1
盧文紀，字子持，京兆萬年人。 〈（案：此下原有闕文。）〉 長興末，為太常卿。 文紀形貌魁偉，語音高朗，占對鏗鏘，健於飲啖。 奉使蜀川，路由岐下，時唐末帝為岐帥，以主禮待之，觀其儀形旨趣，遇之頗厚。 清泰初，中書闕輔相，末帝訪之於朝，左右曰：「臣見班行中所譽，當大拜者，姚顗、盧文紀、崔居儉耳。」 或品藻三人才行，其心愈惑。 末帝乃俱書當時清望達官數人姓名，投琉璃瓶中，月夜焚香，禱請於天，旭旦以箸挾之，首得文紀之名，次即姚顗。 末帝素已奇待，歡然命之，即授中書侍郎、同平章事，與姚顗同升相位。 時朝廷兵革之後，宗社甫寧，外寇內侵，強臣在境。 文紀處經綸之地，無輔弼之謀，所論者愛憎朋黨之小瑕，所糾者銓選擬掄之微颣。 時有蜀人史在德為太常丞，出入權要之門，評品朝士，多有譏彈，乃上章云：「文武兩班，宜選能進用。 見在軍都將校、朝廷士大夫，並請閱試澄汰，能者進用，否者黜退，不限名位高下。」 疏下中書，文紀以為非己，怒甚，召諫議大夫盧損為覆狀，辭旨蕪漫，為眾所嗤。 三年夏，晉祖引契丹拒命，既而大軍挫衄，官寨受圍。 八月，親征，過徽陵，拜於闕下，休於仗舍。 文紀扈從，帝顧謂之曰：「朕聞主憂臣辱，予自鳳翔來，首命卿為宰相，聽人所論，將為便致太平，今寇孽紛紛，令萬乘自行戰賊，於汝安乎？」 文紀惶恐致謝。 時末帝季年，天奪其魄，聲言救寨，其實倦行。 初次河陽，召文紀、張延朗謀議。 文紀曰：「敵騎倏往忽來，無利則去，大寨牢固，足以枝梧，況已有三處救兵，可以不戰而解。 使人督促，責以成功，輿駕且駐河橋，詳觀事勢，況地處舟車之要，正當天下之心，必若未能解圍，去亦非晚。」 會延朗與趙延壽款密，傍奏曰：「文紀之言是也。」 故令延壽北行，末帝坐俟其敗。
Lu Wenji, courtesy name Zichi, came from Wannian in the Jingzhao commandery. Note: The original text below was missing.〉 Late in the Changxing reign he was appointed Minister of Ceremonies. Wenji was tall and imposing, spoke in a clear, carrying voice, answered audiences with ringing assurance, and ate and drank with hearty appetite. While on embassy to Shu he traveled through Qi, where the future Last Emperor of Tang held the Qi governorship and received him with a host's courtesy. Struck by Wenji's bearing and manner, he showed him exceptional regard. Early in Qingtai, with no vice-chancellor in the Secretariat, the Last Emperor asked the court whom to appoint. Attendants said, "Of those the ranks most commend for great promotion, I see Yao Hao, Lu Wenji, and Cui Jujian. When others weighed the three men's character and ability, he grew only more uncertain. The emperor wrote the names of several leading officials of the day, dropped them into a glass jar, burned incense under the moon, and prayed to Heaven. At dawn he drew with chopsticks: Wenji's name came first, then Yao Hao's. He had long held Wenji in special regard. Pleased, he appointed him Vice Minister of the Secretariat and Fellow of the Secretariat-Chancellery, elevating him to chief minister alongside Yao Hao. The court had only just settled the realm after years of war; enemies threatened from without and powerful generals held the frontiers. Though he occupied the seat of statecraft, Wenji offered no true ministerial counsel. He busied himself with petty factional grudges and trifling flaws in appointments and promotions. A Shu native, Shi Zaide, served as vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He haunted the powerful, judged courtiers, and often mocked them. He memorialized: "Both civil and military ranks should be filled by selecting the capable. All active army commanders and court grandees should be tested and winnowed: the able promoted, the unfit removed, with no regard to rank. When the memorial reached the Secretariat, Wenji took it as a personal attack