Shi Hongzhao (史宏肇)

Overview

Shi Hongzhao was a Later Han Official.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Hongzhao	弘肇	Hongzhao
Courtesy name	Huayuan	化元	Huayuan

Life and dates

Death

AD 950 業等殺弘肇
Killed · Cause Assassinated by Li Ye and associates · Authority Li Ye (李業)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 46
Cause Killed in Hidden Emperor plot
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 11, passage 42
AD 950 乾祐三年冬十月十三日
Beheading · At Guangzheng Hall 廣政殿
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 111
AD 950 乾祐三年十一月丙子
Executed; clan exterminated
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 119
AD 950 漢隱帝誅權臣
executed 見殺
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 31, passage 4
AD 950 與史弘肇等同日見殺
Execution
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 151, 168

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AD 950 邠等已死
Killed in court purge
Strongly inferred · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 193
Killed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 105, passage 12
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 18, passages 7, 11

Attested activity

AD 950 乾祐三年冬十月十三日
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 111
AD 950 乾祐三年；被殺
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 119
AD 950 乾祐三年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 105, passage 12; New History of the Five Dynasties 11, passage 42
AD 949 乾祐二年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 102, passage 101
AD 948 乾祐元年
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 11, passage 17
AD 948 to AD 951 乾祐至廣順初
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 7

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AD 948 to AD 950 大臣楊邠、史弘肇等
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 191
AD 947 天福十二年；取代州
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 26
AD 947 to AD 950 後漢時
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 27, passages 155-156
AD 948 to AD 950 後漢隱帝時
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 81, 85
AD 923 梁末
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 57
AD 950 漢隱帝已殺大臣史弘肇等
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 50, passage 2
AD 950 漢隱帝時
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 31, passages 3-4
AD 947 漢高祖
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passages 87-88
AD 950 與史弘肇等同日見殺
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 151, 168
AD 948 to AD 950 隱帝新立
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passages 13, 66
AD 948 to AD 950 隱帝時
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 68-69
AD 947 高祖建號於太原
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 60
AD 947 高祖起義於太原
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 106, passage 35

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Lady Yan (閻氏)
wife 妻
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 100

Kinship Role clan · Quantity exterminated
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 111

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Commander of the Palace Guard Cavalry and Foot 侍衛親軍馬步軍都指揮使
Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 66
Commander of the Palace Guard Foot Corps 侍衛步軍都指揮使
Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 60
Grand Secretary 中書令
Appointed
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 84
Military Governor of Zhongwu 忠武軍節度使
Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 60
Co-signer of the Secretariat-Chancellery 同中書門下平章事
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 66
commander of Left and Right Commands of Military Discipline 武節左右指揮
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 59

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company officer 軍校
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 58
governor of Guide 領歸德
Held · At Guide 歸德
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 81
Military Governor of Guide 歸德軍節度使
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 66
overall commander of the Personal Guard 都指揮使
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 27, passage 156
Prefect of Leizhou 雷州刺史
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 59
Privy Council post 樞密
Proposed concurrent
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 89
Prince of Zheng 鄭王
AD 951 周太祖即位 · Posthumously enfeoffed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 226
Entered
Soldier
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 57
Held
In power
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 88
Posthumously alleged
AD 950 乾祐三年 · Accused of rebellion · Mode allegation Source Person Id Hidden Emperor (隱帝)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 223
waist-cutting and mutilating punishments 腰斬、斷舌、決口、斮筋、折足
Imposed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 70, 72-73
Suffered
AD 950 乾祐三年冬十月十三日 · Clan extermination
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 111

Places and affiliations

Polity Later Han 後漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 81, 84, 111, 191
Polity Later Han 漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 58, 62, 151, 168
Polity Later Liang 梁 · Relation Served
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 57
At Xingze in Zhengzhou 鄭州滎澤
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 55
At Heyang 河陽 · Relation Entered
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 64
At Taiyuan 太原 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 59

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Organization Kaidao Command 開道指揮 · Relation Member of
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 57
Organization palace guard 禁兵 · Relation Selected for
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 57

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Addressed to Guo Wei (郭威)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 90-91
Memorial · Author
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 99
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 80, 87, 94

