2
Lu Wenjin, styled Dayong, came from Fanyang. He served Liu Shouguang as a cavalry commander. When Zhuangzong attacked Fanyang, Wenjin surrendered first and was made prefect of Shou. Zhuangzong put him under his brother Cunju. Cunju was training commissioner of Xin and commanded the eight armies of the northern hills. Zhuangzong and Liu Xun were locked at Shen. He called Cunju to join forces and strike Xun. Cunju raised several thousand crack troops from the northern hills and forced the people to furnish horses—ten oxen for one mount—and the hill folk seethed while the soldiers loathed the southward march. At Qigou Pass they gathered to mutiny. Wenjin had a young, beautiful daughter. Cunju demanded her as a side wife. Wenjin dared not refuse so great a commander, yet his heart never forgave it; he joined the mutineers, killed Cunju, and turned rebel. He struck Xin and failed, struck Wu and failed again, then fled to the Khitan, who set him to hold Ping.
3
When Mingzong took the throne, Wenjin led tens of thousands from Ping back to Tang. Mingzong was delighted and made him military commissioner of Yicheng. After more than a year he was shifted to Weisheng, made co-equal with the chief ministers, appointed Senior General in the capital, sent out to Zhaoyi, then moved to Anyuan. When Jin Gaozu took the throne and made the father-son pact with the Khitan, Wenjin grew afraid. In winter of Tianfu 1 he killed his campaign adjutant Feng Zhizhao and deputy Du Chonggui, submitted to Li Bian, and Bian sent troops to receive him. Wenjin held several circuits with good government, and troops and people loved him. When he was about to go, he rode with a few followers into camp himself to take leave of his officers and men, told them he meant to escape the Khitan, and after they bowed twice in farewell he fled south. Bian made Wenjin Tianxiong commander and military commissioner of Xuan-Run.
4
Wenjin stood seven feet tall, his bearing imposing. Once he had fled to the Khitan he led them again and again against You and Ji, carried off people, and taught them Chinese weaving and every craft—nothing was wanting—and the Khitan grew the stronger for it. Under Tongguang the Khitan sent Xi horse across the border year after year, harrying Yan and Zhao, and the people knew no peace. Tang held Zhuo. Every year convoys ran from Waqiao Pass to Youzhou under heavy escort, yet they were robbed without cease—for more than ten years Tang’s affliction was Wenjin’s doing. When he fled south he bent low and hid his trail, all deference and caution, courteous to literati, humble as if he were nothing. He spoke only of recent court ritual and Secretariat lore—never of war. He later died at Jinling as Senior General of the Left Guards.
6
His people came from the Tuyuhun. In youth Jinquan was a servant in Mingzong’s household. Bold in the saddle and with the bow, he rode on Mingzong’s campaigns and rose to prefect by merit. In Tiancheng he held the Zhangyi circuit and ruled it with greed and violence. Recalled from office, he sent several dozen horses; within days he sent more. Mingzong said: “Do you have too many horses, that you keep offering them? And how did you govern Jing—were horses your only business?” Jinquan flushed and had no answer. He was moved to the Henghai circuit. Long afterward he was stripped of his post and made Senior General of the Right Guards.
7
Under Jin Gaozu, Wang Hui of Anzhou’s garrison command killed Commissioner Zhou Gui. Gaozu sent Jinquan with a thousand horse and issued an edict: “If Hui yields, make him prefect of Tang.” He sent a trust-arrow to Anzhou pledging not a single life, and charged Jinquan: “Do not break my word.” Jinquan had not yet arrived when An Congjin of Xiang judged Hui would flee south and sent crack troops to cut the roads. Hui heard Jinquan was near, fled south as expected, and Congjin’s men killed him. Jinquan came after, seized several hundred of Hui’s remnant band, and sent them to the capital. Hui’s revolt had let the city be plundered three days. Jinquan coveted the spoil, seized generals such as Wu Kehe—more than ten—and killed them. Kehe shouted: “Wang Hui led the mutiny yet won a sworn pledge and a prefecture; what crime is ours, that we alone are slain? If this is the throne’s order, how will anyone trust its word? If you defy the edict and kill men who yielded, you will not escape either!” Gaozu could not call him to account. Jinquan was at once made commissioner of Anyuan.
