Wang Shifan (王師範)

Overview

Wang Shifan was a Late Tang and early Five Dynasties warlord based in Qingzhou.

Life and dates

Death

AD 924 同光二年
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 31, passage 103

Attested activity

AD 903 天復三年十一月
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 34
AD 905 天祐二年春正月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passages 211-213, 216
AD 905 Later Liang campaigns before and around AD 905
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 23, passages 5, 41
AD 903 to AD 907 rebellion vs Founder
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 24, passage 55
AD 898 光化初
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 11
AD 924 同光二年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 31, passage 103

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AD 891 命鄩斬之座上，因使鄩攻張蟾
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 36
AD 881 to AD 885 唐中和中
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 6
AD 890 to AD 903 大順初…王師範叛
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 16, passages 181-182
AD 903 天復三年正月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passages 49, 53
AD 903 to AD 904 天復三年至四年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 22, passages 5, 10
AD 901 to AD 904 天復中
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 128
AD 901 天復元年
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passages 13-14
AD 903 太祖西攻岐，王師範謀襲汴
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passages 85, 87
AD 902 太祖遂兼四鎮
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passage 104
AD 902 to AD 903 已而王師範叛梁
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 198
AD 903 師範敗，降梁
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 53
AD 908 开平二年
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 2, passage 45
AD 903 to AD 904 攻王師範於青州
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 147
AD 889 敬武卒，子師範立
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 34
AD 889 敬武卒後專地
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 114, passage 137
AD 903 昭宗歸長安
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 12, passages 29, 33
AD 901 to AD 903 梁太祖西攻鳳翔，師範乘梁虛
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 38
AD 903 to AD 905 王師範以青州降梁
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passages 59, 62
c. AD 903 王師範襲梁
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 13, passage 121
AD 903 王師範降
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 179

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Wang Jingwu (王敬武)
son 子 · paternal line
son 子
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 34; Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 6; New Book of Tang 114, passage 137
Sibling of Younger brother of Wang Shifan (王師範之弟)
younger brother 弟 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 12, passage 31

whole clan executed
Kinship Role clan members · Count 0 · Negated false
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 24, passage 59
Kinship Role clan members · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passages 213, 216

Key source chapters

Career and standing

acting commissioner 留後
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 6
military commissioner of the Pinglu army 平盧軍節度使
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 10
senior general of the Right Golden Guard 右金吾卫上将军
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 2, passage 45
Grand Commandant 太尉
AD 924 同光二年 · Posthumously granted
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 31, passage 103
Entered
Surrendered
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 10
Held
De facto territorial control
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 114, passage 137

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clan extermination 族誅
Suffered · Authority Zhu Quanzhong (硃全忠)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 24, passage 59
Suffered
AD 908 开平二年 · Executed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 2, passage 45

Places and affiliations

AD 903 to AD 905 王師範以青州降梁
Polity Liang 梁 · Relation Surrendered to
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passages 59, 62
Polity Liang 梁 · Relation Surrendered to
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 53
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passages 211-212
AD 905 天祐二年春正月
At Qingzhou 青州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passages 211-212
AD 903 to AD 905 王師範以青州降梁
At Qingzhou 青州 · Relation Surrendered from
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passage 59
At Qingzhou 青州 · Relation Based at
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 147; Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 128

Show 1 more source-backed claim

At Qingzhou 青州 · Relation Commanded
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 16, passages 182, 185

Works and attributed material

Memorial · Author · With The Founder (太祖) · Paraphrased
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 34
Speech · Speaker · With Liu Xun (劉鄩) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 8

Events and relationships

Attacked at Qingzhou
Military · Defender
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 147
Fought Later Liang and requested aid from Yang Xingmi
Military · Defender · With Taizu of Liang (太祖), Yang Xingmi (楊行密)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 23, passages 5, 41-42
Imprisoned and sent Lu Ceng to death
Judicial · Perpetrator · With Lu Ceng (盧曾)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 24, passage 57
Lured and had killed
AD 891 師範偽為好辭召洪，命鄩斬之座上 · Political · Ruler · With Lu Hong (盧洪)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 36
Monopolized territory and barred An Qian
Political · Controller · With Cui Anqian (崔安潛)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 114, passage 137
Pacified
AD 901 to AD 904 天復中 · Military · Defender · At Qingzhou 青州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 128

