Duan Ning (段凝) | 24 Histories

Overview

Duan Ning was a Campaign Commander.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Changed name	Shaoqin	紹欽	Shaoqin
Alternate name	Mingyuan	明遠	Mingyuan

Life and dates

Death

AD 927 明宗即位明年
Ordered suicide
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 97
AD 927 明年，長流遼州，賜死
Executed · At Liaozhou 遼州
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 175

Attested activity

AD 920 貞明六年六月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 41
AD 922 龍德二年八月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 142
AD 923 龍德三年五月至冬十月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 10, passages 153, 170
AD 920 尹皓、段凝等素惡鄩，乃譖之
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 91
AD 911 乾化元年十二月
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 68
AD 907 to AD 912 事太祖，為軍巡使
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 147

Show 23 more source-backed claims

AD 920 其年九月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 108
AD 922 十九年
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 180
AD 925 同光三年四月
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 93
AD 923 同光元年八月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 74, passage 158
AD 923 同光初
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 64, passage 147
AD 926 四年二月
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 94
AD 910 四年五月
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 67
AD 926 明宗至洛陽
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 96
AD 927 明年，長流遼州，賜死
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 175
AD 922 to AD 923 末帝季年
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 63, passages 73, 76
AD 923 段凝為將
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passages 153-154
AD 923 段凝阻絕津路
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 57, passage 28
AD 923 河上之軍
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 44, passage 93
AD 923 知裕與段凝軍河上
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 184
AD 923 莊宗已下魏博，與梁相距河上
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 157
AD 923 莊宗平梁
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 95, passage 146
AD 923 莊宗於崇元殿宴諸將
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 64, passage 17
AD 915 to AD 923 貞明、龍德之際
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 16, passage 134
AD 909 開平三年十月
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 65
AD 923 龍德三年夏
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 32, passage 27
AD 923 龍德末
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 228
AD 923 龙德三年秋八月
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 3, passage 78
AD 922 龙德二年秋八月
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 3, passage 73

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Father of Duan Ning (段凝之父)
father 父
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 146
Sibling of Younger sister of Duan Ning (凝妹)
younger sister 妹
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 66
Sibling of Younger sister of Duan Ning (段凝之妹)
younger sister 妹
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 148

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Northern Campaign Pacification commissioner 北面行營招討使
Appointed as replacement for · With Wang Yanzhang (王彥章)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 159
prefect of Huaizhou 懷州刺史
AD 910 四年五月 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 67
northern campaign commander 北面招討使
AD 922 to AD 923 末帝季年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 63, passage 73
General of the Right Weiwu Guard 右威衛大將軍
AD 909 開平三年十月 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 65
commander-in-chief of the northern-route campaign headquarters 北面行营招讨使
AD 923 龙德三年秋八月 · Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 3, passage 78
campaign commander-in-chief 招討使
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 82

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campaign commissioner 招討使
Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 32, passage 45
commander 將
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 153
deputy campaign commissioner 招討副使
Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 32, passage 27
deputy pacification commissioner 招討使副
Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 157
military governor of Taining 泰寧軍節度使
Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 167
pacification commissioner 招討使
Appointed · At Wangcun 王村
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 161
acting commander of the Huazhou garrison 滑州兵马留后
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 3, passage 73
army patrol commissioner 軍巡使
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 147
chief clerk of Mianchi 澠池主簿
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 145
clerk of Mianchi 澠池簿
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 64
Manor Estates commissioner 莊宅使
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 41
prefect of Huai 懷州刺史
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 150
military commissioner of Deng Prefecture 鄧州節度使
AD 925 同光三年四月 · Transferred
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 93
military governor of Wusheng 武勝軍節度使
Transferred
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 172
prefect of Zhengzhou; river army supervisor 鄭州刺史，使監兵於河上
Transferred
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 152
Entered
Imprisoned
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 64, passage 32
newcomer 晚進
Latecomer
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 63, passage 76
sent home to his village 勒歸田里
Dismissed · Authority Mingzong (明宗)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 174
distant exile to Liaozhou; granted death 長流遼州，賜死
Exiled
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 175
released from repayment 莊宗釋之
Pardoned · Authority Zhuangzong (莊宗)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 168

