Volume 25 Later Tang Biographies 5: Zhou Dewei, Fu Cunshen, Shi Jiantang, Wang Jianji, Yuan Xingqin, An Jinquan, Yuan Jianfeng, Xi Fangye

周德威

Zhou Dewei

周德威，字鎮遠，朔州馬邑人也。為人勇而多智，能望塵以知敵數。其狀貌雄偉，笑不改容，人見之，凜如也。事晉王為騎將，稍遷鐵林軍使，從破王行瑜，以功遷衙內指揮使。其小字陽五，當梁、晉之際，周陽五之勇聞天下。梁軍圍晉太原，令軍中曰：「能生得周陽五者為刺史。」有驍將陳章者，號陳野義，常乘白馬被朱甲以自異，出入陣中，求周陽五，欲必生致之。晉王戒德威曰：「陳野義欲得汝以求刺史，見白馬朱甲者，宜善備之！」德威笑曰：「陳章好大言耳，安知刺史非臣作邪？」因戒其部兵曰：「見白馬朱甲者，當佯走以避之。」兩軍皆陣，德威微服雜卒伍中。陳章出挑戰，兵始交，德威部下見白馬朱甲者，因退走，章果奮槊急追之，德威伺章已過，揮鐵槌擊之，中章墮馬，遂生擒之。

Zhou Dewei, styled Zhenyuan, came from Mayi in Shuozhou. Brave and cunning, he could read an enemy’s strength from the dust on the horizon. He was a towering figure; his smile never softened his face, and men who met him felt a cold dread. He entered the Prince of Jin’s service as a cavalry officer, rose to command the Iron Forest Army, helped break Wang Xingyu, and was made Inner Gate director of command for his deeds. Men called him Yangwu as a boy; in the wars between Liang and Jin, the name Zhou Yangwu rang across the empire. When Liang encircled Jin’s Taiyuan, the command went out: “Take Zhou Yangwu alive and you shall be made regional inspector.” One of their champions, Chen Zhang—called Chen Yeyi—marked himself with a white horse and vermilion mail and ranged the field hunting Zhou Yangwu, sworn to bring him in alive. The Prince of Jin warned Dewei: “Chen Yeyi means to earn his prefecture with your capture—when you see white horse and red armor, be on your guard!” Dewei laughed. “Chen Zhang is all boast—who says the prefecture is not already mine?” Then he told his men: “See white horse and red armor—fall back as if routed.” Both hosts formed up. Dewei shed his insignia and stood among the common soldiers. Chen Zhang rode out to fight. At the first clash Dewei’s men spotted the white horse and red mail and broke as ordered. Zhang drove his lance in hard pursuit—then Dewei, letting him pass, swung his iron mace and knocked him from the saddle. They took him alive.

梁攻燕，晉遣德威將五萬人為燕攻梁，取潞州，遷代州刺史、內外蕃漢馬步軍都指揮使。梁軍舍燕攻潞，圍以夾城，潞州守將李嗣昭閉城拒守，而德威與梁軍相持於外逾年。嗣昭與德威素有隙，晉王病且革，語莊宗曰：「梁軍圍潞，而德威與嗣昭有隙，吾甚憂之！」王喪在殯，莊宗新立，殺其叔父克寧，國中未定，而晉之重兵，悉屬德威於外，晉人皆恐。莊宗使人以喪及克寧之難告德威，且召其軍。德威聞命，即日還軍太原，留其兵城外，徒步而入，伏梓宮前慟哭幾絕，晉人乃安。遂從莊宗復擊梁軍，破夾城，與李嗣昭歡如初。以破夾城功，拜振武節度使、同中書門下平章事。

When Liang struck Yan, Jin sent Dewei with fifty thousand to help Yan turn on Liang. He seized Luzhou, became prefect of Dai, and was named overall commander of all barbarian and Han horse and foot. Liang left Yan and turned on Luzhou, ringed it with twin siege lines, and Li Sizhao held the city while Dewei held the field more than a year. Sizhao and Dewei had never been friends. The Prince of Jin, dying, told Zhuangzong: “Liang has Luzhou pinned, and Dewei and Sizhao are at odds—I fear what may come.” The coffin had barely been set out when Zhuangzong took the throne, killed his uncle Kening, and left the state unsteady. Jin’s best troops were all with Dewei abroad, and every heart in Taiyuan trembled. Zhuangzong sent word of the mourning and Kening’s fall, and called Dewei’s army home. Dewei obeyed at once, marched to Taiyuan, camped his men outside the walls, and walked in alone. He threw himself before the coffin and wept until he nearly fainted—and only then did Jin breathe easy. He followed Zhuangzong back to the field, smashed the twin lines, and he and Li Sizhao were friends again as before. For breaking the twin fortifications he was made military governor of Zhenwu and co-equal grand councilor.

天祐七年秋，梁遣王景仁將魏、滑、汴、宋等兵七萬人擊趙。趙王王熔乞師於晉，晉遣德威先屯趙州。冬，梁軍至柏鄉，趙人告急，莊宗自將出贊皇，會德威於石橋，進距柏鄉五里，營於野河北。晉兵少，而景仁所將神威、龍驤、拱宸等軍，皆梁精兵，人馬鎧甲飾以組繡金銀，其光耀日，晉軍望之色動。德威勉其眾曰：「此汴、宋傭販兒，徒飾其外耳，其中不足懼也！其一甲直數十千，擒之適足為吾資，無徒望而愛之，當勉以往取之。」退而告莊宗曰：「梁兵甚銳，未可與爭，宜少退以待之。」莊宗曰：「吾提孤軍出千里，其利速戰。今不乘勢急擊之，使敵知吾之眾寡，則吾無所施矣！」德威曰：「不然，趙人能城守而不能野戰。吾之取勝，利在騎兵，平川廣野，騎兵之所長也。今吾軍於河上，迫賊營門，非吾用長之地也。」莊宗不悅，退臥帳中，諸將無敢入見。德威謂監軍張承業曰：「王怒老兵。不速戰者，非怯也。且吾兵少而臨賊營門，所恃者，一水隔耳。使梁得舟筏渡河，吾無類矣！不如退軍鄗邑，誘敵出營，擾而勞之，可以策勝也。」承業入言曰：「德威老將知兵，願無忽其言！」莊宗遽起曰：「吾方思之耳。」已而德威獲梁遊兵，問景仁何為，曰：「治舟數百，將以為浮梁。」德威引與俱見，莊宗笑曰：「果如公所料。」乃退軍鄗邑。德威晨遣三百騎叩梁營挑戰，自以勁兵三千繼之。景仁怒，悉其軍以出，與德威轉鬥數十里，至於鄗南。兩軍皆陣，梁軍橫亙六七里，汴、宋之軍居西，魏、滑之軍居東。莊宗策馬登高，望而喜曰：「平原淺草，可前可卻，真吾之勝地！」乃使人告德威曰：「吾當為公先，公可繼進。」德威諫曰：「梁軍輕出而遠來，與吾轉戰，其來必不暇賫糧糗，縱其能賫亦不暇食，不及日午，人馬俱饑，因其將退而擊之勝。」諸將亦皆以為然。至未申時，梁軍東偏塵起，德威鼓噪而進，麾其西偏曰：「魏、滑軍走矣！」又麾其東偏曰：「梁軍走矣！」梁陣動，不可復整，乃皆走，遂大敗。自高阝追至於柏鄉，橫屍數十里，景仁以十餘騎僅而免。自梁與晉爭，凡數十戰，其大敗未嘗如此。

