1
馬殷，字霸圖，許州鄢陵人也。 唐中和三年，蔡州秦宗權遣孫儒、劉建峰將兵萬人屬其弟宗衡，略地淮南，殷初為儒裨將。 宗衡等攻楊行密於揚州，未克，梁兵方急攻宗權，宗權數召儒等，儒不欲還，宗衡屢趨之，儒怒，殺宗衡，自將其兵取高郵，遂逐行密。 行密據宣州，儒以兵圍之，久不克，遣殷與建峰掠食旁縣。 儒戰敗死，殷等無所歸，乃推建峰為帥，殷為先鋒，轉攻豫章，略虔、吉，有眾數萬。 乾寧元年，入湖南，次醴陵。 潭州刺史鄧處訥發邵州兵戍龍回關，建峰等至關，降其戍將蔣勛。 建峰取勛鎧甲被先鋒兵，張其旗幟，直趨潭州，至東門，東門守者以為關兵戍還，開門內之，遂殺處訥，建峰自稱留後。 僖宗授建峰湖南節度使、殷為馬步軍都指揮使。 蔣勛求為邵州刺史，建峰不與，勛率兵攻湘鄉，建峰遣殷擊勛於邵州。
Ma Yin, whose style name was Batu, came from Yanling in Xuzhou. In the third year of the Zhonghe reign (886), Qin Zongquan of Caizhou dispatched Sun Ru and Liu Jianfeng with ten thousand men under his younger brother Zongheng to seize territory in Huainan, and Yin began as a junior officer under Sun Ru. Zongheng and his forces besieged Yang Xingmi at Yangzhou without success. While Liang armies were tightening their assault on Zongquan, he kept calling Sun Ru back, but Ru refused to return. When Zongheng pressed him repeatedly, Ru in a rage killed Zongheng, took command of the troops himself, captured Gaoyou, and drove Yang Xingmi away. Yang Xingmi held Xuancheng, and Sun Ru laid siege for a long time without breaking the city. He then sent Yin and Liu Jianfeng to raid grain from the surrounding counties. When Sun Ru was defeated and killed, Yin and his comrades had nowhere to turn. They made Liu Jianfeng their leader, with Yin as vanguard, swung toward Yuzhang, overran Gan and Ji prefectures, and mustered tens of thousands of men. In the first year of Qianning (894) they marched into Hunan and camped at Liling. Deng Chuna, prefect of Tanzhou, sent Shaozhou troops to hold Longhui Pass. When Jianfeng's army arrived, the garrison commander Jiang Xun submitted to them. Jianfeng clad his vanguard in Jiang Xun's armor, flew Xun's banners, and marched straight on Tanzhou. At the east gate the guards mistook them for the Longhui garrison coming off rotation and let them in. They killed Deng Chuna, and Jianfeng declared himself acting military governor. The court appointed Jianfeng military commissioner of Hunan and made Yin overall commander of the horse and foot forces. Jiang Xun sought appointment as prefect of Shaozhou, but Jianfeng refused. Xun then marched on Xiangxiang, and Jianfeng sent Yin to fight him in Shaozhou.
2
建峰庸人，不能帥其下，常與部曲飲酒歡呼。 軍卒陳贍妻有色，建峰私之，贍怒，以鐵楇擊殺建峰。 軍中推行軍司馬張佶為帥，佶將入府，乘馬輒踶嚙，傷佶髀。 佶臥病，語諸將曰：「吾非汝主也，馬公英勇，可共立之。」 諸將乃共殺贍，磔其屍，遣姚彥章迎殷於邵州。 殷至，佶乘肩輿入府，殷拜謁於廷中，佶召殷上，乃率將吏下，北面再拜，以位與之，時乾寧三年也。
Jianfeng was a mediocrity who could not keep discipline among his men and spent his time drinking and carousing with the rank and file. A soldier named Chen Shan had a beautiful wife whom Jianfeng seduced. Enraged, Shan killed Jianfeng with an iron mace. The troops proposed acting army marshal Zhang Ji as leader. As he was entering headquarters, his mount kicked and bit him, wounding his thigh. Confined to his sickbed, Ji told the officers, "I am not fit to lead you. Lord Ma is valiant—you should install him together." The officers thereupon executed Chen Shan and displayed his body on a rack, then sent Yao Yanzhang to bring Yin back from Shaozhou. When Yin arrived, Zhang Ji was carried into headquarters in a sedan. Yin bowed in the courtyard, and Ji called him up. Ji then led the officers downstairs, faced north, and twice performed the full obeisance before yielding command to Yin. It was the third year of Qianning (896).
