Background

It is not known when Zhao Xingshi was born, but it is known that he was from You Prefecture (幽州, in modern Beijing). In his youth, he became a cavalry soldier capable in archery, and he became a soldier under Liu Shouwen the military governor of Yichang Circuit (義昌, headquartered in modern Cangzhou, Hebei). While he was serving under Liu Shouwen during the Kaiping era of Later Liang's emperor Zhu Quanzhong, there was an occasion when Liu Shouwen's army was raiding Xiu County (蓨縣, in modern Hengshui, Hebei). As part of the raid, Zhao captured a child named Liu Yanshou, who was a son of Xiu's county magistrate Liu Yuan, as well as Liu Yanshou's mother Lady Zhong. He then adopted Liu Yanshou as his own son.

In 909, Liu Shouwen, who was then in a rivalry with his brother Liu Shouguang after Liu Shouguang had imprisoned their father Liu Rengong and seized Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered at You Prefecture), which Liu Rengong had controlled, was captured by Liu Shouguang and subsequently killed. Zhao came under Liu Shouguang's command and thereafter served at You Prefecture. As Liu Shouguang, who later claimed the title of Emperor of Yan, came under attack by his southwestern neighbor Jin's prince Li Cunxu in 912, Zhao, believing that Liu Shouguang was doomed to defeat, escaped from Yan and surrendered to Jin. Li Cunxu treated Zhao Xingshi well. Indeed, he bestowed on Zhao the imperial clan name of Li, and gave him a new name of Shaobin. Thereafter, he served several successive terms as prefectural prefects under Li Cunxu. Apparently during this time, his son Zhao Yanshou also married a daughter of Li Cunxu's adoptive brother Li Siyuan (the later Princess Xingping).

During Later Tang

During Li Cunxus reign

In 923, Li Cunxu declared himself the emperor of a new Later Tang. At that time, Li Shaobin carried the title of commander of the guard corps from Zhending (真定, in modern Baoding, Hebei), serving under Li Cunxu himself. That year, Li Jitao, the son of Li Cunxu's deceased cousin Li Sizhao, surrendered Anyi Circuit (安義, headquartered in modern Changzhi, Shanxi), to Later Liang's then-emperor Zhu Zhen. Li Jitao's subordinate Pei Yue (裴約) the prefect of Ze Prefecture (澤州, in modern Jincheng, Shanxi) refused to follow his betrayal of Later Tang, but was subsequently put under siege at Ze by the Later Liang general Dong Zhang. Pei sought emergency aid from Li Cunxu, who sent Li Shaobin to aid him, with the explicit instructions to make saving Pei the first priority — that the city may be given up if Pei could be saved. However, before Li Shaobin could arrive, the city had already fallen, and Pei was killed.

Later that year, though, in a campaign that Li Shaobin served in, Li Cunxu launched a surprise attack on Later Liang's capital Daliang itself, capturing it. Zhu committed suicide as the city fell, ending Later Liang and allowing Later Tang to take over its territory. After the campaign, Li Shaobin was made the military governor of Henghai Circuit (橫海, headquartered in modern Cangzhou, Hebei). In spring 924, in response to a Khitan incursion, both he and Li Siyuan, as well as Li Siyuan's adoptive son Li Congke, were dispatched to the border. However, despite that, Khitan forces were repeatedly able to pillage supplies that Later Tang sent to Lulong. Perhaps in response, in spring 925, Li Cunxu made Li Shaobin the military governor of Lulong. Further, because while Li Shaobin was considered a capable officer, he had not yet had great battlefield reputation, Li Siyuan, who was a senior general and who was then serving as the commander of both Han and non-Han soldiers of Li Cunxu's own imperial army, was also given the title of military governor of neighboring Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered at Zhending), to aid by reputation.

During Li Siyuans reign

In 926, Li Cunxu was killed in a mutiny at then-capital Luoyang. Li Siyuan, who had earlier himself rebelled against Li Cunxu, quickly arrived at Luoyang and claimed the throne. After Li Siyuan's ascension, Li Shaobin requested (as many other generals whom Li Cunxu had bestowed the imperial Li name on) to have his original surname restored. Li Siyuan agreed to let Li Shaobin reassume the original surname of Zhao, but also gave him a new personal name of Dejun. It was said that because of the marriage between Zhao's son Zhao Yanshou and Li Siyuan's daughter Princess Xingping, that Zhao Dejun became greatly trusted by the new emperor.

