1
和凝，字成績，鄆州須昌人也。 其九世祖逢堯為唐監察御史，其後世遂不復宦學。 凝父矩，性嗜酒，不拘小節，然獨好禮文士，每傾貲以交之，以故凝得與之遊。 而凝幼聰敏，形神秀發。 舉進士，梁義成軍節度使賀瑰辟為從事。 瑰與唐莊宗戰於胡柳，瑰戰敗，脫身走，獨凝隨之，反顧見凝，麾之使去。 凝曰：「丈夫當為知己死，吾恨未得死所爾，豈可去也！」 已而一騎追瑰幾及，凝叱之不止，即引弓射殺之，瑰由此得免。 瑰歸，戒其諸子曰：「和生，誌義之士也，後必富貴，爾其謹事之！」 因妻之以女。 天成中，拜殿中侍御史，累遷主客員外郎，知制誥，翰林學士，知貢舉。 是時，進士浮薄，喜為喧嘩以動主司。 主司每放榜，則圍之以棘，閉省門，絕人出入以為常。 凝徹棘開門，而士皆肅然無嘩，所取皆一時之秀，稱為得人。 晉初，拜端明殿學士，兼判度支，為翰林學士承旨。 高祖數召之，問以時事，凝所對皆稱旨。 天福五年，拜中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事。
He Ning, whose courtesy name was Chengji, came from Xuchang in Yan Prefecture. His ninth-generation ancestor Fengyao had been a Tang surveillance censor, and for generations afterward the family ceased to pursue office and learning. Ning's father Ju loved wine and cared little for petty propriety, yet he alone delighted in honoring men of letters and would spend his fortune to befriend them, which allowed young Ning to move in their circles. As a boy, Ning was clever and quick-witted, with a bright and striking bearing. After passing the jinshi examination, he was recruited as an aide by He Gui, military governor of the Liang Yicheng Army. At Hulu, He Gui fought Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang and was defeated. He broke away and fled, but He Ning alone stayed with him. Gui looked back, saw Ning, and gestured for him to go. Ning said: "A man should die for his patron. I only regret that I have not yet found the place to die—how could I leave! Soon a lone rider was almost upon Gui. Ning shouted for him to halt, but he would not stop, so Ning drew his bow and shot him dead, and Gui was saved. When Gui returned home, he told his sons: "Young He is a man of true loyalty and will surely rise to wealth and rank. You must respect and serve him well! He then gave him his daughter in marriage. During the Tiancheng era he was made palace attendant censor, then successively bureau director in the Ministry of Rites for Receiving Guests, drafter of edicts, Hanlin academician, and supervisor of the examinations. At that time jinshi candidates were shallow and unruly, and liked to raise noisy demonstrations to pressure the chief examiners. Whenever results were posted, the examiners would surround the area with thorn hedges, close the ministry gates, and bar all traffic—a routine precaution. Ning removed the thorn hedges and opened the gates. The candidates remained orderly and silent. Those he selected were the finest scholars of the day, and he was praised for choosing well. Early in the Jin dynasty he was made academician of the Duanming Hall, concurrently supervisor of the Treasury Bureau, and chief Hanlin academician. Gaozu repeatedly summoned him to discuss current affairs, and Ning's answers always pleased him. In the fifth year of Tianfu he was made vice director of the Secretariat and associate grand councilor.
2
凝好飾車服，為文章以多為富，有集百餘卷，嘗自鏤板以行於世，識者多非之。 然性樂善，好稱道後進之士。 唐故事，知貢舉者所放進士，以己及第時名次為重。 凝舉進士及第時第五，後知舉，選範質為第五。 後質位至宰相，封魯國公，官至太子太傅，皆與凝同，當時以為榮焉。
Ning loved to dress his carriage and robes lavishly. In writing he equated abundance with quality. He compiled more than a hundred scrolls and had them block-printed for public circulation—an act widely criticized by the discerning. Yet by nature he delighted in doing good and liked to praise and promote younger scholars. By Tang custom, the exam supervisor who passed candidates placed special significance on the rank at which he himself had passed the jinshi examination. When Ning himself had passed the jinshi he ranked fifth; later, as exam supervisor, he placed Fan Zhi fifth. Later Fan Zhi rose to chancellor, was enfeoffed as Duke of Lu, and reached the post of grand preceptor of the heir apparent—all mirroring Ning's own career, which contemporaries took as an honor to them both.
