1
楊師厚
Yang Shihou
2
楊師厚，潁州斤溝人也。 少事河陽李罕之，罕之降晉，選其麾下勁卒百人獻於晉王，師厚在籍中。 師厚在晉，無所知名，後以罪奔於梁，太祖以為宣武軍押衙、曹州刺史。 梁攻王師範，師厚戰臨朐，擒其偏將八十餘人，取棣州，以功拜齊州刺史。 太祖攻趙匡凝於襄陽，遣師厚為先鋒。 師厚取谷城西童山木為浮橋，渡漢水，擊匡凝，敗之，匡凝棄城走。 師厚進攻荊南，又走匡凝弟匡明，功為多，拜山南東道節度使、同中書門下平章事。
Yang Shihou came from Jingou in Ying prefecture. As a youth he served Li Hanzhi of Heyang. When Hanzhi went over to Jin, he picked a hundred of his best men and sent them to the Prince of Jin; Shihou was one of them. Shihou made no name in Jin. Later he fled to Liang for a crime, and Taizu of Liang made him yabing of the Xuanwu army and prefect of Cao. When Liang attacked Wang Shifan, Shihou fought at Linqu, took more than eighty of Shifan’s officers, seized Di prefecture, and was rewarded with Qi prefecture. Taizu of Liang struck Zhao Kuangning at Xiangyang and put Shihou in the van. Shihou felled timber on Tong Mountain west of the valley city, bridged the Han, smashed Kuangning, and drove him from the city. Shihou pushed into Jingnan and routed Kuangning’s brother Kuangming; for that he was made military governor of Shannan East Circuit and co-equal grand councilor.
3
劉知俊叛，攻陷長安，劉掞、牛存節等攻之，久不克。 師厚以奇兵出，旁南山入其西門，降其守者，遂克之。 晉周德威攻晉州以應知俊，師厚敗之於蒙坑，以功遷保義軍節度使，徙鎮宣義。 是時，梁兵攻趙久無功，太祖病臥洛陽，少間，乃自將北擊趙。 師厚從太祖至洹水，夜行迷失道，明旦，次魏縣，聞敵將至，梁兵潰亂不可止，久之無敵，乃定。 已而太祖疾作，乃還。 明年少間，而晉軍攻燕，燕王劉守光求援於梁，太祖為之擊趙以牽晉，屯於龍花，遣師厚攻棗強，三月不能下。 太祖怒，自往督兵戰，乃破，屠之，進圍蓚縣。 晉史建瑭以輕兵夜擊梁軍，梁軍大擾，太祖與師厚皆棄輜重南走。 太祖還東都，師厚留屯魏州。 明年，太祖遇弒，友珪自立，師厚乘間殺魏牙將潘晏、臧延範等，逐出節度使羅周翰，友珪因以師厚為天雄軍節度使。
When Liu Zhijun rebelled and took Chang’an, Liu Yan and Niu Cunjie besieged him for months without success. Shihou slipped a surprise force along the southern hills into the west gate, won over the defenders, and took the city. When Zhou Dewei of Jin struck Jin prefecture to aid Zhijun, Shihou crushed him at Mengkeng and was moved from Baoyi to Xuanyi. Liang had besieged Zhao for months without result. Taizu lay sick at Luoyang; when he rallied slightly he marched north in person against Zhao. Shihou followed Taizu to Huanshui. A night march went wrong; at dawn they halted at Wei county. Word came that enemy commanders were near, and the Liang host dissolved in panic—only after a long wait, with no foe in sight, did they steady. Soon Taizu’s sickness returned and he turned back. The next year, barely recovered, he learned that Jin was attacking Yan and that Prince Liu Shouguang had begged Liang for help. Taizu hit Zhao to pin Jin, camped at Longhua, and sent Shihou against Zaoqiang—which held out three months. Taizu came in fury to direct the assault himself. The city fell and was put to the sword; the army then moved to besiege Zhuo county. Shi Jiantang of Jin hit the Liang camp at night with light troops. The army broke in uproar; Taizu and Shihou cast off their baggage and fled south. Taizu went back to the eastern capital; Shihou stayed at Weizhou. The next year Taizu was murdered and Yougui seized the throne. Shihou took the chance to kill the Wei garrison officers Pan Yan and Zang Yanfan, drive out the military governor Luo Zhouhan, and Yougui made him military governor of Tianxiong.
