生平

出身

符彥卿祖籍陳州宛丘，其父符存審是軍事將領，於唐末亂世效力「獨眼龍」晉王李克用，時人稱十三太保之一，從軍資歷完整，官至盧龍節度使、蕃漢馬步軍都總管及中書令，為後唐立國的砥柱中流。符彥卿是家裡的第四子，同袍都叫他「符第四」，由於父親常年鎮守河北，與北面的外族契丹交戰，符彥卿自小就在軍旅中長大；他亦繼承父親的軍事天份，自幼已經習武，十三歲便能騎在馬背上拉弓射箭，而他成長後面對的亂世、朝代迅速更替的程度，更較其父年代有過之而無不及，

符彥卿雖為將門之後，但年少時並沒在父親領地幽州逗留太久，反而離家跑到太原，受李克用之子李存勗（後來的莊宗）起用，因為辦事謹慎誠實而受賞識，獲准出入軍帳內室，等到年紀稍長就被任命為親從指揮使，率領數百人的近衛小部隊。

後唐

早年戰績

同光元年（923年）四月，李存勗在魏州（今河北省邯鄲市西）稱帝，建國號唐（史稱後唐）是為莊宗，馬上突襲宿敵後梁的鄆州，至十月已攻入其首都汴梁（今河南開封），在繼承李克用遺志十多年後，終於消滅了朱溫篡唐而來的後梁，莊宗更以祖父朱邪赤心早年受唐室御賜李姓的合法繼承人身份，打起「中興唐朝」旗號，意圖統一北方後，再收復中國全境。

後唐朝廷既立，定都洛陽，時年約25歲的符彥卿被擢升為散員指揮使，負責皇宮裡其中一支騎兵衛隊。而莊宗雄心壯志，很快又攻陷成都、滅掉前蜀，還收降李茂貞建立的岐國；當時南方諸藩包括吳、吳越、楚均上表向後唐入貢，成為長城以南惟一受公認的皇權，確然頗具中興之勢。

同光二年（924年）五月，符彥卿之父符存審於幽州官邸去世，送至京城洛陽下葬，莊宗廢朝三日悼念，追封秦王兼尚書令；符彥卿及後升任龍武都虞候，即是統率禁軍的上級指揮官。但與此同時，滅梁後的莊宗慢慢變得貪圖逸樂，終日與戲班伶人為伍，竟然起用伶人擔任將軍，不單荒廢朝政，又派宦官強搶民女入宮，導致坊間開始怨聲四起。

同光四年（926），莊宗把旗下的魏博軍臨時調往貝州（今河北省南宮市）屯田，使士兵戍期滿後仍不能歸鄉，小卒皇甫暉見軍心散渙，趁機挑起叛亂，先殺主帥楊仁晸，再立偏將趙在禮為留後並大肆擄掠民居，是為鄴都之變。莊宗派義兄李嗣源剿亂，不料李嗣源到鄴都後被部屬挾持入城，要求他帶領魏博軍起事；李嗣源受女婿石敬瑭游說，指形勢已騎虎難下，即使不造反也會被莊宗猜疑，李嗣源唯有率眾，舉起肅清伶人幹政的旗幟反攻洛陽。莊宗親征抵擋，卻因久疏軍務而大敗，回師洛陽途中更加遭伶人郭從謙背叛，史稱興教門之變。由於莊宗素來吝嗇金錢，不太撫恤士卒，當興教門著火一片混亂之際，侍從大多逃之夭夭捨他而去，僅符彥卿及王全斌等數名將領依然效忠，身為禁軍將領的符彥卿更沐血奮戰，殺死十多名叛軍，直至莊宗在轎子裡被飛箭擊中、隨後於絳霄殿暴斃，符彥卿知道戀戰亦無濟於事，才悲憤地飲泣離開。

不久，李嗣源進入洛陽，厚葬莊宗屍骨於雍陵，開始著手整頓朝政，包括把郭從謙族滅並清除宦官伶人，因此受眾臣擁護為後唐明宗。此時符家兄弟眾人（符存審生九子）在各地方上擁有不少兵馬，勢力足以傾覆後唐，明宗為了拉攏他們，派遣長居朝廷的符彥卿出使太原，安撫他掌握當地實權的長兄北京巡檢符彥超，兄弟兩人見面後，取得共識繼續效力後唐，間接促使符氏一族此後在亂世中仍然巍然屹立。

定州擊破契丹

天成三年 (928年)，而立之年的符彥卿成為吉州刺史，從禁軍將領搖身一變為地方官，領地分於長江以南的吉州廬陵一帶（今江西省吉水市），雖然位處偏僻，遠離朝廷勢力核心，但憑藉少年累積下來的聲名甚獲明宗器重，多次參與北疆戰爭，繼承父親抗擊契丹的大志。當時，契丹國第二任皇帝耶律德光剛以25歲之齡即位，延續耶律阿保機的強勢統治，不單忙於消滅東丹王耶律倍，對中原的威脅也愈來愈大；相反，後唐明宗上台已一年多，治國根基卻不穩妥，先有朱守殷在汴州謀反，後來另一將領王都也在定州（今河北省定州市）叛亂，更勾結契丹人南侵。

為了平叛，明宗派遣歸德節度使王晏球為主將，符彥卿則受封「北面行營諸道左廂馬軍都指揮使」，奉命與宣徽南院使張延朗從旁協助，防範由禿餒率領的10,000名契丹鐵騎。不過契丹騎兵既勇悍，機動力又強，知道張延朗屯軍於新樂防守後，馬上繞遠路從另一側進入定州，在會合王都的兵力後，出其不意地進攻後唐軍，張延朗大敗，契丹軍整合後再朝嘉山（今河北省曲陽縣東）乘勝追擊。。

面對契丹大軍，後唐士兵先登上山丘佔據地利，由符彥卿率領的左翼先鋒迎擊，他要求手下收起弓矢，做好準備衝下山與敵軍短兵相接，又警告士兵如果回顧不前，須依軍法處斬。結果在軍紀嚴明之下，符彥卿在嘉山的突襲把契丹軍和王都打得潰敗，禿餒與王都身邊甚至只剩下數名騎兵，匆忙從曲陽一帶逃回定州城，途中六十多里都見到契丹兵屍體和扔棄的盔甲。

