Volume 284 Biographies 43: Chen Yaozuo and elder brother: Yaosou, younger brother: Yaozi, newpher: Jian, Song Xiang and younger brother: Qi

陳堯佐

Chen Yaozuo

陳堯佐，字希元，其先河朔人。高祖翔，為蜀新井令，因家焉，遂為閬州閬中人。

Chen Yaozuo, styled Xiyuan, traced his lineage to Heshuo in the north. His great-grandfather Xiang had served as magistrate of Xinjing in Shu; settling there, the family became natives of Langzhong in Lang Prefecture.

父省華，字善則，事孟昶為西水尉。蜀平，授隴城主簿，累遷櫟陽令。縣之鄭白渠為鄰邑強族所據，省華盡去壅遏，水利均及，民皆賴之，徙樓煩令。端拱三年，太宗親試進士，伯子堯叟登甲科，占謝，辭氣明辨，太宗顧左右曰：「此誰子？」王沔以省華對。即召省華為太子中允，俄判三司都憑由司，改鹽鐵判官，遷殿中丞。河決鄆州，命省華領州事。俄為京東轉運使，超拜祠部員外郎、知蘇州，賜金紫。時遇水災，省華復流民數千戶，殍者悉瘞之，詔書褒美。歷戶部、吏部二員外郎，改知潭州。省華智辨有吏干，入掌左藏庫，判吏部南曹，擢鴻臚少卿。景德初，判吏部銓，權知開封府，轉光祿卿。舊制，卿監坐朵殿，太宗以省華權蒞京府，別設其位，升於兩省五品之南。省華以府事繁劇，請禁賓友相過，從之。未幾，因疾求解任，拜左諫議大夫，再表乞骸骨，不許，手詔存問，親閱方藥賜之。三年，卒，年六十八，特贈太子少師。

His father Chen Shenghua, styled Shanzhe, had served the Later Shu ruler Meng Chang as captain of the Western River guard. After the conquest of Shu, he was made registrar of Longcheng and rose in due course to magistrate of Liyang. The Zheng-Bai Canal in his county had been monopolized by powerful neighboring clans. Shenghua cleared every blockage so that irrigation reached everyone fairly; the people came to depend on him, and he was transferred to serve as magistrate of Loufan. In 990, Emperor Taizong personally examined the jinshi candidates in person. Shenghua's eldest son Yaosou placed in the top tier. When he gave his thanks, his delivery was lucid and forceful. The emperor glanced at his attendants and asked, "Whose son is this? Wang Han replied that he was Shenghua's son. He promptly summoned Shenghua to serve as vice director in the Crown Prince's household, soon assigned him to the Three Departments' general credentials office, transferred him to the Salt and Iron Commission, and promoted him to Palace Affairs director. When the Yellow River broke through at Yanzhou, Shenghua was ordered to take charge of prefectural affairs. He was soon made transport commissioner for the Jingdong circuit, promoted directly to assistant director in the Ministry of Rites with appointment as prefect of Suzhou, and granted golden-purple robes. When floods struck, he resettled thousands of displaced households and gave proper burial to all who had died of exposure. An imperial edict commended his efforts. He served successively as assistant director in the Ministries of Revenue and Personnel before being transferred to prefect of Tanzhou. Clever and capable in administration, he took charge of the Left Treasury, served concurrently in the Ministry of Personnel's southern bureau, and was promoted to vice director of the Court of Imperial Regalia. Early in the Jingde era (1004–1007), he oversaw the Ministry of Personnel's selection board, acted as prefect of Kaifeng, and was transferred to director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. By custom, commissioners and supervisors sat in Duo Hall. Because Shenghua was acting prefect of the capital, Taizong set apart a seat for him, ranking it above fifth-rank officials of the Secretariat and Chancellery. Finding the prefectural duties overwhelming, he asked that calls among guests and friends be forbidden, and the request was granted. Before long he sought relief from office on grounds of illness and was made left remonstrance grandee. He petitioned again to retire, but permission was denied; the emperor sent a letter in his own hand inquiring after his health and personally reviewed prescriptions to send him medicines. In 1006 he died at sixty-eight and was posthumously appointed Junior Preceptor of the Crown Prince.

堯佐進士及第，歷魏縣、中牟尉，為《海喻》一篇，人奇其志。以試秘書省校書郎知朝邑縣，會其兄堯叟使陝西，發中人方保吉罪，保吉怨之，誣堯佐以事，降本縣主簿。徙下邽，遷秘書郎、知真源縣，開封府司錄參軍事，遷府推官。坐言事忤旨，降通判潮州。修孔子廟，作韓吏部祠，以風示潮人。民張氏子與其母濯於江，鱷魚尾而食之，母弗能救。堯佐聞而傷之，命二吏拏小舟操網往捕。鱷至暴，非可網得，至是，鱷弭受網，作文示諸市而烹之，人皆驚異。

Yaozuo passed the jinshi examination and served as district magistrate of Wei and Zhongmou. He wrote an essay titled "Parable of the Sea," and people admired his ambition. After passing the Secretariat examination as proofreader, he was appointed magistrate of Chaoyi. When his elder brother Yaosou went on mission to Shaanxi and exposed crimes of the eunuch Fang Baoji, Baoji took revenge by framing Yaozuo and demoting him to registrar of the same county. Transferred to Xiaji, he rose to Secretariat secretary and magistrate of Zhenyuan, then served as recording adjutant and investigating officer of Kaifeng Prefecture. Because his remonstrance offended the throne, he was demoted to militia commissioner of Chaozhou. He restored the Confucian temple and built a shrine to Han Yu, setting an example for the people of Chaozhou. A local man's son was washing in the river with his mother when a crocodile struck him with its tail and swallowed him; his mother could not save him. Grieved when he heard of it, Yaozuo sent two clerks in a small boat with nets to capture the beast. Crocodiles are so fierce they usually cannot be netted; yet this one meekly allowed itself to be taken. He wrote a proclamation for the markets and had the creature cooked, to everyone's amazement.

召還，直史館、知壽州。歲大飢，出奉米為糜粥食餓者，吏人悉獻米至，振數萬人。徙廬州，以父疾請歸，提點開封府界事，後為兩浙轉運副使。錢塘江篝石為堤，堤再歲輒壞。堯佐請下薪實土乃堅久，丁謂不以為是，徙京西轉運使，後卒如堯佐議。徙河東路，以地寒民貧，仰石炭以生，奏除其稅。又減澤州大廣冶鐵課數十萬。徙河北，母老祈就養，召糾察在京刑獄，為御試編排官，坐置等誤降官，監鄂州茶場。

Recalled to court, he served in the Historical Archives and was appointed prefect of Shouzhou. In a year of great famine, he used his salary grain to make gruel for the starving. Officials and clerks all brought rice as well, and he fed tens of thousands. Transferred to Luzhou, he asked leave when his father fell ill, then oversaw affairs on the Kaifeng metropolitan boundary and later served as deputy transport commissioner of the Two Zhes circuit. Along the Qiantang River, stone was piled into dikes that washed out every two years. Yaozuo urged driving stakes and packing earth for lasting dikes. Ding Wei disagreed and had him transferred to the Jingxi transport commission, but the work was eventually done as Yaozuo had advised. Transferred to Hedong, he saw the people poor in that cold region and dependent on coal for warmth and fuel; he memorialized to abolish the coal tax. He also cut the iron-smelting levy at Zezhou's Daguang works by several hundred thousand cash. After transfer to Hebei he asked to nurse his aged mother and was recalled to investigate capital criminal cases and arrange the imperial examination. A ranking error demoted him to supervisor of the Ezhou tea depot.

天禧中，河決，起知滑州，造木龍以殺水怒，又築長堤，人呼為「陳公堤」。初營永定陵，復徙京西轉運使，入為三司戶部副使，徙度支，同修《真宗實錄》。不試中書，特擢知制誥兼史館修撰，知通進、銀臺司。進樞密密直學士、知河南府，徙幷州。每汾水暴漲，州民輒憂擾，堯佐為築堤，植柳數萬本，作柳溪，民賴其利。

In the Tianxi era (1017–1021), when the river broke its banks, he was made prefect of Huazhou. He built wooden dragons to tame the current and erected a long dike that the people named "Lord Chen's Dike." During early work on the Yongding Mausoleum he was again made Jingxi transport commissioner, entered the Three Departments as deputy commissioner of household affairs, moved to the budget section, and helped compile the Veritable Records of Emperor Zhenzong. Bypassing the Secretariat examination, he was specially promoted to edict drafter and historiographer and directed the Memorials Clearance and Silver Terrace offices. Promoted to academician of the Bureau of Military Affairs, he governed Henan Prefecture and was later transferred to Bingzhou. Whenever the Fen River flooded, the people lived in fear. Yaozuo built dikes, planted tens of thousands of willows, and created Willow Brook—a benefit the people have relied on ever since.

召同修《三朝史》，代弟堯咨同知開封府，累遷右諫議大夫，為翰林學士，遂拜樞密副使。祥符知縣陳詁治嚴急，吏欲罪詁，乃空縣逃去，太后果怒。而詁連呂夷簡親，執政以嫌不敢辨。事下樞密院，堯佐獨曰：「罪詁則姦吏得計，後誰敢復繩吏者？」詁由是得免。以給事中參知政事，遷尚書吏部侍郎。

Recalled to help compile the history of the three reigns, he replaced his younger brother Yaozi as co-prefect of Kaifeng, rose to right remonstrance grandee and Hanlin academician, and was appointed vice commissioner of military affairs. Chen Gu of Xiangfu County governed with harsh severity. Clerks who wanted him punished emptied the county and fled, and the empress dowager was furious. Gu was kin to Lü Yijian through marriage, and the chief ministers, conflicted, dared not defend him. When the case reached the Bureau of Military Affairs, Yaozuo alone said, "If Gu is punished, corrupt clerks will have their way. Who will dare hexperienced clerks to account after this? Gu was spared as a result. As supervisory attendant he became vice grand councilor and was promoted to vice director of the Ministry of Personnel.

