1
張昭，字潛夫，本名昭遠，避漢祖諱，止稱昭。 自言漢常山王耳之後，世居濮州范縣。
Zhang Zhao, courtesy name Qianfu, was originally named Zhaoyuan; to avoid the taboo name of the Han founder, he went by Zhao alone. He claimed descent from Liu Er, Prince of Changshan under the Han, and said his family had long lived in Fan County in Puzhou.
2
祖楚平，壽張令。 楚平生直，即昭父也。 初，楚平赴調長安，值巢寇亂，不知所終。 直幼避地河朔，既冠，以父失所在，時盜賊蠭起，道路榛梗，乃自秦抵蜀，徒行丐食，求父所在，積十年不能得。 乃發哀行服，躬耕海濱。 青州王師範開學館，延置儒士，再以書幣招直，署賓職。 師範降梁，直脫難北歸，以《周易》、《春秋》教授，學者自遠而至，時號「逍遙先生」。
His grandfather Chu Ping had served as magistrate of Shouzhang. Chu Ping's son was named Zhi—Zhao's father. Earlier, Chu Ping had traveled to Chang'an for an official appointment when Huang Chao's rebels rose; nothing was ever heard of him again. As a boy Zhi fled the turmoil to the north of the Yellow River. After he came of age, with his father still missing and bandits everywhere choking the roads, he walked from Qin into Shu, begging as he went to find him—and after ten years still could not. He then entered mourning and farmed with his own hands on the coast. Wang Shifan of Qingzhou founded an academy and gathered scholars; twice he sent letters and gifts to win Zhi over and gave him a post as a guest officer. When Shifan submitted to Liang, Zhi made his way north out of danger and taught the Book of Changes and the Spring and Autumn Annals; students came from far away, and people called him Master Free-and-Easy.
3
昭始十歲，能誦古樂府、詠史詩百餘篇； 未冠，遍讀《九經》，盡通其義。 處儕類中，緩步闊視，以為馬、鄭不己若也。 後至贊皇，遇程生者，專史學，以為專究經旨，不通今古，率多拘滯，繁而寡要； 若極談王霸，經緯治亂，非史不可。 因出班、范《漢書》十餘義商榷，乃授昭《荀紀》、《國志》等，後又盡得十三史，五七年間，能馳騁上下數千百年事。 又注《十代興亡論》。 處亂世，躬耕負米以養親。
Zhao was only ten when he could recite more than a hundred old yuefu pieces and historical poems; Before he came of age he had read all the Nine Classics and mastered their meaning. Among his peers he walked slowly with a sweeping look, convinced that not even Ma Rong and Zheng Xuan were his match. Later at Zanhuang he met a Mr. Cheng who specialized in history. Zhao argued that scholars who buried themselves in the classics' letter knew past and present poorly—mostly rigid, wordy, and thin on what mattered; but to speak fully of kingship and hegemony and to thread order and chaos together, one could not do without history. He raised more than ten points from Ban Gu and Fan Ye's Book of Han for debate; Cheng then lent him Xun Yue's Han Records, Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms, and the rest. Within five or seven years Zhao had mastered all thirteen standard histories and could move freely across thousands of years of events. He also wrote a commentary on the Treatise on the Rise and Fall of Ten Dynasties. In those troubled times he farmed himself and carried rice on his back to support his parents.
4
後唐莊宗入魏，河朔遊士，多自效軍門，昭因至魏，攜文數十軸謁興唐尹張憲。 憲家富文籍，每與昭燕語，講論經史要事，恨相見之晚，即署府推官。 同光初，奏授真秩，加監察御史裏行。 憲為北京留守，昭亦從至晉陽。 莊宗及難，聞鄴中兵士推戴明宗，憲部將符彥超合戍將應之。 昭謂憲曰：「得無奉表勸進為自安之計乎？」 憲曰：「我本書生，見知主上，位至保𨤲，乃布衣之極。 苟靦顏求生，何面目見主於地下？」 昭曰：「此古人之志也，公能行之，死且不朽矣。」 相泣而去，憲遂死之，時論重昭能成憲之節。
When the Later Tang's Emperor Zhuangzong entered Wei, many wandering scholars from north of the Yellow River sought posts in the armies. Zhao went to Wei as well, carrying several dozen scrolls of his writing to visit Zhang Xian, prefect of Xingtang. Xian's household was rich in books. In their easy conversations on weighty matters of the classics and histories he lamented they had met so late and at once appointed Zhao push officer on his staff. Early in the Tongguang era he was memorialized for a regular rank and made an acting supervising censor. When Xian became governor of the Northern Capital, Zhao followed him to Jinyang. When Zhuangzong fell into crisis, word came that the troops at Ye had raised Mingzong. Xian's subordinate Fu Yanchao rallied the garrison commanders to join them. Zhao said to Xian, "Might you not submit a memorial urging enthronement—as a way to secure yourself?" Xian replied, "I was only a scholar when our lord noticed and trusted me; I rose to Grand Chancellor—the highest a commoner could reach. If I shame my face to cling to life, how could I face our lord in the grave?" Zhao said, "That is the resolve of the ancients. If you can do it, your death will be deathless." They wept and parted. Xian died for his lord, and contemporaries praised Zhao for helping him keep his integrity.
5
時有害昭者，昭曰：「明誠所至，期不再生，主辱臣亡，死而無悔。」 眾執以送彥超，彥超曰：「推官正人，無得害之。」 又逼昭為榜安撫軍民。 事寧，以昭為北京留守推官，加殿中侍御史、內供奉官，賜緋。 天成三年，改安義軍節度掌書記。
Some then wanted Zhao killed. He said, "Where sincerity goes, one does not expect to live again. When the lord is shamed the minister dies—and I die without regret." The mob seized him and brought him to Yanchao, who said, "The push officer is an upright man. Do not harm him." They also forced Zhao to draft a proclamation to reassure the troops and the people. When order was restored, Zhao was made push officer to the Northern Capital governor, with additional posts as palace attendant censor and inner attendant, and was granted crimson robes. In the third year of Tiancheng he was transferred to secretary under the Anyi military commission.
6
時以武皇、莊宗實錄未修，詔正國軍節度盧質、西川節度副使何瓚、秘書監韓彥輝纘錄事跡。 瓚上言：「昭有史材，嘗私撰《同光實錄》十二卷，又聞其欲撰三祖志，並藏昭宗朝賜武皇制詔九十餘篇，請以昭所撰送史館。」 拜昭為左補闕、史館修撰，委之撰錄。 昭以懿祖、獻祖、太祖並不踐帝位，仍補為《紀年錄》二十卷，又撰《莊宗實錄》三十卷上之。 優詔褒美，遷都官員外郎。
Because the Veritable Records of the Martial Emperor and Zhuangzong had not yet been written, the court ordered Lu Zhi, commissioner of Zhenguo, He Zan, vice commissioner of Xichuan, and Han Yanhui, director of the Secretariat, to collect and record their deeds. Zan memorialized: "Zhao has a historian's gifts. He has privately compiled twelve juan of Veritable Records of the Tongguang reign, intends a chronicle of the three ancestors, and keeps more than ninety edicts Emperor Zhaozong issued to the Martial Emperor. Please send his writings to the History Office." Zhao was appointed Left Remonstrator and History Office compiler and entrusted with the compilation. Because the August, Exalted, and Martial ancestors had never actually reigned, Zhao still compiled a twenty-juan Chronicle and submitted thirty juan of Veritable Records of Zhuangzong. The throne issued a commendatory edict and promoted him to Vice Director of the Ministry of Revenue.
7
時皇子競尚奢侈，昭疏諫曰：
Princes were then vying in extravagance. Zhao submitted a memorial of remonstrance:
8
「帝王之子，長於深宮，安於逸樂，紛華之玩，絲竹之音，日接於耳目，不與驕期而驕自至。 儻非天資英敏，識本清明，以此蕩心，焉能無惑。 苟不豫為教道，何以置之盤牙？ 臣見先帝時，皇子、皇弟盡喜無稽玩物之言，厭聞致治經邦之論，入則務飾姬姜，出則廣增僕馬； 親賓滿坐，食客盈門，箴規者少，諧謔者多。 以此而欲託以主鬯，不亦難乎？ 臣請諸皇子各置師傅，陛下令皇子屈身師事之，講論道德。 使一日之中，止記一事，一歲之內，所記漸多。 每月終，令師傅具錄聞奏。 或皇子上謁之時，陛下更令侍臣面問，十中得五，為益良多，博識安危之理，深知成敗之由。
" A son of an emperor grows up deep in the palace, at ease in pleasure. Ornament and music meet his eyes and ears every day; pride needs no appointment—it comes on its own. Unless he is gifted and clear-minded by nature, how can such things unsettle his heart and leave him unconfused? If you do not teach him beforehand, how can you set him in the heir's place? I saw under the late emperor that princes and younger imperial brothers loved idle talk of trifles and hated counsel on governing the realm. Indoors they dressed their women; outdoors they multiplied servants and horses; kinsmen and guests filled the hall, hangers-on packed the gate—few who admonished, many who jested. To entrust the ancestral rites to such men—is that not hard? I ask that each prince be given a tutor and that Your Majesty make them humble themselves to study under them and discuss moral principle. Have them record only one thing each day; over a year what they have recorded will grow. At month's end let the tutors compile the records and report them. Or when a prince attends audience, let attendant ministers question him in person. If he answers half the questions, the gain will be great: he will know why states stand or fall and understand success and failure at its roots.
9
明宗覽疏而不用。
Mingzong read the memorial but did not act on it.
10
四年，上《武王以來功臣列傳》三十卷，以本官知制誥。 明宗好畋獵，昭疏諫曰：
In the fourth year he submitted thirty juan of Biographies of Meritorious Officials from King Wu of Zhou onward and was made drafter of edicts in his existing rank. Mingzong loved the hunt. Zhao submitted a memorial of remonstrance:
11
「太祖初鎮太原，每年打鹿於北鄙； 先帝在位，暇日射鴈於近郊。 此蓋軍務之餘，畋遊自適。 洎先帝因圖啟祚，嚮明御宇，則宜易彼諸侯之事，肅乎萬乘之儀。 而猶因習舊風，失其威重，驅逐原獸，殆無虛日。
" When the Martial Ancestor first held Taiyuan, he hunted deer on the northern marches each year; when the late emperor reigned, he shot geese near the capital on his free days. That was sport after military business—a hunt for pleasure. Once the late emperor took the throne by design and turned to enlightened rule, he should have left feudal habits behind and kept the dignity due the Son of Heaven. Yet he kept the old ways, lost his majesty, and chased game in the wild—hardly a day without it.