In the autumn of Tianyou 7 (910), Liang sent Wang Jingren with seventy thousand men from Wei, Hua, Bian, and Song against Zhao. Wang Rong of Zhao pleaded for aid; Jin sent Dewei to hold Zhao prefecture. That winter Liang reached Baixiang. Zhao cried for help. Zhuangzong marched out through Zanhuang, met Dewei at Stone Bridge, pushed to within five li of Baixiang, and camped north of the Wild River. Jin was badly outnumbered. Jingren’s Divine Might, Dragon Soar, and Bent Bow corps were Liang’s flower—mail and harness bright with brocade, gold, and silver, flashing in the sun. Jin soldiers looked and lost heart. Dewei rallied his men: “These Bian and Song shop boys dress the part—inside the armor there is nothing to fear! Each suit costs tens of thousands—take one and it pays our march. Do not stand admiring their glitter; go and strip it from them.” He then told Zhuangzong in private: “Liang is too sharp for a straight fight. Pull back and let them come to us.” Zhuangzong said: “I marched a thousand li with this lone host—speed is our edge. If we wait and let them count our ranks, we lose every opening we have!” Dewei said: “No. Zhao can man walls, not open fields. We win on horse. Broad plain and open ground—that is where cavalry shines. Here we sit on the riverbank under their gate—that is not country where we can use our strength.” Zhuangzong turned away displeased, lay down in his tent, and no general dared go in. Dewei told the army monitor Zhang Chengye: “The king is furious with this old soldier. Holding back is not fear. We are too few to sit under their walls. One river is all that shields us. If Liang ferries across, we are done for! Withdraw to Haoyi, draw them out, harry and tire them—that is how we win.” Chengye went in and said: “Dewei is a veteran who knows war—do not dismiss him!” Zhuangzong sat up at once. “I was thinking the same thing.” Soon Dewei took a Liang scout and asked Jingren’s plan. “He is building hundreds of boats for a pontoon bridge.” Dewei brought the man before Zhuangzong, who laughed: “Just as you said.” They pulled back to Haoyi. At dawn Dewei sent three hundred riders to taunt the Liang camp, then followed with three thousand picked men. Jingren in fury marched out with his whole host. He and Dewei skirmished for miles until they reached south of Haoyi. Both sides formed. Liang’s line ran six or seven li—Bian and Song on the west, Wei and Hua on the east. Zhuangzong rode to a rise, looked out, and smiled: “Open grass and flat ground—room to press and room to pull back. This is our country!” He sent word to Dewei: “I will lead—you follow.” Dewei urged caution: “Liang marched out rash and far. After this running fight they cannot have full rations—even if they brought food they have not eaten. By midday men and horses will starve. Hit them as they pull back and we win.” The other commanders agreed. Before mid-afternoon dust billowed on Liang’s east. Dewei charged with drums and cries and signaled west: “Wei and Hua are running!” He signaled east: “Liang is running! Liang’s lines buckled, broke, and ran. The rout was total. The chase ran from Gaoyi to Baixiang, dead heaped for miles. Jingren escaped with a dozen riders. In decades of war between Liang and Jin, Liang had never been broken like this.

劉守光僭號於燕，晉遣德威將三萬出飛狐以擊之。德威入祁溝關，取涿州，遂圍守光於幽州，破其外城，守光閉門距守。而晉軍盡下燕諸州縣，獨幽州不下，圍之逾年乃破之，以功拜盧龍軍節度使。德威雖為大將，而常身與士卒馳騁矢石之間。守光驍將單廷珪，望見德威於陣，曰：「此周陽五也！」乃挺槍馳騎追之。德威佯走，度廷珪垂及，側身少卻，廷珪馬方馳，不可止，縱其少過，奮槌擊之，廷珪墜馬，遂見擒。莊宗與劉掞相持於魏，掞夜潛軍出黃澤關以襲太原，德威自幽州以千騎入土門以躡之。掞至樂平，遇雨不得進而還。德威與掞俱東，爭趨臨清。臨清有積粟，且晉軍餉道也，德威先馳據之，以故莊宗卒能困掞軍而敗之。

When Liu Shouguang made himself emperor of Yan, Jin sent Dewei with thirty thousand through Flying Fox Pass. Dewei forced Qigou Pass, took Zhuo, and penned Shouguang in Youzhou. The outer city fell; Shouguang barred the inner gates. Jin swept Yan’s prefectures and counties; only Youzhou held out more than a year before it fell. For that he was made military governor of Lulong. Though a field marshal, he still rode with his men under arrow and stone. Shan Tinggui, one of Shouguang’s champions, spotted Dewei in the line and cried: “There is Zhou Yangwu!” He lowered his lance and galloped after him. Dewei pretended to flee. As Tinggui closed he sidestepped; the horse could not check its speed. Dewei let him pass, swung his mace, and knocked him from the saddle. They took him alive. While Zhuangzong and Liu Yan faced off at Wei, Yan stole out by night through Huangze Pass to hit Taiyuan. Dewei came from Youzhou with a thousand riders through Tumen Pass to trail him. Yan reached Leeping, rain stopped him, and he turned back. Dewei and Yan both raced east for Linqing. Linqing held grain stores and fed Jin’s line of march. Dewei got there first—and because of that Zhuangzong was able to trap Yan and break him.

莊宗勇而好戰，尤銳於見敵。德威老將，常務持重以挫人之鋒，故其用兵，常伺敵之隙以取勝。十五年，德威將燕兵三萬人，與鎮、定等軍從莊宗於河上，自麻家渡進軍臨濮，以趨汴州。軍宿胡柳陂，黎明，候騎報曰：「梁軍至矣！」莊宗問戰於德威，德威對曰：「此去汴州，信宿而近，梁軍父母妻子皆在其中，而梁人家國系此一舉。吾以深入之兵，當其必死之戰，可以計勝，而難與力爭也。且吾軍先至此，糧爨具而營柵完，是謂以逸待勞之師也。王宜按軍無動，而臣請以騎軍擾之，使其營柵不得成，樵爨不暇給，因其勞乏而乘之，可以勝也。」莊宗曰：「吾軍河上，終日俟敵，今見敵不擊，復何為乎？」顧李存審曰：「公以輜重先，吾為公殿。」遽督軍而出。德威謂其子曰：「吾不知死所矣！」前遇梁軍而陣：王居中，鎮、定之軍居左，德威之軍居右，而輜重次右之西。兵已接，莊宗率銀槍軍馳入梁陣，梁軍小敗，犯晉輜重，輜重見梁朱旗，皆驚走入德威軍，德威軍亂，梁軍乘之，德威父子皆戰死。莊宗與諸將相持而哭曰：「吾不聽老將之言，而使其父子至此！」莊宗即位，贈德威太師。明宗時，加贈太尉，配享莊宗廟。晉高祖追封德威燕王。子光輔，官至刺史。

