1
華溫琪
Hua Wenqi
2
華溫琪，字德潤，宋州下邑人也。 世本農家。 溫琪身長七尺。 少從黃巢為盜，巢陷長安，以溫琪為供奉官都知。 巢敗，溫琪走滑州，顧其狀貌魁偉，懼不自容，乃投白馬河，流數十里，不死，河上人援而出之。 又自經於桑林，桑輒枝折。 乃之胙縣，有田父見之曰：「子狀貌堂堂，非常人也！」 乃匿於家。 後歲餘，聞濮州刺史朱裕募士為兵，乃往依之。
Hua Wenqi, styled Derun, came from Xiayi in Songzhou. His people had been farmers for generations. Wenqi stood seven feet tall. As a boy he rode with Huang Chao as an outlaw. When Chao seized Chang’an, he made Wenqi Director of Palace Supplies. Chao fell; Wenqi fled to Huazhou. His frame was huge—he feared he could not hide—and he threw himself into the Baima River. He drifted tens of li, lived, and rivermen hauled him out. He hanged himself in a mulberry grove; the branches snapped. He went to Zuo county. A farmer saw him and said: “Your bearing is stately—you are no ordinary man!” The farmer hid him at home. A year and more later he heard Zhu Yu of Puzhou was recruiting soldiers and went to serve him.
3
後事梁，為開道指揮使，累以戰功為絳、棣二州刺史。 棣州苦河水為患，溫琪徙於新州以避之，民賴其利。 歷齊、晉二州。 莊宗攻晉州，逾月不能破，梁末帝嘉溫琪善守，升晉州為定昌軍，以溫琪為節度使。 坐掠部民妻，為其夫所訟，罷為金吾衛大將軍、左龍武統軍。 朱友謙以河中叛附於晉，末帝拜溫琪汝州防禦使、河中行營排陣使。 遷耀州觀察留後。
Later he served Liang as path-clearing commander and, battle after battle, rose to prefect of Jiang and Di. Di suffered from the Yellow River. Wenqi moved the seat to Xin to escape the floods; the people prospered. He held Qi and Jin. Zhuangzong besieged Jin more than a month without breaching it. Liang’s Last Emperor praised Wenqi’s defense, raised Jin to the Dingchang circuit, and made him commissioner. He seized a subordinate’s wife; the husband sued. He was stripped of his post and made Grand General of the Golden Crow Guard and commander of the Left Dragon-Prancing Army. Zhu Youqian rebelled in Hezhong and went to Jin. The Last Emperor made Wenqi defender of Ru and array-ordering commissioner for the Hezhong campaign. He was made acting governor of Yao.
4
萇從簡
Chang Congjian
5
萇從簡，陳州人也。 世本屠羊。 從簡去事晉為軍校，力敵數人，善用槊。 莊宗用兵攻城，從簡多為梯頭，莊宗愛其勇，以功累遷步軍都指揮使。 莊宗與梁軍對陣，梁軍有執大旗出入陣間者，莊宗登高丘望見之，嘆曰：「彼猛士，誰能為我取之者？」 從簡因前請往，莊宗惜之，不許。 從簡潛率數騎，馳入梁軍，奪其旗而還，軍中皆鼓噪，莊宗壯之，賜與甚厚。
Chang Congjian came from Chenzhou. His people had butchered sheep for generations. Congjian left home to serve Jin as a camp officer. He could match several men in strength and wielded the spear well. In Zhuangzong’s sieges Congjian often led the ladder teams. Zhuangzong loved his nerve and promoted him step by step to commander of the foot army. Zhuangzong drew up against Liang. A Liang soldier carried a great banner in and out of the lines. Zhuangzong climbed a knoll, saw him, and sighed: “That brave man—who will take him for me?” Congjian stepped forward and volunteered. Zhuangzong cherished him and refused. Congjian stole off with a few horsemen, charged into Liang lines, snatched the banner, and rode back. The host roared; Zhuangzong was thrilled and heaped gifts on him.
6
從簡嘗中流矢，鏃入髀骨，命工取之。 工無良藥，欲鑿其骨，人皆以為不可。 從簡遽使鑿之，工遲疑不忍下，從簡叱其亟鑿，左右視者，皆若不勝其毒，而從簡言笑自若。 然其為人剛暴難制，莊宗每屈法優容之。 累遷蔡州防禦使。 明宗時，歷麟、汝、汾、金四州防禦使。 明宗嘗戒之曰：「富貴可惜，然汝不能守也。 先帝能貸爾，吾恐不能。」 從簡性不可悛，明宗亦不之責。
Congjian once took an arrow; the head lodged in his thigh bone and he called for a surgeon. The surgeon had no good drugs and meant to chisel the bone. Everyone said it could not be done. Congjian ordered them to chisel at once. The surgeon hesitated, unable to strike. Congjian roared at him to hurry. Onlookers winced; Congjian talked and laughed as if nothing were wrong. He was brutal and hard to rein in; Zhuangzong bent the law again and again to indulge him. He rose to defender of Cai. Under Mingzong he held Lin, Ru, Fen, and Jin. Mingzong once warned him: “Wealth and rank are worth keeping—but you cannot keep them. The former emperor could spare you. I may not.” Congjian would not change. Mingzong did not press him.
7
廢帝舉兵於鳳翔，從簡與諸鎮兵圍之，已而兵潰，從簡東走，被執。 廢帝責其不降，從簡曰：「事主不敢二心。」 廢帝釋之，拜潁州團練使。 晉高祖起兵太原，廢帝將親征，召為招討副使，從至河陽，拜河陽三城節度使。 廢帝還洛陽，從簡即降晉。 歷鎮忠武、武寧，入為左金吾衛上將軍。 卒年六十五，贈太師。
When the Deposed Emperor rose at Fengxiang, Congjian joined the circuit armies to besiege him. The host soon broke; Congjian fled east and was taken. The Deposed Emperor rebuked him for not yielding. Congjian said: “To serve one’s lord is to serve one lord.” The Deposed Emperor freed him and made him regimental commissioner of Ying. Jin Gaozu rose at Taiyuan. The Deposed Emperor meant to march in person, summoned Congjian as deputy pacification commissioner, and took him to Heyang, where he made him commissioner of the Heyang Three Cities. The Deposed Emperor returned to Luoyang; Congjian surrendered to Jin at once. He held Zhongwu and Wuning and entered court as senior general of the Left Golden Crow Guard. He died at sixty-five and was posthumously made Grand Preceptor.
8
從簡好食人肉，所至多潛捕民間小兒以食。 許州富人有玉帶，欲之而不可得，遣二卒夜入其家，殺而取之。 卒夜逾垣，隱木間，見其夫婦相待如賓，二卒嘆曰：「吾公欲奪其寶，而害斯人，吾必不免。」 因躍出而告之，使其速以帶獻，遂逾垣而去，不知其所之。
Congjian ate human flesh. Wherever he served he secretly seized village children for meat. A rich man of Xu had a jade belt. Congjian coveted it, could not get it, and sent two soldiers by night to kill the man and seize it. The soldiers scaled the wall and hid in the trees. Husband and wife treated each other with courtesy. The two sighed: “Our lord wants their treasure and would harm such people—we will not escape punishment.” They sprang out and warned the couple to surrender the belt at once, then vaulted the wall and vanished.
