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卷五十一 雜傳第三十九: 朱守殷 董璋 范延光 婁繼英 安重榮 安從進 楊光遠

Volume 51 Miscellaneous Biographies 31: Zhu Shouyin, Dong Zhang, Fan Yanguang, Lou Jiying, An Zhongrong, An Congjin, Yang Guangyuan

Chapter 51 of 新五代史 · New History of the Five Dynasties
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Chapter 51
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1
Zhu Shouyin
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Zhu Shouyin had served Tang Zhuangzong as a slave in his youth; his name was Hui'er. When Zhuangzong read his books, Hui'er was always at his side. Once Zhuangzong took the throne, he formed his personal attendants into the Changzhi Army and made Shouyin its commander, so he had never seen real combat. He delighted in retailing others' secrets to curry favor. Zhuangzong took this for loyalty, made him chief adjutant of the combined horse and foot forces, and stationed him at Desheng. Wang Yanzhang attacked Desheng. Shouyin was caught off guard and lost the southern citadel. Zhuangzong raged: "You worthless fool—you have ruined me!" Mingzong urged that Shouyin be executed under military law, but Zhuangzong refused. In Tongguang 2 he was made military governor of Zhenwu. Zhuangzong had just entered Luoyang. Shouyin patrolled the capital, swaggering on imperial favor, bullying the old guard, and conspiring openly with the actor Jing Jin. The Prince of Wei, Jiji, had already killed Guo Chongtao. Jing Jin accused Zhu Youqian of plotting with Chongtao, and Zhuangzong sent Shouyin to surround his mansion and kill him. Mingzong had come from Zhenzhou to court and was staying in his private house. Zhuangzong was listening to flatterers and had grown wary of his senior ministers. He sent Shouyin to watch Mingzong's every move. Shouyin secretly warned Mingzong: "A minister who stands too high risks his life; a man whose merit covers the realm goes unrewarded. You are high in rank and your deeds are plain for all to see. You ought to plan your return to your fief before disaster finds you!" Mingzong replied: "I am nobody in Luoyang—what could I possibly do?" Soon afterward Mingzong rose in rebellion at Wei. Zhuangzong marched east against him. Shouyin drew up the cavalry outside Xuaren Gate to await the emperor's departure. Guo Congqian mutinied and broke in through Xingjiao Gate. Zhuangzong urgently summoned Shouyin's troops, but Shouyin held his men still. Zhuangzong fought the rebels with barely a hundred princes and eunuchs at his side. Shouyin never came. Only then did he move his army to rest on Mount Beimang. When he heard Zhuangzong was dead, he galloped into the palace, loaded concubines and treasure onto his carts, let his men loot the city, and sent word urging Mingzong to enter Luoyang.
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When Mingzong took the throne, Shouyin was made Grand Councilor, Governor of Henan, and supervisor of the Six Armies and the Guards. The following year he was transferred as military governor of Xuanwu Army. In the ninth month, Mingzong announced a visit to Bian Prefecture. Debate erupted: some thought he meant to campaign against Wu, while others thought he intended to discipline stubborn eastern governors. Shouyin felt especially unsafe, killed Commander Ma Yanchao, shut the city gates, and rebelled. When Mingzong reached Jingshui and heard of Shouyin's rebellion, he sent Fan Yanguang racing with troops to the city. The people of Bian opened the gates to Yanguang; Shouyin killed his own family, then bared his neck and ordered his attendants to behead him. When Mingzong reached Bian Prefecture, he ordered the corpse flogged, the head displayed in the market for seven days, and then carried to Luoyang for public warning.
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When Shouyin was plotting rebellion he summoned chief commander Ma Yanchao to counsel with him. Yanchao refused, and Shouyin killed him. Mingzong pitied Yanchao's death and appointed his son Chengduo chief magistrate of Luo. Dong Zhang
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Dong Zhang's family background is unknown. In youth he had been a household slave of Li Rang, a wealthy man of Bianzhou, together with Gao Jixing and Kong Xun. When Liang Taizu held Xuanyi, he adopted Rang as his son, who became Zhu Yourang. Through Yourang's connection, the slaves all entered Taizu's service. Zhang rose to command through military merit. When Jin's Li Jitao rebelled and surrendered Lu to Liang, the Last Emperor sent Zhang to take Ze and made him its prefect.
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After Liang fell, Zhang served Tang as military governor of Binning and was close to Guo Chongtao. When Chongtao invaded Shu, he made Zhang chief adjutant of the right wing and consulted him on every matter, large or small. After Shu fell, he was made military governor of eastern Sichuan while Meng Zhixiang held the west. Afterward both men began to harbor ambitions of their own. An Chonghui dominated the court. Councillors said Zhixiang would never remain loyal to Tang and that only Zhang could restrain him. They praised Zhang's loyalty, Chonghui believed them, and showered him with favor—so Zhang grew ever more arrogant.