and was furious. He had Remonstrance Officer Lu Sun draft a reply; the prose was vague and rambling, and everyone laughed at it. That summer in the third year, the Jin founder brought in Khitan forces in rebellion. The main army was soon broken and the imperial encampment surrounded. In the eighth month he took the field in person. At Huiling he bowed beneath the gate-tower and rested in the guard-house. Wenji followed the campaign. The emperor turned to him and said, "They say the minister shares the ruler's shame. Since Fengxiang I made you chancellor first, believing men who said you would soon restore peace. Now rebels swarm and I must ride out to fight them myself—does that sit well with you? Wenji thanked him in terror. The Last Emperor was in his final years; Heaven had dimmed his vigor. He spoke of relieving the camp, but in truth he had grown weary of campaigning. When he first reached Heyang he called Wenji and Zhang Yanlang to deliberate. Wenji said, "Enemy cavalry strike and vanish; they withdraw when there is no profit. The main camp is strong enough to hold, and three relief forces are already moving. The siege can be raised without fighting. Dispatch envoys to press them for results. Let the imperial train pause at Heqiao and observe events. The spot commands river and road traffic and the empire's attention. If relief fails, withdrawal will still be in time. Yanlang was then intimate with Zhao Yanshou. He whispered: "Wenji is right." So Yanshou was sent north while the Last Emperor sat back expecting his failure.
2
馬裔孫，字慶先，棣州商河人。 〈（案：此下有闕文。）〉 唐末帝即位，用為翰林學士、戶部郎中、知制誥，賜金紫，未滿歲，改中書舍人、禮部侍郎，皆帶禁職。 尋拜中書侍郎、平章事。 裔孫純儒，性多凝滯，遽登相位，未悉朝廷舊事。 初，馮道罷同州入朝，拜司空。 唐朝故事，三公為加官，無單拜者，是時朝議率爾命道，制出，或曰「三公正宰相，便合參大政」； 又云「合受冊」。 眾言藉藉。 盧文紀又欲祭祀時便令掃除，馮道聞之曰：「司空掃除，職也，吾無所憚。」 既而知非乃止。 劉句為僕射，性剛，群情嫉之，乃共贊右常侍孔昭序論行香次第，言：「常侍侍從之臣，行立合在僕射之前。」 疏奏，下御史臺定例。 同光已來，李琪、盧質繼為僕射，質性輕脫，不能守師長之體，故昭序輕言。 裔孫以群情不悅劉句、馮道，欲微抑之，乃責臺司，須檢則例，而臺吏言：「舊不見例，據南北班位，即常侍在前。」 俄屬國忌，將就列未定，裔孫即判臺狀曰：「既有援據，足可遵行，各示本官。」 劉句怒，揮袂而退。 自後日責臺司定例，崔居儉謂南宮同列曰：「從昭序言語，是朝廷人總不解語也。 且僕射師長也，中丞大夫就班修敬，常侍班在南宮六卿之下，況僕射乎。 已前騎省年深，望南宮二侍郎如仰霄漢，癡人舉止，何取笑之深耶！」 眾聞居儉言，紛議稍息。 文士哂裔孫堂判有「援據」二字，其中書百職，裔孫素未諳練，無能專決，但署名而已。 又少見賓客，時人目之為「三不開」，謂口不開、印不開、門不開也。 及太原事起，唐末帝幸懷州，裔孫留司在洛。 未幾，趙德鈞父子有異志，官寨危急，君臣計無所出。 俄而裔孫自洛來朝，眾相謂曰：「馬相此來，必有安危之策。」 既至，獻綾三百匹，卒無獻可之言。 晉祖受命，廢歸田里。
Ma Yisun, courtesy name Qingxian, was from Shanghe in Dizhou. Note: Text is missing below.〉 When the Last Emperor of Tang acceded, Yisun became Hanlin academician, revenue bureau director, and drafting officer for edicts, with gold-purple insignia. Within the year he was made secretariat drafter and vice minister of rites, retaining palace duties. He was soon made vice minister of the Secretariat and grand councilor. A bookish man, slow and obstructive by temperament, he was suddenly elevated to chief minister without