1
《傳》曰：「禮義廉恥，國之四維； 四維不張，國乃滅亡。」 善乎，管生之能言也！ 禮義，治人之大法； 廉恥，立人之大節。 蓋不廉，則無所不取； 不恥，則無所不為。 人而如此，則禍亂敗亡，亦無所不至，況為大臣而無所不取，無所不為，則天下其有不亂，國家其有不亡者乎！ 予讀馮道《長樂老敘》，見其自述以為榮，其可謂無廉恥者矣，則天下國家可從而知也。
The Documents say: "Ritual, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame are the four pillars of the state; if these four pillars are not upheld, the state will be destroyed. Well said indeed—how aptly Master Guan put it! Ritual and righteousness are the great principles by which men are governed; integrity and shame are the great standards by which a person stands upright. Without integrity, a man will seize anything; without shame, he will stoop to anything. When ordinary men behave this way, disaster and ruin follow without limit; when great ministers seize anything and stoop to anything, how can the realm remain at peace or the state escape destruction? When I read Feng Dao's Account of the Old Man of Everlasting Joy and saw him boast of his own career, I knew him for a man utterly devoid of integrity and shame—and from that one may infer the fate of realm and state.
2
予於五代，得全節之士三，死事之臣十有五，而怪士之被服儒者以學古自名，而享人之祿、任人之國者多矣，然使忠義之節，獨出於武夫戰卒，豈於儒者果無其人哉？ 豈非高節之士惡時之亂，薄其世而不肯出歟？ 抑君天下者不足顧，而莫能致之歟？ 孔子以謂：「十室之邑，必有忠信。」 豈虛言也哉！
In the Five Dynasties I could name only three men who kept their integrity intact and fifteen who died for their sovereign; yet countless men in Confucian garb who called themselves students of antiquity drew salaries and governed states—while loyalty and righteousness seemed to belong to soldiers alone. Were there truly no such men among the scholars? Perhaps men of lofty principle despised the chaos of the age, held the times in contempt, and refused to serve? Or were the rulers themselves unworthy of such men, and unable to draw them from retirement? Confucius said: "Even in a hamlet of ten households, there are sure to be men of loyalty and good faith. His words were no idle boast!
3
予嘗得五代時小說一篇，載王凝妻李氏事，以一婦人猶能如此，則知世固嘗有其人而不得見也。 凝家青、齊之間，為虢州司戶參軍，以疾卒於官。 凝家素貧，一子尚幼，李氏攜其子，負其遺骸以歸。 東過開封，止旅舍，旅舍主人見其婦人獨攜一子而疑之，不許其宿。 李氏顧天已暮，不肯去，主人牽其臂而出之。 李氏仰天長慟曰：「我為婦人，不能守節，而此手為人執邪？ 不可以一手並汙吾身！」 即引斧自斷其臂。 路人見者，環聚而嗟之，或為彈指，或為之泣下。 開封尹聞之，白其事於朝，官為賜藥封瘡，厚恤李氏，而笞其主人者。 嗚呼，士不自愛其身而忍恥以偷生者，聞李氏之風，宜少知愧哉！
I once came upon a Five Dynasties tale about Wang Ning's wife, Lady Li; that even a woman could act so nobly proves that such people existed in the world, though we never saw them. Ning's family came from the region between Qing and Qi. He served as registrar of households in Guo Prefecture and died of illness while in office. The Ning family had always been poor. Their son was still a child. Lady Li took the boy on her back and bore her husband's remains home. Passing east through Kaifeng, she stopped at an inn. The innkeeper, seeing a woman traveling alone with a small child, suspected her and refused her lodging. Lady Li saw that night was falling and would not go. The innkeeper seized her by the arm and thrust her outside. Lady Li looked up to heaven and wailed: "I am a woman who could not keep her chastity intact—shall this hand be grasped by a stranger? I cannot let a single hand defile my whole body! She seized an axe and cut off her own arm. Passersby gathered round and sighed; some snapped their fingers in awe, others wept. The prefect of Kaifeng reported the affair to court. Officials sent medicine to dress her wound, gave Lady Li generous relief, and had the innkeeper flogged. Alas! Scholars who do not value their own honor but endure shame merely to cling to life—hearing of Lady Li, ought they not feel at least a little ashamed?
4
馮道，字可道，瀛州景城人也。 事劉守光為參軍，守光敗，去事宦者張承業。 承業監河東軍，以為巡官，以其文學薦之晉王，為河東節度掌書記。 莊宗即位，拜戶部侍郎，充翰林學士。 道為人，能自刻苦為儉約。 當晉與梁夾河而軍，道居軍中，為一茅庵，不設床席，臥一束芻而已。 所得俸祿，與仆廝同器飲食，意恬如也。 諸將有掠得人之美女者以遺道，道不能卻，置之別室，訪其主而還之。 其解學士居父喪於景城，遇歲饑，悉出所有以赒鄉里，而退耕於野，躬自負薪。 有荒其田不耕者與力不能耕者，道夜往，潛為之耕。 其人後來愧謝，道殊不以為德。 服除，復召為翰林學士。 行至汴州，遇趙在禮作亂，明宗自魏擁兵還，犯京師。 孔循勸道少留以待，道曰：「吾奉詔赴闕，豈可自留！」 乃疾趨至京師。 莊宗遇弒，明宗即位，雅知道所為，問安重誨曰：「先帝時馮道何在？」 重誨曰：「為學士也。」 明宗曰：「吾素知之，此真吾宰相也。」 拜道端明殿學士，遷兵部侍郎。 歲餘，拜中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事。
Feng Dao, courtesy name Kedao, was a native of Jingcheng in Ying Prefecture. He served Liu Shouguang as military aide. When Shouguang fell, he went to serve the eunuch Zhang Chengye. Chengye, who supervised the Hedong army, appointed him touring officer and, impressed by his literary talent, recommended him to the Prince of Jin. Feng Dao became secretary to the Hedong military governor. When Emperor Zhuangzong ascended the throne, Feng Dao was appointed vice minister of revenue and Hanlin academician. Feng Dao was a man who could impose hardship on himself and lived frugally. When Jin and Liang faced each other across the Yellow River, Feng Dao lived in camp in a thatched hut with no bed or mat, sleeping on a bundle of straw. He shared his salary food from the same bowl as his servants and seemed perfectly content. When generals seized beautiful women and offered them to him, he could not refuse outright; he housed them separately, found their rightful owners, and sent them home. When he left his academician post to mourn his father in Jingcheng, famine struck. He gave away everything he owned to aid the countryside, then withdrew to farm in the fields and carried firewood on his own back. For neighbors who left fields untilled or lacked strength to plow, he went by night and secretly tilled their land. When they later came to thank him in shame, he gave the matter no thought. When mourning ended, he was recalled as Hanlin academician. On the road to Bian Prefecture he encountered Zhao Zaili's rebellion. Emperor Mingzong marched from Wei at the head of an army against the capital. Kong Xun urged him to wait awhile. Feng Dao said: "I have received orders to proceed to court—how can I stay behind on my own? He pressed on at once to the capital. Zhuangzong was assassinated and Mingzong took the throne. Mingzong had long admired Feng Dao's conduct and asked An Chonghui: "Where was Feng Dao during the late emperor's reign? Chonghui answered: "He was Hanlin academician." Mingzong said: "I have known him for years—this is truly the man for my chief minister." Feng Dao was appointed academician of the Hall of Duanming and promoted to vice minister of war. A year later he was appointed vice director of the Secretariat and Grand Councilor.
