1
薛居正
Xue Juzheng
2
薛居正，字子平，開封浚儀人。 父仁謙，周太子賓客。 居正少好學，有大志。 清泰初，舉進士不第，為《遣愁文》以自解，寓意倜儻，識者以為有公輔之量。 逾年，登第。
Xue Juzheng, courtesy name Ziping, was a native of Junyi in Kaifeng. His father Renqian had served as a guest of the crown prince under the Later Zhou. In his youth Juzheng loved learning and cherished lofty ambitions. In the early Qingtai era he failed the jinshi examination and wrote an "Essay to Dispel Melancholy" to console himself. Its spirit was bold and unconventional, and those who knew him took this as a sign that he had the makings of a chief minister. The following year he passed the examination.
3
晉天福中，華帥劉遂凝辟為從事。 遂凝兄遂清領邦計，奏署鹽鐵巡官。 開運初，改度支推官。 宰相李崧領鹽鐵，又奏署推官，加大理寺直，遷右拾遺。 桑維翰為開封府尹，奏署判官。
During the Tianfu era of the Later Jin, Liu Suing, military governor of Hua, recruited him as a staff officer. Suing's elder brother Suiqing, who oversaw state finances, had him appointed salt-and-iron patrol officer on memorial. At the start of the Kaiyun era he was transferred to investigator in the Revenue Section. Chief Minister Li Song, who also oversaw salt and iron affairs, again had him appointed investigator and promoted to direct clerk of the Court of Judicial Review, then transferred him to the post of right remonstrance-reminder. When Sang Weihan became prefect of Kaifeng, he had Juzheng appointed as a judicial officer in the prefectural administration.
4
漢乾祐初，史弘肇領侍衛親軍，威權震主，殘忍自恣，無敢忤其意者。 其部下吏告民犯鹽禁，法當死。 獄將決，居正疑其不實，召詰之，乃吏與民有私憾，因誣之，逮吏鞫之，具伏抵法。 弘肇雖怒甚，亦無以屈。 周廣順初，遷比部員外郎，領三司推官，旋知制誥。 周祖征兗州，詔居正從行，以勞加都官郎中。 顯德三年，遷左諫議大夫，擢弘文館學士，判館事。 六年，使滄州定民租。 未幾，以材幹聞於朝，擢刑部侍郎，判吏部銓。
In the early Qianyou era of the Later Han, Shi Hongzhao commanded the personal guard army. His power overshadowed the throne, he was cruel and arbitrary, and no one dared defy him. One of his subordinate clerks reported that a commoner had violated the salt monopoly; the penalty was death. When the case was about to be decided, Juzheng suspected the charge was false. He summoned the accused and questioned him, learning that the clerk bore a private grudge and had framed him. Juzheng arrested the clerk, interrogated him until he confessed fully, and had him punished according to law. Though Hongzhao was furious, he could not make Juzheng yield. In the early Guangshun era of the Later Zhou he was promoted to vice director in the Ministry of Revenue, served concurrently as chief investigator of the Three Departments, and soon became a drafter of imperial edicts. When the Zhou founder campaigned against Yanzhou, Juzheng was ordered to accompany him and, for his service, was promoted to director in the Ministry of Justice. In the third year of Xiande he was made left remonstrance and policy adviser, appointed academician of the Hongwen Hall, and placed in charge of its affairs. In the sixth year he was dispatched to Cangzhou to fix the people's land tax assessments. Before long his ability became known at court, and he was promoted to vice minister of justice with concurrent charge of the Ministry of Personnel's selection board.
5
宋初，遷戶部侍郎。 太祖親征李筠及李重進，並判留司三司，俄出知許州。 建隆三年，入為樞密直學士，權知貢舉。 初平湖湘，以居正知朗州。 會亡卒數千人聚山澤為盜，監軍使疑城中僧千餘人皆其黨，議欲盡捕誅之。 居正以計緩其事，因率眾剪滅群寇，擒賊帥汪端，詰之，僧皆不預，賴以全活。
At the founding of the Song he was promoted to vice minister of revenue. When Taizu personally campaigned against Li Jin and Li Chongjin, Juzheng was left in charge of the Three Departments at the capital; soon afterward he was sent out as prefect of Xuzhou. In the third year of Jianlong he returned to the capital as academician of the Bureau of Military Affairs and was given provisional charge of the civil-service examinations. When the lake and Xiang region were first pacified, Juzheng was appointed prefect of Langzhou. At the time several thousand discharged soldiers had gathered in the hills and marshes as bandits. The military supervisor suspected that more than a thousand monks in the city were all their accomplices and proposed arresting and executing every one of them. Juzheng used a stratagem to delay the massacre, then led troops to destroy the bandit bands, captured their leader Wang Duan, and questioned him. The monks had taken no part, and so they were spared.
6
乾德初，加兵部侍郎。 車駕將親征太原，大發民饋運。 時河南府饑，逃亡者四萬家，上憂之，命居正馳傳招集，浹旬間民盡復業。 以本官參知政事。 五年，加吏部侍郎。 開寶五年，兼淮南、湖南、嶺南等道都提舉三司水陸發運使事，又兼判門下侍郎，監修國史； 又監修《五代史》，逾年畢，錫以器幣。 六年，拜門下侍郎、平章事。 八年二月，上謂居正等曰：“年穀方登，庶物豐盛，若非上天垂祐，何以及斯。 所宜共思濟物，或有闕政，當與振舉，以成朕志。 ”居正等益修政事，以副上意焉。
In the early Qiande era he was promoted to vice minister of war. As the emperor was about to campaign personally against Taiyuan, the people were mobilized on a vast scale to transport supplies. Henan prefecture was then suffering famine, and forty thousand households had fled. The emperor was troubled and ordered Juzheng to travel post-haste to summon them back; within ten days the people had all returned to their occupations. He was appointed participant in governance while retaining his existing rank. In the fifth year he was given the additional title of vice minister of personnel. In the fifth year of Kaibao he was given overall charge of water-and-land transport for Huainan, Hunan, Lingnan, and other circuits, and concurrently served as vice director of the Chancellery and supervisor of the national history; he also supervised compilation of the History of the Five Dynasties. When it was finished the following year, he was rewarded with ritual vessels and silks. In the sixth year he was appointed vice director of the Chancellery and grand councilor. In the second month of the eighth year the emperor said to Juzheng and the others, "The harvest has just been gathered in and all things are abundant. Had Heaven not shown its favor, how could we have reached this point? You should together consider how to benefit the people. Where government falls short, you should raise and remedy it to fulfill my intent." Juzheng and the others thereupon redoubled their efforts in government to meet the emperor's wishes.
7
太平興國初，加左僕射、昭文館大學士。 從平晉陽還，進位司空。 因服丹砂遇毒，方奏事，覺疾作，遽出。 至殿門外，飲水升餘，堂吏掖歸中書，已不能言，但指廡間儲水器。 左右取水至，不能飲，偃閣中，吐氣如煙焰，輿歸私第卒，六年六月也，年七十。 贈太尉、中書令，諡文惠。
At the beginning of Taiping Xingguo he was promoted to left vice director and grand academician of the Zhaowen Hall. After returning from the pacification of Jinyang, he was advanced to minister of works. Having taken cinnabar and suffered poisoning, he was in the middle of presenting business when he felt illness strike and hurried out. Reaching the outer hall gate he drank more than a sheng of water. A clerk of the hall supported him back to the Secretariat, but he could no longer speak and only pointed to the water vessels stored in the corridor. Attendants brought water, but he could not drink. He collapsed in the pavilion, his breath rising like smoke and flame. He was carried home in a litter and died there in the sixth month of the sixth year, at the age of seventy. He was posthumously honored as grand marshal and director of the Secretariat, with the posthumous name Wenhui.
8
居正氣貌瑰偉，飲酒至數斗不亂。 性孝行純，居家儉約。 為相任寬簡，不好苛察，士君子以此多之。 自參政至為相，凡十八年，恩遇始終不替。
Juzheng had a magnificent and imposing presence and could drink several dou of wine without losing his composure. By nature he was filial and upright in conduct, and he lived frugally at home. As chief minister he was lenient and unpretentious and disliked harsh scrutiny; for this the gentry greatly esteemed him. From his appointment as participant in governance until his death as chief minister, a span of eighteen years, imperial favor toward him never waned.
9
先是，太祖嘗謂居正曰：“自古為君者鮮克正己，為臣者多無遠略，雖居顯位，不能垂名後代，而身陷不義，子孫罹殃，蓋君臣之道有所未盡。 吾觀唐太宗受人諫疏，直詆其非而不恥。 以朕所見，不若自不為之，使人無異詞。 又觀古之人臣多不終始，能保全而享厚福者，由忠正也。 ”開寶中，居正與沈倫並為相，盧多遜參知政事，九年冬，多遜亦為平章事。 及居正卒，而沈倫責授，多遜南流，論者以居正守道蒙福，果符太祖之言。
Earlier Taizu had once told Juzheng, "Since antiquity few rulers have been able to correct themselves, and most ministers lack far-reaching vision. Though they hold high office, they cannot leave their names to posterity, yet fall into unrighteousness and bring calamity on their descendants—because the bond between ruler and minister has not been fully honored. I see that Emperor Taizong of Tang accepted remonstrance memorials that directly denounced his faults without shame. In my view, it is better simply not to do wrong in the first place, so that no one has cause to speak against you. I also observe that most ministers of old did not see things through to the end; those who preserved themselves and enjoyed lasting good fortune did so through loyalty and rectitude." During the Kaibao era Juzheng and Shen Lun served together as chief ministers while Lu Duoxun was participant in governance; in the winter of the ninth year Duoxun also became grand councilor. When Juzheng died, Shen Lun was demoted by reassignment and Duoxun was banished to the south. Commentators held that Juzheng, by keeping to the Way, had received its reward—exactly as Taizu had foretold.
10
居正好讀書，為文落筆不能自休。 子惟吉集為三十卷上之，賜名《文惠集》。 咸平二年，詔以居正配饗太祖廟庭。
Juzheng loved reading, and when he wrote his brush would not stop of its own accord. His son Weiji collected his writings into thirty juan and presented them to the throne, which granted the collection the title Collected Works of Wenhui. In the second year of Xianping an edict ordered that Juzheng receive paired sacrifice in Taizu's temple court.
11
子惟吉
Son: Weiji
12
惟吉，字世康，居正假子也。 居正妻妒悍，無子，婢妾皆不得侍側，故養惟吉，愛之甚篤。 少有勇力，形質魁岸，與京師少年追逐，角抵蹴踘，縱酒不謹。 雅好音樂，嘗與伶人遊，居正不能知。 蔭補右千牛衛備身，歷太子通奉舍人，改西頭供奉官。
Weiji, courtesy name Shikang, was Juzheng's adopted son. Juzheng's wife was jealous and overbearing. She bore no sons and would not allow maidservants or concubines near her husband, so he adopted Weiji and loved him devotedly. In youth he was strong and bold, with a towering build. He ran with the young men of the capital, wrestling and playing cuju, and drank without restraint. He was fond of music and once kept company with actors, of which Juzheng remained unaware. By hereditary privilege he was appointed attendant of the Right Palace Guard, served as attendant for presentation to the crown prince, and was later transferred to attendant of the western headquarters.
13
淳化五年，秦州溫仲舒以伐木為蕃戶攘奪，驅其部落徙居渭北，頗致騷動。 詔擇守臣安撫之，乃命惟吉與仲舒對易其任。 未幾，遷左領軍衛大將軍。 至道二年，移知延州，未行，卒，年四十二。
In the fifth year of Chunhua, Wen Zhongshu of Qinzhou, whose logging had provoked raids by Tangut households, drove their tribes to relocate north of the Wei River, causing considerable unrest. An edict ordered that a suitable frontier official be chosen to pacify the region, and Weiji was appointed to exchange posts with Zhongshu. Before long he was promoted to great general of the Left Army Guard. In the second year of Zhidao he was appointed prefect of Yanzhou, but died before taking up the post, at the age of forty-two.
14
惟吉既知非改過，能折節下士，輕財好施，所至有能聲。 然御家無法，及其死，家人爭財致訟，妻子辨對於公庭云。
Once he recognized his faults and reformed, Weiji could humble himself before scholars, was generous with wealth, and wherever he served earned a reputation for ability. Yet he had no discipline in managing his household. After his death his family fought over his property in lawsuits, and wife and children argued their cases in open court.