Zhuangzong was bold and loved the fight; the sight of the enemy always stirred him. Dewei, the veteran, always played for weight and patience to dull the enemy’s edge; his battles turned on waiting for the other side’s mistake. In the fifteenth year Dewei led thirty thousand Yan troops with the hosts of Zhen and Ding behind Zhuangzong on the Yellow River. From Majia Ford they marched on Linpu, aiming at Bian. They camped at Huliu. At dawn scouts reported: “Liang is here!” Zhuangzong asked whether to fight. Dewei said: “Bian is two days away. Liang’s families and throne are inside that city. They must throw everything into this battle. Our deep column meets their last stand. We can win by craft, not by shoving strength against strength. We arrived first. Fires are lit and the camp is set. We are the rested host waiting on the tired. Hold the line, Majesty. Let me harry them with horse so their camp never sets and their wood and cook-fires fall behind—then strike when they break and we win.” Zhuangzong said: “We waited on this river all day for them. See the enemy and not strike—then why come at all?” He turned to Li Cun’an: “Take the baggage first. I will cover your rear.” and drove the army out at once. Dewei told his son: “I do not know where I will fall! They met Liang and formed: Zhuangzong in the center, Zhen and Ding on the left, Dewei on the right, baggage west of the right wing. As the lines met, Zhuangzong led the Silver Spear corps into Liang’s ranks. Liang buckled briefly, then hit Jin’s baggage. The train saw Liang’s red banners and panicked into Dewei’s wing. Dewei’s line collapsed. Liang pressed hard, and Dewei and his son both fell. Zhuangzong faced his commanders in tears: “I would not hear the old general—and now father and son are gone because of me! When Zhuangzong took the throne, he posthumously made Dewei Grand Preceptor. Under Mingzong he was further honored as Grand Marshal and given paired sacrifice in Zhuangzong’s temple. Gaozu of Later Jin posthumously made him Prince of Yan. His son Guangfu rose to regional inspector.

符存審〈（子彥超彥饒彥卿）〉

Fu Cunshen (with sons Yanchao, Yanrao, and Yanqing)〉

符存審，字德詳，陳州宛丘人也。初名存，少微賤，嘗犯法當死，臨刑，指旁壞垣顧主者曰：「願就死於彼，冀得垣土覆屍。」主者哀而許之，為徙垣下。而主將方飲酒，顧其愛妓，思得善歌者佐酒，妓言：「有符存常為妾歌，甚善。」主將馳騎召存審，而存審以徙垣下故，未加刑，因往就召，使歌而悅之，存審因得不死。其後事李罕之，從罕之歸晉，晉王以為義兒軍使，賜姓李氏，名存審。

Fu Cunshen, styled Dexiang, came from Wanqiu in Chen prefecture. He was first called Cun. Born poor, he once broke the law and was sentenced to die. At the block he pointed to a crumbling wall and begged the officer: “Let me die there, so the fallen earth may cover my body.” The officer took pity and moved him under the wall. The commandant was drinking and wanted a good voice beside his cup. His favorite courtesan said: “Fu Cun used to sing for me—he sings well.” The commandant sent a rider in haste. Because Cunshen had been moved to the wall he had not yet been killed; he came when called, sang, and won the commandant’s favor—and lived. Later he served Li Hanzhi and followed him over to Jin. The Prince of Jin made him commander of the foster-son corps, gave him the surname Li, and named him Cunshen.

從晉王擊李匡儔，為前鋒，破居庸關。又從擊王行瑜，破龍泉寨，以功遷檢校左僕射。從李嗣昭攻汾州，執李瑭，遷左右廂步軍指揮使。又從嗣昭攻潞州，降丁會。從周德威破梁夾城，遷忻州刺史、蕃漢馬步軍指揮使。晉、趙攻燕，梁救燕，擊趙深州，圍蓚縣，存審與史建瑭軍下博，擊走梁軍，遷領邢州團練使。魏博叛梁降晉，存審為前鋒，屯臨清。莊宗入魏，存審殿軍魏縣，與劉掞相距於莘西。從莊宗敗掞於故元城，閻寶以邢州降，乃以存審為安國軍節度使。毛璋以滄州降，徙存審橫海，加同中書門下平章事。

He followed the Prince of Jin against Li Kuangchou as vanguard and broke Juyong Pass. He marched again against Wang Xingyu, took Longquan Stockade, and was made acting Left Vice Director. He followed Li Sizhao against Fen prefecture, took Li Tang, and was made commander of the left and right wing step armies. He followed Sizhao again against Luzhou and brought Ding Hui over. He followed Zhou Dewei in breaking Liang’s twin fortifications, became prefect of Xin, and was named commander of barbarian and Han horse and foot. Jin and Zhao marched on Yan; Liang rode to Yan’s rescue, struck Shenzhou in Zhao, and laid siege to Suo county. Cunshen and Shi Jiantang took Xiabo, broke the Liang host, and Cunshen was made training commissioner of Xingzhou. Weibo turned on Liang and went over to Jin. Cunshen led the van and encamped at Linqing. Zhuangzong entered Wei; Cunshen held the rear at Wei county and faced Liu Yan west of Shen. When Zhuangzong broke Liu Yan at former Yuancheng and Yan Bao surrendered Xingzhou, Cunshen was made military governor of Anguo Circuit. Mao Zhang gave up Cangzhou, and Cunshen was moved to Henghai and made Grand Councilor.

契丹圍幽州，是時晉與梁相持河上，欲發兵，兵少，欲勿救，懼失之。莊宗疑，以問諸將，而存審獨以為當救，曰：「願假臣騎兵五千足矣！」乃遣存審分兵救之，卒擊走契丹。從戰胡柳陂，晉軍晨敗，亡周德威，存審與其子彥圖力戰，暮復敗梁軍於土山，遂取德勝，築河南北為兩城，晉人謂之「夾寨」。遷內外蕃漢馬步軍總管。

Khitan forces besieged Youzhou. Jin and Liang still faced each other across the river. The court wanted to send help but had too few men—and feared that if it sent none, Youzhou would be lost. Zhuangzong wavered and polled his generals. Only Cunshen argued they must go: “Give me five thousand horsemen—that is enough!” Cunshen was sent with a detachment, and in the end drove the Khitan off. At Huliu Embankment the Jin army was routed at dawn and Zhou Dewei fell. Cunshen and his son Yan Tu fought on; by evening they had broken the Liang force at Tushan, retaken Desheng, and raised twin cities north and south of the river—the Jin called them the “Pincer Forts.” He was made overall commander of the inner and outer barbarian and Han horse and foot.

梁朱友謙以河中同州降晉，梁遣劉掞攻同州，友謙求救，乃遣存審與李嗣昭救之。河中兵少而弱，梁人素易之，且不虞晉軍之速至也。存審選精騎二百雜河中兵出擊掞壘，陽敗而走，掞兵追之，晉騎反擊，獲其騎兵五十，梁人知其晉軍也，皆大驚。然河中糧少而新降，人心頗持兩端，晉軍屯朝邑，諸將皆欲速戰，存審曰：「使梁軍知吾利於速戰，則將夾渭而營，斷我餉道，以持久困我，則進退不可，敗之道也。不若緩師示弱，伺隙出奇，可以取勝。」乃按軍不動。居旬日，望氣者言：「有黑氣，狀如鬥雞。」存審曰：「可以一戰矣！」乃進軍擊掞，大敗之，掞閉壁不復出。存審曰：「掞兵已敗，不如逸之。」乃休士卒，遣裨將王建及牧馬於沙苑，掞以謂晉軍且懈，乃夜遁去，存審追擊於渭河，又大敗之。張文禮弒趙王王镕，晉遣閻寶、李嗣昭等攻之，至輒戰死，最後遣存審破之。