3
趙瑩，字玄輝，華州華陰人也。 為人純厚，美風儀。 事梁將康延孝為從事。 晉高祖為保義軍節度使，以瑩掌書記，自是徙鎮常以瑩從。 高祖將起兵太原，以問諸將吏，將吏或贊成之，瑩獨懼形於色，勸高祖毋反。 高祖雖不用其言，心甚愛之。 高祖即位，拜翰林學士承旨、戶部侍郎、同中書門下平章事。 累拜中書令。 出為晉昌軍節度使、開封尹。 是時，出帝童昏，馮玉、李彥韜等用事，與桑維翰爭權，乃共譖去之，以瑩柔而易制，故復引以為相。 契丹滅晉，瑩從出帝北徙虜中，瑩事兀欲為太子太保。 周太祖時，與契丹通好，遣尚書左丞田敏使於契丹，遇瑩於幽州，瑩見敏悲不自勝。 瑩子易則、易從。 當其徙而北也，與易從俱，而易則留事漢，官至刑部郎中。 後瑩病將卒，告於契丹，願以屍還中國，契丹許之。 及卒，遣易從護其喪南歸。 太祖憐之，贈瑩太傅，葬於華陰。
Zhao Ying, whose courtesy name was Xuanhui, came from Huayin in Hua Prefecture. He was sincere and solid in character, with a dignified bearing. He served the Later Liang general Kang Yanxiao as an aide. When Gaozu of Jin was military governor of the Baoyi Army, he made Ying his secretary; thereafter, whenever he changed postings, Ying usually accompanied him. When Gaozu was about to raise troops at Taiyuan, he consulted his generals and officials. Some approved, but Ying alone showed his fear openly and urged Gaozu not to rebel. Gaozu did not heed his advice, but cherished him all the more for his honesty. When Gaozu ascended the throne, Ying was made chief Hanlin academician, vice minister of revenue, and associate grand councilor. He was subsequently promoted to secretariat director. He was sent out to serve as military governor of the Jinchang Army and prefect of Kaifeng. At that time Emperor Chu was young and inexperienced. Feng Yu, Li Yantao, and others held power and were locked in a struggle with Sang Weihan. They conspired to remove Sang, and because Ying was gentle and pliable, brought him back as chancellor. When the Khitan destroyed Jin, Ying followed Emperor Chu north into captivity and served Wuyu as grand preceptor of the heir apparent. During Taizu of Zhou's reign, when peace was made with the Khitan, Tian Min was sent as left vice director of the Ministry of Revenue on mission to Khitan. He encountered Ying at Youzhou, and Ying wept uncontrollably at the sight of him. Ying had two sons, Yize and Yicong. When Ying was taken north, he went with Yicong, while Yize remained to serve the Han court and rose to bureau director in the Ministry of Justice. Later, when Ying fell gravely ill, he asked the Khitan to allow his body to be returned to China, and they agreed. When he died, Yicong was sent to escort his coffin back south. Taizu took pity on him, posthumously granted Ying the title of grand preceptor, and had him buried at Huayin.
4
馮玉，字璟臣，定州人也。 少舉進士不中。 馮赟為河東節度使，辟為推官。 入拜監察御史，累遷禮部郎中，為鹽鐵判官。 晉出帝納玉姊為後，玉以後戚知制誥，拜中書舍人。 玉不知書，而與殷鵬同為舍人，制誥常遣鵬代作。 頃之，玉出為潁州團練使，拜端明殿學士、戶部侍郎，遷樞密使、中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事。 是時，出帝童昏，馮皇后用事，軍國大務，一決於玉。 玉嘗有疾在告，自刺史已上，宰相不敢除授，以俟玉決。 玉除中書舍人盧價為工部侍郎，桑維翰以價資望淺為不可，由是與維翰有隙，維翰由此罷相。 玉為相，四方賄，積貲巨萬。 契丹滅晉，張彥澤先以兵入京師，兵士爭先入玉家，其貲一夕而盡。 明日見彥澤，猶諂笑，自言願得持晉玉璽獻契丹，以冀恩獎。 彥澤不納。 出帝之北，玉從入契丹，契丹以為太子太保。 周廣順三年，其子傑自契丹逃歸，玉懼，以憂卒。
Feng Yu, whose courtesy name was Jingchen, came from Ding Prefecture. As a young man he took the jinshi examination but failed. When Feng Yun was military governor of Hedong, he recruited Yu as an investigating officer. He entered the capital as surveillance censor, was promoted to bureau director in the Ministry of Rites, and served as salt and iron commissioner. Emperor Chu of Jin took Yu's elder sister as empress. As a maternal relative of the empress, Yu was put in charge of drafting edicts and appointed drafting secretary in the Secretariat. Yu was illiterate, yet he and Yin Peng both served as drafting secretaries; edicts were routinely sent to Peng to write in his stead. Before long Yu was sent out as military training commissioner of Ying Prefecture, then appointed academician of the Duanming Hall and vice minister of revenue, and finally promoted to privy commissioner, vice director of the Secretariat, and associate grand councilor. At that time Emperor Chu was young and inexperienced. Empress Feng held sway, and all major affairs of state and army were decided by Yu alone. When Yu once took sick leave, the chancellors dared not appoint anyone from prefect upward until Yu had decided. Yu appointed drafting secretary Lu Jia as vice minister of works. Sang Weihan objected that Jia's seniority and reputation were too slight, and a rift opened between them. Weihan was removed from the chancellery as a result. As chancellor, Yu took bribes from all quarters and amassed a fortune. When the Khitan destroyed Jin, Zhang Yanzhe was first to enter the capital with troops. Soldiers raced to plunder Yu's house, and his fortune was gone overnight. The next day, when he met Yanzhe, he still fawned and smiled, saying he wished to carry Jin's imperial seal to present to the Khitan in hope of favor and reward. Yanzhe refused. When Emperor Chu was taken north, Yu followed into Khitan territory, where the Khitan made him grand preceptor of the heir apparent. In the third year of Guangshun of Zhou, his son Jie escaped from Khitan and returned home. Yu, fearing reprisal, died of anxiety.