15
沈倫，字順儀，開封太康人。 舊名義倫，以與太宗名下字同，止名倫。 少習《三禮》於嵩、洛間，以講學自給。 漢乾祐中，白文珂鎮陝，倫往依之。
Shen Lun, courtesy name Shunyi, was a native of Taikang in Kaifeng. His original name was Yilun; because it shared a character with Taizong's taboo name, he was called only Lun. In youth he studied the Three Rites in the Song and Luo region and supported himself by teaching. During the Qianyou era of the Later Han, when Bai Wenke governed Shaan, Lun went to serve under him.
16
周顯德初，太祖領同州節度，宣徽使昝居潤與倫厚善，薦於太祖，留幕府。 太祖繼領滑、許、宋三鎮，皆署從事，掌留後財貨，以廉聞。 及受周禪，自宋州觀察推官召為戶部郎中。 奉使吳越歸，奏便宜十數事，皆從之。 道出揚、泗，屬歲饑，民多死，郡長吏白於倫曰：“郡中軍儲尚百餘萬斛，倘貸於民，至秋復收新粟，如此則公私俱利，非公言不可。 ”還具以白。 朝論沮之曰：“今以軍儲振饑民，若薦饑無徵，孰任其咎？ ”太祖以問，倫曰：“國家以廩粟濟民，自當召和氣，致豐稔，豈復有水旱耶？ 此當決於宸衷。 ”太祖即命發廩貸民。
In the early Xiande era, when Taizu held the Tongzhou command, Palace Commissioner Zan Jurun, who was on close terms with Lun, recommended him to Taizu, who retained him on his staff. When Taizu successively held the commands of Hua, Xu, and Song, Lun served on his staff in each, managing the regent's finances, and became known for integrity. When Taizu received the Zhou abdication, Lun was summoned from investigating officer of Song prefecture to director in the Ministry of Revenue. Returning from a mission to Wuyue, he memorialized more than a dozen practical proposals, all of which were adopted. Passing through Yang and Si, he found famine abroad and many dead. The chief officials of the commandery told him, "Military stores in the commandery still exceed a million hu. If we lend grain to the people and collect the new harvest in autumn, both public and private interests will be served. This cannot be done without your support. "On his return he reported the proposal fully to the throne. Court discussion opposed it, saying, "If we use military stores to relieve the starving and famine returns year after year with no repayment, who will bear the blame? "Taizu asked Lun, who replied, "When the state uses granary grain to aid the people, it should naturally summon harmonious qi and bring abundant harvests. How could flood and drought return? This should be decided by Your Majesty's own judgment." Taizu at once ordered the granaries opened to lend grain to the people.
17
建隆三年，遷給事中。 明年春，為陝西轉運使。 王師伐蜀，用為隨軍水陸轉運使。 先是，王全斌、崔彥進之入成都也，競取民家玉帛子女，倫獨居佛寺疏食，有以珍異奇巧物為獻者，倫皆拒之。 東歸，篋中所有，才圖書數卷而已。 太祖知之，遂貶全斌等，以倫為戶部侍郎、樞密副使。 親征太原，領大內都部署、判留司三司事。
In the third year of Jianlong he was promoted to attendant within the palace. The following spring he was appointed transport commissioner of Shaanxi. When the imperial army campaigned against Shu, he was appointed water-and-land transport commissioner accompanying the army. Earlier, when Wang Quanbin and Cui Yanjin entered Chengdu, they competed to seize jade, silks, and women from the populace. Lun alone lived in a Buddhist temple on plain food, and when people offered him rare or ingenious treasures, he refused them all. Returning east, all he carried in his baggage were a few rolls of books. When Taizu learned of this, he demoted Quanbin and the others and appointed Lun vice minister of revenue and vice commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. On the campaign against Taiyuan he was left in overall charge of the inner palace and the Three Departments at the capital.
18
先是，倫第庳陋，處之晏如。 時權要多冒禁市巨木秦、隴間，以營私宅，及事敗露，皆自啟於上前。 倫亦嘗為母市木營佛舍，因奏其事。 太祖笑謂曰：“爾非逾矩者。 ”知其未葺居第，因遣中使按圖督工為治之。 倫私告使者，願得制度狹小，使者以聞，上亦不違其志。
Earlier Lun's house had been low and shabby, yet he lived in it with perfect ease. At the time many powerful officials had illicitly purchased huge timber in the Qin and Long region to build private residences. When the matter was exposed, they all reported themselves to the emperor. Lun too had once purchased timber for his mother to build a Buddhist chapel and memorialized the matter himself. Taizu smiled and said, "You are not one who oversteps the bounds. "Knowing that he had not yet built a proper residence, Taizu sent a palace envoy with plans to supervise construction of one for him. Lun privately asked the envoy to keep the house small and modest. When the envoy reported this, the emperor did not go against his wish.
19
開寶二年，丁母憂，起復視事。 六年，拜中書侍郎、平章事、集賢殿大學士兼提舉荊南、劍南水陸發運事。 雩祀西洛，以倫留守東京兼大內都部署。 俄召赴行在，令預大禮。
In the second year of Kaibao he entered mourning for his mother and was recalled from mourning to resume office. In the sixth year he was appointed vice director of the Secretariat, grand councilor, and grand academician of the Jixian Hall, with concurrent charge of water-and-land transport for Jingnan and Jiannan. When the emperor performed the rain-prayer sacrifice in western Luo, Lun was left to guard the eastern capital with overall charge of the inner palace. Soon afterward he was summoned to the traveling palace to take part in the great ceremony.
20
太平興國初，加右僕射兼門下侍郎，監修國史。 親征太原，復以倫為留守、判開封府事。 師還，加左僕射。 五年，史官李昉、扈蒙撰《太祖實錄》五十卷，倫為監修以獻，賜襲衣、金帶。 六年，加開府儀同三司。 是歲疾作，自是多請告。
At the beginning of Taiping Xingguo he was promoted to right vice director with concurrent appointment as vice director of the Chancellery and supervisor of the national history. On the campaign against Taiyuan he was again left as regent and placed in charge of Kaifeng prefectural affairs. When the army returned he was promoted to left vice director. In the fifth year the historiographers Li Fang and Hu Meng compiled fifty juan of the Veritable Records of Taizu. Lun supervised the work and presented it to the throne, receiving ceremonial robes and a gold belt in reward. In the sixth year he was given the honorary rank of commissioner with the ceremony of the three excellencies. That year he fell ill and thereafter often requested leave from office.
21
盧多遜事將發，倫已上表求致仕。 明年多遜敗，以倫與之同列，不能覺察，詔加切責，降授工部尚書。 其子都官員外郎繼宗，本由父蔭，不宜更在朝行，可落班簿。 時倫病不能興，上表謝。 未幾，倫再奉章乞骸骨，復授左僕射致仕。 上以倫國初舊臣，遽復繼宗官以慰其心。 雍熙四年，卒，年七十九。 贈侍中。
When Lu Duoxun's affair was about to break, Lun had already submitted a memorial requesting retirement. The following year, when Duoxun fell, Lun was sharply rebuked by edict for having served as his colleague without detecting his conduct, and was demoted to minister of works. His son Jizong, vice director in the Ministry of Justice, had entered office through his father's privilege and was removed from the court roster. Lun was then too ill to rise and submitted a memorial of thanks. Before long Lun again petitioned to retire, and was restored to the rank of left vice director with permission to retire. Because Lun was an old minister from the founding of the dynasty, the emperor quickly restored Jizong's office to comfort him. In the fourth year of Yongxi he died at the age of seventy-nine. He was posthumously honored as palace attendant.
22
倫清介醇謹，車駕每出，多令居守。 好釋氏，信因果。 嘗盛夏坐室中，恣蚊蚋噆其膚，童子秉箑至，輒叱之，冀以徼福。 在相位日，值歲饑，鄉人假粟者皆與之，殆至千斛，歲餘盡焚其券。
Lun was pure, upright, and scrupulously cautious. Whenever the emperor traveled, Lun was usually left to guard the capital. He favored Buddhism and believed in karmic retribution. Once in midsummer he sat in his room and let mosquitoes bite his skin freely. When a boy came with a fan he always scolded him away, hoping thereby to gain merit. While he served as chief minister, during a famine he lent grain to fellow townsmen who asked, nearly a thousand hu in all. More than a year later he burned all their IOUs.
23
微時娶閻氏，無子，妾田氏生繼宗。 及貴，閻以封邑固讓田，倫乃為閻治第太康，田遂為正室，搢紳非之。
In his early days he married a woman of the Yan clan, who bore no sons. His concubine of the Tian clan bore Jizong. When he rose to high office, Yan firmly yielded her noble fief to Tian. Lun built a residence for Yan in Taikang, and Tian became his principal wife—a move the gentry disapproved.
24
初，有司議諡倫曰恭惠，繼宗上言曰：“亡父始從冠歲，即事儒業，未遑從賊，遽赴賓招，叨遇明時，陟於相位。 伏見國朝故相，薛居正諡‘文惠’，王溥諡‘文獻’，此雖近制，實為典常。 若以臣父起家不由文學，即嘗歷集賢、修史之職，伏請改諡曰‘文’。”
Earlier the relevant offices had proposed the posthumous name Gonghui for Lun. Jizong submitted a statement saying, "My late father from youth devoted himself to Confucian studies, never had leisure to follow rebels, and promptly answered the call to office. He undeservedly met a bright age and rose to chief minister. I observe that former chief ministers of our dynasty, Xue Juzheng with the posthumous name Wenhui and Wang Pu with Wenxian—though recent precedent, are established custom. If my father's rise was not through literary studies, he nevertheless once held posts in the Jixian Hall and in compiling history. I humbly request that his posthumous name be changed to Wen."
25
判太常禮儀院趙昂、判考功張洎駁曰：“沈倫逮事兩朝，早升台弼，有祗畏謹守之美，有矜恤周濟之心。 案《諡法》：不懈於位，與夫謹事奉上、執事堅固、執禮御賓、率事以信、接下不驕、能遠恥辱、賢而不伐、尊賢貴讓、愛民長悌、不懈為德、既過能改，數者皆謂之‘恭’。 又云：慈民好與，與夫柔質慈民、愛民好柔、寬裕不苛、和質受諫，數者皆謂之‘惠’。 由漢以來，皆為美諡。 如唐相溫彥博之出納明允，止諡曰‘恭’； 竇易直之公舉無避，乃諡曰‘恭惠’。 而沈倫備位台衡，出於際會，徒能謹飭以自保全，以‘恭’配‘惠’，厥美居多。 又按《諡法》：道德博聞曰‘文’，忠信接禮曰‘文’，寬不慢、廉不劌曰‘文’，堅強不暴曰‘文’，敏而好學、不恥下問曰‘文’，德美才秀曰‘文’，修治班製曰‘文’。 昔張說之諡文正，楊綰之諡文簡，人不謂然。 蓋行義有所未充，雖蒙特賜，誠非至公。 若夫大臣子孫，許其為父陳請，則曲臺、考功之司為虛器，而彰善癉惡之義微矣。 繼宗以其父曾任集賢殿學士及監修國史之職，輒引薛居正、王溥為比，則彼皆奮跡辭場，曆典誥命，以‘文’為諡，允合國章。 至於集賢、國史，皆宰相兼領之任，非必由文雅而登。 其沈倫諡，伏望如故。 ”從之。
Zhao Ang of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and Zhang Ji of the Board of Merit rebutted, saying, "Shen Lun served two dynasties and rose early to chief minister. He showed reverent caution in office and a compassionate heart toward those in need. According to the Canon of Posthumous Names, the following merit the name Gong: not slack in office; reverently serving the sovereign; firm in conduct; upholding ritual toward guests; leading affairs with faith; receiving subordinates without arrogance; keeping distant from shame; being worthy without boasting; honoring the worthy and valuing yielding; loving the people and long in fraternal duty; unslackening in virtue; and reforming after fault. It also says that the name Hui applies to one who is compassionate toward the people and fond of giving; gentle in nature and compassionate toward the people; loving the people and fond of gentleness; generous and not harsh; and harmonious in nature and accepting remonstrance. From the Han onward these have all been honored posthumous names. For example the Tang chief minister Wen Yanbo, whose receipts and disbursements were clear and fair, received only the posthumous name Gong; while Dou Yizhi, whose public recommendations were without favoritism, received Gonghui. Shen Lun merely filled the chief minister's place and rose by timely chance. He could only be careful and restrained to preserve himself. Pairing Gong with Hui suits him well. Again according to the Canon of Posthumous Names, Wen applies to one who is broad in virtue and learning; loyal and faithful in ritual conduct; broad without arrogance and incorrupt without harshness; firm and strong without violence; keen and fond of learning and not ashamed to ask those below; beautiful in virtue and outstanding in talent; or skilled in ordering court ranks and regulations. Formerly Zhang Yue received the posthumous name Wenzheng and Yang Guan Wenzian, and people did not consider this justified. Their conduct and righteousness had not been fully fulfilled. Though they received the honored grant, it was not fully fair. If great ministers' sons are allowed to plead on their fathers' behalf, the offices of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and the Board of Merit become empty formalities, and the purpose of displaying good and condemning evil is weakened. Jizong, because his father once held posts in the Jixian Hall and as supervisor of the national history, rashly cited Xue Juzheng and Wang Pu as comparisons. Yet they both rose through the literary arena and presided over edicts and commands. For them the posthumous name Wen accorded with national regulations. As for the Jixian Hall and the national history, these are posts concurrently held by chief ministers and need not be attained through literary refinement. As for Shen Lun's posthumous name, I humbly hope it may remain as proposed. The court followed their recommendation.