Events and relationships

Beheaded
Legal · Executioner · With Son of Empress Dowager Li's old acquaintance (太后故人子)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 86
Buried with rites
AD 951 周太祖即位 · Funeral · Honoree
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 226
Checked influence peddling
Political · Restrainer · With Yang Bin (楊邠)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 85
Created climate where servants coerced masters
Social · Cause
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 75
Defeated
Military · Commander · With Geng Chongmei (耿崇美) · At Luzhou 潞州
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 61-62
Defeated
Military · Commander · With Wang Hui (王暉) · At Daizhou 代州
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 60

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Drank angrily
Social · Guest · With Wang Zhang (王章)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 42
Enforced strict discipline
Military · Commander · Outcome Both capitals peaceful
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 65
Executed at court
AD 950 乾祐三年冬十月十三日 · Political · Victim · With Yang Bin (楊邠), Wang Zhang (王章)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 111
Executed
Legal · Judge · With He Fujin (何福進)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 79
Executed
Legal · Judge · With Qu Wen (麹溫)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 83
Investigated and executed accuser
Legal · Authority · With Slave of Tang Jingsi (唐景思奴)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 99
Policed capital with indiscriminate executions
Legal · Enforcer
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 69-73
Received deathbed charge
Political · Co recipient · With Han High Ancestor (漢高祖)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 67
Refused Li Ye Palace Secretariat
Political · Opponent · With Li Ye (李業)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 191
Returned gifts to treasury
Court · Actor
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 88
Shared then monopolized governance
Political · Power holder
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 27, passage 156
Sought to attack
Personal · Aggressor · With Su Fengji (蘇逢吉)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 101-102
Took Dai and killed Wang Hui
Military · Commander
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 26
Took Luzhou and Zezhou
AD 947 天福十二年 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 10, passages 37, 39
Took daughter as maid
Personal · Taker · With Daughter of Li Song (李崧幼女)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 74
Military · Recipient of submission · With Wu Xingde (武行德) · At Heyang 河陽
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 63
Military · Recipient of surrender · With Wang Shou'en (王守恩) · At Luzhou 潞州
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 62
Military · Recipient of submission · With Zhai Lingqi (翟令奇) · At Zezhou 澤州
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 63
Relation Co regent with · Person Yang Bin (楊邠)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 67
Relation Rival of · Person Yang Bin (楊邠)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 89, 104
Relation Co regent with · Person Su Fengji (蘇逢吉)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 67
Relation Rival of · Person Su Fengji (蘇逢吉)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 89, 104
Relation Subordinate of · Person Han High Ancestor (漢高祖)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 58-60

Assessments and attributes

Assessment delighted in killing on denunciation · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 88
Assessment disliked literati who called him a common soldier · Mode self-report Speaker Shi Hongzhao (史宏肇)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 80
Assessment especially arbitrary in holding state power until ruin · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 27, passage 156
Assessment fierce and bold · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 56
Assessment stern, resolute, sparing of speech; killed subordinates for slight offense · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 65
could run and keep pace with a galloping horse
Physical ability
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 56

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 55, 151

References in the histories

Search passages

History

69 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 102Volume 102 Book of Later Jin 4: Emperor Yin Annals 2 · 2 passages

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九月乙己，樞密使郭威檢校太師、兼侍中，宋州節度使兼侍衛親軍都指揮使史宏肇加兼中書令。 In the ninth month, on the yisi day, the Bureau of Military Affairs commissioner Guo Wei was made Acting Grand Tutor and concurrent Palace Attendant, and the Song Prefecture military governor and concurrent commander of the Imperial Guards Shi Hongzhao was given the additional title of Grand Councilor.

帝然之，於是宏肇與宰相、樞密使、三司使，次第加恩。 The emperor approved, and then Hongzhao, the chief ministers, the Bureau of Military Affairs commissioner, and the Commissioner of the Three Departments received favors in sequence.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 105Volume 105 Book of Later Jin 7: Biographies 2: Imperial Family · 1 passage

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初，聞殺楊邠、史宏肇，遽啟宴席，集參佐賓幕，令相致賀。 When word came that Yang Bin and Shi Hongzhao had been killed, he at once threw a banquet, gathered his staff and secretariat advisers, and told them to congratulate one another.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 106Volume 106 Book of Later Jin 8: Biographies 3: Wang Zhou, Liu Shenjiao, Wu Hanqiu, Zhang Guan, Li Yin, Liu Zaiming, Ma Wan, Li Yancong, Guo Jin, Huang Fuli, Bai Zairong, Zhang Peng · 1 passage

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尋聞高祖起義於太原，史宏肇在澤潞，都人大懼。 Word soon came that Gaozu had risen in Taiyuan while Shi Hongzhao held Ze and Lu, and the people of the capital were seized with fear.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 10Volume 10 Later Jin Annals 1: Gaozu, Emperor Yin · 4 passages

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武節都指揮使史弘肇取代州，殺其刺史王暉。 Shi Hongzhao of the military inspectorate seized Dai prefecture and executed the prefect Wang Hui.