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In Tiancheng 4, when Mingzong sacrificed to Heaven in the southern suburb, he ordered the two Sichuan circuits to contribute goods worth five hundred thousand. Li Renju carried An Chonghui's letter to instruct Zhang, but Zhang protested and sent only one hundred thousand. On another occasion Zhang wanted to kill Renju, who escaped only by weeping and pleading. When Renju returned, he reported that Zhang was certain to rebel. Later envoys to Dongchuan found Zhang even more arrogant, and on returning repeatedly reported signs that he meant to rebel. Chonghui grew alarmed. He gradually chose officers and administrators as prefects in the two Sichuan circuits, gave them crack troops as headquarters guards, and spread them through the prefectures. He also split off Lang Prefecture to create Baoning Army, appointed Renju as its military governor, and sent Yao Hong with one thousand troops to garrison Lang Prefecture with him. Zhang and Zhixiang realized Tang suspected them and was carving away their territory, so they joined in plotting rebellion. Zhang then had his son marry Zhixiang's daughter to bind the alliance. He also sent his general Li Yanzhao to hold Jianmen Pass with seven stockades and added another pass north of it, called Yongding. He detained all Tang garrison troops returning east. Those caught escaping were covered with iron cages and roasted, or had flesh cut away, faces nailed, hearts cut out and eaten. In the ninth month of Changxing 1, Zhixiang captured Sui Prefecture and Zhang captured Lang Prefecture. They seized Li Renju and Yao Hong and killed them both.
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When Zhang and the others first rebelled, Tang executed only Zhang's family. Zhixiang's wife and children were in Chengdu, and his distant kin in the capital went unpunished. Shi Jingtang campaigned against them without success. West of the passes supplies ran dry and the realm groaned under the burden. Mingzong was deeply troubled. An Chonghui went to supervise the army in person, but Jingtang refused him entry. Chonghui fell from power and died, and Jingtang withdrew. Mingzong sent Su Yuan, memorial officer of western Sichuan, and Liu Chengxi, a general of the east, west to urge Zhang and the others to repent. Zhixiang sent word that they should submit together and beg forgiveness. Zhang replied: "Tang spared Lord Meng's family—that was grace enough to western Sichuan. Where are my sons and grandsons? What is there to thank them for?" From that moment Zhang suspected Zhixiang had betrayed him. In the fourth month of the third year he attacked Zhixiang with ten thousand men. They fought at Mimu. Zhang was routed and fled to Zizhou. Earlier, when Tang's prefect of Ling, Wang Hui, was returning home on relief of office, Zhang had detained him. Now Hui seized Zhang, killed him, and sent his head to Zhixiang.
9
Fan Yanguang
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Fan Yanguang, courtesy name Zikui, was from Linzhang in Xiangzhou. When Mingzong was a military governor he placed Yanguang in his command but saw nothing remarkable in him. When Mingzong took Yanzhou, Liang's army was holding Yangliu. Their vanguard commander Kang Yanxiao secretly offered to defect to Mingzong. Mingzong needed someone to carry Yanxiao's offer to Zhuangzong. Yanguang volunteered, bore the wax-sealed letter west, and told Zhuangzong: "Yanxiao wishes to surrender, but Liang's grip on Yangliu is too strong to attack yet. Build a fort at Majiakou to open the route to Wenyang instead." Zhuangzong agreed. When the fort was finished, Liang sent Wang Yanzhang to storm it. Mingzong sent Yanguang by a secret route to seek reinforcements. He reached the river by night and was captured. Liang sent him to the capital, threw him in prison, flogged him hundreds of times, and held blades to his throat—but he would not betray Jin. After months in chains, the jailers gradually won him over. When Zhuangzong entered Bian, the jailers removed his fetters, bowed, and set him free. Zhuangzong received him with delight and appointed him honorary Minister of Works.
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Under Mingzong he served as commissioner of the southern bureau of the Palace Secretariat. When Mingzong traveled to Bianzhou and reached Xingyang, Zhu Shouyin rebelled. Yanguang said: "His revolt has only just begun. If we give him time to prepare, the walls will harden and we will never get near. Strike before he is ready—nothing beats a sudden assault. Give me five hundred cavalry and I will ride to the walls and shock him with speed." He took five hundred horsemen, rode hard from dusk until midnight—two hundred li—and fought beneath the walls. At dawn Mingzong arrived. The defenders saw the imperial carriage and opened the gates. Yanguang entered first; street fighting left many dead. Shouyin was killed and Bianzhou was pacified.