mastering the court's old ways. Earlier Feng Dao had left Tongzhou for court and been appointed Grand Master of Works. Tang precedent treated the Three Excellencies as honorary posts without separate audiences. The court now appointed Dao offhand. When the order appeared, some said, "The three excellencies are true chancellors and should join great affairs at once"; others that "he should receive formal investiture." Rumor swirled through the court. Lu Wenji also wanted Feng Dao to sweep the halls during sacrifices. Feng Dao heard and said, "Sweeping is the Grand Master of Works' duty; I do not shrink from it. When he saw the proposal was wrong, he dropped it. Liu Gou served as left vice director; his stiffness bred resentment. Courtiers backed Right Regular Attendant Kong Zhaoxu's memorial on incense order, arguing that "a regular attendant attends the sovereign and should walk before a vice director. The memorial went to the Censorate to fix precedent. Since Tongguang, Li Qi and Lu Zhi had held the post; Zhi was flighty and failed the senior's demeanor, which emboldened Zhaoxu. Because the court disliked Liu Gou and Feng Dao, Yisun wished to humble them slightly. He rebuked the Censorate to find precedent; clerks replied, "No old case exists; by north-south court order the regular attendant precedes. When a national mourning observance came and ranks were not yet set, Yisun ruled on the censorial report: "With supporting authority, this may be followed—each official to his station." Liu Gou flung his sleeve and left in anger. Afterward he daily demanded the Censorate fix precedent. Cui Jujian told Southern Palace colleagues, "To follow Zhaoxu's words is to say the whole court cannot speak properly. A vice director is a senior. Censors and grandees take station and show respect; a regular attendant ranks below the Southern Palace's six ministers—how much more below a vice director? Veterans of the Mounted Guard once looked up to the two vice ministers as to the Milky Way. What foolishness, and how deep the mockery! Hearing Jujian, the uproar slowly died down. Writers mocked Yisun's ruling for the phrase "supporting authority." Of the Secretariat's hundred duties he was unpracticed and decided nothing—only signed. He rarely received guests. People called him the "Three Unopened": mouth, seal, and door. When trouble broke at Taiyuan the Last Emperor went to Huai Prefecture; Yisun stayed in Luoyang as capital chief. Soon Zhao Dejun and his son showed disloyal intent. The camp was desperate and court and emperor found no plan. Suddenly Yisun came from Luoyang to court. All said, "Chancellor Ma must bring a policy for survival. He presented three hundred bolts of silk—and no counsel worth taking. When the Jin founder took the Mandate, Yisun was sent home.