乙丑，侍衛親軍步軍都指揮使史弘肇取潞州。 On yichou Shi Hongzhao, commander of the Imperial Guard foot corps, seized Luzhou.

史弘肇取澤州。 Shi Hongzhao took Ze prefecture.

冬十一月丙子，殺楊邠及侍衛親軍都指揮使史弘肇、三司使王章，皆滅其族。 On bingzi in the eleventh month Yang Bin was executed, along with Shi Hongzhao, commander of the palace guards, and Wang Zhang, commissioner of the Three Departments; every clan of the three was wiped out.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 11Volume 11 Later Zhou Annals 2: Taizu · 4 passages

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乾祐元年正月，高祖疾大漸，以隱帝托威及史弘肇等。 In the first month of Qianyou 1, as Gaozu lay dying, he committed the Hidden Emperor to the care of Wei, Shi Hongzhao, and the rest.

隱帝以威為賢，於是悉召楊邠、史弘肇、蘇逢吉、禹珪、竇貞固、王章等皆賜以玉帶，威乃受。 Moved, the Hidden Emperor called in Yang Bin, Shi Hongzhao, Su Fengji, Yu Gui, Dou Zhengu, Wang Zhang, and the others and belted them too; then Wei accepted his own.

宰相蘇逢吉以謂樞密使不可以藩鎮兼領，與史弘肇等固爭。 Chancellor Su Fengji argued that the Privy Commissioner must not double as a military commissioner; he and Shi Hongzhao fought the appointment to the end.

隱帝與李業等謀，已殺史弘肇等，詔鎮寧軍節度使李弘義殺侍衛步軍指揮使王殷於澶州，又詔侍衛馬軍指揮使郭崇殺威及宣徽使王峻於魏。 The Hidden Emperor and Li Ye had already struck down Shi Hongzhao and his allies. He now ordered Li Hongyi of Zhenning to murder Wang Yin, foot commander of the Palace Guard, at Chanzhou, and Guo Chong, horse commander, to kill Wei and Wang Jun, commissioner of the Palace Secretariat, at Wei prefecture.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 18Volume 18: The Later Han Imperial Family · 1 passage

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初，帝與允明等謀誅楊邠、史弘肇等，議已定，入白太后。 When he and Yunming had settled on killing Yang Bin, Shi Hongzhao, and the others, he told the empress dowager.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 27Volume 27 Later Tang Biographies 7: Zhu Hongzhao, Liu Yanlang, Kang Sili, Kang Yicheng, Yao Yanchou · 1 passage

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是時，史弘肇為都指揮使，與宰相、樞密使並執國政，而弘肇尤專任，以至於亡。 Shi Hongzhao held the command and shared rule with the chief councillors and Military Affairs—yet Hongzhao ruled alone, down to ruin.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 30Volume 30 Later Han Biographies 10: Su Fengji, Shi Hongzhao, Yang Bin, Wang Zhang, Liu Zhu, Li Ye, Nie Wenjin, Hou Zan, Guo Yunming · 45 passages

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周太祖鎮鄴，不落樞密使，逢吉以謂樞密之任，方鎮帶之非便，與史弘肇爭，於是卒如弘肇議。 Zhou Taizu held Ye and kept the Privy Council. Fengji argued a frontier governor should not carry that post and fought Shi Hongzhao over it—in the end Hongzhao won.

弘肇怨逢吉異己，已而會飲王章第，使酒坐中，弘肇怒甚。 Hongzhao resented Fengji’s opposition. At a drinking party at Wang Zhang’s house he drank hard and burned with anger.

