Background

Li Yanqing was born in 898, near the end of the 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 (李彦超) and Li Yanrao (李彦饶), were recorded in history; he also had at least two younger brothers, Li Yanneng (李彦能) and Li Yanlin (李彦琳). (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 (卢龙, 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 (义武, 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 (团练使, Tuanlianshi) of Yao Prefecture (耀州, in modern Tongchuan, Shaanxi). He was later made the prefect of Qing Prefecture (庆州, 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 (河东, 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 (晋安寨, 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 (匡国, 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 (义成, headquartered in modern Anyang, Henan), got into a conflict with another military governor, Bai Fengjin (白奉进), 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 (河阳, 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 (平卢, 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 (杨承勋) 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 (阳城, 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 (药元福), 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 (武宁, headquartered in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu), bestowed on him the honorary chancellor designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中书门下平章事).

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 (中度桥, 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 (安审琦) the military governor of Taining Circuit (泰宁, 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 (护国, 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 (李崇勋), 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 (中书令); 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 (邺都, 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 (郭从义), Murong Yanchao (Liu Zhiyuan's half-brother), and Xue Huairang (薛怀让) 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 (刘铢), 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 (卫王, 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 (镇宁, 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 (太师).

Meanwhile, during the years that Fu was at Tianxiong, he left much of the governance to an administrator, Liu Siyu (刘思遇). 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 (凤翔, 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.

生平

出身

符彦卿祖籍陈州宛丘县，其父符存审是军事将领，于唐末乱世效力「独眼龙」晋王李克用，时人称十三太保之一，从军资历完整，官至卢龙节度使、蕃汉马步军都总管及中书令，为后唐立国的砥柱中流。符彦卿是家里的第四子，同袍都叫他「符第四」，由于父亲常年镇守河北，与北面的外族契丹交战，符彦卿自小就在军旅中长大；他亦继承父亲的军事天份，自幼已经习武，十三岁便能骑在马背上拉弓射箭，而他成长后面对的乱世、朝代迅速更替的程度，更较其父年代有过之而无不及，

符彦卿虽为将门之后，但年少时并没在父亲领地幽州逗留太久，反而离家跑到太原，受李克用之子李存勖（后来的庄宗）起用，因为办事谨慎诚实而受赏识，获准出入军帐内室，等到年纪稍长就被任命为亲从指挥使，率领数百人的近卫小部队。

后唐

早年战绩

同光元年（923年）四月，李存勖在魏州（今河北省邯郸市西）称帝，建国号唐（史称后唐）是为庄宗，马上突袭宿敌后梁的郓州，至十月已攻入其首都汴梁（今河南开封），在继承李克用遗志十多年后，终于消灭了朱温篡唐而来的后梁，庄宗更以祖父朱邪赤心早年受唐室御赐李姓的合法继承人身份，打起「中兴唐朝」旗号，意图统一北方后，再收复中国全境。

后唐朝廷既立，定都洛阳，时年约25岁的符彦卿被擢升为散员指挥使，负责皇宫里其中一支骑兵卫队。而庄宗雄心壮志，很快又攻陷成都、灭掉前蜀，还收降李茂贞建立的岐国；当时南方诸藩包括吴、吴越、楚均上表向后唐入贡，成为长城以南惟一受公认的皇权，确然颇具中兴之势。

同光二年（924年）五月，符彦卿之父符存审于幽州官邸去世，送至京城洛阳下葬，庄宗废朝三日悼念，追封秦王兼尚书令；符彦卿及后升任龙武都虞候，即是统率禁军的上级指挥官。但与此同时，灭梁后的庄宗慢慢变得贪图逸乐，终日与戏班伶人为伍，竟然起用伶人担任将军，不单荒废朝政，又派宦官强抢民女入宫，导致坊间开始怨声四起。