Places and affiliations

Later Liang 梁
Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 180
Polity Later Liang 後梁 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 108
Polity Later Liang 後梁 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 63, passage 73
Polity Later Liang 梁 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 228; Old History of the Five Dynasties 95, passage 146; New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passages 147, 157
Polity Later Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 95, passage 146
Polity Later Tang 唐 · Relation Surrendered to
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 164

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At Kaifeng 開封
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 62; New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 143

Works and attributed material

Memorial · Author · Direct quotation
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 32, passage 44
Memorial · Author
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 165

Events and relationships

Captured prefect
AD 922 龙德二年秋八月 · Military · Commander · With Li Cunru (李存儒) · At Weizhou 卫州
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 3, passage 73
Cut yellow river from suanzao
Military · Commander · At Suanzao 酸棗
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 162
Encamped at Linjin
AD 922 十九年 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 180
Framed charges
Political · Accuser · With Liu Xun (劉鄩)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 108
Impeached Liang power holders
AD 923 龍德末 · Legal · Denouncer
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 228
Ranked above other generals
AD 922 to AD 923 末帝季年 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 63, passage 73

Show 18 more source-backed claims

Served under yanzhang
Military · Deputy commander · With Wang Yanzhang (王彥章)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 157
Suppressed Yanzhang victory report
Political · Actor
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 32, passage 43
Surrendered with others when Zhuangzong pacified Liang
AD 923 莊宗平梁 · Political · Surrenderer
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 95, passage 146
Surrendered at Fengqiu
AD 923 同光初 · Military · Commander · At Fengqiu 封丘
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 64, passage 147
Surrendered to Tang
AD 923 是歲 · Military · Surrendered
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 57, passage 59
Surrendered with 50000
Military · Surrenderer · With Zhuangzong (莊宗)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 164
Surrendered
AD 923 莊宗入汴 · Military · Surrenderer · With Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang (後唐莊宗) · At Bian suburbs 汴郊
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 85
Took yanzhang merit
Political · Usurper of credit · With Wang Yanzhang (王彥章)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 160
Was recalled from the river but did not arrive before the Tang advance
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 10, passages 168, 170
Military · Commander · Actions attacked Tongzhou, captured Weizhou, besieged Yangliu, maneuvered at Wang village and Gaoling
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 10, passages 41, 142, 153, 160
Relation Slandered · Person Liu Xun (劉鄩)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 91
Relation Client of · Person Zhao Yan (趙岩)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 158
Relation Conspired with · Person Zhao Yan (趙岩)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 32, passages 41-42
Relation Subordinate of · Person Last Emperor (末帝)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 63, passage 73
Relation Protege of · Person Li Shaohong (李紹宏)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 171
Relation Deputy of · Person Wang Yanzhang (王彥章)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 157
Relation Rival of · Person Wang Yanzhang (王彥章)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 77
Relation Client of · Person Zhang Hanjie (張漢傑)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 158

Assessments and attributes

Assessment defeated general of a ruined state · Mode named-person-report Speaker Guo Chongtao (郭崇韜)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 91
Assessment had long envied Xun · With Liu Xun (劉鄩) · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 108
Assessment rode the last Liang favorites into treachery · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 158
Assessment ruined the state; death came too late · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 145
Assessment sly and quick to read a man’s mood · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 149
Assessment treacherous and sycophantic · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 88

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virtue has not won men's hearts 德未服人
Assessment virtue has not won men's hearts · Mode speech Speaker Zhang Quanyi (張全義)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 63, passage 76
Assessment walked Tang halls without shame, treating ministers like players · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 166
Item brocade robe and imperial mount 錦袍、御馬 · Relation Bestowed · With Zhuangzong (莊宗)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 164