5
天成、長興之間，歲屢豐熟，中國無事。 道嘗戒明宗曰：「臣為河東掌書記時，奉使中山，過井陘之險，懼馬蹶失，不敢怠於銜轡； 及至平地，謂無足慮，遽跌而傷。 凡蹈危者慮深而獲全，居安者患生於所忽，此人情之常也。」 明宗問曰：「天下雖豐，百姓濟否？」 道曰：「谷貴餓農，谷賤傷農。」 因誦文士聶夷中《田家詩》，其言近而易曉。 明宗顧左右錄其詩，常以自誦。 水運軍將於臨河縣得一玉杯，有文曰「傳國寶萬歲杯」，明宗甚愛之，以示道，道曰：「此前世有形之寶爾，王者固有無形之寶也。」 明宗問之，道曰：「仁義者，帝王之寶也。 故曰：『大寶曰位，何以守位曰仁。』」 明宗武君，不曉其言，道已去，召侍臣講說其義，嘉納之。
During the Tiancheng and Changxing reigns harvests were repeatedly abundant and the heartland knew peace. Feng Dao once cautioned Mingzong: "When I was secretary in Hedong I traveled to Zhongshan and crossed the perilous Jingxing Pass. Fearing my horse might stumble, I never slackened the reins; but once I reached level ground I thought myself safe—and promptly fell and was hurt. Those who face danger think deeply and survive; those who live at ease invite disaster through carelessness. That is human nature. Mingzong asked: "The realm is rich, but are the people truly provided for?" Feng Dao answered: "When grain is dear the farmers starve; when grain is cheap the farmers suffer." He then recited Nie Yizhong's Farmhouse Poem, whose words were plain and easy to grasp. Mingzong had attendants copy the poem and often recited it himself. A transport officer at Linhe County found a jade cup inscribed "Transmission-of-the-Realm Treasure, Cup of Ten Thousand Years." Mingzong treasured it and showed it to Feng Dao, who said: "This is only a tangible treasure of former ages. A true king possesses intangible treasures as well." Mingzong asked what those were. Feng Dao said: "Benevolence and righteousness are the emperor's true treasures. As the classic says: 'The great treasure is the throne; how is the throne kept? By benevolence. Mingzong was a martial man and did not grasp the point. After Feng Dao left, he summoned his attendants to explain the passage and praised the advice warmly."
6
道相明宗十餘年，明宗崩，相湣帝。 潞王反於鳳翔，湣帝出奔衛州，道率百官迎潞王入，是為廢帝，遂相之。 廢帝即位，湣帝猶在衛州，後三日，湣帝始遇弒崩。 已而廢帝出道為同州節度使，逾年，拜司空。 晉滅唐，道又事晉，晉高祖拜道守司空、同中書門下平章事，加司徒，兼侍中，封魯國公。 高祖崩，道相出帝，加太尉，封燕國公，罷為匡國軍節度使，徙鎮威勝。 契丹滅晉，道又事契丹，朝耶律德光於京師。 德光責道事晉無狀，道不能對。 又問曰：「何以來朝？」 對曰：「無城無兵，安敢不來。」 德光誚之曰：「爾是何等老子？」 對曰：「無才無德癡頑老子。」 德光喜，以道為太傅。 德光北歸，從至常山。 漢高祖立，乃歸漢，以太師奉朝請。 周滅漢，道又事周，周太祖拜道太師，兼中書令。 道少能矯行以取稱於世，及為大臣，尤務持重以鎮物，事四姓十君，益以舊德自處。 然當世之士無賢愚皆仰道為元老，而喜為之稱譽。
Feng Dao served as chief minister to Mingzong for more than ten years. When Mingzong died, he served Emperor Min. The Prince of Lu rebelled at Fengxiang. Emperor Min fled to Weizhou. Feng Dao led the officials to welcome the prince into the capital as Emperor Fei and again became his chief minister. Emperor Fei took the throne while Emperor Min was still at Weizhou. Three days later Min was assassinated. Soon afterward Emperor Fei sent Feng Dao out as military governor of Tong Prefecture. A year later he was appointed grand marshal. When Jin destroyed Tang, Feng Dao served Jin. Jin Gaozu appointed him grand marshal and Grand Councilor, then grand mentor and palace attendant, and enfeoffed him as Duke of Lu. When Gaozu died, Feng Dao served Emperor Chu as chief minister, was promoted to grand commandant and enfeoffed as Duke of Yan, then dismissed as military governor of Kuangguo and transferred to Weisheng. The Khitan destroyed Jin. Feng Dao served them as well and presented himself to Yelü Deguang at the capital. Deguang reproached him for shamefully serving Jin. Feng Dao had no answer. Deguang asked again: "Why have you come to court? He answered: "Without walls or troops, how could I dare stay away?" Deguang mocked him: "What sort of old fool are you?" He answered: "A witless, virtueless, stubborn old fool." Deguang was amused and appointed him grand preceptor. When Deguang marched north, Feng Dao accompanied him as far as Changshan. When Han Gaozu was established, he returned to Han and attended court as grand preceptor. When Zhou destroyed Han, Feng Dao served Zhou. Zhou Taizu appointed him grand preceptor and director of the Secretariat. In youth he could discipline his conduct to win praise; as a great minister he cultivated weight and gravity to steady others. Having served four dynasties and ten sovereigns, he leaned ever more on his reputation as an elder statesman. Yet men of the age, wise and foolish alike, revered him as a patriarch of the court and delighted in praising him.