5
初，梁已篡唐，封哀帝為濟陰王，既而冘殺之，瘞於曹州。 同光三年，莊宗將議改葬，而曹太后崩，乃止。 因其故壟，稍廣其封，以時薦饗而已。 質乃建議立廟追謚，謚曰昭宣光烈孝皇帝，廟號景宗。 天成四年八月戍申，明宗禦文明殿，遣質奉冊立廟於曹州。 而議者以謂輝王不幸為賊臣所立，而昭宗、何皇后皆為梁所弒，遂以亡國，而「昭宣光烈」非所宜稱，且立廟稱宗而不入太廟，皆非是。 共以此非質，大臣亦知其不可，乃奏去廟號。
After the Later Liang usurped Tang, it enfeoffed Emperor Ai as Prince of Jiyin, then secretly killed him and buried him at Cao Prefecture. In the third year of Tongguang, Emperor Zhuangzong planned to discuss a proper reburial, but when Empress Dowager Cao died the matter was dropped. They merely enlarged the mound on its original site and offered seasonal sacrifices—nothing more. Lu Zhi then proposed establishing a temple and conferring a posthumous title: Zhaoxuan Guanglie Xiao Emperor, with the temple name Jingzong. On day wushen of the eighth month in the fourth year of Tiancheng, Emperor Mingzong held court at the Hall of Civilizing Splendor and sent Lu Zhi to carry the patent and establish the temple at Cao Prefecture. Critics argued that Prince Hui had the misfortune of being installed by treacherous ministers, that Emperor Zhaozong and Empress He were both murdered by Liang, leading to the fall of the dynasty, that "Zhaoxuan Guanglie" was an inappropriate posthumous name, and that establishing a temple with the title "Zong" without admission to the Grand Ancestral Temple was all improper. All blamed Zhi for this. The senior ministers also knew it was wrong, and they memorialized to remove the temple name.
6
秦王從榮坐謀反誅，質以右僕射權知河南府事。 廢帝反鳳翔，湣帝發兵誅之，竭帑藏以厚賞，而兵至鳳翔皆叛降。 廢帝悉將而東，事成許以重賞，而軍士皆過望。 廢帝入立，有司獻籍數甚少，廢帝暴怒。 自諸鎮至刺史，皆進錢帛助國用，猶不足，三司使王玫請率民財以佐用。 乃使質與玫等共議配率，而貧富不均，怨訟並起，囚系滿獄。 六七日間，所得不滿十萬。 廢帝患之，乃命質等借民屋課五月，由是民大咨怨。 晉高祖入立，質以疾分司西京，拜太子太保。 卒，年七十六，贈太子太師，謚曰文忠。
When the Prince of Qin Congrong was executed for plotting rebellion, Lu Zhi, as right vice director of the Secretariat, was appointed acting prefect of Henan. Emperor Fei rebelled at Fengxiang. Emperor Min sent troops against him and emptied the treasury for lavish rewards, but when the army reached Fengxiang the soldiers all defected and surrendered to Fei. Emperor Fei gathered all his generals and marched east, promising lavish rewards once victory was won, and the soldiers all expected far more than they would receive. When Emperor Fei took the throne, the responsible officials reported treasury figures that were shockingly low, and he flew into a rage. From military commissioners down to prefects, all contributed money and silk to the treasury, yet it was still not enough. Wang Mei, commissioner of the Three Departments, proposed levying the people's wealth to make up the shortfall. Lu Zhi and Wang Mei were then tasked with devising proportional levies, but the burden fell unevenly on rich and poor. Complaints and lawsuits multiplied, and the prisons filled. In six or seven days the proceeds did not even reach one hundred thousand. Emperor Fei, vexed by this, ordered Lu Zhi and the others to levy five months' house rent on the people, provoking widespread outrage. When Gaozu of Jin took the throne, Lu Zhi, citing illness, served at the Western Capital branch office and was appointed grand preceptor of the heir apparent. He died at seventy-six. He was posthumously granted grand preceptor of the heir apparent and given the posthumous name Wenzhong.