禿餒入城後，王都對他相當卑躬屈膝，屬下當中有人看不過眼，想向符彥卿請降，卻被加以監視和殺戮，由於定州城兵仍有數千人且糧草充足，如是者又堅守多數月。期間，契丹王耶律德光得知南侵失利，又派惕隱率領7,000名騎兵增援，加上王都屬下鄭季璘、杜弘壽以2,000兵力出城接應，結果再在唐河（今河南省南陽市）被打敗，契丹陣亡數千人，其餘紛紛潰散至各地鄉村，甚至被村民殺死，而惕隱更被生擒送返京師，耶律德光為此事遣使到後唐，言辭謙卑地要求明宗把惕隱送回契丹，被明宗拒絕並處刑，一時間後唐聲勢大震。

天成四年 (929年)二月，定州城糧盡而破，王都自焚投降。整場王都之亂，契丹一共派遣近20,000士兵南下助戰，一旦打開缺口對後唐將是關乎存亡的威脅，最終卻僅剩數十人能夠逃回契丹，導致此後一段時間都不敢輕言南下，北方其他外族也畏懼後唐。

招撫党項

符彥卿憑藉剿滅王都的功勞，被調升至相對安穩的隴東地區，任慶州刺史（今甘肅省慶陽市），並加封耀州團練使（今陝西省銅川市），當時慶、耀州不是戰況最劇烈的地區，但轄境剛被擴大，符彥卿變相手擁兩州兵力；在政治層面上，團練使屬於節度使其下一級的職銜，符彥卿被加封團練使，相當於考驗其政務能力，為日後升遷藩鎮舖平了道路。

符彥卿到任慶州後，考慮到隴東地區對契丹的防務薄弱，因此在北烏侖山山口築起城堡，並且修繕河渠，加強後唐長遠的防禦能力；另一個目的是當時慶州以北居住了大量從巴蜀湧入的党項族人，譬如拓跋氏、費聽氏和米擒氏等，既不從屬契丹，又拒絕聽命後唐，選擇聚居在兩國之間的灰色地帶；符彥卿築起城堡後馬上加以招撫，除令党項人歸化，也延攬了部分氏族首領，預防他們在軍事衝突中支持契丹，收到頗大治績。

清泰初年（934年），正值後唐朝廷多事之秋，鎮守沂、海、兗、密四州（今山東省南部）的長兄、泰寧節度使符彥超遇害身亡，符彥卿則受到新上台的後唐末帝李從珂信任，調為接壤契丹的易州刺史（今河北省易縣），兼領後唐的北方騎軍，相當於授予防衛契丹的軍事大權，作為對抗北狄的第一道屏障，並御賜戎服、甲冑及戰馬，以作獎勵。可惜不久後，與末帝素有積怨的石敬瑭在太原再舉叛旗，更以割讓戰略重地燕雲十六州、歲納絹三十萬匹，甚至自貶「兒皇帝」為條件，向契丹王耶律德光借取大軍，對方趁機親率領50,000鐵騎南下。

後唐方面，隨即以建雄節度使張敬達為首的藩鎮聯軍征討太原，其中符彥卿與另一員大將高行周負責率領騎兵部隊，然而在燕雲十六州淪陷、兵力懸殊下不敵契丹、石敬瑭聯軍，惟有退守晉安寨（今山西太原南），之後長達數個月時間，後唐陣營都沒任何一支援軍前往晉安寨相救，局勢惡劣可想而知，最終石敬瑭叛軍主力攻入洛陽，李從珂自焚身亡。總結符彥卿少年獲莊宗賞識起，直至末帝覆亡為止，共為後唐效力逾廿載，雖然沙場上忠勇效力，卻無法挽回亡國的厄運。

後晉

政治危機

天福元年（936年），石氏建立後晉稱帝，擢升符彥卿為節度使，但原本領地易州，因為所在的燕雲十六州已割讓予契丹，便向南調往同州，另外對其二哥符彥饒也授以滑州義成軍節度使一職，兄弟表面看似風光，實則如履薄冰。僅數月後，符彥饒就因為部下擅自對抗昭信節度使白奉進，連送返京都的正式審訊也未舉行，便被官府下令於驛館半途處決；雖然石敬瑭下令至此不再深究，但符彥卿從二哥之死，察覺到自己身為前朝大將，深受生性多疑的石敬瑭猜忌，若繼續為後晉賣命只會動輒得咎，逐決定以退為進，不久便主動向朝廷上表請辭，說自己是待罪之身，請求解甲歸隱田野。

這是符彥卿從軍後首次遇上的政治危機，稍一處理不慎都攸關生死，猶幸北方幹戈戰禍剛止，割地求榮的石敬瑭本身支持度低，欲穩定國內情勢，不得不倚重舊臣力量，因此他拒絕了符彥卿的請辭，反而多次加封其職權，希望冰釋前嫌，期間符彥卿再次擔任御前禁軍首領，先統率左羽林軍，隨後兼領右羽林軍，並且升任鄜延節度使（今陝西省北部），下轄五州兵力和政權。可惜石敬瑭稱帝後，由於對北狄卑躬屈膝的態度，旗下藩鎮不斷叛變，他本人亦屢次遭受契丹王責問，結果上台僅5年多就在憂憤中過身。

出鎮河陽三城

石敬瑭歿後，侄兒石重貴於開運元年（944年）繼任，是為後晉出帝；他與符彥卿識於微時，又矢志改變恭順契丹的國策，因此甫一即位馬上就召符彥卿上朝，進一步委派重任，以符彥卿坐鎮河陽三城節度使，掌握懷、衛、鄭、汝、陝，孟及澤州（今河南省黃河故道以北、太行山以南一帶），後晉隨即宣布不再向契丹稱臣。

契丹王耶律德光盛怒之下，開始歷時數年的大規模南侵，最初不用一個月就攻陷邊境的貝州，博州守將周儒也開城投降，2個月後契丹部將、以行軍手段殘暴見稱的麻荅再攻下德州，霎時間勢不可擋，符彥卿決定率領麾下於澶淵迎戰。當時數萬名契丹騎兵，已經把後晉另一大將高行周團團包圍於鐵丘一地，等到陣前軍議時，諸將因為畏懼契丹大軍鋒芒，面面相覷都沒人敢自願擔任先鋒，符彥卿認為不能任由高行周失救戰死，見帳內諸將鴉雀無聲，待軍議結束後便親自挑選數百名精銳騎兵，獨力輕裝上陣馳救戰友，這種不要命的奇襲策略出乎契丹意料，導致麻荅的部隊慌亂間損失慘重，士兵紛紛脫離戰線逃走，最終符彥卿成功在苦戰中親自救回高行周。

