Volume 282 Biographies 41: Li Hang, Wang Dan, Xiang Minzhong

李沆，字太初，洺州肥鄉人。曾祖豐，泰陵令。祖滔，洺州團練判官。父炳，從邢帥薛懷讓辟，為觀察支使。懷讓徙同州，又為掌書記，歷邠州、鳳翔判官，拜殿中侍御史、知舒州。太祖征金陵，緣淮供億，惟舒尤甚，以勞加侍御史，卒。

Li Hang, styled Taichu, came from Feixiang in Mozhou. His great-grandfather Feng had served as magistrate of Tailin. His grandfather Tao had been regimental training commissioner judge at Mozhou. His father Bing entered service under Xing's military commissioner Xue Huairang as administrative aide to the observation commissioner. When Huairang moved to Tongzhou, Bing again served as chief secretary, later held judgeships at Binzhou and Fengxiang, and was appointed Attendant Censor within the Palace and prefect of Shuzhou. During Emperor Taizu's campaign against Jinling, provisioning ran along the Huai River, and Shuzhou bore the heaviest load. Bing was promoted to Attendant Censor for his exertions, then died.

沆少好學，器度宏遠，炳嘗語人曰：「此兒異日必至公輔。」太平興國五年，舉進士甲科，為將作監丞、通判潭州，遷右贊善大夫，轉著作郎。相府召試約束邊將詔書，既奏御，太宗甚悅，命直史館。雍熙三年，右拾遺王化基上書自薦，太宗謂宰相曰：「李沆、宋湜，皆嘉士也。」即命中書並化基召試，並除右補闕、知制誥。沆位最下，特升於上，各賜錢百萬。又以沆素貧，多負人錢，別賜三十萬償之。四年，與翰林學士宋白同知貢舉。謗議雖眾，而不歸咎於沆。遷職方員外郎，召入翰林為學士。

From boyhood Hang loved learning, and his temperament was large and far-seeing. Bing once told acquaintances, "This son will one day reach the highest offices of state." In the fifth year of Taiping Xingguo he took the jinshi in the top class, became Director of the Directorate of Palace Construction and vice-prefect of Tanzhou, was promoted to Right Assistant for Goodness Grandee, and then moved to Drafting Archivist. The chief council summoned him to draft an edict restraining frontier generals. When it reached the throne, Emperor Taizong was delighted and made him attendant of the History Institute. In the third year of Yongxi, Right Remonstrance Recipient Wang Huaji memorialized recommending himself. Emperor Taizong told the chief councilors, "Li Hang and Song Shi are both worthy men." He then ordered the Secretariat to examine Huaji together with them, and all three were appointed Right Supplementary Censors and Drafting Recipients. Though Hang ranked last, he was specially placed above the others, and each man received a grant of a million cash. Because Hang had long been poor and deeply in debt, the court separately granted him three hundred thousand cash to settle what he owed. In the fourth year he and Hanlin Academician Song Bai jointly supervised the civil service examination. Though criticism ran wide, none of it was laid at Hang's door. He was promoted to Outer Bureau Director in the Ministry of Personnel and summoned into the Hanlin Academy as an academician.

淳化二年，判吏部銓。嘗侍曲宴，太宗目送之曰：「李沆風度端凝，真貴人也。」三年，拜給事中、參知政事。四年，以本官罷，奉朝請。未幾，丁內艱，起復，遂出知昇州。未行，改知河南府。真宗升儲，遷禮部侍郎兼太子賓客，詔東宮待以師傅禮。真宗即位，遷戶部侍郎、參知政事。咸平初，以本官平章事，監修國史，改中書侍郎。

In the second year of Chunhua he took charge of the Ministry of Personnel's selection office. Once, after an informal banquet, Emperor Taizong watched him leave and said, "Li Hang's bearing is grave and steady—a man of true nobility." In the third year he was appointed Attendant Censor and participation councilor. In the fourth year he left office and became a court attendant. Not long afterward he entered mourning for his mother, was recalled from mourning before the period ended, and was appointed prefect of Shengzhou. Before he could depart, the appointment was changed to prefect of Henan Prefecture. When Zhenzong was made heir apparent, Hang was promoted to Vice Minister of Rites and Court Gentleman Consultant to the Heir Apparent, with orders that the Eastern Palace receive him with a tutor's honors. When Zhenzong took the throne, Hang became Vice Minister of Revenue and participation councilor. At the opening of the Xianping era he was made chief councilor at his existing rank, put in charge of compiling the national history, and promoted to Vice Director of the Secretariat.

會契丹犯邊，真宗北幸，命沆留守，京師肅然。真宗還，沆迎於郊，命坐置酒，慰勞久之。累加門下侍郎、尚書右僕射。真宗問治道所宜先，沆曰：「不用浮薄新進喜事之人，此最為先。」問其人，曰：「如梅詢、曾致堯等是矣。」後致堯副溫仲舒安撫陝西，於閣門疏言仲舒不足與共事，輕銳之黨無不稱快，沆不喜也，因用他人副仲舒，罷致堯。帝嘗語及唐人樹黨難制，遂使王室微弱，蓋奸邪難辨爾，沆對曰：「佞言似忠，奸言似信，至如盧杞蒙蔽德宗，李勉以為真奸邪是也。」真宗曰：「奸邪之跡，雖曰難辨，然久之自敗。」

When the Khitan struck the frontier, Zhenzong marched north in person and left Hang as regent in the capital, which remained calm and orderly. When Zhenzong returned, Hang met him outside the city; the emperor had him sit, poured wine, and long thanked him for his service. He was in time promoted to Vice Director of the Chancellery and then Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. When Zhenzong asked what ought to come first in governing the realm, Hang answered, "Above all, do not employ shallow newcomers hungry for novelty." Asked who he meant, he said, "Men like Mei Xun and Zeng Zhiyao, for instance." Later, when Zeng Zhiyao served as Wen Zhongshu's deputy on the Shaanxi pacification commission, he memorialized at the palace gate that Zhongshu was unfit to serve with. The hotheaded faction cheered, but Hang was displeased; he replaced Zhiyao with another deputy and removed Zhiyao from office. The emperor once remarked that Tang officials had formed factions hard to break up, weakening the throne—because wicked men are so difficult to tell apart. Hang replied, "Flattery sounds loyal, and treachery sounds sincere. Lu Qi blinded Emperor Dezong, yet Li Mian saw through him as a true villain—that is what I mean." Zhenzong said, "Wicked men may be hard to spot at first, but in time they undo themselves."

一夕，遣使持手詔欲以劉氏為貴妃，沆對使者引燭焚詔，附奏曰：「但道臣沆以為不可。」其議遂寢。駙馬都尉石保吉求為使相，復問沆，沆曰：「賞典之行，須有所自。保吉因緣戚里，無攻戰之勞，臺席之拜，恐騰物議。」他日再三問之，執議如初，遂止。帝以沆無密奏，謂之曰：「人皆有密啟，卿獨無，何也？」對曰：「臣待罪宰相，公事則公言之，何用密啟？夫人臣有密啟者，非讒即佞，臣常惡之，豈可效尤？」

One night an envoy arrived with an autograph edict to elevate Lady Liu to imperial consort. Hang took the edict from the envoy, lit a candle, and burned it, adding in his memorial, "Simply say that your subject Hang holds this inadvisable." The proposal was dropped. Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant Shi Baoji sought appointment as a commissioner with chief councilor rank. The emperor again consulted Hang, who said, "Honors must rest on some merit. Baoji owes his standing to imperial kinship alone and has no record of battlefield service. To seat him at the chief council would, I fear, provoke widespread criticism." On later occasions the emperor asked again and again, but Hang held firm, and the appointment was blocked. Noting that Hang never filed secret memorials, the emperor asked him, "Every man has secret reports; you alone have none. Why is that?" Hang answered, "I serve as chief councilor under blame; public business should be spoken of in public—what use are secret reports? When a minister keeps secret reports, they are either slander or flattery. I have always loathed that practice—why should I copy it?"

時李繼遷久叛，兵眾日盛，有圖取朔方之意。朝廷困於飛輓，中外咸以為靈州乃必爭之地，苟失之，則緣邊諸郡皆不可保。帝頗惑之，因訪於沆，沆曰：「繼遷不死，靈州非朝廷有也。莫若遣使密召州將，使部分軍民空壘而歸，如此，則關右之民息肩矣。」方眾議各異，未即從沆言，未幾而靈州陷，帝由是益重之。

At that time Li Jichong had long been in rebellion, his forces were swelling, and he meant to seize Shuofang. The court was exhausted by urgent supply convoys, and officials everywhere agreed that Lingzhou was ground that had to be held; lose it, and the frontier prefectures could not be kept. The emperor was deeply uncertain and asked Hang's view. Hang said, "While Jichong lives, Lingzhou will not remain the court's. Better to send a secret envoy to summon the prefect, have him evacuate the garrison with army and people, and withdraw. Then the people of the western passes could at last set down their loads." Opinion was still divided and the court did not immediately follow him, but before long Lingzhou fell, and the emperor thereafter esteemed him all the more.

沆為相，王旦參政事，以西北用兵，或至旰食。旦歎曰：「我輩安能坐致太平，得優遊無事耶？」沆曰：「少有憂勤，足為警戒。他日四方寧謐，朝廷未必無事。」後契丹和親，旦問何如，沆曰：「善則善矣，然邊患既息，恐人主漸生侈心耳。」旦未以為然。沆又日取四方水旱盜賊奏之，旦以為細事不足煩上聽。沆曰：「人主少年，當使知四方艱難。不然，血氣方剛，不留意聲色犬馬，則土木、甲兵、禱祠之事作矣。吾老，不及見此，此參政他日之憂也。」沆沒後，真宗以契丹既和，西夏納款，遂封岱祠汾，大營宮觀，蒐講墜典，靡有暇日。旦親見王欽若、丁謂等所為，欲諫則業已同之，欲去則上遇之厚，乃以沆先識之遠，歎曰：「李文靖真聖人也。」當時遂謂之「聖相」。

While Hang was chief councilor and Wang Dan participation councilor, northwestern warfare sometimes kept them at their desks until sunset. Dan sighed and said, "How can we sit here and bring about great peace, enjoying ease with nothing to do?" Hang said, "A little worry and hard work is warning enough. When the realm is calm, the court may still not be free of trouble." Later, when the Khitan made peace by marriage alliance, Dan asked Hang's view. Hang said, "It is well enough—but once the frontier is quiet, I fear the emperor will slowly turn to extravagance." Dan did not believe it. Hang also daily brought the emperor memorials on flood, drought, banditry, and theft from every quarter. Dan thought such small matters were not worth the emperor's ear. Hang said, "The emperor is still young; he ought to know how hard life is across the realm. Otherwise, in the flush of youth, if he pays no heed to music, women, hunting dogs, and horses, he will turn to palaces, armor, and lavish rites. I am old and will not live to see it—but that will be your worry as participation councilor." After Hang died, Zhenzong—with the Khitan at peace and Western Xia paying tribute—went on to the feng and shan at Mount Tai, sacrifice at the Fen River, grand palace and temple building, and the revival of neglected rites, with scarcely a day to spare. Dan saw for himself what Wang Qinruo, Ding Wei, and the rest were doing. He wanted to remonstrate but had already joined them; he wanted to leave but was too well treated by the emperor. He sighed at Hang's foresight and said, "Li Wenjing was a true sage." People of the time called him the "sage chief councilor."

寇準與丁謂善，屢以謂才薦於沆，不用。準問之，沆曰：「顧其為人，可使之在人上乎？」準曰：「如謂者，相公終能抑之使在人下乎？」沆笑曰：「他日後悔，當思吾言也。」準後為謂所傾，始伏沆言。

Kou Zhun was friendly with Ding Wei and repeatedly commended Wei's talent to Hang, but Hang would not use him. Zhun asked why. Hang said, "Given the sort of man he is, could you put him above others?" Zhun said, "Once a man like Wei is in office, can even the chief councilor keep him beneath others?" Hang smiled and said, "When you regret it later, you will remember what I said." Later Zhun was ruined by Wei and at last conceded that Hang had been right.