3
裔孫好名，慕韓愈之為人，尤不重佛。 及廢居裏巷，追感唐末帝平昔之遇，乃依長壽僧舍讀佛書，冀申冥報。 歲餘枕藉黃卷中，見《華嚴》、《楞嚴》，詞理富贍，由是酷賞之，仍抄撮之，相形於歌詠，謂之《法喜集》； 又纂諸經要言為《佛國記》，凡數千言。 或嘲之曰：「公生平以傅奕、韓愈為高識，何前倨而後恭，是佛佞公耶？ 公佞佛耶？」 裔孫笑而答曰：「佛佞予則多矣。」 李崧相晉，用李專美為贊善，裔孫以賓客致仕，專美轉少卿，裔孫得太子詹事。 晉、漢公卿以裔孫好為文章，皆欣然待之。 太祖即位，就加檢校禮部尚書、太子賓客，分司在洛。 每閉關養素，惟事謳吟著述。 嗜八分書，題尺酬答，必親劄以炫其墨跡。 裔孫將卒之前，睹白虺緣於庭槐，驅之失所在，裔孫感賦鵬之文，作《槐蟲賦》以見誌。 廣順三年秋七月，卒於洛陽。 詔贈太子少傅，輟視朝一日。
Yisun loved fame, admired Han Yu, and especially despised Buddhism. Dismissed to the lanes, he remembered the Last Emperor's kindness and read Buddhist texts at Longevity Monastery, hoping to repay him beyond the grave. A year among sutras brought him to the Avatamsaka and Surangama, rich in doctrine. He admired them, copied passages, and wove them into verse as Joy in the Dharma; and compiled essential passages as Record of the Buddha Land, several thousand words. Some teased him: "You held Fu Yi and Han Yu as models—why proud before and humble after? Is the Buddha fawning on you? Or are you fawning on the Buddha? Yisun smiled: "If the Buddha fawns on me, it has done so plenty." When Li Song served Jin, he made Li Zhuanmei aide to the heir; Yisun retired as guest, Zhuanmei rose to vice director, and Yisun became grand mentor of the heir. Grandees of Jin and Han, knowing his love of letters, welcomed him gladly. When Taizu acceded he was made inspector-general of rites and guest of the heir, with duty at Luoyang. He shut his doors, lived simply, and devoted himself to verse and books. He loved clerical script and always wrote titles and replies himself to show his brush. Before his death he saw a white serpent on the courtyard locust; driven off, it vanished. He wrote on the roc and composed Record of the Locust Worm to record his mood. In the seventh month of autumn, Guangshun year three, he died in Luoyang. The throne posthumously made him junior tutor of the heir and suspended audience one day.
4
裔孫初為河中從事，因事赴闕，宿於邏店。 其地有上邏神祠，夜夢神見召，待以優禮，手授二筆，其筆一大一小，覺而異焉。 及為翰林學士，裔孫以為契鴻筆之兆。 旋知貢舉，私自謂曰：「此二筆之應也。」 洎入中書上事，堂吏奉二筆，熟視大小如昔時夢中所授者。 及卒後旬日，有侍婢靈語，一如裔孫聲氣，處分家事，皆有倫理，時人奇之。
He had first served as aide in Hedong; on business he reached the capital and lodged at a relay station. A shrine to the Spirit of Shangluo stood there. He dreamed the spirit summoned him, honored him, and placed two brushes in his hand, one large, one small; waking, he marveled. As Hanlin academician he took this as an omen of the covenant brush. Soon he oversaw examinations and said privately, "Here is the two-brush omen. Entering the Secretariat, desk clerks presented two brushes; their sizes matched the dream. Ten days after his death a maid spoke in his very voice, ordering the household with sound judgment; people were astonished.
5