開運元年（944年）11月，符彥卿與成德節度使將領李守貞合兵出征青州（今山東省青州市），討伐勾結契丹的平盧節度使楊光遠，順利擊破叛軍，楊光遠之子開城投降；時年約46歲的符彥卿，憑藉一系列的平亂功績封爵，號祁國公，同時升任忠武節度使，移鎮陳、溵、蔡、汝及許州（今河南省許昌市）。

陽城重挫耶律德光

開運二年（945年）二月，後晉出帝見契丹軍從中原撤退，決心乘勢北伐，派遣符彥卿與義成節度使杜重威、李守貞三人大舉進軍幽州，但契丹王耶律德光堅決不退讓，御駕親率十多萬契丹士兵捲土重來；後晉軍與契丹開戰後，初期一度把對方向北驅逐十餘里，逼使其退回白溝（今河北省保定市白溝鎮）以北，不過契丹鐵騎兵力始終佔優，很快又壓倒後晉軍，晉軍且戰且退，結果退至陽城附近（今山西省陽城縣），就被契丹大軍重重包圍起來，契丹方面不止放火助威，更以奇兵截斷晉軍的主要糧食補給路線。

據歐陽修撰寫的《新五代史》記載，陽城當時嚴重乾涸缺水，受契丹包圍日久，後晉營中所有水井都已經被開鑿得壞掉，士兵們飢渴不堪，只好爭相挖地上的泥濘吸吮解渴，無論人和馬都因渴水而死，導致營內士氣非常低落，儘管敵軍隨時殺到，後晉大營的衛兵卻連拉弓防守的力氣也沒有。見此情況，耶律德光對戰情充滿信心，安坐戰車中對麾下軍隊吶喊：「後晉兵馬已經全數受困於此，只要我們生擒對手，馬上就可以平定天下」。

然而天有不測，當晚深宵颳起漫天暴風，杜重威主張守陣不出，想待風勢轉弱才從長計議；相反，符彥卿認為機不可失，決意背水一戰，便號召手下張彥澤及皇甫遇說：「與其束手就擒，倒不如拚死應戰，或者可以闖出重圍」，麾下眾人皆同意作戰。符彥卿藉著夜色掩護，潛伏到契丹軍隊後方，待狂風大作、一時間天昏地暗，便率領一萬騎兵奮死反擊，順著風勢衝向契丹主寨，契丹王耶律德光兵敗如山倒，急忙間為了保命，惟有拾棄戰車、隻身乘駱駝落荒而逃，結果晉軍再趁勢追擊20多里，沿途拾獲契丹兵器甲冑、旗仗數以萬計之多。

耶律德光不敢喘息，一路逃命至幽州才停下來，但仍對意料以外的慘敗耿耿於懷，當即處罰軍中多位領銜大將，各施笞刑數百鞭以洩憤。而身在朝廷的出帝獲知戰況後大喜，立即下旨加封符彥卿武寧節度使，兼授以等同宰相地位的同中書門下平章事。

遭謗被貶

不過，隨著符彥卿地位日隆，很快就招惹到其他大臣妒忌，在朝廷中遭受抹黑詆譭，出帝便禁止符彥卿再參與北伐，解除一切前線軍職，只讓他帶領數千名老弱殘卒，戍守遠離戰線、位於大後方的荊州口，結果卻種下了亡國的禍根。

出帝在罷黜符彥卿後，北伐大權就改由杜重威、李守貞和張彥澤主理，但三人各懷鬼胎，不單未有效忠朝廷，反而各自私通契丹叛亂；其中杜重威在滹沱之戰後，最先與耶律德光暗通款曲，獲契丹王承諾封他為中原皇帝後，立即連同麾下十萬兵馬降附契丹，更全面反攻後晉。至此危急關節，出帝才想起符彥卿，急詔他復出與高行周一起率領禁軍，屯駐在軍事重地澶淵（今河南省濮陽市），希望剿平叛亂。

然而在杜重威、李守貞和張彥澤都勾結契丹情況下，後晉大勢已去。開運三年十二月（947年1月），已叛變的張彥澤自願作先頭部隊，引耶律德光主力軍隊攻入後晉首都汴州開封，出帝石重貴請降，結果闔家被俘虜到契丹，後晉正式滅亡；耶律德光趁此時機，改契丹國號為大遼。

後漢

遼太宗問對

當時，符彥卿與高行周正在澶州被契丹大軍包圍，得知後晉已經滅亡後，不得已唯有投降遼國，隨即被敵軍帶到開封審訊，遼太宗耶律德光見到符彥卿，知道他是在嘉山、陽城等大戰，多次擊敗過遼軍的主將，就以此詰難符彥卿，符彥卿回答說：「我侍奉晉王，從來不貪生怕死，今日落到你手中，無論下場是死是生，皆屬命數。」耶律德光聽到他直言以對，不單未有責備，反而深感折服，便大笑起來為符彥卿解綁，釋放他離開。

由於遼軍在南侵過程中，一直縱兵搶劫百姓，因此在中原地區引起極大反彈，各地義軍和貧民紛紛起事。耶律德光有意重用符彥卿，不單讓他官復原職，繼續當武寧節度使，還派他剿平領內徐州、宋州的寇盜。符彥卿雖不想效力契丹人，但作為重獲自由的權宜之策只好答應，當行軍至甬橋時候，剛巧遇上義軍領袖李仁恕率數萬流民進攻徐州，符彥卿不忍心向普羅百姓開戰，就僅帶著數十騎兵直奔到徐州城下談判，誰知李仁恕的部下強行挽住符彥卿的馬，希望尾隨他入城，讓義軍佔領城池，使符彥卿甚為猶豫。雙方殭持不下，鎮守徐州城的彥卿之子符昭序，為了替父親解圍，就派人出城大喊：「太守你職責是剿平寇盜，為何送羊入虎口，想把城送予賊人？你我雖是父子，如今已成仇敵，必須決一死戰，城門決不讓賊軍進入！」。義軍民眾聽到後明白符彥卿的一番好意，既惶恐又愧疚，於是紛紛跪下來求情，符彥卿立誓為他們求取朝廷赦罪後，便讓眾人和平散去。