太后崩，執政多罷，以戶部侍郎知永興軍。過鄭，為郡人王文吉以變事告，下御史中丞范諷劾治，而事乃辨。改知廬州，徙同州，復徙永興軍。初，太后遣宦者起浮圖京兆城中，前守姜遵盡毀古碑碣充磚甓用，堯佐奏曰：「唐賢臣墓石，今十亡七八矣。子孫深刻大書，欲傳之千載，乃一旦與瓦礫等，誠可惜也。其未毀者，願敕州縣完護之。」徙鄭州。會作章惠太后園陵，州供張甚嚴，賜書褒諭。既而拜同中書門下平章事、集賢殿大學士。以災異數見，罷為淮康軍節度使、同中書門下平章事、判鄭州。以太子太師致仕，卒，贈司空兼侍中，諡文惠。

After the empress dowager's death, many in power were dismissed; he was made vice director of the Ministry of Revenue and military commissioner of Yongxing. Passing through Zhengzhou, he was accused of sedition by a local man named Wang Wenji. Censor-in-chief Fan Feng investigated, and the affair was cleared. He served as prefect of Luzhou and Tongzhou in turn, then returned to Yongxing. Earlier the empress dowager had eunuchs build a pagoda in Chang'an. The previous prefect Jiang Zun had smashed ancient stelae for bricks. Yaozuo memorialized: "Of the tombstones of Tang worthy ministers, seven or eight in ten are already gone. Their descendants carved them deep, hoping they would last a thousand years—yet overnight they were treated like rubble. This is truly lamentable. Of those not yet destroyed, I beg that the throne order prefectures and counties to protect them. He was transferred to Zhengzhou. When Empress Dowager Zhanghui's mausoleum was under construction, his prefecture's preparations were impeccable, and the throne sent a letter of praise. He was then appointed grand councilor and grand academician of the Hall for Honoring Worthies. After repeated omens and disasters, he was dismissed as grand councilor and made military commissioner of Huai-Kang with concurrent charge of Zhengzhou. He retired as Grand Preceptor of the Crown Prince and died. He was posthumously made Minister of Works and Palace Attendant, with the posthumous title Wen Hui ("Cultivated and Kind").

堯佐少好學，父授諸子經，其兄未卒業，堯佐竊聽已成誦。初肄業錦屏山，後從种放於終南山，及貴，讀書不輟。善古隸八分，為方丈字，筆力端勁，老猶不衰。尤工詩。性儉約，見動物，必戒左右勿殺，器服壞，隨輒補之，曰：「無使不全見棄也。」號「知余子」。自志其墓曰：「壽八十二不為夭，官一品不為賤，使相納祿不為辱，三者粗可歸息於父母棲神之域矣。」陳摶嘗謂其父曰：「君三子皆當將相，惟中子貴且壽。」後如摶言。有《集》三十卷，又有《潮陽編》、《野廬編》、《愚丘集》、《遣興集》。

From youth Yaozuo loved study. When his father taught his sons the classics, he would overhear his elder brother's lessons and recite them from memory before his brother had finished. He first studied at Jinping Mountain, later studied with Diao Fang on Zhongnan Mountain, and even after rising high, never stopped reading. He excelled in ancient clerical script and worked in characters a foot square, with brushwork firm and vigorous to the end of his life. He was especially accomplished at poetry. By nature he was frugal. Seeing any living creature, he forbade his attendants to kill it. When vessels or robes wore out, he had them mended, saying, "Do not discard them while they can still be used. He called himself "Master Who Knows What Remains." He composed his own epitaph: "To live eighty-two years is no early death; to hold a first-rank post is no low station; to retire on salary as commissioner and councilor is no disgrace. With these three, I may rest where my parents' spirits dwell. Chen Tuan once told his father, "Your three sons will all reach the highest rank, but only the middle son will be both eminent and long-lived. Events later proved Tuan right. He left a thirty-juan collected works, along with anthologies titled Chaoyang, Wild Hut, Fool's Hill, and Dispelling Melancholy.

兄堯叟

Elder Brother: Yaosou

堯叟，字唐夫，解褐光錄寺丞、直史館，與省華同日賜緋，遷秘書丞。久之，充三司河南東道判官。時宋、亳、陳、潁民飢，命堯叟及趙況等分振之。再遷工部員外郎、廣南西路轉運使。嶺南風俗，病者禱神不服藥，堯叟有《集驗方》，刻石桂州驛。又以地氣蒸暑，為植樹鑿井，每三二十里置亭舍，具飲器，人免暍死。會加恩黎桓，為交州國信使。初，將命者必獲贈遺數千緡，桓責賦斂於民，往往斷其手及足趾。堯叟知之，遂奏召桓子，授以朝命，而卻其私覿。又桓界先有亡命來奔者，多匿不遣，因是海賊頻年入寇。堯叟悉捕亡命歸桓，桓感恩，並捕海賊為謝。

Yaosou, styled Tangfu, began office as vice director of the Court of Imperial Regalia with a post at the Historical Archives. He received scarlet robes on the same day as his father Shenghua and was promoted to Secretariat secretary. After some time he served as a Three Departments judge for the Henan-East section. When famine struck Song, Bo, Chen, and Ying, Yaosou was sent with Zhao Kuang and others to distribute relief. He was promoted to assistant director in the Ministry of Public Works and transport commissioner of Guangnan West Circuit. In Lingnan the sick prayed to gods instead of taking medicine. Yaosou compiled Proven Medical Formulas and had them carved on stone at the Guilin courier station. Because the climate was steamy and sweltering, he planted trees and dug wells, stationing rest pavilions with drinking water every twenty or thirty li so travelers would not die of heatstroke. When Li Huan of Annam was to be granted imperial favor, Yaosou served as credential envoy to Jiaozhou. Envoys had routinely received gifts of thousands of strings of cash, which Huan extorted from his people—often mutilating them, cutting off hands and toes. Knowing this, Yaosou had Huan's son summoned to receive a court appointment and refused Huan's private gifts. Huan had also sheltered fugitives who fled to Song territory instead of returning them, which led to years of pirate raids. Yaosou rounded up the fugitives and returned them. Grateful, Huan captured sea pirates in return.

先是，歲調雷、化、高、藤、容、白諸州兵，使輦軍糧泛海給瓊州。其兵不習水利，率多沉溺，咸苦之。海北岸有遞角場，正與瓊對，伺風便一日可達，與雷、化、高、太平四州地水路接近。堯叟因規度移四州民租米輸於場，第令瓊州遣蜑兵具舟自取，人以為便。

Each year troops from Lei, Hua, Gao, Teng, Rong, and Bai were conscripted to haul army grain by sea to Qiongzhou. Unskilled at sea, many drowned, to the people's great distress. On the north shore lay the Dijiao depot, directly across from Qiongzhou. With a fair wind one could reach it in a day, and it was connected by land and water to Lei, Hua, Gao, and Taiping. Yaosou arranged to have the four prefectures deliver rent grain to Dijiao and let Qiongzhou send boat people to fetch it, which everyone found far more convenient.

咸平初，詔諸路課民種桑棗，堯叟上言曰：「臣所部諸州，土風本異，田多山石，地少桑蠶。昔云八蠶之綿，諒非五嶺之俗，度其所產，恐在安南。今其民除耕水田外，地利之博者惟麻苧爾。麻苧所種，與桑柘不殊，既成宿根，旋擢新榦，俟枝葉裁茂則刈獲之，周歲之間，三收其苧。復一固其本，十年不衰。始離田疇，即可紡績。然布之出，每端止售百錢，蓋織者眾、市者少，故地有遺利，民艱資金。臣以國家軍須所急，布帛為先，因勸諭部民廣植麻苧，以錢鹽折變收市之，未及二年，已得三十七萬餘匹。自朝廷克平交、廣，布帛之供，歲止及萬，較今所得，何止十倍。今樹藝之民，相率競勸；杼軸之功，日以滋廣。慾望自今許以所種麻苧頃畝，折桑棗之數，諸縣令佐依例書歷為課，民以布赴官賣者，免其算稅。如此則布帛上供，泉貨下流，公私交濟，其利甚博。」詔從之。代還，加刑部員外郎，充度支判官。

Early in Xianping (998–1003), the court ordered circuits to urge people to plant mulberry and jujube. Yaosou memorialized: "In the prefectures I oversee, the soil and customs differ greatly. Fields are rocky, and mulberry silkworms are scarce. The old saying of 'eight-silkworm floss' surely does not describe the Five Ridges. What silk they have likely comes from Annam. Aside from rice fields, their most productive crop is ramie and hemp. Ramie resembles mulberry in that once the perennial root is set, new shoots spring up. When the foliage is full, it is cut. In the course of a year there are three harvests. With the root strengthened, it thrives for ten years without decline. Fresh from the field it can be spun and woven. Yet each bolt sells for only a hundred cash. Weavers are many and buyers few, so profit goes unrealized and the people lack cash. Since cloth is the state's first military need, I urged my jurisdiction to plant ramie widely and bought it up with cash and salt. In less than two years we collected more than 370,000 bolts. Since the conquest of Jiao and Guang, annual cloth deliveries had topped out at ten thousand bolts. What we now obtain is more than ten times that. Farmers now vie with one another to plant more; and weaving grows daily more extensive. I ask that ramie acreage count toward the mulberry-and-jujube quota, that magistrates record it in their registers as usual, and that cloth sold to the government be exempt from commodity tax. Thus cloth would flow upward to the state, coin downward to the people, public and private would both profit, and the benefit would be vast. The throne approved his proposal. On returning from his term he was made assistant director in the Ministry of Justice and judge of the budget section.