In or shortly before 928, as the relationship between the imperial government and the semi-independent warlord Wang Du the military governor of neighboring Yiwu Circuit (義武, headquartered in modern Baoding, Hebei) was deteriorating, Wang sought an alliance with Zhao by requesting a marriage between their children, although there was no indication that Zhao agreed to either a marriage or an alliance. Indeed, when Li Siyuan subsequently declared a general campaign against Wang Du (over Wang Du's failed assassination attempt against the imperial general Wang Yanqiu, who refused his overtures) and Khitan forces entered Later Tang territory to try to aid Wang Du but were crushed by Wang Yanqiu, Zhao intercepted the fleeing Khitan forces and slaughtered most of them while capturing others. He presented the captives to Li Siyuan, who pardoned the officers but slaughtered the soldiers, believing that it would help restore the relationship with Khitan. After Wang Du was eventually defeated, Li Siyuan rewarded both Zhao and Wang Yanqiu by granting them the honorary chancellor designation of Shizhong (侍中). Later, when Khitan repeatedly requested that the officers be returned, it was at the urging of Zhao and Yang Tan (under the rationale that the pardoned Khitan officers would give intelligence information back to their own government if returned to Khitan) that Li Siyuan did not do so.

Regardless of the officially friendly relations, however, the Khitan army still repeatedly pillaged the territory of Lulong Circuit. As You Prefecture relied on the food supplies sent north by the imperial government, from Zhuo Prefecture (涿州, in modern Baoding) north, to You, the Khitan soldiers were accustomed to set up ambushes at Yangou (閻溝, in modern Beijing), on the way between Zhuo and You, to pillage the food supply shipments. Zhao reacted by building a fort at Yangou, establishing it as the seat of Liangxiang County, with a garrison, to guard against such ambushes. Zhao also rebuilt an old fort formerly known as Lu County (潞縣) east of You proper, to allow the people to farm in relative safety, and a new fort known as Sanhe County (三河) further east, to allow the food transport to Ji Prefecture (薊州, in modern Tianjin) to proceed in relative safety.

During Li Congkes reign

Li Siyuan died in 933, and was initially succeeded by his son Li Conghou. In 934, Li Conghou's adoptive brother Li Congke, believing that Li Conghou's senior officials were planning to act against him, rebelled, defeating the imperial army sent against him and becoming the new emperor. In the aftermaths, a mutual suspicion developed between Li Congke and Li Siyuan's son-in-law Shi Jingtang the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi), and it was said that because of frequent Khitan incursions, both Zhao and Shi used the opportunity to claim the need to build up their armies, causing further tension between Li Congke and Shi.

In 936, Li Congke decided to test Shi's loyalty by moving (as Shi requested) him from Hedong to Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an, Shandong). However, upon receiving the order, Shi rebelled. Li Congke commissioned the imperial general Zhang Jingda as the commander of the army against Shi, with Yang Guangyuan (i.e., Yang Tan, whose name had been changed by this point) as his deputy. As part of Later Tang's campaign plans, Zhao and Dong Wenqi (董溫琪) the military governor of Chengde were ordered to intercept Khitan forces that were anticipated to head south to aid Shi, but apparently, Zhao never launched his troops to do so, and the Khitan forces, under the direct command of Khitan's Emperor Taizong, were able to reach Hedong's capital Taiyuan without being intercepted. The joint Khitan/Hedong forces subsequently defeated Zhang's army and then surrounded it at Jin'an Fortress (晉安寨).