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 228; Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 108; Old History of the Five Dynasties 63, passage 73; Old History of the Five Dynasties 95, passage 146; New History of the Five Dynasties 32, passage 27
Value historical
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 153
From Ning 凝 · To Li Shaoqin 李紹欽 · Authority Zhuangzong (莊宗)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 167
From Mingyuan 明遠 · To Duan Ning 段凝
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 63
From Mingyuan 明遠 · To Ning 凝
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 144
To Shaoqin 紹欽 · granted imperial surname
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 85

References in the histories

Search passages

History

81 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 10Volume 10 Book of Later Liang 10: Later Emperors Annals 3 · 7 passages

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六月，遣兗州節度使劉鄩、華州節度使尹皓、崇州節度使溫昭圖、莊宅使段凝領軍攻同州。 In the sixth month Liu Yan of Yan, Yin Hao of Hua, Wen Zhaotu of Chong, and Duan Ning of the Manor Estates marched on Tongzhou.

八月，段凝、張朗攻衛州，下之，獲刺史李存儒以獻。 In the eighth month Duan Ning and Zhang Lang took Weizhou and sent captive commissioner Li Cunru to court.

己巳，王彥章、段凝圍楊劉城。 On jisi Wang Yanzhang and Duan Ning besieged Yangliu.

八月，以段凝代王彥章為北面行營招討使。 In the eighth month Duan Ning replaced Wang Yanzhang as northern commander.

戊子，段凝營於王村，引軍自高陵渡河，復臨河而還。 On wuzi Duan Ning camped at Wang village, crossed at Gaoling, and maneuvered along the river.

帝聞中都之敗，唐軍長驅將至，遣張漢倫馳驛召段凝於河上； Hearing of Zhongdu’s fall and Tang’s advance, the Emperor dispatched Zhang Hanlun to recall Duan Ning from the river;

時禁軍尚有四千人，朱圭請以拒唐軍，帝不從，登建國門召開封尹王瓚，謂之曰：「段凝未至，社稷係卿方略。」 Four thousand guards remained; Zhu Gui begged to fight; the Emperor refused, climbed the Founding Gate, called Wang Zan, and said: "Until Duan Ning comes the realm rests on you."

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 16Volume 16 Book of Later Liang 16: Biographies 6: Ge Congzhou, Xie Yanzhang, He Zhen, Zhang Guiba, Zhang Guihou, Zhang Guibian · 1 passage

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當貞明、龍德之際，漢傑昆仲分掌權要，藩鎮除拜多出其門，段凝因之遂竊兵柄。 The Hanjie brothers dominated appointments until Duan Ning seized the army.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 18Volume 18 Book of Later Liang 18: Biographies 8: Zhang Wenyu, Xue Yiju, Zhang Ce, Du Xiao, Jing Xiang, Li Zhen · 3 passages

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陛下初任段凝為將，臣已極言，小人朋附，致有今日。 When you first made Duan Ning commander I warned you to the utmost; petty factions brought us to this day.

晉軍即至，段凝限水。 The Jin army is upon us, and Duan Ning is blocked by the river.

會段凝等疏梁氏權要之臣，振與敬翔等同日族誅。 When Duan Ning and others denounced Liang power-holders, Zhen and Jing Xiang were executed to the third degree on the same day.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 23Volume 23 Book of Later Liang 23: Biographies 13: Liu Xun, He Gui, Kang Huaiying, Wang Jingren · 1 passage

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尹皓、段凝輩素忌鄩，遂構其罪，言鄩逗留養寇，俾俟援兵，末帝以為然。 Yin Hao, Duan Ning, and others who envied him accused Xun of stalling to let the enemy gather; the Last Emperor believed them.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 53Volume 53 Book of Later Tang 29: Biographies 5: Li Cunxin, Li Cunxiao, Li Cunjin, Li Cunzhang, Li Cunxian · 1 passage

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十九年，汴將段凝軍五萬營臨晉，蒲人大恐，鹹欲歸汴。 In the nineteenth year the Liang general Duan Ning camped at Linjin with fifty thousand men. The people of Pu were terrified and many wished to defect to Liang.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 57Volume 57 Book of Later Tang 33: Biographies 9: Gao Chongtao · 4 passages

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崇韜啟曰：「段凝阻絕津路，苟王師不南，鄆州安能保守！ Guo Chongtao addressed him, saying, "Duan Ning has cut the river crossings. If our army does not advance south, how can Yun be held?