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Plotted to strike Bian while Zhu Wen was at Qi
AD 903 太祖西攻岐，王師範謀襲汴 · Military · Plotter
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passages 85, 87
Raided Liang rear
AD 901 to AD 903 師範乘梁虛，陰遣人分襲梁諸州縣 · Military · Ruler
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 38
Raised troops
Rebellion · Rebel · At Qingzhou 青州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 24, passage 55
Rebelled against Liang
AD 902 to AD 903 王師範叛梁 · Military · Rebel
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 198
Rebelled and sent arms smugglers
Military · Rebel leader · At Qingzhou toward Qi 青
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 16, passage 182
Rebelled
Military · Rebel · At Qingzhou 青州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 5
Relocated clan
AD 905 天祐二年春正月 · Political · Subject
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 216
Sent agents against the Founder holdings
AD 901 天復元年 · Military · Principal
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 14
Sent
AD 889 to AD 891 師範遣指揮使盧洪討蟾 · Military · Ruler · With Lu Hong (盧洪)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 35
Succeeded
AD 889 敬武卒，子師範立 · Political · Successor · With Wang Jingwu (王敬武)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 34
Surrendered and handed over seals
AD 905 天祐二年春正月 · Political · Subject · With Li Zhen (李振)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passages 211-212
Surrendered Qingzhou and went west
AD 903 to AD 905 王師範以青州降梁 · Political · Surrendering governor
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passages 59, 62
Surrendered
AD 903 師範敗，降梁 · Military · Ruler
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 53
Surrendered
AD 903 王師範降 · Political · Principal
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 22, passage 179
AD 903 天復三年十一月
Surrender · Surrendering commissioner
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 34
Relation Nominator of · Person Zhu Wen (朱溫)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passage 104

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 211; New Book of Tang 114, passage 137; New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passages 59, 85
His entire clan was wiped out
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 2, passage 45

References in the histories

Search passages

History

52 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 12Volume 12 Book of Later Liang 12: Biographies 2: Imperial Family · 2 passages

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屬青帥王師範構亂，以關東諸鎮兵悉在岐、隴，欲乘虛竊發，自齊、魯至於華下，羅布奸黨，皆詐以委輸貢奉為名，陰與淮夷、並門結好。 Wang Shifan of Qingzhou rebelled, hoping to exploit the absence of eastern armies at Qi and Long: from Shandong to the Guanzhong frontier he planted agents posing as tribute missions while secretly courting Huainan and Bingzhou.

師範遣其弟將兵圍齊州。 Shifan sent his brother to lay siege to Qi prefecture.

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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屬青帥王師範叛，遣將詐為賈人，挽車數十乘，匿兵器於其中，將謀竊發，歸弁察而擒之，州城以寧。 He foiled Wang Shifan's merchants smuggling arms into Qi.

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 · 4 passages

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天祐二年春正月，太祖召振，謂曰：「王師範來降，易歲尚處故藩，今將奏請徙授方面，其為我馳騎，以茲意達之。」 Tianyou 2, spring month 1, the Founder told Zhen: "Wang Shifan has surrendered but still holds his old domain after nearly a year; I will ask to move him to a new post—ride for me and make that clear."

振至青州，師範即日出公府，以節度、觀察二印及文簿管鑰授於振。 At Qingzhou, Shifan left headquarters the same day and gave Zhen the military and surveillance seals, records, and keys.

師範雖已受代，而疑撓特甚，屢揮泣求貸其族，振因以切理諭之曰：「公不念張繡事耶！ Though replaced, Shifan was deeply afraid and wept repeatedly, begging mercy for his clan; Zhen reasoned with him: "Have you forgotten Zhang Xiu!