同光四年（926），庄宗把旗下的魏博军临时调往贝州（今河北省清河县）屯田，使士兵戍期满后仍不能归乡，小卒皇甫晖见军心散涣，趁机挑起叛乱，先杀主帅杨仁晸，再立偏将赵在礼为留后并大肆掳掠民居，是为邺都之变。庄宗派义兄李嗣源剿乱，不料李嗣源到邺都后被部属挟持入城，要求他带领魏博军起事；李嗣源受女婿石敬瑭游说，指形势已骑虎难下，即使不造反也会被庄宗猜疑，李嗣源唯有率众，举起肃清伶人干政的旗帜反攻洛阳。庄宗亲征抵挡，却因久疏军务而大败，回师洛阳途中更加遭伶人郭从谦背叛，史称兴教门之变。由于庄宗素来吝啬金钱，不太抚恤士卒，当兴教门著火一片混乱之际，侍从大多逃之夭夭舍他而去，仅符彦卿及王全斌等数名将领依然效忠，身为禁军将领的符彦卿更沐血奋战，杀死十多名叛军，直至庄宗在轿子里被飞箭击中、随后于绛霄殿暴毙，符彦卿知道恋战亦无济于事，才悲愤地饮泣离开。

不久，李嗣源进入洛阳，厚葬庄宗尸骨于雍陵，开始著手整顿朝政，包括把郭从谦族灭并清除宦官伶人，因此受众臣拥护为后唐明宗。此时符家兄弟众人（符存审生九子）在各地方上拥有不少兵马，势力足以倾覆后唐，明宗为了拉拢他们，派遣长居朝廷的符彦卿出使太原，安抚他掌握当地实权的长兄北京巡检符彦超，兄弟两人见面后，取得共识继续效力后唐，间接促使符氏一族此后在乱世中仍然巍然屹立。

定州击破契丹

天成三年 (928年)，而立之年的符彦卿成为吉州刺史，从禁军将领摇身一变为地方官，领地分于长江以南的吉州庐陵一带（今江西省吉水市），虽然位处偏僻，远离朝廷势力核心，但凭藉少年累积下来的声名甚获明宗器重，多次参与北疆战争，继承父亲抗击契丹的大志。当时，契丹国第二任皇帝耶律德光刚以25岁之龄即位，延续耶律阿保机的强势统治，不单忙于消灭东丹王耶律倍，对中原的威胁也愈来愈大；相反，后唐明宗上台已经一年多，治国根基却不稳妥，先有朱守殷在汴州谋反，后来另一将领王都也在定州（今河北省定州市）叛乱，更勾结契丹人南侵。

为平叛，明宗派遣归德节度使王晏球为主将，符彦卿则受封「北面行营诸道左厢马军都指挥使」，奉命与宣徽南院使张延朗从旁协助，防范由秃馁率领的10,000名契丹铁骑。不过契丹骑兵既勇悍，机动力又强，知道张延朗屯军于新乐防守后，马上绕远路从另一侧进入定州，在会合王都的兵力后，出其不意进攻后唐军，张延朗大败，契丹军整合后再朝嘉山（今河北省曲阳县东）乘胜追击。。

面对契丹大军，后唐士兵先登上山丘占据地利，由符彦卿率领的左翼先锋迎击，他要求手下收起弓矢，做好准备冲下山与敌军短兵相接，又警告士兵如果回顾不前，须依军法处斩。结果在军纪严明之下，符彦卿在嘉山的突袭把契丹军和王都打得溃败，秃馁与王都身边甚至只剩下数名骑兵，匆忙从曲阳一带逃回定州城，途中六十多里都见到契丹兵尸体和扔弃的盔甲。

秃馁入城后，王都对他相当卑躬屈膝，属下当中有人看不过眼，想向符彦卿请降，却被加以监视和杀戮，由于定州城兵仍然有数千人且粮草充足，如是者又坚守多数月。期间，契丹王耶律德光得知南侵失利，又派惕隐率领7,000名骑兵增援，加上王都属下郑季璘、杜弘寿以2,000兵力出城接应，结果再在唐河（今河南省南阳市）被打败，契丹阵亡数千人，其馀纷纷溃散至各地乡村，甚至被村民杀死，而惕隐更被生擒送返京师，耶律德光为此事遣使到后唐，言辞谦卑要求明宗把惕隐送回契丹，被明宗拒绝并处刑，一时间后唐声势大震。