12
臣愚以為事有可畏者四焉。 洛都舊制，宮城與禁苑相連，人君宴遊，不離苑囿，御馬來往，輦路坦夷，不涉荒郊，何憂蹶失。 今則驅馳驂服，涉歷榛蕪，此後節氣嚴凝，徑途凍滑，萬一有銜橛之變，陛下縱自輕，奈宗廟社稷何？ 所可畏者一也。 又陛下新有四海，宜以德服萬邦。 今則江、嶺未平，淮夷尚梗，彼初聞陛下革先朝之失政，還太古之淳風，御物以慈，節財以儉，有典有則，不矜不驕，彼必有三苗率服之心，七旬來格之意。 如聞陛下暫遊近甸，彼即以為復好畋遊。 所可畏者二也。 臣又聞『作法於涼，其弊猶貪，作法於貪，弊將如何？』 且打鹿射鴈之事新，敗軌傾輈之轍在，常宜取鑒，不可因循。 所可畏者三也。 臣又聞『作事可法，貽厥孫謀。』 若陛下以齊聖廣淵之機，聰明神武之量，其可以宴遊蒐狩之事，少累聖明，所謂『城中好廣眉，城外加半額』，為法之弊，靡不由茲。 所可畏者四也。
Your humble subject believes there are four things to fear. Under the old Luoyang practice the palace and the imperial park were joined. The ruler's outings never left the park; imperial horses used level roads and never crossed wild country—what fear of a fall? Now you gallop paired teams through brush and waste. When the cold sets in and paths ice over, if the bit should fail—even if Your Majesty thinks little of yourself, what of the ancestral temple and the realm? That is the first fear. Moreover Your Majesty has newly won the realm and should bring the world to submission through virtue. The south of the Yangzi and the Lingnan are not yet settled; the Huai tribes still resist. They have just heard that Your Majesty has corrected the last court's abuses, restored ancient simplicity, ruled with kindness, spent sparingly, kept standards, and shown no arrogance—they will surely feel like the Three Miao ready to submit and like guests coming within seven days. If they hear that Your Majesty is hunting again near the capital, they will think the old ways have returned. That is the second fear. I have also heard: 'Make law in a cool land and the abuse is still greed; make law in greed—what will the abuse be then?' Deer hunts and goose shoots are recent; the ruts of overturned wheels are still there. Take them as a warning—do not follow habit. That is the third fear. I have also heard: 'Do what can be a model—leave plans for your descendants.' With Your Majesty's sagely breadth and keen martial gifts, can pleasure outings and the chase burden your clarity even a little? As the proverb says, 'When the city favors broad brows, the suburbs paint half again as wide'—bad laws spread from such examples. That is the fourth fear.
13
伏望陛下居高慮遠，慎始圖終，思創業之艱難，知守成之不易，念老氏馳騁之戒，樹文王忠厚之基，約三驅之舊章，定四時之遊幸。 始出有節，後不敢違。」
I humbly hope Your Majesty, high above and far-sighted, will be careful at the start and plan for the end, remember how hard it was to found the dynasty and how hard it is to keep it, heed Laozi's warning against reckless riding, lay King Wen's foundation of generous sincerity, keep to the old three-sided hunt, and fix your outings to the seasons. Set limits at the first outing, and later none will dare break them."
14
疏奏，明宗嘉納之。
When the memorial was submitted, Mingzong praised it and took his advice.
15
長興二年，丁內艱，賻絹布五十匹，米麥五十石。 昭性至孝，明宗聞其居喪哀毀，復賜以錢幣。 服除，改職方員外郎、知制誥，充史館修撰。 上言乞復本朝故事，置觀察使察民疾苦，御史彈事，諫官月給諫紙。 並從之。 又奏請勸農耕及置常平倉等數事。
In the second year of Changxing he mourned his mother; the court granted fifty bolts of silk and fifty piculs of grain. Zhao was deeply filial by nature. When Mingzong heard how he grieved and wasted away in mourning, he sent money again. When mourning ended he was made Vice Director of the Bureau of Equipment, drafter of edicts, and History Office compiler. He asked to restore former practice: surveillance commissioners to inspect popular hardship, censors to impeach wrongdoing, and remonstrance officials given monthly remonstrance paper. All were approved. He also memorialized to encourage farming and establish ever-normal granaries, among other measures.
16
明宗方務聽納，昭復上疏曰：「臣聞『安不忘危，治不忘亂』者，先儒之丕訓； 『靡不有初，鮮克有終』者，前經之至戒。 究觀列辟，莫不以驕矜怠惰，有虧盛德。 恭惟太宗貞觀之初，玄宗開元之際，焦勞庶政，以致太平。 及國富兵消，年高志逸，乃忽守約之道，或貽執簡之譏。 陛下以慈儉化天下，以禮法檢臣鄰，絀奸邪之黨，延正直之論，務遵純儉，以節浮費，信賞必罰，至公無私。 其創業垂統之基，如貞觀、開元之始，然陛下有始有終，無荒無怠。 臣又伏念保邦之道，有八審焉，願為陛下陳之：夫委任審於材器，聽受審於忠邪，出令審於煩苛，興師審於德力，賞罰審於喜怒，毀譽審於愛憎，議論審於賢愚，嬖寵審於奸佞。 推是八審，以決萬機，庶可以臻至治。」 明宗覽之稱善。
Mingzong was then eager to listen. Zhao submitted another memorial: "I have heard that 'in peace do not forget danger, in order do not forget chaos' is the great teaching of the ancients; 'All things have a beginning, few keep the end' is the sternest warning of the classics. Look at every ruler: all diminished their great virtue through pride, arrogance, and sloth. Consider Emperor Taizong at the start of Zhenguan and Emperor Xuanzong in early Kaiyuan: they labored over government until peace came. When the state grew rich and arms idle, they grew old and their wills wandered; they neglected restraint and earned the historians' reproach. Your Majesty transforms the realm through kindness and frugality, restrains ministers with ritual and law, dismisses wicked factions, welcomes upright counsel, keeps to plain thrift, cuts waste, and in reward and punishment is faithful, certain, and utterly fair. Your foundation for founding and bequeathing the dynasty is like early Zhenguan and Kaiyuan—only may Your Majesty keep beginning and end, never slacken, never grow idle. I reflect again that preserving the state requires eight careful judgments, which I wish to lay before Your Majesty: entrust office by talent; listen by loyalty or treachery; issue orders by whether they burden or oppress; raise armies by moral strength; reward and punish apart from mood; weigh praise and blame apart from affection; judge debate by wisdom or folly; grant favor apart from flatterers. Apply these eight judgments to the myriad affairs of state, and you may reach supreme order." Mingzong read it and praised it.
17
清泰初，改駕部郎中、知制誥，撰皇后冊文，遷中書舍人，賜金紫。 二年，加判史館兼點閱三館書籍，校正添補。 預修《明宗實錄》，成三十卷以獻。 三年，遷禮部侍郎，改御史中丞。
At the start of Qingtai he was made Director of the Bureau of Transport and drafter of edicts, wrote the empress's investiture document, was promoted to Secretariat drafting secretary, and was granted gold and purple. In the second year he was additionally made overseer of the History Office and inspector of the Three Institutes' books, correcting and supplementing them. He took part in compiling the Veritable Records of Mingzong, finished thirty juan, and presented them. In the third year he was made Vice Minister of Rites and then Censor-in-Chief.
18
晉天福初，從幸汴州。 昭請創宮闕名額及振舉朝綱、條疏百司廨舍。 二年，改戶部侍郎，宰相桑維翰薦為翰林學士。 內署故事，以先後入為次，不繫官序，特詔昭立位次承旨崔棁。 晉祖嘗幸內署，與昭語及幷、魏舊事，甚重之，錫賚頗厚。 直以昭故，授著作佐郎致仕，至是卒。 歸西洛，賻賜加等。 五年，服闋，召為戶部侍郎。 以唐史未成，詔與呂琦、崔棁等續成之，別置史院，命昭兼判院事。 昭又撰《唐朝君臣正論》二十五卷上之。 改兵部侍郎。 八年，遷吏部，判東銓，兼史館修撰、判館事。 開運二年秋，《唐書》成二百卷，加金紫階，進爵邑。 三年，拜尚書右丞，判流內銓，權知貢舉。
At the start of Tianfu under Later Jin he accompanied the emperor to Bianzhou. Zhao asked to name the palace halls, restore court discipline, and list the offices and government compounds. In the second year he was made Vice Minister of Revenue; Chief Minister Sang Weihan recommended him as Hanlin Academician. By inner secretariat custom, seniority followed date of entry, not rank; a special edict placed Zhao after Chief Drafting Secretary Cui Zhuo. The Jin founder once visited the inner secretariat, talked with Zhao about old affairs in Bing and Wei, thought highly of him, and gave him rich gifts. Because of Zhao, Zhi had been granted retirement as Assistant Compiler; he died at this time. When Zhao returned to Luoyang, condolence gifts were increased. In the fifth year, once his mourning obligations were fulfilled, he was recalled and appointed Vice Minister of Revenue. As the Tang history remained unfinished, the court ordered him, Lu Qi, Cui Zhuo, and others to carry the work to completion. A separate History Institute was established, and Zhao was put in charge of it as well. Zhao also wrote Correct Discussions on Tang Rulers and Ministers in twenty-five scrolls and presented it to the throne. He was moved to the post of Vice Minister of War. In the eighth year he was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel, given charge of the eastern selection board, and at the same time made a History Office compiler and head of its administration. In the autumn of the second year of Kaiyun, the Book of Tang was finished in two hundred scrolls. He was awarded the gold-and-purple insignia and promoted in rank and enfeoffment. In the third year he was made Right Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat, given charge of the internal selection board, and entrusted with provisional oversight of the imperial examinations.
19
漢初，復為吏部侍郎。 時追尊六廟，定諡號、樂章、舞曲，命昭權判太常卿事，月餘即真。 乾佑二年，加檢校禮部尚書。 少帝年十九，猶有童心，昵比群小。 昭上言請聽政之暇，數召儒臣講論經義。
When the Later Han dynasty was founded, he was again appointed Vice Minister of Personnel. At that time the court was raising posthumous honors in the six ancestral temples and settling imperial titles, ritual hymns, and dance music. Zhao was ordered to serve provisionally as Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and after little more than a month received the regular appointment. In the second year of Qianyou he was further given the honorary title of Inspector General of the Ministry of Rites. The young emperor was only nineteen and still had the mind of a boy; he kept intimate company with low companions. Zhao submitted a memorial asking that, whenever the emperor had leisure from governing, learned officials be summoned often to lecture on the classics and discuss their meaning.
20
周廣順初，拜戶部尚書。 子秉陽，為陽翟主簿，抵罪，昭自以失教，奉表引咎，左遷太子賓客。 歲餘，復舊官。 嘗奏請興制舉，設賢良方正能直言極諫、經學優深可為師法、詳閑吏治達於教化三科，職官、士流、黃衣、草澤並許應詔。 諸州依貢舉體式，量試策論三道，共以三千字以上為準，考其文理俱優，解送尚書吏部，其登朝之官亦聽自舉。 從之。
At the opening of the Guangshun era under the Later Zhou, he was appointed Minister of Revenue. His son Bingyang, then chief clerk of Yangdi, was found guilty of an offense. Zhao, believing himself at fault for poor upbringing, submitted a memorial taking blame upon himself and was demoted to Palace Companion of the Heir Apparent. After a little over a year, he was restored to his former post. He once memorialized asking that the special decree examinations be revived, with three categories established: Worthy and Upright, Able to Speak Bluntly and Offer Extreme Remonstrance; Profound in Classical Learning and Fit to Serve as a Model for Teaching; and Thoroughly Versed in Official Administration and Adept in Transforming the People through Education. Serving officials, gentry candidates, yellow-robed examinees, and commoners from every quarter were all to be allowed to answer the imperial call. The prefectures, following the format of the regular tribute examinations, were to set three policy essays, with a combined minimum of three thousand characters; candidates whose writing and reasoning were both outstanding were to be forwarded to the Ministry of Personnel, and officials already serving at court were also allowed to enter on their own initiative. The court approved the proposal.