9
張筠 〈（弟抃）〉
Zhang Yun (Younger brother Bian appended)〉
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張筠，海州人也。 世以貲為商賈。 筠事節度使時溥為宿州刺史。 梁兵攻溥取宿州，得筠，愛其辯惠，以為四鎮客將、長直軍使，累拜宣徽使。 末帝分相、澶、衛三州為昭德軍，以筠為節度使，由是魏博軍叛附於晉。 晉王攻相州，筠棄城走。 後以為永平軍節度使。 梁亡事唐，仍為京兆尹。 從郭崇韜伐蜀，為劍南兩川安撫使。 蜀平，拜河南尹，徙鎮興元。 筠嘗有疾，不見將吏，副使符彥琳入問疾，筠又辭不見。 彥琳疑筠已死，即請出牌印。 筠怒，命左右收彥琳下獄，以其反聞。 明宗知彥琳無反狀，召彥琳釋之，陽徙筠為西京留守，戒守者不內，筠至長安不得入，乃朝京師，以為左驍衛上將軍。
Zhang Yun came from Haizhou. His people had been merchants for generations. Yun served Shi Pu as prefect of Su. Liang attacked Pu and took Su. They took Yun, loved his wit, made him guest officer of the Four Circuits and commander of the Long-Direct Army, and raised him to Palace Intendant. The Last Emperor carved Xiang, Chan, and Wei into the Zhaode circuit and made Yun commissioner. The Wei-Bo army thereupon rebelled and went to Jin. The Prince of Jin attacked Xiang; Yun abandoned the city and fled. Later he was made commissioner of Yongping. Liang fell; he served Tang and remained metropolitan governor of Jingzhao. He followed Guo Chongtao against Shu as pacification commissioner of the two Shu circuits. Shu pacified, he was made metropolitan governor of Henan, then transferred to Xingyuan. Yun once fell ill and refused to see generals or clerks. Deputy Fu Yanlin came to inquire; Yun refused again. Yanlin suspected Yun was dead and asked for the tally seal. Yun in fury had attendants seize Yanlin and throw him in prison, then reported him for rebellion. Mingzong knew Yanlin was no rebel. He summoned Yanlin and freed him, moved Yun ostensibly to western capital custodian, and told the guards not to let him in. Yun reached Chang’an and could not enter; he went to the capital and was made senior general of the Left Valiant Cavalry.
11
筠弟抃，當筠為京兆尹時，以為牙內指揮使、三白渠營田制置使。 筠西伐蜀，留抃守京兆。 蜀平，魏王繼岌班師，至興平，而明宗自魏起，京師大亂，抃乃斷咸陽浮橋以拒繼岌，繼岌乃自殺。 初，筠代康懷英為永平軍節度使，而懷英死，筠即掠其家貲。 又於唐故宮掘地，多得金玉。 有偏將侯莫陳威者，嘗與溫韜發唐諸陵，分得寶貨，筠因以事殺威而取之。 魏王繼岌死渭南，抃悉取其行橐。 而王衍自蜀行至秦川，莊宗遣宦者向延嗣殺之，延嗣因盡得衍蜀中珍寶。 明宗即位，即遣人捕誅宦者，延嗣亡命，而蜀之珍寶抃又取之。 由是兄弟貲皆巨萬。 然筠為人好施予，以其富，故所至不為聚斂，民賴以安。 而抃嗜酒貪鄙，歷沂、密二州刺史。 晉出帝時，以將軍市馬於回鶻，坐馬不中式，有司理其價直，抃性鄙，因郁郁而卒。
Yun’s younger brother Bian, while Yun was governor of Jingzhao, was made commander of the inner guard and commissioner for the Three White Canal colonies. Yun marched west against Shu and left Bian to hold Jingzhao. Shu pacified, Prince of Wei Jiji withdrew. At Xingping Mingzong rose from Wei and the capital erupted. Bian cut the Xianyang floating bridge to block Jiji; Jiji killed himself. When Yun replaced Kang Huaiying as commissioner of Yongping and Huaiying died, Yun looted his household at once. He dug in the old Tang palace grounds and found much gold and jade. Deputy Hou Mo Chenwei had once joined Wen Tao in opening the Tang tombs and splitting the treasure. Yun killed him on that pretext and took the hoard. When Prince of Wei Jiji died at Weinan, Bian seized all his traveling baggage. Wang Yan of Shu was marched toward Qinchuan when Zhuangzong sent the eunuch Xiang Yansi to kill him; Yansi took all Yan’s Shu treasures. Mingzong took the throne and sent men to hunt down the eunuchs. Yansi fled; Bian took the Shu treasures again. The brothers’ wealth each ran to tens of millions. Yun loved to give. Rich as he was, he did not squeeze the people wherever he served, and they lived easier for it. Bian drank hard, was greedy and base, and held Yi and Mi. Under Jin’s Outgoing Emperor he went as a general to buy horses from the Uyghurs. The horses failed inspection; the authorities charged him the price. Mean by nature, he sickened and died of spite.
12
筠居洛陽，擁其貲，以酒色聲妓自娛足者十餘年，人謂之「地仙。」 天福二年，徙居長安。 是歲，張從賓作亂，入洛陽，筠遂以免。 卒，贈太子太師。
Yun lived in Luoyang, hoarded his wealth, and for more than ten years drowned himself in wine, women, and song; people called him an “earth immortal.” In Tianfu 2 he moved to Chang’an. That year Zhang Congbin rebelled and entered Luoyang; Yun escaped harm. He died and was posthumously made Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent.
13
嗚呼，五代反者多矣，吾於明宗獨難其辭。 至於魏王繼岌薨，然後終其事也。 莊宗遇弒，繼岌以元子握重兵，死於外而不得立，此大事也，而前史不書其所以然。 夫繼岌之存亡，於張抃無所利害，抃何為而拒之不使之東乎？ 豈其有所使而為之乎？ 然明宗於符彥超深以為德，而待抃無所厚，此其又可疑也。 不然，好亂之臣，望風而饗應乎？ 使抃不斷浮橋，而繼岌得以兵東，明宗未必能自立。 則繼岌之死，由抃之拒，其所系者豈小哉！
Alas—in the Five Dynasties rebels were many; I alone find it hard to judge Mingzong. Only when Prince of Wei Jiji died was the affair finally settled. Zhuangzong was murdered. Jiji, the eldest son, held the main army, died abroad, and never took the throne—a great matter—yet earlier histories never say why. Jiji’s life or death meant nothing to Zhang Bian—why did Bian bar him and refuse to let him march east? Had someone set him to it? Mingzong deeply credited Fu Yanchao with virtue, yet showed Bian no special favor—here too one may doubt. If not, do men who love chaos answer every wind with a feast? Had Bian not cut the bridge and Jiji marched east with his army, Mingzong might never have held his own. Jiji died because Bian barred him—the stakes were not small.