8
Jinquan’s Left Commandant Ming Hanrong held real power and broke the law. Gaozu resented it but would not ruin a meritorious man on Hanrong’s account; he chose the upright Jia Renzhao to replace him and summoned Hanrong as well. Hanrong taught Jinquan to detain him and refuse the summons. Client Pang Lingtu urged: “Renzhao once served Wang Yanqiu. When Yanqiu besieged Wang Du at Zhongshan, Du put a crack bowman on the wall who struck Yanqiu’s helmet. Renzhao drew from behind, one arrow, and the bowman fell. Yanqiu hunted for the man to reward him; Renzhao stayed silent—that is loyalty under heaven. When Du fell, Yanqiu sent Renzhao to report victory at court. Every gift was rich, yet he gave it all to old friends and poor kin—that is honesty under heaven. Such a man—how could he serve you ill? Take Renzhao in and send Hanrong off.” Hanrong heard, and that night had Lingtu killed and Renzhao poisoned; Renzhao’s tongue putrefied and he died.
9
In the fifth year of Tianfu, summer, Gaozu sent Ma Quanjie to replace Jinquan. Renzhao’s two sons meant to go to court to plead their father’s wrong. Hanrong was terrified and lied to Jinquan: “The throne summoned Hanrong the other day, yet you defied the edict and kept him. Renzhao is dead; his sons will sue at court. Quanjie is sent in your place—that is to call you before the law.” Jinquan believed him, rebelled, and submitted to Li Bian. Gaozu raised thirty thousand men and gave Quanjie command to crush him. He sent Li Chengyu into Anzhou. Jinquan fled south. At Michuan he craned his neck northward, wept, and went on. Li Bian made him commander of the Heavenly Might army. Under Han’s Emperor Yin, Li Shouzhen rebelled at Hezhong and begged troops. Jinquan, as military commissioner of Runzhou, marched with Zha Wenhui and others out of Shuyang. Li Bian’s generals were eager to strike; Jinquan alone said the distance made it futile, and they halted. He was never employed again; his end is unknown.
10
11
楊思權，邠州新平人也。 事梁為控鶴右第一軍使。 唐莊宗滅梁，以為夾馬都指揮使。 明宗時，秦王從榮為河東節度使，以馮赟為副，思權為北京步軍都指揮使以佐佑之。 從榮素驕，所為多不法。 是時，宋王從厚為河南尹。 從厚年少，謙恭好禮。 明宗陰遣人從容語從厚之善，以諷勉之。 從榮不悅，告思權曰：「天下共賢河南而非我，我將廢矣，奈何？」 思權曰：「公有甲士，而思權在，何患也！」 乃勸從榮招募死士、增利器械以為備。 馮贇患之，以其事聞。 明宗召思權還京師，以從榮故，亦不之責也。 後為右羽林都指揮使，將兵戍興元。 潞王從珂反鳳翔，興元張虔釗會諸鎮兵討賊。 諸鎮兵圍鳳翔，思權攻城西，嚴衛指揮使尹暉攻城東，破其兩關城。 從珂登城呼外兵，告以己非反者，其語甚哀，外兵聞者皆悲之，而虔釗督戰甚急，軍士反兵逐虔釗，思權因呼其眾曰：「潞王真吾主也！」 即擁軍士入城降。 暉聞思權已降，亦麾其軍使解甲，由是諸鎮之兵皆潰。 思權與暉入見從珂，思權前曰：「臣以赤心奉殿下，殿下事成，願不以防禦、團練使處臣。」 乃出一紙於懷中曰：「願誌臣姓名以為驗。」 從珂即書曰：「可邠寧節度使。」 廢帝入立，拜思權靜難軍節度使。 後為右龍武統軍、左衛上將軍。 天福八年，卒於京師，贈太傅。
Yang Siquan came from Xinping in Binzhou. He served Liang as first commander of the right Crane-Control corps. When Zhuangzong destroyed Liang, he was made Flanking Horse commander. Under Mingzong, Prince of Qin Congrong held Hedong; Feng Yun was his deputy and Siquan metropolitan infantry commander of the Northern Capital to support him. Congrong was proud by nature and his deeds were mostly lawless. Then Prince of Song Conghou was metropolitan governor of Henan. Conghou was young, courteous, and fond of propriety. Mingzong secretly had men speak gently of Conghou’s virtues to admonish and encourage Congrong. Congrong was displeased and told Siquan: “The realm praises Henan, not me—I shall be cast aside. What then?” Siquan said: “Your Highness has mailed men, and with Siquan at hand, why fear?” He urged Congrong to recruit dare-to-die men and sharpen arms against the day. Feng Yun was alarmed and reported it. Mingzong recalled Siquan to the capital; for Congrong’s sake he did not punish him. Later he was Right Feathered-Lin commander and garrisoned Xingyuan with troops. Prince of Lu Congke rebelled at Fengxiang. Zhang Qianzhao of Xingyuan united the circuit armies against him. The circuits besieged Fengxiang. Siquan stormed the west; Yin Hui of the Stern Guard stormed the east—they broke both outer gate-cities. Congke mounted the wall and called to the army outside that he was no rebel; his words were pitiful, and hearers wept. Yet Qianzhao drove the fight hard. The men turned on Qianzhao and drove him off. Siquan shouted: “Prince of Lu is our true lord!” and led his men into the city in surrender. Hui heard Siquan had yielded and ordered his own men to unarm; the circuit hosts melted away. Siquan and Hui came before Congke. Siquan said: “I serve Your Highness with a loyal heart; when you succeed, do not make me a defense or training commissioner.” He drew a paper from his robe: “Record my name as proof.” Congke wrote at once: “Granted Binning military commissioner.” When the deposed emperor took the throne, Siquan was made military commissioner of the Jingnan Army. Later he was Right Dragon Martial commander and Senior General of the Left Guards. In the eighth year of Tianfu he died at the capital; the court posthumously made him Grand Tutor.