7
呂琦，字輝山，幽州安次人也。 父兗，為橫海軍節度判官。 節度使劉守文與其弟守光以兵相攻，守文敗死，其吏民立其子延祚而事之，以兗為謀主。 已而延祚又為守光所敗，兗見殺。 守光怒兗，並族其家。 琦年十五，見執，將就刑，兗故客趙玉紿其監者曰：「此吾弟也。」 監者信之，縱琦去。 玉與琦得俱走，琦足弱不能行，玉負之而行，逾數百里，變姓名，乞食於道，以免。
Lu Qi, whose courtesy name was Huishan, came from Anci in You Prefecture. His father Yan served as administrative aide to the military governor of the Henghai Army. The military governor Liu Shouwen and his younger brother Shouguang fought each other with troops. Shouwen was defeated and killed. His officials and people installed his son Yanzuo as ruler and made Yan their chief strategist. Before long Yanzuo was defeated again by Shouguang, and Yan was put to death. Shouguang, enraged at Yan, exterminated his entire clan. Qi was fifteen when he was seized and about to be executed. Zhao Yu, a former client of Yan, deceived the guard: "This is my younger brother. The guard believed him and let Qi go. Yu and Qi fled together. Qi's legs were too weak to walk, so Yu carried him on his back. They traveled several hundred li, changed their names, and begged for food along the road until they were safe.
8
琦為人美風儀，重節概，少喪其家，遊學汾、晉之間。 唐莊宗鎮太原，以為代州軍事推官。 後為橫海趙德鈞節度推官，入為殿中侍御史。 明宗時，為駕部員外郎，兼侍御史知雜事。 河陽主藏吏盜所監物，下軍巡獄，獄吏尹訓納賂反其獄，其冤家訴於朝，下御史臺按驗，得訓贓狀，奏攝訓赴臺。 訓為安重誨所庇，不與，琦請不已，訓懼自殺，獄乃辨，蒙活者甚眾。 歲餘，遷禮部郎中、史館修撰。
Lu Qi had a fine bearing and valued integrity. After losing his family while still young, he traveled to study in the Fen and Jin regions. When Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang held Taiyuan as his base, Qi was made military investigating officer of Dai Prefecture. He later served as investigating officer under Zhao Dejun, military governor of Henghai, and then entered the capital as palace attendant censor. Under Emperor Mingzong he served as bureau director in the Ministry of Rites for the Imperial Carriages, concurrently supervising censor overseeing miscellaneous matters. A treasurer clerk in Heyang stole goods under his charge and was sent to the military patrol prison. The prison clerk Yin Xun took a bribe and reversed the verdict. The aggrieved party appealed to the court, and the Censorate investigated, found evidence of Xun's corruption, and memorialized to summon him to the Censorate. Xun was protected by An Chonghui and was not surrendered. Qi pressed the matter relentlessly until Xun, in fear, killed himself. The cases were then cleared, and many who would have been condemned were spared. After more than a year he was promoted to bureau director in the Ministry of Rites and compiler in the Historiography Institute.
9
長興中，廢帝失守河中，罷居清化坊，與琦同巷，琦數往過之。 後廢帝入立，待琦甚厚，拜知制誥、給事中、樞密院直學士、端明殿學士。 是時，晉高祖鎮河東，有二誌，廢帝患之，琦與李崧俱備顧問，多所裨畫。 琦言：「太原之患，必引契丹為助，不如先事制之。」 自明宗時王都反定州，契丹遣禿餒、荝剌等助都，而為趙德鈞、王晏球所敗，禿餒見殺，荝剌等皆送京師。 其後契丹數遣使者求荝剌等，其辭甚卑恭，明宗輒斬其使者不報。 而東丹王又亡入中國，契丹由此數欲求和。 琦因言：「方今之勢，不如與契丹通和，如漢故事，歲給金帛，妻之以女，使強藩大鎮顧外無所引援，可弭其亂心。」 崧以琦語語三司使張延朗，延朗欣然曰：「茍能紓國患，歲費縣官十數萬緡，責吾取足可也！」 因共建其事。 廢帝大喜，佗日以琦等語問樞密直學士薛文遇，文遇大以為非，因誦戎昱「社稷依明主，安危托婦人」之詩，以誚琦等。 廢帝大怒，急召崧、琦等問和戎計如何。 琦等察帝色怒，亟曰：「臣等為國計，非與契丹求利於中國也。」 帝即發怒曰：「卿等佐朕欲致太平而若是邪？ 朕一女尚幼，欲棄之夷狄，金帛所以養士而捍國也，又輸以資虜，可乎？」 崧等惶恐拜謝，拜無數，琦足力乏不能拜而先止。 帝曰：「呂琦強項，肯以人主視我邪！」 琦曰：「臣素病羸，拜多而乏，容臣少息。」 頃之喘定，奏曰：「陛下以臣等言非，罪之可也，雖拜何益？」 帝意稍解，曰：「勿拜。」 賜酒一卮而遣之，其議遂寢。 因遷琦御史中丞，居數月，復為端明殿學士。 其後晉高祖起太原，果引契丹為助，遂以亡唐。 琦事晉為秘書監，累遷兵部侍郎。 天福八年卒。