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The next year he became Privy Commissioner, then was posted out as military governor of Chengde. After An Chonghui died, he was recalled and served with Zhao Yanshou as Privy Commissioner. Mingzong asked how many horses the army had. "Thirty-five thousand cavalry," Yanguang replied." Mingzong slapped his thigh and sighed. "Forty years in arms! When Taizu was at Taiyuan we had barely seven thousand horses. When Zhuangzong took Hebei and fought Liang on the river we had only ten thousand. Now we have thirty-five thousand and still cannot unite the realm. I am old—what good are all these horses?" Yanguang added: "I once reckoned that one horse costs as much as five foot soldiers. Thirty-five thousand horses feed an army of a hundred fifty thousand men." Mingzong said: "Fat horses and starving soldiers—that is what shames me!"
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When Li Renfu of Xia died, his son Yichao seized power and demanded the commission. Mingzong sent An Congjin to replace him, but Yichao refused to yield. The army besieged him for a long time without success. Liu Suining, prefect of Xi, raced to court by post horse. He said the people of Sui and Yin were ready to defect and urged that two new prefects be appointed to win them over. Yanguang objected: "The campaign targets Yichao. Once Xia falls, what need is there to fuss over Sui and Yin? Without taking Xia, even if we gain Sui and Yin we cannot hold them." Suining then asked to ride in and persuade Yichao to surrender in person. Yanguang said: "One Suining is expendable if he fails. What matters is the dignity of the court." Consort Wang Shufei held sway at court. Suining's brothers were her old friends and won every argument through her favor. Most ministers dared not oppose them—only Yanguang quietly held his ground. When Mingzong fell ill and could not hold court, rumor swept the capital. People hid in the hills or took shelter in army camps, and the authorities could not stop them. Some urged harsh measures. Yanguang said: "Restlessness is best met with calm. Wait a little." When Mingzong's health improved slightly, the capital quieted down.
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The Prince of Qin held the armies and grew insolent. The Prince of Song was weak and far from court. Many looked to the Prince of Lu instead. Fearing he would be swept up in the coming disaster, Yanguang asked to resign. Yanshou sensed Yanguang's fear and hurried to resign as well. Mingzong urged them to stay again and again. They pleaded all the more earnestly, weeping as they spoke. Mingzong had no choice but to let them go. Yanguang returned to Chengde, and Zhu Hongzhao and Feng Yun became Privy Commissioners. Soon the Prince of Qin rebelled and was executed. Mingzong died. The Prince of Lu rose, killed the Lamented Emperor, and Tang plunged into chaos. Hongzhao and Yun both died in the upheaval. The Last Emperor recalled Yanguang as Privy Commissioner and made him military governor of Xuanyi. When Tianxiong mutinied and drove out Liu Yanhao, Yanguang was sent to pacify the army and was made its military governor.
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Yanguang often dreamed that a great snake entered his belly through his navel, only to be pulled away when half inside. He asked the retainer-diviner Zhang Sheng, who praised the dream: "A snake is of the dragon kind; entering the belly is an omen of kingship." Since Yanguang's humble days, Zhang Sheng had predicted he would rise high. Yanguang regarded him as uncanny and kept him in his retinue; many of his words came true, so Yanguang believed him and began to harbor ambitions of his own. When Jin Gaozu rose at Taiyuan, the Last Emperor sent Yanguang with twenty thousand troops to Liao Prefecture to coordinate with Zhao Yanshou. Soon Yanshou surrendered first; Yanguang alone held out. When Gaozu took the throne, Yanguang's congratulatory memorial arrived later than those of the other governors; moreover, his daughter was consort to the Last Emperor's son Chongmei. For these reasons he grew uneasy and disaffected. Gaozu enfeoffed Yanguang as Prince of Linqing to soothe him.
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Mi Qiong of Pingshan had been inner-palace commander to Dong Wenqi of Chengde. When Khitan captured Wenqi, Qiong slaughtered his entire clan, buried them in one pit, and seized a fortune. Jin Gaozu made him defensive commissioner of Qi. He loaded his wealth and passed through Wei on the road. Yanguang secretly tried to win him with a letter. Qiong refused. Enraged, Yanguang ambushed him at the border, killed him at Xiajin, seized everything he carried, and reported it as a border patrol's mistake. Gaozu suspected rebellion was coming and traveled to Bianzhou. In the sixth month of Tianfu 2, Yanguang rebelled. He sent Sun Rui and Feng Hui of Cang with twenty thousand men to hold Liyang and raid Hua and Wei. Gaozu made Yang Guangyuan pacification commissioner and led troops from Huazhou across Hubian to attack him. Rui was reckless and witless. On the march he brought a dozen courtesans, raised canopies, waved fans, and feasted as if at leisure. The soldiers sweltered in the heat and would not fight. Guangyuan captured a spy, learned their plans, and lured Rui across the river. He struck halfway across; many drowned. Rui and Hui fled into Wei, shut the gates, and would not come out again.