4
自太祖與晉戰河北，師厚常為招討使，悉領梁之勁兵。 太祖崩，師厚遂逐其帥，而稍矜倨難制。 時魏恃牙兵，其帥得以倔強。 羅紹威時，牙兵盡死，魏勢孤，始為梁所制。 師厚已得志，乃復置銀槍效範軍。 友珪陰欲圖之，召師厚入計事。 其吏田溫等勸師厚勿行，師厚曰：「吾二十年不負朱家，今若不行，則見疑而生事，然吾知上為人，雖往，無如我何也。」 乃以勁兵二萬朝京師，留其兵城外，以十餘人自從，入見友珪，友珪益恐懼，賜與巨萬而還。
Ever since Taizu’s wars with Jin in Hebei, Shihou had served as pacification commissioner and commanded Liang’s finest troops. After Taizu died Shihou expelled his own commander and grew proud and hard to manage. Wei then lived by its garrison troops, and its commanders could afford to be stubborn. Under Luo Shaowei the garrison troops were destroyed; Wei stood alone and at last fell fully under Liang’s hand. Once Shihou had his way, he restored the Silver Lance Model Army. Yougui secretly meant to destroy him and summoned Shihou to discuss state business. His clerk Tian Wen and others begged him not to go. Shihou said: “For twenty years I have never failed the Zhu house. If I stay away now, suspicion will breed trouble. Still, I know the man on the throne—even if I go, he cannot touch me.” He marched twenty thousand crack troops to the capital, left them outside the walls, and entered with a dozen men. Yougui only grew more afraid, showered him with gifts, and let him go.
5
已而末帝謀討友珪，問於趙巖，巖曰：「此事成敗，在招討楊公爾。 得其一言諭禁軍，吾事立辦。」 末帝乃遣馬慎交陰見師厚，布腹心。 師厚猶豫未決，謂其下曰：「方郢王弒逆時，吾不能即討。 今君臣之分已定，無故改圖，人謂我何？」 其下或曰：「友珪弒父與君，乃天下之惡，均王仗大義以誅賊，其事易成。 彼若一朝破賊，公將何以自處？」 師厚大悟，乃遣其將王舜賢至洛陽，見袁象先計事，使朱漢賓以兵屯滑州為應。 末帝卒與象先殺友珪。
Later the Last Emperor plotted against Yougui and asked Zhao Yan. Yan said: “Whether this succeeds or fails rests on Pacification Commissioner Yang. One word to the palace guard from him, and our work is finished.” The Last Emperor sent Ma Shenjiao to Shihou in secret and opened his heart to him. Shihou wavered. He told his officers: “When Prince E committed regicide, I could not move at once. Now the bond between lord and subject is fixed. To turn without cause—what will men say of me?” Some of his men said: “Yougui killed his father and lord—the worst villain alive. Prince Jun marches under righteous cause to destroy him; the deed is easily done. If he breaks the villain in one morning, where will you stand then?” Shihou saw the truth of it. He sent Wang Shunxian to Luoyang to plan with Yuan Xiangxian and posted Zhu Hanbin at Huazhou in support. The Last Emperor and Xiangxian at last killed Yougui.