師範灑然大悟，翌日，以其族遷。 Shifan saw the point; the next day he moved his family.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 20Volume 20 Book of Later Liang 20: Biographies 10: Xie Tong, Si Maye, Liu Han, Wang Jinrao, Gao Shao, Ma Sixun, Zhang Cunjin, Kou Yanqing · 1 passage

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四月，太祖伐王師範於青州，改左右長直都指揮使。 In the fourth month, as the Founder attacked Wang Shifan at Qingzhou, Han was made commander of the left and right Long-Straight guards.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 22Volume 22 Book of Later Liang 22: Biographies 12: Yang Shihou, Niu Cunjie, Wang Tan · 6 passages

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及王師範以青州叛，太祖遣師厚率兵東討，時淮賊王景仁以眾二萬來援師範，師厚逆擊，破之，追至輔唐縣，斬數百級，授齊州刺史。 When Wang Shifan rose at Qingzhou, the Founder sent Shihou east; Wang Jingren of the Huai came with twenty thousand to relieve Shifan; Shihou met him, shattered his force, pursued to Futang, took hundreds of heads, and received Qi prefecture.

師範果出兵來擊，師厚設伏於野，追擊至聖王山，殺萬餘眾，擒都將八十人。 Shifan did march out; Shihou laid an ambush, chased the enemy to Shengwang Mountain, killed over ten thousand, and took eighty officers.

未幾，萊州刺史王師誨以兵救師範，又大敗之。 Soon Laizhou prefect Wang Shihui came to Shifan's aid and was beaten again.

自是，師範不復敢戰。 After that Shifan would not fight again.

師厚移軍寨於城下，師範力屈，竟降。 Shihou shifted his camp under the walls; Shifan, exhausted, submitted at last.

從攻王師範於青州，檀以偏師收復密郡， In the attack on Wang Shifan at Qingzhou, Tan with a detached column recovered Mizhou,

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 23Volume 23 Book of Later Liang 23: Biographies 13: Liu Xun, He Gui, Kang Huaiying, Wang Jingren · 10 passages

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敬武卒，三軍推其子師範為留後，朝廷命崔安潛鎮青州，州人拒命。 After Jingwu's death the army made Shifan acting commissioner; the court sent Cui Anqian to Qingzhou, but the province would not obey.

棣州刺史張蟾將襲師範，師範遣都指揮使盧宏攻棣州，宏反與蟾通，偽旋軍以襲師範。 Dizhou prefect Zhang Chan planned to attack Shifan; Shifan sent overall commander Lu Hong against Dizhou, but Hong colluded with Chan and pretended to march home in order to surprise Shifan.

師範知之，設伏兵以迎宏，既而享之，先誡鄩曰：「宏至即斬之。」 Shifan learned of the plot, laid an ambush for Hong, then feasted him and told Xun beforehand, "The moment Hong arrives, kill him."

師範以鄩為馬步軍副都指揮使，攻下棣州，殺張蟾，朝廷因授師範平盧軍節度使。 Shifan named Xun deputy commander of horse and foot, captured Dizhou, killed Zhang Chan, and the court then gave Shifan the Pinglu commission.

光化初，師範表鄩為登州刺史。 Early in Guanghua Shifan recommended Xun for Deng prefecture.

李茂貞與內官韓全誨矯詔征天下兵入援，師範覽詔，慷慨泣下，遣心腹乘虛襲取太祖管內州郡。 Li Maozhen and eunuch Han Quanhui forged an edict calling up armies everywhere; Shifan wept when he read it and sent trusted agents to raid the Founder's holdings.

鄩乃告師範，請步兵五百，宵自水竇銜枚而入，一夕而定，軍城晏然，市民無擾。 He asked Shifan for five hundred infantry, slipped in by night through the drain with gags, and took the inner city in a single night without alarming the populace.

