1
劉保勳
Liu Baoxun
2
劉保勳，字修業，河南人。 父處讓，仕後唐，入晉拜樞密使，出為彰德軍節度。 保勳少好騎射。 後唐清泰中，裁十許歲，攝潞州左司馬，隨父署彰德軍衙內都校。 父卒，補供奉官。 習刑名之學，頗工詩。 因獻詩，宰相桑維翰奇之，奏擢為太常丞。 歷漢為秘書丞。 周廣順初，有薦其詳練法律，兼大理正，遷工部員外郎。 歷掌鄆、宋、楚三州鹽、麴、商稅。
Liu Baoxun, whose style name was Xiuye, came from Henan. His father Liu Churang had served the Later Tang and, after the Jin takeover, was appointed Military Affairs Commissioner before being posted as military governor of the Zhangde Army. From boyhood Baoxun was fond of horsemanship and archery. During the Qingtai reign of the Later Tang, when he was only about ten, he served as acting Left Vice-Marshal of Lu Prefecture and accompanied his father to a posting as chief commander of the Zhangde Army headquarters guard. After his father's death he received an appointment as Palace Attendant. He studied penal law and became quite accomplished as a poet. When he submitted his poems, Chancellor Sang Weihan took notice and recommended him for promotion to Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. During the Later Han he served as Secretary of the Palace Library. Early in the Guangshun reign of Zhou he was recommended for his thorough knowledge of the law, appointed concurrent Chief Judge of the Court of Judicial Review, and then promoted to Vice Director in the Ministry of Works. He went on to administer the salt, liquor monopoly, and commercial tax operations of Yan, Song, and Chu prefectures.
3
宋初，拜戶部。 遭母喪，起復，出掌蘄口榷茶。 徙雲安監鹽制置使，歲滿，出羨餘百萬，轉運使欲以狀聞，保勳曰：「貪官物為己功，可乎？」 乃止。 開寶初，遷司封員外郎、監左藏庫。 六年，知宋州。 太平興國初，遷祠部郎中、通判晉州。 二年，選為江南西路轉運使，賜錢百萬。 三年，徙兩浙東北路。 太宗征晉陽，改戶部郎中，為隨軍轉運使兼勾當北面轉運事。 又與侯陟同勾當軍前諸事。 會陝西北路轉運使雷德驤調發沁州軍糧後期，詔劾德驤，以保勳代之。 太原平，命知幷州。 逾年召入，判大理寺，出知昇州。 是冬，召歸，點檢三司開拆司，會鹽鐵使闕，又命權領其事。 遷兵部郎中兼判三司勾院。 八年，拜右諫議大夫，俄知開封府。 寡婦劉詣府訴夫主前妻子元吉置堇食中，毒己將死。 按驗獄成，元吉妻撾登聞鼓訴冤，事下御史臺。 其實劉有姦狀，元吉知之，劉慙悸成疾，故誣告之。 保勳坐奪奉三月，俄以辛仲甫代之。 未幾，復判大理寺。
When the Song dynasty was founded he was appointed to the Ministry of Revenue. After his mother's death he was recalled from mourning to take charge of the Qiankou tea monopoly. He was reassigned as Salt Commissioner of Yun'an, and when his term ended he turned in a surplus of a million cash. The transport commissioner wanted to report this achievement, but Baoxun said, "Can one claim credit by hoarding public property as one's own?" The report was dropped. Early in the Kaibao reign he was made Vice Director of the Ministry of Honors and supervisor of the Left Treasury. In the sixth year of Kaibao he became prefect of Song Prefecture. Early in the Taiping Xingguo era he was promoted to Director in the Ministry of Rites and assigned as concurrent administrative prefect of Jin Prefecture. In the second year he was chosen as transport commissioner of the Jiangnan West Circuit and given a gift of a million cash. The next year he was transferred to the Zhejiang East and North Circuit. When Emperor Taizong campaigned against Jinyang, Baoxun was made Director in the Ministry of Revenue and appointed army transport commissioner with concurrent charge of northern transport affairs. He also shared with Hou Zhi the management of various affairs at the front. When Lei Dexiang, transport commissioner of the Shaanxi North Circuit, fell behind in dispatching army grain from Qin Prefecture, an imperial edict censured him and replaced him with Baoxun. After Taiyuan was pacified he was appointed prefect of Bing Prefecture. A year later he was recalled to the capital to preside over the Court of Judicial Review, then was posted as prefect of Sheng Prefecture. That winter he was recalled to inspect the Three Departments' Opening and Unpacking Office, and when the post of Salt and Iron Commissioner fell vacant he was also ordered to act in that capacity. He was promoted to Director in the Ministry of War with concurrent duty in the Three Departments Audit Office. In the eighth year he was made Right Remonstrating Grandee and soon afterward became prefect of Kaifeng. A widow surnamed Liu came to the prefectural court alleging that Yuanji, her husband's son by a former wife, had put hellebore in her food and nearly poisoned her to death. After investigation the case was closed, but Yuanji's wife beat the Petition Drum to protest injustice, and the matter was referred to the Censorate. In fact the widow Liu had been unfaithful; Yuanji knew of it, and Liu, consumed by shame and fear, fell ill and therefore brought a false accusation. Baoxun was penalized with three months' forfeiture of salary, and soon Xin Zhongfu replaced him. Before long he was again appointed to preside over the Court of Judicial Review.
4
雍熙二年，權御史中丞兼勾當差遣院。 是秋，罷權中丞。 三年春，命曹彬等征幽州，保勳以本官知幽州行府事。 子利涉以開封府兵曹督芻粟隨軍，常從其父。 會王師不利，濟拒馬河，更相蹂躪，多死。 保勳馬陷淖中，利涉自後掀出之，力不勝，人馬相擠壓，遂俱死。 時年六十二。 上命恤其後。 保勳三子，二子先保勳死，季子隨沒。 以其孫巨川為嗣，授秘書正字。 端拱初，特召贈工部侍郎。
In the second year of Yongxi he served as acting Vice Censor-in-Chief with concurrent charge of the Assignment Office. That autumn he was relieved of his acting post as Vice Censor-in-Chief. In the spring of the third year Cao Bin and others were ordered to campaign against Youzhou, and Baoxun retained his rank while taking charge of affairs at the Youzhou field headquarters. His son Lishe served as military aide of Kaifeng Prefecture supervising fodder and grain with the army and usually accompanied his father. When the imperial army met defeat, men crossing the Juma River trampled one another in the confusion, and many perished. Baoxun's horse sank in the mire; Lishe tried to lift him out from behind, but his strength gave way as men and horses pressed in upon them, and both were killed. He was sixty-two years old at the time. The emperor ordered that his survivors be cared for. Baoxun had three sons; two had died before him, and the youngest perished with him. His grandson Juchuan was established as his heir and appointed Secretary Proofreader. Early in the Duangong reign he was specially honored with a posthumous appointment as Vice Minister of Works.
5
保勳性純謹，少寐，未嘗忤物，精於吏事，不憚繁劇。 嘗語人曰：「吾受君命未嘗辭避，接同僚未嘗失意，居家積貲未嘗至千錢。」 及死，聞者皆痛惜之。 至道三年，又錄其次孫世長為正字。 咸平初，保勳妻卒，詔賜錢十萬。 巨川，累為比部郎中。
Baoxun was by nature pure and cautious, slept little, never gave offense to others, was expert in administrative matters, and did not shrink from arduous duties. He once told others, "I have never declined an imperial commission; in dealing with colleagues I have never lost their goodwill; and the wealth I have accumulated at home has never reached a thousand cash." When he died, all who heard of it grieved for him. In the third year of Zhidao his second grandson Shichang was also appointed Proofreader. Early in the Xianping reign Baoxun's wife died, and an edict granted a hundred thousand cash. Juchuan rose through several posts to Director in the Ministry of Revenue's Accounts Bureau.
6
滕中正
Teng Zhongzheng
7
滕中正，字普光，青州北海人。 曾祖瑤，高郵令。 祖煦，即墨令。 父保裔，興平令。 中正弱冠，舉進士不第。 周顯德中，滑帥向拱奏辟為掌書記。 拱移鎮彭門，會中正丁外艱，復表奪情，仍署舊職，加朝散大夫。 拱鎮襄陽，以中正為襄、均、房、復觀察判官。 及留守西洛，又奏署河南府判官、檢校戶部員外郎。
Teng Zhongzheng, whose style name was Puguang, came from Beihai in Qing Prefecture. His great-grandfather Yao had been magistrate of Gaoyou. His grandfather Xu had been magistrate of Jimo. His father Baoyi had been magistrate of Xingping. At coming of age Zhongzheng took the jinshi examination but failed to pass. During the Xiande reign of Zhou the military governor of Hua, Xiang Gong, recommended him for appointment as Recorder. When Gong was transferred to Peng Gate, Zhongzheng was mourning his father; Gong memorialized to have him recalled from mourning and kept in his former post, with the added rank of Gentleman for Dispersing Affairs. When Gong governed Xiangyang he appointed Zhongzheng administrative aide of the Xiang, Jun, Fang, and Fu observation circuit. While stationed at Western Luoyang he again recommended Zhongzheng as administrative aide of Henan Prefecture and Acting Vice Director in the Ministry of Revenue.
8
乾德五年，度支員外郎侯陟表中正有材幹，入為殿中侍御史。 兩川平，選知興元府，判西京留臺，俄通判河南府留守司事。 太祖雩祀西洛，以祗事之勤，轉倉部員外郎。
In the fifth year of Qiande, Revenue Vice Director Hou Zhi recommended Zhongzheng for his ability, and he was appointed Palace Censor. After the Two Chuan were pacified he was chosen prefect of Xingyuan and judge of the Western Capital Remaining Court, and soon served as concurrent administrative prefect of the Henan Remaining Court. When Taizu performed the rain-prayer sacrifice at Western Luoyang, Zhongzheng was transferred to Vice Director in the Ministry of Granaries for his diligent service.
9
雍熙元年春，大宴，上歡甚，以虛盞示群臣。 宰相言飲酒過度，恐有失儀之責。 上顧謂中正曰：「今君臣相遇，有失者勿彈劾也。」 因是伶官盛言宴會之樂，上曰：「朕樂在時平民安。」 是冬乾明節，群臣上壽酒，既三行，上目中正曰：「三爵之飲，實惟常禮，朕欲與群臣更舉一卮，可乎？」 中正曰：「陛下聖恩甚厚，臣敢不奉詔。」 殿上皆稱萬歲。
In the spring of the first year of Yongxi, at a grand banquet the emperor was in high spirits and held up an empty cup to his ministers. The chancellor said that excessive drinking might lead to charges of impropriety. The emperor turned to Zhongzheng and said, "Today ruler and ministers are together; if anyone errs, do not impeach him." The entertainers then lavishly praised the pleasures of the feast, and the emperor said, "My joy lies in the peace of the people in their season." That winter on the Qianming festival, after the ministers had presented birthday wine and three rounds had been drunk, the emperor looked at Zhongzheng and said, "Three rounds are the regular rite; I wish to raise one more cup with you all—may I?" Zhongzheng replied, "Your Majesty's gracious favor is very great; how dare your servant not obey the edict?" Everyone in the hall shouted "Long live the emperor!"