6
王景仁
Wang Jingren
7
王景仁，廬州合淝人也。 初名茂章，少從楊行密起淮南。 景仁為將驍勇剛悍，質略無威儀，臨敵務以身先士卒，行密壯之。 梁太祖遣子友寧攻王師範於青州，師範乞兵於行密，行密遣景仁以步騎七千救師範。 師範以兵背城為兩柵，友寧夜擊其一柵，柵中告急，趣景仁出戰，景仁按兵不動。 友寧已破一柵，連戰不已。 遲明，景仁度友寧兵已困，乃出戰，大敗之，遂斬友寧，以其首報行密。
Wang Jingren came from Hefei in Luzhou. He was first called Maozhang. As a youth he followed Yang Xingmi’s rise in Huainan. Jingren fought with fierce, blunt courage and no show of rank; in battle he always led from the front. Xingmi admired him. Taizu of Liang sent his son Youning against Wang Shifan at Qingzhou. Shifan begged Xingmi for aid, and Xingmi sent Jingren with seven thousand foot and horse to relieve him. Shifan built two palisaded camps with his back to the wall. Youning struck one by night; the camp cried for help and begged Jingren out, but Jingren held his men still. Youning broke one camp and kept fighting without rest. At dawn Jingren judged Youning’s men spent, went out, and routed them. He beheaded Youning and sent the head to Xingmi.
8
是時，梁太祖方攻鄆州，聞子友寧死，以兵二十萬倍道而至，景仁閉壘示怯，伺梁兵怠，毀柵而出，驅馳疾戰，戰酣退坐，召諸將飲酒，已而復戰。 太祖登高望見之，得青州降人，問：「飲酒者為誰？」 曰：「王茂章也。」 太祖嘆曰：「使吾得此人為將，天下不足平也！」 梁兵又敗。 景仁軍還，梁兵急追之，景仁度不可走，遣裨將李虔裕以眾一旅設覆於山下以待之，留軍不行，解鞍而寢。 虔裕疾呼曰：「追兵至矣，宜速走，虔裕以死遏之！」 景仁曰：「吾亦戰於此也。」 虔裕三請，景仁乃行，而虔裕卒戰死，梁兵以故不能及，而景仁全軍以歸。
Taizu was then besieging Yun prefecture. When he heard of Youning’s death he came with two hundred thousand men at forced march. Jingren shut the ramparts and played timid; when Liang slackened he tore down the palisades and charged. Battle ran hot; he withdrew to sit, called his generals to drink, then went back in. Taizu watched from a height and questioned a Qingzhou defector: “Who is the man drinking?” “Maozhang,” he said.” Taizu sighed: “Had I such a man for a general, all under heaven would not be hard to pacify! Liang was beaten again. Jingren’s army withdrew; Liang pressed hard. Seeing he could not outrun them, Jingren sent Li Qianyu with one brigade to lie in ambush below the hills, kept the main force still, unbridled his horse, and slept. Qianyu cried out: “Pursuers are here—you must flee now; Qianyu will hold them with his life!” Jingren said: “I will fight here too.” Qianyu begged three times; Jingren only then rode off. Qianyu died fighting; Liang could not catch up, and Jingren brought the whole army home.
9
景仁事行密，為潤州團練使。 行密死，子渥自宣州入立，以景仁代守宣州。 渥已立，反求宣州故物，景仁惜不與，渥怒，以兵攻之。 景仁奔於錢镠，镠表景仁領宣州節度使。 梁太祖素識景仁，乃遣人召之，景仁間道歸梁，仍以為寧國軍節度使，加同中書門下平章事。 久之，未有以用，使參宰相班，奉朝請而已。
Under Xingmi he was made regimental commander of Runzhou. When Xingmi died his son Wo came from Xuanzhou to take power and left Jingren to hold Xuanzhou. Once enthroned, Wo demanded Xuanzhou’s old stores back. Jingren would not yield; Wo raged and attacked. Jingren fled to Qian Liu, who memorialized to make him military governor of Xuanzhou. Taizu had long known Jingren and sent for him. Jingren came to Liang by hidden routes and was made military governor of Ningguo and co-equal grand councilor. For a long while he had no real post—he sat among the chancellors as a court attendant only.