3
唐拜殷潭州刺史。 殷遣其將秦彥暉、李瓊等攻連、邵、郴、衡、道、永六州，皆下之。 桂管劉士政懼，遣其將陳可璠、王建武等率兵守全義嶺。 殷遣使聘於士政，使者至境上，可璠等不納。 殷怒，遣瓊等以兵七千攻之，擒可璠等及其兵二千餘人，悉坑之，遂圍桂管，虜士政，盡取其屬州。 殷表瓊桂管觀察使。 四年，拜殷武安軍節度使。
The Tang court appointed Yin prefect of Tanzhou. Yin sent Qin Yanhui, Li Qiong, and other generals against the six prefectures of Lian, Shao, Chen, Heng, Dao, and Yong, and all fell to him. Liu Shizheng, commissioner of Guiguan, grew alarmed and sent Chen Kelin, Wang Jianwu, and others to hold Quanyi Ridge with an army. Yin sent envoys to treat with Liu Shizheng, but when they reached the frontier Chen Kelin and his men refused them entry. Enraged, Yin sent Li Qiong with seven thousand men. They captured Chen Kelin and more than two thousand troops and buried them alive, then besieged Guiguan, took Liu Shizheng captive, and annexed all his dependent prefectures. Yin recommended Li Qiong to the throne as observation commissioner of Guiguan. In the fourth year Yin was appointed military commissioner of the Wu'an army.
4
初，孫儒敗於宣州，殷弟賨為楊行密所執，行密收儒余兵為「黑雲都」，以賨為指揮使。 賨從行密攻戰，數有功，為人質重，未嘗自矜，行密愛之，問賨誰家子，賨曰：「馬殷弟也。」 行密大驚曰：「汝兄貴矣，吾今歸汝可乎？」 賨不對。 他日又問之，賨謝曰：「臣，孫儒敗卒也，幸公待以不死，非殺身不足報。 湖南鄰境，朝夕聞殷動靜足矣，不願去也。」 行密嘆曰：「昔吾愛子之貌，今吾得子之心矣。 然勉為吾合二國之歡，通商賈、易有無以相資，亦所以報我也！」 乃厚禮遣賨歸。 殷大喜，表賨節度副使。
After Sun Ru's defeat at Xuancheng, Yin's younger brother Ma Bin fell into Yang Xingmi's hands. Xingmi enrolled Sun Ru's survivors in the "Black Cloud Corps" and appointed Bin its commander. Bin fought under Yang Xingmi with repeated distinction. Steady and never self-aggrandizing, he won Xingmi's affection. When Xingmi asked whose son he was, Bin answered, "I am Ma Yin's younger brother." Yang Xingmi was astonished. "Your brother has risen high," he said. "Shall I send you back to him now?" Bin made no reply. On another day Xingmi asked again. Bin demurred: "I am only a beaten man from Sun Ru's army. You spared my life; nothing short of dying for you could repay that debt. Hunan lies next door; hearing news of my brother each day is enough. I do not wish to go." Xingmi sighed. "Once I admired your face; now I have won your loyalty. Still, work to keep our two realms on friendly terms, let merchants pass freely, and trade what one has for what the other lacks. That will be your repayment to me as well!" He then sent Bin home with rich gifts and full honors. Yin was overjoyed and recommended his brother as deputy military commissioner.
5
行密遣將劉存等攻杜洪，圍鄂州，殷遣秦彥暉、許德勛以舟兵救之，已而杜洪敗死，存等遂攻殷。 殷遣彥暉拒於上流，偏將黃璠以舟三百伏瀏陽口。 存等屢戰不勝，乃致書於殷以求和，殷欲許之，彥暉曰：「淮人多詐，將怠我師，不可信。」 急擊之，存等退走，黃璠以瀏陽舟截江合擊，大敗之，劉存及陳知新戰死，彥暉取岳州。
Yang Xingmi sent Liu Cun and others against Du Hong and besieged Ezhou. Yin dispatched Qin Yanhui and Xu Dexun with a fleet to aid Hong, but Hong soon fell and died, whereupon Liu Cun turned on Yin. Yin posted Qin Yanhui upstream while his deputy Huang Fan hid three hundred boats at Liuyang Ford. After repeated defeats Liu Cun sued for peace. Yin was inclined to accept, but Yanhui warned, "The Huainan men are treacherous. They mean to lull our troops—do not trust them." He pressed the attack. Liu Cun withdrew, Huang Fan's Liuyang squadron cut the river and struck from the flank, and the Huainan force was shattered. Liu Cun and Chen Zhixin were killed, and Yanhui seized Yuezhou.
6
梁太祖即位，殷遣使修貢，太祖拜殷侍中兼中書令，封楚王。 荊南高季昌以兵斷漢口，邀殷貢使，殷遣許德勛攻其沙頭，季昌求和，乃止。 楊行密袁州刺史呂師周來奔。 師周，勇健豪俠，頗通緯候、兵書，自言五世將家，懼不能免，常與酒徒聚飲，醉則起舞，悲歌慷慨泣下。 行密聞之，疑其有異志，使人察其動靜。 師周益懼，謂其裨將綦毋章曰：「吾與楚人為敵境，吾常望其營上雲氣甚佳，未易敗也。 吾聞馬公仁者，待士有禮，吾欲逃死於楚可乎？」 章曰：「公自圖之，章舌可斷，語不泄也。」 師周以兵獵境上，乃奔於楚，綦毋章縱其家屬隨之。 殷聞師周至，大喜曰：「吾方南圖嶺表而得此人，足矣。」 以為馬步軍都指揮使，率兵攻嶺南，取昭、賀、梧、蒙、龔、富等州。 殷表師周昭州刺史。
After the Liang founder took the throne, Yin sent tribute missions. The emperor made him palace attendant and director of the Secretariat and enfeoffed him as King of Chu. Gao Jichang of Jingnan blocked the Han River crossing and waylaid Yin's tribute bearers. Yin sent Xu Dexun against Jichang's Shatou base; when Jichang sued for peace, the fighting stopped. Lü Shizhou, prefect of Yuanzhou under Yang Xingmi, defected to Chu. Shizhou was bold, dashing, and versed in divination and military classics. Claiming five generations of commanders in his line, he feared he could not escape disaster. He drank with wastrels, and when drunk would dance, sing dirges with fierce emotion, and weep. When Yang Xingmi heard of this, he suspected disloyalty and set spies on Shizhou's conduct. More frightened than ever, Shizhou told his lieutenant Qimu Zhang, "We share a border with Chu. I have watched the clouds over their camps—they look auspicious. They will not be easy to beat. I hear Lord Ma is humane and treats men of talent with courtesy. Could I save my life by fleeing to Chu?" Zhang replied, "My lord, decide as you will. They may cut out my tongue, but I will never betray you." Shizhou led a hunting party to the frontier and slipped into Chu. Qimu Zhang allowed his household to follow. When Yin learned Shizhou had come, he exclaimed with delight, "I was plotting south into Lingnan, and to gain this man is enough." He appointed him commander of horse and foot and sent him into Lingnan, where he captured Zhao, He, Wu, Meng, Gong, Fu, and other prefectures. Yin recommended Shizhou as prefect of Zhaozhou.
