Yuan Xingqin (元行欽)

Overview

Yuan Xingqin was a general.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Li Shaorong	李紹榮	Li Shaorong
Changed name	Shaorong	紹榮	Shaorong

Life and dates

Death

Beheaded · At Luoyang 洛陽 · Authority Li Siyuan (李嗣源)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 44

Attested activity

AD 911 AD 911-913
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 65, passage 61
AD 926 丁未，鄴都行營招撫使元行欽率諸道之師再攻鄴都
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 98
AD 925 三年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 20
AD 926 to AD 926 三月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passages 139-140, 158, 160
AD 926 三月八日夜
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 33
AD 924 to AD 926 同光中
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passages 52, 56

Show 17 more source-backed claims

AD 926 同光四年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 64, passage 126
AD 926 同光四年
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 48
AD 926 同光四年二月
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 46; New History of the Five Dynasties 5, passage 181
AD 926 命宋州節度使元行欽率騎三千赴鄴都招撫
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 83
AD 926 四月一日
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 42
AD 926 壬寅，行欽自鄴退軍
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 95
AD 912 天祐九年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 3
AD 926 庚戌
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passages 102-103
AD 926 戊辰
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 162
AD 911 to AD 913 攻劉守光於幽州
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 36
AD 926 明宗軍變於魏
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 15, passages 81, 83
AD 926 甲戌
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passages 187, 190
AD 926 甲辰
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passages 115-116, 119, 125
AD 908 to AD 917 莊宗怒…取劍來
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 72, passage 45
AD 926 莊宗敗
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 51, passages 2, 6, 86, 88
AD 912 to AD 923 莊宗顧元行欽
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 38, passage 24
AD 926 辛丑，元行欽至鄴都
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 89

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Li Siyuan (李嗣源)
adopted son 假子 · Adoptive parentage
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 5
Spouse of Palace lady favored by Zhuangzong (莊宗所愛宮人)
wife 婦
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passages 23, 25
Spouse of Late Wife of Yuan Xingqin (元行欽故妻)
wife 婦 · Widowed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 56
Spouse of Wife of Yuan Xingqin (元行欽之婦)
wife 婦 · Widowed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 20

Key source chapters

Career and standing

campaign pacification commissioner 行營招討使
AD 926 甲辰 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 116
Chief Minister 同平章事
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 19
Grand Guardian in Examinership 檢校太傅
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 13
military governor of Wuning 武寧軍節度使
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 14
overall commander of the scattered guards 散員都部署
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 8
pacification commissioner of the Ye capital field headquarters 鄴都行營招撫使
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 28

Show 6 more source-backed claims

prefect of Xinzhou 忻州刺史
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 13
military governor of Wuning 武寧軍節度使
AD 926 同光四年二月 · Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 5, passage 181
Songzhou military commissioner 宋州節度使
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 83
Ye campaign pacification commissioner 鄴都行營招撫使
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 98
Suffered
Stripped of offices
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 44
Suffered
Captured · At Pinglu County 平陸縣
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 43

Places and affiliations

Later Tang 唐
Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passages 4, 14
Yan / Youzhou under Liu Shouguang 幽州劉守光
Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 1
Polity Later Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 46
Polity Later Tang 後唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passages 83, 139, 162
Polity Later Tang 後唐 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 103
AD 926 三月
At Weizhou 衛州 · Relation Withdrew to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 139

Show 1 more source-backed claim

At Chanzhou 澶州 · Relation Withdrew to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 95

Works and attributed material

AD 926 甲戌
Memorial · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 190
Speech · Addressee · Speaker Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang (後唐莊宗) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 12
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 91

Events and relationships

Attacked south gate
AD 926 辛丑 · Military · Commander · At Ye 鄴都
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 89
Attacked Ye again
AD 926 丁未 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 98
Attacked
Military · Commander · At Da'en Mountain 大恩山 · With Liu Shouguang (劉守光)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 2
Campaigned against Zhao Zaili
AD 926 同光四年二月 · Military · Commander · With Zhao Zaili (趙在禮)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 5, passage 181
Failed to summon Zhao Zaili
AD 926 同光四年二月 · Diplomatic · Envoy · At Ye 鄴 · With Zhao Zaili (趙在禮)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 46
Failed to suppress mutiny
AD 926 甲辰 · Military · Commander · At Ye 鄴城
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 116