10
末帝立，以景仁為淮南招討使，攻廬、壽，軍過獨山，山有楊行密祠，景仁再拜號泣而去。 戰於霍山，梁兵敗走，景仁殿而力戰，以故梁兵不甚敗。 景仁歸京師，病疽卒，贈太尉。
When the Last Emperor took the throne Jingren was made Huainan pacification commissioner and attacked Lu and Shou. At Dushan, where Yang Xingmi had a shrine, he bowed twice, wept aloud, and went on. At Huo Mountain Liang was routed. Jingren covered the retreat and fought with all his strength, so the defeat was not utter ruin. Jingren returned to the capital, died of carbuncle, and was posthumously made Grand Marshal.
11
賀瑰，字光遠，濮州人也。 事鄆州朱宣為都指揮使。 梁太祖攻朱瑾於兗州，宣遣瑰與何懷寶、柳存等以兵萬人救兗州，瑰趨待賓館，欲絕梁餉道。 梁太祖略地至中都，得降卒，言瑰等兵趨待賓館矣！ 以六壬占之，得「斬關」，以為吉，乃選精兵夜疾馳百里，期先至待賓以逆瑰，而夜黑，兵失道，旦至鉅野東，遇瑰兵，擊之，瑰等大敗。 瑰走，梁兵急追之，瑰顧路窮，登冢上大呼曰：「我賀瑰也，可勿殺我！」 太祖馳騎取之，並取懷寶等數十人，降其卒三千餘人。 是日，大風揚沙蔽天，太祖曰：「天怒我殺人少邪？」 即盡殺降卒三千人，而系瑰及懷寶等至兗城下以招瑾，瑾不納，因斬懷寶等十餘人，而獨留瑰。 瑰感太祖不殺，誓以身自效。 從太祖平青州，以為曹州刺史。 太祖即位，累遷相州刺史。 末帝時，遷左龍虎統軍，宣義軍節度使。
He Gui, courtesy name Guangyuan, came from Pu prefecture. He served Zhu Xuan of Yun prefecture as overall commander. Taizu of Liang attacked Zhu Jin at Yan prefecture. Xuan sent Gui with He Huaibao, Liu Cun, and others—ten thousand men—to relieve Yan. Gui raced for the Guest Reception Hall to cut Liang’s supply line. Taizu overran the country to Zhongdu and took a defector who said Gui’s army was racing for the Guest Reception Hall. He cast the liu-ren oracle and drew “Cut the Pass”—a good sign. He picked elite troops and raced a hundred li by night to reach the Guest Reception Hall before Gui. In the dark the army lost the road; at dawn east of Juye they met Gui, struck, and routed him. Gui fled; Liang pressed hard. Seeing the road at an end, Gui climbed a tomb mound and shouted: “I am He Gui—do not kill me!” Taizu galloped up and took him, along with Huaibao and several dozen others, and accepted the surrender of more than three thousand men. That day a great wind raised sand and hid the sky. Taizu said: “Does heaven rage that I kill too few?” He then slaughtered all three thousand captives, bound Gui and Huaibao and the rest below Yan city to summon Jin, but Jin would not take them in. He beheaded Huaibao and more than ten others and kept Gui alone. Moved that Taizu had spared him, Gui vowed to give his life in service. When Taizu pacified Qing prefecture, Gui was made prefect of Cao. When Taizu took the throne he rose step by step to prefect of Xiang. Under the Last Emperor he became left Dragon-Tiger commander-in-chief and military governor of Xuanyi.