7
耶律德光嘗問道曰：「天下百姓如何救得？」 道為俳語以對曰：「此時佛出救不得，惟皇帝救得。」 人皆以謂契丹不夷滅中國之人者，賴道一言之善也。 周兵反，犯京師，隱帝已崩，太祖謂漢大臣必行推戴，及見道，道殊無意。 太祖素拜道，因不得已拜之，道受之如平時，太祖意少沮，知漢未可代，遂陽立湘陰公赟為漢嗣，遣道迎赟於徐州。 赟未至，太祖將兵北至澶州，擁兵而反，遂代漢。 議者謂道能沮太祖之謀而緩之，終不以晉、漢之亡責道也。 然道視喪君亡國亦未嘗以屑意。
Yelü Deguang once asked him: "How can the people of the realm be saved? Feng Dao answered in a jesting rhyme: "At this hour not even the Buddha could save them—only Your Majesty can." People said the Khitan spared the Chinese population thanks to this one apt remark. Zhou troops rebelled and marched on the capital. Emperor Yin was already dead. Taizu expected the Han ministers to press the throne on him, but when he saw Feng Dao, Dao showed no such inclination. Taizu had always bowed to Feng Dao; now he bowed because he had no choice, and Dao received the bow as if nothing had changed. Taizu's ardor cooled. Seeing that Han could not yet be seized, he pretended to install the Duke of Xiangyin, Yun, as heir and sent Feng Dao to fetch him from Xuzhou. Before Yun arrived, Taizu marched north to Dazhou, turned his army about, and seized the throne. Some said Feng Dao had slowed Taizu's plot and therefore bore no blame for the fall of Jin and Han. Yet Feng Dao never troubled himself over the loss of sovereigns or the ruin of states.
8
當是時，天下大亂，戎夷交侵，生民之命，急於倒懸，道方自號「長樂老」，著書數百言，陳己更事四姓及契丹所得階勛官爵以為榮。 自謂：「孝於家，忠於國，為子、為弟、為人臣、為師長、為夫、為父，有子、有孫。 時開一卷，時飲一杯，食味、別聲、被色，老安於當代，老而自樂，何樂如之？」 蓋其自述如此。
At that time the realm was in chaos, barbarians raided from every side, and the people's lives hung by a thread. Feng Dao styled himself the Old Man of Everlasting Joy and wrote several hundred words listing the ranks and offices he had received under four dynasties and the Khitan—and took pride in them. He wrote of himself: "Filial at home, loyal to the state; a son, a younger brother, a minister, a teacher, a husband, a father—with sons and grandsons. Now and then I open a book, now and then I drink a cup; I savor food, sound, and color, grow old at ease in my own time, and find joy in old age—what greater pleasure could there be? Such was his own boast.
9
道前事九君，未嘗諫諍。 世宗初即位，劉旻攻上黨，世宗曰：「劉旻少我，謂我新立而國有大喪，必不能出兵以戰。 且善用兵者出其不意，吾當自將擊之。」 道乃切諫，以為不可。 世宗曰：「吾見唐太宗平定天下，敵無大小皆親征。」 道曰：「陛下未可比唐太宗。」 世宗曰：「劉旻烏合之眾，若遇我師，如山壓卵。」 道曰：「陛下作得山定否？」 世宗怒，起去，卒自將擊旻，果敗旻於高平。 世宗取淮南，定三關，威武之振自高平始。 其擊旻也，鄙道不以從行，以為太祖山陵使。 葬畢而道卒，年七十三，謚曰文懿，追封瀛王。 道既卒，時人皆共稱嘆，以謂與孔子同壽，其喜為之稱譽蓋如此。 道有子吉。
In all his years serving nine rulers, Feng Dao had never once remonstrated with them. When Shizong first took the throne, Liu Min attacked Shangdang. Shizong said: "Liu Min underestimates me. He thinks I am newly enthroned, the court is in mourning, and I cannot march to war. A skilled commander strikes where the enemy does not expect. I shall lead the army myself. Feng Dao remonstrated earnestly that he must not go. Shizong said: "I have read how Tang Taizong pacified the realm—he led every campaign himself, against foes great and small. Feng Dao said: "Your Majesty is no Tang Taizong." Shizong said: "Liu Min's rabble will crumble before my army like a mountain crushing an egg." Feng Dao asked: "Can Your Majesty be sure you are that mountain?" Shizong rose in anger and left. He marched in person, defeated Liu Min at Gaoping, and proved Feng Dao wrong. Shizong seized Huainan and secured the Three Passes; his martial renown began at Gaoping. When he marched against Liu Min he scorned Feng Dao and left him behind as commissioner for Taizu's tomb. When the burial was finished Feng Dao died, aged seventy-three. He was given the posthumous title Wényì and enfeoffed posthumously as Prince of Ying. When he died, contemporaries praised him extravagantly, saying he had lived as long as Confucius—such was the world's fondness for praising him. Feng Dao had a son named Ji.
