北方事，仲舒曰：「行泰、絳皆遊客，人心不附。仲武，舊將張光朝子，年五十餘，通書，習戎事，性忠義，願歸款朝廷舊矣。」德裕曰：「即以為帥，軍得無復亂乎？」答曰：「仲武得士心，受命必有逐絳者。」德裕入白帝曰：「行泰等邀節不可許，仲武求自效，用之有名，軍且無辭。」乃擢兵馬留後，而詔撫王領節度。詔下，絳果為軍中所逐，即拜仲武副大使、檢校工部尚書、蘭陵郡公。會回鶻特勒那頡啜擁赤心部七千帳逼漁陽，仲武使其弟仲至與別將遊奉寰等率銳兵三萬破之，獲馬、牛、橐它、旗纛不勝計，遣吏獻狀，進檢校兵部尚書。

Zhang Zhongwu was a native of Fanyang. He was versed in the Zuo Commentary to the Spring and Autumn Annals. At the start of the Huichang era he was commissioner of the Xiongwu Army. When Chen Xingtai killed Yuanzhong, Grand Counselor Li Deyu calculated: when Hebei requested a commander, responses were always issued too quickly, allowing the army to settle; if delayed slightly, there would be trouble. The emperor agreed; before a response came, Chen Xingtai was indeed killed by Zhang Jiang, who again incited the army to request command; this too was left unanswered. At that time the Uyghurs were defeated by the Kirghiz; Qaghan Wujie took refuge at the Tiantde frontier pass, and Zhang Zhongwu sent his subordinate Wu Zhongshu to court requesting to use his army against the Uyghurs. Li Deyu inquired about northern affairs; Wu Zhongshu said, "Chen Xingtai and Zhang Jiang are both outsiders; the troops do not attach to them. Zhang Zhongwu is the son of the old general Zhang Guangchao, over fifty, versed in books, practiced in military affairs, loyal and righteous by nature, and has long wished to submit sincerely to the court." Li Deyu asked, "If he is immediately made commander, will the army not rebel again?" He replied, "Zhang Zhongwu has won the troops' loyalty; once he receives the appointment there will surely be those who drive out Zhang Jiang." Li Deyu reported to the emperor: "Chen Xingtai and the others' demand for the commission cannot be granted; Zhang Zhongwu seeks to prove his loyalty—appointing him is justified, and the army will have no complaint." He was then promoted to acting military commissioner, while an edict had Prince Fu hold the commission nominally. When the edict was issued, Zhang Jiang was indeed driven out by the army; Zhang Zhongwu was immediately appointed deputy commissioner, acting minister of works, and Duke of Lanling. When the Uyghur tegin Najiachuo led seven thousand tents of the Chixin tribe against Yuyang, Zhang Zhongwu sent his brother Zhongzhi and separate general You Fenghuan with thirty thousand elite troops to rout them, capturing incalculable horses, cattle, camels, banners, and standards; he sent officials to report the victory and was promoted to acting minister of war.

始，回鶻常有酋長監奚、契丹以督歲貢，因诇刺中國。仲武使裨將石公緒等厚結二部，執諜者八百餘人殺之。回鶻欲入五原，掠保塞雜虜，乃先以宣門將軍四十七人詭好結歡，仲武賂其下，盡得所謀，因逗留不遣，使失師期，回鶻人馬多病死者，由是不敢犯五原塞。烏介失勢，往依康居，盡徙餘種，寄黑車子部。回鶻遂衰，名王貴種相繼降，捕幾千人。仲武表請立石以紀聖功，帝詔德裕為銘，揭碑盧龍，以告後世。大中初，又破奚北部及山奚，俘獲雜畜不貲。擢累檢校司徒、同中書門下平章事。卒，謚曰莊。