Zhu Youqian of Liang surrendered Hezhong and Tongzhou to Jin. Liang sent Liu Yan against Tongzhou; Youqian called for help, and Cunshen went with Li Sizhao to answer. Hezhong’s army was small and weak. Liang had always despised it and never dreamed Jin would come so fast. Cunshen picked two hundred elite riders, mingled them with Hezhong troops, and hit Liu Yan’s camp. They played at defeat and ran; Yan’s men chased, and the Jin horsemen turned and cut them down, taking fifty riders. Once Liang knew Jin had arrived, panic spread through the ranks. Hezhong’s granaries were thin and the city had only just turned; loyalties still wavered. Jin encamped at Chaoyi, and every general wanted battle at once. Cunshen said: “Let Liang see we want a quick fight and they will fortify both banks of the Wei, sever our supplies, and grind us down. Then we cannot advance or retreat. That is how armies die. Better to slow the march, look weak, wait for a gap, and strike from nowhere. That is how victory is won.” He kept the army in place. Ten days passed. A reader of vapors said: “Black vapor rises, shaped like fighting cocks.” Cunshen said: “The moment has come!” He marched forward and smashed Liu Yan. Yan sealed himself in his walls and would not come out again. Cunshen said: “Yan is already broken. Better to let him slip away.” He rested the men and sent the deputy Wang Jianji to graze horses at Shayuan. Yan took it for slackness and bolted by night. Cunshen chased him to the Wei River and broke him again. Zhang Wenli murdered the Zhao king Wang Rong. Jin sent Yan Bao, Li Sizhao, and others against him; one after another they fell in battle, until Cunshen was sent and broke him at last.

存審為將有機略，大小百餘戰，未嘗敗衄，與周德威齊名。德威死，晉之舊將獨存審在。契丹攻遮虜，乃以存審為盧龍軍節度使。時存審已病，辭不肯行，莊宗使人慰諭，強遣之。

Cunshen commanded with cunning. In more than a hundred fights, great and small, he never tasted defeat—and his name stood beside Zhou Dewei’s. When Dewei fell, of Jin’s old commanders only Cunshen was left. Khitan forces struck Zhelu, and Cunshen was made military governor of Lulong Circuit. Cunshen was already sick. He begged off and would not go. Zhuangzong sent envoys to coax him—and then compelled him to leave.

莊宗滅梁入洛，存審自以身為大將，不得與破梁之功，怏怏，疾益甚，因請朝京師。是時，郭崇韜權位已重，然其名望素出存審下，不樂其來而加己上，因沮其事，存審妻郭氏泣訴於崇韜曰：「吾夫於國有功，而於公鄉里之舊，奈何忍令死棄窮野！」崇韜愈怒。存審章累上，輒不許，存審伏枕嘆曰：「老夫事二主四十年，今日天下一家，四夷遠俗，至於亡國之將、射鉤斬袪之人，皆得親見天子，奉觴為壽，而獨予棄死於此，豈非命哉！」崇韜度存審病已亟，乃請許其來朝。徙存審宣武軍節度使，卒於幽州。臨終，戒其子曰：「吾少提一劍去鄉里，四十年間取將相，然履鋒冒刃出死入生而得至此也。」因出其平生身所中矢鏃百餘而示之曰：「爾其勉哉！」

When Zhuangzong destroyed Liang and entered Luoyang, Cunshen brooded that a great general ought to have stood in the final victory—and he had not. His discontent fed his illness, and he asked to come to court. Guo Chongtao’s power was already immense, yet his fame had never matched Cunshen’s. He did not want Cunshen to arrive and stand above him, and he blocked the request. Cunshen’s wife Lady Guo wept before Chongtao: “My husband served the state with merit, and you are old neighbors from the same home—how can you leave him to die in the wilderness!” Chongtao grew angrier still. Cunshen’s memorials piled up and were always refused. From his sickbed he sighed: “Forty years I served two masters. Now the realm is one; even ruined enemy generals and men who once drew bow or blade against their lords are allowed to see the Son of Heaven and drink to his long life—and I alone am left to die here. Is this not fate!” Chongtao, seeing that Cunshen was near death, at last asked that he be allowed to come to court. Cunshen was transferred to military governor of Xuanwu Army and died at Youzhou. On his deathbed he told his sons: “I left home with one sword. In forty years I rose to general and councilor—but I got here only by walking through blades, out of death and back into life again and again.” Then he brought out more than a hundred arrowheads taken from his body over a lifetime and showed them. “Now do your utmost,” he said.

存審三子：彥超、彥饒、彥卿。

Cunshen had three sons: Yan Chao, Yan Rao, and Yan Qing.

彥超為汾州刺史。郭從謙弒莊宗，明宗入洛陽，是時，彥超為北京巡檢，永王存霸奔於太原，彥超見留守張憲謀之。憲，儒者，事莊宗最久，不忍背恩，欲納之，彥超不從，存霸遂見殺。明宗即位，彥超來朝，明宗德之，勞曰：「河東無事，賴爾之力也。」以為建雄軍留後。遷北京留守，徙鎮昭義，罷為上將軍，復為泰寧軍節度使，又徙安遠。彥超主藏奴王希全盜其貲，彥超稍責之，奴懼，夜叩其門，言有急，彥超出，見殺，贈太尉。

Yan Chao served as prefect of Fenzhou. When Guo Congqian murdered Zhuangzong and Mingzong entered Luoyang, Yan Chao was northern-capital inspector. Prince of Yong Cunba fled toward Taiyuan, and Yan Chao met Taiyuan’s acting governor Zhang Xian to plan with him. Zhang was a man of letters who had served Zhuangzong longest and could not betray that debt. He wanted to shelter Cunba; Yan Chao refused—and Cunba was killed. When Mingzong took the throne Yan Chao came to court. Mingzong praised him: “The eastern capital stayed calm—we owe that to you.” He was made acting governor of Jianxiong Army. He became northern-capital governor, then Zhaoyi governor, was dismissed to senior general, returned as military governor of Taining Army, and was transferred again to Anyuan. Yan Chao’s chief storehouse slave Wang Xiquan stole from him. Yan Chao scolded him lightly; the slave panicked, knocked at his gate at night crying emergency, and killed him when he came out. Yan Chao was posthumously made Grand Commandant.

次子彥饒，為汴州馬步軍都指揮使。天成元年，發汴兵三千戍瓦橋關，控鶴指揮使張諫為亂，殺權知州高逖，迫彥饒為帥。彥饒陽許之曰：「欲吾為帥，當止焚掠，明日以軍禮見吾於南衙。」乃陰與拱衙指揮使龐起伏甲於衙內。明日，諫等皆集，伏兵發，誅諫等，殺四百餘人，即日牒州事與推官韋儼。明宗下詔褒其忠略。其後累遷彰聖都指揮使，歷曹、沂、饒三州刺史。清泰三年，自饒州刺史拜忠正軍節度使、侍衛馬步軍都指揮使。晉高祖起太原，彥饒以侍衛兵從廢帝至河陽。廢帝敗，晉高祖以楊光遠代彥饒將親軍，徙彥饒義成軍節度使。範延光反，白奉進以侍衛兵三千屯滑州。兵士犯法，奉進捕得五人，其三人義成兵也，因並斬之，彥饒怒。明日，奉進從數騎過彥饒謝不先告而殺，彥饒曰：「軍士各有部分，義成兵卒豈公所得斬邪？何無主客之禮也！」奉進怒曰：「軍士犯法，安有彼此！且仆已自謝過，而公怒不息，欲與延光同反邪！」拂衣而起，彥饒不復留之，其麾下大噪，追奉進殺之，彥饒不之止也。已而屯駐軍將馬萬等聞亂，以兵擒彥饒送之京師，遂以彥饒應延光反聞。行至赤岡，高祖使人殺之，下詔削奪在身官爵。彥饒與晉初無釁隙，以一旦之忿，不能馭其軍，殺奉進已非其本意，以反見誅，非其罪也！