10
二年，以年老辭，出知河南府。 未幾，被病罷，分司西京。 淳化初，判留司御史臺，命其子玄錫權河南司錄以便養。 二年，卒，年八十四。
In the second year he resigned on grounds of age and was appointed prefect of Henan. Before long he fell ill and was relieved of duty, assigned to the Western Capital Remaining Court. Early in the Chunhua reign he presided over the Remaining Censorate and had his son Xuanxi appointed acting Henan Registrar so he could be cared for at home. In the second year he died, at the age of eighty-four.
11
中正性峻刻，連鞫大獄，時議以為深文。 權中丞日，振舉綱憲，人以稱職許之。 二子並舉進士，玄錫至刑部郎中，玄晏後名世寧，至工部郎中。
Zhongzheng was harsh by nature; he repeatedly tried major cases, and contemporaries regarded his judgments as overly severe. While acting as Vice Censor-in-Chief he enforced the laws vigorously, and people acknowledged that he fulfilled his duties. Both sons passed the jinshi examination; Xuanxi rose to Director in the Ministry of Punishments, and Xuanyan later took the name Shining and rose to Director in the Ministry of Works.
12
劉蟠，字士龍，濱州渤海人。 漢乾祐二年舉進士，解褐益都主簿。 宋初，歷安遠軍及河陽節度推官、保義軍掌書記。 乾德五年，召拜監察御史，典染院事。 初，蘇曉掌京城市征，頗幹集，及卒，選蟠代之。 冬，命為太宗生辰使。 開寶七年，與殿中丞劉德言同知淮南諸州轉運事。 太平興國初，就遷倉部員外郎，改轉運使，歲漕江東米四百萬斛以給京師，頗為稱職。 秩滿，部內僧道乞留，詔許再任，賜金紫，改駕部員外郎。 八年，丁內艱，時以諸州綱運留滯，起復，知京城陸路發運司事。 會河決韓村，大發丁夫塞之，命蟠調給其餉，未幾河塞。 朝廷方議封禪，以蟠為東封水陸計度轉運使，會詔罷其禮。 俄遷工部郎中，充河北水路轉運使。 改刑部郎中，就充水陸轉運使，入判本部事。 籍田畢，遷左諫議大夫。 淳化初，兼同考京朝官差遣。 二年，暴中風眩，上遣太醫視之，賜以金丹。 卒，年七十三。 賜錢十萬，給其喪事。
Liu Pan, whose style name was Shilong, came from Bohai in Bin Prefecture. In the second year of Qianyou of Han he passed the jinshi examination and took his first post as chief clerk of Yidu. Early in the Song he served successively as investigating censor of Anyuan Army and Heyang Circuit and as Recorder of Baoyi Army. In the fifth year of Qiande he was summoned and appointed Investigating Censor with charge of the Dyeing Bureau. Earlier Su Xiao had managed the capital levies with notable efficiency; when he died, Pan was chosen to replace him. That winter he was appointed birthday envoy to Taizong. In the seventh year of Kaibao he and Palace Director Liu Deyan jointly managed transport affairs for the Huainan prefectures. Early in Taiping Xingguo he was promoted in place to Vice Director in the Ministry of Granaries and then made transport commissioner; each year he shipped four million hu of Jiangdong rice to the capital and was widely regarded as competent. When his term ended, monks and Daoists in his circuit petitioned to keep him; an edict allowed reappointment, granted him gold and purple insignia, and promoted him to Vice Director in the Ministry of Carriages. In the eighth year, while mourning his mother, he was recalled from mourning because transport convoys were backing up and was put in charge of the capital's overland transport dispatch office. When the Yellow River broke at Hancun and corvée labor was mobilized to block it, Pan was ordered to supply their provisions; before long the breach was sealed. The court was then planning the Feng and Shan sacrifices and appointed Pan eastern Feng land-and-water planning transport commissioner, but soon an edict canceled the ceremony. Soon he was transferred to Director in the Ministry of Works and appointed Hebei water-route transport commissioner. He was made Director in the Ministry of Punishments, then served as land-and-water transport commissioner and entered the capital to judge affairs of his ministry. After the plowing ceremony he was promoted to Left Remonstrating Grandee. Early in the Chunhua reign he also took part in evaluating assignments for capital officials. In the second year he suddenly suffered a stroke; the emperor sent the imperial physician to treat him and granted golden elixir pills. He died at the age of seventy-three. The court granted a hundred thousand cash for his funeral.
13
蟠性清介寡合，能攻苦食淡，專事苛刻，好設奇詐，以售知人主。 典染作日，太祖多臨視之，蟠偵車駕至，輒衣短後衣，芒屩持梃以督役，頭蓬不治，遽出迎謁。 太祖以為勤事，賜錢二十萬。 嘗受詔巡茶淮南，部民私販者眾。 蟠乘羸馬，偽稱商人，抵民家求市茶，民家不疑，出與之，即擒置於法。
Pan was pure and aloof by nature, kept few companions, could endure hardship and plain fare, specialized in harsh methods, and liked to devise clever schemes to win the ruler's favor. While managing the dye works Pan noticed when Taizu came to inspect; as soon as the imperial carriage arrived he would put on a workman's short jacket and straw sandals, take a staff to supervise labor with unkempt hair, and rush out to receive the emperor. Taizu took this as proof of diligent service and granted him two hundred thousand cash. He once received an edict to inspect tea in Huainan, where private traders were numerous in his jurisdiction. Pan rode a weak horse and posed as a merchant, went to a household to buy tea; when the family unsuspectingly brought tea out, he seized them and punished them according to law.
14
子鍇，初以父蔭為大理評事，咸平二年，擢進士第。 嘗獻《幸太學頌》。 真宗中夜觀書，得鍇頌，頗嘉賞之，出以示輔臣，且言鍇幼孤，能自立，召試，命直史館。 累遷至戶部郎中、鹽鐵副使。
His son Kai first entered service through his father's privilege as a Court of Judicial Review reviewer; in the second year of Xianping he passed the jinshi examination. He once presented an "Ode on the Imperial Visit to the Imperial College." Reading late at night, Zhenzong came upon Kai's ode, admired it greatly, showed it to his chief ministers, and said that though Kai had been orphaned young he had made his own way; Kai was summoned for examination and appointed to the Historiography Institute. He rose through several posts to Director in the Ministry of Revenue and Vice Commissioner of Salt and Iron.
15
孔承恭
Kong Chenggong
16
孔承恭，字光祖，京兆萬年人。 唐昭宗東遷，舉族隨之，遂占籍河南。 五世祖戡，《唐書》有傳。 戡孫迥，萊州刺史。 迥子昌庶，虞部郎中。 昌庶子莊，仕晉為右諫議大夫。 由戡至莊，皆登進士第。 承恭，莊之子也。 以門蔭授秘書省正字，歷溫、安豐二縣主簿。 時王審琦節制壽春，以承恭名家子，奏攝節度推官。 府罷，調補鄭州錄事參軍，入為大理寺丞。 獻宮詞，託意求進。 太祖怒其引喻非宜，免所居官，放歸田里。
Kong Chenggong, whose style name was Guangzu, came from Wannian in Jingzhao. When Emperor Zhaozong of Tang moved east, the whole clan followed him and registered their household in Henan. His fifth-generation ancestor Zhan has a biography in the Book of Tang. Zhan's grandson Jiong was prefect of Lai. Jiong's son Changshu was Director in the Ministry of Parks. Changshu's son Zhuang served the Jin as Right Remonstrating Grandee. From Zhan to Zhuang, all had passed the jinshi examination. Chenggong was Zhuang's son. Through hereditary privilege he was appointed Secretary Proofreader and served successively as chief clerk of Wen and Anfeng counties. When Wang Shenqi governed Shouchun he memorialized to appoint Chenggong, as the son of a distinguished family, acting investigating censor of the circuit. When the headquarters was abolished he was transferred to Recorder of Zheng Prefecture and then entered service as Assistant Director of the Court of Judicial Review. He presented palace lyrics with allusions intended to seek advancement. Taizu was angered by his improper allusions, stripped him of office, and sent him home.
17
太宗即位，以赦復授舊官。 時初榷酒，以承恭監西京酒麴，歲增課六千萬。 遷大理正，議獄平允，擢庫部員外郎，判大理少卿事。 遷屯田、兵部二郎中，同考校京朝官課第。 端拱三年，下詔曰：「九寺三監，國之羽儀，制度聲名，往往而在。 各有副貳，率其司存，品秩素高，職任尤重。 郎吏遷授，斯為舊章。 比聞縉紳之流，頗以臺閣自許，目為散地，甚無謂焉。 朕將振之，自我而始。 其以兵部郎中孔承恭為太常少卿，魏羽為秘書少監，戶部郎中柴成務為光祿少卿，魏庠為衛尉少卿，張洎為太僕少卿，呂端為大理少卿，臧丙為司農少卿，袁廓為鴻臚少卿，工部郎中張雍為太府少卿。」 又以屯田郎中雷有終為少府少監，虞部郎中索湘為將作少監。 時裴祚、慎從吉、宋雄先為少卿，皆改授東宮官。 又詔承恭與左散騎常侍徐鉉刊正道書，俄以疾求解官，且言早遊嵩、少間，樂其風土，願卜居焉。 上召見，哀其羸瘠，出御藥賜之，授將作監致仕。 以其子玢同學究出身，為登封縣尉，俾就祿養。 未果行而卒，年六十二。
When Taizong acceded to the throne, an amnesty restored him to his former office. When the wine monopoly was first established Chenggong was put in charge of Western Capital wine and brew and increased annual revenue by sixty million. He was made Chief Judge of the Court of Judicial Review; his case deliberations were fair, and he was promoted to Vice Director in the Ministry of Stores with concurrent duty as Vice Director of the Court of Judicial Review. He was transferred to Director in the Ministries of Agriculture and War and took part in evaluating the performance grades of capital officials. In the third year of Duangong an edict declared, "The Nine Temples and Three Commissions are the ceremonial regalia of the state; their institutions and reputations are often preserved. Each has deputies who lead their offices; their ranks are inherently high and their duties especially weighty. Promotion of clerical officials to these posts is the established regulation. Recently it has been heard that many among the gentry regard terrace posts as their proper domain and call other offices scattered assignments—this is quite meaningless. I shall revive them, beginning with myself. War Ministry Director Kong Chenggong was made Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; Wei Yu, Vice Director of the Secretariat; Revenue Director Chai Chengwu, Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments; Wei Xiang, Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Guards; Zhang Bai, Vice Director of the Court of the Imperial Stud; Lü Duan, Vice Director of the Court of Judicial Review; Zang Bing, Vice Director of the Court of the Imperial Granaries; Yuan Kuo, Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Banquets; and Works Director Zhang Yong, Vice Director of the Court of the Imperial Treasury." Revenue Director Lei Youzhong was made Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Manufactories, and Parks Director Suo Xiang Vice Director of the Directorate of Imperial Works. At that time Pei Zuo, Shen Congji, and Song Xiong had already served as vice directors and were all reassigned as Eastern Palace officials. Another edict ordered Chenggong and Left Regular Attendant Xu Xuan to collate the Daoist canon; soon, ill, he asked to resign and said he had long loved the climate of the Song and Shao mountains and wished to settle there. The emperor summoned him, pitied his wasted frame, sent out imperial medicine, and appointed him Director of Imperial Works with permission to retire. His son Bin, who had passed the classicist examination, was made lieutenant of Dengfeng so he could draw salary to support his father. Before he could depart he died, at the age of sixty-two.
