1
能吏○大公鼎蕭文馬人望耶律鐸魯斡楊遵勖王棠
Capable Officials — Da Gongding, Xiao Wen, Ma Renwang, Yelü Duo, Luwo, Yang Zunxu, and Wang Tang
2
漢以璽書賜二千石，唐疏刺史、縣令於屏，以示獎率，故二史有《循吏》、《良吏》之傳。 遼自太祖創業，太宗撫有燕、薊，任賢使能之道，亦略備矣。 然惟朝廷參置國官，吏州縣者多遵唐制。 歷世既久，選舉益嚴。 時又分遣重臣巡行境內，察賢否而進退之。 是以治民、理財、決獄、弭盜，各有其人。 考其德政，雖未足以與諸循、良之列，抑亦可謂能吏矣。 作《能吏傳》。
Under the Han, imperial edicts sealed with the dynastic seal were conferred on the two-thousand-dan officials; under the Tang, the names of prefects and county magistrates were inscribed on screens as models of reward and emulation—hence both histories include biographies of Diligent Officials and Good Officials. From the time Emperor Taizu founded the Liao state and Emperor Taizong brought Yan and Ji under rule, the practice of appointing worthies and putting talent to use was largely in place as well. Yet only at court were national offices established in concert; administration of prefectures and counties largely followed Tang practice. As generations passed, recruitment and selection grew ever stricter. The court also sent senior ministers on circuit through the realm to inspect officials and advance or remove them according to merit. Thus for governing the people, managing revenue, adjudicating cases, and suppressing banditry, there were men fit for each task. Judged by their conduct in office, they may not fully measure up to the ranks of diligent and good officials, yet they may still be called capable administrators. Hence this "Biographies of Capable Officials."
3
大公鼎，渤海人，先世籍遼陽率賓縣。 統和間，徙遼東豪右以實中京，因家於大定。 曾祖忠，禮賓使。 父信，興中主簿。 公鼎幼莊願，長而好學。 咸雍十年，登進士第，調沈州觀察判官。 時遼東雨水傷稼，北樞密院大發瀕河丁壯以完堤防。 有司承令峻急，公鼎獨曰：「邊障甫寧，大興役事，非利國便農之道。」 乃疏奏其事。 朝廷從之，罷役，水亦不為災。 瀕河千里，人莫不悅。 改良鄉令，省徭役，務農桑，建孔子廟學，部民服化。 累遷興國軍節度副使。 時有隸鷹坊者，以羅畢為名，擾害田里。 歲久，民不堪。 公鼎言於上，即命禁戢。 會公鼎造朝，大臣諭上嘉納之意，公鼎曰：「一郡獲安，誠為大幸； 他郡如此者眾，願均其賜於天下。」 從之。 徙長春州錢帛都提點。 車駕如春水，貴主例為假貸，公鼎曰：「豈可輟官用，徇人情？」 拒之。 頗聞怨詈語，曰：「此吾職，不敢廢也。」 俄拜大理卿，多所平反。 天祚即位，歷長寧軍節度使、南京副留守，改東京戶部使。 時盜殺留守蕭保先，始利其財，因而倡亂。 民亦互生猜忌，家自為鬥。 公鼎單騎行郡，陳以禍福，眾皆投兵而拜曰：「是不欺我，敢弗聽命。」 安輯如故。 拜中京留守，賜貞亮功臣，乘傳赴官。 時盜賊充斥，有遇公鼎於路者，即叩馬乞自新。 公鼎給以符約，俾還業，聞者接踵而至。 不旬日，境內清肅。 天祚聞之，加賜保節功臣。 時人心反側，公鼎慮生變，請布恩惠以安之，為之肆赦。 公鼎累表乞歸，不許。 會奴賊張撒八率無賴嘯聚，公鼎欲擊而勢有不能。 嘆曰：「吾欲謝事久矣，為世故所牽，不幸至此，豈命也夫！」 因憂憤成疾。 保大元年卒，年七十九。
Da Gongding was a Bohai native whose family had long been registered in Shuai-bin County in Liaoyang. During the Tonghe reign, powerful families of eastern Liao were relocated to populate the Central Capital, and his household thereafter made its home in Dading. His great-grandfather Zhong served as Director of Ceremonial Reception. His father Xin was Registrar of Xingzhong. Gongding was grave and dutiful as a boy and devoted himself to study as he grew. In the tenth year of the Xianyong era he passed the jinshi examination and was appointed acting investigating commissioner of Shenzhou. At that time heavy rains in eastern Liao had damaged the harvest, and the Northern Privy Council conscripted large numbers of men along the riverbanks to repair the dikes. The responsible offices enforced the order with harsh urgency, but Gongding alone said, "The frontier has only just settled down. To launch major corvée projects now is not the way to serve the state or ease the burden on farmers." He thereupon submitted a memorial on the matter. The court approved his request, halted the corvée, and the floods never became a catastrophe. For a thousand li along the river, the people were universally grateful. As magistrate of Liang Township he streamlined