1
桑维翰
Sang Weihan
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桑维翰，字国侨，河南人也。 为人丑怪，身短而面长，常临鉴以自奇曰：「七尺之身，不如一尺之面。」 慨然有志于公辅。 初举进士，主司恶其姓，以「桑」「丧」同音。 人有劝其不必举进士，可以从佗求仕者，维翰慨然，乃著《日出扶桑赋》以见志。 又铸铁砚以示人曰：「砚弊则改而佗仕。」 卒以进士及第。 晋高祖辟为河阳节度掌书记，其后常以自从。
Sang Weihan, styled Guoqiao, came from Henan. He was homely and odd—short-bodied, long-faced. He would study himself in a mirror and say: “Seven feet of body cannot match one foot of face.” He burned to reach the highest councils of state. At his first jinshi attempt the chief examiner disliked his surname—“Sang” echoed “funeral.” Friends said he need not sit the jinshi and could find office elsewhere. Weihan, stung, wrote “Rising Sun over the Mulberry” to show his resolve. He cast an iron inkstone and said: “When this wears through, I change course—but not before.” He passed the jinshi in the end. The Jin High Ancestor made him chief secretary at Heyang and kept him close thereafter.
3
高祖自太原徙天平，不受命，而有异谋，以问将佐，将佐皆恐惧不敢言，独维翰与刘知远赞成之，因使维翰为书求援于契丹。 耶律德光已许诺，而赵德钧亦以重赂啖德光，求助己以篡唐。 高祖惧事不果，乃遣维翰往见德光，为陈利害甚辩，德光意乃决，卒以灭唐而兴晋，维翰之力也。 高祖即位，以维翰为翰林学士、礼部侍郎、知枢密院事，迁中书侍郎、同中书门下平章事，兼枢密使。 天福四年，出为相州节度使，岁余，徙镇泰宁。
The High Ancestor refused transfer from Taiyuan to Tianping and plotted rebellion. He asked his staff; all feared and were silent. Only Weihan and Liu Zhiyuan urged him on. Weihan wrote to the Khitan for aid. Yelü Deguang had promised—but Zhao Dejun bribed him to put himself on Tang’s throne instead. Fearing failure, the High Ancestor sent Weihan to Deguang. Weihan argued the stakes so well that Deguang committed. Tang fell and Jin rose—chiefly through Weihan. At enthronement Weihan became Hanlin academician, Vice Minister of Rites, and Military Affairs director, then Vice Grand Councillor, co-signer, and chief councillor of Military Affairs. Tianfu year four he governed Xiangzhou; a year later he moved to Taining.
4
吐浑白承福为契丹所迫，附镇州安重荣以归晋，重荣因请与契丹绝好，用吐浑以攻之。 高祖重违重荣，意未决。 维翰上疏言契丹未可与争者七，高祖召维翰使者至卧内，谓曰：「北面之事，方挠吾胸中，得卿此疏，计已决矣，可无忧也。」 维翰又劝高祖幸邺都。 七年，高祖在邺，维翰来朝，徙镇晋昌。 出帝即位，召拜侍中。 而景延广用事，与契丹绝盟，维翰言不能入，乃阴使人说帝曰：「制契丹而安天下，非用维翰不可。」 乃出延广于河南，拜维翰中书令，复为枢密使，封魏国公，事无巨细，一以委之。 数月之间，百度浸理。 初，李瀚为翰林学士，好饮而多酒过，高祖以为浮薄。 天福五年九月，诏废翰林学士，按《唐六典》归其职于中书舍人，而端明殿学士、枢密院学士皆废。 及维翰为枢密使，复奏置学士，而悉用亲旧为之。
Bai Chengfu of the Tuyuhun, harried by the Khitan, joined An Chongrong at Zhen and submitted to Jin. Chongrong asked to break with the Khitan and strike them with Tuyuhun allies. The High Ancestor hesitated to cross Chongrong. Weihan listed seven reasons not to fight the Khitan. The High Ancestor called the messenger to his bedside: “The north has tormented me. This memorial settles it.” Weihan also urged a royal progress to Ye. Year seven the High Ancestor was at Ye. Weihan attended court and was sent to Jinchang. The Deposed Emperor made him Palace Attendant. Yanguang ruled and broke the Khitan pact. Weihan’s voice was shut out. He secretly urged the throne: “Only Weihan can tame the Khitan and steady the realm.” Yanguang went to Henan; Weihan became Grand Secretary and Military Affairs chief, Duke of Wei. Every matter passed through his hands. Within months government found its rhythm again. Li Han of the Hanlin loved wine and drank too deep. The High Ancestor found him flighty. Tianfu five, ninth month: Hanlin posts were abolished and their work returned to Secretariat drafters; Duanming and Military Affairs academics went too. As Military Affairs chief Weihan restored the academics—and stocked them with kin and cronies.