7
朗州雷彥恭召吳人攻平江，許德勛擊敗之。 殷遣秦彥暉攻朗州，彥恭奔於吳，執其弟彥雄等七人送於梁。 於是澧州向瑰、辰州宋鄴、漵州昌師益等率溪洞諸蠻皆附於殷。 殷請升朗州為永順軍，表張佶節度使。 殷乃請依唐太宗故事，開天冊府，置官屬。 太祖拜殷天冊上將軍，殷以其弟賨為左相，存為右相，廖光圖等十八人為學士。 末帝時，加殷武昌、靜江、寧遠等軍節度使，洪、鄂四面行營都統。
Lei Yangong of Langzhou called in Wu forces against Pingjiang, but Xu Dexun routed them. Yin sent Qin Yanhui against Langzhou. Yangong fled to Wu, while Yanhui seized Yangong's brother Yanxiong and six others and sent them to the Liang court. Then Xiang Gui of Lizhou, Song Ye of Chenzhou, Chang Shiyi of Xuzhou, and other leaders of the stream-dwelling tribes all submitted to Yin. Yin asked that Langzhou be raised to the Yongshun army district and recommended Zhang Ji as its military commissioner. Yin then petitioned, citing Emperor Taizong's precedent, to establish a Celestial Registry Office with a full staff. The Liang founder named Yin Celestial-Registry Grand General. Yin made his brother Bin left chancellor and Xu Cun right chancellor, with Liao Guangtu and seventeen others as academicians. Under the Last Emperor of Liang, Yin was further given the Wuchang, Jingjiang, and Ningyuan commands and made overall commander of the Hong-E mobile headquarters.
8
唐莊宗滅梁，殷遣其子希範修貢京師，上梁所授都統印。 莊宗問洞庭廣狹，希範對曰：「車駕南巡，才堪飲馬爾。」 莊宗嘉之。 莊宗平蜀，殷大懼，表求致仕，莊宗下璽書慰勞之。 明宗即位，遣使修貢，並賀明年正月，荊南高季昌執其貢使史光憲。 殷遣袁詮、王環等攻之，至其城下，季昌求和，乃止。
After Tang Zhuangzong overthrew Liang, Yin sent his son Ma Xifan to court with tribute and returned the overall-command seal the Liang had bestowed. Zhuangzong asked how vast Dongting Lake was. Xifan answered, "If Your Majesty's carriage came south on tour, the lake would scarcely hold enough water for your horses to drink." The emperor was pleased. When Zhuangzong conquered Shu, Yin was terrified and asked to retire. Zhuangzong sent a sealed letter of reassurance. When Mingzong succeeded, Yin sent tribute and New Year's greetings, but Gao Jichang of Jingnan seized the envoy Shi Guangxian. Yin sent Yuan Quan, Wang Huan, and others against Jingnan. They reached the city walls, Jichang sued for peace, and the attack ended.
9
殷初兵力尚寡，與楊行密、成汭、劉龑等為敵國，殷患之，問策於其將高郁，郁曰：「成汭地狹兵寡，不足為吾患，而劉龑志在五管而已，楊行密，孫儒之仇，雖以萬金交之，不能得其歡心。 然尊王仗順，霸者之業也，今宜內奉朝廷以求封爵而外誇鄰敵，然後退修兵農，畜力而有待爾。」 於是殷始修貢京師，然歲貢不過所產茶茗而已。 乃自京師至襄、唐、郢、復等州置邸務以賣茶，其利十倍。 郁又諷殷鑄鉛鐵錢，以十當銅錢一。 又令民自造茶以通商旅，而收其算，歲入萬計。 由是地大力完，數邀封爵。
Early on Yin's forces were still weak, and he faced Yang Xingmi, Cheng Jun, and Liu Yan as enemies. Troubled, he asked his general Gao Yu for counsel. Yu said, "Cheng Jun has little land and few troops—not a real threat. Liu Yan cares only for the Five Guan. Yang Xingmi, Sun Ru's foe, will never be won with gold, however much you spend. Yet hegemony rests on honoring the throne and claiming the moral high ground. Serve the court inwardly for titles, overawe your neighbors outwardly, then husband troops and fields, store strength, and wait." Yin then began sending tribute to the capital, though each year's offering was only the tea his domain produced. He set up tea agencies from the capital through Xiang, Tang, Ying, Fu, and other prefectures, reaping ten times the profit. Yu also persuaded Yin to mint lead-iron coins valued at ten for one standard copper cash. He let the people produce tea for trade and taxed it, yielding tens of thousands in annual revenue. His domain grew rich and powerful, and he repeatedly petitioned for higher titles.