沆為相，接賓客，常寡言。馬亮與沆同年生，又與其弟維善，語維曰：「外議以大兄為無口匏。」維乘間達亮語，沆曰：「吾非不知也。然今之朝士得升殿言事，上封論奏，了無壅蔽，多下有司，皆見之矣。若邦國大事，北有契丹，西有夏人，日旰條議所以備禦之策，非不詳究。薦紳如李宗諤、趙安仁，皆時之英秀，與之談，猶不能啟發吾意。自餘通籍之子，坐起拜揖，尚周章失次，即席必自論功最，以希寵獎，此有何策而與之接語哉？苟屈意妄言，即世所謂籠罩。籠罩之事，僕病未能也。」沆又嘗言：「居重位實無補，惟中外所陳利害，一切報罷之，此少以報國爾。朝廷防製，纖悉備具，或徇所陳請，施行一事，即所傷多矣，陸象先曰『庸人擾之』是已。憸人苟一時之進，豈念厲民耶？」沆為相，常讀《論語》，或問之，沆曰：「沆為宰相，如《論語》中『節用而愛人，使民以時』，尚未能行。聖人之言，終身誦之可也。」

As chief councilor, Hang received guests but usually said little. Ma Liang was Hang's year-mate and a friend of his younger brother Wei. He told Wei, "People outside say your elder brother is a mute gourd." Wei passed Liang's remark along when he could. Hang said, "It is not that I do not know. But today any court gentleman may speak in hall audience, submit sealed memorials, and debate policy without obstruction; most matters go down to the offices below, and all can see that. On matters of state, the Khitan threaten the north and the Xia the west; until sunset we go through plans for defense in detail—and we leave nothing unexamined. Among officials, men like Li Zong'e and Zhao Anren are the finest of the age, yet even talking with them does not stir my thinking. The rest of the registry men can barely manage to rise, sit, bow, and yield without confusion; once seated they always recount their own achievements hoping for favor—what policy is there to discuss with them? To humor them and talk nonsense is what the world calls "drawing the cage over them." As for that sort of flattery, I am too sick at heart to manage it." Hang also said, "High office in truth accomplishes little; my small service to the state is to reject every proposal of benefit and harm reported from within and without. The court's safeguards are exhaustive; indulge one petition and implement one measure, and the harm is great—Lu Xiangxian's "meddling by mediocre men" says it. Wicked men seeking a moment's advancement never think of the people's suffering." As chief councilor Hang often read the Analects. When asked why, he said, "As chief councilor, even the Analects' "Be sparing in expenditure and love the people; employ the people at the proper seasons"—I have not yet managed to live by that. The sage's words are worth reciting all one's life."

景德元年七月，沆待漏將朝，疾作而歸，詔太醫診視，撫問之使相望於道。明日，駕往臨問，賜白金五千兩。方還宮而沆薨，年五十八。上聞之驚歎，趣駕再往，臨哭之慟，謂左右曰：「沆為大臣，忠良純厚，始終如一，豈意不享遐壽！」言終又泣下。廢朝五日，贈太尉、中書令，諡文靖。錄其弟國子博士贄為虞部員外郎、光祿寺丞源為太子中舍、屯田員外郎直集賢院維為戶部員外郎；子宗簡為大理評事；甥蘇昂、妻兄之子朱濤並同進士出身。乾興元年，仁宗即位，詔配享真宗廟庭。

In the seventh month of the first year of Jingde, Hang was waiting for dawn audience when he fell ill and went home. The court sent imperial physicians and a stream of envoys to inquire after him along the road. The next day the emperor came in person to visit him and granted five thousand taels of white gold. Just as the emperor was returning to the palace, Hang died at fifty-eight. When the emperor heard, he was shocked and grieved; he hurried back and wept bitterly over the body, telling those beside him, "Hang was a great minister—loyal, upright, and steadfast to the end. Who would have thought he would not live to old age! When he had finished, he wept again. Court was suspended for five days. Hang was posthumously made Grand Marshal and Director of the Secretariat, with the posthumous title Wenjing. His younger brother Zhi, a doctor of the Directorate of Education, was made Outer Bureau Director of the Ministry of Works; Yuan, director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, was made Crown Prince Household Attendant; and Wei, who held the posts of Outer Bureau Director of the Agriculture Bureau and attendant of the Hall of Assembled Worthies, was promoted to Outer Bureau Director of the Ministry of Revenue; his son Zongjian was made Reviewing Official of the Court of Judicial Review; his nephew Su Ang and his wife's brother's son Zhu Tao were both granted jinshi origin. In the first year of Qianxing, when Renzong took the throne, an edict granted Hang a place in Emperor Zhenzong's temple.

沆性直諒，內行修謹，言無枝葉，識大體。居位慎密，不求聲譽，動遵條製，人莫能干以私。公退，終日危坐，未嘗跛倚。治第封丘門內，廳事前僅容旋馬，或言其太隘，沆笑曰：「居第當傳子孫，此為宰相廳事誠隘，為太祝、奉禮廳事已寬矣。」至於垣頹壁損，不以屑慮。堂前藥闌壞，妻戒守舍者勿葺以試沆，沆朝夕見之，經月終不言。妻以語沆，沆曰：「豈可以此動吾一念哉！」家人勸治居第，未嘗答，弟維因語次及之，沆曰：「身食厚祿，時有橫賜，計囊裝亦可以治第，但念內典以此世界為缺陷，安得圓滿如意，自求稱足？今市新宅，須一年繕完，人生朝暮不可保，又豈能久居？巢林一枝，聊自足耳，安事豐屋哉？」

Hang was upright and candid by nature, careful and strict in private life, spare of speech, and alive to the larger pattern. In office he was guarded and discreet, sought no fame, and kept to regulation so that no one could sway him by private appeal. After leaving office he sat upright all day and never slouched. He built a house inside the Fengqiu Gate with barely room to turn a horse before the hall. Some said it was too cramped. Hang smiled and said, "A house should pass to one's descendants. For a chief councilor's hall it is tight, but for a Grand Supplicator or Ceremonial Attendant it would be spacious. Collapsed walls and crumbling plaster he did not bother about at all. The herb bed in front of the hall fell into ruin; his wife told the caretaker not to repair it, to test Hang. Hang saw it every day for a month and never spoke of it. His wife told him. Hang said, "How could that move me!" The family urged him to rebuild the house, but he never replied. His brother Wei raised it in conversation. Hang said, "I draw a generous salary and receive occasional special grants; by my purse I could build a house. But the sutras call this world flawed—how can one demand perfect satisfaction? A new house would take a year to finish. Life from dawn to dusk is uncertain—how long could one live in it? One branch in the nest is enough—what need of a palace?"

沆與諸弟友愛，尤器重維，暇日相對宴飲清言，未嘗及朝政，亦未嘗問家事。沆沒後，或薦梅詢可用，真宗曰：「李沆嘗言其非君子。」其為信倚如此。

Hang loved his younger brothers and especially esteemed Wei. On free days they feasted and talked at ease, never touching court affairs or household business. After Hang died, when someone recommended Mei Xun for office, Emperor Zhenzong said, "Li Hang once said he was no gentleman. Such was the trust the emperor placed in his judgment.

弟維

Younger Brother: Wei

維，字仲方，第進士，為保信軍節度推官。真宗初，獻《聖德詩》，召試中書，擢直集賢院，以沆相，避知歙州。至郡，興學舍，歲時行鄉射之禮。沆沒，入為戶部員外郎。

Wei, styled Zhongfang, passed the jinshi examination and was appointed adjutant to the military commissioner of the Baoxin Army. Early in Zhenzong's reign he submitted his Ode to Sacred Virtue, was summoned to an examination at the Secretariat, and was promoted to the Hall of Assembled Worthies. Because his brother Li Hang was chancellor, he stepped aside from court and was sent out as prefect of She Prefecture. Once in office he founded a school and held the seasonal village archery ceremony each year. After Li Hang's death he returned to the capital as deputy director of the Ministry of Revenue.

契丹請和，以為賀正旦使。真宗方幸西京，維還詣行在，具言其待遇禮厚，必保盟好。擢兵部員外郎、知制誥。自是每北使至，多命維主之。擢為翰林學士，累遷中書舍人，以疾辭，出知許州。復入翰林為學士承旨，加史館修撰。仁宗初，再遷為尚書左丞兼侍讀學士，預修《真宗實錄》，遷工部尚書。會塞下傳契丹將絕盟，復遣維往使。其主隆緒重維名，館勞加禮，使賦《兩朝悠久詩》。詩成，大喜。既還，帝欲用為樞密副使，或斥維賦詩自稱小臣，乃寢。遷刑部尚書，辭不拜，引李士衡故事求換官，除相州觀察使，為諫官劉隨所詆，知亳州。請赴本鎮，改河陽。久之還朝，復出知陳州，卒。

When the Khitan sued for peace, he was sent as envoy to offer New Year's congratulations. Zhenzong was then at the Western Capital. Wei came back to the imperial camp and reported in detail that the Khitan had received him with great courtesy and would surely keep the peace. He was promoted to deputy director of the Ministry of War and appointed drafter of edicts. After that, whenever envoys came from the north, Wei was usually the one chosen to receive them. He rose to Hanlin Academician and eventually to Secretariat drafter, but then pleaded illness, left court, and became prefect of Xu Prefecture. He returned to the Hanlin Academy as chief academician and was also named a compiler at the Historiography Institute. Early in Renzong's reign he was promoted again to left vice director of the Department of State Affairs and reader-in-waiting, helped compile the Veritable Records of Zhenzong, and was then made minister of works. When frontier reports said the Khitan meant to renounce the treaty, Wei was dispatched north once more. The Khitan ruler Longxu, who held Wei in high regard, received him with exceptional honors and asked him to compose the Poem on the Enduring Friendship of Two Dynasties. When the poem was finished, Longxu was delighted. After his return the emperor wanted to make him deputy commissioner of military affairs, but critics seized on his use of the phrase "this petty subject" in the poem, and the appointment was dropped. He was transferred to minister of justice but refused the appointment, citing Li Shihang's precedent in asking for a different post. He was made military commissioner of Xiang Prefecture, then attacked by remonstrance official Liu Sui and reassigned as prefect of Bo Prefecture. He asked to go to his post in person and was reassigned to Heyang. Long afterward he returned to court, then went out once more as prefect of Chen Prefecture, where he died.

維博學，少以文章知名，至老手不廢書。景德以後，巡幸四方，典章名物，多維所參定。嘗預定《七經正義》，修《續通典》、《冊府元龜》。性寬易，喜慍不見於色，獎借後進，嗜酒善謔，而好為詩。常曰：「人生觴詠自適，餘何營哉？」既沒，家無餘貲。景祐元年，贈尚書右僕射。子師錫，虞部員外郎；公謹，太子中舍。

Wei was deeply learned. He had been known for his writing since youth, and even in old age he never stopped reading. After the Jingde period, when the court traveled widely, Wei helped settle many questions of ritual and nomenclature. He had helped establish the Correct Meanings of the Seven Classics and had worked on the Continued Comprehensive Institutions and the Precious Tortoise of the Imperial Archives. He was easygoing by nature, never showing pleasure or anger on his face, and he generously encouraged younger men. He loved wine and good humor, and he delighted in writing poetry. He often said, "In this life, all I need is wine and verse for my own pleasure. What else is worth striving for? When he died, his household had nothing left over. In the first year of Jingyou he was posthumously given the title of right vice director of the Department of State Affairs. His son Shixi was deputy director of the Directorate of Parks and Buildings; Gongjin was an attendant in the Heir Apparent's Palace.