14
楊彥詢
Yang Yanxun
15
楊彥詢，字成章，河中寶鼎人也。 少事青州王師範，師範好學，聚書萬卷，使彥詢掌之。 彥詢為人聰悟，遂見親信。 師範降梁，後見殺，彥詢無所歸，乃之魏，事楊師厚為客將。 魏博叛梁入於晉，彥詢因留事晉。 莊宗滅梁，以彥詢為引進副使，奉使吳、蜀，常稱旨。 歷德州刺史、羽林將軍晉高祖鎮太原，廢帝疑其有貳誌，擇諸將之謹厚者佐之，乃以彥詢為太原節度副使。 其後晉高祖以疑見徙，欲拒命不行，以問彥詢，彥詢不敢正言，因曰：「太原之力，能與唐敵否？ 公其審計之！」 高祖反意已決，彥詢亦不復敢言。 高祖左右以彥詢異議，欲殺之，高祖遽止之，曰：「惟副使一人，我自保之。」 乃免。 是時，高祖乞兵於契丹，契丹耶律德光立高祖於太原，以兵送至河上。 彥詢為宣徽使，數往來虜帳中，德光亦愛其為人。 明年，拜威德軍節度使，復入為宣徽使，又拜安國軍節度使。 天福七年，徙鎮鎮國，遭歲大饑，為政有惠愛。 以病風罷為右金吾衛上將軍。 卒年七十四，贈太子太師。
Yang Yanxun, styled Chenzhang, came from Baoding in Hezhong. As a boy he served Wang Shifan of Qingzhou. Shifan loved learning, kept ten thousand scrolls, and put Yanxun in charge of them. Yanxun was quick-witted and won his trust. Shifan surrendered to Liang and was later killed. Yanxun had nowhere to turn; he went to Wei and served Yang Shihou as guest officer. When Wei-Bo rebelled against Liang and went to Jin, Yanxun stayed to serve Jin. Zhuangzong destroyed Liang and made Yanxun deputy introducing commissioner. As envoy to Wu and Shu he often pleased the throne. He had been prefect of De and general of the Feathered Forest. When Jin Gaozu held Taiyuan, Emperor Fei suspected divided loyalty and chose the steadiest generals to assist him—Yanxun became deputy commissioner of Taiyuan. Later Jin Gaozu was moved on suspicion and meant to refuse and not go. He asked Yanxun. Yanxun dared not speak plainly and said: “Can Taiyuan’s strength match Tang’s? My lord—weigh it carefully!” Gaozu’s mind to rebel was set; Yanxun dared say no more. Gaozu’s attendants, because Yanxun had disagreed, wanted him killed. Gaozu stopped them at once: “He is my only deputy—I will protect him myself.” He was spared. At that time Gaozu begged troops from the Khitan. Yelü Deguang set him on the throne at Taiyuan and escorted him with an army to the Yellow River. Yanxun was Palace Secretariat commissioner and often shuttled in the Khitan camp. Deguang also took to his character. The next year he took Weide, returned as Palace Secretariat commissioner, and was again made military governor of Anguo. In Tianfu 7 he was moved to Zhenguo. Famine struck that year, yet his rule was kindly. Wind illness forced him out as senior general of the Right Golden Crow guard. He died at seventy-four, posthumously Grand Preceptor of the Heir.
16
李周，字通理，邢州內丘人，唐昭義軍節度使抱真之後也。 父矩，遭世亂不仕，嘗謂周曰：「邯鄣用武之地，今世道未平，汝當從軍旅以興吾門。」 周年十六，為內丘捕賊將，以勇聞。 是時，梁、晉兵爭山東，群盜充斥道路，行者必以兵衛。 內丘人盧嶽將徙家太原，舍逆旅，傍徨不敢進，周意憐之，為送至西山。 有盜從林中射嶽，中其馬，周大呼曰：「吾在此，孰敢爾邪？」 盜聞其聲，曰：「此李周也。」 因各潰去。 周送嶽至太原，嶽謂之曰：「吾少學星歷，且工相人。 子方頤隆準，眉目疏徹，身長七尺，真將相也。 吾占天象，晉必有天下，子宜留事晉，以圖富貴。」 周以母老辭歸。
Li Zhou, style name Tongli, came from Neiqiu in Xingzhou—a descendant of Tang’s Zhaoyi military governor Bao Zhen. His father Ju, in the age’s turmoil, held no office. He once told Zhou: “Handan is a battlefield and the world is not settled. You should take to the army and raise our house.” At sixteen Zhou became Neiqiu bandit-catcher captain and was known for courage. Liang and Jin were fighting over Shandong. Bandits choked the roads; every traveler went under arms. Lu Yue of Neiqiu was moving his household to Taiyuan, stopped at an inn, and dared not go on. Zhou pitied him and saw him to the Western Hills. Bandits shot from the woods and hit Yue’s horse. Zhou shouted: “I am here—who dares touch him?” The bandits heard him and said: “That is Li Zhou.” and each scattered. Zhou saw Yue to Taiyuan. Yue said: “In youth I studied the stars and read faces. You have a broad forehead, high nose, clear brows and eyes, and stand seven feet—a born minister or general. I read the heavens: Jin must take the realm. Stay and serve Jin for wealth and rank.” Zhou pleaded an aged mother and went home.
17
是時，梁遣葛從周攻下邢、洺，晉王柵兵青山口，周未知所歸，乃思嶽言，至青山歸晉，晉王以周為萬勝黃頭軍使。 後從征伐常有功。 從戰柏鄉，先登，遷匡霸指揮使，守楊劉。 周為將甚勇，其於用兵，善守，能與士卒同甘苦。 梁兵攻周，周堅守。 久之，周聞母喪奔歸，莊宗遣佗將代周守，幾為梁兵所破，莊宗遽追周還守之，乃得不破。 其後梁人已破德勝，因東擊楊劉，以巨艦絕河，斷晉餉援。 周遣人馳趨莊宗求救，請日行百里以赴急，莊宗笑曰：「周為我守，何憂！」 日行六十里，且行且獵，曰：「周非梁將可敵也。」 比至，周已絕糧三日。 莊宗以巨筏積薪沃油，順流縱火焚梁艦，梁兵解去。 莊宗見周勞曰：「微公，諸將為梁擒矣！」 歷相、蔡二州刺史。 明宗時，拜武信軍節度使，徙鎮靜難，歷武寧、安遠、永興、宣武四鎮，所至多善政。 晉高祖時，復鎮靜難，罷還。 出帝幸澶淵，以周留守東京，還，拜開封尹。 卒年七十四，贈太師。
Liang sent Ge Congzhou against Xing and Mo; the Prince of Jin barred Qingshan Pass. Zhou, unsure where to turn, recalled Yue’s words, went to Qingshan and joined Jin. The Prince made him Wan Sheng Yellow-Head army commander. In later campaigns he often won merit. At Baixiang he was first over the wall. He was made Kuangba army commander and garrisoned Yangliu. Zhou was a bold general, skilled in defense, who shared hardship with his men. Liang attacked Zhou. Zhou held firm. Long after, Zhou heard his mother had died and rushed home. Zhuangzong sent another to hold Yangliu; Liang nearly took it. Zhuangzong recalled Zhou at once, and the post held. Liang had taken Desheng and struck east at Yangliu with great ships across the river, cutting Jin’s supplies. Zhou sent a rider galloping to Zhuangzong for rescue, begging a hundred li a day. Zhuangzong laughed: “Zhou holds for me—what worry!” He marched sixty li a day, hunting on the road, and said: “No Liang general can stand against Zhou.” When he arrived, Zhou had been without grain three days. Zhuangzong built great rafts, piled fuel, poured oil, and sent fire downstream to burn Liang’s fleet. Liang withdrew. Zhuangzong met Zhou and praised him: “Without you, the generals would have been Liang’s prisoners!” He served in turn as prefect of Xiang and Cai. Under Mingzong he took Wuxin, then Jingnan, and in turn Wuning, Anyuan, Yongxing, and Xuanwu—wherever he went, rule was largely good. Under Jin’s Gaozu he again held Jingnan, then was recalled. When the Deposed Emperor went to Chanyuan, Zhou stayed to guard the Eastern Capital. On return he was made Kaifeng intendant. He died at seventy-four, posthumously Grand Preceptor.