天成四年 (929年)二月，定州城粮尽而破，王都自焚投降。整场王都之乱，契丹一共派遣近20,000士兵南下助战，一旦打开缺口对后唐将是关乎存亡的威胁，最终却仅剩数十人能够逃回契丹，导致此后一段时间都不敢轻言南下，北方其他外族也畏惧后唐。

招抚党项

符彦卿凭藉剿灭王都的功劳，被调升至相对安稳的陇东地区，任庆州刺史（今甘肃省庆阳市），并加封耀州团练使（今陕西省铜川市），当时庆州、耀州不是战况最剧烈的地区，但辖境刚被扩大，符彦卿变相手拥两州兵力；在政治层面上，团练使属于节度使其下一级的职衔，符彦卿被加封团练使，相当于考验其政务能力，为日后升迁藩镇铺平了道路。

符彦卿到任庆州后，考虑到陇东地区对契丹的防务薄弱，因此在北乌仑山山口筑起城堡，并且修缮河渠，加强后唐长远的防御能力；另一个目的是当时庆州以北居住了大量从巴蜀涌入的党项族人，譬如拓跋氏、费听氏和米擒氏等，既不从属契丹，又拒绝听命后唐，选择聚居在两国之间的灰色地带；符彦卿筑起城堡后马上加以招抚，除令党项人归化，也延揽了部分氏族首领，预防他们在军事冲突中支持契丹，收到颇大治绩。

清泰初年（934年），正值后唐朝廷多事之秋，镇守沂、海、兖、密四州（今山东省南部）的长兄、泰宁军节度使符彦超遇害身亡，符彦卿则受到新上台的后唐末帝李从珂信任，调为接壤契丹的易州刺史（今河北省易县），兼领后唐的北方骑军，相当于授予防卫契丹的军事大权，作为对抗北狄的第一道屏障，并御赐戎服、甲胄及战马，以作奖励。可惜不久后，与末帝素有积怨的石敬瑭在太原再举叛旗，更以割让战略重地燕云十六州、岁纳绢三十万匹，甚至自贬「儿皇帝」为条件，向契丹王耶律德光借取大军，对方趁机亲率领50,000铁骑南下。

后唐方面，随即以建雄军节度使张敬达为首的藩镇联军征讨太原，其中符彦卿与另一员大将高行周负责率领骑兵部队，然而在燕云十六州沦陷、兵力悬殊下不敌契丹、石敬瑭联军，惟有退守晋安寨（今山西太原南），之后长达数个月时间，后唐阵营都没任何一支援军前往晋安寨相救，局势恶劣可想而知，最终石敬瑭叛军主力攻入洛阳，李从珂自焚身亡。总结符彦卿少年获庄宗赏识起，直至末帝覆亡为止，共为后唐效力逾廿载，虽然沙场上忠勇效力，却无法挽回亡国的厄运。

后晋

政治危机

天福元年（936年），石氏建立后晋称帝，擢升符彦卿为节度使，但原本领地易州，因为所在的燕云十六州已割让予契丹，便向南调往同州，另外对其二哥符彦饶也授以滑州义成军节度使一职，兄弟表面看似风光，实则如履薄冰。仅数月后，符彦饶就因为部下擅自对抗昭信节度使白奉进，连送返京都的正式审讯也未举行，便被官府下令于驿馆半途处决；虽然石敬瑭下令至此不再深究，但符彦卿从二哥之死，察觉到自己身为前朝大将，深受生性多疑的石敬瑭猜忌，若继续为后晋卖命只会动辄得咎，逐决定以退为进，不久便主动向朝廷上表请辞，说自己是待罪之身，请求解甲归隐田野。