During the Changxing era, Emperor Fei lost Hezhong and was dismissed to live in Qinghua Ward. He lived on the same lane as Qi, and Qi often visited him. Later, when Emperor Fei took the throne, he treated Qi with great favor, appointing him drafter of edicts, palace attendant, direct academician of the Privy Council, and academician of the Duanming Hall. At that time Gaozu of Jin held Hedong with divided loyalties, which troubled Emperor Fei. Qi and Li Song both served as his advisers and offered much useful counsel. Qi said: "The threat from Taiyuan will surely draw Khitan support. We would do better to forestall it. Since Mingzong's time, when Wang Du rebelled at Ding Prefecture, the Khitan had sent Tu'nei, Cila, and others to aid him, but Zhao Dejun and Wang Yanqiu defeated them. Tu'nei was killed, and Cila and the others were sent to the capital. Afterward the Khitan repeatedly sent envoys requesting the return of Cila and the others, speaking with great humility, but Mingzong always executed their envoys and refused to reply. Moreover, the Prince of Dongdan had fled into China, and the Khitan had repeatedly sought peace as a result. Qi went on: "Given the present situation, we would do better to make peace with the Khitan. Following Han precedent, we should send gold and silk each year and marry a princess to them, so that powerful frontier commanders would have no foreign ally to call upon. That could quell their rebellious ambitions. Li Song repeated Qi's words to Zhang Yanlang, commissioner of the Three Departments. Yanlang said gladly: "If it can relieve the state's peril, spending several hundred thousand strings from the treasury each year—I can be tasked to supply whatever is needed!" They then jointly presented the proposal. Emperor Fei was greatly pleased. Another day he asked Privy Direct Academician Xue Wenyü about Qi's proposal. Wenyü strongly objected and recited Rong Yu's verse, "The altars depend on a wise lord; safety and peril rest on a woman," to mock Qi and the others. Emperor Fei was furious and urgently summoned Li Song, Lu Qi, and the others to explain their plan for peace with the Khitan. Qi and the others, seeing the emperor's anger, quickly said: "We propose this for the state's sake, not to seek profit from the Khitan at China's expense. The emperor flew into a rage and said, "You who serve me in seeking peace would counsel me like this? I have one daughter, still a child, and you would cast her off to the barbarians. Gold and silk are meant to support soldiers and defend the realm—can you truly mean to pour them out to feed our foes?" Song and the others prostrated themselves in terror, bowing repeatedly without end. Qi's legs gave out from exhaustion and he stopped first, unable to keep bowing. The emperor said, "Lu Qi is stiff-necked—does he not even regard me as his sovereign? Qi said, "I have long been frail and sickly. These many bows have exhausted me—please allow me a moment to catch my breath." After a moment his breathing steadied. He said, "If Your Majesty finds us in the wrong, you may punish us. What good would more bowing do?" The emperor's anger eased somewhat. "No more bowing," he said. He gave them a cup of wine and sent them away, and the proposal was dropped. Qi was made Vice Censor-in-Chief, and after several months was restored as Academician of the Hall of Brilliant Clarity. Later, when Later Jin's Gaozu rose in Taiyuan, he did indeed enlist Khitan aid, and Tang was thereby overthrown. Qi served the Jin court as Director of the Secretariat and rose through several posts to Vice Minister of War. He died in the eighth year of Tianfu.
10
趙玉仕至職方員外郎，琦事之如父，玉疾，親嘗藥扶侍，及卒，為其家主辦喪葬。 玉子文度幼孤，琦教以學，如己子，後舉進士及第云。 琦有子餘慶、端。
Zhao Yu rose to the post of Assistant Director of the Bureau of Works. Qi treated him like a father—when Yu fell ill, Qi personally tasted his medicine and nursed him, and when he died, Qi arranged the funeral for his family. Yu's son Wendu was orphaned young. Qi educated him as if he were his own child, and Wendu later passed the jinshi examination, or so it is said. Qi had two sons, Yuqing and Duan.