The second son Yan Rao commanded Bianzhou’s horse and foot. In Tiancheng year one three thousand Bian troops were sent to garrison Waqiao Pass. Konghe commander Zhang Jian mutinied, killed acting prefect Gao Di, and forced Yan Rao to lead them. Yan Rao agreed in public: “If you want me as commander, stop the burning and looting. Tomorrow meet me with full military ceremony at the southern yamen.” In secret he arranged with Gongya commander Pang Yun to hide armed men inside the yamen. The next day Jian and the others gathered. The hidden troops rose, executed Jian and his men, killed more than four hundred, and that same day Yan Rao turned prefectural affairs over to judicial officer Wei Yan. Mingzong issued an edict praising his loyalty and cunning. Later he rose to Zhangsheng Army commander and served as prefect of Cao, Yi, and Rao in turn. In Qingtai year three he rose from Rao prefect to military governor of Zhongzheng Army and commander of the palace horse and foot. When Gaozu of Jin rose at Taiyuan, Yan Rao led the palace guard with the deposed emperor to Heyang. When the deposed emperor fell, Gaozu put Yang Guangyuan in command of the personal army in Yan Rao’s place and transferred Yan Rao to Yicheng Army. When Fan Yanguang rebelled, Bai Fengjin encamped three thousand palace troops at Huazhou. Some soldiers broke the law. Fengjin caught five of them—three from Yicheng’s ranks—and beheaded all five together. Yan Rao was furious. The next day Fengjin came with a few riders to apologize for killing without warning. Yan Rao said: “Every soldier belongs to his own command—how dare you behead Yicheng men? Where is the courtesy owed between host and guest!” Fengjin snapped: “When soldiers break the law, what difference does it make whose they are! I have already apologized, and still your anger will not die. Do you mean to rebel with Yanguang!” He flung his robes aside and stalked out. Yan Rao made no move to hold him back. His troops erupted, chased Fengjin down, and killed him—and Yan Rao did not stop them. Before long the garrison commanders Ma Wan and others heard of the uproar, seized Yan Rao with troops, and sent him to the capital. Word went out that he had joined Yanguang’s rebellion. At Chigang Gaozu had him executed and stripped him of every title and rank. Yan Rao had no old quarrel with Jin. In a flash of anger he lost control of his men; killing Fengjin was never what he meant—and yet he died condemned as a rebel, punished for a crime that was not truly his!

史建瑭〈（子匡翰）〉

Shi Jiantang (son Kuang Han)〉

史建瑭，雁門人也。晉王為雁門節度使，其父敬思為九府都督，從晉王入關破黃巢，復京師，擊秦宗權於陳州，嘗將騎兵為先鋒。晉王東追黃巢於冤朐，還過梁，軍其城北。梁王置酒上源驛，獨敬思與薛鐵山、賀回鶻等十餘人侍。晉王醉，留宿梁驛，梁兵夜圍而攻之。敬思登驛樓，射殺梁兵十餘人，會天大雨，晉王得與從者俱去，縋尉氏門以出。而敬思為梁追兵所得，見殺。

Shi Jiantang came from Yanmen. When the Prince of Jin governed Yanmen, Jiantang’s father Jingsi commanded the nine garrisons. He followed the prince through the pass to break Huang Chao, recover the capital, and strike Qin Zongquan at Chenzhou, often leading the cavalry van. The Prince of Jin pursued Huang Chao east to Yuanqu and, on the return, passed Liang and camped north of the city. The Liang ruler held wine at Shangyuan post station. Only Jingsi, Xue Tieshan, He Huihu, and a dozen others waited on him. The Prince of Jin drank deep and stayed the night at the Liang station. Liang troops surrounded it and attacked after dark. Jingsi climbed the station tower and shot down more than ten Liang soldiers. Rain poured down; the prince and his followers escaped by lowering themselves from Weishi Gate. Jingsi was caught by Liang pursuers and killed.

建瑭少事軍中為裨校，自晉降丁會，與梁相距於潞州，建瑭已為晉兵先鋒。梁兵數為建瑭所殺，相戒常避史先鋒。梁遣王景仁攻趙，晉軍救趙，建瑭以先鋒兵出井陘，戰於柏鄉。梁軍為方陣，分其兵為二：汴、宋之軍居左，魏、滑之軍居右。周德威擊其左，建瑭擊其右，梁軍皆走，遂大敗之。以功加檢校左僕射。

Jiantang entered the army young as a junior officer. After Jin submitted to Ding Hui and faced Liang at Luzhou, Jiantang already led the Jin van. Liang soldiers kept dying to Jiantang. They warned one another: steer clear of Shi’s vanguard. Liang sent Wang Jingren against Zhao. Jin marched to the rescue, and Jiantang led the van through Jingxing to fight at Baixiang. The Liang army drew up in square battalions and split its force: Bian and Song on the left, Wei and Hua on the right. Zhou Dewei smashed the left; Jiantang broke the right. The Liang lines broke and ran, and the army was ruined. For this he was made Acting Left Vice Director.

天祐九年，晉攻燕，燕王劉守光乞師於梁，梁太祖自將擊趙，圍棗強、蓚縣。是時晉精兵皆北攻燕，獨符存審與建瑭以三千騎屯趙州。梁軍已破棗強，存審扼下博橋。建瑭分其麾下五百騎為五隊：一之衡水，一之南宮，一之信都，一之阜城，而自將其一，約各取梁芻牧者十人會下博。至暮，擒梁兵數十，皆殺之，各留其一人，縱使逸去，告之曰：「晉王軍且大至。」明日，建瑭率百騎為梁旗幟，雜其芻牧者，暮叩梁營，殺其守門卒，縱火大呼，斬擊數十百人。而梁芻牧者所出，各遇晉兵，有所亡失，其縱而不殺者，歸而皆言晉軍且至。梁太祖夜拔營去，蓚縣人追擊之，梁軍棄其輜重鎧甲不可勝計。梁太祖方病，由是增劇，而晉軍以故得並力以收燕者，二人之力也。後從莊宗入魏博，敗劉掞於故元城，累以功歷貝、相二州刺史。十八年，晉軍討張文禮於鎮州，建瑭以先鋒兵下趙州，執其刺史王珽。兵傅鎮州，建瑭攻其城門，中流矢卒，年四十二。

In Tianyou year nine Jin attacked Yan. Yan king Liu Shouguang begged Liang for aid; Liang Taizu himself marched against Zhao and besieged Zaoqiang and Suo county. All Jin’s best troops were north against Yan. Only Fu Cunshen and Jiantang held Zhaozhou with three thousand horsemen. Liang had already taken Zaoqiang. Cunshen held Xiabo Bridge. Jiantang split five hundred men into five squads—one to Hengshui, one to Nangong, one to Xindu, one to Fucheng, and he led the fifth. Each squad was to seize ten Liang foragers and rendezvous at Xiabo. By evening they had taken dozens of Liang soldiers, killed all but one from each squad, and let the survivors go with word that the Prince of Jin’s army was coming in force.” The next day Jiantang rode at the head of a hundred horsemen under Liang banners, mingled with the captured foragers, and at dusk hit the Liang camp. They killed the gate guards, set fires, shouted, and cut down scores of men. Meanwhile the foragers Jiantang had sent out each ran into Jin troops and lost men. Those he had spared to escape came back saying Jin was near. Liang Taizu broke camp and fled by night. Suo county people chased them; Liang left baggage, armor, and gear beyond counting. Liang Taizu was already sick, and from this he grew worse. Jin’s eventual united push to take Yan owed much to these two men. Later Jiantang followed Zhuangzong into Weibo, helped break Liu Yan at former Yuancheng, and rose through successive posts as prefect of Bei and Xiang. In year eighteen Jin campaigned against Zhang Wenli at Zhenzhou. Jiantang led the van to Zhaozhou and seized its prefect Wang Ting. When the army pressed Zhenzhou Jiantang assaulted the gate, took an arrow, and died at forty-two.