捨棄徐州

天福十二年（947年）二月，石敬瑭前部下劉知遠在太原稱帝，六月進入汴州，冒稱為東漢明帝八子淮陽王劉昞之後，改國號為「漢」（後漢）；符彥卿雖然認識劉知遠，知道其性情殘暴、不守信，並非君皇之器，但相較下更不想從屬契丹，趁著耶律德光患重症逃回北方，符彥卿便離開徐州出發往汴州，在會見劉知遠後投歸後漢，領地被改成兗州，任泰寧節度使，加封侍中職銜。乾祐元年（948年）中，劉知遠病死，他年僅18歲的兒子劉承祐繼位，是為後漢隱帝，㩴升符彥卿為中書令，加封魏國公，拜守太保，移鎮青州（今山東省青州市），出任平盧節度使。

乾祐三年（950年）十二月底，性多猜疑的隱帝把宰相楊邠、忠臣史弘肇、王章等誅除，又屠殺顧命大臣郭威的家人，連嬰兒與幼童都不放過，之後急召符彥卿和慕容彥超等大將入朝戒備。當時身在鄴都的郭威聞訊後，認為隱帝受外戚和酷吏劉銖蒙蔽，以清君側的名義舉兵南下，此時慕容彥超自恃驍勇，主動請纓迎擊郭威軍，符彥卿則較同情郭威遭遇，拒絕參與正面鎮壓；翌年正月一日，郭威迅速攻入首都開封，隱帝畏怯出逃時被手下所殺，郭威本擬另立劉氏宗族為帝，最終於部屬黃旗加身擁戴下，於崇元殿後周代漢，是為周太祖。

後周

列土封王

周太祖即位後，或許是出於符彥卿在隱帝殺害其家人時，並沒有落井下石，故進封其為淮陽王，到了清除酷吏劉銖後，又把一座京城大宅賞賜予符彥卿，以示報答。廣順二年(952年)，慕容彥超割地叛變，周太祖為了平亂親率大軍行至兗州，符彥卿特意前往拜會大營，更進貢軍需的戰馬、錦彩和糧餉一萬石，獲太祖賞賜多件珍品為回禮。至平定慕容彥超後，符彥卿移鎮鄆州接替高行周，出任天平節度使。

郭威甚為賞識符彥卿的忠誠和才能，很快就想提拔他代替摯友王殷，升任擁兵最重、長年以來都是河北三鎮之首的天雄軍節度使（即魏博節度使），全權負責抗遼，雖然已下旨召見王殷，準備解任其職，但遼軍忽然侵犯邊界，王殷不能離開領地，計劃遂被擱置，原定符彥御入朝升遷也臨時取消。至廣順三年（953年）十二月，對北戰略失利的王殷始終被削職流放，郭威正式任命符彥卿為大名府尹，兼天雄軍節度使，加封衛王。

高平之戰

顯德元年（954年）郭威去世，因為他的親生兒子已全部被隱帝殺死，故由妻侄柴榮繼位，是為後周世宗。當時，割據太原苟延殘喘的北漢皇帝劉旻趁後周喪君，又一次發動戰爭，為求向遼國乞援，劉旻尊遼帝為叔，自貶為姪皇帝。至二月，遼國以大將耶律敵祿為帥，派遣鐵騎一萬餘人及步兵近六萬人，號稱十萬大軍，抵達太原準備會師；北漢皇帝劉旻也決定親征，以張元徽為先鋒，一共領兵三萬出戰，連同遼兵實際軍力超過十萬，開始向後周的澤州（今山西晉城）、潞州（今山西長治）步步進逼，昭義節度使李筠慌忙以兩千步騎抵禦，於太平驛（今山西省襄垣縣）慘敗，遼漢聯軍志在一舉消滅後周，所以只分配支隊圍困潞州，主力部隊則馬上長驅直進，準備南下再奪取澤州。

為了反制敵軍，後周以符彥卿為主帥，郭崇任副將，領兵從磁州（今河北磁縣）固鎮路出發，前往潞州協助防禦，很快就截斷北漢、遼國聯軍背部的退路，大大拖住了他們向南的步伐。利用符彥卿爭取回來的時間，後周朝廷在一個多月後終於完成備戰工作，柴榮從首都大梁（今河南開封）出發御駕親征，符彥卿被任命為河東行營一行都部署、太原行府知事，統領兩萬步、騎軍，帶同旗下郭崇、向訓、李重進和史彥超等部將參戰，協助後周世宗於高平之戰中獲勝。劉旻戰敗後，戴上斗笠偽裝成農民逃走，由於年老力衰而且一度迷路，差點無法支撐回到太原。

北伐未竟

雖然勝出高平之戰，符彥卿也率領部隊直抵北漢都城太原，但後周世宗以軍糧運輸不及為由，並沒下命乘勝追擊，只是讓符彥卿屯兵在城下觀察形勢。至顯德元年（954年）五月，世宗率領的後周主力大軍，終於也開入北漢國境，遇上在汾州和太原府的官民，因為不滿北漢施政，都紛紛夾道歡迎後周大軍，甚至願意捐獻軍需物資，幫助其兵力，後周世宗也一一接受。

後周大軍因此攻陷北漢數州，雖然表面形勢大好，但符彥卿與諸將都判斷出後周孤軍深入，兵馬糧草再度不繼，圍攻太原的戰機已過，假如戰況演變成長期拉鋸，必然不利於後周，故此請示世宗收割戰果、以凱旋姿態班師回朝，但世宗不許，仍然堅持北伐，為此不惜調動山東附近各郡的地方糧倉接濟大軍。

世宗兵臨太原後，一意攻陷城池，符彥卿無奈之下惟有配合，改為與部將郭從義、向訓、白重贊和史彥超等，率領一萬騎兵奔赴忻州，截斷遼朝與北漢的通道，防止世宗圍城期間，遼朝發兵救援北漢。符彥卿趁著這趟任務，還順道招降了北漢治下的盂州（今山西省陽泉市盂縣），使其土地和軍民都併入後周版圖。。

不久，遼朝知道北漢被圍困，果然送出騎兵援救，很快就與符彥卿統領的後周軍隊，在忻州城北的近郊展開大戰，符彥卿當時派遣史彥超為先鋒，率二千騎兵迎敵，一時戰況相當激烈，史彥超在追敵之際也中伏戰死。雖然如此，符彥卿最終仍擊潰二千多遼國士兵，尤其遼軍騎兵更落荒而逃，至於後周的先鋒部隊方面，也有數百人陣亡或重傷。