18
劉處讓
Liu Churang
19
劉處讓，字德謙，滄州人也。 少為張萬進親吏，萬進入梁，為泰寧軍節度使，以處讓為牙將。 萬進叛梁附晉，梁遣劉鄩討之。 萬進遣處讓求救於晉，晉王方與梁相拒，未能出兵，處讓乃於軍門截耳而訴曰：「萬進所以見圍者，以附晉故也，奈何不顧其急？ 茍不出兵，願請死！」 晉王壯之，曰：「義士也！」 為之發兵。 未渡河，而萬進為梁兵所敗，處讓因留事晉。 莊宗即位，為客省使，常使四方，多稱旨。 天成中，遷引進使，累遷左驍衛大將軍。 廢帝時，魏州軍亂，逐其帥劉延皓，遣範延光招討，以處讓為河北都轉運使。 晉高祖立，歷宣徽南院使。 範延光反，高祖命楊光遠為招討使，以處讓參其軍事。 已而副招討使張從賓叛於河陽，處讓分兵擊破從賓。 還，與光遠攻鄴，逾年不能下。 其後延光有降意而遲疑，處讓入城，譬以禍福，延光乃出降。
Liu Churang, style name Deqian, came from Cangzhou. In youth he was Zhang Wanjin’s personal clerk. Wanjin entered Liang as Taining military governor and made Churang a yajun officer. Wanjin rebelled against Liang for Jin. Liang sent Liu Yun against him. Wanjin sent Churang to beg Jin for rescue. The Prince of Jin was locked with Liang and could not march. Churang cut off his ear at the army gate and pleaded: “Wanjin is besieged for joining you—why ignore his peril? If you will not march, I beg to die!” The Prince was stirred: “A man of righteousness!” and sent troops. Before the army crossed the river Wanjin was beaten by Liang. Churang stayed with Jin. When Zhuangzong took the throne he was guest-reception commissioner, often sent abroad, and often pleased the throne. In Tiancheng he rose to introduction commissioner and in turn to Left Awesome Guard senior general. Under the Deposed Emperor Wei’s army mutinied, drove Liu Yanhao, and Fan Yan’guang was sent to pacify them. Churang was made overall Hebei transport commissioner. When Jin’s Gaozu rose he served in turn as Southern Court Palace Secretariat commissioner. Fan Yan’guang rebelled. Gaozu made Yang Guangyuan pacification commissioner and put Churang on his staff. Soon deputy pacification commissioner Zhang Congbin rebelled at Heyang. Churang split forces and broke him. Returning, he and Guangyuan besieged Ye for more than a year without success. Later Yan’guang wished to surrender but wavered. Churang entered the city, urged fortune and ruin, and Yan’guang came out in surrender.
20
唐制，樞密使常以宦者為之，自梁用敬翔、李振，至莊宗始用武臣，而權重將相，高祖時，以宰相桑維翰、李崧兼樞密使，處讓與諸宦者心不平之。 光遠之討延光也，以晉重兵在己掌握，舉動多驕恣，其所求請，高祖頗裁抑之。 處讓為光遠言：「此非上意，皆維翰、崧等嫉公耳！」 光遠大怒。 及兵罷，光遠見高祖，訴以維翰等沮己，高祖不得已，罷維瀚等，以處讓為樞密使。 處讓在職，凡所陳述，多不稱旨。 處讓丁母憂，高祖遂不復拜樞密使，以其印付中書而廢其職。 處讓居喪期年，起復為彰德軍節度使、右金吾衛上將軍。 以疾卒，年六十三，累贈太師。
Tang usually put eunuchs in the Bureau of Military Affairs. Liang used Jing Xiang and Li Zhen; Zhuangzong first used military men, and their power weighed on generals and ministers. Under Gaozu chancellors Sang Weihan and Li Song also held the Bureau. Churang and the other eunuchs seethed. Campaigning against Yan’guang, Guangyuan held Jin’s main forces and grew arrogant. Gaozu often trimmed his requests. Churang told Guangyuan: “That is not the throne’s mind—Sang Weihan, Li Song, and the rest envy you!” Guangyuan flew into a rage. When the campaign ended Guangyuan saw Gaozu and charged that Weihan and the rest had blocked him. Gaozu had no choice: he removed Weihan and the rest and made Churang Bureau commissioner. In office, little Churang said pleased the throne. Churang mourned his mother. Gaozu never again appointed a Bureau commissioner, handed its seal to the Secretariat, and abolished the post. After a year’s mourning he was recalled as Zhangde military governor and Right Golden Crow senior general. He died of illness at sixty-three, repeatedly posthumously Grand Preceptor.
21
李承約
Li Chengyue
22
李承約，字德儉，薊門人也。 少事劉仁恭，為山後八軍巡檢使，將騎兵二千人。 仁恭為其子守光所囚，承約以其騎兵奔晉，晉王以為匡霸指揮使。 從破夾寨，戰臨清，以功累遷洺汾二州刺史、潁州團練使。 天成中，邠州節度使毛璋有異志，明宗拜承約涇州節度副使，使往伺璋動靜。 承約見璋，諭以禍福。 後明宗遣人代璋，璋即時受代。 明宗大喜，即拜承約黔南節度使。 承約以恩信撫諸夷落，勸民農桑，興起學校。 居數年，當代，黔南人詣京師乞留，為許留一年。 召為左衛上將軍，改左龍武統軍，拜昭義軍節度使，復為左龍武統軍。 天福二年，遷左驍衛上將軍。 數請老，不許。 卒年七十五，贈太子太師。
Li Chengyue, style name Dejian, came from Jimen. In youth he served Liu Rengong as inspector of the eight armies behind the mountains with two thousand horse. Rengong was imprisoned by his son Shouguang. Chengyue fled to Jin with his horse. The Prince made him Kuangba army commander. He helped break the stockade fort and fought at Linqing. For merit he rose to prefect of Mo and Fen and regimental commissioner of Ying. In Tiancheng Bin’s military governor Mao Zhang showed divergent intent. Mingzong made Chengyue Jing deputy governor and sent him to watch Zhang. Chengyue saw Zhang and urged fortune and ruin. Later Mingzong sent a man to replace Zhang, and Zhang accepted replacement at once. Mingzong was pleased and at once made Chengyue Qiannan military governor. Chengyue soothed the tribes with kindness and trust, urged farming and sericulture, and raised schools. After several years his term ended. Qiannan people went to the capital begging he stay, and one more year was granted. He was summoned as Left Guard senior general, made Left Dragon Martial commander, then Zhaoyi military governor, then again Left Dragon Martial commander. In Tianfu 2 he was moved to Left Awesome Guard senior general. Several times he asked to retire; the throne refused. He died at seventy-five, posthumously Grand Preceptor of the Heir.