子匡翰

Son Kuang Han

建瑭子匡翰，尚晉高祖女，是為魯國長公主。匡翰為將，沈毅有謀，而接下以禮，與部曲語未嘗不名。歷天雄軍步軍都指揮使、彰聖馬軍都指揮使。事晉為懷和二州刺史、鄭州防禦使、義成軍節度使，所至兵民稱慕之。史氏世為將，而匡翰好讀書，尤喜《春秋三傳》，與學者講論，終日無倦。義成軍從事關澈尤嗜酒，嘗醉罵匡翰曰：「近聞張彥澤臠張式，未見史匡翰斬關澈，天下談者未有偶爾！」匡翰不怒，引滿自罰而慰勉之，人皆服其量。卒年四十。

Jiantang’s son Kuang Han married a daughter of Gaozu of Jin and became Princess of Lu. Kuang Han commanded with steady cunning. He treated subordinates with courtesy and never spoke to an officer without naming him. He served as infantry commander of Tianxiong Army and cavalry commander of Zhangsheng Army. Under Jin he governed Huaihe and Er, served as defense commissioner of Zhengzhou and military governor of Yicheng Circuit—and wherever he went soldiers and people admired him. The Shi clan had bred generals for generations, yet Kuang Han loved books and above all the Three Commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals, debating them with scholars all day without tiring. Yicheng Circuit aide Guan Che loved wine. Once, drunk, he cursed Kuang Han: “People talk of Zhang Yanzhe carving up Zhang Shi—but no one has yet seen Shi Kuang Han behead Guan Che. The gossips have no match for that!” Kuang Han did not rage. He filled his own cup in self-penalty, comforted Che, and urged him on. Everyone marveled at his measure. He died at forty.

王建及

Wang Jianji

王建及，許州人也。少事李罕之，從罕之奔晉，為匡衛指揮使。梁、晉戰柏鄉，相距鄗邑野河上，鎮、定兵扼河橋，梁兵急擊之。莊宗登高臺望見鎮、定兵將敗，顧建及曰：「橋為梁奪，則吾軍危矣，奈何？」建及選二百人馳擊梁兵，梁兵敗，解去。從戰莘縣、故元城，皆先登陷陣，以功累拜遼州刺史，將銀槍效節軍。

Wang Jianji came from Xuzhou. As a young man he served Li Hanzhi. When Hanzhi fled to Jin, Jianji went with him and became drill commissioner of Kuangwei. At Baixiang, Liang and Jin faced off across the Ye River at Hao. Zhengding and Dingzhou troops held the bridge while Liang hurled itself at them. From a high platform Zhuangzong watched the Zhengding and Dingzhou lines buckle and turned to Jianji: “If Liang takes that bridge, we are finished—what do we do?” Jianji picked two hundred men, galloped into the Liang ranks, broke them, and drove them off. At Shen county and Guyuan city he was always first over the wall. Merit piled up until he was made prefect of Liaozhou and given the Silver Spear Valiant Loyalty Army.

晉攻楊劉，建及躬自負葭葦堙塹，先登拔之。從戰胡柳，晉兵已敗，與梁爭土山，梁兵先至，登山而陣。莊宗至山下望梁陣堅而整，呼其軍曰：「今日之戰，得山者勝。」因馳騎犯之，建及以銀槍軍繼進，梁兵下走，陣山西，晉兵遂得土山。諸將皆言：「潰兵未集，日暮不可戰。」閻寶曰：「彼陣山上，吾在其下，尚能擊之，況以高而擊下，不可失也。」建及以為然，因白莊宗曰：「請登高望臣破敵！」即呼眾曰：「今日所失輜重皆在山西，盍往取之！」即馳犯梁陣，梁兵大敗。晉遂軍德勝，為南北城於河上。梁將賀瑰攻其南城，以竹笮維戰艦於河，晉兵不得渡，南城危甚。莊宗積金帛於軍門，募能破梁戰艦者，至於吐火禁咒莫不皆有。建及重鎧執槊呼曰：「梁、晉一水間爾，何必巧為！吾今破之矣。」即以大甕積薪，自上流縱火焚梁戰艦，建及以二舟載甲士隨之，斧其竹笮，梁兵皆走。晉軍乃得渡。救南城，瑰圍解去。

When Jin assaulted Yangliu, Jianji shouldered bundles of reeds himself to fill the ditch, climbed first, and took the place. At Huliu the Jin line had already broken. Both armies fought for a hill. Liang got there first, climbed it, and formed up. Zhuangzong reached the foot of the hill, looked up at Liang’s tight ranks, and shouted to his men: “Whoever holds that hill wins today.” He spurred forward. Jianji came behind with the Silver Spear Army. Liang broke and ran down the western slope; Jin seized the hill. The generals all said: “Our broken units are not yet gathered. At dusk we cannot fight.” Yan Bao said: “They stand on the height and we below, yet we still broke them once. Strike downhill and we cannot miss.” Jianji agreed and told Zhuangzong: “Climb up and watch me smash them!” Then he shouted to the ranks: “Everything we lost today sits west of the hill—why not go get it back!” He charged straight into the Liang line. Liang collapsed. Jin then made camp at Desheng and raised north and south cities on the riverbank. Liang’s He Gui struck the south city, chaining his warships across the river with bamboo cables. Jin could not cross, and the south city hung by a thread. Zhuangzong heaped gold and silk at the camp gate and offered reward to anyone who could break Liang’s fleet—fire-breathers, spell-charmers, every trick under heaven. Jianji in heavy mail gripped his spear and roared: “Liang and Jin are only one river apart—what need for tricks! I will break them now.” He loaded great jars with kindling, set them ablaze upstream, and sent them drifting into Liang’s ships. Two boats of armored men followed Jianji; they chopped through the bamboo chains and Liang fled. Only then could the Jin army cross. The south city was saved. Gui broke off the siege and withdrew.

自莊宗得魏博，建及將銀槍效節軍。建及為將，喜以家貲散士卒。莊宗遣宦官韋令圖監其軍，令圖言：「建及得士心，懼有異志，不可令典牙兵。」即以為代州刺史。建及怏怏而卒，年五十七。

After Zhuangzong won Weibo, Jianji led the Silver Spear Valiant Loyalty Army. As a commander Jianji was known for pouring his family fortune into his men. Zhuangzong sent the eunuch Wei Lingtu to watch his army. Lingtu reported: “Jianji owns the soldiers’ hearts. I fear disloyalty. He must not keep command of the guard.” Jianji was transferred to prefect of Daizhou. Jianji died bitter at fifty-seven.