10
希聲立，授武安、靜江等軍節度使。 希聲嘗聞梁太祖好食雞，慕之，乃日烹五十雞以供膳。 葬殷上潢，希聲不哭泣，頓食雞肉數器而起。 其禮部侍郎潘起譏之曰：「昔阮籍居喪而食蒸豚，世豈乏賢邪！」 長興三年，希聲卒，追封衡陽王。 弟希範立。
When Xisheng succeeded, he received the Wu'an, Jingjiang, and related military commissions. Hearing that Liang's founder loved chicken, Xisheng imitated him and had fifty birds cooked every day for his table. At Yin's burial at Shanghuang, Xisheng did not weep but devoured several platters of chicken and then stood up. His vice minister of rites Pan Qi mocked him: "When Ruan Ji ate steamed pork in mourning, people said the age lacked worthy men—and here we are again!" In the third year of Changxing (932) he died and was posthumously enfeoffed as King of Hengyang. His younger brother Ma Xifan succeeded him.
11
希範字寶規，殷第四子也。 殷子十餘人，嫡子希振長而賢，其次希聲與希範同日生，而希聲母袁夫人有美色，希聲以母寵得立，而希振棄官為道士，居於家。 希聲卒，而希範以次立，襲殷官爵，封楚王。 清泰二年，賜以弓矢冠劍。 天福四年，加希範天冊上將軍，開府承制如殷故事。
Ma Xifan, styled Baogui, was Yin's fourth son. Yin had more than a dozen sons. The legitimate heir Xizhen was eldest and capable. Xisheng and Xifan were born the same day, but because Xisheng's mother, Lady Yuan, was beautiful, he won the throne through her favor, while Xizhen resigned his posts, became a Daoist, and lived at home. After Xisheng's death, Xifan succeeded in birth order, took over Yin's offices and titles, and was enfeoffed as King of Chu. In the second year of Qingtai (935) the court bestowed on him the bow, arrows, cap, and sword of investiture. In the fourth year of Tianfu (939) he was named Celestial-Registry Grand General and allowed to open a government with imperial commission, following his father's precedent.
12
希範好學，善詩，文士廖光圖、徐仲雅、李臯、拓拔常等十八人皆故殷時學士，希範性奢侈，光圖等皆薄徒，飲博歡呼，獨常沈厚長者，上書切諫，光圖等惡之。
Xifan loved learning and wrote poetry well. Eighteen scholars including Liao Guangtu, Xu Zhongya, Li Gao, and Tuoba Chang had served as academicians under Yin. Xifan was extravagant; most of them were idle roisterers who drank and gambled. Only Tuoba Chang, a sober elder, sent a blunt memorial of remonstrance, which the others resented.
13
襄州安從進、安州李金全叛，晉高祖詔希範出兵。 希範遣張少敵以舟兵趨漢陽，漕米五萬斛以饋軍，金全等敗，少敵乃旋。
When An Congjin of Xiangzhou and Li Jinquan of Anzhou rebelled, Jin Gaozu ordered Xifan to march. Xifan sent Zhang Shaodi with a fleet to Hanyang and shipped fifty thousand hu of grain to the imperial army. After the rebels were crushed, Shaodi withdrew.
14
溪州刺史彭士愁率錦、獎諸蠻攻澧州，希範遣劉、劉全明等以步卒五千擊之，士愁大敗。 等攻溪州，士愁走獎州，遣其子師暠率諸蠻酋降於。 溪州西接牂柯、兩林，南通桂林、象郡，希範乃立銅柱以為表，命學士李臯銘之。 於是，南寧州酋長莫彥殊率其本部十八州、都雲酋長尹懷昌率其昆明等十二部、牂柯張萬浚率其夷、播等七州皆附於希範。
Peng Shichou, prefect of Xizhou, led the Jin and Jiang tribes against Lizhou. Xifan sent Liu Cheng, Liu Quanming, and five thousand infantry against him, and Shichou was routed. Cheng pressed the attack on Xizhou. Shichou fled to Jiangzhou and sent his son Shigao with the tribal chiefs to surrender to Liu Cheng. Xizhou bordered Zangke and Lianglin on the west and Guilin and Xiang commandery on the south. Xifan set up a bronze pillar as a boundary marker and had the academician Li Gao inscribe it. Then Mo Yanshu of Nanning led eighteen prefectures, Yin Huaichang of Duyun led twelve Kunming divisions, and Zhang Wanxun of Zangke led seven Yi and Bo prefectures—all submitted to Xifan.