逢吉謀求出鎮以避之，既而中輟，人問其故，逢吉曰：「茍舍此而去，史公一處分，吾齏粉矣！」 Fengji planned to take a provincial post and escape him—then changed his mind. Asked why, he said: “If I leave this seat, one word from Lord Shi and I am dust!”

弘肇等威制人主，帝與左右李業、郭允明等皆患之。 Hongzhao and his faction overawed the throne; the emperor and his intimates—Li Ye, Guo Yunming, and the rest—all hated it.

逢吉每見業等，以言激之，業等卒殺弘肇，即以逢吉權知樞密院。 Fengji goaded Ye and his circle whenever he saw them; they at last killed Hongzhao and made Fengji acting head of the Privy Council on the spot.

史弘肇 Shi Hongzhao

史弘肇，字化元，鄭州滎澤人也。 Shi Hongzhao, styled Huayuan, came from Xingze in Zhengzhou.

梁末，調民七戶出一兵，弘肇為兵，隸開道指揮，選為禁兵。 In Liang’s last days seven households furnished one soldier. Hongzhao served in the Kaidao Command and was chosen for the palace guard.

漢高祖典禁兵，弘肇為軍校。 When the Han High Ancestor took command of the guard, Hongzhao was a company officer.

其後，漢高祖鎮太原，使將武節左右指揮，領雷州刺史。 Later the High Ancestor held Taiyuan and put Hongzhao over the Left and Right Commands of Military Discipline, with Leizhou as his prefecture.

高祖建號於太原，代州王暉拒命，弘肇攻破之，以功拜忠武軍節度使、侍衛步軍都指揮使。 When the High Ancestor declared his title at Taiyuan, Wang Hui of Daizhou defied him. Hongzhao broke the city and was made Military Governor of Zhongwu and commander of the palace guard foot corps.

高祖遣弘肇前行擊之，崇美敗走，守恩以城歸漢。 The High Ancestor sent Hongzhao forward; Chongmei broke and fled, and Shou’en surrendered Luzhou to Han.

而河陽武行德、澤州翟令奇等，皆迎弘肇自歸。 Wu Xingde of Heyang, Zhai Lingqi of Zezhou, and others all came over to Hongzhao of their own accord.

弘肇入河陽，高祖從後至，遂入京師。 Hongzhao entered Heyang; the High Ancestor came up behind and then entered the capital.

弘肇為將，嚴毅寡言，麾下嘗少忤意，立楇殺之，軍中為股慄，以故高祖起義之初，弘肇行兵所至，秋亳無犯，兩京帖然。 Hongzhao commanded with iron silence. The least offense and he killed on the spot with a club—the troops shook in their boots. At the start of the High Ancestor’s rising, wherever Hongzhao marched not a blade of grass was touched, and both capitals lay quiet.

高祖疾大漸，與楊邠、蘇逢吉等同授顧命。 As the High Ancestor lay dying, Hongzhao, Yang Bin, and Su Fengji were named together in his final charge.

弘肇出兵警察，務行殺戮，罪無大小皆死。 Hongzhao patrolled with troops and killed without distinction—petty crime or great, all went to the block.

凡民抵罪，吏以白弘肇，但以三指示之，吏即腰斬之。 When a commoner was charged, the clerk told Hongzhao; three fingers from Hongzhao and the clerk cut the man in half.

李崧坐奴告變族誅，弘肇取其幼女以為婢。 Li Song’s clan was wiped out after a slave denounced him; Hongzhao took his young daughter for a maid.

弘肇捕治，福進棄市，帳下分取其妻子，而籍其家財。 Hongzhao seized him; Fujin was executed in the market. Hongzhao’s men divided his wife and children among themselves and seized his property.

弘肇不喜賓客，嘗言：「文人難耐，呼我為卒。」 Hongzhao disliked company. He once said: “Scholars are insufferable—they call me a common soldier.”

弘肇領歸德，其副使等月率私錢千緡為獻。 As governor of Guide, his deputies each month sent him a thousand strings of private cash.

拯訴之弘肇，弘肇以謂潁己屬州，而溫不先白己，乃追溫殺之，連坐者數十人。 Zheng appealed to Hongzhao. Hongzhao said Ying was his circuit and Wen had not cleared matters with him first—he had Wen hunted down and killed, and dozens were punished with him.

周太祖平李守貞，推功群臣，弘肇拜中書令。 When Zhou Taizu crushed Li Shouzhen he shared credit among the ministers; Hongzhao was made Grand Secretary.