26
子繼宗
Son: Jizong
27
繼宗，字世卿，倫為樞密副使，以蔭補西頭供奉官。 倫作相，授水部員外郎，加朝散大夫。 遷都官、職方，知浚儀縣，轉屯田郎中，出知單州。 代歸，命使京東計度財賦。 濮州土貢銀，課民織造，不折省稅； 鄆州節度配屬縣納藥物，皆為民病。 繼宗歸，歷言於上以除其弊。 至道末，領淮南轉運使。
Jizong, courtesy name Shiqing, entered office by privilege as attendant of the western headquarters when his father was vice commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. When Lun became chief minister, Jizong was appointed vice director in the Ministry of Works and given the additional title of grandee of palace attendance. He served in the Ministries of Justice and of Personnel, as magistrate of Junyi county, then as director in the Ministry of Public Works, and was sent out as prefect of Danzhou. When his replacement arrived he was ordered to survey revenues in the eastern capital circuit. In Puzhou the local tribute of silver required the people to weave and manufacture it without deduction from provincial tax; and the Yanzhou military commission assigned subordinate counties to deliver medicines—all burdens on the people. On his return Jizong reported these abuses fully to the throne, which abolished them. At the end of the Zhidao era he headed the Huainan transport commission.
28
繼宗貴家子，倦於從吏，既因疾，以將作少監致仕。 東封歲，求扈從，復授職方郎中。 禮畢，改太僕少卿、判吏部南曹，遷光祿少卿、判三司三勾院。
Jizong, a son of a noble house, grew weary of official service. When illness came he retired as vice director of the Directorate of Palace Buildings. In the year of the eastern feng sacrifice he asked to accompany the entourage and was again appointed director in the Ministry of Personnel. When the rites were completed he was made vice director of the Court of the Imperial Stud with charge of the southern bureau of the Ministry of Personnel, then promoted to vice director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments with charge of the Three Departments' three audit bureaus.
29
繼宗善營產業，厚於養生，不飲酒，不嗜音律，而喜接賓客，終日宴集無倦。 大中祥符五年，卒，年五十五。 前後錄其子惟溫、惟清、惟恭，並為將作監主簿。 惟溫後至秘書丞； 惟清娶密王女宜都縣主，至內殿承制。
Jizong was skilled at managing property and lavish in caring for his health. He did not drink wine or love music, yet delighted in entertaining guests and feasted all day without tiring. In the fifth year of Dazhong Xiangfu he died at the age of fifty-five. His sons Weiwen, Weiqing, and Weigong were recorded in turn, all as chief clerks of the Directorate of Palace Buildings. Weiwen later rose to assistant director of the Secretariat; Weiqing married the Princess of Yidu, daughter of Prince Mi, and rose to drafter of the inner palace.
30
盧多遜父億
Lu Duoxun; Father: Yi
31
盧多遜，懷州河內人。 曾祖得一、祖貞啟皆為邑宰。 父億，字子元，少篤學，以孝悌聞。 舉明經，調補新鄉主簿。 秩滿，復試進士，校書郎、集賢校理。 晉天福中，遷著作佐郎，出為鄆州觀察支使。 節帥杜重威驕蹇黷貨，幕府賄賂公行，唯億清介自持。 會景延廣鎮天平，表億掌書記； 留守西洛，又表為判官。 時國用窘乏，取民財以助軍，河南府計出二十萬緡，延廣欲並緣以圖羨利，增為三十七萬緡。 億諫曰：“公位兼將相，既富且貴。 今國帑空竭，不得已而取貲於民，公何忍利之乎？ ”延廣慚而止。
Lu Duoxun was a native of Henei in Huaizhou. His great-grandfather Deyi and grandfather Zhenqi both served as district magistrates. His father Yi, courtesy name Ziyuan, devoted himself to learning in youth and was known for filial piety and brotherly duty. He passed the mingjing examination and was appointed chief clerk of Xinxiang. When his term expired he again tested for the jinshi degree and became collator and collating editor of the Jixian collection. During the Tianfu era of the Later Jin he was promoted to assistant gentleman of the Secretariat and sent out as investigating officer of the Yanzhou observation commission. The military commissioner Du Chongwei was arrogant, obstinate, and corrupt, and bribes ran openly through his staff, but Yi alone remained pure and upright. When Jing Yanguang governed Tianping he had Yi appointed head of secretarial records; and when he remained to guard western Luo, he again had Yi appointed as his judge. State finances were then strained and wealth was taken from the people to aid the army. Henan prefecture was assessed twenty thousand strings of cash, but Yanguang sought surplus profit and increased the levy to thirty-seven thousand strings. Yi remonstrated, saying, "Your lordship holds both civil and military rank and are already rich and noble. The state treasury is now empty and we take funds from the people only because we must. How can your lordship bear to profit from it? Yanguang, ashamed, desisted.
32
漢初，以魏王承訓為開封尹，授億水部員外郎，充推官。 時侍衛諸軍驕恣，朝廷姑息之，軍士成美以驢負鹽入都門，閽者不敢執，反擒平民孟柔送侍衛司。 柔自誣伏，論當棄市。 億察其冤，言於漢祖而釋之。
At the beginning of the Later Han, when Prince Wei Chengchun was prefect of Kaifeng, Yi was appointed vice director in the Ministry of Works and served as investigator. The personal guard armies were then arrogant and willful, and the court indulged them. A soldier named Cheng Mei entered the capital gate with salt loaded on a donkey. The gatekeepers dared not arrest him but instead seized a commoner named Meng Rou and sent him to the guard command. Rou falsely confessed and was sentenced to execution in the marketplace. Yi perceived the injustice, spoke to the Han founder, and had him released.
33
周初，為侍御史。 漢末兵亂，法書亡失。 至是，大理奏重寫律令格式，統類編敕。 乃詔億與刑部員外郎曹匪躬、大理正段濤同加議定。 舊本以京兆府改同五府，開封、大名府改同河南府，長安、萬年改為次赤縣，開封、浚儀、大名、元城改為赤縣。 又定東京諸門薰風等為京城門，明德等為皇城門，啟運等為宮城門，升龍等為宮門，崇元等為殿門。 廟諱書不成文，凡改點畫及義理之誤字二百一十有四。 又以晉、漢及周初事關刑法敕條者，分為二卷，附編敕，自為《大周續編敕》，詔行之。 俄以本官知雜事，加左司員外郎，遷主客度支郎中，並兼弘文館直學士。 世宗晏駕，為山陵判官，出為河南令。
At the beginning of the Later Zhou he became attendant censor. At the end of the Later Han military chaos had caused the legal texts to be lost. By then the Court of Judicial Review memorialized to rewrite the codes, statutes, formats, and compiled edicts in unified categories. An edict then ordered Yi, together with Cao Feigong, vice director in the Ministry of Justice, and Duan Tao, director of the Court of Judicial Review, to deliberate and fix them jointly. The old text changed Jingzhao prefecture to rank with the five prefectures, Kaifeng and Daming to rank with Henan prefecture, Chang'an and Wannian to secondary red counties, and Kaifeng, Junyi, Daming, and Yuancheng to red counties. They also designated the eastern capital's gates: Xunfeng and others as capital city gates, Mingde and others as imperial city gates, Qiyun and others as palace city gates, Shenglong and others as palace gates, and Chongyuan and others as hall gates. Taboo characters for the imperial temple were written without forming complete text. Altogether they corrected two hundred fourteen mistaken characters in strokes or meaning. They also collected matters from the Later Jin, Later Han, and early Zhou relating to penal law and edict articles, divided them into two juan, and issued them separately as the Continued Compiled Edicts of Great Zhou, which an edict put into effect. Soon he handled miscellaneous matters in his existing office, was given the additional title of vice director in the left bureau, was promoted to director in the Ministries of Rites and Revenue, and concurrently served as academician directly attached to the Hongwen Hall. When Shizong died he served as judge for the imperial tomb and was sent out as magistrate of Henan.
34
宋初，遷少尹。 億性恬退，聞其子多遜知制誥，即上章求解。 乾德二年，以少府監致仕。
At the founding of the Song he was promoted to vice prefect. Yi was calm and retiring by nature. When he heard that his son Duoxun had become drafter of edicts, he at once submitted a memorial requesting release from office. In the second year of Qiande he retired as director of the Palace Domestic Office.
35
多遜，顯德初，舉進士，解褐秘書郎、集賢校理，遷左拾遺、集賢殿修撰。 建隆三年，以本官知制誥，歷祠部員外郎。 乾德二年，權知貢舉。 三年，加兵部郎中。 四年，復權知貢舉。 六年，加史館修撰、判館事。
Duoxun passed the jinshi examination in the early Xiande era, entered office as secretary and collating editor of the Jixian collection, and was promoted to left remonstrance-reminder and compiler of the Jixian Hall. In the third year of Jianlong he became drafter of edicts while retaining his existing rank and served successively as vice director in the Ministry of Rites. In the second year of Qiande he was given provisional charge of the civil-service examinations. In the third year he was given the additional title of director in the Ministry of War. In the fourth year he again had provisional charge of the civil-service examinations. In the sixth year he was given the additional titles of compiler of the History Office and placed in charge of its affairs.
36
開寶二年，車駕征太原，以多遜知太原行府事。 移幸常山，又命權知鎮州。 師還，直學士院。 三年春，復知貢舉。 四年冬，命為翰林學士。 六年，使江南還，因言江南衰弱可圖之狀。 受詔同修《五代史》，遷中書舍人、參知政事。 丁外艱，數日起復視事。 會史館修撰扈蒙請復修時政記，詔多遜專其事。 金陵平，加吏部侍郎。
In the second year of Kaibao, when the emperor campaigned against Taiyuan, Duoxun was placed in charge of the traveling headquarters there. When the court moved to Changshan, he was again given provisional charge of Zhenzhou. When the army returned he served directly in the Hanlin Academy. In the spring of the third year he again had charge of the civil-service examinations. In the winter of the fourth year he was appointed Hanlin academician. In the sixth year, returning from a mission to Jiangnan, he reported how weak Jiangnan had become and how it might be conquered. He received an edict to compile jointly the History of the Five Dynasties, was promoted to secretariat drafter, and became participant in governance. He entered mourning for his father and was recalled from mourning to resume office after only a few days. At this time Hu Meng, compiler of the History Office, requested that the Records of Current Administration be resumed, and an edict put Duoxun solely in charge of the work. When Jinling was pacified, he was given the additional title of vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
37
太平興國初，拜中書侍郎、平章事。 四年，從平太原還，加兵部尚書。
At the beginning of the Taiping Xingguo era he was appointed vice director of the Secretariat and grand councilor. In the fourth year, returning from the pacification of Taiyuan, he was given the additional title of minister of war.