The Uyghurs had long posted chieftains to supervise the Xi and Khitan and collect annual tribute, using the arrangement to spy on China. Zhang Zhongwu had his deputies Shi Gongxu and others cultivate close ties with the two tribes, seized more than eight hundred spies, and executed them. The Uyghurs planned to enter Wuyuan and raid the mixed tribes guarding the passes; they first sent forty-seven Xuanmen generals under false pretenses of friendship; Zhang Zhongwu bribed their subordinates, learned all their plans, detained them, and caused them to miss their campaign deadline; many Uyghur men and horses sickened and died, and they dared not violate the Wuyuan pass. Wujie lost power, fled to Kangju, moved all remaining tribes, and took refuge with the Black Cart tribe. The Uyghurs then declined; famed kings and noble clans surrendered in succession, and several thousand were captured. Zhang Zhongwu memorialized requesting a stele to record the imperial victory; the emperor ordered Li Deyu to compose the inscription and erected the stele at Lulong for posterity. At the start of the Dazhong era he again defeated the northern Xi and mountain Xi, capturing incalculable livestock. He was progressively promoted to acting grand marshal and co-director of the Chancellery and Secretariat. He died and was given the posthumous title Zhuang.

子直方，以右金吾將軍襲節度留後，俄進副大使。舉動多不法，畏下變起，乃托出畋奔京師。軍中以張允伸總後務。直方至，宣宗遣使者郊勞，授金吾大將軍，以其族大，給檢校工部尚書俸。久之，進檢校尚書右仆射。性暴率，坐以小罪笞殺金吾使，改右羽林統軍。好馳獵，往往設罝罘於道。當宿衛不時入，下遷驍衛將軍。奴婢細過輒殺，積其罪，貶思州司戶參軍。母驚曰：「尚有尊於我子邪？」久乃復授羽林統軍。縱部下為盜，復貶康州司馬。後居東都，弋獵愈甚，洛陽飛鳥皆識之，見必群噪。乾符中，累進左驍衛大將軍。時鄭畋輔政，頗言：「仲武會昌時功第一，今直方百口不自存，每內燕，以衣敝惡，辭不赴。陛下錄功念舊，宜少優假。」詔還檢校右仆射，進左金吾衛大將軍。

His son Zhang Zhifang, as Right Golden Guard General, succeeded as acting commissioner and was soon promoted to deputy commissioner. His conduct was largely unlawful; fearing a mutiny, he pretended to go hunting and fled to the capital. The army installed Zhang YunShen to manage affairs. When Zhang Zhifang arrived, Emperor Xuanzong sent envoys to welcome him outside the suburbs, appointed him Grand Golden Guard General, and because his clan was large, granted him the salary of acting minister of works. After a long time he was promoted to acting Right Vice Director of the Ministry of State Affairs. By nature he was violent and blunt; for a minor offense he beat a Golden Guard envoy to death and was reassigned as Right Forest Guard commander. He loved to hunt on horseback and often set nets and snares on the roads. When on palace guard duty he failed to report on time and was demoted to general of the Valiant Guard. He killed servants and maids for minor faults; accumulating his crimes, he was demoted to registrar of Si Prefecture. His mother exclaimed in alarm, "Is there still someone honored above my son?" After a long time he was again appointed Forest Guard commander. He let his subordinates act as bandits and was again demoted to military aide of Kang Prefecture. Later dwelling in the Eastern Capital, he hunted ever more fiercely; Luoyang's birds all recognized him and would clamor in flocks at his sight. During the Qianfu era he was progressively promoted to Left Valiant Guard Grand General. At that time Zheng Tian assisted in government and spoke at length: "Zhang Zhongwu's merit in Huichang was foremost; now Zhang Zhifang's hundred mouths cannot support themselves; at each inner banquet, citing worn and shabby clothes, he declines to attend. Your Majesty records merit and remembers old service—you should grant him some favor." An edict restored him to acting Right Vice Director and promoted him to Left Golden Guard Grand General.

黃巢犯京師，直方迎灞上，既而納亡命，謀劫巢報天子，公卿多依之。賊覺，屠其族。

When Huang Chao invaded the capital, Zhang Zhifang welcomed him at Bashang; thereafter he took in fugitives and plotted to seize Chao to report to the emperor; many grand officials relied on him. The rebels discovered this and slaughtered his entire clan.

張允伸字逢昌，范陽人。世為軍校。直方出奔，以都知兵馬使為眾立為留後，天子報可。未幾，檢校散騎常侍，為節度使，累進檢校司徒、兼太傅、同中書門下平章事，封燕國公。

Zhang YunShen, courtesy name Fengchang, was a native of Fanyang. For generations his family served as military officers. When Zhang Zhifang fled, as commander of military affairs he was installed by the troops as acting commissioner; the emperor approved. Before long he was appointed acting Regular Attendant and military commissioner, progressively promoted to acting grand marshal, concurrently Grand Tutor and co-director of the Chancellery and Secretariat, and enfeoffed as Duke of Yan.