王旦，字子明，大名莘人。曾祖言，黎陽令。祖徹，左拾遺。父祐，尚書兵部侍郎，以文章顯於漢、周之際，事太祖、太宗為名臣。嘗諭杜重威使無反漢，拒盧多遜害趙普之謀，以百口明符彥卿無罪，世多稱其陰德。祐手植三槐於庭，曰：「吾之後世，必有為三公者，此其所以志也。」

Wang Dan, styled Ziming, came from Shen County in Daming. His great-grandfather Yan had been magistrate of Liyang. His grandfather Che had served as left reminder at court. His father You was vice minister of war. Famous for his writing in the years between Later Han and Zhou, he served Taizu and Taizong and was counted among the great ministers of the age. He once warned Du Chongwei against rebelling against Later Han, blocked Lu Duoxun's plot to destroy Zhao Pu, and staked his family's lives on Fu Yanqing's innocence. People widely praised his quiet moral force. Wang You planted three pagoda trees in the courtyard with his own hands and said, "A descendant of mine will one day reach the rank of the Three Dukes. These trees are my memorial to that hope."

旦幼沉默，好學有文，祐器之曰：「此兒當至公相。」太平興國五年，進士及第，為大理評事、知平江縣。其廨舊傳有物怪憑戾，居多不寧。旦將至前夕，守吏聞群鬼嘯呼云：「相君至矣，當避去。」自是遂絕。就改將作監丞。趙昌言為轉運使，以威望自任，屬吏屏畏，入旦境，稱其善政，以女妻之。代還，命監潭州銀場。何承矩典郡，薦入為著作佐郎，預編《文苑英華》、《詩類》。遷殿中丞、通判鄭州。表請天下建常平倉，以塞兼並之路。徙濠州。淳化初，王禹偁薦其才任轉運使，驛召至京，旦不樂吏職，獻文。召試，命直史館。二年，拜右正言、知制誥。

Dan was quiet and studious from boyhood and showed early literary talent. You prized him and said, "This child will rise to minister and chancellor." In the fifth year of Taiping Xingguo he passed the jinshi examination and was made a case reviewer in the Court of Judicial Review and magistrate of Pingjiang County. The magistrate's quarters were long rumored to be haunted, and few who occupied them found any peace. On the night before Dan arrived, the caretaker heard spirits wailing, "The minister is coming. We must leave." After that the hauntings stopped. He was soon transferred to assistant director of the Directorate of Palace Buildings. Zhao Changyan, then transport commissioner, carried himself with intimidating authority and kept his subordinates in awe. When he entered Dan's district he praised his governance and gave him his daughter in marriage. When his tour of duty ended and he returned to the capital, he was assigned to supervise the silver yard at Tan Prefecture. He Chenuju, then prefect, recommended him for appointment as assistant compiler, and he took part in compiling Splendors of the Literary Garden and Categories of Poetry. He was promoted to palace secretariat director and made vice prefect of Zheng Prefecture. He submitted a memorial asking that Ever-Normal Granaries be established across the empire to check the spread of land consolidation. He was transferred to Hao Prefecture. Early in the Chunhua era Wang Yucheng recommended him for transport commissioner. Summoned posthaste to the capital, Dan, who had little taste for administrative duty, submitted literary work instead. After an imperial examination he was appointed to the Historiography Institute. In the second year he became right remonstrance official and drafter of edicts.

初，祐以宿名久掌書命，旦不十年繼其任，時論美之。錢若水有人倫鑒，見旦曰：「真宰相器也。」與之同列，每曰：「王君淩霄聳壑，棟梁之材，貴不可涯，非吾所及。」李沆以同年生，亦推重為遠大之器。明年，與蘇易簡同知貢舉，加虞部員外郎、同判吏部流內銓、知考課院。趙昌言參機務，旦避嫌，引唐獨孤鬱、權德輿故事辭職。太宗嘉其識體，改禮部郎中、集賢殿修撰。昌言出知鳳翔，即日以旦知制誥，仍兼修撰、判院事，面賜金紫，擇牯犀帶寵之，又令冠西閣。至道元年，知理檢院。二年，進兵部郎中。

You, already famous, had long held the post of imperial scribe; Dan succeeded him in less than ten years, and contemporaries admired the succession. Qian Ruoshui was a keen judge of men. When he saw Dan he said, "Here is true chancellor timber." Serving beside him, Qian would often say, "Master Wang rises like cloud-capped peaks—beam timber for the state. His stature has no limit. I cannot compare." Li Hang, who had passed the examinations in the same year, likewise regarded him as a man of great future promise. The next year he and Su Yijian jointly supervised the civil examinations. He was also made deputy director of the Directorate of Parks and Buildings, co-administrator of the Ministry of Personnel's roster office, and director of the performance evaluation bureau. When Zhao Changyan entered the inner councils of state, Dan stepped aside to avoid suspicion, citing the Tang examples of Dugu Yu and Quan Deyu. Taizong admired his propriety and reassigned him as director of the Ministry of Rites and compiler of the Hall of Assembled Worthies. When Changyan left to govern Fengxiang, Dan was that same day made drafter of edicts while retaining his posts as compiler and institute administrator. The emperor personally bestowed gold and purple insignia, chose a rhinoceros-horn belt to honor him, and placed him at the head of the Western Pavilion. In the first year of Zhidao he was put in charge of the Censorate Investigation Office. In the second year he was promoted to director of the Ministry of War.

真宗即位，拜中書舍人，數月，為翰林學士兼知審官院、通進銀臺封駁司。帝素賢旦，嘗奏事退，目送之曰：「為朕致太平者，必斯人也。」錢若水罷樞務，得對苑中，訪近臣之可用者，若水言：「旦有德望，堪任大事。」帝曰：「此固朕心所屬也。」咸平三年，又知貢舉，鎖宿旬日，拜給事中、同知樞密院事。逾年，以工部侍郎參知政事。

When Zhenzong came to the throne, Dan was appointed Secretariat drafter. Within a few months he was made Hanlin Academician and given charge of the Appointments Review Office and the Silver Terrace Memorial Transmission and Veto Office. The emperor had long admired Dan. Once, after Dan withdrew from an audience, Zhenzong watched him leave and said, "The man who will bring me peace will be this one." When Qian Ruoshui left the military commission and was received in the imperial garden, the emperor asked which recent ministers were fit for high office. Ruoshui answered, "Dan has both virtue and standing. He can bear great responsibility." The emperor said, "That is already where my own mind rests." In the third year of Xianping he again supervised the examinations, spending ten days sequestered in the examination hall, and was then appointed censor-in-chief and co-deputy commissioner of military affairs. The next year, as vice minister of works, he became vice grand councillor.

契丹犯邊，從幸澶州。雍王元份留守東京，遇暴疾，命旦馳還，權留守事。旦曰：「願宣寇準，臣有所陳。」準至，旦奏曰：「十日之間未有捷報，時當如何？」帝默然良久，曰：「立皇太子。」旦既至京，直入禁中，下令甚嚴，使人不得傳播。及駕還，旦子弟及家人皆迎於郊，忽聞後有騶訶聲，驚視之，乃旦也。二年，加尚書左丞。三年，拜工部尚書、同中書門下平章事、集賢殿大學士、監修《兩朝國史》。

When the Khitan raided the frontier, he accompanied the emperor to Chuan Prefecture. Prince Yong Yuanfen was left to guard the eastern capital when he was suddenly stricken with a grave illness. Dan was ordered to ride back at once and serve as acting custodian of the capital. Dan said, "I ask that Kou Zhun be summoned. Your servant has something to lay before the throne." When Zhun arrived, Dan said, "If no good news comes within ten days, what then should be done?" The emperor was silent a long while, then said, "Install the crown prince." Once Dan reached the capital he went directly into the inner palace and issued stern orders forbidding anyone to spread rumors. When the imperial procession returned, Dan's children and household went out to meet him. Suddenly they heard an escort shouting from behind. Startled, they turned—and it was Dan himself. In the second year he was promoted to left vice director of the Department of State Affairs. In the third year he was made minister of works, coordinator of the Three Departments, grand academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies, and supervisor of the National History of Two Reigns.

契丹既受盟，寇準以為功，有自得之色，真宗亦自得也。王欽若惎準，欲傾之，從容言曰：「此《春秋》城下之盟也，諸侯猶恥之，而陛下以為功，臣竊不取。」帝愀然曰：「為之奈何？」欽若度帝厭兵，即謬曰：「陛下以兵取幽燕，乃可滌恥。」帝曰：「河朔生靈始免兵革，朕安能為此？可思其次。」欽若曰：「唯有封禪泰山，可以鎮服四海，誇示外國。然自古封禪，當得天瑞希世絕倫之事，然後可爾。」既而又曰：「天瑞安可必得？前代蓋有以人力為之者，惟人主深信而崇之，以明示天下，則與天瑞無異也。」帝思久之，乃可，而心憚旦，曰：「王旦得無不可乎？」欽若曰：「臣得以聖意喻之，宜無不可。」乘間為旦言，旦黽勉而從。帝猶尤豫，莫與籌之者，會幸秘閣，驟問杜鎬曰：「古所謂河出圖、洛出書，果何事耶？」鎬老儒，不測其旨，漫應之曰：「此聖人以神道設教爾。」帝繇此意決，遂召旦飲，歡甚，賜以尊酒，曰：「此酒極佳，歸與妻孥共之。」既歸發之，皆珠也。由是凡天書、封禪等事，旦不復異議。

Once the Khitan had accepted the treaty, Kou Zhun treated it as his own triumph and looked thoroughly pleased with himself—and Zhenzong was pleased as well. Wang Qinruo resented Zhun and sought to bring him down. Speaking with apparent ease, he said, "This is the sort of treaty made beneath the walls of an enemy city that the Spring and Autumn Annals treats as a disgrace. Yet Your Majesty calls it a triumph. I for one cannot accept that." The emperor's face darkened. "Then what can be done?" Reading the emperor's weariness of war, Qinruo at once said, "If Your Majesty retook Youyan by force, the shame would be wiped clean." The emperor replied, "The people of Hebei have only just been spared the horrors of war. How could I do that? Think of something else." Qinruo said, "There is only one other course: to perform the feng and shan rites on Mount Tai. That would awe the empire and impress foreign powers. But since antiquity those rites had required a heavenly portent of unmatched rarity—only then could they be undertaken." Then he added, "Who can guarantee a sign from heaven? Past ages had seen such signs manufactured by human contrivance. If the ruler truly believed in them and displayed them to the world, they would serve as well as any heaven-sent omen." The emperor thought for a long time and finally agreed—but he still feared Dan and said, "Surely Wang Dan will refuse? Qinruo said, "Leave it to me. If I explain Your Majesty's purpose, he will not stand in the way." He found an opening to speak with Dan, and Dan yielded with visible reluctance. The emperor remained undecided and had no one with whom to discuss the matter. On a visit to the Secret Archive he suddenly asked Du Hao, "In antiquity people spoke of the River yielding the Diagram and the Luo yielding the Book. What were those things, really? Du Hao, an elderly scholar, did not catch his drift and answered vaguely, "Those were cases in which the sage taught the people through the language of the divine." That answer settled the emperor's mind. He summoned Dan to drink with him and, in high spirits, presented him with a jar of fine wine, saying, "This is excellent wine. Take it home and share it with your wife and children." When Dan opened the jar at home, he found it filled with pearls. After that Dan never again objected to the Heavenly Writings, the feng and shan rites, or anything of that kind.