又聞精兵盡在段凝麾下，王彥章日寇鄆境，彼既以大軍臨我南鄙，又憑恃決河，謂我不能南渡，志在收復汶陽，此汴人之謀也。 Their best troops are massed under Duan Ning, while Wang Yanzhang harasses Yun daily. They mean to pin us with a great army on our southern frontier while trusting the breached river to keep us from crossing south and reconquering Wenyang. That is the Liang plan.

臣謂段凝保據河壖，苟欲持我，臣但請留兵守鄴，保固楊劉； Leave Duan Ning to hold the river line while he tries to pin us down. Leave enough troops to hold Ye and secure Yangliu;

是歲，擒王彥章，誅梁氏，降段凝，皆崇韜讚成其謀也。 That year Wang Yanzhang was captured, the Liang dynasty was overthrown, and Duan Ning surrendered—all achievements that Guo Chongtao had urged and helped bring to pass.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 63Volume 63 Book of Later Tang 39: Biographies 15: Zhang Quanyi, Zhu Youqian · 2 passages

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末帝季年，趙、張用事，段凝為北面招討使，驟居諸將之右。 In the Last Emperor's final years Zhao and Zhang dominated court affairs; Duan Ning was made northern campaign commander and suddenly ranked above all other generals.

段凝晚進，德未服人，恐人情不和，敗亂國政。」 Duan Ning is a newcomer whose virtue has not won men's hearts; I fear discord will disrupt the state."

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 64Volume 64 Book of Later Tang 40: Biographies 16: Hou Yanwei, Wang Yanqiu, Dai Siyuan, Zhu Hanbin, Kong Qing, Liu Qi, Zhou Zhiyu · 4 passages

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一日，莊宗於崇元殿宴諸將，彥威與段凝、袁象先等預會。 One day Emperor Zhuangzong entertained his generals in the Chongyuan Hall; Yanwei was there with Duan Ning, Yuan Xiangxian, and others.

擅收段凝、溫韜下獄，將置於法。 He took it upon himself to arrest Duan Ning and Wen Tao and throw them in prison, intending to have them executed.

安重誨曰：「溫、段罪惡，負於梁室，眾所知矣。 An Chonghui said, "Wen and Duan are guilty men who betrayed the house of Liang, as everyone knows.

同光初，莊宗入汴，知裕隨段凝軍解甲封丘。 Early in Tongguang, when Emperor Zhuangzong entered Bian, Zhiyu followed Duan Ning's army in surrendering at Fengqiu.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 73Volume 73 Book of Later Tang 49: Biographies 25: Mao Zhang, Nie Yu, Wen Tao, Duan Ning, Kong Qian, Li Ye · 21 passages

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段凝，開封人也。 Duan Ning was a native of Kaifeng.

本名明遠，少穎悟，多智數。 His original name was Mingyuan. As a youth he was quick-witted and adept at intrigue.

乾化元年十二月，梁祖北征回，過郡，凝貢獻加等，梁祖大悅。 In the twelfth month of the first year of Qianhua, the Liang founder returned from a northern campaign and passed through his prefecture. Ning doubled his tribute, and the founder was greatly pleased.

梁祖復北，凝迎奉進貢，有加於前。 When the founder marched north again, Ning received him with tribute even more lavish than before.