21
顯德元年，遷兵部尚書。 世宗以昭舊德，甚重焉。 二年，表求致仕，優詔不允，促其入謁。 嘗詔撰《制旨兵法》十卷，又撰《周祖實錄》三十卷，及梁郢王、均帝、後唐閔帝、廢帝、漢隱帝五朝實錄； 梁二主年祀浸遠，事皆遺失，遂不克修，餘三帝實錄，皆藏史閣。
In the first year of Xiande he was transferred to Minister of War. Emperor Shizong, honoring Zhao for his long service and moral standing, held him in the highest esteem. In the second year he submitted a memorial asking to retire; the emperor issued a gracious edict refusing permission and pressed him to attend court. He was once ordered to compile Imperial Military Methods in ten scrolls, and also wrote Veritable Records of Emperor Taizu of Zhou in thirty scrolls, together with the veritable records of five reigns: the Liang Prince of Ying, the Jun Emperor, the Later Tang Emperor Min, the Deposed Emperor, and the Later Han Emperor Yin. The two Liang rulers lay too far back in time and their affairs had largely been lost, so those records could not be completed; the veritable records of the other three emperors were all deposited in the History Archive.
22
世宗好拔奇俊，有自布衣及下位上書言事者，多不次進用。 昭疏諫曰：「昔唐初，劉洎、馬周起於徒步，太宗擢用為相； 其後，柳璨、朱朴方居下僚，昭宗亦加大用。 此四士者，受知於明主； 然太宗用之而國興，昭宗用之而國亡，士之難知如此。 臣願陛下存舊法而用人，當以此四士為鑒戒。」 世宗善之。 詔令詳定《經典釋文》、《九經文字》、《制科條式》，及問六璽所出，並議《三禮圖》祭玉及鼎釜等。 昭援引經據，時稱其該博。 恭帝即位，封舒國公。
Emperor Shizong delighted in raising extraordinary men of talent; when commoners or officials of low rank submitted memorials on state affairs, many were promoted ahead of their proper turn. Zhao submitted a remonstrance, saying: "In early Tang, Liu Ji and Ma Zhou rose from humble walks of life, and Emperor Taizong elevated them and made them chief ministers. Later, Liu Can and Zhu Pu were still in subordinate posts when Emperor Zhaozong likewise put them to great use. All four of these men won the trust of enlightened sovereigns. Yet Taizong employed them and the realm prospered, while Zhaozong employed them and the realm was lost. Knowing men is indeed so difficult. I beg Your Majesty, in keeping to the established methods of employing men, to take these four men as a warning." Emperor Shizong approved of the advice. An edict ordered a detailed revision of Exegesis of the Classics, Characters of the Nine Classics, and the regulations for the decree examination, inquiry into the origins of the six imperial seals, and deliberation on the sacrificial jades and cauldrons in Illustrations of the Three Rites. Zhao cited classical texts and evidence in support of his views, and contemporaries praised the breadth of his erudition. When Emperor Gong came to the throne, Zhao was enfeoffed as Duke of Shu.
23
昭博通學術，書無不覽，兼善天文、風角、太一、卜相、兵法、釋老之說，藏書數萬卷。 尤好纂述，自唐、晉至宋，專筆削典章之任。 嶺南平，擒劉鋹，將獻俘，莫能知其禮。 時昭已致政，太祖遣近臣就其家問之，昭方臥病，口占以授使者。 著《嘉善集》五十卷、《名臣事跡》五卷。
Zhao was broadly learned and read without exception; he was also adept at astronomy, wind divination, Taiyi numerology, physiognomy, military strategy, and Buddhist and Daoist doctrine, and his private library ran to tens of thousands of scrolls. He was especially devoted to compilation and editing; from Tang and Jin down to Song, he held the brush in matters of canonical law and institutional record. When Lingnan was pacified and Liu Chang was taken captive, the court prepared to present the prisoners, but no one knew the proper rites. By then Zhao had already retired; Taizu sent a close attendant to his home to inquire. Zhao was then bedridden with illness and dictated his answer for the messenger. He wrote Collection from Jiashan in fifty scrolls and Records of Eminent Ministers in five scrolls.
24
子秉圖進士及第； 秉謙至尚書郎。
His son Bingtu passed the jinshi examination. Bingqian rose to become a Director in the Secretariat.
25
竇儀，字可象。 薊州漁陽人。
Dou Yi, courtesy name Kexiang. He was a native of Yuyang in Jizhou.
26
曾祖遜，玉田令。 祖思恭，媯州司馬。 父禹鈞，與兄禹錫皆以詞學名。 禹鈞，唐天佑末起家幽州掾，歷沂、鄧、安、同、鄭、華、宋、澶州支使判官。 周初，為戶部郎中，賜金紫。 顯德中，遷太常少卿、右諫議大夫致仕。
His great-grandfather Xun served as magistrate of Yutian. His grandfather Sigong was Assistant Military Commissioner of Guizhou. His father Yujun, together with his elder brother Yuxi, were both renowned for literary scholarship. Yujun entered service at the end of the Tianyou era as an aide in Youzhou, and thereafter served successively as administrative and judicial aide in Yi, Deng, An, Tong, Zheng, Hua, Song, and Cao. At the beginning of the Later Zhou he became a Director in the Ministry of Revenue and was awarded the gold-and-purple insignia. During the Xiande era he was made Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and Right Reminder of the Censorate, then retired from office.
27
儀十五能屬文，晉天福中舉進士。 侍衛軍帥景延廣領夔州節度，表為記室。 延廣後歷滑、陝、孟、鄆四鎮，儀並為從事。
At fifteen Yi could already compose essays, and during the Tianfu era of Jin he passed the jinshi examination. Jing Yanguang, commander of the Palace Guard, concurrently held the Kuizhou governorship and recommended Yi as his recorder. Yanguang later served in succession at the four prefectures of Hua, Shan, Meng, and Yan, and Yi accompanied him as staff officer throughout.
28
開運中，楊光遠以青州叛，時契丹南侵，博州刺史周儒以城降，光遠與儒遣人引契丹輕騎於馬家渡渡河。 時延廣掌衛兵，顏衎知州事，即遣儀入奏。 儀謂執政曰：「昨與衎論事勢，有所預慮，所以乘驛晝夜不息而來。 國家若不以良將重兵控博州渡，必恐儒引契丹逾東岸與光遠兵合，則河南危矣。」 俄而儒果導契丹渡河，增置壘柵。 少帝軍河上，即遣李守貞等率兵萬人，水陸並進，守汶陽，據要害。 契丹果大至，擊走之。 漢初，召為左補闕、禮部員外郎。
During the Kaiyun era Yang Guangyuan rebelled at Qingzhou. The Khitan were then invading from the south; Zhou Ru, prefect of Bozhou, surrendered his city. Guangyuan and Ru sent men to guide Khitan light cavalry across the river at Majia Ford. Yanguang then commanded the palace troops, and Yan Kan was acting prefect; they immediately dispatched Yi to report to the throne. Yi said to the chief ministers: "Yesterday, when Kan and I discussed the situation, I had certain forebodings, and so I rode post day and night without pause to reach the capital. If the court does not send able generals with heavy forces to hold the Bozhou crossing, I fear Ru will surely lead the Khitan beyond the eastern bank to join Guangyuan's army, and then Henan will be in grave danger." Soon afterward Ru did indeed guide the Khitan across the river and began building fortifications and palisades. The young emperor's army was stationed on the Yellow River; he immediately sent Li Shouzhen and others with ten thousand men advancing by land and water to hold Wenyang and seize the critical positions. The Khitan did arrive in force, but were beaten back. At the founding of the Later Han he was summoned to serve as Left Reminder and Vice Director in the Ministry of Rites.
29
周廣順初，改倉部員外郎、知制誥。 未幾，召為翰林學士。 周祖幸南御莊宴射，坐中賜金紫。 歷駕部郎中、給事中，並充職。
At the opening of Guangshun under the Later Zhou he was made Vice Director in the Ministry of Granaries and put in charge of drafting imperial edicts. Before long he was summoned to serve as Hanlin Academician. When Emperor Taizu of Zhou visited the Southern Imperial Estate for an archery feast, he granted Yi the gold-and-purple insignia there at table. He served in succession as Director in the Ministry of Transport and as Supervising Censor, while retaining his concurrent appointments.
30
劉溫叟知貢舉，所取士有覆落者，加儀禮部侍郎，權知貢舉。 儀上言：「請依晉天福五年制，廢明經、童子科。 進士省卷，令納五軸以上，不得有神道碑誌之類； 帖經對義，有三通為合格； 卻復盡試。 其落第者，分為五等：以詞理紕繆之甚者為第五等，殿五舉； 其次為第四等，殿三舉； 以次稍可者為第三、第二、第一等，並許次年赴舉。 其學究，請並《周易》、《尚書》為一科，各對墨義三十道； 《毛詩》依舊為一科，亦對墨義六十道。 及第後，並減為七選集。 諸科舉人，第一場十否，殿五舉； 第二、第三場十否，殿三舉； 三場內有九否，殿一舉。 解試之官坐其罪。 進士請解，加試論一首，以五百言以上為準。」 奏可。
Liu Wensou was superintendent of the imperial examinations, but some of the candidates he selected failed re-examination; Yi was therefore made Vice Minister of Rites and given provisional charge of the examinations. Yi memorialized: "I ask that, in accordance with the regulation of the fifth year of Tianfu under Jin, the Mingjing and Youth examinations be abolished. For the jinshi examination, candidates must submit five scrolls or more, and must not include spirit-way stele inscriptions or the like. In the classic-text matching and meaning-explanation section, success in three sets constitutes a pass. All candidates are then tested again in full. Those who fail are divided into five grades: those whose language and reasoning are most confused are placed in the fifth grade and barred from five examinations. Next is the fourth grade, barred for three examinations. Those somewhat better, in descending order, are placed in the third, second, and first grades, and all are allowed to sit again the following year. For the Xuejiu scholars, I ask that the Book of Changes and the Book of Documents be combined into one category, each with thirty written meaning questions. The Book of Poetry is to remain a separate category, also with sixty written meaning questions. After passing, all are reduced to seven rounds of waiting for appointment. For candidates in the various examinations, ten failures in the first session bar one from five examinations. Ten failures in the second or third session bar one from three examinations. Nine failures across the three sessions bar one from one examination. The official who presided over the qualifying examination is punished according to the offense. For jinshi candidates seeking qualification, add one policy essay, with a minimum of five hundred characters." The memorial was approved.
31
俄以父病，上表解官。 世宗親加慰撫，手封金丹，俾賜其父。 父卒，歸葬洛陽。 詔賜錢三十萬，米麥三百斛。 終喪，召拜端明殿學士。 從征淮南，判行在三司，世宗以其餉饋不繼，將罪之，宰相范質救解得免。 淮南平，判河南府兼知西京留守事。 恭帝即位，遷兵部侍郎，充職。 俄使南唐，既至，將宣詔，會雨雪，李景請於廡下拜受，儀曰：「儀獲將國命，不敢失舊禮。 儻以沾服失容，請俟他日。」 景即拜命於庭。
Before long, on account of his father's illness, he submitted a memorial asking to be relieved of office. Emperor Shizong personally wrote words of consolation, sealed golden pills with his own hand, and ordered them sent to his father. When his father died, he returned home to bury him in Luoyang. An edict granted thirty thousand strings of cash and three hundred hu of grain. When his mourning was complete, he was summoned and appointed Academician of the Hall of Enduring Brightness. On the Huainan campaign he was put in charge of the field headquarters of the Three Departments. Because supplies failed to keep up, Emperor Shizong was about to punish him, but Chief Minister Fan Zhi interceded and he was spared. When Huainan was pacified, he was put in charge of Henan Prefecture and concurrently given authority over the western capital as acting regent. When Emperor Gong came to the throne, he was transferred to Vice Minister of War and continued in office. Before long he was sent as envoy to Southern Tang. After his arrival, just as he was about to proclaim the edict, snow and rain began to fall. Li Jing asked to receive it beneath the corridor, but Yi said: "I bear the command of the state and dare not depart from established ritual. If receiving it in wet garments would mar proper bearing, let us wait for another day." Li Jing then received the command in the courtyard.