龐勛以徐州反，上書欲遣弟允臯領兵討賊，不許。上米五十萬斛、鹽二萬斛佐用度，詔嘉美，賜玉帶、寶器、紈錦，進兼侍中。咸通十二年，以疾甚，上節、印，便醫藥，詔聽許，以子簡會為副大使。卒，年八十八，贈太尉，謚曰忠烈。

When Pang Xun rebelled at Xuzhou, Zhang YunShen memorialized wishing to send his younger brother Yungiao to lead troops against the rebels; this was refused. He presented five hundred thousand hu of grain and twenty thousand hu of salt to assist expenses; an edict praised this, granted a jade belt, precious vessels, and silk brocades, and promoted him to concurrently serve as attendant-in-chief. In 871, gravely ill, he submitted the staff and seal and requested medicine; an edict granted permission, and his son Jianhui was made deputy commissioner. He died at eighty-eight; he was posthumously granted Grand Preceptor and given the posthumous title Zhonglie.

允伸性勤儉，下所安賴，未嘗有邊鄙虞。子十四人。簡會入朝，昆弟多至大將軍、刺史、郡佐者，而軍中推張公素為留後。

Zhang YunShen was diligent and frugal by nature; subordinates relied on him, and there were never frontier alarms during his tenure. He had fourteen sons. Jianhui entered court; many brothers rose to grand general, prefect, or commandery aide; meanwhile the army installed Zhang Gongsu as acting commissioner.

公素，范陽人。以列將事允伸，擢累平州刺史。允伸卒，以兵來會喪，軍士素附其威望，簡會知不可制，即出奔。詔公素為節度使，進同中書門下平章事。性暴歷，眸子多白，燕人號「白眼相公」。為李茂勛所襲，奔京師，貶復州司戶參軍。

Zhang Gongsu was a native of Fanyang. As a ranked general he served Zhang YunShen and was progressively promoted to prefect of Ping. When Zhang YunShen died, Zhang Gongsu came with troops to attend the funeral; the soldiers had long attached to his prestige; Jianhui knew he could not control him and fled. An edict appointed Zhang Gongsu military commissioner and promoted him to co-director of the Chancellery and Secretariat. By nature he was violent and harsh; his eyeballs showed much white, and the people of Yan called him the "White-Eyed Lord Chancellor." He was attacked by Li Maoxun, fled to the capital, and was demoted to registrar of Fu Prefecture.

李茂勛，本回鶻阿布思之裔。張仲武時，與其侯王皆降。資沈勇，善馳射，仲武器之，任以將兵，常乘邊積功，賜姓及名。陳貢言者，燕健將，為納降軍使，軍中素信服，茂勛襲殺之，因舉兵，紿稱貢言反。公素迎擊不利，走，茂勛入府，眾始悟，因推主州務，以聞，詔即拜節度使。俄以病自上，詔進尚書右仆射致仕。表子可舉代，遂領留後，進為節度使，擢累檢校太尉。

Li Maoxun was originally a descendant of the Uyghur Abu Si. During Zhang Zhongwu's time he and his tribal kings all surrendered. Endowed with deep courage and skilled at mounted archery, Zhang Zhongwu valued him, entrusted him with troops, and he accumulated merit on the frontier; he was granted a surname and given name. Chen Gongyan was a stalwart Yan general serving as commissioner of surrendered troops; the army had long trusted him; Li Maoxun attacked and killed him, then raised troops, falsely claiming Gongyan had rebelled. Zhang Gongsu met the attack poorly and fled; Li Maoxun entered headquarters; the troops only then understood; they installed him to manage affairs, reported this, and an edict immediately appointed him military commissioner. Before long, citing illness, he resigned; an edict promoted him to Right Vice Director of the Ministry of State Affairs and granted retirement. He memorialized that his son Keju succeed him; Keju assumed acting command, was promoted to military commissioner, and was progressively elevated to acting Grand Preceptor.