Hearing of the siege of Jin'an, Zhao volunteered to lead an army to try to lift the siege. However, it was said that Zhao's actual intent was to gather up as much of an army as possible (by merging in the armies of the nearby circuits) and then use it to negotiate with the Khitan emperor to support him, instead of Shi, as the emperor of China. To that end, instead of directly heading for Jin'an, he took his army south, first going through Yi Prefecture (易州, in modern Baoding), where he rendezvoused with the imperial army garrisoned there, commanded by the imperial general Liu Zaiming, and had Liu join his army. He then headed south to Chengde, and had Dong take his Chengde army with him. He then headed southwest to Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi, Shanxi), where he rendezvoused with Zhao Yanshou (whom Li Congke had sent north to meet him) and took over the soldiers that Li Congke put under Zhao Yanshou's command as well as the Zhaoyi forces. He then sought to rendezvous with Fan Yanguang the military governor of Tianxiong Circuit (天雄, headquartered in modern Handan, Hebei), but Fan, suspicious of Zhao Dejun's intentions, refused, citing the fact that he was already deeply in enemy territory, at Liao Prefecture (遼州, in modern Jinzhong, Shanxi), and could not retreat to meet Zhao. Zhao subsequently advanced toward Jin'an, to Tuanbo Gorge (團柏谷, in modern Jinzhong), but stopped there, not advancing further toward Jin'an, while engaging in secret negotiations with Emperor Taizong, hoping that Emperor Taizong would support him, instead of Shi, in overthrowing Li Congke. Emperor Taizong was tempted, but eventually turned down Zhao's overture. To further affirm his support of Shi, he created Shi emperor of China, founding a new Later Jin. Meanwhile, Zhao Dejun also sought to have Zhao Yanshou made the military governor of Chengde, which Li Congke refused.

Eventually, the Later Tang forces at Jin'an ran out of food and was in a desperate state. Yang assassinated Zhang (who refused to consider surrendering), and then surrendered. Having taken over the Later Tang forces, the joint Khitan/Later Jin forces then headed south, toward Tuanbo. Zhao's army crumbled in fear, and Zhao himself, along with Zhao Yanshou, fled to Zhaoyi's capital Lu Prefecture (潞州) and initially put up defenses there. Shi sent Gao Xingzhou the military governor of Zhaoyi back there to point out to Zhao that Lu's defenses could not hold long, and Zhao thereafter surrendered. Khitan's Emperor Taizong arrested Zhao Dejun and Zhao Yanshou, sending them back to Khitan proper, while continuing south with Shi. Li Congke, finding the situation hopeless, committed suicide with his family, ending Later Tang. Shi's Later Jin state took over the Later Tang territory.

After capture by Khitan forces

Upon arrival at the Khitan court, Zhao Dejun and Zhao Yanshou, in order to show submission, submitted their treasures and land deeds (of their property at You Prefecture) to Emperor Taizong's mother Empress Dowager Shulü Ping. Empress Dowager Shulü pointed out Zhao Dejun's hypocrisy in claiming loyalty to Later Tang yet at the same time wanting to be emperor himself, and then also pointed out that as You had become her territory (as Shi had agreed to cede 16 prefectures, including all of Lulong Circuit) to Khitan, there was nothing for him to offer her. Zhao Dejun could not respond to her rebuke, and became severely distressed thereafter. He died in captivity in 937. After his death, however, Zhao Yanshou would become a trusted advisor for Emperor Taizong.

Notes and references

• History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 98.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 272, 273, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280.

家世

趙行實生年不詳，幽州人氏。年輕時善騎射，效力義昌軍節度使劉守文為偏將。後梁開平初年，劉守文攻陷脩縣，縣令劉邧的兒子劉延壽與劉延壽母種氏都被趙行實所獲，趙行實于是娶種氏，養劉延壽為子。

因劉守文弟劉守光囚父劉仁恭並奪取劉仁恭先前掌控的盧龍軍，劉守文與劉守光為敵，但在開平三年（909年），被劉守光擒殺。趙行實效力劉守光，被署為幽州軍校。劉守光後來稱燕帝，應天二年（912年）被西南鄰國晉國國王李存勖攻打，趙行實知劉守光必敗，逃奔李存勖，為裨將。梁太祖攻脩縣，聲言大軍五十萬，趙行實建議昭德軍使史建瑭、忻州刺史李存審走入土門避戰，史建瑭、李存審沒有聽，最終退敵。李存勖善待趙行實，賜國姓李，賜名紹斌。累官郡守。其養子趙延壽也娶了李存勖養兄李嗣源的女兒，即後來的興平公主。