38
多遜博涉經史，聰明強力，文辭敏給，好任數，有謀略，發多奇中。 太祖好讀書，每取書史館，多遜預戒吏令白己，知所取書，必通夕閱覽，及太祖問書中事，多遜應答無滯，同列皆伏焉。
Duoxun was broadly versed in the classics and histories, intelligent and forceful, quick and fluent in writing, fond of stratagems and skilled in planning, and many of his schemes proved uncannily effective. Taizu loved reading. Whenever he sent for books from the History Office, Duoxun had the clerks notify him in advance of which volumes were requested; he would then read them straight through the night. When Taizu questioned him about their contents, Duoxun answered without hesitation, and his colleagues all stood in awe of him.
39
先是，多遜知制誥，與趙普不協，及在翰林日，每召對，多攻普之短。 未幾，普出鎮河陽。 太宗踐祚，普入為少保。 數年，普子承宗娶燕國長公主女，承宗適知潭州，受詔歸闕成婚禮。 未逾月，多遜白遣歸任，普由是憤怒。
Earlier, while serving as drafter of edicts, Duoxun had been at odds with Zhao Pu; during his days in the Hanlin Academy, whenever he was summoned for audience he often attacked Pu's shortcomings. Before long Pu was sent out to serve as military governor of Heyang. When Taizong ascended the throne, Pu was recalled to court as Junior Guardian. Several years later, Pu's son Chengzong married the daughter of the Princess of Yan. Chengzong was then serving as prefect of Tanzhou and received an edict to return to the capital for the wedding ceremony. Before a month had passed, Duoxun memorialized to have him sent back to his post, and Pu was enraged by this.
40
初，普出鎮河陽，上言自訴云：“外人謂臣輕議皇弟開封尹，皇弟忠孝全德，豈有間然。 矧昭憲皇太后大漸之際，臣實預聞顧命。 知臣者君，願賜昭鑒。 ”太祖手封其書，藏於宮中。 至是，普復密奏：“臣開國舊臣，為權幸所沮。 ”因言昭憲顧命及先朝自訴之事。 上於宮中訪得普前所上表，因感悟，即留承宗京師。 未幾，復用普為相，多遜益不自安。 普屢諷多遜，令引退，多遜貪固權位，不能決。
Earlier, when Pu was sent out to command Heyang, he submitted a memorial in self-defense stating: "Outsiders claim that I spoke lightly of the emperor's younger brother, the Prefect of Kaifeng. The emperor's younger brother is utterly loyal and filial in every way—how could there be any breach between us?" Moreover, when Empress Dowager Zhaoxian was near death, I was in fact present to hear the final testament. Only the ruler truly knows his subject's heart; I beg that Your Majesty grant me clear discernment. Taizu personally sealed the memorial and stored it in the palace. At this point Pu submitted another secret memorial: "I am an old minister from the founding of the state and have been obstructed by favorites at court." He then spoke of Empress Dowager Zhaoxian's final testament and his earlier memorial of self-defense at Taizu's court. The emperor searched the palace archives and found Pu's earlier memorial; moved by this, he at once retained Chengzong in the capital. Before long Pu was restored as chief minister, and Duoxun grew increasingly uneasy. Pu repeatedly hinted that Duoxun should withdraw from office, but Duoxun clung greedily to his power and could not bring himself to resign.
41
會有以多遜嘗遣堂吏趙白交通秦王廷美事聞，太宗怒，下詔數其不忠之罪，責授守兵部尚書。 明日，以多遜屬吏，命翰林學士承旨李昉、學士扈蒙、衛尉卿崔仁冀、膳部郎中知雜事滕中正雜治之。 獄具，召文武常參官集議朝堂，太子太師王溥等七十四人奏議曰：“謹案兵部尚書盧多遜，身處宰司，心懷顧望，密遣堂吏，交結親王，通達語言，咒詛君父，大逆不道，干紀亂常，上負國恩，下虧臣節，宜膏斧鉞，以正刑章。 其盧多遜請依有司所斷，削奪在身官爵，準法誅斬。 秦王廷美，亦請同盧多遜處分，其所緣坐，望準律文裁遣。”
Word then came that Duoxun had once sent his office clerk Zhao Bai to communicate with Prince Qin, Tingmei. Taizong was furious, issued an edict enumerating his crimes of disloyalty, and degraded him to the post of minister of war. The next day Duoxun was turned over to the judicial authorities. Li Fang, chief academician of the Hanlin Academy; Hu Meng, academician; Cui Renji, director of the Court of Imperial Regalia; and Teng Zhongzheng, director in the Ministry of Rites handling miscellaneous affairs, were ordered jointly to try the case. When the investigation was complete, civil and military officials in regular attendance were summoned to deliberate in the court hall. Wang Pu, Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent, and seventy-three others submitted a memorial stating: "We respectfully find that Lu Duoxun, Minister of War, though occupying high office, harbored divided loyalties, secretly sent his office clerk to consort with an imperial prince, relay messages, and curse his sovereign—an act of great treason that violates every norm of duty. He has betrayed the grace of the state above and violated the integrity owed by a minister below. He should face execution to uphold the law." As for Lu Duoxun, we request that his current titles be stripped and that he be executed according to law, in accord with the judgment of the responsible officials. Prince Qin Tingmei should receive the same disposition as Lu Duoxun, and those implicated through association should be dealt with according to statute, as we respectfully request.
42
遂下詔曰：“臣之事君，貳則有辟，下之謀上，將而必誅。 兵部尚書盧多遜，頃自先朝擢參大政，洎予臨御，俾正台衡，職在燮調，任當輔弼。 深負倚毗，不思補報，而乃包藏姦宄，窺伺君親，指斥乘輿，交結藩邸，大逆不道，非所宜言。 爰遣近臣，雜治其事，醜跡盡露，具獄已成，有司定刑，外廷集議，僉以梟夷其族，汙瀦其宮，用正憲章，以合經義。 尚念嘗居重位，久事明廷，特寬盡室之誅，止用投荒之典，實汝有負，非我無恩。 其盧多遜在身官爵及三代封贈、妻子官封，並用削奪追毀。 一家親屬，並配流崖州，所在馳驛發遣，縱經大赦，不在量移之限。 期周已上親屬，並配隸邊遠州郡。 部曲奴婢縱之。 餘依百官所議。 中書吏趙白、秦王府吏閻密、王繼勳、樊德明、趙懷祿、閻懷忠並斬都門外，仍籍其家，親屬流配海島。”
An edict was then issued stating: "When a minister serves his ruler, disloyalty brings punishment; when a subordinate plots against his superior, he must surely be executed." Lu Duoxun, Minister of War, was raised from the former court to participate in great affairs of state; when I came to the throne I placed him in the highest office. His duty was to harmonize and regulate affairs; his charge was to assist and counsel me. He deeply betrayed the trust placed in him and gave no thought to repaying it. Instead he concealed treachery, watched and waited upon ruler and kin, reviled the throne, and consorted with princely households—great treason beyond what words can express. I therefore sent close ministers jointly to try the matter. His foul deeds were fully exposed, the case was complete, the responsible officials fixed the punishment, and the outer court gathered in council—all agreed that his clan should be exterminated and his residence defiled, to uphold the law and accord with canonical principle. Still recalling that he once held high office and long served a luminous court, I specially waive execution of the entire household and apply only the penalty of exile to the wilderness. In truth you have failed me; it is not that I am without grace. Lu Duoxun's current titles, the ennoblements and posthumous honors of three generations, and the titles of his wife and children are all to be stripped and revoked. All members of his household are to be exiled to Yazhou and dispatched by express relay from wherever they are; even if a general amnesty is proclaimed, they are not eligible for transfer to a closer post. Relatives within the period-of-mourning kinship circle and above are to be assigned to remote border prefectures. His retainers and slave girls are to be set free. The remainder follows the recommendation of the assembled officials. The Secretariat clerk Zhao Bai and the Prince of Qin's house clerks Yan Mi, Wang Jixun, Fan Deming, Zhao Huailu, and Yan Huaizhong are all to be beheaded outside the capital gate; their households are to be registered and confiscated, and their relatives exiled to sea islands.
43
多遜至海外，因部送者還，上表稱謝。 雍熙二年，卒於流所，年五十二。 詔徙其家於容州，未幾，復移置荊南。 端拱初，錄其子雍為公安主簿，還其懷州籍沒先塋。 雍卒，諸弟皆特敕除州縣官。
When Duoxun reached his place of exile overseas, he sent back a memorial of thanks through his escort. In the second year of Yongxi he died in exile, at the age of fifty-two. An edict ordered his family moved to Rongzhou; before long they were relocated again to Jingnan. At the beginning of the Duangong era his son Yong was appointed chief clerk of Gong'an, and their ancestral grave at Huaizhou, which had been confiscated, was restored to the family. When Yong died, all his younger brothers were specially appointed to district and county posts by edict.
44
初，億性儉素，自奉甚薄。 及多遜貴顯，賜賚優厚，服用漸侈，愀然不樂，謂親友曰：“家世儒素，一旦富貴暴至，吾未知稅駕之所。 ”後多遜果敗，人服其識。
Earlier, Yi had been frugal and plain by nature and lived very modestly. When Duoxun rose to power and eminence, imperial gifts grew lavish and his household became increasingly extravagant. Yi looked deeply troubled and said to friends and kin: "Our family has been scholars of plain living for generations. Suddenly wealth and honor have come upon us with such force—I do not yet know where this will end for me." Later Duoxun indeed met ruin, and people admired Yi's foresight.
45
咸平五年，又錄雍弟寬為襄州司士參軍。 寬弟察，中景德進士，將廷試，特詔授以州掾。 大中祥符二年，始改簿尉。 三年，察奉多遜喪歸葬襄陽，又詔本州賜察錢三十萬。 四年，仍錄其孫又玄為襄州司士。
In the fifth year of Xianping, Yong's younger brother Kuan was again appointed aide in the Judicial Section of Xiangzhou. Kuan's younger brother Cha passed the jinshi examination in the Jingde era. As he was about to take the palace examination, a special edict appointed him to a prefectural staff post instead. In the second year of Dazhong Xiangfu he was first promoted to the rank of registrar or police captain. In the third year Cha observed mourning for Duoxun and returned to bury him at Xiangyang; the court also ordered the prefecture to grant Cha three hundred thousand cash. In the fourth year his grandson Youxuan was appointed judicial aide of Xiangzhou.
46
宋琪，字俶寶，幽州薊人。 少好學，晉祖割燕地以奉契丹，契丹歲開貢部，琪舉進士中第，署壽安王侍讀，時天福六年也。 幽帥趙延壽辟琪為從事，會契丹內侵，隨延壽至京師。 延壽子讚領河中節度，漢初改授晉昌軍，皆署琪為記室。 周廣順中，讚罷鎮，補觀城令。 世宗征淮南，讚自右龍武統軍為排陣使，復辟琪從征。 及金陵歸款，以讚鎮廬州，表為觀察判官。 部有冤獄，琪辨之，免死者三人，特加朝散大夫。 讚仕宋，連移壽陽、延安二鎮，皆表為從事。
Song Qi, courtesy name Chubao, was a native of Ji in Youzhou. In his youth he loved learning. After the founding emperor of the Later Jin ceded the Yan region to the Khitan, the Khitan opened the examination circuit each year. Qi passed the jinshi examination and was appointed tutor to Prince Shou'an in the sixth year of Tianfu. Zhao Yanshou, military governor of You, recruited Qi as a staff officer. When the Khitan invaded the heartland, Qi followed Yanshou to the capital. Yanshou's son Zan commanded the Hezhong circuit and, at the founding of the Later Han, was reassigned to the Jinchang army; on both occasions he appointed Qi as recorder. During the Guangshun era of the Later Zhou, when Zan left his command, Qi was appointed magistrate of Guancheng. When Shizong campaigned against Huainan, Zan was made battle-array commissioner after serving as commander of the Right Dragon Martial Army, and again recruited Qi to accompany the campaign. When Jinling submitted, Zan was made military governor of Luzhou and had Qi appointed administrative aide of the observation commission. In the prefecture there was a case of wrongful imprisonment. Qi argued the case and spared three men from execution, for which he was specially promoted to grandee of splendid happiness. When Zan entered Song service and was transferred in succession to Shouyang and Yan'an, he each time had Qi appointed as his staff officer.