中和末，太原李克用始強大，與定州王處存厚相結，可舉惡其窺山東為己患，乃遣使約吐渾都督赫連鐸、鎮州王镕聯和，揚言易、定本燕、趙屬，得其地，且參有之。即遣軍司馬韓玄紹擊沙陀藥兒嶺，斬首七千級，殺其將朱耶盡忠等，收牛、馬、器鎧數萬。又戰雄武軍，殺獲萬人。鐸又破沙陀於蔚州，詔以鐸為雲州刺史，進可舉檢校侍中。乃遣票將李全忠率眾六萬圍易州。镕以兵攻無極，處存求援太原，克用自將赴之，鎮人懼，退保新城，克用急攻之，镕引去，追破之九門。易久未下，盧龍將劉仁恭穴地以入，得其城，士卒有驕色；處存以輕兵三千蒙羊皮，夜布之野，以精騎伏它道，全忠軍望為群羊，爭趨之，處存伏騎發，大敗之，復取易州。全忠遁還，盡失芻糧仗鎧，懼得罪，乃裒餘眾反攻幽州，可舉度不支，引其族登樓自燔死。

At the end of the Zhonghe era, Li Keyong of Taiyuan grew powerful and formed close ties with Wang Chucun of Ding; Li Keju resented Keyong's designs on Shandong; he sent envoys to ally with Tuyuhun commissioner Helian Duo and Wang Rong of Zhen, proclaiming that Yi and Ding originally belonged to Yan and Zhao and would be shared among allies. He immediately sent army marshal Han Xuanshao to attack the Shatuo at Yao'er Ridge, took seven thousand heads, killed their generals Zhuye Jinzhong and others, and seized tens of thousands of cattle, horses, weapons, and armor. He fought again at the Xiongwu Army and killed and captured ten thousand. Helian Duo again defeated the Shatuo at Wei Prefecture; an edict made Duo prefect of Yun and promoted Li Keju to acting attendant-in-chief. He then sent swift general Li Quanzhong with sixty thousand troops to besiege Yi Prefecture. Wang Rong attacked Wuji; Wang Chucun sought aid from Taiyuan; Li Keyong personally led troops to the rescue; the men of Zhen retreated to defend Xincheng; Keyong pressed the attack; Rong withdrew and was routed at Jiumen. Yi long resisted capture; Lulong general Liu Rengong tunneled into the city and took it; the soldiers grew arrogant; Wang Chucun covered three thousand light troops in sheepskins and spread them in the open country by night; with elite cavalry ambushed on another route, Li Quanzhong's army saw what appeared to be a flock of sheep and rushed toward them; Chucun's hidden cavalry sprang forth, routed them, and recaptured Yi Prefecture. Li Quanzhong fled back, losing all fodder, grain, weapons, and armor; fearing punishment, he gathered remaining troops to counterattack Youzhou; Li Keju judged he could not hold out, led his clan up a tower, and burned himself to death.

李全忠，范陽人。仕為棣州司馬。有蘆生其室，一尺三節，怪之，以問別駕張建，建曰：「蘆，茅類，生於澤，公茅土兆也。傳節者其三世乎？」罷歸，事可舉為牙將。可舉死，眾推為留後。光啟元年，拜節度使，未幾卒。

Li Quanzhong was a native of Fanyang. He served as military aide of Di Prefecture. Reeds grew in his house, one chi with three joints; he found it strange and asked Vice Prefect Zhang Jian; Jian said, "Reeds are of the thatch kind, growing in marshes—this is an omen of enfeoffment with fief soil. Will the transmission of the commission last three generations?" He left office and returned, serving Li Keju as a guard officer. When Li Keju died, the troops installed him as acting commissioner. In 885 he was appointed military commissioner; before long he died.