10
李琪 〈（兄掞）〉
Li Qi (elder brother Shan)〉
11
李琪，字臺秀，河西敦煌人也。 其兄珽，唐末舉進士及第，為監察御史。 丁內艱，貧無以葬，乞食而後葬。 珽饑臥廬中，聞者哀憐之。 服除，還拜御史。 荊南成汭辟掌書記。 吳兵圍杜洪，梁太祖遣汭與馬殷等救洪。 汭以大舟載兵數萬，珽為汭謀曰：「今一舟容甲士千人，糗糧倍之，緩急不可動，若為敵人縻之，則武陵、武安必為公之後患。 不若以勁兵屯巴陵，壁不與戰，吳兵糧盡，則圍解矣。」 汭不聽，汭果敗，溺死。 趙匡凝鎮襄陽，又辟掌書記。 太祖破匡凝，得珽，喜曰：「此真書記也。」 太祖即位，除考功員外郎、知制誥。 珽度太祖不欲先用故吏，固辭不拜，出知曹州。 曹州素劇難理，前刺史十餘輩，皆坐廢，珽至，以治聞。 遷兵部郎中、崇政院直學士。 許州馮行襲病，行襲有牙兵二千，皆故蔡卒，太祖懼為變。 行襲為人嚴酷，從事魏峻切諫，行襲怒，誣以贓下獄，欲誅之。 乃遣珽代行襲為留後。 珽至許州，止傳舍，慰其將吏，行襲病甚，欲使人代受詔，珽曰：「東首加朝服，禮也。」 乃即臥內見行襲，道太祖語，行襲感泣，解印以授珽。 珽乃理峻冤，立出之，還報太祖，太祖喜曰：「珽果辦吾事。」 會歲饑，盜劫汴、宋間，曹州尤甚，太祖復遣珽治之。 珽至索賊，得大校張彥珂、珽甥李郊等，及牙兵百餘人，悉誅之。 召拜左諫議大夫。 太祖幸河北，至內黃，顧珽曰：「何謂內黃？」 珽曰：「河南有外黃、下黃，故此名內黃。」 太祖曰：「外黃、下黃何在？」 珽曰：「秦有外黃都尉，今在雍丘； 下黃為北齊所廢，今在陳留。」 太祖平生不愛儒者，聞珽語大喜。 友珪立，除右散騎常侍，侍講。 袁象先討賊，珽為亂兵所殺。
Li Qi, styled Taixiu, was from Dunhuang in Hexi. His elder brother Li Ting passed the jinshi examination in the late Tang and served as Supervising Censor. When he entered mourning for his mother, he was too poor to bury her and had to beg for food before he could afford the funeral. Ting lay starving in his hut, and all who heard of it pitied him. When his mourning ended, he returned to office as censor. Cheng Rui of Jingnan recruited him as chief secretary. When Wu troops besieged Du Hong, Emperor Taizu of Liang sent Cheng Rui with Ma Yin and others to relieve him. Cheng Rui loaded tens of thousands of troops onto great ships. Ting advised him: "Each ship holds a thousand armored soldiers and twice that in rations—it cannot maneuver quickly in a crisis. If the enemy pins you down, Wuling and Wu'an will become your lasting trouble. Better to station crack troops at Baling, hold the walls, and refuse battle. When the Wu army runs out of provisions, the siege will lift of itself. Cheng Rui would not listen. He was defeated and drowned. Zhao Kuangning, military governor of Xiangyang, recruited him again as chief secretary. When Taizu defeated Zhao Kuangning and took Ting into his service, he said with delight: "This is a secretary in the true sense. When Taizu took the throne, he appointed Ting Vice Director in the Ministry of Personnel and drafter of edicts. Ting guessed that Taizu did not wish to promote former subordinates right away, firmly declined the appointment, and went out to govern Cao Prefecture. Cao Prefecture was notoriously difficult to govern—more than ten previous prefects had been dismissed for misconduct. When Ting arrived, he earned a reputation for effective rule. He was promoted to Director in the Ministry of War and Academic Scholar of the Chongzheng Hall. Feng Xingxi of Xu Prefecture fell ill. He had two thousand guard troops, all veterans of Cai, and Taizu feared they might rebel. Xingxi was a harsh man. When his aide Wei Jun remonstrated sharply, Xingxi grew angry, falsely charged him with embezzlement, imprisoned him, and planned to execute him. Taizu then sent Ting to replace Feng Xingxi as acting military governor. When Ting reached Xu Prefecture, he stopped at the relay station and reassured the commanders and officials. Xingxi was gravely ill and wanted someone to receive the edict for him. Ting said: "To face east in court dress is the proper rite. He went at once into the sickroom, conveyed Taizu's message, and Xingxi wept and surrendered his seal to Ting. Ting cleared Wei Jun's case and released him at once. When he reported back, Taizu said with delight: "Ting has handled my business exactly as I wished. Famine struck that year. Bandits ravaged the region between Bian and Song, and Cao Prefecture suffered worst of all. Taizu sent Ting back to deal with them. When Ting arrived he hunted down the bandits, seized Senior Commander Zhang Yanke, his nephew Li Jiao, and more than a hundred guard soldiers, and executed them all. He was summoned to court and appointed Left Remonstrance Official. When Taizu toured Hebei and reached Neihuang, he turned to Ting and asked: "What does the name Neihuang mean? Ting said: "South of the river there are Waihuang and Xiahuang, hence this place is called Neihuang—'Inner Huang.' Taizu asked: "Where are Waihuang and Xiahuang? Ting said: "The Qin had a Commandant of Waihuang; it is now at Yongqiu; Xiahuang was abolished under Northern Qi and is now at Chenliu. Taizu had never cared much for Confucian scholars, but he was greatly pleased by Ting's answer. When Zhu Yougui took the throne, Ting was appointed Right Regular Attendant and Lecturer-in-Attendance. When Yuan Xiangxian suppressed the usurper, Ting was killed by mutinous troops.
12
琪少舉進士、博學宏辭，累遷殿中侍御史，與其兄珽皆以文章知名。 唐亡，事梁太祖為翰林學士。 梁兵征伐四方，所下詔書，皆琪所為，下筆輒得太祖意。 末帝時，為御史中丞、尚書左丞，拜同中書門下平章事，與蕭頃同為宰相。 頃性畏慎周密，琪倜儻負氣，不拘小節，二人多所異同。 琪內結趙巖、張漢傑等為助，以故頃言多沮。 頃嘗掎摭其過。 琪所私吏當得試官，琪改試為守，為頃所發，末帝大怒，欲竄逐之，而巖等救解，乃得罷為太子少保。
Li Qi passed the jinshi and Erudite Lit. examinations in his youth, rose to Palace Censor, and he and his elder brother Ting were both famed for their literary skill. After the fall of Tang, he served Emperor Taizu of Liang as Hanlin Academician. As Liang armies campaigned across the realm, Qi drafted every edict, and his prose always captured Taizu's intent. Under the Last Emperor he served as Censor-in-Chief and Left Vice Director of the Chancellery, was appointed Grand Councilor, and served alongside Xiao Qing. Xiao Qing was cautious and meticulous by nature; Li Qi was free-spirited and proud, unconstrained by petty proprieties. The two often clashed. Qi cultivated allies within the court—Zhao Yan, Zhang Hanjie, and others—so Xiao Qing's proposals were often blocked. Xiao Qing once gathered evidence of his misconduct. A private clerk of Qi's was due a probationary appointment; Qi changed it to a full appointment. Xiao Qing exposed the abuse. The Last Emperor was furious and wanted to exile him, but Zhao Yan and the others interceded, and Qi was merely demoted to Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent.