47
乾德四年，召拜左補闕、開封府推官。 太宗為府尹，初甚加禮遇，琪與宰相趙普、樞密使李崇矩善，出入門下，遂惡之，乃白太祖出琪知龍州，移閬州。 開寶九年，為護國軍節度判官。
In the fourth year of Qiande he was summoned to court and appointed left censor and investigating officer of Kaifeng Prefecture. When Taizong served as prefect of the capital, he initially treated Qi with great honor. But Qi was on close terms with Chief Minister Zhao Pu and Commissioner of Military Affairs Li Chongju, visiting their households freely, and Taizong came to dislike him. He reported this to Taizu, who sent Qi out as prefect of Longzhou and then transferred him to Langzhou. In the ninth year of Kaibao he served as administrative aide of the Huguo army circuit.
48
太宗即位，召赴闕。 時程羽、賈琰皆自府邸攀附致顯要，抑琪久不得調。 太平興國三年，授太子洗馬，召見詰責，琪拜謝，請悔過自新。 遷太常丞，出知大通監。 五年，召歸，將加擢用，為盧多遜所沮，改都官郎中，出知廣州，將行，復以藩邸舊僚留判三司勾院。 七年，與三司使王仁贍廷辯事忤旨，責授兵部員外郎，俄通判開封府事，京府置通判自琪始。
When Taizong ascended the throne, Qi was summoned to court. At the time Cheng Yu and Jia Yan had risen to prominence by attaching themselves to Taizong's princely household, while Qi was held back and long went without promotion. In the third year of Taiping Xingguo he was appointed groom of the heir apparent's horses. When summoned and rebuked by the emperor, Qi bowed in apology and pledged to repent and reform. He was promoted to vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and sent out as supervisor of the Datong Commission. In the fifth year he was recalled and was about to be promoted when Lu Duoxun blocked it. He was reassigned as director in the Ministry of Justice and sent out as prefect of Guangzhou, but as he was about to depart he was retained as assistant judge of the Three Departments audit commission because he was an old associate of Taizong's princely household. In the seventh year he debated policy with Three Departments Commissioner Wang Renzan in court and offended the emperor, and was demoted to vice director in the Ministry of War. Soon afterward he became co-administrator of Kaifeng Prefecture—the capital's first such post was created for Qi.
49
八年春正月，擢拜右諫議大夫、同判三司。 三月，改左諫議大夫、參知政事。 是秋，上將以工部尚書李昉參預國政，以琪先入，乃遷琪為刑部尚書。 十月，趙普出鎮南陽，琪遂與昉同拜平章事。 自員外郎歲中四遷至尚書為相。 上謂曰：“世之治亂，在賞當其功，罰當其罪，即無不治； 謂為飾喜怒之具，即無不亂，卿等慎之。”
In the first month of the eighth year he was elevated to right remonstrance-advisor and co-administrator of the Three Departments. In the third month he was appointed left remonstrance-advisor and participant in governance. That autumn the emperor planned to bring Li Fang, Minister of Works, into national governance. Because Qi had entered first, Qi was transferred to Minister of Punishments instead. In the tenth month Zhao Pu was sent out to command Nanyang, and Qi and Li Fang were jointly appointed grand councilors. Within a single year he rose four ranks from vice director to minister and became chief minister. The emperor said to him: "Order and disorder in the world depend on rewarding according to merit and punishing according to guilt—then there is none that is not governed;" if they are taken as instruments for embellishing one's likes and dislikes, then there is none that is not in disorder—be careful of this, all of you."
50
九年九月，上幸景龍門外觀水磑，因謂侍臣曰：“此水出於山源，清冷甘美，凡近河水味皆甘，豈非餘潤之所及乎？ ”琪等對曰：“實由地脈潛通而然，亦猶人之善惡以染習而成也。 ”其年冬，郊祀禮畢，加門下侍郎、昭文館大學士。
In the ninth month of the ninth year the emperor visited the water mill outside Jinglong Gate and said to his attending ministers: "This water comes from a mountain spring—clear, cold, sweet, and fine. Every nearby stretch of river water is sweet as well—could this not be due to the lingering nourishment it provides?" Qi and the others replied: "In truth it is because underground veins connect in secret—just as people's good and evil are formed through habit and influence." That winter, after the suburban sacrifice was complete, he was given the additional titles of vice director of the Chancellery and grand academician of the Zhaowen Hall.
51
一日，上謂琪等曰：“在昔帝王多以崇高自處，顏色嚴毅，左右無敢質言者。 朕與卿等周旋款曲，商榷時事，蓋欲通上下之情，無有壅蔽。 卿等但直道而行，無得有所顧避。 ”琪謝曰：“臣等非才，待罪相府，陛下曲賜溫顏，令盡愚懇，敢不傾竭以副聖意。 ”會詔廣宮城，宣徽使柴禹錫有別第在表識內，上言願易官邸，上覽奏不悅。 禹錫陰結琪，欲因白請盧多遜舊第，上益鄙之。 先是，簡州軍事推官王澣引對，上嘉其雋爽，面授朝官。 翼日，琪奏澣經學出身，一任幕職，例除七寺丞。 上曰：“吾已許之矣，可與東宮官。 ”琪執不從，擬大理丞告牒進入，上批曰：“可右讚善大夫。 ”琪勉從命，上滋不悅。
One day the emperor said to Qi and the others: "In the past emperors and kings often placed themselves on high, with stern countenance and severity, and those at their side did not dare speak plainly." I move among all of you in warm familiarity, consulting on affairs of the time—this is precisely to open communication between above and below, without blockage or concealment. All of you need only walk the straight path—do not hold back through concern or avoidance. Qi thanked him and said: "We your ministers lack talent and hold office in the chief minister's hall at fault; Your Majesty has graciously bestowed a warm countenance and ordered us to speak our plain sincerity—we dare not fail to pour out all we have to fulfill the sacred will." It happened that an edict expanded the palace city. Palace Provision Commissioner Chai Yuxi had a separate residence within the marked boundary and submitted a memorial wishing to exchange it for an official residence; when the emperor read the memorial he was displeased. Yuxi secretly enlisted Qi's help, hoping to use him to request Lu Duoxun's former residence; the emperor grew even more contemptuous of them both. Earlier, Wang Huan, military-affairs investigating officer of Jianzhou, was brought for audience. The emperor admired his keen forthrightness and personally assigned him a court office on the spot. The next day Qi memorialized that Huan, having come from a background in classical learning and served one term on a staff, should by precedent be appointed to an assistant directorship in one of the seven temples. The emperor said: "I have already promised him—it may be an eastern-palace office." Qi obstinately would not comply and drafted the appointment notice as grand court direct clerk for submission; the emperor wrote in the margin: "He may be right aide to the heir apparent." Qi reluctantly obeyed, and the emperor grew still more displeased.
52
初，上令琪娶馬仁瑀寡妻高繼冲之女，厚加賜與以助采。 廣南轉運王延範，高氏之親也，知廣州徐休復密奏其不軌，且言其依附大臣。 上因琪與禹錫入對，問延範何如人，琪未知其端，盛言延範強明忠幹，禹錫旁奏與琪同。 上意琪交通，不欲暴其狀，因以琪素好詼諧，無大臣體，罷守本官； 禹錫授左驍衛大將軍。 琪將罷前數日，有異鳥集琪待漏之所，驅之不去，及是罷相，人以為先兆云。
Earlier the emperor had arranged for Qi to marry the daughter of Gao Jichong, widow of Ma Renyu, and had richly bestowed gifts to assist with the betrothal. Wang Yanfan, transport commissioner for Guangnan, was a kinsman of the Gao family. Xu Xiufu, prefect of Guangzhou, secretly memorialized that Yanfan was plotting treason and that he relied on powerful ministers for support. When Qi and Yuxi came before the emperor, he asked them what sort of man Yanfan was. Unaware of the background, Qi lavishly praised Yanfan as forceful, capable, loyal, and diligent, while Yuxi chimed in from the side in agreement. The emperor suspected Qi of collusion but did not wish to expose the details openly. Instead he cited Qi's fondness for wit and jest and lack of the bearing befitting a chief minister, and dismissed him from his grand councilor's post while retaining his original rank; Yuxi was appointed general of the Left Martial Majestic Guard. Several days before Qi's dismissal a strange bird alighted at the hall where he waited for court audience and would not leave even when driven away. When he was dismissed as chief minister, people took this as an omen.
53
端拱初，上親耕籍田，以舊相進位吏部尚書。 二年，將討幽薊，詔群臣各言邊事。 琪上疏謂：
At the beginning of the Duangong era the emperor personally plowed the sacred field, and Qi, as a former chief minister, was promoted to Minister of Personnel. In the second year, as the court prepared to campaign against You and Ji, an edict ordered all officials to submit their views on border affairs. Qi submitted a memorial stating:
54
“大舉精甲，以事討除，靈旗所指，燕城必降。 但徑路所趨，不無險易，必若取雄、霸路直進，未免更有陽城之圍。 蓋界河之北，陂澱坦平，北路行師，非我所便。 況軍行不離於輜重，賊來莫測其淺深。 欲望回轅，西適山路，令大軍會於易州，循孤山之北，漆水以西，挾山而行，援糧而進，涉涿水，並大房，抵桑幹河，出安祖砦，則東瞰燕城，裁及一舍，此是周德威收燕之路。
"Raise elite armored troops in great force to undertake punitive elimination; wherever the spirit banner points, the city of Yan will surely surrender. But whichever route one takes, there are difficult stretches as well as easy ones; if one takes the Xiong and Ba route and pushes straight ahead, one cannot avoid another siege like that at Yangcheng. North of the Border River the marshes and lakes lie flat and open; marching an army by the northern route is not to our advantage. Moreover, an army on the march cannot leave its baggage train behind, and when the enemy strikes one cannot tell whether the water is shallow or deep. I wish to turn the chariots about and go west by the mountain road, have the main army assemble at Yizhou, follow north of Mount Gu and west of the Qi River, march along the mountains while bringing up supplies, cross the Zhuo River, pass alongside Dafang, reach the Sanggan River, and emerge at Anzu Fort—then, looking east, one overlooks the city of Yan, barely ten li away. This is the route by which Zhou Dewei recovered Yan.
55
自易水距此二百餘里，並是沿山，村墅連延，溪澗相接，采薪汲水，我占上游。 東則林麓平岡，非戎馬奔衝之地，內排槍弩步隊，實王師備禦之方，而於山上列白幟以望之，戎馬之來，二十里外可悉數也。
From the Yi River to this point is more than two hundred li, all along the mountains; villages and manor houses stretch in succession and streams and ravines run together. For gathering firewood and drawing water, we would hold the upper reaches. To the east lie forested foothills and level ridges—not ground where barbarian horses can charge freely. Deploy pike-and-crossbow infantry within as the imperial army's method of defense, and on the mountains array white banners to watch; when barbarian horses approach, they can be counted in full from twenty li away.
56
從安祖砦西北有盧師神祠，是桑幹出山之口，東及幽州四十餘里。 趙德鈞作鎮之時，欲遏西衝，曾塹此水。 況河次半有崖岸，不可徑度，其平處築城護之，守以偏師，此斷彼之右臂也。 仍慮步奚為寇，可分雄勇兵士三五千人，至青白軍以來山中防遏，北是新州、媯川之間，南出易州大路，其桑幹河水屬燕城北隅，繞西壁而轉。 大軍如至城下，於燕丹陵東北橫堰此水，灌入高梁河，高梁岸狹，桑水必溢。 可於駐掞寺東引入郊亭澱，三五日瀰漫百餘里，即幽州隔在水南。 王師可於州北係浮梁以通北路，賊騎來援，已隔水矣。 視此孤壘，浹旬必克。 幽州管內洎山後八軍，聞薊門不守，必盡歸降，蓋勢使然也。
Northwest from Anzu Fort stands the shrine of the Lu Division Spirit—the place where the Sanggan River emerges from the mountains, more than forty li east to Youzhou. When Zhao Dejun held the commandery, wishing to block the western thrust, he once dug ditches across this river. Moreover, halfway along the river there are cliff banks and one cannot ford directly; at the level stretches build a fort to guard it and hold it with a detached force—this cuts off their right arm. Still fearing that the Xi might raid as bandits, one may detach three to five thousand elite troops to defend and block in the mountains from Qingbai Army onward—north lies the country between Xinzhou and Guichuan, and southward the main road to Yizhou opens out. The Sanggan River water belongs to the northwest corner of Yan city and winds around the western wall. When the main army reaches below the city, dam this water northeast of Yan Dan's tomb and divert it into the Gaoliang River—the Gaoliang banks are narrow, and the Sanggan water will surely overflow. One may lead it east of Zhushan Temple into the Jiaoting Marsh; in three to five days it will spread over more than a hundred li, and Youzhou will stand cut off south of the water. The imperial army may moor floating bridges north of the prefecture to open the northern route; when the enemy's cavalry come to relieve the city, they will already be cut off by water. Given this isolated fortress, within ten days it will surely be taken. Within Youzhou's jurisdiction and the eight garrisons behind the mountains, when they hear that Jie Gate is not held, they will surely all return and surrender—for such is the force of circumstance.