11
薛融，汾州平遙人也。 少以儒學知名，唐明宗時為右補闕，直弘文館。 晉高祖鎮太原，融為觀察判官。 高祖徙鄆，欲據太原拒命，延見賓佐，問以可否，而坐中或贊成之，或恐懼不敢言，融獨從容對曰：「融本儒生爾，軍旅之事，未嘗學也，進退存亡之理，豈易言哉！」 高祖不之責也。 高祖入立，拜吏部郎中，兼侍御史知雜事。 累拜左諫議大夫，遷中書舍人。 融曰：「文辭非臣所長也。」 遂辭不拜。 時詔修洛陽大內，融上疏切諫，高祖褒納其言，即詔罷其役。 遷御史中丞，改尚書右丞，分司西京。 卒，年六十。
Xue Rong came from Pingyao in Fen Prefecture. He was known from youth for his classical learning. Under Tang Emperor Mingzong he served as Right Remonstrance Censor and was attached to the Hongwen Academy. When Later Jin's Gaozu held Taiyuan, Rong served as his judicial adjutant on the observation staff. Gaozu moved to Yan, planning to hold Taiyuan and defy the throne. He summoned his staff to ask their view. Some in the room approved; others were too frightened to speak. Rong alone answered calmly: "I am only a Confucian scholar. I have never studied military affairs. How can one lightly pronounce on advance or retreat, on survival or ruin? Gaozu did not reproach him. When Gaozu took the throne, Rong was appointed Director in the Ministry of Personnel and made Attending Censor in charge of miscellaneous business. He rose through successive promotions to Left Grand Master for Remonstrance and then to Drafting Secretary in the Secretariat. Rong said, "Literary composition is not my strength. He declined the post and did not accept it. When an edict ordered repairs on the Luoyang palace, Rong submitted a forceful memorial in protest. Gaozu praised his counsel, accepted it, and immediately halted the project. He was made Vice Censor-in-Chief, then Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs on detached duty at the Western Capital. He died at the age of sixty.
12
何澤，廣州人也。 父鼎，唐末為容管經略使。 澤少好學，長於歌詩。 舉進士，為洛陽令。 唐莊宗好畋獵，數踐民田，澤乃潛身伏草間伺莊宗，當馬諫曰：「陛下未能一天下以休兵，而暴斂疲民以給軍食。 今田將熟，奈何恣畋遊以害多稼？ 使民何以出租賊，吏以何督民耕？ 陛下不聽臣言，願賜臣死於馬前，使後世知陛下之過。」 莊宗大笑，為之止獵。 拜倉部郎中。 明宗時，數上書言事。 明宗幸汴州，又欲幸鄴，而人情不便，大臣屢言不聽； 澤伏閤切諫，明宗嘉之，拜吏部郎中、史館修撰。 澤外雖直言，而內實邪佞，嘗於內殿起居，班退，獨留，以笏叩顙，北望而呼曰：「明主，明主！」 聞者皆哂之。
He Ze came from Guangzhou. His father Ding served in late Tang as military commissioner of Rong District. Ze loved learning from youth and excelled in poetry. After passing the jinshi examination, he became magistrate of Luoyang. Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang loved the hunt and often rode through the people's fields. Ze hid in the grass along the route and stepped before the emperor's horse to remonstrate: "Your Majesty has not yet unified the realm and brought the armies to rest, yet you levy harshly on an exhausted people to feed the troops. The crops are nearly ripe—how can you ride about freely and ruin the harvest? How then are the people to pay their taxes, and how are officials to supervise the planting? If Your Majesty will not listen, grant me death here before your horse, so that posterity may know where the blame lies. Zhuangzong laughed heartily and stopped the hunt. He was appointed Director in the Granary Office. Under Emperor Mingzong he repeatedly submitted memorials on state affairs. Emperor Mingzong visited Bianzhou and then wished to visit Ye as well, but the people found the prospect unwelcome. The senior ministers remonstrated repeatedly, but the emperor would not listen. Ze knelt at the gate in urgent remonstrance. Mingzong praised him and made him Director in the Ministry of Personnel and Compiler in the Historiographical Institute. Though Ze spoke bluntly in public, in private he was sly and fawning. Once at court in the inner hall, when the officials withdrew he alone remained, bowing and striking his forehead with his tablet as he faced north, crying, "Wise sovereign! Wise sovereign! All who heard laughed at him.
13
五代之際，民苦於兵，往往因親疾以割股，或既喪而割乳廬墓，以規免州縣賦役。 戶部歲給蠲符，不可勝數，而課州縣出紙，號為「蠲紙」。 澤上書言其敝，明宗下詔悉廢戶部蠲紙。
In the age of the Five Dynasties the people were worn down by war. Many, when a parent fell ill, cut flesh from their own thighs as an offering, or after a parent's death mutilated themselves and lived in mourning huts by the grave, all to win exemption from local taxes and corvée. The Ministry of Revenue issued so many tax-exemption certificates each year that the number was beyond counting, yet it assessed the prefectures and counties for the paper to print them—paper called "exemption paper." Ze submitted a memorial describing this abuse, and Mingzong issued an edict abolishing the Ministry's exemption paper entirely.