32
建隆元年秋，遷工部尚書，罷學士，兼判大理寺。 奉詔重定《刑統》，為三十卷。 會翰林學士王著以酒失貶官，太祖謂宰相曰：「深嚴之地，當待宿儒處之。」 范質等對曰：「竇儀清介重厚，然已自翰林遷端明矣。」 太祖曰：「非斯人不可處禁中，卿當諭以朕意，勉令就職。」 即日再入翰林為學士。
In the autumn of the first year of Jianlong he was transferred to Minister of Works, relieved of his Hanlin post, and concurrently put in charge of the Court of Judicial Review. By imperial order he revised the Penal Code, producing a work of thirty scrolls. When Hanlin Academician Wang Zhu was demoted for a drunken offense, Taizu said to the chief ministers: "In so solemn a place, one ought to place a seasoned scholar." Fan Zhi and the others replied: "Dou Yi is upright, incorruptible, and weighty in character, but he has already moved from the Hanlin Academy to the Hall of Enduring Brightness." Taizu said: "No one but this man can occupy the forbidden precinct; you should convey my intent and earnestly urge him to take office." That same day he re-entered the Hanlin Academy as Academician.
33
乾德二年，范質等三相並罷。 越三日，始命趙普平章事。 制書既下，太祖問翰林學士曰：「質等已罷，普敕何官當署？」 承旨陶穀時任尚書，乃建議相位不可以久虛，今尚書乃南省六官之長，可以署敕。 儀曰：「穀所陳非承平之制，皇弟開封尹、同平章事，即宰相之任。」 太祖曰：「儀言是也。」 即命太宗署敕賜之。 俄加禮部尚書。
In the second year of Qiande, Fan Zhi and the other three chief ministers were all dismissed. Three days passed before Zhao Pu alone was appointed Grand Councilor. Once the appointment edict had been issued, Taizu asked the Hanlin academicians: "Fan Zhi and the others have already been dismissed — which office should sign Zhao Pu's appointment edict?" Tao Gu, the chief drafter who was then Minister of Works, argued that the chancellorship ought not stand empty for long—the Minister, as head of the six offices of the outer court, was fit to countersign imperial edicts. Dou Yi replied, "What Gu proposes is no institution for a time of peace. The Emperor's younger brother, Prefect of Kaifeng and Vice Grand Councilor—that is already the chancellor's office." Taizu said, "Yi is right." He at once ordered Taizong to countersign the edict and issue the appointment. Before long he was further appointed Minister of Rites.
34
時御史臺議，欲以左右僕射合為表首，太常禮院以東宮三師為表首。 儀援典故，以僕射合為表首者六，而謂三師無所據。 朝議是之。 四年秋，知貢舉。 是冬卒，年五十三，贈右僕射。
The Censorate then debated whether the Left and Right Vice Directors together should head official memorial rolls, while the Directorate of Ceremonies maintained that the Three Preceptors of the Eastern Palace should take precedence. Yi invoked precedent, noting six cases in which the Vice Directors jointly headed the rolls, and argued that the Three Preceptors had no documentary warrant. The court sided with him. In the autumn of the fourth year he was put in charge of the metropolitan examinations. He died that winter at fifty-three and was posthumously ennobled as Right Vice Director.
35
儀學問優博，風度峻整。 弟儼、侃、偁、僖，皆相繼登科。 馮道與禹鈞有舊，嘗贈詩，有「靈椿一株老，丹桂五枝芳」之句，縉紳多諷誦之，當時號為「竇氏五龍」。
Dou Yi was deeply learned and broad in scholarship, with a grave and commanding presence. His younger brothers Yan, Kan, Cheng, and Xi all passed the examinations, one after another. Feng Dao, who had long known Dou Yujun, once sent him a poem with the lines, "One sacred catalpa stands in age; five cassia branches flower in splendor." Courtiers recited it widely, and the brothers were known in their day as "the Five Dragons of the Dou Clan."
36
初，周祖平兗州，議將盡誅脅從者。 儀白馮道、范質，同請於周祖，皆得全活。 顯德中，太祖克滁州，世宗遣儀籍其府庫。 太祖復令親吏取藏中絹給麾下，儀曰：「太尉初下城，雖傾藏以給軍士，誰敢言者。 今既著籍，乃公帑物也，非詔不可取。」 後太祖屢對大臣稱儀有執守，欲相之。 趙普忌儀剛直，乃引薛居正參知政事。 及儀卒，太祖憫然謂左右曰：「天何奪我竇儀之速耶！」 蓋惜其未大用也。
Earlier, after the Zhou founder pacified Yanzhou, some proposed putting to death everyone who had been forced to follow the rebels. Dou Yi told Feng Dao and Fan Zhi, and together they petitioned the Zhou founder; all were spared. In the Xiande era, after Taizu took Chuzhou, Shizong dispatched Dou Yi to inventory the prefectural treasury. Taizu then ordered one of his personal clerks to take silk from the registered stores for his troops. Yi said, "When the Grand Marshal first entered the city, he might have emptied the treasury to pay the soldiers—and who would have dared object? But now that it has been entered in the books, it is public treasury property. Without an imperial order it cannot be taken." Afterward Taizu repeatedly told his ministers that Yi was a man of principle and intended to appoint him chancellor. Zhao Pu, resenting Yi's uncompromising honesty, instead brought Xue Juzheng in as Deputy Director of Affairs. When Yi died, Taizu said sadly to those around him, "Why does Heaven take Dou Yi from me so soon!" He grieved that Yi had never been given his full measure of use.
37
侃，漢乾佑初及第，至起居郎。 僖，周廣順初及第，至左補闕。
Kan passed the examination early in the Han dynasty's Gan-you era and rose as far as Attendant Gentleman. Xi passed in the early Zhou reign of Guang-shun and rose to Left Remonstrance Censor.
38
子諲、諹、誥，俱登進士第，諲至都官員外郎，諹至秘書丞。
His sons Shen, Yong, and Gao all passed the jinshi examination; Shen rose to Vice Director in the Bureau of Capital Administration, and Yong to Secretary Aide.
39
弟儼
Younger Brother: Yan
40
儼，字望之，幼能屬文。 既冠，舉晉天福六年進士，辟滑州從事。 府罷，授著作佐郎、集賢校理，出為天平軍掌書記，以母憂去職。 服除，拜左拾遺。 開運中，諸鎮恣用酷刑，儼上疏曰：「案名例律，死刑二，絞、斬之謂也。 絞者筋骨相連，斬者頭頸異處，大辟之目，不出兩端。 淫刑之興，近聞數等，蓋緣外地不守通規，或以長釘貫人手足，或以短刀臠人肌膚，遷延信宿，不令就死。 冤聲上達，和氣有傷，望加禁止。」 從之。
Yan, styled Wangzhi, could already write polished prose in boyhood. After reaching adulthood he passed the jinshi examination in Jin's sixth year of Tianfu and was appointed an aide in Hua Prefecture. When that prefectural post was abolished, he was made Assistant Editor and collator in the Academy of Scholarly Worthies, then served as secretary to the Tianping Army before resigning to mourn his mother. After the mourning period he was appointed Left Remonstrance and Memorial Writer. During the Kaiyun era, regional commanders freely inflicted cruel punishments. Yan submitted a memorial: "Under the statutes of nomenclature and precedent, there are only two capital punishments: strangulation and decapitation. Strangulation leaves sinew and bone still joined; decapitation separates head from neck. The supreme punishments extend no further than these two forms. Yet I have lately heard of several kinds of excessive punishment, mostly because distant regions ignore the standard code—driving long nails through hands and feet, or carving flesh with short knives, dragging out the torment over days and nights without permitting death. The cries of the wronged rise to Heaven, and the world's harmonious qi is wounded. I beg that such practices be forbidden." The court approved his request.
41
儼仕漢為史館修撰。 周廣順初，遷右補闕，與賈緯、王伸同修晉高祖、少帝、漢祖三朝實錄。 改主客員外郎、知制誥。 時儀自閤下入翰林，兄弟同日拜命，分居兩制，時人榮之。 俄加金部郎中，拜中書舍人。
Under the Later Han, Yan served as historiographer in the Historiography Institute. Early in the Zhou reign of Guang-shun he was promoted to Right Remonstrance Censor and, with Jia Wei and Wang Shen, compiled the Veritable Records of Jin Gaozu, Jin Shaodi, and the Han founder. He was then made Vice Director in the Bureau of Receiving Guests and charged with drafting imperial edicts. At that time Yi entered the Hanlin Academy from the inner secretariat, and the brothers were appointed on the same day to the two drafting offices—a distinction their contemporaries greatly admired. Before long he was further made Vice Director in the Bureau of Gold and appointed Secretariat Drafting Officer.
42
南征還。 詔儼考正雅樂，俄權知貢舉。 未幾，拜翰林學士，判太常寺。 儼校鍾磬筦龠之數，辨清濁上下之節，復舉律呂旋相為宮之法，迄今遵用。
He returned from the southern expedition. The throne ordered Yan to examine and correct the court music, and soon afterward he served as acting supervisor of the civil examinations. Not long after he was appointed Hanlin Academician and given concurrent charge of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Yan corrected the tuning of bells, chime-stones, pipes, and flutes, clarified the distinctions of clear and muddy pitch and of upper and lower registers, and restored the method by which the twelve pitch-pipes cyclically generate the modes—a system still followed in his day.
43
會詔中外臣僚，有所聞見，並許上章論議。 儼疏曰：「設官分職，授政任功，欲為政之有倫，在位官之無曠。 今朝廷多士，省寺華資，無事有員，十乃六七，止於計月待奉，計年待遷。 其中廉幹之人，不無愧恥之意。 如非歷試，何展公才。 請改兩畿諸縣令及外州府五千戶以上縣令為縣大夫，升為從五品下。 畿大夫見府尹如赤令之儀，其諸州府縣大夫見本部長如賓從之禮。 郎中、員外郎、起居、補闕、拾遺、侍御史、殿中侍御史、監察御史、光祿少卿以下四品，太常丞以下五品等，並得衣朱紫。 滿日，準在朝一任，約舊官遷二等。 自拾遺、監察除授回日，即為起居、侍御史、中行員外郎。 若前官不是三署，即罷後一年方得求仕。 如此，則士大夫足以陳力，賢不肖無以駕肩，各係否臧，明行黜陟，利民益國，斯實良規。」 又以為：「家國之方，守穀帛而已，二者不出國而出於民。 其道在天，其利在地，得其理者蕃阜，失其理者耗嗇。 民之顓蒙，宜有勸教。 請於《齊民要術》及《四時纂要》、《韋氏月錄》中，采其關於田蠶園囿之事，集為一卷，鏤板頒行，使之流布。」 疏奏不報。
An edict then invited officials throughout the court and the provinces to submit memorials on whatever they had observed or concluded. Yan submitted a memorial: "Offices are established and duties divided; power is delegated and achievement rewarded—the purpose is an ordered government and no idle post in the bureaucracy. Today the court is full of educated men, yet in the ministries and directorates six or seven out of ten holders of fine-sounding posts have nothing to do—they merely count months for their stipends and years until promotion. Even the honest and capable among them must feel ashamed. Without real trials of service, how can public talent ever be brought forth? I ask that magistrates of counties in the two metropolitan circuits, and of counties with more than five thousand households elsewhere, be renamed County Grandees and raised to lower fifth rank. Capital grandees would meet the prefect with the ceremony owed a chief magistrate; provincial grandees would meet their superiors with the formal courtesy of host and guest. Directors, vice directors, attendants, remonstrance censors, memorial writers, attending censors, palace censors, and investigatory censors, together with the Vice Minister of Imperial Household and all posts of fourth rank and below, and the Director of Ceremonies and all posts of fifth rank and below, would all be allowed to wear red and purple. On completing their term, they would count it as one full stint at court and be promoted roughly two ranks above their former office. From the day they returned after appointment from remonstrance or investigatory posts, they would advance to attendant, attending censor, or middle-rank vice director. If their previous post had not been in one of the Three Bureaus, they would have to wait a full year after leaving office before seeking appointment again. Thus the scholar-officials could truly exert themselves; worthy and unworthy men could no longer stand shoulder to shoulder; each would rise or fall by his own merit; promotion and demotion would be plain; the people would benefit and the state would gain. This would be a sound policy indeed." He also wrote: "The foundation of family and state is simply the safeguarding of grain and silk. Neither comes from the treasury; both come from the people. Their course depends on Heaven, their yield on the land. Where the principle is understood, plenty flourishes; where it is lost, scarcity and stinginess follow. The people are simple and uninstructed; they need encouragement and teaching. I ask that passages on farming, sericulture, gardens, and orchards be gathered from Essential Arts for the Common People, the Seasonal Compendium, and the Wei Clan Monthly Record, compiled into one volume, printed, and distributed widely." The memorial was submitted, but no answer came.