57
然後國家命重臣以鎮之，敷恩澤以懷之。 奚、霫部落，當劉仁恭及其男守光之時，皆刺面為義兒，服燕軍指使，人馬疆土少劣於契丹，自被脅從役屬以來，常懷骨髓之恨。 渤海兵馬土地，盛於奚帳，雖勉事契丹，俱懷殺主破國之怨。 其薊門洎山後雲、朔等州，沙陀、吐渾元是割屬，咸非叛黨。 此蕃漢諸部之眾，如將來王師討伐，雖臨陣擒獲，必貸其死，命署置存撫，使之懷恩，但以罪契丹為名。 如此則蕃部之心，願報私憾，契丹小醜，克日殄平。 其奚、霫、渤海之國，各選重望親嫡，封冊為王，仍賜分器、鼓旗、軍服、戈甲以優遣之，必竭赤心，永服皇化。
After that the state should appoint a senior minister to garrison the region and spread benevolent favor to win the people over. The Xi and Hui tribes—when Liu Rengong and his son Shouguang held power, all had their faces tattooed as sworn sons and obeyed the Yan army's commands; their men, horses, and territory were somewhat inferior to the Khitan's; and since being coerced into service and subordination they have constantly harbored hatred to the marrow of their bones. The Bohai in horses, troops, and territory surpass the Xi camps; although they serve the Khitan under compulsion, all harbor the resentment of a lord slain and a state destroyed. As for Jie Gate and the Yun and Shuo prefectures behind the mountains, the Shatuo and Tuyuhun were originally allotted territories, and none are truly rebel factions. These masses among the Han and barbarian tribes—if in the future the imperial army campaigns in punitive attack, even those captured in battle must be spared, appointed, and reassured so that they feel gratitude, but only in the name of punishing the Khitan. In this way the hearts of the barbarian tribes, eager to repay private grudges, will turn against the Khitan rabble, and they will be destroyed and pacified within days. For the states of Xi, Hui, and Bohai, each select men of high standing who are close kin, enfeoff them as kings, and moreover bestow ritual vessels, drums and banners, military dress, spears and armor to send them off with honor—they will surely pour out their loyal hearts and forever submit to imperial civilization.
58
俟克平之後，宣布守臣，令於燕境及山後雲、朔諸州，厚給衣糧料錢，別作禁軍名額，召募三五萬人，教以騎射，隸於本州。 此人生長塞垣，諳練戎事，乘機戰鬥，一以當十，兼得奚、霫、渤海以為外臣，乃守在四夷也。
After pacification is complete, proclaim garrison commanders and order them in Yan territory and the Yun and Shuo prefectures behind the mountains to richly supply clothing, grain, and stipend funds, separately establish forbidden-army roster names, recruit thirty to fifty thousand men, teach them mounted archery, and assign them to their home prefectures. These people grew up on the frontier and are skilled in barbarian warfare; when they fight at the right moment one man can match ten. Moreover, with the Xi, Hui, and Bohai as outer vassals, this is what it means to hold the frontier against the four barbarians.
59
然自阿保機時至於近日，河朔戶口，虜掠極多，並在錦帳。 平盧亦邇柳城，遼海編戶數十萬餘，耕墾千餘里，既殄異類，悉為王民。 變其衣冠，被以聲教，願歸者俾復舊貫，懷安者因而撫之，申畫郊圻，列為州縣，則前代所建松漠、饒落等郡，未為開拓之盛也。”
Yet from Abaoji's time until recently, the population of the Hebei region has been plundered in vast numbers, all of them now living in the brocade tents. Pinglu also borders Liucheng; the Liaodong registered households number several hundred thousand, with cultivation extending more than a thousand li. Once the alien peoples are destroyed, all will become the king's subjects. Change their dress and clothe them in civilizing instruction; let those who wish to return resume their old ways, and comfort those who find contentment where they are; demarcate the outer marches and establish prefectures and counties—then the Songmo and Raoluo commanderies established in former ages will not compare with the glory of this frontier opening.
60
琪本燕人，以故究知蕃部兵馬山川形勢。 俄又上奏曰：
Qi was originally a man of Yan and for that reason had thorough knowledge of the barbarian tribes' troops, horses, mountains, rivers, and terrain. Soon he submitted again, stating:
61
“國家將平燕薊，臣敢陳十策：一、契丹種族，二、料賊眾寡，三、賊來布置，四、備邊，五、命將，六、排陣討伐，七、和蕃，八、饋運，九、收幽州，十、滅契丹。
"As the state prepares to pacify Yan and Ji, your subject dares to set forth ten strategies: one, the Khitan race; two, estimating the enemy's strength; three, the enemy's disposition on coming south; four, border defense; five, appointing generals; six, deploying formations for punitive attack; seven, harmonizing with the barbarians; eight, supply transport; nine, recovering Youzhou; ten, destroying the Khitan.
62
契丹，蕃部之別種，代居遼澤中，南界潢水，西距邢山，疆土幅員，千里而近。 其主自阿保機始強盛，因攻渤海，死於遼陽。 妻述律氏生三男：長曰東丹； 次曰德光，德光南侵還，死於殺胡林； 季曰自在太子。 東丹生永康，永康代德光為主，謀起軍南侵，被殺於火神澱。 德光之子述律代立，號為“睡王”。 二年，為永康子明記所篡。 明記死，幼主代立。 明記妻蕭氏，蕃將守興之女，今幼主，蕭氏所生也。
The Khitan are a separate branch of the barbarian tribes, dwelling generation after generation in the Liao marshes, bounded south by the Huang River and west by Xing Mountain, with a territory nearly a thousand li across. Their ruler grew powerful beginning with Abaoji; he attacked Bohai and died at Liaoyang. His wife Empress Shulü bore three sons: the eldest was Eastern Dan; the second was Deguang; Deguang returned from a southern invasion and died at Shahu Grove; the third was the Self-Existent Crown Prince. Eastern Dan begot Yongkang; Yongkang succeeded Deguang as ruler, plotted to raise an army for a southern invasion, and was killed at the Huoshen Marsh. Deguang's son Shulü succeeded to the throne and was styled the "Sleeping King." In the second year he was usurped by Yongkang's son Mingji. When Mingji died, a young ruler succeeded to the throne. Mingji's wife was of the Xiao clan, daughter of the barbarian general Shouxing; the present young ruler was born of Lady Xiao.
63
晉末，契丹主頭下兵謂之大帳，有皮室兵約三萬，皆精甲也，為其爪牙。 國母述律氏頭下，謂之屬珊，屬珊有眾二萬，乃阿保機之牙將，當是時半已老矣。 南來時，量分借得三五千騎，述律常留餘兵為部族根本。 其諸大首領有太子、偉王、永康、南北王、於越、麻答、五押等。 於越，謂其國舅也。 大者千餘騎，次者數百騎，皆私甲也。
At the end of the Jin dynasty, the troops under the Khitan ruler's personal banner were called the Great Tent, with about thirty thousand Pishi troops—all elite armor—serving as his claws and fangs. Under the queen mother Shulü's personal banner were the so-called Shushan, with twenty thousand troops—they were Abaoji's personal guards, and by this time half were already old. When coming south, they would borrow only an estimated three to five thousand horsemen; Shulü always kept the remaining troops as the tribal foundation. Among the various great chiefs are the crown prince, the Worthy King, Yongkang, the Southern and Northern Kings, the Yuyue, Madar, and the Five Yash. Yuyue means the king's maternal uncle by marriage. The great ones have more than a thousand horsemen, the lesser several hundred—all private retainers.
64
別族則有奚、霫，勝兵亦萬餘人，少馬多步。 奚，其王名阿保得者，昔年犯闕時，令送劉希、崔廷勳屯河、洛者也。 又有渤海首領大舍利高模翰步騎萬餘人，並髡髮左衽，竊為契丹之飾。 復有近界尉厥黒、室韋、女真、党項亦被脅屬，每部不過千餘騎。 其三部落，吐渾、沙陀，洎幽州管內、雁門已北十餘州軍部落漢兵合二萬餘眾，此是石晉割以賂蕃之地也。 蕃漢諸族，其數可見矣。
Separate tribes include the Xi and Hui, with able warriors also exceeding ten thousand—few horses and mostly infantry. The Xi—their king named Abade—when in former years they violated the capital, was the one who sent Liu Xi and Cui Tingxun to garrison the Yellow and Luo rivers. There is also the Bohai chief Great Sheli Gao Mohan with more than ten thousand infantry and cavalry, all with shaved heads and left-lapped collars, secretly adopting Khitan dress. Also near the border, Yuquehei, Shiwei, Jurchen, and Tangut have likewise been coerced into submission, each tribe fielding no more than a thousand-odd horsemen. These three groups—the Tuyuhun and Shatuo, together with the tribal Han troops of more than ten prefectures and garrisons within Youzhou's jurisdiction and north of Yanmen—combine to more than twenty thousand men. This is the territory that Later Shi cut away to bribe the barbarians. The numbers of the various Han and barbarian tribes can thus be seen.
65
每蕃部南侵，其眾不啻十萬。 契丹入界之時，步騎車帳不從阡陌，東西一概而行。 大帳前及東西面，差大首領三人，各率萬騎，支散遊奕，百十里外，亦交相偵邏，謂之欄子馬。 契丹主吹角為號，眾即頓合，環繞穹廬，以近及遠。 折木梢屈之為弓子鋪，不設槍營塹柵之備。 每軍行，聽鼓三伐，不問昏晝，一匝便行。 未逢大敵，不乘戰馬，俟近我師，即克乘之，所以新羈戰蹄有餘力也。 且用軍之術，成列而不戰，俟退而乘之，多伏兵斷糧道，冒夜舉火，土風曳柴，饋餉自齎，退敗無恥，散而復聚，寒而益堅，此其所長也。 中原所長，秋夏霖霪，天時也； 山林河津，地利也； 槍突劍弩，兵勝也； 財豐士眾，力強也。 乘時互用，較然可知。
Each time the barbarian tribes invade south, their hosts are no fewer than one hundred thousand. When the Khitan enter the border, infantry, cavalry, carts, and tents do not follow the field paths but march uniformly from east to west. Before the Great Tent and on the east and west flanks, three great chiefs are assigned, each leading ten thousand horsemen deployed to scout and patrol; a hundred or ten li out they also watch one another in turn—these are called corral horses. When the Khitan ruler blows the horn as signal, the masses immediately halt and assemble, encircling the yurts from near to far. Broken branches are bent into bow-shaped shelters; they set up no pike camps, ditches, or palisade defenses. On each army march, when three beats of the drum are heard, regardless of dusk or dawn, they march one circuit at once. Before meeting a major enemy they do not mount war horses; waiting until they are near our army they then mount—thus newly bridled battle hooves still have surplus strength. Their art of war runs thus: they form ranks without fighting, wait until the enemy retreats and then press them; many hidden troops cut supply routes; they kindle fires by night; in local wind they drag brushwood; they carry their own provisions; retreat and defeat bring no shame; scattered they gather again; in cold they grow stronger—these are their strengths. What the central plains excels at: autumn and summer rains and floods—this is Heaven's season; forests, mountains, rivers, and fords—this is terrain's advantage; pike charges and sword crossbows—this is military victory; abundant wealth and numerous warriors—this is strength's fullness. Use each in its season by turns—the comparison can clearly be known.