18
承恭少疏縱，及長，能折節自勵。 嘗上疏請令州縣長吏詢訪耆老，求知民間疾苦、吏治得失，及舉令文「賤避貴，少避長，輕避重，去避來」，請詔京兆並諸州於要害處設木牌刻其字，違者論如律。 上皆為行之。 尤奉佛，多蔬食，所得奉祿，大半以飯僧。 嘗勸上不殺人，又請於征戰地修寺及普度僧尼，人多言其迂闊云。
Chenggong was unrestrained in youth, but as an adult he learned to restrain himself and work hard. He once memorialized that prefectural and county chiefs should inquire of the elderly about popular hardships and administrative failings, and citing the statute "the base avoid the noble, the few avoid the many, the light avoid the heavy, the departing avoid the arriving," asked that Jingzhao and all prefectures set wooden boards at key points carving these words, with violators punished by law. The emperor implemented all of his proposals. He was especially devoted to Buddhism, ate mostly vegetables, and gave most of his salary to feed monks. He once urged the emperor not to take life and also asked that temples be built on battlefields and monks and nuns universally released; many called him impractical.
19
雍熙初，轉比部員外郎。 在任凡六年，召歸，面賜金紫，授度支判官。 俄遷屯田郎中、知益州，屬歲饑多盜，璫始至，以方略擒捕招輯，盜皆首伏屏息，下詔嘉獎。 端拱初，就拜右諫議大夫。 時兩川轉運使副皆坐事免，以璫為西川轉運使，加左諫議大夫，改知陝州。
Early in the Yongxi reign he was transferred to Vice Director in the Ministry of Revenue's Accounts Bureau. After six years in office he was recalled; the emperor personally granted him gold and purple insignia and appointed him Revenue Auditor. Soon he was made Director in the Ministry of Agriculture and prefect of Yizhou; famine had bred many bandits, but when Dang arrived he captured and pacified them by strategy until all surrendered and fell silent; an edict praised him. Early in the Duangong reign he was promoted in place to Right Remonstrating Grandee. When the deputy transport commissioners of the Two Chuan were all dismissed for offenses, Dang was made Western Chuan transport commissioner with the added rank of Left Remonstrating Grandee, then transferred to govern Shaan Prefecture.
20
淳化中，三吳歲饑、疾病，民多死，擇長吏養治之，命璫知蘇州。 璫體豐碩，素病足，至州，地卑濕，疾益甚。 人或勸其謝疾北歸，璫曰：「天子以民病俾我綏撫，我以身病而辭焉，非臣子之義也。」 既而太白犯南斗，曰：「斗為吳分，民方饑，天象如此，長吏得無咎乎！」 四年，卒，年六十一。 上聞之嗟悼，錄其子明遠為蒲城主簿，俾護其喪歸葬焉。
During the Chunhua era the Three Wu regions suffered repeated famine and disease and many died; the court chose experienced officials to care for the people and appointed Dang prefect of Suzhou. Dang was stout of build and had long suffered from foot ailments; the prefecture was low and damp and his illness grew worse. Some urged him to resign and return north on grounds of illness; Dang said, "The Son of Heaven sent me to soothe the people in their sickness; if I resign because of my own illness, that is not the duty of a minister." Soon Great White invaded the Southern Dipper; he said, "The Dipper is Wu's allotment and the people are starving; with the heavens thus, can a chief official escape blame?" In the fourth year he died, at the age of sixty-one. When the emperor heard he sighed in grief, enrolled his son Mingyuan as chief clerk of Pucheng, and had him escort the coffin home for burial.
21
璫性清簡，歷官三十年，未嘗問家事，唯聚書以貽子孫。 且曰：「使不忘本也。」 明遠，淳化三年進士，後為都官員外郎。 次子柔遠，亦舉進士及第。 垂遠，閤門祗候。
Dang was pure and simple by nature; in thirty years of office he never inquired into household affairs and only collected books for his descendants. He said, "So they will not forget their roots." Mingyuan passed the jinshi in the third year of Chunhua and later became Director in the Ministry of Punishments. His second son Rouyuan also passed the jinshi examination. Chuiyuan served as Attendant of the Palace Gate.
22
袁廓，劍州梓潼人。 在蜀舉進士及第。 入宋，補雙流縣主簿。 又為西平縣主簿，勾稽漏籍，得民丁萬餘，州將薦其勤職，就遷上蔡令，又以課最，擢太子右贊善大夫，令於御史府分領推事，掌榷貨務。 廓性誇誕，敢大言，好詆訐，太祖以奇士待之。
Yuan Kuo came from Zitong in Jian Prefecture. In Shu he passed the jinshi examination. After entering Song he was appointed chief clerk of Shuangliu County. He also served as chief clerk of Xiping; auditing omitted registers he found more than ten thousand male subjects; the prefect recommended his diligence and he was promoted in place to magistrate of Shangcai; again for outstanding performance he was made Right Assistant to the Heir Apparent, assigned to divide investigative duties at the Censorate, and put in charge of the monopoly goods office. Kuo was boastful by nature, spoke boldly, and loved to slander others; Taizu treated him as an extraordinary man.
23
會秦王廷美遷置房州，以崇儀副使閻彥進知州事，廓通判州事，並賜白金三百兩。 廓俄轉殿中侍御史，召為戶部判官，命與陳恕、李惟清專計度芻糧事。 改戶部員外郎，又為度支判官。 籍田，轉本曹郎中，判戶部勾院。
When Prince Qin Tingmei was reassigned to Fang Prefecture, Vice Commissioner of Honored Ceremonies Yan Yanjin was made prefect and Kuo concurrent administrative prefect; both were granted three hundred taels of white gold. Soon Kuo was transferred to Palace Censor, summoned as Revenue Auditor, and ordered with Chen Shu and Li Weiqing to specialize in planning fodder and grain. He was made Vice Director in the Ministry of Revenue and again Revenue Auditor. At the plowing ceremony he was made Director of his ministry and judge of the Revenue Audit Office.
24
廓強項好爭，數與判使等較曲直於上前，聲氣俱厲，上每優容之。 然勾稽精密，由是部領擁積，為郡吏所訴，詔御史辨問，廓謁見宰相趙普自理。 屬鄭州團練使侯莫陳利用得罪，廓嘗與利用書劄往還稔昵。 普謂之曰：「職司常事，此不足云，與利用交結款密，於理可乎？」 廓驚慚泣下，不能對。 數日，出知溫州。 就遷鴻臚少卿。
Kuo was obstinate and quarrelsome; he repeatedly argued points of right and wrong with the auditors before the emperor in fierce tones, yet the emperor always treated him with forbearance. Yet his auditing was precise; backlogs in his department drew complaints from circuit clerks; an edict ordered the censorate to investigate, and Kuo called on Chancellor Zhao Pu to plead his own case. It happened that Zhengzhou training commissioner Hou Mo Chen Liyong had committed an offense; Kuo had often exchanged familiar letters with Liyong. Pu said to him, "Routine office matters are not worth mentioning, but intimate association with Liyong—is that permissible in principle?" Kuo, startled and ashamed, wept and could not reply. Several days later he was sent out as prefect of Wen. He was promoted in place to Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Banquets.
25
同郡袁仁甫掌州之關征，素以宗盟之分，頗相親善，一旦不協，互有論奏。 上遣光祿寺丞牛韶往按驗，韶至，並攝繫獄置對。 上疑廓被誣，驛召赴闕。 廓性剛褊，被詰治峻急，詔書未至，以憤死。 上聞，甚追悼之。 復驗仁甫所訴，多無實狀，免韶官，貶仁甫商州長史，贈廓右諫議大夫。 錄其子丘賀為奉禮郎，始十歲。 上猶念廓不已，又詔削仁甫名籍，配隸商州。
His fellow townsman Yuan Renpu managed the prefecture's transit duties; as clansmen they had been quite friendly, but one day they fell out and each memorialized against the other. The emperor sent Revenue Temple Director Niu Shao to investigate; when Shao arrived he detained both in prison for questioning. The emperor suspected Kuo had been slandered and summoned him post-haste to court. Kuo was harsh and narrow by nature; under severe interrogation, before the edict of exoneration arrived he died of anger. When the emperor heard he deeply mourned him. Re-investigating Renpu's accusations, most had no factual basis; Shao was removed from office, Renpu demoted to senior recorder of Shang Prefecture, and Kuo was posthumously granted Right Remonstrating Grandee. His son Qiuhuo was enrolled as Court Gentleman for Ceremonies at only ten years of age. The emperor still thought of Kuo unceasingly and again ordered Renpu's name struck from the registers and assigned to penal service in Shang Prefecture.
26
樊知古
Fan Zhigu
27
樊知古，字仲師，其先京兆長安人。 曾祖偁，濮州司戶參軍。 祖知諭，事吳為金壇令。 父潛，事李景，任漢陽、石埭二縣令，因家池州。 知古嘗舉進士不第，遂謀北歸，乃漁釣采石江上數月，乘小舟載絲繩，維南岸，疾棹抵北岸，以度江之廣狹。 開寶三年，詣闕上書，言江南可取狀，以求進用。 太祖令送學士院試，賜本科及第，解褐舒州軍事推官。 嘗啟於上，言老母親屬數十口在江南，恐為李煜所害，願迎至治所。 即詔煜令遣之。 煜方聞命，即厚給齎裝，護送至境上。
Fan Zhigu, whose style name was Zhongshi, was descended from men of Chang'an in Jingzhao. His great-grandfather Cheng was Revenue Registrar of Shaan Prefecture. His grandfather Zhiyu served Wu as magistrate of Jintan. His father Qian served Li Jing as magistrate of Hanyang and Shidai and made his home in Chizhou. Zhigu once failed the jinshi examination and then plotted to go north; he fished on the Caishi River for several months, and in a small boat carried silk cord, moored at the south bank, and rowed swiftly to the north bank to measure the river's width. In the third year of Kaibao he came to court and memorialized describing how Jiangnan could be taken, seeking advancement. Taizu ordered him examined at the Academy; he was granted rank equal to a jinshi graduate and began service as investigating censor of Shu Prefecture. He once reported that several dozen close kin remained in Jiangnan and feared harm from Li Yu, and asked that they be brought to his post. An edict at once ordered Yu to send them. Yu had just received the order and at once generously provided travel funds and escorted them to the border.
28
七年，召拜太子右贊善大夫。 會王師征江表，知古為鄉導，下池州。 八年，以知古領州事。 先是，州民保險為寇，知古擊之，連拔三砦，擒其魁以獻，餘皆潰散。 方議南征，命高品石全振往湖南造黃黑龍船，以大艦載巨竹縆，自荊南而下，遣八作使郝守濬等率丁匠營之。 議者以謂江濤險壯，恐不能就，乃於石碑口試造之，移至采石，三日橋成，不差尺寸，從知古之請也。
In the seventh year he was summoned and appointed Right Assistant to the Heir Apparent. When the imperial army campaigned south of the Yangtze, Zhigu served as local guide and took Chizhou. In the eighth year Zhigu was put in charge of the prefecture. Earlier the people had relied on terrain for banditry; Zhigu attacked them, took three stockades in succession, captured their chieftain and presented him, and the rest fled and dispersed. When the southern campaign was being discussed, high-ranking officer Shi Quanzhen was sent to Hunan to build yellow and black dragon boats; great ships carried huge bamboo cables downstream from Jingnan, and Eight Works Commissioner Hao Shoujun and others led corvée craftsmen to build them. Opinion held that the river's waves were too fierce, but a trial bridge was built at Shibei Ford, moved to Caishi, and completed in three days without error in measurement—following Zhigu's plan.