Show 24 more source-backed claims

Failed to suppress
Military · Commander · With Zhao Zaili (趙在禮)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 48
Failed to take
Military · Commander · At Yecheng 鄴城
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 29
Falsely accused
Political · Accuser · With Li Siyuan (李嗣源)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 36
Fled with
Flight · Escort · With Empress Liu (劉皇后)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 42
Killed
Killing · Agent · With Congshen (從審)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 15, passage 88
Killed
Violence · Killer · With Congshen (從審)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 41
Marched to suppress
Military · Commander · With Zhao Zaili (趙在禮)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 64, passage 128
Prepared siege engines
AD 926 庚戌 · Military · Commander · At Ye 鄴都
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passages 102-103
Requested imperial journey
AD 926 三月 · Political · Advisor · At Bianzhou 汴州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 160
Rescued
Military · Rescuer · With Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang (後唐莊宗) · At Panzhang 潘張
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 11
Returned with troops
AD 926 甲子 · Military · Commander · At Weizhou 衛州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 158
Seized and killed
Political · Captor killer · With Congshen (從審)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 51, passages 86, 88
Sent east along river
AD 926 戊辰 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 162
Sent to pacify Ye
Military · Commander · At Ye 鄴都
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 83
Shackled
AD 926 是日 · Legal · Agent · With Congshen (從審) · At Weizhou 衛州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 140
Smoothed quarrel
Social · Mediator
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 64, passage 126
Submitted rumor memorials against Siyuan
AD 926 三月 · Political · Agent · With Li Siyuan (李嗣源)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 139
Surrendered to
Military · Combatant · With Li Siyuan (李嗣源)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 4
Wept and swore with cut hair
AD 926 甲戌 · Ritual · Participant
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passages 190-191
Withdrew to Chanzhou
AD 926 壬寅 · Military · Commander · At Chanzhou 澶州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 95
Relation Favorite of · Person Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang (後唐莊宗)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 116
Relation Subordinate of · Person Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang (後唐莊宗)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passages 162, 187, 190
Relation Envoy to · Person Zhao Zaili (趙在禮)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 46
Relation Recipient of concubine · Person Favorite Concubine of Zhuangzong (莊宗愛姬)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passages 58, 60

Assessments and attributes

Assessment courageous and favored general · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passages 5, 13
Assessment long favored and relied upon by the emperor · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 116

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passages 83, 103, 162; Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 46; New History of the Five Dynasties 5, passage 181
To Li Shaorong 李紹榮 · Also Known As Shaorong 紹榮
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 34, passages 119, 125
From Yuan Xingqin 元行欽 · To Shaorong 紹榮 · granted imperial surname and name
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 8

References in the histories

Search passages

History

67 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 34Volume 34 Book of Later Tang 10: Zhuangzong Annals 8 · 17 passages

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帝怒，命宋州節度使元行欽率騎三千赴鄴都招撫，詔征諸道之師進討。 Cunxu sent Yuan Xingqin of Song with 3,000 horse to pacify Ye and ordered circuit armies to attack.

辛丑，元行欽至鄴都，進攻南門，以詔書招諭城中，趙在禮獻羊酒勞軍，登城遙拜行欽曰：「將士經年離隔父母，不取敕旨歸寧，上貽聖憂，追悔何及！ On xinchou Yuan Xingqin reached Ye, attacked the south gate, and used an edict to summon the city; Zhao Zaili presented sheep and wine to comfort the army and bowed from the wall to Xingqin, saying, "The soldiers have been separated from their parents for years; by returning home without edict, they have burdened the sage with worry. What regret can suffice!

行欽曰：「上以汝輩有社稷功，必行赦宥。」 Xingqin said, "Because you have merit for the altars of state, the sovereign will surely grant pardon."

行欽以聞，帝怒曰：「收城之日，勿遺噍類！」 Cunxu, told, raged: "When the city falls, spare none!"