未幾，會撫水蠻酋蒙令國殺使臣擾動，命堯叟為廣南東、西兩路安撫使，賜金紫遣之。事平，遷兵部，拜主客郎中、樞密直學士、知三班兼銀臺通進封駁司、制置群牧使。

Soon after, when the Fushui Man chieftain Meng Lingguo killed envoys and stirred unrest, Yaosou was made pacification commissioner for eastern and western Guangnan, granted golden-purple robes, and sent out. When the affair was settled, he was transferred to the Ministry of War, made director in the Ministry of Reception, academician of the Bureau of Military Affairs, director of the Three-Ranks and Silver Terrace offices, and commissioner for managing the imperial herds.

河決澶州王陵口，詔往護塞之，遂與馮拯同為河北、河東安撫副使。時中外上封奏者甚眾，命與拯詳定利害，及與三司議減冗事。俄與拯並拜右諫議大夫、同知樞密院事。有言三司官吏積習依違，文牒有經五七歲不決者，吏民抑塞，水旱災沴，多由此致。請委逐部判官檢覆判決，如復稽滯，許本路轉運使聞奏，命官推鞫，以警弛慢。乃詔堯叟與拯舉常參官幹敏者，同三司使議減煩冗，參決滯務。堯叟請以秘書丞直史館孫冕同領其事，凡省去煩冗文帳二十一萬五千餘道，又減河北冗官七十五員。

When the Yellow River broke through at Wangling Ford in Caozhou, Yaosou was ordered to repair the breach and then served with Feng Zheng as deputy pacification commissioner for Hebei and Hedong. With sealed memorials flooding in from inside and outside the court, he and Zheng were told to weigh their merits and drawbacks and work with the Three Departments to cut redundant business. Soon he and Zheng were both made right remonstrance grandee and co-administrators of military affairs. Memorials charged that Three Departments clerks habitually stalled cases, some documents going five or seven years without decision. Officials and commoners were stifled, and floods, droughts, and disasters often stemmed from such delays. He asked that section judges review and decide pending cases. If delays continued, circuit transport commissioners should report to the throne and investigators appointed to punish lax officials. The throne ordered Yaosou and Zheng to recommend capable officials to work with the Three Departments commissioner on cutting red tape and clearing backlogs. Yaosou asked Secretariat director Sun Mian to join the effort. They eliminated more than 215,000 redundant documents and cut seventy-five redundant posts in Hebei.

五年，郊祀，進給事中。會王繼英為樞密使，以堯叟簽署院事，奉秩恩例悉同副使，遷工部侍郎。真宗幸澶淵，命乘傳先赴北砦按視戎事，許以便宜。景德中，遷刑部、兵部二侍郎，與王欽若並知樞密院事。真宗朝陵，權東京留守。每裁剸刑禁，雖大辟亦止面取狀，亟決遣之，以故獄無繫囚。真宗曰：「堯叟素有裁斷，然重事宜付有司按鞫而詳察之。」因密加詔諭。俄兼群牧制置使。始置使，即以堯叟為之，及掌樞密，即罷其任。至是，以國馬戎事之本，宜得大臣總領，故又委堯叟焉。自是多立條約。又著《監牧議》，述馬政之重。預修國史。

In the fifth year, at the suburban sacrifice, he was promoted to supervisory attendant. When Wang Jiying became military affairs commissioner, Yaosou signed bureau documents with the same rank and privileges as a vice commissioner and was made vice director in the Ministry of Public Works. When Emperor Zhenzong went to Chanzhou, Yaosou was sent ahead by post-chaise to inspect the northern camp with discretionary authority. In the Jingde era he became vice director in the Ministries of Justice and War and administered military affairs with Wang Qinruo. When Zhenzong visited the imperial tombs, Yaosou acted as custodian of the Eastern Capital. He adjudicated criminal cases swiftly, even taking capital cases face to face and deciding them at once, so the prisons held no long-term detainees. Zhenzong said, "Yaosou has always been decisive, but weighty matters should be referred to the proper offices for full investigation. He secretly sent further instructions. Soon he also served as commissioner for managing the imperial herds. When the herd commission was first created, Yaosou had held it; the post was abolished when he took charge of military affairs. Now, because state horses were fundamental to warfare and deserved oversight by a senior minister, the duty was entrusted to Yaosou again. From then on he established many regulations. He also wrote Discourse on Pasture Supervision, explaining the importance of horse policy. He helped compile the national history.

大中祥符初，東封，加尚書左丞。詔撰《朝覲壇碑》，進工部尚書，獻《封禪聖制頌》，帝作歌答之。祀汾陰，為經度制置使、判河中府。禮成，進戶部尚書。時詔王欽若為《朝覲壇頌》，表讓堯叟，不許。別命堯叟撰《親謁太寧廟頌》，加特進，賜功臣。又以堯叟善草隸，詔寫途中御制歌詩刻石。

At the beginning of Dazhong Xiangfu (1008–1016), for the eastern Feng and Shan rites, he was promoted to left vice director in the Department of State Affairs. Ordered to compose the Stele of the Imperial Audience Altar, he was promoted to director of the Ministry of Public Works and presented Eulogy of the Sage's Feng and Shan Proclamation; the emperor replied with a song. For the Feng and Shan sacrifice at Fen-yin, he served as planning commissioner and concurrent prefect of Hezhong. When the rites were completed, he was promoted to director of the Ministry of Revenue. Wang Qinruo had been ordered to compose the Eulogy of the Imperial Audience Altar and tried to yield the task to Yaosou, but permission was denied. Yaosou was separately ordered to compose the Eulogy of the Personal Visit to the Great Tranquility Temple, advanced in special rank, and granted the title of meritorious minister. Because he excelled at cursive and clerical script, he was ordered to write out the emperor's impromptu songs on the journey and have them carved on stone.

五年，與欽若並以本官檢校太傅、同平章事，充樞密使，加檢校太尉。從幸太清宮，加開府儀同三司。未幾，與欽若罷守本官，仍領群牧。明年，復與欽若以本官檢校太尉、同平章事，充樞密使。堯叟素有足疾，屢請告。九年夏，帝臨問，勞賜加等。疾甚，表求避位，遣閤門使楊崇勳至第撫慰，以詢其意。堯叟詞志頗確，優拜右僕射、知河陽。肩輿入辭，至便坐，許三子扶掖升殿，賜詩為餞，又賜仲子希古緋服。

In the fifth year he and Qinruo, retaining their original offices, were made acting Grand Tutor and grand councilor, appointed military affairs commissioners, and further made acting Grand Commandant. Accompanying the emperor to the Great Pure Palace, he was made Grand Preceptor with ceremonial equal to the Three Excellencies. Before long he and Qinruo left the councilorship but kept their original offices and still oversaw the herds. The next year he and Qinruo again became acting Grand Commandant and grand councilor and military affairs commissioners. Yaosou had long suffered from a foot ailment and repeatedly asked for leave. In the summer of the ninth year the emperor personally inquired after him and bestowed extra rewards. When his illness grew severe, he asked to step aside. Gate Department commissioner Yang Chongxun was sent to his home to console him and learn his wishes. Yaosou was firm in his request and was graciously made right vice director of the Department of State Affairs and prefect of Heyang. Carried in a sedan chair to bid farewell, he was allowed three sons to help him into the hall. The emperor gave him a farewell poem and granted his second son Xigu scarlet robes.

天禧初，病亟，召其子執筆，口占奏章，求還輦下，詔許之。肩輿至京師，卒，年五十七。廢朝二日，贈侍中，諡曰文忠，錄其孫知言、知章為將作監主簿。長子師古賜進士出身，後為都官員外郎。希古至太子中舍，坐事除籍。

Early in Tianxi his illness became acute. He had his son hold the brush while he dictated a memorial begging to return to the capital, and permission was granted. Carried to the capital in a sedan chair, he died at fifty-seven. Court was suspended for two days. He was posthumously made Palace Attendant with the posthumous title Wen Zhong ("Cultivated and Loyal"), and his grandsons Zhiyan and Zhizhang were recorded as registrars of the Directorate of Palace Buildings. His eldest son Shigu was granted jinshi status by imperial favor and later served as assistant director in the Ministry of Punishments. Xigu rose to vice director in the Crown Prince's household but was struck from the registers for an offense.

堯叟偉姿貌，強力，奏對明辨，多任知數。久典機密，軍馬之籍，悉能周記。所著《請盟錄》三集二十卷。

Yaosou had an imposing physique and great strength. In memorials and responses he was clear and incisive, and he was often entrusted with matters requiring calculation. Having long managed state secrets, he could thoroughly recall the registers of troops and horses. His works included Request for Alliance Records in three collections totaling twenty juan.

母馮氏，性嚴。堯叟事親孝謹，怡聲侍側，不敢以貴自處。家本富，祿賜且厚，馮氏不許諸子事華侈。景德中，堯叟掌樞機，弟堯佐直史館，堯咨知制誥，與省華同在北省，諸孫任官者十數人，宗親登科者又數人，榮盛無比。賓客至，堯叟兄弟侍立省華側，客不自安，多引去。舊制登樞近者，母妻即封郡夫人。堯叟以父在朝，母止從父封，遂以妻封表讓於母，朝廷援制不許。父既卒，帝欲褒封其母，以問王旦。旦曰：「雖私門禮制未闕，公朝降命亦無嫌也。」乃封上黨郡太夫人，進封滕國，年八十餘無恙，後堯叟數年卒。

His mother, Lady Feng, was stern by nature. Yaosou served his parents with filial care, speaking gently at their side and never comporting himself as a man of rank. The family was originally wealthy and his salary generous, yet Lady Feng would not let her sons live luxuriously. In the Jingde era Yaosou managed state secrets, Yaozuo served at the Historical Archives, Yaozi was edict drafter, and Shenghua was in the northern offices with them; dozens of grandsons and kinsmen held office or had passed the examinations—glory unmatched. When guests came, the brothers stood attending at Shenghua's side until the guests, ill at ease, mostly withdrew. By old regulation, when one entered the military council, one's mother and wife were immediately enfeoffed as district ladies. With his father still at court, Yaosou had his mother enfeoffed only through his father's rank and tried to yield his wife's enfeoffment to her, but the court refused. After his father died, the emperor wished to honor his mother and asked Wang Dan. Dan said, "Though private ritual is satisfied, a public bestowal from the court would not be improper. She was enfeoffed as Lady of Shangdang, advanced to Duchess of Teng, lived more than eighty years in good health, and died several years after Yaosou.