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维翰权势既盛，四方赂遗，岁积巨万。 内客省使李彦韬、端明殿学士冯玉用事，共谗之。 帝欲骤黜维翰，大臣刘昫、李崧皆以为不可，卒以玉为枢密使，既而以为相，维翰日益见疏。 帝饮酒过度得疾，维翰遣人阴白太后，请为皇弟重睿置师傅。 帝疾愈，知之，怒，乃罢维翰以为开封尹。 维翰遂称足疾，稀复朝见。 契丹屯中渡，破栾城，杜重威等大军隔绝，维翰曰：「事急矣！」 乃见冯玉等计事，而谋不合。 又求见帝，帝方调鹰于苑中，不暇见，维翰退而叹曰：「晋不血食矣！」
His power swelled; bribes from every quarter piled into the tens of thousands yearly. Li Yantao of the Inner Service and Feng Yu of Duanming ruled the whispering gallery against him. The emperor meant to oust Weihan at once. Liu Xu and Li Song forbade it. Feng Yu took Military Affairs, then the chief councillor’s seat; Weihan faded. The emperor drank himself ill. Weihan secretly told the empress dowager to name tutors for Prince Chongrui. Recovered, he learned of the plot and in rage made Weihan mayor of Kaifeng. Weihan pleaded bad feet and rarely came to court. Khitan troops held Zhongdu Ferry and took Luan City; Du Chongwei’s host was severed. Weihan said: “We are at the brink!” He sought Feng Yu and the rest—but they would not agree. He begged audience; the emperor was flying hawks in the park. Weihan withdrew: “Jin’s altars will run dry!
6
自契丹与晋盟，始成于维翰，而终败于景延广，故自兵兴，契丹凡所书檄，未尝不以此两人为言。 耶律德光犯京师，遣张彦泽遗太后书，问此两人在否，可使先来。 而帝以继翰尝议毋绝盟而己违之也，不欲使维翰见德光，因讽彦泽图之，而彦泽亦利其赀产。 维翰状貌既异，素以威严自持，晋之老将大臣，见者无不屈服，彦泽以骁捍自矜，每往候之，虽冬月未尝不流汗。 初，彦泽入京师，左右劝维翰避祸，维翰曰：「吾为大臣，国家至此，安所逃死邪！」 安坐府中不动。 彦泽以兵入，问：「维翰何在？」 维翰厉声曰：「吾，晋大臣，自当死国，安得无礼邪！」 彦泽股栗不敢仰视，退而谓人曰：「吾不知桑维翰何如人，今日见之，犹使人恐惧如此，其可再见乎？」 乃以帝命召维翰。 维翰行，遇李崧，立马而语，军吏前白维翰，请赴侍卫司狱。 维翰知不免，顾崧曰：「相公当国，使维翰独死？」 崧惭不能对。 是夜，彦泽使人缢杀之，以帛加颈，告德光曰：「维翰自缢。」 德光曰：「我本无心杀维翰，维翰何必自致。」 德光至京师，使人检其尸，信为缢死，乃以尸赐其家，而赀财悉为彦泽所掠。
The Khitan pact with Jin began with Weihan and ended with Yanguang; once war came, every Khitan letter named them both. Deguang reached the capital and sent Zhang Yanzhe to the empress dowager: were they alive? Send them first. The emperor had ignored Weihan’s counsel to keep the pact and did not want him before Deguang. He nudged Yanzhe—and Yanzhe wanted his estate. Weihan looked uncanny and ruled by sheer presence; Jin’s veterans bowed low. Yanzhe, swaggering in his brutality, sweated through winter visits. Yanzhe entered the capital; aides urged flight. Weihan said: “I am a great minister. The realm is fallen—where would I hide?” He sat still in his yamen. Yanzhe marched in: “Where is Weihan?” Weihan’s voice cracked like iron: “I am Jin’s minister. I die for the state—show respect!” Yanzhe’s knees buckled; he could not meet his eyes. Outside he said: “Who knew Sang Weihan was such a man? Once was enough—I could not face him twice.” Then he summoned Weihan in the emperor’s name. Weihan met Li Song on the road and spoke from horseback. An officer said he was bound for the Guard Bureau prison. Weihan knew the end. He said to Song: “You ran the realm—must I die alone?” Song flushed and was silent. That night Yanzhe had him strangled with silk and reported: “Weihan took his own life.” Deguang said: “I never meant to kill him—why force my hand?” At the capital he inspected the body, accepted the story, and returned it to kin—but Yanzhe had stripped the estate bare.