44
宋初，就轉禮部侍郎，代儀知貢舉。 當是時，祀事樂章、宗廟諡號多儼撰定，議者服其該博。 車駕征澤、潞，以疾不從。 卒，年四十二。
Early in the Song he was transferred directly to Vice Minister of Rites and took over from Yi as supervisor of the examinations. At that time many of the sacrificial hymns and temple posthumous titles were drafted by Yan, and critics admired the breadth of his learning. When the Emperor marched against Ze and Lu, Yan did not accompany the campaign because of illness. He died at forty-two.
45
儼性夷曠，好賢樂善，優遊策府凡十餘年。 所撰《周正樂》成一百二十卷，詔藏於史閣； 其《通禮》未及編纂而卒。 有文集七十卷。 儼與儀尤為才俊，對景覽古，皆形諷詠，更迭倡和至二百篇，多以道義相敦勵，並著集。
Yan was open and unhurried in temperament, loved worthies and delighted in good deeds, and passed more than ten leisurely years in the Academy archives. His Correct Music of Zhou, completed in one hundred and twenty volumes, was ordered stored in the historiography pavilion. His Comprehensive Rites he did not live to finish. He left collected writings in seventy volumes. Yan and Yi were especially gifted. Contemplating landscapes and antiquities, each turned what he saw into verse; they exchanged poems back and forth until they had more than two hundred pieces, mostly urging one another toward duty and integrity. Both left published collections.
46
儼顯德中奉使荊南。 荊南自唐季以來，高氏據有其地，雖名藩臣，車服多僭侈逾制，以至司賓賤隸、候館小胥，皆盛服彯纓，與王人亢禮。 儼諷以天子在上，諸侯當各守法度，悉令去之，然後宣達君命。
In the Xiande era Yan went on mission to Jingnan. Since late Tang the Gao clan had held Jingnan. Though nominally a vassal state, its carriages and robes often exceeded proper rank in lavish display—even guest officers, low attendants, and inn clerks wore splendid dress with tasseled caps and treated themselves as equals of the Emperor's envoys. Yan gently reminded them that with the Son of Heaven above, every lord should keep to his proper measure. He had all such excess stripped away, and only then delivered the imperial command.
47
尤善推步星曆，逆知吉凶。 盧多遜、楊徽之同任諫官，儼嘗謂之曰：「丁卯歲五星聚奎，自此天下太平，二拾遺見之，儼不與也。」 又曰：「儼家昆弟五人，皆登進士第，可謂盛矣，然無及相輔者，唯偁稍近之，亦不久居其位。」 卒如其言。 儼有子早卒，以侄說為嗣。
He was especially skilled in calendrical astronomy and could foretell fortune and misfortune. Lu Duoxun and Yang Huizhi were serving together as remonstrance officials when Yan told them, "In the dingmao year the five planets will gather at the Kui asterism, and from then peace will reign under Heaven. You two remonstrance officials will live to see it—I shall not." He also said, "The five brothers of our house have all passed the jinshi examination—a great honor. Yet none will rise to chancellor; only Cheng will come close, and even he will not long keep the post." In the end everything happened just as he had said. Yan's son died young, so he adopted his nephew Shuo as heir.
48
弟偁
Younger Brother: Cheng
49
偁，字日章，漢乾祐二年舉進士。 周廣順初，補單州軍事判官，遷秘書郎，出為絳州防禦判官。 宋初，歷武寧軍掌書記西京留守判官、天雄歸德軍節度判官。 開寶六年，拜右補闕、知宋州。 嘗作《遂命賦》以自悼。 太宗領開封尹，選偁判官。 時賈琰為推官，偁不樂其為人。 太宗嘗宴諸王，偁、琰與會，琰言矯誕，偁叱之曰：「巧言令色，心不獨愧乎。」 上愕然，因罷會，出偁為彰義軍節度判官。
Cheng, styled Rizhang, passed the jinshi examination in the second year of the Han reign of Gan-you. Early in the Zhou reign of Guang-shun he was made military judge of Shan Prefecture, promoted to Secretary, and later sent out as defense judge of Jiang Prefecture. Early in the Song he served in succession as secretary to the Wuning Army, judge to the Western Capital garrison commander, and judge on the staff of the Tianxiong-Guide military commissioner. In the sixth year of Kaibao he was appointed Right Remonstrance Censor and put in charge of Song Prefecture. He once wrote a rhapsody called "Following Fate" to mourn his own fortunes. When Taizong served as Prefect of Kaifeng, he selected Cheng as his administrative judge. At the time Jia Yan was the investigating officer, and Cheng took no pleasure in the man. Taizong once feasted the princes, with Cheng and Yan in attendance. Yan spoke in florid and exaggerated tones, and Cheng rebuked him: "Fine words and a pleasing face—does your heart feel no shame of its own?" The Emperor was startled, cut the feast short, and sent Cheng out as judge on the staff of the Zhangyi Army.
50
太平興國五年，車駕幸大名府，召至行在所，拜比部郎中。 時議北征，偁請休兵牧馬，以徐圖之，上從其言。 歸，以偁為樞密直學士，賜第一區。 六年，遷左諫議大夫，充職。
In the fifth year of Taiping Xingguo, when the Emperor visited Daming Prefecture, Cheng was summoned to the traveling palace and appointed Director in the Bureau of Finance. When a northern campaign was debated, Cheng urged resting the army and grazing the horses, taking a slower course toward victory, and the Emperor accepted his counsel. On returning, he made Cheng a Privy Council academician and granted him a first-rank residence. In the sixth year he was promoted to Left Remonstrance Grandee and continued in office.
51
七年，參知政事。 上謂偁曰：「汝何能臻此？」 偁曰：「陛下不忘舊臣。」 太宗曰：「非也，卿能以公正責賈琰，朕旌直臣爾。」 是秋卒，年五十八。 車駕臨哭，贈工部尚書。
In the seventh year he was made Deputy Director of Affairs. The Emperor asked Cheng, "How did you come to this?" Cheng replied, "Your Majesty has not forgotten an old servant." Taizong said, "No. You had the courage to rebuke Jia Yan with impartial justice. I am simply rewarding an upright minister—that is all." He died that autumn at fifty-eight. The Emperor came in person to mourn him and posthumously ennobled him as Minister of Works.
52
初，偁在涇州，與丁顥同官，顥子謂方幼，偁見之曰：「此兒必遠到。」 以女妻之。 後為宰相、三公。 太祖嘗謂宰相曰：「近朝卿士，竇儀質重嚴整，有家法，閨門敦睦，人無讕語，諸弟不能及。 僖亦中人材爾，偁有操尚，可嘉也。」
Earlier, while Cheng was serving in Jing Prefecture alongside Ding Hao, Hao's son Wei was still a boy. Cheng saw him and said, "This child will go far." He gave him his daughter in marriage. He later served as Grand Chancellor and one of the Three Dukes. Taizu once told the chief ministers: "Among recent court officials, Dou Yi is grave, dignified, and orderly; he keeps strict household rules; harmony reigns within his gates; no one speaks ill of him—none of his younger brothers can match him. Xi is also of middling talent, but Cheng is said to have integrity and high principles, which is commendable. Xi is only of middling talent, but Cheng is said to have integrity and high principles, which is commendable."
53
呂餘慶
Lu Yuqing
54
呂餘慶，幽州安次人，本名胤，犯太祖偏諱，因以字行。 祖兗，橫海軍節度判官。 父琦，晉兵部侍郎。 餘慶以蔭補千牛備身，歷開封府參軍，遷戶曹掾。 晉少帝弟重睿領忠武軍節度，以餘慶為推官。 仕漢歷周，遷濮州錄事參軍。 太祖領同州節制，聞餘慶有材，奏為從事。 世宗問曰：「得非嘗為濮州糾曹者乎？」 即以為定國軍掌書記。 世宗嘗鎮澶淵，濮為屬郡，故知其為人也。
Lu Yuqing, a native of Anci in Youzhou, was originally named Yin; because this violated a partial taboo of Taizu's name, he went by his courtesy name instead. His grandfather Yan served as administrative aide to the military governor of the Henghai Army. His father Qi served as Vice Minister of Personnel under Jin. Yuqing entered office through yin privilege as a Palace Guard attendant, served as an aide in Kaifeng Prefecture, and was promoted to bureau assistant in the Households Section. When Chong Rui, the younger brother of Jin's Emperor Shaodi, held the military governorship of the Zhongwu Army, Yuqing was made push officer on his staff. Serving through Han and into Zhou, he was promoted to recording aide in Puzhou. When Taizu held the military governorship of Tong Prefecture and heard that Yuqing had talent, he memorialized to appoint him a staff officer. Shizong asked, "Is this not the man who once served as investigating clerk in Puzhou?" He then appointed him chief secretary of the Dingguo Army. Shizong had once governed at Chanyuan, and since Pu was a subordinate prefecture, he already knew the man.
55
蜀平，命知成都府。 時盜賊四起，軍士恃功驕恣，大將王全斌等不能戢下。 一日，藥市始集，街吏馳報有軍校被酒持刃奪賈人物。 餘慶立捕斬之以徇，軍中畏伏，民用按堵。 就加吏部侍郎。 歸朝，兼劍南、荊南等道都提舉、三司水陸發運等使。 開寶六年，與宰相更知政事印，旋以疾上表求解機務，拜尚書左丞。 九年，卒，年五十。 贈鎮南軍節度。
When Shu was pacified, he was ordered to govern Chengdu Prefecture. At the time bandits rose everywhere; soldiers, relying on their achievements, grew arrogant and unbridled, and the generals Wang Quanbin and others could not restrain their subordinates. One day, as the medicine market was just opening, a street clerk rushed to report that a military officer, drunk and wielding a blade, was seizing merchants' goods. Yuqing at once had him seized and executed as a public warning; the army feared and submitted, and the people lived in peace. He was thereupon additionally appointed Vice Minister of Personnel. On returning to court, he also served as overall commissioner for the Jiannan, Jingnan, and other circuits, and as commissioner for the Three Departments' land and water transport. In the sixth year of Kaibao he alternated with the Grand Chancellor in holding the seal of state affairs; shortly afterward he submitted a memorial citing illness to request release from urgent duties and was appointed Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. In the ninth year he died at fifty. He was posthumously enfeoffed as military governor of the Zhennan Army.