弟堯咨

Younger Brother: Yaozi

堯咨，字嘉謨，舉進士第一，授將作監丞、通判濟州，召為秘書省著作郎、直史館、判三司度支勾院，始合三部勾院兼總之。擢右正言、知制誥。崇政殿試進士，堯咨為考官，三司使劉師道屬弟幾道以試卷為識驗，坐貶單州團練副使。復著作郎、知光州。尋復右正言、知制誥，知荊南。改起居舍人，同判吏部流內銓。舊格，選人用舉者數遷官，而寒士無以進，堯咨進其可擢者，帝特遷之。改右諫議大夫、集賢院學士，以龍圖閣直學士、尚書工部郎中知永興軍。長安地斥鹵，無甘泉，堯咨疏龍首渠注城中，民利之。然豪侈不循法度，敞武庫，建視草堂，開三門，築甬道，出入列禁兵自衛。用刑慘急，數有仗死者。嘗以氣凌轉運使樂黃目，黃目不能堪，求解去，遂徙堯咨知河南府。既而有發堯咨守長安不法者，帝不欲窮治，止削職徙鄧州，才數月，復知制誥。

Yaozi, styled Jiamo, placed first in the jinshi examination and was made vice director of the Directorate of Palace Buildings and militia commissioner of Jizhou. Summoned as Secretariat compiler with a post at the Historical Archives, he headed the Three Departments' budget verification office—the first time all three were combined under one chief. He was promoted to right rectifier of the Secretariat and edict drafter. At the Chongzheng Hall examination Yaozi served as examiner. Three Departments commissioner Liu Shidao had his brother's papers marked for identification, and Yaozi was demoted to militia vice commissioner of Danzhou. He was restored as compiler and appointed prefect of Guangzhou. Soon he was again right rectifier, edict drafter, and prefect of Jingnan. He became diarist of the emperor's movements and served concurrently on the Ministry of Personnel's flowing-within selection board. By old rule candidates advanced by the number of sponsors, leaving poor scholars no path forward. Yaozi recommended those worthy of promotion, and the emperor specially advanced them. He became right remonstrance grandee and academician of the Hall for Honoring Worthies, then Dragon Diagram academician and director in the Ministry of Public Works as military commissioner of Yongxing. Chang'an was saline and lacked sweet water. Yaozi dredged the Longshou Canal to channel water into the city, to the people's benefit. Yet he was extravagant and lawless: he opened the armory, built a viewing hall, opened three gates, constructed a covered way, and went about escorted by imperial guards. His punishments were cruel and harsh, and many died under the staff. He once bullied transport commissioner Yue Huangmu until Huangmu could bear it no longer and asked to be relieved; Yaozi was transferred to prefect of Henan. Before long someone exposed his unlawful conduct at Chang'an. The emperor did not pursue it fully, only reduced his rank and transferred him to Dengzhou; after a few months he was again edict drafter.

堯咨性剛戾，數被挫，忽忽不自樂。堯叟進見，帝問之，對曰：「堯咨豈知上恩所以保佑者，自謂遭讒以至此爾！」帝賜詔條其事切責，乃皇恐稱謝。還，判登聞檢院，復龍圖閣直學士。坐失舉，降兵部員外郎。喪母，起復工部郎中、龍圖閣直學士、會靈觀副使。邊臣飛奏唃廝囉立文法召蕃部欲侵邊，以為陝西緣邊安撫使。再遷右諫議大夫、知秦州，徙同州，以尚書工部侍郎權知開封府。入為翰林學士，以先朝初榜甲科，特詔班舊學士蔡齊之上。

Harsh and overbearing by nature, Yaozi had been thwarted many times and grew restless and unhappy. When Yaosou attended audience, the emperor asked after him. He replied, "How could Yaozi know the grace by which Your Majesty has protected him? He thinks he has been slandered into this! The emperor sent an edict listing the charges and sternly reproaching him—and only then did Yaozi offer thanks in terror. On returning he judged the Petition Review office and was again Dragon Diagram academician. For a failure in recommendation he was demoted to assistant director in the Ministry of War. When his mother died, he was recalled from mourning as director in the Ministry of Public Works, Dragon Diagram academician, and vice commissioner of the Hall of Numinous Communion. A frontier official urgently reported that Gusiluo was establishing laws and summoning tribes to invade the border; Yaozi was made pacification commissioner along the Shaanxi frontier. He was again made right remonstrance grandee and prefect of Qinzhou, transferred to Tongzhou, and as vice director in the Ministry of Public Works acted as prefect of Kaifeng. He entered court as Hanlin academician. Because he had placed in the top tier of the jinshi in the founding reign, a special edict ranked him above senior academician Cai Qi.

換宿州觀察使、知天雄軍，位丞郎上。堯咨內不平，上章固辭，皇太后特以隻日召見，敦諭之，不得已，拜命。自契丹修好，城壁器械久不治，堯咨葺完之。然須索煩擾，多暴怒，列軍士持大梃侍前，吏民語不中意，立至困仆。以安國軍節度觀察留後知鄆州。建請浚新河，自魚山至下杷以導積水。拜武信軍節度使、知河陽，徙澶州，又徙天雄軍。所居棟摧，大星霣於庭，散為白氣。已而卒，贈太尉，諡曰康肅。

He was made observation commissioner of Suzhou and prefect of Tianxiong Army, ranking above chief ministers. Inwardly discontent, Yaozi firmly declined. The empress dowager specially summoned him and earnestly instructed him; unable to refuse, he accepted. Since peace with the Khitan, walls and weapons had long gone unrepaired; Yaozi restored them. Yet he was demanding and violent, often flying into rage with soldiers holding great cudgels before him; anyone who spoke amiss was immediately beaten down. He was made military commissioner of the Anguo Army with observation and retention at Yanzhou. He memorialized to dredge a new river from Yushan to Xiaba to drain floodwater. He was made military commissioner of the Wuxin Army and prefect of Heyang, transferred to Caozhou, and again to Tianxiong. The ridgepole of his residence collapsed; a great star fell in the courtyard and scattered into white vapor. Before long he died. He was posthumously made Grand Commandant with the posthumous title Kang Su ("Secure and Stern").

堯咨於兄弟中最為少文，然以氣節自任。工隸書。善射，嘗以錢為的，一發貫其中。兄弟同時貴顯，時推為盛族。子述古，太子賓客致仕；博古，篤學能文，為館閣校勘，早卒。

Among the brothers Yaozi was the least literary, yet he took pride in force of character. He was skilled in clerical script. He was skilled in archery; once using a coin as his target, he pierced its center with a single shot. The brothers were simultaneously eminent; their age acclaimed them as a flourishing clan. His son Shugu retired as Mentor of the Crown Prince; Bogu studied earnestly, could write, served as collator in the Institute, and died young.

從子漸

Nephew: Jian

從子漸，字鴻漸，少以文學知名於蜀。淳化中，與其父堯封皆以進士試廷中，太宗擢漸第，輒辭不就，願擢其父，許之。至咸平初，漸始仕，為天水縣尉。時學者罕通揚雄《太玄經》，漸獨好之，著書十五篇，號《演玄》，奏之。召試學士院，授儀州軍事推官。舉賢良方正科，不中，復調隴西防禦推官，坐法免歸，不復有仕進意，蜀中學者多從之游。堯咨不學，漸心薄之。堯咨後貴顯，與漸益不同，因言漸罪戾之人，聚徒太盛，不宜久留遠方。即召漸至京師，授潁州長史。丁謂等知其無他，得改鳳州團練推官，遷耀州節度推官。卒，有文集十五卷，自號「金龜子」。

His nephew Jian, styled Hongjian, was known in Shu from youth for literary accomplishment. In the Chunhua era he and his father Yaofeng both took the palace jinshi examination. Taizong ranked Jian first, but he immediately declined and asked that his father be ranked instead—and permission was granted. By the beginning of Xianping he first took office as district magistrate of Tianshui. Scholars rarely mastered Yang Xiong's Classic of the Supreme Mystery; Jian alone delighted in it, wrote fifteen chapters titled Elucidating the Mystery, and memorialized them. Summoned for examination at the Hanlin Academy, he was appointed investigating officer for military affairs at Yizhou. He presented himself for the Exalted and Good and Upright recruitment but did not pass, was transferred as investigating officer for the Longxi defense command, was dismissed on a legal charge and returned home with no further wish for office—many scholars in Shu followed him to study. Yaozi did not study, and Jian came to think lightly of him. When Yaozi later rose high, he and Jian grew estranged. He said Jian was of criminal disposition, gathered too many followers, and ought not remain long in the distant regions. Jian was summoned to the capital and appointed chief administrator of Yingzhou. Ding Wei and others knew he had no other fault and made him investigating officer of the Fengzhou militia regiment, then of the Yaozhou military commission. He died, leaving collected writings in fifteen juan and styling himself Master Golden Tortoise.

宋庠，字公序，安州安陸人，後徙開封之雍丘。父杞，嘗為九江掾，與其妻鐘禱於廬阜。鐘夢道士授以書曰：「以遺爾子。」視之，《小戴禮》也，已而庠生。他日見許真君像，即夢中見者。

Song Xiang, styled Gongxu, was a native of Anlu in Anzhou and later moved to Yongqiu in Kaifeng. His father Qi had served as aide in Jiujiang and prayed with his wife Zhong at Mount Lu. Zhong dreamed a Daoist gave her a book, saying, "Give this to your son. It was the Book of Rites of Young Dai—and soon afterward Xiang was born. Later, seeing the image of Lord Xu the Perfected, she recognized the man of her dream.