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At first Yanguang had not fully decided to rebel when a sudden illness laid him low. Rui secretly summoned Hui into the city. They pressed him to rebel. Dazed and helpless, he went along. When Gaozu heard Yanguang had rebelled with Rui and the rest, he laughed. "I may not be a great warrior, but I followed Mingzong across the realm and broke many a strong foe. Yanguang alone is no match for me—what are Rui and his crew but children at play? I will scoop them up like children!" He resolved to crush them.
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Yanguang had never fully meant to rebel. After Rui's defeat he sent Wang Zhixin with a memorial offering surrender. Gaozu refused to see him and handed Zhixin over to the Bureau of Martial Virtue. Yanguang sent another memorial through Yang Guangyuan begging to surrender. No answer came, and he held the city. Jin rained two hundred messages on arrows into the city, pardoning every man of Wei and promising reward for Yanguang's head. Wei's walls were too strong. The siege dragged on more than a year without success; the army tired and grain ran out. Shi Bo of the Imperial Clan Bureau submitted a fierce memorial urging pardon for Yanguang and offering to ride alone into the city to talk him down. Gaozu too repented. In the ninth month of year 3 he sent an envoy to pardon Yanguang. Yanguang surrendered, was enfeoffed Prince of Dongping and military governor of Tianping, and received an iron certificate. Months later he came to court, begged to retire in shame, and was dismissed as Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent.
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When Gaozu first pardoned him, he told the envoy: "I promise you will not die. If I kill you after you surrender, how can I rule the realm?" Yanguang asked his deputy Li Shi. Shi said: "The emperor is a man of his word. If he promises you life, you will live." So he surrendered. He retired to the capital and was received at court like any minister, but Gaozu did not want him there. A year later he sent Liu Churang with wine by night. Churang said: "The Khitan envoy just asked where your Weibo rebel is. He fears Jin cannot control you and wants you taken north in chains." Yanguang wept, helpless. Churang said: "Go to Luoyang for now to avoid the envoy." Yanguang said: "Yang Guangyuan holds Henan—my enemy. I have estates at Heyang—may I go there?" "You may." He took his household to Heyang. His train filled the road. Guangyuan coveted his wealth and plotted against him. He memorialized: "Yanguang is a treacherous minister who changes sides again and again. If he is not dealt with, he will either flee north to the barbarians or south to Wu and Yue. I request that he be detained in Luoyang." Gaozu hesitated. Guangyuan also held Heyang. His son Chengxun governed there and sent troops to force Yanguang to kill himself. Yanguang cried: "The emperor gave me an iron certificate and promised I would not die. How has it come to this?" They forced him onto a horse, pushed him from the bridge into the river, and drowned him. They reported suicide and seized everything he owned. Gaozu, pleased at the outcome, asked no questions, suspended court, and posthumously made him Grand Tutor. Cao Qian of the water transport service recovered his body at Miaojia Ford. An edict allowed burial in Xiangzhou. After burial the tomb collapsed again and again. The coffin was opened and the skull shattered. Mi Qiong had killed Dong Wenqi for his wealth; Yanguang killed Qiong and took it; in the end Guangyuan killed Yanguang for the same wealth—and Guangyuan too could not escape.
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When Yanguang rebelled, Li Yanxun was marching army marshal of Heyang. He joined Zhang Congbin's rebellion there. When Congbin fell, Yanxun fled to Wei. Yanguang made him chief foot inspector and put him in charge of the walls. Guangyuan knew Yanxun was from Xingzhou and that his mother still lived. He brought her below the walls to sway him. Yanxun saw her and shot her dead with his own hand. When Yanguang surrendered, Gaozu made Yanxun prefect of Fang. Ministers said he deserved death for killing his mother. Gaozu said the amnesty was already in force and could not be revoked. Later he was executed for embezzlement.
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Alas—how deeply habit shapes human nature! The sages made benevolence and righteousness profound. They taught diligently but without haste, gently but without slack, so that people might grow used to goodness by degrees until custom itself carried them. Yet people are ignorant: show them good and they settle into good; show them evil and they settle into evil. The chaos of the Five Dynasties had deep roots. From Tang's fall came war and famine. Fathers could not raise sons; sons could not care for parents. At first kin could not protect one another—mostly from sheer misfortune. Then ritual decayed and love thinned day by day until habit rotted everything, and fathers and sons turned on each other. In the Five Dynasties the harm is beyond reckoning. Everyone loves his kin and hates unfilial acts—yet Yanxun shot his mother and Gaozu pardoned him. Yanxun scarcely knew it as monstrous; Gaozu scarcely thought it strange. Had habit not rotted them for generations? The Analects says: "By nature we are alike; by habit we diverge." At the extreme, the heart falls below the beasts. How pitiful! If Yanxun's crime could pass without shock, it is no wonder that when Jin's Deposed Emperor abandoned his father, the world saw no wrong in it.