local administration, reduced corvée, promoted farming and sericulture, and founded a Confucian temple and school; the people of his district were thoroughly won over. He was promoted in due course to vice military commissioner of Xingguo Army. At the time men attached to the imperial Falcon Office, operating under the name of "netting and closing" (for hawking), preyed on the countryside and harassed the farming districts. Year after year the people could endure it no longer. Gongding reported the abuse to the throne, and an immediate order was issued to suppress it. When Gongding came to court, a senior minister conveyed the emperor's praise and approval. Gongding said, "That one commandery has found peace is indeed a great blessing; yet many other commanderies suffer the same abuse. I beg that this benefit be extended equally throughout the realm." The court granted his request. He was transferred to serve as chief intendant of cash and silks at Changchunzhou. When the imperial carriage went to the spring hunt, noble ladies routinely sought loans from the treasury. Gongding said, "How can official funds be suspended to indulge private favor?" He refused them. He heard much bitter complaint, but said, "This is my duty, and I dare not neglect it." Before long he was appointed director of the Court of Review and reversed many wrongful convictions. When Emperor Tianzuo acceded, he served successively as military commissioner of Changning Army and vice guardian of the Southern Capital, then was appointed commissioner of the Eastern Capital Revenue Bureau. At that time bandits murdered the guardian Xiao Baoxian, at first for his wealth and thereby inciting wider disorder. The populace grew mutually suspicious, and households took up arms against one another. Gongding rode alone through the commandery, explaining the consequences of obedience and rebellion. The people cast down their weapons and bowed, saying, "This man does not deceive us—we dare not disobey his command." Tranquility was restored as before. He was appointed guardian of the Central Capital, granted the title Meritorious Minister of Upright Integrity, and traveled to his post by imperial relay. Bandits and robbers filled the land. Those who met Gongding on the road would halt his horse and beg to reform. Gongding issued them written pledges of amnesty and sent them back to their trades; word spread and others came in steady succession. Within ten days the entire jurisdiction was pacified. When Tianzuo heard of this, he additionally granted him the title Meritorious Minister Who Guards Integrity. Popular sentiment was still unsettled. Fearing further unrest, Gongding petitioned for a display of imperial grace to reassure the people, and a general amnesty was proclaimed. Gongding repeatedly memorialized requesting retirement, but permission was denied. When the slave-rebel Zhang Sabba rallied desperadoes in open revolt, Gongding wished to attack but found his forces inadequate. He sighed and said, "I have long wished to leave office, yet worldly affairs kept me bound. To come to this unhappy pass—can it be fate?" He fell ill from worry and indignation. He died in the first year of the Baoda era, at the age of seventy-nine.
4
子昌齡，左承制； 昌嗣，洺州刺史； 昌朝，鎮寧軍節度。
His son Changling served as left assistant director; Changsi was prefect of Mingzhou; and Changchao was military commissioner of Zhenning Army.