这是符彦卿从军后首次遇上的政治危机，稍一处理不慎都攸关生死，犹幸北方干戈战祸刚止，割地求荣的石敬瑭本身支持度低，欲稳定国内情势，不得不倚重旧臣力量，因此他拒绝了符彦卿的请辞，反而多次加封其职权，希望冰释前嫌，期间符彦卿再次担任御前禁军首领，先统率左羽林军，随后兼领右羽林军，并且升任保大军节度使（今陕西省北部），下辖五州兵力和政权。可惜石敬瑭称帝后，由于对北狄卑躬屈膝的态度，旗下藩镇不断叛变，他本人亦屡次遭受契丹王责问，结果上台仅5年多就在忧愤中过世。

出镇河阳三城

石敬瑭殁后，侄儿石重贵于开运元年（944年）继任，是为后晋出帝；他与符彦卿识于微时，又矢志改变恭顺契丹的国策，因此甫一即位马上就召符彦卿上朝，进一步委派重任，以符彦卿坐镇河阳三城节度使，掌握怀、卫、郑、汝、陕，孟及泽州（今河南省黄河故道以北、太行山以南一带），后晋随即宣布不再向契丹称臣。

契丹王耶律德光盛怒之下，开始历时数年的大规模南侵，最初不用一个月就攻陷边境的贝州，博州守将周儒也开城投降，2个月后契丹部将、以行军手段残暴见称的耶律拔里得再攻下德州，霎时间势不可挡，符彦卿决定率领麾下于澶渊迎战。当时数万名契丹骑兵，已经把后晋另一大将高行周团团包围于铁丘一地，等到阵前军议时，诸将因为畏惧契丹大军锋芒，面面相觑都没人敢自愿担任先锋，符彦卿认为不能任由高行周失救战死，见帐内诸将鸦雀无声，待军议结束后便亲自挑选数百名精锐骑兵，独力轻装上阵驰救战友，这种不要命的奇袭策略出乎契丹意料，导致耶律拔里得的部队慌乱间损失惨重，士兵纷纷脱离战线逃走，最终符彦卿成功在苦战中亲自救回高行周。

开运元年（944年）11月，符彦卿与成德节度使将领李守贞合兵出征青州（今山东省青州市），讨伐勾结契丹的平卢节度使杨光远，顺利击破叛军，杨光远之子开城投降；时年约46岁的符彦卿，凭藉一系列的平乱功绩封爵，号祁国公，同时升任忠武军节度使，移镇陈、溵、蔡、汝及许州（今河南省许昌市）。

阳城重挫耶律德光

开运二年（945年）二月，后晋出帝见契丹军从中原撤退，决心乘势北伐，派遣符彦卿与义成节度使杜重威、李守贞三人大举进军幽州，但契丹王耶律德光坚决不退让，御驾亲率十多万契丹士兵卷土重来；后晋军与契丹开战后，初期一度把对方向北驱逐十馀里，逼使其退回白沟（今河北省保定市高碑店市白沟镇）以北，不过契丹铁骑兵力始终占优，很快又压倒后晋军，晋军且战且退，结果退至阳城附近（今山西省阳城县），就被契丹大军重重包围起来，契丹方面不止放火助威，更以奇兵截断晋军的主要粮食补给路线。

据欧阳修撰写的《新五代史》记载，阳城当时严重乾涸缺水，受契丹包围日久，后晋营中所有水井都已经被开凿得坏掉，士兵们饥渴不堪，只好争相挖地上的泥泞吸吮解渴，无论人和马都因渴水而死，导致营内士气非常低落，尽管敌军随时杀到，后晋大营的卫兵却连拉弓防守的力气也没有。见此情况，耶律德光对战情充满信心，安坐战车中对麾下军队呐喊：「后晋兵马已经全数受困于此，只要我们生擒对手，马上就可以平定天下」。

