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Zhou Shi was a Secretary and Diplomat of Wang Rong.
IdentityHistorical · Male
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Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 54Volume 54 Book of Later Tang 30: Biographies 6: Wang Rong, Wang Zhaohui, Wang Chuzhi · 7 passages
判官周式者，有口辯，出見梁祖。
His secretary Zhou Shi was a skilled speaker and went out to meet the Founding Emperor of Liang.
梁祖盛怒，逆謂式曰：「王令公朋附並汾，違盟爽信，敝賦業已及此，期於無舍！」
The Founding Emperor was furious and confronted Shi: "Lord Wang has allied with Bing and Fen, broken his treaty, and violated his word. My army has already reached your borders, and I intend to leave no quarter!"
式曰：「公為唐室之桓、文，當以禮義而成霸業，反欲窮兵黷武，天下其謂公何！」
Shi replied, "Your Lordship is the Huan and Wen of the Tang house and should establish hegemony through ritual and righteousness. Instead you wish to exhaust armies in ceaseless warfare—what will the realm say of you!"
周式請見全忠，全忠即出書示式曰：「嗣昭在者，宜速遣。」
Zhou Shi requested an audience; Quanzhong produced the letters and showed them to Shi, saying, "If Sizhao is present, send him away at once."
式曰：「王公所與和者，息人鋒鏑間耳。
Shi replied, "Lord Wang's alliances were merely to silence weapons for a time.
梁祖喜，引式袂而慰之曰：「前言戲之耳！」
The Founding Emperor was pleased, took Shi's sleeve, and comforted him: "My earlier words were only in jest!"
式請鎔子昭祚及大將梁公儒、李宏規子各一人往質於汴。
Shi requested that Rong's son Zhaozhuo and one son each of the great generals Liang Gongru and Li Honggui be sent as hostages to Bian.