和凝，字成績，汶陽須昌人也。 九代祖逢堯，唐高宗時為監察御史，自逢堯之下，仕皆不顯。 曾祖敞、祖濡皆以凝貴，累贈太師。 父矩，贈尚書令。 矩性嗜酒，不拘禮節，雖素不知書，見士未嘗有慢色，必罄家財以延接。 凝幼而聰敏，姿狀秀拔，神采射人。 少好學，書一覽者咸達其大義。 年十七舉明經，至京師，忽夢人以五色筆一束以與之，謂曰：「子有如此才，何不舉進士？」 自是才思敏贍，十九登進士第。 滑帥賀瑰知其名，辟置幕下。 凝善射。 時瑰與唐莊宗相拒於河上，戰胡柳陂，瑰軍敗而北，惟凝隨之，瑰顧曰：「子勿相隨，當自努力。」 凝泣而對曰：「丈夫受人知，有難不報，非素誌也，但恨未有死所。」 旋有一騎士來逐瑰，凝叱之，不止，遂引弓以射，應弦而斃，瑰獲免。 既而謂諸子曰：「昨非和公，無以至此。 和公文武全才而有志氣，後必享重位，爾宜謹事之。」 遂以女妻之，由是聲望益隆。 後歷鄆、鄧、洋三府從事。 唐天成中，入拜殿中侍御史，歷禮部、刑部員外郎，改主客員外郎、知制誥，尋詔入翰林充學士，轉主客郎中充職，兼權知貢舉。 貢院舊例，放榜之日，設棘於門及閉院門，以防下第不逞者。 凝令徹棘啟門，是日寂無喧者，所收多才名之士，時議以為得人。 〈（《澠水燕談》：範質初舉進士，時和凝知貢舉，凝嘗以宰輔自期，登第之日，名第十三人，及覽質文，尤加賞嘆，即以第十三名處之，場屋間謂之「傳衣缽」，若禪宗之相付授也。 後質果繼凝登相位。）〉 明宗益加器重，遷中書舍人、工部侍郎，皆充學士。
He Ning, courtesy name Chengzhi, was from Xuchang in Wenyang. His ninth-generation ancestor Fengyao had been a surveillance censor under Tang Gaozong; thereafter the line held no prominent office. Great-grandfather Chang and grandfather Ru, through Ning's eminence, were repeatedly enfeoffed grand preceptor. His father Ju was posthumously made grand mentor of the state. Ju loved wine and ignored ritual. Though unlettered, he never slighted scholars and spent the family fortune to host them. Ning was clever as a boy, handsome and striking, with a gaze that arrested men. He loved learning; one reading of any book gave him its main sense. At seventeen he passed the Mingjing. In the capital he dreamed a man gave him five-colored brushes, saying, "With such talent, why not sit for the Jinshi? From then his wit grew quick and rich; at nineteen he passed the Jinshi. He Gui, military governor of Hua, knew his name and took him on staff. Ning excelled at archery. Gui then opposed Zhuangzong on the Yellow River at Huliu Slope. Defeated, Gui fled north; only Ning followed. Gui said, "Do not follow—save yourself. Ning wept: "A man who accepts trust and will not repay it in hardship was never my way; I only regret having no place to die." A rider pursued Gui. Ning shouted; when the man did not stop, he shot and dropped him at the bowstring's sound; Gui was saved. He told his sons, "Without Lord He yesterday we would not be here. Lord He has civil and military talent and great resolve; he will surely reach high rank—serve him carefully. He gave him his daughter, and Ning's renown grew. He later served Yan, Deng, and Yang as aide. In Tang Tiancheng he became palace censor, then vice minister in rites and punishments, then guest vice director with drafting duties. Soon he entered the Hanlin as academician, became guest bureau director, and oversaw examinations. By examination-yard custom, on posting day thorns barred the gates and the yard closed against failed candidates. Ning had the thorns removed and gates opened; that day was quiet. Most admitted were men of talent and name; opinion said he had chosen well. 〈From Talks and Tales of the Mian Waters〉: When Fan Zhi first sat for the Jinshi, He Ning oversaw the examinations. Ning had long expected the chief ministership; on the day he passed, his own name was thirteenth. Reading Zhi's essay he admired it still more and placed him thirteenth. In the hall they called this "passing the robe and bowl," as in Chan succession. Later Zhi indeed succeeded Ning as chief minister.〉 Mingzong valued him more, making him secretariat drafter and vice minister of works while retaining his Hanlin post.