子匡威嗣，領留後，進為使。性豪爽，恃燕、薊勁兵處，軒然有雄天下意。與赫連鐸共攻太原，爭雲、代。李克用使安金俊攻鐸，匡威救鐸，戰蔚州，射金俊殺之，乃共表請討沙陀，而朱全忠亦上言願協力，故張浚因請用兵矣。浚敗，克用攻雲州，以騎將薛阿檀為前鋒，設伏河上。鐸以精騎追阿檀，抵河而伏起，乃大敗，禽其將賈塞兒，遂圍雲州，塹而守，分兵出井陘，屯常山，大掠深、趙。匡威以步騎萬餘援王镕，克用還，因急攻鐸。會食盡，鐸棄州奔匡威。克用取雲州，表石善友為刺史。鐸本吐谷渾部酋也，開成中，其父率種人三千帳自歸，守雲州十五年。至是，失其地。

His son Li Kuangwei succeeded, assumed acting command, and was promoted to commissioner. By nature he was bold and generous; relying on Yan and Ji's strong troops, he held himself high with ambition to dominate the realm. Together with Helian Duo he attacked Taiyuan, contending for Yun and Dai. Li Keyong sent An Jinjun to attack Duo; Li Kuangwei rescued Duo; fighting at Wei Prefecture, he shot and killed Jinjun; they jointly memorialized requesting a campaign against the Shatuo; Zhu Quanzhong also offered cooperation; thus Zhang Jun requested deployment of troops. Zhang Jun was defeated; Li Keyong attacked Yun Prefecture, with cavalry general Xue Atan as vanguard, setting an ambush on the river. Helian Duo with elite cavalry pursued Atan; reaching the river the ambush sprang up and routed him; they captured his general Jia Saier; then they besieged Yun Prefecture, dug trenches and held it, sent troops through Jingxing Pass, encamped at Changshan, and plundered Shen and Zhao on a grand scale. Li Kuangwei with more than ten thousand infantry and cavalry aided Wang Rong; Li Keyong returned and pressed the attack on Duo fiercely. When provisions ran out, Helian Duo abandoned the prefecture and fled to Li Kuangwei. Li Keyong took Yun Prefecture and memorialized to appoint Shi Shanyou prefect. Helian Duo was originally a Tuyuhun chieftain; in the Kaicheng era his father led three thousand tents of tribesmen to surrender and guarded Yun Prefecture for fifteen years. At this time he lost his territory.

景福初，镕誘太原將李存孝降之，克用怒，伐镕。镕來求救，匡威遣將赴之，克用去。明年，兵復出井陘，匡威自將援镕，將行，置酒大會。其弟兵馬留後、檢校司徒匡籌妻張，國艷，匡威酒酣，報之，弟怒，匡威軍次博野，乃據城自為留後。天子即授檢校太保，為節度使。匡威麾下多去，屏營無所歸，留深州，遣其屬李抱貞上書願入朝。時京師數寇難，人人危懼，傳言金頭王且來，皆亡竄山谷。抱貞還，而镕已迎館於鎮。匡威引抱貞登城西大悲浮屠，顧望流涕，美其山川，乃共圖镕。陽為镕繕甲，治城塹，施授方略，陰施予，以傾士心。鎮軍忠於王氏，皆惡之。匡威親忌日，镕過慰。匡威士衷甲劫镕入牙城，戰不勝，鎮人斬匡威以徇。匡籌表訴諸朝，檄暴镕罪，攻樂壽、武強以報。

At the start of the Jingfu era, Wang Rong induced Taiyuan general Li Cunxiao to defect; Li Keyong was furious and campaigned against Rong. Wang Rong sought rescue; Li Kuangwei sent generals to his aid; Li Keyong withdrew. The following year troops again came out through Jingxing Pass; Li Kuangwei personally led troops to aid Rong; before departing he held a grand farewell feast. His younger brother Kuangchou, acting military commissioner and acting grand marshal, had a wife Zhang of national beauty; Li Kuangwei, deep in wine, violated her; his brother was enraged; Li Kuangwei's army halted at Boye; Kuangchou seized the city and made himself acting commissioner. The emperor immediately appointed him acting Grand Guardian and military commissioner. Most of Li Kuangwei's followers departed; he camped in isolation with nowhere to go, remained at Shen Prefecture, and sent his subordinate Li Baozhen to memorialize wishing to enter court. At that time the capital had suffered repeated raids; everyone was in fear; rumor spread that the Golden-Headed King was about to come, and all fled to mountain valleys. When Li Baozhen returned, Wang Rong had already welcomed and lodged him at Zhen. Li Kuangwei led Li Baozhen up the Great Compassion pagoda west of the city, looked back and wept, praised the landscape, and together they plotted against Wang Rong. Outwardly he repaired armor for Rong, fortified city moats, dispensed strategy, and secretly gave favors to undermine troop loyalty. The Zhen army, loyal to the Wang clan, all hated him. On the anniversary of Li Kuangwei's parent's death, Wang Rong came to offer condolences. Li Kuangwei's men wore armor beneath their robes and seized Wang Rong into headquarters; the battle failed; the men of Zhen beheaded Kuangwei and displayed his head publicly. Li Kuangchou memorialized and appealed to the court, circulated a proclamation exposing Rong's crimes, and attacked Leshou and Wuqiang in retaliation.