大中祥符初，為天書儀仗使，從封泰山，為大禮使，進中書侍郎兼刑部尚書。受詔撰《封祀壇頌》，加兵部尚書。四年，祀汾陰，又為大禮使，遷右僕射、昭文館大學士。仍撰《祠壇頌》，將復進秩，懇辭得免，止加功臣。俄兼門下侍郎、玉清昭應宮使。五年，為玉清奉聖像大禮使。景靈宮建，又為朝修使。七年，刻天書，兼刻玉使，選御廄三馬賜之。玉清昭應宮成，拜司空。京師賜酺，旦以慘恤不赴會，帝賜詩導意焉。《國史》成，遷司空。旦為天書使，每有大禮，輒奉天書以行，恒邑邑不樂。凡柄用十八年，為相僅一紀。

Early in the Dazhong Xiangfu era he was made commissioner of Heavenly Writings protocol, accompanied the feng rite at Mount Tai as grand rites commissioner, and was promoted to vice director of the Secretariat and minister of justice. By imperial command he wrote the Eulogy of the Sacrificial Altar for the Feng Rite and was further made minister of war. In the fourth year, when the sacrifice was performed at Fenyin, he again served as grand rites commissioner and was promoted to right vice director and grand academician of the Zhaowen Hall. He also wrote the Eulogy of the Sacrificial Altar. When another promotion was proposed, he begged off and was allowed to decline; he received only the title of meritorious subject. Soon afterward he was also made vice director of the Chancellery and commissioner of the Yujing Zhaoying Palace. In the fifth year he was grand rites commissioner for the presentation of the sacred image at Yujing. When the Jingling Palace was erected, he again served as commissioner overseeing its court rituals. In the seventh year he oversaw the engraving of the Heavenly Book, served concurrently as Jade-Carving Envoy, and was granted three horses from the imperial stud. When the Jade Pure Manifest Response Palace was completed, he was appointed Minister of Works. When the capital was granted a court feast, Dan declined to attend out of grief, and the emperor sent him a poem to console him. When the National History was completed, he was promoted to Minister of Works. As Heavenly Book envoy, whenever a great ceremony required it he bore the Heavenly Book on the procession—and was always inwardly troubled and unhappy. In all he held power for eighteen years, yet served as chief minister for only twelve.

會契丹修和，西夏誓守故地，二邊兵罷不用，真宗以無事治天下。旦謂祖宗之法具在，務行故事，慎所變改。帝久益信之，言無不聽，凡大臣有所請，必曰：「王旦以為如何？」旦與人寡言笑，默坐終日，及奏事，群臣異同，旦徐一言以定。歸家，或不去冠帶，入靜室獨坐，家人莫敢見之。旦弟以問趙安仁，安仁曰：「方議事，公不欲行而未決，此必憂朝廷矣。」

Once the Khitan renewed the peace and Western Xia pledged to keep to their old borders, armies on both frontiers were stood down, and Zhenzong ruled the realm as though at peace. Dan held that the founding emperors' institutions remained intact: one should follow precedent and change things only with great caution. In time the emperor came to trust him completely and never refused his counsel; whenever a minister petitioned for something, he would always ask, "What does Wang Dan think?" Wang Dan spoke little and seldom laughed; he would sit in silence all day. Yet when business came before the throne and the ministers were divided, one quiet word from him would settle the matter. At home he sometimes kept on his official cap and belt, withdrew to a private room, and sat alone—no one in his household dared disturb him. Dan's younger brother asked Zhao Anren what this meant. Anren said, "He is weighing a matter of state. Your brother does not want to act but has not yet decided against it—he must be brooding over the court."

帝嘗示二府《喜雨詩》，旦袖歸曰：「上詩有一字誤寫，莫進入改卻否？」王欽若曰：「此亦無害。」而密奏之，帝慍，謂旦曰：「昨日詩有誤字，何不來奏？」旦曰：「臣得詩未暇再閱，有失上陳。」惶懼再拜謝，諸臣皆拜，獨樞密馬知節不拜，具以實奏，且曰：「王旦略不辨，真宰相器也。」帝顧旦而笑焉。天下大蝗，使人於野得死蝗，帝以示大臣。明日，執政遂袖死蝗進曰：「蝗實死矣，請示於朝，率百官賀。」旦獨不可。後數日，方奏事，飛蝗蔽天，帝顧旦曰：「使百官方賀，而蝗如此，豈不為天下笑耶？”」

The emperor once showed his "Joy for Rain" poem to the Two Departments. Dan tucked it into his sleeve and said on his way home, "There is one miswritten character in the poem—shall I submit it for correction?" Wang Qinruo said, "That hardly matters." Yet Qinruo secretly memorialized about it. The emperor was displeased and said to Dan, "Yesterday's poem had a wrong character—why did you not tell me?" Dan said, "When I received the poem I had no time to read it again, and I failed to report it to Your Majesty." Dan bowed twice in fear and apology; the other ministers bowed as well, but Privy Councillor Ma Zhijie alone did not. He reported what had actually happened and said, "Wang Dan could barely tell the difference—that is the mark of a true chancellor." The emperor turned to Dan and smiled. Locusts plagued the empire. An envoy found dead locusts in the countryside, and the emperor showed them to his ministers. The next day the chief ministers brought dead locusts tucked in their sleeves and said, "The locusts are truly dead—please show this at court and let all officials offer congratulations." Dan alone objected. A few days later, while they were presenting business, locusts blotted out the sky. The emperor turned to Dan and said, "If I had let the whole court congratulate me while the locusts were still like this, would not the realm have laughed at me?

宮禁火災，旦馳入，帝曰：「兩朝所積，朕不妄費，一朝殆盡，誠可惜也。」旦對曰：「陛下富有天下，財帛不足憂，所慮者政令賞罰之不當。臣備位宰府，天災如此，臣當罷免。」繼上表待罪，帝乃降詔罪己，許中外封事言得失。後有言榮王宮火所延，非天災，請置獄劾，當坐死者百餘人。旦獨請曰：「始火時，陛下已罪己詔天下，臣等皆上章待罪。今反歸咎於人，何以示信？且火雖有跡，寧知非天譴耶？」當坐者皆免。

When fire broke out in the palace precincts, Dan rushed in. The emperor said, "Two reigns' worth of accumulation—and I never squandered it—in one morning it was nearly gone. This is truly a pity." Dan replied, "Your Majesty possesses the whole realm; wealth is no cause for worry. What should concern you is whether your edicts, rewards, and punishments are just. I hold a chancellor's post to no good effect; with a disaster of heaven such as this, I ought to be removed." He then submitted a memorial accepting blame. The emperor issued an edict blaming himself and allowed officials throughout the realm to submit memorials on what was right and wrong in government. Later someone claimed the fire had spread from the Prince of Rong's palace and was not a heaven-sent calamity, and asked that an inquiry be opened—more than a hundred people faced execution. Dan alone petitioned, saying, "When the fire first broke out, Your Majesty had already issued an edict blaming yourself to the realm, and we all submitted memorials accepting blame. Now to turn and blame others—how can Your Majesty show good faith? And though the fire left traces, who can say it was not heaven's rebuke?" All who would have been punished were pardoned.

日者上書言宮禁事，坐誅，籍其家，得朝士所與往還占問吉凶之說。帝怒，欲付御史問狀，旦曰：「此人之常情，且語不及朝廷，不足罪。」真宗怒不解，旦因自取嘗所占問之書進曰：「臣少賤時，不免為此。必以為罪，願並臣付獄。」真宗曰：「此事已發，何可免？」旦曰：「臣為宰相執國法，豈可自為之，幸於不發而以罪人。」帝意解。旦至中書，悉焚所得書。既而復悔，馳取之，而已焚之矣，由是皆免。仁宗為皇太子，太子諭德見旦，稱太子學書有法。旦曰：「諭德之職，止於是耶？」張士遜又稱太子書，旦曰：「太子不在應舉，選學士不在學書。」

A diviner memorialized about palace affairs and was executed. When his property was confiscated, officials found among his papers exchanges with court gentlemen seeking divinations on fortune and misfortune. The emperor was angry and wanted the censorate to investigate. Dan said, "This is ordinary human nature, and their talk never touched on court affairs—it does not warrant punishment." Zhenzong's anger did not lift. Dan then produced his own old fortune-telling papers and said, "When I was young and obscure, I could not avoid doing this myself. If this must be treated as a crime, then send me to prison as well." Zhenzong said, "This matter has already come to light—how can it be excused? Dan said, "I serve as chancellor and enforce the laws of the state—how could I do this myself and then, because mine never came to light, treat others as criminals?" The emperor's anger subsided. When Dan reached the Central Secretariat, he burned all the confiscated papers. He soon regretted it and galloped back to recover them, but they were already ashes—and so everyone was spared. When Renzong was crown prince, his tutor visited Dan and praised the prince's calligraphy as well disciplined. Dan said, "Is the tutor's duty only to say this much? Zhang Shisun again praised the prince's calligraphy. Dan said, "The crown prince is not sitting for the civil examinations—a chosen scholar is not chosen for his penmanship."

契丹奏請歲給外別假錢幣。旦曰：「東封甚近，車駕將出，彼以此探朝廷之意耳。」帝曰：「何以答之？」旦曰：「止當以微物而輕之。」乃以歲給三十萬物內各借三萬，仍諭次年額內除之。契丹得之，大慚。次年，復下有司：「契丹所借金幣六萬，事屬微末，今仍依常數與之，後不為比。」西夏趙德明言民饑，求糧百萬斛，大臣皆曰：「德明新納誓而敢違，請以詔責之。」帝以問旦，旦請敕有司具粟百萬於京師，而詔德明來取之。德明得詔，慚且拜曰：「朝廷有人。」

The Khitan memorialized asking for an extra loan of silk and coin beyond the annual tribute quota. Dan said, "The eastern tour is close at hand and the imperial carriage is about to set out—they are using this to sound out the court's intentions." The emperor asked, "How should we answer? Dan said, "We should answer with something trifling and treat the request lightly." Accordingly, from within the annual tribute of three hundred thousand units, three ten thousand of each category were lent, with notice that the sum would be deducted from the following year's quota. When the Khitan received this reply, they were deeply ashamed. The next year the throne again instructed the relevant offices: "The Khitan's borrowed sixty thousand in gold and silk is a trifling matter; grant it according to the usual quota, but let this not become a precedent." Zhao Deming of Western Xia reported that his people were starving and asked for a million hu of grain. The ministers all said, "Deming has only just sworn allegiance and already dares to press us—rebuke him by edict." The emperor asked Dan. Dan requested that the relevant offices stock a million hu of grain at the capital and that Deming be instructed by edict to come and fetch it. When Deming received the edict, he bowed in shame and said, "The court has men of ability."