15
希範作會春園、嘉宴堂，其費巨萬，始加賦於國中，拓拔常切諫以為不可。 希範又作九龍殿，以八龍繞柱，自言身一龍也。 是時，契丹滅晉，中國大亂，希範牙將丁思覲廷諫希範曰：「先王起卒伍，以攻戰而得此州，倚朝廷以制鄰敵，傳國三世，有地數千里，養兵十萬人。 今天子囚辱，中國無主，真霸者立功之時。 誠能悉國之兵出荊、襄以趨京師，倡義於天下，此桓文、之業也。 奈何耗國用而窮土木，為兒女之樂乎？」 希範謝之，思覲瞋目視希範曰：「孺子終不可教也！」 乃扼喉而死。 開運四年，希範卒，年四十九，謚曰文昭。 希廣立。
Xifan built the Huichun Garden and Jiayan Hall at enormous cost and raised taxes throughout the realm. Tuoba Chang protested sharply that he should not. He also built the Hall of Nine Dragons, with eight dragons coiled around the pillars, declaring himself the ninth dragon. While the Khitans destroyed Jin and the Central Plains fell into chaos, guardsman Ding Siguan admonished Xifan in open court: "Your grandfather rose from the ranks and won this realm by the sword. He leaned on the throne to hold off neighbors. Three generations have ruled thousands of li and kept a hundred thousand men under arms. The emperor is captive and the realm has no master. This is the moment for a true hegemon to act. If you marched every soldier through Jing and Xiang toward the capital and rallied the empire, you could match the achievements of Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin. Why waste the treasury on palaces and gardens for mere personal pleasure?" Xifan thanked him politely. Siguan glared and said, "This boy will never learn!" He throttled himself on the spot. In the fourth year of Kaiyun (947) Xifan died at forty-nine. His posthumous title was Wenzhao, "Cultured and Illustrious." Ma Xiguang succeeded him.
16
希廣字德丕，希範同母弟也。 希範平生惡拓拔常諫諍，常入謁，希範呼閽者指常曰：「吾不欲見此人，勿復內也。」 乃謝絕之。 及臥病，始思常言，以為忠，召之托以希廣。 希範卒，常數勸希廣以位奉其兄希萼，希廣不從。
Ma Xiguang, styled Depi, was Xifan's younger brother by the same mother. Xifan had always disliked Tuoba Chang's blunt counsel. When Chang came to court, Xifan told the gatekeeper, pointing at him, "I do not want to see this man again. Keep him out." He shut Chang out entirely. When he fell gravely ill, he recalled Chang's counsel, judged it loyal, summoned him, and entrusted Ma Xiguang to his care. After Xifan's death, Chang repeatedly urged Xiguang to yield the throne to his elder brother Ma Xie, but Xiguang refused.
17
希萼為朗州節度使，希範之卒，希萼自朗州來奔喪。 希廣將劉彥舀謀曰：「武陵之來，其意不善，宜出兵迎之，以備非常，使其解甲釋兵而後入。」 張少敵、周廷誨曰：「王能與之則已，不然宜早除之。」 希廣泣曰：「吾兄也，焉忍殺之，分國而治可也。」 乃以兵迎希萼於砆石，止之於碧湘宮，厚賂以遣之。 希萼憤然而去，乃遣使詣京師求封爵，請置邸稱藩。 漢隱帝不許，降璽書慰勞講解之。 希萼怒，送款於李景，舉兵攻長沙。 希廣遣劉彥舀、許可瓊等禦之。
Ma Xie held Langzhou as military commissioner. When Xifan died, Xie came from Langzhou to mourn. Xiguang's general Liu Yantong advised, "Xie's arrival from Wuling bodes ill. Meet him with troops, guard against surprise, and make him disarm before he enters the city." Zhang Shaodi and Zhou Tinghui said, "If you can share power, do so; otherwise eliminate him at once." Xiguang wept. "He is my brother. I cannot kill him. Let us divide the realm and rule separately." He met Xie with troops at Fushi, lodged him at the Bixiang Palace, lavished gifts on him, and sent him home. Xie left in a fury and sent envoys to court seeking titles, a liaison office, and recognition as a vassal state. Emperor Yin of Later Han refused but sent a sealed letter of reassurance seeking reconciliation. Enraged, Xie pledged allegiance to Li Jing of Southern Tang and marched on Changsha. Xiguang sent Liu Yantong, Xu Keqiong, and others to oppose him.
18
彥舀敗希萼於僕射洲。 希萼去，誘溪洞諸蠻寇益陽。 希廣遣崔珙璉以步卒七千屯湘鄉玉潭以遏諸蠻。 劉彥舀以舟兵趨武陵，攻希萼。 彥舀敗於湄洲，希廣大懼，遣使請兵於京師，漢隱帝不能出師。 希萼舟兵沿江而上，自號「順天將軍」，攻岳州，刺史王赟堅城不戰，希萼呼赟曰：「吾昔約君同行，今何異心乎？」 赟曰：「君王兄弟不相容，而責將吏異心乎？ 願君王入長沙，不傷同氣，臣不敢不盡節。」 希萼引兵去，下湘鄉，止長沙，屯水西。 劉彥舀、許可瓊屯水東。
Yantong defeated Xie at Pushe Islet. Xie withdrew and stirred the stream-dwelling tribes to raid Yiyang. Xiguang posted Cui Gonglian with seven thousand infantry at Yutan in Xiangxiang to block the tribal raids. Liu Yantong sailed upriver toward Wuling to strike at Xie. Yantong was beaten at Meizhou. Terrified, Xiguang begged the court for reinforcements, but Emperor Yin could send none. Xie's fleet moved upriver under the title "General Who Follows Heaven" and besieged Yuezhou. Prefect Wang Yun held the walls and refused battle. Xie shouted, "We once agreed to march together—why have you turned against me?" Yun replied, "When royal brothers cannot coexist, how can you blame a servant for choosing sides? Enter Changsha without harming your brother, and I will serve you to the utmost." Xie withdrew, moved through Xiangxiang, halted at Changsha, and camped on the west bank of the river. Liu Yantong and Xu Keqiong held the east bank.