7
景延广
Jing Yanguang
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景延广，字航川，陕州人也。 父建善射，尝教延广曰：「射不入铁，不如不发。」 由是延广以挽强见称。 事梁邵王友诲，友诲谋反被幽，延广亡去。 后从王彦章战中都，彦章败，延广身被数创，仅以身免。
Jing Yanguang, styled Hangchuan, came from Shaanzhou. His father Jian was a master bowman and taught him: “If you cannot pierce iron, do not shoot.” He became famous for the heavy bow. He served Liang’s Prince of Shao Youhai; when Youhai rebelled and was jailed, Yanguang fled. He followed Wang Yanzhang at Zhongdu; Yanzhang fell and Yanguang was riddled with wounds, barely alive.
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明宗时，朱守殷以汴州反，晋高祖为六军副使，主诛从守殷反者。 延广为汴州军校当诛，高祖惜其才，阴纵之使亡，后录以为客将。 高祖即位，以为侍卫步军都指挥使，领果州团练使，从领宁江军节度使。 天福四年，出镇义成，又徙保义，复召为侍卫马步军都虞候，徙镇河阳三城，迁马步军都指挥使，领天平。 高祖崩，出帝立，延广有力，颇伐其功。 初，出帝立，晋大臣议告契丹，致表称臣，延广独不肯，但致书称孙而已，大臣皆知其不可而不能夺。 契丹果怒，数以责晋，延广谓契丹使者乔莹曰：「先皇帝北朝所立，今卫子中国自册，可以为孙，而不可为臣。 且晋有横磨大剑十万口，翁要战则来，佗日不禁孙子，取笑天下。」 莹知其言必起两国之争，惧后无以取信也，因请载于纸，以备遗忘。 延广敕吏具载以授莹，莹藏其书衣领中以归，具以延广语告契丹，契丹益怒。
Under Mingzong, Zhu Shouyin rebelled at Bian. The Jin High Ancestor commanded punishment of the rebels. Yanguang was marked for death. The High Ancestor prized him, let him slip away, and later took him as a guest officer. At enthronement Yanguang commanded the palace foot guard and governed Guo, then Ningjiang. Tianfu four he held Yicheng, then Baoyi; he returned as deputy commander of horse and foot, held Heyang’s three cities, then Tianping. The High Ancestor died; the Deposed Emperor rose. Yanguang had clout and trumpeted his deeds. At the new reign Jin’s ministers meant to notify the Khitan as subjects. Yanguang alone refused—he wrote as grandson, not vassal. Everyone knew disaster would follow; none could stop him. The Khitan raged and rebuked Jin again and again. Yanguang told envoy Qiao Ying: “Your court made our last emperor. Weizi’s Son of Heaven enthrones himself—we are grandson, not subject. Jin keeps a hundred thousand “horizontal-grinding” great swords. If you want war, come. One day you may fail to leash your grandson—and the world will laugh. Ying knew this would kindle war and feared he would not be believed. He asked for it in writing. Yanguang had it written and handed over. Ying hid it in his collar, repeated every word at home, and the Khitan fury doubled.
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天福八年秋，出帝幸大年庄还，置酒延广第。 延广所进器服、鞍马、茶床、椅榻皆裹金银，饰以龙凤。 又进帛五千匹，绵一千四百两，马二十二匹，玉鞍、衣袭、犀玉、金带等，请赐从官，自皇弟重睿，下至伴食刺史、重睿从者各有差。 帝亦赐延广及其母、妻、从事、押衙、孔目官等称是。 时天下旱、蝗，民饿死者岁十数万，而君臣穷极奢侈以相夸尚如此。
Autumn, Tianfu eight: the emperor feasted at Yanguang’s house after Danian Manor. His gifts—vessels, saddles, tea tables, couches—were sheathed in gold and silver, dragon- and phoenix-trimmed. He added five thousand bolts of silk, fourteen hundred catties of cotton, twenty-two horses, jade gear and gold belts for the court—from Chongrui to the humblest attendant, each by rank. The emperor matched gifts to Yanguang’s household and staff. Drought and locusts killed hundreds of thousands yearly—yet court and emperor competed in waste.