始，匡籌之奪也，燕人不以為義。劉仁恭出奔太原，克用倚其謀，下武、媯二州，敗匡籌於居庸關。李存審與戰，匡籌又敗，挈其族奔京師，次景城，滄州節度使盧彥威殺之，掠入車馬僮妓。妻方乳，不能進，仁恭獲之，納於克用為嬖夫人。始，匡威見逐，嘆曰：「兄失弟得，皆吾之宗，無所悔，然其材恐不足以守。」果亡，而幽州地歸克用，以仁恭為帥。

At first, when Li Kuangchou seized power, the people of Yan did not consider it righteous. Liu Rengong fled to Taiyuan; Li Keyong relied on his counsel, captured Wu and Gui prefectures, and defeated Li Kuangchou at Juyong Pass. Li Cunshen fought him; Li Kuangchou was again defeated; he fled with his clan toward the capital; halting at Jingcheng, Cangzhou military commissioner Lu Yanwei killed him and plundered his carriage, horses, servants, and entertainers. His wife was still nursing and could not proceed; Liu Rengong captured her and presented her to Li Keyong as a favored consort. When Li Kuangwei was driven out, he sighed: "Elder brother lost, younger brother gained—both are of our clan, nothing to regret; yet his talent perhaps is insufficient to hold it." Indeed he perished, and Youzhou returned to Li Keyong, who made Liu Rengong commander.

劉仁恭，深州人。父晟，客范陽，為李可舉新興鎮將，故仁恭事軍中。從李全忠攻易州，號「窟頭」，稍遷裨校。為人豪縱，多智數，有大誌，嘗自言：「夢大幡出指端，年四十九，當秉旄節。」李匡威惡之，補景城令。

Liu Rengong was a native of Shen Prefecture. His father Sheng was a guest at Fanyang and served as garrison general of Xinxing under Li Keju; Liu Rengong thus entered military service. Following Li Quanzhong in the attack on Yi Prefecture, he was called "Cave Head" and was gradually promoted to deputy officer. Bold and unrestrained, full of stratagems, and ambitious, he once said, "I dreamed a great banner emerged from my fingertips; at forty-nine I shall hold the staff of command." Li Kuangwei disliked him and appointed him magistrate of Jingcheng.

會瀛州亂，殺守吏，仁恭募士千人定其亂。匡威復使將兵，戍蔚州，逾期未代，士皆怨。會匡籌奪地，故戍卒擁仁恭趨幽州，匡籌逆戰，敗之，遂以族奔太原。李克用待之甚厚，賜田宅，拜壽陽鎮將。數以策幹克用，請步騎一萬東取幽州，且為導。克用攻匡籌，匡籌遁去。仁恭與苻存審入城，封府庫以待。克用悅，留仁恭守之，以親信分典其兵。

When Ying Prefecture rebelled and killed the guarding officials, Liu Rengong recruited a thousand men and pacified the disorder. Li Kuangwei again had him lead troops to garrison Wei Prefecture; when the term expired with no replacement, the troops resented it. When Li Kuangchou seized territory, the garrison troops supported Liu Rengong and marched on Youzhou; Kuangchou met them in battle and defeated him; Rengong fled with his clan to Taiyuan. Li Keyong treated him generously, granted fields and a residence, and appointed him garrison general of Shouyang. Repeatedly he approached Li Keyong with stratagems, requesting ten thousand infantry and cavalry to take Youzhou in the east and serve as guide. Li Keyong attacked Li Kuangchou, and Kuangchou fled. Liu Rengong together with Fu Cunshen entered the city, sealed the treasury and storehouses, and awaited Keyong. Li Keyong was pleased, left Liu Rengong to guard it, and had trusted men share command of his troops.