寇準數短旦，旦專稱準。帝謂旦曰：「卿雖稱其美，彼專談卿惡。」旦曰：「理固當然。臣在相位久，政事闕失必多。準對陛下無所隱，益見其忠直，此臣所以重準也。」帝以是愈賢旦。中書有事送密院，違詔格，準在密院，以事上聞。旦被責，第拜謝，堂吏皆見罰。不逾月，密院有事送中書，亦違詔格，堂吏欣然呈旦，旦令送還密院。準大慚，見旦曰：「同年，甚得許大度量？」旦不答。寇準罷樞密使，託人私求為使相，旦驚曰：「將相之任，豈可求耶！吾不受私請。」準深憾之。已而除準武勝軍節度使、同中書門下平章事。準入見，謝曰：「非陛下知臣，安能至此？」帝具道旦所以薦者，準愧歎，以為不可及。準在藩鎮，生辰，造山棚大宴，又服用僭侈，為人所奏。帝怒，謂旦曰：「寇準每事欲效朕，可乎？」旦徐對曰：「準誠賢能，無如騃何。」真宗意遂解，曰：「然，此正是騃爾。」遂不問。

Kou Zhun repeatedly disparaged Dan, yet Dan never failed to speak well of Zhun. The emperor said to Dan, "You praise his virtues, but he speaks only of your faults." Dan said, "That is only as it should be. I have long served as chancellor, and my failures in government must be many. Zhun hides nothing before Your Majesty, which all the more shows his loyalty and directness—that is why I value him." The emperor thereby thought even more highly of Dan. When the Central Secretariat forwarded a matter to the Privy Council in violation of edict regulations, Zhun, serving in the Privy Council, reported it to the throne. Dan was rebuked and simply bowed in acceptance; all the secretariat clerks were punished. Less than a month later, when the Privy Council sent a matter to the Central Secretariat that also violated edict regulations, the secretariat clerks eagerly brought it to Dan—but Dan ordered it returned to the Privy Council. Zhun was deeply ashamed. Seeing Dan, he said, "Fellow graduate—how can you be so magnanimous? Dan made no reply. When Kou Zhun was removed as Privy Councillor, he had someone privately ask that he be made a military commissioner with concurrent councilor rank. Dan was startled and said, "The posts of general and minister—how can they be sought! I do not honor private requests." Zhun resented this bitterly. Before long Zhun was appointed military commissioner of Wusheng Circuit and concurrent grand councilor of the Central Secretariat and Chancellery. When Zhun came before the throne, he thanked the emperor, saying, "Had Your Majesty not understood me, how could I have reached this? The emperor then explained in full how Dan had recommended him. Zhun sighed in shame and felt he could never measure up. While Zhun held a frontier command, he built a mountain pavilion for a birthday feast and dressed and equipped himself with princely extravagance; someone memorialized against him. The emperor was angry and said to Dan, "Kou Zhun wants to imitate me in everything—is that permissible? Dan answered slowly, "Zhun is truly able—what can one do about his foolishness?" Zhenzong's anger eased, and he said, "Yes—that is exactly his foolishness." The matter was dropped.

翰林學士陳彭年呈政府科場條目，旦投之地曰：「內翰得官幾日，乃欲隔截天下進士耶？」彭年皇恐而退。時向敏中同在中書，出彭年所留文字，旦瞑目取紙封之。敏中請一覽，旦曰：「不過興建符瑞圖進爾。」後彭年與王曾、張知白參預政事，同謂旦曰：「每奏事，其間有不經上覽者，公批旨奉行，恐人言之以為不可。」旦遜謝而已。一日奏對，旦退，曾等稍留，帝驚曰：「有何事不與王旦來？」皆以前事對。帝曰：「旦在朕左右多年，朕察之無毫髮私。自東封後，朕諭以小事一面奉行，卿等謹奉之。」曾等退而愧謝，旦曰：「正賴諸公規益。」略不介意。

Hanlin Academician Chen Pengnian submitted examination regulations to the chief ministers. Dan threw them to the floor and said, "How many days have you held office, Academician, that you already want to shut out the empire's examination candidates? Pengnian withdrew in terror. Xiang Minzhong was then also in the Central Secretariat. When Pengnian's retained papers were produced, Dan closed his eyes, took a sheet of paper, and sealed them away. Minzhong asked to see them. Dan said, "Nothing but proposals to build charts of auspicious portents for presentation." Later, when Pengnian served with Wang Zeng and Zhang Zhibai as participating administrators, they said together to Dan, "When we present business, some matters never reach the emperor's eyes, yet you approve instructions and carry them out—we fear people will call that improper." Dan only thanked them deferentially. One day, after presenting business, Dan withdrew while Zeng and the others lingered. The emperor was startled and said, "What matter did you not bring Wang Dan for? They all answered with the earlier complaint. The emperor said, "Dan has been at my side for many years, and I have never seen the slightest trace of private interest in him. Since the eastern tour I have told him to carry out minor matters on his own authority—you should all respect that and follow it." Zeng and the others withdrew and apologized in shame. Dan said, "It is precisely because I rely on you gentlemen for correction." He did not mind in the least.

帝欲相王欽若，旦曰：「欽若遭逢陛下，恩禮已隆，且乞留之樞密，兩府亦均。臣見祖宗朝未嘗有南人當國者，雖古稱立賢無方，然須賢士乃可。臣為宰相，不敢沮抑人，此亦公議也。」真宗遂止。旦沒後，欽若始大用，語人曰：「為王公遲我十年作宰相。」欽若與陳堯叟、馬知節同在樞府，因奏事忿爭。真宗召旦至，欽若猶嘩不已，知節流涕曰：「願與欽若同下御史府。」旦叱欽若使退。帝大怒，命付獄。旦從容曰：「欽若等恃陛下厚顧，上煩譴訶，當行朝典。願且還內，來日取旨。」明日，召旦前問之，旦曰：「欽若等當黜，未知坐以何罪？」帝曰：「坐忿爭無禮。」旦曰：「陛下奄有天下，使大臣坐忿爭無禮之罪，或聞外國，恐無以威遠。」帝曰：「卿意如何？」旦曰：「願至中書，召欽若等宣示陛下含容之意，且戒約之。俟少間，罷之未晚也。」帝曰：「非卿之言，朕固難忍。」後月餘，欽若等皆罷。

The emperor wished to make Wang Qinruo chancellor. Dan said, "Qinruo has already received Your Majesty's extraordinary favor and honors—please keep him in the Privy Council so the Two Departments remain balanced. I see that under the founding emperors no southerner ever held national power. Antiquity says worthies may be raised without regard to origin, but only a truly worthy man could justify that. As chancellor I dare not suppress anyone on my own—but this is also the public consensus." Zhenzong thereupon dropped the idea. After Dan died, Qinruo was at last greatly promoted. He told others, "Lord Wang delayed my becoming chancellor by ten years." Qinruo, Chen Yaosou, and Ma Zhijie all served in the Privy Council and quarreled fiercely while presenting business. Zhenzong summoned Dan. Qinruo still shouted without stopping. Zhijie wept and said, "I wish to go before the censorate together with Qinruo." Dan rebuked Qinruo and made him withdraw. The emperor was furious and ordered them sent to prison. Dan said calmly, "Qinruo and the others, relying on Your Majesty's great favor, have troubled you with their quarrel—they should be dealt with according to court precedent. Please return to the inner palace for now and decide tomorrow." The next day the emperor summoned Dan forward and asked him. Dan said, "Qinruo and the others ought to be dismissed, but on what charge? The emperor said, "The charge is quarreling impertinently." Dan said, "Your Majesty rules all under heaven. To convict great ministers of quarreling impertinently—if word of this reaches foreign states, I fear you will lose the power to awe distant peoples." The emperor said, "What do you think?" Dan said, "Let me go to the Secretariat, summon Qinruo and the others, convey Your Majesty's intent to be magnanimous, and admonish them as well. To wait a little longer before dismissing them would not be too late." The emperor said, "But for your counsel, I could scarcely have borne it." More than a month later, Qinruo and the others were all dismissed.

旦嘗與楊億評品人物，億曰：「丁謂久遠當何如？」旦曰：「才則才矣，語道則未。他日在上位，使有德者助之，庶得終吉；若獨當權，必為身累爾。」後謂果如言。

Dan once discussed men's characters with Yang Yi. Yi asked, "What will Ding Wei come to in the long run?" Dan said, "He has talent, yes—but he does not yet understand the Way. If one day he rises high and men of virtue assist him, he might end well; but if he holds power alone, he will surely bring trouble upon himself." Later Wei proved exactly as Dan had said.

旦為兗州景靈宮朝修使，內臣周懷政偕行，或乘間請見，旦必俟從者盡至，冠帶出見於堂皇，白事而退。後懷政以事敗，方知旦遠慮。內臣劉承規以忠謹得幸，病且死，求為節度使。帝語旦曰：「承規待此以瞑目。」旦執不可，曰：「他日將有求為樞密使者，奈何？」遂止。自是內臣官不過留後。

When Dan served as commissioner for the court renovation of the Jingling Palace at Yanzhou, the eunuch Zhou Huaizheng traveled with him. Whenever Huaizheng found a moment to request an audience, Dan always waited until every attendant had arrived, then appeared in cap and sash in the main hall, heard his business, and withdrew. Later, when Huaizheng's affair collapsed in scandal, people understood at last Dan's far-sighted caution. The eunuch Liu Chenggui had won favor through loyalty and discretion. When he fell gravely ill and faced death, he asked to be made military commissioner. The emperor told Dan, "Chenggui is waiting for this so he may die in peace." Dan firmly refused. "If we grant this," he said, "in time others will ask to be made Commissioners of Military Affairs—what then?" The appointment was dropped. From that time on, eunuchs were never appointed above military deputy commissioner.

旦為相，賓客滿堂，無敢以私請。察可與言及素知名者，數月後，召與語，詢訪四方利病，或使疏其言而獻之。觀才之所長，密籍其名，其人復來，不見也。每有差除，先密疏四三人姓名以請，所用者帝以筆點之。同列不知，爭有所用，惟旦所用，奏入無不可。丁謂以是數毀旦，帝益厚之。故參政李穆子行簡，以將作監丞家居，有賢行，遷太子中允。使者不知其宅，真宗命就中書問旦，人始知行簡為旦所薦。旦凡所薦，皆人未嘗知。旦沒後，史官修《真宗實錄》，得內出奏章，始知朝士多旦所薦云。諫議大夫張師德兩詣旦門，不得見，意為人所毀，以告向敏中，為從容明之。及議知制誥，旦曰：「可惜張師德。」敏中問之，旦曰：「累於上前言師德名家子，有士行，不意兩及吾門。狀元及第，榮進素定，但當靜以待之爾。若復奔競，使無階而入者當如何也。」敏中啟以師德之意，旦曰：「旦處安得有人敢輕毀人，但師德後進，待我薄爾。」敏中固稱：「適有闕，望公弗遺。」旦曰：「第緩之，使師德知，聊以戒貪進、激薄俗也。」

When Dan was chancellor, his hall was crowded with guests, yet none dared ask private favors. Those he judged worth speaking with, or who were already well known—after several months he would summon them, inquire into conditions and grievances throughout the realm, and sometimes have them set down their views in writing for submission. When he observed where their talents lay, he secretly noted their names—and if they came again, he would not receive them. Whenever appointments were to be made, he first submitted a secret memorial naming three or four candidates; the emperor would mark his brush beside the one to be chosen. His colleagues knew nothing of this; each pushed his own men, but only Dan's choices—when the memorials went in—never failed to win approval. Ding Wei used this as a pretext to slander Dan repeatedly, yet the emperor only treated Dan all the more generously. Li Xingjian, son of the former participating administrator Li Mu, was living at home as assistant director of the Directorate of Palace Buildings. Noted for his virtue, he was promoted to attendant to the heir apparent. The messenger did not know where he lived. Zhenzong ordered the Secretariat to ask Dan, and only then did people learn that Xingjian had been recommended by Dan. In every case, Dan's recommendations were ones no one had known he made. After Dan's death, when the historiographers compiled the Veritable Records of Zhenzong and gained access to memorials issued from within, they learned for the first time how many court officials Dan had recommended. Remonstrance and Opinion Grandee Zhang Shide twice called at Dan's gate without being received. Suspecting someone had slandered him, he confided in Xiang Minzhong, who calmly explained the situation. When the post of drafter of edicts came under discussion, Dan said, "It is a pity about Zhang Shide." Minzhong asked why. Dan said, "I have told His Majesty repeatedly that Shide comes from a great family and has the bearing of a gentleman. I never expected him to call at my gate twice. As principal graduate, honors and advancement were already assured for him—he need only wait quietly. If he scrambles for advancement again, what of those who have no way in at all?" Minzhong relayed Shide's intentions. Dan said, "In my position, who would dare lightly slander anyone? But Shide is still a junior man—and he has treated me too lightly, that is all." Minzhong pressed him: "There happens to be a vacancy now—I hope you will not overlook him." Dan said, "Just delay it a while, so Shide understands—it will serve to warn against greedy scrambling for office and to rebuke a debased custom."