後唐年間

李存勖年間

天祐二十年（923年）二月，李存勖稱後唐皇帝。李紹斌為北京內牙馬步軍都指揮使。三月，李存勖已故養堂兄李嗣昭之子李繼韜以安義軍降梁帝朱瑱。李繼韜部下澤州刺史裴約拒絕隨他投梁，于是被梁所任澤州刺史董璋圍攻。七月，裴約告急于李存勖，李存勖派李紹斌以甲士五千從遼州赴援，且命令他：只要能救下裴約，澤州可棄。但李紹斌未到，八月，澤州已陷，裴約被殺。

十月，在李紹斌參與下，李存勖突襲梁都大梁，克之。城陷時，朱瑱自殺，梁亡，唐接管其全境。李紹斌以北京衙內馬步軍都指揮使、右領軍衛大將軍遷橫海軍節度使。同光二年（924年）三月，因契丹入侵，他和時任天平軍節度使的李嗣源和李嗣源養子北京左廂馬軍指揮使李從珂奉詔守邊。五月，李紹斌充東北面行營招討使，率大軍渡河北上。但契丹仍然屢次劫掠唐運往盧龍軍的糧食。三年（925年）二月，李紹斌被任為盧龍軍節度使，仍檢校太保。李紹斌雖被認為是良將，但沒有大的戰場威望，而李嗣源為宿將，時為蕃漢內外馬步總管，于是李嗣源被徙為與盧龍相鄰的成德軍節度使，以為李紹斌之援。

同光四年（926年）正月，李紹斌奏稱得到契丹首領耶律阿保機所贈貂裘。

李嗣源年間

當年四月，李存勖被都城的洛陽的一起兵變所殺。先前已背叛李存勖的李嗣源很快到達洛陽並稱帝。李紹斌和很多被李存勖賜國姓的將領請求複原名。李嗣源同意讓李紹斌復姓趙，加檢校太傅、同平章事，賜名德鈞。因兒女親家的緣故，趙德鈞深得李嗣源信任。曾作《奏契丹阿保機薨逝狀》。天成二年（927年），加檢校太尉。

趙德鈞因久在邊境，也曾與契丹通好，如契丹天贊六年（927年）十二月，契丹太宗遣人以詔賜趙德鈞。七年（928年），趙德鈞遣人以時果進契丹。

天成三年（928年）或稍早，朝廷和相鄰的半獨立軍閥義武軍節度使王都關係惡化，四月，王都請求和趙德鈞結親，以為結盟。但沒有記載表明趙德鈞答應了。王都又策反北面副招討使歸德節度使王晏球，不果，刺殺之，未遂，于是李嗣源討伐王都，契丹派原知感等九人率騎軍三萬進入唐境意圖幫助王都，五月，卻被王晏球擊潰，趙德鈞截擊逃跑的契丹軍，殺了大部分，盡獲餘眾，擒原知感等及特哩袞以下首領數十人、將士七百餘人，六月奏稱殺契丹千餘人于幽州東，獲馬六百匹。八月又遣牙將武從諫率精騎迎戰契丹酋長惕隱赫邈敗軍，于府城西殺數千人，生擒惕隱赫邈、舍利荝剌等數百人，奏生擒特哩袞及其屬五十餘人。閏八月，獻俘于京師。李嗣源赦特哩袞等酋長五十人，置之親衛，稱為「契丹直」，認為可以重建與契丹的關係，而斬其餘六百被俘士兵。四年（929年）二月，王都終于戰敗，趙德鈞與王晏球並加兼侍中。不久加東北面招討使。更以興邦守正翊贊功臣、盧龍軍節度管內觀察處置押奚契丹兩蕃經略盧龍軍等大使、特進、檢校太尉、同中書門下平章事、幽州大都督府長史、上柱國、天水縣開國侯食邑一千戶的身份進封開國公，加食邑五百戶，食實封一百戶。契丹屢遣使者請求放還舍利荝剌、惕隱、扎拉、特哩袞等，趙德鈞和冀州刺史楊檀都認為被赦免的契丹酋長們一旦回到契丹，會將情報告知契丹政府，在他們勸說下，李嗣源沒有放還契丹酋長們。