乾寧二年，克用擊王行瑜，表仁恭為檢校司空、盧龍軍節度使。明年，克用攻魏州，召盧龍兵，仁恭以契丹解。又明年，克用復興其兵救朱瑄，仁恭不答，使者數十往，卒不出。克用以書讓之，仁恭乃慢罵，執其使，盡囚太原士之在燕者。復以厚利誘克用麾下士，多亡歸之。克用怒，自將往擊，不勝，師喪過半。仁恭獻馘於朱全忠，全忠表同中書門下平章事。

In 895, Li Keyong attacked Wang Xingyu and memorialized to appoint Liu Rengong acting minister of works and military commissioner of the Lulong Army. The following year Li Keyong attacked Wei Prefecture and summoned Lulong troops; Liu Rengong excused himself citing the Khitan. The year after that, Li Keyong again raised troops to rescue Zhu Xuan; Liu Rengong did not respond; dozens of envoys went back and forth, yet he never dispatched troops. Li Keyong reproached him by letter; Liu Rengong insulted and reviled him, seized his envoys, and imprisoned all Taiyuan men in Yan. He again used rich rewards to entice Li Keyong's subordinates, and many defected to him. Li Keyong was furious and personally led troops to attack; he failed, and more than half the army was lost. Liu Rengong presented severed heads to Zhu Quanzhong; Quanzhong memorialized to make him co-director of the Chancellery and Secretariat.

既與克用絕，則益募兵。光化初，使其子守文襲滄州，節度使盧彥威棄城走，遂有滄、景、德三州地，用守文為節度留後，請命於朝。昭宗怒，不與。會中人至，仁恭謾謂曰：「旄節吾自可為，要假長安本色耳，何見拒邪？」由是兵益張，顯圖河北。悉幽、滄步騎十萬，聲言三十萬，南徇魏、鎮。次貝州，屠之，清水為不流。

Having broken with Li Keyong, he increased recruitment of troops. At the start of the Guanghua era he had his son Shouwen raid Cang Prefecture; military commissioner Lu Yanwei abandoned the city and fled; he then held Cang, Jing, and De prefectures, installed Shouwen as acting commissioner, and requested appointment from the court. Emperor Zhaozong was angry and refused. When an eunuch arrived, Liu Rengong insolently said, "The staff of command I can make myself—I only need to borrow the proper Chang'an style; why be refused?" Thereupon his troops grew bolder and he openly plotted for Hebei. He mustered a hundred thousand infantry and cavalry from You and Cang, claiming three hundred thousand, and marched south against Wei and Zhen. He halted at Bei Prefecture and massacred it; the clear water ran red and ceased to flow.

羅紹威求救於朱全忠，全忠使李思安、葛從周赴之，屯內黃。仁恭負強，下令曰：「思安懦，當先破之，乃取魏。」守文與單可及精甲五萬，循清水上。思安設伏，自引兵逆戰，偽不勝。守文躡北至內黃，思安整兵還擊守文，伏發，斬可及，獨守文挺逸，眾無還者。從周興邢、洺兵與魏將賀德倫等出館陶門，夜擊仁恭，破八屯。仁恭走，自魏抵長河數百里，屍蔽道。鎮人邀敗之東境。仁恭遂衰。

Luo Shaowei sought rescue from Zhu Quanzhong; Quanzhong sent Li Si'an and Ge Congzhou to his aid, encamping at Neihuang. Relying on his strength, Liu Rengong ordered, "Si'an is cowardly—we should break him first, then take Wei." Shouwen and Shan Keji with fifty thousand elite armored troops advanced along the clear water upstream. Li Si'an set an ambush, personally led troops to meet the attack, and feigned defeat. Shouwen pursued north to Neihuang; Li Si'an reformed his troops and counterattacked; the ambush sprang forth; Keji was beheaded; only Shouwen escaped; none of his troops returned. Ge Congzhou raised Xing and Ming troops together with Wei generals He Delun and others, sallied through Guantao Gate, attacked Liu Rengong by night, and broke eight encampments. Liu Rengong fled; from Wei to Changhe for several hundred li, corpses covered the road. The men of Zhen intercepted and defeated him on the eastern border. Liu Rengong then declined.