製云：「懷州刺史段明遠，少年治郡，庶事惟公，兩度隻奉行鑾，數程宿食本界，動無遺闕，舉必周豐，蓋能罄竭於家財，務在顯酬夫明獎。 The edict declared: "Duan Mingyuan, prefect of Huaizhou, though young in governing a commandery, conducts every affair with scrupulous fairness. Twice he alone attended the imperial carriage; for several marches he provided lodging and provisions within his jurisdiction without a single lapse, and never with less than full abundance. He has clearly drained his family fortune and seeks thereby to make plain the value of enlightened reward.

觀明遠之忠勤若此，見思安之悖慢何如！」 Compare Mingyuan's loyalty and diligence with this, and see how Si'an's insolence and neglect measure up!"

張漢倫等推功於凝，凝掎摭彥章之失以間之。 Zhang Hanlun and others credited Ning with the success, and Ning seized on Yanzhang's faults to drive a wedge between them.

遊奕將李紹興敗梁遊兵於清邱縣南，段凝以為唐兵已自上流渡，驚駭失色，麵數彥章，尤其深入。）〉 Patrol general Li Shaoxing defeated Liang scouts south of Qingqiu County. Ning concluded that Tang troops had already crossed upstream, turned pale with fright, and berated Yanzhang to his face, reproaching him above all for advancing too far.)〉

凝納賂於趙、張二族，求為招討使，敬翔、李振極言不可，竟不能止。 Ning bribed the Zhao and Zhang clans in pursuit of the post of campaign commander-in-chief. Jing Xiang and Li Zhen argued strenuously against the appointment but could not prevent it.

凝以眾五萬營於高陵津，裨將康延孝叛歸莊宗，延孝具陳梁軍虛實，莊宗遂決長驅之計。 Ning encamped fifty thousand men at Gaoling Ford. Subordinate general Kang Yanxiao defected to Emperor Zhuangzong and gave a full account of the Liang army's strengths and weaknesses, and Zhuangzong thereupon resolved on a direct advance.

未幾，莊宗入汴，凝自滑率兵而南，前鋒杜晏球至封丘，解甲聽命。 Before long Emperor Zhuangzong entered Bian. Ning led troops south from Hua, and vanguard commander Du Yanqiu reached Fengqiu, laid down his arms, and awaited orders.

翌日，凝率大軍乞降於汴郊，莊宗釋之，復以凝為滑州兵馬留後，賜姓，名紹欽。 The next day Ning led the main army to surrender in the suburbs of Bian. Emperor Zhuangzong spared him, reappointed him military reserve officer of Hua Prefecture, granted him the imperial surname, and gave him the name Shaoqin.

凝初見莊宗，因伶人景進通貨於宮掖。 When Ning first met Emperor Zhuangzong, he used the actor Jing Jin to convey gifts into the inner palace.

凝天性奸佞，巧言飾智，善候人意。 By nature Ning was treacherous and sycophantic, skilled at polished speech and feigned wisdom, and adept at reading what others wished to hear.

其年，契丹寇幽州，命宣徽使李紹宏監護諸軍，以禦契丹，凝與董璋戍瓦橋關。 That year the Khitan raided Youzhou. Li Shaohong, commissioner of the Palace Secretariat, was appointed to oversee the armies against them; Ning and Dong Zhang garrisoned Waqiao Pass.

凝巧事紹宏，紹宏嘗乘間奏凝蓋世奇才，可以大任，屢請以兵柄委之。 Ning skillfully ingratiated himself with Shaohong, who on one occasion memorialized that Ning was a rare genius fit for great responsibility and repeatedly asked that military command be entrusted to him.

郭崇韜曰：「段凝亡國敗軍之將，奸諂難狀，不要信也。」 Guo Chongtao said, "Duan Ning is a defeated general of a ruined state; his treachery and flattery are beyond description—do not trust him."

凝在藩鎮，私用庫物數萬計，有司促償，中旨貰其負。 At his fief Ning privately used treasury goods worth tens of thousands. When the relevant office pressed for repayment, an imperial order remitted his debt.