先前，天成四年正月，趙德鈞奏其孫趙美（趙延壽子，故實為趙德鈞養孫）五歲就能默念《論語》《孝經》，正在汴州可考童子試。詔令趙美免試，特給功名，賜別敕及第，仍附當年春榜。

趙德鈞鎮幽州十餘年，很有善政，長興三年（932年）四月，兼中書令，六月，奏發河北數鎮丁夫，開東南河，從王馬口至淤口（即今信安鎮），長一百六十五里，寬六十五步，深一丈二尺，以通漕運，並畫圖上獻。通水運二百里，又在閻溝築壘，戍兵以守，取名良鄉縣，以備敵寇。從此，契丹稍息，自幽州東十里，外州人不敢樵牧。趙德鈞又在州東五十里故潞縣擇潞河築城，以兵守之，近州百姓才敢耕作。自從破擒禿餒後，趙德鈞又于幽州東部築三河城，北接薊州，頗為形勝要塞，部民因而稍稍得以樵牧。契丹曾出騎兵攔截後唐糧船，問：「此我疆界，安得設板築？」趙德鈞以禮責之，出師將擊之，契丹軍于是退去。趙德鈞故城在北宋初依然完整，為要衝。百姓數年不租調，修建工事都是軍隊所作，境內歌頌趙德鈞。但盧龍軍軍威不振，也因連年用兵，民力疲敝。

李從珂年間

長興四年（933年），李嗣源崩，起初由子李從厚繼位。應順元年（934年），加趙德鈞檢校太師。但時為鳳翔節度使兼侍中的潞王李從珂因認為李從厚的高官要對付自己，起兵作亂，打敗了朝廷派來討伐他的軍隊，成為了新皇帝，進封當時官爵為幽州盧龍軍節度、押奚契丹經略盧龍軍等使、兼北面行營招討使、檢校太師、中書令、行幽州大都督府長史、天水郡公的趙德鈞為北平王。李從珂和李嗣源女婿河東節度使石敬瑭之間互相懷疑，因契丹頻繁入侵，趙德鈞和石敬瑭都趁機以此為由組建自己的軍隊。李從珂和石敬瑭因而關係更緊張。

清泰二年（935年），契丹入侵，時任北面招討使的趙德鈞奏稱行營馬步軍都虞候、義武軍節度使楊光遠（即楊檀，已改名）和行營排陣使、安國軍節度使安審琦率本軍至易州，現正進軍追襲契丹。

清泰三年（936年）五月，李從珂決定以如石敬瑭所請，遷石敬瑭為天平軍節度使的方式，測試石敬瑭的忠心。但石敬瑭得令後，即作亂。李從珂任西北蕃漢馬步都部署張敬達為太原四面兵馬都部署，楊光遠為副部署。七月，趙德鈞遣使赴契丹。作為唐計劃的一部分，八月，趙德鈞和他奏請與自己同赴戰場的成德軍節度使董溫琪奉令攔截契丹可能派遣南下幫助石敬瑭的軍隊。但趙德鈞顯然沒有奉命出兵，九月，契丹軍在太宗皇帝直接率領下得以在未遭攔截的情況下抵達河東軍部太原。契丹、河東聯軍敗張敬達軍，圍之于晉安寨。

聞晉安寨之圍，九月，趙德鈞主動請纓統軍試圖解圍，十月，奉命由飛狐路出敵後擊敵。但趙德鈞的真實意圖是通過兼併鄰鎮軍隊以聚集儘量多的軍隊，以為資本與契丹皇帝談判使其支持自己而非石敬瑭為中原皇帝。因而他統領所部銀鞍契丹直三千騎出兵後，沒有直趨晉安寨，而是率軍南下，先經過易州，會合趙州刺史、北面行營都指揮使劉在明屯駐當地的軍隊，命劉在明與自己合兵。然後南下成德，迫董溫琪的成德軍合兵。這時趙德鈞有軍一萬餘，奉命由上黨前去會合奉命北上的時任樞密使的趙延壽的軍隊，但知道契丹有備，便不再進兵。十一月，他被任為諸道行營都統，再往西南從吳兒峪路去昭義軍，在西唐店會合已受任為河東道南面行營招討使的趙延壽，接管了李從珂讓趙延壽指揮的軍隊和昭義軍。趙德鈞又想會合天雄軍節度使范延光，但范延光懷疑趙德鈞的意圖，表稱自己已深入遼州敵境，不能撤回，拒絕合兵。趙德鈞隨後前往晉安，行經團柏谷口，其前鋒殺契丹五百騎，軍出谷口，契丹暫退，趙德鈞卻不再前進，請求以趙延壽為成德軍節度使，被李從珂拒絕，稱：「如果趙德鈞父子能退契丹，即使要代替我，我也甘心。如果玩寇要挾君主，只怕狗和兔子要一起完蛋。」趙德鈞不悅。閏十一月，趙德鈞秘密和契丹太宗談判，希望太宗在推翻李從珂時支持自己而非石敬瑭。太宗被打動，但最終還是拒絕了。為了進一步坐實對石敬瑭的支持，他立石敬瑭為中原皇帝，建立後晉。