然而天有不测，当晚深宵刮起漫天暴风，杜重威主张守阵不出，想待风势转弱才从长计议；相反，符彦卿认为机不可失，决意背水一战，便号召手下张彦泽及皇甫遇说：「与其束手就擒，倒不如拚死应战，或者可以闯出重围」，麾下众人皆同意作战。符彦卿藉著夜色掩护，潜伏到契丹军队后方，待狂风大作、一时间天昏地暗，便率领一万骑兵奋死反击，顺著风势冲向契丹主寨，契丹王耶律德光兵败如山倒，急忙间为了保命，惟有拾弃战车、只身乘骆驼落荒而逃，结果晋军再趁势追击20多里，沿途拾获契丹兵器甲胄、旗仗数以万计之多。

耶律德光不敢喘息，一路逃命至幽州才停下来，但仍对意料以外的惨败耿耿于怀，当即处罚军中多位领衔大将，各施笞刑数百鞭以泄愤。而身在朝廷的出帝获知战况后大喜，立即下旨加封符彦卿武宁军节度使，兼授以等同宰相地位的同中书门下平章事。

遭谤被贬

不过，随著符彦卿地位日隆，很快就招惹到其他大臣妒忌，在朝廷中遭受抹黑诋毁，出帝便禁止符彦卿再参与北伐，解除一切前线军职，只让他带领数千名老弱残卒，戍守远离战线、位于大后方的荆州口，结果却种下了亡国的祸根。

出帝在罢黜符彦卿后，北伐大权就改由杜重威、李守贞和张彦泽主理，但三人各怀鬼胎，不单未有效忠朝廷，反而各自私通契丹叛乱；其中杜重威在滹沱之战后，最先与耶律德光暗通款曲，获契丹王承诺封他为中原皇帝后，立即连同麾下十万兵马降附契丹，更全面反攻后晋。至此危急关节，出帝才想起符彦卿，急诏他复出与高行周一起率领禁军，屯驻在军事重地澶渊（今河南省濮阳市），希望剿平叛乱。

然而在杜重威、李守贞和张彦泽都勾结契丹情况下，后晋大势已去。开运三年十二月（947年1月），已叛变的张彦泽自愿作先头部队，引耶律德光主力军队攻入后晋首都开封，出帝石重贵请降，结果阖家被俘虏到契丹，后晋正式灭亡；耶律德光趁此时机，改契丹国号为大辽。

后汉

辽太宗问对

当时，符彦卿与高行周正在澶州被契丹大军包围，得知后晋已经灭亡后，不得已唯有投降辽国，随即被敌军带到开封审讯，辽太宗耶律德光见到符彦卿，知道他是在嘉山、阳城等大战，多次击败过辽军的主将，就以此诘难符彦卿，符彦卿回答说：「我侍奉晋王，从来不贪生怕死，今日落到你手中，无论下场是死是生，皆属命数。」耶律德光听到他直言以对，不单未有责备，反而深感折服，便大笑起来为符彦卿解绑，释放他离开。

由于辽军在南侵过程中，一直纵兵抢劫百姓，因此在中原地区引起极大反弹，各地义军和贫民纷纷起事。耶律德光有意重用符彦卿，不单让他官复原职，继续当武宁军节度使，还派他剿平领内徐州、宋州的寇盗。符彦卿虽不想效力契丹人，但作为重获自由的权宜之策只好答应，当行军至甬桥时候，刚巧遇上义军领袖李仁恕率数万流民进攻徐州，符彦卿不忍心向普罗百姓开战，就仅带著数十骑兵直奔到徐州城下谈判，谁知李仁恕的部下强行挽住符彦卿的马，希望尾随他入城，让义军占领城池，使符彦卿甚为犹豫。双方僵持不下，镇守徐州城的彦卿之子符昭序，为了替父亲解围，就派人出城大喊：「太守你职责是剿平寇盗，为何送羊入虎口，想把城送予贼人？你我虽是父子，如今已成仇敌，必须决一死战，城门决不让贼军进入！」。义军民众听到后明白符彦卿的一番好意，既惶恐又愧疚，于是纷纷跪下来求情，符彦卿立誓为他们求取朝廷赦罪后，便让众人和平散去。