19
彭師暠登城望水西軍，入白希廣曰：「武陵兵驕，雜以蠻蜑，其勢易破。 請令可瓊等陣山前，臣以步兵三千自巴溪渡江趨嶽麓，候夜擊之。」 希廣以為可，而可瓊已陰送款於希萼，遂沮其議。 明日，師暠詣可瓊計事，瞋目叱之曰：「視汝反文在面，豈欲投賊乎！」 拂衣而出，急白希廣，請殺之，希廣不聽。 希萼攻長樂門，牙將吳宏、楊滌戰於門中，希萼少衄，已而許可瓊奔於希萼，宏、滌聞之皆潰。 希廣率妻子匿於慈堂。 明日擒之。 希萼見之惻然曰：「此鈍夫也，豈能為惡？ 左右惑之爾。」 顧其下曰：「吾欲活之，如何？」 其下皆不對，遂縊死之。
Peng Shigao surveyed the western army from the wall and told Xiguang, "Wuling's troops are arrogant and mixed with tribal auxiliaries—they can be broken easily. Post Keqiong's men on the hills in front. I will take three thousand infantry across the river at Baxi Ford toward Yuelu and attack by night." Xiguang agreed, but Keqiong had already secretly defected to Xie, and the plan was shelved. The next day Shigao came to consult Keqiong, glared, and shouted, "Treason is written on your face—are you going over to the enemy?!" He stormed out, rushed to Xiguang, and urged Keqiong's execution, but Xiguang refused. Xie assaulted the Changle Gate. Guardsmen Wu Hong and Yang Di fought inside the gate and briefly checked him, but when Xu Keqiong defected to Xie, Hong and Di's forces melted away. Xiguang hid his wife and children in the Cici Hall. The next day they seized him. Seeing him, Xie said with pity, "This fool could never have meant harm. His advisers misled him, that is all." He asked his men, "I want to spare him. What do you say?" No one answered, and Xie had him strangled.
20
顯德三年，世宗征淮，下揚州，下詔撫安馬氏子孫。 已而揚州復入於景，希崇率其兄弟十七人歸京師，拜右羽林統軍，希能左屯衛大將軍，希貫右千牛衛大將軍，希隱、希浚、希知、希朗皆為節度行軍司馬。
In the third year of Xiande (956), Emperor Shizong campaigned in the Huai region, captured Yangzhou, and issued an edict to reassure the Ma clan's descendants. Soon Yangzhou returned to Southern Tang control. Xichong led seventeen brothers to the capital. He became commander of the Right Imperial Guard; Xineng, grand general of the Left Palace Guard; Xiguan, grand general of the Right Imperial Bull Lancers; and Xiyin, Xijun, Xizhi, and Xilang received staff appointments under various military commissioners.
21
劉言，吉州廬陵人也。 王進逵，武陵人也。 言，初事刺史彭玕，從玕奔楚，言事希範為長州刺史。 進逵少為靜江軍卒，事希萼為指揮使。
Liu Yan came from Luling in Jizhou. Wang Jinkui was a native of Wuling. Yan had first served Prefect Peng Yan and followed him into Chu. Under Xifan he became prefect of Changzhou. Jinkui had been a soldier in the Jingjiang army and served Xie as a commander.
22
希萼攻希廣，以進逵為先鋒，陷長沙。 長沙遭亂殘毀，希萼使進逵以靜江兵營緝之，兵皆愁怨，進逵因擁之，夜以長柯巨斧斫關，奔歸武陵。 希萼方醉，不能省，明日遣將唐翥追之，及於武陵，翥戰大敗而還。 進逵乃逐出留後馬光惠，迎言於辰州以為帥，進逵自為副。 已而希萼將徐威等作亂，縛希萼而立希崇，湖南大亂。 李景遣邊鎬入楚，遷馬氏於金陵，因並召言。 言不從，遣進逵與行軍司馬何景真等攻鎬於長沙，鎬敗走。
In Xie's assault on Xiguang, Jinkui led the vanguard and captured Changsha. Changsha lay in ruins after the fighting. Xie sent Jinkui with Jingjiang troops to restore order, but the men were bitter. Jinkui rallied them, and by night they smashed the gates with long poles and great axes and fled back to Wuling. Xie was too drunk to grasp what had happened. The next day he sent Tang Zhu in pursuit. Zhu caught them at Wuling, was routed, and retreated. Jinkui expelled acting governor Ma Guanghui, brought Liu Yan from Chenzhou to lead them, and served as his deputy. Soon Xie's officer Xu Wei mutinied, bound Xie, and installed Xichong. Hunan plunged into chaos. Li Jing sent Bian Hao into Chu, moved the Ma clan to Jinling, and summoned Liu Yan as well. Yan refused and sent Jinkui with staff officer He Jingzhen and others against Bian Hao at Changsha. Hao was beaten and fled.