29
金陵平，擢拜侍御史，令乘傳按行江南諸州，詢訪利民，復命知江南東路轉運事。 數日，改授江南轉運使，賜錢一百萬。 先是，江南諸州官市茶十分之八，復徵其餘分，然後給符聽其所往，商人苦之。 知古請蠲其稅，仍差增所市之直，以便於民。 江南舊用鐵錢，十當銅錢之一，物價翔踴，民不便，知古亦奏罷之。 先是，李煜用兵，權宜調斂，知古悉奏為常額。 豫章洪氏嘗掌昇州榷酤，逋鐵錢數百萬。 至是，知古挾微時嘗辱於洪氏，責償銅錢以快意。
When Jinling was pacified he was promoted to Attending Censor and ordered to travel by post through the Jiangnan prefectures inquiring what benefited the people; on his return he was again ordered to manage Jiangnan East Circuit transport affairs. Several days later he was made Jiangnan transport commissioner and granted a million cash. Earlier the Jiangnan prefectures in official tea purchases took eight-tenths and then levied the remainder again before issuing permits for where merchants might go, to the merchants' great distress. Zhigu asked that the tax be remitted and purchase prices increased to benefit the people. Jiangnan had used iron cash at ten to one copper cash, prices soared, and the people suffered; Zhigu also memorialized to abolish it. Earlier when Li Yu raised troops, expedient levies had been imposed; Zhigu memorialized that all be made standing quotas. The Hong clan of Yuzhang had once managed the Shengzhou liquor monopoly and owed several million in iron cash. By then Zhigu, remembering a slight from the Hong clan in his youth, demanded repayment in copper cash to satisfy himself.
30
太宗即位，授庫部員外郎。 召歸，換金紫，賜錢百萬，命為京西北路轉運使。 太平興國六年，加虞部郎中，就改知邠州，移鳳翔府。 入為鹽鐵判官，出領荊湖轉運使。 雍熙初，遷比部郎中。 會河朔用兵，分諸郡為兩路，以給漕輓。 遷知古為東路轉運使，遷駕部郎中，賜錢五十萬。 知古本名若水，字叔清，因召見，上問之曰：「卿名出何書？」 對曰：「唐尚書右丞倪若水亮直，臣竊慕之。」 上笑曰：「可改名『知古』」。 知古頓首奉詔。 倪若水實名「若冰」，知古學淺，妄引以對，人皆笑之。
When Taizong acceded he was appointed Vice Director in the Ministry of Stores. He was recalled, granted gold and purple insignia and a million cash, and made transport commissioner of the Capital Northwest Circuit. In the sixth year of Taiping Xingguo he was made Parks Director, then prefect of Bin, then transferred to Fengxiang. He entered as Salt and Iron Auditor and went out to head Jinghu transport. Early in Yongxi he was transferred to Director in the Ministry of Revenue's Accounts Bureau. When troops were mobilized in Hebei the prefectures were divided into two circuits to supply transport. Zhigu was made Eastern Circuit transport commissioner and promoted to Director in the Ministry of Carriages, with a grant of five hundred thousand cash. Zhigu's original name was Ruoshui, style name Shuqing; at an audience the emperor asked, From what book does your name come? He replied, Tang Right Vice Director of the Secretariat Ni Ruoshui was upright; your servant secretly admires him. The emperor smiled and said, You may change your name to Zhigu. Zhigu bowed and accepted the edict. Ni Ruoshui's actual name was Ruobing; Zhigu's learning was shallow and he cited the wrong name in reply, to everyone's amusement.
31
端拱初，遷右諫議大夫、河北東西路都轉運使，賜白金千兩。 兩路各置轉運副使，都轉運使之名自知古始。 二年，詔加河北西路招置營田使。 奏請修城木五百餘萬、牛革三百萬。 上曰：「萬里長城豈在於此？ 自古匈奴、黃河，互為中國之患。 朕自即位以來，或疆埸無事，則有修築圩堤之役。 近者邊烽稍警，則黃河安流無害，此蓋天意更迭垂戒，常令惕厲。 然而預備不虞，古之善教，深溝高壘，亦王公設險之義也。 所請過當，不亦重困吾民乎？」 乃詔有司量以官物給之。
Early in Duangong he was made Right Remonstrating Grandee and overall transport commissioner of Hebei East and West circuits, with a grant of a thousand taels of white gold. Each circuit was given a deputy transport commissioner; the title of overall transport commissioner began with Zhigu. In the second year an edict added him as Hebei West Circuit commissioner for establishing military farms. He memorialized requesting more than five million units of timber for wall repair and three million ox hides. The emperor said, Is the ten-thousand-li Great Wall really built of this? From antiquity the northern nomads and the Yellow River have each been a calamity to China. Since I acceded, when the borders are quiet there is work on dikes and embankments. Recently the frontier beacons have been somewhat alarming, yet the Yellow River flows peacefully without harm—perhaps Heaven's alternating admonition to keep us vigilant. Yet preparedness against the unforeseen is the good teaching of antiquity; deep moats and high ramparts are also what kings and dukes mean by establishing defenses. Your request is excessive—will it not heavily burden our people? An edict then ordered the relevant offices to measure and supply government goods.
32
會度支使李惟清上言河北軍儲無備，請發河南十七軍州轉粟以赴。 太宗曰：「農事方殷，豈可更興此役？」 惟清固以為請，上遣左正言馮拯乘傳與知古計之。 知古即言：「河北軍儲可以均濟足，俟農隙令民轉餉。」 拯復命，太宗曰：「不細籌之，則民果受弊矣。」 未幾，入朝奏事稱旨，拜給事中。 俄為戶部使。
When Revenue Commissioner Li Weiqing memorialized that Hebei army stores were unprepared and requested grain transported from seventeen armies and prefectures of Henan, Taizong said, Agricultural work is at its height—how can we launch this labor again? Weiqing firmly pressed his request; the emperor sent Left Rectifier Feng Zheng by post to plan with Zhigu. Zhigu at once said, Hebei army stores can be balanced and made sufficient; wait until a break in farming and order the people to transport provisions. Zheng returned to report; Taizong said, Without careful planning the people would indeed have suffered. Before long, memorializing at court to the emperor's satisfaction, he was appointed Drafting Attendant. Soon he was made Revenue Commissioner.
33
知古有才力，累任轉運使，甚得時譽。 及在戶部，頻以職事不治，詔書切責，名益減。 素與陳恕親善，恕時參知政事，太宗言及計司事有乖違者，恕具以告。 後因奏事，知古遂自解。 上問：「從何得知？」 曰：「陳恕告臣。」 上怒恕泄禁中語，且嫉知古輕侻，故兩罷之。 出知古知梓州，未至，改西川轉運使。
Zhigu was talented and capable; he repeatedly served as transport commissioner and won great reputation. In the Revenue Ministry he frequently failed in his duties; edicts sternly rebuked him and his reputation declined. He had long been friendly with Chen Shu; Shu was then Associate Administrator, and when Taizong spoke of Revenue Office irregularities Shu told Zhigu everything. Later when memorializing at court Zhigu explained himself. The emperor asked, How did you learn of it? He said, Chen Shu told me. The emperor was angry that Shu had leaked palace secrets and resented Zhigu's flippancy, and dismissed both. Zhigu was sent out as prefect of Zizhou; before he arrived he was changed to Western Chuan transport commissioner.
34
知古自以嘗任三司使，一旦掌漕運劍外，鬱鬱不得志，常稱足疾，未嘗按行郡縣。
Zhigu thought that having once been Revenue Commissioner, to hold transport of the sword regions alone left him depressed; he often claimed foot ailments and never inspected prefectures and counties.
35
蜀中富饒，羅紈錦綺等物甲天下，言事者競商榷功利。 又土狹民稠，耕種不足給，由是兼並者益糴賤販貴以規利。 淳化中，青城縣民王小波聚眾為亂，謂其眾曰：「吾疾貧富不均，今為汝輩均之。」 附者益眾，遂攻陷青城縣，掠彭山，殺其令齊元振。 巡檢使張玘與鬥於江源縣，射小波，中其額，旋病創死，玘亦被殺。 眾遂推小波妻弟李順為帥。 初，小波黨與裁百人，州縣失於備禦，故所在蜂起，至萬餘人。 攻蜀州，殺監軍王亮及官吏十餘人。 陷邛州，害知州桑保紳、通判王從式及諸僚吏，逐都巡檢使郭允能。 允能率麾下與戰新津江口，為賊所殺，同巡檢、殿直毛儼徒步以身免。 賊勢益張，眾至數萬人，陷永康軍、雙流、新津、溫江、郫縣，縱火大掠，留其黨守之。 往攻成都，燒西郭門，不利，引去。 陷漢州、彭州，旋陷成都。
Shu was rich; silk, gauze, and brocade were foremost under Heaven, and memorialists competed to discuss profit. The land was narrow and the people numerous; farming could not fully supply them, and magnates bought cheap and sold dear for profit. In the Chunhua era Wang Xiaobo of Qingcheng county gathered a crowd in rebellion, telling his followers, I hate that rich and poor are not equal; now I will equalize them for you. Those who joined grew ever more numerous; they then took Qingcheng, plundered Pengshan, and killed its magistrate Qi Yuanzhen. Inspector Zhang Qi fought them at Jiangyuan; he shot Xiaobo in the forehead; soon Xiaobo died of the wound, and Qi was also killed. The crowd then made Xiaobo's brother-in-law Li Shun commander. At first Xiaobo's party numbered barely a hundred; prefectures and counties failed in defense, and uprisings flared everywhere until they exceeded ten thousand. They attacked Shu Prefecture and killed military inspector Wang Liang and more than ten officials. They took Qiong Prefecture, killed prefect Sang Baoshen, administrative prefect Wang Congshi, and all subordinate officials, and drove off chief inspector Guo Yunneng. Yunneng led his subordinates to fight at the Xinjin river mouth and was killed; fellow inspector and palace attendant Mao Yan escaped on foot. The bandits grew stronger until tens of thousands took Yongkang Army, Shuangliu, Xinjin, Wenjiang, and Pixian, set great fires and plundered widely, and left their party to hold them. They went to attack Chengdu, burned the western gate, met ill fortune, and withdrew. They took Han and Peng prefectures, then soon took Chengdu.
36
時已詔知梓州、右諫議大夫張雍代知古為轉運使。 雍未至，知古與知府郭載及屬官走東川。 詔復令掌兩川漕運。 知古具伏擅離所部，制置無狀，上特宥之，以本官出知均州。 視事旬日，憂悸卒，年五十二。 上猶嗟憫，賜其子漢公同學究出身。
By then an edict had appointed Zhang Yong, governing Zizhou as Right Remonstrating Grandee, to replace Zhigu as transport commissioner. Yong had not yet arrived; Zhigu fled east with prefect Guo Zai and subordinate officials. An edict again ordered him to manage Two Chuan transport. Zhigu fully confessed leaving his post without authorization and inept leadership; the emperor specially pardoned him and sent him out as prefect of Jun with his existing rank. After ten days in office he died of anxiety, at the age of fifty-two. The emperor still sighed in pity and granted his son Hangong passage of the classicist examination.