庠天聖初舉進士，開封試、禮部皆第一，擢大理評事、同判襄州。召試，遷太子中允、直史館，歷三司戶部判官，同修起居注，再遷左正言。郭皇后廢，庠與御史伏閣爭論，坐罰金。久之，知制誥。時親策賢良、茂才等科，而命與武舉人雜視。庠言：「非所以待天下士，宜如本朝故事，命有司設次具飲膳，斥武舉人令別試。」詔從之。

Early in Tiansheng (1023–1031), Xiang passed the jinshi, placing first in both the Kaifeng trial and the Ministry of Rites examination. He was made case reviewer in the Court of Judicial Review and militia commissioner of Xiangzhou. Summoned for examination, he became vice director in the Crown Prince's household with a post at the Historical Archives, served as Three Departments household judge, helped compile the imperial diary, and was twice promoted to left rectifier of the Secretariat. When Empress Guo was deposed, Xiang joined censors blocking the palace gate in protest and was fined. After some time he became edict drafter. The throne personally examined Exalted and Good and Outstanding Talent candidates but ordered them examined together with military examination candidates. Xiang said, "This is not how the empire's scholars should be treated. Follow our dynasty's precedent: let the proper offices set places with food and drink and examine military candidates separately. The throne approved.

兼史館修撰、知審刑院。密州豪王澥私釀酒，鄰人往捕之，澥紿奴曰：「盜也。」盡使殺其父子四人。州論奴以法，澥獨不死。宰相陳堯佐右澥，庠力爭，卒抵澥死。改權判吏部流內銓，遷尚書刑部員外郎。仁宗欲以為右諫議大夫、同知樞密院事，中書言故事無自知制誥除執政者，乃詔為翰林學士。帝遇庠厚，行且大用矣。

He served concurrently as historiographer of the Archives and director of the Court for Reviewing Punishments. In Mizhou the powerful man Wang Xie privately brewed wine. Neighbors went to seize him, and Xie told his slaves, "They are bandits. He had them kill all four, father and sons. The prefecture condemned the slaves by law, but Xie alone was spared. Chief minister Chen Yaozuo favored Xie, but Xiang argued forcefully until Xie was condemned to death. He became acting judge of the Ministry of Personnel's flowing-within selection board and assistant director in the Ministry of Justice. Renzong wished to make him right remonstrance grandee and vice administrator of military affairs, but the Secretariat said there was no precedent for promoting an edict drafter directly to chief minister—so he was made Hanlin academician instead. The emperor treated Xiang generously and was about to employ him on a grand scale.

庠初名郊，李淑恐其先己，以奇中之，言曰：「宋，受命之號；郊，交也。合姓名言之為不祥。」帝弗為意，他日以諭之，因改名庠。寶元中，以右諫議大夫參知政事。庠為相儒雅，練習故事，自執政，遇事輒分別是非。嘗從容論及唐入閣儀，庠退而上奏曰：

Xiang's original name was Jiao. Li Shu, fearing he would outrank him, offered a strange interpretation: "Song is the name of the dynasty that received the Mandate; jiao means to intersect. Taken together, surname and given name are inauspicious. The emperor paid it no mind. Another day he told Xiang, who therefore changed his name to Xiang. In the Baoyuan era (1038–1039) he became vice grand councilor as right remonstrance grandee. As councilor Xiang was refined and learned, well versed in precedent; from entering government he distinguished right from wrong in every matter. Once, in relaxed conversation, they discussed Tang "entering the pavilion" ceremony. Xiang withdrew and memorialized:

「入閣，乃有唐隻日於紫宸殿受常朝之儀也。唐有大內，又有大明宮，宮在大內之東北，世謂之東內，高宗以後，天子多在。大明宮之正南門曰丹鳳門，門內第一殿曰含元殿，大朝會則御之；第二殿曰宣政殿，謂之正衙，朔望大冊拜則御之；第三殿曰紫宸殿，謂之上閣，亦曰內衙，隻日常朝則御之。天子坐朝，須立伏於正衙殿，或乘輿止御紫宸，即喚仗自宣政殿兩門入，是謂東、西上閣門也。

"Entering the pavilion" was the Tang practice on odd-numbered days of receiving regular court at the Hall of Purple Felicity. Tang had the Great Inner Palace and the Great Bright Palace northeast of it, called the Eastern Inner. After Gaozong, emperors mostly resided there. Its main south gate was the Vermilion Phoenix Gate. The first hall within was the Hall for Receiving Primordial Unity, used for great assembly audiences; the second was the Hall of Proclaiming Government, the main court, where on the first and fifteenth great investiture audiences were held; the third was the Hall of Purple Felicity, the upper pavilion or inner court, where on odd-numbered days regular court was held. When the emperor held court, guards stood at the main court hall; or if he stopped at Purple Felicity, guards entered through the eastern and western upper pavilion gates from the Hall of Proclaiming Government.

以本朝宮殿視之：宣德門，唐丹鳳門也；大慶殿，唐含元殿也；文德殿，唐宣政殿也；紫宸殿，唐紫宸殿也。今欲求入閣本意，施於儀典，須先立仗文德庭，如天子止御紫宸，即喚仗自東、西閣門入，如此則差與舊儀合。但今之諸殿，比於唐制南北不相對爾。又按唐自中葉以還，雙日及非時大臣奏事，別開延英殿，若今假日御崇政、延和是也。乃知唐制每遇坐朝日，即為入閣，其後正衙立仗因而遂廢，甚非禮也。」

Comparing with our palaces: Xuande Gate is Tang's Vermilion Phoenix Gate; Great Celebration Hall is Tang's Hall for Receiving Primordial Unity; Hall of Literary Virtue is Tang's Hall of Proclaiming Government; Hall of Purple Felicity is Tang's Hall of Purple Felicity. To recover "entering the pavilion," guards must first be posted at the Hall of Literary Virtue; if the emperor stops only at Purple Felicity, guards enter through the eastern and western pavilion gates—only thus does it approximate the old rite. Yet today's halls, compared with Tang, do not face one another north and south. From mid-Tang onward, on even-numbered days and at irregular times ministers reported affairs in the separate Hall of Extended Glory—as today on holidays at Chongzheng and Yanhe. Thus in the Tang system every court day was "entering the pavilion"; afterward posting guards at the main court was abandoned—very much at odds with ritual."

庠與宰相呂夷簡論數不同，凡庠與善者，夷簡皆指為朋黨，如鄭戩、葉清臣等悉出之，乃以庠知揚州。未幾，以資政殿學士徙鄆州，進給事中。參知政事范仲淹去位，帝問宰相章得象，誰可代仲淹者，得象薦宋祁。帝雅意在庠，復召為參知政事。慶歷七年春旱，用漢災異策免三公故事，罷宰相賈昌朝，輔臣皆削一官，以庠為右諫議大夫。帝嘗召二府對資政殿，出手詔策以時事，庠曰：「兩漢對策，本延岩穴草萊之士，今備位政府而比諸生，非所以尊朝廷，請至中書合議條奏。」時陳執中為相，不學少文，故夏竦為帝畫此謀，意欲困執中也。論者以庠為知體。

Xiang and Lü Yijian disagreed on many points; whoever was friendly with Xiang, Yijian labeled a factional partisan—Zheng Yan, Ye Qingchen, and others were sent out—and Xiang was made prefect of Yangzhou. Before long, as academician of the Hall of Assisting Governance he was transferred to Yanzhou and made supervisory attendant. When vice grand councilor Fan Zhongyan left office, the emperor asked Zhang Dexiang who could replace him; Dexiang recommended Song Qi. The emperor's intent rested on Xiang, and he was again summoned as vice grand councilor. In the seventh year of Qingli (1047), spring drought led to dismissal of chief minister Jia Changchao by the Han precedent of removing the Three Excellencies for omens; assisting ministers were reduced one rank, and Xiang was made right remonstrance grandee. The emperor summoned the Two Departments to the Hall of Assisting Governance with policy questions. Xiang said, "Han policy questions were for reclusive scholars; to rank us in government with students does not honor the court—let us withdraw to the Secretariat to discuss and memorialize item by item. Chen Zhizhong was then chief minister—unlearned and lacking polish—so Xia Song devised this scheme to embarrass him. Commentators held that Xiang understood propriety.

明年，除尚書工部侍郎，充樞密使。皇祐中，拜兵部侍郎、同中書門下平章事、集賢殿大學士。享明堂，遷工部尚書。嘗請復群臣家廟，曰：「慶歷元年赦書，許文武官立家廟，而有司終不能推述先典，因循顧望，使王公薦享，下同委巷，衣冠昭穆，雜用家人，緣偷襲弊，甚可嗟也。請下有司論定施行。」而議者不一，卒不果復。

The next year he was made vice director in the Ministry of Public Works and military affairs commissioner. In the Huangyou era (1049–1053) he was made vice director in the Ministry of War, grand councilor, and grand academician of the Hall for Honoring Worthies. At the Bright Hall sacrifice he was made director of the Ministry of Public Works. He requested restoration of ancestral temples for chief ministers: "The Qingli amnesty permitted officials to establish family temples, yet the proper offices could not elaborate the canon. Kings and dukes made offerings no better than alleys, and proper sequence was mixed with household usage—continuing stolen practices, very much to be lamented. I beg the proper offices be ordered to discuss, fix, and implement. Debaters were not of one mind, and restoration was not achieved.