元行欽

Yuan Xingqin

元行欽，幽州人也。為劉守光裨將，守光篡其父仁恭，使行欽以兵攻仁恭於大安山而囚之，又使行欽害諸兄弟。其後晉攻幽州，守光使行欽募兵雲、朔間。是時明宗掠地山北，與行欽相拒廣邊軍，凡八戰，明宗七射中行欽，行欽拔矢而戰，亦射明宗中股。行欽屢敗，乃降。明宗撫其背而飲以酒曰：「壯士也！」因養以為子。常從明宗戰，數立功。莊宗已下魏，益選驍將自衛，聞行欽驍勇，取之為散員都部署，賜姓名曰李紹榮。

Yuan Xingqin came from Youzhou. He served Liu Shouguang as lieutenant. When Shouguang overthrew his father Renrong, he sent Xingqin to besiege Renrong on Mount Da’an and take him prisoner, then had Xingqin kill the brothers one by one. When Jin later attacked Youzhou, Shouguang sent Xingqin to raise troops in Yun and Shuo. Mingzong was then carving out territory north of the mountains and met Xingqin at Guangbian Army. They fought eight times. Seven arrows found Xingqin; each time he pulled them out and kept fighting, and once he put an arrow in Mingzong’s thigh. After repeated defeats Xingqin surrendered. Mingzong clapped his back and poured him wine: “Now that is a man!” Then he took him as an adopted son. He fought at Mingzong’s side again and again and won merit many times. After Zhuangzong took Wei he gathered more fierce men for his personal guard. Hearing of Xingqin’s courage, he made him chief of the scattered guard and gave him the name Li Shaorong.

莊宗好戰而輕敵，與梁軍戰潘張，軍敗而潰，莊宗得三四騎馳去，梁兵數百追及，攢槊圍之。行欽望其旗而識之，馳一騎，奪劍斷其二矛，斬首一級，梁兵解去。莊宗還營，持行欽泣曰：「富貴與卿共之！」由是寵絕諸將。拜忻州刺史，遷武寧軍節度使。莊宗宴群臣於內殿，酒酣樂作，道平生戰陣事以為笑樂，而怪行欽不在，因左右顧視曰：「紹榮安在？」所司奏曰：「奉敕宴使相，紹榮散官，不得與也。」莊宗罷會不樂。明日，即拜行欽同中書門下平章事。自此不召群臣入內殿，但宴武臣而已。

Zhuangzong loved the fight and scorned his foes. At Panzhang the army broke. He fled with three or four riders while hundreds of Liang soldiers closed in and ringed him with spears. Xingqin spotted Zhuangzong’s banner, charged alone, snatched a sword, snapped two spears, took a head, and the Liang ring broke apart. Back in camp Zhuangzong seized Xingqin and wept: “Whatever fortune comes, you and I share it!” After that no general stood higher in his favor. He was made prefect of Xinzhou, then military governor of Wuning Circuit. Zhuangzong feasted his ministers in the inner hall. Wine flowed, music rose, and he laughed over old battles—then noticed Xingqin was missing. He glanced about and asked: “Where is Shaorong?” The officials answered: “Your Majesty’s feast is for ministers. Shaorong holds scattered rank and may not enter.” Zhuangzong broke off the feast in a black mood. The next day he made Xingqin co-chancellor on the spot. After that he stopped calling ministers into the inner hall and feasted only his warriors.

趙在禮反於魏，莊宗方選大將擊之，劉皇后曰：「此小事，可趣紹榮指揮。」乃以為鄴都行營招撫使，將二千人討之。行欽攻鄴南門，以詔書招在禮。在禮送羊酒犒軍，登城謂行欽曰：「將士經年離去父母，不取敕旨奔歸，上貽聖憂，追悔何及？若公善為之辭，尚能改過自新。」行欽曰：「天子以汝等有社稷之功，小過必當赦宥。」在禮再拜，以詔書示諸軍。皇甫暉從旁奪詔書壞之，軍士大噪。行欽具以聞，莊宗大怒，敕行欽：「破城之日，無遺種！」乃益召諸鎮兵，皆屬行欽。行欽屯澶州，分諸鎮兵為五道，毀民車輪、門扉、屋椽為筏，渡長慶河攻冠氏門，不克。

When Zhao Zaili rebelled at Wei, Zhuangzong was choosing a great general to crush him. Empress Liu said: “This is nothing—send Shaorong at once.” Xingqin was made pacification commissioner for the Ye capital campaign with two thousand men. Xingqin struck Ye’s south gate and called Zaili down with an imperial edict. Zaili sent sheep and wine to the camp, climbed the wall, and told Xingqin: “These men have been torn from their parents for years. They came home without leave and have shamed the throne. Regret is useless now. Speak for us with kindness and we can still make amends.” Xingqin said: “The emperor remembers your service to the realm. A small fault will surely be forgiven.” Zaili bowed low and displayed the edict to the troops. Huangfu Hui snatched the edict beside him and ripped it apart. The soldiers erupted. Xingqin reported all of it. Zhuangzong raged and commanded: “When the walls fall, spare no one!” More troops were called from every circuit and put under Xingqin. Xingqin camped at Cao, split the circuit armies into five columns, ripped cart wheels, doors, and rafters into rafts, crossed the Changqing River, and struck the Guanshi Gate—but failed.

是時，邢、洺諸州，相繼皆叛，而行欽攻鄴無功，莊宗欲自將以往，群臣皆諫止，乃遣明宗討之。明宗至魏，軍城西，行欽軍城南。而明宗軍變，入於魏，與在禮合。行欽聞之，退屯衛州，以明宗反聞。莊宗遣金槍指揮使李從璟馳詔明宗計事。從璟，明宗子也。行至衛州，而明宗已反，行欽乃系從璟，將殺之，從璟請還京師，乃許之。明宗自魏縣引兵南，行欽率兵趨還京師。從莊宗幸汴州，行至滎澤，聞明宗已渡黎陽，莊宗復遣從璟通問於明宗，行欽以為不可，因擊殺從璟。

Xing and Ming had already risen in turn while Xingqin battered Ye without result. Zhuangzong wanted to go in person. The ministers talked him out of it and sent Mingzong instead. Mingzong reached Wei and camped west of the walls. Xingqin sat south of the city. Then Mingzong’s army turned, marched into Wei, and joined Zaili. Xingqin heard the news, pulled back to Weizhou, and reported that Mingzong had rebelled. Zhuangzong sent Golden Spear commander Li Congjing with an urgent edict to parley with Mingzong. Congjing was Mingzong’s son. At Weizhou Mingzong had already turned. Xingqin seized Congjing and meant to kill him. Congjing begged to return to the capital, and Xingqin let him go. Mingzong marched south from Wei county. Xingqin raced back to the capital with his men. He followed Zhuangzong east to Bian. At Xingze they learned Mingzong had crossed Liyang. Zhuangzong sent Congjing again to treat with Mingzong. Xingqin forbade it and cut him down.