石普知許州不法，朝議欲就劾。旦曰：「普武人，不明典憲，恐恃薄效，妄有生事。必須重行，乞召歸置獄。」乃下御史按之，一日而獄具。議者以為不屈國法而保全武臣，真國體也。薛奎為江淮發運使，辭旦，旦無他語，但云：「東南民力竭矣。」奎退而曰：「真宰相之言也。」張士遜為江西轉運使，辭旦求教，旦曰：「朝廷榷利至矣。」士遜迭更是職，思旦之言，未嘗求利，識者曰：「此運使識大體。」張詠知成都，召還，以任中正代之，言者以為不可。帝問旦，對曰：「非中正不能守詠之規。他人往，妄有變更矣。」李迪、賀邊有時名，舉進士，迪以賦落韻，邊以《當仁不讓於師論》以「師」為「眾」，與注疏異，皆不預。主文奏乞收試，旦曰：「迪雖犯不考，然出於不意，其過可略。邊特立異說，將令後生務為穿鑿，漸不可長。」遂收迪而黜邊。

Shi Pu, as prefect of Xuzhou, had acted unlawfully, and the court deliberated impeaching him in place. Dan said, "Pu is a military man who does not understand law and precedent. I fear that, relying on modest service, he may rashly make trouble. Severe measures are required. I ask that he be recalled and placed in custody." The censors were dispatched to investigate, and within a day the case was complete. Commentators held that upholding the law without sacrificing a military officer was true statesmanship. Xue Kui, upon leaving for his post as commissioner for Huai River transport, called on Dan to take leave. Dan said nothing else but this: "The strength of the people in the southeast is exhausted." Kui withdrew and said, "Those are truly a chancellor's words." Zhang Shixun, upon leaving for his post as Jiangxi transport commissioner, called on Dan for counsel. Dan said, "The court has already taken monopoly profits as far as they can go." Shixun served in that post in turn, kept Dan's words in mind, and never pressed for more profit. Observers said, "This transport commissioner sees the larger picture." When Zhang Yong was recalled from governing Chengdu and Ren Zhongzheng was appointed to replace him, critics objected. The emperor asked Dan, who answered, "Only Zhongzheng can preserve Yong's policies. If anyone else were sent, policies would be changed recklessly." Li Di and He Bian were men of contemporary renown. In the jinshi examination Di was rejected for a rhyme fault in his fu; Bian, in his exposition on "When it comes to benevolence, one does not defer even to one's teacher," interpreted "teacher" as "the multitude," at odds with the standard commentaries—both were passed over. The chief examiner memorialized asking that they be admitted to examination. Dan said, "Di did violate the rule for disqualification, but it was inadvertent—his fault may be overlooked. But Bian deliberately upheld a divergent reading. That would teach younger scholars to pursue forced interpretations—a trend that must not be indulged." Di was admitted; Bian was rejected.

旦任事久，人有謗之者，輒引咎不辨。至人有過失，雖人主盛怒，可辨者辨之，必得而後已。素羸多疾，自東魯復命，連歲求解，優詔褒答，繼以面諭，委任無貳。天禧初，進位太保，為兗州太極觀奉上寶冊使，復加太尉兼侍中，五日一赴起居，入中書，遇軍國重事，不限時日入預參決。旦愈畏避，上疏懇辭，又托同列奏白。帝重違其意，止加封邑。一日，獨對滋福殿，帝曰：「朕方以大事託卿，而卿疾如此。」因命皇太子出拜，旦皇恐走避，太子隨而拜之。旦言：「太子盛德，必任陛下事。」因薦可為大臣者十餘人，其後不至宰相惟李及、淩策二人，亦為名臣。旦復求避位，帝睹其形瘁，憫然許之。以太尉領玉清昭應宮使，給宰相半俸。

Dan had served long in office. When people slandered him, he always took the blame upon himself without rebuttal. But when others had faults—even when the emperor was furious—he defended them where defense was possible, and never stopped until he prevailed. He had long been frail and often ill. After returning from the eastern tour he asked year after year to be relieved; gracious edicts commended him in reply, the emperor reassured him in person, and his trust and appointment never wavered. At the beginning of the Tianxi era he was promoted to Grand Guardian and appointed envoy to present the precious register at the Taiji Abbey in Yanzhou. He was further made Grand Marshal and Palace Secretariat Director; he attended court every five days, entered the Secretariat, and on weighty military and state matters was summoned to deliberate without regard to the hour. Dan grew ever more fearful of office and submitted a memorial earnestly asking to be relieved; he also had his colleagues speak on his behalf. The emperor, loath to go against his wishes, only increased his fief. One day, granted a private audience in Zifu Hall, the emperor said, "I am entrusting you with weighty affairs, yet your illness is so severe." He then ordered the crown prince to come forward and bow. Dan, terrified, tried to flee; the crown prince followed and bowed to him anyway. Dan said, "The crown prince is greatly virtuous and will surely bear Your Majesty's burdens." He then recommended more than ten men fit for high ministerial office. Of these, only Li Ji and Ling Ce never became chancellor—yet both were celebrated ministers. Dan again asked to step aside. Seeing how wasted he had become, the emperor pityingly agreed. He retained the title Grand Marshal and was made commissioner of the Jade Pure Manifest Response Palace, with half a chancellor's salary.

初，旦以宰相兼使，今罷相，使猶領之，其專置使自旦始焉。尋又命肩輿入禁，使子雍與直省吏挾扶，見於延和殿。帝曰：「卿今疾亟，萬一有不諱，使朕以天下事付之誰乎？」旦曰：「知臣莫若君，惟明主擇之。」再三問，不對。時張詠、馬亮皆為尚書，帝歷問二人，亦不對，因曰：「試以卿意言之。」旦強起舉笏曰：「以臣之愚，莫如寇準。」帝曰：「準性剛褊，卿更思其次。」旦曰：「他人，臣所不知也。臣病困，不能久侍。」遂辭退。後旦沒歲餘，竟用準為相。

At first Dan had held the commissioner post while serving as chancellor. Now, though he had left the chancellorship, he still held the commissioner post—the dedicated appointment of such commissioners began with Dan. Soon he was also permitted to enter the palace precinct in a sedan chair. His son Yong and direct-service clerks supported him, and he was received in Yanhe Hall. The emperor said, "Your illness is now grave. If the unforeseen should happen, to whom should I entrust the affairs of the realm?" Dan said, "No one knows his ministers as the sovereign does. Let the enlightened ruler choose." Asked again and again, he would not answer. Zhang Yong and Ma Liang were both serving as vice directors of state affairs. The emperor asked them in turn; they too would not answer. He then said, "Tell me your own view." Dan forced himself upright, raised his memorial tablet, and said, "In my poor judgment, none is better than Kou Zhun." The emperor said, "Zhun's nature is stubborn and narrow-minded. Think of the next choice." Dan said, "As for anyone else, I do not know. My illness is severe. I cannot stay long." He then withdrew. More than a year after Dan's death, Kou Zhun was at last made chancellor.

旦疾甚，遣內侍問者日或三四，帝手自和藥，並薯蕷粥賜之。旦與楊億素厚，延至臥內，請撰遺表。且言：「忝為宰輔，不可以將盡之言，為宗親求官，止敘生平遭遇，願日親庶政，進用賢士，少減焦勞之意。」仍戒子弟：「我家盛名清德，當務儉素，保守門風，不得事於泰侈，勿為厚葬以金寶置柩中。」表上，真宗歎之，遂幸其第，賜白金五千兩。旦作奏辭之，槁末，自益四句云：「益懼多藏，況無所用，見欲散施，以息咎殃。」即舁至內闥，詔不許。還至門，旦已薨，年六十一。帝臨其喪慟，廢朝三日，贈太師、尚書令、魏國公，諡文正，又別次發哀。後數日，張旻赴鎮河陽，例宜飲餞，以旦故，不舉樂。錄其子、弟、侄、外孫、門客、常從，授官者十數人。諸子服除，又各進一官。已而聞旦奏槁自益四句，取視，泣下久之。旦有文集二十卷。乾興初，詔配享真宗廟廷。及建碑，仁宗篆其首曰「全德元老之碑」。

When Dan's illness grew severe, imperial envoys inquired after him three or four times a day. The emperor personally prepared medicine and sent medicinal yam porridge as well. Dan and Yang Yi had long been close. He had Yi come to his sickbed and asked him to draft his death memorial. He also said, "Having disgracefully served as chief minister, I cannot use my last words to seek offices for kinsmen. Let it only recount my life's course, express the wish that Your Majesty attend closely to everyday governance, advance worthy men, and lighten somewhat the burden of your anxious toil." He also admonished his sons and nephews: "Our house bears a famous name and spotless reputation. Be sparing and plain, preserve the family tradition, indulge in no extravagance, and do not give me a lavish burial with gold and jewels placed in the coffin." When the memorial was submitted, Zhenzong sighed over it, visited Dan's residence in person, and bestowed five thousand taels of silver. Dan wrote a memorial declining the gift. At the end of the draft he added four lines of his own: "I fear hoarding wealth all the more, and have no use for it besides. I wish to distribute it in charity, to avert blame and misfortune." It was carried at once to the inner palace gate; an edict refused permission. When the bearers returned to his gate, Dan had already died, at the age of sixty-one. The emperor came to his mourning in grief, canceled court for three days, and posthumously granted him Grand Preceptor, Director of the Department of State Affairs, and Duke of Wei, with the posthumous name Wen Zheng. He also held a separate session of mourning. Several days later Zhang Min departed to take up his post at Heyang. By precedent a farewell feast should have been held with music, but because of Dan none was performed. His sons, brothers, nephews, grandsons by daughters, retained clients, and regular attendants were enrolled—more than ten were granted office. When his sons' mourning periods ended, each was again promoted one rank. Before long the emperor heard of the four lines Dan had added to his memorial draft. He took it up to read and wept for a long time. Dan left collected writings in twenty juan. At the beginning of the Qianxing era, an edict granted him a place among those enshrined in Emperor Zhenzong's temple. When a stele was erected, Renzong inscribed its head in seal script: "Stele of the Elder of Complete Virtue."

旦事寡嫂有禮，與弟旭友愛甚篤。婚姻不求門閥。被服質素，家人欲以繒錦飾氈席，不許。有貨玉帶者，弟以為佳，呈旦，旦命係之，曰：「還見佳否？」弟曰：「係之安得自見？」旦曰：「自負重而使觀者稱好，無乃勞乎！」亟還之。故所服止於賜帶。家人未嘗見其怒，飲食不精潔，但不食而已。嘗試以少埃墨投羹中，旦惟啖飯，問何不啜羹，則曰：「我偶不喜肉。」後又墨其飯，則曰：「吾今日不喜飯，可別具粥。」旦不置田宅，曰：「子孫當各念自立，何必田宅，徒使爭財為不義爾。」真宗以其所居陋，欲治之，旦辭以先人舊廬，乃止。宅門壞，主者徹新之，暫於廡下啟側門出入。旦至側門，據鞍俯過，門成復由之，皆不問焉。三子：雍，國子博士；冲，左贊善大夫；素，別有傳。

Dan treated his widowed sister-in-law with full propriety and was deeply affectionate with his younger brother Xu. In marriage he did not seek great pedigrees. His dress was plain and simple. When members of his household wished to trim felt mats with silks and brocades, he forbade it. A merchant was selling a jade belt. His younger brother thought it fine and showed it to Dan. Dan had it strapped on and said, "Can you still tell whether it looks fine?" His brother said, "Once it's strapped on, how can you see it yourself?" Dan said, "To burden yourself and yet make onlookers praise it—is that not a pointless strain?" He sent it back at once. In the end he wore nothing beyond the belt the emperor had granted him. His household never saw him lose his temper. When food was not properly prepared, he simply refused to eat it. Once the household tested him by dropping a bit of soot into the soup. Dan ate only the rice. Asked why he would not touch the soup, he said, "I happen not to care for meat." Later they dirtied his rice as well. He said, "I am not in the mood for rice today. Bring me some congee instead." Dan never bought land or property. He said, "My descendants should each learn to stand on their own. Why leave them fields and houses, only to drive them into squabbling over money?" When Zhenzong found his home too modest and offered to rebuild it, Dan declined, saying it was his ancestors' old house—and the emperor let the matter drop. When the main gate fell into disrepair, the steward took it down to rebuild it, and Dan entered and left for a time through a side door under the eaves. At the side gate he would lean from the saddle to slip through; even after the main gate was restored he kept using the side entrance—and never asked a word about any of it. He had three sons: Yong, who was a director at the Directorate of Education; Chong, Left Supporter of Goodness Grandee; Su, who has his own biography elsewhere.