23
周廣順三年，言奉表京師，以邀封爵。 又言長沙殘破，不可居，請移治所於武陵。 周太祖皆從之，乃升朗州為武平軍，在武安軍上，以言為節度使，因以武安授進逵，進逵自以言己所迎立，不為之下。 言患之，二人始有隙，欲相圖。 進逵謀曰：「言將可用者不過何景真、朱全琇爾，召而殺之，言可取也。」 是時，劉晟取楚梧、桂、宜、蒙等州，進逵因白言召景真等會兵攻晟。 言信之，遣景真、全琇往，至皆見殺，乃舉兵襲武陵，執言殺之，奉表京師，周太祖即以進逵為武平軍節度使。
In the third year of Guangshun (953), Yan memorialized the Zhou court seeking titles. He argued that ruined Changsha was uninhabitable and asked to move the capital to Wuling. Zhou Taizu agreed. Langzhou was raised to the Wuping army, senior to Wu'an. Yan became its military commissioner and Jinkui received Wu'an. Jinkui, having installed Yan himself, refused to bow to him. Yan grew uneasy. The two men fell out and plotted against each other. Jinkui schemed: "Yan's only capable officers are He Jingzhen and Zhu Quanxiu. Summon and kill them, and Yan is yours." Southern Han's Liu Sheng had seized Wu, Gui, Yi, Meng, and other Chu prefectures. Jinkui urged Yan to summon Jingzhen and the rest for a joint campaign against him. Yan believed him and sent them out. Both were killed on arrival. Jinkui then struck Wuling, seized and executed Yan, and memorialized the court. Zhou Taizu at once appointed Jinkui military commissioner of Wuping.
24
世宗征淮南，授進逵南面行營都統。 進逵攻鄂州，過岳州，岳州刺史潘叔嗣，進逵故時同列，待進逵甚謹。 進逵左右就叔嗣求賂，叔嗣不與，左右讒其短，進逵面罵之，叔嗣慚恨，語其下曰：「進逵戰勝而還，吾無遺類矣。」 進逵入鄂州，方攻下長山，叔嗣以兵襲武陵。 進逵聞之，輕舟而歸，與叔嗣戰武陵城外，進逵敗，見殺。
When Shizong campaigned in Huainan, he named Jinkui overall commander of the southern expeditionary headquarters. Marching on Ezhou, Jinkui passed through Yuezhou, where Prefect Pan Shusi, once his comrade in arms, received him with scrupulous courtesy. Jinkui's men demanded bribes; Shusi refused. They slandered him, and Jinkui berated him publicly. Ashamed and furious, Shusi told his officers, "If Jinkui wins and returns, none of us will be left alive." While Jinkui was inside Ezhou capturing Changshan, Shusi struck Wuling with an army. Hearing the news, Jinkui raced back in light boats, fought Shusi outside Wuling, was defeated, and was killed.
25
周行逢，武陵人也。 與王進逵俱為靜江軍卒，事希萼為軍校。 進逵攻邊鎬，行逢別破益陽，殺李景兵二千餘人，擒其將李建期。 進逵為武安軍節度使，拜行逢集州刺史，為進逵行軍司馬。 進逵與劉言有隙，行逢為畫謀策襲殺言。 進逵據武陵，行逢據潭州。
Zhou Xingfeng was a native of Wuling. He and Wang Jinkui had both served in the Jingjiang army under Xie as junior officers. While Jinkui fought Bian Hao, Xingfeng separately took Yiyang, killed more than two thousand Southern Tang troops, and captured General Li Jianqi. When Jinkui became military commissioner of Wu'an, Xingfeng was named prefect of Jizhou and served as his staff marshal. When Jinkui and Liu Yan fell out, Xingfeng devised the plot that killed Yan. Jinkui held Wuling while Xingfeng held Tanzhou.
26
顯德元年，拜行逢武清軍節度使，權知潭州軍府事。 潘叔嗣殺進逵，或勸其入武陵，叔嗣曰：「吾殺進逵，救死而已，武陵非吾利也。」 乃還岳州，遣其客將李簡率武陵人迎行逢於潭州。 行逢入武陵，或請以潭州與叔嗣，行逢曰：「叔嗣殺主帥，罪當死，以其迎我，未忍殺爾。 若與武安，是吾使之殺王公也。」 召以為行軍司馬。 叔嗣怒，稱疾不至，行逢怒曰：「是又欲殺我矣！」 乃陽以武安與之，召使至府受命，至則殺之。
In the first year of Xiande (954) he was appointed military commissioner of Wuqing and given provisional control of Tanzhou headquarters. After Pan Shusi killed Jinkui, some urged him to seize Wuling. Shusi said, "I killed him to save myself. Wuling holds no profit for me." He returned to Yuezhou and sent his client officer Li Jian with Wuling men to bring Xingfeng from Tanzhou. When Xingfeng entered Wuling, some suggested giving him Tanzhou. Xingfeng said, "Shusi murdered his commander and deserved death. Because he brought me in, I spared him. To give him Wu'an would be to commission him to kill Lord Wang." He summoned Shusi to serve as acting army marshal. Shusi refused in anger, pleading illness. Xingfeng raged, "He plans to kill me again!" He pretended to offer Wu'an, summoned Shusi to headquarters to take command, and killed him on arrival.