37
知古明俊有吏幹，辭辨捷給，及任西川，不能弭盜而逃，雖獲宥，終以慙死云。
Zhigu was bright and capable, quick in debate; yet in Western Chuan he could not suppress bandits and fled; though pardoned, he finally died of shame.
38
郭載 〈附〉
Guo Zai (Appendix)
39
郭載，字咸熙，開封浚儀人。 父暉，右監門衛將軍、義州刺史。 載蔭為右班殿直，累遷供奉官、閤門祗候。 雍熙初，提舉西川兵馬捕盜事，太宗賜鞍馬、器械、銀錢以遣之。 四年，以積勞加崇儀副使。 召還，上言：「川、峽富人俗多贅婿，死則與其子均分其財，故貧者多。」 詔禁之。 端拱二年，擢引進副使、知天雄軍，入同勾當三班，出知秦州兼沿邊都巡檢使。 先是，巡邊者多領兵騎以威戎人，所至頗煩苦之。 載悉減去，戎人感悅。 遷西上閤門使，改知成都府。
Guo Zai, whose style name was Xianxi, came from Junyi in Kaifeng. His father Hui was General of the Right Palace Gate Guards and prefect of Yi. Through privilege Zai was made Right Guard Attendant and rose to Palace Attendant and Attendant of the Palace Gate. Early in Yongxi he was commissioned to raise Western Chuan troops to capture bandits; Taizong granted saddle horses, weapons, silver, and cash to send him off. In the fourth year, for accumulated merit he was made Vice Commissioner of Honored Ceremonies. When recalled he memorialized, In Chuan and Xia the rich often practice uxorilocal marriage; when the father dies property is divided equally with the son, and therefore many are poor. An edict forbade it. In the second year of Duangong he was promoted to Vice Commissioner for Introduction and prefect of Tianxiong; he entered to jointly manage the Three Classes and went out as prefect of Qin with concurrent frontier chief inspector. Earlier frontier inspectors often led cavalry to overawe the barbarians and caused considerable hardship wherever they went. Zai reduced them all; the barbarians were moved and pleased. He was transferred to Western Upper Palace Gate Commissioner and made prefect of Chengdu.
40
載在天雄軍，屢奏市糴朝臣段獻可、馮侃等所市粗惡，軍人皆曰：「此物安可充食？」 太宗頗疑，使覆驗之，及報，與戴奏同。 獻可等皆坐削官，仍令填償。 及載受代，獻可等所市皆支畢，復有羨數。 三司判勾馮拯以聞，太宗召度支使魏羽詰之。 羽曰：「獻可等所市不至粗惡，亦無欠數。 臣與侃親舊，是以未敢白。」 太宗曰：「此公事爾，何用畏避？」 因詔宰相謂曰：「此乃郭載力奏，朕累與卿等議，皆云有實。 今支畢，頗有羨餘，軍士復無詞訴。 郭載，朕向以純誠待之，何為矯誣及此？ 然已委西川，俟還日別當詰責。」 於是獻可等悉復官。
At Tianxiong Army Zai repeatedly memorialized that court ministers Duan Xianke and Feng Kan's purchases were coarse and inferior; the soldiers all said, How can this stuff serve as food? Taizu was quite suspicious and ordered re-investigation; when the report came it matched Zai's memorial. Xianke and the others were all reduced in rank and ordered to make restitution. When Zai was relieved, what Xianke and the others had purchased was all paid out and there was still a surplus. Three Departments auditor Feng Zheng reported this; Taizong summoned Revenue Commissioner Wei Yu to question him. Yu said, What Xianke and the others purchased was not coarse or inferior, nor was there any shortage. I am intimate with Kan and therefore did not dare report it. Taizong said, This is a public matter—why evade it? He then told the chancellor, This was vigorously memorialized by Guo Zai; I repeatedly discussed it with you all and you said there were facts. Now it is all paid out with quite a surplus, and the soldiers again have no complaints. Guo Zai—I have always treated him with pure sincerity; why does he fabricate and deceive to this extent? Yet he has already been assigned to Western Chuan; wait until he returns and then deal with the matter. Thereupon Xianke and the others were all restored to office.
41
載行至梓州，時李順已構亂，有日者潛告載曰：「益州必陷，公往當受禍，少留數日可免。」 載怒曰：「吾受詔領方面，阽危之際，豈敢遷延邪？」 即日入成都。 順兵攻城益急，不能拒守，乃與樊知古率僚屬斬關出，以餘眾由梓州趨劍門，隨招安使王繼恩統兵討順，平之，復入成都。 月餘，憂患成病，卒，年四十。
When Zai reached Zizhou, Li Shun had already raised rebellion; a diviner secretly told Zai, Yizhou will surely fall; if you go you will suffer disaster; stay a few days and you can escape. Zai angrily said, I received an edict to govern a region; at a moment of peril how dare I delay? That same day he entered Chengdu. Shun's troops pressed the siege ever tighter; unable to defend, he with Fan Zhigu led subordinates to cut through the gate and flee; with the remaining troops they went by Zizhou toward Jianmen, followed Pacification Commissioner Wang Jien who commanded troops to suppress Shun, then re-entered Chengdu. After more than a month, worry and illness brought death, at the age of forty.
42
載前在蜀，頗能為民除害，故蜀民悅之。 再至成都，即值兵亂，及隨繼恩平賊，亦有所全濟。 故其死也，成都人多歎惜之。
Earlier in Shu Zai had been quite able to remove harm for the people, and the people of Shu were pleased with him. When he came again to Chengdu he immediately met military chaos; when he followed Jien to pacify the bandits he also saved many. Therefore at his death many in Chengdu sighed in regret.
43
臧丙，字夢壽，大名人。 弱冠好學。 太平興國初舉進士，解褐大理評事，通判大寧監，官課民煮井為鹽，丙職兼總其事。 先是，官給錢市薪，吏多侵牟，至歲課不充，坐械繫者常數十百人。 丙至，召井戶面付以錢，既而市薪山積，歲鹽致有羨數。
Zang Bing, whose style name was Mengshou, came from Daming. From youth he loved learning. Early in Taiping Xingguo he passed the jinshi examination, entered service as Evaluator in the Court of Judicial Review and vice-prefect of the Daning Supervisorate; the state taxed the people for well-salt production, and Bing was charged with overseeing it. Before his arrival the government paid out money for fuelwood, but clerks often skimmed and extorted until the yearly quota fell short, and dozens or hundreds were regularly shackled for it. When Bing took over, he summoned the well households and paid them in person; soon fuelwood was piled high, and the year's salt output showed a surplus.
44
太宗平晉陽，以丙為右贊善大夫、知遼州。 丙素剛果，有吏幹。 會同年生馮汝士以秘書丞知石州，與監軍不協，一夕剚刃於腹而死，事可疑。 丙上疏言汝士死非自殺，乞按治。 上覽奏驚駭，即遣使鞫之，召丙問狀。 丙曰：「汝士居牧守之任，不聞有私罪，而言自殺，若使冤死不明，不加宿直者以罪，今後書生不能治邊郡矣。」 上嘉其直，改著作郎，俄遷右拾遺、直史館。 加工部員外郎，充河東轉運使，俄兼本路營田使。 代歸，授戶部郎中、同知審官院。
When Taizong pacified Jinyang, he made Bing Right Gentlemen for Promoting Goodness and prefect of Liaozhou. Bing was by nature firm and decisive and had a gift for administration. His fellow jinshi of the same year, Feng Rushi, was serving as Secretary of the Secretariat and governing Shizhou; he fell out with the army supervisor, and one night died with a blade thrust into his belly—a suspicious case. Bing memorialized that Ruoshi had not killed himself and asked that the matter be investigated. The emperor read the memorial with alarm, immediately sent an envoy to investigate, and summoned Bing to question him about the facts. Bing said, "Ruoshi held a prefectural governorship; no private offense was ever heard against him, yet they call it suicide. If a wrongful death is left unexplained and the officer on night watch is not punished, hereafter no scholar will dare govern a frontier prefecture." The emperor admired his bluntness, made him Compiler, and soon promoted him to Right Reminder and Historiographer in the History Office. He was given the additional title of Vice Director in the Ministry of Works, appointed Hedong transport commissioner, and soon also military-colony commissioner for that circuit. When his term ended he was appointed Vice Director in the Ministry of Revenue and associate manager of the Bureau of Appointments.
45
朝廷方以九寺亞列為重，改司農少卿。 淳化二年，拜右諫議大夫，出知江陵府。 歲餘，疾。 上聞之，遣中使及尚醫馳往視之，逾月卒，年五十三。 上軫悼之，以其子待用為四門助教。
The court then valued the nine directorates as paired in parallel rank; he was transferred to Vice Director of the Directorate of Agriculture. In the second year of Chunhua he was made Right Remonstrating Censor and sent out as prefect of Jiangling. After a little more than a year he fell ill. When the emperor heard, he sent a palace envoy and the imperial physician posthaste to see him; after more than a month he died, at the age of fifty-three. The emperor grieved for him and appointed his son Daiyong Instructor at the Four Gates Academy.
46
丙舊名愚，字仲回。 既孤，常夢其父召丙偶立於庭，向空指曰：「老人星見矣。」 丙仰視之，黃明潤大，因望而拜。 既寤，私喜曰：「吉祥也。」 以壽星出丙入丁，乃改名焉，至是無驗。 丙於禮不當更名，古人戒數占夢，無妄喜也。
Bing had originally been named Yu, with the courtesy name Zhonghui. After he was orphaned he often dreamed that his father called Bing to stand beside him in the courtyard, pointed at the sky, and said, "The Old Man Star has appeared." Bing looked up; it was yellow, bright, lustrous, and large, and he gazed up and bowed. When he awoke he said privately with delight, "An auspicious omen." Because the longevity star appeared in geng and entered ding, he changed his name accordingly—but in the end the omen was not fulfilled. By ritual Bing should not have changed his name; the ancients warned against repeated dream-divination—one must not rejoice without reason.