14
澤與宰相趙鳳有舊，數私於鳳，求為給諫。 鳳薄其為人，以為太常少卿。 敕未出而澤先知之，即稱新官上章自訴。 章下中書，鳳等言：「澤未拜命而稱新官，輕侮朝廷，請坐以法。」 乃以太僕少卿致仕，居於河陽。 澤時年已七十，尚希仕進，即遣婢宜子詣匭上章言事，請立秦王為皇太子。 秦王素驕，多不軌，遂成其禍，由澤而始。 晉高祖入立，召為太常少卿，以疾卒於家。
Ze had old ties with Chief Minister Zhao Feng and repeatedly visited him in private, seeking a post as remonstrance censor. Feng disdained his character and had him appointed Vice Director of the Court of Sacrificial Worship instead. Before the edict was even issued, Ze already knew of it. He immediately assumed the new title and submitted a memorial in his own defense. When the memorial reached the Secretariat, Feng and the others said, "Ze has styled himself by a new office before receiving appointment. This shows contempt for the court. We ask that he be punished according to law. He was retired as Vice Director of the Court of the Imperial Stud and went to live at Heyang. By then Ze was already seventy, yet still hungered for office. He sent his maid Yizi to deposit a memorial asking that the Prince of Qin be made crown prince. The Prince of Qin was arrogant and repeatedly overstepped propriety. The disaster that followed began with Ze. When Later Jin's Gaozu took the throne, Ze was recalled as Vice Director of Sacrificial Worship, but died of illness at home.
15
王權，字秀山，太原人也。 唐左僕射起之曾孫。 父蕘，官至右司郎中。 權舉進士，為右補闕。 唐亡，事梁為職方員外郎、知制誥、翰林學士，累遷御史中丞。 唐莊宗滅梁，貶權隨州司馬。 起為右庶子，累遷戶部尚書。 晉高祖時為兵部尚書。 是時，高祖以父事契丹，權當奉使，嘆曰：「我雖不才，安能稽顙於穹廬乎？」 因辭不行，坐是停任。 逾年以太子少傅致仕。 卒，年七十入，贈左僕射。
Wang Quan, whose courtesy name was Xiushan, came from Taiyuan. He was the great-grandson of Tang Left Vice Censor Qi Zhi. His father Rao rose to the post of Director of the Right Office. Quan passed the jinshi examination and served as Right Remonstrance Censor. After Tang fell he served the Liang as Assistant Director of the Bureau of Appointments, Drafting Secretary, and Hanlin Academician, and rose in succession to Vice Censor-in-Chief. When Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang destroyed Liang, Quan was demoted to army aide at Suizhou. He was recalled as Right Subordinate Director and rose in succession to Minister of Revenue. Under Later Jin's Gaozu he served as Minister of War. At that time Gaozu treated the Khitan like a father-lord. Quan was to serve as envoy and sighed, "Though I am no great man, how could I kowtow in a nomad tent? He declined and refused to go, and for this was suspended from office. More than a year later he retired as Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent. He died at the age of seventy and was posthumously granted the title of Left Vice Censor.
16
史圭，常山石邑人也。 為人明敏好學。 為寧晉、樂壽縣令，有善政，縣人立碑以頌之。 郭崇韜鎮成德，辟為從事。 明宗時，為尚書郎。 安重誨為樞密使，薦圭直學士。 故事，直學士職雖清，而承領文書，參掌庶務，與判官無異。 重誨素不知書，倚圭以備顧問，始白許圭升殿侍立。 樞密直學士升殿自圭始。 改尚書右丞，判吏部銓事。 重誨敗死，圭出為貝州刺史。 罷歸常山，閉門絕人事，出入閭里乘輜軿車。 晉高祖立，召拜刑部侍郎、鹽鐵副使，遷吏部侍郎，分知銓事，有能名。 以疾罷，卒於常山。
Shi Gui came from Shiyi in Changshan. He was bright, quick-witted, and fond of learning. As magistrate of Ningjin and Leshou he governed well, and the people of both counties erected stelae in his praise. When Guo Chongtao was military commissioner of Chengde, he recruited Gui as an aide. Under Emperor Mingzong he served as a Director in the Department of State Affairs. When An Chonghui was Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, he recommended Gui as Direct Academician. By precedent, though the Direct Academician's post was prestigious, he handled documents and shared in routine business no differently from a judicial adjutant. An Chonghui was no scholar himself and relied on Gui for counsel. He was the first to request that Gui be allowed to ascend the hall and attend the emperor standing. The practice of Direct Academicians of the Bureau ascending the imperial hall began with Gui. He was made Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and placed in charge of Ministry of Personnel selection affairs. When An Chonghui fell and was executed, Gui was sent out as prefect of Beizhou. After his dismissal he returned to Changshan, shut his door to the world, and when he went about the neighborhood he rode in a small covered carriage. When Later Jin's Gaozu took the throne, Gui was summoned as Vice Minister of Justice and Deputy Salt and Iron Commissioner, then promoted to Vice Minister of Personnel with shared charge of selection affairs, and earned a reputation for competence. He was dismissed because of illness and died at Changshan.