23
張希崇
Zhang Xichong
24
張希崇，字德峰，幽州薊人也。 少好學，通《左氏春秋》。 劉守光不喜儒士，希崇因事軍中為偏將，將兵戍平州。 其後契丹攻陷平州，得希崇，知其儒者也，以為盧龍軍行軍司馬。 明宗時，盧文進自平州亡歸，契丹因以希崇代文進為平州節度使，遣其親將以三百騎監之。 居歲餘，虜將喜其為人，監兵稍怠，希崇因與其麾下謀走南歸。 其麾下皆言兵我，不可俱亡，懼不得脫，因勸希崇獨去。 希崇曰：「虜兵守我者三百騎爾，烹其將，其兵必散走。 且平州去虜帳千餘里，使其聞亂而呼兵，則吾與汝等在漢界矣！」 眾皆曰善。 乃先為阱，置以石灰。 明日，虜將謁希崇，希崇飲之以酒，殺之阱中，兵皆潰去，希崇率其麾下，得生口二萬南歸。 明宗嘉之，拜汝州防禦使。 遷靈武節度使。 靈州地接戎狄，戍兵餉道，常苦抄掠，希崇乃開屯田，教士耕種，軍以足食，而省轉饋，明宗下詔褒美。 希崇撫養士卒，招輯夷落，自回鶻、瓜、沙皆遣使入貢。 居四歲，上書求還內地，徙鎮邠寧。 晉高祖入立，復拜靈武節度使，希崇嘆曰：「吾當老死邊僥，豈非命邪！」 希崇事母至孝，朝夕母食，必侍立左右，徹饌乃敢退。 為將不喜聲色。 好讀書，頗知星歷。 天福三年，月掩畢口大星，希崇嘆曰：「畢口大星，邊將也，我其當之乎！」 明年正月卒，贈太師。 有子仁謙。
Zhang Xichong, style name Defeng, came from Ji in Youzhou. In youth he loved learning and mastered the Zuo Commentary. Liu Shouguang disliked scholars. Xichong entered the army as deputy commander and garrisoned Ping. Later the Khitan took Ping and seized Xichong. Knowing him a scholar, they made him acting Lulong chief of staff. Under Mingzong Lu Wenjin fled Ping south. The Khitan put Xichong in Wenjin’s place as Ping military governor and sent a trusted general with three hundred horse to watch him. After more than a year the Khitan general took to him, oversight slackened, and Xichong and his men plotted flight south. His men said their troops were few and they could not flee together—they feared capture—and urged Xichong to go alone. Xichong said: “Only three hundred horse guard us—boil their commander and the soldiers will scatter. Ping lies more than a thousand li from the Khitan court. If they hear trouble and call troops, we will already be on Han soil!” All said it was good. They first dug a pit and filled it with lime. Next day the Khitan general called on Xichong. Xichong gave him wine, killed him in the pit, the troops scattered, and Xichong led his men with twenty thousand captives south. Mingzong praised him and made him Ru defense commissioner. He was moved to Lingwu military governor. Ling bordered the Rong and Di; supply routes were often raided. Xichong opened colonies, taught the men to farm, the army ate its fill, and transport was saved. Mingzong praised him by edict. Xichong comforted his soldiers and gathered the tribes. From the Uyghurs to Guazhou and Shazhou all sent tribute envoys. After four years he asked by memorial to return inland and was shifted to Binning. When Jin’s Gaozu rose he was again made Lingwu military governor. Xichong sighed: “Am I not fated to die old on the frontier margin!” Xichong served his mother with utmost filial piety. Morning and evening at her meals he stood at her side and only after the dishes were cleared dared withdraw. As a general he cared nothing for sound or color. He loved books and knew something of the stars. In Tianfu 3 the moon occulted the great star at the Bi mouth. Xichong sighed: “The Bi-mouth great star is a frontier general—is it meant for me!” He died the next first month and was posthumously made Grand Preceptor. He left a son, Renqian.
25
相裏金
Xiang Lijin
26
張廷蘊
Zhang Tingyun
27
張廷蘊，開封襄邑人也。 少為宣武軍卒，去事晉，稍遷軍校。 常從莊宗征伐，先登力戰，金瘡滿體，莊宗壯之，以為帳前黃甲二十指揮步軍都虞候、魏博三城巡檢使。 是時，莊宗在魏，以劉皇后從行，劉氏多縱其下擾人為不法，人無敢言者，廷蘊輒收而斬之。 李繼韜叛於潞州，莊宗遣明宗為招討使，元行欽為都部署，廷蘊為馬步軍都指揮使，將兵為前鋒。 廷蘊至潞，日已暮，即率兵百餘逾濠登城，城守者不能禦，遂破潞州。 明旦，明宗與行欽後至，明宗心頗慊之。 廷蘊以功遷羽林都指揮使、申懷沂三州刺史、金潁隴絳四州防禦團練使、左監門衛上將軍。 開運中，以疾卒。
Zhang Tingyun came from Xiangyi in Kaifeng. As a youth he served the Xuanwu army, then went to Jin and rose by degrees to military cadet. He followed Zhuangzong on campaign, always first over the wall and fighting until wounds gilded his body. Zhuangzong admired him and made him commander of the twenty yellow-armor companies before the tent, chief inspector of the step forces, and inspector of Weibo’s three cities. Zhuangzong was then at Wei with Empress Liu in train. Her people often harassed the countryside and none dared protest—Tingyun seized and beheaded them. Li Jitao rebelled at Luzhou. Zhuangzong sent Mingzong as pacification commissioner, Yuan Xingqin as overall deployer, and Tingyun to command horse and foot as vanguard. Tingyun reached Luzhou at dusk, took a hundred-odd men over the moat onto the wall, and broke the city—the garrison could not stop him. Mingzong and Xingqin came at dawn after him; Mingzong was rankled. For the exploit he became commander of the Feathered Forest guard, prefect of Shen, Huai, and Yi, defense commissioner of Jin, Ying, Long, and Jiang, and senior general of the Left Gate Guard. In the Kaiyun era he died of illness.