47
待用歷金部郎中、東染院使、賀州刺史。 次子列進士及第，至太常丞。
Daiyong served in turn as Vice Director in the Ministry of Finance, commissioner of the Eastern Dyeing Court, and prefect of Hezhou. His second son Lie passed the jinshi examination and rose to Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
48
徐休復
Xu Xiufu
49
徐休復，字廣初，濮州鄄城人。 太平興國初舉進士，解褐大理評事、通判。 轉運使薦其材，代歸，授太子右贊善大夫，改著作郎、直史館，賜緋魚，遷左拾遺。 六年，加右補闕，充兩浙東北路轉運副使，移知明州。 七年秋，被召赴闕，明年，授庫部員外郎、知制誥。 九年，出知廣州，是歲，加水部郎中。 雍熙二年，就遷比部郎中，充樞密直學士，賜金紫，依舊知州事。
Xu Xiufu, whose courtesy name was Guangchu, came from Juancheng in Puzhou. Early in Taiping Xingguo he passed the jinshi and entered service as Evaluator in the Court of Judicial Review and vice-prefect. The transport commissioner recommended his ability; when his term ended he was made Right Gentlemen for Promoting Goodness to the Heir Apparent, then Compiler and Historiographer in the History Office, granted crimson robe and fish tally, and promoted to Left Reminder. In the sixth year he was given the additional title of Right Supplements-the-Omissions, made deputy transport commissioner of the Eastern and Northern Two Zhe circuits, and transferred to govern Mingzhou. In autumn of the seventh year he was summoned to court; the following year he was appointed Vice Director in the Ministry of Stores and drafter of imperial documents. In the ninth year he went out as prefect of Guangzhou; that year he was given the additional title of Director in the Ministry of Water Works. In the second year of Yongxi he was promoted in place to Director in the Ministry of Punishments, appointed Academician-on-Call of the Bureau of Military Affairs, granted gold seal and purple robe, and continued to govern the prefecture as before.
50
休復與轉運使王延範不協，乃奏延範私養術士，厚待過客，撫部下吏有恩，發書與故人韋務昇作隱語，偵朝廷事，反狀已具。 詔遣內侍閻承翰與休復同按劾之，遂抵於法。
Xiufu was at odds with transport commissioner Wang Yanfan; he memorialized that Yanfan secretly kept ritual specialists, lavishly entertained travelers, showed favor to subordinates, sent letters to his old friend Wei Wusheng in hidden language, and spied on court affairs—the case for treason was complete. An edict sent the inner attendant Yan Chenghan to investigate with Xiufu; Yanfan was brought to justice.
51
端拱初，加左諫議大夫，召為戶部使。 淳化元年，罷使，遷給事中，連知青、潞二州。 休復先上言，以父母槁葬青社，願得領州事，因營丘壟。 至青州逾年，但聚財殖貨，終不言葬事。 至潞州數月，瘍生於腦。 既而疾甚，若見王延範，休復但號呼稱死罪，後數日卒，年五十三。
Early in Duangong he was made Left Remonstrating Censor and summoned as Revenue Commissioner. In the first year of Chunhua the commission was abolished; he was promoted to Supervisor in the Secretariat and in succession governed Qing and Lu prefectures. Xiufu had earlier memorialized that his parents lay in rough burial in the Qing region and he wished to obtain a prefecture so he could tend their graves. After more than a year at Qingzhou he only amassed wealth and goods and never once spoke of the burial. After several months at Luzhou a carbuncle formed in his head. His illness soon worsened; he seemed to see Wang Yanfan and could only cry out confessing a capital crime; a few days later he died, at the age of fifty-three.
52
休復無他能，掌誥命甚不稱職，履行不見稱於搢紳云。
Xiufu had no other talent; as drafter of edicts he was quite unfit, and his conduct won no praise among officials, it is said.
53
張觀，字仲賓，常州毗陵人。 在江南登進士第。 歸宋，為彭原主簿。 太平興國初，移興元府掾，復舉進士不第，調雞澤主簿。 再求試，特授忠武掌書記，就改觀察判官。 上請復刺史及不遣武德卒詣外州偵事，頗稱旨，召拜監察御史，充桂陽監使。 獻所業文，賜進士及第。
Zhang Guan, whose courtesy name was Zhongbin, came from Piling in Changzhou. He passed the jinshi examination in Jiangnan. After submitting to Song he served as registrar of Pengyuan. Early in Taiping Xingguo he was transferred as staff member of Xingyuan Prefecture, failed the jinshi examination again, and was assigned registrar of Jize. He sought to try the examination again and was specially appointed secretary to the Zhongwu military commission, then made administrative aide of the inspection commission. He memorialized requesting restoration of regional prefects and that Wude troops not be sent to outer prefectures as spies; this greatly pleased the emperor, and he was summoned as Investigating Censor and commissioner of the Guiyang supervisorate. He presented his literary compositions and was granted jinshi with honors.
54
會三司言劍外賦稅輕，詔觀乘傳按行諸州，因令稍增之。 觀上疏言：「遠民不宜輕動撓，因而撫之，猶慮其失所，況增賦以擾之乎？ 設使積粟流衍，用輸京師，愈煩漕輓，固不可也。 或以分兵就食，亦非安存之策，徒斂怨於民，未見國家之利。」 太宗深以為然，因留不遣。 其後，復上疏曰：
When the Three Departments reported that taxes beyond Jianmen were light, an edict ordered Guan to travel post-haste through the prefectures and have them slightly increased. Guan memorialized, "The distant people should not be lightly disturbed; even pacifying them still risks their losing their livelihood—how much more to raise taxes and harass them? Even if grain piled up in surplus and were sent to the capital, it would only add to the burden of transport—that surely cannot be done. Nor is dispersing troops to live off local grain a policy for secure rule; it would only breed popular resentment without benefit to the state." Taizong strongly agreed and kept him from being sent. Thereafter he again submitted a memorial, saying:
55
「臣憑借光寵，備位風憲，每遇百官起居日，分立於庭，司察不如儀者舉之。 因見陛下天慈優容，多與近臣論政，德音往復，頗亦煩勞。 至於有司職官，承意將順，簿書叢脞，咸以上聞，豈徒褻黷至尊，實亦輕紊國體。 況帝王之道，言則左史書之，動則右史書之，列於緗素，垂為軌範，不可不慎也。 若夫方今之急者，遠人未服，邊鄙不寧。 陰陽未序，倉廩猶虛。 淳樸未還，奢風尚熾。 縣道未治，逋逃尚多。 刑法未措，禁令猶密。 墜典未復，封祀猶闕。 凡此數者，皆朝廷之急務也。 誠願陛下聽斷之暇，宴息之餘，體貌大臣，以之揚榷，使沃心造膝，極意論思，則治體化源，何所不至？
" Relying on imperial favor, your servant holds a post in the censorate; on days when the hundred officials attend levee, I stand apart in the courtyard and am charged to report anyone whose bearing is improper. I have observed Your Majesty's heavenly kindness and forbearance: you often discuss government with close ministers, imperial words going back and forth—a considerable burden. Department officials echo your intent and cater in compliance; documents great and small all go up. This not only profanes the sovereign; it truly disorders the body politic. Moreover, in the way of emperors and kings speech is recorded by the left scribe and action by the right; set down on silk and handed down as models—this cannot be done carelessly. As for today's urgent matters: distant peoples are not yet submissive and the frontiers are not yet secure. Yin and yang are not yet in order and the granaries are still empty. Plain living has not yet returned and extravagant ways still burn bright. Districts and circuits are not yet well governed and fugitives are still many. Penal law is not yet laid aside and prohibitions remain strict. Fallen rites are not yet restored and the feng and shan sacrifices are still unperformed. All these are urgent affairs of the court. I earnestly wish that in the leisure after hearings and in rest after banquets Your Majesty would honor great ministers, weigh matters with them, let them speak heart to heart and discourse to the utmost—then the foundations of rule and the springs of transformation, where would they not reach?
56
臣又嘗讀唐史，見貞觀初始置崇文館，命學士、耆儒更直互進，聽朝之際，則入內殿講論文義，商榷時政。 或日旰忘倦，或宵分始罷，書諸信史，垂為不朽。 況陛下左右前後，皆端士偉人，伏望釋循常之務，養浩然之氣，深詔近臣，闡揚玄風，上為祖宗播無疆之休，下為子孫建不拔之業。 與夫較量金穀，剖析毫厘，以有限之光陰，役無涯之細務者，安可同年而語哉！」
Your servant has also read the Tang History and seen that at the beginning of Zhenguan they first established the Hall for Venerating Literature, appointing academicians and elder scholars to rotate in attendance; at audience they entered the inner hall to expound the classics and discuss current affairs. Sometimes forgetting weariness until sundown, sometimes not finishing until midnight—written in the faithful histories and handed down imperishably. Moreover, those at Your Majesty's left and right, before and behind, are all upright scholars and great men; I hope you will set aside routine business, nurture the vast spirit, deeply instruct close ministers, and unfold the profound Way—above to spread boundless blessing for the ancestors, below to build an unshakable foundation for posterity. Compared with weighing gold and grain, parsing every hair's breadth, spending limited days on endless trifles—how can these be mentioned in the same breath!"
57
上覽而稱之，召賜緋魚，以為度支判官。
The emperor read it and praised it, summoned him, granted crimson robe and fish tally, and made him aide in the Revenue Accounts Bureau.
58
歲餘，遷左司，改鹽鐵判官。 嘗因奏事白上曰：「陛下務敦淳化，殿宇采飾，皆徹去之，惟尚樸素，天下幸甚。 然於服御器用，臣願亦從純儉。」 上曰：「朕庶事簡約，至於所服，多用絁絹，皆經浣濯爾，卿言甚善。」 觀頓首謝。 觀數在省署及長春殿次中，諮事於其使李惟清，辨說牴牾，失禮容，惟清不能甘，因奏解其任。 觀抗章論列，上亦察其無失，故未幾復授舊職。 又諫罷治佛寺，不報。 俄出為諸路茶鹽制置副使，上疏言更茶鹽之制，於理非便，不合旨，改知黃州，遷揚州，皆有善政。
After more than a year he was transferred to the Left Department and made Salt and Iron aide. Once, while memorializing on affairs, he told the emperor, "Your Majesty is devoted to promoting pure transformation; palace ornament has all been stripped away in favor of plain simplicity—the realm is greatly fortunate. Yet in robes and daily vessels, your servant wishes that Your Majesty follow pure frugality as well." The emperor said, "In all matters I keep things simple. As for what I wear, I use mostly coarse silk that has all been washed. Your words are excellent." Guan bowed his head in thanks. Several times in the provincial offices and at his post in the Hall of Everlasting Spring Guan consulted commissioner Li Weiqing; their arguments clashed and he lost proper demeanor; Weiqing could not endure it and memorialized to have him removed. Guan submitted a memorial arguing his case; the emperor also saw he had done no wrong, and before long restored him to his former post. He also remonstrated to stop building Buddhist temples; there was no reply. Soon he went out as deputy commissioner for tea and salt on the circuits; he memorialized that changing the tea and salt system was in principle unwise, did not accord with intent, was made prefect of Huangzhou, transferred to Yangzhou, and in both had good administration.
59
會三司改舊貫，均州縣之籍以分其職，召為三司河東道判官。 有詔計司官屬不得越局言他事，觀自以任諫官，乃上書指陳拾遺補闕之職，言事固當然，不奉詔。 上怒，謂宰相曰：「朕俾警三司僚屬各率其職，非令諫官不言時務，觀乃妄有援引，以諷刺朕，姑為容忍，不欲深責。」 乃令出知道州，移廣南西路轉運使。 坐奏交州黎桓為亂兵所殺、丁濬復位事不實，被劾。 獄未具，卒於桂州，年五十三。
When the Three Departments changed old practice and equalized prefectural and county registers to divide duties, he was summoned as aide on the Hedong circuit of the Three Departments. An edict said Revenue Office officials must not overstep their bureau to speak on other matters; Guan considered himself a remonstrating official and submitted a letter stating that the duty of remonstrance and supplying omissions made speaking on affairs proper, and did not obey the edict. The emperor was angry and said to the chief counselor, "I instructed the Three Departments' subordinates each to fulfill his duty—I did not order remonstrating officials not to speak on timely affairs. Guan presumptuously cited precedent to satirize me; for now I tolerate it and do not wish to punish deeply." He then ordered him out as prefect of Daozhou and transferred him as transport commissioner of the Guangnan West Circuit. He was impeached because his memorial that Li Huan of Jiaozhou had been killed by mutinous troops and Ding Jun had been restored was not factual. Before the case was concluded he died at Guizhou, at the age of fifty-three.