66
王師備邊破敵之計，每秋冬時。 河朔州軍緣邊砦柵，但專守境，勿輒侵漁，令彼尋戈，其詞無措。 或戎馬既肥，長驅入寇，契丹主行，部落萃至，寒雲翳日，朔雪迷空，鞍馬相持，氈褐之利。 所宜守陴坐甲，以逸待勞，令騎士並屯於天雄軍、貝磁相州以來，若分在邊城，緩急難於會合； 近邊州府，只用步兵，多屯弩手，大者萬卒，小者千人，堅壁固守，勿令出戰。 彼以全國之兵，此以一郡之眾，雖勇懦之有殊，慮眾寡之不敵也。 國家別命大將，總統前軍，以遏侵軼，隻於天雄軍、刑洺貝州以來，設掎戎之備。 俟其陽春啟候，虜計既窮，新草未生，陳荄已朽，蕃馬無力，疲寇思歸，逼而逐之，必自奔北。
The imperial army's plan for border defense and defeating the enemy applies each autumn and winter. The garrison forts along the Hebei prefectures and armies need only strictly hold the frontier and not lightly raid—let the enemy go seeking quarrel so their words have no footing. Or when barbarian horses are already fat and they drive deep in invasion, the Khitan ruler moves and the tribes gather; cold clouds shade the sun, northern snow fills the sky; saddle and horse oppose one another—the advantage of felt and coarse wool. What is suitable is to hold the walls and sit in armor, using rest to await exhaustion; have cavalry all garrison from Tianxiong Army and from Bei, Ci, and Xiangzhou onward—for if they are divided among border cities, urgent assembly will be difficult; Near-border prefectures should use only infantry and station many crossbowmen—large garrisons ten thousand troops, small ones a thousand—hold the walls firmly and do not allow sorties. They with the whole state's troops, we with one commandery's masses—although brave and cowardly differ, one fears that many and few will not match. The state should separately appoint a great general to command the forward army to check invasion and plunder, and only from Tianxiong Army and Xing, Mo, and Beizhou onward set preparedness to flank the barbarians. Wait until the yang-spring season opens; when the barbarians' plans are exhausted, new grass not yet sprouted, old stubble already rotted, barbarian horses without strength, and weary invaders thinking of return—press and pursue them and they will surely flee north on their own.
67
前軍行陣之法，馬步精卒不過十萬，自招討以下，更命三五人藩侯充都監、副戎、排陣、先鋒等職，臨事分布，所貴有權。 追戎之陣，須列前後，其前陣萬五千騎，陣身萬人，是四十指揮，左右梢各十指揮，是二十將。 每指揮作一隊，自軍主、都虞候、指揮使、押當，每隊用馬突或刃子槍一百餘，並弓劍、骨朵。 其陣身解鐙排之，俟與戎相搏之時，無問厚薄，十分作氣，槍突交衝，馳逐往來，後陣更進。 彼若乘我深入，陣身之後，更有馬步人五千，分為十頭，以撞竿，鐙弩俱進，為回騎之舍。 陣哨不可輕動，蓋防橫騎奔衝，此陣以都監主之，進退賞罰，便可裁決。 後陣以馬步軍八萬，招討董之，與前陣不得過三五里，展梢實心，布常山之勢，左右排陣分押之。 或前陣擊破寇兵，後陣亦禁其馳驟輕進，蓋師正之律也。
The forward army's marching formation method: elite cavalry and infantry not exceeding one hundred thousand; from the recruiting-and-pacifying commissioner downward, further appoint three to five frontier marquises as overall supervisors, deputy commanders, formation arrangers, vanguard, and other posts; distribute them at the time of action—what is valued is having authority. Formation for pursuing barbarians must array front and rear: the front formation fifteen thousand cavalry, formation body ten thousand men—that is forty commanders; left and right wings each ten commanders, that is twenty generals. Each commander forms one company—regimental commander, chief aide, commander, standard-bearer—each company uses a hundred-plus horse-chargers or short spears, together with bow, sword, and mace. The formation body dismounts from stirrups and arrays; when about to grapple with the barbarians, regardless of thick or thin, exert full force; pike charges clash; charge and pursue back and forth; the rear formation advances further. If they exploit our deep advance, behind the formation body there are a further five thousand infantry and cavalry divided into ten heads, using battering poles, all stirrups and crossbows advancing together, as shelter for wheeling cavalry. Formation sentinels must not move lightly—for guarding against horizontal cavalry charges; this formation is supervised by the overall supervisor; advance, retreat, rewards, and punishments can be decided on the spot. The rear formation comprises eighty thousand infantry and cavalry under the recruiting commissioner; it must not be more than three to five li from the front formation; extend the wings and solidify the center, lay out the Changshan formation's power, and left and right deployed formations supervise separately. Or if the front formation breaks the invaders, the rear formation also forbids reckless galloping advance—for this is the army's discipline.
68
《牧誓》云：“四伐五伐，乃止齊焉。 ”慎重之戒也。 是以開運中晉軍掎戎，未嘗放散，三四年間，雖德光為戎首，多計桀黠，而無勝晉軍之處，蓋並力禦之。 厥後以任人不當，為彥澤之所誤。 如將來殺獲驅攘之後，聖人務好生之德，設息兵之謀，雖降志難甘，亦和戎為便。 魏絳嘗陳五利，奉春僅得中策，歷觀載籍，前王皆然。 《易》稱高宗用伐鬼方，《詩》美宣王薄伐玁狁，是知戎狄侵軼，其來尚矣。 然則兵為凶器，聖人不得已而用之。 若精選使臣，不辱君命，通盟繼好，弭戰息民，此亦策之得也。
The "Oath at Mu" says: "Four assaults, five assaults, then stop and align." " — a warning of caution. Therefore in the Kaiyun era the Jin army flanked the barbarians and never dispersed; within three or four years, although Deguang was the barbarian chieftain, crafty and cunning in many plots, there was no place he defeated the Jin army—for they combined strength to resist. After that, because personnel were not properly assigned, they were misled by Liu Yanze. If in the future, after killing, capturing, and driving them off, the sage ruler values the virtue of cherishing life and sets plans to cease arms—even if lowering one's ambition is hard to accept, harmonizing with the barbarians is still the convenient course. Wei Jiang once set forth five benefits; Feng Chun achieved only the middle strategy; reviewing the records throughout, former kings all did thus. The Book of Changes praises King Gaozong's campaign against Guifang; the Book of Songs commends King Xuan's light attack on Xianyun—thus one knows that barbarian raids have come since long ago. Yet arms are ominous instruments; the sage uses them only when he cannot avoid doing so. If one carefully selects envoys who do not disgrace the ruler's mandate, establishes alliance and continues friendship, and ceases war to rest the people—this too is attaining the strategy.
69
臣每見國朝發兵，未至屯戍之所，已於兩河諸郡調民運糧，遠近騷然，煩費十倍。 臣生居邊土，習知其事。 況幽州為國北門，押蕃重鎮，養兵數萬，應敵乃其常事。 每逢調發，惟作糗糧之備，入蕃旬浹，軍糧自齎，每人給麫斗餘，盛之於囊以自隨。 征馬每匹給生穀二斗，作口袋，飼秣日以二升為限，旬日之間，人馬俱無饑色。 更以牙官子弟，戮力津擎裹送，則一月之糧，不煩饋運。 俟大軍既至，定議取舍，然後圖轉餉亦未為晚。 臣去年有平燕之策，入燕之路具在前奏，願加省覽。”
Your subject has often seen the court dispatch troops—before they even reach their garrison destinations, the Two Rivers prefectures are already conscripting people to transport grain; near and far are disturbed, and costs run tenfold. Your subject was born and raised on the frontier and is familiar with these matters. Moreover Youzhou is the state's northern gate, a heavy fortress holding the barbarians in check; maintaining troops by the tens of thousands and responding to the enemy is its regular business. Each time mobilization occurs, only dry grain rations need be prepared; entering barbarian territory for ten-plus days, the army carries its own grain, each man given more than a peck of flour packed in bags to carry himself. Each campaign horse is given two pecks of unhulled grain made into a feed bag, with daily fodder limited to two sheng—for ten days men and horses alike show no sign of hunger. Further, using junior officers' sons and younger brothers to exert themselves carrying supplies on poles and wrapped bundles, one month's provisions need not trouble supply transport. Wait until the main army has arrived and decide what to take and what to leave—then planning relay provisions is also not too late. Your subject last year set forth a strategy for pacifying Yan; the route into Yan is fully set out in the previous memorial—may Your Majesty examine it.
70
疏奏，頗采用之。
When the memorial was submitted, much of it was adopted.
71
淳化二年，詔百官轉對，琪首應詔，建明堂、辟雍之議。 五年，李繼遷寇靈武，命侍衛馬軍都指揮使李繼隆為河西兵馬都部署以討之。 西川賊帥李順攻劫州縣，以昭宣使王繼恩為劍南西川招安使。 琪又上書言邊事曰：
In the second year of Chunhua, an edict ordered all officials to give rotating audiences. Qi was the first to respond and proposed building the Bright Hall and the Piyong. In the fifth year, Li Jiqian raided Lingwu. Li Jilong, commander of the Palace Cavalry, was appointed overall commander of Hexi forces to suppress him. The bandit leader Li Shun in western Sichuan attacked and pillaged prefectures and counties. Wang Ji'en, commissioner of imperial messengers, was appointed pacification commissioner of Jiannan West Circuit. Qi submitted another memorial on border affairs, saying:
72
“臣頃任延州節度判官，經涉五年，雖未嘗躬造夷落，然常令蕃落將和斷公事，歲無虛月，蕃部之事，熟於聞聽。 大約党項、吐蕃風俗相類，其帳族有生戶、熟戶，接連漢界、入州城者謂之熟戶，居深山僻遠、橫過寇略者謂之生戶。 其俗多有世仇，不相來往，遇有戰鬥，則同惡相濟，傳箭相率，其從如流。 雖各有鞍甲，而無魁首統攝，並皆散漫山川，居常不以為患。
"Your subject recently served as administrative aide of the Yanzhou military commission for five years. Though I never personally visited the barbarian settlements, I regularly had tribal leaders mediate official business, month after month without fail, and am well acquainted with tribal affairs through what I have heard. Broadly speaking, Tangut and Tibetan customs are similar. Their clans divide into raw and tame households: those living along the Han border who enter prefectural cities are called tame households, while those dwelling in deep mountains and remote places who cross over to raid are called raw households. Their custom involves many hereditary feuds, and they do not visit one another. When fighting breaks out, those who share a grudge assist each other; they pass arrows to summon followers, and men follow as if carried by a stream. Though each man has saddle and armor, there is no chief to command and gather them. All are scattered across mountains and rivers and ordinarily pose no threat.
73
党項界東自河西銀、夏，西至靈、鹽，南距鄜、延，北連豐、會。 厥土多荒隙，是前漢呼韓邪所處河南之地，幅員千里。 從銀夏至青、白兩池，地惟沙磧，俗謂平夏； 拓拔，蓋蕃姓也。 自鄜、延以北，多土山柏林，謂之南山； 野利，蓋羌族之號也。
The Tangut frontier runs east from Yin and Xia in Hexi, west to Ling and Yan, south to Fu and Yan, and north to Feng and Hui. That land has much waste and open space. It is the Henan region where Huhanxie of the Former Han lived, a thousand li square. From Yinxia to the Green and White salt pools, the ground is only sand and gravel. Colloquially this is called Pingxia; Tuoba—that is a barbarian surname. North of Fu and Yan prefectures there are many earthen hills and cypress forests, called the Southern Mountains; Yeli—that is the name of a Qiang tribe.
74
從延州入平夏有三路：一、東北自豐林縣葦子驛至延川縣接綏州，入夏州界； 一、正北從金明縣入蕃界，至盧關四五百里，方入平夏州南界； 一、西北歷萬安鎮經永安城，出洪門至宥州四五百里，是夏州西境。 我師如入夏州之境，宜先招致接界熟戶，使為向導，其強壯有馬者，令去官軍三五十里踏白先行。 緣此三路，土山柏林，溪谷相接，而復隘狹不得成列，躡此鄉導，可使步卒多持弓弩槍鋸隨之，以三二千人登山偵邏，俟見坦途寧靜，可傳號勾馬遵路而行，我皆嚴備，保無虞也。
From Yan Prefecture into Pingxia there are three routes. One runs northeast from Weizi Post Station in Fenglin County to Yanchuan County, connecting with Suizhou and entering Xia Prefecture; one runs due north from Jinming County into barbarian territory, four or five hundred li to Lu Pass before entering southern Pingxia; one runs northwest through Wan'an garrison and Yong'an city, out Hong Gate to You Prefecture four or five hundred li away—that is the western border of Xia Prefecture. If our army enters Xia Prefecture territory, it should first summon tame border households as guides. Those who are strong and have horses should be sent thirty to fifty li ahead of the army to clear the path. Along these three routes, earthen hills and cypress forests give way to streams and ravines that connect yet remain narrow and cramped, so formations cannot be drawn up. Following these local guides, infantry can carry many bows, crossbows, spears, and saws, while two or three thousand men climb the hills to scout. When they see open, calm road, signal and bring the cavalry along the route. If we stay fully prepared, we will be safe.