向敏中

Xiang Minzhong

向敏中，字常之，開封人。父瑀，仕漢符離令。性嚴毅，惟敏中一子，躬自教督，不假顏色。嘗謂其母曰：「大吾門者，此兒也。」敏中隨瑀赴調京師，有書生過門，見敏中，謂鄰母曰：「此兒風骨秀異，貴且壽。」鄰母入告其家，比出，已不見矣。及冠，繼丁內外憂，能刻厲自立，有大志，不屑貧窶。

Xiang Minzhong, styled Changzhi, came from Kaifeng. His father Yu had served as magistrate of Fuli under the Later Han. Stern and unyielding by nature, he had only Minzhong as a son. He tutored the boy himself and never eased his stern manner. He once told his wife, "This boy will be the one to bring honor to our house." When Minzhong accompanied Yu to the capital for his assignment, a scholar passing the gate saw the boy and told a neighbor, "This child has an extraordinary presence. He will rise high and live long." The neighbor went in to tell the family, but by the time they came out, the scholar had vanished. When he came of age he lost both parents in succession. He disciplined himself, refused to be beaten down by hardship, nursed large ambitions, and would not be humbled by poverty.

太平興國五年進士，解褐將作監丞、通判吉州，就改右讚善大夫。轉運使張齊賢薦其材，代還，為著作郎。召見便殿，占對明暢，太宗善之，命為戶部推官，出為淮南轉運副使。時領外計者，皆以權寵自尊，所至畏憚，敏中不尚威察，待僚屬有禮，勤於勸勖，職務修舉。或薦其有武幹者，召入，將授諸司副使。敏中懇辭，仍獻所著文，加直史館，遣還任。以耕籍恩，超左司諫，入為戶部判官、知制誥。未幾，權判大理寺。

In the fifth year of Taiping Xingguo he took the jinshi degree, entered service as Director of the Directorate of Palace Construction and vice-prefect of Jizhou, and was then made Right Supporter of Goodness Grandee. Transport commissioner Zhang Qixian recommended his ability, and when Minzhong's tour ended and he returned to court he was appointed Compiler in the Institute of Literary Compilation. Summoned to audience in the Hall of Easy Rest, he answered with clarity and ease. Taizong was impressed and made him investigating censor in the Ministry of Revenue, then sent him out as vice transport commissioner of Huainan. Fiscal officials in the provinces at that time often lorded their power and imperial favor over others, and everywhere they went people were afraid of them. Minzhong did not rule by intimidation. He treated his staff with courtesy, worked hard to encourage them, and brought every duty to completion. When someone recommended him for military talent, he was recalled to court and was to be appointed deputy commissioner of one of the military bureaus. Minzhong pleaded to be excused and submitted his own writings instead. He was given a concurrent post as rectifier in the History Institute and sent back to his former assignment. On the strength of the plowing-and-altar grace he was leap-promoted to Left Remonstrance of the Left Office, then brought into court as chief judge of the Ministry of Revenue and drafter of edicts. Before long he was placed in charge of the Court of Judicial Review on an acting basis.

時沒入祖吉贓錢，分賜法吏，敏中引鍾離意委珠事，獨不受。妖尼道安構獄，事連開封判官張去華，敏中妻父也，以故得請不預決讞。既而法官皆貶，猶以親累落職，出知廣州。入辭，面敘其事，太宗為之感動，許以不三歲召還。翌日，遷職方員外郎，遣之。是州兼掌市舶，前守多涉譏議。敏中至荊南，預市藥物以往，在任無所須，以清廉聞。就擢廣南東路轉運使，召為工部郎中。太宗飛白書敏中洎張詠二名付中書，曰：「此二人，名臣也，朕將用之。」左右因稱其材，並命為樞密直學士。

At the time confiscated bribe money from Zu Ji was being distributed among the legal officials. Minzhong cited Zhongli Yi's refusal of pearls and alone declined his share. The sorceress-nun Dao'an engineered a false case that touched Kaifeng judge Zhang Quhua, Minzhong's father-in-law. On that account he obtained permission to recuse himself from the trial. In the end every official involved in the case was demoted. Even so, Minzhong was dislodged from office through his family tie and sent out as prefect of Guangzhou. When he came to take leave he laid out the whole affair before the emperor. Taizong was deeply moved and promised to recall him within three years. The next day he was promoted to External Affairs Assistant in the Ministry of Personnel and sent on his way. Guangzhou also supervised the maritime trade office, and many of Minzhong's predecessors had been tainted by scandal. On his way south Minzhong stopped at Jingnan to buy medicines for the journey. Once in office he accepted nothing from anyone and won a reputation for integrity. He was soon promoted to transport commissioner of the Eastern Circuit of Guangnan, then recalled to court as Bureau Director in the Ministry of Works. Taizong wrote Minzhong's name and Zhang Yong's in flying-white script and sent the list to the Chief Council. "These two," he said, "are ministers of proven worth. I mean to use them." His attendants then spoke up for their abilities, and both men were appointed direct academicians of the Bureau of Military Affairs.

時通進銀臺司主出納書奏，領於樞密院，頗多壅遏，或至漏失。敏中具奏其事，恐遠方有失事機，請別置局，命官專蒞，校其簿籍，詔命敏中與詠領其局。太宗欲大任敏中，當途者忌之。會有言敏中在法寺時，皇甫侃監無為軍榷務，以賄敗，發書歷詣朝貴求為末減，敏中亦受之。事下御史，按實嘗有書及門，敏中睹其名，不啟封遣去。俄捕得侃私僮詰之，云其書尋納筒中，瘞臨江傳舍。馳驛掘得，封題如故。太宗大驚異，召見，慰諭賞激，遂決於登用。未幾，拜右諫議大夫、同知樞密院事。自郎中至是百餘日，超擢如此。時西北用兵，樞機之任，專主謀議，敏中明辨有才略，遇事敏速，凡二邊道路、斥堠、走集之所，莫不周知。至道初，遷給事中。

At the time the Directorate for Transmission of Documents, which handled incoming and outgoing memorials under the Bureau of Military Affairs, was badly clogged—documents were delayed and sometimes lost altogether. Minzhong memorialized on the problem in full, warning that distant provinces might miss urgent business. He proposed a separate office with dedicated officials to keep the registers in order. An edict put Minzhong and Yong in charge. Taizong meant to give Minzhong a major appointment, but men at the top were jealous of him. Just then word spread that while Minzhong was at the Court of Judicial Review, Huangfu Kan, who supervised the salt monopoly at Wuwei Army, had been ruined by bribery and had sent letters to one court grandee after another begging for leniency—and that Minzhong too had received one. The matter went to the censorate. Investigation confirmed that a letter had reached his door. Minzhong saw Huangfu Kan's name on the seal, never opened it, and sent it back unopened. Shortly afterward Kan's personal servant was seized and questioned. He said the letter had been placed in a tube and buried at an inn on the Lin River. A courier was dispatched at once. They dug it up, and the seal and address were still intact. Taizong was astonished. He summoned Minzhong, comforted and praised him, and from that moment decided to advance him. Before long he was appointed Right Remonstrance Recipient and associate commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. From bureau director to this post was barely a hundred days—a promotion as sudden as it was steep. War was then underway in the northwest, and the Bureau of Military Affairs bore the chief burden of planning. Minzhong was clear-minded and able, quick when action was needed. He knew every road on both frontiers, every beacon and staging point, down to the last detail. At the opening of the Zhidao era he was made Supervising Censor.

故相薛居正孫安上不肖，其居第有詔無得貿易，敏中違詔質之。會居正子惟吉嫠婦柴將攜貲產適張齊賢，安上訴其事，柴遂言敏中嘗求娶己，不許，以是陰庇安上。真宗以問敏中，敏中言近喪妻不復議婚，未嘗求婚於柴，真宗因不復問。柴又伐鼓，訟益急，遂下御史臺，並得敏中質宅之狀。時王嗣宗為鹽鐵使，素忌敏中，因對，言敏中議娶王承衍女弟，密約已定而未納采。真宗詢於王氏，得其實，以敏中前言為妄，罷為戶部侍郎，出知永興軍。

Xue Juzheng's grandson Anshang was a ne'er-do-well. An edict forbade the sale of his grandfather's house, yet Minzhong took it in pledge in defiance of the order. Juzheng's daughter-in-law Chai, a widow, was about to remarry Zhang Qixian and take her assets with her. Anshang brought suit, and Chai then claimed that Minzhong had once asked to marry her, had been refused, and was secretly protecting Anshang out of spite. Zhenzong questioned Minzhong, who replied that he had recently lost his wife, was not contemplating remarriage, and had never proposed to Chai. The emperor let the matter drop. Chai beat the appeal drum again, pressing her case harder. The matter went to the censorate, which also turned up proof of Minzhong's pledge on the house. Wang Cizong, commissioner of salt and iron, had long resented Minzhong. Seizing an audience he claimed Minzhong had agreed to marry Wang Chengyan's younger sister—a secret understanding already fixed though the formal betrothal had not yet been sent. Zhenzong checked with the Wang family and found it true. He judged Minzhong's earlier denial a lie, stripped him of his bureau post, made him vice minister of revenue, and sent him out to command Yongxing Circuit.

景德初，復兵部侍郎。夏州李繼遷兵敗，為潘羅支射傷，自度孤危且死，屬其子德明必歸宋，曰：「一表不聽則再請，雖累百表，不得，請勿止也。」繼遷卒，德明納款，就命敏中為鄜延路緣邊安撫使，俄還京兆。

At the opening of the Jingde era he was restored to vice minister of war. Li Jiqian of Xia Prefecture was defeated and wounded by an arrow from Pan Luozhi. Believing himself isolated and near death, he charged his son Deming to submit to Song. "If one petition is refused, send another," he said. "Even if you must send a hundred and still fail, do not stop." Jiqian died. When Deming offered submission, Minzhong was appointed frontier pacification commissioner of the Bian-Yan Circuit; soon afterward he was put in charge of Jingzhao as well.