60
觀廣覽《漢》、《史》，雅好論事，辭理切直，有古人之風焉。
Guan read widely in the Book of Han and the Records of the Historian, loved to discuss affairs by nature, and argued with sharp, direct reasoning in the manner of the ancients.
61
論曰：保勳從其子以死事，宋璫忘其身以恤民，臧丙信友誼以明枉，其所履歷，皆有足觀。 中正粗振風紀而峻深寡恕，袁廓剛狷誇誕以徼寵任，承恭平恕知止而好佞佛，固皆未盡於善。 知古首獻征南之謀，遂階試用，而其攬轡舊都，猶尋宿怨，與昔人所謂不以私怨惡廢鄉黨之好者異矣。 郭載肆為矯誣，而懷恚以死； 休復虧慎終之孝，而樂致人於禍，庸何議焉？ 若觀之獻納忠讜，識達體要，則又可嘉者也。
The commentary says: Baoxun followed his son in dying for the state; Song Dang forgot himself to comfort the people; Zang Bing trusted friendship to clear a wrongful death—what they accomplished in office all has merit worth noting. Zhongzheng roughly revived discipline but was harsh and unforgiving; Yuan Kuo was stubborn, narrow, boastful, and absurd in seeking favor; Chenggong was even-tempered, knew when to stop, yet doted on Buddhism—all fell short of true goodness. Zhigu was first to offer the plan to conquer the south and thereby rose to office; yet when he governed his old capital he still pursued old grudges—unlike the ancients who said one should not let private resentment overturn regard for one's home district. Guo Zai practiced fraud and deceit wantonly, yet died nursing resentment; Xiufu failed in filial duty at the end and took pleasure in bringing others to ruin—what is there to discuss? As for Guan, in presenting loyal remonstrance and grasping essential principles, he may again be commended.
62
陳從信
Chen Congxin
63
陳從信，字思齊，亳州永城人。 恭謹強力，心計精敏。 太宗在晉邸，令典財用，王宮事無大小悉委焉。 累官右知客押衙。
Chen Congxin, whose courtesy name was Siqi, came from Yongcheng in Bozhou. He was respectful, cautious, strong, and forceful, with a keen and subtle mind for figures. When Taizong was at the Jin princely establishment he had him manage finances; great and small affairs of the princely palace were all entrusted to him. He rose in office to Right Reception Vice-Marshal.
64
開寶三年秋，三司言倉儲月給，止及明年二月，請分屯諸軍盡率民船，以資江、淮漕運。 太祖大怒，責之曰：「國無九年之蓄曰不足，爾不素計而使倉儲垂盡，乃請屯兵括民船以運，是可卒致乎？ 今設汝安用？ 苟有所闕，當罪汝以謝眾！」 三司使楚昭輔懼，詣太宗求寬釋，使得盡力。 太宗既許，召從信問之，對曰：「從信嘗遊楚、泗，知糧運之患。 良以舟人之食，日歷郡縣勘給，是以凝滯。 若自發舟計日往復並支，可以責其程限。 又楚、泗運米於舟，至京復輦入倉，宜宿備運卒，令即時出納，如此，每運可減數十日。 楚、泗至京千里，舊八十日一運，一歲三運。 若去淹留之虛日，則歲可增一運焉。 今三司欲籍民舟，若不許，則無以責辦，許之，則冬中京師薪炭殆絕矣。 不若募舟之堅者漕糧，其損敗者任載薪炭，則公私俱濟。 今市米騰貴，官價斗錢七十，賈者失利，無敢致於京師，雖居商厚儲亦匿而不糶，是以米益貴，民將餓殍。 若聽民自便，即四方奔湊，米多而價自賤矣。」 太宗明日具奏，太祖可之，其事果集焉。
In autumn of the third year of Kaibao the Three Departments reported that monthly granary disbursements would last only until the second month of the coming year and requested that troops in the various armies press the people for boats to supply Jiang-Huai grain transport. Taizu flew into a rage and rebuked him: "A state without nine years' grain in reserve is unprepared—you never planned ahead and let the storehouses run nearly empty, yet now you ask to quarter troops and press the people for boats; can that be done overnight? What good are you to me now? If anything goes wrong, you will answer for it before the people!" Commissioner of the Three Departments Chu Zhaofu was terrified; he went to Taizong to beg release from blame so he could throw himself into the work. After Taizong agreed, he summoned Congxin and asked his view. Congxin answered: "I once traveled through Chu and Si and know the troubles of grain transport. Boatmen's provisions are doled out day by day as they pass each commandery and county for audit and issue—that is why transport stalls. If each boat is paid for the full round trip by the day when it sets out, their progress can be held to a fixed schedule. Grain from Chu and Si goes by boat, then at the capital is carted into the granaries again. Keep transport troops on standby for instant loading and unloading—each run could be cut by many days. Chu and Si lie a thousand li from the capital; formerly one run took eighty days, three runs a year. Strip out the wasted days of delay and the year could gain an extra run. The Three Departments want to register civilian boats—refuse and nothing gets done; agree and midwinter fuel and charcoal in the capital will nearly vanish. Better to hire the sturdiest boats for grain transport and let damaged ones carry fuel and charcoal—both public and private needs would be met. Market rice has soared; the official price is seventy cash per dou, so merchants lose money and none dare ship to the capital. Even wealthy dealers hoard and refuse to sell—rice grows dearer and the people face starvation. Let the people trade freely and grain will pour in from every direction—abundance will bring the price down of itself." The next day Taizong laid the plan before the throne; Taizu approved, and the scheme succeeded.
65
從信好方術，有李八百者，自言八百歲，從信事之甚謹，冀傳其術，竟無所得。 又侯莫陳利用者，所為多不法，始因從信推薦，人以是少之。
Congxin dabbled in esoteric arts. A man called Li Babai claimed to be eight hundred years old; Congxin served him devoutly in hope of learning his secrets but gained nothing in the end. Houmochen Liyong, whom Congxin had recommended, behaved largely outside the law—and for that people thought less of Congxin.
66
張平，青州臨朐人。 弱冠寓單州，依刺史羅金山。 金山移滁州，署平馬步都虞候。 太宗尹京兆，置其邸。 及秦王廷美領貴州，復署為親吏。 後數年，有譖平匿府中錢物，秦王白太宗鞫之，無狀，秦王益不喜，遂遣去。 太宗憐其非罪，以屬徐帥高繼冲，繼冲署為鎮將。 平歎曰：「吾命雖蹇，後未必不為福也。」
Zhang Ping came from Linqu in Qing Prefecture. As a young man he lived in Dan Prefecture under the patronage of Prefect Luo Jinshan. When Jinshan moved to Chu Prefecture, he appointed Ping Chief Commandant of Horse and Foot. When Taizong governed Jingzhao, he took Ping into his household. When Prince of Qin Tingmei held Guizhou, Ping was again made a personal attendant. Years later someone accused Ping of hiding valuables in the princely mansion. Prince of Qin told Taizong to investigate; nothing was proved, but the prince liked him less and dismissed him. Taizong, pitying his innocence, gave him to Xu military governor Gao Jichong, who made him garrison commander. Ping sighed: "My lot is bitter, but later it may yet prove a blessing."
67
雍熙初，召還，同知三班事，遷如京使。 三年，改西上閤門使。 才三月，又改客省使。 四年，代王明為鹽鐵使。 平掌陽平署積年，是秋，聞陝西轉運使李安發其舊為陽平姦利，憂恚成疾而卒，年六十三。 廢朝，贈右千牛衛上將軍，官給葬具。
Early in Yongxi he was recalled, made Associate Director of the Third Class Bureau, then promoted Commissioner on Imperial Audience. In the third year he became Commissioner of the Western Upper Gate. Three months later he was made Commissioner of the Guest Bureau. In the fourth year he replaced Wang Ming as Salt and Iron Commissioner. Ping had run the Yangping Office for years. That autumn, when he learned Shaanxi transport commissioner Li An had exposed his old graft there, he died of grief and rage at sixty-three. The court suspended audiences. He was posthumously made General of the Right Thousand-Ox Guard, with state-supplied funeral goods.
68
平好史傳，微時遇異書，盡日耽玩，或解衣易之。 及貴，聚書數千卷。 在彭門日，郡吏有侮平者數輩，後悉被罪配京窯務。 平子從式適董其役，見之，以語平。 平召至第，為設酒饌勞之，曰：「公等不幸，偶罹斯患，慎勿以前為念。」 給以緡錢，且戒從式善視之。 未幾，遇赦得原，時人稱其寬厚。 從式事太宗藩邸，累官文思使。
Ping loved history. In humble days he would spend whole days poring over any rare book he found, sometimes trading his coat for it. Once elevated he amassed several thousand scrolls. At Peng Gate several prefectural clerks who had slighted Ping were later convicted and sent to the capital kiln penal service. His son Congshi happened to supervise their labor, saw them, and told Ping. Ping summoned them home, feasted them, and said: "You have met ill fortune in this punishment; do not brood on the past." He gave them cash and told Congshi to look after them kindly. Soon an amnesty freed them; contemporaries praised his magnanimity. Congshi had served Taizong's princely household and rose to Commissioner of Literary Ingenuity.
69
子從吉
Son Congji
70
次子從吉，以蔭補殿直，轉供奉官、知宜州，屢破溪蠻。 轉運使堯叟上其狀，累遷內殿崇班、閤門祗候。 在任凡八年，代還，為如京副使。 咸平中，知環州，嘗與宋沆率兵襲西夏，小衄，部署張凝表其專，責授內殿崇班。 俄知澧州，復舊秩。 景德四年，宜州軍校陳進叛，命副曹利用為廣南東、西路安撫使，將兵討之。 次象州大鳥砦，與賊戰，進為先鋒郭志言所刺，遂入城，斬首六十級。 以平賊功，改莊宅副使。 未還，卒，年四十九。
The second son, Congji, entered service by yin privilege as palace attendant, became imperial attendant, and governed Yi Prefecture, repeatedly defeating the stream tribes. Transport commissioner Yaoshou reported his achievements; he rose repeatedly to Inner Hall Honored Ban and Palace Gate Attendant. After eight years in office he returned and was made Deputy Commissioner on Imperial Audience. Under Xianping he governed Huan Prefecture, joined Song Hang in a raid on Western Xia, met a minor reverse, and deployment commissioner Zhang Ning accused him of overstepping; he was demoted to Inner Hall Honored Ban. Soon he governed Li Prefecture and regained his former rank. In Jingde 4, when Yi Prefecture officer Chen Jin rebelled, he was named deputy to Cao Liyong as Pacification Commissioner of Eastern and Western Guangnan and marched against him. At Great Bird Stockade in Xiang Prefecture he fought the rebels; Jin was stabbed by vanguard Guo Zhiyan. They entered the city and took sixty heads. For pacifying the rebels he was made Deputy Manager of the Estates. He died before returning, at forty-nine.