12
Yin Hui came from Daming in Weizhou. He followed the deposed emperor into Luoyang. Jin Gaozu came to court and met Hui on the road. Hui was still Stern Guard commander. Trusting in his early surrender, he would not yield to Gaozu and saluted from the saddle with whip athwart. Gaozu was furious and told the deposed emperor Hui must not receive a great circuit. He was therefore made commissioner of Ying. When Jin Gaozu took the throne, Hui was reduced to Grand General of the Right Guards. Fan Yanguang rebelled and wrote to win Hui. Hui was afraid, fled to Huainan, and was killed; he left a son Xun.
13
14
王弘贄，不知其世家何人也。 唐明宗時，為合階二州刺史、右千牛衛將軍、衛州刺史。 潞王從珂反於鳳翔，擁兵東至陜。 湣帝懼，夜以百餘騎出奔，至衛州東七八里，遇晉高祖將朝於京師，騶呵前導者不避，湣帝遣左右叱之，對曰：「成德軍節度使石敬瑭也。」 湣帝即下馬慟哭，謂敬瑭曰：「潞王反，康義誠等皆叛我，我無所依，長公主教我逆爾於路。」 高祖曰：「衛州刺史王弘贄，宿將也，且多知時事，請就圖之。」 即馳騎前見弘贄曰：「主上危迫，吾戚屬也，何以圖全？」 弘贄曰：「天子避狄，自古有之，然將相大臣從乎？」 曰：「無也。」 「國寶、乘輿、法物從乎？」 曰：「無也。」 弘贄嘆曰：「所謂大木將顛，非一繩所維。 今萬乘之主，以百騎出奔，而將相大臣無一人從者，則人心去就可知也。 雖欲興復，其可得乎！」 即從高祖上謁於驛舍。 高祖且以弘贄語白湣帝。 弓箭庫使沙守榮、奔弘進前謂高祖曰：「主上，明宗愛子，公，愛婿也，公於此時不能報國，而反問大臣、國寶所在，公亦助賊反邪？」 乃抽佩刀刺高祖，高祖親將陳暉捍之，守榮與暉戰死，弘進亦自刎。 高祖因盡殺帝從兵，獨留帝於驛而去。 弘贄奉帝居於州廨。 弘贄有子巒，為殿直，廢帝入立，遣巒持鴆與弘贄。 初，湣帝在衛州，弘贄令市中酒家獻酒，湣帝見之，大驚，遽殞於地，久而蘇，弘贄曰：「此酒家也，願獻酒以慰無憀。」 湣帝受之，由是日獻一觴。 及巒持鴆至，因使酒家獻之，湣帝飲而不疑，遂崩。 弘贄後事晉為鳳翔行軍司馬，以光祿卿致仕，卒，贈太傅。
Wang Hongzhi—his lineage is unknown. Under Mingzong he was prefect of He and Jie, general of the Right Thousand-Ox Guard, and prefect of Wei. When Prince of Lu Congke rebelled at Fengxiang he marched east with troops as far as Shan. Emperor Min was terrified. At night he fled with a little over a hundred horse. Seven or eight li east of Wei he met Jin Gaozu bound for court. The outriders clearing the road would not give way; the emperor sent men to shout them down. They answered: “Shi Jingtang, commissioner of Chengde.” The emperor dismounted at once and wept. He told Jingtang: “Prince of Lu has rebelled. Kang Yicheng and the rest have betrayed me. I have nowhere to turn. The Grand Princess bade me meet you on the road.” Gaozu said: “Wang Hongzhi of Wei is an old soldier and knows the times—let us consult him.” He galloped ahead to Hongzhi: “The Son of Heaven is in peril. I am kin—how do we keep him whole?” Hongzhi said: “Sons of Heaven flee barbarians—so it has been since antiquity. But do ministers and great officials follow?” He said: “None.” “Do the state treasures, the imperial carriage, and the ritual regalia follow?” He said: “None.” Hongzhi sighed: “As they say, the great tree is about to fall—one rope cannot hold it. Now the Son of Heaven flees with a hundred horse, and not one minister follows—you can read where hearts have gone. Even if you wished to restore him, how could you?” He then followed Gaozu to attend the emperor at the relay house. Gaozu then told the Lamented Emperor what Hongzhi had said. Bow-and-arrow depot commissioner Sha Shourong and Ben Hongjin came forward and said to Gaozu: “The sovereign is Mingzong’s beloved son; you, sir, are his beloved son-in-law. At such a time you cannot repay the state yet ask where the ministers and the state