28
廷蘊武人，所識不過數字，而平生重文士。 嘗從明宗破梁鄆州，獲判官趙鳳，廷蘊謂曰：「吾視汝貌必儒人，可無隱也。」 鳳以實對，廷蘊亟薦於明宗。 後鳳貴為相，數薦廷蘊於安重誨，重誨屢言之，明宗以廷蘊破潞之隙，終恨之，故終不秉髦節。 廷蘊素廉，歷七州，卒之日，家無余貲。
Tingyun was a fighting man who knew scarcely a handful of characters, yet he honored scholars all his life. Once, when Mingzong took Liang’s Yan Prefecture, he captured the judge Zhao Feng. Tingyun told him: “You look a scholar to me—hide nothing.” Feng told the truth; Tingyun promptly recommended him to Mingzong. When Feng rose to chief minister he repeatedly urged Tingyun on An Chonghui, and Chonghui spoke for him again and again—but Mingzong still resented the Luzhou coup and never gave him a commissioner’s banner. Tingyun lived frugally. Through seven prefectures he held, his house had nothing left when he died.
29
馬全節
Ma Quanjie
30
馬全節，字大雅，大名元城人也。 唐同光中，全節為捉生指揮使。 趙在禮反鄴都，以全節為馬步軍指揮使。 明宗即位，歷博單郢沂四州刺史、金州防禦使。 廢帝時，蜀人攻金州，州兵才數百，全節散家財，與士卒堅守，蜀人去，廢帝召全節，以為滄州留後。 晉高祖入立，即拜全節橫海軍節度使，徙鎮安遠，代李金全。 金全叛附於李，高祖發兵三萬，使全節與安審暉討之，金全南奔。 將李承裕守安州，全節與承裕戰州南，大敗承裕，斬首三千級，生擒千餘人。 承裕棄城去，審暉追至雲夢，執承裕及其兵二千人，全節斬千五百人，以其餘兵並承裕獻於京師。 承裕謂全節曰：「吾掠城中，所得百萬計，將軍皆取之矣。 吾見天子，必訴此而後就刑。」 全節懼，因殺承裕，高祖置而不問，徙全節鎮昭義。 又徙安國。 從杜重威討安重榮，以功徙鎮義武。 自出帝與契丹交惡，全節未嘗不在兵間。 開運元年，為行營都虞候，契丹與晉大軍相距澶、魏之間，全節別攻白團城，破之，虜七百人。 克泰州，虜二千人，降其守將晉廷謙。 四月，契丹敗於戚城，引兵分道而北，全節敗之於定豐，執其將安暉。 七月，徙廣晉尹，留守鄴都。 十月，杜重威為招討使，以全節為副，大敗契丹於衛村。
Ma Quanjie, styled Daya, came from Yuancheng in Daming. Under Tang’s Tongguang reign he commanded the captive-recruiting corps. When Zhao Zaili rebelled at the Ye capital, Quanjie was made commander of the horse and foot forces. When Mingzong took the throne, Quanjie governed Bo, Shan, Ying, and Yi in turn and became defense commissioner of Jin. Under the deposed emperor, Shu struck Jin with only a few hundred defenders. Quanjie spent his household wealth and held with his men until Shu withdrew. The court summoned him and made him acting governor of Cangzhou. When the Jin Founding Emperor took the throne, Quanjie was made Transoceanic military governor, then moved to Anyuan in Li Jinquan’s place. Jinquan rebelled and joined Li. The Founding Emperor sent thirty thousand men; Quanjie and An Shenhui pursued until Jinquan fled south. General Li Chengyu held An Prefecture. Quanjie met him south of the city, shattered his army, took three thousand heads, and captured more than a thousand alive. Chengyu abandoned the city. Shenhui ran him down at Yunmeng with two thousand men. Quanjie beheaded fifteen hundred and sent the rest, with Chengyu, to the capital. Chengyu told Quanjie: “I looted the city for a million in goods—and you took every bit. Before I die I shall tell the Son of Heaven—and plead this first.” Quanjie feared exposure and killed him. The Founding Emperor ignored it and moved Quanjie to Zhaoyi. He was then shifted to Anguo. He followed Du Chongwei against An Chongrong and, for merit, was moved to Yiwu. Once the Last Emperor and the Khitan broke with each other, Quanjie was never off the battlefield. In Kaiyun 1 he was chief inspector of the field army. Khitan and Jin faced each other between Chan and Wei; Quanjie took White Round City on his own and captured seven hundred. He took Taizhou, seized two thousand prisoners, and accepted the surrender of the defender Jin Tingqian. In the fourth month the Khitan lost at Weicheng and split north. Quanjie beat them at Dingfeng and took their general An Hui. In the seventh month he became mayor of Guangjin and stayed to guard the Ye capital. In the tenth month Du Chongwei led the campaign with Quanjie as deputy; together they crushed the Khitan at Weicun.
31
全節為人謙謹，事母至孝，其臨政決事，必問法如何。 初，徙廣晉，過元城，衣白襕謁其縣令，州裏以為榮。 開運二年，徙鎮順國，未至而卒，年五十五，贈中書令。
Quanjie was modest and careful, utterly filial to his mother, and in every decision asked what the law required. On his first move to Guangjin he passed Yuancheng in white robes to pay respects to the county magistrate—the district took pride in it. In Kaiyun 2 he was ordered to Shunguo, died on the road at fifty-five, and was posthumously made Grand Councilor.
32
皇甫遇
Huang Fuyu
33
皇甫遇，常山真定人也。 為人有勇力，虬髯善射。 少從唐明宗征伐，事唐為武勝軍節度使，所至苛暴，以誅斂為務，賓佐多解官逃去，以避其禍。 晉高祖時，歷義武、昭義、建雄、河陽四鎮，罷為神武統軍。 契丹入寇，陷貝州，出帝以高行周為北面行營都部署，遇為馬軍右廂排陣使。 是時，青州楊光遠據城反，出帝乃遣李守貞及遇分兵守鄆州。 遇等至馬家渡，契丹方將渡河助光遠，遇等擊敗之，以功拜義成軍節度使、馬軍都指揮使。
Huang Fuyu came from Zhending in Changshan. He was strong and brave, wore a bristling beard, and shot well. In youth he campaigned under Tang’s Mingzong. As Wusheng military governor he was harsh wherever he went, lived by extortion, and aides fled his court in droves. Under the Jin Founding Emperor he held Yiwu, Zhaoyi, Jianxiong, and Heyang, then was relieved to command the Shenwu armies. The Khitan invaded and took Bei Prefecture. The Last Emperor made Gao Xingzhou northern deployer and Fuyu array-master of the horse army’s right wing. Yang Guangyuan of Qingzhou was in revolt behind his walls. The Last Emperor sent Li Shouzhen and Fuyu with split forces to hold Yan Prefecture. At Majia Ford the Khitan were crossing to aid Guangyuan; Fuyu beat them off and was made Yicheng military governor and commander of the horse army.