明宗入汴州，莊宗至萬勝鎮，不得進，與行欽登道旁冢，置酒，相顧泣下。有野人獻雉，問其冢名，野人曰：「愁臺也。」莊宗益不悅，因罷酒去。西至石橋，置酒野次，莊宗謂行欽曰：「卿等從我久，富貴急難無不同也。今茲危蹙，而默默無言，坐視成敗。我至滎澤，欲單騎渡河，自求總管，卿等各陳利害。今日俾我至此，卿等何如？」行欽泣而對曰：「臣本小人，蒙陛下撫養，位至將相。危難之時，不能報國，雖死無以塞責。」因與諸將百餘人，皆解髻斷發，置之於地，誓以死報，君臣相持慟哭。

Mingzong entered Bian. Zhuangzong halted at Wansheng station and could go no farther. He and Xingqin climbed a tomb by the road, poured wine, and wept across the cups. A countryman offered a pheasant. Asked the tomb’s name, he said: “The Mound of Grief.” Zhuangzong’s mood darkened further. He stopped drinking and went on. West of Shiqiao he spread wine in the open field and said to Xingqin: “You have been with me for years. Fortune and danger alike we have shared. Now ruin closes in, and you sit mute, watching as though the outcome were not yours. At Xingze I meant to cross the river alone and throw myself on the overall commander. Each of you should have told me plainly what to do. Today you have brought me to this pass—what now?” Xingqin wept and answered: “I am a nobody Your Majesty raised to general and minister. In this crisis I cannot repay the state. Even if I die, my debt remains unpaid.” He and more than a hundred officers unbound their hair, cut it off, laid the locks on the ground, and swore to die for him. Emperor and men held one another and wept.

莊宗還洛陽，數日，復幸汜水。郭從謙反，莊宗崩，行欽出奔。行至平陸，為野人所執，送虢州，刺史石潭折其兩足，載以檻車，送京師。明宗見之，罵曰：「我兒何負於爾！」行欽瞋目直視曰：「先皇帝何負於爾！」乃斬於洛陽市，市人皆為之流涕。

Zhuangzong went back to Luoyang. Days later he set out again for Sishui. Guo Congqian rebelled. Zhuangzong died. Xingqin ran. At Pinglu country folk seized him and sent him to Guo prefecture. Prefect Shi Tan broke both his legs, put him in a cage cart, and shipped him to the capital. Mingzong saw him and cursed: “What did my son ever do to you!” Xingqin stared back and said: “What did the late emperor ever do to you!” He was beheaded in the Luoyang market, and the crowd wept.

嗚呼！死之所以可貴者，以其義不茍生爾。故曰：主在與在，主亡與亡者，社稷之臣也。方明宗之兵變於魏，諸將未知去就，而行欽獨以反聞，又殺其子從璟，至於斷發自誓，其誠節有足嘉矣。及莊宗之崩，不能自決，而反逃死以求生，終於被執而見殺。其言雖不屈，而死非其志也，烏足貴哉！

Alas! Death is honored when a man will not buy life at the price of duty. As the saying goes: “While the lord lives, I live; when the lord dies, I die”—that is a minister of the realm. When Mingzong’s army turned at Wei, other generals still wavered, yet Xingqin alone cried rebellion, killed Congjing, and cut his hair in oath. In that hour his loyalty deserves praise. Yet when Zhuangzong fell he could not choose death and ran instead—until capture and execution found him. His tongue stayed stiff, but his death was not the death he had sworn. What is there to honor?

安金全

An Jinquan

袁建豐

Yuan Jianfeng

西方鄴

Xi Fangye

西方鄴，定州滿城人也。父再遇，為汴州軍校，鄴居軍中，以勇力聞。年二十，南渡河遊梁，不見用，復歸莊宗於河上，莊宗以為孝義指揮使，數從征伐有功，同光中為曹州刺史，以州兵屯汴州。明宗自魏反，兵南渡河，而莊宗東幸汴州，汴州節度使孔循懷二誌，使北門迎明宗，西門迎莊宗，所以供帳委積如一，曰：「先至者入之。」鄴因責循曰：「主上破梁而得公，有不殺之恩，奈何欲納總管而負國！」循不答。鄴度循不可爭，而石敬瑭妻，明宗女也，時方在汴，鄴欲殺之，以堅人心。循知其謀，取藏其家，鄴無如之何。而明宗已及汴，乃將五百騎西迎莊宗於汜水，嗚咽泣下，莊宗亦為之噓唏，乃使以兵為先鋒。慶宗至汴西，不得入，還洛陽，遇弒。明宗入洛，鄴請死於馬前，明宗嘉嘆久之。明年，荊南高季興叛，明宗遣襄州節度使劉訓等招討，而以東川董璋為西南面招討使，乃拜鄴夔州刺史，副璋以兵出三峽。已而訓等無功見黜，諸將皆罷，璋亦嘗出兵，惟鄴獨取三州，乃以夔州為寧江軍，拜鄴節度使。已而又取歸州，數敗季興之兵。鄴武人，所為多不中法度，判官譚善達數以諫。鄴怒，遣人告善達受人金，下獄。善達素剛，辭益不遜，遂死於獄中。鄴病，見善達為祟，卒於鎮。

Xi Fangye came from Mancheng in Ding prefecture. His father Zaiyu served as an officer at Bianzhou. Fangye was raised in camp and became known for raw strength. At twenty he crossed south to Liang and found no place. He went back to Zhuangzong on the river and was made drill commissioner of Xiaoyi. He fought in campaign after campaign and won merit. Under Tongguang he became prefect of Cao and kept his troops at Bian. When Mingzong turned at Wei and marched south across the river, Zhuangzong went east to Bian. Kong Xun, military governor of Bian, hedged his bets: the north gate would welcome Mingzong, the west gate Zhuangzong. He stocked both camps the same and said: “Whoever comes first gets the city.” Fangye rounded on Xun: “The emperor broke Liang and spared your life. How can you mean to hand the city to the overall commander and betray the throne!” Xun said nothing. Fangye saw Xun would not be moved. Shi Jingtang’s wife—Mingzong’s daughter—was then in Bian. Fangye meant to kill her and harden the army’s resolve. Xun learned what Fangye meant to do, took the princess into his own house and hid her—and Fangye could not touch her. Mingzong had already reached Bian. Fangye led five hundred horsemen west to meet Zhuangzong at Si River, weeping so hard he could barely speak; Zhuangzong wept with him and put his men in the van. Zhuangzong came to the west of Bian and could not get in. He turned back to Luoyang—and there met his death. When Mingzong entered Luoyang, Fangye begged to die beneath his horse. Mingzong praised him long and deeply, and sighed. The next year Gao Jixing of Jingnan rebelled. Mingzong sent Liu Xun of Xiangzhou and others to suppress him, made Dong Zhang of Dongchuan southwest suppression commissioner, and named Fangye prefect of Qizhou to serve under Zhang and march out through the Three Gorges. Liu Xun and the rest failed and were cashiered; every other commander was pulled back. Zhang had marched, but only Fangye took Qizhou, Zhongzhou, and Wanzhou on his own. The court then made Qizhou the seat of the Ningjiang army and Fangye its military governor. He took Guizhou afterward and beat Gao Jixing’s armies again and again. Fangye was a soldier through and through, and his conduct often ignored the law. Magistrate Tan Shanda warned him again and again. Fangye flew into a rage, had Shanda denounced for taking bribes, and threw him in jail. Shanda had always been unyielding. The more they pressed him, the sharper his answers grew—until he died in his cell. Fangye took sick, saw Shanda’s ghost tormenting him, and died in command.

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