27
行逢故武陵農家子，少貧賤無行，多慷慨大言。 及居武陵，能儉約自勉勵，而性勇敢，果於殺戮，麾下將吏素恃功驕慢者，一以法繩之。 大將十餘人謀為亂，行逢召宴諸將，酒半，以壯士擒下斬之，一境皆畏服。 民過無大小皆死，夫人嚴氏諫曰：「人情有善惡，安得一概殺之乎！」 行逢怒曰：「此外事，婦人何知！」 嚴氏不悅，紿曰：「家田佃戶，以公貴，頗不力農，多恃勢以侵民，請往視之。」 至則營居以老，歲時衣青裙押佃戶送租入城。 行逢往就見之，勞曰：「吾貴矣，夫人何自苦邪！」 嚴氏曰：「公思作戶長時乎？ 民租後時，常苦鞭撲，今貴矣，宜先期以率眾，安得遂忘壟畝間乎！」 行逢強邀之，以群妾擁升肩輿，嚴氏卒無留意，因曰：「公用法太嚴而失人心，所以不欲留者，一旦禍起，田野間易為逃死爾。」 行逢為少損。
Xingfeng had been a farmer's son from Wuling, poor and rough in youth, prone to grandiose talk. Once established in Wuling he lived frugally and drove himself hard. Brave and ruthless, he punished by law every officer who had grown arrogant on past merit. When more than ten senior generals plotted mutiny, Xingfeng feasted them, and at mid-banquet had brawny men seize and behead them. The whole region submitted in fear. He executed people for offenses great and small. His wife Lady Yan protested, "People differ in guilt—how can you kill them all alike?" Xingfeng snapped, "That is men's business—what does a woman know!" Displeased, Lady Yan pretended: "Our tenants, emboldened by your rank, neglect the fields and bully the neighbors. Let me go inspect the estate." She settled on the estate to live out her days, and each season, in a plain blue skirt, she escorted the tenants bringing rent into town. Xingfeng visited and said, "I am a great man now—why do you punish yourself so?" Lady Yan asked, "Do you remember when you were a village headman? When rent was late, you were flogged. Now that you are powerful, you should pay early and set an example. How can you forget the fields?" He forced her into a sedan surrounded by concubines, but she would not stay. She said, "Your laws are too harsh and you have lost the people's hearts. If trouble comes, the countryside is the easiest place to escape death." Xingfeng eased his severity somewhat.
28
建隆三年，行逢病，召其將吏，以其子保權屬之曰：「吾起隴畝為團兵，同時十人，皆以誅死，惟衡州刺史張文表獨存，然常怏怏不得行軍司馬。 吾死，文表必叛，當以楊師璠討之。 如其不能，則嬰城勿戰，自歸於朝廷。」
In the third year of Jianlong (962), Xingfeng fell ill and summoned his officers. Entrusting his son Baoquan to them, he said, "I rose from the fields as a militiaman. Of ten comrades, all were executed except Zhang Wenbiao of Hengzhou, who still broods over never receiving the post of staff marshal. When I die, Wenbiao will rebel. Send Yang Shilu against him. If he cannot prevail, hold the walls, do not fight, and surrender to the court yourself."
29
行逢卒，子保權立。 文表聞之，怒曰：「行逢與我起微賤而立功名，今日安能北面事小兒乎！」 遂舉兵叛，攻下潭州。 保權乞師於朝廷，亦命楊師璠討文表，告以先人之言，感激涕泣，師璠亦泣，顧其軍曰：「汝見郎君乎？ 年未成人而賢若此。」 軍士奮然，皆思自效。 師璠至平津亭，文表出戰，大敗之。 初，保權之乞師也，太祖皇帝遣慕容延釗討文表，未至而文表為師璠所執。 延釗兵入朗州，保權舉族朝於京師，其後事具國史。
Xingfeng died, and his son Baoquan succeeded him. When Wenbiao heard the news, he raged: "Xingfeng and I rose from nothing together. How can I bow to a child now?" He rebelled and captured Tanzhou. Baoquan begged the Song court for aid and was given Yang Shilu to fight Wenbiao. Reciting his father's warning, he wept with emotion. Shilu wept too and told his troops, "Have you seen our young lord? Not yet a man, yet so worthy as this." The troops were stirred and eager to serve. Shilu reached Pingjin Pavilion. Wenbiao gave battle and was routed. When Baoquan first asked for aid, Emperor Taizu sent Murong Yanjiao against Wenbiao, but before Yanjiao arrived, Shilu had already captured him. Yanjiao's army entered Langzhou. Baoquan brought his clan to court. His later career is recorded in the dynastic histories.
30
〈（殷自唐乾寧三年入湖南，至周廣順元年，凡五十七年，余具《年譜》註。）〉
(Ma Yin entered Hunan in the third year of Qianning (896) and the house endured until the first year of Guangshun (951)—fifty-seven years in all; see the "Chronological Tables" for details.)]〉