6
晉有天下，拜端明殿學士，兼判度支，轉戶部侍郎，會廢端明之職，復入翰林充承旨。 晉祖每召問以時事，言皆稱旨。 五年，拜中書侍郎平章事。 六年秋，晉高祖將幸鄴都，時襄州安從進反狀已彰，凝乃奏曰：「車駕離闕，安從進或有悖逆，何以待之？」 晉高祖曰：「卿意如何？」 凝曰：「以臣料之，先人有奪人之心，臨事即不及也。 欲預出宣敕十數道，密付開封尹鄭王，令有緩急即旋填將校姓名，令領兵擊之。」 晉高祖從之。 及聞唐、鄧奏報，鄭王如所敕，遣騎將李建崇、監軍焦繼勛等領兵討焉，相遇於湖陽，從進出於不意，甚訝其神速，以至於敗，由凝之力也。 少帝嗣位，加右僕射。 開運初，罷相守本官，未幾，轉左僕射。 漢興，授太子太保。 國初，遷太子太傅。 顯德二年秋，以背疽卒於其第，年五十八。 輟視朝兩日，詔贈侍中。
When Jin held the realm he became academician of the Hall of Brilliant Governance and oversaw revenue, then vice minister of revenue. When that academy was abolished he returned to the Hanlin as chief drafter. The Jin founder summoned him on affairs of state; his answers always pleased. In the fifth year he became vice minister of the Secretariat and grand councilor. In autumn of the sixth year Gaozu of Jin was bound for Yedu while An Congjin of Xiang showed open rebellion. Ning memorialized: "If the throne leaves the capital, Congjin may rebel—what is our plan? Gaozu asked, "What do you advise?" Ning said, "Such men covet others' goods before the fact; when crisis comes they fall short. Prepare a dozen blank edicts in secret for the Prince of Zheng as Kaifeng prefect: in crisis he can fill in commanders' names and send troops at once." Gaozu agreed. When Tang and Deng reported, the Prince of Zheng did as ordered, sending Li Jianchong, Jiao Jixun, and others. They met Congjin at Huyang; caught off guard by their speed, he was defeated—Ning's doing. When the Young Emperor succeeded he was made right vice director. Early in Kaiyun he left the chief ministership but kept his post; soon he became left vice director. When Han arose he was made grand guardian of the heir. At the state's founding he became grand tutor of the heir. In autumn, Xiande year two, he died of a back carbuncle at home, aged fifty-eight. Audience was suspended two days; he was posthumously made palace attendant.
7
凝性好修整，自釋褐至登臺輔。 車服仆從，必加華楚，進退容止偉如也。 又好延納後進，士無賢不肖，皆虛懷以待之，或致其仕進，故甚有當時之譽。 平生為文章，長於短歌艷曲，尤好聲譽。 有集百卷，自篆於版，模印數百帙，分惠於人焉。 〈（《宋朝類苑》：和魯公凝有艷詞一編名《香奩集》，凝後貴，乃嫁其名為韓偓，今世傳韓偓《香奩集》，乃凝所為也。 凝生平著述，分為《演綸》、遊藝、孝悌、《疑獄》、《香奩》、《籯金》六集，自為《遊藝集序》云：「予有《香奩》、《籯金》二集，不行於世。」 凝在政府避議論，諱其名，又欲後人知，故於《遊藝集序》實之，此凝之意也。）〉
Ning loved polish from his first office to the chief ministership: carriages, dress, and attendants he kept splendid; in movement and stillness his bearing was imposing. He welcomed juniors, worthy or not, with open mind, and often advanced them—hence his great repute. He wrote all his life, excelling in short lyrics, and especially courted fame. He compiled a hundred scrolls, carved the blocks himself, printed hundreds of copies, and gave them away. 〈Classified Anecdotes of the Song Dynasty〉: He Duke of Lu Ning wrote passionate lyrics called Collection of the Perfumed Toilet. After he rose high he attributed them to Han Wo; the Han Wo collection transmitted today is Ning's. His works fell into six collections: Evolution of the Silken Canon, Recreations, Filial Piety, Doubtful Cases, Perfumed Toilet, and Casket of Gold. In his Preface to Recreations he wrote: "My Perfumed Toilet and Casket of Gold do not circulate. In office he avoided debate and hid the name yet wished posterity to know, so he stated it in the Preface to Recreations—that was his intent.〉
8
長子峻，卒於省郎。 次子峴， 〈（《綿繡萬花谷》：範蜀公《蒙求》云：和峴，晉相和凝之子。 峴生，會凝入翰林、加金紫、知貢舉，凝喜曰：「我生平美事，三者並集，此子宜於我矣。」 因名曰三美。）〉 仕皇朝為司勛員外郎。
His eldest son Jun died as a provincial bureau officer. The second son Xian, 〈Brocade and Myriad Flowers〉: Fan the Duke of Shu's Seeking the Obscure says He Xian was son of Jin chancellor He Ning. At Xian's birth Ning entered the Hanlin, received gold-purple, and oversaw examinations. He rejoiced: "Three fine things of my life together—this child suits me. He named him Sanmei, Three Beauties.〉 He served the court as vice director in the Bureau of Merit.