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明年春，契丹入寇，延广从出帝北征为御营使，相拒澶、魏之间。 先锋石公霸遇虏于戚城，高行周、符彦卿兵少不能救，驰骑促延广益兵，延广按兵不动。 三将被围数重，帝自御军救之，三将得出，皆泣诉。 然延广方握亲兵，恃功恣横，诸将皆由其节度，帝亦不能制也。 契丹尝呼晋人曰：「景延广唤我来，何不速战？」 是时，诸将皆力战，而延广未尝见敌。 契丹已去，延广独闭壁不敢出。 自延广一言而契丹与晋交恶，凡号令征伐一出延广，晋大臣皆不得与，故契丹凡所书檄，未尝不以延广为言。 契丹去，出帝还京师，乃出延广为河南尹，留守西京。 明年，出帝幸澶渊，以延广从，皆无功。
Next spring the Khitan invaded. Yanguang marched north as imperial camp commissioner, facing them between Chan and Wei. Vanguard Shi Gongba met the enemy at Weicheng. Gao Xingzhou and Fu Yanqing could not break through and begged Yanguang for troops. He would not move. The three were ringed many deep. The emperor rode to save them; they emerged weeping. Yanguang held the imperial guard, arrogant with merit. Every general answered to him; the emperor could not check him. The Khitan shouted at Jin troops: “Yanguang called us—why delay the fight?” Others fought; Yanguang never faced the foe. When the Khitan left, Yanguang alone barred his gates. One speech from Yanguang poisoned Jin and Khitan. Orders and campaigns were his alone; ministers had no share. Every Khitan letter named him. The Khitan withdrew; the emperor sent Yanguang to govern Henan and hold the western capital. Next year he marched to Chanyuan with Yanguang—to no gain.
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延广居洛阳，郁郁不得志。 见晋日削，度必不能支契丹，乃为长夜之饮，大治第宅，园置妓乐，惟意所为。 后帝亦追悔，遣供奉官张晖奉表称臣以求和，德光报曰：「使桑维翰、景延广来，而割镇、定与我，乃可和。」 晋知其不可，乃止。 契丹至中渡，延广屯河阳，闻杜重威降，乃还。
In Luoyang he brooded, thwarted. Jin crumbled daily; he knew it could not hold. He drank through the nights, built a palace, filled gardens with music, and indulged every whim. The emperor repented and sent Zhang Hui to submit. Deguang answered: “Send Weihan and Yanguang; cede Zhen and Ding—then peace.” Jin knew it was impossible and desisted. Khitan troops reached Zhongdu Ferry. Yanguang held Heyang, heard Chongwei had surrendered, and turned back.
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德光犯京师，行至相州，遣骑兵数千杂晋军渡河趋洛，以取延广，戒曰：「延广南奔吴，西走蜀，必追而取之。」 而延广顾虑其家，未能引决，虏骑奄至，乃与从事阎丕驰骑见德光于封丘，并丕见锁。 延广曰：「丕，臣从事也，以职相随，何罪而见锁？」 丕乃得释。 德光责延广曰：「南北失欢，皆因尔也。」 召乔莹质其前言，延广初不服，莹从衣领中出所藏书，延广乃服。 因以十事责延广，每服一事，授一牙筹，授至八筹，延广以面伏地，不能仰视，遂叱而锁之。 将送之北行，至陈桥，止民家。 夜分，延广伺守者殆，引手扼吭而死，时年五十六。 汉高祖时，赠侍中。
Deguang marched on the capital. At Xiangzhou he sent thousands of horse with Jin units toward Luoyang for Yanguang: “If he flees to Wu or Shu, take him.” He could not leave his family. Khitan horse swept in. He and aide Yan Pi rode to Deguang at Fengqiu; Pi was chained too. Yanguang said: “Pi serves by duty—why chain him?” Pi was freed. Deguang rebuked him: “You broke north and south.” He called Qiao Ying. Yanguang denied until Ying produced the paper from his collar. Then he yielded. Ten charges, one tally each confession. At eight Yanguang lay facedown, unable to look up. They bound him. They were sending him north; at Chen Bridge he lodged in a common house. At night, guards slack, he seized his throat and died. He was fifty-six. Later Han posthumously made him Palace Attendant.