三年，葛從周攻滄州，仁恭壁乾寧。從周潛軍戰老鴉堤，仁恭敗，退壁瓦橋，卑辭歸窮於克用求救，克用為侵邢、洺。俄而全忠取瀛、莫，克用使周德威出飛狐。天祐三年，全忠自將攻滄州，壁長蘆。仁恭悉發男子十五以上為兵，涅其面曰「定霸都」，士人則涅於臂曰：「一心事主」，盧龍閭裏為空，得眾二十萬，屯瓦橋。全忠環滄築而溝之，內外援絕，人相食。仁恭求戰，不許，復從克用乞師，使百輩往，乃許。仁恭以兵三萬合攻潞州，降全忠將丁會，滄州圍乃解。

In the third year, Ge Congzhou attacked Cang Prefecture; Liu Rengong fortified at Qianning. Ge Congzhou secretly deployed troops and fought at Laoya Embankment; Liu Rengong was defeated, retreated to fortify at Waqiao, and in desperation returned to Li Keyong seeking rescue; Keyong raided Xing and Ming on his behalf. Before long Zhu Quanzhong took Ying and Mo; Li Keyong had Zhou Dewei go out through Feihu Pass. In 906, Zhu Quanzhong personally led troops to attack Cang Prefecture and encamped at Changlu. Liu Rengong mustered all males fifteen and above as soldiers, tattooed their faces with "Dingba Capital," and for scholars tattooed their arms with "Wholeheartedly serving the lord"; Lulong's villages were emptied; he gathered two hundred thousand troops and encamped at Waqiao. Zhu Quanzhong surrounded Cang, built fortifications and dug moats; aid was cut off inside and out, and people resorted to cannibalism. Liu Rengong requested battle but was refused; he again begged Li Keyong for troops, sent a hundred envoys, and only then was granted permission. Liu Rengong with thirty thousand troops jointly attacked Lu Prefecture, induced Zhu Quanzhong's general Ding Hui to surrender, and the siege of Cang was lifted.

是時，中原方多故，仁恭得倚燕強且遠，無所憚，意自滿。從方士王若訥學長年，築館大安山，掠子女充之。又招浮屠，與講法。以堇土為錢，斂真錢，穴山藏之，殺匠滅口。禁南方茶，自擷山為茶，號山曰大恩，以邀利。

At that time the central plains were in turmoil; Liu Rengong, relying on Yan's strength and remoteness, feared nothing and grew complacent. He studied longevity from the adept Wang Ruone, built a lodge on Mount Da'an, and plundered women and children to fill it. He also recruited Buddhist monks and expounded the dharma with them. He minted coins from clay, collected real money, hid it in mountain caves, and killed the craftsmen to silence them. He banned southern tea, gathered mountain tea himself, named the mountain Da'en, and monopolized the profit.

子守光烝嬖妾，事覺，仁恭謫之。李思安來攻，屯石子河。仁恭居大安山，城中無備。守光引兵出戰，思安去，因回攻大安，虜仁恭，囚別室，殺左右婢媵，遂有盧龍。

His son Shouguang violated a favored concubine; when the matter was discovered, Liu Rengong banished him. Li Si'an came to attack and encamped at Shizi River. Liu Rengong dwelt on Mount Da'an; the city had no defenses. Shouguang led troops out to fight; Si'an departed; Shouguang then turned back to attack Da'an, captured Liu Rengong, imprisoned him in a separate chamber, killed his attendants and concubines, and seized Lulong.

贊曰：朱滔脅其兄泚入朝，及引兵東向，稱帝以自尊，名雖助泚，誌可知矣。至克融再得幽州，朱氏無遺種，其禍與泚鈞，而族夷有先後為間也。

The commentator says: Zhu Tao coerced his elder brother Ci to enter court, and when he led troops eastward and proclaimed himself emperor to elevate himself, though in name he aided Ci, his intent was clear. When Kerong again obtained Youzhou, the Zhu clan left no survivors; their calamity equaled Ci's, yet the extermination of the clan came with intervals between the first and the last.

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