13
唐莊宗滅梁，得琪，欲以為相，而梁之舊臣多嫉忌之，乃以為太常卿。 遷吏部尚書。 同光三年秋，天下大水，京師乏食尤甚，莊宗以朱書御劄詔百僚上封事。 琪上書數千言，其說漫然無足取，而莊宗獨稱重之，遂以為國計使。 方欲以為相，而莊宗崩。 明宗入洛陽，群臣勸進，有司具儀，用柩前即位故事。 霍彥威、孔循等請改國號，絕土德。 明宗武君，不曉其說，問何謂改號，對曰：「莊宗受唐錫姓為宗屬，繼昭宗以立，而號國曰唐。 今唐天命已絕，宜改號以自新。」 明宗疑之，下其事群臣，群臣依違不決。 琪議曰：「殿下宗室之賢，立功三世，今興兵向闕，以赴難為名，而欲更易統號，使先帝便為路人，則煢然梓宮，何所依往！」 明宗以為然，乃發喪成服，而後即位。 以琪為御史中丞。
When Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang destroyed Liang and took Qi into his service, he wished to make him chief minister, but many former Liang officials were jealous, so Qi was appointed Minister of Ceremonies instead. He was promoted to Minister of Personnel. In the autumn of Tongguang 3, floods ravaged the realm and the capital faced severe food shortages. Zhuangzong issued an imperial letter in vermilion ink summoning officials to submit sealed memorials. Qi submitted a memorial several thousand characters long. Its proposals were diffuse and worthless, yet Zhuangzong alone praised it and appointed him Commissioner for National Finance. Just as he was about to be made chief minister, Zhuangzong died. When Mingzong entered Luoyang, the ministers urged him to take the throne. The responsible offices prepared the rites according to the precedent of accession before the coffin. Huo Yanwei, Kong Xun, and others urged that the dynastic name be changed to sever the Li clan's claim to the virtue of Earth. Mingzong was a military man and did not understand their argument. He asked what changing the dynastic name meant. They replied: "Zhuangzong received the Tang imperial surname and kinship status, succeeded Zhaozong, and named the state Tang. Now the Mandate of Tang is exhausted. The dynastic name should be changed to mark a fresh beginning. Mingzong was doubtful and referred the matter to the ministers, who wavered and could not decide. Qi argued: "Your Highness is a worthy member of the imperial clan who has served through three reigns. You marched on the capital in the name of saving the realm, yet to change the dynastic title would make the late emperor a stranger to you—then to whom shall the imperial coffin look for support? Mingzong agreed. He proclaimed mourning, put on mourning garb, and only then took the throne. Qi was appointed Censor-in-Chief.
14
自唐末喪亂，朝廷之禮壞，天子未嘗視朝，而入閣之制亦廢。 常參之官日至正衙者，傳聞不坐即退，獨大臣奏事，日一見便殿，而侍從內諸司，日再朝而已。 明宗初即位，乃詔群臣，五日一隨宰相入見內殿，謂之起居。 琪以謂非唐故事，請罷五日起居，而復朔望入閣。 明宗曰：「五日起居，吾思所以數見群臣也，不可罷。 而朔望入閣可復。」 然唐故事，天子日御殿見群臣，曰常參； 朔望薦食諸陵寢，有思慕之心，不能臨前殿，則禦便殿見群臣，曰入閣。 宣政，前殿也，謂之衙，衙有仗。 紫宸，便殿也，謂之閣。 其不御前殿而禦紫宸也，乃自正衙喚仗，由閣門而入，百官俟朝於衙者，因隨以入見，故謂之入閣。 然衙，朝也，其禮尊； 閣，宴見也，其事殺。 自乾符已後，因亂禮闕，天子不能日見群臣而見朔望，故正衙常日廢仗，而朔望入閣有仗，其後習見，遂以入閣為重。 至出御前殿，猶謂之入閣，其後亦廢，至是而復。 然有司不能講正其事。 凡群臣五日一入見中興殿，便殿也，此入閣之遺制，而謂之起居，朔望一出禦文明殿，前殿也，反謂之入閣，琪皆不能正也。 琪又建言：「入閤有待制、次對官論事，而內殿起居，一見而退，欲有言者，無由自陳，非所以數見群臣之意也。」 明宗乃詔起居日有言事者，許出行自陳。 又詔百官以次轉對。
Since the disorders at the end of Tang, court ritual had collapsed. Emperors no longer held regular audiences, and the institution of Entering the Hall was also abandoned. Officials due at regular court came daily to the main hall, but hearing that the emperor would not hold audience, they withdrew. Only senior ministers reporting business saw him once a day in the side hall; attendants and inner offices attended twice daily and no more. When Mingzong first took the throne, he decreed that ministers should follow the chief ministers into the inner hall once every five days—a practice called Presentation of Compliments. Qi argued that this was not Tang precedent and asked that the five-day Presentation be abolished and Entering the Hall on the new and full moon be restored. Mingzong said: "The five-day Presentation is my way of seeing ministers often—it cannot be abolished. But Entering the Hall on the new and full moon may be restored. Under Tang precedent, when the emperor daily presided in the hall to see ministers, it was called regular court attendance; on the new and full moon, when offerings were made at the imperial tombs and the emperor's heart was filled with longing, unable to attend the front hall, he would preside in the side hall to see ministers—this was called Entering the Hall. The Xuanzheng Hall was the front hall, called the Court; the Court had guard formations. The Zicheng Hall was the side hall, called the Hall. When the emperor did not preside in the front hall but in Zicheng, guard formations were summoned from the main Court and entered through the Hall Gate; officials waiting in the Court then followed in to be received—hence the name Entering the Hall. The Court was formal audience, and its rite was more exalted; the Hall was an informal audience, and its ceremony was reduced. From the Qianfu era onward, disorder had stripped away ritual. Emperors could not see ministers daily and saw them only on the new and full moon. Guard formations at the main Court were suspended on ordinary days but retained for Entering the Hall on the new and full moon; over time this became habitual, and Entering the Hall came to be regarded as the greater ceremony. Even when the emperor presided in the front hall, the occasion was still called Entering the Hall. That practice too was later abandoned, and now it was restored. Yet the responsible offices could not clarify the matter properly. Ministers now entered the Zhongxing Hall—a side hall—once every five days, a surviving form of Entering the Hall, yet it was called Presentation of Compliments. On the new and full moon they attended the Wénming Hall, a front hall, yet that was called Entering the Hall. Qi could correct none of this. Qi further proposed: "Entering the Hall allowed drafters and secondary responders to discuss affairs, but at Presentation in the inner hall ministers saw the emperor and withdrew. Those who wished to speak had no way to do so—this defeated the purpose of seeing ministers often. Mingzong then decreed that on Presentation days, officials with business to report might step forward and speak for themselves. He further decreed that officials should take turns presenting memorials in rotation.