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呜呼，自古祸福成败之理，未有如晋氏之明验也！ 其始以契丹而兴，终为契丹所灭。 然方其以逆抗顺，大事未集，孤城被围，外无救援，而徒将一介之命，持片舌之强，能使契丹空国兴师，应若符契，出危解难，遂成晋氏，当是之时，维翰之力为多。 及少主新立，衅结兵连，败约起争，发自延广。 然则晋氏之事，维翰成之，延广坏之，二人之用心者异，而其受祸也同，其故何哉？ 盖夫本末不顺而与夷狄共事者，常见其祸，未见其福也。 可不戒哉！ 可不戒哉！
Alas—fortune and ruin never proved themselves so plainly as in Jin! They rose by the Khitan and fell by the Khitan. Yet in the days of rebellion—besieged, unreinforced, with one life and one tongue—Weihan moved the Khitan to march as if by covenant, pulled Jin through, and built the dynasty. Then his was the greater share. The Young Lord’s reign tied enmity to war; the broken pact began with Yanguang. Jin rose by Weihan and broke by Yanguang—different hearts, the same ruin. Why? When order is upside down and you lean on barbarians, you see ruin far more often than reward. Take warning! Take warning again!
15
吴峦，字宝川，郓州卢县人也。 少举明经不中，清泰中为大同沙彦珣节度判官。 晋高祖起太原，召契丹为援，契丹过云州，彦珣出城迎谒，为契丹所虏。 城中推峦主州事，峦即闭门拒守，契丹以兵围之。 高祖入立，以云州入于契丹，而峦犹守城不下，契丹围之凡七月。 高祖义峦所为，乃以书告契丹，使解兵去。 高祖召峦，以为武宁军节度副使、谏议大夫、复州防御使。
Wu Luan, styled Baochuan, came from Lu County in Yan Prefecture. He failed the Mingjing in youth. Under Qingtai he was chief secretary to Sha Yanxun of Datong. The Jin High Ancestor rose at Taiyuan and called in the Khitan. They passed Yun; Yanxun went out to greet them and was captured. The city made Luan governor. He shut the gates and held. The Khitan besieged him. The High Ancestor ceded Yun to the Khitan—but Luan still would not yield. The siege lasted seven months. The High Ancestor admired his stand and asked the Khitan to withdraw. He summoned Luan, made him deputy governor of Wuning, Remonstrating Censor, and defender of Fu.
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出帝即位，与契丹绝盟，河北诸州皆警，以谓贝州水陆之冲，缓急可以转饷，乃积刍粟数十万，以王令温为永清军节度使。 令温牙将邵珂，素骄很难制，令温夺其职。 珂闲居无憀，乃阴使人亡入契丹，言贝州积粟多而无兵守，可取。 令温以事朝京师，心颇疑珂，乃质其子崇范以自随。 晋大臣以峦前守云州七月，契丹不能下，乃遣峦驰驿代令温守贝州。 峦善抚士卒，会天大寒，裂其帷幄以衣士卒，士卒皆爱之。 珂因求见蛮，愿自效，峦推心信之。 开运元年正月，契丹南寇，围贝州，峦命珂守南门。 契丹围三日，四面急攻之，峦从城上投薪草焚其梯冲殆尽。 已而珂自南门引契丹入，峦守东门方战，而左右报珂反，峦顾城中已乱，即投井死。 而令温家属为契丹所虏，出帝悯之，以令温为武胜军节度使，后累历方镇，周显德中卒。 令温，瀛州河间人也。
The Deposed Emperor broke with the Khitan; the north was on edge. Beizhou sat on land and water routes—fodder could be rushed there in crisis. They piled hundreds of thousands of bundles and made Wang Lingwen governor of Yongqing. Adjutant Shao Ke was proud and ungovernable. Lingwen removed him. Idle and bitter, Ke sent word to the Khitan: Beizhou was full of grain and bare of troops—ripe for the taking. Lingwen went to court, uneasy about Ke, and brought his son Chongfan as surety. Ministers remembered Luan’s seven months at Yun; they sent him by relay to replace Lingwen at Beizhou. Luan cared for his men. In bitter cold he ripped curtains and tents for their coats; they loved him for it. Ke asked audience and pledged loyalty. Luan took him at his word. Kaiyun 1, first month: the Khitan besieged Beizhou. Luan put Ke on the south gate. Three days they assaulted every wall. Luan hurled fuel and straw and burned ladders and rams to ash. Ke opened the south gate to the Khitan. Luan fought at the east until word came of treason. The city was lost; he threw himself into a well. Lingwen’s family was captured. The emperor pitied him and made him governor of Wusheng; he served on until Zhou’s Xiande era. Lingwen came from Hejian in Ying Prefecture.