5
蕭文，字國華，外戚之賢者也。 父直善，安州防禦使。 文篤誌力學，喜慍不形。 大康初，掌秦越國王中丞司事，以才幹稱。 尋知北面貼黃。 王邦彥子爭蔭，數歲不能定，有司以聞。 上命文詰之，立決。 車駕將還宮，承詔閱習儀衛，雖執事林林，指顧如一。 遷同知奉國軍節度使，歷國舅都監。 壽隆末，知易州，兼西南面安撫使。 高陽土沃民富，吏其邑者，每黷於貨，民甚苦之。 文始至，悉去舊弊，務農桑，崇禮教，民皆化之。 時大旱，百姓憂甚，文禱之輒雨。 屬縣又蝗，議捕除之，文曰：「蝗，天災，捕之何益！」 但反躬自責，蝗盡飛去，遺者亦不食苗，散在草莽，為烏鵲所食。 會霪雨不止，文復隨禱而霽。 是歲，大熟。 朝廷以文可大用，遷唐古部節度使，高陽勒石頌之。 後不知所終。
Xiao Wen, styled Guohua, was a worthy man among the imperial affines. His father Zhishan was defense commissioner of Anzhou. Wen was devoted in purpose and diligent in study; neither joy nor anger showed on his face. Early in the Dakang era he managed affairs of the Central Chancellor's Office of the King of Qinyue and won renown for his ability. Shortly thereafter he was appointed supervisor of northern draft endorsements. The sons of Wang Bangyan disputed hereditary privilege; for several years the case could not be settled, and the responsible offices reported it to the throne. The emperor ordered Wen to investigate, and he rendered an immediate decision. When the imperial carriage was about to return to the palace, he received an edict to review and drill the ceremonial guard. Though the officers were numerous as trees in a forest, his commands were unified and precise. He was promoted to associate military commissioner of Fengguo Army and later served as director of the imperial affines. Late in the Shoulong era he was appointed administrator of Yizhou and concurrently pacification commissioner of the southwestern circuit. Gaoyang had fertile soil and a wealthy populace, yet the officials who governed it were habitually corrupt, and the people suffered greatly. When Wen first arrived, he swept away old abuses, promoted farming and sericulture, and honored ritual instruction; the people were thoroughly transformed. A severe drought afflicted the region and the people were deeply anxious; whenever Wen prayed, rain followed at once. Locusts then appeared in a subordinate county, and officials proposed catching and destroying them. Wen said, "Locusts are a heaven-sent calamity—what use is catching them?" He examined his own conduct instead. The locusts all flew away; those that remained did not eat the seedlings but scattered in the grass and thickets, where crows and magpies devoured them. When incessant heavy rains followed, Wen prayed again and the skies cleared. That year brought a bountiful harvest. The court judged Wen fit for greater responsibility and transferred him to military commissioner of the Tangut circuit; Gaoyang carved a stone inscription in his praise. His later fate is not recorded.
6
馬人望，字儼叔，高祖胤卿，為石晉青州刺史，太宗兵至，堅守不降。 城破被執，太宗義而釋之，徙其族於醫巫閭山，因家焉。 曾祖廷煦，南京留守。 祖淵，中京副留守。 父詮，中京文思使。 人望穎悟。 幼孤，長以才學稱。 咸雍中，第進士，為松山縣令。 歲運澤州官炭，獨役松山，人望請於中京留守蕭吐渾均役他邑。 吐渾怒，下吏，系幾百日。 復引詰之，人望不屈，蕭喜曰：「君為民如此，後必大用。」 以事聞於朝，悉從所請。 徙知涿州新城縣。 縣與宋接境，驛道所從出。 人望治不擾，吏民畏愛。 近臣有聘宋還者，帝問以外事，多薦之，擢中京度支司鹽鐵判官。 轉南京三司度支判官，公私兼裕。 遷警巡使。 京城獄訟填委，人望處決，無一冤者。 會檢括戶口，未兩旬而畢。 同知留守蕭保先怪而問之，人望曰：「民產若括之無遺，他日必長厚斂之弊，大率十得六七足矣。」 保先謝曰：「公慮遠，吾不及也。」
Ma Renwang, styled Yanshu, was descended from the High Ancestor Yin Qing, who had served as prefect of Qingzhou under the Later Jin. When Emperor Taizong's army arrived, Yin Qing held the city and refused to surrender. When the city fell he was captured. Taizong, moved by his loyalty, released him and relocated his clan to Mount Yiwulu, where the family thereafter settled. His great-grandfather Tingxu was guardian of the Southern Capital. His grandfather Yuan was vice guardian of the Central Capital. His father Quan was commissioner of literary thought at the Central Capital. Renwang was exceptionally quick-witted. Orphaned in childhood, he won renown in adulthood for talent and learning. During the Xianyong era he passed the jinshi examination and was appointed magistrate of Songshan County. Each year the transport of official charcoal from Zezhou imposed corvée on Songshan alone. Renwang petitioned the Central Capital guardian Xiao Tuhun to distribute the burden equally among neighboring districts. Tuhun was enraged, had him arrested, and kept him imprisoned for nearly a hundred days. When Tuhun summoned and interrogated him again, Renwang would not yield. Xiao said with approval, "To serve the people as you do—you will surely rise to high office." He reported the matter to court, and the petition was fully granted. He was transferred to administer Xincheng County in Zhuozhou. The county bordered Song territory and lay on the main post road. Renwang governed without harassment, and officials and commoners alike held him in respect and affection. When a court intimate returned from an embassy to Song, the emperor asked him about affairs abroad, and he repeatedly recommended Renwang, who was promoted to salt and iron assessor of the Central Capital Revenue Bureau. He was transferred to revenue assessor of the Southern Capital Three Departments, where both public revenue and private welfare prospered. He was promoted to police patrol commissioner. The capital's courts were buried under pending cases. Renwang disposed of them, and not a single wrongful conviction remained. When a household registration survey was ordered, he completed it in less than twenty days. Associate guardian Xiao Baoxian was astonished and asked how he had finished so quickly. Renwang said, "If the people's property is inventoried without omission, officials will surely grow accustomed to heavy exactions. On the whole, recording six or seven parts in ten is sufficient." Baoxian apologized and said, "Your foresight is far-reaching—I cannot match it."