17
龍敏，字欲訥，幽州永清人也。 少仕州，攝參軍。 劉守光亂，敏避之滄州，遂客於梁，久不調。 敏素善馮道，道為唐莊宗從事，乃潛往依之。 監軍張承業謂道曰：「聞子有客，可與俱來。」 道以敏見承業，承業辟敏監軍巡官，使掌奏記。 莊宗即位，召拜司門員外郎。 敏父咸式，年七十餘，而其祖父年九十餘，皆在鄴，敏乃求為興唐尹，事祖、父以孝聞。 丁母憂，去職。 趙在禮反，逼敏起視事。 明宗即位，在禮鎮滄州，敏乃復得居喪。 服除，累拜兵部侍郎。 馮赟留守北京，辟敏副留守。 赟入為樞密使，敏拜吏部侍郎。 是時，晉高祖起太原，乞兵契丹。 唐廢帝在懷州，趙德鈞父子有異志，張敬達屯於晉安，勢甚危急。 廢帝問計從臣，敏曰：「晉所恃者契丹也。 東丹王失國之君，今在京師，若以兵送東丹自幽州而入西樓，契丹且有內顧之憂，何暇助晉？ 晉失契丹，大事去矣。」 又謂李懿曰：「敏，燕人也，能知德鈞。 德鈞為將，守城嬰塹，篤勵健兒而已。 使其當大敵，奮不顧身，非其能也。 況有異志乎？ 今聞駕前之馬，猶有五千，願得壯者千匹，健兵千人，與勇將郎萬金，自平遙沿山冒虜中而趨官砦，且戰且行，得其半達，則事濟矣！」 懿為言之廢帝，廢帝莫能用。 然人皆壯其大言。 歷晉為太常卿，使於吳越。 是時，使吳越者，見吳越王皆下拜，敏獨揖之。 還，遷工部侍郎。 乾祐元年，瘍發於首卒，贈右僕射。
Long Min, whose courtesy name was Yunè, came from Yongqing in You Prefecture. In youth he served the prefecture as acting adjutant. When Liu Shouguang rebelled, Min fled to Cangzhou and then lived as a guest in Liang, long without receiving an appointment. Min had long been on good terms with Feng Dao. When Dao became an aide to Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang, Min secretly went to join him. Army Supervisor Zhang Chengye said to Dao, "I hear you have a guest. Bring him with you. Dao introduced Min to Chengye, who recruited Min as touring officer on the army supervisor's staff and put him in charge of memorials and correspondence. When Zhuangzong took the throne, Min was summoned and appointed Assistant Director of the Gate Office. Min's father Xianshi was over seventy, and his grandfather over ninety; both lived at Ye. Min therefore asked to be appointed Xingtang Prefect so he could serve them, and became known for his filial devotion. When his mother died he left office to observe mourning. When Zhao Zaili rebelled, he forced Min to leave mourning and resume office. When Emperor Mingzong took the throne, Zaili was posted to Cangzhou as military commissioner, and Min was able to return to mourning. After mourning ended he rose in succession to Vice Minister of War. When Feng Yun was left behind to guard Beijing, he recruited Min as his deputy. When Yun entered the capital as Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Min was appointed Vice Minister of Personnel. At that time Later Jin's Gaozu rose in Taiyuan and sought Khitan troops. Emperor Fei of Tang was at Huai Prefecture. Zhao Dejun and his son harbored disloyal ambitions, while Zhang Jingda was encamped at Jin'an. The situation was extremely perilous. Emperor Fei asked his ministers for counsel. Min said, "Jin relies on the Khitan. The Prince of Dongdan is a deposed ruler now held in the capital. If we send troops to escort him from You Prefecture into Xilou, the Khitan will have troubles at home. What time will they have to aid Jin? Once Jin loses Khitan support, the cause is lost. He also said to Li Yi, "I am a man of Yan and know Dejun well. As a general Dejun is good only at holding cities and keeping to the trenches, heartening his stout fighters—that is all. Set him against a great enemy and expect him to throw away his life without hesitation—that is not in his nature. And does he not already harbor disloyal ambitions? I hear there are still five thousand horses with the imperial train. Give me a thousand strong mounts, a thousand fit soldiers, and the brave general Lang Wanjin, and I will strike from Pingyao along the mountains through enemy territory toward the government camp, fighting as we march. If even half of us arrive, the task can still be accomplished!" Li Yi relayed this to Emperor Fei, but the emperor could not adopt the plan. Yet everyone admired the boldness of his words. Through the Jin dynasty he served as Director of Sacrificial Worship and was sent as envoy to Wuyue. At that time envoys to Wuyue all prostrated themselves before the King of Wuyue; Min alone gave a formal bow with clasped hands. On his return he was promoted to Vice Minister of Works. In the first year of Qianyou a carbuncle broke out on his head and he died. He was posthumously granted the title of Right Vice Censor.