12
王檀，字眾美，京兆人也。 少事梁太祖為小校，尚讓攻梁，戰尉氏門，檀勇出諸將，太祖奇之，遷踏白副指揮使。 從朱珍募兵東方，戰數有功。 梁與蔡兵戰板橋，李重裔馬踣，為蔡兵所擒，檀馳取之，並獲其將一人。 從太祖破魏內黃，遷沖山都虞候。 復從朱珍攻徐州，檀獲其將一人。 梁兵攻王師範，檀以一軍破其密州，拜密州刺史。 太祖即位，遷保義軍節度使，潞州東北面招討使。 王景仁敗於柏鄉，晉兵圍邢州，太祖大懼，欲自將救之，檀止太祖，請自拒敵，力戰，卒全邢州，以功加同中書門下平章事，進封瑯琊郡王。 友珪立，徙鎮宣化。 貞明元年又徙匡國。 是時，莊宗取魏博，檀以謂晉兵悉在河北，乃以奇兵西出陰地襲太原，不克而還。 徙鎮天平，檀嘗招納亡盜居帳下，帳下兵亂，入殺檀，年五十八，贈太師，謚曰忠毅。
Wang Tan, courtesy name Zhongmei, came from Jingzhao. As a youth he served Taizu of Liang as a minor officer. When Shang Rang attacked Liang at the Weishi Gate, Tan’s courage outshone the other commanders; Taizu noted him and made him deputy commander of the scout corps. He followed Zhu Zhen east to raise troops and won merit in battle after battle. Liang and Cai fought at Banqiao. Li Chongyi’s horse stumbled and Cai took him; Tan galloped in, recovered him, and captured one of their commanders. When Taizu broke Neihuang in Wei, Tan was made chief adjutant of Chong Mountain. Again with Zhu Zhen against Xu prefecture he captured one of their commanders. When Liang attacked Wang Shifan, Tan with one army broke Mi prefecture and was made its prefect. When Taizu took the throne Tan was made military governor of Baoyi and pacification commissioner for the northeast of Lu. When Wang Jingren lost at Baixiang and Jin besieged Xing prefecture, Taizu was deeply afraid and meant to rescue it in person. Tan stopped him, asked to hold the enemy himself, fought with all his strength, and at last saved Xing. For that he was made co-equal grand councilor and advanced to Prince of Langya. When Yougui took the throne Tan was moved to Xuanhua. In the first year of Zhenming he was moved again to Kuangguo. When Zhuangzong took Weibo, Tan judged that all Jin troops were in Hebei and led a surprise force west through Yin territory to raid Taiyuan. They did not take it and returned. Moved to Tianping, Tan had often taken in outlaws and fugitives under his tent. His tent troops mutinied, entered, and killed him. He was fifty-eight. He was posthumously made Grand Preceptor with the posthumous title Loyal and Resolute.
13
馬嗣勛
Ma Sixun
14
王虔裕
Wang Qianyu
15
王虔裕，瑯琊臨沂人也。 為人健勇善騎射，以弋獵為生。 少從諸葛爽起青、棣間，其後爽為汝州防禦使，率兵北擊沙陀，還入長安攻黃巢。 爽兵敗降巢，巢以爽為河陽節度使。 中和三年，孫儒陷河陽，虔裕隨爽奔於梁。 是時，太祖新就鎮，黃巢、秦宗權等兵方盛，太祖數為所窘，而梁未有佗將，乃以虔裕將騎兵，常為先鋒擊巢陳、蔡間，拔其數柵。 巢走，梁兵躡之，戰於萬勝戍，賊敗而東，虔裕功為多，乃表虔裕義州刺史。 黃巢已去，秦宗權攻許、鄭，與梁為敵境，大小百餘戰，虔裕常有功。 秦賢攻汴南境，太祖遣虔裕拒賢於尉氏，戰敗，失一裨將，太祖怒，拘虔裕於軍中。 邢州孟遷降梁，為晉人所圍，太祖遣虔裕以精兵百人疾馳，夜破晉圍，入邢州，遲明，立梁旗幟於城上，晉人以為救兵至，乃退。 已而晉兵復來，遷執虔裕降於晉，見殺。
Wang Qianyu came from Linyi in Langya. Hardy and brave, skilled in mounted archery, he made his living hunting with bow and net. As a youth he followed Ge Zhuang’s rise between Qing and Di. Later, when Zhuang was defense commissioner of Ru, he led troops north against the Shatuo and returned into Chang’an to attack Huang Chao. Zhuang’s army was beaten and surrendered to Chao, who made him military governor of Heyang. In the third year of Zhonghe Sun Ru took Heyang; Qianyu followed Zhuang in flight to Liang. Taizu had just taken command. Huang Chao, Qin Zongquan, and others were still strong; Taizu was often hard pressed and Liang had no other generals—so Qianyu was put in charge of cavalry, regularly leading the van against Chao between Chen and Cai and taking several palisades. Chao fled; Liang pursued. At Wansheng post the bandits were routed eastward; Qianyu won the greatest merit, and Taizu memorialized to make him prefect of Yi. After Huang Chao was gone Qin Zongquan attacked Xu and Zheng. On the Liang border more than a hundred battles large and small were fought; Qianyu regularly distinguished himself. Qin Xian struck Bian’s southern border. Taizu sent Qianyu to hold him at Weishi; they were beaten and lost a junior commander. Taizu raged and kept Qianyu under detention in the army. Meng Qian of Xing prefecture surrendered to Liang and was besieged by Jin. Taizu sent Qianyu with a hundred elite troops at forced march. By night they broke the Jin ring and entered Xing; at dawn they raised Liang banners on the walls. Jin thought relief had come and withdrew. Before long the Jin returned; Meng Qian seized Qianyu and handed him over—they killed him.