後周世宗知道消息後，眼見太原久攻不下，諸將意見又開始有衝突，終於決定班師回朝，當即多番賜贈符彥卿繒彩、鞍勒馬等信物，讓他返回原本的領地。到後周大軍回京安頓後，世宗又拜符彥卿為太傅，加封魏王。

北宋巨擘

建隆元年（960年），後周殿前都點檢趙匡胤發動「陳橋兵變」，建立北宋，是為宋太祖，加封符彥卿太師之位。乾德元年（963年）春，符彥卿自方鎮入朝，宋太祖賜他襲衣、玉帶，兩人又在金鳳園舉行宴會，太祖七箭都射中靶心，符彥卿即進貢名馬稱賀。同年，符彥卿獲朝廷賜號「崇仁昭德宣忠保正翊亮」功臣。

開寶二年（969年）六月，符彥卿被改授鳳翔節度使，他帶病坐著肩輿赴任，抵達西京洛陽時，自稱病重，請求留在洛陽醫療養病，獲宋太祖同意。但病假滿百日後，符彥卿仍然滯留於洛陽，因而遭到御史彈劾，案件送交西京留司御史台審理，最終宋太祖特詔停止審問，僅罷去其節度使之職。

開寶八年六月十二日（975年7月23日），符彥卿逝世，享年七十八歲。趙匡胤為其輟朝三日，下詔由朝廷負責辦理其喪事，賜諡號魏忠宣王。

歷史評價

石重貴：「惟爾先臣，實為名將，世襲弓裘之慶，門傳忠孝之規。西漢三雄，徒稱傑出；東京七校，乃為時生。竭盡之心，貫於金石。」（《親征契丹命將制》）

王旦：「五朝恩寵更無前，花甲周流七十年。真有英才堪輔佐，誰言與世共推遷？老來得遂優遊樂，身後還承寵渥偏。荒草夕陽埋玉處，行人下馬拜新阡。」（《題符公魏忠宣王墓》）

李燾：「彥卿武勇有謀，善用兵。」（《續資治通鑑長編》）

胡三省：「高行周、符彥卿，一時名將也。」（《資治通鑑》注）

脫脫：「彥卿一門二後，累朝襲寵，有謀善戰，聲振殊俗，與時進退，其名將之賢者歟？」（《宋史》）

王夫之：「陽城之戰，符彥卿一呼以起，傾國之眾，潰如山崩，棄其奚車，乘駝亟走。」（《讀通鑑論》）

全祖望：「是時何必百勝之將，但如高行周、符彥卿之輩已足支吾。」（《鮚埼亭集》）

梁章鉅：「符彥卿、李洪信等，功名顯於五代，而沒在宋初，即不為立傳，此史家斷限之法宜爾。」（《浪跡三談》）

逸事

• 精於野獵 符彥卿自小學習騎射，擅於引弓，在軍帳中亦熱衷打獵活動，曾經在遂城（今四川省遂寧）的鹽臺澱之地，一日之內射下狼、狐、獐、彘、兔等四十二匹，在場旁觀者無不嘖嘖稱奇。

• 捨財分賜 彥卿為將門子弟，除勇略有謀、善用兵外，對麾下亦毫不吝嗇，他前後獲朝廷賞賜百萬，都悉數分予帳下，故軍中士卒皆樂於為他拚死效力。

• 名震契丹 遼人自陽城之戰敗於符彥卿以後，對他尤其畏懼，乃至遇上馬匹生病不飲不嚼，便會唾咒「莫非符王作怪？」。

• 放虎歸山 後晉亡國後，符彥卿曾滯留遼國境內，但不肯像前人李陵、衛律一樣改投北狄，經常過問朝政的遼太宗耶律德光之母、皇太后述律平就特意向朝臣探問：「彥卿是否安在？」朝臣回答說他已逃回徐州，述律平嘆謂「繼續留此人在中原，實在何其失策！」可見其在契丹中威名遠播。

家族

• 祖父：符楚

• 父親：符存審

　• 長兄：符彥超

　• 次兄：符彥饒

　• 三兄：符彥圖

　• 五弟：符彥能

　• 六弟：符彥琳

　• 七弟：符彥彞

　• 八弟：符彥倫

　• 九弟：符彥升

　• 夫人：魏國夫人金氏；秦國太夫人清河郡張氏；虢國夫人楊氏

子輩

• 長子：符昭序

• 次子：符昭信，官至天雄軍衙內都指揮使、領賀州刺史；後周世宗時卒，獲贈檢校太保、閬州防禦使

• 三子：符昭願，宋真宗時官至邢州防禦使、武都郡開國公；卒贈鎮東軍節度使

• 四子：符昭壽，宋真宗時官至益州兵馬鈐轄

• 五子：符昭遠

• 六子：符昭逸

• 七子：符昭敏

符彥卿先後有三個女兒成為後周、北宋初年皇后，致家族顯赫，當時無出其右。

• 長女：宣懿符皇后，後周世宗柴榮第一任皇后，早逝，葬於懿陵。

• 次女：宣慈符皇后，親姐死後，於顯德六年（959年）被後周世宗立為第二任皇后，至恭帝時被尊太后臨朝聽政。北宋立國後遷西宮，被奉為周太后，及後出家修道，號玉清仙師。

• 三女：符氏，適昭信軍節度使李承嗣

• 四女：符氏，適安遠軍節度使李守節

• 五女：符氏

• 六女：懿德符皇后，後周時適趙匡義為繼室，早逝，趙光義即位宋太宗後，追冊為皇后，葬於永安陵西北

• 七女：符氏

參考文獻及注腳

• 《宋史·列傳十》

• 《舊五代史·唐書三十二·列傳八》

• 《新五代史·唐臣傳第十三》

• 《新五代史·卷七十二》

• 《東都事略·卷十九》

Background

Li Yanqing was born in 898, near the end of Tang Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang. His father, then known as Li Cunshen but who was born with the name of Fu Cun, was an adoptive son of and general under the major late-Tang warlord Li Keyong the Prince of Jin. Li Yanqing was said to be the fourth-born son of Li Cunshen's, but only the identities of two of his older brothers, Li Yanchao (李彥超) and Li Yanrao (李彥饒), were recorded in history; he also had at least two younger brothers, Li Yanneng (李彥能) and Li Yanlin (李彥琳). (All four of his known brothers would eventually serve as generals.)