三年，祁子與越國夫人曹氏客張彥方游。而彥方偽造敕牒，為人補官，論死。諫官包拯奏庠不戢子弟，又言庠在政府無所建明，庠亦請去。乃以刑部尚書、觀文殿大學士知河南府，後徙許州，又徙河陽，再遷兵部尚書。入覲，詔綴中書門下班，出入視其儀物。以檢校太尉、同平章事充樞密使，封莒國公。數言：「國家當慎固根本，畿輔宿兵常盈四十萬，羡則出補更戍，祖宗初謀也，不苟輕改。」既而與副使程戡不協，戡罷，而御史言庠昏惰，乃以河陽三城節度、同平章事判鄭州，徙相州。以疾召還。

In the third year, Qi's son associated with Zhang Yanfang, a guest of the Princess of Yue. Yanfang forged an edict and commission to obtain official appointments for others and was sentenced to death. Remonstrance official Bao Zheng memorialized that Xiang did not restrain his sons and had made no constructive proposals in government; Xiang also asked to leave. He was made director of the Ministry of Justice, Grand Academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature, and prefect of Henan, later transferred to Xuzhou and Heyang, and again director of the Ministry of War. On entering audience, an edict ordered him to join the end of the Secretariat-Chancellery line and observe its regalia. As acting Grand Commandant and grand councilor he served as military affairs commissioner and was enfeoffed as Duke of Ju. He repeatedly said, "The state must secure its foundations. Metropolitan garrison troops should constantly exceed four hundred thousand—surplus troops should rotate to relieve frontier garrisons. This was the founding emperors' plan and ought not be lightly changed. He was at odds with vice commissioner Cheng Kan. Kan was dismissed, censors said Xiang was muddled and indolent, and he was made military commissioner of the Three Cities of Heyang with concurrent charge of Zhengzhou, then transferred to Xiangzhou. Ill, he was summoned back.

英宗即位，移鎮武寧軍，改封鄭國公。庠在相州，即上章請老，至是請猶未已。帝以大臣故，未忍遽從，乃出判亳州。庠前後所至，以慎靜為治，及再登用，遂沉浮自安。晚愛信幼子，多與小人游，不謹。御史呂晦請敕庠不得以二子隨，帝曰：「庠老矣，奈何不使其子從之。」至亳，請老益堅，以司空致仕。卒，贈太尉兼侍中，諡元獻。帝為篆其墓碑曰「忠規德范之碑」。

When Yingzong took the throne, he was transferred to military commissioner of the Wuning Army and enfeoffed as Duke of Zheng. At Xiangzhou he had already asked to retire; his requests still had not ceased. Because he was a senior minister, the emperor could not bear to grant it immediately and sent him to administer Bozhou. Wherever he had served, he governed with caution and calm; when he rose again, he drifted with events and found his ease. In later years he favored his youngest son, associated with petty men, and was not careful. Censor Lü Hui asked that Xiang not take his two sons with him. The emperor said, "Xiang is old—how can we not let his sons accompany him? At Bozhou his request to retire grew firmer, and he retired as Minister of Works. He died, posthumously made Grand Commandant and Palace Attendant with the posthumous title Yuan Xian ("Primary and Worthy"). The emperor personally wrote his tomb stele: Stele of Loyal Regulation and Virtuous Model.

庠自應舉時，與祁俱以文學名擅天下，儉約不好聲色，讀書至老不倦。善正訛謬，嘗校定《國語》，撰《補音》三卷。又輯《紀年通譜》，區別正閏，為十二卷。《掖垣叢志》三卷，《尊號錄》一卷，別集四十卷。天資忠厚，嘗曰：「逆詐恃明，殘人矜才，吾終身不為也。」沈邈嘗為京東轉運使，數以事侵庠。及庠在洛，邈子監杯麴院，因出借縣人負物，杖之，道死實以他疾。而邈子為府屬所惡，欲痛治之以法，庠獨不肯，曰：「是安足罪也！」人以此益稱其長者。弟祁。

From the examinations, Xiang and Qi were famed throughout the empire for literature. Frugal and abstemious, indifferent to music and women, they read without tiring even into old age. He was skilled at correcting errors, collated the Discourses of the States, and composed Supplementary Pronunciations in three juan. He also compiled Comprehensive Chronicle, distinguishing orthodox from interregnum reigns, in twelve juan. Records of the Side Palace in three juan, Record of Honored Designations in one juan, and a separate collection of forty juan. By nature he was deep and generous. He once said, "To oppose deceit by cleverness, to harm people by flaunting talent—I will never do these in my lifetime. Shen Miao had been Jingdong transport commissioner and repeatedly encroached on Xiang. When Xiang was at Luoyang, Miao's son supervised the distillery. He lent out goods owed by a county man and beat him—the man died on the road, reported as from another illness. Miao's son was hated as a prefectural aide; they wished to punish him severely, but Xiang alone refused, saying, "How is that enough for a crime! People therefore praised him all the more as a man of mature character. Younger brother Qi.

弟祁

Younger Brother: Qi

祁，字子京，與兄庠同時舉進士，禮部奏祁第一，庠第三。章獻太后不欲以弟先兄，乃擢庠第一，而置祁第十。人呼曰「二宋」，以大小別之。釋褐復州軍事推官。孫奭薦之，改大理寺丞、國子監直講。召試，授直史館，再遷太常博士、同知禮儀院。有司言太常舊樂數增損，其聲不和。詔祁同按試。李照定新樂，胡瑗鑄鐘磬，祁皆典之，事見《樂志》。預修《廣業記》成，遷尚書工部員外郎、同修起居注、權三司度支判官。方陝西用兵，調費日蹙，上疏曰：

Qi, styled Zijing, passed the jinshi with his elder brother Xiang at the same time. The Ministry of Rites reported Qi first and Xiang third. Empress Dowager Zhangxian did not wish the younger to precede the elder; she ranked Xiang first and placed Qi tenth. People called them the Two Songs, distinguishing them as Greater and Lesser. Upon leaving office he became investigating officer for military affairs at Fuzhou. Sun Shi recommended him; he became director in the Court of Judicial Review and lecturer at the Directorate of Education. Summoned for examination, he was appointed to the Historical Archives, promoted to erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and co-administrator of the Court of Rites. The proper offices reported that the Court of Imperial Sacrifices' old music had been repeatedly altered and its tones were not harmonious. Qi was ordered to examine and test it. Li Zhao fixed the new music; Hu Yuan cast bells and chimes—Qi directed all these, recorded in the Treatise on Music. When Comprehensive Records was completed, he was made assistant director in the Ministry of Public Works, helped compile the imperial diary, and acted as judge of the Three Departments' budget section. With military operations under way in Shaanxi and transport expenses growing daily tighter, he memorialized:

「兵以食為本，食以貨為資，聖人一天下之具也。今左藏無積年之鏹，太倉無三歲之粟，尚方冶銅匱而不發。承平如此，已自凋困，良由取之既殫、用之無度也。朝廷大有三冗，小有三費，以困天下之財。財窮用褊，而欲興師遠事，誠無謀矣。能去三冗、節三費，專備西北之屯，可曠然高枕矣。

"Soldiers take grain as their foundation, and grain takes wealth as its resource—this is how the sage unifies all under Heaven. Today the Left Treasury has no silver hoarded for years, the Great Granary no grain for three years, and the Imperial Workshop smelts copper but locks it away without issuing it. Even in peace we are exhausted and impoverished—because revenue has been drained dry and spending knows no limit. At court there are great "three redundancies" and small "three extravagances," straining the empire's wealth. With wealth exhausted and resources constrained, yet wishing to raise armies for distant campaigns—this truly has no plan. Remove the three redundancies, curtail the three extravagances, and devote resources to garrisoning the northwest—we may then lie at ease.

何謂三冗？天下有定官無限員，一冗也；天下廂軍不任戰而耗衣食，二冗也；僧道日益多而無定數，三冗也。三冗不去，不可為國。請斷自今，僧道已受戒具者姑如舊，其他悉罷還為民，可得耕夫織婦五十餘萬人，一冗去矣。天下廂軍不擇孱小尪弱而悉刺之，才圖供役，本不知兵，又且月支廩糧，歲費庫帛，數口之家，不能自庇，多去而為盜賊，雖廣募之，無益也。其已在籍者請勿論，其他悉驅之南畝，又得力耕者數十萬，二冗去矣。國家郡縣，素有定官，譬以十人為額，常以十二加之，即遷代、罪謫，隨取之而有。今一官未闕，群起而逐之，州縣不廣於前，而官五倍於舊，吏何得不苟進，官何得不濫除？請詔三班審官院內諸司、流內銓明立限員，以為定法。其門蔭、流外、貢舉等科，實置選限，稍務擇人，俟有闕官，計員補吏，三冗去矣。

What are the three redundancies? Under Heaven there are fixed offices with no limit on personnel—the first redundancy; garrison troops who do not fight yet consume food and clothing—the second redundancy; monks and Daoists increase daily with no fixed number—the third redundancy. Unless the three redundancies are removed, the state cannot be governed. From today, those already ordained may remain; all others should be dismissed to the people—we may obtain more than five hundred thousand plowmen and weavers. One redundancy removed. Garrison troops are recruited indiscriminately, weak and feeble alike, merely for labor—they do not know warfare, yet receive monthly grain and yearly silks. Families cannot support themselves and many become bandits—wide recruitment does no good. Those already registered I beg not be discussed; drive all others to the southern fields—we may obtain several hundred thousand strong plowmen. The second redundancy removed. Prefectures and districts have fixed offices—if the quota is ten, twelve are commonly added; transfers and dismissals fill posts as they come. When one office is not vacant, crowds pursue it. Prefectures are no broader than before, yet offices are five times the old number—how can clerks not advance recklessly, offices not be lavishly filled? I beg an edict that the Three-Ranks office, Court for Examining Officials, inner bureaus, and flowing-within selection board set clear quotas as fixed law. For hereditary privilege, outside-the-stream, and tribute-examination categories, set selection limits and choose men carefully; when offices are vacant, fill according to quota—the third redundancy removed.