treasures are—do you aid the rebels?” They drew their girdle daggers to stab Gaozu. His personal guard Chen Hui parried; Shourong and Hui died fighting, and Hongjin cut his own throat. Gaozu then killed all the emperor’s escort troops, left the emperor alone at the post station, and went away. Hongzhi lodged the emperor in the prefectural offices. Hongzhi had a son Luan, a palace attendants director. When the Deposed Emperor took the throne he sent Luan with poisoned wine for Hongzhi. Earlier, at Weizhou, Hongzhi had a city wine-shop keeper present wine. The emperor was greatly startled, fell at once, long lay senseless, then revived. Hongzhi said: “This is a wine-shop keeper—he wished to offer wine and ease your boredom.” The Lamented Emperor accepted it; thereafter one cup came each day. When Luan brought the poisoned wine, the wine-shop presented it again. The Lamented Emperor drank without suspicion and died. Hongzhi later served Jin as Fengxiang campaign marshal, retired as Chamberlain for Ceremonials, died, and was posthumously made Grand Tutor.
15
16
劉審交，字求益，幽州文安人也。 少略知書，通於吏事，為唐興令，補范陽牙校。 劉守光僭號，以審交為兵部尚書，守光敗，歸於太原，唐莊宗以為從事。 其後趙德鈞鎮范陽，北面轉運使馬紹宏辟審交判官。 王晏球討王都，以為轉運供軍使。 定州平，拜遼州刺史。 復為北面轉運使，改慈州刺史，以母老去官。 母喪，哀毀過禮，不調累年。 晉高祖即位，楊光遠討範延光於魏州，審交復為供軍使。 是時，晉高祖分戶部、度支、鹽鐵為三使，歲餘，三司益煩弊，乃復合為一，拜審交三司使。 議者請檢天下民田，宜得益租，審交曰：「租有定額，而天下比年無閑田，民之苦樂，不可等也。」 遂止不檢，而民賴以不擾。 遷右衛上將軍、陳州防禦使。 出視民田，見民耕器薄陋，乃取河北耕器為範，為民更鑄。 安從進平，徙審交襄州，又徙青州，皆有善政。 罷還。 契丹犯京師，留蕭翰而去，翰復以審交為三司使。 已而翰召許王從益守京師。 漢高祖起義太原，從益召高行周以拒高祖，行周不至。 從益母王淑妃與群臣謀迎高祖，或以謂燕兵在京師者猶數千，可以城守而待行周，淑妃不從，議未決。 審交進曰：「余燕人也，今為燕守城，當為燕謀，然事勢不可為也。 太妃語是。」 從益乃罷不設備，遣人西迎高祖。 高祖至，罷審交不用。 隱帝時，為汝州防禦使，有能名。 乾祐三年卒，年七十四。 州人聚哭柩前，上疏乞留葬近郊，使民得歲時祠祭。 詔特贈太尉，起祠立碑。
Liu Shenjiao, styled Qiuyi, came from Wen’an in Youzhou. In youth he knew books somewhat and was skilled at clerkly work. He was magistrate of Tangxing and was appointed a Fanyang yamen officer. When Liu Shouguang declared himself emperor, he made Shenjiao Minister of War. Shouguang fell; he returned to Taiyuan and Zhuangzong made him a staff associate. Later Zhao Dejun held Fanyang. Northern transport commissioner Ma Shaohong took Shenjiao as registrar. Wang Yanqiu campaigned against Wang Du; Shenjiao was made transport commissioner supplying the army. When Dingzhou was pacified he was made Liaozhou governor. Again northern transport commissioner, then Cizhou governor; he left office because his mother was old. On his mother’s death his grief exceeded ritual; he held no post for many years. When Jin’s Gaozu took the throne Yang Guangyuan campaigned against Fan Yanguang at Weizhou. Shenjiao was again supply commissioner. Jin’s Gaozu had split Household, Revenue, and Salt-Iron into three bureaus. After a year the three grew more tangled; they were merged again and Shenjiao was made Three-Bureaus commissioner. Counsellors proposed inspecting all the realm’s farmland to raise rent. Shenjiao said: “Rent has a fixed quota, yet in recent years the realm has had no idle fields—the people’s hardship and ease cannot be equated.” Inspection was halted, and the people