When Li Yanqing was 12 — i.e., in 910 — by which time Tang had fallen and the Jin realm, theoretically still under Tang rule, was actually under the rule of Li Keyong's biological son and successor Li Cunxu — Li Yanqing, who was already capable of riding and archery, entered military service under Li Cunxu, being close enough to Li Cunxu that he was allowed to enter the prince's bedchamber. When he grew older, he became an officer in Li Cunxu's army. Also in his youth, he became a friend of Shi Chonggui, the nephew of Shi Jingtang, the son-in-law of Li Siyuan, also an adoptive son of Li Keyong's. (However, while this was traditionally described as such in official accounts, Shi Chonggui, born in 914, was 16 years younger than Li Yanqing.)

During Later Tang

In 923, Li Cunxu claimed imperial title as the emperor of a new Later Tang, and shortly after conquered his southern rival Later Liang and took over its territory. Li Yanqing continued to serve as an officer of Li Cunxu's imperial guards.

In 924, Li Yanqing's father Li Cunshen died, while serving as the military governor (Jiedushi) of Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing).

In 926, many mutinies were occurring against Li Cunxu's rule. Eventually, a mutiny even rose at the capital Luoyang itself, and it was said that when the mutiny occurred, the officers and soldiers were deserting Li Cunxu in droves, with only some 10-20 officers/soldiers, including Li Yanqing, remaining with Li Cunxu and fighting the mutineers. During the battle, Li Cunxu was hit by a stray arrow, and eventually died from that injury. Upon seeing Li Cunxu's death, Li Yanqing and the others cried and then left the area. The army of Li Siyuan (who had previously rebelled against Li Cunxu) arrived at Luoyang shortly after, and Li Siyuan claimed imperial title. Li Yanqing's older brother Li Yanchao, who was then the defender of the northern capital Taiyuan, submitted to Li Siyuan's rule shortly after; presumably, so did Li Yanqing. In 927, Li Yanchao requested to change his surname to his father's original surname of Fu, and Li Siyuan granted that request; presumably, Li Yanqing and his other brothers also changed their name at that time.

In 928, when Li Siyuan ordered a general campaign against the rebellious Wang Du, the military governor of Yiwu Circuit (義武, headquartered in modern Baoding, Hebei), Fu Yanqing, who then carried the titles of the commander of the Longwu Corps and prefect of Ji Prefecture (吉州, in modern Ji'an, Jiangxi) (an honorary title, as Ji Prefecture was then under the rule of Later Tang's southeastern neighbor Wu), served on the campaign against Wang. When the army of the Khitan Empire tried to aid Wang, Fu participated in the great Later Tang victory over Khitan forces at Mount Jia (嘉山, near Yiwu's capital Ding Prefecture (定州)), which eventually led to Ding's falling and Wang's suicide. After the campaign, Fu was made the military prefect (團練使, Tuanlianshi) of Yao Prefecture (耀州, in modern Tongchuan, Shaanxi). He was later made the prefect of Qing Prefecture (慶州, in modern Qingyang, Gansu) and, at imperial direction, built a fort to try to entice Dangxiang tribesmen to submit to Later Tang.

Early in the Qingtai era (934-936) of Li Siyuan's adoptive son and successor Li Congke, Fu was made the prefect of Yi Prefecture (易州, in modern Baoding), and put in command of the cavalry soldiers on the borders with the Khitan Empire. There was a time when he went hunting that, within a day, he killed 42 animals — deer, pigs, wolves, foxes, and rabbits — impressing the people who witnessed the feat.

In 936, Shi Jingtang, then the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered at Taiyuan), rebelled against Li Congke. He sought aid from Khitan's Emperor Taizong. Li Congke sent an army, commanded by Zhang Jingda, to attack Shi. Fu was one of the generals serving under Zhang. Zhang quickly put Taiyuan under siege. However, when the Liao army, commanded by Emperor Taizong himself, thereafter arrived at Taiyuan, the Liao army attacked and defeated the Later Tang army despite the efforts of Fu and Gao Xingzhou. The Later Tang army was forced to take up defensive position at Jin'an Base (晉安寨, near Taiyuan), and shortly after became surrounded by the Liao/Hedong army. Several times Fu and Gao tried to fight out of the encirclement, but could not. Eventually, Zhang's deputy Yang Guangyuan assassinated Zhang and surrendered the Later Tang army to the Liao/Hedong army, the control over which Emperor Taizong then transferred to Shi. Thereafter, Emperor Taizong created Shi the emperor of a new Later Jin. Fu became a subject of Later Jin's. Shortly after, with Shi's army approaching Luoyang, Li Congke committed suicide, ending Later Tang.

During Later Jin

Early in Shi Jingtang's reign, Fu Yanqing was made the military governor of Kuangguo Circuit (匡國, headquartered in modern Weinan, Shaanxi). In 937, Fu Yanqing's older brother Fu Yanrao, who was then serving as the military governor of Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang, Henan), got into a conflict with another military governor, Bai Fengjin (白奉進), and while they argued, Fu Yanrao's soldiers killed Bai. This assassination was subsequently blamed on Fu Yanrao, and Fu Yanrao was captured and executed. While Shi then issued an edict stating that Fu Yanrao's brothers would not also be punished, Fu Yanqing nevertheless submitted a resignation, which Shi declined. However, he did recall Fu Yanqing to serve as a general of the imperial guards, but later sent him back out of the capital to serve as the military governor of Baoda Circuit (保大, headquartered in modern Yan'an, Shaanxi).

In 942, Shi Jingtang died, and Shi Chonggui succeeded him as emperor. Having been friendly with Fu since their youth, he recalled Fu from Baoda and thereafter made him the military governor of Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Jiaozuo, Henan), close to the capital Kaifeng. With Shi Chonggui taking a hostile tone in his relationship with Khitan (which had been renamed Liao), Emperor Taizong made a major invasion into Later Jin territory in 944 to aid Yang Guangyuan, who had rebelled against Shi's rule from his post at Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern Weifang, Shandong). Fu was one of the generals whose armies were mobilized to resist the Liao invasion, and there was a time when he, Gao Xingzhou, and Shi Gongba (石公霸) were surrounded by Liao forces, such that they almost were captured, but Fu fought valiantly; subsequently, when Shi Chonggui himself arrived with a relief force, they were saved. When eventually, with Pinglu's capital Qing Prefecture (青州) under siege, Yang's son Yang Chengxun (楊承勳) arrested his father and surrendered, Fu was rewarded with the title of Duke of Qi, and was moved to Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered in modern Xuchang, Henan).