及王師範兵力漸窘，從周以禍福諭鄩，俾之革麵，鄩報曰：「俟青州本使歸降，即以城池還納。」 As Shifan weakened, Congzhou appealed to Xun to surrender; Xun replied, "Wait until the Qingzhou commissioner himself submits, and I will return the city."

天復三年十一月，師範告降，且言先差行軍司馬劉鄩領兵入兗州，請釋其罪，亦以告鄩，鄩即出城聽命。 In the eleventh month of Tianfu 3 Shifan surrendered, named Xun's occupation of Yan, and asked pardon; Xun then marched out and submitted.

天復中，預平青州王師範，以功授曹州刺史兼先鋒都指揮使，加檢校司空。 In Tianfu he helped pacify Wang Shifan at Qingzhou, was made commissioner of Cao and vanguard commander, and given honorary Minister of Works.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 24Volume 24 Book of Later Liang 24: Biographies 14: Li Ting, Lu Ceng, Sun Zhi, Zhang Jun, Zhang Yan, Du Xunhe, Luo Yin, Chou Yin, Duan Shen · 4 passages

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俄而王師範起兵叛，太祖促召曾，謂之曰：「子能緩頰說青州使無背盟，吾不負子矣。」 Soon Wang Shifan rebelled; the Founder urgently summoned Ceng and said, "If you can persuade Qingzhou not to break faith, I will not fail you."

既至青，師範囚之，送於淮南，遇害。 At Qingzhou Shifan imprisoned him and sent him to Huainan, where he was killed.

後太祖暴師範之罪曰：「喪我骨肉，殺我賓僚。」 Later the Founder denounced Shifan's crimes, saying, "He destroyed my kin and slew my retainers."

遂族誅之。 He then exterminated Shifan's clan.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 31Volume 31 Book of Later Tang 7: Zhuangzong Annals 5 · 1 passage

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三月甲辰，故河陽節度使王師範贈太尉。 In the third month on jiachen the late Heyang commissioner Wang Shifan was posthumously made Grand Commandant.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 114Volume 114 Biographies 39: Cui Rong and Descendent Cong, Descendent Neng, Neng's Nephew: Shen You, Neng's Nephew an Qian, Neng's Son: Yan Ceng, Xu Yanbo, Su Weidao, Dou Lu Qin Wang · 1 passage

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會敬武子師範專地，不得入而還。 But Jingwu's son Shifan controlled the territory and barred his entry, so he turned back.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 2Volume 2 Later Liang Annals 2: Taizu 2 · 1 passage

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己酉，杀右金吾卫上将军王师范，灭其族。 On the day jiyou Wang Shifan, senior general of the Right Golden Guard, was put to death and his entire clan wiped out.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 13Volume 13: The Later Liang Imperial Family · 2 passages

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王師範襲梁，圍齊州，友寧引兵擊之，奪馬千匹，斬首數千級。 Wang Shifan struck Liang and invested Qizhou; Youning met him, captured a thousand horses, and took thousands of heads.

太祖復遣攻師範，圍博昌，屠之，清河為之不流。 Taizu sent him against Shifan again; he invested Bochang and massacred the city until the Qing River ran with blood and would not flow.

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 · 10 passages

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敬武卒，子師範立。 When Jingwu died, his son Shifan took his place.

棣州刺史張蟾叛，師範遣指揮使盧洪討蟾，洪亦叛。 Tizhou prefect Zhang Chan rose in revolt; Shifan sent Lu Hong to crush him—and Hong rebelled too.

師範偽為好辭召洪，洪至，迎於郊外，命鄩斬之座上，因使鄩攻張蟾，破之。 Shifan lured Hong with fair words and received him in the suburbs; at the feast he had Xun cut off Hong’s head, then sent Xun against Zhang Chan and broke him.

師範表鄩登州刺史，以為行軍司馬。 Shifan had Xun appointed prefect of Deng and made him chief of staff on campaign.