隱帝自關西罷兵，漸近小人，與後贊、李業等嬉遊無度，而太后親族頗行幹托，弘肇與楊邠稍裁抑之。 When the western war ended the Hidden Emperor drifted toward petty favorites—Hou Zan, Li Ye, and the rest—and played without restraint. The dowager’s kin peddled influence; Hongzhao and Yang Bin checked them where they could.

太后有故人子求補軍職，弘肇輒斬之。 The dowager’s old friend’s son sought a military post—Hongzhao had him beheaded on the spot.

帝始聽樂，賜教坊使等玉帶、錦袍，往謝弘肇，弘肇怒曰：「健兒為國征行者未有偏賜，爾曹何功，敢當此乎！」 The emperor first heard music and gave the Music Bureau directors jade belts and brocade robes. They came to thank Hongzhao. He raged: “Hard soldiers on campaign get no such gifts—what have you done to deserve this!”

周太祖出鎮魏州，弘肇議帶樞密行，蘇逢吉、楊邠以為不可，弘肇恨之。 Zhou Taizu went out to govern Weizhou. Hongzhao wanted to keep the Privy Council and go; Su Fengji and Yang Bin refused—and Hongzhao hated them for it.

明日，會飲竇貞固第，弘肇厲聲舉爵屬太祖曰：「昨日廷論，何為異同？ Next day they drank at Dou Zhengu’s house. Hongzhao lifted his cup toward Taizu and said in a hard voice: “Yesterday in court we split—why?

弘肇曰：「安朝廷，定禍亂，直須長槍大劍，若『毛錐子』安足用哉？」 Hongzhao said: “To settle the court and stop calamity you need long spears and great swords—what good are ‘hair awls’?”

弘肇默然。 Hongzhao said nothing.

他日，會飲章第，酒酣，為手勢令，弘肇不能為，客省使閻晉卿坐次弘肇，屢教之。 Another day they drank at Zhang’s house. Wine deep, they played hand-gesture forfeits; Hongzhao could not manage. Yan Jinqing of the Guest Liaison Office sat below him and kept showing him how.

弘肇妻閻氏，酒家倡，以為譏己，大怒，以醜語詬逢吉，逢吉不校。 Hongzhao’s wife was Lady Yan, once a wine-shop singer; she took it as a jibe at her. She flew into a rage and cursed Fengji with foul words. Fengji did not reply.

弘肇欲毆之，逢吉先出。 Hongzhao meant to strike him; Fengji slipped out first.

弘肇起索劍欲追之，楊邠泣曰：「蘇公，漢宰相，公若殺之，致天子何地乎？」 Hongzhao rose for his sword to run him down. Yang Bin wept: “Su is Han’s chancellor. Kill him—and where does that leave the emperor?”

弘肇馳馬去，邠送至第而還。 Hongzhao galloped away. Bin saw Fengji home and came back.

而隱帝春秋漸長，為大臣所制，數有忿言，業等乘間譖之，以謂弘肇威震人主，不除必為亂。 The emperor was coming of age and chafed under his ministers; he muttered his anger. Ye and his circle whispered that Hongzhao overawed the throne and would bring rebellion if left alive.

乾祐三年冬十月十三日，弘肇與楊邠、王章等入朝，坐廣政殿東廡，甲士數十人自內出，擒弘肇、邠、章斬之，並族其三家。 On the thirteenth of the tenth month, Qianyou year three, Hongzhao came to court with Yang Bin and Wang Zhang and sat in the eastern gallery of Guangzheng Hall. Dozens of armored men burst from within, seized the three, and beheaded them—and wiped out every clan.

弘肇已死，帝坐崇元殿召羣臣，告以弘肇等謀反，羣臣莫能對。 Hongzhao was dead. The emperor sat in Chongyuan Hall, summoned the ministers, and charged that Hongzhao and his circle had rebelled. No minister could reply.

又召諸軍校見於萬歲殿，帝曰：「弘肇等專權，使汝曹常憂橫死，今日吾得為汝主矣！」 He then summoned the army officers to Wansui Hall and said: “Hongzhao and his circle held all power and kept you fearing sudden death. Today I can be your master!”

周太祖即位，追封弘肇鄭王，以禮歸葬。 When Zhou Taizu took the throne, he posthumously made Hongzhao Prince of Zheng and buried him with full honors.