were spared disturbance. He was moved to senior general of the Right Guards and Chenzhou defense commissioner. Inspecting the people’s fields he saw their farm tools were thin and crude. He took Hebei tools as models and had them recast for the people. After An Congjin was pacified Shenjiao was moved to Xiangzhou, then Qingzhou—both with good government. He was recalled. The Khitan invaded the capital and left Xiao Han behind. Han again made Shenjiao Three-Bureaus commissioner. Before long Han summoned the Prince of Xu Congyi to hold the capital. Han Gaozu raised a righteous army at Taiyuan. Congyi summoned Gao Xingzhou to resist Han; Xingzhou did not come. Congyi’s mother the Princess Dowager Wang with ministers and officials deliberated welcoming Han Gaozu. Some said Yan troops in the capital still numbered several thousand and they could hold the city and await Xingzhou; the princess dowager did not agree; the deliberation was unresolved. Shenjiao advanced and said: “I am a Yan man. Now I guard the city for Yan and should plan for Yan—yet the situation cannot be done. The Grand Consort’s words are right.” Congyi then ceased preparations and sent men west to welcome Han Gaozu. When Han Gaozu arrived he dismissed Shenjiao from office. Under the Hidden Emperor he was Ruzhou defense commissioner and had a reputation for ability. In Qianyou 3 he died at seventy-four. The prefecture’s people gathered weeping before his coffin and petitioned to bury him near the suburb so they could offer seasonal sacrifice. An edict specially posthumously made him Grand Marshal and raised a shrine and stele.
17
Wang Zhou came from Weizhou. In youth he followed the army for courage, served Zhuangzong and Mingzong as a junior officer, and for fierce fighting was made a prefect. In Tianfu he followed Yang Guangyuan against Fan Yanguang at Weizhou and Du Chongwei against An Chongrong at Zhenzhou—both with merit. He held Bei and Jing in succession as military commissioner. At Jing, Zhang Yanze’s rule was harsh and cruel and many fled. Zhou made policy lenient, inquired into people’s hardships, and removed more than twenty harsh abuses; the people all returned. He was moved in succession through Wusheng, Baoyi, Yiwu, and Chengde—everywhere with good government. At Dingzhou a bridge broke and overturned rent-grain carts. Zhou said: “Bridges not repaired are the prefect’s fault.” He compensated the people’s grain and repaired the bridge. Du Chongwei surrendered to the Khitan. Khitan troops passed Zhenzhou and called for Zhou to come out and surrender. Zhou wept: “Jin showed me deep grace—I could not fight to the death yet surrender the city. What face dare I show the ruler and the gentlemen while still walking!” He drank heavily and sought a knife to end himself. Family stopped him and forced him out to surrender. The Khitan made Zhou military commissioner of the Wusheng Army. When Han Gaozu took the throne he was moved to Wuning. He died in his post and was posthumously made Palace Secretariat Minister.