舍弃徐州

天福十二年（947年）二月，石敬瑭前部下刘知远在太原称帝，六月进入汴州，冒称为东汉明帝八子淮阳王刘昞之后，改国号为「汉」（后汉）；符彦卿虽然认识刘知远，知道其性情残暴、不守信，并非君皇之器，但相较下更不想从属契丹，趁著耶律德光患重症逃回北方，符彦卿便离开徐州出发往汴州，在会见刘知远后投归后汉，领地被改成兖州，任泰宁军节度使，加封侍中职衔。乾佑元年（948年）中，刘知远病死，他年仅18岁的儿子刘承佑继位，是为后汉隐帝，㩴升符彦卿为中书令，加封魏国公，拜守太保，移镇青州（今山东省青州市），出任平卢节度使。

乾佑三年（950年）十二月底，性多猜疑的隐帝把宰相杨邠、忠臣史弘肇、王章等诛除，又屠杀顾命大臣郭威的家人，连婴儿与幼童都不放过，之后急召符彦卿和慕容彦超等大将入朝戒备。当时身在邺都的郭威闻讯后，认为隐帝受外戚和酷吏刘铢蒙蔽，以清君侧的名义举兵南下，此时慕容彦超自恃骁勇，主动请缨迎击郭威军，符彦卿则较同情郭威遭遇，拒绝参与正面镇压；翌年正月一日，郭威迅速攻入首都开封，隐帝畏怯出逃时被手下所杀，郭威本拟另立刘氏宗族为帝，最终于部属黄旗加身拥戴下，于崇元殿后周代汉，是为周太祖。

后周

列土封王

周太祖即位后，或许是出于符彦卿在隐帝杀害其家人时，并没有落井下石，故进封其为淮阳王，到了清除酷吏刘铢后，又把一座京城大宅赏赐予符彦卿，以示报答。广顺二年(952年)，慕容彦超割地叛变，周太祖为了平乱亲率大军行至兖州，符彦卿特意前往拜会大营，更进贡军需的战马、锦彩和粮饷一万石，获太祖赏赐多件珍品为回礼。至平定慕容彦超后，符彦卿移镇郓州接替高行周，出任天平军节度使。

郭威甚为赏识符彦卿的忠诚和才能，很快就想提拔他代替挚友王殷，升任拥兵最重、长年以来都是河北三镇之首的天雄军节度使（即魏博节度使），全权负责抗辽，虽然已下旨召见王殷，准备解任其职，但辽军忽然侵犯边界，王殷不能离开领地，计划遂被搁置，原定符彦御入朝升迁也临时取消。至广顺三年（953年）十二月，对北战略失利的王殷始终被削职流放，郭威正式任命符彦卿为大名府尹，兼天雄军节度使，加封卫王。

高平之战

显德元年（954年）郭威去世，因为他的亲生儿子已全部被隐帝杀死，故由妻侄柴荣继位，是为后周世宗。当时，割据太原苟延残喘的北汉皇帝刘旻趁后周丧君，又一次发动战争，为求向辽国乞援，刘旻尊辽帝为叔，自贬为侄皇帝。至二月，辽国以大将耶律敌禄为帅，派遣铁骑一万馀人及步兵近六万人，号称十万大军，抵达太原准备会师；北汉皇帝刘旻也决定亲征，以张元徽为先锋，一共领兵三万出战，连同辽兵实际军力超过十万，开始向后周的泽州（今山西晋城）、潞州（今山西长治）步步进逼，昭义节度使李筠慌忙以两千步骑抵御，于太平驿（今山西省襄垣县）惨败，辽汉联军志在一举消灭后周，所以只分配支队围困潞州，主力部队则马上长驱直进，准备南下再夺取泽州。