16
謝彥章
Xie Yanzhang
17
謝彥章，許州人也。 幼事葛從周，從周憐其敏惠，養以為子，授之兵法，從周以千錢置大盤中，為行陣偏伍之狀，示以出入進退之節，彥章盡得之。 及壯，事梁太祖為騎將。 是時，賀瑰善用步卒，而彥章與孟審澄、侯溫裕皆善將騎兵，審澄、溫裕所將不過三千，彥章多而益辦。 彥章事末帝，累遷匡國軍節度使。 貞明四年，晉攻河北，賀瑰為北面招討使，彥章為排陣使，屯於行臺。 彥章為將，好禮儒士，雖居軍中，嘗儒服，或臨敵禦眾，肅然有將帥之威，左右馳驟，疾若風雨。 晉人望其行陣齊整，相謂曰：「謝彥章必在此也！」 其名重敵中如此。 瑰心忌之。 彥章與瑰行視郊外，瑰指一地語彥章曰：「此地岡阜隆起，其中坦然，營柵之地也。」 已而晉兵柵之，瑰疑彥章陰以告晉，益惡之。 彥章故與馬步都虞候朱珪有隙，瑰欲速戰，彥章請持重以老敵，珪乃誣彥章以為將反。 瑰旦享士，使珪伏甲殺之，審澄、溫裕皆見害。
Xie Yanzhang came from Xuzhou. As a boy he served Ge Congzhou. Congzhou, taken with his quick wit, raised him as a son and taught him war. He would pour a thousand coins into a broad dish, set them out like columns and squads on the march, and drill the boy in when to advance, halt, and fall back—Yanzhang learned every lesson. Grown to manhood, he served Taizu of Liang as a cavalry officer. He Gui then was master of the infantry, while Yanzhang, Meng Shencheng, and Hou Wenyu led the horse. Shencheng and Wenyu each held fewer than three thousand riders; Yanzhang commanded more and ran them tighter. Under the Last Emperor he rose step by step to military governor of Kuangguo. In the fourth year of Zhenming the Jin struck Hebei. He Gui took northern command; Yanzhang served as formation marshal. They camped at the field headquarters. Yanzhang the general honored scholars and often wore plain robes even in camp. Yet when he faced the enemy and held the line, the air of a true commander settled on him; aides riding at his side wheeled as fast as wind and rain. Jin lookouts, seeing ranks drawn so tight, told one another: “Xie Yanzhang must be here!” Such was his name among the foe. Gui turned jealous. Yanzhang and Gui rode out to survey the countryside. Gui pointed to a spot and said: “The ridge swells here and the hollow inside is flat—ideal ground for a stockade.” Soon the Jin fenced it in. Gui decided Yanzhang had tipped them off in secret and hated him the more. Yanzhang and Zhu Gui, chief adjutant of horse and foot, had old grievances. Gui wanted a quick fight; Yanzhang pleaded for patience to wear the enemy down. Zhu Gui then accused Yanzhang of plotting rebellion. At dawn Gui feasted his officers and had Zhu Gui hide armed men to cut Yanzhang down; Shencheng and Wenyu were killed too.