18
Gao Xingzhou (Xinggui appended)
19
高行周，字尚質，媯州人也。 世為懷戎戍將。 父思繼。 思繼兄弟皆以武勇雄於北邊，為幽州節度使李匡威戍將。 匡威為其弟匡儔所篡，晉王將討其亂，謀曰：「高思繼兄弟在孔領關，有兵三千，此後患也，不如遣人招之。 思繼為吾用，則事無不成。」 克用遣人招思繼兄弟。 燕俗重氣義，思繼等聞晉兵為匡威報仇，乃欣然從之，為晉兵前鋒。 匡儔聞思繼兄弟皆叛，乃棄城走。 克用以劉仁恭守幽州，以其兄某為先鋒都指揮使，思繼為中軍都指揮使，弟某為後軍都指揮使，高氏兄弟分掌燕兵。 克用臨決謂仁恭曰：「思繼兄弟，勢傾一方，為燕患者，必高氏也，宜善為防。」 克用留晉兵千人為仁恭衛。 而晉兵多犯法，思繼等數誅殺之。 克用以責仁恭，仁恭以高氏為訴，由是晉盡誅思繼兄弟。
Gao Xingzhou, styled Shangzhi, came from Guizhou. For generations his family were garrison generals at Huairou. His father was Siji. Siji and his brothers were all martially fierce on the northern frontier—garrison generals for Youzhou military commissioner Li Kuangwei. Kuangwei was usurped by his younger brother Kuangchou. The Prince of Jin would campaign to punish the disorder. The plan said: “Gao Siji and his brothers hold Kongling Pass with three thousand troops—a later trouble. Better send men to recruit them. If Siji serves us, nothing will fail.” The Prince of Jin sent men to recruit the Siji brothers. Yan custom prized righteousness. Hearing Jin troops were avenging Kuangwei, they gladly followed and were Jin’s vanguard. Hearing the Siji brothers had all defected, Kuangchou abandoned the city and fled. The Prince of Jin stationed Liu Rengong at Youzhou, made his elder brother vanguard commander-in-chief, Siji central army commander-in-chief, and a younger brother rear army commander-in-chief—the Gao brothers divided Yan troops among themselves. On parting the Prince of Jin told Rengong: “The Siji brothers’ power tilts one region—they are sure to afflict Yan. Guard well against them.” He left a thousand Jin troops as Rengong’s guard. But the Jin troops often broke the law; Siji and the others repeatedly executed them. The Prince of Jin blamed Rengong; Rengong pleaded the Gaos’ case—thereupon Jin executed the Siji brothers entirely.
20
仁恭以其兄某之子行珪為牙將，而思繼子行周年十餘歲，亦收之帳下，稍長，補以軍職。 仁恭被囚，守光立，以行珪為武州刺史。 其後守光背晉，晉兵攻之。 守光將元行欽牧馬山後，聞守光且見圍，即率所牧馬赴援，而麾下兵叛於道，推行欽為幽州留後，行欽曰：「吾所憚者行珪也。」 乃遣人之懷戎，得行珪子系之。 兵過武州，招行珪曰：「守光可取而代也。 當從我行，不然，且殺公子。」 行珪謝曰：「與君俱劉公將，而忍叛之？ 吾當為劉氏也，尚何顧吾子耶！」 行欽即以兵圍行珪。 月餘，行珪城中食盡，召其州人告曰：「吾非不為父老守也，今劉公救兵不至，奈何？ 可殺吾以降晉。」 父老皆泣，願以死守。 是時，行周適從行珪在武州，即夜縋行周馳入晉見莊宗，莊宗因遣明宗救武州。 比至，行欽已解去，行珪乃降晉。 莊宗時，歷朔忻嵐三州刺史、大同軍節度使。 明宗入立，徙鎮威勝、安遠。
Rengong made Siji’s elder brother’s son Xinggui a yamen officer. Xingzhou, Siji’s son, was barely over ten; he also took him into his tent; as he grew he was given military posts. Rengong was imprisoned; Shouguang rose and made Xinggui Wuzhou prefect. Later Shouguang turned against Jin; Jin troops attacked. Shouguang’s general Yuan Xingqin was herding horses beyond the mountains. Hearing Shouguang was nearly besieged, he at once led the herd to the rescue; but his troops mutinied on the road and installed Xingqin as Youzhou regent. Xingqin said: “What I fear is Xinggui alone.” He sent men to Huairou and seized Xinggui’s son. The army passed Wuzhou and summoned Xinggui: “Shouguang can be taken and replaced. Follow me or I kill your son.” Xinggui declined: “We were both General Liu’s officers—how bear to betray him? I must stand for the Liu house—what care I for my son!” Xingqin then surrounded Xinggui with troops. After more than a month the city’s food was exhausted. He summoned the prefecture people and said: “It is not that I will not guard you, elders—but Liu’s rescue troops have not come. What can be done? You may kill me to surrender to Jin.” The elders all wept and vowed to die defending him. At that time Xingzhou happened to be with Xinggui at Wuzhou. That night he let Xingzhou down the wall and galloped to Jin to see Zhuangzong; Zhuangzong sent Mingzong to rescue Wuzhou. When they arrived Xingqin had already withdrawn; Xinggui then surrendered to Jin. Under Zhuangzong he held in succession Shuozhou, Xinzhou, and Lanzhou and was Datong army military commissioner. When Mingzong took the throne he was moved to Weisheng and Anyuan.