为了反制敌军，后周以符彦卿为主帅，郭崇任副将，领兵从磁州（今河北磁县）固镇路出发，前往潞州协助防御，很快就截断北汉、辽国联军背部的退路，大大拖住了他们向南的步伐。利用符彦卿争取回来的时间，后周朝廷在一个多月后终于完成备战工作，柴荣从首都大梁（今河南开封）出发御驾亲征，符彦卿被任命为河东行营一行都部署、太原行府知事，统领两万步、骑军，带同旗下郭崇、向训、李重进和史彦超等部将参战，协助后周世宗于高平之战中获胜。刘旻战败后，戴上斗笠伪装成农民逃走，由于年老力衰而且一度迷路，差点无法支撑回到太原。

北伐未竟

虽然胜出高平之战，符彦卿也率领部队直抵北汉都城太原，但后周世宗以军粮运输不及为由，并没下命乘胜追击，只是让符彦卿屯兵在城下观察形势。至显德元年（954年）五月，世宗率领的后周主力大军，终于也开入北汉国境，遇上在汾州和太原府的官民，因为不满北汉施政，都纷纷夹道欢迎后周大军，甚至愿意捐献军需物资，帮助其兵力，后周世宗也一一接受。

后周大军因此攻陷北汉数州，虽然表面形势大好，但符彦卿与诸将都判断出后周孤军深入，兵马粮草再度不继，围攻太原的战机已过，假如战况演变成长期拉锯，必然不利于后周，故此请示世宗收割战果、以凯旋姿态班师回朝，但世宗不许，仍然坚持北伐，为此不惜调动山东附近各郡的地方粮仓接济大军。

世宗兵临太原后，一意攻陷城池，符彦卿无奈之下惟有配合，改为与部将郭从义、向训、白重赞和史彦超等，率领一万骑兵奔赴忻州，截断辽朝与北汉的通道，防止世宗围城期间，辽朝发兵救援北汉。符彦卿趁著这趟任务，还顺道招降了北汉治下的盂州（今山西省阳泉市盂县），使其土地和军民都并入后周版图。。

不久，辽朝知道北汉被围困，果然送出骑兵援救，很快就与符彦卿统领的后周军队，在忻州城北的近郊展开大战，符彦卿当时派遣史彦超为先锋，率二千骑兵迎敌，一时战况相当激烈，史彦超在追敌之际也中伏战死。虽然如此，符彦卿最终仍击溃二千多辽国士兵，尤其辽军骑兵更落荒而逃，至于后周的先锋部队方面，也有数百人阵亡或重伤。

后周世宗知道消息后，眼见太原久攻不下，诸将意见又开始有冲突，终于决定班师回朝，当即多番赐赠符彦卿缯彩、鞍勒马等信物，让他返回原本的领地。到后周大军回京安顿后，世宗又拜符彦卿为太傅，加封魏王。

北宋巨擘

建隆元年（960年），后周殿前都点检赵匡胤发动「陈桥兵变」，建立北宋，是为宋太祖，加封符彦卿太师之位。乾德元年（963年）春，符彦卿自方镇入朝，宋太祖赐他袭衣、玉带，两人又在金凤园举行宴会，太祖七箭都射中靶心，符彦卿即进贡名马称贺。同年，符彦卿获朝廷赐号「崇仁昭德宣忠保正翊亮」功臣。

开宝二年（969年）六月，符彦卿被改授凤翔节度使，他带病坐著肩舆赴任，抵达西京洛阳时，自称病重，请求留在洛阳医疗养病，获宋太祖同意。但病假满百日后，符彦卿仍然滞留于洛阳，因而遭到御史弹劾，案件送交西京留司御史台审理，最终宋太祖特诏停止审问，仅罢去其节度使之职。

开宝八年六月十二日（975年7月23日），符彦卿逝世，享年七十八岁。赵匡胤为其辍朝三日，下诏由朝廷负责办理其丧事，赐諡号魏忠宣王。

历史评价

石重贵：「惟尔先臣，实为名将，世袭弓裘之庆，门传忠孝之规。西汉三雄，徒称杰出；东京七校，乃为时生。竭尽之心，贯于金石。」（《亲征契丹命将制》）

王旦：「五朝恩宠更无前，花甲周流七十年。真有英才堪辅佐，谁言与世共推迁？老来得遂优游乐，身后还承宠渥偏。荒草夕阳埋玉处，行人下马拜新阡。」（《题符公魏忠宣王墓》）