56
餘慶重厚簡易，自太祖繼領藩鎮，餘慶為元僚。 及受禪，趙普、李處耘皆先進用，餘慶恬不為意。 未幾，處耘黜守淄州，餘慶自江陵還，太祖委曲問處耘事，餘慶以理辨釋，上以為實，遂命參知政事。 會趙普忤旨，左右爭傾普，餘慶獨辨明之，太祖意稍解，時稱其長者。 至道中，以弟端為宰相，特詔贈侍中。
Yuqing was steady, grave, and unpretentious; from the time Taizu successively held frontier commands, Yuqing was his chief aide. When the throne was received, Zhao Pu and Li Chuyun were both promoted first, but Yuqing remained calmly unconcerned. Before long Chuyun was demoted to govern Zizhou. Yuqing returned from Jiangling, and Taizu questioned him in detail about Chuyun's affair. Yuqing explained it on rational grounds; the Emperor found his account credible and thereupon appointed him Deputy Director of Affairs. When Zhao Pu ran afoul of the imperial will, those at court vied to bring him down, but Yuqing alone spoke in his defense. Taizu's mind eased somewhat, and contemporaries praised him as a man of mature judgment. In the Zhidao era, because his younger brother Duan became Grand Chancellor, he was specially enfeoffed by edict as Palace Attendant.
57
劉熙古
Liu Xigu
58
劉熙古，字義淳，宋州寧陵人，唐左僕射仁軌十一世孫。 祖寶進，嘗為汝陰令。 熙古年十五，通《易》、《詩》、《書》； 十九，通《春秋》、子、史。 避祖諱，不舉進士。 後唐長興中，以《三傳》舉。 時翰林學士和凝掌貢舉，熙古獻《春秋極論》二篇、《演論》三篇，凝甚加賞，召與進士試，擢第，遂館於門下。
Liu Xigu, courtesy name Yichun, was a native of Ningling in Songzhou and an eleventh-generation descendant of Tang's Left Vice Director Ren'gui. His grandfather Baojin had once served as magistrate of Ruyin. At fifteen Xigu had mastered the Changes, Odes, and Documents; at nineteen he had mastered the Spring and Autumn Annals, the Masters, and histories. Avoiding his grandfather's taboo name, he did not take the jinshi examination. In the Changxing era of Later Tang he was nominated on the Three Commentaries. At the time Hanlin Academician He Ning oversaw the examinations. Xigu submitted two chapters of "Ultimate Discourse on the Spring and Autumn" and three chapters of "Extended Discourse." Ning greatly admired them, summoned him to take the jinshi examination with the others, and he passed—then took residence in Ning's household.
59
清泰中，驍將孫鐸以戰功授金州防禦使，表熙古為從事。 晉天福初，鐸移汝州，又辟以隨。 熙古善騎射，一日，有鶚集戟門槐樹，高八尺，鐸惡之，投以瓦石不去，熙古引弓一發，貫鶚於樹。 鐸喜，令勿拔矢，以旌其能。 後二歲，鐸卒，調補下邑令。 俄為三司戶部出使巡官，領永興、渭橋、華州諸倉制置發運。 仕漢，為盧氏令。 周廣順中，改亳州防禦推官，歷澶州支使。 秦、鳳平，以為秦州觀察判官。
In the Qingtai era the fierce general Sun Duo, for battle merit, was made defense commissioner of Jin Prefecture and memorialized for Xigu to serve as staff officer. Early in the Jin reign of Tianfu, Duo was transferred to Ru Prefecture and again recruited Xigu to accompany him. Xigu was skilled at horsemanship and archery. One day an osprey alighted on a pagoda-tree at the halberd gate, eight feet high. Duo disliked it and threw tiles and stones, but it would not leave. Xigu drew his bow and in one shot pinned the osprey to the tree. Duo was pleased and ordered that the arrow not be removed, to honor his skill. Two years later Duo died, and Xigu was transferred to fill a post as magistrate of a lower county. Shortly afterward he became inspection touring officer of the Three Departments' Households Bureau, overseeing the warehouses and transport arrangements at Yongxing, Weiqiao, Hua Prefecture, and elsewhere. Serving Han, he became magistrate of Lu County. In the Zhou reign of Guangshun he was made push officer of the Bozhou defense command, then served as branch commissioner of Cao Prefecture. When Qin and Feng were pacified, he was made administrative aide of the Qinzhou observation commission.
60
熙古兼通陰陽象緯之術，作《續聿斯歌》一卷、《六壬釋卦序例》一卷。 性淳謹，雖顯貴不改寒素。 歷官十八，登朝三十餘年，未嘗有過。 嘗集古今事跡為《歷代紀要》十五卷。 頗精小學，作《切韻拾玉》二篇，摹刻以獻，詔付國子監頒行之。 子蒙正、蒙叟。
Xigu was also versed in yin-yang, astral omens, and the weft texts; he wrote one scroll of "Continued Yusi Song" and one scroll of "Preface and Examples for Interpreting Hexagrams in the Six Ren." By nature he was pure and careful; though he rose to high rank he did not change his frugal ways. He held eighteen offices and attended court for more than thirty years without ever committing an offense. He once compiled events from antiquity to his own time into "Essentials of Successive Ages" in fifteen scrolls. He was quite skilled in philology and wrote two chapters of "Gathering Jade from the Cut Rhymes," which he had carved and presented; an edict ordered the Directorate of Education to promulgate it. His sons were Mengzheng and Mengsou.
61
子蒙正
Son: Mengzheng
62
蒙正，字頤正，善騎射。 乾德中，以蔭補殿直，遷供奉官。 王師征江南，命乘傳軍中承奉事。 盧絳以舟師來援潤州，蒙正白部署丁德裕，請分精甲百人，出與絳戰，矢中左肋，戰愈力。 及下潤州，獲知州劉澄、監軍崔亮，部送闕下。
Mengzheng, courtesy name Yizheng, was skilled at horsemanship and archery. In the Qiande era he entered office through yin privilege as a palace guard and was promoted to tribute commissioner. When the imperial army campaigned against Jiangnan, he was ordered to travel post-haste in the army on supply and service duties. Lu Jiang came with a naval force to relieve Runzhou. Mengzheng informed the deployment commander Ding Deyu, asked to take a hundred picked troops to fight Jiang, was struck in the left rib by an arrow, and fought all the harder. When Runzhou fell, they captured Prefect Liu Cheng and army inspector Cui Liang and escorted them to the capital.
63
嶺南陸運香藥入京，詔蒙正往規畫。 蒙正請自廣、韶江溯流至南雄； 由大庾嶺步運至南安軍，凡三鋪，鋪給卒三十人； 復由水路輸送。
Fragrant medicinals from Lingnan were transported overland to the capital, and Mengzheng was ordered to go and plan the route. Mengzheng proposed going up the Guang and Shao rivers to Nanxiong; then overland by the Dayu Range to Nan'an Army—a total of three relay stations, each staffed with thirty men; and finally delivery again by water route.
64
又掌朝服法物庫，會重製繡衣、鹵簿，多其規式。 太平興國四年，轉內藏庫副使，進崇儀使。 自創內藏庫，即詔蒙正典領，凡二十餘年。
He also managed the court-robes and regalia store; when embroidered robes and imperial escort banners were remade on a large scale, he greatly expanded their specifications. In the fourth year of Taiping Xingguo he was transferred to deputy commissioner of the Inner Storehouse and promoted to commissioner of the Honored Rites Office. From the founding of the Inner Storehouse he was at once ordered to direct it—for more than twenty years in all.
65
真宗初，改如京使，出知滄、冀、磁三州。 戎人犯境，蒙正調丁男乘城固守，有勞。 未幾，以擅乘驛馬，責授亳州團練副使。 咸平四年，卒，年七十二。
Early in Zhenzong's reign he was made palace envoy for capital missions and sent out to govern the three prefectures of Cang, Ji, and Ci. When border tribes invaded, Mengzheng mobilized adult males to man the walls and hold firm, and he earned merit. Before long, for unauthorized use of post horses, he was demoted to deputy training commissioner of Bozhou. In the fourth year of Xianping he died at seventy-two.
66
子蒙叟
Son: Mengsou
67
蒙叟，字道民，乾德中，進士甲科。 歷岳、宿二州推官，以所知論薦，授太子中允、知乾興，拜監察御史，徙知濟州。 俄以秦王子德恭判州事，就命為通判，郡事皆決於蒙叟。 遷右補闕，轉起居舍人、戶部鹽鐵判官。 再遷屯田郎中，歷知廬、濠、滁、汝四州，遷都官。
Mengsou, courtesy name Daomin, passed the jinshi examination in the highest category in the Qiande era. He served as push officer in Yue and Su prefectures; through nominations by those who knew him he was appointed Assistant in the Eastern Palace, made prefect of Qianxing, promoted to investigating censor, and transferred to govern Ji Prefecture. Shortly afterward, because Zidegong, Prince of Qin, was assigned to supervise prefectural affairs, Mengsou was at once appointed vice prefect, and all prefectural business was decided by Mengsou. He was promoted to Right Remonstrance Officer, then transferred to Diarist of Attendance and Salt-and-Iron Commissioner in the Ministry of Revenue. Promoted again to Director in the Bureau of Public Works, he governed in succession Lu, Hao, Chu, and Ru prefectures, and was promoted to Director of the Bureau of Justice.
68
咸平中，上疏曰：「陛下已周諒闇，方勤萬務，望崇儉德、守前規，無自矜能，無作奢縱，厚三軍之賜，輕萬姓之徭，使化育被於生靈，聲教加於中外。 且萬國已觀其始，惟陛下慎守其終，思鮮克之言，戒性習之漸，則天下幸甚。」 上嘉之，以本官直史館。
In the Xianping era he submitted a memorial, saying: "Your Majesty has completed the mourning period and now diligently attends to myriad state affairs. I hope you will honor frugal virtue and keep to former regulations: do not pride yourself on your abilities, do not indulge in extravagance and license; enrich the rewards of the Three Armies and lighten the corvée burdens of the myriad people, so that transforming nurture reaches all living beings and imperial instruction extends within and without. Moreover, the myriad states have already seen the beginning—may Your Majesty carefully guard the end; reflect on the words that few attain completion, and guard against the gradual growth of ingrained habits—then the realm would be greatly blessed." The Emperor praised this and, in his current office, made him a compiler in the Historical Archives.
69
車駕北巡，令知中宮名。 表獻《宋都賦》，述國家受命建號之地，宜建都，立宗廟。 時雖未遑，後卒從之。 會詔直史館，各獻舊文，以蒙叟所著為嘉，改職方郎中。 景德中，以足疾，拜太常少卿致仕。 卒，年七十三。
When the imperial carriage toured the north, he was ordered to oversee inner-palace affairs. He submitted a memorial presenting "Rhapsody on the Song Capital," describing the place where the state received the Mandate and established its name and arguing that it should be made the capital and imperial ancestral temples built there. Though there was no time for this then, the court eventually followed his advice. When an edict called on those in the Historical Archives to submit former writings, Mengsou's work was judged excellent and he was made Director in the Bureau of Appointments. In the Jingde era, because of illness in the feet, he was appointed Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and retired. He died at seventy-three.
70
蒙叟好學，善屬辭，著《五運甲子編年曆》三卷。 子宗儒，太子中書； 宗弼、宗誨，並進士及第。
Mengsou loved learning and was skilled at literary composition; he wrote "Chronological Calendar of the Five Movements and the Sexagenary Cycle" in three scrolls. His son Zongru was Attendant in the Eastern Palace Chancery; Zongbi and Zonghui both passed the jinshi examination.