15
是時，樞密使安重誨專權用事，重誨前驅過御史臺門，殿直馬延誤沖之，重誨即臺門斬延而後奏。 琪為中丞，畏重誨不敢彈糾，又懼諫官論列，乃托宰相任圜先白重誨而後糾，然猶依違不敢正言其事。 豆盧革等罷相，住圜議欲以琪為相，而孔循、鄭玨沮之，乃止。 遷尚書右僕射。 琪以狀申中書，言《開元禮》「僕射上事日，中書、門下率百官送上。」 中書下太常，禮院言無送上之文，而琪已落新授，復舉上儀，皆不可。
At this time An Chonghui, Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, monopolized power. As his advance guard passed the Censorate gate, Palace Guard Officer Ma Yan accidentally collided with them. Chonghui had Yan beheaded at the gate and only then reported the matter. As Censor-in-Chief, Qi feared Chonghui and did not dare impeach him. Fearing that remonstrance officials would criticize his inaction, he had Chief Minister Ren Yuan inform Chonghui first and only then lodge an impeachment—but even then he wavered and would not speak plainly. When Doulu Ge and others were dismissed as chief ministers, Ren Yuan proposed making Qi chief minister, but Kong Xun and Zheng Jue blocked the appointment. He was promoted to Right Vice Director of the Chancellery. Qi petitioned the Secretariat, citing the Kaiyuan Ceremonies: "On the day a Vice Director assumes office, the Secretariat and Chancellery lead all officials in escorting him to his post. The Secretariat referred the matter to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. The Rites Office said there was no provision for such an escort, and since Qi had already received the appointment and was again requesting the assumption ceremony, none of it could be granted.
16
明宗討王都，已破定州，自汴還洛，琪當率百官至上東門，而請至偃師奉迎。 其奏章言「敗契丹之兇黨，破真定之逆城」，坐誤以定州為真定，罰俸一月。 霍彥威卒，詔琪撰神道碑文。 彥威故梁將，而琪故梁相也，敘彥威在梁事不曰偽，為馮道所駁。
When Mingzong campaigned against Wang Du, took Ding Prefecture, and returned from Bian to Luoyang, Qi should have led officials to the Upper East Gate—but instead asked to go as far as Yanshi to welcome him. In his memorial he wrote of "defeating the Khitan villainous faction and breaking the rebel city of Zhending." He was fined one month's salary for mistakenly calling Ding Prefecture Zhending. When Huo Yanwei died, the court ordered Qi to compose his tomb inscription. Yanwei had been a Liang general and Qi a Liang chief minister. In recounting Yanwei's service under Liang, Qi did not call the regime illegitimate, and Feng Dao rebuked him.
17
琪為人重然諾，喜稱人善。 少以文章知名，亦以此自負。 既貴，乃刻牙版為金字曰「前鄉貢進士李琪」，常置之坐側。 為人少持重，不知進退，故數為當時所沮。 以太子太傅致仕，卒，年六十。
Qi was a man who kept his word and liked to praise others' virtues. He was famed for his literary skill from youth and took pride in it. Once he had risen high, he carved an ivory tablet in gilt characters reading "Former Presented Scholar Li Qi" and kept it always at his side. He lacked steady judgment and did not know when to advance or withdraw, and for that reason was often blocked by his contemporaries. He retired as Grand Tutor to the Heir Apparent and died at the age of sixty.
18
鄭玨，唐宰相綮之諸孫也。 其父徽，為河南尹張全義判官。 玨少依全義居河南，舉進士數不中，全義以玨屬有司，乃得及第。 昭宗時，為監察御史。 梁太祖即位，拜左補闕。 梁諸大臣以全義故數薦之，累拜中書舍人、翰林學士奉旨。 末帝時，拜中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事。
Zheng Jue was a great-grandson of the Tang chief minister Zheng Qi. His father Hui served as aide to Zhang Quanyi, Prefect of Henan. Jue lived in Henan under Zhang Quanyi's patronage from youth. He failed the jinshi examination several times until Quanyi recommended him to the authorities and he finally passed. Under Emperor Zhaozong he served as Supervising Censor. When Emperor Taizu of Liang took the throne, he was appointed Left Supplementation Official. Liang ministers repeatedly recommended him on Zhang Quanyi's account, and he rose to Drafting Official in the Secretariat and Hanlin Academician-in-Attendance. Under the Last Emperor he was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat and Grand Councilor.
19
明宗幸汴州，六軍家屬自洛遷汴，而明宗又欲幸鄴都，軍士愁怨，大臣頗以為言。 明宗不省，上下洶洶，轉相動搖，獨玨稱贊，以為當行。 趙鳳極言於安重誨，重誨驚懼，入見明宗切諫，乃詔罷其行。 而玨又稱贊之，以為宜罷。 玨在相位既碌碌無所為，又病聾，孔循罷樞密使，玨不自安，亟以疾求去職。 明宗數留之，玨章四上，乃拜左僕射致仕，賜鄭州莊一區。 卒，贈司空。
Mingzong visited Bianzhou, and the families of the Six Armies were moved from Luoyang to Bian. When Mingzong then wished to visit Yedu as well, the soldiers grew distressed and resentful, and the great ministers spoke out strongly against the plan. Mingzong paid no heed. Uproar spread above and below, unrest rippling from rank to rank. Only Jue voiced approval, insisting the journey should go forward. Zhao Feng spoke forcefully to An Chonghui. Alarmed, Chonghui entered audience with Mingzong and urgently remonstrated, and an edict was issued canceling the journey. Jue again voiced approval, holding that cancellation was the right course. As chief minister Jue had accomplished nothing of note, and he was moreover afflicted with deafness. When Kong Xun was dismissed as Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Jue grew uneasy and urgently pleaded illness to resign his post. Mingzong repeatedly tried to keep him, but Jue submitted memorials four times before he was appointed Left Vice Minister and retired, and was granted an estate in Zheng Prefecture. He died and was posthumously awarded the title of Minister of Works.
20
李愚，字子晦，渤海無棣人也。 愚為人謹重寡言，好學，為古文。 滄州節度使盧彥威以愚為安陵主簿，丁母憂解去。 後遊關中，劉季述幽昭宗於東內，愚以書說韓建，使圖興復，其言甚壯。 建不能用，乃去之洛陽。 舉進士、宏詞，為河南府參軍。 白馬之禍，愚復去之山東，與李延光相善，延光以經術事梁末帝為侍講，數稱薦愚，愚由此得召。 久之，拜左拾遺、崇政院直學士。
Li Yu, courtesy name Zihui, was a native of Wudi in Bohai. Yu was by nature cautious and grave, sparing of speech; he loved learning and wrote in the ancient style. Lu Yanwei, military governor of Cangzhou, appointed Yu Chief Clerk of Anling; he resigned when he entered mourning for his mother. Later he traveled to Guanzhong. Liu Jishu had imprisoned Emperor Zhaozong in the Eastern Inner Palace; Yu wrote to Han Jian urging him to plot restoration, and his words were stirring indeed. Han could not act on his counsel, so Yu went to Luoyang. He passed the jinshi and hongci examinations and served as aide in the Henan Prefecture office. After the calamity at Baima, Yu went east again to Shandong. He became friendly with Li Yanguang, who served the Last Emperor of Liang as lecturing attendant on account of his classical learning and repeatedly praised and recommended Yu; by this means Yu received the summons. After some time he was appointed Left Reminder and Direct Academician of the Chongzheng Academy.