最後，晉安唐軍糧盡，陷入絕境。吏部侍郎龍敏對李從珂親將李懿說自己本是幽州人，深知趙德鈞為人膽小謀拙，擅長守城寨、修壕塹、鼓勵健兒，但遇到大敵必然不能奮不顧身摧堅陷陣，何況他功名震主，正在用奸計為自身謀劃。張敬達拒絕投降，楊光遠殺之，投降。契丹、晉聯軍奪取這支唐軍，南趨團柏谷。趙德鈞軍恐懼瓦解。趙德鈞、趙延壽先逃，兵士丟盔棄甲自相踐踏，死者萬計。趙德鈞、趙延壽逃到昭義軍軍部潞州，愛將時賽率輕騎向東回漁陽，其部曲還有千餘人，與散亡士卒都歸于潞州。石敬瑭派昭義節度使高行周回昭義，對趙德鈞指出潞州不能久守。趙德鈞投降，迎謁石敬瑭于馬前，石敬瑭不禮待。契丹太宗在潞州西郊盡殺趙德鈞的銀鞍契丹直，鎖趙德鈞、趙延壽歸國，與石敬瑭繼續南下。李從珂絕望，全家自殺，唐亡。石敬瑭的晉接管唐全境。契丹太宗到細河，檢閱趙德鈞、趙延壽投降兵馬。

被契丹軍俘虜後

趙德鈞、趙延壽到契丹朝廷後，為表歸順，對太宗母述律平皇太后獻出在幽州的寶貨、田宅。述律太后指趙德鈞聲言效忠唐卻要自謀稱帝是虛偽之舉，說：「我兒出征時，我告誡他說：趙大王如果引兵北向渝關，就要馬上回師，太原不可救。你想做天子，何不先擊退我兒子，再慢慢做打算也不晚。你是人臣，既然辜負主君，不能擊敵，還想趁亂邀利，做出這樣的事，有何面目求生？」趙德鈞俯首不能回答。而當時石敬瑭已割幽雲十六州于契丹，述律太后又指出幽州已屬自己，趙德鈞在幽州的田宅並無可獻。趙德鈞更加慚愧。從此鬱郁，不多吃飯。天福二年（937年）夏，卒于契丹。但死後，趙延壽卻被釋放，並成為契丹太宗所信的謀臣。趙德鈞妻種氏墓誌稱趙德鈞為「遼故盧龍軍節度使、太師、中書令、北平王、贈齊王」。

天福三年（938年）五月，昭義軍奏銅鞮等五縣收拾到甲仗兵共六千七十副，都是趙德鈞兵敗奔潞州時丟棄的兵甲。

家族

妻

• 種氏（約880年代—957年6月22日），滄州馬步軍都指揮使、左領衛大將軍、同正德州刺史、太保種居爽長女，由河南郡夫人進封鄭國夫人、燕國夫人，入遼後因趙延壽顯貴，詔封魏國太夫人，死後特贈秦國夫人

子女

• 繼子趙延壽

• 河陽軍節度使、起複雲麾將軍、左金吾衛將軍同正太尉趙延密

• 左監門衛將軍、司徒趙延希，早卒

• 趙氏，嫁歸德軍節度使、太師、同政事門下平章事劉敏，封天水郡君

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