71
石熙載
Shi Xizai
72
太平興國四年，親征河東，以給事中充樞密副使從行，還，遷刑部侍郎。 五年，拜戶部尚書、樞密使，以病足在告，寢疾久之未愈。 八年，上表求解職，詔加慰撫，授尚書右僕射。 九年，卒，年五十七。 贈侍中，諡元懿。 上為悲歎累日，且謂其事君之心，純正無他，適當委用，而奄忽至此，深為可惜。 國朝大臣謝事而卒，車駕臨視者，唯熙載焉。
In the fourth year of Taiping Xingguo, when the Emperor personally campaigned against Hedong, he served as Giving Affairs Attendant and Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs accompanying the expedition; on return he was promoted to Vice Minister of Punishments. In the fifth year he was appointed Minister of Revenue and Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs; because of illness in the foot he took leave, and his illness long lingered without cure. In the eighth year he submitted a memorial requesting resignation from office; the Emperor issued added consolation and granted him Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. In the ninth year he died at fifty-seven. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Palace Attendant, with posthumous title Yuan Yi. The Emperor mourned and sighed for many days, saying that Xizai's heart in serving his ruler was pure and single-minded, without other motives; he had been just the man to entrust with employment, yet had suddenly come to this—the loss was deeply regrettable. Among great ministers of the dynasty who retired from office and then died, the imperial carriage came in person to pay its respects only in Xizai's case.
73
熙載性忠實，遇事盡言，是非好惡，無所顧避。 人有善，即推薦之，時論稱其長者。 初，遊學時，為養負米。 嘗行嵩陽道中，遇一叟，熟視熙載曰：「真人將興，子當居輔弼之位。」 言訖不見。 及居太宗幕下，頗盡誠節。 典樞務日，上眷注甚篤，方將倚以為相，俄遘疾不起。
Xizai was loyal and honest by nature; in affairs he spoke fully, and in right and wrong, likes and dislikes, he looked to nothing and held back from nothing. When others had virtue he at once recommended them; contemporaries praised him as a man of mature judgment. Early on, while traveling to study, he carried rice on his back to support his parents. Once on the road at Songyang he met an old man who looked closely at Xizai and said, "The True Man is about to rise; you will hold the position of chief minister." When he finished speaking he was seen no more. When he later served under Taizong's command, he fully devoted himself in loyalty and integrity. While directing the Bureau of Military Affairs, he enjoyed the emperor's deepest trust and was on the verge of being made chief minister, when he suddenly fell gravely ill and never recovered.
74
熙載事繼母牛氏以孝聞。 弟熙導，牛氏前夫子，隨母歸石氏。 以熙載故，奏補殿直。 從弟熙古、幼弟熙政，皆登進士第，熙載撫之如一。 熙載卒時，子中孚、中立皆幼，熙政患熙導以異姓居己上，乃詐傳上旨，令己籍熙導家財，由是交訟。 有司歸罪熙導，上召問中孚、中立，令有司再鞫得實。 熙導還本姓，中孚亦養子勿問，熙政坐除名。 上素知熙載以母故，育熙導甚厚，雖令還宗，而不奪其官，復以財產量給之。
Xizai was renowned for the filial devotion with which he cared for his stepmother, Lady Niu. His younger brother Xidao was Lady Niu's son from her previous marriage; he came into the Shi family with his mother. On Xizai's recommendation, he was memorialized for appointment as a palace attendant. His cousins Xigu and his youngest brother Xizheng both passed the jinshi examinations, and Xizai raised them all with equal care. When Xizai died, his sons Zhongfu and Zhongli were still young. Xizheng resented that Xidao, though of a different surname, outranked him, so he forged an imperial order and had Xidao's family property seized for inventory, sparking a bitter lawsuit between them. The authorities blamed Xidao, but the emperor summoned Zhongfu and Zhongli for questioning and ordered a fresh investigation that uncovered the truth. Xidao was restored to his birth surname; Zhongfu, as an adopted son, was not held accountable; and Xizheng was stripped of his official rank. The emperor had long known that Xizai, out of devotion to his mother, had raised Xidao with great generosity. Though he ordered Xidao restored to his birth clan, he did not strip him of his office and allotted him a share of the family property.
75
咸平二年八月，熙載配饗太宗廟庭。 熙政後至供備庫副使。 中孚至尚書虞部員外郎，子行簡，大中祥符進士。
In the eighth month of the second year of Xianping, Xizai was enshrined for joint sacrifice in the temple of Emperor Taizong. Xizheng later rose to Vice Commissioner of the Commissary Depot. Zhongfu rose to Vice Director of the Ministry of Works in the Secretariat; his son Xingjian passed the jinshi examination in the Dazhong Xiangfu era.
76
子中立
His son Zhongli
77
中立，字表臣，年十三而孤。 性疏曠，好諧謔，人不以為怒。 初補西頭供奉官，後五年，改光祿寺丞。 家財悉推與諸父，無所愛。 擢直集賢院，與李宗諤、楊億、劉筠、陳越相厚善。 校讎秘書，凡更中立者，人皆傳之。 判三司理欠、憑由司。
Zhongli, courtesy name Biaochen, lost his father at thirteen. Easygoing by nature, he loved wit and banter, yet no one ever took offense. He first entered service as a Western Palace Attendant; five years later he was made Director of the Directorate of Foodstuffs. He gave all the family wealth to his uncles, keeping nothing for himself. He was appointed to the Academy of Scholarly Worthies, where he formed close friendships with Li Zong'e, Yang Yi, Liu Jun, and Chen Yue. When collating secretarial texts, any passage he revised was eagerly copied and passed around. He was put in charge of the Three Departments' offices for collecting arrears and managing warrants.
78
帝幸亳，命修所過圖經。 為鹽鐵判官，累遷尚書禮部侍郎，判吏部南曹。 注釋御集，為檢閱官。 改判戶部勾院，遷戶部郎中、史館修撰，糾察在京刑獄。 以吏部郎中、知制誥領審官院。 又同知禮部貢舉，判集賢院。 坐舉官不當，落史館修撰，罷審官院。 頃之，復糾察刑獄，領三班院。 歷右諫議大夫、給事中，入為翰林學士，判秘閣。 知制誥並知貢舉，詔中立與張觀兼行外制，遷尚書禮部侍郎，為學士承旨兼龍圖閣學士。 景佑四年，拜參知政事。 明年，災異數見，諫官韓琦言：「中立在位，喜詼笑，非大臣體。」 與王隨、陳堯佐、韓億皆罷，以戶部侍郎為資政殿學士，領通進銀臺司，判尚書都省，進大學士。 遷吏部侍郎、提舉祥源觀，以太子少傅致仕，遷少師。 卒，贈太子太傅，諡文定。
When the emperor visited Bozhou, he was ordered to compile a gazetteer of the imperial route. He served as Salt and Iron Commissioner, rose to Vice Minister of Rites, and supervised the southern bureau of the Ministry of Personnel. He annotated the imperial collected works and served as a proofreading official. He was transferred to supervise the Ministry of Revenue's clearing office, promoted to Director of the Revenue Bureau and History Office compiler, and given charge of investigating capital criminal cases. As Director of the Personnel Bureau and drafter of edicts, he also headed the Bureau for Reviewing Appointments. He also co-managed the Ministry of Rites examinations and directed the Academy of Scholarly Worthies. For improperly recommending an official, he was stripped of his History Office compiler title and removed from the Bureau for Reviewing Appointments. Before long he was again charged with investigating capital criminal cases and given charge of the Three Ranks Bureau. He rose through Right Remonstrance Counselor and Drafting Attendant of the Secretariat, entered the Hanlin Academy, and directed the Secret Archive. As drafter of edicts he also managed the examinations; the court ordered Zhongli and Zhang Guan jointly to handle external edicts. He was promoted to Vice Minister of Rites, made Senior Academician, and also appointed Dragon Hall Academician. In the fourth year of Jingyou he was appointed Vice Grand Councilor. The following year, as portents and anomalies appeared one after another, Remonstrance Official Han Qi said: "Zhongli in office delights in jesting and laughter — this is not the bearing of a great minister." He was dismissed together with Wang Sui, Chen Yaozhuo, and Han Yi, and with the rank of Vice Minister of Revenue was made Academician of the Hall for Cultivating Talent, put in charge of the Directorate for Presentation of Memorials, given supervision of the Secretariat Directorate, and promoted to Grand Academician. He was transferred to Vice Minister of Personnel and put in charge of the Xiangyuan Shrine, retired as Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent, and was promoted to Junior Preceptor. Upon his death he was posthumously granted Senior Preceptor to the Heir Apparent, with the posthumous name Wendi.
79
中立練習臺閣故事，不汲汲近名。 喜賓客，客至必與飲酒，醉乃得去。 初，家產歲入百萬錢，末年費幾盡。 帝聞其病，賜白金三百兩。 既死，其家至不能辦喪。 子居簡，至太子中允、集賢校理。
Zhongli was thoroughly versed in palace and archive precedents and never eagerly pursued fame. He loved entertaining guests; whenever they came he insisted on drinking with them, and none could leave until he was thoroughly drunk. At first his household drew an annual income of a million cash; by his later years he had spent nearly all of it. When the emperor heard he was ill, he granted him three hundred taels of silver. After his death his family could not even afford to arrange the funeral. His son Jujian rose to Vice Director of the Eastern Palace and proofreader in the Academy of Scholarly Worthies.
80
李穆，字孟雍，開封府陽武人。 父咸秩，陝西大都督府司馬。 穆幼能屬文，有至行。 行路得遺物，必訪主歸之。 從酸棗王昭素受《易》及《莊》、《老》書，盡究其義。 昭素謂曰：「子所得皆精理，往往出吾意表。」 且語人曰：「李生異日必為廊廟器。」 以所著《易論》三十三篇授之。
Li Mu, courtesy name Mengyong, was a native of Yangwu in Kaifeng Prefecture. His father Xianzhi served as Military Administrator of the Great Protectorate in Shaanxi. From youth Mu could compose prose and possessed the highest moral character. Whenever he found something lost on the road, he always tracked down the owner and returned it. He studied the Book of Changes, the Zhuangzi, and the Laozi under Wang Zhaosu of Suozao, probing their meaning to the fullest. Wang Zhaosu told him: "Everything you have grasped is refined principle, often beyond anything I anticipated." He also told others: "This young Li will surely become a pillar of the state one day." He then bequeathed to him his thirty-three essays on the Changes.
81
周顯德初，以進士為郢、汝二州從事，遷右拾遺。 宋初，以殿中侍御史選為洋州通判。 既至，剖決滯訟，無留獄焉。 移陝州通判，有司調郡租輸河南，穆以本鎮軍食闕，不即應命，坐免。 又坐舉官，削前資。 時弟肅為博州從事，穆將母就肅居，雖貧甚，兄弟相與講學，意泊如也。
In early Xiande of the Later Zhou, after passing the jinshi examination he served as aide in Ying and Ru prefectures and was promoted to Right Remonstrator. At the founding of the Song, as Palace Vice Censor he was selected as Military Commissioner of Yang Prefecture. Once he arrived, he cleared the backlog of lawsuits, leaving no case undecided. He was transferred to Military Commissioner of Shaan Prefecture. When the authorities ordered county rents shipped to Henan, Mu, noting that local military provisions were short, did not comply at once and was dismissed. He was again punished for an improper recommendation and stripped of his prior rank. At that time his younger brother Su was aide in Bo Prefecture; Mu moved with his mother to join Su. Though desperately poor, the brothers studied together in tranquil contentment.