21
Xinggui was greedy and base; much of what he did was illegal. Deputy commissioner Fan Yan’ce was upright and repeatedly admonished him; Xinggui would not listen and bore resentment. Later garrison troops plotted rebellion. Xinggui detected it first and secretly moved arsenal weapons elsewhere. The garrison rebelled, rushed the arsenal to seize weapons and got nothing, then scattered and fled. Xinggui pursued and killed them. He then falsely memorialized that Yan’ce had joined the rebellion; he and his sons were all killed—the realm considered it a great injustice. Xinggui died in his post and was posthumously made Grand Marshal.
22
當行珪之降晉也，行周隸明宗帳下，初為裨將，趙德鈞識之，謂明宗曰：「此子貌厚而小心，佗日必大貴，宜善待之。」 梁、晉軍河上，莊宗遣明宗東襲鄆州，行周將前軍，夜遇雨，軍中皆欲止不進，行周曰：「此天贊我也！ 鄆人恃雨，不備吾來，宜出其不意。」 即夜馳涉濟，入其城，鄆人方覺，遂取之。 莊宗滅梁，以功領端州刺史，遷絳州。 明宗時，從平朱守殷，克王都，遷潁州團練使、振武軍節度使。 歷鎮彰武、昭義。 晉高祖時，為西京留守，徙鎮天雄。 安從進叛，以行周為襄州行營都部署，討平之，徙鎮歸德。 出帝時，代景延廣為侍衛親軍都指揮使。 是時，李彥韜、馮玉等用事，乃求歸鎮。 契丹滅晉，留蕭翰守汴，翰又棄去，召唐故許王從益入汴。 而漢高祖起太原，從益遣人召行周，將以拒漢，行周嘆曰：「衰世難輔，況兒戲乎！」 乃不從。 漢高祖入京師，加行周守中書令，徙鎮天平軍，封臨清王。 周太祖入立，封齊王。 卒，贈尚書令，追封秦王。 有子懷德。
When Xinggui surrendered to Jin, Xingzhou served under Mingzong’s command; at first he was a junior officer. Zhao Dejun recognized him and told Mingzong: “This boy’s face is thick and careful—one day he will be greatly honored. Treat him well.” Liang and Jin faced each other on the Yellow River. Zhuangzong sent Mingzong east to strike Yunzhou. Xingzhou led the vanguard. That night it rained; the army all wanted to halt. Xingzhou said: “Heaven is aiding me! Yun men rely on rain and will not guard against us—strike when they do not expect it." That night he galloped across the ford into the city. The Yun men only then realized it—and Yunzhou was taken. Zhuangzong destroyed Liang. For merit he held Duanzhou prefect and was moved to Jiangzhou. Under Mingzong he followed the pacification of Zhu Shouyin, took Wang Du, was made Yingzhou regimental training commissioner and Zhenwu army military commissioner. He held in succession Zhangwu and Zhaoyi. Under Jin’s Gaozu he was western capital regent, then moved to Tianxiong. An Congjin rebelled. Xingzhou was made Xiangzhou field headquarters overall deployer, campaigned and pacified him, and was moved to Guide. Under the Last Emperor he replaced Jing Yanguang as commander of the personal guard. Li Yantao, Feng Yu, and their faction were in charge; he asked to go back to his circuit. The Khitan destroyed Jin and left Xiao Han at Bian. Han soon abandoned the city and called in the former Tang Prince of Xu, Congyi. Han Gaozu rose from Taiyuan. Congyi sent for Xingzhou to hold off the Han army. Xingzhou sighed: “A dying house is hard to prop up—and this is child’s play!” He would not go. When Han Gaozu took the capital he made Xingzhou acting director of the Grand Secretariat, transferred him to Tianping, and enfeoffed him Prince of Linqing. When Zhou Taizu seized the throne, Xingzhou was made Prince of Qi. He died and was posthumously made Director of the Imperial Secretariat and Prince of Qin. He left a son, Huaide.