75
長興四年，夏州李仁福死，有男彝超擅稱留後。 當時詔延州安從進與李彝超換鎮，彝超據夏州，固不奉詔，朝廷命邠州藥彥稠總兵五萬送從進赴任。 時頓兵城下，議欲攻取，軍儲不繼，遽命班師。 而振旅之時，不能嚴整，失戈棄甲，遂為邊人之利。
In the fourth year of Changxing, Li Renfu of Xia Prefecture died. His son Yichao seized the title of acting military governor. At the time the court ordered An Congjin of Yan Prefecture to exchange posts with Li Yichao. Yichao held Xia Prefecture and refused the edict. The court commanded Yao Yanchou of Bin Prefecture to lead fifty thousand troops to escort Congjin to his post. At the time the army halted below the city. Some proposed an attack, but army stores could not keep up, and they suddenly ordered withdrawal. When the army re-formed ranks it could not maintain discipline. Spears and armor were abandoned, and the border people profited from the disorder.
76
臣又聞党項號為小蕃，非是敵，若得出山布陣，止勞一戰，便可蕩除。 深入則饋運艱難，窮追則窟穴幽隱，莫若緣邊州鎮，分屯重兵，俟其入界侵漁，方可隨時掩擊，非為養勇，亦足安邊。 凡烏合之徒，勢不能久，利於速鬥，以騁兵鋒。 莫若持重守疆，以挫其銳。 彼無城守，眾乏餱糧，威賞不行，部族分散，然後密令覘其保聚之處，預於麟、府、鄜、延、寧、慶、靈、武等州約期會兵，四面齊進，絕其奔走之路，合勢擊之，可以剪除無噍類矣。 仍先告諭諸軍，擊賊所獲生口、資畜，許為己有，彼為利誘，則人百其勇也。
Your subject also hears that the Tangut are called a minor barbarian people and are no match for us. If they come out of the mountains to deploy in formation, one battle would suffice to wipe them out. Deep advance makes supply difficult, and hot pursuit leads only to hidden lairs. Better to station heavy forces at border prefectures and garrisons, and when they cross the frontier to plunder, strike at the opportune moment. This is not merely to hoard martial spirit—it is enough to secure the border. Rabble gathered in haste cannot endure long. They favor quick fights to show their martial edge. Better to hold the frontier with weighty defense and blunt their sharpness. They have no walled towns, lack rations, and rewards and punishments fail, so their clans scatter. Then secretly watch where they gather, pre-arrange allied troops from Lin, Fu, Fu, Yan, Ning, Qing, Ling, and Wuzhou prefectures, advance from four sides, cut off their escape routes, and combine forces to strike. The whole lot can be exterminated without survivors. Also announce beforehand to all armies that captives and livestock taken from fighting the enemy may be kept as their own. With profit as lure, each man will fight a hundred times harder.
77
靈武路自通遠軍入青岡峽五百里，皆蕃部熟戶。 向來使人、商旅經由，並在部族安泊，所求賂遺無幾，謂之“打當”，亦如漢界逆旅之家宿食之直也。 此時大軍或須入其境，則向導踏白，當如夏州之法。 況彼靈州便是吾土，芻粟儲畜，率皆有備。 緣路五七程，不煩供饋，止令逐都兵騎，裹糧輕齎，便可足用。 諺所謂“磨鐮殺馬”，劫一時之力也，旬浹之餘，固無闕乏矣。
The Lingwu route from Tongyuan Army through Qinggang Gorge for five hundred li is all tame tribal households. Envoys and merchants passing through always lodged with the tribes. The bribes sought were few—they call it "da dang," like the charges at inns for lodging and food on the Han frontier. When a great army must enter their territory, guides and path-clearers should follow the Xia Prefecture method. Moreover Ling Prefecture is our own territory. Fodder, grain, and stored livestock are generally prepared. For five to seven stages along the route there is no need to trouble supply lines. Have each command's cavalry carry grain lightly and that will suffice. As the proverb says, "grind the scythe to slaughter the horse"—it is exertion for a moment. After ten-plus days there will be no shortage.
78
又臣曾受任西川數年，經歷江山，備見形勢要害。 利州最是咽喉之地。 西過桔柏江，去劍門百里，東南去閬州，水陸二百餘里，西北通白水、清川，是龍州入川大路，鄧艾於此破蜀，至今廟貌存焉。 其外三泉、西縣，興、鳳等州，並為要衝，請選有武略重臣鎮守之。”
Your subject also once served in western Sichuan for several years, traversing rivers and mountains and seeing firsthand the terrain and key points. Lizhou is above all the throat of the region. West of it lies the Jubei River, a hundred li from Jian Gate. Southeast it is two hundred-plus li by water and land to Lang Prefecture. Northwest it connects Bait and Qingchuan. This is the great road from Long Prefecture into Sichuan. Deng Ai broke Shu here, and a temple still stands to this day. Beyond it, Sanquan, Xi County, Xing, Feng, and other prefectures are all key crossings. Please select able military ministers to garrison them.
79
奏入，上密寫其奏，令繼隆擇利而行。
When the memorial was submitted, the emperor personally copied it and had Jilong act as opportunity allowed.
80
至道元年春，大宴於含光殿，上問琪年，對曰：“七十有九。 ”上因慰撫久之。 二年春，拜右僕射，特令月給實奉一百千，又以其衰老，詔許五日一朝。 是年九月被病，令其子貽序秉筆，授辭作《多幸老民敘》，大抵謂《洪範》五福，人所難全，而己兼有之，實天幸也。 又口占遺表數百字而卒。 贈司空，諡惠安。 起復貽序為右讚善大夫，貽庥為大理評事，貽廣童子出身。 貽序上表乞終喪制，從之。 天禧初，錄其孫宗諒試秘書郎。
In spring of the first year of Zhidao, a great banquet was held at Hanguang Hall. The emperor asked Qi's age, and he replied, "Seventy-nine. " The emperor therefore consoled him at length. In spring of the second year he was appointed Right Vice Director, granted a special monthly stipend of one hundred thousand cash, and because of his advanced age was permitted to attend court once every five days. That year in the ninth month he fell ill. He had his son Yixu hold the brush and dictated An Account of a Greatly Fortunate Old Commoner, saying in essence that the five blessings set forth in the Great Plan from the Book of Documents are hard for anyone to possess fully, yet he had them all—a true gift of heaven. He also orally composed a final memorial of several hundred characters and died. He was posthumously honored as Minister of Works, with the posthumous name Huian. Yixu was recalled from mourning as right aide to the heir apparent, Yixiu as case reviewer of the Court of Judicial Review, and Yiguang entered service through the youth examination. Yixu submitted a memorial requesting to complete the mourning period, and the request was granted. At the beginning of the Tianxi era, his grandson Zongliang was appointed probationary secretary gentleman.
81
琪素有文學，頗諧捷。 在使府前後三十年，周知人情，尤通吏術。 在相位日，百執事有所求請，多面折之，以是取怨於人。
Qi had always been literary and was quite quick-witted. He served at commissioner offices for thirty years altogether, knew human affairs thoroughly, and was especially skilled in administrative methods. During his days as chief minister, when officials came with requests he often rebuked them to their face, and for this earned resentment.
82
貽序嘗預修《冊府元龜》，筆劄遒勁。 未幾，坐事左遷復州副使，起為殿中丞卒。
Yixu once participated in compiling the Prime Tortoise of the Book Repository, and his writing was vigorous. Before long he was demoted for an offense to vice commissioner of Fu Prefecture. He was later recalled as palace secretary and died in office.
83
宋雄者，亦幽州人。 初與琪齊名燕、薊間，謂之“二宋”。
Song Xiong was also a native of Youzhou. In his early years he was as famous as Qi throughout Yan and Ji, and the two were called "the Two Songs."
84
雄仕契丹為應州從事。 雍熙三年，王師北伐，雄與其節度副使艾正以城降，授正本州觀察使，以雄為鴻臚少卿同知州事。 改光祿少卿，歷知均、唐二州。 未幾，護河陰屯兵，以知河渠利害，因命領護汴口，均節水勢，以達轉漕，京師賴之。 改太子詹事，復為光祿少卿，遷將作監。 所至職務修舉，公私倚任焉。
Xiong served the Khitan as a staff member of Ying Prefecture. In the third year of Yongxi, when the imperial army marched north, Xiong and the military vice commissioner Ai Zheng surrendered the city. Ai Zheng was made observation commissioner of the prefecture, and Xiong was made Vice Director of the Court for Diplomatic Relations and co-administrator of prefectural affairs. He was transferred to Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and successively governed Jun and Tang prefectures. Before long he was put in charge of the Yellow River garrison. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of canals and sluices, he was ordered to oversee Bian mouth and regulate the water flow to enable transport. The capital relied on him. He was transferred to Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, again made Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and promoted to Director of Palace Buildings. Wherever he went his duties were well performed, and both public and private affairs relied on him.
85
雄涉獵文史，善談論，有氣節，士流多推許之。 景德元年，卒，年七十六。 錄其子可久為太常寺奉禮郎，賦祿終制。
Xiong ranged broadly in literature and history, was skilled in discussion, and had integrity. Men of the gentry greatly praised him. In the first year of Jingde he died at the age of seventy-six. His son Kejiu was enrolled as ceremonial attendant of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, with salary granted through the mourning period.
86
論曰：自薛居正而下，嘗居相位者凡四人，其始終出處雖不同，然觀於其行事，概可見矣。 初，朗州亡卒嘯聚為盜，監軍使疑城中僧千餘人皆與謀，欲盡殺之，居正緩其事，賊禽而僧不與，卒賴以活。 沈倫使吳越還，請以揚、泗軍儲百萬餘斛貸饑民，朝論難之。 倫曰：“國家以廩粟濟民，自當召和氣，致豐稔，豈復有水旱？ ”得請乃已。 太祖每取書史館，盧多遜預戒吏令白己，知所取，必通夕閱覽，以是答問多中。 宋琪始為程羽、賈琰所抑，繼為多遜所忌，其後自員外郎歲中四遷至尚書，居相位。 即此而觀，則守道蒙福者非幸致，而投荒竄死者非不幸也。 宋雄善持論，有氣節，雖與琪齊名，而爵位不侔者，所遇不同焉爾。 嗚呼，自昔懷材抱藝，而抑鬱下僚以終其身者多矣，豈特宋雄為然哉！
Discussion: From Xue Juzheng downward, four men once held the chief minister's post. Their beginnings and ends, rise and withdrawal, differ, yet viewed in their conduct, the outline may be seen. At first, discharged soldiers in Lang Prefecture gathered as bandits. The military supervisor suspected that more than a thousand monks in the city were all in the plot and wished to kill them all. Juzheng delayed the matter. The bandits were captured, and the monks had taken no part—in the end they were spared. Shen Lun, returning from a mission to Wuyue, requested that more than a million hu of military stores from Yang and Si be lent to starving people. Court discussion opposed it. Lun said, "When the state uses granary grain to aid the people, it should naturally summon harmonious qi and bring abundant harvests. How could flood and drought return? " He obtained permission and only then stopped. Whenever Taizu sent for books from the History Office, Lu Duoxun had the clerks notify him in advance of which volumes were requested. He would read them straight through the night, and by this his answers in questioning mostly hit the mark. Song Qi was first held back by Cheng Yu and Jia Yan, then envied by Duoxun. Afterward, from outer-section director he was promoted four times within a year to minister and reached the chief minister's post. Viewed from this, those who keep to the Way and receive its reward do not attain it by luck, and those cast into exile to die in flight are not simply unfortunate. Song Xiong was skilled in debate and had integrity. Though equally famous with Qi, his rank did not match—what they encountered differed, that is all. Alas, from old there have been many who cherished talent and held skill yet ended their lives in low office, frustrated and unrewarded. Was Song Xiong alone in this!