壬寅，行欽自鄴退軍，保澶州。 On renyin Xingqin withdrew to Chan.

丁未，鄴都行營招撫使元行欽率諸道之師再攻鄴都。 On dingwei Yuan Xingqin led circuit armies against Ye again.

行欽又大治攻具。 Yuan Xingqin again prepared siege engines in earnest.

帝素倚愛元行欽，鄴城軍亂，即命為行營招討使，久而無功。 Cunxu had long favored Yuan Xingqin; when Ye mutinied he made him pacification commissioner, but months passed without success.

帝曰：「紹榮討亂未有成功，繼岌之軍尚留巴、漢，餘無可將者，斷在自行。」 Cunxu said, "Shaorong has not yet put down the revolt, Jiji's army is still in Ba and Han, and no one else can command—I must go myself."

如倚李紹榮輩，未見其功。」 Relying on Li Shaorong and his sort has yet to show results."

元行欽部下兵退保衛州，以飛語上奏，嗣源一日之中遣使上章申理者數四。 Yuan Xingqin's men fell back to Weizhou and sent rumors aloft; in one day Siyuan sent four envoys pleading his case.

帝遣嗣源子從審與中使白從訓齎詔以諭嗣源，行至衛州，從審為元行欽所械，不得達。 Cunxu sent Siyuan's son Congshen and envoy Bai Congxun with an edict; at Weizhou, Xingqin shackled Congshen and they could not pass.

甲子，元行欽自衛州率部下兵士歸，帝幸耀店以勞之。 On jiazi Yuan Xingqin returned from Weizhou with his men; Cunxu went to Yaodian to comfort them.

元行欽請車駕幸汴州，帝將發京師，遣中官向延嗣馳詔所在誅蜀主王衍，仍夷其族。 Yuan Xingqin asked Cunxu to go to Bian; as he was about to leave the capital he sent Xiang Yansi with a flying edict to execute Wang Yan and exterminate his clan.

戊辰，遣元行欽將騎軍沿河東向。 On wuchen Yuan Xingqin was sent to lead cavalry east along the river.

甲戌，次石橋，帝置酒野次，悲啼不樂，謂元行欽等諸將曰：「鄴下亂離，寇盜蜂起，總管迫於亂軍，存亡未測，今訛言紛擾，朕實無聊。 On jiaxu he halted at Stone Bridge; Cunxu set wine in the wild and wept, telling Yuan Xingqin and the rest, "Below Ye there is disorder and bandits swarm; Siyuan is pressed by mutineers and may live or die; rumors stir and I am at a loss.

元行欽等百餘人垂泣而奏曰：「臣本小人，蒙陛下撫養，位極將相，危難之時，不能立功報主，雖死無以塞責，乞申後效，以報國恩。」 Yuan Xingqin and more than a hundred wept and said, "We were petty men Your Majesty raised to general and minister; in danger we cannot repay you—though we die we cannot fulfill our charge; let us show later merit for the state's grace."

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 51Volume 51 Book of Later Tang 27: Biographies 3: Imperial Family · 3 passages

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《通鑒》云：李紹榮欲奔河中就永王存霸，從兵稍散，存霸亦率眾千人棄鎮奔晉陽。 The Comprehensive Mirror adds that Li Shaorong meant to flee to Hezhong to reach Prince Yong Cunba, but his followers slowly melted away, and Cunba too abandoned his command with a thousand men and fled to Jinyang.

從璟行至中途，為元行欽所製，復與歸洛下。 Congjing had not gone far when Yuan Xingqin seized him and brought him back to Luoyang.

從莊宗赴汴州，明宗之親舊多策馬而去，左右或勸從璟令自脫，終無行意，尋為元行欽所殺。 When Zhuangzong marched toward Bianzhou, many of Mingzong's kinsmen and old friends rode away. His attendants urged Congjing to flee on his own, but he would not budge, and soon Yuan Xingqin killed him.

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 · 2 passages

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元行欽恐其紛然，為解之方止。 Yuan Xingqin, fearing a quarrel, stepped in to smooth things over.