23
24
白再榮，不知其世家何人也。 少為軍卒。 唐、晉之間，為護聖指揮使。 契丹犯京師，再榮從契丹北歸，至鎮州，契丹留麻守鎮州而去，晉人從者多留焉。 居未幾，李筠、何福進等謀逐麻，使人召再榮，再榮遲疑不欲往，軍士迫之，乃往，共攻之。 麻走，諸將以再榮名次最高，乃推為留後。 再榮出於行伍，貪而無謀。 是時，李崧、和凝等皆隨契丹留鎮州，再榮以兵環其居，迫而求物，又欲害崧取其貲。 李穀謂曰：「公等親被契丹之苦，憂死不暇，然逐麻者，乃眾人所為，非獨公力也。 今才得生路，而遽殺宰相，此契丹尚或不為，然它日至京師，天子問宰相何在，何以對之？」 再榮默然，乃止。 而悉拘嘗事麻荅者取其財，鎮人謂之「白麻荅」。 漢高祖即位，拜再榮為留後，遷義成軍節度使。 罷還京師。 周太祖以兵入京師，軍士攻再榮於第，悉取其財。 已而前啟曰：「士卒嘗事公隸麾下，一旦無禮如此，亦復何面見公乎！」 乃斬之，攜其首而去，家人以帛贖而葬之。
Bai Zairong—nothing is known of his lineage. As a youth he was a common soldier. Under Tang and Jin he commanded the Husheng guard. When the Khitan took the capital, Zairong marched north with them. At Zhen prefecture the Khitan left Ma in charge and withdrew; many who had served Jin stayed behind. Soon Li Jun, He Fujin, and others plotted to expel Ma and sent for Zairong. He hung back until the troops forced him; then he went and joined the assault. Ma fled. The generals, Zairong being senior in rank, made him acting governor. A ranker risen high—greedy and witless. Li Song, He Ning, and other court men were still at Zhen with the Khitan. Zairong surrounded their houses with troops and extorted goods; he even meant to kill Song for his property. Li Gu told him: “You yourselves barely escaped the Khitan—you had no leisure to fear death. Expelling Ma was the work of the multitude, not yours alone. You have barely found a road back to life and would straightway kill a chancellor—even the Khitan might balk at that. When you reach the capital and the emperor asks where the chancellor is, what will you say?” Zairong said nothing and desisted. He still seized everyone who had served Ma Da and stripped their wealth; locals nicknamed him "White Ma Da." Han Gaozu confirmed him as acting governor, then made him military commissioner of Yicheng. He was recalled to the capital. When Zhou Taizu entered the capital with an army, soldiers stormed Zairong’s house and looted it bare. They then stepped forward: “We once served in your command—yet you are shown such disrespect. How can we bear to look you in the face?” They cut off his head and left. His kin bought back the corpse with silk and buried him.
25
26
安叔千，字胤宗，沙陀三部落人也。 少善騎射，事唐莊宗，以為奉安指揮使。 明宗時與討王都，拜秦州刺史。 從擊契丹，為先鋒都指揮使，以功拜昭武軍節度使。 歷靜難、橫海、安國、建雄四鎮。 叔千狀貌堂堂，而不通文字，所為鄙陋，人謂之「沒字碑」。 晉出帝時，為左金吾衛上將軍。 契丹犯京師，晉百官迎見耶律德光於赤岡，叔千出班夷言，德光勞曰：「是安沒字否？ 汝在邢州，已通誠款，吾今至此，當與汝一吃飯處。」 叔千再拜。 乃以為鎮國軍節度使。 漢高祖入立，罷歸京師，自以常私附契丹，頗懷愧懼。 以太子太師致仕。 周太祖兵入京師，軍士大掠，叔千家貲已盡，而軍士意其有所藏者，箠掠不已。 傷重，歸於洛陽，卒，年七十二。
An Shuqian, styled Yinzong, came from the three Shatuo tribes. As a youth he excelled at riding and archery. He served Zhuangzong and became commander of the Feng’an guard. Under Mingzong he helped crush Wang Du and was made Qin prefect. He marched against the Khitan as vanguard commander and, for merit, became military commissioner of Zhaowu. He held Jingnan, Henghai, Anguo, and Jianxiong in turn. Shuqian looked the part of a commander but could not read; his ways were crude, and people called him the “blank stele.” Under Jin’s Last Emperor he was senior general of the Left Golden Crow guard. When the Khitan took the capital, Jin officials went out to meet Yelü Deguang at Red Mound. Shuqian spoke to him in Khitan. Deguang said kindly: “So you are An the Wordless? At Xing prefecture you already showed good faith. Now that I am here, I will find you a seat at table.” Shuqian bowed low again. He was made military commissioner of Zhenguo. Han Gaozu recalled him to the capital. He had often courted the Khitan in secret and was deeply ashamed. He retired as Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent. When Zhou Taizu’s army entered the capital, troops looted the city. Shuqian’s house was already empty, but soldiers believed he still had hoards and flogged him without cease. Badly hurt, he went home to Luoyang and died at seventy-two.