《新唐书·列传·卷一百四十一》
周鼎派都知兵马使阎朝带领壮士巡视水草。早晨辞行，与周鼎的亲信周沙奴同射箭，已拉开弓又互相谦让，箭发射中沙奴，转身将周鼎捉住勒死。阎朝自己统管州事。
鼎遣都知兵马使阎朝领壮士行视水草，晨入谒辞行，与鼎亲吏周沙奴共射，彀弓揖让，射沙奴即死，执鼎而缢杀之，自领州事。
Zhou Ding sent Yan Chao, the governor of military horses and weaponry, to take strong men to patrol the water plants. When Yan Chao bid farewell in the morning, he shot arrows with Zhou Ding's close friend Zhou Shan who was also an archer. Zhou Shan had drawn his bow but yielded. The arrow hit Shan, Yan Chao then turned around to seize and strangle Zhou Ding. Yan Chao governed the state himself.