7
先是，樞密使乙辛竊弄威柄，卒害太子。 及天祚嗣位，將報父仇，選人望與蕭報恩究其事。 人望平心以處，所活甚眾。 改上京副留守。 會劇賊趙鐘哥犯闕，劫宮女、禦物，人望率眾捕之。 右臂中矢，炷以艾，力疾馳逐，賊棄所掠而遁。 人望令關津譏察行旅，悉獲其盜。 尋擢樞密都承旨。
Earlier, Privy Councillor Yixin had usurped power and ultimately brought about the crown prince's death. When Tianzuo succeeded and sought to avenge his father, he selected Renwang and Xiao Bao'en to investigate the affair. Renwang handled the case impartially, and a great many lives were spared. He was appointed vice guardian of the Upper Capital. When the notorious bandit Zhao Zhongge broke into the palace precincts and seized palace women and imperial goods, Renwang led troops in pursuit. An arrow struck his right arm. He cauterized the wound with moxa, forced himself to ride on despite the pain, and the bandits abandoned their loot and fled. Renwang ordered the frontier passes to inspect travelers, and all the fugitive bandits were captured. Shortly thereafter he was promoted to chief privy council assessor.
8
宰相耶律儼惡人望與己異，遷南京諸宮提轄制置。 歲中，為保靜軍節度使。 有二吏凶暴，民畏如虎。 人望假以辭色，陰令發其事，黥配之。 是歲諸處饑乏，惟人望所治粒食不闕，路不鳴桴。 遙授彰義軍節度使。 遷中京度支使，始至，府廩皆空； 視事半歲，積粟十五萬斛，錢二十萬繦。 徙左散騎常侍，累遷樞密直學士。 未幾，拜參知政事，判南京三司使事。 時錢粟出納之弊，惟燕為甚。 人望以縑帛為通歷，凡庫物出入，皆使別籍，名曰「臨庫」。 奸人黠吏莫得軒輊，乃以年老揚言道路。 朝論不察，改南院宣徽使，以示優老。 逾年，天祚手書「宣馬宣徽」四字詔之。 既至，諭曰：「以卿為老，誤聽也。」 遂拜南院樞密使。 人不敢幹以私，用人必公議所當與者。 如曹勇義、虞仲文嘗為奸人所擠，人望推薦，皆為名臣。 當時民所甚患者，驛遞、馬牛、旗鼓、鄉正、廳隸、倉司之役，至破產不能給。 人望使民出錢，官自募役，時以為便。 久之請老，以守司徒、兼侍中致仕。 卒，謚曰文獻。
Chief Councillor Yelü Yan resented Renwang's independence and transferred him to commissioner for the palaces of the Southern Capital. Within the year he was appointed military commissioner of Baojing Army. Two clerks were fierce and violent, and the people feared them as they would tigers. Renwang treated them with outward courtesy while secretly ordering an investigation; their crimes were exposed and they were tattooed and banished. That year famine afflicted many regions, yet only in Renwang's jurisdiction was grain supply uninterrupted, and no alarm drums sounded along the roads. He was granted in absentia the title of military commissioner of Zhangyi Army. He was transferred to revenue commissioner of the Central Capital. When he first arrived, the government granaries were empty; yet within half a year in office he had accumulated a hundred and fifty thousand hu of grain and two hundred thousand strings of cash. He was transferred to left regular attendant of the cavalry and was promoted in due course to privy council academician. Before long he was appointed associate participant in governance and concurrently directed the Southern Capital Three Departments. At the time abuses in the receipt and disbursement of cash and grain were worst in the Yan region. Renwang used silk cloth strips as a running ledger; all goods entering and leaving the storehouses were recorded in separate registers called "On-the-Spot Storehouse." Wicked men and cunning clerks could no longer manipulate affairs, so they spread rumors along the roads that he was too old for office. The court failed to see through the scheme and transferred him to southern court commissioner of the palace secretariat as a gesture of honoring his age. More than a year later, Tianzuo personally