是冬，真宗幸澶淵，賜敏中密詔，盡付西鄙，許便宜從事。敏中得詔藏之，視政如常日。會大儺，有告禁卒欲倚儺為亂者，敏中密使麾兵被甲伏廡下幕中。明日，盡召賓僚兵官，置酒縱閱，無一人預知者。命儺入，先馳騁於中門外，後召至階，敏中振袂一揮，伏出，盡擒之，果各懷短刃，即席斬焉。既屏其屍，以灰沙掃庭，張樂宴飲，坐客皆股慄，邊藩遂安。時舊相出鎮，不以軍事為意。寇準雖有重名，所至終日遊宴，則以所愛伶人或付富室，輒厚有得。張齊賢倜儻任情，獲劫盜或至縱遣。帝聞之，稱敏中曰：「大臣出臨四方，惟敏中盡心於民事爾。」於是有復用之意。二年，又以德明誓約未定，徙敏中為鄜延路都部署兼知延州，委以經略，改知河南府兼西京留守。

That winter, when Zhenzong went to Chanyuan, he gave Minzhong a secret edict placing the whole western frontier in his hands and authorizing him to act on his own judgment. Minzhong tucked the edict away and governed exactly as on any other day. During the great nuo exorcism someone reported that garrison troops meant to use the festival as cover for a mutiny. Minzhong secretly ordered soldiers under arms to conceal themselves behind curtains along the corridor. The next day he summoned every guest, staff member, and officer, set out wine, and let the revelry run freely—not one of them knew what was coming. He had the nuo troupe enter, galloping first outside the middle gate and then called up to the steps. Minzhong swept his sleeve—a signal—and the hidden troops burst out and seized them all. Each man carried a short blade; they were beheaded where they sat. Once the bodies were cleared away he had the courtyard swept with ash and sand, the music struck up again, and the feast resumed. Every guest's legs were shaking—but the frontier was secure from that day on. Former chancellors posted to the provinces at that time rarely took military affairs seriously. Kou Zhun, for all his great reputation, spent his days feasting wherever he was posted, and would lend his favorite performers to rich households—for which he always collected a handsome fee. Zhang Qixian was free-spirited and indulged his whims—when he caught bandits he sometimes let them go altogether. When the emperor heard of this he said of Minzhong, "Of all the great ministers sent out to govern the provinces, only Minzhong has truly attended to the people's business." After that the emperor began to think of bringing him back. In the second year, with Deming's pledge still unsettled, Minzhong was moved to grand deployment commissioner of the Bian-Yan Circuit and prefect of Yanzhou, with full authority over frontier strategy—then transferred to prefect of Henan and defender of the Western Capital.

大中祥符初，議封泰山，以敏中舊德有人望，召入，權東京留守。禮成，拜尚書右丞。

At the opening of Dazhong Xiangfu, when Mount Tai feng rites were under discussion, Minzhong's old standing and public regard brought him back to court as acting defender of the Eastern Capital. When the ceremony was complete he was made Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs.

時吏部選人多稽滯者，命敏中與溫仲舒領其事。俄兼秘書監，又領工部尚書，充資政殿大學士，賜御詩褒寵。祀汾陰，復為留守。敏中以厚重鎮靜，人情帖然，帝作詩遣使馳賜之。拜刑部尚書。五年，復拜同平章事，充集賢殿大學士，加中書侍郎。尋充景靈宮使，宮成，進兵部尚書，為兗州景靈宮慶成使。

Many candidates in the Ministry of Personnel roster were then badly backlogged. Minzhong and Wen Zhongshu were put in charge of clearing the lists. Soon he was given the Palace Library as well, then the Ministry of Works, was made grand academician of the Hall of Governance Assistance, and received an imperial poem of praise. When the court sacrificed at Fenyin he again served as defender of the capital. Minzhong's weight and calm kept the populace at ease. The emperor wrote a poem and dispatched a courier at once to present it to him. He was appointed Minister of Justice. In the fifth year he was again made Associate Grand Counselor, grand academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies, and Vice Director of the Secretariat. Soon he was made commissioner of the Jingling Palace. When the palace was finished he was promoted to Minister of War and named celebration commissioner for the Jingling Palace at Yanzhou.

天禧初，加吏部尚書，又為應天院奉安太祖聖容禮儀使。進右僕射兼門下侍郎，監修國史。是日，翰林學士李宗諤當對，帝曰：「朕自即位，未嘗除僕射，今命敏中，此殊命也，敏中應甚喜。」又曰：「敏中今日賀客必多，卿往觀之，勿言朕意也。」宗諤既至，敏中謝客，門闌寂然。宗諤與其親徑入，徐賀曰：「今日聞降麻，士大夫莫不歡慰相慶。」敏中但唯唯。又曰：「自上即位，未嘗除端揆，非勳德隆重，眷倚殊越，何以至此。」敏中復唯唯。又歷陳前世為僕射者勳德禮命之重，敏中亦唯唯，卒無一言。既退，使人問庖中，今日有親賓飲宴否，亦無一人。明日，具以所見對。帝曰：「向敏中大耐官職。」徙玉清昭應宮使。以年老，累請致政，優詔不許。三年重陽，宴苑中，暮歸中風眩，郊祀不任陪從。進左僕射、昭文館大學士，奉表懇讓，又表求解，皆不許。明年三月卒，年七十二。帝親臨，哭之慟，廢朝三日，贈太尉、中書令，諡文簡。五子、諸婿並遷官，親校又官數人。

At the opening of Tianxi he was made Minister of Personnel and protocol commissioner for installing Taizu's sacred portrait at the Hall of Corresponding Heaven. He was promoted to Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Vice Director of the Chancellery, and put in charge of compiling the National History. That day Hanlin Academician Li Zong'e was on duty for audience. The emperor said, "Since my accession I have never appointed a vice director. To give that rank to Minzhong is an extraordinary honor. He must be delighted." He added, "Minzhong's house must be swarming with well-wishers today. Go and see—but say nothing of my purpose." When Zong'e arrived, Minzhong had declined all callers. The gate was utterly quiet. Zong'e went in with his intimates and offered his congratulations at leisure. "Word of today's appointment has spread," he said. "Every official in the capital is rejoicing." Minzhong murmured noncommittal replies. Zong'e pressed on: "Since Your Majesty's accession no one has been raised to the chief ministership. Without uncommon merit and extraordinary favor, how could anyone reach such a height?" Minzhong again murmured assent. Zong'e went on at length about the merit and ceremonial weight that had attended every past vice director. Minzhong murmured along and in the end said not a word. When he withdrew he sent someone to the kitchen to ask whether any relatives or guests had been entertained that day. There had been none. The next day he reported everything he had seen. The emperor said, "Xiang Minzhong has a constitution made for high office." He was transferred to commissioner of the Jade Pure Manifest Response Palace. Age pressed upon him and he repeatedly asked to retire, but gracious edicts each time refused. In his third year in office, after the Double Ninth feast in the imperial garden he came home at dusk stricken with vertigo and was unable to attend the suburban sacrifice. He was promoted to Left Vice Director and grand academician of the Hall of Splendid Culture. He memorialized earnestly to decline and then again to resign. Both pleas were refused. He died the following March, at seventy-two. The emperor came in person and wept bitterly. Court was suspended for three days. Minzhong was posthumously made Grand Marshal and Director of the Secretariat, with the posthumous name Wenjian, "Cultured and Unassuming." His five sons and every son-in-law were promoted in rank, and several kinsmen and household attendants received offices as well.

敏中姿表瑰碩，有儀矩，性端厚愷悌，多智，曉民政，善處繁劇，慎於采拔。居大任三十年，時以重德目之，為人主所優禮，故雖衰疾，終不得謝。及追命制入，帝特批曰：「敏中淳謹溫良，宜益此意。」其恩顧如此。有文集十五卷。

Minzhong was imposing in person and precise in bearing. He was upright, generous, and good-natured, shrewd in counsel, well versed in civilian administration, adept at tangled and urgent business, and careful in choosing men for office. For thirty years he held high office, and the age looked to him for great moral weight; the emperor treated him with exceptional honor, so that even when he was worn out and sick he could never win permission to step down. When the renewed appointment edict reached him, the emperor personally annotated it: "Minzhong is sincere, careful, gentle, and good—let him hold all the more to that spirit." Such was the throne's regard for him. He left a collected works in fifteen juan.

子:傳正，國子博士；傳式，龍圖閣直學士；傳亮，駕部員外郎；傳師，殿中丞；傳範，娶南陽郡王惟吉女安福縣主，為密州觀察使，諡惠節。

Sons: Chuanzheng, Erudite of the Directorate of Education; Chuanshi, Hanlin Associate Academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall; Chuanliang, Outer Department Director in the Department of Carriages; Chuanshi, Palace Aide; Chuanfan married the Princess of Anfu, daughter of the Prince of Nanyang Wei Ji, served as observation commissioner of Mizhou, and was posthumously titled Prudent Integrity.

傳亮子經，定國軍留後，諡康懿。經女即欽聖憲肅皇后也，以后族贈敏中燕王、傳亮周王、經吳王。敏中餘孫繹、絳，並官太子中書。

Chuanliang's son Jing was military prefect of Dingguo Army and was posthumously titled Peaceful and Dignified. Jing's daughter became Empress Qinsheng Xiansu; through her empress kinship Minzhong was posthumously made Prince of Yan, Chuanliang Prince of Zhou, and Jing Prince of Wu. Minzhong's other grandsons Yi and Jiang both served as secretaries in the crown prince's household.

論曰：宋至真宗之世，號為盛治，而得人亦多。李沆為相，正大光明，其焚封妃之詔以格人主之私，請遷靈州之民以奪西夏之謀，無愧宰相之任矣。沆嘗謂王旦，邊患既息，人主侈心必生，而聲色、土木、神仙祠禱之事將作，後王欽若、丁謂之徒果售其佞。又告真宗不可用新進喜事之人，中外所陳利害皆報罷之，後神宗信用安石變更之言，馴至棼擾。世稱沆為「聖相」，其言雖過，誠有先知者乎！王旦當國最久，事至不膠，有謗不校，薦賢而不市恩，救罪輒宥而不費辭。澶淵之役，請於真宗曰：「十日不捷，何以處之？」真宗答之曰：「立太子。」契丹逾歲給而借幣，西夏告民饑而假糧，皆一語定之，偉哉宰相才也。惟受王欽若之說，以遂天書之妄，斯則不及李沆爾。向敏中恥受贓物之賜以遠其汙，預避市舶之嫌以全其廉，堅拒皇甫侃之書以免其累，拜罷之際，喜慍不形，亦可謂有宰相之風焉。

Commentary: By Zhenzong's reign the Song was hailed as an age of good government, and men of talent were indeed plentiful. Li Hang as chief councilor was upright and clear-sighted: he burned the edict to elevate a consort and checked the emperor's private desires; he urged evacuating the people of Lingzhou and blunted Western Xia's designs—no unworthy bearer of the chancellor's office. Hang once told Wang Dan that once the frontier was quiet, the emperor's taste for extravagance would surely awaken, and music and women, building projects, and spirit shrines with prayer would follow—and later Wang Qinruo, Ding Wei, and men like them indeed sold their flattery. He also told Zhenzong not to employ shallow newcomers hungry for novelty, and rejected every proposal of benefit and harm reported from within and without the court; later Shenzong put his faith in Wang Anshi's talk of change, and step by step the realm fell into turmoil. The age called Hang the "sage chief councilor"—the praise is excessive, yet was there not something prophetic in what he said? Wang Dan held the reins of government longest: when business came before him he did not stiffen; when slandered he did not answer back; he recommended the worthy without trading in gratitude; when he pleaded for the guilty he pardoned them without a word wasted. In the Chanyuan campaign he asked Zhenzong, "If no victory comes within ten days, what then are we to do?" Zhenzong answered, "Install the crown prince." When the Khitan asked beyond their annual tribute quota to borrow coin and silk, and Western Xia reported that its people were starving and requested grain on loan—each was settled with a single remark. What chancellor's gift! Only in accepting Wang Qinruo's counsel and carrying through the folly of the Heavenly Writings did he fall short of Li Hang. Xiang Minzhong was ashamed to take gifts of tainted goods and kept himself clear of stain; he avoided in advance the suspicion that clung to the maritime trade commission and preserved his integrity whole; he firmly refused Huangfu Kan's letters and so escaped being implicated; at appointment and removal alike neither joy nor anger showed on his face—he too may be said to have borne a chancellor's manner.

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