82
開寶五年，以太子中允召。 明年，拜左拾遺、知制誥。 五代以還，詞令尚華靡，至穆而獨用雅正，悉矯其弊。 穆與盧多遜為同門生，太祖嘗謂多遜：「李穆性仁善，辭學之外無所豫。」 對曰：「穆操行端直，臨事不以生死易節，仁而有勇者也。」 上曰：「誠如是，吾當用之。」 時將有事江南，已部分諸將，而未有發兵之端。 乃先召李煜入朝，以穆為使。 穆至諭旨，煜辭以疾，且言：「事大朝以望全濟，今若此，有死而已。」 穆曰：「朝與否，國主自處之。 然朝廷甲兵精銳，物力雄富，恐不易當其鋒，宜熟思之，無自貽後悔。」 使還，具言狀，上以為所諭要切。 江南亦謂其言誠實。
In the fifth year of Kaibao he was summoned to serve as Vice Director of the Eastern Palace. The following year he was appointed Left Remonstrator and drafter of edicts. Since the Five Dynasties, edicts had favored ornate language; Mu alone wrote in refined, correct prose and wholly corrected the abuse. Mu and Lu Duosun had been classmates. Taizu once said to Duosun: "Li Mu is benevolent by nature; apart from letters he has no other interests." Duosun replied: "Mu's conduct is upright; in critical affairs he will not trade his integrity for life or death — a man both benevolent and courageous." The emperor said: "If that is truly so, I shall employ him." At that time the court planned action against Jiangnan; the generals had already been deployed, but no pretext for launching troops had yet been found. The court therefore first summoned Li Yu to court and appointed Mu as envoy. When Mu arrived and delivered the imperial message, Yu declined on grounds of illness and said: "Serving the great court, I had hoped to be preserved whole; if it comes to this, I can only accept death." Mu said: "Whether to attend court is for Your Majesty to decide. Yet the court's armor and troops are sharp and elite, its resources abundant and strong; I fear you will not easily withstand their edge. Think carefully, and do not bring regret upon yourself." When Mu returned, he reported everything in full; the emperor found his counsel urgent and essential. Jiangnan, too, regarded his words as sincere.
83
太平興國初，轉左補闕。 三年冬，加史館修撰、判館事，面賜金紫。 四年，從征太原還，拜中書舍人。 預修《太祖實錄》，賜衣帶、銀器、繒彩。 七年，以與盧多遜款狎，又為秦王廷美草朝辭笏記，為言者所劾，責授司封員外郎。
At the opening of the Taiping Xingguo era he was transferred to Left Supplementation Officer. In the winter of the third year he was additionally made History Office compiler and director of office affairs, and received the gold-and-purple insignia in person. In the fourth year, after returning from the Taiyuan campaign, he was appointed Attendant of the Central Secretariat. He helped compile the Veritable Records of Emperor Taizu and was granted robes, belt, silver vessels, and silk brocade. In the seventh year, for his close relations with Lu Duosun and for drafting Prince Qin's court farewell memorial, he was impeached by critics and demoted to Vice Director of the Seals Bureau.
84
八年春，與宋白等同知貢舉，及侍上御崇政殿親試進士，上憫其顏貌臒瘁，即日復拜中書舍人、史館修撰、判館事。 五月，召為翰林學士。 六月，知開封府，剖判精敏，奸猾無所假貸，由是豪右屏跡，權貴無敢干以私，上益知其才。 十一月，擢拜左諫議大夫、參知政事。 月餘，丁母憂，未幾，起復本官。 穆三上表乞終制，詔強起之，穆益哀毀盡禮。 九年正月，晨起將朝，風眩暴卒，年五十七。
In the spring of the eighth year, as he co-managed the examinations with Song Bai and others and attended the emperor's personal jinshi examination in Chongzheng Hall, the emperor, pitying his haggard appearance, that same day restored him as Attendant of the Central Secretariat, History Office compiler, and director of office affairs. In the fifth month he was summoned to the Hanlin Academy. In the sixth month he was made Prefect of Kaifeng. His judgments were sharp and keen, and the cunning found no quarter; powerful families vanished from sight, and the nobility dared not interfere for private ends. The emperor came to know his talent ever more fully. In the eleventh month he was promoted to Left Remonstrance Counselor and Vice Grand Councilor. A little over a month later he entered mourning for his mother; before long he was recalled to his original post. Mu three times memorialized begging to complete his mourning; an edict forcibly recalled him, yet he grieved ever more deeply and observed every rite with utmost devotion. In the first month of the ninth year, as he rose to attend court in the morning, he suffered a sudden dizzy collapse and died at fifty-seven.
85
穆自責授員外郎，復中書舍人，入翰林，參知政事，以至於卒，不及周歲。 上聞其死，哭謂近臣曰：「穆國之良臣，朕方倚用，遽茲淪沒，非斯人之不幸，乃朕之不幸也。」 贈工部尚書。
From his demotion to Vice Director through restoration as Attendant of the Central Secretariat, entry into the Hanlin Academy, and appointment as Vice Grand Councilor until his death, less than a full year had passed. When the emperor heard of his death, he wept and told his close ministers: "Mu was a fine minister of the state; I was just about to rely on him when he suddenly fell and perished. This is not his misfortune — it is mine." He was posthumously granted Vice Minister of Works.
86
穆性至孝，母嘗臥疾，每動止轉側，皆親自扶掖，乃稱母意。 初，穆坐秦王事屬吏，其子惟簡紿祖母以穆奉詔鞫獄臺中。 及責授為省郎，還家，亦不以白母。 每隔日，陽為入直，即訪親友，或遊僧寺。 免歸，暨於牽復，母終弗之知。 及居喪，思慕以至滅性。
Mu was utterly filial by nature. When his mother lay ill, he personally supported her at every movement and turn in bed until she was content. When Mu was first implicated in Prince Qin's affair by subordinate officials, his son Weijian deceived his grandmother, telling her that Mu had been ordered to investigate a case at the prison office. When he was demoted to a provincial official and returned home, he still did not tell his mother. Every other day he pretended to report for regular duty while in fact visiting friends and relatives or wandering Buddhist temples. From dismissal through recall and restoration to office, his mother never knew. In mourning, his grief was so consuming that it nearly destroyed him.
87
穆善篆隸，又工畫，常晦其事。 質厚忠恪，謹言慎行，所為純至，無有矯飾。 深信釋典，善談名理，接引後進，多所薦達。 尤寬厚，家人未嘗見其喜慍。 所著文章，隨即毀之，多不留稿。
Mu was skilled in seal and clerical script and also adept at painting, yet he usually kept these talents hidden. Sincere, steadfast, loyal, and devoted, cautious in speech and careful in action, his conduct was utterly genuine, without a trace of affectation. He deeply believed the Buddhist scriptures, was adept at discussing Buddhist principles, guided younger men, and recommended many to advancement. He was especially generous and magnanimous; his family never once saw him show joy or anger. He destroyed his written compositions as soon as they were finished; he kept almost no drafts.
88
子惟簡
His son Weijian
89
子惟簡，以父任將作監丞，多才藝，性冲澹，不樂仕進。 去官家居三十餘年，人多稱之。 真宗素聞其有履行，景德三年，詔授惟簡子郯將作監主簿。 大中祥符七年冬，召惟簡入對，特拜太子中允致仕，後加太常丞。 天禧四年，卒，賜其家錢十萬，仍給郯月奉終制。 郯後為太子中舍。
Weijian, appointed through his father's office as Director of the Directorate of Imperial Construction, was multitalented, calm and detached by nature, and took no pleasure in official advancement. After leaving office he lived at home for more than thirty years, and many people praised him. Emperor Zhenzong had long heard of his integrity; in the third year of Jingde an edict granted Weijian's son Tan the post of Chief Clerk of the Directorate of Imperial Construction. In the winter of the seventh year of Dazhong Xiangfu, Weijian was summoned for audience and was specially appointed Vice Director of the Eastern Palace with retirement; later he was additionally made Director of Imperial Sacrifices. In the fourth year of Tianxi he died; the court granted his family one hundred thousand cash and continued Tan's monthly salary until mourning was complete. Tan later rose to Vice Director of the Eastern Palace.
90
弟肅
His younger brother Su
91
肅，字季雍，七歲誦書知大義，十歲為詩，往往有警語。 舉進士，登甲科。 性嗜酒。 歷濮、博二州從事，遷保靜軍節度推官。 詔方下，一夕與親友會飲，酣寢而卒，年三十三。 嘗作《大宋樂章》九首，取九成、九夏之義，以頌國家盛德，其文甚工。 又作《代周顒答北山移文》、《吊幽憂子文》、《病雞賦》，意皆有所規焉。
Su, courtesy name Jiyong, at seven could recite the classics and grasp their meaning; at ten he wrote poetry, often with striking lines. He passed the jinshi examination in the top category. By nature he was fond of wine. He served successively as aide in Pu and Bo prefectures and was transferred to military commissioner aide at Baojing Army. The edict had just been issued when one evening, after feasting with friends and relatives, he fell into drunken sleep and died at thirty-three. He once composed Great Song Hymns in nine pieces, invoking the Nine Accomplishments and Nine Summer rituals to praise the state's flourishing virtue; the writing was very fine. He also wrote Reply to Zhou Yong on Behalf of Bei Mountain, Elegy for You-you-zi, and Lament for the Ailing Cock — each intended as a work of admonition.
92
論曰：張昭居五季之末，專以典章撰述為事，博洽文史，旁通治亂，君違必諫，時君雖嘉尚之而不能從。 宋興，敦獎碩儒，多所詢訪，庶幾獲稽古之效矣。 竇氏弟昆以儒學進，並馳時望。 儀之剛方清介，有應務之才，將試大用而遽淪亡。 儼優遊文藝，修起禮樂。 太宗尹京，偁實元僚，冲淡回翔，晚著忠讜。 若其門族宦業之盛，世或以為陰德之報，其亦義方之效也。 餘慶當太祖居潛，歷任幕府，名亞趙普、李處耘； 及二人登用，一不介意，其後相繼為眾所傾，乃能為之辯釋。 熙古居大任，自處如寒素。 熙載立朝，言無顧避，喜薦善人。 穆以文學孝行見稱於時。 數賢雖當創業之始，而進退之際，藹然承平多士之風焉，宜宋治之日進於盛也。
The commentary says: At the end of the Five Dynasties, Zhang Zhao devoted himself solely to drafting institutions and composing texts. Widely versed in literature and history and thoroughly acquainted with governance and disorder, he remonstrated whenever a ruler went astray; yet though the rulers of his day praised and honored him, they could not follow his counsel. When the Song rose, it earnestly rewarded great scholars and consulted them widely, almost achieving the effect of grounding policy in antiquity. The Dou brothers Yi and Kun rose through Confucian learning and together enjoyed the renown of the age. Yi was firm, upright, and incorruptible, with a talent for practical affairs; he was on the verge of great appointment when he suddenly died. Yan moved gracefully through literary pursuits and helped restore rites and music. When Taizong governed the capital, he called Yan a true original aide; moving calmly through office, in his later years he showed loyal candor. As for the flourishing official careers of their clan, the world sometimes took it as repayment of hidden virtue — the fruit, too, of righteous family teaching. When Taizu was still in concealment, Yuqing served successively in staff offices, his standing below Zhao Pu and Li Chuyun. When the two were elevated to power he did not mind at all; later, when they were successively brought down by public opinion, he was able to speak in their defense. Xigu bore great responsibility yet lived as simply as a poor scholar. Xizai spoke in court without hesitation and delighted in recommending worthy men. Mu was praised in his time for his literary learning and filial conduct. These worthy men, though they lived at the dynasty's founding, carried themselves in advancement and retreat with the serene grace of scholars in a peaceful age — fitting harbingers of a Song order that daily grew toward greatness.