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Lou Jiying
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Lou Jiying's origins are unknown. Through Liang and Tang he served as prefect of Jiang and Ji, commissioner of northern transport, and regimental trainer of Yao. Under Jin Gaozu he was general of the Left Gate Guard. Jiying's daughter-in-law was Wen Yanhao's daughter. Since Mingzong had executed her father Tao, the Yanhao brothers lived in disgrace at Xu, nursing resentment. When Fan Yanguang rebelled, Jiying's brother was chief adjutant of Wei's inner citadel. Yanguang sent a wax-sealed letter. Jiying sent Yanhao to Wei. Yanguang rejoiced, gave him a trust-arrow, and set him to plot Xu. Yanhao and his brothers Yanjun and Yangun recruited a thousand desperadoes and fixed a day to strike Xu. Xu prefect Chang Congjian, suspecting collusion after Yanguang's revolt, fortified the city strictly. Before they could move, the wax letter was exposed at court. Jiying fled in terror to Xu. Gaozu issued an edict summoning and reassuring him, but Jiying was too afraid to emerge. The Wen brothers plotted to kill Jiying to win pardon, but Yanhao spared him for his daughter's sake. When Zhang Congbin rebelled at Luoyang, the Wen brothers and Jiying joined him at Sishui. Jiying knew the Wens had meant to kill him and slandered the brothers to Congbin, who executed them. When Congbin fell, Du Chongwei killed Jiying.
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An Chongrong
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An Chongrong, childhood name Tiehu, was from Shuo Prefecture. His grandfather Congyi was prefect of Li Prefecture. His father Quan was prefect of Sheng Prefecture and commander of Zhenwu's horse and foot troops. Chongrong was strong and skilled at riding and archery, and became Zhenwu's border-patrol commander. When Jin Gaozu rose at Taiyuan, he sent Zhang Ying secretly to recruit Chongrong. Chongrong's mother and elder brother opposed it, but Chongrong had already promised Ying; they plotted to kill Ying and stop him. Chongrong said, "Not yet. I shall divine it for Mother." He set up an arrow, shot at it from a hundred paces, and said, "If Lord Shi is to become Son of Heaven, let me hit it." He hit it with one shot. He set up another arrow and shot, saying, "If I am to become a military governor, let me hit it." Again he hit it with one shot, and his mother and brother consented. Chongrong rebelled with one thousand border-patrol cavalry and entered Taiyuan. When Gaozu took the throne, he appointed Chongrong military governor of Chengde Army.
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Chongrong was a soldier, but he understood government; no subordinate could fool him. A couple sued their son for unfilial conduct. Chongrong handed the father his sword and told him to kill the boy. The father wept: "I cannot!" The mother cursed, seized the sword, and drove him off. She was the stepmother. Chongrong expelled her and later shot her dead.
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A common soldier risen to riches, he saw Tang's Deposed Emperor and Jin Gaozu both seize the throne from the frontier. He said: "Are emperors born to the purple? Whoever has the stronger army makes one!" He harbored ambition but had no opening. At this time, Gaozu had made a father-son covenant with Khitan. Khitan was extremely arrogant, and Gaozu served them all the more carefully. Chongrong was indignant, saying, "To bend China in order to exalt the barbarians, to exhaust an already worn-out people in order to fill insatiable desires—this is Jin's shame for ten thousand generations!" He rebuked Gaozu again and again. Khitan envoys passing through Zhenzhou he insulted sprawled on his seat, sometimes seizing and killing them. The Tuguhun Bai clan, subject to Khitan cruelty, he lured inside the passes. Khitan envoys rebuked Gaozu and demanded his men back. Gaozu bowed and apologized, yet indulged Chongrong. He sent Zhang Cheng with two thousand men to scour the valleys of Bing, Zhen, Xin, and Dai and drive the Tuguhun out. They left and returned. Chongrong took them in, gathered outlaws, forced the people to plant broomcorn, kept ten thousand horses, and grew bolder. In rage he killed commander Jia Zhang and accused him of rebellion. His daughter was still young, and he meant to spare her. She said: "Thirty people of my household all died in the fighting; the only survivors were my father and me. Now that my father is dead, how can I bear to live alone? I wish to go to death!" He killed her. The people of Zhen honored the girl's courage and knew Chongrong was doomed. Growing extravagant, he thought the golden-fish pouch beneath him and wore fish carved from jade. He took two wives, and Gaozu ennobled both.