71
王繼升
Wang Jisheng
72
雍熙四年，以諸道水陸發運併為一司，命繼升與刑部員外郎董儼同掌其事，號為稱職。 俄遷右神武軍將軍。 端拱初，改領本州團練使，三月，卒，年六十四。 太宗頗嗟悼，贈洋州觀察使，葬事官給。 子昭遠。
In Yongxi 4 the circuit water-and-land transport offices were merged into one bureau; Jisheng and Ministry of Punishments Vice Director Dong Yan were put in charge together and were reckoned competent. Soon he was made General of the Right Divine Martial Army. Early in Duangong he took command of his home prefecture's militia; in the third month he died at sixty-four. Taizong mourned him deeply, posthumously made him Military Governor of Yang Prefecture, and supplied the funeral from state funds. His son was Zhaoyuan.
73
子昭遠
Son Zhaoyuan
74
昭遠，形質魁偉，色黑，繼升名之「鐵山」。 有膂力，善騎射。 少時入山捕鷹鶻，值澗水暴漲十餘丈，昭遠升大樹，經宿得免。 嘗涉河，冰陷，二人傍共援出之，昭遠神色自若。 喜與里中惡少遊處，一日，眾祀里神，昭遠適至，有以博投授之，謂曰：「汝他日儻有節鉞，試擲以卜之。」 昭遠一擲，六齒皆赤。
Zhaoyuan was tall and dark; Jisheng called him "Iron Mountain." He was powerfully built and skilled at mounted archery. As a youth he hunted hawks in the hills; a flash flood rose more than ten zhang. Zhaoyuan climbed a great tree and survived the night. Once crossing a river he broke through the ice; two companions hauled him out, but his face never changed. He consorted with local rowdies. Once, during a village-god sacrifice, someone handed him divining dice and said: "If you ever win a commander's seal and baton, cast to see." He cast once—all six faces came up red.
75
涪王之遷房陵也，禁衛諸校楊均、王榮等以依附被譴，獨昭遠無所預，太宗以為忠。 再遷東西班都虞候，轉殿前班都指揮使，領寰州刺史。 改馬步軍都軍頭，命乘傳鎮、定、高陽關，募兵以備契丹。 又為冀州駐泊都監，俄授澤州團練使、洺州都部署。 太宗屢稱其能，可備急使。
When Prince of Fu was banished to Fangling, guard officers Yang Jun and Wang Rong were punished for clinging to him; Zhaoyuan alone was untouched, and Taizong called it loyalty. He rose twice to Chief Commandant of the Eastern and Western Bureaus, then Chief Commander of the Palace Front Bureau, and governed Huan Prefecture. He became Chief of the Horse and Foot Armies, rode express to Zhen, Ding, and Gaoyang Pass, and recruited troops against the Khitan. He was also garrison commander at Ji Prefecture, then militia commander of Ze and deployment commissioner of Ming. Taizong often praised his ability and said he was fit for urgent duty.
76
端拱初，召為殿前都虞候，領勤州防禦使。 命有司治綾錦院為公署，掘地得鐵若山形，或言此地即鐵山故營，又與昭遠幼名合，聞者異之。 太宗嘗草書紈扇，作古詩賜諸將，意多比諷，其賜昭遠，尤加賞遇。 二年，領沙州觀察使，再為幷、代副都部署。 至道中，李繼遷擾西鄙，絕靈武糧道，命昭遠為靈州路都部署，護二十五州芻粟，竟達靈武，繼遷不敢犯。
Early in Duangong he was made Chief Commandant of the Palace Front and Defender of Qin Prefecture. Ordered to fit out the Brocade Bureau as his headquarters, diggers found iron shaped like a mountain. Some said this was old Iron Mountain camp—and it matched Zhaoyuan's boyhood name. All who heard it marveled. Taizong once wrote ancient verse in cursive on silk fans for his generals—mostly allegorical barbs. Zhaoyuan's fan won especial favor. In the second year he was Military Governor of Sha and again deputy deployment commissioner of Bing and Dai. In Zhidao, Li Jiqian cut Lingwu's grain route. Zhaoyuan was made deployment commissioner of the Lingzhou route, escorted fodder from twenty-five prefectures to Lingwu, and Jiqian did not dare strike.
77
真宗即位，徙定州行營都部署。 未幾，拜保靜軍節度使，充天雄軍都部署、知府事。 咸平二年，移知河陽，數月卒，年五十六。 時車駕在大名，為廢朝。 贈太尉，諡惠和，中使護葬。
At Zhenzong's accession he was moved to deployment commissioner of the Ding field headquarters. Soon he was Military Governor of Baojing, deployment commissioner of Tianxiong, and prefect. In Xianping 2 he was transferred to Heyang; months later he died at fifty-six. The emperor was then at Daming; the court suspended audiences. He was posthumously made Grand Marshal, given the posthumous title Huihe, and an imperial envoy oversaw the burial.
78
昭遠頗知書，性吝嗇，所至無善政。 母弟昭懿亦事晉邸，至捧日都虞候。 弟昭遜，西京作坊使。 初，祖母郭氏嘗對昭遠母指昭遠曰：「此兒有貴相，他日必至公侯。」 指昭懿曰：「此兒奉錢過二萬，不能勝矣。」 果皆如其言。
Zhaoyuan knew books but was miserly by nature; nowhere he served left good government. His uterine brother Zhaoyi also served Taizong's princely household and rose to Chief Commandant of the Sun-Upholding Guard. Younger brother Zhaoxun was Commissioner of the Western Capital Workshops. Once his grandmother Lady Guo told Zhaoyuan's mother, pointing at him: "This boy has a noble face; one day he will reach duke or marquis." Pointing at Zhaoyi: "This one will take in more than twenty thousand cash—and will not be able to bear it." Both prophecies came true.
79
昭遠子懷普，九歲事太宗左右，至西京左藏庫使、平州刺史。 懷一，供備庫副使。 懷正，內殿承制。 懷英，內殿崇班。
Zhaoyuan's son Huaipu attended Taizong from age nine and rose to Commissioner of the Western Capital Left Treasury and prefect of Ping. Huaiyi was Deputy Commissioner of the Supply Reserve Bureau. Huaizheng was Inner Hall Director. Huaiying was Inner Hall Honored Ban.
80
三年，詔知瀛州兼兵馬鈐轄，領富州刺史，遷東上閤門使。 端拱二年，知滄州，移邢州，皆兼鈐轄。 淳化初，與王文寶並命為四方館使，連護鎮、定州屯兵。 改知貝州，移高陽關兵馬鈐轄。 五年，知定州，與兵馬部署王榮不協。 榮素粗暴，因忿毆憲仆地，憲怏怏致疾，數日卒，年六十三。
In the third year he was ordered to govern Ying Prefecture as military controller, hold Fu Prefecture, and was promoted Commissioner of the Eastern Upper Gate. In Duangong 2 he governed Cang, then Xing—both times as military controller. Early in Chunhua he and Wang Wenbao were named commissioners of the Four Directions Bureau and in turn guarded the Zhen and Ding garrisons. He was moved to Bei Prefecture, then to military controller at Gaoyang Pass. In the fifth year he governed Ding Prefecture and fell out with deployment commissioner Wang Rong. Rong was brutal by nature; in rage he struck Xian down. Xian took to his bed in bitterness and died within days at sixty-three.
81
王賓，許州許田人。 小心謹願。 年十餘，事宣祖左右，及長，善騎射。 太宗領兗海節制，太祖以署府中右職。 太平興國初，補東頭供奉官、亳州監軍。 賓妻妒悍，賓不能制，時監軍不許挈家至任所，妻擅至亳，賓具白上。 太宗召其妻，俾衛士捽之，杖百，以妻忠靖卒，一夕死。 遷賓儀鸞副使，領內酒坊。
Wang Bin came from Xutian in Xu Prefecture. He was careful and respectful in manner. From his early teens he attended the dynastic founder; grown, he was skilled at mounted archery. When Taizong commanded Yanhai, Taizu placed him in a senior post in the princely mansion. Early in Taiping Xingguo he became Eastern Head attendant and military supervisor of Bo Prefecture. Bin's wife was fiercely jealous and he could not control her. Supervisors were forbidden to bring families to post, yet she went to Bo on her own; Bin reported it to the throne. Taizong summoned her, had guards seize her and give a hundred strokes of the staff, then married her off to a Loyal Tranquility soldier; she died that night. He was transferred to Vice Commissioner of Ceremonial Paraphernalia and placed in charge of the inner wine bureau.
82
從征太原，又從征范陽，與彰信節度劉遇攻城東面。 五年，車駕北巡，副王仁贍為大內都部署。 七年，改洛苑使。 會汴漕壅滯，軍食不給，詔別置水陸發運兩司，以賓有心計會，領演州刺史，與儒州刺史許昌裔同掌其事。 凡四年，儲積增羨，號為稱職，俄改右神武將軍。
He followed the campaign against Taiyuan and also the campaign against Fanyang, and with Zhangxin military governor Liu Yu attacked the eastern side of the city. In the fifth year, when the emperor toured the north, he served as deputy to Wang Renzan as Grand Inner Deployment Commissioner. In the seventh year he was made Luoyuan Commissioner. When Bian transport was blocked and army provisions ran short, an edict established separate land-and-water dispatch offices; because Bin had a calculating mind he was made prefect of Yan and together with Ruzhou prefect Xu Changyi managed the affair. For four years stored grain increased with a surplus and he was regarded as competent; soon he was made Right Divine Martial General.
83
黎陽當舟車交會，禁兵常屯萬餘，以度支使張遜薦，命賓護黎陽軍，兼領黃、御兩河發運事，俄領本州團練使。 以賓請黎陽建通利軍，命就知軍事。 賓規起公署、郵館，供帳之器咸具。 加本軍大將軍，歲別給錢二百萬，俄兼河北水陸路轉運使。
Liyang lay at the junction of boats and carts with more than ten thousand forbidden troops regularly stationed; on Zhang Xun's recommendation Bin was ordered to guard Liyang Army with concurrent charge of Yellow and Imperial River dispatch; soon he also headed his prefecture's training commissioner. At Bin's request Tongli Army was established at Liyang and he was ordered to govern it in place. Bin planned and built the public offices and postal stations with all supplies and furnishings provided. He was made Grand General of that army with an annual grant of two million cash; soon he also headed Hebei land-and-water transport.
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賓事宣祖、太祖、太宗殆六十年，最為勤舊，故恩寵尤異，前後賜賚數千萬，俱奉釋氏。 在黎陽日，按見古寺基，即以奉錢修之，掘地丈餘，得數石佛及石碣，有賓姓名，賓異其事以聞。 詔名寺為淳化，賜新印經一藏、錢三百萬以助之。
Bin served the Zhou founder, Taizu, and Taizong for nearly sixty years among the most diligent veterans; favor was especially great and grants totaled tens of millions, all devoted to Buddhism. While at Liyang he found an old temple foundation and used his salary to repair it; digging more than a zhang down he found stone Buddhas and a stele bearing his name, which he reported as extraordinary. An edict named the temple Chunhua, granted a new set of sutras, and three million cash to assist the work.