四年二月，趙在禮據鄴城，李紹宏請用凝為大將，莊宗許之，令具方略條奏。 In the second month of the fourth year Zhao Zaili seized Ye City. Li Shaohong asked that Ning be appointed commander; Emperor Zhuangzong agreed and ordered him to submit a detailed plan.

凝所請偏裨皆取其己黨，莊宗疑之，乃止。 Every subordinate commander Ning requested was from his own faction. Emperor Zhuangzong grew suspicious and halted the appointment.

如毛璋之儔，可謂積惡而滅其身矣，況溫韜之發陵寢，段凝之敗國家，罪不容誅，死猶差晚。 Men like Mao Zhang may be said to have accumulated evil until it destroyed them; how much more Wen Tao, who opened imperial tombs, and Duan Ning, who ruined the state—their crimes were beyond what execution could answer, and even death came too late.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 74Volume 74 Book of Later Tang 50: Biographies 126: Kang Yanxiao, Zhu Shouyin, Yang Li, Dou Tingwan, Zhang Qianzhao, Yang Yanwen · 1 passage

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同光元年八月，段凝率眾五萬營於王村，時延孝為右先鋒指揮使，率百騎來奔。 In the eighth month of Tongguang 1, Duan Ning camped at Wang Village with fifty thousand men. Yanxiao, then Right Vanguard Commander, came over with a hundred riders.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 95Volume 95 Book of Later Jin 21: Biographies 10: Huang Fuyu, Wang Qing, Liang Hanzhang, Bai Fengjin, Lu Shunmi, Zhou Huan, Shen Yun, Wu Luan, Di Zhang, Cheng Fuyun, Guo Lin · 1 passage

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及莊宗平梁，隨段凝等降，不改其職。 When Zhuangzong pacified Liang, he followed Duan Ning and others in surrendering and kept his post unchanged.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 3Volume 3 Later Liang Annals 3: Later Emperors · 2 passages

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秋八月，滑州兵马留后段凝攻卫州，执其刺史李存儒。 In the eighth month of autumn Duan Ning, acting commander of the Huazhou garrison, attacked Weizhou and took its prefect Li Cunru prisoner.

秋八月，段凝为北面行营招讨使。 In the eighth month of autumn Duan Ning was appointed to command the northern campaign.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 22Volume 22 Later Liang Biographies 2: Kang Huaiying, Liu Xun, Niu Cunjie, Zhang Guiba, Wang Zhongshi, Xu Huaiyu · 1 passage

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尹皓、段凝等素惡鄩，乃譖之，以為鄩與友謙親家，故其逗留以養賊。 Yin Hao, Duan Ning, and others had long hated him; they whispered that Xun and Youqian were kin by marriage and that he was stalling to feed the rebellion.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 32Volume 32 Biographies of Martyrs to Virtue 12: Wang Yanzhang · 7 passages

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末帝乃召彥章為招討使，以段凝為副。 The Last Emperor summoned Yanzhang as campaign commander and made Duan Ning his deputy.

是時，段凝已有異志，與趙巖、張漢傑交通，彥章素剛，憤梁日削，而嫉巖等所為，嘗謂人曰：「俟吾破賊還，誅奸臣以謝天下。」 By then Duan Ning was already playing a double game, dealing with Zhao Yan and Zhang Hanjie. Yanzhang was blunt; he watched Liang shrink day by day and hated the court’s petty men. He often said: "When I break the enemy and march home, I will kill the traitors and answer the realm."

巖等聞之懼，與凝葉力傾之。 Zhao Yan and the rest heard and were terrified; they and Ning united to destroy him.

其破南城也，彥章與凝各為捷書以聞，凝遣人告巖等匿彥章書而上己書，末帝初疑其事，已而使者至軍，獨賜勞凝而不及彥章，軍士皆失色。 When the south city fell, Yanzhang and Ning each sent victory dispatches. Ning’s men told Zhao Yan to bury Yanzhang’s report and push Ning’s instead. The Last Emperor doubted at first—then the envoy reached camp and rewards went to Ning alone. The soldiers went white.