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使 沿 使使 使
In summer of Tianfu 6 the Khitan envoy Zhuai passed through Zhen. Chongrong insulted him; Zhuai answered insolently; Chongrong seized him, raided southern You with light horse, and settled captives at Boye. He submitted a memorial: "Your servant recently learned that the settled Tuyuhun Bai Chengfu, Helian Gongde, and others led more than thirty thousand tents of their own clans from Yingzhou to come over. I have also learned that the raw Tuyuhun, Hun, Xi, the two Turkic groups, the northern and southern Shatuo commanders, Anqing, the Nine Garrisons, and others each led their clans, cattle and sheep, carts and tents, armored horses, in seven or eight routes to come over. They all reported Khitan brutality: they seize living persons, sheep, and horses; since the second month of this year they have issued orders to the various tribes, mustered the strong men, prepared military equipment, and set a deadline to head south in early autumn. The various tribal groups sincerely feared that Heaven above would not aid them and that their families and clans would be defeated and destroyed, so they wished first to submit of themselves; the fighting men of those groups can number one hundred thousand. I have also learned that the chiefs of the Tangut along the Yellow River and the Yiyueli tribes before and behind the mountains have all sent men to deliver back the appointment certificates, edict documents, banners, and flags given them by Khitan and to come over in loyal submission. All wept and spoke of their hardships, wishing to put armor and weapons in order to repay their wrongs. I have also learned that Zhao Chong, deputy military governor of Shuozhou, killed the military governor Liu Shan and came over with the city. Privately I consider that the various tribes came of themselves without being summoned, and Shuozhou submitted of itself without being attacked. Though this is tied to human feeling, it comes entirely from Heaven's will. I also think of the generals trapped among the tribes. They originally had merit, long enjoyed wealth and rank, but have ended their lives at the barbarian frontier and cannot bear the cruelty. They stand on tiptoe toward the court, and their longing to return is understandable. If they only hear a proclamation, they will all turn their spears." The memorial ran thousands of words. He wrote to court ministers and governors everywhere that Khitan could be beaten. Gaozu was troubled by this, traveled to Ye because of it, and replied to Chongrong: "When former ages made peace through kinship with the barbarians, it was always for the sake of the realm. Now I subject the realm to them, while you resist them with one province. The great and small are unequal; do not humiliate yourself!" Chongrong thought Jin helpless and resolved to rebel. Though he railed at Khitan, he secretly contacted You governor Liu Xi. Khitan welcomed Jin's troubles, hoping Chongrong would wear both sides down so they might probe China—so they did not punish him.
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As Chongrong prepared to rebel, his mother again said it was wrong. Chongrong said: "I will divine it for Mother." He pointed to the dragon mouth on the banner pole below his hall, shot upward at it, and said: "If I am to possess the realm, I will hit it." One arrow struck true; his mother consented. Raoyang magistrate Liu Yan presented a five-colored water bird. Chongrong said: "This is a phoenix." He kept it in his rear pool. He also had someone make a great iron whip and present it, and deceived his people by saying: "The whip has a spirit. If it points at a person, that person dies at once." It was called "Lord Iron Whip," and when he went out it served as his vanguard. Iron Hu gate guards' heads fell off for no reason—Iron Hu was Chongrong's childhood name. He hated the omen but did not understand. That winter An Congjin rebelled at Xiangyang. Hearing it, Chongrong rose too. That year drought and locusts ravaged Zhen. Chongrong gathered tens of thousands of the starving, drove them toward Ye, and claimed he was coming to court. At Pojia Embankment, Du Chongwei met him in battle. General Zhao Yanzhi, who hated Chongrong, furled his banner and fled to Jin. His silver-trimmed armor fooled them—they thought him an enemy and tore him apart. Hearing Yanzhi had gone over, Chongrong panicked and hid among the wagons. His twenty thousand men melted away. Winter was savage. The routed army starved and froze until none remained. Chongrong fled back with a dozen riders, armored his men in hides, and forced the townspeople to hold the walls. Chongwei arrived. A deputy led imperial troops in through the Water-Mill Gate and slaughtered more than twenty thousand defenders. Chongrong held the headquarters with a few hundred Tuguhun horse. Chongwei captured him, beheaded him, and presented the head. Gaozu received it from the tower, had it lacquered, and sent it to Khitan. Chengde became Shunde; Zhen was renamed Heng, and Changshan Hengshan.
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An Congjin
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An Congjin was from the Suoge tribe of Zhenwu. His grandfather and father both served Tang as cavalry generals. Congjin first followed Zhuangzong in the army, became commander of the escort cavalry, and held the prefecture of Gui Prefecture. Under Mingzong he served as military governor of Baoyi and Zhangwu armies, though he had never led troops on campaign. When Li Yichao set himself up independently in Xia Prefecture, Congjin once led troops against him but achieved nothing. When Emperor Min took the throne, Congjin was transferred to Shunhua and made commander of the Palace Guard cavalry. When the Prince of Lu rebelled at Fengxiang, Congjin was inspecting the capital. He killed Privy Commissioner Feng Yun and sent his submission to Congke. When Emperor Min fled and Congke neared the capital, Congjin led the officials in formation to welcome him in the suburbs. During Qingtai he was transferred to command Shannan East Circuit. When Jin Gaozu took the throne, Congjin was additionally granted the title Grand Councilor.