34
開運二年，契丹寇西山，遣先鋒趙延壽圍鎮州，杜重威不敢出戰。 延壽分兵大掠，攻破欒城、柏鄉等九縣，南至邢州。 是時歲除，出帝與近臣飲酒過量，得疾，不能出征，乃遣北面行營都監張從恩會馬全節、安審琦及遇等禦之。 從恩等至相州，陣安陽河南，遣遇與慕容彥超率數千騎前視虜。 遇渡漳河，逢虜數萬，轉戰十餘里，至榆林，為虜所圍，遇馬中箭而踣，得其仆杜知敏馬，乘之以戰。 知敏為虜所擒，遇謂彥超曰：「知敏，義士也，豈可失之！」 即與彥超躍馬入虜，取之而還。 虜兵與遇戰，自午至未，解而復合，益出生兵，勢甚盛。 遇戒彥超曰：「今日之勢，戰與走爾，戰尚或生，走則死也。 等死，死戰，猶足以報國。」 張從恩與諸將怪遇視虜無報，皆謂遇已陷虜矣。 已而有馳騎報遇被圍，安審琦率兵將赴之，從恩疑報者詐，不欲往，審琦曰：「成敗天也，當與公共之，雖虜不南來，吾屬失皇甫遇，復何面目見天子！」 即引騎渡河，諸軍皆從而北，拒虜十餘里，虜望見救兵來，即解去。 遇與審琦等收軍而南，契丹亦皆北去。 是時，契丹兵已深入，人馬俱乏，其還也，諸將不能追，而從恩率遇等退保黎陽，虜因得解去。
In Kaiyun 2 the Khitan raided the western hills. Zhao Yanshou besieged Zhen Prefecture while Du Chongwei would not fight. Yanshou split his force to loot, took Luan, Baixiang, and eight other counties, and pressed south to Xing Prefecture. At year’s end the Last Emperor drank too deep with his intimates, fell ill, and could not march. He sent Zhang Congen as northern overseer with Ma Quanjie, An Shenqi, and Fuyu to meet the raid. Congen reached Xiang Prefecture, drew up south of the Anyang, and sent Fuyu and Murong Yanchao ahead with several thousand horse to scout. Fuyu crossed the Zhang, met tens of thousands, and fought ten li to Yulin before the enemy ringed him. His horse took an arrow and dropped; he seized his groom Du Zhimin’s mount and fought on. The enemy took Zhimin. Fuyu told Yanchao: “Zhimin is a man of honor—we cannot leave him!” He and Yanchao charged into the enemy, pulled him out, and rode back. The enemy fought him from noon to mid-afternoon, broke, closed again, and fed in fresh troops until their press grew overwhelming. Fuyu warned Yanchao: “Today it is fight or run—fight and you may live; run and you die. If death is the same either way, die fighting—you may still repay the state.” Congen and the other generals wondered why Fuyu sent no word from his scout and assumed he was lost. A rider then reported Fuyu surrounded. An Shenqi was about to march; Congen thought it a ruse and held back. Shenqi said: “Fortune is Heaven’s—but we must share it. Even if the Khitan never come south, lose Huang Fuyu and what face have we before the Son of Heaven!” He forded with his horse; the whole host followed north, held them ten li, and at sight of rescue the enemy drew off. Fuyu, Shenqi, and the rest gathered their men and fell back south; the Khitan too marched north. The Khitan were deep in enemy country, men and horses spent. On the retreat no general pursued; Congen pulled Fuyu back to Liyang, and the enemy slipped away.
35
三年冬，以杜重威為都招討使，遇為馬軍右廂都指揮使，屯於中渡。 重威已陰送款契丹，伏兵幕中，悉召諸將列坐，告以降虜，遇與諸將愕然不能對。 重威出降表，遇等俯首以次自畫其名，即麾兵解甲出降。 契丹遣遇與張彥澤先入京師，遇行至平棘，絕吭而死。
In the third winter Du Chongwei was overall commander and Fuyu led the horse army’s right wing at Zhongdu. Chongwei had already secretly treated with the Khitan and hid troops in his tent. He called every general in, sat them in a row, and announced surrender. Fuyu and the rest were struck dumb. Chongwei produced the surrender memorial. Fuyu and the rest bowed and signed in turn, then Chongwei ordered arms stacked and the army surrendered. The Khitan sent Fuyu with Zhang Yanzhe ahead into the capital. At Pingji he cut his throat and died.
36
嗚呼，梁亡而敬翔死，不得為死節； 晉亡而皇甫遇死，不得為死事，吾豈無意哉！ 梁之篡唐，用翔之謀為多，由子佐其父而弒其祖，可乎？ 其不戮於斧鉞，為幸免矣。 方晉兵之降虜也，士卒初不知，及使解甲，哭聲震天，即降豈其欲哉！ 使遇奮然攘臂而起，殺重威於坐中，雖不幸不免而見害，猶為得其死矣，其義烈豈不凜然哉！ 既俯首聽命，相與亡人之國矣，雖死不能贖也，豈足貴哉！ 君子之於人，或推以恕，或責以備。 恕，故遷善自新之路廣； 備則難得，難得，故可貴焉。 然知其所可恕，與其所可貴，豈不又難哉！
Alas—when Liang fell Jing Xiang died, yet cannot be called a man who died for integrity; when Jin fell Huang Fuyu died, yet cannot be called a man who died in service—do I write for nothing! Liang’s theft of Tang leaned on Xiang’s counsel—a son helping his father slay his grandfather: is that tolerable? That the axe never took him was only escape. When Jin surrendered the ranks did not know at first; ordered to stack arms, they wept till heaven shook—was surrender their wish! Had Fuyu flung up his sleeves, risen, and killed Chongwei in his seat—even if harm could not be escaped—he would still have died as he ought; would not his fierce loyalty have stood ice-bright! Once they bowed and obeyed they destroyed a state together—even death cannot atone; what is there to honor! Toward men the gentleman sometimes urges leniency, sometimes demands the strictest measure. Leniency leaves the road to reform wide; strictness is hard to earn, and because it is hard to earn, it is precious. Yet to know whom to forgive and whom to prize—is that not harder still!
37
安彥威
An Yanwei
38
安彥威，字國俊，代州崞縣人也。 少以軍卒隸唐明宗麾下。 彥威善射，頗知兵法。 明宗鎮天平、宣武、成德，以彥威常為牙將，以謹厚見信。 明宗入立，皇子從榮鎮鄴，彥威為護聖指揮使。 以從榮判六軍，彥威遷捧聖指揮使，領寧國軍節度使。 晉高祖入立，拜彥威北京留守，徙鎮歸德。 是時，河決滑州，命彥威塞之，彥威出私錢募民治堤。 遷西京留守，遭歲大饑，彥威賑撫饑民，民有犯法，皆寬貸之，饑民愛之，不忍流去。 丁母憂，哀毀過制。 出帝與契丹隳盟，拜彥威北面行營副都統，彥威悉以家財佐軍用。 以疾卒於京師。
An Yanwei, styled Guojun, came from Guo County in Dai Prefecture. In youth he served Tang’s Mingzong as a common soldier. Yanwei shot well and knew some military method. When Mingzong governed Tianping, Xuanwu, and Chengde, Yanwei was often a guard officer and trusted for steadiness. When Mingzong took the throne, Prince Congrong held Ye; Yanwei commanded the Guarding-Sage corps. When Congrong took the six armies, Yanwei became Upholding-Sage commander and Ningguo military commissioner. When the Jin Founding Emperor took the throne, Yanwei became northern capital regent, then Guide military governor. The Yellow River then burst at Hua Prefecture. Ordered to stem it, Yanwei spent private funds to hire men for the dike. Made western capital regent in a year of famine, he fed and comforted the hungry, pardoned every petty crime, and the starving would not leave him. When his mother died his grief exceeded the rites. When the Last Emperor broke with the Khitan, Yanwei became deputy northern commander and spent his whole household on the army. He died of illness in the capital.