On a subsequently Khitan invasion in 945, the Later Jin army, then under the command of Du Wei and Li Shouzhen, encountered the Liao army near Yangcheng (陽城, in modern Baoding) and became surrounded. Du panicked and was reluctant to engage the Liao army, but at Fu's advocacy, he, Zhang Yanze, Yao Yuanfu (藥元福), and Huangfu Yu (皇甫遇), attacked the Liao army fiercely, causing the Liao army to panic and flee. For his accomplishment, Shi, who then moved him to Wuning Circuit (武寧, headquartered in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu), bestowed on him the honorary chancellor designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事).

However, Fu was later falsely accused by Shi's close associates, and when Shi launched a major attack against Liao under the command of Du and Li Shouzhen in 946, Fu was not ordered to participate — only his soldiers were. He was instead given a few thousand weaker soldiers and stayed near Kaifeng. Only when Du and Li Shouzhen subsequently become surrounded by Emperor Taizong at Zhongdu Bridge (中度橋, in modern Baoding), did Shi summon Gao and Fu and tried to have them serve as a line of defense. When Du and Li Shouzhen then surrendered to Liao, however, the way for Liao to attack Kaifeng became clear, and Emperor Taizong had Zhang Yanze, who also surrendered to Liao, head directly to Kaifeng to capture it. Finding the situation hopeless, Shi surrendered, ending Later Jin. Gao and Fu also went to Emperor Taizong's headquarters to surrender. Emperor Taizong rebuked Fu for having defeated him at Yangcheng. Fu responded, "I, your subject, at that time only knew that I should serve the Lord of Jin with all my heart. Whether I live or die is up to you." Emperor Taizong laughed and released him.

During the Liao occupation

Emperor Taizong shortly after claimed to be emperor of China as well, and initially, nearly all of the Later Jin realm submitted to him. However, he allowed Liao soldiers to pillage the countryside, and many rebellions against his rule quickly rose. With his having kept the Later Jin military governors at Kaifeng, the rebellions initially went unchecked. When the rebellions became particularly rampant to the east, he allowed Fu Yanqing to return to Wuning and An Shenqi (安審琦) the military governor of Taining Circuit (泰寧, headquartered in Jining, Shandong), to return to their circuits. When Fu approached Wuning's capital Xu Prefecture (徐州), though, the rebel leader Li Renshu (李仁恕), seized him, and tried to use him to get his son Fu Zhaoxu (符昭序), whom he had left in charge at Xu, to open the gates. Fu Zhaoxu, however, refused to open the gates. When Li saw this, he apologized to Fu Yanqing and begged forgiveness. After Fu Yanqing swore not to punish him and the others, they released him and lifted the siege.

Not long after, Emperor Taizong, tired of dealing with Han Chinese rebellions, chose to withdraw back to Liao proper, but died on the way. After a succession struggle, his nephew Yelü Ruan the Prince of Yongkang took control of the throne (as Emperor Shizong). With Han rebellions overrunning the former Later Jin lands and with his own succession being challenged by his grandmother Empress Dowager Shulü, Emperor Shizong did not try to retain control of most of the former Later Jin lands, and what he did hold was lost shortly after. Chief among the Han Chinese resistance was the army led by Liu Zhiyuan the military governor of Hedong, who declared himself the emperor of a new Later Han, which would receive recognition from most of the former Later Jin territory.

During Later Han

After Liu Zhiyuan entered Kaifeng, Fu Yanqing went to Kaifeng to pay homage to him as emperor. Liu transferred him to Taining Circuit and gave him the greater honorary chancellor title of Shizhong (侍中).

In 948, Liu Zhiyuan died and was succeeded by his son Liu Chengyou as emperor. Immediately after Liu Chengyou's succession to the throne, the officials that Liu Zhiyuan entrusted Liu Chengyou to, pursuant to instructions that Liu Zhiyuan left, executed Du Chongwei (i.e., Du Wei — he was known as Du Wei during Later Jin to observe naming taboo for Shi Chonggui). In fear, Li Shouzhen, who was friendly with Du and who was then the military governor of Huguo Circuit (護國, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi), rebelled. The Later Han imperial government sent the chief of staff Guo Wei to attack Li, and Guo, after sieging Huguo's capital Hezhong Municipality (河中), captured it in fall 949. Li Shouzhen and his family committed suicide by fire — but a daughter of Fu's, whom he had given in marriage to Li's son Li Chongxun (李崇勳), escaped this mass suicide by hiding herself. Guo had her escorted back to Fu's house.

In 950, Fu went to Kaifeng to pay homage to Li Chengxun. He was thereafter moved to Pinglu Circuit, and given the honorary chancellor title Zhongshu Ling (中書令); he was also created the Duke of Wei.

Later in 950, Liu Chengyou, displeased that the officials Liu Zhiyuan entrusted to were continuing to control the governance, making him feel that he was being ignored, had three of them — Guo's colleague as chief of staff, Yang Bin; the commanding general of the imperial guards, Shi Hongzhao; and the overseer of the financial agencies, Wang Zhang — killed. He also sent secret emissaries to Yedu (鄴都, in modern Handan, Hebei), where Guo Wei was at the time, to kill Guo, but the news leaked, and Guo was able to escape death, although his family members remaining at Kaifeng were killed. Anticipating a reaction from Guo, Liu Chengyou summoned a number of senior generals, including Fu, Gao Xingzhou, Guo Congyi (郭從義), Murong Yanchao (Liu Zhiyuan's half-brother), and Xue Huairang (薛懷讓) to the capital, apparently hoping that they would support him in a potential operation against Guo Wei. There was no record of how Fu reacted to the summons. Guo Wei quickly advanced south from Yedu to Kaifeng, and when his army encountered the imperial army, the imperial army was crushed. Liu Chengyou was killed in the confusion, and Guo entered the capital. After initially acting as if he was going to support Liu Zhiyuan's adoptive son (and biological nephew) Liu Yun as emperor, Guo seized the throne himself, establishing Later Zhou as its emperor.