趙在禮據魏州，元行欽率軍進討，詔漢賓權知河南府事。 When Zhao Zaili held Wei, Yuan Xingqin marched to suppress him; Hanbin was made acting administrator of Henan.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 65Volume 65 Book of Later Tang 41: Biographies 17: Li Jianji, Shi Junli, Gao Xinggui, Zhang Tingyu, Wang Sitong, Suo Zitong · 2 passages

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守光將元行欽在山北，聞行珪有變，即率部下軍眾以攻行珪。 Shouguang's officer Yuan Xingqin was in the northern hills; when he heard Xinggui had turned, he marched at once with his troops to attack him.

明宗破行欽於廣邊軍，行欽亦降。 Mingzong routed Xingqin at Guangbian and took his surrender as well.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 70Volume 70 Book of Later Tang 46: Biographies 22: Yuan Xingqin, Xia Luqi, Yao Hong, Li Yan, Li Renju, Kang Sili, Zhang Jingda · 29 passages

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元行欽，本幽州劉守光之愛將。 Yuan Xingqin had begun as a favorite commander of Liu Shouguang of Youzhou.

守光之奪父位也，令行欽攻大恩山，又令殺諸兄弟。 When Shouguang seized his father's throne, he sent Xingqin against Da'en Mountain and ordered him to kill his brothers as well.

天祐九年，周德威攻圍山州，守光困蹙，令行欽於山北募兵，以應契丹。 In the ninth year of Tianyou, Zhou Dewei besieged Shanzhou. Shouguang, cornered, ordered Xingqin to raise troops north of the mountains to link up with the Khitan.

時明宗為將，攻行欽於山北，與之接戰，矢及明宗馬鞍，既而以勢迫來降。 Mingzong was then a field commander. He attacked Xingqin in the northern hills, and in the fighting an arrow struck Mingzong's saddle. Soon afterward, hard pressed, Xingqin surrendered.

莊宗東定趙、魏，選驍健置之麾下，因索行欽，莊宗不得已而遣之。 When Zhuangzong pacified Zhao and Wei in the east, he picked out the fiercest fighters for his personal command and asked for Xingqin. Zhuangzong, unable to refuse, sent him on.

時有散指揮都頭，名為散員，命行欽為都部署，賜姓，名紹榮。 There was then a corps of scattered guard commanders called the "scattered guards." Zhuangzong made Xingqin their overall commander, granted him the imperial surname, and gave him the name Shaorong.

莊宗好戰，勇於大敵，或臨陣有急兵，行欽必橫身解鬥翼衛之。 Zhuangzong loved combat and was fearless before strong foes. Whenever danger closed in on the field, Xingqin would throw himself into the melee and fight at Zhuangzong's side to cover him.

莊宗得三四騎而旋，中野為汴軍數百騎攢槊攻之，事將不測，行欽識其幟，急馳一騎，奮劍斷二矛，斬一級，汴軍乃解圍，翼莊宗還宮。 Zhuangzong got away with only three or four riders. In the open field several hundred Bian horsemen closed on him with leveled spears, and the outcome hung by a thread. Xingqin recognized their banners, spurred forward alone, slashed two spears apart with his sword, and cut down one man. The Bian troops broke off, and he escorted Zhuangzong back to camp.

嘗因內宴群臣，使相預會，行欽官為保傅，當地褥下坐。 Once Zhuangzong gave an inner banquet for his ministers and invited the commissioners as well. Xingqin held the post of guardian-tutor and was to sit below the floor cushions.

酒酣樂作，莊宗敘生平戰陣之事，因左右顧視，曰：「紹榮安在？」 As the wine warmed and the music began, Zhuangzong recounted the battles of his life, then glanced about and asked, "Where is Shaorong?"

所司奏云：「有敕，使相預會，紹榮散官，殿上無位。」 The master of ceremonies replied, "By imperial order the commissioners were invited to this gathering. Shaorong holds a scattered rank and has no place on the dais."

翌日，以行欽為同平章事，由是不宴百官於內殿，但宴武臣而已， The next day he made Xingqin Chief Minister. After that he no longer entertained all the civil officials in the inner hall, but only his military commanders,

三年，行欽喪婦。 In the third year Xingqin lost his wife.