39
彥威與安太妃同宗，出帝事以為舅，彥威未嘗以為言。 及卒，太妃臨哭，人始知同宗也，當時益稱其慎重。 ○李瓊
Yanwei shared clan with Grand Consort An; the Last Emperor treated him as uncle, yet Yanwei never mentioned it. At his death the Grand Consort mourned at his bier—only then did people learn they were kin, and his discretion was praised the more. Li Qiong
40
李瓊，滄州饒安人也。 少為騎將，與晉高祖隸唐明宗麾下。 同光二年，契丹犯塞，明宗出涿州，遇契丹，與戰不勝，諸將各稍引去，而晉高祖獨戰不已，契丹漸合而圍之。 瓊引高祖衣與俱遁，至劉李河而追兵且及，瓊浮水先至南岸，高祖至河中流，馬踣，瓊以長矛援出之，又以所乘馬與高祖，而步護之，走十餘里，乃得免。 明宗兵變於魏而南，瓊從高祖以三百騎先趨汴州。 高祖為保義軍節度使，以為牙隊指揮使。 高祖建國，以為護聖都虞候，賜與金帛甚厚，而不與之官爵，瓊亦郁郁。 久之，拜相、中二州刺史。 出帝時，為棣州刺史。 楊光遠反，以書招瓊，瓊拒而不納。 遷洺州團練使，又為護聖右廂都指揮使。 晉亡，契丹入京師，以瓊為威州刺史，行至鄭州，遇盜見殺。
Li Qiong came from Rao’an in Cang Prefecture. In youth he was a cavalry officer and, with the Jin Founding Emperor, served under Tang’s Mingzong. In Tongguang 2 the Khitan raided the frontier. Mingzong marched from Zhuo, met them, and lost. The generals peeled away one by one, but the Jin Founding Emperor fought on until the Khitan closed round him. Qiong seized the Founding Emperor’s robe and ran with him. At the Liu-Li River pursuers were closing. Qiong swam to the south bank first. The Founding Emperor reached midstream, his horse went down; Qiong hauled him out on a long spear, gave him his own mount, and on foot guarded him ten li until they were safe. When Mingzong’s troops mutinied at Wei and marched south, Qiong followed Gaozu with three hundred horse and raced ahead to Bianzhou. Gaozu was military governor of Baoyi and made him commander of the tooth guard. When Gaozu founded the state he made Qiong chief adjutant of the Imperial Guard and heaped gold and silks on him—but gave him no rank or title, and Qiong grew bitter. In time he was made prefect of Xiang and Zhong. Under the Last Emperor he was Di prefect. Yang Guangyuan rebelled and wrote to win Qiong over; Qiong refused and would not join. He was moved to militia commissioner of Mozhou and made commander of the Imperial Guard’s right wing. Jin fell. Khitan entered the capital and made Qiong Wei prefect. On the road at Zhengzhou bandits killed him.
41
劉景巖
Liu Jingyan
42
劉景巖，延州人也。 其家素富，能以貲交遊豪俊。 事高萬金，為部曲，其後為丹州刺史。 晉高祖起兵太原，唐廢帝調民七戶出一卒為義兵。 延州節度使楊漢章發鄉民赴京師，將行，景巖遣人激怒之，義兵亂，殺漢章，迎景巖為留後。 晉高祖即位，即拜景巖節度使。 景巖從事熊，為人多智，陰察景巖跋扈難制，懼其有異心，欲以利愚之，因語景巖，以謂邊地不可以久安，為陳保名享利之策，言邠、涇多善田，其利百倍，宜多市田射利以自厚。 景巖信之，歲餘，其獲甚多。 景巖使朝京師，乃言：「景巖不宜在邊，可徙之內地。」 乃移景巖邠州，入拜補闕，而景巖又徙鎮保義，居未幾，又徙武勝。 景巖乃悟為賣己，遂誣奏隱己玉帶，坐貶商州上津令。 懼景巖邀害之，道亡，匿山中。 開運三年，景巖罷武勝，以太子太師致仕，居華州。 契丹犯京師，以周密鎮延州，景巖乃還故里。 而州人逐密，立高允權，允權妻劉氏，景巖孫女子也。 景巖良田甲第、僮仆甚盛，党項司家族畜牧近郊，尤富強，景巖與之往來，允權頗患之。 允權妻歲時歸省，景巖謂曰：「高郎一縣令，而有此州，其可保乎？」 允權益惡之，而心又利其田宅，乃誣其反而殺之，年八十餘。
Liu Jingyan came from Yanzhou. His family had long been wealthy and used money to befriend bold men. He served Gao Wanjin as a household soldier and later became Dan prefect. When Jin’s Gaozu raised troops at Taiyuan, Tang’s deposed emperor drafted one soldier from every seven households as loyalist militia. Yanzhou military governor Yang Hanzhang mobilized the countryside for the capital. As they were about to march, Jingyan sent men to stir them up. The militia rioted, killed Hanzhang, and welcomed Jingyan as acting commissioner. When Gaozu took the throne he at once made Jingyan military governor. Jingyan’s staff officer Xiong was a clever man. He had long seen Jingyan was overbearing and hard to control, feared disloyalty, and wished to befuddle him with profit. He told Jingyan the frontier was no place to stay long, urged a plan to keep name and enjoy gain, said Bin and Jing had fine fields worth a hundredfold, and that he ought to buy land and speculate to enrich himself. Jingyan believed him. In a little over a year his gains were very great. When Jingyan went to audience at the capital, Xiong said: “Jingyan should not stay on the frontier. Move him inland.” They moved Jingyan to Bin, made him Remonstrance Official at court, then transferred him to hold Baoyi; before long he was moved again to Wusheng. Jingyan then saw he had been sold out and falsely memorialized that Xiong had hidden his jade belt; Xiong was demoted to magistrate of Shangjin in Shang. Fearing Jingyan would ambush him, he fled on the road and hid in the mountains. In Kaiyun year 3 Jingyan left Wusheng, retired as Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, and lived at Hua. Khitan attacked the capital. Zhou Mi was put over Yanzhou. Jingyan returned home. The prefecture drove Mi out and set up Gao Yunquan. Yunquan’s wife was a Liu—Jingyan’s granddaughter. Jingyan had fine fields, grand houses, and many servants. The Tangut Si clan pastured near the suburbs and were especially strong; Jingyan kept company with them, and Yunquan was much troubled. When Yunquan’s wife came home on her yearly visit, Jingyan told her: “Master Gao was only a county magistrate—can he keep this prefecture?” Yunquan hated him the more, yet coveted his land and houses. He charged him with rebellion and killed him, over eighty years old.
43
長子行琮，德州刺史，罷，留京師，亦被誅。 次子行謙，允權婦翁也，為奏言非劉氏子，遂免不誅。
His eldest son Xingcong had been De prefect; dismissed, he stayed in the capital—and was executed too. The second son Xingqian—Yunquan was his father-in-law—memorialized that he was not of the Liu line, and he was spared execution.