During Later Zhou

After taking the throne, Guo Wei created Fu Yanqing the Prince of Huaiyang. He also awarded the Kaifeng mansion of Liu Chengyou's close associate Liu Zhu (劉銖), whom he had executed, to Fu. Further, later that year or shortly after, he had his adoptive son (the biological nephew of his deceased wife Lady Chai), Guo Rong, marry Fu's daughter (Li Chongxun's widow) as wife.

In 952, Murong Yanchao, then at Taining, rebelled against Later Zhou. When Guo personally attacked Murong, Fu went to pay homage to him at the imperial camp, offering horses, silk, and food supplies for the imperial army. After Murong was defeated, Fu was moved to Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an, Shandong). Guo was initially intending to further move him to Yedu to serve as the military governor of Tianxiong Circuit (天雄, headquartered at Yedu), but at that time, there was a Liao incursion, and he did not want to move Tianxiong's military governor Wang Jun, and so that did not happen. It was not until 953, when Wang offended Guo Wei and was forced into retirement that Fu was made the military governor of Tianxiong and the mayor of Daming (大名, i.e., Yedu); he was also created the Prince of Wei (衛王, a different title than the one he will eventually carry at death).

Guo Wei died in 954, and Guo Rong succeeded him as emperor. Shortly after, Liu Zhiyuan's brother Liu Min, who had claimed imperial title and claimed to be the lawful successor to the Later Han throne (but whose state was generally historically referred to separately as Northern Han), tried to take advantage of the Later Zhou imperial succession by attacking south from his capital Taiyuan. Guo Rong personally led the imperial forces against Liu Min, but also ordered a number of other generals, including Fu, to attack Northern Han on the flanks, with the assignment of Fu and his deputy Guo Chong the military governor of Zhenning Circuit (鎮寧, headquartered in modern Anyang) to attack toward Taiyuan through Ci Prefecture (磁州, in modern Handan). When Guo Rong himself shortly after defeated Liu Min at Gaoping (高平, in modern Jincheng, Shanxi) and forced Liu to flee back to Taiyuan, Guo commissioned Fu as the overall commander against Northern Han (with Guo Chong still serving as deputy). He initially only intended to have Fu advance to Taiyuan, show the Later Zhou power to inhibit another future Northern Han attack, and then withdraw. However, once the Later Zhou army was in Northern Han territory and enjoying successes, he changed his mind and wanted Fu to destroy Northern Han. Fu thus put Taiyuan under siege, and Guo Rong himself joined the siege shortly after. However, when Liao forces were subsequently launched to aid Northern Han, and Later Zhou forces did not fare well in small scale encounters with the Liao forward troops, Later Zhou lifted the siege and withdrew. Despite the failure to capture Taiyuan, Guo still greatly rewarded Fu. After Guo returned to Kaifeng, he bestowed the title of Taifu (太傅) on Fu, and created him the Prince of Wei (魏王).

Also in 954, Guo Rong created Fu's daughter empress. She died in 956. In 959, Guo created her younger sister, also a daughter of Fu's, as the new empress. (She thus became known historically as Empress Dowager Fu (Later Zhou), while the older empress became known as Empress Fu the Elder.) Guo himself died shortly after, and was succeeded by his young son Guo Zongxun. (It is not clear from historical accounts whether Guo Zongxun was the son of Empress Fu the Elder's.) (Another daughter of Fu's — his sixth daughter — married Zhao Guangyi, the younger brother of the major general Zhao Kuangyin, sometime during Guo Rong's reign; she was younger than Empress Fu the Elder, although it is not clear whether she was older or younger than Empress Dowager Fu (Later Zhou).) After Guo Zongxun took the throne, Fu received the title of Taiwei (太尉).

During Song

In 960, Zhao Kuangyin seized power in a coup, ending Later Zhou and starting a new Song Dynasty as its Emperor Taizu. He gave Fu Yanqing the honorary title of Taishi (太師).

Meanwhile, during the years that Fu was at Tianxiong, he left much of the governance to an administrator, Liu Siyu (劉思遇). Liu was said to be greedy, and was often finding ways to enrich himself with the tax funds he received from the people, with Fu not realizing it. Further, at that time, regional governments were often engaging in the practice of using unfair weights and measures in collecting taxes (when, for example, the people were using grain to pay their taxes), and Tianxiong was said to be one of the circuits that was particularly worst in this regard. Hearing of this, Emperor Taizu sent imperial administrators to Tianxiong to oversee taxation; Emperor Taizu also took the "surplus" from the past and awarded it to Fu, to make him ashamed. It was also said that Fu favored eagles and dogs, such that if his subordinates had committed faults, they would try to placate him by obtaining good eagles and dogs to offer to him, such that no matter how angry he was, he would be calmed. He was also described to not like drinking, and was humble to those who came to see him.

In 963, Fu went to Kaifeng to pay homage to the Song emperor. Emperor Taizu held a feast in his honor, and they spent time shooting arrows. He considered keeping Fu at Kaifeng to command the imperial army. The chief of staff Zhao Pu opposed, arguing that Fu had such great reputation that he might pose a risk as commander. When Emperor Taizu responded, "Why do you, sir, suspect Fu Yanqing? We have treated Fu Yanqing so well; how could Fu Yanqing turn against us?" Zhao Pu responded, "How could Your Imperial Majesty turn against Emperor Shizong of Zhou Guo Rong)?" Emperor Taizu fell silent, and did not give the command to Fu; Fu subsequently returned to Tianxiong. As Fu's governance of the circuit was believed to be lacking, Emperor Taizu subsequently commissioned several lower level imperial officials known for their talent to serve as county magistrates in Fu's realm.

In 969, again believing Fu to be ineffective as a governor, Emperor Taizu moved him to Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji, Shaanxi). When Fu reached Luoyang, he claimed to be ill and asked to be allowed to remain there until recovery. Emperor Taizu initially agreed, but Fu remained there for 100 days without any signs of getting ready to depart for Fengxiang. The imperial censors indicted him for dereliction of duty, but Emperor Taizu, citing the marital relationship between his family and Fu's, did not punish Fu, but relieved him of the Fengxiang command. Fu thereafter settled at Luoyang. It was said that he was accustomed to ride ponies in the spring to sightsee at the temples and gardens at Luoyang, enjoying retirement.

Fu died in 975. He was given posthumous honors, and his funeral expenses were paid for by the imperial treasury.

Notes and references

• History of Song, vol. 251.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 275, 280, 283, 284, 285, 286, 288, 289, 291, 292.

• Xu Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 1, 2, 3, 6, 8.