21
衡王友諒，末帝兄也，梁大臣李振等皆拜之，獨愚長揖，末帝以責愚曰：「衡王朕拜之，卿獨揖，可乎？」 愚曰：「陛下以家人禮見之，則拜宜也。 臣於王無所私，豈宜妄有所屈？」 坐言事忤旨，罷為鄧州觀察判官。
The Prince of Heng, Youliang, was the Last Emperor's elder brother. Li Zhen and the other great ministers of Liang all bowed to him, but Yu alone gave a deep salute with arms folded. The Last Emperor rebuked Yu, saying, "The Prince of Heng—I bow to him. You alone salute—is that permissible? Yu said, "Your Majesty receives him with family courtesy, so bowing is fitting. I have no personal tie to the prince—how should I recklessly bend myself?" For remonstrating in a manner that defied the imperial will, he was dismissed and made administrative aide to the military governor of Deng Prefecture.
22
唐莊宗滅梁，愚朝京師，唐諸公卿素聞愚學古，重之，拜主客郎中、翰林學士。 魏王繼岌伐蜀，辟愚都統判官。 蜀道阻險，議者以謂宜緩師待變而進，招討使郭崇韜以決於愚，愚曰：「王衍荒怠，亂國之政，其人厭之。 乘其倉卒，擊其無備，其利在速，不可緩也。」 崇韜以為然，而所至迎降，遂以滅蜀。 初，軍行至寶雞，招討判官陳乂稱疾請留，愚厲聲曰：「陳乂見利則進，知難則止。 今大軍涉險，人心易搖，正可斬之以徇。」 由是軍中無敢言留者。
When Zhuangzong of Tang destroyed Liang, Yu attended court at the capital. Tang officials had long heard of Yu's classical learning and held him in esteem; he was appointed Director of the Bureau of Receptions and Hanlin Academician. When the Prince of Wei, Jiji, marched against Shu, he recruited Yu as aide to the overall commander. The roads into Shu were perilous and obstructed. Those debating the matter said the army ought to advance slowly and wait for changes; campaign commissioner Guo Chongtao sought Yu's decision. Yu said, "Wang Yan is negligent and dissolute, his government ruining the state, and the people revile him. Seize their unpreparedness in haste—strike while they are off guard. The advantage lies in speed; we must not delay. Chongtao agreed. Wherever they went they were met with surrender, and thus Shu was destroyed. At first, when the army reached Baoji, campaign aide Chen Yi pleaded illness and asked to remain behind. Yu said in a stern voice, "Chen Yi advances when he sees profit and stops when he knows difficulty. Now the great army crosses dangerous ground and hearts are easily shaken—this is precisely when he should be beheaded to make an example. From that point on, none in the army dared speak of remaining behind.
23
明宗即位，累遷兵部侍郎承旨。 明宗祀天南郊，愚為宰相馮道、趙鳳草加恩制，道鄙其辭，罷為太常卿。 任圜罷相，乃拜愚中書侍郎、同平章事。 愚為相，不治第宅，借延賓館以居。 愚有疾，明宗遣宦官視之，見其敗毯敝席，四壁蕭然，明宗嗟嘆，命以供帳物賜之。
When Mingzong took the throne, Yu rose through successive posts to Vice Minister of War and Academician-in-Attendance. When Mingzong performed the southern suburban sacrifice to Heaven, Yu drafted edicts of grace on behalf of chief ministers Feng Dao and Zhao Feng. Dao looked down on the phrasing and had Yu dismissed to serve as Minister of Ceremonies. When Ren Yuan left the chancellorship, Yu was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat and Grand Councilor. As chief minister, Yu built no mansion; he borrowed the Hall for Extending Guests and made it his home. When Yu fell ill, Mingzong sent eunuchs to visit him. They found worn carpets and tattered mats, the four walls utterly bare. Mingzong sighed in admiration and ordered furnishings granted to him.
24
潞王反，犯京師，湣帝夜出奔。 明日，愚與馮道至端門，聞帝已出，而朱弘昭、馮赟皆已死，愚欲至中書候太后進止，道曰：「潞王已處處張榜招安，今即至矣，何可俟太后旨也？」 乃相與出迎。 廢帝入立，罷道出鎮同州，以劉句為相。 句性褊急，而愚素剛介，動輒違戾。 句與馮道姻家，愚數以此誚句，兩人遂相誼詬，乃俱罷。 愚守左僕射。
The Prince of Lu rebelled, marched on the capital, and Emperor Min fled by night. The next day Yu and Feng Dao came to the Gate of Correctness. Hearing that the emperor had already departed and that Zhu Hongzhao and Feng Yun were both dead, Yu wished to go to the Secretariat and await the empress dowager's decision. Dao said, "The Prince of Lu has already posted placards everywhere offering amnesty—he will arrive at once. How can we wait for the empress dowager's command? Thereupon they went out together to welcome him. The deposed emperor entered and took the throne; Dao was dismissed and sent to govern Tong Prefecture, and Liu Xu was made chief minister. Xu was by nature narrow and impatient, while Yu had always been upright and unyielding—they clashed at every turn. Xu and Feng Dao were related by marriage, and Yu repeatedly mocked Xu on this account. The two then traded abuse, and both were dismissed. Yu retained the post of Left Vice Minister.
25
是時，兵革方興，天下多事，而愚為相，欲依古以創理，乃請頒《唐六典》示百司，使各舉其職，州縣貢士，作鄉飲酒禮，時以其迂闊不用。 湣帝即位，有意於治，數召學士，問以時事，而以愚為迂，未嘗有所問。 廢帝亦謂愚等無所事，常目宰相曰：「此粥飯僧爾！」 以謂飽食終日，而無所用心也。 清泰二年，以疾卒。
At this time warfare was rising and the realm was beset with troubles. As chief minister, Yu wished to govern anew according to antiquity. He requested that the Tang Six Canon be promulgated to the hundred offices so each might perform its duties, that prefectures and counties present scholars, and that village drinking ceremonies be performed—but the age deemed this impractical and did not adopt it. When Emperor Min took the throne, intent on good government, he repeatedly summoned academicians and questioned them on current affairs—but deeming Yu impractical, he never questioned him. The deposed emperor also said that Yu and the others had nothing to do, and would often eye the chief ministers and say, "These are merely rice-bowl monks! By this he meant men who eat their fill all day and apply their minds to nothing. In the second year of Qingtai he died of illness.