wrote the four characters "Summon Ma, Palace Secretariat" in an edict summoning him. When he arrived, the emperor said to him, "Believing you too old for office was a mistake on our part." He thereupon appointed him southern court privy councillor. No one dared approach him with private requests. In appointments he always chose men whom public deliberation deemed fit. Men such as Cao Yongyi and Yu Zhongwen had once been driven out by schemers; Renwang recommended them, and all rose to become renowned ministers. The people's greatest burdens at the time were corvée duties for post relays, horses and oxen, banners and drums, village heads, hall attendants, and granary offices—burdens so heavy that families went bankrupt and still could not meet them. Renwang had the people pay a fee while the government hired labor directly; at the time this was widely regarded as a practical reform. After long service he requested retirement and left office with the titles guardian minister of education and concurrent palace attendant. He died and was given the posthumous title Literary Offering.
9
人望有操守，喜怒不形，未嘗附麗求進。 初除執政，家人賀之。 人望愀然曰：「得勿喜，失勿憂。 抗之甚高，擠之必酷。」 其畏慎如此。
Renwang was a man of integrity; neither joy nor anger showed on his face, and he never curried favor with powerful patrons to advance his career. When he was first appointed to the governing council, his family congratulated him. Renwang said gravely, "When you gain office, do not rejoice; when you lose it, do not grieve. Raise yourself too high, and when you are pushed down the fall will be cruel." Such was his caution and restraint.
10
耶律鐸魯斡，字乙辛隱，季父房之後。 廉約重義。 重熙末，給事誥院。 咸雍中，累遷同知南京留守事。 被召，以部民懇留，乃賜詔褒獎。 大康初，改西南面招討使，為北面林牙，遷左夷離畢。 大安五年，拜南府宰相。 壽隆初，致仕，卒。
Yelü Duoluwo, styled Yixin Yin, was a descendant of the Younger Father's House. He was frugal and abstemious and valued righteousness. Late in the Chongxi era he served in the Edict Office. During the Xianyong era he was promoted in due course to associate administrator of the Southern Capital guardian's office. When summoned to court, the people of his district earnestly begged him to remain, and the throne issued an edict commending and rewarding him. Early in the Dakang era he was appointed pacification commissioner of the southwestern circuit, then northern court forest ya, and was promoted to left yilübi. In the fifth year of the Da'an era he was appointed chancellor of the southern office. Early in the Shoulong era he retired from office and died.
11
鐸魯斡所至有聲，吏民畏愛。 及退居鄉里，子普古為烏古部節度使，遣人來迎。 既至，見積委甚富。 謂普古曰：「辭親入仕，當以裕國安民為事。 枉道欺君，以茍貨利，非吾誌也。」 命駕而歸。 普古後為盜所殺。
Wherever Duoluwo served he won renown, and officials and commoners alike held him in respect and affection. When he retired to his home district, his son Pugu, then military commissioner of the Wugu circuit, sent men to welcome him. When he arrived, he found the stores piled with great wealth. He said to Pugu, "When one leaves one's kin to enter office, enriching the state and settling the people ought to be one's task. To bend principle and deceive the ruler for base profit—that is not my aim." He ordered his carriage and returned home. Pugu was later killed by bandits.