由是隱帝大怒，而左右乘間構之，與史弘肇等同日見殺。 The emperor boiled with rage; courtiers drove the wedge deeper. He died the same day as Shi Hongzhao.

已而與史弘肇等同日見殺。 Soon he died the same day as Shi Hongzhao.

銖嘗切齒於史弘肇、楊邠等，已而弘肇等死，銖謂李業等曰：「諸君可謂僂儸兒矣。」 Zhu had long ground his teeth at Shi Hongzhao and Yang Bin. When they fell, he told Li Ye’s circle: “You lot are spineless wretches.”

大臣楊邠、史弘肇等皆以為不可。 Yang Bin, Shi Hongzhao, and the rest all refused.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 31Volume 31 Later Zhou Biographies 11: Wang Pu, Zheng Renhui, Hu Zai · 2 passages

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邠與王章、史弘肇等有隙，朴見漢興日淺，隱帝年少孱弱，任用小人，而邠為大臣，與將相交惡，知其必亂，乃去邠東歸。 Bin feuded with Wang Zhang, Shi Hongzhao, and others. Pu saw Han still new, the Hidden Emperor young and frail, petty men in power—and Bin, a chief minister, at war with the generals. He knew ruin was coming and left Bin for the east.

後李業等教隱帝誅權臣，邠與章、弘肇皆見殺，三家之客多及，而朴以故獨免。 Later Li Ye and others persuaded the Hidden Emperor to purge the powerful ministers. Bin, Zhang, and Hongzhao were killed; clients of all three houses fell with them—Pu alone was spared, having left in time.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 49Volume 49 Miscellaneous Biographies 29: Di Guangye, Feng Hui, Huang Fuhui, Tang Jingsi, Wang Jin, Chang Si, Sun Fangjian · 5 passages

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漢法酷，而史弘肇用事，喜以告訐殺人。 Han law ran harsh. Shi Hongzhao held power and loved to kill on accusation.

景思有奴，嘗有所求不如意，即馳見弘肇，言景思與李景交通，而私畜兵甲。 Jingsi had a slave whose wish went unmet; the man galloped to Hongzhao and said Jingsi trafficked with Li Jing and hid arms.

弘肇遣吏將三十騎往收景思，奴謂吏曰：「景思勇者也，得則殺之，不然將失之也。」 Hongzhao sent thirty horse to seize him. The slave told them: "Jingsi is bold—take him and kill at once or you will lose him."

景思有仆王知權在京師，聞景思被告，乃見弘肇，願先下獄明景思不反，弘肇憐之，送知權獄中，日勞以酒食。 Servant Wang Zhiquan was in the capital; hearing the charge, he saw Hongzhao and offered prison first to prove no revolt. Hongzhao pitied him and jailed Zhiquan, daily feeding him wine and meat.

弘肇乃鞫其奴，具伏，即奏斬奴而釋景思。 Hongzhao examined the slave; he confessed all. Hongzhao memorialized, beheaded the slave, and freed Jingsi.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 50Volume 50 Miscellaneous Biographies 30: Wang Jun, Wang Yin, Liu Ci, Wang Huan, Zhe Congruan · 1 passage

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漢隱帝已殺大臣史弘肇等，又遣人殺周太祖及峻等，峻等遂與太祖舉兵犯京師。 The Hidden Emperor had killed Shi Hongzhao and other great ministers, then sent men to kill Taizu and Jun. Jun and the rest joined Taizu and marched on the capital.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 53Volume 53 Miscellaneous Biographies 33: Wang Jinchong, Zhao Suwan, Murong Yanchao · 2 passages

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益至京師，隱帝新立，史弘肇、楊邠等用事，益乃厚賂邠等，陰以事中景崇。 Yi reached the capital while Emperor Yin had only just taken the throne. Shi Hongzhao, Yang Bin, and their faction were in control. Yi bribed Bin heavily and secretly maneuvered to entrap Jingchong.

隱帝已殺史弘肇等，又遣人之魏殺周太祖及王峻等，懼事不果，召諸將入衛京師。 Emperor Yin had already killed Shi Hongzhao and his faction and sent assassins to Wei to kill Zhou Taizu and Wang Jun. When the plot seemed likely to fail, he summoned his generals to defend the capital.