莊宗有所愛宮人生皇子者，劉皇后心忌之，會行欽入侍，莊宗勞之曰：「紹榮喪婦復娶耶！ Zhuangzong favored a palace woman who had borne him a son, and Empress Liu resented her. When Xingqin came to attend him, Zhuangzong said kindly, "Shaorong, your wife is dead—will you take another?

皇后指所忌宮人謂莊宗曰：「皇帝憐紹榮，可使為婦。」 The empress pointed at the woman she hated and told Zhuangzong, "Your Majesty pities Shaorong—let her become his wife."

皇后即命紹榮謝之，未退，肩輿已出。 The empress at once ordered Shaorong to thank her. Before he had even stepped back, a palanquin was already on its way out.

及貝州軍亂，趙在禮入魏州，莊宗方擇將，皇后曰：「小事不勞大將，促紹榮指揮可也。」 When the Beizhou garrison mutinied and Zhao Zaili seized Weizhou, Zhuangzong was choosing a commander. The empress said, "A trifle like this need not burden a senior general—send Shaorong to take charge and that will do."

乃以行欽為鄴都行營招撫使，領騎二千進討。 Xingqin was appointed pacification commissioner of the Ye capital field headquarters and led two thousand cavalry forward to attack.

及明宗為帥，領軍至鄴，行欽來謁於軍中，拜起之際，誤呼萬歲者再，明宗驚駭，遏之方止。 When Mingzong took command and marched to Ye, Xingqin came to pay his respects in camp. As he straightened from his bow he twice shouted "Long live the Emperor!" by mistake. Mingzong was alarmed and silenced him before he could go on.

既而明宗營於城西，行欽營於城南。 Mingzong then pitched camp west of the city and Xingqin south of it.

三月八日夜，明宗為亂軍所迫，惟行欽之軍不動，按甲以自固。 On the night of the eighth day of the third month the mutineers closed in on Mingzong. Only Xingqin's troops held their ground, keeping their armor on and standing firm.

明宗密令張虔釗至行欽營，戒之曰：「且堅壁勿動，計會同殺亂軍，莫錯疑誤。」 Mingzong secretly sent Zhang Qianzhao to Xingqin's camp with this warning: "Hold your position and do not move yet. We mean to strike the mutineers together—do not misread this and turn on us."

行欽不聽，將步騎萬人棄甲而退。 Xingqin refused to listen and withdrew with ten thousand foot and horse, throwing off their armor as they went.

莊宗覽奏釋然曰：「吾知紹榮妄矣。」 Zhuangzong read the memorial and said with relief, "I knew Shaorong was lying."

因令白從訓與明宗子繼璟至軍前，欲令見明宗，行欽縶繼璟於路。 He sent Bai Congxun and Mingzong's son Jijing to the front so they could meet Mingzong, but Xingqin seized Jijing on the way.

及莊宗出成皋，知明宗在黎陽，復令繼璟渡河召明宗，行欽即殺之，仍勸班師。 When Zhuangzong advanced from Chenggao and learned that Mingzong was at Liyang, he again ordered Jijing to cross the river and summon him. Xingqin killed Jijing on the spot and pressed for a general withdrawal.

四月一日，莊宗既崩，行欽引皇后、存渥，得七百騎出師子門，將之河中就存霸，沿路部下解散，從者數騎而已。 On the first day of the fourth month Zhuangzong died. Xingqin escorted the empress and Cunwo with seven hundred horsemen out the Lion Gate, planning to reach Hezhong and join Cunba. Along the road his men melted away until only a handful of riders were left.

明宗即位，詔削奪行欽在位官爵，斬於洛陽。 After Mingzong took the throne, an edict stripped Xingqin of every office and title he had held, and he was beheaded at Luoyang.