12
楊遵勖，字益誡，涿州范陽人。 重熙十九年登進士第，調儒州軍事判官，累遷樞密院副承旨。 咸雍三年，為宋國賀正使； 還，遷都承旨。 天下之事，叢於樞府，簿書填委。 遵勖一目五行俱下，剖決如流，敷奏詳敏。 上嘉之。 奉詔征戶部逋錢，得四十餘萬緡，拜樞密直學士，改樞密副使。 大康初，參知政事，徙知樞密院事，兼門下侍郎、平章事，拜南府宰相。 耶律乙辛誣皇太子，詔遵勖與燕哥按其事，遵勖不敢正言，時議短之。 尋拜北府宰相。 大安中暴卒，年五十六。 贈守司空，謚康懿。 子晦，終昭文館直學士。
Yang Zunxu, styled Yijie, was a native of Fanyang in Zhuozhou. In the nineteenth year of the Chongxi era he passed the jinshi examination, was appointed military assessor of Ruzhou, and was promoted in due course to deputy assessor of the privy council. In the third year of the Xianyong era he served as envoy to Song to offer New Year's congratulations; on his return he was promoted to chief assessor. Affairs of the realm were concentrated in the privy council, and documents piled up without end. Zunxu read five lines at a glance, disposed of cases with flowing efficiency, and presented memorials with precision and quick wit. The emperor commended him. By imperial order he collected overdue revenue funds and recovered more than four hundred thousand strings of cash. He was appointed privy council academician and then vice privy councillor. Early in the Dakang era he became associate participant in governance, was appointed administrator of the privy council, and concurrently gate attendant and grand councillor, then chancellor of the southern office. Yelü Yixin framed the crown prince, and an edict ordered Zunxu and Yange to investigate. Zunxu did not dare speak plainly, and contemporary opinion faulted him for it. Shortly thereafter he was appointed chancellor of the northern office. He died suddenly during the Da'an era, at the age of fifty-six. He was posthumously granted guardian minister of works and given the posthumous title Kangyi. His son Hui ended his career as academician of the Zhaowen Hall.
13
王棠，涿州新城人。 博古善屬文。 重熙十五年擢進士。 鄉貢、禮部、廷試對皆第一。 累遷上京鹽鐵使。 或誣以賄，無狀，釋之。 遷東京戶部使。 大康二年，遼東饑，民多死，請賑恤，從之。 三年，入為樞密副使，拜南府宰相。 大安末，卒。
Wang Tang was a native of Xincheng in Zhuozhou. He was broadly learned in antiquity and skilled at literary composition. In the fifteenth year of the Chongxi era he was selected as jinshi. He ranked first in the provincial presentation, the Ministry of Rites examination, and the palace examination responses. He was promoted in due course to salt and iron commissioner of the Upper Capital. Someone accused him of bribery, but the charge had no substance and he was released. He was transferred to commissioner of the Eastern Capital Revenue Bureau. In the second year of the Dakang era eastern Liao suffered famine and many people died. He petitioned for relief and the court approved. In the third year he entered court as vice privy councillor and was appointed chancellor of the southern office. He died late in the Da'an era.
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棠練達朝政，臨事不怠，在政府修明法度，有聲。
Tang was thoroughly versed in court affairs and never slack in handling business. In government he refined and clarified the laws and won wide renown.
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論曰：孟子謂「民為貴，社稷次之」，司牧者當如何以盡心。 公鼎奏罷完堤役以息民，拒公主假貸以守法，單騎行郡，化盜為良，庶幾召、杜之美。 文知易州，雨暍應禱，蝗不為災。 人望為民不避囚系，判度支，公私兼裕，亦卓乎未易及已。 鐸魯斡吏畏民愛，楊遵勖決事如流，真能吏哉！
The commentary says: Mencius declared that "the people are precious, the altars of soil and grain come next"—how ought those who govern the people give their utmost devotion? Gongding memorialized to halt dike corvée and give the people rest, refused the princess's loans to uphold the law, rode alone through the commandery and transformed bandits into loyal subjects—approaching, one might say, the renown of Zhao Ji and Du Shi. Wen governed Yizhou: drought responded to his prayers with rain, and locusts did not become a calamity. Renwang for the people's sake did not shrink from imprisonment, directed revenue affairs with both public and private interests prospering—also outstanding and not easily matched. Duoluwo was feared by officials and loved by the people; Yang Zunxu disposed of affairs with flowing efficiency—truly capable administrators indeed!