李焘：「彦卿武勇有谋，善用兵。」（《续资治通鉴长编》）

胡三省：「高行周、符彦卿，一时名将也。」（《资治通鉴》注）

脱脱：「彦卿一门二后，累朝袭宠，有谋善战，声振殊俗，与时进退，其名将之贤者欤？」（《宋史》）

王夫之：「阳城之战，符彦卿一呼以起，倾国之众，溃如山崩，弃其奚车，乘驼亟走。」（《读通鉴论》）

全祖望：「是时何必百胜之将，但如高行周、符彦卿之辈已足支吾。」（《鲒埼亭集》）

梁章钜：「符彦卿、李洪信等，功名显于五代，而没在宋初，即不为立传，此史家断限之法宜尔。」（《浪迹三谈》）

逸事

• 精于野猎 符彦卿自小学习骑射，擅于引弓，在军帐中亦热衷打猎活动，曾经在遂城（今四川省遂宁）的盐台淀之地，一日之内射下狼、狐、獐、彘、兔等四十二匹，在场旁观者无不啧啧称奇。

• 舍财分赐 彦卿为将门子弟，除勇略有谋、善用兵外，对麾下亦毫不吝啬，他前后获朝廷赏赐百万，都悉数分予帐下，故军中士卒皆乐于为他拚死效力。

• 名震契丹 辽人自阳城之战败于符彦卿以后，对他尤其畏惧，乃至遇上马匹生病不饮不嚼，便会唾咒「莫非符王作怪？」。

• 放虎归山 后晋亡国后，符彦卿曾滞留辽国境内，但不肯像前人李陵、卫律一样改投北狄，经常过问朝政的辽太宗耶律德光之母、皇太后述律平就特意向朝臣探问：「彦卿是否安在？」朝臣回答说他已逃回徐州，述律平叹谓「继续留此人在中原，实在何其失策！」可见其在契丹中威名远播。

家族

• 祖父：符楚

• 父亲：符存审

　• 长兄：符彦超

　• 次兄：符彦饶

　• 三兄：符彦图

　• 五弟：符彦能

　• 六弟：符彦琳

　• 七弟：符彦彝

　• 八弟：符彦伦

　• 九弟：符彦升

　• 夫人：魏国夫人金氏；秦国太夫人清河郡张氏；虢国夫人杨氏

子辈

• 长子：符昭序

• 次子：符昭信，官至天雄军衙内都指挥使、领贺州刺史；后周世宗时卒，获赠检校太保、阆州防御使

• 三子：符昭愿，宋真宗时官至邢州防御使、武都郡开国公；卒赠镇东军节度使

• 四子：符昭寿，宋真宗时官至益州兵马钤辖

• 五子：符昭远

• 六子：符昭逸

• 七子：符昭敏

符彦卿先后有三个女儿成为后周、北宋初年皇后，致家族显赫，当时无出其右。

• 长女：宣懿符皇后，后周世宗柴荣第一任皇后，早逝，葬于懿陵。

• 次女：宣慈符皇后，亲姐死后，于显德六年（959年）被后周世宗立为第二任皇后，至恭帝时被尊太后临朝听政。北宋立国后迁西宫，被奉为周太后，及后出家修道，号玉清仙师。

• 三女：符氏，适昭信军节度使李承嗣

• 四女：符氏，适安远军节度使李守节

• 五女：符氏

• 六女：懿德符皇后，后周时适赵匡义为继室，早逝，赵光义即位宋太宗后，追册为皇后，葬于永安陵西北

• 七女：符氏

参考文献及注脚

• 《宋史·列传十》

• 《旧五代史·唐书三十二·列传八》

• 《新五代史·唐臣传第十三》

• 《新五代史·卷七十二》

• 《东都事略·卷十九》