從周德威攻幽州，燕將有單廷珪、元行欽，時稱驍勇，魯奇與之鬥，兩不能解，將士皆釋兵縱觀。 Under Zhou Dewei he attacked Youzhou. The Yan generals Shan Tinggui and Yuan Xingqin were then renowned for valor. Luqi fought them to a standstill, and soldiers on both sides set down their weapons to watch.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 72Volume 72 Book of Later Tang 48: Biographies 24: Zhang Chengye, Zhang Juhan, Ma Shaohong, Meng Hangqiong · 1 passage

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莊宗怒，顧元行欽曰：「取劍來！」 Zhuangzong flew into a rage and turned to Yuan Xingqin, saying, "Bring a sword!"

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 75Volume 75 Book of Later Jin 1: Gaozu Annals 1 · 1 passage

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同光四年二月，趙在禮據鄴為亂，朝廷遣元行欽招之不下，群議紛然，以為非明宗不可，莊宗乃以明宗為統帥。 In the second month of the fourth year of Tongguang, Zhao Zaili seized Ye in rebellion. The court sent Yuan Xingqin to summon him, but he would not submit. Opinion in court was divided, and many held that only Mingzong could handle it. Zhuangzong therefore made Mingzong supreme commander.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 5Volume 5 Later Tang Annals 2: Zhuangzong 2 · 1 passage

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趙在禮陷鄴都，武寧軍節度使李紹榮討之。 Zaili seized Yedu; Li Shaorong of Wuning marched against him.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 14Volume 14: Taizu of Later Tang's Family · 4 passages

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莊宗數幸郭崇韜、元行欽等私第，常與后俱。 Zhuangzong often visited Guo Chongtao, Yuan Xingqin, and others, the empress always at his side.

莊宗燕居宮中，元行欽侍側，莊宗問曰：「爾新喪婦，其復娶乎？ At ease in the palace with Yuan Xingqin beside him, Zhuangzong asked: “Your wife has just died—will you wed again? I will pay the bride-price.

后指愛姬請曰：「帝憐行欽，何不賜之？」 The empress pointed at the favorite: “You pity Xingqin—why not give her to him?”

后趣行欽拜謝，行欽再拜，起顧愛姬，肩輿已出宮矣。 She hurried Xingqin to bow; he rose and looked for the girl—her litter was already gone from the palace.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 15Volume 15: Mingzong of Later Tang's Family · 3 passages

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從璟馳至衛州，為元行欽所執，將殺之，從璟呼曰：「我父為亂軍所逼，公等不亮其心，我亦不能至魏，願歸衛天子。」 Congjing raced to Weizhou, was seized by Yuan Xingqin, and faced execution; he cried: “Mutineers force my father; you do not see his heart—I cannot reach Wei; let me return to serve the Son of Heaven.”

行欽釋之。 Xingqin let him go.

行欽以為不可，遂殺之。 Xingqin forbade it and had him killed.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 33Volume 33 Biographies of Martyrs to Service 13: Zhang Yuande, Xia Luqi, Yao Hong, Wang Sitong, Zhang Jingda, Di Jinzong, Shen Bin, Wang Qing, Shi Yanchao, Sun Cheng · 2 passages

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從周德威攻劉守光於幽州，守光將單廷珪、元行欽以驍勇自負，魯奇每與二將鬥，輒不能解，兩軍皆釋兵而觀之。 With Zhou Dewei he besieged Liu Shouguang at Youzhou; Shouguang’s generals Shan Tinggui and Yuan Xingqin boasted of valor; Luqi duelled each in turn without decision, both armies watching.

思同東走，將自歸于天子，與元行欽走異，故予其死。 Sitong fled east to surrender to the emperor himself—unlike Yuan Xingqin’s flight—so he is counted among the martyrs.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 38Volume 38 Biographies 18: Zhang Chengye, Zhang Juhan · 1 passage

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莊宗顧元行欽曰：「取劍來！」 Zhuangzong shouted to Yuan Xingqin: “Fetch a sword!”

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 · 1 passage

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同光四年，趙在禮反於魏，元行欽討賊無功，莊宗欲自將討之，大臣皆諫以為不可，因言明宗可將。 Tongguang 4: Zhao Zaili rose in Wei. Yuan Xingqin could not break him. Zhuangzong meant to go himself; ministers begged him not to and named Mingzong instead.