26
盧導，字熙化，范陽人也。 唐末舉進士，為監察御史。 唐亡事梁，累遷左司郎中、侍御史知雜事，以病免。 唐明宗時，召拜右諫議大夫，遷中書舍人。 潞王從珂自鳳翔以兵犯京師，湣帝出奔於衛州。 宰相馮道、李愚集百官於天宮寺，將出迎潞王於郊，京師大恐，都人藏竄，百官久而不集，惟導與舍人張昭先至。 馮道請導草箋勸進，導曰：「潞王入朝，郊迎可也，若勸進之事，豈可輕議哉！」 道曰：「勸進其可已乎？」 導曰：「今天子蒙塵於外，遽以大位勸人，若潞王守節不回，以忠義見責，其將何辭以對？ 且上與潞王，皆太后子也，不如率百官詣宮門，取太后進止。」 語未終，有報曰：「潞王至矣。」 京城巡檢使安從進催百官班迎，百官紛然而去。 潞王止於正陽門外，道又促導草箋，導對如初。 李愚曰：「吾輩罪人，盧舍人言是也。」 導終不草箋。 導後事晉為吏部侍郎。 天福六年卒，年七十六。
Lu Dao, courtesy name Xihua, was a native of Fanyang. At the end of Tang he passed the jinshi examination and served as Supervising Censor. After Tang fell he served Liang, rising through posts to Director in the Left Department and Supervising Censor in charge of miscellaneous affairs, and retired on account of illness. Under Tang Mingzong he was summoned and appointed Right Remonstrance and Reviewing Official, then promoted to Drafting Official in the Secretariat. The Prince of Lu, Fromke, marched on the capital from Fengxiang with troops, and Emperor Min fled to Weizhou. Chief ministers Feng Dao and Li Yu gathered the officials at the Temple of the Heavenly Palace, preparing to go out and welcome the Prince of Lu in the suburbs. The capital was greatly alarmed; people hid themselves; the officials were slow to assemble—only Lu Dao and Drafting Official Zhang Zhao arrived first. Feng Dao asked Lu Dao to draft a memorial urging accession. Lu Dao said, "For the Prince of Lu to enter court, a suburban welcome is fitting—but as for urging accession, how can that be lightly discussed? Feng Dao said, "Can urging accession be stopped?" Lu Dao said, "The Son of Heaven today suffers dust in exile; to hastily offer the great throne to another—if the Prince of Lu holds to his integrity and does not accept, and righteousness and loyalty are demanded of us, with what words shall we answer? Moreover, both the emperor and the Prince of Lu are sons of the empress dowager—better to lead the hundred officials to the palace gates and seek the empress dowager's decision." Before he had finished speaking, a report came: "The Prince of Lu has arrived." The capital patrol commissioner An Congjin urged the officials to form ranks and welcome him, and the officials scattered away in confusion. The Prince of Lu halted outside the Gate of Correct Yang; Feng Dao again pressed Lu Dao to draft the memorial, and Lu Dao answered as before. Li Yu said, "We are men guilty of crime—Attendant Lu speaks rightly. Lu Dao never drafted the memorial. Later Lu Dao served Jin as Vice Minister of Personnel. In the sixth year of Tianfu he died, aged seventy-six.
27
司空颋
Si Kongting
28
司空颋，貝州清陽人也。 唐僖宗時，舉進士不中，後去為羅紹威掌書記。 紹威卒，入梁為太府少卿。 楊師厚鎮天雄，颋解官往依之。 師厚卒，賀德倫代之。 張彥之亂，命判官王正言草奏詆斥梁君臣，正言素不能文辭，又為兵刃所迫，流汗浹背，不能下筆。 彥怒，推正言下榻，詬曰：「鈍漢辱我！」 顧書吏問誰可草奏者，吏即言颋羅王時書記，乃馳騎召之。 颋為亂兵劫其衣，以敝服蔽形而至，見彥長揖，神氣自若，揮筆成文，而言甚淺鄙，彥以其易曉，甚喜，即給以衣服仆馬，遂以為德倫判官。 德倫以魏博降晉，晉王兼領天雄，仍以颋為判官。 梁、晉相距河上，常以颋權軍府事。 颋為郭崇韜所惡，崇韜數言其受賂。 都虞候張裕多過失，颋屢以法繩之。 颋有侄在梁，遣家奴召之，裕擒其家奴，以謂通書於梁。 莊宗族殺之。
Si Kongting was a native of Qingyang in Bei Prefecture. Under Emperor Xizong of Tang he failed the jinshi examination; later he left to serve Luo Shaowei as chief secretary. When Shaowei died, he entered Liang service as Vice Director of the Treasury. When Yang Shihou governed Tianxiong, Kongting resigned his office and went to rely on him. When Shihou died, He Delun replaced him. During Zhang Yan's rebellion, he ordered aide Wang Zhengyan to draft a memorial denouncing the sovereign and ministers of Liang. Wang had never been skilled at literary composition, and was moreover pressed by blades at his back—sweat soaked through to his spine, and he could not set pen to paper. Yan was enraged, pushed Wang from the couch, and cursed, "You dull-witted oaf—you disgrace me! He turned to the clerks and asked who could draft the memorial; a clerk immediately said Kongting had been secretary under Prince Luo, and a rider was sent at full gallop to summon him. Rioters had stripped Kongting of his clothes; he came covered in shabby garments, saw Yan with a deep salute, and bore himself with complete composure. He waved his brush and completed the text—the language was crude indeed, but Yan found it easy to understand and was greatly pleased. He was immediately given clothes, servants, and horses, and was made He Delun's aide. When Delun surrendered Weibo to Jin, the Prince of Jin concurrently took command of Tianxiong and still kept Kongting as aide. As Liang and Jin faced each other across the Yellow River, Kongting was often entrusted with provisional charge of military headquarters affairs. Kongting was hated by Guo Chongtao, who repeatedly spoke of his taking bribes. Command assistant Zhang Yu had many faults; Kongting repeatedly held him to account by law. Kongting had a nephew in Liang and sent a household slave to summon him; Yu seized the slave and claimed he was carrying correspondence to Liang. Zhuangzong's kinsmen killed him.