梁太祖西攻鳳翔，師範乘梁虛，陰遣人分襲梁諸州縣，它遣者謀多漏泄，事不成。 When Taizu of Liang marched west against Fengxiang, Shifan struck at Liang’s empty rear, sending raiders against its prefectures and counties; other agents’ plans leaked and came to nothing.

太祖已出昭宗於鳳翔，引兵東還，遣朱友寧攻師範、從周攻鄩。 Taizu had brought Zhaozong out of Fengxiang and was marching east; he sent Zhu Youning against Shifan and Ge Congzhou against Xun.

師範兵已屈，從周以禍福諭鄩，鄩報曰：「俟吾主降，即以城還梁。」 Shifan’s army was failing; Congzhou tried to win Xun with threats and promises. Xun answered: “When my master yields, I will hand the city to Liang.”

師範敗，降梁，鄩乃亦降。 Shifan was beaten and submitted; Xun surrendered too.

王師範降，表重師青州留後，累遷佑國軍節度使、同中書門下平章事。 When Wang Shifan surrendered, Chongshi was made acting governor of Qingzhou and rose to governor of the Youguo Army and co-equal of the Secretariat.

已而王師範叛梁，攻東境，懷玉屢以州兵擊破之。 When Wang Shifan rebelled and struck the eastern marches, Huaiyu beat him again and again with his own prefectural force.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 23Volume 23 Later Liang Biographies 3: Yang Shihou, Wang Jingren, He Gui, Wang Tan, Ma Sixun, Wang Qianyu, Xie Yanzhang · 4 passages

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梁攻王師範，師厚戰臨朐，擒其偏將八十餘人，取棣州，以功拜齊州刺史。 When Liang attacked Wang Shifan, Shihou fought at Linqu, took more than eighty of Shifan’s officers, seized Di prefecture, and was rewarded with Qi prefecture.

梁太祖遣子友寧攻王師範於青州，師範乞兵於行密，行密遣景仁以步騎七千救師範。 Taizu of Liang sent his son Youning against Wang Shifan at Qingzhou. Shifan begged Xingmi for aid, and Xingmi sent Jingren with seven thousand foot and horse to relieve him.

師範以兵背城為兩柵，友寧夜擊其一柵，柵中告急，趣景仁出戰，景仁按兵不動。 Shifan built two palisaded camps with his back to the wall. Youning struck one by night; the camp cried for help and begged Jingren out, but Jingren held his men still.

梁兵攻王師範，檀以一軍破其密州，拜密州刺史。 When Liang attacked Wang Shifan, Tan with one army broke Mi prefecture and was made its prefect.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 43Volume 43 Miscellaneous Biographies 23: Shi Shucong, Li Yanwei, Li Zhen, Pei Di, Wei Zhen, Kong Xun, Sun Dezhao, Wang Jingrao, Jiang Yin · 5 passages

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王師範以青州降梁，遣振往代師範，師範疑懼，不知所為，振曰：「獨不聞漢張繡乎？ Wang Shifan surrendered Qingzhou and the Founder sent Zhen to replace him. Shifan wavered in fear. Zhen asked: “Have you heard of Zhang Xiu?

師範洗然自釋，乃西歸梁。 Shifan’s doubt lifted; he went west and submitted to Liang.

太祖西攻岐，王師範謀襲汴，遣健卒苗公立持書至汴，陰伺虛實。 While the Founder marched west on Qi, Wang Shifan plotted a strike on Bian and sent the soldier Miao Gongli with a letter to probe the city in secret.

迪不暇啟，遣朱友寧以兵巡兗、鄆，以故師範雖竊發而事卒不成。 Di had no time for memorials. He sent Zhu Youning to patrol Yan and Yun. Shifan moved in secret but the plot failed.

太祖懼諸鎮乘間圖己，乃諷杜洪、鐘傳、王師範、錢镠等薦己為元帥，且求兼領鄆州。 Taizu feared the warlords would turn on him while he was weak. He nudged Du Hong, Zhong Chuan, Wang Shifan, Qian Liu, and the rest to name him commander-in-chief and to let him hold Yan Prefecture as well.