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Gaozu had seized the throne by irregular means and was ashamed. He indulged the commands too much; their officers either feared for their lives or thought they could do as he had done. In seven years six rebellions rose—Congjin was the last, and none escaped. After Fan Yanguang rebelled at Ye, Congjin already nursed rebellion, trusting the Yangzi barrier, gathering outlaws, and swelling his army. He seized southern tribute passing through Xiangyang, waylaid merchants, and branded them into his ranks. He secretly allied with An Chongrong, each to support the other. Gaozu tried to transfer him, saying: "The Prince of Dongping has come to court and returned home; Shangdang is open. Qingzhou waits for you. If you are willing to go, I will issue the order." Congjin replied: "Move Qingzhou south of the Han River, and your subject will take up the post." Gaozu indulged him. His son Hongchao served at court. Congjin asked to visit home and was refused. Generals Wang Lingqian and Pan Zhilin, who had served him longest, warned he was doomed. He sent Hongchao and Lingqian to tour the southern hills, got them drunk, and had Lingqian pushed off a cliff.
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In Tianfu 6, Chongrong killed Khitan envoys and rebellion showed. Gaozu went to Ye; Prince of Zheng Chonggui held the capital. Chancellor He Ning said: "Your Majesty is about to go north. Congjin will certainly rebel. How will he be controlled?" Gaozu said: "What is your view?" Ning said: "Your servant has heard in the art of war that the one who gets ahead of others seizes them. I wish to prepare a dozen or so blank-name proclamations and edicts and give them to the Prince of Zheng; if there is an emergency, he can appoint generals to go." Hearing Gaozu had gone north, Congjin killed Zhilin and rebelled. Chonggui gave blank edicts to Li Jianchong and Guo Jinhai. Congjin attacked Deng without success, advanced to Huyang, met them in alarm, was burned by prairie fire, and was routed. He fled to Xiangyang with a few dozen riders. Gaozu sent Gao Xingzhou to besiege him. After a year, grain ran out and Congjin burned himself. His son Hongshou and forty-three officers were sent to the capital. Gaozu received them from the tower and beheaded them in the market. Xiangyang became a defensive command. Lingqian was posthumously made prefect of Zhong, Zhilin of Shun.
34
Yang Guangyuan
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使 禿
Yang Guangyuan, courtesy name Deming, was the son of Adengchuo of the Shatuo. Originally named Atan, he was Zhuangzong's cavalry officer. Fighting Khitan at Xin with Zhou Dewei, he lost an arm and was cast aside. Long afterward he became chief commander of You's horse and foot and garrisoned Wagong Pass. Bald, one-armed, and illiterate, he was nonetheless shrewd and skilled in government. Under Mingzong he governed Jiao, Ying, Ji, and Yi and was praised for his rule.
36
使 使
When Tang defeated Wang Du at Zhongshan, they captured Khitan generals including Cila. Khitan sought their return. Ministers agreed; Guangyuan alone objected: "Cila and the rest are Khitan's best fighters—to lose them is to lose hands and feet; Moreover, having lived here long, they know China's affairs well. How would returning them benefit us?" Mingzong said: "Tribal people value covenants and oaths. Since they are already friendly with us, how could they betray us?" Guangyuan said: "Your servant fears that regret afterward will be too late!" Mingzong praised him and kept Cila and the rest. From Yi he was made military governor of Zhenwu. In Qingtai 2 he governed Zhongshan and served as northern chief adjutant against Khitan between Yun and Ying.
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使退 使使 使
When Gaozu rose at Taiyuan, the Last Emperor made Guangyuan Zhang Jingda's deputy. Khitan defeated them at Jin'an Stockade. Khitan besieged them until horses were eaten, then men, then they killed Jingda and surrendered. When Yelü Deguang saw them, he mocked them, saying: "You are truly wicked Han fellows." Guangyuan and the other generals at first did not know he was mocking them and still answered with humble words. Deguang said: "Without salt or curds, you ate ten thousand warhorses. Are you not wicked Han fellows?" They prostrated themselves in shame. "Afraid?" he asked. All said: "Very afraid." He said: "What are you afraid of?" "That you will take us into the steppe." Deguang said: "My country has no lands, offices, or titles with which to house you. You should do your best to serve Jin." Gaozu made him military governor of Xuanyi and chief of palace horse and foot. When Guangyuan came to audience, he feigned a depressed expression and always seemed to harbor some grievance. Gaozu suspected that something was not enough for him and sent someone to ask. He replied: "Your servant lacks nothing in wealth and rank. I am only ashamed that I did not, like Zhang Shengtie, die in the proper place!" Gaozu took this for loyalty and trusted him.