9
蘇禹珪，字元錫，其先出於武功，近世家高密，今為郡人也。 父仲容，以儒學稱於鄉里，唐末舉《九經》，補廣文助教，遷輔唐令，累贈太師。 禹珪性謙和，虛襟接物，克構父業，以五經中第，辟遼州倅職，歷青、鄆從事，轉潞、並管記，累檢校官至戶部郎中。 漢高祖作鎮並門，奏為兼判。 開運末，契丹入汴，漢祖即位於晉陽，授中書侍郎平章事。 漢祖輗阼，兼刑部尚書，俄加右僕射、集賢殿大學士。 漢祖大漸，與蘇逢吉、楊邠等受顧命，立少主。 明年，轉左僕射。 三年冬，太祖入平內難，禹珪遁入都城，為兵士所擄。 翌日，太祖令人求之，既見，撫慰甚至，尋復其位。 國初，加守司空，尋罷相守本官。 世宗嗣位，封莒國公，未幾，受代歸第。 顯德三年正月旦，與客對食之際，暴疾而卒，時年六十二。 禹珪純厚長者，遭遇漢祖，及蘇逢吉夷滅，禹珪恬然無咎，時人以為積善之報也。
Su Yugui, courtesy name Yuansi, traced descent to Wugong; his line had lately settled in Gaomi and were now men of the prefecture. Father Zhongrong was famed locally for scholarship. Late in Tang he passed the Nine Classics, became Broad Learning assistant, rose to magistrate of Futang, and was repeatedly enfeoffed grand preceptor. Yugui was modest and open, built on his father's learning, passed the Five Classics, served as aide in Liaozhou and staff in Qing and Yan, became recorder in Lu and Bing, and rose by inspection to revenue bureau director. When Han Gaozu governed Bing Gate he had Yugui made concurrent overseer. At Kaiyun's end the Khitans entered Bian. Han Gaozu took the throne at Jinyang and made Yugui vice minister and grand councilor. On Han's accession he also became minister of punishments, then right vice director and grand academician of the Hall for Gathering Worthies. When Han fell gravely ill, he with Su Fengji, Yang Bin, and others received the deathbed charge and installed the young emperor. The next year he became left vice director. In winter of year three Taizu entered to quell strife. Yugui fled into the capital and was seized by troops. Next day Taizu sent for him, comforted him deeply, and soon restored his post. At the founding he was made acting grand master of works; soon he left the chief ministership but kept his post. When Shizong succeeded he was enfeoffed Duke of Ju; soon he retired home. On New Year's Day, Xiande year three, dining with guests, he suddenly fell ill and died at sixty-two. A pure, generous elder, he served Han Gaozu; when Su Fengji was destroyed he remained unscathed—men called it reward for virtue.
10
子德祥，登進士第，累歷臺省。
Son Dexiang passed the Jinshi and served in the censorate and secretariat.