何謂三費？一曰道場齋醮，無有虛日，且百司供億，至不可貲計。彼皆以祝帝壽、奉先烈、祈民福為名，臣愚以為此主者為欺盜之計爾。陛下事天地、宗廟、社稷、百神，犧牲玉帛，使有司端委奉之、歲時薦之，足以竦明德、介多福矣，何必希屑屑之報哉？則一費節矣。二曰京師寺觀，或多設徒卒，添置官府，衣糧率三倍他處。居大屋高廡，不徭不役，坐蠹齊民，其尤者也。而又自募民財，營建祠廟，雖曰不費官帑，然國與民一也，舍國取民，其傷一焉，請罷去之，則二費節矣。三曰使相節度，不隸藩要。夫節相之建，或當邊鎮，或臨師屯，公用之設，勞眾而饗賓也。今大臣罷黜，率叨恩除，坐靡邦用，莫此為甚。請自今地非邊要、州無師屯者，不得建節度；已帶節度，不得留近藩及京師，則三費節矣。

What are the three extravagances? First, ritual grounds and vegetarian feasts with not a vacant day, all bureaus supplying provisions beyond calculation. These are in the name of praying for the emperor's longevity, serving former emperors, and seeking the people's blessing—in my view, those who preside merely scheme for fraud. Your Majesty serves Heaven and Earth, ancestral temples, altars, and the hundred spirits—sacrificial victims and jade silks presented by the proper offices at the seasons suffice for bright virtue and abundant blessing. Why hope for trifling returns? Then one extravagance is curtailed. Second, capital temples and monasteries often set up many disciples and add government offices; food and grain average triple elsewhere. They dwell in great houses, exempt from corvée, sitting as parasites on the people—the worst of them. They privately recruit wealth to build shrines; though not from official funds, state and people are one—taking from the people injures the state. Abolish them; the second extravagance is curtailed. Third, commissioners and military governors not subordinate to strategic prefectures. Commissioners and governors are established at frontier commands or facing encampments; public provisions labor the masses and entertain guests. Today dismissed chief ministers mostly receive favor and appointment, wasting state resources—nothing exceeds this. From today, where the region is not a frontier key and the prefecture has no encampment, no military governorship may be established; those already bearing governorship may not remain in nearby commands or the capital—then the third extravagance is curtailed.

臣又聞之，人不率則不從，身不先則不信。陛下能躬服至儉，風示四方，衣服起居，無逾舊規，後宮錦繡珠玉，不得妄費，則天下響應，民業日豐，人心不搖，師役可舉，風行電照，飲馬西河。蠢爾戎首，在吾掌中矣！」

I have also heard that if people are not led, they will not follow; if the body does not go first, there is no trust. If Your Majesty personally practices utmost frugality, sets an example for the four quarters, in dress and daily life not exceeding old regulations, in the inner palace not recklessly spending on brocade and jewels, then all under Heaven will respond, livelihoods will grow rich, hearts will not waver, military service can be raised, and we may water our horses in the Western River. Those stupid barbarian chiefs are in the palm of our hand!"

徙判鹽鐵勾院，同修禮書。次當知制誥，而庠方參知政事，乃以為天章閣待制，判太常禮院、國子監，改判太常寺。庠罷，祁亦出知壽州，徙陳州。還，知制誥、權同判流內銓，以龍圖閣直學士知杭州，留為翰林學士。提舉諸司庫務，數釐正弊事，增置勾當公事官，其屬言利害者，皆使先稟度可否，而後議於三司，遂著為令。徙知審官院兼侍讀學士。庠復知政事，罷祁翰林學士，改龍圖學士、史館修撰，修《唐書》。累遷右諫議大夫，充群牧使。庠為樞密使，祁復為翰林學士。

He was transferred to judge the Salt and Iron verification office and helped compile ritual books. He should next have become edict drafter, but Xiang was vice grand councilor; he was made Hanlin attendant of the Hall of Heavenly Patterns, judged the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and Directorate of Education, and transferred to judge the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. When Xiang was dismissed, Qi also left as prefect of Shouzhou and was transferred to Chenzhou. On returning he was edict drafter and acting judge of the flowing-within selection board, then Dragon Diagram academician and prefect of Hangzhou, then retained as Hanlin academician. He oversaw depot offices, corrected abuses, added officials for public business, and required subordinates reporting benefits and harms to report feasibility first before Three Departments discussion—then codified as regulation. He was transferred to director of the Court for Examining Officials with concurrent appointment as reader-in-waiting academician. When Xiang again entered government, Qi left the Hanlin academy, became Dragon Diagram academician and historiographer, and compiled the History of Tang. He was promoted to right remonstrance grandee and commissioner for managing the herds. When Xiang became military affairs commissioner, Qi again became Hanlin academician.

景祐中，詔求直言，祁奏：「人主不斷是名亂。《春秋》書：『殞霜，不殺菽。』天威暫廢，不能殺小草，猶人主不斷，不能制臣下。」又謂：「與賢人謀而與不肖者斷，重選大臣而輕任之，大事不圖而小事急，是謂三患。」其意主於強君威，別邪正，急先務，皆切中時病。

In the Jingyou era (1034–1037), an edict sought forthright speech. Qi memorialized: "When a ruler does not decide, it is called disorder. The Spring and Autumn Annals records: Frost fell but did not kill the beans. Heaven's authority was briefly suspended and could not kill small plants—likewise when a ruler does not decide, he cannot control his ministers. He also said: To plan with worthy men but decide with unworthy ones; to select chief ministers heavily but employ them lightly; not to plan great affairs but rush small ones—these are the three afflictions. His intent aimed at strengthening the ruler's authority, distinguishing upright from perverse, and urgently attending primary tasks—all struck directly at the ailments of the time.

會進溫成皇后為貴妃。故事，命妃皆發冊，妃辭則罷冊禮。然告在有司，必俟旨而後進。又凡制詞，既授閣門宣讀，學士院受而書之，送中書，結三少銜，官告院用印，乃進內。祁適當制，不俟旨，寫誥不送中書，徑取官告院印用之，亟封以進。后方愛幸，覬行冊禮，得告大怒，擲於地。祁坐是出知許州。甫數月，復召為侍讀學士、史館修撰。祀明堂，遷給事中兼龍圖閣學士。坐其子從張彥方游，出知亳州。兼集賢殿修撰。

Consort Wen Cheng was advanced to honored consort. By precedent, appointing a consort issued patent registers; if the consort declined, the patent ceremony was canceled. Yet the announcement lay with the proper offices and had to await imperial instruction. For any drafted edict, once proclaimed by the Gate Department, the Hanlin Academy wrote it out, sent it to the Secretariat, attached the three junior seals, and the Patent Office sealed it before presenting within. Qi happened to be drafting. Without awaiting instruction he wrote the patent, did not send it to the Secretariat, directly used the Patent Office seal, and quickly presented it. The consort was then favored and had hoped for the patent ceremony; receiving the announcement she was greatly angered and threw it to the ground. Qi was demoted and sent out as prefect of Xuzhou. After only a few months he was again summoned as reader-in-waiting academician and historiographer. At the Bright Hall sacrifice he was made supervisory attendant with concurrent Dragon Diagram academician. For his son's association with Zhang Yanfang he was sent out as prefect of Bozhou. He served concurrently as compiler of the Hall for Honoring Worthies.

歲餘，徙知成德軍，遷尚書禮部侍郎。請弛河東、陝西馬禁，又請復唐馱幕之制。居三月，徙定州，又上言：

After more than a year he was transferred to military commissioner of the Chengde Army and vice director in the Ministry of Rites. He requested relaxation of the horse prohibition in Hedong and Shaanxi and restoration of the Tang pack-curtain system. After three months he was transferred to Dingzhou and again memorialized:

「天下根本在河北，河北根本在鎮、定，以其扼賊沖，為國門戶也。且契丹搖尾五十年，狼態猘心，不能無動。今垂涎定、鎮，二軍不戰，則薄深、趙、邢、洺，直搗其虛，血吻婪進，無所顧藉。臣竊慮欲兵之強，莫如多穀與財；欲士訓練，莫如善擇將帥；欲人樂鬪，莫如賞重罰嚴；欲賊顧望不敢前，莫如使鎮重而定強。夫恥怯尚勇，好論事，甘得而忘死：河北之人，殆天性然。陛下少勵之，不憂不戰。以欲戰之士，不得善將，雖鬪猶負。無穀與財，雖金城湯池，其勢必輕。

"The empire's root lies in Hebei; Hebei's root lies in Zhen and Ding, because they choke the enemy's thrust and are the state's gateway. The Khitan have wagged their tails for fifty years—with wolfish nature and mad-dog hearts, they cannot remain still. Now they covet Ding and Zhen. If the two armies do not fight, they will press Shen, Zhao, Xing, and Ming and drive at the undefended interior, blood-mouthed and greedy, with nothing to restrain them. To make the army strong, nothing surpasses abundant grain and wealth; to train soldiers, nothing surpasses choosing generals well; to make men delight in fighting, nothing surpasses heavy rewards and stern punishments; to make the enemy look back and not dare advance, nothing surpasses making Zhen weighty and Ding strong. To feel shame at cowardice and honor courage, to love discussing affairs, to obtain gain and forget death—the people of Hebei are nearly so by nature. If Your Majesty slightly encourages them, you need not worry they will not fight. Soldiers who wish to fight but lack good generals—though they struggle, they still lose. Without grain and wealth, though walls were golden city and boiling moat, their strength would be slight.