及楊劉之敗也，凝乃上書言：「彥章使酒輕敵而至於敗。」 After Yang Liu, Ning wrote: "Yanzhang drank, scorned the enemy, and lost."

趙巖等從中日夜毀之，乃罷彥章，以凝為招討使。 Zhao Yan and the rest tore at him day and night. Yanzhang was stripped of command; Ning took his place.

是時，梁之勝兵皆屬段凝，京師只有保鑾五百騎，皆新捉募之兵，不可用，乃以屬彥章，而以張漢傑監之。 Liang’s best troops were all with Duan Ning. The capital had only five hundred Palace Guard cavalry—raw recruits, good for nothing. These were handed to Yanzhang, with Zhang Hanjie watching over him.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 44Volume 44 Miscellaneous Biographies 24: Liu Zhijun, Ding Hui, He Delun, Yan Bao, Kang Yanxiao · 4 passages

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末帝遣段凝軍於河上，以延孝為左右先鋒指揮使。 The Last Emperor put Duan Ning on the river with an army and made Yanxiao commander of the left and right vanguard.

段凝奸邪，以入金多為大將，自其父時故將皆出其下。 Duan Ning is treacherous; he bought rank with gold and sits above every general who served his father.

段凝以河上之軍當陛下。」 Duan Ning with the river army to hold Your Majesty.”

後董璋等雖不出兵，而梁兵悉屬段凝於河上，京師無備，莊宗卒用延孝策，自鄆入汴，凡八日而滅梁。 Dong Zhang never marched, but every Liang soldier on the river went to Duan Ning and the capital stood bare. Zhuangzong took Yanxiao’s counsel, rode from Yan into Bian, and in eight days Liang was gone.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 45Volume 45 Miscellaneous Biographies 25: Zhang Quanyi, Zhu Youqian, Yuan Xiangxian, Zhu Hanbin, Duan Ning, Liu Qi, Zhou Zhiyu, Lu Siduo · 21 passages

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段凝，開封人也。 Duan Ning came from Kaifeng.

初名明遠，後更名凝。 He was born Mingyuan and later took the name Ning.

後凝棄官，亦事太祖，為軍巡使。 Ning quit the clerkship and entered Zhu Wen’s service as army patrol commissioner.

凝為人憸巧，善窺迎人意，又以妹故，太祖漸親信之，常使監諸軍。 Ning was sly and quick to read a man’s mood. The sister won him trust; Zhu Wen often set him to watch the armies.

為懷州刺史，梁太祖北征，過懷州，凝獻饋甚豐，太祖大悅。 They made him prefect of Huai. When Zhu Wen marched north he passed Huai; Ning’s gifts were lavish and the Founder was delighted.

過相州，相州刺史李思安獻饋如常禮，比凝為薄，太祖怒，思安因以得罪死。 At Xiang, Prefect Li Si’an gave the usual tribute—nothing beside Ning’s feast. Zhu Wen raged; Si’an offended and died for it.

遷凝鄭州刺史，使監兵於河上。 They moved him to Zhengzhou and set him over the river armies.

李振亟請罷之，太祖曰：「凝未有罪。」 Li Zhen begged to remove him. Zhu Wen said, “Ning has done no crime.”

梁以王彥章為招討使，凝為副。 Liang named Wang Yanzhang pacification commissioner and Ning his second.

是時，末帝昏亂，小人趙巖、張漢傑等用事，凝依附巖等為奸。 The Last Emperor was lost; Zhao Yan, Zhang Hanjie, and their kind ruled. Ning rode their coattails into treachery.

而凝與彥章各自上其功，巖等從中匿彥章功狀，悉歸其功於凝。 Ning and Yanzhang each filed merit. Yan’s clique buried Yanzhang’s report and gave Ning the whole credit.