11
景範，淄州長山人。 〈（案：此下有闕文。 據《世宗紀》，景範父名初，以戶部郎中致仕。）〉 世宗之北征也，命為東京副留守。 車駕回自河東，世宗以艱於國用，乃以範為中書侍郎平章事、判三司。 〈（《冊府元龜》載：世宗即位，七月癸巳，制曰：「朕自履宸極，思平泰階，出一令慮下民之未從，行一事懼上穹之罔祐，晨興夕惕，終歲於茲。 雖禮讓漸聞興行，而風雨未之咸若，豈刑政之所闕，而德教之未孚哉！ 由是進用良臣，輔宣皇化，雖朕志先定，亦輿情具瞻，爰擇佳辰，誕敷明命。 樞密院直學士、中大夫、尚書工部侍郎、上柱國、晉陽縣開國男、食邑三百戶、賜紫金魚袋範，昔佐先帝，每罄嘉謨，逮事眇躬，愈傾忠節，奉上得大臣之體，檢身為君子之儒。 一昨戎輅親征，皇都是守，贊勛賢於留府，副征發於行營，軍政所需，國用無闕。 今則靈臺偃革，宣室圖功，思先朝欲用之言，成聖考得賢之美，俾參大政，仍掌利權。 爾其明聽朕言，往敷洪化，予欲則垂象而清品匯，爾則順天道以序彜倫，余欲恤刑名而息戰爭，爾則謹憲章而恢廟略。 天人之際懸合，軍民之事罔渝，則國相之尊，非爾孰處，邦計之重，惟材是臧。 勉思倜儻以致君，勿效因循而保位，佇聞成績，用副虛懷。 可正議大夫、中書侍郎平章事，判三司。）〉 範為人厚重剛正，無所屈撓，然理繁治劇，非其所長，雖悉心盡瘁，終無稱職之譽。 世宗知之，因其有疾，乃罷司計。 尋以父喪罷相東歸。 顯德三年冬，以疾卒於鄉里。 優詔贈侍中，官為立碑焉。
Jing Fan was from Changshan in Zizhou. 〈Note: Text is missing below. According to Shizong's annals, Fan's father was named Chu and retired as revenue bureau director.〉 On Shizong's northern campaign he was made vice guardian of the Eastern Capital. Returning from Hedong, Shizong, pressed for revenue, made Fan vice minister, grand councilor, and overseer of the Three Bureaus. 〈The Imperial Tortoise Mirror records: On Shizong's accession, guisi of the seventh month, an edict said: "Since I took the throne I have sought to level the great stair. One order I fear the people have not followed; one act I fear Heaven has not blessed—diligent dawn to dusk the whole year through. Though courtesy is heard to rise, wind and rain are not yet harmonious—is government at fault, or teaching not yet trusted? Therefore I advance good ministers to proclaim the royal way; though my will was first, public sentiment also watches—I choose an auspicious day and proclaim a bright mandate. Fan, privy council academician, grand master, vice minister of works, supreme pillar, Baron of Jinyang with three hundred households, gold-purple fish tally—once aided the late emperor with full counsel; serving me, his loyalty bends further; in service he has a great minister's form, in conduct a gentleman's learning. When lately the emperor campaigned in person while the capital was guarded, he praised worthies at the rear capital office and assisted levies at the camp—military needs were met and revenue did not fail. Now arms rest and merit is plotted; remembering the former court's wish to employ him, fulfilling the sage's gain of worth—let him share great government and hold fiscal power. Hear my words and spread great transformation: when I wish, signs clear all ranks; you follow Heaven's way and order relations; when I ease punishments and still war, you keep statutes and restore strategy. When Heaven and man align and army and people hold firm, who but you for chief minister? For state accounts, only talent avails. Strive boldly to serve the ruler; do not cling to routine and office—await achievement to match my hopes. Appointed grand master of court discussion, vice minister, grand councilor, overseer of the Three Bureaus.〉 Fan was weighty and upright, yielding to none; yet complexity was not his strength—though he wore himself out, he won no praise for competence. Shizong knew it; when illness came he removed him from fiscal office. Soon his father's mourning took him from office eastward. In winter, Xiande year three, he died of illness at home. A gracious edict made him palace attendant posthumously, and the office raised a stele.
12
史臣曰：夫以稽古之力，取秉鈞之位者，豈常人乎！ 然文紀耽於貨殖，裔孫傷於齷齪，則知全其德者鮮矣。 如成績之文采，元錫之履行，景範之純厚，皆得謂之君子儒矣。 以之爰立，何用不臧。
The historiographer says: To reach the chief ministership by power of antiquarian learning—is that a common man? Yet Wenji clung to profit and Yisun to pettiness—few kept virtue whole. Chengzhi's literary grace, Yuansi's conduct, Fan's pure weight—all were gentleman's scholars. With such men in high office, what need would go unmet?