今朝廷擇將練卒，制財積糧，乃以陝西、河東為先，河北為後，非策也。西賊兵銳士寡，不能深入，河東天險，彼憚為寇。若河北不然，自薊直視，勢同建瓴，賊鼓而前，如行莞衽。故謀契丹者當先河北，謀河北者舍鎮、定無議矣。臣願先入穀鎮、定，鎮、定既充，可入穀餘州。列將在陝西、河東有功狀者，得遷鎮、定，則鎮、定重。天下久平，馬益少，臣請多用步兵。夫雲奔飈馳，抄後掠前，馬之長也；強弩巨梃，長槍利刀，什伍相聯，大呼薄戰，步之長也。臣料朝廷與敵相攻，必不深入窮追，毆而去之，及境則止，此不特馬而步可用矣。臣請損馬益步，故馬少則騎精，步多則鬪健，我能用步所長，雖契丹多馬，無所用之。

Today the court selects generals, trains soldiers, and accumulates grain and wealth, yet takes Shaanxi and Hedong first and Hebei last—not strategy. Western barbarian troops are sharp and few; they cannot penetrate deeply. Hedong has Heaven's barriers, and they fear to raid. Hebei is not so—from Ji straight south the momentum is like pouring from a high jar; the enemy drums forward as if walking on a mat. Those who plan against the Khitan should take Hebei first; those who plan Hebei have no discussion apart from Zhen and Ding. I wish first to fill grain at Zhen and Ding; once they are full, grain may enter the other prefectures. Generals with merit in Shaanxi and Hedong should be transferred to Zhen and Ding—then they will be weighty. Long at peace, horses grow fewer; I beg to use more foot soldiers. Cloud-like rush and wind-like speed, striking rear and plundering van—that is the horse's strength; strong crossbows and great cudgels, long spears and sharp blades, files linked, great shouts and close battle—that is the foot soldier's strength. When court and enemy fight, we will not pursue deeply but beat them off at the border—thus foot soldiers may be used, not only horses. Reduce horses and increase foot soldiers—fewer horses then finer cavalry, more foot then stouter fighting. Use the foot soldier's strength, and though the Khitan have many horses, they cannot use them.

夫鎮、定一體也，自先帝以來為一道，帥專而兵不分，故定揕其胸，則鎮搗其肋，勢自然耳。今判而為二，其顯顯有害者，屯砦山川要險之地裂而有之，平時號令文移不能一，賊脫叩營壘，則彼此不相謀，尚肯任此責邪！請合鎮、定為一路，以將相大臣領之，無事時以鎮為治所，有事則遷治定，指授諸將，權一而責有歸，策之上也。陛下當居安思危，熟計所長，必待事至而後圖之，殆矣。

Zhen and Ding are one body; since the former emperor one circuit, commander sole and troops undivided—when Ding strikes the chest, Zhen pounds the ribs; the momentum is natural. Divided in two, strategic passes are split; orders cannot be unified; if the enemy slips through, each will not consult the other—would they bear this responsibility! Combine Zhen and Ding into one circuit, led by a general and chief minister; in peace govern from Zhen, in crisis from Ding, directing generals—authority one and responsibility clear; the best policy. In security think of danger, carefully plan your strengths; to wait until events arrive before plotting is perilous.

河東馬強，士習善馳突，與鎮、定若表裡，然東下井陘，不百里入鎮、定矣。賊若深入，以河東健馬佐鎮、定兵，掩其惰若歸者，萬出萬全，此一奇也。臣聞事切於用者，不可以文陳，臣所論件目繁碎，要待刀筆吏委曲可曉，臣已便俗言之，輒別上擇將畜財一封，乞下樞密院、三司裁製之。」

Hedong horses are strong and soldiers practiced in swift raids; with Zhen and Ding like outer and inner, yet descending Jingxing, within a hundred li one enters them. If the enemy penetrates deeply, Hedong's hardy horses assisting Zhen and Ding to strike their weary return—ten thousand sorties, ten thousand successes; one stratagem. What is urgent in use cannot be set forth in literary form; my discussion is piecemeal and must await clerks—I have stated it in plain words and separately present a sealed memorial on selecting generals and storing wealth, begging the Bureau of Military Affairs and Three Departments to deliberate."

又上《御戎論》七篇。加端明殿學士，特遷吏部侍郎、知益州。尋除三司使。右司諫吳及嘗言祁在定州不治，縱家人貸公使錢數千緡，在蜀奢侈過度。既而御史中丞包拯亦言祁益部多游燕，且其兄方執政，不可任三司。乃加龍圖閣學士、知鄭州。《唐書》成，遷左丞，進工部尚書。以羸疾，請便醫藥，入判尚書都省。逾月，拜翰林學士承旨，詔遇入直，許一子主湯藥。復為群牧使，尋卒。遺奏曰：「陛下享國四十年，東宮虛位，天下係望，人心未安。為社稷深計，莫若擇宗室賢材，進爵親王，為匕鬯之主。若六宮有就館之慶，聖嗣蕃衍，則宗子降封郡王，以避正嫡，此定人心、防禍患之大計也。」

He also presented seven chapters of Discourse on Controlling the Barbarians. He was advanced to academician of the Hall of Brilliant Wisdom, specially promoted to vice director in the Ministry of Personnel, and prefect of Yizhou. Soon he was appointed Three Departments commissioner. Right remonstrance official Wu Ji said Qi in Dingzhou did not govern well and allowed his household to lend several thousand strings of public funds; in Shu he was excessively extravagant. Censor-in-chief Bao Zheng also said Qi in Yizhou feasted and roamed excessively, and his elder brother was in power—he could not hold the Three Departments. He was advanced to Dragon Diagram academician and prefect of Zhengzhou. When the History of Tang was completed, he was left vice director and director of the Ministry of Public Works. Frail, he requested convenient medical treatment and entered to judge the Department of State Affairs headquarters. After more than a month he was chief Hanlin academician; an edict permitted him to enter on duty and allowed one son to manage his medicines. He again became commissioner for managing the herds and soon died. His final memorial said: "Your Majesty has held the realm for forty years; the Eastern Palace is vacant; all under Heaven looks to it—the people's hearts are not at ease. For the deep welfare of the state, nothing surpasses selecting worthy talent from the imperial clan, advancing them to princely rank, and making them masters of the ancestral vessels. If the six palaces bear the blessing of childbirth and the sacred heir multiplies, then imperial sons should be enfeoffed as commandery kings to yield to the legitimate heir—this is the great plan to settle hearts and guard against calamity."

又自為志銘及《治戒》以授其子：「三日斂，三月葬，慎無為流俗陰陽拘忌也。棺用雜木，漆其四會，三塗即止，使數十年足以臘吾骸、朽衣巾而已。毋以金銅雜物置冢中。且吾學不名家，文章僅及中人，不足垂後。為吏在良二千石下，勿請諡，勿受贈典。冢上植五株柏，墳高三尺，石翁仲他獸不得用。若等不可違命。若等兄弟十四人，惟二孺兒未仕，以此諉莒公。莒公在，若等不孤矣。」後贈尚書。

He also composed his tomb inscription and Admonitions on Governance for his sons: "Encoffin within three days, bury within three months—do not be bound by vulgar yin-yang taboos. Use miscellaneous wood for the coffin, lacquer the four corners, three coats and stop—let several decades suffice to preserve my bones and rot my garments. Do not place gold, copper, or miscellaneous objects in the tomb. My learning does not make a famous school; my writings barely reach mediocrity—not enough to hand down to posterity. As an official I rank below the two-thousand-bushel class—do not request a posthumous title, do not accept bestowed rites. Plant five cypress trees on the mound; tomb three feet high; stone guardian figures and other beasts may not be used. You, my sons, must not disobey this command. You brothers are fourteen; only two young lads have not yet taken office—lay this charge on the Duke of Ju. While the Duke of Ju lives, you will not be orphaned. Later he was posthumously made director in the Department of State Affairs.

祁兄弟皆以文學顯，而祁尤能文，善議論，然清約莊重不及庠，論者以祁不至公輔，亦以此云。修《唐書》十餘年，自守亳州，出入內外嘗以稿自隨，為列傳百五十卷。預修《籍田記》、《集韻》。又撰《大樂圖》二卷，文集百卷。祁所至，治事明峻，好作條教。其子遵《治戒》不請諡，久之，學士承旨張方平言祁法應得諡，諡曰景文。

The Qi brothers were all famed for literature, and Qi was especially able at writing and discourse—yet in pure abstemiousness and dignified gravity he did not match Xiang; commentators held he did not reach chief minister rank for this reason. Compiling the History of Tang for more than ten years, from guarding Bozhou he carried the draft with him; he composed 150 juan of biographies. He helped compile Records of the Ploughing Rites and Collected Rhymes. He also composed Diagram of Great Music in two juan and collected writings in a hundred juan. Wherever Qi arrived, he governed with clarity and severity and liked to make regulations. His son Zun followed the Admonitions and did not request a posthumous title; after a long time chief academician Zhang Fangping said Qi deserved one by regulation—the posthumous title Jing Wen ("Serene in Letters").

論曰：咸平、天聖間，父子兄弟以功名著聞於時者，於陳堯佐、宋庠見之。省華聲聞，由諸子而益著。堯佐相業雖不多見，世以寬厚長者稱之。堯叟出典方州，入為侍從，課布帛，修馬政，減冗官，有足稱者。庠明練故實，文藻雖不逮祁，孤風雅操，過祁遠矣。君子以為陳之家法，宋之友愛，有宋以來不多見也，嗚呼賢哉！

The commentator says: In the Xianping and Tiansheng eras, father-son and brother pairs famed for merit are seen in Chen Yaozuo and Song Xiang. Shenghua's reputation became still more renowned through his sons. Though Yaozuo's chancellorship is not much seen, the age acclaimed him as a generous and mature man. Yaosou governed regions and served at court; in assessing cloth, repairing horse policy, and reducing redundant officials there was enough to praise. Xiang was clear and practiced in former precedents; though his literary ornament did not reach Qi's, in solitary integrity and elegant conduct he far surpassed Qi. The noble person holds that the Chen family regulations and Song brotherly affection have rarely been seen since the Song began—how worthy!

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