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使 使 西 使
When Fan Yanguang rebelled, Gaozu made Guangyuan general director of the Wei Prefecture campaign, but he could not take the city. Gaozu finally used another plan to make Yanguang surrender. Guangyuan believed that because he commanded a large army away from court, Gaozu feared him, and he began acting with arrogance and license. Gaozu indulged him, chose his son Chengzuo to marry Princess Chang'an, and gave his other son Chengxin and the rest extraordinary promotions. His favor was unmatched. Privy Commissioner Sang Weihan disliked him and repeatedly raised the issue. When Guangyuan came from Wei to court, he repeatedly accused Weihan of monopolizing power and being hard to control. Gaozu had no choice but to remove Weihan to Xiang Prefecture. He also transferred Guangyuan to be defender of the Western Capital, with concurrent command of Heyang, and stripped him of his army post. Guangyuan then grew deeply resentful, secretly sent treasure to the Khitan, and complained that Jin had cast him aside. The thousand retainers he kept broke laws and violated prohibitions between the Yellow River and Luo, behaving worse than bandits. In Tianfu 5 he was transferred to command Pinglu and enfeoffed as Prince of Dongping. Guangyuan asked to take his sons with him, so Chengzuo was made prefect of Shan Prefecture and Chengxun defensive commissioner of Lai Prefecture. Father and sons went east together, their carts and horses stretching for several tens of li. When the Deposed Emperor took the throne, Guangyuan was appointed Grand Preceptor and enfeoffed as Prince of Shou.
39
使
At this time Jin had few horses and was requisitioning horses throughout the realm to support the army. Jing Yanguang requested that the three hundred official horses previously lent to Guangyuan be taken back. Guangyuan angrily said: "These horses were bestowed on me by the late emperor. How can they be taken back? This is suspecting me of rebellion!" He plotted rebellion. Chengxun fled from Dan. The Deposed Emperor made him prefect of Zi and sent gifts—Guangyuan grew bolder and rebelled. He summoned Khitan, who took Bei. Bo prefect Zhou Ru also defected to Khitan.
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使 沿
At this time, the Deposed Emperor and Yelü Deguang faced each other between Chan and Wei. Dou Yi, observation judge of Yunzhou, planned affairs in the army and advised: "If we do not use heavy troops and a great general to guard the Bozhou ford, and allow Ru to lead Khitan east across the river and join Guangyuan, then Henan will be in danger!" The emperor sent Li Shouzhen and Huangfu Yu with ten thousand men downriver. Ru crossed at Majia Ford. Shouzhen struck while he was building a fort. Khitan was routed and cut off from Guangyuan. Deguang fought at Qi City after the river defeat—and lost again.
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便 使 使使 使
Khitan withdrew. Shouzhen and Fu Yanqing besieged Guangyuan from summer to winter until the city nearly ate itself. Guangyuan looked north toward Khitan, kowtowed, and called out to Deguang: "Has the Emperor wronged Guangyuan?" His sons Chengxun and the others urged Guangyuan to go out and surrender. Guangyuan said: "When I was north of Dai, I once used paper money to sacrifice at Heaven Pool. Whenever I cast it in, it sank. People said I should become Son of Heaven. We should wait for the right time and not discuss this lightly." Chengxun knew it was hopeless, killed Qiu Tao and other officers, imprisoned Guangyuan, and sent a memorial of surrender. Chengxin and Chengzuo surrendered at court; Guangyuan asked to die. The emperor made his sons guard generals and promised Guangyuan life. Ministers objected; he told Shouzhen to act as he saw fit. Shouzhen sent He Yanzuo to kill him at home. When Yanzuo arrived at his residence, Guangyuan was inspecting horses in the stable. Yanzuo sent a military commander in to tell him: "The imperial envoy is at the gate and wishes to return and report to the Son of Heaven, but has nothing with which to make a presentation." Guangyuan said: "What do you mean?" "Your head," he said. Guangyuan cursed: "What crime have I? I surrendered Jin'an and made your house emperors—I hoped to die rich—and this is my reward!" He was killed; they reported illness.
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使使使 使
Chengxun served Jin at Zheng. When Deguang destroyed Jin he summoned him, accused him of betraying his father, and had his flesh eaten—then made Chengxin governor of Pinglu. Han Gaozu posthumously made Guangyuan Director of the Secretariat and enfeoffed him as Prince of Qi. He ordered Zhang Zheng, Secretariat Drafter, to compose Guangyuan's stele inscription and grant it to Chengxin, and had him carve the stone in Qingzhou. When the stone was raised, thunder shattered it.
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禿禿
Adengchuo was not originally a surname; later he took the name Jian and the surname Yang. His original name was Tan. In Qingtai 2 taboo rules forced a change to Guangyuan. Guangyuan suffered from bald sores, and his wife was lame in one foot, so people made a saying about them: "Since antiquity, has there ever been a bald-sore Son of Heaven and a lame-footed empress?" The joke spread. Yet it was he who called the barbarians as the realm's chief scourge, destroyed Jin, and ravaged China for thirty years.
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